Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 4 Scene 4 Sub Scene 1

 Act Four

Act Four Scene Four

Sub Scene One

Fortinbras war with the Polocks.

“Go, Captain, from me greet the Norway Emperor.” The young leader called on the Captain of the leading ship; the juggernaut airship that rivals the German design then.

The principal feature of the design was a fabric-covered rigid metal framework made up of transverse rings and longitudinal girders containing many individual gasbags making it larger than a non-rigid airship. It had long cylindrical hulls with tapered ends and complex multi-plane fins. They were propelled by several engines, mounted in gondolas or engine cars, which were attached to the outside of the structural framework.

“Tell him that by his license Fortinbras craves the conveyance of a promised march over his kingdom.” The leader paced the pilot area.

“Aye, Sire.” The Captain of the airship acknowledged the other. He blew the horns on the airship; at three thousand feet above the castle, it was still loud.

‘You know the rendezvous. If Norway and Other Norway stay as one, We shall express our duty in his eye; and let him know so.” The leader looked from the airship to the land below. Three thousand ducats paved the idealism of loyalty.

“Now onto the Polacks.” Fortinbras the leader in charge turned to the assembled behind him. They were fifty of them; trained by himself, and was given the needed skills to rappel from it at a hundred feet. He had learned that the old ways of rowdy thugs were out. He saw the Great War where the trained soldiers were more organized and efficient. Losses were minimized. He took to train his soldiers from shooting to deployment. 

In the airship, Fortinbras held fifty men in that ship. That ship was part of an armada of ten ships.

Five hundred armed men it was.

“Good sir, whose powers are these?” Hamlet was in the much smaller airship that was owned by the family. The King had used it for his travels, and that was the first time Hamlet rode on it. When compared to the one that Fortinbras owned, Hamlet’s ship was a quarter in dimension. Besides the Captain and an aide, Hamlet was there with his two friends of his.

“They are of Other Norway, my lord.” The Captain looked at the higher-flying ship.

“How purposed, sir, I pray you?”

“Against the Polacks, as I was told. They will raid the Polacks area.”

“Who commands them, sir?”

“The nephew to Other Norway, Fortinbras. His uncle is bedridden.”

“All of that goes it against the main of the Polack, sir, or for some frontier?”

“Truly to speak and with no addition, they go to gain a little patch of ground; rather it’s two streets of aged playing houses that hath in it no profit but the name. There is no audience willing to pay five ducats, for five, I would not farm it for the street held no value. But the Polacks will not yield to Other Norway or any other for a fee.”

“Such a small or for little of value, why, then, the Polack will defend it?” Hamlet asked. He had seen grander playing houses torn down when there were no plays there.

“Yes, the pride of one’s own. They are already there, a whole garrison..” The Captain said. “I heard of no less than a hundred armed, not including the ones who dwell there; households of migrants; maybe five hundred or more. It’s a long street.”

“Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats; I may understand but debate the question of this straw. This is the imposture of much wealth and peace, that inward breaks and shows no cause without.”

“My lord, the wealth of ducats does not mean to them, but the street is in their name, and that matters. As I have mentioned, it’s pride.”

“Why the man dies.—” Hamlet was interrupted.

“I am having to land the ship now. Please excuse me.” Hamlet heard the call from the Captain that they are descending then.

“I humbly thank you, sir. You made my flight a wonderment of scenes.” Hamlet praised the Captain. “God be wi’ you, sir.”

Hamlet prepares for the landing. The ship landed and the passengers disembarked. It was a busy landing area, with airships of shapes and dimensions there. Hamlet saw passengers all in their finest as if it was a Sunday outing there. The travel by airship was plenty of choices, but the occasion calls for smart dressing.

“Fly for comfort, fly for glamour.” The boards there expanded the vision to the passengers.

“Will ’t please you go, my lord?” Rosencrantz looked to Hamlet. “We still have a channel to cross over,  and it’s a water ship we abound.”

“I’ll be with you straight. Go a little before.” Hamlet told the other. “The airship made me uneasy. I need to be alone for a while.”

All but Hamlet exit.

 

 

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 4 Scene 3 Sub Scene 2

 Act Four

Act Four Scene Three

Sub Scene Two

Rise! The judges are in.

Hamlet ran in as if he was the age five. He ran round the assembled, making faces at the leaders, and finally stood before Claudius.

“Nice clothes you have on, my Majesty.” Hamlet pranced around the hall. “I am sure they are new.”

Hamlet was mocking the other.

“Now, Hamlet, where’s Polonius?” Claudius grew tired of the younger man. “His family is asking.”

“At supper, the last supper perhaps,” Hamlet replied and saw a seat vacant at the table occupied by the leaders.

“Is this taken or has Judas left?” Hamlet took the seat.  

“At supper where?” Claudius asked.

“I know not where Judas went. But the old man, he is not where he eats, but where he is eaten.” Hamlet acted as though he was eaten by others. His hands clutched his throat as if he was short of air. “A certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at him.”

“All of you are worms to your emperor for diet. We are the fattening creatures what else to fat us; we fat ourselves the maggots. Behold the fishmonger, he ate the fish that ate the King.” In Hamlet’s view, all of them ate the maggots that fed on dead flesh.

“One eats the maggots and the other eats maggot eater. Truly two dishes, but serve only the hunger of the eaten. A revolting cycle of the reality here.” Hamlet sighed. “That’s the end.”

“What does he means?” One of the leaders asked/

“That we are living off the death of others. He implies we are cannibals in my view. The fishes fed on the dead flesh, and we on the fishes soon after.” Another took to answer with sarcasm.

“Are we?” The one asking was baffled. “I had fish every Monday and Thursday. I feel sick now.”

“I never throw them into the sea. I burned them all. No trace back to me.” The sarcastic reply smiled. “I did it my way.”

