Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
En attendant Godot / Waiting for Godot

MS-HRC-DA-145-1

MS. Pages: cover - 02r 03r - 07r 08r - 12r 13r - 17r 18r - 22r 23r - 27r 28r - 32r 33r - 37r 38r - 42r 43r - 47r 48r - 52r 53r - 57r 58r - 62r 63r - 67r 68r - 72r 73r - 77r 78r - 81v 82r - 86r 87r - 91r 91v - 95r 96r - 99r 100r - 100r
[p. 53r]

VLADIMIR

[2075] Are you mad? [2076] We must find a shelter TAKE COVER. [2077] (he takes Estragon by the arm) [2078] Come on. [2079] (he draws Estragon after him. [2080] ESTRAGON yields, then resists. [2081] They halt)

ESTRAGON

[2082] (Looking at the tree)[2083] Pity we haven't got a bit of rope.

VLADIMIR

[2084] Come on. [2085] It's getting cold. [2086] (he draws him after him. [2087] As before)

ESTRAGON

[2088] Remind me to bring a bit rope to-morrow.

VLADIMIR

[2089] Yes yes. [2090] Come on. [2091] (he draws him after him. [2092] As before)

ESTRAGON

[2093] How long have we been together all the time now?

VLADIMIR

[2094] I don't know. stand break [2095] Fifty years perhaps.

ESTRAGON

[2096] Do you remember the day I threw myself into the Rhone?

VLADIMIR

[2097] We were grape harvesting.

ESTRAGON

[2098] You fished me out.

VLADIMIR

[2099] That's all dead and buried.

ESTRAGON

[2100] My clothes dried in the sun.

VLADIMIR

[2101] There's no good harking back on that. [2102] Come on. [2102|001] (he draws him after him. [2103] As before)

ESTRAGON

[2104] Wait.

VLADIMIR

[2105] I'm cold!

ESTRAGON

[2105|001] Wait! [2105|002] (he moves away from Vladimir) [2106] I wonder if we wouldn't have been better off alone, each one for himself. [2107] (he crosses the stage and sits down on the mound) [2108] We weren't made for the same road.

VLADIMIR

[2109] (Without anger) [2110] It's not certain.

ESTRAGON

[2111] No, nothing is certain.

[2111|001] (VLADIMIR slowly crosses the stage and sits down beside Estragon) X down to him hand on sh Sit xxx stump

VLADIMIR

[2112] We can still part, if you think it would be better.

ESTRAGON

[2113] It's too late now.

[2114] (Silence)

[p. 54r]

VLADIMIR

[2115] Yes, it's too late now.

[2116] (Silence)

ESTRAGON

[2117] Well, shall we go?

VLADIMIR

[2118] Yes, let's go.

[2119] (They do not move)

[2120] CURTAIN.

[p. 55r]

[2121] ACT TWO

[2122] Next day. [2123] Same time. [2124] Same Place.

[2125] Estragon's boots front centre, heels together, toes splayed. [2126] Lucky's hat at same place.

[2127] The tree has four or five leaves.

[2128] Enter VLADIMIR agitatedly FROM BARREL. [2129] He halts and looks long at the tree, [2130] then suddenly begins to move feverishly about the stage, up and down, back and forth. [2131] He halts before the boots, picks one up, examines it, sniffs it, manifests disgust, puts it back carefully. [2132] Comes and goes. [2133] Halts extreme right and gazes into distance off, shading his eyes with his hand. [2134] Comes and goes. [2135] Halts extreme left, as before. [2136] Comes and goes. [2137] Halts suddenly and begins to sing loudly.
X SIT
Hat
rest
tree
X W to leave
look off
X L. X C boots
Craddle boot smell boot down tree

VLADIMIR

[2138] A dog came in -

[2139] (having begun too high he stops, clears his throat, resumes :)

[2140] A dog came in the kitchen
And stole a crust of bread.

[2141] Then cook up with a ladle
And beat him till he was dead.

[2142] Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb -

[2143] (he stops, broods, resumes:)

[2144] Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb
And wrote upon the tombstone
For the eyes of dogs to come:

[2145] A dog came in the kitchen
And stole a crust of bread.

[2146] Then cook up with a ladle
And beat him till he was dead.

[2147] Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb -

[2148] (he stops. [2149] As before)

[2150] Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb -

[2151] (he stops. [2152] As before. [2153] Softly)

[2154] And dug the dog a tomb...

