Read an Excerpt
As the curtain rises, MENDEL, AVRÉMEL and YANKEL are sitting at a table. MARIA is wiping off the chairs at another. BERISH comes in, running; he is annoyed.
BERISH
A glass, Maria. Hanna will get up any minutes, and she’ll be thirsty; and there is no glass in her room. I don’t understand, Maria—do you? I have glasses everywhere, for everybody; except for Hanna!
(He goes to a table to pick up a clean glass)
MARIA
You’re running, running, Master. You’re always running. Where to, Master? Where from? Why are you running? (BERISH stops; he is startled) Don’t you see we’ve got customers? Hanna is asleep. Leave her alone. When she gets up, I will be there to take care of her, as I always do. But the customers, Master, have you forgotten them? Do I have to do everything, see everything, be everywhere?
BERISH
Be quiet, Maria. Hanna is restless. She’ll get up any minute. She’ll want her milk. Where have you put the clean glasses?
MARIA
In my pocket. In my bed . . . Don’t you see I’m busy? Somebody has to clean up the place—right? (YANKEL tries to catch their eyes) You should pay more attention to the customers, Master.
BERISH
Don’t tell me what to do. You’re getting on my nerves. The customers are getting on my nerves. The whole world is getting on my nerves.
MARIA
Then you better get yourself another trade, Master. Better yet, get yourself another world.
BERISH
I’ll get myself another helper if you don’t stop this.
YANKEL
Leave her alone, innkeeper. Why don’t you listen to us instead? We’re waiting for you.
BERISH
Who are you?
YANKEL
His Majesty’s special emissaries . . . Who do you think we are? Don’t you have eyes? We are customers!
BERISH
What do you want?
YANKEL
Service.
BERISH
Service . . .
YANKEL
Does the word sound strange to you? We would like to order drinks,
BERISH
Drinks . . . (He emerges from his daze) All that people want is—drinks. (He places a bottle and three glasses on their table) One of these days I’m going to close up this place, I promise you that. I’ll sell it or burn it to the ground. And I’ll get out of here.
MARIA
Right.
BERISH
You don’t believe me? I’m telling you, I’ll go away.
MARIA
You’ll go away, you’ll go away. . . . Where would you go?
BERISH
Anywhere. To the end of the world.
MARIA
No farther?
YANKEL
(Laughs)
Bravo, woman! Wouldn’t you like to join us?
MARIA
Why—are you going to the end of the world, too?
YANKEL
No, we have just come from there,
MARIA
(To BERISH)
Where is the end of the world?
BERISH
I don’t know. . . . Yes, I do. The end of the world is where you’re not.
YANKEL
(To MARIA)
How do you manage to live under one roof with him?
MARIA
Mind your own business! He’s my master. If he feels like insulting me, let him!
YANKEL
(Mischieviously)
Wouldn’t you like to join us?
AVRÉMEL
The end of the world . . . I remember it well. In my village there was a small dusty street. An old witch lived in the last shack. The children were convinced that it was the end of the world.
BERISH
The end of the world, the end of the world. In my hometown we were told . . . I forgot what we were told.
MARIA
Forget it again, Master. You’ll feel better.
AVRÉMEL
The witch and her shack. People would be seen entering it—no one was ever seen leaving it. The children were scared even to look at it—to look at it from far away.
MARIA
Can’t you change the subject?
YANKEL
What’s wrong with this one?
MARIA
Change the subject. And change the inn too. You’re annoying us.
YANKEL
But we’ve said nothing. We would like to talk to you, innkeeper.
BERISH
I’ve got nothing to tell you.
YANKEL
How do you know?
AVRÉMEL
What if we asked you not to tell us anything but to listen to us while we tell you something?
BERISH
I’m not interested.
YANKEL
What do you mean, not interested? There must be something that interests you.
BERISH
Right! One thing: to see you get out.
YANKEL
All right, all right. We’ll leave. Afterwards.
BERISH
After what?
YANKEL
Have you forgotten that it’s Purim tonight? We must celebrate—have you forgotten how to celebrate?
