The Tempest - Act I: Setting: An uninhabited Island
Scene I (On a ship at sea) Rain pours down, thunder roars, and lightning bolts rip across the
sky. A loud noise of lightning and thunder is heard.
Narrator 1: On board a sailing ship, the crew battles against a storm-tossed sea.
[Enter shipmaster and Boatswain.]
Shipmaster:
Boatswain!
Boatswain: I’m here boss. What’s up?
Shipmaster: Quick! Talk to the sailors to get a move on before we run ourselves aground. Go! Go!
[Exit Boatswain. Enter Sailors]
Boatswain: (To sailors) Take the topsail, men! (whistle). Quickly! Quickly! There’s a storm coming.
Narrator 2: A number of passengers make their way up to the deck. Among them is Alonso, the
king of Naples, and Antonio, duke of Milan. [Enter the royal passengers, Alonso (the
king), Sebastian (his brother), Antonio (Duke of Naples who usurped his brother,
Prospero), Ferdinand (the king's son), Gonzalo (the old councillor), and others.]
Alonso: Are you alright, Boatswain? Where’s the master? We’re all brave men.
Boatswain: (To the royal gang) You are getting in the way. You must go back to your cabin.
Antonio: We’re all brave men. We can get through this.
Alonso: Do you know to whom you’re speaking? I am the king of Naples!
Boatswain: All right then, King. If you can command the storm to die down, make yourself useful.
Or at least stay out of the way and make this easy for everyone.
Gonzalo: Hey, man. Calm down.
Boatswain: When the sea is calm, then I'll calm down. Down with the topmast! Lower! Lower!
Sailor 1: The ship’s going to capsize!
Boatswain: Turn her around! Set out to sea again!
Sailor 2: It’s too late! The ship is splitting! We’re going down!
Ferdinand: This might seem crazy, but . . . . aaahhhhh! (Jumps overboard into the sea.)
Sailor 3: Man overboard!
[Crash of lightning and thunder and all goes dark – LIGHTS OUT.]
S C E N E II - Now on the Island
Narrator 1: Meanwhile, in a cave on a nearby island, the sorcerer Prospero and his 15-year-old
daughter, Miranda, watch the ship’s struggles by means of magic. [Enter Prospero
and Miranda.]
Miranda: It looks like the sky is trying to send down fire. Father, if you’ve used your magical
powers to create this storm, please make it stop at once! I feel sorry for those poor
people on board! Look! They’re terrified! Are they going to die?
Prospero: Calm down, Miranda: No harm will be done to anyone. I promise. Yes, I’ve caused the
storm. It’s okay, dear. But I did it for you..
Miranda: For me? How can that be?.
Prospero: My dear daughter, do you remember anything of the time before we came to live on
this island?
Miranda: [Shaking her head slowly] It’s like a dream, but I think I remember having a serving
woman who looked after me.
Prospero: I’m amazed that you can remember. You were no more than 3 years old. Do you
remember how we came here?
Miranda: I don’t.
Prospero: Never mind, my dear daughter. I care only about you and your well-being. You don’t
know how much I’ve done to protect and keep you safe.
Miranda: That only makes me worry even more, Father.
Prospero: It’s time I should tell you these things. Here, help me take off this magic robe. [Lays
down his robe]. Lie there, love. Wipe your eyes and don’t worry so much. Twelve years
ago, I was the Duke of Milan, a prince of power. You, my dear, were a princess.
Miranda: Can it be true? And if it is, what foul play brought us here? Or was it by good fortune
that we came to be on this island?
Prospero: It was both foul play and good fortune that brought us here.
Miranda: Explain yourself, Father.
Prospero: My younger brother, your uncle, is named Antonio: Twelve years ago, he was the
person I loved most, next to yourself. Alas! He proved himself undeserving of my love.
Miranda: What did he do?
Prospero: When I first became a duke, I was more interested in my books and my magic studies
than I was in government. I let my brother, Antonio, take over many of my duties. I
was so wrapped up in my studies that I didn’t notice how much Antonio was changing.
Miranda: How did he change, Father?
Prospero: Antonio became ambitious and no longer loyal to me. He decided that since he was
doing the work of a duke, he should also have a duke’s full power. But to become a
duke of Milan, he needed to get rid of me.
Miranda: Get rid of you?
Prospero: Yes. Antonio called on my enemy, king of Naples. The two of them had you and me captured and removed from the city in the dead of night. You were only a young child.
