The Shakespeare Notebooks Read online

  ZOE

  There was a play about him I recall

  Did not he become King of Scotland too?

  MACBETH

  [amazed] You say I shall be King hereafter?

  BANQUO

  Good Sir, why do you start, and seem to fear

  Things that do sound so fair?

  [to the DOCTOR]

  If you can look into the seeds of time,

  And say which grain will grow, and which will not,

  Speak then to me, Banquo, who neither fears,

  Your favours nor your hate.

  JAMIE

  You’re Banquo! I’ve heard of you too!

  DOCTOR

  Please, Jamie, keep quiet, I beg of you!

  JAMIE

  [to BANQUO] You will beget kings, though you won’t be one.

  MACBETH

  Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.

  By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis;

  But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives,

  A prosperous gentleman; and to be King

  Stands not within the prospect of belief,

  No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence

  You owe this strange intelligence? Or why

  Upon this blasted heath you stop our way

  With such prophetic greeting? – Speak, I charge you.

  JAMIE

  We know because we’re –

  DOCTOR clamps his hand over JAMIE’s mouth.

  They struggle. Trumpet, wheezing, groaning.

  ZOE

  Oh Doctor, we are disappearing fast!

  DOCTOR

  Hold tight! For we are being taken back!

  The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE vanish.

  BANQUO

  Whither are they vanish’d?

  MACBETH

  Into the air; and what seem’d corporal,

  Melted as breath into the wind. Would they had stay’d!

  Your children shall be kings.

  BANQUO

  You shall be King.

  MACBETH

  And Thane of Cawdor too . . .

  ACT II, SCENE III – OUTSIDE THE CASTLE

  Heavy rain. Trumpet, wheezing, groaning. TARDIS appears. DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE emerge having cleaned up, wearing heavy, hooded coats.

  JAMIE

  At least we’ve landed properly this time.

  ZOE

  We’ve mov’d?

  DOCTOR

  Yes, Zoe. That’s Macbeth’s castle!

  JAMIE

  Ah, yon fellow we met.

  DOCTOR

  Indeed, the one you told his destiny.

  I wish you had not spoke of that, alas!

  JAMIE

  Och, why? What harm could it do?

  DOCTOR

  What harm? Now he will want to slay the King

  And take his sov’reign throne!

  ZOE

  Like in the play!

  JAMIE

  What play?

  DOCTOR

  The play, Macbeth.

  The DOCTOR takes a book from his pocket.

  DOCTOR

  Now let me look. Ah, yes, now here it is.

  Macbeth is made the Thane of Cawdor first,

  Which makes him heed the prophecy and thence,

  With nudging from his wife, he kills the King.

  Oh dear.

  JAMIE

  Oh dear?

  DOCTOR

  It’s all our fault! [DOCTOR slaps JAMIE with the book]

  Your fault!

  We must this mend before it is too late!

  DOCTOR puts book away and knocks on castle gates.

  DOCTOR

  Hello! Pray let us in! Hello! Hello!

  ZOE

  But Doctor, if Shakespeare didst write this tale,

  It must therefore be true, and come to pass?

  DOCTOR

  My dear, you should not heed what’s writ by Will

  He chang’d things round to serve his own intents,

  The play’s the thing, it’s what all poets do,

  They take poetic license with the truth.

  JAMIE

  But I know Macbeth became King, it’s in the history books.

  DOCTOR

  But not by murder necessarily!

  DOCTOR knocks on castle gates.

  DOCTOR

  Come on! Pray open up! We’re soaking wet!

  JAMIE

  Aye, it’s raining cats and dogs out here.

  ZOE

  And raging wind that bites and roars so loud!

  JAMIE

  Aye, sounds like the devil himself. And the ground’s shaking –

  ZOE

  Look to’t! One of the chimneys is disturb’d!

  It crashes down beside them. DOCTOR knocks on castle gates.

  DOCTOR

  Come on! You’re in grave danger! Open up!

  Castle gates open. PORTER appears.

  PORTER

  Knock knock, who’s there, i’th’name of Belzebub?

  DOCTOR

  The Doctor!

  PORTER

  Doctor? Who’s that? Doctor who?

  DOCTOR

  That matters not, what matters is that if

  Thou dost not let us in there will be deeds

  Most foul perform’d to-night within these walls!

  PORTER lets them into the castle.

  PORTER

  Anon, anon!

  I pray you, remember the Porter!

  The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE enter a court within the castle.

  DOCTOR

  Now, we must find the King and warn him what

  Macbeth has plann’d! There is no time to lose!

  PORTER

  This place is too cold for Hell. I’ll devil-porter it no Further.

  The PORTER goes to leave but is stopped as MACDUFF and LENOX enter. The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE duck out of sight.

  MACDUFF

  [to the PORTER] Is thy master stirring?

  Enter MACBETH.

  The knocking has awak’d him; here he comes.

  LENOX

  Good morrow, noble Sir!

  MACBETH

  Good morrow, both!

  In the background, the DOCTOR checks the book.

  MACDUFF

  Is the King stirring, worthy Thane?

  MACBETH

  Not yet.

