Dedicated to

Martin Andersen-Nexö

Poet, Friend, Comrade

CHARACTERS

Mathias Seebald Raffael Schenk, typesetter Frau Schenk, his mother Flora Severin, student Stefan Klagenfurter, iron-turner Marie Klagenfurter, his wife Trotz, worker Dietrich, worker Braun, worker Färber, worker Fischer, worker Ernst Lassmann, blinded in the War Mathilde Lassmann, his wife Rosa Fiebig, worker Fritz Rund, soldier Fedor Vladimirovich Lecharov Rudolf Tiedtken, man of letters Strauss, Social Democratic editor Tessendorff, police superintendent Werra Adler, divorcée Klara Wendt Dr. Bossenius Prätzold, innkeeper Dr. Karfunkelstein, journalist A streetcar driver A streetcar conductress A lieutenant A sergeant A waitress Working men and women, Gentlemen, Ladies, Soldiers, Medics, People.

The action takes place on the 28th, 29th and 30th of January 1918 in a large German city.

ACT ONE

Stefan Klagenfurter’s apartment. Large room. On the right, two windows. In the middle of the back wall, the door. Between the door and the wall with the windows, a cooking stove; next to that, the tap. Between the two windows, a simple chest of drawers; on top of that, a pair of photographs and a meager bookshelf. Beneath the near window, a rather large trunk. Over the stove, a rack for dishes, spice jars, etc. In the right-hand corner, a kitchen cupboard, from which hang hand- and dish-towels. At the near left, a black sofa with blankets. In front of that, a round, covered table and two black upholstered chairs. To the left against the back wall, the double bed protrudes into the room; next to it on the right, a night stand and chair; on the left, a primitive washstand (of sheet metal) and mirror. In the middle of the room, a large kitchen table with an oilcloth covering, along with a sewing machine and a couple of kitchen stools. Under the sofa table, a simple rug. On the left wall and above the sofa, a wall clock with pendulum. In the middle of the wall, prints of oil portraits of Marx and Bebel. Beyond those, framed photographs. Above the bed, a house-blessing. The windows have fine tulle curtains; in front of them, a pair of flowerpots. Over the large table, a petroleum lamp hangs down from the ceiling. The embers in the stove are glowing. Linen fabrics are spread out on the kitchen table.

It is about 3:30 in the afternoon. Frau MARIE KLAGENFURTER is working at the sewing machine; she pauses for a moment and breaks off the thread. Smiling, she lifts up the child’s jacket, which she has sewn, in front of herself towards the light. She then stands up. The signs of advanced pregnancy can be plainly seen. She looks at the clock, shakes her head, goes nervously to the window, pokes around in the stove and takes a look into the pot of water which sits on top of it. She suddenly listens attentively. Footsteps outside become audible. The door is opened energetically. STEFAN KLAGENFURTER enters wearing a hat and overcoat.

MARIE (arms around his neck): Finally! They sure kept you for a terribly long time. KLAGENFURTER (kisses her): Kitten! — were you very impatient? MARIE: Tell me: How was it? Did they take you? KLAGENFURTER: You’ll hear all about it. — The vermin! MARIE: My God! — First make yourself comfortable. (Helps him out of the overcoat.) Give it here! I’ll put it outside. KLAGENFURTER: I think not! — You take it easy in your condition, understand? And don’t go running willy-nilly out of the warm room. I can certainly hang my own things in the closet. (Goes out, leaving the door open.) MARIE: But tell me, Steffi, you’re not fit for combat? KLAGENFURTER (back in the room): Don’t get worked up, precious. I’m not in the trenches yet. (Sits down.) MARIE: But, tell me already! KLAGENFURTER (pulls off the rubber collar from his neck): Just let me get my neck free first. It was a total waste getting dressed up extra nice in order to show the fools my naked throat. — Here, take my collar. Iron it again for Sunday. MARIE (sets the collar in the table drawer): Alright, then, Steffi — how did it go? KLAGENFURTER: Yeah, well, they gawked and poked at me. — Can I get a coffee, kitten? MARIE: Certainly. It’s ready. (Busies herself at the stove and takes dishes out of the kitchen cabinet.) But you’re torturing me, dearest. Let me know, finally! KLAGENFURTER: Ah, yes. Well, good: Ultimately, you’d have to know. Well — fit for active field duty. MARIE (to him): Steffi! KLAGENFURTER: Just take it easy, kid! Don’t get upset, — now you know. — And still things aren’t so far along yet. They won’t be coming for me right away. MARIE: You think so? — But think about it, for such a long time they had no use for you — and now all of a sudden: — in spite of the heart defect. KLAGENFURTER (laughing): Yes, war is an even greater miracle worker than the holy mother of Lourdes. In time, it makes a hero out of the lamest cripple. MARIE (pours the coffee): I have better coffee substitute now. There’s sweetener. How does it taste? KLAGENFURTER: Oh, yeah — it’s alright. Think we’ll live to see bean coffee with sugar and milk again? If we keep on “persevering” like we have so far, then our little one will eventually think that before he was born Germany was the land of milk and honey. MARIE: Look, Steffi, what I made. (Shows him the little jacket.) The swaddling is finished, bonnet, too. Tomorrow I start with the knitting: shoes and socks. KLAGENFURTER (to her): How happy we could be! — And now this nonsense. (Kisses her.) — If only one still believed in this sham, — but it’s all so disgusting! — Old Trotz is already working on the crib, — and I might never be able to rock my little one in it! MARIE (hugging him): Steffi! My Steffi! — Maybe there’ll be peace soon — ? KLAGENFURTER: Yes, peace! — We are fighting ‘til “the last drop of blood”, — namely, ours. The proletarians can bleed to death — and the great gentlemen make the most excellent profit from it. — Listen there! (From the street comes the sound of soldiers singing; one can understand the words: “We will crush France triumphantly.”) — Ugh! One can begin to lose all hope when the soldiers themselves even — — . Ah, well, they have to sing. On command. MARIE: Steffi! Don’t you think that the factory could get you exempted? KLAGENFURTER: I’ve already thought about that. Only, they won’t do it. They’ve got a steady supply of turners. And they’re not too hot for me, anyhow, — they know my views too well. What’s more — exemptions for A-1 people are almost always pointless. MARIE (in tears): Oh, dearest! — I’m so scared! KLAGENFURTER: Nonsense, precious! Be brave! — It’ll all work out alright. I haven’t been drafted yet. (He takes a wooden pipe out of his pocket.) — From 10 o’clock in the morning they left me standing around; there are many who still aren’t finished yet. MARIE: Better smoke a cigar today — after that torment. KLAGENFURTER: You’re right. I’ve already taken the day off work; it can be just like a Sunday. (Takes a cigar from the chest of drawers and lights it.) Disgraceful: 35 cents for the wretched mulch. For that much I used to have a cigar a day the whole week through. MARIE: Bread’s also gone up to 2 cents. And thread is hardly to be found anymore. It’s terrible how everything’s going up! (Knock at the door.) KLAGENFURTER: Come in! (Enter RAFFAEL SCHENK. Red hair, pale with chaotic freckles, a bit of a limp.) SCHENK: Good day, Stefan! Hi, Frau Klagenfurter! (Extends his hand to both.) KLAGENFURTER: Greetings, Schenk! — Get out of your things! SCHENK (takes off his coat). MARIE: Just put it on the bed. — Steffi, the cigar! KLAGENFURTER: Oh, yeah! (Sets the cigar aside on the tray under a flowerpot by the window.) SCHENK: Nonsense! Smoke away! (Coughs.) KLAGENFURTER: It’s not important. The smoke’s not for you. I won’t lose the cigar. SCHENK: How’d it go? KLAGENFURTER: Just as it had to: A-1. SCHENK: Dammit all! So they took you after all. — And your heart? KLAGENFURTER: The heart! The doctor says: It’ll hold for a couple of assaults. MARIE: He said that? Ugh, how harsh! (She cries.) KLAGENFURTER: Take it easy, kid! Think of your condition! And I’m not in the assault yet. Many things could change before then. SCHENK: You wouldn’t go, would you, Stefan? KLAGENFURTER: How’s that — not go? SCHENK: I mean, if you’re drafted? KLAGENFURTER: I still have to think about it. Ultimately, I assume I’d have to. SCHENK: It depends if you want to. KLAGENFURTER: Yeah, yeah, — in theory — SCHENK: In theory? Well, I think when something gets practical, it comes down to the application of theories. KLAGENFURTER: So you seriously think I should refuse? SCHENK: I would. MARIE: For God’s sake. Then they’d lock him up! SCHENK: Probably. — Would you rather have your husband in the trenches or in prison? MARIE: And what if they shoot him!? SCHENK: That, too, would go faster out there than on the inside. — Or do you fear the shame? MARIE: Oh, God, no. — But I don’t know. — Oh, Steffi! KLAGENFURTER: Calm yourself, precious! The matter still has to be considered. SCHENK: What’s there to consider? On the one side, there’s capital making demands of you, of your life, your health, your happiness and your conviction, — on the other side, there’s you, your wife and the child you’re going to have. — KLAGENFURTER: Good God, yes, yes. SCHENK: And more important still: Your convictions, your proletarian honor, Stefan! You’re a fighter and you know where we have to make our fight. And you want to let the enemy issue you a rifle and send you off against your own conscience and against your own class fellows? KLAGENFURTER: It’s all true, what you’re saying. I’ve heard it myself often enough — from you, from Seebald, and said it to myself as well. Yet — SCHENK: I’d like to know your Yet. KLAGENFURTER: They’ll make me. SCHENK: Make you? One can make me refrain from something when one forcefully prevents me from doing it. But one cannot make me do something that I don’t want to do. KLAGENFURTER: They’ll haul me off to the barracks. SCHENK: They’ll do that. And what else? KLAGENFURTER: Well, then they’ll put me in a grey jacket. SCHENK: If you hold still. MARIE: How terrible! — No, they’ll restrain you if you resist. SCHENK: If they restrain him, they won’t be able to have him drill. KLAGENFURTER: You’re right, Schenk, it’s the lesser evil. MARIE: But I’m so scared of it all. — They’ll torture you. SCHENK: Don’t get yourself excited before you need to, Frau Marie. For the moment they haven’t even got him yet. MARIE: What do you mean by that? SCHENK: Very simple. When the notice comes, Stefan vanishes from the scene. MARIE: And me? — And...and...when the time comes? — KLAGENFURTER: That’s still two months away, darling. But I won’t be able to be with you then under any circumstances. Either they haul me away, then after four weeks training I’ll be at the front; or they lock me up, — or I just go into hiding. Only — what would you live on? SCHENK: Let us worry about that. What would she live on when you’re a soldier? What Father State would give her for welfare, we members of the “Federation of New Men” will provide in a heartbeat. KLAGENFURTER: Deal, Schenk. — I’ll take the risk. SCHENK (shakes his hand): You’re taking less of a risk than all the millions who don’t wish to risk it themselves. MARIE: I’m terribly scared. SCHENK: There’s no reason for that. Besides, I’m definitely counting on the workers finally stirring. KLAGENFURTER: Any new developments? SCHENK: Russia is making an impression. Just think — , they’ve quit the war. KLAGENFURTER: But they’ve paid a steep price for peace. MARIE: But if they have peace! SCHENK: That’s what I say, too. We can’t just leave them in the lurch now. KLAGENFURTER: You mean because of the conditions of peace? SCHENK: Yes, and because of the advance into the defenseless country. KLAGENFURTER: It’s disgraceful. I’m just afraid we won’t get the masses to their feet because of that. SCHENK: Something is supposedly about to happen in Berlin. Here Seebald must do it. He is the only one they listen to. — The others should be here soon, by the way. KLAGENFURTER: What others? SCHENK: Well, Trotz, Dietrich, Severin, Rosa and the rest. MARIE: Coming here, — to our place? SCHENK: Sure, I thought I had already mentioned it. I’ve asked for them to meet here. MARIE: Then I’ll need to go put on a different apron. (Takes a white apron out of the chest of drawers and puts it on.) And that mess there! (Cleans the sewing materials up from the kitchen table.) KLAGENFURTER: But why to our place? SCHENK: Because you weren’t at work today. The comrades at Wachsmann are ending their shifts extra early today. There is already a feeling of strike in the air. KLAGENFURTER: Do you believe that it’ll come to a general strike, then? And when can things get that far, do you think? SCHENK: In Berlin it seems just on the verge of success. Above all they want Liebkneckt set free. Perhaps we’ll need to be ready for battle soon. KLAGENFURTER: You know, — I’m not so sure if Seebald could be won over. SCHENK: Oh, you don’t know him. KLAGENFURTER: It’s true: he has fire and sweeps everyone along. But now he is totally wrapped up in his club with students and artists. I distrust the intellectuals. As far as what matters to the proletariat, they know little. SCHENK: There are exceptions. Just think of Flora Severin. And the aesthetes in the “Federation of New Men” are repulsive to Seebalt himself. If anyone is a revolutionary, then it’s him. He wants peace. KLAGENFURTER: Revolution, too? SCHENK: How can he get peace without revolution? KLAGENFURTER: Yes, — but does he know that? SCHENK: He speaks repeatedly about how only the workers can bring the war to an end, if they don’t work for war anymore; — if they refuse to be soldiers; if they begin to think about themselves. MARIE: Will that happen without violence? SCHENK: No, certainly not. That didn’t happen in Russia without violence, and over here the opposing forces are still greater, especially so long as they imagine that they will win! MARIE: Then there would be war with our selves? SCHENK: Without that it won’t happen. KLAGENFURTER: But there Seebald just won’t go along any further. Every other sentence of his is: No violence! SCHENK: He must! — Ultimately, he too will agree. Weapons break only under pressure. MARIE: I think they’re coming now (footsteps are heard). KLAGENFURTER (opening the door): Come on in, everyone! (Enter Braun, Fischer, Rosa Fiebig and Dietrich. Behind them in field grey with the cane of those blinded in war is Ernst Lassmann on the arm of Mathilde Lassmann. Greetings among a flurry of voices, out of which Dietrich’s instrument resounds sonorously.) MARIE: Lead your husband to the sofa, Mathilde. (Room is made for Lassmann.) KLAGENFURTER: Well. Sit wherever you find a seat. Anton, go pull up the chest (with Braun pulls the chest into the middle of the room). Is this everyone? — Just lay all your things on the bed. BRAUN: Trotz and Färber couldn’t make it. SCHENK: And Flora Severin? DIETRICH: She probably needs to pick up her little poet at the café first. SCHENK: Quit your joking! ROSA: Isn’t Rund here yet? DIETRICH: Take a look under the bed! (Laughs mightily.)

