JAMES. He’s my friend.

BALVENIE. Is he? Is he now?

JAMES. Can he not be my friend?

BALVENIE is thinking hard.

BALVENIE. We’ll see. We’ll see.

(To WILLIAM.) Go back to our room and stay there until you’re called for dinner.

Your council wants you, King James.

JAMES. I want to play ball.

BALVENIE. You can play ball later.

The council is gathering, LIVINGSTON and CRICHTON. WILLIAM is gone.

JAMES senses the nightmare rising again. He stops, resisting BALVENIE, fearful as he feels the nightmare overtaking memory again.

JAMES. No… no… I don’t want to. I want to play the ball…

LIVINGSTON (to JAMES). Hurry up, you idiot boy. Your council is trying to do its work.

He turns to CRICHTON and BALVENIE.

The three of us are the council of Scotland here today. We agree. This must be done. I have messages from the other lords. Those that needed to know. This will be allowed.

CRICHTON. What makes you think I’ll allow it?

LIVINGSTON. Because you want a seat at the table. Don’t you?

CRICHTON hesitates.

Don’t pretend you don’t want this too. The boy can’t be trusted. You know that better than anyone.

CRICHTON. Is this what you want, Balvenie? At the end of the day this is still your own nephew we’re talking about.

LIVINGSTON (cutting him off). Balvenie, there’s only one question you need to answer, who do you think should be Earl of Douglas?

BALVENIE. How could I stand against every other family? What can I do? I’m just an old uncle that’s fit for nothing but talk, after all.

LIVINGSTON. There you go. He’s happy. We’ll tell the Earl to leave his army at home and send him a promise of safe conduct.

CRICHTON. We’re going to become oath-breakers?

LIVINGSTON (indicating JAMES). No. He is.

(To JAMES.) Your council is agreed, Your Majesty.

LIVINGSTON/BALVENIE/CRICHTON. Aye!

An edge of nightmare is close to JAMES. He’s sensing it.

So what do you say? Come on! You know what to say.

JAMES (faltering). As I will it done let it be so.

LIVINGSTON/BALVENIE/CRICHTON. In the King’s name. In the King’s name. In the King’s name.

LIVINGSTON. And what’s the only other thing a king needs to do at dinner?

JAMES. I…

LIVINGSTON. Come on, come on!

JAMES. I must call for the meat.

LIVINGSTON. Like a good wee king. Yes. Call for the meat when we’re ready.

YOUNG DOUGLAS appears, triumphant.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. I am the sword of Scotland!

A burst of music and cheering.

A procession thunders into the courtyard surrounding YOUNG DOUGLAS and his brother, DAVEY. An impression of a rowdy, victorious armed band. Everyone crowds to take their places as YOUNG DOUGLAS sits at the head of the table. JAMES and WILLIAM are competing to sit next to him.

DAVEY shouts at the crowd.

DAVEY. Here he is! Here’s my brother! Do you see him?!

Cheers.

Who holds the border?

The crowd call back to him.

ALL. Douglas!

DAVEY. Who keeps Scotland?

ALL. Douglas!