[_Follows_ LEVY]. Mr. Levy, several points of view must be taken into consideration. The choir must be considered, for instance. YUDELSON I told you, I couldn’t give you yet. In half an hour I’ll know. LEVY In a half an hour it will be too late. I got to practise a little bit in advance with the choir, ain’t I? YUDELSON In half an hour it’ll be too late? For thirty years you waited the Cantor should get sick, you can wait another half hour! LEVY [_Undaunted_]. Brother Yudelson, you are the chairman from the Executive Committee, no? YUDELSON Brother Levy, I am the chairman of the Executive Committee. Make yourself a _tsimmes_ from it. LEVY All right—_all_ right. _Then_ you are the chairman from the Executive Committee. So I want to _ask_ you, who is the shamus of the Orchard Street Synagogue? Am I the shamus oder _ain’t_ I the shamus? [_The argument has reached its vociferous height when suddenly the door is opened and_ JACK _stands on the threshold. His appearance cuts the noise of the three men in the room as if with a knife. They stare at him open-mouthed. He is out of breath. He is a young man who has made a grave decision, and that decision has already given him a new dignity. In an instant, pale and quiet, he is by_ YUDELSON’s _side._] YUDELSON [_The first of the three to recover_]. Jakie! JACK Yudelson, get me a praying shawl, and see if you can find a plush skull cap like the Cantor’s, only a little smaller. YUDELSON [_Triumphantly_]. A praying shawl and a skull cap! Jakie is going to sing! CLARENCE Jack is going to sing! [_He rushes out with the news._] YUDELSON Levy, get a praying shawl and a skull cap, quick! LEVY Where could I find— YUDELSON You’re the shamus, ain’t you? For a shamus it ain’t hard to find plenty praying shawls. LEVY [_Moves to the door, protestingly_]. He’s going to sing? A young boy from Broadway! What does he know from Shool? The committee is making a big mistake—[_He goes._] YUDELSON [_Calls after him_]. I’ll speak from this at the next committee meeting. [_Moves over to_ JACK, _deep feeling in his voice._] Jakie, I’m so glad you came.... I’m so glad. [JACK _moves to the_ CANTOR’s _room._] Where you going? JACK To see my father. YUDELSON He ain’t there. [JACK _stops._] We just took him to the hospital. JACK [_Dazed_]. Hospital? YUDELSON Yes. Gouverneur Hospital. [_Pause._]