A Midsummer Nights Dream

Lysander and Hermia running through woods. They pause and he strokes her cheek.
Lysander: Hermia, calm down, everythings going to be alright.
Hermia: But Lysander, what if they catch usmy father, you know what my father is like
Lysander: Just trust me, Ill protect you, I promise.
Fade out. Couple of hours earlier.
Kings Theseus castle.
Theseus sits on a throne and looks at them scornfully.
Theseus: How dare you disturb me on my wedding day?!
Helen, Demeterius, Hermia and Lysander kneel.
Lysander: Pardon my rudeness your Highness but this is a great matter to us.
Hermia interrupts.
Hermia: Your Highness, me and Lysander, you see, we love each other very much but my father, Egeus, I
love him dearly but I dont think I can respect his wishes. He wants me to marry Demetrius.
Demetrius: Her father and I came to an agreement. Hermia is not quite herself now. She will realize later
that I love her truly and that we belong together.
Hermia: You cannot tell me what to do! I dont love you, I know it in my heart.
Lysander hugs Hermia, calms her down.
Lysander: Calm down, his Highness is watching. (whispers)
Theseus: Quiet! (talks to Helen) and whats your business with me?
Helen: Your Highness, I would like to apologize for interrupting this important day but Im afraid love is
the reason we came to you. You see, I know that Demetrius doesnt love me and that his heart belongs
to Hermia. But ever since Ive known him, Ive loved him dearly. Im not asking him to marry me but I
would like him to acknowledge me and let these two people love each other without interrupting.
Theseus: Im afraid I cannot go against Egeus wishes. It is Athenian law that a daughter has to respect
her fathers wishes. But the next full moon, be prepared to die or obey your father! And fair Helen, Im
afraid I will not be able to change Demetrius heart. Youll have to charm him yourself.
Exit Theseus. Exit Helen and Demetrius.
Lysander: What are we going to do now, my love?
Hermia: Well have to go according to our previous plans.
Lysander: Ill prepare everything. (kisses her forehead sweetly)
Exit Lysander. Enter Helen.
Helen: My dear friend, dont be sad. At least even in hour of your death youll have somebody who loves
you. My luck is completely different, you see. It seems Im doomed to an eternity without love.
Hermia: Oh, Helen, Im not concerned for my life at slightest. I have a plan. By the next full moon, Ill be
long gone from Athens and its stupid laws. Lysander and I will finally live the lives we wanted.
Helen: What? But what about Demetrius?
Hermia: What about him? Now youll finally have him, right? (winks)
Helen: Hermia, I really hope youll be happy and Im glad for you but you know Ill never be in
Demetrius heart.
Hermia: Dear friend, I have to leave you now, for Lysanders waiting. Maybe well see each other again
someday. Till then, farewell.
They hug.
Flashback ends.
Forest. Lysander and Hermia under the tree, resting. Hermias head on his shoulder. He pets her. Zoom
out. Oberon and Puck sitting on a tree.
Puck: Master, are you and mistress now in good terms?
Oberon: (sigh) No, damn it. That stubborn lady still keeps that damn boy as if she has feelings for him or
something.
Puck: (chuckling) Its really amusing seeing you jealous like this, master, childish, dont you think, for a
fairy king as old as you
Oberon: Shut up, you silly thing! And know your place! Im not jealous. I just want that boy as my
servant. I dont care whose son he is. But enough of that grim subject. Look at those young people
sitting under that tree. Who are they?
Puck: Theyre Athenians, master. Running from law. But not just that. Theyre not the only ones in the
woods.
Oberon: Oh, Puck, Im really glad youre my fairy.
Puck mumbles to himself: Im not a fairy, damn it!
Oberon: You seem to know everything.
Puck: Well master, it is my job as a forest prankster.
Zoom out. Chuckling. Teleport.
Another part of the woods. Demetrius walks. Helen tries to follow him.
Demetrius: I told you for a hundred times that I dont love you. I will not marry you and I wont have
anything to do with you, so why do you keep pursuing me?
Helen: Its true, you cold-hearted bastard that you dont love me. I know you never will. But why in a
gods name did you come to these woods? Do you think shell come with you now?
Demetrius: Of course not. Thats why Ill kill Lysander. Shell come to her senses later. Once she realizes
that Im the one for her.
Helen: Youre delusional. Its better that we go back to Athens, now. Before everything blows up
because of us. Oh god, I shouldnt have told you in the first place.
Demetrius: You annoy me, fair Helen. Ill leave you now so do whatever you please. If I were you, I
would go back to Athens and leave me alone. Hurries away.
Helen: Demetrius, you cant be serious. Oh god, he really left. What am I going to do now all alone in
these woods? Why did I ever fall in love with someone who loves another. My faith is sealed, it seems.
