WILLIAM. Then why are you still talking to me!? I don’t need to talk to either of you. There’s only one family in this country with power worth spit. Douglas. Maybe Crawford to the north-east, Lord MacDonald in the Isles, they might get close, but you two? Why are you even talking to me? Get away from me.

As they don’t move.

I said, get away from me!

They back off, alarmed.

HUME (calling after him). We came to offer respect, my lord! We came to honour your father and offer you respect! You owe us the courtesy of your attention…

CRICHTON (shushing HUME). Leave it! Don’t provoke him now. Look at him!

WILLIAM is trying to rally the crowd, calling out as DAVEY did before.

WILLIAM. Who holds the border?

Most are just standing, watching, but others group round WILLIAM, a loud, aggressive little army.

DOUGLAS SUPPORTERS. Douglas!

WILLIAM. Who keeps Scotland?

DOUGLAS SUPPORTERS. Douglas!

WILLIAM. Who keeps wee James safe!

DOUGLAS SUPPORTERS. Douglas!

WILLIAM. I said who does the King need!?

DOUGLAS SUPPORTERS. Douglas!

WILLIAM is moving closer to JAMES.

WILLIAM. Just you and me, James. Just you and me at last. Oh man, we can rule Scotland now.

MARY. King James rules Scotland.

WILLIAM. Aye. He does, wee Mary. He does. But I help him, see. I’m his right-hand man. Amn’t I, James?

JAMES. You’re drunk.

WILLIAM. Do you know what? I haven’t had a drop! Amazing, eh? I think this is shock. Or grief. We should drink though, eh?

JAMES. You should calm down, man. Let me do this, alright?

Then we’ll have that drink.

He addresses the watching crowd.

The head of the Douglas family deserves the highest honour.

The DOUGLAS SUPPORTERS whoop and cheer.

And I extend the highest honour to my cousin, my friend, William Earl of Douglas, I hereby appoint him my papal envoy.

There’s a cheer from the DOUGLAS SUPPORTERS. Limp applause from everyone else.

This is news to WILLIAM, he’s completely thrown.

WILLIAM. What?

No, no, no… That’s not what you promised me! No. I’m not leaving the country.

JAMES indicating the watching LORDS.

JAMES (quieter). Look at them, William! They’re like frightened dogs that don’t know whether to bite or run. You need to calm down. You need to stop stirring things up. You need to step away from the crown. It’s making the whole world nervous.

WILLIAM. Step away. From you?

JAMES. From the court.

WILLIAM. You’re sending me away!?

JAMES. It’s an honour! You’ll make a fortune out of it!

WILLIAM. No.

No.

Jamie, don’t do this. Please. Please don’t do this.

JAMES. Come on, Will…

WILLIAM. This is the moment! This is the time! This is the day! You and me, Jamie, you and me!

JAMES. It’s done, Will. It’s done. I need you to go.

A beat. WILLIAM looks at MARY.