Pandora's Box: A Tragedy in Three ActsWedekind, Frank
General
Pandora's Box: A Tragedy in Three Acts
Wedekind, Frank
German drama -- Translations into English; Tragedies (Drama)
GESCHWITZ. (_As in a dream._) This is the last evening I shall spend
with these people. I'm going back to Germany. My mother'll send me
the money. I'll go to a university. I must fight for woman's rights;
study law.... (_Lulu shrieks, and tears open the door._)
LULU. (_Barefoot, in chemise and petticoat, holding the door shut
behind her._) Help!
GESCHWITZ. (_Rushes to the door, draws her revolver, and pushing Lulu
aside, aims it at the door. As Lulu again cries "Help!"_) Let go!
(_Jack, bent double, tears open the door from inside, and runs a
knife into Geschwitz's body. She fires one shot, at the roof, and
falls with suppressed crying, crumpling up. Jack tears her revolver
from her and throws himself against the exit-door._)
JACK. God damn! I never saw a prettier mouth! (_Sweat drips from his
hairy face. His hands are bloody. He pants, gasping violently, and
stares at the floor with eyes popping out of his head. Lulu,
trembling in every limb, looks wildly round. Suddenly she seizes the
bottle, smashes it on the table, and with the broken neck in her hand
rushes upon Jack. He swings up his right foot and throws her onto her
back. Then he lifts her up._)
LULU. No, no!--Mercy!--Murder!--Police! Police!
JACK. Be still. You'll never get away from me again. (_Carries her
in._)
LULU. (_Within, right._) No!--No!--No!-- --Ah!--Ah!...
(_After a pause, Jack re-enters. He puts the bowl on the table._)
JACK. That *was* a piece of work! (_Washing his hands._) I *am* a
damned lucky chap! (_Looks round for a towel._) Not even a towel,
these folks here! Hell of a wretched hole! (_He dries his hands on
Geschwitz's petticoat._) This invert is safe enough from me! (_To
her._) It'll soon be all up with you, too. (_Exit._)
GESCHWITZ. (_Alone._) Lulu!--My angel!--Let me see thee once more! I
am near thee--stay near thee--forever! (_Her elbows give way._) O
cursed--!! (_Dies._)
CURTAIN.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
The following printer's errors have been corrected:
"Faeulein" corrected to "Fraulein" (page 15)
"CASTI-PIANA" corrected to "CASTI-PIANI" (page 38)
"HEILMAN" corrected to "HEILMANN" (page 56)
"SCHIGLOCH" corrected to "SCHIGOLCH" (page 70)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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