JOAN. We can do this if we run now, now. John Stewart, I’ve watched you win every fight in the games. You can dare this too.

He’s still unsure.

You’ll be guardian of the King. We’ll be rulers of Scotland. You will have Scotland’s Queen.

MEG. Joan… no…

JOAN. Be quiet!

(To JOHN STEWART.) Well?

He decides.

JOHN STEWART. Aye, we can do it, we can do it. We can outrun them. I’ll take you to my castle.

JOAN. Yes! You hear that, James? We’ll be safe in John’s castle.

You’ll have a new pony and Meg will feed you as many honey cakes as you can eat.

JOHN STEWART. Quick then! Before they think to look for him. Hurry!

JOAN. Jamie, you just have to stay in the box a little while longer. Then we’ll be safe and I’ll never leave you again ever, not ever.

JAMES. Promise?

JOAN. I promise.

She closes the lid. A transition, a journey. JAMES is being lifted, carried, buffeted. He’s confined in a small, dark space. JAMES cries out.

John Stewart’s Castle

They’ve arrived. JOAN opens the kist.

JOAN. Jamie, look, look.

She’s helping him out of the kist.

We’re here. We’re safe.

JAMES. Where are we?

JOAN. John Stewart’s brought us safe to his castle.

JOHN. Welcome home, Your Majesty.

JAMES. Will I get a pony now?

JOAN laughs.

JOAN. If you’re good. Run and play now. You can run anywhere you like now.

She exits with JOHN STEWART as JAMES and ANNABELLA run off and play, chasing each other, hiding, laughing.

MEG. No! You need your beds.

(Quiet.) I need my bed.

Jamie? Annabella? Come on. That’s enough. You can play tomorrow. It’s time for bed.

JAMES and ANNABELLA are hiding. ANNABELLA comes out.

Good girl. Jamie! Come out now. Meg will make you a posset and sing you to sleep.

(To ANNABELLA.) Oh where is he? Isn’t your brother the naughtiest King of Scotland there’s ever been?

ANNABELLA. Yes.

MEG. I’ll be back to find you, King James.

MEG and ANNABELLA exit.

Then JOAN and JOHN STEWART enter, they start to make love as JAMES peeks out of hiding and watches.

JOAN. I knew we’d do it. I knew we’d get safe away. And they’ll never break through your walls.

JOHN STEWART. No.

JOAN. They all hate me. They always hated me. They never wanted me to be Queen.

JOHN STEWART. You’re my Queen.

They kiss again.

JAMES. Mum.

They see him.

JOHN STEWART. Jesus Christ! What the fuck’s he doing here!?

JOAN. Jamie… Jamie, why aren’t you in bed?

JAMES. Who is he?

JOAN. How many times! Listen. Listen to me, John is your new father. Say it. Say hullo to your new father, James.

JOHN STEWART. Hullo… Hullo, King James.

JAMES. My father’s dead.

My father was a hero.

A flicker of nightmare.

JOAN. Where’s Meg gone? She was supposed to have sent you to bed.

Meg!

She exits. JOHN STEWART comes close to JAMES. The nightmare is also closing in on JAMES, a memory of his father’s death.