MS-HRC-SB-3-5

[1711] (very surprised). [1712] What story?

[1713] The one ^one you have never stopped telling yourself.

[1714] Ah you mean my chronicle?

[1715] That's the ^{That's the} one.

[1717] (angrily) [1718] Keep on, can't you, keep on!

[1719] You've got on with it, I hope.

[1720] (modestly) [1721] Oh not very much ^far, not very much. ^far. [1722] (He sighs.) [1723] They are ^{There are} days like that, one isn't inspired. [1724] (Pause.) [1725] Nothing to do ^{be done} but to wait for it come . [1726] (Pause.) [1727] No forcing, no forcing, it's fatal. [1728] (Pause.) [1729] I've nevertheless got on it with a little. [1730] (Un temps ^Pause.) [1731] You know, craftsmanship. [1732] (Pause.) I say I've nev (Pause. [1733] Irritably.) [1734] I say I've nevertheless got on with it a little.

[1735] (admiringly). [1736] Well I'll be...! [1737] In spite of all you've been able to get on with it!

[1738] (modestly) [1739] Oh not very far, you know, not very far, but never the less, better than nothing.

[1740] Better than nothing! [1741] I take off my hat to you.

[1742] I'll ^I'll tell you how it goes. [1743] He comes crawling on his belly -

[1744] Who?

[1745] What?

[1746] Who do you mean, he?

[1747] Who do I mean! [1748] Yet another.

[1749] Ah him! [1750] I wasn't sure.

[1751] Crawling on his belly asking ^whining for bread for his child. [1752] He's offered a job as ^as gardener. [1753] Before - [1754] (Clov laughs) [1755] What's there so funny about that.

[1756] A job as gardener!

[1757] Is that what makes you laugh?

[1758] It must be that.

[1759] It wouldn't be the bread?

[1760] Or the child.

[1762] The whole thing is droll, I grant you. [1763] What about laughing ^having a good guffaw the two of us together?

[1764] I cou (after reflexion) [1765] I couldn't give any more guffaws to-day.

[1766] (after reflexion) [1767] Nor I. [1768] (B Pause.) [1769] I continue then. [1770] Before accepting with gratitude he says ^asks if he can have his little boy with him.

[1771] W How old?

[1772] Oh tiny.

[1773] He would have climbed the trees.

[1774] All the little odd jobs.

[1775] And then he would have grown up.

[1776] Probably.

[1778] Keep on, can't you, keep on!

[1779] That's all, I stopped there.

[1781] Do you see how it goes on from there?

[1782] More or less.

[1783] Will it not soon be the end.

[1784] I'm afraid it will.

[1785] Pah! You'll do ^make another.

[1786] I don't know. [1787] (Pause.) [1788] I feel rather exhausted ^{sucked dry drained}. [1789] (Pause.) [1790] The prolonged creative effort. [1791] (Pause.) [1792] If I could only drag myself down to the sea! [1793] I'd ^I'd make a pillow for my head with ^{of sand for my head} and the tide would come.

[1794] There's no more tide.

[1796] Go and see is she dead.

[1799] Looks like it.

[1804] (with his hand to his toque). [1805] And Nagg?

[1808] Doesn't look like it.

[1810] (letting go his toque). [1811] What's he doing.

[1814] Crying. ^{He's crying.}

[1816] Then he's living. [1817] (Pause.) [1818] Did you ever have an instant of happiness?

[1819] Not to my knowledge.

[1821] Bring me under the window. [1822] (Clov goes towards the chair.) [1823] I want to feel the light on my

[1823] face. [1824] (Clov pushes the chair.) [1825] Do you remember, in the beginning, when you took me for a turn, how clumsy you were? [1826] You held the chair You pushed with your hands too high. [1827] At every step you nearly tilted me up. ^out. [1828] (With senile quaver.) [1829] Ah great fun x we had, the two of us, great fun! [1830] (Gloomily.) [1831] And then it became a habit. ^{[1829] Ah great sport we had, the pair of us, great sport! (...) [1831] And then we were got to it.} [1832] (Clov stops the chair under the window right.) [1832] Clov stops the chair under the window right. [1833] Already? [1834] (Pause. [1835] He throws back his head. [1836] Pause.) [1837] Is it light?

[1838] It isn't night.

[1839] (with angrily) [1840] I ask ^{[⁁]I'm asking} you is it light?

[1841] Yes.

[1843] The curtain isn't closed?

[1844] No.

[1846] What window is it?

[1847] The land.

[1848] I knew it! [1849] (Angrily.) [1850] But there's no light there! [1852] (Clov pushes the chair towards the other window.) [1853] The land! [1854] (Clov stops the chair under the other window. [1855] Hamm throws back his head.) [1856] That's what I call light! [1857] (Pause.) [1858] Feels like a ray of sunshine. [1859] (Pause.) [1860] No.

[1861] No.