————- HAPPY DAYS~——— Samuel Beckett — CHARACTERS ~ inte, a vornan about fifty Buu, @ man about ssty oa = ACT ONE — a Lape of sce ro ring conte lon mound Gente 0) pony dea Wile sins oh front tooth with agi spare woo and eo eof ge. Bak an abupter thumb, ining Tord! (pulling back upper lip > tiny il to stage level, Maximum of simplicity ‘and symmetry. to inspect gums, do,)— good God! — {pulling back comer of cme tn gpen do) ah wel—(oher ce, do) —00 ay a Bbiaing ght cant Mgbandonsinpoctiom, normal speech) — no beter, oat a ae ree own mina—no change—(pe fingers ; rpompe romp ackth to pret unbroken lan 7 “ aoe en erin ar dance on dee ak totter 20) — ‘neous Hl day rceing eee (takes up toothbrush) — great thing that— (examines handle rt IE ic oobi er atin act etfs et) on rea) pute Shyu, About fifty, well preserved, blond for preference, plump, ‘what? — (pause) — what? — (lays downt brush) —ah yes — woud Fe a re eng bl elt (tov bpp Wile a n Bb i and ses har Lv le hr br etry — anhing— ving ont pr we cad on her arms, Beside her on ground to her left @ capacious case) — no interest — (turns back front) — in life — (takes spec (othe ed rar, Bie ht gh clopalcol-—_‘tae fom cam) poot deat Wie (a dows be = ond ptosl, beak of hone emerging from sheath teep reer (oe pala) —mpanelon gots wi, oe eer) hhing oth it~ lal for tots) ~ ve, IMI ih and ar, ing ep on rund iden by mound, ea wiron PULL. ae ‘handle of brush) —wish 1 had it— (examines handle, inns Hong pause. A bell sings piercingly, say ten seconds, stops. She y)—genuine ... pure... what? — (lays dow brush) = as het Hone ae. bl sings pling, tem sco Se Men (ahf a edchi= “ihe serrot mor, Pu, Bal len oa oe ok oe cle, Bl so Sh eh i ck I ot i ne : b si at pat ae those wondel ines (sips Mente ie er had ad gost at aznith. Long pause She eye) woe woe is me—(wipes, the other): world, WINNIE: (gazing at zenith.) Another heavenly day. (Pause. to see what I see— (looks for spectacles) —ah yes: — (takes up me garing a Zenith) naa jo hands to beat, spectacle) — woul’ mits ttre polihng spear Head acl oe poe ten cna, eting om rc) ~oF wuld (lib) So ee) Fujin nke (ase) bob up out fark (pia) ene eh patil Hand remain or Scum to mound. Powe, ih ~ (Stop ling ris feo, pe, he srr Ll LL ——— She cles hon fo at et eon Low) Wed wie Tight and down) Hoo-ol (Pas, Tene nk a ore in inudible addendum, 59 ot timp return to mound. bask front and rrumespofsing. Smile off) Mave tons gutend Aen. pe ey ag your dy, Wine, g(t pling la dom bce) wih ra I age ini tout moving it (fle handkerchief) ah well (puts handlr el oot i Pout he trans rummage cpai, ring Bode) —can't complain (okt fo secant Fr oe etm Bc fronts ure cap of (ake up epctace)— mast compan (ai 5? cut fl abe of ct eel eal bobo ke, ks ro es) much be ani ree tub pcan a dads th wit thogh ther) no Fin (Pun cet) We Pi Recor brash als tenner ng to sit any lok for teats) —wondesal thing (ht okey other. Ske tna model cide and ae pet en nite. up toothbrush) ~nothing Uke i (examines hana of aut behind mow I ts hr back and down, rath) ~slight headache sometimes examine ri ' She its out She cranes foro! (Feu, Tender read) —guaranteed...gesine gu vial (ea Loud.) Hoool Page Lotte ek| Poo Wiican) nine pr (hes handherchi fo Pa trea ae tars bck fans ae on Ol for ech)— ‘day(s ut handle caine od DP SCRTS findscop)—eant be helped —(ereve on en?) mugane (ar WIP handle of brash) it comes— 1 Mwai copa Maye down tub)-ranoier of (wis) then goer— (wiping mechanical) ah 1 Reon te ee naga cuel-- _(upig)-—many merce (hin) ea mers | Cammage in bag)-esnnot be cured (rings out small wing, fia x ase ‘rokeny)— payers pethaps nt for Fe eae nth ah yes (noes teeth in mite naught—(paue, do.) fi ing (baus do) Hast m, NS x % ° « ~0 105 v0 bo thing— (head down, resumes wiping, stops wiping, head up, calmed, wibes ew, folds handkerchief puts it back in bodice, ‘examines han of brush, reads) fully guaranteed... gen uine pure. .