THE TEMPEST
By William Shakespeare
Adapted by Jane Everitt
(DRAFT version 1)
Act I, sc. i
Thunder and lightening fills the sky. The sea rages in a wild storm.
BOATSWAIN : Down with the top mast! Lower! Lower! Try to stay
the course or we’ll run aground! Take in the topsail. Tend to the
master’s whistle. Blow it ‘til you burst.
(the wind howls, lightening cracks, the rain lashes and the sea is black)
ANTONIO: (Antonio appears on deck) What is going on? Where is the
king?
BOATSWAIN: Keep to your cabins below and say your prayers (he is
now completely soaked and yelling above the wind and rain)
MARINER 1: I fear we’ll drown. The ship is no stronger than a
nutshell.
BOASTWAIN: Lay her hold! Set her out to sea!
(a roaring tempest engulfs the boat)
MARINER 2: I fear the worst. Good bye Mother! Good bye Father!
Good bye wife!
MARINER 1: We’ve split! We’ve split upon the jagged cliffs. We’re all
going down with the king!
(the ship heaves and is smashed into pieces)
Act I sc ii
MIRANDA: (looking out to the storm at sea with tears in her eyes) Father, if
your magic art can make the water wild, I beg you, turn the sea calm
and save these poor suffering souls. The sea has swallowed the good
ship and all those aboard.
PROSPERO: Hush my child, wipe your tears. No harm has been done.
It is I who caused the tempest. I will stop it also. I have done all of
this for you, my loving daughter.
MIRANDA: (in amazement) For me??
PROSPERO: It is time you must know more of your life. Lend a hand
and help me off with my magic robe and I will tell you the story.
MIRANDA: Tell me more, Father. My heart is heavy with what I have
just seen.
PROSPERO: (sits down with a sigh) First, I give my promise that not one
soul on board that ship has been harmed.
MIRANDA: (astonished) Why then has this tempest happened?
PROSPERO: Open thine ears. The hour has come for me to explain
the times before we came to this island. Can you remember anything
from when you were young?
MIRANDA: ‘Tis far off, and rather like a dream. Did I have four or five
women who tended to me?
PROSPERO: Yes, yes, you did. Do you remember anything else?
MIRANDA: (searching her memory) No, no I cannot remember a thing.
PROSPERO: Twelve years ago, my dear, your father was Duke of
Milan and a prince of power. You were his only heir and a princess
royal.
MIRANDA: O heavens! (she realizes, with shock, that something terrible
must have happened) What foul play has taken place?
PROSPERO: Two men on that ship, my brother, your uncle Antonio
and the King of Naples, are my archenemies. Long ago , my brother,
with the help of the king, seized my dukedom and then cast me, and
you, an innocent 3 year-old babe, out upon the sea to perish. We
were in a tiny open boat with no mast, nor tackle, nor sail. Even the
rats quit the boat. The situation was desperate.
MIRANDA: (with tears in her eyes, gasps)
PROSPERO: We drifted a long, long time. You cried in my arms for
many hours…
MIRANDA: (composing herself) But we did not perish and we have lived
happily on this tropical island paradise for twelve years…
PROSPERO: It is only because a loyal old friend, Gonzalo, hid a
bundle of provisions, clothes, fresh water, and my precious books on
magic arts inside the hull of the boat that I was able to guide the
boat to this island and make a home for us in a cave.
MIRANDA: My heart breaks for your misfortune my dearest Father.
How you must have suffered. But why did you cause this tempest
and what now is to become of these souls tossed off the ship?
PROSPERO: The tempest has cast my foes and their companions
upon our very shores. Now I shall extract revenge upon these
villains. I was once a rich and mighty duke and my brother Antonio,
greedy for power, stole from me my kingdom and my title. Now is my
chance to get it all back! (Prospero’s eyes gleam with triumph as he stands
up and puts on his magic cloak)
MIRANDA: (gasps with fear as she sees the anger rise in her father’s eyes)
PROSPERO puts back on his magic cloak and waves his magic staff over
Miranda and sets her to sleep.He then sets off to the forest to see Ariel, a lively
wind spirit, invisible to all but the magician.
