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MACBETH by William Shakespeare

Episode 1

Adapted by Neil Richards

SCENE 1: THE HEATH

FX Music. Wind howls. Distant thunder.

NARRATOR This is a story of ambition, power and murder. It is the story of a man who would stop at nothing to become King. It is a dark and bloody story...that starts on a wild Scottish heathland where three witches plot and spin their spells...

SISTER 1 When shall we three meet again?

SISTER 2 In thunder, lightning or in rain!

SISTER 3 When the hurlyburly’s done! When he battle’s lost and won!

SISTER 1 That will be ere the set of sun.

SISTER 2 Where the place?

SISTER 3 Upon...the heath!

ALL SISTERS There to meet...Macbeth!

FX A thunderclap.

SCENE 2: THE BATTLEFIELD

NARRATOR Macbeth. A Scottish lord. The subject of our story. Here he is – not far from those witches, leading the Scottish army against a combined force of invading Norwegians and Scottish rebels…

FX A medieval battle. Swords clash, bodies collide.

ALL For King Duncan and Scotland! Kill the rebels!

FX Sword on sword.

NARRATOR Thebattleislongandhard.Macbethfightswithgreatvalour–and eventually –

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BANQUO Macbeth! My lord...Look! The Norwegians and the rebels run!

MACBETH The battle is won, Banquo.

BANQUO The day is yours.

MACBETH AndScotland’s.Come,Banquo!WemustfindKingDuncan-andtakehimthe good news! Sound the drum!

FX A drumbeat goes with them.

SCENE 3: ANOTHER PART OF THE HEATH

NARRATOR Back on the heath, the witches wait...

SISTER1 Sisters-wait-doyouhear?

FX A single drum beat, distant, approaching.

SISTER 2 A drum! A drum!

SISTER 3 Macbeth doth come!

SISTER2 Quick-wemustfinishthespell.

SISTER 1 Thrice to thine...

SISTER 2 And thrice to mine...

SISTER 3 Thrice again makes up nine!

ALL SISTERS The spell is done!

NARRATOR Nearby Macbeth and Banquo pause in the gloom upon the heath…

MACBETH Banquo! I have never seen such a day. So foul...yet so fair.

BANQUO Aye. How far now to the King?

MACBETH Banquo-look-inthemist–

BANQUO What are they? Men? Women?

MACBETH Are they even human?

FX Both draw their swords.

BANQUO Who are you? What are you?

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MACBETH Speak! If you can!

SISTER 3 All hail Macbeth!

MACBETH (TO BANQUO) How do these creatures know my name?

SISTER 2 All hail Macbeth! Thane of Cawdor!

MACBETH But I am not Thane of Cawdor...

BANQUO (TO THE SISTERS) What do you mean? Can you see the future?

MACBETH What else do you see?

SISTER3 AllhailMacbeth!ThaneofCawdor.Andoneday-KingofScotland.

MACBETH No!No-thatcannotbe,getawayfromme–

BANQUO Macbeth-whatareyouscaredof?Whybeafraidofgoodnews?(TO THE SISTERS) If you really can see into the future...what happens to me? Tell me!

SISTER 1 Hail Banquo!

SISTER 2 Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

SISTER 3 Not so happy, yet much happier!

SISTER 1 Your children will be kings.

SISTER 2 But you will never be.

ALL SISTERS So hail Macbeth and Banquo!

BANQUO They’re going...

MACBETH Wait!HowcanIbeThaneofCawdor?Heisstillalive!HowcanI-Macbeth-become King?

BANQUO AndhowcanIbefatherofkings-butnotbeakingmyself?They’regone!

MACBETH Into thin air!

BANQUO What were they?

MACBETH Witches,forsure.Come,wemustfindtheking...

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SCENE 4: THE KING’S CAMP

FX Marching soldiers, horses. The single drumbeat of Macbeth approaches.

NARRATOR MacbethandBanquofinallyarriveatKingDuncan’scamp.StandingoutsidetheKing’stentarethreeofhisnoblemen:Angus,RossandLennox.

LENNOX Aha! The good generals, Macbeth and Banquo!

MACBETH Greetings Lennox! We come fresh from the battle and have news for the King!

ROSS He has already heard of your battle, Macbeth.

ANGUS And how bravely you fought!

ROSS And he has told us to call you Thane of Cawdor!

MACBETH Thane of Cawdor, Ross? But that’s not possible. Cawdor lives. How can I be Thane of Cawdor?

ANGUS Cawdor joined the rebels and is under sentence of death!

