28. CASTILE’S PALACE EXT DAY
— as PEDRINGANO, hungover, emerges from a staircase.
HIERONIMO
Now, Pedringano!
PEDRINGANO
What? Oh! Now, Hieronimo!
HIERONIMO
Where’s thy lady?
PEDRINGANO
I know not… err… here’s my lord!
LORENZO appears from the stairs. Also hungover, he wears dark glasses and a clean, white shirt.
LORENZO
How now, who’s this? Hieronimo?
HIERONIMO
My lord.
PEDRINGANO
He asketh for my lady Bel-Imperia!
LORENZO
What to do, Hieronimo?
(casually)
The Duke, my father, hath
Upon some disgrace, removed her hence awhile.
If it be aught I may inform her of,
Tell me, Hieronimo. I’ll let her know.
HIERONIMO
(back-pedals)
Nay, nay, my lord. I thank you; there’s no need.
I had a suit unto her, but too late,
And her disgrace makes me unfortunate.
LORENZO
Why so, Hieronimo? Use me.
HIERONIMO
Oh, no, my lord. I dare not. It must not be.
I reserve your favour for a greater honour.
This is a very toy, my lord, a toy.
LORENZO
All’s one, Hieronimo. Acquaint me with it.
HIERONIMO
In truth, my lord, it is a thing of nothing.
(turns away, mutters to himself)
The murder of a son, or so;
A thing of nothing, my lord.
LORENZO
What? What’s that?
(no response; shrugs)
Why, then, farewell.
HIERONIMO hurries away.
HIERONIMO
My grief no heart, no tongue can tell.
LORENZO stares after HIERONIMO, suspicious.
LORENZO
(to himself)
This sly enquiry of Hieronimo
For Bel-Imperia breeds suspicion,
And this suspicion bodes a further ill.
He beckons to PEDRINGANO, leads him to the inner courtyard.
LORENZO
Come hither, Pedringano. Saws’t thou this?
PEDRINGANO
My lord, I saw it and suspect it too.
LORENZO
This is that damnéd villain Serberine,
That hath, I fear, revealed Horatio’s death.
PEDRINGANO
My lord, he could not. ‘Twas so lately done,
And since, he hath not left my company.
LORENZO
Yet fear or flattering words may make him false.
I know his humour, and therewith repent
That ‘ere I used him in this enterprise.
But Pedringano, to prevent the worst,
And ‘cause I know thee secret as my soul,
Here, for thy further satisfaction,
take thou this.
LORENZO hands PEDRINGANO more gold.
29. INNER COURTYARD EXT DAY
Above them, HIERONIMO reappears. From his perch, he can see LORENZO, but is too far to hear what’s said. He draws back so that LORENZO and PEDRINGANO do not observe him.
LORENZO
Harken to me: thus it is disguised,
This night you must, and prithee so resolve,
meet Serberine in Saint Luigi’s Park.
You know where it is, hard behind the house,
There take your stand, and see you strike him sure
For die he must, if we both mean to live.
PEDRINGANO
(weighing the gold)
But how shall Serberine be there, my lord?
LORENZO
Let me alone. I’ll send to him to meet
The Prince and me, where you must do the deed.
PEDRINGANO
It shall be done, my lord. It shall be done!
And I’ll go arm myself to meet him there.
LORENZO
Then shall you mount for this, that knows
my mind.
PEDRINGANO hurries off.
ANGLE ON HIERONIMO
Watching as LORENZO dials a number on his mobile phone.
He pulls the LETTER from his pocket, studies it.
HIERONIMO
My son slain by Lorenzo and the Prince?
What cause had they Horatio to malign?
Or what might move thee, Bel-Imperia,
To accuse thy brother, had he been the means?
ANGLE ON LORENZO’S PAGE
Running up. He too is exhausted and hungover.
PAGE
My lord?
LORENZO
Go, sirrah, and wake Serberine.
