ANDRES picks up a bowl and razor. He begins to shave the CAPTAIN, who is seated.
CAPTAIN … careful, Andres. Be careful. One step after the next. (Beat.) You make me nervous. What should I do with the few moments you save rushing this way? What good will they do me?
ANDRES steadies his hand and forcibly slows down.
CAPTAIN Think, Andres. Really think about this. You’ve got, what, another thirty years left? Thirty good years. Thirty. (Beat.) You’ve got to space it out, man! (Beat.) What else can you do with such an enormous amount of time?
ANDRES Yes, sir.
CAPTAIN I worry about the world, Andres, the idea of eternity. What is it? Eternity is eternity is eternity. Anyone can see that. But it’s also not that, not just that. Eternity. It’s just one beat as well … yes … just one single beat. It’s rather horrifying, how life turns about in a day. What a waste! And what does it all mean, anyway? I can’t bear to look at the miller’s wheel any more, when I pass it. I look away. It’s too depressing.
ANDRES Yes, sir.
The CAPTAIN is frustrated and shrugs off ANDRES for a moment, studying him. ANDRES waits.
CAPTAIN You men always seem so frightened! Good people don’t look like that, Andres. Not a person with a clean conscience.
ANDRES nods, then returns to his shaving. The CAPTAIN eyes him suspiciously, then closes his eyes.
ANDRES Yes, sir.
CAPTAIN That’s right … that’s it … slowly. Slowly now …
The sound of VOICES now, growing in intensity.
VOICES ANDRES … ANDRES … ANDRES!
ANDRES looks around, shakes his head. Tries to get back to his work.
VOICES ANDRES … ANDRES … ANDRES!!
CAPTAIN Slowly, man, that’s the way. Do it slowly … you have all the time in the world …
ANDRES slowly raises the razor over his head. His eyes widening as his mouth opens into a scream. The sound of a beer hall band grows louder and louder. Nearly unbearable.
Silence. Darkness.