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Primary School Student Script The Tempest

by

William Shakespeare

Abridged for the Shakespeare Schools Festival by

Martin Lamb

30 MINUTE VERSION

© Shakespeare Schools Festival (SSF) “We are such stuff as dreams are made on.”

Copyright of the abridged scripts rest with Shakespeare Schools Festival charity. Your registration fee only allows you to perform the abridgement during the current Festival. You may not share the script with other schools, or download all the scripts for personal use. A public performance of the SSF abridged script must be premiered at the professional SSF theatre.

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LIST OF ROLES

Alonso THE KING OF NAPLES

Sebastian HIS BROTHER

Prospero THE RIGHTFUL DUKE OF MILAN

Antonio HIS BROTHER, THE USURPING DUKE OF MILAN

Ferdinand THE SON OF THE KING OF NAPLES

Gonzalo AN HONEST OLD COUNSELLOR

Caliban AN ENSLAVED INHABITANT OF THE ISLAND

Trinculo A JESTER

Stephano A DRUNKEN BUTLER

Boatswain

Sailors

Miranda PROSPERO’S DAUGHTER

Ariel AN AIRY SPIRIT

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THE TEMPEST

SEQUENCE 1

ENTER PROSPERO with ARIEL. ARIEL could carry Prospero’s

cloak/coat.

PROSPERO

By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune

Hath mine enemies brought to this shore

ARIEL could help PROSPERO on with his coat.

NARRATION

This is Prospero, who was the Duke of Milan. Twelve years ago he

and his three year old daughter, Miranda, were shipwrecked on a

wild island inhabited by two strange creatures.

NARRATION Now, those who put them to sea in a leaky boat are themselves on

a ship close by. Prospero, with help from one of the island’s

strange creatures, and his own powers of magic, is going to force

them to meet him again.

PROSPERO could whisper something to ARIEL and move to the

side of the stage. ARIEL could, through his/her movement, trigger

sound and light.

Thunder and lightning. The sounds of a storm at sea. The stage is

flooded by characters. Some are SAILORS. Five are NOBLEMEN

– ALONSO and FERDINAND, ANTONIO, SEBASTIAN and

GONZALO. Two are SERVANTS – TRINCULO and STEPHANO.

Other LORDS as available.

The SAILORS could pull on ropes/hold the ship’s wheel/turn

capstans and other urgent actions as they battle the storm.

The NOBLEMEN could huddle together. They might point to the

ship’s masts and to the island’s shore. Some could drop to their

knees to pray. The SERVANTS could sit back to back, each

clutching a bottle.

SAILOR 1 Boatswain!1 Fall to ’t yarely,

2 or we run ourselves aground.

SAILOR 2 Yare!3 Yare! Take in the topsail!

ALONSO Good Boatswain, have care!

SAILOR TWO Keep below. You mar our labour!

SAILOR ONE You do assist the storm!

GONZALO Remember whom thou hast aboard.

1 Pronounced “Bosun” 2 Do it quickly! 3 Quickly!

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SAILOR TWO If you can command these elements to silence, use your authority.

SAILOR ONE If you cannot, make yourself ready in your cabin. Out of our way.

ANTONIO (to GONZALO) We are merely cheated of our lives by

drunkards.4

ALONSO and FERDINAND drop to their knees to pray

GONZALO The King and prince at prayers. Let’s assist them, for our case is

as theirs.5 (They fall to their knees)

SAILORS Mercy on us!

We split, we split!

Farewell, my wife and children!

Farewell, brother!

ANTONIO Let’s all sink wi’th’king!

SAILORS We split! We split!

A final crack of lightning and all on board the ship EXIT

SEQUENCE 2

PROSPERO is joined by MIRANDA

MIRANDA If, by your art, dearest father, you have

Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.6

PROSPERO Be collected, Miranda. There’s no harm done.

MIRANDA Oh, woe the day!

PROSPERO No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, my dear one.

Lend thy hand and pluck my magic garment from me.

(MIRANDA could help PROSPERO remove his cloak/coat)

’Tis time I should inform thee what thou art.7

MIRANDA You have often begun to tell me what I am, but stopped,

concluding, “Stay. Not yet”

PROSPERO The hour’s now come.

4 He blames the sailors, claiming their drunkenness got the ship into trouble. 5 We’re all in this together, so we must all pray. 6 If you caused this storm with you magic powers, please stop it. 7 I’m going to tell you how we came to be here.

