The Melting-Pot

Ach so-so-SO! Das ist etwas neues!

[His umbrella begins to beat time, moving more and more

vigorously, till at last he is conducting elaborately, stretching

out his left palm for pianissimo passages, and raising it

vigorously for forte, with every now and then an exclamation. ] Wunderschön!... pianissimo!-now the flutes! Clarinets! Ach, ergötzlich ... bassoons and drums!... Fortissimo!... Kolossal! Kolossal!

[Conducting in a fury of enthusiasm.]

VERA [Clapping her hands]

Bravo! Bravo! I'm so excited!

QUINCY [Yawning]

Then it isn't bad, Poppy?

PAPPELMEISTER [Not listening, never ceasing to conduct]

Und de harp solo ... ach, reizend! ... Second violins--!

QUINCY

But Poppy! We can't be here all day.

PAPPELMEISTER [Not listening, continuing pantomime action]

Sh! Sh! Piano.

QUINCY [Outraged]

Sh to me!

[Rises.]

VERA

He doesn't know it's you.

QUINCY

But look here, Poppy--

[He seizes the wildly-moving umbrella. Blank stare of

PAPPELMEISTER gradually returning to consciousness.]

PAPPELMEISTER

Was giebt's...?

QUINCY

We've had enough.

PAPPELMEISTER [Indignant]

Enough? Enough? Of such a beaudiful symphony?

QUINCY

It may be beautiful to you, but to us it's damn dull. See here, Poppy, if you're satisfied that the young fellow has sufficient talent to be sent to study in Germany--

PAPPELMEISTER

In Germany! Germany has nodings to teach him, he has to teach Germany.

VERA

Bravo!

[She springs up.]

MENDEL

I always said he was a genius!

QUINCY

Well, at that rate you could put this stuff of his in one of my programmes. Sinfonia Americana, eh?

VERA

Oh, that is good of you.

PAPPELMEISTER

I should be broud to indroduce it to de vorld.

VERA

And will it be played in that wonderful marble music-room overlooking the Hudson?

QUINCY

Sure. Before five hundred of the smartest folk in America.

MENDEL

Oh, thank you, thank you. That will mean fame!

QUINCY

And dollars. Don't forget the dollars.

MENDEL

I'll run and tell him.

[He hastens into the kitchen, PAPPELMEISTER is re-absorbed in

the MS., but no longer conducting.]

QUINCY

You see, I'll help even a Jew for your sake.

VERA

Hush!

[Indicating PAPPELMEISTER.]

QUINCY

Oh, Poppy's in the moon.

VERA

You must help him for his own sake, for art's sake.

QUINCY

And why not for heart's sake-for my sake?

[He comes nearer.]

VERA [Crossing to PAPPELMEISTER]

Herr Pappelmeister! When do you think you can produce it?

PAPPELMEISTER

Wunderbar!...

[Becoming half-conscious of VERA] Four lumps....

[Waking up] Bitte?

VERA

How soon can you produce it?

PAPPELMEISTER

How soon can he finish it?

VERA

Isn't it finished?

PAPPELMEISTER

I see von Finale scratched out and anoder not quite completed. But anyhow, ve couldn't broduce it before Saturday fortnight.

QUINCY

Saturday fortnight! Not time to get my crowd.

PAPPELMEISTER

Den ve say Saturday dree veeks. Yes?

QUINCY

Yes. Stop a minute! Did you say Saturday? That's my comic opera night! You thief!

PAPPELMEISTER

Somedings must be sagrificed.

MENDEL [Outside]