Act 1 Scene 1 Flashcards
J: I feel ashamed to be your friend.
You’re very hard on me.
J: I’ve every reason to be.
Listen, Jean. There are so few distractions in this town - I get so bored. I’m not made for the work I’m doing - every day at the office, eight hours a day - and only three weeks’ holiday a year. When Saturday night comes round I feel exhausted and so - you know how it is - just to relax…
J: Willpower, my good man.
But everybody hasn’t got as much willpower as you have. I just can’t get used to it. I just can’t get used to life.
J: Or do you consider yourself some superior being?
I don’t pretend to be…
J: If you can remember.
We were celebrating Auguste’s birthday, our friend Auguste -
J: Nobody invited me to our friend Auguste’s birthday.
I couldn’t refuse. It wouldn’t have been nice.
J: Did I go there?
Well, perhaps it was because you weren’t invited.
A: Well, of all things.
It certainly looked as if it was a rhinoceros. It made plenty of dust.
P: Look after these gentlemen.
What did I think of what?
W: What are you drinking?
Cognac.
J: Well, what did you think about it?
Well - nothing - it made a lot of dust.
J: You’re incorrigible!
I asked for mineral water. She’s made a mistake. (pause) The dust’s settled.
J: I just can’t get over it!
Yes, I can see you can’t. Well it was a rhinoceros - all right so it was a rhinoceros. It’s miles away by now - miles away.
J: Put your hand in front of your mouth.
Yais, yais it shouldn’t be allowed. It’s dangerous. I hadn’t realised. But don’t worry about it, it won’t get us here.
J: What’s the council there for?
Oh, excuse me. Perhaps the rhinoceros escaped from the zoo.
J: You’re daydreaming.
But I’m wide awake.
J: Awake or asleep, it’s the same thing.
But there is some difference.
J: That’s not the point.
But you just said being awake and being asleep were the same thing…
J: …between dreaming awake and dreaming asleep.
I do dream. Life is a dream.
J: …escaped from the zoo-
I only said - perhaps.
J: …ages ago.
Then perhaps it came from a circus.
J: What circus are you talking about?
I don’t know, some travelling circus.
J: …since we were children.
In that case, maybe it’s been hiding ever since in the surrounding swamps.
J: …thick haze of alcohol.
That’s very true. It seems to mount from my stomach.
J: …the land is so arid.
How do I know, then? Perhaps it’s been hiding under a stone. Or maybe it’s been nesting on some withered branch.
J: You’re incapable of talking seriously
Today yes, only today, because of - because of…
J: …any other day.
Oh, not quite as much.
J: …not very inspired.
I wasn’t trying to be… I never said it wasn’t’t dangerous to let a rhinoceros go racing about the town. I simply said I’d personally never considered the danger. It had never crossed my mind.
J: You never consider anything.
All right, I agree. A rhinoceros roaming about is not a good thing.
J: It shouldn’t be allowed.
I agree. It shouldn’t be allowed. It’s ridiculous. But it’s no reason for you and me to quarrel.
Why go on at me just because some wretched perissodactyl happens to pass by? A stupid quadruped not worth talking about. And ferocious into the bargain. And which has already disappeared - which doesn’t exist any longer.
Let’s talk about something else, Jean, please.
There are plenty of other subjects for discussion.
To you.
J: You’re not to drink it.
There’s no point in leaving it for the proprietor.
J: I tell you.
Very well. Oh, there’s Daisy.
J: How clumsy you are!
That’s Daist - I’m so sorry - I don’t want her to see me in this state.
J: …that young girl?
Oh, be quiet, please be quiet.
J: …unpleasant person.
I must apologise once more for -
J: …you’re destroying yourself.
I don’t like the taste of alcohol much. And yet if I don’t drink, I’m done fore; it’s as if I’m frightened, and so I drink not to be frightened any longer.
J: …of what?
I don’t know exactly. It’s a sort of anguish, difficult to describe. I feel out of place in life, among people, and so I take to drink. That calms me down, and relaxes me so I can forget.
J: …from yourself.
I’m so tired. I’ve been tired for years. It’s exhuasting to drag the weight of my own body about.
J: …drinker’s gloom.
I’m conscious of my body all the time, as if it were made of lead, or as if I were carrying another man around on my back. I can’t seem to get used to myself. I don’t even know if I am me. Then as soon as I take a drink, the lead slips away and I recognise myself, I become me again.
OG: No harm done.
You certainly are strong.
L: Then it’s a cat.
I’ve barely got the strength to go on living. Maybe I don’t even want to.
L: …also true.
Solitude seems to press me. And so does the company of other people.
L: …not abused.
Life is an abnormal business.
J: …go on living.
There are more dead people than living. And their numbers are increasing. The living are getting rarer.
J: …that doesn’t exist.
I sometimes wonder if I exist myself.
J: …somebody who does.
Who?
OG: I’m all ears.
In any case, I think she’s already got her eye on someone.
J: Oh, who?
Dudard. An office colleague, qualified in law, with a big future in the firm - and in Daisy’s affections. I can’t hope to compete with him.
L: ..the hypothesis.
The chief thinks a lot of him. Whereas I’ve no future, I’ve no qualifications. I don’t stand a chance.
J: …just like that?
What else can I do?
L: …it all depends.
What can I do? I’ve nothing to put up a fight with.
OG: …many aspects.
Where can I find the weapons?
J: …through your own will.
What weapons?
J: …up to the mark.
How do I get myself up to the mark?
OG: That’s not so easy.
That’s not so easy.
OG: …but not for me.
It may be simple for you, but not for me.
OG: I don’t see how.
I really don’t see how.
J: …put on a clean shirt.
The laundry’s so expensive.
L: Tell me.
Then what do I do? Tell me.
L: I’m listening.
I’m listening.
J: …without talent.
I’ve got talent, me?
OG: …the other two.
I get so little spare time.
J: …find time.
It’s too late now.
J: …free time constructively.
How do you mean?
J: …cultured man.
You’re right!
J: …Ionesco’s plays?
Unfortunately no. I’ve only heard people talk about them.
OG: …with six paws.
It would be an excellent initiation into the artistic life of our times. (pause) Instead of drinking, I’ll develop my mind. I feel better already. My head already feels clearer!
J: You see!
This afternoon I’ll go to the museum. And I’ll book two seats for the theatre this evening. Will you come with me?
OG: …Justice.
I promise you, and I promise myself. WIll you come to the museum with me this afternoon?
OG: …aspect of logic.
But you will come with me to the theatre this evening.
J: …for a drink.
For a drink?
OG: …catch mice.
Ah, now it’s you that’s setting me a bad example. You’re going out drinking.
J: …the same thing at all.
Why isn’t it the same thing?
L: …in its nature.
I didn’t mean you were a drunkard. But why would it make me one any more than you, in a case like that?
L: What did you say?
What about me - what did you say?
OG: Oh, a rhinoceros.
Rhinoceros! In the opposite direction!
D: Oh, a rhinoceros!
Oh, Daisy!
