DAVEY. Who stops the English?

ALL. Douglas!

DAVEY. Who do you want?

ALL. Douglas!

DAVEY. I said who do you want?

ALL. Douglas! Douglas!

A squabble for position between WILLIAM and JAMES to sit beside YOUNG DOUGLAS has continued through this. Now BALVENIE shouts over all the other noise.

BALVENIE. William!

Get away from there! That’s the King’s place!

YOUNG DOUGLAS. It’s my brother’s place but the King can have it today – on you go, Davey.

DAVEY makes room and JAMES crows as WILLIAM slinks off. At the same time everyone raises their cups and shouts. Everyone remains standing. YOUNG DOUGLAS whispers in JAMES’s ear.

JAMES. Oh! Eh… Be seated.

They sit as JAMES is straight on YOUNG DOUGLAS.

Can I ride your horse this time?

Can I see all your horses? Can I gallop with you and a thousand horsemen!?

YOUNG DOUGLAS. Oh, I’ve only a few horses with me this time, wee King, remember, I had to leave the rest at home.

A shred of nightmare, the voice of ISABELLA.

ISABELLA. You carry your father’s blood.

JAMES. I don’t know why they made me do that. I don’t.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. Never mind, wee King, I know, it’s fine. It’s ’cause they’re frightened of me.

JAMES. I’m not frightened of you.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. Why would you be? Aren’t we family?

He raises his glass to the table, smiling provocatively at LIVINGSTON.

The blood of the Bruce!

ISABELLA. That’s the blood that’s in you. Like black snakes creeping their way down your veins.

JAMES. I want you to live here.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. With you?

JAMES. Yes, I want you and Davey here with me.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. So we can terrify the old men together?

JAMES. Yes!

YOUNG DOUGLAS. That would terrify them, James, believe me, they think I want to take your crown.

JAMES. You can if you like, I don’t mind.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. No, you keep your crown and I’ll keep my horses and we’ll both live happy. Tell them that from me, stop them shaking.

ISABELLA. Your mother’s cruel blood…

YOUNG DOUGLAS. What’s the matter, King James, has someone been frightening you?

JAMES. It’s just… It’s just… I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do next.

ISABELLA. You’ll be a monster, just like them…

YOUNG DOUGLAS. I do. That’s easy. You’re head of the hall, you need to call for the meat.

ISABELLA. A monster with a child’s face.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. Come on. Douglas is hungry. Bring out the meat.

ISABELLA. The Dark Ones will put their bloody knives in your hands and you’ll do their work…

YOUNG DOUGLAS. You need to shout, wee man! Go on.

JAMES. Bring out the meat!

In a chorus of cheers, a covered dish is brought in and put on the table in front of YOUNG DOUGLAS. The cover is taken off to reveal a bull’s head.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. What’s this?

LIVINGSTON. Douglas is hungry. Douglas is greedy. You’ve taken enough, Earl Douglas. Now the young bulls must have their heads parted from their bodies. In the name of King James, you and your brother are sentenced to death, my lord, for treason.