MS-HRC-SB-3-5

[0052] Me. (He yawns.) [0054] To play. [0055] (He holds out the handkerchief spread out before him.) [0056] Old stancher! [0057] (He removes takes off his glasses, wipes his eyes, his face, the glasses, puts them on again, folds the handkerchief and puts it back nicely in the breast-pocket of his dressing gown. [0058] He clears his throat, joins the tips of his fingers.) [0059] Can there be misery - (yawns) - loftier than mine? [0060] No doubt. [0061] In former times. [0062] But now? [0063] (Pause) [0064] My father? [0065] (Pause.) [0066] My mother? [0067] (Pause) [0068] My.... dog? [0069] (Pause) [0070] Oh I am willing to believe they suffer as much as such creatures can suffer. [0071] But does that mean their sufferings are equal mine? [0072] No doubt. [0073] (Pause.) [0074] No, all is - (yawns a - (yawns) - bsolute, (proudly), the bigger one is the fuller one is. [0075] (Pause. [0076] Gloomily.) [0077] And the emptier. [0078] (He sniffs.) [0079] Clov! [0080] (Pause) [0081] No, (I'm) alone. [0082] (Pause.) [0083] What dreams! [0084] Those forests! [0085] (Pause) [0086] Enough, that's enough, it's time for it to end ^{it ended}, in the refuge too. [0087] (Pause.) [0088] And yet I hesitate, I hesitate to... to end. [0089] xxx Yes, there it is, it's time for it to end ^{it ended} and yet I still hesitate to ... (yawns) ... to end. [0090] (Yawns.) [0091] God, I'm tired, I'd be better off in bed. [0092] (He whistles.[0093] Enter Clov immediately. [0094] He halts beside the chair.) [0095] You pollute the air! [0096] (Pause) [0097] Get me ready, I'm going to bed.

[0098] I've just got you up.

[0099] And what of it?

[0100] I can't be getting you up and putting you to bed every five minute , I've things to do.

[0102] Did you ever see my eyes.

[0103] No.

[0104] Did you never have the curiosity, while I was sleeping, to take off my glasses and look at my eyes?

[0105] Pulling back the lids? [0106] (Pause.) [0107] No.

[0108] One of these days I'll show them to you. [0109] (Pause.) [0110] It seems they're all white. [0111] (Pause) [0112] What time is it?

[0113] The same as usual.

[0114] Have you looked.

[0115] Yes.

[0116] Well?

[0117] Zero.

[0118] It'd need to rain.

[0119] It won't rain.

[0121] Apart from that, how do you feel?

[0122] I can't ^don't complain.

[0123] Do You feel normal?

[0124] (with irritation) [0125] I say I don't complain.

[0126] Personally I feel a little queer. [0127] (Pause) [0128] Clov.

[0129] Yes.

[0130] Have you not had enough?

[0131] Yes! [0132] (Pause) [0133] Of what?

[0134] Of this... this... thing.

[0135] I^[⁁]'ve always had. [0136] (Pause) [0137] Not you?

[0138] (gloomily) [0139] Then there's no reason for it to change.

[0140] It may end. [0141] (Pause) [0142] All life long the same questions, the same answers.

[0143] Get me ready. [0144] (Clov does not move.) [0145] Go and get the sheet. [0146] (Clov does not move.) [0147] Clov.

[0148] Yes.

[0149] I'll give you nothing more to eat.

[0150] Then we'll die.

[0151] I'll give you just enough to prevent you from dying. [0152] You'll be hungry all the time.

[0153] Then we shan't die. [0154] (Pause) [0155] I'll go and get the sheet.

[0156] He goes towards the door

[0157] No! [0158] (Clov halts.) [0159] I'll give you one

[0159] biscuit a day. [0160] (Pause.) [0161] One biscuit and a half. [0162] (Pause.) [0163] xxx Why do you stay with me?

[0164] Why do you keep me.

[0165] There's no one else.

[0166] There's nowhere else.

[0168] You're leaving me all the same.

[0169] I'm trying.

[0170] You don't love me.

[0171] No.

[0172] You loved me once.

[0173] Once!

[0174] I've made you suffer too much. [0175] (Pause) [0176] Haven't I?

[0177] It's not that.

[0178] (scandalized) [0179] I haven't made you suffer too much?

[0180] Yes.

[0182] Ah! [0181] (relieved). [0182] Ah! [0183] you gave me a fright. [0183|001] That's better. [0184] (Pause. [0185] ^[⁁]Coldly) [0186] Forgive me. [0187] (Pause. [0188] Louder.) [0189] I said, Forgive me.

[0190] I heard you. [0191] (Pause) [0192] Have you bled?

[0193] Less. [0194] (Pause.) [0195] Isn't it time for my sedative?

[0196] No.

[0198] How are your eyes?

[0199] Bad.

[0200] How are your legs.

[0201] Bad.

[0202] But you can move?

[0203] Yes.

[0204] (violently) [0205] Then move! [0206] (Clov goes to the back wall, leans against his forehead and his against it with his forehead and his hands.) [0207] Where are you?

[0208] Here.

[0209] Come back! [0210] (Clov returns to his place by the chair.) [0211] Where are you?

[0212] Here.

[0213] Why don't you kill me.

[0214] I don't know the combination of the larder.

[0216] Bring me Go and get two bicycle wheels.

[0217] There are no more bicycle wheels.

[0218] What have you done with your bicycle.

[0219] I never had a bicycle.