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CHARACTERS DOCTOR HANS ANTON STRAUSS, a prominent Viennese attorney
DOCTOR GOTTLIEB RABBI BENJAMIN PORETZ SERGEANT WEICHSELBRAUN DOV
TARNOPOLSKI A GUARD THE LIEUTENANT
Cell 84, the Vienna City Jail, on a Monday in 1942. There are three occupants of the cell. The cell is overcrowded. The occupants are Jews. Dr. Hans Anton Strauss, a prominent Viennese attorney who specialized in Criminal cases until the Anschluss, is playing chess with the Chief Rabbi of Salonika with improvised chessmen. Dr. Gottlieb, a Jew from Zagreb, is trying to write in a dirty notebook. He is paying no attention to the players. The players, however, take a great interest in their game, for the Rabbi and the lawyer are natural antagonists, and delight in beating each other by hook or by crook.
Strauss (gleefully)
Check, my dear Rabbi.
Rabbi (after a moment, triumphantly)
Checkmate, Dr. Strauss.
Strauss
Bah, you tricked me.
Rabbi
Serves you right, freethinker.
Strauss
Reactionary.
Rabbi
Godless turncoat.
Strauss
I keep telling you I am not Jewish, I'm a Catholic.
Rabbi
Tell that to the Nazis.
Strauss
I do, I do; they don't believe me.
Rabbi
So, why should I? Lie to them if you like.
Strauss
Look here, I'm not lying. My great grandfather was Jewish, it's
true, but the family has been Catholic since 1798, and I have baptismal
certificates to prove it.
Rabbi
Forgeries. Some of your clients provided you with those
certificates.
Strauss
I only defend bank robbers and businessmen.
Rabbi
Another game, councilor?
Strauss
This time I'm going to beat you.
Rabbi
Just be careful not to move the pieces when I'm not looking, if you
please.
Strauss
You wait and see.
(The cell door is suddenly pushed open by Sgt. Weichselbraun, who looks a bit like Hitler. Weichselbraun is accompanied by a new prisoner, Dov Tarnopolski, who wears a long black coat and is extremely tall. The prisoners jump to attention.)
Weichselbraun
A new companion for you, straight from Poland.
Rabbi
This is incomprehensible—surely you don't mean to put him here?
Strauss
The cell is already overcrowded. This is inhumane treatment, and—
Gottlieb
We can't possibly fit a fourth man in here.
Weichselbraun
You'll just have to sleep on top of each other like rats.
(Weichselbraun thinks this remark is highly witty and laughs appreciatively.)
Tarnopolski
My name is Dov Tarnopolski.
WEICHSELBRAUN (going out)
Correction. You are prisoner number 434—and you're a piece of
shit; like all Jews.
(Weichselbraun leaves, slamming the door behind him.)
Tarnopolski
I am Tarnopolski, Dov Tarnopolski.
Gottlieb
Hinko Gottlieb from Zagreb. Writer.
Rabbi
A free thinker and atheist. I am Benjamin Poretz, from Salonika.
Strauss
A real reactionary, too. I'm Dr. Felix Strauss, a criminal lawyer
before the war.
Rabbi
And a worse freethinker than Gottlieb, if that's possible. He
pretends he's not a Jew. Are you a Jew, Tarnopolski?
Tarnopolski
Of course. Cigarettes?
(Tarnopolski hands out several cigarettes.)
Strauss
Impossible. They take them away from the prisoners.
Tarnopolski
Help yourselves.
(Tarnopolski now produces three packs and distributes them, to the astonishment of the others.)
Tarnopolski
What's the name of the son of a bitch who brought me here?
Strauss
Shh! Be quiet, for God's sake. Someone might be listening.
Tarnopolski (yelling)
FUCK HIM!
(Dr. Strauss goes into a corner and cringes, mumbling something.)
Strauss
This is unheard of, unheard of.
Rabbi (after a pause)
We are being inhospitable. Will you have some food?
(The Rabbi displays some soup.)
Tarnopolski
No, no. I couldn't possibly eat that!
(Tarnopolski disdainfully turns away, then produces a big piece of French bread and some salami and starts eating.
Gottlieb
He's got—food.
Rabbi
Real food.
Tarnopolski
Have some, I've got plenty more.
Strauss
They never let prisoners bring food into the cells.
Gottlieb
Eat, Dr. Strauss, eat. We'll explain the mystery later.
Tarnopolski (casually)
Want some cake—or maybe some strudel?
Gottlieb
Cake? I haven't seen cake since 1939!
Strauss
Strudel! Strudel!
(Tarnopolski produces some cake and strudel which he passes out.)
Rabbi
All right, so far. Is there anything more? No black coffee?
Tarnopolski
No, I haven't any coffee—but I can offer you some good coffee
liqueur.
(Tarnopolski produces a bottle of liqueur and four little glasses.)
Strauss
Stop! Now, I know these are delusions.
Tarnopolski (shaking his head)
I can't do tricks like a fakir. Have a drink and convince
yourselves.
Strauss
That's rich! As if you didn't know we are incapable of doing
so—the way you have influenced our senses. Our senses fool us. They
send false reports to our brains. How are we to control them? But, if
someone had taken a motion picture of us—it would have been obvious
that we're eating newspapers, not cake and strudel.
Tarnopolski
I haven't any movie camera. But, tell me, did you enjoy the
strudel?
Strauss
Delicious! Absolutely delicious delusions.
Rabbi
Never had a better cake.
Gottlieb
The best Viennese cake I've ever tasted.
Tarnopolski
Then, you enjoyed it? What more do you want? Suppose it is pure
Viennese tap water I offer you? What keeps you from drinking it?
(Tarnopolski drinks some liqueur.)
Strauss (timidly, closing his eyes, tasting his drink)
It goes down just like liqueur.
(The others also drink.)
Tarnopolski
What do you think of the bouquet? Grand, isn't it? And the color?
(Tarnopolski holds the bottle up to the light.)
Gottlieb
Heavenly.
(They all refill their glasses and drink again. “Prost! Cheers! Bottoms up! They begin to sing, timidly at first, then drunkenly, as they gain in self confidence. Suddenly Weichselbraun yanks open the door.)
Weichselbraun
What the hell is going on here?
Strauss (drunken and friendly)
Hallo there, Weichselbraun, friend of my youth—
Weichselbraun
Hands off—
Rabbi (stepping up)
Field Marshal Poretz, hic—
Weichselbraun
Well, look at that. The Jews are soused. (glaring at the liqueur
bottle) Who brought you this liqueur?
(Weichselbraun glares all around and finally looks suspiciously at Tarnopolski. Tarnopolski remains defiantly seated and unmoved by Weichselbraun's rage.)
