Third loudspeaker announcement: ‘The hurricane’s speed is increasing; it is now making straight for Mahagonny. All lines to Mahagonny are now down.
In Pensacola 11,000 are reported dead.’
All are watching the arrow horror-struck. Suddenly, a minute’s distance from Mahagonny, the arrow stops. Dead silence. Then the arrow makes a rapid half-circle around Mahagonny and moves on. Loudspeaker:
‘The hurricane has veered in a circle round Mahagonny and is continuing on its course.’
MEN AND GIRLS:
O wonderful salvation!
Our lovely city stands unharmed.
The raging hurricane veered away in a new direction
And pale death said to the waters: Go back.
Rejoice in our salvation!
From now on the phrase ‘do it’, which they had been taught in that night of horror, became the motto of the people of Mahagonny
13
A year later. Mahagonny is booming.
Men step on to the apron and sing.
CHORUS:
One means to eat all you are able;
Two, to change your loves about;
Three means the ring and gaming table;
Four, to drink until you pass out.
Moreover, better get this clear
That Don’ts are not permitted here.
Moreover, better get it clear
That Don’ts are not permitted here!
The Men return to the stage and take part in what follows. On the signs at the back of the stage in enormous letters is the word
‘EATING’. A number of the Men, including Jim, are seated at tables laden with joints of meat. Jake, now known as Guzzler, is seated at a centre table eating incessantly. On each side of him, a Musician is playing.
GUZZLER JAKE:
Two calves never made a man fatter:
So serve me a third fatted calf.
All is only half:
I wish it were me on my platter.
JIM AND JAKE:
Always insist on the whole
Never be content with half!
SOME OF THE MEN:
Jake Smith! You’re a stout soul!
Eat away! Don’t give up! One more calf!
JAKE:
Watch me! Watch me! Would you have guessed
How much one person can eat?
In the end I shall have a rest.
To forget is sweet.
More please! Give me more …
He topples over dead.
The Men form a half-circle behind and remove their hats.
MEN:
Smith lies dead in his glory
Smith lies dead in his happiness
Smith lies dead with a look on his face
Of insatiable craving
For Smith went the whole hog
And Smith has fulfilled himself:
A man without fear.
They put their hats on.
MEN moving along the apron: Next we change our loves about.
14
The word ‘LOVING’ in enormous letters is seen on the signs at the back. On a platform, a bare room has been set up. In the middle of this room sits Begbick with a Girl seated on her left and a Man on her right. Below the platform the Men of Mahagonny are queueing up. Background music.
BEGBICK turning to the man next to her:
Spit out your chewing-gum, boy.
See that your hands aren’t dirty.
Give the girl time:
A short conversation’s polite.
MEN without looking up:
Spit out your chewing gum, boys.
See that your hands aren’t dirty.
Give the girl time:
A short conversation’s polite.
The room slowly darkens.
Get to it soon!
Play that Mandalay immortal tune:
Love’s not dependent on time for a lover.
Lovers, make haste
Lovers, don’t waste
What in seconds is over:
Mandalay won’t glow
Forever below
Such a moon.
Lovers, stop waiting
Hurry, the juicy moon
Is green and slowly setting.
The room has gradually grown light again. The man’s chair is now empty. Begbick turns to the Girl.
BEGBICK:
By itself, ready money
Won’t or can’t make you tender.
MEN without looking up:
By itself, ready money
Won’t or can’t make you tender.
The room grows dark again.
Get to it soon!
Play that Mandalay immortal tune:
Love’s not dependent on time for a lover.
Lovers, make haste
Lovers, don’t waste
What in seconds is over:
Mandalay won’t glow
Forever below
Such a moon.
Lovers, stop waiting,
Hurry, the juicy moon
Is green and slowly setting.
The room grows light again. Another Man enters, hangs his hat on the wall, and sits in the empty chair. The room slowly darkens again.
MEN:
Mandalay won’t glow
Forever below
Such a moon.
When the stage grows light again, Jim and Jenny are seated on two chairs some distance from one another. He is smoking, she is putting on make-up.
JENNY:
See there two cranes veer by one with another.
JIM:
The clouds they pierce have been their lot together
JENNY:
Since from their nest and by their lot escorted
JIM:
From one life to a new life they departed
JENNY:
At equal speed with equal miles below them
BOTH:
And at each other’s side alone we see them:
JENNY:
That so the crane and cloud may share the lovely –
The lonely sky their passage heightens briefly;
JIM:
That neither one may tarry back nor either
JENNY:
Mark but the ceaseless lolling of the other
Upon the wind that goads them imprecisely
As on their bed of wind they lie more closely.
