Project Macbeth
By Simon Sharkey
Copyright 2006 © all rights reserved
National Theatre of Scotland
Atlantic Chambers
45 Hope Street
Glasgow
G2 6AE
0141 221 0970
PROLOGUE
The stage is set with trees and pools of blood. Macbeth is sat stage centre
surrounded by versions of Shakespeare’s plays. He reads them and throws
them away while the audience assemble and take their seats. On the back
projection screen are swarms of wasps. There is an almost imperceptible
buzzing of wings – but enough to put the audience on edge.
The sound of wasps grows more audible and intense, it builds until it is
almost unbearable.
At a timed moment Macbeth swats a wasp. The sound abates but an
undercurrent of echoed darkness prevails.
He lifts the pages of Macbeth from the stage and crumples them into balls.
CHAPTER ONE – A CALL TO ARMS
MACBETH
Act 1, Scene 1. An Open place, Thunder and Lighting
There is thunder and lightening
MACBETH
The bard of Avon has placed a wasps nest where a lions heart once beat.
This fancy boy, this cleric’s son, this “upstart crow,” has taken our stone, our
kingdom, our scone, our Birnam woods, my queen, my name and with his
quill, sharpened to a prick and poisoned sting, he dumbs our voices with his
poetry and words.
Words! Words! More Words!
Visuals: The pages of Macbeth are flicked over rapidly.
Metaphors, analogies, allegory, blankened verse and iambic pentameter –
who speaks like that?!
He’s turned my truth to lies. This man to a myth! And why?
To flatter a fop who sold a crown and bankrupt a nation whilst fancying
himself as a writer of words!
MACBETH
Your Shakespeare and our James
Visuals: Projection of James and Shakespeare.
– no blood of mine – James the first and sixth in Scotland, have contrived to
turn words to wisdom, truth the lies, brave deeds and valiant endeavour to
supernatural “overvaulting ambition.”
I wouldn’t mind, except he has taken the love of my wife and child, my firm
and tender care for kin and country and I quote – dashed the brains out.
He has placed a wasps nest where a nations heart once beat, and in it’s
construction, the paper mulch that fortifies the walls of the myth stand strong
and sing because your afraid to prick it open for fear they swarm and sting!
MACBETH
You’ve not got a clue what I’m talking about have you. Why should you.
It’s a fiction, a “brief candle…. a walking shadow”.
I’m Macbeth. High king of Scotland. Son of Findlaich…. I ruled for
seventeen years and defined a country under the borders which you now
enjoy. I wrestled a stolen crown from the head of a petulant boy and claimed
my right under the consensus of all Scotland – Macbeth – Son of Life,
MacBais – the damned one. Words, a man or a myth. You decide. I’ll have
my hour upon this stage and you will hear me.
There was a battle!!
SCENE ONE – THE BATTLE
A huge explosion resonates around the auditorium, shocking the audience
from their boredom and apathy. A really pumping track ensues
Visuals: Montage of moving images of war that should shock.
Visuals – montage of any number of wars and explosions – Lebanon, Kigali,
Twin Towers, nuclear bomb tests.
The cast – moving in a highly stylised manner.
CHORUS, MUSIC AND VISUALS
Doubtful it stood as two spent swimmers that do cling together and choke
their art. The merciless Macdonald – worth to be a rebel for that the
multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him – From the Western
Isles of Kerns and Gallowglasses, is supplied; and fortune, on his damned
quarrel smiling, showed like a rebels whore; But all’s too weak for brave
Macbeth – Well he deserves that name – Distaining fortune with his
brandished steal, which smoked with bloody execution, Like valors minion
carved out his passage till he faced the slave; which never shook hands, nor
bade farewell to him, till he unseemed him from the nave to the chops, And
fixed his head upon our battlements. But the norwayen lord, surveying
vantage with furbished arms and new supplies of men, began a fresh
assault…
But with dismay akin to that that sparrows, eagles or hare the lion make,
they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.
Point against point, rebellious arm against arm, curbing his lavish spirit, and
to conclude the victory fell on us!!
A great cheer goes up and the cast begin to exit. Two of the cast raise a
block from the stage and place it as the stone of destiny. They Lift a crown
and sheet out of the blocks and speak Duncan’s words.
DUNCAN
No more the thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest: go
pronounce his present death, and with his former title great Macbeth.
MACBETH
It was a bloody time and Duncan led us through it, through tides of blood
that ebbed and flowed with the gravity of his greed. He had a thirst for it.
The Danes, the Saxons and the Norwayan fleets were all food for his
conceit. The battle I refer to was his last. For it was I who unseemed him to
gain my crown.
Macbeth stands on the stone of destiny and is cloaked. The other cast
members bow and exit.
Sound track – edgy ambience, distance.
Visuals – broody sky, gathering storm.
Macbeth toys with the crown
MACBETH
The bard will present the battle ‘tween good and evil, in black and white,
he’ll manifest the providence of god in witches and unnatural deeds, he’ll
hail me ‘worthiest cousin’.
