Act 1, Scene 6

(We see the Von Todds' terrace at night. We hear romantic music. A male voice sings.)

Male Voice: I feel you, Lieanna. I feel you. I was half convinced I'd waken satisfied enough to dream you. Happily I was mistaken, Lieanna!!!

(A young, blond sailor leaps out from behind a weeping willow. He is Ranthony!)

Ranthony: (building in passion and volume) I'll steal you, Lieanna! I'll steal you! Does he think that walls can hide you? Even now I'm at your window. I am in the dark beside you buried sweetly in your yellow hair! I feel you, Lieanna! And, one day, I'll steal you! Till I'm with you then, I'm with you there! Sweetly buried in your yellow hair!

(Lieanna appears in a silky pink gown with a pink flower in her hair.)

Lieanna: (speaks) Ranthony? (runs up to him, they embrace) Oh, Ranthony!

Ranthony: I've missed you, my beautiful Lieanna! I missed you so much, I wanted to tear out my spleen! Or at least send you a telegram, just so I could come and deliver it!

Lieanna: Well, why don't you?

Ranthony: Tear out my spleen?! Well, anything for you. (pulls a knife and bites a bullet)

Lieanna: No, you silly! I can see blood anytime in Papa's barber shop. Send me a telegram!

Ranthony: But I'm already here!

Lieanna: SEND IT!!! Please? (makes a puppy face)

Ranthony: Ok, Ok! (sings) Dear Lieanna. STOP! I want to tell you how much I love you. STOP! Too bad this line is too expensive. STOP! Love, Ranthony. STOP! Ps: Don't kill me!! STOP! (speaks) And?

Lieanna: (sings) Dear Ranthony. STOP! (speaks) Don't stop. (pauses) Any more news on Turpin and Bamford?

Ranthony: They think we should all be Nazis, and they're very mad at those who don't agree. They're getting ready to- well, let's just hope your father doesn't get hurt.

Lieanna: Don't be worried about Papa. He's a naval hero. And he could cut their throats.

Ranthony: I know. I'm not worried about him. But I AM worried about his daughter.

Lieanna: Which one? Bellisa? Cosetta? Lisa? Grettie?

Ranthony: His eldest daughter.

Lieanna: Me?! Why? I'm not a baby, I'm not a science nerd, I don't sing about castles on clouds, and I don't spend my days on my heine reading books! Why are you worried about me?

Ranthony: Let me put it this way. (sings) You wait, Little Girl, on an empty stage, for fate to turn the light on. Your life, Little Girl, is an empty page that men will want to write on.

Lieanna: To write on?

Ranthony: You are 16 going on 17, Baby, it's time to think! Better beware, or your throat will get cut, Baby, you're on the brink! You are 16 going on 17, beautiful, blonde, and pale. Eager young lads and roués and cads will bring you meat pies and ale! Totally unprepared are you to face an abyss of men! Chicken, afraid, and scared are you of things beyond your ken! You need someone just slightly wiser ordering you around! I am 17 going on 18 and the man you've found! (they dance)

Lieanna: I am 16 going on 17, a blonde and thus naïve. Fellows I meet will tell me I'm sweet and blindly, I will believe. I am 16 going on 17, morbid, a darkened rose. Bachelor dandies, who drink ale and brandies, what do I know of those? Totally unprepared am I to face an abyss of men! Timid and shy and scared am I of things beyond my ken! I need someone who is much wiser ordering me around! You are 17 going on 18 and the man I've found! (they dance, Ranthony kisses Lieanna and leaves)

Lieanna: (speaks) WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waffle: (offstage) SPLEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! (blackout!)