Read Online The Complete Dramatic Works by Samuel Beckett - Free Book Online Page A

on again. ]
    ESTRAGON: I’m going.
    [
Silence
.]
    VLADIMIR: Will you not play?
    ESTRAGON: Play at what?
    VLADIMIR: We could play at Pozzo and Lucky.
    ESTRAGON: Never heard of it.
    VLADIMIR: I’ll do Lucky, you do Pozzo. [ He imitates LUCKY sagging under the weight of his baggage.   ESTRAGON looks at him with stupefaction. ]Go on.
    ESTRAGON: What am I to do?
    VLADIMIR: Curse me!
    ESTRAGON: [ After reflection. ]Naughty!
    VLADIMIR: Stronger!
    ESTRAGON: Gonococcus! Spirochaete!
    [ VLADIMIR sways back and forth, doubled in two. ]
    VLADIMIR: Tell me to think.
    ESTRAGON: What?
    VLADIMIR: Say, Think, pig!
    ESTRAGON: Think, pig!
    [ Silence. ]
    VLADIMIR: I can’t.
    ESTRAGON: That’s enough of that.
    VLADIMIR: Tell me to dance.
    ESTRAGON: I’m going.
    VLADIMIR: Dance, hog! [ He writhes. Exit ESTRAGON left, precipitately. ]I can’t! [ He looks up, misses   ESTRAGON .] Gogo! [ He moves wildly about the stage. Enter   ESTRAGON left, panting. He hastens towards  VLADIMIR , falls into his arms. ]There you are again at last!
    ESTRAGON: I’m accursed!
    VLADIMIR: Where were you! I thought you were gone for ever.
    ESTRAGON: They’re coming!
    VLADIMIR: Who?
    ESTRAGON: I don’t know.
    VLADIMIR: How many?
    ESTRAGON: I don’t know.
    VLADIMIR: [ Triumphantly. ]It’s Godot! At last! Gogo! It’s Godot! We’re saved! Let’s go and meet him! [ He drags   ESTRAGON towards the wings.   ESTRAGON resists, pulls himself free, exit right. ]Gogo! Come back! [ VLADIMIR runs to extreme left, scans the horizon. Enter  ESTRAGON   right, he hastens towards  VLADIMIR , falls into his arms. ] There you are again again!
    ESTRAGON: I’m in hell!
    VLADIMIR: Where were you?
    ESTRAGON: They’re coming there too!
    VLADIMIR: We’re surrounded! [ ESTRAGON makes a rush towards back. ]Imbecile! There’s no way out there. [ He takes  ESTRAGON by the arm and drags him towards front. Gesture towards front. ]There! Not a soul in sight! Off you go. Quick! [ He pushes  ESTRAGON towards auditorium,  ESTRAGON recoils in horror. ]You won’t? [ He contemplates auditorium. ]Well, I can understand that. Wait till I see. [ He reflects. ]Your only hope left is to disappear.
    ESTRAGON: Where?
    VLADIMIR: Behind the tree, [ ESTRAGON hesitates. ]Quick! Behind the tree, [ ESTRAGON goes and crouches behind the tree, realizes he is not hidden, comes out from behind the tree. ]Decidedly this tree will not have been of the slightest use to us.
    ESTRAGON: [ Calmer. ]I lost my head. Forgive me. It won’t happen again. Tell me what to do.
    VLADIMIR: There’s nothing to do.
    ESTRAGON: You go and stand there. [ He draws  VLADIMIR to
extreme right and places him with his back to the stage.
] There, don’t move, and watch out. [ VLADIMIR scans horizon, screening his eyes with his hand,  ESTRAGON runs and takes up same position, extreme left. They turn their heads and look at each other. ]Back to back like in the good old days! [ They continue to look at each other for a moment, then resume their watch. Long silence .]Do you see anything coming?
    VLADIMIR: [ Turning his head. ]What?
    ESTRAGON: [ Louder. ]Do you see anything coming?
    VLAMIDIR: No.
    ESTRAGON: Nor I.
    [ They resume their watch. Silence. ]
    VLADIMIR: You must have had a vision.
    ESTRAGON: [ Turning his head. ]What?
    VLADIMIR: [ Louder. ]You must have had a vision!
    ESTRAGON: No need to shout!
    [ They resume their watch. Silence. ]

    VLADIMIR: Oh, pardon!
    ESTRAGON: Carry on.
    VLADIMIR: No no, after you.
    ESTRAGON: No no, you first.
    VLADIMIR: I interrupted you.
    ESTRAGON: On the contrary.
    [ They glare at each other angrily. ]
    VLADIMIR: Ceremonious ape!
    ESTRAGON: Punctilious pig!
    VLADIMIR: Finish your phrase, I tell you!
    ESTRAGON: Finish your own!
    [ Silence. They draw closer, halt. ]
    VLADIMIR: Moron!
    ESTRAGON: That’s the idea, let’s abuse each other.
    [ They turn, move apart, turn again and face each other. ]
    VLADIMIR: Moron!
    ESTRAGON: Vermin!
    VLADIMIR: Abortion!
    ESTRAGON: Morpion!
    VLADIMIR: