Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett Page B

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Authors: Samuel Beckett
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    VLADIMIR:
    What?
    ESTRAGON:
    That we were to wait.
    VLADIMIR:
    He said by the tree. ( They look at the tree. ) Do you see any others?
    ESTRAGON:
    What is it?
    VLADIMIR:
    I don't know. A willow.
    ESTRAGON:
    Where are the leaves?
    VLADIMIR:

    It must be dead.
    •
    ESTRAGON:
    No more weeping.
    VLADIMIR:
    Or perhaps it's not the season.
    ESTRAGON:
    Looks to me more like a bush.
    VLADIMIR:
    A shrub.
    ESTRAGON:
    A bush.
    VLADIMIR:
    A—. What are you insinuating? That we've come to the wrong place?
    ESTRAGON:
    He should be here.
    VLADIMIR:
    He didn't say for sure he'd come.
    ESTRAGON:
    And if he doesn't come?
    VLADIMIR:
    We'll come back tomorrow.
    ESTRAGON:
    And then the day after tomorrow.
    VLADIMIR:
    Possibly.
    ESTRAGON:
    And so on.
    VLADIMIR:
    The point is—
    ESTRAGON:
    Until he comes.
    VLADIMIR:
    You're merciless.
    ESTRAGON:
    We came here yesterday.
    VLADIMIR:
    Ah no, there you're mistaken.
    ESTRAGON:
    What did we do yesterday?
    VLADIMIR:
    What did we do yesterday?
    ESTRAGON:
    Yes.
    VLADIMIR:
    Why . . . ( Angrily. ) Nothing is certain when you're about.
    ESTRAGON:
    In my opinion we were here.
    VLADIMIR:
    ( looking round ) . You recognize the place?
    ESTRAGON:
    I didn't say that.
    VLADIMIR:
    Well?
    ESTRAGON:
    That makes no difference.
    VLADIMIR:
    All the same . . . that tree . . . ( turning towards auditorium ) that bog . . .
    ESTRAGON:
    You're sure it was this evening?
    VLADIMIR:
    What?
    ESTRAGON:
    That we were to wait.
    VLADIMIR:
    He said Saturday. ( Pause. ) I think.
    ESTRAGON:
    You think.
    VLADIMIR:
    I must have made a note of it. ( He fumbles in his pockets, bursting with miscellaneous rubbish. ) ESTRAGON:
    ( very insidious ) . But what Saturday? And is it Saturday? Is it not rather Sunday? ( Pause. ) Or Monday? ( Pause. ) Or Friday?
    VLADIMIR:
    ( looking wildly about him, as though the date was inscribed in the landscape ) . It's not possible!
    ESTRAGON:

    Or Thursday?
    VLADIMIR:
    What'll we do?
    ESTRAGON:
    If he came yesterday and we weren't here you may be sure he won't come again today.
    VLADIMIR:
    But you say we were here yesterday.
    ESTRAGON:
    I may be mistaken. ( Pause. ) Let's stop talking for a minute, do you mind?
    VLADIMIR:
    ( feebly ) . All right. ( Estragon sits down on the mound. Vladimir paces agitatedly to and fro, halting from time to time to gaze into distance off. Estragon falls asleep. Vladimir halts finally before Estragon. ) Gogo! . . . Gogo! . . . GOGO!
    Estragon wakes with a start.
    ESTRAGON:
    ( restored to the horror of his situation ) . I was asleep! ( Despairingly. ) Why will you never let me sleep?
    VLADIMIR:
    I felt lonely.
    ESTRAGON:
    I had a dream.
    VLADIMIR:
    Don't tell me!
    ESTRAGON:
    I dreamt that—
    VLADIMIR:
    DON'T TELL ME!
    ESTRAGON:
    ( gesture toward the universe ) . This one is enough for you? ( Silence. ) It's not nice of you, Didi. Who am I to tell my private nightmares to if I can't tell them to you?
    VLADIMIR:
    Let them remain private. You know I can't bear that.
    ESTRAGON:
    ( coldly. ) There are times when I wonder if it wouldn't be better for us to part.
    VLADIMIR:
    You wouldn't go far.
    ESTRAGON:
    That would be too bad, really too bad. ( Pause. ) Wouldn't it, Didi, be really too bad? ( Pause. ) When you think of the beauty of the way. ( Pause. ) And the goodness of the wayfarers. ( Pause. Wheedling. ) Wouldn't it, Didi?
    VLADIMIR:
    Calm yourself.
    ESTRAGON:
    ( voluptuously. ) Calm . . . calm . . . The English say cawm. ( Pause. ) You know the story of the Englishman in the brothel?
    VLADIMIR:
    Yes.
    ESTRAGON:
    Tell it to me.
    VLADIMIR:
    Ah stop it!
    ESTRAGON:
    An Englishman having drunk a little more than usual proceeds to a brothel. The bawd asks him if he wants a fair one, a dark one or a red-haired one. Go on.
    VLADIMIR:
    STOP IT!
    Exit Vladimir hurriedly. Estragon gets up and follows him as far as the limit of the stage. Gestures of Estragon like those of a spectator encouraging a pugilist. Enter Vladimir. He brushes past Estragon, crosses the stage with bowed head.

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