RODERIGO So, you hate Othello as much as I do.
IAGO Of
course, I do. Everyone knows that I should be his new lieutenant. However, he
has chosen Michael Cassio.
RODERIGO By heaven! How can you follow him then? How
can you help him?
IAGO I follow him to get revenge.
RODERIGO And what about me? I love Desdemona but she loves Othello. I know
they are together at this moment.
IAGO Tell
her father. Brabantio's daughter with a Moor..., he will get furious.
RODERIGO Here is her father’s house. I’ll tell him. (Shouting.) Brabantio! Signior Brabantio! Hoa!
BRABANTIO What is the matter there? Who are you?
RODERIGO My name is Roderigo.
BRABANTIO What do you want?
RODERIGO Sir, your beautiful daughter is in love with Othello, the Moor.
They are together now.
BRABANTIO With the Moor? Where did you see her? Do you think they are married?
RODERIGO I think they are.
BRABANTIO Do you know where we can find them?
RODERIGO I think I can find the Moor. Come with me!
The
duke's palace.
DUKE Valiant
Othello, I need your help against the Turks. Turkish ships are sailing towards
Cyprus. We are in great danger.
BRABANTIO Pardon me, my lord. I have a very big problem.
DUKE What's the matter?
BRABANTIO My daughter! Oh, my daughter!
DUKE Dead?
BARBANTIO Stolen, my lord. She has been stolen from me
using magic.
DUKE Who? He will pay for it.
BRABANTIO Here is the man, this Moor.
DUKE What can you say to this, Othello?
BRABANTIO Nothing, but this is so.
OTHELLO It's true, I have taken this man's daughter. I have married her;
but it's not magic, it's simply love.
BRABANTIO My daughter in love with a Moor! That's not possible
OTHELLO Send for Desdemona and let her explain.
DUKE Bring
Desdemona immediately.
OTHELLO Iago, you know where she is. (Iago
leaves.) Until she
comes, let me explain how I got her love.
DUKE Tell
us.
OTHELLO His father, Brabantio, loved me; he often invited me. He enjoyed
hearing about my battles, so I spent hours at his house. I met his daughter,
Desdemona, and we fell in love.
Desdemona
and Iago enter.
BRABANTIO Come here, my daughter. Tell these noble men who is the most
important person for you in this room.
DESDEMONA Father, I love you. But
here is my husband, Othello, and he’s the most important for me now.
BRABANTIO That’s all, my lord. My heart is broken. I’m happy I have no other
child. Let’s talk about Cyprus.
DUKE The
Turks are sailing towards Cyprus. Othello, you are our best captain, you must
go to Cyprus at once.
OTHELLO I'll take care of the Turks, but let me ask you a favour: I want
a place to live for my wife.
DUKE She
can stay with her father.
BRABANTIO No, never!
OTHELLO I don't want either.
DESDEMONA My good duke, I love Othello. Let me go with
him.
OTHELLO I agree with her.
DUKE You
decide, but you must leave tonight.
OTHELLO With all my heart.
Everybody leaves but Iago.
IAGO This
is my plan: I’ll go to Cyprus and tell Othello and Roderigo that Michael Cassio
is in love with Desdemona. I’m sure the Moor will get jealous and so will
Roderigo.
IAGO I bring bad news, my friend.
Desdemona is in love with Cassio.
RODERIGO With him? That’s not possible.
IAGO He is handsome, young and has all
those things that a woman loves.
RODERIGO I can’t believe that in her.
IAGO Don’t worry, I have a plan. Find some
occasion to get Cassio angry.
RODERIGO Well.
IAGO Provoke
him. He may hit you, it will cause a big mess and Cassio will be in trouble.
RODERIGO I'll do that.
IAGO My good friends, Cassio and Montano,
how are you?
CASSIO Welcome, Iago.
IAGO Let's have a drink and talk.
CASSIO Not tonight, good Iago. I'm very bad at drinking, and I must
do my work.
IAGO Please, just one cup.
CASSIO Ok, just one cup.
They drink and sing a lot.
MONTANO Excellent wine.
CASSIO Well then, I must go. You mustn’t think that I’m drunk. (He’s really drunk.)
IAGO (To Roderigo.) This is your opportunity. Go after Cassio, go!
(Roderigo leaves.)
MONTANO What’s that noise?
Cassio enters pursuing Roderigo.
RODERIGO Help, help!
MONTANO What’s the matter, Cassio?
CASSIO Let me kill this idiot!
MONTANO (Trying to defend
Roderigo from Cassio.) Come, come; you are drunk!
