Scene 1 — Willi and Lover

Early morning in a dimly lit small hotel room with dilapidated wooden shutters on the windows. Bed on stage left. On it lies Willi’s lover, played by the same actress that plays Leopoldine, her tousled blonde head cradled on a red pillow with a rough linen pillow case over it. Her right hand, on which she wears a little gold ring with a semi-precious stone, rests atop the red bedspread (or duvet), and on her left arm is a slender silver bracelet. She turns towards Willi, who is making an effort to get out of bed. Early morning light is coming through the cracks of the shutters.

Lover: Must youDo you have to go already?

Willi: Yes, I have to work with the recruits in the morning.

Lover: But it’s not event even dawn yet!

Willi: We oThe officers in my regiment have to be up and about early. Sometimes we have drills at four in the morning. I’ve often been in the Prater park before the sun comes up, preparing for an maneuver. [I changed this and then changed it back again. Sorry.]

Lover: You must do your “maneuvers” in the dark. Stay just a little longerDon’t go yet! (Stretches her hand towards him entreatingly). [if she says “Don’t go yet” it seems that she’s simply ignoring his need to leave.]

Willi (disentangling himself while putting on his uniform): I have to go! I need’ve got to be there on the field early and I’ve got preparations before that. (he returns to the bed, sits down, , bends down and embraces her fleetingly, gives her a fleeting kiss, and tries to get up again).

Lover (holds him in a lingering wayrestraining him from getting up): I like you a lot. Will I see you again?Don’t leave yet! (spoken slowly and with sincerity) I—I love you! [This is a key line in the play, so I am taking the liberty of adding a stage direction here.]

Willi (pauses a moment, but gets up). Sure you will. (BEAT) Look, I—I must go. But I’ll call on you.

Lover: I’d like that.

Willi: W –Where do you live? Lover: With my sister, in the 16th. , at Ottokringerstrasse 45. The name on the door is Christine Lebus. Or, but you can meet me most nights at the Hornig Restaurant, where we met were tonight.

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Willi: OkK, that’s good to know. (She sinks back onto the pillow. He takes a bill out of his pocket and surrepticiously places it on the table near the door as he leavesas he moves toward the door. He turns around once more, and then hastens out the doorexits and exits.)

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.

[I think this needs expansion, and will work on it – brilliant!]

Scene 2—Willi and Bogner

Stage is divided into a large room and a anti-chamber at stage left. The room is a rather elegant officer’s quarters, belonging to [What is the relation of the time frame here to the time frame in Scene 1? Do we need to clarify this for the audience somehow? This is NOT the same morning as in Scene 1 – or is it?] Officer’s room in a military complex. Rather elegant. yYoung officerLieutenat, William Kasda ,who lies asleep on the sofa at stage leftright. Anoither sofa with a pile of books on it sits in one the right corner at stage rightof the room; in the middle of the room are a table and chairs near the sofa. Door at stage left leads into a small ante-room or corridor. There are windows at the real wall at stage right and the real wall. Early morning.

Officer’s orderlyJoseph, the orderly: (calling from outside the door): Lieutenant!…..Lieutenant!….Lieutenant!

Willi (moving his head towards the door after the third call, stretching himself): What the devil? What do you want so early in the morning?

Orderly (standing in the half-opened door): Sir, there is a gentleman says he wants to see you in the courtyard below, sir.

William: What do you mean, a gentleman? What time is it? Didn’t Good God, man, this is the weekend. Haven’t I told you not to ...”I tell you not to wake me on Sundays?!Orderly: He said it’s important, Sir.(Orderly walks over to bed and hands William a visiting card.)

William: What, do you think, I’m an owl, you blockhead? [should we say: “ idiot. ” – that’s more colloquial?] I can’t read in the dark! Pull up the shades!

(Orderly (draws up a shade and opens the shutter.s and draws up the dirty [why “dirty”?] white shade.)

William: Bogner! What the hell could he want? (to the orderly) How does he look, the first lieut—I mean, Herr von Bogner?

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Orderly: If I may be permitted to say so, sir, the first lieutenant looked better in uniform!

Beat

William (sitting up in bed): Well, ask him to come in. And beg the — first lieutenant —to excuse me if I’m not quite dressed. Is anything else going on in the courtyard?

Orderly (And looklooking out the window) Not yet.

William: —iIf anyone else of the other officers should ask for me — I’m not at homehere. You got it?

Orderly: [does he perhaps salute?] Yessir, you’re not here! (Exits)

William (pulls on a shirt and pants, runs a comb through his hair, and goes over to the window and looks down into the courtyard of the barracks, ,then speaks to): (To himself): Hmm. He doesn’t look so good. Wonder what he wants. (turns back into the middle of the room) Wonder what he wants. (Joseph admits Enter Otto von Bogner to the ante-chamgter and then shows him into the main room. He wearsa , wearing stiff, black hat, an unbuttoned yellowish overcoat, , looksing a little scruffy, head bowed.)

William (extending his hand with exaggerated cordiality): Come on in, come in! How are you, Bogner? I’m delighted to see you. Here — take off your coat. Yes — everything’s the same here. The place hasn’t gotten any larger since you left!

Bogner: I remember it. Looks pretty good to me.

William (taking some linen off a chair and throwing it on the bed, and offering the chair to Bogner): Sit down! May I offer you a cup of coffee?

Bogner: Thanks, Kasda, but don’t go to any trouble for me. I’ve already had breakfast….but {[spying the cigarette case in Willi’s breast pocket?]) a cigarette, if you don’t mind… (fumbles for his cigarette case [ you mean Bogner fumbles for his own cigarette case but finds nothing?])

William (refuses to let Bogner use(instead of taking a cigarette from his his own cigarette casepocket, he points to and indicating an open box of cigarettes on a smoking stand. After Bogner takes one from the stand, William offers him a light. Bogner silently takes a few puffs.): So tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself. How’ve you been? How come we haven’t heard from you in such a long time? When you left — what was it, two or three years ago — you did promise that from time to time you’d —“

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Bogner (interrupting): It was better that I didn’t get stay in touch with anyone, and it certainly would have been better if I hadn’t been obliged to come tosee you today, either.” (Suddenly sits down in a corner of the sofa, whose other corner is occupied by a messy stack of books and papers). For, as you may well imagine, Willi, my visiting you today at this early hour — I know you like to sleep in on a Sunday — well, my visiting you of course has a purpose. Otherwise I’d certainly not have allowed myself … Tto be brief, I’ve come in the name of our old friendship — I can’t say as a comrade any more — You don’t have to turn pale, Willi. It’s nothing dangerous. It’s a question of a few gulden, which I simply must have by tomorrow morning. B, because if I don’t, there’s nothing left for me but to —to do what I should have done two years ago if I’d had enough sense!”

William: Oh, don’t talk nonsense, Bogner!

(Enter Orderly, bringing breakfast. He leaves. William pours coffee for himself and Bogner. Both silently take up apick up their cups. Bogner hesitates.)

William: Go on, drink upI’m happy to see you again! [“Drink up” would be for drinking something alcoholic, not coffee. Willi’s remarks is perhaps genuinely friendly. Here and elsewhere, I’m making Willi just a little more sympathetic – we want a bit of audience identification with him.]

Bogner (hurriedly taking a sip): I’ll be brief. Maybe you know that for the last three months I’ve been a cashier in the office of an electrical installation company. But how should you know that? You don’t even know that I’m married and have a son — a four year old boy. He had already been born when I was here. (Willi is a little surprised.) Yes, no one knew. Well, anyway, things didn’t go so well for me. You can imagine. [I don’t quite get this line – what does Bogner mean – that it should be obvious to Willi that it was difficult for him? Or is he asking for empathy?] It was especially bad this last winter. The boy was sick —well, the details won’t interest you — so I was forced to borrow from the cash drawer from time to time. I’ve always paid it back promptly. But the last time I had to take a bit more than usual, unfortunately— (pausing, he deliberately stirs the coffee with his spoon)— and, as luck would have it, I’ve just learned just by chance that this Monday, tomorrow morning, in other words, we’re to be audited by company headquarters. Really, the amount I owe is trivial — nine hundred and sixty gulden, to be exact. Let’s say a thousand, more or less. And it has to be there tomorrow by half past eight, otherwise — well, you get the idea. You’ll really would be doing me a tremendous favor, Willi, if you canould — he stops, unable to go further, choking back tears.

