THE THIRD ACT
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A fertile landscape. In the foreground, to the right, on a triangular piece of greensward slightly below the level of the fields, there stands an old pear tree, at the foot of which a spring empties into a primitive basin of stone. The middle distance is of meadow land. In the background a pool, bordered by reeds and dotted by water plants, lies in a grove of alder trees and bushes of hazelnut, willow and beech. The meadows extend on either side encircled by immemorial oaks, elms, beeches and birch trees. Between the foliage of the trees and bushes the church spires of distant villages are visible. To the left, behind the bushes, arise the thatched roofs of the field barns.
It is a hot afternoon of early August.
From afar is heard the hum of the threshing machine. BERND and AUGUST KEIL come from, the right. They are worn out from labour and from the heat. The men are clad only in their shirts, breeches, boots and caps. Each carries a hoe across his shoulder, a scythe in his hand, and carries at his belt a cowherd's horn and whetstone.
BERND
'Tis hot an' to spare to-day. A man must rest a bit! But a feelin' o' peace comes to you workin' on your own ground.
AUGUST
The trouble is I'm not used to mowin'.
BERND
You went an' did your share right bravely.
AUGUST
Yes, yes! But how long can I do it? All my limbs are twitchin' an' hurtin' me now.
BERND
You can rest content, my son. A man's got to be used to that kind o' work. An' in your case 'tis only an exception. But, 's I said, you could well go an' be a gard'ner.
AUGUST
For the space of a day. On the second I'd collapse. There's no use; I'm but a broken reed. I went to the county physician again. 'Twas the same as always. He just shrugged his shoulders.
BERND
You're well now an' in God's hands. The most you might do is to put a few rusty nails in water an' drink the rinsings two or three times a week. That purifies the blood an' strengthens the heart.—I only hope the weather'll keep on this way.
AUGUST
The heat's too terrible. When we were mowin', I thought I heard thunder.
BERND
[Kneeling down on the edge of the basin and drinking from the surface of the spring.] Water is the best drink for all they say.
AUGUST
How late is it?
BERND
'Tis about four o'clock, I'm wonderin' what keeps Rose with our evenin' meal. [He raises his scythe and looks at the blade. AUGUST does the same.] Will you have to sharpen? Mine will do a bit longer.
AUGUST
I can try it this way a while longer.
BERND
[Throws himself on the grass under the pear tree.] You'd better come an' sit down by me. An' if, maybe, you got your Testament with you, we might refresh ourselves with the Good Word.
AUGUST
[Sitting down exhausted and glad to be free.] All I say is: Thanks and praise be to the Lord.
BERND
D'you see, August, I said to you then: Let her be! The lass will find her own way! Now she's come to her senses! In the old days, before your time, often an' often I worried about her. A kind o' stubbornness used to come over her from time to time. An' 'twas always best to let her be!—Sometimes it seemed, as God lives, as if the lass was runnin' against a wall—a strong wall that nobody else couldn't see, an' as if she had to grope her way around it first.
AUGUST
What got into her that day … I'm thankin' God on my knees … but that day I didn't know what to make of it! Suddenly she—how that came about …? No, I can't see the rights of it to this day.
BERND
An' how different did she act this time when we went down to the magistrate.
AUGUST
I'm glad that it's no longer Squire Flamm.
BERND
Yes, an' this time she didn't say a word an' in four or five minutes everythin' was straight. That's the way she is. 'Tis the way o' women.
AUGUST
D'you think it had somethin' to do with Streckmann? He called out some words behind you that day, an' first he had talked to her.
BERND
It may be so, an' it may not be so. I can't tell you. Times is when one can't get a word out o' her. 'Tis not a good thing. An' on that account I'm glad that she'll be the wife of a man who can influence her an' take that sullen way from her. You two are meant for one another. 'Tis well! The girl needs to be led, an' you have a kind hand an' a gentle one.
AUGUST
When I see that Streckmann, I feel as if I had to look upon the evil one hisself….
BERND
Maybe she thought as the feller meant mischief. He's been a sinner from his childhood on! Many a time his mother complained of it!… It may be! 'Twouldn't surprise no one in him.
AUGUST
When I see that man, I don't seem to be myself no longer. Hot an' cold shudders run down my back, an' I come near to accusin' our Heavenly Father … because he didn't make me a Samson in strength. Such times, God forgive me, I have evil thoughts. [The whizzing of Streckmann's engine is heard.] There he is!
BERND
Don't take no notice of him.
AUGUST
I won't. An' when 'tis all over, I'll shut myself up in my four walls an' we can lead a quiet life.
BERND
A good, quiet life—God grant it!
AUGUST
And I don't want to know nothin' of the world no more! The whole business fills me with horror! I have taken such a disgust to the world and to men, that I … Father, I don't hardly know how to say it … but when the bitterness o' things rises up into my throat—then I laugh! Then I have a feelin' of peace in the thought of death; and I rejoice in it like a child.
A number of thirsty field labourers, an old woman and two young girls, all from the estate of the magistrate FLAMM, come hurriedly across the fields. They are HAHN, HEINZEL, GOLISCH, OLD MRS. GOLISCH, OLD KLEINERT, THE HEAD MAID SERVANT and her ASSISTANT. The men are clad in trousers, the women have their skirts gathered up, shawls over their breasts and manicoloured kerchiefs on their heads.
HAHN
[Thirty years old, bronzed and vigorous.] I'm always the first at the fountain! The rest o' ye c'n run all ye want to! Ye can't never ketch up with me! [He kneels down and leans over the spring.] Eh, but I'd like to jump right in.
THE ASSISTANT MAID
Don't ye dare! We've got a thirst too. [To the HEAD MAID SERVANT.] Have ye a bit of a cup with ye to dip up the water?
HEAD MAID SERVANT
Hold on there! I comes first.
HEINZEL
[Pulls the two women back by the shoulders and thrusts himself between them up to the spring.] First comes the men, then the women folks.
KLEINERT
There's space enough here for us all. Eh, father Bernd? Wish you a good meal.
BERND
Yes, yes. Only no meal's been brought for us to eat yet. We're waitin' for it—waitin' in vain.
GOLISCH
I … I … I'm wet enough to be wrung out! My tongue is lyin' in my mouth, dry as a piece o' charred wood.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Water!
KLEINERT
Here 'tis, enough for us all!
They all drink greedily, some immediately from the surface of the mater, some out of their hollowed hands, others out of their hats or out of little cups and bottles. The sounds of swallowing and of deep relieved breathing are clearly audible.
HEINZEL
[Getting up.] Water's a good thing but beer would be a better.
HAHN
An' a bit o' brandy wouldn't come amiss neither.
GOLISCH
August, you might be treatin' us to a quart.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
He'd better invite us all to the weddin'.
GOLISCH
We're all comin' to the weddin'. They says it's to be soon.
HEINZEL
I'm not comin'. What for? To swill cold water? I needn't go no farther than the spring for that. Or for the sake of a little coffee.
HAHN
An' prayin' an' singin' for dessert. An' mebbe, there's no tellin', the parson from Jenkau will come over an' see if we know the ten commandments.
HEINZEL
Or the seven beatitudes on top o' that! That'd be a fine state of affairs. I've long forgot it all.
KLEINERT
You folks had better stop teasin' August. I'm tellin' you now, if I had a girl of my own, I wouldn't be wantin' no better son-in-law. He knows his business! You always know where to find him.
The working men and women have scattered themselves at ease in a semicircle and are eating their evening meal; coffee in tin pots and great wedges of bread from which they cut pieces with their clasp-knives.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
There comes Rosie Bernd around from behind the farm.
GOLISCH
Look an' see, will you, how that girl can jump.
KLEINERT
She can lift a sack o' wheat and drag it to the very top o' the barn. This very mornin' I saw her with a great heavy chest o' drawers on a wheelbarrow, trundlin' it over to the new house. That there girl has got sap an' strength. She'll take care o' her household.
HAHN
If I could get along in the world like August in other respecks, my faith, I wouldn't a bit mind tryin'; I'd see what bein' pious can do for a man.
GOLISCH
You've got to know how to run after good fortune; then you'll get hold of it.
HAHN
When you consider how he used to go around from village to village with a sack full o' tracts; an' how, after that, he used to be writin' letters for people … an' now, to-day, he's got the finest bit o' property an' can marry the handsomest girl in the county.
ROSE BERND approaches. In a basket she is carrying the evening meal for AUGUST and OLD BERND.
ROSE
A good afternoon to you.
SEVERAL VOICES
Good evenin'!—Good evenin'! Many thanks!
GOLISCH
You're lettin' your sweetheart starve, Rosie.
ROSE
[Merrily unpacking the food.] Don't you worry! He don't starve so easy as that.
HEINZEL
You must be feedin' him well, Rosie, or he'll put on no flesh.
GOLISCH
That's true. He'll be a sight too lean for you, lass.
BERND
Where have you been keepin' yourself so long? We've been waitin' this half hour.
AUGUST
[In a subdued but annoyed voice.] An' now the whole crowd is here again! An' we might have been through this long time.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Let him scold, lass, an' don't mind it.
ROSE
Who's scoldin'? There's no one here to scold. August wouldn't do it in a lifetime.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Even so! But that's right: you shouldn't care nothin' about it.
HEINZEL
'Cause, if he don't scold now, that'll be comin' later.
ROSE
I'm not afraid o' that ever comin'.
GOLISCH
You're mighty friendly, all of a sudden.
ROSE
We was always agreed with each other, wasn't we, August? What are you laughin' at? [She kisses him. Laughter is heard among the people.]
GOLISCH
Well, well, and I thought as I might be climbin' into her window some day.
KLEINERT
If you did, you'd be carrying home your bones in a handkerchief!
THE HEAD MAID SERVANT
[Sarcastically.] O Lordy, Lordy! I'd try it all the same. You can't never tell.
BERND
[Sombre but calm.] Take care what you're sayin', woman.
KLEINERT
Hear what he says, I tell you! Be careful of what you're sayin'. Old Bernd, he don't take no jokes.
ROSE
She's not sayin' anythin' special. Let her be.
KLEINERT
[Lighting his pipe.] He may be lookin' real mild now, but when he lets go, you won't hardly believe it. I know how it used to be when he was manager of the estate; the women folks didn't have much cause for laughin' then. He got the upper hand o' ten like you; there wasn't no gaddin 'about with fellers for them!
HEAD MAID SERVANT
Who's gaddin' about with fellers, I'd like to know!
KLEINERT
You'd better be askin' the machinist, Streckmann,
HEAD MAID SERVANT
[Crimson.] For all I care you can ask the Lord hisself!
[All present laugh.
The machinist STRECKMANN appears. He is dusty and comes straight from the threshing machine. He shows the effects of liquor.
STRECKMANN
Who's talkin' about the machinist Streckmann aroun' here? He's right here! He's standin' right here. Anybody wantin' to pick a quarrel with him? Good day to you all! Hope you're havin' a pleasant meal.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Talk of the devil an' he appears.
STRECKMANN
An' you're the devil's grandmother, I suppose. [He takes off his cockade and wipes the sweat from his forehead.] I tell you people I can't keep up with this: this kind o' work uses a man up skin and bones!—Hello, August! Good day to you, Rosie! Well, father Bernd—Great God, can't anybody answer?
HEINZEL
Let him be! Some people's better off than they can stand.
STRECKMANN
The Lord lets his own people have an easy time. A feller like me works and works and can't get ahead. [He has assumed a reclining position and squeezed himself between HEINZEL and KLEINERT. He now hands his whisky bottle to HEINZEL.] Let her go aroun'.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
You live the best life of us all, Streckmann! What in Heaven's name has you to complain about? You drinks your drinks and makes three times over what we do—all for standin' by the machine a bit.
STRECKMANN
What I want is work for my brain. I got a head on me. That's what you bran-heads can't understand. Of course! What does an old woman know about that! An', anyhow—the trouble I got….
GOLISCH
Lord, Streckmann and trouble—
STRECKMANN
More than enough!—there's somethin' that sticks into me, I can tell you—sticks into my belly and into my heart. I feel so rotten bad I'd like to be doin' somethin' real crazy. [To the ASSISTANT MAID.] Lass, shall I lie down with you?
ASSISTANT MAID
I'll bang you over the head with a whetstone!
GOLISCH
That's just what's troublin' him; everythin' gets black before his eyes, he don't see nothin' more, an' sudden like, he's lyin' abed with a lass.
[Loud laughter.
STRECKMANN
Yon can laugh, ye ragamuffins, laugh all ye want to! It's no laughin' matter with me, I can tell ye. [Blustering:] I'll let the machine squeeze off one of my arms! Or ye can run the piston through me if ye want to! Kill me, for all I care.
HAHN
Or mebbe you'd like to set a barn afire.
STRECKMANN
By God! There's fire enough inside of me. August there, he's a happy man …
AUGUST
Whether I'm happy or whether I'm unhappy, that don't concern no one in this world.
STRECKMANN
What am I doin' to you? Can't you be sociable with a feller?
AUGUST
I'll look for my society elsewhere.
STRECKMANN
[Looks at him long with smouldering hatred; represses his rage and grasps the whisky bottle which has been handed back to him.] Give it to me! A feller's got to drown his sorrow!—[To ROSE.] You needn't be lookin' at me; a bargain's a bargain. [He gets up.] I'm goin'!—I don't want to come between you.
ROSE
You can go or you can stay for all I care.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
[Calling STRECKMANN back.] Look here, Streckmann, what was that happened t'other day? About three weeks ago at the threshin' machine?…
[Men and women burst into laughter.
STRECKMANN
That's all over. I don't know nothin' about that.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
An' yet, you swore by all that was good and holy….
KLEINERT
You people stop your gossippin'.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
He needn't be talkin' so big all the time.
STRECKMANN
[Comes back.] And I tell you what I says, that I puts through. I'll be damned if I don't! Let it go at that. I don't say no more.
[Exit.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH It's done just as easy without talkin'.
STRECKMANN
[Comes back, is about to speak out, but restrains himself.] Never mind! I don't walk into no such trap! But if you want to know exactly what it's all about, ask August there or father Bernd.
BERND
What's all this about? What's this we're supposed to know?
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
'Twas that time you went to the magistrate's, 'twas that time! An' didn't Streckmann pass you on the road an' didn't he cry out somethin' after ye?
KLEINERT
It's about time for you to be stoppin'.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
An' why, I'd like to know? That's all nothin' but a joke … People wonders if that there time you all agreed, or if Rosie wasn't so willin' to join in!
BERND
God Almighty forgive you all for your sins! What I wants to ask you is this: Why can't the whole crowd o' you leave us in peace? Or is it that we ever did any harm to any o' ye?
GOLISCH
An' we're not doin' any wrong neither.
ROSE
An' whether I was willin' on that day or not—you needn't give yourself no concern about that! I'm willin' now an' that settles it,
KLEINERT
That's the right way, Rosie!
AUGUST
[Who has hitherto been reading, with apparent absorption, in his New Testament, now closes the book and arises.] Come, father, let's go to work.
HAHN
That takes it out o' you more than pastin' prayer books together or stirrin' the paste in your pot!
HEINZEL
And how do you think he'll feel after the weddin'? A girl like Rosie—she makes demands!
[Laughter.
STRECKMANN
[Also laughing.] Gee …! I almost said somethin' I oughtn't to!—[He steps back among the people.] I'll give you a riddle to guess. Shall I? Still waters run deep! 'Tis bad. You mustn't taste blood—no, no! The thirst only gets worse an' worse—that's all.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
What's that? Where did you get the taste o' blood?
BERND
I suppose he means the taste for whisky!
STRECKMANN
I'm goin' my way! Good-bye! I'm a good feller! Good-bye, father Bernd! Good-bye, August! Good-bye, Rosie! [To AUGUST.] What's wrong?—August, don't be showin' off. 'Tis all well! I'm willin'! You'll not see me again! But you—you've got reason enough to be grateful to me. You've always been an underhanded kind o' crittur! But I've given my consent to let things be! I've given my consent an' everything can go smoothly.
[STRECKMANN goes.
ROSE
[With violent energy.] Let him talk, August; pay no attention to him.
KLEINERT
Flamm is comin'! [He looks at his watch.] 'Tis over half an hour!
[The whistle of the engine is heard.
HAHN
[During the general stir.] Forward, Prussians! It's misery whistlin' for us!
The workingmen and the maids disappear swiftly with their scythes. ROSE, OLD BERND and AUGUST remain alone on the scene.
BERND
All the evil on earth seems broken loose here' What's all that Streckmann is sayin'? Tell me, Rose, do you understand it?
ROSE
No, an' I've got better things to be thinkin' of! [She gives AUGUST a friendly nudge on the head.] Isn't it so, August? We have no time for nonsense! We have to hurry these comin' six weeks.
[She gathers up the remnants of the meal in her basket.
AUGUST
Come over to us a bit later.
ROSE
I must wash and iron and sew buttonholes. 'Tis almost time now.
BERND
We'll be comin' to our supper after seven.
[Exit.
AUGUST
[Before he goes, earnestly:] Do you care for me, Rosie?
ROSE
Yes, I do care for you.
AUGUST disappears and ROSE is left alone. The hum of the threshing machine is heard as well as the muttering of thunder on the horizon. After ROSE has replaced bread, butter, the coffee pots and cups into her basket, she straightens herself up and seems to become aware of something in the distance which attracts her and holds her captive. With sudden, determination, she snatches up the head kerchief that has fallen to the ground and hurries off. Before she has disappeared from view, however, FLAMM becomes visible on the scene and calls to her.
FLAMM
Rose! Wait there! Confound it all! [Rose stands still with her face turned away.] You are to give me a drink! I suppose I'm worth a draught of water.
ROSE
There's plenty of water here.
FLAMM
I see. I'm not blind. But I don't care to drink like the beasts. Have you no cups in your basket? [ROSE pushes the cover of her basket aside.] Well, then! You even have a cup of Bunzlauer ware! I like to drink out of that best of all. [She hands him the cup, still with averted face.] I beg your pardon. You might practise a little politeness! I suppose you'll have to force yourself to it this one more time. [ROSE walks over to the spring, rinses the cup, fills it with water, sets it down next to the spring and then returns to her basket. She picks the latter up and waits with her back to FLAMM.] No, Rosie—that won't do at all. You might get rid of some gaol bird in that fashion. I don't know the habits of such persons very exactly. As things are, I'm still the magistrate Flamm. Am I going to get a drink or am I not? Well: One … two … three … and … there's an end to this, I' beg for some decency! No more nonsense! [ROSE has returned to the spring, has picked up the cup and now holds it out to FLAMM, still refusing to look at him.] So! Higher, though, a little higher! I can't get at it yet!
ROSE
But you must hold it.
FLAMM
How can I drink this way?
ROSE
[Amused against her will, turns her face to him.] Oh, but….
FLAMM
That's better already!—That's good!—[Apparently unintentionally and as if merely to hold the cup, he puts his own hands upon ROSE'S which support it. His mouth at the rim he lowers himself more and more—until he kneels on one knee.] So! Thank you, Rosie! Now you can let me go.
ROSE
[Making gentle efforts to disengage herself.] Oh, no! Do let me be, Mr. Flamm!
FLAMM
Is that so? You think, then, that I ought to let you be? Now, when at last I've succeeded in catching you! No, lassie,'tis not so easy as that. It won't do and you needn't ask it of me. You needn't wear yourself out! You can't escape me! First of all, look me square in the eyes once more! I haven't changed! I know; I know about—everything! I've had 'a talk with the magistrate Steckel about your having agreed to everything now. I thank God that I'm no longer the official who attends to the matchmaking! Another man takes care of the man-traps now. I even know the date of the funeral … I'll be … I meant the wedding, of course. And in addition, I've talked to myself, too. Rose, 'tis a hard nut! I hope we won't break our teeth on it!
ROSE
I dare not stand this way with you here.
FLAMM
You must. Whether you may or not—I don't care! In fact I don't give a tinker's damn! If this thing is really decreed in the council of God, as the song has it—I want a dismissal in all due form: I refuse to be just coolly shunted off.—Rose, is there anything in the past for which I need to ask your forgiveness?
ROSE
[Touched, shakes her head with energy.] Nothin', nothin' at all, Mr. Flamm.
FLAMM
No? Is that honest? [ROSE nods a hearty affirmation.] Well, I'm glad of that, at least! I hoped it would be so. Then at least we can keep something that's harmonious in our memories. Ah, Rose, it was a good, good time….
ROSE
An' you must go back to your wife….
FLAMM
A good time! And it rushes past … past! And what do we keep of it?
ROSE
You must be kind, very kind to your wife, Mr. Flamm. She's an angel; 'tis she that saved me!
FLAMM
Come, let's sit down under the pear tree! Very well. But why talk of it? I'm always kind to my wife. Our relations are the very friendliest. Come, Rose! Tell me all about that. What d'you mean by that? Saved? What did she save you from, Rose? I'd naturally like to know that! What was the matter with you? Mother did drop all sorts of hints; but I was no wiser for them.
ROSE
Mr. Christopher … Mr. Flamm! I can't sit down here. An' it don't matter! It can't lead to anythin'. 'Tis all over an' past now—well—'tis all dead an' gone. I know God will forgive me the sin. An' He won't lay it up against the poor, innocent child neither. He's too merciful to do that!
FLAMM
[Alluding to the hum of the threshing machine which grows louder and louder.] That confounded buzzing all the time!—What did you say, Rose? Sit down just a moment. I won't harm you; I won't even touch you! I give you my word, Rose. Have some confidence in me! I want you to speak out—to tell what's on your heart!
ROSE
I don't know … there's … there's just nothin' more to say! When once I'm married, you can go an' ask the good missis. Maybe she'll tell you then what was the trouble with me. I haven't told August nothin' either. I know he's good. I'm not afraid o' that. He's soft o' heart an' a good Christian man. An' now: Good-bye, Christie—keep well.—We've a long life ahead of us now an', maybe, we can be reel faithful an' do penance an' work hard an' pay off the debt.
FLAMM
[Holding ROSE'S hand fast in his.] Rose, stay one moment. It's all right and I must be satisfied. I'm not coming to your wedding, God knows! But even if I don't come to your wedding, still I admit that you're right.—But, oh, lass, I've loved you so truly, so honestly…. I can never tell you how much! And it's been, upon my word, as far back as I can think.—You had crept into my heart even in the old days when you were a child and were always so honest … so frank about a thousand little things—so straight and true, however things were. No sneakiness, no subterfuge—whatever the consequences. I've known women enough in Tarant and in Eberswalde at the agricultural college and in the army, and I was usually lucky with them—ridiculously so. And yet I never knew true happiness except through you.
ROSE
Oh, Christie, I've loved you too!
FLAMM
Why you've been in love with me ever since you were a little thing! Why you used to make eyes at me…. Do you believe you'll ever think of it? And think of the mad, old sinner Flamm?
ROSE
That I will. I have a pledge….
FLAMM
You mean the ring with the bit of stone? And won't you come to our house some time?
ROSE
No, that can't be. That would cut a body too sorely to the heart. That wouldn't be nothin' but double sufferin' an' misery! There's got to be an end to it all. I'll bury myself in the house! There's work an' moil enough for two! 'Tis a new life that's beginnin' an' we mustn't look back on the old life. There's nothin' but sorrow an' heart's need on this earth; we has to wait for a better place.