[2155] (He remains a moment silent and motionless, then begins to move feverishly about the stage. [2156] He halts again before the tree, comes and goes, before the boots, comes and goes, halts extreme right, gazes into distance, extreme left, gazes into distance. X P().

[p. 56r]

[2157] (Enter ESTRAGON right, barefoot, head bowed. He slowly crosses the stage. [2158] VLADIMIR turns and sees him)

VLADIMIR
(Contd.)

[2159] You again!

[2160] (ESTRAGON halts, but does not raise his head. [2161] VLADIMIR goes towards him)

[2162] Come here till I embrace you.

ESTRAGON

[2163] Don't touch me!

[2164] (VLADIMIR holds back, pained)

VLADIMIR

[2166] Do you want me to go away? [2167] (pause) [2168] Gogo. [2169] (pause. [2170] VLADIMIR observes him attentively) [2171] Did they beat you? [2172] (pause) [2173] Gogo! X P.

[2174] (ESTRAGON remains silent, head bowed)

[2175] Where did you spend the night?
Head.

ESTRAGON

[2178] Don't touch me! [2179] Don't question me! [2180] Don't speak to me! [2181] Stay with me!
break
C.

VLADIMIR

[2182] Did I ever leave you?

ESTRAGON

[2183] You let me go.

VLADIMIR

[2184] Look at me.

[2185] (ESTRAGON does not raise his head. [2186] Violently)

[2187] Will you look at me!

[2188] (ESTRAGON raises his head. [2189] They look long at each other, recoiling, advancing, their heads on one side, as before a work of art, trembling towards each other more and more, then suddenly embrace, clapping each other on the back. [2190] End of embrace. [2191] ESTRAGON, no longer supported, almost falls) at tree

ESTRAGON

[2192] What a day!

VLADIMIR

[2193] Who beat you? [2194] Tell me.

ESTRAGON

[2195] Another day done with.

VLADIMIR

[2196] Not yet.

ESTRAGON

[2197] For me it's over and done with, no matter what happens. [2198] (Silence) [2199] I heard you singing.

VLADIMIR

[2200] That's right, I remember.

[p. 57r]

ESTRAGON

[2201] That finished me. [2202] I said to myself, He's all alone, he thinks I'm gone for ever, and he sings.

VLADIMIR

[2203] One isn't master of one's moods. [2204] All day I've felt in great form. [2205] (pause) [2206] I didn't get up in the night, not once!

ESTRAGON

[2207] (Sadly) [2208] You see, you piss better when I'm not there.

VLADIMIR

[2209] I missed you...and at the same time I was content HAPPY. [2210] Isn't that a queer thing?

ESTRAGON

[2211] (Shocked) [2212] content HAPPY?

VLADIMIR

[2214] Perhaps it's not the right word.

ESTRAGON

[2215] And now?

VLADIMIR

[2217] Now?... [2218] (joyous) Hand on xxx [2219] There you are again... (indifferent) There we are again...[2219|001] (gloomy) [2220] There I am again.

ESTRAGON

[2221] You see, you feel worse when I'm with you. [2222] I feel better alone too.

VLADIMIR

[2223] (Piqued) [2224] Then why do you come crawling back?

ESTRAGON

[2225] I don't know.

VLADIMIR

[2226] No, but I do. [2227] It's because you don't know how to take care of yourself. [2228] I wouldn't have let them beat you.

ESTRAGON

[2229] You couldn't have stopped them.

VLADIMIR

[2230] Why not?

ESTRAGON

[2231] There was WERE ten of them.

VLADIMIR

[2232] No, I mean before they beat you. I would have stopped you from doing whatever it was you were doing.

ESTRAGON

[2233] I wasn't doing anything.

VLADIMIR

[2234] Then why did they beat you?

ESTRAGON

[2235] I don't know.

VLADIMIR

[2236] Ah no, Gogo, the truth is there are things escape you that don't escape me. [2237] You must feel it yourself.

ESTRAGON

[2238] I tell you I wasn't doing anything.

VLADIMIR

[2239] Perhaps you weren't. [2240] But it's the way of doing it that counts, the way of doing it, if you want to

MS. Pages: cover - 02r 03r - 07r 08r - 12r 13r - 17r 18r - 22r 23r - 27r 28r - 32r 33r - 37r 38r - 42r 43r - 47r 48r - 52r 53r - 57r 58r - 62r 63r - 67r 68r - 72r 73r - 77r 78r - 81v 82r - 86r 87r - 91r 91v - 95r 96r - 99r 100r - 100r