Kabuki-West
Page 3
ACT TWO
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II i Front of curtain. Malcolm and Donalbain face each other from opposite ends of the stage. They are numb with shock and grief.
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MALCOLM: Donalbain....
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DONALBAIN: Malcolm...
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MALCOLM: Our father...
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DONALBAIN: Our father's dead
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(They turn out toward audience)
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DONALBAIN: How can it...
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MALCOLM: How did...
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DONALBAIN: Macbeth has said...
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MALCOLM
He said
he killed the ones
who did the crime
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DONALBAIN
Yes
Macbeth has said
What can we do
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MALCOLM: Our father's dead
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DONALBAIN: I fear for you.
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MALCOLM: We both must fly
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DONALBAIN: But not we two together
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MALCOLM
How could our joy
dissolve
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DONALBAIN
We wore it fresh
as nighttime dew
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MALCOLM
How could we know
the glory of our father
had already set-
blazing
with the scarlet sun
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DONALBAIN
My brother
take my hand
You must take care
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MALCOLM: And so must you
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DONALBAIN
I'll help you all I can
but we must fly
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MALCOLM
And not we two
together
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DONALBAIN: No
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MALCOLM
Take my sword
as myself
to protect you
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DONALBAIN
Take mine
so my spirit
goes with you
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MALCOLM
I'll cross the water
to the island Kyushu
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DONALBAIN: I'll go past mountains
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MALCOLM
Home has no help
for Shogun's sons
where Shogun's beds
are butchery
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(They exit in opposite directions)
II ii Banquet hall. Macbeth dressed in golden armor. Nobles warriors attend him. All very still. Responses are correct, but there is reluctance, not enthusiasm.
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WARRIOR
Let all our voices
pledge once more
in this election
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BANQUO: Who should it be but Macbeth?
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ALL
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth!
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WARRIOR
For our Shogun
a deep salute
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(All salute Macbeth appropriately, together. Witches then approach him ceremoniously with a great antlered helmet. They crown him with it.)
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WITCHES
You wear the power
of a mighty stag
He lords the forest
with his will
But when the cycle
of the year is up
he finds his glory shed
his forehead light
his thicket filled
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(Macbeth stands in triumph. Lady Macbeth signals)
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LADY MACBETH: Come. Let the dance begin.
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(But no dance begins. Instead, Witches cluster around Macbeth. Others, repelled, back away)
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MACBETH
Macduff-
You have wish to retire?
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MACDUFF
I go
to gather my men
to make you secure
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(Macduff exits as Lady Macbeth speaks)
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LADY MACBETH
Our honored friends
excuse
the quiet celebration
The preparations...
wearied me
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(Banquo emits a tight laugh as he backs away)
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BANQUO
So, my friend
you are Shogun
Sooner than we could have dreamed
our mountain hags
were tried - and won
Could it be do you suppose
I should look
to making sons?
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LADY MACBETH: What does he mean
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(Banquo exits. Macbeth gestures sharply; Kuroko - Koken as assassins - surround him)
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MACBETH
After him
and end his life
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(Kuroko exit swiftly after Banquo)
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MACBETH
End the father
end the sons
.
No flower will bloom
without a seed
without the source
no stream will feed
There's none
can wheel me
to the ground
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WITCHES
Never fear
You will not fall
till the forest
comes down from high mountain
for none who bears
the sword of man
can harm Macbeth
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MACBETH
Do you hear
my love
none who bears
the sword of man
can harm Macbeth
We are free!
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WITCHES
Only take care of Macduff
Macduff (Echoing)
Macduff
He toys with you
and he's run
to serve young Malcolm
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MACBETH
He's run
to young Malcolm
Whatever for?
To play at bouncing balls?
.
(Macbeth gestures sharply as before. Kuroko respond and exit just as another Kuroko enters with a bag dripping red. Kuroko displays a severed head to them)
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MACBETH
Run after
Now my love
Who do you see?
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LADY MACBETH (Stonily, dazed)
Your friend Banquo
His head
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MACBETH
My friend Banquo's
come down
from high mountain
Shall we celebrate?
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LADY MACBETH
Come
Let's to bed
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MACBETH
They all
are jealous of me
Macduff!!
