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** Waiting for Godot
A tragi-comedy in two acts
Written in French in 1952. First performed in Paris in 1953. English version first performed in London in 1955, and published in 1956 by Faber and Faber.
*** CAST
ESTRAGON
VLADIMIR
LUCKY
POZZO
A BOY
*** ACT ONE
A country road. A tree. Evening.
ESTRAGON, sitting... |
at again, peers inside it, feels about inside it, knocks on the crown, blows into it, puts it on again.] This is getting alarming. [Silence. VLADIMIR deep in thought, ESTRAGON pulling at his toes.] One of the thieves was saved. [Pause.] It's a reasonable percentage. [Pause.] Gogo.
ESTRAGON: What?
VLADIMIR: Suppose we... |
ers?
ESTRAGON: What is it?
VLADIMIR: I don't know. A willow.
ESTRAGON: Where are the leaves?
VLADIMIR: It must be dead.
ESTRAGON: No more weeping.
VLADIMIR: Or perhaps it's not the season.
ESTRAGON: Looks to me more like a bush.
VLADIMIR: A shrub.
ESTRAGON: A bush.
VLADIMIR: A –. What are you insinuating? T... |
Step forward.] You're angry? [Silence. Step forward.] Forgive me. [Silence. Step forward, ESTRAGON lays his hand on VLADIMIR'S shoulder.] Come, Didi. [Silence.] Give me your hand. [VLADIMIR half turns.] Embrace me! [VLADIMIR stiffens.] Don't be stubborn! [VLADIMIR softens. They embrace, ESTRAGON recoils.] You stink of ... |
.
ESTRAGON: And why would he shout?
VLADIMIR: At his horse.
[Silence.]
ESTRAGON: [Violently.] I'm hungry.
VLADIMIR: Do you want a carrot?
ESTRAGON: Is that all there is?
VLADIMIR: I might have some turnips.
ESTRAGON: Give me a carrot. [VLADIMIR. rummages in his pockets, takes out a turnip and gives it to ESTRAG... |
ON: He said Godot.
VLADIMIR: Not at all!
ESTRAGON: [Timidly to POZZO.] You're not Mr Godot, sir?
POZZO: [Terrifying voice.] I am Pozzo! [Silence.] Pozzo! [Silence.] Does that name mean nothing to you? [Silence.] I say does that name mean nothing to you? [VLADIMIR and ESTRAGON look at each other questioningly.]
ESTR... |
, before I venture any further. Basket! [LUCKY advances, gives the basket, goes back to his place.] The fresh air stimulates the jaded appetite. [He opens the basket, takes out a piece of chicken and a bottle of wine.] Basket! [LUCKY advances, picks up the basket, goes back to his place.] Further! [LUCKY takes a step b... |
UCKY.] Nice business it'd be if he fell sick on me!
[He puffs at his pipe.]
VLADIMIR: [Exploding.] It's a scandal!
[Silence. Flabbergasted, ESTRAGON stops gnawing, looks at POZZO and VLADIMIR in turn, POZZO outwardly calm. VLADIMIR embarrassed.]
POZZO: [To VLADIMIR.] Are you alluding to anything in particular?
VLA... |
s followed these exchanges with anxious attention, fearing lest the question get lost.] You want to know why he doesn't put down his bags, as you call them?
VLADIMIR: That's it.
POZZO: [To ESTRAGON.] You are sure you agree with that?
ESTRAGON: He's puffing like a grampus.
POZZO: The answer is this. [To ESTRAGON.] B... |
e howling with pain.] Hanky!
[LUCKY puts down bag and basket, picks up handkerchief, gives it to POZZO, goes back to his place, picks up bag and basket.]
ESTRAGON: Oh the swine! [He pulls up the leg of his trousers.] He's crippled me!
POZZO: I told you he didn't like strangers.
VLADIMIR: [To ESTRAGON.] Show. [ESTRA... |
rds the wings.]
ESTRAGON: End of the corridor, on the left.
VLADIMIR: Keep my seat.
[Exit VLADIMIR.]
POZZO: I've lost my Kapp and Peterson!
ESTRAGON: [Convulsed with merriment.] He'll be the death of me!
