Waiting for Godot (7 page)

VLADIMIR:
We can't.

ESTRAGON:
Why not?

VLADIMIR:
We're waiting for Godot.

ESTRAGON:
(despairingly). Ah!
Pause.

VLADIMIR:
How they've changed!

ESTRAGON:
Who?

VLADIMIR:
Those two.

ESTRAGON:
That's the idea, let's make a little conversation.

VLADIMIR:
Haven't they?

ESTRAGON:
What?

VLADIMIR:
Changed.

ESTRAGON:
Very likely. They all change. Only we can't.

VLADIMIR:
Likely! It's certain. Didn't you see them?

ESTRAGON:
I suppose I did. But I don't know them.

VLADIMIR:
Yes you do know them.

ESTRAGON:
No I don't know them.

VLADIMIR:
We know them, I tell you. You forget everything. (Pause. To himself.) Unless
they're not the same . . .

ESTRAGON:
Why didn't they recognize us then?

VLADIMIR:
That means nothing. I too pretended not to recognize them. And then nobody
ever recognizes us.

ESTRAGON:
Forget it. What we need� Ow! (Vladimir does not react.) Ow!

VLADIMIR:
(to himself). Unless they're not the same . . .

ESTRAGON:
Didi! It's the other foot!
He goes hobbling towards the mound.

VLADIMIR:
Unless they're not the same . . .

BOY:
(off). Mister!
Estragon halts. Both look towards the voice.

ESTRAGON:
Off we go again.

VLADIMIR:
Approach, my child.
Enter Boy, timidly. He halts.

BOY:
Mister Albert . . . ?

VLADIMIR:
Yes.

ESTRAGON:
What do you want?

VLADIMIR:
Approach!
The Boy does not move.

ESTRAGON:
(forcibly). Approach when you're told, can't you?
The Boy advances timidly, halts.

VLADIMIR:
What is it?

BOY:
Mr. Godot . . .

VLADIMIR:
Obviously . . . (Pause.) Approach.

ESTRAGON:
(violently). Will you approach! (The Boy advances timidly.) What kept you so
late?

VLADIMIR:
You have a message from Mr. Godot?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
Well, what is it?

ESTRAGON:
What kept you so late?
The Boy looks at them in turn, not knowing to which he should reply.

VLADIMIR:
(to Estragon). Let him alone.

ESTRAGON:
(violently). You let me alone. (Advancing, to the Boy.) Do you know what time it
is?

BOY:
(recoiling). It's not my fault, Sir.

ESTRAGON:
And whose is it? Mine?

BOY:
I was afraid, Sir.

ESTRAGON:
Afraid of what? Of us? (Pause.) Answer me!

VLADIMIR:
I know what it is, he was afraid of the others.

ESTRAGON:
How long have you been here?

BOY:
A good while, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
You were afraid of the whip?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
The roars?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
The two big men.

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
Do you know them?

BOY:
No Sir.

VLADIMIR:
Are you a native of these parts? (Silence.) Do you belong to these parts?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

ESTRAGON:
That's all a pack of lies. (Shaking the Boy by the arm.) Tell us the truth!

BOY:
(trembling). But it is the truth, Sir!

VLADIMIR:
Will you let him alone! What's the matter with you? (Estragon releases the Boy,
moves away, covering his face with his hands. Vladimir and the Boy observe him.
Estragon drops his hands. His face is convulsed.) What's the matter with you?

ESTRAGON:
I'm unhappy.

VLADIMIR:
Not really! Since when?

ESTRAGON:
I'd forgotten.

VLADIMIR:
Extraordinary the tricks that memory plays! (Estragon tries to speak, renounces,
limps to his place, sits down and begins to take off his boots. To Boy.) Well?

BOY:
Mr. Godot�

VLADIMIR:
I've seen you before, haven't I?

BOY:
I don't know, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
You don't know me?

BOY:
No Sir.

VLADIMIR:
It wasn't you came yesterday?

BOY:
No Sir.

VLADIMIR:
This is your first time?

BOY:
Yes Sir.
Silence.

VLADIMIR:
Words words. (Pause.) Speak.

BOY:
(in a rush). Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won't come this evening but surely
tomorrow.
Silence.

VLADIMIR:
Is that all?

BOY:
Yes Sir.
Silence.

VLADIMIR:
You work for Mr. Godot?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
What do you do?

BOY:
I mind the goats, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
Is he good to you?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
He doesn't beat you?

BOY:
No Sir, not me.

VLADIMIR:
Whom does he beat?

BOY:
He beats my brother, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
Ah, you have a brother?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
What does he do?

BOY:
He minds the sheep, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
And why doesn't he beat you?

BOY:
I don't know, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
He must be fond of you.

BOY:
I don't know, Sir.
Silence.

BOY:
Does he give you enough to eat? (The Boy hesitates.) Does he feed you well?

BOY:
Fairly well, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
You're not unhappy? (The Boy hesitates.) Do you hear me?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
Well?

BOY:
I don't know, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
You don't know if you're unhappy or not?

BOY:
No Sir.

VLADIMIR:
You're as bad as myself. (Silence.) Where do you sleep?

