RADIO PLAY FROM THE WORLD-FAMOUS NOVEL

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 15 March 1935, Page 54

RADIO PLAY FROM THE WORLD-FAMOUS NOVEL

Jew Suss

Adapted by Robert Waldron

from the famous novel by

Lion

Feuchtwanger

RESUMB-OF ACTS I AND II. Josef Suss Oppenheimer and his friend Landauer are journeying to Wildbad. Through an accident on the road: they meet Magdalen" Sybille. Suss immediately falls. in love with the daughter of the Lord President of the State Council’ of Wurtemburg, but Landauer does not. approve of his companion’s affection for a. Christian girl. The two men, arriving at the town, encounter Karl Alexander,.a poor man but a cousin of the reigning Duke. Suss has a presentiment that the Prince will be-his stepping stone to power, and by servility and generosity ingratiates himself with Karl’ Alexander. His belief is confirmed bythe. prophecy of his uncle, Rabbi Gabriel. Kat! Alexander will be the next Duke of Wurtemburg, The-Prince is amused at the prediction. "The Duke. still lives; moreover, he bas a grown-up son. Not even the sudden announcement of his -causin’s accidental death convinces him of the Rabbi’s veracity, but the prophecy is true. Some time later the Crown Prince dies suddenly, and Karl Alexander becomes Duke of Wurtemburg. with Sussas his financial counsellor. ‘ With his rise to power and a more plentiful supply of money, Karl, not- withstanding his recent marriage to Marie Auguste, daughter of the Prince of. Thurn, gives himself up to wine, women and song. No maiden is safe where the Duke is concerned. Unknown to Karl,- Suss has: a_ fifteen-year-old motherless daughter, Naomi. The Jew, understanding his master’s weakness, guards his child by placing her in the charge of the Rabbi, who resides in the forest of Hirsau. During a. ball held in Karl’s' honour, Suss is afforded the opportunity of becoming better acquainted with Magdalen Sybilie, who is his particular guest. Karl, espying the young girl, instructs the Jew to see that she is conducted to his bedroom. Suss endeavours to save Magdalen by declaring she is the Lord President’s daughter, but Karl. remains. obstinate.. And the Jew, rather than,sacrifice the favour of his. Prince, betrays his lover. _Weissensee, hearing of his daughter’s misfortune, is broken-heart-ed. His lament touches Suss, reminding him-of his own daughter, Naomi. He is moved.to compensate for his’ action and to reward the father for ‘the outrage: of’ his daughter. And so™'the second act concludes with these words: Suss: As matters stand. now, my. Lord President, I dare promise you quite’ definitely, honour and promotion. . ACT III. Scene I, Karl: Is the Jew here yet? Oh, my ‘head! Suss. (entering): You sent for .me, Highness? Karl: Oh, my head! Suss: Is your Highness ill? Karl: No-no! Just had tom much ‘damned wine last night. Attendant: Your Elighness, drink this, (Puts glass down.),

Karl: Ah, that’s better. Suss, I want you to do a little commission for me. Suss: Yes, Highness. Karl: Take this gift to the Demoiselle Weissensee with my compliments. Suss: Willingly, Highness... Karl: But remember, Jew, she is mine -all. mine. Suss: Ma vie pour mon souverain. Karl: Your life for your sovereign-a worthy motto, Jew. . Forgét it not When you meet Magdalen Sybille, a delicate morsel, Suss: As your Highness commands, Karl: You did weil, Jew, to invite her to meet me. I'll see to it that you are well rewarded. . A: German prince does not do things shabbily. Suss: Thanks, Highness.. Karl: You showed taste, Jew-but forget’ the Lord President’s daughter, she’s a wild filly. Hits out and bucks and bites and glows all over-then so ice-cold when she should be accommodating.. But her.eyes are like pools-like forest pools. That’s right -like forest pools. ~ Suss: Your Highness wishes me to convey the present immediately. Karl: Ob, yes, go now, I'll reward you. You ean have anything. you ask. I'll reward. you, Jew, for this-I’ re- _ ward you. (Door closes.) Scene II. Lady-in-Waiting: If your Excellency will wait here, the Demoiseile Weissensee will attend at her convenience. (The door opens and footsteps upproach. ). Suss: It is most gracious of you to receive me, Demoiselle. Magdalen: 1 am obeying his : ‘Royal Highness’s wish. Suss: On his Royal Highness’s instruc tions Iam to:hand you this.

Magdalen: Please convey to his Royal Highness my grateful thanks for his present. Suss: You make yourself quite elear. The Royal messenger is dismissed. May Jew Suss Magdalen: [ have borne so much, I cau endure this also. | ‘ Suss: Leave your naive dreams behind you Magdalen Sybille! .They were all right for the forest of Hirsau,. now the Duke is your reality, Regard him well, Take a firm grip of him. He is a worth while -reality. But let not the Duke claim you, Let it be power. Magdalen: You are insolent, Jew. Suss: No,.Demoiselie. We stand equal to equal now. You and J, each with a hand on the lever. of power. Let ii be your destiny. Magdalen; Jew Suss: You are perplexed, Magdalen: Sybille. Then let me explain.. You thought I failed you? .Perhaps I did. But I ecouldn’t help myself, iver since I was a little boy in the Ghetto I have suffered everything, sacrificed everything for one thing-power. I can allow nothing, neither friendship ‘nor sorrow nor pity nor love, to prevent me from following my star n}til the end. You, too,. Demoiselle Weissensee will understand what that means, and now, may the.Jew be permitted to retire? Scene iit. , (A crowd is gathered and above the noise a voice is heard. y | Woman: A Jew has killed a child! A, Jew has killed a child! = * Landauer: Listen to the Gentile rabble. They’re clamouring for the blood of our race. Poor Seligman is innocent -he never murdered the ‘Christian

girl-he’d never murder anyone, but they will torture ‘him, they’ll make him confess-then they will hang him, Old fables you said can’t happen, you said-well, it has happened. .' Again I ask you, what aré you going to do, Josef? It’s only’ you can save him. ; Suss: Not so easy, Landauer. You are thinking of the fate of one man, but I have to think of all Jewry. And when such responsibility rests on my Shoulders, I must make sure I don’t sacrifice everything to gain a small point. Landauer: A small point-a Jew in danger of his life-a small point, and you could prevent it ‘with one word to your Duke. Do you want it to be said that Josef Suss is a traitor? Suss: That’s not true! Haven’t I already done enough for Jewry? Landauer: I know, I know you’ve built a Synagogue, a hospital, a school or two-good! You’ve given moneygood! But I also sive money. Who doesn’t? Suss: I’ve done much more. If I had deserted Jewry and turned Christian, how easy it would-have’ been for me to have become the first man in the Empire. But I remained a Jew-I never deny I am a Jew. Landauer: Then show yourself to be one! But now, now, now-listen to them! Suss: JI can’t settle anything to-day. I must think .it over carefully. It ~ might not be opportune. Opportune? To save a Jew _ who, is guilty of nothing but: being a Jew? Very well, let Seligman die. : He'll not be the only one. Once they are let loose they’ll kill and torture all of us except Josef Suss-who sacrificed his race for his house, his ‘Jackeys and his golden braid. (Sound of door opening.) Suss: You-uncle! Rabbi: Is it true that you are "willing to let an innocent man die,. rather than risk your own personal advance"ment? Suss: No, no!. It isn’t true-surely you __ understand that? Rabbi: The child does not understand. She has heard that one word from you to the Duke will save this, man’s life. You-her beloved ‘father-so -great, so good, a pillar of Jewry. Suss: A pillar of Jewry, she: says-I will show her my power has not been striven for in vain. I will do it. now and then I will go to the child. Rabbi: Before you see the child; come -back here. I have something to tell you-something you will be interest- : ed to know-something you should know. Suss: Await my return, uncle. : (Suss departs’ and Ik nocks on Karl’s door.) Karl: Enter. Karl: Welcome, Jew! ‘Did you see the Demoiselle Weissensee?. Suss: Yes, Highness.’ Karl: And was she grateful tor my present ?- ° Suss: She wished me to convey to your Highness her deepest appreciation of «your generosity. And now, Highness, I have come for my, reward. — cf Karl: But, Suss--Suss: -Your’ Highness. -has told me so ‘many times that.any favour I ‘might: ‘like to ask swould be-granted:.May. I remind your Highness I have never availed myself of your gracious. offer? Karl: Yes, yes! I know. Suss: Then, to-day I have a request, » Highness.

Karl: Now, now, Suss, you'll ruin everything! I want to reward you in my own way and in my own time. I was going to have it a surprise; but you’ve spoilt everything-look, a letter to the Emperor asking him to-make you a nobleman-in my own ing--Suss: I am over whelmed. But this wasn’t the favour I wished to ask your Highness. Karl: What! Not enough! What do you want? Suss: I want Seligman. Karl: Seligman? Who is Seligthan? te Suss: Seligman .is innocent, as your Highness very well knows.. In the name of justice, I ask your Highness to grant him his freedom. KIkarl: How dare you, Jew? How dare you come to me to plead for that crawling child murderer? Suss: He is no murderer.. There is no evidence. I must therefore repeat my request for this freedom. Karl: You: fool! What do you want to mix yourself up in this for? It is not Seligman they’ re after, but all the Jews-and you in particular. Suss: I realise to the full,. Highness, the ‘truth of what you: say. But I still want Seligman. Karl: Haven’t you any gratitude for ail I’ve done for you? How can you have the effrontery to stand there and calmly ask me for this?. Once and for all, Jew, keep out of this. Don’t. be a fool. Tl get you. your patent of nobility from the Hmperor, and then your future is assured. Suss (tearing the paper): I want no patent of nobility. I want Seligman. Karl (pushing back his chair furi-. ously) : You-you Jew, do you think you are.so indispensable that you can insult me to my face? Do you presume that because I made you my financial counsellor--Suss: That appointment no _ longer stands, your Highness. Karl: What? Suss: I ask you to accept my resignation. I shall leave to-day. Karl: Oh, very well! Take your blasted Jew. But mark my words-one day you'll have to answer for it. (The. door opens and. Marie approaches.) Marie: Gentlemen, you look dngry. Has the Demoiselle Weissensee caused a rift between two such staunch friends? Suss; Your Highness will excuse me. (He retires.) Marie: Our. Jew. is. lovésick. Tmagine © Suss the subject of tender emotions. ° (Suss returns to Rabbi Gubriel.) Suss: Your Seligman. is free. Now | what’s the Something" I. should ‘know, uncle? Rabbi: You said "your Seligman’ *-it is true.: Suss: do you mean? ~ Rabbi: Your mother will explain. Suss: My mother will explain-I don’t understand. Rabbi: She will. tell you ‘everything Come, she is expecting you at Frankfurt. Suss: But I promised Naomi--Rabbi: The-child will wait. It is better for you to know before.you see her. . Suss:. You spin me a riddle, uncle.’ It is better for me to know before I see | her--know what?: Rabbi: That you will learn at rankfurt. — (Musie.) End of Act ILI.