Free Happy Days by Samuel Beckett Page B

]—ah well—[ other corner, do ]—no worse—[ abandons inspection, normal speech ]—no better, no worse—[ lays down mirror ]—no change—[ wipes fingers on grass ]—no pain—[ looks for toothbrush ]—hardly any—[ takes up toothbrush ]—greatthing that—[ examines handle of brush ]—nothing like it—[ examines handle, reads ]—pure . . . what?—[ pause ]—what?—[ lays down brush ]—ah yes—[ turns towards bag ]—poor Willie—[ rummages in bag ]—no zest—[ rummages ]—for anything—[ brings out spectacles in case ]—no interest—[ turns back front ]—in life—[ takes spectacles from case ]—poor dear Willie—[ lays down case ]—sleep for ever—[ opens spectacles ]—marvellous gift —[ puts on spectacles ]—nothing to touch it—[ looks for toothbrush ]—in my opinion—[ takes up toothbrush ]—always said so—[ examines handle of brush ]—wish I had it—[ examines handle, reads ]—genuine . . . pure . . . what?—[ lays down brush ]—blind next—[ takes off spectacles ]—ah well—[ lays down spectacles ]—seen enough—[ feels in bodice for handkerchief ]—I suppose—[ takes out folded handkerchief ]—by now—[ shakes out handkerchief ]—what are those wonderful lines—[ wipes one eye ]—woe woe is me—[ wipes the other ]—to see what I see—[ looks for spectacles ]—ah yes—[ takes up spectacles ]—wouldn’t miss it—[ starts polishing spectacles, breathing on lenses ]—or would I?—[ polishes ]—holy light—[ polishes ]—bob up out of dark—[ polishes ]—blaze of hellish light.[ Stops polishing, raises face to sky, pause, head back level, resumes polishing, stops polishing, cranes back to her right and down. ] Hoo-oo! [ Pause. Tender smile as she turns back front and resumes polishing. Smile off. ] Marvellous gift—[ stops polishing, lays down spectacles ]—wish I had it—[ folds handkerchief ]—ah well—[ puts handkerchief back in bodice ]—can’t complain—[ looks for spectacles ]—no no—[ takes up spectacles ]—mustn’t complain—[ holds up spectacles, looks through lens ]—so much to be thankful for—[ looks through other lens ]—no pain—[ puts on spectacles ]—hardly any—[ looks for toothbrush ]—wonderful thing that—[ takes up toothbrush ]—nothing like it—[ examines handle of brush ]—slight headache sometimes—[ examines handle, reads ]—guaranteed . . . genuine . . . pure . . . what?—[ looks closer ]—genuine pure . . . —[ takes handkerchief from bodice ]—ah yes—[ shakes out handkerchief ]—occasional mild migraine—[ starts wiping handle of brush ]—it comes—[ wipes ]—then goes—[ wiping mechanically ]—ah yes—[ wiping ]—many mercies—[ wiping ]—great mercies—[ stops wiping, fixed lost gaze, brokenly ]—prayers perhaps not for naught—[ pause, do ]—first thing—[ pause, do ]—last thing—[ head down, resumes wiping, stops wiping, head up, calmed, wipes eyes, folds handkerchief, puts it back in bodice, examines handle of brush, reads ]—fully guaranteed . . . genuine pure . . . —[ looks closer ]—genuine pure . . . [ Takes off spectacles, lays them and brush down, gazes before her. ] Old things. [ Pause. ] Old eyes. [ Long pause. ] On, Winnie. [ She casts about her, sees parasol, considers it at length, takes it up and develops from sheath a handle of surprising length. Holding butt of parasol in right hand she cranes back and down to her right to hang over Willie. ] Hoo-oo! [ Pause. ] Willie! [ Pause. ] Wonderful gift. [ She strikes down at him with beak of parasol. ] Wish I had it. [ She strikes again. The parasol slips from her grasp and falls behind mound. It is immediately restored to her by Willie’s invisible hand. ] Thank you, dear. [ She transfers parasol to left hand, turns back front and examines right palm. ] Damp. [ Returns parasol to right hand, examines left palm. ] Ah well, no worse. [ Head up, cheerfully. ] No better, no worse, no change. [ Pause. Do. ] No