THE SPANISH TRAGEDY

by THOMAS KYD

adapted by TOD DAVIES

director ALEX COX

Fourth Draft

1. STREET EXT DAY

FOUR PUPPETEERS emerge from among skyscrapers. They enter a nondescript building on a side street.

2. ABANDONED BUILDING INT DAY

In a dark room, a big table is covered in sand, bits of brick, imitation trees and boulders.

The PUPPETEERS go to work – efficiently unload a carry-all filled with FIGURINES, squeezy bottles of ketchup, fireworks, etc.

They distribute the FIGURINES – KNIGHTS, KINGS, SOLDIERS, COWBOYS, INDIANS, GODZILLA.

LIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE TABLE

And the room goes dark.

SOUNDS OF BATTLE ARE HEARD

As the PUPPETEERS manipulate the FIGURINES in WAR.

Cries of horses, screams of maimed men, exploding bombs.

The PUPPETEERS employ a set of TINY VIDEO CAMERAS at table-top level: the resulting scenes of the HORRORS OF WAR are projected on a video screen.

A hand manipulates the PUPPET OF THE KING. As the VOICE OF THE KING is heard.

KING’S VOICE

Speak, man! Hath fortune given us victory?

Another hand manipulates the GENERAL PUPPET.

GENERAL’S VOICE

Victory, my liege! And that with little loss —

BOOM! A MISSILE lands and blows TEN PUPPETS apart.

CUT TO —

3. TABLETOP BATTLEFIELD EXT DAY

The KING OF SPAIN, his GENERAL, CASTILE – the KING’s brother –

and HIERONIMO, a courtier, stand in front of the IMAGES OF THE PUPPET BATTLEFIELD.

The KING and CASTILE high-five each other while behind them MORE PUPPETS ARE MURDERED. CASTILE drops his gloves. HIERONIMO falls to one knee, picks them up, and hands them back.

HIERONIMO

My lord.

The NOBLES ignore him.

KING

Then bless’d be heaven, and guider of the heavens

From whose fair influence such justice flows.

BOOM! Another missile lands behind them. Much ketchup.

The KING and CASTILE hug each other in their joy. The GENERAL puffs up his chest with pride. HIERONIMO, still on one knee, wipes away a tear.

KING

Thanks to my loving brother of Castile!

But, General, unfold in brief discourse

Your form of battle, and your war’s success.

GENERAL

Where Spain and Portugal do jointly knit,

On every side drop Captains on the ground,

And soldiers lie maimed, some slain outright –

Again, TOYS and STUFFED ANIMALS flee and are shot in the back by SOLDIERS.

GENERAL

Here falls a body, sundered from his head!

There legs and arms lie bleeding on the grass

Mingled with weapons, and unbowelled steeds.

Body parts and the HORSE from “Guernica” are seen.

GENERAL

In all this turmoil, three long hours and more,

The victory to neither part inclined

Till Don Andrea, with his brave Lancers –

They stand over the PUPPET BOARD, watching the COWBOY and INDIAN PUPPETS of DON ANDREA and his LANCERS.

GENERAL

– in their main battle, made so great a BREACH

That, half-dismayed, the multitude retired;

But BALTHAZAR, the Portuguese young Prince –

His excitement increases. He grabs the BALTHAZAR puppet out of a PUPPETEER’s hand.

ANGLE ON THE BALTHAZAR PUPPET – A splendid suit of armour with an enormous breastplate, spiked shoulders like an Ankylosaurus, and a plume.

HIERONIMO rises to his feet to admire the PUPPET.

GENERAL

– brought rescue, and encouraged them to stay.

Here, hence, the fight was eagerly renewed

And in that conflict Andrea was slain –

Unable to restrain his blood-lust, the GENERAL smashes the ANDREA and LANCER PUPPETS with the BALTHAZAR PUPPET.

GENERAL

– brave man-at-arms, but weak to Balthazar.

Yet while the Prince, insulting over him,

Breathed out proud vaunts, sounding to our reproach,

Came forth HORATIO, our Knight Steward’s son –

He claps HIERONIMO on the shoulder. HIERONIMO swells with pride.

GENERAL

– To challenge forth that Prince to single fight.

The GENERAL indicates the pile of PUPPETS. HIERONIMO grabs the PUPPET representing his SON.

ANGLE ON THE HORATIO PUPPET

In white armour, with long flowing locks, on a white horse.