JIM:
What though the wind into the void should lead them
While they live and let nothing yet divide them:
JENNY:
So for that while no harm can touch their haven
JIM:
So for that while they may be from all places driven
Where storms are lashing or the hunt beginning:
JENNY:
So on through sun and moon’s only too similar shining
In one another lost, they find their power
JIM:
And fly from?
JENNY:
Everyone.
JIM:
And bound for where?
JENNY:
For nowhere.
JIM:
Do you know what time they have spent together?
JENNY:
A short time.
JIM:
And when they will veer asunder?
JENNY:
Soon.
BOTH:
So love to lovers keeps eternal noon.
Men move along the apron.
MEN:
One means to eat all you are able;
Two, to change your loves about;
Three means the ring and gaming table;
Four, to drink until you pass out.
Moreover, better get it clear
That Don’ts are not permitted here.
(So long as you have money).
15
The Men go back upstage, where a boxing ring is being set up in front of a background displaying the word ‘FIGHTING’. On a platform to one side, a brass band is playing.
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JOE standing on a chair:
We have the honour today to present the greatest
Fight ever: to be won by a straight Kayo –
The famous bruiser, Trinity Moses
Versus me, the – Alaskawolf Joe.
FATTY:
What! You’re challenging Trinity Moses!
Boy! You’d best be making your will.
That’s no fight. It’s murder. When that man
Enters the ring, he’s out to kill.
JOE:
That may be so, but the bid’s worth making:
All that I earned in Alaska I’m staking
For I believe that I shall win through.
May all those who have known me longest
Bet upon Joe to prove the strongest.
Jimmy, I’m counting above all on you!
All those who believe more in brains than in brawn
That Jack may be small but the giant is slow –
Victory nearest when hope seems forlorn –
Will lay their bets on Alaskawolf Joe.
MEN:
All those who believe more in brains than in brawn
That Jack may be small but the giant is slow –
Victory nearest when hope seems forlorn –
Will lay their bets upon Alaskawolf Joe!
Joe has gone over to Bill.
BILL:
Joe, we’re close as friends, you know –
But it goes against the grain so
Chucking money down the drain, so …
I’ve put my money on Moses, Joe.
Joe goes to Jim.
JIM:
Joe, my brother in work and in play
And my closest friend of any
I am betting on you today
All I have, Joe, every penny.
JOE:
Jim, when you say that, before me
Far Alaska rises up
Those seven winters of bitter weather
When we felled timber, we two together.
JIM:
Joe, my oldest friend, I tell you
All I prize I would give up:
Those seven winters of bitter weather
When we felled timber, we two together.
JOE:
Jim, when you told me you’d dare it
Our Alaska came in view;
The seven winters of bitter weather
When we felled timber, we two together.
JIM:
Joe, I’d sooner lose, I swear it
Than betray that life we knew:
The seven winters of bitter weather
When we felled timber, we two together.
Alaska I see and pair it
Ever, Joe, only with you!
JOE:
You’ll win your money, I swear it!
I’ll do all a man can do!
The boxing ring is set up by now. Moses enters it.
MEN:
Give three cheers for Trinity Moses!
Good old Moses! Give him hell, man!
A WOMAN’S VOICE screaming:
This is murder!
MOSES:
I regret it.
MEN:
Hit him so’s he won’t forget it!
REFEREE introducing the fighters:
(Our) Trinity Moses, two hundred pounds.
Alaskawolf Joe, one-eighty …
MAN shouting:
Coffee grounds!
Last preparations for the bout.
JIM from below:
How you feeling?
JOE in the ring:
All set.
JIM:
Keep your end up.
JOE:
You bet.
The fight begins.
MEN alternately:
Let’s go! Fight, boys!
Shit! Quit stalling!
Now, Joe! No clinches! Foul! Get at it!
More blood! Neat one! Nail him! he’s had it!
Watch it! Perfect! Hey! he’s falling!
Trinity Moses and Joe are boxing in time to the music.
MEN together:
Moses, keep slugging
Make him swallow dirt!
Moses, beat him up, man!
Land them where they hurt!
Moses, a left hook
Now a right as well!
Sock him in the kidney!
Moses, give him hell!
Joe drops to the canvas.
REFEREE starts counting him out, then:
The man’s dead.
A burst of laughter from the Men. The crowd breaks up.
MEN dispersing:
A Kayo’s a Kayo. He couldn’t take it.
REFEREE:
The winner: Trinity Moses!
MOSES:
I regret it.
Exit.
BILL to Jim: they are alone in the ring together:
I said he wouldn’t make it.
I warned him he’d get it.
He has.
JIM softly:
So long, Joe.
The Men move along the apron.
MEN:
One means to eat all you are able;
Two, to change your loves about;
Three means the ring and gaming table;
Four, to drink until you pass out.
