At the side of the stage sit two musicians who have instruments made from the detritus of a

post-apocalyptic world. As the audience enter, the three WITCHES are on stage. They are
scavengers, picking through the junkyard for brightly coloured scraps like magpies.
Occasionally they find something interesting that they give to the musicians to add to their
instruments. Once the audience are all settled the musicians will cause a thunderous noise
signalling the start of the play.

WITCH 3
When shall we three meet again. In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

WITCH 1
When the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won.

WITCH 2
That will be ere the set of sun.

WITCH 1
Where the place?

WITCH 2
Upon the heath.

WITCH 3
There to meet with Macbeth.

WITCH 1
Fair is foul

WITCH 3
and foul is fair:

WITCH 2
Hover through the fog and filthy air.

The witches move to UR as Malcolm and Caithness enter from UL and Duncan, Lennox and
Donalbain enter through the audience (AE) and come up onto the stage.

DUNCAN
What bloody man is that? He can report, as seen by his plight, the newest state of the revolt.

1
MALCOLM
This is the sergeant who like a good and hardy soldier fought against my captivity.

LENNOX
Hail, brave friend! Say to the king the knowledge of the broil as you did leave it.

CAITHNESS
Doubtful it stood; The merciless MacDonald, worthy to be a rebel, from the western isles is
supplied; but all's too weak: For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name- Disdaining
fortune, with his brandished steel, carved out his passage till he faced the slave; which ne'er
shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps,
and fixed his head upon our battlements.

DUNCAN
Valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!

CAITHNESS
Mark, king of Scotland, mark: The Norwegian lord began a fresh assault.

DUNCAN
Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?

CAITHNESS
Yes; As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. But I am faint, my gashes cry for help.

MALCOLM
So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;

DONALBAIN
They smack of honour both.

DUNCAN
Go get him surgeons.

Exit CAITHNESS, with DONALBAIN - AE

LENNOX
Who comes here?

Enter ROSS and ANGUS - UL

2
MALCOLM
The worthy thanes of Ross and Angus.

LENNOX
What a haste looks through their eyes!

ROSS
God save the king!

DUNCAN
Whence came thou, worthy thanes?

ANGUS
From Fife, great king; where the Norwegian banners flout the sky and their King himself, with
terrible numbers…

ROSS
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, the thane of Cawdor,

ANGUS
…began a dismal conflict. Till brave Macbeth confronted the Norwegian King.

ROSS
Point against point, rebellious arm against arm. Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude…

ANGUS
The victory fell on us.

MALCOLM
Great happiness!

DUNCAN
No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest: Go, announce his
sentenced death, and with his former title greet Macbeth.

ROSS
I'll see it done.

Exit ROSS and ANGUS - UL

LENNOX

3
What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won.

Exit DUNCAN, LENNOX, MALCOLM – AE. WITCH 2 goes to follow them through the audience
but is called back by WITCH 1….

WITCH 1
Where hast thou been, sister?

WITCH 2
Killing swine.

WITCH 3
And thou?

WITCH 1
Look what I have.

WITCH 3
Show me.

WITCH 1
Here I have a pilot's thumb, wrecked as homeward he did come.

WITCH 2
A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come.

WITCH 2 hurries back towards stage as MACBETH and BANQUO enter - AE

MACBETH
So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

MACBETH goes up steps to stage but is confronted by WITCH 2, he backs away into WITCH 3.
From in front of the steps BANQUO speaks…

BANQUO
What are these, so withered and so wild in their attire, that look not like the inhabitants of
the earth, and yet are on it? Live you? or are you aught that man may question?

WITCH 1
All hail, Macbeth!

4
WITCH 2
All hail, Macbeth!

WITCH 3
Hey.

WITCH 1
Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

WITCH 2
Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

WITCH 3
Thou shalt be king hereafter…

BANQUO comes up onto stage

BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear things that do sound so fair? My noble partner
you greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope, that he
seems rapt with all: Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear your favours nor your hate.

WITCH 1
Hail!

WITCH 2
Hail!

WITCH 3
Hail!

WITCH 2 and 3 put their arms around MACBETH and BANQUO’s shoulders

WITCH 3
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

WITCH 2
Not so happy, yet much happier.

WITCH 1
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

5
WITCH 2
Banquo…

WITCH 3
and Macbeth…

WITCH 1
All Hail…

The WITCHES melt away to the sides of the stage to blend in with the colourful junk and
graffiti

MACBETH
By my father's death I am thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives,
Speak!

