Schmendrick, Molly, and Amalthea stand in the great hall where the clock and the skull are located. Amalthea has not spoken since her encounter with King Haggard earlier. It is shortly after midnight, and the hall is dark, but Schmendrick lights it with magic. When they locate the skull, Schmendrick tells them that one of the foundations of wizardry is seeing and listening. Most wizards can enchant anything living or dead to speak. Schmendrick tries several incantations, but the skull does not seem to come to life. When Schmendrick nearly loses his temper, the skull warns that Haggard will wake if Schmendrick yells.

The skull teases the group for a while. It knows the way to the Red Bull but won’t give up the information. It taunts and laughs at the group. It explains that it was a nuisance of a person when it was alive, and the only amusement it gets these days is by exasperating others. Molly expresses that they don’t have time for this, but the skull muses that rushing around, scrambling, and being late is part of the human experience. 

Schmendrick asks about the wine, which catches the skull’s attention. Molly could not find wine, so she brought a flask of water for Schmendrick to use to make wine.