Endgame Act Without Words I Read online

  Endgame

  Act Without Words I

  WORKS BY SAMUEL BECKETT PUBLISHED BY GROVE PRESS

  Collected Poems in English and French

  The Collected Shorter Plays

  (All That Fall, Act Without Words I, Act Without Words II, Krapp’s Last Tape, Rough for Theatre I, Rough for Theatre II, Embers, Rough for Radio I, Rough for Radio II, Words and Music, Cascando, Play, Film, The Old Tune, Come and Go, Eh Joe, Breath, Not I, That Time, Footfalls, Ghost Trio, . . . but the clouds . . ., A Piece of Monologue, Rockaby, Ohio Impromptu, Quad, Catastrophe, Nacht and Träume, What Where)

  The Complete Short Prose: 1929–1989, edited by S. E. Gontarski

  (Assumption, Sedendo et Quiescendo, Text, A Case in a Thousand, First Love, The Expelled, The Calmative, The End, Texts for Nothing 1–13, From an Abandoned Work, The Image, All Strange Away, Imagination Dead Imagine, Enough, Ping, Lessness, The Lost Ones, Fizzles 1–8, Heard in the Dark 1, Heard in the Dark 2, One Evening, As the story was told, The Cliff, neither, Stirrings Still, Variations on a “Still” Point, Faux Départs, The Capital of the Ruins)

  Disjecta: Miscellaneous Writings and a Dramatic Fragment

  Endgame and Act Without Words

  First Love and Other Shorts

  Grove Centenary Editions

  Volume I: Novels

  (Murphy, Watt, Mercier and Camier)

  Volume II: Novels

  (Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable, How It Is)

  Volume III: Dramatic Works

  Volume IV: Poems, Short Fiction, Criticism

  Happy Days

  Happy Days: Production Notebooks

  How It Is

  I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On:

  A Samuel Beckett Reader

  Krapp’s Last Tape

  (All That Fall, Embers, Act Without Words I, Act Without Words II)

  Mercier and Camier

  Molloy

  More Pricks Than Kicks

  (Dante and the Lobster, Fingal, Ding-Dong, A Wet Night, Love and Lethe, Walking Out, What a Misfortune, The Smeraldina’s Billet Doux, Yellow, Draff)

  Murphy

  Nohow On

  (Company, Ill Seen Ill Said, Worstward Ho)

  Proust

  The Shorter Plays: Theatrical Notebooks, edited by S. E. Gontarski

  (Play, Come and Go, Eh Joe, Footfalls, That Time, What Where, Not I)

  Stories and Texts for Nothing

  (The Expelled, The Calmative, The End, Texts for Nothing 1–13)

  Three Novels

  (Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable)

  Waiting for Godot

  Waiting for Godot: A Bilingual Edition

  Waiting for Godot: Theatrical Notebooks

  Watt

  Endgame

  A play in one act

  FOLLOWED BY

  Act Without Words I

  A mime for one player

  Samuel Beckett

  Endgame, originally published under the title Fin de partie, copyright © 1957 by Les Editions de Minuit. Translation copyright © 1957 by The Estate of Samuel Beckett

  Act Without Words I, originally published under the title Acte sans paroles I, copyright © 1956 by Les Editions de Minuit. Translation copyright © 1957 by The Estate of Samuel Beckett

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, or the facilitation thereof, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Any members of educational institutions wishing to photocopy part or all of the work for classroom use, or publishers who would like to obtain permission to include the work in an anthology, should send their inquiries to Grove/Atlantic, Inc., 841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003.

  CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that the plays contained in this volume are subject to a royalty. They are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and all British Commonwealth countries, and all countries covered by the International Copyright Union, the Pan-American Copyright Convention, and the Universal Copyright Convention. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound taping, all other forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, such as information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and rights of translation into foreign languages, are strictly reserved.

  First-class professional, stock, and amateur applications for permission to perform these works, and those other rights stated above, must be made in advance to: Georges Borchardt, Inc., 136 East 57th Street, New York, NY 10022, and payment of the requisite fee is required whether the play is presented for charity or gain and whether or not admission is charged.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Design and textual supervision by Laura Lindgren

  eBook ISBN: 978-0-8021-9881-5

  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 58-5332

  Grove Press

  an imprint of Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

  841 Broadway

  New York, NY 10003

  DISTRIBUTED BY PUBLISHERS GROUP WEST

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  Endgame

  Act Without Words I

  Endgame 1

  Act Without Words I 95

  Endgame

  A play in one act

  For Roger Blin

  Fin de partie was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London on April 3, 1957. It was directed by Roger Blin, and the décor was designed by Jacques Noel. Hamm was played by Roger Blin, Clov by Jean Martin, Nagg by Georges Adet, and Nell by Christine Tsingos. Beckett translated the text into English in 1957, and the first English-language performance of Endgame took place at the Cherry Lane Theater, New York, on January 28, 1958. It was directed by Alan Schneider. Hamm was played by Lester Rawlins, Clov by Alvin Epstein, Nagg by P. J. Kelly, and Nell by Nydia Westman.

