BERT HUDD Claude Jenkins
ROSE HUDD Susan Engel
MR KIDD Henry Woolf
MR SANDS David Davies
MRS SANDS Auriol Smith
RILEY George Odlum
Directed by Henry Woolf
The Room was subsequently presented at The Hampstead Theatre Club on 21 January 1960 with the following cast:
BERT HUDD Howard Lang
ROSE HUDD Vivien Merchant
MR KIDD Henry Woolf
MR SANDS John Rees
MR SANDS Auriol Smith
RILEY Thomas Baptiste
Directed by Harold Pinter
The Room was presented at The Royal Court Theatre on 8 March 1960 with the following cast:
BERT HUDD Michael Brennan
ROSE HUDD Vivien Merchant
MR KIDD John Cater
MR SANDS Michael Caine
MR SANDS Anne Bishop
RILEY Thomas Baptiste
Directed by Anthony Page
Scene: a room in a large house. A door down right. A gas-fire down left. A gas-stove and sink, up left. A window up centre. A table and chairs, centre. A rocking-chair, left centre. The foot of a double-bed protrudes from alcove, up right.
BERT is at the table, wearing a cap, a magazine propped in front of him. ROSE is at the stove.
ROSE
Here you are. This'll keep the cold out.
She places bacon and eggs on a plate, turns off the gas and takes the plate to the table.
It's very cold out, I can tell you. It's murder.
She returns to the stove and pours water from the kettle into the teapot, turns off the gas and brings the teapot to the table, pours salt and sauce on the plate and cuts two slices of bread. BERT begins to eat.
That's right. You eat that. You'll need it. You can feel it in here. Still, the room keeps warm. It's better than the basement, anyway.
She butters the bread.
I don't know how they live down there. It's asking for trouble. Go on. Eat it up. It'll do you good.
She goes to the sink, wipes a cup and saucer and brings them to the table.
If you want to go out you might as well have something inside you. Because you'll feel it when you get out.
She pours milk into the cup.
Just now I looked out of the window. It was enough for me. There wasn't a soul about. Can you hear the wind?
She sits in the rocking-chair.
I've never seen who it is. Who is it? Who lives down there? I'll have to ask, I mean, you might as well know, Bert. But whoever it is, it can't be too cosy. Did you ever see the walls? They were running. This is all right for me. Go on, Bert. Have a bit more bread.
She goes to the table and cuts a slice of bread.
I'll have some cocoa on when you come back.
She goes to the window and settles the curtain.
No, this room's all right for me. I mean, you know where you are. When it's cold, for instance.
She goes to the table.
What about the rasher? Was it all right? It was a good one, I know, but not as good as the last lot I got in. It's the weather.
She goes to the rocking-chair, and sits.
Anyway, I haven't been out. I haven't been so well. I didn't feel up to it. Still, I'm much better today. I don't know about you though. I don't know whether you ought to go out. I mean, you shouldn't, straight after you've been laid up. Still. Don't worry, Bert. You go. You won't be long.
She rocks.
It's good you were up here, I can tell you. It's good you weren't down there, in the basement. That's no joke. Oh, I've left the tea. I've left the tea standing.
She goes to the table and pours tea into the cup.
No, it's not bad. Nice weak tea. Lovely weak tea. Here you are. Drink it down. I'll wait for mine. Anyway, I'll have it a bit stronger.
She goes to the rocking-chair and sits.
If they ever ask you, Bert, I'm quite happy where I am. We're quiet, we're all right. You're happy up here. It's not far up either, when you come in from outside. And we're not bothered. And nobody bothers us.
Pause.
I don't know why you have to go out. Couldn't you run it down tomorrow? I could put the fire on later. You could sit by the fire. That's what you like, Bert, of an evening. It'll be dark in a minute as well, soon.
She rocks.
It gets dark now.
She rises and pours out tea at the table.
I made plenty. Go on.
She sits at table.
You looked out today? It's got ice on the roads. Oh, I know you can drive. I'm not saying you can't drive. I mentioned to Mr Kidd this morning that you'd be doing a run today. I told him you hadn't been too grand, but I said, still, he's a marvellous driver. I wouldn't mind what time, where, nothing, Bert. You know how to drive. I told him.
