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WAITING
FOR
GODOT
by Samuel Beckett
!
CHARACTERS:
!
Estragon
!
Vladimir
!
Lucky
!
Pozzo
!
a boy
!
ACT 1
A country road. A tree. ! Evening. ! Estragon, sitting on a low mound, is trying to take off his boot. He pulls at it with both hands, panting. # He gives up, exhausted, rests, tries again. As before. Enter Vladimir. ! ESTRAGON: ( giving up again ). Nothing to be done. VLADIMIR: ( advancing with short, stiff strides, legs wide apart ). I'm beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I've tried to put it from me, saying Vladimir, be reasonable, you haven't yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle. ( He broods, musing on the struggle. Turning to Estragon. ) So there you are again. ESTRAGON: Am I? VLADIMIR: I'm glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever. ESTRAGON: Me too. VLADIMIR: Together again at last! We'll have to celebrate this. But how? ( He reflects. ) Get up till I embrace you. ESTRAGON: ( irritably ). Not now, not now. VLADIMIR: ( hurt, coldly ). May one inquire where His Highness spent the night?
ESTRAGON:
In a ditch. VLADIMIR: ( admiringly ). A ditch! Where? ESTRAGON: ( without gesture ). Over there. VLADIMIR: And they didn't beat you? ESTRAGON: Beat me? Certainly they beat me. VLADIMIR: The same lot as usual? ESTRAGON: The same? I don't know. VLADIMIR: When I think of it... all these years... but for me... where would you be... ( Decisively. ) You'd be nothing more than a little heap of bones at the present minute, no doubt about it. ESTRAGON: And what of it? VLADIMIR: ( gloomily ). It's too much for one man. ( Pause. Cheerfully. ) On the other hand what's the good of losing heart now, that's what I say. We should have thought of it a million years ago, in the nineties. ESTRAGON: Ah stop blathering and help me off with this bloody thing. VLADIMIR: Hand in hand from the top of the Eiffel Tower, among the first. We were respectable in those days. Now it's too late. They wouldn't even let us up. ( Estragon tears at his boot. ) What are you doing? ESTRAGON: Taking off my boot. Did that never happen to you? !
VLADIMIR:
Boots must be taken off every day, I'm tired telling you that. Why don't you listen to me? ESTRAGON: ( feebly ). Help me! VLADIMIR: It hurts? ESTRAGON: ( angrily ). Hurts! He wants to know if it hurts! VLADIMIR: ( angrily ). No one ever suffers but you. I don't count. I'd like to hear what you'd say if you had what I have. ESTRAGON: It hurts? VLADIMIR: ( angrily ). Hurts! He wants to know if it hurts! ESTRAGON: ( pointing ). You might button it all the same. VLADIMIR: ( stooping ). True. ( He buttons his fly. ) Never neglect the little things of life. ESTRAGON: What do you expect, you always wait till the last moment. VLADIMIR: ( musingly ). The last moment... ( He meditates. ) Hope deferred maketh the something sick, who said that? ESTRAGON: Why don't you help me? VLADIMIR: Sometimes I feel it coming all the same. Then I go all queer. ( He takes off his hat, peers inside it, feels about inside it, shakes it, puts it on again. ) How shall I say? Relieved and at the same time... ( he searches for the word )... appalled. ( With emphasis. ) AP-
ESTRAGON:
Swelling visibly. VLADIMIR: Ah yes, the two thieves. Do you remember the story? ESTRAGON: No. VLADIMIR: Shall I tell it to you? ESTRAGON: No. VLADIMIR: It'll pass the time. ( Pause. ) Two thieves, crucified at the same time as our Saviour. One— ESTRAGON: Our what? VLADIMIR: Our Saviour. Two thieves. One is supposed to have been saved and the other... ( he searches for the contrary of saved )... damned. ESTRAGON: Saved from what? VLADIMIR: Hell. ESTRAGON: I'm going. He does not move. VLADIMIR: And yet... ( pause )... how is it –this is not boring you I hope– how is it that of the four Evangelists only one speaks of a thief being saved. The four of them were there –or thereabouts– and only one speaks of a thief being saved. ( Pause. ) Come on, Gogo, return the ball, can't you, once in a way? ! !
ESTRAGON:
( with exaggerated enthusiasm ). I find this really most extraordinarily interesting. VLADIMIR: One out of four. Of the other three, two don't mention any thieves at all and the third says that both of them abused him. ESTRAGON: Who? VLADIMIR: What? ESTRAGON: What's all this about? Abused who? VLADIMIR: The Saviour. ESTRAGON: Why? VLADIMIR: Because he wouldn't save them. ESTRAGON: From hell? VLADIMIR: Imbecile! From death. ESTRAGON: I thought you said hell. VLADIMIR: From death, from death. ESTRAGON: Well what of it? VLADIMIR: Then the two of them must have been damned. ESTRAGON: And why not? !
