Part 8
SCHÖN--I don’t think you ought to judge the whole craft from nothing more than one notable exception.
SCHWARZ--[_Stepping back from the easel._] However, I rather wish I had had to hire a different studio last fall.
SCHÖN--[_To_ GOLL.] What I wanted to ask you--have you seen the little Murphy girl yet as a Peruvian pearl-fisher?
DR. GOLL--I see her to-morrow for the fourth time. Prince Polossov took me. His hair has already got dark yellow again with delight.
SCHÖN--So you find her quite fabulous, too.
DR. GOLL--Who ever wants to judge of that beforehand?
LULU--I think someone knocked.
SCHWARZ--Pardon me a moment. [_Goes and opens the door._]
DR. GOLL--[_To_ LULU.] You can safely smile at him less bashfully!
SCHÖN--To him it means nothing at all.
DR. GOLL--And if it did!--What are we two sitting here for?
ALVA SCHÖN--[_Entering, still behind the Spanish screen._] May one come in?
SCHÖN--My son!
LULU--Oh! It’s Mr. Alva!
DR. GOLL--Don’t mind. Just come along in.
ALVA--[_Stepping forward, shakes hands with_ SCHÖN _and_ GOLL.] Glad to see you. [_Turning toward_ LULU.] Do I see aright? Oh, if only I could engage you for my title part!
LULU--I don’t think I could dance nearly well enough for your show!
ALVA--Ah, but you have a dancing-master whose like cannot be found on any stage in Europe.
SCHÖN--But what brings you here?
DR. GOLL--Maybe you’re having somebody or other painted here, too, in secret!
ALVA--[_To_ SCHÖN.] I wanted to take you to the dress rehearsal.
DR. GOLL--[_As_ SCHÖN _rises_.] Oho, do you have ’em dance to-day in full costume already?
ALVA--Of course. Come along, too. In five minutes I must be on the stage. [_To_ LULU.] Poor me!
DR. GOLL--I’ve forgotten--what’s the name of your ballet?
ALVA--Dalailama.
DR. GOLL--I thought =he= was in a madhouse.
SCHÖN--You’re thinking of Nietzsche, Doctor.
DR. GOLL--You’re right; I got ’em mixed up.
ALVA--I have helped Buddhism to its legs.
DR. GOLL--By his legs is the stage-poet known.
ALVA--Corticelli dances the youthful Buddha as tho she had seen the light of the world by the Ganges.
SCHÖN--So long as her mother lived, she danced with her legs.
ALVA--Then when she got free she danced with her intelligence.
DR. GOLL--Now she dances with her heart.
ALVA--If you’d like to see her----
DR. GOLL--Thank you.
ALVA--Come along with us!
DR. GOLL--Impossible.
SCHÖN--Anyway, we have no time to lose.
ALVA--Come with us, Doctor. In the third act you see Dalailama in his cloister, with his monks----
DR. GOLL--The only thing I care about is the young Buddha.
ALVA--Well, what’s hindering you?
DR. GOLL--I can’t. I can’t do it.
ALVA--We’re going to Peter’s, after it. There you can express your admiration.
DR. GOLL--Don’t press me any further, please.
ALVA--You’ll see the tame monkey, the two Brahmans, the little girls....
DR. GOLL--For heaven’s sake, keep away from me with your little girls!
LULU--Reserve us a proscenium box for Monday, Mr. Alva.
ALVA--How could you doubt that I would, dear lady!
DR. GOLL--When I come back this Hellebreugel will have messed up the whole picture on me.
ALVA--Well, it could be painted over.
DR. GOLL--If I don’t explain to this Caravacci every stroke of his brush----
SCHÖN--Your fears are unfounded, I think....
DR. GOLL--Next time, gentlemen!
ALVA--The Brahmans are getting impatient. The daughters of Nirvana are shivering in their tights.
DR. GOLL--Damned splotchiness!
SCHÖN--We’ll get jumped on if we don’t bring you with us.
DR. GOLL--In five minutes I’ll be back. [_Stands down right, behind_ SCHWARZ _and compares the picture with_ LULU.]
