GEORGE
(To PORTEN) Thank you.
PORTEN
Why are you thanking me?
GEORGE
Because that would have been my job.
(Long pause. GEORGE lifts up the teapot and puts it down again.)
JANNINGS
(Upbraids him.) What do you mean by that?
GEORGE
(Pulls in his head. Pause. He takes out a piece of chocolate candy, removes the silver foil, and eats the candy. After he has consumed it, he asks PORTEN) Or did you want a piece of it? (She doesn’t replay. He stares into the paper.) Just now I read the word snowstorm, and now I can’t find it any more!
(All stare into the paper. Pause.)
VON STROHEIM
(To PORTEN) Do you have the number 23-32-322?
PORTEN
No, I have the number 233-23-22. (Brief pause.) In my neighborhood there is a shopping center with stores, restaurants, and …
VON STROHEIM
A movie house?
PORTEN
Why? (Pause.) I once attended a going-out-of-business sale …
GEORGE
And everyone screamed, ran around, and turned over the furniture?
PORTEN
No. They — Yes! They turned over the furniture, screamed, and ran around! (She looks at him happily, becomes serious again instantly. Suddenly delighted, to VON STROHEIM) 23-32-322? Yes, that is my number. (Pause. She looks at GEORGE for a long time.)
GEORGE
Why do you look at me like that?
PORTEN
I’m afraid I might not be able to recognize you again. (She was serious when she began her reply but ended it as a joke. She cuddles her head against her shoulder. Pause. GEORGE lowers his head.) Hey!
GEORGE
(Shouts at her.) What kind of a feeling do you have? (He comes to his senses and asks her again kindly) I wanted to ask you: what kind of feelings do you have?
PORTEN
Too many of them.
JANNINGS
In those days the grass smelled of dog piss before the thunderstorm.
PORTEN
Who’s saying that?
JANNINGS
I?
PORTEN
I see. (She continues at once.) As a child, if I wanted to have something, I always had to say first what it was called.
GEORGE
(Wants to say something.) And I …
VON STROHEIM
(Irritated) Yes, people showed me something and then walked away with it — (Contemplatively) And I had to follow and get it for myself.
GEORGE
(Wants to say something.) And I …
VON STROHEIM
Or people simply opened the drawer in which the thing was and went away.
GEORGE
(To VON STROHEIM) And so that I could learn to get my Way — (VON STROHEIM looks away. GEORGE turns to JANNINGS.) I was shoved toward the objects that someone had taken from me. (JANNINGS looks away and GEORGE turns to PORTEN.) I was supposed to get them back myself.
PORTEN
(Remembering) Yes! How I fidgeted then!
VON STROHEIM
(While looking away, speaks to JANNINGS, who is clearing his throat.) You were about to say something?
JANNINGS
No.
(Pause.)
GEORGE
How strange! (With this exclamation he wants to call attention to himself, but no one turns to him. Instead, PORTEN winks at JANNINGS, who thereupon puts a finger to his lips and shakes his head. VON STROHEIM then bends forward and elongates an eye with one finger. This time attention is paid to the sign: as a reply JANNINGS pulls his mouth apart with two fingers; thereupon VON STROHEIM turns up the lapel of his jacket by grasping it conspicuously with thumb and little finger, and JANNINGS nods twice. PORTEN, VON STROHEIM, and JANNINGS laugh.) Strange!
PORTEN
(Asks him almost reluctantly) What’s strange?
GEORGE
(Relieved) Suddenly I remembered a hill I had climbed with someone and the cloud shadows that appeared and vanished.
PORTEN
And what’s strange about that?
GEORGE
That I should remember it so spontaneously.
PORTEN
(Cleans her eye as if he had spit at her during his discourse. Very hostile) Put your paper there away.
GEORGE
It’s not my paper.
PORTEN
(Snaps the paper away.) And move your cup away from there. (She snaps her fingers against the cup so that it turns over.)
GEORGE
It isn’t my cup.
PORTEN
And spare me your recollections. (She instantly continues kindly to YON STROHEIM) Do you know the expression “To mention the noose in the house of the man who’s been hanged”?
(JANNINGS laughs, VON STROHEIM smiles.)
GEORGE
Why are you so hostile?
PORTEN
And why are you so pale?
GEORGE
I’m not pale!
PORTEN
And I’m not hostile! (She continues at once.) Do you know the expression “To place one’s hands on one’s head”?
GEORGE
(Looks at JANNINGS; then replies.) Certainly.
PORTEN
Why do you look at him before answering?
GEORGE
It’s a habit.
PORTEN
Put your hands on your head. (He hesitates.) Did you hear what I said?
GEORGE
(Again first looks at JANNINGS.) I’m still thinking about it.
PORTEN
But the expression exists, doesn’t it?
(GEORGE slowly places his hands on his head.)
VON STROHEIM
(Is playing along.) Put your hands on the table.
GEORGE
(Tests whether the sentence exists.) “Put your hands on the table.” (Relieved) Yes. (He puts his hands on the table.)
PORTEN
Make your hands into fists and caress me!
GEORGE
(Tests the sentence.) “Make your hands into fists and caress me!?” No!
VON STROHEIM