“Did someone say barbecue? I liked that.” Another leader with senile age asked. “Are we having any soon”

“Only fish.” The sarcastic one added. “Dead fish.”

“Where is Polonius?” Claudius roared out. His patience at tethers.

“In heaven. I think. Send thither to see. If your messenger finds him not there, seek him i’ th’ other place yourself….. bring your coat, it may be hellish cold there. But if indeed, you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. Or the chambers, let your nose lead.”

“Go, seek him there,” Claudius called to the servants.

“Where, my lord? We have lots of …”The servant who attended asked.

“He will stay till you come. He is after all dead.” Hamlet looked to the servant. “See not with sight, smell with thy nose, and if the stench reaches you first, then take a mint to ease the throat.”

“Go! Go now!” Claudius called the servant.

“Hamlet,” Claudius held not his claws. “This deed, for thine especial safety.”

Claudius looked to Gertrude but she wept her tears.

“Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve for that which thou hast has done, must send thee hence with fiery quickness. Therefore prepare thyself.” Claudius looked to the leaders. “It must be done. All is ready. The ship is ready, and the wind at help, the associates to tend, and everything is bent ….”

“For England?” Hamlet cut in.

“Ay, Hamlet. Do you…”

“Tally Ho, I am good.” Hamlet laughed. “They serve fish with chips. I will take the chips only.”

“So is it, if thou knewest our purposes?” Claudius asked.

“I see a cherub that sees them.” Hamlet referred to an Angel that oversees him. “But come, for England I am fair.”

“Farewell, dear mother.” Hamlet stood up and bowed to the mother.

“Thy loving father, Hamlet?” Claudius asked.

“My mother wedded once more. Yes, Father and mother are man and wife.  Man and wife are one flesh, and so, is my mother.— is my father.” Hamlet smiled. “Come, for England.” 

Hamlet left the hall, hardly bothering to listen to the mutterings of the leaders citing words like madness, and complicity in his life.

“Follow him at foot; tempt him with speed aboard.” Claudius looked to Rosencrantz. “Delay it not. I’ll have him hence tonight.”

“So soon? I have not packed.” Rosencrantz raised his protest but Claudius had done his part.

“Away, for everything is sealed and done. That else leans on the affair. Pray you, make haste.” Claudius gave his command, and Rosencrantz left the hall. He then turned to the assembled.

“The matter will be dealt with soonest.” Claudius bowed to them and they took their leave. Gertrude followed on and was stopped by Claudius.

“My lover did I …”

“Hold not me back. I am returning to my chamber…alone. You may do as you wish. He is …who he is.” Gertrude too sad-stricken took her to leave.

All but the Emperor exit.

“England, if my love thou holdest at aught since yet thy cicatrice (A cicatrice is a scar, the mark left on your skin when a cut, scrape, or burn has started to heal.  ) looks raw and red after the cut.” Claudius left England without much of a glance when he heard of the call to Elsinore.

“I am called to Norway. I must go.” Claudius told his friends there. “Be bold without me. I will assist from there.”

Claudius left for Norway.

“Thy free awe, thou mayst not coldly set our sovereign process.” Claudius when he left without the next on the throne. The recent incidents made him call on England to assist. It was a letter to England to act on his call for the termination of Hamlet. The letter will becarried by his apprentices.

“Do it, England, for like the hectic in my blood he rages, and thou must cure me. Till I know ’tis done, however my haps, my joys will ne’er begin.” Claudius was upset at Hamlet for having accused him of murder and derailed his seat as the next ruler of Norway. When it's done, he will put it right into the sovereign process. He took one more look at the seat where he was seated. He pictured a sword over his head and knew that he must act to remove it.

“Soon, it will be over.” Claudius smiled. “Tally Ho.”

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 4 Scene 3 Sub Scene 1

 Act Four

Act Four Scene Three

Sub Scene One

The hall of justice assembled

Claudius held the conference with his close aides, invited to the castle. Gertrude sat by the side, with her head bowed and wishing things could have been different, she would not have to be sad.

“Fellows of Norway, I bid you all to judge.” Claudius had addressed the leaders of Norway. They were business associates and trustees of the alliance.

“The King had died not long, and I grief for him. He was so inspiring and yet life was taken from him at the peak of his career. Hail the King!”

“Hail the King!’ The ones assembled there echoed the call.

“Today, I am holding administration of the King’s estate, and by oath, wedded his widow, and thus adopted his son as mine. I rejoice in that, and will carry on the King’s works not as King but in my humble rank as Emperor.”

“I came, I saw and I carried on his legacy.” Claudius quoted Caesar with a twist. “King Hamlet’s works will be remembered forever.”

“Humble as I am, I bear sad news.” Claudius looked to the assembled. “His son, Hamlet, and now our son, the great heir to the King, has this gone …. Mad.”

“Mad….” Claudius echoed his words. The assembled gasped in disbelief. “I don’t know what happened, but on his return, late to the delayed funeral; held back by his mother on request, Hamlet did return but he is not longer the lad we knew. He had changed for … his years away had eroded his …values.”

Gertrude burst into tears and drew the sympathy of the assembled. Claudius approached the lady and touched her face.

“No mother would bear to see her children stricken with illness …more so madness…but it’s the will of God, what we will have to ail with. Hamlet is with the worse, and we pray for him.” Claudius looked to the assembled. It was a dramatic speech, and if the Romans were there, they would have thought of Brutus who was the one who spoke then.

“His madness undisclosed but had to be now. He is truly mad. He had killed the Great Chamberlain.” That last line drew alarm on the assembled. Most of them have known Polonius long, shared their wine, and laughed at each other’s jokes.

“The Great Chamberlain was killed by Hamlet.” Claudius selected his words. “Killed with a dagger…. Unfortunately… but unforgiven an act of madness. The Chamberlain's body undeclared by Hamlet.”

“I have sent to seek him and to find the body.” Claudius looked at the leaders.

