Braveheart Page #9

WILLIAM:

I'll invite you again, but your mother

thinks I'm crazy.

MARION:

You are. And I'll come again.

He lingers; he wants to say something, or maybe he just

doesn't want the moment to end. Finally he spurs the horse.

EXT. THE MACCLANNOUGH HOUSE - NIGHT

They reach the door. William hops off the horse and reaches

up to help her down the moment she touches the ground, they

look into each other's eyes... but the door is snatched open

so quickly by her mother that there is not time for a kiss.

MOTHER:

Marion, come in!

He walks her closer to the door. They turn and look at each

other again. She waits for him to kiss her...

MOTHER:

Marion, come in!

She still hesitates; he isn't going to kiss her. She starts

in, but he grabs her hand. And into it he puts something he

has taken from his pocket; it is wrapped in flannel. He hops

on his horse, glances at her, and gallops away.

She stands in the open doorway; she looks down at what he

left her. She unwraps the flannel; it is a dried thistle,

the one she gave him years before.

EXT. WALLACE FARM - DAY

William is re-thatching the roof of his barn, when he hears

riders approaching, and looks down to see that it is

MacClannough, backed by Campbell and Hamish. Uh-oh.

MACCLANNOUGH:

Young Wallace --

WILLIAM:

Sir, I know it was strange of me to

invite Marion to ride last night. I

assure you, I --

CAMPBELL:

MacClannough's daughter is another

matter. We come to fetch you to a

meeting.

WILLIAM:

What kind of meeting?

CAMPBELL:

The secret kind.

William goes back to repairing his roof.

CAMPBELL:

Your father was a fighter. And a

patriot.

WILLIAM:

I know who my father was. I came

back home to raise crops. And, God

willing, a family. If I can live in

peace, I will.

Campbell shakes his head and reins his horse away, with

Hamish. MacClannough lingers.

MACCLANNOUGH:

If you can keep your intention to

stay out of the troubles, you may

court my daughter. If you break your

intention, I'll kill you.

MacClannough rides away. William sits down on the roof, and

looks out at the graves of his father and brother.

EXT. MACCLANNOUGH HOUSE - NIGHT

Outside the half-timbered house, William stands in the shadows

of moonlight and tosses a pebble against the wooden upper

window. Marion opens the shutters and slips out onto the

vines, dropping into William's arms.

Giggling, suppressing laughter, they run to the trees...

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS - NIGHT

Hand in hand through the heather they run, silhouettes along

a ridge, their breath blowing silver clouds in the moonlight,

the Scottish wind whipping through their hair.

They stop at a grove at the edge of a precipice, overlooking

a loch gleaming in the moonlight. So beautiful it's sacred.

MARION:

You've been here before?

WILLIAM:

Some nights. I have dreams. Mostly

dreams I don't want. I started riding

at night to fill up my mind so that

when I did sleep I'd dream only of

the ride and the adventure.

MARION:

Did it work?

WILLIAM:

No. You don't choose your dreams.

Your dreams choose you.

He looks at her. They kiss suddenly, so long and hard that

they tumble into the heather, rolling, devouring each other.

Through their passion...

WILLIAM:

I want... to marry you!

MARION:

I... accept your proposal!

WILLIAM:

I'm not just saying it!

MARION:

Nor I!

WILLIAM:

But I won't give you up to any

nobleman.

MARION:

(stopping)

You scare me.

WILLIAM:

I don't want to scare you. I want to

be yours, and you mine. Every night

like this one.

MARION:

This night is too beautiful to have

again.

WILLIAM:

I will be with you, like this.

Forever.

They kiss again...

EXT. LANARK VILLAGE - DAY

Marion moves through the market. English soldiers admire her

as she walks. She stops, looking at white lace and cloth.

William casually passes, poking a note in her basket. Subtly

she withdraws his note, and reads:

INSERT - HIS NOTE

Tonight. By the trees.

EXT. MARION'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Marion slips out of the house and runs to the trees, where

William waits with horses. She fetches a bundle she's stashed

in the crook of a tree, and they mount and ride off.

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