Waiting for Godot (5 page)

POZZO:

Good. Is everybody ready? Is everybody looking at me? (
He looks at Lucky, jerks the rope. Lucky raises his head.
) Will you look at me, pig! (
Lucky looks at him.
) Good. (
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.
) I am ready. Is everybody listening? Is everybody ready? (
He looks at them all in turn, jerks the rope.
) Hog! (
Lucky raises his head.
) I don't like talking in a vacuum. Good. Let me see.

He reflects.

ESTRAGON:

I'm going.

POZZO:

What was it exactly you wanted to know?

VLADIMIR:

Why he—

POZZO:

(
angrily
)
.
Don't interrupt me! (
Pause. Calmer.
) If we all speak at once we'll never get anywhere. (
Pause.
) What was I saying? (
Pause. Louder.
) What was I saying?

Vladimir mimics one carrying a heavy burden. Pozzo looks at him, puzzled.

ESTRAGON:

(
forcibly
)
.
Bags. (
He points at Lucky.
) Why? Always hold. (
He sags, panting.
) Never put down. (
He opens his hands, straightens up with relief.
) Why?

POZZO:

Ah! Why couldn't you say so before? Why he doesn't make himself comfortable? Let's try and get this clear. Has he not the right to? Certainly he has. It follows that he doesn't want to. There's reasoning for you. And why doesn't he want to? (
Pause.
) Gentlemen, the reason is this.

VLADIMIR:

(
to Estragon
)
.
Make a note of this.

POZZO:

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

ESTRAGON:

What?

POZZO:

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

VLADIMIR:

You want to get rid of him?

POZZO:

He wants to cod me, but he won't.

VLADIMIR:

You want to get rid of him?

POZZO:

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

ESTRAGON:

You've had enough of him?

POZZO:

In reality he carries like a pig. It's not his job.

VLADIMIR:

You want to get rid of him?

POZZO:

He imagines that when I see him indefatigable I'll regret my decision. Such is his miserable scheme. As though I were short of slaves! (
All three look at Lucky.
) Atlas, son of Jupiter! (
Silence.
) Well, that's that, I think. Anything else?

Vaporizer.

VLADIMIR:

You want to get rid of him?

POZZO:

Remark that I might just as well have been in his shoes and he in mine. If chance had not willed otherwise. To each one his due.

VLADIMIR:

You waagerrim?

POZZO:

I beg your pardon?

VLADIMIR:

You want to get rid of him?

POZZO:

I do. 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 a good price for him. The truth is you can't drive such creatures away. The best thing would be to kill them.

Lucky weeps.

ESTRAGON:

He's crying!

POZZO:

Old dogs have more dignity. (
He proffers his handkerchief to Estragon.
) Comfort him, since you pity him. (
Estragon hesitates.
) Come on. (
Estragon takes the handkerchief.
) Wipe away his tears, he'll feel less forsaken.

Estragon hesitates.

VLADIMIR:

Here, give it to me, I'll do it.

Estragon refuses to give the handkerchief.

Childish gestures.

POZZO:

Make haste, before he stops. (
Estragon approaches Lucky and makes to wipe his eyes. Lucky kicks him violently in the shins. Estragon drops the handkerchief, recoils, staggers about the stage howling with pain.
) Hanky!

Lucky puts down bag and basket, picks up handkerchief and gives it to Pozzo, goes back to his place, picks up bag and basket.

ESTRAGON:

Oh the swine! (
He pulls up the leg of his trousers.
) He's crippled me!

POZZO:

I told you he didn't like strangers.

VLADIMIR:

(
to Estragon
)
.
Show me. (
Estragon shows his leg. To Pozzo, angrily.
) He's bleeding!

POZZO:

It's a good sign.

ESTRAGON:

(
on one leg
)
.
I'll never walk again!

VLADIMIR:

(
tenderly
)
.
I'll carry you. (
Pause.
) If necessary.

POZZO:

He's stopped crying. (
To Estragon.
) You have replaced him as it were. (
Lyrically.
) The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep, somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh. (
He laughs.
) Let us not then speak ill of our generation, it is not any unhappier than its predecessors. (
Pause.
) Let us not speak well of it either. (
Pause.
) Let us not speak of it at all. (
Pause. Judiciously.
) It is true the population has increased.

VLADIMIR:

Try and walk.

Estragon takes a few limping steps, stops before Lucky and spits on him, then goes and sits down on the mound.

POZZO:

Guess who taught me all these beautiful things. (
Pause. Pointing to Lucky.
) My Lucky!

VLADIMIR:

(
looking at the sky.
) Will night never come?

POZZO:

But for him all my thoughts, all my feelings, would have been of common things. (
Pause. With extraordinary vehemence.
) Professional worries! (
Calmer.
) Beauty, grace, truth of the first water, I knew they were all beyond me. So I took a knook.

VLADIMIR:

(
startled from his inspection of the sky
)
.
A knook?

POZZO:

That was nearly sixty years ago . . . (
he consults his watch
) . . . yes, nearly sixty. (
Drawing himself up proudly.
) You wouldn't think it to look at me, would you? Compared to him I look like a young man, no? (
Pause.
) Hat! (
Lucky puts down the basket and
takes off his hat. His long white hair falls about his face. He puts his hat under his arm and picks up the basket.
) Now look. (
Pozzo takes off his hat.
[All four wear bowlers.]
He is completely bald. He puts on his hat again.
) Did you see?

VLADIMIR:

And now you turn him away? Such an old and faithful servant!

ESTRAGON:

Swine!

Pozzo more and more agitated.

VLADIMIR:

After having sucked all the good out of him you chuck him away like a . . . like a banana skin. Really . . .

