Young Wife
(Pours a glass of cognac)
Young Man
I want to tell you something, Emma. If you’re ashamed of being here—if you don’t care for me—if you don’t feel you are all the happiness in the world for me—then you’d better go.—
Young Wife
Yes, I shall go.
Young Man
(Taking hold of her hand) But if you feel that I cannot live without you, that a kiss upon your hand means more to me than all the caresses of all the women in the whole world… Emma, I’m not like other young men, who are experienced in love-making—perhaps, I am too naïve … I…
Young Wife
But suppose you were like other young men?
Young Man
Then you wouldn’t be here to-night—because you are not like other women.
Young Wife
How do you know that?
Young Man
(Drawing her close beside him on the sofa)
I have thought a lot about it. I know you are unhappy.
Young Wife
(Pleased) Yes.
Young Man
Life is so dreary, so empty—and then,—so short—so horribly short! There is only one happiness—to find some one who loves you.—
Young Wife
(Takes a candied pear from the table, and puts it into her mouth)
Young Man
Give me half of it!
(She offers it to him with her lips)
Young Wife
(Catches the hands of the Young Man that threaten to stray) What are you doing, Alfred?… Is that the way you keep your promise?
Young Man
(Swallows the pear, then, more daringly) Life is so short.
Young Wife
(Weakly) But that’s no reason—
Young Man
(Mechanically) Oh, yes.
Young Wife
(Still more weakly) Alfred, you promised to be good … and then it’s so light…
Young Man
Come, come, you only, only…
(He lifts her from the sofa)
Young Wife
What are you doing?
Young Man
It’s not so light in the other room.
Young Wife
Is there another room?
Young Man
(Drawing her with him) A beautiful one … and quite dark.
Young Wife
We’d better stay in here.
Young Man
(Already past the bedroom portières with her, loosening her waist)
Young Wife
You are so… O merciful Heaven, what are you doing with me!—Alfred!
Young Man
I adore you, Emma!
Young Wife
So then wait, wait a little… (Weakly) Go… I’ll call you.
Young Man
Let you help me—let us help you (becoming confused) … let … me—help—you.
Young Wife
But you’ll tear everything.
Young Man
You have no corset on?
Young Wife
I never wear a corset. Odilon[2] doesn’t wear any either. But you can unbutton my shoes.
Young Man
(Unbuttons her shoes and kisses her feet)
Young Wife
(Slips into bed) Oh, how cold it is.
Young Man
It’ll be warm in a minute.
Young Wife
(Laughing softly) Do you think so?
Young Man
(Slightly hurt, to himself) She ought not to have said that.
(He undresses in the dark)
Young Wife
(Tenderly) Come, come, come!
Young Man
(Mollified) In a minute, dear—
Young Wife
It smells like violets here.
Young Man
That’s you… Yes (To her) you, yourself.
Young Wife
Alfred… Alfred!!!!
Young Man
Emma…
Young Man
Apparently I love you too much … yes… I am as if out of my senses.
Young Wife
… …
Young Man
I have been beside myself all these days. I was afraid of this.
Young Wife
Don’t mind.
Young Man
Oh, certainly not. It’s perfectly natural, if one…
Young Wife
No … don’t… You are nervous. Calm yourself first.
Young Man
Do you know Stendhal?
Young Wife
Stendhal?
Young Man
The “Psychologie de l’amour.”
Young Wife
No. Why do you ask me?
Young Man
There’s a story in that book which is very much to the point.
Young Wife
What kind of a story?
Young Man
There is a gathering of cavalry officers—
Young Wife
Yes.
Young Man
And they are telling each other about their love affairs. And each one of them tells that with the woman he loved best—most passionately, you know … that with him, that then—well, in short, that the same thing happened just as it happened to me now.
Young Wife
Yes.
Young Man
That is very characteristic.
Young Wife
Yes.
Young Man
The story is not yet ended. One of them maintained … that this thing had never in his life happened to him, but, adds Stendhal—he was known as a great boaster.
Young Wife
And.—
Young Man
And, yet, it makes you feel blue—that’s the stupid side of it, even though it’s so unimportant.
Young Wife
Of course. Anyway, you know … you promised me to be good.
Young Man
Sh-h! Don’t laugh. That doesn’t help things any.
