waiting.

modelled after beckett
leston: good morrow sir!
verasted: have we met?
leston: you know how things are.
verasted: i do (pause.)
leston: what are you doing here?
verasted: oh, the usual. you?
leston: what else?
verasted: he's never let us down, has he?
leston: who?
verasted: (looks expectantly.)
leston: ah yes, no, he hasn't i suppose...
verasted: suppose?
leston: suppose.
verasted: lacking in faith today?
leston: no less than usual. he's late.
verasted: by whose clock? (pause.) yours?
leston: i don't use clocks.
verasted: then how do you know he's late?
leston: i don't.
verasted: but you just said -
leston: i know what i just said!
(pause.)
verasted: when has he not showed up?
leston: i don't remember.
(pause.) (leston begins to pace.)
verasted: would you stop that!
leston: what?
verasted: the pacing!
leston: why?
verasted: it makes me nervous.
leston: nervous of what?
verasted: that he might not show up.
leston: you too now?
verasted: no. (pause.) he will arrive.
leston: how do you know?
verasted: he always does. you remember.
leston: but what about today?
verasted: what about today?
leston: do you think today he will?
verasted: how is today any different?
leston: it feels different.
verasted: you say that every day.
leston: i do?
verasted: yes!
leston: do not!
verasted: do too!
leston: do not!
verasted: do too!
leston: do not!
verasted: do too!
leston: do not!
verasted: do too!
leston: do not!
verasted: do too!
leston: do not!
verasted: do not!
leston: do too!
see?
leston: damn.
verasted: even you agree.
leston: that wasn't fair.
verasted: what in this place is fair?
leston: not much.
verasted: i'd go far as saying nothing.
leston: i can't stand it.
verasted: i'm quite content.
leston: how can you be?
verasted: i know that each day he comes the same.
leston: he'll never come.
verasted: pessimist.
leston: oh, shut up.
verasted: i will do no such thing.
leston: won't you?
verasted: no. not until this is settled.
leston: until what is settled?
verasted: this.
leston: what?
verasted: this discussion.
leston: you mean this argument?
verasted: okay.
leston: what's left to settle?
verasted: when he's coming.
leston: never.
verasted: today. he always does.
leston: oh, please. next topic.
verasted: justice.
leston: is it fair?
verasted: is what?
leston: this.
verasted: yes!
leston: i don't think so.
verasted: why not?
leston: look at us.
verasted: yes?
leston: this is just?
verasted: yes!
leston: yes?
verasted: what more could you expect?
leston: a lot more!
verasted: really?
leston: yes.
verasted: what is the injustice here?
leston: is it just that each morrow we stand here in this dark waiting and waiting for someone who for all we know will never come?
verasted: i've never looked at it from that perspective.
leston: you haven't?
verasted: no.
leston: how?
verasted: i've never wanted. each day i've all i need.
leston: is that living?
verasted: i'd say so.
leston: are you happy?
verasted: i've no sadness, i must be.
leston: what about me?
verasted: yes?
leston: i'm not.
verasted: you worry too much. that's why.
leston: what do you mean?
verasted: i trust that every day, he'll come and fill my need.
leston: your point?
verasted: every day you doubt, and wind up in a panic. it's very unpleasant.
leston: did you just call me unpleasant?
verasted: not directly.
leston: you insolent washing bag!
verasted: that's not very pleasant, is it?
leston: i'd suppose not. (pause.)
verasted: have you ever noticed how all people leaving a grocery store look homeless?
leston: no?
verasted: do you see their home?
leston: no.
verasted: see?
leston: not really. (pause.)
verasted: you're homeless! that's why you aren't happy.
leston: i am not homeless!
verasted: where is your home?
leston: i, i, am homeless. (pause.) but so are you!
verasted: how do you know?
leston: i don't see your home.
verasted: are the people leaving the grocery store all homeless?
leston: you just said -
verasted: i said they look homeless, you just can't see their homes.
leston: and?
verasted: you can't see my home from here. but that doesn't mean it ceases to be.
leston: where is it?
verasted: with him.
leston: who?
verasted: the one we're waiting for.
leston: you mean the one you're waiting for.
verasted: what happened to you?
leston: i stopped waiting a while ago.
verasted: what are you doing then?
leston: standing.
verasted: he is coming you know...
leston: no.
verasted: we've been over this too much.
leston: you should take a nap.
verasted: i might miss him.
leston: you won't.
verasted: oh please...
leston: yes?
verasted: what?