Starts crying quietly
Oh Hermia, you are indeed lucky, wherever you are.
Zoom out. Puck and Oberon sitting and watching them.
Oberon: Dont you just feel sorry for the poor girl?
Puck: thinks No master, I dont think I do.
Oberon: Oh, hush and go fly to that place where Cupids arrow once landed. There grows a flower which
maidens call love-in-idleness and which will make anyone who falls under its charm fall madly in love
with the first person he or she lays eyes upon. Fetch me that flower, my dear Puck and with its juices
anoint Athenians eyes so this fair maiden could finally be happy.
Puck: Yes, master. Flies away. Camera shows Lysander and Hermia.
Lysander: Hermia, you look tired from all this running. You are barely walking. I think we should rest.
Hermia: Are you sure its okay if we stop now. They could
Lysander: Shh, dont worry. A couple of hours wont mean anything now. I think the worst is over.
Hermia: Okay, my love. I trust you. I will sleep right here, next to this tree. But you will have to lay
elsewhere I just want to be chaste till our marriage.
Lysander: I understand you, dear. Ill go a bit further a find myself a solid bed. You rest now. Kisses her
and leaves slowly.
Enter Puck.
Puck: Theres the Athenian. I thought Id never find him. And now, everyone will be happy.
rubs in the potion.
And kind Oberon will once again be pleased with my actions. I must report to him this instant. Flies
away.
Enter Helen.
Helen: Damn you, Demetrius and your good looks. That mustve been that something that wooed me in
the first place because that certainly werent his charms. stumbles upon something
Au! Wait, what is this? Lysander is that you? Are you okay?
Lysander: Okay? I am better than okay now that you found me. But where is that damned Demetrius? I
will kill him I swear!
Helen: What are you talking about? And where is Hermia?
Lysander: Hermia? Why are you mentioning that name to me when my eyes see only you now (tries to
hug her)?
Helen: You are clearly out of your mind. You love Hermia, remember?
Lysander: It is true, I used to love her, but now Im mesmerized by you only. Believe me.
Helen: I cant believe that you are joking with me like this. Its like Demetrius wasnt enough. You better
find Hermia.
Lysander: Hermia sleeps somewhere in these woods, it doesnt even matter because I will never search
for her again.
Another scene: Hermia
Hermia: Oh dear, I had a horrible dream. Lysander will make everything better. But where is he? I cant
see anything in this dark.
Fade out
Oberon: So Puck, my minion, did you do everything I ordered?
Puck: Of course master. I found the Athenian and anointed his eyes with a potion from that magic
flower.
Oberon: Good, good, everything will go according to plan.
Enter Hermia and Demitrius
Hermia: Where is my Lysander, you dog? What did you do to him?
Demetrius: Why do you hate me so much Hermia? What does he have that I dont? Tell me!
Hermia: You know I cant love you. Just accept that and me back my Lysander. Did you kill him?
Demetrius: I wish I did but I cannot claim so, nor I can bring him back to you because I dont know where
he is.
Hermia: Then I have no reason to stay and talk to you. I have to find Lysander. Exit
Demetrius: Theres no use in following her. I am sleepy, however. Ill just rest for a while here and later
find that Lysander bastard and kill him. Sleeps.
Oberon: I see you did the job right. Looks judgingly at Puck.
Puck: I see I have mistaken the man, master. chuckling I have however, an opportunity to fix it now. Flies
and anoints Demetrius eyes.
There, now everythings right.
Oberon: Well see about that. Hush, here come Helen and Lysander. Theyll wake Demetrius up.
Lysander: Why wont you believe me? Im practically crying here. Isnt that enough?
Helen: How can I? You swore to Hermia in front of me and Demetrius. You love her, not me.
Lysander: I wasnt in right mind when I swore to her, and besides, she has Demetrius. And now you have
me.
Demetrius awakes and sees Helen.
Demetrius: Oh Helen. My eyes are not mistaken, you truly are perfect. Let me prove you that I love you
with a slight kiss.
Tries to rape her.
Helen: I cant believe you two. You have seriously gone crazy. Dont you love Hermia? As far as I know
nobody here loves me. Stop this mockery now and apologize for taunting me.
Lysander: Really Demetrius, apologize to the girl and leave now. Fair Helen and I have some things to do.
Helen: Lysander, whaa and Demetrius, stop wasting your time, both of you.
Demetrius: Be satisfied with your Hermia, I dont want her anymore. I want Helen now. So be gone or Ill
kill you. Look, here comes Hermia.
Enter Hermia.
Hermia: Oh, thank god. I thought Id forever lose my Lysander in this darkness. Luckily, I recognized his
sweet voice immediately. Lysander, why did you leave me like that?
Lysander: Hermia, I dont know how to say thisbut I dont love you anymore. I realized I love Helen. I
always have, I guess.
