Storyboard for Act Two, Scene Two.

Essential elements:

• Must conceive Trinculo and Stephano as a comedy team. Stephano, like Malvolio or Oliver Hardy, has aspirations and manner above his station; Trinculo is the hunchback fool whose main talent is being whacked and humiliated, passive but can be, like Stan Laurel, sneakily mean at times. They should entertain us, but with a higher degree of need and grotesquerie than the innocence of Laurel & Hardy. Their comedy isn’t light.

• Caliban is doing more than bitching about his lot: he’s trying to cast futile spells against Prospero, but hopelessly cowed.

• We need the sense that the liquor hits Caliban like a stroke of lightning. The moment it hits, he’s an alcoholic.

• The song at the end is a grotesque parody of revolution. It’s in keeping with Shakespeare’s loathing of the mob: Jack Cade, or the plebes in Coriolanus, or the rioters tearing the poet to pieces in Julius Caesar. There’s an inherent nobility in Caliban, but in this scene he’s utterly debased.

2:2 - THE DRUNKEN UNDERCLASS PROCLAIM A NEW KINGDOM, AND CALIBAN, CLAIMING HIS FREEDOM, RE-ENSLAVES HIMSELF.

Shadows, as before. Voices calling for Ferdinand, segue to buzzing of flies & mosquitoes.

01-Thunder. Lights up on Caliban moving across slowly R to L with heavy log. He stops, throws down log, starts beating on the earth, as if making formal curse.

>>>Caliban: All the infections that the Sun sucks up
>>>From Bogs, Fens, Flats, on Prosper fall, and make him
>>>By inch-meal a disease!

Thunder. He reacts in terror.

>>>His Spirits hear me,
>>>And yet I needs must curse.

Mumbling, struggles to pick up log, resuming work.

>>>But they’ll nor pinch,
>>>Fright me with Urchin-shows, pitch me i’ the mire,
>>>Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark
>>>of my way, unless he bid ’em;

Having log up on his shoulder, he flies again into fury, lets it fall. Paces back and forth, striking at the air, then again at the earth.

>>> but
>>>For every trifle are they set upon me:
>>>Sometime like Apes, that mow and chatter at me
>>>And after bite me; then like Hedge-hogs, which
>>>Lie tumbling in my bare-foot way and mount
>>>Their pricks at my foot-fall; sometime am I
>>>All wound with Adders, who with cloven tongues
>>>Do hiss me into madness.—

He has frozen, looks around terrified. Trinculo’s voice, “Hallo! Yo! Hallo!” calling, echoing. Sound of goose horn.

>>>Lo now! lo!
>>>Here comes a Spirit of his, to torment me
>>>For bringing wood in slowly: I’ll cover up;
>>>Perchance he will not mind me.

Covers head with green plastic tarp (still sitting upright). Shivers visibly.

Trinculo, a dwarf court fool, hobbles on. He carries several noisemakers in his belt. Thunder. He looks up.

>>>Trinculo: Here’s neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather, and another Storm brewing; yond same black cloud looks like a full jug that would shed his liquor. I know not where to hide my head—

Lightning, nearby thunder. Trinculo startles, his cap falling over his eyes. Gropes about. Bumps into Caliban. Uncovers eyes.

02->>>What have we here? a man or a fish? A fish: he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish-like smell; a kind of not of the newest halibut.

Pats his stomach, feels Caliban with two free fingers, from head down. Feeling his genitals:

>>>Strange fish!

Sound from Caliban, shivering. Trinculo starts back, defending himself with his goose horn. Then, contemplative:

>>>Were I in England now, as once I was, not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver: there would this Monster make a man; any strange beast there makes a man. When they won’t give a fig to relieve a lame Beggar, they’ll lay out ten to see a dead Indian.

Approaches again. Feels Caliban.

>>>Warm! This is no fish, but an islander, that hath suffered by a Thunderbolt.

Lightning, then thunder.

>>>Alas! the storm, there is no shelter hereabout: I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past. Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

He struggles to get under tarp. Flurry of tangled struggle, coming to a stop as both are on their bellies, with two pairs of feet emerging at 45-degree angle. Both moaning. Stephano is heard singing, off:

>>>Stephano: I shall no more to sea, to sea,
>>>Here shall I die a-shore:—

Stephano enters UR, as if still swimming. Stumbles, reels.

>>>This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man’s funeral:
>>>Well, here’s my comfort.

