Harold Pinter – “The Dumb Waiter” (ctd.)

Ben decides they have to send a note up saying that they cannot satisfy their demands. He tells Gus to give him a pencil and as Gus turns around to get it, he discovers a speaking tube next to the dumb waiter. Ben explains to Gus that they have to blow the whistle first, and then speak into the tube. Gus whistles and then tries to speak into the tube. Ben snatches it from him and speaking with great deference, he informs the unidentified the listener that they have no more food. Putting the tube alternately to his mouth and his ear, he conducts the conversation with the man upstairs, who is apparently very unsatisfied with the quality of the food they’ve sent him. The only thing he doesn’t complain about is the crisps. He then orders a cup of tea, and Ben is triumphant for a moment because he uses the phrase “light the kettle”. He’s soon deflated, though, when Gus points out that they have no gas. He sits down on his bed, with the head sinking on his chest, while Gus complains that he himself is thirsty and hungry. He thinks the man upstairs is probably having a nice bowl of salad and he fantasizes about it in great details. He notices that Ben doesn’t look too well and says he’d like an Alka-Seltzer.