Unit by Unit Synopsis of " The Dumb Waiter " By Harold PINTER

  Unit 1 : pp. 129-135
End on Ben's line : " We're not staying long. ... We'll be on the job in a minute "
The scene is set in a basement. We see the two characters Ben and Gus, both of whom have very distinct behaviour. As Gus wanders aimlessly around the room, Ben reads his paper, occasionally bursting out furiously in reaction to what he is reading and sharing his reactions with Gus. Gus, in turn, is preoccupied and tries to get Ben to give him more details about their next "job" and about the place they're in. Ben is extremely vague in his answers and changes the subject constantly. It is clear that Gus is dissatisfied with his job, but is not too good at expressing himself.

Vocabulary :
Lavatory = Toilette
Kaw ! = Exclamation qui exprime dégoût ou surprise
To glare = Lancer un regard furieux
Bloody = Foutu(e)
To crawl = Ramper par terre
Go on ! / Get away = "Allez ! Vas-y !", "J'y crois pas" ou "C'est incroyable"
To puke = Vomir
Ballcock = flotteur
A fortnight = Quinze jours

  Unit 2 : pp. 135-143
End on Gus's line : "I wonder who it'll be tonight"
Gus asks Ben why he stopped the car on their way to the job that morning. Ben is uneasy with Gus's questions and responds in a threatening, authoritative manner. Gus wonders where they are, and Ben tells him they're in Birmingham. Gus suggests they go see a football match the following day. Their conversation is cut short when Gus notices that an envelope has been slid under the door. Ben tells him to open it. It contains a dozen matches, and nothing else.

Vocabulary :
To kip = Dormir
to come in handy = tomber à pic
To pong = Sentir mauvais
Light the kettle = Allumer la bouilloire
to cadge = taxer

  Unit 3 : pp. 143-151
End on Ben's line : "You'd better get ready"
As Gus continues to question Ben, Ben becomes increasingly more and more irritated with Gus. They are interrupted by a loud noise, as a dumbwaiter descends. Gus opens it and finds a piece of paper. It is a food order which is soon followed by another. The two men decide to send up the food they have.

Vocabulary :
A dumbwaiter = un monte-plats
To spread = s'étaler
Blimey = Punaise !
Mutt = idiot
Scrub round it = laisse tomber
To be keen = être passionné(e)

  Unit 4 : pp. 151-158
End on Gus's line : "What's the matter with you ? ... I feel like an Alka-Seltzer myself "
Gus is puzzled by the new turn of events and he isn't convinced by Ben's explanation, either. As he begins to get anxious over the coming job, the dumbwaiter descends again. Gus discovers the speaking-tube and Ben tells the person upstairs that they have nothing left to send up.

Vocabulary :
To be Slack = être flasque ou fainéant
Mate = 'mec' ou 'pote'

  Unit 5 : pp. 158-165
Ben goes over the instructions with Gus. He leaves out one important detail and Gus remarks on it. He is nervous and goes off to use the toilet. When he returns, he confronts Ben with all the unanswered questions that are swirling around in his head. Ben becomes vicious and abusive towards Gus. The dumbwaiter appears again and Gus loses his cool completely. He goes off for a glass of water and while he is gone, Ben gets the call. The job is on and the victim will be coming through the front door any minute. Ben calls for Gus, only to hear the front door open. When Ben turns around, he sees Gus, disheveled, unarmed and beaten up. They stare at each other in silence.

Vocabulary :
Straight away = tout de suite