RALPH: Welcome back to the studio, Banquo. 

BANQUO: Thanks for having me. 

RALPH: And this must be your son, Fleance. Nice to meet you. 

FLEANCE: Nice to meet you too, Ralph. 

RALPH: So, here we are. It's late at night at the Macbeth castle and the party's over. 

BANQUO: Just how late is it anyway? You know? 

FLEANCE: I know the moon has gone down, but I haven't had the clock, though. 

BANQUO: Well, normally the moon goes down around midnight. 

FLEANCE: So it must be later than that. 

BANQUO: Do you mind taking this for me? I'm so tired. 

RALPH: Yes. A heavy summons lies like lead upon you, you say. So, why not just go to bed, get some sleep? And why are you carrying that sword around? 

BANQUO: I don't dare sleep. There's certain thoughts I don't want to have, and I can keep from thinking about them if I stay awake. As soon as I go to sleep, they come right back. 

RALPH: Bad dreams, huh? This has to do with the meeting that you had with the weird sisters. It seems to have really unsettled both you and Macbeth. But what are the cursed thoughts in your case? Didn't they just predict that you would be father to kings? What cursed thoughts come from that? 

BANQUO: Who's there? 

RALPH: Is there someone there? You seem a little nervous. And why are you carrying around a sword when you're safely within Macbeth's walls? 

BANQUO: Is someone here? 

RALPH: Oh. That's right, actually. Macbeth and a servant appear. 

BANQUO: Macbeth and a servant? 

RALPH: That's right. 

BANQUO: So he's not in bed either. Well, this is awkward. I should tell him that it was quite a party. The king has gone to bed quite happy. 

RALPH: Yes, well, Macbeth says that the arrangements were put together at the last minute but they managed to pull it off. 

BANQUO: You know what? I should also tell them I had another dream about the weird sisters. 

RALPH: Yes. Well, you two did say that you'd talk about it more later. 

BANQUO: They have showed some truth. 

RALPH: You mean that Macbeth is now Thane of Cawdor, and you're thinking that maybe their other predictions will come true as well. 

BANQUO: What does he say when I mention the weird sisters? How does he react? 

RALPH: He says he hasn't thought about them at all, which seems really hard to believe. But he says he'd like to talk about it sometime soon, if you're willing. 

BANQUO: Sure. Whatever he wants. 

RALPH: And then he says—and maybe you can help me with this one—"if you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis." 

BANQUO: You know, cleave to his consent—if I will follow his lead when the time comes. 

RALPH: When what time comes? The time when you two talk? Or is he referring to something else? 

BANQUO: What's the rest? 

RALPH: Let's see. It shall make honor for you. So, "if you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis, it shall make honor for you." So if you follow his lead, when the time comes, you'll gain honor from it. Doesn't sound like he's referring to the conversation you'll be having. It sounds like he wants you to read between the lines. 

BANQUO: Yes, well, two can play at that game. Tell him, as long as I don't lose honor in trying to gain more honor, as long as I can keep my conscience and my allegiance clear, then I'll be happy to follow his lead, as you say. 

RALPH: What are you two talking about exactly? 

BANQUO: How does he reply to what I say? 

RALPH: Well, he says, I hope you can get some sleep. 

BANQUO: Okay. Well, audience over, I suppose. Tell him I hope he can get some sleep, too. 

RALPH: Well, it sounds like everybody's headed to bed. Thanks for joining us, gentlemen. I really hope you can get some sleep. 

FLEANCE: But I'm not tired. 

RALPH: Well, you want to take a tour of the studio? 

FLEANCE: That sounds good.