Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
Fin de partie / Endgame

MS-OSU-RARE-29-6

MS. Pages: 01r - 05r 06r - 10r 11r - 15r 16r - 20r 21r - 25r 26r - 30r 31r - 35r 36r - 40r 41r - 42v
[p. 01r]

[0001] Bare interior.

[0002] Grey light.

[0003] Left and right back, high up, two small windows, with curtains drawn.

[0004] Front right a door. [0005] Hanging near door, its face to wall, a picture.

[0006] Front left, touching each other, covered with an old sheet, two ashbins.

[0007] Centre, in an armchair on casxtors, covered with an old sheet, Hamm.

[0008] Motionless by the door, his eyes fixed on Hamm, Clov. [0009] Very red face.

[0009|001] Brief tableau.

[0010] Clov goes and stands under window left. [0011] Stiff, unsteady staggering walk. [0012] He looks up at window left. [0013] He turns his head and looks at window right. [0014] He goes out and comes back immediately he goes and stands under window right. [0015] He looks up at window right. [0016] hHe turns his head and looks at window left. [0017] He goes out, comes back immediately with a small step-ladder, sets it down under widnow left, gets up on it, draws back the curtain. [0018] He gets down, takes six paces (for example) towards window right, goes back for ladder, carries it over and sets it down under window right, gets up on it, draws back the curtain. [0019] He gets down, takes three paces towards window left, goes back for ladde,r, carries it over and[] sets it down under window left, gets up on it, looks out of window. [0020] Brief laugh. [0021] He gets down, takes one pace towards woindow right, goes back for ladder, carries it over and sets it down under window right, gets up on it, looks out of window. [0022] Brief laughx. [0023] He gets down, goes with ladder towards ashbins, halts, turns, sets down ladder brings back ladder & sets it down under window right, goes to xxx ashbins, removes sheet covering them, folds it over his arm. [0024] He lifts one lid, stoops and looks into the bin. [0025] Brief laugh. [0026] hHe closes lid. [0027] Same with other bin. [0028] He goes to Hamm, removes sheet covering him, folds it over his arm. [0029] In a red red dressing-gown, a stiff toque on his head, a large blood-stained handkerchief over his face, a whistle hanging from his neck, a rug over his knees, thick socks on his feet, NHamm seems to be asleep. [0030] Clov looks at him him over. [0031] Brief laugh. [0032] He goes to door, halts, turns towards auditorium.

DOODLE 1

Clov

[0033] (fixed gaze, tonelessly voice). [0034] The end, it's the end, it won't be long now, it can't be long now. Finished, it's finished, it's nearly finished, it must be nearly finished. nearly the end, it must be nearly the end. [0035] (Pause.) [0036] Grain on grain, one by one, and one day, suddenly, there's a heap, a little heap, the impossible heap. [0037] (Pause.) [0038] I can't

[p. 02r]

Clov

[0038] be punished any more. [0039] (Pause.) [0040] I'll go now to my kitchen, ten feet by ten feet by ten feet, and wait for him to whistle me. [0041] (Pause.) [0042] Nice edimensions, nice proportions, I'll lean on the table and look at the wall, and wait for him to whistle me.

[0043] He remains a momneent motionless, [0044]then goes out. [0045] xHe comes back immeditaleately, goes to window right, takes up the ladder and carries it out. [0046] Pause. [0047] Hamm stirs. [0048] He yawns under the handkerchief. [0049] xHe removes the handkerchief from his face. [0050] Very red face. [0051] Black glasses.

Hamm

[0052] Me - (he yawns)- [0054] to play. [0055] (He holds the handkerchief spread out before him.) [0056] Old stancher! [0057] (He takes off his glasses, wipes his eyes, his face, ythe glasses, puts them on again, folds the handkerchief and puts it back daintily neatlyin his breast the breast pocket of his dressing-gown. [0058] He clears his throat, joins the tips of his fingers.) [0059] Can there be misery - (he yawns) - loftier then mine? [0060] No doubt. [0061] Formerly. [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 equal put their suffering on a par with mine? [0072] No douobt. [0073] (Pause.) [0074] No, all is a - (he yawns)- bsolute, (proudlyà) the bigger one is a man is the fuller he is. [0075] (Pause. [0076] Gloomily.) [0077] And the emptier. [0078] (He sniffs.) [0079] Clov! [0080] (Pause.) [0081] No, alone. [0082] (Pause.) [0083] What dreams a dream, what dreams! [0084] Those forests! [0085] (Pause.) [0086] Enough, that's enough, it's time it ended, in the refuge too. [0087] (Pause.) [0088] And yet I hesitate, I hesitate to...to end. [0089] Yes, there it is, it's time it ended and yet I hesitate - (heto - (he 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.

