The Melting-Pot

I don't ask you to carry mountains, but to drop the mountains you carry-the mountains of prejudice. Wait till you see him.

BARON

I will not see him.

VERA

Then you will hear him-he is going to make music for all the world. You can't escape him, papasha, you with your love of music, any more than you escaped Rubinstein.

BARONESS

Rubinstein vas not a Jew.

VERA

Rubinstein was a Jewish boy-genius, just like my David.

BARONESS

But his parents vere baptized soon after his birth. I had it from his patroness, ze Grande Duchesse Helena Pavlovna.

VERA

And did the water outside change the blood within? Rubinstein was our Court pianist and was decorated by the Tsar. And you, the Tsar's servant, dare to say you could not meet a Rubinstein.

BARON [Wavering]

I did not say I could not meet a Rubinstein.

VERA

You practically said so. David will be even greater than Rubinstein. Come, father, I'll telephone for him; he is only round the corner.

BARONESS [Excitedly]

Ve vill not see him!

VERA [Ignoring her]

He shall bring his violin and play to you. There! You see, little father, you are already less frowning-now take that last wrinkle out of your forehead.

[She caresses his forehead.] Never mind! David will smooth it out with his music as his Biblical ancestor smoothed that surly old Saul.

BARONESS

Ve vill not hear him!

BARON

Silence, Katusha! Oh, my little Vera, I little thought when I let you study music at Petersburg--

VERA [Smiling wheedlingly]

That I should marry a musician. But you see, little father, it all ends in music after all. Now I will go and perform on the telephone, I'm not angel enough to bear one in here.

[She goes toward the door of the hall, smiling happily. ]

BARON [With a last agonized cry of resistance]

Halt!

VERA [Turning, makes mock military salute]

Yes, papasha.

BARON [Overcome by her roguish smile]

You-I-he-do you love this J-this David so much?

VERA [Suddenly tragic]

It would kill me to give him up.

[Resuming smile] But don't let us talk of funerals on this happy day of sunshine and reunion.

[She kisses her hand to him and exit toward the hall.]

BARONESS [Angrily]

You are in her hands as vax!

BARON

She is the only child I have ever had, Katusha. Her baby arms curled round my neck; in her baby sorrows her wet face nestled against little father's.

[He drops on a chair, and leans his head on the table.]

BARONESS [Approaching tauntingly]

So you vill have a Jew son-in-law!

BARON

You don't know what it meant to me to feel her arms round me again.

BARONESS

And a hook-nosed brat to call you grandpapa, and nestle his greasy face against yours.

BARON [Banging his fist on the table]

Don't drive me mad!

[His head drops again.]

BARONESS

Then drive me home-I vill not meet him.... Alexis!

[She taps him on the shoulder with her parasol. He does not

move.] Alexis Ivanovitch! Do you not listen!...

[She stamps her foot.] Zen I go to ze hotel alone.

[She walks angrily toward the hall. Just before she reaches the

door, it opens, and the servant ushers in HERR PAPPELMEISTER with

his umbrella. The BARONESS'S tone changes instantly to a sugared

society accent.] How do you do, Herr Pappelmeister?

[She extends her hand, which he takes limply.] You don't remember me? Non?

[Exit servant.] Ve vere with Mr. Quincy Davenport at Wiesbaden--ze Baroness Revendal.

PAPPELMEISTER

So!

[He drops her hand.]

BARONESS

Yes, it vas ze Baron's entousiasm for you zat got you your present position.

PAPPELMEISTER [Arching his eyebrows]

So!

BARONESS

Yes-zere he is!

[She turns toward the BARON.] Alexis, rouse yourself!

[She taps him with her parasol.] Zis American air makes ze Baron so sleepy.

BARON [Rises dazedly and bows]

Charmed to meet you, Herr--

BARONESS

Pappelmeister! You remember ze great Pappelmeister.

BARON [Waking up, becomes keen]

Ah, yes, yes, charmed-why do you never bring your orchestra to Russia, Herr Pappelmeister?

PAPPELMEISTER [Surprised]

Russia? It never occurred to me to go to Russia-she seems so uncivilised.

BARONESS [Angry]

Uncivilised! Vy, ve have ze finest restaurants in ze vorld! And ze best telephones!

PAPPELMEISTER

So?