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NARRATION Prospero was a good Duke of Milan, much loved by his people.

But he loved his books more than he loved his duties.

NARRATION So he asked his brother, Antonio, to look after the business of

being Duke of Milan. Antonio enjoyed the power and thought

he’d like to keep it.

NARRATION So he approached the King of Naples, Alonso, who was an

enemy of Prospero.

NARRATION The two of them conspired. Antonio paid money to Alonso, who

made Antonio the Duke of Milan and arranged for Prospero, and

the three year old Miranda, to be seized and banished.

NARRATION Prospero and Miranda were cast adrift in a rotten, leaky boat. One

nobleman, Gonzalo, took pity on Prospero and gave him a parcel

of clothes and some books of magic. And Gonzalo’s parcel is all

they possessed when they washed up on the island.

PROSPERO (He stands and puts on his coat/cloak)

Here in this island we arrived, and here

Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit

Than other princesses.8

MIRANDA Heavens thank you for ’t! And now I pray you, sir –

For ’tis beating in my mind – your reason

For raising this storm?

PROSPERO Here cease more questions. Thou art inclined to sleep.

Give it way.

(MIRANDA sleeps – PROSPERO controls this)

I am ready now.

Approach, my Ariel, come

ENTER ARIEL

ARIEL All hail, great master.

PROSPERO Hast thou, spirit,

Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee?

ARIEL To every article

NARRATION Ariel is Prospero’s magical servant. He had been the servant of an

evil witch, Sycorax, who, angry with him one day, locked him in

a hollow pine tree.

8 I’ve given you a better education than most princesses get.

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NARRATION The witch died and Ariel was still in the tree when Prospero

landed in the island. With the magic he’d learnt from his books

Prospero freed him from the tree and made him his servant.

NARRATION Ariel reports what he’s done to the ship and all who were aboard.

PROSPERO But are they, Ariel, safe?

ARIEL Not a hair perished.

In troops I have dispersed them ’bout the isle.

The King’s son have I landed by himself.

PROSPERO Of the King’s ship? The mariners?

ARIEL Safely in harbour. The mariners I have left asleep.

PROSPERO Ariel, thy charge exactly is performed.

But there’s more work.

ARIEL Is there more toil?

Let me remember thee what thou hast promised.

PROSPERO What is’t thou canst demand?

ARIEL My liberty.9

PROSPERO Before the time be out? No more!

ARIEL I prithee, remember I have done thee worthy service. Thou didst

promise…

PROSPERO If thou more murmur’st, I will rend an oak and peg thee in his

knotty entrails. 10

ARIEL Pardon, master. I will do my spiriting gently.

PROSPERO Do so, and after two days

I will discharge thee.

ARIEL That’s my noble master! What shall I do? Say, what?

PROSPERO Go take this shape and be subject to no sight but thine and mine.

Find me Ferdinand, the King’s son.

9 Ariel is working for Prospero because he released him from the tree, but Prospero has promised to

free him eventually. 10

Any more complaints and I’ll stick you back in a tree.

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PROSPERO might hand ARIEL a garment that makes him

invisible

EXIT ARIEL

PROSPERO Miranda, awake! Thou hast slept well.

Come on, we’ll visit Caliban, my slave.

MIRANDA ’Tis a villain, sir, I do not love to look on.

NARRATION Caliban, the other creature on the island when they arrived, is the

son of the witch who died. He thinks the island belongs to him

and resents Prospero and his magic.

PROSPERO Thou poisonous slave! Caliban, come forth!

ENTER CALIBAN

CALIBAN I must eat my dinner.

This island’s mine, by my mother, and now here you sty me in

this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me the rest o’th’island.

MIRANDA I pitied thee, took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour

one thing or other.

CALIBAN You taught me language, and my profit on ’t is I know how to

curse.

PROSPERO Hag seed, hence!11

Fetch us in fuel. And be quick!

CALIBAN (aside) I must obey. His art is of such power.12

PROSPERO So, slave, hence!13

EXIT CALIBAN

ENTER FERDINAND led by ARIEL, who is invisible to all except

PROSPERO (and the audience). ARIEL wears the “cloak for to

go invisible.”

ARIEL, accompanied by OTHER SPIRITS sings/plays.

NARRATION This is Ferdinand, King Alonso’s son. Prospero wants him on his

own – it’s part of his plan.