Moreover, better get it clear
That Don’ts are not permitted here.
Moreover, better get it clear
That Don’ts are not permitted here!
16
Men are back on the main stage. The signs in the background display the word ‘DRINKING’. The Men sit down, put their feet up on the table and drink. Downstage Jim, Bill and Jenny are playing billiards.
JIM:
Drinks on me. The gang is my guest.
I just want to show
That it’s easy work at best
To be knocked out like Joe.
Lady Begbick, set them up for all the gents!
MEN:
Good for Jimmy! It’s a pleasure! It makes sense!
Mahagonny sure was swell
Daily rates were twenty dollars;
Those who raised more special hell
Had to pay a little extra:
Then they all were steady callers
At Mahagonny’s luxury saloon,
So they all lost their shirts and collars
But at least they saw the moon.
Both at sea and on land
Everyone who gets around is sure to get a skinning:
That’s the reason everybody
Strips his own skin from his body
And when pelts are bought on every hand
With dollars, thinks he’s winning!
JIM:
Lady Begbick, set them up again for all the gents!
MEN:
Good old Jimmy! Double whiskys! No expense!
Both at sea and on land
Skins are up for sale and their consumption is extensive:
Who’s to pay when everybody
Feeds the tiger in his body?
For those yellow pelts go cheaply and
The whisky comes expensive!
Mahagonny sure was swell
Daily rates were twenty dollars;
Those who raised more special hell
Had to pay a little extra:
Then they all were steady callers
At Mahagonny’s luxury saloon
So they all lost their shirts and collars
But at least they saw the moon.
BEGBICK:
Time to settle the bill, gentlemen.
JIM softly:
Jenny, come here. Jenny
I’m out of money.
We’d better beat it from here;
It sure makes no difference to where.
Loudly addressing everyone, pointing to the billiard table:
Gentlemen, climb on this clipper with me!
With all of us aboard, we’ll put to sea!
Again softly:
Spen
d this ocean trip at my side, Jenny
For the deck will tremble like the earth quaking.
You as well, Billy. Don’t desert me now.
We’ll go sailing back to old Alaska, buddies
For this is not the place for us.
Loudly.
Now or never we will hoist our sails and head for our Alaska!
With part of the bar-rail, a curtain and various other objects in the room, a ‘ship’ is constructed on the billiard-table, which Jim, Bill and Jenny ‘board’. There they take up sailor-like poses.
JIM:
Pour cognac down the toilet and flush it
And latch your salmon-pink persian-blinds:
Alaska’s our goal; we won’t have to rush it
We’ll get there on relaxed behinds.
The Men remain seated below watching them, vastly amused.
MEN:
Ahoy, Jimmy! Was Columbus greater?
Ahoy there, how that guy can handle the sails!
Jenny, get undressed. It’s too hot. The Equator!
Stay buttoned, Billy. The Gulf Stream gales!
JENNY: O God! Isn’t that a typhoon to starboard?
MEN with the hearty solemnity of a Glee Club:
Lo! black as pitch
The heavens are heavy with menace!
The Men, whistling, howling and moaning, make storm ‘effects’.
JENNY, BILL bawling out:
Our ship is not a silk settee!
Stormy the night and rampant the sea!
O deck so shaky! O dark so quick!
O S-O-S! Six of us three are sick!
MEN:
Death now is nigh!
Now black as pitch the sky …
JENNY clinging anxiously to the ‘mast’: It might be best to sing
‘Stormy the Night’ to keep up our courage.
BILL: ‘Stormy the Night’ is a wonderful tonic when your courage begins to get shaky.
JIM: Then we’d better sing it at once.
JENNY, JIM, BILL:
Stormy the night and the white-caps high
‘Courage’, the Captain said:
Hark! like his echo the ship-bell rings –
Lo! there’s a reef ahead!
JENNY: Go faster but go cautiously. Under no circumstances sail against the wind or try out anything new.
MEN:
Listen
Hear how the wind in the rigging moans.
Look now
See where the heavens are pitch-black with menace!
BILL: Shouldn’t we lash ourselves to the mast if the violence of the storm increases?
JIM:
No, that is no menace, faithful shipmates
That’s the black forest of Alaska.
Disembark.
We shall at last have peace.
He climbs down and calls:
Ahoy! Is that Alaska?
MOSES slipping over to him:
Come on, cough up the money!
JIM deeply disappointed:
No, it’s Mahagonny.
The Men cluster around Jim, raising their glasses.
Brecht Collected Plays: 2: Man Equals Man; Elephant Calf; Threepenny Opera; Mahagonny; Seven Deadly Sins: Man Equals Man , Elephant Calf , Threepenny Ope (World Classics) Page 23
