GER. Yes! I would have seen him.
HICKS. I didn"t know, sir...
GER. Watch out for him. He"ll surely come back.
HICKS. Yes, Sir. I"m very sorry, sir.
[Exit centre.]
GER. [To himself.] Mimi! What can that mean?
Mimi. [Opens door, left, and peeps in.] Ha!
GER. [Starts.] Mimi!
MIMI. Ssh!
GER. What is it?
MIMI. Where is Prince Hagen?
GER. I don"t know.
MIMI. You don"t know?
GER. No.
MIMI. But I must see him!
GER. I"ve no idea where he is.
MIMI. But... you promised to take care of him!
GER. Yes... and I tried to. But he ran away...
MIMI. What?
GER. I"ve not heard of him for two years now.
MIMI. [Coming closer.] Tell me about it.
GER. I took him to a boarding school... a place where he"d be taken care of and taught. And he rebelled... he would not obey anyone.. . [Takes some faded telegrams from pocket book.] See! This is what I got.
MIMI. What are they?
GER. Telegrams they sent me. [Reads.] Hagen under physical restraint.
Whole school disorganized. Come immediately and take him away.
MIMI. Ha!
GER. That"s one. And here"s the other: Hagen has escaped, threatening teachers with revolver. Took train for New York. What shall we do? [Puts away papers.] And that"s all.
MIMI. All?
GER. That was over two years ago. And I"ve not heard of him since.
MIMI. But he must be found!
GER. I have tried. I can"t.
MIMI. [Vehemently.] But we cannot do without him!
GER. What"s the matter?
MIMI. I cannot tell you. But we must have him! The people need him!
GER. He has lost himself in this great city. What can I do?
MIMI. He must be found. [Voices heard centre.] What is that?
GER. It is some company.
MIMI. [Darts left.] We must find Prince Hagen! He must come back to Nibelheim!
[Exit left.]
MRS. BAGLEY-WILLIS. [Off centre.] It was crabflake a la Dewey she promised me!
[Enters with ISMAN.]
GER. How do you do, Mrs. Bagley-Willis?
MRS. B.-W. How do you do, Gerald?
GER. h.e.l.lo, father!
ISMAN. h.e.l.lo, Gerald!
MRS. B.-W. Am I the first to arrive?
GER. I think so.
MRS. B.-W. And how is Estelle after her slumming adventure?
GER. She"s all right.
ISMAN. That was a fine place for you to take my daughter!