VLADIMIR:
But one of the four says that one of the two was saved. ESTRAGON: Well? They don't agree and that's all there is to it. VLADIMIR: But all four were there. And only one speaks of a thief being saved. Why believe him rather than the others? ESTRAGON: Who believes him? VLADIMIR: Everybody. It's the only version they know. ESTRAGON: People are bloody ignorant apes. He rises painfully, goes limping to extreme left, halts, gazes into distance off with his hand screening his eyes, turns, goes to extreme right, gazes into distance. Vladimir watches him, then goes and picks up the boot, peers into it, drops it hastily. VLADIMIR: Pah! He spits. Estragon moves to center, halts with his back to auditorium. ESTRAGON: Charming spot. ( He turns, advances to front, halts facing auditorium. ) Inspiring prospects. ( He turns to Vladimir. ) Let's go. VLADIMIR: We can't. ESTRAGON: Why not? VLADIMIR: We're waiting for Godot. ESTRAGON: ( despairingly ). Ah! ( Pause. ) You're sure it was here? !
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?
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. Estragon takes a step towards him, halts. ESTRAGON: ( gently. ) You wanted to speak to me? ( Silence. Estragon takes a step forward. ) You had something to say to me? ( Silence. Another step forward. ) Didi... VLADIMIR: ( without turning ). I've nothing to say to you.
ESTRAGON:
( step forward ). You're angry? ( Silence. Step forward ). Forgive me. ( Silence. Step forward. Estragon lays his hand on Vladimir's shoulder. ) Come, Didi. ( Silence. ) Give me your hand. ( Vladimir half turns. ) Embrace me! ( Vladimir stiffens. ) Don't be stubborn! ( Vladimir softens. They embrace. # Estragon recoils. ) You stink of garlic! VLADIMIR: It's for the kidneys. ( Silence. Estragon looks attentively at the tree. ) What do we do now? ESTRAGON: Wait. VLADIMIR: Yes, but while waiting. ESTRAGON: What about hanging ourselves? VLADIMIR: Hmm. It'd give us an erection. ESTRAGON: ( highly excited ). An erection! VLADIMIR: With all that follows. Where it falls mandrakes grow. That's why they shriek when you pull them up. Did you not know that? ESTRAGON: Let's hang ourselves immediately! VLADIMIR: From a bough? ( They go towards the tree. ) I wouldn't trust it. ESTRAGON: We can always try. VLADIMIR: Go ahead. ESTRAGON: After you.
VLADIMIR:
No no, you first. ESTRAGON: Why me? VLADIMIR: You're lighter than I am. ESTRAGON: Just so! VLADIMIR: I don't understand. ESTRAGON: Use your intelligence, can't you? Vladimir uses his intelligence. VLADIMIR: ( finally ). I remain in the dark. ESTRAGON: This is how it is. ( He reflects. ) The bough... the bough... ( Angrily. ) Use your head, can't you? VLADIMIR: You're my only hope. ESTRAGON: ( with effort ). Gogo light—bough not break—Gogo dead. Didi heavy—bough break—Didi alone. Whereas— VLADIMIR: I hadn't thought of that. ESTRAGON: If it hangs you it'll hang anything. VLADIMIR: But am I heavier than you? ESTRAGON: So you tell me. I don't know. There's an even chance. Or nearly. VLADIMIR: Well? What do we do?
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: Hsst! ( 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. ) 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:
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. ESTRAGON: ( pretending to search ). Bozzo... Bozzo... VLADIMIR: ( ditto ). Pozzo... Pozzo... POZZO: PPPOZZZO! ESTRAGON: Ah! Pozzo... let me see... Pozzo... VLADIMIR: Is it Pozzo or Bozzo? ESTRAGON: Pozzo... no... I'm afraid I... no... I don't seem to... Pozzo advances threateningly. VLADIMIR: ( conciliating ). I once knew a family called Gozzo. The mother had the clap.
