Digital Manuscript ProjectKrapp's Last Tape / La Dernière Bande

[0190] dictionary, lays it on table, sits down
and looks up the word)
[0191] (reading from dictionary)[0192] State - or condition -
of being - or remaining - a widow - or widower.
[0193] (looks up.[0194] Puzzled)[0195] Being - or remaining?...
[0196] (Pause.[0197] He peers again at dictionary.
[0198] Reading):
[0211] One dark young beauty I recollect
particularly, all white and starch, incomparable
bosom, with a big black hooded perambulator, most
funereal thing.[0212] Whenever I looked in her direction she
had her eyes on me.[0213] And yet when I was bold enough to
speak to her - not having been introduced - she threatened
to call a policeman.[0214] As if I had designs on her virtue!
[0215] (laugh.[0216] Pause)[0217] The face she had![0218] The eyes![0219] Like
...(hesitates)...chrysolite![0220] (pause)[0221] Ah well...
[0222] (pause)[0223] I was there when - (KRAPP switches off,
broods, switches on again) - the blind went down, one
of those dirty brown roller affairs, throwing a ball
for a little white dog as chance would have it.[0224] I
happened to look up and there it was.[0225] All over and done
with, at last.[0226] I sat on for a few moments with the ball
in my hand and the dog yelping and pawing at me.
[0227] (pause)[0228] Moments.[0229] Her moments, my moments.
[0230] (pause)[0231] The dog's moments.[0232] (pause)[0233] In the end
I held it out to him and he took it in his mouth, gently,
gently.[0234] A small, old, black, hard, solid rubber ball.
[0235] (pause)[0236] I shall feel it, in my hand, until my dying
day.[0237] (pause)[0238] I might have kept it.[0239] (pause)[0240] But I
gave it to the dog.
- Segments
Krapp's Last Tape / La Dernière Bande © 2015 Samuel Beckett Digital Manuscript Project.
Editors: Dirk Van Hulle and Vincent Neyt