78
GODOT
And you tried and tried to get hired on. One thing led to another, the bills piled up, and now you’d be happy writing gossip for Town Tattle just to get the bill collectors to back off.
Johnny turns back to Godot.
JOHNNY
Who are you? How do you know all this? Did my mom put you up to this?
GODOT
You’re settling.
JOHNNY
It’s just until I get back on my feet.
GODOT
Look around you.
He grabs Johnny by the shoulder and points out other store owners.
Look at their faces. What do you see?
JOHNNY
I don’t know. I see people...working?
GODOT
Look closer. What do you really see?
JOHNNY
Realizes
I see...defeat.
GODOT
Exactly! Defeat. Despair. Desperation. Everyone here has settled. That guy over there, at the music store. He wanted to be a great musician but he chickened out the day of his audition at Juilliard. Now he only teaches one instrument.
JOHNNY
Piano? Violin?
GODOT
Worse.