SCENE FOURSCENE—In the fields on the outskirts of the city. At back a railroad embankment crosses the stage obliquely. At Center of the embankment stands a red and white signal flag, and near it a little red signal lamp which is not yet lighted. Here also a wooden stairway leads up to the embankment.At the foot of the embankment to the right is a pile of used railroad ties. In the background a telegraph pole, beyond it a view of trees, fences and fields; still further back a factory building and a cluster of little dwellings.It is six o’clock of the same afternoon. Dusk has begun to fall.LILIOMandFICSURare discovered on the stairway looking after the train which has just passed.LILIOMCan you still hear it snort?FICSURListen! [They watch the vanishing train.]LILIOMIf you put your ear on the tracks you can hear it go all the way to Vienna.FICSURHuh!LILIOMThe one that just puffed past us—it goes all the way to Vienna.FICSURNo further?LILIOMYes—further, too. [There is a pause.]FICSURIt must be near six. [AsLILIOMascends the steps.] Where are you going?LILIOMDon’t be afraid. I’m not giving you the slip.FICSURWhy should you give me the slip? That cashier has sixteen thousand kronen on him. Just be patient till he comes, then you can talk to him, nice and polite.LILIOMI say, “Good evening—excuse me, sir; what time is it?”FICSURThen he tells you what time it is.LILIOMSuppose he don’t come?FICSUR[Coming down the steps.] Nonsense! He’s got to come. He pays off the workmen every Saturday. And this is Saturday, ain’t it? [LILIOMhas ascended to the top of the stairway and is gazing along the tracks.] What are you looking at up there?LILIOMThe tracks go on and on—there’s no end to them.FICSURWhat’s that to stare about?LILIOMNothing—only I always look after the train. When you stand down there at night it snorts past you, and spits down.FICSURSpits?LILIOMYes, the engine. It spits down. And then the whole train rattles past and away—and you standthere—spat on—but it draws your eyes along with it.FICSURDraws your eyes along?LILIOMYes—whether you want to or not, you’ve got to look after it—as long as the tiniest bit of it is in sight.FICSURSwell people sit in it.LILIOMAnd read newspapers.FICSURAnd smoke cigars.LILIOMAnd inhale the smoke. [There is a short silence.]FICSURIs he coming?LILIOMNot yet. [Silence again.LILIOMcomes down, speaks low, confidentially.] Do you hear the telegraph wires?FICSURI hear them when the wind blows.LILIOMEven when the wind doesn’t blow you can hear them humming, humming—— People talk through them.FICSURWho?LILIOMJews.FICSURNo—they telegraph.LILIOMThey talk through them and from some other place they get answered. And it all goes through the iron strings—that’s why they hum like that—they hum-m——FICSURWhat do they hum?LILIOMThey hum! ninety-nine, ninety-nine. Just listen.FICSURWhat for?LILIOMThat sparrow’s listening, too. He’s cocked one eye and looks at me as if to say: “I’d like to know what they’re talking about.”FICSURYou’re looking at a bird?LILIOMHe’s looking at me, too.FICSURListen, you’re sick! There’s something the matter with you. Do you know what it is? Money. That bird has no money, either; that’s why he cocks his eye.LILIOMMaybe.FICSURWhoever has money don’t cock his eye.LILIOMWhat then does he do?FICSURHe does most anything he wants. But nobody works unless he has money. We’ll soon have money ourselves.LILIOMI say, “Good evening. Excuse me, sir, can you tell me what time it is!”FICSURHe’s not coming yet. Got the cards? [LILIOMgives him the pack of cards.] Got any money?LILIOM[Takes some coins from his trousers pocket and counts.] Eleven.FICSUR[Sits astride on the pile of ties and looks off left.] All right—eleven.LILIOM[Sitting astride on the ties facing him.] Put it up.FICSUR[Puts the money on the ties; rapidly shuffles the cards.] We’ll play twenty-one. I’ll bank. [He deals deftly.]LILIOM[Looks at his card.] Good. I’ll bet the bank.FICSURMust have an ace! [Deals him a second card.]LILIOMAnother one. [He gets another card.] Another. [Gets still another.] Over! [Throws down his cards.FICSURgathers in the money.] Come on!FICSURCome on what? Got no more money, have you?LILIOMNo.FICSURThen the game’s over—unless you want to——LILIOMWhat?FICSURPlay on credit.LILIOMYou’ll trust me?FICSURNo—but—I’ll deduct it.LILIOMDeduct it from what?FICSURFrom your share of the money. Ifyouwin you deduct from my share.LILIOM[Looks over his shoulder to see if the cashier is coming; nervous and ashamed.] All right. How much is bank?FICSURThat cashier