toyou.
ESTRAGON:
(stepforward).You'reangry?(Silence.
Stepforward).
Forgiveme.(Silence.Stepforward.
Estragonlayshis
handonVladimir'sshoulder.)Come,
Didi.(Silence.)Give
meyourhand.(Vladimirhalfturns.)
Embraceme!
(Vladimirstiffens.)Don'tbestubborn!
(Vladimirsoftens.
Theyembrace.Estragonrecoils.)You
stinkofgarlic!
VLADIMIR:
It'sforthekidneys.(Silence.Estragon
looksattentively
atthetree.)Whatdowedonow?
ESTRAGON:
Wait.
VLADIMIR:
Yes,butwhilewaiting.
ESTRAGON:
Whatabouthangingourselves?
VLADIMIR:
Hmm.It'dgiveusanerection.
ESTRAGON:
(highlyexcited).Anerection!
VLADIMIR:
Withallthatfollows.Whereitfalls
mandrakesgrow.
That'swhytheyshriekwhenyoupull
themup.Didyou
notknowthat?
ESTRAGON:
Let'shangourselvesimmediately!
VLADIMIR:
Fromabough?(Theygotowardsthe
tree.)Iwouldn't
trustit.
ESTRAGON:
Wecanalwaystry.
VLADIMIR:
Goahead.
ESTRAGON:
Afteryou.
VLADIMIR:
Nono,youfirst.
ESTRAGON:
Whyme?
VLADIMIR:
You'relighterthanIam.
ESTRAGON:
Justso!
VLADIMIR:
Idon'tunderstand.
ESTRAGON:
Useyourintelligence,can'tyou?
Vladimiruseshisintelligence.
VLADIMIR:
(finally).Iremaininthedark.
ESTRAGON:
Thisishowitis.(Hereflects.)The
bough...thebough
...(Angrily.)Useyourhead,can't
you?
VLADIMIR:
You'remyonlyhope.
ESTRAGON:
(witheffort).Gogolight–boughnot
break–Gogodead.Didi
heavy–boughbreak–Didialone.Whereas
–
VLADIMIR:
Ihadn'tthoughtofthat.
ESTRAGON:
Ifithangsyouit'llhanganything.
VLADIMIR:
ButamIheavierthanyou?
ESTRAGON:
Soyoutellme.Idon'tknow.There'san
evenchance.Or
nearly.
VLADIMIR:
Well?Whatdowedo?
ESTRAGON:
Don'tlet'sdoanything.It'ssafer.
VLADIMIR:
Let'swaitandseewhathesays.
ESTRAGON:
Who?
VLADIMIR:
Godot.
ESTRAGON:
Goodidea.
VLADIMIR:
Let'swaittillweknowexactlyhowwe
stand.
ESTRAGON:
Ontheotherhanditmightbebetterto
striketheiron
beforeitfreezes.
VLADIMIR:
I'mcurioustohearwhathehasto
offer.Thenwe'lltake
itorleaveit.
ESTRAGON:
Whatexactlydidweaskhimfor?
VLADIMIR:
Wereyounotthere?
ESTRAGON:
Ican'thavebeenlistening.
VLADIMIR:
Oh...Nothingverydefinite.
ESTRAGON:
Akindofprayer.
VLADIMIR:
Precisely.
ESTRAGON:
Avaguesupplication.
VLADIMIR:
Exactly.
ESTRAGON:
Andwhatdidhereply?
VLADIMIR:
Thathe'dsee.
ESTRAGON:
Thathecouldn'tpromiseanything.
VLADIMIR:
Thathe'dhavetothinkitover.
ESTRAGON:
Inthequietofhishome.
VLADIMIR:
Consulthisfamily.
ESTRAGON:
Hisfriends.
VLADIMIR:
Hisagents.
ESTRAGON:
Hiscorrespondents.
VLADIMIR:
Hisbooks.
ESTRAGON:
Hisbankaccount.
VLADIMIR:
Beforetakingadecision.
ESTRAGON:
It'sthenormalthing.
VLADIMIR:
Isitnot?
ESTRAGON:
Ithinkitis.
VLADIMIR:
Ithinksotoo.
