Waiting for Godot Read Free Page B

likes ( he puts on his glasses and looks at the two likes ) even when the likeness is an imperfect one. ( He takes off his glasses. ) Stool! ( Lucky puts down bag and basket, advances, opens stool, puts it down, goes back to his place, takes up bag and basket. ) Closer! ( Lucky puts down bag and basket, advances, moves stool, goes back to his place, takes up bag and basket. Pozzo sits down, places the butt of his whip against Lucky's chest and pushes. ) Back! ( Lucky takes a step back. ) Further! ( Lucky takes another step back. ) Stop! ( Lucky stops. To Vladimir and Estragon. ) That is why, with your permission, I propose

    to dally with you a moment, 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 and goes back to his place. ) Further! ( Lucky takes a step back. ) He stinks. Happy days!
    He drinks from the bottle, puts it down and begins to eat. Silence. #

    Vladimir and Estragon, cautiously at first, then more boldly, begin to circle about Lucky, inspecting him up and down. Pozzo eats his chicken voraciously, throwing away the bones after having sucked them. Lucky sags slowly, until bag and basket touch the ground, then straightens up with a start and begins to sag again. Rhythm of one sleeping on his feet.
    ESTRAGON:
    What ails him?
    VLADIMIR:
    He looks tired.
    ESTRAGON:
    Why doesn't he put down his bags?
    VLADIMIR:
    How do I know? ( They close in on him. ) Careful!
    ESTRAGON:
    Say something to him.
    VLADIMIR:
    Look!
    ESTRAGON:
    What?
    VLADIMIR:
    ( pointing ) . His neck!
    ESTRAGON:
    ( looking at the neck ) . I see nothing.
    VLADIMIR:
    Here.
    Estragon goes over beside Vladimir.
    ESTRAGON:
    Oh I say!
    VLADIMIR:
    A running sore!
    ESTRAGON:
    It's the rope.
    VLADIMIR:
    It's the rubbing.
    ESTRAGON:
    It's inevitable.
    VLADIMIR:
    It's the knot.
    ESTRAGON:
    It's the chafing.
    They resume their inspection, dwell on the face.
    VLADIMIR:
    ( grudgingly ) . He's not bad looking.
    ESTRAGON:
    ( shrugging his shoulders, wry face. ) Would you say so?
    VLADIMIR:
    A trifle effeminate.
    ESTRAGON:
    Look at the slobber.
    VLADIMIR:
    It's inevitable.
    ESTRAGON:
    Look at the slaver.
    VLADIMIR:
    Perhaps he's a halfwit.
    ESTRAGON:
    A cretin.
    VLADIMIR:
    ( looking closer ) . Looks like a goiter.
    ESTRAGON:
    ( ditto ) . It's not certain.
    VLADIMIR:
    He's panting.
    ESTRAGON:
    It's inevitable.
    VLADIMIR:
    And his eyes!
    ESTRAGON:
    What about them?
    VLADIMIR:
    Goggling out of his head. #

    ESTRAGON:
    Looks like his last gasp to me.
    VLADIMIR:
    It's not certain. ( Pause. ) Ask him a question.
    ESTRAGON:
    Would that be a good thing?
    VLADIMIR:
    What do we risk?
    ESTRAGON:
    ( timidly ) . Mister . . .
    VLADIMIR:
    Louder.
    ESTRAGON:
    ( louder ) . Mister . . .
    POZZO:
    Leave him in peace! ( They turn toward Pozzo who, having finished eating, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. ) Can't you see he wants to rest? Basket! ( He strikes a match and begins to light his pipe. Estragon sees the chicken bones on the ground and stares at them greedily. As Lucky does not move Pozzo throws the match angrily away and jerks the rope. ) Basket! ( Lucky starts, almost falls, recovers his senses, advances, puts the bottle in the basket and goes back to his place. Estragon stares at the bones. Pozzo strikes another match and lights his pipe. ) What can you expect, it's not his job. ( He pulls at his pipe, stretches out his legs. ) Ah! That's better.
    ESTRAGON:
    ( timidly ) . Please Sir . . .
    POZZO:
    What is it, my good man?
    ESTRAGON:

    Er . . . you've finished with the . . . er . . . you don't need the . . . er . . . bones, Sir?
    VLADIMIR:
    ( scandalized ) . You couldn't have waited?
    POZZO:
    No no, he does well to ask. Do I need the bones? ( He turns them over with the end of his whip. ) No, personally I do not need them any more. ( Estragon takes a step