MACBETH. Three Witches ENTER to audience over SOUNDS OF BATTLE WITCH 1 WITCH 2 WITCH 3. That will be ere the set of sun. WITCH 1. Where the place?

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1 Three Witches ENTER to audience over SOUNDS OF BATTLE When shall we meet again? In thunder, lighting or in rain? When the hurly- burly s done. When the battle is lost and won. That will be ere the set of sun. Where the place? Upon the heath There to meet with Macbeth! DUNCAN ENTERS, BLOODY MAN ENTERS, crawls to Duncan. DUNCAN What boldly man is this? Have you news of the war? BLOODY MAN King Duncan, Macdonwald from the Western isles attacked our kingdom, but the mighty Macbeth unseemed him from fixed his head upon our battlements. Bloody Man falls dead. DUNCAN Get him a surgeon. Bloody Man comes back to life. BLOODY MAN Then, a second army appeared, a Viking invasion from Norway. Macbeth fought them as well. I am faint. My gashes cry for help. 1

2 Bloody Man dies again. DUNCAN Get this man two surgeons! BLOODY MAN Then, a third army attacked Macbeth! DUNCAN Three armies at one time? Who was the third? BLOODY MAN The traitor Thane of Cowdor. Macbeth killed the Vikings. Killed Macdonwald andcaptured Cowdor. DUNCAN Have Cowdor killed and give his title to Macbeth! BLOODY MAN It will be done. What Cowdor hath lost Macbeth hath won! Macbeth and ENTER on horses. Witches dance to beat of a drum. As Macbeth and his best friend Banquo ride home from the battle, they meet three weird sisters. ( to second Witch) Where has thou been, sister? Killing swine. A drum a drum! Macbeth doth come! ALL WITCHES Weird sisters hand and hand posters of the sea and land, Three is thine. 2

3 Three to mine And three again makes up nine. ALL WITCHES Peace. The charm is wound up! What are these? So wild and withered in their attire? Speak! What are you? All hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis! All hail Macbeth, Thane of Cowdor. All hail Macbeth that shalt be King! If you can see into the future speak then to me! Banquo, lesser than Macbeth, but greater! Not so happy, but happier. Thou shall beget kings but thou shall never be one. I shall be the father of many kings? How can that be true? 3

4 True I am the Thane of Glamis, but also Thane of Cowdor? And I will become King? Speak more! I charge you! Witches exit. They have vanished. They said your children shall be Kings. And you shall be King! And Thane of Cowdor too. Bloody Man enters on horse. BLOODY MAN News for Macbeth. King Duncan has just named you the Thane of Cowdor! Bloody Man rides off. The weird sisters were telling the truth! Then your children shall be Kings. And you shall be King. Macbeth steps away from Banquo as Witches approach audience. Macbeth knows that the only way he can become King is to: 4

5 Hall of Duncan s castle. Murder King Duncan. And both the princes, Malcom and Donaldbaine. These predictions can not be bad, but can not be good. My thought of murder shakes my very state of man. DUNCAN Macbeth, you defeated three armies at the same time and saved us. I will honor you be visiting your castle. I am joyful. Everyone exits but Macbeth. He quickly writes a letter, hands it to a Witch who hands it to LADY as she ENTERS. Stars hide your fires. Let not light see my black and deep desires. Macbeth writes a letter home to Lady Macbeth and tells her of the Weird sister s predictions. She wants Macbeth to kill the King while he visits their castle. She is afraid Macbeth is too weak to do it. LADY (reading letter) They hailed me as Cowdor and then, it came true. Then, they hailed me as King to be! Macbeth will be the King? I would be the Queen? But he must kill 5

6 LADY (Continued) King Duncan first. I fear he is too full of the milk of human kindness to do this deed. Come you evil spirits, LIGHT FX on Lady Macbeth as Sisters dance around her. Fill me from crown to toe, top- full with direst cruelty! Come thick night, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes. Nor heaven peep through the dark and cry- Hold! Hold! Hold! Macbeth enters. Sisters exit. My dearest love, King Duncan comes here tonight. Lady Macbeth shows her dagger, smiles. LADY And when will he leave? Tomorrow LADY Never shall he leave this place. Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it! We will speak further! LADY Leave this part to me! Duncan enters with train, blast of trumpets. Lady Macbeth hides the dagger. DUNCAN Fair and noble hostess. We are your guests tonight. The Macbeths bow. 6

7 LADY Your servants ever. King Duncan walks upstage. We will proceed no further in this business! LADY Art thou afeard? Art thou a coward? He is my King. He is my Uncle. He has come in trust of me. I can not bear the knife against him. LADY When you dared to kill him, then you were a man! But- what if we fail? LADY We fail? Screw your courage to the sticking place and we will not fail! What can we not do to Duncan when he is asleep? Lady Macbeth plans to drug the guards, kill the King, wipe the King s blood on the guards and blame the guards. Will the people believe that the guards did it? LADY Who dares not believe us? My false face must hide what my false heart doth know. Lady Macbeth exits Act 11 7