Enter ARIEL
ARIEL: All hail, great master! Hail! (cried Ariel with a thousand courtly
bows).
PROSPERO: Well, spirit, I am ready to hear a full account of the ship
and its passengers. Hast thou performed exactly the tempest I asked
for?
ARIEL: I have done everything you asked (bows again repeatedly) .
There was frantic terror on board the ship. There were dreadful
thunder claps and bolts of lightening. The mast caught fire and
waves overtook the vessel. The passengers, shrieking, flung
themselves into the sea and Ferdinand, the King of Naples’ son, with
his hair standing on end, cried as he jumped overboard into the
angry waters.
PROSPERO: (with great satisfaction) Why, that’s my spirit, excellent
work.
ARIEL: (bows profusely)
PROSPERO: Have all been brought to shore?
ARIEL: Not one perished. They are miraculously fresh and dry, as if
the tempest had never taken place. They have all been dispersed
about the island, not knowing the others have survived. The king’s
son I have landed by himself on the shore just over there. He sits
with his arms in a sad knot wrapped about himself. King Alonso, and
your faithless brother, Antonio, wander together on the other side of
the island. But the king’s jester, Trinculo, and the king’s butler,
Stephano, are lost even to each other.
PROSPERO: What about the king’s ship and the other mariners?
ARIEL: The ship has been made invisible and is safely hidden in the
harbour. The mariners are all under hatches stowed and put to sleep
under a spell. The rest of the ships in the fleet I have set sail home
for Naples so they do not see our strange events.
PROSPERO: Excellent! Excellent! But there’s more work to be done.
What time is it?
ARIEL: Time! (Ariel scowled) I have done exactly as I promised. Told
no lies and made no grumbles. Now I am COMPLETELY finished my
work (arms crossed with indignation).
PROSPERO: What exactly are you demanding?
ARIEL: My freedom.
PROSPERO: Let’s not forget that I did free you from the foul evil
witch, Sycorax, whom had you imprisoned in a pine tree at the mercy
of her half-human, half-animal son Caliban. I freed you from this
misery, and in return demanded twelve years of absolute obedience.
Now, we have one more important job to do, and then after two days
I will free you forever from my service.
ARIEL: Will I truly be free? Will you keep your promise?
PROSPERO: Yes, yes, yes. Now go (makes shoooing motions with
hands) and make yourself visible to none but Prince Ferdinand and
bring him so Miranda can meet him. Go, go, do as I say, this instant
(makes more shooing motions).
ARIEL: Yes, master, I am away.
(Lights fade then come up on another corner of the stage)
On another part of the island, Alonso, King of Naples, with his
faithful, honest old councilor, Gonzalo at his side, sits on the stump
of a tree and mourns the loss of his son. Antonio, Prospero’s brother,
and Gonzalo, try to console Alonso.
ALONSO: Oh, woe is me! (holding his head) I have lost my loving
son. My son who had all my hopes. My son who had all my dreams!
Gonzalo: Sir, be merry. You have much to be thankful for. You have
escaped a terrible tempest with your life and, miraculously, your
clothes are not even wet. This is a beautiful tropical island that I am
sure will furnish us with lovely fresh fruit (plucks a banana from over his
shoulder and holds it up) and all the fish any king could ever ask for
(waves his arm out at the ocean). We have more comfort than sorrow.
We will find Ferdinand, I am sure. Let’s begin the search! (he says with
a keen voice)
Alonso: (in a grumpy voice) Peace! You talk too much.
Gonzalo: (aside to Antonio) He receives comfort like cold porridge.
Sir, although this island seems to be deserted, perhaps by chance we
may find others who could help us on our search….This place cannot
be so large in size that we won't discover him...somewhere...
Antonio: Yes, yes, and if we organize our thoughts we may cross his
path in double quick time… Let's make a search party.