(Everyone has at length taken a seat: On the sofa, Lassmann is on the left; next to him on the right, his wife; on chairs at the table are Klagenfurter and Braun. At the kitchen table, Dietrich and Fischer. Marie is sitting on a stool in front of the stove; Rosa has sat down on the trunk. Schenk stands leaning against the foot of the bed.)

KLAGENFURTER (to Lassmann): So, Ernst, how are things looking? LASSMANN: It’s all over with the looking. DIETRICH: Those bastards, damn them! They can shoot out other people’s eyes, instead of themselves going out of their minds from shame! MARIE: Don’t you want to take a seat, Schenk? SCHENK: I’d rather stand. With Dietrich’s bellowing I’d sooner or later fall out of my chair. DIETRICH: Is it not true, what I’m saying? Did you read the news today? They’ve captured 40 locomotives and over 1,200 rail cars. And where? In Russia, where no one is fighting back anymore, where they’ve made peace — the scoundrels. Captured, they say! Stolen is what they’ve done, stolen plain and simple, these damned Boches! In revolutionary Russia. In the land of freedom! KLAGENFURTER: Not so loud, Dietrich! The walls aren’t so thick! DIETRICH: Naturally, everything’s broken, everything’s filthy in this country of lies. But the people, they can just hear it. My views are no secret. I hate it, — my so-called fatherland. SCHENK: That’s all well and good, Dietrich. But you aren’t at a public assembly here. We have very important things to discuss which for the moment are of no concern to the neighbors. So don’t shout, — do us the favor. DIETRICH (more quietly): Sometimes I just can’t keep it in, the rage. — That gang! Wretched — BRAUN (to Klagenfurter): Kretsch asked about you, Stefan. KLAGENFURTER: The foreman? But he knew I was at my medical examination. BRAUN: He said you still could have come to work in the afternoon. KLAGENFURTER: When did I get home, kitten? MARIE: It was exactly three-thirty. KLAGENFURTER: I wouldn’t have gone in anyway. FISCHER: I let him know it. SCHENK: What? You, the big silent type, you told him where to get off? FISCHER: Yeah. KLAGENFURTER: Well what did you say to him, Fischer? FISHCER: “You ass!” I said. (Laughter.) ROSA: Kretsch is exempted, you know. DIETRICH: So are all of them, these louts. To save their scrawny necks they crush the workers underfoot and wet their pants in front of the directors. LASSMANN: A foreman pushed me out in order to get one of his wife’s relatives exempted in my place. FRAU LASSMANN: And this is how he comes back, — both eyes! And with my six children at home! LASSMANN: And the other man is ten years younger and healthy and is still working at my position. BRAUN: Yeah, you’ve been hit the hardest, Ernst. LASSMANN: It would’ve been better, if I’d been annihilated completely. SCHENK: Nonsense, Lassmann; when things get going we’ll still need you. LASSMANN: What could I still be any good for? KLAGENFURTER: It’s enough for you to just put yourself forward and show the people: This is what war is! DIETRICH: Those dogs! (He has sat down on the kitchen table.) MARIE: So how are things with you, Tilde? FRAU LASSMANN: Oh, don’t even ask. With the couple of pennies of welfare a person can’t even manage the most essential items. And then the rent. I can’t very well get a job myself, — with the little children. And who would guide Ernst? ROSA: Everywhere now such hardship. SCHENK (has paced up and down a couple of times): Yes, on the one hand. But we workers have it much too good. The high wages are spoiling everything. DIETRICH: So the exploiters, they’re supposed to not pay at all, perhaps? SCHENK: Sure, but the workers’ dignity has gone to hell. They’re drinking champagne and forget that they have no bread. DIETRICH: You’re right there. They deserve to choke to death on capitalism! ROSA: It’s the worst with the munition workers. FISCHER: And the women. SCHENK: That is the saddest part, that women can be found for making grenades. Blood work, — and each one frees up a man for a hero’s death. KLAGENFURTER: Whether they could be won over for a strike — I’m not so sure about that. (Voices can be heard outside.) ROSA: Here they come now. — I hear Rund’s voice. KLAGENFURTER (toward the door): Yes, — just come on in! (Enter Fritz Rund, soldier, iron-cross, Trotz, white-bearded worker, Färber. Greetings.) DIETRICH: The house is filling up! MARIE: Take off your things and have a seat. There’s still room. KLAGENFURTER: There’s still room on the sofa. ROSA (to Rund): Here, Fritz, come have a seat by me on the trunk. (Trotz takes a place on the sofa, to the left of Lassmann, Rund on the trunk and Färber on a stool at the table.) FÄRBER: Well, Schenk, have you drafted a battle plan? BRAUN: We could get started with the discussion now. SCHENK: Isn’t Flora coming? We have to wait for her. FÄRBER: Yeah, she just wanted to pick up Tiedtken. She’ll probably be here soon. KLAGENFURTER: I agree, we shouldn’t let ourselves be delayed any further. SCHENK: Without Flora! But Stefan, how could that even occur to you? KLAGENFURTER: If she just shows up soon! She’ll get up to speed just fine. SCHENK: There can be no talk of that. The best brain, the sharpest eye — DIETRICH: The prettiest figure — eh? SCHENK: Shut your mouth! (Coughs violently.) DIETRICH: Hey, now, it wasn’t meant like that, Raffael! — Was just a joke. SCHENK (excited and coughing): No more of those jokes, please. TROTZ: But I agree, too, we must wait for Severin. We all can’t tell so precisely how things really stand. What do we know? — The newspapers! FISCHER: Pure lies! KLAGENFURTER: I just thought, — we’d have a better view of how things are with the workers. BRAUN: What are the soldiers thinking, Rund? RUND: Those who’ve already been to the front are mostly good. But the young ones — especially from the country — still believe everything. DIETRICH: It serves them right if they bite it at the front, — the idiots! TROTZ: They took you, Stefan? KLAGENFURTER: Yeah. TROTZ: Do you think they’ll come for you soon? RUND: They’re pulling in everyone now, and what’s more, they’re keeping lists about people’s opinions. MARIE: My God! RUND: It’s said they want to break through on the Western front. DIETRICH: Break through from laughing! FÄRBER: If they free up all the troops in Russia now — millions — BRAUN: But the Americans — ROSA: Do you believe then, Fritz, that they can do anything? RUND: I can’t know that. MARIE: If only there was peace! SCHENK: Peace? Then? — If they break through, then the war will have only just begun. FÄRBER: I’m not so sure: — If they get Paris — and the U-boats — ? SCHENK: And if they get all of France and England as well, then they’ll still have nothing. The war will just last three years longer — or even ten years. FRAU LASSMANN (jumping up, combative): Stop, it should just stop! My blind husband! My poor children! LASSMANN: Calm yourself, Tilde! We must accept things as they are. MARIE (cries out): My God! My God! KLAGENFURTER (goes to her): Don’t excite yourself, precious! Think of yourself! TROTZ (has stood up): The women have reason enough for crying. But they have the most beautiful job of all. You must stand by us men when the time comes. If you forsake us, we are forsaken. SCHENK: First of all, we must not abandon ourselves. Only the proletariat can create peace. And there’ll be no peace as long as there’s no revolution. DIETRICH: Bravo! We must rise up! General strike! Revolution! TROTZ: Revolution — yes! For peace — yes! — But what is peace? Revolution must bring about socialism, otherwise it won’t bring about peace as well. Maybe I’m not yet too old to experience it.

(Knocking. At the same moment the door opens. Flora Severin enters, behind her Rudolf Tiedtken.)

