Dawn.
Rain.
The English army prepares for battle.
We boarded our ships at the Thames mouth.
There were two thousand of us and also
Some horses for the knights to ride and animals
For us to slaughter on the way.
We stood on the Essex shore a mess of shingle,
Some of us new and eager for a fight and others
Not so sure but all of us both knowing and not knowing
What lay ahead of us.
Scotland.
Scotland. Where we would install a king.
I have not been on a boat before,
Not a boat like that before,
Not on a boat like that
On a sea like that, swells rising about us,
Waves clashing and retreating about us,
A day and a night and a day of it feeling sick
And every single moment of it afraid
But excited too – in the hull with my companions
Talking against the sea with stories,
And one or two had a song or two
And one man showed me how to fight
With a spoon for a sword – laughing –
Laughing at me – me acting the goat –
And all of us both knowing and not knowing what lay
Ahead of us.
And that some of us would die in it.
In time the fleet found the softer waters
Of the river Forth and we landed in a place called Fife –
Which is a wild place compared to Kent –
And there we camped in woods near the abbey of Inchcolm.
And waited until at last he came to us – Siward
Our commander – and he told the sergeants it was time
To prepare us for the fight.
Sergeant You –
— Sir?
Sergeant Be a tree.
— Yes, Sir.
Sergeant You and you and you – make yourself undergrowth –
— Yes, Sir.
Sergeant Come on!
You’re supposed to be a forest!
You – make the noise of a bird –
— Sir?
Sergeant What?
— Is this all right, Sir?
Sergeant What’s that?
Come on, think.
What’s a forest got?
— Sir?
Sergeant What’s its stuff?
— Trees?
Sergeant Trees yes trees and apart from trees?
— I don’t know.
Sergeant Close your eyes –
Conjure up a wood – walk in it – look about you – what do you see?
— The wind.
Sergeant What else?
What do you see – look hard – what do you see now?
— Badgers.
Sergeant Badgers yes and what else?
—…
—…
—…
— Nothing, Sir.
Sergeant Exactly – nothing.
Good.
Nothing.
What does nothing look like?
— Nothing.
Sergeant No. Nothing looks like something – what?
— Darkness.
Sergeant That’s it – good lad.
The forest’s made of trees and in between the trees the darkness. It’s not the something of it that fools the eyes but the nothing in between. All of you – get on your knees, dig your hands into the bog water – smear your faces with black mud – we’ll make a forest of you yet – come on!
Preparations continue.
— Lord Siward’s coming, Sir.
The boys become a forest.
Siward enters with Osborn, his son, beside him, and
Macduff.
Sergeant Lord Siward, Macduff, Lord Osborn.
May I present –
Birnam Wood.
A forest, birds sing, trees move in the breeze, shadows.
Siward and his son walk through the forest.
Siward Look, Osborn.
A forest of English yew, each branch of which can bend and twist but when it is knotted together in a thicket – it is impenetrable – a sword cuts one branch and another springs up to take its place.
Here –
Take a branch.
Put mud on your face,
Take my sword.
If these boys are old enough to fight then so are you.
Siward gives Osborn his sword.
Tomorrow before the sun’s up we’ll surround the tyrant. He’ll wipe the sleep from his eyes and find himself not in his bed in his castle but deep in the middle of the wild wood with an English spear at his throat.
The sun sets.
Siward raises his sword
Siward To Dunsinane!
Siward Dunsinane and the fight to take it!
*
The English army advances through the night to
Dunsinane
Rain, mist and darkness.
Sentries are killed.
The English overwhelm the castle.
*
A room in the castle.
A bed.
A Scottish Soldier fires arrows from a vantage point onto the battle outside.
He speaks to someone whom we cannot see; he speaks in Gaelic.
Scottish Soldier [This is your last chance. Go now.]
Gruach and the Boy emerge from the shadows.
Gruach kisses the Boy.
[Go now.
Run. Run.]
The Boy runs out of the room.
Gruach looks at the battle out of the window.
The battle is near now.
The Scottish Soldier runs out of arrows.
[It’s too late.