Alonso: My son is lost! Lost! Your words in mine ears turn my
stomach. Oh, oh, my son and heir to the throne is lost. Oh what will I
do? What will become of Naples?
Gonzalo: Let’s begin the search from the ocean’s edge and…
Antonio: Yes, …and work our way into the forest and then
maybe…just maybe...
Alonso: Oh, the ocean … the ocean harbours strange fish that have
made a meal out of poor Ferdinand! Oh woe is me. (He holds his
head and wimpers). My son is probably fish food by now.
Gonzalo: I know he put up a good fight during the wild tempest. I
saw him fighting and beating down the waves. He was brave and did
not let the sea swallow him easily…
Antonio: He tread water and kept his bold head above his almost
watery grave with strong arms and a good stroke. He had his wits
about him as he was tossed to and fro. I have no doubt he came
alive to land. Clear the clouds from your head and let’s go search for
him.
Alonso: You saw him swimming above the waves??...He did not
sink?? At all? Talk no more. Let’s begin our search! Come, stop
dallying!
(Alonso, Gonzalo, and Antonio march off to begin the search for Ferdinand)
Act I, sc iii
PROSPERO: (waves his magic staff over his sleeeping daughter) Awake, dear
heart, awake!
MIRANDA: (rubbing the sleep from her eyes and stretching) Father,
the strangeness of your story put heavy sleep upon me.
PROSPERO: Shake it off. Come now, we’ll go visit Caliban.
MIRANDA: He’s a villain, I’ll not go.
PROSPERO: Come, come now. We must check that he’s collected our
firewood we need for the night.
(they walk and approach Caliban’s cave)
PROSPERO: (calls out) Caliban! Speak, Caliban? Dirty, rotten
scoundrel, where are you?
CALIBAN: You have enough wood! (a gruff voice from inside the
darkness of the cave)
PROSPERO: Come forth, now! Show yourself. You are my servant on
my island.
CALIBAN: (a slow, heavy, lumbering, rough and hairy creature emerges) This
island’s mine, by Sycorax, mmmmyy mother (he snarls).
PROSPERO: What? You ungrateful brute. Don’t argue with me. Who
was it who taught you speech? Who fed you and looked after you?
CALIBAN: Ha! It was Miranda who taught me kind words. Once you
both treated me kindly, but no more.
PROSPERO: That I did indeed until you attacked my daughter. Then I
lost all respect for you.
CALIBAN: And so I would again! (laughing wickedly and rubbing his
hands together)
PROSPERO: For that, tonight, you shall be pinched and pricked by
1000 sea urchins as stinging as bees.
CALIBAN: (turns away, shaking his head) I must obey. His magic has
power in it. I must get thee wood. [exit Caliban]
Enter Ariel, invisible, playing and singing.
ARIEL: Quick on your feet
Young handsome gentleman,
Follow me, follow me
The beautiful lady Miranda
Must have a look at thee
Follow me, follow me,
Follow me, follow me.
(Ferdinand, baffled, stumbles out of the forest behind the singing
voice)
MIRANDA: Look, Father! (looking at Ferdinand for the first
time...shocked) I have never cast my eyes upon such a form as this.
Is that a spirit?
PROSPERO: No, dear, it eats and sleeps and has senses. He is a
goodly fellow and is searching for his lost shipmates.
MIRANDA: He is a thing devine!
FERDINAND: (upon first seeing Miranda) What a goddess. What a
beauty I have set eyes upon!
[Miranda and Ferdinand stand in amazed admiration of one another]
PROSPERO: [ASIDE to Ariel] They are both struck by love at first
sight. Delicate Ariel, help me unite these two and I shall set thee
free.
FERDINAND (realizing he needs to introduce himself): Hello. I am
Ferdinand, the new king of Naples. My father has perished in the
storm and now I am king. Will you be my Queen?
[Prospero, steps between Ferdinand and Miranda]
PROSPERO (Aside): This love is too sudden. It cannot last. Some
test, some obstacle, is needed for the young man to prove his worth
and for this love to last.