FLORA (still in the door): Comrades! Good that I find you all together. We have no time left to lose. Berlin has risen up. (General excitement, lively chaos.) DIETRICH (audible through the noise): Our moment! Now to the masses! Into the street! (Wants to go to the door.) TROTZ (stepping in his way): Dietrich! The mind of a child with your 50 years of age! Right now we need to stay here. Right now we need clarity above all! SCHENK (loudly): Quiet! (General silence.) Do you know any more details, Flora? FLORA: A special newspaper edition came out. — Tiedtken can read it aloud. TIEDTKEN (pulls the paper out of his pocket): Here it is. (Reads.) “To the people! Mislead by enemy agents and unscrupulous agitators, —” DIETRICH: Naturally! Those scoundrels! BRAUN: Keep it down, Dietrich! TIEDTKEN: “— the workers of several factories in Berlin have laid down their tools. They are making the outlandish demand that the government ask its enemies for peace, and they threaten the government with the institution of workers’ councils. —” SCHENK (to Flora): Thank God! No demands about wages. TIEDTKEN: “Conscious of their duty to their fatherland, the vast majority of the labor force has not heeded the ridiculous request to declare a general strike. Above all, the labor force’s appointed representatives, the Social Democratic Party and the labor union commission, have explicitly refused any association with the traitorous elements.” DIETRICH: Aha! Aha! There they are! TIEDTKEN: “Even so, the extent of the movement cannot yet be precisely ascertained, —” TROTZ: That sounds a little better. TIEDTKEN: “— and smaller outbreaks of the criminal undertaking have already occurred in other locations, though largely extinguished in their infancy. — There exists the reasonable suspicion that in our city as well isolated individuals are seeking to bring unrest and resistance into the ranks of the working population. The authorities have precise knowledge of these individuals.” MARIE: Steffi, do you believe that? KLAGENFURTER: Be calm, darling. That’s just to scare us. TIEDTKEN: “Trusting in the tried and true discretion and patriotic sentiment of the local workforce, I most emphatically warn against any participation in conspiratorial activities. For three-and-a-half years the German people have now stood in a heroic defensive battle against a world of enemies. The exemplary accomplishments of our field grey heroes have kept the borders of our supremely beloved homeland free from the horrors of hostile invasions. The Russian colossus lies shattered on the ground.” DIETRICH: And now they trample about on it and plunder it, the louts. BRAUN: Quiet! We want to hear. TIEDTKEN: “The dauntless crews of our U-boats are just about to bring our bitterest and most underhanded opponent, perfidious Albion, to its knees. Hold out just a little while longer — and all enemies, prostrated, will beg us for a peace which will serve Germany’s honor and security and will ensure the existence of the German people for all time. — In this moment, it is necessary that we pull together our remaining forces. Whoever goes on strike now is knocking the rifle from the hands of our brave soldiers and committing treason against the fatherland. I therefore forbid any strike, any gathering in the street, any meeting not registered in writing 48 hours in advance. Whoever calls out for a strike in the factory or elsewhere, whoever distributes fliers, holds rousing speeches, spreads untrue rumors or in any way violates my orders will be prosecuted for treason and immediately arrested. Riotous assemblies will be met with indiscriminate armed force!

Commanding General

Baron von Lychenheim.” DIETRICH: They can just come, these dogs! SCHENK: Yeah, then we just need to know what we have to do. FLORA: Keep reading, Rudolf, there’s more. BRAUN: I’m curious to hear that. TIEDTKEN (reading): “Fellow party members! Organized working men and women!” FÄRBER: What? On the same page? TIEDTKEN: Immediately below. — So then: “The Social Democratic Party and the Syndicate of Independent Labor Unions most decidedly disapproves of the attempt by workers, misguided or fed from unclean sources, —” TROTZ: Unheard of! TIEDTKEN: “— to stab in the back the proletarians fighting at the front in this moment, in which we are expecting the victorious resolution of the war. We urgently beseech the members to maintain proletarian discipline, not to let themselves be carried away by irresponsible agitators, who are likely in the pay of the Entente, —” FÄRBER: Again. DIETRICH: Those dogs. TIEDTKEN: “— to unauthorized actions, and to immediately bring to attention anyone who undertakes to spread confusion. —” DIETRICH: Sons of bitches! They must be murdered! KLAGENFURTER: Keep it down! TIEDTKEN: “Proletarians! The German government has demonstrated that it wishes to end the war soon as it is possible. Its offer of peace to the enemy was rejected, however, with ridicule and mockery. We must therefore persevere a short time yet. After the war the time will come when we workers will also assert our demands. Now no disunity among Germans! Only the working class itself would bear the harm. Trust in the appointed leaders of the proletariat, — that is the surest and fastest way to bring about the much longed-for peace.

The Social Democratic Party:

By order of: Gerhard Weber.

The Syndicate of Independent Labor Unions:

By order of: Jakob Tamm.” SCHENK (hands on his back, has paced excitedly back and forth): We cannot lose any time. In three days everything must be brought to a standstill — at the latest. DIETRICH: In three days? — Tomorrow morning! TROTZ: How will you do that then, young man? It must be well organized. Maybe we can manage it by the day after tomorrow. FLORA: Wait a moment. There are telegrams attached to the newspaper: The number of strikers is estimated at 100–150,000. SCHENK: If that’s what they’re admitting to, then it’s 500,000. FLORA: In Leipzig, Halle, Frankfurt and in the Ruhr district movements are supposedly underway. FÄRBER: The miners! Bravo! FLORA: Everywhere an intensified state of siege. DIETRICH: The cowardly gang! BRAUN: There’s nothing there about military interventions? FLORA: No — apparently it’s not yet — DIETRICH: They should know better than that! The soldiers won’t shoot at their own brothers! TROTZ: Are you so certain about that? ROSA: Fritz says — TIEDTKEN: Yes, — what do you think, Herr Rund? RUND: The recruits will shoot, of that I’m certain. FÄRBER: Couldn’t you older soldiers dissuade them? RUND: That’s hard to say. No one has the courage. So what should happen? — Comrade Schenk, you wanted to work out your plan today for such an event, regardless. SCHENK: I see the situation like so: First we need fliers, — simple handbills. — What’s the date today? ROSA: January 28th. SCHENK: Good, we have to see that we can already act by the day after tomorrow, if possible. It can’t be known what will happen in Berlin in the meantime. — Flora, you write it. FLORA: Can’t Tiedtken do that? SCHENK: No, you! I personally have no mistrust of you, Herr Tiedtken. But you are a literary type. You are an intellectual. FLORA: And I am a student, — not then also an intellectual? SCHENK (fanatically, before her): You! No, you belong to us! You have that — that special something. You are a proletarian! FLORA (extends her hand to him): I hope so. TROTZ: That’s true. That’s imbibed in the cradle, even when it’s a silken one. It can’t be learned. — No offense, Herr Tiedtken. TIEDTKEN: But I thought — , my conviction — BRAUN: That you can show in the coming days. KLAGENFURTER: But now down to business! SCHENK: Then listen. The fliers in short: The war swindle, Brest-Litovsk. The raid in revolutionary Russia, Berlin, the duty of solidarity, — out! — I’ll print the story at night in my shop. DIETRICH: And we’ll bring out the bills tomorrow. FÄRBER: So that you can just sit tight then? SCHENK: Nonsense. Each one takes a small stack and distributes them unnoticed before work or during lunch break to every workstation. No one can know where the bills came from. After the distribution nobody can be in possession of more than one bill. Does that work? FISCHER: Easy. SCHENK: Good. You’re a calm person, Fischer, you can judge. — That happens tomorrow. Furthermore, during midday break, or early before work even, each one must get a few absolutely reliable comrades — TROTZ: Absolutely reliable, — Dietrich! DIETRICH: You don’t have to tell me. KLAGENFURTER: Well, you’ve sometimes been a bit over-trustful. DIETRICH: Me? — You’ll all get to know me! FLORA: Keep going, Schenk! SCHENK: So, then — you must make sure that every large factory is gone over with fliers by completely trustworthy people. You must this very evening run and find the relevant comrades. Everything must come off as planned — BRAUN: Yes — and then? SCHENK: Just listen. — The most important part is: We need Seebald. No one dares go near him. FÄRBER: If only you’re right about that. SCHENK: He is a famous scholar. If he makes common cause with the workers, then it will make a powerful impression on everyone. — He must come along into the streets. DIETRICH: Absolutely, into the streets! That’s the main thing! FLORA: That’s my view, too. It must become a large demonstration, — a closed march with red flags — MARIE: They will shoot into the ranks! FLORA: Frau Marie, we women must cheer the men on, but not dishearten them. There’s shooting in the field too. SCHENK (close by her): That is beautiful, what you’re saying; — that’s good. ROSA: I will stitch red rosettes tonight. KLAGENFURTER: That’s right, little roses. — Kitten, there’s work for you, too. MARIE: But I have to make the baby’s clothes. KLAGENFURTER: Don’t you want to help our cause now? TROTZ: No, let her be. The little one needs to be well received. Marie is working for the future — and that is our duty. — Everyone has his place. FLORA: Onwards, comrades — onwards! It’s evening already. We must get to work! SCHENK: Tomorrow evening the “Federation of New Men” is meeting in the “Lodge”. I will speak with Seebald there. He must be at the head of the march. LASSMANN (stands up, ecstatically): No, — no! I’ll go at the head. I want to carry the red flag. I want to lead the workers. — Me! — That will be like seeing the sun again — . TROTZ: Yes. He should take the lead. The blind man should be the first to see peace and freedom. KLAGENFURTER: It’s getting dark. Is there oil in the lamp, wife? MARIE: Yes, there’s still enough for today — and tomorrow I get more.

(Klagenfurter lights the lamp, the dim light of which becomes slowly brighter with the vanishing of the daylight.)

FLORA: I’ll write two fliers then. SCHENK: Two? FLORA: Yes, — one for the workers and one Rund will take along into the barracks. SCHENK: Right, I’d forgotten that. RUND: I’ll take care of distributing them. DIETRICH: The fight is on! They’re in for it — these bandits! TROTZ: Dietrich, you’re coming along to my place. DIETRICH: To your place — now? TROTZ: Yes, you’ll help me make red flags and placards. FÄRBER: I’m going. Have to find at least five comrades, tonight. Who’s coming along? FISCHER: I am. BRAUN: Me too. The Wachsmann firm will be taken care of, at least. Now I’m going over to comrades from Bartels and Moser and from the motor company. ROSA: But we’re all going now? FLORA: Can I just start writing the fliers right here? MARIE: Certainly. I just need to go out to pick up dinner now, and Stefan won’t bother you. KLAGENFURTER: Me? Do you think I’m staying home, then? I’m going with you, Braun. We must divide up the comrades we visit along the way. I’ll go first to Thielmann and then to Schulz. (General departure. In the dark corner with the bed one can see individuals putting on their overcoats. Chaos of voices.) SCHENK: I’ll work through the night at the printers. The bills can be picked up at my place tomorrow morning at 6 o’clock. ROSA (to Rund): If you don’t have anything to do right now you can always come along to my place and help. (The two exit.) FRAU LASSMANN: Careful, Ernst. — Come — this way — here’s my arm. (Exits with him.)

(Amidst loud conversation, exit Braun, Fischer, Färber and Klagenfurter.)

TROTZ: In my old age will I yet have the pleasure? FLORA: It must succeed, Comrade Trotz! SCHENK: It must succeed! DIETRICH: We’ll show them, those dogs! TROTZ: Come on now! Are you going with us, Schenk? SCHENK (with a glance at Tiedtken): That’s probably best. When can I pick up the manuscript? FLORA: In half an hour at the latest. (Schenk gets ready.) MARIE: I’ll get going then, too. — Is it cold outside? FLORA: Not terribly. But be careful, it might be icy. Rudolf, you’ll accompany Frau Klagenfurter, right? TIEDTKEN: Shouldn’t I wait for you? FLORA: No, I still have to speak with Schenk later. SCHENK (already at the door): I’ll come soon. (Exits with Trotz and Dietrich.) MARIE (to Tiedtken): One moment. (She goes out and closes the door behind her.) TIEDTKEN (already in his coat): You’re acting strangely toward me, Flora. FLORA: My dear, revolution is in the air. TIEDTKEN: Do you distrust me, then? FLORA: Not your sincerity. But you must notice, though, how the comrades all see you as an intruder. You really just don’t belong. TIEDTKEN: But until now? — You at least — FLORA: Until now you were a handsome boy. And I am a woman. TIEDTKEN: You don’t want anything more to do with me? FLORA: Rudolf, you’re asking like a high schooler. Now it’s a matter of the people, the proletariat. — See, you don’t understand anything about that. You don’t know what that is. You only know the words and you marvel at my life within this world as a foreign spectacle. You are an aesthete, a man of letters. — I am from the other world. TIEDTKEN: But you loved me! FLORA: Yes, Rudi, — certainly. That was fine up to now. But what is coming demands all of me. I can no longer let my body and my spirit go on living separate lives. TIEDTKEN (moving toward her): Flora! Give me a kiss! FLORA (pulling away): Stop that, I beg you. MARIE (enters, in a broad cape, which somewhat hides her condition, headscarf): Well. I’m all ready. — Here’s paper and things for writing. (Takes a blotter, ink bottle and paper from the chest of drawers.) See you later! TIEDTKEN (lets Marie out the door. Quietly): See you later, Flora. (Exits.) FLORA (likewise): Farewell, Rudolf. (Turns away.)

