Page 18 of Hollywood Games
‘Let me tell you about B2, Zoe. I bet you’re desperate to know my vision. Let me set the scene.’ He leaned forward as if imparting life or death news. ‘Wallace has been killed by the Brits; Scotland is on its knees. Its women are weeping, its babies are crying. It needs a saviour. It needs a hero. And that hero...’
He thumped the centre of his chest and Zoe jumped.
‘…isme.’
The arrival of a dusty bottle of champagne broke Brad’s intense stare. Clive expertly popped the cork and poured two glasses. Brad held his to Zoe’s and chinked the edge. ‘To B2,’ Brad toasted.
‘B2,’ Zoe echoed.
‘And us,’ Brad replied.
Zoe gulped more champagne as Clive handed them the menu.
‘There’s a sheet with the specials of the day inside,’ he said. ‘I’ll give you as long as you need.’
Brad gave a cursory glance at the menu. ‘No need, I know what I want.’
Clive elbowed Kayleigh who got out her notepad and pen.
‘I’ll have the confit duck, but served with two poached hen egg whites instead of a duck egg, and I want the whites cooked separately with a dash of apple cider vinegar in the water. I’ll have it with asparagus, not green beans, and apricot rather than plum sauce in a separate bowl, and hold the potatoes. Do you have any quinoa?’
Zoe bit the inside of her cheek as Kayleigh made frantic notes.
‘I think we’re out of quinoa at the moment but I’ll see what chef can do,’ Clive replied. ‘Any bread, olives? Any starters? We’ve got some fantastic local smoked salmon.’
‘Sounds awesome. Yes, smoked salmon for both of us, with olives. No bread, and also a green salad, no spinach, and an olive oil dressing on the side.’ He passed the menu back to Clive. ‘What do you want, Zoe?’
She knew what she really wanted was never going to be on any menu so she ordered a T-bone steak in his honour.
‘And how would you like that cooked, Madam?’
‘Blue please.’
Clive hid his surprise, but Brad slapped his thigh.
‘I knew you were a wild one!’
‘Any chips or sides?’ asked Clive.
‘No thanks, just the steak.’
‘Woah, baby! Intense!’ whooped Brad as Clive took her menu and departed with Kayleigh. Brad ran his eye over Zoe again, as if assessing a prize racehorse. His look was appreciative but avaricious. He tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. ‘You’re one beautiful lady, Zoe. You’ve got the class of the English and the grit of the Scots. I could stare into your eyes and listen to your voice all day.’ He swigged from his glass. ‘So, B2. I’m Robert the Bruce. I have land; I have a castle; I have power. But the English fear me. They know I want independence for Scotland, to liberate my people from the colonial yoke of oppression. And they know I have a wife. Mary is the most beautiful woman in the whole of Scotland. Fiery red curls, milk-white skin, deep brown eyes. When I think of Mary, I see you, Zoe.’ He reached again to touch her hair. Zoe blushed and lifted her glass to her lips. Brad formed his hand into a fist. ‘So, they strike!’ He banged the table and Zoe jumped again. ‘I’m away from my castle when the English soldiers come. They kill the guards and kill Mary. The only thing left of her is a long red curl, smeared with blood.’ Brad paused to let the horror of the scene sink in.
Zoe felt she should be encouraging him. ‘So, what happens next?’
‘I’m a wanted man. There’s a bounty on my head and nowhere is safe. I have to flee, flee where they will never follow. So, I set sail… for America.’ Brad sat back, his arms spread, letting his alternative facts about the past sink in. ‘Think about it, Zoe. Why do you think there are so many Scottish people in the US? Scots discovered the free world. I’m going to rewrite the history books, baby!’
Zoe’s glass was now empty and she needed a distraction. Fortunately, Clive and Kayleigh arrived and laid out a huge platter of smoked salmon, with olives and a green salad. Brad served her and she tucked in, hungry even after the bowl of soup and shortbread at Morag’s. The plot for the film sounded completely bonkers, but at least she knew it couldn’t get any weirder. After a few mouthfuls, Brad continued. He was on a roll.
‘So, I’m Robert the Bruce and I’ve found America. A warrior in an unknown land, mourning his wife and country. I only have a few men with me but we are taken captive by a Native American tribe. Their chief doesn’t know if we are gods or devils so we prove our worth by the sword. They’ve never seen weapons like ours, and we’ve never seen ninja skills like theirs. In no time, we are brothers, learning each other’s ways. As a mark of respect the chief gives me his daughter, Niquira, to be my wife. I fall in love with her, but nothing is ever the same as what I felt for you.’
Brad paused to pour out more champagne. ‘I’m learning how to be a Native American ninja, I have a new wife, but know I have to go back. I have to save my country. The chief knows my pain. He knows what it is to live under the rule of another, so he gives me an army of his strongest men and we set sail back to Scotland, Niquira too. We make landfall late at night and I travel to a nearby castle, where I know I have an ally. He gives me shocking news…’
Brad looked up at Zoe as if waiting for a response.
‘What?’
‘Mary isalive.’
