SCHWARZ (enters from the right, holding his paint brush and palette, bows to LULU and kisses her on the forehead. He walks to the steps on the left, and turns around at the portiere.) Eve?

LULU (smiling) At your service.

SCHWARZ I think you look extraordinarily attractive today.

LULU (with a glance at the mirror) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

SCHWARZ Your hair exudes the freshness of the morning ...

LULU I just came out of the bath.

SCHWARZ (moving closer to her) I have a frightful amount of work to do today.

LULU You'll talk yourself into it.

SCHWARZ (sets down his brush and palette, then seats himself on the edge of the chaise lonque) What are you reading?

LULU (readinq) Suddenly she heard a sheet-anchor beckoning up the stairs.

SCHWARZ Who in the world wrote so profoundly?

LULU (readinq) It was the money courier.

HENRIETTE (comes throuqh the entrance door, a hat box under her arm, and sets a small tray containing some letters on the table) The mail.--I'm going to take this hat to the milliner. Does Madame have anything else for me to do?

LULU Nothing.

SCHWARZ (motions for HENRIETTE to leave) HENRIETTE (smiles slyly as she exits)

SCHWARZ What did you dream about last night? LULU You've already asked me that twice today.

SCHWARZ (rises, takes the letters from the tray) I tremble at what the news could be. Every day I'm frightened that the world could end. (He returns to the chaise lonque and qives LULU a letter.) For you.

LULU (holds the envelope to her nose) From Corticelli. (She presses it to her breast.)

SCHWARZ (skimminq through another letter) My Samaqueca dancer sold--for fifty thousand Marks.

LULU Who wrote you?

SCHWARZ Sedelmeier in Paris. That's the third picture sold since our wedding. I barely know how to escape good fortune.

LULU (pointinq to the letters) There's still more to come.

SCHWARZ (opening an enqaqement announcement) Look at this! (hands it to LULU)

LULU (reading) Privy councillor Herr Heinrich Ritter of Zarnikow has the honor of announcing the engagement of his daughter, Charlotte Marie Adelaide, to the Honorable Doctor Ludwig SCHÖN.

SCHWARZ (opens another letter) Finally! It has taken an eternity for him to announce his engagement publicly. I can't believe it--a man of his authority and power. What could be standing in the way of his wedding!!

LULU What is that you're reading?

SCHWARZ An invitation to participate in an international exhibition in Petersburg--I haven't an inkling of what I should paint.

LULU Any enchanting young girl; naturally.

SCHWARZ Would you want to pose for it?

LULU God knows, there are other pretty girls.

SCHWARZ But I've looked at another model, and even if she's as sexy as hell, she can't inspire me.

LULU Then I guess I'll have to.--Couldn't I perhaps do it lying down?

SCHWARZ My love, I'd like to leave the actual pose up to your good taste. (The letters fall between them.) Still, we must not forget to congratulate SCHÖN today. (walks to the riqht and shuts the letters away inside the desk.)

LULU We did that long ago.

SCHWARZ In regard to his fiancee.

LULU You can just write him again.

SCHWARZ And now to work. (picks up the brush and palette, kisses LULU, walks left to the steps and turns around at the portiere) Eve?

LULU At your service. (putting down the book and smilinq)

SCHWARZ (walkinq toward her) Each day, I always see you as if it were for the first time.

LULU You're terrible.

SCHWARZ You’re to blame.

LULU (running her fingers through her hair) You're using me up.

SCHWARZ Because you’re mine. You're never more captivating as when--Heaven forbid!—You’ve been really hideous for a few hours! I’ve wanted nothing more, since I've had you. I'm completely lost in you.

LULU Don’t get so excited.

(Someone rinqs out in the corridor.)

SCHWARZ (cominq back to reality) Damn it!

LULU No one's home!

SCHWARZ Maybe it's the art dealer.

LULU And maybe it's the Emperor of China.

