[00:00.56] Chapter eight, an unexpected guest.
[00:04.22] Dusk thickened.
[00:06.03] The starlings gathered and the crows took flight into the woods.
[00:11.23] Macbeth's hired men waited.
[00:14.90] At length there came the sound of two horses.
[00:19.96] All the other expected guests were safely at the palace.
[00:24.51] The riders could only be Banquo and Fleance.
[00:28.96] Sure enough.
[00:30.84] It was Banquo's voice that called out.
[00:36.72] The horses drew up, and the two riders climbed off.
[00:42.92] Just as Macbeth had expected, Banquo planned to walk the last mile to the palace.
[00:52.22] Bell and Black unsheathed their knives.
[00:57.53] Banquo and Fleance walked close by the villains' hideaway, chatting amiably.
[01:08.52] Looks like rain, said Banquo.
[01:14.38] I'll give you rain, cried Bell, leaping out and stabbing him in the back.
[01:20.57] Blows rained down from all sides on the stricken battle hero.
[01:26.63] In their frenzy, however, the two murderers had taken their eyes off the second prize.
[01:34.72] Fleance took his chance to escape.
[01:39.08] Bell and Black chased into the shadows, but their prey was gone.
[01:47.65] It was a great pity that the chief guest was absent, but the banquet went ahead as planned.
[01:56.27] At the center of it all sat the chairs of the king and queen.
[02:02.82] Everyone else took their places in order of rank.
[02:08.19] Musicians played, conversation bubbled, and Lady Macbeth reveled in the attention.
[02:18.20] Macbeth viewed the assembled guests and felt anxious.
[02:24.72] Banquo was not the only man missing.
[02:29.95] McDuff should have been there as well.
[02:34.89] Macbeth had already heard rumors that McDuff was speaking badly of him.
[02:41.49] His absence from the feast was suspicious, to say the least.
[02:49.96] But there were more urgent matters for the king to attend to.
[02:54.77] Bell was at the door.
[03:01.60] I have a small matter to attend to, he told his guests.
[03:07.67] Enjoy yourselves, we'll drink together shortly.
[03:13.80] Macbeth took Bell into the corridor.
[03:18.01] There's blood on your face, he whispered.
[03:22.43] Bell wiped it.
[03:23.93] It's Banquo's, he replied.
[03:26.87] He's dead?
[03:28.95] His throat is cut.
[03:33.58] Macbeth shook Bell by the hand.
[03:37.72] You're the best cutthroat in the land, he said.
[03:44.61] And Fleance?
[03:48.75] Most royal, sir, replied Bell.
[03:52.36] He got away.
[03:56.96] Macbeth winced.
[03:58.68] Damn and blast, he cried.
[04:02.26] Then I still cannot sleep easy.
[04:06.31] He turned to Bell in sudden doubt.
[04:09.82] You're sure Banquo's dead? he asked.
[04:14.25] Believe me, he could not be more dead, replied Bell, face down in the ditch with 20 gashes to his head.
[04:24.03] Very well, said Macbeth nodding.
[04:27.79] Get away now, we'll talk later.
[04:34.37] Lady Macbeth appeared looking displeased.
[04:39.04] Macbeth, she scolded.
[04:42.91] You're not paying attention to your guests.
[04:51.82] Yes, all right, snapped Macbeth.
[04:56.26] I've only been gone a few moments.
[05:00.40] Then he re-entered the room with a charming smile.
[05:04.89] Honored guests, he proclaimed.
[05:10.06] Good appetite to you all.
[05:16.95] What a dreadful shame our country's great hero Banquo cannot be with us.
[05:25.14] Surely he could not have deliberately let us down.
[05:29.26] Perhaps he has had difficulties.
[05:36.91] Do take a seat, please, your Highness, said Lennox.
[05:45.01] Macbeth scanned the room.
[05:48.58] Strange, but he could not see any empty chairs.
[05:54.18] Are the tables full, he remarked.
[05:59.12] Here's the place reserved, said Ross, Lady McDuff's cousin.
[06:05.14] Where? asked Macbeth.
[06:08.76] Here, my Lord, replied Ross.
[06:12.91] A cluster of noble hands indicated a vacant chair.
[06:20.77] Macbeth lept back in horror.
[06:24.62] Which of you have done this? he cried.
[06:29.92] Only I shared Macbeth's vision.
[06:34.72] Only I saw upon the chair the dreadful specter of Banquo, eyes dead, cut throat gaping.
[06:47.73] Saw him shake his matted locks at Macbeth as if to say, guilty.
[06:57.50] You can't say I did it, yelled Macbeth at the vision.
[07:05.27] An embarrassed silence filled the hall.
[07:09.91] Gentlemen, rise, said Lennox.
[07:13.74] His Highness is not well.