Silence.
ESTRAGON:
(anxious).Andwe?
VLADIMIR:
Ibegyourpardon?
ESTRAGON:
Isaid,Andwe?
VLADIMIR:
Idon'tunderstand.
ESTRAGON:
Wheredowecomein?
VLADIMIR:
Comein?
ESTRAGON:
Takeyourtime.
VLADIMIR:
Comein?Onourhandsandknees.
ESTRAGON:
Asbadasthat?
VLADIMIR:
YourWorshipwishestoasserthis
prerogatives?
ESTRAGON:
We'venorightsanymore?
LaughofVladimir,stifledasbefore,
lessthesmile.
VLADIMIR:
You'dmakemelaughifitwasn't
prohibited.
ESTRAGON:
We'velostourrights?
VLADIMIR:
(distinctly).Wegotridofthem.
Silence.Theyremainmotionless,arms
dangling,heads
sunk,saggingattheknees.
ESTRAGON:
(feebly).We'renottied?(Pause.)We're
not–
VLADIMIR:
Listen!
Theylisten,grotesquelyrigid.
ESTRAGON:
Ihearnothing.
VLADIMIR:
Hsst!(Theylisten.Estragonloseshis
balance,almost
falls.HeclutchesthearmofVladimir,
whototters.They
listen,huddledtogether.)NorI.
Sighsofrelief.Theyrelaxand
separate.
ESTRAGON:
Yougavemeafright.
VLADIMIR:
Ithoughtitwashe.
ESTRAGON:
Who?
VLADIMIR:
Godot.
ESTRAGON:
Pah!Thewindinthereeds.
VLADIMIR:
IcouldhaveswornIheardshouts.
ESTRAGON:
Andwhywouldheshout?
VLADIMIR:
Athishorse.
Silence.
ESTRAGON:
(violently).I'mhungry!
VLADIMIR:
Doyouwantacarrot?
ESTRAGON:
Isthatallthereis?
VLADIMIR:
Imighthavesometurnips.
ESTRAGON:
Givemeacarrot.(Vladimirrummagesin
hispockets,
takesoutaturnipandgivesitto
Estragonwhotakesa
biteoutofit.Angrily.)It'saturnip!
VLADIMIR:
Ohpardon!Icouldhaveswornitwasa
carrot.(He
rummagesagaininhispockets,finds
nothingbut
turnips.)Allthat'sturnips.(He
rummages.)Youmust
haveeatenthelast.(Herummages.)
Wait,Ihaveit.(He
bringsoutacarrotandgivesitto
Estragon.)There,dear
fellow.(Estragonwipesthecarroton
hissleeveand
beginstoeatit.)Makeitlast,that's
theendofthem.
ESTRAGON:
(chewing).Iaskedyouaquestion.
VLADIMIR:
Ah.
ESTRAGON:
Didyoureply?
VLADIMIR:
How'sthecarrot?
ESTRAGON:
It'sacarrot.
VLADIMIR:
Somuchthebetter,somuchthebetter.
(Pause.)What
wasityouwantedtoknow?
ESTRAGON:
I'veforgotten.(Chews.)That'swhat
annoysme.(He
looksatthecarrotappreciatively,
danglesitbetween
fingerandthumb.)I'llneverforget
thiscarrot.(Hesucks
theendofitmeditatively.)Ahyes,now
Iremember.
VLADIMIR:
Well?
ESTRAGON:
(hismouthfull,vacuously).We'renot
tied?
VLADIMIR:
Idon'thearawordyou'resaying.
ESTRAGON:
(chews,swallows).I'maskingyouif
we'retied.
VLADIMIR:
Tied?
ESTRAGON:
Ti-ed.
VLADIMIR:
Howdoyoumeantied?
ESTRAGON:
Down.
VLADIMIR:
Buttowhom?Bywhom?
ESTRAGON:
Toyourman.
VLADIMIR:
ToGodot?TiedtoGodot!Whatanidea!
Noquestionofit.
(Pause.)Forthemoment.
ESTRAGON:
HisnameisGodot?
VLADIMIR:
Ithinkso.
