Playscript. Act One. here in Venice. But it s no good, he s given the job to Cassio a man who doesn t know anything about war!

Transcription

1 Othello Playscript Act One A street in Venice. Enter Roderigo and Iago. IAGO: I m a good soldier, Othello knows that. And I ve got important friends here in Venice. But it s no good, he s given the job to Cassio a man who doesn t know anything about war! RODERIGO: What about all the money I lent you? You said you were sure to be Othello s second in command. You said you d pay me back then. What are you going to do now? Maybe you should leave the army. IAGO: No, I ll stay in the army. RODERIGO: What s the point in staying if Othello doesn t promote you? IAGO: I ll stay, but I m going to look after my own interests. I ll tell you something, Roderigo. I ve seen lots of soldiers who gave everything they had to the army. I m not going to be like them, my friend I don t want to die poor after a lifetime of service! Iago and Roderigo stop outside a large house. The house is in darkness. This is Brabanzio s house. Let s wake everybody up, shall we? RODERIGO: Good idea. Brabanzio, wake up! Thieves! Thieves! IAGO: Wake up, Brabanzio! Brabanzio appears at an upstairs window. BRABANZIO: What is it? RODERIGO: Are you sure that all your family s at home, Brabanzio? IAGO: Yes, are you sure? Run to your daughter s room perhaps she s gone. 116

2 RODERIGO: Brabanzio, listen to us. Go and check if Desdemona is still in the house. IAGO: That s right, go and see! You won t find her, though. She s with Othello. Brabanzio disappears from the window. IAGO: Brabanzio will be angry when he finds that Desdemona s gone. You stay here, and I ll go to Othello. Iago leaves Roderigo and walks away. Enter Brabanzio with servants. BRABANZIO: It s all true! Desdemona s gone. And you think she s with Othello? It s an outrage! I ll have him arrested for this! I don t care who he is I ll have him arrested and thrown into prison! Act Two A street in Venice. Enter Iago and Othello. IAGO: Brabanzio was very rude about you. I could have killed him for the things he said. OTHELLO: I m not afraid of Brabanzio I ve got powerful friends in Venice. Brabanzio can t do anything to me. Noises of men approaching further down the street. IAGO: That must be Brabanzio and his servants. Let s go inside! OTHELLO: I m not running away. I want Brabanzio to find me. I ll explain everything to him. IAGO: Have you really married Desdemona, sir? OTHELLO: Yes, I have this is the happiest day of my life! Enter Cassio with servants. OTHELLO: Why, it s Cassio! What are you doing here? CASSIO: The Turks are going to invade Cyprus. The Duke of Venice wants to see you right way. Enter Brabanzio with servants. IAGO: Be careful, sir Brabanzio wants to kill you. 117

3 BRABANZIO: That s him! That s the thief! Brabanzio draws his sword. Othello s men prepare to do the same. Othello steps forward. OTHELLO: There is no need for us to fight. Brabanzio, I am your friend. BRABANZIO: You ve stolen my daughter, you black thief! You must have used magic or drugs to make her go away with you. I m taking you to prison. OTHELLO: You can t. The Duke has sent for me. There is a meeting at his house tonight. BRABANZIO: I ll come to the Duke s house with you. I ll make the Duke listen to this case. The Duke s house. Enter Brabanzio and Othello. DUKE: I m glad to see you, Othello. I need your help, my friend! The Turks are sailing towards Cyprus. You are welcome as well, Brabanzio. I hope you will advise me about the crisis with the Turks. BRABANZIO: I can t think about military affairs. I have a grief of my own. It s my daughter. DUKE: Is she dead? BRABANZIO: She isn t dead. Someone has stolen her from me. DUKE: The man who has done this terrible thing will be punished I promise you! BRABANZIO: It was Othello. He s the man who stole my daughter! He used magic and drugs to take her away from me. DUKE: Is this true, Othello? OTHELLO: It s true that I have taken this man s daughter. I have married her. Brabanzio and I used to be friends. I have often been to his house. He liked me to tell him about the dangers I have lived through. Desdemona used to listen to these stories, and she fell in love with me. That s the only magic I have used, the only drug that I needed. Please send for Desdemona She will tell her father everything. If she complains about me, then take me to prison. That s all I ask. Act Three The Duke s house. Othello, Brabanzio, the Duke and Senators. Enter Iago and Desdemona. 118

