Character Interview/Report Scripts
Macbeth on becoming thane of Cawdor/ victory in battle:
Reporter: Today we welcome Sir Macbeth who has just been given the Title Thane of Cawdor. Good evening your highness.
Macbeth: And th’ same to thee.
Reporter: So congratulations on becoming Thane, how do you feel?
Macbeth: Thou art kind. Great honor hath been bestowed on me and for it I am glad.
Reporter: Were you surprised?
Macbeth: Indeed perplexity was had. I know not the reason for former Thane’s treason and so I am surprised for Cawdor is o’ place so just. Though I cannot say th’ title was not coming to me.
Reporter: Why?
Macbeth: Oh do not dwell upon the past for ‘tis lost. ‘Tis but a blip and its prophecies are oft false.
Reporter: What prophecies are you talking about?
Macbeth: Let it be forgotten.
Reporter: It seems peculiar but we can move on. We also have reports that your fighting was excellent; can you explain how you won the battle?
Macbeth: Oh thou flatter me. Indeed I met many a foe. The villainous rebel Macdonwald and Norway were doth slain. Macdonwald’s face I did cut nave to th’ chops and fixed his bloody head upon our fortress bricks.
Reporter: That's fantastic. And how did you deal with the King of Norway?
Macbeth: Oh such a murderous tyrant he was. His many evil Norweyan flag pierced our country’s sky and thus our people did fear greatly. Assisted was he by our villainous traitor Thane past. Their greedy horde came upon us and so this horde I did slaughter ‘til the day was won. Wanteth thou the detail of my killings?
Reporter: Umm no thanks but great job on the victory I’m sure it was… a bashing.
Macbeth: Indeed it was.
Reporter: Alright we’ve got to wrap it up here is there anything you would like to say before we take a break?
Macbeth: I thank my men for battle won and thee for honor bestowed. I sought a peaceful land and do take th’ position o’ King pensively. I mean Thane. A king I am not but a Thane indeed. Thanks for your pains.
Reporter: It’s our pleasure thank you very much for coming. And we thank you our audience for joining us stay tuned with this story as it develops we hope to have Thane Macbeth back next week for another interview. For now, this is Brian Williams saying goodnight.
Macbeth on past events:
Reporter: Good evening. Tonight we once again welcome his highness Macbeth to our studio, although now of course he is King of Scotland. Welcome again Mr. Macbeth, thanks for being with us.
Macbeth: Oh such pleasure is mine Brian.
Reporter: Ok. We have brought you here tonight to discuss the outbreak of recent events including Duncan’s murder, Malcolm and Donalabain’s fleeing, Banquo’s murder, and then the murder of Macduff’s family. What is your general opinion on all this?
Macbeth: Th’ time is crazed. I wish it be that Scotland may return to a land full o’ prosper an’ peace.
Reporter: Alright, let’s start with Duncan’s murder. What went through your head when all this was going on?
Macbeth: Oh Duncan, my king! And such a noble king was he who kept th’ kingdom in order and defended it with valor. Thus I sought revenge on the murderous barbarian who hath doth slain him in his sleep. And oh yes such a late hour ‘twas indeed.
Reporter: How do you know when it happened, I thought you discovered him the next morning.
Macbeth: Oh yes but obvious ‘tis how the deed fell in the night. And more ‘twas the chamberlains who murdered Great Duncan, th’ bloody villains I hate them hence and doth I hath murdered them in my sea of rage for a murder of a king so just. I raided their room and cut their throats with my true dagger, ‘til blood poured from the throat and guts spilled upon the floor and walls.
Reporter: (pause) Wonderful. And so why do you think Malcolm and
Donalbain escaped your castle does that rouse any suspicion to you?
Macbeth: Indeed it does, murderers they are for certain and relentless at that to cut down the father of their own. Certainly their leaving reason lies in their blameworthy knives.
Reporter: Wait I thought you said the guards killed him.
Macbeth: Oh… (pause) no they did not. Malcolm and Donalbain it was indeed who hath cut the father’s throat I did not say it was the guards. You fiendish scum who hath placed a lie upon my back oh you little feckless bug. How dare thee insult a king of my standing! Killed I will have thee in an instant to call me a liar and a murderer!
Reporter: Save it ya dirt bag, what kind of a show do you think this is! Alright, lets move on to Banquo’s murder what’s your opinion on that?
Macbeth: A friend so dear he was to me, Brian, in battle and in brotherhood. Cursed be the dagger that cut him down!
Reporter: Yes. And just before that we have reports of you thinking that there was some sort of invisible presence in your chair at dinner do you have a comment on that?
Macbeth: Sir, tis simply a wicked curse of mine since birth.
Reporter: Yea ok. Also, just in as of an hour or two ago we have been burdened with the knowledge that Macduff’s family is dead. Many people assume that he is building an army to fight you and the timing of these deaths seems a little odd. Can you comment on that?
Macbeth: ‘Tis not in my knowledge although it would seem to be the chamberlains, the villains who sliced King Duncan past, who killed the family as well.
Reporter: Alright, that’s it, get him out of here he’s a filthy liar.
Macbeth: (surprised) (taken away by a security guard)
Reporter: Please pardon the inconvenience folks. We will inform you as soon as more information comes in on this story, but for now, once again this is Brian Williams wishing you all a goodnight.
Reporter on Macbeth’s Downfall:
Reporter: Good evening. Tonight we broadcast a report with certainly mixed feelings about the death of once King Macbeth. He was honorably killed in battle yesterday when an army consisting of the forces of the English army, Lennox, Menteith, Prince Malcolm, his uncle Siward, and of course the good Macduff came upon him, which, as you may know, is exactly what I predicted. Additionally, as Menteith put it, “Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes would to the bleeding and the grim alarm excite the mortified man.” Simply put, the troubles that Macbeth had caused these men would make dead men rise to fight against him. But really, and although I was reluctant to point it out in previous interviews, the way these people talk is very unusual.
In any case, strategically, this force’s idea was to tear branches from Birnam Wood and for each standing soldier to carry one so that their numbers could be concealed. They marched to Dunsinane Hill, where Macbeth had prepared his own small force, and subsequently a battle was fought between the two sides at Dunsinane. Amazingly, it seemed that Macbeth was literally untouchable and for hours he tore through each of his enemies like a knife. Then, of course, he found himself face to face with Macduff, who we can all assume after our last interview had his own family killed by Macbeth. They fought a long battle with one another, until a turning point occurred. We have accounts from one soldier saying that Macbeth said, “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born.” To this statement, Macduff replied, “Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.” After this point, we have not been informed of the exact details, but after minutes, Macduff returned to Malcolm with Macbeth’s head and it was there that Malcolm was unofficially deemed king. Isn’t it amazing how a bloody head is taken as such a token of honor?
Anyways, all the noblemen agreed that Malcolm should be crowned and so it will take place today at Scone. We congratulate him on this great achievement. To conclude tonight’s broadcast, I must say that although Macbeth was a king, he was a tyrannical king, and so his death can present itself as a sweet turning point in Scotland’s history, where the crown was given to someone who truly cared about his country’s people. Plus, I think we can all agree that Macbeth was an evil, greedy man, especially after his interview with me recently. In any event, you heard it here first folks. This is Brian Williams saying goodbye for now.
by Charlie Dodge