ESTRAGON:
( hastily ). We're not from these parts, Sir. POZZO: ( halting ). You are human beings none the less. ( He puts on his glasses. ) As far as one can see. ( He takes off his glasses. ) Of the same species as myself. ( He bursts into an enormous laugh. ) Of the same species as Pozzo! Made in God's image! VLADIMIR: Well you see— POZZO: ( peremptory ). Who is Godot? ESTRAGON: Godot? POZZO: You took me for Godot. VLADIMIR: Oh no, Sir, not for an instant, Sir. POZZO: Who is he? VLADIMIR: Oh he's a... he's a kind of acquaintance. ESTRAGON: Nothing of the kind, we hardly know him. VLADIMIR: True... we don't know him very well... but all the same... ESTRAGON: Personally, I wouldn't even know him if I saw him. POZZO: You took me for him. ESTRAGON: ( recoiling before Pozzo ). That's to say... you understand... the dusk... the strain... waiting... I confess... I imagined... for a second...
POZZO:
Waiting? So you were waiting for him? VLADIMIR: Well you see— POZZO: Here? On my land? VLADIMIR: We didn't intend any harm. ESTRAGON: We meant well. POZZO: The road is free to all. VLADIMIR: That's how we looked at it. POZZO: It's a disgrace. But there you are. ESTRAGON: Nothing we can do about it. POZZO: ( with magnanimous gesture ). Let's say no more about it. ( He jerks the rope. ) Up pig! ( Pause. ) Every time he drops he falls asleep. ( Jerks the rope. ) Up hog! ( Noise of Lucky getting up and picking up his baggage. Pozzo jerks the rope. ) Back! ( Enter Lucky backwards. ) Stop! ( Lucky stops. ) Turn! ( Lucky turns. To Vladimir and Estragon, affably. ) Gentlemen, I am happy to have met you. ( Before their incredulous expression. ) Yes yes, sincerely happy. ( He jerks the rope. ) Closer! ( Lucky advances. ) Stop! ( Lucky stops. ) Yes, the road seems long when one journeys all alone for... ( he consults his watch )... yes... ( he calculates )... yes, six hours, that's right, six hours on end, and never a soul in sight. ( To Lucky. ) Coat! ( Lucky puts down the bag, advances, gives the coat, goes back to his place, takes up the bag. ) Hold that! ( Pozzo holds out the whip. Lucky advances and, both his hands being occupied, takes the whip in his mouth, then goes back to his place. Pozzo begins to put on his coat, stops. ) Coat! ( Lucky puts down the bag, basket and stool, helps Pozzo on with his coat, goes back to his place and takes up bag, basket and stool. ) Touch of autumn in the air this evening. ( Pozzo finishes buttoning up his coat, stoops, inspects himself, straightens up. ) Whip! ( Lucky advances, stoops, Pozzo snatches the whip from his mouth, Lucky goes back to his place. ) Yes, gentlemen, I cannot go for long without the society of my likes ( he puts on his glasses and looks at the two likes ) even when the likeness is an imperfect one. ( He takes off his glasses. ) Stool! ( Lucky puts down bag and basket, advances, opens stool, puts it down, goes back to his place, takes up bag and basket. ) Closer! ( Lucky puts down bag and basket, advances, moves stool, goes back to his place, takes up bag and basket. Pozzo sits down, places the butt of his whip against Lucky's chest and pushes. ) Back! ( Lucky takes a step back. ) Further! ( Lucky takes another step back. ) Stop! ( Lucky stops. To Vladimir and Estragon. ) That is why, with your permission, I propose to dally with you a moment, before I venture any further. Basket! ( Lucky advances, gives the basket, goes back to his place. ) The fresh air stimulates the jaded appetite. ( He opens the basket, takes out a piece of chicken and a bottle of wine. ) Basket! ( Lucky advances, picks up the basket and goes back to his place. ) Further! ( Lucky takes a step back. ) He stinks. Happy days! He drinks from the bottle, puts it down and begins to eat. Silence. # Vladimir and Estragon, cautiously at first, then more boldly, begin to circle about Lucky, inspecting him up and down. Pozzo eats his chicken voraciously, throwing away the bones after having sucked them. Lucky sags slowly, until bag and basket touch the ground, then straightens up with a start and begins to sag again. Rhythm of one sleeping on his feet. ESTRAGON: What ails him?
VLADIMIR:
It's not certain. ( Pause. ) Ask him a question. ESTRAGON: Would that be a good thing? VLADIMIR: What do we risk? ESTRAGON: ( timidly ). Mister... VLADIMIR: Louder. ESTRAGON: ( louder ). Mister... POZZO: Leave him in peace! ( They turn toward Pozzo who, having finished eating, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. ) Can't you see he wants to rest? Basket! ( He strikes a match and begins to light his pipe. Estragon sees the chicken bones on the ground and stares at them greedily. As Lucky does not move Pozzo throws the match angrily away and jerks the rope. ) Basket! ( Lucky starts, almost falls, recovers his senses, advances, puts the bottle in the basket and goes back to his place. Estragon stares at the bones. Pozzo strikes another match and lights his pipe. ) What can you expect, it's not his job. ( He pulls at his pipe, stretches out his legs. ) Ah! That's better. ESTRAGON: ( timidly ). Please Sir... POZZO: What is it, my good man? ESTRAGON: Er... you've finished with the... er... you don't need the... er.