ESTRAGON:
Fancythat.(Heraiseswhatremainsof
thecarrotbythe
stubofleaf,twirlsitbeforehis
eyes.)Funny,themore
youeattheworseitgets.
VLADIMIR:
Withmeit'sjusttheopposite.
ESTRAGON:
Inotherwords?
VLADIMIR:
IgetusedtothemuckasIgoalong.
ESTRAGON:
(afterprolongedreflection).Isthat
theopposite?
VLADIMIR:
Questionoftemperament.
ESTRAGON:
Ofcharacter.
VLADIMIR:
Nothingyoucandoaboutit.
ESTRAGON:
Nousestruggling.
VLADIMIR:
Oneiswhatoneis.
ESTRAGON:
Nousewriggling.
VLADIMIR:
Theessentialdoesn'tchange.
ESTRAGON:
Nothingtobedone.(Heproffersthe
remainsofthe
carrottoVladimir.)Liketofinishit?
Aterriblecry,closeathand.Estragon
dropsthecarrot.
Theyremainmotionless,thentogether
makeasudden
rushtowardsthewings.Estragonstops
halfway,runs
back,picksupthecarrot,stuffsitin
hispocket,runsto
rejoinVladimirwhoiswaitingforhim,
stopsagain,runs
back,picksuphisboot,runstorejoin
Vladimir.Huddled
together,shouldershunched,cringing
awayfromthe
menace,theywait.
EnterPozzoandLucky.Pozzodrives
Luckybymeansofa
ropepassedroundhisneck,sothat
Luckyisthefirstto
enter,followedbytheropewhichis
longenoughtolet
himreachthemiddleofthestagebefore
Pozzoappears.
Luckycarriesaheavybag,afolding
stool,apicnic
basketandagreatcoat,Pozzoawhip.
POZZO:
(off).On!(Crackofwhip.Pozzo
appears.Theycrossthe
stage.LuckypassesbeforeVladimirand
Estragonand
exit.PozzoatthesightofVladimirand
Estragonstops
short.Theropetautens.Pozzojerksat
itviolently.)
Back!
NoiseofLuckyfallingwithallhis
baggage.Vladimirand
Estragonturntowardshim,halfwishing
halffearingtogo
tohisassistance.Vlamdimirtakesa
steptowardsLucky,
Estragonholdshimbackbythesleeve.
VLADIMIR:
Letmego!
ESTRAGON:
Staywhereyouare!
POZZO:
Becareful!He'swicked.(Vladimirand
Estragonturn
towardsPozzo.)Withstrangers.
ESTRAGON:
(undertone).Isthathim?
VLADIMIR:
Who?
ESTRAGON:
(tryingtorememberthename).Er...
VLADIMIR:
Godot?
ESTRAGON:
Yes.
POZZO:
Ipresentmyself:Pozzo.
VLADIMIR:
(toEstragon).Notatall!
ESTRAGON:
HesaidGodot.
VLADIMIR:
Notatall!
ESTRAGON:
(timidly,toPozzo).You'renotMr.
Godot,Sir?
POZZO:
(terrifyingvoice).IamPozzo!
(Silence.)Pozzo!(Silence.)
Doesthatnamemeannothingtoyou?
(Silence.)Isay
doesthatnamemeannothingtoyou?
VladimirandEstragonlookateachother
questioningly.
ESTRAGON:
(pretendingtosearch).Bozzo...
Bozzo...
VLADIMIR:
(ditto).Pozzo...Pozzo...
POZZO:
PPPOZZZO!
ESTRAGON:
Ah!Pozzo...letmesee...Pozzo.
..
VLADIMIR:
IsitPozzoorBozzo?
ESTRAGON:
Pozzo...no...I'mafraidI...
no...Idon'tseemto
...
Pozzoadvancesthreateningly.
VLADIMIR:
(conciliating).Ionceknewafamily
calledGozzo.The
motherhadtheclap.
ESTRAGON:
(hastily).We'renotfromtheseparts,
Sir.
POZZO:
(halting).Youarehumanbeingsnonethe
less.(Heputs
onhisglasses.)Asfarasonecansee.
