Read Online Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett - Free Book Online Page B

in place of Lucky’s which he hands to Vladimir. Vladimir takes Lucky’s hat. Estragon adjusts his hat on his head. Vladimir puts on Lucky’s hat in place of his own which he hands to Estragon. Estragon takes Vladimir’s hat. Vladimir adjusts Lucky’s hat on his head. Estragon hands Vladimir’s hat back to Vladimir who takes it and hands it back to Estragon who takes it and hands it back to Vladimir who takes it and throws it down
.
    How does it fit me?
    ESTRAGON : How would I know?
    VLADIMIR : No, but how do I look in it?
    He turns his head coquettishly to and fro, minces like a mannequin
.
    ESTRAGON : Hideous.
    VLADIMIR : Yes, but not more so than usual?
    ESTRAGON : Neither more nor less.
    VLADIMIR : Then I can keep it. Mine irked me. (
Pause
.) How shall I say? (
Pause
.) It itched me.
    He takes off Lucky’s hat, peers into it, shakes it, knocks on the crown, puts it 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! Spirochete!
    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 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