Miranda: Oh Good Heavens! So how did we end up here? What did we do wrong to deserve this?
Prospero: You did nothing wrong, and all this was because of me.
Miranda: I’m so sorry,
Prospero: Well, my brother soon started to win over my people for himself. Whatever pleased
him, he made them do and say. With his hands on my power, he basically believed he
was the real Duke and not me. His ambition grew wildly. Are you hearing all this?
Miranda: Of course. This story would cure deafness.
Prospero: He decided to be the real Duke inside and out. He was thirsty for the power, the title,
for people to worship him, and for the crown that the King of Naples promised him in
their pact.
Miranda: Oh Good Heavens!
Prospero: You see, this is the arrangement; the King of Naples, Alonso, never liked me. The two
of them cooked up this plan to get rid of me. The agreement was that if I wasn’t
there, Antonio would become Duke. They planned all this and one night they threw me
out with you screaming in my arms.
Miranda: That’s awful. I can’t remember how I was crying then, but it’s sad enough to make me
want to cry about it again. I am amazed we survived! How did we come here?
Prospero: I’m not finished. I still have to tell you some more before I tell you about our present
situation.
Miranda: You mean the reason why they destroyed us?
2 Prospero: Well spotted, child. To make a long story short, they took us aboard a ship, rowed us
out to sea, and left us in a mere tub. No tackle, no sail, no mast, nothing. Even the rats
didn’t bother coming aboard. They just left us there to the mercy of the wind sea.
Miranda: Gosh, I could imagine what trouble I was to you in that situation.
Prospero: Oh, my angel. You were the only thing that kept me sane. Your smile was like a blessing
from heaven. When I wept myself dry, your smile was what kept me strong to face up
to what could happen to us.
Miranda: How did we come ashore?
Prospero: By God’s grace, as well as by the kindness of a friend, Gonzalo: Actually he was
appointed to take care of this nasty business, but he treated us kindly. He gave us a
bit of food and fresh water on our boat because. He also left us some clothes and
supplies, as well as some beloved books from my library.
Miranda: Oh, I wish I could meet him. But you still haven’t told me why you created the tempest.
Prospero: My power helps me to foresee these things, love. I want you to know that nothing
happened to the people you heard cry on the ship. Not a hair on anyone’s head was
harmed. Trust me. Our enemies have been travelling by ship through this part of the
world on their way back from the wedding of the king’s daughter in Tunis. This I
discovered with my magic powers. I conjured up the storm in order to bring the king’s
party ashore here. That is all you need to know at the moment. Now sleep, Miranda:
You must be feeling sleepy. [Miranda sleeps]
Narrator 2: Miranda is enchanted by Prospero’s words and immediately falls asleep. As she lies
sleeping, an elfin spirit named Ariel appears in the cave.
Prospero: Come here, Ariel. Come now. [Enter Ariel and bow deeply before Prospero]
Ariel. All Hail, great master. I’m here to do your will. What do you desire today? Do you want me
to fly [flap arms], to swim [swim motion like a fish], to dive in the fire, to ride on the
clouds. Whatever you desire, me and all my band are here to do your bidding.
Prospero: Did you do exactly what I told you do with the tempest?
Ariel. To every detail. I boarded the King’s ship. I went to the front, the back, everywhere, in all
the cabins, and struck terror by creating flashes of lightning and dreadful thunder.
Ferdinand, the son of the king of Naples, was the first to panic and jump ship. The king
and the rest of his party followed soon after. Only the king and the rest of his party
followed soon after. Only the captain and crew remained on the ship.
Prospero: My brave spirit; well done!. Is everyone from the king’s party safely ashore?
Ariel. Not a hair on any head was harmed. All of them, except Ferdinand, are wandering around
the island. I landed Ferdinand by himself, and the last time I saw him, he was sitting alone,
sighing and staring out to sea.
Prospero: What have you done with the ship and sailors?
Ariel. They are close by, my master, safely in a hidden corner of the harbor. The sailors are
charmed and sleeping below deck.
Prospero: You have performed your task well. But there’s still more work to do? What time is it?
Ariel: It’s past noon.
Prospero: I reckon it’s at least two o clock. Look, between now and six o’clock, we’ve both got a
lot to do.
Ariel. Is there more work? You gave me a very hard task to do. Just let me say that so far, you
haven’t given me what you promised me for the last one.
