Eleuthéria Read online

  MME. KRAP

  I am terribly worried.

  M. KRAP

  Then threatening. Then tearful.

  (A silence) For the five-hundredth

  time . (A silence) You implored,

  shouted, cried. (A silence. Violently) Answer!

  MME. KRAP

  But of course , Henri, you' re well

  aware of that.

  M. KRAP

  (Reassured) Excellent. (Mme.

  Krap gets up) Just a moment.

  (Mme. Krap sits down again ) You

  threatened to cut him off?

  MME. KRAP

  Yes, I told him that this could no

  longer go on.

  M. KRAP

  Will wonders never cease .

  MME. KRAP

  I had already warned him of it.

  M. KRAP

  But without pushing him to the

  wall?

  MME. KRAP

  Yes.

  M. KRAP

  It is today that you were to bring

  him the money?

  MME. KRAP

  Yes.

  M. KRAP

  Then why did you invite Jeanne?

  MME. KRAP

  I wanted her to come with me.

  M. KRAP

  Then Marguerite came?

  MME. KRAP

  Yes.

  M. KRAP

  You saw Jeanne before she left?

  ELEUTHERIA

  57

  MME. KRAP

  Yes.

  M. K.Jw>

  You said nothing to her?

  MME. KRAP

  No. She was furious.

  M. KRAP

  You gave it to him?

  MME. KRAP

  What?

  M. KRAP

  You gave him the money?

  .

  MME. KRAP

  No.

  M. KRAP

  What did he say?

  MME. KRAP

  That it was of no importance.

  M. KRAP

  And that he did not want to see

  you anymore?

  MME. KRAP

  Yes.

  M. KRAP

  Fine fine fine. (He rubs his hands.

  Mme. Krap weeps. Handkerchief.

  She controls herself) O h ! you 've

  already finished?

  MME. KRAP

  One must not give way.

  M. KRAP

  Yes, do ! do ! on the contrary, it is

  - (He breaks off, struck by a

  painful thought) But what are you

  going to do right now?

  MME. KRAP

  What I am going to do?

  M. KRAP

  You are not going over there any

  more?

  MME. KRAP

  I don ' t know.

  M. KRAP

  But you have no more tricks up

  your sleeve. (An interval) Unless

  you find something else .

  MME. KRAP

  For sure we will find something. It

  cannot go on like this.

  5 8

  SA.IUEL BECKETT

  M. KRAP

  Bravo !

  M�tE. KRAP

  Can it?

  M. KRAP

  Vhy, of course not. For sure we

  will find something. (Mme. Krap

  gets up) So that it does go on like

  this.

  M�1E. KRAP

  Vhat?

  M. KRAP

  One more little question and I am

  done.

  MME. KRAP

  (Sitting dm"n again ) I am late .

  M. KRAP

  Oh th em, they can wait. (A silence)

  How many times did you want to

  get rid of it?

  M�1E. KRAP

  (Under her breath) Three times.

  M. KRAP

  And that yielded nothing?

  M�IE. KRAP

  Only discomforts.

  M. KRAP

  Only discomforts ! (Pause) Then

  you said - let's see - what are

  those nice words you had?

  M�1E. KRAP

  Nice words?

  M. KRAP

  ·why of course - let's see - since

  it is here - ?

  M�IE. KRAP

  Let's keep it, since it is here.

  M. KRAP

  (Animatedly) That is it! That is it!

  Lets keep it since it is here! (Pause)

  We were on the water. Your oarsman had a knife. I was no longer

  rowing. The waves rocked us.

  (Pause) He too was rocked by the

  waves. (Pause) You are sure that

  he is mine?

  ELEUTHERIA

  59

  MME. KRAP

  (Upon reflection) There is - er

  - a seventy per cent chance.

  M. KRAP

  My stock is rising.

  MME. KRAP

  That is all?

  M. KRAP

  Ah yes, that is all.

  MME. KRAP

  ( Getting up) You are not angry

  with me any more, Henri?

  M. KRAP

  Angry? On the contrary. I am very

  pleased with you, Violette, very

  pleased. You have really been just

  fine, utterly straightforward.

  MME. KRAP

  Enjoy your evening. ( Goes)

  M. KRAP

  Violette !

  MME. KRAP

  (Stopping) Yes?

  M. KRAP

  You have no desire to kiss me?

  MME. KRAP

  Oh not now, Henri. I am so late.

  M. KRAP

  That is true.

  MME. KRAP

  (Mischievously) And then, I am

  still, you know, a little bit afraid of

  your knife. (Exit)

  (A rather long silence)

  M. KRAP

  Amuse the rubbernecks!

  (A silence . A knock. A silence.

  Another knock. A silence . Enter

  Jacques)

  jACQUES

  Monsieur is served.

  M. KRAP

  What more do you want?

  jACQUES

  Monsieur is served.

  M. KRAP

  You can say it.

  jACQUES

  Monsieur prefers that I serve him

  60

  SAMUEL BECKETI

  here?

