2. INT. BACKSTAGE OF COMMUNITY THEATER - NIGHT
Mike Vincent a man in his early 30’s whose life is theater
peeks through the curtains. He sees the lead actor James
performing Macbeth. Mike whispers along with every line
James says.
JAMES
I will not yield!
MIKE
(Whispers)
To kiss the ground before young
Malcolm’s feet. And to be baited
with the rabble’s curse. Though
Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane...
JAMES
And thou opposed, being of no woman
born, yet I will try the last.
MIKE
(Whispers)
Before my body I throw my warlike
shield. Lay on, Macduff, And damn’d
be him first cries, Hold, enough!
Mike takes a deep sigh. The Director walks up to him.
DIRECTOR
Where’s the head?
MIKE
Oh, right here.
Mike hands the Director a fake decapitated head.
DIRECTOR
Just because you’re the understudy
doesn’t mean you can slack off. If
you’re gonna come every night, you
better help out.
MIKE
(annoyed)
Got it.
STAGEHAND
Sir, pole eight is loose again.
DIRECTOR
What?!
(CONTINUED)
3. CONTINUED: 2.
Applause is heard. Mike gets up and bows from behind the
curtain.
DIRECTOR
Freak.
INT. THEATER AFTER PARTY - NIGHT
The after party is very simple. There is a fold out table
with prepackaged meats and cheeses, some crackers and dip
that are still in their containers and few boxes of wine.
Most of the actors are still in partial costume. Mike is
standing by the table alone. He spots James.
MIKE
James.
JAMES
Yes?
MIKE
Great job tonight. I was wondering
when you would like me to give you
my notes.
JAMES
I’m sorry, what?
MIKE
Well, as your understudy, I feel we
should exchange notes. For example,
in Act five Scene eight you said,
"Why should I be the Roman fool."
when actually it’s "Why should I
play.."
JAMES
(sarcastically)
I think I’ll be all right.
James sees someone he knows and leaves. Suddenly, a very
drunk Old Critic stumbles towards Mike.
OLD CRITIC
Terrible, absolutely terrible!
MIKE
What’s that?
OLD CRITIC
This performance! Just pure agony.
And the person who played Macbeth,
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
4. CONTINUED: 3.
OLD CRITIC (cont’d)
just because you yell every line
doesn’t make you a good actor!
Short drunken pause.
OLD CRITIC
(yells)
Hey, Mic-what’s your face! I’m
yelling! Does that make me any
fucking good? You, good sir are
a...um...uh
MIKE
A disgrace to acting?
OLD CRITIC
Yes! What he said!
JAMES
Get out of here old man!
The old critic stumbles away.
OLD CRITIC
I would have paid double to see
anybody else play Macbeth. Oh the
review I’m gonna give this play.
You just wait and see.
EXT. THEATER - NIGHT
Mike is the last one to leave. The Old Critic drunkenly
walks out of the shadows.
MIKE
Hey, for what it’s worth I think
you were...
OLD CRITIC
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be
king!
MIKE
(Shocked)
What?
OLD CRITIC
You must do everything in your
power do get what you truly desire!
(CONTINUED)
5. CONTINUED: 4.
MIKE
...And what if I fail?
OLD CRITIC
Then you fail.
INT. MIKES APARTMENT - NIGHT
Mikes apartment is a very simple room with all the
essentials. There is a bookshelf containing many plays and
all the written works of William Shakespeare. He grabs
Macbeth and begins to read. The reading soon turns into a
performance.
MIKE
Is this a dagger which I see before
me, the handle toward my hand?
Come, let me clutch thee!
Cut to:
MIKE
I will be satisfied: deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you!
Cut to:
MIKE
My name...my name is Macbeth!
INT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT
It has been a long rehearsal. Everyone is gathered on the
stage, listening to the Directors notes.
DIRECTOR
Matt, you walk in AFTER the Third
Witch says her line in scene two.
Mary, you need to ENUNCIATE your
words and James look over your
stage directions in scene three of
act two. I don’t know what you were
doing, but it wasn’t right. Well,
that’s it for today. Be here by
2:00 o’clock tomorrow.
