MS-BL-LCP-1954-23

[1335] fellow. [1336] Back where I was. [1337] (he consults his watch) [1338] But I must really be getting along if I am to observe my schedule.

[1339] Time has stopped.

[1340] (Cuddling his watch to his ear) [1341] Don't you believe it, [1342] Sir, don't you believe it. [1343] (he puts his watch back in his pocket) [1344] Whatever you like, but not that.

[1345] (To Pozzo) [1346] Everything seems black to him to-day.

[1347] Except the firmament! [1348] (he laughs, pleased with his witticism) [1350] But I see what it is, you are not from these parts, you don't yet know what our twilights are like. [1351] Shall I tell you?

[1352] (Silence. [1353] ESTRAGON is fiddling with his shoe again, VLADIMIR with his hat. [1354] Lucky's hat falls to the ground, unnoticed)

[1355] I can't refuse you. [1356] (vaporizer) [1357] A little attention, if you please.

[1358] (VLADIMIR and ESTRAGON continue their fiddling, LUCKY is half asleep. [1359] POZZO cracks his whip feebly)

[1360] What's the matter with this whip?

[1361] (He gets up and cracks it more vigorously, finally with success. [1362] LUCKY jumps. [1363] VLADIMIR's hat, ESTRAGON's boot, fall from their hands. [1364] POZZO throws away the whip)

[1365] It's worn out. [1366] (he looks at his listeners) [1367] What was I saying?

[1368] Let's go.

[1369] But take the weight off your feet, I implore you, you'll catch your death.

[1370] True. [1371] (he sits down. [1372] To Estragon) [1373] What is your name?

[1375] Catullus.

[1376] (Who hasn't listened) [1377] Ah yes! The night. [1378] (he raises his head) [1379] But be a little more attentive, please, otherwise we'll never get anywhere. [1380] (he looks at the sky) [1381] Look.
[1382] (All look at the sky except LUCKY who is dozing off again. [1383] POZZO jerks the rope)

[1384] Will you look at the sky, pig!

[1385] (LUCKY looks at the sky)

[1386] Good, that's enough.

[1387] (They stop looking at the sky)

[1388] What is there so extraordinary about it? [1389] Qua sky? [1390] It is pale and luminous like any sky at this hour of the day. [1391] (pause) [1392] In these latitudes.[1393] (pause) [1394] When the weather is fine. [1395] (lyrical) [1396] An hour ago (he looks at his watch, prosaic) roughly (lyrical) after having poured forth ever since (he hesitates, prosaic) say ten o'clock in the morning (lyrical) tirelessly torrents of red and white light it began to lose its effulgence, to grow pale (gesture of the two hands lapsing by stages) pale, ever a little paler, a little paler, until (dramatic pause, ample gesture of the two hands flung wide apart) pppfff! finished! it comes to rest. [1397] (silence) [1398] But - (hand raised in admonition) - but - behind this veil of gentleness and peace (he raises his eyes to the sky, the others imitate him, except Lucky) night is charging (vibrantly) and will burst upon us (he snaps his fingers) bang! like that! (his inspiration leaves him) just when we least expect it. [1399] (Silence. [1400] Gloomy) [1401] That's how it is on this bitch of an earth.

[1403] So long as one knows.

[1404] One can bide one's time.

[1405] One knows what to expect.

[1406] No further need to worry.

[1407] Simply wait.

[1408] We're used to it. [1409] (He picks up his hat, looks inside it, shakes it, puts it on)

[1410] How did you find me?

[1411] (VLADIMIR and ESTRAGON look at him blankly)

[1412] Good? [1414] Fair? [1413] Passable? [1415] Mediocre? [1416] Positively bad?

[1417] (First to understand) [1418] Oh remarkable, quite remarkable.

[1419] (To Estragon) [1420] And you, Sir?

[1422] Oh tray bong, tray tray tray bong.

[1423] (Fervently) [1424] Bless you, gentlemen, bless you! [1425] (pause) [1426] I have such need of encouragement! [1427] (pause) [1428] I weakened a little towards the end, [1429] you didn't notice?

