Vørdigger

(To Krator)

You find all these whores fascinating.

Krator

There is something about her.

Vørdigger

What do you see in those pitiful creatures?

Krator

She looks like a beautiful corpse, animated by a love of death. Anyway, Dr. Vørdigger, they're more fun than crazy people.

Vørdigger

You used to be a normal guy before you took that hideous position, wife, kids, car.

Krator

Fuck that. I hated it. I'm glad they're out of my life. I pay them good. They don't like me either.

Vørdigger

I think you should watch your sanity, Hess.

Krator

You think everybody's crazy. That's because you live off of crazy people.

Vørdigger

I try to cure them.

Krator

Don't give me bullshit. You hate insane people. You coop them up like some farmer.

Vørdigger

What do you have to say about shit, Doctor? How is the slaughterhouse going?

Krator

There is pressure for me to expand.

Vørdigger

Expand? You've got to be joking.

Krator

No, goddamned it. They blame me for not working fast enough. I've got paper up to the ceiling to go through before I can kill just one motherfucker.

(We hear the Vørdigger's voice over speakers saying, "Vørdigger. Vørdigger. "Vørdigger winces. )

Vørdigger

What are you going to do about it?

Krator

I'm not going to do anything about it. I like my job.

Vørdigger

You kill people, for God's sake!

Krator

Somebody's got to do it, why not Europe's greatest surgeon? I am good at what I do. It is good to do what one is best at. There are too many old fuckers. They are eating the world like rust. I am like the fire that burns the weeds. I am like ammo. Ammo? I like that word. Is it American? Of course, they are so good at short words.

(We hear "Vørdigger Vørdigger" over the speakers. Vørdigger shakes his head to snap the sound out of his brain. *JIMMY and JOE* have been lurking in the shadows. When A GUY* approaches, they pull him into the shadows and begin pummeling him. As the sounds of beating and the cries of pain are heard, Krator and Vørdigger continue their conversation.)

Vørdigger

Amsterdam used to be a beautiful town.

Krator

Now it's overrun with the worst kind of scum. I blame it on America. I never liked that place. They're the one's that fucked up the world with their cheery movies and their processed cheese. Worse than the Nazis. The Nazis had some class.

Vørdigger

You mean their stupid riding boots?

Krator

Yes, and collars on their coats. They had style.

Vørdigger

They were stupid.

Krator

They were Germans.

Vørdigger

There you go.

Krator

There's nothing wrong with Germans except they're from Germany. But These Americans, they're from Disney Land. (He gets up and addresses the muggers in the bushes, gradually becoming irate) Now that Jesus has taken over their silly country you'd think they'd behave, but what do we have here, these American Illegals flooding our city, crawling out of the sewers. They make the most distasteful street-scum, they're so stupid and cute. They don't have the character of our peasant class.

(The noises in the bushes stop. Jimmy and Joe the Americans, appear with the victim's billfold and briefcase.)

Jimmy and Joe

(Greeting Krator)

Dude.

(They give him the finger and take off into the darkness.)

Krator

I hate Democracy.

Vørdigger

Krator. Krator, I want to talk to you.

Krator

What's the matter?

Vørdigger

Krator, I'm hearing things.

(We hear the Vørdigger's voice over speakers saying, "Vørdigger. Vørdigger. "Vørdigger winces.)

Krator

What kinds of things?

Vørdigger

A grunting, just behind my back, like a pig stuffing his snout in shit. Then, someone calling my name, "Vørdigger, Vørdigger" very clearly.

Krator

You drink too much coffee.

(Vørdigger laughs.)

Vørdigger

What a fabulous diagnoses.

(Krator pulls the roach from Vørdigger's mouth and throws it on the ground).

Krator

Don't smoke this.

Vørdigger

You smoke cigarettes.

Krator

They don't make me hallucinate, they just give me cancer.

Vørdigger

Stop it, you fool. There is no cure. It is "Echo de pensée."

Krator

"Echo de pensée?"

Vørdigger

"Echo de pensée." Hallucinations of the ear. It runs in the family. My grandfather had it. He screamed himself to death trying to block out the voices and the sounds.

Krator

How long has this been going on?

Vørdigger

The last few months.

Krator

Why didn't you tell me before?

Vørdigger

I don't trust you, but I have no where else to turn.

Krator

I understand. What do you want from me?

Vørdigger

I want you to kill me. (Krator starts to protest, Vørdigger puts up a silencing hand) Not yet. I want you to keep an eye on me, follow me to the edge and if I cannot function, I want you to kill me, no matter how much I plead for my life. Understand it as only the ravings of a mad man.

Krator

This is quite unpleasant.

Vørdigger

Do you think I enjoy it? (He pulls out a paper from his pocket ) Pursuant to this request I have brought a document allowing friendly termination. I have signed it. It only needs your signature.

(Krator examines the paper.)

Krator

Document? This is a contract.

Vørdigger

Yes.

Krator

This is backed by the Vandel Voodles, the toughest gang in town.

Continued...