Endgame and Act Without Words. Samuel Beckett

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