Macbeth

In the Scottish court, King Duncan is rehashing a recent battle with his sons and other noblemen. He’s hoping a wounded Captain can give him the scoop on what went down on the battlefield. The captain tells them that “brave Macbeth” and Banquo were the heroes of the hour, and then he's promptly hauled off to the doctor. In walk Ross and Angus, two Scottish nobles (also known as thanes). Ross brings another tale of Macbeth’s battle skills: apparently he bested the King of Norway, who was being helped by the traitorous Thane of Cawdor.

Three witches enter the scene with a creepy fanfare of thunder and lightning. The first witch asks when they’ll all three meet again, and the second and third agree to meet on the heath after “the battle’s lost and won," but before sunset. It turns out they’ll have another in the party: none other than Macbeth.