MS-HRC-SB-3-5

[1532] imagine. [1533] That the earth will awake in spring? [1534] That there'll be fish to be found in the rivers and seas again? [1535] That ^{there is still} manna in heaven for imbeciles like you? [1536] (Pause.) [1537] Gradually I wound down, at least sufficiently to ask him how long he had taken on the way. [1538] Three whole days. [1538|001] Good. [1539] In what state he had left the child? [1540] ^{In deep} sleep. [1541] (Forcibly.) [1542] But in what ^deep sleep, in what ^deep sleep already? [1543] (Pause.) [1544] To make a long story short I finally offered to take him into my service. [1545] He had touched me. [1546] And also I imagined already then that I wasn't much longer for this world. ^{[1546|001] Snores of Nagg} [1547] (He laughs. [1548] Pause.) [1549] Well? [1550] (Pause.) [1551] Well? [1553] Here if you were careful you might die a natural death, in peace and comfort ^{with care} . [1554] (Pause.) [1555] Well? [1556] (Pause.) [1557] In the end he asked me if I'd consent to take in the child as well - if he were still alive. [1558] (Pause.) [1559] It was the moment I was waiting for ^{I'd been waiting for}. [1560] (Pause.) [1561] If I'd consent to take in the child.... [1562] (Pause.) [1563] I can see him still, on his knees, ^{his hands resting on the ground,} staring at me with his mad eyes, ^{in spite of} my having just instructed him not to do so. [1564] (Pause. [1565] Normal tone.) [1566] Enough for to-day. [1567] (Pause.) [1568] I'll soon have finished with this story. [1569] (Pause.) [1570] Unless I introduce other characters. [1571] (Pause.) [1572] But where are they to be found? [1573] (Pause) [1574] Where are they to be caught? [1575] (Pause. [1576] He whistles. [1577] Enter Clov) [1578] Let's pray to God.

[1579] My lollipop!

[1580] There's a rat in the kitchen.

[1581] A rat! [1582] Are there still rats?

[1583] In the kitchen there's one.

[1584] And you didn't exterminate it?

[1585] Half. [1586] You interrupted us.

[1587] He can't get away.

[1588] No.

[1589] You'll finish him later on. [1590] Let pray to God.

[1592] My lollipop!

[1593] God first! [1594] (Pause.) [1595] Are you ready?

[1596] (resigned) [1597] ^{Let's go}.

[1598] (to Nagg) [1599] And you.

[1600] (clasping his hands, closing his eyes, in a gabble) [1601] Our Father which art in -

[1602] Silence! [1603] In silence! [1604] Where are your manners? [1605] Let's go. [1606] (Attitudes of prayer. [1607] Silence. [1608] Opening his eyes, discouraged.) [1609] Well?

[1611] Sweet damn all. [1612] And you?

[1613] Nothing doing. [1614] (To Nagg.) [1615] And you?

[1616] Wait. [1617] (Pause. [1618] Opening his eyes.) [1619] What a hope!

[1620] The bastard! [1621] He doesn't exist!

[1622] Not yet.

[1623] My lollipop!

[1624] There are no more lollipops.

[1626] It's naturally . [1627] After all I'm your father. [1628] It is true if it hadn't been me it would have been someone else. [1629] But that's no excuse. [1630] (Pause.) [1631] Turkish Delight, for example, which no longer exists, as we all know, there is nothing in the world I love more. [1632] And one day I'll ask you for some, in return for a complaisance, and you'll promise it to me. [1633] One must live with the times. [1634] (Pause.) [1635] Whom did you call when you were a tiny boy, and were afraid ^frightened, in the night? [1636] Your mother? [1637] No. [1638] Me. [1639] We let you cry. [1640] Then we moved you out of earshot, ^{so that} we might sleep. [1641] (Pause.) [1642] I was asleep, I was as happy as a king, and you woke me up to have me listen to you. [1643] It wasn't indispensable, you didn't really need me to listen to you. [1644] And in fact I didn't listen to you. [1645] (Pause.) [1646] I hope the day will come when you will really need me to listen to you, and need to hear my voice, any voice. [1647] (Pause) [1648] Yes, I hope I'll live till then, to hear you calling me like when you

[1648] were a tiny boy, and were afraid ^frightened, in the night, and I was your only hope. [1649] (Pause. [1650] Nagg knocks on the lid of Nell's bin. [1651] Pause.) [1652] Nell! [1653] (Pause. [1654] He knocks louder.) [1655] Nell!

[1659] ? [1660] (He gropes for the dog.) [1661] The dog has gone.

[1662] It's not a real dog, he can't go.

[1663] (groping) [1664] He's not there.

[1665] He has lain down.

[1666] Give him to me. [1667] (Clov picks up the dog and gives it to Hamm. [1668] Hamm holds it in his arms. [1669] Pause. [1670] Hamm throws away the dog.) [1671] Dirty brute! [1672] (Clov begins to pick up the objects lying on the ground.) [1673] What are you doing?

[1674] Putting things in order. [1675] (He straightens up. [1676] With enthusiasm ^rapturously .) [1677] I'm going to clear everything away!

[1678] He starts picking up again.

[1679] Order!

[1680] (straightening up.) [1681] I love order. [1682] It's my dream. [1683] A world where all would be silent and motionless and each thing in its last place, under the last dust.

[1685] (exasperated). [1686] What in God's name do you think you are doing?

[1687] (straightening up, gently). [1688] I'm doing my best to create a little order.

[1689] Drop it!

[1691] After ^[⁁]all, there or elsewhere.

[1693] (irritably) [1694] What's wrong with your feet?

[1695] My feet?

[1696] Tramp! Tramp!

[1697] I must have put on my boots.

[1698] Your house-shoes were hurting you?

[1700] I'm going.

[1701] No!

[1702] ^{What is there to keep me here?}

[1703] Our dialogue. [1704] (Pause.) [1705] I've got on with my story. [1706] (Pause.) [1707] I've got on with it well. [1708] (Pause.) [1709] Ask me where I've got to.

[1710] Oh, by the way, your story?