RALPH: Thanks for joining us, Malcolm. I know it's very early in the morning. 

MALCOLM: Never mind that. What's all the commotion? The bells have been ringing. 

RALPH: Yes. Well, I suppose I should get right to the point. You and your brother Donalbain are headed for the courtyard where you find the Macbeth's and Macduff and Lennox and Banquo. 

MALCOLM: So early in the morning? Something must be wrong. 

RALPH: Yes. Well, that's exactly what your brother asks. And Macduff breaks the news that—well, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you here, your father has been murdered. 

MALCOLM: Oh. By whom? 

RALPH: I'm sorry. This must be horrible to hear. And there must be a lot going through your mind right now. I'm sure our audience remembers that just yesterday your father announced that you, Malcolm, his eldest son, would be heir to the throne when he dies. Is that something you're thinking about right now? 

MALCOLM: By whom? 

RALPH: I'm sorry? Oh, you mean who killed him. Are you already thinking about who might have done this? 

MALCOLM: By whom? 

RALPH: Oh, well, let's see. Oh, yes. Lennox reports that it looks like Duncan's guards did it. He says they were covered with blood and had bloody daggers on their pillows. And then Macbeth tells everybody that he killed the guards on the spot. He says he couldn't help himself. He loved your dad so much. And then Lady Macbeth cries for help. She seems to be getting faint. And suddenly, all eyes are on her. 

MALCOLM: Why aren't my brother and I saying anything? We're his sons. No one has more at stake in this than we do, and yet we hold our tongues. 

RALPH: Yes, well, while everyone's attending to Lady Macbeth, that's exactly what you say to your brother. But he says it's probably best to be silent right now. He seems to think the murder of your father means something for the two of you, and that it might come rushing at you before you are ready for it. 

MALCOLM: He makes a good point. 

RALPH: Besides, you've hardly had time even for your tears to form, as he puts it. 

MALCOLM: Not to mention turning our sorrow into action. 

RALPH: Well, at any rate, the pressure is off right now to say anything more, because Banquo suggests that everybody take some time to pull themselves together and get properly dressed, and then you can all meet again. Everybody agrees to the plan. 

MALCOLM: So they've all left to get ready? 

RALPH: That's right. And now you and your brother are alone. 

MALCOLM: What will he do? I don't think we can stay here, or even go to this meeting. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office which the false man does easy. 

RALPH: I see. So you think there could be a traitor in the group, and that it's easy for someone who is already a traitor to pretend to be upset about your father's murder. You won't know who to trust. 

MALCOLM: I'll go to England. 

RALPH: Ah, right. And your brother says he'll go to Ireland. I guess splitting up could help protect you. Our separated fortune shall keep us both safer, he says. There's daggers in men's smiles, he adds. So I guess he agrees with you that you can't trust the others who are here. And then he says—and maybe you can help me with this—the near in blood, the nearer bloody. 

MALCOLM: Exactly. We are our father's sons. 

RALPH: I see. Blood relatives. So you two are near in blood to your father. 

MALCOLM: And therefore the nearer bloody. 

RALPH: Oh, dear. Right. The closer the relationship to Duncan, the closer you are to danger yourselves. 

MALCOLM: This murderous shaft that shot hath not yet lighted. 

RALPH: So you think that whatever plan it was that had your father murdered is now headed at the two of you. 

MALCOLM: And our safest way is to avoid the aim. 

RALPH: So it's better to just try to get out of its way. 

MALCOLM: Therefore, to horse. 

RALPH: Like, right now? You're going to get on your horses immediately? 

MALCOLM: And let us not be dainty of leave taking, but shift away. 

RALPH: So you're not even going to say goodbye to people, just slip out of town? Do you think that people will understand why you're doing this? I mean, the ones who aren't out to get you. 

MALCOLM: There's warranty in that theft which steals itself when there's no mercy left. 

RALPH: I see. So it's not a crime to steal away if you can't trust the people you're with. 

MALCOLM: Perhaps we'll meet again some day, Ralph. 

RALPH: I hope so. Good luck in England. 

MALCOLM: Is my horse being brought here, then? 

RALPH: Oh, no. It must be out front. Just let's look at the camera for a second here.