MACBETH Thewitches.Whattheysaidhascometrue.Banquo-couldthenextstepbethe throne itself? Could I become King?

BANQUO Becareful,Macbeth.Sometimesthedeviltemptsuswithsmalltruths-tomake us believe the bigger lie to come.

LENNOX Look! Here comes King Duncan himself!

ALL The King! The King!

DUNCAN My generals Macbeth and Banquo.

BANQUO/MACBETH Your majesty.

DUNCAN Itistrue.Thebattleiswon.TherebelsandtheNorwegianshavefled.

ALL Victory! The King!

DUNCAN So, my cousin, Macbeth! How can I pay the debt I owe you after today?

MACBETH Serving you is its own reward, your majesty.

DUNCAN And noble Banquo too!

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BANQUO I am your servant, King Duncan.

DUNCAN Today’s joy overwhelms me! But I have one last announcement. I have cho-sen my eldest son, Malcolm, as my successor! He is now to be known as Prince of Cumberland.

ALL Malcolm, Prince of Cumberland!

MACBETH MalcolmnowDuncan’sheir!PrinceMalcolm?IfIamgoingtobeking-thiscould cause problems.

DUNCAN We shall go now to your castle, Macbeth, to celebrate our friendship.

MACBETH Your majesty, I shall go ahead to Dunsinane. (GOING) My Lady Macbeth will be delighted at the good news of your coming.

DUNCAN We shall follow! (TO ALL) Macbeth is valiant and worthy. We are lucky to have him as our kinsman. Now, let us prepare for the journey to Dunsinane.

SCENE 5: LADY MACBETH’S CHAMBER AT DUNSINANE

NARRATOR AtDunsinane,Macbeth’scastle,hiswifeLadyMacbethiswaitinginher bedroom for him to return from the battle. In her hands she holds a letter from him…

LADY MACBETH ‘My beloved wife. I believe these weird sisters do have special powers. They toldmeI’dbeThaneofCawdor-anditcametrue!Theyevensaid-Iwouldbe King!’ King! ‘Keep this secret. I shall be with you soon…’

Macbeth-youwantgreatness.Butareyouruthlessenoughtogetit?Youare ambitious. But I fear you will be too scared to do what is needed. Come homesoon.SoIcaninspireyoutotakethecrown.Withoutme-youwillnever do it.

FX A clattering of footsteps on the stairs, doors bang, the bedroom door opens.

MACBETH My lady. Have you heard..?

LADYMACBETH GreatThaneofCawdor!Macbeth-yourfuturestartsnow.

MACBETH King Duncan comes here tonight.

LADY MACBETH And when does he leave?

MACBETH Tomorrow.

LADY MACBETH That must not happen. He must not live to see the morning sun.

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MACBETH What are you saying?

LADY MACBETH He must be taken care of tonight!

MACBETH ‘Taken care of…’?

LADYMACBETH Yes.Oh,Macbeth-yourfaceissoeasytoread.Butatthebanquettonight-youmusthideyourfeelings.Befriendlytoourking...andleavetheplantome.

MACBETH But-

LADY MACBETH Come now. Let us prepare the feast.

SCENE 6: THE GREAT HALL AT DUNSINANE

NARRATOR InthegreathallofDunsinane,KingDuncanandallthelordsandladiesstand to celebrate their victory.

SERVANT Pray quiet for the King!

DUNCAN Atoast!Toourhosts-LordandLadyMacbeth!

ALL Lord and Lady Macbeth!

DUNCAN Your castle is beautiful, my lady. The air here is so sweet!

LADY MACBETH Your majesty! You honour us with your visit to Dunsinane.

DUNCAN I hope we have not troubled you...

MACBETH Weareatyourservice,mylord.Now,pleaseeveryone-takeyourseatsatthe table!

NARRATOR While the King and the lords and ladies sit down to feast, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth stand to one side, so nobody can hear them...

MACBETH Duncantrustsme.Ishouldbeprotectinghim-notkillinghim.

LADYMACBETH Whenthekingfinishessupperandgoestosleep...that’swhenyoudoit.

MACBETH No. We’ll go no further with this plan. He has come here to honour me. Can we not just enjoy that?

LADY MACBETH What are you saying? I’d ‘like’ to wear the crown but I don’t dare take it?

MACBETH What if we fail?

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LADY MACBETH Have courage and we’ll not fail. Do it when Duncan is asleep and after tonight-he’llsleepforever.Isthatsettled?

MACBETH Yes. It is...settled.

