The Princess Bride Page #6

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE CLIFFS

Maybe a hundred feet for FEZZIK to go. Maybe more.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI AND THE OTHERS, and it's getting too close now.

VIZZINI:

Did I make it clear that your job

is at stake?

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

less than a hundred feet behind them. And gaining.

CUT TO:

THE CLIFF TOP AS FEZZIK MAKES IT!

Vizzini leaps off and takes out a knife, begins to cut the

rope which is tied around a great rock while Inigo helps the

Princess to her feet and FEZZIK just stands around, waiting

for someone to tell him to do something. Nearby are some

stone ruins. Once they might have been a fort, now the kind

of resemble Stonehenge.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

feet from the top now, maybe less -- maybe only 50 -- and

his pace is as dazzling as before, and

CUT TO:

VIZZINI:

cutting through the last of the rope and

CUT TO:

THE ROPE:

slithering across the ground and out of sight toward the

Channel, like some great serpent at last going home.

CUT TO:

FEZZIK:

standing with Inigo and Buttercup by the cliff edge.

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23.

FEZZIK:

(to Inigo -- impressed)

He has very good arms.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

hanging suspended hundreds of feet in the air, holding to

the jagged rocks, desperately trying to cling to life.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI:

stunned, turning to the others, looking down.

VIZZINI:

He didn't fall? Inconceivable!!

INIGO:

(whirling on Vizzini)

You keep using that word -- I do

not think it means what you think

it means.

(looks down again)

My God! He's climbing.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

and so he is. Very slowly, he is picking his way upwards,

sometimes a foot at a time, sometimes an inch.

CUT TO:

The group at the top, staring down.

VIZZINI:

Whoever he is, he's obviously

seen us with the Princess, and

must therefore die.

(to Fezzik)

You, carry her.

(to Inigo)

We'll head straight for the

Guilder frontier. Catch up when

he's dead. If he falls, fine. If

not, the sword.

Inigo nods.

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24.

INIGO:

I want to duel him left-handed.

VIZZINI:

You know what a hurry we're in.

INIGO:

Well, it's the only way I can be

satisfied. If I use my right --

tch -- over too quickly.

VIZZINI:

(turns abruptly,

starts off-screen)

Oh, have it your way.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

still creeping his way upward.

CUT TO:

FEZZIK:

who goes to Inigo.

FEZZIK:

You be careful.

(gravely)

-- people in masks cannot be

trusted.

VIZZINI:

(calling out)

I'm waiting!

FEZZIK nods, hurries after Vizzini.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

He watches them depart, then turns, peers down over the

Cliffs. He watches a moment, then paces, shaking his hands

loose. He practices a few of his honed fencing skills. He is

a taut and nervous fellow, and has never been one for

waiting around.

CUT TO:

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25.

THE MAN IN BLACK

climbing on. He must be six inches closer to the top than

when last we saw him. Inigo is watching.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

walking away. Finally he goes back to cliff edge, starts to

talk. It's instant death if the Man In Black falls, but

neither gives that possibility much credence. This is our

two heroes meeting. They don't know it yet; but that's what

it is.

INIGO:

(hollering down)

Hello there.

The Man In Black glances up, kind of grunts.

INIGO:

Slow going?

MAN IN BLACK:

Look, I don't mean to be rude,

but this is not as easy as it

looks. So I'd appreciate it if

you wouldn't distract me.

INIGO:

Sorry.

MAN IN BLACK:

Thank you.

Inigo steps away, draws his sword, loosens up with a few

perfect thrusts. Then resheathes and looks eagerly over the

edge again.

INIGO:

I do not suppose you could speed

things up?

MAN IN BLACK:

(with some beat)

If you're in such a hurry, you

could lower a rope, or a tree

branch, or find something useful

to do.

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26.

INIGO:

I could do that. In fact, I've

got some rope up here. But I do

not think that you will accept my

help, since I am only waiting

around to kill you.

MAN IN BLACK:

That does put a damper on our

relationship.

He finds another bold a few inches higher.

INIGO:

But I promise I will not kill you

until you reach the top.

MAN IN BLACK:

That's very comforting. But I'm

afraid you'll just have to wait.

INIGO:

I hate waiting. I could give you

my word as a Spaniard.

MAN IN BLACK:

No good. I've known too many

Spaniards.

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