Scene One
A theatre dressing room, Lodz, Poland, 1867. Evening.
An opulent room â all gilt and velvet. The room is dark. We see a dressing table with a lamp. A chaise longue and a mirror. A costume dummy next to a silk screen. There is a large trunk nearby. It is raining outside.
The main door opens and Casimir, German, 20s, enters. He hides in the shadows. A woman follows him in, they shouldnât be here. This is Halina, 20s, Polish. She closes the door.
Halina Casimir? Casimir. Mach keinen Unsinn. Wo bist Du?
[Casimir? . . . Casimir, donât mess around . . . where are you?]
Casimir Buh!
[Boo!]
She jumps.
Halina Mein Gott! Du bist ja furchtbar!
[Oh my god! Youâre terrible.]
Casimir Und Du bist suess.
[And youâre lovely.]
Halina Schau mal dieses Zimmer an . . .
[Look at this room . . .]
Casimir Lieber wuerde ich Dich angucken.
[Iâd rather look at you.]
Halina Es ist hier furchtbar still.
[Itâs very quiet in here.]
He kisses her. She stumbles back. He catches her.
Casimir Achtung.
[Steady.]
Halina Tut mir leid, ich bin so ungeschickt. Was ist denn da drin?
[Sorry, Iâm so clumsy. Whatâs in here?]
She goes to the trunk and tries to open it but canât.
Casimir Kostueme, wahrscheinlich. Und Zubehoer.
[Costumes probably. Personal props.]
Halina Du kennst Dich aber gut aus.
[You know everything.]
Casimir Und Du duftest nach Erdbeeren.
[And you smell of strawberries.]
He goes to kiss her again. A loud thud outside the door makes Casimir and Halina jump. They hide.
The door swings opens and Terence, white, English, 50s, enters with a vanity case, a biscuit box under his arm, dragging a large, heavy suitcase.
Halina and Casimir freeze. Terence does not see them.
Terence For goodness sake . . .
He stumbles into the room lugging the case. He removes his wet coat and hangs it up.
Terence The red or the brocade, itâs not a hard decision. But give a king a choice . . . My own bloody fault.
As his eyes adjust he edges to the dressing table.
Terence And if itâs Lear why bring Shylock? O for a muse of logic. My back feels twice my age.
He puts the vanity case and biscuit box down and finds the lamp. He opens the vanity case, brings out two birthday cards and a box of matches. He lights the lamp. Casimir edges silently to the door and motions to Halina who ignores him. Terence sees them.
Terence Oh my giddy . . . ! You frightened the life out of me . . . What on earth are you doing in here?
Casimir Verzeihung, mein Herr . . . Wir haben uns verirrt. Verzeihung, bitte. Wir gehen schon.
[So sorry, sir . . . We got lost, Iâm so sorry . . . weâre going now.]
Terence Who gave you permission to . . .?
Halina Good evening . . . Iâm from the Lodz Times . . .
Terence I beg your pardon?
Casimir Was hast Du gerade gesagst?
[What are you saying?]
Halina Iâm from top Polish paper, Lodz . . .
Terence Iâm sorry how did you get in here?
Halina Casimir was giving me tour . . .
Terence A tour . . .?
Casimir Du sprichst Englisch?
[You speak English?]
Halina Mr Aldridge is here?
Terence These are private rooms. Now if you donât mind . . .
Terence marches to the door and opens it for them to leave.
Casimir moves, Halina does not.
Halina I wrote an appointment. So I am here.
Terence All interviews were cancelled . . .
Casimir Ich verstehe nicht, was sie sagt, aber ich . . .
[I donât understand what sheâs saying but Iâm . . .]
Terence This is absolutely unacceptable . . .
Halina Mr Aldridge . . . is . . . is being ill?
Terence Who told you that?
Casimir Was sagst Du jetzt?
[What are you talking about?]
Halina Heâs been in Lodz ten days . . .
Casimir Er scheint mir recht zornig.
[Heâs looking really annoyed.]
Terence A chest cold, nothing more . . . Show her out. Get-her-out.
Casimir takes her arm, she shrugs him off. Terence lays the suitcase down and starts to open it.
Casimir Wir sollten gehen.
[We have to go.]
Halina A few questions, no problem.
Terence . . . Show her out the same way you showed her in.
Casimir Das war nicht meine Absicht. Ich hatte keine Ahnung, dass sie . . . Verzeihung, mein Herr . . .
[I didnât mean to. I had no idea that she . . . Iâm so sorry, sir . . .]
Ira (off stage) Terence! Terence!
Terence For pityâs sake! . . . Get out now!
Terence motions them out. Halina does not move.
Terence Youâve no idea, no idea . . .
Ira (off stage) Why is there no one to meet me! Where the devil . . .!
Terence God help me!
Terence rushes out.
Ira (off stage) Get this...