Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett Read Free Book Online

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