“I know many of you may ask, how dangerous is it that this man goes loose? Yet must not we put the strong law on him.” Claudius looked to explain why Hamlet is not restrained.

“He’s loved of the distracted multitude, who like not in their judgment, and, where ’tis so, the offender’s scourge is weighed.” Claudius knew that Hamlet was liked by many by appearance; the ones in the castle but they hardly know him as he was away for a long time. They may judge him as a murderer of the Great Chamberlain without understanding the motives.

“Let us speak to him first. Hear him out. Don’t judge by the cover of the book, but most times, we may do.” Claudius drew on the rationale in the perception. “I may not know him well, but as my son now, I will give him the benefit of the doubt regarding his character.”

“He is after all the son and held the qualities of the King in acting. On his verdict, we can’t be alone but with the consent of all, the action may be seen better. We cannot however sanction the offense without retribution. It's like diseases desperate grown by desperate appliances are relieved or not at all. Cured or removed, the solution is either.”

His first attendant soon came calling.  Rosencrantz stood by the doorway, afraid to intrude but was called on by Claudius.

“Rosencrantz. Meet the leaders of Norway, please. Rosencrantz is a friend of Hamlet for years. He was here to assist Hamlet in this trying period.” Claudius looked at the other.” Hamlet, how now, what hath befallen?”

“Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord, we cannot get from him.” Rosencrantz bowed his head.

“But where is he?” Claudius asked.

“Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure,” Rosencrantz replied.

“Bring him before us,” Claudius called out.

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 4 Scene 2 Sub Scene 1

 Act Four

Act Four Scene Two

Sub Scene One

Where art thou, dead man?

Hamlet looked ta the doorway, where his friends had retrieved the corpse on his instructions. He still felt the effect of the act, and guilt hung partially on his conscience. Well, it was also fleeting moments in his mind; one moment he was sane in Dane (if the interpretation was acceptable), and at other times, he was in his madness (again another interpretation here).

Hamlet’s thoughts were disturbed by the sounds of approaching steps. He shrugged the morbid thoughts from his mind to await their arrival.

“Verdammt!” Hamlet muttered in German; the first words we learned in any language are foul ones; it’s only our first word to the mother was a decent one. 

“Who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come.” Hamlet saw the arrival of the duo who were hardly considered his friends anymore.

“How do you fare?” Rosencrantz was the courteous one, but not Guildenstern who had remained glum. The previous encounter weighed in his mind,

“All well?” Rosencrantz did a quick overview of Hamlet if he held any weapon. Once cannot be careless when madness and murder may rhyme together.

“I heard the Chamberlain died in your presence. May I know what have you done, my lord, with the dead body?” Rosencrantz picked his words to ask.

“Compounded it with dust, whereto ’tis kin,” Hamlet replied.

“Please do tell us where ’tis, that we may take it thence and bear it to the chapel. The family awaits their father.” Rosencrantz put on a weak smile. “It’s the charitable thing to do. More so in Norway.”

That last line was from the Emperor; I disliked any scandals in Norway.

“Do not believe it.” Hamlet shook his head.

“Believe what?” Rosencrantz with his patience stretched.

“That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by the son of a king?”

“Take you me for a sponge, my lord? I resent that. I am my own man.”

“Ay, sir, that soaks up the Emperor’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the Emperor best service in the end.” Hamlet looked hard at the other. “Do you know how he chews his food? He keeps them like an ape an apple in the corner of his jaw, first mouthed, to be last swallowed.”

“I won’t believe that.” Rosencrantz still held on to his relationship with Hamlet as belonging.

“It’s not me, my dear. It’s the Emperor; the one you kissed his feet on call. When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.” Hamlet hit the nail into the coffin there. “You are nothing.”

“I understand you not, my lord.”

“I am glad about it. A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.” Hamlet laughed.

“My lord, I stand to plea now. Please tell us you must tell us where the body is and go with us to the Emperor.”

“The body is with the Emperor here, but the Emperor is not with the body. The castle is huge, Norway is a kingdom, and the Emperor is a thing—"

“A “thing,” my lord?” Guildenstern snapped in. His tolerance of Hamlet’s attitude took its peak onto him.

“Or he speaks. I was to say of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after! The hounds are here.” Hamlet stood up. “Shall we see your Emperor? Let him not wait too long for me, the miscreant here.”

Hamlet took off on the run and was pursued by the duo.

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 4 Scene 1 Sub Scene 1

 Act Four

Act Four Scene One

Sub Scene One

Hamlet is mad.

Claudius sat with Gertrude for their breakfast. It was a silent event, which normally will be a gaily sharing of news and smiles. Even the scones were taken without a whimper on the baking, which was normally slightly hard or sweet to taste. Even their guests, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern remained silent while taking slow sips of their tea.

Claudius took a bite of it and then looked away. He was in a heavy mood and looked toward her.

“There’s matter in these sighs”, Claudius looked at Gertrude. “He is …our son, and as a mother; these profound heaves you must translate for this fit we understand them.”

“Where is our son?” Claudius asked.

“Oh my lord, what I have seen the night before?” Gertrude broke her silence then. It was…”

“Give us this place a little while.” Claudius looked to the duo who took leave.
“What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?”

“Mad as the sea and wind when both contend more like Neptune in battle with Hermes; one of the waves of the sea, the other with the winds of the storm. Which is the mightier? In his lawless fit, behind the curtain on hearing something stir, he whips out the dagger, and cries “A rat, a rat.” Gertrude burst into tears. “In his brainy apprehension kills whom he had not seen; a good old man.”

“Oh, heavy deed! It had been so with us had we been there. His liberty is full of threats to all.” Claudius looked at Gertrude. “To you; yourself, to us, to everyone. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered?”

“You must do something, Claudius. I beg of you.” Gertrude cried toward Claudius.

“It will be laid to us, whose providence, he should have kept short, restrained, and out of the haunt.” Claudius knew in his mind that Hamlet must be stopped.

