Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript ProjectFootfalls / Pas

MS-UoR-1552-7

MS. Pages:

[p. 03v]

First published in 1976
by Faber and Faber Limited
3 Queen Square London WC1
Printed in Great Britain by
Latimer Trend & Company Ltd Plymouth
All rights reserved

ISBN 0 571 11040 1

All applications for performing rights
in Footfalls should be addressed to
Spokesmen, 1 Craven Hill, London W2

CONDITIONS OF SALE
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

[p. 04r]

[p. 04v]

[p. 05r]

[0001] May (M), dishevelled grey hair, worn grey wrap hiding feet, trailing.

[0002] Woman's voice (V) from dark upstage.

[0003] Strip: downstage, parallel with front, length seven steps, width one metre, a little off centre audience right.

DIAGRAM 1

[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 rhythmic 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.

[0011] Faint single chime. [0012] Pause as echoes die.

[0013] Fade up to dim on strip. [0014] Rest in darkness.

[0015] M discovered pacing approaching L. [0016] Turns at L, paces three more lengths, halts facing front at R.

[0017] Pause.

M:	[0018] Mother. [0019] (Pause. [0020] No louder.) [0021] Mother.

[0022] (Pause.)

V:	[0023] Yes, May.

M:	[0024] Were you asleep?

[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. [0030] (Pause. [0031] M resumes pacing. [0032] Four lengths. [0033] After first length, synchronous with steps.) [0034] One two three four five six seven wheel one two three four five six seven wheel. [0035] (Free.) [0036] Will you not try to snatch a little sleep?

[p. 05v]

[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.)

M:	[0042] Would you like me to change your position?

V:	[0043] Yes, but it is too soon.

[0044] (Pause.)

[0045] Straighten your pillows? [0046] (Pause.) [0047] Change you^r drawsheet? [0048] (Pause.) [0049] Pass you the bedpan? [0050] (Pause.) [0051] The warming-pan? [0052] (Pause.) [0053] Dress your sores? [0054] (Pause.) [0055] Sponge you down? [0056] (Pause.) [0057] Moisten your poor lips? [0058] (Pause.) [0059] Pray with you? [0060] (Pause.) [0061] For you?

[0062] (Pause.)

V:	[0063] Yes, but it is too soon.

[0064] (Pause.)

M:	[0065] What age am I now?

V:	[0066] And I? [0067] (Pause. [0068] No louder.) [0069] And I?

M:	[0070] Ninety.

V:	[0071] So much?

M:	[0072] Eighty-nine, ninety.

V:	[0073] I had you late. [0074] (Pause.) [0075] In life. [0076] (Pause.) [0077] Forgive me again. [0078] (Pause. [0079] No louder.) [0080] Forgive me again.

[0081] (Pause.)

M:	[0082] Well?

V:	[0083] In your forties.

M:	[0084] So little?

V:	[0085] I'm afraid so. [0086] (Pause. [0087] M resumes pacing. [0088] After first turn at L.) [0089] May. [0090] (Pause. [0091] No louder.) [0092] May.

M:	[0093] (Pacing.)[0094] Yes, Mother.

V:	[0095] Will you never have done? [0096] (Pause.) [0097] Will you never have done . . . revolving it all?

M:	[0098] (Pacing.)[0099] It?

V:	[0100] It all. [0101] (Pause.) [0102] In your poor mind. [0103] (Pause.) [0104] It all. [0105] (Pause.) [0106] It all.

[0107] (M continues pacing. [0108] Five seconds. [0109] Fade out on strip.)

[0110] (All in darkness. [0111] Steps silent.)

[0112] (Long pause.)

[0113] (Chime a little fainter. [0114] Pause for echoes.)

MS. Pages: