Excalibur Page #7

BISHOP:

This is Easter day, when Christ rose

again. Who will find strength in

victory of arms? Who will draw the

sword?

The Bishop goes among the tents, through the teeming throng,

solemnly casting holy water upon man and horse, armor and

banner. The knights kneel at the Bishop's transit, but

ceremony does not lift the air of grimness that lies over

the event.

EXT. JOUSTING GROUND, SWORD IN THE STONE - DAY

Their armor ablaze with sunlight, two mounted knights thunder

toward each other at full gallop, lowering their long jousting

lances. As they meet, the lance of each knight is deflected

by the shield of the other. A gasp goes through the crowd,

and the two knights charge past each other. They wheel around

at the end of the jousting ground and go at each other again

from the other direction. Again lances strike, and this time

one of the men is hit in the chest and violently unhorsed.

The crowd cheers.

EXT. THE SWORD IN THE STONE - DAY

The victor, Leondegrance, rides up to the stone and dismounts.

Each great knight with his coterie of lesser knights comes

to watch. A charge of expectation is in the air, although

most knights are glowering with envy.

Leondegrance of Camelyarde ascends to the sword, grabs it by

the hilt, and begins to tug with all his might. Excalibur is

immovable. The moment of tension passes. Leondegrance staggers

toward his waiting squires, who lead him away. All the others

return to the battle sport.

EXT. JOUSTING GROUND - DAY

At the edge of the jousting ground Sir Ector's son Sir Kay

is getting ready for a bout. His brother Arthur is buckling

the new armor while his father fusses about him, making small

adjustments when he notices that Kay's scabbard is empty. He

turns to Arthur and grab's him by the ear.

SIR ECTOR:

Arthur, where is Kay's sword? A good

squire doesn't forget his knight's

sword.

The fifteen year-old boy blushes.

ARTHUR:

I left it in the tent, sir.

SIR ECTOR:

Well hurry then, and get it.

The boy dashes off as Sir Ector shakes his head, not without

affection beneath the sternness.

EXT. TENTS - DAY

Arthur runs in search of their tent. He finds it.

INT. TENT - DAY

He enters. The saddle trunk has been emptied on the floor,

equipment is scattered all over. Arthur is shocked,

nonetheless he rummages madly. Finally he stops, on the verge

of tears.

ARTHUR:

It's been stolen....

EXT. TENTS - DAY

He comes out, utterly defeated, and frantic. He stops by two

knights who are arguing angrily; and one of them has left

his sword in the grass.

Arthur looks at it. He is tempted to steal it, but he can't.

Head down, he wanders off.

EXT. JOUSTING GROUND - DAY

Sir Ector and Sir Kay are waiting.

SIR KAY:

Father, I'll go and see what's keeping

him.

EXT. THE SWORD IN THE STONE - DAY

Arthur stops at the edge of the dark forest, totally dejected,

when he sees the sword in the stone. He walks up to it, his

face lighting up, brimming with innocence. He is alone, as

everyone has returned to the jousting ground.

ARTHUR:

If only Kay could have it...

He smiles, forgetting his troubles, a boy again living in a

fairy tale. He grasps the sword by the hilt and it comes

away easily from its stone lock.

Not expecting it to, he nearly falls. He stares at it,

terribly excited and surprised: he tucks it under his arm

and rushes back.

EXT. TENTS - DAY

He bumps into Kay.

ARTHUR:

(breathless)

Your sword was stolen, Kay, but here

is Excalibur. Is it too late? I

hurried--

Kay takes it. He cannot believe what he's holding in his

hands. He starts to talk but he is so agitated he can only

stutter.

EXT. JOUSTING GROUND - DAY

Kay, with Arthur in tow, rushes to Sir Ector and shows him

the sword; he trembles with excitement.

SIR KAY:

Look, Father. Excalibur. Does that

mean that I am to be king?

Sir Ector is dumbstruck.

SIR ECTOR:

Did you free the sword, boy?

SIR KAY:

I... did, Father.

Ector looks at his son amazed, wanting to believe but not

able to.

SIR ECTOR:

We must go to the stone at once.

With Excalibur in hand Ector of Morven heads for the stone,

Kay following, and Arthur too, the boy flushed with excitement

but a little worried, not understanding what is happening.

The exchange between Sir Ector and Sir Kay has been overheard.

Some have seen the sword in Sir Ector's hand. Rumor spreads

like wildfire.

EXT. THE SWORD IN THE STONE - DAY

As Sir Ector ascends the stone, from all parts of the jousting

ground knights and squires, the Bishop and the clerics, and

peasants too, press around.

Ector lowers the blade into the tight cleft and Excalibur

sinks to its original position.

SIR ECTOR:

Draw it, son!

Sir Kay grabs the hilt and pulls without conviction, and the

sword doesn't give. Eyes downcast, he lets go.

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