All right .... Warm summer night .... All sleeping .... Sittin | Samuel Beckett

All right .... Warm summer night .... All sleeping .... Sitting on the edge of her bed in her lavender slip .... You know the one .... Ah she knew you, heavenly powers! ... Faint lap of sea through open window .... Gets up in the end and slips out as she is .... Moon .... Stock .... Down the garden and under the viaduct .... Sees from the seaweed the tide is flowing .... Goes on down to the edge and lies down with her face in the wash .... Cut a long story short doesn't work .... Gets up in the end sopping wet and back up to the house .... Gets out the Gillette .... The make you recommended for her body hair .... Back down the garden and under the viaduct .... Takes the blade from the holder and lies down at the edge on her side .... Cut another long story short doesn't work either ... You know how she always dreaded pain .... Tears a strip from the slip and ties it round the scratch .... Gets up in the end and back up to the house .... Slip clinging the way wet silk will .... This all new to you, Joe? ... Eh Joe? ... Gets the tablets and back down the garden and under the viaduct .... Takes a few on the way .... Unconscionable hour by now .... Moon going off the shore behind the hill .... Stands a bit looking at the beaten silver .... Then starts along the edge to a place further down near the Rock .... Imagine what in her mind to make her do that .... Imagine .... Trailing her feet in the water like a child .... Takes a few more on the way .... Will I go on, Joe? ... Eh Joe? ... Lies down in the end with her face a few feet from the tide .... Clawing at the shingle now .... Has it all worked out this time .... Finishes the tube .... There's love for you .... Eh Joe? .... Scoops a little cup for her face in the stones .... The green one .... The narrow one .... Always pale .... The pale eyes .... The look they shed before .... The way they opened after .... Spirit made light .... Wasn't that your description, Joe? ...
[Voice drops to whisper, almost inaudible except words in italics.] All right .... You've had the best .... Now imagine .... Before she goes .... Face in the cup .... Lips on a stone .... Taking Joe with her .... Light gone .... 'Joe Joe' .... No sound .... To the stones .... Say it you now, no one'll hear you .... Say 'Joe' it parts the lips ... Imagine the hands .... The solitaire .... Against a stone .... Imagine the eyes .... Spiritlight .... Month of June .... What year of your Lord? .... Breasts in the stones .... And the hands .... Before they go .... Imagine the hands .... What are they at? ... In the stones ....

[Image fades, voice as before.]

What are they fondling? ... Till they go .... There's love for you .... Isn't it, Joe ? ... Wasn't it, Joe? ... Eh Joe? ... Wouldn't you say? ... Compared to us ... Compared to Him .... Eh Joe?.





Beckett
Eh Joe