BEN looks at him.
I thought perhaps you? I mean? Have you got any idea? Who it's going to be tonight? BEN. Who what's going to be?
They look at each other.
GUS (at length). Who it's going to be. Silence.
BEN. Are you feeling all right? GUS. Sure.
BEN. Go and make the tea. GUS. Yes, sure.
GUS exits, left, BEN looks after him. He then takes his revolver from under the pillow and checks it for ammunition. GUS re-enters.
The gas has gone out.
BEN. Well, what about it?
GUS. There's a meter.
BEN. I haven't got any money.
GUS. Nor have I.
BEN. You'll have to wait.
GUS. What for?
BEN. For Wilson.
GUS. He might not come. He migtht just send a message. He doesn't always come. BEN. Well, you'll have to do without it, won't you?
GUS. Blimey.
BEN. You'll have a cup of tea afterwards. What's the matter with you?
GUS. I like to have one before.
BEN holds the revolver up to the light and polishes it.
BEN. You'd better get ready anyway.
GUS. Well, I don't know, that's a bit much, you know, for my money.
He picks up a packet of tea from the bed and throws it into the bag.
I hope he's got a shilling, anyway, if he comes. He's entitled to have. After all, it's his place, he could have seen there was enough gas for a cup of tea,
BEN. What do you mean, it's his place?
GUS. Well, isn't it?
BEN. He's probably only rented it. It doesn't have to be his place.
GUS. I know it's his place. I bet the whole house is. He's not even laying on any gas now either.
GUS sits on his bed.
It's his place, all right. Look at all the other places. You go to this address, there's a key there, there's a teapot, there's never a soul in sight?(He pauses.) Eh, nobody ever hears a thing, have you ever thought of that? We never get any complaints, do we, too much noise or anything like that? You never see a soul, do you? ?except the bloke who comes. You ever noticed that? I wonder if the walls are sound-proof. (He touches the wall above his bed.) Can't tell. All you do is wait, eh? Half the time he doesn't even bother to put in an appearance, Wilson.
BEN. Why should he? He's a busy man.
GUS (thoughtfully). I find him hard to talk to, Wilson. Do you know that, Ben? BEN. Scrub round it, will you?
Pause.
GUS. There are a number of things I want to ask him. But I can never get round to it, when I see him.
Pause.