is bringing us sixteen thousand kronen. Eight thousand of that is mine. Well, then, the bank is eight thousand.LILIOMGood.FICSURWhoever has the most luck will have the most money. [He deals.]LILIOMSix hundred kronen. [FICSURgives him another card.] Enough.FICSUR[Laying out his own cards.] Twenty-one. [He shuffles rapidly.]LILIOM[Moves excitedly nearer toFICSUR.] Well, then, double or nothing.FICSUR[Dealing.] Double or nothing.LILIOM[Gets a card.] Enough.FICSUR[Laying out his own cards.] Twenty-one. [Shuffles rapidly again.]LILIOM[In alarm.] You’re not—cheating?FICSURMe? Do I look like a cheat? [Deals the cards again.]LILIOM[Glances nervously over his shoulder.] A thousand.FICSUR[Nonchalantly.] Kronen?LILIOMKronen. [He gets a card.] Another one. [Gets another card.] Over again! [Like an inexperienced gambler who is losing heavily,LILIOMis very nervous. He plays dazedly, wildly, irrationally. From now on it is apparent that his only thought is to win his money back.]FICSURThat makes twelve hundred you owe.LILIOMDouble or nothing. [He gets a card. He is greatly excited.] Another one. [Gets another card.] Another. [Throws down three cards.]FICSUR[Bends over and adds up the sum on the ground.] Ten—fourteen—twenty-three—— You owe two thousand, four hundred.LILIOMNow what?FICSUR[Takes a card out of the deck and gives it to him.] Here’s the red ace. You can play double or nothing again.LILIOM[Eagerly.] Good. [Gets another card.] Enough.FICSUR[Turns up his own cards.] Nineteen.LILIOMYou win again. [Almost imploring.] Give me an ace again. Give me the green one. [Takes a card.] Double or nothing.FICSURNot any more.LILIOMWhy not?FICSURBecause if you lose you won’t be able to pay. Double would be nine thousand six hundred. And you’ve only got eight thousand altogether.LILIOM[Greatly excited.] That—that—I call that—a dirty trick!FICSURThree thousand, two hundred. That’s all you can put up.LILIOM[Eagerly.] All right, then—three thousand, two hundred. [FICSURdeals him a card.] Enough.FICSURI’ve got an ace myself. Now we’ll have to take our time and squeeze ’em. [LILIOMpushes closer to him, as he takes up his cards and slowly, intently unfolds them.] Twenty-one. [He quickly puts the cards in his pocket. There is a pause.]LILIOMNow—now—I’ll tell you now—you’re a crook, a low-down—— [NowLINZMANenters at Right. He is a strong, robust, red-bearded Jew about 40 years of age. At his side he carries a leather bag slung by a strap from his shoulder.FICSURcoughs warningly,moves to the right betweenLINZMANand the embankment, pauses just behindLINZMANand follows him.LILIOMstands bewildered a few paces to the left of the railroad ties. He finds himself facingLINZMAN. Trembling in every limb.] Good evening. Excuse me, sir, can you tell me the time? [FICSURsprings silently atLINZMAN,the little knife in his right hand. ButLINZMANcatchesFICSUR’Sright hand with his own left and forcesFICSURto his knees. SimultaneouslyLINZMANthrusts his right hand into his coat pocket and produces a revolver which he points atLILIOM’Sbreast.LILIOMis standing two paces away from the revolver. There is a long pause.]LINZMAN[In a low, even voice.] It is twenty-five minutes past six. [Pauses, looks ironically down atFICSUR.] It’s lucky I grabbed the hand with the knife instead of the other one. [Pauses again, looks appraisingly from one to the other.] Two fine birds! [ToFICSUR.] I should live so—Rothschild has more luck than you. [ToLILIOM.] I’d advise you to keep nice and quiet. If you make one move, you’ll get two bullets in you. Just look into the barrel. You’ll see some little things in there made of lead.FICSURLet me go. I didn’t do anything.LINZMAN[Mockingly shakes the hand which still holds the knife.] And this? What do you call this? Oh, yes, I know. You thought I had an apple in my pocket, and you wanted to peel it. That’s it. Forgive me for my error. I beg your pardon, sir.LILIOMBut I—I——LINZMANYes, my son, I know. It’s so simple. You only asked what time it is. Well, it’s twenty-five minutes after six.FICSURLet us go, honorable sir. We didn’t do anything to you.LINZMANIn the first place, my son, I’m not an honorable sir. In the second place, for the same money, you could have said Your Excellency. But in the third place you’ll find it very hard to beg off by flattering me.LILIOMBut I—Ireally didn’t do anything to you.LINZMANLook behind you, my boy. Don’t be afraid. Look behind you, but don’t run away or I’ll haveto shoot you down. [LILIOMturns his head slowly around.] Who’s coming up there?LILIOM[Looking