Samuel Beckett - Play

PLAY
A play in one act by Samuel Beckett

Written in English in late 1962!" #irst publishe$ in %erman& as Spiel& in
Theatre Heute '(uly 196!)" #irst publishe$ in English by #aber an$ #aber&
Lon$on& in 196*" #irst per+ormance ,as o+ Spiel& translate$ by Erika an$ Elmar
-opho.en& at the /lmer -heater& /lm0onau& on 1* (une 196!" #irst per+orme$
in Britain by the 1ational -heatre 2ompany at the 3l$ 4ic -heatre& Lon$on& on
5 April 196*"
Front centre, touching one another, three identical grey urns about one yard high.
From each a head protrudes, the neck held fast in the urn's mouth. The heads are
those, from left to right as seen from auditorium, of w2, m and w1. They face
undeiatingly front throughout the play. Faces so lost to age and aspect as to seem
almost part of urns. !ut no masks.
Their speech is prooked by a spotlight pro"ected on faces alone.
The transfer of light from one face to another is immediate.
#o blackout, i.e. return to almost complete darkness of opening, e$cept where
indicated.
The response to light is immediate.
Faces impassie throughout. %oices toneless e$cept where an e$pression is
indicated.
&apid tempo throughout.
The curtain rises on a stage in almost complete darkness.
'rns "ust discernible. Fie seconds.
Faint spots simultaneously on three faces. Three seconds. %oice faint, largely
unintelligible.
,16 Yes& strange& $arkness best& an$ the $arker the ,orse& then
all ,ell& +or the time& but it ,ill come& the time ,ill come&
the thing is there& you7ll see it& get o++ me& keep o++ me& all
$ark& all still& all o.er& ,ipe$ out
,26
8Together. 9
Yes& perhaps& a sha$e gone& : suppose& some might say&
poor thing& a sha$e gone& ;ust a sha$e& in the hea$8Faint
wild laugh"9;ust a sha$e& but : $oubt it& : $oubt it& not
really& :7m all right& still all right& $o my best& all : can
<6
Yes& peace& one assume$& all out& all the pain& all as i+ " " "
ne.er been& it ,ill come8Hiccup"9par$on& no sense in
this& oh : kno, " " " none the less& one assume$& peace " " " :
mean " " " not merely all o.er& but as i+ " " " ne.er been
8Spots off. !lackout. Fie seconds. Strong spots simultaneously on three faces.
Three seconds. %oices normal strength"9
1
,16 : sai$ to him& %i.e her up
,26 8Together9 3ne <orning as : ,as sitting
< 6
We ,ere not long together
8Spots off. !lackout. Fie seconds. Spot on ,1"9
W1 6 : sai$ to him& %i.e her up" : s,ore by all : hel$ most sacre$
8Spot from ,1 to ,2"9
W2 6 3ne morning as : ,as sitting stitching by the open ,in$o, she burst in an$
+le, at me" %i.e me up& she screame$& he7s mine" =er photographs ,ere kin$ to
her" Seeing her no, +or the +irst time +ull length in the +lesh : un$erstoo$ ,hy
he pre+erre$ me"
8Spot from ,2 to <"9
< 6 We ,ere not long together ,hen she smelle$ the rat" %i.e up that ,hore&
she sai$& or :7ll cut my throat8=iccup"9
par$onso help me %o$" : kne, she coul$ ha.e no proo+" So : tol$ her : $i$
not kno, ,hat she ,as talking about"
8Spot from < to W2"9
W2 6 What are you talking about> : sai$& stitching a,ay" Someone yours> %i.e
up ,hom> : smell you o++ him& she screame$& he stinks o+ bitch"
W1 6 -hough : ha$ him $ogge$ +or months by a +irstrate man& no sha$o, o+
proo+ ,as +orthcoming" An$ there ,as no $enying that he continue$ as " " "