PROSPERO: Ah, Ferdinand, (sternly) You are lying. I do not believe
you are King of Naples. You are a spy sent to seize control of this
island and challenge my authority here.
FERDINAND: (pleading) No, no, as I am a man, you are wrong. The
shipwrecked story I tell is true. I was nearly swallowed by the watery
depths.
[Miranda strains around her father to see Ferdinand. Prospero
spreads his robe to obscure her view]
PROSPERO: Miranda! Speak you not to him. He is a traitor. Come, I’ll
manacle thy neck and feet together. Sea water shall be your drink
and thy food shall be dead roots and acorns. Follow me.
FERDINAND: No, I will resist! (He draws his sword. Prospero instantly
waves his staff and casts a spell upon Ferdinand making him unable to move
even a finger. It is like Ferdinand is made of stone).
MIRANDA: Beseech you, Father! (she grabs hold of him). Have pity. He
is innocent of any wrong.
PROSPERO: Hang not on my garments. Silence! There are plenty of
other men who are better and more worthy of your attention.
MIRANDA: But…but … Father, my affections for this man are most
humble.
PROSPERO: What do you know of men? In your life you have only
seen me, your grey bearded old father, and Caliban, the hairy brute.
Ha, you are an innocent girl who does not know the ways of men in
this world.
(Ferdinand’s spell is released enough to allow him to speak but not move)
FERDINAND: Chain and enslave me, if but once a day through my
prison I might just look at this beauty. She is like nothing I have laid
eyes on before.
PROSPERO: (Aside to Ariel) It works! Come on, Ariel, you’ve done
well. Follow me. You shall soon be made free as the mountain winds.
MIRANDA: (speaking to Ferdinand) Do not worry, my father is more
good natured than he appears.
PROSPERO: Miranda, Speak not to him. Come at once. Ferdinand, I
will take you to my house where you will carry and pile great heavy
logs and rocks. At the end of each day, you may take a SINGLE
glance at my daughter.
FERDINAND: I will obey your command, your lordship (he bows
deeply then gazes happily once more upon Miranda).
Act II, sc i
Back in the forest, Caliban has made little progress with his work
cutting wood. He has spent more time grumbling than completing the
task. Ariel watches from above. The sky gets dark and it looks like it
is about to rain.
CALIBAN: I hate this thankless task; it is too difficult and too tiring. I
hate Prospero. May he eat worms and suffer while I do this work (he
utters in a grumbling voice).
(Suddenly, Caliban hears footsteps). What is that I hear? Could it be Prospero
come back to torment me? I'll hide. (Fearing more hash words from Propero, he
throws himself to the ground to hide under an old, worn out blanket).
CALIBAN: (blanket itself appears to be shaking as his body underneath
trembles)
The footsteps Caliban heard belong to Trinculo, the King of Naples’
jester.
TRINCULO: (with surprise in his voice) What have we here? Is it a man
or a fish? Is it dead or alive? (he lifts a corner of the blanket and catches a
smelly whiff of Caliban). Oh, Oh, I smell a fish, an old, stinky fish at that!
Yet there are legs here like a man and fins like arms. It is too large
for any ordinary fish. (He circles the heap and thinks out loud). Perhaps
this is a seamonster washed up by the storm.
(Ariel, looking down from above, is highly amused and makes thunder clap and a
few drops of rain begin to fall)
TRINCULO: Alas! The storm has come again. There is no other
shelter here. I’ll creep under the blanket with this strange bedfellow.
He holds his nose and crawls awkwardly under the blanket. Caliban shrieks in
fear for his life. Trinculo shrieks at the hairy, smelly body next to him. At the
same time, Stephano, the King’s butler stumbles upon the scene.
STEPHANO: (he sees four arms and four legs sticking out from the blanket)
What the devil do we have here?