8 After the party, Macbeth heads for Duncan s chambers to kill him. On his way, he meets Banquo and Fleance enters. Banquo hears a noise, pulls his sword. Who goes there? A friend. Is that Banquo? Yes. And my son, Fleance. I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters. I think not of them. Good night. Banquo and Fleance exit. Sisters have fishing poles with daggers on the lines. They float the daggers around Macbeth. A table on stage w/ Duncan asleep A DRUM BEAT. Starts slow and becomes the beat of a heart as Macbeth kills Duncan. A dagger appears in front of Macbeth. It floats through the air around him. Every time he grabs for it, it disappears. He is about to take his first step into evil: Murder for advancement. Is this a dagger I see before me? The handle towards my hand? Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not and yet, I see thee still. On thy blade- gouts of blood, 8

9 Blood which was not there before. There is no such thing! But still it is there! Nature seems dead. Wicked dreams abused curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates and Murder moves like a ghost. Macbeth holds dagger over the sleeping Duncan. Drum pounds a fast heartbeat. A loud BELL for the stroke of midnight. The bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan. For it is a knell that summons thee to Heaven or to Hell! Macbeth stabs Duncan to the rhythm of the bell. It stops SOUND of a cold wind as Sisters chant around him. WITCHES Macbeth has murdered sleep. Sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more. All exit. Lady Macbeth enters in the dark. Macbeth comes in behind her. Who s there? LADY I am afraid it is not done. Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I could have done it. I have done the deed. This is a sorry sight. LADY Consider it not so deeply. It will make us go mad. I heard voices cry out. Sleep no more. Macbeth does murder sleep. LADY What do you mean? They cried, Sleep no more! Macbeth shall sleep no more! 9

10 LADY Get some water and wash the blood from your hands. Why did you bring the daggers? Go! Smear the sleeping guards with blood and leave the daggers with them. No! I ll go no more. I m afraid to think what I have done. I dare not look on it again. LADY Give me those daggers! Lady Macbeth exits with the daggers. A LOUD KNOCKING. Whence is that knocking? Lady Macbeth enters, her hands also covered in blood. LADY My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white. More knocking. A little water will wash us of this deed. How easy it is then. More knocking. Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! MACDUFF ENTER. Sisters announce him. Who s that knocking at our door? Tis the hero of our story, McDuff. He has come to check up on King Duncan. Macbeth enters upstage, hiding his hands. 10

11 MACDUFF Is our master stirring worthy Thane? Did my knocking awaken him? This way. Macduff exits as Lady Macbeth enters. Macduff enters screaming. MACDUFF Horror! Horror! Horror! What s the matter? People enter as Macduff calls out. MACDUFF Most sacrilegious murder! Go see for yourself! Awake! Awake! Ring the alarum bell! Murder and treason! Banquo! Donalbane! Malcom! Awake and look on death itself! Our royal master has been murdered! Malcom enters. MALCOM What is amiss? MACDUFF Your father, King Duncan has been murdered! MALCOM By whom? The guards did it. I did kill them both. LADY Help me hence! I do faint! Malcom and Donalbain are next in line for the crown. 11

12 They know that whoever killed their father, will kill them next. They decide to run for it. MALCOM I will to England. DONALBAINE And I to Ireland! MALCOM Therefore to horse. And let us fly swiftly! The princes run away. And with no one to take the crown, Macbeth becomes king. WITCHES 1,2,3 All hail Macbeth, that shall be king! Macbeth & Lady Macbeth enter with crowns. Lords enter, set up table for feast scene. Macbeth steps to Banquo & Fleance, smiles. Banquo does not smile back. Banquo, we will have a feast in my honor. I request your presence. I will follow your commands Your Highness. Ride you this afternoon? Tis true, my Lord. 12

13 Goes Fleance with you? Ay, my Lord. Farewell. Banquo & Fleance exit as Witch s step forward. Macbeth plans his next murder. His second step into evil. His first step was to kill for profit. The second step, to kill for jealousy. I fear Banquo. The sisters said he would have a line of kings, and I, no son of my own. I must not let this happen. Step forward. TWO MURDERS ENTER to Macbeth. Do you both understand that Banquo is your enemy? BOTH MURDERS True, my Lord. He must be done tonight. He has his young son with him. The son must be killed as well. MURDER 1 As you wish, my Lord. Murders exit. Lady Macbeth enters. 13