Prospero: What do you want?
3 Ariel: I’ve always served you well. I’ve been honest, made no mistakes. Worked without
grumbling. You even promised to reduce my service time by one year.
Prospero: Are you forgetting what I saved you from and where I got you?
Ariel. No
Prospero: Now, I think you are, Ariel. Do you remember how I saved you from that evil
sorceress, Sycorax, who had imprisoned you in the trunk of a pine tree?
Ariel. I don’t, sir.
Prospero: You’re a liar, you wretch. How could you forget about that evil Sycorax whose envy
destroyed her! Now, have you forgotten her?
Ariel. No, sir.
Prospero: You shall have your freedom after two days’ time if you carry out the rest of our plan.
Ariel: I thank you, master.
Prospero: Go and turn yourself into a sea fairy. You’ll be invisible to everyone else but me. Hurry
up. . [Ariel turns and disappears]
(To Miranda) Wake up, my dear, wake up now.
Miranda: Your story was so strange, it made me fall asleep.
Prospero: Shake it off. We have to visit Caliban, that foul-mouthed slave.
Miranda: He’s so mean, Father. I don’t like him one bit.
Prospero: [While walking away] I know. But we can’t do without him. He makes our fire, fetches
our wood, and serves us in other ways.
[Enter Ferdinand. Sits down and tucks knees up under his chin, moping]
*****
Narrator 1: Meanwhile, out on the beach, Ferdinand, Alonso’s son, sits moping.
Ferdinand: Alas! I fear my father is drowned and all the rest are gone as well. I am the last
one of our party left alive, and I am trapped on this uninhabited island.
[Enter Ariel Stand near Ferdinand and begin playing flute]
Narrator 2: Ariel, who is invisible, comes and stands near Ferdinand and begins to play a flute.
Ferdinand: [glancing around wildly] Who’s there? Where is that music coming from? Oh, it’s
gone now . . . Ah, there it is again . . .[Get up and follows the sound of the music.]
Ariel’s song
With this offering I do ask
That you aid me in this task
Bind their hearts and heal his too
Bring them love that is so true
As I mix these elements in this dish
Bring them love and grant their
wish
[Now throw the ingredients into the air towards the moon]
Come to the yellow sands And then take hands
Walk nimbly here and there And sweet spirits your love you’ll share
Hark! Hark! I hear The strain of strutting cockerels Cry cock-a-diddle-doo.
Ferdinand: Where is this music coming from? From heaven or earth? I heard it first on the
water. It sounded both fierce and sad, so I followed it. Or maybe it enticed me
here. Now it’s gone.
Narrator 1: Still invisible, Ariel leads Ferdinand down the beach and then inland, until he
approaches Prospero’s and Miranda’s cave.
Prospero: Miranda, look over there. What do you see?
4 Miranda: What is that? [Pointing to Ferdinand] See how it looks about!
What a beautiful form it has! It must be a spirit.
Prospero: No, daughter. It eats and sleeps and has the same senses that we have. This young
man was in the shipwreck. He has lost his friends and wanders around looking for them.
Miranda: He looks like a god. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful!
Prospero: [gleefully to himself] It’s all working out just as I planned! They are smitten with each
other. This is quick stuff. I’ve got to stir up some trouble here. I don’t want them to
think this is too easy.
Narrator 2: Ferdinand suddenly sees Miranda.
Ferdinand: You must be the goddess of this island. Instruct me, lady, how I should act here in
your realm. Your wish is my command.
Miranda: I’m a mortal maiden, sir, not a goddess.
Ferdinand: [To himself] She speaks my language as if she were in Naples!
Prospero: [To Ferdinand, harshly] What is your purpose here, sir? How do we know that you
come in peace and mean us no harm? Maybe you are a spy?
Ferdinand: No, I swear, I’m not a spy.
Miranda: Father, why do you speak to him so harshly? This man stirs my heart. For my sake,
show pity.
Ferdinand: [Ferdinand stares at Miranda, completely smitten.] If you are not promised to
someone else, I’d like to make you queen of Naples.
Prospero: [to Ferdinand] You’re a spy! I know it. [to Miranda] Don’t speak to him! He’s a traitor!
Miranda: But Father! Nothing bad on the inside could look so handsome on the outside.
