[Proudly.] the bigger a man is the fuller he is. [Pause. Gloomily.] An d the emptier. [He sniffs.] Clov! [Pcmse.] No, alone. [Pause.] What dreams! Those forests! [Pause.] Enough, it's time it ended, in the shelter too. [Pause.] And yet I hesitate, I hesitate to .. . to end. Yes, there it is, it's time it ended and yet I hesitate to?[H e yawns.]?to end. [Yawns.] God, I'm tired, I'd be better off in bed. [He whistles. Enter CLOV immediately. He halts beside the chair.] You pollute the air! [Pause.] Get me ready, I'm going to bed. CLOV I've just got you up. HAMM An d what of it? CLOV I can't be getting you up and putting you to bed every five minutes, I have things to do. [Pause.] HAMM Did you ever see my eyes?
CLOV No.
HAMM Di d you never have the curiosity, while I was sleeping, to take off my
glasses and look at my eyes?
3. Small cap with no brim. the 'endgame.' 4. Hamm announces that it is his move, as it were 5. Handkerchief that stanches (checks the flow in a game of chess, of which the final stage is called of) blood.
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239 6 / SAMUEL BECKETT
CLOV Pulling back the lids? [Pause.] No. HAMM One of these days I'll show them to you. [Pause.] It seems they've gone
all white. [Pause.] What time is it? CLOV Th e same as usual. HAMM [Gesture tmvards window right.] Have you looked? CLOV Yes. HAMM Well? CLOV Zero. HAMM It'd need to rain. CLOV It won't rain. [Pause.] HAMM Apart from that, how do you feel? CLOV I don't complain. HAMM YOU feel normal? CLOV [Irritably.] I tell you I don't complain. HAMM I feel a little queer. [Pause.] Clov! CLOV Yes. HAMM Have you not had enough? CLOV Yes! [Pause.] O f what? HAMM Of this . . . this . . . thing. CLOV I always had. [Pause.] Not you? HAMM [Gloomily.] The n there's no reason for it to change. CLOV It may end. [Pause.] All life long the same questions, the same answers. HAMM Get m e ready, [CLOV does not move.] G o and get the sheet, [CLOV does
not move. ] Clov! CLOV Yes. HAMM I'll give you nothing more to eat. CLOV The n 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.] Wh y do you stay with me?
CLOV Wh y 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 m y pain-killer? CLOV NO. [Pause.] HAMM HOW are your eyes?
.
ENDGAME / 2397
CLOV Bad. HAMM Ho w are your legs? CLOV Bad. HAMM But you can move. CLOV Yes. HAMM [Violently.] The n 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 Wh y 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 Wha t have you done with your bicycle? CLOV I never had a bicycle. HAMM Th e thing is impossible. CLOV Whe n 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 An d your rounds? Whe n 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.]
