Macbeth

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?

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.

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?

She says something, sir, but I will not repeat it to you.

You can tell me. You really should.

I will not confess it to you nor to anyone else, because there was no one else to witness her speech.

Look, here she comes! This is exactly how she always looks, and—I swear it—she is fast asleep. Watch her. Keep hidden.

How did she get that candle?

It stands by her bedside. She always has to have a light next to her. Those are her orders.

You see, her eyes are open.

Yes, but they don’t see anything.

What’s she doing now? Look how she rubs her hands.

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.

There’s still a spot here.

Listen! She’s talking. I’ll write down what she says, so I’ll remember it better.

(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?

Did you hear that?

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.

Now look what you’ve done. You’ve heard something you shouldn’t have.

She said something she shouldn’t have said, I’m sure of that. Heaven knows what secrets she’s keeping.

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!

What a heavy sigh! Her heart is carrying a heavy weight.

I wouldn’t want a heart like hers even if you made me queen.

Well, well, well.

I hope what she’s saying is well, sir!

This disease is beyond my medical skills. But I have known people who sleepwalked and weren’t guilty of anything.

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.

Is this true?

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!

Will she go to bed now?

Yes, right away.

Evil rumors are going around. Unnatural acts will cause supernatural 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.

Good night, good doctor.