She wraps her cardigan about her.
But it's cold. It's really cold today, chilly. I'll have you some nice cocoa on for when you get back.
She rises, goes to the window, and looks out.
It's quiet. Be coming on for dark. There's no one about.
She stands, looking.
Wait a minute.
Pause.
I wonder who that is.
Pause.
No. I thought I saw someone.
Pause.
No.
She drops the curtain.
You know what though? It looks a bit better. It's not so windy. You'd better put on your thick jersey.
She goes to the rocking-chair, sits and rocks.
This is a good room. You've got a chance in a place like this. I look after you, don't I, Bert? Like when they offered us the basement here I said no straight off. I knew that'd be no good. The ceiling right on top of you. No, you've got a window here, you can move yourself, you can come home at night, if you have to go out, you can do your job, you can come home, you're all right. And I'm here. You stand a chance.
Pause.
I wonder who has got it now. I've never seen them, or heard of them. But I think someone's down there. Whoever's got it can keep it. That looked a good rasher, Bert. I'll have a cup of tea later. I like mine a bit stronger. You like yours weak.
A knock at the door. She stands.
Who is it?
Pause.
Hallo!
Knock repeated.
Come in then.
Knock repeated.
Who is it?
Pause. The door opens and MR KIDD comes in.
MR KIDD
I knocked.
ROSE
I heard you.
MR KIDD
Eh?
ROSE
We heard you.
MR KIDD
Hallo, Mr Hudd, how are you, all right? I've been looking at the pipes.
ROSE
Are they all right?
MR KIDD
Eh?
ROSE
Sit down, Mr Kidd.
MR KIDD
No, that's all right. I just popped in, like, to see how things were going. Well, it's cosy in here, isn't it?
ROSE
Oh, thank you, Mr Kidd.
MR KIDD
You going out today, Mr Hudd? I went out. I came straight in again. Only to the corner, of course.
ROSE
Not many people about today, Mr Kidd.
MR KIDD
So I thought to myself, I'd better have a look at those pipes. In the circumstances. I only went to the corner, for a few necessary items. It's likely to snow. Very likely, in my opinion.
ROSE
Why don't you sit down, Mr Kidd?
MR KIDD
No, no, that's all right.
ROSE
Well, it's a shame you have to go out in this weather, Mr Kidd. Don't you have a help?
MR KIDD
Eh?
ROSE
I thought you had a woman to help.
MR KIDD
I haven't got any woman.
ROSE
I thought you had one when we first came.
MR KIDD
No women here.
ROSE
Maybe I was thinking of somewhere else.
MR KIDD
Plenty of women round the corner. Not here though. Oh no. Eh, have I seen that before?
ROSE
What?
MR KIDD
That chair.
ROSE
I don't know. Have you?
MR KIDD
I seem to have some remembrance.
ROSE
It's just an old rocking-chair.
MR KIDD
Was it here when you came?
ROSE
No, I brought it myself.
MR KIDD
I could swear blind I've seen that before.
ROSE
Perhaps you have.
MR KIDD
What?
ROSE
I say, perhaps you have.
MR KIDD
Yes, maybe I have.
ROSE
Take a seat, Mr Kidd.
MR KIDD
I wouldn't take an oath on it though.
BERT yawns and stretches, and continues looking at his magazine.
No, I won't sit down, with Mr Hudd just having a bit of a rest after his tea. I've got to go and get mine going in a minute. You're going out then, Mr Hudd? I was just looking at your van. She's a very nice little van, that. I notice you wrap her up well for the cold. I don't blame you. Yes, I was hearing you go off, when was it, the other morning, yes. Very smooth. I can tell a good gear-change.
ROSE
I thought your bedroom was at the back, Mr Kidd.
MR KIDD
My bedroom?
ROSE
Wasn't it at the back? Not that I ever knew.
MR KIDD
I wasn't in my bedroom.
ROSE
Oh, well.
MR KIDD
I was up and about.
ROSE
I don't get up early in this weather. I can take my time. I take my time.
Pause.
MR KIDD
This was my bedroom.
ROSE
This? When?
MR KIDD
When I lived here.
ROSE
I didn't know that.
MR KIDD
I will sit down for a few ticks.
He sits in the armchair.
