Excalibur Page #6

EXT. STONE IN THE FOREST - DAY

Uther has gained on his pursuers. He comes to a small clearing

where the spine of a buried boulder rises through the forest

floor. He stops upon it, breathing hard, dripping blood. He

rages aloud, but his throat is raw and cracked and only a

whisper comes out.

UTHER:

Merlin, where are you? To weave a

mist, to hide us...

He hears his pursuers closing in.

UTHER:

No one shall have the sword. No one

shall wield Excalibur but me.

He holds it by the hilt with both hands, the blade pointing

to the ground of stone. He flexes his knees. He lifts up his

hands above his head. And with all the strength that rage

and pain can muster, and more, he drives the blade of

Excalibur into the stone, nearly to the hilt. His mouth widens

in an awful silent scream, and then the foam of saliva pink

with blood issues from deep within him, so violent was his

effort.

As the sword cuts into the rock, the earth shudders.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

The forest quakes. The knights searching for Uther halt in

fear.

EXT. FIELDS, WOODS - DAY

And far away, a caped figure is crossing a field toward a

wood, when the earth shakes, stirring animals and birds. The

man turns. He is Merlin, the two day-old baby peeking from

his cape. Merlin is amazed at the phenomenon, he puts his

ear to a rock protruding from the earth.

MERLIN:

Into the spine of the dragon!

(and then he is

saddened)

Uther... I loved you, mighty child.

And tears welling, and giggling at the same time, he whisks

away into the woods.

EXT. STONE IN THE FOREST - DAY

Uther staggers away, colliding with trees, staggering,

crashing to the ground. Until the only life left in him is

the coursing of his blood, flowing from his gaping mouth

onto the leaves on the forest floor.

The enemy knights advance through the trees. They prod at

the fallen leviathan, they roll him over to get at his

scabbard. Only then do they see the sword in the stone, and

they stop, amazed and afraid. Their captains appear. Uryens

sees what they are staring at, and races to the sword and

attempts to pull it out.

He strains with all his might, but it is immovable.

LOT:

Let me.

He shoves Uryens aside, but he can't loosen the sword either,

and he rages with frustration.

FADE OUT:

LEGEND APPEARS:

"Fifteen years passed and the land was without a king."

FADE IN:

EXT. FIELDS - DAY

Peasants spill over the crest of a hill. They are fleeing a

force of armored knights, their plumed helmets forged in the

semblance of predatory animals. The knights thunder past the

peasants, trampling the ripening crops. Sir Uryens is their

leader, his hard face indifferent to the havoc he leaves in

his wake.

The peasants watch in mute anger.

EXT. FARMYARD - EVENING

Sir Lot leading another group of mounted knights comes

galloping into a small hamlet, panicked chickens and pigs

scattering at their approach. The farmers run for their lives

as the steel men dismount, leading their horses to water and

hay, and searching for vittles. A knight spots a woman who

stands frozen with fear, and he drags her into the barn as

her crying child watches.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT - MOONLIGHT

A farmhouse is burning nearby, and three mounted figures

make their way along a trail at a walking pace - an old knight

in leather and mail, a young knight proud in gleaming new

armor; and on a farm horse, a squire with baggage and jousting

lance. The old knight, Sir Ector, is troubled by what he

sees.

SIR ECTOR:

It is a dark hour... everywhere

lawlessness and destruction, and no

one to lead us out of it.

Just then, ten crazed peasants emerge from the darkness,

hurling stones and armed with clubs and pronged sticks. They

surround the three riders. Sir Ector wheels around and slices

the air with his sword to ward off the ambushers.

SIR ECTOR:

Listen all. I am Sir Ector of Morven

and these are my sons. You would

wrong me, for I have never stolen

from others, or destroyed the fruit

of the land.

The peasants edge closer, working up the nerve to rush the

horsemen. The sound of thundering hooves cuts through the

clamor.

A cavalcade of riders, armor gleaming in the moonlight,

advances across the fields at a gallop. Immediately the

peasants scatter. The old knight is on the verge of tears.

SIR ECTOR:

The people's anger is just. It is

sad that for our own safety, we will

have to ride to the tournament with

these robber knights.

EXT. SITE OF THE SWORD IN THE STONE - SUNRISE

Red with the first light of day, Excalibur rests in the stone

as King Uther left it. The field is itched with tents, each

flying its heraldic banner. Knights and squires are

everywhere, preparing horses and armor for the joust. A burly

man in religious robes harangues the crowd, vying for

attention.

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