“Waiting for Bobot”
A Parody of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot
By Bob Ramsdell
Samuel Beckett was an author of many plays, books, prose etc. and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature at one time. He was described as a modernist and often wrote in what was called “The Theater of the Absurd”. (Note: Godot and Bobot are pronounced as God oh and Bob oh).
Act One
Three men wearing dark suits buttoned up but with no tie are sitting on their suitcases along a lonely country road. I will refer to character 1, 2 and 3 as “No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3” in the script
No, 1 I wonder when he’s going to show up, he’s already 2 days late.
No. 2 I’m getting hungry and tired of peanut butter sandwiches.
No. 3 If we had a card table so we could play cards.
No. 2 ------But I don’t know how to play cards!
No. 1 Was he on that bus that just went by?
No. 2 Do either of you guys know where we are? It sure would be nice if
we had a GPS unit.
No. 3 I’m getting tired of waiting, do you think we should leave?
No. 2 We could pin a note on a tree but there aren’t any trees here.
No. 3 It’s going to get dark soon, did either of you guys bring a lantern?
No. 1 I did, but I don’t have any matches. I suppose that means I won't be able to read any books I have in my suitcase.
No. 2 It is getting pretty dark now so…..(as the stage lights go down)
……..Good Night……..Good Night……Good Night.
Act II, Scene 1
The sun is coming up revealing the three men asleep on their suitcases along the deserted country road.
No 1 (yawning) That was a refreshing sleep!
No 2. What are we having for breakfast?
No. 1 We have three peanut butter sandwiches left.
No. 3 How will we divide them?
No. 2 You guys have them. I’m tired of peanut butter sandwiches. I’ll just have some gum.
No. 1 I didn’t know there was any gum, how come you didn’t offer us any?
No. 2 I wanted to know there was enough until Bobot gets here.
No 3 It’s going to get hot pretty soon. I wish I had brought an umbrella.
No. 2 I had an umbrella once when I lived in London, but it blew away in a high wind.
No. 1 Is that a bus or an 18 wheeler coming towards us. (all three look down the road to the south until…….)
No 2 No, it’s only a mirage.
No. 3 I think if it had been a bus, I think I would have gotten on it and
sent a letter to Bobot saying “Having a wonderful time, wish you
were here!”
No. 1 The road seems to be getting quite hot. Did you notice that
rattlesnake start across and quickly turn around and slither back into the shade?
No. 3 (looking north) Here comes another mirage! No. It’s a taco wagon, flag him down!
No. 1 Senor, tres tacos y tres cervesas, por favor. Seis dolares? Tarjeto de credito? Gracias, Senor.
No 3 (as taco wagon leaves) I didn’t know you could speak Spanish.
No. 1 I can’t. I saw this exact conversation on Telemundo a week ago.
No 2 (after eating) Wow, that tasted good! I’m going to eat tacos instead
of peanut butter sandwiches for the rest of my life.
Act II, Scene II
All three are having a nap on their suitcases.
No. 1 (yawning and stretching looks up the road to the north) Wake up!,
there's a man walking this way!
No. 3 (as stranger walks up to them) Are you Bodot?
Stranger: No, my name is Godot. He then walks down the road toward the south.
Everything seems so futile for these three men. What will happen to them? Will Bobot ever show up? Will they be picked up by an itinerant farmer family on their way to California to pick fruit? Will Bill Gates come by in stretch limo and make them all vice presidents of Microsoft. Will an insane asylum take them back to their hospital.
Tune in this fall season at 8 PM/9 PM Central after CSI New York.
FIN
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
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