14 LADY Do not think of the murder. What s done has been done. Duncan is in his grave. He sleeps well. Now I am the King, and I can not sleep.; We have been cursed. We will sleep no more. LADY Gentle my Lord. We must be joyous among our guests tonight. I have scorpions in my mind! Macbeth s exit.. Murders in trees waiting. MURDER 1 Here they comes. Banquo & Fleance ride in. Murders attack. Banquo fights the Murders as he calls out to Fleance. Fleance runs in circles. Fly Fleance! Fly! Fly Fleance! Seriously! Run away! Murders kill Banquo, Fleance gets away. Murders exits with trees. Feast begins. LADY My heart speaks to all. Welcome to our feast! Macbeth sees Murder 1 hiding by the side of the stage. He goes to him. There is blood upon thy face. MURDER 1 Tis Banquo s. My Lord, his throat is cut. 14

15 Thou art the best of cutthroats. Even better if you did the same to Fleance. MURDER 1 Your Highness, Fleance escaped. WHAT? All the Guests turn to Macbeth. He smiles, turns back to Murder 1. Are you sure Banquo is dead? MURDER 1 Aye my Lord. He is in a ditch with twenty gashes in his head. Thanks for that. Here is your gold. Now get thee gone. Murder 1 takes bag of gold, exits. Macbeth turns back to the party. Good digestion awaits us! Health to all! S GHOST ENTERS, sits in the only empty chair. LENNOX Would it please Your Highness to sit with us? The table is full. LENNOX There is an empty chair right here. Where? LENNOX Here my Lord. Banquo s Ghost pops up, scares Macbeth. No one else sees it. What is it that moves Your Highness? 15

16 Which of you did this? LENNOX Did what my Lord? Don t shake your gory locks at me! ROSS Gentlemen arise! His Highness is not well! LADY Everybody sit! Are you a man? I look on that which might appall the devil! LADY Why do you make such faces? You look on nothing but an empty stool! Look! Behold! If I stand here, I saw him! LADY For shame! See to your friends. Yes. Ofcourse. I drink to the general joy of this whole table, and to our dear friend Banquo whom we wish were The Ghost appears again, chases Macbeth around the stage HERE! Awwwwww! Avant! And quit my sight! Let the Earth hide thee! Hence horrible shadow! LADY The King grows worse. At once, good night my Lords. Go at once! Get out of here! Lords scramble off the stage with the table. 16

17 It wants my blood! It has been said, blood will have blood. I will tomorrow to the weird sisters. More shall they speak! LADY You lack your senses. We must find a way to have sleep. Yes. If we could only go to sleep. Act IV The next day, Macbeth goes to the Sister s cave. They are brewing up evil, black magic for Macbeth. ALL WITCHES Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and caldron bubble. Eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dog! Adler s fork and blind worm s sting A lizard s leg and howlet s wing Cool it down with baboon s blood until the charm is firm and good. ALL WITCHES Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and caldron bubble. By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. Macbeth enters 17

18 How now you secret midnight hags! What is it you do? ALL WITCHES A deed without a name. Answer me. Would you rather hear it from our mouths, or from our masters. Call them. Let me see them. Come high or low. To Macbeth thyself will show! FIRST APPARITION, a large head with a Viking helmet comes out of the pot. FIRST APPARITON Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me! Enough! First Apparition exits. SECOND APPARITION comes from pot, a baby with a bloody face. SECOND APPARITION Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Be bloody, bold, and resolute! For no man of woman born shall harm Macbeth! Since every man is born of woman, I have nothing to worry about. Second Apparition exits into pot. THIRD APPARITION enters from pot. It is a young prince with a tree. THIRD APPARITION Macbeth can not be hurt until the trees rise up and march to Macbeth s castle. 18

19 Trees stand up and march to my castle? That will never happen. I have nothing to fear. I hear a horse! Who goes there? LENNOX Your Highness. Macduff has fled to England! Macduff will join forces with Malcolm to destroy me and give Malcolm the crown that is rightfully his. Macbeth decides to kill Macduff s innocent family His third step into evil. He will murder for the fun of it. Seize upon the castle of Macduff! Give the edge of the sword to his wife, his children. Kill them all! LADY MACDUFF and CHILD ENTER as all exit but Lennox. Lennox goes to them. LENNOX Bless you Lady Macduff. Danger approaches. You must Murder 1& 2 enter to Lady Macduff. not be found here. Take your little ones and go! MURDER 1 Where is your husband? He is a traitor! CHILD Thou liest you shag- eared villain! LADY MACDUFF No! Not my child! Murder 2 stabs the child. Murder 1 stabs Lady Macduff. All exit. Malcom, Macduff, Ross enter. 19