Strauss
That's not liqueur, Weichselbraun, it's suggestion.
Weichselbraun (puzzled)
What?
Strauss
Yes, suggestion! Haven't you ever heard of it? Suh gez shun! Not
surprising you've never heard of it—you're fearfully ignorant.
Weichselbraun
Achtung!
Strauss (confidentially)
Don't be an ass, Weichselbraun. Try and understand. Hocus-pocus,
and so on. Why do you say liqueur? Get a movie camera and you'll see.
We've eaten a lot of bunk—but no cake. No cake, Weichselbraun. No
cake.
Weichselbraun
Cake! Very soon I'll make you eat shit!
Strauss (hurt)
Why are you always so cross with me? Don't you think I notice it?
Come here and kiss me, Weichselbraun.
Weichselbraun
Kiss you! Kiss my arse! Is this your kind of a joke? Who brought
you the drinks?
Tarnopolski (easily)
No one. I had them with me.
Weichselbraun
Ach, so. So, you brought them with you. And Weichselbraun who
searched you, when you were brought in, didn't notice anything, eh?
Weichselbraun is a blind fool who doesn't know his job, eh?
(hysterically) Is this some dirty Jewish plot to get me in trouble? You
BASTARDS! Me, Weichselbraun, who has searched thousands of
prisoners—just overlooked a liqueur bottle and four glasses?
Tarnopolski (calmly)
Six as a matter of fact.
(Tarnopolski puts two more glasses on the table.)
Weichselbraun
What! What else do you have in your pockets?
Tarnopolski
Nothing, as you see.
(Weichselbraun frisks him again and turns out his pockets.)
Weichselbraun
Of course, they're empty. This is a plot. (goes to the Rabbi)
Poretz, you're a Rabbi, so you shouldn't lie even if you are a Jew. Who
brought you the drinks?
Rabbi (helplessly)
I, I—
Weichselbraun
All right, I see that you are lying, too. But, you're wrong if you
think you can fool me. (working himself up) Who gave you that liqueur?
(silence) You don't want to talk? You want to try me to the limit? Very
well. You'll get your way, my dear Jews. You'll have your miracles.
Just wait.
(Weichselbraun sweeps up everything on the table and starts carrying it out.)
Tarnopolski
Leave the matches. How do you want us to light our cigarettes?
Weichselbraun (menacingly)
What cigarettes?
(Tarnopolski holds out his hand with cigarettes in it. When Weichselbraun reaches for them, Tarnopolski closes his palm. After considerable effort Weichselbraun forces Tarnopolski's fist open. The cigarettes are gone. Weichselbraun is amazed and Tarnopolski is ironic.)
Strauss
You see. Hocus pocus.
Weichselbraun
You wait—you'll see.
(Weichselbraun stares at Tarnopolski, then turns on his heel and rushes out.)
Tarnopolski
Well, now that that fool is gone, we'd better get some matches.
Strauss
Matches!
Tarnopolski
I've got plenty of cigarettes for everybody, but we'll need
matches.
Rabbi
But, that is impossible, we saw him search you.
Tarnopolski
Let's see if we can get the guard's attention. (at the door) Hey,
open up!
(Tarnopolski pulls out more cigarettes and distributes them.)
Guard (thundering)
Silence!
Tarnopolski (politely)
Do you have any matches? Weichselbraun confiscated ours, now we
can't light our cigarettes.
Guard
You fellows really have cigarettes?
Tarnopolski (offering some)
Here.
Guard
Thanks, but I only smoke cigars.
Tarnopolski
What do you say to some Havanas?
Guard
I love them. But they haven't been seen here in a long time.
Tarnopolski (pulling out a box)
Help yourself.
Guard
Thank you, very much. Here are some matches. I'll bring some more
tomorrow. Have you ever been to Mistelbach?
Tarnopolski
No. Never heard of the place. I'm from Poland.
Guard
I'm from Mistelbach—and that's why I'm a little nervous about this
transaction.
Strauss
You, a member of the master race, afraid?
Guard
Mistelbach is not far from Vienna. Some years ago, before I was
born, a magician came to our town. He gave a performance in the town
hall. At midnight, after the magician had performed many devilish
tricks— suddenly from all sides, water started pouring into the hall.
The ladies had to pull up their skirts. What a show! But, then the
water suddenly disappeared, and the magician was gone. So was the
mayor's silver watch and chain. Now, what do you think? Won't I get a
piece of hot iron in my hands if I take one of your cigars?
Tarnopolski
Don't be afraid. I'd give you the whole box, but Weichselbraun
would give you trouble if he saw you with it.
Guard
All right, I'll trust you. Now, excuse me, there's something I have
to do. ALL RIGHT, YOU DAMN JEWS, GET BACK IN YOUR CELL AND DON'T RAISE
ANYMORE RUCKUS OR I'LL BEAT YOU ALL TO A PULP. That should make
Weichselbraun happy. (goes out)
Strauss
That guard is not a bad sort. He never abuses us, except for the
record.
Gottlieb
What will the poor idiot think when he searches his pocket for your
cigar and doesn't find it?
Tarnopolski
Why shouldn't he find it? I've already told you that I'm not a
magician.
Gottlieb
You underestimate me. You can confuse my senses—but you have no
power over my mind.
Tarnopolski
You're talking nonsense, Gottlieb. How can you separate your mind
from your senses? But, let that go—
Strauss
The man says he's not a magician, what does he take us for?
Gottlieb
Neither was Merlin, nor Simon Magus.
Tarnopolski
What do you know about the theory of relativity.
Gottlieb
A Jew named Einstein invented it—otherwise, it's all Greek to me.
Strauss
What has the theory of relativity got to do with your illusions?
Tarnopolski
They are not illusions.
Strauss
Forget you're on stage, Tarnopolski, and tell us how you do it.
Tarnopolski
They are not illusions.
Rabbi
Perhaps, they are miracles.
Strauss
And Tarnopolski is the Messiah.
Tarnopolski
They are not miracles.
Gottlieb
But you are the Messiah, eh?
Strauss
Stop playing games with us, please. Have fun with Weichselbraun if
you like, but be honest with us.
Tarnopolski (somewhat annoyed)
I am not playing games. I cannot perform magical tricks. But, I
can, without certain limits, make things smaller or larger. Smaller or
larger in relation to other things.
Gottlieb
Aha! You've invented a hydraulic press that reduces bottles and
cigars to a hundredth of their former size. Is that it?
Tarnopolski
No, not quite that. No pressure is involved. But, it is true that I
can make a reduction in a certain system of things.
Strauss
In other words, you have discovered a process whereby you can
reduce our earth to the size of an apple. A fine thing to do!
