Cinna's Easy Plays from Shakespeare 1

HAMLET

SCENE 1

( The stage is dark. A number of people hurry across, carrying lanterns. One stands looking at others. HORATIO catches sight of the standing figure. He raises his lantern to see its face. The light shows us a skull.)

Horatio (very alarmed) : Hamlet!

(He looks round for HAMLET but does not see him.)

Hamlet !

( The figure walks off. HAMLET enters on the other side.)

Hamlet: Come along. We shall be late for the wedding.

Horatio: Look !

Hamlet: Where ?

Horatio: Can't you see ? Oh, it's gone.

Hamlet: What are you talking about?

Horatio: I just saw a very strange thing.

Hamlet: Well, I saw nothing. Now, stop dreaming and hurry.

( They exit.)

SCENE 2

(Enter people with lights. KING CLAUDIUS and QUEEN GERTRUDE enter wearing crowns, and wedding clothes. Also, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, LAERTES .)

Claudius: And so I take you, Gertrude, for my wife.

(All clap.)

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death the memory be green, Gertrude and I have decided to marry as soon as possible. She was a loving wife to him. Now he is dead, she is my queen, and Denmark's peace continues .

Gertrude : Thank you all for attending our wedding.

(All clap.)

Claudius: Often when a King dies, there is a war to decide the new King. Denmark shall have no war. Our speedy action shall let peace continue. (CLAUDIUS kisses the hand of GERTRUDE. All clap. ) And now, Polonius, my good friend. You asked me to do something ?

Polonius: Yes, my lord. It concerns my son Laertes.

Claudius: Laertes ? What is it that you want, my boy ? For your good father's sake, I hope I can help you.

Laertes: My lord, I am a student in Paris. I came home for your wedding. Now it is ended, may I return to Paris ?

Claudius: You wish to leave us so soon ? We have dances and entertainment all this week. What does your father say ?

Polonius: He insists on going, my lord. He likes sport and study in Paris, better than dancing and drinking in Elsinore.

Claudius: He is a good boy. Yes, Laertes, you may go. Do not forget us !

Laertes: I will not, my lord.

(LAERTES kisses hand of GERTRUDE. Exit LAERTES. Enter HAMLET and HORATIO.)

Claudius: And now let us begin the wedding dance.

(GERTRUDE sees HAMLET and points to him.)

Claudius: But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son, you look unhappy. Come to the dance !

Gertrude: My dear son, I know why you are unhappy. You lost a noble father when I lost a noble husband. This happens to all of us. It is common.

Hamlet: Yes, Madam, it is common

Gertrude: It is your mother's wedding. Smile !

Claudius: It is sweet and commendable that you mourn for your father, Hamlet. But, remember, he also lost a father. I am your new father. Stay here in Elsinore with us.

Gertrude: Yes, Hamlet, stay here.

Claudius: Do not go back to school in Wittenberg .

Gertrude: You don't like study, do you ?

Claudius: Stay here and study the duties of a King. For you will be next King of Denmark, Hamlet.

(All clap.)

Hamlet: Very well. I shall stay.

Gertrude: Thank you, dear son.

(GERTRUDE kisses Hamlet on cheek.)

Claudius: Good. Now, to the dance!

(Exit all but HAMLET and HORATIO.)

Hamlet: So, I must stay here. Will you go back to school ?

Horatio: My lord, I will stay with you.

Hamlet: I need a friend.

Horatio: You have your family !

Hamlet: Do I ? My father is dead. My mother has become my aunt. A man dies, and on the same day his wife marries again!

Horatio: Not the same day.

Hamlet: The very hour.

Horatio: It was rather soon, I know.

Hamlet: Thrift, thrift, Horatio ! The hot food not eaten at the funeral was served again, cold, at the wedding.

Horatio: My lord, do not joke. :

Hamlet: This is no joke. I remember my father. And now I see my uncle. What a change !

Horatio: He was a good king.