ALVA--[_To_ LULU, _regretfully_.] Duty calls me, gracious lady!
DR. GOLL--[_To_ SCHWARZ.] You must model it a bit more here. The hair is bad. You aren’t paying enough attention to your business!
ALVA--Come on.
DR. GOLL--Now, just hop it! Ten horses will not drag me to Peter’s.
SCHÖN--[_Following_ ALVA _and_ GOLL.] We’ll take my carriage. It’s waiting downstairs. [_Exeunt._]
SCHWARZ--[_Leans over to the right, and spits._] Pack!--If only life could end!--The bread-basket!--paunch and mug!--my artist’s pride has got its back up. [_After a look at_ LULU.] This company!--[_Gets up, goes up left, observes_ LULU _from all sides, and sits again at his easel_.] The choice would be a hard one to make. If I may request Mrs. Goll to raise the right hand a little higher.
LULU--[_Grasps the crook as high as she can reach; to herself._] Who would have thought that was possible!
SCHWARZ--I am quite ridiculous, you think?
LULU--He’s coming right back.
SCHWARZ--I can do no more than paint.
LULU--There he is!
SCHWARZ--[_Rising._] Well?
LULU--Don’t you hear?
SCHWARZ--Someone is coming....
LULU--I knew it.
SCHWARZ--It’s the janitor. He’s sweeping the stairs.
LULU--Thank Heaven!
SCHWARZ--Do you perhaps accompany the doctor to his patients?
LULU--Everything =but= that.
SCHWARZ--Because, you are not accustomed to being alone.
LULU--We have a housekeeper at home.
SCHWARZ--She keeps you company?
LULU--She has a lot of taste.
SCHWARZ--What for?
LULU--She dresses me.
SCHWARZ--Do you go much to balls?
LULU--Never.
SCHWARZ--Then what do you need the dresses for?
LULU--For dancing.
SCHWARZ--You really dance?
LULU--Czardas ... Samaqueca ... Skirt-dance.
SCHWARZ--Doesn’t--that--disgust you?
LULU--You find me ugly?
SCHWARZ--You don’t understand me. But who gives you lessons then?
LULU--Him.
SCHWARZ--Who?
LULU--Him.
SCHWARZ--He?
LULU--He plays the violin----
SCHWARZ--Every day one learns something new.
LULU--I learned in Paris. I took lessons from Eugénie Fougère. She let me copy her costumes, too.
SCHWARZ--What are =they= like?
LULU--A little green lace skirt to the knee, all in ruffles, low-necked, of course, very low-necked and awfully tight-laced. Bright green petticoat, then brighter and brighter. Snow-white underclothes with a hand’s-breadth of lace....
SCHWARZ--I can no longer----
LULU--Then paint!
SCHWARZ--[_Scraping the canvas._] Aren’t you cold at all?
LULU--God forbid! No. What made you ask? Are you so cold?
SCHWARZ--Not to-day. No.
LULU--Praise God, one can breathe!
SCHWARZ--How so?... [LULU _takes a deep breath_.] Don’t do that, please! [_Springs up, throws away his palette and brushes, walks up and down._] The bootblack has only her feet to attend to, at least! And his color doesn’t eat into his money, either. If I go without supper to-morrow, no little society lady will be asking me if I know anything about oyster-patties!
LULU--Is he going out of his head?
SCHWARZ--[_Takes up his work again._] What ever drove the fellow to this test?
LULU--I’d like it better, too, if he had stayed here.
SCHWARZ--We are truly the martyrs of our calling!
LULU--I didn’t wish to cause you pain.
SCHWARZ--[_Hesitating, to_ LULU.] If you--the left trouser-leg--a little higher----
LULU--Here?
SCHWARZ--[_Steps to the platform._] Permit me....
LULU--What do you want?
SCHWARZ--I’ll show you.
LULU--You mustn’t.
SCHWARZ--You are nervous.... [_Tries to seize her hand._]
LULU--[_Throws the crook in his face._] Let me alone! [_Hurries to the entrance door._] You’re a long way yet from getting me.
