Act 3, p. 97-126 Summary

This act opens in pitch darkness, with soft ocean sounds in the background. Then Guildenstern speaks, asking Rosencrantz if he is there. Rosencrantz answers, "Where?" and the bantering begins. The two of them talk back and forth in the dark, and ascertain that they can still talk, can still think, and can still feel. Guildenstern asks Rosencrantz what it is that he is feeling. Rosencrantz replies that he feels what he thinks is his leg. Guildenstern asks how the leg feels, and Rosencrantz replies that it feels dead. Rosencrantz, in a panic, says that he cannot feel a thing. Guildenstern recommends a pinch at which Guildenstern yelps, and Rosencrantz apologizes.

There is then a longer pause, and the background sound gets louder. You can tell its ship timbers, wind in the rigging, and the shouts of sailors calling out...