“This mad young man. But so much was our love, we would not understand what was most fit. We can’t do that for we are the owner of a foul disease; our hearts pained to keep it from divulging, lets it feed toward the pith of life perhaps.”

“Where is he gone?” Claudius raised his voice.

“To draw apart the body he has killed, o'er whom his very madness, like some ore mixed onto the other metals, his stands pure..” Gertrude feels for her son. She yearns to think he had acted out in anger, but calm when he is, he regrets.

“He weeps for what is done.”

“Oh, Gertrude, shed the motherly feelings. Once the sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, we will send him off.” Claudius was firm on his call. He looked to Gertrude, and assure her of the action to protect her son.

“And this vile deed, We must with all our majesty and skill both countenance and excuse.” Claudius will cover for the crime if it's needed.

“Ho, Guildenstern! I call on you.” Claudius called out to the duo.

“Friends both, go join you with some further aid. Hamlet in madness has Polonius slain”, Claudius told them “And from his mother's closets has he dragged him.” Claudius told the duo.

“Go seek him out, speak fair, and bring the body into the chapel. I pray you to make haste in this.”

“Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends and let them know both what we mean to do.” Claudius pulled at Gertrude’s hands.

“What do you intend to do?” Gertrude asked.

“To cover the murder, as the King would have done. If it happens in Norway, it shall remain in Norway.” Claudius looked at Gertrude. “We can’t allow it to be known outside.”

“Oh, my dear. It’s what I dread about Norway. There are too many vices here buried on its estate. Why can’t we come clean for once?”

“Oh, come away! It’s our son, Hamlet we are talking about. Do think for once I will be allowed what he had done to be known. No, I won’t. My soul is full of discord and dismay but I will act in the interest of all including you.”

“So am I.” The mother pained for herself. They took leave to find the son.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern stood a distance and saw the elderly couple had left the hall. It was Rosencrantz who spoke first.

“Are you mad too? Why must we take Hamlet to England? Claudius held an army of his own, that can be called on. We are paid to see and understand him. We did and reported it. Why shall we send him? And murder? That was never in the services.”

“Silence, my lover. Where did you get the idea we are to murder him?” Guildenstern looked at Rosencrantz. “We are to send him to England.”

“To be killed. Does that not reach your conscience? It did on mine.”

“When was that? I did not hear of any murder here except an old man was killed.”

“Please, Guildenstern. We know those in England. They are rascals and their trade was to remove all threats. They had done it before. Remember the …”

“Hush your mouth, Rosencrantz, or I will have it stuffed. Nothing to say of the past here. We are given wealth to deliver and that’s our role. We are emissaries only. Not the ministers of war.” Guildenstern knew the lads there. They are no pals.

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 4 Interlude

 Act Four

Interlude

King Hamlet stood in the hall with only his lover, Gertrude, and the other he had kept as a guest in the castle, Emperor Claudius. The King was in his play costume as Caesar while the others were in their casual wear.

“I do apologize, my lord. I was caught up with the rewrites when you called. My inspiration was in flow…” Polonius the Chamberlain, as he held the rank then,  had tried to explain his delay.

“I do not require your excuses, Polonius. I am to ask you as a witness to the …” King Hamlet was distracted by the running steps and in the unneeded distraction; Hamlet holding the panty of the girl chasing him.

“Give me back that!’ Ophelia was pursuing the boy of age five. They ran past the quartet from the hall to the corridors, with their playful shrieks heard by far.

“I will caution my daughter soon, my lord. It’s unbecoming of that girl.” Polonius bowed to the King. “It’s not easy being…”

“Enough, Polonius. You are not called here to be judged, but as …witness to …” The King was upset but his lover intrude on his words.

“Hamlet, we need not discuss this with …” Gertrude pleaded with the King.

“The Chamberlain is a part of my family. He stands with me on all occasions and shall be at my side.” King Hamlet roared out. “If you think he is below his tank, then he will be known as the Great Chamberlain.”

“I meant no disrespect toward him but this is…” Gertrude tried to state her stand.

“A family matter and it involves my loyal staff who is a kin to me.” King Hamlet looked at Claudius. “Not one sneaked behind my back and destroy my trust.”

“Hamlet, I was …” Claudius wanted to explain himself.

“I had tolerated it for long. Even before the birth of young Hamlet, I had known that we were all one family. I regretted ever sharing my life with you. You for one was taken as my brother. Nurtured by myself and yet you betrayed me.”

“I have done nothing …that …nothing that will hurt you.” Claudius looked to the King. “You have been kind to me when I was without an act; the menial ones I still took on your call.”

“Menial? Are any of my plays menial, Chamberlain?” King Hamlet was upset.

“No, my lord. All your plays are major works of art. You're acting could be unsurpassed by any but with your discipline, they will be as good. Even the most ‘menial’ act was acclaim with its rank and encore gave.” Polonius defended the King. It was true for his writing had improved under the King. Any encore to the play was his to relish.

“Claudius, long had I known but my career was important. I needed the avenues to vent my thoughts. My acts.” King Hamlet looked at Gertrude. “You…”

“Was I to wait while you act? Was it acting when we laid in bed?” Gertrude asked. “Once we were lovers, for a long time, we were just bedtime partners. You slept on your side and me on the other. We had not felt as before.”

“I was in my culmination of fame. I needed to be …” The King defended his lack of marital acts with his lover.

“And how many did you lay on the need for fame? The King is ravenous! The King is insatiable! The King …” Gertrude hit hard.

“Enough! Your needs were taken care of. Does he not hump you when needed? Or was he a poor lover compared to me?” The King motioned to Claudius. “Claudius, your manliness is being questioned.”

“I did with Gertrude, while she may hold needs as well as me. We knew you knew yet you did not forbid. Many a night she longed for you but you were at play or playing for someone.” Claudius said. “I say a need and with that, I shared mine.”