11 Get out, you son of a witch! 12 He has such strong, magic powers. 13

Get out!

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ARIEL & SPIRITS Full fathom five thy father lies.

Of his bones are coral made.

Those are pearls that were his eyes.

Nothing of him that doth fade,

But doth suffer a sea-change

Into something rich and strange.

Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell.

Hark, now I hear them,

Hark, now I hear them.

Ding, dong bell,

Ding dong,

Ding, dong bell etc.

FERDINAND Where should this music be?

I have followed it, or it hath drawn me rather.

PROSPERO (to MIRANDA) Say what thou seest yond.

MIRANDA What is’t? A spirit?

Lord how it looks about! Believe me, sir,

It carries a brave form. But ’tis a spirit.

PROSPERO No, wench! It eats and sleeps and hath such senses as we have –

such. This gallant was in the wreck. And thou mightst call him a

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person.

MIRANDA I might call him a thing divine.

FERDINAND (Seeing MIRANDA) Most sure, the goddess on whom these airs

attend! Vouchsafe my prayer may know – O you wonder! – if

you be maid or no.15

MIRANDA No wonder, sir, but certainly a maid.

NARRATION It’s love at first sight.

NARRATION Which is exactly what Prospero wants…

NARRATION …but not this quickly. He doesn’t want it to be too easy.16

MIRANDA (aside) This is the third man that e’er I saw, the first that e’er I

sighed for.

FERDINAND (to MIRANDA) Oh, if a virgin, 17

And your affection not gone forth, I’ll make you

14 handsome 15 O, you marvelous creature, are you a maiden or a goddess? 16 If it’s too easy, they’ll never appreciate the value of their love. 17 Ferdinand, as a Prince, would never marry someone who had been married.

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The Queen of Naples.

NARRATION Since he thinks he’s seen his father drown, Ferdinand thinks he’s

now the King of Naples. Prospero seizes his chance.

PROSPERO A word, good sir. Thou dost here usurp the name thou owest 18

not, and hast put thyself upon this island as a spy to win it.

FERDINAND No, as I am a man! 19

MIRANDA Father!

PROSPERO (to FERDINAND) Follow me.

(to MIRANDA) Speak not to him. He’s a traitor.

(to FERDINAND) Come.

FERDINAND No, I will resist

FERDINAND could draw his sword, but PROSPERO could cast

a spell on him to make him “freeze.”

MIRANDA Beseech you, father.20

PROSPERO (to MIRANDA) SILENCE!

(to FERDINAND) Come on. Obey.

Thy nerves 21

are in their infancy again.

FERDINAND (able to move his limbs again, but now weary)

So they are. My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.22

PROSPERO (aside to ARIEL who has been present all along)

Thou hast done well, fine Ariel!

(to FERDINAND) Follow me!

MIRANDA (to FERDINAND) Be of comfort. My father is of a better nature

than he appears by speech.

PROSPERO (to ARIEL) Thou shalt be free. But exactly do all points of my

command.23

ARIEL To th’ syllable.

PROSPERO (to FERDINAND) Come, follow.

(to MIRANDA) Speak not for him.

18 Owest = own. So, that name doesn’t belong to you, you’re up to no good. 19 I swear that’s not true. 20 Please, father, I beg you. 21 Nerves = sinews or muscles. He’s as powerless as a baby. 22 My strength’s all gone, as if I was in a dream. 23

You must do exactly as I tell you.

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SEQUENCE 3

ENTER ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO and

other LORDS

NARRATION In another part of the island, Ferdinand’s sad father, King Alonso,

and the other noblemen are lost, looking for Ferdinand.

NARRATION Gonzalo, the one who helped Prospero, tries to keep their spirits

up.

GONZALO But the rarity of it is, that our garments, being, as they were,

drenched in the sea, are now as fresh as when we put them on.

ALONSO (angry – not finding Gonzalo’s optimism helpful)

You cram these words into mine ears against

The stomach of my senses.

My son is lost. O thou mine heir

Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish

Hath made his meal on thee?

GONZALO Sir, he may live.

ALONSO No, no, he’s gone. Prithee, no more. Thou dost talk nothing to

me.

GONZALO I do well believe your highness, and did it to minister occasion to

these gentlemen who would laugh at nothing.24

ENTER ARIEL, invisible, playing solemn music which makes

them sleepy.

