(Ilse sits on the couch, sewing her wedding ring to the band of her underwear. Adele climbs laboriously out of bed and heads into the living room.)
ADELE: What is that you’re doing?
(Ilse jumps up, flustered, and tries to usher her mother into her room.)
ILSE: Mother, get back in bed!
(She awkwardly tries to put her underwear back on as she forces Adele back to bed.)
ADELE: I just wanted milk for my coffee.
ILSE: There hasn’t been any for a week, you know that. We saw that woman on the street corner greedily drinking the last of it. Of all the cheek.
ADELE: What was that you were doing with your wedding ring?
ILSE: Putting it in a safe place.
ADELE: If they get that far it won’t matter anyway.
(Helmi enters and runs into the bedroom.)
ILSE: What are you doing up here, Helmi, you know you’re supposed to stay barricaded in the basement with the other girls.
HELMI: Frau Behn says the Russians are here.
ILSE: (Running to look out the window.) What? God save us, but they’re here. Looting the place, it looks like.
ADELE: Just you wait until they start drinking. I hope you sewed your ring on tight; it’ll be your saving grace for sure.
ILSE: Helmi, go downstairs and stay there until I come get you.
HELMI: Mama, what is a virgin?
ILSE: Pardon?
HELMI: When I was in the basement, Frau Behn asked if any of the girls were still virgins. No one said anything but Fraulein Brecht started crying.
ADELE: You might as well teach her now, she’ll find out within the day.
