( Samuel Beckett's study tour of Darwin's public transport .)
All travel on the bus was free one day because there were no tickets. On being told this, an Italian man, who had proffered his fare , said he had travelled on the bus for 20 years and this was the first time there was no charge. In a theatrical way , he spread his hands like one of the three great tenors and sang Arrivederci Roma .
There he was again , the harmless , but obviously troubled soul in the Buso # 1 trip who thought Germany had been the best role model before the Sudetenland annexation , the invasion of Poland and the subsequent outbreak of general hostilities. Pointing at the two tower blocks on the Daly Street end of the Esplanade , he chortled , exclaimed , “ Accommodation for the people.” Plucking two cigarettes from his pocket , he passed them to a startled Aboriginal sitting behind him and said,” Happy New Year .”
Three elderly Aboriginal women, the front one unsteady on her thin legs , probably due to hip displaysia , shuffled down the aisle. Gallantly, the man pointed to the seat next to him and twice told her to be careful and not fall as she slowly lowered herself down, finally sitting slightly hunched.
Then , noticing that an A4 size brown envelope carried by one of the other women had rainwater on it, he took it from her , wiped it with his hanky , placed it a plastic bag , twirled it several times until it was completely water tight , and handed it back. The worn woman sitting next to him looked about with a smile on her face . In his peculiar way , this gent has warned against the folly of war, treated women in general with respect and spread goodwill among bus travellers . He may get to see Godot, unlike so many other sinful commuters who are clearly destined for the fire and brimstone depot .
There he was again , the harmless , but obviously troubled soul in the Buso # 1 trip who thought Germany had been the best role model before the Sudetenland annexation , the invasion of Poland and the subsequent outbreak of general hostilities. Pointing at the two tower blocks on the Daly Street end of the Esplanade , he chortled , exclaimed , “ Accommodation for the people.” Plucking two cigarettes from his pocket , he passed them to a startled Aboriginal sitting behind him and said,” Happy New Year .”
Three elderly Aboriginal women, the front one unsteady on her thin legs , probably due to hip displaysia , shuffled down the aisle. Gallantly, the man pointed to the seat next to him and twice told her to be careful and not fall as she slowly lowered herself down, finally sitting slightly hunched.
Then , noticing that an A4 size brown envelope carried by one of the other women had rainwater on it, he took it from her , wiped it with his hanky , placed it a plastic bag , twirled it several times until it was completely water tight , and handed it back. The worn woman sitting next to him looked about with a smile on her face . In his peculiar way , this gent has warned against the folly of war, treated women in general with respect and spread goodwill among bus travellers . He may get to see Godot, unlike so many other sinful commuters who are clearly destined for the fire and brimstone depot .
