Drink to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss;
Would he were here!
DOCTOR
[whisper] Now!
BANQUO reappears, standing on the table in front of MACBETH.
MACBETH leaps out of his seat in terror, spilling his wine.
MACBETH
[to BANQUO] Avaunt! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes,
Which thou dost glare with. Hence, horrible shadow!
Unreal mock’ry, hence!
BANQUO adjusts the necklace and vanishes.
MACBETH shakes in fright. LADY MACBETH approaches him.
LADY MACBETH
You have displac’d the mirth, broke the good meeting,
With most direful disorder.
MACBETH
Can such things be?
My skin is blanch’d with fear.
ROSSE
What things, my Lord?
LADY MACBETH
I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse;
But go at once.
LENOX
Good night, and better health
Attend his Majesty!
LADY MACBETH
A kind good night to all!
ROSSE, LENOX, the Lords and Attendants leave.
DOCTOR
[whisper] All right, Banquo. I think we have convinc’d
Him of your death. You must to Wales depart
And join thy son.
BANQUO
[invisible, whisper] Yes, Doctor. It’s been fun.
MACBETH stands aside, deep in thought.
MACBETH
I will go to consult the Weird Sisters:
More shall they speak; for now I am bent to know
By the worst means, the worst. I am in blood
Stepp’d in so far, that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand,
Which must be acted, ere they may be scann’d!
Exit MACBETH and LADY MACBETH.
DOCTOR
‘Weird Sisters’? Oh my word, he means Jamie, Zoe and me!
In a sudden panic, DOCTOR scurries out.
ACT IV, SCENE I – A CAVE ON THE HEATH
The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE stand around a bubbling cauldron. They are all wearing rags and apply mud to their faces to disguise themselves as witches.
JAMIE
I still don’t know why we have to do this.
ZOE
Because it’s in the play.
DOCTOR
And not just that
We have to lull Macbeth into a false
Sense of security so when Macduff’s
Army arrives it catches him off-guard.
JAMIE
What’s yon gadget you have there, Doctor?
He indicates a large, metal box set to one side of the cave.
DOCTOR
An instrument of mine that should convince
Macbeth of evr’y word that we shall speak.
Are we all set?
ZOE
Of course. I’ve memorised
The entire play by heart.
DOCTOR
Then you can do
The talking. Jamie and I will join in.
JAMIE
Join in with what? [Sound of someone approaching through undergrowth]
ZOE
[clears throat, then clearly and precisely] By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
Enter MACBETH.
MACBETH
How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!
What is’t you do?
ZOE
A deed without a name. [DOCTOR and JAMIE join in, doing women’s voices]
MACBETH
I conjure you, by that which you profess,
Howe’er you come to know it, answer me:
Though you untie the winds and let them fight
Against the churches; though the yesty waves –
DOCTOR
[high-pitched] Yes, yes, yes, you can skip all that.
ZOE We’ll answer. Pour in sow’s blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease that’s sweaten
From the murderer’s gibbet throw
Into the flame. [Adds ingredients to cauldron, causing a burst of flame]
ZOE, DOCTOR, JAMIE
Come, high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show!
The Doctor clicks a device. The metal box doth project an image of Macduff on the cave wall.
ZOE
[speaking into a wand, her voice is amplified and echoes terribly]
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff!
Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough!
MACBETH
Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;
Thou hast harp’d my fear aright: but one word more –
ZOE He will not be commanded: here’s another,
More potent than the first.
An image of a newborn baby appears on the cave wall.
ZOE
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?
But yet I’ll make assurance double sure,
And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live.
Now the image of a boy wearing a crown appears.
MACBETH
What is this
That rises like the issue of a King,
And wears upon his baby-brow the round
And top of sovereignty?
ZOE
Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.
The Doctor waves his hand and the image vanishes.
MACBETH
That will never be!
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root? And yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art
Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?
ZOE
Seek to know no more!
MACBETH
I will be satisfied: deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know!
