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box 31/8
25. ProfBernhardi
18 PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY
ACT II.
Office of Professor Bernhardi. (Bookcases,
writing desk, medical appliances, pictures, and
statuarv busts of scientists. Oscar is seated
at his father’s desk. A bell rings and a serv¬
ant brings a card.
Oscar (to servant): Admit the gentleman.
(Enter Filitz. Handsome, blond, about for¬
ty vears old. Pince-nez.)
Filitz: Good morning, Doctor Oscar!
Where is your father?
Oscar: Good morning, Professor! Father
is with Prince Constantin. I expect him at
any moment.
Filitz: I cannot wait. Give your father a
message from me, which will be of some in¬
terest to you, also. My wife has been refus¬
ed admission today by the Princess Stixen¬
stein.
Oscar: Oh! maybe the Princess was not at
home.
Filitz: My wife has been asked, in her ca¬
pacity as President of the Ball Committee, to
appear beforc the patronesses of the Board of
Directors. 1 think this is significant.
(Enter Loewenstein. Medium height, small
eyes, spectacles, hanging shoulders, bent
knees. Excited manner. He carries a letter.)
Loewenstein (handing letter to Oscar): Here,
read it! The Princess Stixenstein has with¬
drawn from the Advisory Board of the Ball
Committee.
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: 4 PLAY 19•
Oscar: Without explanation?
Loewenstein: She did not consider it neces¬
sarv to give any.
Filitz: It is too evident to everyone.
Oscar: Why? Has that story about the
priest become public within a week?
Loewenstein: I knew as I heard of the scene
that it would be 'nuts' for certain people. No
one would have tried to exaggerate the harm¬
less incident into an affair if Bernhardi were¬
not a Jew.
Filitz: If a Christian had acted like Bern¬
hardi, it would have been an affair just the
same.
(Enter Bernhardi with his customary
smile.)
Bernhardi: Well, gentlemen! What’s the
matter? Are we burnt out, or did some one
leave us a million?
(Oscar hands him the letter.)
Oscar: The Princess has resigned from our
Ball Committee.
Bernhardi: Well! We will find another
patroness.
Filitz: I came here to tell you that the
Princess did not receive my wife today. Von
need not play the innocent, I want to know
what reparation you intend to make for the in¬
sult to my wife?
Bernhardi: Sayl really you are not in earn¬
est?
(Enter Cyprian): Are you also coming to
me because the Princess has resigned?
Cyprian: The ball is a second considera¬
tion—
8
box 31/8
25. ProfBernhardi
18 PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY
ACT II.
Office of Professor Bernhardi. (Bookcases,
writing desk, medical appliances, pictures, and
statuarv busts of scientists. Oscar is seated
at his father’s desk. A bell rings and a serv¬
ant brings a card.
Oscar (to servant): Admit the gentleman.
(Enter Filitz. Handsome, blond, about for¬
ty vears old. Pince-nez.)
Filitz: Good morning, Doctor Oscar!
Where is your father?
Oscar: Good morning, Professor! Father
is with Prince Constantin. I expect him at
any moment.
Filitz: I cannot wait. Give your father a
message from me, which will be of some in¬
terest to you, also. My wife has been refus¬
ed admission today by the Princess Stixen¬
stein.
Oscar: Oh! maybe the Princess was not at
home.
Filitz: My wife has been asked, in her ca¬
pacity as President of the Ball Committee, to
appear beforc the patronesses of the Board of
Directors. 1 think this is significant.
(Enter Loewenstein. Medium height, small
eyes, spectacles, hanging shoulders, bent
knees. Excited manner. He carries a letter.)
Loewenstein (handing letter to Oscar): Here,
read it! The Princess Stixenstein has with¬
drawn from the Advisory Board of the Ball
Committee.
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: 4 PLAY 19•
Oscar: Without explanation?
Loewenstein: She did not consider it neces¬
sarv to give any.
Filitz: It is too evident to everyone.
Oscar: Why? Has that story about the
priest become public within a week?
Loewenstein: I knew as I heard of the scene
that it would be 'nuts' for certain people. No
one would have tried to exaggerate the harm¬
less incident into an affair if Bernhardi were¬
not a Jew.
Filitz: If a Christian had acted like Bern¬
hardi, it would have been an affair just the
same.
(Enter Bernhardi with his customary
smile.)
Bernhardi: Well, gentlemen! What’s the
matter? Are we burnt out, or did some one
leave us a million?
(Oscar hands him the letter.)
Oscar: The Princess has resigned from our
Ball Committee.
Bernhardi: Well! We will find another
patroness.
Filitz: I came here to tell you that the
Princess did not receive my wife today. Von
need not play the innocent, I want to know
what reparation you intend to make for the in¬
sult to my wife?
Bernhardi: Sayl really you are not in earn¬
est?
(Enter Cyprian): Are you also coming to
me because the Princess has resigned?
Cyprian: The ball is a second considera¬
tion—
8