NARRATOR: The lightning and the thunder rage all through the night. Eventually theterrible din wakes Miranda. She is not pleased with her father, especiallywhen she spies the passengers far below leaping into the heaving sea.Scared out of their wits.
Prospero clicks his fingers. The storm stops. He sighs. ‘Time I told youjust what’s going on,’ he says to her. And, being the kind of wizard thatlikes details, this takes him the rest of the night.
It turns out that Prospero’s not just a wizard. He’s also a Duke. The Dukeof Milan. At least he was, until his brother Antonio took over. Antonio‘borrowed’ the neighbouring king’s army, stormed the Duke’s palace andordered Prospero and his daughter to be thrown in a boat and lost atsea. It was goodbye Duke Prospero…hello Duke Antonio.
Miranda is pretty surprised at this story: she thought they’d always livedin a cave. ‘But hang on,’ she says, ‘how come, if you’re really a Duke,you’re also a wizard’?
‘Aha,’ says Prospero, ‘my old friend, Gonzalo, threw my science booksinto the boat as we were leaving. Twelve years of reading them fromcover to cover and I now I know pretty much everything about everything.Including being a top magician.’
‘Since when did top magicians start sinking ships for fun?’ accusesMiranda. Prospero explains that down there in the boat are all his enemies from Milan and Naples – including his brother Antonio.‘What are you going to do with them?’ Miranda asks.
Prospero tells her he hasn’t decided yet but whatever it is they deserveit. With that he conjures a spell - and puts her back to sleep. Just as Arielflies in with a very important message…
ARIEL: Master! The ship is hidden in the harbour. The crew are all fast asleep inthe hold.
PROSPERO: And the passengers?
ARIEL: Split up round the island, just as you ordered.
PROSPERO: Excellent.
ARIEL: I’ll be off then. It’s been nice working for you!
PROSPERO: Not quite yet, Ariel.
ARIEL: But boss - you said this’d be my last job.
PROSPERO: This job is not over yet. Dawn’s coming up. I want you to get down on thebeach and start the island music going.
ARIEL: Okay. And then you’ll let me go?
PROSPERO: Soon, Ariel.
ARIEL: Promise?
PROSPERO: I promise.
ARIEL: Cross your heart -
PROSPERO: Don’t push your luck, Ariel, unless you want to wake up back in that treetrunk where I first found you…
ARIEL: Any particular tune you wanted or shall I choose, master? I’m going…I’mleaving…I’m out of here…
Video summary
The storm rages and wakes Miranda. She is not happy when she learns what her father has done.
She wants to know why he’s endangering the passengers of a passing ship.
Prospero clicks his fingers and the storm stops. Then he tells Miranda the whole story.
How he's not just a wizard; how he was once Duke of Milan; how he was betrayed by his brother, Antonio, who threw him - and the young Miranda - into a boat with the intention of losing them both at sea; how his old friend, Gonzalo, threw his science books into the boat with them as they were leaving and how after 12 years of study he has come to be a great magician.
Prospero then explains that on the boat are all the people responsible for his current situation, including his brother Antonio.
Ariel arrives with news that the passengers from the ship have landed safely on the island, split up in various locations - just as Prospero had ordered.
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 1 - Rock the ship. video
On an island with no name, Prospero, once Duke of Milan - conjures a great storm
Episode 3 - Full fathom five video
Prospero and Ariel tour the island to check on those who have been washed ashore
Episode 4 - Toledo steel. video
Antonio sees an opportunity - if he can persuade Sebastian to murder King Alonso