20 In England, Malcom and Macduff hear how Macduff s family was killed by Macbeth. MACDUFF My children too? ROSS Wife, children, servants, all slain. MALCOM Let your grief convert to anger. MACDUFF O Hell- kite! Bring the fiend of Scotland to me, front to front and I will set him with this sword! MALCOM Come! Macbeth is ripe for shaking! War is declared on Macbeth. Malcom and the English army invade Scotland. Act 5 They all exit, stage dark. THE CASTLE DOCTOR watches as Lady Macbeth enters. Macbeth prepares for war. Lady Macbeth staggers through the castle, hallucinating. The Castle Doctor follows her and watches. Doctor talks directly to the audience. DOCTOR I have two nights watched the Lady. She appears to be asleep, yet she is not. I have heard she has not slept for days. I fear she may be cursed. Here she comes. Lady Macbeth enters, staggers, eyes wide open, rubbing her hands together. 20

21 DOCTOR Look how she rubs her hands. I have seen her do this for a quarter of an hour. Stops. And starts again. LADY Yet, there s the spot. The spot of blood. DOCTOR Hark. She speaks! LADY Out! Out damned spot! Out I say! Hell is murky. Who would have thought the old man had so much blood in him? (Singing) The Thane of Fife had a wife (crying) Where is she now? Will these hands never be clean? Still, the smell of blood! All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Wash your hands! Put on your nightgown! Look not so pale! Banquo is buried! He can not come out of his grave! To bed! To bed! Give me your hand! There is knocking at the gate! What is done can not be undone! Macbeth will sleep no more! Both exit as Witches enter with Macbeth and SERVANT. Macbeth is not afraid of Malcom s invading army because of the promises made by the Sisters. Malcom can not hurt me. The spirits have pronounced No man born of woman shall e er have power over upon thee. I have nothing to fear until the trees rise up and march to my castle. 21

22 SERVANT We are under attack Your Highness. There are ten thousand. Ten thousand what? Geese? SERVANT No Your Highness. English forces, ready to attack the castle. You lie! Take thy face hence! Kills the servant. Macbeth realizes he has become a servant to evil. He has lost all of his friends, all of his honor and his life has become worthless. I am sick at heart. My way of life has fallen into a ditch- honor, love, friends- I have lost them all. I have nothing left but curses. Doctor enters Doctor! How is my wife? DOCTOR Not so sick my Lord, in her mind. She can not sleep. Canst thou cure mind disease? DOCTOR She appears to be cursed, Your Highness. Throw physic to the dogs! I ll none of it! Kills the Doctor. 22

23 Malcom, Macduff and soldiers in woods. The Sisters told me I have nothing to fear! I will not be afraid until the trees do march upon this castle! Malcom s army has advanced to woods outside Macbeth s castle. MACDUFF Let every soldier cut a small tree and bear it before him. MALCOM It will appear the trees are marching. It will mask our numbers. Soldiers get tree limbs and exit. Back to the castle. Lady Macbeth stands next to a model of the castle on a table. So as the army marches forward holding up tree limbs, it appears the trees are marching towards the castle. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth has gone to the top of the castle to leap to her death. LADY We will perform this scene via puppet show in hopes of making it less horrific. A Sister with puppet on top of the model castle. It leaps into the air as Lady Macbeth SCREAMS. The puppet falls as. Actress SCREAMS. Puppet Show and Actress exit. Macbeth enters w/ soldier. What is that noise? 23

24 SOLDIER It was the cry of a woman, Sir. I have almost forgotten the taste of fear. Where was that cry? SOLDIER The Queen, my Lord, she is dead. Macbeth kills the soldier. Out, out brief candle. Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by and idiot full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. A MESSENGER ENTERS, runs to Macbeth. MESSENGER My Lord. As I did stand my watch. I look towards the woods, and the trees began to move! Macbeth pulls his sword, about to stab the Messenger. MESSENGER Look for yourself. The trees have marched to the castle walls! Liar! Slave! Macbeth kills him. The Sisters said, Fear not, till the trees do march on my castle. And now, the very trees do march! The Sisters predictions are coming true! A SOLDIER from Malcom s army ENTERS. MALCOM SOLDIER 24

25 I am a soldier of Malcom s army. We have taken your castle. Your army has fled! Prepare to die! Ha! I am charmed. No man born of woman can harm me. The Soldier attacks Macbeth, but his sword only bounces of him. Macbeth kills him. Macduff enters. Macbeth turns from him. MACDUFF Tyrant! Show thy face! You killed my wife and children. Their ghosts haunt me still! I do not wish to fight you MacDuff. MACDUFF Turn towards me, you hound from hell! You can not defeat me. I lead a charmed life. No man born of woman can harm me. MACDUFF I was not born of woman. I was untimely ripped from my mother s womb by a male doctor. It was a Caesarian birth. The Sisters have tricked me again! I will not fight thee. MACDUFF Then yield to me as a coward, and I will make thee kiss the ground at Malcom s feet. No. I d rather die in battle then live as a coward. Lay it on Macduff! Macbeth charges him. They exit fighting. 25