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Title: Liliom
A Legend in Seven Scenes and a Prologue
Author: Ferenc Molnár
Translator: Benjamin F. Glazer
Release Date: April 20, 2015 [EBook #48749]
Language: English
Character set encoding: UTF-8
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LILIOM ***
Produced by Paul Haxo from page images generously made
available by the Internet Archive, Cornell University,
Harvard University and Google.
L I L I O M
A LEGEND IN SEVEN SCENES
AND A PROLOGUE
BY
ENGLISH TEXT AND INTRODUCTION BY
BENJAMIN F. GLAZER
HORACE LIVERIGHT
PUBLISHER
NEW YORK
LILIOM
COPYRIGHTED, 1921, BY
UNITED PLAYS INC.
All rights reserved
First Printing, May, 1921
Second Printing, June, 1921
Third Printing, August, 1921
Fourth Printing, November, 1921
Fifth Printing, September, 1922
Sixth Printing, December, 1922
Seventh Printing, January, 1926
Eighth Printing, December, 1927
Ninth Printing, November, 1928
CAUTION—All persons are hereby warned that the plays published in this volume are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States and all foreign countries, and are subject to royalty, and any one presenting any of said plays without the consent of the Author or his recognized agents, will be liable to the penalties by law provided. Applications for the acting rights must be made to the United Plays, Inc., 1428 Broadway, New York City.
Printed in the United States of America
As originally produced by The Theatre Guild, on the night of April 20, 1921, at the Garrick Theatre, New York City.
(In the order of their appearance)
| Marie | Hortense Alden | ||
| Julie | Eva Le Gallienne | ||
| Mrs. Muskat | Helen Westley | ||
| “Liliom” | Joseph Schildkraut | ||
| “Liliom” is the Hungarian for lily, and the slang term for “a tough” | |||
| Four Servant Girls | { | Frances Diamond Margaret Mosier Anne de Chantal Elizabeth Parker |
|
| Policemen | { | Howard Claney Lawrence B. Chrow |
|
| Captain | Erskine Sanford | ||
| Plainclothes Man | Gerald Stopp | ||
| Mother Hollunder | Lilian Kingsbury | ||
| “The Sparrow” | Dudley Digges | ||
| Wolf Berkowitz | Henry Travers | ||
| Young Hollunder | William Franklin | ||
| Linzman | Willard Bowman | ||
| First Mounted Policeman | Edgar Stehli | ||
| Second Mounted Policeman | George Frenger | ||
| The Doctor | Robert Babcock | ||
| The Carpenter | George Frenger | ||
| First Policeman of the Beyond | Erskine Sanford | ||
| Second Policeman of the Beyond | Gerald Stopp | ||
| The Richly Dressed Man | Edgar Stehli | ||
| The Poorly Dressed Man | Philip Wood | ||
| The Old Guard | Walton Butterfield | ||
| The Magistrate | Albert Perry | ||
| Louise | Evelyn Chard | ||
| Peasants, Townspeople, etc. | |||
| Lela M. Aultman, Janet Scott, Marion M. Winsten, Katherine Fahnestock, Lillian Tuchman, Ruth L. Cumming, Jacob Weiser, Maurice Somers, John Crump. | |||
| Prologue | An Amusement Park on the Outskirts of Budapest | ||
| First Scene | A Lonely Place in the Park | ||
| Second Scene | The Tin Type Shop of the Hollunders | ||
| Third Scene | The Same | ||
| Fourth Scene | A Railroad Embankment Outside the City | ||
| Intermission | |||
| Fifth Scene | Same as Scene Two | ||
| Sixth Scene | A Courtroom in the Beyond | ||
| Seventh Scene | Before Julie’s Door | ||
| Produced under the direction of FRANK REICHER | |||
| Costumes and scenery designed by LEE SIMONSON | |||
| Technical Director SHELDON K. VIELE | |||
| Scenery painted by ROBERT BERGMAN | |||
| Costumes executed by NETTIE DUFF READE | |||
| Stage Manager WALTER GEER | |||
| Assistant Stage Manager JACOB WEISER | |||
| Music arranged by DEEMS TAYLOR | |||
| Executive Director THERESA HELBURN | |||
The première of “LILIOM” at Budapest in December, 1909, left both playgoer and critic a bit bewildered. It was not the sort of play the Hungarian capital had been accustomed to expect of its favorite dramatist, whose THE DEVIL, after two years of unprecedented success, was still crowding the theatres of two continents.
One must, it was true, count on a touch of fantasy in every Molnar work. Never had he been wholly content with everyday reality, not in his stories, or in his sketches or in his earlier plays; and least of all in THE DEVIL wherein the natural and supernatural were most whimsically blended. But in LILIOM, it seemed, he had carried fantasy to quite unintelligible lengths. Budapest was frankly puzzled.
What did he mean by killing his hero in the fifth scene, taking him into Heaven in the sixth and bringing him back to earth in the seventh? Was this prosaic Heaven of his seriously or satirically intended? Was Liliom a saint or a common tough? And was his abortive redemption a symbol or merely [Pg x]a jibe? These were some of the questions Budapest debated while the play languished through thirty or forty performances and was withdrawn.
Almost ten years passed before it was revived. This time it was an immediate and overwhelming triumph. Perhaps the wide circulation of the play in printed form had made its beauty and significance clearer. Perhaps the tragedy of the war had made Molnar’s public more sensitive to spiritual values. Whatever the reason, Budapest now accepted ecstatically what it had previously rejected, and Molnar was more of a popular hero than ever. From which it may be gleaned that Hungary takes its drama and dramatists more seriously, disapproves them more passionately and praises them more affectionately than we Americans can conceive. In Paris I once saw an audience rise en masse, because the sculptor Rodin had entered the auditorium, and remain on its feet cheering until he had taken his seat. Something of the kind greets Molnar whenever he appears in public, and nothing is more certain than that he is the hero, the oracle, the spoiled darling of club, salon and coffee house in which artistic Hungary foregathers.
But the years immediately following the first production of LILIOM were for him a period of eclipse. It was the first time that even the threat of failure had cast its shadow across his career. He became [Pg xi]timid, wary of failure, too anxious to please his public. His subsequent plays were less original, less daring, more faithful to routine. Never again did he touch the heights of LILIOM; and some of his best friends aver that he never will again until he has banished the dread of failure that obsesses him.
An odd situation, truly, and in some aspects a tragic one. Genius lacking the courage to spread its wings and soar. A potential immortal bidding fearfully for the praise of a coffee-house clique. Is it vanity? Is it abnormal sensitiveness? Biographical data cast little light on the enigma.
Franz Molnar was born in Budapest on January 12, 1878, the son of a wealthy Jewish merchant. He graduated from the Universities of Geneva and Budapest. His literary career was begun as a journalist at the age of eighteen. He wrote short sketches and humorous dialogues of such beauty and charm that he became a national figure almost at once, and the circulation of his newspaper increased until it was foremost in Budapest. Then he married Margaret Vaszi, the daughter of his editor, herself a journalist of note. Two years later he was divorced from her, and subsequently he married an actress who had played rôles in his own plays.
For a portrait of him as he is today you have to think of Oscar Wilde at the height of his glory. A big pudgy face, immobile, pink, smooth-shaven, [Pg xii]its child-like expressionlessness accentuated by the monocle he always wears, though rather belied by the gleam of humor in his dark alert eyes. His hair is iron-gray, his figure stocky and of about medium height. A mordant wit, an inimitable raconteur, he loves life and gayety and all the luxuries of life. Nothing can persuade him out of his complacent and comfortable routine. He will not leave Budapest, even to attend the première of one of his plays in nearby Vienna. The post-war political upheaval which has rent all Hungary into two voluble and bitter factions left him quite unperturbed and neutral. His pen is not for politics.
Yet it is a singularly prolific pen. His novels and short stories are among the finest in Hungarian literature. He has written nine long plays and numerous short ones. A chronology of his more important dramatic works is as follows:
1902 A DOKTOR UR (The Doctor).
1904 JOZSI.
1907 AZ ÖRDÖG (The Devil).
1909 LILIOM.
1911 TESTÖR (Played in this country as “Where Ignorance is Bliss”).
1913 A FARKAS (Played in this country as “The Phantom Rival”).
1914 URIDIVAT (Attorney for Defence).
1919 A HATTYU (The Swan).
1920 SZINHAZ (Theatre: Three One-Act Plays).
Undoubtedly the greatest of these is LILIOM. Indeed, I know of no play written in our own time which matches the amazing virtuosity of LILIOM, its imaginative daring, its uncanny blending of naturalism and fantasy, humor and pathos, tenderness and tragedy into a solid dramatic structure. At first reading it may seem a mere improvization in many moods, but closer study must reveal how the moods are as inevitably related to each other as pearls on a string.
And where in modern dramatic literature can such pearls be matched—Julie incoherently confessing to her dead lover the love she had always been ashamed to tell; Liliom crying out to the distant carousel the glad news that he is to be a father; the two thieves gambling for the spoils of their prospective robbery; Marie and Wolf posing for their portrait while the broken-hearted Julie stands looking after the vanishing Liliom, the thieves’ song ringing in her ears; the two policemen grousing about pay and pensions while Liliom lies bleeding to death; Liliom furtively proffering his daughter the star he has stolen for her in heaven. . . . The temptation to count the whole scintillating string is difficult to resist.
What is the moral of LILIOM? Nothing you can reduce to a creed. Molnar is not a preacher or a [Pg xiv]propagandist for any theory of life. You will look in vain in his plays for moral or dogma. His philosophy—if philosophy you can call it—is always implicit. And nothing is plainer than that his picture of a courtroom in the beyond is neither devoutly nor satirically intended. Liliom’s Heaven is the Heaven of his own imagining. And what is more natural than that it should be an irrational jumble of priest’s purgatory, police magistrate’s justice and his own limited conception of good deeds and evil?
For those who hold that every fine dramatic architecture must have its spire of meaning, that by the very selection of character and incident the dramatist writes his commentary on life, there is still an explanation possible. Perhaps Molnar was at the old, old task of revaluing our ideas of good and evil. Perhaps he has only shown how the difference between a bully, a wife-beater and a criminal on the one hand and a saint on the other can be very slight. If one must tag LILIOM with a moral, I prefer to read mine in Liliom’s dying speech to Julie wherein he says: “Nobody’s right . . . but they all think they are right. . . . A lot they know.”
BENJAMIN F. GLAZER.
New York, April, 1921.
PROLOGUE—An amusement park on the outskirts of Budapest.
FIRST SCENE—A lonely place in the park.
SECOND SCENE—The photographic studio of the HOLLUNDERS.
THIRD SCENE—Same as scene two.
FOURTH SCENE—A railroad embankment outside the city.
FIFTH SCENE—Same as scene two.
SIXTH SCENE—A courtroom in the beyond.
SEVENTH SCENE—JULIE’S garden.
There are intermissions only after the second and fifth scenes.
An amusement park on the outskirts of Budapest on a late afternoon in Spring. Barkers stand before the booths of the sideshows haranguing the passing crowd. The strident music of a calliope is heard; laughter, shouts, the scuffle of feet, the signal bells of merry-go-round.
The merry-go-round is at Center. LILIOM stands at the entrance, a cigarette in his mouth, coaxing the people in. The girls regard him with idolizing glances and screech with pleasure as he playfully pushes them through entrance. Now and then some girl’s escort resents the familiarity, whereupon LILIOM’S demeanor becomes ugly and menacing, and the cowed escort slinks through the entrance behind his girl or contents himself with a muttered resentful comment.
One girl hands LILIOM a red carnation; he rewards her with a bow and a smile. When the soldier who accompanies her protests, LILIOM cows him with a fierce glance and a threatening gesture. MARIE and JULIE come out of the crowd and LILIOM favors them with particular notice as they pass into the merry-go-round.
MRS. MUSKAT comes out of the merry-go-round, bringing LILIOM coffee and rolls. LILIOM mounts the barker’s stand at the entrance, where he is elevated over everyone on the stage. Here he begins his harangue. Everybody turns toward him. The other booths are gradually deserted. The tumult makes it impossible for the audience to hear what he is saying, but every now and then some witticism of his provokes a storm of laughter which is audible above the din. Many people enter the merry-go-round. Here and there one catches a phrase “Room for one more on the zebra’s back,” “Which of you ladies?” “Ten heller for adults, five for children,” “Step right up”——
It is growing darker. A lamplighter crosses the stage, and begins unperturbedly lighting the colored gas-lamps. The whistle of a distant locomotive is heard. Suddenly the tumult ceases, the lights go out, and the curtain falls in darkness.
END OF PROLOGUE
LILIOM
SCENE—A lonely place in the park, half hidden by trees and shrubbery. Under a flowering acacia tree stands a painted wooden bench. From the distance, faintly, comes the tumult of the amusement park. It is the sunset of the same day.
When the curtain rises the stage is empty.
MARIE enters quickly, pauses at center, and looks back.
MARIE
Julie, Julie! [There is no answer.] Do you hear me, Julie? Let her be! Come on. Let her be. [Starts to go back.]
[JULIE enters, looks back angrily.]
JULIE
Did you ever hear of such a thing? What’s the matter with the woman anyway?
MARIE
[Looking back again.] Here she comes again.
JULIE
Let her come. I didn’t do anything to her. All of a sudden she comes up to me and begins to raise a row.
MARIE
Here she is. Come on, let’s run. [Tries to urge her off.]
JULIE
Run? I should say not. What would I want to run for? I’m not afraid of her.
MARIE
Oh, come on. She’ll only start a fight.
JULIE
I’m going to stay right here. Let her start a fight.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Entering.] What do you want to run away for? [To JULIE.] Don’t worry. I won’t eat you. But there’s one thing I want to tell you, my dear. Don’t let me catch you in my carousel again. I stand for a whole lot, I have to in my business. It makes no difference to me whether my customers are ladies or the likes of you—as long as they pay their money. But when a girl misbehaves herself on my carousel—out she goes. Do you understand?
JULIE
Are you talking to me?
MRS. MUSKAT
Yes, you! You—chamber-maid, you! In my carousel——
JULIE
Who did anything in your old carousel? I paid my fare and took my seat and never said a word, except to my friend here.
MARIE
No, she never opened her mouth. Liliom came over to her of his own accord.
MRS. MUSKAT
It’s all the same. I’m not going to get in trouble with the police, and lose my license on account of you—you shabby kitchen maid!
JULIE
Shabby yourself.
MRS. MUSKAT
You stay out of my carousel! Letting my barker fool with you! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?
JULIE
What? What did you say?
MRS. MUSKAT
I suppose you think I have no eyes in my head. I see everything that goes on in my carousel. During the whole ride she let Liliom fool with her—the shameless hussy!
JULIE
He did not fool with me! I don’t let any man fool with me!
MRS. MUSKAT
He leaned against you all through the ride!
JULIE
He leaned against the panther. He always leans against something, doesn’t he? Everybody leans where he wants. I couldn’t tell him not to lean, if he always leans, could I? But he didn’t lay a hand on me.
MRS. MUSKAT
Oh, didn’t he? And I suppose he didn’t put his hand around your waist, either?
MARIE
And if he did? What of it?
MRS. MUSKAT
You hold your tongue! No one’s asking you—just you keep out of it.
JULIE
He put his arm around my waist—just the same as he does to all the girls. He always does that.
MRS. MUSKAT
I’ll teach him not to do it any more, my dear. No carryings on in my carousel! If you are looking for that sort of thing, you’d better go to the circus! You’ll find lots of soldiers there to carry on with!
JULIE
You keep your soldiers for yourself!
MARIE
Soldiers! As if we wanted soldiers!
MRS. MUSKAT
Well, I only want to tell you this, my dear, so that we understand each other perfectly. If you ever stick your nose in my carousel again, you’ll wish you hadn’t! I’m not going to lose my license on account of the likes of you! People who don’t know how to behave, have got to stay out!
JULIE
You’re wasting your breath. If I feel like riding on your carousel I’ll pay my ten heller and I’ll ride. I’d like to see anyone try to stop me!
MRS. MUSKAT
Just come and try it, my dear—just come and try it.
MARIE
We’ll see what’ll happen.
MRS. MUSKAT
Yes, you will see something happen that never happened before in this park.
JULIE
Perhaps you think you could throw me out!
MRS. MUSKAT
I’m sure of it, my dear.
JULIE
And suppose I’m stronger than you?
MRS. MUSKAT
I’d think twice before I’d dirty my hands on a common servant girl. I’ll have Liliom throw you out. He knows how to handle your kind.
JULIE
You think Liliom would throw me out.
MRS. MUSKAT
Yes, my dear, so fast that you won’t know what happened to you!
JULIE
He’d throw me—— [Stops suddenly, for MRS. MUSKAT has turned away. Both look off stage until LILIOM enters, surrounded by four giggling servant girls.]
LILIOM
Go away! Stop following me, or I’ll smack your face!