And bid him forthwith meet the Prince and me
At Saint Luigi’s Park, behind the house
This evening, boy!
PAGE
I go, my lord.
LORENZO
But, sirrah, let the hour be eight o’clock:
Bid him not fail.
PAGE
I fly, my lord!
The PAGE takes off.
ANGLE ON HIERONIMO, watching.
HIERONIMO
Hieronimo, beware. Thou art betrayed!
And to entrap to life this trail is laid.
Advise thee, therefore, be not credulous.
(puts the letter away)
This is deviséd to endanger thee,
That thou by this Lorenzo should accuse,
And he, for thy dishonour done, should draw
Thy life in question, and thy name in hate.
ANGLE ON LORENZO
Dialing another number on his mobile.
LORENZO
(into phone)
Is that the Watch?
Upon precise commandment from the King,
I bid you strongly guard Luigi’s Park
At eight o’clock tonight.
(rings off)
The place where Pedringano
This night shall murder hapless Serberine.
As for myself, I know my secret fault,
And so do they. But I have dealt with them.
He hears a noise, and turns – but instead of HIERONIMO,
the bloody GHOSTS of ANDREA and HORATIO are staring at him.
He doesn’t see them.
LORENZO
And better ‘tis that base companions die,
Than by their life to hazard our good haps.
I’ll trust myself; myself shall be my friend.
For die, they shall. Slaves are ordained
to no other end.
He marches off between the GHOSTS.
ANDREA tries to wake the sleeping REVENGE, who pushes him
away.
30. ST. LUIGI’S PARK EXT NIGHT
[This scene is shot entirely from above, by multiple surveillance cameras with time code.]
A walled alley behind the park.
SERBERINE stands waiting against the wall.
SERBERINE
Here, Serberine, attend and stay your pace,
For here did Don Lorenzo’s page appoint
That you by his command should meet with him.
(shivers)
How fit a place, if one were so disposed,
Methinks this corner is to close with one.
HIGH SURVEILLANCE ANGLE
On a little, beaten-up car, approaching.
31. CAR INT NIGHT
PEDRINGANO at the wheel. He parks, pulls his PISTOL out of his pants. Looks at the money LORENZO has given him.
PEDRINGANO
Now, Pedringano, bid your pistol hold.
And hold on, Fortune! Once more favour me!
Here is the gold, this is the gold proposed.
It is no dream that I adventure for.
I know, if need should be, my noble lord
Will stand between me and ensuing harms.
He gets out of the car.
PEDRINGANO
Besides, this place is free from all suspect.
Here therefore will I stay and take my stand.
32. SECURITY POST INT NIGHT
SEVERAL WATCHMEN stare at the security camera screens.
St. Luigi’s Park, including PEDRINGANO and SERBERINE,
is clearly seen.
WATCHMAN 1
I wonder much to what intent it is
That we are thus expressly charged to watch?
WATCHMAN 2
‘Tis by commandment in the King’s own name.
WATCHMAN 3
But we were never wont to watch and ward
So near the Duke, his brother’s house, before.
WATCHMAN 2
Content yourself. Watch close; there’s
something in it.
33. ST. LUIGI’S PARK EXT NIGHT
ANGLE ON CCTV CAMERAS
Adjusting position for a better view.
CCTV — PEDRINGANO, tracked by cameras above, approaches SERBERINE.
PEDRINGANO
There sits the bird that I must seize upon.
Now, Pedringano, or never, play the man!
SERBERINE
(relieved)
Ho, Pedringano!
I wondered that his lordship stayed so long –
PEDRINGANO shoots SERBERINE.
PEDRINGANO
So, there he lies. My promise is –
Suddenly SECURITY VEHICLES arrive from both directions.
PEDRINGANO, trapped beside the body of his victim, is immediately apprehended by the WATCH.
WIPE TO —
34. CASTILE’S PALACE INT NIGHT
The PAGE is crouched against the keyhole of the doors to LORENZO’S CHAMBERS, listening.