.. bones, Sir? VLADIMIR: ( scandalized ). You couldn't have waited?
POZZO:
No no, he does well to ask. Do I need the bones? ( He turns them over with the end of his whip. ) No, personally I do not need them any more. ( Estragon takes a step towards the bones. ) But... ( Estragon stops short )... but in theory the bones go to the carrier. He is therefore the one to ask. ( Estragon turns towards Lucky, hesitates. ) Go on, go on, don't be afraid, ask him, he'll tell you. Estragon goes towards Lucky, stops before him. ESTRAGON: Mister... excuse me, Mister... POZZO: You're being spoken to, pig! Reply! ( To Estragon. ) Try him again. ESTRAGON: Excuse me, Mister, the bones, you won't be wanting the bones? Lucky looks long at Estragon. POZZO: ( in raptures ). Mister! ( Lucky bows his head. ) Reply! Do you want them or don't you? ( Silence of Lucky. To Estragon. ) They're yours. ( Estragon makes a dart at the bones, picks them up and begins to gnaw them. ) I don't like it. I've never known him to refuse a bone before. ( He looks anxiously at Lucky. ) Nice business it'd be if he fell sick on me! He puffs at his pipe. VLADIMIR: ( exploding ). It's a scandal! Silence. Flabbergasted, Estragon stops gnawing, looks at Pozzo and Vladimir in turn. Pozzo outwardly calm. Vladimir embarrassed. POZZO: ( To Vladimir ). Are you alluding to anything in particular? ! ! !
VLADIMIR:
( stutteringly resolute ). To treat a man... ( gesture towards Lucky )... like that... I think that... no... a human being... no
... it's a scandal! ESTRAGON: ( not to be outdone ). A disgrace! He resumes his gnawing. POZZO: You are severe. ( To Vladimir. ) What age are you, if it's not a rude question? ( Silence. ) Sixty? Seventy? ( To Estragon. ) What age would you say he was? ESTRAGON: Eleven. POZZO: I am impertinent. ( He knocks out his pipe against the whip, gets up. ) I must be getting on. Thank you for your society. ( He reflects. ) Unless I smoke another pipe before I go. What do you say? ( They say nothing. ) Oh I'm only a small smoker, a very small smoker, I'm not in the habit of smoking two pipes one on top of the other, it makes ( hand to heart, sighing ) my heart go pit-a-pat. ( Silence. ) It's the nicotine, one absorbs it in spite of one's precautions. ( Sighs. ) You know how it is. ( Silence. ) But perhaps you don't smoke? Yes? No? It's of no importance. ( Silence. ) But how am I to sit down now, without affectation, now that I have risen? Without appearing to – how shall I say– without appearing to falter. ( To Vladimir. ) I beg your pardon? ( Silence. ) Perhaps you didn't speak? ( Silence. ) It's of no importance. Let me see... He reflects. ESTRAGON: Ah! That's better. He puts the bones in his pocket. VLADIMIR: Let's go.
ESTRAGON:
So soon? POZZO: One moment! ( He jerks the rope. ) Stool! ( He points with his whip. Lucky moves the stool. ) More! There! ( He sits down. Lucky goes back to his place. ) Done it! He fills his pipe. VLADIMIR: ( vehemently ). Let's go! POZZO: I hope I'm not driving you away. Wait a little longer, you'll never regret it. ESTRAGON: ( scenting charity ). We're in no hurry. POZZO: ( having lit his pipe ). The second is never so sweet... ( he takes the pipe out of his mouth, contemplates it )... as the first I mean. ( He puts the pipe back in his mouth. ) But it's sweet just the same. VLADIMIR: I'm going. POZZO: He can no longer endure my presence. I am perhaps not particularly human, but who cares? ( To Vladimir. ) Think twice before you do anything rash. Suppose you go now while it is still day, for there is no denying it is still day. ( They all look up at the sky. ) Good. ( They stop looking at the sky. ) What happens in that case– ( he takes the pipe out of his mouth, examines it ) –I'm out– ( he relights his pipe ) –in that case– ( puff ) –in that case– ( puff ) – what happens in that case to your appointment with this... Godet.
