Act IV

{Scene 1}

In the Trading Post

Enter Edward, Elizabeth, John, and Jean.

EDWARD There's a method in his language: We should understand by now. Where is your son?

ELIZABETH Leave us a moment.

Exit John and Jean

O, what I have seen tonight!

EDWARD What? How is he?

ELIZABETH He is quite choleric and crazy to boot. In his lawless fit he heard the curtains move, draws his sword, cries 'A rat! A rat!' and, in his apprehension, kills the good old advisor.

EDWARD Heavy deed! He would have killed us, had we been there. He poses as naught but a threat, to me, to you, to everyone. How should we respond to this? Where has he gone?

ELIZABETH He has gone- to mope over the body he has created, for he is still pure within, and weeps for what he has done.

EDWARD We must get him away from here at once! Jean? John!

Re-enter Jean and John

Go, find him, for he has in his madness Jonathan slain; He has dragged him from the room of demise, to where we know naught. Go, seek him out, and bring back the body. I pray you, Jack be nimble Jack be quick.

Exit John and Jean

Come Liz, we'll call up our friends and let them know what is to come. O! My heart is full of discord and dismay.

Exit

{Scene 2}

Another room

Enter Thamle

THAMLE And so it is away.

JOHN&JEAN (Offstage) Thamle! Where art thou?

THAMLE What noise? Who would dare to offend me? Ah, they.

Enter Jean and John

JEAN What have you done with the body?

THAMLE Laid it in the dust, so that it is with like kin.

JOHN Tell us where, so they may take it and bear it to the church.

THAMLE Don't believe it.

JEAN Believe what?

THAMLE That I can trust you but not myself. Besides, to be demanded of by a sponge! How should the son of a king respond?

JEAN You take me for a sponge?

THAMLE Ay! You soak up the 'king's' attentions, his rewards, his authorities. But such men make best service in the end. He keeps you, like an ape would, in the corner of his jaw; first to be mouthed, last to be swallowed. When he needs what you have gleaned, all he needs do is squeeze you, and you are dry again.

JEAN I understand you not.

THAMLE Good: a witty speech lies in a foolish ear.

JOHN You must tell us where the body is, and go with us to your uncle!

THAMLE The body is with his majesty, but his majesty is not with the body. The king is a thing-

JEAN A thing?

THAMLE Of nothing: bring me to him.

Exit

{Scene 3}

Another room in the Trading Post

Enter Edward, Jean, and John.

EDWARD I have sent out attendants to find him and to find the body. He is still dangerous! Yet we must not crack down on him quite yet: The peasants love him, who like not with judgment of logic but with appearance and beauty. This sudden sending him away must seem desperate, but desperate action will either solve it- or, it won't. What happened when you confronted him?

JOHN Where the body is we cannot solve.

EDWARD But where is he?

JOHN Guarded, if it pleases you so.

EDWARD Bring him before us.

Enter Thamle and guard

Now, where is Jonathan?

THAMLE Who, the dumb stableman? At supper.

EDWARD At supper? where?

THAMLE Not the kind where he eats, but the kind in which he is eaten: the politic worms are even now chewing. Ironic, isn't it? We feed animals to feed ourselves so that we ourselves can feed maggots!

EDWARD Alas!

THAMLE A man can fish with the worm that ate of a king, and cat of the fish that has fed of that worm.

EDWARD Does this mean anything?

THAMLE Nothing but to show that all are equal in death.

EDWARD Where is Jonathan?

THAMLE In heaven; send a messenger to see. If he isn't there, seek him in the other place yourself. -

But, if you find him not within the month,-

you may smell him on your way up the stairs.

EDWARD Go seek him there.

Exit guard and attendants

THAMLE (shouting after) Worry not, he will stay until your arrival.

EDWARD Thamle, in light of this deed and your behavior, we must send thee hence with fiery quickness: therefore prepare yourself; your ship awaits and is already a-pointed for England.

THAMLE England!

EDWARD Aye, England.

THAMLE Good.

EDWARD So is it, if you only knew our purpose.

THAMLE I see a ghost who sees them. But, come. For England! Farewell dear mother.

EDWARD (feigning concern) I am thy father, Thamle.

THAMLE Father and Mother are man and wife, man and wife one flesh, and so, thou are'st my mother. Hi Ho Away! For England!

Exit Thamle, John and Jean

And England, if you seek to please me at all, and, thanks to your debt, you do, you will coldly execute the orders set forth in these letters; The death of Thamle; for like the heretic in my blood he rages, and only you can cure it.

Exit

{Scene 4}

On the French-English Border

Enter Louis, French Captain, and Soldiers

LOUIS Go captain, greet the English dog, and tell him that he is here to traverse on his promise.

CAPTAIN I will do so.

LOUIS Go.

Exit Louis and soldiers, enter Thamle, Jean, and John.

THAMLE Good sir, whose men are these?

CAPTAIN They are those of Louis.

THAMLE What is their goal in these parts?

