Braveheart Page #26

She barely curtseys, and starts out.

EDWARD:

You brought back the money, of course?

He already knows she didn't; Hamilton is standing near him.

PRINCESS:

No. I have it to ease the suffering

of the children of this war.

LONGSHANKS:

(glances at son)

This is what happens when you must

send a woman. And a fool.

PRINCESS:

Forgive me, Sire. I thought that

generosity might demonstrate your

greatness to those you mean to rule.

LONGSHANKS:

My greatness is better demonstrated

with this.

From a box at his feet the king withdraws a crossbow and

throws it onto the table. Most of those there are shocked.

EDWARD:

The weapon has been outlawed by the

Pope himself!

LONGSHANKS:

So the Scots will have none of them,

will they? My armorers have already

made a thousand.

Longshanks smiles. No one notices that the Princess is deadly

pale.

EXT. WALLACE ARMY CAMP - DAY

The Scots are lining up to leave their encampment. Wallace

is about to give the signal to start the march when Hamish,

beside him, comes alert; a small group of riders in

distinctive attire are coming toward them; what can this be?

HAMISH:

William -- French guards?

The riders stop at a distance, and out from their ranks comes

a single rider, sitting sidesaddle. It is Nicolette.

Wallace and Hamish recognize her from the Princess's visit.

She trots her horse the rest of the way, while the French

guards stay back. Hamish helps her from her horse. She moves

to Wallace, and opens the heavy folds of her heavy riding

cape.

Secreted there, hung from a rope at her neck, is a crossbow.

EXT. A FIELD IN SCOTLAND - DAY

Wallace has gathered the nobles, among them Robert the Bruce,

Mornay, and old Craig, for a demonstration. Hamish and Stephen

have placed a spearman's chestplate against a bale of hay.

As William cranks the crossbow to its full cocked position

and places a bolt in its slot, Stephen tucks a melon behind

the armor.

William aims... and fires. The bolt slashes through the air

and punches through the armor and the melon, leaving no doubt

what it would do to a man's heart. The nobles pale.

CRAIG:

That is why the Pope outlawed the

weapon! It makes war too terrible.

MORNAY:

How many does Longshanks have?

WALLACE:

A thousand.

(beat)

You have made me Guardian of Scotland.

So I tell you this is what we face.

CRAIG:

We must sue for peace.

WALLACE:

Peace?!

CRAIG:

We cannot defeat this --

WALLACE:

With cavalry -- not heavy, like the

English, but light, fast horsemen,

like you nobles employ -- we could

outmaneuver their bowmen!

CRAIG:

It is suicide.

ROBERT:

Sir William --

The Bruce sees Wallace about to explode, and tries to

intervene -- but Wallace's anger is too great.

WALLACE:

We won at Stirling and still you

quibbled! We won at York and you

would not support us! Then I said

nothing! Now I say you are cowards!

The nobles grip their weapons; Wallace, Hamish and Stephen

are ready to finish this quarrel right here. Robert the Bruce,

backed by Mornay, steps between the two sides.

ROBERT:

Please, Sir William! Speak with me

alone! I beg you!

The nobles stalk away, and Robert draws Wallace away, to the

target Wallace shot, so they are alone.

ROBERT:

You have achieved more than anyone

dreamed. But fighting these odds

looks like rage, not courage. Peace

offers its rewards! Has war become a

habit you cannot break?

The question strikes deep.

WALLACE:

War finds me willing. I know it won't

bring back all I have lost. But it

can bring what none of us have ever

had -- a country of our own. For

that we need a king. We need you.

ROBERT:

I am trying.

WALLACE:

Then tell me what a king is! Is he a

man who believes only what others

believe? Is he one who calculates

the numbers for and against him but

never weighs the strength in your

own heart? There is strength in you.

I see it. I know it.

ROBERT:

I must... consult with my father.

WALLACE:

And I will consult with mine.

Robert the Bruce walks off the field, heading the way the

other nobles went. Wallace rejoins Hamish and Stephen. They

look to him; what do we do now?

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