ed the king so they're probably worried that they're going to be killed next. hmm. as donalbain put it at the end of that scene, "where we are there's daggers in men's smiles, the near in blood, the nearer bloody." so i think he means that the closer you are to the king as a relative, or the near in blood, the more likely it is that you'll be bloodied, as duncan has been. the near in blood, the nearer bloody. i like that. anyway, they're cowards both for fleeing. but he's right, they should be worried. so the next scene is brief. it's a discussion between mcduff's cousin ross, and an old man. i don't know what you're talking about. oh, sorry, yes, neither of you are there, but just bear with me. so they're talking about how strange and crazy it's been since the murder, how dark it's been, even during the day, how things are unnatural, just as

killing a king is unnatural. and the old man describes an owl killing a falcon. really? and owl kill a falcon? yes, what does that mean? it means nothing! well, a hawking owl shouldn't be able to kill a falcon, the owl is a lesser bird. so is that a sign of something? he's making it up, i'm sure he found no such thing! well, anyway, mcduff then shows up and we learn the latest theory has it that malcolm and donalbain, the king's sons, have put the servants up to the murder, and it looks that way because they fled the country. so the sons think they're protecting themselves, but it ends up casting suspicion back on them. oh, honey, did you hear that? fan-bloody-tastic. we also learn from mcduff, that you, macbeth have been named king of scotland. congratulations! oh, thank you so much ralph, i appreciate that. in fact, we have a little surprise for you.

oh, the royal robe's coming in ralph. i think you're going to like this. that's very nice, no thank you. honey! go ahead and put it on. i don't want to put it on right now. what is your problem? no, we'll talk about it later. thank you, take it away. thank you. well anyway, their little meeting ends with mcduff saying that things probably aren't going to go so well under you as they did under duncan. he says that? figures. i don't trust mcduff. son of a bitch! well, so in the next scene we're back at the palace. you're king, and we find banquo talking to himself just before the two of you arrive. what's he saying? well he's thinking about how the witches were right about you, first cawdor and then the kingship. but he also suspects you. he's thinking that you played most foully for it, are his words, and he's thinking even more now

that the witches might be right about him. right about him? right about what? well, that banquo will never be king, but that his descendents will be king. i was going to tell you. well the two of you walk in just then and you're very sweet to him, you want to make sure he's going to be coming to the royal banquet that evening but you're not exactly thinking sweet thoughts are you? ah, no, no, i've just killed the king so i'm thinking somebody might want to do the same thing to me. kill you you mean. yes! exactly, kill me. if the witches put this idea into banquo's head that he's going to be the father to a line of kings, he might want to help it along a little bit. yeah, which is what you thought of course when you were helping along the witches' prophecy by killing duncan. yeah, i suppose i did, whatever. the point is banquo is a threat, a formidable one, being such royal nature himself and being so wise and i, uh, can't afford to stand idly by and let that

threat continue. to be king is nothing, to be king safely is everything. okay, but here's what's confusing about that. if the witches were right about you, cawdor, then the kingship, isn't it likely they're going to be right about banquo? yes, well i can't stand the thought of that, you see, if the witches are right that banquo is going to be heir to a line of kings and i've killed gracious duncan for the sake of banquo's heir i put ranker in the vessel of my peace. not only have i made a deal with the devil, i've done it for banquo's heirs, not mine. and the two of you are childless right? yes, that's right. why is that? could we just stick to the story please? look, the point is, is that banquo will not father a line of kings and i'm going to make sure that he won't.

and that's why the two murderers show up. murderers? oh yes, i'm sorry, lady macbeth isn't there for that scene. do you mind if we talk about it? you wanted me to take action so i'm doing it. relax, i'm not complaining, just could have told me that's all. yeah, well, now you know. so you've got these two thugs and you convince them that they should kill banquo while he's out riding before the banquet. that's right. oh honey, i'm so proud of you. and, now, this is your first action as king, isn't it? yes, i suppose it is. you know when you're convincing these murderers to kill banquo it reminds me a little bit of how your lady convinced you to kill duncan. she didn't convince me to do anything. of course i didn't dear. you're right, of course, what am i thinking. anyway, you tell them to kill banquo, but it's also important that they kill fleance, is that right? um hmm, yes well the prediction is that banquo will father a line of kings, if i just kill

banquo the threat is still there isn't it? yes, but if you don't mind my saying, after all your hesitation about killing duncan, you're becoming quite ruthless, i mean these are two innocent people. one's a good friend, the other just a young man, son of a friend. well, it's one thing to take power, it's quite another to hold it, isn't it? yes, i suppose it is. and you say one more thing about the flight of banquo's soul to heaven. are you worried about the afterlife? i mean about the state of your soul? of course i am. but i've already done some pretty bad things, killed a king, that's the worst really. and so i'm trying to get my money's worth. so things are getting pretty desperate for you. i wouldn't say it's desperate; i'm just not going to go down without a fight. don't worry dear.