Tarnopolski
My power does not go so far. The earth is enclosed in its cosmic
system and I cannot change that. All I can do—
Gottlieb
Ah, now I have it. You took your cigars out of your cosmic system.
That's what you wanted to say, isn't it?
Tarnopolski
I see that I shall have an easy time making myself clear to you.
You have more knowledge than I anticipated. You understand quickly and
correctly.
Strauss
Hocus pocus. Hocus pocus. You'll get us all killed. How could you
be so irresponsible as to just stand there with that cigarette in your
mouth? What will Weichselbraun think of us, especially of you?
Tarnopolski (maliciously)
Of me? Why should Weichselbraun get a bad impression of me?
Strauss
Don't you realize the seriousness of our situation?
Tarnopolski
Have no concern on my account. Weichselbraun saw you, not me, with
a cigarette in your mouth. Just a little hocus pocus, you understand.
Strauss
This is an unbearable impersonation. I shall enlighten
Weichselbraun.
Tarnopolski
Try it, by all means. But you won't meet with success. It will
sound to Weichselbraun as if you were swearing your head off at him.
Hocus pocus again, you understand?
(Strauss goes off in a corner and fumes. Tarnopolski produces a gigantic salami and offers some to Gottlieb, who, despite his astonishment, takes a huge piece. The Rabbi declines.)
Rabbi
Thank you, but I can't.
Strauss
I don't understand you, Rabbi. I can't make out your point of view.
Rabbi
It's not kosher. That's my point of view.
Strauss
I understand refusing the prison meat, I myself am a pious
Catholic. (the others laugh) I respect another man's religious
conviction. I fast on Good Friday. But, in the kind of reality we're
living in now, your ritualistic food laws cannot apply.
Rabbi
And, why is that?
Strauss
Because, just as you could dream of eating ham and eggs without
sinning, surely you can take this imaginary salami without committing a
sin.
Rabbi
You talk like a lawyer—but you forget that religious laws are not
like laws in your sense of the term.
Strauss
I dispute that.
Rabbi
You dispute everything. In your courts, you judge actions which are
against the law, and where there is no evidence there is no guilt!
Strauss
What's wrong with that?
Rabbi
But, in the realm of religious laws, no importance is attached to
evidence. I can eat meat ten times a day and not commit a sin if I
don't know I am eating meat and the ignorance is not my fault.
Strauss
A nice legalistic distinction.
Rabbi (triumphantly)
But, I commit sin even when I eat kosher if I suspect that it is
not.
Tarnopolski
I'm sorry I don't have kosher salami. But, if you insist on eating
kosher, then prepare your own food.
(Tarnopolski produces a live chicken and hands it to the Rabbi who stares in astonishment.)
Gottlieb
The man has supernatural powers!
Rabbi
A miracle.
Gottlieb
That's what I mean.
Strauss (still the sceptic)
Suggestion—mere suggestion.
Gottlieb
Nonsense.
Tarnopolski
Please, gentlemen, I am a scientist, not a miracle worker.
Strauss
Scientist! He's a veritable Paracelsus!
Tarnopolski
Certainly. Dov Tarnopolski at your service. Fellow of the Polish
Academy, a correspondent and disciple of Einstein.
Strauss
What in the name of God have your illusions to do with Einstein?
Tarnopolski
Relativity. You see, we know so very little about space. You cannot
help it. Man's power of imagination is limited. We think of space as
sort of an empty container which we can fill up.
Gottlieb
And I think so, too.
Tarnopolski
It is now possible to say that space is matter without mass.
Gottlieb
So?
Tarnopolski
On the basis of this knowledge—
(Weichselbraun enters with the Guard.)
Weichselbraun
Achtung, Juden!
(They all freeze except Tarnopolski.)
Weichselbraun
Tarnopolski!
Tarnopolski
What is it?
Weichselbraun
Who brought you the bottle?
Tarnopolski
Listen, Weichselbraun, you are getting on my nerves with your
questioning. Even if I were to tell you how the bottle got here, you
are much too stupid to understand. You're behaving like a jackass, and
you haven't any manners, either. You haven't even so much as wished us
a good day. Make sure you don't omit that next time. Do you understand?
Now, you may go. Hurry, because your face makes me sick.
Strauss (rushing up)
Do you recognize me, Weichselbraun? My name is Strauss. Look at me
carefully.
Weichselbraun
What the devil do you want?
Strauss
Look at me carefully. This is I, I, personally. That one over there
only seems to you to be Dr. Strauss, but he is Tarnopolski. Don't
believe a word he says.
Weichselbraun
Have you gone crazy? What do you want?
Strauss (agitated)
I am Dr. Hans Anton Strauss, criminal lawyer. I have handled over
seven thousand cases before the courts of this city before the
Anschluss. I can produce numerous witnesses to attest to my identity.
If you doubt me, ask the Rabbi, or Gottlieb. But, that one over there
is Dov Tarnopolski. Don't let him put one over on you, Weichselbraun!
Weichselbraun
They've gone mad. (to the guard) Take these three outside.
(pointing to Tarnopolski, the Rabbi, and Strauss)
Guard (pointing his weapon)
Kommt!
(The three go out with the Guard.)
Weichselbraun
There, that's better. Now, you—you've always been a reasonable
man, perhaps you will be reasonable now. I've always treated you well,
haven't I?
(Gottlieb remains silent.)
Weichselbraun (irritated by the silence)
You make no complaint, do you?
Gottlieb
No. No complaint.
Weichselbraun
Gut. Who brought you the drinks? (silence) Who brought you the
drinks?
Gottlieb
Tarnopolski admitted that he brought it. I really don't know more
than that.
Weichselbraun (getting nasty)
So, you don't know more than that! And he brought this bottle along
in his pocket, did he?
Gottlieb
That's right, he pulled it out of his coat pocket.
Weichselbraun
Well, that's just what I wanted to hear. Put the bottle into your
pocket. (he gives the bottle to Gottlieb) Why do you look at me so
stupidly? Into your pocket, I said.
Gottlieb (trying unsuccessfully)
It doesn't fit.
Weichselbraun
Well, what a surprise! Now, tell me, where did you get the liqueur?
Did Kurz bring it?
Gottlieb
No. Kurz didn't bring anything except aspirin for Dr. Strauss.
Weichselbraun
It had to be Kurz. Nobody else could have brought it into the cell.
Confess!
Gottlieb
It wasn't Kurz. Just watch Tarnopolski.
Weichselbraun
Why should I ask that liar? So! You don't want to confess? You
don't want to!
Gottlieb
Tarnopolski will explain it all. He knows all kinds of magic
tricks— it's got something to do with relativity and Einstein.
