afternoon.
NAGG We had got engaged the day before.
NELL Engaged!
NAGG You were in such fits that we capsized. By rights we should have been
drowned.
NELL It was because I felt happy.
NAGG [Indignant.] It was not, it was not, it was my story and nothing else.
Happy! Don't you laugh at it still? Every time I tell it. Happy!
NELL It was deep, deep. An d you could see down to the bottom. So white.
So clean. NAGG Let me tell it again. [Raconteur's voice.] A n Englishman, needing a pair
of striped trousers in a hurry for the Ne w Year festivities, goes to his tailor
who takes his measurements. [Tailor's voice.] 'That's the lot, come back in
four days, I'll have it ready.' Good. Four days later. [Tailor'svoice.] 'So sorry,
come back in a week, I've made a mess of the seat.' Good, that's all right,
a neat seat can be very ticklish. A week later. [Tailor's voice.] 'Frightfully
sorry, come back in ten days. I've made a hash of the crotch.' Good, can't
be helped, a snug crotch is always a teaser. Ten days later. [Tailor's voice.]
'Dreadfully sorry, come back in a fortnight, I've made a balls of the fly.'
Good, at a pinch, a smart fly is a stiff proposition. [Pause. Normal voice.] I
never told it worse. [Pause. Gloomy. ] I tell this story worse and worse. [Pause.
Raconteur's voice.] Well, to make it short, the bluebells are blowing and he
ballockses7 the buttonholes. [Customer's voice.] 'God damn you to hell, Sir,
no, it's indecent, there are limits! In six days, do you hear me, six days, Go d
made the world. Yes Sir, no less Sir, the WORLD ! An d you are not bloody
well capable of making me a pair of trousers in three months!' [Tailor's voice,
scandalised.] 'But my dear Sir, my dear Sir, look?[Disdainful gesture, dis
gustedly.]?at the world?[Pause.] and look?[Loving gesture, proudly.]?at
my TROUSERS!' [Pause. He looks at NELL who has remained impassive, her
eyes unseeing, breaks into a high forced laugh, cuts it short, pokes his head
towards NELL, launches his laugh again.]
HAMM Silence!
[NAGG starts, cuts short his laugh.]
6. Large lake in northern Italy. 7. Botches.
.
240 2 / SAMUEL BECKETT
NELL You could see down to the bottom.
HAMM [Exasperated.] Have you not finished? Will you never finish? [With sudden fury.] Wil l this never finish? [NAGG disappears into his hin, closes the lid behind him. NELL does not move. Frenziedly.] M y kingdom for a night- man!8 [He whistles. Enter CLOV.] Clear away this muck! Chuc k it in the sea! [CLOV goes to hins, halts.]
NELL SO white. HAMM What ? What's she blathering about? [CLOV stoops, takes NELL'S hand, feels her pidse.] NELL [To CLOV.] Desert! [CLOV lets go her hand, pushes her hack in the bin,
closes the lid.] CLOV [Returning to his place beside the chair.] She has no pulse. HAMM Wha t was she drivelling about?
CLOV She told me to go away, into the desert.
HAMM Dam n busybody! Is that all?
CLOV No.
HAMM What else?
CLOV I didn't understand.
HAMM Have you bottled her?
CLOV Yes.
HAMM Are they both bottled?
CLOV Yes. HAMM Screw down the lids, [CLOV goes towards door.] Tim e enough, [CLOV