Enter Banquo carrying Shakespeare’s Macbeth in his hand. He reads from
the book.
BANQUO
And change to ‘bloody sceptred tyrant.’
MACBETH
You flatter me Banquo. Banquo, the so called seed of King James’ line.
Within those pages he’ll put ‘grace’ and ‘holiness’, silver skinned and child
of integrity on others lips, whilst on mine he’ll place I am in blood stepped
in….
BANQUO
Am in blood stepped in so far
MACBETH
That should I wade no more
BANQUO
…. to return would be as tedious as go oe’r
MACBETH
A lie fashioned for flattery of King James
BANQUO
A truth that serves the time!
MACBETH
Truth!
BANQUO
Truth is what they believe. They know nothing of you.
To them you only exist in these pages
BANQUO
And it’s a better portrait than you could wish for.
MACBETH
It’s a lie!
BANQUO
Prove it.
MACBETH
I’ll have my hour and my crown!
BANQUO
And what will it signify? Lest they believe it…..
Macbeth concedes it will mean nothing unless the audience can understand.
He realises he needs to play the battle between myth and history.
MACBETH
I’ll have my hour and in that time they’ll see the real truth. I’ll battle the
myth, pull back the curtain on his bloody spectacle to reveal the man.
BANQUO
Then you’ll have your crown. But first the play, the sisters.
Banquo replaces the block and moves to Macbeth
MACBETH
He wrote a book, our James, a book about witches
CHAPTER TWO – CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
SCENE THREE – THE HEATH
The witches emerge from behind the trees.
Visuals – Shadows, almost imperceptible eyes peering through the screen to
create an atmosphere of being watched by some unseen force.
Sound track – something that really puts you on edge – nails down a chalk
board – a frequency that stresses you.
FIRST WITCH
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew’d
SECOND WITCH
Thrice and once, the hedge – pig whin’d
THIRD WITCH
Harpier cries – ‘tis time, ‘tis time
FIRST WITCH
Round about the cauldron go
FIRST WITCH
The weird sisters, hand in hand
SECOND WITCH
Posters of the sea and land
FIRST + SECOND WITCH
Thus do go about, about.
FIRST + SECOND + THIRD WITCH
Thrice to thine and thrice to mine
ALL WITCHES
And thrice again, to make up nine
FIRST WITCH
Peace! – The Charms wound up
SECOND WITCH
A Drum, a drum Macbeth doth come
MACBETH
So foul and fair a day I have not seen
BANQUO
How far is’t called to forres?
What are these so withered and so withered and so wild in their attire,
That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth, and yet are on’t? Live you or
are you aught that man may question.
MACBETH
Speak if you can: what are you?
FRST WITCH
All Hail Macbeth! Hail to thee thane of Glamis.
SECOND WITCH
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee thane of Cawdor!
THRID WITCH
All Hail Macbeth, that shall be kings here after!
BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear. Things that do sound so fair? I’
the name o’ truth are you fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly you
show? My noble partner you greet with present grace and great prediction of
noble having and of Royal hope that he seems rapt withal: to me you speak
not.
If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and
which will not, speak then to me, who neither beg or fear your favours or
your hate.
FIRST WITCH
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater
SECOND WITCH
Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail Macbeth and Banquo
FIRST WITCH
Banquo and Macbeth all hail!
The witches disappear
MACBETH
Your children shall be kings
BANQUO
You shall be kings
MACBETH
I was, I am.
My crown, my right by birth my mother Dabda, from Keneath’s blood,
carried my right to succession. Malcolm killed my father – cleared the way
for Duncan’s Reign. Yet Shakespeare would have him bestow honours on
me.
BANQUO
Who’s there
Enter Ross
ROSS
The King hath happily received, Macbeth, the news of thy success; and
when he reads thy personal venture in the rebels fight, his wonders and his
praises do contend, which should be thine, or his: silenc’d with that, in
viewing o’er the rest o’ th’ selfsame day, he finds thee in the stout Norweyan
ranks, nothing afeard of what thyself didst make strange images of death. As
thick as tale came post with post, and every one did bear thy praises in his
Kingdom’s great defence, and pour’d them down before him.
And for an earnest of a greater honour, he bade me, from him, call thee
Thane of Cawdor: in which addition, hail mostly worthy Thane for it is
thine.
BANQUO
What, can the Devil speak true?
MACBETH
The Thane of Cawdor lives, why do you dress me in borrowed robes?
ROSS
Who was the Thane, lives yet, but under heavy judgement, bears that life,
which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combin’d with those of Norway,
or did line the rebel with hidden help, and vantage; I know not: but treasons
capital, confess’d, and prove’d, have overthrown him.
MACBETH
Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind. Thanks for your
pains. Do you not hope your children shall be Kings, when those that gave
the Thane of Cawdor to me, promis’d no less to them?
BANQUO
That trusted home, might yet enkindle you unto the Crown, besides the
Thane of Cawdor. But ‘tis strange: and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the
instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
in deepest consequence.