DOCTOR
[high-pitched] Show!
JAMIE
[high-pitched] Show!
ZOE
Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;
Come like shadows, so depart! [she throws another ingredient into the cauldron. There is a burst of flame and it is extinguished]
The DOCTOR works his magick and images of future Scottish Kings appear on the cave wall.
MACBETH is transfixed.
MACBETH
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. 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?
The magick light show ends, plunging the cave into darkness.
MACBETH
Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour
Stand aye accursed in the calendar!
Come in, without there!
Enter LENOX, carrying a torch.
LENOX
What’s your grace’s will?
MACBETH
Saw you the Weird Sisters?
LENOX
No, my lord.
MACBETH
Infected be the air whereon they ride;
And damn’d all those that trust them! I did hear
The galloping of horse: who was’t came by?
LENOX
’Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word
Macduff is fled to England.
MACBETH
Fled to England?
LENOX
Ay, my good lord.
MACBETH
Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits:
The castle of Macduff I will surprise;
Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in a line.
Exeunt MACBETH and LENOX
The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE emerge from their hiding place.
JAMIE
He’s going to have Macduff’s wife killed? And his children too?
DOCTOR
Not if we can help it, Jamie. We shall
Change from these rags to villains’ semblances.
And once more offer our assistance to the King . . .
ACT IV, SCENE II – A ROOM IN MACDUFF’S CASTLE
LADY MACDUFF and her children. The DOCTOR and JAMIE enter, dressed in their hooded coats.
LADY MACDUFF
Who art thou? To me thou art not known.
DOCTOR
We’ve come to warn thou art in danger grave,
If you will take a homely man’s advice
Be not found here; hence, with thy little ones.
LADY MACDUFF
Whither should I fly? I have done no harm.
DOCTOR
The King’s accus’d Macduff of treason high,
And ordered us to kill you here to-night.
LADY MACDUFF
Thou liest, thou . . . shag-hair’d villain!
JAMIE
But if you leave now, we’ll go back to the King and tell him we killed you,
And he won’t send anyone else after you.
DOCTOR
Alas, I fear you have no choice, my dear.
When I the word ‘run’ sayeth, thou must run!
Run!
Exit LADY MACDUFF with her children.
JAMIE
Do you think they’ll be all right, Doctor?
DOCTOR
Oh, I expect so Jamie. They just need
To lie low for a while. You see, Macbeth’s
Black days are number’d. Come, let’s Zoe find.
ACT V, SCENE I – A PASSAGE IN MACBETH’S CASTLE
The DOCTOR and JAMIE enter, still in their coats.
A WAITING GENTLEWOMAN enters.
GENTLEWOMAN
Pray, is one of you the Doctor?
JAMIE
The Doctor?
GENTLEWOMAN
The Doctor call’d to discover the cure
To Lady Macbeth’s new-found malady.
The Doctor removes his coat.
DOCTOR
[adopts educated Edinburgh accent] Yes, I’m the Doctor.
[rubs hands] Tell me, what is wrong?
GENTLEWOMAN
Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen
her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon
her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,
write upon’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again
return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
DOCTOR
I see . . . In this slumbery agitation, besides her
Walking and other actual performances, what, at any
Time, have you heard her say?
GENTLEWOMAN
That, sir, which I will not report after her.
DOCTOR
You may to me: and ’tis most meet you should.
Enter LADY MACBETH holding a lit candle.
GENTLEWOMAN
Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise;
and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.
JAMIE
Doctor, her eyes are open!
GENTLEWOMAN
Aye, but their sense is shut.
LADY MACBETH puts down the candle and wrings her hands.
DOCTOR
What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands.
GENTLEWOMAN
It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands: I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.
DOCTOR
She would appear to be beset with some
Form of obsessive compulsive sickness . . .
LADY MACBETH
Out, damned spot! out, I say! – One: two: why,
then, ’tis time to do’t. – Hell is murky! – Fie, my
lord, fie! Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him?
