Happy Days Read Free Page A

Hand and card disappear. She makes to rummage in bag, arrests gesture. ] No. [ She turns back front. Smile. ] No no. [ Smile off. ] Gently Winnie. [ She gazes front. Willie’s hand reappears, takes off hat, disappears with hat. ] What then? [ Hand reappears, takes handkerchief from skull, disappears with handkerchief. Sharply, as to one not paying attention. ] Winnie! [ Willie bows head out of sight. ] What is the alternative? [ Pause. ] What is the al—[ Willie blows nose loud and long, head and hands invisible. She turns to look at him. Pause. Head reappears. Pause. Hand reappears with handkerchief, spreads it on skull, disappears. Pause. Hand reappears with boater, settles it on head, rakish angle, disappears. Pause. ] Would I had let you sleep on. [ She turns back front. Intermittent plucking at grass, head up and down, to animate following. ] Ah yes, if only I could bear to be alone, I mean prattle away with not a soul to hear. [ Pause. ] Not that I flatter myself you hear much, no Willie, God forbid. [ Pause. ] Days perhaps when you hear nothing. [ Pause. ] But days too when you answer. [ Pause. ] So that I may say at all times, even when you do not answer and perhaps hear nothing, Something of this is being heard, I am not merely talking to myself, that is in the wilderness, a thing I could never bear to do—for any length of time. [ Pause. ] That is what enables me to go on, go on talking that is. [ Pause. ] Whereas if you were to die—[ smile ]—to speak in the old style—[ smile off ]—or go away and leave me, then what would I do, what could I do, all day long, I mean between the bell for waking and the bell for sleep? [ Pause. ] Simply gaze before me with compressed lips. [ Long pause while she does so. No more plucking. ] Not another word as long as I drew breath, nothing to break the silence of this place. [ Pause. ] Save possibly, now and then, every now and then, a sigh into my looking-glass. [ Pause. ] Or a brief . . . gale of laughter, should I happen to see the old joke again. [ Pause. Smile appears, broadens and seems about to culminate in laugh when suddenly replaced by expression of anxiety. ] My hair! [ Pause. ] Did I brush and comb my hair? [ Pause. ] I may have done. [ Pause. ] Normally I do. [ Pause. ] There is so little one can do. [ Pause. ] One does it all. [ Pause. ] All one can. [ Pause. ] Tis only human. [ Pause. ] Human nature. [ She begins to inspect mound, looks up. ] Human weakness. [ She resumes inspection of mound, looks up. ] Natural weakness. [ She resumes inspection of mound. ] I see no comb. [ Inspects. ] Nor any hairbrush. [ Looks up. Puzzled expression. She turns to bag, rummages in it. ] The comb is here. [ Back front. Puzzled expression. Back to bag. Rummages. ] The brush is here. [ Back front. Puzzled expression. ] Perhaps I put them back, after use. [ Pause. Do. ] But normally I do not put things back, after use, no, I leave them lying about and put them back all together, at the end of the day. [ Smile. ] To speak in the old style. [ Pause. ] The sweet old style. [ Smile off. ] And yet . . . I seem . . . to remember . . . [ Suddenly careless. ] Oh well, what does it matter, that is what I always say, I shall simply brush and comb them later on, purely and simply, I have the whole— [ Pause. Puzzled. ] Them? [ Pause. ] Or it? [ Pause. ] Brush and comb it? [ Pause. ] Sounds improper somehow.[ Pause. Turning a little towards Willie. ] What would you say, Willie? [ Pause. Turning a little further. ] What would you say, Willie, speaking of your hair, them or it? [ Pause. ] The hair on your head, I mean. [ Pause. Turning a little further. ] The hair on your head, Willie, what would you say speaking of the hair on your head, them or it?
    [ Long pause. ]
      WILLIE It.
    WINNIE [ turning back front, joyful ] Oh you are going to talk to me today, this is going to be a happy day! [ Pause. Joy off. ] Another happy day. [ Pause. ] Ah well, where was I, my hair, yes, later on, I shall