The Complete Dramatic Works (3 page)

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Authors: Samuel Beckett

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ESTRAGON:
It’s the normal thing.

VLADIMIR:
Is it not?

ESTRAGON:
I think it is.

VLADIMIR:
I think so too.
[
Silence
.]

ESTRAGON:
[
Anxious.
]
And we?

VLADIMIR:
I beg your pardon?

ESTRAGON:
I said, And we?

VLADIMIR:
I don’t understand.

ESTRAGON:
Where do we come in?

VLADIMIR:
Come in?

ESTRAGON:
Take your time.

VLADIMIR:
Come in? On our hands and knees.

ESTRAGON:
As bad as that?

VLADIMIR:
Your Worship wishes to assert his prerogatives?

ESTRAGON:
We’ve no rights any more?
[
Laugh
of
VLADIMIR
,
stifled
as
before,
less
the
smile.
]

VLADIMIR:
You’d make me laugh, if it wasn’t prohibited.

ESTRAGON:
We’ve lost our rights?

VLADIMIR:
[
Distinctly.
]
We got rid of them.
[
Silence.
They
remain
motionless,
arms
dangling,
heads
sunk,
sagging
at
the
knees.
]

ESTRAGON:
[
Feebly.
]
We’re not tied? [
Pause.
]
We’re not –

VLADIMIR:
Listen!
[
They
listen,
grotesquely
rigid.
]

ESTRAGON:
I hear nothing.

VLADIMIR:
Hssst! [
They
listen,
ESTRAGON
loses
his
balance,
almost
falls.
He
clutches
the
arm
of
VLADIMIR
,
who
totters.
They
listen,
huddled
together.
]
Nor I. [
Sighs
of
relief.
They
relax
and
separate.
]

ESTRAGON:
You gave me a fright.

VLADIMIR:
I thought it was he.

ESTRAGON:
Who?

VLADIMIR:
Godot.

ESTRAGON:
Pah! The wind in the reeds.

VLADIMIR:
I could have sworn I heard shouts.

ESTRAGON:
And why would he shout?

VLADIMIR:
At his horse.
[
Silence
.]

ESTRAGON:
[
Violently.
]
I’m hungry.

VLADIMIR:
Do you want a carrot?

ESTRAGON:
Is that all there is?

VLADIMIR:
I might have some turnips.

ESTRAGON:
Give me a carrot. [
VLADIMIR
.
rummages
in
his
pockets,
takes
out
a
turnip
and
gives
it
to
ESTRAGON
who
takes
a
bite
out
of
it.
Angrily.
]
It’s a turnip!

VLADIMIR:
Oh pardon! I could have sworn it was a carrot. [
He
rummages
again
in
his
pockets,
finds
nothing
but
turnips.
]
All that’s turnips. [
He
rummages.
]
You must have eaten the last. [
He
rummages
]
.
Wait, I have it. [
He
brings
out
a
carrot
and
gives
it
to
ESTRAGON
.] There, dear fellow, [
ESTRAGON
wipes
the
carrot
on
his
sleeve
and
begins
to
eat
it.
]
Give me the turnip, [
ESTRAGON
gives
back
the
turnip
which
VLADIMIR
puts
in
his
pocket.
] Make it last, that’s the end of them.

ESTRAGON:
[
Chewing.
]
I asked you a question.

VLADIMIR:
Ah.

ESTRAGON:
Did you reply?

VLADIMIR:
How’s the carrot?

ESTRAGON:
It’s a carrot.

VLADIMIR:
So much the better, so much the better. [
Pause.
] What was it you wanted to know?

ESTRAGON:
I’ve forgotten. [
Chews.
]
That’s what annoys me. [
He
looks
at
the
carrot
appreciatively,
dangles
it
between
finger
and
thumb.
]
I’ll never forget this carrot. [
He
sucks
the
end
of
it
meditatively.
]
Ah yes, now I remember.

VLADIMIR:
Well?

ESTRAGON:
[
His
mouth
full,
vacuously.
]
We’re not tied!

VLADIMIR:
I don’t hear a word you’re saying.

ESTRAGON:
[
Chews,
swallows.
]
I’m asking you if we’re tied.