FLAMM
And so this is to be our last farewell, Rose?
ROSE
Father an' August will be wonderin' now.
FLAMM
And if the little fishes in the river were to stand on their tails in wonderment and the bitterns on the trees did the same—I wouldn't lose one second—now! So it's to be all, all over and done with? And you won't even come to see mother?
ROSE
[Shaking her head.] I can't look her in the face no more! Maybe some day! Maybe in ten years or so! Maybe all this'll be conquered then. Good-bye, Mr. Christie! Good-bye, Mr. Flamm!
FLAMM
So be it. But, lass, I tell you, if it weren't for mother … now … even now … I wouldn't fool around much … I wouldn't give you much time….
ROSE
Yes, if it wasn't for that little word "if"! If August wasn't livin', an' father wasn't—who knows what I'd do. I'd like to go out into the wide world.
FLAMM
And I with you, Rose! Well, then we know what's in our hearts.—And now you might give me your hand once more…. [He presses her hand and their glances melt hotly into each other in this last farewell.] So it is. What was to be, must be! I suppose we must leave each other now.
[He turns resolutely and walks away with firm steps and without looking back.
ROSE [Looking after him, mastering herself, with tense volition:] What must be, must be!—'tis well now!—
[She put back the can into her basket and is about to walk in the opposite direction.
STRECKMANN appears.
STRECKMANN
[With pale, contorted face, creeping and basely hesitant in demeanour.] Rose! Rose Bernd! D'you hear? That was that rascally Flamm again! If ever I gets my hand on him … I'll smash every bone in his carcase!—What's up? What did he want again! But I'm tellin' you this: things don't go that way! I won't bear it! One man is as good as another! I won't let nobody turn me off this way!
ROSE
What d'you say? Who are you anyhow?
STRECKMANN
Who am I? Damn it, you know that well enough!
ROSE
Who are you? Where did I ever see you?
STRECKMANN
Me? Where you saw me? You? You can look for somebody else to play your monkey tricks on!
ROSE
What do you want? What are you? What business has you with me?
STRECKMANN
What business? What I wants? Nothin' much, y'understand? God … don't scream so!
ROSE
I'll call for all the world to come if you don't get out o' my way this minute!
STRECKMANN
Think o' the cherry tree! Think o' the crucifix….
ROSE
Who are you! Lies! Lies! What do you want with me? Either you get away from here straightway … or I'll cry out for some one to come an' help me!
STRECKMANN
Girl, you've lost your senses!
ROSE
Then I won't have to drag 'em around with me no longer! Who are you! Lies! You've seen nothin'! I'll cry out! I'll shriek as long as I has breath in my body, if you don't go this very second.
STRECKMANN
[Frightened.] I'm goin', Rosie. It's all right.
ROSE
But now! This minute! Y'understand!
STRECKMANN
Right away! For all I care! An' why not? [He makes a farcical gesture as though avoiding a shower of rain.]
ROSE
[Half-mad with rage and scorn.] There he runs! The vile scoundrel! When you see a fellow like that from behind, you see the best side o' him! Fy, I says! He's all smooth an' spruce on the outside, an' his innards rotten as dirt. A body could die o' disgust!
STRECKMANN
[Turns, pale and sinister.] Ah …! An' is that so indeed! You don't never mean it!… 'Tis not very appetisin' the way you makes it out. Why was you so hot after it, then?
ROSE
I? Hot after you?
STRECKMANN
Maybe you've forgotten already?
ROSE
Scoundrel!
STRECKMANN
Maybe I am.
ROSE
Scoundrel! Ruffian! Why do you go sniffin' around me now! Who are you? What has I done? You stuck to my heels! You followed me an' baited me an' snapped at me … Rascal … worse'n a dog …
STRECKMANN
'Twas you that ran after me!
ROSE
What …?
STRECKMANN
You came to my house an' made things hot for me!
ROSE
An' you …
STRECKMANN
Well, what?
ROSE
An' you? An' you?
STRECKMANN
Well, I don't refuse a good thing that's offered.
