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ENGLISH
Samuel Beckett on Film
 
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That Time

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Character

Listener

The aged Listener's disembodied head, with only an 'old white' face, surrounded by long flaring white hair 'as if seen from above outspread', is a memorable visual image, somewhat reminiscent of Winnie's plight ('Happy Days').

Listener's only actions are his four eye movements and the four times when we listen to his 'slow and regular' breathing, before, after and between the three voice sequences, and his single, obscure smile.

Thus, audience attention is acutely directed towards listening.

Listener's Voices: A B C

Haunting, pre-recorded memories are relayed from three alternating loudspeakers placed offstage left and right and behind the tabs high above Listener's head. The voices exist, then, independent of the Listener and, significantly, beyond his control, leaving him helplessly imagining that time.