35. LORENZO’S CHAMBERS INT NIGHT
BALTHAZAR is still asleep, in the same position, in the same spot, snoring.
LORENZO paces nervously, checking his mobile phone for messages, his pager, the light on the answering machine.
BALTHAZAR stirs.
BALTHAZAR
How now, my lord. What makes you rise so soon?
LORENZO
Fear of preventing our mishaps too late.
BALTHAZAR sits up. He looks around for coffee or another drink. Tries to make LORENZO’s espresso machine work.
LORENZO
Touching the death of Don Horatio,
We are betrayed to old Hieronimo.
BALTHAZAR
Betrayed, Lorenzo? Tush, it cannot be –
He realises the machine isn’t plugged in. Searches around
for the plug, a socket.
LORENZO opens the door to his rooms suddenly.
LORENZO
But here’s the PAGE!
The PAGE, leaning against the door to listen, tumbles in.
LORENZO
How now, what news with thee?
PAGE
My lord, Serberine is slain!
BALTHAZAR
Who? My man Serberine?
LORENZO
(low voice)
Who murdered him?
PAGE
(same)
Pedringano.
BALTHAZAR gives up on the coffee machine and throws his arm around LORENZO.
BALTHAZAR
Is Serberine slain that loved his lord so well?
Injurious villain! Murderer of his friend!
He wanders back toward the coffee machine, falls instead onto the sofa, and passes out again.
LORENZO goes to the drawer of his armoire. Grabs a HANDFUL OF MONEY.
LORENZO
Boy, go convey this purse to Pedringano.
And be advised that none be there about.
Bid him be merry still, but secret.
Bid him not doubt of his delivery.
LORENZO secretively hovers over a piece of paper. Seizing
a WHITE TAKE-OUT CARTON, he dumps out the contents – fortune cookies – puts the paper in, and hands it to the PAGE.
LORENZO
Tell him his pardon is already signed.
Show him this box. Tell him his pardon’s in it.
(PAGE looks at the CARTON curiously)
But open’t not, and if thou lovest thou life.
(warningly)
And, sirrah, see that this is cleanly done.
PAGE
I go, my Lord, I run.
He exits. BALTHAZAR turns, muttering in his sleep. LORENZO goes to the coffee machine. It works easily for him.
36. A WINDING STAIR INT NIGHT
As the PAGE clatters down, dangling the TAKEOUT CARTON from his finger, his curiosity overwhelms him.
PAGE
My Master hath forbidden me to look in this box.
By my troth, tis likely if he had not warned me,
I should not have had so much idle time. They
that are most forbidden will soonest attempt!
He gives up his struggle. Opens the box, pulls out the PAPER. COMPLETELY BLANK. He peers into the BOX.
PAGE
By my bare honesty, here’s nothing but the bare
empty box! Were it not a sin against secrecy,
I would say this were a piece of gentleman-like
knavery! I must go to Pedringano, and tell him
his pardon is in this box!
(shoves the empty BOX in the BACKPACK)
I would have sworn it, had I not seen the contrary!
(he continues on his way, very cheerful)
I cannot choose but smile to think how the
villain will flout the gallows, scorn the
audience, and descant on the hangman — all
presuming his pardon from hence.
He shakes his BACKPACK, takes out a CIGGIE, and lights it with a satisfied air.
PAGE
Will’t not be an odd jest, for me to stand and
grace every joke he makes, pointing my finger
at this box…
(points to TEDDY BEAR)
…as if to say, mock on, here’s thy warrant?
Is it not a scurvy jest that a man should joke
himself to death?
He LAUGHS, and DISAPPEARS DOWN THE STAIRS…
37. MAGISTRATES’ COURT INT DAY
HIERONIMO, in his new position as MARSHALL, presides in MAGISTRATE’S ROBES and CHAINS. The DEPUTY and HANGMAN enter, with PEDRINGANO, bound and carrying a LETTER, between them.
