A beat.

In the bed MARY has been woken. She turns over angrily, muttering in French.

CRICHTON. Excuse me for disturbing you, Your Majesty.

CRICHTON exits. JAMES is reading the document.

LIVINGSTON. That was well done, Your Majesty.

Come on, we all want our beds now. Sign it.

JAMES. But… why am I giving land to…?

LIVINGSTON. If you read everything, James, we’ll be here till dawn. Sign, stop messing about.

JAMES. Is this your brother-in-law I’m granting the abbey to…?

LIVINGSTON. He is your loyal servant and if that wee display of Crichton’s didn’t remind you let me tell you you’d have precious few of those without me and mine. It’s for the good of the realm! Sign and shut up!

JAMES signs.

They’re coming for us. Don’t think they’re not.

JAMES. Who?

LIVINGSTON. I don’t know… no him alane. He’s too sleekit to jump till he sees the shore. But he’s bold enough for threats again, is he? Well, we’ll hold them off. Just do what I tell you when I tell you and we’ll see them all off. Never you fear, wee Majesty. I’ll keep us safe. There.

(Gathering up papers.) That’s us done.

(Bowing, more formal.) It’s well done, Your Majesty, and done in your name. Sleep well, Your Majesty.

LIVINGSTON exits. JAMES gets into bed by MARY.

After a moment, JAMES becomes aware of noise and movement at his writing table. Someone is sitting there.

JAMES gets up and moves closer to see.

It’s YOUNG DOUGLAS. He’s covered in blood. He holds up bloodstained papers.

YOUNG DOUGLAS. In the King’s name.

JAMES is panicking, he tries to get to his kist. YOUNG DOUGLAS and DAVEY are blocking his way. JAMES pulls a knife from under his pillow.

MARY wakes up abruptly.

JAMES (trying to get past YOUNG DOUGLAS and DAVEY). No! Please! I’m sorry, please!

ISABELLA. The dark ones will put their bloody knives in your hand and you’ll do their work.

MARY goes to him.

MARY. James? James?

ANNABELLA hurries in.

(Looks round for help.) It is happening again. Someone help!

ANNABELLA. Oh God, look at his eyes!

YOUNG DOUGLAS. Why are you frightened, aren’t we family?

DAVEY. Cousin James.

MARY. What is it? James?

ANNABELLA crosses herself.

What is he looking at? What is he seeing?

ANNABELLA. I don’t know!

JAMES. They made me do it, they made me… it wasn’t my fault…

MEG hurries on.

MEG. Oh Christ save us.

(To MARY.) Leave him, pet, you can’t reach him.

(Calling off.) Is William Douglas out there? Fetch him in, the King needs him!

MARY. Why does he do this!? Il est fou ou quoi? Is he possessed?

MEG hurries off. JAMES cries out again.

JAMES (gabbling to himself, still trying to pass). Get in the box get in the box get in the box…

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

MARY is suddenly between JAMES and the ghosts.

MARY. What does he look at? What is there?