Macbeth Script

Curtains open (U)

King Duncan walks onto the stage and waves to his audience

NARRATOR 1: Duncan, the King of Scotland, was an ideal ruler, fair and kind. However, some
chieftains in the country rebelled against his rule. To put down the rebellion, the King sent two of
his most skilful and trusted commanders, Macbeth and Banquo. They took charge of the King's
army and marched against the rebels, defeating them.

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King Duncan exits stage

Scene 1: The Witches’ Prophecy

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Macbeth and Banquo enter the stage and walk in place

(Macbeth and Banquo walk through a wild, lonely region. The wind howls, and the landscape
appears desolate.)

WITCH 1: Hail! Thane of Glamis.

MACBETH: (Confused) How do you know who I am

WITCH 2: Hail! Thane of Cawdor.

Macbeth was confused. He was Thane of Glamis but not Thane of Cawdor

WITCH 3: All hail, Macbeth! You will be king one day!

MACBETH: What? How can that be?

BANQUO: That seems quite impossible

The witches turn towards Banquo

WITCH 2: Fret not Sir Banquo for you may not have the same fate as Macbeth but your descendants
shall rule all of Scotland

Witches laugh creepily and exit the scene

NARRATOR 2: Quite weary of this encounter, the two continued along their journey when suddenly
some messengers came along to inform Macbeth that the King, pleased with their victory, had
made Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. Since the first prophecy had been fulfilled, Macbeth had started
to believe the witches

MESSENGER: Sir Banquo, Sir Macbeth! The King has sent me to inform you that he is pleased with
your victory. It seems he wants to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor

MACBETH: Really? (stumbles) I am ever so grateful

messenger leaves
MACBETH: Banquo, do you realise what this means?

BANQUO: Stop right there Macbeth! I hope that my descendants will be rulers of Scotland one day,
you, too, will hope that you will be the King of Scotland now. (Warningly) I do not like this at all,
Macbeth. The witches have laid a trap for you. Do not fall into it.

Banquo and Macbeth leave the stage

Curtains drawn (U)

Scene 2: Lady Macbeth’s Ambition

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Lady Macbeth enters with a chair and sits while holding an envelope

(Lady Macbeth sits by a window, reading a letter in the fading light of dusk.)

LADY MACBETH: It seems Macbeth had written me a letter. (Reading aloud) My beloved wife, I
believe these strange sisters I met in the woods must have special powers. They said I would be the
Thane of Cawdor, and it came true! They even said I would be king! King! Keep this secret, my
partner in greatness. I will be with you soon.

(She puts the letter down, her face alight with ambition.)

LADY MACBETH: (To herself) You want greatness. But are you ruthless enough to get it? Without
me, you will never do it, Macbeth.

(Macbeth enters, weary from travel.)

LADY MACBETH: Great Thane of Glamis and Cawdor, your future starts now! (ecstatic)

MACBETH: King Duncan comes here tonight and leaves tomorrow.

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

MACBETH: (Horrified) What are you saying?

LADY MACBETH: (Gripping his arm) Our guest must be taken care of tonight

MACBETH: You want to kill him (taken aback)

LADY MACBETH: Why of course. To make you king! Remember to hide your intentions. Be nice to
our guest. Laugh with him, smile with him, look after him. You may leave the plan to me, but you
must commit the final deed.

Curtains drawn (U)

Lady Macbeth storms off the scene leaving Macbeth for a few seconds before he follows her off the
stage
Scene 3: The Murder of King Duncan

Set workers put tables in place (used as bed)

Kind Duncan lies on table

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(King Duncan sleeps peacefully in his chamber. Outside, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth whisper
urgently.)

MACBETH: I cannot do it. He is my king and my guest.

LADY MACBETH: (Coldly) You must! The crown is within reach. Take it.

(Macbeth walk towards king Duncan while Lady Macbeth waits outside looking in his direction, his
face pale)

LADY MACBETH: Why is he taking so long? (pacing) I left the daggers for him.

(Macbeth stumbles in holding a dagger with blood dripping from the sharp end)

LADY MACBETH: (Whispering) Have you done it?

MACBETH: The deed is done. (Holding up his hands) Look at my blood-stained hands!

LADY MACBETH: (Resolute) It will wash off!

MACBETH: Just as I went in there, I heard a voice cry out ‘Sleep no more’ and then after the deed
was done it said ‘Macbeth had murdered sleep. Macbeth shall sleep no more’ (traumatized)

LADY MACBETH: You must be imagining things. Go! Wash your hands! And why did you take the
daggers put them back

MACBETH: I cannot go back there. (scared)

(Lady Macbeth snatches the daggers and exits, returning moments later.)

