ACT TWO

The Court scene where the King is celebrating with a ball. The scene is interspersed with the scene of the Covenanters at night round the fire. Both groups dancing and celebrating a new era and both groups thinking that they will be successful “The Dance”. At the end of the night, John tells Isabel that he must leave her to take up arms. She lets him go, knowing that they must pay the price. Isabel and Meg encourage each other, and Meg decides she must tell Campbell that she has to break off their relationship. Their reveries are broken up by a sentry rushing in to say that Soldiers are on their way and they must flee “The Escape”

Meg and Campbell meet. She tells him that they can’t be together. He is angry when she tells him that she signed. That one action puts them on different sides. He cannot agree with her and will not support her. They are indeed finished as a couple. She tries to give him back the ribbon but he will have none of it. She leaves him. Alone he mourns the end of their relationship but it strengthens his resolve to end this division in the land. “Is is only in a Dream?”

John and the men ride into Sanquhar and post the Covenant, they disown the King – a treasonable offence “A new world/The Gathering”. They are jubilant. He goes home to visit Isabel. It has been some time since he saw her and they confirm their love and support for each other and the cause. “The last time I saw you/The search”

Campbell has gone to the King and asks for more powers, the Covenanters are growing stronger in number and in battle. They put a price on John’s head. The King agrees that anyone can now be arrested for attending a meeting or being found with a Bible. He is anxious to stamp out rebellion and to crush dissension in the land. The King is pleased with Campbell and promises a place at Court if he succeeds. Campbell leaves triumphant. “I pray in private”

John leaves Isabel the next morning “A new day”. Meg arrives. She is visiting Isabel and tells her that she has ended the relationship with Campbell. The women wish of a better place and better times. “I would rather give my life”

As Meg is walking, she is found by Soldiers with a Bible in her possession and they arrest her. She is taken before the King who is meeting with Campbell. “Something’s always happening reprise”  Thrown to her knees she will not pray for the King and he sentences her to death. Meg begs Campbell for her life and the King forces him to choose between them. Campbell turns his back on Meg, after all, she turned her back on him. Meg is taken away to the river to be drowned. “Meg’s Trial” The King goes to see the drowning and then pointedly asks Campbell if he is coming. He has no choice

On the banks of the river, the soldiers tie Meg to a stake. The King makes Campbell try to get Meg to change her mind, to bow to him. Campbell desperately begs Meg to do so, but she is now determined to keep her faith and will not recant. The King gives the final order to drown her and she dies. The King leaves telling Campbell to remember this moment and who caused it.  Campbell stays holding Meg’s lifeless body in his arms. He takes the ribbon from her hair as his anger against the Covenanters flares and he vows to take revenge on those he feels are responsible. “Campbell’s Revenge”

John appears home, being chased by a troop of soldiers, he cannot stay but needs to warn Isabel to leave. Campbell enters and forces John outside. He shoots him in front of Isabel who defies Campbell and tells him that the King signed the Covenant but it was meaningless. Can he really serve a King that two faced? Is anything he says real? Campbell orders the burning of her house. “ A moment like this”

Campbell alone considers Isabel’s words then goes to the King and confronts him. The King denies ever signing and Campbell realises he has placed his loyalty in a sham. It was all for nothing and a plan to establish the King, nothing more. Distraught, he wanders the streets alone. He finds himself at the gallows where Cargill was hanged and is approached by Isabel with her child in her arms. She speaks to him of the true cause and why Meg died defiant to the end. “Faith is strong” He sees the strength in her eyes and is amazed at her courage. He could have her killed on the spot. She will not be afraid of him though. He watches her go then takes off his sword with the red ribbon tied to it. He puts the ribbon in his pocket and determines that Megs cause will go on.

The mist closes in on him as he vows that their cause will be heard again and that the freedom they died for will be worth it. “Blude Red reprise”

END