Young Wife
But no, I’m not laughing. That story of Stendhal’s is really interesting. I have always thought that only older people … or people who … you know, people who have lived fast…
Young Man
The idea! That has nothing to do with it. By the way, I had completely forgotten the prettiest of Stendhal’s stories. One of the cavalry officers went so far as to say that he stayed for three or even six nights… I don’t remember now—that is he stayed with a woman, whom he wanted for weeks—desirée—you understand—and nothing happened all those nights except that they wept for happiness … both…
Young Wife
Both?
Young Man
Yes. Does that surprise you? It seems very comprehensible—especially when two people love each other.
Young Wife
But surely there are many who don’t weep.
Young Man
(Nervously) Certainly … however, that is an exceptional case.
Young Wife
Oh—I thought Stendhal said that all cavalry officers weep on such an occasion.
Young Man
Look here, now you are laughing at me.
Young Wife
What an idea! Don’t be childish, Alfred.
Young Man
Well, it makes me nervous anyway… Besides I have the feeling that you are thinking about it all the time. That embarrasses me still more.
Young Wife
I’m not thinking of it at all.
Young Man
If I were only sure that you love me.
Young Wife
Do you want still further proofs?
Young Man
Didn’t I tell you … you are always laughing at me.
Young Wife
How so? Come, let me hold your sweet little head.
Young Man
Oh, that feels so good.
Young Wife
Do you love me?
Young Man
Oh, I’m so happy.
Young Wife
But you needn’t cry about it.
Young Man
(Moving away from her, highly irritated) There! Again! I begged you not to…
Young Wife
To tell you that you shouldn’t cry…
Young Man
You said: “You needn’t cry about it.”
Young Wife
You are nervous, sweetheart.
Young Man
I know.
Young Wife
But you ought not to be. It is beautiful even that … that we are together like good comrades…
Young Man
Now you are beginning again.
Young Wife
Don’t you remember! That was one of our first talks. We wanted to be comrades, nothing more. Oh, how nice that was … at my sister’s ball in January, during the quadrille… For heaven’s sake, I should have gone long ago… My sister expects me—what shall I tell her… Good-by, Alfred—
Young Man
Emma!—You will leave me in this way!
Young Wife
Yes—so!—
Young Man
Five minutes more…
Young Wife
All right. Five minutes more. But you must promise me … not to move?… Yes?… I want to give you a good-by kiss… Psst … be still … don’t move, I told you, otherwise I’ll get up at once, you, my sweetheart, sweet…
Young Man
Emma … my ador… …
Young Wife
My Alfred!
Young Man
Oh, it is heaven to be with you.
Young Wife
But now I’ve really got to go.
Young Man
Oh, let your sister wait.
Young Wife
I must go home. It is much too late to see my sister. How late is it?
Young Man
How should I know?
Young Wife
You might look at your watch.
Young Man
My watch is in my waistcoat.
Young Wife
Get it.
Young Man
(Gets up with a jump) Eight o’clock.
Young Wife
(Jumps up quickly) For heaven’s sake… Quick, Alfred, give me my stockings. What shall I say? They must be waiting for me at home … eight o’clock…
Young Man
When shall I see you again?
Young Wife
Never.
Young Man
Emma! Don’t you love me any more?
Young Wife
Just for that reason. Give me my shoes.
Young Man
Never again? Here are your shoes.
Young Wife
My button-hook is in my bag. Please, be quick…
Young Man
Here is the button-hook.
Young Wife
Alfred, this may cost us our lives.
Young Man
(Unpleasantly moved) In what way?
Young Wife
What shall I say, if he asks me where I’ve been?
Young Man
At your sister’s.
Young Wife
Oh, if I only could lie.
Young Man
Well, you’ll have to.
Young Wife
Everything for a man like you. Oh, come here … let me give you a last kiss. (She embraces him)—And now—leave me by myself, go in the other room.—I can’t dress, if you are around.
Young Man
(Goes into the drawing-room, where he dresses. He eats some pastry and drinks a glass of cognac)
Young Wife
(Calls after a while) Alfred!
Young Man
Yes, sweetheart.
Young Wife
Isn’t it better that we didn’t weep?
Young Man
(Smiling, not without pride) How can you talk so frivolously?—
Young Wife
Oh, how difficult it will be now—if we should meet by chance in company?
Young Man
By chance?—sometime?… Surely you are coming to Lobheimer’s to-morrow?
