Macbeth (an undoing) by Zinnie Harris

Author:Zinnie Harris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2023-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Four

Lady Macbeth with the murderers. In an alley.

Lady Macbeth

Aye in the catalogue you go for men.

As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, water-rugs and demi-wolves are clept all by the name of dogs. And all of you thieves, you told my lord that you had killed him and yet he lives, answer me – you ran the way he sent you, but somehow something went wrong and you didn’t do what you should, perhaps you were too slow and – don’t tell me he bides safe in a ditch with twenty gashes upon his head, I heard from my lord your words and how merrily you will repeat the same said phrase, but to this I answer you – how comes it he walks around in my house? Do murdered men walk? You did not kill him is the only explanation. I will sign a million things today, and your death warrants will be the first unless you tell me that you botched it up but will do it now – you will tell me the place where Banquo hides –

Beat.

What nothing? Not a word from one of you – then to my dungeon you will go. And your wives I will catch and your babies I will boil. You will sing those words until you tell me it is other.

Banquo lives, I know he does.

And you know it too –

She notices that there is some blood on her hand. And another spot on her dress.

She goes to the servant.

Who put this there?

She looks down at her dress, tries to wipe it. It gets worse.

She takes the dress off.

Servant

I don’t know madam

Lady Macbeth

It’s dirty – I’ll have another – is there another I can have, call the assistant –

Servant

The assistant is busy.

Lady Macbeth

Call the assistants’ assistant. I won’t have a dirty dress.

Stage manager, technician, anyone backstage –

A new dress is brought for her.

Thank you.

As she is stepping into it, Ross and Lennox catch her.

Ross

The thanes are meeting south near Edinburgh today madam.

Lady Macbeth

They can’t, the king is here –

Ross

They say they’ll meet without him.

Lady Macbeth

That’s not possible.

It is the king’s council so –

Perhaps a few of the thanes want to meet, and who can stop them but a full council meeting cannot be in place without the head,

And the head is here

Ross

I am just passing on what I heard.

Lady Macbeth

From whom?

Lennox

We have friends who are there –

Lady Macbeth

What friends?

Lennox

Menteith.

Lady Macbeth

Not a friend.

Ross

Kinross.

Lady Macbeth

Likewise.

Lennox

Montrose, Kincardine,

Lady Macbeth

No –

Ross

Birse.

Lennox

Cowie, Macduff

Lady Macbeth

Macduff is there?

Lennox

They are all there –

Lady Macbeth

Well, if Macduff is there, we have nothing to fear. He is practically my brother. We’ll get the king dressed and get him there, they cannot meet without him. I will speak to my sister, she has influence of course still – she is carrying his baby. So the thanes are meeting? No matter, they can meet if they like. It’s not such a problem yet – is it a problem if they meet? The king will meet them here, I’ll make sure the summons to each one goes through.

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