The Laurence Olivier Awards 1997 Page #10

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The other motive is the great love

the general people bear him,

who, dipping all his faults

in their affections,

convert his sins to graces.

And so have I

a noble father lost.

A sister driven

to a desperate end.

Whose worth, if praises

may go back again,

stood challenger on mount

of all the age for her perfections.

But my revenge will come.

Break not

your sleeps for that.

You must not think that we

are made of stuff so flat and dull...

that we can let our beard be shook

with danger and think it pastime.

As he be now returned, Ill work him

to an exploit now ripe in my device,

under the which he shall

not choose but fall.

And for his death no wind

of blame shall breathe,

and even his mother shall uncharge

the practice and call it accident.

My lord, I will be ruled more willingly if you

devise it so that I might be the instrument.

It falls right.

You have been talked of

since your travel much,

and that in Hamlets hearing, for

a quality wherein they say you shine.

Two months since, here was

a gentleman of Normandy.

He made confession of you,

and gave you such a masterly report...

for art and exercise in your defense,

and for your rapier most especially,

that he cried out twould be a sight

indeed if one could match you.

Sir, this report of his did Hamlet

so envenom with his envy...

that he could nothing do but beg and wish

your sudden coming oer to fence with him.

Now, out of this-

What out of this,

my lord?

Laertes, was your father

dear to you?

Or are you like the painting of

a sorrow:
a face without a heart?

Why ask you this?

That we would do we should do

when we would.

For this wwould changes

and hath abatements and delays,

as many as there are words,

are thoughts, are accidents.

And then this sshould

is like a spendthrift sigh.

But to the quick

of the ulcer.

Well put on those shall

praise your excellence,

bring you in short together

and wager on your heads.

Hamlet, being guileless,

will not peruse the sword,

so that with ease

or with a little shuffling,

you may choose a sword unbated,

and in a pass of practice

requite him for your father.

I will do it.

And for that purpose

Ill anoint my sword.

I bought an unction

of a mountebank,

so mortal that but dip a knife

in it where it draws blood,

no medicine so rare can save

the thing from death...

that is

but scratched withal.

If this should fail,

soft, let me see.

Well make a solemn wager

on your cunning.

I have it.

When in the action you are hot

and dry, and that he calls for drink,

Ill have prepared him

a chalice for the nonce,

whereon but sipping if he

by chance escape your venomed point,

our purpose may hold there.

Horatio, thou art

een as just a man...

as eer my conversation

coped withal.

- Oh, my dear lord.

- Nay. Do not think I flatter.

For thou hast been as one, in suffering

all, that suffers nothing.

A man that fortunes buffets and rewards

has taken with equal thanks...

and blessed are those whose blood

and judgment are so well commingled...

that they are not a pipe for fortunes

finger to sound what stop she please.

Give me that man

that is not passions slave,

and I will wear him

in my hearts core.

Aye, in my heart of hearts.

As I do thee.

Something too much of this.

But I am very sorry, good Horatio,

that to Laertes I forgot myself,

for by the image of my cause

I see the portraiture of his.

Ill court his favors.

But sure the bravery of his grief

did put me into a towering passion.

Peace, who comes here?

Your lordship is right welcome

back to Denmark.

- I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know this water fly?

- No, my good lord.

- Thy state is the more gracious.

- Sweet lord!

If your lordship were at leisure, I should

impart a thing to you from His Majesty.

We shall receive it, sir,

with all diligence of spirit.

Put your bonnet to its right use.

Tis for the head.

- I thank your lordship. It is very hot.

- No, it is very cold.

- The wind is northerly.

- It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.

- Yet methinks it is very sultry for my complexion.

- Exceedingly, my lord.

Its very sultry, as ttwere.

I cannot tell how.

But my lord, His Majesty

bade me signify to you...

that he has laid a great wager

on your head.

- Sir, this is the matter.

- I beseech you, remember.

Oh! Nay, good my lord.

For mine ease in good faith.

Sir, here is newly come

to court Laertes.

Who believe me

an excellent gentleman...

from the differences of very soft

society and great showing.

Indeed, to speak feelingly of him,

he is the card or calendar of gentry.

The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap

the gentleman in our more rarer breath?

- Sir?

- Is it not possible to understand in another tongue?

- Youll do better, sir, really.

- What imports the nomination of this gentleman?

- Of Laertes?

- Of him, sir.

I know you are not ignorant

of what excellence Laertes is.

I mean, sir,

for his weapon.

- What is his weapon?

- Rapier and dagger.

- Thats two of his weapons, but, well.

- The king, sir,

hath wagered with him six Barbary

horses, against the which he has impawned,

six French rapiers and poniards

with their assigns, as girdle hanger.

Three of the carriages,

in faith, are very dear to fancy,

very responsive to the hilts,

most delicate carriages...

and of very liberal design.

- What call you the carriages?

- The carriages, sir, are the...

hangers.

The praise would be more germane to the

matter if we could carry a cannon by our sides.

I would it might be hangers

till then. But on.

The king, sir, hath laid, sir, that in

a dozen passes between yourself and him,

he shall not exceed you

three hits.

He hath laid on twelve for nine,

and it would come to immediate trial...

if your lordship would

vouchsafe the answer.

- How if I answer no?

- I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.

Sir, I will walk here

in the hall.

If it please His Majesty, it is

the breathing time of day with me.

Let the swords be brought,

the gentleman willing...

and the king hold his purpose,

I will win for him if I can.

If not, I shall gain nothing

but my shame and the odd hits.

Shall I redeliver you

even so?

To this effect, sir, after

what flourish your nature will.

I commend my duty

to your lordship.

Yours. Yours.

You will lose this wager,

my lord.

I do not think so.

Since he went into France I have

been in continual practice.

I shall win at the odds.

But thou wouldst not think

how ill allss here about my heart.

- But it is no matter.

- Nay, good my lord.

It is but foolery. But it is

just such a kind of misgiving...

as would perhaps

trouble a woman.

If your mind dislike anything,

obey it.

- Ill forestall their coming hither, and say you are not fit.

- Not a whit!

We defy augury.

There is special providence

in the fall of a sparrow.

If it be now,

tis not to come.

If it be not to come,

it will be now.

If it be not now,

yet it will come.

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