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ENGLISH
Samuel Beckett on Film
 
Introduction
Play
Catastrophe
Ohio Impromptu
Endgame
Breath
Krapp's Last Tape
Happy Days
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Happy Days

Programme Outline

 

Zero VCR counter at first frame of film. Note: counter numbers may vary slightly on different VCRs.


00:00:23 Act 1: Winnie: (Gazing at zenith.] Another heavenly day.

00:03:40 Winnie: On, Winnie. [She casts about her, sees parasol, considers it at length, takes it up and develops from sheath a handle of surprising length. Holding butt of parasol in right hand she cranes back and down to her right to hang over Willie.]

00:07:50 [Winnie takes up toothbrush and examines handle through glass.]
Winnie: Fully guaranteed … [Willie stops fanning] … genuine pure …

00:14:35 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.

00:24:15 Winnie: [Willie laughs quietly. After a moment she joins in. They laugh quietly together. Willie stops. She laughs on a moment alone. Willie joins in. They laugh together. She stops. Willie laughs on a moment alone. He stops. Pause. Normal voice.] Ah well what a joy in any case to hear you laugh again, Willie, I was convinced I never would, you never would.

00:30:35 Winnie: I suppose I might - [takes up parasol] - yes, I suppose I might … hoist this thing now.

00:36:30 Winnie: [Brief burst of hoarse song without words - musical-box tune - from Willie.
Increase of happy expression. She lays down box.] Oh this will have been a happy day! [She claps hands.]

00:42:20 Winnie: Strange thing, time like this, drift up into the mind. [Pause.] Strange? [Pause.] No, here all is strange. [Pause.]

00:48:00 End of Act 1

00:48:10 Act 2

00:54:05 Winnie: [Long pause.] The face. [Pause.] The nose. [She squints down.] I can see it …

01:01:00 Winnie: Willie! [Pause. Louder.] Willie! [Pause. Mild reproach.] I sometimes find your attitude a little strange, Willie, all this time, it is not like you to be wantonly cruel.

01:04:55 Winnie: I call to the eye of the mind … Mr Shower - or Cooker. [She closes her eyes. Bell rings loudly. She opens her eyes. Pause.]

01:11:25 Willie's head appears to her right round corner of mound. He is on all fours, dressed to kill - top hat, morning coat, striped trousers, etc., white gloves in hand.

01:19:00 End of Act 2

The structure above follows the divisions that Beckett made for his Berlin production of the drama - 'Glückliche Tage' - at the Schiller Theatre (September 1971).