[The rest of the entourage disperses leaving, in its wake, the stately figure of the RIVER WOMAN. She moves slowly downstage and facing KURTZ stops still.] LAMENT RIVER WOMAN Lament CHORUS
Earth, unknown earth, touch the sky. A visitation. The sorrowful land. An invasion. An infliction upon the sorrowful land… [silence] [The RIVER WOMAN turns and leaves slowly. The MANAGER is seen talking to KURTZ.]
HARLEQUIN
I don’t understand… mischief! Too much for me! Ah, well, it’s all over now.
KURTZ
Save me?
KURTZ
Save me? Save the ivory you mean. Don’t tell me, “save me?” Why, I’ve had to save you. Sick? Not so sick as you would like to believe. Never mind. I’ll carry my ideas out yet. I will return… I’ll show you what can be done. You with your little peddling notions. You are interrupting my plans… I will return… [The Manager leaves Kurtz and comes to Marlow leading him to one side.]
MANAGER
He is very low, we have done all we could for him. No more disguising the fact that Mr Kurtz has done more harm than good for the Company… The district is closed to us for a time. And why? Unsound method.
MARLOW
You call it “unsound method?”
MANAGER
Don’t you?
MARLOW
I see no method at all. Nevertheless, a remarkable man.
MANAGER
He was.