assi$uous as e.er" -his& an$ his horror o+ the merely Platonic thing& ma$e me
sometimes ,on$er i+ : ,ere not accusing him un;ustly" Yes"
< 6 What ha.e you to complain o+ > : sai$" =a.e : been neglecting you> =o,
coul$ ,e be together in the ,ay ,e are i+ there ,ere someone else> Lo.ing her as
: $i$& ,ith all my heart& : coul$ not but +eel sorry +or her"
W2 6 #earing she ,as about to o++er me .iolence : rang +or Erskine an$ ha$ her
sho,n out" =er parting ,or$s& as he coul$ testi+y& i+ he is still li.ing& an$ has not
+orgotten& coming an$ going on the earth& letting people in& sho,ing people out&
,ere to the e++ect that she ,oul$ settle my hash" : con+ess this $i$ alarm me a
little& at the time"
8Spot from W2 to <"9
< 6 She ,as not con.ince$" : might ha.e kno,n" : smell her o++ you& she kept
saying" -here ,as no ans,er to this" So : took her in my arms an$ s,ore : coul$
not li.e ,ithout her" : meant it& ,hat is more" Yes& : am sure : $i$" She $i$ not
repulse me"
8Spot from < to W 1"9
W1 6 (u$ge then o+ my ashonishment ,hen one +ine morning& as : ,as sitting
stricken in the morning room& he slunk in& +ell on his knees be+ore me& burie$ his
+ace in my lap an$ " " " con+esse$"
< 6 She put a bloo$houn$ on me& but : ha$ a little chat ,ith him" =e ,as gla$ o+
the e?tra money"
2
W2 6 Why $on7t you get out& : sai$& ,hen he starte$ moaning about his home li+e&
there is ob.iously nothing bet,een you any more" 3r is there>
W1 6 : con+ess my +irst +eeling ,as one o+ ,on$erment" What a male@
8Spot from ,1 to <" He opens his mouth to speak. Spot from < to W2"9
W2 6 Anything bet,een us& he sai$& ,hat $o you take me +or& a something
machine> An$ o+ course ,ith him no $anger o+ the " " " spiritual thing" -hen ,hy
$on7t you get out> : sai$" : sometimes ,on$ere$ i+ he ,as not li.ing ,ith her +or
her money"
< 6 -he ne?t thing ,as the scene bet,een them" : can7t ha.e her crashing in
here& she sai$& threatening to take my li+e" : must ha.e looke$ incre$ulous" Ask
Erskine& she sai$& i+ you $on7t belie.e me" But she threatens to take her o,n& :
sai$" 1ot yours> she sai$" 1o& : sai$& hers" We ha$ +un trying to ,ork this out"
W1 6 -hen : +orga.e him" -o ,hat ,ill lo.e not stoop@ : suggeste$ a little ;aunt to
celebrate& to the Ai.iera or our $arling %ran$ 2anary" =e ,as looking pale"
Peake$" But this ,as not possible ;ust then" Pro+essional commitments"
W2 6 She came again" (ust strolle$ in" All honey" Licking her lips" Poor thing" :
,as $oing my nails& by the open ,in$o," =e has tol$ me all about it& she sai$"
Who he& : sai$ +iling a,ay& an$ ,hat it> : kno, ,hat torture you must be going
through& she sai$& an$ : ha.e $roppe$ in to say : bear you no ill+eeling" : rang
+or Erskine"
< 6 -hen : got +rightene$ an$ ma$e a clean breast o+ it" She ,as looking more
an$ more $esperate" She ha$ a raBor in her .anitybag" A$ulterers& take
,arning& ne.er a$mit"
8Spot from < to ,1"9
W1 6 When : ,as satis+ie$ it ,as all o.er : ,ent to ha.e a gloat" (ust a common
tart" What he coul$ ha.e +oun$ in her ,hen he ha$ me
W2 6 When he came again ,e ha$ it out" : +elt like $eath" =e ,ent on about ,hy
he ha$ to tell her" -oo risky an$ so on" -hat meant he ha$ gone back to her"
Back to that@
