MACBETH IN STRIDE (excerpt) by Whitney White

MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

Lights up on a a band warming up. Tuning. Bouncing sound. The space is clean and aggressive. It could remind you of Nine Inch Nails’ most recent world tour. It could also look like the bowery ballroom or another concert space.

A woman enters. She finds her place at a microphone. Lights come up much hotter and more aggressive.

She speaks to us.

WOMAN I think I breathe I am I blink I see I walk I, woman.

I learn.

I learn y’all.

Black woman.

Black woman learn.

She listens.

I listen.

I think.

I listen.

I think again.

I talk.

I make.

I go forth.

I grow.

I fucking grow, okay!

And as I grow…

I want. beat. Music cuts out.

I want. I want–– Music begins again.

LovepPowerSexMoneyHomeSafetyLifeRightsProperty PursuitHappinessRespectMoreLoveMoreSexMoreMoney success powersurvivalpositionsecurity. don’t talk when I’m talking Dont cut me in line.

Dont whistle at me on the street.

Don’t deny me healthcare Dont cross the street when I’m walking or never mind fucking cross the street when I walk. shiver in your skin. shudder. Be nervous.

Get down on you knees. Bended knees.

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

I want just Education degrees mortgage moremoremoremoremoremoremoremore…….

I just want everything music cuts out.

That’s too much to ask for, right?

But I do though!

I’m greedy y’all!

It’s nobody’s fault. family tried mom tried school tried country tried reminding me again and again That I cannot have I should not have I will not have And yet I want. music starts again Black Woman Want.

BLACK WOMAN WANT YALL I speak. I want.

I work. I want I reach I–– MAN What about me?

A man enters the space.

WOMAN What about you.

MAN you want me?

Need me?

WOMAN Not sure.

Probably.

MAN love?

WOMAN Distracting.

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

Ambition–– MAN Love.

WOMAN Ambition and love?

The shakes his head, no.

Woman must choose?

He nods again.

Can’t have both?

MAN Can’t have both.

WOMAN petulant. Like a child.

Why not?

MAN Just can’t.

WOMAN Who says?

MAN Time Space The world The bible Every story Every movie Every book Every play–– WOMAN Plays are interesting–– MAN Every play LIke…. All the plays.

WOMAN From where From when

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

MAN Like Shakes–– WOMAN Don’t say it. beat.

So woman must choose?

The Man nods again.

Music resumes.

Conundrum y’all.

Black woman see black woman do Black woman want Just like everyone else.

Because She has “The disease” “the foolishness” “The audacity” "The madness” The madness

Ambition. the Tina Turner, Lady Macbeth Shaking sweating greedy greedy wide eyed hungry The want. beat. Music cuts off.

Wait a minute I’m sorry.

How are you guys? You people?

The audience?

The intro to REACH FOR IT kicks in.

Let’s focus on you.

How you guys doing tonight?

Good?

Bad? And my band, yes!

I do happen to have the most incredible band with me tonight On this journey with me tonight get to “the want” We have–– She introduces her band one by one.

Each musician plays a flare when introduced.

And you hav me.

Now, tonight I will go by many names People call me many things Sometimes to my face But you can call me queen.

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

Here we go!

They fall deep into REACH FOR IT. VERSE: A minor D minor

C major

C minor F minor

Eb Major

When I close my eyes I see exactly just what I need When I close my eyes I see ambition in front of me The way that it goes power’s not supposed to look like me G major D minor But I need I need I need what I need

Bb Major

F Minor

Where have all the good men gone I swear i’m looking just for one hang the liars one by one by one by one If I can’t find one, then I’ll make one like a king, cut him from stone But a queen, what is she?