VLADIMIR:
Tied?

ESTRAGON:
Ti-ed.

VLADIMIR:
How do you mean tied?

ESTRAGON:
Down.

VLADIMIR:
But to whom. By whom?

ESTRAGON:
To your man.

VLADIMIR:
To Godot? Tied to Godot? What an idea! No question of it. [
Pause.
]
For the moment.

ESTRAGON:
His name is Godot?

VLADIMIR:
I think so.

ESTRAGON:
Fancy that. [
He
raises
what
remains
of
the
carrot
by
the
stub
of
leaf,
twirls
it
before
his
eyes.
]
Funny, the more you eat the worse it gets.

VLADIMIR:
With me it’s just the opposite.

ESTRAGON:
In other words?

VLADIMIR:
I get used to the muck as I go along.

ESTRAGON:
[
After
prolonged
reflection.
]
Is that the opposite?

VLADIMIR:
Question of temperament.

ESTRAGON:
Of character.

VLADIMIR:
Nothing you can do about it.

ESTRAGON:
No use struggling.

VLADIMIR:
One is what one is.

ESTRAGON:
No use wriggling.

VLADIMIR:
The essential doesn’t change.

ESTRAGON:
Nothing to be done. [
He
proffers
the
remains
of
the
carrot
to
VLADIMIR
.] Like to finish it?
[
A
terrible
cry,
close
at
hand,
ESTRAGON
drops
the
carrot.
They
remain
motionless,
then
together
make
a
sudden
rush
towards
the
wings,
ESTRAGON
stops
half-way,
runs
back,
picks
up
the
carrot,
stuffs
it
in
his
pocket,
runs
towards
VLADIMIR
who
is
waiting
for
him,
stops
again,
runs
back,
picks
up
his
boot,
runs
to
rejoin
VLADIMIR
.
Huddled
together,
shoulders
hunched,
cringing
away
from
the
menace,
they
wait.
Enter
POZZO
and
LUCKY
,
POZZO
drives
LUCKY
by
means
of
a
rope
passed
round
his
neck,
so
that
LUCKY
is
the
first
to
appear,
followed
by
the
rope
which
is
long
enough
to
allow
him
to
reach
the
middle
of
the
stage
before
POZZO

appears,
LUCKY
carries
a
heavy
bag,
a
folding
stool,
a
picnic
basket
and
a
greatcoat,
POZZO
a
whip.
]

POZZO:
[
Off
.]
On! [
Crack
of
whip,
POZZO
appears.
They
cross
the
stage,
LUCKY
passes
before
VLADIMIR
and

ESTRAGON
and
exit,
POZZO
at
the
sight
of
VLADIMIR

and

ESTRAGON
stops
short.
The
rope
tautens,

POZZO

jerks
it
violently.
]
Back!
[
Noise
of
LUCKY
falling
with
all
his
baggage.
VLADIMIR
and
ESTRAGON
turn
towards
him,
half
wishing
half
fearing
to
go
to
his
assistance.

VLADIMIR
takes
a
step
towards

LUCKY
,
ESTRAGON
holds
him
back
by
the
sleeve.
]

VLADIMIR:
Let me go!

ESTRAGON:
Stay where you are!

POZZO:
Be careful! He’s wicked. [
VLADIMIR
and

ESTRAGON

turn
towards
POZZO
.] With strangers.

ESTRAGON:
[
Undertone.
]
Is that him?

VLADIMIR:
Who?

ESTRAGON:
[
Trying
to
remember
the
name.
]
Er …

VLADIMIR:
Godot?

ESTRAGON:
Yes.

POZZO:
I present myself: Pozzo.

VLADIMIR:
[
To

ESTRAGON
.] Not at all!

ESTRAGON:
He said Godot.

VLADIMIR:
Not at all!

ESTRAGON:
[
Timidly
to

POZZO
.] You’re not Mr Godot, sir?

POZZO:
[
Terrifying
voice
.]
I am Pozzo! [
Silence.
]
Pozzo! [
Silence
.]
Does that name mean nothing to you? [
Silence
.] I say does that name mean nothing to you? [
VLADIMIR
and

ESTRAGON
look
at
each
other
questioningly
.]