JAMES. I don’t want to do that.

WILLIAM. Aye you do. I’ll help you.

See if anything bad’s happening all you need to do is call for me. Just…

WILLIAM is suddenly wrenched away from JAMES, before he can finish the sentence, he’s just gone, whipped away into the dark.

JAMES cries out, sitting up, looking round wildly for WILLIAM.

WILLIAM is gone. JAMES is sucked further into the nightmare.

JAMES. Will?!

JOAN. Jamie?

JAMES. Mum? What is it?

JOAN. I need you to be a brave boy now, Jamie.

A brave, brave little boy.

Can you do that?

JAMES. I’m not a little boy. I’m six. I’m six whole years old.

JOAN. That’s right. You’re my brave little man. Come here, sweetheart.

JOAN’s in a terrible state of fear and tension but covering. She has blood on her.

JAMES. You’re hurt.

JOAN. No, no, I’m fine.

JAMES. You’re bleeding.

JOAN. It’s not my blood, Jamie. It’s from the men who killed your father.

JAMES. What are you doing?

JOAN is finding and putting on jewellery.

JOAN (preoccupied with her task). They’ll have to tear them off me, they’ll have to tear every jewel off me. They won’t get them otherwise. This is my wealth, Jamie. This is half my power.

JAMES. I like that one.

JAMES reaches out and touches a bracelet.

JOAN puts it on.

JOAN. Your father gave me that, when Annabella was born. He should have known. Pearls are unlucky.

(Shows JAMES.) But I have the King’s ring, look. I have your father’s ring. And when you’re big enough you’ll wear it and be King yourself.

JAMES. I don’t want to be King.

JOAN. Oh sweetheart, you’re King already, but it’s alright. I’ll help you. I’ll wear the ring and Mummy will be King for you till you’re grown.

She hears shouts outside – looking round, sees the kist.

They won’t stop me leaving if they think I’m alone…

JAMES. Who?

JOAN.…Bad men. Just bad men. They don’t want Mummy to be Queen.

They’ve come to drive me away. Traitors!

MEG enters with ANNABELLA, they’re ready for a journey.

MEG. What are you doing?

JOAN (the kist). This will work. Yes.

(To JAMES.) Come here, darling. I need you to hide in here.

MEG. Joan, no! I don’t want to leave him either. But we can’t take him with us!

JAMES. Why not? Where are you going? Meg?

JOAN. It’s alright, darling. We’re not leaving you behind.

JOHN STEWART hurries on.

JOHN STEWART. Queen Joan. Your guard is ready. They’ll let you ride out.

JAMES. Who’s that?

JOAN. Oh Christ save us, James, there’s no time, please, please… you’ll be safe in the box.

She helps him into the kist.

(To JOHN STEWART.) Save us, John Stewart. Save your King.

Save me and you’ll win me. Look at me. It’s true. You’ve seen how I’ve looked at you. I know you have. Help me now.

He hesitates.

JOHN STEWART. All the lords of Scotland would chase us if we took the little King.