SCENE 7: THE BATTLEMENTS OF DUNSINANE

NARRATOR The feast is over. Banquo and his son Fleance are taking a walk on the castle walls.

BANQUO What time is it, Fleance?

FLEANCE After midnight father. Listen. Someone’s coming! Who’s there?

MACBETH A friend, Fleance. Banquo...

BANQUO Macbeth. So you’re still awake too? The King at least is asleep. He went to bed in good spirits, thanks to your hospitality.

MACBETH We did all we could.

BANQUO A real feast. I dreamt of the witches last night. There was truth in what they said, Thane of Cawdor...

MACBETH I haven’t really thought about it. But perhaps you’re right. We should talk, Banquo...

BANQUO Whenever you like.

MACBETH Stay with me, Banquo, and we could all share in the future...

BANQUO Myloyalty’stotheking-andeverwillbe.Now,wemustgotobed.Come,Fleance.

FLEANCE Good night, sir.

MACBETH Sleep well!

BANQUO And the same to you, my friend.

NARRATOR Alone, Macbeth knows he must make his decision...

MACBETH Soon everyone will be asleep but me. And then… What’s this? A dagger in the air, its handle turned towards my hand. Come let me...hold you. Aagh. I can’ttouchit-butIcanstillseeit.Adaggerofthemind.I’mseeingthings.And now there’s blood on the blade and handle! It is time to do the deed.

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SCENE 8: LADY MACBETH’S CHAMBER

NARRATOR In her bedroom, Lady Macbeth cannot sleep. She walks back and forth, thinking about her terrible plan...

LADY MACBETH What is he doing? I left the daggers for him. He can’t have missed them!

FX A door opens and Macbeth stumbles in.

MACBETH Oh...oh...

LADY MACBETH My husband. Have you...?

MACBETH The deed is done. Look at my hands. The blood...it’s terrible.

LADY MACBETH It will wash off.

MACBETH Just after it was done, I heard a voice crying. ‘Sleep no more!’ it said. And then, ‘Macbeth has murdered sleep!’

LADY MACBETH You’re imagining things. Go! Wash your hands! And why did you bring the daggers? Put them back in the room!

MACBETH I can’t go back there.

LADY MACBETH Give it to me. I’ll wipe the faces of the sleeping servants with blood. (GOING) It will look as though they killed the King.

NARRATOR LadyMacbethgoestotheKing’sbedroomtoleavethedaggersthere...while Macbeth waits for her return...

LADY MACBETH Done. It will look as if the servants committed the crime. And see, my hands are the same colour as yours.

FX Knocking.

LADY MACBETH Someone’s knocking at the South Gate.

MACBETH I wish the knocking would wake Duncan...

LADY MACBETH The dead King sleeps forever.

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SCENE 9: THE HALLWAYS OF DUNSINANE

FX Alarms through the castle. Macduff, Banquo, Ross and Lennox enter running.

NARRATOR KingDuncan’sbodyisquicklydiscovered.Thelords-Macduff, Banquo, Ross and Lennox – jump from their beds and run from room

to room to raise the alarm.

BANQUO Malcolm,Donalbain-yourfatherhasbeenmurdered!

MALCOLM No!

FX They draw swords.

DONALBAIN Tell us the name of the assassin and we shall avenge our father!

MACDUFF From the look of it his own servants did the deed. Their hands and faces are covered in blood and their daggers lie nearby!

MALCOLM I will face these lowly assassins now!

MACBETH Stop, Malcolm.

NARRATOR Macbeth has heard the commotion and joins the lords…

MALCOLM GoodMacbeth.Letmethrough-

MACBETH Stay-theassassinsaredead.Ihavekilledthemalready.

MALCOLM What?

NARRATOR Lady Macbeth enters now as well. Innocently she asks...

LADY MACBETH What has happened?

MACDUFF The king is dead, my lady.

LADY MACBETH No!

MACBETH Malcolm. Donalbain. Listen to me. Your father lay dead, his murderers so close...who could hold back?

NARRATOR Macbeth needs help with his lies. And Lady Macbeth knows just what

to do. She staggers...

LADY MACBETH Help…please…

NARRATOR …and falls…

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LADY MACBETH ...I feel...

FX Lady Macbeth falls.

BANQUO Lady Macbeth! She faints...

MACBETH I must look after my lady. Lennox, help me carry her to her room.

NARRATOR Macbeth and Lennox carry Lady Macbeth away, leaving the young princeswiththeotherlords.They’resuspicious...