Everyone has left and only Mike and James remain backstage.
Mike is holding a knife in his hand and looking down at
himself.
(CONTINUED)
6. CONTINUED: 5.
MIKE
The part is mine. The part is mine.
The part is mine!
JAMES
Hey, have you seen my phone?
MIKE
No, I have not.
Mike turns around and stabs James, but James does not
flinch.
Mike looks at the knife. The blade has retracted back into
the handle. It’s a prop.
James runs in fear, but trips over a large set piece. He
grabs a hanging rope to get up but the rope gives way.
Causing a sandbag to fall on top of him.
Mike in shock runs towards James.
Mike lifts up the sand bag.
JAMES
(In pain)
What the hell, Mitch?
Mike goes into a fit of rage.
MIKE
I AM MACBETH!
Mike pushes the sandbag back on James’s face.
INT. THEATER - DAY
In the theater are a few police, the director and some
actors mourning their loss. A stretcher is brought out from
the backstage with a white cloth over it. One of the police
officers lifts the cloth, revealing James’s face frozen in a
scream. Mike walks in acting a little nervous.
DIRECTOR
What a terrible accident!
Mike smiles, takes a deep breath and begins to over act.
MIKE
(over the top)
What is going on?! Wait, where is
James! Has anyone seen him?! Oh no!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
7. CONTINUED: 6.
MIKE (cont’d)
It can not be! He’s gone!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Why god why?! Oh
cruel world take me instead! Why oh
why did you leave us James
why!!!!!!!!
The police take the body away. Soon after, the rest of the
actors arrive. Mike walks over to the director.
MIKE
It is a true tragedy. He left us so
suddenly. But the show MUST go on.
Sir as his understudy it would be
an honor to play the role of
Macbeth.
DIRECTOR
Yes we will be continuing the
production. We would lose what
little funding we get if we didn’t.
But, Mike, you will not be playing
the role of Macbeth.
MIKE
But, but I am the understudy. I am
meant to play that role!
DIRECTOR
I know you’re the understudy, but
the review we got wasn’t the most
stellar to say the least. This new
guy we got just played Macbeth a
few towns over and got rave
reviews. I’m sure you understand.
INT. THEATER BATHROOM - DAY
Mike stands in front of the mirror.
MIKE
(Enraged)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I do all
this work and for what?!
The Old Critic appears in the mirror.
OLD CRITIC
You didn’t think you were done did
you? Many people have made greater
sacrifices for much less.
(CONTINUED)
8. CONTINUED: 7.
MIKE
But I killed a man and still didn’t
get what I want! It’s not fair!
OLD CRITIC
Life’s never fair! Now if you still
want to be Macbeth, you know what
you have to do.
INT. THEATER - NIGHT
The cast is getting ready to leave for the night. They all
seem to really like the new actor Robert. Mike watches from
afar.
ROBERT
All right, see you guys tomorrow.
I’ll be right out, I gotta take a
leak.
Robert walks into the bathroom Mike follows him.
INT. THEATER BATHROOM - NIGHT
Robert is peeing at the urinal. Mike walks in.
MIKE
Great job today.
ROBERT
What? Oh thanks.
MIKE
I mean it, too. You have talent.
Which is why it pains me so much to
have to do this.
Robert finishes.
ROBERT
What are you talking about?
Mike grabs Robert’s head and pushes it into the urinal.
Mike flushes the urinal, all the while holding down Robert’s
head.
Robert’s body eventually stops struggling.
Mike lets go and places a letter that reads "My Suicide
Note" in Roberts hand.
9. 8.
EXT. THEATER - MORNING
There are more cops than before and yellow "Do not cross"
tape is across the door. The director is talking with the
police along with some of the actors and actresses.
ACTRESS
(yells)
It’s a curse! It’s the curse of the
Scottish play!
MIKE
(To the Director.)
What’s going on?
DIRECTOR
Robert committed suicide!
MIKE
(Over acting)
That’s horrible!
