Braveheart Page #20

HAMISH:

Wish I could see the noble lord's

face when he tells him.

LORD TALMADGE, AT HIS COMMAND POST

The husky English commander's blood boils from Cheltham's

report. Before he can respond, they see WALLACE'S SPEARMEN

taking up a position on the far side of the bridge. Suddenly

the Scots turn and lift their kilts and moon the English!

TALMADGE:

Insolent bastard! Full attack! Give

no quarter! And I want this Wallace's

heart brought to me on a plate!

Cheltham spurs his horse to form up the attack...

EXT. THE FIELD BELOW STIRLING CASTLE - DAY

The English army moves forward toward the bridge. It's so

narrow that only a single file of riders can move across it

at any one time. The English heavy cavalry, two hundred

knights, cross uncontested, and form up on the other side.

WITH WALLACE AND THE SCOTS

Things look terrible. Stephen turns to William.

STEPHEN:

The Lord tell me He can get me out

of this mess. But He's pretty sure

you're fooked.

ON THE ENGLISH SIDE

Talmadge sees the Scots doing nothing.

TALMADGE:

Amateurs! They do not even contest

us! Send across the infantry.

GENERAL:

M'lord, the bridge is so narrow --

TALMADGE:

The Scots just stand in their

formations!

Our cavalry will ride them down like grass. Get the infantry

across so they can finish the slaughter!

The English leaders shout orders and keep their men moving

across the bridge. Talmadge gestures for the attack flag.

THE CAVALRY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE

The English knights see the signal banners, telling them to

attack. They take the lances from their squires, and lower

the visors of their helmets. Proud, plumed, glimmering; they

look invincible. Their huge horses, themselves draped in

scarlet and purple, look like tanks. The knights charge!

Their hooves THUNDER; the horses are so heavy the ground

literally shakes with the charge.

The Scots stand and watch them come on. It's difficult to

imagine the courage this takes; from the POV OF THE SCOTTISH

LINES we see the massive horses boring in... we feel the

RISING THUNDER of the charge, closer, closer...

Wallace moves to the front of the lead group of Scots.

WALLACE:

Steady! Hold... hold... NOW!

The Scots snap their 14-foot spears straight up in unison.

WALLACE:

FORM!

Now the spearmen snap the spears forward in ranks, the first

line of men bracing their spears at an angle three feet above

the ground, the men behind them bracing theirs at a five

foot level, the men behind that bracing at seven feet.

The English knights have never seen such a formation. Their

lances are useless and it's too late to stop! The momentum

that was to carry the horses smashing through the men on

foot now becomes suicidal force; knights and horses impale

themselves on the long spears like beef on skewers.

TALMADGE:

can see it; but worse is the SOUND, the SCREAMS OF DYING MEN

AND HORSES, carried to him across the battlefield.

WALLACE AND HIS MEN

are protected, behind a literal wall of fallen chargers and

knights. Wallace draws his broadsword and leads his swordsmen

out onto the field, attacking the knights that are still

alive. Most are off their horses; a few have managed to pull

up their mounts. Wallace and his men are so much more mobile

than the knights; the field runs with blood.

Wallace faces Talmadge in the distance.

WALLACE:

Here I am, English coward! Come get

me!!

TALMADGE is even more enraged -- and his judgment is gone.

TALMADGE:

Press the men across!

CHELTHAM:

But M'lord!

Talmadge himself gallops forward.

TALMADGE:

PRESS THEM!

WALLACE smiles. He grabs Hamish.

WALLACE:

Tell Mornay to ride to the flank and

cross upstream. Wait! Tell him to be

sure the English see him ride away!

Hamish hurries off with the message.

The English infantry keeps moving across the little bridge.

The Scottish nobles watch from their positions on horseback.

They have a few dozen mounted riders, none heavily armored.

LOCHLAN:

If he waits much longer --

Hamish hurries up.

HAMISH:

Ride around and ford behind them!

MORNAY:

We should not divide our forces!

HAMISH:

Wallace says do it! And he says for

you to let the English see you!

MORNAY:

(understanding)

They shall think we run away.

Mornay leads his riders away.

LORD TALMADGE:

sees the Scottish nobles ride off, and shouts to Cheltham...

TALMADGE:

See! Every Scot with a horse is

fleeing! Hurry! Hurry!

He drives half his army across the river.

WALLACE:

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