LADY MACBETH: I have placed the daggers near the sleeping servant to make him look guilty. Come,
we must go. (takes his hands and exits stage)

NARRATOR 1: The next morning, the king’s death was discovered. Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and
Donalbain, fled the castle in fear, suspecting their lives were in danger. They sought refuge in
England and Ireland, respectively. The King’s funeral takes place the same day along with the
crowning of Macbeth as King and his wife, his queen.

Two actors place crowns on the heads of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Curtains drawn (U)

Everyone exits scene while set workers drag the table off the stage

Scene 4: Banquo’s Death

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Macbeth begins the scene by entering stage and pacing around the room
NARRATOR 2: Macbeth had started to become worried. The sisters were right. He had become
King. But does this mean that Banquo’s son would rule after him. He had to eliminate that
possibility. He decided to hire two men to end Banquo and his son. Then he will have no enemies,
or so he thought…

(A forest path. Banquo rides alongside his young son, Fleance. The evening light filters through the
trees.)

BANQUO: (To Fleance) The air is cool tonight. Let us ride faster; it’s better to be back before
darkness falls.

FLEANCE: Yes, father. But why do you seem troubled?

BANQUO: (Solemnly) Macbeth. He has all that was promised to him—Thane of Glamis, Thane of
Cawdor, and now king. Yet, the witches said my descendants would wear the crown. I fear his
ambition.

(Suddenly, two assassins emerge from the shadows, weapons drawn.)

ASSASSIN 1: Halt! You go no further, Banquo.

BANQUO: (Drawing his sword) Slaughterers! You’ll regret this.

(A fierce fight ensues. Banquo fights valiantly but is overpowered. He is stabbed and falls to the
ground.)

BANQUO: (Gasping) Fleance, run! Escape! Let the truth survive through you!

FLEANCE: Father (reaches out his hand)

(Fleance hesitates, tears in his eyes, but obeys and flees into the darkness.)

ASSASSIN 2: (To the other) Did you get the boy?

ASSASSIN 1: No, he’s gone. But Banquo is finished.

(They leave Banquo’s lifeless body on the ground as the forest grows eerily quiet.)

NARRATOR 1: Fleance escaped into the night, carrying with him the hope of Banquo’s lineage.
Meanwhile, Macbeth awaited news of the deed.

Curtains drawn (U)

Scene 5: The Banquet and Banquo’s Ghost

Set workers arrange table and chairs

Everyone takes a seat

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(The grand hall is filled with lords and ladies. Macbeth sits at the head of the table, smiling uneasily.)
MACBETH: (Raising his goblet) How I wish my good friend Banquo were also present! I miss him very
much.

(The ghost of Banquo enters silently and sits in Macbeth’s chair.)

LADY MACBETH: My lord! Come, join us. We need our host!

MACBETH: (Turning to his wife) Of course, my lady. (Pauses, then stares at the ghost) But the table’s
full ...

LENNOX: Here’s a place, sir.

MACBETH: Where, Lennox?

(Lennox gestures to the chair where Banquo’s ghost sits. The ghost turns, revealing a stab wound on
its chest. Macbeth recoils in horror.)

MACBETH: (Shouting) Which one of you has done this?

ROSS: (Confused) Gentlemen rise, it seems the King is not well.

(Lady Macbeth rises, trying to restore order.)

LADY MACBETH: Please, everyone, stay. This is just an illness. The King has suffered from it since he
was a boy. Don’t worry, it will go away. (Whispering to Macbeth) What’s wrong with you?

MACBETH: (Frantic) Can’t you see the apparition? Such a sight would make anybody tremble!

LADY MACBETH: (Firmly) Look, it’s just a chair! You must be seeing things...

(The ghost vanishes. Macbeth slumps back into his seat, visibly shaken.)

ROSS: Is everything quite alright?

MACBETH: Please forgive me everyone. It seems I am not myself this evening. (more enthusiastic)
Let us continue the celebrations! We shall have a toast!

EVERYONE: A toast!

(They return to their seats however, Banquo appears again)

MACBETH: (panicking) It is here again! GET BACK TO YOUR GRAVE YOU FIEND!

As Macbeth swats the air, some try to comfort him when he leans back on the wall shaking, staring
and struggling to breathe.

LADY MACBETH: I sincerely apologise my lords. It seems the King is not well. It is best you all take
your leave. Good night.

Everyone else leaves first while Lady Macbeth comforts the king shortly before they both leave the
stage.

Curtains drawn (U)

Set workers drag the props out of the stage

Witches enter first before Macbeth enters shortly after

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(A dark cave. The witches stir a bubbling cauldron. Macbeth strides in, desperate.)

MACBETH: What is my future? Speak!

WITCH 1: Speak.

