The two MURDERERS enter with a third MURDERER.
FIRST MURDERER
But who told you to come here and join us?
THIRD MURDERER
Macbeth.
SECOND MURDERER
We can trust this guy. He was given exactly the same orders we were.
FIRST MURDERER
Then stay with us. There's still a bit of daylight in the sky. Now all the late travellers are hurrying to reach their inns. Banquo is almost here.
THIRD MURDERER
Listen! I hear horses.
BANQUO
(from offstage) Hey, give us some light here!
SECOND MURDERER
That must be him. The rest of the king's guests are already inside.
FIRST MURDERER
You can hear his horses moving around as the servants take them to the stables.
THIRD MURDERER
It's almost a mile to the palace gate, but Banquo, like everybody else, usually walks from here to the palace.
BANQUO and FLEANCE enter with a torch.
SECOND MURDERER
Here comes a light! Here comes a light!
THIRD MURDERER
That's him.
FIRST MURDERER
Prepare yourselves.
BANQUO
It will rain tonight.
FIRST MURDERER
Then let the rain come down.
The MURDERERS attack BANQUO.
BANQUO
Oh, this is treachery! Get out of here, good Fleance, run, run, run! Someday you can get revenge.—Oh, you bastard!
BANQUO dies. FLEANCE escapes.
THIRD MURDERER
Who put out the light?
FIRST MURDERER
Wasn't that the best thing to do?
THIRD MURDERER
There's only one body here. The son ran away.
SECOND MURDERER
We failed in half of our mission.
FIRST MURDERER
Well, let's get out of here and tell Macbeth what we did accomplish.
They exit.