ESTRAGON:
Hideous.
VLADIMIR:
Yes,butnotmoresothanusual?
ESTRAGON:
Neithermorenorless.
VLADIMIR:
ThenIcankeepit.Mineirkedme.
(Pause.)HowshallI
say?(Pause.)Ititchedme.
HetakesoffLucky'shat,peers
intoit,shakesit,
knocksonthecrown,putsitonagain.
ESTRAGON:
I'mgoing.
Silence.
VLADIMIR:
Willyounotplay?
ESTRAGON:
Playatwhat?
VLADIMIR:
WecouldplayatPozzoandLucky.
ESTRAGON:
Neverheardofit.
VLADIMIR:
I'lldoLucky,youdoPozzo.(He
imitatesLuckysagging
undertheweightofhisbaggage.
Estragonlooksathimwith
stupefaction.)Goon.
ESTRAGON:
WhatamItodo?
VLADIMIR:
Curseme!
ESTRAGON:
(afterreflection).Naughty!
VLADIMIR:
Stronger!
ESTRAGON:
Gonococcus!Spirochete!
Vladimirswaysbackandforth,
doubledintwo.
VLADIMIR:
Tellmetothink.
ESTRAGON:
What?
VLADIMIR:
Say,Think,pig!
ESTRAGON:
Think,pig!
Silence.
VLADIMIR:
Ican't.
ESTRAGON:
That'senoughofthat.
VLADIMIR:
Tellmetodance.
ESTRAGON:
I'mgoing.
VLADIMIR:
Dance,hog!(Hewrithes.Exit
Estragonleft,
precipitately.)Ican't!(Helooksup,
missesEstragon.)Gogo!
(Hemoveswildlyaboutthestage.Enter
Estragonleft,
panting.HehastenstowardsVladimir,
fallsintohisarms.)
Thereyouareagainatlast!
ESTRAGON:
I'maccursed!
VLADIMIR:
Wherewereyou?Ithoughtyouwere
goneforever.
ESTRAGON:
They'recoming!
VLADIMIR:
Who?
ESTRAGON:
Idon'tknow.
VLADIMIR:
Howmany?
ESTRAGON:
Idon'tknow.
VLADIMIR:
(triumphantly).It'sGodot!At
last!Gogo!It'sGodot!
We'resaved!Let'sgoandmeethim!(He
dragsEstragon
towardsthewings.Estragonresists,
pullshimselffree,exit
right.)Gogo!Comeback!(Vladimirruns
toextremeleft,
scansthehorizon.EnterEstragonright,
hehastenstowards
Vladimir,fallsintohisarms.)There
youareagainagain!
ESTRAGON:
I'minhell!
VLADIMIR:
Wherewereyou?
ESTRAGON:
They'recomingtheretoo!
VLADIMIR:
We'resurrounded!(Estragonmakesa
rushtowards
back.)Imbecile!There'snowayout
there.(HetakesEstragon
bythearmanddragshimtowardsfront.
Gesturetowards
front.)There!Notasoulinsight!Off
yougo!Quick!(He
pushesEstragontowardsauditorium.
Estragonrecoilsin
horror.)Youwon't?(Hecontemplates
auditorium.)WellIcan
understandthat.WaittillIsee.(He
reflects.)Youronlyhope
leftistodisappear.
ESTRAGON:
Where?
VLADIMIR:
Behindthetree.(Estragon
hesitates.)Quick!Behindthe
tree.(Estragongoesandcrouchesbehind
thetree,realizeshe
isnothidden,comesoutfrombehindthe
tree.)Decidedlythis
treewillnothavebeentheslightest
usetous.
ESTRAGON:
(calmer).Ilostmyhead.Forgive
me.Itwon'thappen
again.Tellmewhattodo.
VLADIMIR:
There'snothingtodo.
ESTRAGON:
Yougoandstandthere.(Hedraws
Vladimirtoextreme
rightandplaceshimwithhisbackto
thestage.)There,don't
move,andwatchout.(Vladimirscans
horizon,screeninghis
eyeswithhishand.Estragonrunsand
takesupsameposition
extremeleft.Theyturntheirheadsand
lookateachother.)