HIERONIMO enthusiastically participates in the action –

GENERAL

Not long between these twain the fight endured,

But straight the Prince was beaten from his horse,

And forced to yield him prisoner to his foe…

The KING and CASTILE turn away, arm in arm, their thoughts on the tribute they will inevitably receive.

KING

Thanks, good Lord General, for this good news.

The GENERAL nods, fixated on the PUPPETS. HIERONIMO does battle with his HORATIO PUPPET. The HORATIO and BALTHAZAR PUPPETS, in their fight, stamp the ANDREA PUPPET deeper into the mud.

GENERAL

When he was taken, all the rest they fled,

And our carbines pursued them to the death!

LIGHTING EFFECT on the SMOULDERING PUPPET-BATTLEFIELD.

GENERAL

Till Phoebus, waving to the western deep,

Our trumpeters –

KING

(turning back; impatient; to GENERAL)

But tell me now, have you confirmed a peace?

GENERAL

(running after him)

No peace, my liege. But peace conditional –

That if with homage tribute will be paid,

The fury of your forces will be stayed!

The KING beckons to HIERONIMO.

KING

Hieronimo!

Now, Knight Steward, frolic with the King,

For tis thy son that wins the battle’s prize!

HIERONIMO holds up the beautiful PUPPET of his son.

HIERONINO

Long may he live to serve my sovereign liege,

And soon decay, unless he serve my liege.

ANGLE ON THE KING

Disappearing into the dark.

KING

Nor thou, nor he, shall die without reward.

HIERONIMO wipes the tears from his eyes. This is his apotheosis. He sets the PUPPET carefully down, and follows

the KING.

HOLD ON THE SMOKING PUPPET TABLE.

A BLACK HOOD and a COWBOY HAT slowly rise behind it, to reveal REVENGE and the GHOST OF ANDREA.

REVENGE is a mysterious figure whose features cannot be clearly seen.

ANDREA’S GHOST is dressed a mud-drenched cowboy outfit, perforated with bullet holes, streaked with blood.

ANDREA stares at the whole scene in disgust.

REVENGE delves into the mud to find ANDREA’s mud- and blood-stained PUPPET. He waves the PUPPET at ANDREA.

REVENGE

You were a courtier in the Spanish court.

Your name was Don Andrea, your descent

– Though not ignoble – yet inferior far…

4. BEL-IMPERIA’S BOUDOIR INT DAY

BEL-IMPERIA’s SERVING MAIDS are braiding her hair with pearls as she stares fixedly at ANDREA’s framed picture, tears falling silently down her cheeks.

ANDREA and REVENGE enter the room. But they are GHOSTS, unseen and unnoticed.

ANDREA

– To gracious fortunes of my tender youth:

For there, by dutious service and deserving love,

In secret I possessed a worthy dame,

sweet BEL-IMPERIA.

He hurries to her, puts his hands on her breasts, kisses her neck. She doesn’t notice him. REVENGE pulls him away.

A DOOR flies open. Another MAID runs in, in tears, bearing a newspaper. BEL-IMPERIA and her MAIDS are like characters in a silent film: their voices lost to us and to the GHOSTS.

BEL-IMPERIA reads the newspaper and wails silently. She storms out followed by her ENTOURAGE.

ANDREA squints at the paper.

HEADLINE: KILLER OF DON ANDREA COMES TO COURT! KING WELCOMES PRINCE BALTHAZAR!

REVENGE

Know now, Andrea, that thou art arrived,

Where thou shalt see the author of thy death

Don Balthazar, the Prince of Portugal,

Deprived of life by Bel-Imperia!

The warlike ANDREA is delighted at the prospect of his beloved murdering his killer. REVENGE beckons to him.

CUT TO —

5. COURT INT DAY

A grand corridor.

REVENGE and ANDREA stand adjacent to a bench seat. An excited hubbub in the air. REVENGE immediately curls up on the bench.

REVENGE

Here. Sit we down to see the mystery,

And serve for Chorus in this Tragedy.

SWISH PAN TO —

5A. BALTHAZAR, still clad in his magnificent suit of spikey armour, being marched along by his captors –

– the noble HORATIO, with flowing hair and handsome features

– and the sleazy LORENZO, a degenerate rich kid. Like BEL-IMPERIA, he too has pearls in his hair. And looks just like

her, only nastier.

