WASNER. At what time shall the Executive Committee meet?
BEERMANN [excited]. Oh, leave me alone with your Executive Committee.
WASNER. You must not desert us in our hour of peril. A leader's fate is bound up with his followers according to German tradition.
BEERMANN [as before]. It is all your fault anyway.
WASNER. Shall I then tell our sick friend that we cannot count on your support?
BEERMANN. If I am so situated that I can, I will be over to see him in an hour. I can't promise you more now. [Assessor Stroebel enters on left and remains standing in the doorway.]
STROEBEL [very seriously.] Herr Beermann, I must speak to you privately.
BEERMANN [confused]. You—with me? Well, since you must, I suppose you must.
WASNER. Well, I am going. [Wasner exit left.] [Stroebel enters. Wasner remains standing on the threshold.] The Executive Committee will be called to the sick bed of our friend. We shall await our chairman. [He goes. Stroebel and Beermann remain standing, silent, facing each other.]
STROEBEL. You are surprised, I presume, that I come here at this unusual hour.