atLINZMAN.] Policemen.LINZMAN[ToFICSUR.] You hold still, or—— [ToLILIOMteasingly.] How many policemen are there?LILIOM[His eyes cast down.] Two.LINZMANAnd what are the policemen sitting on?LILIOMHorses.LINZMANAnd which can run faster, a horse or a man?LILIOMA horse.LINZMANThere, you see. It would be hard to get away now. [Laughs.] I never saw such an unlucky pair of highway robbers. I can’t imagine worse luck. Just today I had to put a pistol in my pocket. Andeven if I hadn’t—old Linzman is a match for four like you. But even that isn’t all. Did you happen to notice, you oxen, what direction I came from? From the factory, didn’t I? When Iwentthere I had a nice bit of money with me. Sixteen thousand crowns! But now—not a heller. [Calls off left.] Hey, come quicker, will you? This fellow is pulling pretty strong. [FICSURfrees himself with a mighty wrench and darts rapidly off. AsLINZMANaims his pistol at the vanishingFICSUR, LILIOMruns up the steps to the embankment.LINZMANhesitates, perceives thatLILIOMis the better target, points the pistol at him.] Stop, or I’ll shoot! [Calls off left to thePOLICEMEN.] Why don’t you come down off your horses? [His pistol is leveled atLILIOM,who stands on the embankment, facing the audience. From the left on the embankment aPOLICEMANappears, revolver in hand.]FIRSTPOLICEMANStop!LINZMANWell, my boy, do you still want to know what time it is? From ten to twelve years in prison!LILIOMYou won’t get me! [LINZMANlaughs derisively.LILIOMis now three or four paces from thePOLICEMANand equally distant fromLINZMAN.His faceis uplifted to the sky. He bursts into laughter, half defiant, half self-pitying, and takes the kitchen knife from under his coat.] Julie—— [The ring of farewell is in the word. He turns sideways, thrusts the knife deep in his breast, sways, falls and rolls down the far side of the embankment. There is a long pause. From the left up on the embankment come theTWOPOLICEMEN.]LINZMANWhat’s the matter? [TheFIRSTPOLICEMANcomes along the embankment as far as the steps, looks down in the opposite side, then climbs down at about the spot whereLILIOMdisappeared.LINZMANand the otherPOLICEMANmount the embankment and look down on him.] Stabbed himself?VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMANYes—and he seems to have made a thorough job of it.LINZMAN[Excitedly to theSECONDPOLICEMAN.] I’ll go and telephone to the hospital. [He runs down the steps and exits at left.]SECONDPOLICEMANGo to Eisler’s grocery store and telephone to the factory from there. They’ve a doctor there, too.[Calling down to the otherPOLICEMAN.] I’m going to tie up the horses. [Comes down the steps and exits at left. The stage is empty. There is a pause. The little red signal lamp is lit.]VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMANHey, Stephan!VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMANWhat?VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMANShall I pull the knife out of his chest?VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMANBetter not, or he may bleed to death. [There is a pause.]VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMANStephan!VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMANYes.VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMANLot of mosquitoes around here.VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMANYes.VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMANGot a cigar?VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMANNo. [There is a pause. TheFIRSTPOLICEMANappears over the opposite side of the embankment.]FIRSTPOLICEMANA lot of good the new pay-schedule’s done us—made things worse than they used to be—wegetmore but wehaveless than we ever had. If the Government could be made to realize that. It’s a thankless job at best. You work hard year after year, you get gray in the service, and slowly you die—yes.SECONDPOLICEMANThat’s right.FIRSTPOLICEMANYes. [In the distance is heard the bell of the signal tower.]THECURTAINFALLS
SCENE—In the fields on the outskirts of the city. At back a railroad embankment crosses the stage obliquely. At Center of the embankment stands a red and white signal flag, and near it a little red signal lamp which is not yet lighted. Here also a wooden stairway leads up to the embankment.
At the foot of the embankment to the right is a pile of used railroad ties. In the background a telegraph pole, beyond it a view of trees, fences and fields; still further back a factory building and a cluster of little dwellings.