Cousin, a word, I pray you.
MACBETH
I was king without this contrive, what need would I have to listen to “weird
sisters” when fate would deal my crown in any case?
Look They’re wrapped in superstition and apparitions, witches and devilish
prediction, and the play has just snatched it’s first breath.
BANQUO
New honours come upon him like our strange garments, cleave not to their
mould but with the aid of use.
MACBETH
Enough! New garments do not cleave upon me!
MACBETH
It’s a device he uses to dress me in borrowed robes, to cloak me in night, to
veil the truth. He’ll dress and veil throughout the play, make me dwarfish,
breech the daggers that slay Duncan, give me mine armour when I become
the man again.
BANQUO
You did slay Duncan
MACBETH
I won the battle fair and square. He was a petulant boy that lead 10,000
worthy men to their slaughter! The bard will paint him as a noble old soul,
who’s virtue will “plead like angels trumpet tongued” against my deed –
very bible, clever that, the way he uses the bible…. He’ll have me murder
sleep, have “amen” stick in my throat, have me lament for innocence.
He’ll veil me in darkness and dress me in a “giants robe that hangs upon a
dwarfish thief!”
Fair will be foul, cruel contradiction will be the battle and I will be the
battlefield. I am a man. Not a page to play this cruel conceit upon. This is
my crown.
BANQUO
They don’t care! They want to see the play, not a history lesson!
MACBETH
But matricide! Infanticide! He’ll have me kill children. My child! Plucked
from the nipple with the brains dashed out.
BANQUO
He’ll use a round eyed childish innocence at every turn and have you corrupt
it. Nature and nurture will putrefy.
Even pity will become a new born babe striding the blast!
Visuals: A round eyed baby face is projected on screen. It smiles and looks
innocent. Macbeth watches
MACBETH
He’ll paint me like a child! He’ll cloak me in night as a “keen knife” He’ll
have me kill the innocents of a man not born of woman.
BANQUO
He’ll do all that and yet, you’ll be redeemed.
MACBETH
How!
BANQUO
It was your fate! You overstepped, a cruel ambition thrust upon you, with
chiding words.
MACBETH
How so.
BANQUO
You have your conscience and your barren wife. What’s left but doubt and
in it’s hollow a voice that screws your courage to the sticking place!
Sound – Lady Macbeth signature – metallic slicing noise.
Lady Macbeth enters with the letter. Macbeth watches.
MACBETH
I sense alternative motive to your chiding, sir. Would you have me deny her,
play this part so you can win your martyrs place in history.
BANQUO
You flatter me know
MACBETH
You have the cunning
BANQUO
You had a spur
SCENE THREE - THE CASTLE
Sound – After signalling her entrance, the castle is filled with echo
ambience.
Visuals – corridors on screen.
LADY MACBETH
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.
MACBETH
My wife. Gruoch, a queen. Shakespeare reduces her to a lady. He empties
her, gives her a barren womb to corrupt the natural course of things and fills
her full of direst cruelty.
LADY MACBETH
Thou wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness
should attend it. What thou wouldst highly; that wouldst thou holily; wouldst
not play false, and yet wouldst wrongly win.
MACBETH
We were in love! I took her and her child in my arms and yet he gives her a
chiding tongue that makes a babe of me and fills her full of ambition.
LADY MACBETH
Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with
valor of my tongue. All that impedes thee from the golden round which fate
and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal.
Enter Messenger
LADY MACBETH
What are your tidings?
MESSENGER
The King comes here tonight.
LADY MACBETH
Thou’ rt mad to say it! Is not thy master with him, who, were’t so, would
have informed preparations?
MESSENGER
So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming. One of my fellows had the
speed of him, who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more than would
make up his message.
LADY MACBETH
Give him tendings; he brings great news.
LADY MACBETH
The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under
my battlements. Come spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
and fill me, from crown to the toe, top full of direst cruelty.
Make thick my blood, stop up the access and the passage to remorse, that no
compunctious visitings of nature shake my fell purpose nor keep the peace
between th’ effect and it.
Come to my woman’s breasts, and take my milk for gall, you murdering
ministers…..
Come thick night, and pall me in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen
knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket and cry hold hold.
She repeats the speech as if in loop but in a whisper.
MACBETH
This is too cruel, she was a mother. We travelled to Rome together. Where
we met on old Persian story-teller, with the most beautiful voice.
He fashioned a story, that had been told a hundred times before but gave us
our ending…
Two stars that loved each other danced through the constellations never
finding their peace….
One sparkled like a diamond the other firey red. They would chase each
other but never catch. For it was said that should they come together the
heavens would shower a thousand and one pearls from the sky, and all the
oysters in all the oceans would open their mouths to receive the pearls.
And if a human were to witness the coming together of these stars – they
need only hold out their palm to receive one. Thus would they consummate
their fated love. He gave us a pearl.
We clutched it to our hearts and placed it on a ring. The constellations
wrapped up us, not this thick night.
LADY MACBETH
Come thick night, and pall me in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen
knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket to cry
hold hold.