Backtobacklikeinthegoodolddays.
(Theycontinuetolook
ateachotherforamoment,thenresume
theirwatch.Long
silence.)Doyouseeanythingcoming?
VLADIMIR:
(turninghishead).What?
ESTRAGON:
(louder).Doyouseeanything
coming?
VLADIMIR:
No.
ESTRAGON:
NorI.
Theyresumetheirwatch.Silence.
VLADIMIR:
Youmusthavehadavision.
ESTRAGON:
(turninghishead).What?
VLADIMIR:
(louder).Youmusthavehada
vision.
ESTRAGON:
Noneedtoshout!
Theyresumetheirwatch.Silence.
VLADIMIRandESTRAGON:
(turningsimultaneously).Doyou–
VLADIMIR:
Ohpardon!
ESTRAGON:
Carryon.
VLADIMIR:
Nono,afteryou.
ESTRAGON:
Nono,youfirst.
VLADIMIR:
Iinterruptedyou.
ESTRAGON:
Onthecontrary.
Theyglareateachotherangrily.
VLADIMIR:
Ceremoniousape!
ESTRAGON:
Punctiliouspig!
VLADIMIR:
Finishyourphrase,Itellyou!
ESTRAGON:
Finishyourown!
Silence.Theydrawcloser,halt.
VLADIMIR:
Moron!
ESTRAGON:
That'stheidea,let'sabuseeach
other.
Theyturn,moveapart,turnagain
andfaceeachother.
VLADIMIR:
Moron!
ESTRAGON:
Vermin!
VLADIMIR:
Abortion!
ESTRAGON:
Morpion!
VLADIMIR:
Sewer-rat!
ESTRAGON:
Curate!
VLADIMIR:
Cretin!
ESTRAGON:
(withfinality).Crritic!
VLADIMIR:
Oh!
Hewilts,vanquished,andturns
away.
ESTRAGON:
Nowlet'smakeitup.
VLADIMIR:
Gogo!
ESTRAGON:
Didi!
VLADIMIR:
Yourhand!
ESTRAGON:
Takeit!
VLADIMIR:
Cometomyarms!
ESTRAGON:
Yoursarms?
VLADIMIR:
Mybreast!
ESTRAGON:
Offwego!
Theyembrace.Theyseparate.
Silence.
VLADIMIR:
Howtimeflieswhenonehasfun!
Silence.
ESTRAGON:
Whatdowedonow?
VLADIMIR:
Whilewaiting.
ESTRAGON:
Whilewaiting.
Silence.
VLADIMIR:
Wecoulddoourexercises.
ESTRAGON:
Ourmovements.
VLADIMIR:
Ourelevations.
ESTRAGON:
Ourrelaxations.
VLADIMIR:
Ourelongations.
ESTRAGON:
Ourrelaxations.
VLADIMIR:
Towarmusup.
ESTRAGON:
Tocalmusdown.
VLADIMIR:
Offwego.
Vladimirhopsfromonefoottothe
other.Estragon
imitateshim.
ESTRAGON:
(stopping).That'senough.I'm
tired.
VLADIMIR:
(stopping).We'renotinshape.
Whataboutalittledeep
breathing?
ESTRAGON:
I'mtiredbreathing.
VLADIMIR:
You'reright.(Pause.)Let'sjust
dothetree,forthe
balance.
ESTRAGON:
Thetree?
Vladimirdoesthetree,staggering
aboutononeleg.
VLADIMIR:
(stopping).Yourturn.
Estragondoesthetree,staggers.
ESTRAGON:
DoyouthinkGodseesme?
VLADIMIR:
Youmustcloseyoureyes.
Estragoncloseshiseyes,staggers
worse.
ESTRAGON:
(stopping,brandishinghisfists,
atthetopofhisvoice.)
Godhavepityonme!
VLADIMIR:
(vexed).Andme?
ESTRAGON:
Onme!Onme!Pity!Onme!
