Welcome to Hell, Macbeth

(Macbeth, Act V, Scene ix)

by Heather Fleming, with Jason Chin

(The entrance to Hell. Boatkeeper onstage. Enter Macbeth)

Macbeth:: Methought my head was sever'd from my neck
But here it sits again atop my shoulders
Did all of this transpire but in my sleep.
A foul dream which first did seem so fair?

(Looks around. Reads)
"Abandon hope, all ye who enter here."
This is a gloomy place, and who is that
Who stands beside that boat? Turn, hellhound, turn!

(Boatkeeper turns)
What kind of earthly creature can this be,
With no flesh gracing bone of hand or face?
Is't but an apparition, or is't real?
Speak, wither'd fiend!

Boatkeeper:: I greet the late Macbeth
And welcome his damn'd soul to Afterlife.
Where is thy coin to pay the toll of passage?

Macbeth:: What need hast thou for money, and what need
Have I to cross these murky, fest'ring waters?

Boatkeeper:: It is the way to Hell, where thou art bound,
So give me coin, or I will strand thee here
To rot upon the muddy bank o'th'Styx.

Macbeth:: I have no coin, but will my daggers do?

Boatkeeper:: They will suffice. Now step onto the raft.

(Macbeth gets into the boat. Boatkeeper starts rowing)
I know thee well, Macbeth, for I did try
To save thee from thyself, O tyrant king.
I tried to put thy killing to a stop
And put thee on the road to thy redemption.
I put myself into a mortal form
And did strike out the light at Banquo's murder,
That that which was accomplish'd might have failed.

Macbeth:: What is this now? These faces in the water--
I seem to see all those that I have slain:
Duncan, Banquo...

Boatkeeper:: And then I send the ghost of thy friend Banquo,
Whose murder I did try to stop but failed,
In hopes that this would help thee find thy conscience
Which thou didst seem to lose.

Macbeth:: Now what is this?
My wife now sneers at me with such contempt
That ev'n in death my manhood comes unfix'd.

Boatkeeper:: I tried to save thy soul, but could not;
Corruption's taint seiz'd thee beyond redemption.
I am of hell, but my intents were good.

(Shrugs)
But the road to hell is paved with good intentions,
As is the river to't.

(Stops rowing)
And here we are.
Now leave my raft and go to thy damnation,
Where never will the sweet release of sleep
Enfold you in its comforting embrace.

Macbeth:: Pray do not make me go.

Boatkeeper:: (pushes him)
Begone, foul scum!
And shame no more the floorplanks of this craft.
'Tis time for thee to serve thy time in Hell;
Its halls will suit a demon like thee well.

(Exit Macbeth)

By the way, If you're familiar with Macbeth but you don't know what the Boatkeeper was talking about when he said he had put out the light at Banquo's murder, I meant that he was the mysterious third murderer.