  Acte sans paroles I was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London on April 3, 1957. It was directed and performed by Deryk Mendel, the décor was designed by Jacques Noel, and the music composed by John Beckett. Act Without Words I was performed in 1972 at The Forum Theatre, Lincoln Center, in New York. It was directed by Alan Schneider and performed by Hume Cronyn.

  Nagg

  Nell

  Hamm

  Clov

  Bare interior.

  Grey light.

  Left and right back, high up, two small windows, curtains drawn.

  Front right, a door. Hanging near door, its face to wall, a picture.

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

  Center, in an armchair on castors, covered with an old sheet, Hamm.

  Motionless by the door, his eyes fixed on Hamm, Clov. Very red face.

  Brief tableau.

  Clov goes and stands under window left. Stiff, staggering walk. He looks up at window left. He turns and looks at window right. He goes and stands under window right. He looks up at window right. He turns and looks at window left. He goes out, comes back immediately with a small step-ladder, carries it over and sets it down under window left, gets up on it, draws back curtain. He gets down, takes six steps (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 curtain. He gets down, takes three steps towards window left, goes back for ladder, carries it over and sets it down under window left, gets up on it, looks out of window. Brief laugh. He gets down, takes one step towards window right, goes back for ladder, carries it over and sets it down under window right, gets up
on it, looks out of window. Brief laugh. He gets down, goes with ladder towards ashbins, halts, turns, carries back ladder and sets it down under window right, goes to ashbins, removes sheet covering them, folds it over his arm. He raises one lid, stoops and looks into bin. Brief laugh. He closes lid. Same with other bin. He goes to Hamm, removes sheet covering him, folds it over his arm. In a 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, Hamm seems to be asleep. Clov looks him over. Brief laugh. He goes to door, halts, turns towards auditorium.

  CLOV [fixed gaze, tonelessly] Finished, it’s finished, nearly finished, it must be nearly finished.

  [Pause.]

  Grain upon grain, one by one, and one day, suddenly, there’s a heap, a little heap, the impossible heap.

  [Pause.]

  I can’t be punished any more.

  [Pause.]

  I’ll go now to my kitchen, ten feet by ten feet by ten feet, and wait for him to whistle me.

  [Pause.]

  Nice dimensions, nice proportions, I’ll lean on the table, and look at the wall, and wait for him to whistle me.

  [He remains a moment motionless, then goes out. He comes back immediately, goes to window right, takes up the ladder and carries it out. Pause. Hamm stirs. He yawns under the handkerchief. He removes the handkerchief from his face. Very red face. Black glasses.]

  HAMM Me—

  [he yawns]

  —to play.

  [He holds the handkerchief spread out before him.]

  Old stancher!

  [He takes off his glasses, wipes his eyes, his face, the glasses, puts them on again, folds the handkerchief and puts it back neatly in the breast-pocket of his dressing-gown. He clears his throat, joins the tips of his fingers.]

  Can there be misery—

  [he yawns]

  —loftier than mine? No doubt. Formerly. But now?

  [Pause.]

  My father?

  [Pause.]

  My mother?

  [Pause.]

  My . . . dog?

  [Pause.]

  Oh I am willing to believe they suffer as much as such creatures can suffer. But does that mean their sufferings equal mine? No doubt.

  [Pause.]

  No, all is a—

  [he yawns]

  —bsolute,

  [proudly]

  the bigger a man is the fuller he is.

  [Pause. Gloomily.]

  And the emptier.

  [He sniffs.]

  Clov!

  [Pause.]

  No, alone.

  [Pause.]

  What dreams! Those forests!

  [Pause.]

  Enough, it’s time it ended, in the shelter too.

  [Pause.]

  And yet I hesitate, I hesitate to . . . to end. Yes, there it is, it’s time it ended and yet I hesitate to—

  [he yawns]

  —to end.

  [Yawns.]

  God, I’m tired, I’d be better off in bed.

  [He whistles. Enter Clov immediately. He halts beside the chair.]

  You pollute the air!

  [Pause.]

  Get me ready, I’m going to bed.

  CLOV I’ve just got you up.

  HAMM And what of it?

  CLOV I can’t be getting you up and putting you to bed every five minutes, I have things to do.

  [Pause.]

  HAMM Did you ever see my eyes?

  CLOV No.

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

  CLOV Pulling back the lids?

  [Pause.]

  No.

  HAMM One of these days I’ll show them to you.

  [Pause.]

  It seems they’ve gone all white.

  [Pause.]

  What time is it?

  CLOV The same as usual.

  HAMM [gesture towards window right] Have you looked?

  CLOV Yes.

  HAMM Well?

  CLOV Zero.

  HAMM It’d need to rain.

  CLOV It won’t rain.

  [Pause.]

  HAMM Apart from that, how do you feel?

  CLOV I don’t complain.

  HAMM You feel normal?

  CLOV [irritably] I tell you I don’t complain.

  HAMM I feel a little queer.

  [Pause.]

  Clov!

  CLOV Yes.

  HAMM Have you not had enough?

  CLOV Yes!