A LITTLE SERVANT GIRL
Well, give me back my handkerchief.
LILIOM
Go on now——
THE FOUR SERVANT GIRLS
[Simultaneously.] What do you think of him?—My handkerchief!—Give it back to her!—That’s a nice thing to do!
THE LITTLE SERVANT GIRL
[To MRS. MUSKAT.] Please, lady, make him——
MRS. MUSKAT
Oh, shut up!
LILIOM
Will you get out of here? [Makes a threatening gesture—the four servant girls exit in voluble but fearful haste.]
MRS. MUSKAT
What have you been doing now?
LILIOM
None of your business. [Glances at JULIE.] Have you been starting with her again?
JULIE
Mister Liliom, please——
LILIOM
[Steps threateningly toward her.] Don’t yell!
JULIE
[Timidly.] I didn’t yell.
LILIOM
Well, don’t. [To MRS. MUSKAT.] What’s the matter? What has she done to you?
MRS. MUSKAT
What has she done? She’s been impudent to me. Just as impudent as she could be! I put her out of the carousel. Take a good look at this innocent thing, Liliom. She’s never to be allowed in my carousel again!
LILIOM
[To JULIE.] You heard that. Run home, now.
MARIE
Come on. Don’t waste your time with such people. [Tries to lead JULIE away.]
JULIE
No, I won’t——
MRS. MUSKAT
If she ever comes again, you’re not to let her in. And if she gets in before you see her, throw her out. Understand?
LILIOM
What has she done, anyhow?
JULIE
[Agitated and very earnest.] Mister Liliom—tell me please—honest and truly—if I come into the carousel, will you throw me out?
MRS. MUSKAT
Of course he’ll throw you out.
MARIE
She wasn’t talking to you.
JULIE
Tell me straight to my face, Mister Liliom, would you throw me out? [They face each other. There is a brief pause.]
LILIOM
Yes, little girl, if there was a reason—but if there was no reason, why should I throw you out?
MARIE
[To MRS. MUSKAT.] There, you see!
JULIE
Thank you, Mister Liliom.
MRS. MUSKAT
And I tell you again, if this little slut dares to set her foot in my carousel, she’s to be thrown out! I’ll stand for no indecency in my establishment.
LILIOM
What do you mean—indecency?
MRS. MUSKAT
I saw it all. There’s no use denying it.
JULIE
She says you put your arm around my waist.
LILIOM
Me?
MRS. MUSKAT
Yes, you! I saw you. Don’t play the innocent.
LILIOM
Here’s something new! I’m not to put my arm around a girl’s waist any more! I suppose I’m to ask your permission before I touch another girl!
MRS. MUSKAT
You can touch as many girls as you want and as often as you want—for my part you can go as far as you like with any of them—but not this one—I permit no indecency in my carousel. [There is a long pause.]
LILIOM
[To MRS. MUSKAT.] And now I’ll ask you please to shut your mouth.
MRS. MUSKAT
What?
LILIOM
Shut your mouth quick, and go back to your carousel.
MRS. MUSKAT
What?
LILIOM
What did she do to you, anyhow? Tryin’ to start a fight with a little pigeon like that . . . just because I touched her?—You come to the carousel as often as you want to, little girl. Come every afternoon, and sit on the panther’s back, and if you [Pg 14]haven’t got the price, Liliom will pay for you. And if anyone dares to bother you, you come and tell me.
MRS. MUSKAT
You reprobate!
LILIOM
Old witch!
JULIE
Thank you, Mister Liliom.
MRS. MUSKAT
You seem to think that I can’t throw you out, too. What’s the reason I can’t? Because you are the best barker in the park? Well, you are very much mistaken. In fact, you can consider yourself thrown out already. You’re discharged!
LILIOM
Very good.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Weakening a little.] I can discharge you any time I feel like it.
LILIOM
Very good, you feel like discharging me. I’m discharged. That settles it.
MRS. MUSKAT
Playing the high and mighty, are you? Conceited pig! Good-for-nothing!
LILIOM
You said you’d throw me out, didn’t you? Well, that suits me; I’m thrown out.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Softening.] Do you have to take up every word I say?
LILIOM
It’s all right; it’s all settled. I’m a good-for-nothing. And a conceited pig. And I’m discharged.
MRS. MUSKAT
Do you want to ruin my business?
LILIOM
A good-for-nothing? Now I know! And I’m discharged! Very good.
MRS. MUSKAT
You’re a devil, you are . . . and that woman——
LILIOM
Keep away from her!
MRS. MUSKAT
I’ll get Hollinger to give you such a beating that you’ll hear all the angels sing . . . and it won’t be the first time, either.
LILIOM
Get out of here. I’m discharged. And you get out of here.
JULIE
[Timidly.] Mister Liliom, if she’s willing to say that she hasn’t discharged you——
LILIOM
You keep out of this.
JULIE
[Timidly.] I don’t want this to happen on account of me.
LILIOM
[To MRS. MUSKAT, pointing to JULIE.] Apologize to her!
MARIE
A-ha!
MRS. MUSKAT
Apologize? To who?
LILIOM
To this little pigeon. Well—are you going to do it?
MRS. MUSKAT
If you give me this whole park on a silver plate, and all the gold of the Rothschilds on top of it—I’d—I’d—— Let her dare to come into my carousel again and she’ll get thrown out so hard that she’ll see stars in daylight!
LILIOM
In that case, dear lady [takes off his cap with a flourish], you are respectfully requested to get out o’ here as fast as your legs will carry you—I never beat up a woman yet—except that Holzer woman who I sent to the hospital for three weeks—but—if you don’t get out o’ here this minute, and let this little squab be, I’ll give you the prettiest slap in the jaw you ever had in your life.
MRS. MUSKAT
Very good, my son. Now you can go to the devil. Good-bye. You’re discharged, and you needn’t try to come back, either. [She exits. It is beginning to grow dark.]
MARIE
[With grave concern.] Mister Liliom——
LILIOM
Don’t you pity me or I’ll give you a slap in the jaw. [To JULIE.] And don’t you pity me, either.
JULIE
[In alarm.] I don’t pity you, Mister Liliom.
LILIOM
You’re a liar, you are pitying me. I can see it in your face. You’re thinking, now that Madame Muskat has thrown him out, Liliom will have to go [Pg 18]begging. Huh! Look at me. I’m big enough to get along without a Madame Muskat. I have been thrown out of better jobs than hers.
JULIE
What will you do now, Mister Liliom?
LILIOM
Now? First of all, I’ll go and get myself—a glass of beer. You see, when something happens to annoy me, I always drink a glass of beer.
JULIE
Then you are annoyed about losing your job.
LILIOM
No, only about where I’m going to get the beer.
MARIE
Well—eh——
LILIOM
Well—eh—what?
MARIE
Well—eh—are you going to stay with us, Mister Liliom?
LILIOM
Will you pay for the beer? [MARIE looks doubtful; he turns to JULIE.] Will you? [She does not answer.] How much money have you got?
JULIE
[Bashfully.] Eight heller.
LILIOM
And you? [MARIE casts down her eyes and does not reply. LILIOM continues sternly.] I asked you how much you’ve got? [MARIE begins to weep softly.] I understand. Well, you needn’t cry about it. You girls stay here, while I go back to the carousel and get my clothes and things. And when I come back, we’ll go to the Hungarian beer-garden. It’s all right, I’ll pay. Keep your money. [He exits. MARIE and JULIE stand silent, watching him until he has gone.]
MARIE
Are you sorry for him?
JULIE
Are you?
MARIE
Yes, a little. Why are you looking after him in that funny way?
JULIE
[Sits down.] Nothing—except I’m sorry he lost his job.
MARIE
[With a touch of pride.] It was on our account he lost his job. Because he’s fallen in love with you.
JULIE
He hasn’t at all.
MARIE
[Confidently.] Oh, yes! he is in love with you. [Hesitantly, romantically.] There is someone in love with me, too.
JULIE
There is? Who?
MARIE
I—I never mentioned it before, because you hadn’t a lover of your own—but now you have—and I’m free to speak. [Very grandiloquently.] My heart has found its mate.
JULIE
You’re only making it up.
MARIE
No, it’s true—my heart’s true love——
JULIE
Who? Who is he?
MARIE
A soldier.
JULIE
What kind of a soldier?
MARIE
I don’t know. Just a soldier. Are there different kinds?
JULIE
Many different kinds. There are hussars, artillerymen, engineers, infantry—that’s the kind that walks—and——
MARIE
How can you tell which is which?
JULIE
By their uniforms.
MARIE
[After trying to puzzle it out.] The conductors on the street cars—are they soldiers?
JULIE
Certainly not. They’re conductors.
MARIE
Well, they have uniforms.
JULIE
But they don’t carry swords or guns.
MARIE
Oh! [Thinks it over again; then.] Well, policemen—are they?
JULIE
[With a touch of exasperation.] Are they what?
MARIE
Soldiers.
JULIE
Certainly not. They’re just policemen.
MARIE
[Triumphantly.] But they have uniforms—and they carry weapons, too.
JULIE
You’re just as dumb as you can be. You don’t go by their uniforms.
MARIE
But you said——
JULIE
No, I didn’t. A letter-carrier wears a uniform, too, but that doesn’t make him a soldier.
MARIE
But if he carried a gun or a sword, would he be——
JULIE
No, he’d still be a letter-carrier. You can’t go by guns or swords, either.
MARIE
Well, if you don’t go by the uniforms or the weapons, what do you go by?
JULIE
By—— [Tries to put it into words; fails; then breaks off suddenly.] Oh, you’ll get to know when you’ve lived in the city long enough. You’re nothing but a country girl. When you’ve lived in the city a year, like I have, you’ll know all about it.
MARIE
[Half angrily.] Well, how do you know when you see a real soldier?
JULIE
By one thing.
MARIE
What?
JULIE
One thing—— [She pauses. MARIE starts to cry.] Oh, what are you crying about?
MARIE
Because you’re making fun of me. . . . You’re a city girl, and I’m just fresh from the country . . . and how am I expected to know a soldier when I see one? . . . You, you ought to tell me, instead of making fun of me——
JULIE
All right. Listen then, cry-baby. There’s only one way to tell a soldier: by his salute! That’s the only way.
MARIE
[Joyfully; with a sigh of relief.] Ah—that’s good.
JULIE
What?
MARIE
I say—it’s all right then—because Wolf—Wolf—— [JULIE laughs derisively.] Wolf—that’s his name. [She weeps again.]
JULIE
Crying again? What now?
MARIE
You’re making fun of me again.
JULIE
I’m not. But when you say, “Wolf—Wolf—” like that, I have to laugh, don’t I? [Archly.] What’s his name again?
MARIE
I won’t tell you.
JULIE
All right. If you won’t say it, then he’s no soldier.
MARIE
I’ll say it.
JULIE
Go on.
MARIE
No, I won’t. [She weeps again.]
JULIE
Then he’s not a soldier. I guess he’s a letter-carrier——
MARIE
No—no—I’d rather say it.
JULIE
Well, then.
MARIE
[Giggling.] But you mustn’t look at me. You look the other way, and I’ll say it. [JULIE looks away, MARIE can hardly restrain her own laughter.] Wolf! [She laughs.] That’s his real name. Wolf, Wolf, Soldier—Wolf!
JULIE
What kind of a uniform does he wear?
MARIE
Red.
JULIE
Red trousers?
MARIE
No.
JULIE
Red coat?
MARIE
No.
JULIE
What then?
MARIE
[Triumphantly.] His cap!
JULIE
[After a long pause.] He’s just a porter, you dunce. Red cap . . . that’s a porter—and he doesn’t carry a gun or a sword, either.
MARIE
[Triumphantly.] But he salutes. You said yourself that was the only way to tell a soldier——
JULIE
He doesn’t salute at all. He only greets people——
MARIE
He salutes me. . . . And if his name is Wolf, that doesn’t prove he ain’t a soldier—he salutes, and he wears a red cap and he stands on guard all day long outside a big building——
JULIE
What does he do there?
MARIE
[Seriously.] He spits.
JULIE
[With contempt.] He’s nothing—nothing but a common porter.
MARIE
What’s Liliom?
JULIE
[Indignantly.] Why speak of him? What has he to do with me?
MARIE
The same as Wolf has to do with me. If you can talk to me like that about Wolf, I can talk to you about Liliom.
JULIE
He’s nothing to me. He put his arm around me in the carousel. I couldn’t tell him not to put his arm around me after he had done it, could I?
MARIE
I suppose you didn’t like him to do it?
JULIE
No.
MARIE
Then why are you waiting for him? Why don’t you go home?
JULIE
Why—eh—he said we were to wait for him.
[LILIOM enters. There is a long silence.]
LILIOM
Are you still here? What are you waiting for?
MARIE
You told us to wait.
LILIOM
Must you always interfere? No one is talking to you.
MARIE
You asked us—why we——
LILIOM
Will you keep your mouth shut? What do you suppose I want with two of you? I meant that one of you was to wait. The other can go home.
MARIE
All right.
JULIE
All right. [Neither starts to go.]
LILIOM
One of you goes home. [To MARIE.] Where do you work?
MARIE
At the Breier’s, Damjanovitsch Street, Number 20.
LILIOM
And you?
JULIE
I work there, too.
LILIOM
Well, one of you goes home. Which of you wants to stay? [There is no answer.] Come on, speak up, which of you stays?
MARIE
[Officiously.] She’ll lose her job if she stays.
LILIOM
Who will?
MARIE
Julie. She has to be back by seven o’clock.
LILIOM
Is that true? Will they discharge you if you’re not back on time?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
Well, wasn’t I discharged?
JULIE
Yes—you were discharged, too.
MARIE
Julie, shall I go?
JULIE
I—can’t tell you what to do.
MARIE
All right—stay if you like.
LILIOM
You’ll be discharged if you do?
MARIE
Shall I go, Julie?
JULIE
[Embarrassed.] Why do you keep asking me that?
MARIE
You know best what to do.
JULIE
[Profoundly moved; slowly.] It’s all right, Marie, you can go home.
MARIE
[Exits reluctantly, but comes back, and says uncertainly.] Good-night. [She waits a moment to see if JULIE will follow her. JULIE does not move. MARIE exits. Meantime it has grown quite dark. During the following scene the gas-lamps far in the [Pg 31]distance are lighted one by one. LILIOM and JULIE sit on the bench. From afar, very faintly, comes the music of a calliope. But the music is intermittently heard; now it breaks off, now it resumes again, as if it came down on a fitful wind. Blending with it are the sounds of human voices, now loud, now soft; the blare of a toy trumpet; the confused noises of the show-booths. It grows progressively darker until the end of the scene. There is no moonlight. The spring irridescence glows in the deep blue sky.]
LILIOM
Now we’re both discharged. [She does not answer. From now on they speak gradually lower and lower until the end of the scene, which is played almost in whispers. Whistles softly, then.] Have you had your supper?
JULIE
No.
LILIOM
Want to go eat something at the Garden?
JULIE
No.
LILIOM
Anywhere else?
JULIE
No.
LILIOM
[Whistles softly, then.] You don’t come to this park very often, do you? I’ve only seen you three times. Been here oftener than that?
JULIE
Oh, yes.
LILIOM
Did you see me?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
And did you know I was Liliom?
JULIE
They told me.
LILIOM
[Whistles softly, then.] Have you got a sweetheart?
JULIE
No.
LILIOM
Don’t lie to me.
JULIE
I haven’t. If I had, I’d tell you. I’ve never had one.
LILIOM
What an awful liar you are. I’ve got a good mind to go away and leave you here.
JULIE
I’ve never had one.
LILIOM
Tell that to someone else.
JULIE
[Reproachfully.] Why do you insist I have?
LILIOM
Because you stayed here with me the first time I asked you to. You know your way around, you do.
JULIE
No, I don’t, Mister Liliom.
LILIOM
I suppose you’ll tell me you don’t know why you’re sitting here—like this, in the dark, alone with me—You wouldn’t ’a’ stayed so quick, if you hadn’t done it before—with some soldier, maybe. This isn’t the first time. You wouldn’t have been so ready to stay if it was—what did you stay for, anyhow?
JULIE
So you wouldn’t be left alone.
LILIOM
Alone! God, you’re dumb! I don’t need to be alone. I can have all the girls I want. Not only [Pg 34]servant girls like you, but cooks and governesses, even French girls. I could have twenty of them if I wanted to.
JULIE
I know, Mister Liliom.
LILIOM
What do you know?
JULIE
That all the girls are in love with you. But that’s not why I stayed. I stayed because you’ve been so good to me.
LILIOM
Well, then you can go home.
JULIE
I don’t want to go home now.
LILIOM
And what if I go away and leave you sitting here?
JULIE
If you did, I wouldn’t go home.
LILIOM
Do you know what you remind me of? A sweetheart I had once—I’ll tell you how I met her—— One night, at closing time, we had put out the lights in the carousel, and just as I was—— [He is [Pg 35]interrupted by the entrance of two plainclothes POLICEMEN. They take their stations on either side of the bench. They are police, searching the park for vagabonds.]