.. Godot... Godin... anyhow you see who I mean, who has your future in his hands... ( pause )... at least your immediate future? VLADIMIR: Who told you?
raises his head. ) I don't like talking in a vacuum. Good. Let me see. He reflects. ESTRAGON: I'm going. POZZO: What was it exactly you wanted to know? VLADIMIR: Why he— POZZO: ( angrily ). Don't interrupt me! ( Pause. Calmer. ) If we all speak at once we'll never get anywhere. ( Pause. ) What was I saying? ( Pause. Louder. ) What was I saying? Vladimir mimics one carrying a heavy burden. Pozzo looks at him, puzzled. ESTRAGON: ( forcibly ). Bags. ( He points at Lucky. ) Why? Always hold. ( He sags, panting. ) Never put down. ( He opens his hands, straightens up with relief. ) Why? POZZO: Ah! Why couldn't you say so before? Why he doesn't make himself comfortable? Let's try and get this clear. Has he not the right to? Certainly he has. It follows that he doesn't want to. There's reasoning for you. And why doesn't he want to? ( Pause. ) Gentlemen, the reason is this. VLADIMIR: ( to Estragon ). Make a note of this. POZZO: He wants to impress me, so that I'll keep him. ESTRAGON: What? POZZO: Perhaps I haven't got it quite right. He wants to mollify me, so that I'll give up the idea of parting with him. No, that's not exactly it either. VLADIMIR: You want to get rid of him? POZZO: He wants to cod me, but he won't. VLADIMIR: You want to get rid of him? POZZO: He imagines that when I see how well he carries I'll be tempted to keep him on in that capacity. ESTRAGON: You've had enough of him? POZZO: In reality he carries like a pig. It's not his job. VLADIMIR: You want to get rid of him? POZZO: He imagines that when I see him indefatigable I'll regret my decision. Such is his miserable scheme. As though I were short of slaves! ( All three look at Lucky. ) Atlas, son of Jupiter! ( Silence. ) Well, that's that, I think. Anything else? Vaporizer. VLADIMIR: You want to get rid of him? POZZO: Remark that I might just as well have been in his shoes and he in mine. If chance had not willed otherwise. To each one his due. VLADIMIR: You waagerrim? POZZO: I beg your pardon?
VLADIMIR:
You want to get rid of him? POZZO: I do. But instead of driving him away as I might have done, I mean instead of simply kicking him out on his arse, in the goodness of my heart I am bringing him to the fair, where I hope to get a good price for him. The truth is you can't drive such creatures away. The best thing would be to kill them. Lucky weeps. ESTRAGON: He's crying! POZZO: Old dogs have more dignity. ( He proffers his handkerchief to Estragon. ) Comfort him, since you pity him. ( Estragon hesitates. ) Come on. ( Estragon takes the handkerchief. ) Wipe away his tears, he'll feel less forsaken. Estragon hesitates. VLADIMIR: Here, give it to me, I'll do it. Estragon refuses to give the handkerchief. Childish gestures. POZZO: Make haste, before he stops. ( Estragon approaches Lucky and makes to wipe his eyes. Lucky kicks him violently in the shins. Estragon drops the handkerchief, recoils, staggers about the stage howling with pain. ) Hanky! Lucky puts down bag and basket, picks up handkerchief and gives it to Pozzo, goes back to his place, picks up bag and basket. ESTRAGON: Oh the swine! ( He pulls up the leg of his trousers. ) He's crippled me! POZZO: I told you he didn't like strangers.
VLADIMIR:
( to Estragon ). Show me. ( Estragon shows his leg. To Pozzo, angrily. ) He's bleeding! POZZO: It's a good sign. ESTRAGON: ( on one leg ). I'll never walk again! VLADIMIR: ( tenderly ). I'll carry you. ( Pause. ) If necessary. POZZO: He's stopped crying. ( To Estragon. ) You have replaced him as it were. ( Lyrically. ) The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep, somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh. ( He laughs. ) Let us not then speak ill of our generation, it is not any unhappier than its predecessors. ( Pause. ) Let us not speak well of it either. ( Pause. ) Let us not speak of it at all. ( Pause. Judiciously. ) It is true the population has increased. VLADIMIR: Try and walk. Estragon takes a few limping steps, stops before Lucky and spits on him, then goes and sits down on the mound. POZZO: Guess who taught me all these beautiful things. ( Pause. Pointing to Lucky. ) My Lucky! VLADIMIR: ( looking at the sky. ) Will night never come? POZZO: But for him all my thoughts, all my feelings, would have been of common things. ( Pause. With extraordinary vehemence. ) Professional worries! ( Calmer. ) Beauty, grace, truth of the first water, I knew they were all beyond me. So I took a knook. !
