Waiting for Godot Read Free

no, you first.
    ESTRAGON : Why me?
    VLADIMIR : You’re lighter than I am.
    ESTRAGON : Just so!
    VLADIMIR : I don’t understand.
    ESTRAGON : Use your intelligence, can’t you?
    Vladimir uses his intelligence
.
    VLADIMIR : (
finally
). I remain in the dark.
    ESTRAGON : This is how it is. (
He reflects
.) The bough . . . the bough . . . (
Angrily
.) Use your head, can’t you?
    VLADIMIR : You’re my only hope.
    ESTRAGON : (
with effort
). Gogo light—bough not break—Gogo dead. Didi heavy—bough break—Didi alone. Whereas—
    VLADIMIR : I hadn’t thought of that.
    ESTRAGON : If it hangs you it’ll hang anything.
    VLADIMIR : But am I heavier than you?
    ESTRAGON : So you tell me. I don’t know. There’s an even chance. Or nearly.
    VLADIMIR : Well? What do we do?
    ESTRAGON : Don’t let’s do anything. It’s safer.
    VLADIMIR : Let’s wait and see what he says.
    ESTRAGON : Who?
    VLADIMIR : Godot.
    ESTRAGON : Good idea.
    VLADIMIR : Let’s wait till we know exactly how we stand.
    ESTRAGON : On the other hand it might be better to strike the iron before it freezes.
    VLADIMIR : I’m curious to hear what he has to offer. Then we’ll take it or leave it.
    ESTRAGON : What exactly did we ask him for?
    VLADIMIR : Were you not there?
    ESTRAGON : I can’t have been listening.
    VLADIMIR : Oh . . . Nothing very definite.
    ESTRAGON : A kind of prayer.
    VLADIMIR : Precisely.
    ESTRAGON : A vague supplication.
    VLADIMIR : Exactly.
    ESTRAGON : And what did he reply?
    VLADIMIR : That he’d see.
    ESTRAGON : That he couldn’t promise anything.
    VLADIMIR : That he’d have to think it over.
    ESTRAGON : In the quiet of his home.
    VLADIMIR : Consult his family.
    ESTRAGON : His friends.
    VLADIMIR : His agents.
    ESTRAGON : His correspondents.
    VLADIMIR : His books.
    ESTRAGON : His bank account.
    VLADIMIR : Before taking a decision.
    ESTRAGON : It’s the normal thing.
    VLADIMIR : Is it not?
    ESTRAGON : I think it is.
    VLADIMIR : I think so too.
    Silence
.
    ESTRAGON : (
anxious
). And we?
    VLADIMIR : I beg your pardon?
    ESTRAGON : I said, And we?
    VLADIMIR : I don’t understand.
    ESTRAGON : Where do we come in?
    VLADIMIR : Come in?
    ESTRAGON : Take your time.
    VLADIMIR : Come in? On our hands and knees.
    ESTRAGON : As bad as that?
    VLADIMIR : Your Worship wishes to assert his prerogatives?
    ESTRAGON : We’ve no rights any more?
    Laugh of Vladimir, stifled as before, less the smile
.
    VLADIMIR : You’d make me laugh if it wasn’t prohibited.
    ESTRAGON : We’ve lost our rights?
    VLADIMIR : (
distinctly
). We got rid of them.
    Silence. They remain motionless, arms dangling, heads sunk, sagging at the knees
.
    ESTRAGON : (
feebly
). We’re not tied? (
Pause
.) We’re not—
    VLADIMIR : Listen!
    They listen, grotesquely rigid
.
    ESTRAGON : I hear nothing.
    VLADIMIR : Hsst! (
They listen. Estragon loses his balance, almost falls. He clutches the arm of Vladimir who totters. They listen, huddled together.)
Nor I.
Sighs of relief. They relax and separate
.
    ESTRAGON : You gave me a fright.
    VLADIMIR : I thought it was he.
    ESTRAGON : Who?
    VLADIMIR : Godot.
    ESTRAGON : Pah! The wind in the reeds.
    VLADIMIR : I could have sworn I heard shouts.
    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 Estragon who takes a bite out of it. Angrily
.)
    It’s a turnip!
    VLADIMIR : Oh pardon! I could have sworn it was a carrot. (
He rummages again in his pockets, finds nothing but turnips
.) All that’s turnips. (
He rummages
.) You must have eaten the last. (
He rummages
.) Wait, I have it. (
He brings out a carrot and gives it to Estragon
.) There, dear fellow. (
Estragon