ROSE
Well, I never knew that.
MR KIDD
Was this chair here when you came?
ROSE
Yes.
MR KIDD
I can't recollect this one.
Pause.
ROSE
When was that then?
MR KIDD
Eh?
ROSE
When was this your bedroom?
MR KIDD
A good while back.
Pause.
ROSE
I was telling Bert I was telling you how he could drive.
MR KIDD
Mr Hudd? Oh, Mr Hudd can drive all right. I've seen him bowl down the road all right. Oh yes.
ROSE
Well, Mr Kidd, I must say this is a very nice room. It's a very comfortable room.
MR KIDD
Best room in the house.
ROSE
It must get a bit damp downstairs.
MR KIDD
Not as bad as upstairs.
ROSE
What about downstairs?
MR KIDD
Eh?
ROSE
What about downstairs?
MR KIDD
What about it?
ROSE
Must get a bit damp.
MR KIDD
A bit. Not as bad as upstairs though.
ROSE
Anyone live up there?
MR KIDD
Up there? There was. Gone now.
ROSE
How many floors you got in this house?
MR KIDD
Floors. (He laughs.) Ah, we had a good few of them in the old days.
ROSE
How many have you got now?
MR KIDD
Well, to tell you the truth, I don't count them now.
ROSE
Oh.
MR KIDD
No, not now.
ROSE
It must be a bit of a job.
MR KIDD
Oh, I used to count them, once. Never got tired of it. I used to keep a tack on everything in this house. I had a lot to keep my eye on, then. I was able for it too. That was when my sister was alive. But I lost track a bit, after she died. She's been dead some time now, my sister. It was a good house then. She was a capable woman. Yes. Fine size of a woman too. I think she took after my mum. Yes, I think she took after my old mum, from what I can recollect. I think my mum was a Jewess. Yes, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she was a Jewess. She didn't have many babies.
ROSE
What about your sister, Mr Kidd?
MR KIDD
What about her?
ROSE
Did she have any babies?
MR KIDD
Yes, she had a resemblance to my old mum, I think. Taller, of course.
ROSE
When did she die then, your sister?
MR KIDD
Yes, that's right, it was after she died that I must have stopped counting. She used to keep things in very good trim. And I gave her a helping hand. She was very grateful, right until her last. She always used to tell me how much she appreciated all the – little things – that I used to do for her. Then she copped it. I was her senior. Yes, I was her senior. She had a lovely boudoir. A beautiful boudoir.
ROSE
What did she die of?
Pause.
MR KIDD
I've made ends meet.
Pause.
ROSE
You full at the moment, Mr Kidd?
MR KIDD
Packed out.
ROSE
All sorts, I suppose?
MR KIDD
Oh yes, I make ends meet.
ROSE
We do, too, don't we, Bert?
Pause.
Where's your bedroom now then, Mr Kidd?
MR KIDD
Me? I can take my pick. (rising) You'll be going out soon then, Mr Hudd? Well, be careful how you go. Those roads'll be no joke. Still, you know how to manipulate your van all right, don't you? Where you going? Far? Be long?
ROSE
He won't be long.
MR KIDD
No, of course not. Shouldn't take him long.
ROSE
No.
MR KIDD
Well then, I'll pop off. Have a good run, Mr Hudd. Mind how you go. It'll be dark soon too. But not for a good while yet. Arivederci.
He exits.
ROSE
I don't believe he had a sister, ever.
She takes the plate and cup to the sink. BERT pushes his chair back and rises.
All right. Wait a minute. Where's your jersey?
She brings the jersey from the bed.
Here you are. Get into it.
She helps him into his jersey.
Right. Where's your muffler?
She brings a muffler from the bed.
Here you are. Wrap it round. That's it. Don't go too fast, Bert, will you? I'll have some cocoa on when you get back. You won't be long. Wait a minute. Where's your overcoat? You'd better put on your overcoat.
He fixes his muffler, goes to the door and exits. She stands, watching the door, then turns slowly to the table, picks up the magazine, and puts it down. She stands and listens, goes to the fire, bends, lights the fire and warms her hands. She stands and looks about the room. She looks at the window and listens, goes quickly to the window, stops and straightens the curtain. She comes to the centre of the room, and looks towards the door. She goes to the bed, puts on a shawl, goes to the sink, takes a bin from under the sink, goes to the door and opens it.