SEBASTIAN We would so.

ANTONIO (to GONZALO) Nay, my good lord, be not angry.

GONZALO No, I warrant you. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very

heavy?

ANTONIO Go sleep, and hear us.

All sleep except ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO

ALONSO What, all so soon asleep?

ANTONIO We two, my lord

Will guard your person while you take your rest.

24 He’s apologizing to the King, saying he was just trying to make the others laugh.

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ALONSO Thank you. Wonderous heavy.

He falls asleep. ARIEL withdraws to observe.

NARRATION As Prospero expected, Antonio, who overthrew his own brother,

takes the chance now to help Sebastian overthrow his.

NARRATION But he has to talk him round.

ANTONIO Will you grant with me that Ferdinand is drowned?

SEBASTIAN He’s gone.

ANTONIO Then, tell me, who’s the next heir of Naples?

SEBASTIAN My brother’s daughter.

ANTONIO Queen of Tunis; she that dwells ten leagues beyond man’s life.25

SEBASTIAN How say you?

ANTONIO Keep her there, and let Sebastian awake. Your advancement! Do

you understand me?26

SEBASTIAN I remember you did supplant your brother Prospero.27

ANTONIO True. And look how well my garments sit upon me.

My brother’s servants were then my fellows.

Now they are my men.

SEBASTIAN Thy case, dear friend, shall be my precedent.28

Draw thy sword.

ANTONIO Draw together.

And when I rear my hand ‘gainst Alonso, do you the like,

To fall it on Gonzalo.

They draw their swords

SEBASTIAN O, but one word.

(speaks quietly to ANTONIO)

ENTER ARIEL, with music

25 Meaning “miles away, completely out of touch” 26 This is your chance! If your brother’s dead, you’ll be King. 27 Yes, just like you took the throne from your brother. 28 You took the dukedom from your brother. I’ll take the kingdom from mine by killing him.

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ARIEL (in GONZALO’s ear)

If of life you keep a care,

Shake off slumber and beware.

Awake, awake!

ANTONIO Then let us both be sudden.29

GONZALO (waking and seeing them)

Now, good angels preserve the King!

ALONSO (waking) Why, how now? Ho, awake!

All wake

Why are you drawn?

SEBASTIAN (bluffing – explaining why their swords are drawn)

We heard a hollow burst of bellowing

Like bulls, or rather lions.

ALONSO I heard nothing.

ANTONIO Oh, ’twas a din to make an earthquake.

Sure, it was the roar of a whole herd of lions.

ALONSO Gonzalo?

GONZALO Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming which did awake me.

There was a noise.

ALONSO Lead off this ground, and let’s make further search for my poor

son.

GONZALO Heavens keep him from these beasts.

ARIEL (aside) Prospero my lord shall know what I have done,

So, King, go safely on to seek thy son.

NARRATION Antonio and Sebastian have missed their chance. But they’ll wait

for another.

29 Let’s act quickly.

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SEQUENCE 4

ENTER CALIBAN carrying some wood.

A noise of thunder.

CALIBAN All the infections that the sun sucks up

From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him

By inchmeal a disease! His spirits hear me

And yet I needs must curse.

ENTER TRINCULO

Lo, now, lo!

Here comes a spirit of his.

Perchance he will not mind me.

CALIBAN lies down, covered by “his gabardine” (cloak)

NARRATION This is Trinculo. He’s a court jester. That means he’s supposed to

be funny.

TRINCULO Another storm brewing. If it should thunder as it did before, I

know not where to hide my head.

(he sees the shape of CALIBAN hiding)

What have we here? A man or a fish? Dead or alive?

A fish. He smells like a fish, a very ancient and fish-like smell.

Warm, o’my troth. This is no fish, but an islander

That hath lately suffered by a thunderbolt.

THUNDER

Alas, the storm! My best way is to creep under his gabardine.

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

(He crawls under Caliban’s cloak, his head to Caliban’s toe)

ENTER STEPHANO, with a bottle

NARRATION This is Stephano, a butler in the King’s household, washed ashore

with some wine. And now awash himself.

STEPHANO (singing)

“I shall no more to sea, to sea

Here shall I die ashore –”

This is a very scurvy tune. Well, here’s my comfort.

(he drinks)

CALIBAN Do not torment me! O!

STEPHANO What’s the matter?

This is some monster of the isle with four legs who hath got an

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ague.30

I will give him some relief.