Magic
is what I was
he said
.
Macduff
is a shivering reed
who's seen
the steel of my arm
so let him snivel and run
What is he good for
but making sons
(Laughing, echoes himself)
but making sons
but making Sons
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LADY MACBETH
Come
we cannot live
without the veil
of sleep
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MACBETH
Oh
no
I must be awake
There's much to do
when you're making Fate
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(Kuroko enter with larger red dripping bag and dump it, displaying, at Lady Macbeth's feet, the bloodied heads of Lady Macduff and her two children.)
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LADY MACBETH
The Lady Macduff?
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And all her little ones
.
I'm tired
come with me
come...
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(Witches surround them, laughing. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth stand center, with heads spread before them. Mie pose of all)
II iii The forest. Lady Macbeth lies asleep. Macbeth sits over her.
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MACBETH
Softly
you drop the veil
of sleep
while I
remain outside
To grow
defenseless so
cannot be
not with me
.
But is it soft- ?
The day is gone
new blood runs clear
you wake newborn
while I
am still as stone
my mind propped wide
to hinder monstrous things
who crowd the day
the night the time between
until I am
as they
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(He weeps then howls like a beast. Lady Macbeth stirs)
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LADY MACBETH: He's asleep. Come
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MACBETH: Who?
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LADY MACBETH
No screaming
Hush...
We still can play
Come-
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(She mimes playing ball with head of small child)
.
Little, little head
roll it
roll to me
little toss
shiny curls
tumble
roll to me
.
Oh-oh bumped his nose
no no - it bleeds
thick
wipe it quick
it bleeds
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MACBETH
Your hands are clean.
Stop...stop
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(She notices him as though for the first time)
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LADY MACBETH
What, have you bathed?
You stand there pure...
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(Affectionately, she moves to examine him, but finds that he has bathed in blood)
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...from steaming springs
but thick
bubbling hot
and thick
it sticks
the smell...
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(The smell is nauseating)
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MACBETH: You're asleep. Wake up!
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LADY MACBETH
Three little children
all undone
One two three
then we
have none
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MACBETH: You're dreaming. Come...
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LADY MACBETH
Kill
kill the Shogun
Ah - oop
here's another
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MACBETH: Be still!
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LADY MACBETH
Slice him slick
hack him quick
See how they run
After the brothers
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MACBETH: Wake up! You'll be heard
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LADY MACBETH
The smell
is thick
It chokes the eyes
Ahhmm
Are you afraid
to play?
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MACBETH: Come...you must wake
.
(He leads her)
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MACBETH (Calling)
Women wild
upon the mountain
Macbeth is calling
Come!
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(Witches gather)
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WITCHES: Who is calling- come!
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MACBETH: You have done this!
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WITCHES
Great Lord Takatori
Kurokawa
Shogun?
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MACBETH
Help her!
She believed you
from the first
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WITCHES
Macbeth-
great ruler of the world
what more
do you require?
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MACBETH
We ask for cure:
I want to see
those gone before
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(Ghosts of those Macbeth has killed begin to gather, Banquo and Duncan among them)
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WITCHES
Come, come, come
from lonely reaches
where you hang in freezing mist
Come
sing him the song
of his life string
wind out the line
of his days
unfold the role
that he plays
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MACBETH: I do not fear you. Come
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BANQUO
No, you-
come with me
I'll show you
battlefields a-rot
with steaming limbs
in every brilliant gash
a tongue a voice that screams:
"Take Macbeth
It was him"
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(Macbeth strikes, trying to fight ghosts that slither away from him)
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MACBETH
Back to hell
and let us be
This time is mine
it was made for me
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DUNCAN
I weep, Macbeth
Your honor
a lifetime winning
was in a moment lost
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Man's glory
is a time
of high danger
Desire is obsession
Obsession loses all
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Follow fast, Macbeth
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(Macbeth fights more furiously)
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DUNCAN
Desire is obsession
Obsession loses all
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(Lady Macbeth is surrounded, willingly, without offering resistance, being strangled by ghosts)
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LADY MACBETH
Macbeth...
Macbeth
Let go my soul...
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(Macbeth tries to fight ghosts who surround her. They part for him. She is dead.)
