Abel Page #4

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- I'm playing as well, you know.

Hey, Dove. It's only a game, isn't it?

- Yes, between the three of us!

You're playing too, aren't you?

Not if I can introduce myself.

But that's the game.

You've got to butt in.

I say, Abel, I've got two tickets

for the horse-races.

Do you feel like coming?

Yes, I'd like that.

- Can I ask you something?

Did you hear something?

- No, I didn't hear a thing.

What's this? How can I butt in then?

I just heard it again.

I heard something as well this time.

Why are you stopping?

Victor was walking on the other side

of the street. He crossed over.

And I saw him but he didn't strike.

And suddenly he was standing

in front of me.

And he said:
"Would you like

to have a drink with me?"

I hesitated, after all

he was a stranger.

Then he did something which...

...it threw me right off guard.

- What did he do then?

He looked at me...

...a bit severely actually...

...and he raised his hand to my head.

It made me jump a bit.

He stroked a lock of hair

out of my eyes...

...like that... behind my ear.

That's the way to do it,

very gently.

Abel doesn't even know what

a negro is, just to name one thing.

Everyone knows what a negro is.

Even so, a television wouldn't

do him any harm.

Television is a load of nonsense.

Strange men and women

laughing at you.

They can't even see you.

"So nice to have you with us again."

Ridiculous!

I'm not there...

...you're not either,

and neither is Abel.

What about a nice film?

Now, that's an even bigger

load of rubbish.

Take a cowboy film. This cowboy,

hasn't he got any parents...

...whom he visits from

time to time?

Or have those parents died?

Is this cowboy a foundling?

Has he got brothers and sisters?

Has he had an education?

Not a word about that, no.

If you're on stage you don't

say to the audience:

"I'm so-and-so, I went

to grammar school...

...and I've got two brothers."

Of course not. But it comes up

in that piece.

I play an Earl,

who's fallen on hard times...

...and I say to the person

playing the opposite me...

Christine, yes, that I have studied.

The detective you played last year

never mentioned his education.

That was a rotten play.

First I want the kitchen painted.

You shake hands with her

and introduce yourself.

Don't squeeze! Normal.

Not like a damp sponge.

Normal, a normal handshake.

Hello, I'm Abel.

You see, there's nothing to it.

And then you say something.

- This evening, I will.

This evening, my foot! Now!

I could say anything.

It depends on her as well.

Nothing depends on her.

It depends on you.

She's unsure of herself,

you have to put her at ease.

She could be the first to say

something as well?

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