Complete Works, Volume I by Harold Pinter Page B

PETEY studies the front page of the paper.
    MEG ( coming downstage ). The car's gone.
    PETEY . Yes.
    MEG . Have they gone?
    PETEY . Yes.
    MEG . Won't they be in for lunch?
    PETEY . No.
    MEG . Oh, what a shame. ( She puts her bag on the table. ) It's hot out. ( She hangs her coat on a hook. ) What are you doing?
    PETEY . Reading.
    MEG . Is it good?
    PETEY . All right.
    She sits by the table.
    MEG . Where's Stan?
    Pause.
    Is Stan down yet, Petey?
    PETEY . No . . . he's . . . .
    MBG . Is he still in bed?
    PETEY . Yes, he's . . . still asleep.
    MEG . Still? He'll be late for his breakfast.
    PETEY . Let him . . . sleep.
    Pause.
    MEG . Wasn't it a lovely party last night?
    PETEY . I wasn't there.
    MEG . Weren't you?
    PETEY . I came in afterwards.
    MEG . Oh.
    Pause.
    It was a lovely party. I haven't laughed so much for years. We had dancing and singing. And games. You should have been there.
    PETEY . It was good, eh?
    Pause.
    MEG . I was the belle of the ball.
    PETEY . Were you?
    MEG . Oh yes. They all said I was.
    PETEY . I bet you were, too.
    MEG . Oh, it's true. I was.
    Pause.
    I know I was.
    Curtain

The Room

     
    THE ROOM was first presented at the Hampstead Theatre Club on 21st January, 1960, with the following cast:

    Directed by Harold Pinter
    THE ROOM was subsequently presented at the Royal Court Theatre on 8th March, 1960, with four changes in the cast:
    BERT HUDD
Michael Brennan
MR KIDD
John Cater
MRS SANDS
Michael Caine
MRS SANDS
Anne Bishop
    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.
    Pause.
    I think it's changed hands since I was last there. I didn't see who moved in then. I mean the first time it was taken.
    Pause.
    Anyway, I think they've gone now.
    Pause.
    But I think someone else has gone in now. I wouldn't like to live in that basement. 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