Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett Read Free Book Online Page A

Sir.
     
    VLADIMIR:
In the hay?
     
    BOY:
Yes Sir.
Silence.
     
    VLADIMIR:
All right, you may go.
     
    BOY:
What am I to tell 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 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 them there. (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 has 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 arm.) Come on.
He draws Estragon after him. Estragon yields, then resists. They halt.
     
    ESTRAGON:
(looking at the tree). Pity we haven't got a bit of rope.
     
    VLADIMIR:
Come on. It's cold.
He draws Estragon after him. As before.
     
    ESTRAGON:
Remind me to bring a bit of rope tomorrow.
     
    VLADIMIR:
Yes. Come on.
He draws him after him. As before.
     
    ESTRAGON:
How long have we been together all the time now?
     
    VLADIMIR:
I don't know. Fifty years maybe.
     
    ESTRAGON:
Do you remember the day I threw myself into the Rhone?
     
    VLADIMIR:
We were grape harvesting.
     
    ESTRAGON:
You fished me out.
     
    VLADIMIR:
That's all dead and buried.
     
    ESTRAGON:
My clothes dried in the sun.
     
    VLADIMIR:
There's no good harking back on that. Come on.
He draws him after him. As before.
     
    ESTRAGON:
Wait!
     
    VLADIMIR:
I'm cold!
     
    ESTRAGON:
Wait! (He moves away from Vladimir.) I sometimes wonder if we wouldn't have
been better off alone, each one for himself. (He crosses the stage and sits down
on the mound.) We weren't made for the same road.
     
    VLADIMIR:
(without anger). It's not certain.
     
    ESTRAGON:
No, nothing is certain.
Vladimir slowly crosses the stage and sits down beside Estragon.
     
    VLADIMIR:
We can still part, if you think it would be better.
     
    ESTRAGON:
It's not worthwhile now.
Silence.
     
    VLADIMIR:
No, it's not worthwhile now.
Silence.
     
    ESTRAGON:
Well, shall we go?
     
    VLADIMIR:
Yes, let's go.
They do not move.
Curtain.

ACT II
     
     
     
     
    Next day. Same time.

Same place.

Estragon's boots front center, heels together, toes splayed. Lucky's hat at same
place.
The tree has four or five leaves.
Enter Vladimir agitatedly. He halts and looks long at the tree, then suddenly
begins to move feverishly about the stage. He halts before the boots, picks one
up, examines it, sniffs it, manifests disgust, puts it back carefully. Comes and
goes. Halts extreme right and gazes into distance off, shading his eyes with his
hand. Comes and goes. Halts extreme left, as before. Comes and goes. Halts
suddenly and begins to sing