The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann, Volume IHauptmann, Gerhart
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The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann, Volume I
Hauptmann, Gerhart
German drama -- Translations into English
What do you mean by that?
RAUCHHAUPT
Oh, I was just thinkin'.
[_He withdraws, together with the children._
THE CURTAIN FALLS
THE THIRD ACT
_The court-room of JUSTICE VON WEHRHAHN. A large, white-washed room
level with the ground. The main door is in the left wall. Along the
wall to the right is the large official table covered with books,
documents, etc. Behind it stands the chair of the justice. By the
middle window, small table and chair for the clerk of the court. In
the foreground, right, a book case of soft wood, and on the left
wall, shelves for documents and records. A small door in the
background. Several chairs._
_GLASENAPP sits at his small table. The JUSTICE'S chair is
unoccupied._
_In front of the official table DR. BOXER, LANGHEINRICH in his
uniform of a captain of the fire brigade, EDE and THREE FIREMEN are
waiting. They are engaged in a rather excited conversation. All are
red with heat, stained with mud, wet and sooty._
_MRS. SCHULZE, somewhat pale, is resting in a chair and waiting
likewise. She is in a very thoughtful mood. Repeatedly she takes off
her headkerchief and puts it on again and arranges her grey hair._
_The action takes place on the same day as that of the first act,
five hours later._
_The conversation suddenly ceases._
_JUSTICE VON WEHRHAHN enters betraying a high degree of official
zeal. He covers his left eye with his left hand as though in pain,
sits down behind the table, takes his hand from his eye, which
twitches painfully, and begins._
WEHRHAHN
Well, what's the result of this wretched mess?
LANGHEINRICH
[_Noticeably stimulated by exertion, whiskey and beer._] I've come to
announce, Baron, that the whole business is burned down.
WEHRHAHN
[_Throwing down on the table an object which he has brought with him. It
is seen to be a photograph in a frame of deer feet._] That's because
you're all only half awake! You're all made that way. Yon drowse around
and do nothing. We're not three miles distant from Berlin; our entire
activity should have a different air!
EDE
[_Softly to DR. BOXER._] The fire did have air enough, eh?
LANGHEINRICH
Your honour....
WEHRHAHN
Never mind. I know all about it.
[_He pulls out his handkerchief, wipes the perspiration from his
forehead and taps his eye._
LANGHEINRICH
Your honour, I'd like to lay claim, humbly, to some credit ... We did our
part honestly. We was on the spot with the engine.
WEHRHAHN
Then get a better engine!
LANGHEINRICH
But if you can't get no water!
WEHRHAHN
You managed to get plenty of beer.
LANGHEINRICH
-----------?
EDE
Puttin' out a fire makes you thirsty!
WEHRHAHN
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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