CASSIO Drunk?
IAGO (To Roderigo.) Run away quickly, go!
Roderigo leaves. Cassio and Montano pull out their swords and fight. Cassio wounds Montano.
MONTANO Cassio, why?
IAGO (Shouting.) Help, help!
OTHELLO What’s the matter here?
MONTANO I’m bleeding. I’m hurt to death.
OTHELLO Iago, who began this?
IAGO I’m not sure.
CASSIO I beg your pardon, I can’t speak.
MONTANO General, I’m hurt but Iago can inform you.
IAGO It’s
very hard to tell this: Montano and myself were talking, there comes a man
crying out for help and Cassio following him. Montano tried to stop Cassio
and... you can see.
OTHELLO Cassio, I love you; but you’ll never be my
lieutenant any more.
IAGO Are you hurt, lieutenant?
CASSIO Reputation, reputation, reputation! I
have lost my reputation!
IAGO I’ll
tell you what you should do. Our general’s wife is now the general.
CASSIO What do you mean?
IAGO Othello
loves Desdemona... Ask her for help and she will convince her husband. You’ll
be lieutenant again.
CASSIO It’s a good advice.
IAGO My plan is working!
EMILIA Good morning, good lieutenant. I’m sorry for your problem;
but don’t worry, Desdemona is going to help you.
CASSIO Please, help me to have a word with
Desdemona alone.
EMILIA She is coming now.
CASSIO Madam. (He
bows.)
DESDEMONA Don’t worry, my good Cassio, I’m going to
help you.
CASSIO I’m so upset about what I did.
DESDEMONA
My husband and you will be friends again.
CASSIO Whatever happens, I’ll be your servant
forever.
EMILIA Madam, my lord is coming.
CASSIO Goodbye, madam.
DESDEMONA No, stay.
CASSIO Madam, not now.
OTHELLO Was not Cassio?
IAGO Cassio, my lord?
DESDEMONA
How are you, my dear husband?
OTHELLO Not
too bad.
DESDEMONA
I’ve been talking to your lieutenant Cassio.
OTHELLO He
is not my lieutenant more.
DESDEMONA He is a good man and wants to be
forgiven... Please, talk to him.
OTHELLO Not now.
DESDEMONA When? Soon?
OTHELLO I don’t know. Please, leave me alone.
DESDEMONA Think about it, my lord. (Desdemona and Emilia leave.)
IAGO General, do you trust Cassio?
OTHELLO Cassio? What do you mean?
IAGO Pay attention to your wife, observe
her with Cassio.
OTHELLO What?
IAGO They seem to be very close.
OTHELLO I can’t believe it. My own wife, Desdemona,
loving Cassio!
IAGO Be careful, general. Jealousies are
dangerous.
Othello leaves angrily and Emilia enters.
EMILIA Dear husband, I have something for you.
IAGO For me? What can you have, stupid
woman?
EMILIA Do you remember the handkerchief that Othello first gave to
Desdemona? I have found it.
IAGO You are great! Give it to me. (He takes the handkerchief.)
EMILIA What will you do with it?
IAGO It’s
not your business. Go, leave me alone. (Emilia
leaves.) I’ll leave
this handkerchief in Cassio’s room.
OTHELLO (Shouting.) Iago! Iago!
IAGO (Putting
the handkerchief in his pocket.) Yes, my lord.
OTHELLO I can’t sleep, I can’t stop thinking about
what you said.
IAGO I am sorry to hear this.
OTHELLO Give me a proof. Give me a proof or I’ll
kill you.
IAGO Do you remember the handkerchief you
gave Desdemona?
OTHELLO Yes, it was my first gift.
IAGO I saw Cassio with it.
OTHELLO Oh, blood, blood, blood! I want revenge, I want you to kill
Cassio. Now you are my lieutenant.
IAGO Then, Cassio is dead.
Iago leaves.
Desdemona and Emilia enter.
DESDEMONA How are you, my husband? Do you feel better?
OTHELLO Better...? Great, I feel really great. Could you lend me your
handkerchief?
DESDEMONA Here you have, my lord.
OTHELLO This is not the one that I gave you. Where
is it?
DESDEMONA It’s not here but...
OTHELLO Go for it and let me see it. (Othello leaves.)
EMILIA I think he is jealous.
DESDEMONA It’s terrible, I don’t know where the
handkerchief is.
Outside
the castle.
IAGO Hello, Roderigo!
RODERIGO Iago, you are not helping me. I have spent all my money but
Desdemona doesn’t love me.
