DAVINA: Hello, your highness. Thank you for taking the time. 

MACBETH: Sure. Can we move this along? I need to visit the witches. 

DAVINA: Right, of course. I have information about that, actually. 

[THUNDER RUMBLING] 

DAVINA: Whoa, what the—

MACBETH: You said you have information? 

DAVINA: Yes, but just to remind our audience, when we last saw you, you were pretty upset about the appearance of Banquo's ghost at the feast you hosted. 

MACBETH: Yeah, whatever. I'm over that now. 

DAVINA: And it was there that you decided that you would visit the witches again. 

MACBETH: I need the kind of knowledge they have. 

DAVINA: Knowledge about the future? 

MACBETH: Yes. Even if it has to come from the devil himself. And you said you have information about that meeting? I'm able to find them again? 

DAVINA: You are. You find them in a cavern of some kind, the three of them gathered around a boiling cauldron. 

MACBETH: What is it they're doing? 

DAVINA: A deed without a name, they say. 

MACBETH: I need them to listen to me. And I need them to know I'm serious. Tell them that I charge them, in the name of whatever power they serve, to give me answers. I don't care if it means the whole world falls apart in the process, they must answer the questions I ask. 

DAVINA: Well, let's see. That's fine with them. Ask away. But they ask if you want to hear the answers from them or from the masters they serve. 

MACBETH: Yes. Call them. Call their masters. 

DAVINA: Are you sure about this? 

MACBETH: I want to see them. 

DAVINA: Okay, let's see. Well, I guess to make that happen, they throw some stuff on the fire. Oh, right. Okay, here it is. First, some blood from a pig who's eaten her own piglets—ugh—nine of them to be exact. Oh, and some grease that has oozed out of a murderer who has been hung for his crimes. Can that happen? Does grease ooze out of people after they die? 

[THUNDER] 

DAVINA: Ah, geez, do we really have to hear that? 

MACBETH: It must be working. 

DAVINA: Well, yes. I mean, something's happening. It says here there's an apparition. You see the image of an armed head. Does that mean, like, arms coming out of a head? 

MACBETH: No, no, no. It probably means that it's wearing a crown or something. I will speak to it. 

DAVINA: Let's see. No need. The witches tell you that the apparitions know your thoughts. You need to just listen and not say anything. 

MACBETH: I'm listening. 

DAVINA: Oh, right. Sorry. You hear, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth. Beware Macduff. Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me enough. And then it disappears. 

MACBETH: Hm. I'm thankful for the warning. That's exactly what I've been worried about. 

DAVINA: That you should watch out for Macduff? 

MACBETH: I have a question, though. 

DAVINA: Nope, sorry. Questions aren't allowed. You know, I think that's a bad sign right there. Do you really want to trust a source of information that you can't question? 

[THUNDER RUMBLING] 

DAVINA: Come on, really? Can't I just say thunder? 

MACBETH: That must mean another apparition. 

DAVINA: Yes, that's right. This one is a bloody child. And it says, be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. 

MACBETH: I'm sorry, I know I can't ask the apparitions questions, but could you just repeat that last part again? For none of woman—

DAVINA: For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. 

MACBETH: Wow. So you know what that means, right? 

DAVINA: Well, actually, it could mean a few different things. 

MACBETH: Oh, come on. That's pretty clear. None of woman born shall harm Macbeth. No one can kill me. So let Macduff live. What should I be afraid of him for? But just to make sure, I'll kill him anyway, as insurance. Then I can really rest easy. 

DAVINA: Right. Or as you put it, that I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, and sleep in spite of thunder. 

[THUNDER] 

DAVINA: Okay, I should have seen that one coming. 

MACBETH: That means another apparition. 

DAVINA: Yes. Let's see. This time it's a child wearing a crown and holding a tree in his hand. And this one says, be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him. 

MACBETH: Oh, my goodness. This could not be going better. 

DAVINA: I'm not sure I understand what they're saying. 