William (placing his hand on Otto’s shoulders): Come on, Otto — don’t take it so tragically. (Bogner looks up at him, with a frightened air.). The trouble is, I’m pretty broke myself right now. My entire fortune at the moment consists of a little over a hundred gulden. A hundred and twenty to be exact, as you were. Of course it goes without saying that the entire amount is at your disposal, down to the last penny. But look, let’s think about this. I’m sureMaybe [it should be “Maybe”, not “I’m sure,” given

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Willi’s remark below about having no idea how he could get this amount of money.] we can think offigure out some way out if we think about itof this –

Bogner: You can be sure I’ve already explored all other — means. So we don’t have to waste time rackingrack our brains unnecessarily. Especially since I’ve got came with a definite proposal. (BEAT)

Beat

Try to imagine, Willi, that you found yourself in just such a difficulty. What would you do?

William: I don’t quite understandfollow you.

Bogner: Of course I know you’ve never taken money from someone else’s cash drawer. Okay. But still, if, for some – less criminal — reason you desperately needed a certain amount of money, to whom would you turn?

William: I’m sorry, Otto, but I don’t know what you’re driving at. Of course, I don’t deny that I sometimes have debts. Just lLast month month Höchster helped me out with fifty gulden, which of course I repaid him on the first. But a thousand gulden — a thousand! —I have absolutely no idea how I could get my handswho I could ask for on such a sum!

Bogner: You really don’t?

William: That’s what I saidThere’s no angel standing nearby.

Bogner: What about your uncle?

William: What uncle?

Bogner: Your uncle Robert.

William: Uncle Robert? What— makes you think of him?

Bogner: WhyWell, it’s obvious. He’s helped you out on several occasions. And you get a regular monthly payment allowance from him as well.

William: I haven’t gotten anything from him for a long time now! And not only are there no more payments – Uncle Robert has become quite eccentric. I haven’t set eyes on him for over a year now. And the last time I went to him for a little something — as a very special favor — well, he practically threw me out of the house!

Bogner: Hmm, is that so? (rubs his forehead).You really think it’s totally out of the question?

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William: I hope you don’t doubt me!

Bogner: (pushing table aside, rising from the sofa, and going over to the left window):Well, we have to try anyway. Yes, pardon me, but we must. The worst that can happen to you is that he’ll say no. And maybe not too politely. But that’s nothing but a little unpleasantness, compared to what I’ll have to face if I don’t succeed in getting theget these few paltry [not “paltry”] gulden together by tomorrow morning!

William: Maybe,I tellyou, but it wouldn’t serve any purpose. If there were the slightest chance —well, I trust you don’t doubt my good intentions. But damn, there must be other possibilities. For example — don’t get mad, I’m just thinking about it — what about your cousin Guido, the one who has the estate near Amstetten?

Bogner: Let me assure you, Willi, there’s no possibility of getting a cent from him. If there were, I certainly wouldn’t be here. In short, there’s no-one on the face of the earth … —

William (lifting a finger as an idea has just struck him): Wait --– Rudi — what if you tried Rudi? Only a few months ago he got an inheritance. Twenty or twenty-five thousand gulden! He’s got to have some of it left!

Bogner: Well,T three weeks ago, when it wasn’t half as urgent as it is now, I wrote to him asking for much less than a thousand, and he never even answered me. So you see, there’s just one possible solution—your uncle. (William shrugs his shoulders)

After all, Willi, I know him, Willi. We all had dinner together at the Hornig, and — he’s such a kind, likable, charming old gentleman. Wwe went were atto the theater toogether a couple of ti mes, and at Riedhof’s and at the Hornig, too—-- he’ll remember me, I’m sure. He’s a kind, likable, charming old gentleman. For God’s sake, Willi, he can’t suddenly have totally changed and become someone else!

William: But it seems he has! I don’t know myself what’s happened to him. But it’s not so uncommon for people his age to change in peculiar ways. I can’t tell you any more than that — but for at least 15 months or morewell over a year now I haven’t been in his house and — I don’t intend to go there ever again’ll never under any circumstances enter it again!

Bogner: (after a pause, he takes his hat and turns to go): Well, sorry to have troubled you then. Good-bye. (turns to leave)

William: Otto! – Wait! I’ve got an idea!

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Bogner: An idea?

William: Ok, lListen to me, Bogner. I’m going out to the country today — to Baden. On a Sunday there, in the Café Schopf, we sometimes gamble a little: a little friendly game of twenty-one or baccarat sometimes. Of course I play only modestly, if at allor I just look on. I’ve done that three or four times, mostly just for the fun of it. One of the guys recently raked in no less than three thousand gulden from Schnabel, one of the players, Herr Schnabel, in a single sitting. We played on the open veranda until 6 in the morning, until the birds began to sing. The hundred and twenty gulden I still have today I owe only to staying alert all night longmy endurance — otherwise I’d be totally broke. Here’s what I can do [“Tell you what” is too clichéd], Otto—I’ll bet a hundred of those hundred and twenty gulden for you today. I know the chances of winning aren’t overwhelming, but only a few days ago a physician,Dr. Tugut, sat down with fifty and got back up with three thousand. And since in the last few months I haven’t had any luck at all in love — well, you know the old saying.

Bogner: Hmm.

William: Well, what do you think of my idea?

Bogner: Naturally, I thank you — obviously, I’m not going to say no — even though….

William: Of course I can’t offer you any guarantee — but in the end it’s not risking very much. And if I win — whatever I win — at least a thousand of it is yours — at least a thousand. And if I should happen to make an extraordinary killing –

Bogner: Don’t promise too much…(Gets up resolutely). I don’t want to keep you any longer, for my own sake as well as yours. Tomorrow morning I will permit myself—rather…I’ll wait for you tomorrow morning at half past seven, over there, near the Alser Church. (Laughs bitterly) – it will look like we met there only by chance. — Besides, I won’t’m not going to stay idle in the meantime. I still have seventy gulden left. I’ll bet those this afternoon at the races. — at the ten dollar window, I suppose [I think that’s better than “of course,” since I don’t understand why he would say “of course.”].

(crosses over to the window with quick steps, and looks into the courtyard below. Well, the coast is clear. (Smiles sardonically and pulls up his collar, shakes hands with Willi, and leaves.)

William: (sighs. Then speaks to his orderly): Johann! Get me a carriage – I’ll leave in about ten minutes! (to himself) Might as well take a carriage! What’s two gulden more or less at a time like this! [Strike: “at a time like this” – there’s nothing recognizably special about this time that would incline Willi to be carefree about spending another guilden or two.] …

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[Note that Scene 2 is still missing—I am working on the gambling scene, and I attach a bit of an attempt at the end ]

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Scene 3—Willi and the Consul Herr Schnabel.

[Carriage scene -- haven’t Will and the Consul sit on a carriage seat, side by side, facing forward toward the audience.figured out how that should be staged].

Consul: It’s a little cool this morning.

Willi: Yes, it’s always cool and bracing in the early hours. We soldiers know all about that -- learn that from our tactical maneuvers, which always begin at at around four in the morning or so.

Consul: About the twenty-four hours—we don’t need to take that literallybe so precise about that.

Willi: I was just about to ask your indulgence about thatthe exact time, Consul, as I don’t have the whole amount at hand this momentright away, as you can well imagine --

Consul: Of course! If I were to insist on the usual twenty-four hours you would have to pay your debt tomorrow at half past two in the middle of the night, and that would be inconvenient for both of us. So let’s set the hour — let’s see — Tuesday at noon, if that suits you. (Takes a business card from his wallet and gives it to Willi)

Willi (reading the card): Helfersdorferstrasse 5. (To Consul): That’s only five minutes from the military quarters where I live. So — tomorrow at twelve noon then, Consul?

Consul: Yes, Lieutenant, that’s what I had in mind. Tuesday at twelve o’clock sharp. I’ll be in my office from nine in the morning on.”

Wiili: And if I were not able to pay you then, Consul — if, for example, I could not satisfy you before Tuesday tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday….

Consul (interrupting): But of course you’ll be in a position to pay, Lieutenant. I don’thave no doubt about that. Since you sat down to play, your must naturally alsoof course have been prepared to lose, and to pay, just as I had to be preparedto in the past, and if you don’t have it in your own account, you can, at any rateI assume, expect that your parents or others will not let you down.

Willi: My parents are dead — my mother died passed eight years ago, and my father five years ago.

Consul: Sorry to hear thait. Was your father also an officer?

Willi: Yes, sir. He died in the service in Hungary. Who knows if I would have chosen a military career under other circumstances!

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Consul: It’s remarkable, really, when you think about it, how some people’s entire life is, so to speak, all planned out in advance, while others change theirs from one year, sometimes even from one day, to the next….”

