The Play is an excerpt from “Hamlet’s Obsession” (2014) by Jon Pescevich.
(…the Players arrive, and Hamlet greets them…)
Hamlet:
Make haste!
Come to me!
Be not too tame, but suit the action to the thought.
King Claudius:
How fares our cousin?
Hamlet:
I eat the air, promise–crammed.
King Claudius:
Hamlet, these words are odd.
Queen Gertrude:
Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.
Hamlet:
No, mother, here’s a metal more attractive.
(…Hamlet goes to Ophelia…)
Hamlet:
Lady, shall I lie in your lap?
Ophelia:
No, my lord.
Hamlet:
I mean, my head upon your lap?
Ophelia:
Aye, my lord.
(…trying to understand him…)
You are merry, my lord.
Hamlet:
Who, I?
Ophelia:
Ay, my lord.
Hamlet:
What should a man do but be merry?
For, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks,
and my father died within’s two hours.
Ophelia:
Nay, ’tis twice two months my lord.
Hamlet:
So long?
O heavens,
die two months ago, and not forgotten yet!
(…the Players perform Hamlet’s play – Hamlet narrates the action…)
Hamlet:
Full thirty years since love their hearts and Hymen did their hands unite…
…in most sacred bands.
(…the King and Queen kiss under a tree…)
For ’tis a question yet to prove; does love lead fortune, or fortune love?
(…the Queen wanders off, leaving the King to rest…)
The King must have his rest!
Sleep rock the brain and never come mischance between the twain.
(…the Traitor enters, finding the King asleep…)
Hamlet:
The King’s nephew…
(…the Traitor assembles the poison that he has made…)
His thoughts are black.
His hands are apt.
His drugs are fit.
(…he approaches the sleeping King and pours the poison in his ear…)
His mixture rank is midnight weeds, thrice infected.
(…the King dies a horrible death…)
Hamlet:
You shall see anon how the murderer takes the throne,
and marries the Queen.
King Claudius:
Give me light.
(…King Claudius rises and the Players stop…)
Give me light.
Polonius:
Give o’re the play.
King Claudius:
Give me light.
(…King Claudius exits; Queen Gertrude and Polonius follow…)
Away!
Polonius:
Away!
Queen Gertrude:
Away!