Drama 3 Acts (1958)
Meg, a sentimental sixty-year-old, runs a seedy boarding house with her dull husband Petey. Her only boarder is Stanley Webber, an ex-pianist, upon whom she dotes, but he returns her clumsy affection with contempt and anger.
Two strangers arrive, Goldberg and McCann; they have a job to do. Stanley appears to be expecting them with great dread and slips out of the house. Goldberg flatters Meg into telling all about Stanley, and on learning that it is his birthday suggests that they organise a party. Stanley returns and is given a present, a toy drum, by Meg and young neighbour, Lulu, whose advances he finds disturbing. He begins to beat the drum, slowly at first, then in total frenzy.
Stanley is obviously very frightened of the two men and insists that he is not the man they think he is, but they subject him to a cruel interrogation and remove his spectacles. During the party Stanley is ignored as Goldberg flirts with Lulu and Meg drinks with McCann. A game of blind man's buff follows during which Stanley is blindfolded and taunted. He tries to strangle Meg and attacks Lulu before being menaced by Goldberg and McCann. The following morning Goldberg is in need of support when Lulu accuses him of seducing her. McCann frightens her away. Stanley has been prepared to leave, he is neatly dressed, but appears to be in a daze. Petey is worried about him but eventually does nothing as he is taken away.
Petey tells Meg nothing when she returns and recalls what a wonderful party it was.
Characters: