NARRATOR: While Ariel is leading Ferdinand up to the cave, the courtiers are clumping round the island getting more fed up by the minute. They鈥檙e hungry. Scared. Exhausted.
Prospero - still of course in his invisibility cloak - flings a sleeping spellat them. But he lets Antonio and Sebastian stay awake. Within minutesAntonio鈥檚 up to his evil ways again鈥
ANTONIO: Sebastian wouldn鈥檛 you like to be King of Naples? Sebastian鈥f Alonsohad a little 鈥榓ccident鈥, wouldn鈥檛 you be king of Naples?
NARRATOR: 鈥榃ell, actually, no, that鈥檚 not strictly true,鈥 says Sebastian, 鈥榖ecause ifthe King had a little accident then his son, Ferdinand, would inherit thethrone. Not me.鈥
Antonio rolls his eyes鈥
ANTONIO: But Ferdinand鈥檚 not here, is he? Ferdinand鈥檚 drowned, hasn鈥檛 he?
NARRATOR: Sebastian鈥檚 a little slow on the uptake. So, Antonio spells it out:
ANTONIO: King Alonso is fast asleep. So鈥檚 boring old Gonzalo. If they happened todie tonight, then Sebastian will be king.
NARRATOR: Sebastian鈥檚 not so sure. But on reflection, bumping off Prospero didn鈥檛 doAntonio any harm, so he moves closer. 鈥楬ow would we do it?鈥 he says.Antonio鈥檚 eyes glint. From beneath his cloak he removes a leather case.
ANTONIO: Come, sit here. Open the case. Does your heart not leap at the very sightof it. A blade to die for, no? Touch the blade, Sebastian. Feel the metal.
SEBASTIAN: Ow!
ANTONIO Toledo steel!
Video summary
King Alonso and the courtiers continue arguing so Prospero casts a sleeping spell over them, but allows Antonio and Sebastian stay awake.
And, within minutes, Antonio's up to his evil ways again: while King Alonso and Gonzalo are asleep, Antonio convinces Sebastian that he could become King of Naples if he will kill Alonso.
Sebastian isn't sure, but on reflection thinks that killing Prospero hasn't done Antonio any harm.
So Antonio draws a blade from his pocket: it's Toledo steel鈥
Teacher Notes
This series provides various opportunities to meet Key Stage 2 National Curriculum requirements, including study of a significant author, reading techniques such as prediction, drawing inferences, clarification and summary; and drama and writing opportunities - including poetry performance, descriptive writing, persuasive writing, letter writing, newspaper article writing, poetry and play scripts.
It could be used as an introduction to the play, consolidation of key aspects or for revision of the plot and characters.
More detail on how to use this series, including detailed lesson plans, can be found in the Teacher's Notes PDF.
This series is relevant for teaching English at KS2, in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and at Second Level in Scotland.
Episode 3 - Full fathom five video
Prospero and Ariel tour the island to check on those who have been washed ashore
Episode 5 - Barracuda. video
Stephano and Trinculo fall in with Caliban...and plan a revolution for the island.
Episode 6 - Love song. video
Prospero sets Ferdinand to work. He and Miranda meet... and it's love at first sight.