W1 6 Pu$$ing +ace& pu++y& spots& blubber mouth& ;o,ls& no neck& $rugs you
coul$
W2 6 =e ,ent on an$ on" : coul$ hear a mo,er" An ol$ han$ mo,er" : stoppe$
him an$ sai$ that ,hate.er : might +eel : ha$ no silly threats to o++erbut not
much stomach +or her lea.ings either" =e thought that o.er +or a bit"
W1 6 2al.es like a +lunkey
< 6 When : sa, her again she kne," She ,as looking8=iccup"9,retche$"
Par$on" Some +ool ,as cutting grass" A little rush& then another" -he problem
,as ho, to con.ince her that no " " " re.i.al o+ intimacy ,as in.ol.e$" : coul$n7t"
: might ha.e kno,n" So : took her in my arms an$ sai$ : coul$ not go on li.ing
,ithout her" : $on7t belie.e : coul$ ha.e"
3
W2 6 -he only solution ,as to go a,ay together" =e s,ore ,e shoul$ as soon as
he ha$ put his a++airs in or$er" :n the meantime ,e ,ere to carry on as be+ore"
By that he meant as best ,e coul$"
W1 6 So he ,as mine again" All mine" : ,as happy again" : ,ent about singing"
-he ,orl$
< 6 At home all heart to heart& ne, lea+ an$ bygones bygones" : ran into your e?
$o?y& she sai$ one night& on the pillo,& you7re ,ell out o+ that" Aather uncalle$
+or& : thought" : am in$ee$& s,eetheart& : sai$& : am in$ee$" %o$ ,hat .ermin
,omen" -hanks to you& angel& : sai$"
W1 6 -hen : began to smell her o++ him again" Yes"
W2 6 When he stoppe$ coming : ,as prepare$" <ore or less"
< 6 #inally it ,as all too much" : simply coul$ no longer
W1 6 Be+ore : coul$ $o anything he $isappeare$" -hat meant she ha$ ,on" -hat
slut@ : coul$n7t cre$it it" : lay stricken +or ,eeks" -hen : $ro.e o.er to her place"
:t ,as all bolte$ an$ barre$" All grey ,ith +roBen $e," 3n the ,ay back by Ash
an$ Sno$lan$
< 6 : simply coul$ no longer
W26 : ma$e a bun$le o+ his things an$ burnt them" :t ,as 1o.ember an$ the
bon+ire ,as going" All night : smelt them smoul$ering"
8Spot off W 2. !lackout. Fie seconds. Spots half preious strength
simultaneously on three faces. Three seconds. %oices proportionately lower.9
W 1 6 <ercy& mercy
W 2 6 8Together9 -o say : am
< 6 When +irst this change
8Spots off. !lackout. Fie seconds. Spot on <"9
< 6 When +irst this change : actually thanke$ %o$" : thought& :t is $one& it is
sai$& no, all is going out8Spot from < to W1"9
W 1 6 <ercy& mercy& tongue still hanging out +or mercy" :t ,ill come" You
ha.en7t seen me" But you ,ill" -hen it ,ill come"
8Spot from W1 to W2"9
W 2 6 -o say : am not $isappointe$& no& : am" : ha$ anticipate$ something better"
<ore rest+ul"
W 1 6 3r you ,ill ,eary o+ me"
< 6 0o,n& all going $o,n& into the $ark& peace is coming& : thought& a+ter all& at
last& : ,as right& a+ter all& thank %o$& ,hen +irst this change"
W 2 6 Less con+use$" Less con+using" At the same time : pre+er this to " " " the
4
other thing" 0e+initely" -here are en$urable moments"
8Spot from W2 to < "9
< 6 : thought"
W 2 6 When you go outan$ : go out" Some $ay you ,ill tire o+ me an$ go out " " "
+or goo$"
W 1 6 =ellish hal+light"
< 6 Peace& yes& : suppose& a kin$ o+ peace& an$ all that pain as i+ " " " ne.er been"
W 2 6 %i.e me up& as a ba$ ;ob" %o a,ay an$ start poking an$ pecking at
someone else" 3n the other han$
W 1 6 %et o++ me@ %et o++ me@
< 6 :t ,ill come" <ust come" -here is no +uture in this"
W 2 6 3n the other han$ things may $isimpro.e& there is that $anger"