it's all going to work out, you'll see. will it work out? we'll find out right after this. are you in over your head with murder and intrigue? while you're always winking at the end let axcel keep track of the details. axcel has the malicious power of a fully relational database for a delightfully simple interface with reports and graphs the way you want them. track all of your opponents and victims. monitor game verses effort so your lady doesn't lose sleep doing it herself. keep your passions in check with our motivation minder, alerts that notify you of scheduling conflicts, slain relatives and growing resentment axcel even makes sure you keep the joy in tyranny. axcel assassination management software helps you scheme and plot your way to the top. with axcel you'll get to the top and stay there. welcome back to our discussion of macbeth. we're at the start of act three and things are

starting to heat up. you're about to host a banquet, your first as king, but you're both a little bit stressed out. as you put it lady, nots had, all spent. where our desire is got without content. tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. i found that very powerful. you seem to be saying that ambition can get in the way of happiness. is that it? i guess you could put it that way. i mean better thane of cawdor and of glamis happily so if being king is going to be so worrisome. i just wish my husband would relax a bit, you know? we could be enjoying this so much more than he is at present. he certainly shouldn't be worried about what's passed, what's done is done. don't you see, we've just injured the snake, not killed it. and now it will be coming after us. evil begets evil, we can't eat without fear of being

poisoned, we can't sleep without terrible dreams. better to be duncan, at peace in the grave where no poisons or treasons or weapons or invasions can trouble him. please take it easy. we have a party tonight and you need to look the part. don't worry. it's banquo we have to take care of, he seems to see right through me. well i guess you're taking care of that. those two idiots, succeeding murderers they may be, but they're not the sharpest arrows in the quiver. ah! so do you think these murderers will work to your benefit? things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. so maybe some more evil deeds will set everything to right? it's the only choice i have. so in the very next scene these two murderers catch up with banquo and his son fleance. really? what happens? well you're about to find out at the banquet. in the banquet scene, all the thanes are gathered together except mcduff who we'll talk about more in a minute. yeah, that mcduff is going to be a problem i think.

so the banquet's just getting going and one of the murderers arrives and pulls you aside. what does he tell you? that he slit banquo's throat. oh good! but there's a little problem. yeah, you could say that. what? what little problem? fleance, banquo's son has escaped and that's not good. no, that's not good. because it's really banquo's heirs that you need to be worried about, it's the heirs that the witches predicted will be kings. yeah. that's all right. he's just a kid. the venom will grow in him but at the moment he has no teeth. so that's why you get so moody all of a sudden. why hell. is something wrong? what's the matter? i see banquo. do you see him now? oh, proper stuff, calm down dear, there's nobody here but us. i should have fed you to the hawks then you'd be

nowhere but inside their bellies. maybe we should take a break. you saw him right? macbeth, please be a man. you're embarrassing us. oh damn these gooses, it used to be you'd dash a man's brains out and that'd be the end of it. we stabbed banquo 20 times and yet here he comes to push me from my stool. well he's gone now! could we get back to the banquet please! which is exactly what you do in this scene of course. you even propose a toast to banquo. damn you ghost, quit my sight! leave horrible shadow! and real mockery. would you like to take a break? we should maybe take a break, right? no, that's all right, i'm a man again. so lady, you decide to shut the party down at

this point. wouldn't you. it will have blood. banquo's ghost wants revenge. blood will have blood. why wasn't mcduff at the banquet? did you invite him? of course. that's all right, i have spies in every castle, i'll find out what's going on. i need to see those witches again. well with banquo murdered there's kind of no going back now is there? how do you put it? i'm in blood stepped in so far that should i wade no more, returning were as tedious as go over. strange things i have in head that willed to hand which must be acted ere they may be scanned. i'm going to have to spill more blood if that's what you're asking. i just need to be able to do these things without thinking about them so much! you need to get some sleep! you're right, dear. we're not used to all this intrigue, but we'll get

used to it. we're just getting started. is macbeth just getting started? we'll find out right after this. ♪ well you know ♪ it's going from fair to foul when a falcon gets ♪ ♪ killed by an owl and the days are dark and the ♪ ♪ winds howl across the scottish more and ♪ ♪ macbeth' s still feeling rotten, even though he's ♪ ♪ the king of scotland because the whole thing ♪ ♪ has now gotten to be something of a chore. ♪ ♪ and his wife says it's authority man, sit back ♪ ♪ and drink some wine, the whole point of this new ♪ ♪ king thing is you have a real good time but ♪ ♪ macbeth's just killed his friend and he's seeing ♪ ♪ ghosts again and i just checked the page count and ♪ ♪ we're almost at the end not much more to go! ♪ ♪ oh macbeth, macbeth, mcduff could prove a ♪ ♪ threat and fleance ain't dead yet and you are ♪