  M. KRAP

  Serve him what?

  jACQUES

  Why, Monsieur's dinner.

  M. KRAP

  Ah yes, dinner. (Reflects) I will

  not be having dinner.

  jACQUES

  (Pained) Monsieur is having

  nothing?

  M. KRAP

  Not tonight.

  jACQUES

  Monsieur is not feeling well?

  M. KRAP

  Same as usual .

  (A silence)

  jACQUES

  Monsieur has no desire to hear a

  little music?

  M. KRAP

  Music?

  jACQUES

  That often does Monsieur good.

  (A silence) The Kopek Quartet is

  on right now, Monsieur. We are

  getting it in the pantry. Very nice

  program, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  What?

  jACQUES

  Schubert, Monsieur. (A silence) I

  could plug it in in the drawing

  room, Monsieur, and leave the

  doors open . Monsieur does not

  like it when the volume is too

  high.

  M. KRAP

  Do as you like. (Exit jacques.

  Music. It is the Andante from the

  Quartet in A flat. For a good

  minute , if possible . Increasing

  agitation of M. Krap. Then, with


  ELEUTHERIA

  61

  all his might) Jacques ! Jacques!

  (He tries to get up. Music)

  Jacques! (Music. Jacques runs in)

  Stop! Stop! (Exit jacques. Music.

  Music stops.) What an abomination ! (Enter Jacques)

  jACQUES

  Monsieur does not like it? (Increasing agitation of Monsieur

  Krap) I am dreadfully sorry,

  Monsieur. (A silence) Monsieur

  does not wish for anything?

  M. KRAP

  Do not leave me.

  jACQUES

  Of course not, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  Talk to me a little.

  jACQUES

  Is there something that is of

  particular interest to Monsieur. (A

  silence) Monsieur has seen the

  papers.

  M. KRAP

  I saw them yesterday.

  jACQUES

  What does Monsieur think of the

  new administration?

  M. KRAP

  No, no, not that.

  (A silence)

  jACQUES

  Monsieur has good news concerning Monsieur his son?

  (A silence)

  M. KRAP

  The wedding is when?

  jACQUES

  Monsieur means Marie and me?

  M. KRAP

  Yes.

  jACQUES

  We expect in a month or two,

  Monsieur.

  62

  SA..1UEL BECKETI

  M. KRAP

  You already make love?

  jACQUES

  We - er - I - er - not precisely love, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  I have not offended you?

  jACQUES

  Oh Monsieur! . . .

  M. KRAP

  You are a bit obsequious, Jacques.

  jACQUES

  I rather like grovelling, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  Then you are right.

  (Marie appears at the door)

  MARIE

  Madame is asking for Monsieur

  on the telephone.

  M. KRAP

  Move a little this way, Marie .

  ( Marie moves forward) Closer.

  (Marie stands next to the floor

  lamp) Turn around. (Marie turns

  around) She is cute .

  What am I to reply to Madame,

  Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  That I am coming.

  MARIE

  Very good, Monsieur. (Exit)

  M. KRAP

  You must never be bored.

  jACQUES

  From time to time, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  Take the call.

  jACQUES

  Very good, Monsieur. (Exit. M.

  Krap motionless. Enter Jacques)

  Madame asks after Monsieur and

  sends word that Doctor Piouk

  regrets that Monsieur did not

  accompany Madame. Doctor

  Piouk had many things to say to

  Monsieur.

  ELEUTHERIA

  63

  M. KRAP

  You hung up?

  jACQUES

  Yes. I thought I was doing the

  right thing.

  (A silence)

  M. KRAP

  Jacques.

  jACQUES .

  Yes, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  I would like you to kiss me.

  jACQUES

  Why certainly, Monsieur. On

  Monsieur's cheek?

  M. KRAP

  Where you like.

  Qacques kisses Monsieur Krap)

  jACQUES

  Again, Monsieur?

  M. KRAP

  Thank you, no.

  jACQUES

  Very good, Monsieur. (He draws

  himself up again )

  M. KRAP

  Look. ( Gives him a one-hundred-

  franc bill)

  jACQUES

  (Taking it) Oh, there was no need

  for that, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  You prickle .

  jACQUES

  Monsieur also prickles a little.

  M. KRAP

  You kiss well.

  jACQUES

  I do my best, Monsieur.

  (A silence)

  M. KRAP

  I should have been homosexual.

  (A silence) What do you think of

  it?

  jACQUES

  Of what, Monsieur?

  M. KRAP

  Of homosexuality.

  jACQUES

  I think that it must amount to

  64

  SAMUEL BECKETT

  nearly the same thing, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  You are cynical.

  (A silence)

  jACQUES

  Am I to remain close by Monsieur?

  M. KRAP

  No, you can abandon me.

  jACQUES

  Would Monsieur not be better off

  going to bed? (A silence) There is

  nothing else that I can do for

  Monsieur?