SCHWARZ--You can’t understand a joke.
LULU--Oh, yes, I can. I understand everything. Just you leave me be. You’ll get nothing at all from me by force. Go to your work. You have no right to molest me. [_Flees behind the ottoman._] Sit down behind your easel!
SCHWARZ--[_Trying to get around the ottoman._] As soon as I’ve punished you--you wayward, capricious----
LULU--But you must have me, first! Go away. You can’t catch me. In long clothes I’d have fallen into your clutches long ago--but in the Pierrot!
SCHWARZ--[_Throwing himself across the ottoman._] I’ve got you!
LULU--[_Hurls the tiger-skin over his head._] Good night! [_Jumps over the platform and climbs up the step-ladder._] I can see away over all the cities of the earth.
SCHWARZ--[_Unrolling himself from the rug._] This old skin!
LULU--I reach up into heaven, and stick the stars in my hair.
SCHWARZ--[_Clambering after her._] I’ll shake it till you fall off!
LULU--If you don’t stop, I’ll throw the ladder down. [_Climbing higher._] Will you let go of my legs? God save the Poles! [_Makes the ladder fall over, jumps onto the platform, and as_ SCHWARZ _picks himself up from the floor, throws the Spanish screen down on his head. Hastening down-stage, by the easels._] I told you that you weren’t going to get me.
SCHWARZ--[_Coming forward._] Let us make peace. [_Tries to embrace her._]
LULU--Keep away from me, or---- [_She throws the easel with the finished picture at him, so that both fall crashing to the floor._]
SCHWARZ--[_Screams._] Merciful Heaven!
LULU--[_Up-stage, right._] You knocked the hole in it yourself!
SCHWARZ--I am ruined! Ten weeks’ work, my journey, my exhibition! Now there is nothing more to lose! [_Plunges after her._]
LULU--[_Springs over the ottoman, over the fallen step-ladder, and over the platform, down-stage._] A grave! Don’t fall into it! [_She stamps thru the picture on the floor._] She made a new man out of him! [_Falls forward._]
SCHWARZ--[_Stumbling over the Spanish screen._] I am merciless now!
LULU--[_Up-stage._] Leave me in peace now. I’m getting dizzy. O Gott! O Gott!... [_Comes forward and sinks down on the ottoman._ SCHWARZ _locks the door; then seats himself next to her, grasps her hand, and covers it with kisses--then pauses, struggling with himself._ LULU _opens her eyes wide_.]
LULU--He may come back.
SCHWARZ--How d’you feel?
LULU--As if I had fallen into the water....
SCHWARZ--I love you.
LULU--One time, I loved a student.
SCHWARZ--Nellie----
LULU--With four-and-twenty scars----
SCHWARZ--I love you, Nellie.
LULU--My name isn’t Nellie. [SCHWARZ _kisses her_.] It’s Lulu.
SCHWARZ--I would call you Eve.
LULU--Do you know what time it is?
SCHWARZ--[_Looking at his watch._] Half past ten. [LULU _takes the watch and opens the case_.] You don’t love me.
LULU--Yes, I do.... It’s five minutes after half past ten.
SCHWARZ--Give me a kiss, Eve!
LULU--[_Takes him by the chin and kisses him. Throws the watch in the air and catches it._] You smell of tobacco.
SCHWARZ--Call me Walter.
LULU--It would be uncomfortable to----
SCHWARZ--You’re just making believe!
LULU--You’re making believe yourself, it seems to me. _I_ make believe? What makes you think that? I’ve =never needed to do that=.
SCHWARZ--[_Rises, disconcerted, passing his hand over his forehead._] God in Heaven! The world is strange to me----
LULU--[_Screams._] Only don’t kill me!
SCHWARZ--[_Instantly whirling round._] =Thou hast never yet loved!=
LULU--[_Half raising herself._] =You have never yet loved=...!
DR. GOLL--[_Outside._] Open the door!
LULU--[_Already sprung to her feet._] Hide me! O God, hide me!
DR. GOLL--[_Pounding on the door._] Open the door!