It is six o’clock of the same afternoon. Dusk has begun to fall.
LILIOMandFICSURare discovered on the stairway looking after the train which has just passed.
LILIOM
Can you still hear it snort?
FICSUR
Listen! [They watch the vanishing train.]
LILIOM
If you put your ear on the tracks you can hear it go all the way to Vienna.
FICSUR
Huh!
LILIOM
The one that just puffed past us—it goes all the way to Vienna.
FICSUR
No further?
LILIOM
Yes—further, too. [There is a pause.]
FICSUR
It must be near six. [AsLILIOMascends the steps.] Where are you going?
LILIOM
Don’t be afraid. I’m not giving you the slip.
FICSUR
Why should you give me the slip? That cashier has sixteen thousand kronen on him. Just be patient till he comes, then you can talk to him, nice and polite.
LILIOM
I say, “Good evening—excuse me, sir; what time is it?”
FICSUR
Then he tells you what time it is.
LILIOM
Suppose he don’t come?
FICSUR
[Coming down the steps.] Nonsense! He’s got to come. He pays off the workmen every Saturday. And this is Saturday, ain’t it? [LILIOMhas ascended to the top of the stairway and is gazing along the tracks.] What are you looking at up there?
LILIOM
The tracks go on and on—there’s no end to them.
FICSUR
What’s that to stare about?
LILIOM
Nothing—only I always look after the train. When you stand down there at night it snorts past you, and spits down.
FICSUR
Spits?
LILIOM
Yes, the engine. It spits down. And then the whole train rattles past and away—and you standthere—spat on—but it draws your eyes along with it.
FICSUR
Draws your eyes along?
LILIOM
Yes—whether you want to or not, you’ve got to look after it—as long as the tiniest bit of it is in sight.
FICSUR
Swell people sit in it.
LILIOM
And read newspapers.
FICSUR
And smoke cigars.
LILIOM
And inhale the smoke. [There is a short silence.]
FICSUR
Is he coming?
LILIOM
Not yet. [Silence again.LILIOMcomes down, speaks low, confidentially.] Do you hear the telegraph wires?
FICSUR
I hear them when the wind blows.
LILIOM
Even when the wind doesn’t blow you can hear them humming, humming—— People talk through them.
FICSUR
Who?
LILIOM
Jews.
FICSUR
No—they telegraph.
LILIOM
They talk through them and from some other place they get answered. And it all goes through the iron strings—that’s why they hum like that—they hum-m——
FICSUR
What do they hum?
LILIOM
They hum! ninety-nine, ninety-nine. Just listen.
FICSUR
What for?
LILIOM
That sparrow’s listening, too. He’s cocked one eye and looks at me as if to say: “I’d like to know what they’re talking about.”
FICSUR
You’re looking at a bird?
LILIOM
He’s looking at me, too.
FICSUR
Listen, you’re sick! There’s something the matter with you. Do you know what it is? Money. That bird has no money, either; that’s why he cocks his eye.
LILIOM
Maybe.
FICSUR
Whoever has money don’t cock his eye.
LILIOM
What then does he do?
FICSUR
He does most anything he wants. But nobody works unless he has money. We’ll soon have money ourselves.
LILIOM
I say, “Good evening. Excuse me, sir, can you tell me what time it is!”
FICSUR
He’s not coming yet. Got the cards? [LILIOMgives him the pack of cards.] Got any money?
LILIOM
[Takes some coins from his trousers pocket and counts.] Eleven.
FICSUR
[Sits astride on the pile of ties and looks off left.] All right—eleven.
LILIOM
[Sitting astride on the ties facing him.] Put it up.
FICSUR
[Puts the money on the ties; rapidly shuffles the cards.] We’ll play twenty-one. I’ll bank. [He deals deftly.]
LILIOM
[Looks at his card.] Good. I’ll bet the bank.
FICSUR
Must have an ace! [Deals him a second card.]
LILIOM
Another one. [He gets another card.] Another. [Gets still another.] Over! [Throws down his cards.FICSURgathers in the money.] Come on!
FICSUR
Come on what? Got no more money, have you?
LILIOM
No.
FICSUR
Then the game’s over—unless you want to——
LILIOM
What?
FICSUR
Play on credit.
LILIOM
You’ll trust me?
FICSUR
No—but—I’ll deduct it.
LILIOM
Deduct it from what?
FICSUR
From your share of the money. Ifyouwin you deduct from my share.