(She goes back and forth a couple times in the room, stays by the window. Takes a cigarette case and matches slowly from her pocket. Lights a cigarette. After a couple of steps she goes decisively to the big table, sits down, her face toward the public, and writes. After a short time, footsteps outside. There’s a knock.)

FLORA: Yes! SCHENK (enters): Did I come too early? FLORA (laughs): So far there’s just the heading. SCHENK (hesitating): Should I come back later? FLORA: No. We have to talk. SCHENK: I think so too. (He coughs.) FLORA: You are sick, Schenk? — Oh God, the cigarette! SCHENK: No, please smoke. It’s only momentary. (He gives a little cough and visibly fights the urge to cough.) I like to see you smoke. It suits you. FLORA: Really? Sit with me. SCHENK (throws his overcoat onto the bed): Come to the other table. (They sit at the round table.) How do you see the situation? FLORA: We must not be pessimistic. SCHENK: But you are? FLORA: N — o! Just at the moment I don’t believe it will be successful. SCHENK: And even so you want to set the masses in motion? FLORA: Above all. The proletariat must feel with its own body the rulers’ animosity toward workers. Until it does, it will be useless. SCHENK: Blood will flow, Flora! FLORA: I know that. They will most definitely shoot. SCHENK: The best men will be locked up. FLORA: Without a doubt. SCHENK: How brave and strong you are! FLORA: The two of us must stand together, Schenk. — Listen to me: The people are still completely blind to everything that’s happening. — The war is lost for Germany. SCHENK: An understanding can no longer be reached? FLORA: Not after Brest-Litovsk. The question is this: Will the defeat come through revolution, or will revolution be the consequence of the defeat? Revolution out of despair over military failure would be the greatest misfortune for the proletariat. Our revolution would not be taken seriously abroad, and at home they would attempt to appease us with little reforms. SCHENK: Worst of all would be if we allowed them to get as far as an offensive in the West. If they manage to break through, the war will go on for years. FLORA: And the rabble lets itself be snookered once again, hangs out flags, signs war loans and cries Hurrah for Kaiser and Hindenburg. There is only one way — the one which Bolsheviks have taken. The war must be sabotaged by the revolution. The German people must force the defeat. SCHENK: But won’t they do a Brest-Litovsk with us? FLORA: Only if we first lose the war militarily. Then Entente imperialism can do with Germany whatever it wants. The proletariat over there will then have little interest in stopping it, — least of all if we’re now allowing the raid into Soviet Russia. Then the war will be started and brought to its end by capitalism, and victorious capitalism will despoil the corpses of the vanquished. That is obvious. SCHENK: Germany itself provides the example. FLORA: If we bring an end to the war through insurrection, however, then the victors will refrain from imitating the example the Germans are now showing them. SCHENK: Their proletarians won’t allow them. FLORA: Definitely not. But then victory for Entente imperialism is no victory any more, — and revolution will break out in all countries. SCHENK: World revolution?! FLORA: World revolution! — And the triumph of socialism, of communism. It all depends on the German proletariat. SCHENK: But you don’t believe it will succeed? FLORA: Not yet. It must yet become a real rebellion, no attempt by a minority which remains stuck in its shell. The moral impression remains the same, even if we are defeated this time as well. The people need the lesson. SCHENK: Do you believe then that a real uprising will come about? FLORA: I fear the military less than — the labor leaders. SCHENK: Yes. That is the poison in the body of the German proletariat. FLORA: If we should succeed in demolishing the Social Democratic Party and the labor unions, then we will have succeeded, — even if superficially we lose. SCHENK: We need councils, — workers’ and soldiers’ councils. FLORA: These too I will demand in the fliers. — Now the most important thing is that we keep all party leaders away from the movement. SCHENK: That’s exactly why Seebald must be at the head. FLORA: It would be good, but he is — a pacifist, even if he goes farther, even if he preaches Tolstoyan ideas. I fear, Schenk, he is just a preacher! SCHENK: No — no! We must speak with him. We will win him over. FLORA: But how much will be won when he tells the masses: Weapons down!? — We need a man who calls to them: Get your guns! SCHENK (takes her hands): Yes — yes. The strike is useless if it does not become an uprising. — (Reflective.) That depends first on getting Seebald into the street. Once we’ve brought him that far, then we can force him to act. FLORA: How — force? — He will advise a passive demonstration. SCHENK: Even when the others become active? His friend Lecharov was there in Russia in 1909. He will push him. FLORA: There are Christ-types. — SCHENK (suddenly): If I were just a little more healthy, I would freely become a soldier — in order to be on-hand when it goes against the workers. FLORA: Against the workers? SCHENK: But, yes! — In order to cross over at the decisive moment. FLORA: Then you would have to play act the whole time until then? SCHENK: And how! (Thinks it over.) Maybe I should have never been open — about my convictions. FLORA: Never been open? SCHENK: To work in concert with the enemy — and then — FLORA: — betray him! SCHENK: Yes! The enemy teaches people how to act. — Could be that Seebald too will first need to be brought around to his duty by the enemy: when they lay hold of him personally. FLORA: They won’t do that. — In Russia they didn’t do anything to Tolstoy either. SCHENK: I know. Seebald is the idol of the masses — and his reputation in the whole world. A scholar — a philosopher. — FLORA: They don’t dare touch him. The educated bourgeoisie also stands up for him, — the students. SCHENK: I believe in them least of all. But all the same. — If it won’t work otherwise, Seebald must be sacrificed. FLORA: Sacrificed? SCHENK: That means he must be at the most dangerous position. — And he must call for the assault himself. Then they will reach for him too. FLORA: But you love Mathias Seebald? SCHENK: Me? — For him I could die at any minute. He is a magnificent person, the purest and best. He is my model, my master. FLORA: And you would sacrifice him? SCHENK: If the cause demanded it — naturally! FLORA (has stood up, runs her fingers through his hair): Is there any crime, Raffael, you would refuse the revolution? SCHENK: Whatever serves the revolution, — how can that be a crime? FLORA: You are a complete person. We should stick together. SCHENK (takes her hands): That we should! — Flora! — I want to be your friend where you need me. FLORA: And total trust — always and everywhere! SCHENK: Total trust! — Only one thing: it’s not selfishness — — FLORA: Just say it! — SCHENK: Flora, — if you love Tiedtken, — it’s your business. But — he should not be your comrade. FLORA: I’ve sent Rudolf away. SCHENK: Completely? FLORA: Yes. — Are you satisfied? (She kisses him on the forehead.) SCHENK (pulls her to him): I have loved you now for a long time — a long time. FLORA (frees herself from him gently): We’ll seal the deal — SCHENK: For life? FLORA: For the deed, Raffael! SCHENK: The deed!! Curtain

ACT TWO

The evening of the next day. Clubroom of the “Lodge”. In the foreground, a narrow room spanning the whole width of the stage. Adjoining it, without a door, is a long room leading into the background which breaks through the wall in the middle at a right angle and is approximately half as wide as the the room in front. The entrance to the second room is flanked by two buckets with leafy plants. In the front room to the left, a piano with swivel stool. Against the back wall to the right, a bench with armrests; in front of that, a longer table with a colorful restaurant tablecloth and chairs. To the right, a window covered by wooden shutters. To the left of the exit, a small cupboard with the emblems of student fraternities. Above that, two crossed rapiers. On the walls, images of the German Kaiser, Hindenburg and other military leaders. Over the bench, draped flags in German, Austrian, Hungarian, Turkish and Bulgarian colors. A rug covers a part of the floor. Electric lamps arranged over the piano and to both sides of the entrance. In the back room can be seen through the planters a long, uncovered table with chairs at both sides and all the way in the background a large frosted glass door lighted dimly from behind. In the front room, bright lighting which sets the more weakly lit second room in a vague light. When the glass door in back opens the lighting thereby changes.

The front room is empty, in the second room there is the buzz of voices, the movement of different individuals can be dimly perceived. From them separate themselves Werra Adler, an older, but youthfully attired individual, and Klara Wendt, a young girl, who walk into the foreground arm in arm.

WERRA: And here, you see, after the discussions the innermost circle usually remains together — in completely internal conversation. KLARA: I suppose Herr Professor Seebald is always on hand? WERRA: Our master! — Everything comes together around him. Oh, I’m so happy that you will meet him today. KLARA: Me too, — but, to be honest, I am somewhat nervous. — Such a famous man. — WERRA: Such a great man, Klärchen! — But you have nothing to fear, — he is not arrogant. KLARA: One can see that just by how many simple workers are here. WERRA: You can believe me: Of them I’m often outright jealous. Our sort sometimes gets the impression like one is being tolerated, he so favors the lower folk. KLARA: But after the lectures — here in the back — I suppose the more educated participants are to be found together? WERRA: That is different. Sometimes he immediately sends us betters away. — You have seen the lame redheaded one in there? KLARA: The pale person who is always coughing? WERRA: That is his favorite; an ordinary journeyman book binder. KLARA: Just think! WERRA: He almost always stays with him here; even when there are just piano recitals left, or a young poet, for example Herr Tiedtken, recites poems. KLARA: So, can these people understand it at all then? WERRA: The master believes so, yes. — He is so good! (In the background chairs are pulled; loud talking. The innkeeper Präzold comes forward, behind him ladies and gentlemen, among them Dr. Bossenius and individual workers, including Schenk and Klagenfurter.) PRÄZOLD (looking around): Herr Professor is not yet here then? Dr. BOSSENIUS: Must you speak with him? PRÄZOLD: Maybe it’s not even necessary. I would just like to tell the ladies and gentlemen that the today’s meeting cannot be. LADIES: Oh! I see! — Well, why not then? PRÄZOLD: Well — another new order has just come through that any kind of meeting, even club meetings, are forbidden. I’m sorry about it myself. But what am I supposed to do? KLARA: Then we have to leave? WERRA: Oh, Herr Innkeeper, let us just stay long enough until we’ve greeted the master. — Yes? — please! SCHENK: Herr Präzold, — it’s alright. PRÄZOLD: How’s that? — What do you mean? SCHENK: I mean you have done your duty and notified us of the prohibition. Dr. BOSSENIUS (to Schenk): You intend to stay here, then? KLAGENFURTER: But I can still get a glass of beer, Herr Präzold? PRÄZOLD: But I would like to please ask the gentlemen — — ultimately, I will be held accountable. SCHENK: What can happen to you then, if you entertain a couple of guests? — Send us the girl, please. PRÄZOLD: Yes, — naturally — — right away! (Wants to go, turns around once more.) Only, please — no lectures can be held under any circumstances. — (Exits.) Dr. BOSSENIUS: But I have misgivings about this circumvention. — Ah, there comes Herr Strauss. STRAUSS (stepping forward): Good evening, all around. What sort of uprising is this then? Dr. BOSSENIUS: You know, Herr Strauss, of the prohibition against club meetings? STRAUSS: Oh — I could have guessed it. After the latest reports that arrived at the editor’s office. — KLAGENFURTER: Is there something important, new? STRAUSS: Yes, well — the strike is spreading. The most disturbing reports are coming from Austria; in Vienna, Graz, Prague, Brünn work has completely stopped. DIETRICH (popping up): Bravo, bravissimo! KLAGENFURTER (quietly): You aren’t sensible, man! STRAUSS: I’m afraid, Comrade Dietrich, you misjudge the situation. I am convinced that at such a moment this movement cannot foster peace, but rather can be harmful at best, — if its effects aren’t to be even more considerable still. Leaving the front without munitions — SCHENK: Yeah, yeah, we don’t want to argue that out right now. STRAUSS: I can only say that that is the opinion of all the leading men of the Social Democratic Party. DIETRICH (booming laughter): That I believe. These — — KLAGENFURTER: Quiet, Dietrich! Dr. BOSSENIUS: Well, Herr Strauss, the innkeeper has just explained to me that this sitting of the Federation may not take place under any circumstances. Now, the gentlemen think — STRAUSS: But of course we must comply with the prohibition. SCHENK: Each may do as he pleases. My friends and I are at the moment guests in the “Lodge”. If the club rooms are closed for sittings, then we’ll just use them as pub rooms. STRAUSS: I cannot under any circumstances go along with any kind of circumvention of the prohibition. DIETRICH: No one is being forced to stay. WERRA: I’m only staying until the master comes. I want to at least shake his hand and look him in the eye. WAITREss (enters): The gentlemen have a request? SCHENK: Bring me a soda, please — Fräulein. KLAGENFURTER: And a glass of beer for me. DIETRICH: A beer for me, too! WAITREss: And the others? Dr. BOSSENIUS: Nothing for the moment. We’ll order later maybe. WAITREss (exits). WERRA: Oh, the master’s coming! The master! — Come, Klärchen, — to meet him! (With Klara into the background.) —