[07:17.23] No, no, no, cried Lady Macbeth.
[07:22.85] Stay in your seats, it'll be over in a moment.
[07:27.54] My Lord has had these fits since he was a child.
[07:33.67] Making a fuss about it will only make it worse.
[07:40.91] The guests seemed none too sure.
[07:44.24] Smiling calmly, Lady Macbeth swanned between them, ensuring their glasses were full.
[07:53.32] Eventually, they were all eating again.
[07:57.80] Lady Macbeth seized her husband's arm and led him aside.
[08:03.62] Pull yourself together, she hissed.
[08:08.59] With that in front of me, gasped Macbeth.
[08:16.24] Oh, nonsense, scolded Lady Macbeth.
[08:20.96] You're seeing things again, just like that stupid dagger you blabbed on about, for heaven's sake, it's only a chair.
[08:32.01] Are you blind, said Macbeth.
[08:36.86] The graves are spewing back the dead.
[08:42.83] He faced the vision again.
[08:45.75] Come on, you specter, he cried.
[08:49.61] You can nod, so let's hear you speak.
[08:54.89] Banquo rose and melted from the scene.
[09:00.24] So, where is this so-called specter? hissed Lady Macbeth.
[09:07.33] It was there, I tell you, protested Macbeth.
[09:12.79] It's gone now, has it? scoffed his wife.
[09:19.70] There was a time, mused Macbeth, that when you dashed a man's brains out, that was the end of him.
[09:29.29] Enough of this, replied Lady Macbeth.
[09:33.73] The noble lords are waiting.
[09:41.15] Macbeth took a deep breath and steadied himself.
[09:49.21] I'll be all right now, he said.
[09:52.63] Then turned to address the room.
[09:56.16] My sincere apologies, he proclaimed.
[10:03.17] I have this little ailment that troubles me occasionally.
[10:12.72] Those who know me well think nothing of it.
[10:16.45] Come, let's drink to everyone's health, then I'll take my seat.
[10:26.84] The guests relaxed again.
[10:29.76] A few laughed.
[10:32.56] Macbeth raised his goblet.
[10:36.94] I drink to the happiness of all, said Macbeth.
[10:42.28] And also our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss so greatly.
[10:49.43] Our pledge to the king, proclaimed the guests, raising their own goblets.
[10:56.95] At this, Macbeth flung his wine across the table, splattering the guests, the cloth, and half a dozen dinners.
[11:07.38] Go! Get out of my sight! he screamed.
[11:14.40] Banquo was back, and goier than before.
[11:19.37] Go!
[11:20.48] Let the earth hide thee, yelled Macbeth.
[11:26.14] Your blood is cold, your bones have no marrow.
[11:33.35] And those eyes, those glaring eyes, there is no mind behind them.
[11:45.30] The guests lowered their goblets.
[11:49.06] Lady Macbeth assured them it was just another little turn, but this time there was no stopping Macbeth.
[11:58.30] Come back as a bear, he cried, A tiger, a rhinoceros, anything but this dreadful vision.
[12:10.28] Macbeth's face, the face of the great battle hero, had become the face of a frightened child.
[12:20.02] Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Banquo was gone again.
[12:29.22] Well, said Lady Macbeth bitterly, you really have ruined this party now.
[12:38.74] Can you blame me? Macbeth asked, with a sight like that?
[12:45.74] What sight exactly? asked Ross gently.
[12:50.78] Enough, said Lady Macbeth.
[12:54.74] She addressed the room.
[12:57.38] Thank you, everybody, she said.
[13:01.95] You may leave now.
[13:06.93] Rather bewildered, and still hungry, the guests rose.
[13:17.49] I trust his majesty feels better soon, said Ross.
[13:22.84] Don't bother with the curtsies, snapped Lady Macbeth.
[13:27.30] Just go.
[13:33.35] The hall slowly emptied, leaving Macbeth and his wife amid the ruins of their great banquet.
[13:41.97] The murdered want my blood, murmured Macbeth.
[13:47.77] As the saying goes, blood will have blood.
[13:52.76] Be calm now, dearest, said Lady Macbeth.
[13:58.15] I trust nobody, continued Macbeth.
[14:04.39] Why wasn't McDuff here tonight?
[14:11.49] Have you contacted him? asked his wife.
[14:16.98] I'll send men tomorrow, replied Macbeth.
[14:21.99] And I'll visit the weird sisters at first light.
[14:26.06] I need to know what else I have to do.
[14:32.48] I've waited so far into this river of blood.
[14:38.51] It's easier to go further than turn back.
[14:46.71] You need to sleep, advised Lady Macbeth.
[14:53.18] I'm just not used to this bloody business, said Macbeth.
[15:01.48] But believe me, I will get better at it.
[15:09.43] By the time we finished, killing men will be like swatting flies.