Weichselbraun
Who's Einstein? Look, Jew, don't trifle with me. If it wasn't Kurz,
it must have been Knoll.
Gottlieb
No. Knoll didn't bring us anything. Why don't you ask Tarnopolski?
Weichselbraun (in a sadistic rage)
You don't want to talk, you don't want to talk. I'll teach you to
talk.
(Weichselbraun lashes Gottlieb in a fury of impotent rage.)
BLACKOUT
When the lights go up, all the prisoners are back in the cell.
Tarnopolski
Let me have a look at your arm.
Gottlieb
It's nothing.
Tarnopolski
Why didn't you tell me about this immediately?
Gottlieb
Let it go. It's all over.
Tarnopolski
You should have told me.
Strauss
What I hate about this place is that you can never get any news.
I'd pay twenty marks just to be able to listen to London.
Tarnopolski
How much?
Strauss (cagily)
Ten marks.
Tarnopolski
Give me ten marks and you shall listen to London.
Strauss
The money is here.
Tarnopolski
Voila!
(Tarnopolski displays a radio. The cord seems to end in his pocket.)
Strauss
Another one of your illusions.
Radio
German motorized divisions suffered heavy losses between Smolensk
and Warsaw.
(The prisoners all huddle around the radio.)
Radio
Sixteen German submarines were sunk this month.
Prisoners
Hurrah!
Rabbi
It's amazing.
Strauss (frightened)
Someone is listening at the door.
Radio
Hitler is wrong if he thinks he can break the resistance of the
democratic freedom-loving peoples. His present success may well fool
the Germans—
(Weichselbraun appears.)
Weichselbraun
But, what is this?
Tarnopolski
A radio, Weichselbraun. Listen, you haven't heard anything like it
in years. Sit down and enjoy yourself.
Radio
—but Hitler, that criminal, and all his evil followers will not
escape the punishment they deserve. Churchill has said—
Weichselbraun
This is— Do you know that this is? You'll be brought to court for
this. Stop or I'll shoot. Stop, I say.
(Weichselbraun brandishes his Luger.)
Tarnopolski
Don't get excited, Weichselbraun. You don't have to tremble for
your beloved leader. Listen, now comes the best part.
Weichselbraun
Listen! I'll get the Lieutenant and let him handle this nest of
subversives.
(Weichselbraun goes out. Tarnopolski turns off the radio.)
Strauss
I congratulate you, Tarnopolski. Now you've really got us into
something. Three days ago I read in the paper about a janitor who was
condemned to death for listening to enemy broadcasts.
Tarnopolski
How could I know that? I'm a stranger here. And besides, it was you
who ordered the radio. You're the intellectual originator, and you
alone bear the responsibility. You will be shot, Hans Anton. It's a
pity you were baptized, we won't be able to come to your funeral.
Strauss
Don't crack jokes. I insist you get rid of the corpus delicti
instantly.
Rabbi
I think it would be advisable.
Gottlieb
Dr. Strauss is right.
Tarnopolski
All right, I'll do this favor for you. But on one condition. Turn
around and cover your eyes.
Strauss
This is ridiculous.
Rabbi
We are not schoolchildren.
Tarnopolski
I insist.
Strauss
Very well.
(The other prisoners turn around and cover their eyes.)
Tarnopolski
No cheating, please, Dr. Strauss.
Rabbi
Say when.
(There is a sudden, short blackout. Suddenly we hear the sound of Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody on a piano. As the lights go up, we see Tarnopolski seated on a stool playing at a piano that wasn't there before. The Lieutenant and Weichselbraun enter.)
Lieutenant
Weichselbraun, I always knew you were stupid, but even you should
be able to tell the difference between a radio and a piano.
Weichselbraun
I don't understand this, sir. When I saw it, it was small. And it
didn't play, it talked.
Lieutenant
Hmmm! I well believe you are incapable of understanding this. But,
these Jews cannot fool a German officer. Not me. You know what this is?
A hoax. A very ordinary, very cheap, Jewish hoax.
Weichselbraun
Yes sir. A cheap hoax, as the lieutenant says, sir.
Lieutenant
It's done with springs and buttons.
Weichselbraun
Springs and buttons.
Lieutenant
Press one spring, a radio. Press again, a piano. Do you understand
me now, Weichselbraun?
Weichselbraun
Yes, sir.
Lieutenant
You have only to find the spring.
(Tarnopolski has been playing throughout this conversation and continues to play as the Lieutenant fumbles around for the button.)
Lieutenant
Now, where is it? Patience, Weichselbraun.
Weichselbraun
Patience, sir.
Lieutenant (crawling under the piano)
A little patience and I will find the button.
(The Guard comes to the door.)
Guard
Herr Lieutenant, you have an important telephone call.
Lieutenant (irritated)
Who is it? I'm busy.
Guard
Berlin, sir.
Lieutenant (scrambling to his feet and hitting his head on the
piano)
Heil, Hitler. (rushing out) Come, Weichselbraun. We'll attend to
this later.
(Tarnopolski plays a final flourish and slams the piano like a professional concert pianist as Weichselbraun follows the Lieutenant out.)
Rabbi
What will we do when they come back?
Tarnopolski
I have another surprise for them.
Strauss
Enough of your surprises. Your surprises are going to get us all
killed.
Tarnopolski
That's what they mean to do to us anyway, is it not?
Strauss
That is not entirely certain. With proper behaviour, it may be
possible to appeal to their moral sentiments, and they will have no
excuse—
Gottlieb
They need no excuse.
Strauss
They are not totally uncivilized. We will draft an appeal to the
highest authorities protesting—
Rabbi
To Hitler, perhaps? A fine idea.
Gottlieb
Perhaps, you will finish your explanation of how you do this.
Tarnopolski
Just what kind of explanation are you talking about?
Gottlieb
Tarnopolski doesn't merely know how to pull pianos out of his
pocket; he has a scientific explanation of how it is done.
Rabbi
Theories! Theories! The hungry infant yells for the breast and a
nurse puts a rubber nipple in his mouth. Man is hungry for
enlightenment and the scholar feeds him theories!
Tarnopolski
I'm not a scholar. There's no substitute for enlightenment. A
theory is just a mirror. We control observations through observations,
experience through experience, and theories through theories. Man
cannot find his way out of such a circle.
Rabbi
Very good! Now, you have reached the point where I wanted you. Your
overbearing agnosticism doesn't help you out of it.
Tarnopolski
What makes you think I want to get out of it? I am a tourist.
Satisfaction lies in the voyage itself.
Rabbi
Only vagabonds and thieves travel without destination.
Tarnopolski
Is this, in your opinion, a natural or a moral maxim? I'm too weak
a partner to be able to discuss moral laws with you.
Rabbi
I do not accept this distinction. Moral and natural laws have the
same origin.
