What Really Happened At Dunsinane Court?

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT DUNSINANE COURT? Based on the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare and the book And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Theodor Seuss Geisel ©2007 Alan Hsu, Andy Mack, and George Wang Featuring the acting talents of Paul Butler, Garret McGale, and Philip Taylor A Special Production for Mr. James Duncan and his Eighth Period Advanced Placement English Literature Class Performed on the Afternoon of Thursday, May 24th, 2007 in Room N128 at Westview High School in Beaverton, Oregon

Part One (NARRATION) PORFIRY: Well, Macbeth, you have been accused of five counts of conspiracy to murder, one count of regicide, and one count of high treason. What do you have to say for yourself? MACBETH: I’ve nothing to tell of; that won’t do, of course I’ll construct a story, with a witch at the source That is my story, that’s where I’ll start I’ll say that dark magic was pulling my heart! (SCENE ONE – Witches) WITCHES: Trouble trouble - royal in rubble, In 'ere cauldron treasons bubble. [Enter Macbeth] All Hail Macbeth, hero of war, Thane of Glamis and now of Cawdor. One step higher shall you climb If you just commit one last crime. MACBETH: All Hail Sisters, strange and odd, In what evil direction do you prod? WITCHES: Your desires shall be at your command; The fate of the crown is in your hand. If now you take haste and go kill the king, Your name will be what the courtiers sing. MACBETH (appalled): Regicide's not my cup of tea. High crime be not the stuff for me Vile witches, only good can I do. I'm loyal to my king – my heart is true. Murderer? Tyrant? I'm not the sort! Keep this up, and I'll see you in court! WITCHES: Macbeth it seems is too pure for us! Just kill the old man, what's the fuss? If you won't do it of your own free will, Hecate's black magic will make you kill. Treachery, blackmail, and deceit abound, Don't blame us if your wife's not around. MACBETH:

Oh, what treacherous horrors you speak! But curse your threats, my soul grows weak. [Exit Witches, Enter Duncan] Unscrupulous politics have led in the end To the death by my hand of my regal friend [To Duncan] Forgive me, Duncan, I slay you in need. It was the witches who planted this treasonous seed! [Kills Duncan]

Part Two (NARRATION) PORFIRY: Magic and witches? Did you fall for that? The size of your mind must be small as a gnat. Now tell me a story, and don’t dare distort What really happened at Dunsinane Court? MACBETH: Yes, the witches are lame, and I think it’s a shame Such a terrible prophecy’s really too tame The story would really be better to hear If the person compelling were someone more dear

(SCENE TWO – Lady Macbeth) LADY MACBETH: Glamis and Cawdor are not nearly enough! The ladies I walk with will hear it and huff. I'm nobler than all of those women contend When I'm queen, we'll see who will laugh in the end. If you truly cherished my glamour and pride, That troublesome Duncan would already have died! MACBETH: My lady, my dear, don't ask me this deed. "To love king and country," that's my simple creed. My heart belongs to what's noble and right, I can't go along with this plot here tonight. LADY MACBETH: Every day I'm taunted for my shabby station! Minor nobility! I'm the laugh of the nation! I can't stand the shame of this measly hole; When you're a king, why need you a soul? Only you can save me, only you can start Our rise to prominence, if you do your part! MACBETH: Desist, my dear, let us go another way! For to kill my liege, in death I will pay. LADY MACBETH: If love me you truly had ever intended, Morals you should have completely transcended! Your heart should leave no currency unspent. In love's affairs you can't hope to repent. MACBETH: To this fell crime I cannot commit,

My shame rises - A chair! I must sit. LADY MACBETH: Are you my husband? Or are you a sissy? Are you a lord? Or are you my missy? I begged God unsex my feminine charms, Since you're not man enough to take up arms. MACBETH: Oh, I can not defy you, my dearest chunk. My defenses are broken – my ship has been sunk. To your deathly stratagem I will conspire. [Enter Duncan] To the earth shall King Duncan soon rest and retire. [To Duncan] Forgive me, my friend, for my weak tempted heart. Today you be felled by woman's cruel art! [Kills Duncan]

Part Three (NARRATION) PORFIRY: This story of love is moving, I'm sure, But the motive you cite is at best very poor; Why would a person to murder resort? What really happened at Dunsinane Court? MACBETH: It isn’t too late to make one little change To be killed by the servants, there’s something strange! I’ll pick one with plenty of power and size, A dark one with plenty of hate in his eyes And then, just to make this a little more gory I’ll kill off the servant, and safeguard my story! (SCENE THREE – Servants) SERVANT 1: He sits and he sleeps, looks just like a child, If only his orders were something so mild. From six in the morning ‘til twelve in the night, He shouts and he hollers and fills me with spite. It would bring me such justice to fool with his life, To lunge at his back with the point of a knife. [Trails off, hearing footsteps] SERVANT 2: Why are you still in the room of our master, ‘Tis my turn to watch, the sky’s alabaster. Go off to the quarters, ‘tis your turn to sleep, And be kind to his majesty, make not a peep. SERVANT 1: If that is your wish, from this room I prance, [Begins to exit] [aside] But to kill royal Duncan, I’ll not miss a chance. I can’t wait forever, an hour I’ll try, I hope and I pray that his highness will die. [One Hour Later] SERVANT 2: I have told you before, I have told you to leave, You must get out know, if my words you believe. For what is that blade which you hold in your hand,