POZZO: [Looking up.] You didn't by any chance see – [He misses VLADIMIR.] Oh! He's gone! Without saying good... |
prosaic] say ten o'clock in the morning [Lyrical] tirelessly torrents of red and white light it begins to lose its effulgence, to grow pale [Gesture of the two hands lapsing by stages], pale, ever a little paler, a little paler until [Dramatic pause, ample gesture of the two hands flung wide apart] pppfff! finished! it... |
s Agony.
VLADIMIR: The Hard Stool.
POZZO: The Net. He thinks he's entangled in a net.
VLADIMIR: [Squirming like an aesthete.] There's something about it...
[LUCKY makes to return to his burdens.]
POZZO: Woaa!
[LUCKY stiffens.]
ESTRAGON: Tell us about the time he refused.
POZZO: With pleasure, with pleasure. [He... |
m which even though intermittent is better than nothing but not so fast and considering what is more that as a result of the labours left unfinished crowned by the Acacacacademy of Anthropopopometry of Essy-in-Possy of Testew and Cunard it is established beyond all doubt all other doubt than that which clings to the la... |
nd ESTRAGON hoist LUCKY to his feet, support him an instant, then let him go. He falls.]
ESTRAGON: He's doing it on purpose!
POZZO: You must hold him. [Pause.] Come on, come on, raise him up!
ESTRAGON: To hell with him!
VLADIMIR: Come on, once more.
ESTRAGON: What does he take us for?
[They raise LUCKY, hold him ... |
n't.
VLADIMIR: Likely! It's certain. Didn't you see them?
ESTRAGON: I suppose I did. But I don't know them.
VLADIMIR: Yes you do know them.
ESTRAGON: No I don't know them.
VLADIMIR: We know them, I tell you. You forget everything. [Pause. To himself.] Unless they're not the same...
ESTRAGON: Why didn't they recog... |
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:... |
–
[Having begun too high he stops, clears his throat, resumes.]
A dog came in the kitchen
And stole a crust of bread.
Then cook up with a ladle
And beat him till he was dead.
Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb –
[He stops, broods, resumes.]
Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog... |
now, now that we are happy?
VLADIMIR: Wait for Godot, [ESTRAGON groans. Silence.] Things have changed since yesterday.
ESTRAGON: And if he doesn't come?
VLADIMIR: [After a moment of bewilderment.] We'll see when the time comes. [Pause.] I was saying that things have changed here since yesterday.
ESTRAGON: Everythin... |
a noise like feathers.
ESTRAGON: Like leaves.
VLADIMIR: Like ashes.
ESTRAGON: Like leaves.
[Long silence.]
VLADIMIR: Say something!
ESTRAGON: I'm trying.
[Long silence.]
VLADIMIR: [In anguish.] Say anything at all!
ESTRAGON: What do we do now?
VLADIMIR: Wait for Godot.
ESTRAGON: Ah!
[Silence.]
VLADIMIR: Th... |
assurance.] Yes, now I remember, yesterday evening we spent blathering about nothing in particular. That's been going on now for half a century.
VLADIMIR: You don't remember any fact, any circumstance?
ESTRAGON: [Weary.] Don't torment me, Didi.
VLADIMIR: The sun. The moon. Do you not remember?
ESTRAGON: They must h... |
, eh Didi, between the two of us?
VLADIMIR: Yes yes. Come on, we'll try the left first.
ESTRAGON: We always find something, eh Didi, to give us the impression we exist?
VLADIMIR: [Impatiently.] Yes yes, we're magicians. But let us persevere in what we have resolved, before we forget. [He picks up a boot.] Come on, g... |
Estragon's hat on his head, ESTRAGON puts on Lucky's hat in place of Vladimir's which he hands to VLADIMIR. VLADIMIRV takes his hat. ESTRAGON adjusts Lucky's hat on his head. VLADIMIR puts on his hat in place of Estragon's which he hands to ESTRAGON, ESTRAGON takes his hat. VLADIMIR adjusts his hat on his head. ESTRAGO... |
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: Yo... |
Godot.
ESTRAGON: Ah!
VLADIMIR: Perhaps he has another bone for you.
ESTRAGON: Bone?
VLADIMIR: Chicken. Do you not remember?
ESTRAGON: It was him?
VLADIMIR: Yes.
