The Ride Across Lake Constance and Other Plays by Peter Handke Page B

off, hesitates, softly ) You’ve understood?
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    ( Pause .)
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    JANNINGS
    ( Suddenly loud ) You’re just standing there, please hand me the bottle. (VON STROHEIM plays along, hands him the bottle. ) No, not that one, the other one! ( He points .) No, not that one, one can’t ask for anything any more. Yes, that’s the one! ( But he hands the bottle back to him at once .) Put it back in its place!
    VON STROHEIM
    ( Like a teacher who is playing a student ) Why?
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    JANNINGS
    Because you took it from its place. (VON STROHEIM nods, puts the bottle back .) No, not there. Back in its place, I said. Over there, right.

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    VON STROHEIM
    Why precisely there?
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    JANNINGS
    Because that’s where it stood before. (VON STROHEIM nods. ) Give me another bottle.
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    VON STROHEIM
    Why?
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    JANNINGS
    Because you gave me a bottle once before.
    VON STROHEIM
    That’s perfect! ( He hands him the bottle .)
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    JANNINGS
    You’re standing? (VON STROHEIM wants to sit down on a sofa. ) Back in your place! (VON STROHEIM sits down in his place. Playfully JANNINGs assigns the following roles: he hits the bottle neck with a teaspoon: GEORGE gets up. JANNINGS without looking at him ) Cartwheels! (GEORGE stands there .)
    VON STROHEIM
    ( Prompts him. ) Why?
    GEORGE
    Why?
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    JANNINGS
    Because you did a cartwheel before! ( Pause. GEORGE turns a cartwheel. JANNINGS hands him the magazine. GEORGE does not yet understand this language; he doesn’t know what to do with the magazine, glances into it. ) Hand it on.
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    GEORGE
    Why?

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    JANNINGS
    Didn’t you also hand on the pin before? ( Pause. GEORGE hands the magazine to VON STROHEIM; he gives it back to GEORGE as if the pages were mixed up. GEORGE understands: he arranges the pages and hands the magazine back to VON STROHEIM, who puts it on the table. JANNINGS pulls the second red cloth from under the cutlery on the table and lets it drop. He points to it with the spoon. Pause.) Well?
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    GEORGE
    Why?
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    JANNINGS
    Didn’t you just do a cartwheel?
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    GEORGE
    But how can you compare the two?
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    JANNINGS
    For whom, then, did you do the cartwheel?
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    GEORGE
    For you— ( He hesitates .)
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    JANNINGS
    â€œOf course” you wanted to say, right?
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    GEORGE
    For you, of course.
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    JANNINGS
    If you can do a cartwheel for me, you can also pick up a cloth for me.
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    ( Pause . )

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    GEORGE
    ( Wants to bend down for the cloth, hesitates .) But what if I don’t want to?
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    JANNINGS
    Now it’s too late for that. All the time you did as I asked you to and never said anything. You were content until now or you would have said something. So why should you be dissatisfied now? You didn’t contradict me at any time. Why should you be allowed to contradict me now? No, what you utter now doesn’t count any more. Do as I say! ( Pause. GEORGE picks up the cloth, wants to hand it to JANNINGS , who doesn’t even bother to extend his hand, hesitates, lets it drop again “as if his hand has fallen asleep.” Pause. JANNINGS in a sensible tone of voice ) Look at the others. ( He turns his head to VON STROHEIM, then to PORTEN. VON STROHEIM goes at once with the guitar—which he takes out of the bag while walking—up to BERGNER, sits down behind her and quaintly strikes two soft chords. PORTEN sits down on JANNINGS’S knees and makes herself comfortable.) If they do as they’re told—why don’t you too?
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    ( Pause .)
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    GEORGE
    But why do they do it?
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    JANNINGS
    First obey. Then we can talk about it. ( Pause. GEORGE hands him the cloth, which JANNINGS places picturesquely around PORTEN’S shoulders, and ties under her chin. To her) Well? ( She kisses him without moving her head .) Now ask!
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    GEORGE
    Why do they do that? Why do they listen to you?
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    (VON STROHEIM strikes another quaint chord .)

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    JANNINGS
    Because it is natural to them. They