Oh!
MR and MRS SANDS are disclosed on the landing.
MRS SANDS
So sorry. We didn't mean to be standing here, like. Didn't mean to give you a fright. We've just come up the stairs.
ROSE
That's all right.
MRS SANDS
This is Mr Sands. I'm Mrs Sands.
ROSE
How do you do?
MR SANDS grunts acknowledgement.
MRS SANDS
We were just going up the stairs. But you can't see a thing in this place. Can you, Toddy?
MRS SANDS
Not a thing.
ROSE
What were you looking for?
MRS SANDS
The man who runs the house.
MR SANDS
The landlord. We're trying to get hold of the landlord.
MRS SANDS
What's his name, Toddy?
ROSE
His name's Mr Kidd.
MRS SANDS
Kidd. Was that the name, Toddy?
MR SANDS
Kidd? No, that's not it.
ROSE
Mr Kidd. That's his name.
MR SANDS
Well, that's not the bloke we're looking for.
ROSE
Well, you must be looking for someone else.
Pause.
MR SANDS
I suppose we must be.
ROSE
You look cold.
MRS SANDS
It's murder out. Have you been out?
ROSE
No.
MRS SANDS
We've not long come in.
ROSE
Well, come inside, if you like, and have a warm.
(bringing the chair from the table to the fire) Sit down here. You can get a good warm.
MRS SANDS
Thanks. (She sits.)
ROSE
Come over by the fire, Mr Sands.
MR SANDS
No, it's all right. I'll just stretch my legs.
MRS SANDS
Why? You haven't been sitting down.
MR SANDS
What about it?
MRS SANDS
Well, why don't you sit down?
MR SANDS
Why should I?
MRS SANDS
You must be cold.
MR SANDS
I'm not.
MRS SANDS
You must be. Bring over a chair and sit down.
MRS SANDS
I'm all right standing up, thanks.
MRS SANDS
You don't look one thing or the other standing up.
MR SANDS
I'm quite all right, Clarissa.
ROSE
Clarissa? What a pretty name.
MRS SANDS
Yes, it is nice, isn't it? My father and mother gave it to me.
Pause.
You know, this is a room you can sit down and feel cosy in.
MR SANDS
(looking at the room) It's a fair size, all right.
MRS SANDS
Why don't you sit down, Mrs –
ROSE
Hudd. No thanks.
MR SANDS
What did you say?
ROSE
When?
MRS SANDS
What did you say the name was?
ROSE
Hudd.
MR SANDS
That's it. You're the wife of the bloke you mentioned then?
MRS SANDS
No, she isn't. That was Mr Kidd.
MR SANDS
Was it? I thought it was Hudd.
MRS SANDS
No, it was Kidd. Wasn't it, Mrs Hudd?
ROSE
That's right. The landlord.
MRS SANDS
No, not the landlord. The other man.
ROSE
Well, that's his name. He's the landlord.
MR SANDS
Who?
ROSE
Mr Kidd.
Pause.
MR SANDS
Is he?
MRS SANDS
Maybe there are two landlords.
Pause.
MR SANDS
That'll be the day.
MRS SANDS
What did you say?
MR SANDS
I said that'll be the day.
Pause.
ROSE
What's it like out?
MRS SANDS
It's very dark out.
MR SANDS
No darker than in.
MRS SANDS
He's right there.
MR SANDS
It's darker in than out, for my money.
MRS SANDS
There's not much light in this place, is there, Mrs Hudd? Do you know, this is the first bit of light we've seen since we came in?
MR SANDS
The first crack.
ROSE
I never go out at night. We stay in.
MRS SANDS
Now I come to think of it, I saw a star.
MR SANDS
You saw what?
MRS SANDS
Well, I think I did.
MR SANDS
You think you saw what?
MRS SANDS
A star.
MR SANDS
Where?
MRS SANDS
In the sky.
MR SANDS
When?
MRS SANDS
As we were coming along.
MR SANDS
Go home.
MRS SANDS
What do you mean?
MR SANDS
You didn't see a star.
MRS SANDS
Why not?