—(ooks lotr) — genuine pure. — (Takes off spectacles, lays them and brush down, gazes before her.) Old things. (Pause) Old eyes. (Long pause.) On, Winkie, (She casts about her, sees parasol, considers it at length, takes i up and develops from sheath a handle of suprising length. Hold. ing but of parasol im right hand ehe eranes back and down to her right to hang over wu.ste,) Hoo-20! (Peuse,) Willie! (Pause.) Wondertul gf. (She strikes dow at him with Beak of parasol.) Wish Thad it (She striker again. The parasl slips from her grasp and falls behind mound. I is immediately rec sored to her by WILLIE’ invisible hand.) Thank you, deat, (She transfers parasol to loft hand, tums back font and exarn ‘nes right palm.) Damp. (Returns parasol to righthand, ex- amines left palm.) Ah well, no worse. (Head up, cheerfully) No better, no worse, no change. (Pause, Do.) No pain. (Cranes back to look down at WILLIE, holding parasol by butt «3 before.) Don't go off on me again now dear wil you please, Tmay need you. (Pause.) No hurry, no hurry, just don't cu ‘upon me again. (Turns buck front, lays down parasol, exam= ines palms tagether,wibes them on grass.) Pthaps a shade off colour just the same, (Turns fo bag, rummages init, brings cut revolver, holds it up, ees it rapidly, puts it back, rum ‘mages, brings out almost empty bottle of red medicine, turna back front, las for spectacles, puts them on, reads label. Loss of spits. ack of keenness. want of appetite infants... children... adults... sielevel.,.ablespoontils daily (head up, smile) the old stylet —amile off, head down, reads)—daily . before and alter instantaneous. . .— (looks closer) — improvement. (Takes off spectacle, lays them down, holds up bottle at arms length to see level, unscrews cap, swig it off head well back, toses cap and bottle away in WILLIE’s direction. Sound of Breaking las.) Ah that’s beter! Turns to bag, rummages in it, Brings ut lipstick, turns back front, examines lipstick.) Running ‘ut. (Looks for spectacles.) Ah well. (Puts on spectacles, looks for iron.) Musn't complain, (Takes up minor, starts doing ips.) What is that wonderful lin? (Lip) Oh leetng joys — (tips) oh something lasting woe, (Lips. She i interupted by isturbance from waLite, He ie siting up. She lovers lipstick sand miror and cranes back and dow to look at him. Pause ‘Top back of wit’ bald head, trickling blood, rss to view above slope, comes to rest. WINNIE pushes up her specta. cles, Pause, His hand appears with handkerchief, spread ion skull, disappears. Pause. The hand appears with Boater, club ribbon, setles it on head, raksh angle, disappears. Pause ‘winnté cranes a litle furthor back and down) Slip on your drawers, deat, before you get singed, (Pause ) No? (Pause) Oh see, youstill have some ofthat stuf left, Pause.) Work it wel in, dear. (Pause) Now the other, (Pause. She turns back front, gazes before her. Happy expression.) Oh thisis going to bbeanother happy day! (Pause. Happy expresion of. She pulle ddown spectacles and resumes lips. WILLIE opens newspaper, hands invisible. Tope of yellow shoots appear on either se of ‘his head. wun fishes ip, ingpects therm in miro held litle further away.) Ensign crimson, (WILLIE turns page WINNIE lays down lipstick and miror, turns towards bag) Pale fag. DRAMA AND THEATER TODAY: THE WORLD STAGE (0winite tums page. winne rummmages in bag, brings out small ‘mate brimless hat with crumpled feather, tums back from, straightens hat, smoothes father, raises it towards head, arveste (gesture as WILLIE reads.) ‘WILLit: His Grace and Most Reverend Father in God Dr Car- clus Hunter dead in tub, (Pause.) wins: (gazing front, hat in hand, tone of fervent reminis: cznce,) Charlic Hunter! (Pause) I close my eyes ~(he takes off spectacles and dose 0, hatin one hand, spectacles in other, ‘WILLIE turns page) —and am siting on hiskres again, inthe back garden at Borough Green, under the horse-deech, (Pause. She opens ees, puts on spectacles, fiddle with hat) (Oh the happy memories! (Pause. She raises hat towards head, arrests gesture os Witte reads.) \WILLI®: Opening for smart youth. (Pause. She raises hat towards head, arests gesture, tks off spectacles, gazes font, hatin one hand, spectacles in other) WINNIE: My first ball! (Long pause.) My second ball! (Long pause. Closes eyes.) My fst kiss (Paute. WILLIE turns page ‘WINNIE oper ees.) AM Johnson, o¢ Johnston, or pethaps should say Johnstone. Very bushy moustache, very tawny. (Reverently,) Almost ginger! (Pause.) Within a toolshed, though whose I cannot conceive, We had no toolshed and