Prospero is at a beach on the island, having just found Miranda on the coast. Dead. 

Prospero: 

Solemn, to her body: My dear Miranda, oh my dear, what has that foul beast done? It has been years since I have been graced with your countenance, years since that monster had stolen you in the depths of night, left not a trace of its presence, and yet still I knew it had stolen you. 

He had learned from his first attempt, and if I had only arrived a moment sooner, none of this horror would have befallen you. Now, you have been lost to the unrelenting torrent that has kept us here. I pray your soul, pure and innocent, has not been dragged down the depths. Caliban will be met with a punishment most dreadful for his crimes on your honour. Oh poor child, he shall pay. With every ounce of my magic, my resolve, I swear that beastly monstrosity, evil to his core, will quiver at the moment a single syllable of my name is uttered. 

Two dragon-like/sea monster-like child creatures play fighting enter 

Prospero: 

Looking at the creatures 

I see a few of his offspring now- is this how he looked as a child? He taunts me by allowing them to roam this isle free, while my poor Miranda does not roam on this plane any longer. They screech and scream, tumble over each other, their claws and teeth as sharp as my slave has now become. Their winding tails… muscular appendages… Looks back at Miranda’s body 

These foul creatures may have come from you, my sweet, but they bear no resemblance. The red band of skin around your neck and all the scratches, marks from teeth such as theirs- they took your life from me. Those mutations. 

I doubt all beings holy will at all mind if I exterminate these monstrosities. Mistakes. They will be corrected. 

My Miranda, these beasts deserve this. Every single one of them. 

Prospero turns back to the creatures. Screeches grow louder and desperate as he begins to mutter under his breath, and waves his staff. Creatures run offstage in visible agony. A few seconds later, there are 2 muffled explosions, and the screeches come to a halt. Prospero smiles and turns back to Miranda. 

Prospero: 

Miranda, you see? They perish just like us, they all could be destroyed. They all should be destroyed. I will hunt and rid this island of them all. For you. 

___________

Stephano’s song (see end) plays in the background, with more of Caliban’s children screeching along. Caliban has been drinking. They are in his house, a cave. 

Caliban carries in the remains of the 2 creatures from beforehand in jars whilst talking to the remainder of his children. 

Caliban: 

Prospero should not have known this soon. I recognise this work- my children, I am sorry. Places jars on the floor, sits on a stool and picks up a bottle. 

You did not know this man, if you could call him that, would turn on you so quickly. He has caused me more suffering than you could ever begin to comprehend at your young age, and now I fear he has begun to condemn you to the same fate. 

Swigs from bottle. 

I should have a word with him. Now I have you all, I must be more diplomatic. I should tell him the truth about Miranda’s parting… 

Aside: 

But what if his current state of delirium is worsened by the facts? I have seen him wander recently- he talks to his child as if she were there, even though he has seen her corpse… with his own two eyes. 

For now, though, I will drown my sorrow. 

Swigs from bottle again. 

I will speak with him on the morrow. 

Be still, children. 

Stops Stephano’s songs 

Rest. 

___________ 

Next morning. Caliban has not slept, he is drunk. Neither has Prospero, his delusions of Miranda have kept him awake. 

Caliban: 

Propsero-o-o! 

Prospero snaps his head towards the sound of Caliban’s voice. 

Caliban: 

I have been looking for you, all through the blackness of night! Now you are found, I wish to have a conversation with you. 

Whispering: About the recent murders on this isle. 

Prospero: 

You… 

Foul BEAST. 

You attempted to kill my daughter. You sent your… THINGS after her.

Caliban: 

Now, hang on 

Prospero: 

To nothing: Whatever it has to say, it can say to you too, child. No need to leave in the presence of it. 

Caliban: 

She is not there, Prospero. I do not see anything. Now allow me 

Prospsero: 

SILENCE, grotesque HORROR. Your offspring harmed my child, and you yourself have committed unspeakable crimes on her! 

Caliban: 

In a way, that is the truth. 

But who is more the monster here? Me, or you? 

Prospero: 

I said, SILENCE 

Caliban: 

You slaughtered two of my children! 

All that remained for me to know that they even existed were their severed startled eyes! It was like the rest of their bodies had simply melted into the mulch that stains your robes crimson. Their teeth and claws ground into the fine powder that sticks to your nails and litters your hair! Now let me tell you the TRUTH! 

Prospero stands in stunned silence. 

Caliban: 

YES, I stole your child that night. Yes, I stole her innocence. Yes.. I kept her for years. And my 

Prospero: 

A-ha!- SO YOU AD 

Caliban: 

But that is not all! Listen you senile fool! 