Willi: TrueYes. Sometimes even officers have to change their careers.

Consul: Well, yes, that’s true—but mostly not by their own free choice. If tThey are — or rather, they feel themselves to be — embarrassingly compromised, and then it’sthey usually not possible for them to stay inhave to leave the service. On the other hand, people such as myself—I mean, people who don’t have the advantage of birth or rank or— anything like that —are prevented we don’t ever have that kind of support [I’m elaborating the text here, to make it make more sense.] — I myself, for example, have been up and down half a dozen times at least. And how low I’ve been — ah, if you and your comrades [“friends,” not “comrades”, unless they were all in the military?] knew how low how far down I’ve beenbeen, you wouldn’t have sat down with me at a gaming table! That’s why you and your comrades preferred not todon’t inquire too carefully about me before sitting down with methe cards are dealt..

Willi: HUhmm…

Consul: An early morning ride like this is quite wonderful, don’t you think?

Willi: Yes, splendid!

Consul: It’s a pity that the price for such a ride seems to be staying up all night, whether at a gaming table or at something even more stupid.

Willi: Well, it’s not so unusual for me. It often happens that I’m often up and about at this early hour of the morning, even without staying up all night. The day before yesterday, I was already standing in the military courtyard with my comrades at half past three in the morning. We were drilling in the Prater. Of course I wasn’t riding in a handsome carriage thenlike this one.

Consul: (laughs heartily). Yes, I’ve occasionally had such an experience, too — though of course not as an officer, not even as an enlisted man [I don’t follow – was there a distinction between drafted and enlisted? Would a corporal be beneath an enlisted man?] . — I never got even that far. Just think, Lieutenant, I did my three years’ service and never made it beyond the rank of corporal. I’m such an uneducated person — or at least I was. Well I’ve caught up a little since then. Travel brings opportunities for that.

Willi: Yes, and I hear you’ve seen much of the world.

Consul: Yes I have. I’ve been almost everywhere and I get to know places — except in the country I represent as awhere I’m now the consul, in Ecuador. When you’re a statesmen, you mustn’t know too much. (laughs) But I’ve decided to give up my title of consul in the near future and to traveljust visit there.” (laughs)

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Willi: (laughs half-heartedly)

Consul: It’s too bad I won’t have the pleasure of sitting down at a card table with you and your friends again. .

Willi: (startled): What do you mean, Consul?

Consul (coolly): I’m leaving the country.

Willi: WhatOh!? When? Soon?

Consul: Yes, the day after tomorrow—more precisely, Tuesday. [inconsistent dates!]

Willi: Tuesday?

Consul: Yes, Tuesday evening.

Willi: Are you planning to be gone for a longer time, Consul?

Consul: Rather! For three — or thirty — years.

Willi: So long? Is this a sudden move on your partyou’re making [echoing gaming language – that work’s in English], Consul, this departure?

Consul: Not at all, Lieutenant. A long-standing decision. I’m leaving for America, not for Ecuador – for Baltimore to be precise, where my family lives and where I also have a business. Of course, I haven’t been able to deal with either of these personally for the eight years I’ve been gone.

Willi: You have a family?

Consul: Yes.

Willi (putting his hand to his throat as though choking): Well, sir, it’s – very unfortunate – that you intend to leave so soon. For I was expecting — yes, I was expecting with some confidence that —(in a light tone) you would give me the opportunity for a little revenge next Sunday.

Consul: (shrugs his shoulders) Where can I drop you, Lieutenant.

Willi: Please don’t bother yourself. Anywhere you want. I live in the military complex barracks in the Alser district.

Consul: No problem – I’ll bring you to your door, Lieutenant. (To coachman): To the Alser, please military complex, .

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Willi: Thanks a lot, sir. It really isn’t necessary…

Consul (looks at his watch): Well, we made good time — an hour and ten minutes. He drove well. Do you have a maneuver today, Lieutenant?

Willi: No. I’l only m teaching a class today in the morning. [not: “in the morning.” Stay with the book text – that explains the Consul’s following comment about begin able to get some sleep.]

Consul: Well, then you can still get a little sleep.

Willi: Yes, that’s true, Cconsul. But I think I’ll take the day off. I’ll report in sick.

Consul: (nods).

Willi: So—you’re leaving Wednesday, sir?

Consul: No, Lieutenant. Tomorrow. Tuesday evening.

Willi: Consul — I’ll be frank — it’s extremely embarrassing to me, but I fear it’ll be impossible for me in such a short time — by noon tomorrow….(BeatBEAT) If, sir, you would be so kind as to give me a temporary reprieve?

Consul (shakes his head).

Willi: Not a very long one—I’m not asking that. I could give you a promissory note or a confirmation and give youand my word of honor that within fourteen days I would…. (Consul keeps on shaking his head while Willi is talking) Consul — my uncle, Robert Wilram — maybe you know the name? ( the Consul continues to shake his head firmly) I’m not absolutely certain that my uncle, on whom I can otherwise normally rely, has such a sum readily at hand. But of course, within a few days…he’s a wealthy man, my mother’s only brother, retired, living on his income…(gives a short laugh) …It’s really a disaster that you’re going as far away as America so soon!

Consul: Where and when I travel, Lieutenant, is absolutely of no concern of to yours. It’s common knowledge that debts of honor are to be paid within twenty four hours!

Willi: I know, Consul, I know. But still, sometimes…I personally know of s Some of my comrades who, have been in a similar position…it really depends entirely upon you, Consul. If you’re willing to content yourself with a promissory note or my word of honor for the moment until—until next Sunday at least.

Consul: Sorry, Lieutenant. That won’t do. Tomorrow, Tuesday at noon, that’s the latest…or else….notification to the commander of your regiment! You’re an officer, and

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proud of it I’m sure. You’ll do the correct thing. (He settles back in his seat, closes his eyes, and appears to go to sleep. Starts when the carriage stops.

Willi: Thank you very much for the ride, Consul — so, Good-bye.

Consul (while shaking his hand, pulls him closer): I advise you, Lieutenant: don’t take this situation too lightly, if you place any value…oin remaining an officer. (Beat). Tomorrow, Tuesday, at twelve o’clock.—Well, good-bye, Lieutenant. Until tomorrow!

Willi (Smiles, raises his hand to his cap in a salute [would he salute a civilian? I guess he could salute, out of embarrassment and fear.]): Good-bye, Consul!

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Scene 4: Willi and Uncle Robert

Willi enters from stage left as a maid opens the door into a large upper-middle class study. Desk with books and papers at stage right; standing on it is a picture of Willi’s mother in a gold frame. Bookcases at right are partially covered with a green curtain, showing leather volumes. Persian rug on floor and over the back of the sofa, which is in front of two high windows at stage rear. Two yellowed Italian landscape engravings and family portraits in matte gold frames are on the wall. Willi’s uncle Robert Wilram, dressed in a well-cut, light summer suit and patent leather shoes in need of a shine,, [will the appearance of his shoes be visible to the audience? If you want to suggest seediness, I’d recommend showing worn apparel or the like.] stands near one of the two windows. He gestures Willi to approach.

Robert (to maid): [is there actually a maid? That means another actress?] Thank you. That will do. [does maid exit?] (To Willi): Hello, Willi! Nice of you to think of visiting your old uncle again. I thought you had completely forgotten me! (They shake hands). Do sit down!

Willi (Stands stiffly with cap in hand, his sword strapped to his side): How are you?

Robert: Fine.

Willi: To tell the truth, uncle, I probably wouldn’t have come today if I didn’t — well, in a word, if it didn’t concern a very, very serious matter.

Robert: You don’t say…

Willi: At least it’s a very serious matter for me. In short, without beating about the bush, I’ve committed a stupidity, a great stupiditydone a very stupid thing, very – stupid. I — I gambled and lost more money than I have. [“stupidity” is not vernacular American English]

Robert: Hmm, that’s a little more than just a stupidity.

Willi: It was reckless--criminally reckless. I don’t want to put a good face on it. But the fact of the matter unfortunately is that if I don’t pay my debt by this evening at seven, I’m —I’m — (shrugs his shoulders embarrassedly).

Robert (Robert shakes his head but says nothing.)

Beat.

Robert: What happened?

