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The following one-act play is reprinted from Ten
Plays. Trans. Isaac Goldberg. New York: B.W. Heubsch, 1920. It is
now believed to be in the public domain and may therefore be performed
without royalties.
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CHARACTERS
THE
COMEDIAN
THE
VILLAIN
THE
TRAGEDIAN
THE OLD
MAN
THE
HEROINE
THE
INGENUE
THE OLD
WOMAN
THE
STRANGER
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[A cross-roads at the edge of a
forest. One road extends from left to right; the other crosses the first
diagonally, disappearing into the forest. The roadside is bordered with
grass. On the right, at the crossing, stands a signpost, to which are nailed
two boards giving directions and distances.]
[The afternoon of a summer day. A
troupe of stranded strolling players enters from the left. They are ragged
and weary. THE COMEDIAN walks first, holding a valise in each hand, followed
by the VILLAIN carrying over his arms two huge bundles wrapped in bed sheets.
Immediately behind these the TRAGEDIAN and the actor who plays the OLD MAN
are carrying together a large heavy trunk.]
COMEDIAN: (stepping toward the signpost, reading
the directions on the boards, and explaining to the approaching fellow
actors) That way (pointing to right and swinging the
valise--to indicate the direction) is thirty miles. This way (pointing
to left) is forty-five -- and that way is thirty-six. Now choose for
yourself the town that you'll never reach today. The nearest way for us is
back to where we came from, whence we were escorted with the most splendid
catcalls that ever crowned our histrionic successes.
VILLAIN: (exhausted) Who will lend me a
hand to wipe off my perspiration? It has a nasty way of streaming into my
mouth.
COMEDIAN: Stand on your head, then, and let your
perspiration water a more fruitful soil.
VILLAIN: Oh!
[He drops his arms, the bundles
fall down. He then sinks down onto one of them and wipes off the
perspiration, moving his hand wearily over his face. The TRAGEDIAN and the
OLD MAN approach the post and read the signs.]
TRAGEDIAN: (in a dramatic voice) It's
hopeless! It's hopeless!
[He lets go his end of the trunk.]
OLD MAN: (lets go his end of the trunk) Mmmm.
Another stop.
[TRAGEDIAN sits himself down on
the trunk in a tragico-heroic pose, knees wide apart, right elbow on right
knee, left hand on left leg, head slightly bent toward the right. COMEDIAN
puts down the valises and rolls a cigarette. The OLD MAN also sits down upon
the trunk, head sunk upon his breast.]
VILLAIN: Thirty miles to the nearest town! Thirty miles!
COMEDIAN: It's an outrage how far people move their towns
away from us.
VILLAIN: We won't strike a town until the day after
tomorrow.
COMEDIAN: Hurrah! That's luck for you! There's yet a
day-after-tomorrow for us.
VILLAIN: And the old women are still far behind us.
Crawling!
OLD MAN: They want the vote and they can't even walk.
COMEDIAN: We won't give them votes, that's settled. Down
with votes for women!
VILLAIN: It seems the Devil himself can't take you!
Neither your tongue nor your feet ever get tired. You get on my nerves. Sit
down and shut up for a moment.
COMEDIAN: Me? Ha--ha! I'm going back there to the lady of
my heart. I'll meet her and fetch her hither in my arms.
[He spits on his hands, turns up
his sleeves, and strides rapidly off towards the left.]
VILLAIN: Clown!
OLD MAN: How can he laugh and play his pranks even now? We
haven't a cent to our souls, our supply of food is running low and our shoes
are dilapidated.
TRAGEDIAN: (with an outburst) Stop it! No
reckoning! The number of our sins is great and the tale of our misfortunes is
even greater. Holy Father! Our flasks are empty; I'd give what is left of our
solesl (displaying his ragged shoes) for just a smell of
whiskey.
[From the left is heard the
laughter of a woman. Enter the COMEDIAN carrying in his arms the HEROINE, who
has her hands around his neck and holds a satchel in both hands behind his
back.]
COMEDIAN: (letting his burden down upon the grass) Sit
down, my love, and rest up. We go no further today. Your feet, your tender
little feet must ache you. How unhappy that makes me! At the first
opportunity I shall buy you an automobile.
HEROINE: And in the meantime you may carry me oftener.
COMEDIAN: The beast of burden hears and obeys.
[Enter the INGENUE and the actress
who plays the OLD WOMAN each carrying a small satchel.]
