Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead

« Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead The Play Act One Two ELIZABETHANS passing time in a plac e without any visible character. They are well -dressed - hats, cloaks, sticks and all. Each of them has a large leather money bag. Guildenstern's bag is nearly empty. Rosencrantz's bag is nearly full. The reason being: they are betting on the toss of a coin, in the following manner: Guildenstern (hereafter 'GUIL') takes a coin out of his bag, spins it, letting it fall.

Rosencrantz (hereafter ' ROS') studies it, announces it as "heads" (as it happens) and puts it into his own bag.

Then they repeat the process.

They have apparently been doing it for some time. The run of "heads" is impossible, yet ROS betrays no surprise at all - he feels n one.

However he is nice enough to feel a little embarrassed attaking so much money off his friend.

Let that be his character note.

GUIL is well alive to the oddity of it.

He is not worried about the money, but he is worried by the implications ; awar e but not going to panic about it - his character note. GUIL sits.

ROS stands (he does the moving, retrieving coins). GUIL spins.

ROS studies coin. ROS: Heads. (He picks it up and puts it in his money bag.

The process is repeated.) Heads. (Again.) ROS: Heads. (Again.) Heads. (Again.) Heads. GUIL (flipping a coin): There is an art to the building up of suspense. ROS: Heads. GUIL (flipping another): Though it can be done by luck alone. ROS: Heads. GUIL: If that's the word I'm after. ROS (raises his head at GUIL): Seventy -six love. (GUIL gets up but has nowhere to go.

He spins another coin over his shoulder without looking at it, his attention being di rected at his environment or lack of it.) Heads. GUIL: A weaker man might be moved to re -examine his faith, if in nothing else at least in the law of probability. (He slips a coin over his shoulder as he goes to look upstage.) ROS: Heads.. »