OpEdNews - Page 4 of Article: Hamlet 4:6 & 4:7

                                   LAERTES
            This must be Lamond.

                                   CLAUDIUS
            The very same.

                                   LAERTES
            I know him well--a bright jewel in the crown of his nation.

                                   CLAUDIUS
            Well, he mentioned you, and gave a masterly report of your
            swordsmanship. He swore the French had neither motion,
            guard, nor eye to match you. This talk did so envenom the
            prince with envy, that he almost begged for your return so
            you two could compete.

                                   (Beat.)

                                   CLAUDIUS (CONT'D)
            You loved your father, did you not? You're not a painting of
            sorrow? A face without a heart?
            The point is, Prince Hamlet has returned. What would you do
            to show yourself your father's son?

                                   LAERTES
            I cut his throat in the church.

                                   CLAUDIUS
            Indeed Laertes, no place should be a sanctuary from revenge.
            For now, will you do this? Keep to your rooms. Hamlet shall
            be told of your return home. We'll varnish the fame the
            Frenchman gave you, and a match will emerge. He, being
            remiss, generous-minded and free from conspiracy, will not
            inspect the foils. With a little shuffling, you will choose
            a sword without a button on its tip, and thus be set lose to
            your revenge.

                                   LAERTES
            I'll do it.

                                   CLAUDIUS
            We'll anoint a sword with a poison so even if you only graze
            him, he's bound to die. We must weigh the best time and
            means to fit us to this shape. If this plan should fail, or
            our real selves show through a bad performance, things could
            become most foul. Our plan should have another behind it to
            fall back upon.

                                   (Claudius thinks.)

                                   CLAUDIUS (CONT'D)
            That's it! When you become hot and weary from the bout, and
            he asks for a drink, I'll have goblets ready for the purpose.
            If he avoids the poison with a parry, he'll invite another
            past his teeth.

                                   (The Queen enters.)

                                   GERTRUDE
            One sorrow treads upon another's heel. Your sister has
            drowned, Laertes.

                                   LAERTES
            Where?

                                   GERTRUDE
            At the willow over the brook. She went with fantastic
            garlands of crow-flowers, nettles, daises, and long purples,
            to hang them on a bough. It broke and down she fell. Her
            garments, heavy with their drink, pulled her to her watery
            death.

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