WITCH 2: Demand.

WITCH 3: We’ll answer.

(Unearthly spirits rise from the cauldron.)

APPARITION 1: Macbeth, Macbeth! Beware Macduff!

MACBETH: HA! I knew he was dangerous!

APPARITION 2: Be bold and resolute! No man born of a woman can harm you.

MACBETH: This means I’m safe! No human can ever harm me!

APPARITION 3: Be lion-mettled and proud. Macbeth shall never be vanquished until the great
Birnam Woods come to Dunsinane Hill.

MACBETH: HA! That will never happen! Who can convince the trees to uproot themselves and walk?
This is splendid news indeed!

Macbeth exits stage

NARRATOR 2: While Macbeth was consulting the witches, his enemies were gathering against him
in England. Macduff had joined Malcolm’s army. Macbeth was furious and sent assassins to
Macduff’s castle who killed his wife, child and other relatives. The country was absolutely horrified
at the unjustified fate dealt out to defenceless woman and her child. Macbeth soon lost the
support of nobles throughout the kingdom.

NARRATOR 1: Many of his own soldiers fled southwards to join Malcom’s army and took refuge in
his castle at Dunsinane

Witches exit stage

Curtains drawn (U)

Scene 7: Lady Macbeth’s Guilt

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NARRATOR 2:While Macbeth was away, his wife started showing signs of sleeplessness that came
from a sense of remorse and guilt. She was alone and left to her gloomy thoughts. She had
nightmares and soon began to walk and talk in her sleep which made her servants quite worried.
They decided to fetch the doctor.

Servants enter followed by doctor

SERVANT 1: This is where she walks every night doctor

DOCTOR: Every night?

SERVANT 2: Every night without fail doctor

SERVANT 1: Look here she comes

Lady Macbeth walks in wearing a white nightgown holding a candle in her right hand

DOCTOR: Her eyes are open…

SERVANT 2: But they do not see. Look!

Lady Macbeth appears to wash her hands but without water

LADY MACBETH: Out, damned spot! Out, I say! There is so much blood on my hands

DOCTOR: I don’t think we should be hearing this

LADY MACBETH: Will these hands never be clean? Here’s the scent of blood still. All the perfumes of
Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.

SERVANT 1: Heaven knows what she really means

LADY MACBETH: I TELL YOU – Banquo’s dead and buried, he can’t come out of his grave

DOCTOR: So that’s it then – Banquo?

SERVANT 2: I believe we’ve heard too much already.

Lady Macbeth picks up candle and walks to the side (but still visible), breathing heavily

DOCTOR: This is outside my level of expertise. She needs a priest not a doctor.

NARRATOR 1: Overcome with guilt, Lady Macbeth took her own life (Lady Macbeth uses a fake
knife to slice her throat). Meanwhile, Malcolm, Donalbain, and Macduff gathered an army to
oppose Macbeth’s tyranny.

Curtains drawn (U)

Lady Macbeth leaves the stage, and you can hear Macbeth’s cry as he reads a letter informing him of
his wife’s death

Scene 8: The Final Battle

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(A soldier rushes into the throne room.)

SOLDIER 1: My lord, the trees from the woods are moving towards the castle!

MACBETH: (Enraged) Liar!

NARRATOR 2: The truth behind this seemingly impossible illusion of the trees moving was due to a
clever plan used by Malcolm’s army. To prevent Macbeth from knowing how many men there
were in the army, Malcolm had ordered each of his men to cut down a branch from the trees and
hold it up in front of them. To Macbeth’s spies watching from the hilltops, it seemed as if the
whole of Birnam Woods was marching towards Dunsinane.

MACBETH: So, the prophecy comes true. There is no running away now. My end is near.

(On the battlefield, Macduff, Malcolm, and their army confront Macbeth.)

MACDUFF: Tyrant! The time has come to face justice.

MACBETH: (Sneering) You waste your time. It has been prophesied that no man born of a woman
can harm me.

MACDUFF: (Stepping forward) Then prepare for defeat for I was not born of a woman in the usual
way. I was cut from my mother’s womb.

(They fight ferociously. Macbeth fights valiantly but is ultimately overpowered.)

MACBETH: (Falling to his knees) Curse you, witches for your riddles have betrayed me!

Macduff brings his sword to Macbeth’s throat as Macbeth closes his eyes

Everyone leaves the stage

NARRATOR 2: With Macbeth’s death, Malcolm was crowned King of Scotland. The kingdom
rejoiced as peace was restored and the reign of terror ended. But never would anyone forget
Macbeth and the terrible fate that befell him…

Curtains drawn (U)

All the actors, writers, prop makers, set workers, directors etc. come together and bow down

End of Script.