CAPTAIN They march on savages to the North and East.

THAMLE Go they against the village, or merely hunting parties?

CAPTAIN From what I can see, the plan is to weaken them one hunting party at a time.

THAMLE Thank you, kind sir.

CAPTAIN God be with you.

Exit Captain

JOHN Might we go now?

THAMLE I'll catch up.

Exit all but Thamle

O but how events conspire against me! Have I not been through enough? From this point on my thought are either bloody or not worth having!

Exit

{Scene 5}

A room in the Trading Post

Enter Elizabeth, Gabriel, and a servant

ELIZABETH I will not speak with her in her current state.

SERVANT Her mood needs to be pitied.

ELIZABETH What can one say that would make her feel better?

SERVANT She speaks much of her father, tricks, and speaks in terms that only vaguely make sense, leading those around her to shape the words as they see fit, which in turn leads them to believe there is sense in what she says.

GABRIEL Indeed, it would be good if she were spoken with, for it is best to let ills out in speec before they are acted upon.

ELIZABETH Let her in.

Exit Gabriel

Re-enter Gabriel, with Eve

EVE Ah! There lies the majesty of all Ohio!

ELIZABETH How are you, Eve?

EVE Oh, very well! Of course, my father is dead and my boyfriend killed him, so, maybe not so well after all!

Enter Edward

ELIZABETH Edward, come look at this.

EDWARD How are you, pretty lady?

EVE They say the owl was a baker's daughter. It goes to show you we never know what we may become!

EDWARD Because of her father?

EVE Let's not speak of that. Did you realize that to-morrow is 's Day?

EDWARD(Aside) Tomorrow is the Second.

EDWARD My dear, resist the impulse to grieve. it only does you harm.

EVE Grieve? Over what? Ah, but I'll make an oath on it!

(sings)

EDWARD How long has she been like this?

Eve runs

EVE Soon my brother shall know of what has transpired, and so I thank you for our counsel on the matter. Come, my chariot awaits! Good night sweet ladies! Good night! Good nigh-

Exit Eve

EDWARD Follow her, and watch her closely.

Exit Gabriel

This spring of grief, it all stems from her father's death. When sorrows occur they arrive not one by one but in massive waves. As if losing Thamle wasn't hard enough for her, the husk that was once him kills her father. The peasants too are saddened by good Jonathan's death, and Charlie is in secret returned from France, and will not hear the superfluous speeches of his father's death.

Chanting and footsteps, growing louder from within

ELIZABETH What is that horrendous noise?

EDWARD Guards! To me! Bar the door!

SERVANT Sir, they are all at practice as you did command!

Enter another servant

EDWARD What is the concern?

SERVANT 2 Sir! It is none other than Charlie, with an army of peasant workers with him, demanding for your overthrow and that he be elected to office! They cry 'Choose we: Charlie shall be king:' They think they can replace you as his majesty's representative for the territory!

EDWARD Treason! His Majesty shall hear of this!

ELIZABETH O, how quickly to the false trail they scuttle!

EDWARD The doors have broken!

Enter Charlie with armed peasants

CHARLIE Where is he? Sirs, I ask you stand without me but a moment.

PEASANTS No, let's kill him!

CHARLIE Please, leave us be.

PEASANTS We will.

Exit peasants offstage, cautiously

CHARLIE O you foul man, give me my father!

ELIZABETH Be calm, good Charles.

CHARLIE That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard, Cries cuckold to my father, brands the harlot even here, straight between the chaste unsmirched brow of my true mother.

EDWARD Tell me, why is your rebellion so large in size if all you want is your father? Let him go Liz, do not fear for our body. Tell me Charles, why are you so incensed?

CHARLIE Where is my father?

EDWARD Dead. Dead as a doornail. Or, if you, prefer, as some do, a coffin nail.

ELIZABETH But not slain by him.

EDWARD Let him ask his fill of questions.

CHARLIE How did he die? I'll warn you, I won't be toyed with: I care not for allegiance anymore! Let come what comes, but I will be revenged for my father.

EDWARD Who can stop you?

CHARLIE My will alone, but the entire world cannot.

EDWARD Tell me, would you kill his friends and enemies alike in your eagerness?

CHARLIE None but his enemies.

EDWARD Do you want to know them?

CHARLIE To his friends I'll open my arms, and even give my life for them.

EDWARD Spoken like a true gentleman. I am guiltless for your father's death, and am much in grief over it I assure you.

PEASANTS (Within) Let her come in.

CHARLIE What now!? What noise breaks through yonder door?

Re-enter Eve, humming.

CHARLIE Eve, how are you?

Is she alright?

EDWARD Charles, her father's death hath driven her mad.

CHARLIE Oh, Eve. If you were sane and pleaded for revenge it would not have affected me so!

EVE If I were a rich man, fiddle diddle didle diddle diddle deedum da (Continues singing)

CHARLIE O God, do you see what has transpired?

