Mayor
Everything is going to be all right!
Gschwendtner
Everything is going to be all right – yes – and they’re not going to get it out of our hands before the last one dies . . . by God.
Gschwendtnerin
Well Mayor, come in!
Mayor
I can’t, farmer woman. You hear what’s going on in the town and I must bring a couple more messages.
Gschwendtnerin
Oh my! What is going to become of us?
Mayor
Two of mine have to go – on the Lenz farm three even.
Gschwendtner
And in the middle of the harvest!
Mayor
Yes, there aren’t going to be enough people. We will long remember these days . . . but now it’s time to go. Good-bye, folks. [Leaves the window.]
Gschwendtner
Good-bye, Mayor!
During the last scene, Seppl and Loni exited stage right through the doors. The bells have stopped ringing.
Martin
I’m going to go see what’s going on. Eventually, I’ll go say good-bye to Hans. [Exits stage right.]
It is getting darker. Gschwendtnerin sits down on a chair and brings her apron up to her eyes again and again. She is crying quietly and steadily, not hysterically. Gschwendtner has gone to the window and is looking outside. In the distance, Gschwendtner hears one or two “Yahoos.” He turns around and looks at his wife.
Gschwendtner [well-meaning]
Come on mother, you don’t have to cry!
Gschwendtnerin
Here I brought up a child, caring and worrying until the kid grew up and now he has to go!
Gschwendtner
He’ll return.
Gschwendtnerin
People must not know how it is for a mother to bring up a child; otherwise they wouldn’t fight any wars.
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