The scene opens with a cold, blooded jokanaan, who has just heard that his daughter, the actress, has been cast in the role of an angel. He is not afraid of her, he says, because he has heard that the angel has not yet appeared. He asks her if she is afraid of the angel, and she says that she is not. He tells her that she has heard about the beatings that have been going on in the palace, and that she looks like she has grasped the role. She asks him if he is cursed, and he says that he is. She tells him that she cannot let herself to give into his scorn and his sense of inferiority. He kisses her mouth and says he will kiss his lips. He says that the rain has gotten heavier, so he was worried if she would be able to come, and asks if she has always smiled like this. She says no, but that it is the same old thing if she does not come. He goes on to say that his life as an actor is riding on the success of his play, and here he is thinking about his daughter. He promises to help him in any way he can, and then asks if he can use the side of the potato peeler to remove the eyes from the potato. She replies that she could, but she just tried to do so, since skin on the potato was too much. He concludes that he cannot do this anymore, and says that