They’ve taken the door.]
Outside the door they hear the shouts of the English Soldiers.
[Hide yourself.]
Gruach [No.]
Scottish Soldier [They’ll kill you.]
— Clear.
— Clear.
— Clear.
Gruach hides herself.
— This door’s barred.
— Hold on.
— Stand back.
The Scottish Soldier prepares himself for the assault.
He holds a knife.
English Soldiers break down the door.
They are bloody from the fight.
A moment of looking between them.
The Scottish Soldier attacks the Soldiers.
The Soldiers subdue the Scottish Soldier and knock
him to the floor.
A Soldier holds him.
— He cut my leg.
Fuck.
Ayah.
A Soldier cuts the Scottish Soldier’s throat.
The Scottish Soldier dies.
— Clear.
— Clear.
— Clear.
— He was firing from here.
He could see right over the courtyard.
He could just pick a target.
Look at them.
There must be twelve men dead down out there.
— He’d have got more if he hadn’t run out of arrows.
— He ran out of arrows?
— Look.
— Why did he fight?
Why didn’t he just surrender?
— He knew we’d kill him either way.
They examine the dead man’s bow.
— It’s small.
— I had one like this when I was a kid.
— He had a good eye.
— Check the hall.
Soldiers exit to check other parts of the castle.
The room is empty apart from the body of the man.
From off:
— Clear!
— Safe!
— All clear!
Gruach emerges from the shadows.
She makes for the door.
She hears a man outside groaning, clanking with armour.
She returns to her hiding place.
Egham enters.
He has an arrow in his arm.
It hurts.
He sees the dead Scottish Soldier.
Egham Scottish bastard.
He kicks him.
Ow.
Scottish fucking bastard.
Ah ah ah ah.
Egham sits on the bed.
Lads!
…
Lads!
…
Lads!
Egham tries to stand.
Egham slumps.
A moment.
The other Soldiers return.
— This tower’s safe.
— What now?
— There’s still fighting.
— We’ve done our share.
— Rest.
Egham groans.
— Christ.
— Egham.
— Egham?
— Lord Egham of Egham.
— Is he one of ours?
— Yes.
— Is he dead?
— He’s breathing.
— Let’s see.
Egham Ahhhhhhhhh!
— He doesn’t look well.
— Sir.
— Sir.
— Sir.
Egham Lads –
— Sir.
Egham It’s my arm.
The pain is very bad.
— Give him a drink and we’ll pull the arrow out.
Egham No! No!
— Sir, it’s best if we pull it out.
Egham I want the surgeon.
— The longer it’s in, Sir, the longer it’s sore.
Egham I will wait for the surgeon.
— All right, Sir – only – there’s a few hundred boys lying
dying on the field out there – arms and legs and all sorts
cut. It might be a while before the surgeon comes.
Egham I’m tired.
I feel tired beyond words.
Wake me when the surgeon comes.
Egham slumps again.
— What shall we do with him?
— He looks very pale.
— Leave him.
The Soldiers sit.
— What’s happening out there?
— Looks like things are coming to an end.
— Shouldn’t we go out there and help?
— We’ve done enough.
— Enough?
— Look out there.
The field’s covered in dead.
It’ll all be over soon.
No sense any more of us dying now.
The castle’s taken.
— Have we won?
— Looks like it.
— Whoo!
We won!
We fucking won!
First fight I’ve ever been in.
Whooo!
— Did I?
— You did.
— Where’s Siward?
Where’s our flag?
— He’s out there – on the hill.
— What’s he doing?
— Fighting.
— But we’ve won.
— Still have to fight.
One Soldier has a found a silver goblet.
— Look at this. Seen this?
— Put that back.
— What?
There’s more in there.
Look!
— Leave it.
— Why?
— All the treasure gets gathered in one place and once the fighting’s over it gets divided.
— I know, but no one needs to know.
— No.
— Are you worried about him?
He’s asleep.
— I said no.
— No one can see.
— When the fighting’s over there’ll be a dividing of the treasure and we’ll get our share. In the meantime count yourself lucky. We’re alive. Let’s enjoy it while we can.
