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!

JAMES. I haven’t given any orders!

They’re still pulling at LIVINGSTON.

I haven’t given any orders!

What are you doing in my name! In my name? In my name? I don’t even know what you’re fucking doing!

Everyone stops. Everyone looks at JAMES.

(Looking at MARY.) Yes. Yes it is that day.

LIVINGSTON. Thank you. Thank you, Your Majesty, I like to think I always did teach you good sense.

JAMES moves closer to LIVINGSTON.

JAMES. Where did you get that ring?

LIVINGSTON. What?

JAMES lifts LIVINGSTON’s hand, showing the ring.

JAMES. That’s the King’s ring. My father’s ring, where did you get it?

LIVINGSTON. It was… I don’t know exactly…

What has that to do with anything! Can you not see what’s happening here!?

JAMES. I remember where you got this ring! I remember and I’ve never forgotten!

JAMES takes the ring from LIVINGSTON.

(Quiet.) Arrest him.

(Louder.) This is your King talking! Arrest him! Lock him up!

LIVINGSTON is dragged off through the small crowd. He’s yelling back at JAMES.

LIVINGSTON. Aye, play their game and see what happens! They’ll have you! They’ll finish you! I’m all that stands between you and their knives! You’re dead now, you idiot boy! Dead!

BALVENIE addresses the crowd.

BALVENIE. There’ll be no more games now. The King needs a new Chancellor!

With your permission, Your Majesty, my lords… Crichton… I offer my service, my experience, my… wisdom to you all. (A pause.) Crichton?

CRICHTON. Aye… that’ll do for today.

BALVENIE. Your King must consult his council.

There’s work to be done today.

JAMES. No, we’ll have the football first, surely.

BALVENIE. Your Majesty, that would be very unwise.

JAMES. I promised my Queen. I want to play football.