BANQUO
Vanished? Have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?

Pause. They look at each other….

MACBETH
Your children shall be kings.

BANQUO
You shall be king. And thane of Cawdor too! Who's here?
Enter ROSS and ANGUS - UL

ROSS
The king hath happily received, Macbeth, the news of thy success.

ANGUS
We are sent to give thee from our royal master thanks. Only to herald thee into his sight, not
pay thee.

ROSS
And he bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor. Hail, most worthy thane!

BANQUO
What!? Can the devil speak true? The thane of Cawdor lives.

6
ANGUS and ROSS start to leave – AE. BANQUO follows off the stage. MACBETH stays where
he is. THE WITCHES slowly move from their positions on at the side of the stage towards
MACBETH

ANGUS
Who was the thane lives yet; But under heavy judgment bears that life which he deserves to
lose.

MACBETH
(ASIDE) Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor; The greatest is behind. If chance will have me king,
why, chance may crown me, without my stir.

From the aisle BANQUO notices that MACBETH is still onstage

BANQUO
Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.

MACBETH
Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

MACBETH goes to follow but the WITCHES stop him. They put him in a trance and puppeteer
him into writing a letter. WITCH 2 and 3 take him off UL. WITCH 1 carries the letter down the
steps and through the Audience to LADY MACBETH who enters along the aisle reading it
aloud as she comes onto stage.

LADY MACBETH
'They met me in the day of success: and when I burned in desire to question them further,
they made themselves air. While I stood rapt, came missives from the king, who all-hailed
me 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred
me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have I thought good to
deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou might not lose the dues of rejoicing,
by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell.'

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it: Hie thee hither, that I may
pour my spirits in thine ear.

Enter SEYTON - UL

What is your tidings?

7
SEYTON
The king comes here to-night.

LADY MACBETH
Thou art mad to say it: Is not thy master with him?

SEYTON
So please you, it is true: our thane is coming.

Exit SEYTON - UL

LADY MACBETH
The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements.
Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, make thick my blood; stop up the access and
passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature shake my fell purpose. Come,
thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound
it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, to cry 'Hold, hold!'

Enter MACBETH - UL

Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!

MACBETH
My dearest love, Duncan comes here to-night. And goes hence to-morrow, as he purposes.

LADY MACBETH
Never shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read
strange matters. He that's coming must be provided for: and you shall put this night's great
business into my dispatch;

MACBETH
We will speak further.

LADY MACBETH
Only look up clear; to alter favour ever is to fear: Leave all the rest to me.

MACBETH exits UL as DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, ANGUS and ROSS enter -AE.

DUNCAN
This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our
gentle senses.

8
MALCOLM
See, see, our honoured hostess!

DONALBAIN
Where's the thane of Cawdor?

MALCOLM
We coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose to be his purveyor: but he rides well;

ANGUS
His great love, sharp as his spur, hath helped him to his home before us.

ROSS
Fair and noble hostess, we are your guests to-night.

LADY MACBETH
And we your servants ever

DUNCAN
Give me your hand; conduct me to mine host: we love him highly and shall continue our
graces towards him. By your leave, hostess.

Exeunt UL as WITCH 1 comes through the audience

MACBETH
If it were done when t’is done, then t’were well it were done quickly.

WITCH 1 nods at him and goes behind the fake wall - UR. Enter LADY MACBETH - UL

LADY MACBETH
He has almost supped: why have you left the chamber?

MACBETH
We will proceed no further in this business.

LADY MACBETH
Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself? hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to
look so green and pale at what it did so freely? Would you live a coward in your own esteem,
letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'

9
MACBETH
I pray thee, peace: I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.

LADY MACBETH
When you durst do it, then you were a man.

MACBETH
If we should fail?

LADY MACBETH
We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we'll not fail. When Duncan is
asleep- His two chamber guards will I with drugged wine assail. What cannot you and I
perform upon the unguarded King?

MACBETH
I am settled, away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false
heart doth know.

Exeunt UL as FLEANCE enters AE. AS he picks through the junk on stage WITCH 1 comes on
and directs him towards a crown buried in the junk.
BANQUO enters AE calling to FLEANCE as he walks through the audience. FLEANCE hurriedly
hides the crown again. WITCH 1 exits UL.

