ARPAD
GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY?

ISN’T THIS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING?
               SIPOS

VERY.

HEY, SIPOS-
HOW’S THIS?

                    SIPOS
     THAT’S AN AWFULLY ELEGANT POSE

     BUT IS ALL THAT ELEGANCE NECE-
     ‘SARY?

                    ARPAD
And why not? I represent Maraczek’s, don’t I? We’re not a butcher shop- or a hardware store... we’re a parfumerie. That means we’re...

we’re...
     WE’RE STYLISH.

GOOD MORNING

GOOD DAY.

SIPOS

THAT’S IT.

               SIPOS
WITH A QUIET DIGNITY

ARPAD

                    ARPAD
     AND WE GET THE TILT OF OUR HATS RIGHT.

                    SIPOS
     THAT’S RIGHT.

                    ARPAD
     WHEN I RIDE MY BIKE,

     PEOPLE SEE WHAT MARACZEK’S LIKE.
     SO I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT
     THAT I LOOK MY BEST.

                    SIPOS
And how many people did you run over today?

ARPAD

Not one.

                    SIPOS
Well - it’s early.

                    ARPAD
Here comes Miss Ritter.

SIPOS

Hmmm…

                    ARPAD
She spent the night with Mr. Kodaly

SIPOS

Again?

                    ARPAD
They always kiss goodbye at the newsstand. Then she walks around the block to make us think she’s been home.

YES,

(MISS RITTER ENTERS.)

                    RITTER
     GOOD MORNING.

ARPAD, SIPOS

GOOD DAY.

                    RITTER
     HOW ARE YOU THIS GLORIOUS DAY?

     HAVE YOU SEEN A LOVELIER MORNING?
                    ARPAD, SIPOS

NEVER.

                    RITTER
     IT’S TOO NICE A DAY

     TO BE INSIDE SHUFFLING SOAP.
     I HAVE NO MORE ENERGY WHAT-SO-EVER.

Anybody mind if I take the day off? Arpad - why aren’t you old
enough to take me away from all this?

ARPAD

I’m old enough!

                    RITTER
Then marry me and I’ll quit my job.

(SHE gives ARPAD a close scrutiny.)
No. I’m afraid you’re really not– quite- old enough.

                    ARPAD
It won’t be long, though. I’m catching up. You know, Miss Horvath

always used to say I’d get to be thirty-five before you ever did.

SIPOS

Ah- Mr. Kodaly.
(STEVEN KODALY enters.)

                    KODALY
     GOOD MORNING.

GOOD DAY.

ARPAD, SIPOS, RITTER

               KODALY
HOW ARE YOU THIS RADIANT DAY?

WHAT A RARE MAGNIFICENT MORNING!

IS IT?

ARPAD, SIPOS

KODALY (To RITTER)

     GOOD MORNING, MY DEAR.
     HOW ARE YOU THIS RAVISHING DAY?
     DO YOU KNOW YOU’VE NEVER LOOKED MORE EXQUISITE.

                    RITTER
     THANK YOU, KIND SIR.

                    KODALY
What a lovely dress.

                    ARPAD
It’s the same one she had on yesterday, Mr. Kodaly.

SIPOS

Ah- Mr. Nowack.
(GEORG NOWACK ENTERS.)

                    GEORG
     GOOD MORNING.

                    SIPOS, ARPAD, RITTER, KODALY

GOOD DAY.

                    GEORG
     ISN’T THAT A BEAUTIFUL SKY?

     WHAT A PERFECT SAMPLE OF SUMMER WEATHER.
     IT’S TOO NICE A DAY
     TO BE INDOORS COUNTING OUT CHANGE
     WHAT A WASTE OF HOLIDAY WEATHER ALTOGETHER...
     LET’S ALL RUN AWAY!

               RITTER
WOULDN’T IT BE SOMETHING IF WE ALL TOOK OFF FROM WORK?

               SIPOS
LEAVING MR. MARACZEK WITHOUT A SINGLE CLERK!

               ARPAD
WHY NOT HAVE A PICNIC?

               SIPOS
I COULD BRING MY WIFE’S PRESERVES.

               KODALY
CHAMPAGNE MIGHT BE NICE WITH HOT HORS D’OEURVES.

ALL (In canon)

IT’S TOO NICE A DAY
TO BE STUCK INSIDE OF A STORE.
WE COULD ALL BE GETTING OUR FACES SUNTANNED.
IT’S SO NICE A DAY
TO BE DOZING UNDER A TREE-

               SIPOS
AND WE’LL ALL BE OUT OF A JOB.

               RITTER
IF IT COSTS THAT MUCH TO GET SUNTANNED-

               SIPOS
I’LL STAY UNTANNED.

               KODALY
PALE- BUT SOLVENT.

A PICNIC-

ARPAD

Oh. Yes.

GEORG

SIPOS (to GEORG)

A PICNIC-

ALL

(Spoken-sighed) Oh, well…