DIRECTOR
It truly is horrible. In light of
the recent circumstances, I’m going
to have to give you the part. Do
you think you’re up for it?
A slight pause. Mike smiles.
MIKE
Sir...Nothing would please me more.
DIRECTOR
Good, rehearsal starts as soon as
they clear out the body.
INT. THEATER - NIGHT
It’s the end of the dress rehearsal, and everyone is heading
out for the night.
The director calls Mike over.
DIRECTOR
Mike I’d like you to meet Jason.
He’s going to be your understudy
MIKE
What?!
(CONTINUED)
10. CONTINUED: 9.
DIRECTOR
Your understudy. Don’t worry. He
knows all the lines and is ready to
take over, should anything happen
to you.
MIKE
(Holding back his anger)
Sir, is this REALLY necessary?
DIRECTOR
After what’s happened, I should
think so.
MIKE
Fine, if you insist.
INT. THEATER BATHROOM - NIGHT
Mike is talking to the old critic in the mirror.
MIKE
This is all your fault!
OLD CRITIC
What do you mean? You have the
part. What more could you want?
MIKE
The director gave me an UNDERSTUDY!
Who is probably conspiring against
me! But I wont let him!
OLD CRITIC
Calm down, he’s just a kid. You
don’t need to worry about him. And
besides the performance is
tomorrow!
MIKE
That’s it! I’ll kill him backstage
during the performance!
OLD CRITIC
That’s it! You’ve lost it!
11. 10.
INT. BACKSTAGE OF THEATER - NIGHT
It’s the night of the performance.
JASON
Thanks again for letting me watch
the show from back here.
MIKE
Of course...no problem.
Mike walks over to the prop table. He searches through
various props with which to kill Jason. He sees a giant prop
axe leaning against the wall.
MIKE
It’s perfect.
Mike walks over to Jason.
He swings the axe with all his might.
Unfortunately for Mike, the axe is made of Styrofoam and
breaks upon impact.
JASON
What...? oh I get it. You’re one of
those method actor types.
MIKE
yes, you could say that.
INT. ONSTAGE - NIGHT
MIKE
The eye wink at the hand; yet let
that be, which the eye fears, when
it is done, to see.
Mike walks off stage with a worried face
INT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT
MIKE
What to do? How to kill you?
Mike looks at the various hanging ropes and scaffolding.
He smiles.
CUT-TO:
(CONTINUED)
12. CONTINUED: 11.
Jason walks right up to the scaffolding. Suddenly two hands
with a rope appear from the darkness.
The hands rap the rope around Jason’s neck and pull him back
into the scaffolding.
MIKE
Hurry up and die. My cue is coming
up.
JASON
(Struggling with every word.)
You’re...insane!
Mike pauses and listens closely
MIKE
Shoot!
Mike ties the rope around Jason’s neck like a leash.
INT. ONSTAGE - NIGHT
MIKE
It is concluded.
CUT-TO:
Jason choking with every word. Tries to yell for help, but
to no avail.
CUT-TO:
MIKE
Banquo, thy soul’s flight.
CUT-TO:
Jason trying to scream for help.
CUT-TO:
MIKE
If it find heaven, must find it out
to night!
Mike runs off stage and back to Jason. He holds Jason to the
ground with the rope around his neck.
MIKE
The part is mine.
(CONTINUED)
13. CONTINUED: 12.
Mike slams him against the floor. Pole eight starts to
shake.
MIKE
And I wont let you or anyone else
take that away from me!
Mike slams him against the floor multiple times. With each
slam the pole becomes more and more loose.
MIKE
I am Macb-
The pole falls vertically through Mikes neck, causing his
head to fall off. The pole lands in Jason’s chest, holding
him down.
JASON
(In pain.)
Ow.
The head continues to roll. The Director finds it and picks
it up.
DIRECTOR
There it is.
He hands it to one of the actors.
DIRECTOR
Go!
The actor walks on stage with the head.
ACTOR
(Playing Macduff)
Hail, King of Scotland!
CUT TO BLACK.
ALL ACTORS
Hail, King of Scotland!
Applause
THE END