EnterPozzoandLucky.Pozzois
blind.Lucky
burdenedasbefore.Ropeasbefore,but
muchshorter,so
thatPozzomayfollowmoreeasily.Lucky
wearingadifferent
hat.AtthesightofVladimirand
Estragonhestopsshort.
Pozzo,continuingonhisway,bumpsinto
him.
VLADIMIR:
Gogo!
POZZO:
(clutchingontoLuckywho
staggers).Whatisit?Whois
it?
Luckyfalls,dropseverythingand
bringsdownPozzo
withhim.Theyliehelplessamongthe
scatteredbaggage.
ESTRAGON:
IsitGodot?
VLADIMIR:
Atlast!(Hegoestowardsthe
heap.)Reinforcementsat
last!
POZZO:
Help!
ESTRAGON:
IsitGodot?
VLADIMIR:
Wewerebeginningtoweaken.Now
we'resuretosee
theeveningout.
POZZO:
Help!
ESTRAGON:
Doyouhearhim?
VLADIMIR:
Wearenolongeralone,waitingfor
thenight,waitingfor
Godot,waitingfor...waiting.All
eveningwehavestruggled,
unassisted.Nowit'sover.It'salready
tomorrow.
POZZO:
Help!
VLADIMIR:
Timeflowsagainalready.Thesun
willset,themoonrise,
andweaway...fromhere.
POZZO:
Pity!
VLADIMIR:
PoorPozzo!
ESTRAGON:
Iknewitwashim.
VLADIMIR:
Who?
ESTRAGON:
Godot.
VLADIMIR:
Butit'snotGodot.
ESTRAGON:
It'snotGodot?
VLADIMIR:
It'snotGodot.
ESTRAGON:
Thenwhoisit?
VLADIMIR:
It'sPozzo.
POZZO:
Here!Here!Helpmeup!
VLADIMIR:
Hecan'tgetup.
ESTRAGON:
Let'sgo.
VLADIMIR:
Wecan't.
ESTRAGON:
Whynot?
VLADIMIR:
We'rewaitingforGodot.
ESTRAGON:
Ah!
VLADIMIR:
Perhapshehasanotherbonefor
you.
ESTRAGON:
Bone?
VLADIMIR:
Chicken.Doyounotremember?
ESTRAGON:
Itwashim?
VLADIMIR:
Yes.
ESTRAGON:
Askhim.
VLADIMIR:
Perhapsweshouldhelphimfirst.
ESTRAGON:
Todowhat?
VLADIMIR:
Togetup.
ESTRAGON:
Hecan'tgetup?
VLADIMIR:
Hewantstogetup.
ESTRAGON:
Thenlethimgetup.
VLADIMIR:
Hecan't.
ESTRAGON:
Whynot?
VLADIMIR:
Idon'tknow.
Pozzowrithes,groans,beatsthe
groundwithhisfists.
ESTRAGON:
Weshouldaskhimforthebone
first.Thenifherefuses
we'llleavehimthere.
VLADIMIR:
Youmeanwehavehimatourmercy?
ESTRAGON:
Yes.
VLADIMIR:
Andthatweshouldsubordinateour
goodofficesto
certainconditions?
ESTRAGON:
What?
VLADIMIR:
Thatseemsintelligentallright.
Butthere'sonethingI'm
afraidof.
POZZO:
Help!
ESTRAGON:
What?
VLADIMIR:
ThatLuckymightgetgoingallofa
sudden.Thenwe'dbe
ballocksed.
ESTRAGON:
Lucky?
VLADIMIR:
Theonethatwentforyou
yesterday.
ESTRAGON:
Itellyoutherewastenofthem.
VLADIMIR:
No,beforethat,theonethat
kickedyou.
ESTRAGON:
Ishethere?
VLADIMIR:
Aslargeaslife.(Gesturetowards
Lucky.)Forthe
momentheisinert.Buthemightrun
amuckanyminute.
POZZO:
Help!
ESTRAGON:
Andsupposewegavehimagood
beatingthetwoofus?
