Brecht Collected Plays: 1: Baal; Drums in the Night; In the Jungle of Cities; Life of Edward II of England; & 5 One Act Plays: "Baal", "Drums in the Night", "In the Jungle of Ci (World Classics) by Bertolt Brecht Page A
Authors: Bertolt Brecht
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MURK: Really? The other fellow?
ANNA: I wasn’t saying anything about the other fellow.
MURK: But there he is, and there he hangs, and there he walks.
ANNA: That was something absolutely different. That was something you’ll never understand, because it was spiritual.
MURK: And between you and me, that’s carnal?
ANNA: Between you and me, that’s nothing.
MURK: What about now? It’s something now all right.
ANNA: You don’t know anything about it.
MURK: Ha, it’ll be a different tune before long.
ANNA: Think what you like.
MURK: I’m asking for your hand.
ANNA: Is that your way of saying you love me?
MURK: That’ll come presently.
ANNA: After all, it’s a box factory.
MURK: You little tart, you! Didn’t they hear anything last night either?
ANNA: Oh, Friedrich! They sleep like dormice!
Snuggles up to him
.
MURK: Not like us.
ANNA: Gangster!
MURK
pulls her to him but kisses her coolly
: Tart!
ANNA: Quiet a moment. That’s a train passing in the night.
Hear it? Sometimes I’m frightened he’s going to turn up. I get shivers all down my back.
MURK: That Egyptian mummy? Leave him to me. Here, let me tell you something: he’s got to get out. No stiffs in bed between you and me. I’m not standing for another man in my bed.
ANNA: Don’t get annoyed. Will you forgive me, Friedrich?
MURK: Saint Andrew Kragler? Imagination! He’ll last as long after our wedding as after his own funeral. Bet on it?
Laughs
. I bet – a baby.
ANNA
hiding her face against him
: Oh, don’t say such things, Friedrich.
MURK
stoutly
: Trust me!
To the door
. Come in, Mother. Evening, Father.
FRAU BALICKE
immediately behind the door
: Oh, children!
Bursts into tears
. What a wonderful surprise!
BALICKE : Difficult birth, what?
Mutual embraces and emotion
.
MURK: Triplets! When shall we have the wedding? Time’s money.
BALICKE: Three weeks would suit me. The twin beds are in good shape. Supper, Mother!
FRAU BALICKE: In a moment, in a moment, just let me get my breath.
Hurrying out
. What a wonderful surprise!
MURK: May I have the pleasure of inviting you to split a bottle with me at the Piccadilly Bar tonight? I’m for celebrating our engagement right away, aren’t you, Anna?
ANNA: If we must.
BALICKE: Here, though. Why the Piccadilly Bar? Are you in your right mind?
MURK
uneasily
: Not here. Definitely not here.
BALICKE: Well, what next?
ANNA: He’s funny. So come along to the Piccadilly Bar, then.
BALICKE: Tonight of all nights! At the risk of one’s life!
FRAU BALICKE
enters with the maid
,
bringing supper
: Here you are, children. Everything comes to him who waits. Take your places, gentlemen.
They stuff
.
BALICKE
raises his glass
: To the happy pair!
Clinking glasses
.
Times are uncertain. The war’s over. This pork is too fatty, Amalie. Now the demobilization’s washing greed, disorder and swinish inhumanity into the still backwaters of peaceful labour.
MURK: Where we turn out ammunition boxes, cheers! Cheers, Anna!
BALICKE: Doubtful characters appearing on the scene, shady gentlemen. The government’s being far too soft withthose scavengers of the revolution.
Opens a newspaper
. The masses are all worked up and without any ideals. And worst of all – I can say it here – the troops back from the front, shabby, half-savage adventurers who’ve lost the habit of working and hold nothing sacred. Truly a difficult time, Anna, a man’s worth his weight in gold. Hold on to him. It’ll be up to you two to win through, but always as a couple, mind you, always winning through, cheers!
He winds up a gramophone
.