MACBETH
A sparkled starry blanket was our roof and rapture, our pathway to heaven
and nature – no “stopped up passage of remorse” could bind us.
She carries on repeating the speech.
MACBETH
Why doesn’t she hear?
BANQUO
You don’t exist!
MACBETH
I’m here, is this not flesh and blood.
BANQUO
That’s what you think you are, but it means nothing to her. She’s what she
thinks she is… can be within these pages.
MACBETH
What’s that?
BANQUO
A woman of complexity, a masterpiece in corrupted gender politics, a
nagging wife, the very essence of ambition, whatever she wants to be.
MACBETH
I’ll save her from this, rekindle this memory. The pearl….
BANQUO
Then play your fate you fool.
Macbeth steps back into the play.
LADY MACBETH
Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both by the all and hail
hereafter.
Thy letters have transported me beyond this ignorant present and I feel the
future in the instant.
MACBETH
Duncan comes her tonight.
LADY MACBETH
And when goes he hence.
MACBETH + BANQUO
Tomorrow as he purposes
LADY MACBETH
Never shall sun that morrow see.
Sound – A deathly end to the romance. The Macbeths and Community Cast
animate the following speech.
BANQUO
See how we corrupt nature. How a mother’s milk, the very fount of nature
and nurture is turned to gall. How a love, is turned to chiding and chastising
fuelled with ambition, brought about by supernatural forces that we ascribe
to. And here’s the bed, the crucible of the unconscious, a haven, womb or
sanctum for slumber adulterated to become a slaughter! A bloody murder. It
didn’t happen like this.
But who would have it any other way, it’s the best thriller ever written
And I will play my part to preserve it from this rude awakening he
Intends to force upon you.
LADY MACBETH
Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters.
To beguile the time, look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.
Only look up clear. To alter favour ever is to fear.
Leave the rest to me.
SCENE 4: THE BEDROOM.
Sound - night comes and a martin’s song gives way to owls and
supernatural undertones.
Visuals – Trees Red. Womb. Sun sets turning screen red.
The cast lift the bed into place.
The Macbeths make the bed and step back. They contemplate what they are
about to do.
The screen carries the words Cradle or grave.
Two cast members create a king and crown from a blanket, as before.
DUNCAN
This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly
Recommends itself unto our gentle senses.
MACBETH
He lays forth with images of sweet virtue….
DUNCAN
This guest of summer, the temple haunting martlet does approve,
This bird hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle.
MACBETH
Where I will murder innocence
DUNCAN
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed the air is delicate
MACBETH
No dunnest smoke of hell yet
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
CAST MEMBERS A+B PUT THE KING TO BED AND THEN LEAVE THE
BEDROOM.
MACBETH
I can proceed no longer 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? From this
time such I account thy love. Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act
and valour. As thou art in desire?
MACBETH
I have no desire to perpetuate a myth!
LADY MACBETH
Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem, letting the “I dare not” wait
Upon “I would” like the poor cat in the adage?
MACBETH
Prithee peace! I dare do all that may become a man; who dares do more is
none.
LADY MACBETH
When you durs’t do it then you are a man, and to be more than you were,
You would be so much more the man.
MACBETH
You’ll have me play this, charade to be more the man?
LADY MACBETH
I have given suck and know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me: I
would, while it was smiling in my face have plucked my nipple from it’s
boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done
to this.
MACBETH
To what! It’s a fiction! Would you have blood on my hands and ghosts that
haunt me for the sake of our embrace.
Banquo Laughs
MACBETH
What does this signify?
BANQUO
If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.
MACBETH
Is there no escaping from this? Must I take those tarquin strides?
BANQUO
You have it now! Glamis, Cawdor, King! All that they imagine you were.
It’s the only way you exist. If you want more you must enter the time and
place. You can’t avoid it, you must enter the play again, grab the tiller of
your fate, otherwise it’s their decision whether you survive this death by pen
or rise against a sea of troubles!
MACBETH
To have them recognise me? Macbeth the man.
BANQUO
Enliven them.
MACBETH
And in the process kill my hope of truth!
BANQUO
The truth will out. You may yet have your embrace. You may yet save her
from herself. Two stars may yet collide.
MACBETH
And if we fail?
LADY MACBETH + BANQUO
We fail
LADY MACBETH
Screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not fail.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth kiss passionately
LADY MACBETH
When Duncan is asleep – where to the rather shall his days hard journey
soundly invites him – his two chamberlains will I with wine and wassail so
convince that memory, the warder of the brain, shall be a fume and the
receipt of reason a limbeck only: when in swinish sleep their drenched
natures lies as in death, what cannot you or I perform upon the unguarded
Duncan, what not upon his spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our
great quell.
MACBETH
Bring forth men children only; for thy undaunted mettle should compose
nothing but males. Will it not be received, when we have marked with blood
those sleepy two of his own chamber, and used their very daggers, that they
have done’t.
LADY MACBETH
Who dares receive it other, as we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
upon his death.
