The Tragic Fall Of Wizlaw, The Count Of Rügen

Act V, Scene I

Half an hour later. Past midnight. A small dock in Sassnitz. An elevated platform is on the right with a mast. There is a lantern opposite the platform and another is near the platform. Barrels are near the first lantern.

Enter THREE MONKS

MONK 3: The foreword has come true.

MONK 2: To a greater extent than was thought.

MONK 1: Man causes th'fall of itself.

MONK 2: It all begins with a small gesture.

MONK 1: This gesture expands like ivy and th'roots of trees.

MONK 3: It doth merge with other gestures 'til a a point is reached.

ALL: And through this point, it all unfolds and unties itself like a ragg'd cloth in th'wind that-.

JESTER: [offstage:] Ho, it's those three men! Hello! Over here! It's me!

[Exeunt THREE MONKS with fog

Enter JESTER running

JESTER: O! Damn'd be them again! Mine own eyes see them all around yet they go like rooks from a fox. They are like some strange apparitions that only seem to be seen by me.

Enter WIZLAW running drunkenly

WIZLAW: Another accursed figure is before me!

JESTER: Ho 'n' hello great sir. O-!

[WIZLAW runs past and pushes JESTER offstage]

WIZLAW: Shadow man! Thou art everywhere. I must leave this lost place for th'damage that I have caused is too grand to be mended. If I swim, the sea demons will surely get to my person. [he points] There, a fortune worth all the gold that I have. This small yet mighty sail shall get me out of this ruin.

[WIZLAW jumps on the platform and begins preparing the ship]

[while preparing ship:] My wife died. My daughter died. My eldest son died. My second eldest son died. My envoy died. My court died. My troops died. My soul died. My gods died.

[shouts are heard offstage]

Oh no. The men of th'night are 'ere for me. [he cuts the rope and holds the mast] Yesterday, I was in Rugard. Tonight, I am in Sassnitz. Tomorrow, I will be elsewhere. 'Tis uncertain where I shall land or sink, but at least I will be alone in peace. No one! I tell ye no one will find and desecrate my body. [he slowly shuffles offstage in the rhythm of the boat]

Enter GUARDS with torches on an elevation opposite to WIZLAW

GUARD 1: Ho, there he is. That murdering, criminalistic, lunatical scum is tryin' to dash into th'waters.

GUARD 2: Leave him there. He won't sail far in that little boat.

GUARD 1: Art thou certain? What will we tell our commander?

GUARD 2: We will tell him that the deranged Count sail'd far off into th'waves. It is not worth chasing him and setting up a vessel in this darkness. The Count is not an experienced sailor as much and he will likely crash into th'rocks. Let him rot at sea.

[Exeunt