National Theatre Archives - RNT/SM/1/208 The Spanish Tragedy The Cottesloe Theatre Scene Synopsis

National Theatre Archives - RNT/SM/1/208 Act I i Prologue. Revenge and Ghost of Andrea. ii King of Spain hears of capture of Balthazar (Prince of Portugal), Son of Viceroy of Portugal. iii Villupo tricks Viceroy (Portugal) into thinking Alexandro has killed Balthazar. iv Bel-Imperia (Lorenzo’s sister) hears of Andrea’s death from Horatio. He tells her that Balthazar has killed Andrea. She decides to love Horatio and have him avenge Andrea’s death. Balthazar tries to court Bel-Imperia. Portugal Ambassador arrives. v Banquet. Hieronimo (Marshal of Spain) shows masque of three English lords’ defeat of Spain. vi Revenge tells Andrea he’ll turn the king and Ambassadors’ pleasures to war.

National Theatre Archives - RNT/SM/1/208 Act II i Lorenzo and Balthazar discuss Bel-Imperia’s disdain for Balthazar. Lorenzo bribes and threatens Pedringano (Bel-Imperia’s servant) to reveal Bel- Imperia’s true love for Horatio. iiLorenzo and Balthazar overhear Bel-Imperia and Horatio agree to consummate their love in the garden. iii The King agrees with Portugal’s Ambassador to try to arrange a match with Balthazar, the Prince of Portugal. iv Lorenzo and Balthazar discover Bel-Imperia and Horatio making love and stab Horatio, removing Bel-Imperia. v Hieronimo and Isabella discover the dead Horatio and swear revenge against their son’s murderers. vi Andrea bemoans the death of Horatio, Revenge assures him they’ll get even with Balthazar.

National Theatre Archives - RNT/SM/1/208 Act III (i-iv) i The Viceroy is about to put Alexandro to death, as he is accused by Villupo of killing Balthazar, but the Ambassador arrives with news of Balthazar’s life. Villupo is seized and taken to be tortured for his false accusations. ii Hieronimo bemoans the death of his son Horatio. He finds a letter from Bel-Imperia, written in blood bidding him to revenge Horatio’s death. Hieronimo meets Lorenzo and Pedringano and enquires after Bel-Imperia. This rouses their suspicions and they plan to kill Serberine (Balthazar’s servant) who they believe has told of Horatio’s death. Pedringano is ordered by Lorenzo to kill Serberine in Saint Luigi’s Park where he has been seen by a page. iii Pedringano shoots Serberine with his pistol but is arrested by the watch. iv Balthazar and Lorenzo believe that they are betrayed to Hieronimo. Page brings news of Pedringano killing Serberine. Balthazar condemns Pedringano – much to Lorenzo’s delight for he wants to keep his hands clean. Lorenzo secretly sends box (supposedly containing a pardon letter) and encouragement to Pedringano to keep him quiet.

National Theatre Archives - RNT/SM/1/208 Act III (v-xi) v Boy discovers that box is empty. vi Pedringano, staying loyal to Lorenzo, rests with Hieronimo and hangman supposing there is a pardon. He is hanged. vii Hieronimo bemoans the loss of his son. Hangman reveals that after hanging Pedringano he has discovered a letter from Pedringano to Lorenzo in which he tells of Lorenzo and Balthazar’s involvement in Horatio’s death. Hieronimo decides to seek justice from the King. viii Isabella distractedly bemoans the loss of her son. ix Bel-Imperia reflects on the position of her brother Lorenzo and Hieronimo over Horatio’s death. x Lorenzo and Balthazar try to persuade Bel-Imperia that Horatio’s death was to protect her honour. xi Two Portuguese gentlemen ask Hieronimo the way to Lorenzo’s house. He answers with a moral metaphor.

National Theatre Archives - RNT/SM/1/208 Act III (xii-xv) xii Hieronimo reflects on whether to kill himself but decides to approach the King instead. The Portuguese Ambassador reports that the Viceroy is delighted with the plan for Balthazar to marry Bel-Imperia. xiii Hieronimo reflects on how to avenge Horatio’s death. Hieronimo hears three petitioners who wish him to represent them. One of these old men wants justice for his murdered son, which spurns Hieronimo to revenge. Hieronimo mistakes the old man, Bazulto, for a changed form of his own son. xiv King of Spain and Viceroy of Portugal agree to the wedding of Bel-Imperia and Balthazar. Castile (brother the King of Spain and father of Bel-Imperia and Lorenzo) asks his son Lorenzo about the news of his having wronged Hieronimo which Lorenzo denies. Hieronimo pretends to reconciliation with Lorenzo. xv Ghost of Andrea suggests that Revenge is sleeping. But Revenge’s Dumb Show shows Hymen extinguishing nuptial torches with blood, illustrating that if Andrea is patient Balthazar will meet his just demise. Seeing this Andrea’s Ghost is content that Revenge is still eager.

National Theatre Archives - RNT/SM/1/208 Act IV i Bel-Imperia chides Hieronimo for seeing to have abandoned revenging his son’s death. Hieronimo assures her this is not so and they vow their determination. Hieronimo arranges for himself, Bel-Imperia, Lorenzo and Balthazar to act a play for the court. ii Isabella crosses the garden where Horatio was killed and stabs herself in the heart. iii Hieronimo sets the stage for the play – and bids Castile to throw down the key to the gallery once the lords are seated. He then pledges revenge. iv Hieronimo shows his play to the King, castile, the Viceroy and the court. During the course of the play Hieronimo’s character stabs Lorenzo and Bel-Imperia’s character kills Balthazar and herself. After this Hieronimo reveals the body of his dead son, Horatio, justifying his revenge. He runs to kill himself but is stopped by the king who urges him under threat of torture for more of an explanation. Hieronimo refuses and bites out his tongue. The King orders Hieronimo to write an explanation. Hieronimo asks for a knife to sharpen his pen and with it he stabs Castile and then himself. The Viceroy asks his brother to set him and his dead son Balthazar to sea in an unmanned ship. v Epilogue. Ghost of Andrea and Revenge. Now the endless revenge and justice of the underworld can commence.