CHORUS F Major A minor What if I reach for it reach for it Just to taste it Just to touch it Just and inch of it Just a taste of it

Ab Major

C minor

INSTRUMENTAL x8 A minor D minor C major

C minor F minor

Eb Major

VERSE A minor D minor G major

C minor F minor Bb Major

Eb Major F Minor

C major D minor

We won’t know when well ever meet again We don’t know if our sins are really even sins So if foul is fair and fair is foul Then ambition’s not a sin at all But this queen…

Where is she Where is she 5 of 34

MACBETH IN STRIDE

CHORUS F Major

A minor

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

Ab Major

C minor

What if I reach for it reach for it Just to taste it Just to touch it Just and inch of it Just a tasteWhat if I reach for it reach for it Just to taste it Just to touch it Just and inch of it Just a taste of it TAG F major d minor AbMajor F minor A drum a drum Macbeth doth come A drum a drum Macbeth doth come She throws focus to the Man. He turns away, leaving her in her worn space A drum a drum Macbeth doth come A drum a drum Macbeth doth come!

The man reads a letter.

He speaks to the audience MAN They met me in the day of success; and I have learn’d by the perfect’st report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burnt in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanish’d.

WOMAN What?

MAN Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the King, who all-hail’d me “Thane of Cawdor,” by which title, before, these weïrd sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time with–

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

MAN & WOMAN “Hail, King that shalt be!”

MAN This have I thought good to deliver thee…. My dearest partner of greatness– WOMAN Awww, babe.

MAN –that thou might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promis’d thee. Lay it to thy heart, and– MAN & WOMAN farewell.

A beat. She thinks. thinks more.

LADY M Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,

That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it; And that which rather thou dost fear to do Than wishest should be undone.

The MAN plays A chord. C Major

Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;

another chord. G Major

And chastise thee with the valour of my tongue

All that impedes thee from the golden round

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem

To have thee crown'd withal.

She launches them a Capella into RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH. VERSE C Maj C Maj

G Maj G Maj

When I was a little... girl I had a rag doll Only doll I ever owned Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

But only now my love has grown D Major G Major And it gets stronger in every way And it gets deeper let me say And it gets higher day by day F Major And do I love you my oh my G Major Yeah river deep and mountain high F Major If I lost you would I cry?

G Major Oh how I love you baby baby baby baby Cutting off the music.

LADY M What is your tidings?

BASSIST So please you, it is true: our thane is coming!

The man revs his guitar. Song starts again.

C Maj C Maj

G Maj G Maj

When you were a young boy did you have a puppy?

That always followed you around.

Well I’m gonna be as faithful as that puppy No I’ll never let you down D Major G Major And it gets deeper like a river flows And it gets deeper and heaven knows And it gets sweeter baby as it grows.

F Major And do I love you my oh my G Major Yeah river deep and mountain high F Major If I lost you would I cry?

G Major 8 of 34

MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

Oh how I love you baby baby baby baby G Major vamp I love you baby like a flower loves the spring I love you baby jus the way I loves to sing C Major vamp I love you baby like a schoolboy loves his pie I love you honey the river’s deep mountain’s high F Major And do I love you my oh my G Major Yeah river deep and mountain high F Major If I lost you would I cry?

G Major Oh how I love you baby baby baby baby They finish strong. A button WOMAN Wait a minute How did I get stuck on love?

That was fast.

Started with desire with ambition Dropped into the story- the play And the ambition is traded for love so fast.

And in this play Woman loves man Woman and man marry Woman lives in a time where her success is tied to his success There can be no success Without his success The he in this case being–– MAN Macbeth.

WOMAN Macbeth.

He’s not “number one” MAN I’m not?

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

WOMAN He’s not not “number two” But he could be number one if he went for it.

MAN …I could?

The band launches into a 60’s, zombie version of FOOL. She mixes song with text until they fall in stride with one another.

Have you ever been with someone like that?

But they just can’t quite get after it, you know?

If he played the game. If we play the game Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major I wanna tell ya he's mine Have you ever been with someone like that?

Now let me tell ya he's mine (wake up and he's gone) You look at them…. and you see so much potential Ab Major F# Major Ab Major Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah But they just can’t quite get after it, you know?

Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major Yeah yeah. He mine.