SCHWARZ Wait a moment. (exits)

LULU (rapturously)--You?--You?--(closes her eyes)

SCHWARZ (returninq) A beggar, who claims to have been in the war. I don't have any change with me. (takes up the brush and palette) It's high time I finally got down to business. (exits at left)

LULU (arranqes herself in front of the mirror, brushes her hair back and exits)

LULU (urges him to the chair on the riqht) How can you even think of begging from him?

SCHIGOLCH For that I specifically dragged my seventy-seven year old body over here. You told me he sticks to painting in the morning.

LULU He hasn't slept yet. How much do you need?

SCHIGOLCH Two hundred, if you're liquid; for my sake three hundred. Some of my clients have evaporated.

LULU (goes to the desk and rummages through the drawers) I'm tired.

SCHIGOLCH (looking around) Of course, this has excited me. For a long time, I wanted to see how you lived at home.

LULU So? Well?

SCHIGOLCH It's eerie. (looking up) It's how I lived fifty years ago. Instead of all these wall hangings, there was an old rusty sabre. Damn! You've done very well. (scrapinq with his foot) The carpets ...

LULU (handinq him two bank notes) I prefer to walk around barefoot.

SCHIGOLCH (examininq Lulu's portrait) This is you?

LULU (winking) Like it?

SCHIGOLCH If it's all the good stuff.

LULU Something sweet?

SCHIGOLCH What is it?

LULU (rising) Elixir de Spaa.

SCHIGOLCH It does nothing for me!--Does he drink?

LULU (removes a carafe and qlasses from the liquor cabinet beside the fireplace) Not really. (moves forward) This refreshment works differently for everyone!

SCHIGOLCH Does he become unruly?

LULU (fillinq two qlasses) He passes out.

SCHIGOLCH If he gets drunk, can you see through him?

LULU I'd rather not! (sittinq opposite SCHIGOLCH) So--tell me.

SCHIGOLCH The streets always seem to be getting longer and my legs always shorter.

LULU And your harmonica?

SCHIGOLCH It's out of tune, like me with my asthma. I always think that to have it repaired isn't worth the trouble.

(They touch qlasses.)

LULU (empties her qlass) I really thought, you were finally ...

SCHIGOLCH ... finally dead?--Even I would have thought that. But when the sun has first set, it doesn't allow one to rest. I hope for the winter. Then (couqhinq) my asthma discovers a way to disappear.

LULU (fillinq the qlasses) Do you think one could have forgotten you in the hereafter?

SCHIGOLCH It's entirely possible because people don't die in the order they're born. (strokes her knee) Now you tell me about yourself--having not seen you for ages--my little Lulu.

LULU (backing away and smilina) Life is so incomprehensible!

SCHIGOLCH What can you know? You're still so young.

LULU That you call me Lulu.

SCHIGOLCH Lulu, no? Back then did I ever call you anything else?

LULU Since the beginning of time I haven't been called Lulu.

SCHIGOLCH Is there another means of naming you?

LULU To me, Lulu sounds as though it uere invented before the Flood.

SCHIGOLCH Come now!

LULU Now I'm called ...

SCHIGOLCH As if the principle doesn't always remain the same!

LULU What do you mean?

SCHIGOLCH What are you called now?

LULU Eve.

SCHIGOLCH Six of one; a half dozen of the other. LULU But I respond to it.

SCHIGOLCH (lookinq around) This is what I dreamed of for you. You Were destined for this. What's this supposed to be?

LULU (sprinklinq.on some Derfume) Heliotrope.

SCHIGOLCH Does that smell better than you?

LULU That shouldn't interest you any longer.

SCHIGOLCH Who could have predicted this regal luxury?

LULU When I think back--Ugh!

SCHIGOLCH (strokina her knee) So what's been going on? Are you still practicing French?

LULU I lie around and sleep.

SCHIGOLCH That's fashionable. It always looks that way. What else?

LULU And stretch until I crack.

SCHIGOLCH And after you've cracked?

LULU Why does that interest you?

SCHIGOLCH Why does that interest me? Why does that interest me? I would rather live until the last trumpet sounds on Judgment Day and give up all the joys of heaven than allow my Lulu to be deprived on earth. Why does that interest me? That's my compassion showing. I'm already transfigured into a better person. But I still have an appreciation for this world.

