Digital Manuscript ProjectKrapp's Last Tape / La Dernière Bande
[0110] Extraordinary silence this evening, I strain my ears
and do not hear a sound.[0111] Old Miss McGlome always
sings at this hour.[0112] But not tonight.[0113] Songs of her girl-
hood, she says.[0114] Hard to think of her as a girl.[0115] Wonder-
ful woman though.[0116] Connaught, I fancy.[0117] (pause)[0118] Shall
I sing when I am her age, if I ever am?[0119] No.[0120] (pause)
[0121] Did I sing as a boy?[0122] No.[0123] (pause)[0124] Did I ever sing?
[0125] No.
[0126] (Pause)
[0127] Just been listening to an old year, passages at random.
[0128] I did not check in the book, but it must be at least ten
or twelve years ago.[0129] At that time I think I was still
living on and off with Bianca in Kedar Street.[0130] Well
out of that, Jesus yes![0131] Hopeless business.[0132] (pause)
[0133] Not much about her, apart from a tribute to her eyes.
[0134] Very warm.[0135] I suddenly saw them again.[0136] (pause)
[0137] Incomparable![0138] (pause)[0139] Ah well...[0140](pause)[0141] These
old P.M.s are gruesome, but I often find them -
(KRAPP switches off, broods, switches
on)
- a help before embarking on a new...(hesitates)
...retrospect.[0142] Hard to believe I was ever that
young whelp.[0143] The voice![0144] Jesus![0145] And the aspira-
tions!
[0146] (brief laugh in which KRAPP joins)[0147] And
the resolutions![0148] (brief laugh in which KRAPP joins)
[0149] To drink less, in particular.[0150] (brief laugh of KRAPP
alone)[0151] Statistics.[0152] Seventeen hundred hours, out of
the preceding eight thousand odd, consumed on
licensed premises alone.[0153] More than 20 per cent,
- Segments
Krapp's Last Tape / La Dernière Bande © 2015 Samuel Beckett Digital Manuscript Project.
Editors: Dirk Van Hulle and Vincent Neyt