MS-BL-LCP-1954-23

[0908] You are severe. [0909] (to Vladimir) [0910] How old are you? If it's not a rude question.

[0911] (Silence)

[0912] Sixty? [0913] Seventy? [0914] (To Estragon) [0915] How old would you say he was?

[0916] Ask him.

[0917] I am impertinent. [0918] (he knocks out his pipe against the whip, gets up) [0919] I must be getting on. [0920] Thank you for your company. [0921] (he reflects) [0922] Unless I smoke another pipe before I go. [0923] What do you say?

[0924] (They say nothing)

[0925] Oh I'm only a small smoker, a very small smoker, I'm not in the habit of smoking two pipes one on top of the other, it makes (hand to heart, sighing) my heart go pit-a-pat. [0926] (pause) [0927] It's the nicotine, one absorbs it in spite of one's precautions. [0928] (sighs) [0929] You know how it is.

[0930] (Silence)

[0931] But perhaps you don't smoke) [0932] Yes? [0933] No? [0934] It's of no importance.

[0935] (Silence)

[0936] But how am I to sit down now, without affectation, now that I have got up? [0937] Without appearing to - how shall say - without appearing to falter. [0938] (To Vladimir) [0939] I beg your pardon?

[0940] (Silence)

[0941] Perhaps you didn't speak?

[0942] (Silence)

[0943] It's of no importance. [0944] Let me see... [0945] (he reflects)

[0946] Ah! [0947] That's better. [0948] (he puts the bones in his pocket)

[0949] Let's go.

[0950] So soon?

[0951] Wait a minute. [0952] (he jerks the rope) [0953] Stool!

[0954] (He points with his whip. [0955] LUCKY moves the stool)

[0956] More! [0957] There!

[0958] (He sits down, [0959] LUCKY goes back to his place)

[0960] Back where I was! [0961] (he fills his pipe)

[0962] Let's get out of here.

[0963] Don't let me drive you away. [0964] Wait a little longer, you'll never regret it.

[0965] (Scenting charity) [0966] We're in no hurry.

[0967] (Having lit his pipe) [0968] The second is never so sweet. (he takes the pipe out of his mouth, contemplates it) as the first, I mean.[0969] (he puts the pipe back in his mouth)[0970] But it's sweet just the same.

[0971] I'm going.

[0972] He can no longer endure my presence. [0973] I am perhaps not particularly anthropoid, but who cares? [0974] (to Vladimir) [0975] Think twice, before you do anything rash. [0976] Suppose you go now, while it is still day, for there is no denying it is still day.

[0977] (They all look at the sky)

[0978] Good.

[0978|001] (They stop looking at the sky)

[0979] What happens in that case - (he takes the pipe from his mouth, examines it) - I'm out - (he relights the pipe) - in that case - (puff) - in that case - (puff) - what happens in that case to your appointment with this...Godet...Godot...Godin...anyhow you see who I mean, who has your future in his hands...
(Silence)
... at least your immediate future?

[0981] How did you know?

[0982] He speaks to me again! [0983] If this continues we'll soon be old friends.

[0984] Why doesn't he put down his bags?

[0985] I too would be happy to meet him. [0986] The more people I meet the happier I get. [0987] From the meanest creature one departs wiser, richer, more conscious

[0987] of one's blessings. [0988] Even you (he looks at them ostentatiously in turn to make it clear they are both meant) even you, who knows, will have added to my store.

[0989] Why doesn't he put down his bags?

[0990] But that would astonish me.

[0991] You're being asked a question.

[0992] (Delighted) [0993] A question! [0994] Who? [0995] What? [0997] A moment ago you were calling me Sir, in fear and trembling. [0998] Now you're asking me questions. [0999] No good will come of this!

[1000] (To Estragon) [1001] I think he's listening.

[1002] (Circling about Lucky) [1003] What?

[1004] You can ask him now. [1005] He's on the alert.

[1006] Ask him what?

[1007] Why he doesn't put down his bags.

[1008] I wonder.

[1009] Ask him, can't you?