LULU I don't.

SCHIGOLCH It's too easy for you.

LULU (shudderinq) Nonsense ...

SCHIGOLCH Easier than with the old fart?

LULU (sadly) I don't dance any more ...

SCHIGOLCH It was time for him to go.

LULU Now I am ... (hesitates)

SCHIGOLCH Go on, tell me from the heart, my child! I had trust in you when I couldn't see anything but your two big eyes. What are you now?

LULU An animal!

SCHIGOLCH That you are! And what an animal! A refined animal! An elegant animal! A magnificent animal!-- -- --Then I will let them bury me.--We're so ready to be prejudiced. Even against the woman who washes the corpse.

LULU You don't have to dread you'll get washed again!

SCHIGOLCH Means nothing to me. You always get dirty again.

LULU (sprinkles him) It might bring you back to life.

SCHIGOLCH We're only decay.

LULU Well, excuse me! I rub myself daily with horse grease and then put on powder.

SCHIGOLCH Obviously well worth it for the sake of your dandy.

LULU This makes the skin like satin.

SCHIGOLCH In spite of that it will still return to filth.

LULU Thank you. I want to be good enough to eat.

SCHIGOLCH We all do. Down there soon we're going to have a sumptuous dinner--Have open house.

LULU Your guests will hardly overeat.

SCHIGOLCH Patience, girl! Your admirers aren't going to preserve you in alcohol. That is, beautiful Melusine, as long it maintains its freshness. Afterward? They won't take it at the zoo. (standinq up) The friendly beasts would get stomach cramps.

LULU (also risinq) Have you had enough?

SCHIGOLCH There's enough remaining to plant a turpentine tree on my grave. I can let myself out. (exits)

LULU (escorts him out and returns with DR. SCHÖN)

LULU What’s the matter?

SCHÖN If I were your husband, that man would never get in the door.

LULU You don't have to worry; he isn’t here.

SCHÖN I thank you for the honor.

LULU I don't understand.

SCHÖN I can see that. (offers her the armchair) That's exactly why I would like very much to speak with you.

LULU (seatinq herself unsteadily) Why didn't you talk to me yesterday?

SCHÖN Please, now has nothing to do with yesterday. I spoke with you about this matter two years ago.

LULU (nervously) I see. Hmmm.

SCHÖN I implore you--your visits to me must cease.

LULU May I pour you a drink ...

SCHÖN Thank you. No drink. Have you understood me?

LULU (shakes her head) SCHÖN Good. You have a choice. You force me to this extreme measure--either you behave according to your current social position ...

LULU Or?

SCHÖN Or--you're forcing me--I would have to address myself to person responsible for you.

LULU What do you have in mind?

SCHÖN I'm going to plead with your husband to watch your every move.

LULU (rises and walks to the steps)

SCHÖN What are you going to do?

LULU (callinq throuqh the portiere) Walter!

Are you crazy? LULU (whirlinq around) Aha!

SCHÖN I have made a superhuman effort to elevate your place in society. You can be ten times prouder of your name than of your affair with me.

LULU (comes down the steps and places her arm around SCHÖN's neck) So what are you still afraid of, when you are nearing the goal of your desires?

SCHÖN Don't be funny! The goal of my desires? I am engaged, finally. I have my wish now, to live with my wife in a house free of scandal.

LULU (seatinq herself) She has bloomed into a charmer during these two years.

SCHÖN She is no longer so intense.

LULU She has just become a woman. We could still see each other whenever it seems appropriate.

SCHÖN We will never see each other, unless it would be In the company of your husband!

LULU You yourself don't believe what you're saying.

SCHÖN Then he'll have to believe me. Call him in here! Through his marriage to you, through all I did for him, he has become my friend.

LULU (rising) Mine, too.

SCHÖN Then I will cut down the sword over my head.

LULU You've really enslaved me. Yet I have you to thank for my happiness. You will gain a host of friends if you have a sweet young wife again.