Young Wife
Yes. You too?
Young Man
Of course. May I ask for the cotillion?
Young Wife
Oh, I shall not go. What do you imagine?—I would… (She enters the drawing-room fully dressed, and takes a piece of chocolate pastry) sink through the floor.
Young Man
To-morrow at Lobheimer’s. That’s fine.
Young Wife
No, no… I shall decline … certainly decline—
Young Man
Well, the day after to-morrow … here.
Young Wife
The idea!
Young Man
At six…
Young Wife
There are cabs at this corner, aren’t there?
Young Man
Yes, as many as you want. Well, the day after to-morrow, here at six o’clock. Please say “yes,” sweetheart.
Young Wife
… We’ll discuss that to-morrow night during the cotillion.
Young Man
(Embracing her) My angel.
Young Wife
Don’t muss my hair again.
Young Man
Well then, to-morrow night at Lobheimer’s, and the day after to-morrow in my arms.
Young Wife
Good-by…
Young Man
(Suddenly anxious again) And what will you—tell him to-night?—
Young Wife
Don’t ask me … don’t ask me … it’s too terrible.—Why do I love you so?—Good-by—If I meet any one again on the stairway, I shall faint.—Ugh!
Young Man
(Kisses her hand for the last time)
Young Wife
(Exit)
Young Man
(Remains standing. Then he sits down on the couch. He smiles reflectively, and says to himself) Now, at last, I have an affair with a respectable woman.
A comfortable bedroom. It is half past ten at night. The Wife is lying abed and reading. The Husband enters the room in a dressing gown.
Young Wife
(Without looking up) You have stopped working?
Husband
Yes. I’m too tired. And besides…
Young Wife
Well?—
Husband
I felt so lonely at my desk all at once. A longing for you came over me.
Young Wife
(Looking up) Really?
Husband
(Sitting down on the bed beside her) Don’t read any more to-night. You will ruin your eyes.
Young Wife
(Closing the book) What’s the matter with you?
Husband
Nothing, child. I’m in love with you. But you know that.
Young Wife
One might almost forget it sometimes.
Husband
One must forget it sometimes.
Young Wife
Why?
Husband
Because, otherwise, marriage would be something imperfect. It would … how shall I express it … it would lose its sanctity.
Young Wife
Oh…
Husband
Believe me—it is so… If we hadn’t sometimes forgotten that we are in love with each other during the five years we have been married—we might not be in love any longer.
Young Wife
That’s beyond me.
Husband
The case is simply this. We have had perhaps ten or twelve love-affairs with each other… Doesn’t it seem that way to you, too?
Young Wife
I haven’t counted them!
Husband
If we had enjoyed the first one to the last drop, if I had from the very beginning surrendered without restraint to my passion for you, the same thing would have happened to us that has happened to millions of other lovers. We would be tired of each other.
Young Wife
Ah … do you mean that?
Husband
Believe me—Emma—in the early days of our marriage, I was afraid that this would happen.
Young Wife
I, too.
Husband
See? Am I not right? Therefore, it is wise every now and then to live only as good friends.
Young Wife
Oh.
Husband
And some can always experience new honeymoons, especially since I am careful never to let such weeks of honeymoon…
Young Wife
Run into months.
Husband
That is true.
Young Wife
And now … now it seems we are at the end of another such period of friendship—?
Husband
(Pressing her tenderly to him) So it might seem.
Young Wife
But if … if I should feel differently?
Husband
You couldn’t. You are the wisest and most delicious being in the world. I am very happy to have found you.
Young Wife
You know how to make love very well—every now and then.
Husband
(Who has also gone to bed) Well, for a man who has looked about in the world a bit—come, lay your head on my shoulder—who has seen something of the world, marriage is really something much more mysterious than it is for you sheltered young girls. You come to us entirely innocent and … to a certain degree, at least, ignorant of things, and therefore you really understand the essence of love much better than we.
Young Wife
(Laughing) Oh!
Husband
Certainly. For we get all tangled up by the many experiences that we have to go through before marriage. You women, of course, hear a lot of things, you know a lot of things, no doubt read too much, but you can’t have any real idea of the things men experience. We men really become quite disgusted with this thing people call love, for the kind of creatures to which we are restricted really are…
Young Wife
Tell me—what kind of creatures are they?