Tarnopolski
What moral laws? I know several.
Rabbi
I know only one.
Tarnopolski
The Dalai Lama in Tibet says the same thing—so does Hitler. In
five thousand years all moral laws have undergone changes.
Rabbi
That is emphatically not true.
Strauss
I suggest this interesting discussion be postponed. I hear them
coming.
Tarnopolski
Gentlemen, if you will turn your backs again.
(The others turn away. There is a quick blackout and when the lights go up the piano is gone. The Lieutenant and Weichselbraun enter.)
Weichselbraun
My wife had a table you could pull out.
Lieutenant
That is something entirely different. A piano is not a table you
can pull out.
Weichselbraun (flabbergasted)
It's gone!
Lieutenant
It's clear. They have pushed it in and put it away. We'll find it
in a minute.
(The Lieutenant begins peeping here and there, gets down on his hands and knees, but soon becomes frustrated. Weichselbraun, in spite of himself, is amused by the absurdity of his superior.)
Lieutenant (noticing Weichselbraun)
What makes you grin, Sergeant? (yelling at Strauss) Watch out, or
I'll smash in your ugly snout! (pause, titters) Which one of you is
Tarnopolski?
Tarnopolski (coolly)
I am.
Lieutenant
Where have you put the piano?
Tarnopolski
Have you seen a piano here? I don't know anything about it.
Lieutenant
Don't act up, Jew. I'm asking you officially—where is the piano?
Tarnopolski (with studied insolence)
My dear Lieutenant, you're making a mistake. It must have seemed
that you saw it. Do you often have such illusions?
Lieutenant (hysterically)
Give me the piano, immediately, do you hear? Immediately!
Strauss (terrified)
Give it to him.
Lieutenant
Do you understand what I am telling you? I want the piano! Where
have you hidden the piano? Give me that piano! Where is it? Talk!
(jumping up and down) Give me the piano! I've seen it, it must be here!
Do you hear? Give it here. I want that piano.
(Slowly Tarnopolski removes a tiny piano from his pocket and hands it to the Lieutenant who stares at it, stupefied. Then he fumbles with it.)
Lieutenant
Where is the button? Uh, you swine. Do you make fun of a German
officer? You will see. Just you wait.
(The Lieutenant exits in a tearful fury followed by Weichselbraun.)
Strauss
What will happen now? Tarnopolski, don't you have any sense of what
you are doing?
Rabbi
He's right. If you wish to play ducks and drakes with your own
life, so be it. But, we prefer to live a bit longer.
Gottlieb
I still would like to know how he did it.
Tarnopolski (displaying a small object)
Gentlemen, my pocket condenser.
Strauss
Listen, Tarnopolski—with your apparatus you could—
Tarnopolski
Certainly, I could.
Rabbi
What good would that do us? We're on the third floor.
Tarnopolski
That would make no difference to me! If I wanted to escape, I could
get out through the keyhole and take you along with me.
Strauss (enthusiastically)
Let's go!
Tarnopolski (with a sweeping gesture)
I haven't come to this prison just to get a few Jews whom I don't
know out of it.
Rabbi
Then, you won't do it?
Tarnopolski
It's possible that I will do this favor for you—if I'm in the
mood. But, it's just as possible that I won't.
Gottlieb
Your cavalier attitude is outrageous. You will not exercise your
power to assist innocent people in the utmost distress—unless you are
in the mood.
Tarnopolski
The three of you apparently think that I will turn my good thousand
dollar bill into small change to give away to beggars penny by penny.
Has it ever occurred to you that I have the key in my pocket that opens
the gates to all the prisons in the world?
Gottlieb
No, it had not occurred to us, but if that is the case—if there's
more to you than mere vaudeville, why—
Rabbi
And you? Has it occurred to you, that you, with this key in your
pocket are just as much responsible for our imprisonment as
Weichselbraun and Hitler if you refuse to help us.
Tarnopolski (complacently)
Of course, I have thought about it.
Rabbi
And, what do you say to it?
Tarnopolski
For the moment, nothing.
Strauss (turning around and walking to his corner in a fury)
Nothing! Nothing!
Tarnopolski
Let me show you something else. Do you know anything about
acceleration?
Gottlieb
Acceleration?
Tarnopolski
The smallest object accelerated to a certain intensity acquires
enormous energy.
Gottlieb
So?
(Tarnopolski takes off his shoe and throws it to the floor. There is a loud explosion. A siren suddenly goes off.)
Guard's voice
That was a bomb.
Strauss (coming out of his corner)
Look. There's a big hole in the floor.
(Enter Weichselbraun and the Lieutenant.)
Weichselbraun
What happened here? Tarnopolski, what is this hole?
Gottlieb
We don't know ourselves. Suddenly, there was a crash and then this
hole.
Weichselbraun
Shut up! (to Tarnopolski) You are being asked. Stand at attention!
(kicking Tarnopolski)
Tarnopolski
You can see for yourself. Just a hole. But, I want to show you
something else. (pulling Gottlieb over and exposing his arm) Do you see
this, Weichselbraun? Why did you torture this man, Weichselbraun? I
want to know why you beat a defenseless man?
(Weichselbraun looks puzzled at first, then hits Tarnopolski a tremendous blow in the face.)
Weichselbraun
So! Now you know.
Tarnopolski (getting up and wiping away some blood)
Of course, now I know.
Lieutenant
Did it stink of sulphur in here?
Strauss
It stinks of carbolic acid and—
Weichselbraun
But, who threw the bomb?
Lieutenant
Who else but the English?
Weichselbraun
We have no reports of the English over Vienna tonight.
Lieutenant (wisely)
You can't know about it if they're flying in the stratosphere.
Weichselbraun
Nonsense!
Lieutenant (icily)
Pardon me? What did you say?
Weichselbraun (standing his ground)
That is nonsense, I said. How can a bomb get through a window pane
without breaking it?
Lieutenant
Ah, I see, the windowpane. That is, of course, an argument. The
windows were of course, unhooked and let down. You should occasionally
inspect the cells at night, Weichselbraun.
Weichselbraun
Maybe the windows were let down, but (brightly) there is the matter
of the bars.
Lieutenant
Right, the bars. But, you will admit that a bomb could squeeze
through them?
Weichselbraun
If it isn't too big.
Lieutenant
It wasn't. That you can see for yourself.
Weichselbraun
And the English threw it horizontally through the bars from the
plane?
Lieutenant
Not exactly horizontally, but in an extended parabola. (cagily) You
know, of course, what a parabola is, Weichselbraun?
Weichselbraun
A parabola?
Lieutenant
A parabola, little Weichselbraun.