SCHÖN You judge all women according to yourself! He has the disposition of a child. Otherwise he would have been onto your escapades long ago.

LULU I wish for nothing more! Then he would finally grow up. He insists that he has a marriage contract in his pocket. The effort has been overcome. Now I can let myself go as if I'm in my own home. He doesn't have a child's disposition. He is boring. He has no education. He sees nothing. He doesn't see me or himself. He is blind, blind, blind ...

SCHÖN (half to himself) Oh, when his eyes are opened!!

LULU Go ahead! Open his eyes! I am perishing. I neglect myself. He doesn't know the real me. What am I to him? He calls me his treasure or his little devil. He would tell any piano teacher the same thing. He raises no pretenses. Everything's fine with him. That's because in his entire life, he has never felt the need to socialize with women.

SCHÖN If this is true!

LULU He has admitted it quite openly.

SCHÖN Someone, who has painted any woman who came along in the last fourteen years.

LULU Women terrify him. He worries about his mental well-being.--He doesn't fear me!

SCHÖN God knows how many young girls would thank their lucky stars for your downfall!

LULU (imploring tenderly) Tempt him. You understand these things. Introduce him to the bad crowd. You have the connections. To him I'll always be nothing more than a body. I feel so embarrassed. He'll be prouder of me. He knows no differences. I use all my energy, day and night, to think of some way to arouse him. In my despair, I dance the can-can. He yawns and babbles something about obscenity.

SCHÖN Nonsense. He is still an artist.

LULU At least he thinks he is.

SCHÖN That's the main point! LULU As long as I pose as his model. He even thinks he is famous.

SCHÖN Even we have made him feel that way!

LULU He believes it all! He's as suspicious as a thief, and he allows himself to be lied to so brazenly that one loses all respect for him. When we became acquainted, I made him believe that I had never been in love ...

SCHÖN (falls into an easy chair)

LULU Otherwise he would have thought I was already a depraved creature!

SCHÖN --God knows you place exorbitant demands on your legitimate lovers!

LULU I don't make exorbitant demands. Often I still even dream of being with Goll!

SCHÖN Who by any means was not boring.

LULU He is here, as if he never went away. He always walks softly. He isn't angry with me; he is incredibly melancholy. And then he is fearful, as though he were present without the proper authority. Otherwise he feels quite comfortable with us. Only he can't get over the fact that I have since thrown a lot of money out the window.

SCHÖN You yearn for the whip again.

LULU Could be. I don't dance any more.

SCHÖN Tell him about it.

LULU That would be a waste of trouble!

SCHÖN Among a hundred women, there are ninety who control their men.

LULU He loves me.

SCHÖN That is certainly embarrassing.

LULU He loves me…

SCHÖN That is an irreconcilable problem.

LULU He doesn’t knows me, but he loves me! If he had anything close to an accurate perception of me, he would tie a stone to my neck and sink me in the deepest part of the ocean.

SCHÖN (risinq) We're coming to the end!

LULU As you wish.

SCHÖN I married you off. I married you off two times. You live in luxury. I have created a position in the world for your husband. If this isn't enough to satisfy you, and he is laughing up his sleeve about it, I don't indulge in any idealistic demands, but--leave me out of this!

LULU (firmly) If I belonged to one man in the whole world, I belong to you. Without you, I would be--I won't say where. You held me by the hand and led me, gave me food and clothes, since the day I tried to steal your watch. Do you think that can be forgotten? You sent me to school and taught me about life. Outside of you, who has given a damn about me? I have danced and posed and was happy that I was able to earn a living. But I can't turn love on and off on command!!

SCHÖN (raisinq his voice) Leave me out of this! Do whatever you want. I didn't come here to create a scandal; I came here to prevent one. I have sacrificed enough for this association. I presumed that with a healthy young man, such as a lady of your age would desire, you would finally be contented. If you feel obligated to me, please don't throw yourself in my path for a third time! Should I wait still longer until I can have safety? Should I risk that the whole outcome of my concessions of the last two years will go down the toilet again? How does your being married help me, if you are seen going in and out of my house every hour of the day? Why in the devil didn't Dr. Goll stay alive for at least a year! You were in his care. By then I would have been married a long time!

