Waiting for Go(RE)dot.

[mcscajun]

Necessary political disclaimer: At the moment, I have no definite candidate in mind for the primaries. I was hoping for Clark; we all know that didn't happen. I'd be happy if Gore would run, but I really don't think that's going to happen. While reading the various threads continuing to speculate, hope, and dream of a Gore candidacy again, the title of this Beckett play came to my mind. I spent a semester in college reading absurdist dramas, and this association dropped into my head yesterday, and it wouldn't let go of me until I robbed Samuel Beckett and put this down.
NOTE: No slur on any Gore supporter, real or imaginary, is intended by this.

Waiting for Go(RE)dot.
An absurdist political drama in two condensed parts.

A country road. A tree.

Evening.

Estragon, sitting on a low mound, is trying to take off his boot. He pulls at it with both hands, panting. He gives up, exhausted, rests, tries again. As before.
Enter Vladimir.

ESTRAGON: (giving up again) Nothing to be done.
VLADIMIR: I'm beginning to come round to that opinion.
VLADIMIR: Pah!
ESTRAGON: Charming spot. Inspiring prospects. (He turns to Vladimir.) Let's go.
VLADIMIR: We can't.
ESTRAGON: Why not?
VLADIMIR: We're waiting for Go(RE)dot.
ESTRAGON: (despairingly). Ah! (Pause) You're sure it was here?
VLADIMIR: What?
ESTRAGON: That we were to wait.
VLADIMIR: He said by the tree. (They look at the tree.) Do you see any others?
ESTRAGON: What is it?
VLADIMIR: I don't know. A willow.
ESTRAGON: Where are the leaves?
VLADIMIR: It must be dead.

ESTRAGON: No more weeping.
VLADIMIR: Or perhaps it's not the season.
ESTRAGON: Looks to me more like a bush.
VLADIMIR: A shrub.
ESTRAGON: A bush.
VLADIMIR: A—. What are you insinuating? That we've come to the wrong place?
ESTRAGON: He should be here.
VLADIMIR: He didn't say for sure he'd run.
ESTRAGON: And if he doesn't run?

VLADIMIR: The point is—
ESTRAGON: Until he runs.

VLADIMIR: Let's wait and see what he says.
ESTRAGON: Who?
VLADIMIR: Go(RE)dot.
ESTRAGON: Good idea.

VLADIMIR: I'm curious to hear what he has to offer. Then we'll take it or leave it.
ESTRAGON: What exactly did we ask him for?
VLADIMIR: Were you not there?
ESTRAGON: I can't have been listening.
VLADIMIR: Oh . . . Nothing very definite.
ESTRAGON: A kind of prayer.
VLADIMIR: Precisely.
ESTRAGON: A vague supplication.
VLADIMIR: Exactly.
ESTRAGON: And what did he reply?
VLADIMIR: That he'd see.
ESTRAGON: That he couldn't promise anything.
VLADIMIR: That he'd have to think it over.

VLADIMIR: Before taking a decision.
ESTRAGON: It's the normal thing.
VLADIMIR: Is it not?
ESTRAGON: I think it is.
VLADIMIR: I think so too.

Silence

VLADIMIR: Listen!

They listen, grotesquely rigid.

ESTRAGON: I hear nothing.
VLADIMIR: Hsst!

They listen. Estragon loses his balance, almost falls. He clutches the arm of Vladimir, who totters. They listen, huddled together.

VLADIMIR: Nor I.

ESTRAGON: You gave me a fright.
VLADIMIR: I thought it was he.
ESTRAGON: Who?
VLADIMIR: Go(RE)dot.

ESTRAGON: Simply wait.
VLADIMIR: We're used to it.

He picks up his hat, peers inside it, shakes it, puts it on.

ESTRAGON: What do we do now?
VLADIMIR: I don't know.
ESTRAGON: Let's go.
VLADIMIR: We can't.
ESTRAGON: Why not?
VLADIMIR: We're waiting for Go(RE)dot.
ESTRAGON: (despairingly). Ah!

Pause

BOY: Off. Mister!
Estragon halts. Both look towards the voice.
VLADIMIR: Approach, my child.

VLADIMIR: What is it?
BOY: Mr. Go(RE)dot . . .

VLADIMIR: You have a message from Mr. Go(RE)dot?
BOY: Yes Sir.
VLADIMIR: Well, what is it?
BOY: (in a rush). Mr. Go(RE)dot told me to tell you he won't run this evening but surely tomorrow.

Silence

VLADIMIR: Is that all?
BOY: Yes Sir.

Silence

VLADIMIR: Tomorrow everything will be better.
ESTRAGON: How do you make that out?
VLADIMIR: Did you not hear what the child said?
ESTRAGON: No.
VLADIMIR: He said that Go(RE)dot was sure to run tomorrow. (Pause.) What do you say to that?
ESTRAGON: Then all we have to do is to wait on here.
VLADIMIR: (without anger) It's not certain.
ESTRAGON: No, nothing is certain.

ESTRAGON: Well, shall we go?
VLADIMIR: Yes, let's go.

They do not move.

Curtain

Next day. Same time. Same place.
Estragon's boots front center, heels together, toes splayed.
Lucky's hat at same place.
The tree has four or five leaves.
Enter Vladimir

ESTRAGON: Another day done with.
VLADIMIR: Not yet.

VLADIMIR: Say, I am happy.
ESTRAGON: I am happy.
VLADIMIR: So am I.
ESTRAGON: So am I.
VLADIMIR: We are happy.
ESTRAGON: We are happy. (Silence) What do we do now, now that we are happy?
VLADIMIR: Wait for Go(RE)dot. (Estragon groans. Silence) Things have changed here since yesterday.
ESTRAGON: And if he doesn't run?
VLADIMIR: (after a moment of bewilderment) We'll see when the time comes. (Pause) I was saying that things have changed here since yesterday.