  [Pause.]

  Of what?

  HAMM Of this . . . this . . . thing.

  CLOV I always had.

  [Pause.]

  Not you?

  HAMM [gloomily] Then there’s no reason for it to change.

  CLOV It may end.

  [Pause.]

  All life long the same questions, the same answers.

  HAMM Get me ready.

  [Clov does not move.]

  Go and get the sheet.

  [Clov does not move.]

  Clov!

  CLOV Yes.

  HAMM I’ll give you nothing more to eat.

  CLOV Then we’ll die.

  HAMM I’ll give you just enough to keep you from dying. You’ll be hungry all the time.

  CLOV Then we won’t die.

  [Pause.]

  I’ll go and get the sheet.

  [He goes towards the door.]

  HAMM No!

  [Clov halts.]

  I’ll give you one biscuit per day.

  [Pause.]

  One and a half.

  [Pause.]

  Why do you stay with me?

  CLOV Why do you keep me?

  HAMM There’s no one else.

  CLOV There’s nowhere else.

  [Pause.]

  HAMM You’re leaving me all the same.

  CLOV I’m trying.

  HAMM You don’t love me.

  CLOV No.

  HAMM You loved me once.

  CLOV Once!

  HAMM I’ve made you suffer too much.

  [Pause.]

  Haven’t I?

  CLOV It’s not that.

  HAMM [shocked] I haven’t made you suffer too much?

  CLOV Yes!

  HAMM [relieved] Ah you gave me a fright!

  [Pause. Coldly.]

  Forgive me.

  [Pause. Louder.]

  I said, Forgive me.

  CLOV I heard you.

  [Pause.]

  Have you bled?

  HAMM Less.

  [Pause.]

  Is it not time for my pain-killer?

  CLOV No.

  [Pause.]

  HAMM How are your eyes?

  CLOV Bad.

  HAMM How are your legs?

  CLOV Bad.

  HAMM But you can move.

  CLOV Yes.

  HAMM [violently] Then move!

  [Clov goes to back wall, leans against it with his forehead and hands.]

  Where are you?

  CLOV Here.

  HAMM Come back!

  [Clov returns to his place beside the chair.]

  Where are you?

  CLOV Here.

  HAMM Why don’t you kill me?

  CLOV I don’t know the combination of the cupboard.

  [Pause.]

  HAMM Go and get two bicycle-wheels.

  CLOV There are no more bicycle-wheels.

  HAMM What have you done with your bicycle?

  CLOV I never had a bicycle.

  HAMM The thing is impossible.

  CLOV When there were still bicycles I wept to have one. I crawled at your feet. You told me to go to hell. Now there are none.

  HAMM And your rounds? When you inspected my paupers. Always on foot?

  CLOV Sometimes on horse.

  [The lid of one of the bins lifts and the hands of Nagg appear, gripping the rim. Then his head emerges. Nightcap. Very white face. Nagg yawns, then listens.]
/>   I’ll leave you, I have things to do.

  HAMM In your kitchen?

  CLOV Yes.

  HAMM Outside of here it’s death.

  [Pause.]

  All right, be off.

  [Exit Clov. Pause.]

  We’re getting on.

  NAGG Me pap!

  HAMM Accursed progenitor!

  NAGG Me pap!

  HAMM The old folks at home! No decency left! Guzzle, guzzle, that’s all they think of.

  [He whistles. Enter Clov. He halts beside the chair.]

  Well! I thought you were leaving me.

  CLOV Oh not just yet, not just yet.

  NAGG Me pap!

  HAMM Give him his pap.

  CLOV There’s no more pap.

  HAMM [to Nagg] Do you hear that? There’s no more pap. You’ll never get any more pap.

  NAGG I want me pap!

  HAMM Give him a biscuit.

  [Exit Clov.]

  Accursed fornicator! How are your stumps?

  NAGG Never mind me stumps.

  [Enter Clov with biscuit.]

  CLOV I’m back again, with the biscuit.

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

  NAGG [plaintively] What is it?

  CLOV Spratt’s medium.

  NAGG [as before] It’s hard! I can’t!

  HAMM Bottle him!

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

  CLOV [returning to his place beside the chair] If age but knew!

  HAMM Sit on him!

  CLOV I can’t sit.

  HAMM True. And I can’t stand.

  CLOV So it is.

  HAMM Every man his speciality.

  [Pause.]

  No phone calls?

  [Pause.]

  Don’t we laugh?

  CLOV [after reflection] I don’t feel like it.

  HAMM [after reflection] Nor I.

  [Pause.]

  Clov!

  CLOV Yes.

  HAMM Nature has forgotten us.

  CLOV There’s no more nature.

  HAMM No more nature! You exaggerate.

  CLOV In the vicinity.

  HAMM But we breathe, we change! We lose our hair, our teeth! Our bloom! Our ideals!

  CLOV Then she hasn’t forgotten us.

  HAMM But you say there is none.

  CLOV [sadly] No one that ever lived ever thought so crooked as we.

  HAMM We do what we can.

  CLOV We shouldn’t.

  [Pause.]