Act 2 Scene 1

The following morning, Lady Macbeth wakes to a knock at the door.

Lady Macbeth: Enter!

Servant: A letter for you, Miss.

The servant hands her the letter and exits.

Lady Macbeth: A letter from my husband. [reading aloud] I am writing to you as I have startling news. Banquo and I were in the woods last night when three witches foretold that I shall become king! [to herself] How dare those witches tempt my husband with which they could not tempt me! [reading aloud] While this seems like great news, it comes from the damned. Banquo says it's ludicrous as I'm not an heir, so the only way I could be king is if I committed regicide. Though I laughed this off, I fear that their prophecy may come true.

She throws down the letter.

Lady Macbeth: As if those hags weren't enough, his moronic best friend puts the thought of murder in his mind. I must stop this! I must put an end to this at once -

She turns towards a mirror hanging on the wall.

Lady Macbeth: What's this I see? The mirror shows a crown on my head. Yet, I feel nothing where it lies. And as soon as I see it, it's gone! Was it ever really there? Have I gone mad?

She bends down to pick up the letter.

Lady Macbeth: What was once a letter from my husband, soft and white with black ink, has turned rough and black with red writing - signed from Ursula no less. [reading aloud] Think quickly, as your window to gain the throne is closing. You need not lay a finger on the king's head, only suggest so to your husband. You know as well as I, a clever girl such as yourself can bend his will in your favor. [to herself] First the mirror, now this - something magical and dark has entered my life, the life that I wished to change... Yet, when the opportunity is presented, I reject it. If Fate has revealed herself in the form of three cursed souls, who am I to turn from them? My husband is a great knight, who has killed many on the battlefield. What harm is there in him killing one more? One life, lived long and well, for another that has not yet achieved her dreams?

Act 2 Scene 2

By noon, Macbeth returns home.

Macbeth: Oh darling, whatever will I do? I have served the king many years now, and though he is no great king, he is no tyrant. He does not deserve my betrayal. Nonetheless, why should I believe a prophecy from the devil's whores?

Lady Macbeth: He may be no tyrant, but he isn't the king this country deserves. I say, my love, you deserve this throne as much as he does not deserve your betrayal, but the needs of the people outweigh one man's trust. Besides, this man has lived long enough. And devil-worshipers or not - they have access to truths we cannot dream of unearthing.

Macbeth: The agents of evil often tell us part of the truth in order to lead us to our destruction.

Macbeth shakes his head in frustration.

Macbeth: Besides nothing! We are talking about murder!

Lady Macbeth: It may seem abhorrent, but how many have you slaughtered in battle? Don't let your manhood fall now. Are you afraid of the king? Are you afraid of three old women?

Macbeth: Of course not! I just do not see how we could accomplish such a task.

She smirks.

Lady Macbeth: It is not so difficult. Tonight King Duncan and Prince Malcolm will celebrate your battalion's return. When he is weighed down with wine, you only need to stab him in his sleep and leave behind his son's handkerchief. All will think the son murdered him for his place at the throne, and no one will bat an eye at us.

Macbeth: I am so fortunate to have such an intelligent wife, but -

Lady Macbeth: But nothing, my husband, you are a man of great accomplishments. This small deed is worth the reward that will come.

Lady Macbeth kisses her husband, and with her kiss, he questions her no more.

Act 2 Scene 3

It is late in the evening. The party is over and the King is asleep in his chambers. Lady Macbeth and her husband lurk just outside his door.

Lady Macbeth: Quickly, before anyone sees!

Macbeth slips into the King's room with a dagger in his hand. Almost as soon as the door shuts, two guards come around the corner.

Guard 1: Lady Macbeth, what are you doing at this hour by the king's door?

Lady Macbeth: Oh, gentlemen. Well, I am, you see -

She fumbles with her hand, clearly fidgeting. She puts her hands into the pockets of her dress.

Lady Macbeth [to herself]: What's this? A dagger in my pocket? Where did this come from?

One of the guards clears their throat.

Guard 2: Why are you so nervous?

A shout is heard from within the room.

Guard 1: The king is in trouble!

They rush the door, but Lady Macbeth blocks them. They reach for their swords.

Lady Macbeth [to herself]: However the dagger got here doesn't matter. I need to stop them before they get to Macbeth!

She stabs the first guard. He falls onto the second guard.

Guard 2: What have you done!

As the guard tries to stand and grab for his weapon, Lady Macbeth slits his throat. Macbeth, blood on his hands, opens the door to find his wife, also covered in blood standing beside two dead men.

Macbeth: What on earth has happened? Oh dear God, we are doomed!

Macbeth starts to shake.

Lady Macbeth: We are not doomed so long as we work quickly. Did you do your part, did you leave the handkerchief?

Macbeth: Yes, yes, the cloth is just visible under his bed and the man is dead. Oh God, the king is dead. And I am his executioner!

Lady Macbeth slaps him across the face.

Lady Macbeth: Calm yourself! By now others must have heard this commotion. Help me grab these two and put them into this closet. We must get out of here!

They move the bodies in a nearby closet, hastily cleaning up the blood leading to it. They run to their room where they clean the blood from their own bodies. Moments after the last drop of evidence has been removed, they hear a knock at the door.

End of Act 2