voices are heard in enthusiastic shouting._] Great enthusiasm again! In a
moment they will raise Schmarowski and carry him on their shoulders. They
were about to do it a moment ago. [_A great, confused noise of huzzaing
voices floats into the room._] Well, do you see? Isn't that truly
uplifting?
LEONTINE
Mother, look, look who the workin'men is raisin' up! The workin'men is
raisin' him up!
MRS. FIELITZ
Who?
[_She rises convulsively and stares out._
LEONTINE
Don't you see who it is?
RAUCHHAUPT
Schmarowski.
EDE
That's how it is. I couldn't bear to see that there feller. But now ...
well ... he's got some sense an' he's fightin' for sensible
ideas--against arbitrary an' police power--now, well, I'll drink to his
health, too.
DR. BOXER
Well, of course, Ede, naturally you will!
_FIELITZ enters highly excited._
FIELITZ
Me ... me ... me ... me ... it was me that did it! Go on an' shout, an'
shout! It's that there feller that they lifts up! Let 'em. But I don't
make no speeches like that! Character, conscience--them's the main
things. Yes, it was me as paid an' me as built. But even if Wehrhahn went
an' dropped me--I don't let go my sound opinions! There's gotta be order!
There's gotta be morality! I'm for the monarchy right down to my marrow!
I don't envy him that there triumph!
DR. BOXER
Look here, Fielitz! Come over here to the light, will you? I'd like to
examine your eyes.--Don't your pupils move at all?
MRS. FIELITZ
[_Pants swiftly and convulsively, throws her hands high up as if in joy,
and cries out half in rapture, half in terror:_] Julius!
LEONTINE
Mama! Mama!
EDE
She's gone to sleep.
LEONTINE
[_Appealing to the DOCTOR._] Mother is swingin' her arms around so!
DR. BOXER
Who? Where? Mrs. Fielitz?
LEONTINE
Look! Look!
EDE
[_Laughing._] Is she tryin' to catch sparrows in the air?
_DR. BOXER has turned from FIELITZ to MRS. FIELITZ._
DR. BOXER
Mrs. Fielitz!
_FIELITZ unconcerned by the events in the room, walks excitedly up
and down in the background. RAUCHHAUPT is tensely watching from the
window what takes place without._
LEONTINE
What is it? Mother won't answer at all!
RAUCHHAUPT
I believe they're goin' to end by comin' over here!
DR. BOXER
What is it, Mrs. Fielitz? What are you trying to do? Why do you move your
hands about in that way?
MRS. FIELITZ
[_Reaching out strangely with both hands._] You reaches ... you reaches
... always this way ...
DR. BOXER
After what?
MRS. FIELITZ
[_As before._] You always reaches out after ... somethin' ...
[_Her arms drop and she falls silent._
LEONTINE
[_To DR. BOXER._] Is she sleepin'?
DR. BOXER
[_Seriously._] Yes, she has fallen asleep. But keep all those people back
now.
RAUCHHAUPT
The whole crowd is comin' over here.
DR. BOXER
[_Emphatically._] Keep them back! Ede! Turn them back at once!
_EDE runs out._
LEONTINE
Doctor, what's happened to mother?
DR. BOXER
Your mother has ...
LEONTINE
What, what?
DR. BOXER
[_Significantly._] Has fallen asleep.
LEONTINE'S
[_Face assumes an expression of horror; she is about to shriek. DR. BOXER
takes hold of her vigorously and puts his hand over her mouth. She
regains a measure of self-control._] But, Doctor, she was talkin' just
now...?
DR. BOXER
[_Gently draws LEONTINE forward with his left hand and places his right
upon the forehead of the dead woman._] So she was. And from now on she
takes her fill of silence.
_In the background FIELITZ, careless of what has happened, regards
his eyes sharply and intently in a hand mirror._
THE CURTAIN FALLS