INGENUE: (weary and pouting) Ah! No one
carried me.
[She sits on the grass to the
right of the HEROINE.]
VILLAIN: We have only one ass with us.
[The COMEDIAN stretches himself
out at the feet of the HEROINE and emits the bray of a donkey. The OLD WOMAN
sits down on the grass to the left of the HEROINE.]
OLD WOMAN: And are we to pass the night here?
OLD MAN: No, we shall stop at "Hotel Neverwas."
COMEDIAN: Don't you like our night's lodgings? (Turning
over toward the OLD WOMAN) See, the bed is broad and wide, and
certainly without vermin. Just feel the high grass. Such a soft bed you never
slept in. And you shall have a cover embroidered with the moon and stars, a
cover such as no royal bride ever possessed.
OLD WOMAN: You're laughing, and I feel like crying.
COMEDIAN: Crying? You should be ashamed of the sun which
favors you with its setting splendor. Look, and be inspired!
VILLAN: Yes, look and expire.
COMEDIAN: Look, and shout with ecstasy!
OLD MAN: Look, and burst!
[The INGENUE starts sobbing. The
TRAGEDIAN laughs heavily.]
COMEDIAN: (turning over to the INGENUE) What.
You are crying? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
INGENUE: I'm sad.
OLD WOMAN: (sniffling) I can't stand it
any longer.
HEROINE: Stop it! Or I'll start bawling, too.
[COMEDIAN springs to his knees and
looks quickly from one woman to the other.]
VILLAIN: Ha--ha! Cheer them up, Clown!
COMEDIAN: (jumps up abruptly without the aid of
his hands) Ladies and Gentlemen, I have it! (in a measured
singing voice) Ladies and Gentlemen, I have it!
HEROINE: What have you?
COMEDIAN: Cheerfulness.
VILLAIN: Go bury yourself, Clown.
TRAGEDIAN: (as before) Ho-ho-ho.
OLD MAN: P-o-o-h!
[The women weep all the louder.]
COMEDIAN: I have----a bottle of whiskey!
[General commotion. The women stop
crying and look up to the COMEDIAN in amazement; the TRAGEDIAN straightens
himself out and casts a surprised look at the COMEDIAN; the OLD MAN, rubbing
his hands, jumps to his feet; the VILLAIN looks suspiciously at the
COMEDIAN.]
TRAGEDIAN: A bottle of whiskey?
OLD MAN: He--He--He--A bottle of whiskey.
VILLAIN: Hum--whiskey.
COMEDIAN: You bet! A bottle of whiskey, hidden and
preserved for such moments as this, a moment of masculine depression and
feminine tears. (Taking the flask from his hip pocket. The expression
on the faces of all changes from hope to disappointment.)
VILLAIN: You call that a bottle. I call it a flask.
TRAGEDIAN: (explosively) A thimble!
OLD MAN: A dropper!
OLD WOMAN: For seven of us! Oh!
COMEDIAN: (letting the flask sparkle in the sun) But
it's whiskey, my children. (opening the flask and smelling it) U-u-u-m!
That's whiskey for you. The saloonkeeper from whom I hooked it will become a
teetotaler from sheer despair.
[TRAGEDIAN rises heavily and
slowly proceeds towards the flask. The VILLAIN, still skeptical, rises as if
unwilling. The OLD MAN chuckles and rubs his hands. The OLD WOMAN gets up
indifferently and moves apathetically toward the flask. The HEROINE and
INGENUE hold each other by the hand and take ballet steps in waltz time. All
approach the COMEDIAN with necks eagerly stretched out and smell the flask,
which the COMEDIAN holds firmly in both hands.]
TRAGEDIAN: Ho-ho-ho--Fine!
OLD MAN: He--He--Small quantity, but excellent quality!
VILLAIN: Seems to be good whiskey.
HEROINE: (dancing and singing) My
Comedian, My Comedian. His head is in the right place. But why didn't you nab
a larger bottle?
COMEDIAN: Oh Beloved One, I had to take in consideration
both the quality of the whiskey and the size of my pocket.
OLD WOMAN: If only there's enough of it to go round.
INGENUE: Oh, I'm feeling sad again.
COMEDIAN: Cheer up, there will be enough for us all. Cheer
up. Here, smell it again.
[They smell again and cheerfulness
reappears. They join hands and dance and sing, forming a circle, the COMEDIAN
applauding.]
