Braveheart Page #25

PRINCESS:

That is not possible.

But knowing Longshanks' family, she glances at a richly

dressed Advisor, a CRONY of the king, who averts his eyes.

WALLACE:

Longshanks did far worse, the last

time he took a Scottish city.

The Crony mumbles to her in LATIN, WITH SUBTITLES...

CRONY:

(Latin)

He is a murdering bandit, he lies.

WALLACE:

(Latin!)

I am no bandit. And I do not lie.

They are startled at Wallace's fluency in Latin.

WALLACE:

Or in French if you prefer that:

Certainmous et ver! Ask your king to

his face, and see if his eyes can

convince you of the truth.

She stares for a long moment at Wallace's eyes.

PRINCESS:

Hamilton, leave us.

CRONY (HAMILTON)

M'lady --

PRINCESS:

Leave us now.

He reluctantly obeys. Seeing that she wants the exchange to

be private, Wallace turns and nods for his men to leave.

Stephen, who has been admiring the lady's beauty non-stop,

leans in and whispers to William...

STEPHEN:

Her husband's more of a queen than

she is. Did you know that?

Stephen moves off with Hamish and Campbell. Wallace and the

princess are left alone.

PRINCESS:

Let us talk plainly. You invade

England. But you cannot complete the

conquest, so far from your shelter

and supply. The King proposes that

you withdraw your attack. In return

he grants you title, estates, and

this chest with a thousand pounds of

gold, which I am to pay to you

personally.

WALLACE:

A Lordship. And gold. That I should

become Judas.

PRINCESS:

Peace is made is such ways.

WALLACE:

SLAVES ARE MADE IN SUCH WAYS!

The outburst startles even those watching from a distance.

The Princess is mesmerized by Wallace's passion.

PRINCESS:

I understand you have suffered. I

know... about your woman.

WALLACE:

She was my wife. We married in secret

because I would not share her with

an English lord. They killed her to

get to me. And she was pregnant.

The Princess is stunned; Wallace is dead still.

WALLACE:

I've never told anyone. I don't know

why I tell you -- except because you

look... much like her. And someday

you will be a queen, and you must

open your eyes!

(beat)

Tell your king that William Wallace

will not be ruled. Nor will any Scot,

while I live.

The Princess rises slowly from her chair, moves in front of

him, and lowers herself to her knees. The Crony and her other

attendants, seeing this from a distance, are shocked.

PRINCESS:

Sir. I leave this money, as a gift.

Not from the king, but from myself.

And not to you, but to the orphans

of your country.

She lifts her face. Their eyes hold a moment too long.

LATER, EXT. FIELD - DAY

Wallace and his captains sit on horseback at the head of

their company and watch as the Princess' procession leaves.

Hamish studies Wallace's face; Wallace notices and gives him

a non-committal shrug. As the carriage rolls away, its window

curtains lift back slightly. All they see are the Princess'

fingers, but they know she looked back. Wallace reins his

horse away, to ride back to camp.

INT. EDWARD'S PALACE - DAY

The doors open; the Princess enters Longshanks' war council;

Prince Edward is there, among a dozen others.

LONGSHANKS:

My son's loyal wife returns, unkilled

by the heathen. So he accepted our

bribe.

PRINCESS:

No. He did not.

LONGSHANKS:

Then why does he stay? My scouts say

he has not advanced.

PRINCESS:

He waits. For you. He says he will

attack no more towns -- if you are

man enough to come fight him.

LONGSHANKS:

You spoke with this Wallace in

private. What kind of man is he?

PRINCESS:

...A mindless barbarian. Not a king

like you, M'lord.

LONGSHANKS:

The Scottish nobles have sent him no

support. His army starves. Our stall

has worked, he must withdraw. You

may return to your embroidery.

PRINCESS:

Humbly, M'lord.

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