Scene i
Horatio waits with the Guards and sees the Ghost appear. He questions it but the Ghost does not answer. He decides to tell Prince Hamlet about it, because it looks as if the Ghost was Old Hamlet and it was preparing for war.
Scene ii
King Claudius gives a speech to his courtiers. We find out that he and Gertrude are married, less than a month after King Hamlet's death. Claudius allows Laertes to go back to France, but does not allow Hamlet to return to Wittenburg. He wants to keep an eye on Hamlet, so it benefits him to keep Hamlet close by. He also sends ambassadors to Norway to keep Fortinbras from attacking Denmark. Horatio tells Hamlet of the ghost and Hamlet decides to stand watch with the Guards.
Scene iii
Laertes says good-bye to Ophelia and warns her not to trust Hamlet's love. Polonius comes in to give Laertes advice in France and then to tell Ophelia to ignore Hamlet forever.
Scene iv
Hamlet stands watch with the Guards and Horatio. During the watch, the Ghost of Old Hamlet appears. Hamlet follows the Ghost against the wishes of his companions.
Scene v
The Ghost tells Hamlet how Claudius killed King Hamlet, saying that he is the ghost of King Hamlet. He orders Hamlet to avenge his death by killing Claudius. Hamlets says that he will and makes his companions swear that they will not repeat what they saw. He also decides to pretend to be crazy so that no one will be suspicious of him. He makes his companions swear that they will not give away his secret.