LILIOM
[Looks over his shoulder to see if the cashier is coming; nervous and ashamed.] All right. How much is bank?
FICSUR
That cashier is bringing us sixteen thousand kronen. Eight thousand of that is mine. Well, then, the bank is eight thousand.
LILIOM
Good.
FICSUR
Whoever has the most luck will have the most money. [He deals.]
LILIOM
Six hundred kronen. [FICSURgives him another card.] Enough.
FICSUR
[Laying out his own cards.] Twenty-one. [He shuffles rapidly.]
LILIOM
[Moves excitedly nearer toFICSUR.] Well, then, double or nothing.
FICSUR
[Dealing.] Double or nothing.
LILIOM
[Gets a card.] Enough.
FICSUR
[Laying out his own cards.] Twenty-one. [Shuffles rapidly again.]
LILIOM
[In alarm.] You’re not—cheating?
FICSUR
Me? Do I look like a cheat? [Deals the cards again.]
LILIOM
[Glances nervously over his shoulder.] A thousand.
FICSUR
[Nonchalantly.] Kronen?
LILIOM
Kronen. [He gets a card.] Another one. [Gets another card.] Over again! [Like an inexperienced gambler who is losing heavily,LILIOMis very nervous. He plays dazedly, wildly, irrationally. From now on it is apparent that his only thought is to win his money back.]
FICSUR
That makes twelve hundred you owe.
LILIOM
Double or nothing. [He gets a card. He is greatly excited.] Another one. [Gets another card.] Another. [Throws down three cards.]
FICSUR
[Bends over and adds up the sum on the ground.] Ten—fourteen—twenty-three—— You owe two thousand, four hundred.
LILIOM
Now what?
FICSUR
[Takes a card out of the deck and gives it to him.] Here’s the red ace. You can play double or nothing again.
LILIOM
[Eagerly.] Good. [Gets another card.] Enough.
FICSUR
[Turns up his own cards.] Nineteen.
LILIOM
You win again. [Almost imploring.] Give me an ace again. Give me the green one. [Takes a card.] Double or nothing.
FICSUR
Not any more.
LILIOM
Why not?
FICSUR
Because if you lose you won’t be able to pay. Double would be nine thousand six hundred. And you’ve only got eight thousand altogether.
LILIOM
[Greatly excited.] That—that—I call that—a dirty trick!
FICSUR
Three thousand, two hundred. That’s all you can put up.
LILIOM
[Eagerly.] All right, then—three thousand, two hundred. [FICSURdeals him a card.] Enough.
FICSUR
I’ve got an ace myself. Now we’ll have to take our time and squeeze ’em. [LILIOMpushes closer to him, as he takes up his cards and slowly, intently unfolds them.] Twenty-one. [He quickly puts the cards in his pocket. There is a pause.]
LILIOM
Now—now—I’ll tell you now—you’re a crook, a low-down—— [NowLINZMANenters at Right. He is a strong, robust, red-bearded Jew about 40 years of age. At his side he carries a leather bag slung by a strap from his shoulder.FICSURcoughs warningly,moves to the right betweenLINZMANand the embankment, pauses just behindLINZMANand follows him.LILIOMstands bewildered a few paces to the left of the railroad ties. He finds himself facingLINZMAN. Trembling in every limb.] Good evening. Excuse me, sir, can you tell me the time? [FICSURsprings silently atLINZMAN,the little knife in his right hand. ButLINZMANcatchesFICSUR’Sright hand with his own left and forcesFICSURto his knees. SimultaneouslyLINZMANthrusts his right hand into his coat pocket and produces a revolver which he points atLILIOM’Sbreast.LILIOMis standing two paces away from the revolver. There is a long pause.]
LINZMAN
[In a low, even voice.] It is twenty-five minutes past six. [Pauses, looks ironically down atFICSUR.] It’s lucky I grabbed the hand with the knife instead of the other one. [Pauses again, looks appraisingly from one to the other.] Two fine birds! [ToFICSUR.] I should live so—Rothschild has more luck than you. [ToLILIOM.] I’d advise you to keep nice and quiet. If you make one move, you’ll get two bullets in you. Just look into the barrel. You’ll see some little things in there made of lead.
FICSUR
Let me go. I didn’t do anything.
LINZMAN
[Mockingly shakes the hand which still holds the knife.] And this? What do you call this? Oh, yes, I know. You thought I had an apple in my pocket, and you wanted to peel it. That’s it. Forgive me for my error. I beg your pardon, sir.
