MS-UoR-1659

[0027] puts back keys in his pocket, turns and advances to edge
of stage, halts, strokes, banana, peels it, tosses skin
into pit, puts end of banana in his mouth and remains motion-
less, staring vacuously before him. [0028] Finally he has an idea,
puts banana in his waistcoat pocket^{, the end emerging,} 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 ledg-
er on table, wipes his mouth, wipes his hands on the front
of his waistcoat, brings them smartly together and rubs them.

[0034] (briskly).[0035] Ah![0036] (He bends 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 e^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 surprise) nine! good God!...
seven...ah! the little rascal!

[0047] (He takes up box, peers at
it.)[0048] Box T^thrree.[0049] (He lays it on table, opens it and peers
at the spools inside.)[0050] Spool...(he peers at ledger)...fiv.^e
(He peers at spools.) Five...five...ah! the little scoundrel!
[0051] (He takes out a spool, peers at it.)[0052] Spool five.[0053] (He lays
it on table, closes box three, puts it back with the others,
takes up the sl^pool.)[0054] Box thrree, spool five.[0055] (He bends over
the machine, looks up. [0056] With relish.)[0057] Spooool![0058] (Happy smile.

[0058|001] Pause. [0059] He bends, loads spool on machine, rubs his hands.)
[0060] Ah![0061] (He peers at ledger, reads entry at foot of page.)
[0062] Mother at rest at last...[0063] ^Hm...[0064] The black ball...[0065](He raises his
head, stares blankly front. [0066] Puzzled.)[0067] N^Black ball?...[0068](He
peers again at ledger, reads.)[0069] The dark nurse...[0070](He raises
his head, broods, peers again at ledger.^{, reads.})[0071] Slight improve-
ment in bowel condition...[0072] ^Hm...[0073] Memorable...what?[0074] (He peers
closer.)

[0075] Equinox, memorable equinox.[0076] (He raises his head,
stares blankly front. [0077] Puzzled.)[0078] Memorable equinox?...
[0079] (Pause.[0080] He peers again at ledger He shrugs his shoi^ulders,
peers again at ledger, reads.)[0081] Farewell to - (he turns the
page - love.

[0082] He raises his head, broods, bends over machine, switches ^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 comfortably he knocks one of the boxes off
the table, v^curses, switches off, sweeps boxes and ledger
violently to the ground, winds tape back to beginning,
switches on, resumes posture.)Thirty-nine today, sound
as a bell, apart from my old weakness, and intellectually
I have now every reason to suspect at the...(hesitates)...

[0086] Thirty-nine today, sound
as a bell, apart from my old weakness, and intellectually
I have now every reason to suspect at the...(hesitates)...