Willi: [the following explanation is too long.] Well, I took a train up to Baden yesterday to visit a sick friend, a member of my regiment. And while there I ran into some other

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officers, good friends of mine, in a restaurant, and I let myself be seduced into a card game. One thing led to another. It all started innocently enough — I just bet some for fun, as I did last week [you mean: “as I had done the week before”?]— but somehow things changed and bBefore I knew it, I found myself somehow involveddrawn into a in wild gambling spree. I owe the money to I’d rather not tell you the names of everyone there except that the man who became my creditor, a wholesale merchant and South American Consul, is a certain Herr Schnabel. Unfortunately, he is leaving for America tomorrow evening, and is threatened threatening to report me to the commander of my regiment if I don’t pay my debt by this evening! And you know Uncle, you can imagine what that means for me, Uncle! (He sinks into the sofa, exhausted).

Robert (still friendly): How large is the sum in question?

Willi (hesitating): Eleven thousand gulden.

Robert (sharp intake of breath): Eleven thousand gulden!

Willi: I know, I know, it’s a small fortune. I won’t even try to justify myself. It was an act of unspeakable recklessnessfoolishness — I think the first, and certainly the last, of my life. And I can’t do anything but only swear to you, Uncle, that I’ll never touch another card again in my entire whole life, and I’ll truly be forever grateful and that I’ll make an effort to show you my eternal [is “eternal” over the top? Would “lasting” be better?] gratitude by leading lead a most strict and solid life. I’m even prepared — I declare it openly — to forever forswear to say that I give up anywhatever claims our family relationship might entitle me to later on, if you could just this time, this one time — Uncle—

Robert (raises first one hand, then another in a dismissive and theatrical gesture): I’m very sorry, really very sorry, but with the best intentions wishes in the world, I can’t help you! —I absolutely can’t help you; it’s useless to say anything else, so spare yourself the effort. (He turns towards the window).

Willi: I’m really not trying to fool myself, uncle — nor you. I know that my requestwhat I’m asking is rude and outrageous, unspeakably so. And I should certainly never havewould never dared to approach you if I hadthere was even the slightest chance of getting the money in any other way. But put yourself in my place, uncle! Everything, everything is at stake, not only my career as an officer! What else should I, can I, do? I haven’t studied anything else, (gestures to indicate his own military apparel), this is all I knowI don’t know anything else. And as a dismissed officer I just couldn’t — just yesterday I happened to meet a former comrade, who also—no, no, better a bullet in the head! Don’t be mad at me, uncle. Just imagine it! Remember, my father was an officer, and my grandfather died as a Field Marshall! For God’s sake, I can’t end up this way. That would be too hard severe a punishment for a careless moment. I’m not a compulsive gambler—you know [delete “you know” – his uncle mightn’t know this, and in any event it slows the monologue down too much] I’ve never let myself be temptedgone

16

down that path, even though I was often encouraged toeasily could have. [what does “often encouraged to” he mean “encouraged”? I changed it.] [the following – about the prospect of aloan – is unnecessary. It diminishes the intensity of what has just gone before, and should be deleted: True, it’s so much money that I don’t believe I could ever get such an amount, even as a loan. And what would happen if I could? In half a year I would owe twice as much, in a year ten times — and —]

Robert: Enough, Willi! Enough! I can’t help you—I’d like to, to be surecertainly, , but I can’t. Don’t you understand? [“Don’t you understand?” needed. Robert could say this only if he had already explained to Willi his impecunious situation.] I don’t have anything myself. I don’t even have a hundred gulden to my name as I’m standing here before you! Here, here…(opens one drawer after another, first the desk drawers, than the dressing table drawers, and then throws his wallet on the table) look for yourself, Willi! If you find more than a hundred gulden, you can have it all. J and judge me — for what you will. (He sinks into his desk chair, letting his arms fall heavily on the surface of the table, so that some sheets of paper flutter to the floor).

Willi (picks up the papers and looks around the room): Uncle — I don’t understand. Look at all this around you! Nothing has changed. You can’t suddenly have lost all your moneyeverything. (He stands up and stands with hands clasped in front of his uncle). It’s a matter of life and death, uncle. Believe me, it’s about my life! I beg you. , I (seizes the portrait of his mother from the desk and holds it up to his uncle)

Robert (calmly grasps the picture and puts it back back where it was on the desk): You mother has nothing to do with this. She can’t help you — any more than she can help me. If I didn’t want to help you, Willi, I wouldn’t need to think up an excuse. I don’t recognize any duties towardsobligation to you, though even if you are the son of my sister’s son, especially not in this kind of situation.

(Beat)

And, in my opinion, it’s possible to be an honorable man, or become one, even in civilian life. Honor is lost in other ways, too. But you can’t hear that at this point in your liferight now. And therefore So I’ll tell you again: if I had the money, yo u can be certain I would give it to you. But I don’t have it. I have nothing! I don’t have my fortune any more. I only have an allowance[“allowance” doesn’t sound quite right, perhaps, but “annuity” sounds worse, it seems to me] these daysnow. Yes, on the first and on the fifteenth I get a certain amount, and today –(points to his wallet with a sad smile) today is the twenty-seventh. Beat. Oh, you think I could Could I make a loan to you on the strength of that income? Well, my dear Willi, that depends on how and under what circumstances the annuity was obtained! [I don’t understand this last sentence – need to go back to the original and try to figure out what it means.]let me tell you …

Willi: Maybe, uncle, maybe it would be possible after all, maybe together we could—

17

Robert (interrupting impatiently): Nothing is possible, absolutely nothing! I can’t help you, believe me, I can’t. (Turns away).

Willi (after a shocked pause): Well—then nothing remains for me other than to beg your forgiveness that I — good-bye uncle. (Moves towards door).

Robert: Look, Willi, come back, I don’t want you to think that — I might as well tell you that, to be blunt about it, I have handed what fortune I had — it wasn’t so much anymore anyway — over to my wife.

Willi (surprised): You’re married!? (Beat) – Well, if your wife has the money, then there should beis a way — I mean, if you said to your wife that it’s —

Robert (impatiently waving him away): I cawon’t go to her and tell her anythingdo that. Don’t press me further. It would be useless anyway.

Willi: (looking around the room) Your — wife — evidently it seems she doesn’t live here in Vienna?

Robert: Oh yes, she lives in Viennadoes, but only not with me, as you can see. (Paces up and down the room. Laughs bitterly, points to Willi).Yes, I’ve lost a lot more than a a sword and uniform harness [what’s that], and I’m still alive. YesYou see, Willi, (. Beat) a A year and half ago I made over my entire fortune to her — of my own free will. I did it really more for my sake than for hers…For I’m not very economically-minded, and she — she’s is very prudent frugal, I have to admit, and also she’s very good at business, and she’s managedis managing the money much better than I would havever dide . She’s invested it in some kinds of enterprises — I’m not well haven’t been informed of the exact circumstances — I wouldn’t understand it all anyway. And the income which that I receive amounts to twelve and half percent. That isn’t so small, so that I really haven’t the right to complain…twelve and a half percent, and. But not a kreuzer [kreuzers now, rather than guilders?] more! Every attempt that I made at the beginning to get an occasional advance was useless. After the second attempt try I wisely gave up trying. Because after that she wouldn’t For after I tried I didn’t get to see her me for six weeks, and she swore that I would never not see her again if I were ever to come toapproached her with such a request. And that — I didn’t want to risk that. For I need her, Willi, I can’t exist without her. Every week I see her, she comes toShe visits me once a week. Yes, she keeps our agreement. She’s really the most dependable creature in the world. She’s never failed to come, and the money has always arrived promptly on the first and fifteenth of every month. And in the summer, every year, we go away together to the country for two whole weeks. That’s in our contract, too. But the rest of the time is her own.

Willi: And you yourself, uncle — don’t you visit her?

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Robert: But of courseYes I do, Willi. On the first day of Christmas, on Easter Sunday, and every Whitmonday, which . [isn’t that an English/Irish holiday?] That comes on the eighth of June this year.

Willi: And if you — excuse me, uncle — if you should happen to want to visit her on some other day — why, you’re her husband, after all, uncle, and who knows if she wouldn’t even be flattered if you sometimes —

Robert: Can’t risk it! Once — since I’ve already told you everything, I might as well tell you this — well, one evening I walked up and down the street near her house for two hours —

Willi: And?

Robert: I didn’t see her. But the next day I received a letter from her which contained only the messagewhich said only that I would never see her again in my entire life if I ever had the notion of promenadinged up and down in front of her house again. Yes, Willi, that’s the way it is. And I know that even if my own life depended upon it, she’d rather let me die than give me even a tenth of what you’re now asking me forrequesting before it’s was due. You stand a much better chance of persuading the Cconsul to be lenient than I do of ever softening my wife’s heart!

