Seed For The Planting
Act I: THE STAGE IS SET
Scene i: Kollwitz Apartment, Summer, 1943
Scene ii: Kollwitz Apartment, Summer, 1891
Scene iii: Kollwitz Apartment, Summer, 1892
Scene iv: A Large Party, Berlin
Scene v: Hall outside Dr. K's offc., 1896
Scene vi: Berlin Street, 1899
Scene vii: Studio, Kathe Kollwitz, 1903
Act II: THE GREAT WAR
Scene i: Berlin Street, 1914
Scene ii: Kollwitz Apartment, 1914
Scene iii: Berlin Street, late Oct. 1914
Scene iv: Kollwitz bedroom, 1917
Scene v: Union Meeting Hall, Summer, 1918
Act III: THE DUAL
Act IV: NAZIS COME TO POWER
Scene i: Hall outside Dr. Kollwitz office
Scene ii: Kollwitz Apartment, July 1936
Scene iii: Kollwitz Apartment, 1938
Scene iv: Berlin Street, 1939
Scene v: Hall outside Dr. K's offc., 1940
Scene vi: Kollwitz Apartment, 1942
Scene vii: Kollwitz Apartment, 1943
CHARACTERS
(in order of appearance)
|
Ambulance Driver Kathe Kollwitz Jeep Dr. Karl Kollwitz Hauptman First Old Woman Second Old Woman Third Old Woman Young Man Young Woman Middle Aged Man Middle Aged Woman Lina Midwife Peter Kollwitz - Child First Man Second Man First Woman Second Woman Peter Kollwitz Walter Koch von Hindenburg First Nazi First Free Corps Volunteer Second Free Corps Volunteer Third Free Corps Volunteer Young Man Second Nazi Hans Kollwitz First Woman Second Woman First Banker Second Banker Young Woman Social Democratic Party Member French Ambassador |
Artist, Maiden Name Schmidt Kathe's friend Kathe's husband German playwright Patient of Dr. Kollwitz same same same same same same Kollwitz's housekeeper Karl & Kathe's younger son Citizen - Berlin Streets - 1914 same same same Young Man Kollwitz's friend German general and later President Demobilized German Veteran of W.W.I same Worker Karl & Kathe's older son Members - Women's Int'l League for Peace and Freedom Int'l Workers Relief Organization |
ACT I
Scene i
SUMMER, l943
The place is the apartment of Kathe Kollwitz, 25 Weissenburgerstrasse at Worther Platz, Berlin, Germany, the time is the Summer of l943. Kathe sits impassive, slumped against the back of her chair, staring into space. A man enters through an open door stage left wearing a Red Cross insignia on his German uniform, he is the driver to evacuate her from Berlin.
Driver
Frau Kollwitz, you are the last to be evacuated -- I will help you down the stairs.
Kathe Kollwitz
Who are the others in the truck?
Driver
Three old women -- one in the front, two in the back.
Kathe Kollwitz
Where will you put me?
Driver
In the back.
Kathe Kollwitz
Do you think there will be a raid today?
Driver
They come every other day during daylight hours now, there was none yesterday.
Kathe Kollwitz
Then I suppose we must hurry, where is my cane to lean on, I would be lost without it.
Driver
You can put your weight on me.
Kathe Kollwitz
No, I must have it to carry my weight when you are no longer around.
Driver
It's fallen behind the chair, I will get it for you.
Kathe Kollwitz
Thank you.
Driver
Hurry now.
Kathe Kollwitz
I'm coming.
Driver
Take your time, I won't leave you.
Kathe Kollwitz
Thank you. (After crossing the room to the door she hesitates.)
Driver
What makes you stop, is something forgotten?
Kathe Kollwitz
Forgotten? No... nothing. (Still hesitating).
Driver
Have you left something behind then?
Kathe Kollwitz
Have I left something behind?
ACT I
Scene ii
SUMMER, 1891
The same apartment 50 years earlier, there is a knock at the door. Karl Kollwitz is reading and Kathe is putting flowers in a vase. Kathe goes to answer the door.
Kathe Kollwitz
Jeep!
Jeep
Schmidt...(Cocks head and laughs tentatively.)..
Frau Dr. Kollwitz ... Kollwitz.. Frau Dr.
Kathe Kollwitz
What is it, Jeep?
Jeep
Excuse me, but you don't seem like a Frau Dr.
Kathe Kollwitz
You must still call me Schmidt as you did at the Art Academy.
Dr. Kollwitz
But you are married now ... to me.
Kathe Kollwitz
You are so silly, Karl. (She joins Jeep's laughter.)
Dr. Kollwitz
What is so funny? (They laugh harder.) Are you laughing at me? (They laugh harder still.) Is my tie out of place? My collar? -- Does something that I'm wearing make me look ridiculous?
Kathe Kollwitz
Oh, Karl...
Dr. Kollwitz
I don't understand your laughing.
Kathe Kollwitz
I know you don't.
Dr. Kollwitz
I wish that you would stop -- my late afternoon patients will think us all mad. (They laugh harder.)
Please will you come in! (Jeep comes in and Dr. Kollwitz closes the door but they continue to laugh.) Perhaps a glass of water will help you stop -- like with hiccough patients --or if you hold your breath...
Jeep
The good doctor prescribes a cure for our mirth -- but the disease is too strong to respond to his remedies.
Dr. Kollwitz
What is wrong with the two of you?
Kathe Kollwitz
He thinks something is wrong with us.
Dr. Kollwitz
Please, please sit down and calm yourselves.
(Wringing his hands.) The neighbors will report to the authorities that I cannot maintain order in my house. (He closes a window.)
Jeep
Let them!
Dr. Kollwitz
If you will not stop I will go out into the street to dissociate myself from it!
Kathe Kollwitz
Don't worry, nobody will connect you to it.
Dr. Kollwitz
I am going all the same.
Jeep and Kathe Kollwitz
Goodbye. (He leaves.)
Jeep
(To Kathe.) Pardon me Schmidt but your apartment seems so small.
Kathe Kollwitz
That's because it is. (They fall into another round of hilarity.)
Jeep
In your letter you seemed depressed.
Kathe Kollwitz
Did you come to cheer me up?
Jeep
Don't forget what's mine is yours and what's your is mine.
Kathe Kollwitz
You can have him.
Jeep
He seems like a dear man!
Kathe Kollwitz
He is a dear man.
Jeep
Are you pregnant?
Kathe Kollwitz
No, thank God!
Jeep
Have you given art up yet?
Kathe Kollwitz
Never! (Door opens.)
Dr. Kollwitz
I'm back.
Kathe Kollwitz
Karl's back. ( The laughter increases again.)
Dr. Kollwitz
I have made a diagnosis.
Jeep
He know what's wrong with us.
Dr. Kollwitz
(Smiling.) You are both suffering from fatigue and that has lowered your strength and most importantly the mental ability to control yourselves. (Laughter increases.) In your case Jeep it is from the long trip and Kathe you have been working too long hours on your etching!
Kathe Kollwitz
(To Jeep.) He wants me always home to fix his dinner!
Dr. Kollwitz
I know the trouble even if you won't admit it!
Kathe Kollwitz
Shall we agree with him?
Jeep
Why not?
Dr. Kollwitz
I know the only remedy for it. I am going to put you both to bed. You don't even need to take off your clothes.
Kathe Kollwitz
Are you putting us to bed like Mama?
Jeep
At least when he puts us to bed as naughty children he doesn't spank us.
Dr. Kollwitz
There -- now rest and we will talk sensibly in the morning.
ETC.