Harold Pinter Plays 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

Wait—
    MICK. Listen, son. Listen, sonny. You stink.
    DAVIES. You ain’t got no right to—
    MICK. You’re stinking the place out. You’re an old robber, there’s no getting away from it. You’re an old skate. You don’t belong in a nice place like this. You’re an old barbarian. Honest. You got no business wandering about in an unfurnished flat. I could charge seven quid a week for this if I wanted to. Get a taker tomorrow. Three hundred and fifty a year exclusive. No argument. I mean, if that sort of money’s in your range don’t be afraid to say so. Here you are. Furniture and fittings, I’ll take four hundred or the nearest offer. Rateable value ninety quid for the annum. You can reckon water, heating and lighting at close on fifty. That’ll cost you eight hundred and ninety if you’re all that keen. Say the word and I’ll have my solicitors draft you out a contract. Otherwise I’ve got the van outside, I can run youto the police station in five minutes, have you in for tres passing, loitering with intent, daylight robbery, filching, thieving and stinking the place out. What do you say? Unless you’re really keen on a straightforward purchase. Of course, I’ll get my brother to decorate it up for you first. I’ve got a brother who’s a number one decorator. He’ll decorate it up for you. If you want more space, there’s four more rooms along the landing ready to go. Bathroom, living-room, bedroom and nursery. You can have this as your study. This brother I mentioned, he’s just about to start on the other rooms. Yes, just about to start. So what do you say? Eight hundred odd for this room or three thousand down for the whole upper storey. On the other hand, if you prefer to approach it in the long-term way I know an insurance firm in West Ham’ll be pleased to handle the deal for you. No strings attached, open and above board, untarnished record; twenty per cent interest, fifty per cent deposit; down payments, back payments, family allowances, bonus schemes, remission of term for good behaviour, six months lease, yearly examination of the relevant archives, tea laid on, disposal of shares, benefit extension, compensation on cessation, comprehensive indemnity against Riot, Civil Commotion, Labour Disturbances, Storm, Tempest, Thunderbolt, Larceny or Cattle all subject to a daily check and double check. Of course we’d need a signed declaration from your personal medical attendant as assurance that you possess the requisite fitness to carry the can, won’t we? Who do you bank with?
    Pause.
    Who do you bank with?
    The door opens. ASTON comes in. MICK turns and drops the trousers. DAVIES picks them up and puts them on. ASTON , after a glance at the other two, goes to his bed, places a bag which he is carrying on it, sits down and resumes fixing the toaster. DAVIES retreats to his corner. MICK sits in the chair.
    Silence.
    A drip sounds in the bucket. They all look up.
    Silence.
    You still got that leak.
    ASTON. Yes.
    Pause.
    It’s coming from the roof.
    MICK. From the roof, eh?
    ASTON. Yes.
    Pause.
    I’ll have to tar it over.
    MICK. You’re going to tar it over?
    ASTON. Yes.
    MICK. What?
    ASTON. The cracks.
    Pause.
    MICK. You’ll be tarring over the cracks on the roof.
    ASTON. Yes.
    Pause.
    MICK. Think that’ll do it?
    ASTON. It’ll do it, for the time being.
    MICK. Uh.
    Pause.
    DAVIES (abruptly). What do you do—?
    They both look at him.
    What do you do … when that bucket’s full?
    Pause.
    ASTON. Empty it.
    Pause.
    MICK. I was telling my friend you were about to start decorating the other rooms.
    ASTON. Yes.
    Pause.
    ( To DAVIES .) I got your bag.
    DAVIES. Oh. ( Crossing to him and taking it ) . Oh thanks, mister, thanks. Give it to you, did they?
    DAVIES crosses back with the bag.
MICK rises and snatches it.
    MICK. What’s this?
    DAVIES. Give us it, that’s my bag!
    MICK (warding him off). I’ve seen this bag before.
    DAVIES. That’s my bag!
    MICK (eluding him). This bag’s very