MR SANDS
Because I'm telling you. I'm telling you you didn't see a star.
ROSE
I hope it's not too dark out. I hope it's not too icy. My husband's in his van. He doesn't drive slow either. He never drives slow.
MR SANDS
(guffawing) Well, he's taking a big chance tonight then.
ROSE
What?
MR SANDS
No – I mean, it'd be a bit dodgy driving tonight.
ROSE
He's a very good driver.
Pause.
How long have you been here?
MRS SANDS
I don't know. How long have we been here, Toddy?
MR SANDS
About half an hour.
MRS SANDS
Longer than that, much longer.
MR SANDS
About thirty-five minutes.
ROSE
Well, I think you'll find Mr Kidd about somewhere. He's not long gone to make his tea.
MR SANDS
He lives here, does he?
ROSE
Of course he lives here.
MR SANDS
And you say he's the landlord, is he?
ROSE
Of course he is.
MR SANDS
Well, say I wanted to get hold of him, where would I find him?
ROSE
Well – I'm not sure.
MR SANDS
He lives here, does he?
ROSE
Yes, but I don't know –
MR SANDS
You don't know exactly where he hangs out?
ROSE
No, not exactly.
MR SANDS
But he does live here, doesn't he?
Pause.
MRS SANDS
This is a very big house, Toddy.
MR SANDS
Yes, I know it is. But Mrs Hudd seems to know Mr Kidd very well.
ROSE
No, I wouldn't say that. As a matter of fact, I don't know him at all. We're very quiet. We keep ourselves to ourselves. I never interfere. I mean, why should I? We've got our room. We don't bother anyone else. That's the way it should be.
MRS SANDS
It's a nice house, isn't it? Roomy.
ROSE
I don't know about the house. We're all right, but I wouldn't mind betting there's a lot wrong with this house.
She sits in the rocking-chair.
I think there's a lot of damp.
MRS SANDS
Yes, I felt a bit of damp when we were in the basement just now.
ROSE
You were in the basement?
MRS SANDS
Yes, we went down there when we came in.
ROSE
Why?
MRS SANDS
We were looking for the landlord.
ROSE
What was it like down there?
MR SANDS
Couldn't see a thing.
ROSE
Why not?
MR SANDS
There wasn't any light.
ROSE
But what was – you said it was damp?
MRS SANDS
I felt a bit, didn't you, Tod?
MR SANDS
Why? Haven't you ever been down there, Mrs Hudd?
ROSE
Oh yes, once, a long time ago.
MR SANDS
Well, you know what it's like then, don't you?
ROSE
It was a long time ago.
MR SANDS
You haven't been here all that long, have you?
ROSE
I was just wondering whether anyone was living down there now.
MRS SANDS
Yes. A man.
ROSE
A man?
MRS SANDS
Yes.
ROSE
One man?
MR SANDS
Yes, there was a bloke down there, all right.
He perches on the table.
MRS SANDS
You're sitting down!
MR SANDS
(jumping up) Who is?
MRS SANDS
You were.
MR SANDS
Don't be silly. I perched.
MRS SANDS
I saw you sit down.
MR SANDS
You did not see me sit down because I did not sit bloody well down. I perched!
MRS SANDS
Do you think I can't perceive when someone's sitting down?
MR SANDS
Perceive! That's all you do. Perceive.
MRS SANDS
You could do with a bit more of that instead of all that tripe you get up to.
MR SANDS
You don't mind some of that tripe!
MRS SANDS
You take after your uncle, that's who you take after!
MR SANDS
And who do you take after?
MRS SANDS
I didn't bring you into the world.
MR SANDS
You didn't what?
MRS SANDS
I said, I didn't bring you into the world.
MR SANDS
Well, who did then? That's what I want to know.
Who did? Who did bring me into the world?
She sits, muttering. He stands, muttering.
ROSE
You say you saw a man downstairs, in the basement?