  The Doctor reads something that alarms him.

  MACDUFF

  He did command me to call timely on him:

  I have almost slipp’d the hour.

  MACDUFF exits, going into the King’s chambers.

  ZOE

  [whispers] Doctor, what’s the matter?

  DOCTOR

  [whispers] According to the play, we are too late

  Already vile Macbeth has slain the King!

  Re-enter MACDUFF.

  MACDUFF

  O horror! Horror! Horror!

  Tongue nor heart cannot conceive, nor name thee!

  MACBETH, LENOX

  What’s the matter?

  MACDUFF

  Most sacrilegious Murther hath been wrought

  See, and then speak yourselves. –

  MACBETH and LENOX go to the King’s chamber.

  Awake! Awake! –

  Ring the alarum-bell. – Murther, and treason!

  Banquo, and Donalbain! Malcolm, awake!

  Shake off this downy sleep, death’s counterfeit,

  As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,

  To countenance this horror! [Bell rings]

  Enter LADY MACBETH.

  LADY MACBETH

  What the business,

  That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley

  The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!

  ZOE

  [whispers] Doctor! She must be Lady Macbeth! Look!

  JAMIE

  The one who put her husband up to it? Look at her, acting like she doesn’t know what’s going on!

  DOCTOR
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  Quick, Jamie, Zoe, we should slip away!

  JAMIE

  But Doctor –

  ZOE

  The Doctor’s right, we don’t want to be caught

  They’ll think we were the ones who did the deed!

  The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE slip away as MACBETH and LENOX return from the King’s chamber.

  MACBETH

  Had I but died an hour before this chance,

  I had liv’d a blessed time; for, from this instant,

  There’s nothing serious in mortality;

  All is but toys: renown, and grave, is dead!

  Enter MALCOLM and DONALBAIN.

  DONALBAIN

  What is amiss?

  MACDUFF

  Your royal father’s murther’d!

  ACT II, SCENE V – A PASSAGE IN THE CASTLE

  The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE hide.

  DOCTOR

  All right, I think we’re safe.

  ZOE

  Until they find

  Us and accuse us of murther – murder!

  DOCTOR

  Be not afear’d. [the Doctor checks his book] According to the play

  Two guards are blam’d and art by Macbeth slain.

  JAMIE

  I thought you said the play wasn’t right?

  ZOE

  But nobody is going to believe

  That it was not by Macbeth’s hand achiev’d.

  JAMIE

  Aye, he had guilt written all over his face.

  DOCTOR

  You may be right. But now he’ll reign as King

  Of Scotland, as you told him would ensue.

  JAMIE

  You can’t blame me for that!

  DOCTOR

  What matters is t’avert more lives be lost.

  You told Banquo that would he Kings beget

  Which means he is a threat unto Macbeth.

  ZOE

  Macbeth will have to put him out the way?

  DOCTOR

  Unless we can prevent the misdeed, yes.

  JAMIE

  But why do we have to interfere? Can’t we just let history get on with it?

  DOCTOR

  Because we set this train upon its track

  It’s down to us to see no ill proceeds.

  ZOE

  What must we do I keenly bid you tell.

  Enter a SERVANT.

  SERVANT

  Are you the travellers lately arriv’d?

  JAMIE

  Might be, why do you want to know?

  SERVANT

  The King desires your presence.

  ZOE

  The King? You mean?

  SERVANT

  King Macbeth. He requires your services, that is why you were summon’d. If you will come with me –

  DOCTOR

  Ah, Zoe, wait here ’til we are return’d.

  ZOE

  But –

  JAMIE

  The Doctor’s right, you’re safer staying put.

  ZOE

  Oh, very well.

  DOCTOR

  We won’t be long, I pledge

  I wonder what the King should want us for . . .

  The SERVANT leads the DOCTOR and JAMIE into the castle.

  ACT III, SCENE I – THE CASTLE THRONE ROOM

  MACBETH sits on the throne. The SERVANT enters with the DOCTOR and JAMIE and leaves. MACBETH regards the DOCTOR and JAMIE suspiciously. They both have their faces concealed by their hoods.

  MACBETH

  [suspicious] Sirs, have I met with you afore this day?

  DOCTOR

  We have not had the honour, Majesty.

  MACBETH

  Now, if you have a station in the file,

  Not i’th’worst rank of manhood, say’t;

  And I will put that business in your bosoms,

  Whose execution takes your enemy off,

  Grapples you to the heart and love of us,

  Who wear our health but sickly in his life,

  Which in his death were perfect?

  JAMIE

  [whisper] Doctor, what’s he going on about?

  DOCTOR

  [whisper] He’s asking if we are unscrupulous

  Villains prepar’d to kill to please their king.

  JAMIE

  What?

  DOCTOR

  He thinks we are two murderers for hire.

  Attend and hush! [clears throat, to MACBETH in a gruff accent of Glasgow] I am one such, my Liege;

  The many slings and arrows of the world

  Hath so incens’d, that I am reckless what

  I do, to spite the world.

  JAMIE

  [gruff Glaswegian] Aye, and what he just said goes for me too.

