MARIE where she fell. Silent. WOYZECK appears after a moment, searching through the branches and high grass.
WOYZECK … what is this place? (Searching.) What’s that noise?!
WOYZECK continues to move through the woods. Wandering.
WOYZECK … where is it? Is it here? Where? I’m getting closer. Closer. I left It here … where’s the knife?!
WOYZECK stumbles across MARIE and lets out a gasp. He looks around, then kneels near her. Scoops her up into his arms.
WOYZECK Marie. (Holds her tight.) So still. So, so … nothing. Not a sound. Why are you so pale, Marie? (Kissing her.) Marie … oh my Marie! (Cries.) What’s that red around your neck, love? Is it a necklace? Is it to go along with your earrings? Did he give it to you for that … for your sins. So black what you did. Black, black sins, Marie. Did I whiten you again …? (Touches her hair.) Your hair is so tangled … Didn’t you braid it today?
WOYZECK kisses her. Long and soft. Then sounds in the distance—an owl perhaps—spook him. WOYZECK looks up.
WOYZECK The knife! I’ve got to …
WOYZECK searches around, finds it. He thinks for a bit, then tosses it into the water. A soft plop!
WOYZECK In you go … (Watches.) Sink like a dark stone in the water. (Waits.) No … it’s too close. Much too … they swim here. It’s not right.
WOYZECK wades into the water up to his boots. Looks.
WOYZECK And in the summer, when the young boys dive deep, deep to the bottom of the pond … what then? It’ll … it’d be rusty by then. Yes? If I’d broken it, the blade … then no one could recognize it. Not even that Jew.
WOYZECK moves a bit deeper into the water. Dips his hands in—he glances at them as they come out. Dripping.
WOYZECK Is there still blood on me? I need to wash it off! Wash myself … ahh, there’s a spot … and another one. There. And there. And there, too. And still one more …
WOYZECK slowly disappears beneath the surface. All traces of him are gone. Silence.
Blackout.