MURK
wiping away perspiration
: Bravo! You’ve got to be a man to come through. You want a pair of elbows and nails in your boots, and the right looks and no backward glances. What’s to stop us, Anna? I’m from the bottom myself. Errand boy, shop floor, a turn of the hand here and there, picked up a thing or two. The whole of Germany’s worked its way up like
MURK: Really? The other fellow?
ANNA: I wasn’t saying anything about the other fellow.
MURK: But there he is, and there he hangs, and there he walks.
ANNA: That was something absolutely different. That was something you’ll never understand, because it was spiritual.
MURK: And between you and me, that’s carnal?
ANNA: Between you and me, that’s nothing.
MURK: What about now? It’s something now all right.
ANNA: You don’t know anything about it.
MURK: Ha, it’ll be a different tune before long.
ANNA: Think what you like.
MURK: I’m asking for your hand.
ANNA: Is that your way of saying you love me?
MURK: That’ll come presently.
ANNA: After all, it’s a box factory.
MURK: You little tart, you! Didn’t they hear anything last night either?
ANNA: Oh, Friedrich! They sleep like dormice!
Snuggles up to him
.
MURK: Not like us.
ANNA: Gangster!
MURK
pulls her to him but kisses her coolly
: Tart!
ANNA: Quiet a moment. That’s a train passing in the night.
Hear it? Sometimes I’m frightened he’s going to turn up. I get shivers all down my back.
MURK: That Egyptian mummy? Leave him to me. Here, let me tell you something: he’s got to get out. No stiffs in bed between you and me. I’m not standing for another man in my bed.
ANNA: Don’t get annoyed. Will you forgive me, Friedrich?
MURK: Saint Andrew Kragler? Imagination! He’ll last as long after our wedding as after his own funeral. Bet on it?
Laughs
. I bet – a baby.
ANNA
hiding her face against him
: Oh, don’t say such things, Friedrich.
MURK
stoutly
: Trust me!
To the door
. Come in, Mother. Evening, Father.
FRAU BALICKE
immediately behind the door
: Oh, children!
Bursts into tears
. What a wonderful surprise!
BALICKE : Difficult birth, what?
Mutual embraces and emotion
.
MURK: Triplets! When shall we have the wedding? Time’s money.
BALICKE: Three weeks would suit me. The twin beds are in good shape. Supper, Mother!
FRAU BALICKE: In a moment, in a moment, just let me get my breath.
Hurrying out
. What a wonderful surprise!
MURK: May I have the pleasure of inviting you to split a bottle with me at the Piccadilly Bar tonight? I’m for celebrating our engagement right away, aren’t you, Anna?
ANNA: If we must.
BALICKE: Here, though. Why the Piccadilly Bar? Are you in your right mind?
MURK
uneasily
: Not here. Definitely not here.
BALICKE: Well, what next?
ANNA: He’s funny. So come along to the Piccadilly Bar, then.
BALICKE: Tonight of all nights! At the risk of one’s life!
FRAU BALICKE
enters with the maid
,
bringing supper
: Here you are, children. Everything comes to him who waits. Take your places, gentlemen.
They stuff
.
BALICKE
raises his glass
: To the happy pair!
Clinking glasses
.
Times are uncertain. The war’s over. This pork is too fatty, Amalie. Now the demobilization’s washing greed, disorder and swinish inhumanity into the still backwaters of peaceful labour.
MURK: Where we turn out ammunition boxes, cheers! Cheers, Anna!
BALICKE: Doubtful characters appearing on the scene, shady gentlemen. The government’s being far too soft withthose scavengers of the revolution.
Opens a newspaper
. The masses are all worked up and without any ideals. And worst of all – I can say it here – the troops back from the front, shabby, half-savage adventurers who’ve lost the habit of working and hold nothing sacred. Truly a difficult time, Anna, a man’s worth his weight in gold. Hold on to him. It’ll be up to you two to win through, but always as a couple, mind you, always winning through, cheers!
He winds up a gramophone
.
MURK
wiping away perspiration
: Bravo! You’ve got to be a man to come through. You want a pair of elbows and nails in your boots, and the right looks and no backward glances. What’s to stop us, Anna? I’m from the bottom myself. Errand boy, shop floor, a turn of the hand here and there, picked up a thing or two. The whole of Germany’s worked its way up like
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