The Arrival Of Mr. Godot? - 1. Scene 1

Vladimir

Estragon

Lucky

Godot?

Boy

Scene One

A bare stage. A tree stands at the back with fruit bearing from it. The characters never notice the fruit. The stage with wooden boards. The proscenium arch has carvings of Grecian myths and the only entrances to the stage each have a carving of a Greek god above them. Dionysus stage left, Zeus stage right. Vladimir enters. He snorts in his own personal laughter. He walks across the stage to the tree. He leans.

Vladimir: There’s nothing to be done.

Estragon enters. Much older. He stumbles to the floor. He removes a shoe and throws it across the stage. It falls off the front of the stage.

Estragon: Yes. Nothing to be done.

Vladimir: Did you hear that?

Estragon: Hear what?

Vladimir: Didn’t think you would.

Estragon: Hearing isn’t always believing.

Vladimir: But seeing must be.

Estragon: Then why haven’t we seen it?

Vladimir: Because I am unsure on its existence.

They move in sequence to under Dionysus.

Estragon: Wine? What is that? Nothing like a drink to calm you down.

Vladimir: Truth is held through clarity.

Estragon: Liquid courage. Did you hear that?

Vladimir: Hear What?

Estragon: Exactly. Hence why wine is needed.

Vladimir: Madness covers the entire soul.

Estragon: Are you sure?

Vladimir: Of course I’m sure. Are you?

Estragon: I’m ready when you are.

Vladimir: Don’t do anything expected.

Estragon: Seeing is believing.

Estragon moves to the tree. He takes off his belt and ties it to branch of the tree. During this Vladimir stands under the image of Zeus.

Vladimir: Why don’t you just kill yourself?

Estragon: If only I had the courage.

Vladimir: Liquid would be nice.

Estragon: But intoxication isn’t very helpful.

Vladimir: Did you hear that?

Estragon: No. Nothing to be heard. I’ve told you.

Vladimir: It’s your age.

Estragon: Yes. My age. The sounds are reflecting each of us.

Vladimir: Like moonlight.

Estragon: Lovers by moonlight.

Vladimir: We should honeymoon in Paris.

Estragon: City of Lights. Give me a hand.

Vladimir moves towards Estragon who is still trying to jump up to the tied up belt. Vladimir gives him a foot up.

Estragon: Have you got me?

Vladimir: Just jump.

Estragon: I don’t want to.

Vladimir: We came here to jump.

Estragon: I don’t remember.

Vladimir: Remember the plan?

Estragon: What did we plan?

Vladimir: We were going to wait then die.

Estragon: Wait for what?

Vladimir: You know exactly what for.

Estragon: A man…

Vladimir: More than a man.

Estragon: A god?

Vladimir: Godot.

Estragon: Oh. Who is he?

Vladimir: No one really knows.

Estragon: Carrot? Or can you stretch to a leek?

Vladimir: This is no time for food.

Estragon: This is a time to die.

Vladimir: Exactly.

The boy enters from under Zeus behind Vladimir.

Boy: Excuse me.

Vladimir: Good god man.

Goes to strike behind him but sees the boy.

Estragon: All’s fair when all is said and done.

Vladimir: What do you want?

Boy: A message sir.

Estragon: Why can’t I die?

Vladimir: What message and who from?

Boy: Mr. Godot sir. He says leave.

Estragon: And come back tomorrow.

Vladimir: The same process every time.

Estragon: If only I could.

Boy: If only you would leave.

Vladimir: We would if we could.

Estragon: Could we make it?

Vladimir: Could we get there.

Estragon: We could try to find him.

The boy exits under Dionysus.

Vladimir: We could try to find it.

Estragon: Her.

Vladimir: Him.

Estragon: Boy. Boy.

Vladimir: Left.

Estragon: Right. Gone forever.

Vladimir: Until the next day.

Estragon: Sorry?

Vladimir: There’s a high chance he’ll never come.

Estragon: Shall we just kill ourselves?

Vladimir: Okay. You first.

Estragon: Shall we?

Vladimir: Yes lets.

The lights dim. An unseen figure crosses the stage. It pauses by the tree. He picks an apple from the fruit tree and takes a bite. Vladimir shudders. It leaves.

It was not Godot.