Waiting For Godot Act One
The play opens on a secluded country road with a singular dead-looking tree. Estragon is sitting on a mound of earth, violently trying to take off his shoes that refuse to budge. Vladimir enters, and the two of them begin to argue about the fate of the thieves who were crucified with Christ. Estragon finally manages to take off his shoes, but he doesn’t find anything inside them, similarly, Vladimir examines his hat, which doesn’t quite contain anything either. Estragon suggests that they leave, but Vladimir says that they can’t since they are waiting for Godot. Vladimir explains that they’d agreed to meet Godot by the tree, but neither of them is certain if they are at the right spot and whether it’s the correct day to be waiting for Godot. Estragon goes off to sleep on the mound, but he soon starts awake from a nightmare. He tries to tell Vladimir about the dream, but Vladimir refuses to hear it. They consider parting ways, but Vladimir is certain that Estragon couldn’t survive without him for very long. Their argument devolves, and Vladimir storms off stage. Estragon calls to him and he returns. They try to come up with a way to pass the time and consider hanging themselves with the tree. They can’t agree on the logistics of the suicide, and Estragon expresses hunger. Vladimir offers him a turnip from his pocket, but Estragon wants a carrot. Vladimir finds a carrot, and Estragon eats it happily. They hear a terrible cry and huddle together to see what is approaching them.
Lucky runs across the stage carrying a bag, a stool, and a basket, a rope is tied around his neck and it trails behind him. Pozzo appears on stage with the end of the rope in his hand, he pulls sharply at the rope and a loud falling sound is heard as Lucky falls offstage. Pozzo pulls on the rope and calls Lucky back on stage. Estragon and Vladimir converse among themselves as they wonder if Pozzo is Godot, but he informs them he isn’t. Pozzo pulls on the rope and demands his basket. Lucky gives his master the basket, and returns to the same position. Pozzo hungrily eats a piece of chicken while Vladimir and Estragon closely examine Lucky’s tattered state. They try to speak to him, but Pozzo answers for them. Pozzo throws away the chicken bone and summons Lucky once more as he begins to smoke a pipe. Estragon wonders if he can eat the bone, and he asks Pozzo, who tells him that Lucky has first rights to the bones so Estragon should ask him. Estragon approaches Lucky and asks him for the bone, but he makes no reply. Pozzo allows Estragon to have the bone and worries aloud about Lucky’s health since he’s never been known to refuse a bone before. Estragon gnaws hungrily on the bone, but Vladimir is deeply offended by Pozzo’s treatment of Lucky. He loudly berates him for treating a human being so poorly and makes to leave but Estragon reminds him that they are supposed to be waiting for Godot.
Vladimir and Estragon both become concerned about Lucky’s odd behavior as he refuses to put down the things that he is carrying even though he could simply put them down. They ask the question repeatedly, but it takes Pozzo a long time to understand what they are asking him. He gives them a long nonsensical answer and finally suggests that Lucky is behaving so because he doesn’t want Pozzo to get rid of him. Vladimir wonders if Pozzo intends to get rid of Lucky, and Pozzo explains that he is making his way to the fair to be rid of him. He goes on to talk about how Lucky has served him for nearly sixty years now, but the quality of his service to him has diminished. Lucky becomes upset, and begins to cry so Estragon tries to comfort him. Pozzo gives Estragon a handkerchief to aid him with his comfort, but Estragon receives a severe kick to his shins from Lucky when he is approached. Vladimir becomes more upset with Pozzo for trying to get rid of Lucky, and Pozzo begins to cry. Vladimir then becomes upset with Lucky for making his master cry. Pozzo calms down, and Vladimir goes off stage to urinate, but he seems upset upon his return. Pozzo talks nonsensically about the twilight and offers to have Lucky entertain them. He explains that Lucky is capable of doing several things, and lists them out. Estragon wishes to see Lucky dance while Vladimir wants to hear Lucky think. Pozzo suggests that they make Lucky dance first and then proceed to have him think out loud for them.
Pozzo orders Lucky to dance, but it takes him a couple of attempts to explain to Lucky what he desires. Lucky dances a little, but Estragon is not impressed even though he falls in trying to imitate his dance. Pozzo complains that Lucky was once very skilled at performing various forms of dance. To have Lucky thinks they need to put Lucky’s hat on his head, but Estragon is reluctant to approach Lucky again after the kick he had suffered. Vladimir volunteers to place the head on Lucky’s head and does so with the greatest caution. Pozzo commands him to think, and Lucky begins to spout gibberish words without pause. The monologue soon begins to bother all of the listeners, and all three of them pounce on him in an attempt to make him stop. Vladimir takes Lucky’s hat off his head and stomps it on the ground. They make Lucky carry his bags again, and Pozzo sets off with Lucky in the same fashion as he had arrived.
Vladimir and Estragon go back to waiting for Godot and complain that the presence of the two guests has allowed time to pass more rapidly. A boy timidly enters the stage, claiming to bear a message from Godot. Estragon manhandles the timid boy, who reveals that he has been waiting off-stage for Lucky and Pozzo to leave. Vladimir yells at Estragon for treating the boy poorly and asks the boy to give him the message. The boy explains that Mr. Godot cannot come today, but he promises to come see them tomorrow. He asks the boy if he had brought them a similar message yesterday, but the boy says it wasn’t him. Vladimir asks him if Godot is good to him and if he is happy, but the boy isn’t quite certain. He explains that he works for Godot as a goat herd and that Godot is kind to him, but he beats the boy’s brother, who is responsible for minding the sheep. The boy departs with a message from Vladimir that they will wait for Godot to come the following day. Night falls, and the two think about retiring to sleep under a shelter, but Estragon is reluctant to find shelter. The curtain closes with them standing still in the middle of the stage.
