Act 3 Scene 1

The witches surround a crystal ball that shows Lady Macbeth and her husband cleaning the blood off their hands.

Ursula: Look, sisters, our plan is going quite well. That was quick thinking of you, Lilith, to put a crown in Lady Macbeth’s reflection.

Lilith: But all the praise goes to you, giving her that dagger at the last moment!

Medea: She was all too quick to kill the guards. Her love for her husband is almost as great as her desire for the throne.

Ursula: Yes, this is all so deliciously evil. Our dark lord will be proud. However, our work is not over yet. Look! The crystal shows someone knocks at their door…

Act 3 Scene 2

Macbeth opens the door to Banquo.

Banquo: Oh, horror, horror, horror! This is beyond words and beyond belief! The king has been found, stabbed in his room!

Macbeth: Say it isn’t so! The man I have served for so many years lives no more?

Banquo: I am filled with dread as I say, it's true; King Duncan is dead. And the suspected murderer is almost worse than the crime itself - his son, Malcolm, is believed to be the killer.

Lady Macbeth: No, that’s impossible!

Banquo: It may not be so impossible, as his handkerchief was found in a puddle of the king’s blood. He’s being taken to the dungeon now.

Macbeth: The graceful and renowned king is dead. The wine of life has been poured out, and poured out by the life of one he created. Oh, what a dark time we live in.

Banquo: A dark time indeed.

Banquo exits.

Macbeth: It's a dark time, a dark time we have created!

Lady Macbeth: Guilt will do you no good. What's done is done and we only need to move forward.

Macbeth: I fear we are not moving forward, but down into the depths of hell.

Act 3 Scene 3

The following morning. Macbeth is gone being coronated as king while Lady Macbeth sits in the throne room.

Lady Macbeth [to herself]: As I sit on this throne, I recall those weird women asked me to help them bring a friend home. They said in repayment they would make me queen. Yet here I sit, queen, having not lifted a finger for them. [to the servant] Bring me some white wine.

The servant exits.

Lady Macbeth: Through no acts of those witches did I become queen, so through no acts of my own will I help them bring home this friend - whoever they may be.

The servant returns distraught with a barrel and a glass of wine, spilling some on the ground.

Servant: Malcolm has escaped!

Lady Macbeth [to herself]: His departure could spell the end of my newfound reign. [to the servant] I must notify Macbeth! Bring me a pen and paper. [speaking to herself as she writes] Darling, it seems our scapegoat has grown wings and flown the coop. I suspect he shall fly to his uncle Macduff’s castle. Send assassins and tie up this loose end. [to the servant] Here, send this immediately!

The servant exits. Lady Macbeth takes up her glass.

Lady Macbeth: How did he escape? I fear there is a traitor in our midst…

Lady Macbeth takes a sip of her wine, suddenly spitting it out.

Lady Macbeth: While I asked for sweet white wine, and it looked so a moment ago, it's now red and tastes bitter as copper.

Lady Macbeth looks into the barrel.

Lady Macbeth: As I saw a crown that wasn’t there, I see now in this barrel a vision that cannot be true. The red reflection is of Banquo! He is setting Malcolm free. What’s that Banquo’s saying?

She pauses, listening.

Lady Macbeth: He suspects Macbeth may have killed the king!

She pulls from her pocket the same dagger she used to kill the guards, looking at it.

Lady Macbeth: Banquo, so dear to my husband, will doom us all if I do not stop him.

Act 3 Scene 4

Dusk. Lady Macbeth visits Banquo, alone in his chambers.

Lady Macbeth: Banquo, I am so terribly frightened.

Banquo: What brings you distress?

Lady Macbeth: I fear Macbeth may have killed the king. Now that the prince has fled, I fear he may be next!

Banquo: I did not wish to speak before, but now I must let you know; I freed Malcolm because I suspect the same of Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth: What a sorrowful day this is, to mistrust the man we love so dearly. I suspected him from some of his erratic behavior I witnessed behind closed doors, but what makes you suspicious?

Banquo: I foolishly pointed out after the prophecy from those witches that the only way Macbeth would be king is if the king were murdered. Now look what happened the following night!

Lady Macbeth: If my husband is the murderer, I fear for his return. If he's not, then my fear is now. Won’t you sleep in his chambers tonight? I would feel much safer if you were in the room next to mine.

Banquo: But of course.

Lady Macbeth: Good, I will have the servant prepare the room at once. Now, let's go eat dinner.

They exit.

Act 3 Scene 5

Midnight. Lady Macbeth stands alone outside Macbeth’s chambers where Banquo sleeps.

She opens the door. Banquo is asleep. She jumps on top of him and covers his mouth with her hand.

Lady Macbeth: Think you will be my undoing? Think again. I shan't let you ruin all I have worked for!

Banquo's screams are muffled under her hand. She cuts his throat.

Lady Macbeth: All will think Malcolm escaped by his own means. They’ll think he meant to kill my husband, not knowing Macbeth was away and that Banquo was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She tosses the dagger onto the floor and exits.

End of Act 3