ESTRAGON: Ask him.
VLADIMIR: Perhaps we should help him first.
ESTRAGON: To do what?
VLADIMIR: To get up.
ESTRAGON: He can't get up?
VLADIMIR: He w... |
his hand.] No, don't protest, we are bored to death, there's no denying it. Good. A diversion comes along and what do we do? We let it go to waste. Come, let's get to work! [He advances towards the heap, stops in his stride.] In an instant all will vanish and we'll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness!
[He ... |
in trying.
[They get up.]
ESTRAGON: Child's play.
VLADIMIR: Simple question of will-power.
ESTRAGON: And now?
POZZO: Help!
ESTRAGON: Let's go.
VLADIMIR: We can't.
ESTRAGON: Why not?
VLADIMIR: We're waiting for Godot.
ESTRAGON: Ah! [Despairing.] What'll we do, what'll we do!
POZZO: Help!
VLADIMIR: What abou... |
DIMIR: The two of you slipped. [Pause.] And fell.
POZZO: Go and see is he hurt.
VLADIMIR: We can't leave you.
POZZO: You needn't both go.
VLADIMIR: [To ESTRAGON.] You go.
ESTRAGON: After what he did to me? Never!
POZZO: Yes yes, let your friend go, he stinks so. [Silence.]
What is he waiting for?
VLADIMIR: What... |
ng that –
VLADIMIR: [Violently.] Don't tell me! [Silence.] I wonder is he really blind.
ESTRAGON: Blind? Who?
VLADIMIR: POZZO.
ESTRAGON: Blind?
VLADIMIR: He told us he was blind.
ESTRAGON: Well what about it?
VLADIMIR: It seemed to me he saw us. estragon: You dreamt it. [Pause.] Let's go. We can't. Ah! [Pause.... |
STRAGON: And if we dropped him? [Pause.] If we dropped him?
VLADIMIR: He'd punish us. [Silence. He looks at the tree.] Everything's dead but the tree.
ESTRAGON: [Looking at the tree.] What is it?
VLADIMIR: It's the tree.
ESTRAGON: Yes, but what kind?
VLADIMIR: I don't know. A willow.
[ESTRAGON draws VLADIMIR towa... |
erchief over his face, a whistle hanging from his neck, a rug over his knees, thick socks on his feet, HAMM seems to be asleep. CLOV looks him over. Brief laugh. He goes to door, halts, turns towards auditorium.
CLOV: [Fixed gaze, tonelessly.] Finished, it's finished, nearly finished, it must be nearly finished. [Paus... |
too much. [Pause.] Haven't I?
CLOV: It's not that.
HAMM: [Shocked.] I haven't made you suffer too much?
CLOV: Yes!
HAMM: [Relieved.] Ah you gave me a fright! [Pause. Coldly.] Forgive me. [Pause. Louder.] I said, Forgive me.
CLOV: I heard you. [Pause.] Have you bled?
HAMM: Less. [Pause.] Is it not time for my pai... |
]
HAMM: Did your seeds come up?
CLOV: No.
HAMM: Did you scratch round them to see if they had sprouted?
CLOV: They haven't sprouted.
HAMM: Perhaps it's still too early.
CLOV: If they were going to sprout they would have sprouted. [Violently.] They'll never sprout.
[Pause. NAGG takes biscuit in his hand.]
HAMM: ... |
but we don't laugh any more. [Pause.] Have you anything else to say to me?
NAGG: No.
NELL: Are you quite sure? [Pause.] Then I'll leave you.
NAGG: Do you not want your biscuit? [Pause.] I'll keep it for you. [Pause.] I thought you were going to leave me.
NELL: I am going to leave you.
NAGG: Could you give me a scr... |
e has no pulse.
HAMM: What was she drivelling about?
CLOV: She told me to go away, into the desert.
HAMM: Damn busybody! Is that all?
CLOV: No.
HAMM: What else?
CLOV: I didn't understand.
HAMM: Have you bottled her?
CLOV: Yes.
HAMM: Are they both bottled?
CLOV: Yes.
HAMM: Screw down the lids, [CLOV goes towa... |
. [Pause.] That's what I call a magnifier. [He lowers the telescope, turns towards HAMM.] Well? Don't we laugh?
