(To the Queen, enter King with
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)
CLAUDIUS
Good lady, your sighs, these profound heaves--you must tell
us exactly what has happened. This is a matter of security.
Where is the prince?
GERTRUDE
(to Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern)
Bestow this place to us a little while.
exit.)
GERTRUDE (CONT'D)
Oh--my good lord! What I have seen tonight!
CLAUDIUS
Gertrude, where is Hamlet? How is he?
GERTRUDE
How is he? As mad as the sea and wind dueling for supremacy.
In the passion of the moment, he heard Polonius behind the
tapestry, whirled about and slayed him.
CLAUDIUS
That might have been me! His freedom threatens us all-
everything! How am I going to explain this?!
I can be blamed! I should have done something sooner! My
love for him--I failed to do what was fit, and now, like
disease left untreated, it's begun to eat away at life
itself! Where is he?!
GERTRUDE
He took the body somewhere to dispose of it. He did weep, he
regrets what has happened.
CLAUDIUS
He'll be sent away before the sun reaches the mountaintops.
It's going to be quite a feat to condemn and excuse this in
order to settle it. Guildenstern!
(Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter.)
CLAUDIUS (CONT'D)
(to Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern)
Hamlet has gone insane and killed Polonius. Get some others
to assist you, find him and the body. Humor him, keep him
calm, and get the body to the chapel. Hurry!
(Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bow and
exit.)
CLAUDIUS (CONT'D)
Come your majesty, we'll call on our wisest friends and let
them know what's happened, and what we mean to do. Hopefully
rumor and slander, which travels over anything else in the
world, misses me and hits dirt. I've never been so upset and
dismayed--come!
(They exit.)
