JAMES. No… no… no… you see I’m not buying it. I’m not. He’s sleekit, this one. Tricksy. Like brother Sandy. I like the other one. (Points at ROSS.) And he’s far nicer to look at. I like his face.

MARGARET. But you can’t just…

JAMES (cuts her off). I’m supposed to be able to make the rules. Amn’t I? Or what’s the point? What’s the point, Margaret?

MARGARET. You simply can’t do this. You can’t disinherit your own heir.

JAMES (interrupts). If you can think a thing you can do it. Try it. Go on, try it.

You’re scared to try it.

That’s why I’m hated.

Because I can imagine a larger world.

It’s why all the saints were persecuted when you think about it.

MARGARET. If you do this. If you really try and do this, I will cut you off, Jamie and Ross and baby John will live with me and you can…

JAMES. Not Ross. Ross wants to come with me. Don’t you, Ross?

ROSS (quiet). Yes.

MARGARET. Ross… I know you love your father but you’ll still see him and…

ROSS. You love Jamie over me.

MARGARET. No. No, I don’t love any of you over the others. Whatever your father has told you..

JAMES (cuts her off). I didn’t have to tell him anything. Everyone can see it.

MARGARET. Jamie is the eldest. He has more responsibilities. He might sometimes get more of my attention but…

ROSS. You gave him my horse.

MARGARET. That was… The horse was too big for you, Ross. ROSS. It was my horse.

JAMES. And I’ll give you a new horse. A bigger horse.

MARGARET. James. Stop this.

ROSS. I want to live with Dad.

MARGARET. Then…

(Falters.) Then we’ll talk about that. We can…

(Angry to JAMES.) I will never forgive you for this, James, and I am moving into my own household!

JAMES. Fine. On you go. Hope you’re paying for that yourself. Know why I’m skint, everyone? Know why the Scottish crown is skint? Her dad never coughed up what he owed for her dowry.

You think we’re poor.? This one was brought up in a fishbox. King of Norway and Denmark? He’s living in a sand castle on an icy beach.

MARGARET. But we were always rich in courtesy, even if I couldn’t pass that gift on, dearest. I’ve tried.

JAMES. You’ve been very trying, madam. No doubt about it.

MARGARET. And my dowry was paid in full.

JAMES. Oh, aye, aye… what did we get? What did we get for you? Orkney and Shetland. Fantastic! Just what I always wanted!

MARGARET. You always bring that up! You always bring that up! Shetland is a jewel of an island and if you can’t shift your lazy arse up north to see that for yourself, don’t…