Weichselbraun
No. I'm not curious. I know what I know. The parabola is a fraud.
Lieutenant
How dare you say that to me, Weichselbraun?
Weichselbraun
All right, in a parabola. But, please, the bomb comes flying
horizontally through the window into the cell—and crashes vertically
to the floor. I don't know. I only ask how this can be?
Lieutenant
That, of course, I am asking myself, too. There's only one answer
for it—the bomb brushed against the bars in passing through.
Weichselbraun
But, the bomb would have exploded.
Lieutenant
If it didn't fail. It was probably a time bomb. The English throw
bombs like that.
Weichselbraun
I think the Jews had a hand in it.
Lieutenant
All right, all right, Weichselbraun. We know this song of yours
already.
Weichselbraun
This is not a song, you wait and see.
(The Lieutenant and Weichselbraun go out.)
Tarnopolski
I am sorry you don't like my food, Rabbi. But, if you would like to
visit me at home, I'm sure we could find something to eat there.
Rabbi
When does the next train leave for Poland?
Tarnopolski
Who's talking about Poland? My house is here. Like a snail, I carry
it with me, except it's in my pocket, not on my back.
(Tarnopolski produces a small house and puts it on the table.)
Strauss (impressed)
We didn't know you had a house.
Tarnopolski
Didn't I tell you that? I must have forgotten. It's not actually my
house, if belongs to a friend of mine.
Rabbi
But, how are we going to get in there?
Tarnopolski
You'll see.
(Weichselbraun returns.)
Weichselbraun
Tarnopolski, take all your things and follow me.
Tarnopolski
Where are you taking me?
Weichselbraun
You'll find out.
Tarnopolski
And my shoes? I have no others, and these slippers aren't mine.
Weichselbraun
I don't give a damn about your shoes. Whoever has taken them away
from you can give them back. Are you ready? Forward, march.
Tarnopolski
I can't go without my shoes.
Weichselbraun
Why not?
Tarnopolski
I'm not used to walking around in my bare feet. I might catch cold.
Weichselbraun
You aren't going? You aren't going, you say?
Tarnopolski
I said, I cannot go without my shoes.
Weichselbraun
I'm warning you, Tarnopolski. We know how to handle malcontents
like you.
Strauss
You'd better go. Resistance is useless.
Tarnopolski
Without my shoes, not another step!
(Weichselbraun turns on his heel and walks out.)
Strauss
This was unnecessary.
Rabbi
You are not bringing danger only to yourself, but to us, too!
Tarnopolski
What, in your opinion, will happen now?
Gottlieb
Nothing special. You don't have to be afraid. A little squad of SS
will come to pay us a visit. A very little squad. No more than ten men.
They will knock gently at the door and gently and politely ask you if
they can come in. If you're busy at the moment, they're accustomed to
waiting. You have no idea how polite, civil, and kindly they are.
Tarnopolski
Then, I don't have to make any preparations for my defense?
Strauss
Not in the least. Absolutely not. It happened twice that down on
the first floor the SS fired a volley into a cell and a prisoner was
killed. Two others seriously wounded. Friendly misunderstanding.
(A sound of clanking feet comes down the corridor and stops in front of the cell door.)
Weichselbraun (from outside)
Load!
(All the prisoners except Tarnopolski dive for cover. Suddenly Tarnopolski produces a heavy antiaircraft cannon aimed straight at the door.)
Tarnopolski
Fire.
Weichselbraun (as he opens the door)
What the—
(A tremendous flash and explosion. Silence.)
Tarnopolski
Nobody will disturb us anymore tonight, gentlemen. Come, supper is
waiting.
(The others slowly get up and stare as the curtain falls.)
CURTAIN
When the lights go up, we are in the library of a large European Villa. Tarnopolski is leading in his three guests. The library is in some disorder.
Tarnopolski
You don't have to be afraid. We are now entering the area of
concentrated space. You must excuse all this. Some German soldiers
lived here for three days. Before that it looked much friendlier, you
may be sure.
Strauss
Where exactly was this place?
Tarnopolski
This villa was in a Polish village less than twelve miles from
Warsaw.
Rabbi
What happened?
Tarnopolski
A very famous architect used to live here with his two daughters.
Gottlieb
It's quite a place.
Tarnopolski
I was invited to stay here before the war broke out. The main part
of my work was finished at that time. I set up my laboratory in the
cellar. The architect was the only person who knew about my research.
It was amazing, the Germans left us alone for the longest time. One
day, I went to buy some material in a nearby town and when I returned
German soldiers were in the house.
Rabbi
What about the architect and his daughters?
Tarnopolski
Gone! Vanished. They'd been taken away before I could find out
where or by whom. My questions made the soldiers suspicious. I was
brought before their Lieutenant who was a young boy, no more than
eighteen. When he found out I was a Jew he ordered me shot.
Gottlieb
Ah, Germans.
Tarnopolski
He was such a nice-looking boy, too. Well, they picked on the wrong
Jew. I used my condenser and shrank them to the size of toy soldiers,
and I kicked them out of the house.
Strauss
But, why did you shrink the house?
Tarnopolski
Because it was dear to me. Besides, if the Germans had come back,
who knows what they would have done to it?
Rabbi
But, what about the owner and his daughters?
Tarnopolski
I could get no definite information. Several signs pointed to the
fact that my friends had been taken to Vienna. That was the reason that
I came here.
Strauss
And it was here you were arrested by the Gestapo.
Tarnopolski
That's right.
Strauss
On what charge?
Tarnopolski
No charge has been made.
Gottlieb (looking at a woman's picture)
Was this your friend's wife?
Tarnopolski
Yes. She died the year the picture was painted. She was driving her
car and collided with a bus. She died instantly. A beautiful death.
Strauss
Why do you say that?
Tarnopolski
Dying instantly is better than dying old and burned out inside.
Rabbi
The Germans have other plans for us.
Strauss (who has been busying himself at the table)
Dinner is served, gentlemen.
Rabbi (with a champagne glass)
To your health, Tarnopolski.
(Tarnopolski takes a large champagne glass from a shelf.)
Rabbi
Are you going to serve us champagne?
Tarnopolski
Unfortunately, no. I need the glass for other purposes. Enjoy your
dinner, gentlemen. I am going away for a little while. Don't worry if
I'm gone a little longer than that. You are perfectly safe here.
Nothing can happen to you.
(Tarnopolski goes out.)
BLACKOUT
When the lights go up, the three prisoners are all tense.
Rabbi
Where is he?
Gottlieb
He said we shouldn't worry.
Strauss
Why should we not worry? I'm worried.
Rabbi
Where is Tarnopolski?
Strauss
He's coming right back.
Gottlieb
He's been gone several hours.