MACBETH
I am settled and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
Away and mock the time with fairest show; False face must hide what the
false heart doth know.
Lady Macbeth exits
Banquo Enters
BANQUO
Is this a dagger which I see before me….
MACBETH
False face must hide….
BANQUO
Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle towards my hand….
MACBETH
Your children shall be kings
BANQUO
Come let me clutch thee.
MACBETH
You chided the sisters, bade them speak; then prophet like they hailed you
father to a line of kings…. There is none but you who’s being I do fear.
BANQUO
I have thee not…. And yet I see thee still
Banquo thrusts a dagger in Macbeth’s hand. He takes up the rest of the
speech and is now resigned to the fate of playing the play.
BANQUO
Art thou not fatal vision, sensible to the feeling as to the sight, or art thou but
a dagger of the mind, a false creation proceeding from the heat oppressed
brain?
MACBETH
I see thee yet, in form as palpable as this which now I draw.
Thou marshal’st me the way that I was going; and such an instrument I was
to use. Mine eyes are made the fools of the other senses, or else worthy all
the rest. I see thee still; and on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, which
was not before. There’s no such thing. It is the bloody business which
informs thus to mine eyes.
Thou sure and firm set earth hear not my steps, which way they walk, for
fear thy very stones prate my whereabout, whiles I threat, he lives; words to
the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.
Sound – Bell sounds
MACBETH
I go and it is done; the bell invites me, hear it not, Duncan for it is a knell
that summons thee to heaven or to hell.
Duncan’s murder –
Sound – a pumping “smack my bitch up” type track ensues.
Visuals – Hacking of flesh and atrocity
Two of the witches come on and animate Duncan and the Community Cast
play out a frenzied murder of Duncan.
Banquo witnesses the killing with glee and a sly menace.
BANQUO
Thus, have I politically begun my reign….
BANQUO
Thou hast it now….ha ha ha .
Glamis, Cawdor, King
SCENE SEVEN: THE CASTLE NIGHT.
Visuals: Deep pools of inky water rippling gently
Sound: Edgy, with suspense, some silences or really deep frequency so it
hardly registers but is pushing the heart rate. Everything is whispered and
an echo should be added so the “s” sounds sound like the end of a ride
symbol disappearing into a dome.
LADY MACBETH
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quenched them hath given me fire. Hark! Peace!
It is the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, which gives the
Stern’st good night. He is about it. The doors are open, and
The surfeited grooms do mock their charge with snores.
I have drugged their possets, that death and nature do contend
About them, whether they live or die.
Alack! I am afraid they have awaked, and ‘tis not done:
Th’ attempt and not the dead. Confounds us. Hark!
I laid their daggers ready He could not miss’em
Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t.
Enter MACBETH. Covered in blood
MACBETH
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH
I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?
MACBETH
When?
LADY MACBETH
Now
MACBETH
When I descended?
LADY MACBETH
Ay
MACBETH
Hark! Who lies in the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH
Donaldbain
MACBETH
This is a sorry sight.
LADY MACBETH
A foolish thing to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH
There’s one did laugh in’s sleep, and one did cry murder! That they did
wake each other. I stood and heard them. But they did say their prayers and
addressed them again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH
There are two lodged together.
MACBETH
Once cried God Bless and “Amen” the other, as they seen me with these
hangman’s hands: Listening they their fear, I could not say “Amen” when
they did say “God Bless Us”.
LADY MACBETH
Consider it not so deeply
MACBETH
But wherefore could I not pronounce Amen? I had need of blessing, and
Amen stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH
These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so it will make us mad.
MACBETH
Methought I heard a voice cry “sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”
– the innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care, the death
of each days life, sore labour’s bath, balm of hurt minds, great natures
second course, chief nourisher in lifes feast.
LADY MACBETH
What do you mean?
MACBETH
Still it cried “sleep no more” to all the house: “Glamis hath murdered sleep,
and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more”
LADY MACBETH
You do unbend your noble strength, to think so brainsickly of things. Get
some water and wash filthy witness from your hands.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there: go
smear the sleepy grooms with blood.
MACBETH
I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare
not.
LADY MACBETH
Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but
as pictures. Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal for it must be their guilt.
Lady Macbeth exits.
Loud Knocking within.
MACBETH
Whence is that knocking? How is it with me, when every noise appalls?
What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes!
Will all the great neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No;
this my had will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine making the green
ones red.
Enter Lady Macbeth
LADY MACBETH
My Hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white. I hear a
knocking at the south entry. Retire we to our chamber a little water clears us
of this deed; How easy is it then! Your constancy hath left you unattended
(knock). Hark more knocking. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us
and show us to be watchers. Be not lost so poorly in your thoughts.
MACBETH
To know my deed t’were best not know myself (knock). Wake Duncan with
thy knocking! I wouldst thou couldst!
The Community Cast enter and mop up the blood.
SCENE FIVE – THE PORTER SCENE
Enter a Porter. Knocking within.
PORTER
Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were a porter of hell-gate he should have
old turning the key.