Hamlet: He was a man. Taking him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.

Horatio: I think I saw him.

Hamlet: Yes, of course.

Horatio: No, I mean since he died. Last night.

Hamlet (amazed) : Last night?

Horatio: I saw a ghost-the very image of your father.

Hamlet: Can this be true ?

Horatio: I hardly know. If this strange sight comes again, I will tell you.

Hamlet: Yes, yes, I must see it. My father's ghost! This is very odd.

( They exit.)

SCENE 3

(Enter OPHELIA and LAERTES.)

Laertes: And now, my good sister, I must say good bye.

Ophelia: Don't go, brother.

Laertes: I must study !

Ophelia (kissing him) : Goodbye then.

Laertes: While I am in Paris, keep away from Hamlet.

Ophelia: But why ?

Laertes: He does not love you.

Ophelia: He says he loves me.

Laertes: It is foolish talk. Forget it. In Wittenberg he whispers the same thing to dozens of , girls .

Ophelia: You have no heart.

Laertes: I do. Because my heart is big, I think of my sister's happiness.

Ophelia: Very well, then, but in Paris don't you ' whisper to dozens of girls.

Laertes: Me ? I study all the time !

Ophelia (laughing) : Yes ! (Enter POLONIUS.)

Ophelia: Father, Laertes is going.

Polonius: He is late.

Laertes: Goodbye, father.

(He kneels.)

Polonius (puts hand on LAERTES' head) : There my blessing on you.

(LAERTES stands.)

Polonius: Now, off to Paris !

Ophelia: Goodbye, goodbye.

Laertes: Goodbye, father. Remember what I said, sister.

(Exit. )

Polonius: What did he tell you to remember ?

Ophelia: Oh, something.

Polonius: What ?

Ophelia: About the lord Hamlet.

Polonius: Ah, a good idea. Now tell me the truth. What is between you and Hamlet?

Ophelia (very embarrassed) : He sends me gifts. He says he loves me. He writes letters every day.

(She shows letters, hidden near her heart.)

Polonius: Love ? Nonsense.

Ophelia: It's true ! He loves me !

Polonius: It's not true. I will not have you speak to him. Do you understand me ?

Ophelia (cries) : Yes, father.

Polonius (angry) : I am your father, yes. I order you not to meet Hamlet. You must not receive any gifts or letters. Understand ?

Ophelia: Yes, father, I understand.

( They exit.)

SCENE 4

(Enter HAMLET and HORATIO.)

Hamlet: It's a cold night.

Horatio: It will soon be the middle of the winter.

(Clock strikes one.)

Hamlet: One o'clock.

Horatio: Yes ; this is the hour when ghosts sometimes appear.

Hamlet: Nonsense !

Horatio: It's true.

Hamlet: When I have seen a ghost I will say it is true! My mother believes in such things, but you and I, Horatio, we are university students ! We do not believe in old-fashioned nonsense. We are modern. We know the truth.

( The GHOST enters behind HAMLET.)

Horatio: If you wish to know more of the truth, turn around.

Hamlet: Why do you say that?

Horatio: Quick !

(HAMLET turns slowly and sees the GHOST.)

Hamlet: My father!

(He falls onto his knees, astounded.)

Horatio: It beckons you.

Hamlet: I will follow.

Horatio: No !

Hamlet: I must follow my father.

Horatio(holding HAMLET) : We don't know if it is your father ! He may lead you to your death !

Hamlet (struggling with HORATIO) : My fate cries out. Let me go, Horatio ! (HAMLET throws HORATIO onto ground. HAMLET takes his sword, and holds hilt between his face and the GHOST. The hilt is in the shape of the Christian cross.) Go on, I'll follow. ( The GHOST beckons HAMLET again.)

Horatio: No.

Hamlet: Lead on.

( The GHOST slowly walks off; HAMLET slowly follows. HORATIO stands up and runs after them.)

Horatio: Hamlet ! Hamlet! Where are you ?