Hermia: What? Thats impossible. You dont know what youre saying.
Helen: Youre in this with them. How dare you? Were practically sisters and now you make fun of me.
How could you do that to me? You know Im hurting.
Hermia: I cant believe you, youre making fun of me and not the other way around.
Helen: Then why did these two follow me around and flirt with me? Lysander is your love, not mine. And
Demetrius, he wanted to marry you. Why would that change?
Hermia: I dont understand any of this.
Helen: Oh, I see your looks and faces. Youre making fun of me. I cannot take this anymore.
Lysander: Please listen to me, Helen.
Helen: Just stop it, okay?
Hermia: Lysander, really, this is not funny.
Lysander: I really do love you, Helen, believe me.
Demetrius: Oh no you dont, I love her more.
Lysander: Then prove it, bastard!
Hermia: Lysander, are you being serious? Please tell me youre joking.
Helen: You all are.
Demetrius: If you really loved her, you would do something about Hermia.
Lysander: What do you propose? That I kill her? I dont love her but I still dont want her dead.
Hermia: I wouldnt care. Nothing could be worse than a life without your love. Im just a stranger
without you my love. Am I not beautiful as before? What went wrong? Why dont you love me
anymore?
Lysander: Im sorry. All I know is that I love Helen now.
Hermia: Helen, Ill kill you, dismember your body, scratch out your eyes and feed your remains to wild
dogs!
Helen: Hermia, whats wrong with you? What did I do? Please, somebody, calm her down. Ill be out of
here as soon as it dawns. Just dont be mad at me. You know to whom I gave my heart.
Hermia: Lysander?
Helen: Demetrius.
Lysander: Oh no. Well settle this with a fight. Demetrius, you come with me. Well see whose Helen is.
Demetrius: I come with you? Oh no. You come with me.
Exit Lysander and Demetrius.
Hermia: Helen, Im sorry. You dont have to go back. At least not because of me.
Helen: Save it, Hermia. I dont trust you anymore. Im better off alone.
Exit Helen.
Oberon: You see what you did by your negligence? Lovers will fight now because of you. You better fix
that before the dawn comes.
Puck: I will, my king. I will lead them away from each other and wait until they fall asleep. Here comes
one.
Lysander: Where are you Demetrius, you coward? Come so we can settle this.
Puck in Demetrius voice: Here, you dog, come to me.
Exit Lysander. Enter Demetrius.
Demetrius: Speak Lysander, where do you hide. Tell me and Ill kill you.
Puck in Lysanders voice: Youre all words but where are you when you need to show your actions?
Coward. Follow my voice and youll find me.
Another scene.
Hermia: I dont know if Im more sad or more tired. Ill have to rest here and wait the break of the day.
Heavens, shield Lysander, wherever he may be. I still love him, even though he doesnt love me.
Another scene.
Helen: This was a long and sorrowful night. Ill sleep now so I can go back to Athens in the morning,
away from those whom I considered my friends.
Another scene.
Lysander: This night and this running around made me really tired. Ill sleep now so I can better defeat
Demetrius in the morning.
Another scene.
Demetrius: Im so tired. I almost havent slept at all. Lysander will have to wait for tomorrow for our
fight.
Enter Puck.
Puck: On the ground, sleep asound
Ill apply to your eye gentle lover remedy
And the country proverb known that every man should take his own
In your waking shall be shown
Enter Theseus.
Theseus: Its a really wonderful morning for hunting, I must say. Or is it because Im finally getting
married today to my beautiful Hippolita? Wait a minute, arent those the kids from yesterday sleeping
on the ground? Blows into his horn to wake them.
Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia and Helen awake and look fearfully at Theseus.
Lysander: My lord, how did you find us here?
Theseus: Or better yet, what are you all doing here?
Lysander: I have to admit, half asleep, half awake, that I came here with Hermia intending to run away
from Athenian law.
Theseus: Enough, how dare you mock me?!
Demetrius: My lord, we have changed now. I stand here before you now as I have stood yesterday. But
somehow in my heart now is only fair Helen. I do not wish to marry Hermia anymore. I vow to Helen
that I will love her forever and if theres life after that, Ill love her then. Strokes her cheek tenderly and
looks at her
Theseus: As you wish, then. All is settled. And you are all invited to my wedding today. Farewell till then.
Exit Theseus.
Demetrius: Everything seems so undistinguishable.
Hermia: Indeed. Its like my vision doubled.
Helen: It doesnt matter. All I know is that Demetrius wasnt mine and now he is.
Demetrius: Are you sure that we are wake? Did we dream that Theseus invited us to his wedding?
Lysander: We all saw that too.
Demetrius: Lets hurry then, we wouldnt want to miss the wedding.
They leave laughing, zoom out, Oberon and Puck smiling at them. Fade out.

THE END