My children dragged h 

Prospero: 

No. You listen. I am neither senile, nor simply imagining my daughter standing right over there. 

Points at nothing. Swings arm to point at Caliban. 

In fact, you are the one who is imagining things. Imagining that I am the monster who began all of this, that I am the monster who murdered your.. offspring.. when it was clearly some divine intervention!

I certainly did not strike down the things with magic, and neither did I explode both their internal happenings into a paste of strange viscosity which bubbled and boiled in the sunlight. 

Now Caliban is in stunned silence. 

Prospero: 

Leave, beast. 

Or I will bind you to the damp walls of your very habitat – the cave, is it not, where your children lie now – with iron chains forged in fire. I will systematically destroy every thing that came from you in front of your very eyes- your hope and joy will disintegrate with the passing of every life, and once they are all gone, letting you rest would be too kind. Merciful, even. You would return to being my slave, with once again an inferior mind, and would be kept under a spell for the remainder of time. 

Caliban: 

Aside: He must not be able to perform these acts upon my children. I have formed a plan which will be executed when the moon is next at its highest point in the sky. Quick glance at Prospero 

Nay- as soon as the sun disappears from sight. His madness is only increasing, just as I feared. 

Caliban exeunt 

Prospero: 

Staring into the distance. 

Miranda… 

I must proceed with haste. Caliban, that filth, is up to something- and none of it can be good. _____________________ 

The sun disappears from sight. 

Caliban is sneaking into Prospero’s house. Prospero is not inside. 

Caliban: 

Looks through window 

Just as I expected. He is out wandering, hunting for my children. They are like lambs to the slaughter- and this will keep them safe. 

Climbs in through the window, looks around 

If I were once an intelligent gentleman, where would I store my books of magic? A bookshelf? Surely, that would make sense. Yet, none of these look like the one that he studied intensely for hours, before I was his slave… 

What about in a chest? If it were to be a secret from all, surely this chest would suffice? Opens chest. Throws out assortment of clothes and other items. 

Nothing. This is infuriating! If I was a madman who kills children for fun, where would I hide the book that depicts how to gain magical power?! 

Spies a small, dusty box. 

Maybe… This might hold what I am searching for!

Opens the box. Lifts out a worn book. Inspects the cover. 

Yes. YES. This is it! I must leave though- before Prospero succeeds. 

Caliban exits through the window. 

________________________ 

More puddles of mush litter the path to Caliban’s cave. Caliban grows increasingly worried as he follows the trail. 

Caliban: 

I must return before Prospero slays them all in his madness… 

Makes worried noises every time he comes across a puddle that was once one of his children. 

________________________ 

Caliban enters his cave. The remainder of his children (4 or so) are screeching in a corner, as Prospero slowly raises his staff approaching them. Caliban frantically turns pages in the book, looking for something to negate Prospero’s power. Throws the book on the floor in frustration. 

Caliban: 

Prospero! Stop this! 

Prospero ignores Caliban. 

Caliban: 

Prospero, if you do not stop, I will stop you myself. 

Prospero still ignores, but instead chants louder, and raises his staff higher. Screeches intensify. Caliban yanks Prospero’s staff out of his hand and smacks him on the head with it. Prospero falls to the floor and the screeches stop. 

Caliban: 

Looks at Prospero on the floor with remorse. 

I warned you, Prospero. 

I cannot stop what my children may do to your body. The same as I could not stop what they did to Miranda… 

I cannot fight their urges for them. That is their obstacle to overcome. I will let them do to you what they see fit, for murdering so many of their brothers and sisters. 

Prospero groans. 

Prospero: 

I was only- I was only doing what was right! 

Caliban: 

No. 

Caliban drags Prospero out of the cave.

__________________ 

Caliban dumps Prospero at the edge of the highest cliff. 

Caliban walks to the edge of the cliff and inspects the book he stole from Prospero’s house. 

Caliban: 

This book and this staff, combined with your mind have caused nothing but pain and suffering. 

Prospero: 

How did you get that book? Give it back you filth! 

Caliban rips the book several times before dropping off the cliff. Caliban sticks the staff in the ground. 

Prospero: 

No! You monstrosity! 

Caliban begins to walk away and his children approach Prospero very angry. And hungry. 

Prospero: 

Caliban! I’ll let you be free! 

Caliban pauses and looks back. Points to his remaining children. 

Caliban: 

And what about them? 

Prospero smiles and scoffs dismissively 

Prospero: 

They aren’t as civilised as you or I. They can die. 

Caliban: 

If you can reach the staff, you can live. 

Children. Do your worst. 

Caliban exits 

Prospero: 

No. Caliban! Don’t let those foul creatures kill me. Caliban! 

Children approach Prospero. 

END 

________________