Knocking
Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there I’the name of Beelzebub? Here’s a
farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty. Come in time! Have
napkins enow about you; here you’ll swear for’t.
Knocking
Knock, knock! Who’s there in the other devil’s name? Faith, here’s an
equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who
committed treason enough for God’s sake, yet could not equivocate to
heaven. O, come in, equivocator.
Knocking
Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there? Faith, here’s an English tailor come
hither for stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor; here you may roast
your goose.
Knocking
Knock, knock! Never at quiet! What are you? – But this place is too cold for
hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further. I had thought to have let in some of all
professions that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire.
Knocking
Anon, anon! I pray you remember the Porter.
SCENE EIGHT – THE CASTLE
Visuals - moody sky
Sound – echos and creaking ropes.
Enter Old Man and Ross
ROSS
Ha good father, thou seest the heavens as troubled with mans act, threatens
his bloody stage. By the clock ‘tis day and yet dark night strangles the
travelling lamp; Is’t nights predominance, or the days shame, that darkness
does the face of earth entomb, when living light should kiss it?
OLD MAN
Tis unnatural, even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last a falcon,
towring in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.
ROSS
And Duncan’s horses - a thing most strange and certain – beauteous and
swift, the minions of their race, turned wild in nature, broke their stalls,
flung out, contending gainst obedience, as they would make war with
mankind.
OLD MAN
Tis said they eat each other.
ROSS
They did so, to th’ amazement of mine eyes, that looked upon’t.
Enter Macduff
ROSS
Here comes the good Macduff. How goes the world sir.
MACDUFF
Why see you not?
ROSS
Is’t known who did this more than bloody deed?
MACDUFF
Those that Macbeth have slain.
ROSS
Alas the day what good could they pretend?
MACDUFF
There were suborned. Malcolm and Donaldbain, the king two sons, are
stolen away and fled, which puts upon them suspicion of the deed.
ROSS
Gainst nature still. Thriftless ambition that will ravin up thine own life’s
means! Then ‘tis most like the sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.
MACDUFF
He is already named and gone to Scone to be invested.
ROSS
Where is Duncan’s body?
MACDUFF
Carried to Colmekill, the sacred storehouse of his predecessors and guardian
of their bones.
ROSS
Will you to Scone?
MACDUFF
No cousin, I’ll to Fife.
ROSS
Well I will thither.
MACDUFF
Well may you see things well done there. Adieu, lest our old robes sit easier
than our new.
ROSS
Farewell father.
OLD MAN
Gods benison go with you, and with those that would make good of bad, and
friends of foes.
SCENE SIX
CHAPTER SIX – SUPERNATURAL AID
Macbeth enters with the community cast wearing cloaks.
CHANT
Os mutorum, lux cecorum
MACBETH
Mouth of the dumb people, light of the blind people.
CHANT
Pes clausorum, porridge
MACBETH
Foot of the lame people
CHANT
Lapsis manum, firma vanum
MACBETH
To the fallen stretch out thy hand
CHANT
Et isanum corrige
MACBETH
Strengthen the vain and insane. Ivogorate!
CHANT
O Columba, spes scottorum
MACBETH
Columba, hope of the scots
CHANT
Nos tuorum, meritorum, interventu beatorum, fac consortes angelorum
MACBETH
By thy standing, by meditation, make us the companion of angels.
The Community Cast exit leaving Macbeth alone on the stage.
MACBETH
I was a Christian, disciple of God, a man of peace and charity. While in
Rome, we petitioned the pope, to have him save this Christian country, have
him sanctify the memory of the saint Columba who brought word of Christ
to us pagan picts and gaels. We sang his songs and carried his word to our
resting place. See now how my commitment is corrupted, see how he has me
turn to corporal and the occult, to sign my soul to the devil.
The witches come forward.
MACBETH
Upon my head they have placed a fruitless crown, and put a barren sceptre in
my grip, thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, no son of mine
succeeding. If it’d be so, for Banquo’s issue have I filed my mine; For them
the gracious Duncan have I murdered; Put rancours in the vessel of my
peace only for them, and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of
man, to make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
MACBETH
How now you black and midnight hags! What is’t you do?
ALL WITCHES
A deed without a name!
MACBETH
I conjure you, by that which you profess howe’er you come to know it,
answer me:
FIRST WITCH
Speak
SECOND WITCH
Demand
THIRD WITCH
We’ll answer.
FIRST WITCH
Say, if th’hadst rather hear it from our mouths or our masters.
MACBETH
Call em let me see em..
ALL WITCHES
Come high or low, thyself and office deftly show
FIRST WITCH
Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff, beware the thane of fife,
dismiss me enough
SECOND WITCH
Be bloody bold and resolute! Laugh to scorn, pow’r of man for none of
woman born shall harm Macbeth
THIRD WITCH
Be lion mettled, proud and take no care, who chafes, who frets, or where
conpirers are: 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? Yet my heart throbs to know one thing. If your art can tell so
much: shall Banquo’s issue ever reign this kingdom?
