[00:00.28] Chapter 9.
[00:01.30] More plots, more prophecies.
[00:03.44] Ha!
[00:04.92] How I laughed to see Macbeth fawned on and flattered by the Scottish lords.
[00:10.45] I had heard their mutterings, you see, moans of discontent which babbled down the streams and wailed through the trees.
[00:18.05] Macbeth was a tyrant.
[00:20.71] Macbeth ruled by fear alone.
[00:24.81] Was it so hard to believe that he murdered Duncan or Banquo his closest ally?
[00:31.79] A man, perhaps, who knew too much.
[00:39.45] So, McDuff was missing from the feast.
[00:44.39] I scanned the sister's glass hungrily for signs of his presence.
[00:49.68] There he was, with Macbeth's messengers refusing to see the king.
[00:55.79] There he was again, on his horse, riding like a man possessed.
[01:01.89] There he was a third time with Prince Malcolm at the court of King Edward of England.
[01:10.77] Macbeth was right to fear McDuff.
[01:14.65] McDuff was plotting rebellion.
[01:18.92] If he could get the English lords on Prince Malcolm's side, they would have a force to be reckoned with.
[01:28.46] Now, however, it was time for me to sink back into the shadows.
[01:33.51] The weird sisters were back with a fire, a cauldron, and a recipe from hell.
[01:42.52] Round about the cauldron go, sang Cat.
[01:46.83] In the poisoned entrails throw.
[01:50.99] A stinking armful of goats' innards were flung into the pot.
[01:56.47] Double, double, toil and trouble, all three sang together.
[02:02.07] Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
[02:06.83] Next it was Hedgehog's turn.
[02:10.63] Fillet of a fenny snake, she sang.
[02:15.93] In the cauldron boil and bake.
[02:19.95] Eye of nut and toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dog.
[02:27.53] The foul ingredients dropped, plop, plop, plop into the pot.
[02:34.39] Double, double, toil and trouble, came the chorus.
[02:39.04] Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
[02:42.84] Harpy came third, eyes rolling, feet frenzied.
[02:48.96] Cool it with a baboon's blood, she sang.
[02:52.65] Then the charm is firm and good.
[02:56.49] Harpy burst a pig's bladder against the pot, and blood gushed out like a red and putrid river.
[03:04.54] The weird sisters clapped and pranced and laughed like drains.
[03:09.40] Suddenly, Hedgehog called for hush.
[03:13.71] By the pricking of my thumbs, she hissed.
[03:18.37] Something wicked this way comes.
[03:23.89] All was still, but for the slow bubble of the pot.
[03:28.46] A man's footsteps approached.
[03:31.84] Out of the secret mist of morning appeared Macbeth.
[03:37.56] He winced at the stench from the cauldron and half turned his eyes from the mad eyed bearded women.
[03:46.17] How now, you secret, foul and midnight hags, he pronounced.
[03:54.03] What is it that you do?
[03:56.95] Nothing you could name, replied the three together.
[04:02.96] I have more questions for you, said Macbeth.
[04:07.84] Ask away, croaked Cat.
[04:11.17] You will have your answers, added Hedgehog.
[04:16.13] Would you rather they came from our mouths, asked Harpy, or in visions from the other side.
[04:24.84] Show me the visions, replied Macbeth.
[04:29.96] This answer pleased the weird sisters.
[04:33.17] Come flames, they cried.
[04:36.21] Take this, the grease from a murderer's brow as he sweated his last seconds on the scaffold.
[04:44.69] At this, a pungent oil was flung into the fire.
[04:49.28] There was a flash, a cloud of smoke, and a gasp from Macbeth.
[04:56.09] Above the cauldron hung a severed head in warrior's helmet, the head of Macbeth.
[05:05.88] Tell me, thou unknown power, began Macbeth.
[05:10.43] Hush!
[05:11.87] cried Harpy.
[05:13.47] He knows thy thought.