Clov

[0098] I've just got you up.

Hamm

[0099] And what of it?

Clov

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

[0101] Pause.

Hamm

[0102] Did you ever see my eyes?

Clov

[0103] No.

Hamm

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

Clov

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

Hamm

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

DOODLE 2 [p. 03r]

Clov

[0113] The same as usual.

Hamm

[0113|001] (gesture towards window right). [0114] Have you looked?

Clov

[0115] Yes.

Hamm

[0116] Well?

Clov

[0117] Zero.

Hamm

[0118] It'd need to read rain.

Clov

[0119] OIt won't rain.

[0120] Pause.

Clov Hamm

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

Clov

[0122] I don't complain.

Hamm

[0123] You feel normal?

Clov

[0124] (irritatedbly). [0125] I tell you I don't complain.

Hamm

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

Clov

[0129] Yes.

Hamm

[0130] Have you not had enough?

Clov

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

Hamm

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

Clov

[0135] I always had. [0136] (Pause.) [0137] Not you?

Hamm

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

Clov

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

Hamm

[0143] Get me ready. [0143|001] (Pause.) [0143|002] Go and get the sheet [0144] (Clov does not move.) [0145] Go and get the sheet. [0146] (Clov does not move.) [0147] Clov!

Clov

[0148] Yes.

Hamm

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

Clov

[0150] Then we'lld die.

Hamm

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

Clov

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

Hamm

[0157] No! [0158] (Clov halts.) [0159] I'll give you one biscuit a perday. [0160] (Pause.) [0161] One and a healf. [0162] (Pause.) [0163] Why do you stay with me?

Clov

[0164] Why do you keep me?

Hamm

[0165] There's no one else.

Clov

[0166] There's nowhere else.

[0167] Pause.

[p. 04r]

Hamm

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

Clov

[0169] I'm trying to.

Hamm

[0170] You don't love me.

Clov

[0171] No.

Hamm

[0172] You loved me once.

HaClov

[0173] Once!

Hamm

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

Clov

[0177] It's not that.

Hamm

[0178] (shocked). [0179] I haven't made yoy xx made you suffer too much?

Clov

[0180] Yes.

Hamm

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

Clov

[0190] I heard you. [0191] 5(Pause.) [0192] Have you bled?

Hamm

[0193] Less. [0194] (Pause.) [0195] Is it not time for my sedative.? pain-killer?

Clov

[0196] No.

[0197] Pause.

Hamm

[0198] How are your eyes?

Clov

[0199] Bad.

Hamm

[0200] How are your legs?

Clov

[0201] Bad.

Hamm

[0202] But you can move?

Clov

[0203] Yes.

Hamm

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

Clov

[0208] Here.

Hamm

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

Clov

[0212] Here.

Hamm

[0213] Why don't you kill me?

Clov

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

[0215] Pause.

Hamm

[0216] Go and get two bicycle wheels.

Clov

[0217] There are no more bicycle wheels.

Hamm

[0218] What have you done with your bicycle?

Clov

[0219] I never had a bicycle.

[p. 05r]

Hamm

[0220] The thing is impossible.

Clov

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

Hamm

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

Clov

[0228] Sometimes on horse. [0229] (The lid of one of the bins lifts and the hands of Nagg appear, gripping the rim. [0230] Then the head emerges,. [0230|001] covered with a nNightcap. [0231] Very white face. [0232] Nagg yawns, then listens.) [0233] I'll leave you, I have things to do.

Hamm

[0234] In your kitchen?

Clov

[0235] Yes.

Hamm

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

Nagg

[0242] Me pap!

Hamm

[0243] Accursed progenitor!

Nagg

[0244] Me pap!

Hamm

[0245] The old folk at home! No decency left! [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 leaving me.

Clov

[0252] Oh not just yet, not just yet.

Hamm

[0254] Give him his pap.

Clov

[0255] There's no more pap.

Hamm

[0256] (to Nagg). [0257] Do you hear that? There's no more pap. [0258] You'll never have get any more pap.

DOODLE 3

Nagg

[0259] I want me pap!

Hamm

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

DOODLE 4

Nagg

[0264] Never mind me stumps.

[0265] Enter Clov with biscuit.

Clov

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

[0267] He gives the biscuit to Nagg who fingers it, sniffs it.

Nagg

[0268] (plaintively). [0269] What is it?

Clov

[0270] Spratt's medium.

Nagg

[0271] (as before). [0272] It's hard! [0273] I can't!

Hamm

[0274] Bottle him!

[0275] Clov pushes Nagg back into the bin, shuts the lid.

Clov

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

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