FIRST POLICEMAN
What are you doing there?
LILIOM
Me?
SECOND POLICEMAN
Stand up when you’re spoken to! [He taps LILIOM imperatively on the shoulder.]
FIRST POLICEMAN
What’s your name?
LILIOM
Andreas Zavoczki. [JULIE begins to weep softly.]
SECOND POLICEMAN
Stop your bawling. We’re not goin’ to eat you. We are only making our rounds.
FIRST POLICEMAN
See that he doesn’t get away. [THE SECOND POLICEMAN steps closer to LILIOM.] What’s your business?
LILIOM
Barker and bouncer.
SECOND POLICEMAN
They call him Liliom, Chief. We’ve had him up a couple of times.
FIRST POLICEMAN
So that’s who you are! Who do you work for now?
LILIOM
I work for the widow Muskat.
FIRST POLICEMAN
What are you hanging around here for?
LILIOM
We’re just sitting here—me and this girl.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Your sweetheart?
LILIOM
No.
FIRST POLICEMAN
[To JULIE.] And who are you?
JULIE
Julie Zeller.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Servant girl?
JULIE
Maid of All Work for Mister Georg Breier, Number Twenty Damjanovitsch Street.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Show your hands.
SECOND POLICEMAN
[After examining JULIE’S hand.] Servant girl.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Why aren’t you at home? What are you doing out here with him?
JULIE
This is my day out, sir.
FIRST POLICEMAN
It would be better for you if you didn’t spend it sitting around with a fellow like this.
SECOND POLICEMAN
They’ll be disappearing in the bushes as soon as we turn our backs.
FIRST POLICEMAN
He’s only after your money. We know this fine fellow. He picks up you silly servant girls and takes what money you have. Tomorrow you’ll probably be coming around to report him. If you do, I’ll throw you out.
JULIE
I haven’t any money, sir.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Do you hear that, Liliom?
LILIOM
I’m not looking for her money.
SECOND POLICEMAN
[Nudging him warningly.] Keep your mouth shut.
FIRST POLICEMAN
It is my duty to warn you, my child, what kind of company you’re in. He makes a specialty of servant girls. That’s why he works in a carousel. He gets hold of a girl, promises to marry her, then he takes her money and her ring.
JULIE
But I haven’t got a ring.
SECOND POLICEMAN
You’re not to talk unless you’re asked a question.
FIRST POLICEMAN
You be thankful that I’m warning you. It’s nothing to me what you do. I’m not your father, thank God. But I’m telling you what kind of a [Pg 39]fellow he is. By tomorrow morning you’ll be coming around to us to report him. Now you be sensible and go home. You needn’t be afraid of him. This officer will take you home if you’re afraid.
JULIE
Do I have to go?
FIRST POLICEMAN
No, you don’t have to go.
JULIE
Then I’ll stay, sir.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Well, you’ve been warned.
JULIE
Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Come on, Berkovics. [The POLICEMEN exit. JULIE and LILIOM sit on the bench again. There is a brief pause.]
JULIE
Well, and what then?
LILIOM
[Fails to understand.] Huh?
JULIE
You were beginning to tell me a story.
LILIOM
Me?
JULIE
Yes, about a sweetheart. You said, one night, just as they were putting out the lights of the carousel—— That’s as far as you got.
LILIOM
Oh, yes, yes, just as the lights were going out, someone came along—a little girl with a big shawl—you know—— She came—eh—from—— Say—tell me—ain’t you—that is, ain’t you at all—afraid of me? The officer told you what kind of a fellow I am—and that I’d take your money away from you——
JULIE
You couldn’t take it away—I haven’t got any. But if I had—I’d—I’d give it to you—I’d give it all to you.
LILIOM
You would?
JULIE
If you asked me for it.
LILIOM
Have you ever had a fellow you gave money to?
JULIE
No.
LILIOM
Haven’t you ever had a sweetheart?
JULIE
No.
LILIOM
Someone you used to go walking with. You’ve had one like that?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
A soldier?
JULIE
He came from the same village I did.
LILIOM
That’s what all the soldiers say. Where do you come from, anyway?
JULIE
Not far from here. [There is a pause.]
LILIOM
Were you in love with him?
JULIE
Why do you keep asking me that all the time, Mister Liliom? I wasn’t in love with him. We only went walking together.
LILIOM
Where did you walk?
JULIE
In the park.
LILIOM
And your virtue? Where did you lose that?
JULIE
I haven’t got any virtue.
LILIOM
Well, you had once.
JULIE
No, I never had. I’m a respectable girl.
LILIOM
Yes, but you gave the soldier something.
JULIE
Why do you question me like that, Mister Liliom?
LILIOM
Did you give him something?
JULIE
You have to. But I didn’t love him.
LILIOM
Do you love me?
JULIE
No, Mister Liliom.
LILIOM
Then why do you stay here with me?
JULIE
Um—nothing. [There is a pause. The music from afar is plainly heard.]
LILIOM
Want to dance?
JULIE
No. I have to be very careful.
LILIOM
Of what?
JULIE
My—character.
LILIOM
Why?
JULIE
Because I’m never going to marry. If I was going to marry, it would be different. Then I wouldn’t need to worry so much about my character. It doesn’t make any difference if you’re married. But I shan’t marry—and that’s why I’ve got to take care to be a respectable girl.
LILIOM
Suppose I were to say to you—I’ll marry you.
JULIE
You?
LILIOM
That frightens you, doesn’t it? You’re thinking of what the officer said and you’re afraid.
JULIE
No, I’m not, Mister Liliom. I don’t pay any attention to what he said.
LILIOM
But you wouldn’t dare to marry anyone like me, would you?
JULIE
I know that—that—if I loved anyone—it wouldn’t make any difference to me what he—even if I died for it.
LILIOM
But you wouldn’t marry a rough guy like me—that is,—eh—if you loved me——
JULIE
Yes, I would—if I loved you, Mister Liliom. [There is a pause.]
LILIOM
[Whispers.] Well,—you just said—didn’t you?—that you don’t love me. Well, why don’t you go home then?
JULIE
It’s too late now, they’d all be asleep.
LILIOM
Locked out?
JULIE
Certainly. [They are silent a while.]
LILIOM
I think—that even a low-down good-for-nothing—can make a man of himself.
JULIE
Certainly. [They are silent again. A lamp-lighter crosses the stage, lights the lamp over the bench, and exits.]
LILIOM
Are you hungry?
JULIE
No. [Another pause.]
LILIOM
Suppose—you had some money—and I took it from you?
JULIE
Then you could take it, that’s all.
LILIOM
[After another brief silence.] All I have to do—is go back to her—that Muskat woman—she’ll [Pg 46]be glad to get me back—then I’d be earning my wages again. [She is silent. The twilight folds darker about them.]
JULIE
[Very softly.] Don’t go back—to her—— [Pause.]
LILIOM
There are a lot of acacia trees around here. [Pause.]
JULIE
Don’t go back to her—— [Pause.]
LILIOM
She’d take me back the minute I asked her. I know why—she knows, too—— [Pause.]
JULIE
I can smell them, too—acacia blossoms—— [There is a pause. Some blossoms drift down from the tree-top to the bench. LILIOM picks one up and smells it.]
LILIOM
White acacias!
JULIE
[After a brief pause.] The wind brings them down. [They are silent. There is a long pause before]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
SCENE—A photographer’s “studio,” operated by the HOLLUNDERS, on the fringe of the park. It is a dilapidated hovel. The general entrance is Back Left. Back Right there is a window with a sofa before it. The outlook is on the amusement park with perhaps a small Ferris-wheel or the scaffolding of a “scenic-railway” in the background.
The door to the kitchen is up Left and a black-curtained entrance to the dark room is down Left. Just in front of the dark room stands the camera on its tripod. Against the back wall, between the door and window, stands the inevitable photographer’s background-screen, ready to be wheeled into place.
It is forenoon. When the curtain rises, MARIE and JULIE are discovered.
MARIE
And he beat up Hollinger?
JULIE
Yes, he gave him an awful licking.
MARIE
But Hollinger is bigger than he is.
JULIE
He licked him just the same. It isn’t size that counts, you know, it’s cleverness. And Liliom’s awful quick.
MARIE
And then he was arrested?
JULIE
Yes, they arrested him, but they let him go the next day. That makes twice in the two months we’ve been living here that Liliom’s been arrested and let go again.
MARIE
Why do they let him go?
JULIE
Because he is innocent.
[MOTHER HOLLUNDER, a very old woman, sharp-tongued, but in reality quite warm-hearted beneath her formidable exterior, enters at back carrying a few sticks of firewood, and scolding, half to herself.]
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
Always wanting something, but never willing to work for it. He won’t work, and he won’t steal, [Pg 49]but he’ll use up a poor old widow’s last bit of firewood. He’ll do that cheerfully enough! A big, strong lout like that lying around all day resting his lazy bones! He ought to be ashamed to look decent people in the face.
JULIE
I’m sorry, Mother Hollunder. . . .
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
Sorry! Better be sorry the lazy good-for-nothing ain’t in jail where he belongs instead of in the way of honest, hard-working people. [She exits into the kitchen.]
MARIE
Who’s that?
JULIE
Mrs. Hollunder—my aunt. This is her [with a sweeping gesture that takes in the camera, dark room and screen] studio. She lets us live here for nothing.
MARIE
What’s she fetching the wood for?
JULIE
She brings us everything we need. If it weren’t for her I don’t know what would become of us. She’s a good-hearted soul even if her tongue is sharp. [There is a pause.]
MARIE
[Shyly.] Do you know—I’ve found out. He’s not a soldier.
JULIE
Do you still see him?
MARIE
Oh, yes.
JULIE
Often?
MARIE
Very often. He’s asked me——
JULIE
To marry you?
MARIE
To marry me.
JULIE
You see—that proves he isn’t a soldier. [There is another pause.]
MARIE
[Abashed, yet a bit boastfully.] Do you know what I’m doing—I’m flirting with him.
JULIE
Flirting?
MARIE
Yes. He asks me to go to the park—and I say I can’t go. Then he coaxes me, and promises me [Pg 51]a new scarf for my head if I go. But I don’t go—even then. . . . So then he walks all the way home with me—and I bid him good-night at the door.
JULIE
Is that what you call flirting?
MARIE
Um-hm! It’s sinful, but it’s so thrilling.
JULIE
Do you ever quarrel?
MARIE
[Grandly.] Only when our Passionate Love surges up.
JULIE
Your passionate love?
MARIE
Yes. . . . He takes my hand and we walk along together. Then he wants to swing hands, but I won’t let him. I say: “Don’t swing my hand”; and he says, “Don’t be so stubborn.” And then he tries to swing my hand again, but still I don’t let him. And for a long time I don’t let him—until in the end I let him. Then we walk along swinging hands—up and down, up and down—just like this. That is Passionate Love. It’s sinful, but it’s awfully thrilling.
JULIE
You’re happy, aren’t you?
MARIE
Happier than—anything—— But the most beautiful thing on earth is Ideal Love.
JULIE
What kind is that?
MARIE
Daylight comes about three in the morning this time of the year. When we’ve been up that long we’re all through with flirting and Passionate Love—and then our Ideal Love comes to the surface. It comes like this: I’ll be sitting on the bench and Wolf, he holds my hand tight—and he puts his cheek against my cheek and we don’t talk . . . we just sit there very quiet. . . . And after a while he gets sleepy, and his head sinks down, and he falls asleep . . . but even in his sleep he holds tight to my hand. And I—I sit perfectly still just looking around me and taking long, deep breaths—for by that time it’s morning and the trees and flowers are fresh with dew. But Wolf doesn’t smell anything because he’s so fast asleep. And I get awfully sleepy myself, but I don’t sleep. And we sit like that for a long time. That is Ideal Love—— [There is a long pause.]
JULIE
[Regretfully; uneasily.] He went out last night and he hasn’t come home yet.
MARIE
Here are sixteen Kreuzer. It was supposed to be carfare to take my young lady to the conservatory—eight there and eight back—but I made her walk. Here—save it with the rest.
JULIE
This makes three gulden, forty-six.
MARIE
Three gulden, forty-six.
JULIE
He won’t work at all.
MARIE
Too lazy?
JULIE
No. He never learned a trade, you see, and he can’t just go and be a day-laborer—so he just does nothing.
MARIE
That ain’t right.
JULIE
No. Have the Breiers got a new maid yet?
MARIE
They’ve had three since you left. You know, Wolf’s going to take a new job. He’s going to work for the city. He’ll get rent free, too.
JULIE
He won’t go back to work at the carousel either. I ask him why, but he won’t tell me—— Last Monday he hit me.
MARIE
Did you hit him back?
JULIE
No.
MARIE
Why don’t you leave him?
JULIE
I don’t want to.
MARIE
I would. I’d leave him. [There is a strained silence.]
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
[Enters, carrying a pot of water; muttering aloud.] He can play cards, all right. He can fight, too; and take money from poor servant girls. And the police turn their heads the other way—— The carpenter was here.
JULIE
Is that water for the soup?
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
The carpenter was here. There’s a man for you! Dark, handsome, lots of hair, a respectable widower with two children—and money, and a good paying business.
JULIE
[To MARIE.] It’s three gulden sixty-six, not forty-six.
MARIE
Yes, that’s what I make it—sixty-six.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
He wants to take her out of this and marry her. This is the fifth time he’s been here. He has two children, but——
JULIE
Please don’t bother, Aunt Hollunder, I’ll get the water myself.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
He’s waiting outside now.
JULIE
Send him away.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
He’ll only come back again—and first thing you know that vagabond will get jealous and there’ll be a fight. [Goes out, muttering.] Oh, he’s ready enough to fight, he is. Strike a poor little girl like that! Ought to be ashamed of himself! And the police just let him go on doing as he pleases. [Still scolding, she exits at back.]
MARIE
A carpenter wants to marry you?
JULIE
Yes.
MARIE
Why don’t you?
JULIE
Because——
MARIE
Liliom doesn’t support you, and he beats you—he thinks he can do whatever he likes just because he’s Liliom. He’s a bad one.
JULIE
He’s not really bad.
MARIE
That night you sat on the bench together—he was gentle then.
JULIE
Yes, he was gentle.
MARIE
And afterwards he got wild again.
JULIE
Afterwards he got wild—sometimes. But that night on the bench . . . he was gentle. He’s gentle now, sometimes, very gentle. After supper, when he stands there and listens to the music of the carousel, something comes over him—and he is gentle.
MARIE
Does he say anything?
JULIE
He doesn’t say anything. He gets thoughtful and very quiet, and his big eyes stare straight ahead of him.
MARIE
Into your eyes?
JULIE
Not exactly. He’s unhappy because he isn’t working. That’s really why he hit me on Monday.
MARIE
That’s a fine reason for hitting you! Beats his wife because he isn’t working, the ruffian!
JULIE
It preys on his mind——
MARIE
Did he hurt you?
JULIE
[Very eagerly.] Oh, no.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Enters haughtily.] Good morning. Is Liliom home?
JULIE
No.
MRS. MUSKAT
Gone out?
JULIE
He hasn’t come home yet.
MRS. MUSKAT
I’ll wait for him. [She sits down.]
MARIE
You’ve got a lot of gall—to come here.
MRS. MUSKAT
Are you the lady of the house, my dear? Better look out or you’ll get a slap in the mouth.
MARIE
How dare you set foot in Julie’s house?
MRS. MUSKAT
[To JULIE.] Pay no attention to her, my child. You know what brings me here. That vagabond, that good-for-nothing, I’ve come to give him his bread and butter back.
MARIE
He’s not dependent on you for his bread.
MRS. MUSKAT
[To JULIE.] Just ignore her, my child. She’s just ignorant.
MARIE
[Going.] Good-bye.
JULIE
Good-bye.
MARIE
[In the doorway, calling back.] Sixty-six.
JULIE
Yes, sixty-six.
MARIE
Good-bye. [She exits. JULIE starts to go toward the kitchen.]
MRS. MUSKAT
I paid him a krone a day, and on Sunday a gulden. And he got all the beer and cigars he wanted from [Pg 60]the customers. [JULIE pauses on the threshold, but does not answer.] And he’d rather starve than beg my pardon. Well, I don’t insist on that. I’ll take him back without it. [JULIE does not answer.] The fact is the people ask for him—and, you see, I’ve got to consider business first. It’s nothing to me if he starves. I wouldn’t be here at all, if it wasn’t for business—— [She pauses, for LILIOM and FICSUR have entered.]
JULIE
Mrs. Muskat is here.
LILIOM
I see she is.
JULIE
You might say good-morning.
LILIOM
What for? And what do you want, anyhow?
JULIE
I don’t want anything.
LILIOM
Then keep your mouth shut. Next thing you’ll be starting to nag again about my being out all night and out of work and living on your relations——
JULIE
I’m not saying anything.
