Act 3 Scene 1
Solanio: “So, what’s up with Rialto?”
Salarino: “Well, rumors say that Antonio had a ship carrying expensive cargo that shipwrecked in the English Channel on the Goodwin Sands, a very hazardous sandbar. According to the hearsay, it is so.”
Solanio: “I hope this grapevine isn’t what it’s meant to be just like how the gossiping widow claims she was sorry her third husband died! *sighs* But it’s true! I don’t want to get all hyped up and go on but- oh! Antonio’s a good man. If only I had a good title to match up to this!”
Salarino: “Come on, your point is?”
Solanio: “What? Well, the point is, he’s lost a ship.”
Salarino: “I sure wish that’s all he loses.”
Solanio: “Let me say amen quickly before the devil comes in and stops my entreaty because here he comes, disguised as a Jew.”
*Shylock Enters*
Salarino: “How’s it going, Shylock? What’s the news among the merchants?”
Shylock: “No one knew as well as you did- about my daughter’s plans to run away.”
Salarino: “That’s true. I even knew the tailor who made your daughter’s digsuise.”
Solanio: “And Shylock knew is daughter was to run away. It’s pretty normal for children to leave their parents.”
Shylock: “She’ll be punished for it.”
Salarino: “That’s true. If the devil’s judging her.”
Shylock: “My own daughter rebelled against me!”
Solanio: “What now? Your ‘flesh’ still rebels at your age?”
Shylock: “What I meant is that my daughter’s my own flesh and blood.”
Salarino: “No, you two are totally different people. But tell us, did you hear anything about Antonio’s loss at sea?”
Shylock: “That’s another bad deal I’ve made! He’s nothing but a spendthrift and is bankrupt who’s got to hide in Rialto. He must think about his debt to me.”
Salarino: “But you won’t take his flesh if he can’t pay? What’s that good for?”
Shylock: “I’ll us it for fish bait. You can’t eat human flesh, but if it feeds something else, it’ll feed my revenge. He has affronted me and cost me half a million ducats! He has given me a definition of a humiliated life. Why? Because I’m a Jew. We are just of the same kind. And it’s all because he’s a Christian. What will happen if a Jew offends a Christian? Revenge!- Likewise on the other way around.”
*One of Antonio’s servants enters*
Servant (to Solanio and Salarino): “My master is at this house and would like to speak to both of you.”
Salarino: “We’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
*Tubal enters*
Solanio: “Here comes another Jew.”
*Solanio, Salarino and Antonio’s Servant exit*
Shylock: “Hello, Tubal. Any news from Genoa? Did you find my daughter?”
Tubal: “I went to many places and I’ve heard about your daughter but I couldn’t find her.”
Shylock: “Oh, oh, oh! I never felt the curse of the Jews until now. I wish my daughter’s coffin is in front of me and the ducats I’ve lost is with her. I haven’t gotten my revenge. The only luck I have is a bad one. I’m the only one who’s suffering.”
Tubal: “No, no. Other men have bad luck too. By the way, Antonio-“
Shylock: “What, what? Bad luck, bad luck?”
Tubal: “He’s had a shipwreck coming from Tripolis.”
Shylock: “Thank God, thank God! Is it true, is it true?”
Tubal: “I spoke with some of the sailors who survived the wreck.”
Shylock: “This is great. Thank you, Tubal. Hahaha!”
Tubal: “I also heard that your daughter spent eighty ducats in one night.”
Shylock: “What? Eighty ducats? Eighty? Just when I got so happy.”
Tubal: “I came to Venice with a number of Antonio’s creditors and it seems like Antonio wouldn’t be able to avoid bankruptcy.”
Shylock: “I’m very glad about that.”
Tubal: “But Antonio’s certainly ruined.”
Shylock: “That’s true, that’s very true. Tubal, go find me an officer to arrest Antonio.”
