Hunting Cockroaches

Question 1

Lights up

Answer 1

what time is it?

Question 2

now its 4 in the morning

Answer 2

you are screaming again… lately you scream in your sleep all the time

Question 3

do i?

Answer 3

you sit up in the bed and scream (scream)

Question 4

wake up everybody

Answer 4

then you go back to sleep immediately

Question 5

immediately

Answer 5

immediately but then i can’t fall asleep

Question 6

alr lets go to sleep; oh my god!

Answer 6

what are you dreaming about

Question 7

not dreaming about anything

Answer 7

you weren’t dreaming about anything

Question 8

i wasn’t even asleep

Answer 8

but why do you start screaming

Question 9

i felt like it

Answer 9

maybe you were dreaming that we were back in Poland

Question 10

no

Answer 10

or that somebody broke into the apartment through the window

Question 11

no one can get through those bars

Answer 11

no harm checking (shake bars) no, with those bars there, it would be impossible for anyone to get through that window. your dreams are absolutely moronic

Question 12

it ran under the floorboard

Answer 12

cut it out. that old bag under us will call the super. he’s been waiting for a chance to get rid of us. do you know how much he’d get for an apartment like this? nowadays, in neighborhood like this? on the lower east side?

Question 13

no ac bc fuses will be blown

Answer 13

we can’t afford an air conditioner

Question 14

muggers, rapers

Answer 14

it’s a neighborhood for artists

Question 15

for cockroaches

Answer 15

What do you have against cockroaches? New York is full of cockroaches. They’re everywhere. Even in millionaires’ houses.

Question 16

been in a millionaires house

Answer 16

Cockroaches don’t spread infection and they eat only garbage. Remember Gregor?

Question 17

gregor who?

Answer 17

The hero of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. The one who was transformed into a cockroach. His sister used to bring him fresh rolls, cheese and milk … he wouldn’t even spit on it. The only thing he’d touch was garbage.

Question 18

seen them touch our caviar

Answer 18

Even if they did, how much food could a cockroach eat?

Question 19

rats eat up our food

Answer 19

The mice

Question 20

the rats

Answer 20

They’re big mice. Anyhow, the mice eat the cockroaches.

Question 21

how do yk?

Answer 21

I watched them

Question 22

rats eat children

Answer 22

We don’t have any children

Question 23

aha

Answer 23

For God’s sake, don’t start that about having a baby. That’s all we’d need. A baby. I want to know where we’d put it?

Question 24

over there

Answer 24

And what about us?

Question 25

over here

Answer 25

And what about me? Where’d I do my writing?

Question 26

not doing any writing

Answer 26

I have nothing to write about.

Question 27

nursery rhymes

Answer 27

Enough about baby

Question 28

wouldn’t have any other way out

Answer 28

I’d always have one way out. Through the window.

Question 29

those iron bars?

Answer 29

Let’s go to sleep

Question 30

lets

Answer 30

What time is it?

Question 31

ten past 4

Answer 31

Who could be calling at this time of night?

Question 32

no idea

Answer 32

Burglars? Maybe they’re checking to see if we’re in?

Question 33

you’re so curious

Answer 33

Maybe it’s the super. I told you not to pound on the floor. Maybe it’s (whistle)

Question 34

stop whistling; maybe its who?

Answer 34

KGB?

Question 35

KGB?

Answer 35

to scare me

Question 36

why would they want to scare you?

Answer 36

Because they know I hate them. Because I’m a writer, an emigré writer and I could write something.

Question 37

not writing anything

Answer 37

But I could start writing at any time

Question 38

then start

Answer 38

But I don’t have anything to write about

Question 39

immigration office?

Answer 39

what for?

Question 40

squealed on us

Answer 40

squealed about what?

Question 41

that our visas expired

Answer 41

but they promised we’d get green cards

Question 42

another interrogation

Answer 42

It’s not an interrogation, it’s an interview. The fact that we got the notice to go means that everything’s fine. Millions of people in New York are just waiting for that.

Question 43

for an interrogation?

Answer 43

to go for an interview

Question 44

what time in europe?

Answer 44

what time is it here?

Question 45

quarter past 4

Answer 45

Then in europe it must be

Question 46

in the morning?

Answer 46

yes

Question 47

someone from europe

Answer 47

Andrzej is in France. Maybe he’s calling. But just what do you think he wants from us? Oh, I know, of course. He is jealous

Question 48

of what?

Answer 48

What do you mean of what? He emigrated only to Paris, and I am in New York, and I made it here

Question 49

didn’t make it

Answer 49

But he doesn’t know it. Maybe we should answer the phone.

Question 50

maybe we should

Answer 50

(reach for the phone then it stops ringing) Damn it, why did you tell me not to answer it? Now it’s too late.