Willi: And — was she always that way?

Robert: What does it matter? Even if I had foreseen thisit, it wouldn’t have helped me. I was doomed from the moment I first laid eyes on hershe first caught my eye, or at least from our first night togetheron, and that was our wedding night!

Willi: (To himself) Of course.

Robert (bursting into laughter) Oh, you imagine she was a respectable young woman from a good bourgeois family? Far from it, my dear Willi! She was a whore! And who knows if she isn’t one the same still — for others!

(Willi makes a gesture of doubt.)

Robert: Well, maybe whore is a little too harsh — in those days she was really a flower girl. I saw met her for the first time at the Hornig four or five years ago. In fact, you saw her there, too. MYes, maybe you remember her. It was the time w We were there together at a large party — a banquet for Herr Kriebaum, the singer. She She wore a bright red dress and had tousled blonde hair, a blue ribbon around her neck. —SheThe woman who would become my wife looked pretty vulgar. But next year, at Ronacher’s, she looked quite different. She could have had her pick of men. Unfortunately, I never had any luck with her then. I wasn’t wealthy enough for her, given my age — and well, then it happened, what sometimes happens when an old fool loses his head over some young girlthing. Two and a half years ago I married Fräulein Leopoldine Lebus.

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Willi: Leopoldine Lebus?

Robert: Yes. You know her?

Willi: Umhm, not exactly. I can’t quite recall….But uncle, it’s often exactly those kindsjust that kind of girls who become makes the best wifeves and housekeepers, whereas girls from good families with spotless reputations often become just the opposite! One of my comrades married a baroness, a young lady from the best aristocratic family, who only two years after into their marriage was offered herself to another soldier I knew, in a “salon” where “respectable ladies” were tocould be had for a price. Well, that comrade told the husband, and the result was a court of honor and a duel. The husband was severely wounded, and the wife committed suicide afterwards. You must have read about it in the newspapers? The affair got a lot of publicity. …(Awkward silence)--Well, uncle, now that you’ve told me all this, I won’t press you further. You’re probably right that an appealappealing to Colonel Schnabel is more likely to be successful than an appealappealing to your wife. Maybe I could even contact First Lieutenant Höchster [would the uncle know who Hoechster is?] — he just got a small inheritance — or maybe the regiment’s doctor, who was with us [who is “us”? does it include the uncle?] yesterday, would he might be able to help me out. Yes, I’ll look for Höchster at once— he’s on duty today. (He looks impatiently at his watch). Well, I really mustbetter go no. Don’t want to take up any more of your time, uncle. Thanks for listening. (Stretches out his hand and shakes hands with his uncle) Good-bye, uncle.

Robert: Good-bye, Willi. I wish you good luck! Come and see me again sometime.

Willi: Thanks, uncle. I will. (Adjusts his sword and scabbard and leaves hurriedly).

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Scene 5: Willi Visits Leopoldine at her Office

Large, light-filled business room with tall ceilings and high windows. It adjoins a separate small waiting room or corridor at stage left. There is a door at stage left leading into the waiting room. In the middle of the main room stands a long wooden table with papers and pens and ink and ledgers on top of it. There are two tall filing cabinets at stage right and stage left. Against the rear wall, at stage left, is another table, covered with newspapers and business prospectusespapers, over which hangs a huge map of Europe. Facing the table on one side is a comfortable arm chair. On the other side of the table, Leopoldine is sitting in the straight backed chair behind the desk. She wears her hair in a simple and flat, almost severe style, and has a golden pince-nez on her nose.

Willi, Maid, and Leopoldine

Maid (in the corridor outside the door where Willi is standing, looking at his visiting card): William Kasda? Do you have an appointment, Lieutenant Kasda? Frau Wilram is very busy today.

(In Leopoldine’s office, she is conversing with a business man who carries a briefcase. They say good-by and she shows him out the door. He passes by Willi in the waiting room.)

Leopoldine (rising from the chair behind the desk) Herr Krasny! [Krasny? She’s just been in the company of another man?]

Maid: He just left, madam.

Leopoldine: Call him back (Starts walking over to the door and( sees Willi. Gives a little start and glances at him.) Oh. (Recovering) How do you do, Lieutenant? To what do I owe this pleasure?

Willi (still at door to the main room) I…

Leopoldine: Please do come in. (Points Gestures with her hand to the armchair). Have a seat. (Willi reaches out as if to kiss her hand, I’ll be back in a moment. (Exits through door and corridor. Is heard firmly admonishing someone. She comes back in the corridor, motions the maid to go, enters the room, closes the door, and then extends her hand to Willi. He bends over it as though he were about to kiss it,but she abruptly withdraws it.) So – lieutenant — what can I do for you?

Willi: Madame (clears his throat) — I must begin by telling you that it is definitely not my uncle who gave me your address. --

Leopoldine: (puzzled) Your uncle?

Willi: My uncle Robert Wilram –.

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Leopoldine: Oh, — of course –.

Willi: He knows absolutely nothing of this visit — I want to emphasize that. (Beat. ( Leopoldine still does not understand.looks puzzled). I really haven’t seen him for a long time, but that wasn’t my fault. Only today, in the course of our conversation, did he tell me that he — that he had married in the meantime.

Leopoldine (nodding in a friendly manner, she points to an open cigarette box): A cigarette, Lieutenant?

(Willi helps himself. Leopoldine lights it for him, then takes one herself and lights it also.)

Leopoldine: Well! So — mMay I finally know to what I owe the pleasure of –

Willi: Madame, my visit here has do with the same sorry circumstance that led me — to my uncle. It’s a rather — embarrassing matter, as I’m sorry to have to admit – I don’t want to take too much of your time, madam. So, without further preliminariesmay I go straight to the point. , I would like to request that you – advance me a certain sum amount for three months.

Leopoldine (again in a friendly manner): Your confidence in me is extremely truly flattering, Lieutenant –she taps the ashes off the end of her cigarette and into an ashtray on the desk — though I really don’t really know to what I owe this honor. MBut may I ask what the amount in question is? (Removes her pince-nez and taps with it lightly on the table).

Willi: Eleven – twelve — no, eleven thousand gulden, madam.

Leopoldine: So — eleven thousand. Pause Hmmn, that’s quite really quite “a certain sumamount,.” to be sure. And what security can you offer me, Lieutenant?

Willi: I’m an officer, madam!

Leopoldine (smiling): I beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but in business matters that’s not quite sufficient. For usIn business, “security” means something else than it does in the military. [I know this isn’t in the original, but it adds a nice touch of irony. I think we should allow ourselves a touch of poetic license now and then.] Who would be willing to answer for you?

Willi (looks down to floor, embarrassed): I beg your pardon, madam. It’s true that I haven’t thought enough about the formal aspects of the matter. As it happens, I find myself in a truly desperate position. It concerns a debt of honor, which has to be paid tomorrow by eight o’clock in the morning. Otherwise my honor is lost and – along with that, everything else is lost too, amongst us officers.

22

Leopoldine: How did you happen to –

Willi: It was all an accident, an unfortunate turn of events. I went to Baden yesterday to visit a sick friend, a member of my regiment, and while there I let myself be seduced into a card game by some friends of mine, other officers in the regiment. It all started innocently enough — I just bet a little, but to go along with them, all in fun-- but then somehow the game changed and the bets got higher and higher. I kept winning and kept playing, and winning, and then losing, and winning again — and somehow, before I knew it, I soon found myself involved in a wild gambling spree. I borrowed elevent thousand gulden from one of the other players, though I was hardly aware of what I was doing. One of the men there, a certain wholesale merchant and South American Consul named Schnabel, kept on pushing money on me, and somehow I wound up finally having borrowed eleven thousand gulden from him — eleven thousand, though I wasn’t aware of it. And in the end, as suddenly as I had won, I lost it all. It all went inIn the twinkling of an eye. I owe this money to a diplomat, and uUnfortunately, he’s leaving for America Vienna tomorrow morning and insists on payment within twenty-four hours, before he goes. Not only that, he’s threatened threatening to report me to the commander of my regiment if I don’t come through by this evening.with the money.

Leopoldine (softly, lifting her eyes as though in sympathy): And I — I, Willi — I’m the only person on earth to whom you can come in this emergency?

Willi: Would I be here otherwise – Leopoldine? Draws his chair closer. I really have no one else!

Leopoldine (shaking her head, though sympathetically): That makes it all the more painful for me (she slowly extinguishes her still glowing cigarette while saying this) that I’m unfortunately not in a position to help you. My money is all invested in various enterprises, and . I never don’t have access to a large sums of cash. So I’m really very sorry! (She rises from her desk as though the interview were at an end).