Act 3 Scene 2
*Bassanio, Portio, Gratiano and Nerissa enter with all their attendants, including a Singer*
Portia: “Please wait before you decide. If you choose wrong, I’ll lose your company. So wait a while. Something tells me- not love, but something- that I don’t want to lose you and if I hate you, I wouldn’t think like this. Now would I? God, your eyes have enthralled me. They’ve divided me in two. One half of me is yours and the other- my own half, I’d call it- belongs to you too. I’m all yours. Although I’m yours, I’m not yours. I know I’m being nonsensical and I’m talking too much but I do that just to make the time a bit longer. To postpone your test.”
Bassanio: “Let me decide now. I feel tortured by all this talking.”
Portia: “Really now? Then go, confess to your crime. Tell us about the treason you’ve mixed with love.”
Bassanio: “The only thing that will make me feel guilty is not being able to get to enjoy you. Treason has nothing to do at all with my love. They’re as opposite as hot and cold.”
Portia: “Oh I don’t know. Men under ‘torture’ or so you claim will confess anything.”
Bassanio: “Promise me you’ll let me live and I’ll speak the truth.”
Portia: “Okay then, confess and live.”
Bassanio: “Confess and love is more like it. Oh it’s so fun when my torturer tells me what I have to say in order to be set free. But let me try my luck on the boxes.”
Portia: “Go ahead then, I’m locked in one of them. If you really love me, you’ll find me. Nerissa and the rest of you, get away from him. Play some music while he chooses.”
- music plays -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7M9UAPHmIM
(Tae Yang- Wedding Dress Piano)
-Bassanio chooses anxiously-
Bassanio: “You can’t always judge a book by its cover. People are often deceived by appearances. In court, one can deliver a lie but hide its wickedness with a pretty voice. Every sin in the world manages to make itself look good somehow. Take another example which is beauty. Women who wear it the most are respected the least. It’s the same thing with hair. Curly golden hair moves so effervescently in the wind and makes a woman beautiful. But you can buy that kind of hair as a wig, and wigs are made from dead peoples’ hair. Decorations are nothing more but danger. It lures the viewer and traps it. A lovely, cunning shore can distract a man from the perils of a stormy sea. Nowadays, everyone’s fooled by appearance. So I won’t choose that brazen gold box. And I won’t choose the silver one either, the metal that common coins are made of. But this humble lead one, I know it’s the least in terms of promising me anything good. But this is the one that I’ll choose. Oh, I hope I’ll be happy with my choice!”
Portia (to herself): “Oh my, what now? My heart can’t take it anymore. I think it’s about to burst anytime soon. What to do, what to do? All my other emotions vanished into thin air, just like that. I’m feeling this too strongly. *blush* “
Bassanio: (opening the lead box) “Well what do we have here? Isn’t it a wonderful portrait of the charming Portia? My, my. What an incredible artist there is to capture her beauty so well? *gasp* Oh dear, I may be no artist but I can paint us together. *winks to portia* This portrait is to die for! Here’s the scroll that sums up my fate.”
-reads the scroll -
“You who won’t judge by books alone,
Have better luck, and make the right choice.
Since this prize is yours,
Be happy with it, and don’t look for a new one.
If you’re happy with what you’ve won
And accept this prize as your blissful destiny,
Then turn to were your lady is,
And claim her with a loving kiss.”
-talks to Portia-
“A nice message. My lady, with your permission, this note authorizes me to give myself to you with a kiss. But I’m still put in awe and I don’t know how to react yet. Tell me, am I dreaming?”
Portia: “You see me standing in front of you, Lord Bassanio. What you see is what you get. Although I want to let you know what you just got yourself is an innocent and inexperienced girl. I’m happy at least I’m not too old to learn new things, that is. I feel like I’m the luckiest girl in the world right now for I am now yours, my lord. Everything I am and everything I have is all yours. It feels like just a moment ago, I am the owner of this mansion and the master of these servants but right now, all of them belongs to you and with this ring, I give them all to you. If you ever lose this ring, our love will be put to doom and I’ll have the right to be angry with you.”
