Braveheart Page #31

INSIDE THE BARN:

are the assassins, killing knives ready.

CHIEF ASSASSIN:

It's William Wallace, sure! And...

he's given up his sword! Be ready!

They position themselves at every entrance.

OUTSIDE THE BARN

Wallace reaches the barn, dismounts, and moves toward the

door. But suddenly, instead of entering, he grabs the heavy

bar and seals the door! At this motion, Scots spring from

the woods in all directions. The assassins inside realize

the ambush is being turned on them, but it's too late; they

hear the entrance being sealed from the outside.

More Scots, led by Stephen, scramble up from hiding, place

tinder-dry brush and pitch against the barn, and set it on

fire. In moments the entire barn is blazing. The Scots stand

back and watch the barn burn, their faces lit by the flames.

After awhile, there are no more screams from inside.

EXT. CASTLE - NIGHT

The Princess sees the burning off in the distance, like a

bonfire. She stands on the wall, looking out at it. And then

she sees, on a hillside, silhouetted against the night and

the fire, a rider, just sitting there on his horse, looking

at the castle. She runs into the castle, up the stairs, and

stands on the pinnacle of the castle, so that she too is

silhouetted, and he can see her.

The lone rider is William Wallace.

CLOSE - A CANDLE

being placed in a window of the stable cottage, built into

the outer wall of the castle. AT A DISTANCE, the candle burns

like a tiny beacon. And William sees it.

INSIDE THE STABLE COTTAGE, THE PRINCESS

sits alone, wondering if her signal is going to work.

OUTSIDE THE CASTLE

Wallace climbs the castle wall, hand over hand up the mortared

stones, to the window twenty feet above the ground.

He reaches the safety of the window cove and kneels on the

ledge. He looks through the window, and sees her inside.

INSIDE THE ROOM, she looks up, and sees him there. The first

glance frightens her, and yet she expected him, prayed for

him to come. Now, for a long, long moment the two of them

look at each other through the glass, each realizing the

implications of this moment.

She moves to the window and opens it. The wind rushing through

extinguishes the candle, and he slips inside. They face each

other in the darkness. Then she strikes a match and relights

the candle, and they look at each other.

WALLACE:

A meeting in a barn. It had to be a

trap. And only you would know I would

be aware of it.

PRINCESS:

It does me good to see you.

WILLIAM:

I am much diminished since we met.

She wants to say something -- but instead she says something

else.

PRINCESS:

There will be a new shipment of

supplies coming north next month.

Food and weapons. They will trav --

WILLIAM:

No. Stop. I didn't come here for

that.

PRINCESS:

Then why did you come?

WALLACE:

Why did you?

PRINCESS:

Because of the way you're looking at

me now. The same way... as when we

met.

He turns his face away. Gently, she pulls it back.

PRINCESS:

I know. You looked at me... and saw

her.

He twists back toward the window.

PRINCESS:

You must forgive me what I feel. No

man has ever looked at me as you

did.

Surprised, he looks at her now.

WALLACE:

You have... you have a husband.

PRINCESS:

I have taken vows. More than one.

I've vowed faithfulness to my husband,

and sworn to give him a son. And I

cannot keep both promises.

Slowly, it starts to dawn on him what she's asking, and an

unexpected smile plays at his lips. Her smile lights too.

PRINCESS:

You understand. Consider, before you

laugh and say no. You will never own

a throne, though you deserve one.

But just as the sun will rise

tomorrow, some man will rule England.

And what if his veins ran not with

the blood of Longshanks, but with

that of a true king?

WALLACE:

I cannot love you for the sake of

revenge.

PRINCESS:

No. But can you love me for the sake

of all you loved and lost? Or simply

love me... because I love you?

Slowly, he reaches to the candle flame, and pinches it out.

IN THE SHADOWS OF THE COTTAGE BED

we see the surging, pent-up passion... and

DISSOLVE TO:

THE LOVERS:

Their bodies limp, they lie asleep, entwined. The first rays

of morning spread yellow light through the room and across

their faces.

Wallace wakes suddenly; sunlight! He grabs for his clothes,

as she wakes, covers herself in the blanket and jumps out of

bed, rushing to the window to look out.

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