[1430] Oh perhaps just a teeny weeny little bit.

[1431] I thought it was intentional.

[1432] You see my memory is deficient.

[1434] In the meantime, nothing happens.

[1436] You find it tedious?

[1437] Somewhat.

[1438] (To Estragon) [1439] And you, Sir?

[1440] I've enjoyed myself more.

[1443] Gentlemen, you have been...polite to me.

[1444] Not at all.

[1445] What an idea!

[1446] Yes yes, you have been correct. [1447] So that I ask myself [1448] is there anything I can do in my turn for these honest fellows who are having such a dull time.

[1449] Even ten francs would be welcome.

[1450] We are not beggars!

[1451] Is there anything I can do, that's what I ask myself, to cheer them up. [1452] I have given them bones, talked to them about this and that, explained the twilight, admittedly. [1454] But is it enough, that's what tortures me, is it enough?

[1455] Even five.

[1455|001] (To Estragon, indignantly) [1456] That's enough!

[1457] I couldn't accept less.

[1458] Is it enough? [1459] No doubt. [1460] But I am liberal. [1461] It's

[1461] my nature. [1462] This evening. [1463] So much the worse for me. [1464] (he jerks the rope, [1465] LUCKY looks at him) [1466] For I shall suffer, no doubt about that. [1467] (he picks up the whip) [1468] What do you prefer? [1469] Shall we have him dance, or sing, or recite, or think, or -

[1470] Who?

[1471] Who! [1472] You know how to think, you two?

[1473] He thinks?

[1474] Certainly. [1475] Aloud. [1476] He even used to think very prettily once, I could listen to him for hours. [1477] Now... [1478] (he shudders) [1479] So much the worse for me. [1480] Well, would you like him to think something for us?

[1481] I'd rather he'd dance, it'd be more fun.

[1482] Not necessarily.

[1483] Wouldn't it, Didi, be more fun?

[1484] I'd like well to hear him think.

[1485] Perhaps he could dance first and think afterwards, [1486] if it isn't too much to ask him.

[1487] (To Pozzo) [1488] Would that be possible?

[1489] By all means, nothing simpler. [1490] It's the natural order. [1491] (brief laugh)

[1492] Then let him dance.

[1495] Do you hear, hog?

[1496] He never refuses.

[1497] He refused once.

[1498] (Silence)

[1499] Dance, misery!

[1504] Is that all there is to it?

[1505] Encore!

[1507] Pooh! [1509] I'd do as well myself. [1510] (he imitates Lucky, almost falls) [1511] With a little practice.

[1513] He used to dance the farandole, the fling, the brawl, the jig, the fandango and even the hornpipe. [1514] He capered. [1514|001] For joy. [1515] Now that's the best he can do. [1516] Do you know what he calls it?

[1517] The Scapegoat's Agony.

[1518] The Hard Stool.

[1519] The Net. [1520] He thinks he's entangled in a net.

[1521] (Squirming like an aesthete) [1522] There's something about it...

[1524] (As to a horse) [1525] Woaa!

[1527] Tell us about the time he refused.

[1528] With pleasure, with pleasure. [1529] (he fumbles in his pockets) [1530] Wait. [1531] (he fumbles) [1532] What have I done with my spray? [1533] (he fumbles) [1534] Well of all the - [1535] (he looks up, consternation on his features. [1536] (Faintly) [1537] I can't find my pulverizer!

[1538] (Faintly) [1539] My left lung is very weak! [1540] (he coughs feebly. [1541] In ringing tones) [1542] But my right lung is as sound as a bell!

[1543] (Normal voice) [1544] What can't be cured must be endured. [1545] What was I saying. [1546] (he ponders) [1547] Wait. [1548] (ponders) [1549] Well I'll be - [1550] (he raises his head) [1551] Help me'

[1552] Wait!

[1553] Wait!

[1554] Wait!

[1557] (Triumphant) [1558] Ah!

[1559] He has it.