This was a creative writing assignment I did back in 2014. I read it for the first time (since then) this past week. I thought it might be fun to share here. For it to make any kind of sense two things are necessary. First, you would need to read Samuel Beckett’s Waiting of Godot (or watch the play). Second, you would need to understand that the assignment was from a class where we read the biblical book of Job alongside several other texts, including Beckett’s play, and we were supposed to creatively interact with Job and Waiting For Godot. I decided to write an alternate ending, replacing the original Act II with this one. I have no illusions of this being the best thing you’ll ever read, but I thought it was fun to dust it off after 10 years and that some of you might get a kick out of it too.
As a side note, this was written only a few short month after I had become convinced that reading fiction was a meaningful and important thing to do. For years (all throughout my 20’s) I had been convinced that only theology, philosophy, and apologetics were worth my time. It was reading Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich that changed all of that for me.
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Alternate ACT 2 for Waiting for Godot
[Next day. Same time. Same place. Someone unexpected.]
(Vladimir and Estragon enter stage left, already busy in discussion, ignorant of their surroundings at present. A man sits by the tree and is admiring Estragon’s boots.)
Estragon: What are we doing today?
Vladimir: Nothing, I expect.
Estragon: Seems like we had a reason for coming back here though, doesn’t it?
Vladimir: Things aren’t always what they seem though are they?
Estragon: Quite right. Quite right. But still I can’t help the feeling we were supposed to meet someone here.
Vladimir: Godot!
Estragon: God bless you!
Vladimir: What? No! Mr. Godot! That is who we are supposed to meet here.
Estragon: Ah! Quite right. Quite right. Oh, perhaps that’s him there.
Vladimir: Him where?
Estragon: Him there...trying on my boots he is. Sitting in my spot no less!
Vladimir: Surely not. (Turns around to face the stranger) Surely so! But surely that humble stranger cannot be Mr. Godot.
Estragon: Why? What does Mr. Godot look like?
Vladimir: I haven’t an idea.
Estragon: Perhaps he looks like that!
(Vladimir and Estragon stare each other in the eye for a minute and then simultaneously turn and stare at the stranger for a minute and then simultaneously look at each other again.)
Vladimir & Estragon: (In unison) Godot?
Vladimir: (Turning toward the stranger once again) You there sir! What is your name?
Job: Oh hello, I’ve been waiting for you.
Estragon: You say you’ve been waiting for us? How long?
Job: Oh just a short while now really.
Estragon: How do you like those boots?
Job: Not sure what it is but there is something not quite comfortable about them. They feel too tight and too loose all at once.
Estragon: (Hold his head in his hands and weeps) Finally someone who understands.
Vladimir: (To Estragon) Understands? Nevermind that. (To Job) What was your name then? And why should you be waiting for us?
Job: Oh, I’m sorry. How rude of me not to answer your original question.
Estragon: (To Vladimir in a whisper) What did we ask him again?
Job: My name is Job.
Vladimir: I see. I see. Like the biblical character?
Job: Oh yes. Very much like him. Identical to him actually.
Estragon: That’s who your parents named you after?
Job: No. That’s who I am.
Vladimir: You mean to say you are the very same man?
Job: The very one!
Vladimir: (Turns to Estragon) He’s mad.
Estragon: (Turns to Vladimir) Crazier than a sack of cats!
Vladimir: Delusional as the day is long.
Estragon: Perhaps... but he understands.
Vladimir: Understands? Understands what?
Estragon: The boots.
Vladimir: What?
Job: Gentlemen, gentlemen. I have been sent here to meet you.
Vladimir: Sent by who?
Estragon: What he said (gesturing at Vladimir).
Job: You must know!
Vladimir & Estragon: (In unison) Godot?
Job: He’s been called that before.
Vladimir: You mean to say he is called other things than Godot?
Job: Oh yes, he has gone by a great many names. Tell me, gentlemen, do you even know who you are waiting for?
Estragon: (Whispers to Vladimir) I thought we were waiting for Godot?
Job: Yes but do you know Mr. Godot? Do you really know who he is?
Estragon: (Bursts out laughing) My he has good hearing!
Vladimir: Doesn’t he?
Estragon: He does.
Vladimir: Doesn’t he!
Job: Well? Do you know him?
Vladimir: What difference does knowing him make?
Job: It makes all the difference I tell you. Why do you come here, this place, day after day?
Vladimir & Estragon: (In unison) We are waiting for Mr. Godot!
Vladimir: A slow one!
Estragon: Hard of hearing.
Vladimir: Short in memory!
Estragon: But still…
Vladimir: Still what?
Estragon: He understands.
Vladimir: Oh bother. Not this again!
Job: (interrupting their exchange) Gentlemen please! Why are you waiting for whom you do not know?
Estragon: If we were not waiting for him what would we be doing otherwise?
Job: Knowing him.
Vladimir: Knowing him?
Estragon: Knowing Him!
Job: I was like you both once. I waited too. The difference between you and me is that he showed up. When he did...well...it changed everything.
Estragon: (Whispers to Vladimir) Who do you think showed up?
Job: Mr. Godot of course!
Estragon: (Falls to the ground laughing uncontrollably) Ears like a bat that one!
Vladimir: No, no, no. I’ve read your story.
Job: Good!
Vladimir: No, no, no. Mr. Godot does not show up in your story!
Estragon: (Stops laughing and sits up on the ground leaning on his arms) Who does then?
Vladimir: God!
Estragon: You know this is a biblical man, you might watch your language sir!
Vladimir: No, no, no! It is God who shows up.
Job: Exactly so.
Vladimir: But you said Mr. Godot showed up!
Job: So I did.
Vladimir: You make no sense.
Job: Do you know who you are waiting for?
(Estragon stands up and places his right hand on Vladimir’s left shoulder)
Estragon: Do you think…
Vladimir: Could it be?
Job: Why do you wait for Mr. Godot?
Vladimir: (Long pause) Purpose. It gives us some sort of purpose.
Estragon: (To Job) Not nearly enough. (To Vladimir) Did you bring any rope today?
Job: Do you know why you’ll never meet Mr. Godot here?
Estragon: Do tell!
Job: Because he already came. And as long as all you do is wait, you’ll never find him. (Pauses momentarily) You can know him though. You can meet him.
Vladimir: (Desperately and in tears) Where!? Where do we go? What must we do to find him!?
Estragon: Yes. Please tell us. We are so tired of waiting.
Job: Matthew 11:25-30
(Job hands them a New Testament and vanishes before their eyes)
That was a fun read! Thank you.