LULU--[_Holding back_ SCHWARZ _as he goes toward the door_.] He will strike me dead!
DR. GOLL--[_Hammering._] Open the door!
LULU--[_Sunk down before_ SCHWARZ, _gripping his knees._] He’ll beat me to death! He’ll beat me to death!
SCHWARZ--Stand up.... [_The door falls crashing into the studio._ DR. GOLL _with bloodshot eyes rushes upon_ SCHWARZ _and_ LULU, _brandishing his stick_.]
DR. GOLL--You dogs! You.... [_Pants, struggles for breath a few seconds, and falls headlong to the ground._ SCHWARZ’S _knees tremble_. LULU _has fled to the door. Pause._]
SCHWARZ--Mister--Doctor--Doc--Doctor Goll----
LULU--[_In the door._] Please, tho, first put the studio in order.
SCHWARZ--Dr. Goll! [_Leans over._] Doc--[_Steps back._] He’s cut his forehead. Help me to lay him on the ottoman.
LULU--[_Shudders backward in terror._] No. No....
SCHWARZ--[_Trying to turn him over._] Dr. Goll.
LULU--He doesn’t hear.
SCHWARZ--But you, help me, please.
LULU--The two of us together couldn’t lift him.
SCHWARZ--[_Straightening up._] We must send for a doctor.
LULU--He is fearfully heavy.
SCHWARZ--[_Getting his hat._] Please, tho, be so good as to put the place a little to rights while I’m away. [_He goes out._]
LULU--He’ll spring up all at once. [_Intensely._] Bussi!--He just won’t notice anything. [_Comes down-stage in a wide circle._] He sees my feet, and watches every step I take. He has his eye on me everywhere. [_Touches him with her toe._] Bussi! [_Flinching, backward._] It’s serious with him. The dance is over. He’ll send me to prison. What shall I do? [_Leans down to the floor._] A strange, wild face! [_Getting up._] And no one to do him the last services--isn’t that sad! [SCHWARZ _returns_.]
SCHWARZ--Still not come to himself?
LULU--[_Down right._] What shall I do?
SCHWARZ--[_Bending over_ GOLL.] Doctor Goll.
LULU--I almost think it’s serious.
SCHWARZ--Talk decently!
LULU--He wouldn’t say that to me. He makes me dance for him when he doesn’t feel well.
SCHWARZ--The doctor will be here in a moment.
LULU--Doctoring won’t help =him=.
SCHWARZ--But people do what they can, in such cases!
LULU--He doesn’t believe in it.
SCHWARZ--Don’t you want to--at any rate--put something on?
LULU--Yes,--right off.
SCHWARZ--What are you waiting for?
LULU--Please....
SCHWARZ--What is it?
LULU--Shut =his= eyes.
SCHWARZ--You make me shiver.
LULU--Not nearly so much as you make =me=!
SCHWARZ--I?
LULU--You’re a born criminal.
SCHWARZ--Aren’t you the least bit touched by this moment?
LULU--It hits me, too, some.
SCHWARZ--Please, just you keep still now!
LULU--It hits you some, too.
SCHWARZ--You really didn’t need to add that, at such a moment!
LULU--=Please=...!
SCHWARZ--Do what you think necessary. I don’t know how.
LULU--[_Left of_ GOLL.] He’s looking at me.
SCHWARZ--[_Right of_ GOLL.] And at me, too.
LULU--You’re a coward!
SCHWARZ--[_Shuts_ GOLL’S _eyes with his handkerchief_.] It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever been condemned to that.
LULU--Didn’t you do it to your mother?
SCHWARZ--[Nervously.] No.
LULU--You were away, perhaps.
SCHWARZ--No!
LULU--Or else you were afraid?
SCHWARZ--[_Violently._] No!
LULU--[_Shivering, backward._] I didn’t mean to insult you.
SCHWARZ--She’s still alive.
LULU--Then you still have somebody.
SCHWARZ--She’s as poor as a beggar.
LULU--I know what that is.
SCHWARZ--Don’t laugh at me!
