INT. MACBETH'S CASTLE - DUNCAN'S CHAMBER

       KING DUNCAN sleeps atop his regal bed, noble dressings of 
       gold leaf sprawling up its posts.  Sheets of purple satin 
       cover the KING.  A window, small, opens to reveal the moon 
       and the stars, burning bright, casting a spot of light 
       against the cold stone floor.

       MACBETH enters, shadowed.  Slow, he crosses the silent 
       chamber.  He pauses in the spot of light, radiant.  He looks 
       to the KING.

                           MACBETH
                 Duncan sleeps but feet away.  My king, my 
                 lord, my sovereign...
                     (beat)
                 Good King Duncan, righteous and just, 
                 your hand shall strike you down.  Great 
                 king, you will not die in a noble charge 
                 or at a Vandal's knife.  No, I, your son, 
                 shall take away what is most precious.
                     (beat)
                 Forgive me, fair Duncan, I act not of my 
                 own.  My will is on strings.  My soul is 
                 that of a man possessed.  Ethereal 
                 fingers move my heart.
                     (beat)
                 Duncan, the One Who Was, I shall take the 
                 the gold ring from your crown of marble.  
                 I shall sit upon your cold bones, ruling 
                 from your usurped throne.

       MACBETH turns to the moon, big.

                           MACBETH
                 A thousand wheels grind above me, circles 
                 churning within circles to keep this 
                 plane from falling into heaven or to 
                 hell.  I dare to stop the stars and 
                 become the sun.  Fire shall be my cloak. 
                 It will be not the fire of Hades... No, 
                 it will be the flames that curse the 
                 hearts of the good and the just.  I am 
                 not who I am.
                     (beat)
                 I cannot fight you, spirits.  You, who 
                 watch from beyond the veil, I am your 
                 serf.  I am empty.  Guide my hand.
                     (beat)
                 Sisters, why must this glorious sorrow be 
                 for me?  Why must I do what must not be 
                 done?
                     (beat)
                 But, I am Thane, two sceptres in my hand.  
                 You know, old hags, of what I have not 
                 done.  A pact with Lucifer gave you sight 
                 into the realm beyond Tomorrow's rising 
                 son.
                     (beat)
                 I cannot fight which must and must not 
                 be.  I stand on strings, waiting for your 
                 eternal hand.  Oh, woeful sisters, why 
                 must I be your pawn?  Why must I do the 
                 deed which has already been done?
                     (beat)
                 I cannot stop the son of the sun.

       MACBETH turns to DUNCAN, pulling his slim dagger from the 
       sheath.  It flashes in the white moonlight.

                           MACBETH
                 Guide me, fair witches, to black Duncan's 
                 breast.  Let me cut into foul Duncan's 
                 heart.  Let me wear a cloak of red.
                     (beat)
                 A god or a devil, I do not care.

       MACBETH crosses to Duncan's side, the purple sheets turning 
       red.