Below the walls of Sir Archibald Brodie's castle, an old-fashioned joust is about to commence between Brodie and his English adversary, Sir Henry Milburn. For some reason, confidence in the Scottish camp is not high. We discover why.
LADY KATE (Brodie's wife) A fine mess Brodie's in this time. Even if he does survive, he'll lose the respect o' the men. Whit'll they think when see him pairted frae his horse, erse first? It's yin o' those twists o' fate, but I first met Brodie at a joust.
INA (a young servant) Is that a fact, Ma'am?
LADY KATE It was at a tournament at Langholm. I was seated in the grandstand alang wi' umpteen ither lassies. Effie was beside me. She was my personal maid then. There he was, this young birkie, aboot tae ride in the lists, astride a muckle grey horse. I'd never seen sic a braw handsome figure.
EFFIE (another servant) Aye, the horse wis nice.
LADY KATE (shoots her a glance, then continues) He rode alang the front o' the stand, his lance raised in oor direction. As he passed alang, each lassie would lean forward in anticipation, clutchin their fine silken scarves, hopin he'd present his lance and beg tae wear their colours in the joust.
INA Oh, it's sae romantic.
LADY KATE But he passed them by, yin efter anither, until he reached me.
INA (captivated) And then?
LADY KATE He stopped. I could haurdly believe my eyes as he lowered his lance before me. He raised his visor, looked me ower, and spoke those first words.
INA (dreamily) "Honour me with your colours, fair maiden."
LADY KATE Naw. "Will you gie the end o' my lance a wee bit clean wi' your fancy cloot?"
INA Huh! Did he win?
LADY KATE You're jokin. His first opponent gied him a mouthfu' o' gress.
