And I tell you this, I love that gale. I’ve missed it! I am so ready for it!

And I tell you something else, if that wind had a human face, it would have been glowering at me just like you are! You’re like a cold gale roaring in my eyes, shouting in my face, ‘Who do you think you are, laddie?’

Well, I’ll tell you! I’m your bloody King! I’m the King of Scots!

Kneel to me because I promise you, and I will prove to you by everything I do now… I am Scotland.

That Scotland will be small but it will be whole. It will be poor, but all its people will know their worth and know how to fight for it. It will be a tiny part of the world but it will know all the world knows. It will be assaulted but it will never be broken. It will make no quarrel where it isn’t provoked… but it will bend to no other nation on this earth. That is Scotland. That is who I am.

So I’m asking you now… show me how much you love this country.

One by one they all drop to their knees. Last to go down is WALTER, he holds JAMES’s eye for a beat then he too kneels.

And now I’m truly your King.

MEG walks forward and curtseys deeply to JOAN.

MEG. My lady, with your permission…

JOAN. Yes… what?

MEG (calling to the room). Time to make up the bed!

At once there’s a great cheer, wine’s brought out, the wedding bed is assembled. MEG is helping a bemused JOAN out of some of her coronation robes as the LORDS come close to JAMES, all carry cups, a party atmosphere.

MURDAC. King James, I want something from you.

JAMES. Yes?

MURDAC. Conversation. Man, I want a conversation with you. Just to talk some ideas, just to talk.

JAMES. We’ll be talking in my council, won’t we?

MURDAC. Aye but…

WALTER. Are we doing this or what’s going on?

MURDAC. I speak first. I speak first and I’ll do it when I’m ready.

He waits till WALTER steps back then turns to JAMES, formal.

King James, it is my honour to lie beside your bed to defend your royal person this night and all nights.

ALL MEN. King James!

JOAN (to MEG). That’s just a theoretical honour though, isn’t it?

BALVENIE. King James, it is my honour and my family’s honour to lie at the head of your bed and defend your royal person this night and all nights.

ALL MEN. King James!

JOAN (looking round). No, because they have another room, don’t they? At the English court there are several royal antechambers… where are the antechambers?

LORD. King James, it is my honour and my family’s honour to lie at the foot of your bed and defend your royal person, this night and all nights.

ALL MEN. King James!

JOAN. Or at least there’s a screen. Meg, tell me there’s going to be a screen!