Braveheart Page #23

CAPTAIN:

I should think these smaller

settlements along the border...

They hear shouts as a rider arrives and dismounts. They look

out to see a panicked RIDER, who shouts up...

RIDER:

He advances!

GOVERNOR:

To what town?

RIDER:

He comes here!

SMASH TO:

CARTS, RUMBLING IN PANIC DOWN A ROAD

as civilians flee the walled city in the distance.

THE SCOTTISH ARMY

has cut a huge tree and placed it on wheels. It rumbles

ominously TOWARD CAMERA...

THE CIVILIAN PANIC CONTINUES as more people join the swell

of those leaving York.

THE SCOTTISH ARMY keeps coming on.

INSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CITY - DAY

The governor is furious and confused.

GOVERNOR:

We will not allow a bandit to panic

the greatest city in Northern England!

Close off the escapes! Let no one

leave!

CAPTAIN:

The city has emptied already, Sire.

Only the Scottish civilians remain.

The Governor turns to his captain with a look worthy of his

uncle, Longshanks the King.

ON THE BATTERING RAM

as it picks up speed and SLAMS into the wooden gate of the

city. With the collision, THE BATTLE IS ON. It's a night

battle:
torches, flaming arrows, pots of boiling oil being

splashed down at the attackers, who swarm the gate.

The oil beats the first wave of Scots back, but Wallace rushes

forward, grabbing the ram cart with his own hands; the

attackers rally to him, helping him slam the gate again and

again. It breaks; but behind it is an awful tangle of carts,

broken sheds, impenetrable rubbish. Wallace grabs a torch,

throws it into the wooden tangle, and shouts --

WALLACE:

Back! Wait for it to burn!

INSIDE THE CITY:

The Captain hurries into the tower room.

CAPTAIN:

They've breached the wall!

GOVERNOR:

Then do as I ordered.

OUTSIDE THE WALLS

The Scots wait, biding their time as the barrier burns.

Suddenly they look up in horror; the English are throwing

the bodies of hanged Scots over the wall.

They stare at this in mute shock. Wallace is frozen, his

eyes reflecting his boyhood reaction. His men rush forward.

WALLACE:

STOP! NOT YET! LISTEN TO ME!

(beat)

They wish to frighten us! Or goad us

into attacking too soon! Don't look

away! LOOK!

The Scots look at the hanging bodies.

WALLACE:

Behold the enemy we fight! We will

be more merciful than they have been.

We will spare women, children, and

priests. For all else, no mercy.

Wallace draws his broadsword. The burning debris inside the

gate collapses, leaving a tunnel through the fire. Wallace

screams, and leads the charge through the burning barrier.

INT. THE PALACE IN LONDON - DAY

Prince Edward and Phillip, his fencing friend and lover,

hear a contingent of horsemen clatter into the courtyard

below; they look out the window and see the arrival of

Longshanks.

They lean back into the room and Edward begins to pace

nervously.

PHILLIP:

It is not your fault! Stand up to

him.

Edward shows Phillip the dagger he has concealed in his belt

behind his back.

EDWARD:

I will stand up to him, and more.

Longshanks bangs the door open and stalks in angrily. First

he glares at Phillip with obvious loathing, then turns his

piercing stare to his own son.

LONGSHANKS:

What news of the north?

EDWARD:

Nothing new, Majesty. We have sent

riders to speed any word.

LONGSHANKS:

While I am in France fighting to

expand your future kingdom I learn

that Stirling castle is lost, our

entire northern army wiped out! And

you have done nothing?!

EDWARD:

I have ordered conscriptions...

A messenger enters and hands the prince a message. Edward

reads it and nearly loses his balance.

EDWARD:

Wallace has sacked York!

LONGSHANKS:

Impossible.

(to messenger)

How dare you bring a panicky lie.

The messenger has also brought a basket. He approaches the

central table with great dread and places the basket on it,

uncovering its contents. Prince Edward is closest; he looks

in, then staggers back, stunned. Longshanks moves to the

sack coldly, looks in, and withdraws the severed head of his

nephew, York's (former) Governor.

PHILLIP:

Sire! Thy own nephew! What beast

could do such a thing?!

The king drops the head back into the sack, unmoved.

LONGSHANKS:

If he can sack York, he can invade

lower England.

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