[Moves between King and Servant 1] If for harming the King, in its way I shall stand. SERVANT 1: Get out of my way, you ignorant fool, I must kill the King with this hideous tool. I have contempt for the King, I work like a horse, In this act it is justice I intend to enforce. [Pushes past Servant 1, kills Duncan] SERVANT 2: Why fellow servant, what is your reason, Why fellow servant, partake in such treason? He was a great King and even my friend, Why fellow servant, must you make it all end? [Falls to knees in horror] SERVANT 1: I’m sorry my friend, you’ve seen far too much, I can’t let you leave with the knowledge of such. [Kills Servant 2] And now to ensure that no one can tell, I’ll take my own life, and burn up in Hell. [Kills Self] [Scene shifts to Macbeth] MACBETH: What could that noise be, I’ll check on the king, Certainly, certainly, ‘twas not a bell ring. What’s this on the floor, is it covered in mud? [Shocked to find body] Oh my goodness, I’m wrong, ‘tis covered in blood. [Heads to Lady Macbeth] O Lady Macbeth, my wonderful wife, I’ve got terrible news, someone’s taken his life. LADY MACBETH: Who do you speak of, my wonderful Thane, Who do you speak of, that causes such pain? MACBETH: ‘Tis the King that I speak of, ‘tis the King that is dead,

I found him alone in a pool of dark red. The horror I tell you, the horror I say, His servants, his servants, his servants must pay.

Part Four (NARRATION) PORFIRY: This time your story has so many holes, If any believed it, I pity their souls! Your expression is guilty, have you no retort? What really happened at Dunsinane Court? MACBETH: Now I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem right They all will suspect me, I think they just might! I clearly must find someone better to blame Who better than Malcolm and dear Donalbain? I’ll say they did it! I know they won’t mind Their suspicious departure was really too kind. (SCENE FOUR – Malcolm and Donalbaine) [Malcolm and Donalbain are talking] MALCOLM: It just isn’t fair, I want to be King, Approaching my throne, fair maidens will sing. All the power of Scotland I'll hold in my hand, From the highest of hills, to the beaches of sand. The Thanes they will cheer and the soldiers rejoice, [aside] Not that they'd have very much of a choice. Waiting for power, it seems such a bother, Perhaps I can steal it, usurp from my father. DONALBAIN: Now wait just one second, dear brother of mine, It is I who needs power, for you are a swine. I am the best and should thus be the King, My head to be capped with a beautiful ring. MALCOLM: Then do as you wish, my dear Donalbain, Though a struggle for power will cause us much pain. DONALBAIN: Hold on, my dear brother, I know what to do, Instead of just one king, why can't we have two? Instead of king Duncan, we'll have Donalbain, And together with him we'll have king Malcolm reign! MALCOLM: This plan of yours sounds quite appealing to me, I salute your intelligence, co-king-to-be!

The only thing now is to seize the king's crown, The only thing now is to take Duncan down! [They exit, enter with Duncan, who is sleeping] DONALBAIN: The guards here are sleeping, and Duncan's in bed... MALCOLM: Now is the time to make off with his head! DONALBAIN: Hand me the knife, I'll make his blood flow. MALCOLM: Together we'll do it, as one strike the blow! [They kill him... together, and exit] [Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are in their room] LADY MACBETH: Somehow I'm worried, something's not right, Something seems awfully wrong here tonight. That sound I heard came from where Duncan now sleeps; Check to see whether some intruder creeps! MACBETH: Now don’t you go worry, he sleeps in his bed, He sits and he lies, with pillow to head. And the guards, they do stand by the side of his door... [Realizes situation, begins to worry] But they're all half asleep, some quite a bit more. The state of my mind now grows worse and worse, I must check on the King, lest the King need a hearse! [Macbeth runs up to Duncan’s room, sees the murder] MACBETH: What's this? Is it Malcolm and young Donalbaine, Holding the knife by which Duncan is slain? That it comes to this, I find it quite sad, That to be the new King, one must slay his own Dad. [Donalbain and Malcolm see him] MALCOLM: We’ve gone and we've done it, now we will be King, DONALBAIN: But first we must deal with one other small thing.