MALCOLM Donalbain, dearest brother, we must be silent for now...

DONALBAIN You’re right, Malcolm. This place isn’t safe.

MACDUFF Something’s not right here, Banquo.

BANQUO Ifthere’saplot,Macduff,ortreason-I’llfightit.

MACDUFF So will I.

ROSS So will we all.

MACDUFF We’lldress-andmeetinthegreathall.

MALCOLM My brother and I will join you shortly.

NARRATOR ThelordsleaveandthedeadKing’ssons–MalcolmandDonalbain-speak alone…

MALCOLM Donalbain,Idon’ttrustanyonehere.Wemustleave-separately.I’llgotoEngland.

DONALBAIN Ireland for me then, dear brother.

MALCOLM Let’s go, while we can.

DONALBAIN There’llbenomercyhere–onlymoremurder.Tohorse!

SCENE 10: THE GREAT HALL AT DUNSINANE

FX Trumpet fanfare. A great crowd.

NARRATOR AtDunsinanecastle,aweeklater,Macbeth’sloyalfollowerscheerhimand his queen as they return from their coronation...

ALL All hail! Hail King Macbeth! Hail the Queen!

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NARRATOR Banquo watches alone from a dark corner of the great hall...

BANQUO First thane of Cawdor. And now king. It has all come true, just as the witches said.Butdidtheymakeithappen-orwasitMacbethhimself?

MACBETH Banquo!

BANQUO Here, your majesty! And my lady. Welcome back to Dunsinane.

LADY MACBETH Our loyal friend!

MACBETH Banquo, what news?

BANQUO MalcolmandDonalbainhavefledthecountry.Butthey’retellingeveryonewho’ll listen that they didn’t kill their father.

LADYMACBETH Welltheywouldsaythat-wouldn’tthey?

MACBETH It’snotimportant.We’lldealwithittomorrow.Inthemeantime-

LADYMACBETH -ourfeast-

MACBETH -tonight-tocelebrate!You’lljoinus,Iknow.

BANQUO I’m at your command, sir.

MACBETH Are you...hunting today?

BANQUO Yes, your majesty.

MACBETH And you’re riding...far?

BANQUO We’ll be hunting all afternoon, your majesty.

MACBETH Are you taking Fleance with you?

BANQUO Of course, my lord.

MACBETH Good,good.Enjoyyourselves-anddon’tbelate!(TO EVERYONE) Now please, my loyal subjects! Your king has work to do. Until the feast tonight you may leave us!

FX The guests exit.

NARRATOR Macbethwaitsuntileveryonehasgone.Justoneservantstaysback-because Macbeth needs him...

MACBETH Those men we spoke of. Are they here?

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ATTENDANT 1 Aye, my lord. I let them in through the back gates, as you asked.

MACBETH Get them.

ATTENDANT 1 Your majesty…

NARRATOR The servant goes. And Macbeth thinks through his plan again.

MACBETH I am the king. But the witches told Banquo that his children would be kings. Notmine.Beingkingisn’tenough-Ihavetobesafe.AndIcan’tbesafeaslong as Banquo lives.

ATTENDANT 1 Here are the two men, my lord.

MACBETH Good. Now leave us.

NARRATOR The servant goes, leaving Macbeth in the company of two villainous-lookingmen…

MACBETH Don’t bother sitting. This won’t take long.

ASSASSIN 1 Suits me.

ASSASSIN 2 Me too.

MACBETH Good. Now. Banquo.

ASSASSINS Banquo?

MACBETH Yes. Banquo. I want you to kill him.

ASSASSINS Kill Banquo?

MACBETH Today. While he’s out hunting. All right?

ASSASSINS All right.

MACBETH His son, Fleance, must die too.

ASSASSIN 1 We’ll do you a deal.

ASSASSIN 2 Special offer.

ASSASSIN 1 Two for the price of one.

MACBETH Nobody-butnobody-musteverconnectthistome.

ASSASSIN 1 Don’t worry your majesty. Our lips are sealed.

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ASSASSIN 2 As quiet as the grave.

ASSASSIN 1 And our daggers are sharp.

FX Two daggers drawn.

ASSASSIN 2 And cold as death.

ASSASSIN1 Snick-snack.

ASSASSIN2 Clickety-clack.

NARRATOR SoDuncanisdeadandMacbethhasbecomeKing…andnowtoprotecthis position he plans to murder Banquo too. Will he and Lady Macbeth getawaywiththeircrimes?Andwhatofthewitches-willtheirprophe-sies come true?

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