♪ certain he'll be back. ♪ but macbeth, macbeth, let's just take a big deep ♪ ♪ breath, there's bound to be more death but let's ♪ ♪ relax and just take it step by step ♪ welcome back everyone. macbeth and lady macbeth are here with us in studio discussing shakespeare's great play, the tragedy of macbeth. what do you mean the tragedy of macbeth? don't worry, we'll get to that soon enough. right now you're off to see the witches again, tell us about that. what's to tell, they seem to know things, and i wouldn't mind knowing a few more things at the moment. and they seem ready to provide more prophecies. let's go through them. first there's a apparition of a head with a helmet on it who tells you to beware mcduff, the thane of fife. yeah, i was already worried about him, but it's nice to know my fears were justified. and then a second apparition, a bloody child who tells you to be bloody and bold because no one of

woman born can harm you. which is good news indeed. i mean it seems pretty clear that nobody can harm me right? no one of woman born. yeah, well, who's not of woman born? oh, honey that is good news. so you don't really need to be worried about mcduff then? ah, no, i don't think so, although i think i should kill him anyway. i mean fears are not necessarily calmed by prophecy, you know? if he was dead it would be impossible to fear him. okay, then the third prophecy, this time from a child with a crown who's holding a tree. the child tells you not to worry about conspiracies because you won't be vanquished until birnam wood should come to dunsinane hill. what does he even mean do you think? just what it says. i won't be overthrown until an entire forest moves on my castle. but how could that happen? exactly. exactly. it's just the witches' way of saying it can never happen. they like to speak in riddles for some reason but the meaning seems pretty clear.

well it certainly sounds good. sweet bode-ments to my ears. but you're not quite done with the sisters and you ask about banquo's heirs again. yeah, i'm still a little bit worried about that. and then you see a procession of eight kings followed by banquo who points at them smiling. uh, yeah, and then banquo disappears. and the witches disappear as well. bubbles on water, the hags. then lennox shows up and he brings word that mcduff has fled to england. is that right? yes, and just as i was going to kill him! i need to stop thinking about these things and just do them! just do it, as they say these days. that's a good motto. just do it. from now on the very first things of my heart shall be the first things of my hand. i'm going to crown my thoughts with acts. so, what's your next move?

i will seize mcduff's lands and castle, kill his wife and children, and anyone even remotely related to hm. wow. his wife and children? so you know how it happens? oh yes, in gruesome detail i'm afraid. ross, one of your thanes is talking with lady mcduff about her husband's departure for england. the coward. well yeah, she's not so happy about it either. she says even the smallest bird would protect its nest and he's left them there alone. he's all fear and no love she says. what a coward. so ross tries to explain what a crazy time it is and he says that he also has to leave and at that moment lady mcduff's son comes in and lady mcduff and her son talk about the absent father as if he were dead. it's quite touching actually. when the murderers arrive, they stab the boy repeatedly and pursue lady mcduff as she tries to escape. they stab a boy, just like that!

yes, and then pursue his screaming mother. how else would they do it? with no one there to defend them, a mother and her child? can we move on please? yeah, sure we can move on. so in the next scene mcduff joins malcolm in england. malcolm, i should remind our audience is one of duncan's two sons. he's the son that duncan has named his rightful heir to the throne. well, now be careful with what you say, sir, i am in fact the king of scotland, the throne was given to me. the fact that i hold the throne is proof that i'm god's choice, are you questioning that? no, no, not at all. but mcduff and malcolm are questioning that and duncan did name malcolm his rightful heir. i suggest you drop the topic ralph. my thoughts are very close to my actions these days. say no more. i'm not sure i should be telling you any of this anyway since you're not there to know what they're talking about. you think i don't know they're planning something? if malcolm is at all a man he'll try to depose me, i know that.

but it won't work. you heard the witches. well, then ross arrives and gives mcduff the news that his entire family and all his servants have been slaughtered. that will break him, the coward. how horrible. yeah, he's upset, that's for sure, but malcolm encourages him to let his grief be the wet stone of his sword and to convert that grief to anger and enrage his heart. and mcduff promises to kill you. no man of woman born shall harm macbeth. tell him that! we also learned that malcolm has raised an army of 10,000 in order to depose you. ten thousand? till birnam wood move on dunsinane. i have nothing to fear. oh dear, oh dear. thane of fife had a wife. is everything all right? yes, i just - i'd like to wash my hands, is there a basin nearby? yeah, sure, just hold on one more second.