“Even in my castle, you did.” The King looked at Gertrude. “Do you see the need to be more private here? I know we had fewer walls in the old home, but here we have many chambers, and God knows  what corner you could lurk.”

“Why do it so plainly that he had to see?” The King was infuriated. He pointed to the doorway where Hamlet had left with the panty of the girl. “He asked of me what was that?”

“Oh, my God. We did not …We should…” Gertrude held her hands to her lips.

“What? Where? Who? How? I don’t care. He may not be mine at all.” Those words caused Gertrude to fall to her knees.

“Oh, my God. How could …:” Claudius reacted.

“How was I know? He seems to be more like you. His antics and appearance are like yours. All false acts.” The King looked back at Gertrude. “ I know it all. I am an actor. A better one than him.”

“I will not take this …” Claudius clawed his way.

“And you won’t. I am sending you to England. There you will stay and act. Come back not here unless I am dead.” The King looked at Claudius. “Your bastard will be sent away too. He will learn to live there….away from his mother.”

“No…” Gertrude pleaded. “I will be …”

“You better be good. His well-being depended on your behavior.” The King said to Gertrude. “I will be King one day but never will there be a Queen, but only the madam by myself.”

“Chamberlain, send my son to the school I told you about. Send Laertes if you want. It’s a good school.” The King told the Chamberlain. “Your daughter… She is older. Do as you would like. I have seen hussies and take care of her or she will be one soon.”

“Yes, my lord.” Polonius nodded. “It will be as arranged.”

“Remember this, Claudius. I am to be King and Norway will be my estate. You are banished. Do not ever think of seeing your son. He is to be unblemished from today. If I were to ever see you, it will be on my deathbed.”

 

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 3 Scene 5 Sub Scene 2

 Act Three

Act Three Scene Five

Sub Scene Two

The mother and son

“Save me and hover o’er me with your wings, you heavenly guards!—What would your gracious
figure for me now?” Hamlet saw the ghost appearing to him after a lapse of days/

“Who else is …what is that you speak about?” Gertrusde still cradling rhe dead Chamberlain.

“A king of shreds and patches…the ghost of thy King,” Hamlet replied.

“Alas, am I mad like you? Do I see a ghost before me? I only held a dead man here. And heaven protect me, I am not his killer.” Gertrude tried to make sense of what was on Hamlet’s mind.

“Do you not come to your tardy son to chide, that lapsed in time and passion, let’s go by the important acting of your dread command? O, say thou the truth.” Hamlet ignored the mother while he continued his talk with the ghost.

“Do not forget. This visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.” The Ghost lament the delay by Hamlet to act for him. “But look, amazement on thy mother sits there.”

“Step between her and her fighting soul she holds conceit in her. The weakest body's strongest works, you are to do. Speak to her, Hamlet. Don’t be coy in the words.”

“I am not coy with her.” Hamlet looked at the mother. “Am I?”

“Alas, how is ’t with you, that you do bend your eye on the vacancy and with th’ incorporeal air do hold discourse?” Gertrude looked at her son. She fears his madness had made her hear or see others yet not physically present.

“Focus your eyes while your spirits wildly peep, and, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, their insolence will be dealt like excrements.” Hamlet was asked to not raise false alarms.

“Start up and stand an end. O gentle sons, upon the heat and flame of thy distemper, sprinkle cool patience! Whereon do you look?” Gertrude tried to ask her son what does he sees or had seen. Or what his madness made him see.

“Do you see nothing there? He stands there.” Hamlet asked.

“Nothing at all; yet all that is I see,” Gertrude replied.

“Nor did you nothing hear?” Hamlet was unconvinced.

“No, nothing but ourselves.” Gertrude shook her head.

“Why, look you there, look how it steals away!” The ghost was seen leaving. “My father, in his habit as he lived! Look where he goes even now out at the portal!”

“This is the very coinage of your brain,” Gertrude said to Hamlet. “This bodiless creation ecstasy is very cunning indeed.”

Gertrude believes her son has become mad. A murderous madman.”

“Ecstasy? Me going mad.” Hamlet disbelieves his mother. “My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time And makes as healthful music. It is not madness that I have uttered. Bring me to the test, and I the matter will reword, which madness would gambol from.”

“Mother, for love of grace, lay not that flattering unction to your soul that not your trespass but my madness speaks. It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, Whiles rank corruption, mining all within infects the unseen. Confess yourself to heaven.”

“Repent what’s past, avoid what is to come, and do not spread the compost on the weeds To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue, for, in the fatness of these pursy times”.

“O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain!”

“O, throw away the worser part of it, and live the purer with the other half!” Hamlet looked at his mother. “My last wish is a good night. But go not to my uncle’s bed.”

“Assume a virtue if you have it not, that monster, custom, who all sense doth eat, of habits devil, is angel yet in this. That aptly is put on. Refrain tonight, and that shall lend a kind of easiness to the next abstinence, the next easier; For use almost can change the stamp of nature and either … the devil or throw him out with wondrous potency.”

“Once more, good night, and, when you are desirous to be blest, I’ll be blessing beg of you. For this same lord”

Pointing to Polonius.

“I do repent; but heaven hath pleased it so to punish me with this and this with me, that I must be their scourge and minister. I will bestow him and will answer well. The death I gave him.”Hamlet will take the punishment for the death he has caused.

“So, again, good night. I must be cruel only to be kind. This bad begins, and worse remains behind. One word more, good lady.

“What shall I do?” Gertrude asked,

“Not this by no means that I bid you do:” In fact, Hamlet was telli8mg his mother not to do this.

“Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed, pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse, and let him, for a pair of reechy kisses or paddling in your neck with his damned fingers” As most of us who are familiar with the needed coaxing needed of our partner.

“It will make you ravel all this matter out, like for matter of concern, that I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft.” Hamlet looked at his mother.