COMEDIAN: Good! If you are so cheered after a mere smell
of it, what won't you feel like after a drink. Wait, I'll join you. (He
hides the whiskey flask in his pocket.) I'll show you a new roundel
which we will perform in our next presentation of Hamlet, to the great
edification of our esteemed audience. (Kicking the VILLAIN'S bundles
out of the way.) The place is clear, now for dance and play. Join
hands and form a circle, but you, Villain, stay on the outside of it. You are
to try to get in and we dance and are not to let you in, without getting out
of step. Understand? Now then!
[The circle is formed in the
following order, COMEDIAN, HEROINE, TRAGEDIAN, OLD WOMAN, OLD MAN, INGENUE.]
COMEDIAN: (singing) To be or not to be,
that is the question,
That is the question, that is the question.
He who would enter in,
Climb he must over us,
If over he cannot,
He must get under us.
ALL: Tra-la-la, tra-la-la,
Over us, under us.
Tra-la-la, tra-la-la,
Under us, over us.
Now we are jolly, jolly are we.
COMEDIAN: To be or not to be, that is the question,
That is the question, that is the question.
In life to win success,
Elbow your way through,
Jostle the next one,
Else you will be jostled.
ALL: Tra-la-la, tra-la-la,
Over us, under us.
Tra-la-la, tra-la-la,
Under us, over us.
Now we are jolly, jolly are we.
[On the last word of the refrain
they stop as if dumbfounded, and stand transfixed, with eyes directed on one
spot inside of the ring. The VILLAIN leans over the arms of the COMEDIAN and
the HEROINE; gradually the circle draws closer till their heads almost touch.
They attempt to free their hands but each holds on to the other and all seven
whisper in great astonishment.]
ALL: A dollar!
[The circle opens up again, they
look each at the other and shout in wonder.]
ALL: A dollar!
[Once more they close in and the
struggle to free their hands grows wilder; the VILLAIN tries to climb over
and then under the hands into the circle and stretches out his hand toward
the dollar, but instinctively he is stopped by the couple he tries to pass
between, even when he is not seen but only felt. Again all lean their heads
over the dollar, quite lost in the contemplation of it, and whispering,
enraptured.]
All: A dollar!
[Separating once again they look
at each other with exultation and at the same time try to free their hands,
once more exclaiming in ecstasy.]
ALL: A dollar!
[Then the struggle to get free
grows wilder and wilder. The hand that is perchance freed is quickly grasped
again by the one who held it.]
INGENUE: (in pain) Oh, my hands, my
hands! You'll break them. Let go of my hands!
OLD WOMAN: If you don't let go of my hands I'll
bite. (Attempting to bite the hands of the TRAGEDIAN and the OLD MAN,
while they try to prevent it.)
OLD MAN: (trying to free his hands from the hold
of the HEROINE and the OLD WOMAN) Let go of me. (Pulling at
both his hands) These women's hands that--seem so frail, just look
at them now.
HEROINE: (To COMEDIAN) But you let go my
hands.
COMEDIAN: I think it's you who are holding fast to mine.
HEROINE: Why should I be holding you? If you pick up the
dollar, what is yours is mine, you know.
COMEDIAN: Then let go of my hand and I'll pick it up.
HEROINE: No, I'd rather pick it up myself.
COMEDIAN: I expected something like that from you.
HEROINE: (angrily) Let go of my hands,
that's all.
COMEDIAN: Ha-Ha-Ha--It's a huge joke. (In a tone
of command.) Be quiet. (They become still.) We must
contemplate the dollar with religious reverence. (Commotion.) Keep
quiet, I say! --A dollar is spread out before us. A real dollar in the midst
of our circle, and everything within us draws us towards it, draws us on
irresistibly. Be quiet! Remember you are before the Ruler, before the
Almighty. On your knees before Him and pray. On your knees. (Sinks
down on his knees and drags with him the HEROINE and INGENUE.)
OLD MAN: (Dropping on his knees and dragging the
OLD WOMAN with him.) He-He-He.
TRAGEDIAN: Ho-Ho-Ho, Clown!