CALIBAN Do not torment me!

STEPHANO He shall taste of my bottle.

This will shake your shaking. Open your chops.

TRINCULO I should know that voice – but he is drowned!

Oh, defend me!

STEPHANO Four legs and two voices.

Forward voice. Backward voice.

I will pour some in thy other mouth.

TRINCULO Stephano!

STEPHANO Mercy! Mercy!

TRINCULO Stephano! I am Trinculo – thy good friend Trinculo!

STEPHANO I’ll pull thee by the lesser legs. If any be Trinculo’s legs, these are

they.

(pulls TRINCULO out from under the gabardine)

Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How camest thou…? (he points to

the gabardine)

TRINCULO I hid me for fear of the storm.

O Stephano, two Neapolitans ’scaped!31

(dances STEPHANO about)

STEPHANO Prithee, do not turn me about. My stomach is not constant.

CALIBAN Hast thou not dropped from heaven?

STEPHANO Out o’ the moon, I do assure thee.

CALIBAN I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee.

STEPHANO Come, swear to that, kiss the book.

(he offers CALIBAN the bottle)

CALIBAN drinks

NARRATION And at that moment Caliban decides he will no longer serve

Prospero.

He will serve Stephano instead and show him all the best that

30 Pronounced “aig-yew”. He thinks the islander is ill and that alcohol is the best medicine. 31 Of all those from Naples on the ship, just the two of them have survived.

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lives and grows on the island.

STEPHANO Then lead the way!

CALIBAN (singing drunkenly)

Farewell, master! Farewell, farewell!

’Ban, ’Ban, Ca-caliban

Has a new master. Get a new man!

STEPHANO O brave monster! Lead the way!

SEQUENCE 5

NARRATION Prospero, meanwhile, has given Caliban’s usual job of gathering

wood to Ferdinand.

ENTER FERDINAND carrying some wood.

MIRANDA enters

PROSPERO watches, unseen.

MIRANDA If you’ll sit down, I’ll bear your logs the while.

FERDINAND No, precious creature.

MIRANDA You look wearily.

FERDINAND No, noble mistress, ‘tis fresh morning with me when you are by.

What is your name?

MIRANDA Miranda.

FERDINAND Admired Miranda.

NARRATION The more Prospero watches the more he likes what he sees.

MIRANDA My husband then?

FERDINAND Ay, here’s my hand.

MIRANDA And mine with my heart in ‘t.

NARRATION Prospero is very pleased with his match-making. But there’s lots

to do before suppertime.

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SEQUENCE 6

NARRATION Caliban has been showing his new friends the island but they

have carried on drinking.

ENTER STEPHANO, TRINCULO, and CALIBAN

ENTER ARIEL, invisible.

NARRATION And this makes it hard for Caliban to get the others’ attention.

Ariel decides to cause mischief.

CALIBAN As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant who hath cheated

me of the island.

ARIEL (behind TRINCULO)

Thou liest

CALIBAN (to TRINCULO)

Thou liest, thou jesting monkey. I do not lie.

STEPHANO Trinculo, if you trouble him in ’s tale, I will supplant some of

your teeth.

TRINCULO Why, I said nothing!

STEPHANO Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.

CALIBAN Thou shalt be lord of it, and I’ll serve thee.

STEPHANO How shall this be compassed?32

CALIBAN I’ll yield him thee asleep and (mimes hitting someone over the

head).

ARIEL (from behind TRINCULO) Thou liest. Thou canst not.

CALIBAN Thou scurvy patch! Give him blows!

Take his bottle from him!

STEPHANO Trinculo, interrupt the monster one word further and by this

hand…

TRINCULO I did nothing

STEPHANO Didst thou not say he lied?

ARIEL (from behind TRINCULO) Thou liest.

32 How do we go about doing this?

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STEPHANO (hits TRINCULO)

Take thou that.

CALIBAN Beat him. After a little time, I’ll beat him too.

STEPHANO Come, proceed.

NARRATION Caliban eventually persuades the drunken Stephano that not only

should he kill Prospero, but also marry his daughter Miranda and

become a King with a Queen.

NARRATION

Stephano thinks that’s a wonderful idea and says he’ll make

Caliban and Trinculo governors.

Music that alarms Stephano and Trinculo.

STEPHANO Mercy upon us!

CALIBAN Art thou afeard?

STEPHANO No, monster, not I.