BOY:
In the loft, Sir.

VLADIMIR:
With your brother?

BOY:
Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:
In the hay?

BOY:
Yes Sir.
Silence.

VLADIMIR:
All right, you may go.

BOY:
What am I to tell Mr. Godot, Sir?

VLADIMIR:
Tell him . . . (he hesitates) . . . tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us,
didn't you?

BOY:
Yes Sir.
He steps back, hesitates, turns and exit running. The light suddenly fails. In a
moment it is night. The moon rises at back, mounts in the sky, stands still,
shedding a pale light on the scene.

VLADIMIR:
At last!
(Estragon gets up and goes towards Vladimir, a boot in each hand. He puts them
down at edge of stage, straightens and contemplates the moon.) What are you
doing?

ESTRAGON:
Pale for weariness.

VLADIMIR:
Eh?

ESTRAGON:
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the likes of us.

VLADIMIR:
Your boots, what are you doing with your boots?

ESTRAGON:
(turning to look at the boots). I'm leaving them there. (Pause.) Another will
come, just as . . . as . . . as me, but with smaller feet, and they'll make him
happy.

VLADIMIR:
But you can't go barefoot!

ESTRAGON:
Christ did.

VLADIMIR:
Christ! What has Christ got to do with it. You're not going to compare yourself to
Christ!

ESTRAGON:
All my life I've compared myself to him.

VLADIMIR:
But where he lived it was warm, it was dry!

ESTRAGON:
Yes. And they crucified quick.
Silence.

VLADIMIR:
We've nothing more to do here.

ESTRAGON:
Nor anywhere else.

VLADIMIR:
Ah Gogo, don't go on like that. Tomorrow everything will be better.

ESTRAGON:
How do you make that out?

VLADIMIR:
Did you not hear what the child said?

ESTRAGON:
No.

VLADIMIR:
He said that Godot was sure to come tomorrow. (Pause.) What do you say to
that?

ESTRAGON:
Then all we have to do is to wait on here.

VLADIMIR:
Are you mad? We must take cover. (He takes Estragon by the arm.) Come on.
He draws Estragon after him. Estragon yields, then resists. They halt.

ESTRAGON:
(looking at the tree). Pity we haven't got a bit of rope.

VLADIMIR:
Come on. It's cold.
He draws Estragon after him. As before.

ESTRAGON:
Remind me to bring a bit of rope tomorrow.

VLADIMIR:
Yes. Come on.
He draws him after him. As before.

ESTRAGON:
How long have we been together all the time now?

VLADIMIR:
I don't know. Fifty years maybe.

ESTRAGON:
Do you remember the day I threw myself into the Rhone?

VLADIMIR:
We were grape harvesting.

ESTRAGON:
You fished me out.

VLADIMIR:
That's all dead and buried.

ESTRAGON:
My clothes dried in the sun.

VLADIMIR:
There's no good harking back on that. Come on.
He draws him after him. As before.

ESTRAGON:
Wait!

VLADIMIR:
I'm cold!

ESTRAGON:
Wait! (He moves away from Vladimir.) I sometimes wonder if we wouldn't have
been better off alone, each one for himself. (He crosses the stage and sits down
on the mound.) We weren't made for the same road.

VLADIMIR:
(without anger). It's not certain.

ESTRAGON:
No, nothing is certain.
Vladimir slowly crosses the stage and sits down beside Estragon.

VLADIMIR:
We can still part, if you think it would be better.

ESTRAGON:
It's not worthwhile now.
Silence.

VLADIMIR:
No, it's not worthwhile now.
Silence.

ESTRAGON:
Well, shall we go?

VLADIMIR:
Yes, let's go.
They do not move.
Curtain.

ACT II

Next day. Same time.
Same place.
Estragon's boots front center, heels together, toes splayed. Lucky's hat at same
place.
The tree has four or five leaves.
Enter Vladimir agitatedly. He halts and looks long at the tree, then suddenly
begins to move feverishly about the stage. He halts before the boots, picks one
up, examines it, sniffs it, manifests disgust, puts it back carefully. Comes and
goes. Halts extreme right and gazes into distance off, shading his eyes with his
hand. Comes and goes. Halts extreme left, as before. Comes and goes. Halts
suddenly and begins to sing loudly.

VLADIMIR:
A dog came in�
Having begun too high he stops, clears his throat, resumes:
A dog came in the kitchen
And stole a crust of bread.
Then cook up with a ladle
And beat him till he was dead.
Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb�
He stops, broods, resumes:
Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb
And wrote upon the tombstone
For the eyes of dogs to come:
A dog came in the kitchen
And stole a crust of bread.
Then cook up with a ladle
And beat him till he was dead.
Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb�
He stops, broods, resumes:
Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb�
He stops, broods. Softly.
And dug the dog a tomb . . .
He remains a moment silent and motionless, then begins to move feverishly
about the stage. He halts before the tree, comes and goes, before the boots,
comes and goes, halts extreme right, gazes into distance, extreme left, gazes
into distance. Enter Estragon right, barefoot, head bowed. He slowly crosses
the stage. Vladimir turns and sees him.