1. Hamlet Meets the gravediggers

2. Hamlet has met up with his one true friend, Horatio
Hamlet has met up with his one true friend, Horatio. They are on their way back to the castle. It seems that, while on their way to England, pirates had attacked the ship Hamlet was on. In the confusion, Hamlet had gotten onto the pirate ship and managed to convince the pirates to bring him back home to Denmark. As Hamlet & Horatio pass by a graveyard they see two men digging a new grave. The gravediggers are complaining about how unfair their life is, and the way people look down on them because of what they do. But it’s an honest job, and everyone will eventually need it, as they say: “Put your body and soul into digging that hole ‘Cos we all end up there in the end.”

3. As Hamlet and Horatio watch it becomes clear the ground has been used for graves in the past, and there are a number of skulls and bones dug up. Hamlet questions the gravediggers, who tell him that one of the skulls had belonged to King Hamlet’s (Hamlet’s dad) jester, Yorick. Hamlet is deeply moved by this; he remembers how kind Yorick had been to him in his childhood saying, “Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest. I rode on his back a thousand times.”

4. A funeral procession approaches and, seeing it is accompanied by some of the court (royal family and friends), Hamlet & Horatio hide until they know what is going on. A body is put into the grave and Queen Gertrude throws in some flowers, saying: “Sweets to the sweet; farewell! I had hoped you would be my Hamlet’s wife!” As he hears his mother’s words, Hamlet realizes the funeral is for Ophelia. Laertes suddenly becomes overwhelmed by grief, and jumps into the grave to hold his sister one last time.

5. Hamlet is angry when he sees Laertes jump into Ophelia’s grave
Hamlet is angry when he sees Laertes jump into Ophelia’s grave. Hamlet comes out of hiding and proclaims his love for Ophelia. Hamlet tells the shocked onlookers that his grief is far greater than Laretes’s, saying, “I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers could not equal my love for her.” Laertes is appalled to see his hated enemy Hamlet, at such a sad moment. Laertes jumps out of the grave and he starts to fight Hamlet. The Queen pleads for understanding saying, “He is mad, Laertes.”

6. Finally, Hamlet and Laertes are torn apart and forced to go their separate ways. But King Claudius has seen an opportunity to get rid of Hamlet forever, while appearing guiltless himself. Later that day, Claudius offers Laertes the chance of revenge against Hamlet – with a courtly duel with Hamlet. Laertes agrees, and announces intention of dipping his sword in a deadly and incurable poison. He tells King Claudius, “It is so lethal that, if I graze him even slightly, he will die within minutes.”

7. Claudius is delighted but adds that, for complete assurance, he will poison a glass of water Hamlet will use between bouts to refresh himself. King Claudius and Laertes agree on their foolproof scheme and send off a challenge to Hamlet.