< 6 3h o+ course : kno, no,
W 1 6 :s it that : $o not tell the truth& is that it& that some $ay someho, : may tell
the truth at last an$ then no more light at last& +or the truth>
W 2 6 You might get angry an$ blaBe me clean out o+ my ,its" <ightn7t you>
< 6 : kno, no,& all that ,as ;ust " " " play" An$ all this> When ,ill all this
W 1 6 :s that it>
W 2 6 <ightn7t you>
< 6 All this& ,hen ,ill all this ha.e been " " " ;ust play>
W 1 6 : can $o nothing " " " +or anybo$y " " " any more " " " thank %o$" So it must
be something : ha.e to say" =o, the min$ ,orks still@
W 2 6 But : $oubt it" :t ,oul$ not be like you someho," An$ you must kno, : am
$oing my best" 3r $on7t you>
< 6 Perhaps they ha.e become +rien$s" Perhaps sorro,
W 1 6 But : ha.e sai$ all : can" All you let me" All :
< 6 Perhaps sorro, has brought them together"
W 2 6 1o $oubt : make the same mistake as ,hen it ,as the sun that shone& o+
looking +or sense ,here possibly there is none"
5
< 6 Perhaps they meet& an$ sit& o.er a cup o+ that green tea they both so lo.e$&
,ithout milk or sugar not e.en a sCueeBe o+ lemon
W 2 6 Are you listening to me> :s anyone bothering about me at all>
< 6 1ot e.en a sCueeBe o+
W 1 6 :s it something : shoul$ $o ,ith my +ace& other than utter> Weep>
W 2 6 Am : taboo& : ,on$er" 1ot necessarily& no, that all $anger is a.erte$" -hat
poor creature: can hear herthat poor creature
W 1 6 Bite o++ my tongue an$ s,allo, it> Spit it out> Woul$ that placate you>
=o, the min$ ,orks still to be sure@
< 6 <eet& an$ sit& no, in the one $ear place& no, in the other& an$ sorro,
together& an$ compare8Hiccup"9 par$on happy memories"
W 1 6 :+ only : coul$ think" -here is no sense in this " " " either& none ,hatsoe.er" :
can7t"
W 2 6 -hat poor creature ,ho trie$ to se$uce you& ,hat e.er became o+ her& $o
you suppose>: can hear her" Poor thing"
< 6 Personally : al,ays pre+erre$ Lipton7s"
W 1 6 An$ that all is +alling& all +allen& +rom the beginning& on empty air" 1othing
being aske$ at all" 1o one asking me +or anything at all"
W 2 6 -hey might e.en +eel sorry +or me& i+ they coul$ see me" But ne.er so sorry
as : +or them"
W 1 6 : can7t
W 2 6 Dissing their sour kisses"
< 6 : pity them in any case& yes& compare my lot ,ith theirs& ho,e.er blesse$&
an$
W 1 6 : can7t" -he min$ ,on7t ha.e it" :t ,oul$ ha.e to go" Yes"
8Spot from W1to < "9
< 6 Pity them"
W 2 6 What $o you $o ,hen you go out> Shi+t>
< 6 Am : hi$ing something> =a.e : lost
W 1 6 She ha$ means& : +ancy& though she li.e$ like a pig"
8Spot from W 1to W2"9
W 2 6 Like $ragging a great roller& on a scorching $ay" -he strain " " " to get it
6
mo.ing& momentum coming
8Spot off W2" !lackout. Three seconds. Spot on W2"9
W 2 6 Dill it an$ strain again"
< 6 =a.e : lost " " " the thing you ,ant> Why go out> Why go
W 2 6 An$ you perhaps pitying me& thinking" Poor thing& she nee$s a rest"
W 1 6Perhaps she has taken him a,ay to li.e " " " some,here in the sun"
8Spot from W 1to <"9
< 6 Why go $o,n> Why not
W2 6 : $on7t kno,"
W 1 6 Perhaps she is sitting some,here& by the open ,in$o,& her han$s +ol$e$ in
her lap& gaBing $o,n out o.er the oli.es
< 6 Why not keep on glaring at me ,ithout ceasing> : might start to ra.e an$
8Hiccup"9bring it up +or you" Par
W 2 6 1o"
< 6 $on
