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.
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.
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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