CALIBAN: Please...don’t torment me. I promise I will work harder
cutting wood!(he screams from underneath the blanket)
STEPHANO: This is some four-legged monster of the island. How the
devil did it learn language? Strange, strange indeed (he says rubbing his
chin). Perhaps I can capture him, tame him, and take him back to
Naples with me and become rich from such a rare discovery.
Stephano lifts the corner of the blanket and, to his surprise, half the legs and
arms belong to his fellow shipmate Trinculo.
STEPHANO: My dear, long, lost friend! Trinculo! I thought I would
never see thee again! I feared the frightful waves swept you away.
The two friends hug and dances joyfully around and around in circles, silly with
laughter and astonishment at discovering each other.
Caliban, scratching himself, is confused as to what these people are doing. He
asks out loud, to no one in particular…
CALIBAN: Are these gods who have fallen from the heavens?
Methinks it true! I will kneel to them and say “I will serve you good
masters.”
STEPHANO and TRINCULO, still caught up in the discovery of one
another, ignore Caliban for the moment.
STEPHANO: How did you survive the shipwreck, Trinculo? I escaped
by floating on top of a wooden barrel of Spanish wine that the sailors
heaved overboard in an attempt to save the boat.
TRINCULO: I escaped by swimming. I swam ashore, man, like a
duck. Just like a duck. (He mimics a duck) I can swim like a duck, I
swear to you, my friend.
CALIBAN: (Still scratching his head, and attempting to get Stephano and
Trinculo’s attention). Have you two been dropped from heaven, I ask?
STEPHANO: Yes, right off the Moon. Ha ha ha. Yes, I was the Man in
the Moon once. Ha ha.
CALIBAN: I will serve you, good masters (he kisses their feet). I’ll
show you every fertile inch of the island. I show thee the best fresh
water springs, I’ll pick thee berries, I show thee where to find all the
fish and I’ll cut the wood to build a fire. A plague upon Prospero!
That tyrant that I shall never serve AGAIN. I shall gather him not one
more stick. Help me, friends, to get rid of him.
TRINCULO: What a strange monster this is indeed. Making all these
promises and strange requests?!
CALIBAN: Please, let me bring you to where the crab apples grow. I
will also dig you peanuts with my long nails. Will you come with me?
(he begs).
STEPHANO: Lead the way! The King and all his company are
drowned. Henceforth we shall rule. Call both of us “Your Royal
Master.” Lead us to this ruffian Prospero and we shall set him
strainght.
TRINCULO: Yes, we’ll make short work of him!
CALIBAN: (with excitement of song)
‘Ban, ‘Ban, Caliban
Has a new master, has a new man
Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom
No more fetching, nor more dishes to do
‘Ban, ‘Ban Caliban
TRINCULO: o Brave Caliban! Lead the way!
(As the three set out, Ariel calls upon the other spirits instructing them to help
her create misery and misfortune for Caliban and his new masters.)
ACT III, sc i
Enter Ferdinand bearing a log and holding his aching stiff back.
FERDINAND: This is painful (he sweats and wipes his brow) but it is
all worth it for this sweet love I have found. I will cut a thousand logs
just to see Miranda at least one more time.
Enter Miranda (and Prospero, at a distance, unseen)
MIRANDA: Alas, Ferdinand, work not so hard. Set down the logs and
rest awhile. My father is hard at study of his magic books. Rest, you
are safe for at least three hours.
FERDINAND: No, no, I must finish before the sun sets.
MIRANDA: If you sit down, I’ll help and carry the logs awhile. Give
me that (she takes a log from him).
FERDINAND: No, precious creature. I’d rather break my back than sit
lazy by and dishonour you.
MIRANDA: I can do it easier than you because I am not tired. Sit,
you look weary.
Ferdinand sits and gazes happily upon Miranda.
PROSPERO: (aside): Yes, yes, yes, (rubbing his hands together) my plan
has worked. This task has allowed them to debate and get to know
each other better.
FERDINAND: I have never liked any woman as much as I like you.
You are the ultimate perfection.
