I’ll come into my power soon. You’ll see. One day soon.

MARY. Well, I hope this day comes before the baby.

JAMES. What baby?

MARY. Nom de Dieu, are you a baby still?

JAMES. You’re…

Are you…?

MARY. What did you expect?

JAMES. Oh my God!

Everyone turns to look.

MARY. Careful. All your advisers will scold you for being so noisy.

JAMES. But… Mary, that’s…

MARY (cutting him off again). So when the day comes that you are really the King, tell me. My son will be a prince. His father should be a king. I do not want to die before I see this.

A huge surge of music, triumphant.

Castle Courtyard

LIVINGSTON. Your King’s coming in! The King’s coming in!

The chant and reprise as in James I. The MUSICIANS have got closer and closer to LIVINGSTON on this chant, at the final shout, as if they’re doing a trick, they suddenly have weapons in their hands, pointing at LIVINGSTON’s throat.

A silence.

CRICHTON moves slowly in on LIVINGSTON.

Aye, very funny, very funny. Enough of the jokes, the King needs…

CRICHTON. This is no joke. We’re arresting you.

LIVINGSTON. Arresting me! For what?

CRICHTON. You’ve stolen the King’s wealth long enough.

LIVINGSTON. Crichton, the King has seen all the tricks and jokes he needs to for Holy Innocents’ Day. Balvenie! Tell them!

BALVENIE. This is no trick. I can’t help you, Livingston, sorry. Not my place to meddle in the King’s business.

LIVINGSTON. The King’s business!? The King’s business!? What does any man here know about that if I don’t?

CRICHTON. Out of his own mouth.

LIVINGSTON. Balvenie! Get the crown officers!

CRICHTON. What makes you think Douglas would stand with you? You’re a dusty wee owl trying to roost wi peacocks, Livingston, but we’re plucking your feathers the day.

LIVINGSTON. Balvenie!?

BALVENIE. The thing is… no one likes you, Livingston. You made too many enemies. And now you stand alone.

LIVINGSTON. You two-faced, lying, treasonous bastard, Balvenie! I’ll burn your guts before your face for this!

BALVENIE. It’d be a brave man who stood at your back now, Livingston, and you never thought I was a brave man, did you?

CRICHTON (pitching over LIVINGSTON). Your Majesty, King James, by your orders and in your name we arrest Livingston for crimes against Your Royal Majesty, to whit, the appropriation and mismanagement of the royal revenue for his own benefit and the benefit of his family…

As CRICHTON is talking, LIVINGSTON is seized. He struggles, trying to shout over CRICHTON.

LIVINGSTON. I took nothing that wasn’t mine. I worked for the King. I worked for Scotland. Who’d’ve have ruled this country if I hadn’t. A child! A clueless half-grown boy who knows more about falling off horses and playing ball games than he’ll ever be able to learn about running a country. A snot-faced bairn greitin for his ma! You want him to rule you? Good luck!

CRICHTON (pitching over LIVINGSTON). You are arrested by order of the King!