Willi (staying seated): Well, uhmmn, could you – wouldn’t it be possible for you to – that is, couldn’t you, given the evident worth of your enterprisesinvestments, secure a loan or perhaps a line of credit, yes, that’s it, a line of credit from a bank that knows you?

Leopoldine: You imagine these things to be a little simpler than they are, and apparently you take seem to be taking it for granted that I wshould enter carry outinto some sort ofa financial transaction on your account which that I would never undertake enter into for myself. And that without any sort kind of security! — (Coquettishly) Well — Willi – how on earth did I achieve thisI’m honored that you see me that way, but? –

Willi (eagerly, leans foward): Madame – Leopoldine — my existence — my very life —is at stake here! (Sits back and adds softly) Excuse me for …

23

Leopoldine (driyly): Well, in any case, I can’t make any such decision without consulting talking to my lawyer, even if I were inclined to.— I’m having a consultationmeeting with him anyway this afternoon—today, at five o’clock, in his office. I’ll see if anything can be done. However, I advise you not to, don’t depend count on it, not in the least. NFor naturally I won’t makeit won’t be a life-or-death question of itfor me. (With sudden hardness): I really don’t know why I shouldit should be. (Still standing, she now smiles and gives him her hand. This time she permits him to kiss it).

Willi: And when can I come for my answer?

Leopoldine (after considering for a whilereflecting): Where do you live?

Willi: In the Alster military complex. In the officer’s wing, of course, in the third floor, room four.

Leopoldine (pensively, talking slowly while walking him to the door): Around seven or seven thirty today this evening I should’ll at least know whether I’m in a position to help you — (decisively) I’ll send you my answer between seven and eight through a person I can trust. (She opens the door for him, and accompanies him to the hallway. Decisively shakes hands with him again in an obvious gesture of dismissal): Good-bye Lieutenant.

Willi ( taken aback): Good-bye. Uhm -- until laterthen.

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Scene 6 : Willi and Leopoldine in Willi’s Room

(Same setting as scene 2. Willi is stretched out on the sofa with his feel dangling over the lower arm, wearing the same clothes as in the previous scene in Leopoldine’s office.. He starts awake, and sees Leopoldine standing behind his orderly, who looks anxious and guilty.)

Leopoldine (wearing a light blue and white polka-dot foulard dress and carrying a perfectly matching blue and white parasol in her hand. Her hair is loose, and she has on a broad-brimmed Florentine hat trimmed with hanging artificial cherries, which bob against her ear as the talks): I must apologize, Lieutenant, for not allowing your – orderly — [why the hesitation on the word “orderly”?] to announce me, but I preferred to wait here until you woke up on your own.

Willi (rising hurriedly from the sofa, and dismissing Joseph, his orderly): Well, madam! Do make yourself comfortable — I’m so happy to see you — please, madam, do sit down—

Leopoldine (preparing to sit down ion a corner of the sofa): Your place is very attractive, Lieutenant. I never imagined that a room in a military complex building could be so comfortable and attractive.

Willi: They’re not all the same. I suppose it depends on one’s militarythe rank of the occupant. (He busies himself awkwardly with straightening up the books and papers on the table and then abruptly turns around and offers Leopoldine a cigarette from his cigarette box.)

Leopoldine (taking the proferred cigarette): And how do you normally live, Lieutenant?

Willi: (Standing opposite the table from her): How do I live? I – what do you mean…..?

Leopoldine: I mean, how do you like being an officer? Is it very demanding?

25

Willi: Well, sometimes it’s very demanding, and sometimes not so much. True, I often have to get up very early in the morning to go on tactical exercises, and of course I’m always on call, but otherwise —

Leopoldine: Do you get along with your superiors?

Willi: Can’t complain. I’m very friendly with one of my fellow officers, Lieutenant Wosizky.

Leopoldine: Have you been a lieutenant for a long time? Do you expect to be promoted soon?

Willi: No, not for at least three years.

Leopoldine: And do you often go on excursions trips like you didthe one last Sunday?

Willi: Well, not usually — usually I don’t have much time for excursions of any sort, as you can imagine, madam — sometimes on Sundays, yes…(sighs)

Leopoldine: Well, I hope you usually have better things to do than to spend your evenings at the carda gaming table. (smiles up at him, nodding pleasantly all during this conversation).

Willi: [I’m not sure we need everything that Willi says here.] Oh, I assure you – I usually don’t gamble at all. I often go to visitfor dinner at the Kessler family. They have a beautiful villa in the country, and two daughters. I sometimes join them for dinner at their villa. Last Sunday it happened that they had already gone out when I arrived, and the maid told me they had gone to a lodge in the neighborhood for dinner, where they wanted me to join them. Since I had some time until dinner, I went to look for And sometimes I look in on some friends of mine at the Café Schopf, which was on the way. That’s where I ran into one of my comrades and our regiment doctor, Dr. Tugut. They wanted me to join them in a little card game, and led by a Consul from a South American country, as I had done the week before. I only went to watch at first, just to be sociable. Some of the people there — there was a young actress, a Fräulein Rihoscheck, who is evidently shared by the consul and a stupid young actor named Elrief, from the local theatrical company — are really rather déclassé [is that the best word, here?]. Well, I did get drawn into the game, as I’ve told you. I, and didn’t get back to Vienna until three in the morning., accompanied by one of the card players. One of the plAyers accompanied me back here.

Leopoldine: I hope your ride was in pleasant company!

Willi: Oh no — not at all. Quite On the contrary! I rode with Consul Schnabel, the old …Well, he’s the one to which whom I owe the money — which he pushed on me without my even asking him.

26

Leopoldine: The daughters in tThis Kessler family that you mentioned—is the daughter blonde or brown-haired what are they like?

Willi (dismissivelya bit taken aback): I really couldn’t say — I havedidn’t noticed. I think, madam — that you imagine my life to be quite different from whatthan it actually is!

Leopoldine: (gives a little flirtatious giggle): Well —

Willi: If only I weren’t so utterly alone, really — the disaster what happened wouldn’t have happened.

Leopoldine (nods gravely): To stand be alone — and to be stand alone — these are two quite different things.

Willi: That’s true.

(Leopoldine nods again and remains silent, but takes off her Florentine hat and puts it on the table.).

Willi: Well, and how about you — how have you been? How have things gone with you since we – metspent an evening together? What have you been doing in all this time?

Leopoldine: AOh, a lot of things. My life has changed a good deal…

Willi: Yes?

Leopoldine: I’m very busy these days with investments businesses mattersand the like. I travel a good bit, and sometimes I go on excursions, too, like you -- last year in the spring I too went to Baden too , by way of Heiligenkreuz in the spring — it was very pleasant.

Willi: Yes, I particularly like Heiligenkreuz for hiking. And Baden is paverticularly nice in the spring --

Leopoldine: (picks up her hat and pins it to her hair): Yes. Well, it really is time for me to be going…

Willi: (with a wan smile): Well, uhm…Why do you want to leave so soon?—You don’t really intend to leave so soon, do you -- Leopoldine?

Leopoldine: It’s late .— (teasingly) And you – you undoubtedly have something better planned on such a beautiful summer evening — Willi.

Willi: Oh no. I have no plans at all!

27

Leopoldine (with her hat on, goes over to the open window and looks down into the courtyard below. Willi walks over to her, and stands a little behind her. Slowly, he reaches for her left hand. Gradually, she slips her fingers lightly into his): It’s rather melancholy depressing in here.

Willi: Do you think so?

(Leopoldine nods slowly.):

Willi: But we don’t have to be melancholy at all. –

Leopoldine (turns away from the window towards him): Well — I really must be goingon my way. My Marie will be waiting with supper for me.

Willi: Has madam never let Marie wait before?

(Leopoldine smiles and hesitates.)

Willi: Would you give me the pleasure of dining with me this evening, Leopoldine? I’ll send my orderly over to Riedhof’s to get us something to eat, and you can still easily be home by ten.

Leopoldine (insincerely): Well, no, no, I really couldn’t—

(Willi: ( rushes into corridor or ante-room at stage left without further ado, gives his orderly the necessary instructions, and comes back into the room, where Leopoldine is just flinging her Florentine hat across the table, where it bounces off and lands on the bed.).

(Leopoldine, suddenly completely changed,now lighthearted, and flirtatious, she strokes his hair. He responds by seizing her around the wait and drawing her down next to him on the sofa. He turns to kiss her but she turns away abruptly.)

