The Melting-Pot

DAVID [Clinging to it]

Don't rob me of my music-it's all I have.

MENDEL

You'll spoil it in the wet. I'll take it home.

DAVID

No--

[He suddenly catches sight of two figures entering from the

left-FRAU QUIXANO and KATHLEEN clad in their best, and wearing

tiny American flags in honour of Independence Day. KATHLEEN

escorts the old lady, with the air of a guardian angel, on her

slow, tottering course toward DAVID. FRAU QUIXANO is puffing and

panting after the many stairs. DAVID jumps up in surprise,

releases the violin-case to MENDEL.] They at my symphony!

MENDEL

Mother would come-even though, being Shabbos, she had to walk.

DAVID

But wasn't she shocked at my playing on the Sabbath?

MENDEL

No-that's the curious part of it. She said that even as a boy you played your fiddle on Shabbos, and that if the Lord has stood it all these years, He must consider you an exception.

DAVID

You see! She's more sensible than you thought. I daresay whatever I were to do she'd consider me an exception.

MENDEL [In sullen acquiescence]

I suppose geniuses are.

KATHLEEN [Reaching them; panting with admiration and breathlessness]

Oh, Mr. David! it was like midnight mass! But the misthress was ashleep.

DAVID

Asleep!

[Laughs half-merrily, half-sadly.] Ha! Ha! Ha!

FRAU QUIXANO [Panting and laughing in response]

He! He! He! Dovidel lacht widder. He! He! He!

[She touches his arm affectionately, but feeling his wet coat,

utters a cry of horror.] Du bist nass!

DAVID

Es ist gor nicht, Granny-my clothes are thick.

[She fusses over him, wiping him down with her gloved hand. ]

MENDEL

But what brought you up here, Kathleen?

KATHLEEN

Sure, not the elevator. The misthress said 'twould be breaking the Shabbos to ride up in it.

DAVID [Uneasily]

But did--did Miss Revendal send you up?

KATHLEEN

And who else should be axin' the misthress if she wasn't proud of Mr. David? Faith, she's a sweet lady.

MENDEL [Impatiently]

Don't chatter, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN

But, Mr. Quixano--!

DAVID [Sweetly]

Please take your mistress down again-don't let her walk.

KATHLEEN

But Shabbos isn't out yet!

MENDEL

Chattering again!

DAVID [Gently]

There's no harm, Kathleen, in going down in the elevator.

KATHLEEN

Troth, I'll egshplain to her that droppin' down isn't ridin'.

DAVID [Smiling]

Yes, tell her dropping down is natural-not work, like flying up.

[Kathleen begins to move toward the stairs, explaining to FRAU

QUIXANO.] And, Kathleen! You'll get her some refreshments.

KATHLEEN [Turns, glaring]

Refrishments, is it? Give her refrishments where they mix the mate with the butther plates! Oh, Mr. David!

[She moves off toward the stairs in reproachful sorrow. ]

MENDEL [Smiling]

I'll get her some coffee.

DAVID [Smiling]

Yes, that'll keep her awake. Besides, Pappelmeister was so sure the people wouldn't understand me, he's relaxing them on Gounod and Rossini.

MENDEL

Pappelmeister's idea of relaxation! I should have given them comic opera.

[With sudden call to KATHLEEN, who with her mistress is at the

wrong exit.] Kathleen! The elevator's this side!

KATHLEEN [Turning]

What way can that be, when I came up this side?

MENDEL

You chatter too much.

[FRAU QUIXANO, not understanding, exit.] Come this way. Can't you see the elevator?

KATHLEEN [Perceives FRAU QUIXANO has gone, calls after her in

Irish-sounding Yiddish] Wu geht Ihr, bedad?...

[Impatiently] Houly Moses, komm' zurick!

[Exit anxiously, re-enter with FRAU QUIXANO.] Begorra, we Jews never know our way.

[MENDEL, carrying the violin, escorts his mother and KATHLEEN to

the elevator. When they are near it, it stops with a thud, and

PAPPELMEISTER springs out, his umbrella up, meeting them face to

face. He looks happy and beaming over DAVID'S triumph.]

PAPPELMEISTER [In loud, joyous voice]

Nun, Frau Quixano, was sagen Sie? Vat you tink of your David?