Thick, gloomy shadows all around. WOYZECK is gathering firewood with ANDRES, who quietly whistles a tune.
WOYZECK … this place is cursed, Andres, do you know that? Look, there, you see that stretch of grass over there? Where the toadstools are thick? A head—a man’s head—rolls down it every evening. It does.
ANDRES looks over at the spot, curious. Crosses to it.
WOYZECK A person picked it up once. It’s true, he did. Just picked it up. Mistook it for a hedgehog. Three days later, he was lying in his coffin.
ANDRES stares over at him, uncertain. Finally, he smiles.
WOYZECK It’s true, Andres! I’m sure of it.
ANDRES returns to picking up fallen branches. He whistles while he works. WOYZECK stands frozen on the spot.
WOYZECK Listen! Hear it, Andres? Can you hear that? Something’s moving …
ANDRES stops and looks about. Worried.
ANDRES The ground …
WOYZECK Yes! Moving beneath me, behind me.
WOYZECK suddenly stomps up and down on the muddy earth. Gets down on his hands and knees.
WOYZECK Listen! It’s hollow, all hollow under there …
ANDRES It’s frightening.
WOYZECK So strange … and still now. It takes away the breath.
WOYZECK looks off into the gathering night. Staring.
WOYZECK Andres!
ANDRES What, Woyzeck? What is it?!
WOYZECK Look, Andres! (Beat.) Look beyond the dark, above the town. It’s glowing. A fire raging in the sky and a clamor below, as if …
WOYZECK throws himself to the ground. He reaches up and pulls ANDRES down onto the muddy soil beside him.
WOYZECK It’s coming this way! Quick, don’t look up, Andres!!
The sound of the band in the distance, building to a roar as the cries of “Woyzeck” follow. Then silence.
ANDRES Woyzeck? Is it gone?
WOYZECK Silence.
ANDRES I didn’t hear …
WOYZECK Nothing but silence. (Beat.) As if the world had died …
ANDRES Listen, Woyzeck! We’ve got to get back … the drum is sounding!
Drums in the distance. ANDRES stands and quickly gathers his bundles of wood. WOYZECK remains sitting in the mud.
WOYZECK … as if it had already died.
Blackout.