Plays: the Father; Countess Julie; the Outlaw; the Stronger Part 27

JULIE [Shrieks]. Kill me, too. Kill me! You who can butcher an innocent bird without a tremble. Oh, how I shrink from you. I curse the moment I first saw you. I curse the moment I was conceived in my mother's womb.

JEAN. Come now! What good is your cursing, let's be off.

JULIE [Looks toward chopping block as though obsessed by thought of the slain bird]. No, I cannot. I must see-- --hush, a carriage is pa.s.sing.

Don't you think I can stand the sight of blood? You think I am weak.

Oh, I should like to see your blood flowing--to see your brain on the chopping block, all your s.e.x swimming in a sea of blood. I believe I could drink out of your skull, bathe my feet in your breast and eat your heart cooked whole. You think I am weak; you believe that I love you because my life has mingled with yours; you think that I would carry your offspring under my heart, and nourish it with my blood--give birth to your child and take your name! Hear, you, what are you called, what is your family name? But I'm sure you have none. I should be "Mrs.

Gate-Keeper," perhaps, or "Madame Dumpheap." You dog with my collar on, you lackey with my father's hallmark on your b.u.t.tons. I play rival to my cook--oh--oh--oh! You believe that I am cowardly and want to run away.

No, now I shall stay. The thunder may roll. My father will return--and find his desk broken into--his money gone! Then he will ring--that bell.

A scuffle with his servant--then sends for the police--and then I tell all--everything! Oh, it will be beautiful to have it all over with--if only that were the end! And my father--he'll have a shock and die, and then that will be the end. Then they will place his swords across the coffin--and the Count's line is extinct. The serf's line will continue in an orphanage, win honors in the gutter and end in prison.

JEAN. Now it is the king's blood talking. Splendid, Miss Julie! Only keep the miller in his sack.

[Enter Kristin with prayer-book in hand.]

JULIE [Hastening to Kristin and falls in her arms as though seeking protection]. Help me, Kristin, help me against this man.

KRISTIN [Cold and unmoved]. What kind of performance is this for a holy day morning? What does this mean--this noise and fuss?

JULIE. Kristin, you are a woman,--and my friend. Beware of this wretch.

JEAN [A little embarra.s.sed and surprised]. While the ladies are arguing I'll go and shave myself.

[Jean goes, R.]

JULIE. You must understand me--you must listen to me.

KRISTIN. No--I can't understand all this bosh. Where may you be going in your traveling dress?--and he had his hat on! Hey?

JULIE. Listen to me, Kristin, listen to me and I'll tell you everything.

KRISTIN. I don't want to know anything--

JULIE. You must listen to me--

KRISTIN. What about? Is it that foolishness with Jean? That doesn't concern me at all. That I won't be mixed up with, but if you're trying to lure him to run away with you then we must put a stop to it.

JULIE [Nervously]. Try to be calm now Kristin, and listen to me. I can't stay here and Jean can't stay here. That being true, we must leave-- --Kristin.

KRISTIN. Hm, hm!

JULIE [Brightening up]. But I have an idea--what if we three should go--away--to foreign parts. To Switzerland and set up a hotel together--I have money you see--and Jean and I would back the whole thing, you could run the kitchen. Won't that be fine? Say yes, now--and come with us--there everything would be arranged--say yes! [Throws her arms around Kristin and coaxes her].

KRISTIN [Cold and reflecting]. Hm--hm!

JULIE [Presto tempo]. You have never been out and traveled, Kristin.

You shall look about you in the world. You can't believe how pleasant traveling on a train is--new faces continually, new countries--and we'll go to Hamburg--and pa.s.sing through we'll see the zoological gardens--that you will like--then we'll go to the theatre and hear the opera--and when we reach Munich there will be the museum--there are Rubins and Raphaels and all the big painters that you know--you have heard of Munich--where King Ludwig lived--the King, you know, who went mad. Then we'll see his palace--a palace like those in the Sagas--and from there it isn't far to Switzerland--and the Alps, the Alps mind you with snow in mid-summer. And there oranges grow and laurel--green all the year round if--[Jean is seen in the doorway R. stropping his razor on the strop which he holds between his teeth and left hand. He listens and nods his head favorably now and then. Julie continues, tempo prestissimo] And there we'll take a hotel and I'll sit taking the cash while Jean greets the guests--goes out and markets--writes letters--that will be life, you may believe--then the train whistles--then the omnibus comes--then a bell rings upstairs, then in the restaurant--and then I make out the bills--and I can salt them--you can't think how people tremble when they receive their bill--and you--you can sit like a lady--of course you won't have to stand over the stove--you can dress finely and neatly when you show yourself to the people--and you with your appearance--Oh, I'm not flattering, you can catch a husband some fine day--a rich Englishman perhaps--they are so easy to--[Slowing up]

to catch-- --Then we'll be rich--and then we'll build a villa by Lake Como--to be sure it rains sometimes--but [becoming languid] the sun must s.h.i.+ne too sometimes-- -- --although it seems dark-- -- --and if not--we can at least travel homeward--and come back--here--or some other place.

KRISTIN. Listen now. Does Miss Julie believe in all this?

[Julie going to pieces.]

JULIE. Do I believe in it?

KRISTIN. Yes.

JULIE [Tired]. I don't know. I don't believe in anything any more.

[Sinks down on bench, and takes head in her hand on table.] In nothing--nothing!

KRISTIN [Turns to R. and looks toward Jean]. So--you intended to run away?

JEAN [Rather shamefaced comes forward and puts razor on table]. Run away? That's putting it rather strong. You heard Miss Julie's project, I think it might be carried out.

KRISTIN. Now listen to that! Was it meant that I should be her cook--

JEAN [Sharply]. Be so good as to use proper language when you speak of your mistress.

KRISTIN. Mistress?

JEAN. Yes.

KRISTIN. No--hear! Listen to him!

JEAN. Yes, you listen--you need to, and talk less. Miss Julie is your mistress and for the same reason that you do not respect her now you should not respect yourself.

KRISTIN. I have always had so much respect for myself--

JEAN. That you never had any left for others!

KRISTIN. I have never lowered my position. Let any one say, if they can, that the Count's cook has had anything to do with the riding master or the swineherd. Let them come and say it!

JEAN. Yes, you happened to get a fine fellow. That was your good luck.

KRISTIN. Yes, a fine fellow--who sells the Count's oats from his stable.

JEAN. Is it for you to say anything--you who get a commission on all the groceries and a bribe from the butcher?

KRISTIN. What's that?

JEAN. And you can't have respect for your master and mistress any longer--you, you!

KRISTIN [Glad to change the subject]. Are you coming to church with me?

You need a good sermon for your actions.

JEAN. No, I'm not going to church today. You can go alone--and confess your doings.

KRISTIN. Yes, that I shall do, and I shall return with so much forgiveness that there will be enough for you too. The Savior suffered and died on the cross for all our sins, and when we go to Him in faith and a repentant spirit he takes our sins on Himself.

JULIE. Do you believe that, Kristin?