LULU Then what would you have? The child gets on your nerves. That child is too unspoiled for you. The child was educated too conservatively. What should I have against your marriage! But you deceive yourself again and again, if you think your impending marriage allows you to give vent to your contempt.

SCHÖN Contempt?!--I will make her into a proper lady. If there is something worthy of contempt, it's your scheming and plotting!

LULU (smiling) You think I'm jealous of the child? That's not at all what I was thinking ...

SCHgN So why is it "this child"? She's not quite a year younger than you. Give me my freedom to live, while I still have life. It doesn't matter how the child is educated; she has five senses just like you ...

SCHWARZ (brush in hand, enters from the portiere on the left) What's going on?

LULU (to SCHÖN) Well, speak up.

SCHWARZ What is going on with you two?

LULU Nothing that concerns you ...

SCHÖN (quickly, under his breath) Shut up!

LULU You're sick of me.

SCHWARZ (ushers LULU off to the left)

SCHÖN (turning the pages of a book that was lying on the desk) This discussion had to take place.-- --At last, I must have my hands free.

SCHWARZ (returning) Is this some sort of joke?

SCHÖN (oointing to the armchair) Please.

SCHWARZ What is this about?

SCHÖN Sit, please.

SCHWARZ (sitting down) Well?

SCHÖN (also seating himself) You have married a half a million.

SCHWARZ Is there any left?

SCHÖN Not a penny.

SCHWARZ Tell me about this curious argument.

SCHÖN You married a half a million ...

SCHWARZ I haven't committed a crime by doing that.

SCHÖN You made a name for yourself. You can work undisturbed. You don't need to deny yourself anything.

SCHWARZ Then what do both of you have against me?

SCHÖN For the last six months you have feasted in Paradise. You have a wife whose virtues the world envies you and who deserves a man she can respect ...

SCHWARZ Doesn't she respect me?

SCHÖN No.

SCHWARZ (anxious) I rose from the gloomy depths of society. She was already at the top. I have no more burning desire than to become her equal. (offering his hand to SCHÖN) I thank you.

SCHÖN (half-embarrassed, grasps his hand) Yes, yes.

SCHWARZ (firmly) Continue!

SCHÖN Keep her under better supervision.

SCHWARZ I?---Her?

SCHÖN We're not children! This isn't dilly-dallying; this is life.--She needs to be taken seriously. Her worth gives her the right to that.

SCHWARZ Then what is she doing? SCHÖN You married a half a million.

SCHWARZ (rises, to himself) She…

SCHÖN (takes him by the shoulder) No, that isn't the way! (urqinq SCHWARZ to sit down aqain) We must be extremely honest with each other.

SCHWARZ What is she doing?

SCHÖN First, calculate what you have to thank her for, and then ...

SCHWARZ What is she doing--Christ!!

SCHÖN Then make yourself responsible for your own mistakes and not somebody else.

SCHWARZ Somebody? Who is this somebody?

SCHÖN If we are supposed to fight a duel ...

SCHWARZ Since when has this been going on?!

SCHÖN (dodqinq his question) I didn't come here to create a scandal; I came here to escape one.

SCHWARZ (shakinq his head) You have misunderstood her.

SCHÖN (embarrassed) That doesn't satisfy me. I cannot see how you can survive in your blindness. The girl deserves to become a respectable wife. Since I have known her, she has developed to the best of her abilities.

SCHWARZ Since you met her?--Exactly when did you meet her?

SCHÖN When she was about twelve years old.

SCHWARZ (bewildered) She has never told me of this.

SCHÖN She sold flowers in front of the Alhambra Cafe. She strolled among the guests every night between twelve and two.

SCHWARZ She has never mentioned this.

SCHÖN Then she did the right thing. I'm telling you this so you can see that you're not involved with a moral degenerate. On the contrary, the girl is extraordinarily talented.

SCHWARZ She said she had been raised by an aunt.

