Stage Manager. [Getting up, very reluctantly] Are you ready?
Mrs. Pampinelli and Spindler, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli. Yes, all ready.
Spindler. Let her go!
Mrs. Pampinelli. [With a kind of ceremonious flourish of the hand] Take up the curtain! [The stage manager tosses his newspaper onto the chair and steps out of sight, to the left. There is an anxious pause. Then Mrs. Pampinelli starts violently and grabs the knob of the left door.] Oh, wait one moment! [Spindler rushes back at the left, whistling.]
Florence, Mrs. Ritter, Twiller and Hossefrosse, together, [as Mrs. Pampinelli pulls open the left door.]
Florence. Wait a minute!
Mrs. Ritter. Oh, wait!
Hossefrosse. [Grabbing the door and holding it open] Not yet!
Mrs. Ritter. [Calling to the stage manager] Just a minute!
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Going in through the left door] One moment, please! [She vanishes to the right, and there is a slight pause, during which the curtain, which had been raised four feet, can be seen through the door to descend again. They all exchange looks of distress and amused annoyance. Then Mrs. Pampinelli hurries out through the door again.] All right!
Spindler. [Who has come forward at the left] Is it all right? [Hossefrosse releases the door and it closes.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. Yes, it’s all right. [Spindler goes towards the back at the left and she follows him half-way.]