Gschwendtner
And he was such a happy worker, and he learned every chore correctly and fast – and he was good at it. You don’t find ‘em like that very often.
Gschwendtnerin
And a good soul and a good boy . . .
Gschwendtner
[Touching her hand]
You brought something special into the world with him, Ma. He sure has given us real pleasure . . .
Gschwendtnerin
Yeah, and now he’s going to be done in and we don’t know what for . . .
Gschwendtner
[Takes her hand gently]
You shouldn’t say that, Ma!
Gschwendtnerin
But it’s true. What do we have to do with the whole thing? People like us only want peace and quiet to be able to do their work.
Gschwendtner
[Quiet and without pathos]
But the others just don’t want to leave us alone!
Gschwendtnerin
What do they know about us?
Gschwendtner [grimly]
Nothing or too little. Otherwise they wouldn’t be starting it up with us. [Once again kindly.] Now, Ma, we know very well why our boy has to go. [Gets up.] Everything’s at stake here.
Gschwendtnerin [sighing]
How did that come up?
Gschwendtner
We can’t think about that. But this we know, that we are not bad folks whose life you can just take or give. And we won’t give up our ground, which was worked by our forefathers and by us as well. We won’t let them desecrate the ground where our fathers and our mothers are buried and where we are going to be buried, too . . . honorably and in peace . . . [He gets angry.] Lord God, one didn’t ever think that bad hands would reach for that which is most important to us. And only out of ill will, because we are too unimportant, too insignificant to them . . . [Screams.] Do you think I will watch and stay behind the oven? Do you think I’m too old, that I wouldn’t also like to take a gun? . . .
During the last few words Hans has entered from left in his blue uniform; the cap has been put on slightly tilted; in his right hand he is carrying a small suitcase.
Hans [lively]
Well, Papa, are you going to report for active duty with me?
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