Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit) Part 6

(Springs up, throws away his palette and brushes, walks up and down.) The boot-black only attends to her feet! His color doesn't eat into his money, either. If I go without supper to-morrow, no little society lady will ask 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 trowser-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 don't get me for a long time yet.

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? G.o.d 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 cras.h.i.+ng to the floor.)

SCHWARZ. (Screams.) Merciful Heaven!

LULU. (Upstage, 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 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. Why so distant?

LULU. It would be uncomfortable to--

SCHWARZ. You're just making believe!