(Exit HORATIO.)

(GHOST enters in a deferent place. HAMLET is following as before.)

Hamlet: Stop ! I'll go no further.

Ghost: Listen to me.

Hamlet: I will.

Ghost: I cannot stay long.

Hamlet: Ah, yes, stay !

Ghost: I must return to hell.

Hamlet: No, no.

Ghost: Do not pity me, but listen.

Hamlet: Yes, I must listen.

Ghost: Do you know me?

Hamlet: Yes, yes, I'll call you Hamlet, king, father, royal Dane.

Ghost: You are a good son. You do not forget : your father.

Hamlet: Forget! Impossible !

Ghost: You must listen.

Hamlet: Then speak.

Ghost: You must revenge me.

Hamlet (surprised) : Revenge ?

Ghost: I am your father's Ghost. Listen if you love me . . .

Hamlet: If!

Ghost: Revenge your father's murder ! l

Hamlet (astonished) : Murder !

Ghost: Murder most foul, as at the best it is. Hamlet: But who murdered you ?

Ghost: As I lay sleeping in my orchard, I was bitten by a snake. And the poison of the snake killed me.

Hamlet: Yes, yes, I have heard that story.

Ghost: There is more. The snake that bit me then, now wears my crown.

Hamlet: My uncle ! Oh ! Revenge !

Ghost: Yes, my loving younger brother, your uncle, the new king of Denmark, and your mother's new husband.

Hamlet: My mother !

Ghost: She is innocent. Do not touch her. In the garden as I slept, your uncle came with a bottle of poison. He poured this in my ear.

Hamlet: You saw him ?

Ghost: Just before I died, I saw his evil smile. After he poisoned me, he poisoned your mother--pouring in her ears the honeyed words of love. You were away at university in Wittenberg. He seized the throne, seized my wife . . . and while I suffer the pains of hell, he makes the royal bed of Denmark a couch for luxury and damned incest.

Hamlet (collapses on floor) : Oh !

Ghost: I must go. The night is ending. You must stay and punish your uncle. Do not touch your mother. Let God be her judge. The doubts in her heart will be punishment enough. Adieu. Adieu. Remember me !

(Exit GHOST.)

Hamlet: Remember you ! Yes, while my brain still works, I will forget everything but you. Oh wicked mother! Oh, vile uncle! Revenge ! Revenge ! Yes, I have sworn it. Adieu. Adieu. Remember me !

Horatio (off) : Hamlet! Hamlet!

(Enters. )

My lord ? Are you here ! Are you all right?

Hamlet (ignores him) : Adieu. Adieu. Remember me .

Horatio: My lord, what happened ?

Hamlet: Oh, wonderful.

Horatio: Good my lord, tell it.

Hamlet: No, you will tell somebody.

Horatio: My lord, I will tell no one.

Hamlet: Then listen. There is a villain living in Denmark. . .

(He changes his manner and becomes humorous.)

. . .who is a villain.

Horatio (surprised) : There needs no ghost to tell us this.

Hamlet: Why, yes, you are right. It's all a lot of foolishness. Let us separate and go home, and forget everything. :

Horatio: What do you mean ? These are foolish words, my lord.

Hamlet: Forgive me. I am sorry to offend you.

Horatio: There is no offence, my lord.

Hamlet: Yes, by St. Patrick, but there is Horatio. One man has offended ! Ah, it was an honest ghost.

Horatio: But was it your father, or some devil acting like him ?

Hamlet: Ah, Horatio, I beg you do one thing for me.

Horatio: Of course, my lord, what is it?

Hamlet: Never tell any one what you have seen tonight.

Horatio: I will tell no one.

Hamlet: Then swear it.

Horatio: That's not necessary.

Hamlet: It is so, swear.

Horatio: No, really. I do not wish to swear.

Hamlet: Put your hand on my sword.

Horatio: No, please.

Ghost (off stage) : Swear.