4 BRABANZIO: We want to know the truth, Desdemona. Is there someone here that you have promised to obey? DESDEMONA: You are my father, and I have always obeyed you. That was my duty, and I was happy to do it. But now I must obey my husband. That is a woman s duty as well. BRABANZIO: Now I know the truth. Othello, I accused you wrongly. But you have behaved badly, Desdemona. Let s talk about the military affairs now. DUKE: The Turks are sailing towards Cyprus. I want you, Othello, to go there and defend the island. OTHELLO: I m happy to go, but I must ask something in return. My wife must have a place to live in Venice while I am away. DUKE: Surely she can live at her father s house? BRABANZIO: No. She has deceived me I prefer not to take her back. OTHELLO: I prefer she does not go back to her father. I think she should come to Cyprus with me. DUKE: Very well. Desdemona can follow you to Cyprus. BRABANZIO: She deceived me, Othello. She may do the same to you. OTHELLO: I trust her with my life. Outside the Duke s palace. Enter Iago and Roderigo. RODERIGO: I might as well kill myself. I loved Desdemona. IAGO: Don t talk nonsense. Forget all this talk of killing yourself. Get hold of all the money you can, and come to Cyprus. You can still have Desdemona! She s in love with Othello at the moment, but that won t last. She ll be tired of him soon. RODERIGO: Do you really think so? If I come to Cyprus, will you help me, Iago? IAGO: Of course I will. You know I hate Othello. If you steal Desdemona from him, that will make me happy. Exit Roderigo. IAGO: What a fool he is! But I ve got to keep him with me. I need his money. Othello s a fool as well. He trusts everyone. I can make him believe anything I want him to. Now I ve got it! If I can make Othello believe that Cassio and Desdemona are in love, I can get Cassio s job. I can be Othello s second in command. 119

5 Act Four Cyprus. Montano and friends are watching a storm at sea. Enter a messenger. MESSENGER: Good news! A ship has just arrived from Venice. They say that the Turkish fleet is in trouble. Some of their ships have been sunk, and the rest have gone back home. We re saved the war is over! MONTANO: Are you sure about this? MESSENGER: Yes, it s true. Cassio s on board. Othello s been appointed governor of the island. He s on his way here in another ship. Enter Cassio. They exchange greetings and talk excitedly. A shout from the harbour. MONTANO: Another ship! Perhaps it s Othello! Enter Desdemona, Emilia and Iago. DESDEMONA: Is there any news of my husband? CASSIO: Not yet. Another shout from the harbour. You see, good news! There s nothing to worry about, after all. Cassio kisses Emilia and Desdemona. Forgive me if I kiss your wife, Iago. IAGO: Kiss Emilia as much as you want. At least it keeps her quiet! EMILIA: What a cruel husband you are! You never say nice things to me. IAGO: That s true but you never deserve them! DESDEMONA: You don t know how to talk to women. You don t know how to say the things we like. I m right, aren t I, Cassio? CASSIO: If you want to hear nice things, it s no good asking him but I am different! IAGO: Aside. He s a good-looking man, and women like him. What if I tell Othello that Cassio is too attentive to Desdemona? Othello will believe me he believes everybody too easily! Enter Othello. 120

