MARIE sits near the window, holding her baby. MARGARET stands outside. The sound of the retreat being drummed.
MARIE … ta-ra-ra! Hup-hup! Hear it, my dearest, my little one? Here they come …
The women watch as the DRUM-MAJOR —straight and precise—comes marching down the street. Followed by others.
MARGARET Look at that man … what a sight! Thick as a tree trunk …
MARIE … and strong as an ox, I’ll bet.
The DRUM-MAJOR gives the women a salute. MARIE smiles back at him.
MARGARET My, that was an awfully friendly eye you gave him! You don’t treat every man like that …
MARIE Soldiers are such handsome lads …
MARGARET Look at you! Your eyes are still gleaming!
MARIE What of it? (Defiant.) Perhaps you should take yours to the Jew and have him shine them, brighten them up for buttons and sell them …
MARGARET Who are you to talk like that? You with a baby in hand! (Beat.) I’m a good woman, that’s what I am … but you’ve found your way inside many a pair of leather britches …
MARGARET storms off with a basket of washing in hand.
MARIE Bitch. (Beat.) Well, baby, let them have it however they wish. It’s true, besides … you’re only a whore’s child, you poor thing. But still, your little face fills my heart with so much joy.
MARIE hums softly to the child. WOYZECK appears at the window. He knocks lightly.
WOYZECK Marie …
MARIE Who’s there? ’S that you, Franz?
WOYZECK Yes.
MARIE Come inside.
WOYZECK I can’t. I’ve got to get back to the barracks.
MARIE Look at you, you’re filthy! Have you been cutting wood for your Captain again?
WOYZECK Yes. In the forest …
Silence between them as WOYZECK looks about, wide-eyed.
MARIE What’s the matter, Franz? You seem frightened …
WOYZECK There was something there again, Marie. Some thing, out there.
MARIE Now, now …
WOYZECK It followed us all the way back to town, Andres and me. It pursued us here. What does it mean?
MARIE Franz … where did you hear a word like that one? “Pursued?”
WOYZECK In a book of … (Eyes her.) Doesn’t matter. I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at the fair this evening. I can pick you up, if you like. I’ve put a little bit aside …
MARIE smiles at him and nods. Reaches to touch his arm but he hurries off.
MARIE Poor man! So haunted by everything in this world … didn’t even stop to glance at his child. (Beat.) His thinking is so … his mind, wound like a clock spring! One day it’ll break.
MARIE shivers a bit and stands, moving to the window. She looks out.
MARIE Why so quiet, my child? You’re not frightened, are you? It’s so dark out now, one could go blind and never know it. (Beat.) That lamp, the street lamp, usually shines in all night long, but tonight the shadows are drowning it out. (Beat.) It scares me …
MARIE closes the window with a free hand and then moves off with the child.
Blackout.