Hamlet: Ah, you hear him ? Swear to tell no one.

Horatio: If you wish.

Ghost (off, in a different place) : Swear.

Hamlet (moves that way) : Come here. Put your .hand on my sword

Ghost (off) : Swear.

Hamlet: Swear.

Horatio: I swear.

Hamlet (sheathes sword) : Rest, rest, perturbed spirit.

No, silence Horatio, silence.

Something is rotten in this state of Denmark.

O cursed spite,

That ever I was born to set it right!

(Exit both.)

SCENE 5

(HAMLET puts hand on HORATIO's shoulder, and leans on him as they exit. OPHELIA enters. She sees HAMLET. She is surprised. HAMLET takes her hand, looks in her face, shakes his head, and walks off, after HORATIO. OPHELIA screams and runs across stage. POLONlUS enters other side. She runs into his arms.)

Polonius: Ophelia ! What's the matter ?

Ophelia: Oh, father, father.

Polonius: Don't cry. Tell me.

Ophelia: I just saw Hamlet.

Polonius (angry) : Hamlet!

Ophelia: He walked past me, took my hand, and looked in my face.

Polonius: What did he say ?

Ophelia: He said nothing.

Polonius: Nothing ?

Ophelia: Oh, he was so strange ! His clothes were dirty and rumpled. His hair was in a mess. His hand trembled like an earthquake.

Polonius: Ah ha, he is mad for love of you.

Ophelia: Mad for me ?

Polonius: What else can be the reason ?

Ophelia: Well, perhaps you are right.

Polonius: Have you been talking to him?

Ophelia: No, no, I have avoided him.

Polonius: Very strange. Let's tell the king.

Ophelia: Oh no.

Polonius: We must. Did Hamlet send you any more letters ?

Ophelia: He sent some, but I sent them back, un-read.

Polonius: Ah, I see, that's the reason for it. You are a good daughter to tell all this to your father. Here come the king and queen. Explain everything to them.

(Enter CLAUDIUS and GERTRUDE. POLONIUS bows, OPHELIA curtsies.)

Polonius: My good lord.

Claudius: Yes, Polonius.

Polonius: I believe I know the reason for Hamlet's madness.

Gertrude: What madness ?

Polonius: Your son, madam, has been acting strangely.

Gertrude: Well, he is a little unhappy. That's because of his father's death, and our hurried marriage.

Claudius: Gertrude!

Polonius: Perhaps, but today his madness is directed at my daughter.

Claudius and Gertrude (surprised) : Oh ! At Ophelia !

Ophelia: Yes, your Majesty.

Gertrude: Tell me, dear Ophelia.

Polonius: Give me his letters.

(OPHELIA gives letters.)

Polonius: Now listen, pray. First, a poem.

(POLONIUS reads.)

"Doubt that the stars are fire

Doubt that the sun doth move

Doubt truth to be a liar

But never doubt I love."

Claudius: Well, I don't think it's mad; it's a little strange, but young men usually write such letters to young girls.

Polonius: Very well. Listen to this one. "O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers".

Gertrude: What does that mean ?

Ophelia: I don't know.

Polonius: "I have no art to reckon my groans".

Claudius: Odd !

Polonius: "But I love you best".

Gertrude : That's not odd.

Polonius: "Oh, most best, believe it, adieu. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet".

Gertrude: Machine ?

Polonius: Yes, "machine".

Claudius: What does he mean ?

Polonius: We don't know. It's part of his madness.

Claudius: I am not so sure.

Gertrude: We can't call him mad unless we know more.

Polonius: Patience, good madam, I beg you. We will test him. You shall see for yourself.

Ophelia: Oh. Here he comes now !

(She runs off.)

Polonius: Very convenient ! Stand behind this curtain, and listen while I ask him about these letters. Judge if he is mad or not. :

(CLAUDIUS and GERTRUDE stand behind curtain. Enter HAMLET looking at paper.)