CALIBAN Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises.

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices,

That if I then had waked after long sleep

Will make me sleep again.

STEPHANO This will prove a brave kingdom to me. Lead, monster.

NARRATION And, full of bravado, off they go to murder Prospero.

SEQUENCE 7

NARRATION Also, still with murder on their minds are Antonio and Sebastian.

ENTER ALONSO, GONZALO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO and

other lords. They are tired.

ALONSO Sit down and rest. He is drowned. The sea mocks our frustrate

search on land.33

SEBASTIAN (aside to ANTONIO) The next advantage will we take

thoroughly.34

33 We’re looking on land for my son Ferdinand, but he’s lost at sea. 34 Thoroughly, meaning the same, in the original

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ANTONIO

(aside to SEBASTIAN) Let it be tonight, for now they are

oppressed with travel.

NARRATION But Prospero wants no-one to rest. He wants to frighten them.

Thunder and lightning

ENTER PROSPERO, unseen by the others

Thunder and lightning

ENTER ARIEL as a Harpy with other spirits, who surround the

nobles

ARIEL You are men of sin. You three from Milan did supplant good

Prospero, him and his innocent child.

PROSPERO points at ALONSO

Thee of thy son, Alonso, the powers have bereft.35

Thunder. ARIEL vanishes with the other spirits

PROSPERO My high charms work, and these, mine enemies, are all knit up in

their distractions.

EXIT PROSPERO

ALONSO O, it is monstrous, monstrous. My son i’ th’ ooze is buried.36

EXIT ALONSO distraught.

SEBASTIAN (looking around)

I’ll fight these devils.

ANTONIO And I’ll be thy second.

EXIT SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO

GONZALO All three of them are desperate.

Follow them swiftly.

NARRATION All three are indeed in despair, which is exactly how Prospero

wants them.

35 Because of what you did to Prospero and Miranda, your son has been taken from you. 36 This is genuine regret. Alonso thinks both his crime and his punishment (the drowning of his son in the sea) are monstrous (not the Harpy)

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NARRATION But first he needs Ariel again to help him with the problem of

Caliban.

Enter PROSPERO and ARIEL

PROSPERO Where didst thou leave these varlets?

ARIEL I left them I’ th’ filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell – the foul

lake o’er-stunk their feet. The trumpery37

I laid by your door.

PROSPERO This was well done. Come.

Exit PROSPERO and ARIEL.

Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO AND TRINCULO, all wet.

CALIBAN Pray you tread softly. We now are near his cell.

TRINCULO Monster, I do smell all horse-piss, at which my nose is in great

indignation.

STEPHANO So is mine.

Enter unseen, and invisible, PROSPERO and ARIEL.

CALIBAN Prithee, my king, be quiet. This is the mouth o’ th’ cell…make

this island thine forever… (he mimes hitting someone over the

head)

TRINCULO (He sees a bundle of clothing by the cell) O King Stephano! Look

what a wardrobe is here for thee!

CALIBAN Let it alone, thou fool. It is but trash.

TRINCULO (He holds up a gown) O King Stephano!

STEPHANO Put off that gown, Trinculo. By this hand, I’ll have that.

CALIBAN Let’s alone38

, and do the murder first.

STEPHANO Be you quiet, monster. Bear this away or I’ll turn you out of my

kingdom. Carry this.

TRINCULO And this.

They pile clothes onto CALIBAN. But the noise of a hunting horn

disturbs them. Enter SPIRITS IN SHAPES OF DOGS

37 Fancy clothes 38 Leave the distracting clothes alone

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PROSPERO Hey, Mountain, hey!

ARIEL Silver! There it goes, Silver!39

CALIBAN, STEPHANO and TRINCULO are driven out.

PROSPERO Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour lies at my mercy all my

enemies.

They exit.

SEQUENCE 8

NARRATION Prospero now has all his visitors where he wants them. He has

separated Ferdinand and seen him fall in love with Miranda.

NARRATION He has tricked Alonso and his party into suffering some of the

isolation and despair he himself has endured.

NARRATION And spoiled the plans of Caliban and his drunken friends to

murder him. Time now to bring everything together.

Enter PROSPERO in his magic cloak, with ARIEL. PROSPERO ,

from the middle of the circle, casts his staff around it.

PROSPERO Say, spirit, how fares the king and ‘s followers?