BANQUO
How goes the night, my boy?

FLEANCE
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.

BANQUO
And she goes down at twelve.

FLEANCE
I take it, it is later, sir.

BANQUO
Hold, take my sword. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I would not sleep
Who's there?

Enter MACBETH from UL

10
MACBETH
A friend.

BANQUO
What, sir, not yet at rest? I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To you they have
showed some truth.

MACBETH
I think not of them: Good repose the while!

BANQUO
Thanks, sir: the like to you!

Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE – AE. MACBETH watches after them from DC. WITCHES 2 and
3 enter UL with daggers and stand UC.

MACBETH
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Mine eyes are made the fools of the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still,
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes.

DUNCAN enters UL. WITCH 2 and 3 act as his guards as he goes past them and behind the
wall UR. WITCH 1 enters with drinks and gives them to the other WITCHES in exchange for
their daggers. They ding their cups together in cheers.

MACBETH
The bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

MACBETH turns and is confronted by WITCH 1 who hands him the daggers and then goes to
the platform UR to watch the murder over the wall. MACBETH goes past the ‘guards’ who are
‘asleep’ and off UR to murder the King.
LADY MACBETH enters UL

11
LADY MACBETH
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; what hath quenched them hath
given me fire.

MACBETH
[Off] Who's there?!

LADY MACBETH
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, and it is not done. The attempt and not the deed
confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss them. Had he not
resembled my father as he slept, I had done it.

Enter MACBETH – UR holding the bloody daggers.

My husband!

MACBETH
I have done the deed. Did thou not hear a noise? Methought I heard a voice cry

WITCHES and MACBETH

LADY MACBETH
Sh!

MACBETH
(looks at hands) This is a sorry sight.

LADY MACBETH
Go get some water and wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these
daggers from the place? They must lie there: go carry them; and smear the guards with
blood.

MACBETH
I'll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on it again I dare not.

LADY MACBETH
Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: I'll gild the faces of the guards with blood; For it
must seem their guilt.

She exits UR holding the daggers.

12
MACBETH gets a bucket from DL and washes his hands in it.

MACBETH
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this
blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine.
Making the green one red.

Re-enter LADY MACBETH from UR

LADY MACBETH
My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white.

WITCH 1 starts knocking.

I hear a knocking: retire we to our chamber; A little water clears us of this deed

MACBETH
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou could!

MACBETH and LADY MCABETH exit UL as the WITCHES look at each other. WITCH 1 hides
herself UR and WITCHES 2 and 3 come down the steps and sit by the corners of the stage.
They knock. A pause on stage as the knocking continues.
Eventually from behind a pile of junk- UR- we hear a groan, and the PORTER gets up.

PORTER
Here's a knocking indeed! Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, in the name of Beelzebub?
Knock, knock! Who's there, in the other devil's name? Knock, knock; never at quiet! But this
place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further. Anon, anon!

The PORTER heads down the steps into the aisle as MACDUFF and LENNOX enter through the
audience. MACDUFF comes straight up on stage but LENNOX starts talking to the PORTER as
they walk up the steps.
LENNOX
Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, that you do lie so late?

PORTER
'Faith sir, we were carousing till the second cock: and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three
things.

LENNOX
What three things does drink especially provoke?

13
PORTER
Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine.

LENNOX
I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

PORTER
That it did, sir.

MACDUFF
Is thy master stirring?

Enter MACBETH UL. The PORTER scarpers off AE

Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes.

LENNOX
Good morrow, noble sir. Is the king stirring?

MACDUFF
He did command me to call timely on him: I have almost slipped the hour.

MACBETH
This is the door.

MACDUFF
I'll make so bold to call,

Exit MACDUFF behind wall UR

LENNOX
Goes the king hence to-day?

MACBETH
He does: he did appoint so.

Re-enter MACDUFF

MACDUFF
O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!

14
LENNOX
What's the matter.

MACDUFF
Most sacrilegious murder

LENNOX
Mean you his majesty?

MACDUFF
Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight. do not bid me speak; See, and then speak
yourselves.

Exit MACBETH and LENNOX- UR

MACDUFF
Awake, awake! Ring the alarum-bell. Murder and treason! Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Angus! Ross!

Enter LADY MACBETH, ANGUS, ROSS from UL

ANGUS
What's the business! speak, speak!

MACDUFF
Our royal master's murdered!

LADY MACBETH
What, in our house?

