Act 2.10
(Enter Claudius and Gertrude into King Hamlets’ antechamber. Christian is seated)
Gertrude:
We have come to the place where we must have done. I see no other path. After all his suffering, my king must rest at last, and I must save my son, for he must serve as king. The truth and safety of us all lies within this thing.
Claudius:
Our tears are shed, and it must be said, we fear this course of action. How ere we act, I feel in fact, we will gain no satisfaction. We know the world must not know this tale, and especially our Hamlet. He must live so he can give his gifts unto our nation. If he be spared because we cared, then no one must know but us. That makes us three a family now because we acted thus.
Christian:
Whatever comes to pass this day, the depth, the breadth, and in what way, all that will die with me. I will leave my own country, so you are free and are at peace with the secret that you keep. No one will know of the dreadful truth. Not a word will ere from me come loose.
Gertrude:
From you we take assurance. You have long since earned our trust. Through the king’s long nights, you have given stalwart service. Now you give such sacrifice that you feel you must. In love and your loyalty, you leave the land you serve; I cannot say what could but pay to meet what you deserve.
Christian:
You and he owe me no debt. You have enough to pay. I will save myself some pain, I won’t regret, if I just go away. With this, you two will live alone. That is a heavy burden. It is best shared without a risk, if you are joined for certain. Even if a marriage is not sexual, it can still be pleasing because it is consensual. As you act today for a life to save and another soul set free, you’ll found a bond strong and sound based on this day’s story.
I will stay with him this while just until he sleeps, and you apply the cure with desperation; you know it’s what he seeks. Please do not mind, for in my arms he may find some last small and human peace before he enters fully into our loving God’s full release.
I pray that God will ease his pain, and he will return to his mind and name, end the vengeance that he endlessly has suffered. In death, we pray, his peace will stay, and make for the final buffer. The curse of our family must end here—enough of tragic loss. If we end this history at last today, no longer doomed, star crossed.
(King Hamlet enters and walks back and forth muttering inaudibly. Christian watches. King Hamlet turns to Gertrude and Claudius. He begins to walk to the couple. Christian reaches out and stops him.)
King Hamlet:
Gertrude.
Gertrude:
My lord.
King:
You must act quickly although you’re sickly from the deed you do today. You and you must needs be true to make safe our own country. Marry swift. Let there be no rift. Keep ruling and fill my space. Until such a time as you divine for your Hamlet to take your place. He must be king—or he must die—or I must die as killed . . .
Where is—Hamlet?
Gertrude:
He is here with me. You would know what I do know if you could but hear and see.
King:
Then let him die once and for all and that will set me free.
Gertrude:
Of Hamlet do you mean our son or do you mean yourself?
King:
How many times must I cry? Hamlet must simply die. If not me then it will be someone else—Avenge me.
Gertrude:
Cannot my love and deepest care keep you here with me?
King:
You have done for many years, but now the end has come.
Gertrude:
Can you say there is no way? There’s more to be done.
King:
Where is Hamlet?
Christian:
This world for him is all madness now. He feels but anger and his pain. From this life of woe and strife, and from this, he’ll not return again. I have seen him in all his moods, from jubilant to cross. This is what I have not seen before, and now I’m sure he’s lost. He may not even know you soon for all you’ve been to him. Everything within him now has turned to ashes grim.
Claudius:
We have come to say farewell and with it a kind of prayer. Tell him that our love for him will follow everywhere.
Gertrude:
My love for him is limitless, and timeless in its reality. That’s why I agree under duress to end his tortured mortality. I will see him once again when death has come for me. He will be whole, and I’ll be his through all eternity.
Claudius:
Let us kneel before our king, so he can feel our loyalty. Whatever he might feel right now, he is the best of royalty.
(They go to King Hamlet and kneel. Gertrude takes his hands, kisses them, rises, turn and leaves. Claudius stands)
Claudius:
You’ve saved my life and made my life and now you claim your due. I will act in sin in fact, and for the love of you.
(Looks at Christian) Soon. (Exits.)