Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
Fin de partie / Endgame

MS-HRC-SB-3-5

MS. Pages: cover - 03r 03v - 08r 08v - 13r 13v - 18r 18v - 23r 23v - 28r 28v - 33r 33v - 38r 38v - 43r 43v - 48r 48v - 53r 53v - 58r 58v - 63r 63v - 68r 68v - 73r 73v - 78r 78v - backcover
[p. 33v] [p. 34r]

[1037] like a little bit of grit in the middle of the steppe. [1038] (Pause.) [1039] Yes, one day you'll know what it's like, you'll be like me, except that you w [place = supralinear] you won't have any body [place = supralinear] one with you, because you won't have had pity of any body [place = supralinear] one and because there won't be any body [place = supralinear] one left to have pity on.

[1040] Pause

Clov

[1041] It's not certain. [1042] (Pause.) [1043] And there's [place = inline] there's something you forget.

Hamm

[1044] Ah?

Clov

[1045] I can't sit down.

Hamm

[1046] (impatient). [1047] Well you'll lie down then, what the hell! [1048] Or you'll come to a standstill, simply stop and stand still, the way you are now. [1049] One day you'll say, I'm tired, I'll stop. [1050] What does the attitude matter!

[1051] Pause.

Clov

[1052] So you all want me to leave you?

Hamm

[1053] Naturally.

Clov

[1054] Then I'll leave you.

Hamm

[1055] You can't leave us.

Clov

[1056] Then I won't leave you.

[1057] Pause

Hamm

[1058] All you need is t Why don't you finish us? [1059] (Pause) [1060] I'll give you the combination of the larder if you swear to finish me.

[p. 34v] [p. 35r]

Clov

[1061] I couldn't finish you.

Hamm

[1062] Then you won't finish me.

[1063] Pause

Clov

[1064] I'm going, I have things to do.

Hamm

[1065] Do you remember your arrival here?

Clov

[1066] No. [1067] Too small, you told me.

Hamm

[1068] Do you remember your father?

Clov

[1070] Same answer. [1071] (Pause) [1072] You've asked me these questions millions of times.

Hamm

[1073] I like old [place = supralinear] love the old questions. [1074] (With fervour.) [1075] Ah [place = supralinear] the old questions, [place = supralinear] the old answers, there's nothing like them! [1076] (Pause.) [1077] It was I who was a father to you.

Clov

[1078] Yes. [1079] (He looks at him fixedly.) [1080] You were that to me.

Hamm

[1081] My house that was a home for you.

Clov

[1082] Yes. [1083] (He looks all round him [place = supralinear] round about.) [1083|001] Yes. [1084] This was that for me.

Hamm

[1085] (proudly) [1086] But for me (gesture towards himself) no father. [1087] But for Hamm (gesture a round about) no home.

[1088] Pause

Clov.

[1089] I'm going.

Hamm

[1090] Did you ever think of one thing?

Clov.

[1091] Never.

[p. 35v] [p. 36r]

Hamm

[1092] That here we are in a hole. [1093] (Pause) [1094] But behind [place = inline] beyond the mountains? [1095] Eh? [1096] If it were still green Perhaps it's still green! [1097] Eh? [1098] (Pause.) [1099] Flora! [1100] Pomona! [1102] (Ecstatically) [1103] Ceres! [1104] (Pause). [1105] Perhaps you won't need to go very far.

Clov

[1106] I can't go very far. [1107] (Pause.) [1108] I'm going.

Hamm

[1109] Is my dog ready?

Clov

[1110] He lacks a leg.

Hamm

[1111] Is he silky?

Clov

[1112] He's a kind of Pom.

Hamm

[1113] Go and get him.

Clov

[1114] He lacks a leg.

Hamm

[1115] Go and get him! [1116] (Exit Clov.) [1117] We're getting on.

[1119] Enter Clov, holding by one of its three legs a black toy dog.

Clov

[1120] Your dogs are here.

[1121] He gives the dog to Hamm who sits it on his knees, feels it, strokes it.

Hamm

[1122] He's white, isn't he?

Clov

[1123] Nearly.

Hamm

[1124] What do you mean, nearly? [1125] Is he white or isn't he?

[p. 36v] [p. 37r]

Clov.

[1126] He isn't.

[1127] Pause

Hamm

[1128] You've forgotten the sex.

Clov

[1129] (vexed) [1130] x But he isn't finished. [1131] The sex goes on at the end.

[1132] Pause

Hamm

[1133] You haven't put on his ribbon.

Clov

[1134] (angrily) [1135] But he isn't finished, I tell you! [1136] First you finish your dog, then you put on his ribbon.

[1137] Pause

Hamm

[1138] Can he stand.

Clov

[1139] I don't know.

Hamm

[1140] Try. [1141] (He hands the dog to Clov who places it on the ground.) [1142] Well?

Clov

[1143] Wait!

[1144] He squats down and tries to get the dog to stand on its 3 legs, fails and lets it fall fall [place = inline] go. [1145] The dog falls on its side.

Hamm

[1145|001] (impatiently) [1146] Well?

Clov

[1147] He's standing.

Hamm

[1148] (groping for the dog). [1149] Where? [1150] Where is he?

[1151] Clov holds the dog in a standing position

Clov

[1152] There.

[p. 37v]

DOODLE 32

[p. 38r]

[1153] He takes Hamm's hand and guides it towards the dog's head.

Hamm

[1154] (his hand on the dog's head). [1155] Is he looking at me?

Clov

[1156] Yes.

Hamm

[1157] (proudly) [1158] As if he were asking me to take him for a walk?

Clov

[1159] If you like.

Hamm

[1160] (as before) [1161] Or as if he were asking me for a bone. [1162] (He withdraws his hand.) [1163] Leave him like that, imploring me.

[1164] Clov straightens up. [1165] The dog falls on its side.

Clov

[1166] I'm going.

Hamm

[1167] Have you had your visions.

Clov

[1168] Less.

Hamm

[1169] Is Mother Pegg's light on?

Clov

[1170] Light! [1171] How could anybody's light be on?

Hamm

[1172] Quenched! [place = inline] (Doused)

Clov

[1173] Of course [place = supralinear] Naturally its quenched. [1174] If it's not on its quenched.

Hamm

[1175] No, I mean Mother Pegg.

Clov

[1176] Of course [place = supralinear] But naturally she's quenched [place = supralinear] (doused)! [1177] What's the matter with you to-day?

MS. Pages: cover - 03r 03v - 08r 08v - 13r 13v - 18r 18v - 23r 23v - 28r 28v - 33r 33v - 38r 38v - 43r 43v - 48r 48v - 53r 53v - 58r 58v - 63r 63v - 68r 68v - 73r 73v - 78r 78v - backcover