SCHÖN That was a woman, to whom I gave her. She was the best pupil. The mothers set her forth as an example for their own children. She possesses a great sense of duty. It is purely your oversight if you have neglected until now to take an interest in her best sides.

SCHWARZ (sobbinq) 0 God ...!

SCHÖN (with emphasis) Not "0 God!" Nothing can alter the happiness you've tasted. What's done is done. Against your better judgment you overestimate yourself if you convince yourself to lose. It's important to win. Nothing is won by crying, "0 God!" I've never given you greater proof of my friendship. I speak frankly and offer you my help. Prove to me you're not unworthy of this!

SCHWARZ (at the breakinq point) Ever since I have known her, she told me that she has still never loved anyone.

SCHÖN If a widow says that! It reflects upon her reputation that she chose you of all men. Set the same standards for yourself and your success is assured.

SCHWARZ He allowed her to wear short dresses.

SCHÖN Yet he still married her!--That was her stroke of genius. How she changed the man is a mystery to me. But you must really know it by now. You're reaping the fruits of her diplomacy.

SCHWARZ Where did she come to know Dr. Goll?

SCHÖN Through me!--It was after the death of my wife, when I first met my present fiancee. She put herself between us. She had gotten it into her head to become my wife.

SCHWARZ (as thouqh he has a terrible vision) And when her husband then died?

SCHÖN --You married a half a million!

SCHWARZ (shamefully) Why didn't I stay where I was? Why didn't I die hungry?

SCHÖN (with care) Do you believe I am making no concessions? Who doesn't make concessions? You married a half a million. Today you are one of the top artists. That doesn't happen without money. You are not the one who should sit in judgment about her. With the upbringing Mignon had, you can't possibly reckon with the concepts of bourgeois society.

SCHWARZ (quite confused) Of whom are you speaking?

SCHÖN I'm talking about her father. You're an artist, as I said. Your ideals lie in other areas beyond those of a common laborer.

SCHWARZ Nevertheless, I don't understand any of this.

SCHÖN I'm talking about the degrading human situations from which the girl has had to liberate herself, thanks to her conduct, to what she is now!

SCHÖN Who is it?--Your wife.

SCHWARZ Eve?

SCHÖN I called her Mignon.

SCHWARZ I thought she was named Nelli .

SCHÖN That was what Dr. Goll called her.

SCHWARZ I called her Eve ...

SCHÖN I don't know what her real name is.

SCHWARZ (absentmindedly) Maybe she knows.

SCHÖN With a father like hers, she's really a miracle in spite of her faults. I don't understand you ...

SCHWARZ Didn't he die in an asylum?

SCHÖN He was just here!

SCHWARZ Who was here?

SCHÖN Her father.

SCHWARZ Here?--In my home?

SCHÖN He was sneaking away as I arrived. Look, there's the glass he was drinking from.

SCHWARZ She said that he died in the nuthouse.

SCHÖN (reassurinq) Let her feel your authority! She requires nothing more than to be made to show absolute obedience. With Dr. Goll she was in heaven, and with him there was no joking around.

SCHWARZ (shakinq his head) She said she never loved anyone ...

SCHÖN But make a new beginning. Put it back together.

SCHWARZ She swore!

SCHÖN You can't demand a sense of duty, if beforehand you don't know your own obligations.

SCHWARZ On the grave of her mother!

SCHÖN She never knew her mother much less the grave.--Her mother has no grave.

SCHWARZ (despondentlY) I don't fit in with society.

SCHÖN What's bothering you?

SCHWARZ A ghastly pain.

SCHÖN (stands up and walks away--then, after a pause) She's your wife; watch over her.--This is the decisive moment. By tomorrow you could lose her.

SCHWARZ (puttinq a nalm to his chest) Here,here.

SCHÖN You married a half ... (thinkinq to himself) You will lose her if you close your eyes for a split second!

SCHWARZ If I could weep!--Oh, if I could scream!

SCHÖN (puttinq his hand on SCHWARZ's shoulder) Poor man!