“There good you let him know, for who that’s but a queen, fair, sober, wise; would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib, Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so?” Hamlet bemoans the lady may be persuaded then to tell.

“No, in despite of sense and secrecy, unpeg the basket on the house’s top, let the birds fly, and like the famous ape, try conclusions, in the basket creep, and break your neck down.” It was a spoken tale of an ape trying to imitate the flight of the birds and had a basket of young fledglings to be released at the tower. On seeing the young fledglings take to the skies, the ape climbed into the basket to take flight but landed with a broken neck.

It’s the tale of saying not everything is as it seems and at times, misleading, and injuries may happen.

In other words, speak with caution or none at all.

“Be thou assured, if words are made of breath, and breath is the sign of life, I have no life to breathe what thou hast said to me.” Madness or a genius, he hates Claudius whom he accuses to murder the King. What can she do to act, to say, to ask, or to remain silent; she was uncertain. Gertrude found no words to describe her son anymore.

“I must to England, you know that.” Hamlet moved the subject matter.

“Alack, I had forgotten! ’Tis so concluded on?” The discussion with Claudius mentioned it, but she felt there was no conclusion.

“There are letters sealed; I read it just now. My two schoolfellows, whom I will trust as I will adders fanged, they bear the mandate; they must sweep my way and marshall to knavery.”

“Oh my God!” Gertrude fears for her son. If he said it was true, he was to be led to a trap.

“Ah, let it work, for ’tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard ( a bomb); and ’t shall go hard (Be blown by it) but I will delve one yard below their mines and blow them at the moon.” Hamlet planned to undermine that trap. “O, ’tis most sweet.”

“I’ll lug the guts into the neighbor's room.” Hamlet offered his hands to his mother. He raised her and then bid her a better night.

“Good night indeed. This counselor is now most still, most secret, and most grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave.— Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.” Hamlet smiled. “Your death recalled to my mind; the words of Brutus after he killed Caesar.”

“Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the better judge.” Hamlet bowed to his mother. “Good night, mother. Clean thyself of my crime. You will let the others be the judge of the act.”

Hamlet then dragged the dead Chamberlian out. 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 3 Scene 5 Sub Scene 1

 Act Three

Act Three Scene Five

Sub Scene One

Till death do us part or shall it hasten to part sooner?

Gertrude grief for the man whose words were an inspiration to the King. His wisdom listened. The children he leaves behind.

“Not one but two will grief,” Gertrude looked at Hamlet. “What have I done, that thou darest wag thy tongue in noise so rude against me? Or us?”

“Years apart you were from me,” Gertrude sobbed. “I longed to have you with me, but the King says naught. The child is to grow on his journey, I have not seen him dressed by himself. What can a mother or a lady do? But silenced her woes, and when he does return, be doth madness onto him.”

“That can be tolerated with the love of the mother surpassing all those rash behavior but not of this. A killing in my chamber was not to what I wanted, but the love of the son to his mother’s side.”

“Such an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty, calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose from the fair forehead of an innocent love and sets a blister there, makes marriage vows as false as dicers’ oaths.” Hamlet mocked his mother’s love and even her vows toward the King.

“O, such a deed as from the body of contraction plucks the very soul, and sweet religion makes a rhapsody of words! Heaven’s face does glow o’er this solidity and compound mass with heated visage, as against the doom, is thought-sick at the act.” Hamlet accused her of not keeping faith in herself.

“Ay me, what act that roars so loud and thunders in the index?” Gertrude was asking of her son.

“Look here upon this picture and on this, the counterfeit presentment of two brothers.” Hamlet then approached the portrait of the King. One of the few still left on the castle walls. “See what a grace was seated on this brow, Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself, an eye like Mars’ to threaten and command, aA station like the herald Mercury new-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill.

“A combination and a form indeed where every god did seem to set his seal to give the world assurance of a man.” Hamlet point to the man in the portrait.

“This was your husband. Look you know what follows.” Hamlet bowed to the portrait and then motioned to the nearby chamber where Claudius was resting.

“There is your husband now, like a mildewed ear. Have you your eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, and batten on this moor? Ha! Have you your eyes?” Perhaps love was blind most times.

“You cannot call it love, for at your age the heyday in the blood is tame, it’s humble and waits upon the judgment; and what judgment would step from this to this?” At her age, Gertrude was not driven by other urges.

“Sense sure you have, else could you not have motion; but sure that sense is apoplexy (extreme anger); for madness would not err,” Hamlet denies that she was mad but maybe angry at the King thus marrying Claudius.

“Nor sense to ecstasy was ne’er so thrilled, but it reserved some quantity of choice to serve in such a difference. What devil was ’t that thus hath cozened you at Hoodman-blind? Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight, ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all, or but a sickly part of one true sense Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush?” Hamler was to call her a strumpet in other words.

“O Hamlet, speak no more! Thou turnest my eyes into my very soul, And there I see such black and grainèd spots As will not leave their tinct.” Gertrude felt guilt in her but was denied by Hamler as lies.

“Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed, Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love over the nasty sty!” An expression that sows bred in the sty despite the stench,

“O, speak to me no more! These words like daggers enter my ears. No more, sweet Hamlet!” Gertrude sobbed her tears out.

“The Emperor is a murderer and a villain.” Hamlet for the first time accuses Claudius. “ A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe of your precedent lord; a vice of kings, a cutpurse of the empire and the rule, that from a shelf the precious diadem stole and put it in his pocket— “

An undeserving protégé or one to claim the kingdom.

It was then the ghost appeared. Long unseen and then to appear before the Mother and Son.

“No more!” Gertrude cried out in pain.

“He cometh back.” Hamlet looked away from her.

Gertrude, saw her son talking to himself, or someone unseen by her. He was preoccupied with the dark wall opposite the window opening. There was usually a candle lighted when the bulb failed but on that day, it was not. She asked for the lighted bulb to be replaced for several weeks, but the servants have not found one for her yet. Things move slower without the command of the King with his commanding voice. Claudius was preoccupied with other matters.