MRS SANDS
Yes, Mrs Hudd, you see, the thing is, Mrs Hudd, we'd heard they'd got a room to let here, so we thought we'd come along and have a look. Because we're looking for a place, you see, somewhere quiet, and we knew this district was quiet, and we passed the house a few months ago and we thought it looked very nice, but we thought we'd call of an evening, to catch the landlord, so we came along this evening. Well, when we got here we walked in the front door and it was very dark in the hall and there wasn't anyone about. So we went down to the basement. Well, we got down there only due to Toddy having such good eyesight really. Between you and me, I didn't like the look of it much, I mean the feel, we couldn't make much out, it smelt damp to me. Anyway, we went through a kind of partition, then there was another partition, and we couldn't see where we were going, well, it seemed to me it got darker the more we went, the further we went in, I thought we must have come to the wrong house. So I stopped. And Toddy stopped. And then this voice said, this voice came – it said – well, it gave me a bit of a fright, I don't know about Tod, but someone asked if he could do anything for us. So Tod said we were looking for the landlord and this man said the landlord would be upstairs. Then Tod asked was there a room vacant. And this man, this voice really, I think he was behind the partition, said yes there was a room vacant. He was very polite, I thought, but we never saw him, I don't know why they never put a light on. Anyway, we got out then and we came up and we went to the top of the house. I don't know whether it was the top. There was a door locked on the stairs, so there might have been another floor, but we didn't see anyone, and it was dark, and we were just coming down again when you opened your door.
ROSE
You said you were going up.
MRS SANDS
What?
ROSE
You said you were going up before.
MRS SANDS
No, we were coming down.
ROSE
You didn't say that before.
MRS SANDS
We'd been up.
MR SANDS
We'd been up. We were coming down.
Pause.
ROSE
This man, what was he like, was he old?
MRS SANDS
We didn't see him.
ROSE
Was he old?
Pause.
MR SANDS
Well, we'd better try to get hold of this landlord, if he's about.
ROSE
You won't find any rooms vacant in this house.
MR SANDS
Why not?
ROSE
Mr Kidd told me. He told me.
MR SANDS
Mr Kidd?
ROSE
He told me he was full up.
MR SANDS
The man in the basement said there was one. One room. Number seven he said.
Pause.
ROSE
That's this room.
MR SANDS
We'd better go and get hold of the landlord.
MRS SANDS
(rising) Well, thank you for the warm-up, Mrs Hudd. I feel better now.
ROSE
This room is occupied.
MR SANDS
Come on.
MRS SANDS
Goodnight, Mrs Hudd. I hope your husband won't be too long. Must be lonely for you, being all alone here.
MR SANDS
Come on.
They go out. ROSE watches the door close, starts towards it, and stops. She takes the chair back to the table, picks up the magazine, looks at it, and puts it down. She goes to the rocking-chair, sits, rocks, stops, and sits still. There is a sharp knock at the door, which opens. Enter MR KIDD.
MR KIDD
I came straight in.
ROSE
(rising) Mr Kidd! I was just going to find you. I've got to speak to you.
MR KIDD
Look here, Mrs Hudd, I've got to speak to you. I came up specially.
ROSE
There were two people in here just now. They said this room was going vacant. What were they talking about?
MR KIDD
As soon as I heard the van go I got ready to come and see you. I'm knocked out.
ROSE
What was it all about? Did you see those people? How can this room be going? It's occupied. Did they get hold of you, Mr Kidd?
MR KIDD
Get hold of me? Who?
ROSE
I told you. Two people. They were looking for the landlord.
MR KIDD
I'm just telling you. I've been getting ready to come and see you, as soon as I heard the van go.
ROSE
Well then, who were they?
MR KIDD
That's why I came up before. But he hadn't gone yet.
I've been waiting for him to go the whole weekend.
ROSE
Mr Kidd, what did they mean about this room?
MR KIDD
What room?
ROSE
Is this room vacant?
MR KIDD
Vacant?
ROSE
They were looking for the landlord.
MR KIDD
Who were?
ROSE
Listen, Mr Kidd, you are the landlord, aren't you? There isn't any other landlord?
MR KIDD
What? What's that got to do with it? I don't know what you're talking about. I've got to tell you, that's all. I've got to tell you. I've had a terrible weekend. You'll have to see him. I can't take it any more. You've got to see him.
Pause.
ROSE
Who?
MR KIDD
The man. He's been waiting to see you. He wants to see you. I can't get rid of him. I'm not a young man, Mrs Hudd, that's apparent. It's apparent. You've got to see him.
