Braveheart Page #36

We are spared seeing the cutting: we are ON WALLACE'S FACE

as the disembowelment begins. The Magistrate leans in beside

him.

MAGISTRATE:

It can all end. Right now! Bliss.

Peace. Just say it. Cry out. "Mercy!"

Yes?... Yes?

The crowd can't hear the magistrate but they know the

procedure, and they goad Wallace, chanting...

CROWD:

Mer-cy! Mer-cy! Mer-cy!

Wallace's eyes roll to the magistrate, who signals QUIET!

MAGISTRATE:

(booming)

The prisoner wishes to say a word!

SILENCE. Hamish and Stephen weep, whisper, pray...

HAMISH AND STEPHEN

Mercy, William... Say Mercy...

Wallace's eyes flutter, and clear. He fights through the

pain, struggles for one last deep breath, and screams...

WALLACE:

FREEEEE-DOMMMMMM!

The shout RINGS through the town. Hamish hears it. The

Princess hears it, at her open window, and touches her tummy,

just showing the first signs of her pregnancy. Longshanks

and his son seem to hear; the cry STILL ECHOES as if the

wind could carry it through the ends of Scotland; and Robert

the Bruce, on the walls of his castle, looks up sharply, as

if he has heard...

IN THE LONDON SQUARE

the crowd has never seen courage like this; even English

strangers begin to weep. The angry, defeated magistrate gives

a signal. They cut the ropes, drag Wallace over and put his

head on the block. The executioner lifts his huge axe -- and

Wallace looks toward the crowd.

THE CROWD, WALLACE'S POV

He sees Hamish, eyes brimming, face glowing...

SLOW MOTION - THE AXE

begins to drop.

WALLACE'S POV

In the last half-moment of his life, when he has already

stepped into the world beyond this one, he glimpses someone

standing at Hamish's shoulder. She is beautiful, smiling,

serene.

She is Marion.

CUT TO BLACK:

ROBERT THE BRUCE

His face has changed. He is standing AT THE OPEN GRAVE WHERE

MARION LAY, the headstone carved with the thistle still there.

He holds the handkerchief. As he tucks it into his own pocket,

and we MOVE IN on his eyes, we realize the VOICE OVER belongs

to him.

ROBERT (V.O.)

After the beheading, William Wallace's

body was torn to pieces. His head

was set on London bridge, where

passerby were invited to jeer at the

man who had caused so much fear in

England.

(beat)

His arms and legs were sent to the

four corners of Britain as warning.

EXT. SCOTTISH TOWNS - VARIOUS SHOTS - DAY

We see the people, as the remains of William Wallace are

displayed in a box. The faces of the young men are fiery.

ROBERT (V.O.)

It did not have the effect that

Longshanks planned.

More young men put on tartans, take up their weapons, and

gather into fighting units. Among them is Hamish, carrying a

shield emblazoned with a cocked arm holding a broadsword,

and the words "For Freedom."

EXT. SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS - DAY

Robert the Bruce, flanked by the noblemen and the banners of

the Scottish throne, and backed by a ragtag army of Scots,

sits on his horse and looks down at the English generals in

their martial finery. The English are haughty, victorious,

at the head of their colorful, polished army, awaiting the

ceremony of submission from Scotland's new king.

ROBERT (V.O.)

And I, Robert the Bruce, backed by a

body of Scottish veterans, rode out

to pay homage to the armies of the

English king, and accept his

endorsement of my crown.

FROM BELOW, ON THE OPEN PLAIN - DAY

The Scots -- the remains of William Wallace's army -- look

so ragged and defeated that it hardly seems worth the wait.

One ENGLISH COMMANDER turns and jokes with another...

ENGLISH COMMANDER

I hope you washed your ass this mornin --

it's never been kissed by a king

before.

UP ON THE HILL, Robert the Bruce sits on his horse, and waits.

He looks down at the English generals, at their banners,

their army. He looks down the ranks at his own.

He sees Hamish. Stephen. Old MacClannough is there, his eyes

watery, his weapon sharp. The Scottish bride Lord Bottoms

took is there, among the ragtag archers, her husband beside

her. Robert knows none of them -- yet he knows them all.

Old Craig, among the other Scottish nobles mounted beside

the Bruce, grows impatient.

CRAIG:

Come, let's get it over with.

But Robert holds something -- uncurling his fist, he looks

at the thistle handkerchief that belonged to Wallace. The

nobles start to rein their horses toward the English.

ROBERT:

Stop.

Robert the Bruce tucks the handkerchief safely behind his

breastplate, and turns to the Highlanders who line the hilltop

with him. He takes a long breath, and shouts --

ROBERT THE BRUCE

You have bled with Wallace! Now bleed

with me!

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