Act 5
Scene 1
A Graveyard
[Enter a man with a spade. He starts making a grave and finds some skulls.]
[Enter Hamlet and Horatio.]
hamlet. Look at that skull, Horatio. Once, it could sing. Maybe it belonged to a king or maybe a clown. [to the man working.] Whose grave is this?
man. It's for a woman. And see that skull over there? That belonged to a man called Yorick.
hamlet. Oh! Poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio; my father often laughed at his funny stories when I was a boy. Now, look at him!
[Enter priest, people carrying Ophelia's body, Laertes, King and Queen.]
hamlet. Listen, Horatio. The priest isn't saying his usual words which means this woman killed herself. Let's watch.
[Hamlet and Horatio stand behind a tree, not far from the open grave.]
laertes. [to the priest.] Why are you speaking so? My poor sister!
hamlet. What! Dear Ophelia?
priest. The reason for her death isn't sure. I can do no more than this.
[Laertes jumps into the grave to kiss Ophelia. Hamlet follows him.]
hamlet. I loved you more than your brother, sweet Ophelia.
king. Oh! He's mad, Laertes. Horatio, please take him away.
[Exit Hamlet and Horatio.]
king. Laertes, wait just a little more. Remember our talk last night and everything will be alright. Come, we all need a rest now.
[Exit all.]
Scene 2
A Hall in the Castle. [Enter Hamlet and Horatio.]
horatio. So, dear Hamlet, what happened on the ship to England?
hamlet. One night, I found a letter in Rosencrantz's jacket. It was from Claudius, asking the King of England to kill me.
horatio. No! So what did you do?
hamlet. I took that letter and wrote another one. In it, I said I was Claudius and asked the King of England to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. I'm not sorry. They weren't my friends anymore. But, I'm sorry for all that has happened to Laertes.
horatio. But, now you must do as Claudius has asked. He wants a sword competition between you and Laertes.
[Enter King, Queen, Laertes, and people to watch competition.]
king. Come, Hamlet. It's time to play. I‘ve got some wine to drink.
[They play. The King puts poison into one of the glasses of wine.]
queen. Look, Claudius! My son is winning. I'll drink to that.
king. Gertrude! [aside.] It's the wine with the poison! It's too late.
[Laertes cuts Hamlet with his sword with poison on it. Laertes loses his sword. Hamlet takes it and cuts Laertes with his same sword. They're both dying. The queen falls.]
queen. The drink, the drink…Oh my dear Hamlet! Poison!
laertes. The sword too has poison on it. The King's plan. I forgive you Hamlet. Please, forgive me too.
[The dying Hamlet runs at Claudius and cuts him with Laertes' sword. Then he forces Claudius to drink the poison. Claudius dies.]
hamlet. Horatio, my dear friend. Be strong and live to tell this story. Denmark will have Fortinbras as King.
horatio. [Holding the dead Hamlet in his arms.] Goodbye, dear friend.
[Exit all carrying dead bodies.]
