Act 1.7
(The Medical Practitioner comes quickly into King Hamlet's room. He holding up an oddly shaped and colored bottle)
Practitioner:
My liege I have the answer as sure as you felt your question. I have done some careful search in places I can't mention. There I found the wondrous philter, one can make your life, once again, back into its kilter. It has such properties as I have seen that make great miracles indeed. Please take this once before you breed, and it will restore your seed. Once that seed is restored, they'll be nothing but the waiting. Nine months after that very day, there will be no hesitating. A child will thus be born to you, a child, a son, an heir, and in the joy of that desired birth you will lose despair.
King:
Is this one just like number five or perhaps like thirty-two? The potion number nine was fine, but it failed me in all truth. You have philtered me and potioned me and had me drink vile stuff. Can't you see? Please set me free, for I have had too much.
Practitioner:
I am aware that I have failed and your confidence is low. This is the last, and if it should fail, I have nowhere else to go. I have had success at this, but this failure comes too hard. I shall retire from you entire if its fails when you take your part. I give this free, to you from me, and from my very heart. To serve my king is my chief thing, and if in that I've failed, all the riches I have gained will grow completely dead and pale.
King:
You ask me then to save your life. Have not roles been reversed? To serve as the patient who the doctor treats is more my normal role, and now you speak of what boon you seek, and your life's in my control.
Practitioner:
This is how it's always been; I serve you and you serve me. When you gain health, I gain my wealth, and we reach prosperity. I promise this (pointing to the bottle) will fill your wish and make a son and king. That's why I care, and why I sought, and now the cure I bring. Let us act in hope. It's in our scope, to keep our optimism. If you push aside your faithful guide, we both end in some prison. Let us escape incarceration. It's all within your doing. Take this just before you breed, and you will succeed in wooing.
King:
(Takes bottle and holds it to the light) To reach and fulfill the desire in me, the one most fully hearted, once again I'll try. And when it ends, you say all things will mend, and not end just where I started. If it succeed, you will indeed wish to spread your new wrought fame. If I will have the son I want, you will also gain and earn an honored and revered name.
I will do just as you promise, and we'll see if your promise holds. To drink this drink does liberate from a fear that has made me old. Give me leave to contemplate the wonder of this drink and into the realm of love's embrace I will surely think. You have brought your cure, and that I have received, let us hope that it proves sure, now you sure may leave.
(The Practitioner bows his way out)
This comes as a strange happenstance, but one for which I now have purpose. It makes another case for what I want to do, and in this scheme will do service.
(Crosses to the door, and cries out to the attendant) Bring me Polonius.
Lights go down and when they come up Polonius with King Hamlet is in the king's private chamber.