The Soldiers relax.
— Did anybody notice any women?
— There were some in the kitchens.
— Alive?
— Dead.
— Oh.
— There’s bound to be some alive ones somewhere.
— There’ll be women.
— I know but it would be good if there was one here now.
— Well, there isn’t.
Egham groans.
— I wish he wouldn’t make that noise.
— It’s annoying.
— He has got an arrow in his arm.
— Everybody’s had an arrow in their arm.
— I haven’t.
— You will.
— What’s it like?
— Not as bad as he’s making out.
— It sounds sore.
— Could be worse.
— Could be dead.
— Have you been in a lot of battles?
— A few.
— What was this one like? Compared to other battles you’ve been in?
— Good.
— Why was it good?
— I didn’t get hurt.
— Right.
It’s my first battle.
— You hurt?
— No.
— Good.
— I thought it went by really quick.
…
There was a bit when I was crossing the bridge and I was slashing away in front of me and – I wasn’t even looking – I just –
He demonstrates.
And there was two or three of them moving back away from us but one came forwards and I didn’t even mean to but I cut down hard onto his shoulder and my sword went straight through – I must have hit here and the sword went just – shhhush – and took his arm right off. I didn’t even mean it and his arm just came away. He screamed.
— It’s just leather they wear.
— Just leather for armour. Only some have metal.
— Is leather worse than metal?
— Depends.
— On what?
— You’re alive.
Does it matter?
— I’m interested.
— Leather’s worse than metal if you’re in a fight with a man with a broadsword.
— When’s it better?
— When you’re trying to run through a forest.
Siward enters.
The Soldiers stand to attention.
Siward Stand easy.
The Soldiers rise.
Is this the last tower?
— Yes, Sir.
Siward Did you clear it?
— It’s clear, Sir.
Siward Who’s this?
Siward looks at the prone Egham.
Siward Egham! Get off your back. The work’s not finished yet. There are Scots lords running in the forest. Up! Up!
Egham groans.
Egham My arm.
— Arrow, Sir.
Siward You – bring me some beer.
Egham Siward.
I’ve been wounded.
Siward I can see.
Egham I just feel so unbelievably tired.
Siward You’ll be fine.
Egham I was telling the lads.
— Ale, Sir.
Siward Here, drink this.
Egham Thank you.
Siward That’s it, drink it down.
Egham So cold.
Siward Take this blanket.
Egham Will the surgeon come soon?
Siward Soon, yes.
Egham Good.
A signal from Siward.
Soldiers hold Egham.
Siward cuts around the arrow.
He rips the arrow from Egham’s arm.
Egham screams.
Egham You bastard!
Siward More pain now, less pain later.
You – you – you – take him down to the kitchens and burn out the wound.
Soldiers take Egham away.
Siward You – boy – stay.
Keep an eye on the courtyard.
Boy Soldier Yes, Sir.
The Boy Soldier looks out of the window.
Siward takes off some armour.
He rests on the bed.
Siward What do you see?
Boy Soldier Smoke. A lot of smoke.
Siward We set light to the forest. Drove them out and into the hills. Eventually they’ll find their way back to their homes and their farms. We’ll set a new king in Dunsinane and then summer will come and then a harvest and by next spring it’ll be as if there never was a fight here.
You’ll be amazed how quickly a battle can disappear.
Macduff enters.
Boy Soldier Stand back, Sir!
Macduff Hey!
Macduff easily subdues the boy.
Siward Too quick, boy. Well done for your good intentions but here’s a lesson for you in war, always learn the face of your general.
Macduff.
Macduff releases the boy.
Macduff Siward.
Siward What’s your report?
Macduff The tyrant is dead.
Siward Good.
Macduff He was running when we caught him.
A spear in his back.
They brought him to me on the hill above the wood.
He couldn’t speak but I looked into his eyes and there
was still life there.
It was a pleasure to extinguish it.
I cut his throat.
His head’s on a stick in the castle yard.
Siward It’s over.
Macduff Yes.
A moment.
Siward Is there something else?
Macduff Osborn.
Your son.