  MACBETH

  You care not for your own lives? Then you should

  Know Banquo is mine foe. And thence it is

  That I to your assistance do request,

  Masking the business from the common-eye,

  For sundry weighty reasons.

  DOCTOR

  We shall, my Lord,

  Perform what you command us.

  JAMIE

  So do you want us to do Banquo in, then?

  MACBETH

  [nods and smiles] Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most,

  I will advise you where to plant yourselves,

  Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’th’time,

  The moment on’t; for’t must be done to-night.

  JAMIE

  Tonight!

  MACBETH

  It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight,

  If it find Heaven, must find it out to-night!

  Exit MACBETH.

  JAMIE

  Doctor, what’s going on? We’ve just agreed to kill Banquo!

  DOCTOR

  I know. Rather the King ask us than two

  Real murderers, that would you not agree?

  JAMIE

  What?

  DOCTOR

  By hiring us to cut short Banquo’s life,

  He’s granted us a means of thwarting strife!

  Exeunt the DOCTOR and JAMIE.

  ACT III, SCENE III – THE ROAD LEADING FROM THE CASTLE

  Enter the DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE.

  ZOE

  Macbeth ask’d you to Banquo slay? To this

  You did complot?

  DOCTOR

  Yes, to secure his ’scape.

  JAMIE

  It’s getting dark.

  ZOE

  The west yet glimmers with the some streaks of day.

  Hark! I hear men walk this way. A light!

  DOCTOR

  ’Tis he!

  Enter BANQUO and his son FLEANCE, carrying torches.

  BANQUO

  It will be rain to-night.

  DOCTOR

  The time to act is nigh. Stand to, with me!

  The DOCTOR, JAMIE and ZOE approach them.

  BANQUO

  Who is this dar’st waylay us ’pon the road?

  DOCTOR

  Macbeth dispatch’d us here to murder you.

  BANQUO

  [draws sword] What?

  ZOE

  Prithee, be not alarm’d! We are unarm’d!

  BANQUO

  You have no swords?

  DOCTOR

  We wield no thought of harm.

  We’ve come to deliver you from death’s reach.

  BANQUO

  You are still true to me, then? Not Macbeth?

  DOCTOR

  No loyalty to him we owe; he is

  A regicidal maniac. We will

  Attest we kill’d you. Fleance must away

  To Wales, a fine girl meet, and Kings beget.

  FLEANCE

  I flee to Wales? But what of my father?

  DOCTOR

  He’ll follow you anon. I need his help.

  BANQUO

  With what?

  DOCTOR

  The King shall not be satisfied

  Thou
art slain without proof. Thus I intend

  That proof to give. With this subtle device.

  The DOCTOR hands BANQUO a necklace.

  BANQUO

  An amulet?

  DOCTOR

  Something I pick’d up on

  My travels. It’s a perception filter.

  It can make you invisible or make

  It that but one soul wilt of you perceive

  You will be like a ghost at Macbeth’s feast . . .

  ACT III, SCENE IV – THE CASTLE BANQUETING HALL

  MACBETH, LADY MACBETH, ROSSE, LENOX, Lords and Attendants are enjoying a banquet. The DOCTOR enters. MACBETH goes to him.

  MACBETH

  [whisper] Is Banquo dispatched?

  DOCTOR

  [gruff Glaswegian] My Lord, his throat is cut, that I did for him. [mimes, making ‘quack’ sound]

  MACBETH

  Thou art the best o’th’cut-throats; And tell me

  Thou didst the like for Fleance?

  DOCTOR

  Aye, I did.

  Safe with his father in a ditch he bides.

  MACBETH

  Now get thee gone.

  LENOX

  [calls to MACBETH] May it please your Highness sit?

  MACBETH

  Here had we now our country’s honour roof’d,

  Were the grace’d person of our Banquo present.

  DOCTOR

  [whisper] Now, Banquo!

  BANQUO appears, his face white with chalk, wearing the perception filter necklace. He sits in MACBETH’s seat. MACBETH reacts with horror at the sight.

  MACBETH

  The table’s full!

  LENOX

  [indicates where BANQUO is sitting, but not seeing BANQUO] Here is a place reserv’d, Sir.

  MACBETH

  Where?

  LENOX

  Here, my good Lord. What is’t that moves your Highness?

  And makest thou tremble and wide of eye?

  MACBETH

  [points to BANQUO] Prithee, see there!

  Behold! Look! Lo! How say you?

  If charnel-houses and our graves must send

  Those that we bury back to haunt us?

  DOCTOR

  [whisper] Banquo, now!

  BANQUO adjusts the necklace and vanishes.

  No one has seen him apart from MACBETH.

  LADY MACBETH

  What is’t that hast unmann’d thee?

  MACBETH

  If I stand here, I saw him. Banquo!

  LADY MACBETH

  Fie! For shame!

  My worthy Lord, your noble friends do lack you.

  MACBETH

  [regaining his composure] I do forget, –

  Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends,

  I have a . . . strange infirmity, which is nothing

  To those that know me. Come, love and health to all;

  Then I’ll sit down. [he gingerly sits in the empty seat] Give me some wine: fill full;