LILIOM
But it’s all on the tip of your tongue—I know you—now don’t start or you’ll get another. [He paces angrily up and down. They are all a bit afraid of him, and shrink and look away as he passes them. FICSUR shambles from place to place, his eyes cast down as if he were searching for something on the floor.]
MRS. MUSKAT
[Suddenly, to FICSUR.] You’re always dragging him out to play cards and drink with you. I’ll have you locked up, I will.
FICSUR
I don’t want to talk to you. You’re too common. [He goes out by the door at back and lingers there in plain view. There is a pause.]
JULIE
Mrs. Muskat is here.
LILIOM
Well, why doesn’t she open her mouth, if she has anything to say?
MRS. MUSKAT
Why do you go around with this man Ficsur? He’ll get you mixed up in one of his robberies first thing you know.
LILIOM
What’s it to you who I go with? I do what I please. What do you want?
MRS. MUSKAT
You know what I want.
LILIOM
No, I don’t.
MRS. MUSKAT
What do you suppose I want? Think I’ve come just to pay a social call?
LILIOM
Do I owe you anything?
MRS. MUSKAT
Yes, you do—but that’s not what I came for. You’re a fine one to come to for money! You earn so much these days! You know very well what I’m here for.
LILIOM
You’ve got Hollinger at the carousel, haven’t you?
MRS. MUSKAT
Sure I have.
LILIOM
Well, what else do you want? He’s as good as I am.
MRS. MUSKAT
You’re quite right, my boy. He’s every bit as good as you are. I’d not dream of letting him go. But one isn’t enough any more. There’s work enough for two——
LILIOM
One was enough when I was there.
MRS. MUSKAT
Well, I might let Hollinger go——
LILIOM
Why let him go, if he’s so good?
MRS. MUSKAT
[Shrugs her shoulders.] Yes, he’s good. [Not once until now has she looked at LILIOM.]
LILIOM
[To JULIE.] Ask your aunt if I can have a cup of coffee. [JULIE exits into the kitchen.] So Hollinger is good, is he?
MRS. MUSKAT
[Crosses to him and looks him, in the face.] Why don’t you stay home and sleep at night? You’re a sight to look at.
LILIOM
He’s good, is he?
MRS. MUSKAT
Push your hair back from your forehead.
LILIOM
Let my hair be. It’s nothing to you.
MRS. MUSKAT
All right. But if I’d told you to let it hang down over your eyes you’d have pushed it back—I hear you’ve been beating her, this—this——
LILIOM
None of your business.
MRS. MUSKAT
You’re a fine fellow! Beating a skinny little thing like that! If you’re tired of her, leave her, but there’s no use beating the poor——
LILIOM
Leave her, eh? You’d like that, wouldn’t you?
MRS. MUSKAT
Don’t flatter yourself. [Quite embarrassed.] Serves me right, too. If I had any sense I wouldn’t have run after you—— My God, the things one must do for the sake of business! If I could only sell the carousel I wouldn’t be sitting here. . . . Come, Liliom, if you have any sense, you’ll come back. I’ll pay you well.
LILIOM
The carousel is crowded just the same . . . without me?
MRS. MUSKAT
Crowded, yes—but it’s not the same.
LILIOM
Then you admit that you do miss me.
MRS. MUSKAT
Miss you? Not I. But the silly girls miss you. They’re always asking for you. Well, are you going to be sensible and come back?
LILIOM
And leave—her?
MRS. MUSKAT
You beat her, don’t you?
LILIOM
No, I don’t beat her. What’s all this damn fool talk about beating her? I hit her once—that was all—and now the whole city seems to be talking about it. You don’t call that beating her, do you?
MRS. MUSKAT
All right, all right. I take it back. I don’t want to get mixed up in it.
LILIOM
Beating her! As if I’d beat her——
MRS. MUSKAT
I can’t make out why you’re so concerned about her. You’ve been married to her two months—it’s plain to see that you’re sick of it—and out there is the carousel—and the show booths—and money—and you’d throw it all away. For what? Heavens, how can anyone be such a fool? [Looks at him appraisingly.] Where have you been all night? You look awful.
LILIOM
It’s no business of yours.
MRS. MUSKAT
You never used to look like that. This life is telling on you. [Pauses.] Do you know—I’ve got a new organ.
LILIOM
[Softly.] I know.
MRS. MUSKAT
How did you know?
LILIOM
You can hear it—from here.
MRS. MUSKAT
It’s a good one, eh?
LILIOM
[Wistfully.] Very good. Fine. It roars and snorts—so fine.
MRS. MUSKAT
You should hear it close by—it’s heavenly. Even the carousel seems to know . . . it goes quicker. I got rid of those two horses—you know, the ones with the broken ears?
LILIOM
What have you put in their place?
MRS. MUSKAT
Guess.
LILIOM
Zebras?
MRS. MUSKAT
No—an automobile.
LILIOM
[Transported.] An automobile——
MRS. MUSKAT
Yes. If you’ve got any sense you’ll come back. What good are you doing here? Out there is your art, the only thing you’re fit for. You are an artist, not a respectable married man.
LILIOM
Leave her—this little——
MRS. MUSKAT
She’ll be better off. She’ll go back and be a servant girl again. As for you—you’re an artist and you belong among artists. All the beer you want, cigars, a krone a day and a gulden on Sunday, and the girls, Liliom, the girls—I’ve always treated you right, haven’t I? I bought you a watch, and——
LILIOM
She’s not that kind. She’d never be a servant girl again.
MRS. MUSKAT
I suppose you think she’d kill herself. Don’t worry. Heavens, if every girl was to commit suicide just because her—— [Finishes with a gesture.]
LILIOM
[Stares at her a moment, considering, then with sudden, smiling animation.] So the people don’t like Hollinger?
MRS. MUSKAT
You know very well they don’t, you rascal.
LILIOM
Well——
MRS. MUSKAT
You’ve always been happy at the carousel. It’s a great life—pretty girls and beer and cigars and music—a great life and an easy one. I’ll tell you what—come back and I’ll give you a ring that used to belong to my dear departed husband. Well, will you come?
LILIOM
She’s not that kind. She’d never be a servant girl again. But—but—for my part—if I decide—that needn’t make any difference. I can go on living with her even if I do go back to my art——
MRS. MUSKAT
My God!
LILIOM
What’s the matter?
MRS. MUSKAT
Who ever heard of a married man—I suppose you think all girls would be pleased to know that you were running home to your wife every night. It’s ridiculous! When the people found out they’d laugh themselves sick——
LILIOM
I know what you want.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Refuses to meet his gaze.] You flatter yourself.
LILIOM
You’ll give me that ring, too?
MRS. MUSKAT
[Pushes the hair back from his forehead.] Yes.
LILIOM
I’m not happy in this house.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Still stroking his hair.] Nobody takes care of you. [They are silent. JULIE enters, carrying a cup of coffee. MRS. MUSKAT removes her hand from LILIOM’S head. There is a pause.]
LILIOM
Do you want anything?
JULIE
No. [There is a pause. She exits slowly into the kitchen.]
MRS. MUSKAT
The old woman says there is a carpenter, a widower, who——
LILIOM
I know—I know——
JULIE
[Reëntering.] Liliom, before I forget, I have something to tell you.
LILIOM
All right.
JULIE
I’ve been wanting to tell you—in fact, I was going to tell you yesterday——
LILIOM
Go ahead.
JULIE
But I must tell you alone—if you’ll come in—it will only take a minute.
LILIOM
Don’t you see I’m busy now? Here I am talking business and you interrupt with——
JULIE
It’ll only take a minute.
LILIOM
Get out of here, or——
JULIE
But I tell you it will only take a minute——
LILIOM
Will you get out of here?
JULIE
[Courageously.] No.
LILIOM
[Rising.] What’s that!
JULIE
No.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Rises, too.] Now don’t start fighting. I’ll go out and look at the photographs in the show-case a while and come back later for your answer. [She exits at back.]
JULIE
You can hit me again if you like—don’t look at me like that. I’m not afraid of you. . . . I’m not afraid of anyone. I told you I had something to tell you.
LILIOM
Well, out with it—quick.
JULIE
I can’t tell you so quick. Why don’t you drink your coffee?
LILIOM
Is that what you wanted to tell me?
JULIE
No. By the time you’ve drunk your coffee I’ll have told you.
LILIOM
[Gets the coffee and sips it.] Well?
JULIE
Yesterday my head ached—and you asked me——
LILIOM
Yes——
JULIE
Well—you see—that’s what it is——
LILIOM
Are you sick?
JULIE
No. . . . But you wanted to know what my headaches came from—and you said I seemed—changed.
LILIOM
Did I? I guess I meant the carpenter.
JULIE
I’ve been—what? The carpenter? No. It’s something entirely different—it’s awful hard to tell—but you’ll have to know sooner or later—I’m not a bit—scared—because it’s a perfectly natural thing——
LILIOM
[Puts the coffee cup on the table.] What?
JULIE
When—when a man and woman—live together——
LILIOM
Yes.
JULIE
I’m going to have a baby. [She exits swiftly at back. There is a pause. FICSUR appears at the open window and looks in.]
LILIOM
Ficsur! [FICSUR sticks his head in.] Say, Ficsur,—Julie is going to have a baby.
FICSUR
Yes? What of it?
LILIOM
Nothing. [Suddenly.] Get out of here. [FICSUR’S head is quickly withdrawn. MRS. MUSKAT reënters.]
MRS. MUSKAT
Has she gone?
LILIOM
Yes.
MRS. MUSKAT
I might as well give you ten kronen in advance. [Opens her purse. LILIOM takes up his coffee cup.] Here you are. [She proffers some coins. LILIOM ignores her.] Why don’t you take it?
LILIOM
[Very nonchalantly, his cup poised ready to drink.] Go home, Mrs. Muskat.
MRS. MUSKAT
What’s the matter with you?
LILIOM
Go home [sips his coffee] and let me finish my coffee in peace. Don’t you see I’m at breakfast?
MRS. MUSKAT
Have you gone crazy?
LILIOM
Will you get out of here? [Turns to her threateningly.]
MRS. MUSKAT
[Restoring the coins to her purse.] I’ll never speak to you again as long as you live.
LILIOM
That worries me a lot.
MRS. MUSKAT
Good-bye!
LILIOM
Good-bye. [As she exits, he calls.] Ficsur! [FICSUR enters.] Tell me, Ficsur. You said you knew a way to get a whole lot of money——
FICSUR
Sure I do.
LILIOM
How much?
FICSUR
More than you ever had in your life before. You leave it to an old hand like me.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
[Enters from the kitchen.] In the morning he must have his coffee, and at noon his soup, and in the evening coffee again—and plenty of firewood—and I’m expected to furnish it all. Give me back my cup and saucer.
[The show booths of the amusement-park have opened for business. The familiar noises begin to sound; clear above them all, but far in the distance, sounds the organ of the carousel.]
LILIOM
Now, Aunt Hollunder. [From now until the fall of the curtain it is apparent that the sound of the organ makes him more and more uneasy.]
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
And you, you vagabond, get out of here this minute or I’ll call my son——
FICSUR
I have nothing to do with the likes of him. He’s too common. [But he slinks out at back.]
LILIOM
Aunt Hollunder!
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
What now?
LILIOM
When your son was born—when you brought him into the world——
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
Well?
LILIOM
Nothing.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
[Muttering as she exits.] Sleep it off, you good-for-nothing lout. Drink and play cards all night long—that’s all you know how to do—and take the bread out of poor people’s mouths—you can do that, too. [She exits.]
LILIOM
Ficsur!
FICSUR
[At the window.] Julie’s going to have a baby. You told me before.
LILIOM
This scheme—about the cashier of the leather factory—there’s money in it——
FICSUR
Lots of money—but—it takes two to pull it off.
LILIOM
[Meditatively.] Yes. [Uneasily.] All right, Ficsur. Go away—and come back later.
[FICSUR vanishes. The organ in the distant carousel drones incessantly. LILIOM listens a while, then goes to the door and calls.]
LILIOM
Aunt Hollunder! [With naïve joy.] Julie’s going to have a baby. [Then he goes to the window, jumps on the sofa, looks out. Suddenly, in a voice that overtops the droning of the organ, he shouts as if addressing the far-off carousel.] I’m going to be a father.
JULIE
[Enters from the kitchen.] Liliom! What’s the matter? What’s happened?
LILIOM
[Coming down from the sofa.] Nothing. [Throws himself on the sofa, buries his face in the cushion. JULIE watches him a moment, comes over to him and covers him with a shawl. Then she goes [Pg 80]on tip-toe to the door at back and remains standing in the doorway, looking out and listening to the droning of the organ.]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
SCENE—The setting is the same, later that afternoon. LILIOM is sitting opposite FICSUR, who is teaching him a song. JULIE hovers in the background, engaged in some household task.
FICSUR
Listen now. Here’s the third verse. [Sings hoarsely.]
“Look out, look out, my pretty lad.
The damn police are on your trail;
The nicest girl you ever had
Has now commenced to weep and wail:
Look out here comes the damn police,
The damn police,
The damn police,
Look out here comes the damn police,
They’ll get you every time.”
LILIOM
[Sings.]
“Look out, look out, my pretty lad.
The damn police——”
FICSUR, LILIOM
[Sing together.]
“Are on your trail
The nicest girl you ever had
Has now commenced to weep and wail.”
LILIOM
[Alone.]
“Look out here comes the damn police,
The damn police,
The damn police——”
[JULIE, troubled and uneasy, looks from one to the other, then exits into the kitchen.]
FICSUR
[When she has gone, comes quickly over to LILIOM and speaks furtively.] As you go down Franzen Street you come to the railroad embankment. Beyond that—all the way to the leather factory—there’s not a thing in sight, not even a watchman’s hut.
LILIOM
And does he always come that way?
FICSUR
Yes. Not along the embankment, but down below along the path across the fields. Since last [Pg 83]year he’s been going alone. Before that he always used to have someone with him.
LILIOM
Every Saturday?
FICSUR
Every Saturday.
LILIOM
And the money? Where does he keep it?
FICSUR
In a leather bag. The whole week’s pay for the workmen at the factory.
LILIOM
Much?
FICSUR
Sixteen thousand kronen. Quite a haul, what?
LILIOM
What’s his name?
FICSUR
Linzman. He’s a Jew.
LILIOM
The cashier?
FICSUR
Yes—but when he gets a knife between his ribs—or if I smash his skull for him—he won’t be a cashier any more.
LILIOM
Does he have to be killed?
FICSUR
No, he doesn’t have to be. He can give up the money without being killed—but most of these cashiers are peculiar—they’d rather be killed.
[JULIE reënters, pretends to get something on the other side of the room, then exits at back. During the ensuing dialogue she keeps coming in and out in the same way, showing plainly that she is suspicious and anxious. She attempts to overhear what they are saying and, in spite of their caution, does catch a word here and there, which adds to her disquiet. FICSUR, catching sight of her, abruptly changes the conversation.]
FICSUR
And the next verse is:
“And when you’re in the prison cell
They’ll feed you bread and water.”
FICSUR AND LILIOM
[Sing together.]
“They’ll make your little sweetheart tell
Them all the things you brought her.
Look out here comes the damn police,
The damn police,
The damn police.
Look out here comes the damn police
They’ll get you every time.”
LILIOM
[Sings alone.]
“And when you’re in the prison cell
They’ll feed you bread and water——”
[Breaks off as JULIE exits.]
And when it’s done, do we start right off for America?
FICSUR
No.
LILIOM
What then?
FICSUR
We bury the money for six months. That’s the usual time. And after the sixth month we dig it up again.
LILIOM
And then?
FICSUR
Then you go on living just as usual for six months more—you don’t touch a heller of the money.
LILIOM
In six months the baby will be born.
FICSUR
Then we’ll take the baby with us, too. Three months before the time you’ll go to work so as to be able to say you saved up your wages to get to America.
LILIOM
Which of us goes up and talks to him?
FICSUR
One of us talks to him with his mouth and the other talks with his knife. Depends on which you’d rather do. I’ll tell you what—you talk to him with your mouth.
LILIOM
Do you hear that?
FICSUR
What?
LILIOM
Outside . . . like the rattle of swords. [FICSUR listens. After a pause, LILIOM continues.] What do I say to him?
FICSUR
You say good evening to him and: “Excuse me, sir; can you tell me the time?”
LILIOM
And then what?
FICSUR
By that time I’ll have stuck him—and then you take your knife—— [He stops as a POLICEMAN enters at back.]
POLICEMAN
Good-day!
FICSUR, LILIOM
[In unison.] Good-day!
FICSUR
[Calling toward the kitchen.] Hey, photographer, come out. . . . Here’s a customer. [There is a pause. The POLICEMAN waits. FICSUR sings softly.]
“And when you’re in the prison cell
They’ll feed you bread and water
They’ll make your little sweetheart tell.”