LULU--Now I am rich----
SCHWARZ--It gives me cold shudders---- [_Goes right._] She can’t help it!
LULU--[_To herself._] What’ll I do?
SCHWARZ--[_To himself._] Absolutely uncivilized! [_They look at each other mistrustfully._ SCHWARZ _goes over to her and grips her hand_.] Look me in the eyes!
LULU--[_Apprehensively._] What do you want?
SCHWARZ--[_Takes her to the ottoman and makes her sit next to him._] Look me in the eyes.
LULU--I see myself in them as Pierrot.
SCHWARZ--[_Shoves her from him._] Confounded dancer-ing!
LULU--I must change my clothes----
SCHWARZ--[_Holds her back._] One question----
LULU--I can’t answer it.
SCHWARZ--Can you speak the truth?
LULU--I don’t know.
SCHWARZ--Do you believe in a Creator?
LULU--I don’t know.
SCHWARZ--Can you swear by anything?
LULU--I don’t know. Leave me alone. You’re mad.
SCHWARZ--What do you believe in, then?
LULU--I don’t know.
SCHWARZ--Have you no soul, then?
LULU--I don’t know.
SCHWARZ--Have you ever once loved----?
LULU--I don’t know.
SCHWARZ--[_Gets up, goes right, to himself._] She doesn’t know!
LULU--[_Without moving._] I don’t know.
SCHWARZ--[_Glancing at_ GOLL.] He knows.
LULU--[_Nearer him._] What do you want to know?
SCHWARZ--[_Angrily._] Go, get dressed! [LULU _goes into the bedroom_. _To_ GOLL.] Would I could change with you, you dead man! I give her back to you. I give my youth to you, too. I lack the courage and the faith. I’ve had to wait patiently too long. It’s too late for me. I haven’t grown up big enough for happiness. I have a hellish fear of it. Wake up! I didn’t touch her. He opens his mouth. Mouth open and eyes shut, like the children. With me it’s the other way round. Wake up, wake up! [_Kneels down and binds his handkerchief round the dead man’s head._] Here I beseech Heaven to make me =able= to be happy--to give me the strength and the freedom of soul to be just a weeny mite happy! For =her= sake, =only for her sake=. [LULU _comes out of the bedroom, completely dressed, her hat on, and her right hand under her left arm_.]
LULU--[_Raising her left arm, to_ SCHWARZ.] Would you hook me up here? My hand trembles.
CURTAIN
ACT II
SCENE--_A very ornamental parlor. Entrance-door rear, left. Curtained entrances right and left, steps leading up to the right one. On the back wall over the fireplace_, LULU’S _Pierrot picture in a magnificent frame. Right, above the steps, a tall mirror; facing it, right centre, a chaise longue. Left, an ebony writing-table. Centre, a few chairs around a little Chinese table._
LULU _stands motionless before the mirror, in a green silk morning-dress. She frowns, passes a hand over her forehead, feels her cheeks, and draws back from the mirror with a discouraged, almost angry, look. Frequently turning round, she goes left, opens a cigarette-case on the writing-table, lights herself a cigarette, looks for a book among those that are lying on the table, takes one, and lies down on the chaise longue opposite the mirror. After reading a moment, she lets the book sink, and nods seriously to herself in the glass; then resumes reading._ SCHWARZ _enters, left, palette and brushes in hand, and bends over_ LULU, _kisses her on the forehead, and goes up the steps, right_.
SCHWARZ--[_Turning in the doorway._] Eve!
LULU--[_Smiling._] At your orders?
SCHWARZ--Seems to me you look extra charming to-day.
LULU--[_With a glance at the mirror._] Depends on what you expect.
SCHWARZ--Your hair breathes out a morning freshness....
LULU--I’ve just come out of the water.
SCHWARZ--[_Approaching her._] I’ve an awful lot to do to-day.
LULU--You tell yourself you have.
SCHWARZ--[_Lays his palette and brushes down on the carpet, and sits on the edge of the couch._] What are you reading?
LULU--[_Reads._] “Suddenly she heard an anchor of refuge come nodding up the stairs.”