He was with the Cumbrians.
They were riding in pursuit through the forest.
Osborn was riding at the front. He was with the leaders moving through the woods. As they got near one of the Scots lords turned suddenly and shot a bolt.
It must have been a lucky shot.
Through the trees like that.
Shooting as they ran.
Luck.
Siward Osborn is dead.
Siward Where’s the wound?
Macduff On the chest.
Siward Can it be a mistake?
Macduff No.
Siward Thank you.
You can go.
Go.
Macduff exits.
A moment.
Boy Soldier Sir … do you want me to go as well?
Siward No. Stay.
The Boy Soldier sits next to Siward.
The Boy Soldier observes, perhaps attempts to
comfort Siward.
Siward holds the boy.
Gruach leaves her hiding place.
She stands in front of Siward, in plain view.
The Boy Soldier sees her.
Boy Soldier Hey.
The Boy Soldier grabs her.
Siward draws his sword.
Gruach Get off me!
Boy Soldier She bit me!
Siward She’s fighting because you hold her.
…
Let her go.
The Boy Soldier lets go of her.
She stands.
Siward Woman, your castle has fallen.
…
Do you understand?
…
I am Siward.
I am England.
Do you speak English?
Gruach Yes.
Siward What is your name?
Gruach Gruach.
Siward Gruach.
Gruach, what work do you do here in Dunsinane?
Gruach Work?
Siward What is your place here?
Gruach My place here is Queen.
*
The Great Hall in Dunsinane.
Malcolm on the throne.
Siward You told me she was dead.
Malcolm Did I?
Siward You told me she went mad and died.
Malcolm Mmm.
Siward You told me the tyrant had lost the support of the chiefs and he had no son and his queen had died of madness and so there would be no resistance to you but on the other hand we were likely to see a swift and general acceptance of your rule and the chance to establish a new and peaceful order.
That’s what you said.
Malcolm Yes.
Siward Well – she’s not dead.
Malcolm So it would seem.
Siward Not even sick.
Malcolm No.
Siward You lied to me.
Malcolm Siward – there’s a small thing I ought to say if you don’t mind – and I’m not trying to avoid your general point, but there’s an important clarification I must make before we go any further. In Scotland to call me a liar is really unacceptable – if – here in the great hall for example – a man were to call me a liar that would – essentially – demand a violent response – a statement like that being – as it would be – a matter of honour – and so usually the way we manage this sort of thing in Scotland is by being careful not only not to tell lies – but also to be very very careful about the way we hear and understand words. So for example – if a person in Scotland says ‘It seems a person has died’ we tend to hear that word ‘seems’ – ‘seems’ – and of course that word makes a difference. Isn’t that infuriating? It’s silly and of course it means that every discussion is fraught and people have to pussyfoot around when obviously one simply wants to cut through the nonsense and describe the facts of the world as they are – but there it is – that’s how things are – and so – before we go any further – I suppose what I’m asking you – Siward is – really – and this is just for clarification – are you calling me a liar?
Malcolm Well, that’s a relief.
Siward I understood that the Queen was dead.
Malcolm It turns out that was a mistaken understanding.
Siward It would seem so.
Malcolm Mmm.
…
Of course the whole thing would be easier if she were dead.
Siward What?
Malcolm Well, as long as she’s alive she will tend to be a focus for dissent.
Siward I thought you said the chiefs were simply waiting for you to arrive and establish yourself before they would pledge their allegiance and crown you king.
Malcolm Siward – do you mind if I ask – are you going to continue with this insistent literalness? ‘You said’ – ‘He said’ – you sound like a child.
Siward I’m sorry.
It seems I was mistaken in my understanding about
the Queen.
I was also – apparently – mistaken in my understanding
about dissent.
Is there anything else in Scotland about which my
understanding may have been mistaken?
Malcolm I know. I know. It’s quite ridiculous isn’t it? I’m King of this country and even I don’t understand it. Sometimes I think you could be born in this country. Live in it all your life. Study it. Travel the length and breadth of it. And still – if someone asked you – to describe it – all you’d be able to say about it without fear of contradiction is – ‘It’s cold.’
