Harold Pinter Plays 2 Read Free Page B

that’s … I tell you what, I might do that … just till I get myself sorted out. You got enough furniture here.
    ASTON. I picked it up. Just keeping it here for the time being. Thought it might come in handy.
    DAVIES. This gas stove work, do it?
    ASTON. No.
    DAVIES. What do you do for a cup of tea?
    ASTON. Nothing.
    DAVIES. That’s a bit rough. ( DAVIES observes the planks .)You building something?
    ASTON. I might build a shed out the back.
    DAVIES. Carpenter, eh? ( He turns to the lawn-mower. )Got a lawn.
    ASTON. Have a look.
    ASTON lifts the sack at the window. They look out.
    DAVIES. Looks a bit thick.
    ASTON. Overgrown.
    DAVIES. What’s that, a pond?
    ASTON. Yes.
    DAVIES. What you got, fish?
    ASTON. No. There isn’t anything in there.
    Pause.
    DAVIES. Where you going to put your shed?
    ASTON ( turning ) . I’ll have to clear the garden first.
    DAVIES. You’d need a tractor, man.
    ASTON. I’ll get it done.
    DAVIES. Carpentry, eh?
    ASTON ( standing still ) . I like … working with my hands.
    DAVIES picks up the statue of Buddha.
    DAVIES. What’s this?
    ASTON (taking and studying it). That’s a Buddha.
    DAVIES. Get on.
    ASTON. Yes. I quite like it. Picked it up in a … in a shop. Looked quite nice to me. Don’t know why. What do you think of these Buddhas?
    DAVIES. Oh, they’re … they’re all right, en’t they?
    ASTON. Yes, I was pleased when I got hold of this one. It’s very well made.
    DAVIES turns and peers under the sink.
    DAVIES. This the bed here, is it?
    ASTON (moving to the bed). We’ll get rid of all that The ladder’ll fit under the bed. (They put the ladder under the bed.)
    DAVIES (indicating the sink). What about this?
    ASTON. I think that’ll fit in under here as well.
    DAVIES. I’ll give you a hand. (They lift it.) It’s a ton weight, en’t?
    ASTON. Under here.
    DAVIES. This in use at all, then?
    ASTON. No. I’ll be getting rid of it. Here.
    They place the sink under the bed.
    There’s a lavatory down the landing. It’s got a sink in there. We can put this stuff over there.
    They begin to move the coal bucket, shopping trolley, lawn- mower and sideboard drawers to the right wall.
    DAVIES (stopping). You don’t share it, do you?
    ASTON. What?
    DAVIES. I mean you don’t share the toilet with them Blacks, do you?
    ASTON. They live next door.
    DAVIES. They don’t come in?
    ASTON puts a drawer against the wall.
    Because, you know … I mean … fair’s fair.…
    ASTON goes to the bed, blows dust and shakes a blanket.
    ASTON. You see a blue case?
    DAVIES. Blue case? Down here. Look. By the carpet.
    ASTON goes to the case, opens it, takes out a sheet and pillow and puts them on the bed.
    That’s a nice sheet.
    ASTON. The blanket’ll be a bit dusty.
    DAVIES. Don’t you worry about that.
    ASTON stands upright, takes out his tobacco and begins to roll a cigarette. He goes to his bed and sits.
    ASTON. How are you off for money?
    DAVIES. Oh well … now, mister, if you want the truth . . I’m a bit short.
    ASTON takes some coins from his pocket, sorts them, and holds out five shillings.
    ASTON. Here’s a few bob.
    DAVIES ( taking the coins ) . Thank you, thank you, good luck. I just happen to and myself a bit short. You see, I got nothing for all that week’s work I did last week. That’s the position, that’s what it is.
    Pause.
    ASTON. I went into a pub the other day. Ordered a Guinness. They gave it to me in a thick mug. I sat down but I couldn’t drink it. I can’t drink Guinness from a thick mug. I only like it out of a thin glass. I had a few sips but I couldn’t finish it.
    ASTON picks up a screwdriver and plug from the bed and begins to poke the plug.
    DAVIES (with great feeling). If only the weather would break! Then I’d be able to get down to Sidcup!
    ASTON. Sidcup?
    DAVIES. The weather’s so blasted bloody awful, how can I get down to Sidcup in these shoes?
    ASTON. Why do you want to get down to Sidcup?
    DAVIES. I got my papers there!
    Pause.
    ASTON. Your