Husband
(Kissing her on the forehead) You ought to be glad, dear child, that you never have had a glimpse of relations like that. After all most of the poor things deserve pity—it is not for us to throw stones.
Young Wife
But—this pity—it doesn’t seem quite appropriate to me.
Husband
(With gentle benevolence) They deserve it. You young girls of good family, who wait quietly under the care of your parents for the man who desires you in marriage,—you won’t know the misery that drives most of these poor creatures into the arms of sin.
Young Wife
Do all of them really sell themselves?
Husband
I would hardly say that. I don’t mean the material misery alone. There is also—one might call it—a moral misery, a lack of appreciation for what is permissible, and, especially, for what is noble.
Young Wife
But why are they to be pitied?—They seem to enjoy themselves.
Husband
You have strange ideas, my child. You must not forget that such people are predestined by nature to sink lower and lower. There is no stopping them.
Young Wife
(Cuddling to him) It seems pleasant to fall.
Husband
(Hurt) How can you say things like that, Emma? I should think that to good women like you, nothing could be more repulsive than those who are not!
Young Wife
Of course, Karl, of course. I was just thinking. Go on, tell me more. I like it when you talk like this. Tell me something.
Husband
What?—
Young Wife
Why—about these people.
Husband
The idea!
Young Wife
But, I asked you a long time ago—you know, when we were first married to tell me something of your younger days.
Husband
Why does that interest you?
Young Wife
Aren’t you my husband? Isn’t it a sort of injustice that I really know nothing about your past?
Husband
You surely don’t think I have such bad taste, as to—No, Emma … it would be like a profanation.
Young Wife
And yet you have … heaven knows how many other women you have held in your arms, just as you are holding me now.
Husband
Don’t say “women.” You are the woman.
Young Wife
But you must answer one question … otherwise … otherwise … there won’t be any honeymoon.
Husband
That’s a nice way to talk … remember you are a mother … our little girl is sleeping in there…
Young Wife
(Snuggling against him) But I want a boy, too.
Husband
Emma!
Young Wife
Don’t be silly … of course, I am your wife … but I’d like also to be … to be your sweetheart.
Husband
Would you?…
Young Wife
Well—now my question.
Husband
(Accommodating) All right.
Young Wife
Was there … a married woman … amongst them?
Husband
Why? What do you mean?
Young Wife
You know what I mean.
Husband
(Slightly disconcerted) What makes you think of a thing like that?
Young Wife
I would like to know if … I mean—there are such women… I know that very well. But did you?…
Husband
(Seriously) Do you know such a woman?
Young Wife
Well, I hardly know.
Husband
Is there, perhaps, such a woman among your friends?
Young Wife
How can I be sure that there is—or that there isn’t?
Husband
Did any of your friends … women talk about a lot of things—alone among themselves—did any of them ever confess—?
Young Wife
(Uncertainly) No.
Husband
Do you suspect any of your friends—that she…
Young Wife
Suspect … oh … suspect.
Husband
It would seem so.
Young Wife
No, indeed, Karl, most certainly not. When I think things over—I don’t believe there is any one.
Husband
No one?
Young Wife
Not among my friends.
Husband
Promise me something, Emma.
Young Wife
Well?
Husband
That you will never associate with a woman about whom you have the slightest suspicion that she … doesn’t lead a completely blameless life.
Young Wife
And you think it necessary for me to promise that?
Husband
I know that you will not seek out the company of such women. But, it might happen that you … in fact it often happens that such women, whose reputations are not of the best, seek out good women, partly to give them standing, and partly because they feel … how shall I say?… because they feel a certain homesickness for virtue.
Young Wife
Do they?
Husband
Yes. I believe what I just said is very true. Homesickness for virtue. For all of these women are at heart very unhappy; you can believe that.
Young Wife
Why?
Husband
You ask me, Emma?—How can you even ask?—Just imagine what a life these women lead! Full of lies, perfidy, vulgarity, and danger.
Young Wife
Yes, of course. You are right.
Husband
Truly … they pay for their little happiness … their little…
Young Wife
Pleasure.
Husband
Why “pleasure”? Why do you call it “pleasure”?
Young Wife
Well,—there must be something in it—! Otherwise, they wouldn’t do it.
Husband
It is nothing … an intoxication.
Young Wife
(Pensively) An intoxication…
Husband
No, it is not even intoxication. Like everything—it is dearly paid for, that much is certain.