*she gives Bassanio the ring*
Bassanio: “Oh dear, you’ve left me speechless for a moment there. But my feelings are mutual to yours. I swear, the day I take this ring off will be the day I die. If you see me without it, you can be confident I’m dead.”
*Bassanio gives Portia’s hand a kiss*
- stop the music -
Nerissa: “My lord and lady, as we have been watching you all this time, it’s now our time to shout to world, ‘Congratulations, Congratulations, My Lord and Lady!”
Gratiano: “My lord and lady, I wish you two the best there is. And when you get married, I hope I can be married at the same time.”
Bassanio: “Of course! If you can find a wife, by then.”
Gratiano: “Neh, I think I’ve found one already and it’s all thanks to you my lord. For I have loved Nerissa as soon as I laid my eyes on her. Fate is so nice to me because as soon as you’ve found the box and got lady Portia, turns out, I’ve found mine too. I’ve been telling her on how much I love her all the time and she said she’ll marry me as soon as you two got married as well.”
Portia: “Is that true, Nerissa?”
Nerissa: “Yes, my lady. If it’s all right with you.”
Bassanio: “And do you mean what you’re saying, Gratiano?”
Gratiano: “Yes, my lord.”
Bassanio: “Then we’d be honored to have you join us on our wedding.”
Gratiano (to Nerissa): “Let’s bet them a thousand ducats that we’ll have a son first.”
Nerissa: “Now, now. Are you gonna risk the money now?”
Gratiano: “Hey, If I don’t risk it. I won’t be able to have a son. And look who’s coming, isn’t it Lorenzo and his pagan girlfriend? What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio?”
*Lorenzo and Jessica enter with Salerio, a messenger from Venice*
Bassanio: “Welcome my good friends.”
Portia: “I do too, my lord. They’re entirely welcome.”
Lorenzo: “Thank you, sir. I didn’t intend to come and meet you but I bumped into Salerio and he begged me to come along with him until I couldn’t say no, you see.”
Salerio: “That’s true, and with good reason. This is a letter for you from Signor Antionio. (gives Bassanio the letter)”
Bassanio: “Before I open this letter, please tell me on how’s my friend doing?”
Salerio: “He is well but he’s upset and his problems are serious. Read the letter and you’ll know how he’s doing.”
*Bassanio opens the letter and reads it*
Gratiano: (pointing at Jessica) “Nerissa, welcome this stranger. - Salerio, welcome. Any news from Venice? How’s the great merchant Antonio doing?”
Salerio: “I wish you’d won the fleece he lost.”
Portia: “Something bad in the letter is making my Bassanio turn pale. Tell me, it’s alright if you do so for I am half of you.”
Bassanio: “My darling, I told you the truth when I said that I am of noble blood but have no money. When I borrowed the money I have now to my friend Antonio who in turn borrowed from his mortal enemy for my sake. And now his businesses have failed. Is it true, Salerio? That all his ships got destroyed?”
Portia: “What? Is that all? Pay him six thousand and cancel the debt. I’d pay twelve thousand before I get a friend like that suffer in the slightest because of you. Now go, I’ll give you enough gold to pay back your debt twenty times over. Until then, I will be waiting. Now, smile. But first, let me hear the letter from your friend.”
Bassanio: (he reads) “Dear Bassanio, my ships have all been wrecked. My creditors are getting mean. My money’s almost run out. I couldn’t pay my debt to the Jew on the due date. Since I’ll certainly die when he takes his collateral out of my flesh, all debts are cleared between you and me if I can just see you again before I die. In any case, do what you want. If your affection for me doesn’t convince you to come, don’t let my letter do so.”
Portia: “Oh my, oh my! Make your arrangements and go!”
Bassanio: “Since you’re letting me leave, I’ll hurry. But I won’t sleep until I get back!”
They exit.
Act 3 Scene 3
*Shylock, Solanio, Antonio and the Jailer enter*
Shylock: “Jailer, watch out for this one and keep an eye on him.”
Antonio: “Listen to me, good Shylock.”
