JAMES (to COCHRANE). Let me taste the first one again.

MARGARET. Is anyone else allowed an opinion or is this a private wine tasting?

COCHRANE. Sorry, Queen Margaret, here you go.

He pours her some.

JOHN. There are urgent matters that require…

JAMES (cutting him off). This is urgent. This is urgent. My wine merchant has to send word to Leith today before the next high tide or this whole vintage might go south to the King of Spain. Do you want the King of Spain to get better wine than me, John?

MARGARET. We all know what Lord John wants, don’t we? We all know his opinions. He’s so open with them. I think he wants to learn a bit of patience and a few manners.

JOHN exits. JAMES and COCHRANE are delighted, COCHRANE clinking his glass off MARGARET’s.

JAMES. This is why I got them to send me a Viking.

MARGARET. This wine tastes muddy.

COCHRANE (tasting). She’s right, I’m definitely not liking the first one so much.

JAMES. Earthy? I thought earthy.

MARGARET and COCHRANE speak together.

MARGARET/COCHRANE. Muddy.

JAMES. Let Ramsay have a taste, he’s drooling on his boots there.

COCHRANE fills RAMSAY’s glass and SANDY’s.

SANDY. Just tastes like red wine to me. I’ll have a drop more though.

COCHRANE. I think we can get them down to four for a barrel for the Graves vintage.

JAMES. Ramsay, run down and tell them I’ll buy the shipload… Off you go! Quick!

RAMSAY exits as JAMIE enters.

What’s he doing here?

JAMIE stops dead, mortified.

MARGARET (rebuking him). James!

She guides JAMIE over.

Come on, sweetheart, it’s alright.

He needs to spend time with you, James.

SANDY. And I need to see my nephew! My God, look at the size of you!

He claps JAMIE in a hug.

How’re you doing, Jamie?

JAMIE. Great, thanks.

JAMIE is beaming, delighted to see his uncle.

SANDY. Have you been practising?

JAMIE. A bit.

SANDY. Wait, I brought you something… hang on…

SANDY produces a football.

We can have a kick about later, see how you’re getting on.

COCHRANE. Let’s see? Oh, I can still do this, give it here.

COCHRANE, SANDY and JAMIE start playing with the ball, moving it between them using hands and feet.

RAMSAY is back on, breathless.

RAMSAY. I’ve done it. You’ll have the wine by tonight. Do you need anything else, Your Majesty?

JAMES. Probably, just wait, don’t pester me.

(Quiet, to MARGARET, indicating JAMIE.) I don’t want him here.

MARGARET. How can he understand the business of being a king if he never sees you with your court? This will all be his work one day.

JAMES. Anticipating my death. Nice.

MARGARET. I just meant…

JAMES. Well, there’s not a lot of work going on, is there? Ball games. That’s what we’ve got going on.