Waiting for Godot 06
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[LEGEND ON SCREEN: "AND SO GOOD-BYE . . ."[ TOM'S closing speech is timed with the interior pantomime. The interior scene is played as though viewed through sound-proof glass. AMANDA appears to be making a comforting speech to LAURA who is huddled upon the sofa. Now that we cannot hear the mother's speech, her silliness is gone and she has dignity and tragic beauty. LAURA'S dark hair hides her face until at the end of the speech she lifts it to smile at her mother. AMANDA'S gestures are slow and graceful, almost dance-like, as she comforts the daughter. At the end of her speech she glances a moment at the father's picture-then withdraws through the portieres. At close of TOM'S speech, LAURA blows out the candles, ending the play.]
TOM. I didn't go to the moon, I went much further--for time is the longest distance between two places--
Not long after that I was fired for writing a poem on the lid of a shoebox.
I left Saint Louis. I descended the steps of this fire-escape for a last time and followed, from then on, in my father's footsteps, attempting to find in motion what was lost in space--
I traveled around a great deal. The cities swept about me like dead leaves, leaves that were brightly colored but torn away from the branches.
I would have stopped, but I was pursued by something.
It always came upon me unawares, taking me altogether by surprise. Perhaps it was a familiar bit of music. Perhaps it was only a piece of transparent glass-- Perhaps I am walking along a street at night, in some strange city, before I have found companions. I pass the lighted window of a shop where perfume is sold. The window is filled with pieces of colored glass, tiny transparent bottles in delicate colors, like bits of a shattered rainbow.
Then all at once my sister touches my shoulder. I turn around and look into her eyes . . .
Oh, Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be!
I reach for a cigarette, I cross the street, I run into the movies or a bar, I buy a drink, I speak to the nearest stranger--anything that can blow your candles out!
[ LAURA bends over the candles.]
--for nowadays the world is lit by lightning! Blow out your candles, Laura--and so good-bye. . . .
[She blows the candles out.]
THE SCENE DISSOLVES
Waiting for Godot 06
An online course supplement *
©2005-2006 Theatre UAF Season: Four Farces + One Funeral & Godot'06
Film-North * Anatoly Antohin * eCitations *
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* cite: anatoly antohin. URL + date [ my shows : 1. writer * 2. director * 3. dramaturg * 4. actor ]
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