track8

It is a cold and rainy day in Scotland about a thousand years ago.

Duncan, King of Scotland, is waiting in his camp to hear about the battle.

Things are going very bad.

The King of Norway wants to take Scotland.

His soldiers are strong, and they're killing Scottish soldiers.

Duncan is afraid.

Suddenly, his Scottish soldier comes into the camp in front of the king.

He is tired and dirty from the battle, and there is blood on his face.

My lord, he says it once.

The Norwegian general is dead.

The Norwegian soldiers are running away.

Scotland is free once again.

That's wonderful, says King Duncan.

He stands up.

I want to meet that brave soldier.

Who is that brave general?

His name is Macbeth, and he's not a general, my lord.

He's only a simple soldier.

Macbeth is tired.

He is walking slowly to King Duncan's camp with his friend Bonco.

What a long battle, says Macbeth.

A lot of our friends are dead, says Bonco, but the Norwegian soldiers are going home,

and they're never coming back.

Suddenly three witches appear in front of them.

Who are you?

What are you doing, ask Bonco?

They don't speak to him, but they look at Macbeth.

Macbeth, cry the witches.

Well, at how do you know my name?

Macbeth asks.

The witches speak again, all at the same time.

Macbeth, the soldier.

Macbeth, the general.

Macbeth, the king.

General, king?

What are these women talking about?

Macbeth asks Bonco.

I'm a soldier, nothing more.

Is this true, Bonco asked them?

Can you see into the future?

Speak to me.

What can you tell me?

The witches look at him.

Bonco, the father of kings.

Who are you, ask Macbeth?

Tell us more.

But suddenly the witches disappear.

Macbeth and Bonco look everywhere, but there's nobody around.

Macbeth and Bonco arrive at King Duncan's camp.

King Duncan is very happy.

He looks at Macbeth's face and proudly says,

Well done, Macbeth.

You are now the general of the Scottish army.

Macbeth, the bravest man in Scotland, everybody cries.

But Macbeth and Bonco stand quietly and think about the three witches' words.

Macbeth, the soldier.

Macbeth, the general.

Macbeth, the king.

At Macbeth's home, his wife, Lady Macbeth, is waiting for her husband.

But only a letter arrives.

It is a long letter from her husband.

She reads all about the battle and the words of the witches.

Lady Macbeth is excited.

My husband is now a general and is going to be...

I want to be queen of Scotland, she thinks.

The witches are right, my husband is going to be king.

Nothing can stop us.

She continues reading her husband's letter.

King Duncan is coming to stay with us soon.

His son Malcolm is coming too, and Bonco and Macduff.

Please get ready.

Lady Macbeth is very excited.

King Duncan, in our house, good.

He's king now and things are going to change.

A few days later, Macbeth arrives home.

His wife is very happy to see him.

She begins to talk about their future.

You're going to be king of Scotland and we're going to be rich and happy, she says.

What are you talking about, Macbeth cries?

How can I be king?

Scotland has a king.

Listen, you're a soldier and you often kill men in battles, says his wife.

King Duncan is coming here tonight.

What are you saying, ask Macbeth?

You must be brave.

Remember the witches?

Duncan must die here in our house.

What's the matter?

Are you afraid?

That evening King Duncan arrives at Macbeth's house with his son Malcolm and with Bonco.

What a beautiful house, says King Duncan.

Yes, my lord, and the garden is wonderful too, says Bonco.

It is a sunny afternoon and they walk slowly past the trees and flowers to Macbeth's door.

Lady Macbeth comes out of the house.

Thank you for visiting us, my lord.

We're very happy to see you.

Lady Macbeth says the king warmly.

How are you?

And where is your husband, the general?

Is he well?

Lady Macbeth smiles.

Yes, my lord, he's waiting to meet you.

Please come in.

He's a brave man, you know, says King Duncan.

Scotland is free once more and we must thank your husband for that.

In the evening they all sit at a big table.

The king, Malcolm, Macbeth, and his wife, Bonco, and all their friends.

They all eat, drink wine, talk, and laugh.

But Macbeth leaves the room early.

His wife comes out to find him.

I can't do it, says Macbeth.

I can't kill Duncan.

He's our king and he's a good man.

Let's forget about it.

What, cries Lady Macbeth angrily?

Remember the witches?

You're going to be king.

Do you want to wait for years and years?

Are you a man?

Or are you afraid?

Of course I'm not afraid, but things can always go wrong.

Nothing could go wrong.

Listen, Duncan has two servants.

Tonight I'm going to give them a lot of wine.

When they're sleeping, you can go into Duncan's room.

You must use their knives, do you understand?

Yes, and we could put blood on the servants' hands, says Macbeth.

That's right, says Lady Macbeth.

Now you see that bell over there?

Tonight when everything is ready, I'm going to ring it.

Be brave, my husband.

It is late at night.

It is dark in the house.

But Macbeth is not in bed.

He is downstairs.

Suddenly he hears a noise.

Who's there?

He calls.

It's me, answers Bonco.

It's late, and I'm going to bed.

Me too, says Macbeth.

Do you remember those three women?

Which woman?

Oh, those three?

No, I never think about them.

Good, it's best to forget about them.

Good night, Macbeth.

Good night, Bonco.

It is after midnight.

Everyone in the house is in bed.

But downstairs Macbeth waits and waits.

I can see something, he said.

Is it a dagger?

It's there in front of my eyes.

He puts his hand out.

I can see it, but I can't take it in my hand.

What's happening?

Am I imagining things?

Suddenly he hears a noise.

It is the bell.

No more words, he thinks.

It's time to do it.

Duncan must die.