The sound of burning wood is heard faintly. Something is burning close to WILLIAM, but he does not hear it, or doesn’t care.

AYRE’S VOICE: ’Ear us, William, William. Keep us in that box. We is talkin’ t’ thee. T’ thee. The circle is burst. I ne’er more cup me ear to the glommen bird. I ne’er more helter-skelterin’ wid the glommen sprits; foe ’n’ friend.

WILLIAM: ‘Hear us, William. Keep us in that box. We are talking to you. To you! The circle is broken. I’ll never more listen to the night birds. Never more dance with the night spirits, the good and the bad.’

WILLIAM finishes his drink and puts down the empty glass.

ELIZABETH: [off, banging on the door, yelling] Bill! William! Are you in there?

AYRE’S VOICE: Listen t’ us, William, ’ear us words, ’member us, ’elp us, us who is born in card, cradlepain. Nowt more outcastin’.

WILLIAM: ‘Listen to us, William. Hear our words. Remember us. Help us, who were born in pain. No more exile.’

ELIZABETH: William, answer me!

AYRE’S VOICE: Nowt more outcastin’.

WILLIAM: ‘No more exile.’

WILLIAM does not hear ELIZABETH. He picks up the razor and calmly slits his throat. The fire grows loud.

SCENE FOURTEEN

The asylum gardens, late afternoon. BETSHEB sits on the bench. Some flowers, pulled up by the roots, are scattered around her. Around her mouth are traces of dried blood. She wears a white hospital gown which is stained with urine and menstrual blood. She has lost control of herself. DR SIMON enters, surprised by BETSHEB’s appearance.

DR SIMON: What has happened, Betsheb?

BETSHEB doesn’t answer.

Larry said someone tore up all his flower beds: it was you, wasn’t it? [Pause.] You must look after yourself. Come inside, let’s clean you up.

DR SIMON grabs her. Suddenly BETSHEB lashes out and knocks the doctor down.

BETSHEB: Way! Way!

BETSHEB looks wild. DR SIMON gets up and moves away.

DR SIMON: Come on, Betsheb, come inside.

BETSHEB: [screaming] Nowt more!

DR SIMON: If you don’t calm down I’ll have to get the ward assistants to help me.

BETSHEB: [screaming] Nowt more!

DR SIMON hurries off for help. BETSHEB looks wildly about her.

[Screaming] Nowt more! [Looking up at the sky] Nowt more!

Suddenly there is thunder. It is as if she cries out for the destruction of the world. The more she screams at the heavens, the louder the thunder and lightning grow.

SCENE FIFTEEN

A prison courtyard, Berlin, afternoon. FRANCIS sits on the ground against a wall and soaks up the last rays of sun. Silence.

AMERICAN VOICE: [off, crying out] Hoy, hoy, I’m the boy! Hoy, hoy, I’m the boy! PETER enters in a captain’s uniform. FRANCIS doesn’t notice him. PETER is shocked by FRANCIS’ condition. He puts on a smile.

PETER: Long time no see, mate.

FRANCIS: Peter!

He stands up. They greet each other warmly.