MIRANDA: (shyly) Well…well…you are the first young man I have
ever met in my entire life upon this island…and you look pretty good
to me too. I wish you to be my companion forever. Do you love me?
FERDINAND: I love you beyond all limits of the world. I love, prize,
and honour you. I would like to make you queen of Naples when I
inherit the throne.
PROSPERO: (aside, throwing his hands up into the air) Heavens rain a
grace upon these two beautiful people.
MIRANDA: (weeps with joy) I am surely a fool to weep for what gives
my heart such joy. I will be your wife if you will marry me.
FERDINAND: My heart is willing. Here is my hand. (They reach out and
hold one another’s hands).
(PROSPERO makes himself visible to FERDINAND and MIRANDA.)
FERDINAND AND MIRANDA: (both look embarrassed about being
caught in the embrace)
MIRANDA: Ohh...uhhh..Father!?
PROSPERO: Fear not, my children. I have heard everything and I am
greatly pleased. Ferdinand, let me make amends by giving my
approval to the marriage between you and my daughter. You have
passed the test and I bless the marriage between you and my
daughter.
(All three embrace).
Act III, scene ii
Meanwhile, Propero’s brother Antonio, the King of Naples Alonso, and Gonzalo
the faithful advisor, have been wandering the island for hours and hours. Ariel
has been watching from above. The men collapse on the beach, tired from their
endless search for Ferdinand.
Gonzalo: Do not tire good men! (the old man is positive in his attitude and
does not appear to be tired) Onwards and upwards! We have not
searched the island completely. Come, Let’s climb this mountain and
take a good look from above.
Alonso: This man talks too much. Go, go, give me peace while I lie
here awhile. (Gonzalo shrugs and marches off)
Suddenly, out of thin air, magical music plays. The trees sway and a beautiful
meal appears in front of Antonio and Alonso.
Alonso: Do my eyes fool me? Is this a meal fit for a king?
Antonio: …and a duke! Say no more. It is a miracle. Let’s eat.
Alonso: The island has finally decided to be good to us. Yes, indeed,
let’s eat this beautiful meal.
Just as the men reach out to eat, the sky goes dark, and the meal vanishes amid
thunder and lightning. Ariel then appears in the shape of a harpy. She swoops
down on the men with an earth shattering angry shriek and makes clawing
motions at them with razor sharp talons.
Ariel: You are two men of sin whom the angry sea has belched up
upon his island. You are fools. How does it feel now to be cast into
the sea then shipwrecked! Then abandoned by civilization??
Remember you did once toss good Prospero into the sea, he, along
with is innocent baby daughter. This foul deed has been answered!!
(the claws reach out to scratch out their eyes)
Alonso and Antonio: (covering their heads and crying out) Have mercy!
Have mercy! We are sorry for our monstrous deed!
Ariel: (clapping her huge leathery wings and hissing at them) Sorry!?
Sorry!? Is that all you have to say!? One word is not enough to
answer this foul, rotten thing you have done!
Alonso and Antonio: Please! (they cry through tears) We regret what we
have done. We truly regret our evil wrong-doings.
Ariel: (draws in her wings and disappears)
Alonso and Antonio look up to the sky in wonderment at what has just taken
place.
Act III, scene iii
Ariel returns to report to Prospero what has taken place with Antonio and Alonso.
Ariel: O, Master, the king and your traitor brother weep bitterly for
their wrong doings, it would prick your heart to see their pity. A rock
would crack and a tree would bleed sap at the sorrow of these two
men.
Prospero: (unbelieving) Is that sooo? I have planned two days of
suffering for them. This is but a drop in the sea of troubles they have
caused me.
Ariel: Yes, indeed, Master. But I do believe they have suffered
enough.
Prospero: (stroking his beard and considering) HHmmmm… if you can feel
such tenderness toward these two, then so should I. I should find it
in my heart to forgive.
