Work Text:
5.1
Enter IAGO and RODERIGO
IAGO Keep yourself behind th’ beam ‘til he arrives.
When he arrives give him no time to think.
When his footsteps can be heard, make your charge.
Do not doubt your judgment, nor your great strength.
RODERIGO Here, stand by me, in case of my failure.
IAGO [aside] I shall not stay beyond th’ necessity,
For I benefit from th’ death of either.
[ to RODERIGO] Here I stand, Prepare! Cassio now arrives.
[He draws ]
Enter CASSIO
[RODERIGO drops his sword when drawing it ]
CASSIO Whose sword is drawn in such darkness? A foe?
If you mean no harm, speak, or arm yourself.
[RODERIGO picks up his sword]
RODERIGO Villain, thou will not survive my attack!
[He thrusts at CASSIO]
[CASSIO stabs him]
RODERIGO Oh, I am slain!
[IAGO stabs CASSIO]
Exit IAGO
CASSIO Villain! Help, ho, murder!
Enter IAGO
IAGO Good Cassio, what is the trouble now?
[IAGO lights a candle ]
CASSIO A villain has attacked me in the dark!
He’s still near, for I have wounded him.
IAGO Quickly, we shall find the villain. Look to
Where he may be hidden. Then we shall make
Sure he shall not ever attack again.
RODERIGO [aside] Iago will not give me away now.
CASSIO Quick to it, before I draw my last breath.
Enter LODOVICO and GRAZANIO
GRAZANIO What is the trouble, you speak of murder?
RODERIGO Oh help me there!
CASSIO That’s one of them!
IAGO The villain shall be punished right now!
[IAGO stabs RODERIGO]
RODERIGO Most inhuman Iago, I am slain.
IAGO We must leave before others make their attempts!
Hurry, bring Cassio to the infirmary. Exeunt
5.2
Enter IAGO and OTHELLO
IAGO [aside] As Othello thinks Cassio has died
He shall now go forth with his horrid plan.
His reputation shall be tarnished soon
And when my position I shall attain
My hatred will cease to ne’er return.
OTHELLO Iago, what news? Is Cassio dead?
IAGO [to OTHELLO] ‘Tis true, Cassio has drawn his last breath.
OTHELLO Good Iago, you fulfill your promises.
Now, I must to my chambers to my wife.
IAGO The woman who betrayed you for so long.
I shan’t keep you from her, I take my leave Exit IAGO
Enter BIANCA
BIANCA Where is good Cassio? Is he injured?
I hope not. [to OTHELLO] Sir, hath you seen Cassio?
I am afeared that he has been injured.
OTHELLO Your fear is not unwarranted, poor wench.
Cassio has joined the devil in hell.
BIANCA This cannot be! My Cassio is dead.
OTHELLO He’s not yours, never yours. He took mine own wife
From me and coerced her to betray me too!
BIANCA No! I do not want to believe he would
OTHELLO Ne’er raise your voice at me again, foul wench.
Your relation could not satisfy him.
If you had entertained him properly,
Desdemon’ would still be mine and Cass, yours.
BIANCA I pray, stop! Let me alone to process.
OTHELLO You are as complacent as they have been!
Enter EMILIA
EMILIA [To BIANCA] Is this Bianca?
BIANCA ‘Tis, but I shan't stay.
EMILIA You must, Cassio has-
OTHELLO Died, as we know.
EMILIA Died? He hath been injured, but not yet died.
Hope to sustain, he shall not die tonight.
He may see the same hundred morns as we.
OTHELLO Fie! Dost thou lie to me again? Do not
Say your good husband tells me a falsehood!
EMILIA No, I wish not to defy my husband,
He may have presumed Cass had fallen still,
And came to tell you because he knows your,
Closeness to poor Cassio. [to BIANCA] Shall we go?
BIANCA Please, take me to my poor Cassio now. Exeunt BIANCA and EMILIA
OTHELLO What meaning has this falsehood?
[OTHELLO reorients himself ]
To my wife.
OTHELLO exits
5.3
Enter DESDEMONA [with a light]
DESDEMONA He should arrive soon, so I must be calm.
He seems averse to ev’ry move I make,
I cannot satisfy his needs anymore.
He scares me more than he has, my mind stays
Insistent and singing, Willow, willow.
I pray he has calmed and will see me
As I am, and not how he sees me now.
[She sets the candle down and lies on the bed. ]
I shall lie in wait, to see a calm, soft
Othello when I wake.
[she blows out the candle ]
Enter OTHELLO [with a light]
OTHELLO Here she lies before me, the damnéd wench.
Desdemon who trades me for Cassio,
Just to come to this moment, she lies here,
Alone, she seems almost sinless asleep.
Yet, her sins outway her past, she must die.
She shall draw her last breath before daybreak.
But she lies so peacefully, so solemn,
Once the decision is made, it won’t stop.
Once you pluck a rose, it can only wither.
Withering is mercy from corruption.
If she dies here, I would see her in hell.
Perhaps then we should reunite again
As husband and wife.
[He kisses DESDEMONA.]
Her skin’s still so soft.
How shall I ever part with her again?
One more, then our lips will touch nevermore.
[He kisses her. She wakes ]
DESDEMONA Othello, why are you back late tonight?
You said to wait, but I couldn’t stay awake.
OTHELLO I did not want to see your face tonight,
But now I must, until you confess your sins.
DESDEMONA What sins have I committed against you?
OTHELLO You have taken another man to bed!
DESDEMONA I have done no such thing! I am faithful!
OTHELLO I heard him speak o’ it. You spoke well of him.
DESDEMONA I am a woman of th’ law of th’ Lord.
OTHELLO You should have told that to Cassio then!
DESDEMONA Cassio? Never have I slept with him!
Nor anyone but you
OTHELLO Your handkerchief!
[OTHELLO pulls out the handkerchief]
DESDEMONA What?
OTHELLO You gave him this handkerchief, this one here!
DESDEMONA I ne’er gave it, someone must have found it!
OTHELLO Do not lie to me!
DESDEMONA I never would lie!
OTHELLO Iago hath told me th’ truth of your lies!
DESDEMONA Iago lies!
OTHELLO Do you have anything to say before
Hell takes you, make your statement with no pause.
DESDEMONA You would kill me?
OTHELLO For crimes you’d committed.
DESDEMONA The crimes do not exist!
OTHELLO Say your last words now!
DESDEMONA Let them be a prayer, I pray for you.
I pray for your mercy. [She kneels ]
OTHELLO May th’ Lord answer.
For alone I shall show you no mercy.
DESDEMONA I pray Iago’s hold on you loosens!
OTHELLO Your time has run out!
[He attacks her]
DESDEMONA My prayer isn’t done!
OTHELLO You deserve no more forgiveness!
DESDEMONA Help! Help! Murder!
[he smothers her]
OTHELLO Oh, fair Desdemona, if only you hadn’t
Betrayed me and refused to even admit!
If only Iago had ne’er told your lies.
Iago is grateful and kind, he ne’er…
[he lets go of her. She stands .]
Desdemon, please.
DESDEMONA I pray I can forgive you if I see you again. But now, I must away. I cannot stay to be your wife until you can trust me with your life. Exit DESDEMONA
OTHELLO. [Aside] Do not think ill of me. I was a tool.
I was used, destroyed, abhorred, tricked, abused.
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate.
Nor set down aught in malice. Then you must speak
Of one that loved now wisely, but too well. (Shakespeare 5.2.335-337)
Now, leave me alone to face my consequence
Enter CASSIO, GRAZANIO, LODOVICO, and EMILIA
Exeunt.
THE END