Three Letters

[GEORG NOWAK]
Dear friend:
When a day brings petty aggravations
And my poor frayed nerves are all askew
I forget these unimportant matters
Pouring out my hopes and dreams to you
As I rest my pen and look around me
I can see the summer disappear
Oh, dear friend, all at once, autumn's here!

[ARPAD]
Good morning, Ms. Ritter

[ILONA RITTER]
Oh, good morning, Arpad

[ARPAD]
Look! Autumn!

[ILONA]
Ooh!

[KODALY]
Ah, good morning, Ilona. Here you are on this first October day, the quintessence of autumn. I do hope you've forgiven me about our little misunderstanding last night. I just can't bear it when we quarrel. Can you, darling? Truthfully?

[ILONA]
Go to hell!

[GEORG]
Dear friend:
With November just around the corner
I've a feeling you may also share
Do you feel an undertone of discord
And a sense of tension in the air?

[MR. MARACZEK]
Mr. Nowak, must this sidewalk always be covered with leaves?

[GEORG]
Uh, no sir. But Mr. Maraczek! Mr Maraczek!

If it weren't for your endearing letters
I'd be flying south with all the geese!
By the way, have you read "War and Peace?"

[AMALIA BALASH]
Good morning, Mr. Nowak

[GEORG]
Ah, congratulations, Ms. Balash. I see you're on time today

[AMALIA BALASH]
So sorry to disappoint you

[GEORG]
Oh, but I'm not disappointed, far from it
Let's just call it...surprised

[GEORG \ AMALIA laugh sarcastically]

[ARPAD]
They always argue. Why is that?

[SIPOS]
Well, it's a simple chemical reaction
You see, when two people like each other very much...

[ARPAD]
They LIKE each other?

[SIPOS]
Well, I think so

[ARPAD]
They like each other VERY much?
Well, don't you think we should tell them?

[SIPOS]
Arpad, my boy, they'd never believe us

[ARPAD]
Oh, look! Winter!

[GEORG]
Dear friend:
Have you set your calendar for Tuesday
When we bring this...

[AMALIA (reading) \ GEORG (writing)]
...chapter to a close?
When I meet my lady of the letters
Who puts tiny faces in her O's?

[AMALIA (reading)]
In the freezing weather of December
I'll be warmly waiting for our date
Until then, count the hours--

(spoken)
Oh, I'm late for work!
I'm late!