THOROUGH YOUNG LADY—Now, if you don’t mind, we will go over the lot from
the beginning. Seeing so many kinds gets one all confused.
PHILIP—Just as you say, madame.
OSCAR—[_Re-enters with a box._] How do you like these, sir? [_Puts it on
the counter._]
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—Too loud. Much too loud. I want something very quiet.
OSCAR—[_Greatly perturbed._] If I only knew where they were. [_In
perplexity._] Quiet, quiet, quiet ... [_Looks at PHILIP._] If I only knew
where those ... [_As PHILIP ignores him, he raises his voice._] They used
to be kept here on the third shelf.
JUHASZ—[_Grudgingly, angrily._] Fourth shelf ... on the end. [_PHILIP
angrily bangs a box down on the counter._]
OSCAR—My God! [_Startled, puts his hand over his heart._] Thank you,
thank you, sir! ... On the end ... [_Transported with joy._] Very kind of
you, sir! [_He is almost weeping._] Fourth shelf ... on the end. Thank
you, sir!
DISSATISFIED LADY—[_Who has by this time accumulated a handful of
neckties._] That will be all. ... Just these ten.
JUHASZ—[_Going to the cashier’s desk._] We will send them this afternoon,
madame.
DISSATISFIED LADY—How much do I owe?
JUHASZ—Five times seven ... and five times five fifty.... Sixty-two fifty.
DISSATISFIED LADY—[_Gives him a hundred krone note._] If you please.
JUHASZ—[_Has gone behind the cashier’s desk._] Sixty-two fifty. [_Rings
the cash register, makes change._] And fifty are sixty-three, ninety, one
hundred. Thank you.
DISSATISFIED LADY—This afternoon without fail.
OSCAR—[_Raises his head._] 16 Nador Street, Fourth Floor, Apartment 1.
DISSATISFIED LADY—That’s right. Good day. [_She exits. JUHASZ escorts her
to the door, closes it after her, turns, glares at OSCAR and comes toward
him slowly._]
OSCAR—[_Watches him come, fearfully, as if he expected to have his ears
boxed._] One with blue stars, these with the white squares, and would you
like these violet dots, and these with the very dainty circles, and
these....
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—Hold on. I only want three. Let me see. [_He examines
the socks. JUHASZ passes them slowly, and goes to the THOROUGH YOUNG LADY
whom PHILIP is showing a bath-robe._]
THOROUGH YOUNG LADY—It looks like a night-gown.
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—Put these three aside.
JUHASZ—[_Who is standing now between the two counters._] Show the lady
those hooded robes.
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—[_Rises._] And now quickly, for I am late, a white cap,
please.
OSCAR—[_Looks at JUHASZ._] A white cap.
JUHASZ—[_Looks at OSCAR sternly._] _I’ll_ get it for the gentleman. [_He
exits through the archway._]
OSCAR—[_Crestfallen._] The chief will bring it right in, sir. [_There is
a pause. OSCAR rubs his hands._] We have some very nice neckwear.
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—I don’t need any, thanks.
OSCAR—Tennis shoes?
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—Thank you, no.
OSCAR—Sport shirts?
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—[_Nervously._] Don’t need any. I need a white cap.
Nothing else. [_A brief pause._]
OSCAR—Belts?
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—No.
OSCAR—[_With a furtive glance at PHILIP._] Bathrobes? [_The NERVOUS
GENTLEMAN shakes his head._] White gaiters?
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—[_Sharply._] Thank you, no! [_Rises._] I asked for a
white cap. [_A brief pause._]
OSCAR—Nice walking stick?
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—[_Crossly._] No ... A cap is what I asked for.
OSCAR—[_Offended._] It will be here right away. [_Crosses to the table
down left, takes a stick from the rack which stands there, flourishes
it._] This is a very unusual stick, sir.
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—I said I didn’t want one.
OSCAR—Yes, sir. [_He flourishes the stick, demonstrating its lightness.
The NERVOUS GENTLEMAN sullenly watches him balancing it, bending it,
testing its suppleness._]
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—Let me see.
OSCAR—[_Gives it to him._] Light as a feather.
NERVOUS GENTLEMAN—[_Balances and bends it._] I don’t need it. [_Returns
it to OSCAR._] I have more sticks now than I can use.