The great Chamberlain was unfortunately dead, and calling on his soul then will be meaningless.

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 3 Scene 4 Sub Scene 1

 Act Three

Act Three Scene Four

Sub Scene One

A Brutus act

Polonius on his dismissal rushed to see the Madam. He entered the personal chamber of the other without any invitation. The personal chamber of the Madam was more like a place to change her clothes and performed her toiletries needs. It was very personal to the madam that trusted female servants were allowed, and not even the King himself, or his successor the Emperor.

Hamlet had been there for a child below the year of five, his presence was tolerable. He had not been there since.

“Polonius, do you have no shame on you now at your older age?” Gertrude was buttoning her blouse after taking a bath, feeling the filth of the play produced by her son. “This is my per chamber.”

Gertrude recalled the anger on Claudius. The Emperor had taken refuge in the main chamber where he shared his sleep with Gertrude, and thus was still fuming with rage at the subtle words during the play.

“Why does he not see me in the eyes, and speak his accusations instead of a play seen by all.” Claudius had spoken to Gertrude. “I have made amends to bring him to my side as son yet he stabs me like …Shylock demand of the heart. God, have I done wrong to take what was mine? I held no ill feelings toward him.”

“Alas, Gertrude. For our sake sort him out. He is…” Claudius clamped his last word.

“Madness, you were too shy. It may be and be hopeful, it was not from your family side.” Gertrude lashed out. “I will speak to him…. Alone and as a mother.”

Then it was arranged.

“I do apologize, Madam. I was in …” Polonius bowed his head. “I was …I came here in your interest,” Polonius said.

“My tete-a-tete, yes? Claudius is upset.” Gertrude recalled that she asked Hamlet to see her there. “Speak your piece, Great Chamberlain.”

“Who knows what you had seen by those hidden holes.” Gertrude knew on the hidden panels in the walls.

“Madam! I can….” Polonius felt disgusted at being accused.

“Speak your mind, and be on your way. Is Hamlet coming or not?” Gertrude was waiting on her request.

“He will come straight. Look you lay home to him.” Polonius found his voice back. “Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with and that your Grace hath screened and stood between much heat and him.”

“All mothers ever did, while father frets with their wine.”

“I’ll silence me even here. Pray you, be round with him.” Polonius added. “Right here.”

Polonius took to conceal behind the drapes of the window curtains. Gertrude was to say naught but the steps of Hamler were at the doorway.

“Are you decent, Mother?” Hamlet stood there.

“You are kind, my son,” Gertrude replied. “You may come in. Let me see you once more. You have grown well.”

“Where is Claudius? Has he felt offended?” Hamlet looked around. His right hand is on the dagger at his waist belt.

“Have you forgotten me?” Gertrude looked to Hamlet. A mother’s stare will melt any of her children’s hearts.

“No, by the rood, not so. You are the Madam, your husband’s ‘brother in kinship’ wife, and, would it were not so you are my mother.”

“Nay, then I’ll set those to you that can speak,” Gertrude said to Hamlet.

“Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge. You go not till I set you up a glass where you may see the inmost part of you.” Hamlet offered his mother a glass of wine. She took it and sat down by her dressing table.

“What wilt thou do?” Gertrude motioned to the dagger held by Hamlet. “Thou wilt not murder me?”

“Help, ho!” Gertrude cried out in jest but she did sound like she was in trouble. That was echoed by the one behind the curtain.

“Who lurks in the dark?” Hamlet reacted. “How now, a rat? Does he lurk, unlike other emperors? Sincerely, not of him who held deceit in his ascension”

Hamler assumed whoever had remained hidden was Claudius.

“Rats are to be killed on sight or heard.” Hamlet drew the dagger to thurst at whoever was behind the curtain. “Dead for a ducat, dead.”

Polonius felt the dagger thrust into his heart. He fell to his knees, dragging the curtain drapes, while his last words were; “I am slain.”

“Not the rat I was expecting, but a fatter one; mice he has by the litter.” Hamlet saw whom he slain and stepped back while his mother attended to the fallen figure.

“O me, what hast thou has done,” Gertrude rushed toward the dead Great Chamberlain. She sat down to cradle his head. “He held no breath. He is dead.”

“Nay, I know not.” Hamlet reacted to the kill.  “Was it the Emperor?”

Hamlet had wished it was.

“O, what a rash and bloody deed are this!” Gertrude cradled the dead man in her lap.

“A bloody deed—almost as bad, good mother, as killing a king and marry with his brother.” Hamlet held not back his words toward his mother.

“As kill a king?” Gertrude was confused.

“Ay, lady, it was my word,” Hamlet replied and then looked at the dead man. “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell.”

“I took thee for thy better,” Hamlet said of Polonius as deserving the death he had been given. “Take thy fortune. Thou findest to be too busy is some danger.”

“Too busy? He is the Great Chamberlain. It’s his task to know all and act on it. He was no busybody, but a well-cared old man for Norway.”

“Mother, leave wringing of your hands.” Hamlet reached out his hands to his mother. “Peace, sit you down, and let me wring your heart; for so I shall if it be made of penetrable stuff; if damnèd custom has not brazed it so That it be proof and bulwark against sense.”

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 3 Scene 3 Sub Scene 2

 Act Three

Act Three Scene Three

Sub Scene Two.

Claudius took to the side of the bedding he shared with Gertrude. It was the same frame that he retained of the old King, like the chair he seats as Emperor. He wanted to go onto his knees as if he was in the bedtime prayer but remained standing there with his head bowed.

“O’ God, hear my prayer,” Claudius spoke to God. “I had not done this for a long time. Let me stand for I am unsure of what I am to do.” ”

Claudius then felt the scent of the King then. There were so many items in the castle that was the King’s and he found no heart to archive them or at best, to auction them. Not even the sheets on the bedding, where he had spent himself with the lover of his.