Re-enter MACBETH and LENNOX - UR

ROSS
Too cruel anywhere. Dear Duff, I pray thee, contradict thyself.

Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN - UL

DONALBAIN
What is amiss?

15
ANGUS
Your royal father 's murdered.

MALCOLM
By whom?

LENNOX
Guards of his chamber, as it seemed, had done it: Their hands and faces were badged with
blood.

MACBETH
O, yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them.

MALCOLM
Wherefore did you so?

MACBETH
Who could refrain, that had a heart to love.

LADY MACBETH
(faints) Oh!

ANGUS
Look to the lady.

LENNOX
Let’s briefly put on manly readiness and meet in the hall together

ROSS
Well contented.

Exit all UL except MALCOLM and DONALBAIN

MALCOLM
What will you do? Let's not consort with them: To show an unfelt sorrow is an office which
the false man does easy. I'll to England.

DONALBAIN
To Ireland, I; our separated fortune shall keep us both the safer, There's daggers in men's
smiles.

16
MALCOLM
This murderous shaft that's shot hath not yet lighted, and our safest way is to avoid the aim.
Therefore, to horse; and let us not be dainty of leave-taking, but shift away: there's warrant
in that theft which steals itself, when there's no mercy left.

They leave through the audience as FLEANCE enters. They pass each other in the AISLE.
WITCHES 2 and 3 follow MALCOLM and DONALBAIN – AE. When on stage FLEANCE goes
again to find the crown. WITCH 1 takes the crown. MENTEITH, MACDUFF, ANGUS, ROSS and
LENNOX enter from UL. Enter BANQUO from AE

BANQUO
Is it known yet who did last night’s more than bloody deed?

ANGUS
Those guards that Macbeth hath slain.

LENNOX
What could they have hoped to gain?

ROSS
Tis thought they were paid.

MACDUFF
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons, are stolen away and fled; which puts upon
them suspicion of the deed.

MENTEITH
Then it is most like the crown will fall upon Macbeth.

LENNOX
He is already named

ROSS
Do you stay for the crowning, Macduff?

MACDUFF
No, cousin, I'll go to my home and family in Fife.

BANQUO
God’s blessings go with you.

17
MACDUFF leaves through audience. ROSS, ANGUS, MENTEITH, LENNOX start to leave UL

BANQUO
(ASIDE) Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the weird women promised, and, I fear,
thou played most foully for it.

Enter MACBETH and CARRICK- UL

MACBETH
Here're our chief guests. Tonight we hold a solemn supper sir, and I'll request your presence.

ANGUS
If it be your command your Highness

Exeunt all – UL, except MACBETH, CARRICK, BANQUO and FLEANCE

MACBETH
Ride you this afternoon?

BANQUO
Aye.

MACBETH
Goes your boy, Fleance, with you?

BANQUO
Ay, my good lord: Our time does call upon us.

MACBETH
I wish your horses swift and sure of foot. Farewell.
Exit BANQUO and FLEANCE - AE

MACBETH
To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus.—
(To CARRICK) Attend those men our pleasure?

CARRICK
They are without the palace gate.

MACBETH
Bring them before us.

18
Exit CARRICK - UL

There is none but Banquo who I do fear: The sisters hailed him father to a line of kings: Upon
my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren sceptre in my grip. Who's there!

Enter CAOL and CORPACH - UL

Have you considered of my speeches?

CAOL
I am one, my liege, whom the vile blows and buffets of the world have so incensed that I am
reckless what I do to spite the world.

CORPACH
And I another so weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, that I would set my lie on any
chance, to mend it, or be rid on it.

MACBETH
You know Banquo was your enemy.

CAOL
True, my lord.

MACBETH
So is he mine.

CAOL
We shall, perform what you command us.

MACBETH
It must be done to-night, Fleance his son, that keeps him company, must embrace the fate
of that dark hour also.

CORPACH
We are resolved, my lord.

MACBETH
Banquo, thy soul's flight, if it find heaven, must find it out to-night.

MACBETH exit UL

19
Enter CARRICK

CAOL
Who did bid you join us?

CARRICK
Macbeth

CAOL
Then stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: Now spurs the lated
traveller apace to gain the timely inn, and near approaches the subject of our watch.
CORPACH
A light! Stand to it.

Enter FLEANCE – AE- with a glowstick onto stage. BANQUO from aisle calls to him.

