Harold Pinter Plays 2 Read Online Free PDF

quite a few people who were born in Putney. Even if they weren’t born in Putney they were born in Fulham. The only trouble was, he wasn’t born in Putney, he was only brought up in Putney. It turned out he was born in the Caledonian Road, just before you get to the Nag’s Head. His old mum was still living at the Angel. All the buses passed right by the door. She could get a 38, 581, 30 or 38A, take her down the Essex Road to Dalston Junction in next to no time. Well, of course, if she got the 30 he’d take her up Upper Street way, round by High-bury Corner and down to St. Paul’s Church, but she’d get to Dalston Junction just the same in the end. I used to leave my bike in her garden on my way to work. Yes, it was a curious affair. Dead spit of you he was. Bit bigger round the nose but there was nothing in it.
    Pause.
    Did you sleep here last night?
    DAVIES. Yes.
    MICK. Sleep well?
    DAVIES. Yes!
    MICK. Did you have to get up in the night?
    DAVIES. No!
    Pause.
    MICK. What’s your name?
    DAVIES (shifting, about to rise). Now look here!
    MICK. What?
    DAVIES. Jenkins!
    MICK. Jen … kins.
    DAVIES makes a sudden move to rise. A violent bellow from MICK sends him back.
    (A shout.) Sleep here last night?
    DAVIES. Yes.…
    MICK (continuing at great pace). How’d you sleep?
    DAVIES. I slept—
    MICK. Sleep well?
    DAVIES. Now look—
    MICK. What bed?
    DAVIES. That—
    MICK. Not the other?
    DAVIES. No!
    MICK. Choosy.
    Pause.
    (Quietly.) Choosy.
    Pause.
    (Again amiable.) What sort of sleep did you have in that bed?
    DAVIES (banging on floor). All right!
    MICK. You weren’t uncomfortable?
    DAVIES (groaning). All right!
    MICK stands, and moves to him.
    MICK. You a foreigner?
    DAVIES. No.
    MICK. Born and bred in the British Isles?
    DAVIES. I was!
    MICK. What did they teach you?
    Pause.
    How did you like my bed?
    Pause.
    That’s my bed. You want to mind you don’t catch a draught.
    DAVIES. From the bed?
    MICK. No, now, up your arse.
    DAVIES stares warily at MICK , who turns. DAVIES scrambles to the clothes horse and seizes his trousers. MICK turns swiftly and grabs them. DAVIES lunges for them. MICK holds out a hand warningty.
    You intending to settle down here?
    DAVIES. Give me my trousers then.
    MICK. You settling down for a long stay?
    DAVIES. Give me my bloody trousers!
    MICK. Why, where you going?
    DAVIES. Give me and I’m going, I’m going to Sidcup!
    MICK flicks the trousers in DAVIES ’ face several times.
    DAVIES retreats.
    Pause.
    MICK. You know, you remind me of a bloke I bumped into once, just the other side of the Guildford by-pass—
    DAVIES. I was brought here!
    Pause.
    MICK. Pardon?
    DAVIES. I was brought here! I was brought here!
    MICK. Brought here? Who brought you here?
    DAVIES. Man who lives here … he.…
    Pause.
    MICK. Fibber.
    DAVIES. I was brought here, last night … met him in a caff … I was working … I got the bullet … I was working there … bloke saved me from a punch up, brought me here, brought me right here.
    Pause.
    MICK. I’m afraid you’re a born fibber, en’t you? You’re speaking to the owner. This is my room. You’re standing in my house.
    DAVIES. It’s his … he seen me all right … he.…
    MICK (pointing to DAVIES ’ bed). That’s my bed.
    DAVIES. What about that, then?
    MICK. That’s my mother’s bed.
    DAVIES. Well she wasn’t in it last night!
    MICK (moving to him). Now don’t get perky, son, don’t get perky. Keep your hands off my old mum.
    DAVIES. I ain’t … I haven’t.…
    MICK. Don’t get out of your depth, friend, don’t start taking liberties with my old mother, let’s have a bit of respect.
    DAVIES. I got respect, you won’t find anyone with more respect.
    MICK. Well, stop telling me all these fibs.
    DAVIES. Now listen to me, I never seen you before, have I?
    MICK. Never seen my mother before either, I suppose?
    Pause.
    I think I’m coming to the conclusion that you’re an old rogue. You’re nothing but an old scoundrel.
    DAVIES. Now