Happy Days

Read Happy Days for Free Online

Book: Read Happy Days for Free Online
Authors: Samuel Beckett
hands invisible. Tops of yellow sheets appear on either side of his head. Winnie gazes before her with happy expression. ]
    WINNIE Oh this is a happy day! This will have been another happy day! [ Pause. ] After all. [ Pause. ] So far.
    [ Pause. Happy expression off. Willie turns page. Pause. He turns another page. Pause. ]
      WILLIE Opening for smart youth.
    [ Pause. Winnie takes off hat, turns to put it in bag, arrests gesture, turns back front. Smile. ]
    WINNIE No. [ Smile broader. ] No no. [ Smile off. Puts on hat again, gazes front, pause. ] And now? [ Pause. ] Sing. [ Pause. ] Sing your song, Winnie. [ Pause. ] No? [ Pause. ] Then pray. [ Pause. ] Pray your prayer, Winnie.
    [ Pause. Willie turns page. Pause. ]
      WILLIE Wanted bright boy.
    [ Pause. Winnie gazes before her. Willie turns page. Pause. Newspaper disappears. Long pause. ]
    WINNIE Pray your old prayer, Winnie.
    [ Long pause. ]
    Curtain

ACT II
    Scene as before.
    Winnie imbedded up to neck, hat on head, eyes closed. Her head, which she can no longer turn, nor bow, nor raise, faces front motionless throughout act. Movements of eyes as indicated.
    Bag and parasol as before. Revolver conspicuous to her right on mound.
    Long pause.
    Bell rings loudly. She opens eyes at once. Bell stops. She gazes front. Long pause.
    WINNIE Hail, holy light. [ Long pause. She closes her eyes. Bell rings loudly. She opens eyes at once. Bell stops. She gazes front. Long smile. Smile off. Long pause. ] Someone is looking at me still. [ Pause. ] Caring for me still. [ Pause. ] That is what I find so wonderful. [ Pause. ] Eyes on my eyes. [ Pause. ] What is that unforgettable line? [ Pause. Eyes right. ] Willie. [ Pause. Louder. ] Willie. [ Pause. Eyes front. ] May one still speak of time? [ Pause. ] Say it is a long time now, Willie, since I saw you. [ Pause. ] Since I heard you. [ Pause. ] May one? [ Pause. ] One does. [ Smile. ] The old style! [ Smile off. ] There is so little one can speak of.[ Pause. ] One speaks of it all. [ Pause. ] All one can. [ Pause. ] I used to think . . . [ pause ] . . . I say I used to think that I would learn to talk alone. [ Pause. ] By that I mean to myself, the wilderness. [ Smile. ] But no. [ Smile broader. ] No no. [ Smile off. ] Ergo you are there. [ Pause. ] Oh no doubt you are dead, like the others, no doubt you have died, or gone away and left me, like the others, it doesn’t matter, you are there. [ Pause. Eyes left. ] The bag too is there, the same as ever, I can see it. [ Pause. Eyes right. Louder. ] The bag is there, Willie, as good as ever, the one you gave me that day . . . to go to market. [ Pause. Eyes front. ] That day. [ Pause. ] What day? [ Pause. ] I used to pray. [ Pause. ] I say I used to pray. [ Pause. ] Yes, I must confess I did. [ Smile. ] Not now. [ Smile broader. ] No no. [ Smile off. Pause. ] Then . . . now . . . what difficulties here, for the mind. [ Pause. ] To have been always what I am—and so changed from what I was. [ Pause. ] I am the one, I say the one, then the other. [ Pause. ] Now the one, then the other. [ Pause. ] There is so little one can say, one says it all. [ Pause. ] All one can. [ Pause. ] And no truth in it anywhere. [ Pause. ] My arms. [ Pause. ] My breasts. [ Pause. ] What arms? [ Pause. ] What breasts? [ Pause. ] Willie. [ Pause. ] What Willie? [ Sudden vehement affirmation. ] My Willie! [ Eyes right, calling. ] Willie! [ Pause. Louder. ] Willie! [ Pause. Eyes front. ] Ah well, not to know, not to know for sure, great mercy, all I ask. [ Pause. ] Ah yes . . . then . . . now . . . beechen green . . . this . . . Charlie . . . kisses . . . this . . . all that . . . deep trouble for the mind. [ Pause. ] But it does not trouble mine. [ Smile. ] Not now. [ Smile broader. ] No no. [ Smile off. Long pause. She closes eyes. Bell rings loudly. She opens eyes. Pause. ] Eyes float up that seem to close in peace . . . to see . . . in peace. [ Pause. ] Not mine. [ Smile. ] Not now. [ Smile broader. ] No no. [

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