BANQUO
Give us a light there!

CORPACH
'Tis he.

CAOL
His horses go about.

BANQUO
It will be rain to-night.

CORPACH
Let it come down.

BANQUO
Treachery! RUN! Fleance, fly!

They fight. BANQUO is stabbed, he crawls behind the wall UR to die. FLEANCE flees through
the audience with his glow stick. CARRICK follows.

CAOL
Who did strike out the light? There's but one down; the son is fled. We have lost best half of
our affair. Let's away and say how much is done.

20
CAOL and CORPACH go down the steps and crouch in the aisle as LADY MACBETH and
MACBETH enter with MENTEITH, SEYTON, LENNOX, ANGUS and ROSS

LADY MACBETH
You know your own degrees; sit down: at first and last the hearty welcome.

ROSS
Thanks to your majesty.

MENTEITH
Here had we now our country’s honour roofed, were the graced person of Banquo present.
His absence, sir, lays blame upon his promise.

CAOL and CORPACH stand, and MACBETH comes DC to talk to them on the steps.

MACBETH
(To CAOL) There's blood on thy face.

CAOL
'Tis Banquo's then. His throat is cut; that I did for him.

MACBETH
Thou art the best of the cut-throats

CORPACH
Fleance escaped.

MACBETH
But Banquo's safe?

CAOL
Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides, with twenty trenched gashes on his head; the least
a death to nature. There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’s fled hath nature that in
time will venom breed, no teeth for the present.

ANGUS
My royal lord, you do not give the cheer!

Exit CAOL and CORPACH - AE

21
MACBETH
Good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both!

LENNOX
May it please your highness sit.

The GHOST OF BANQUO enters from UR, and sits in MACBETH's place

MACBETH
The table's full.

ROSS
Here is a place reserved, sir.

MACBETH
Where?

SEYTON
Here, my good lord.

MACBETH sees the GHOST and panics. The GHOST stands.

ANGUS
What is it that moves your highness?

MACBETH
Which of you have done this?

ANGUS
What, my good lord?

MACBETH
Never shake thy gory locks at me.

ROSS
Gentlemen, rise: his highness is not well.

LADY MACBETH
Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;
the fit is momentary. (To MACBETH) This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-
drawn dagger which, you said, led you to Duncan. You look but on a stool.

22
MACBETH
See there! behold! look!

LADY MACBETH
What, quite unmanned in folly?

MACBETH
What man dare, I dare: Hence, horrible shadow!

MACBETH lunges towards the GHOST but is caught by SEYTON and dragged away. GHOST
leaves – AE.

LADY MACBETH
At once, good night: Stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once.

SEYTON helps MACBETH down the steps and LADY MACBETH follows

SEYTON
Good night; and better health attend his majesty!

SEYTON leaves UL

MACBETH
It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood.

LADY MACBETH
You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Come.

MACBETH and LADY MACBETH exit - AE

ANGUS
Things have been strangely borne.

LENNOX
The right-valiant Banquo walked too late; Whom, you may say, if it please you, Fleance killed,
for Fleance fled:

MENTEITH
How monstrous it was for Malcolm and for Donalbain to kill their gracious father.

23
ANGUS
Damned fact!

MENEITH
How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight in pious rage the two delinquents tear? Was
not that nobly done?

ROSS
Ay, and wisely too; For would have angered any heart alive to hear the men deny it.

WITCH 1 now whispers to ANGUS about MACDUFF

LENNOX
I do think that had he Duncan's sons under his key- they should find what 'twere to kill a
father; so should Fleance.

ANGUS
I hear Macduff lives in disgrace because he failed his presence at the tyrant's feast: can you
tell where he bestows himself?

ROSS
Malcolm, the son of Duncan, lives in the English court, and is received of the most pious
Edward: thither Macduff is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid.

The sound of war drums.

MENTEITH
And this report hath so exasperate the king that he prepares for some attempt of war.