Shylock: “I’m going to get my bond. You called me a dog before you had any reason to. But since I’m a dog, beware my fangs. The duke will give me justice.”
Antonio: “Please, listen to me.”
Shylock: “I want my bond. I won’t listen to you. I won’t be taken for a fool as to show mercy to Christian meddlers. I want my bond and I’m not gonna talk to you.”
He exits.
Solanio: “He truly is stubborn. The most stubborn dog there is.”
Antonio: “Leave him alone. I give up. He wants me dead. I give money to people who were unable to pay back their loans to him. That’s why he hates me.”
Solanio: “I’m sure the duke will never allow this contract to be enforced.”
Antonio: “There’s nothing we can do. The duke can’t deny the law. - Well jailer, let’s go. - I hope to God that Bassanio comes to see me pay his debt. After that, I don’t care what happens next.”
Act 3 Scene 4
Lorenzo: “Madam, I hope you don’t mind me saying that I admire your respect in friendship.”
Portia: “Why thank you, Friends who spend a lot of time together, care a lot for each other. They share a lot of similar traits by then. Since Antonio’s my husbands best friend, they must be very similar men. Anyways, let’s change the subject, shall we? I’m starting to feel like I’m flattering myself. Lorenzo, please take charge of the management of my house until my husband returns. Please say yes, because I really need you to do this.”
Lorenzo: “The pleasure’s all mine, Madam.”
Portia: “I’ve already spoken to my staff about this. Until our return, you two will be the masters of this house. So farewell, till then.”
Lorenzo: “I hope you can relax and enjoy yourself!”
Jessica: “I hope you find peace and happiness, my lady.”
*Jessica and Lorenzo exit*
Portia: “Come, Nerissa. I have many things to do that you don’t even know about yet. We’ll see our husbands even before they get a chance to miss us.”
Nerissa: “Will they see us?”
Portia: “They will, Nerissa, but we’ll be disguised as men. But I sure bet that I’ll be more handsomer than you’ll ever be. *evil chuckle* I’ll wear my sword more gracefully and speak like a regular boy.”
Nerissa: “Why are we turning into men?”
Portia: “What kind of question is that! I’ll tell you the whole plan in my carriage which is waiting for us at the gate. Now hurry up because we have twenty miles to cover today!”
Act 3 Scene 5
*Launcelot and Jessica enter*
Launcelot: “I’m worried about you for we all know that children get punished for their sins by their fathers. I’m a direct person so cheer up for I think you’re going to hell. There’s only one hope for you and it’s an illegitimate hope.”
Jessica: “What hope is that, may I ask?”
Launcelot: “You can hope your father isn’t your real father.”
Jessica: “That really is an illegitimate hope. But my husband will save me. He made me a Christian.”
*Lorenzo enters*
Jessica: “I’ll tell my husband what you’ve just said. Just you wait and see, here he comes!”
Lorenzo: “You’re going to make me jealous, Launcelot, if you keep talking to my wife in dark corners like this!”
Jessica: “You don’t need to worry about us, Lorenzo. The two of us can’t agree on anything, he even said I won’t go to heaven because I’m a jew’s daughter and he claims that you’re being irresponsible for turning me into a Christian.”
Lorenzo: “I can justify better than you can justify sleeping with Portia’s African Servant. She’s pregnant with your child, Launcelot.”
- Launcelot leaves -
Jessica: “Bassanio’s lucky to have a wife like her. It’s as if he’s found heaven here on earth.”
Lorenzo: “As good as a wife she is, I am the same to you, as your husband.”
Jessica: “Now, now. I will be the judge of that!”
Lorenzo: “I’ll give you a chance to judge later, but first, we must go to dinner.”
Jessica: “No, please let me say some good things about you while I’m in the mood.”
Lorenzo: “I don’t think so. Just save it for dinner conversation. That way, no matter what you say, I’ll digest it with everything else.”
Jessica: “In that case, I’ll serve you up like a dish of food.”
They exit.