[05:16.95] Hear his speech, but say naught.
[05:21.75] The mouth of the head opened.
[05:24.92] Macbeth, it called in harsh and urgent tones, beware McDuff, the thing of Fife.
[05:35.19] McDuff, cried Macbeth.
[05:39.57] I knew as much.
[05:41.80] One more question.
[05:45.69] He will not be commanded, cried Harpy, and sure enough, the vision faded.
[05:52.46] Here's another, more telling than the first, croaked Hedgehog.
[05:57.80] There was a clap of thunder, and the gruesome specter of a bloody child appeared above the cauldron.
[06:06.10] Macbeth, Macbeth!
[06:10.92] It cried in a shrill, unearthly whale.
[06:15.92] For pity's sake, I hear you well enough, splattered Macbeth.
[06:22.00] Be bloody and bold, cried the vision.
[06:27.25] Laugh in the faces of your rivals, for no man born from a woman shall harm you.
[06:38.09] The bloody child vanished, leaving Macbeth with a grim smile.
[06:44.60] Ha, he muttered to himself.
[06:48.48] No need to fear McDuff then.
[06:53.38] The thunder rolled again.
[06:55.71] A third vision rose from the sister's brew.
[06:59.88] It was a young man with a tree in his hand and a royal crown upon his head.
[07:07.43] Who are you that dare to wear my crown?
[07:12.62] demanded Macbeth.
[07:15.93] Listen, but speak not, barked Harpy.
[07:21.47] The crowned youth spoke.
[07:25.55] Macbeth shall never be defeated, he stated, till Burnham wood shall come to Dunsinane.
[07:38.70] Macbeth's smile returned.
[07:42.76] Burnham wood come to Dunsinane, he laughed.
[07:47.16] What?
[07:47.96] And walk 12 miles.
[07:51.77] That would be a sight, trees picking up their roots and walking.
[07:57.69] He grew serious.
[08:00.75] Now tell me, he demanded.
[08:05.27] Shall Banquo's heirs ever reign?
[08:08.83] No questions, screamed the sisters.
[08:15.08] Damn you, I demand to know, cried Macbeth.
[08:21.75] Suddenly there was a chorus of trumpets.
[08:25.32] The cauldron sank into the earth, pale smoke filled the air, and the weird sisters stretched out their arms and shrieked.
[08:36.31] Show his eyes and pain his heart.
[08:42.57] Come like shadows, like shadows depart.
[08:48.70] Out of the smoke stepped one king, then another, then another.
[08:56.12] Every single one had the look of Banquo about them.
[09:00.22] The line went on and on and on, ignoring the shouts and curses from Macbeth, till at last there stood Banquo, a grin of triumph across his bloody face.
[09:13.89] And then, they were gone.
[09:19.20] Macbeth, cackled Cat.
[09:22.18] Why look so amazed?
[09:26.31] Come on, sisters, cried Hedgehog.
[09:30.04] Let's cheer his spirits.
[09:34.98] The sisters began a wild and mocking dance, stroking their bony fingers through Macbeth's hair.
[09:43.69] Macbeth shook them off angrily and stormed from the scene, only to walk straight into Lennox.
[09:50.24] Lennox, he snapped.
[09:53.45] What are you doing here?
[09:56.76] Did you see anything?
[10:01.54] Nothing, my Lord, replied Lennox.
[10:07.93] Macbeth wheeled around.
[10:11.97] The sisters were gone, and their cauldron with them.
[10:16.46] We have just had word, continued Lennox, that McDuff has fled to England.
[10:26.84] It was the last thing Macbeth wanted to hear.
[10:30.70] Grim faced, he dismissed Lennox and addressed himself to the empty heath.
[10:38.64] I should have acted sooner, he hissed.
[10:44.12] From now on I will waste no time thinking.
[10:49.95] And the first thing I will do is to kill every living being related to the traitorous McDuff.