Siward Is there anything else about the current situation in Scotland about which my understanding may have been mistaken?
Malcolm One thing.
Siward What?
Malcolm She has a son.
Macduff draws a map of Scotland.
He shows Siward the political lie of the land.
Macduff There are many clans and families but there are two parties that sit at the heart of everything in Scotland – Alba in the west and Moray in the north.
Siward Malcolm is Alba –
Macduff Malcolm is McAlpin which is the first royal line of the Alba.
Siward And the tyrant was Moray?
Macduff No.
The Queen is from Moray.
The tyrant was from Mull.
Siward Sorry, I’m lost.
Macduff Over here. Mull is small and usually fights on the same side as Argyll, which is Moray, but historically Mull’s past belongs to Alba – by cousinship.
Siward What does that mean?
Macduff It means the tyrant came from nowhere.
His power belonged to the Queen. The Queen is the eldest princess of Moray. It’s she who holds the allegiance of the clan and it’s her power that she’s keeping for her son.
Siward The tyrant was a usurper. He was from nowhere. He stole the throne by murder. Surely the son of a usurper has no legitimate claim.
Macduff Yes – except the tyrant’s son isn’t the tyrant’s
son.
Siward What?
Macduff The tyrant’s son belongs to the Queen’s first husband. Her father married her first to a prince of Alba with the aim of unifying Scotland under one crown. Gruach bore that prince a son – the rightful heir. But then the tyrant came from Mull and murdered the boy’s father.
The tyrant married Gruach and he became king.
He adopted the boy as his own.
The boy is the rightful heir.
Siward How strong are the party of Moray now?
Macduff They have strongholds here and here. In Rannoch and the glens they are with Moray – to the south in Glen Lyon the people are allied with Alba – they’re kin to McAlpin there but not friends of his – there’s been murders between them and so on. To the east lies Angus where there’s good land but no fortune and seemingly no wisdom either, so Angus usually wait until they see which way power slides before adding their weight to whichever seems to be the winning side –
Siward We are the winning side.
Macduff For now.
Macduff Here – Strathspey is mine – I have two sisters married there – Sutherland is with Moray. Here in Fife – these are my lands as well – but here and here are here – surrounding me – are all branches of the tree of Moray.
Siward So we have here – here and here all with the Queen.
Macduff Yes.
Siward And the rest with Malcolm.
Macduff It’s not as simple as that.
Siward Why?
Macduff Not everyone who is against the Queen is with Malcolm.
Siward Malcolm is the new king. He can create a stable kingship here based on peace and general acceptance of law – and eventually he will unite Moray and Alba and Mull and Angus and whoever and whatever and wherever. Malcolm will make a new situation where everybody works together in pursuit of the kingdom’s common interest.
Macduff To create that situation would require a very large army and it would take a very long time.
Siward Is there another choice?
Macduff Kill the Queen.
Put her head on a stick in the castle yard.
End it.
*
Gruach sits with the body of the old king.
Gruach’s women sing a lament.
Siward watches.
Gruach He was a good king.
He ruled for fifteen years.
Before him there were kings and kings and kings but not one of them could rule more than a year or so at most before he would be killed by some chief or other.
But my king lasted fifteen years.
My king was strong.
Siward Your king murdered your first husband.
Siward You don’t seem to mind.
Gruach I asked him to do it.
Siward Did he always do the things you asked?
Gruach Mostly.
Siward Where is your son?
Gruach I don’t know.
Siward Is he hidden here?
Gruach No.
Siward You know I will search.
Gruach He escaped. He’s out in the hills now. I don’t know where.
Siward Is he alive?
Gruach Yes.
Siward How do you know?
Gruach If he were dead – word would have come to me.
Siward But you have no proof.
Gruach He’s alive.
Siward Gruach, I have no quarrel with you. I came here to install Malcolm as king so as to secure England’s northern border. My job is to build a new kingdom – not to settle old grudges. So I have to clear away the past now. I have to uproot now and clear away all past claims and –
That way there is a chance that we can establish a fair peace in Scotland in which every clan can flourish – including yours.
