WOYZECK leading MARIE through the woods—holding back the branches for her, placing a hand on her shoulders, etc. Sounds of the night all around. Moon still out.
MARIE … it’s so dark, Franz.
WOYZECK Mmmmm.
MARIE There … (Yawns.) … that must be the town over that way.
WOYZECK Yes. Let’s rest a moment …
MARIE No, I have to get back. The baby.
WOYZECK He’s fine. Asleep.
MARIE You don’t come by all yesterday. Not at all … now this! What’re we doing out here?
WOYZECK Come and sit down.
MARIE I have to go.
WOYZECK No, you’ll get sore feet … I want to save you from that.
MARIE What’s the matter with you? Why’re you going on like this?!
WOYZECK sits on his haunches near the edge of a pond.
WOYZECK How long’s it’s been? Do you know?
MARIE For us? Two years on Easter.
WOYZECK Two years … (To himself.) And just imagine how long it’s going to be …
MARIE This is idiotic! I’ve got to go home now, Franz. The baby’s …
The sentence trails off as she stops, pulling her shawl around her shoulders. Shivering. WOYZECK gets up and helps her.
WOYZECK Are you cold, Marie? (Pulls her close.) But you’re warm to touch. Your lips, still hot … breath is like fire. A harlot’s mouth.
MARIE pulls away and stands her ground, defiant. WOYZECK circles her.
MARIE … Franz …
WOYZECK I’d give anything to kiss you a last time … (Beat.) Feel cold, do you? Deathly cold … but you won’t feel the dew come morning.
MARIE What’re you saying?
WOYZECK Nothing. Not anything …
MARIE steps back again, looking around. Up.
MARIE The moon is out. Look how red it is …
WOYZECK Yes. Like blood dripping off a blade …
MARIE What does that mean? (Studies him.) Franz, what’s … you’re so pale.
Only now does she see the knife appear in his hands—and before she can scream WOYZECK has her around the neck. Holds a finger to his lips. She nods. He forces her to her knees.
WOYZECK … pray, Marie. Pray now.
MARIE Franz … (He pushes her.) Oh God, I beg thee to … “And the scribes and the pharisees brought him a woman taken in adultery … and Jesus said unto her: ‘Neither do I condemn thee. Go now, and sin no more …’” (Starts to cry.) Give me strength to pray! Dear God, I cannot …
She glances up to see WOYZECK raising the knife over his head. MARIE screams and tries to get to her feet. She trips over her skirts and rolls to one side. WOYZECK sits on her as he brings the knife down.
MARIE Stop, Franz, no! God, help me!!
WOYZECK Take that! That!! There, there!!!
MARIE HELP!!
WOYZECK Why can’t you die?! There! There!! On and on and ON!!! (Stabbing her.) Still moving? (Stabs.) Still?! And still?!!!
WOYZECK stops; his sleeves are covered in blood. MARIE is face-down, silent.
WOYZECK … now are you dead? Dead? Dead?
The VOICES start in again. Low at first, but rising.
VOICES WOYZECK … WOYZECK … WOYZECK!
WOYZECK drops the knife to cover his ears—he runs off and away. Into the shadows.
MARIE lies where she fell. No movement. Sounds of the night around her.
Blackout.