MS-HRC-SB-4-2-4

[0028] Finally he has an idea, drops banana at his feet, turns
and goes ^{with all the speed he can muster,} backstage into darkness.[0029] Ten seconds.[0030] Loud pop of
cork.[0031] Fifteen seconds.[0032] He comes back into light carrying an
old ledger and sits down at table.[0033] He lays ledger on table,
wio^pes his mouth, wipes his hands on the front of his waistcoat,
brings them smartly together and rubs them.

[0034] (briskly.⁾.[0035] Ah![0036] (He bendso over ledger, turns the pages, finds
the entry he wants, reads.)[0037] Box...thrree...spool...five.[0038] (He
raises his head and stares front. [0039] With relish.)[0040] Spool![0041] (Pause.)
[0042] Spooool![0043] (^{Happy smile. [⁁]}[0044] Pause. [0045] He bends over table, starts peering and poking
at the boxes.)[0046] Box...thrree...thrree...four...two...(with sur-
prise) nine! good God!...seven...ah! the little rascal![0047] (He hold
holds up a box between finger and thumb ^{takes up box, peers at it}.)[0048] Box thrree.[0049] (He lays
it on table, opens it and peers at the spools inside.)

[0050] Spool...
(he peers at ledger)...five. (He peers at spools.) Five...five..
ah! the little scoundrel![0051] (He takes out a spool, holds it up
between g^finger and thumb. ^{peers at it.})[0052] Spool five.[0053] (He lays it on table,
closes box three, puts it back with the others. He takes up
spool.)[0054] Box thrree, spool five.[0055] (He bends over machine, looks
up. [0056] With relish.)[0057] Spooool![0058] (Happy smile.) smile. [0058|001] ^Pause.[0059] He bends,
loads spool on machine, rubs his hands.)[0060] Ah) Ah!

[0061] (He peers at
ledger. Reading entry at foot of page.)[0062] Mother at rest at last
...[0064]The black ball...[0065](He raises his head, stares blankly front.
[0066] Puzzled.)[0067] Black ball?...[0067|001] (^Pause[0068] He peers again at ledger, reads.)
[0069] The dark ny^urse...[0070](He raises his head, broods, peers again at
ledger, ^reads.)[0071] ^sSlight Iⁱmprovement in bowel condition...[0073]Memorable...what?
[0074] (He peers closer.)[0075] Equinox, memorable equinox.

[0076] (He raises his
head, stares blankly front.)[0078] Memorable equinox?...[0079](Pause. [0080] He
shrugs his shoulders, peers again at ledger, reads.)[0081] Farewell
to - (he turns the page) - love.
[0082] He raises his head, broods, bends over machine, switches it on
and assumes listening posture, i.e. leaning forward, elbows on
table, hand cupping ear towards machine, face front.)

[0083] [⁁] ^{(Strong voice, rather pompous, clearly Krapp's at a much earlier time).}
[0084] Thirty-nine today, sound as a -[0085] (Settling himself more comfort-
ably he knocks one of the boxes off the table, curses, switches ^off,
sweeps boxes and ledger violently to the ground, winds tape
back to beginning, switches on, e^resumes posture.)[0086] Thirty-nine
today, sound as a...(hesitates)...whistle ^bell, apart from my old
weakness, and intellecutually I have now every reason to sus-
pect at the...(hesitates)...crest of my powers the wave - or½
or thereabouts.

[0087] Celebrated the awful occasion, as in recent
years, quietly at the Winehouse.[0088] Not a soul.[0089] Sat before the
fite fire with closed eyes, sepa^rating the grain from the
chaff ^husks.[0090] Jotted down a few notes, on the back of an envelope.
[0091] Good to be back in my den, in my old rags.[0092] Have just eaten I
regra^et to say three bananas and only with difficulty refrained
from a fourth.[0093] Fatal things for a man with my condition.[0094] [⁁] ^{(violently Vehemently) [⁁]}

[0095] Cut 'em
out! out![0096] (Pause.)[0097] The new light above my table is a great
improvement.[0098] With all this darkness round me I feel less alone.
[0099] (Pause.)[0100] In a way.[0101] (Pause.)[0102] I love to get up and move about in
it, then back here to...(hesitates)...me.[0103] (Pause.)[0104] Krapp.
[0105] Pause.