MEG. James… they’re preparing the wedding breakfast… your bride needs to be with you.

JAMES. Well, she can be with me after the hunt, can’t she? Come on, get them out of here.

MARY is already going.

MARY. C’est trop dur. C’est trop dur…

ANNABELLA follows MARY. MEG gives JAMES a look and follows. JAMES, helped by WILLIAM, is nearly dressed for the hunt. After the women leave he looks back at the bed, remembering.

WILLIAM. Was it a bad one?

JAMES nods.

JAMES. Jesus, Will… she saw me climb in the kist, like a frightened bairn.

WILLIAM. Aye, well… Tell her you were looking for your wedding ring.

JAMES. Look at me, I’m still shaking with it.

WILLIAM. You’re fine. Are you…? Are you still seeing anything?

JAMES. No. No one here but you and me.

WILLIAM. Good. Hurry up then.

JAMES. Give me a chance.

WILLIAM. Everyone’s waiting, they want to know.

JAMES. Know what?

WILLIAM. What she was like.

JAMES. Jesus. I’ll think of something.

WILLIAM. You look fine, man. No one could tell.

JAMES. Thanks.

WILLIAM. Now, let’s go hunting.

In Balvenie’s Room

BALVENIE is carefully sorting deeds and paperwork. There’s the sound of drinking and cheering, off. WILLIAM enters.

WILLIAM is happy.

WILLIAM. Come out and have one with me, Dad. I’ve not even seen you since I got here. Come on.

BALVENIE. You’re drunk.

WILLIAM. We’re just in from the hunt. The first hunt after the King’s wedding. Of course I’m drunk.

BALVENIE. I didn’t ask you here to watch you puke ale all over the place. I want news of my family. Is the baby strong?

WILLIAM. It’s got strong lungs, that’s all I know.

BALVENIE. That’s good. That’s very, very good.

WILLIAM. I brought you a present. Wait till you hear how I got it… It was for the hunt. Why did you not come out with us?

BALVENIE is not listening properly. He interrupts.

BALVENIE. How old are you now?

WILLIAM. Nearly twenty.

BALVENIE. Twenty. Twenty. A man in his young prime. I was twice your age before I had any children at all, how many living have I now?

WILLIAM. I’m bored tripping over them. I’ve no patience for counting them.

BALVENIE. Ten living. Ten.

The crop came late but, man, did it come strong!

What lands have I given you?

WILLIAM. Avoch and Aberdour.

BALVENIE. And what have you found for yourself?

I had no lands at your age. I’ll give you that but I had strong blood. Strong strong blood. I had time on my side. First I learned wisdom, then I grew.

I don’t know if you have time on your side. Your mother’s soft stuff. She falling apart like wet wood.

WILLIAM. The bairns you put in her are killing her.

BALVENIE. Do you think so? That might be it. You might be right. If you put hard metal through a rotten log it will split apart, eh?

Is your sister married yet?

WILLIAM. Which one?