They leave – AE, leaving WITCH 1 one stage. WITCHES 2 and 3 enter AE

WITCHES
(muttered as the musicians play)
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Fillet of a fenny snake, In
the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful
trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

During the spell LADY MACBETH enters through the audience. She is sleepwalking. From UR
the body of DUNCAN is brought on by WITCHES 2 and 3. He is held up by them and bleeding.
LADY MACBETH goes to stop the bleeding but DUNCAN opens his eyes and grabs her hands

24
causing them to be covered in blood. DUNCAN slumps back again and WITCH 1 brings LADY
MACBETH the bucket and she washes her hands. As she does so DUNCAN once again wakes
up. He steps towards her as the WITCHES back away leaving her alone CS with him and the
bucket. One of the WITCHES knocks. DUNCAN turns and goes back behind the wall UR. LADY
MACBETH goes back to rinse her hands once more but this time when she puts her hands in
the bucket they come out with even more blood on them. Panicked she retreats behind the
wall UR.

WITCH 1
By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.

Enter MACBETH AE

WITCH 2
Speak.

MACBETH
Tell me, thou unknown power,-

WITCH 3
Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife.

MACBETH
Macduff?

WITCH 3
Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born
shall harm Macbeth.

MACBETH
Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?

WITCH 3
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall
come against him.

MACBETH
That will never be. Who can impress the forest, bid the tree unfix his earth-bound root? Shall
Banquo's issue ever reign in this kingdom?

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WITCH 3
Seek to know no more.

WITCHES 2 and 3 exit UL

MACBETH
Wait!

WITCH 1
Seek to know no more!

MACBETH
I will be satisfied: deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you!
Where are they? Gone? The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the
edge of the sword His wife, his babes, and all in his line.

Exit MACBETH UL. WITCH 1 changes a sign to read ‘FIFE’ and leaves UL
Enter LADY MACDUFF, her DAUGHTER, and ROSS - AE

LADY MACDUFF
What had he done, to make him fly the land?

ROSS
You must have patience, madam.

LADY MACDUFF
He had none: His flight was madness: when our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors.

ROSS
You know not whether it was his wisdom or his fear.

LADY MACDUFF
Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles in a place from
whence himself does fly? He loves us not; All is the fear and nothing is the love; as little is the
wisdom, where the flight so runs against all reason.

ROSS
My dearest coz, I pray you, school yourself: I dare not speak much further; But cruel are the
times, when we are traitors. I take my leave of you:. Shall not be long but I'll be here again:
My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you!

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ROSS exit UL

LADY MACDUFF
Your father's dead; And what will you do now? How will you live?

YOUNG MACDUFF
As birds do, mother.

LADY MACDUFF
What, with worms and flies?

YOUNG MACDUFF
With what I get, I mean; and so do they.

LADY MACDUFF
Poor bird!

YOUNG MACDUFF
My father is not dead, for all your saying.

LADY MACDUFF
Yes, he is dead; how wilt thou do for a father?

YOUNG MACDUFF
Nay, how will you do for a husband?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.

YOUNG MACDUFF
If he were dead, you’d weep for him: if you would not, it were a good sign that I should
quickly have a new father.

LADY MACDUFF
Poor prattler, how thou talk'st!

Enter NEVIS - UL

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NEVIS
Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honour I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly:
If you will take a homely man's advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little ones.
To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage;
Heaven preserve you! I dare abide no longer.

Exit NEVIS UL

LADY MACDUFF
Whither should I fly? I have done no harm.

Enter CARRICK - AE

What is this face?

CARRICK
Where is your husband?

LADY MACDUFF
I hope, in no place so unsanctified where such as thou mayst find him.

CARRICK
He's a traitor.

YOUNG MACDUFF
Thou liest, villain!

CARRICK
What, you egg! Young fry of treachery!

CARRICK kills the MACDUFFS behind the barrier DL. and leaves AE.
WITCHES 2 and 3 come on and drag the dead bodies off. WITCH 1 throws an ENGLAND flag
over the sign. Enter MALCOLM and MACDUFF- AE

MALCOLM
Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there weep ourselves empty.

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MACDUFF
Let us rather strike heaven on the face, that it resounds as if it felt with Scotland and yelled
out

Enter ROSS - UL

MALCOLM
See, who comes here?

ROSS
Sir, amen.

MALCOLM
What's the newest grief?

MACDUFF
How does my wife? Be not coy of speech: how goes it? Keep it not from me, quickly let me
have it.

ROSS
Your castle is surprised; your wife savagely slaughtered:

MALCOLM
Merciful heaven!

MACDUFF
My children too?

ROSS
Wife, children, servants, all that could be found.

MACDUFF
And I must be from thence! My wife killed too?

ROSS
I have said.

MALCOLM
Be this the whetstone of your sword: let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage
it.

