Free Every Good Boy Deserves Favor and Professional Foul by Tom Stoppard

anything. There are no torn cushions or anything like that. However, the floor of the first room is almost covered in books. The bookcases which line perhaps two of the walls are empty. The rug could be rolled up, and there could be one or two floorboards up
.
MAN 1
is going through the books, leafing through each one and looking along the spine. He is starting to put books back on the shelves one by one
. MAN 5
has emptied drawers of their contents and is going through a pile of papers
. MRS HOLLAR
stands in the doorway between the two rooms. Beyond her
MAN 2
can be seen searching
. [MAN 4
is out of sight in the bedroom
.] MAN 3
indicates a chair on which
ANDERSON
should sit
. ANDERSON
sits putting his briefcase on the floor by his feet. He looks around. He sees a clock showing 2.35.
Mix to clock showing
2.55.
ANDERSON
is where he was
. MAN 1
is still on the books
. MAN 5
is still looking through papers
. MAN 3
is examining the inside of a radio set.
Voices are heard faintly on the stairs. There is a man remonstrating. A woman’s voice too.
The doorbell rings
.
MAN 3
leaves the room, closing the door
. ANDERSON
hears him go to the front door. There is some conversation. The front door closes again and
MAN 3
re-enters the room
.)
    MAN 3: (
In English to
ANDERSON ) Taxi.
    ANDERSON: Oh—I forgot him. Dear me.
    MAN 3: O.K.
    ANDERSON: I must pay him.
( ANDERSON
takes out his wallet
. MAN 3
takes it from him without snatching
.)
    MAN 3: O.K.
( MAN 3
looks through the wallet
.)
    ANDERSON: Give that back— (
Furious
) Now, you listen to me—this has gone on quite long enough—I demand—to be allowed to leave….
( ANDERSON
has stood up
. MAN 3
gently pushes him back into the chair. In
ANDERSON ’
s wallet
MAN 3
finds his envelope anddiscovers the football ticket. He puts it back. He looks sympathetically at
ANDERSON .)
    MAN 3: (
In Czech
) The old boy’s got a ticket for the England match. No wonder he’s furious. (
He gives the wallet back to
ANDERSON.
In English
.) Taxi O.K. No money. He go. Football no good.
    ANDERSON: Serve me right.
    MAN 5: (
In Czech
) It’s on the radio. Let him have it on.
( MAN 3
returns to the radio and turns it on
.
MRS HOLLAR
enters quickly from the bedroom and turns it off
.)
    MRS HOLLAR: (
In Czech
) That’s my radio.
    MAN 3: (
In Czech
) Your friend wants to listen to the match.
( MRS HOLLAR
looks at
ANDERSON.
She turns the radio on. The radio is talking about the match which is just about to begin
.)
    MAN 3: (
In English
) Is good. O.K.?
( ANDERSON,
listening, realizes that the radio is listing the names of the English team.
Then the match begins.
Mix to:
The same situation about half an hour later. The radio is still on
. MAN 1
is still on the books. He has put aside three or four English books
. MAN 5
has disappeared
. MAN 2
is sorting out the fluff from a carpet sweeper
. MAN 4
is standing on a chair examining the inside of a ventilation grating
.
ANDERSON
gets up off his chair and starts to walk towards the bedroom. The three
MEN
in the room look up but don’t stop him
.
ANDERSON
enters the bedroom.
Interior bedroom
.
MAN 3
is going through pockets in a wardrobe
. MAN 5
is looking under floorboards
. MRS HOLLAR
is sitting on the bed watching them
.)
    ANDERSON: It’s half-past three. I demand to be allowed to leave or to telephone the British—
    MAN 3: Please—too slow.
    ANDERSON: I demand to leave—
    MAN 3: O.K. Who wins football?
    ANDERSON: (
Pause
) No score.
(
The doorbell goes
. MAN 3
goes into the other room and to the door
. ANDERSON
follows him as far as the other room. On the way through
MAN 3
signals to turn off the radio
, MAN 2
turns off the radio
. MRS HOLLAR
comes in and turns the radio on
.)
    MRS HOLLAR: (
In Czech
) Show me where it says I can’t listen to my own radio.
( MAN 3
returns from the front door with
MAN 6. MAN 6
enters the room saying:
)
    MAN 6: (
In Czech
) I said don’t let him