he ‘mest certainly had no tolshed, (Closes eyes ) see the piles of pots. (Pause,) The tangles of bast, (Pause.) The shadows ‘deepening among the raters (Pause. She opens eyes, puts on spectacle, raises hat towards head, arrest gesture as WILLIE reads) \WILLit: Wanted bright boy (Pause. wont: puts om hat hurriedly, looks for minor. wnt furs page, Wise takes up mirror, inspects Fat, lays down minor, turns towards bag. Paper disappears, WINNIE rummages fn bog, brings out magnifying-glass, turns back front, looks for ‘eothbrush. Paper reappears, folded, and begins (ofan WILLIE face, hand invisible, WINNIE takes up toothbrush and examines handle through glass.) ‘Wannte: Fully guaranteed... (WILLIE stops fanning)... genus ine pure. (Pause. WILLIE resumes farming. WINDTE Fake closer, ead.) Fully guaranteed... (WILLIE stops fanning) genuine pure. . . (Pause. WILLIE resumes fain. WINNIE {aye down glass and brush, takes handkerchief from bodice, takes off and polishes spectacles, pus on spectacles, looks for lass, takes up and polishes glass, lays down glass, loks for brush, takes up brush and wipes handle, lays down brash, puts handkerchief back in bodice, looks for glass, takes up ‘ass, looks for brush, takes up brush and examines handle through glass.) Fully guaranteed... (WILLIE stops farming) genuine pure... (pause, WILLIE resumes fanning) hog’ (WILLIE stops farming, pause)... setae. (Pause. Wi NIE lays down glass and Brush, paper disappears, WINNIE takes off spectacles, lays them dos, gazes front) Hog’ setae. (Pause) That is what I find so wonderul, that nota day goes, bby (amile)—to speakin the old syle — (oni off) —hataly a Ps us a0 as m0 Bs 20day, without some addition to ones knowlege however ti- fing, the addition T mean, provided one takes the pains. (OMILIE' hand reappears with a postcard which he examines lose to eyes.) And iffor some strange reason no farther pains ae posible, why then just close the eyes— (she des so) and wait for the day to come—(opens eyes) —the happy day to come when flesh melts at so many degrees and the night of the moon has so many hundred hours. (Pause) Thats what | find o comforting when [lose heart and envy the brte beast (Puming towards WILLE.) | hope you are taking in— (Ske feet postcard, bends lower.) What is thal you have there, Wille, may I see? (She reaches down with hand and WILLIE hands her ear. The hairy forearm appears above slope, raved in gesture of giving, the hand open to take back, and remains inthis postion tl card is returmed. WINE (urns back fot ad exarnines card.) Heavens what ae they up tol (She looks forspectaces, puts them on and examines card) No butthisis just genuine pure filth (Examines card.) Make any nice ‘minded perio want to vor mpationce of WILLIE inge ‘She looks for glas, takes i¢ up and examines card through ‘lass, Long pause’) What docs that creature in the back- round think hes doing? (Laoks closer) Ob no realy mp ‘ence of finger. Lat long look. She las down glss, takes edge of card between right forefinger and thumb, avers head, taker nose between lef forefinger and thumb.) Pah! (Drops card.) Take it avay! (Wises arm disappear, His hand reap ‘pears immediately, holding card. WINNIE takes off spectacles, lays them down, goze before her. During what fllows WILLIE continues to relth card, varying angles and distance from his eyes.) Hogs setae. (Puzzled expression.) What exactly isa hog? (Pause. Do.) A sow of course I know, but a hog (Puzzled expresion of.) Oh well what does it matter, hati what [always say, it will come back, that is what I find 50 ‘wonderful, alleomes back (Pause, Al? (Peuse.) No, nota. (Smile) No no. (Smale off) Not quite. (Pause) & pat (Pause) Floa’s vp, one fine day, out ofthe blue. (Pause) ‘That is whet | ad so wondedal. Pause, She turns towards bag. Hand and card disappear. Ske makes to rummage in bag, aresta gesture.) No. (She turns Back front. Smile.) No ro. Smile of) Gently Winnie. (She gazes font. WILLIE’ hand reappear, takes off hat, disappears with hat.) What then? (Hand reappear, takes handkerchief from skull, disap pears with handterehie: Sharply, a € one not paying atten tion.) Winnie! (WiLLIE bows head out of sight.