COMEDIAN: (to TRAGEDIAN) You are not
worthy of the serious mask you wear. You don't appreciate true Divine
Majesty. On your knees, or you'll get no whiskey. (TRAGEDIAN sinks
heavily on his knees.) Oh holy dollar, oh almighty ruler of the
universe, before thee we kneel in the dust and send toward thee our most
tearful and heartfelt prayers. Our hands are bound, but our hearts strive
toward thee and our souls yearn for thee. Oh great king of kings, thou who
bringest together those who are separated, and separatest those who are near,
thou who--
[The VILLAIN, who is standing
aside, takes a full jump, clears the INGENUE and grasps the dollar. All let
go of one another and fall upon him, shouting, screaming, pushing and
fighting. Finally the VILLAIN manages to free himself, holding the dollar in
his right fist. The others follow him with clenched fists, glaring eyes and
foaming mouths, wildly shouting.]
ALL: The dollar! The dollar! The dollar! Return the
dollar!
VILLAIN: (retreating) You can't take it
away from me, it's mine. It was lying under my bundle.
ALL: Give up the dollar! Give up the dollar!
VILLAIN: (in great rage) No, no. (A
moment during which the opposing sides look at each other in hatred. Quietly
but with malice.) Moreover, whom should I give it to? To
you--you--you--you?
COMEDIAN: Ha-ha-ha-ha. He is right, the dollar is his. He
has it, therefore it is his. Ha-ha-ha-ha, and I wanted to crawl on my knees
toward the dollar and pick it up with my teeth. Ha-ha-ha-ha, but he got ahead
of me, Ha-ha-ha-ha.
HEROINE: (whispering in rage) That's
because you would not let go of me.
COMEDIAN: Ha-ha-ha-ha.
TRAGEDIAN: (shaking his fist in the face of the
VILLAIN) Heaven and hell, I feel like crushing you!
[He steps aside toward the trunk
and sits down in his former pose. INGENUE, lying down on the grass, starts to
cry.]
COMEDIAN: Ha-ha-ha. Now we will drink, and the first drink
is the Villain's.
[His proposition is accepted in
gloom; the INGENUE, however, stops crying; the OLD MAN and the OLD WOMAN have
been standing by the VILLAIN looking at the dollar in his hand as if waiting
for the proper moment to snatch it from him. Finally the OLD WOMAN makes a
contemptuous gesture and both turn aside from the VILLAIN. The latter, left
in peace, smooths out the dollar, with a serious expression on his face. The
COMEDIAN hands him a small glass of whiskey.]
COMEDIAN: Drink, lucky one.
[The VILLAIN, shutting the dollar
in his fist, takes the whiskey glass gravely and quickly drinks the contents,
returning the glass. He then starts to smooth and caress the dollar again.
The COMEDIAN, still laughing, passes the whiskey glass from one to the other
of the company, who drink sullenly. The whiskey fails to cheer them. After
drinking, the INGENUE begins to sob again. The HEROINE who is served last
throws the empty whiskey glass towards the COMEDIAN.]
COMEDIAN: Good shot. Now I'll drink up all that's left in
the bottle.
[He puts the flask to his lips and
drinks. The HEROINE tries to knock it away from him but he skilfully evades
her. The VILLAIN continues to smooth and caress the dollar.]
VILLAIN: HA-ha-ha ... (Singing and dancing)
He who would enter in,
Jum_
he must over us.
Ho-ho-ho. Oh Holy dollar! Oh almighty Ruler of the
World!... Oh King of Kings! Ha-ha-ha.... Don't you all think if I have the
dollar and you have it not that I partake a bit of its majesty? That means
that I am now a part of its majesty. That means that I am the Almighty
dollar's plenipotentiary and therefore I am the Almighty Ruler himself. On
your knees before me!... He-he-he....
COMEDIAN: (after throwing away the empty flask
lies down on the grass) Well roared, lion, but you forgot to hide
your jackass's ears.
VILLAIN: It is one's consciousness of power. He-he-he. I
know and you know that if I have the money, I have the say. Remember, none of
you has a cent to his name. The whiskey is gone. (Picking up the
flask and examining it.)
COMEDIAN: I did my job well, Drank it to the last drop.
VILLAIN: Yes, to the last drop. This evening you shall
have bread and sausage. Very small portions too, for tomorrow is another
day. (INGENUE sobbing mor frequently.) Not till the day
after tomorrow shall we reach town and that doesn't mean that you get
anything to eat there either, but I--I--I--he-he-he. Oh holy dollar, almighty
dollar. (Gravely) He who does my bidding shall not be
without food.
COMEDIAN: (with wide open eyes) What?
Ha-ha-ha.
[INGENUE gets up and throws
herself on the VILLAIN'S bosom.]
INGENUE: Oh my dear beloved one.
