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- Male: 3
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Context
Stanley Webber has been living a quiet life for the past year, hidden away in a boarding house in a small seaside village. As soon as he hears of the arrival of two mysterious gentlemen, though, Stanley fears they’re there for him. In this intense scene, Stanley tries in vain first to escape, then to bargain with, then to survive when cornered by the menacing McCann and Goldberg and forced into an interrogation chair.
Stanley and Goldberg speak with British accents. McCann speaks with an
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START: Stanley: Evening.
McCann: Evening.
Chuckles are heard from outside the back door, which is open.
Stanley: Very warm tonight. (He turns towards the back door, and back.) Someone out there?
McCann tears another length of paper. Stanley goes into the kitchen and pours a glass of water. He drinks it looking through the hatch, He puts the glass down, comes out of the kitchen and walks quickly towards the door, left. McCann rises and intercepts him.
McCann: I don’t think we’ve met.
[... … …]
END: McCann: Come on!
Stanley: Uuuuuuhhhh!
McCann: He’s sweating.
Stanley: Uuuuuuuhhhh!
Goldberg: Easy, McCann.
McCann: The bastard sweatpig is sweating.
A loud drumbeat off left, descending the stairs. Goldberg takes the chair from Stanley. They put the chairs down. They stop still.
For full extended scene, please refer to clip or script cited here: Pinter, Harold, Plays One, “The Birthday Party,” Faber and Faber, 1996, pp. 20-26.
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