Another one empty.
BILL (looks down once into the abyss that lies below the Lonely Place)
Stars. Blooming great stars.
[Then he moves away the rock on which he stood. The gates move slowly. Jim leaps up and runs to help; they each take a gate and move backward with their faces against it.
BILL
Hullo, mother! You there? Hullo! You there? It's Bill, mother.
[The gates swing heavily open, revealing empty night and stars.
BILL (staggering and gazing into the revealed Nothing, in which far stars go wandering)
Stars. Blooming great stars. There ain't no Heaven, Jim.
[Ever since the revelation a cruel and violent laugh has arisen off. It increases in volume and grows louder and louder.