The Scots Detective examines the scene of a crime - a dark and creepy interior. The scene suggests a murder has taken place. The role of the Scots Detective is to find out about the crime. Questions are posed which link the role of a historian researching the past to that of a detective investigating a crime.

Scene 2

The Scots Detective is travelling to Arbroath Abbey. He introduces the declaration of Arbroath and in so doing, links into the themes of Scottish freedom, identity and nationhood, which are explored in more detail later in the programme.

Scenes 3-5

All of these link to the death of King Alexander III and the crisis that befell Scotland.

Scene 4 introduces the Detective's computer friend 'Sam', who provides factual on-screen information relevant to the content of the scene - in this case, details of Alexander III.

The scene continues with a reference to Alexander's next of kin - Margaret, Maid of Norway - and how her death deepened Scotland's crisis. With no clear successor there were several claimants for the Scottish throne. Scotland faced the possibility of civil war.

The end of Scene 5 leads into the choice of Edward I of England as a 'referee' to sort out who would be next ruler of Scotland, thereby avoiding the risk of a civil war.

'Sam' provides on-screen information about Edward I, along with a portrait of him.

Scene 6

The first 'expert witness' is called to explain a potentially complex issue. In this case it is Fiona Watson of Stirling University.

She explains Edward's involvement and why an unstable Scotland was both a danger and of interest to Edward.

Scene 7

The scene starts at Norham Castle and focuses on the issue of Scottish independence. Was Scotland a separate and independent country or was it, as Edward suggested, part of his realm, since he claimed to be the feudal ruler of all the British Isles?

The Scots Detective quotes from Geoffrey Monmouth's 'History of the Kings of Britain', a fanciful source but one which was used by Edward to justify his claim. Monmouth's book appeared in 1135.

Scene 8

Scene 8 has the Scots Detective quoting from a document signed by Edward in 1292 in which he called himself 'Superior Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland'. As the Detective says, it appears that Edward's intentions were clear.

Scene 9

Scene 9 tells us that John Balliol was chosen by Edward to become 'King John of Scotland' but that he swore homage to Edward. In other words Balliol accepted Edward as his superior - to be blunt, Balliol accepted Edward as his boss. 'Sam' gives on-screen details of Balliol.

Scene 10

Scene 10 introduces Scene 11. The concept of Scottish identity and national awareness is aired, along with the question of to what extent Edward's ambitions in Scotland caused the sense of nationhood to grow.

Scene 11

Scene 11 allows an expert witness, Ted Cowan (Glasgow University) to develop the idea of Scottish identity.

Scene 11a provides another piece of evidence about Scotland the nation. A map of 1250 clearly shows Scotland as a separate kingdom, and not just a province of England.

Scene 11a ends with a reference to Scotland's reaction to Edward's attempt to control it.

The scene is set for the next scenes concerning Edward's war against Scotland and the resistance led by William Wallace.

Scene 12

Scene 12 continues with a brief account of Edward's war against Scotland in 1296 and the destruction of Berwick.

Scene 13

Scene 13 focuses briefly on a topical piece of evidence. It shows the Stone of Destiny - a very solid piece of Scottish identity. By taking it to London, Edward was attempting to remove Scotland's identity, so once again the concept of national identity is revisited.

Scene 14

Scene 14 is the first of a series of scenes dealing with William Wallace. It starts with a wanted poster claiming that Wallace was guilty of murder and it displays a picture, supposedly of Wallace. The Scots Detective reminds us that Wallace is still very much an unknown person in history. We have no picture of him and later in the programme, it is made clear that much of what we 'know' about Wallace comes from unreliable sources.

Scenes 15-16

However, Scene 15 shows the letter from Wallace to the merchants of Lubeck reminding them that Scotland is still a functioning independent state. We also see a 'safe conduct' pass issued to Wallace by the King of France. This was with him when he was captured. It is one of the few items belonging to Wallace that we still have.

Scene 16 briefly mentions Wallace's execution.

Scene 17

Scene 17 then switches back to a pageant at Arbroath re-enacting the trial of Wallace. As the sentence of execution is read out, the Scots Detective (scene17b) hints at the issue of bias in assessing Wallace. This Scottish hero was, to the English, a murdering traitor and terrorist. As the Scots Detective says, 'it depends how you look at it.'

Scenes 18-19

Scenes 18 and 19 introduce Robert the Bruce to the story. The Detective is in a forensic laboratory, looking at the skull of Robert the Bruce. Recently, attempts have been made to rebuild his face and the man who did the reconstruction - Ian MacLeod - speaks to camera in Scene 20, commenting specifically on the facial features caused by battle scars.

Scene 21

Scene 21 moves onto the issue of Bruce as national patriot or an ambitious murderer. Sam provides an on-screen 'record' of Bruce's alleged murder of Comyn in 1306.

Scene 22

Scene 22 takes us back to the murder at Greyfriars Church. The outline of a body is marked on the floor. The Detective reminds us that we don't know exactly what happened in the church, but he asserts that we do know the motive for the murder and that motive was personal gain for Bruce. He wanted to be king.

Scene 23

Scene 23 allows an expert witness - Fiona Watson- to remind us that the action of Bruce in having himself made king marked a new phase in the struggle for independence. Until then, resistance had been carried out in the name of King John Balliol. Now Scotland was divided between those who remained loyal to the Balliol/Comyn group and those who supported Bruce.

Scene 24

Scene 24 takes us to Bannockburn. The Scots Detective gives a very brief summary of the battle but the main thrust of the scene is to make us question the evidence. What do we really know about the battle? We are reminded that most of what we know about Bruce and Bannockburn is part of a national myth based on the writings of John Barbour, who wrote a long poem about Bruce's adventures long after the events happened. Barbour's account was written to praise Bruce and in fact, the Detective calls Barbour a spin doctor - a modern political term to describe people who are employed to put the best possible interpretation - or spin - on any event, no matter how bad it might look to others. At best, Barbour based his account of Bruce on what he heard from older people who had known Bruce long before. Not the most reliable sources for accurate evidence you might think! However, Professor Archie Duncan does say that two other written sources - both English - tend to back up Barbour's basic facts. 'So we have controls,' says the Professor.

Scene 25

Scene 25 deals with the reliability issue by using expert witness Archie Duncan to give his view of Barbour's 'Brus'.

The next scene - 25a -moves to Arbroath Abbey and the Detective quotes the famous extract from the Declaration of Arbroath about a hundred of us remaining alive. The Detective claims it is the most famous document in Scottish history.

Scene 26

Professor Ted Cowan says that the Declaration is a letter to the Pope asking him to recognise Bruce as King of Scotland. It is the first appearance in history of the 'contractual theory of monarchy' and the Scots nobles are asserting the right to replace Bruce with another king should he ever submit Scotland to the rule of England.

Scene 27

Scene 27 ends the programme with the Detective summing up the quantity and quality of the evidence available. He concludes that our evidence is very limited and of variable reliability. We should, as historians or detectives, ask very serious questions about our evidence before jumping to conclusions.