Prospero: [harshly, to Ferdinand] Come, young man. I’ll put chains around your feet. You’ll drink
seawater and eat withered roots and husks for dinner.
Narrator 1: Ferdinand draws his sword, but is charmed into stillness.
Ferdinand: [draws his sword.] I don’t think I would enjoy such entertainment.
[Prospero brandishes his wizard’s staff. Ferdinand’s sword falls from his hand.]
Miranda: Father! Hear his side first please. He’s a prince, not a coward.
Prospero: What? Are you telling me what to do? (To Ferdinand) Put your sword away,
you traitor. You’re just a show-off. I can disarm you with a mere wand.
Miranda: Please have pity on him.
A C T 11: Scene 1 (Another part of the island).
[Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco and others.]
Narrator 2: Meanwhile on another part of the island, Alonso, king of Naples, wanders about with
his brother, Sebastian. Accompanying them are Gonzalo, an honest old adviser, and
Antonio, Prospero’s villainous younger brother, who reigns as duke of Milan.
Narrator 1: Alonzo, Gonzalo Francisco and Adrian are having a separate discussion while Antonio
and Sebastian seem to be talking quietly with each other. The two conversations are
recorded side by side because they’re taking place simultaneously. The Antonio and
Sebastian are poking fun at the seriousness of Alonzo, Gonzalo, Francisco, and Adrian.
Gonzalo: Guys, surely you've got to be happy about this. We’ve escaped with our lives, so this is
reason enough to celebrate, right? Every day some sailor’s wife or some owner of a
merchant ship gets the news of the devastation we just experienced. Except, unlike us,
they’re not blessed with the miracle we've had. Men, we should be grateful.
5 Alonso: Shhh.
Sebastian. (Aside to Antonio) The old fool keeps going on and on about how lucky we are.
Antonio: (sarcastically to Sebastian) Just wait. He’s getting ready to come out with some more
gems of wisdom.
Gonzalo: What a beautiful place! The air here is remarkably sweet!
[Sebastian and Antonio sniff the air and laugh]
Adrian. You know what, guys? This island seems to be deserted.
Antonio: [Looking at Sebastian] He can’t help himself.
Adrian. Yet, there’s a nice, kind of serene air to the place.
Gonzalo: Grief is the very thing that helps a person appreciate joy when it comes his way.
Everything needed for life is here.
Sebastian. (sarcastically to Antonio) Cash? No, wait. I do see a tiny patch of green over there.
Gonzalo: Cash too. You don’t know how true a word that is.
Sebastian. Hang on. I wasn’t serious. Just kidding around.
Gonzalo: (Back to king Alonso) Therefore, sir....
Antonio: Oh, why doesn’t he shut up already? [Antonio and Sebastian both laugh at Gonzalo.]
Alonso: Spare me the talk.
Gonzalo: [turning to King Alonso] The thing that astonishes me most, Sire, is this: Our clothes
are just as fresh as they were when we wore them at your daughter’s wedding in Tunis.
Sebastian and Antonio: [Look at each other] It was a super wedding.
Adrian. Tunisa had never before seen such a fantastic queen.
Alonso: [in distress] The marriage! Don’t remind me! I wish I had never sent my daughter to
live so far from home. If we hadn’t made such a long voyage, I would not have lost my
son in that storm. Alas! I fear I will never see either my son or daughter again.
She’s so far away from Italy. My heir of Naples and Milan is now probably somewhere in
a fish’s belly.
Francisco: Sir, he may still be alive. I saw him swimming above the waves. He’s a very strong
swimmer. He kept himself above water and was heading for shore. I’m sure he
reached the land.
Alonso: No, no. He’s gone.
Sebastian: (To Alonso) Sir, this loss may not be a bad thing. After all, you wouldn’t be very
popular in Europe with your daughter lost her to an African.
Alonso: Please, just shut up.
Sebastian. [to Alonso] It’s your own fault. You could have married your daughter, Claribel to
somebody who lives closer to Naples.
Gonzalo: Lord Sebastian! There is no need to pour salt into the wound. You are only making
matters worse.
Sebastian: As if you are make things better with your endless jabbering?
[Ariel approaches and begins playing solemn music. Prospero enters invisible to the others. He
can see them, but they are unaware of his presence. Ariel dances around the king. Thunder and
lightning is heard.]
