beat you? Tell me.
Waiting for Godot ACT II
Next day. Same time. Same place.
Estragon's boots front center, heels together, toes splayed. Lucky's hat at same place.
The tree has four or five leaves .
Enter Vladimir agitatedly. He halts and looks long at the tree, then suddenly begins to move feverishly about the stage. He halts before the boots, picks one up, examines it, sniffs it, manifests disgust, puts it back carefully. Comes and goes. Halts extreme right and gazes into distance off, shading his eyes with his hand. Comes and goes. Halts extreme left, as before. Comes and goes. Halts suddenly and begins to sing loudly.
- VLADIMIR:
A dog came in —
- 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 a tomb
- And wrote upon the tombstone
- For the eyes of dogs to come:
- 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 a tomb—
- He stops, broods. Softly.
- And dug the dog a tomb . . .
- He remains a moment silent and motionless, then begins to move feverishly about the stage. He halts before the tree, comes and goes, before the boots, comes and goes, halts extreme right, gazes into distance, extreme left, gazes into distance. Enter Estragon right, barefoot, head bowed. He slowly crosses the stage. Vladimir turns and sees him.
- VLADIMIR:
- You again! (Estragon halts but does not raise his head. Vladimir goes towards him.) Come here till I embrace you.
- ESTRAGON:
- Don't touch me!
- Vladimir holds back, pained.
- VLADIMIR:
- Do you want me to go away? (Pause.) Gogo! (Pause. Vladimir observes him attentively.) Did they beat you? (Pause.) Gogo! (Estragon remains silent, head bowed.) Where did you spend the night?
- ESTRAGON:
- Don't touch me! Don't question me! Don't speak to me! Stay with me!
- VLADIMIR:
- Did I ever leave you?
- ESTRAGON:
- You let me go.
- VLADIMIR:
- Look at me. (Estragon does not raise his head. Violently.) Will you look at me!
- Estragon raises his head. They look long at each other, then suddenly embrace, clapping each other on the back. End of the embrace. Estragon, no longer supported, almost falls.
- ESTRAGON:
- What a day!
- VLADIMIR:
- Who
- Bye bye bye bye
- Bye bye—
- Bye bye bye bye
- Bye bye bye bye
- Bye bye bye bye
- Bye bye . . .
Intro
Influences/Resonances