6 OTHELLO: How happy I am to see you here! He kisses Desdemona. This is happiness. The war is over, my friends. The Turkish fleet has been destroyed. Exit Othello, Desdemona, Emilia and Cassio. Iago and Roderigo remain on stage together. IAGO: Did you see how Desdemona behaved with Cassio? I think she s in love with him. RODERIGO: In love with Cassio? Surely that can t be true she s only just married Othello! IAGO: She fell in love with Othello because of the stories he used to tell her. But a woman wants beauty in a man, and Othello is ugly. Now she wants Cassio. If we can get rid of Cassio, you ve got a chance with Desdemona. That s what you want, isn t it? RODERIGO: What shall I do? IAGO: Cassio will be on guard tonight. I want you to pick a quarrel with him. If Cassio makes a big disturbance, the people of Cyprus will ask Othello to remove him. If Cassio is removed, you are nearer to Desdemona. RODERIGO: I ll do it! Exit Roderigo. IAGO: What a fool you are! I can make you do anything I want. Now I ll make Othello think that Cassio and Desdemona are in love. I ll make Othello so jealous that he won t know what he s doing! Act Five The castle. Sounds of celebration. Enter Iago and Cassio. CASSIO: We d better get ready it s time for us to go on duty. IAGO: Tonight s a special night, and we have time for one more drink to celebrate. CASSIO: Very well. I ll drink one glass. In the chamber of the castle. Montano, Iago, Cassio and others are celebrating with wine and music. 121

7 CASSIO: I m all right, my friends. I ve had a drink but I m not drunk. I ll prove it to you if you like! That s my left hand, and that s my right hand. That s Iago over there. I told you, I m not drunk at all. Exit Cassio. He returns a few minutes later, pursuing Roderigo. RODERIGO: Help! Murder! MONTANO: What s going on? What s all this noise? CASSIO: Out of my way! Cassio pushes Montano to the ground. They begin fighting. Iago whispers to Roderigo. Exit Roderigo, making a noise. Enter Othello. OTHELLO: Put down your weapons. Iago, who started this fight? IAGO: Montano and I were here. Suddenly a man ran into the hall, calling for help. Then Cassio came in, waving his sword and shouting. When Montano asked Cassio to put his sword down, Cassio attacked him. I m sure Cassio had very good reasons for what he did, sir. I don t know what they are, but I m sure he had good reasons. OTHELLO: I know you re trying to protect him, Iago you re a loyal friend. But it s no good. You are my friend, Cassio, but you will never be a soldier of mine again. I dismiss you! Exit Othello, Montano. CASSIO: What a fool I ve been to drink wine. Now I ve lost everything! IAGO: Othello s angry with you, but that won t last forever. CASSIO: I can never face him again I d be too ashamed! IAGO: Listen to me, Cassio. I m speaking to you as a friend. Go to Desdemona. She ll speak to Othello for you. CASSIO: I ll take your advice. I ll see Desdemona in the morning. Perhaps she ll help me. Exit Cassio. IAGO: Now I see what I ve got to do. I ll make Othello think that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers. Every time Desdemona asks Othello to forgive Cassio, he ll think she s asking because she loves him. I ll destroy Othello through jealousy! 122

8 Act Six A street in Cyprus. Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Cassio. They are observed by Othello and Iago. DESDEMONA: He s not really angry with you. He s just pretending, really. CASSIO: I must go. Exit Emilia and Cassio. IAGO: That s strange. OTHELLO: What s strange? IAGO: Nothing, sir. At least OTHELLO: Was that Cassio talking to Desdemona? IAGO: I m sure that wasn t Cassio why would Cassio run away when he saw you coming? Othello and Iago join Desdemona. DESDEMONA: Cassio s been talking to me. He s so sorry about what happened. Why don t you send for him? OTHELLO: Iago and I have work to do. Please leave us for a while. Exit Desdemona. IAGO: Sir OTHELLO: What is it? IAGO: Cassio knows Desdemona quite well, I suppose? OTHELLO: What s wrong with that? Don t you trust Cassio? IAGO: Trust him? OTHELLO: What are you trying to say? Be a real friend, Iago, and tell me what you re thinking. IAGO: I was just thinking that Cassio knows Desdemona well. That was all. Then I was thinking how Desdemona deceived her father before she married you. But I m being foolish. There s no evidence that Desdemona is in love with Cassio. OTHELLO: You think it! You re a good man, Iago, but you can t hide your thoughts from me. IAGO: I m sorry, sir. I shouldn t have spoken. Exit Iago. OTHELLO: It can t be true. Iago must be wrong. 123

