1.1 (The grave of the dead KING HAMLET can be seen spotlighted downstage right. GERTRUDE enters alone, carrying a shoe box and flowers. She wears black shoes)
GERTRUDE: Today was the worst day Hamlet, Hamlet my dear. No woman should have to see the death of her husband. I know we argued. I know we did not really love each other. I know that for several years, neither of us has felt we had anything in common. But we had Hamlet, and we had Denmark, two things we both loved, two things that together we helped to develop. We were a good team, you and I. The lack of love between us just meant a lack of arguments. And we were both happy. But now you are gone. (Places the flowers on the grave. Kneels.)Claudius spoke at the service today. He is devastated, my dear. He loved you almost as much as Hamlet did. And as for Hamlet, our wonderful son… It was tragic to see how he cried. The night you died, we held each other for hours, and it seemed his tears would drown the whole country. I wept with him, not out of love for you, but for the pain I could see in our son, the pain I could do nothing to resolve. Save one thing. Whilst our dear boy sobbed in my arms, I realised such a young and grieving boy could never lead Denmark out of its grief. He’s just never been an optimistic face, and I knew it would not be kind to force him so quickly out of his sorrows in order to restore order to society. So I made a decision… to remain Queen. To marry Claudius. I believe this is the only way to keep the kingdom in as good a state as you and I made it. It is a hard time for everybody, and the threat of Fortinbras is terribly foreboding. Denmark must remain strong or it may cease to exist.
My marriage to Claudius will be similar to my marriage to yours- we will sleep in separate beds, and we will touch and smile together only in public, to keep up appearances. But he can never be as great a King as you. I do not think he quite sees monarchy as you did- we shared the throne, we discussed everything, we decided things together. I don’t think Claudius has quite so modern a feeling towards women.
When he offered his hand after the service yesterday, and I accepted, we agreed that we would not be a couple, but only seem to be a couple. I said ‘Denmark will know nothing. They will see a happy King and Queen, and in turn we will maintain a happy kingdom’. He smiled- he looked a lot like you- and then he hit me. Across the face. And he said ‘Denmark will know nothing’. (Opens the shoe box at her feet, takes out white wedding shoes, and swaps them with the black funeral shoes. She stands)
(Almost in tears, but with strength in her voice) I never loved you Hamlet. You never loved me. But I shall miss you every single day, friend.
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