(The ladies and gentlemen crowd into the back room. Schenk, Klagenfurter and Dietrich remain behind. Trotz then joins them.)

KLAGENFURTER: It would be best if all these pests would get lost. DIETRICH: This gang! SCHENK: I’d prefer they stay here. We need them to keep watch. TROTZ: We won’t be allowed to hold our meeting? SCHENK: Ah — you’ve just arrived! — Naturally, we’re staying. DIETRICH: The little doctor already fears for his career — and Strauss, the traitor, would most prefer to call in the police right away! SCHENK: Have you seen Flora? TROTZ: That’s one splendid girl! She was at my place today, passing by. She just rested and passed on the latest news. All day long she is on her feet agitating. I accompanied her a ways. KLAGENFURTER: Agitating? How can she do that? TROTZ: She can do it all. With her, old man that I am, I could still fall in love. — She is in the community kitchen and talks with the people so unassumingly. DIETRICH: And fires them up all the while — eh? TROTZ: Clever. In the shops she picks up a head of cabbage and moans: 60 cents! That’s downright disgraceful. And then come with the most innocent expression observations on the war, poverty — and then there she is, already on the strike. — I was with her in a store, — SCHENK: What happened? — Go on! TROTZ: Yeah, so she bought cigarettes. — Oh, God, the price! And for such horrible quality! Yes — if one could speak! If the people wanted to think about it! — Well, there were two other people there, a worker and a woman. — Yes, go on, Fräulein. What do you mean then? — Well, and then she let loose so that the people’s heads warmed up. And I made as if I wasn’t with her and helped out. KLAGENFURTER: And how did the people take it? TROTZ: When they left they thought only about the strike — and if it would actually come about over here, too. DIETRICH: It will be glorious! — Everyone is for it! SCHENK: Aren’t you seeing things a little too rosy again, Dietrich? DIETRICH: Me? — I know my people! No one can tell me what’s what! KLAGENFURTER: From what I could see, I also believe that tomorrow everything will succeed. SCHENK: Have you heard how the distribution of the fliers went? DIETRICH: Impeccably! TROTZ: Comrade Fischer worked best of all. When the people at Wachsmann came in, a couple of pages lay on every seat. SCHENK: And was the matter well received? KLAGENFURTER: Exceptionally. — It was brilliantly written, too. DIETRICH: My goodness! Severin’s really sharp! A couple of sentences, — but each word like a club! TROTZ: Don’t scream out names like that, — if Strauss should hear! DIETRICH: The spy — the filthy spy! SCHENK: So tomorrow morning you think it will all be closed? KLAGENFURTER: Wachsmann is good. At the motor company it’s not certain. I ran into Schulz. He thinks half of them will go along. I don’t know anything yet about Bartels & Moser. TROTZ: Flora wanted to go get Rund to hear about the outlook in the barracks. KLAGENFURTER: Yes, that’s the most important. SCHENK: Does everyone know the unreliable ones? DIETRICH: The spies? They should just try! TROTZ: Traitors are always there. But who could know them? We already had enough surprises under the Socialist Laws. Those who we held to be the most reliable turned out to be paid agents provocateurs. SCHENK: I am worried for you, Stefan. They will be especially harsh with those obliged to serve in the war. KLAGENFURTER: If it doesn’t go wrong, then nothing more can happen to me. DIETRICH: What else could go wrong now, then?

(Movement in the background. Enter Mathias Seebald, mid-fifties, long hair combed back, black jacket, black tie, ascetic appearance. Speaking to him is Werra, with Klara on her arm. Behind them, Lecharov, wild grey hair, glasses, speaks with a strong Russian accent: Rolling R, audible even in short final syllables, very soft S. Ladies and gentlemen, among them Dr. Bossenius and Strauss.)

WERRA: Dearest Master! Now you must finally take a look at our youngest disciple, my little ward Klara Wendt. She’s a niece of my ex-husband. But despite the whole family she sticks by me. SEEBALD (offers Klara his hand): My pleasure, Fräulein. Today, of course, you won’t be hearing much here. KLARA: Oh, my main concern was really just to meet you in person, Professor, sir. SEEBALD (laughs): That is however not the purpose of the “Federation of New Men”. WERRA: Don’t be offended, Master. She is still so naïve. SEEBALD (pats Klara on the cheek): That’s alright, dear child. — But the ladies will excuse me now. Ah — there are all my friends together. (Leaves Werra standing.) Raffael! Good that you’re here. (Offers Schenk, Trotz, Klagenfurter and Dietrich his hand): The day is dawning, friends, — the people are waking up!

(Seebald, Lecharov, Schenk, Trotz, Klagenfurter, Dietrich stand in front of the table to the right, the rest in the entrance and to the left.)

KLAGENFURTER: Do you have any news, Herr Professor? SEEBALD: Not much more than the newspaper has. But a new spirit moves through the masses, — one can feel it, and it gives one courage. Berlin — Vienna — Prague — Leipzig — — and, will everything stay as it was over here by us, then? DIETRICH: Tomorrow — — SCHENK (jabs him in the side): You’re insane! STRAUSS (pushing forward): I doubt that the movement will reach over to us here. The attempt has been made through anonymous fliers to rouse the workers to strike. But all countermeasures have been taken. SCHENK: By you or by the General Command? DIETRICH: By both in collaboration! STRAUSS: I don’t believe I am obliged to respond to that. KLAGENFURTER: That’s probably for the best. SEEBALD: Please no fighting. — I just believe, Herr Strauss, that despite all the best intentions of helping the proletariat, you are stacking the deck for its enemies. STRAUSS: And I believe that a strike at this critical moment would betray to our enemies the helpless soldiers, who are themselves also proletarians. LECHAROV: Please allow me — please — , you say: Critical moment. Would you tell me — please — what does critical moment mean? STRAUSS: The war is at its decisive point. SEEBALD: It will be at its decisive point for a long while yet, if the workers don’t bring the decision about. DIETRICH: Very true! Bravo! STRAUSS: The workers can decide the war only in terms of a defeat. Right now we stand before the decision which will ensure our existence.

(Flora and Rosa appear in the entrance, they stay put and listen.)

LECHAROV: Please — permit me again — , would you tell me — I ask you — since August 1914, when has the war not stood at the most critical moment? And what does it mean, ensure existence — I ask you? Whose existence, if I may ask? The proletarian existence is not ensured when there’s war, and is not ensured when there’s peace. STRAUSS: If German manufacturing is ruined, then the workers are the ones who will suffer. FLORA (steps forward) (to Strauss): You are a Socialist, correct? At any rate, you call yourself one, I suppose? STRAUSS: I’ve been an organized Social Democrat for seventeen years, Fräulein Severin. FLORA: Really? But you don’t care for the socialization of the means of production? STRAUSS: For the moment, its not a matter of socialist ideals, but of the salvation of the fatherland. Dr. BOSSENIUS (from the ranks of the bystanders): Absolutely true. SEEBALD: But I am somewhat amazed, gentlemen, to hear these views in our circle. We have come together here as a “Federation of New Men”. New men, however, must not cling to old prejudices. Fatherland — is there such a thing, when the land of the fathers belongs to the sons of a few individual fathers? I’m afraid that the spirit in our federation still has little in common with the spirit of a federation. WERRA (stepping forward): But, best Master, a little difference of opinion doesn’t matter. We all want the same thing: the Good, the True and the Beautiful. — We shouldn’t bother ourselves with ugly political matters. Perhaps someone would rather present something: A little song or a pretty poem. — — Is Herr Tiedtken not here then? SEEBALD: You are in error, honorable Frau Adler. Aesthetic discussions are not the object of our association. At least, when I created the “Federation of New Men”, I had something different in mind. Cultivation of art is only one of the means which prepare the spirit for the Good, True and Beautiful. The condition for goodness, truth and beauty, however, is not created through artistic presentations. It is peace and justice. WERRA: Certainly, dear Master. — Naturally, that is the highest. SCHENK: For peace and justice one can also say: Freedom and Socialism. FLORA: And the path to all that is called revolution. KLARA: O God, how terrible! Dr. BOSSENIUS: If you mean a revolution of the spirit — TROTZ: We mean a revolution of the classes, Herr Doctor! DIETRICH: Precisely, — the class-conscious proletariat — Dr. BOSSENIUS: Ms. Severin can hardly have picked up a proletarian class consciousness along the way. Her father is, as far as I know, the director of a bank. SCHENK: And if you were a trash collector, you still wouldn’t understand — (Coughs.) SEEBALD: I beg you, Raffael, don’t become abusive; and I ask the same of you, Dr. Bossenius. What we strive for in our federation is precisely the internal transformation of the person, which lets him discern the essence of true community. Dr. BOSSENIUS: The only question thereby is whether we educated people are to transform ourselves into proletarians. FLORA: That’s not the question at all. The bourgeoisie is the most contemptible. — The proletariat has the future. In it all the faculties are still unspoiled. In that respect I will allow the distinction which you draw with the word “educated”. — If proletarians and bour — — members of the other class come together here, the workers are not to be somehow “elevated” thereby, but rather the — rest are to examine themselves as to whether they can so completely shed their origins that they are entitled to number themselves among the people. Dr. BOSSENIUS: Do you concur, Herr Professor? SEEBALD: More or less. The goal is a classless society, in which for the first time it would be right to speak of the people. If we want to create an equilibrium, then that is only possible in a free federation of separated and therefore new people. These must be people who already carry the new community within themselves, who perceive the degradation of class society, with its exploitation, its violence, its war, its slavery, its imperiousness, to be so unbearable that for themselves they have already completed its renunciation and, without class antagonism, think, feel, and, when necessary, act with the proletariat. DIETRICH: We need the dictatorship of the proletariat! STRAUSS: We Democrats reject any dictatorship. SCHENK: The dictatorship of capitalism, however, you freely accept. Capital has at its disposal all the instruments of power of the State and men whatsoever. It forces all the resources of labor into its service, forces even the exploited man to kill and be killed, in order to let himself be squeezed for even greater profit, and through having in its power all the tools of influence capital brings its victims to believe that everything must be just as it is. STRAUSS: With your ideas we would end up straightaway with Bolshevism in Germany. FLORA: Would that be so bad? Dr. BOSSENIUS: Well, I think so. LECHAROV: You say: Bolshevism. Do you know what is Bolshevism? I’ll tell you: Bolshevism is — Bolshevism is the soul of the Russian people. The soul of the Russian people — that is Bolshevism. Dr. BOSSENIUS: That’s not saying anything at all. LECHAROV: No? — Nothing at all? I want to tell you — I ask you, listen to me — : That’s not saying anything for you. That says a lot — everything for one who knows the soul of the Russian people and of every other people. Look at me, how it is with me: In 1905 I stood on the barricades in Petersburg and was already then not far from 50 years, — and fought consciously for Bolshevism. I had to flee afterwards from Czarism and had myself naturalized in Germany. — Unfortunately! — Were I deported in 1914 to my home, I could be fighting now with Lenin and Trotsky for the great cause of humanity, for communism. TROTZ: We will need you with us, too, Comrade Lecharov! LECHAROV: Maybe I can be of some use here, too. STRAUSS: Germany is not Russia. SCHENK: We are international socialists, Herr Strauss! Dr. BOSSENIUS: Humanity’s great ideals are no more distant to me than to any one of you. But at the same time I still know a consciousness of national duty. SEEBALD (approaches him. Harshly): Herr Doctor Bossenius! In this federation there is a human consciousness to which every duty is subordinate. If your consciousness of national duty is a special sort which allows murder, violence, crime, then I couldn’t know what can prompt you to enter our circle. — In all corners of the Earth at this moment, while we are speaking here, people are being killed by other people who don’t know one another and have nothing to do with one another, — at this minute hundreds are being crippled by bullets, throughout the world women and children are being made into widows and orphans. Herein I too have my consciousness of duty — and that means not to be national and take sides for one set of murderers, but rather to apply every, absolutely every means of bringing a halt to the unspeakable outrage. — It is not for us here to discuss whether this or that should happen, but rather what must happen immediately. DIETRICH: Long live the general strike! STRAUSS: I would indeed never have shown up here for a political gathering. SEEBALD: And we’re not holding one. We will comply with the prohibition by the military authorities. For my part, I would like to talk only with my closest friends. Shall we find a seat here in the corner, Flora? WERRA: May the little one and I join you? — It would be so interesting for us. FLORA: We have to speak with the professor about something which can hardly be of interest to you. WERRA (piqued): Oh, then naturally we wouldn’t want to be a burden. — Dearest Master, hopefully next time everything will be the same as always again. SEEBALD: We will see. Farewell, Frau Adler. — Good night, Fräulein.