  M. KRAP

  No. Yes. Put out that abominable

  light.

  jACQUES

  Very good, Monsieur. (He

  switches off the floor lamp) I am

  leaving the small lamp on, Monsieur. (A silence) Good night,

  Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  Good night. Qacques goes) Leave

  the doors open.

  jACQUES

  Very good, Monsieur.

  M. KRAP

  So that you hear my cries.

  jACQUES

  Very good, M - Excuse me,

  Monsieur?

  M. KRAP

  Leave it open .

  jACQUES

  Very good, Monsieur. (He exits,

  uneasy) ·

  (M. Krap motionless)

  M. KRAP

  Curtain.

  (M. Krap motionless)

  CURTAIN

  ACT II

  The next day. Late aft ernoon.

  Victor's lodgings, a wretched furnished room whose

  sole piece of furniture is a folding bedstead.

  Victor alone. Sordidly dressed, in his stocking feet, he

  moves back and forth. He stops near the footlights, looks

  at the audience, wants to speak, changes his mind, resume

  his walk. He again comes to a dead halt before the footlights, searches for the right words, ill at ease.

  VIcrOR

  I must say . . I am not . . . (He falls

  .

  silent, resumes his walk, picks up a

  shoe and throws it through the

  windowpane. Enter immediately a

  Glazier, with all his gear and

  Victor's shoe in his hand. He

  tosses the shoe aside and sets to

  work) Impossible to break any-

  thing.

  GLAZIER

  But you broke it.

  VICfOR

  Neither can anything be lost.

  (Enter a young boy, with a box in

  his hand)

  GLAZIER

  That is my assistant. He is the one

  who carries the putty. Isn ' t that so,

  Michel?

  MICHEL

  Yes, papa.

  GLAZIER

  Yes, Monsieur.

  MICHEL

  Yes, Monsieur.

  GLAZIER

  You have the diamond?

  66

  SA.1.UEL BECKETT

  MICHEL

  No, Monsieur.

  GlAZIER

  Tsk! tsk! Quick! go find the diamond.

  MICHEL

  Yes, Monsieur. (Goes)

  GlAZIER

  Do not take away the putty!

  (Michel sets the box down near<
br />
  the window and exits) He was

  making off with the putty!

  (Scrapes) Little scatterbrain !

  (Scrapes) An d the diamond.

  (Scrapes) What do you expect me

  to do without a diamond? (Turning toward Victor) Without a

  diamond I am nothing, Monsieur.

  (Enter Michel) How long does it

  take you. You have it?

  MICHEL

  Yes, Monsieur.

  GlAZIER

  Come around that way. Right near

  me. Make ready.

  MICHEL

  Yes, monsieur.

  GlAZIER

  I do not speak like a glazier, eh?

  VIcroR

  I do not know.

  GlAZIER

  You can trust me.

  VIcroR

  They sent you to spy on me?

  GlAZIER

  You wouldn ' t have broken the

  window then I wouldn 't be here.

  (A silence . The Glazier is working) Do you not see, Monsieur,

  what must be admired about me is

  that I am useless.

  VIGrOR

  You are of use in repairing my

  windowpane.

  ELEUTHERIA

  67

  GlAZIER

  All right, but you will break it

  again tomorrow. That is, I hope

  so.

  VIcroR

  As for me I break it in vain and as

  for you you repair it in vain.

  GlAZIER

  That is it!

  VIcroR

  It would be simplest not to begin.

  GlAZIER

  (Turning around) Ah Monsieur,

  now don 't start talking nonsense.

  (Enter Madame Karl, an old

  woman)

  MME. KARL

  You broke the pane.

  GlAZIER

  His shoe , Madame, went clean

  through.

  MME. KARL

  The general's wife .

  VIcroR

  The general's wife?

  MME. KARL

  Yes.

  VIcrOR

  Tell her that I went out.

  MME. KARL

  I told her. She does not want to

  leave.

  VIcroR

  Then let her stay.

  MME. KARL

  She is on her way up.

  VICfOR

  But she must be stopped !

  MME. KARL

  She has two blokes with her. Her

  chauffeur and another one .

  VICfOR

  I am going down .

  MME. KARL

  It is too late. (She goes out on the

  landing, comes back) She is on

  the fourth floor. She 's puffing.

  VICfOR

  She's alone?

  MME. KARL

  I am telling you there are two

  68

  SA.fUEL BECKETI

  blokes with her.

  GlAZIER

  Her chauffeur and another one,

  unidentified.

  VIcroR

  What's to be done?

  GlAZIER

  Hide.

  VIcroR

  Where?

  GlAZIER

  Under the bed.

  VIcroR

  You think so?

  GlAZIER

  Hurry! hurry! under the bed.

  (Victor hides under the bed)

  MME. KARL

  There she is. (Enter Mme . Meek.

  She searches Victor out with her

  eyes) I told you that he was not in.

  GlAZIER

  Allow me, Madame, to identify

  myself. I am supposed to be the