Rabbi
I don't hear anything—and it's terribly dark outside.
Strauss (pouring a drink)
Let's state the case.
Rabbi
Stop it, Strauss.
Strauss (louder)
Let's state the case! What if something has happened to
Tarnopolski?
Rabbi
Nonsense! What could have happened to him?
Strauss
How should I know? All right—only academically. I know that
Tarnopolski will come back. With his powers he can suffer no harm. I
don't doubt that at all! Only, I'm asking myself, what do we do if he
doesn't come back?
Gottlieb
We'll be all right.
Strauss
Our cell is blocked in some way so the Germans can't get in. Very
well. Our house is standing on the table in the cell. So, good. We are
in the house and safe. Even better. But what I want to know is, if
Tarnopolski does not come back, can we leave this house at all?
Rabbi
You have talked over Tarnopolski's theories with him. You seem to
understand it better than we do. What do you think?
Gottlieb
I'm sure he'll come back.
Rabbi
Will we be able to get out if he doesn't?
Gottlieb
Maybe, but I doubt it. His laboratory is in the cellar. Perhaps,
with time, I could fathom his notes, if he left any lying around.
Strauss
It's bad enough to die like a rat. If you're a Jew, you get used to
that idea, but to die the size of a rat—
Rabbi
So, you admit you are Jewish!
Strauss
I admit no such thing. I was merely expressing my horror of the
situation.
Rabbi
Bah!
Gottlieb
I rather wish we were back in Cell 84.
Rabbi
Do you know what freedom is?
Gottlieb
Yes, I think I know.
Rabbi
No, you don't know. And I don't know either. If I knew, I wouldn't
be homesick for Cell 84. I wouldn't be homesick for Weichselbraun and
the comfort of a dirty overcrowded little cell. How do we get back into
it?
Gottlieb
I have no idea.
(Enter Tarnopolski.)
Strauss
Are we glad to see you!
Tarnopolski
Sorry, I'm a little late.
Strauss
I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life.
Rabbi
The blessings of the Lord are many.
Tarnopolski
Sit down, I've brought you something.
(Tarnopolski holds up the Champagne glass. In it is the miniature figure of Weichselbraun.)
Strauss
Look at that!
Gottlieb
He can't get out.
Tarnopolski
He'll never beat anyone again. This is the end of Weichselbraun.
Strauss
Why didn't you resist him when he hit you before?
Tarnopolski
If I had followed my first impulse, I would have killed him.
Rabbi
That would have been just, but not advisable, in view of the
danger.
Tarnopolski
I could have done it without any danger.
Gottlieb
How?
Tarnopolski
Nobody would know that I had killed him. He would simply have
disappeared, dematerialized down to the last nail in the heel of his
shoe and his disappearance would have remained inexplicable and
mysterious.
Rabbi
If I were you, I would have killed him.
Tarnopolski
I'm glad I didn't listen to the voice of my primeval ancestors.
I've never killed a man, never even thought I would. But, if I had
killed Weichselbraun, how would I be any better than he?
Rabbi (indignantly)
And you think you have to be better than the Germans? Better than
the German who killed your brother, robbed your father, and raped your
sister? Who humiliated you, spat at you, and mistreated you? Should we
answer the concentration camps with kindergartens?
Tarnopolski
Are you under the impression I have answered Weichselbraun with
sedatives? I have said, I repeat it, I don't want to be a murderer.
Rabbi
So forget all about it? Forgive them!
Tarnopolski
Just because I want to be better than Weichselbraun doesn't mean I
want to pardon criminals or fraternize with them.
Rabbi
You're talking like a textbook on ethics. An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth. That is the law. You growled at me before because I
hoped that you would help us escape. Do you think it would be an
irrational use of power to help a man who has been thrown into prison
unjustly?
Tarnopolski
I shall have to disappoint you. Yes. That, too, would be an
irrational use of power.
Strauss
Then, you won't help us!
Tarnopolski
I may help you—but you are only three among millions who have
suffered a similar fate. Why do you think you have earned preferment
above all the others?
Strauss
Helping us in no ways prevents you from helping others.
Tarnopolski
I can't go from cell to cell and let you out the back door one by
one. My key opens the great gate.
Rabbi
Your philosophy is confused. You don't want to pay out petty cash
or to spend your capital. We have heard everything you don't want. What
do you want?
Tarnopolski
I have difficulty answering that question.
Rabbi
Why? It's a simple question.
Tarnopolski
You would have no trouble answering such a question because you
have clearly defined limits.
Rabbi
And how are you any different?
Tarnopolski
My case is different. My possibilities are infinite. My case is
unique without precedent. Besides, I have never been greedy for power.
My only passions, other than mathematics, are good music and a good
cigarette.
Rabbi
In your place, I would—
Tarnopolski (interrupting)
It doesn't matter what you would do in my place. I alone am faced
with the decision and what I do must agree with my ideas of the world
and not yours. Who wants more coffee?
Rabbi
I will make some. I learned the business in Greece.
Tarnopolski
Weichselbraun disturbs me here. (he puts the glass in the cupboard)
In this room, I definitely established the scientific basis of my
condenser. I'm sorry I can't give you a complete picture of the work
I've done, what false leads I had to overcome. I really can't say how I
had the patience to start over again so many times.
Rabbi
The dreamer does not give in!
Tarnopolski
My architect friend is intuitive while I am analytical. So, I
consider my first task is to find him and get his advice. And I
certainly will not undertake anything else before I've found him.
Strauss
We understand that, but you haven't found him since you got here or
done anything in the way of looking for your friend.
Tarnopolski
That isn't entirely correct. When I went to get Weichselbraun, I
first went to the reception office and took a look at the files.
Rabbi
And?
Tarnopolski
I didn't find the architect, but I ascertained that at about the
right time a shipment of prisoners was brought to Vienna from Warsaw.
Strauss
It isn't impossible that the architect is still in Vienna. The
Gestapo keeps certain prisoners in its own custody.
Tarnopolski
Have you any idea where?
Strauss
Probably in the building that was formerly the Hotel Metropol on
Moritz Platz.
Tarnopolski
Is that far away? I don't know much about Vienna.
Strauss
No, it's not far. You can't miss the building, it's huge.
Tarnopolski
How about the cells? Where are they?
Strauss
I'm not sure, but I suspect in the basement.
Tarnopolski
I might still go there tonight. If I don't find the architect here,
I fear I'll have to go back to Poland.
Rabbi
If I had been you, I wouldn't have come here at all without
reliable information.
Strauss
Hunting like this only loses valuable time.
Tarnopolski
If the architect can't be found here, then, of course, I've made a
mistake. But he was a quiet, withdrawn person who did not stand out in
either wealth or politics—so I suppose the Germans would treat him no
differently than the other three hundred thousand Jewish intellectuals
who were arrested at the same time.
