VLVL2(3): Who Was Saved?

[Paul Nightingale]

Yes indeed. Beckett must have had the p-list in mind ...

> VLADIMIR: Ah yes, the two thieves. Do you remember the
> story?
> ESTRAGON: No.
> VLADIMIR: Shall I tell it to you?
> ESTRAGON: No.
> VLADIMIR: It'll pass the time. (Pause.) Two thieves,
> crucified at the same time as our Saviour. One-
> ESTRAGON: Our what?
> VLADIMIR: Our Saviour. Two thieves. One is supposed to
> have been saved and the other . . . (he searches for
> the contrary of saved) . . . damned.
> ESTRAGON: Saved from what?
> VLADIMIR: Hell.
> ESTRAGON: I'm going.
> He does not move.
> VLADIMIR: And yet . . . (pause) . . . how is it -this
> is not boring you I hope- how is it that of the four
> Evangelists only one speaks of a thief being saved.
> The four of them were there -or thereabouts- and only
> one speaks of a thief being saved. (Pause.) Come on,
> Didi, return the ball, can't you, once in a while?
> ESTRAGON: (with exaggerated enthusiasm). I find this
> really most extraordinarily interesting.
> VLADIMIR: One out of four. Of the other three two
> don't mention any thieves at all and the third says
> that both of them abused him.
> ESTRAGON: Who?
> VLADIMIR: What?
> ESTRAGON: What's all this about? Abused who?
> VLADIMIR: The Saviour.
> ESTRAGON: Why?
> VLADIMIR: Because he wouldn't save them.
> ESTRAGON: From hell?
> VLADIMIR: Imbecile! From death.
> ESTRAGON: I thought you said hell.
> VLADIMIR: From death, from death.
> ESTRAGON: Well what of it?
> VLADIMIR: Then the two of them must have been damned.
> ESTRAGON: And why not?
> VLADIMIR: But one of the four says that one of the two
> was saved.
> ESTRAGON: Well? They don't agree and that's all there
> is to it.
> VLADIMIR: But all four were there. And only one speaks
> of a thief being saved. Why believe him rather than
> the others?
> ESTRAGON: Who believes him?
> VLADIMIR: Everybody. It's the only version they know.
> ESTRAGON: People are bloody ignorant apes.