VILLAIN: Ha-ha, my power already makes itself felt.
HEROINE: (pushing the INGENUE away) Let
go of him, you. He sought my love for a long time and now he shall have it.
COMEDIAN: What? You!
HEROINE: (To COMEDIAN) I hate you,
traitor. (To the VILLAIN) I have always loved--genius. You
are now the wisest of the wise. I adore you.
VILLAIN: (holding INGENUE in one arm) Come
into my other arm. (HEROINE throwing herself into his arms, kissing
and embracing him.)
COMEDIAN: (half rising on his knees) Stop,
I protest. (Throwing himself on the grass.) "O frailty,
thy name is woman."
OLD WOMAN: (approaching the VILLAIN from behind
and embracing him) Find a little spot on your bosom for me. I play
the "Old Woman," but you know I'm not really old.
VILLAIN: Now I have all of power and all of love.
COMEDIAN: Don't call it love. Call it servility.
VILLAIN: (freeing himself from the women) But
now I have something more important to carry out. My vassals--I mean you
all--I have decided we will not stay here over night. We will proceed
further.
WOMEN: How so?
VILLAIN: We go forward tonight.
COMEDIAN: You have so decided?
VILLAIN: I have so decided, and that in itself should be
enough for you; but due to an old habit I shall explain to you why I have so
decided.
COMEDIAN: Keep your explanation to yourself and better not
disturb my contemplation of the sunset.
VILLAIN: I'll put you down on the blacklist. It will go
ill with you for your speeches against me. Now then, without an
explanation, we will go--and at once. (Nobody stirs.) Very
well then, I go alone.
WOMEN: No, no.
VILLAIN: What do you mean?
INGENUE: I go with you.
HEROINE: And I.
OLD WOMAN: And I.
VILLAIN: Your loyalty gratifies me very much.
OLD MAN: (who is sitting apathetically upon the
trunk) What the deuce is urging you to go?
VILLAIN: I wanted to explain it to you, but now no more. I
owe you no explanations. I have decided--I wish to go, and that is
sufficient.
COMEDIAN: He plays his comedy wonderfully. Would you ever
have suspected that there was so much wit in his cabbage head?
WOMEN: (making love to the VILLAIN) Oh
you darling.
TRAGEDIAN: (majestically) I wouldn't give
him even a single glance.
VILLAIN: Still another on the blacklist. I'll tell you
this much--I have decided--
COMEDIAN: Ha-ha-ha. How long will you keep this up?
VILLAIN: We start at once, but if I am to pay for your
food I will not carry any baggage. You shall divide my bundles among you and
of course those who are on the blacklist will get the heaviest share. You
heard me. Now move on. I'm going now. We will proceed to the nearest town
which is thirty miles away. Now then, I am off.
COMEDIAN: Bon voyage.
VILLAIN: And with me fares His Majesty the Dollar and your
meals for tomorrow.
WOMEN: We are coming, we are coming.
OLD MAN: I'll go along.
TRAGEDIAN: (to the VILLAIN) You're a
scoundrel and a mean fellow.
VILLAIN: I am no fellow of yours. I am master and
breadgiver.
TRAGEDIAN: I'll crush you in a moment.
VILLAIN: What? You threaten me! Let's go.
[He turns to right. The women take
their satchels and follow him.]
OLD MAN: (to the TRAGEDIAN) Get up and
take the trunk. We will settle the score with him some other time. It is he
who has the dollar now.
TRAGEDIAN: (rising and shaking his fist) I'll
get him yet. (He takes his side of the trunk.)
VILLAIN: (to TRAGEDIAN) First put one of
my bundles on your back.
TRAGEDIAN: (in rage) One of your bundles
on my back?
VILLAIN: Oh, for all I care you can put it on your head,
or between your teeth.
OLD MAN: We will put the bundle on the trunk.
COMEDIAN: (sitting up) Look here, are you
joking or are you in earnest?
VILLAIN: (contemptuously) I never joke.
COMEDIAN: Then you are in earnest?
VILLAIN: I'll make no explanations.
COMEDIAN: Do you really think that because you have the
dollar--
VILLAIN: The holy dollar, the almighty dollar, the king of
kings.
COMEDIAN: (continuing) That therefore you
are the master--
VILLAIN: Bread-giver and provider.
COMEDIAN: And that we must--
VILLAIN: Do what I bid you to.
COMEDIAN: So you are in earnest?