Drinks from wineskin. Comforted:

>>>The Master, the Swabber, the Boatswain and I,
>>>The Gunner and his Mate,
>>>Lov’d Mall, Meg, and Marian and Margery,
>>>But none of us car’d for Kate;

Rises, staggers L, drinking, to Upstage of Caliban/Trinculo tangle.

>>>For she had a tongue with a tang,
>>>Would cry to a Sailor, ‘Go hang!’
>>>She lov’d not the savour of Tar nor of Pitch,
>>>Yet a Tailor might scratch her wheree’er she did itch:

03-Scratches obscenely on the tarp; Trinculo sound from underneath. Stephano lurches Upstage, then back down.

>>>Then to Sea, Boys, and let her go hang.
>>>This is a scurvy tune too.

Starts to sit on the lump. Caliban reacts. Stephano startles, lurching back US.

>>>Caliban: Do not torment me: O!

Another round of struggle. The feet reverse: both lying on their backs. Caliban and Trinculo pull the tarp back and forth, trying to cover up.

>>>Stephano: What’s the matter? Have we devils here? Ha! I’ve not ’scaped drowning, to be afeard now of your four legs.

They settle. Stephano prods the dual creature.

>>>Caliban: The Spirit torments me: O!
>>>Stephano: This is some Monster of the isle with four legs. Where the devil should he learn our language?

Prods him again, delights in producing a reaction.

>>>Caliban: Do not torment me: I’ll bring my wood home faster.

Another flurry of pulling the tarp.

>>>Stephano: He’s in his fit now. If he have never drunk wine it will remove his Fit. If I can recover him and get to Naples with him, he’s a Present for any Emperor.

Stephano puts his hand firmly on the lump; they freeze, both trembling.

>>>Caliban: Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon, I know it by thy trembling: now Prosper works upon thee.
>>>Stephano: Open your mouth: this will shake your shaking, soundly. You can’t tell who’s your friend; open your chaps again.

04-Uncovers head; Caliban strains upward as Stephano gives him a drink. Strong focus on this first moment. Disgust/taste/eagerness. Stephano coaching Caliban in sounds of pleasure.

>>>Trinculo: I should know that voice: but he is drowned, and these are devils. O defend me!
>>>Stephano: Four legs and two voices! I will pour some in thy other mouth.

Moves to other end, uncovers head.

>>>Trinculo: Stephano!

Stephano startles back. Makes sign of cross with wineskin. Covers his own head.

>>>Stephano: Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy! mercy! This is a devil, and no Monster.
>>>Trinculo: Stephano!— If thou beest Stephano, speak to me, I am Trinculo— thy good friend Trinculo.

Stephano peeks out, carefully approaches, finds pair of legs.

>>>Stephano: If thou beest Trinculo, come forth. I’ll pull thee by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo’s legs, these are they.

05-Pulls on legs. Pulls harder, then mad flurry of tarp and people. Trinculo winds up in embrace with Stephano R, Caliban on far L side, sitting with tarp.

>>>Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How cam’st thou to be the dung of this Moon-calf? Can he vent Trinculos?

>>>Trinculo: I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke and hid me for fear of the Storm. But art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope thou art not drowned. Art thou living, Stephano? O Stephano!

Trinculo becomes more and more excited, starts spinning Stephano about.

>>>Stephano: Prithee, do not turn me about: my stomach is not constant.

06-Reels, then vomits into Trinculo’s trousers. Trinculo turns away, feeling trousers. Stephano gradually recovers.

>>>Caliban: These be fine things if they be not sprites.
That’s a brave God and bears Celestial liquor:
I will kneel to him.
>>>Stephano: How didst thou ‘scape? Swear by this Bottle how thou cam’st hither.

Gives him bottle. Trinculo drinks. Pats Trinculo lovingly.

>>>I escaped upon a Butt of Sack, which the Sailors heaved overboard, by this Bottle which I made of the bark of a Tree with mine own hands, since I was cast ashore.

Stephano sees Trinculo about to take another swig, grabs bottle from him, shoves him (alternately comradeship and abuse). Caliban feeling the effects of the liquor.

>>>Caliban: I’ll swear upon that Bottle, to be thy true subject; for the liquor is not earthly.
>>>Stephano: Here: swear then, how thou escapedst.
>>>Trinculo: Swam ashore, man, like a Duck: I can swim like a Duck.
>>>Stephano: Here, kiss the Book.

Hands him the bottle. He swigs.

>>>Though thou canst swim like a Duck, thou art made like a Goose.
>>>Trinculo: O Stephano! hast more of this?
>>>Stephano: The whole Butt, man: my Cellar is in a rock by the seaside, where my Wine is hid.