His number three can become number one.

His king could become my queen.

Bb Major I'm not ashamed (poor fool) Ab Minor Cause he's my man (says who?)

Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major (Bb Major rev) And he's mine (you've been a fool too long) Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major Now listen, this man is mine he's my every thought I'd give him Prussia if it could be bought

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

Ab Major F# Major Ab Major I'm not ashamed of nothing I do Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major I'd guide a missile if he told me to Bb Major 'cause he's mine (poor fool) Ab Minor I know he's mine (says who?)

Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major (Bb Major rev) The man is mine (you been a fool too long) Bass and guitar bring it down for a rhythmic section between the vocalist and drummer.

Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major And listen, if I make my bed hard That's where I'm gonna sleep You people talking means nothing to me Ab Major F# Major Ab Major I work my fingers right down to the bone Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major Doin' the things to please him right or wrong Bb Major 'cause he's mine (poor fool) Ab Minor I know he's mine (says who?)

Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major (Bb Major rev) The man is mine (you been a fool too long) Instrumental solo for four bars Eb Major (Bb Major rev) Bb Major 'cause he's mine (poor fool) Ab Minor I know he's mine (says who?)

Eb Major Ab Minor Eb Major (Bb Major rev) The man is mine (you been a fool too long) Music comes to a church-like rumble oscillating between EbMajor and Eb Minor.

WOMAN Hes mine Hes mine Hes mine Hes mine 11 of 34

MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

Let’s do it.

Let’s do it.

Let’s do it–– Music gives way.

The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts Unsex me here.

A glimmer from the bass and guitar. Eb minor And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood; More sound. subtle. Underscoring and supporting the text.

Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it!

More sound.

Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry 'Hold, hold!'

She repeats and ad libs on “Hold” as they all lurch up to play TINA’S WISH. Eb minor LADY M I’m talking to the priest, the high priest and all of you out there.

If what I am saying is wrong, then lord please tell me the right way to say it.

Because I want to be....I want to be...

made over!

Eb minor Db Major Eb minor Make me smart, make me king Give a lot, ah give me steam I want eternal beauty, spiritual things Cause when I'm done, yes I wanna be a good thing Hey Lord F# Major Ab Major

Make me over, I wanna be made over, F# Major Ab Major Eb minor 12 of 34

MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

hey Lord Make me over, I wanna be made over She rips the microphone off its stand and for the first time moves to and among the audience.

Eb minor Db Major Eb minor I wanna go places y’all, I wanna do some things.

I wanna be a star, I wanna have a big name.

But in my heart, let beauty reign And when I'm done, I wanna have fame Lord make me nice, Lord make me good

Lord give me power, Lord give me love

I wanna be desirable.... Voluptuous.... tantalizing

Hey Lord......

This last vocalization of “Hey Lord” rings out a little too long.

She is moved by something that we can’t quite see yet.

The woman moves to the piano and shifts the group into a lush 3/4

groove.

He speaks.

Groove: F Major

Eminor

C Major

D minor

MAN This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth?

I am Thane of Cawdor.

WOMAN Yes you are babe.

MAN If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is But what is not.

She sings again. Rallying.

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MACBETH IN STRIDE

By Whitney White

Working Draft 26 February 2020

LADY M Hey lord...

Hey lord...

Hey lord...

Hey lord...

I said, who’s the man?

MAN I’m the man.

LADY M Who’s the man?

MAN I’m the man!

WOMAN Yes you are

Yes you are!

Every day

Every night

Hold me tight

Who’s the man?

MAN I’m the man!

She seamlessly drags us, the audience, and the band back into TINA’s WISH.

F# Major Ab Major

Make me over, I wanna be made over, F# Major Ab Major Eb minor hey Lord Make me over, I wanna be made over The song ends. The man and woman now look at each other for the first time, in the same time and space.

LADY M Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!

Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!

Thy letters have transported me beyond this ignorant present, and I feel now The future in the instant.

THE MAN Duncan comes here tonight 14 of 34