LILIOM, FICSUR
[Sing together, low.]
“Them all the things you brought her.
Look out here comes the——”
[They hum the rest so as not to let the POLICEMAN hear the words “the damn police.” As they sing, MRS. HOLLUNDER and her son enter.]
POLICEMAN
Do you make cabinet photographs?
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
Certainly, sir. [Points to a rack of photographs on the wall.] Take your choice, sir. Would you like one full length?
POLICEMAN
Yes, full length. [MOTHER HOLLUNDER pushes out the camera while her son poses the POLICEMAN, runs from him to the camera and back again, now altering the pose, now ducking under the black cloth and pushing the camera nearer. Meanwhile MOTHER HOLLUNDER has fetched a plate from the dark room and thrust it in the camera. While this is going on, LILIOM and FICSUR, their heads together, speak in very low tones.]
LILIOM
Belong around here?
FICSUR
Not around here.
LILIOM
Where, then?
FICSUR
Suburban. [There is a pause.]
LILIOM
[Bursts out suddenly in a rather grotesquely childish and overstrained lament.] O God, what a dirty life I’m leading—God, God!
FICSUR
[Reassuring him benevolently.] Over in America it will be better, all right.
LILIOM
What’s over there?
FICSUR
[Virtuously.] Factories . . . industries——
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
[To the POLICEMAN.] Now, quite still, please. One, two, three. [Deftly removes the cover of the lens and in a few seconds restores it.] Thank you.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
The picture will be ready in five minutes.
POLICEMAN
Good. I’ll come back in five minutes. How much do I owe you?
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
[With exaggerated deference.] You don’t need to pay in advance, Mr. Commissioner. [The POLICEMAN salutes condescendingly and exits at back. MOTHER HOLLUNDER carries the plate into the dark room. YOUNG HOLLUNDER, after pushing the camera back in place, follows her.]
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
[Muttering angrily as she passes FICSUR and LILIOM.] You hang around and dirty the whole place up! Why don’t you go take a walk? Things are going so well with you that you have to sing, eh? [Confronting FICSUR suddenly.] Weren’t you frightened sick when you saw the policeman?
FICSUR
[With loathing.] Go ’way, or I’ll step on you. [She exits into the dark room.]
LILIOM
They like Hollinger at the carousel?
FICSUR
I should say they do.
LILIOM
Did you see the Muskat woman, too?
FICSUR
Sure. She takes care of Hollinger’s hair.
LILIOM
Combs his hair?
FICSUR
She fixes him all up.
LILIOM
Let her fix him all she likes.
FICSUR
[Urging him toward the kitchen door.] Go on. Now’s your chance.
LILIOM
What for?
FICSUR
To get the knife.
LILIOM
What knife?
FICSUR
The kitchen knife. I’ve got a pocket-knife, but if he shows fight, we’ll let him have the big knife.
LILIOM
What for? If he gets ugly, I’ll bat him one over the head that’ll make him squint for the rest of his life.
FICSUR
You’ve got to have something on you. You can’t slit his throat with a bat over the head.
LILIOM
Must his throat be slit?
FICSUR
No, it mustn’t. But if he asks for it. [There is a pause.] You’d like to sail on the big steamer, wouldn’t you? And you want to see the factories over there, don’t you? But you’re not willing to inconvenience yourself a little for them.
LILIOM
If I take the knife, Julie will see me.
FICSUR
Take it so she won’t see you.
LILIOM
[Advances a few paces toward the kitchen. The POLICEMAN enters at back. LILIOM knocks on the door of the dark room.] Here’s the policeman!
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
[Coming out.] One minute more, please. Just a minute. [She reënters the dark room. LILIOM [Pg 93]hesitates a moment, then exits into the kitchen. The POLICEMAN scrutinizes FICSUR mockingly. FICSUR returns his stare, walks a few paces toward him, then deliberately turns his back. Suddenly he wheels around, points at the POLICEMAN and addresses him in a teasing, childish tone.] Christiana Street at the corner of Retti!
POLICEMAN
[Amazed, self-conscious.] How do you know that?
FICSUR
I used to practice my profession in that neighborhood.
POLICEMAN
What is your profession?
FICSUR
Professor of pianola—— [The POLICEMAN glares, aware that the man is joking with him, twirls his moustache indignantly. YOUNG HOLLUNDER comes out of the dark room and gives him the finished pictures.]
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
Here you are, sir. [The POLICEMAN examines the photographs, pays for them, starts to go, stops, glares at FICSUR and exits. When he is gone, FICSUR [Pg 94]goes to the doorway and looks out after him. YOUNG HOLLUNDER exits. LILIOM reënters, buttoning his coat.]
FICSUR
[Turns, sees LILIOM.] What are you staring at?
LILIOM
I’m not staring.
FICSUR
What then are you doing?
LILIOM
I’m thinking it over.
FICSUR
[Comes very close to him.] Tell me then—what will you say to him?
LILIOM
[Unsteadily.] I’ll say—“Good evening—Excuse me, sir—Can you tell me the time?” And suppose he answers me, what do I say to him?
FICSUR
He won’t answer you.
LILIOM
Don’t you think so?
FICSUR
No. [Feeling for the knife under LILIOM’S coat.] Where is it? Where did you put it?
LILIOM
[Stonily.] Left side.
FICSUR
That’s right—over your heart. [Feels it.] Ah—there it is—there—there’s the blade—quite a big fellow, isn’t it—ah, here it begins to get narrower. [Reaches the tip of the knife.] And here is its eye—that’s what it sees with. [JULIE enters from the kitchen, passes them slowly, watching them in silent terror, then stops. FICSUR nudges LILIOM.] Sing, come on, sing!
LILIOM
[In a quavering voice.]
“Look out for the damn police.”
FICSUR
[Joining in, cheerily, loudly, marking time with the swaying of his body.]
“Look out, look out, my pretty lad.”
LILIOM
“—look out, my pretty lad.” [JULIE goes out at back. LILIOM’S glance follows her. When she has [Pg 96]gone, he turns to FICSUR.] At night—in my dreams—if his ghost comes back—what will I do then?
FICSUR
His ghost won’t never come back.
LILIOM
Why not?
FICSUR
A Jew’s ghost don’t come back.
LILIOM
Well then—afterwards——
FICSUR
[Impatiently.] What do you mean—afterwards?
LILIOM
In the next world—when I come up before the Lord God—what’ll I say then?
FICSUR
The likes of you will never come up before Him.
LILIOM
Why not?
FICSUR
Have you ever come up before the high court?
LILIOM
No.
FICSUR
Our kind comes up before the police magistrate—and the highest we ever get is the criminal court.
LILIOM
Will it be the same in the next world?
FICSUR
Just the same. We’ll come up before a police magistrate, same as we did in this world.
LILIOM
A police magistrate?
FICSUR
Sure. For the rich folks—the Heavenly Court. For us poor people—only a police magistrate. For the rich folks—fine music and angels. For us——
LILIOM
For us?
FICSUR
For us, my son, there’s only justice. In the next world there’ll be lots of justice, yes, nothing but justice. And where there’s justice there must be police magistrates; and where there’re police magistrates, people like us get——
LILIOM
[Interrupting.] Good evening. Excuse me, sir, can you tell me the time? [Lays his hand over his heart.]
FICSUR
What do you put your hand there for?
LILIOM
My heart is jumping—under the knife.
FICSUR
Put it on the other side then. [Looks out at the sky.] It’s time we started—we’ll walk slow——
LILIOM
It’s too early.
FICSUR
Come on. [As they are about to go, JULIE appears in the doorway at back, obstructing the way.]
JULIE
Where are you going with him?
LILIOM
Where am I going with him?
JULIE
Stay home.
LILIOM
No.
JULIE
Stay home. It’s going to rain soon, and you’ll get wet.
FICSUR
It won’t rain.
JULIE
How do you know?
FICSUR
I always get notice in advance.
JULIE
Stay home. This evening the carpenter’s coming. I’ve asked him to give you work.
LILIOM
I’m not a carpenter.
JULIE
[More and more anxious, though she tries to conceal it.] Stay home. Marie’s coming with her intended to have their picture taken. She wants to introduce us to her intended husband.
LILIOM
I’ve seen enough intended husbands——
JULIE
Stay home. Marie’s bringing some money, and I’ll give it all to you.
LILIOM
[Approaching the door.] I’m going—for a walk—with Ficsur. We’ll be right back.
JULIE
[Forcing a smile to keep back her tears.] If you stay home, I’ll get you a glass of beer—or wine, if you prefer.
FICSUR
Coming or not?
JULIE
I’m not angry with you any more for hitting me.
LILIOM
[Gruffly, but his gruffness is simulated to hide the fact that he cannot bear the sight of her suffering.] Stand out of the way—or I’ll—— [He clenches his fist.] Let me out!
JULIE
[Trembling.] What have you got under your coat?
LILIOM
[Produces from his pocket a greasy pack of cards.] Cards.
JULIE
[Trembling, speaks very low.] What’s under your coat?
LILIOM
Let me out!
JULIE
[Obstructing the way. Speaks quickly, eagerly, in a last effort to detain him.] Marie’s intended knows about a place for a married couple without children to be caretakers of a house on Arader Street. Rent free, a kitchen of your own, and the privilege of keeping chickens——
LILIOM
Get out of the way! [JULIE stands aside. LILIOM exits. FICSUR follows him. JULIE remains standing meditatively in the doorway. MOTHER HOLLUNDER comes out of the kitchen.]
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
I can’t find my kitchen knife anywhere. Have you seen anything of it?
JULIE
[Horrified.] No.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
It was on the kitchen table just a few minutes ago. No one was in there except Liliom.
JULIE
He didn’t take it.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
No one else was in there.
JULIE
What would Liliom want with a kitchen knife?
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
He’d sell it and spend the money on drink.
JULIE
It just so happens—see how unjust you are to him—it just so happens that I went through all of Liliom’s pockets just now—I wanted to see if he had any money on him. But he had nothing but a pack of cards.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
[Returns to the kitchen, grumbling.] Cards in his pocket—cards! The fine gentlemen have evidently gone off to their club to play a little game. [She exits. After a pause MARIE, happy and beaming, appears in the doorway at back, and enters, followed by WOLF.]
MARIE
Here we are! [She takes WOLF by the hand and leads him, grinning shyly, to JULIE, who has turned at her call.] Hello!
JULIE
Hello.
MARIE
Well, we’re here.
JULIE
Yes.
WOLF
[Bows awkwardly and extends his hand.] My name is Wolf Beifeld.
JULIE
My name is Julie Zeller. [They shake hands. There is an embarrassed silence. Then, to relieve the situation, WOLF takes JULIE’S hand again and shakes it vigorously.]
MARIE
Well—this is Wolf.
WOLF
Yes.
JULIE
Yes. [Another awkward silence.]
MARIE
Where is Liliom?
WOLF
Yes, where is your husband?
JULIE
He’s out.
MARIE
Where?
JULIE
Just for a walk.
MARIE
Is he?
JULIE
Yes.
WOLF
Oh! [Another silence.]
MARIE
Wolf’s got a new place. After the first of the month he won’t have to stand outside any more. He’s going to work in a club after the first of the month.
WOLF
[Apologetically.] She don’t know yet how to explain these things just right—hehehe—— Beginning the first I’m to be second steward at the Burger Club—a good job, if one conducts oneself properly.
JULIE
Yes?
WOLF
The pay—is quite good—but the main thing is the tips. When they play cards there’s always a bit for the steward. The tips, I may say, amount to twenty, even thirty kronen every night.
MARIE
Yes.
WOLF
We’ve rented two rooms for ourselves to start with—and if things go well——
MARIE
Then we’ll buy a house in the country.
WOLF
If one only tends to business and keeps honest. Of course, in the country we’ll miss the city life, but if the good Lord sends us children—it’s much healthier for children in the country. [There is a brief pause.]
MARIE
Wolf’s nice looking, isn’t he?
JULIE
Yes.
MARIE
And he’s a good boy, Wolf.
JULIE
Yes.
MARIE
The only thing is—he’s a Jew.
JULIE
Oh, well, you can get used to that.
MARIE
Well, aren’t you going to wish us luck?
JULIE
Of course I do. [She embraces MARIE.]
MARIE
And aren’t you going to kiss Wolf, too?
JULIE
Him, too. [She embraces WOLF, remains quite still a moment, her head resting on his shoulder.]
WOLF
Why are you crying, my dear Mrs.—— [He looks questioningly at MARIE over JULIE’S shoulder.]
MARIE
Because she has such a good heart. [She becomes sentimental, too.]
WOLF
[Touched.] We thank you for your heartfelt sympathy—— [He cannot restrain his own tears. There is a pause before MOTHER HOLLUNDER and her son enter. YOUNG HOLLUNDER immediately busies himself with the camera.]
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
Now if you don’t mind, we’ll do it right away, before it gets too dark. [She leads MARIE and WOLF into position before the background-screen. Here they immediately fall into an awkward pose, smiling mechanically.] Full length?
MARIE
Please. Both figures full length.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
Bride and groom?
MARIE
Yes.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER, YOUNG HOLLUNDER
[Speak in unison, in loud professionally-expressionless tones.] The lady looks at the gentleman and the gentleman looks straight into the camera.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
[Poses first MARIE, then WOLF.] Now, if you please.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
[Who has crept under the black cloth, calls in muffled tones.] That’s good—that’s very good!
MARIE
[Stonily rigid, but very happy, trying to speak without altering her expression.] Julie, dear, do we look all right?
JULIE
Yes, dear.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
Now, if you please, hold still. I’ll count up to three, and then you must hold perfectly still. [Grasps the cover of the lens and calls threateningly.] One—two—three! [He removes the cover; there is utter silence. But as he speaks the word “one” there is heard, very faintly in the distance, the refrain of the thieves’ song which FICSUR and LILIOM have been singing. The refrain continues until the fall of the curtain. As he speaks the word “three” everybody is perfectly rigid save JULIE, who lets her head sink slowly to the table. The distant refrain dies out.]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
SCENE—In the fields on the outskirts of the city. At back a railroad embankment crosses the stage obliquely. At Center of the embankment stands a red and white signal flag, and near it a little red signal lamp which is not yet lighted. Here also a wooden stairway leads up to the embankment.
At the foot of the embankment to the right is a pile of used railroad ties. In the background a telegraph pole, beyond it a view of trees, fences and fields; still further back a factory building and a cluster of little dwellings.
It is six o’clock of the same afternoon. Dusk has begun to fall.
LILIOM and FICSUR are discovered on the stairway looking after the train which has just passed.
LILIOM
Can you still hear it snort?
FICSUR
Listen! [They watch the vanishing train.]
LILIOM
If you put your ear on the tracks you can hear it go all the way to Vienna.
FICSUR
Huh!
LILIOM
The one that just puffed past us—it goes all the way to Vienna.
FICSUR
No further?
LILIOM
Yes—further, too. [There is a pause.]
FICSUR
It must be near six. [As LILIOM ascends the steps.] Where are you going?
LILIOM
Don’t be afraid. I’m not giving you the slip.
FICSUR
Why should you give me the slip? That cashier has sixteen thousand kronen on him. Just be patient till he comes, then you can talk to him, nice and polite.
LILIOM
I say, “Good evening—excuse me, sir; what time is it?”
FICSUR
Then he tells you what time it is.
LILIOM
Suppose he don’t come?
FICSUR
[Coming down the steps.] Nonsense! He’s got to come. He pays off the workmen every Saturday. And this is Saturday, ain’t it? [LILIOM has ascended to the top of the stairway and is gazing along the tracks.] What are you looking at up there?
LILIOM
The tracks go on and on—there’s no end to them.
FICSUR
What’s that to stare about?
LILIOM
Nothing—only I always look after the train. When you stand down there at night it snorts past you, and spits down.
FICSUR
Spits?
LILIOM
Yes, the engine. It spits down. And then the whole train rattles past and away—and you stand [Pg 112]there—spat on—but it draws your eyes along with it.
FICSUR
Draws your eyes along?
LILIOM
Yes—whether you want to or not, you’ve got to look after it—as long as the tiniest bit of it is in sight.
FICSUR
Swell people sit in it.
LILIOM
And read newspapers.
FICSUR
And smoke cigars.
LILIOM
And inhale the smoke. [There is a short silence.]
FICSUR
Is he coming?
LILIOM
Not yet. [Silence again. LILIOM comes down, speaks low, confidentially.] Do you hear the telegraph wires?
FICSUR
I hear them when the wind blows.
LILIOM
Even when the wind doesn’t blow you can hear them humming, humming—— People talk through them.
FICSUR
Who?
LILIOM
Jews.
FICSUR
No—they telegraph.
LILIOM
They talk through them and from some other place they get answered. And it all goes through the iron strings—that’s why they hum like that—they hum-m——
FICSUR
What do they hum?
LILIOM
They hum! ninety-nine, ninety-nine. Just listen.
FICSUR
What for?