ROSE
See who?
MR KIDD
The man. He's downstairs now. He's been there the whole weekend. He said that when Mr Hudd went out I was to tell him. That's why I came up before. But he hadn't gone yet. So I told him. I said he hasn't gone yet. I said, well when he goes, I said, you can go up, go up, have done with it. No, he says, you must ask her if she'll see me. So I came up again, to ask you if you'll see him.
ROSE
Who is he?
MR KIDD
How do I know who he is? All I know is he won't say a word, he won't indulge in any conversation, just – has he gone? That and nothing else. He wouldn't even play a game of chess. All right, I said, the other night, while we're waiting I'll play you a game of chess. You play chess, don't you? I tell you, Mrs Hudd, I don't know if he even heard what I was saying. He just lies there. It's not good for me. He just lies there, that's all, waiting.
ROSE
He lies there, in the basement?
MR KIDD
Shall I tell him it's all right, Mrs Hudd?
ROSE
But it's damp down there.
MR KIDD
Shall I tell him it's all right?
ROSE
That what's all right?
MR KIDD
That you'll see him.
ROSE
See him? I beg your pardon, Mr Kidd. I don't know him. Why should I see him?
MR KIDD
You won't see him?
ROSE
Do you expect me to see someone I don't know? With my husband not here too?
MR KIDD
But he knows you, Mrs Hudd, he knows you.
ROSE
How could he, Mr Kidd, when I don't know him?
MR KIDD
You must know him.
ROSE
But I don't know anybody. We're quiet here. We've just moved into this district.
MR KIDD
But he doesn't come from this district. Perhaps you knew him in another district.
ROSE
Mr Kidd, do you think I go around knowing men in one district after another? What do you think I am?
MR KIDD
I don't know what I think.
He sits.
I think I'm going off my squiff.
ROSE
You need rest. An old man like you. What you need is rest.
MR KIDD
He hasn't given me any rest. Just lying there. In the black dark. Hour after hour. Why don't you leave me be, both of you? Mrs Hudd, have a bit of pity. Please see him. Why don't you see him?
ROSE
I don't know him.
MR KIDD
You can never tell. You might know him.
ROSE
I don't know him.
MR KIDD
(rising) I don't know what'll happen if you don't see him.
ROSE
I've told you I don't know this man!
MR KIDD
I know what he'll do. I know what he'll do. If you don't see him now, there'll be nothing else for it, he'll come up on his own bat, when your husband's here, that's what he'll do. He'll come up when Mr Hudd's here, when your husband's here.
ROSE
He'd never do that.
MR KIDD
He would do that. That's exactly what he'll do. You don't think he's going to go away without seeing you, after he's come all this way, do you? You don't think that, do you?
ROSE
All this way?
MR KIDD
You don't think he's going to do that, do you?
Pause.
ROSE
He wouldn't do that.
MR KIDD
Oh yes. I know it.
Pause.
ROSE
What's the time?
MR KIDD
I don't know.
Pause.
ROSE
Fetch him. Quick. Quick!
MR KIDD goes out. ROSE sits in the rocking-chair.
After a few moments the door opens. Enter a blind NEGRO. He closes the door behind him, walks further, and feels with a stick till he reaches the armchair. He stops.
RILEY
Mrs Hudd?
ROSE
You just touched a chair. Why don't you sit in it?
He sits.
RILEY
Thank you.
ROSE
Don't thank me for anything. I don't want you up here. I don't know who you are. And the sooner you get out the better.
Pause.
(rising) Well, come on. Enough's enough. You can take a liberty too far, you know. What do you want? You force your way up here. You disturb my evening. You come in and sit down here. What do you want?
He looks about the room.
What are you looking at? You're blind, aren't you? So what are you looking at? What do you think you've got here, a little girl? I can keep up with you. I'm one ahead of people like you. Tell me what you want and get out.
RILEY
My name is Riley.
ROSE
I don't care if it's – What? That's not your name. That's not your name. You've got a grown-up woman in this room, do you hear? Or are you deaf too? You're not deaf too, are you? You're all deaf and dumb and blind, the lot of you. A bunch of cripples.
Pause.
RILEY
This is a large room.