please just one more second. calm down dear. i , i, i'd like to wash up a bit, just - my hands, i'll be right back. i'm worried about her. she'll be fine. she's been sleepwalking you know. yes, well neither of us have been getting much sleep lately. i murdered sleep, remember. yes, i think your wife is really starting to break down i'm afraid. act five actually begins with one of these sleep walking episodes. i think you should take a look. i have two nights watched with you but can perceive not truth in your report. when was it she last walked? 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 it, read it, afterwards seal it and again return to bed, yet all this while in a most fast sleep. a great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching! in this slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say? that sir which i will not report after her. you may to me, and tis most meet you should. neither to you nor any one having no witness to confirm my speech. lo you, here she comes. this is her very guise, and upon my life, fast asleep. observe her, stand close. you see her eyes are open.

ay, but they're sense is shut. look how she rubs her hands. 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. out, damn spot! out i say! on, two, why then, tis time to do it, hell is murky. fie my lord, fie! a soldier and afeared. what need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.

the thane of fife had a wife. where is she now? what, will these hands never be clean? no more that my lord, no more. you mar all with this starting. go to, go to, you have known what you should not. she has spoke what she should not. i am sure of that. heaven knows what she has known. here's the smell of the blood still. all the perfumes of arabia will not sweeten this little hand. oh, oh, oh! what a sigh is there! the heart is sorely charged. i would not have such a heart in my bosom for the

dignity of the whole body. to bed. to bed. there's knocking at the gate. come, come, come, come, give me your hand. what's done can not be undone. to bed, to bed, to bed. should we wait for her to come back? she's fine, i'm sure she'll be right back. maybe we can get someone to check on her. so what do you think of what you just saw? it's not easy living with what we've done. it's about time she realized that. yes, well i can't help noticing how much things have changed for her. right after you killed duncan for example, you said you'd never be able to wash the blood from your hands, and she said a little water would wash

away both the blood and the guilt. now she can't seem to get clean and she can't also seem to avoid a sense of guilt. and around the banquet scene she was trying to reassure you and said what's done is done. in here she said what's done can not be undone. it's a small change in language but it seems to mean something very different. i'm sure she'll be fine. well, you've got other things to worry about i guess. yeah, i guess you could say that. and things are starting to move pretty quickly. in act five, scene two, some of your scottish thanes have joined up with malcolm and his english troops. are you aware of that? doesn't matter, let them die too. and they're all speculating on what's going on through your head. some think you've gone crazy, others think you're in a fit of rage. one of them says, "now does he feel his secret murder sticking on his hands. those he commands move only in command, nothing in love. now does he feel his title hang loose about him like

a giant's robe on a dwarfish thief?" dwarfish thief, who says that? ah, angus. i look forward to adding his murder to my sticky hands. so are you not worried at all about these developments? was malcolm not born of woman? i have nothing to fear. but your servant comes in and tells you that 10,000 troops have gathered. besides i've lived long enough. i'm sorry, what was that? i said i've lived long enough. so i'm confused. do you think nothing's going to happen to you or are you just ready to die? does it matter? i'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. where's my armor? excuse me? i want my armor. right now? yes, right now, 10,000 have gathered, don't you remember? okay, we can do that, but just first i want to ask you about when the doctor comes into that scene. what about it? well you ask about your wife and he tries to explain that she's not so much sick as troubled. i like what you say next, what do you say?

can'st though minister to a mind diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow. raise out the written troubles of the brain and with some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart. it would be nice if medicine could do that, but the doctor says that only the patient can fix this kind of problem. to hell with doctors, i want my armor. give me my armor! it's coming, it's coming. oh, it's just that there's some news about birnam wood. oh, oh dear. i'm so sorry, it's your wife, she's dead. she should have died hereafter. would you like to take a break?

maybe we should take a break. tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. out, out, priest's candle. life is but a walking shadow a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. it is a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury signifying nothing. i think we should take a break.

you had news about birnam wood, what was it? oh yes, it's just that in act five scene four we learn that the army in birnam wood has decided to use the trees and bushes as camouflage for their march upon you. so? well as the messenger puts it when he comes to report, by the looks of it, birnam wood is moving on dunsinane, which is what the witches said would happen before your downfall. equivocating hags! the very words they used to shore me up are the words that will describe my undoing. it's not looking good is it? what will you do? arm, arm, and out! if this which he avouches does appear, there is no flying hence nor tarrying here. i gin to be aweary of the sun, and wish the estate

of the world were now undone. ring the alarm bell, blow wind, come, wrack! at least we'll die with harness on our back. well, let's take a look. they have tied me to a stake; i can not fly, but bear like i must fight the course. what's he that was not born of woman? such a one am i to fear, or none. turn hell-hound, turn! of all men else i have avoided thee but get thee back; my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already. i have no words.