Read Online Complete Works, Volume III by Harold Pinter - Free Book Online Page A

you feeling, son? Are you all right?
    JOEY . Sure I'm all right.
    MAX ( to TEDDY ). Does she do that to you, too?
    TEDDY. No.
    LENNY. He gets the gravy.
    MAX . You think so?
    JOEY . No he don't.
    Pause.
    SAM. He's her lawful husband. She's his lawful wife.
    JOEY . No he don't! He don't get no gravy! I'm telling you. I’m telling all of you. I'll kill the next man who says he gets the gravy.
    MAX . Joey . . . what are you getting so excited about? ( To LENNY .) It's because he's frustrated. You see what happens?
    JOEY . Who is?
    MAX . Joey. No-one's saying you're wrong. In fact everyone's saying you're right.
    Pause.
    MAX turns to the others.
    You know something? Perhaps it's not a bad idea to have a woman in the house. Perhaps it's a good thing. Who knows? Maybe we should keep her.
    Pause.
    Maybe we'll ask her if she wants to stay.
    Pause.
    TEDDY. I’m afraid not, Dad. She's not well, and we've got to get home to the children.
    MAX . Not well? I told you, I’m used to looking after people who are not so well. Don't worry about that. Perhaps we'll keep her here.
    Pause.
    SAM. Don't be silly.
    MAX . What's silly?
    SAM. You're talking rubbish.
    MAX. Me?
    SAM. She's got three children.
    MAX. She can have more! Here. If she's so keen.
    TEDDY . She doesn't want any more.
    MAX. What do you know about what she wants, eh, Ted?
    TEDDY ( smiling ). The best thing for her is to come home with me, Dad. Really. We're married, you know.
    MAX walks about the room, clicks his fingers .
    MAX . We'd have to pay her, of course. You realize that? We can't leave her walking about without any pocket money. She'll have to have a little allowance.
    JOEY. Of course we'll pay her. She's got to have some money in her pocket.
    MAX . That's what I'm saying. You can't expect a woman to walk about without a few bob to spend on a pair of stockings.
    Pause.
    LENNY. Where's the money going to come from?
    MAX. Well, how much is she worth? What we talking about, three figures?
    LENNY. I asked you where the money's going to come from. It'll be an extra mouth to feed. It'll be an extra body to clothe. You realize that?
    JOEY. I'll buy her clothes.
    LENNY. What with?
    JOEY . I'll put in a certain amount out of my wages.
    MAX. That's it. We'll pass the hat round. We'll make a donation. We're all grown-up people, we've got a sense of responsibility. We'll all put a little in the hat. It's democratic.
    LENNY. It'll come to a few quid, Dad.
    Pause .
    I mean, she's not a woman who likes walking around in second-hand goods. She's up to the latest fashion. You wouldn't want her walking about in clothes which don't show her off at her best, would you?
    MAX. Lenny, do you mind if I make a little comment? It's not meant to be critical. But I think you're concentrating too much on the economic considerations. There are other considerations. There are the human considerations. You understand what I mean? There are the human considerations. Don't forget them.
    LENNY. I won't.
    MAX. Well don't.
    Pause.
    Listen, we're bound to treat her in something approximating, at least, to the manner in which she's accustomed. After all, she's not someone off the street, she's my daughter-in-law!
    JOEY . That's right.
    MAX . There you are, you see. Joey’ll donate, Sam’ll donate. . . .
    SAM looks at him .
    I'll put a few bob out of my pension, Lenny’ll cough up. We're laughing. What about you, Ted? How much you going to put in the kitty?
    TEDDY . I'm not putting anything in the kitty.
    MAX. What? You won't even help to support your own wife? You lousy stinkpig. Your mother would drop dead if she heard you take that attitude.
    LENNY. Eh, Dad.
    LENNY walks forward .
    I've got a better idea.
    MAX . What?
    LENNY. There's no need for us to go to all this expense. I know these women. Once they get started they ruin your budget. I've got a better idea. Why don't I take her up with me to Greek Street?
    Pause.
    MAX . You mean put her on the game?
    Pause.
    We'll put her on the game. That's a