9 Act Seven The town in Cyprus. Enter Othello and Desdemona. DESDEMONA: What s the matter? You look ill. OTHELLO: I ve just got a headache, that s all. Desdemona takes out a handkerchief, and prepares to wrap it around Othello s head. DESDEMONA: Let me put this around your head. It will ease the pain. OTHELLO: It s nothing it will pass. Othello pushes Desdemona roughly away. She drops the handkerchief. They go inside their house. Enter Emilia and Iago. Emilia picks up the handkerchief, and passes it to Iago. Later the same day. Othello and Iago. OTHELLO: Sometimes I think she s unfaithful, and sometimes I m sure she s a good wife. You ve got to help me, my friend. You ve got to find some proof! IAGO: I don t have any direct proof. And yet OTHELLO: What is it? What is it, Iago? IAGO: Doesn t your wife own a beautiful handkerchief, sir? OTHELLO: Yes, it was my first present to her. What of it, Iago? IAGO: I ve seen Cassio with the same handkerchief. That s a kind of proof, isn t it, sir? OTHELLO: Now I know she s unfaithful. I shall have revenge on Cassio! I want him dead. IAGO: I ll kill him for you. But let Desdemona live! OTHELLO: No she must die as well. The same day. Othello and Desdemona. OTHELLO: I still have a headache. Put your handkerchief around my head, my dear. DESDEMONA: I m so sorry it still hurts you. Desdemona offers Othello a different handkerchief. OTHELLO: Not that one! Use the one I gave you. 124

10 DESDEMONA: I haven t got that one with me. OTHELLO: Haven t got it? DESDEMONA: I m sorry. OTHELLO: That handkerchief is special. A witch gave it to my mother. The witch told her that she would never lose her husband s love while she had the handkerchief. My mother gave it to me when she was dying. She said I should give it to the girl I loved. DESDEMONA: Oh! OTHELLO: What s the matter? Have you lost the handkerchief? DESDEMONA: Lost it? No, I haven t lost it. But I wanted to talk to you about Cassio. Have you seen him yet? OTHELLO: The handkerchief! Fetch me the handkerchief! DESDEMONA: Remember that Cassio s always been your friend. Do promise me that you ll see him soon. OTHELLO: You haven t got it, have you? Go away, woman leave me in peace! Act Eight Enter Iago and Cassio. Othello is hiding nearby. CASSIO: I wish I were still Othello s second in command. IAGO: You must ask Desdemona for help with Othello. Quietly, so that Othello cannot hear what he says. Think how easy it would be if it was Bianca you had to ask, and not Desdemona! Cassio laughs. CASSIO: You re right, Iago, that woman would do anything for me! She loves me. Exit Cassio. Iago and Othello talk together. OTHELLO: I know the truth now. Cassio and Desdemona are lovers there s no doubt at all! IAGO: She deserves to die. Later the same day. Enter Othello and Desdemona. 125