Polonius: How does my lord Hamlet ?

Hamlet: Well.

Polonius: You know my name, my lord ?

Hamlet: Of course. You are a fishmonger.

Polonius: A fishmonger ! Not I, my lord.

Hamlet: Then I wish you were as honest as a fishmonger.

Polonius: As honest as a fishmonger ! ,

Hamlet: Yes, indeed, for to be an honest man is to be one among ten thousand.

Polonius: Very true, my lord.

Hamlet: You have a daughter.

Polonius: I do, my lord.

Hamlet: Let her be careful.

Polonius: I shall tell her to be careful, my lord.

(to CLAUDIUS and GERTRUDE behind curtain)

Thinking about my daughter !

(to HAMLET)

What do you read, my lord ?

Hamlet: Words, words, words.

Polonius: But what is the matter ?

Hamlet (looking about) : Between whom ?

Polonius: No, no. What are you reading. What does it say ?

Hamlet: Oh, lies, slanders, insults. It says old men have grey beards ; their faces are like dried apples ; their heads are weak and their legs weaker. This may be true, but people should never say so.

Polonius: Ah, yes.

( to CLAUDIUS and GERTRUDE)

This may be madness. but there is method , in it.

(to HAMLET)

You seem unhappy, my lord.

Hamlet: I am busy thinking.

(Points to his head.)

Polonius: Then perhaps you will be too busy to welcome the players. (Points off.)

Hamlet (very interested) : The players ? What players ?

Polonius: You know them my lord, the actors who came to Elsinore last year.

Hamlet: Ah, yes, I remember. He that plays the king shall be welcome.

Polonius: Shall I call them in ?

Hamlet: Of course.

(POLONlUS calls and waves. Several actors in strange clothes run in, singing, playing instruments, walking on hands, etc. Music, noise, laughter. HAMLET is delighted.)

Hamlet: Gentlemen, you are welcome to Denmark .

All players:( bow or curtsey.)Thank you, my lord.

Polonius: They are the best players in the world, for tragedy,

comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical,historical-pastoral, tragical-historical,tragical-comical-historical-pastoral.

Hamlet: They can do everything, then.

Polonius: They can !

Hamlet: Bravo. When will you give us a play ?

Player King: Tonight, if you wish, my lord.

Hamlet: I wish ! I wish ! Make yourselves at home here.

Polonius: I will show them their quarters.

Hamlet: Give them our best rooms. They are more than mere guests, for an actor brings himself and also all his impersonations.

(All exit. HAMLET and PLAYER KING remain.)

Hamlet: Just a moment.

Player King: My lord?

Hamlet: Last time you came to Denmark I think you acted a play called "The Murder of Gonzago". Do you remember it?

Player King: Yes, of course, sir.

Hamlet: Can you play it tonight ?

Player King: Certainly, sir.

Hamlet: Then come with me, I want to tell you something.

(Exit both.)

SCENE 6

(Enter CLAUDIUS, GERTRUDE, OPHELIA.)

Claudius: We heard Hamlet talking to your father.

Gertrude: He did not seem mad.

Ophelia: I don't know.

Claudius: How is he when he talks to you, Ophelia ?

Ophelia: My father says I must not talk to him.

(Enter POLONIUS.)

Claudius: Hamlet did not talk like a mad man, Polonius.

Polonius: But it was very strange, don't you think ?

Gertrude: Would he talk to Ophelia in the same way ?

Polonius: Oh, worse, I should think.

(HAMLET and PLAYER KING walk across stage talking earnestly. They do not see others.)

Claudius: Look! There he is. Ophelia, give him back these letters. We will see what he does.

Ophelia: Yes, my lord.

(CLAUDIUS, GERTRUDE, POLONlUS hide behind curtain. )

Ophelia (to HAMLET) : How are you, sir ?

Hamlet (not looking) : Thank you, I am well.

Ophelia: I have some letters from you. Please take them back.