MACBETH: Well, that's because it kind of doesn't make sense. But that's the point. They like to speak in riddles like this. Dunsinane is where I live, in a castle on a hill. Across the valley, there's a forest, Birnam Wood. Well, the apparition just said that Macbeth will never be vanquished until the wood, the one across the valley, comes to Dunsinane, my castle on the hill. 

DAVINA: But how would that happen? 

MACBETH: Exactly. It's basically impossible. Trees don't move. They're fixed to the earth. This is such a relief. I'm going to live out my days and die a natural death. I can finally relax. Except one thing. 

DAVINA: Oh, come on. Don't you want to actually relax? Maybe just for a minute first? 

MACBETH: There's just one other thing. Will Banquo's descendants ever rule in this kingdom? 

DAVINA: Why would you worry about that? You just said you can finally relax. 

MACBETH: Come on. I want to ask. 

DAVINA: Okay, well, oops. Afraid not. They say seek to know no more, though I guess that's more like advice. And maybe you should take it. 

MACBETH: I will be satisfied. If they don't tell me this, then I curse them. 

DAVINA: Are you sure you want to threaten witches with a curse? 

MACBETH: I want to know. 

DAVINA: All right. Cue the thunder. Really? Oh, right. No thunder this time, just—oboes? Yup, it says oboes. You hear oboes playing. This is getting weirder by the second. And then the witches say, show his eyes and grieve his heart. 

MACBETH: Whatever. Tell me what I see. 

DAVINA: It's a kind of parade, I think, a parade of kings. The first one resembles Banquo. 

MACBETH: Oh, no Then it's true. His descendants will be kings. 

DAVINA: The second one resembles Banquo, too. 

MACBETH: Okay, I get the point. We can stop now. 

DAVINA: Sorry, I'm getting kind of curious here. Yup, a third one looking similar to Banquo. 

MACBETH: Filthy hags. 

DAVINA: Wait. Isn't this the information you asked for? 

MACBETH: What, does the line go out to Judgment Day? 

DAVINA: Let's see. A seventh. 

MACBETH: Never mind. Forget I asked. 

DAVINA: An eighth, holding a mirror—that's strange—in which you see many more. And finally—sorry about this—the bloody ghost of Banquo himself, smiling as he points at all the rest. And then they all vanish. 

MACBETH: So it's true. 

DAVINA: I guess. I mean, the witches say it's true, but you know, they're witches. We should probably keep that in mind. Oh, and they perform a song and dance to try and cheer you up. Is it working? 

MACBETH: Let this be marked as one of the worst days of my life. 

DAVINA: I wish I knew why this Banquo business bothers you so much. No? Well, then, the witches vanish, too. 

MACBETH: Tell Lennox to come in. 

DAVINA: Lennox? Has he been waiting outside the cavern this whole time? What do you know? He pops right in when you call him. 

MACBETH: Did he see the Weird Sisters? 

DAVINA: No, he didn't. 

MACBETH: They didn't go past him when they left? 

DAVINA: Nope. 

MACBETH: Well, curse the air they ride on. And damn all those who trust them. 

DAVINA: See, now, that's a little confusing to me. If it's just about knowing the future, how can you love them when they give you good news and then curse them when you don't like it? 

MACBETH: I thought I heard horses, too. Did somebody come by? 

DAVINA: Well, yes. Lennox says news arrived that Macduff has fled to England. 

MACBETH: Fled to England? 

DAVINA: That's what it says here. 

MACBETH: Just when I planned to kill him. You know, intentions appear in an instant. The action should come just as fast. From this moment, the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand. And even now, to crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done. The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to the edge of the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls who trace him in his line. 

DAVINA: Did you just say you're going to kill everyone in Macduff's household just because you can't kill Macduff? 

MACBETH: No boasting like a fool. This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. 

DAVINA: So you're to the point that you'll do this horrible thing just because you feel like it? 

MACBETH: I'm done with this witchcraft business. I want to go talk to the gentleman who brought me the news about Macduff. 

DAVINA: Well, I certainly can't keep you here. Thanks for your time.