SCENE 9: THE HALLWAYS OF DUNSINANE
FX: Alarms through the castle. Macduff, Banquo, Ross and Lennox enterrunning.
NARRATOR: King Duncan’s body is quickly discovered. The lords - Macduff,Banquo, Ross and Lennox – jump from their beds and run from roomto room to raise the alarm.
BANQUO: Malcolm, Donalbain - your father has been murdered!
MALCOLM: No!
FX: They draw swords.
DONALBAIN: Tell us the name of the assassin and we shall avenge our father!
MACDUFF: From the look of it his own servants did the deed. Their hands and faces arecovered in blood and their daggers lie nearby!
MALCOLM: I will face these lowly assassins now!
MACBETH: Stop, Malcolm.
MALCOLM: Macbeth, let me through -
MACBETH: Stay - the assassins are dead. I have killed them already.
MALCOLM: What?
LADY MACBETH: What has happened?
MACDUFF: The King is dead, my lady.
LADY MACBETH: No!
MACBETH: Malcolm. Donalbain. Listen to me. Your father lay dead, his murderers soclose…who could hold back?
NARRATOR: Macbeth needs help with his lies. And Lady Macbeth knows just whatto do. She staggers…
LADY MACBETH: Help…please…
NARRATOR: …and falls…
LADY MACBETH: …I feel…
FX: Lady Macbeth falls.
BANQUO: Lady Macbeth! She faints…
MACBETH: I must look after my lady. Lennox, help me carry her to her room.
LENNOX: Yes.
MALCOLM: Donalbain, dearest brother, we must be silent for now…
DONALBAIN: You’re right, Malcolm. This place isn’t safe.
MACDUFF: Something’s not right here, Banquo.
BANQUO: If there’s a plot, Macduff, or treason - I’ll fight it.
MACDUFF: So will I.
ROSS: So will we all.
MACDUFF: We’ll dress - and meet in the great hall.
MALCOLM: My brother and I will join you shortly. Donalbain, I don’t trust anyone here.We must leave - separately. I’ll go to England.
DONALBAIN: Ireland for me then, dear brother.
MALCOLM: Let’s go, while we can.
DONALBAIN: There’ll be no mercy here – only more murder. To horse!
SCENE 10: THE GREAT HALL AT DUNSINANE
FX: Trumpet fanfare. A great crowd.
NARRATOR: At Dunsinane castle, a week later, Macbeth’s loyal followers cheer himand his queen as they return from their coronation…
ALL: All hail! Hail King Macbeth! Hail the Queen!
NARRATOR: Banquo watches alone from a dark corner of the great hall…
BANQUO: It has all come true, just as the witches said. But did they make it happen -or was it Macbeth himself?
MACBETH: Banquo!
BANQUO: Here, your majesty! And my lady. Welcome back to Dunsinane.
LADY MACBETH: Our loyal friend!
MACBETH: Banquo, what news?
BANQUO: Malcolm and Donalbain have fled the country. But they’re telling everyonewho’ll listen that they didn’t kill their father.
LADY MACBETH: Well they would say that - wouldn’t they?
MACBETH: It’s not important. We’ll deal with it tomorrow. In the meantime -
LADY MACBETH: - our feast -
MACBETH: - tonight - to celebrate! You’ll join us, I know.
BANQUO: I’m at your command, sir.
MACBETH: Are you…hunting today?
BANQUO: Yes, your majesty.
MACBETH: Are you taking Fleance with you?
BANQUO: Of course, my lord.
MACBETH: Good, good. Enjoy yourselves - and don’t be late! (TO EVERYONE) Nowplease, my loyal subjects! Your king has work to do. Until the feast tonightyou may leave us!
FX: The guests exit.
NARRATOR: Macbeth waits until everyone has gone. Just one servant stays back -because Macbeth needs him…
MACBETH: Those men we spoke of. Are they here?
ATTENDANT 1: Aye, my lord. I let them in through the back gates, as you asked.
MACBETH: Get them.
ATTENDANT 1: Your majesty…
NARRATOR: The servant goes. And Macbeth thinks through his plan again.
MACBETH: I am the king. But the witches told Banquo that his children would be kings.Not mine. Being king isn’t enough - I have to be safe. And I can’t be safe aslong as Banquo lives.
ATTENDANT 1: Here are the two men, my lord.
MACBETH: Good. Now leave us. (TO THE ASSASSINS) Don’t bother sitting. This won’ttake long.
ASSASSIN 1: Suits me.
ASSASSIN 2: Me too.
MACBETH: Good. Now. Banquo.
ASSASSINS: Banquo?
MACBETH: Yes. Banquo. I want you to kill him.
ASSASSINS: Kill Banquo?
MACBETH: Today. While he’s out hunting. All right?
ASSASSINS: All right.
MACBETH: His son, Fleance, must die too.
ASSASSIN 1: We’ll do you a deal.
ASSASSIN 2: Special offer.
ASSASSIN 1: Two for the price of one.
MACBETH: Nobody - but nobody - must ever connect this to me.
ASSASSIN 1: Don’t worry your majesty. Our lips are sealed.
ASSASSIN 2: As quiet as the grave.
ASSASSIN 1: And our daggers are sharp.
FX: Two daggers drawn.
ASSASSIN 2: And cold as death.
ASSASSIN 1: Snick-snack.
ASSASSIN 2 Clickety-clack.
4: All hail, Macbeth! King of Scotland!
King Duncan's body is quickly discovered and the nobles run from room to room waking the castle.
When Malcolm and Donalbain learn of their father's murder they want to be avenged immediately. Macbeth appears and tells the princes that Duncan's own servants are responsible and that he has already killed them.
Lady Macbeth appears and creates a diversion to save her husband from any awkward questions. Left on their own Malcolm and Donalbain determine they must flee Dunsinane immediately for their own safety.
Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland - the Witches' second prophecy has come true. Following the coronation Macbeth speaks with Banquo to confirm he will be out hunting all afternoon with his son, Fleance. Then Macbeth engages the services of two assassins to kill them - with the intention of preventing the Witches' prophecy regarding Banquo and his descendents coming true.
Teacher Notes
This series provides various opportunities to meet Key Stage 2 National Curriculum requirements, including study of a significant author, reading techniques such as prediction, drawing inferences, clarification and summary; and drama and writing opportunities - including poetry performance, descriptive writing, persuasive writing, letter writing, newspaper article writing, poetry and play scripts.
It could be used as an introduction to the play, consolidation of key aspects or for revision of the plot and characters.
More detail on how to use this series, including detailed lesson plans, can be found in the Teacher's Notes PDF.
Teacher's Notes (pdf) document
Information and guidance on using the content
This series is relevant for teaching English at KS2, in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and at Second Level in Scotland.
3. Daggers for King Duncan. video
Macbeth returns to Dunsinane where Lady Macbeth persuades him to murder King Duncan.
5. A trap for Banquo. video
Macbeth sends assassins to kill Banquo and Fleance. Later he sees Banquo's ghost.
6. Something wicked this way comes. video
Macbeth returns to the Weird Sisters. They tell him to beware of Macduff.