HIERONIMO
(to himself)
Thus must we toil in other men’s extremes,
That know not how to remedy our own.
DEPUTY
Worthy Hieronimo, your office asks
A care to punish such as do transgress.
HIERONIMO
Bring forth the prisoner.
The PAGE enters, WAVES at PEDRINGANO, points animatedly at his BACKPACK.
PEDRINGANO
(relieved)
Gramercy, Boy, but it was time to come!
For I had written to my Lord anew,
For fear his Lordship had forgotten me.
HIERONOMO
Stand forth thou monster, murderer of men,
Confess thy folly and repent thy fault.
For there’s the place of execution.
He points to the GALLOWS. An imposing structure that resembles the trellis on which HORATIO was hung.
PEDRIGANO looks at the PAGE, who pulls the CARTON from his BACK PACK and tosses it about.
PEDRINGANO
Sure, I confess, nor fear I death therefore!
I am the man! Twas I slew Serberine!
HIERONIMO
For blood with blood, shall while I sit as Judge,
Be satisfied and the Law discharged.
Dispatch, the fault approved and confessed,
And by our law he is condemned to die.
BOOM! He STAMPS a paper with his SEAL.
HANGMAN
Come on, sir, are you ready?
The PAGE tosses the CARTON from hand to hand, leering knowingly at PEDRINGANO.
PEDRINGANO
Oh sir, you are too forward. Sirra, doest thou
see yonder boy with the box in his hand?
ANGLE ON THE PAGE pointing at the BOX.
HANGMAN
What, he that points to it with his finger?
PEDRINGANO
Ay.
The HANGMAN prepares PEDRINGANO for hanging.
PEDRINGANO
What has he in that box, as thou thinkest?
HANGMAN
Faith, I cannot tell, nor I care not greatly.
PEDRINGANO and the PAGE exchange A-OK signs as the HANGMAN arranges the NOOSE around PEDRINGANO’s neck.
His work completed, HIERONIMO goes to the weeping WIDOW OF SERBERINE, their two CHILDREN, and his PARENTS.
HIERONIMO
O monstrous times when murder’s set so light,
O bloody monster, God forbid,
A fault so foul should scape unpunished.
Dispatch! And see the execution done.
PEDRINGANO
Nay, soft, no haste!
HIERONIMO
(exits)
This makes me to remember thee, my son.
CUT TO —
PEDRINGANO fights with the DEPUTY and HANGMAN. The PAGE snickers.
DEPUTY
Why, wherefore stay you, have you hope of life?
PEDRINGANO
Ay, Rascal, by my pardon from the KING!
The PAGE opens the CARTON, turns it over.
NOTHING.
The HANGMAN does his job. PEDRINGANO swings, the PAPER he held flutters to the ground. The PAGE chews the remaining ear of his TEDDY BEAR BACKPACK in his excitement.
The HANGMAN bends to retrieve the PAPER.
38. MAGISTRATES’ CLOAKROOM INT DAY
HIERONIMO changes from his MAGISTRATE’S ROBES. He adjusts his BLOOD-STAINED SCARF in the mirror.
The HANGMAN, worried, enters carrying the PAPER.
HANGMAN
Oh Lord, sir… the man, sir…
Petergade, sir. He that was so
full of merry conceits.
HIERONIMO
Well, what of him?
HANGMAN
Sir, the fellow had a fair commission
to the contrary. Here is his passport.
I pray you, sir, if we have done him wrong.
He hands him PEDRINGANO’s letter.
HANGMAN
You will stand between the gallows and me, sir.
HIERONIMO
Ay, ay.
HANGMAN
I thank your lord worship.
He exits, bowing. HIERONIMO opens the letter. As he does so, the GHOST OF PEDRINGANO appears behind him, its neck broken, the noose still tight. The GHOST reads aloud —
PEDRINGANO’S GHOST
“My Lord, I write, as my extremes required
That you would labour my delivery.
