The Odd Couple

Act One

In the smoke-filled, grubby apartment of Oscar Madison, Murray, Roy, Speed, and Vinnie are gathered together playing poker. Whilst shuffling and dealing at a very slow pace, Murray expresses his concern that Felix Ungar has not arrived as usual. As the men begin to argue about the game, Oscar enters, offering the men warm Coke and moldy sandwiches. The men chastise Oscar for not fixing his fridge and, after Oscar sprays beer all over the table, they settle back into the game. Oscar reveals that his maid quit after his wife and children left him, but he is too lazy to do anything about the apartment. He tries to get out of putting in his money for the game and proceeds to swindle money out of Roy. As the game continues, Oscar’s wife rings him from California to chase Oscar for the outstanding alimony he owes her. Roy, who is Oscar’s accountant, chastises Oscar for being so poor with money, pointing out that he doesn’t take anything in life seriously. Their argument is