Oh, Prince Sigismund!—Thank you ever so much!
AMADEUS (surprised)
What's the matter with you?
ALBERT
How obliging! You mean to present me with an ending for the play we concocted yesterday. Thanks. But it's too banal for me—nobody would take any stock in it. I have thought of something much better. You are to be poisoned—yes, sir. And can you guess by whom?—By a brand-new character—one of the secret lovers of your wife.
AMADEUS (furiously)
It doesn't interest me in the least. Stop it, please! I'm not making up endings for your fool comedies! This is real life ... we are right in the midst of it!
ALBERT
You don't mean...?! Well, if I have to stand this unseemly and ridiculous interruption ... what do you want of me anyhow?
AMADEUS