Fritz’s flat.
Fritz and Gretl, post-coital. Fritz is in his twenties. She is half naked, wearing his military jacket.
Fritz I’ve had a letter from your little Jewess.
Gretl I’m going to go to hell for this. Catholic hell.
Fritz Do you want to know what it says?
Gretl ‘Thank you, goodbye, look me up if you’re in Czernowicz.’
Fritz That’s incredible!
Gretl You should see her, Fritz, before she leaves. Make love to her.
Fritz Don’t say things like that.
Gretl If I give you back to her perhaps it will make up for stealing you from her, and I won’t go to hell.
Fritz You don’t believe in hell.
Gretl I do now, now that I’m a sinner. You’re my first big sin. I’m not going to come here any more. At least I won’t have to live in terror of being seen. I don’t know what’s happened to me.
Fritz I know what’s happened to me. You didn’t steal me, I stole you.
Gretl Yes, you did. I gave you no reason to pursue me, no reason at all. I was irreproachable. You were unforgivable. If Hanna wasn’t such an innocent she would have noticed.
Fritz There was nothing to notice on my end. I was correct. You started getting undressed. Yes, you did. You took off one of your gloves. I ignored it. I poured tea and our hands met on the teapot handle. You took a puff of my cigarette. I thought any moment you were going to sit on my lap. Some chaperone!
Gretl Excuse me! – Who got Hanna to play so he could ask the chaperone to dance?
Fritz I was being in character. Who got us reading scenes from your improper book? Some aunt!
Gretl (stung) I’m not her aunt! She’s my … my sister-in-law’s sister-in-law. I think. She’s Hermann’s sister’s husband’s little sister. Aunt. Honestly. I’m too old for you, that’s true. I belong with Hermann, and I love him. I’m going home to show him I love him.
She is getting dressed now.
Fritz Don’t get dressed. Show me first.
Gretl No. I’m serious. You’re my last gentile.
Fritz You love me, don’t you, Gretl?
Gretl I’m mad about you, but love is something else. It’s just as well anyway because my portrait is nearly done, so I won’t be able to keep disappearing for an afternoon. We will see each other here and there, won’t we? Dinner parties … salons …
Fritz Dinner parties? Salons? We don’t get invited by the same people. It’s a case of my people and your husband’s people, baptised or not.
Gretl Concerts, then. Theatre.
Fritz Is that how you met Hermann?
Gretl No, a hunting party at Prince Rotenberg’s.
Fritz Really? Is Hermann that rich?
Gretl Get dressed, Fritz, so you can find a cab for me.
Fritz If he weren’t baptised he’d have to be a Rothschild to get invited.
Gretl Please …
Fritz You can’t leave yet, it won’t be dark for another hour.
She sighs, undecided.
There’s time to say goodbye.
Gretl pushes him away. She decides. She starts tearing her clothes off.