EDWARD Charles, I too share your grief. It is, however, time for you to pick just who your best friends in this matter are to be, for they will hear and judge us in this, our time of crisis. If they find us sincere, we shall devote our kingdom, our crown, our life, and all that we have to you in satisfaction: But if they don't, lend us your patience, and we shall labor to make it content.

CHARLIE I do, however, wish for you to know; his burial, his obscure funeral, no military ceremony, no real ceremony of any kind, I take into question.

EDWARD And so you should. Come with me.

Exit

{Scene 6}

In another room

Enter Gabriel and a servant

GABRIEL Who did you say wished to speak with me?

SERVANT Sailors, sir; they claim to be bearing letters.

GABRIEL Bid them enter.

Exit Servant

I do not know anyone else who would write me a letter, and so it must me Thamle.

Enter Sailors

FIRST SAILOR God bless you sir, and God save the King!

GABRIEL God save the King!

FIRST SAILOR There is here a letter for you, which claims to be from the ambassador who was sent forth to England if your name is Gabriel, which I am led to know it is.

GABRIEL Thank You.

(Reads) Gabriel, once you have read this, let these fellows in to see my uncle: They have letters for him as well. Before we were even two days off to sea a french privateer set upon us. Finding ourselves too slow to outrun them, we put on our best brave faces and I alone attempted to board them. They upon the instance of my arrival broke off, and so I alone became their prisoner. I am now to do a good turn for them, as they have treated me as would befit thieves of mercy. Let my uncle have the letters I have sent. I have stories to tell you that would kill you just from the synopsis, yet they are too simple for the heart of the matter. John and Jean hold their course for England, and of them I have much to tell thee. 'He that knows you, Thamle.' Come, I will take you to Edward, but we must be speedy, for once we finish there you will take me to he who gave you the letters.

Exit

{Scene 7}

In another room

Enter Edward and Charlie

EDWARD Now you must work with me, and know that I am your friend, and hear that he who killed your father has made attempts on my life as well.

CHARLIE It would seem so, but tell me why you didn't act earlier, and instead you were simply 'shaken'.

EDWARD There are two reasons; which may to you seem unprecedented, but to me are strong in nature. The queen is his mother, and I cannot openly oppose her. The other, being why I don't simply go to the authorities, is that the rabble love him.

CHARLIE And so I a noble father have lost; a sister driven to madness, any yet I still shall have my revenge.

EDWARD Don't lose sleep over that. I loved you father as I love myself; and that, I hope, will teach you that-

Enter Messenger

What ho! What news?

MESSENGER Letters from Thamle! This one for you, and this one for your queen.

EDWARD From Thamle? Who brought them?

MESSENGERS They say sailors; though I saw them not. They were given to me by Henry, he got them from those who brought them.

EDWARD Charles, you shall hear this. Leave us.

Exit Messenger

(Reads) His majesty, know that I am on the mercy of your bounteous kingdom. Tomorrow when I return I ask the opportunity to recount the occasion of my most sudden and strange return, 'Thamle'

What could this mean? Are the others back as well? Or is it just a joke?

CHARLIE Do you recognize the handwriting?

EDWARD It's his handwriting alright. Can you advise me on the matter?

CHARLIE I have no idea what it could mean. But let him come, I want him to know what has transpired because of him.

EDWARD If he truly is returned from his voyage, and not to depart again, I will create an event at which he cannot help but fall, and all will see it as but an accident.

CHARLIE I would ask that you make me the instrument of his destruction.

EDWARD It is only fair. I have heard much tale of you, in particular, of your mastery of a rapier and the ability to defend yourself. Now tell me, to what would you stoop to avenge your father's death?

CHARLIE I would cut his throat in the church.

EDWARD Indeed, revenge should know no bounds. Now, this is what I put forth: Hamlet, upon arrival, will be enforced into a duel between the two of you over a wager. Now, Thamle, being lazy, will not peruse the swords presented, and you can have any sword of your liking implanted within for you to find.

CHARLIE I'll do it, and I'll smother my blade in a poison I just so happen to have, that, being so poisonous, will wrack the life from his body.

EDWARD Indeed, but let's look further within. We should have a backup plan, in case it does not work, and so I shall be waiting with a cup for him, filled with poison, so that when he calls for a drink it will strike him quickly down.

Enter Elizabeth

How now, my queen?

ELIZABETH Sorrows follow close upon one another's heels. Your sister has drowned, Charlie.

CHARLIE Drowned? Where?

ELIZABETH There is a willow, down by the brooks, which is surrounded by beauteous flowers everywhere one looks. There she made herself a swing from the flowers, but when she hung it from the branches down it fell, and she along with it. And so we do not know if it was of purpose or negligence.

CHARLIE So, she truly is drowned?

ELIZABETH Drowned.

CHARLIE Too much water have you had, Eve, first with your tears for father and now with your drowning, and therefore I forbid my tears from appearance. Adieu, my compatriot.

Exit Charlie

EDWARD Let's follow, I had to do much to calm his rage, and I fear this will give it start again.

Exit