IAGO My friend, we have a good chance
tonight.
RODERIGO What is it?
IAGO Tonight,
Cassio is going for a walk. You may kill him, I’ll help you.
RODERIGO Killing him? Are you sure?
IAGO Trust
me. Desdemona will be yours tomorrow.
RODERIGO Then, I’ll do it for love.
IAGO Stand here, he will come soon.
RODERIGO Stay by me, I may need your help.
IAGO I’ll hide here and help you if you
fail. (He hides.)
RODERIGO Villain, you are dead! (He stabs Cassio.)
CASSIO My coat is better than you thought. What about yours? (He stabs Roderigo.)
RODERIGO Oh, I’m dead!
Iago enters, stabs Cassio from behind and leaves.
CASSIO I’m hurt forever! Help! Help!
CASSIO Help, please, help!
GRATIANO Look at that!
RODERIGO Nobody comes, I will bleed to death.
LODOVICO Two men crying.
IAGO What’s the matter?
LODOVICO We don’t know.
CASSIO Here, here! Help me!
IAGO Who are you?
CASSIO Iago? I have been attacked by villains.
IAGO My lieutenant! What villains have
done this?
CASSIO That’s one of them! (He points his finger to Roderigo.)
IAGO Oh, villain! (He stabs Roderigo.)
RODERIGO Oh, inhuman dog! (He
dies.)
IAGO How are you, Cassio?
CASSIO I’m badly hurt.
IAGO Kind gentlemen, let’s help poor Cassio. (They
carry him out of the stage.)
Desdemona’s
bedroom.
DESDEMONA Who is there? Othello?
OTHELLO (Outside the
stage.) Yes,
Desdemona.
DESDEMONA Come with me.
Othello enters.
OTHELLO Have you said your prayers, Desdemona?
DESDEMONA What do you mean?
OTHELLO You are going to die.
DESDEMONA Are you going to kill me?
OTHELLO Yes, I am.
DESDEMONA But why?
OTHELLO That handkerchief that I gave you, you gave
it to Cassio.
DESDEMONA No, I didn’t! Send for him.
OTHELLO Are you ready to die?
DESDEMONA Kill me tomorrow! Let me live tonight!
OTHELLO It’s too late. (He smothers
her.)
Emilia knocks at the door.
EMILIA My lord, my lord!
OTHELLO Who is there?
EMILIA Oh, my good lord! Can I have a word with
you?
OTHELLO This is Emilia. What’s the matter with you
now?
Emilia enters.
EMILIA My lord, Cassio has killed a young
Venetian called Roderigo.
OTHELLO Roderigo dead? And Cassio dead?
EMILIA No, Cassio is not dead.
DESDEMONA (Crying.) Oh, my God! I die!
EMILIA What cry is that? Desdemona?
OTHELLO I have killed her.
EMILIA You are a devil!
OTHELLO She loved Cassio. Ask your husband.
EMILIA My husband?
OTHELLO Yes, she told me everything.
EMILIA My
husband!
OTHELLO Yes, Iago, your husband.
EMILIA (Shouting.) He’s a traitor. Help, help! Othello
has killed Desdemona!
Montano,
Gratiano, Lodovico and Iago enter.
MONTANO What’s the matter?
EMILIA Iago, Othello says you told him that Desdemona was in love
with Cassio.
IAGO Yes, I did. And now, shut up, stupid!
EMILIA Never! Desdemona lies dead here!
ALL Oh, no!
OTHELLO It’s true. I killed her. She loved Cassio. She gave him the handkerchief
I had given her.
EMILIA He is lying.
IAGO Shut up and go home!
EMILIA I won’t. I found the handkerchief and
gave it to Iago.
IAGO Stupid woman! (He stabs Emilia.)
GRATIANO He has killed his wife!
OTHELLO You are a devil! (Othello tries to kill Iago.)
LODOVICO Take that sword from him! (Montano and Gratiano hold Othello.)
IAGO I’m hurt but not killed.
LODOVICO Othello, come with us. You have lost your power, Cassio rules in Cyprus.
And you, Iago, you will be in prison for the rest of your life.
OTHELLO A word or two before you go: when you return to Venice, speak of
me as I am. A man who loved too much and was betrayed. (Suddenly, he takes a dagger out and stabs himself.) I love you, Desdemona. (He dies.)
LODOVICO (To Iago.) Look at this! This is your work. I
wish the most terrible punishment for you. Let’s go, I must inform the duke
about this painful event. (They leave.)