Happy Days Read Online Free PDF Page B

putting things back in bag, toothbrush last. This operation, interrupted by pauses as indicated, punctuates following. ] It is perhaps a little soon—to make ready—for the night—[ stops tidying, head up, smile ]—the old style!—[ smile off, resumes tidying ]—and yet I do—make ready for the night—feeling it at hand—the bell for sleep—saying to myself—Winnie—it will not be long now, Winnie—until the bell for sleep. [ Stops tidying, head up. ] Sometimes I am wrong. [ Smile. ] But not often. [ Smile off. ] Sometimes all is over, for the day, all done, all said, all ready for the night, and the day not over, far from over, the night not ready, far, far from ready. [ Smile. ] But not often. [ Smile off. ] Yes, the bell for sleep, when I feel it at hand, and so make ready for the night—[ gesture ]—in this way, sometimes I am wrong—[ smile ]—but not often. [ Smile off. Resumes tidying. ] I used to think—I say I used to think—that all these things—put back into the bag—if too soon—put back too soon—could be taken out again—if necessary—if needed—and so on—indefinitely—back into the bag—back out of the bag—until the bell—went. [ Stops tidying, head up, smile. ] But no. [ Smile broader. ] No no. [ Smile off. Resumes tidying. ] I suppose this—might seem strange—this—what shall I say—this what I have said—yes—[ she takes up revolver ]—strange—[ she turns to put revolver in bag ]—were it not—[ about to put revolver in bag she arrests gesture and turns back front ]—were it not—[ she lays down revolver to her right, stops tidying, head up ]—that all seems strange. [ Pause. ] Most strange. [ Pause. ] Never any change. [ Pause. ] And more and more strange. [ Pause. She bends to mound again, takes up last object, i.e. toothbrush, and turns to put it in bag when her attention is drawn to disturbance from Willie. She cranes back and to her right to see. Pause. ] Weary of your hole, dear? [ Pause. ] Well I can understand that. [ Pause. ] Don’t forget your straw. [ Pause. ] Not the crawler you were, poor darling. [ Pause. ] No, not the crawler I gave my heart to. [ Pause. ] The hands and knees, love, try the hands and knees. [ Pause. ] The knees! The knees! [ Pause. ] What a curse, mobility! [ She follows with eyes his progress towards her behind mound, i.e. towards place he occupied at beginning of act. ] Another foot, Willie, and you’re home. [ Pause as she observes last foot. ] Ah! [ Turns back front laboriously, rubs neck. ] Crick in my neck admiring you. [ Rubs neck. ] But it’s worth it, well worth it. [ Turning slightly towards him. ] Do you know what I dream sometimes? [ Pause. ] What I dream sometimes, Willie. [ Pause. ] That you’ll come round and live this side where I could see you. [ Pause. Back front. ] I’d be a different woman. [ Pause. ] Unrecognizable. [ Turning slightly towards him. ] Or just now and then, come round this side just every now and then and let me feast on you. [ Back front. ] But you can’t, I know. [ Head down. ] I know. [ Pause. Head up. ] Well anyway—[ looks at tooth brush in her hand ]—can’t be long now [ looks at brush ]—until the bell. [ Top back of Willie’s head appears above slope. Winnie looks closer at brush. ] Fully guaranteed . . . [ head up ] . . . what’s this it was? [ Willie’s hand appears with handkerchief, spreads it on skull, disappears. ] Genuine pure . . . fully guaranteed . . . [ Willie’s hand appears with boater, settles it on head, rakish angle, disappears ] . . . genuine pure . . . ah! hog’s setae. [ Pause. ] What is a hog exactly? [ Pause. Turns slightly towards Willie. ] What exactly is a hog, Willie, do you know, I can’t remember. [ Pause. Turning a little further, pleading. ] What is a hog, Willie, please! [ Pause. ]
      WILLIE Castrated male swine. [ Happy expression appears on Winnie’s face. ] Reared for slaughter.
    [ Happy expression increases. Willie opens newspaper,