You might expect HORATIO to be the alpha male here. But, though a better warrior and genuine babe magnet, he is basically LORENZO’s servant, LORENZO being the nephew of the KING.

CUT TO —

6. WINE CELLAR INT DAY

– where HIERONIMO is preparing WINES for the KING to sample in preparation for the Victory Banquet.

A GUARD rushes in.

GUARD

My liege! The warlike Prince of Portugal!

HORATIO and LORENZO march BALTHAZAR in. The KING savours a glass of wine. Then spits it out.

KING

A gladsome sight! And by our nephew

in triumph led!

(he notices HORATIO)

But who is he that holds him by the arm

As partner of the prize?

HIERONIMO

That’s my son, my gracious sovereign!

KING

(greeting BALTHAZAR and LORENZO)

Welcome, Don Balthazar! Welcome, nephew!

(to HORATIO)

And thou, er –

HIERONIMO

Horatio, sire!

KING

Horatio. Thou art welcome too.

BALTHAZAR

The trespass that my father made in peace,

Is now controlled by fortune of the wars.

The cards once dealt, it boots not ask why so.

He raises his manacled wrists, goes down on one knee before

the KING. LORENZO yanks on BALTHAZAR’s chains.

KING

Ay, Balthazar. Well said!

Our peace will grow the stronger for these wars.

(he sees both LORENZO and HORATIO

are holding BALTHAZAR’s chains)

But tell me, for their holding makes me doubt,

To which of these two art thou prisoner?

LORENZO

To me, my liege!

HORATIO

To me, my sovereign!

They both grab hold of BALTHAZAR. LORENZO is particularly clingy. BALTHAZAR doesn’t seem to mind.

LORENZO

This hand first took his horse’s reins!

HORATIO

But first my lance did knock him from his horse.

LORENZO

I seized his weapon and enjoyed it first!

LORENZO and BALTHAZAR enjoy a private moment. Belatedly LORENZO waves BALTHAZAR’s sword around.

HORATIO

After I forced him lay his weapons down.

KING

Let go his arms.

(LORENZO and HORATIO release BALTHAZAR)

So, worthy Prince, to which one did you yield?

BALTHAZAR

(indicates LORENZO, then HORATIO)

To him, in courtesy; to him, by force.

He promised life; this other threatened death.

He won my love; this other conquered me.

And truth to tell, I yield myself to both.

HIERONIMO

But though I know your grace is just and wise,

My tongue should plead for young Horatio’s right –

In first, by nature, and by law of arms!

KING

Content thee, Steward, thou shalt have no wrong.

And for thy sake thy son shall want no right.

Will both abide the censure of my doom?

LORENZO

I crave no better than your grace awards.

HORATIO

Nor I, although I sit beside my right.

KING

You both deserve, and both shall have, reward.

Nephew, you took his weapon and his horse.

His weapons and his horse are your reward.

Horatio, you did force him first to yield.

His ransom, therefore, is your valour’s fee.

ANGLE ON HORATIO,

pleased with the outcome.

ANGLE ON LORENZO

all hissy and dejected.

KING

But nephew, you shall have the Prince in guard,

For your estate best fitteth such a guest.

How likes Don Balthazar of this device?

BALTHAZAR

Right well, my liege, if this proviso were,

That Don Horatio bear us company –

Whom I admire and love for chivalry.

KING

Horatio, leave him not that loves thee so!

The KING finishes the wine tasting. Exeunt BALTHAZAR, LORENZO and HORATIO.

KING

Now let us hence to see our soldiers paid,

And feast our prisoner as our friendly guest.

CUT TO —

7. COURT INT DAY

Preceded by SACKBUTTS, LORENZO and BALTHAZAR and their ATTENDANTS march back down the grand corridor. HORATIO is close behind.

REVENGE is asleep on the bench. ANDREA watches the parade intently.

Up ahead, BEL-IMPERIA appears. Wringing her hands with grief and anger.

In a little GUARD BOOTH, several GUARDS are drinking tea and watching TV – news of the death of DON ANDREA and the arrival at court of PRINCE BALTHAZAR.

ANGLE ON LORENZO

Excited at the sight of the distraught BEL-IMPERIA.

LORENZO

My sister!

ANGLE ON HORATIO AND BALTHAZAR

Both smitten by BEL-IMPERIA’s extraordinary beauty and energy. They both step forward. LORENZO pushes HORATIO back.

LORENZO

Not you. This is the king my uncle’s niece!