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MACBETH (Quietly)
I am yourself
she said
We-
two forces wound
to one
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(Pause. Then speaks to her)
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You should have come
astride me to the field
then you'd have known
what life is
and how it wets the ground
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Well then, come down
from high mountain!
It's time
that forests came down
I stand here
Come root-tearing down!
If all grace deserts me
I'm left as I am
Come crush me
I stand here
stark man!
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(Macduff appears)
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MACBETH
Stand clear Macduff
I have killing
to do
My hand will bleach day
to forever
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MACDUFF
After death
it may
But you have cleared
the earth
of mine
I stand alone
No day comes
until you're gone
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MACBETH
Aha
if you can
I am never to die
by any who bears
the sword of man
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MACDUFF
Die now
for I feel nothing
The sword
is my arm
is my heart
I am nothing
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MACBETH: No!
.
MACDUFF
Do you fear me now?
The sword I hold
is not of man
It is my soul
It is honor
.
I am air
I am rock
I am you
I am all things
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MACBETH: No
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MACDUFF
I have no desire
I am ready to die
You are mine
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(They fight. Macbeth is killed, beheaded. His bloody head is speared atop a pike.)
(Macduff in Mie pose)
II iiia Witches take Macbeth's head in their arms, move downstage.
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WITCHES
Hoo ooo
Aii eee
Great Takatori
Kurokawa - Shogun
What has become of you?
What did you make him do?
It wasn't I
Nor either me
Did someone lie?
Did he believe?
Or did he choose
what he would choose
to do
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Great Takatori
Kurokawa - Shogun
Who did he cry to
that moment
that last
What had he left
to gain
Parched wind is all
that remains
.
It wasntt I
Nor either me
Did someone lie?
Did he believe
Or did he choose
what he would choose
to do
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Peace, now - be still
These things
are best unknown
Find peace
Over-glory
in the heart
will rot
and ripple through
the arc of time
but clean
replenished peace
can reign
when man
his selfish way
resigns
II iv Banquet hall. Malcolm seated on throne, center. Donalbain, Macduff, other noblemen seated. Celebration dance by Ladies-in-Waiting is in progress.
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MACDUFF
Joy to you
great Shogun Malcolm
Smile on us now
Be as the sun
when it carelessly floods
the high mountain
.
We turn to you
longing for warmth
and pray
for the end
of dark days
Bless us now
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MALCOLM
Macduff
my noble samurai
I thank you and promise
to you and all
who pledge faith to me-
eternal peace
a peace to the end
from now until
the seas rise and blend
with the skies
So let us taste joy
and pass it to each
and ask that together
we raise
loud thanks
to this breaking day
Let your voices blaze!
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ALL: (Loud) Ay ay yah!
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WITCHES
Come put your shoulder to the wheel
Come set the wheel
to spin
Just let tomorrow roll away
the wheel won't stop
the wheel won't stay
Today's the day you win
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Donalbain (Echoing)
Donalbain
Donalbain...
Why is it Malcolm?
Why not you?
Why is the first-born
always first
Why must you stand behind
always on tiptoe
trying to glimpse
parading life
through your brother's prime
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DONALBAIN
The seed
was not less potent
that shaped my royal line
The earth is left
much finer that's plowed a second time
Why is it Malcolm?
Why not me?
This thorn
has snagged my pride
for I am just as bright
and just as royal born
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WITCHES (Weaving around him)
Follow the thread
Take hold of the line
We weave
and you climb
Hand over hand
up sheer rock
you glide
Take hold of tomorrow
Let Karma guide
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DONALBAIN (Excited) I can be Shogun!!
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(Witches offer two outcomes - the phrases may be mixed, or spoken at once, in opposition)
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WITCHES 1
Hush! Hush...
Fulfilling your cycle
now rise and now fall
none can escape it
we ride one and all
bound each to all others
and all
to the wheel
of Karma
bound each to all others
and all
to the wheel
of Fate
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WITCHES 2
But is it real?
And are you bound?
Or is it chance
he wins, you lose?
Or do you dance
the step you choose
.
Decide-
Do you believe?
But excuse us-
while we weave
END OF PLAY