Strauss
But, was he known in professional circles?
Tarnopolski
He was known. Two years ago he received first prize in an
international contest to redesign the state opera in Rio de Janeiro.
Strauss
Therefore, he was an exceptional person. We must assume the Germans
knew about him.
Tarnopolski
But, why would they separate him from the others?
Strauss
We cannot be sure. Maybe he seemed suspicious because of his
connections abroad.
Gottlieb
Possibly they needed him to serve in their war machine.
Tarnopolski
He would never have lent himself to that.
Strauss
Certainly. But, if he refused to cooperate, you may be sure they
treated him accordingly.
Tarnopolski
Damn them!
Strauss
These are idle speculations. You must look for such persons as can
give you positive clues. With your condenser that is no problem
whatsoever.
Tarnopolski
What should I do, in your opinion?
Strauss
Return to Poland and try to find a trace of him right there. The
farther you go from there, the smaller your chances are. You will have
to proceed quickly, energetically, and unscrupulously.
Tarnopolski
Unscrupulously!
Strauss
Certainly—when needed. And it will be needed. You are dealing with
the Gestapo.
Tarnopolski
You are right. In the morning I shall go back to Poland. Can I
count on your help?
Strauss
We shall help you. Leave the organization of the search to me. I
have experience in such matters.
Rabbi (swatting at something)
A moth.
Strauss
Leave it alone. Why do you want to kill it?
Rabbi
Why should I spare a destructive animal?
Strauss
Because this destructive creature is an important factor in the
mechanics of capitalist society.
Rabbi
But, last summer, you important factor ate up my coat and my wife's
furs.
Strauss
Yes, and millions of dollars worth of dinner jackets, overcoats,
scarves, oriental rugs, draperies, and blankets.
Rabbi
All the more reason to destroy such a destructive creature.
Strauss
Nonsense. Think how many sheep ranchers, weavers, textile
factories, seamstresses, not to mention merchants, this poor moth keeps
busy. This little moth in the last analysis also supplies part of your
income as Rabbi.
Rabbi
You don't say so! I was under the impression that I depended on my
kehillah. I must immediately inform my wife of this.
Strauss
It's one of the paradoxes of our way of life. We could not possibly
remove the negative elements which destroy human products without
stopping the wheels of industry and putting millions out of work.
Rabbi
So! The moth is not harmful. No doubt you will propose to raise
them and put them under legal protection.
Strauss
That's not a bad idea, Rabbi.
Rabbi
Perhaps you would be satisfied to found an international institute
to investigate means of improving their living conditions.
Strauss
That's an even better idea. If I do, I will name it after you—the
Moritz institute.
Rabbi
Do you by chance have another scheme which would allow us to
exterminate moths?
Strauss
Of course I have.
Gottlieb
Strauss has a scheme for everything, depend upon it.
Tarnopolski
It seems to me we are not meeting here to resolve this question,
however interesting. The Rabbi asked me, what do I really want? After
listening to this, I think I can answer you now.
Rabbi
Hear, hear!
Tarnopolski
When I finished my research, I felt overjoyed with a feeling of
accomplishment and power.
Rabbi
Natural enough.
Strauss
Certainly, yours is a stupendous achievement.
Tarnopolski
To live means to resist the threats of nature. When man found he
could resist better by joining with other men, he created the social
contract. Thus far, everything is clear and simple.
Rabbi
Clear and simple blasphemy.
Tarnopolski
I need society, society needs me.
Strauss
This is good. I could use this argument with a jury.
Tarnopolski
In other words, I am social and I am disposed to use my power
socially.
Rabbi
Hear, hear!
Tarnopolski
There are four of us in our cell. We have common desires and
troubles —in this respect our interests are identical. But, we each
have individual interests in conflict with the common interests. In
short, we are a little society.
Strauss
Ah, but we are here against our will.
Tarnopolski
Whoever decides for himself what society he will be a member of? We
are born into society and few of us ever change.
Strauss
That's true, that's true.
Tarnopolski
On the other hand, everything that we consider social is not
necessarily social for Cell 83 next door.
Rabbi
So, what do you deduce?
Tarnopolski
From this, we deduce that every society, in pursuing its common
goals runs into the danger of coming into conflict with other societies
which have an equal right to exist.
Gottlieb
None of this is new.
Tarnopolski
Certainly not. I am not a social innovator. But, you see, I, more
than any other man, possess the power to overcome nature. I could
become a tyrant over the rest of mankind. But, that would not be enough
to assure me of my fundamental right.
Strauss
What right is that?
Tarnopolski
Happiness. For the most part, I cannot change the conditions of
nature. I doubt whether I would render humanity a service by doing so.
Rabbi
I agree with you. If man always had what he needed he would be,
without knowing it, infinitely happy—but then he wouldn't be able to
read or write.
Tarnopolski
Man does nothing that he doesn't have to do.
Rabbi
So, you conclude what, exactly?
Tarnopolski
Man is happy only when searching for a better life.
Rabbi
But, man lives in the present.
Tarnopolski
If I could be sure that any one order of society would make men
happy I would force it on him, because it is within my power. But there
is no such order.
Strauss
There you are right. There is no law that will make man happy.
Rabbi
There is God's law. Living is happiness enough if we do not distort
the meaning.
Tarnopolski
Leave man to himself and he will find his own way. (excitedly) Man
is governed through his imagination. Because of an invisible god and an
invisible paradise, he'll let himself be driven by emperors, popes,
demagogues and dictators.
Rabbi
There you go again with your freethinking. You make sense one
minute, then you start your blasphemy.
Tarnopolski
Technical progress now makes it possible to do without such
substitutes. A machine gun is cheaper and easier to handle than a
bishop.
Strauss (maliciously)
Or a rabbi.
Tarnopolski
But, machine guns are conquered by other machine guns—and above
them all, stands Dov Tarnopolski, the unknown Jew from Warsaw.
Strauss
What are you getting at?
Tarnopolski
It should be enough for people to hear about me. It should be
enough for them to know that somewhere in the world there is a man who
fears no man, whom no one can subjugate or kill. A man whose arm
reaches through the most powerful armor into the darkest hiding places.
A man who wants neither recognition nor honors. A man who wants neither
to command nor to be commanded. There is only one thing I will not
tolerate. Selfish power, violence or tyranny! That is what I want.
Rabbi
Twenty-five centuries ago, Lao Tze said that the wise man operates
without action, creates without effort, does good and vanishes.
Tarnopolski
And vanishes.
(Suddenly, he and all the characters vanish. There is a silence. The stage remains empty and the curtain falls.)
CURTAIN