A DOCTOR and a waiting- GENTLEWOMAN
*The waiting-gentlewoman is an upperclass woman whose job is to wait on the queen.
GENTLEWOMAN enter.
DOCTOR
I've stayed up with you for two nights now, and I haven't seen any evidence of what you were talking about. When was the last time you saw her sleepwalking?
GENTLEWOMAN
Since Macbeth went to war, I have seen her rise from her bed, put on her nightgown, unlock her closet, take out some paper, fold it, write on it, read it, seal it up, and then return to bed, remaining asleep the entire time.
DOCTOR
It's unnatural to be asleep and act as if you're awake. When she is like this, besides walking and performing various activities, have you heard her say anything?
GENTLEWOMAN
She says something, sir, but I will not repeat it to you.
DOCTOR
You can tell me. You really should.
GENTLEWOMAN
I will not confess it to you nor to anyone else, because there was no one else to witness her speech.
LADY MACBETH enters, holding a candle.
Look, here she comes! This is exactly how she always looks, and—I swear it—she is fast asleep. Watch her. Keep hidden.
DOCTOR
How did she get that candle?
GENTLEWOMAN
It stands by her bedside. She always has to have a light next to her. Those are 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 rubs her hands.
GENTLEWOMAN
She often does that. She looks like she's washing her hands. I've seen her do that before for as long as fifteen minutes.
LADY MACBETH
There's still a spot here.
DOCTOR
Listen! She's talking. I'll write down what she says, so I'll remember it better.
LADY MACBETH
(rubbing her hands) Come out, damned spot! Out, I command you! One, two. OK, it's time to do it now.—Hell is murky!—Nonsense, my lord, nonsense! You are a soldier, and yet you are afraid? Why should we be scared, when no one can lay the guilt upon us?—But who would have thought the old man would have had so much blood in him?
DOCTOR
Did you hear that?
LADY MACBETH
The thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?—What, will my hands never be clean?—No more of that, my lord, no more of that. You'll ruin everything by acting startled like this.
DOCTOR
Now look what you've done. You've heard something you shouldn't have.
GENTLEWOMAN
She said something she shouldn't have said, I'm sure of that. Heaven knows what secrets she's keeping.
LADY MACBETH
I still have the smell of blood on my hand. All the perfumes of Arabia couldn't make my little hand smell better. Oh, oh, oh!
DOCTOR
What a heavy sigh! Her heart is carrying a heavy weight.
GENTLEWOMAN
I wouldn't want a heart like hers even if you made me queen.
DOCTOR
Well, well, well.
GENTLEWOMAN
I hope what she's saying is well, sir!
DOCTOR
This disease is beyond my medical skills. But I have known people who sleepwalked and weren't guilty of anything.
LADY MACBETH
Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. Don't look so frightened. I tell you again, Banquo is buried. He cannot come out of his grave.
DOCTOR
Is this true?
LADY MACBETH
To bed, to bed! There's a knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed!
LADY MACBETH exits.
DOCTOR
Will she go to bed now?
GENTLEWOMAN
Yes, right away.
DOCTOR
Evil rumors are going around. Unnatural acts will cause supernatural (sleepwalking and sleeptalking were considered supernatural events in Shakespeares time) things to happen. People with guilty and deranged minds will confess their secrets to their pillows as they sleep. This woman needs a priest more than a doctor. God forgive us all! (to the waiting- GENTLEWOMAN) Look after her. Remove anything she might hurt herself with. Watch her constantly. And now, good-night. She has bewildered my mind and amazed my eyes. I have an opinion, but I don't dare to say it out loud.
GENTLEWOMAN
Good night, good doctor.
They exit.