Sister! What means this melancholy walk?

BEL-IMPERIA

That for a while I wish no company.

LORENZO

But here –

(he grabs BALTHAZAR, pulls him forward)

– a PRINCE is come to visit you.

BEL-IMPERIA, with a look of hatred, sweeps past them both.

She drops her glove.

HORATIO

Madam, your glove!

She keeps going. HORATIO bows to the Princes, and hurries after her.

7G. ANGLE ON ANDREA

Attempting to wake REVENGE, asleep on the bench.

LORENZO comforts the crestfallen, armour-plated BALTHAZAR.

LORENZO

My lord, be not dismayed for what has passed.

You know that women oft are humourous.

These clouds will overblow with little wind.

CUT TO —

8. ROSE GARDEN EXT DAY

BEL-IMPERIA paces, a whirlwind of fury, surrounded by flowers.

HORATIO enters the garden, carrying the glove.

[Though the principal images are black and white, the FLOWERS are brilliantly multi-coloured.]

BEL-IMPERIA

So, good Horatio, this is the place and hour

Wherein I must entreat thee to relate

The circumstances of Andrea’s death –

Who, living, was my garland’s sweetest flower,

And in his death has buried my delights!

She grabs a rose, then yanks it off the bush. The thorns dig in her hand. Her hand bleeds.

HORATIO is horrified.

HORATIO

Madam —

BEL-IMPERIA

(she waves him away)

Would you had slain him that so slew my love!

HORATIO

Their fight was long, their hearts were great,

Their clamours menacing, their strength alike…

Don Balthazar with ruthless rage

Did finish what his halberdiers begun,

And left not till Andrea’s life was done.

BEL-IMPERIA

And was Andrea’s carcass lost?

Breathing heavily in the heady, rose-scented garden, they are attracted to each other in spite of themselves.

HORATIO

I took him up, and wound him in my arms.

And welding him unto my private tent,

There laid him down, and dewed him with my tears.

I saw him honoured with due funeral.

This scarf I plucked, from off his lifeless arm –

From his jacket, he pulls a BLOOD-RED SCARF. She grabs it.

HORATIO

I wear it in remembrance of my friend.

BEL-IMPERIA

I know the scarf: would he had kept it still,

And worn it for his Bel-Imperia’s sake.

For ‘twas my favour at his last depart.

She lets go of the scarf. They are NEARLY IN EACH OTHER’S ARMS.

BEL-IMPERIA

But now wear it both for him and me.

They almost kiss. He becomes aware that he still has her glove.

HORATIO

Your glove —

She draws back. Both cough, remembering themselves.

BEL-IMPERIA

Thanks, good Horatio. Take it for thy pains.

Overwhelmed, HORATIO backs out of the bower, and makes off, clutching the scarf and glove.

BEL-IMPERIA sits down on a stone bench.

REVENGE materialises, with his transparent head in her lap.

ANDREA’S GHOST approaches her.

BEL-IMPERIA

Ay, go, Horatio. Leave me here alone,

For solitude best fits my cheerless mood.

(towards ANDREA’S GHOST)

Had he not loved Andrea as he did,

He could not sit in Bel-Imperia’s thoughts.

But how can love find harbour in my breast

Till I revenge the death of my beloved?

Yes, second love shall further my revenge.

I’ll love Horatio, my Andrea’s friend,

The more to spite the Prince that wrought his end.

The GHOST of ANDREA tries to wake REVENGE. REVENGE is actually awake, and watching BEL-IMPERIA with an amused expression.

BEL-IMPERIA rises and walks out of the bower. She walks straight through ANDREA’s aghast GHOST. REVENGE laughs at ANDREA.

9. ROYAL LAVATORY INT DAY

LORENZO and BALTHAZAR misbehave. LORENZO wears makeup and a quasi-military uniform with many medals; BALTHAZAR has an enormous dinner jacket and kilt over his breastplate and body armour.

HORATIO bursts in, bows.

HORATIO

The King, my lords, is coming hither straight,

To feast the Portuguese Ambassador.

BALTHAZAR

Then here it fits us to attend the King,

To welcome hither our Ambassador,

And learn my father’s and my country’s health!

10. BANQUET HALL INT NIGHT

SACKBUTTS sound as the KING and the AMBASSADOR enter, followed by everyone in order of royal and national status.