New government can’t be built on top of old wounds.
Gruach What do you want from me?
Siward I want you to renounce your son’s claim to the throne.
Gruach My son doesn’t claim.
My son is the King.
It’s not a matter about which he has a choice.
My son is my son.
My son is the son of his father.
My son’s father is dead.
My son is the King.
Siward What would you do – if you were me?
Gruach If I were you I would not be here. If I were you I would be at home guarding my own land. Not fighting on behalf of some other man’s land. A man too weak and corrupt to hold his own land himself.
Siward It’s in England’s interest to have peace in Scotland.
Gruach We had peace.
Until you came along.
Go home.
Don’t waste any more of your English lives here.
Go home before you’re driven home.
Siward Gruach, I’m not asking you for a favour. I’m giving you a chance. Your son is wandering in those hills like a beggar. If you swear alliegance to Malcolm he could be given more titles, more land. He could be given the bishopric of Argyll. He could be safe. You could be safe. Scotland could be be at peace.
Gruach The moon could rise at daytime and we could call it night.
The sun could rise at night time and we could call it day.
My son would still be king.
Siward Is the grieving finished?
Gruach Yes.
Siward My men will take your husband’s body to Iona.
They will bury him there.
Gruach Our custom is that I go with him on the boat beside him.
Siward That’s not possible.
Gruach I should go with him.
Siward No.
The grieving is finished.
*
The castle courtyard.
Soldiers bring bodies into the castle yard and lay them
out in rows.
— Leicester.
Leicester.
Dunno.
Essex.
Cumbria.
Newcastle.
York.
York.
York.
— I don’t think this one belongs to us.
— Let’s have a look.
— No – he’s not ours.
— Kent?
— How do you know he’s not ours?
— It looks the same as mine. He looks pretty much the same as me.
— How many more are there?
— Another couple of fields’ worth.
— Bring another load.
The cart is taken out to be refilled with bodies from the field.
The soldiers rest.
Siward and Macduff enter.
— Sir.
Siward Where is Osborn?
— There, Sir.
— We put him specially there.
Siward walks among the rows of bodies.
He finds the body of his son.
Siward My son.
I should have stayed with him.
Macduff He’s with you now.
Siward Thank you.
Macduff Siward.
Osborn died in a good cause.
But the cause is unfinished.
Let me settle the matter of the tyrant’s queen.
Malcolm can’t do it. If Malcolm killed her that would be an act which would have to be revenged. Let me do it.
And then we’ll find the son. He’s being hidden somewhere in the near vicinity. We’ll soon catch him.
Siward And kill him too?
Macduff Let them take revenge on me.
Siward No.
There’s been too much blood spilled already.
Boy!
— Yes, Sir.
Take my son away. Bury him with the others. Mark the place with a stone so I can find it later.
— Yes, Sir.
Siward Moray, Alba.
Macduff –
None of this – stuff – matters.
What matters now is sense. What matters now is justice.
*
The great hall.
Malcom on the throne.
Siward enters.
Malcolm Is she dead?
Siward No.
Malcolm Oh.
Siward Why would you think she were dead?
Malcolm I just thought she might have fallen ill.
Siward She’s well.
Siward She’s under my protection.
Malcolm What do you propose to do with her?
Siward I don’t propose to do anything.
…
I propose to let you decide what to do.
Malcolm Is that wise?
Siward When I say you – I mean Scotland.
You are Scotland.
Macduff and I will visit every clan chief in the country – we will go to each one of them and listen to them. We’ll find out what they want and then, when we have understood, we’ll invite them here to talk.
Malcolm Talk.
Siward We’ll invite them to a parliament here in Dunsinane. We’ll find a consensus. Let Scotland decide the fate of her queen. And then, and only then, we’ll crown you king.
Unchallenged.
Siward prepares for a journey.
Siward Egham!
Egham Yes, Sir.
Siward Find billets for the men. Make an inventory of the castle’s treasure. Find the cattle.
Make Dunsinane a garrison.
Tell the men we’ll be in Scotland a little longer than we expected.