Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit) Part 7

LULU. You're making believe yourself, it seems to me. _I_ make believe?

What makes you think that? =I never needed to do that.=

SCHWARZ. (Rises, disconcerted, pa.s.sing his hand over his forehead.) G.o.d in Heaven! The world is strange to me--!

LULU. (Screams.) Only don't kill me!

SCHWARZ. (Instantly whirling round.) =Thou hast never yet loved!=

LULU. (Half raising herself.) =You have never yet loved ...!=

DR. GOLL. (Outside.) Open the door!

LULU. (Already sprung to her feet.) Hide me! O G.o.d, hide me!

DR. GOLL. (Pounding on the door.) Open the door!

LULU. (Holding back Schwarz as he goes toward the door.) He will strike me dead!

DR. GOLL. (Hammering.) Open the door!

LULU. (Sunk down before Schwarz, gripping his knees.) He'll beat me to death! He'll beat me to death!

SCHWARZ. Stand up.... (The door falls cras.h.i.+ng into the studio.

Dr. Goll with blood-shot eyes rushes upon Schwarz and Lulu, brandis.h.i.+ng his stick.)

DR. GOLL. You dogs! You ...! (Pants, struggles for breath a few seconds, and falls headlong to the ground. Schwarz's knees tremble.

Lulu has fled to the door. Pause.)

SCHWARZ. Mister--Doctor--Doc--Doctor Goll--

LULU. (In the door.) Please, though, first put the studio in order.

SCHWARZ. Dr. Goll! (Leans over.) Doc-- (Steps back.) He's cut his forehead. Help me to lay him on the ottoman.

LULU. (Shudders backward in terror.) No. No...

SCHWARZ. (Trying to turn him over.) Dr. Goll.

LULU. He doesn't hear.

SCHWARZ. But you, help me, please.

LULU. The two of us together couldn't lift him.

SCHWARZ. (Straightening up.) We must send for a doctor.

LULU. He is fearfully heavy.

SCHWARZ. (Getting his hat.) Please, though, be so good as to put the place a little to rights while I'm away. (He goes out.)

LULU. He'll spring up all at once. (Intensely.) Bussi! He just won't notice anything. (Comes down-stage in a wide circle.) He sees my feet, and watches every step I take. He has his eye on me everywhere.

(Touches him with her toe.) Bussi! (Flinching, backward.) It's serious with him. The dance is over. He'll send me to prison. What shall I do?

(Leans over, to the floor.) A strange, wild face! (Getting up.) And no one to do him the last services--isn't that sad! (Schwarz returns.)

SCHWARZ. Still not come to himself?

LULU. (Down right.) What shall I do?

SCHWARZ. (Bending over Goll.) Doctor Goll.

LULU. I almost think it's serious.

SCHWARZ. Talk decently!

LULU. =He= wouldn't say that to me. He makes me dance for him when he doesn't feel well.

SCHWARZ. The doctor will be here in a moment.

LULU. Doctoring won't help =him=.

SCHWARZ. But people do what they can, in such cases!

LULU. =He= doesn't think so.

SCHWARZ. Then won't you at least--get dressed?

LULU. Yes,--right off.

SCHWARZ. What are you waiting for?

LULU. Please ...

SCHWARZ. What is it?

LULU. Shut =his= eyes.

SCHWARZ. You make me s.h.i.+ver.

LULU. Not nearly so much as you make =me=!

SCHWARZ. I?

LULU. You're a born criminal.

SCHWARZ. Doesn't this moment touch you at all, then?

LULU. It hits me, too, some.