leston: you said "please" so i replied.
verasted: don't be so smart.
leston: i was being helpful.
verasted: you were not.
leston: now who's distrustful?
verasted: you're such a child.
leston: enough with the name-calling.
verasted: don't boss me around!
leston: what would he say if he came right now?
verasted: nothing. he would shoot you.
leston: that doesn't sound like him at all!
verasted: sorry, i was talking about what i would do.
leston: you want to shoot me?
verasted: yes.
leston: that's not nice.
verasted: wait... what you just said?
leston: the "not nice" comment?
verasted: no, the part about him coming.
leston: what about it?
verasted: you think he's coming?
leston: oh please...
verasted: yes?
leston: (slaps verasted.) don't mock me. (both stomp away from each other.) (pause.) I'm sorry, i can't stand it anymore.
verasted: what?
leston: i missed you.
verasted: oh, okay.
leston: did you?
verasted: what?
leston: miss me?
verasted: i guess.
leston: i guess?
verasted: a little.
leston: oh.
(blackout)
(lights up, both asleep.)
verasted: no!
leston: what?! what?!
verasted: we fell asleep.
leston: yes. isn't it great?
verasted: no! we missed him!
leston: what? (still drowsy.)
verasted: he came, we were asleep and he left.
leston: how do you know?
(pause.)
verasted: uh....the footprints! those weren't here before!
leston: that doesn't prove anything.
verasted: yes it does!
leston: you could have sleepwalked.
verasted: have i sleepwalked before?
leston: you could have.
verasted: have i?
leston: i don't know! i don't watch you sleep!
verasted: i'm glad.
leston: what's that supposed to mean?
verasted: never mind.
leston: don't never mind me!
verasted: all it meant was that i'm glad you don't sit and stare at me whilst i sleep.
leston: oh, okay. (pause.) hm.
verasted: yes?
leston: oh, nothing, just thinking.
verasted: what about?
leston: would you say we're friends?
verasted: i don't know.
leston: i've never thought about it.
verasted: me neither.
leston: do i really need a friend?
verasted: do i?
leston: i thought you had all you need?
verasted: i do. (pause.) so if i do need a friend then i already have one.
leston: i don't follow.
verasted: well, if i need a friend, then yes, we are friends. but if i don't need one, then we aren't friends.
leston: then what would we be?
verasted: indifferents.
leston: oh, that's wierd.
verasted: no more than everything else.
leston: true.
(long pause.)
verasted: why are you still here?
leston: i don't really know.
verasted: are you waiting?
leston: no. i hate waiting.
verasted: why?
leston: it's a waste of time.
verasted: what are you doing right now?
leston: standing.
verasted: is that a better use?
leston: no.
verasted: then why not wait?
leston: because he'll never come.
verasted: i tell you, he will.
leston: i'd rather stand.
verasted: you could do both.
leston: i don't like multitasking.
verasted: really, it's quite easy. (pause.) i'm doing it now.
leston: i'm lazy.
verasted: that's a problem.
leston: i know.
verasted: are you going to fix it?
leston: what?
verasted: your problem.
leston: no.
verasted: why?
leston: too much effort.
verasted: oh.
(pause.)
leston: i think i shall leave.
verasted: what?
leston: i am going to leave.
verasted: why?
leston: i'm not doing anything here.
verasted: stay and wait.
leston: i already told you i won't.
verasted: where are you going to go?
leston: somewhere, other than here.
verasted: and leave me?
leston: yes (pause.) unless you come along.
verasted: i can't.
leston: why not?
verasted: i have to wait.
leston: for what?
verasted: for him.
leston: you know he won't come.
verasted: he is coming.
leston: let him wait.
verasted: no.
leston: why not?
verasted: he's done so much already.
leston: has he?
verasted: i'm alive. and i'm fed.
leston: don't you want more?
verasted: he's given me all i want.
leston: can't you fathom more?
verasted: certainly, but had i more, i would be more unhappy.
leston: how do you suppose that?
verasted: look at you. you want more, and as a result, are more unhappy.
leston: i see that, but what if you had more?
verasted: i'd probably still want more.
leston: what if you had everything like him?
verasted: that's for him only.
leston: but what if?
verasted: things would probably fall apart.
leston: aren't they already?
verasted: where?
leston: here!
verasted: we do this every day.
leston: you have a point.
verasted: are you going?
leston: do i ever?
verasted: good point.
(lights raise to blinding proportion.)
verasted: i told you!
(blackout.)