SCHWARZ (reqaininq his composure) You're right; quite right.

SCHÖN (qraspinq SCHWARZ's hand) So what will you do?

SCHWARZ Talk with her.

SCHÖN A good start. (escorts him to the door on the right)

(Terrifyinq qroans come from the riqht off staqe.)

-- SCHÖN (rushes to the door, turns the knob and discovers it is locked) Open up! Open the door!

LULU (enterinq from the portiere) What's wrong ...

SCHÖN Open this door!

LULU (comes down the steps) This is horrible.

SCHÖN Is there a hatchet in the kitchen?

LULU He'll open the door now ...

SCHÖN I don't want to kick it in.

LULU When he stops crying.

SCHÖN (poundinq on the door) Open up! me a hatchet.

LULU Send for a doctor ...

SCHÖN You're mad!

LULU You deserve this.

(Someone rings in the corridor. SCHÖN and LULU stare at each other.)

SCHÖN (creeps toward the back, and remains standinq in the doorway) I can't allow myself to be seen here now.

LULU It may be the art dealer.

(More rinqinq)

SCHÖN But if we don't answer.

LULU (sneaks toward the door)

SCHÖN (holdinq her back) Wait. People don't always answer promptly. (exits on tiptoe)

LULU (qoes up to the locked door and listens)

ALWA (very excited) Revolution has broken out in Paris.

SCHÖN Calm down.

ALWA (to LULU) You look deathly white.

SCHÖN (returninq to the locked door) Walter!--Walter! (A death rattle can be heard.)

LULU God have mercy on you ...

SCHÖN Don't you have a hatchet?

LULU If there is one ... (hesitates, then exits at the riqht ~) ALWA Walter mystifies us.

SCHÖN Revolution has broken out in Paris?

ALWA They're beating their heads against the wall down in the editor's office. No one knows what he's supposed to write.

(More rinqinq from the corridor.)

SCHÖN (poundinq on the door aqain) Walter!

ALWA Should I break it down?

SCHÖN I could do that. Who could that possibly be? (standinq erect) He enjoys life and leaves it to others to be responsible!

LULU (returning with a small kitchen axe) Henriette has come home.

SCHÖN Bolt the door behind you.

ALWA Give me the axe. (takes the axe and beqins to chop between the door iamb and the lock)

SCHÖN You have to grasp it more forcefully.

ALWA It's cracking. (The door sprinqs open. He drops the axe and staqgers back.--Pause.)

LULU (to SCHÖN, as she points toward the door) After you.

SCHÖN (yields back)

LULU Are you getting ... dizzy?

SCHÖN (wipes the perspiration from his brow and enters)

ALWA (from the chaise longue) How ghastly!

LULU (stops in the doorway, a knuckle in her mouth, screaming out) Oh!--Oh! (rushes to ALWA) I can't stay here.

ALWA Awful!

LULU (takes him by the hand) Come. ALWA To where?

LULU I don't want to be alone. (exits at left with ALWA)

SCHÖN (returns from the riqht, holdinq a rinq of keys. There is blood on his hand. He closes the door behind him, goes to the desk, unlocks it and begins to write a few notes.)

ALWA (enters from the left) She's changing .

SCHÖN She's gone?

ALWA To her room. She's changing.

SCHÖN (rinqs for the maid)

HENRIETTE (enters)

SCHÖN You know where Doctor Bernstein lives.

HENRIETTE Certainly, Herr Doctor. He's practically next door.

SCHÖN (handinq her a note) Take this to him now.

HENRIETTE What if he isn't at home?

SCHÖN He's home. (handing her the other note) And take this one to the police station. Take a carriage.

HENRIETTE (exits)

SCHÖN I've been Judged by God. ALWA That makes my blood run cold. SCHÖN (moving to the right) The fool! ALWA Was he beginning to suspect? SCHÖN He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to suspect.

LULU (standinq on the steps at left in a smock and peaked hat)

ALWA Where are you going now?

LULU Out. I can see it on all the walls.

SCHÖN Where are hlS papers?

LULU In the desk.

