Yeh, like a nanny goat! Nu, what can I do? I’ll explain to your mama the best way I can. JACK Yes, try to explain to them, Yudelson. YUDELSON You’re sure you can’t come? JACK [_With feeling_]. You wouldn’t have to ask me twice. You know I’d come if I could. YUDELSON [_Shrugs shoulders_]. All right, Jakie. Well, goodbye. Leshono Tovo Tikosamu. JACK Thank you. Happy New Year to you, too. YUDELSON Look! He remembers! [_He goes._] GENE [_Off-stage_]. Dress rehearsal just starting. Everybody concerned in the opening on stage! [_From off-stage come the bustling sounds of final preparations for the dress rehearsal._ JACK _is standing motionless where_ YUDELSON _left him. A brown velvet drop comes down._ JACK _is the figure of a tragic Pierrot as he stands against this simple background in his ludicrously wide comedy pants and his ludicrously short comedy coat.... He turns ... finds himself sitting on the trunk alone, heavy-hearted._ LEE _comes bustling in. He goes over to table, not seeing_ JACK. _He is busy with a manuscript for a few seconds, then he feels_ JACK’s _presence; looks up._] LEE Well, Jack, that old boy from the East Side has gone, eh? JACK [_Barely raising his head_]. Yes, he’s gone. LEE [_Goes over to_ JACK]. Talked him out of it, did you? JACK [_Slowly_]. Yes, I talked him out of it. LEE I knew you could do it! You’re clever enough to get away with anything.... Just think of it, one more rehearsal and then the big opening. Aren’t you thrilled? Tomorrow everybody will be talking about you. JACK [_To himself, in barely audible tones_]. This is the first time in his life he won’t be able to sing in the synagogue.... LEE What’s that, Jack? JACK [_He rises, with a visible effort to shake himself out of his mood. He turns to_ LEE _and begins walking off with the manager_]. Oh, yes, Mr. Lee. I’ll do the best I can tonight—I only hope I won’t disappoint you. [_The words are scarcely out of_ JACK’s _mouth when music is heard blaring off-stage, and the lights black out._] CURTAIN SCENE 2 Scene 2: JACK’s _dressing room a few minutes later._ JACK _enters looking very unhappy. Automatically he glances at himself in the mirror, takes off his tie, his coat, his trousers, revealing another pair underneath. Then he sits down before the mirror. There is a knock at the door._ JACK Come in.