The Princess Bride Page #3

A WOODED GLEN - CLOSE TO SUNDOWN

Lovely, quiet, deserted. Buttercup suddenly reins in.

VOICE:

A word, my lady?

CUT TO:

THREE MEN, standing close together in the path. Beyond them

can be seen the waters of Florin Channel. The three men are

not your everyday commuter types. Standing in front is a

tiny man with the most angelic face. He is Sicilian and his

name is VIZZINI. Beside him is a Spaniard, erect and taut as

a blade of steel. His name is INIGO MONTOYA. Beside him is a

giant. His name is FEZZIK.

VIZZINI:

We are but poor, lost circus

performers. Is there a village

nearby?

BUTTERCUP:

There is nothing nearby; not for

miles.

VIZZINI:

Then there will be no one to hear

you scream-

He nods to the giant, Fezzik, who merely reaches over,

touches a nerve on Buttercup's neck, and the start of a

scream is all she manages --unconsciousness comes that fast.

As she starts to fall --

CUT TO:

A TINY ISOLATED SPOT AT THE EDGE OF FLORIN CHANNEL

A sailboat is moored. It's dusk now, shadows are long.

Inigo, the Spaniard, busies himself getting the boat ready.

CUT TO:

The giant Fezzik carries Buttercup, unconscious, on board.

Vizzini rips some tiny pieces of fabric from an army jacket

and tucks them along the saddle of Buttercup's horse. There

is about the entire operation a sense of tremendous skill

and precision.

INIGO:

What is that you're ripping?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.

VIZZINI:

(not stopping or turning)

It's fabric from the uniform of

an Army officer of Guilder.

FEZZIK:

Who's Guilder?

VIZZINI:

(pointing straight out)

The country across the sea. The

sworn enemy of Florin.

(slaps the horse's rump)

Go!

The horse takes off. They start for the boat.

VIZZINI:

Once the horse reaches the

castle, the fabric will make the

Prince suspect the Guilderians

have abducted his love. When he

finds her body dead on the

Guilder frontier, his suspicions

will be totally confirmed.

FEZZIK:

You never said anything about

killing anyone.

Vizzini hops onto the boat.

VIZZINI:

I've hired you to help me start a

war. That's a prestigious line of

work with a long and glorious

tradition.

FEZZIK:

I just don't think it's right,

killing an innocent girl.

VIZZINI:

(whirling on Fezzik)

Am I going mad or did the word

"think" escape your lips? You

were not hired for your brains,

you hippopotamic land mass.

INIGO:

I agree with Fezzik.

CUT TO:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

11.

CLOSE UP:
Vizzini, in a fury.

VIZZINI:

(We only thought he

was in a fury --now

he's really getting mad)

Oh. The sot has spoken. What

happens to her is not truly your

concern -- I will kill her --

(louder)

And remember this -- never forget

this --

CUT TO:

INIGO AND FEZZIK, as Vizzini advances on them. Nothing shows

on Inigo's face, but FEZZIK is panicked by Vizzini.

VIZZINI:

(to Inigo)

-- when I found you, you were so

slobbering drunk you couldn't buy

brandy --

(now to Fezzik, who

retreats as much as he

can while Vizzini advances)

-- and you -- friendless,

brainless, helpless, hopeless --

Do you want me to send you back

to where you were, unemployed in

Greenland?

Vizzini glares at him, then turns, leaves them.

During this, Inigo has gone close to FEZZIK, who is very

distressed at the insults he's just received. As Inigo casts

off.

INIGO:

(softly)

That Vizzini, he can fuss.

(a slight emphasis on

the last word)

FEZZIK:

(looking at Inigo)

... fuss ... fuss ...

(Suddenly, he's got it

again, emphasis on the

last word.)

I think he likes to scream at us.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

12.

INIGO:

Probably he means no harm.

FEZZIK:

He's really very short on charm.

INIGO:

(proudly)

Oh, you've a great gift for rhyme.

FEZZIK:

Yes, some of the time.

(he starts to smile)

VIZZINI:

(whirling on them)

Enough of that.

As they sail off, we hear their voices as the boat recedes.

INIGO:

FEZZIK, are there rocks ahead?

FEZZIK:

If there are, we'll all be dead.

VIZZINI:

No more rhymes now, I mean it.

FEZZIK:

Anybody want a peanut?

As Vizzini screams we:

DISSOLVE TO:

THE SAILBOAT RACING ACROSS THE DARK WATERS

Inigo is at the helm, FEZZIK stands near the body of the

princess, whose eyelids flutter slightly -- or do they?

Vizzini sits motionless. The waves are higher, there are

only occasional flashes of moon slanting down between clouds.

VIZZINI:

(to Inigo)

We'll reach the Cliffs by dawn.

Inigo nods, glances back.

VIZZINI:

Why are you doing that?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

13.

Rate this script:4.8 / 5 votes