(Hetakesoffhis
glasses.)Ofthesamespeciesasmyself.
(Heburstsinto
anenormouslaugh.)Ofthesamespecies
asPozzo!Made
inGod'simage!
VLADIMIR:
Wellyousee–
POZZO:
(peremptory).WhoisGodot?
ESTRAGON:
Godot?
POZZO:
YoutookmeforGodot.
VLADIMIR:
Ohno,Sir,notforaninstant,Sir.
POZZO:
Whoishe?
VLADIMIR:
Ohhe'sa...he'sakindof
acquaintance.
ESTRAGON:
Nothingofthekind,wehardlyknowhim.
VLADIMIR:
True...wedon'tknowhimverywell.
..butallthe
same...
ESTRAGON:
Personally,Iwouldn'tevenknowhimif
Isawhim.
POZZO:
Youtookmeforhim.
ESTRAGON:
(recoilingbeforePozzo).That'stosay
...you
understand...thedusk...the
strain...waiting...I
confess...Iimagined...fora
second...
POZZO:
Waiting?Soyouwerewaitingforhim?
VLADIMIR:
Wellyousee–
POZZO:
Here?Onmyland?
VLADIMIR:
Wedidn'tintendanyharm.
ESTRAGON:
Wemeantwell.
POZZO:
Theroadisfreetoall.
VLADIMIR:
That'showwelookedatit.
POZZO:
It'sadisgrace.Butthereyouare.
ESTRAGON:
Nothingwecandoaboutit.
POZZO:
(withmagnanimousgesture).Let'ssayno
moreaboutit.
(Hejerkstherope.)Uppig!(Pause.)
Everytimehedrops
hefallsasleep.(Jerkstherope.)Up
hog!(NoiseofLucky
gettingupandpickinguphisbaggage.
Pozzojerksthe
rope.)Back!(EnterLuckybackwards.)
Stop!(Lucky
stops.)Turn!(Luckyturns.ToVladimir
andEstragon,
affably.)Gentlemen,Iamhappytohave
metyou.(Before
theirincredulousexpression.)Yesyes,
sincerelyhappy.
(Hejerkstherope.)Closer!(Lucky
advances.)Stop!
(Luckystops.)Yes,theroadseemslong
whenone
journeysallalonefor...(he
consultshiswatch)...yes
...(hecalculates)...yes,six
hours,that'sright,six
hoursonend,andneverasoulinsight.
(ToLucky.)Coat!
(Luckyputsdownthebag,advances,
givesthecoat,
goesbacktohisplace,takesupthe
bag.)Holdthat!
(Pozzoholdsoutthewhip.Lucky
advancesand,bothhis
handsbeingoccupied,takesthewhipin
hismouth,then
goesbacktohisplace.Pozzobeginsto
putonhiscoat,
stops.)Coat!(Luckyputsdownthebag,
basketand
stool,helpsPozzoonwithhiscoat,
goesbacktohis
placeandtakesupbag,basketand
stool.)Touchof
autumnintheairthisevening.(Pozzo
finishesbuttoning
uphiscoat,stoops,inspectshimself,
straightensup.)
Whip!(Luckyadvances,stoops,Pozzo
snatchesthewhip
fromhismouth,Luckygoesbacktohis
place.)Yes,
gentlemen,Icannotgoforlongwithout
thesocietyofmy
likes(heputsonhisglassesandlooks
atthetwolikes)
evenwhenthelikenessisanimperfect
one.(Hetakesoff
hisglasses.)Stool!(Luckyputsdown
bagandbasket,
advances,opensstool,putsitdown,
goesbacktohis
place,takesupbagandbasket.)Closer!
(Luckyputs
downbagandbasket,advances,moves
stool,goesback
tohisplace,takesupbagandbasket.
Pozzositsdown,
placesthebuttofhiswhipagainst
Lucky'schestand
pushes.)Back!(Luckytakesastep
back.)Further!
(Luckytakesanotherstepback.)Stop!
(Luckystops.To
VladimirandEstragon.)Thatiswhy,
withyour
permission,Iproposetodallywithyou
amoment,beforeI
ventureanyfurther.Basket!(Lucky
