SYNOPSIS

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ACT TWO

SCENE ONE - THE COURT/SCOTLAND

The curtain opens on a colourful scene at Court in London with the ball in full swing. The King is in good humour and flirting outrageously with the women – “Come and Dance with me”. He takes the woman by the hand and dances and the whole room is alive with dancing. The scene changes to Scotland where the Covenanters are round a fire, some are dancing whilst others look on. John and Isabel are dancing as is Meg. James sits and watches. Meg pulls him up to dance, reluctantly he joins her. The atmosphere is one of fun. The scene returns to London and the ball. Scene goes back to Scotland. They are mostly asleep. Isabel is asleep in John’s arms and he sings of his hope for a new future – “ A New Day”.

By now the Scots are awake and they begin to gather up their belongings. Suddenly the soldiers appear with Campbell. “My Time will Come” plays as John and Campbell have a short sword fight where John pins Campbell down. The soldiers are in pursuit of the others who have fled in terror. Meg watches Campbell and John fight from the sidelines. The soldiers return and John/James flee but meet after the fight – “The Oath”

ACT TWO SCENE TWO

The women are in different areas – some are home, some walking and sing about their lives and commitment to their menfolk “I Would Rather Give My Life” . Campbell sees Meg returning from the meeting and watches her. He sings of his frustration “Is it Only in a Dream?”

ACT TWO SCENE THREE - THE COURT

The King and Castlemaine are behaving incredibly lasciviously – reprise of “Something’s Always Happening”. She is teasing him with her favours but in fact making him beg! He ends the scene by deciding to increase the persecution of the Scots

ACT TWO SCENE FOUR - EDINBURGH

Meg is out walking on her way to or from market. Grierson and a couple of soldiers approach her and start teasing her crudely, virtually molesting her. Campbell arrives and rescues her. Grierson challenges him – who does he prefer – the King or his whore? Campbell turns his back on Meg. Grierson drags her away to be drowned. Campbell sings of his dilemma and then follows – “Meg’s Arrest/Drowning” He tries to get Meg to recant but she will not and is drowned by Grierson. Campbell laments over her body and determines to wreak revenge on the Covenanters. Campbell and the Soldiers now wreak their revenge on the helpless civilians – “The Killing Times”

ACT TWO SCENE FIVE - JOHN AND ISABEL’S HOME

Isabel is with the baby in the cradle. John and James burst in. James is being hunted down and so must leave. John and Isabel are alone when Campbell bursts in looking for John/James

He drags John outside and shoots him

Isabel is left alone with Johns body and sings of her despair – “A Moment Like This”

James enters and helps her. After she leaves, he sings of his doubt in carrying on the price is too high- “My Hour of Need”

ACT TWO SCENE SIX - THE COURT

Campbell and the King are arguing. Campbell feels betrayed by the King. After all he fought for the King and saw him restored to the throne in the hope of a new and better future. Is this how he repays him? The King denies ever signing the Covenant and Campbell is indeed betrayed.

ACT TWO SCENE SEVEN - EDINBURGH

James is sitting writing more pamplets and Isabel is seen in her home. James is overheard talking and betrayed and as he leaves is captured by Grierson and taken to the prison – “James’ Arrest”

ACT TWO SCENE EIGHT - PRISON

As in Act One Scene One, the people are walking home, in doorways and in shadow. The town cryer calls as before. James is alone in his cell and wonders whether it was worth it? – “Faith is Strong” reprise Campbell enters and reasons with him – was it worth all the sacrifice? What has he achieved? Isabel enters and encourages James in his faith James is taken to the scaffold, is kicked down by Grierson. Campbell stoops to encourage him and then gives him Meg’s ribbon. He sings to encourage James as he goes to his death. Full cast sing of the martyrs song – “Blude Red”

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