Braveheart Page #12

We STAY IN THE LONG SHOT, seeing William asking anxiously

for any news, and seeing Hamish's great shoulders as he tells

him something that makes William step backwards...

EXT. LANARK VILLAGE - DAY

At a barrier across the main road into the center of the

village are twenty professional soldiers, entrenched, fully

armed -- bows, pikes, swords. They hear A HORSE'S SNORT...

THE ENGLISH SOLDIERS' POV - WALLACE, ON HIS HORSE

He has stopped, rock still. The soldiers hush; there is

something unsettling about this man alone, staring at the

twenty of them, as if to steel himself for the butchery.

Wallace raises his sword, screams... and charges!

EXT. VARIOUS ANGLES - LANARK VILLAGE - DAY - THE FIGHT

We FAVOR WALLACE'S SUBJECTIVE POV: the barrier as his horse

pounds toward it, the faces of the enemy soldiers with their

eyes white with fear... They stand to shoot at him with their

bows; the arrows WHISH toward the lens, fly past...

The arrows tear through Wallace's clothes, but don't catch

his flesh. He charges on; his horse LEAPS the barrier as

Wallace simultaneously swings the broadsword -- and he's

more than an expert: the tip, at the end of a huge arc, nearly

breaks the sound barrier and the blade bites through the

corporal's helmet, taking off the upper half of his head!

The soldiers try to rally, to shoot him in the back as his

horse leaps over them. One of them has sighted William's

back... But Hamish and his father crash into them! It's a

wild fight; old Campbell takes an arrow through the shoulder

but keeps hacking with his sword; Hamish batters down two

men -- and more Scots arrive! They overwhelm the soldiers.

WALLACE RACES THROUGH THE VILLAGE - FAVORING HIS POV

He dodges obstacles in the narrow streets -- chickens, carts,

barrels. Soldiers pop up; the first he gallops straight over;

the next he whacks forehand, like a polo player; the next

chops down on his left side; every time he swings the

broadsword, a man dies.

Wallace gallops on; his farmer neighbors, and people from

the village, follow in his wake.

EXT. IN THE VILLAGE - DAY

The Magistrate hears the APPROACHING SHOUTS. He and thirty

more of his men are barricaded around the village square.

MAGISTRATE:

Don't look surprised! We knew he'd

bring friends!

The see Wallace gallop into sight; but he stops, then heads

down a side street.

The Magistrate and his men don't like this; where did he go?

Which way will he come from? And then they hear the horses,

and see the other Scots, at the head of the main street. The

soldiers unleash a volley of arrows at them.

They are loading to fire again when Wallace runs in -- on

foot! -- and cuts down two soldiers! The other Scots charge!

The startled soldiers break and run in every direction.

The Magistrate, abandoned, runs too. Wallace pursues.

Not far along a twisting lane, the bulky Magistrate falters.

He turns to fight, and Wallace slashes away his sword.

MAGISTRATE:

No! I beg you... mercy!

IN THE TOWN SQUARE

As the Scots see Wallace, they break off pursuing the English

soldiers and stop to watch; dragging the Magistrate by his

hair, Wallace hauls him back into the village square, slams

him against the well, and stands over him with heaving lungs

and wild eyes, staring at Marion's murderer.

MAGISTRATE:

Please. Mercy!

Wallace's eyes shift, falling on

THE STAIN OF BLOOD

Marion's blood, in a dark dry splash by the wall of the well,

the stain dripping down onto the dirt of the street. Wallace

spins, jerks back the Magistrate's head, and cuts his throat

with the sword.

ON THE OTHER SCOTS

Silenced by what they've just seen and done. On old Campbell's

face is a look of reverence, and awe.

CAMPBELL:

Say Grace to God, lads. We've just

seen the coming of the Messiah.

William staggers a few steps, and collapses to his knees.

And then not just the Scottish farmers but the townspeople

too begin a strange, Hi-Lo chant.

CROWD:

AHHHHHHH-UHHHHHH! AHHHHHH-UHHHHHH!

William's wild eyes slowly regain their focus. And there in

the dirt beside the well, he sees the severed cloth strip he

gave to Marion, now stained with her blood. He lifts it,

crushes it in his hand, as the Highlanders chant for war.

EXT. LANARK VILLAGE - NIGHT

The villagers are still excited by what just happened; at

the blacksmith's forge, men tend to Campbell's wound...

CAMPBELL:

Pour it straight into the wound. I

know it seems a waste of good whiskey,

but indulge me.

They obey, then take a glowing poker from the fire and run

it through Campbell's shoulder, where the arrow went. There

is a terrible SIZZLE, and Campbell reacts to the pain.

CAMPBELL:

Ah. Now that'll clear your sinuses,

lads.

Campbell looks down at his left hand. His thumb is missing!

CAMPBELL:

Well bloody Hell, look at this! Now

it's nothing but a fly swatter.

Wallace is sitting alone nearby, staring at nothing. Hamish

moves over and puts a hand on his shoulder. Wallace looks at

his friend, and looks away; killing the Magistrate did not

bring Marion back.

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