SCHWARZ--Who under the sun writes so absorbingly?
LULU--[_Reading._] “It was the postman with a money-order.” [HENRIETTE, _the servant, comes in, upper left, with a hat-box on her arm and a little tray of letters which she puts on the table_.]
HENRIETTE--The mail. I’m going to take your hat to the milliner, madam. Anything else?
LULU--No. [SCHWARZ _signs to her to go out, which she does, slyly smiling_.]
SCHWARZ--What were all the things you dreamt about last night?
LULU--You’ve asked me that twice already this morning.
SCHWARZ--[_Rises, takes up the letters._] News makes me tremble. Every day I fear the world may go to pieces. [_Giving_ LULU _a letter_.] For you.
LULU--[_Sniffs at the paper._] Madame Corticelli. [_Hides it in her bosom._]
SCHWARZ--[_Skimming a letter._] My Sama-queca-dancer sold--for fifty thousand marks!
LULU--Who’s that from?
SCHWARZ--Sedelmeier in Paris. That’s the third picture since our marriage. I hardly know how to escape my good fortune!
LULU--[_Pointing to the letters._] There are more there.
SCHWARZ--[_Opening an engagement announcement._] See. [_Gives it to_ LULU.]
LULU--[_Reads._] “Sir Henry von Zarnikow has the honor to announce the engagement of his daughter, Charlotte Marie Adelaide, to Doctor Ludwig Schön.”
SCHWARZ--[_As he opens another letter._] At last! He’s been an eternal while evading a public engagement. I can’t understand it--a man of his standing and influence. What can be in the way of his marriage?
LULU--What is that that you’re reading?
SCHWARZ--An invitation to take part in the international exhibition at St. Petersburg. I have no idea what to paint for it.
LULU--Some entrancing girl or other, of course.
SCHWARZ--Will you be willing to pose for it?
LULU--God knows there are other pretty girls enough in existence!
SCHWARZ--But with no other model--tho she be as racy as hell--can I so fully show the depth and range of my powers.
LULU--Then I must, I suppose. Mightn’t it go as well, perhaps, lying down?
SCHWARZ--Really, I’d like best to leave the composition to your taste. [_Folding up the letters._] Don’t let’s forget to congratulate Schön to-day, anyway. [_Goes left and shuts the letters in the writing-table._]
LULU--But we did that a long time ago.
SCHWARZ--For his bride’s sake.
LULU--You can write to him again if you want.
SCHWARZ--And now to work! [_Takes up his brushes and palette, kisses_ LULU, _goes up the steps, right, and turns around in the doorway_.] Eve!
LULU--[_Lets her book sink, smiling._] Your pleasure?
SCHWARZ--[_Approaching her._] I feel every day as if I were seeing you for the very first time.
LULU--You’re a terror.
SCHWARZ--You make me one. [_He sinks on his knees by the couch and caresses her hand._]
LULU--[_Stroking his hair._] You’re using me up fast.
SCHWARZ--You are mine. And you are never more ensnaring than when you ought for God’s sake to be, just once, real ugly for a couple of hours! Since I’ve had you, I have had nothing further. I’ve lost hold of myself entirely.
LULU--Don’t be so passionate! [_Bell rings in the corridor._]
SCHWARZ--[_Pulling himself together._] Confound it!
LULU--No one at home!
SCHWARZ--Perhaps it’s the art-dealer----
LULU--And if it’s the Chinese Emperor!
SCHWARZ--One moment. [_Exit._]
LULU--[_Visionary._] Thou? Thou? [_Closes her eyes._]
SCHWARZ--[_Coming back._] A beggar, who says he was in the war. I have no small change on me. [_Taking up his palette and brushes._] It’s high time, too, that I should finally go to work. [_Goes out, right._ LULU _touches herself up before the glass, strokes back her hair, and goes out, returning leading in_ SCHIGOLCH.]
SCHIGOLCH--I’d thought he was more of a swell--a little more glory to him. He’s sort of embarrassed. He quaked a little in the knees when he saw =me= in front of him.