ARIEL All prisoners, sir, brimful of sorrow and dismay.

PROSPERO Go release them, Ariel. My charms I’ll break, their senses I’ll

restore, and they shall be themselves.

Exit ARIEL

PROSPERO This rough magic I abjure.40

SOLEMN MUSIC. ARIEL leads in ALONSO, GONZALO,

SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO and other LORDS. They cannot see or

hear PROSPERO.

PROSPERO (to Gonzalo) O good Gonzalo, my true preserver.

(to Alonso) Alonso, most cruelly didst thou use me and my

daughter. Thy brother was a furtherer in the act –41

39 Mountain and Silver are the imaginary dogs’ names, but if you don’t think this is clear enough use more modern dogs’ names - Rover, Rex, Lucky, Gnasher etc. 40 Surrender/give up

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(to Sebastian) Thou art pinched42

for it now, Sebastian.

(to Antonio) Flesh and blood, you brother mine, that entertained

ambition – I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art.

Ariel, fetch me my hat and rapier.

ARIEL exits

PROSPERO I will present myself as I was sometime Milan.43

ARIEL returns

PROSPERO Ariel, I shall miss thee, but yet thou shalt have freedom. Now,

spirit, set Caliban and his companions free. Untie the spell.

Exit ARIEL as the trance is lifted from ALONSO and the others.

PROSPERO (to Alonso) Behold, sir King, the wronged Duke of Milan,

Prospero.

ALONSO But how should Prospero be living and be here?

PROSPERO (to Gonzalo) Noble friend. (They clasp hands)

(to Antonio) For you, most wicked sir, I do forgive thy rankest

fault and require my dukedom of thee, which perforce, I know,

thou must restore.

(to Alonso) Sir, my dukedom – since you have given me again –

(he looks pointedly at Antonio), I will requite you with as good a

thing.44

Prospero draws back a curtain to reveal Ferdinand and Miranda.

ALONSO If this prove a vision of the Island, one dear son shall I lose

twice.45

SEBASTIAN A most high miracle!46

FERDINAND (he kneels before his father, ALONSO) The seas are merciful. I

have cursed them without cause.

MIRANDA Oh, wonder! O brave new world, that has such people in ‘t.

ALONSO (to FERDINAND and MIRANDA) Give me your hands. Let grief

41 Sebastian helped his brother Alonso to remove Prospero. 42 Punished 43 I will dress as I did as Duke of Milan. 44 As King of Naples, the gift of the Dukedom of Milan is in Alonso’s power. Since he has given Prospero back his Dukedom, Prospero will give the King back something that’s as good. 45 He looks so well. If this proves to be an illusion, it will be like losing my son all over again 46 Is he impressed or being sarcastic? It’s the last thing he wanted to see –Ferdinand alive.

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and sorrow still embrace his heart that doth not wish you joy.

GONZALO Be it so, Amen.

PROSPERO (to ALONSO) Sir, there are yet missing of your company some

few odd lads that you remember not.

Enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO and TRINCULO

PROSPERO These three have robbed me, and this demi-devil had plotted with

them to take my life. Two of these fellows you must know and

own. This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine.

ALONSO Stephano? Trinculo? How camest thou in this pickle?

(indicating CALIBAN) This is a strange thing as e’er I looked on.

PROSPERO (to CALIBAN) Go, sirrah, to my cell. As you look to have my

pardon, trim it handsomely.47

CALIBAN Ay, that I will. And I’ll be wise hereafter and seek for grace.

PROSPERO Go to, away.

CALIBAN exits.

Sir, I invite your highness and your train48

to my cell. Then, I’ll

bring you to your mariners and your ship and so to Naples, where

I have hope to see the nuptial of these our dear beloved

solemnized.

ALONSO I long to hear the story of your life, which must take the ear

strangely.

PROSPERO I’ll deliver all, and promise you calm seas and auspicious gales.

(aside to Ariel) My Ariel, that is thy charge. Then to the elements

be free, and fare thou well.

ARIEL exits

PROSPERO (to ALL) Come, our revels now are ended.

ALL head towards an upstage exit where the SAILORS from

earlier join them. PROSPERO turns to address the audience.

PROSPERO We are such stuff as dreams are made on!

He turns and moves upstage towards the others and as he does so

CALIBAN enters downstage. He stands and watches them all

disappear. FINIS

47 If you want me to forgive you, tidy it well. 48 Your party/group