Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit) Part 16

SCHoN. (Kicking against the door.) Walter!

ALVA. Shall I force it in?

SCHoN. I can do that. Who is it coming now? (Standing up.) To enjoy life and let others be responsible for it--

LULU. (Coming back with a kitchen ax.) Henriette has come home.

SCHoN. Shut the door behind you.

ALVA. Give it here. (Takes the ax and pounds with it between the jamb and the lock.)

SCHoN. You must hold it nearer the end.

ALVA. It's cracking-- (The lock gives; Alva lets the ax fall and staggers back.) (Pause.)

LULU. (To Schon, pointing to the door.) After you. (Schon flinches, drops back.) Are you getting--dizzy? (Schon wipes the sweat from his forehead and goes in.)

ALVA. (From the couch.) Ghastly!

LULU. (Stopping in the door-way, finger on lips, cries out sharply.) Oh! Oh! (Hurries to Alva.) I can't stay here.

ALVA. Horrible!

LULU. (Taking his hand.) Come.

ALVA. Where to?

LULU. I can't be alone. (Goes out with Alva, right.)

(Schon comes back, a bunch of keys in his hand, which shows blood. He pulls the door to, behind him, goes to the writing-table, opens it, and writes two notes.)

ALVA. (Coming back, right.) She's changing her clothes.

SCHoN. She has gone?

ALVA. To her room. She's changing her clothes. (Schon rings. Henriette comes in.)

SCHoN. You know where Dr. Bernstein lives?

HENRIETTE. Of course, Doctor. Right next door.

SCHoN. (Giving her one note.) Take that over to him, please.

HENRIETTE. In case the doctor is not at home?

SCHoN. He is at home. (Giving her the other note.) And take this to police headquarters. Take a cab. (Henriette goes out.) I am judged!

ALVA. My blood is cold.

SCHoN. (Toward the left.) The fool!

ALVA. He waked up to something, perhaps?

SCHoN. He has been too absorbed with himself. (Lulu appears on the steps, right, in dust-coat and hat.)

ALVA. Where are you going now?

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

SCHoN. Where are his papers?

LULU. In the desk.

SCHoN. (At the desk.) Where?

LULU. Lower right-hand drawer. (She kneels and opens the drawer, emptying the papers on the floor.) Here. There is nothing to fear. He had no secrets.

SCHoN. Now I can just withdraw from the world.

LULU. (Still kneeling.) Write a pamphlet about him. Call him Michelangelo.

SCHoN. What good'll that do? (Pointing left.) There lies my engagement.

ALVA. That's the curse of your game!

SCHoN. Shout it thru the streets!!

ALVA. (Pointing to Lulu.) If you had treated that girl fairly and justly when my mother died--

SCHoN. My engagement is bleeding to death there!

LULU. (Getting up.) I sha'n't stay here any longer.

SCHoN. In an hour they'll be selling extras. I dare not go across the street!

LULU. Why, what can you do to help it?

SCHoN. That's just it! They'll stone me for it!

ALVA. You must get away--travel.

SCHoN. To leave the scandal a free field!

LULU. (By the couch.) Ten minutes ago he was lying here.

SCHoN. This is the reward for all I've done for him! In one second he wrecks my whole life for me!

ALVA. Control yourself, please!