Ariel: You’re sinful men. You’re unfit to live, but the sea has belched you up on this wretched,
uninhabited island. I’ve now made you angry, and men usually show their true, raw selves
when they’re angry. [The men draw their swords] You fools! Your swords are nothing to
6 me. I am a spirit of fate. You may as well stab the winds or kill the waves. My business
with you is about Prospero: You put him in the sea, and he has taken his revenge. You
left him and his little child for dead. He’s a good man, so even the waves, the seas and
the creatures have taken offence to what you’ve done. A curse is on you, and every bad
thing will befall you for all your days. Nothing but repentance will lift this curse from
you. [Ariel vanishes in thunder]
Alonso: I cannot keep my eyes open a minute more.
[All (except for Antonio and Sebastian slump to the ground and sleep.]
Antonio: Wow! They sure fell asleep suddenly. Both at once. How strange . . . Hmmmm . . . It’
must be the sea air.
Sebastian. Why doesn’t it affect us, then? I’m not sleepy.
Antonio: Me neither. They all went to sleep at the same time as if someone pressed a button.
Almost like a lightning struck them. Perhaps it’s fate acting on your behalf, Sebastian.
Guess what I’m picturing right now? I’m picturing your brother’s crown on your head.
Sebastian: Are you fully awake? Did I hear you right?
Antonio: You heard me. Is it not true that King Alonso’s son, Ferdinand, is drowned?
Sebastian: There doesn’t seem to be much hope that he is still alive
Antonio: Then who is the next heir of Naples?
Sebastian: Claribel?
Antonio: She is queen of Tunis. She lives far from Naples. Sebastian, your time has come. Act,
and advance your position. You can become the king of Naples once your brother is
dead.
Sebastian: But doesn’t your conscience bother you?
Antonio: Conscience? What part of the body is that? I’m sure I don’t have one of those inside
me anywhere. Come now. Here lies your brother, the king, sleeping so sound that he
looks as if he might be dead. All you have to do is put your sword in him, and he will be
dead. I can do the same of the old windbag who sleeps beside him. Let’s draw together.
Narrator 2: They draw their swords and stand above their sleeping companions, ready to strike.
Suddenly, Ariel’s music begins again.
Ariel. (Sings in Gonzalo’s ear). My master has seen all this. He sees his friend in danger and has
sent me to keep you alive.
While you here do snoring lie,
Open-eyed conspiracy
His time doth take.
If of life you keep a care,
Shake off slumber and be aware.
Awake! Awake!
Gonzalo: Heaven preserve the king!
Alonso: Why do you have your swords drawn? What’s the matter?
Sebastian: We were standing here, guarding you while you slept, and we heard a noise like the
Bellowing of some wild beast. Didn’t it wake you, Your Majesty?
Gonzalo: I just heard a strange sort of humming. That’s what woke me up. I woke you up and
shouted. That’s when I saw them with their weapons drawn. Perhaps we should all stand
guard with our weapons drawn. Or maybe we should leave this place.
Alonso: Let’s get going then. I want to search for my poor son.
7 Gonzalo: Hope he’s protected from these beasts. I’m sure he’s right here on this island.
Alonso: Lead the way.
Ariel. Prospero will know what I’ve done. So, King go safely to look for your son.
Exit.
Scene II (Another part of the Island)
[Enter Caliban with a handful of wood. A noise of thunder is heard.]
Caliban. May all the infections of the entire earth fall on Prospero and make every inch of him
diseased. I know his spirits hear me, but I can’t help cursing. They scare me and pinch
me all over when he tells them to. He sets them on me for any little thing. They bite
me and sting me like snakes. They hiss at me till I want to go mad.
[Enter Trinculo the jester.]
Caliban: There comes one of his spirits to torment me for fetching wood too slowly. I’ll lie
down. Maybe he won’t see me. (He lies down)
Trinculo. There are no trees or shrubs to prevent the wind from lashing around. There’s another
storm brewing. I can tell with all those dark clouds beginning to settle. But without any
shelter, where shall I hide. (He sees Caliban on the ground) What do we have here, a
man or a fish? Dead or alive? He smells like rotting fish, but what a strange kind of
fish. Wait! It’s got legs like a man, but fins for arms! This is no fish, but an Islander
who’s been hit by lightning. (Thunder) The storm is here again. My best bet is to creep
under his cloak as there is no other shelter nearby. The things we do when we’re scared!
I’ll hide under here until the storm has passed. (Creeps under Caliban’s cloak).
