SANDY. So arrest me, brother. Call all your loyal friends to defend you.

JAMES turns on him like lightning. Swiftly and efficiently he lays SANDY out.

He holds SANDY pinned.

JAMES. Wereny expecting that were you, little monster?

No, no bugger ever does. Funny that.

(Turns to the CHOIR.) Come on! Come on! A song of triumph and manly vigour. Quick now!

The CHOIR exchange panicked looks then launch into something suitable.

Treason! Treason! There’s a king killer here! Treason!

JOHN, the GUARD, MARGARET, JAMIE, COCHRANE, ANNABELLA, PHEMY, ROSS and LORDS from the Three Estates enter from different directions. They stop, taking in the scene, JAMES still holding SANDY. No one knows how to react. The CHOIR finish on a crescendo.

(To the CHOIR.) Lovely. Thank you.

(To JOHN, MARGARET and the rest.) So, my brother, Alexander, Duke of Albany, has admitted, in front of these witnesses…

(Indicates the CHOIR.)…that he’s been plotting against me.

CHOIR murmurs.

Well, Lord John, what does my Privy Council want? Are you going to arrest him or shall we just skip straight on to regicide and civil war?

JOHN hesitates for a moment, then he nods at the GUARD. The GUARD takes SANDY from JAMES and holds him.

JAMES speaks close to SANDY’s face.

I will have your lands. I will have your titles and you will run, run, little brother, out of Scotland and never come back. Because if you do come back I am going to tear your own entrails out your soft traitor’s stomach and watch you eat them!

JAMIE. No! No, just let him explain, let him…

SANDY. Don’t do this

JAMES. And there it is. There it is. More treason.

JAMIE. No, it’s not treason…

MARGARET. Jamie, be quiet!

JAMES (to JOHN). Take my brother away.

The GUARD exits with SANDY.

MARGARET. James… he loves his uncle. We all did, you can’t expect…

JAMES (cutting her off, to JAMIE). Well, you’re never getting this crown, laddie, you can forget about that idea. Do you all hear me? I put this son aside.

MARGARET. Jamie is your heir. You can’t change the law of God!

JAMES. How do I know he’s mine?

I think you always fancied brother Sandy. In fact I’m sure of it.

COCHRANE. James, come on now…

JAMES. Shut the fuck up, Cochrane.

JAMES turns back on MARGARET.

(Indicating JAMIE.) I don’t like him any more. At all. I like the other one.

MARGARET. What ‘other one’?

JAMES (points at ROSS). Him. He should be King.

MARGARET. He can’t be!

JAMIE (upset, sincere). I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Dad…

You’re my father, I’ll obey you. I’ll try and be the son you want.

JAMES studies him, considering a moment.