HAMM: [After reflection.] I don't.
CLOV: [After reflection.] Nor I. [He gets up on ladder, turns the telescope on the without.] Let's see. [He looks, moving the telescope.] Zero... [he looks]... zero... [he... |
rops the tin and adjusts his trousers.] Unless he's laying doggo.
HAMM: Laying! Lying you mean. Unless he's lying doggo.
CLOV: Ah? One says lying? One doesn't say laying?
HAMM: Use your head, can't you. If he was laying we'd be bitched.
CLOV: Ah. [Pause.] What about that pee?
HAMM: I'm having it.
CLOV: Ah that's ... |
ready?
CLOV: He lacks a leg.
HAMM: Is he silky?
CLOV: He's a kind of Pomeranian.
HAMM: Go and get him.
CLOV: He lacks a leg.
HAMM: Go and get him! [Exit CLOV.] We're getting on.
[Enter CLOV holding by one of its three legs a black toy dog.]
CLOV: Your dogs are here.
[He hands the dog to HAMM who feels it, fon... |
ain.] He was a painter – and engraver.
CLOV: There are so many terrible things.
HAMM: No, no, there are not so many now. [Pause.] Clov!
CLOV: Yes.
HAMM: Do you not think this has gone on long enough?
CLOV: Yes! [Pause.] What?
HAMM: This... this... thing.
CLOV: I've always thought so. [Pause.] You not?
HAMM: [... |
A little artery. [Pause. More animated.] Enough of that, it's story time, where was I? [Pause. Narrative tone.] The man came crawling towards me, on his belly. Pale, wonderfully pale and thin, he seemed on the point of – [Pause. Normal tone.] No, I've done that bit. [Pause. Narrative tone.] I calmly filled my pipe â€... |
e moment I was waiting for. [Pause.] Would I consent to take in the child... [Pause.] I can see him still, down on his knees, his hands flat on the ground, glaring at me with his mad eyes, in defiance of my wishes. [Pause. Normal tone.] I'll soon have finished with this story. [Pause.] Unless I bring in other character... |
he way, your story?
HAMM: [Surprised.] What story?
CLOV: The one you've been telling yourself all your... days.
HAMM: Ah you mean my chronicle?
CLOV: That's the one.
[Pause.]
HAMM: [Angrily.] Keep going, can't you, keep going!
CLOV: You've got on with it, I hope.
HAMM: [Modestly.] Oh not very far, not very far.... |
el on my face?
CLOV: No.
[Pause.]
HAMM: Am I very white? [Pause. Angrily.] I'm asking you am I very white!
CLOV: Not more so than usual.
[Pause.]
HAMM: Open the window.
CLOV: What for?
HAMM: I want to hear the sea.
CLOV: You wouldn't hear it.
HAMM: Even if you opened the window?
CLOV: No.
HAMM: Then it's no... |
lf, He'll come back. [Pause.] And then? [Pause.] And then? [Pause.] He couldn't, he has gone too far. [Pause.] And then? [Pause. Very agitated.] All kinds of fantasies! That I'm being watched! A rat! Steps! Breath held and then... [he breathes out.] Then babble, babble, words, like the solitary child who turns himself ... |
turns towards HAMM.]
CLOV: [Harshly.] When old Mother Pegg asked you for oil for her lamp and you told her to get out to hell, you knew what was happening then, no? [Pause.] You know what she died of, Mother Pegg? Of darkness.
HAMM: [Feebly.] I hadn't any.
CLOV: [As before.] Yes, you had.
[Pause.]
HAMM: Have you ... |
heart.
CLOV: Your heart!
HAMM: Yes. [Pause. Forcibly.] Yes! [Pause.] With the rest, in the end, the shadows, the murmurs, all the trouble, to end up with. [Pause.] Clov... He never spoke to me. Then, in the end, before he went, without my having asked him, he spoke to me. He said...
CLOV: [Despairingly.] Ah...!
HA... |
ows is hunger, and cold, and death to crown it all. But you! You ought to know what the earth is like, nowadays. Oh, I put him before his responsibilities! [Pause. Normal tone.] Well, there we are, there I am, that's enough. [He raises the whistle to his lips, hesitates, drops it. Pause.] Yes, truly! [He whistles. Paus... |
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