Caliban. (Speaking to Trinculo who’d crawled under the his cloak for shelter.). Don’t hurt me!
The spirit torments me! Please don’t hurt me. I promise I’ll bring the wood home faster.
Trinculo. I think I know that voice. I hid under him to get away from the storm.
Caliban: You are not spirit after all? Have you dropped from heaven?
Trinculo. What a pathetic monster you are. I could easily beat you up...
Caliban: I’ll show you the best springs. I’ll even pick some berries for you. I’ll fish for you and
get you wood, and everything. I’ll serve you well.
Trinculo. You’re funny.
Caliban. Please let me take you to the apple trees. And with my long nails, I’ll dig the earthnuts
out for you. Then, I’ll show you the Jay’s nest and show you how to catch your food. I’ll
show you where the birds hang out and sometimes I’ll catch a couple for your dinner.
Will you come with me?
Trinicula. Lead the way, “brave monster.”
8 The Tempest; Act 111: Scene 1 (In front of Prospero’s living quarters)
[Enter Ferdinand, carrying a log.]
Narrator 1: It is late afternoon. Ferdinand and Miranda are sitting near the woodpile, having a
conversation with Prospero, who has finally stopped being unkind to Ferdinand.
Prospero: If I’ve punished you too severely, Ferdinand, I am sorry. I hope that you both will
forgive me when you realize that these trials have only made your love grow stronger.
[Turning to Miranda] I no longer object to your friendship with this man.
Miranda: Father! This is truly wonderful!
Ferdinand: Sir, I don’t know how to thank you.
Prospero: [To Ferdinand] Just be a good to her. [To both] Be happy together. I gladly give you
my blessing. [Prospero leaves them alone and heads off into the woods.]
Narrator 2: Prospero leaves into the woods to where Ariel is holding Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio,
and Gonzalo frozen in a magic circle.
Prospero: How are things progressing with our visitors, Ariel?
Ariel: Here they all are, my lord, just as you requested.
Prospero: Excellent. Soon you shall have your freedom, Ariel. Once our goals are accomplished,
I will command no more spirits. Nor will I ever again control the weather and the
natural elements. In fact, I plan to bury my magic books and break my magic staff in
two.
Narrator 1: Prospero looks at the king & the other men frozen in the magic circle. Suddenly, he
recognizes Gonzalo, the man who saved his life 12 years before. Tears came to his
eyes.
Prospero: Oh, good Gonzalo! I will always be in your debt. [Looking at each of the other men in
turn] Alonso, you evil man, you greatly wronged my daughter and me. Sebastian, you
are no better, for you assisted your brother, the king, in the plot to end my life.
[Turns at last to look at his own brother Antonio] There you are my brother. Your
ambition was so great that it destroyed your ability to feel remorse and natural
affection. I don’t feel anger toward you anymore, only sadness. I forgive you for
everything . . . [To Ariel] Go and wake the sleeping captain and crew and bring the
ship close by. Then you may have your freedom.
Ariel: I’ll be back in a heartbeat!
Narrator 2: The enchanted men begin to wake up and move around.
Gonzalo: What’s going on?
Prospero: Behold Prospero (placing hand on chest), the wronged duke of Milan. I bid a hearty
welcome to you, Alonso, and to your company.
Alonso: I must be going crazy!
Prospero: [Embracing Gonzalo] Noble friend, your honor is beyond words. [Steps back and
addresses Sebastian and Antonio quietly] If I wanted to, I could tell the king about
your recent conversations. I know what treachery you have been planning. However,
if you promise to repent of your evil ways, I’ll keep my mouth shut.
Sebastian: [To Antonio] How can he know what we have plotted? Is he some devil?
Prospero: [To Antonio] Although you, my brother, do not deserve that name, still I forgive you.
I now take back my title and my dukedom.
9 Alonso: If you are Prospero, tell us the story of how you survived all these years? Tell us how we
came to meet you here after our shipwreck and the loss of my son, Ferdinand. [Tears
come to Alonso’s eyes.] Alas! For a moment, I had almost forgotten my tragedy. [To
Prospero] Recently I lost my son.
Prospero: And recently, I lost my daughter.
Alonso: You did? I am so sorry. Truly I am. If only they could both be alive.
When did you lose your daughter?
Prospero: In this last tempest. Come with me, and you will learn the details.
[All exit following Prospero.]
