Two bodies on gurneys stand before us. Their hands fall out from beneath the sheets—almost as if they were being held in death.
Two attendants pull back the covers as the DOCTOR enters the room. He goes to a table full of tools and starts in immediately on WOYZECK—measuring, poking, prodding.
DOCTOR … oh, Woyzeck. (Shakes his head.) Age: 30 years; height: 6 shoes, 9 inches of the new Hessian measurement; Hair: fair; Forehead: very prominent; Eyebrows: fair; Eyes: gray; Nose: strong; Mouth: small; Beard: fair; Chin: round; Stature: strong, slim; Complexion: fresh. (Laughs.) Well, it used to be …
The others politely laugh. The DOCTOR chortles again.
DOCTOR Let’s see now, what did we leave out?
ATTENDANT 1 Ummm … face?
DOCTOR Hmmm. Funny, I couldn’t tell you without looking. (Grins.) Take a peek … (Studies WOYZECK.) Oval. Anything else?
ATTENDANT 1 No. Well, any other particular characteristics …?
DOCTOR … yes. The man was short-sighted.
ATTENDANT 1 And name? His first name, please?
DOCTOR … hmm. I can’t honestly recall.
The DOCTOR goes about the body, checking this and that—an ATTENDANT taking notes as he goes.
DOCTOR … Still, it’s a good murder he’s done. A really lovely murder … Couldn’t wish for a nicer job … we haven’t had one of this caliber in years! (Beat.) So that’s something.
The DOCTOR stops his check-up and moves to another set of tools—selects a bone saw and turns to WOYZECK’S head. He starts in on the skull, cutting into the flesh. The sound of metal on bone. Blood spilling onto the tiled flooring. Sickening.
Only now do we see KARL sitting in a corner—seated on an upturned bedpan. Watching. Lights are slowly fading. He lights a match, holding it close to his face.
KARL … once upon a time there was a poor little boy who had no mother or father. Everyone was dead and there was no one left in the whole world. Everything was quite …
He blows it out. The stage is flooded in blackness.
KARL … dead.
The sound of the saw continues—cutting and cutting and cutting. On and on and on.
The sound of a beer hall band begins to build. Growing in intensity.
Blackout.