LULU--[_Shoving a chair round for him._] How can you beg from him, too?
SCHIGOLCH--I’ve dragged my seventy-seven spring-times here just for that. You told me he kept at his painting in the mornings.
LULU--He hadn’t got quite awake yet. How much do you need?
SCHIGOLCH--Two hundred, if you have that much handy. Personally, I’d like three hundred. Some of my clients have evaporated.
LULU--[_Goes to the writing-table and rummages in the drawers._] Whew, I’m tired!
SCHIGOLCH--[_Looking round him._] This helped bring me, too. I’ve been wanting a long time to see how things were looking with you now.
LULU--Well?
SCHIGOLCH--It gives one cold shivers. [_Looking up._] Like with me fifty years ago. Instead of the loafing chairs we still had rusty old sabres then. Devil, but you’ve brought it pretty far! [_Scuffing._] Carpets....
LULU--[_Giving him two bills._] I like best to walk on them bare-footed.
SCHIGOLCH--[_Scanning_ LULU’S _portrait_.] Is that you?
LULU--[_Winking._] Pretty fine?
SCHIGOLCH--If that’s the sort of thing.
LULU--Have something sweet?
SCHIGOLCH--What?
LULU--[_Getting up._] Elixir de Spaa.
SCHIGOLCH--That doesn’t help me---- Does he drink?
LULU--[_Taking a decanter and glasses from a cupboard near the fireplace._] Not yet. [_Coming down-stage._] The cordial has such various effects!
SCHIGOLCH--He comes to blows?
LULU--He goes to sleep. [_She fills the two glasses._]
SCHIGOLCH--When he’s drunk, you can see right into his insides.
LULU--I’d rather not. [_Sits opposite_ SCHIGOLCH.] Talk to me.
SCHIGOLCH--The streets keep on getting longer, and my legs shorter.
LULU--And your harmonica?
SCHIGOLCH--Wheezes, like me with my asthma. I just keep a-thinking it isn’t worth the trouble to make it better. [_They clink glasses._]
LULU--[_Emptying her glass._] I’d been thinking that at last you were----
SCHIGOLCH--At last I was up and away? I thought so, too. But no matter how early the sun goes down, still we aren’t let lie quiet. I’m hoping for winter. Perhaps then my [_coughing_]--my--my asthma will invent some opportunity to carry me off.
LULU--[_Filling the glasses._] Do you think they could have forgotten you up there?
SCHIGOLCH--Would be possible, for it certainly isn’t going like it usually does. [_Stroking her knee._] Now you tell--not seen you a long time--my little Lulu.
LULU--[_Jerking back, smiling._] Life is beyond me!
SCHIGOLCH--What do you know about it? You’re still so young!
LULU--That you call me Lulu.
SCHIGOLCH--Lulu, isn’t it? Have I ever called you anything else?
LULU--I haven’t been called Lulu since man can remember.
SCHIGOLCH--Some other kind of name?
LULU--Lulu sounds to me quite antediluvian.
SCHIGOLCH--Children! Children!
LULU--My name now is----
SCHIGOLCH--As if the principle wasn’t always the same!
LULU--You mean----
SCHIGOLCH--What is it now?
LULU--=Eve=.
SCHIGOLCH--Leapt, hopped, skipped, jumped....
LULU--That’s what I answer to.
SCHIGOLCH--[_Gazing round._] This is the way I dreamt it for you. It’s your natural bent. [_Seeing_ LULU _sprinkling herself with perfume_.] What’s that?
LULU--Heliotrope.
SCHIGOLCH--Does that smell better than you?
LULU--[_Sprinkling him._] That needn’t bother you any more.
SCHIGOLCH--Who would have dreamt of this royal luxury before!
LULU--When I think back--Ugh!
SCHIGOLCH--[_Stroking her knee._] How’s it going with you, then? You still keep at the French?
LULU--I lie and sleep.
SCHIGOLCH--That’s genteel. That always looks like something. And afterwards?
LULU--I stretch--till it cracks.
SCHIGOLCH--And when it has cracked?
LULU--What do you mind about that?