Young Wife
Well … it has happened to you, hasn’t it?
Husband
Yes, Emma.—And it is the thing I most regret.
Young Wife
Who was she? Tell me! Do I know her?
Husband
The idea!
Young Wife
Was it long ago? Was it very long before you married me?
Husband
Don’t ask me. Please, don’t ask.
Young Wife
But, Karl!
Husband
She is dead.
Young Wife
Are you in earnest?
Husband
Yes … it sounds almost ridiculous, but I have the feeling that all such women die young.
Young Wife
Did you love her very much?
Husband
One doesn’t love women who lie.
Young Wife
Then why…
Husband
An intoxication…
Young Wife
Really?
Husband
Don’t talk about it any more, please. All that is passed long ago. I have only loved one woman—that is you. You only love where there is purity and truth.
Young Wife
Karl!
Husband
Oh, how secure, how happy one feels in such arms. Why didn’t I know you as a child? I am sure I wouldn’t then even have looked at other women.
Young Wife
Karl!
Husband
And how beautiful you are!… beautiful!… Oh, come…
(He puts the light out)
Young Wife
Do you know what I am thinking of to-night?
Husband
What, sweetheart?
Young Wife
Of … of … of Venice.
Husband
Our first night…
Young Wife
Yes…
Husband
What then? Tell me!
Young Wife
You love me as much to-day.
Husband
Yes, just as much.
Young Wife
Oh … if you would always…
Husband
(In her arms) If I would what?
Young Wife
My Karl!
Husband
What do you mean? If I would always?…
Young Wife
Well, yes.
Husband
Well, what then, if I would always?…
Young Wife
Then I would always know that you love me.
Husband
Yes. But you must know that anyway. One cannot always be a lover, sometimes one has to go out into the cold world to struggle and achieve! Don’t forget that, my child. There is a time for everything in marriage—that is the beauty of it. There are not many who can remember their Venice after five years.
Young Wife
True!
Husband
And now … good-night, my child.
Young Wife
Good-night!
A private dining-room in the Riedhof, comfortably furnished with moderately good taste. A gas-grate is burning. The Husband and the Sweet Young Miss are disclosed. The remains of dinner are on the table, cream-cakes, fruit, cheese. In the wine-glasses is a Hungarian white wine.
Husband
(Is smoking a Havana cigar, and leaning against the corner of a sofa)
Miss
(Sits beside him in an armchair, eating the cream out of a cake with a spoon, and tasting it with satisfaction)
Husband
Is it good?
Miss
(Without stopping) Oh!
Husband
Do you want another?
Miss
No. I’ve eaten too much already.
Husband
Your wine is all gone.
(He fills her glass)
Miss
No … stop. I’ll leave it anyway.
Husband
Why are you so shy?
Miss
Am I?—Well, it takes time to get acquainted.
Husband
Come and sit here with me.
Miss
Right away… I’m not ready yet.
Husband
(Rises and stands behind her chair, and puts his arms around her, turning her face toward him)
Miss
What’s the matter?
Husband
I want a kiss.
Miss
(Kissing him) You are … excuse me, you have a lot of nerve.
Husband
You’re just finding that out?
Miss
Oh, no, I knew that long ago … from the first, in the street.—You must—
Husband
What?
Miss
You must have a nice opinion of me.
Husband
Why?
Miss
Because I went right away with you to a private dining room.
Husband
Well, you can hardly say “right away.”
Miss
But you asked in such a nice way.
Husband
Do you think so?
Miss
And, after all, what is the harm?
Husband
Of course.
Miss
Whether we go walking or—
Husband
Besides, it’s much too cold for walking.
Miss
Yes, it was too cold.
Husband
But here it’s nice and warm, isn’t it?
(He sits down again, puts his arms around the girl, and draws her to his side)
Miss
(Weakly) Don’t.
Husband
Tell me… You noticed me before, didn’t you?
Miss
Certainly. Several blocks before you spoke to me.
Husband
I don’t mean to-day. I mean yesterday and the day before, when I was following you.
Miss
A lot of people follow me.
Husband
I don’t doubt that. But did you notice me?
Miss
Guess … do you know what happened to me the other day? My cousin’s husband followed me in the dark, and didn’t recognize me.
Husband
Did he speak to you?
Miss
What do you suppose? Do you imagine every one is as bold as you?
