Free Complete Works, Volume III by Harold Pinter Page A

picks one up.
    Well, I'll leave your case, Ruth . I'll just go up the road to the Underground.
    MAX. Listen, if you go the other way, first left, first right, you remember, you might find a cab passing there.
    TEDDY . Yes, I might do that.
    MAX . Or you can take the tube to Piccadilly Circus, won't take you ten minutes, and pick up a cab from there out to the Airport.
    TEDDY . Yes, I’ll probably do that.
    MAX . Mind you, they'll charge you double fare. They'll charge you for the return trip. It's over the six-mile limit.
    TEDDY . Yes. Well, bye-bye, Dad. Look after yourself.
    They shake hands.
    MAX . Thanks, son. Listen. I want to tell you something. It's been wonderful to see you.
    Pause.
    TEDDY . It's been wonderful to see you.
    MAX . Do your boys know about me? Eh? Would they like to see a photo, do you think, of their grandfather?
    TEDDY . I know they would.
    MAX brings out his wallet .
    MAX . I've got one on me. I've got one here. Just a minute. Here you are. Will they like that one?
    TEDDY ( taking it ). They'll be thrilled.
    He turns to LENNY.
    Good-bye, Lenny .
    They shake hands.
    LENNY. Ta-ta, Ted. Good to see you. Have a good trip.
    TEDDY . Bye-bye, Joey .
    JOEY does not move .
    JOEY . Ta-ta.
    TEDDY goes to the front door .
    RUTH. Eddie.
    TEDDY turns.
    Pause.
    Don't become a stranger.
    TEDDY goes, shuts the front door.
    Silence .
    The three men stand.
    RUTH sits relaxed on her chair.
    SAM lies still .
    JOEY walks slowly across the room .
    He kneels at her chair.
    She touches his head, lightly.
    He puts his head in her lap .
    MAX begins to move above them, backwards and forwards .
    LENNY stands still .
    MAX turns to LENNY.
    MAX. I'm too old, I suppose. She thinks I'm an old man.
    Pause.
    I'm not such an old man.
    Pause.
    ( To RUTH. ) You think I'm too old for you?
    Pause.
    Listen. You think you're just going to get that big slag all the time? You think you're just going to have him . . . you're going to just have him all the time? You're going to have to work! You'll have to take them on, you understand?
    Pause.
    Does she realize that?
    Pause.
    Lenny, do you think she understands . . .
    He begins to stammer.
    What . . . what . . . what . . . we're getting at? What . . . we've got in mind? Do you think she's got it clear?
    Pause.
    I don't think she's got it clear.
    Pause.
    You understand what I mean? Listen, I've got a funny idea she'll do the dirty on us, you want to bet? She'll use us, she'll make use of us, I can tell you! I can smell it! You want to bet?
    Pause.
    She won't . . . be adaptable!
       He begins to groan, clutches his stick, falls on to his knees by the side of her chair. His body sags. The groaning stops. His body straightens. He looks at her, still kneeling.
    I'm not an old man.
    Pause.
    Do you hear me?
    He raises his face to her.
    Kiss me.
    She continues to touch JOEY’S head, lightly .
    LENNY stands, watching .
    Curtain

Tea Party

     
    TEA PARTY was commissioned by sixteen member countries of the European Broadcasting Union, to be transmitted by all of them under the title, The Largest Theatre in the World . It was first presented by B.B.C. Television on 25 March 1965 with the following cast:
    DISSON
Leo McKern
WENDY
Vivien Merchant
DIANA
Jennifer Wright
WILLY
Charles Gray
DISLEY
John Le Mesurier
LOIS
Margaret Denyer
FATHER
Frederick Piper
MOTHER
Hilda Barry
TOM
Peter Bartlett
JOHN
Robert Bartlett
Directed by Charles Jarrott

     
    A stage version of TEA PARTY , in double-bill with the BASEMENT , opened at the Duchess Theatre, London, on 17 September 1970, directed by James Hammerstein and produced by Eddie Kulukundis for Knightsbridge Theatrical Productions Ltd, with the following cast:
    DISSON
Donald Pleasence
WENDY
Vivien Merchant
DIANA
Gabrielle Drake
WILLY
Barry Foster
TOM
Robin Angell
JOHN
Kevin Chippendale
DISLEY
Derek Aylward
LOIS
Jill Johnson
FATHER
Arthur Hewlett
MOTHER
Hilda Barry

     
    An electric lift rising to the top floor of an office block. WENDY stands in it.
    Corridor.
    The