SCENE SIX
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 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. 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