“O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven; it hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t,” Claudius sighed. “A brother’s murder done. He was a brother to me, we grew from nothing, and yet I am always in his shadow, when I should excel, I remained as so.”

“Pray can I not, though the inclination is as sharp as will. My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, and, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin and both neglect.” Claudius does not deny his reluctance to move on; he was bound by another.

“What if this cursèd hand were thicker than itself with brother’s blood? Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens to wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy but to confront the visage of offense?”Claudius regretted his act. It will be the blemish in his soul. He seeks redemption but will redemption be given?

“And what’s in prayer but this twofold force, to be forestallèd ere we come to fall,
Or pardoned being down?” Claudius still searches within himself. “Then I’ll look up. Only you can help me.”

“My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer can serve my turn? Forgive me for my foul murder? That cannot be, since I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder: my crown, mine own ambition, and …. my queen.” Claudius finally spoke of the cause of the murder. It was for Gertrude and the wealth there.

A confession was given.

“May one be pardoned and retain the offense? In the corrupted currents of this world,
Offense’s gilded hand may shove by justice, and oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself
buys out the law.” Such was justice in the world, wealth can push aside any doubts or vice.

“But ’tis not so above: there is no shuffling; there the action lies in his true nature, and we compelled, even to the teeth and forehead of our faults, to give in evidence. What then? What rests?” Claudius knew in his soul, he will not evade the judgment on death.

“Try what repentance can. What can it not? Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?” Claudius mocked repentance as he felt it was not attainable at all. “O wretched state! O bosom black as death! O limèd soul, that, struggling to be free, art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay.”

Claudius looked to the Angels for their deliverance but none came. His confession was unheard or …unforgiven. He needs to be more …deserving. He needs to be humble in his prayer.

“Bow, stubborn knees and heart with strings of steel be soft as sinews of the newborn babe. All may be well.” Claudius went on his knees. “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father.” (Ephesians 3:14)

The Emperor had removed his clothes then.

Unseen by the Emperor who in his prayer, Hamlet entered the chamber. He had thought to see his mother there but found the Emperor in prayer on his knees. He paused to look at the figure deep in his prayers.

“Does he pray to God, or on his knees to seek forgiveness from the King?” Hamlet muttered.

“Now might I do it pat, now he is a-praying, and now I’ll do ’t. If I draw the sword. and so he goes to heaven, and so am I revenged? That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven.”

“Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. He took my father grossly, full of bread, with all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; and how his audit stands who knows to save heaven. But in our circumstance and course of thought is heavy with him.”

“And am I then revenged to take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No! It’s a more horrid hent.” Hamlet refuses to do it then. He felt that killing will demean his revenge, for to have killed a man while in talks with God, for whatever he was telling God, it was unjust killing to take the other’s life.

“I shall take him when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in …. th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed, at the game, a-swearing, or about some act that has no relish of salvation in ’t— Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, and that his soul may be as damned and black as hell, whereto it goes. I shall not be Macbeth hath murdered sleep.”

“I shall seek my mother in the personal chamber.” Hamlet exits. “When I take my vengeance, I shall sleep better.”

Claudius rose from his prayer form.

“My words fly up, and my thoughts remain below; alike Heaven Hell apart. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” Claudius decides to take the wine by the table.

“I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety” (Henry V: Act 3, Scene 2)

 

Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 3 Scene 3 Sub Scene 1

 Act Three

Act Three Scene Three

Sub Scene One

Emperor Claudius was back in the chamber when he summoned the two friends of Hamlet, and also his apprentices. They appeared before the Emperor.

“My lord, if I  may…” Rosencrantz spoke first but was cut off by the Emperor.

“I like him not, nor stands it safe with us to let his madness range. Therefore prepare yourself, a new commission I will talk with you.” Claudius looked at the duo.

“You will take him to England. I have friends there.” Claudius laid the terms of the task. “The terms of our estate may not endure hazard so near as doth hourly grow out of his brows.”

“We will ourselves provide.” Rosencrantz bowed.

“We deemed the task beyond..” Guildenstern abstained.

“It will be silver and gold I will provide.” Claudius knew the call.

“Most holy and religious fear it is to keep those many many bodies safe that life and feed upon your Majesty the Emperor.” Rosencrantz laid the praise onto the Emperor.

“We will ourselves provide. Most holy and religious fear it is to keep those many many bodies safe that life and feed upon your Majesty.” Guildenstern added.

“The single and peculiar life of the Emperor is bound with all the strength and armor of the mind To keep itself from noyance, but much more that spirit upon whose weal depends and rests the lives of many. The cess of majesty dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw what’s near it with it, or it is a massy wheel fixed on the summit of the highest mount, to whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things are mortised and adjoined, which, when it falls, each small annexment, petty consequence, attends the boisterous ruin. Never alone did the king .. I was to say the emperor sigh, but with a general groan.” Rosencrantz went on with praise toward the Emperor.

“Are you finished?” Claudius looked to the one who praised him so much. “Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage, for we will fetter put about this fear, which now goes too free-footed.”

“We will haste us.” Rosencrantz grabbed his pride back then. “Hamlet will be curtailed by us like the last curtain in the play. End of him.”

“So be it.” Claudius dismissed the duo. It was then the Great Chamberlain arrived.

“My lord, the son going to his mother’s closet. Behind the arras, I’ll convey myself to hear the process. I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home; and, as you had said (and wisely was it said), ’Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should overhear the speech of vantage.”

Polonius saw that Claudius was tired. The play had taken its toll on him. An accusation by the one who is the son, in front of an audience of servants whom he faces every moment; it was more than an embarrassment; it was harassment of the soul.

“Fare you well, my liege. I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed and tell you what I know.” The Great Chamberlian knew the moment to leave was then.

Claudius did not look at the departing elderly man and devoted servant.