LILIOM
That sparrow’s listening, too. He’s cocked one eye and looks at me as if to say: “I’d like to know what they’re talking about.”
FICSUR
You’re looking at a bird?
LILIOM
He’s looking at me, too.
FICSUR
Listen, you’re sick! There’s something the matter with you. Do you know what it is? Money. That bird has no money, either; that’s why he cocks his eye.
LILIOM
Maybe.
FICSUR
Whoever has money don’t cock his eye.
LILIOM
What then does he do?
FICSUR
He does most anything he wants. But nobody works unless he has money. We’ll soon have money ourselves.
LILIOM
I say, “Good evening. Excuse me, sir, can you tell me what time it is!”
FICSUR
He’s not coming yet. Got the cards? [LILIOM gives him the pack of cards.] Got any money?
LILIOM
[Takes some coins from his trousers pocket and counts.] Eleven.
FICSUR
[Sits astride on the pile of ties and looks off left.] All right—eleven.
LILIOM
[Sitting astride on the ties facing him.] Put it up.
FICSUR
[Puts the money on the ties; rapidly shuffles the cards.] We’ll play twenty-one. I’ll bank. [He deals deftly.]
LILIOM
[Looks at his card.] Good. I’ll bet the bank.
FICSUR
Must have an ace! [Deals him a second card.]
LILIOM
Another one. [He gets another card.] Another. [Gets still another.] Over! [Throws down his cards. FICSUR gathers in the money.] Come on!
FICSUR
Come on what? Got no more money, have you?
LILIOM
No.
FICSUR
Then the game’s over—unless you want to——
LILIOM
What?
FICSUR
Play on credit.
LILIOM
You’ll trust me?
FICSUR
No—but—I’ll deduct it.
LILIOM
Deduct it from what?
FICSUR
From your share of the money. If you win you deduct from my share.
LILIOM
[Looks over his shoulder to see if the cashier is coming; nervous and ashamed.] All right. How much is bank?
FICSUR
That cashier is bringing us sixteen thousand kronen. Eight thousand of that is mine. Well, then, the bank is eight thousand.
LILIOM
Good.
FICSUR
Whoever has the most luck will have the most money. [He deals.]
LILIOM
Six hundred kronen. [FICSUR gives him another card.] Enough.
FICSUR
[Laying out his own cards.] Twenty-one. [He shuffles rapidly.]
LILIOM
[Moves excitedly nearer to FICSUR.] Well, then, double or nothing.
FICSUR
[Dealing.] Double or nothing.
LILIOM
[Gets a card.] Enough.
FICSUR
[Laying out his own cards.] Twenty-one. [Shuffles rapidly again.]
LILIOM
[In alarm.] You’re not—cheating?
FICSUR
Me? Do I look like a cheat? [Deals the cards again.]
LILIOM
[Glances nervously over his shoulder.] A thousand.
FICSUR
[Nonchalantly.] Kronen?
LILIOM
Kronen. [He gets a card.] Another one. [Gets another card.] Over again! [Like an inexperienced gambler who is losing heavily, LILIOM is very nervous. He plays dazedly, wildly, irrationally. From now on it is apparent that his only thought is to win his money back.]
FICSUR
That makes twelve hundred you owe.
LILIOM
Double or nothing. [He gets a card. He is greatly excited.] Another one. [Gets another card.] Another. [Throws down three cards.]
FICSUR
[Bends over and adds up the sum on the ground.] Ten—fourteen—twenty-three—— You owe two thousand, four hundred.
LILIOM
Now what?
FICSUR
[Takes a card out of the deck and gives it to him.] Here’s the red ace. You can play double or nothing again.
LILIOM
[Eagerly.] Good. [Gets another card.] Enough.
FICSUR
[Turns up his own cards.] Nineteen.
LILIOM
You win again. [Almost imploring.] Give me an ace again. Give me the green one. [Takes a card.] Double or nothing.
FICSUR
Not any more.
LILIOM
Why not?
FICSUR
Because if you lose you won’t be able to pay. Double would be nine thousand six hundred. And you’ve only got eight thousand altogether.
LILIOM
[Greatly excited.] That—that—I call that—a dirty trick!
FICSUR
Three thousand, two hundred. That’s all you can put up.
LILIOM
[Eagerly.] All right, then—three thousand, two hundred. [FICSUR deals him a card.] Enough.
FICSUR
I’ve got an ace myself. Now we’ll have to take our time and squeeze ’em. [LILIOM pushes closer to him, as he takes up his cards and slowly, intently unfolds them.] Twenty-one. [He quickly puts the cards in his pocket. There is a pause.]
LILIOM
Now—now—I’ll tell you now—you’re a crook, a low-down—— [Now LINZMAN enters at Right. He is a strong, robust, red-bearded Jew about 40 years of age. At his side he carries a leather bag slung by a strap from his shoulder. FICSUR coughs warningly, [Pg 121]moves to the right between LINZMAN and the embankment, pauses just behind LINZMAN and follows him. LILIOM stands bewildered a few paces to the left of the railroad ties. He finds himself facing LINZMAN. Trembling in every limb.] Good evening. Excuse me, sir, can you tell me the time? [FICSUR springs silently at LINZMAN, the little knife in his right hand. But LINZMAN catches FICSUR’S right hand with his own left and forces FICSUR to his knees. Simultaneously LINZMAN thrusts his right hand into his coat pocket and produces a revolver which he points at LILIOM’S breast. LILIOM is standing two paces away from the revolver. There is a long pause.]
LINZMAN
[In a low, even voice.] It is twenty-five minutes past six. [Pauses, looks ironically down at FICSUR.] It’s lucky I grabbed the hand with the knife instead of the other one. [Pauses again, looks appraisingly from one to the other.] Two fine birds! [To FICSUR.] I should live so—Rothschild has more luck than you. [To LILIOM.] I’d advise you to keep nice and quiet. If you make one move, you’ll get two bullets in you. Just look into the barrel. You’ll see some little things in there made of lead.
FICSUR
Let me go. I didn’t do anything.
LINZMAN
[Mockingly shakes the hand which still holds the knife.] And this? What do you call this? Oh, yes, I know. You thought I had an apple in my pocket, and you wanted to peel it. That’s it. Forgive me for my error. I beg your pardon, sir.
LILIOM
But I—I——
LINZMAN
Yes, my son, I know. It’s so simple. You only asked what time it is. Well, it’s twenty-five minutes after six.
FICSUR
Let us go, honorable sir. We didn’t do anything to you.
LINZMAN
In the first place, my son, I’m not an honorable sir. In the second place, for the same money, you could have said Your Excellency. But in the third place you’ll find it very hard to beg off by flattering me.
LILIOM
But I—I really didn’t do anything to you.
LINZMAN
Look behind you, my boy. Don’t be afraid. Look behind you, but don’t run away or I’ll have [Pg 123]to shoot you down. [LILIOM turns his head slowly around.] Who’s coming up there?
LILIOM
[Looking at LINZMAN.] Policemen.
LINZMAN
[To FICSUR.] You hold still, or—— [To LILIOM teasingly.] How many policemen are there?
LILIOM
[His eyes cast down.] Two.
LINZMAN
And what are the policemen sitting on?
LILIOM
Horses.
LINZMAN
And which can run faster, a horse or a man?
LILIOM
A horse.
LINZMAN
There, you see. It would be hard to get away now. [Laughs.] I never saw such an unlucky pair of highway robbers. I can’t imagine worse luck. Just today I had to put a pistol in my pocket. And [Pg 124]even if I hadn’t—old Linzman is a match for four like you. But even that isn’t all. Did you happen to notice, you oxen, what direction I came from? From the factory, didn’t I? When I went there I had a nice bit of money with me. Sixteen thousand crowns! But now—not a heller. [Calls off left.] Hey, come quicker, will you? This fellow is pulling pretty strong. [FICSUR frees himself with a mighty wrench and darts rapidly off. As LINZMAN aims his pistol at the vanishing FICSUR, LILIOM runs up the steps to the embankment. LINZMAN hesitates, perceives that LILIOM is the better target, points the pistol at him.] Stop, or I’ll shoot! [Calls off left to the POLICEMEN.] Why don’t you come down off your horses? [His pistol is leveled at LILIOM, who stands on the embankment, facing the audience. From the left on the embankment a POLICEMAN appears, revolver in hand.]
FIRST POLICEMAN
Stop!
LINZMAN
Well, my boy, do you still want to know what time it is? From ten to twelve years in prison!
LILIOM
You won’t get me! [LINZMAN laughs derisively. LILIOM is now three or four paces from the POLICEMAN and equally distant from LINZMAN. His face [Pg 125]is uplifted to the sky. He bursts into laughter, half defiant, half self-pitying, and takes the kitchen knife from under his coat.] Julie—— [The ring of farewell is in the word. He turns sideways, thrusts the knife deep in his breast, sways, falls and rolls down the far side of the embankment. There is a long pause. From the left up on the embankment come the TWO POLICEMEN.]
LINZMAN
What’s the matter? [The FIRST POLICEMAN comes along the embankment as far as the steps, looks down in the opposite side, then climbs down at about the spot where LILIOM disappeared. LINZMAN and the other POLICEMAN mount the embankment and look down on him.] Stabbed himself?
VOICE OF FIRST POLICEMAN
Yes—and he seems to have made a thorough job of it.
LINZMAN
[Excitedly to the SECOND POLICEMAN.] I’ll go and telephone to the hospital. [He runs down the steps and exits at left.]
SECOND POLICEMAN
Go to Eisler’s grocery store and telephone to the factory from there. They’ve a doctor there, too. [Pg 126][Calling down to the other POLICEMAN.] I’m going to tie up the horses. [Comes down the steps and exits at left. The stage is empty. There is a pause. The little red signal lamp is lit.]
VOICE OF FIRST POLICEMAN
Hey, Stephan!
VOICE OF SECOND POLICEMAN
What?
VOICE OF FIRST POLICEMAN
Shall I pull the knife out of his chest?
VOICE OF SECOND POLICEMAN
Better not, or he may bleed to death. [There is a pause.]
VOICE OF FIRST POLICEMAN
Stephan!
VOICE OF SECOND POLICEMAN
Yes.
VOICE OF FIRST POLICEMAN
Lot of mosquitoes around here.
VOICE OF SECOND POLICEMAN
Yes.
VOICE OF FIRST POLICEMAN
Got a cigar?
VOICE OF SECOND POLICEMAN
No. [There is a pause. The FIRST POLICEMAN appears over the opposite side of the embankment.]
FIRST POLICEMAN
A lot of good the new pay-schedule’s done us—made things worse than they used to be—we get more but we have less than we ever had. If the Government could be made to realize that. It’s a thankless job at best. You work hard year after year, you get gray in the service, and slowly you die—yes.
SECOND POLICEMAN
That’s right.
FIRST POLICEMAN
Yes. [In the distance is heard the bell of the signal tower.]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
SCENE—The photographic “studio” a half hour later that same evening.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER, her son, MARIE and WOLF stand in a group back right, their heads together. JULIE stands apart from them, a few paces to the left.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
[Who has just come in, tells his story excitedly.] They’re bringing him now. Two workmen from the factory are carrying him on a stretcher.
WOLF
Where is the doctor?
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
A policeman telephoned to headquarters. The police-surgeon ought to be here any minute.
MARIE
Maybe they’ll pull him through after all.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
He stabbed himself too deep in his chest. But he’s still breathing. He can still talk, too, but very faintly. At first he lay there unconscious, but when they put him on the stretcher he came to.
WOLF
That was from the shaking.
MARIE
We’d better make room. [They make room. Two workmen carry in LILIOM on a stretcher which has four legs and stands about as high as a bed. They put the stretcher at left directly in front of the sofa, so that the head is at right and the foot at left. Then they unobtrusively join the group at the door. Later, they go out. JULIE is standing at the side of the stretcher, where, without moving, she can see LILIOM’S face. The others crowd emotionally together near the door. The FIRST POLICEMAN enters.]
FIRST POLICEMAN
Are you his wife?
JULIE
Yes.
FIRST POLICEMAN
The doctor at the factory who bandaged him up forbade us to take him to the hospital.—Dangerous [Pg 130]to move him that far. What he needs now is rest. Just let him be until the police-surgeon comes. [To the group near the door.] He’s not to be disturbed. [They make way for him. He exits. There is a pause.]
WOLF
[Gently urging the others out.] Please—it’s best if we all get out of here now. We’ll only be in the way.
MARIE
[To JULIE.] Julie, what do you think? [JULIE looks at her without answering.] Julie, can I do anything to help? [JULIE does not answer.] We’ll be just outside on the bench if you want us. [MOTHER HOLLUNDER and her son have gone out when first requested. Now MARIE and WOLF exit, too. JULIE sits on the edge of the stretcher and looks at LILIOM. He stretches his hand out to her. She clasps it. It is not quite dark yet. Both of them can still be plainly seen.]
LILIOM
[Raises himself with difficulty; speaks lightly at first, but later soberly, defiantly.] Little—Julie—there’s something—I want to tell you—like when you go to a restaurant—and you’ve finished eating—and it’s time—to pay—then you have to count up everything—everything you owe—well—I beat [Pg 131]you—not because I was mad at you—no—only because I can’t bear to see anyone crying. You always cried—on my account—and, well, you see,—I never learned a trade—what kind of a caretaker would I make? But anyhow—I wasn’t going back to the carousel to fool with the girls. No, I spit on them all—understand?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
And—as for Hollinger—he’s good enough—Mrs. Muskat can get along all right with him. The jokes he tells are mine—and the people laugh when he tells them—but I don’t care.—I didn’t give you anything—no home—not even the food you ate—but you don’t understand.—It’s true I’m not much good—but I couldn’t be a caretaker—and so I thought maybe it would be better over there—in America—do you see?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
I’m not asking—forgiveness—I don’t do that—I don’t. Tell the baby—if you like.
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
Tell the baby—I wasn’t much good—but tell him—if you ever talk about me—tell him—I thought—perhaps—over in America—but that’s no affair of yours. I’m not asking forgiveness. For my part the police can come now.—If it’s a boy—if it’s a girl.—Perhaps I’ll see the Lord God today.—Do you think I’ll see Him?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
I’m not afraid—of the police Up There—if they’ll only let me come up in front of the Lord God Himself—not like down here where an officer stops you at the door. If the carpenter asks you—yes—be his wife—marry him. And the child—tell him he’s his father.—He’ll believe you—won’t he?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
When I beat you—I was right.—You mustn’t always think—you mustn’t always be right.—Liliom can be right once, too.—It’s all the same to me who was right.—It’s so dumb. Nobody’s right—but they all think they are right.—A lot they know!
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
Julie—come—hold my hand tight.
JULIE
I’m holding it tight—all the time.
LILIOM
Tighter, still tighter—I’m going—— [Pauses.] Julie——
JULIE
Good-bye. [LILIOM sinks slowly back and dies. JULIE frees her hand. THE DOCTOR enters with the FIRST POLICEMAN.]
DOCTOR
Good evening. His wife?
JULIE
Yes, sir. [Behind the DOCTOR and POLICEMAN enter MARIE, WOLF, MOTHER HOLLUNDER, YOUNG HOLLUNDER and MRS. MUSKAT. They remain respectfully at the doorway. The DOCTOR bends over LILIOM and examines him.]
DOCTOR
A light, if you please. [JULIE fetches a burning candle from the dark room. The DOCTOR examines LILIOM briefly in the candle-light, then turns suddenly away.] Have you pen and ink?
WOLF
[Proffering a pen.] A fountain-pen—American——
DOCTOR
[Takes a printed form from his pocket; speaks as he writes out the death-certificate at the little table.] My poor woman, your husband is dead—there’s nothing to be done for him—the good God will help him now—I’ll leave this certificate with you. You will give it to the people from the hospital when they come—I’ll arrange for the body to be removed at once. [Rises.] Please give me a towel and soap.
POLICEMAN
I’ve got them for you out here, sir. [Points to door at back.]
DOCTOR
God be with you, my good woman.
JULIE
Thank you, sir. [The DOCTOR and POLICEMAN exit. The others slowly draw nearer.]
MARIE
Poor Julie. May he rest in peace, poor man, but as for you—please don’t be angry with me for saying it—but you’re better off this way.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
He is better off, the poor fellow, and so are you.
MARIE
Much better, Julie . . . you are young . . . and one of these days some good man will come along. Am I right?
WOLF
She’s right.
MARIE
Julie, tell me, am I right?
JULIE
You are right, dear; you are very good.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
There’s a good man—the carpenter. Oh, I can speak of it now. He comes here every day on some excuse or other—and he never fails to ask for you.
MARIE
A widower—with two children.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
He’s better off, poor fellow—and so are you. He was a bad man.
MARIE
He wasn’t good-hearted. Was he, Wolf?
WOLF
No, I must say, he really wasn’t. No, Liliom wasn’t a good man. A good man doesn’t strike a woman.