LILIOM
But I—I——
LINZMAN
Yes, my son, I know. It’s so simple. You only asked what time it is. Well, it’s twenty-five minutes after six.
FICSUR
Let us go, honorable sir. We didn’t do anything to you.
LINZMAN
In the first place, my son, I’m not an honorable sir. In the second place, for the same money, you could have said Your Excellency. But in the third place you’ll find it very hard to beg off by flattering me.
LILIOM
But I—Ireally didn’t do anything to you.
LINZMAN
Look behind you, my boy. Don’t be afraid. Look behind you, but don’t run away or I’ll haveto shoot you down. [LILIOMturns his head slowly around.] Who’s coming up there?
LILIOM
[Looking atLINZMAN.] Policemen.
LINZMAN
[ToFICSUR.] You hold still, or—— [ToLILIOMteasingly.] How many policemen are there?
LILIOM
[His eyes cast down.] Two.
LINZMAN
And what are the policemen sitting on?
LILIOM
Horses.
LINZMAN
And which can run faster, a horse or a man?
LILIOM
A horse.
LINZMAN
There, you see. It would be hard to get away now. [Laughs.] I never saw such an unlucky pair of highway robbers. I can’t imagine worse luck. Just today I had to put a pistol in my pocket. Andeven if I hadn’t—old Linzman is a match for four like you. But even that isn’t all. Did you happen to notice, you oxen, what direction I came from? From the factory, didn’t I? When Iwentthere I had a nice bit of money with me. Sixteen thousand crowns! But now—not a heller. [Calls off left.] Hey, come quicker, will you? This fellow is pulling pretty strong. [FICSURfrees himself with a mighty wrench and darts rapidly off. AsLINZMANaims his pistol at the vanishingFICSUR, LILIOMruns up the steps to the embankment.LINZMANhesitates, perceives thatLILIOMis the better target, points the pistol at him.] Stop, or I’ll shoot! [Calls off left to thePOLICEMEN.] Why don’t you come down off your horses? [His pistol is leveled atLILIOM,who stands on the embankment, facing the audience. From the left on the embankment aPOLICEMANappears, revolver in hand.]
FIRSTPOLICEMAN
Stop!
LINZMAN
Well, my boy, do you still want to know what time it is? From ten to twelve years in prison!
LILIOM
You won’t get me! [LINZMANlaughs derisively.LILIOMis now three or four paces from thePOLICEMANand equally distant fromLINZMAN.His faceis uplifted to the sky. He bursts into laughter, half defiant, half self-pitying, and takes the kitchen knife from under his coat.] Julie—— [The ring of farewell is in the word. He turns sideways, thrusts the knife deep in his breast, sways, falls and rolls down the far side of the embankment. There is a long pause. From the left up on the embankment come theTWOPOLICEMEN.]
LINZMAN
What’s the matter? [TheFIRSTPOLICEMANcomes along the embankment as far as the steps, looks down in the opposite side, then climbs down at about the spot whereLILIOMdisappeared.LINZMANand the otherPOLICEMANmount the embankment and look down on him.] Stabbed himself?
VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMAN
Yes—and he seems to have made a thorough job of it.
LINZMAN
[Excitedly to theSECONDPOLICEMAN.] I’ll go and telephone to the hospital. [He runs down the steps and exits at left.]
SECONDPOLICEMAN
Go to Eisler’s grocery store and telephone to the factory from there. They’ve a doctor there, too.[Calling down to the otherPOLICEMAN.] I’m going to tie up the horses. [Comes down the steps and exits at left. The stage is empty. There is a pause. The little red signal lamp is lit.]
VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMAN
Hey, Stephan!
VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMAN
What?
VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMAN
Shall I pull the knife out of his chest?
VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMAN
Better not, or he may bleed to death. [There is a pause.]
VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMAN
Stephan!
VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMAN
Yes.
VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMAN
Lot of mosquitoes around here.
VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMAN
Yes.
VOICEOFFIRSTPOLICEMAN
Got a cigar?
VOICEOFSECONDPOLICEMAN
No. [There is a pause. TheFIRSTPOLICEMANappears over the opposite side of the embankment.]
FIRSTPOLICEMAN
A lot of good the new pay-schedule’s done us—made things worse than they used to be—wegetmore but wehaveless than we ever had. If the Government could be made to realize that. It’s a thankless job at best. You work hard year after year, you get gray in the service, and slowly you die—yes.
SECONDPOLICEMAN
That’s right.
FIRSTPOLICEMAN
Yes. [In the distance is heard the bell of the signal tower.]
THECURTAINFALLS