Doctor

I’ve stayed up observing her with you for two nights, but I still haven’t seen anything to make me believe your report. When was the last time she was sleepwalking?

Gentlewoman

Ever since the king went off to battle, I’ve seen her get up, throw on her nightgown, unlock her cabinet, pull out some paper, fold it, write on it, read it, seal it closed, and then go back to bed. And all this while fast asleep!

Doctor

How unnatural, to get the benefit of sleeping, but perform actions as if she were awake! In this agitated sleep state, besides her walking around and doing things, what have you heard her say?

Gentlewoman

Things, sir, that I won’t repeat.

Doctor

You can repeat them to me, and it’s appropriate that you do so.

Gentlewoman

I won’t repeat them to you or anyone, since I don’t have a witness to back me up.

Look, here she comes! This is how she usually acts. And I swear on my life, she’s fast asleep. Watch her, keep out of sight.

Doctor

How did she get that light?

Gentlewoman

It was next to her. She has a light next to her at all times, by her orders.

Doctor

You see, her eyes are open.

Gentlewoman

Yes, but they don’t see anything.

Doctor

What’s she doing now? Look how she’s rubbing her hands together.

Gentlewoman

That’s a habit of hers, acting like she’s washing her hands. I’ve seen her do it for fifteen minutes at a time.

Lady Macbeth

There’s still a spot here.

Doctor

Listen, she’s talking. I’ll write down what she says, so that I can remember it better.

Lady Macbeth

Come out, damned spot! Come out, I say! ... One, two, [as if counting the clock bells] – well then, it’s time to do it. ... Hell is so dark! ... Shame on you, my lord, for shame! You’re a soldier, and you’re afraid? What do we need to be afraid of when no one dare accuse us? ... But who would have thought the old man could have so much blood in him.

Doctor

Did you hear that?

Lady Macbeth

The Lord of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? ... What, will these hands never be clean? ... No more of that, my husband, stop that. You’ll ruin everything by being so jittery.

Doctor

Come on now! You know things you shouldn’t.

Gentlewoman

She’s said things she shouldn’t have, I’m sure of that. Heaven knows what she has done.

Lady Macbeth

The smell of the blood’s still here. All the perfumes in Arabia could not make my hands smell sweet. Oh, oh, oh!

Doctor

What a sigh! Her heart is seriously troubled.

Gentlewoman

I wouldn’t want to have a heart like that, even if it meant I could be a queen.

Doctor

Well, well, well.

Gentlewoman

Pray God all will be well, sir.

Doctor

This illness is beyond anything I can treat. Still, I have known people who sleepwalked who have still died a natural death, pardoned of all their sins.

Lady Macbeth

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; don’t look so pale. ... I tell you again, Banquo's buried. He can’t come out of his grave.

Doctor

And what about that?

Lady Macbeth

To bed, to bed, there’s knocking at the gate … Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. ... To bed, to bed, to bed!  [Exit]

Doctor

Will she go to bed now?

Gentlewoman

Right away.

Doctor

There are nasty rumors going around. Doing unnatural acts can cause unnatural ailments. Diseased minds will tell their secrets to their pillows. She needs help from heaven, not from a doctor. God, God forgive us all! Look after her. Take away anything she could use to hurt herself, and keep your eyes on her. Well, good night. She’s baffled my mind and amazed my eyes. I know what she said, but I dare not say anything.

Gentlewoman

Good night, good doctor.