Stone of Destiny

It was only a rock,

a big lump of sandstone.

You might pass right by it.

But to us,

it was a symbol of our freedom,

of our independence.

We all knew about it, of course.

We learned as children how it was the Scottish stone of kings.

But they took it from us.

And as a nation, I suppose we'd forgotten about it.

Time does that.

It was history.

Justice for Scotland!

Support home rule.

Justice for Scotland.

Come to the meeting.

Support home rule.

As I was young and full of passion for my country,

and Scotland needed to reclaim its identity,

it was time for the young to remind us of who we were

and who we could be again.

Sorry!

Justice for Scotland. Sign the petition.

Come to the meeting.

Help with your support.

With your names upon this convenant

of absolute proof of our resolve,

we will plunge this message

into the very heart of Westminster.

We, the people of Scotland,

declare our belief...

that reforming the constitution is necessary

in order to secure good government.

With that end in view,

we solemnly enter this convenant.

We pledge ourselves in all loyalty to the crown

to do everything in our power

to secure for Scotland a Parliament...

with adequate legislative authority in all Scottish affairs.

Scotland will not be ignored!

Aye.

since the war.

You've got to give them time.

Time! Time, they've had centuries.

How many promises have they broken?

In 1707, they--

That's Scottish history. That's our history.

The oldest nation in Europe?

Here we are, the oldest bloody nation in Europe...

You actually think Scotland can look after her own affairs?

Well, certainly not if you're the government.

There's a long way to go, mate.

All I'm saying is, give London a chance.

Here's the chance right here.

Now let's see what they do with it.

I'll tell you this. If Scotland is ever going to be a nation again, we--

Stop!

Shut your stupid mouth.

There is no bloody nation.

There's nothin' but wind and rain and mud and shit.

Look at that. What does that say?

North Britain. See?

We're all British now!

Scotland's dead.

It died in its sleep.

Nobody even gave it a funeral.

On the platter.

Can I give you a lift?

No, you'll kill me.

I heard you in there tonight. You know what you are?

An anarchist.

A menace to society.

That's a compliment.

Get on, then, I'll do you a favor.

All right.

-You on? -Yep.

Be careful now.

Here we go.

Oh,no. Oh, no.

Oh, I broke my bum.

So, been to Jack's recently?

Yes, Dad.

How's your studies going, well?

Fine.

Speak up, please.

Aye, fine.

You still thinking about law?

I'm not decided yet, but...

You still with that covenant thing?

Aye.

Harris, please.

Oh, Maggie, look at him.

He's not stupid.

Why can't he concentrate on his studies?

I am concentrating on my studies. No, you're not.

You're throwing your life away with all that nationalist rubbish.

There's nothing wrong with having pride in your country.

That's not the point.

Nobody could be prouder of Scotland than I am and you know it.

But you have to go on in life.

I know. I know, and I said I might try law.

Well, when?

You try this, you try that. When?

Sweetheart, he's only come home for the day and Bill's here.

How are your studies, Bill?

Good, sir.

You're onto your second degree, aren't you?

Aye, sir.

Still president of the student union?

I'm--I'm not throwing my life away.

But if I see wrongs that need to be righted--

There's always something wrong, isn't there?

Well, let me tell you something, lad.

What's wrong is not out there.

What's wrong is in here.

This is a world for doers...

not for dreamers.

Try and make something of your life, son.

Here's those things.

If the trousers don't fit, bring them back.

I'll make a pillow cover.

Remember your father gave you that.

He doesn't mean to be harsh, Ian.

He had the same fire as you when he was young.

But the world's not easy. He's worked hard.

Made a good life for us all. I know, Ma, I know.

He is proud of you, you know.

Well, let him say so, then.

[birds chirping, people talking]

Thank you.

Ian.

Bastards, eh?

We'll get them next time.

Aye? Aye.

They can't ignore this forever.

How can they not?

People are outraged. No, they're not.

How can you say that? Because, it's bullshit, Bill.

Look, just calm down.

It didn't even make the headline.

It's on the front page.

Oh, come on, mate.

How can people not care about their own country?

People care. It's just...

What?

They're busy.

Look, mate...

nobody cared more about the covenant than I did.

Thought I'd find you here.

Ian's blowing his fuse again.

Come on, we'll get a pint and we'll talk about it.

No more talk, all right? I'm serious.

Someone's got to do something.

So what you going to do then?

Get an army? Invade England? Of course not.

Then what, Ian? What?

A symbol.

We need a symbol, a gesture.

Something to wake these people up a bit.

An act of revolution. A salt march.

A what?

You know, Gandhi.

When they marched across India protesting taxes on salt.

Oh, so you're Gandhi now.

No, because Bill, you know--

You know what we are? You know what Scottish people are?

We're ashamed.

We're ashamed of being Scottish.

Screw them, because I'm not.

Oh, look. Wendy Wood.

She was a friend of my Mum's.

You're out of your mind.

It's in Westminster Abbey, right across from--

I know where it is.

So it's protected.

It's not some bloody souvenir.

I'll take three postcards, a tea towel,

and, oh yes, the Stone of Destiny.

But think of what it will mean.

It's the single most powerful symbol.

I don't care. That's not the point.

They'll put you away. You'll get 20 years.

You may as well go for the crown jewels.

You'll never get away with it.

I might.

All right, let's say you pull it off.

You somehow get out of the Abbey and all the way back to Scotland.

What are you going to do with it then?

I've not thought about that.

That's up to the people of Scotland.

But I'll tell you this, if it doesn't raise them to their feet

to fight and cheer for this country,

then Scotland really is dead, but at least we'll know.

It weighs a ton. You'll never even lift it.

I'm not by myself.

Oh, you evil man.

I'm six months from a degree. I know.

Lovely position waiting.

And here you come with your crazy schemes offering me what?

Complete destruction of everything I've ever worked for.