Willi (nonplussed, he desists): Well, what do you usually do in the evenings, Leopoldine?

Leopoldine (looking him straight in the eye): I have so much to do the whole day long, that I’m only too glad to have my peace in the evenings and not see anyone.

Willi: Well, I don’t really understand what kind of business you’re involved in. (teasing) How did you get into business at allbecome so commercial?

Leopoldine: You wouldn’t understand, Willi. It’s rather complicated —

28

Willi: You must tell me at least something about your life! Of course not everything — I understand that — but still, tell me a little something about what happened to you since the day — we last saw each other. (—Beat)— Tell me, are you happy?

Leopoldine: I think so. Above all — I’m a free person. That’s what I always wanted most. I don’t’m not dependent on anyone! Just like — a man.

Willi: Fortunately, that’s the only thing about you that’s like a man about you! (Moves closer to her again and begins to caress her. This time she does not pull away. But when the door to the hallway opens, she quickly gets up and takes turns on the lamp out of the niche of the ovens and lights it). [“niche of the ovens? What “lamp”?].

(Joseph, the orderly enters, carrying dinner with the meal.)

Leopoldine (looks at it and smiles ironically): The Lieutenant has obviously had some experience in these matters! (She helps Joseph set the table and puts the food out, not allowing Willi to help.)

Willi: Let me help. I don’t want to sit here like a pasha!

Leopoldine: No, no, you sit down.

Willi (after Joseph and she have finished setting the table and putting out the food, to Joseph): That’s all for the day, Joseph. You may go.

Joseph: Thank you, sir!

(Leopoldine: presses a very generous tip into his hand. Joseph protests, but accepts the moneyt, and then salutes her as though if she were a general. Exits.)

(Leopoldine (returns to sit on the sofa next to Willi. He pours her some wine, and she suddenly puts her glass down and kisses him passionately on the lips. But when he reacts she pushes him away again)

Leopoldine: First, let’s eat.

(Willi and LeopoldineThey go to the table, sit down, and begin to eat and drink, making. They make small talk. After the bottle of wine is finished, Willi gets out some cognac. Leopoldine leans back into a corner of the sofa, and Willi bends over her, kissing her eyes, her lips, her neck. She yields and whispers his name.)

Leopoldine: Willi!

Fade-out. Curtain falls.

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Scene 7 : Willi and Leopoldine – Early the Next Morning

Scene is exactly the reverses the roles of that in Scene 1: Leopoldine is getting out of bed and putting on her clothes in the middle of the room while Willi is still sleeping. When she is finished, he stirs, looks around, and sees her.

Willi: What? Leopoldine! What are you doing? You’re getting up already? You’re not leaving so early in the morning? God, how soundly I must have slept, not to hear you get up! Where are you going ? Oh, stay a little longer! (Stretches out his hands towards her from the bed , exactlyjust as she had done in Scene 1.) [yes!]

Leopoldine: (pins her hat to her head and picks up her parasol in her hand, as though ready preparing to leave immediately) I have to be somewhere very early (but walks over to him and sits next on the bed facing him)

Willie (attempts to pull her towards him): Don’t leave, Leopoldine!

Leopoldine (kisses him on the forehead, but attempts to get up): No more nonsense now!

Willie (trying to restrain her): Leopoldine! You don’t really want to leave already, do you?

Leopoldine: I certainly do! (strokes his hair in sisterly fashion) I want to get a few hours of real sleep. I have an important conference at nine.

Willi: You mean — a conference with your lawyer?

Leopoldine: No. I’m expecting a business friend from Prague. (Bends down, pushes his mustache away from his lips, and kisses him fleetingly). Good-bye. (She stands up).

Willie (looks desperately around the room and then turns away): But — Leopoldine--

Leopoldine (already at door): Good-bye, Willi.

Willie (in a strangled voice): Leopoldine! Please!

Leopoldine: Oh, I almost forgot (she reaches into the neckline of her dress and pulls out a thousand gulden note, which she casually drops on the table). [If we add “Here.” It puts too much effort into her act – we can let it be just a bit more subtle than that.] (pullsShe then opens the door.).

Willie: (starting up and sitting rigidly upright on the edge of his bed): Leopoldine! -- She turns around and gives him an icy look — Leopoldine — No — wait — but that’s too little, Leopoldine! I didn’t ask you for a thousand! I asked you for eleven —you must have misunderstood me yesterday. (pulls the covers over his naked legs).

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Leopoldine (first stares at him in silence, then nods a couple of times): Oh, yes — you thought— (gestures contemptuously towards the bill) —that – that has nothing to do with your request. The thousand gulden are not a loan; they’re are yours — for last night!

Willie (letting the covers slide off his feet and standing up erect, reddening): What—what?!

Leopoldine: It isn’t too little, is it? What exactly did you expect? A thousand gulden. I only received ten from you at that time. Don’t you remember?

Willie (takes a few steps towards her, stops, and seizes the bill. He crumples it, as though he were about to throw it at her feet): You —

Leopoldine (lets go of the door handle, walks over to him, and looks him straight in the eye): I’m not reproaching you. I had no right to expect more at that time. Ten gulden—that was enough then – too much even. (Beat). To be more exact—it was exactly ten gulden too much!

Willie (stares at her, then looks away, abashed): I — I couldn’t have known that….

Leopoldine: Yes, you could have. It wasn’t so difficult to see!

(They look at each other. Beat.)

Willi: (angrily): What do you think you’re doing? You — you -- how dare you act as though you really believed I was offering giving myself to you for money!? How dare you treat me like a prostitutegigolo who wants to be paid for his favors? And then you have the effrontery arrogance to add to this outrageous insult by bargaining for a lower price than had been set, like a lover disappointed by the skills of a whore? How could you doubt that I would have thrown the whole eleven thousand back at your feet if you had dared to offer them as payment for my services! How – how – could you -- You — you (he raises his fist as though to strike her, but suddenly his abusive threats dissolve on his lips. He slowly lowers his hand he looks down. Pause.(Beagt)

Lepoldine leaves quietly. When he looks up again, she has gone. Pause.(Beat) He rushes to the window, throws it open, and looks out.)

Leopoldine: (from outside, in a cheerful voice): Good-bye, Willi! Have a nice good day!

Willi: (staggers away from the window, and falls heavily into the sofa, his hand still clutching the 1000 gulden note. Slowly, he drops the note on the table, where it falls into a plate with the remains of last night’s dinner still on it. He walks over to a mirror and looks at himself for a long moment. Then he reaches for his military coat and puts it on over his nightshirt, as though ashamed not to be dressed. He paces up and down several times, and then walks over to his dresser, where he stands for a while. Finally he opens

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one of the drawers, and reaches in to withdraw a revolver. He looks at it for a while, then puts it down on the table. He picks up the crumpled bill, unrolls it, and studies it. He puts it down again. Then he walks over to the door, opens it, and sees his orderly in the ante-room, leaning against a stove.)

Joseph (getting up quickly, stands at attention): Beg to report inform you sir, that I have reported the lieutenant ill.

Willi: Ill? Who told you to do that?…Oh yes……Very well, Make me a cup of coffee. (he closes the door behind him and goes back into a room. He begins to search the whole room for something, opening one drawer after another r— finally he picks up a card from the niche near the oven and looks at it. Reading: ). Piaristenstrasse 20. Hmm. (He picks up the bill, folds it, puts it between two sheets of white paper and into the enveloper, shrugs his shoulders, and writes an address on the envelope.) Joseph!

Joseph: (Comes in the door and salutes) Yes sir?

Willi (giving him the envelope): Take this to First Lieutenant Otto von Bogner. Right away.

Joseph: Do you wish an answer, Lieutenant, sir?

Willi: No. But make sure you give it to him personally and — no, don’t wait for an answer. Whatever happens, don’t wake me up when you get back. Let me sleep. Until I wake up by myself.

Joseph: Very good, sir! (He clicks his heels, salutes, turns around and hurries off. Willi shuts the door and locks it. He goes to the sofa and sits down.)

Curtain falls slowly

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Scene 8: The End

Parlor or Ante-room to Willi’s room. Willi’s room is in the dark. We dimly see him sitting on the sofa, perhaps asleepmotionless.

Joseph (asleep at his post. A bell rings below. Joseph starts, goes downstairs, i.e.exits, and comes back into the antechamber with Bogner).

Bogner: Is the Lieutenant at home?

Joseph: I’m sorry, but the lieutenant is still sleeping.