ALL WITCHES
Seek to know no more
MACBETH
I will be satisfied: deny me this. And an external curse fall on you, let me
know.
ALL WITCHES
Show, Show, Show
Cast bring on babies and adopt twisted and broken postures as they animate
the babies.
MACBETH
Thou art too much like the spirit of Banquo, down!
Thy crown does sear mine eyelids, and thy hair, thou other gold bound brow,
is like the first. A third is like the former. Filthy hags why do you show me
this? A fourth! Start eyes! What will the line stretch out to the crack of
doom?
Another yet! A Seventh! I’ll see no more; and yet an eighth appears, who
bares a glass which shows me many more;
Horrible sight! Now I see it’s true for the blood bolstered Banquo smiles
upon me and points them for his.
Macbeth is consumed by the babies
MACBETH
No more! No More! I will not bend to this construction. Be bloody bold and
resolute! These were the words! I will not dash the brains out of innocents to
suit the lust for blood and thrills, to sway, submit beneath his quill!
BANQUO
You have no choice, your fate is spun, these pages propel you! Things bad
begun …… make strong themselves by ill.
MACBETH
To serve you well.
BANQUO
Aye. My issue brings forth kings
MACBETH
And still you’ll haunt me
BANQUO
In the pages and in history
MACBETH
I’ll free myself from your ghost! They’ll see the truth will out.
BANQUO
The truth will out, it still serves the time. Who wants a king when we can
celebrate the villain as a tragic hero!
MACBETH
I’ll face your ghost! Lay on the banquet and let it be done. The ghost is but a
construct to present the unresolved! The here after the deed, the guilt, the
irrepressible fate! It’s nothing to be afeard of. Bring forth the banquet and
with it Banquo’s ghost.
The cast create the banquet table and throughout adopt poses of the last
supper.
MACBETH
You know your own degrees! Sit down at first and last a hearty welcome.
LORDS
Thanks to your majesty
MACBETH
There’s blood upon thy face
FIRST MURDERER
Tis Banquo’s then
MACBETH
Is he dispatched?
FIRST MURDERER
My lord his throat is cut, that I did for him.
MACBETH
Thou are the best of the cut throats, yet he’s good that did the like for
Fleance
FIRST MURDERER
Most royal sir, Fleance is escaped.
MACBETH
Then comes my fit again; I had else been perfect, whole as the marble,
founded as the rock, as broad and general as the casing air; but now I am
cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in by saucy doubts and fears. But
Banquo’s safe?
FIRST MURDERER
Safe in a ditch he bides with twenty trenched gashes on his head, the least a
death to nature.
MACBETH
Get thee gone. Tomorrow we’ll hear ourselves again. Here had we now our
country’s honour roofed, were the graced person of our Banquo present –
who may I rather challenged for unkindness, than pity for mischance.
ROSS
His absence sir, lays blame upon his promise. Pleas’t your highness, to grace
us with your royal company.
MACBETH
The table is full.
ROSS
Here is a place reserved sir.
MACBETH
Where?
ROSS
Here my good lord. What is’t that moves your highness
MACBETH
Which of you has done this?
ROSS
What my good lord?
MACBETH
Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me.
Prithee see there! Behold! Look Lo! How say you! Why what care I
If thou canst nod!
ROSS
What is it my good lord?
LADY MACBETH
I pray you speak not: In grows worse and worse; Questions enrages him: at
one good night. Stand not upon the order of your going. But go at once!
MACBETH
You’ll not win!
BANQUO
You’re already defeated. You’re seeing Ghosts! And what’s next the murder
of Innocence.
MACBETH
I’ll proceed no more. It endeth here.
BANQUO
And begins
Enter Macduff
MACBETH
Macduff
SCENE EIGHT: THE MACDUFFS
Sound: Acoustic, really plucking at heart strings.
Visuals: Cool, clear water.
The Macduffs break bread and eat. It is the picture of domesticity, as if there
is all the time in the world. They play and cradle the baby it is totally
natural. Macduff tries to hand the baby to lady Macduff so he can leave she
refuses and then eventually relents. He makes to hold lady Macduff but she
freezes. He leaves regretfully. She turns and he is gone.
Ross enters.
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
not make us traitors.
ROSS
You know not whether it is 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; he wants the natural
touch; the poor wren the most diminutive of birds, will fight, her young ones
in her nest, against the owl. All is the fear and nothing is the love.
As little is the wisdom, where the flight so runs against all reason
ROSS
I am so much a fool, should I stay longer it would be my disgrace and your
discomfort. I take my leave at once.
MACBETH
You cant have me do this. Macduff. His children.
MACBETH
You’ld have me kill them?
BANQUO
If needs must yes!!
MACBETH
It will have blood, they say: Blood will have blood.
Lady Macduff and Macbeth struggle together.
LADY MACDUFF
I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world, where
to do harm is often laudable, to do good sometimes dangerous folly.
Macduff enters
MACDUFF
Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned in evils to
top Macbeth. All my pretty ones, all my pretty chickens and their dam at one
fell swoop. I cannot but remember such things were that were most precious
to me.
