Braveheart Page #5

VOICE OVER:

Twelve years later, Longshanks

supervised the wedding of his eldest

son, also named Edward, who would

succeed him to the throne.

LONGSHANKS, King of England, stands in the jeweled light of

the ancient Abbey. Known as Longshanks because of the spindly

legs that make him almost seven feet tall, he has a hawk's

nose and a snake's eyes, punctuating a face of distinct

cruelty. Historians of his day considered him and the line

of Plantagenets from which he came to be devil worshipers.

VOICE OVER:

As bride for his son, Longshanks had

chosen a relative of his rival, the

king of France.

GENEVIEVE, a nineteen-year-old virgin of stupendous beauty

moves down the aisle, the light in her face outshining her

blindingly white wedding gown. As she reaches the altar her

hands tremble, but she maintains her poise and control.

She looks toward EDWARD, Prince of Wales. Pampered young men

surround him as his retinue. He takes her hand coldly and

goes through the ceremony under his father's stare.

VOICE OVER:

It was widely whispered that for the

Princess to conceive, Longshanks

would have to do the honors himself.

That may have been what he had in

mind all along.

The ceremony concluding, attendants lift back the bride's

veil. Her wedding day, the ultimate moment -- and Prince

Edward ignores her, to turn back to his friends. But prompted

by one of the sour lords, he leans over and pecks his new

Princess on the cheek. For an instant, we see in her eyes

that her heart is dying. But she keeps her poise.

VOICE OVER:

Having seen to his obligations to

provide for a successor, Longshanks

set about his fondest business -- to

crush Scotland, and turn his power

against France...

CLOSE - A MAP OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Longshanks' narrow finger jabs Scotland.

LONGSHANKS:

Scotland! Scot-land!

We are in the --

INT. ROYAL ENGLISH PALACE - DAY

Longshanks is being listened to by his advisors, all in the

outrageous splendor of royal military dress, and all deathly

afraid of him.

LONGSHANKS:

The French will grovel to anyone

with strength! But how will they

credit our strength when we cannot

rule the whole of our own island?!

He punches the map, then sees the Princess enter softly.

LONGSHANKS:

Where is my son?

PRINCESS:

Your pardon, M'lord, he asked me to

come in his stead.

Longshanks' eyes expand in fury; it is frightening to see.

LONGSHANKS:

I sent for him -- and the little

coward send you?!

PRINCESS:

Shall I leave, M'lord?

LONGSHANKS:

If he wants his queen to rule, then

you stay and learn how! I will deal

with him.

He spins back toward his generals. Ignored, the princess

settles silently onto the cushions of the window seat.

LONGSHANKS:

Nobles are the key to the Scottish

door. Grant their nobles land here

in England. Give our own nobles

estates in the north. Make them too

greedy to oppose us.

One OLD ADVISOR speaks up hesitantly.

OLD ADVISOR:

Sire... Our nobles will be reluctant

to relocate. New lands mean new taxes,

and they are taxed already for our

war in France.

Longshanks glares at him, but takes the point. The wheels

grind in his brain; his dark eyes falling on the Princess,

he is inspired.

LONGSHANKS:

Perhaps it's time to reinstitute an

old custom. Grant them prima noctes,

"First night." When any common girl

inhabiting their lands is married,

our lords shall have sexual rights

to her on the night of her wedding.

That should fetch just the kind of

lords we want in Scotland.

INT. PRINCE EDWARD'S ROYAL APARTMENTS - DAY

The prince and a muscular young friend, PHILLIP, are stripped

to the waist and fencing. They pay no attention to the

KNOCK, or to the Princess as she enters. She watches them --

they are dancing more than fencing. Edward loses his sword;

it clatters to the polished floor. He looks up at his wife,

as if angry at her for having seen his clumsiness.

EDWARD:

What is it?!

PRINCESS:

You directed me to report to you the

moment the king's conference was

ended.

EDWARD:

So I did! And what was so important

about it?

PRINCESS:

Scotland. He intends --

But Edward and his friend are fencing again, the clanging of

their blunted swords so loud that she can't hear herself.

PRINCESS:

He intends to grant --

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