ISABELLA. A king has no friends. You’re strong, little King. I came out to watch you die but you’ve beaten my cursing.

What will I do now?

JAMES. Go away.

Go and do whatever you like.

ISABELLA. Whatever I like?

JAMES. Yes.

ISABELLA. Have you a knife about you then?

Without standing up, JAMES holds up a knife for her. She comes and takes it. She’s about to stab him. She hesitates.

Aw Christ, you look like Walter. Oh my darling…

JAMES. I’ve her dark blood. It got out. It got out. I killed him.

ISABELLA. What can you do? You’re the King. You’ve done what you had to. You did well.

Oh I’m tired, son. I’m tired of all of this. I’m weak but my body’s too strong, it wouldn’t let me die. I can’t even remember their faces. But there’s Walter looking at me, there you are, darling… look at the state of you… let’s clean you up, eh?

She takes her sleeve or cloth and starts cleaning the blood off him.

We hear MEG singing off, a lullaby.

That’s a brave wolf-killer. King of Scotland? King of Scotland? You’re just a messy wee bairn, that’s what you are, A happy, messy wee bairn.

JAMES cradles WILLIAM as she wipes the blood.

End.

James III: The True Mirror

JAMES III

THE TRUE MIRROR

Characters

Characters

JAMES III, King of Scots

MARGARET, Queen of Scots, originally Danish

JAMIE, the eldest Prince, future James IV, thirteen to fifteen years old

ROSS, the middle Prince, eleven to thirteen years old

JOHN, Head of the Privy Council

COCHRANE, a lord of the court, twenties

RAMSAY, the King’s personal servant, twenties

DAISY, a laundress, twenties

SANDY, the King’s younger brother

ANNABELLA, the King’s paternal aunt

PHEMY, a younger lady of the court, fifteen years old

TAM, a member of the household, sixteen years old

A CHOIR, MEMBERS OF THE COURT and PARLIAMENT, SOLDIERS, GUARDS, etc.

Act One

ACT ONE

The Great Hall, Stirling Castle

A dance. Various members of the Scottish court whirling on the dance floor. JAMES III and DAISY are sitting out of the dance watching MARGARET dancing. MARGARET is very lavishly dressed with a lot of jewellery.

DAISY. She’s really well dressed, isn’t she?

JAMES. Who?

DAISY. The Queen.

JAMES. Yes.

DAISY. Maybe too many jewels… but that’s beautiful on her, isn’t it? That colour.

JAMES. Wonderful with her eyes.

DAISY. Aye. The King still goes to her room, you know. You can see why.

JAMES. Yes.

DAISY. That’s who I’m waiting to see. The King. They say he’s beyond gorgeous.

JAMES. Do they?

DAISY. My friends do.

JAMES. You’ve got friends here?