LORENZO switches the place settings, to put HORATIO far away,

and BALTHAZAR next to BEL-IMPERIA, who has not yet appeared.

The KING draws the AMBASSADOR’s attention to LORENZO’s solicitousness.

KING

See, Lord Ambassador, how Spain entreats

Their prisoner, Balthazar.

We pleasure more in kindness than in wars.

AMBASSADOR

Sad is our King, and Portugal laments,

Supposing that Don Balthazar is slain.

BALTHAZAR

So I am slain –

(sneezes, as BEL-IMPERIA enters)

– by beauty’s tyranny!

You see, my lord, how Balthazar is slain!

He sneezes again. BEL-IMPERIA’s manservant, PEDRINGANO, pulls her chair out for her. But she won’t sit next to BALTHAZAR. PEDRINGANO makes another GUEST move, so she can sit as far away as possible.

BALTHAZAR

I frolic with the Duke of Castile’s son,

Wrapped every hour in pleasures of the court,

And graced with favours of his majesty.

He bows to the KING, to CASTILE, and to LORENZO.

The KING nods, sits, and invites the AMBASSADOR to sit beside him. The AMBASSADOR, being next most senior present, sits. The KING nods to BALTHAZAR, who’s blowing his nose.

KING

Sit down, young Prince, you are our second guest.

Brother, sit down. And nephew, take your place.

And thou, Horatio, wait thou upon our cup –

A WAITER thrusts a tray of drinks into HORATIO’s hands.

HORATIO starts serving the august dignitaries, especially BALTHAZAR and LORENZO, who are very thirsty.

BEL-IMPERIA and HORATIO look at each other, look away, then

sneak ANOTHER LOOK…

KING

– for well thou hast deserved to be honoured.

Now, lordlings, fall to! Spain is Portugal,

And Portugal is Spain. We both are friends.

Tribute is paid, and we enjoy our rights.

But where is old Hieronimo, our Steward?

ANGLE ON HIERONIMO

In evening dress with modest medals, stepping forward.

HIERONIMO

Here I am, sire!

The KING rises, puts a large chain of office over the overwhelmed HIERONIMO’s head. HIERONIMO falls to his knees.

KING

Frolic, Hieronimo! Thou art now confirmed

Marshall of Spain, by all the dues

And customary rights unto thy office.

HIERONIMO

My knee sings thanks unto your highness’ bounty.

Come hither, boy Horatio, fold thy joints,

Kneel by thy father, thank my liege,

For honouring me, thy mother, and thyself,

With this high chain of office!

HORATIO has his work cut out for him. He has to kneel down and serve the drinks, and deal with his burgeoning desire for BEL-IMPERIA, who casts him smouldering looks.

HORATIO

Oh my liege, I have a heart thrice stronger

than my years,

And that shall answer gratefully for me.

If ever you have foes, or red field scars,

I’ll empty all my veins to serve your wars.

I’ll bleed for you.

BEL-IMPERIA rises in her seat, eyes sparkling at his brave words. HORATIO looks not at the KING but at her. This is not lost on LORENZO.

HIERONIMO

Well spoke, my boy!

KING

Ay, and no doubt his merit will purchase more.

Knight Marshall, rise. And still rise

Higher and greater in thy sovereign’s eyes.

LORENZO

Oh, fortunate hour, blessed minute, happy day!

10G. PULL BACK TO REVEAL THE GHOST OF ANDREA, AND REVENGE

Watching, from the foreground. Beyond, BALTHAZAR stuffs his face and toasts LORENZO.

ANDREA

Came we for this from depth of underground,

To see him feast, that gave me my death’s wound?

These pleasant sights are sorrow to my soul.

Nothing but league, and love, and banqueting?

REVENGE

Be still, Andrea.

REVENGE watches as HIERONIMO kisses his son.

REVENGE

I’ll turn their friendship into fell despite,

Their love to mortal hate, their day to night,

Their hope into despair, their peace to war,

Their joys to pain, their bliss to misery.

11. WIDE SHOT OF THE CITY EXT NIGHT

The lights of the Spanish Capital go out.

12. HIERONIMO’S HOUSE EXT NIGHT

A modest house set among gardens behind high walls.

13. HIERONIMO’S BEDROOM INT NIGHT

HIERONIMO is already asleep. He still wears his chain of office. His wife, ISABELLA, turns out the bedside light.

HIERONIMO smiles in his sleep. He clutches his new chain.