Whimper of longing from Caliban. They turn to see him. Trinculo startles back.

>>>How now, Moon-calf!
>>>Caliban: Hast thou not dropped from heaven?

Stephano sharing the joke with Trinculo:

>>>Stephano: Out o’ the moon, I do assure thee: I was the Man in the Moon, when time was.
>>>Caliban: I have seen thee in her; my mistress showed me thee.
>>>Stephano: Come, swear to that; kiss the Book;

07-Holds out bottle to Caliban. Caliban rubs his cheek against it, as if it’s too holy to touch. Trinculo whimpers. To Trinculo:

>>>I will furnish it anon with new contents;

To Caliban:

>>>Swear.

Caliban drinks: deep ecstasy, something entirely new to him. Trinculo speaking both to himself and to Stephano.

>>>Trinculo: This is a very shallow Monster.—I afeard of him!—a very weak Monster.—The Man i’ the Moon! a most poor credulous Monster!
>>>Caliban: I’ll show thee every fertile inch o’ the Island;
And I will kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my god.
>>>Trinculo: By this light, a most perfidious and drunken Monster: when his god’s asleep, he’ll rob his Bottle.
>>>Caliban: I’ll kiss thy foot: I’ll swear myself thy Subject.
>>>Stephano: Come on then; down, and swear.

Caliban bows as if kissing foot. Stephano teases him with bottle, at last letting him drink.

>>>Trinculo: I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed monster. I could find in my heart to beat him,—
>>>Stephano: Come, kiss.

Stephano turns his ass to Caliban, waves bottle. Caliban kisses his ass. Stephano and Trinculo dissolve in laughter as he lets Caliban have another drink.

>>>Trinculo: But that the poor Monster’s in drink: an abominable Monster!

Change of tone. Caliban deeply intense:

>>>Caliban: I’ll shew thee the best Springs; I’ll pluck thee Berries;
>>>I’ll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough.
>>>A plague upon the Tyrant that I serve!
>>>I’ll bear him no more Sticks, but follow thee,
>>>Thou wondrous man.
>>>Trinculo: A most ridiculous Monster, to make a wonder of a poor drunkard!

Stephano swats Trinculo.

>>>Caliban: I prithee, let me bring thee where Crabapples grow;
>>>And I with long nails will dig thee pig-nuts;
>>>Show thee a Jay’s nest and instruct thee how
>>>To snare the nimble Marmoset; I’ll bring thee
>>>To clust’ring Filberts, and sometimes I’ll get thee
>>>Young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?

08-Both repeat the word “scamels?” Blank look. Caliban mimes one. They mime tasting it, like it enormously, gobble the whole imaginary handful of scamels. Stephano then recovers his dignity.

>>>Stephano: I prithee now, lead the way, without any more talking. Trinculo, the King and all our company else being drowned, we

Patting himself on the chest, taking a royal pose.

>>>will inherit here: Here; bear my Bottle.—Fellow Trinculo, we’ll fill him by and by.

Caliban in transport of drunken joy:

>>>Caliban: Farewell, Master; farewell, farewell.
>>>Trinculo: A howling Monster, a drunken Monster.
>>>Stephano: O brave monster! lead the way.

Stephano and Trinculo start up singing a tune without words. Caliban joins in, making up his own words.

>>>Caliban: No more dams I’ll make for fish;
>>>Nor fetch in firing at requiring,
>>>Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish;
>>>’Ban, ’Ban, Ca-Caliban,
>>>Has a new master— Get a new man.

Others join in as a chorus, dance about in celebration, Caliban and Trinculo circling Stephano, who stands regally in center. Segue to shouting “Freedom! Freedom!” as if shouting “kill, kill!”

09->>>All: Freedom, high-day! high-day, freedom! freedom! freedom!

All off UL. Recorded sound picks up “Freedom!” Shadow flurry.

• • •

So Elizabeth is off to her acting gig in Bloomsburg, PA, carrying along a ton of sound equipment to continue working in the Tempest score. We’re 3/5ths completed with casting. I’ve decided to play Prospero myself and am halfway thru the first act learning lines. I’m just finishing casting of the fifth Ariel head—his shape-shifting will be based on the same basic cast, built up with different elements. A day spent at the university library watching the first three hours of a ten-hour series on Shakespearean acting, specifically verse-speaking, produced by the BBC and the Royal Shakespeare Co., very stimulating. Starting the sculpting of Prospero and his brother Antonio. I need to work faster on everything.

Next entry, Apr. 7.

Cheers—
Conrad