Just Call Her Marlo: The Scottish General — Part Three

Time for the third part of this weird Shakespearean detective fiction noir story saga.

To read Part Two, just click here! 🙂

And away we go …!

INT. MOTEL, BREAKFAST ROOM — MORNING

Marlo, wearing sweats, wanders in and fixes herself a cup of coffee.

The television is on in the upper corner.

ON TV:

A REPORTER stands in front of Macbeth’s castle house.

REPORTER
General Banquo is the second high-ranking member of the Nova Scotia militia to die this week under suspicious circumstances.

ON MARLO:

Marlo gawks at the TV.

EXT. MACBETH CASTLE — DAY

Marlo exits her roadster, scans the area. No sign of the police.

Marlow grimaces and shakes her head. The drawbridge is still down, so she crosses it.

INT. MACBETH CASTLE, KITCHEN — DAY

A room outfitted with gleaming chrome kitchen appliances and marble counters. The walls are blocks of stone, the windows small slits fit for castle defense.

Marlo sits at a small table. A full plate of haggis sits before her. She sips orange juice from a glass.

Lady Macbeth putters about the kitchen. Periodically, she washes her hands.

MARLO
Did General Banquo say where he was going after his nap? Was it straight home?

LADY MACBETH
I … I can’t quite recall.

Lady Macbeth grabs a towel, rubs her hands raw with it.

MARLO
And what time did he leave?

LADY MACBETH
I believe it was half past eleven. I’m pretty sure that’s when Fleance picked him up.

Lady Macbeth glances at Marlo’s juice glass.

LADY MACBETH
Care for more juice?

MARLO
I’m good. Thanks.

LADY MACBETH
Have you tried the haggis? It’s my special recipe.

Marlo looks away from Lady Macbeth, wrinkles her nose. Turns back, smiling.

MARLO
I’m sure it’s great. But I grabbed a croissant at the free breakfast buffet. I’m stuffed. So the last you saw of Banquo was 11:30 p.m. yesterday.

Lady Macbeth returns to the sink, turns on the water, and scrubs her hands under the tap with a vengeance.

MARLO
I just have to ask …

Lady Macbeth turns toward Marlo, her eyes wide.

MARLO
What the hell kind of name is Fleance?

Silent beat. Lady Macbeth examines her hands. Marlo watches her.

LADY MACBETH
Despite our guest’s … untimely passing, I hope you’ll still come to dinner tonight.

Marlo looks momentarily surprised. She glances at the haggis. Looks resigned.

MARLO
Count on it.

*****

Come back for Part Four, okay? 🙂

Originally published at http://randomandsundrythings.wordpress.com on October 25, 2019.