(Seebald takes a place on the bench; next to him to the right, Flora. On the left side, Schenk. To the left of Seebald on the bench, Trotz. Next, on a chair to the right, Lecharov. Klagenfurter, Dietrich and Rosa remain standing.)

KLAGENFURTER: Ah, there’s the girl. (Waitress enters and brings drinks.) Does anyone else want to order? (Waitress takes orders and writes them down. In the meantime the ladies and gentlemen are departing.) Dr. BOSSENIUS (to Strauss): I don’t believe there’s anything much for us here today. (Both exit.) WERRA (to Klara): Too bad that you could only get to know the master so little today, my little child. But eight days from now, I think — KLARA: But one can already see what an idealist he is. — So interesting! — (Both exit.)

(In the second room can be seen yet smaller groups standing around which all gradually exit.)

DIETRICH: This gang! TROTZ: Now we’re amongst ourselves. — But, Rosa, why didn’t you bring Rund along? ROSA: I just couldn’t talk in front of those people. I wouldn’t have got one word out. FLORA: Wait a second. (She makes a sign to Schenk.) SCHENK (after of couple of steps in the other room): The coast is clear. KLAGENFURTER: I’d be surprised if Bossenius didn’t put the police onto us here anyhow. SCHENK: No way, the aesthetes won’t do anything to us. They are too cowardly for action and too proper for denunciation. But Strauss will definitely attempt something. SEEBALD: Friends, we have no one to fear. Impure souls stain only themselves. What could he possibly attempt anyhow? DIETRICH: Gather strikebreakers! SEEBALD: Let him. Workers with whom he has success are for the moment useless to us. We must first raise them to be new people. FLORA: May I be open, Professor? SEEBALD: Naturally. FLORA: Your federation is not the ground on which revolutionaries grow. SEEBALD: Revolutionaries! — I can easily have them, when — FLORA: When the revolution has arrived. — But no revolution is flourishing here. SEEBALD: I know well what you mean. — And you are right, too. I must shake off these apostles and appendages. SCHENK: New people can only be made from proletarians. The others must first become proletarians before they can be instructed. LECHAROV: But I cannot teach a bourgeois to be a proletarian, if conditions don’t teach him. TROTZ: We must talk business, comrades. I am an old man, I have no more time for philosophizing. SEEBALD: It’s true. New people must be people of action. What has happened so far? FLORA: The workers in all factories have been called on to stay home from work tomorrow. Fliers were distributed everywhere today. The great majority of the proletariat seems to be won over. The strike positions have been organized. In the afternoon a demonstration march is to take place. SEEBALD: A demonstration? LECHAROV: How do you imagine the demonstration? SCHENK: At three o’clock the workers will gather in the square before the Wachsmann factory. Trotz and Dietrich have prepared red flags and placards. DIETRICH: They’re in for the shock of their lives — these bandits! SEEBALD: And where will the march go? FLORA: To the palace, naturally! LECHAROV: What have you done to explain things to the military? FLORA: A special flier went out to the military: Rund led the distribution. KLAGENFURTER: So where is Rund? ROSA: He made a quick visit to my place at noon. The entire military has to stay in the barracks. They’ve been placed on high alert. SEEBALD: And how will the soldiers react? TROTZ: That’s not yet entirely certain. SEEBALD: If they were to shoot into the masses, — that would be terrible. FLORA (has stood up, placed herself behind Schenk’s chair): Raffael, speak! SCHENK: We must have you there, Mathias Seebald! SEEBALD: Me? — What for? SCHENK: You must be at the Wachsmann factory at three o’clock, you must speak to the crowd and place yourself at the head of the march. SEEBALD: What use could I be? FLORA: Every use. None of us could express to the workers what it’s about and what is at stake. At least, none of us enjoys so much trust as you. — And then the impression on the bourgeoisie. The press and the party and union leaders wouldn’t dare to talk of treason and bribery anymore, — and the military would at least have to restrain itself. SEEBALD (paces back and forth): I don’t love demonstrative provocations at all. But if I knew for certain that I were needed. — What do you think, Fedor? LECHAROV: What should I think? — If the demonstration were armed, I would have said: It is useless to talk and march in the lead. In that case, a man should lead who can command and knows precisely about war. SCHENK: We don’t have weapons. SEEBALD: Otherwise, I would only come along to dissuade. LECHAROV: If the demonstration is unarmed, — can I know what will happen? I can only know who will be defeated if there’s shooting; whether you’re at the head of the march or you stay home. And whether there’s shooting depends not on the attitudes of the bourgeoisie but rather on whether one feels strong enough to bear the consequences. Maybe — maybe not. — 13 years ago on Bloody Sunday in Petersburg Gapon, the Pope, took the lead; they didn’t carry any red flags, but pictures of the Czar, icons, crosses. Capitalism knew that the pious singing translated meant: Bread, Equality, Socialism — and sent Cossacks and carried out a hideous bloodbath. FLORA: Then. But now, where everything is weary of war, not least of all the soldiers themselves, they will think twice about it. LECHAROV: Possibly — they will think twice about it. Possibly, they will say to themselves: Mathias Seebald in the lead — good, let them be angry and blow off steam, they’ll go back home — Seebald is a good fellow; he will restrain them from doing anything rash, and they won’t hurt us then. — It’s also possible capitalism will say: Mathias Seebald at the head? That is dangerous. He will get the people to hold out in their strike, he will get the soldiers to disobey orders, he will reveal to the people the swindle of Brest-Litovsk. They may not be eager to lock up the man himself because of his reputation abroad. Will they gun down those who follow him as a cautionary example — I can’t know what they’ll do. SEEBALD: So you think then I could maybe provide just the occasion for them to act with violence? LECHAROV: I don’t think anything. Can I know? — If they are sharp enough to recognize the danger you pose to their war, — they will shoot. If they are asses and take you for a harmless fanatic, they’ll let it go. DIETRICH: They are altogether dumb as oxes! SEEBALD (excitedly pacing): I cannot possibly provide the cause for the spilling of blood. SCHENK: I am convinced blood will only be spilled if you are not there. FLORA: I believe so too. SEEBALD: But you are putting me in a terrible position. Does the demonstration have to take place at all? TROTZ (very definite): The procession must be. — Under any circumstances. KLAGENFURTER: It has also already been called for in the fliers. SEEBALD (at the entrance): I am entirely at a loss. — — But here comes — good day, dear friend!

(Enter Lassmann on his wife’s arm.)

LASSMANN: I overslept. When it’s always night, one has to sleep a lot. SEEBALD: To have still come — so late in the evening! FRAU LASSMANN: He went on and on berating me that I hadn’t woken him in time. (They fuss over the blind man. While this goes on and greetings are being exchanged Flora draws Schenk to the piano.) FLORA: Raffael, the march can’t lead to the palace. SCHENK: Rather? FLORA: To the armory! SCHENK: What do you mean? FLORA: From there to the palace, when we have weapons. Understand? SCHENK: Yes, oh you! (takes both her hands). You are right! FLORA: But not a word about it now, otherwise he definitely won’t come. SCHENK: Do you believe then that he will come at all? FLORA: That is your job. — You must see that he does. — Come back now. (He pulls her behind the planter.) SCHENK: Flora! (Passionately). Flora! My — (wants to kiss her; she pulls away from him.) FLORA: My dear fellow! (She kisses his hand.) We must be strong, you and I. (They return inconspicuously to the table.) DIETRICH: At this time tomorrow we will know more! TROTZ: Some perhaps nothing more. ROSA: I am terribly afraid for Fritz. If he is ordered along — KLAGENFURTER: Then he could be the first to prevent shooting. ROSA: Yes — that is also true! LASSMANN: Was there no discussion today? LECHAROV: We have discussed away the whole Federation of New Men. SEEBALD: Yes, then let us start from the beginning with truly new men. LASSMANN: With workers! FLORA: Yes — and such ones as belong to them. DIETRICH: Without Bossenius and Strauss! SCHENK: And the hysterical females. LASSMANN: Then was there also no lecture today? KLAGENFURTER: It was prohibited by the high authorities. LASSMANN: You see, Tilde, — so I haven’t missed anything after all. FRAU LASSMANN: And you didn’t need to come here at all. LASSMANN: Oh, no, I am happy that I’m here. — Will everything be set for tomorrow? DIETRICH: You can believe that. It will be grand! TROTZ: Let us hope so, Lassmann. LASSMANN: Yes — and I will be out in front — and carry a red flag. SEEBALD: You, dear friend? — And if the military marches up? LASSMANN: Then they can go ahead and shoot me down, blind cripple that I am. FRAU LASSMANN: Oh, that’s all he’s been dreaming of since yesterday morning. I already had to put a broom in his hand today and lead him around the room — and the children had to run along after us. LASSMANN: Come, Tilde, I’ll show it. (On his wife’s arm he goes through the hall, his cane held high.) After me, comrades. LECHAROV: Let’s get behind him. He’s feeling inspired. DIETRICH: Yes — come! — Long live the revolution!