Ferdinand: You’re exactly what your name means. You’re admired. You deserve all the admiration
in the world. I’ve spoken to lots of fine young women. I mean, I’ve even liked some of
them. But none of them have come close to you. You’re the most perfect woman.
Miranda: I don’t know any other women. I can’t remember anyone I’ve known in my past. The only
female face I see is my own, in the mirror. I haven’t seen men either, except you and my
father. I can’t really say what true handsomeness is, but I can’t imagine liking anyone
else but you. I can’t imagine that I would like the look of anyone else more than you. I
think I’m saying far too much now. My father says I should not talk so much about these
things.
Ferdinand: I’m a Prince, Miranda. Soon to be a king. Yet, the moment I saw you, I knew I wanted
to serve you. I’m carrying these logs & doing all this because of how I feel about you.
Miranda: Are you saying you love me?
Ferdinand: I would give up everything I have and everything I will ever have to be with you.
Miranda: Then you would have me as your wife. You’ll marry me?
Ferdinand: Of course! I can’t wait.
*****
Act III, Scene 2 (Another part of the Island)
Enter Caliban and Trinculo
Trinculo. 'Servant monster?' This island is driving you mad. We know that there are at least two
more people on this island. If they’re as stupid as us, this place is in ruins.
Caliban:. I’m not going to serve Prospero. He’s not brave and strong like you.
Trinculo: You’re a liar, you ignorant monster. You fool. What do you know? You’re just a half
monster, half fish.
Caliban: Why do you mock me like that, my lord?
Trinculo: ‘Lord.’ You’re calling me, lord. You must be more stupid than I thought.
[Enter invisible Ariel.]
Caliban: As I told you before, I’m a slave to a tyrant. He’s a wizard and he worked his magic to
steal this island from me. I know you’re strong enough to get this island back from my
old master. You’ll be lord of the island and I’ll be your servant.
Trinculo: But how should we do the whole overthrow thing? Can you take me to his place?
Caliban: Oh yeah. I’ll take you there when he’s asleep so you can kill him. Like I said, he always
sleeps in the afternoon. Remember you have to take his books first because he’s got no
powers without them. He can’t command spirits without his books. They all hate him as
much as I do. Anyway. Burn his books but save everything else. The most important
10 thing is his beautiful daughter. He himself said there is no other woman as beautiful as
her. I’ve never seen another woman apart from her and my old mother, but they’re the
opposite of each other.
Trincula: Is she really all that?
Caliban: Oh, Yes.
Trincula: Monster, I will kill him. His daughter and I will be king and queen, and you will serve us.
Do you like that plan, Caliban?
Caliban: Sure. He’ll be asleep within the next half hour. Will you kill him then?
Trincula: I’m on my way.
Ariel: (Looking out at the audience, but talking to herself.)
I better tell Prospero about this.
Caliban: [Asking Trincula] Are you afraid?
Trincula: Why, No, monster. Of course not!
Caliban: Don’t be. This island is full of harmless noises. Sometimes they play beautiful music in
my ears and give me fantastic dreams. The dreams so real, I cry when I wake up to
go back to sleep again. Wait! Let’s follow the music before we do what we have to
do.
Trincula: Lead the way, monster. [Caliban pauses] Are you coming, monster?
Exit
ACT III, Scene 3: Spellbound Down in the Jungle of the Island: With his enemies in his
power, Prospero decides it’s time to take his plan to the next level.
[Enter Alonso and his moping courtiers. Antonio and Sebastian are plotting together.]
Narrator 1: Deep in the jungle King Alonso and his courtiers have given up hope of finding
Ferdinand. Antonio and Sebastian are plotting murder again – surprise.
Alonso: (To his courtiers) Let’s face it. Ferdinand is gone. We’ll never find him.
Narrator 2: Prospero puts on his invisibility cloak and walks invisible among them – then nods to
Ariel. [TERRIBLE NOISES – Wild animals crash through the trees ] The
courtiers panic and run about. [THEN SILENCE. Prospero clicks his fingers – and a
massive banquet appears, a table piled high with food appears.]
Narrator 1: Before they have time to recover Prospero clicks his fingers and a table piled high
with everyone’s favorite food appears.
Antonio: Food!
Sebastian: I’m starving!
Ariel: [Fly all around them monster-like waving your giant wings over the meal to make it
disappear.]
Narrator 2: But then whoosh, Ariel appears like a terrible monster and flies around them.
