Braveheart Page #7

SOLDIER:

It's against the law for Scots to

own bows. You shot this bird?

His buddies, enjoying their role as intimidators, grab the

bird and begin to search it for evidence.

WILLIAM:

I hit it in the head. With a rock.

They don't believe that -- but they can't find any puncture

wound on the bird. William reaches his hand out for the return

of the bird. The soldiers drop it onto the ground.

Slowly, William picks it up, and heads into the clearing.

The farmers watch him come.

Among those noticing William's arrival, but pretending not

to, is MARION MacCLANNOUGH, grown now into a stunning young

woman; her long auburn hair reminds us of those years long

ago; she wears it the same way, straight and full down her

back. Her dress is plain, like the grass that surrounds a

wildflower. She's the most beautiful girl in the village,

maybe in all of Scotland, and the soldiers who hassled William

notice her too.

William reaches the food table and contributes his goose to

the feast. FARM WOMEN eye him; he nodes to one.

WILLIAM:

Miz MacDougal. You look well.

FARM WOMAN:

...William? It's William Wallace,

back home! -- Have you met my

daughter?

The daughter mentioned is missing teeth. William nods to

her. It's impossible for him to giver her a smile as bright

as her hopes, and she lowers her head in disappointment. But

then raises her face in surprise as William takes her hand

and gives her a respectful bow.

He moves away from the table, passing through the crowd like

a stranger. Then he glances toward the knot of girls. He

sees Marion. She sees him, then looks away. Do they remember

each other? He moves toward her; she is shy, her eyes

downcast, but then she raises them and looks at him.

They move closer and closer together. Just as they are about

to reach each other, a huge round stone THUMPS to the earth

at Williams' feet.

He looks up to see one of Marion's suitors -- the broad,

muscled young man who has just tossed the stone in William's

way. Now everybody's looking to see how William will handle

the challenge. He tries to move around, but the guy cuts him

off. Then William thinks he recognizes the big red-head.

WILLIAM:

Hamish?

It is his old friend, but Hamish won't admit it, or be put

off from the challenge. He points to the huge stone.

HAMISH:

Test of manhood.

WILLIAM:

You win.

HAMISH:

(blocks him)

Call it a test of soldiery, then.

The English won't let us train with

weapons, so we train with stones.

WILLIAM:

The test of a soldier is not in his

arm. It's here.

He taps his temple. Hamish stretches out his hand, as if to

show William something in his palm.

HAMISH:

No. It's here.

With a sudden movement, he slams his fist into William's

jaw, dropping him. A few men move to interfere, but Campbell,

MacClannough, and the other farmers who are the true leaders

here, stop their neighbors from interrupting. Hamish stands

over William, waiting for him to get up.

WILLIAM:

A contest, then.

William stands and hoists the huge stone, eighteen inches in

diameter. Straining with the effort, he lugs the stone to

the line scratched in the rocky field. Beyond the line are

the muddy dents from previous tosses. William takes a run

and heaves the stone. It flies past the other marks in the

field; people are impressed. William looks at Hamish.

WILLIAM:

I still say this is no test. A

catapult can throw a stone farther

than a man can.

HAMISH:

That depends on the man.

Hamish walks out, lifts the stone, and lugs it back to the

line. He takes a run and heaves with a great groan! The stone

flies, passing William's mark by a couple of feet.

People laugh and whistle. William nods, impressed.

WILLIAM:

Can you do it when it matters? As it

matters in battle? Could you crush a

man with that throw?

HAMISH:

I could crush you like a roach.

William walks to the dent made by Hamish's throw.

WILLIAM:

Then do it. Come, do it.

Hamish scowls at William, at everybody watching. He lifts

the stone and carries it back to the line. William stands

calmly. Hamish backs up for his run. William yawns.

HAMISH:

You'll move

WILLIAM:

I will not.

Hamish backs up a few more feet, for a longer run.

FARMER STEWART:

That's not fair!

CAMPBELL:

He's tired, he should get a longer

run.

William seems completely unafraid. He leans down, picks up a

small smooth stone and tosses it up in the air casually.

Stung by this show of calm, Hamish takes furious run, and

heaves! The stone flies through the air, just misses William's

head, and buries itself halfway into the earth behind him.

William never flinches. The people cheer.

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