(All get behind Lassmann, who wobbles as he feels his way along; only Seebald and Flora remain at the table.)

LASSMANN (singing): Nor do we count the foe, —

Nor count the dangers all —

A bold course we follow,

Whither led us Lassalle!

(Rosa and Dietrich join in the refrain.)

SEEBALD (quietly): That is devastating. FLORA: You see how the spirit is — you must come! SEEBALD: I have the strongest reservations. — I couldn’t go on living if blood were to flow because of me. FRAU LASSMANN: Watch out, Ernst. — You’re running into the cupboard! SCHENK: That’s enough. Come back to the table! FLORA: Will you come, Professor? SEEBALD: I still don’t know. FLORA: It’s about peace, it’s about everything. (The rest have returned to the table. Some sit down.) KLAGENFURTER: Take a seat on the bench, Ernst, — you’ve exerted yourself. LASSMANN: Exerted! At Verdun, that was a different kind of exertion, I tell you. We had to advance whether we wanted to or not. In the middle of the barrage — always run ten steps and then on your stomach. It went off like crazy there — sss — boom! — sss — boom!! — The comrades fell like flies, left and right — and always up! Thrown down! — Up! — Thrown down — deep into the muck. — Yeah, and then it came. I thought it tore my head off — and that would have been better too I suppose. SCHENK: That would not have been better, Ernst. Then you wouldn’t have been able to be there tomorrow. LASSMANN: Yes, that’s true — tomorrow! Yes, and yet — as I came to in the sick bay, and didn’t see anything — nothing at all. And until I knew that I would never be able to see again, — I didn’t want to believe it, not for many days. And the nurse too said the day would come when I would see again. I believe the staff surgeon is to blame, too. SEEBALD: No, not the staff surgeon, — the war is to blame, friend Lassmann. TROTZ: And tomorrow let us rise up against the war. SCHENK: Ernst, tell us your opinion. Should not Mathias Seebald be there before the Wachsmann factory? Should he not be at your side leading the march? LASSMANN: Yes, he should! — Oh, Professor Seebald! If you lead the workers, then we must triumph! SEEBALD: No. The workers can and must triumph only through themselves. Their victory does not depend on my person or any other. Nor can the demonstration bring about victory. Only the refusal to work, the refusal to serve any violence can help. I can take joy at the strike, — not at the procession. FLORA: The proletariat can only sense its power if it also shows it. DIETRICH: The bourgeois vermin will tremble when the booming step of the workers’ battalion is ringing in their ears! SEEBALD: You’re intoxicated by the gesture. What is essential lies not in superficial appearance. The desolation of the factories will bring more clarity than the most splendid parade. The State collapses, without violence, when the working hands slacken, and the example of passive resistance which you give the soldiers will be greater and more deeply effective than if you go into the streets. SCHENK: We cannot wait until the State slowly collapses. No worker will keep up a strike for that long. And we certainly must not wait until the front goes on strike. They will only do that if the proletariat deploys its entire power back home. The procession must clarify the strike and expand it. TROTZ: I have been in many a strike in my day. It is not so simple as the workers leaving their machines and staying at home with the women and children. They have to see each other and everyday draw new strength from one another. — Yeah, if it was only over a couple pennies raise! Then one could ask: Who will hold out longer? But we want to strike for our red flags. For that we must also let the red flag wave. FLORA: Well put, Comrade Trotz. — So says an old proletarian, Professor. Can you then still be reluctant?

(Footsteps in the adjoining room.)

ROSA: Someone’s coming. PRÄZOLD (enters): Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I beg your pardon if I am interrupting. Only — well — this won’t be able to go on here any longer. KLAGENFURTER: Has the police been here already? PRÄZOLD: Yes — no — not the police themselves exactly. Herr Strauss was here again — along with another gentleman. SCHENK: With Herr Dr. Bossenius? PRÄZOLD: No — it wasn’t any gentleman who belongs here. It could well have been someone from the authorities. DIETRICH: There’s our spy! PRÄZOLD: The gentlemen only asked who was still here and drew my attention to the consequences if I were to tolerate the meeting here in back. — Naturally if the gentlemen would like to sit in front in the pub — SEEBALD: No, thank you. We will be leaving right away. PRÄZOLD: I would only ask: If perhaps you weren’t to all leave together, — so it’s not so conspicuous. TROTZ: You can rest assured. PRÄZOLD: It’s not for my sake, of course. But, you know: One can never know now who can be trusted. And I, Herr Professor, I am totally on your side. Since I lost my son in the field, my eyes have been opened. — So I think — if I might suggest — , if maybe the Herr Professor would stay until last of all. SCHENK: What for? PRÄZOLD: Herr Schenk, as long as the professor is there, the police won’t dare to come in. But if he were to leave the remaining gentlemen would then be immediately written up. LASSMANN: They should just go ahead and write me up! FLORA: We thank you, Herr Präzold. We will go away separately. PRÄZOLD: Then I kindly take my leave. KLAGENFURTER: Would you send us the waitress with our bill? PRÄZOLD: It’s better if I send her into the cloak room. It’s less conspicuous. (Exits.) DIETRICH: There we have our traitor — Strauss! SEEBALD: I really wouldn’t have thought it possible. LECHAROV: Much is possible. — Such are the Mensheviks. They are everywhere the same. SCHENK: Stefan, you must go first. You are the most in danger. KLAGENFURTER: I am not afraid. SCHENK: If you are noticed, you’ll be drafted tomorrow. It would be best for you to go alone. ROSA: No, with me. We will be taken for a couple. KLAGENFURTER (laughs, takes her arm): Yes, Röschen — how’s about the two of us? DIETRICH: Whoa ho ho! What would Rund say? ROSA: And your wife, Stefan! — Well, adieu, — we’re going. (Exits with Klagenfurter.) FRAU LASSMANN: Come on, Ernst! (Lassmann is lead from the bench, takes his leave.) SCHENK (at the same time, aside to Flora): You’re coming with me, right? FLORA: No, I’m going to join the Lassmanns. SCHENK: But — why? FLORA: You have to stay to the very end and keep working on Seebald. SCHENK: I hoped you would come with me today. FLORA: Be understanding, Raffael. I’ll definitely come to you tomorrow morning, very early. Think of the work and do your part! SCHENK (gives her his hand): Alright, then. Good bye, until tomorrow. FLORA: Until tomorrow. — Farewell, Trotz and Dietrich! TROTZ: You too, Flora! You young ones must make it happen! DIETRICH: Oh, we are still young too, when it matters. FLORA: Come now, Lassmann! — Good night, comrades. — Into battle! (Exits with Lassmann.) SEEBALD: But don’t forget love. TROTZ: That’s a woman. With a thousand workers like that girl, I would turn the world upside down. LECHAROV: Over by us in Russia — the women provided the best fighters for our revolution. They were the movement’s fire — and they went to their deaths, our women students, by the hundreds, as if they were used to dying. SCHENK: Over here Flora is unfortunately the great exception. SEEBALD: But she won’t remain so. The example fosters emulation. The will to good is not satisfied with one heart. Through the mouth of one it passes into others. The ideal constantly reproduces itself from out of itself. SCHENK: But only once it has become action. TROTZ: If only the educated youth would finally understand the hour! DIETRICH: The students? — Those delinquents! — You can search high and low to find one that’s any use. SEEBALD: That is unfortunately true. The academic youth in Germany has lost its ideals. The cult of violence has ruined them. SCHENK: They are bourgeois, — that is all. LECHAROV: I will tell you what is my opinion. By us in Russia the male and female students were the carriers of the great ideas. That was because the intelligentsia were persecuted, because the intellect is always a danger to brutality, and because the Czar’s state was built on brutality. In Germany the student body is no longer the champion of intellect, but of interest. TROTZ: Of capitalist interest. LECHAROV: Yes, that’s what I mean. What I have seen here of students were no students like by us, with the fire of youth and with passion. No — were nothing more than future doctors, future school masters, future judges, future diplomats. That’s why the students in Germany don’t become revolutionaries. SEEBALD: I have made such observations myself. The war has spiritually shattered our youth. TROTZ: Only the bourgeois youth. The proletarian youth is taking their place. DIETRICH: We will see how many students will go along at the demonstration tomorrow! SCHENK: And how many of the aesthetic young men and ladies from the “Federation of New Men”. TROTZ: It’s probably time for us to get going now. — Come on, Dietrich! DIETRICH: Through Strauss and company’s gauntlet of spies. — This gang! TROTZ: Are you coming along, Raffael? SCHENK: I’ll wait a bit. Then I’ll go alone. DIETRICH (taking his leave): We’ll all be seeing each other tomorrow afternoon, anyways! SEEBALD: Don’t count on me, friends! TROTZ: Yes! I am most definitely counting on you! — Good night. (Exits with Dietrich.) SCHENK (paces back and forth, finally remains standing in front of Seebald): You still haven’t made up your mind? SEEBALD: If you are forcing me now to make a choice, then I would have to say: I’m not coming! SCHENK: But that’s no final decision? SEEBALD: I will sleep on it. If you would like to come to me midday tomorrow, then I will tell you what I’m going to do. SCHENK: What time? SEEBALD: Come at 1 o’clock, — is that okay? SCHENK: It’ll have to be. SEEBALD: My dear Raffael, now you’re angry with me. — I am sorry for that. — I have never seen you like this. — So terse, so ill-humored. Are you disappointed with me? SCHENK: Yes. I believed in only one person. That was you. — And now I see that the moment you are faced with a question you aren’t even capable of deciding on a clear yes or no. SEEBALD: You misjudge me. My position on the questions at hand is totally clear. But here I am supposed to carry out a particular action which I have not instigated, — and so I must first take everything into consideration in order to discern whether it serves or harms the work to which I have devoted my life. SCHENK: Ah, yes — Idea, Sentiment, Perception — that’s all there. The vacillating only begins when it comes to Action. LECHAROV: That’s enough. You are each of you talking in different tongues. How could you understand one other? Tomorrow you will hear the verdict and know: Yes or no. — Go home now, Comrade Schenk, and rest until the morning and — Whether Mathias Seebald comes or stays away — either way! SCHENK: I suppose you will make your attendance dependent on whether Herr Professor goes? LECHAROV: Me? — Young man, what matters to me your will, what matters to me his will? I have my will, I will be where the proletariat is — and if the proletariat goes into the streets, then I will go into the streets. SCHENK: Do you not want to show him where his place is? LECHAROV: Am I his guardian? — Mathias Seebald has his head like I have my head and you have your head. Each thinks only with his own head. Go get some sleep, comrade, and reason things out with your conscience, as he will reason things out with his his conscience. And tomorrow we will see. SCHENK: But Seebald is necessary for the success of the cause! LECHAROV: Mathias Seebald is as necessary for the success as you, Raffael Schenk, are necessary, or as I, Fedor Vladimirovitch Lecharov, am necessary. Each must know where he is necessary and how he is necessary. Most necessary of all is the people, the revolutionary proletariat. And if the people itself doesn’t know what is necessary then its whole cause is unnecessary. SCHENK: I see that this whole chattering here is leading no where. Good night. (Wants to go.) SEEBALD: Raffael! SCHENK: What now? SEEBALD: Don’t you want to shake hands, in parting? SCHENK: Uh, yeah — certainly. (Extends his hand to him.) I hope that tomorrow I still can. — Good night, Comrade Lecharov. (Gives Lecharov his hand.) LECHAROV: Sleep well! (Exit Schenk.) SEEBALD: What passion in that man! — But a fanatic. LECHAROV: What value would an idea have if fanatics it didn’t ignite? On people like Raffael Schenk and Flora Severin rests the future of Germany. SEEBALD: I ask you now for you opinion. Can I be of use if I speak to the crowd and lead them? LECHAROV: You can be of use if you have the feeling that you are of use. SEEBALD: I’m afraid there will be a great misfortune. LECHAROV: The spilling of blood is always a great misfortune; it can be, however, the greatest of blessings. SEEBALD: No. Violence is of evil. If I went, I could only attempt to prevent violence. But I see the danger that just such an attempt could be the signal to violence. LECHAROV: That is entirely possible. SEEBALD: Schenk — that I see clearly — wants violence. He is definitively resolved, — and I believe Flora Severin further strengthens him in this. LECHAROV: He is a gentle person, but a vicious animal he can be. Now everything has his blood boiling. His sickness lets him disregard his own life. — As it seems to me, he is senselessly in love with Flora — — . SEEBALD: Did you notice it, too? LECHAROV: And she returns the love and transports it into the intellectual plane. That drives him out of his senses. For him the struggle of the proletariat against the war and for socialism is at the same time his own struggle to make himself worthy of the woman, and his work for the recovery of humanity is fanaticized by the suffering of his own sickness. SEEBALD: I am reluctant to become the instrument of his passions. LECHAROV: If it weren’t you, he would find another. SEEBALD: In his state he would be capable of leading everyone to their doom. LECHAROV: A person must be capable of that, for whom the Idea is more than his life. SEEBALD: Strange! Until today he was my truest disciple. LECHAROV: Do you believe he loves you less now? On the contrary. I saw how worried he was for you, — for your soul — SEEBALD: Yes, yes. — To save it he would be ready to cold-bloodedly betray me. LECHAROV (reflectively): He could bleed to death for you. He could also watch you bleed to death for your soul’s sake. But — betray you? — SEEBALD: Come, it’s time for us to go. (They stand and go to the exit.) LECHAROV (standing in place): No — a Judas Raffael Schenk is not. SEEBALD (as he leaves): Judas was perhaps not the worst among the disciples. Curtain