If you neglect, my life is desperate,
And in my death I shall reveal the truth.
You know I slew SERBERINE for your sake,
And was confederate with the Prince and you,
Won by rewards and hopeful promises,
I helped to murder DON HORATIO too.”
HIERONIMO, appalled, realizes the TRUTH.
HIERONIMO
What have I heard? What have mine eyes beheld?
Now see I what I dared not then suspect:
That Bel-Imperia’s letter was not feigned.
Now may I make compare twixt hers and this…
He pulls out BEL-IMPERIA’s LETTER, and compares the TWO.
PULL BACK TO REVEAL —
The GHOSTS – ANDREA, HORATIO, SERBERINE, PEDRINGANO, gathered around a sleeping REVENGE. But now, when ANDREA shakes him, REVENGE WAKES UP.
HIERONIMO
Oh false Lorenzo! Are these thy flattering looks?
Is this the honour that thou didst my son?
And Balthazar, bane to thy soul and me,
Woe to thy birth, thy body, and thy soul!
Thy cursed father and thy conquered self.
HIERONOMO paces, staring intently the STATUE OF JUSTICE, and the BUSTS OF FORMER GREAT JURISTS that decorate the cloakroom.
HIERONIMO
But wherefore waste I mine unfruitful words?
I will go plain me to my Lord the King!
And cry aloud for justice through the court!
Justice and blood will satisfy my woes.
He goes out, led by REVENGE, and followed by the GHOSTS.
39. LORENZO’S CHAMBERS INT DAY
BALTHAZAR ties a foulard atop his white golfing outfit in LORENZO’S BATHROOM. Outside, in the Master Bedroom, LORENZO confers with the PAGE in a low tone.
LORENZO
Boy, talk no further. Thus far things go well.
Thou art assured that thou saw’st him dead?
PAGE
Or else, my lord, I live not.
LORENZO
That’s enough.
BALTHAZAR splashes aftershave on, and presents himself for LORENZO’s attention. They wear matching white and off-white golfing outfits.
40. DUKE’S PALACE INT DAY
LORENZO and BALTHAZAR enter a panelled upper corridor. They pass a framed portrait of BEL-IMPERIA.
BALTHAZAR
Bel-Imperia!
LORENZO
My lord, you love her?
BALTHAZAR
Ay!
They halt where a FOUR-MAN S.W.A.T. TEAM waits in body armour outside a door.
LORENZO produces a key and turns it in the lock.
The S.W.A.T. TEAM rushes in. There is a crash, a scream.
One of the S.W.A.T. MEN staggers back out, bleeding.
LORENZO listens, ushers BALTHAZAR ahead of him.
41. GUEST ROOM INT DAY
BALTHAZAR and LORENZO enter the room, step over the broken water carafe, to where the THREE SURVIVING SWAT MEN are pinning BEL-IMPERIA to the floor.
BEL-IMPERIA
What means this outrage that is offered me?
Why am I thus sequestered from the Court?
LORENZO
Now, sister –
BEL-IMPERIA
Sister, no!
Thou art no brother, but an enemy!
LORENZO
Advise you better, Bel-Imperia:
I sought to save your honour, and mine own.
BEL-IMPERIA
My honour? Why, Lorenzo, wherein is’t
That I neglect my reputation so
That you, or any, need to rescue it?
LORENZO
Why, then, remembering that old disgrace
Which you for Don Andrea had endured,
And now were likely longer to sustain,
For being found so meanly accompanied –
BEL-IMPERIA
(screams)
Andrea! O Andrea! That thou saw’st
Me for thy friend Horatio handled thus,
And him for me thus causeless MURDERED!
LORENZO tries to cover her mouth. She bites him.
LORENZO
(teeth clenched)
But Bel-Imperia, see the gentle Prince.