W 1 6 %aBing $o,n out o.er the oli.es& then the sea& ,on$ering ,hat can be
keeping him& gro,ing col$" Sha$o, stealing o.er e.erything" 2reeping" Yes"
< 6 -o think ,e ,ere ne.er together"
W 2 6 Am : not perhaps a little unhinge$ alrea$y>
W 1 6 Poor creature" Poor creatures"
< 6 1e.er ,oke together& on a <ay morning& the +irst to ,ake to ,ake the other
t,o" -hen in a little $inghy
W 1 6 Penitence& yes& at a pinch& atonement& one ,as resigne$& but no& that $oes
not seem to be the point either"
W 2 6 : say& Am : not perhaps a little unhinge$ alrea$y> 8Hopefully"9 (ust a little>
8(ause"9 : $oubt it"
< 6 A little $inghy
W 1 6 Silence an$ $arkness ,ere all : cra.e$" Well& : get a certain amount o+
both" -hey being one" Perhaps it is more ,icke$ness to pray +or more"
< 6 A little $inghy& on the ri.er& : resting on my oars& they lolling on airpillo,s
in the stern " " " sheets" 0ri+ting" Such +antasies"
7
W 1 6 =ellish hal+light"
8Spot from W 1to W2"9
W 2 6 A sha$e gone" :n the hea$" (ust a sha$e" : $oubt it"
8Spot from W2to <"9
< 6 We ,ere not ci.iliBe$"
W 1 6 0ying +or $arkan$ the $arker the ,orse" Strange"
< 6 Such +antasies" -hen" An$ no,
W 2 6 : $oubt it"
8(ause. (eal of wild low laughter from W2 cut short as spot from her to W1"9
W 1 6 Yes& an$ the ,hole thing there& all there& staring you in the +ace" You ,ill
see it" %et o++ me" 3r ,eary"
< 6 An$ no,& that you are " " " mere eye" (ust looking" At my +ace" 3n an$ o++"
W 1 6 Weary o+ playing ,ith me" %et o++ me" Yes"
< 6 Looking +or something" :n my +ace" Some truth" :n my eyes" 1ot e.en"
8Spot from < to W2" )augh as before from W2 cut short as spot from her to <"9
< 6 <ere eye" 1o min$" 3pening an$ shutting on me" Am : as much
8Spot off. !lackout. Three seconds. Spot on <"9
As : much as " " " being seen>
8Spot off <" !lackout. Fie seconds. Faint spots simultaneously on three faces.
Three seconds. %oices faint largely unintelligible.9
W 1 6 Yes& strange& etc"
W 2 6 8Together9 Yes& perhaps& etc"
< 6 Yes& peace& etc"
8&epeat play"9
< 6 8*losing repeat"9 Am : as much as " " " being seen>
8Spot off +. !lackout. Fie seconds. Strong spots simultaneously on three
faces. Three seconds. %oices normal strength"9
W 1 6 : sai$ to him" %i.e her up
W 2 6 8Together9 3ne morning as : ,as sitting
< 6 We ,ere not long together
8Spots off. !lackout. Fie seconds. Spot on <"9
< 6 We ,ere not long together
8Spot off <" !lackout. Fie seconds"9
2/A-A:1
8
L:%=-
-he source o+ light is single an$ must not be situate$ outsi$e the i$eal space
'stage) occupie$ by its .ictims"
-he optimum position +or the spot is at the centre o+ the +ootlights& the +aces
being thus lit at close Cuarters an$ +rom belo,"
When e?ceptionally three spots are reCuire$ to light the three +aces
simultaneously& they shoul$ be as single spot branching into three"
Apart +rom these moments a single mobile spot shoul$ be use$& s,i.elling at
ma?imum spee$ +rom one +ace to another as reCuire$"
-he metho$ consisting in assigning to each +ace a separate +i?e$ spot is
unsatis+actory in that it is less e?pressi.e o+ a uniCue inCuisitor than the single
mobile spot"
2=3A/S
W 1 Yes strange $arkness best an$ the $arker the ,orse
W 2 Yes perhaps a sha$e gone : suppose some might say
< Yes peace one assume$ all out all the pain

