JOHN. She’s got a bonny colour in her face. She’s as beautiful as an angel by the throne of God with that light in her face, isn’t she?

JAMES says nothing, watching JOHN, suspicious.

That’s just the way she looks after…

He trails off, watching JAMES, mocking.

JAMES. After what?

JOHN. Och… not for me to say. You’d know better than me, eh? Or you would have done once.

Didny know what you had there did you?

JAMES. What I have.

JOHN. If you say so.

He holds JAMES’s gaze a moment then he exits. JAMES starts to dress for parliament, at the same time –

The Great Hall / Parliament Hall, Edinburgh

PHEMY and ANNABELLA are dressing MARGARET for parliament. PHEMY holds MARGARET’s jewellery box, offering it to her. She refuses more jewellery.

MARGARET. No. Just the necklace.

ANNABELLA. You’re shaking. A queen’s never frightened. You’re a queen.

The procession into parliament. The Members of Parliament assemble. JOHN takes his place before the royal thrones.

JAMES enters, dressed as a penitent.

JOHN. As we are summoned by our King and by God, the Three Estates of Scotland are hereby called to service.

JAMES (quiet, just to MARGARET). It was Lord John’s idea that I should apologise, wasn’t it?

MARGARET. It’s the best thing, James, you know…

JAMES (cutting her off). That’s what I thought.

MARGARET. James…

JAMES (indicating JOHN). Shh! Parliament. Serious business.

JAMES. There’s no agenda today, my lords. I’m just going to talk to you. I’ve been told, I understand, that I owe you all an apology.

There’s a story that’s come to my attention, a few lines, a fable, with a moral, oh, how we love a moral, don’t we, boys? A lion, trapped by hunters, is freed by little mice, they nibble through his ropes and set him free.

Then he’s a humbler, wiser lion, who understands at last that he really, really, really needs the little people…

But you know what?… I really, really don’t…

He takes off his penitent clothing, revealing sparkling clothes beneath.

Behold your King.

This lion cannot be tamed and it cannot be tied down.

It’s time you finally realised what should have been blindingly obvious.

This is who I am.

This is how God made me.

I was your opportunity to serve greatness and you blew it.

God made me a king… but I can’t be the king of mice. Your tiny rodent brains couldn’t even comprehend what I offered you.

I was your glitter. I was your sparkle before the dark. My lords, this is a tiny glimpse of what you’ll be missing now. Hell mend the lot of you.

JAMES dips RAMSAY and pulls him into a prolonged and passionate kiss.

Good luck finding someone else to govern Scotland the way you want.

Whatever you do now… I’m finished with you.