Look on thy love, behold young Balthazar,
Whose passions by thy presence are increased.
BEL-IMPERIA
Brother, you are become an orator.
Your Prince is meditating higher things.
ANGLE ON BALTHAZAR
Posing tragically in the window. He goes down on one knee beside the pinioned BEL-IMPERIA.
BALTHAZAR
‘Tis of your beauty, then, that conquers kings.
He tries to kiss her. She spits at him.
CUT TO —
42. STAIRCASE INT DAY
BALTHAZAR and LORENZO clatter down the stairs. TWO CADDIES wait with GOLF CLUBS at the bottom.
BALTHAZAR
Led by the lodestar of her heavenly looks,
Wends poor, oppresséd Balthazar.
He snaps his fingers at the CADDIES, who run after them.
CUT TO —
43. GUEST ROOM INT DAY
The S.W.A.T. TEAM slam the door on BEL-IMPERIA, locking her back in. She runs to the barred window and looks out below.
BEL-IMPERIA
Accursed brother! Unkind murderer!
Why bends thou thus thy mind to martyr me?
(shouts out the window)
Hieronimo! Why writ I of thy wrongs,
Or why art thou so slack in thy revenge?
She sits down amid the wreckage.
BEL-IMPERIA
Well, force perforce, I must constrain myself
To patience, and apply me to the time,
Till heaven, as I’ve hoped, shall set me free.
CUT TO —
44. GOLF LINKS EXT DAY
HIERONIMO walks across the golf course, distracted.
HIERONIMO
Hieronimo, ‘tis time for thee to trudge.
Now, then, perhaps, I come and see the King.
The King sees me, and fain would hear my suit.
He reaches the top of a small hill and sees the KING and CASTILE’s golf carts, with SECURITY MEN all around, and BALTHAZAR thrashing away in a sand trap.
HIERONIMO
This way I’ll take. And this way comes the King!
He hurries towards them. The golf carts pull up at the next tee. The KING, CASTILE, LORENZO and the AMBASSADOR descend.
KING
Now, show, Ambassador, what your liege lord saith.
Hath he received the articles we sent?
HIERONIMO
Justice! O justice to Hieronimo!
LORENZO motions to the SECURITY MEN to join him. They intercept HIERONIMO.
LORENZO
Back! See’st thou not the King is busy?
HIERONIMO
O, is he so?
KING
Who is he that interrupts our business?
HIERONIMO is encircled by dark-suited SECURITY MEN.
HIERONIMO
Not I.
(aside)
Hieronimo, beware.
(to the SECURITY MEN)
Go by, go by!
ANGLE ON THE KING AND THE AMBASSADOR, teeing off.
AMBASSADOR
Renownéd King, he hath received
Thy Kingly love, and kindly lets thee know:
First, for the marriage of his Princely son,
With Bel-Imperia, thy belovéd niece,
No news is more delightful to his soul!
Thus will he give his crown to Balthazar
And make a Queen of Bel-Imperia!
CASTILE has noticed the commotion surrounding HIERONIMO.
He watches it uneasily out of the corner of his eye.
KING
Brother, how like you this?
CASTILE
I’m much indebted to his Grace
That bends his liking to my daughter thus.
AMBASSADOR
Now last, dread Lord, here has his Highness sent
– Although he send not that his son return –
His ransom, due to Don Horatio.
HIERONIMO
Horatio! Who calls Horatio?
KING
And well remembered. Thank his Majesty.
Here, see it given to Horatio.
ANGLE ON HIERONIMO
Crying out. Behind him, the GHOSTS and REVENGE are seen, coming down the hill.
HIERONIMO
Justice! O justice! Justice, gentle King!
KING
Who’s that? Hieronimo?
(distracted by CASTILE’s shot)
Nice swing!
HIERONIMO
Justice, o justice! O my son, my son,
My son – whom naught can ransom, or redeem.
LORENZO
(hissing at him)
Hieronimo, you are not well advised.
