  Let V be a symplectic vector space over a finite or local field. We compute
the character of the Weil representation of the metaplectic group Mp(V). The
final formulas are overtly free of choices (e.g. they do not involve the usual
choice of a Lagrangian subspace of V). Along the way, in results similar to
those of K. Maktouf, we relate the character to the Weil index of a certain
quadratic form, which may be understood as a Maslov index. This relation also
expresses the character as the pullback of a certain simple function from
Mp(V\oplus V).
