SCENE FOUR
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 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, 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 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 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 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. [_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