duet display would work the only problem is you need to see to actually install a program on your macbook and activate it. if there was some way to use a different monitor just until you can get everything set up.
You could always connect via Screen Sharing assuming your Mac can boot up and is in range of a known network. (Assuming you have Screen Sharing turned on)
You should then be able to connect over the network from another device and get duet display setup on it.