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

MS-HRC-SB-6-4-1

MS. Pages: cover - 03r 03v - 08r 08v - 13r 13v - 18r 18v - 23r 23v - 28r 28v - 33r 33v - 38r 38v - 43r 43v - 48r 48v - 53r 53v - 58r 58v - 63r 63v - 68r 68v - 73r 73v - 78r 78v - 83r 83v - 88r 88v - 93r 93v - ins.backcover backcover - ins.backcover
[p. 08v] [p. 09r]

ESTRAGON

[0169] No.

VLADIMIR

[0170] Shall I tell it to you?

ESTRAGON

[0171] No.

VLADIMIR

[0172] It'll pass the time. [0173] (Pause.) [0174] Two thieves, crucified at the same time as our Saviour. [0175] One -

ESTRAGON

[0176] Our what?

VLADIMIR

[0177] Our Saviour. [0178] Two thieves. [0179] One is supposed to have been saved and the other ... (he searches for the contrary of saved)... damned.

ESTRAGON

[0180] Saved from what?

VLADIMIR

[0181] Hell.

ESTRAGON

[0182] I'm going.

[0183] He does not move.

VLADIMIR

[0184] And yet... [0185] (pause)... [0186] how is it - [0187] this is not boring you I hope - [0189] how is it that of the four Evangelists only one speaks of a thief being saved? [0190] The four of them were there - or thereabouts - [0191] and only one speaks of a thief being saved. [0192] (Pause.) [0193] Come on, Didi, return the ball, can't you, once in a way?

ESTRAGON

[0193|001] (with exaggerated enthusiasm) [0194] I find this really most extraordinarily interesting.

[p. 09v] [p. 10r]

VLADIMIR

[0195] One out of four. [0196] Of the other three two don't mention any thieves at all and the third says that both of them abused him.

ESTRAGON

[0197] Who?

VLADIMIR

[0198] What?

ESTRAGON

[0199] What's all this about? [0201] Abused who?

VLADIMIR

[0202] The Saviour.

ESTRAGON

[0203] Why?

VLADIMIR

[0204] Because he wouldn't save them.

ESTRAGON

[0205] From Hell?

VLADIMIR

[0206] Imbecile! [0207] From death!

ESTRAGON

[0207|001] I thought you said hell.

VLADIMIR

[0207|002] From death, from death.

Estragon

[0208] Well, what of it?

Vladimir

[0209] Then the two of them must have been damned.

Estragon

[0210] And why not?

Vladimir

[0211] But one of the four says that one of the two was saved.

Estragon

[0212] Well? [0213] They don't agree and that's all there is to it.

Vladimir

[0214] But all four were there. [0215] And only one speaks of a thief being saved? [0216] Why believe him rather than the others?

Estragon

[0217] Who believes him?

Vladimir

[0218] Everybody. [0219] It's the only version they know.

[p. 10v] [p. 11r]

ESTRAGON

[0220] People are ignorant bloody apes. [0221] He rises painfully, goes limping to extreme left, halts, gazes into distance off with his hand screening his eyes, turns, goes to extreme right, gazes into distance. [0222] Vladimir watches him, then goes and picks up the boot, peers into it, drops it hastily.

VladimIR

[0223] Pah!

[0224] He spits. [0225] Estragon moves to centre, halts with his back to auditorium.

ESTRAGON

[0226] Charming spot. [0227] (He turns, advances to front, halts facing auditorium.) [0228] Inspiring prospects. [0229] (He turns to Vladimir.) [0230] Let's go.

VLADIMIR

[0231] We can't

ESTRAGON

[0232] Why not?

VLADIMIR

[0233] We're waiting for Godot.

ESTRAGON

[0233|001] (despairingly) [0234] Ah! [0235] (Pause) [0236] You're sure it was here?

VLADIMIR

[0237] What?

ESTRAGON

[0238] That we were to wait.

VLADIMIR

[0239] He said by the tree. [0240] (They look at the tree.) [0241] Do you see any others?

[p. 11v] [p. 12r]

ESTRAGON

[0242] What is it?

VLADIMIR

[0242|001] I don't know. [0243] A willow.

ESTRAGON

[0244] Where are the leaves?

VLADIMIR

[0245] It must be dead.

ESTRAGON

[0246] No more weeping.

VLADIMIR

[0247] Or perhaps it's not the season.

ESTRAGON

[0248] Looks to me more like a bush.

VLADIMIR

[0249] A shrub.

ESTRAGON

[0250] A bush.

VLADIMIR

[0251] A -. [0253] What are you insinuating? [0254] That we've come to the wrong place?

ESTRAGON

[0255] He should be here.

VLADIMIR

[0256] He didn't say for sure he'd come.

ESTRAGON

[0257] And if he doesn't come?

VLADIMIR

[0258] We'll come back to-morrow.

ESTRAGON

[0259] And then the day after to-morrow.

VLADIMIR

[0260] Possibly.

ESTRAGON

[0261] And so on.

VLADIMIR

[0262] The point is -

ESTRAGON

[0263] Until he comes.

VLADIMIR

[0264] You're merciless.

ESTRAGON

[0265] We came here yesterday.

VLADIMIR

[0266] Ah no, there you're mistaken.

ESTRAGON

[0267] What did we do yesterday?

VLADIMIR

[0268] What did we do yesterday?

[p. 12v] [p. 13r]

ESTRAGON

[0269] Yes.

VLADIMIR

[0270] Why... [0271] (Angrily) [0272] Nothing is certain when you're about.

ESTRAGON

[0273] In my opinion we were here.

VLADIMIR

[0274] (looking round.). [0275] You recognize the place?

ESTRAGON

[0276] I didn't say that.

VLADIMIR

[0277] Well?

ESTRAGON

[0278] That makes no difference.

VLADIMIR

[0279] All the same... that tree... (turning towards the auditorium) ... that bog...

ESTRAGON

[0280] You're sure it was this evening?

VLADIMIR

[0281] What?

ESTRAGON

[0282] That we were to wait.

VLADIMIR

[0283] He said Saturday. [0284] (Pause) [0285] I think.

ESTRAGON

[0286] You think.

VLADIMIR

[0287] I must have made a note of it. [0288]
He fumbles in his pockets, bursting with miscellaneous rubbish.

ESTRAGON

[0288|001] (Very insidious) [0289] But what Saturday? [0290] And is it Saturday? [0291] Is it not rather Sunday? [0291|001] (Pause.) [0292] Or monday? [0292|001] (Pause.) [0293] Or Friday?

MS. Pages: cover - 03r 03v - 08r 08v - 13r 13v - 18r 18v - 23r 23v - 28r 28v - 33r 33v - 38r 38v - 43r 43v - 48r 48v - 53r 53v - 58r 58v - 63r 63v - 68r 68v - 73r 73v - 78r 78v - 83r 83v - 88r 88v - 93r 93v - ins.backcover backcover - ins.backcover