MARIE
Am I right? Tell me, Julie, am I right?
JULIE
You are right, dear.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
It’s really a good thing for her it happened.
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
He’s better off—and so is she.
WOLF
Now you have your freedom again. How old are you?
JULIE
Eighteen.
WOLF
Eighteen. A mere child! Am I right?
JULIE
You are right, Wolf. You are kind.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
Lucky for you it happened, isn’t it?
JULIE
Yes.
YOUNG HOLLUNDER
All you had before was bad luck. If it weren’t for my mother you wouldn’t have had a roof over your head or a bite to eat—and now Autumn’s coming and Winter. You couldn’t have lived in this shack in the Winter time, could you?
MARIE
Certainly not! You’d have frozen like the birds in the fields. Am I right, Julie?
JULIE
Yes, Marie.
MARIE
A year from now you will have forgotten all about him, won’t you?
JULIE
You are right, Marie.
WOLF
If you need anything, count on us. We’ll go now. But tomorrow morning we’ll be back. Come, Marie. God be with you. [Offers JULIE his hand.]
JULIE
God be with you.
MARIE
[Embraces JULIE, weeping.] It’s the best thing that could have happened to you, Julie, the best thing.
JULIE
Don’t cry, Marie. [MARIE and WOLF exit.]
MOTHER HOLLUNDER
I’ll make a little black coffee. You haven’t had a thing to eat today. Then you’ll come home with us. [MOTHER HOLLUNDER and her son exit. MRS. MUSKAT comes over to JULIE.]
MRS. MUSKAT
Would you mind if I—looked at him?
JULIE
He used to work for you.
MRS. MUSKAT
[Contemplates the body; turns to JULIE.] Won’t you make up with me?
JULIE
I wasn’t angry with you.
MRS. MUSKAT
But you were. Let’s make it up.
JULIE
[Raising her voice eagerly, almost triumphantly.] I’ve nothing to make up with you.
MRS. MUSKAT
But I have with you. Everyone says hard things against the poor dead boy—except us two. You don’t say he was bad.
JULIE
[Raising her voice yet higher, this time on a defiant, wholly triumphant note.] Yes, I do.
MRS. MUSKAT
I understand, my child. But he beat me, too. What does that matter? I’ve forgotten it.
JULIE
[From now on answers her coldly, drily, without looking at her.] That’s your own affair.
MRS. MUSKAT
If I can help you in any way——
JULIE
There’s nothing I need.
MRS. MUSKAT
I still owe him two kronen, back pay.
JULIE
You should have paid him.
MRS. MUSKAT
Now that the poor fellow is dead I thought perhaps it would be the same if I paid you.
JULIE
I’ve nothing to do with it.
MRS. MUSKAT
All right. Please don’t think I’m trying to force myself on you. I stayed because we two are the only ones on earth who loved him. That’s why I thought we ought to stick together.
JULIE
No, thank you.
MRS. MUSKAT
Then you couldn’t have loved him as I did.
JULIE
No.
MRS. MUSKAT
I loved him better.
JULIE
Yes.
MRS. MUSKAT
Good-bye.
JULIE
Good-bye. [MRS. MUSKAT exits. JULIE puts the candle on the table near LILIOM’S head, sits on the edge of the stretcher, looks into the dead man’s face and caresses it tenderly.] Sleep, Liliom, sleep—it’s no business of hers—I never even told you—but now I’ll tell you—now I’ll tell you—you bad, quick-tempered, rough, unhappy, wicked—dear boy—sleep peacefully, Liliom—they can’t understand how I feel—I can’t even explain to you—not even to you—how I feel—you’d only laugh at me—but you can’t hear me any more. [Between tender motherliness and reproach, yet with great love in her voice.] It was wicked of you to beat me—on the breast and on the head and face—but you’re gone now.—You treated me badly—that was wicked of you—but sleep peacefully, Liliom—you bad, bad boy, you—I love you—I never told you before—I was ashamed—but now I’ve told you—I love you, Liliom—sleep—my boy—sleep. [She rises, gets a Bible, sits down near the candle and reads softly to herself, so that, not the words, but an inarticulate murmur is heard. The CARPENTER enters at back.]
CARPENTER
[Stands near the door; in the dimness of the room he can scarcely be seen.] Miss Julie——
JULIE
[Without alarm.] Who is that?
CARPENTER
[Very slowly.] The carpenter.
JULIE
What does the carpenter want?
CARPENTER
Can I be of help to you in any way? Shall I stay here with you?
JULIE
[Gratefully, but firmly.] Don’t stay, carpenter.
CARPENTER
Shall I come back tomorrow?
JULIE
Not tomorrow, either.
CARPENTER
Don’t be offended, Miss Julie, but I’d like to know—you see, I’m not a young man any more—I have two children—and if I’m to come back any more—I’d like to know—if there’s any use——
JULIE
No use, carpenter.
CARPENTER
[As he exits.] God be with you. [JULIE resumes her reading. FICSUR enters, slinks furtively sideways to the stretcher, looks at LILIOM, shakes his head. JULIE looks up from her reading. FICSUR takes fright, slinks away from the stretcher, sits down at right, biting his nails. JULIE rises. FICSUR rises, too, and looks at her half fearfully. With her piercing glance upon him he slinks to the doorway at back, where he pauses and speaks.]
FICSUR
The old woman asked me to tell you that coffee is ready, and you are to come in. [JULIE goes to the kitchen door. FICSUR withdraws until she has closed the door behind her. Then he reappears in the doorway, stands on tiptoes, looks at LILIOM, then exits. Now the body lies alone. After a brief silence music is heard, distant at first, but gradually coming nearer. It is very much like the music of the carousel, but slower, graver, more exalted. The melody, too, is the same, yet the tempo is altered and contrapuntal measures of the thieves’ song are intertwined in it. Two men in black, with heavy sticks, soft black hats and black gloves, appear in the doorway at back and stride slowly into the room. Their faces are beardless, marble white, grave and benign. One stops m front of the stretcher, the [Pg 144]other a pace to the right. From above a dim violet light illuminates their faces.]
THE FIRST
[To LILIOM.] Rise and come with us.
THE SECOND
[Politely.] You’re under arrest.
THE FIRST
[Somewhat louder, but always in a gentle, low, resonant voice.] Do you hear? Rise. Don’t you hear?
THE SECOND
We are the police.
THE FIRST
[Bends down, touches LILIOM’S shoulder.] Get up and come with us. [LILIOM slowly sits up.]
THE SECOND
Come along.
THE FIRST
[Paternally.] These people suppose that when they die all their difficulties are solved for them.
THE SECOND
[Raising his voice sternly.] That simply by thrusting a knife in your heart and making it stop [Pg 145]beating you can leave your wife behind with a child in her womb——
THE FIRST
It is not as simple as that.
THE SECOND
Such things are not settled so easily.
THE FIRST
Come along. You will have to give an account of yourself. [As both bow their heads, he continues softly.] We are God’s police. [An expression of glad relief lights upon LILIOM’S face. He rises from the stretcher.] Come.
THE SECOND
You mortals don’t get off quite as easy as that.
THE FIRST
[Softly.] Come. [LILIOM starts to walk ahead of them, then stops and looks at them.] The end is not as abrupt as that. Your name is still spoken. Your face is still remembered. And what you said, and what you did, and what you failed to do—these are still remembered. Remembered, too, are the manner of your glance, the ring of your voice, the clasp of your hand and how your step sounded—as long as one is left who remembers you, so long is [Pg 146]the matter unended. Before the end there is much to be undone. Until you are quite forgotten, my son, you will not be finished with the earth—even though you are dead.
THE SECOND
[Very gently.] Come. [The music begins again. All three exit at back, LILIOM leading, the others following. The stage is empty and quite dark save for the candle which burns by the stretcher, on which, in the shadows, the covers are so arranged that one cannot quite be sure that a body is not still lying. The music dies out in the distance as if it had followed LILIOM and the two POLICEMEN. The candle flickers and goes out. There is a brief interval of silence and total darkness before
THE CURTAIN FALLS
SCENE—In the Beyond. A whitewashed courtroom. There is a green-topped table; behind it a bench. Back Center is a door with a bell over it. Next to this door is a window through which can be seen a vista of rose-tinted clouds.
Down right there is a grated iron door. Down left another door.
Two men are on the bench when the curtain rises. One is richly, the other poorly dressed.
From a great distance is heard a fanfare of trumpets playing the refrain, of the thieves’ song in slow, altered tempo.
Passing the window at back appear LILIOM and the two POLICEMEN.
The bell rings.
An old GUARD enters at right. He is bald and has a long white beard. He wears the conventional police uniform.
He goes to the door at back, opens it, exchanges silent greetings with the two POLICEMEN and closes the door again.
LILIOM looks wonderingly around.
THE FIRST
[To the old GUARD.] Announce us. [The GUARD exits at left.]
LILIOM
Is this it?
THE SECOND
Yes, my son.
LILIOM
This is the police court?
THE SECOND
Yes, my son. The part for suicide cases.
LILIOM
And what happens here?
THE FIRST
Here justice is done. Sit down. [LILIOM sits next to the two men. The two POLICEMEN stand silent near the table.]
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
[Whispers.] Suicide, too?
LILIOM
Yes.
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
[Points to the POORLY DRESSED MAN.] So’s he. [Introducing himself.] My name is Reich.
THE POORLY DRESSED MAN
[Whispers, too.] My name is Stephen Kadar. [LILIOM only looks at them.]
THE POORLY DRESSED MAN
And you? What’s your name?
LILIOM
None of your business. [Both move a bit away from him.]
THE POORLY DRESSED MAN
I did it by jumping out of a window.
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
I did it with a pistol—and you?
LILIOM
With a knife. [They move a bit further away from him.]
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
A pistol is cleaner.
LILIOM
If I had the price of a pistol——
THE SECOND
Silence!
[The POLICE MAGISTRATE enters. He has a long white beard, is bald, but only in profile can be seen on his head a single tuft of snow-white hair. The GUARD reënters behind him and sits on the bench with the dead men. As the MAGISTRATE enters, all rise, except LILIOM, who remains surlily seated. When the MAGISTRATE sits down, so do the others.]
THE GUARD
Yesterday’s cases, your honor. The numbers are entered in the docket.
THE MAGISTRATE
Number 16,472.
THE FIRST
[Looks in his notebook, beckons the RICHLY DRESSED MAN.] Stand up, please. [THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN rises.]
THE MAGISTRATE
Your name?
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
Doctor Reich.
THE MAGISTRATE
Age?
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
Forty-two, married, Jew.
THE MAGISTRATE
[With a gesture of dismissal.] Religion does not interest us here—why did you kill yourself?
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
On account of debts.
THE MAGISTRATE
What good did you do on earth?
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
I was a lawyer——
THE MAGISTRATE
[Coughs significantly.] Yes—we’ll discuss that later. For the present I shall only ask you: Would you like to go back to earth once more before sunrise? I advise you that you have the right to go if you choose. Do you understand?
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
Yes, sir.
THE MAGISTRATE
He who takes his life is apt, in his haste and his excitement, to forget something. Is there anything important down there you have left undone? Something to tell someone? Something to undo?
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
My debts——
THE MAGISTRATE
They do not matter here. Here we are concerned only with the affairs of the soul.
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
Then—if you please—when I left—the house—my youngest son, Oscar—was asleep. I didn’t trust myself to wake him—and bid him good-bye. I would have liked—to kiss him good-bye.
THE MAGISTRATE
[To THE SECOND.] You will take Dr. Reich back and let him kiss his son Oscar.
THE SECOND
Come with me, please.
THE RICHLY DRESSED MAN
[To THE MAGISTRATE.] I thank you. [He bows and exits at back with THE SECOND.]
THE MAGISTRATE
[After making an entry in the docket.] Number 16,473.
THE FIRST
[Looks in his notebook, then beckons LILIOM.] Stand up.
LILIOM
You said please to him. [He rises.]
THE MAGISTRATE
Your name?
LILIOM
Liliom.
THE MAGISTRATE
Isn’t that your nickname?
LILIOM
Yes.
THE MAGISTRATE
What is your right name?
LILIOM
Andreas.
THE MAGISTRATE
And your last name?
LILIOM
Zavocki—after my mother.
THE MAGISTRATE
Your age?
LILIOM
Twenty-four.
THE MAGISTRATE
What good did you do on earth? [LILIOM is silent.] Why did you take your life? [LILIOM does not answer. THE MAGISTRATE addresses THE FIRST.] Take that knife away from him. [THE FIRST does so.] It will be returned to you, if you go back to earth.
LILIOM
Do I go back to earth again?
THE MAGISTRATE
Just answer my questions.
LILIOM
I wasn’t answering then, I was asking if——
THE MAGISTRATE
You don’t ask questions here. You only answer. Only answer, Andreas Zavocki! I ask you whether [Pg 155]there is anything on earth you neglected to accomplish? Anything down there you would like to do?
LILIOM
Yes.
THE MAGISTRATE
What is it?
LILIOM
I’d like to break Ficsur’s head for him.
THE MAGISTRATE
Punishment is our office. Is there nothing else on earth you’d like to do?
LILIOM
I don’t know—I guess, as long as I’m here, I’ll not go back.
THE MAGISTRATE
[To THE FIRST.] Note that. He waives his right. [LILIOM starts back to the bench.] Stay where you are. You are aware that you left your wife without food or shelter?
LILIOM
Yes.
THE MAGISTRATE
Don’t you regret it?
LILIOM
No.
THE MAGISTRATE
You are aware that your wife is pregnant, and that in six months a child will be born?
LILIOM
I know.
THE MAGISTRATE
And that the child, too, will be without food or shelter? Do you regret that?
LILIOM
As long as I won’t be there, what’s it got to do with me?
THE MAGISTRATE
Don’t try to deceive us, Andreas Zavocki. We see through you as through a pane of glass.
LILIOM
If you see so much, what do you want to ask me for? Why don’t you let me rest—in peace?
THE MAGISTRATE
First you must earn your rest.
LILIOM
I want—only—to sleep.
THE MAGISTRATE
Your obstinacy won’t help you. Here patience is endless as time. We can wait.
LILIOM
Can I ask something—I’d like to know—if Your Honor will tell me—whether the baby will be a boy or a girl.
THE MAGISTRATE
You shall see that for yourself.
LILIOM
[Excitedly.] I’ll see the baby?
THE MAGISTRATE
When you do it won’t be a baby any more. But we haven’t reached that question yet.
LILIOM
I’ll see it?
THE MAGISTRATE
Again I ask you: Do you not regret that you deserted your wife and child; that you were a bad husband, a bad father?
LILIOM
A bad husband?
THE MAGISTRATE
Yes.
LILIOM
And a bad father?
THE MAGISTRATE
That, too.
LILIOM
I couldn’t get work—and I couldn’t bear to see Julie—all the time—all the time——
THE MAGISTRATE
Weeping! Why are you ashamed to say it? You couldn’t bear to see her weeping. Why are you afraid of that word? And why are you ashamed that you loved her?
LILIOM
[Shrugs his shoulders.] Who’s ashamed? But I couldn’t bear to see her—and that’s why I was bad to her. You see, it wouldn’t do to go back to the carousel—and Ficsur came along with his talk about—that other thing—and all of a sudden it happened, I don’t know how. The police and the Jew with the pistol—and there I stood—and I’d lost the money playing cards—and I didn’t want to be put in prison. [Demanding justification.] Maybe I was wrong not to go out and steal when there was nothing to eat in the house? Should I have gone out to steal for Julie?
THE MAGISTRATE
[Emphatically.] Yes.
LILIOM
[After an astounded pause.] The police down there never said that.
THE MAGISTRATE
You beat that poor, frail girl; you beat her because she loved you. How could you do that?
LILIOM
We argued with each other—she said this and I said that—and because she was right I couldn’t answer her—and I got mad—and the anger rose up in me—until it reached here [points to his throat] and then I beat her.
THE MAGISTRATE
Are you sorry?
LILIOM
[Shakes his head, but cannot utter the word “no”; continues softly.] When I touched her slender throat—then—if you like—you might say—— [Falters, looks embarrassed at THE MAGISTRATE.]
THE MAGISTRATE
[Confidently expectant.] Are you sorry?
LILIOM
[With a stare.] I’m not sorry for anything.
THE MAGISTRATE
Liliom, Liliom, it will be difficult to help you.
LILIOM
I’m not asking any help.
THE MAGISTRATE
You were offered employment as a caretaker on Arader Street. [To THE FIRST.] Where is that entered?
THE FIRST
In the small docket. [Hands him the open book. THE MAGISTRATE looks in it.]
THE MAGISTRATE
Rooms, kitchen, quarterly wages, the privilege of keeping poultry. Why didn’t you accept it?
LILIOM
I’m not a caretaker. I’m no good at caretaking. To be a caretaker—you have to be a caretaker——
THE MAGISTRATE
If I said to you now: Liliom, go back on your stretcher. Tomorrow morning you will arise alive and well again. Would you be a caretaker then?