W 1 till all $ark then all ,ell +or the time but it ,ill come
W 2 poor thing asha$e gone ;ust a sha$e in the hea$
< all as i+ ne.er been it ,ill come 8Hiccup"9 par$on

W 1 the time ,ill come the thing is there you7ll see it
W 2 8)augh " " " " 9 ;ust a sha$e but : $oubt it
< no sense in this oh : kno, none the less

W 1 get o++ me keep o++ me all $ark all still
W 2 : $oubt it not really :7m all right still all right
< one assume$ peace : mean not merely all o.er

W 1 all o.er ,ipe$ out
W 2 $o my best all : can
< but as i+ ne.er been

/A1S
:n or$er +or the urns to be only one yar$ high& it is necessary either that traps be
use$& enabling the actors to stan$ belo, stage le.el& or that they kneel
throughout play& the urns being open at the back"
Shoul$ traps be not a.ailable& an$ the kneeling posture +oun$ impracticable&
the actors shoul$ stan$& the urns be enlarge$ to +ull length an$ mo.e$ back +rom
+ront to mi$stage& the tallest actor setting the height& the broa$est the brea$th&
to ,hich the three urns shoul$ con+orm"
-he sitting posture results in urns o+ unacceptable bulk an$ is not to be
consi$ere$"
9
AEPEA-
-he repeat may be an e?act replica o+ +irst statement or it may present an
element o+ .ariation"
:n other ,or$s& the light may operate the secon$ time e?actly as it $i$ the +irst
'e?act replica) or it may try a $i++erent metho$ '.ariation)"
-he Lon$on pro$uction 'an$ in a lesser $egree the Paris pro$uction) opte$ +or
the .ariation ,ith +ollo,ing $e.iations +rom +irst statement 6
1" :ntro$uction o+ an abri$ge$ chorus& cut short on laugh o+ , 2& to open
+ragment o+ secon$ repeat"
2" Light less strong in repeat an$ .oices correspon$ingly lo,er& gi.ing the
+ollo,ing schema& ,here A is the highest le.el o+ light an$ .oice an$ E the lo,est
2 #irst chorus"
A #irst part o+ 1"
B Secon$ part o+ 1"
1
0 Secon$ chorus"
B #irst part o+ Aepeat 1"
2 Secon$ part o+ Aepeat 1"
Aepeat 1
E Abri$ge$ chorus"
2 #ragment o+ Aepeat 2"
#ragment o+ Aepeat 2
!" Breathless Cuality in .oices +rom beginning o+ Aepeat 1 an$ increasing to en$
o+ play"
*" 2hange$ or$er o+ speeches in repeat as +ar as this is compatible ,ith
unchange$ continuity +or actors" E"g" the or$er o+ interrogation , 1& , 2& <& ,2&
,1& < at opening o+ 1 becomes ,2& ,1& <& ,2& <& ,1 at opening o+ repeat& an$ so
on i+ an$ as $esire$"
10

Samuel Beckett - Play

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Samuel Beckett - Play

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PLAY

A play in one act by Samuel Beckett

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