11 DESDEMONA: What have I done why are you so angry with me? OTHELLO: What kind of woman are you? DESDEMONA: I m your wife. OTHELLO: My wife! What kind of wife are you? Tell me that! DESDEMONA: I m a good and loyal wife. OTHELLO: Don t lie to me, Desdemona! Don t lie to me it s too late for lies now. DESDEMONA: What do you mean? I don t understand you. OTHELLO: I loved you. I thought you loved me, as well. Now I know what kind of woman you are. You re the kind of woman that a man can buy in the street! Act Nine Enter Emilia, Iago and Desdemona. EMILIA: I ve never heard anything like it. You ve got to do something, Iago. DESDEMONA: Is it true? Am I really a bad woman, Iago? IAGO: Nonsense! Don t take everything so seriously. Everything will be all right, I promise you. DESDEMONA: Speak to him, Iago. I love him. Tell him IAGO: Of course I ll speak to him. Roderigo and Iago meet each other. RODERIGO: I don t think you ve been honest with me. IAGO: In what way? RODERIGO: You said Desdemona was bored with Othello. You said all I had to do was give her jewels, and she d fall in love with me. IAGO: If you don t trust me, go back to Venice! RODERIGO: I just want the jewels back, and then I m leaving. IAGO: No, don t go back to Venice. Desdemona is in love with you. There is a problem, however. You know that Lodovico has just arrived? RODERIGO: Yes I do what of it? IAGO: Othello s going to Mauritania. He s taking Desdemona with him. Cassio will be in charge here in Cyprus. You ll lose your chance with Desdemona unless we can find a way to delay Othello s departure. RODERIGO: What shall we do? 126

12 IAGO: You ve got to kill Cassio. That s the only way to prevent Othello from leaving Cyprus with Desdemona. RODERIGO: I don t know. IAGO: You do love Desdemona, don t you? RODERIGO: All right, I ll do it. IAGO: Cassio s going to Bianca s house tonight. I ll show you where you can hide in the street near her house. When he comes along, it ll be easy for you to kill him. A street in the town. Enter Iago and Roderigo, shortly after followed by Cassio. RODERIGO: It s him! I recognise his footsteps. Roderigo attacks Cassio. Iago stabs Cassio in the leg. CASSIO: Murder, murder! Enter Lodovico. IAGO: What s going on? LODOVICO: Who s fighting has someone been killed, Iago? IAGO: Someone s attacked Cassio. Come quickly, and help! Iago stabs Roderigo. Act Ten Desdemona in the bedroom of the castle. Enter Othello. OTHELLO: Have you said your prayers? I don t want you to die with anything on your conscience. DESDEMONA: Die, what do you mean, die? OTHELLO: I know everything. Cassio was your lover! DESDEMONA: It s not true! OTHELLO: Cassio s dead. Now you, too, are going to die. Othello strangles Desdemona. Enter Emilia. EMILIA: Othello, Othello! Cassio s killed Roderigo! OTHELLO: Is Cassio dead as well? EMILIA: He s badly wounded, but he s not dead. 127

13 DESDEMONA: Innocent. I m innocent. Emilia runs forward to look at the body of Desdemona on the bed. OTHELLO: I killed her. Ask your husband what happened he knows everything. EMILIA: What s Iago got to do with this? Enter Montano, Iago and some soldiers, all talking loudly. EMILIA: Iago! Did you tell Othello that Desdemona was unfaithful? IAGO: I told Othello the truth. EMILIA: Look here! Desdemona s dead Othello s killed her. OTHELLO: She betrayed me. Iago knows the truth about it. Desdemona and Cassio were lovers. She gave Cassio the handkerchief. I saw Cassio with the handkerchief! EMILIA: You re responsible for all this, Iago. I ll tell everybody the truth. You won t escape. IAGO: Be quiet! Be quiet, I tell you! Iago tries to stab Emilia. The soldiers hold him off. EMILIA: Iago lied to you. It was me that found the handkerchief. I gave it to Iago. He must have given it to Cassio. Othello realises the truth. He tries to stab Iago. Iago avoids him, kills Emilia and runs out of the room pursued by the soldiers. Enter Lodovico with Cassio. Iago held by the soldiers. OTHELLO: Why did you do it? Why did you destroy me? LODOVICO: You will come with us to Venice. You re under arrest, Othello. I don t know what the Duke will decide to do with you. OTHELLO: I have served the Duke well. Tell him the truth about what happened here. Tell him that I loved Desdemona. Tell him that I was betrayed by a man I thought was my friend. Othello stabs himself. LODOVICO: All this is your fault, Iago. You will suffer for all the evil you have done, I can promise you that! 128