HIERONIMO
Away, Lorenzo! Hinder me no more,
For you have made me bankrupt of my bliss.
Give me my son, you shall not ransom him.
He grabs LORENZO’s golf club and starts hacking at the earth.
HIERONIMO
Away! I’ll rip the bowels of the earth
And bring my son to show his deadly wounds!
I’ll here surrender up my Marshalship
And I’ll go marshall up the fiends in hell
To be avengéd on you all, for this!
The KING is appalled at the desecration of his Golf Course.
KING
What means this outrage?
Will none of you restrain his fury?
TWO SECURITY MEN restrain HIERONIMO. The Royal Party return to their carts.
HIERONIMO
Nay, soft and fair! You shall not need to strive.
(as the Golf Carts take off)
Needs must he go that the devils drive.
ABOARD THE KING’S CART – LORENZO is driving it.
KING
What accident hath happened to Hieronimo?
I have not seen him, to demean him so.
LORENZO
My gracious Lord, he’s full of extreme pride,
And covetous of having to himself
The ransom of the young Prince Balthazar.
ANGLE ON BALTHAZAR
Running after them, jumping aboard the AMBASSADOR’s cart.
LORENZO
Distract, and in a manner lunatic.
KING
Believe me, nephew, we are sorry for it.
They stop at the green, pull out their putters.
KING
This is the love that fathers bear their sons.
(to CASTILE)
But gentle brother, go give him this gold.
The Prince’s ransom, let him have his due.
CASTILE takes the money, looks back towards HIERONIMO, raving at the GUARDS. He shakes his head, uneasily.
LORENZO
But since he is thus haplessly distract,
‘Tis requisite his office be resigned,
And given to one of more discretion.
KING
We should increase his melancholy so.
‘Tis best that we think further on it first.
(he claps the AMBASSADOR on the shoulder)
And now let us prefix a certain time
Wherein the marriage may be solemnised
Twixt Balthazar and Bel-Imperia.
AMBASSADOR
Therein your Highness highly shall content
His Majesty, the King of Portugal.
ANGLE ON CASTILE
Watching, concerned, as HIERONIMO breaks free of the GUARDS and runs off across the Golf Course.
ANGLE ON LORENZO
Eyeing his dad nervously.
45. ANOTHER PART OF THE GOLF COURSE EXT DAY
A wind is blowing up.
TWO PAPARAZZI cross the links, following the tracks of the golf carts and the royal litter. They are laden down with cameras and camera bags. They hail HIERONIMO.
PAPARAZZO
By your leave, sir.
HIERONIMO
Good leave have you.
PAPARAZZA
Pray you, which way went my Lord the Duke?
HIERONIMO
The next way from me.
PAPARAZZA
You could not tell us if his son were with him?
HIERONIMO
Who, my Lord Lorenzo?
PAPARAZZO
Ay, sir.
HIERONIMO
O, forbear!
If you desire to know the way to him,
Then list to me, and I’ll resolve your doubt:
There is a path upon your left-hand side,
That leadeth from a guilty conscience
Unto a forest of distrust and fear,
A darksome place, and dangerous to pass.
There shall you meet with melancholy thoughts
Which will conduct you to Despair and Death.
PAPARAZZA takes HIERONIMO’s picture.
PAPARAZZO warns his colleague not to waste her film.
HIERONIMO
Not far from thence, where murderers have built
A habitation for their curséd souls,
There, in a brazen cauldron, on a sulphur flame,
Yourselves shall find Lorenzo bathing him
In boiling lead and blood of innocents.
PAPARAZZO
Ha, ha, ha!
HIERONIMO
Ha, ha, ha!
Why, ha, ha, ha! Farewell, good ha, ha, ha!
PAPARAZZA
Doubtless this man is passing lunatic…
They shiver nervously. An ICY WIND blows over them.
They walk on, shaking, surrounded by GHOSTS they do not see.