( He sat with his head bowed for a long time. It was not easy to give
up his anger . He sighed heavily)
You may be right, my dear Ariel. Bring them to me so that I may see
for myself. If you are right, when all is done, I shall destroy my staff,
drown my magic book in the ocean, and free all the spirits on the
island.
Act IV, scene i
Ariel returns in the form of a pack howling wolves. She is chasing the
king and Antonio, who are running for their lives and screaming with
fright. They fall to their knees in fear and, for the moment, do not
recognize Prospero.
Prospero: Has it been so long? (looking down on them using a booming
voice)
(both men know the sound of this voice and look up in shock)
Antonio and Alonso: (shout together) Prospero?
Alonso: I have done you a great wrong and I have been punished. I
have suffered a tempest upon the high seas and my only son has
been swept away. My life will never be the same. I swear that ever
after this point I will uphold your right to the throne of Milan.
Antonio: And I too feel great regret. I promise to restore your
dukedom to you and if anyone else attempts to take what is yours, I
will lay down my life for your protection.
Prospero: I will grant you life, but with it a chance to remedy what
has been done wrong to me and to Miranda. But there still remains a
greater reward for your repentance…
(Prospero throws back the curtain to his cave. Miranda and Ferdinand sit playing
a game of chess)
Alsonso: (leaps up, embraces his son, and weeps with joy) My son is alive!
Ferdinand: I am blessed to have my father back!
Act IV, scene ii
A bedraggled, muddy, and torn Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano come running
toward Prospero. Gonzalo follows. The group has been chased by hornets and
trudged through swamps and bogs.
Trinculo: Sir. King. Duke. (he tries to smooth out his muddy clothes). Aahh,
lovely, simply lovely to see you both again, Sir. Sirs.
Stephano: Sir. King. (he attempts to flatten his tossled hair and takes on a
dignified air). Sir. You are alive. Jolly good. Jolly good. We have much
to report on, Sir. (he bows)
Caliban: (to Prospero, falls to his knees and puts his hands together in prayer)
Please forgive me, dear Sir, I shall return immediately to my chores. I
have been a thrice-double devil, I have indeed. I’ll be wise and good
hereafter, Sir.
Prospero: All is forgiven my friends.
(Antonio and Alonso enter)
Prospero: (turning to Alonso and Antonio, holding Trinculo and Stephano by
their muddy clothes then rubbing his hands clean in disgust) These, I believe,
are yours.
Alonso: Trinculo and dear Stephano. Glad to see you have contented
yourselves. Now, you had best get cleaned up. Pronto!
Antonio: Yes, indeed, “fine” gentlemen. There is to be a wedding
here, today. And we are all the guests. Gather your finest garments,
one and all!
Caliban: (stands up and attempts dignity as well) I, I would like very much
to wear a suit. (Fairies enter and magically change their muddy clothes to fine
suits. Soft music plays. The ship’s crew is awakened from their spell and come to
attend the wedding).
Act V, scene i
The wedding procession enters. Ferdinand stands at an alter of flowers and
takes Miranda’s hands. Fairies dance around the couple while the rest of the
guests look on.
Prospero: To the gods, look down on this couple and unite them in
blessed unity. Drop a blessed crown upon their heads and let them
rule with faith and fairness.
Alonso: Give me your hands. I wish you joy in your hearts.
Together. Forever. We are such stuff as dreams are made on.
Antonio: Amen.
Ariel: Sir. Prospero. (she flits around him, annoyingly anxious) Am I
finished my work. Am I done now? Am I free, now? Am I free?
(Prospero looks to her and smiles)
Lights go down on the wedding scene and Prospero climbs a mountain over the
sea.
Prospero: (Announcing to the skies and spirits above) I’ll deliver all
home safely, promise you calm seas, and soft winds in your sails.
Ariel, chick, be free, fare you well. Be free.
Prospero removes his robe, folds it carefully, and tosses the bundle over the cliff,
followed by his staff.
Prospero: Now my charms are overthrown and what strength I have
is my own. Let us all, all, go merrily on our way.
THE END