SCHÖN (at the desk) Where?

LULU The bottom right. (kneels down before the desk, opens a drawer and empties the papers onto the qround) Here. He wasn't very private; he had no secrets.

SCHÖN Now I can withdraw from the world.

LULU (kneelinq) You must write an article about him. Call him Michelangelo .

SCHÖN What good will that do?--(pointinq to the right) There lies my engagement.

ALWA That's the curse of your affairs!

SCHÖN Go scream it in the streets!

ALWA (pointinq at LULU) When my mother died, if you had behaved toward the girl, it would have been right and proper.

SCHÖN (motioninq to the riqht) There dies, my engagement.

LULU (rises from the floor) I'm not staying any longer.

SCHÖN In an hour the "Extra" edition will be on sale. I can't risk being seen in the streets.

LULU It's not your fault.

SCHÖN That's just it! They will stone me first!

ALWA You have to go away.

SCHÖN To let the scandal run its course.

LULU (on the chaise longue) Ten minutes ago he was lying here.

SCHÖN That's the reward I get for what I did for him! In one single second my whole life has been dashed to ruin!

ALWA Calm yourself, father!

LULU (from the chaise longue) It's all between us.

ALWA Indeed!

SCHÖN What are you going to tell the police?

LULU Nothing.

ALWA He didn't want to remain bound to his fate.

LULU He always had thoughts of murder.

SCHÖN He had what a man can only dream about!

LULU He paid dearly for it.

ALWA He had what we don't have!

SCHÖN (suddenly raging) I see through you! I have no reason to show you any consideration! If you're setting everything in motion so as not to have brothers or sisters, such a thing is more of a reason for me to bring up other children.

ALWA You're a bad judge of character.

LULU Do bring out a special edition.

SCHÖN (with rising indignation) He had no moral conscience! (suddenly regaining his composure) Paris? Revolution?

ALWA Our editors were taken by surprise. Everyone froze

. SCHÖN This has to help me over it!-- --If only the police would come The minutes aren't being paid for with gold.

(A ringing from the corridor)

ALWA They're here ..

SCHÖN (starts for the door)

LULU (jumps up) Wait! You have blood on you.

SCHÖN Where?

LULU Wait, I'll wipe it away. (She sprays some Heliotrope on a handkerchief and wipes the blood from SCHÖN's hand.)

SCHÖN It's your husband's blood.

LULU It left no stain.

SCHÖN Monster!

LULU You will marry me yet.

(More rinqing)

LULU Have patience, children.

SCHÖN (exits at riqht)

SCHÖN Did you run all the way?

ESCHERICH All the way--from the--police station. I hear it's a suicide.

SCHÖN (readinq) Fritz Escherich. Correspondent for the Daily News Digest.--Come.

ESCHERICH Just a moment. (takes out a small notebook and pencil, looks around the salon, scribbles some words, bows to LULU, writes, turns toward the broken door, writes) A kitchen axe ... (starts to pick it up)

SCHÖN (stops him) Please.

ESCHERICH (writing) Door broken with a kitchen axe. (examines the lock)

SCHÖN (with his hand on the door) See for yourself, my friend.

ESCHERICH If you would be so kind as to open the door.

SCHÖN (opens the door.)

ESCHERICH (drops his notebook and pencil, runs his finqers through his hair) Good heavens! ...

SCHÖN Look at everything closely!

ESCHERICH I can't look!

SCHÖN (snarlinq at ESCHERICH) If you didn't want to look, why did you bother to come?

ESCHERICH He took a ... ra-ra-razor and ... cu-cut his ... throat ...

SCHÖN Seen enough?

ESCHERICH What a feeling that must be?

SCHÖN (closes the door and helps ESCHERICH to the desk) Sit down.

Here is a paper and pen. Now write ... ESCHERICH (movinq mechanically to take his seat) I can't write ...

SCHÖN (pullinq up a chair behind him) Write, I say! He suffered from persecution mania ...

ESCHERICH (writing) Per-se-cu-tion ...

(Rinqinq from the corridor)