BERGNER
(Is glad to be able to answer so simply.) We’re talking.
ALICE
And now you don’t know how to go on?
BERGNER
Perhaps. (She falters.) Yes. Yes!
ALICE
Hello!
BERGNER
Hello!
ALICE
(To the others) Hello! (They raise their heads, perplexed. As if awakening, still half asleep, not knowing yet what they are saying, they say one after the other: “Hello!” Then they comprehend what they have said and become lively. The stage light gradually turns into early-morning light again.) What time is it?
(GEORGE nudges JANNINGS in the hip.)
JANNINGS
(As if back to sleep already) Don’t you have a watch? (He gives a start.) “How late is it?” Of course: how late is it? Well, how late is it now? You could have said so right away. (He opens his pocket watch in front of ALICE.)
ALICE
Thanks! (He shuts the watch again.)
JANNINGS
(After a pause.) Don’t mention it. (He spreads his arms wide as if he just found a solution and plays with the answer.) Don’t mention it! (To GEORGE) Ask me what time it is.
GEORGE
(Merrily) What time is it? (JANNINGS shows him the pocket watch.) Thanks!
JANNINGS
(Shuts the watch.) Don’t mention it.
GEORGE
(Merrily) Thanks!
JANNINGS
(Cheerfully) But I insist: don’t mention it!
(ALICE holds out her hand to JANNINGS. He shakes it instantly. She also holds out her hand to GEORGE and he shakes it instantly. She holds out her hand to PORTEN and PORTEN shakes it gratefully. VON STROHEIM understands too and takes her hand.
Now she takes off her gloves and everyone watches very inquisitively. She hands them to VON STROHEIM and he takes them. He now picks up the hat and tosses it playfully to GEORGE. GEORGE catches the hat and puts it on the table. VON STROHEIM adds the gloves to it. Everything is working well. BERGNER sits down, apparently relieved.)
ALICE
(To VON STROHEIM) What do you have there in your hand?
VON STROHEIM
(Opens his fist.) A necklace. Yes, a necklace!
ALICE
It’s beautiful!
A VOICE
(From the wings) It’s not beautiful.
(ELLEN KESSLER now appears from the left, also with a suitcase, dressed exactly like ALICE. She tosses VON STROHEIM her hat, then takes off her gloves and hands them to him.)
VON STROHEIM
(Puts the things on the table and asks ELLEN) So you would like to have it?
ALICE
(Replies) Yes.
(He turns to ALICE and puts the necklace around her neck. She moves voluptuously.
ELLEN begins to walk around. She walks about with the same movements as ALICE did before. Shakes hands with everyone and says: “Hello!” They answer her — at least, the first two do — after an initial pause; then they laugh at each other as over a joke. Behind her back GEORGE takes a cigar out of the box and shows it to JANNINGS; then he takes out a second one; they laugh silently; finally GEORGE shows JANNINGS a third cigar, JANNINGS becomes serious and looks to the left and right, but no one else appears.
In the meantime, ELLEN taps VON STROHEIM on the shoulder to greet him. He is talking to ALICE.)
VON STROHEIM
Why is it that I’m so sure I’ve seen you before whenever I look at you, although when I actually say it (He turns to ELLEN, since she has tapped him on the shoulder, and continues talking to her as if it were quite normal), it strikes me as the usual cliche? (ELLEN holds out her hand to him and he bends over it. She shies back, and ALICE says, “He bit me!” remaining motionless, while ELLEN performs the appropriate gestures. VON STROHEIM to ALICE) In my imagination I was about to pinch myself in the arm.
ALICE
(Motionless.) Already forgotten.
VON STROHEIM
Already forgotten?
ALICE
You always ask. Were you alone too long?
VON STROHEIM
Why?
ELLEN
Or did you work too hard?
VON STROHEIM
Why?
ALICE
Or do you pose counterquestions only to win time for your reply? Because you’re figuring out a lie? Because in the meantime you’re so washed up that you can’t answer any more without lying? I came in quietly and you all sat there looking washed up, but you looked at me as though you had been quiet until then, and I, by entering so suddenly, should actually be the one to look washed up.
VON STROHEIM
What are you talking about?
ELLEN
About you. I only wanted to show you how you talk.
(She leans against his back, shoves one leg between his. He looks down at himself. She puts her arms around his neck. ALICE waves to him with a finger. ELLEN doubles the gesture by holding her hands to his face from the back and also bending a finger. He wants to take a step forward, and lean back at the same time, but remains standing there.)
VON STROHEIM
I’ll talk as I please.
(ELLEN puts her hand over his eyes.)
ALICE
Then say something.
VON STROHEIM
(Opens his mouth and shuts it. He moves his hands as if he were looking for something that keeps eluding him. He stammers, but whenever his hand seems to seize something, he produces whole syllables: “be, what, un, re”; then he reaches for it and it escapes him again, and he goes on stammering. ELLEN takes her hands away from his eyes and he calms down instantly.) I can’t; it’s like reaching for a piece of soap under water.
ALICE
What?
VON STROHEIM
Already forgotten. When you covered my eyes, I had it perfectly clear in front of me, but now I have forgotten it. (He falters.) “Already forgotten!” That was it! You said, “Already forgotten!” and I remembered something, but what? It escaped me again and again, and I had a feeling like searching for a piece of soap under water — (He makes a perfunctory gesture, suddenly sniffs his fingers, repeats the gesture. Pause.)
ELLEN