When Caliban meets Stephano and Trinculo after the storm, he thinks that they are gods who have been sent to torment him on the island.  Caliban cannot understand why he must be further tormented when he already receives such ill treatment from Prospero.  Caliban, however, realizes that the pair are simply two drunken sailors and decides to use them to help his own situation on the island.  Caliban agrees to be Stephano's slave if he will overthrow Prospero.  Stephano agrees, and in return, Caliban tells Stephano and Trinculo that he will show them all the secrets of the island.  At the end of the scene, Stephano and Trinculo are on their way to murder Prospero and take Miranda.

Determined that Stephano should be lord of the island, Caliban leads the pair to Prospero's cave where they plan to murder him.