Husband
But they sometimes do, don’t they?
Miss
Of course, they do.
Husband
Well, and what do you do?
Miss
Why nothing—I just don’t answer.
Husband
Hm-m … but you answered me.
Miss
Are you sorry?
Husband
(Kisses her violently) Your lips taste like cream-cakes.
Miss
Oh, they are sweet by nature.
Husband
I suppose many have told you that?
Miss
Many! What are you dreaming of?
Husband
Now, be honest. How many have kissed this mouth before?
Miss
Why do you ask? You wouldn’t believe me anyhow, if I told you.
Husband
Why not?
Miss
Guess, then.
Husband
All right, I’ll guess—but you mustn’t get angry!
Miss
Why should I get angry?
Husband
Well, then, I’ll guess … twenty.
Miss
(Slipping away from him) So—why not make it a hundred?
Husband
Oh, I was just guessing.
Miss
You guessed badly.
Husband
Say—ten.
Miss
(Offended) Oh, of course. A girl who lets a man talk to her on the street, and goes right away with him to a private dining-room!
Husband
Don’t be childish. Whether we walk about in the streets or sit in a room… We are in a restaurant. The waiter may come in at any moment—it doesn’t signify anything at all…
Miss
That’s just what I thought.
Husband
Have you ever been in a private dining-room before?
Miss
If I must tell the truth—yes.
Husband
I am glad that you are honest with me at least.
Miss
But it wasn’t—no it wasn’t the way you imagine. I was in a private dining-room with a friend and her fiancé, once during the carnival.
Husband
It wouldn’t have been anything tragic, if you had ever gone—with your sweetheart—
Miss
Of course, it wouldn’t have been anything serious. But I haven’t any sweetheart.
Husband
Oh, come now.
Miss
I swear, I haven’t.
Husband
But you don’t expect to make me believe that I…
Miss
Make you believe what?… I haven’t any—at least, haven’t had for six months.
Husband
I see… But before then? Who was he?
Miss
Why are you so curious?
Husband
I am curious because I love you.
Miss
Really?
Husband
Of course! You should have noticed that. Tell me about him.
(Presses her tightly to him)
Miss
What do you want me to tell?
Husband
Don’t keep me in suspense so long. Who was he, that’s what I want to know.
Miss
(Laughing) Just a man.
Husband
Well—well—who?
Miss
He looked something like you.
Husband
No!
Miss
If you hadn’t looked so much like him—
Husband
Well, what then?
Miss
Now, don’t ask, don’t you see that…
Husband
(Understanding) That’s why you let me speak to you.
Miss
Yes, that’s it.
Husband
I really don’t know whether I ought to be pleased or angry.
Miss
If I were you, I’d be pleased.
Husband
All right.
Miss
You also remind me of him the way you speak … and the way you look at one…
Husband
What was he?
Miss
And then, the eyes—
Husband
What was his name?
Miss
Please don’t look at me that way; please don’t.
Husband
(Embraces her. A long, burning kiss)
Miss
(Trembles, and tries to get up)
Husband
Why do you want to leave me?
Miss
It’s time to go home.
Husband
Later.
Miss
No, I really have to get home. What do you think mother will say.
Husband
You live with your mother?
Miss
Of course, I live with my mother. What did you imagine?
Husband
So—with your mother. Do you live alone with her?
Miss
Oh, yes, alone! There are five of us! Two boys and two more girls.
Husband
Don’t sit so far away from me. Are you the oldest?
Miss
No, I’m the second. First comes Kitty. She’s working in a flower store. Then come I.
Husband
Where do you work?
Miss
I stay at home.
Husband
Always?
Miss
One of us has to stay home.
Husband
Of course,—and what do you tell your mother, when you—come home so late?
Miss
That happens so seldom.
Husband
Well, to-day, for example. Your mother will ask you, won’t she?
Miss
Of course, she’ll ask. It doesn’t matter how careful I am when I come home, she always wakes up.
Husband
And what do you tell her?
Miss
Oh—that I’ve been to the theater.
Husband
Does she believe that?
Miss
Why shouldn’t she believe it? I often go to the theater. I saw an opera on Sunday with my friend and her fiancé, and my oldest brother.
Husband
Where did you get the tickets?
Miss
My brother is a hairdresser.
Husband
Oh, yes, a hairdresser … at the theater, I suppose?
Miss