The Complete Dramatic Works by Samuel Beckett Read Free Book Online

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 .]
    VLADIMIR: 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 say to 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 the 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 themthere. [ 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’s 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