The courtiers run around and shriek in terror.
Prospero: [Look out at the audience and say to self] Oh, dear, I am enjoying this!
Ariel: [Float wings above Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian] You are being punished by the gods for
all the terrible things you have done.
11 Alonso/Sebastian/Antonio: [Look at each other in horror and run off.]
Prospero: [To Ariel] Very nicely done. Who’s next?
Ariel: The drunks.
Narrator 1: With a whiz the magician and his assistant disappear . . . . only to reappear by the
cave. Just in time to catch Caliban and Trinculo stealing the magician’s robes and
carrying big sticks to kill him.
Prospero: Do your stuff Ariel.
Ariel: [Conjure up a pack of demon dogs] While dogs show yourselves.
After these courtiers all you will delve.
[Wild animals roar and crash through the trees.
Caliban and Trinculo give each other a horrified look and run off.]
Prospero [Alone now, Prospero sits and shakes his head.} Human beings. Leave them alone on an
island for a day and look what they get up to. Should I punish them or have they
learned their lesson? [Pause] Is it time to forgive and forget? [Look far out to sea
and ponder these questions.]
Narrator 2: As Prospero looks far out to see and ponders these questions, he realizes the
answer doesn’t lie out at sea; the answer lies within himself. Has he himself become
spellbound by the magic and mayhem?
A C T 1 V: Scene 1. (The front of Prospero’s cave)
Narrator 1: Prospero sits in his invisibility cloak and watches the miserable courtiers, huddled
together weeping under a tree.
Prospero: [To self] No matter how evil they once were—it seems they genuinely have repented.
I must forgive them. Where are you Ariel?
Ariel: Here I am. Did I do well?
Prospero: Yes, you have done well. But I must find Caliban and his friend and bring them back to
the beach. Will you help me?
Ariel: Of course.
Prospero: Then I need you to go to the ship and release all the sailors from their spell.
Ariel: Will I be free?
Prospero: Very soon, dear spirit.
[With a joyful whoosh – Ariel exits.]
Prospero: [Removing his invisibility cloak and hurling it into the air (it disappears)] I won’t need
this anymore. [Take magic book and close it] I won’t need my spells any more. [Grasps
his magic staff and breaks it across his knee. A crack of lightning. Steps forward] I
am no longer Prospero the magician. I am once again Prospero, Duke of Milan.
Narrator 2: The courtiers are amazed to see him.
Antonio: [Kneeling and bowing before Prospero] Brother, I beg your forgiveness.
Prospero: You are forgiven.
Alonso: If only my dear son Ferdinand were still alive,
Ferdinand: [Walking arm in arm with Miranda enters onto the beach]. Father, but I am alive
Prospero: They’re not just alive, they have my permission to marry too.
Narrator 1: Well, as you can expect, there are all kinds of hugs and explanations.
[Re-enter Ariel invisible, with the Boatswain, the shipmaster and sailor amazedly following.]
12 Narrator 2: Now Caliban and Trinculo appear – miserable from the wild dogs chase.
Narrator 1: And finally, round the point and heading for the beach comes the lost ship – its
crew fit and healthy and the sails looking better even than when they left port.
Gonzalo: O, look, sir! Here is more of us. What is the news?
Boatswain: The best news is that we have safely found our king and company; the next, our ship
is bravely rigged as when we first put out to sea.
Alonso: These are not natural events.
Boatswain: We were dead of sleep. With strange noises we were awaken, where we freshly
beheld our royal, good and gallant ship.
Prospero: Nicely done, Ariel, nicely done.
Ariel: Is that all master... Am I...?
Prospero: [To Ariel] Spirit I set you free. Your work is over. And so is mine. It is time for me –
time for us all – to return to our old lives and make them new. [Turning to Caliban] I
almost forgot. Caliban, I set you free.
Caliban: How fine my good master is.
Narrator 2: The castaways climb aboard the ship. Caliban, now free just like Ariel, scratches his
head, and waves them off. Soon the ship is ready to leave, the anchors are pulled
aboard, the wind fills the sails.
EPILOGUE
Prospero: [Looking out to sea (audience) Having overcome the "tempest" in my own mind, I
forgive my offenders and am reconciled to Alonso, who rejoices to find his son alive and
betrothed to my sweet dear Miranda. I now reclaim my life as Duke of Milan. Let’s go home.
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