} What isthe alternative? (Pause) What the al~ (WLI biows nose oud and long, head and hands invisible. She urs to lok t him. Pause. Head reappeon. Pause, Hand reappears with hand Kerchie, spreads it on skull, disappoans. Pause. Hand reap ‘oars with hate, sts it on head, rakich angle, disappears. Pate.) Would [had let you sleep on. (Ske turns back rom. Intermittent plucking at grass, head up and down, to animate [olloving.) Ah yes, only I could beat tobe slone, I mean prattle avy with nota sol to heat. (Pause,) Not that fatter Inyselfyou hear muck, no Willie, God forbid. (Pause) Days, pethaps when you hear nothing. (Pause) But day too when You answer. (Pous,) So that | may say tal times, even when, you do not answer and pethaps hear nothing, Something of this is being heard, Tam not merely taking to mysel, Uti inthe wilderness, thing {could never beac to do—for any length oftime. (Bause.) That is what enables met g0.0, g0 BECKETT HAPPY DAYS con talking that is. (Pause,) Whereas if you were to die~ (mile) to speak in the old style — (smile off —or go avay and leave me, then what would ldo, what eould I do all day Tong, I mean between the bell for waking and the bell for sleep? (Pause.) Simply gaze before me with compressed lips, (Long pause while she does so. No more plucking.) Not en fother word as long as I drew breath, nothing to break the silence ofthis place. (Pause) Save posibly, now and then, ‘every now and then, a sgh into my looking-glass. (Pause) Ot ‘brie... gale oflauahier, should Thappen to see the old joke again. (Pause, Smile appears, broadens and soems about to ‘culminate in laugh when suddenly replaced by expression of ‘anriety,) My hair! (Pause) Did I brush and comb iy bait? Pause.) I may have done. (Pause) Normally Ido. (Pause) ‘There isso litle one can do, (Pause.) One does ital, (Pause) Alone can, (Pause.) Ts only human. (Pause.) Human na- ture. (Ske Begins to inspect mound, looks up.) Human weak: ness, (She resumes inspection of mound, looks up.) Natural weakness, (She resumes inspection of motind,) I see no comb, nspets.) Nor any hairbrush, (Looks up. Puzzled expression ‘She turn ta bag, rummages init.) The comb is here. (Back front, Puzzled expression. Back to hag. Rummages) The brush is here (Back front. Puraled expression.) Perhaps I put them back, ater use. (Paute. Do.) But normally I do not put things back after use, no, [leave them lying about and put them back all together, atthe end of the day. (Smile) To speak in the old style. (Pause) The sweet old style. (Smile off) And yet... Tscem.... to remember. . . (Suddenly careless.) Oh well, what doce it mates, that is what [always sa, [shall simply brush and comb them leer on, purely and simply, Thave the whole — (Pause, Puzeled.) Then? (Pause) (Orit? Pause.) Brush and comb it? (Pause. Sounds improper somehow. (Pause. Turning a litle towards WILite.) Waat ‘would you say, Willie? (Pause, Turning a little further) What ‘would you say, Willie, speaking of your hai, them or it? (Bause.) The hair on your head, I mean. (Pause. Turning a litle further) Thehait on yout head, Willi, what would you say speaking ofthe hair on your head, them or it? (Long pause.) Wises WINNIE: (turning back font, joyful.) Oh you are going to talk to ‘me today, thi is going to be a happy day! (Pause. Joy off) Another happy day. (Pause) Ah wel, where was I, my hait, yet late on, shall be thaniful for it later on. Pause.) T have ‘my-—(raises hands to hat) —yes, on, my hat on— (lowers hhands)~ I cannot take it off now. (Pause) To think there ae times one eannot take off one's hat, not if one’ life were at stake, Times one cannot put it on, times one cannot take it off. (Pause,) How often [have said, Put on your bat now, Winnie, there is nothing elie for it, take off your hat now, Winnie, like a good gil, it will do you good, and did not (Pause,5 Could not. Pause. She raises hand, frecs a strand of hair fom under hat, draws i towards ee, aquints ati, lets it «ge, hand down) Golden you called it, that day, when the lat est was gone—(hand up in gesture of raising a glass)—to your golden... may itnever.. (vice breaks)... ray it neve... (Hand down. Head dawn. Pause. Low.) That day. (Pause, Do.) What day? (Pause, Head up. Normal voice.) ‘What now? (Pause) Words fil, there are times when even,