[1010] (Who has followed these exchanges with anxious attention, fearing lest the question get lost) [1011] You want to know why he doesn't put down his bags, as you call them.

[1012] That's it.

[1013] (to Estragon) [1014] You are sure you agree with that?

[1016] He's puffing like a walrus.

[1017] The answer is this. [1018] (to Estragon) [1019] But stay still, I beg of you, you make me nervous.

[1020] Come here.

[1021] What is it?

[1022] He's about to speak.

[1024] Good. [1025] Is everybody set? [1026] Is everybody looking at me? [1027] (he looks at Lucky, jerks the rope. [1028] LUCKY raises his head) [1029] Will you look at me, pig! [1030] (LUCKY

[1030] looks at him.) [1031] Good. [1032] (he puts the pipe in his pocket, takes out a little vaporizer and sprays his throat, puts back the vaporizer in his pocket, clears his throat, spits, takes out the vaporizer again, sprays his throat again, puts back the vaporizer in his pocket) [1033] I am ready. [1034] Everybody is listening? [1040] Everybody is ready? [1041] (he looks at them all in turn, LUCKY last of all, jerks the rope) [1042] Hog!

[1043] (LUCKY raises his head)

[1044] I don't like talking in a vacuum. [1045] Good. [1046] Let me see. [1047] (he reflects)

[1048] I'm going.

[1049] What did you want to know exactly?

[1050] Why he -

[1051] (Angrily) [1052] Don't interrupt me! [1053] (pause. [1054] Calmer) [1055] If we all speak at the same time we'll never get anywhere. [1056] (pause) [1057] What was I saying? [1058] (Pause. [1059] Louder) [1060] What was I saying?

[1063] (Forcibly) [1064] Bags. [1065] (he points at Lucky) [1066] Why? [1067] Always hold. [1068] (he sags, panting) [1069] Never put down. [1070] (he opens his hands, straightens up with relief) [1071] Why?

[1072] Ah! [1073] Why couldn't you say so before? [1074] Why he doesn't make himself comfortable? [1075] Let's try and get it clear. [1076] Has he not the right to? [1077] Certainly he has. [1078] It follows that he doesn't want to. [1079] There's reasoning for you. [1080] And why doesn't he want to? [1081] (pause) [1082] Gentlemen, the reason is this.

[1082|001] (To Estragon) [1083] Make a note of this.

[1084] He wants to impress me, so that I'll keep him.

[1085] What?

[1086] Perhaps I haven't got it quite right. [1087] He wants to mollify me, so that I'll give up the idea of parting with him. [1088] No, that's not exactly it either.

[1089] You want to get rid of him?

[1090] He imagines that when I see how well he carries I'll be tempted to keep him on in that capacity.

[1091] You've had enough of him?

[1094] In reality he carries like a pig. [1095] It's not his job.

[1096] You want to get rid of him?

[1097] He imagines that when I see him indefatigable I'll regret my decision. [1098] Such is his miserable machination. [1099] As though I were short of slaves!

[1100] (All three look at Lucky)

[1101] Atlas, son of Jupiter!

[1102] (Silence)

[1104] Well, that's that I think. [1105] Any more questions? [1106] (vaporizer)

[1107] You want to get rid of him?

[1108] Remark that I might have easily been in his shoes and he in mine. [1109] If chance had not willed otherwise. [1110] To each one his due.

[1111] You Waagerrim?

[1112] I beg your pardon?

[1113] You want to get rid of him?

[1114] I do. [1115] But instead of driving him away as I might have done, I mean instead of simply kicking him out on his arse, in the goodness of my heart I am bringing him to the fair, where I hope to get something for him. [1116] The truth is you can't drive such creatures away. [1117] The best thing would be to kill them.

[1119] He's crying!

[1120] Old dogs have more dignity. [1121] (he proffers his handkerchief to Estragon) [1122] Console him, since you're sorry for him. [1123] (ESTRAGON hesitates) [1124] Come on. [1125] (ESTRAGON takes the handkerchief) [1126] Wipe away his tears, he'll feel less forsaken. [1128] (ESTRAGON hesitates)

[1129] Here, give it to me, I'll do it.