ROSS
Be this the wetstone of thy sword. Let grief convert to anger. Blunt not the
heart enrage it.
MACDUFF
O I could play the woman with mine eyes, and braggart with my tongue! But
gentle heavens, cut short all intermission, front to front, bring thou this fiend
of Scotland and myself, within my swords length set him. If he ‘scape
heaven forgive him too!
Loud music absolute chaos – baby killings. A highly styalised movement
piece is played out where the cast kill the puppets in a frenzied and
extremely violent way. It should mirror the type of violence you experience
in play station games. The killing ends and the cast are appalled at what
they have done. The dismembered bodies of the puppets lie strewn and blood
soaked across the stage. The cast pick there way among the bodies
sometimes lifting them.
SCENE NINE – THE UNIVERSE
MACDUFF
Bleed bleed poor country great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure, for goodness
dare not check thee: Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more
damned and evil to top Macbeth.
BANQUO
And when we have our naked frailties hid that suffer in exposure, let us meet
and question this most bloody piece of work, to know it further, in the great
hand of god I stand….
MACDUFF
O Scotland, Scotland! O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloody
sceptred, when shalt thou see thy wholesome days again…
MACDUFF
O Horror! Horror Horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee.
Confusion now hath made a masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder hath
broke ope the lords anointed temple, and stole thence the life o’ th’ bulding.
ROSS
Alas poor country! Almost afraid to know itself! It cannot be called our
mother but our grave…
LADY MACDUFF
New widows howl! New orphans cry, new sorrows strike heaven on the
face, that it resounds as if it felt with Scotland and yelled out like syllable of
dollor.
MACBETH
I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning would
be tedious as g’or
MACBETH
Let this pernicious hour stand aye accursed in the calendar. The truth will
out.
SCENE NINE: THE
Cloisters. A full moon.
Enter Lady Macbeth. She surveys the carnage.
LADY MACBETH
Yet here’s a spot! Out, damned spot! Out I say! One: Two: why then ‘tis
time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie my lord fie! A soldier and afeard? What need
we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow’r to accompt?
Yet who would have thought the old man would have so much blood in him.
The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she know?
What, will these hands ne’er be clean?
No more my lord, no more o that: you mar all with starting.
Here’s the smell of blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten
this little hand. Oh! Oh! Oh!
Wash your hands, put on your night-gown, look not so pale:
I’ll tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried
; he can not come out on’s grave,
to, bed, to bed; there’s knocking at the gate:
come, come, come, give me your hand:
what’s done cannot be undone: to bed, to bed.
She picks up some of the babies and nurses them and wails from the depths
of her heart. She tries to suckle them. She dies.
MACBETH
She should have died hereafter:
there would have been time for such a word.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
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 his hour upon the
stage is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.
MESSENGER
As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked towards Birnam and anon,
methought the wood began to move.
MACBETH
Liar and slave. Slave to these words. She lived beyond me, gave my voice an
echo. If you listen you can still hear it. It sings the truth, but then that song is
rarely sung and seems discordant to the tune you know. You can hear it, feel
it if you want and it will free you.
Music rises-He listens to the music and is stunned by it’s truth.
MACBETH
I pull in resolution, and begin to doubt the equivocation of the fiend that lies
like truth.
MACDUFF
Turn hell hound, Turn!
MACBETH
Of all the men else I have avoided thee. My soul is too much charged with
the blood of thine already.
MACDUFF
I have no words. My voice is in my sword.
MACBETH
Lay on Macduff and damned be he who first cries hold enough.
A baby cries. They scrabble to pick it up from the debris on stage. Macduff
wins. He cradles it. Enter Banquo
BANQUO
This is not the end. The hero! Ultimately ripped from mothers womb
prevails! Macduff see out the play!
CHAPTER 11 – HOPE
MACDUFF
Let our just censures attend the true event and put we on industrious
soldiership.
BANQUO
He dies! He is a hell hound, a bloody sceptre tyrant. He needs to die to keep
the myth alive. What are we without our myth, our monsters, our tragic
villains? He needs to die, so we can live in righteous indignation, bring forth
kings, construct the truth and lay it down in words, words, words.
Bear witness to these words, it’s here in black and white.
MACDUFF
The time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl. That speak
my salutation in their minds, who’s voice I desire aloud with mine. Hail thee
King of Scotland.
Macduff exits with baby.
MACBETH
He wrote a book our James and in it was some wisdom.
Throughout the following speech the rest of the cast come on and join
Macbeth in speaking the words.
MACBETH
Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels and have not love I am
become as a sounding cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and
understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so
that I could move mountains, and have not love….. I am nothing.
Love suffereth long, and is kind, love envieth not, love vaunteth not itself, is
not puffed up. Doth note behave itself unseemly…..
When I was a child I spoke as a child. I understood as a child I thought as a
child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in
part; but then I shall know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith,
hope and love. These three.
But the greatest of these is love.
THE END