Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript ProjectFootfalls / Pas

MS-UoR-1552-3

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Segment 1

[0001] Mary (M), dishevelled grey hair, flimsy grey gown
hiding feet, trailing.
[0002] Woman's voice (V) from dark upstage.
[0003] Strip, downstage, parallel with front, length 7
steps, width 1 metre.

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Segment 2

[0004] Pacing: starting with right foot (r) from right (R)
to left (L), with left foot (l) from L to R.
[0005] Turn: rightabout at L leftabout at R.
[0006] Steps: clearly audible pad.
[0007] Lighting: dim, strongest at floor level, less on body,
least on head.
[0008] Voices: both low throughout.
[0009] Curtain. [0010] Stage in darkness.

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Segment 3

[0011] Sound.
[0013] Fade up to dim on strip. [0014] Rest in darkness.
[0015] M discovered pacing approaching L. [0016] Turns at L, paces
3 more lengths, halts facing front at R.
[0017] Pause.

M

[0018] Mother. [place = inline] [0019] (Pause.) [0021] Mother. [0019] (Pause. [0020] No louder.) [0021] Mother.

[0022] Pause.

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Segment 4

V

[0023] Yes, Mary.

M

[0024] Were you asleep?

V

[0025] Deep asleep. [0026] (Pause.) [0027] I heard you in my deep sleep.
[0028] (Pause.) [0029] There is no sleep so deep I would not hear
you there.

M

[0029|001] What kind of sleep is that?

[0030] Pause. [0031] M resumes pacing. [0032] 4 lengths.

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Segment 5

V

[0033] (after first length, synchronous with steps).[0034] One two
three four five six seven wheel one two three four s [place = overwritten] five
six seven wheel. [0035] (Free.) [0036] Will you not try to snatch
a little sleep?

[0037] M halts facing front at R. [0038] Pause.

M

[0039] Would you like me to inject you again?

V

[0040] Yes, but it is too soon.

[0041] Pause.

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Diagram 1
Beckett included a diagram of the strip.
Transcription
  • Segments
  • Diagrams
    • Diagram 1

Footfalls / Pas © 2022 Samuel Beckett Digital Manuscript Project.
Editors: James Little and Vincent Neyt