VILLAIN: You just get up, take the baggage and follow me.
COMEDIAN: (rising) Then, I declare a
revolution.
VILLAIN: What? A revolution!
COMEDIAN: A bloody one, if need be.
TRAGEDIAN: (dropping his end of the trunk and
advancing with a bellicose attitude toward the VILLAIN) And I shall
be the first to let your blood, you scoundrel.
VILLAIN: If that's the case I have nothing to say to you.
Those who wish, come along.
COMEDIAN: (getting in his way) No, you
shall not go until you give up the dollar.
VILLAIN: Ha-ha. It is to laugh!
COMEDIAN: The dollar please, or--
VILLAIN: He-he-he.
COMEDIAN: Then let there be blood. (Turns up his
sleeves.)
TRAGEDIAN: (taking off his coat) Ah!
Blood, blood!
OLD MAN: (dropping his end of the trunk) I'm
not going to keep out of a fight.
WOMEN: (dropping their satchels) Nor we.
Nor we.
VILLAIN: (shouting) To whom shall I give
up the dollar? You--you--you--you?
COMEDIAN: This argument will not work any more. You are to
give the dollar up to all of us. At the first opportunity we'll get change
and divide it into equal parts.
WOMEN: Hurrah, Hurrah! Divide it, Divide it.
COMEDIAN: (to VILLAIN) And I will even be
so good as to give you a share.
TRAGEDIAN: I'd rather give him a sound thrashing.
COMEDIAN: It shall be as I say. Give up the dollar.
HEROINE: (throwing herself on the COMEDIAN'S
breast) My comedian! My comedian!
INGENUE: (to the VILLAIN) I'm sick of
you. Give up the dollar.
COMEDIAN: (pushing the HEROINE aside) You
better step aside or else you may get the punch I aim at the master and
breadgiver. (To the VILLAIN.) Come up with the dollar!
TRAGEDIAN: Give up the dollar to him, do you hear?
ALL: The dollar, the dollar!
VILLAIN: I'll tear it to pieces.
COMEDIAN: Then we shall tear out what little hair you have
left on your head. The dollar, quick!
[They surround the VILLAIN; the
women pull his hair; the TRAGEDIAN grabs him by the collar and shakes him;
the OLD MAN strikes him on his bald pate; the COMEDIAN struggles with him and
finally grasps the dollar.]
COMEDIAN: (holding up the dollar) I have
it!
[The women dance and sing.]
VILLAIN: Bandits! Thieves!
TRAGEDIAN: Silence, or I'll shut your mouth. (Goes
back to the trunk and assumes his heroic pose.)
COMEDIAN: (putting the dollar into his pocket) That
what I call a successful and a bloodless revolution, except for a little
fright and heart palpitation on the part of the late master and bread
giver.-- Listen, someone is coming. Perhaps he'll be able to change the
dollar and then we can divide it at once.
OLD MAN: I am puzzled how we can change it into equal
parts. (Starts to calculate with the INGENUE and the OLD WOMAN.)
HEROINE: (tenderly attentive to the COMEDIAN) You
are angry with me, but I was only playing with him so as to wheedle the
dollar out of him.
COMEDIAN: And now you want to trick me out of my share of
it.
OLD MAN: It is impossible to divide it into equal parts.
It is absolutely impossible. If it were ninety-eight cents or one-hundred and
five cents or--
[The STRANGER enters from the
Right, perceives the company, greets it and continues his way to left.
COMEDIAN stops him.]
COMEDIAN: I beg your pardon, sir; perhaps you have change
of a dollar in dimes, nickles, and pennies. (Showing the dollar. The
OLD MAN and women step forward.)
STRANGER: (getting slightly nervous, starts
somewhat, makes a quick movement for his pistol pocket, looks at the COMEDIAN
and the others and says slowly) Change of a dollar? (Moving
from the circle to left.) I believe I have.
WOMEN: Hurrah!
STRANGER: (turns so that no one is behind him and
pulls his revolver) Hands up!
COMEDIAN: (in a gentle tone of voice) My
dear sir, we are altogether peaceful folk.
[The STRANGER takes the dollar
from the Comedian's hand and walks backwards to left with the pistol pointed
at the group.]
STRANGER: Good night, everybody.
[He disappears, the actors remain
dumb with fear, with their hands up, mouths wide-open and staring into
space.]
COMEDIAN: (finally breaks out into thunderous
laughter) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
CURTAIN
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