[Pushes Macbeth to the ground, exits with Malcolm] MACBETH: Oh, all the horror, I’ve seen far too much, The killing of friends, at family’s own touch. Why, Prince Malcolm, have you done such a deed, Why, Donalbain, live with hatred and greed?

Part Five (NARRATION) PORFIRY: After killing their father to become the new kings, The two simply leave? I'll believe no such thing! Macbeth, I believe it is time you report What REALLY happened at Dunsinane Court! MACBETH: Look at what's happened, the facts are all there; To discount my words, it's really not fair. I'll tell you the story, once more from the start, I'll tell you the story, every last part. With a dazzle of witchcraft three sisters appeared! For the death of King Duncan the three sisters cheered! I tried to resist but my dear wife implored That the road to my kingship be quickly explored! But it wasn’t me who killed the King Loyal Macbeth could do no such thing The servant’s the one! Yes, that’s your man Or maybe the sons who suspiciously ran So you see then, inspector, I’ve committed no crimes; This castle has simply befallen dark times; And now that I’ve told what went on in this fort, I’ll show you what happened at Dunsinane Court! (SCENE FIVE – Finale) [Enter Witches] WITCHES: Trouble trouble - royal in rubble, In 'ere cauldron treasons bubble. If now you take haste and go kill the king, Your name will be what the courtiers sing. MACBETH: Your witchcraft and magic strike me cold, The devils on auction, but heart is not sold. [Enter Lady Macbeth] LADY MACBETH: If love me you truly had ever intended, Morals you should have completely transcended! Only you can save me, only you can start Our rise to prominence, if you do your part! MACBETH: Your tempestuous features I can't admire, When to kill the king is your deep desire.

[Enter Servant 1] SERVANT 1: I have contempt for the King, I work like a horse, In this act is is justice I intend to enforce. It would bring me such justice to fool with his life, To lunge at his back with the point of a knife. MACBETH: Your ugly betrayal in man's inertia lurk, To kill a king just to get out of work! I'll not hold by as you make your attempt, Your thoughts of retribution I hold in contempt. [Enter Malcolm and Donalbain] MALCOLM: Waiting for power, it seems such a bother, Perhaps I can steal it, usurp from my father. DONALBAIN: I am the best and should thus be the King, My head to be capped with a beautiful ring. Hold on, my dear brother, I know what to do, Instead of just one king, why can't we have two? BOTH: Instead of king Duncan, we'll have Donalbain, And together with him we'll have king Malcolm reign! The only thing now is to seize the king's crown, The only thing now is to take Duncan down! MACBETH: Your narrow ambition gives my eyes the runs, To think that Duncan could have such sons! WITCHES: Kill him, kill him with black magic's aid! LADY MACBETH: Kill him, kill him to please your fair maid! SERVANT 1: Kill him, kill him to support the underpaid! MALCOM: Kill him, kill him and as kings we'll parade! DONALBAIN: Kill him, kill him so we'll get our upgrade! ALL (except MACBETH): Kill him, kill him and don't be afraid!

Kill him, kill him it can't be delayed! MACBETH: Forgive me, Duncan, dear friend of mine. I've fallen into someone's dark design. It was witches who with magic assailed, As my wife's dark heart was to me unveiled, Then I became embroiled with workers rights, I even saw your sons plan your last nights. I slay you because of pressures too great. In death, I beg you, Poor Macbeth don't hate.

Part Six (NARRATION) MACBETH: But Porfiry told me, PORFIRY: I can see through your lies; I can see that you did it with these very eyes MACBETH: It seems I had hardly two seconds to rule, When Porfiry showed me to be quite the fool. He frowned at me sternly from there in his seat, Saying, PORFIRY: Of all the burglars and crooks that I meet, Macbeth you are clearly the worst of the lot For it seems in your fantastic tales you forgot That though all the facts you attempt to contort It won’t change what happened at Dunsinane Court MACBETH: I can't seem to shake him, whatever I say He won't take excuses, there's no other way. He'll find me guilty, I clearly can see, But what of my punishment? What will it be? I don't wish to see it grotesquely enlarged; So be it, I declare myself guilty as charged! My final story will be honest and short; Here is what happened at Dunsinane Court (SCENE SIX – The Truth) MACBETH: [aside] I shall sneak up the stairs and into his room, But when I am done, they shall call it his tomb. He made his son Malcolm heir to the throne, ‘Twas an honor I wanted to be’th mine own. I’ve been pushed by so many but will do it myself, [Approaches shelf, picks up dager] With this great dagger I’ve found on the shelf. DUNCAN: ‘Tis the middle of night, what is it dear Thane, What are you doing, have you gone insane? What is that dagger you hold in your grip, Put it down now for I fear you will trip. MACBETH:

I am sorry my Lord, for the act I must do, I am sorry my Lord, that I must stab you. [Kills Duncan] And now that I’ve killed the King of our lands, I must go to wash his blood from my hands.