ESTRAGON: What do we do now?
VLADIMIR: Wait for Go(RE)dot.

ESTRAGON: Well?
VLADIMIR: What was I saying, we could go on from there.
ESTRAGON: I'm tired! (Pause) Let's go.
VLADIMIR: We can't.
ESTRAGON: Why not?
VLADIMIR: We're waiting for Go(RE)dot.
ESTRAGON: Ah! (Pause) (despairing) What'll we do, what'll we do!
VLADIMIR: There's nothing we can do.
ESTRAGON: But I can't go on like this!

ESTRAGON: Let's go.
VLADIMIR: We can't.
ESTRAGON: Why not?
VLADIMIR: We're waiting for Go(RE)dot.

ESTRAGON: What do we do now?
VLADIMIR: While waiting.
ESTRAGON: While waiting.

Silence

BOY: Yes Sir.

Silence

VLADIMIR: You have a message from Mr. Go(RE)dot.
BOY: Yes Sir.
VLADIMIR: He won't run this evening.
BOY: No Sir.
VLADIMIR: But he'll run tomorrow.
BOY: Yes Sir.
VLADIMIR: Without fail.
BOY: Yes Sir.

ESTRAGON: Oh yes, let's go far away from here.
VLADIMIR: We can't.
ESTRAGON: Why not?
VLADIMIR: We have to come back tomorrow.
ESTRAGON: What for?
VLADIMIR: To wait for Go(RE)dot.
ESTRAGON: Ah! (Silence) He didn't run?
VLADIMIR: No.
ESTRAGON: And now it's too late.
VLADIMIR: Yes, now it's night.

ESTRAGON: You say we have to come back tomorrow?
VLADIMIR: Yes.

Silence

ESTRAGON: I can't go on like this.
VLADIMIR: That's what you think.

ESTRAGON: Yes, let's go.

They do not move.

Curtain.

[maddezmom]

1. yikes

You need a cold drink and more time in the hot tub. :evilgrin:

[mcscajun]

3. Or...

A hot drink and a cold shower? :evilgrin:

[maddezmom]

5. oh yes, one of my fav's the Hot Toddie

http://mamarant.blogs.com/mamacooks/2004/12/this_mamas_hot_.html

:D

[mcscajun]

9. Hmmm....very interesting, although I'd probably substitute Rum for Bourbon.

Might go very well with the Ginger Tea?

[TheDoorbellRang]

2. You forgot Pozzo!

As one of those waiting for Go(re)dot, I've often ruefully noted the similarities.



The Go(re)dot cast: Pozzo, Estragon, Lucky, Vladimir


But hey, if you're not interested in this particular drama, "The Crucible" is playing everywhere else. ;(



Some more quotes from WFG:

"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."

"Let us not waste our time in idle discourse! (Pause. Vehemently.) Let us do something while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! Let us represent worthily for once the foul brood to which a cruel fate consigned us!"

[stlsaxman]

6. Both "Waiting For Go(re)dot" and "Godot" are brilliant!

may i reproduce "Go(re)dot" elsewhere?

[mcscajun]

8. Thank you! Of course you may, with proper attribution to Beckett and myself, naturally.

:hi:

[stlsaxman]

10. i said i'd post it Elsewhere...

and sure enough- i did!

Elsewhere my blog

[TheDoorbellRang]

11. I should have noted that the picture

is one I got from rosesaylavee, who got it from kurovski. I liked it so much I have it as my desktop these days. Seemed appropriate.

[mcscajun]

13. Quite appropriate.

:hi:

[mcscajun]

7. As if anyone could forget Pozzo. You're right, though. It's a shame

I left him (and Lucky) out, but I was going for brevity. I wasn't sure how much of this DUers could (or would) take.

:hi:

[TheDoorbellRang]

12. Sometimes it's a relief to discuss something else

while we're waiting...

[mcscajun]

15. Indeed. Keeps us off the streets and *(mostly)* out of trouble.

:evilgrin:

[Swamp Rat]

4. NeoGore is "The One!"

:D

[bridgit]

14. That's It!! Next time *I'm* putting in for mod, I got me some obscure shit too!!

Harry Partch - BBC Documentary - Part 1 of 6

Harry Partch - BBC Documentary - Part 2 of 6

Harry Partch - BBC Documentary - Part 3 of 6

Harry Partch - BBC Documentary - Part 4 of 6

Harry Partch - BBC Documentary - Part 5 of 6

Harry Partch - BBC Documentary - Part 6 of 6

Mr. Go(RE)Dot...too punny if while well stated here: "Next day. Same time. Same place."

[rosesaylavee]

16. Yeah, it is kinda like that... every day.

Thanks for the perspective! I too enjoyed a semester of absurdist drama in college. Thought it was funny then and could never happen. Ha. Boy, was I wrong.

Been wishing to see a production of Ubu Roi lately.

[mcscajun]

17. Now there's one play I hadn't heard of, much less read. I just did a lookup

and found that Ubu Roi is where Ubu Productions took its name/mascot from. Hmmm... :)

"Sit, Ubu, sit. Good dog."

[rosesaylavee]

18. I was lucky to get absurdist drama

in High School and College. From what I remember, Ubu Roi is about an idiot who usurps the throne and is subsequently overthrown because he is such an idiot.

Can't think why I would want to see that one again... I remember laughing my head off when I first read it as a kid.