MS-HRC-SB-3-5

[0220] The thing is impossible

[0221] When there were still bicycles I wept to have one. [0222] I crawled at your feet. [0223] You sent me packing. [0224] Now there are none.

[0225] And your rounds? [0226] When you went to see my paupers? [0227] Always on foot?

[0228] Sometimes on horse. [0229] (The lid of one of the bins rises up lifts and the hands of Nagg appear, gripping the rim. [0230] Then the head emerges, covered with a night-cap. [0231] Very white face. [0232] Nagg yawns, then listens.) [0233] I leave you, ^{(I'm going)} I have things to do.

[0234] In your kitchen?

[0235] Yes

[0236] Outside of here it's death. [0237] (Pause) [0238] All right, be off. ^{get out.} [0239] (Clov Exit Clov. [0240] Pause.) [0241] We're getting on.

[0242] Me pap!

[0243] Cursed ^Accursed progenitor!

[0244] Me pap!

[0245] The old folk at home! No decency left! ^{Gone to the dogs} [0246] Guzzle, guzzle, that's all they think about! [0247] (He whistles. [0248] Enter Clov. [0249] He halts beside the chair.) [0250] Well! [0251] I thought you were going to leave me.

[0252] Oh not yet, not yet.

[0254] Give him his pap.

[0255] There's no more pap.

[0256] (to Nagg) [0257] There's no more pap! [0258] You'll never have any more pap.

[0259] I want me pap!

[0260] Give him a biscuit ^rusk. [0261] (Exit Clov) [0262] Accursed fornicator! [0263] How are your stumps?

[0264] Never mind me stumps.

[0266] I'm back again, with the biscuit.

[0268] ^(plaintive) [0269] What is it?

[0270] Spratt's medium.

[0271] (plaintive) [0272] It's hard! [0273] I can't!

[0274] Bottle him!

[0276] (returning to his place beside the chair). [0277] If age but knew!

[0278] Sit on him.

[0279] I can't sit.

[0280] True. [0281] And I can't stand.

[0282] So it is.

[0283] Each one his specialty. [0284] (Pause) [0285] No phone-calls? [0286] (Pause) [0287] Don't we laugh?

[0288] (after reflexion). [0289] I'm not inclined. ^{I don't feel inclined.}

[0290] (after reflexion) [0291] Nor I. [0292] (Pause) [0293] Clov.

[0294] Yes.

[0295] Nature has forgotten us.

[0296] There's no more nature.

[0297] No more nature! [0298] You go too far.

[0299] In the vicinity.

[0300] But we breathe, we change! [0301] We lose our hair, our teeth! [0302] Our bloom! [0303] Our ideals!

[0304] Then it hasn't forgotten us.

[0305] But you say there is none.

[0306] (sadly) [0307] No one in the world ever thought so crooked as we.

[0308] We do what ^{the best} we can.

[0309] We shouldn't.

[0311] Smart, eh?

[0312] I do.

[0314] This is slow work. [0315] (Pause) [0316] Is it not time for my sedative.

[0317] No. [0318] (Pause) [0319] I'll leave you, I have things to do.

[0320] In your kitchen.

[0321] Yes.

[0322] What things, I'd like to know.

[0323] I look at the wall.

[0324] The wall! [0325] And what do you see on your wall? [0326] Mene, mene? [0327] Naked bodies?

[0328] I see my light dying.

[0329] Your light dying! [0330] Listen to that! [0331] Well it can die just as well here, your light. [0332] Take a look at me and then come back and tell what you think of your light.

[0334] You shouldn't talk to me like that.

[0336] For (coldly) [0337] Forgive me. [0338] (Pause. [0339] Louder.) [0340] I said, Forgive me.

[0341] I heard you

[0348] Did your ^{Have your} seeds come up?

[0349] No.

[0350] Did you scratch 'em up to see if they had sprouted?

[0351] They haven't sprouted.

[0352] Perhaps it's too early.

[0353] If they were going to sprout they would have sprouted. [0354] They'll never sprout.

[0356] This is not much fun. [0357] (Pause) [0358] But that's always the way at the end of the day, isn't it, Clov?

[0359] Always.

[0360] It's the end of a day like any other day, isn't it, Clov.

[0361] Presumably Supp Looks like it.

[0363] (anguished) [0364] What's happening, what's happening?

[0365] Something is taking its course.

[0367] All right, get out. [0368] (He leans xxx against ^back in the chair, remains motionless. [0369] Clov does not move. [0370] He heaves a great sigh. [0371] Hamm straightens up.) [0372] I thought I told you to get out.