You think so...?! AMADEUS Cecilia! (_He suddenly draws her closer to himself_) CECILIA (_with new hope lighting her glance_) What are you doing? AMADEUS (_putting his arms about her_) I now bid good-by to my beloved. CECILIA Forever. AMADEUS Forever. (_Pressing her hand_) And now I am welcoming my friend. CECILIA For all time to come--nothing but your friend. AMADEUS For all time...? Of course! CECILIA (_draws a deep breath_) AMADEUS Yes, Cecilia, don't you feel much easier all at once? CECILIA The whole thing seems very strange to me--like a dream almost. AMADEUS There is nothing strange about it. Nothing could possibly be simpler or more sensible. Life goes right on ... and all is well.... Come on, Cecilia--let us run through those songs. CECILIA What songs...? AMADEUS Don't you care? CECILIA Oh, why not?--With pleasure.... AMADEUS (_seating himself at the piano_) Really, I can't tell you how happy this makes me! There has practically been no change whatever. The uneasiness alone is gone ... that uneasiness of the last few weeks.... I have not had a very happy time lately. The sky has seemed so black above our house--and not only above _ours_. Now the clouds are vanishing. The whole world has actually grown light again. And I am going to write a symphony--oh, a symphony...! CECILIA Everything in due time.... Just now let us have one of those songs at least.... Oh, that one...? AMADEUS Don't you want it? CECILIA Oh, as it's there already.... AMADEUS Now, then--I start. (_He strikes the first chord_) Please don't put a lot of sentimentality into the opening words. They should be reserved and ponderous. CECILIA (_singing_) "No more to meet you was my firm...." AMADEUS Very fine. CECILIA O Amadeus! AMADEUS What is it? CECILIA I am afraid you will become too lenient now. AMADEUS Lenient...? You know perfectly well that, as artist considered, you have no rival in my eyes, and will never have one. CECILIA Really, Amadeus, you shouldn't be flirting with all your pupils. AMADEUS I have the greatest respect for you.--Now let's go in! CECILIA "No more to meet...." AMADEUS What's the matter? CECILIA Nothing. I haven't tried to sing anything like this for a long time. Go right on! AMADEUS (_begins playing again_) CECILIA "No more to meet you was my firm and sworn decision, and yet when evening comes, I...." CURTAIN THE SECOND ACT _The same room as in the previous act. It is an evening in October. The stage is dark. Marie and the chambermaid enter together. The maid turns on the light._ MARIE Thank you.--But if your mistress is tired, please tell her she mustn't let me disturb her. CHAMBERMAID She hasn't arrived yet. She's not expected until this evening. AMADEUS (_enters from the right, with hat and overcoat on_) Who is it?... Oh, is it you, Marie! Glad to see you. Have you been here long? MARIE No, I just got here. I meant to call on Cecilia, but I hear.... AMADEUS