VLADIMIR:
Youmeanifwefellonhiminhis
sleep?
ESTRAGON:
Yes.
VLADIMIR:
Thatseemsagoodideaallright.
Butcouldwedoit?Is
hereallyasleep?(Pause.)No,thebest
wouldbetotake
advantageofPozzo'scallingforhelp–
POZZO:
Help!
VLADIMIR:
Tohelphim–
ESTRAGON:
Wehelphim?
VLADIMIR:
Inanticipationofsometangible
return.
ESTRAGON:
Andsupposehe–
VLADIMIR:
Letusnotwasteourtimeinidle
discourse!(Pause.
Vehemently.)Letusdosomething,while
wehavethechance!It
isnoteverydaythatweareneeded.Not
indeedthatwe
personallyareneeded.Otherswouldmeet
thecaseequallywell,
ifnotbetter.Toallmankindtheywere
addressed,thosecriesfor
helpstillringinginourears!Butat
thisplace,atthismomentof
time,allmankindisus,whetherwelike
itornot.Letusmake
themostofit,beforeitistoolate!
Letusrepresentworthilyfor
oncethefoulbroodtowhichacruel
fateconsignedus!Whatdo
yousay?(Estragonsaysnothing.)Itis
truethatwhenwith
foldedarmsweweightheprosandcons
wearenolessacredit
toourspecies.Thetigerboundstothe
helpofhiscongeners
withouttheleastreflection,orelsehe
slinksawayintothedepths
ofthethickets.Butthatisnotthe
question.Whatarewedoing
here,thatisthequestion.Andweare
blessedinthis,thatwe
happentoknowtheanswer.Yes,inthis
immenseconfusionone
thingaloneisclear.Wearewaitingfor
Godottocome–
ESTRAGON:
Ah!
POZZO:
Help!
VLADIMIR:
Orfornighttofall.(Pause.)We
havekeptour
appointmentandthat'sanendtothat.
Wearenotsaints,butwe
havekeptourappointment.Howmany
peoplecanboastas
much?
ESTRAGON:
Billions.
VLADIMIR:
Youthinkso?
ESTRAGON:
Idon'tknow.
VLADIMIR:
Youmayberight.
POZZO:
Help!
VLADIMIR:
AllIknowisthatthehoursare
long,underthese
conditions,andconstrainustobeguile
themwithproceedings
which—howshallIsay—whichmayat
firstsightseem
reasonable,untiltheybecomeahabit.
Youmaysayitisto
preventourreasonfromfoundering.No
doubt.Buthasitnot
longbeenstrayinginthenightwithout
endoftheabysmal
depths?That'swhatIsometimeswonder.
Youfollowmy
reasoning?
ESTRAGON:
(aphoristicforonce).Weareall
bornmad.Some
remainso.
POZZO:
Help!I'llpayyou!
ESTRAGON:
Howmuch?
POZZO:
Onehundredfrancs!
ESTRAGON:
It'snotenough.
VLADIMIR:
Iwouldn'tgosofarasthat.
ESTRAGON:
Youthinkit'senough?
VLADIMIR:
No,Imeansofarastoassertthat
Iwasweakinthehead
whenIcameintotheworld.Butthatis
notthequestion.
POZZO:
Twohundred!
VLADIMIR:
Wewait.Wearebored.(Hethrows
uphishand.)No,
don'tprotest,weareboredtodeath,
there'snodenyingit.
Good.Adiversioncomesalongandwhat
dowedo?Weletit
gotowaste.Come,let'sgettowork!
(Headvancestowards
theheap,stopsinhisstride.)Inan
instantallwillvanishand
we'llbealoneoncemore,inthemidst
ofnothingness!
Hebroods.
POZZO:
Twohundred!
VLADIMIR:
We'recoming!
HetriestopullPozzotohisfeet,
fails,triesagain,
stumbles,falls,triestogetup,fails.
ESTRAGON:
What'sthematterwithyouall?
VLADIMIR:
Help!
ESTRAGON:
I'mgoing.