DOCTOR
Did you hear that?
GENTLEWOMAN
She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that: Heaven knows what she has known.
Exit LADY MACBETH.
DOCTOR
Will she go now to bed?
GENTLEWOMAN
Directly.
DOCTOR
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles. Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night.
GENTLEWOMAN
Good night, good doctor.
Exit GENTLEWOMAN.
JAMIE
What d’you think’s wrong with her, Doctor? Sleepwalking?
DOCTOR
I’m not sure, Jamie. Parasomnia?
Or post-traumatic stress disorder? Poor woman.
JAMIE
Poor woman? She goaded her husband into killing the King!
DOCTOR
Even so. But I’m afraid she is past curing now . . .
ACT V, SCENE III – THE CASTLE THRONE ROOM
Enter MACBETH with the DOCTOR and JAMIE, no longer wearing their coats. The DOCTOR is wearing spectacles. A SERVANT enters.
MACBETH
The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon!
Where got’st thou that goose look?
SERVANT
There is ten thousand –
MACBETH
Geese, villain?
SERVANT
MACBETH
What soldiers, whey-face?
SERVANT
The English force, so please you.
MACBETH
Take thy face hence.
Exit SERVANT
How does your patient, Doctor?
DOCTOR
[educated Edinburgh accent] Not so sick, my lord,
As she is troubled with thick coming fancies,
That keep her from her rest.
MACBETH
Cure her of that.
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff’d bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart?
DOCTOR
Therein the patient
Must minister to himself.
MACBETH
Throw physic to the dogs; I’ll none of it. –
I’ll put mine armour on and fetch my staff.
I will not be afraid of death and bane,
Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.
Exit MACBETH.
JAMIE
He’s going to fight the English army?
DOCTOR
Yes, fight and lose. He won’t realise his men
Are massively outnumber’d ’til it’s far
Too late because the English army have
Their awful might conceal’d with camouflage.
JAMIE
&nbs
p; Camouflage?
DOCTOR
With leaves and twigs disguis’d. So as far as
Macbeth’s concern’d, it will the prophecy fulfil
As Birnhamwood has come to Dunsinane.
JAMIE
Well, not really.
DOCTOR
It’s close enough. Let’s go and Zoe meet.
Our time in Scotland’s discord is complete.
ACT V, SCENE IV – BIRNAM WOOD
Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, SIWARD and BANQUO, MACDUFF, MENTEITH, LENOX, ROSSE, and the Soldiers of the English army.
SIWARD
What wood is this before us?
MENTEITH
The wood of Birnam.
Enter ZOE.
MACDUFF
What art thou doing here? This is no place
For thou, wee slip o’girl. Get thee off home!
ZOE
I think you’ll find I can for myself fend.
BANQUO
I recognise this girl! She is a friend,
Who aided my escape and of my son.
ZOE
How is he?
BANQUO
In Wales he’s safe bestow’d. I left to join
This army rais’d by Malcolm to remove
Macbeth the cruel usurper from his throne.
ZOE
That’s why I’m here. I’ve come to help you win.
MALCOLM
Help us? How?
ZOE
Macbeth expects your assault. So you must
Use camouflage.
MACDUFF
What is this ‘camouflage’?
ZOE
The wood. Let every soldier hew down a bough,
And bear’t before him: thereby shall you shadow
The numbers of our host, and make discovery
Err in report of you.
MALCOLM
It shall be done.
The soldiers disguise themselves with branches and leaves and exeunt, marching.
ACT V, SCENE VIII – OUTSIDE THE CASTLE
The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE slip outside through a side-door as the English army lays siege to main gates.
JAMIE
Those gates won’t keep them out for long.
DOCTOR
And that’s it for Macbeth. Out, out, brief candle.
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon a stage
And then is heard no more.
The English army smash through the gates and swarm into the castle.
ZOE
So Shakespeare had it right, then, after all?
DOCTOR
Not quite.
Imagine if we had not interven’d
How many more foul murders there’d have been.