LILIOM
No.
THE MAGISTRATE
Why not?
LILIOM
Because—because that’s just why I died.
THE MAGISTRATE
That is not true, my son. You died because you loved little Julie and the child she is bearing under her heart.
LILIOM
No.
THE MAGISTRATE
Look me in the eye.
LILIOM
[Looks him in the eye.] No.
THE MAGISTRATE
[Stroking his beard.] Liliom, Liliom, if it were not for our Heavenly patience—— Go back to your seat. Number 16,474.
THE FIRST
[Looks in his note book.] Stephan Kadar. [THE POORLY DRESSED MAN rises.]
THE MAGISTRATE
You came out today?
THE POORLY DRESSED MAN
Today.
THE MAGISTRATE
[Indicating the crimson sea of clouds.] How long were you in there?
THE POORLY DRESSED MAN
Thirteen years.
THE MAGISTRATE
Officer, you went to earth with him?
THE FIRST
Yes, sir.
THE MAGISTRATE
Stephan Kadar, after thirteen years of purification by fire you returned to earth to give proof that your soul had been burned clean. What good deed did you perform?
THE POORLY DRESSED MAN
When I came to the village and looked in the window of our cottage I saw my poor little orphans sleeping peacefully. But it was raining and the rain beat into the room through a hole in the roof. [Pg 163]So I went and fixed the roof so it wouldn’t rain in any more. My hammering woke them up and they were afraid. But their mother came in to them and comforted them. She said to them: “Don’t cry! It’s your poor, dear father hammering up there. He’s come back from the other world to fix the roof for us.”
THE MAGISTRATE
Officer?
THE FIRST
That’s what happened.
THE MAGISTRATE
Stephan Kadar, you have done a good deed. What you did will be written in books to gladden the hearts of children who read them. [Indicates the door at left.] The door is open to you. The eternal light awaits you. [THE FIRST escorts the POORLY DRESSED MAN out at left with great deference.] Liliom! [LILIOM rises.] You have heard?
LILIOM
Yes.
THE MAGISTRATE
When this man first appeared before us he was as stubborn as you. But now he has purified himself and withstood the test. He has done a good deed.
LILIOM
What’s he done, anyhow? Any roofer can fix a roof. It’s much harder to be a barker in an amusement park.
THE MAGISTRATE
Liliom, you shall remain for sixteen years in the crimson fire until your child is full grown. By that time your pride and your stubbornness will have been burnt out of you. And when your daughter——
LILIOM
My daughter!
THE MAGISTRATE
When your daughter has reached the age of sixteen—— [LILIOM bows his head, covers his eyes with his hands, and to keep from weeping laughs defiantly, sadly.]
THE MAGISTRATE
When your daughter has reached the age of sixteen you will be sent for one day back to earth.
LILIOM
Me?
THE MAGISTRATE
Yes—just as you may have read in the legends of how the dead reappear on earth for a time.
LILIOM
I never believed them.
THE MAGISTRATE
Now you see they are true. You will go back to earth one day to show how far the purification of your soul has progressed.
LILIOM
Then I must show what I can do—like when you apply for a job—as a coachman?
THE MAGISTRATE
Yes—it is a test.
LILIOM
And will I be told what I have to do?
THE MAGISTRATE
No.
LILIOM
How will I know, then?
THE MAGISTRATE
You must decide that for yourself. That’s what you burn sixteen years for. And if you do something good, something splendid for your child, then——
LILIOM
[Laughs sadly.] Then? [All stand up and bow their heads reverently. There is a pause.] Then?
THE MAGISTRATE
Now I’ll bid you farewell, Liliom. Sixteen years and a day shall pass before I see you again. When you have returned from earth you will come up before me again. Take heed and think well of some good deed to do for your child. On that will depend which door shall be opened to you up here. Now go, Liliom. [He exits at left. THE GUARD stands at attention. There is a pause.]
THE FIRST
[Approaches LILIOM.] Come along, my son. [He goes to the door at right; pulls open the bolt and waits.]
LILIOM
[To the old GUARD, softly.] Say, officer.
THE GUARD
What do you want?
LILIOM
Please—can I get—have you got——?
THE GUARD
What?
LILIOM
[Whispers.] A cigarette? [The old GUARD stares at him, goes a few paces to the left, shakes his head disapprovingly. Then his expression softens. He takes a cigarette from his pocket and, crossing to LILIOM—who has gone over to the door at right—gives him the cigarette. THE FIRST throws open the door. An intense rose-colored light streams in. The glow of it is so strong that it blinds LILIOM and he takes a step backward and bows his head and covers his eyes with his hand before he steps forward into the light.]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
SCENE—Sixteen years later. A small, tumble-down house on a bare, unenclosed plot of ground. Before the house is a tiny garden enclosed by a hip-high hedge.
At back a wooden fence crosses the stage; in the center of it is a door large enough to admit a wagon. Beyond the fence is a view of a suburban street which blends into a broad vista of tilled fields.
It is a bright Sunday in Spring.
In the garden a table for two is laid.
JULIE, her daughter LOUISE, WOLF and MARIE are discovered in the garden. WOLF is prosperously dressed, MARIE somewhat elaborately, with a huge hat.
JULIE
You could stay for lunch.
MARIE
Impossible, dear. Since he became the proprietor of the Café Sorrento, Wolf simply has to be there all the time.
JULIE
But you needn’t stay there all day, too.
MARIE
Oh, yes. I sit near the cashier’s cage, read the papers, keep an eye on the waiters and drink in the bustle and excitement of the great city.
JULIE
And what about the children?
MARIE
You know what modern families are like. Parents scarcely ever see their children these days. The four girls are with their governess, the three boys with their tutor.
LOUISE
Auntie, dear, do stay and eat with us.
MARIE
[Importantly.] Impossible today, dear child, impossible. Perhaps some other time. Come, Mr. Beifeld.
JULIE
Since when do you call your husband mister?
WOLF
I’d rather she did, dear lady. When we used to be very familiar we quarreled all the time. Now [Pg 170]we are formal with each other and get along like society folk. I kiss your hand, dear lady.
JULIE
Good-bye, Wolf.
MARIE
Adieu, my dear. [They embrace.] Adieu, my dear child.
LOUISE
Good-bye, Aunt Marie. Good-bye, Uncle Wolf. [WOLF and MARIE exit.]
JULIE
You can get the soup now, Louise dear. [LOUISE goes into the house and reënters with the soup. They sit at the table.]
LOUISE
Mother, is it true we’re not going to work at the jute factory any more?
JULIE
Yes, dear.
LOUISE
Where then?
JULIE
Uncle Wolf has gotten us a place in a big establishment where they make all kinds of fittings for [Pg 171]cafés. We’re to make big curtains, you know, the kind they hang in the windows, with lettering on them.
LOUISE
It’ll be nicer there than at the jute factory.
JULIE
Yes, dear. The work isn’t as dirty and pays better, too. A poor widow like your mother is lucky to get it. [They eat. LILIOM and the two HEAVENLY POLICEMEN appear in the big doorway at back. The POLICEMEN pass slowly by. LILIOM stands there alone a moment, then comes slowly down and pauses at the opening of the hedge. He is dressed as he was on the day of his death. He is very pale, but otherwise unaltered. JULIE, at the table, has her back to him. LOUISE sits facing the audience.
LILIOM
Good day.
LOUISE
Good day.
JULIE
Another beggar! What is it you want, my poor man?
LILIOM
Nothing.
JULIE
We have no money to give, but if you care for a plate of soup—— [LOUISE goes into the house.] Have you come far today?
LILIOM
Yes—very far.
JULIE
Are you tired?
LILIOM
Very tired.
JULIE
Over there at the gate is a stone. Sit down and rest. My daughter is bringing you the soup. [LOUISE comes out of the house.]
LILIOM
Is that your daughter?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
[To LOUISE.] You are the daughter?
LOUISE
Yes, sir.
LILIOM
A fine, healthy girl. [Takes the soup plate from her with one hand, while with the other he touches her arm. LOUISE draws back quickly.]
LOUISE
[Crosses to JULIE.] Mother!
JULIE
What, my child?
LOUISE
The man tried to take me by the arm.
JULIE
Nonsense! You only imagined it, dear. The poor, hungry man has other things to think about than fooling with young girls. Sit down and eat your soup. [They eat.]
LILIOM
[Eats, too, but keeps looking at them.] You work at the factory, eh?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
Your daughter, too?
LOUISE
Yes.
LILIOM
And your husband?
JULIE
[After a pause.] I have no husband. I’m a widow.
LILIOM
A widow?
JULIE
Yes.
LILIOM
Your husband—I suppose he’s been dead a long time. [JULIE does not answer.] I say—has your husband been dead a long time?
JULIE
A long time.
LILIOM
What did he die of? [JULIE is silent.]
LOUISE
No one knows. He went to America to work and he died there—in the hospital. Poor father, I never knew him.
LILIOM
He went to America?
LOUISE
Yes, before I was born.
LILIOM
To America?
JULIE
Why do you ask so many questions? Did you know him, perhaps?
LILIOM
[Puts the plate down.] Heaven knows! I’ve known so many people. Maybe I knew him, too.
JULIE
Well, if you knew him, leave him and us in peace with your questions. He went to America and died there. That’s all there is to tell.
LILIOM
All right. All right. Don’t be angry with me. I didn’t mean any harm. [There is a pause.]
LOUISE
My father was a very handsome man.
JULIE
Don’t talk so much.
LOUISE
Did I say anything——?
LILIOM
Surely the little orphan can say that about her father.
LOUISE
My father could juggle so beautifully with three ivory balls that people used to advise him to go on the stage.
JULIE
Who told you that?
LOUISE
Uncle Wolf.
LILIOM
Who is that?
LOUISE
Mr. Wolf Beifeld, who owns the Café Sorrento.
LILIOM
The one who used to be a porter?
JULIE
[Astonished.] Do you know him, too? It seems that you know all Budapest.
LILIOM
Wolf Beifeld is a long way from being all Budapest. But I do know a lot of people. Why shouldn’t I know Wolf Beifeld?
LOUISE
He was a friend of my father.
JULIE
He was not his friend. No one was.
LILIOM
You speak of your husband so sternly.
JULIE
What’s that to you? Doesn’t it suit you? I can speak of my husband any way I like. It’s nobody’s business but mine.
LILIOM
Certainly, certainly—it’s your own business. [Takes up his soup plate again. All three eat.]
LOUISE
[To JULIE.] Perhaps he knew father, too.
JULIE
Ask him, if you like.
LOUISE
[Crosses to LILIOM. He stands up.] Did you know my father? [LILIOM nods. LOUISE addresses her mother.] Yes, he knew him.
JULIE
[Rises.] You knew Andreas Zavocky?
LILIOM
Liliom? Yes.
LOUISE
Was he really a very handsome man?
LILIOM
I wouldn’t exactly say handsome.
LOUISE
[Confidently.] But he was an awfully good man, wasn’t he?
LILIOM
He wasn’t so good, either. As far as I know he was what they called a clown, a barker in a carousel.
LOUISE
[Pleased.] Did he tell funny jokes?
LILIOM
Lots of ’em. And he sang funny songs, too.
LOUISE
In the carousel?
LILIOM
Yes—but he was something of a bully, too. He’d fight anyone. He even hit your dear little mother.
JULIE
That’s a lie.
LILIOM
It’s true.
JULIE
Aren’t you ashamed to tell the child such awful things about her father? Get out of here, you shameless liar. Eats our soup and our bread and has the impudence to slander our dead!
LILIOM
I didn’t mean—I——
JULIE
What right have you to tell lies to the child? Take that plate, Louise, and let him be on his way. If he wasn’t such a hungry-looking beggar, I’d put him out myself. [LOUISE takes the plate out of his hand.]
LILIOM
So he didn’t hit you?
JULIE
No, never. He was always good to me.
LOUISE
[Whispers.] Did he tell funny stories, too?
LILIOM
Yes, and such funny ones.
JULIE
Don’t speak to him any more. In God’s name, go.
LOUISE
In God’s name. [JULIE resumes her seat at the table and eats.]
LILIOM
If you please, Miss—I have a pack of cards in my pocket. And if you like, I’ll show you some tricks that’ll make you split your sides laughing. [LOUISE holds LILIOM’S plate in her left hand. With her right she reaches out and holds the garden gate shut.] Let me in, just a little way, Miss, and I’ll do the tricks for you.
LOUISE
Go, in God’s name, and let us be. Why are you making those ugly faces?
LILIOM
Don’t chase me away, Miss; let me come in for just a minute—just for a minute—just long enough to let me show you something pretty, something wonderful. [Opens the gate.] Miss, I’ve something to give you. [Takes from his pocket a big red handkerchief in which is wrapped a glittering star from Heaven. He looks furtively about him to make sure that the POLICE are not watching.]
LOUISE
What’s that?
LILIOM
Pst! A star! [With a gesture he indicates that he has stolen it out of the sky.]
JULIE
[Sternly.] Don’t take anything from him. He’s probably stolen it somewhere. [To LILIOM.] In God’s name, be off with you.
LOUISE
Yes, be off with you. Be off. [She slams the gate.]
LILIOM
Miss—please, Miss—I’ve got to do something good—or—do something good—a good deed——
LOUISE
[Pointing with her right hand.] That’s the way out.
LILIOM
Miss——
LOUISE
Get out!
LILIOM
Miss! [Looks up at her suddenly and slaps her extended hand, so that the slap resounds loudly.]
LOUISE
Mother! [Looks dazedly at LILIOM, who bows his head dismayed, forlorn. JULIE rises and looks at LILIOM in astonishment. There is a long pause.]
JULIE
[Comes over to them slowly.] What’s the matter here?
LOUISE
[Bewildered, does not take her eyes off LILIOM.] Mother—the man—he hit me—on the hand—hard—I heard the sound of it—but it didn’t hurt—mother—it didn’t hurt—it was like a caress—as if he had just touched my hand tenderly. [She hides behind JULIE. LILIOM sulkily raises his head and looks at JULIE.]
JULIE
[Softly.] Go, my child. Go into the house. Go.
LOUISE
[Going.] But mother—I’m afraid—it sounded so loud—— [Weepingly.] And it didn’t hurt at all—just as if he’d—kissed my hand instead—mother! [She hides her face.]
JULIE
Go in, my child, go in. [LOUISE goes slowly into the house. JULIE watches her until she has disappeared, then turns slowly to LILIOM.]
JULIE
You struck my child.
LILIOM
Yes—I struck her.
JULIE
Is that what you came for, to strike my child?
LILIOM
No—I didn’t come for that—but I did strike her—and now I’m going back.
JULIE
In the name of the Lord Jesus, who are you?
LILIOM
[Simply.] A poor, tired beggar who came a long way and who was hungry. And I took your soup and bread and I struck your child. Are you angry with me?
JULIE
[Her hand on her heart; fearfully, wonderingly.] Jesus protect me—I don’t understand it—I’m not angry—not angry at all—— [LILIOM goes to the doorway and leans against the doorpost, his back to the audience. JULIE goes to the table and sits.]
JULIE
Louise! [LOUISE comes out of the house.] Sit down, dear, we’ll finish eating.
LOUISE
Has he gone?
JULIE
Yes. [They are both seated at the table. LOUISE, her head in her hands, is staring into space.] Why don’t you eat, dear?
LOUISE
What has happened, mother?
JULIE
Nothing, my child. [The HEAVENLY POLICEMEN appear outside. LILIOM walks slowly off at left. The FIRST POLICEMAN makes a deploring gesture. Both shake their heads deploringly and follow LILIOM slowly off at left.]
LOUISE
Mother, dear, why won’t you tell me?
JULIE
What is there to tell you, child? Nothing has happened. We were peacefully eating, and a beggar [Pg 185]came who talked of bygone days, and then I thought of your father.
LOUISE
My father?
JULIE
Your father—Liliom. [There is a pause.]
LOUISE
Mother—tell me—has it ever happened to you—has anyone ever hit you—without hurting you in the least?
JULIE
Yes, my child. It has happened to me, too. [There is a pause.]
LOUISE
Is it possible for someone to hit you—hard like that—real loud and hard—and not hurt you at all?
JULIE
It is possible, dear—that someone may beat you and beat you and beat you,—and not hurt you at all.—— [There is a pause. Nearby an organ-grinder has stopped. The music of his organ begins.]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
This transcription is based on images scanned from a copy made available by Cornell University and posted by the Internet Archive at:
archive.org/details/cu31924026943195
These images were supplemented by images scanned from a copy made available by Harvard University and posted by the Internet Archive at:
archive.org/details/liliomalegendin00glazgoog
The following changes were noted:
Alternate spellings such as “irridescence,” “moustache,” “improvization,” and “reënters” have been retained as has the inconsistent spelling of Liliom’s last name (“Zavoczki,” “Zavocki,” and “Zavocky”).
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