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MACDUFF
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; within my sword's length set him; if he escapes,
heaven forgive him too!

Exeunt AE
UL- Enter LADY TILDA she fussed with some junk.
UL- Enter DOCTOR and SEYTON

DOCTOR
I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive no truth in your report. When was it
she last walked?

TILDA
Since his majesty went into the field.

SEYTON
I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon her, unlock her closet, take
forth paper, fold it, write upon it, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all
this while in a most fast sleep.

DOCTOR
In this slumbery agitation, what, at any time, have you heard her say?

SEYTON
That, sir, which I will not report after her.
Enter LADY MACBETH UR

DOCTOR
Lo you, here she comes!

SEYTON
This is her very guise; and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her.

DOCTOR
You see, her eyes are open.

TILDA
Ay, but their sense is shut.

DOCTOR
What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands.

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SEYTON
It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands:

TILDA
I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.

LADY MACBETH
Yet here's a spot.

TILDA
Hark! she speaks

LADY MACBETH
Out, damned spot! out, I say! One: two: why, then, it is time to do it. Fie, my lord, a soldier,
and afeard? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.
The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?- What, will these hands never be clean?

SEYTON
She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that.

LADY MACBETH
Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.
Banquo's buried; he cannot come out his grave. There’s knocking at the gate. What's done
cannot be undone.--To bed, to bed

Exit LADY MACBETH UR

DOCTOR
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets: More needs she the divine than the
physician.

Exit DOCTOR UL

TILDA
Good night, good doctor.

Enter MACBETH UL

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MACBETH
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane, I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm?
Was he not born of woman? 'Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman shall ever
have power upon thee.' I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. Give me my armour.

SEYTON
It is not needed yet.
[To TILDA] Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, profit again should hardly draw me here.

SEYTON leaves UR and TILDA UL. Enter CARRICK AE.

MACBETH
Bring me no more reports; let them fly all.

CARRICK
There is ten thousand —

MACBETH
Geese, villain?

CARRICK
Soldiers, sir.

MACBETH
What soldiers, whey-face?

CARRICK
The English force, so please you.

CARRICK leaves AE, MACBETH leaves UR.

ANGUS
What wood is this before us?

DONALBAIN
The wood of Birnam.

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MALCOLM
Let every soldier hew him down a bough and bear it before him: thereby shall we shadow
the numbers of our host

LENNOX
The confident tyrant keeps still in Dunsinane,

ROSS
The time approaches

Exeunt UL
Enter MACBETH UR

MACBETH
Hang out our banners on the outward walls; our castle's strength will laugh a siege to scorn:

Enter SEYTON UR

What is that noise?

SEYTON
The queen, my lord, is dead.

Exit SEYTON UL

MACBETH
She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word.

During this speech BANQUO, DUNCAN, the MACDUFF family and LADY M all come on as
ghosts.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the
last syllable of recorded time, and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty
death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's 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 an idiot, full of sound
and fury, signifying nothing.

Enter CRAIG UL

CRAIG
Gracious my lord, I should report that which I say I saw, but know not how to do it.

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MACBETH
Say it.

CRAIG
As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked toward Birnam, and anon, methought, the
wood began to move.

MACBETH
Liar!

CRAIG
Let me endure your wrath, if it be not so: Within this three mile may you see it coming; I say,
a moving grove.

MACBETH
That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood
comes toward Dunsinane. Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack! At least we'll die
with harness on our back.

Exit CRAIG UL

What's he that was not born of woman? Such a one am I to fear, or none.

Enter MACDUFF UL

MACDUFF
That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face! Turn, hell-hound, turn!

MACBETH
Get thee back; my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already.

MACDUFF
I have no words: My voice is in my sword.

MACBETH
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, to one of
woman born.

MACDUFF
Despair thy charm; Macduff was from his mother's womb untimely ripped.

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MACBETH
I will not yield. Lay on, Macduff, and damned be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'

They fight and MACBETH is slain. Enter, MALCOLM

MACDUFF
Hail, king! For so thou art. Behold where stands the usurper’s cursèd head.

Enter rest of THANES

MACDUFF
The time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl, That speak my salutation in
their minds, whose voices I desire aloud with mine. Hail, King of Scotland!

ALL
HAIL KING OF SCOTLAND

Final moment. as the THANES and MALCOLM leave. Just FLEANCE remains. THE WITCHES
return to stage and give him the crown.

35