POZZO:

(
groaning, clutching his head
)
.
I can't bear it . . . any longer . . . the way he goes on . . . you've no idea . . . it's terrible . . . he must go . . . (
he waves his arms
) . . . I'm going mad . . . (
he collapses, his head in his hands
) . . . I can't bear it . . . any longer . . .

Silence. All look at Pozzo.

VLADIMIR:

He can't bear it.

ESTRAGON:

Any longer.

VLADIMIR:

He's going mad.

ESTRAGON:

It's terrible.

VLADIMIR:

(
to Lucky
)
.
How dare you! It's abominable! Such a good master! Crucify him like that! After so many years! Really!

POZZO:

(
sobbing
)
.
He used to be so kind . . . so helpful . . . and entertaining . . . my good angel . . . and now . . . he's killing me.

ESTRAGON:

(
to Vladimir
)
.
Does he want to replace him?

VLADIMIR:

What?

ESTRAGON:

Does he want someone to take his place or not?

VLADIMIR:

I don't think so.

ESTRAGON:

What?

VLADIMIR:

I don't know.

ESTRAGON:

Ask him.

POZZO:

(
calmer
)
.
Gentlemen, I don't know what came over me. Forgive me. Forget all I said. (
More and more his old self.
) I don't remember exactly what it was, but you may be sure there wasn't a word of truth in it. (
Drawing himself up, striking his chest.
) Do I look like a man that can be made to suffer? Frankly? (
He rummages in his pockets.
) What have I done with my pipe?

VLADIMIR:

Charming evening we're having.

ESTRAGON:

Unforgettable.

VLADIMIR:

And it's not over.

ESTRAGON:

Apparently not.

VLADIMIR:

It's only beginning.

ESTRAGON:

It's awful.

VLADIMIR:

Worse than the pantomime.

ESTRAGON:

The circus.

VLADIMIR:

The music-hall.

ESTRAGON:

The circus.

POZZO:

What can I have done with that briar?

ESTRAGON:

He's a scream. He's lost his dudeen.

Laughs noisily.

VLADIMIR:

I'll be back.

He hastens towards the wings.

ESTRAGON:

End of the corridor, on the left.

VLADIMIR:

Keep my seat.

Exit Vladimir.

POZZO:

(
on the point of tears
)
.
I've lost my Kapp and Peterson!

ESTRAGON:

(
convulsed with merriment
)
.
He'll be the death of me!

POZZO:

You didn't see by any chance– (
He misses Vladimir.
) Oh! He's gone! Without saying goodbye! How could he! He might have waited!

ESTRAGON:

He would have burst.

POZZO:

Oh! (
Pause.
) Oh well then of course in that case . . .

ESTRAGON:

Come here.

POZZO:

What for?

ESTRAGON:

You'll see.

POZZO:

You want me to get up?

ESTRAGON:

Quick! (
Pozzo gets up and goes over beside Estragon. Estragon points off.
) Look!

POZZO:

(
having put on his glasses
)
.
Oh I say!

ESTRAGON:

It's all over.

Enter Vladimir, somber. He shoulders Lucky out of his way, kicks over the stool, comes and goes agitatedly.

POZZO:

He's not pleased.

ESTRAGON:

(
to Vladimir
)
.
You missed a treat. Pity.

Vladimir halts, straightens the stool, comes and goes, calmer.

POZZO:

He subsides. (
Looking round.
) Indeed all subsides. A great calm descends. (
Raising his hand.
) Listen! Pan sleeps.

VLADIMIR:

Will night never come?

All three look at the sky.

POZZO:

You don't feel like going until it does?

ESTRAGON:

Well you see—

POZZO:

Why it's very natural, very natural. I myself in your situation, if I had an appointment with a Godin . . . Godet . . . Godot . . . anyhow, you see who I mean, I'd wait till it was black night before I gave up. (
He looks at the stool.
) I'd very much like to sit down, but I don't quite know how to go about it.

ESTRAGON:

Could I be of any help?

POZZO:

If you asked me perhaps.

ESTRAGON:

What?

POZZO:

If you asked me to sit down.

ESTRAGON:

Would that be a help?

POZZO:

I fancy so.

ESTRAGON:

Here we go. Be seated, Sir, I beg of you.

POZZO:

No no, I wouldn't think of it! (
Pause. Aside.
) Ask me again.

ESTRAGON:

Come come, take a seat I beseech you, you'll get pneumonia.

POZZO:

You really think so?

ESTRAGON:

Why it's absolutely certain.

POZZO:

No doubt you are right. (
He sits down.
) Done it again! (
Pause.
) Thank you, dear fellow. (
He consults his watch.
) But I must really be getting along, if I am to observe my schedule.

VLADIMIR:

Time has stopped.

POZZO:

(
cuddling his watch to his ear
)
.
Don't you believe it, Sir, don't you believe it. (
He puts his watch back in his pocket.
) Whatever you like, but not that.

ESTRAGON:

(
to Pozzo
)
.
Everything seems black to him today.

POZZO:

Except the firmament. (
He laughs, pleased with this witticism.
) But I see what it is, you are not from these parts, you don't know what our twilights can do. Shall I tell you? (
Silence. Estragon is fiddling with his boot again, Vladimir with his hat.
) I can't refuse you. (
Vaporizer.
) A little attention, if you please. (
Vladimir and Estragon continue their fiddling, Lucky is half asleep. Pozzo cracks his whip feebly.
) What's the matter with this whip? (
He gets up and cracks it more vigorously, finally with success. Lucky
jumps. Vladimir's hat, Estragon's boot, Lucky's hat, fall to the ground. Pozzo throws down the whip.
) Worn out, this whip. (
He looks at Vladimir and Estragon.
) What was I saying?