ACT THREE

In the early morning of the next day. Schenk’s room. A small Mansard room. On the right side the roof beams form the room’s steep ceiling over the small window from which tidy curtains hang. On the windowsill, an empty flower vase. On the rear wall, to the right, the exit door with clothes hooks. In the middle of the wall, a wardrobe. Further to the left, a simple vanity; next to it, a bucket. Small four-cornered mirror. On the left toward the back, a door to the kitchen. In the left corner, a round iron stove with a long pipe. On the left wall, an iron bedstead. Under the window, a long board with books. In the middle of the room, an uncovered table and a pair of cane chairs. In the foreground to the right, a well-worn recliner. On the table, writing materials and paper. Over the bed hang unframed Jugendstil pictures. Under the table, a straw mat. The bed is a mess.

SCHENK (in shirtsleeves in front of the mirror. He washes away the last traces of shaving cream, dries his face and puts the razor into the drawer of the vanity): Mother! FRAU SCHENK (from the kitchen): Yes, my boy! Your coffee is coming. Is the stove warm yet? SCHENK: Yeah, I made a fire. — Did you sew on the rosette? FRAU SCHENK (opens the door on the left): There — try it on. (Gives him the black jacket.) On the left side — is that right? SCHENK: Naturally, on the left. — But wait. I still have to put on my collar. FRAU SCHENK: Yes, make yourself look good now for the big day. SCHENK: But mother, there must be a rosette on the overcoat too. FRAU SCHENK: Don’t worry. Rosa Fiebig passed along two, and I’ve got your coat in kitchen. So get yourself ready, Ralf, I’ll bring the coffee. (Exits.) SCHENK (puts on the collar and ties his tie. Pulls on the jacket and examines the rosette in the mirror. Calls): It looks good, mother. FRAU SCHENK (brings tray with coffee pot, cups, bread, knife and jam; places it on the table): Let’s have a look at you, boy. SCHENK: Is the collar on right? FRAU SCHENK (plucks the tie into shape): There. — You look like a real gem. — But come to breakfast now. SCHENK: Ah, mother, would you perhaps make the bed first? — I’ll have a visitor soon. FRAU SCHENK: So early? SCHENK: I’ll tell you in bit who’s coming. FRAU SCHENK: Well, as you like. (Tidies up the bed.) SCHENK (takes a look around the room): Oh, the bucket! (He pours the wash water into the bucket and carries it out.) FRAU SCHENK: What is with him today? (Smooths out the bed.) SCHENK (returns): So, mother, now we can drink coffee. (They sit down at the table.) FRAU SCHENK (butters the bread): No — jam is another thing. It’s pure animal fodder, and even then you have to beg to get any at all for your ill-gotten gains. SCHENK: Mother, you don’t think it’s necessary to clean up again — do you? FRAU SCHENK: But, Ralf, I just swept out your room only yesterday. You’re acting like it was Easter. What is it with you today? SCHENK: Well, mother, if you only knew! FRAU SCHENK: You — rascal — I’m starting to think you’re in love. — Is your sweetheart coming here? SCHENK: — No — Flora can’t be called that. FRAU SCHENK: Flora? — What an unusual name! SCHENK: Flora Severin is my — my friend. FRAU SCHENK: Isn’t that the student you already told me about? SCHENK: Yes, mother. FRAU SCHENK: No — and she is now your — ? — — The two of you aren’t getting married? SCHENK: Who can know what will happen! FRAU SCHENK: No, you don’t say! — Such a thing! — And she is coming here — to our place? SCHENK: She wanted to be here very early. — Oh, I don’t have any flowers in the vase. FRAU SCHENK: My God, no — in the middle of winter! — But wait, I want to put on my good dress, then. In my work clothes like this — that just won’t do. SCHENK: You stay as you are, mother. Flora should see that she’s come to proletarians. And that’s what she wants to see, too. FRAU SCHENK: Is she also going to be there this afternoon then? SCHENK: Can you believe it? She even wrote the fliers. FRAU SCHENK: Is it possible? One couldn’t guess that they were written by a woman. SCHENK: Well she’s not like other women. — She thinks and lives only with the people. She wants to incite it to an uprising — to revolution. FRAU SCHENK: But, Ralf — revolution, — isn’t that something terrible? SCHENK: The war won’t stop until we have a revolution, mother. FRAU SCHENK: This hideous war! — Yes, if what you’re saying is true, then a person must even wish for revolution. SCHENK: If what Flora and I want succeeds, then we’ll have it before the day is over. FRAU SCHENK: Oh my God, — but there’s no danger in it for you? SCHENK: Mother! If it wasn’t for my game leg and sick lung, I’d be in constant danger. You would have to endure that, too. FRAU SCHENK: Yes, you are much too casual about your health. You’ll get yourself terribly agitated again, — and you know, then you’ll be coughing again. SCHENK: What an imagination you have! — I’m doing much better now. — Last night I hardly coughed. (He coughs slightly.) FRAU SCHENK: You see — you see! SCHENK: Yeah, well, you shouldn’t worry about it. — When I see Flora I forget about my cough entirely. FRAU SCHENK: It was just the same with your father. When he was still young and totally in love with me, he often went days without coughing. And then when you were born he was almost entirely healthy from joy. But two years later the consumption took him. SCHENK: Tell me, mother, was father actually a Socialist? FRAU SCHENK: God, how it was back then. He was in the union, and at election time he always helped out the Social Democrats. But otherwise he didn’t concern himself much with the whole business. SCHENK (looks at his pocket watch): It’s just about 8 o’clock. FRAU SCHENK: Yes, naturally. — I didn’t wake you earlier since you’re not going to work anyway because of the strike. — But you still haven’t told me anything about last night. SCHENK: Oh — I got all worked up. FRAU SCHENK: About the lady painters and the highbrow gentlemen? SCHENK: They had to beat it straight back home last night. The General Command forbid everything, you know. — No, about Seebald himself. FRAU SCHENK: About the professor himself? But how can that be, Ralf? SCHENK: Yeah, well, he was supposed to speak today before the Wachsmann factory and then lead the march. But then he suddenly had so many misgivings, so many If’s and But’s — — FRAU SCHENK: So will he be going then? SCHENK: I am supposed to go to his place today at 1 o’clock to get his final answer. — I wouldn’t mind just cutting him loose. FRAU SCHENK: Is it possible? SCHENK (looks at his watch again, shakes his head): Can I have another slice of bread, mother? FRAU SCHENK: That’ll be hard, Ralf. My ration cards are almost all — . SCHENK: Give me just one more. Maybe I’ll turn up a couple more ration cards. But today I have to be in good shape. Today there’s still work to be done. FRAU SCHENK (sighs): It’s such an ordeal with the bread — and everything else. (Butters a slice of bread for him.) What times we’re living in!

(The door bell sounds.)

SCHENK: It rang, mother. That’s her — she doesn’t know that the hall door is open. — Stay there, I’ll get it. (He goes out through the door. Frau Schenk quickly smooths out her dress, walks around absentmindedly. Voices can be heard outside. Schenk and Flora enter.) SCHENK: Yes, in here — please. — Come, mother. — Yes, this is my mother, Flora! FLORA (extends her hand): So this is how Raffael Schenk’s mother looks! — Good morning, Frau Schenk! FRAU SCHENK: Good day, Fräulein, — — Ah, now I’ve forgotten the name again. SCHENK: Flora, mother. — And you don’t need to say Fräulein either. FLORA: Not that, please. — I am a comrade. SCHENK: Take off your things, Flora. FLORA: Do you have a vase? I brought a couple of roses. (She gives them to him.) SCHENK (taking them out of the paper): Oh, look, mother, how pretty! FRAU SCHENK (takes the vase from the window, puts in the flowers, smells them): Oh, how glorious. And Ralf was just complaining that we have no flowers in the room for you. — Help her with her things, son. SCHENK: Oh, yes. (Tugs clumsily on the arm of Flora’s jacket.) FLORA: Go on! (Takes off and hands him jacket and cap, which he hangs on the door). SCHENK: Mother, do you have one more cup for Flora? FLORA: I already had breakfast. — Please don’t trouble yourself. FRAU SCHENK (runs into the kitchen): Oh, there’s still enough there. Just a moment. SCHENK: I’m so happy that you are here! FLORA (gives her mouth to him): My dear friend! (Kiss). FRAU SCHENK (comes in again, remains standing in the doorway, wants to go back). SCHENK: Come on in, mother. — Did you see something? FRAU SCHENK: Me? — No. — What? SCHENK: It doesn’t matter, mom. To you either, right, Flora? — I don’t have any secrets from mother. FLORA: That’s beautiful, — and rare. FRAU SCHENK: As long as he’s happy, — you have a beautiful job there, my child. (Pours her a cup.) Bread and jam, too? SCHENK (pushes his toward her): Here, eat this, — I didn’t finish it. — But mother, bring the milk for Flora. FRAU SCHENK: From your milk? SCHENK: Yes, of course. You don’t have any other? FLORA: It’s prescribed especially for you, right? — No, my dear, you drink it, but I won’t. SCHENK: I just drink a glass at noon, and if today there’s missing as much as you need to lighten your coffee then it will be three times as enjoyable. FRAU SCHENK (gets the milk from the kitchen. Meanwhile, Schenk and Flora sit silently holding hands. She returns): So, now help yourself, and excuse me. I have to pick up a few t