ROSE
Streckmann! You has to die some day! D'you hear? Think o' your last hour! You has to stand before your Judge some day! I ran to you in the awful terror o' my heart! An' I begged you for the love o' God not to put nothin' between me an' August. I crept on my knees before you—an' you say, you, I ran after you! What was it truly? You committed a crime—a crime against me! An' that's worse'n a scoundrel's trick! 'Twas a crime—doubly and trebly! An' the Lord'll bring it home to you!
STRECKMANN
Listen to that! I'll take my chances!
ROSE
Is that what you say? You'll take your chances in that court? Then a person can spit in your face!
STRECKMANN
Think o' the cherry tree! Think o' the crucifix!
ROSE
An' you swore to me that you'd never mention it again! You swore by all that's holy. You put that hand o' yours on the cross, an' by the cross you swore—an' now you're beginnin' to persecute me again! What do you want?
STRECKMANN
I'm as good as Flamm. An' I don't want no more goin's on between you an' him!
ROSE
I'll jump into his bed, scoundrel! An' it wouldn't concern you that much!
STRECKMANN
Well, we'll see what'll be the end of all that!
ROSE
What? 'Tis violence that you did to me! You confused me! You broke me down! You pounced on me like a wild beast! I know! I tried to get out by the door! An' you took hold an' you rent my bodice an' my skirt! I bled! I might ha' gotten out by the door! Then you shot the latch! That's a crime, a crime! An' I'll denounce….
BERND and AUGUST appear on the scene. After them KLEINERT and GOLISCH and the other field hands.
BERND
[Close to STRECKMANN.] What's all this? What did you do to my lass?
AUGUST
[Pulls BERND back and thrusts himself forward.] 'Tis my place, father. What did you do to Rosie?
STRECKMANN
Nothin'!
BERND
[Coming forward again.] What did you do to the lass?
STRECKMANN
Nothin'!
AUGUST
[Approaching STRECKMANN once more.] You'll tell us now what you did to her!
STRECKMANN
Nothin'! The devil! I say nothin'!
AUGUST
You'll either be tellin' us now what you did to her—or …
STRECKMANN
Or? Well, what? What about "or"?—Hands off!… Take your hands from my throat!!
KLEINERT
[Trying to separate them.] Hold on, now.
STRECKMANN
Hands off, I tell you!
BERND
You'll have to take the consequences now! Either …
AUGUST
What did you do to the girl?
STRECKMANN
[Backing, in sudden fright, toward the pear tree, cries out:] Help!
AUGUST
What did you do to the girl? Answer me that! I got to know that!
[He has freed himself and faces STRECKMANN.
STRECKMANN
[Lifts his arm and strikes AUGUST full in the face.] There's my answer! That's what I did!
KLEINERT
Streckmann!
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Catch hold o' August! He's fallin'!
HEAD MAID
[Supports the falling man.] August!
BERND
[Paying no attention to AUGUST, but addressing STRECKMANN:] You'll have to account for this! It'll be brought home to you!
STRECKMANN
What? On account o' that there wench that's common to anybody as wants her….
[Withdraws.
BERND
What was that he said …?
KLEINERT
[Who is helping the MAID, HAHN, GOLISCH and MRS. GOLISCH support AUGUST.] His eye is out!
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Father Bernd, August didn't fare so very well this time….
KLEINERT
'Tis an evil wooin' that he has!
BERND
What? How? Christ In Heaven! [He goes to him.] August!
AUGUST
My left eye hurts that bad!
BERND
Rose, bring some water!
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
'Tis a misfortune.
BERND
Rose, fetch some water! D'you hear me?
GOLISCH
That'll mean a good year o' prison!
ROSE
[Suddenly awakening from a dazed condition.] He says … he says … What's the meanin' o' … Didn't I get a doll o' Christmas….
THE MAID
[To ROSE.] Are you asleep?
ROSE
… There's no tellin' what … No, lass: it can't be done! Such things don't come to good! … Mebbe a girl can't do without a mother.