Waiting for Godot Read Free Page B

no . . . I don’t seem to . . .
    Pozzo advances threateningly
.
    VLADIMIR : (
conciliating
). I once knew a family called Gozzo.
    The mother had the clap.
    ESTRAGON : (
hastily
). We’re not from these parts, Sir.
    POZZO : (
halting
). You are human beings none the less.
    (
He puts on his glasses
.) As far as one can see. (
He takes off his glasses
.) Of the same species as myself. (
He bursts into an enormous laugh
.) Of the same species as Pozzo! Made in God’s image!
    VLADIMIR : Well you see—
    POZZO : (
peremptory
). Who is Godot?
    ESTRAGON : Godot?
    POZZO : You took me for Godot.
    VLADIMIR : Oh no, Sir, not for an instant, Sir.
    POZZO : Who is he?
    VLADIMIR : Oh he’s a . . . he’s a kind of acquaintance.
    ESTRAGON : Nothing of the kind, we hardly know him.
    VLADIMIR : True . . . we don’t know him very well . . . but all the same . . .
    ESTRAGON : Personally I wouldn’t even know him if I saw him.
    POZZO : You took me for him.
    ESTRAGON : (
recoiling before Pozzo
). That’s to say . . . you understand . . . the dusk . . . the strain . . . waiting . . . I confess . . . I imagined . . . for a second . . .
    POZZO : Waiting? So you were waiting for him?
    VLADIMIR : Well you see—
    POZZO : Here? On my land?
    VLADIMIR : We didn’t intend any harm.
    ESTRAGON : We meant well.
    POZZO : The road is free to all.
    VLADIMIR : That’s how we looked at it.
    POZZO : It’s a disgrace. But there you are.
    ESTRAGON : Nothing we can do about it.
    POZZO : (
with magnanimous gesture
). Let’s say no more about it. (
He jerks the rope
.) Up pig! (
Pause
.) Every time he drops he falls asleep. (
Jerks the rope
.) Up hog! (
Noise of Lucky getting up and picking up his baggage. Pozzo jerks the rope
.) Back! (
Enter Lucky backwards
.) Stop! (
Lucky
stops
.) Turn! (
Lucky turns. To Vladimir and Estragon, affably
.) Gentlemen, I am happy to have met you. (
Before their incredulous expression
.) Yes yes, sincerely happy. (
He jerks the rope
.) Closer! (
Lucky advances
.) Stop! (
Lucky stops
.) Yes, the road seems long when one journeys all alone for ... (
he consults his watch
) . . . yes . . . (
he calculates
) . . . yes, six hours, that’s right, six hours on end, and never a soul in sight. (
To Lucky
.) Coat! (
Lucky puts down the bag, advances, gives the coat, goes back to his place, takes up the bag
.) Hold that! (
Pozzo holds out the whip. Lucky advances and, both his hands being occupied, takes the whip in his mouth, then goes back to his place. Pozzo begins to put on his coat, stops
.) Coat! (
Lucky puts down bag, basket and stool, advances, helps Pozzo on with his coat, goes back to his place and takes up bag, basket and stool
.) Touch of autumn in the air this evening. (
Pozzo finishes buttoning his coat, stoops, inspects himself, straightens up
.) Whip! (
Lucky advances, stoops, Pozzo snatches the whip from his mouth, Lucky goes back to his place
.) Yes, gentlemen, I cannot go for long without the society of my 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