ROSE
Never mind about the room. What do you know about this room? You know nothing about it. And you won't be staying in it long either. My luck. I get these creeps come in, smelling up my room. What do you want?
RILEY
I want to see you.
ROSE
Well you can't see me, can you? You're a blind man. An old, poor blind man. Aren't you? Can't see a dickeybird.
Pause.
They say I know you. That's an insult, for a start. Because I can tell you, I wouldn't know you to spit on, not from a mile off.
Pause.
Oh, these customers. They come in here and stink the place out. After a handout. I know all about it. And as for you saying you know me, what liberty is that? Telling my landlord too. Upsetting my landlord. What do you think you're up to? We're settled down here, cosy, quiet, and our landlord thinks the world of us, we're his favourite tenants, and you come in and drive him up the wall, and drag my name into it! What did you mean by dragging my name into it, and my husband's name? How did you know what our name was?
Pause.
You've led him a dance, have you, this weekend? You've got him going, have you? A poor, weak old man, who lets a respectable house. Finished. Done for. You push your way in and shove him about. And you drag my name into it.
Pause.
Come on, then. You say you wanted to see me. Well, I'm here. Spit it out or out you go. What do you want?
RILEY
I have a message for you.
ROSE
You've got what? How could you have a message for me, Mr Riley, when I don't know you and nobody knows I'm here and I don't know anybody anyway. You think I'm an easy touch, don't you? Well, why don't you give it up as a bad job? Get off out of it. I've had enough of this. You're not only a nut, you're a blind nut and you can get out the way you came.
Pause.
What message? Who have you got a message from? Who?
RILEY
Your father wants you to come home.
Pause.
ROSE
Home?
RILEY
Yes.
ROSE
Home? Go now. Come on. It's late. It's late.
RILEY
To come home.
ROSE
Stop it. I can't take it. What do you want? What do you want?
RILEY
Come home, Sal.
Pause.
ROSE
What did you call me?
RILEY
Come home, Sal.
ROSE
Don't call me that.
RILEY
Come, now.
ROSE
Don't call me that.
RILEY
So now you're here.
ROSE
Not Sal.
RILEY
Now I touch you.
ROSE
Don't touch me.
RILEY
Sal.
ROSE
I can't.
RILEY
I want you to come home.
ROSE
No.
RILEY
With me.
ROSE
I can't.
RILEY
I waited to see you.
ROSE
Yes.
RILEY
Now I see you.
ROSE
Yes.
RILEY
Sal.
ROSE
Not that.
RILEY
So, now.
Pause.
So, now.
ROSE
I've been here.
RILEY
Yes.
ROSE
Long.
RILEY
Yes.
ROSE
The day is a hump. I never go out.
RILEY
No.
ROSE
I've been here.
RILEY
Come home now, Sal.
She touches his eyes, the back of his head and his temples with her hands. Enter BERT.
He stops at the door, then goes to the window and draws the curtains. It is dark. He comes to the centre of the room and regards the woman.
BERT
I got back all right.
ROSE
(going towards him) Yes.
BERT
I got back all right.
Pause.
ROSE
Is it late?
BERT
I had a good bowl down there.
Pause.
I drove her down, hard. They got it dark out.
ROSE
Yes.
BERT
Then I drove her back, hard. They got it very icy out.
ROSE
Yes.
BERT
But I drove her.
Pause.
I sped her.
Pause.
I caned her along. She was good. Then I got back. I could see the road all right. There was no cars. One there was. He wouldn't move. I bumped him. I got my road. I had all my way. There again and back. They shoved out of it. I kept on the straight. There was no mixing it. Not with her. She was good. She went with me. She don't mix it with me. I use my hand. Like that. I get hold of her. I go where I go. She took me there. She brought me back.
Pause.
I got back all right.
He takes the chair from the table and sits to the left of the Negro's chair, close to it. He regards the NEGRO for some moments. Then with his foot he lifts the armchair up. The NEGRO falls on to the floor.
RILEY
Mr Hudd, your wife –
BERT
Lice!
BERT kicks the Negro's head against the gas-stove several times. The NEGRO lies still. BERT walks away.
Silence.
ROSE stands clutching her eyes.
ROSE
Can't see. I can't see. I can't see.
Blackout.
Curtain.
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