Bogner (looks at his watch. Paces impatiently up and down the narrow hallway). Doesn’t the lieutenant have any duties today?

Joseph: The lieutenant is ill, sir.

(Enter Dr. Tugut, the regiment doctor.)

Tugut: Is this where Lieutenant Kaska lives?

Joseph: Yes, sir.

Tugut: May I speak with him?

Joseph: Sir, beg to report, the lieutenant is ill. He’s sleeping.

Tugut: Announce me to him, please. Regiment Doctor Tugut.

Joseph: Beg to report, the lieutenant gave orders not to be awakened.

Tugut: This is urgent. Wake the lieutenant up! I’ll be take the responsibilityle.

( Joseph begins to knock at the door. Tugut looks over at Bogner).

Bogner: Otto von Bogner. (stretches out his hand in greeting)

Tugut (avoids proferred hand): Dr. Tugut, Regiment Doctor.

(Beat)

Joseph (now knocks more loudly, as there has been no response. He puts his ear to the door and shrugs his shoulders): The lieutenant always sleeps very soundly.

(Bogner and Tugut look at each. Dr. Tugut goes over to the door.)

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Tugut: Kasda? (no answer) Willi?! (no response) — That’s strange. (tries door handle. Turns to Joseph): Fetch the regiment locksmith, and be quick about it!

Joseph: Yessir! (exits)

Bogner: This is very odd.

Tugut: Do you know something about it, Herr — von Bogner?

Bogner: You mean about his gambling loss and everything, doctor? (Tugut nods.) Unfortunately, I do.

Tugut: I wanted to see how the affair stood — whether he was successful in getting the money – do you know whether he did, Herr von Bogner?

Bogner: I don’t know anything.

Tugut (goes to door again, knocks, and calls): Willi! Are you there? (Willi does not stir)

Bogner: I think I hear Joseph with the locksmith.

Tugut: Were you one of his comrades here?

Bogner: Yes, I was. And — I’m the one you were thinking of. Willi was going to share his winnings with me.[how would Bogner know what Tugut was thinking about?]

Tugut (ignoring him): Sometimes it happens that, after a greattoo much excitement — I suspect he didn’t sleep much last night.

Bogner: Yesterday morning — yesterday morning he certainly didn’t have the money together yet. (After Tugut looks at him questioningly) I — I unfortunately, I didn’t succeed either — in getting the money.

(Joseph reappears with the young man who is the locksmith and carries, a very young red-cheeked [is the characterization of the locksmith significant?] man in uniform who is carrying the tools of his trade. Tugut knocks violently at the door again. Everyone waits for a while. There is no sound.)

Tugut: Very well, then. (gestures to locksmith). Go ahead!

(The locksmith goes to work on the door, and after a few seconds it soon opens and the lights go up to reveal Willi in his military coat, collar raised, leaning in the corner of the black leather sofa with his head on his breast and his right arm hanging limply over the side. A revolver lies on the floor in front of him. A narrow stream of dark red blood is trickling over his cheek and disappears between his neck and his collar.

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Everyone stands in shock for a moment; then Tugut walks over to him, lifts the hangdropping arm, and lets it go. It immediately drops limply again. He Tugut unbuttons the Willi’s coat, revealing the night shirt beneath it. Bogner steps closer and picks up the revolver).

Tugut: Stop! Everything must remain as it is! (He puts his ear to Willi’s chest, straightens up, and sighs. Joseph and the locksmith remain rooted to the floor outside the room. Steps are heard outside. An elderly man appears in the open door, dressed in a light, somewhat worn summer suit, and looks uncertainly around the room. It is Willi’s uncle, Robert Wilram.

Bogner: Herr von Wilram! (turns to Tugut ): His uncle! [how would Bogner recognize Robert?]

Robert (Confused, he tries to approach Willi. Tugut restrains him.): Willi! What’s going on? —

Tugut: Unfortunately, a terrible accident has happened. But — there is nothing to be done now. (Robert stares at him) I’m the regiment doctor, Dr. Tugut. Death must have occurred several hours ago.

Robert (pulls an envelope from his breast pocket with his hand and waves it in the air): But I’ve brought it, Willi! –Here’s the money! She gave it to me this morning. The whole eleven thousand! Willi — Willi, here it is! (turns around to face the others) That’s the entire amount, gentlemen! Eleven thousand gulden —

Beat.

Tugut: It’s too late, unfortunately. (to TugutBogner) I’m going to write the report. (addresses the others) The body is to remain in the position that it was found. (To Joseph) I’m holding you responsible for everything remaining the way it is. (He turns around once more, tips his hat, and this time shakes hands with Bogner.)

Joseph (goes over to the sofa, standing stiffly erect. Does not interfere when Robert walks over and with raised hands addresses Willli.)

Robert: Willi! Willi — it’s here! Here’s the money….! (Sinks to his knees in front of his dead nephew, inhales deeply as though smelling something, and looks into dead man’s eyes. Slowly, he lifts his head and looks around the room. He gets up and goes over to the table and looks at the remains of the meal, the plates, the bottles, and the glasses. Then turns to Joseph) Did the lieutenant have a visitor here last night?

Joseph: (standing stiffly erect). Yes. Until late into the night (Beat) it was – another officer in the regiment.

Robert: Oh.

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(He leaves with Bogner. A group of military personnel is heard on the stairs, while Joseph remains stiffly on guard.)

Curtain

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Scene 3—The game. [am working on this one[.

Square table in a dark corner of a restaurant. At the table are four men: Consul Schnabel, late middle-aged if not older, with a thinning mustache and reddish, partly grey, thinning hair, elegantly dressed in a light grey suit. He is studying a card just dealt him by Dr. Tugut, the regiment’s doctor, dressed in military attire, sits on one side. On the other is a young man, Elfried, a handsome actor, about 30. A piano is heard playing an Italian overture in the background.

Enter Willi with Lieutenant Greisig, one of his comrades in the regiment. They are talking.

Willi: My mother used to play that piece four-handed with a friend. I took lessons, but I never got good enough to play with her seriously—and then she died.

Greisig: Did she die recently?

Willi: No, it was eight years ago already. My father died soon after, unfortunately—as a military officer in the army, stationed in Hungary. He died at My only living relative now is an uncle who lives here in Vienna. I haven’t seen him in quite a while, though he did give me a yearly allowance the first few years I was here with the regiment.

Greisig: What happened to him?

Willi: I don’t know. It was quite strange—he used to be a fun-loving, generous man about town, but lately he’s become a recluse. The last few times I tried to see him I was refused entrance.

Consul: Well, you two, come on. Where have you been? Come and join us. You’ve let us wait for quite a while! (He studies a card he just received from Tugut).

Willi: Thanks, but I can’t join you tonight — I’m invited somewhere else (lights a cigarette and then takes a seat, though he pulls the chair away from the table). But I’ll just watch for a quarter of an hour.

Elrief: Hah—the way to hell is paved with good intentions—

Tugut: And the way to heaven with bad ones! (Pulls some brand new bills from his wallet, and puts down a bank of two hundred gulden while Greisig sits down at the table and picks up some cards.)

Card game ensues, with everyone betting. Elrief shows his cards to Willi, who after al while, allows himself to be cajoled into placing a gulden on Elrief’s cards.

Willi: This is just to bring you luck!

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(Willi wins the round. When Tugut tosses Willi another card, he takes it. He keeps winning and losing, and after a little while pulls his chair to the table between the others. The Consul becomes the banker.)

Consul: One hundred gulden (puts down the money).

Willi: (as he plays, he keeps winning.) Not bad tonight! (counts his money). Twelve hundred gulden!

Elrief: Well, I’ve got to get back to the theater. Good-bye gentlemen.

Willi: (looks at his watch): Oh, I’m so sorry, I need to go, too. The last train for Vienna leaves at 10:40.

Consul: Finish your wine. I’ll have my carriage bring you to the station.

Willi: Oh, thank you sir, but I can’t…

Consul: Yes, you can.

Tugut: Well, are we going to continue playing?

. (After shaking hands all around, Willi and Elrief leave).

(The group keeps playing in Willi’s absence. Willi suddenly appears again. The Consul is the first to notice him at the door, and beckons to him.)

Consul: So—you’ve come back!

Willi: I just missed the train back to Vienna by barely a minute. I got held up by a few ladies I met in the restaurant in the other room and so was a little late to catch a cab. And then just as the cab was pulling into the station, the train arrived and left. Nothing to be done!

Consul: Well, must be fate—you were meant to join us again!

Willi (sits down again, and this time pulls his chair up right away). Ok, hit me again.

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