The Princess Bride Page #7

And he just hangs there in space, resting, gathering his

strength.

INIGO:

You don't know any way you'll

trust me?

MAN IN BLACK:

Nothing comes to mind.

And on these words, CAMERA ZOOMS into a CLOSE UP on Inigo.

He raises his right hand high, his eyes blaze, and his voice

takes on a tone we have not heard before.

INIGO:

I swear on the soul of my father,

Domingo Montoya, you will reach

the top alive.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK.

There is a pause. Then, quietly:

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27.

MAN IN BLACK:

Throw me the rope.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

He dashes to the giant rock the rope was originally tied to.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

as his grip loosens a moment, trying to cling to the side of

the cliff.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

now with a small coil of rope, hurries back to the edge and

hurls it over --

CUT TO:

THE ROPE:

It hangs close to the Man In Black. He releases the rocks,

grabs the rope, hangs helplessly in space a moment, then

looks up at Inigo and --

CUT TO:

INIGO:

straining, forcing his body away from the cliff edge and --

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

rising through the early morning light, slowly, steadily,

and as the cliff top at last comes within reach --

CUT TO:

INIGO:

watching as the Man In Black crawls to safety, then looks to

Inigo.

MAN IN BLACK:

(pulling his sword)

Thank you.

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28.

INIGO:

We'll wait until you're ready.

MAN IN BLACK:

Again. Thank you.

The Man In Black sits to rest on the boulder that once held

the rope. He tugs off his leather boots and is amazed to see

several large rocks tumble out. The Man In Black wears

gloves. Inigo stares at them.

INIGO:

I do not mean to pry, but you

don't by any chance happen to

have six fingers on your right

hand?

He glances up -- the question clearly baffles him.

MAN IN BLACK:

Do you always begin conversations

this way?

INIGO:

My father was slaughtered by a

sixfingered man. He was a great

swordmaker, my father. And when

the six-fingered man appeared and

requested a special sword, my

father took the job. He slaved a

year before he was done.

He hands his sword to the Man In Black.

MAN IN BLACK:

(fondling it-impressed)

I have never seen its equal.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP - INIGO

Even now, this still brings pain.

INIGO:

The six-fingered man returned and

demanded it, but at one-tenth his

promised price. My father refused.

Without a word, the six-fingered

man slashed him through the heart.

I loved my father, so, naturally,

challenged his murderer to a duel

... I failed ...

(MORE)

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29.

INIGO (CONT'D)

the six-fingered man did leave me

alive with the six-fingered

sword, but he gave me these.

He touches his scars.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

looking up at Inigo.

MAN IN BLACK:

How old were you?

INIGO:

I was eleven years old. When I

was strong enough, I dedicated my

life to the study of fencing. So

the next time we meet, I will not

fail. I will go up to the

sixfingered man and say, "Hello,

my name is Inigo Montoya. You

killed my father. Prepare to die."

MAN IN BLACK:

You've done nothing but study

swordplay?

INIGO:

More pursuit than study lately.

You see, I cannot find him. It's

been twenty years now. I am

starting to lose confidence. I

just work for Vizzini to pay the

bills. There's not a lot of money

in revenge.

MAN IN BLACK:

(handing back the

great sword, starting

to rise)

Well, I certainly hope you find

him, someday.

INIGO:

You are ready, then?

MAN IN BLACK:

Whether I am or not, you've been

more than fair.

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30.

INIGO:

You seem a decent fellow. I hate

to kill you.

MAN IN BLACK:

(walking away a few

paces, unsheathing his sword)

You seem a decent fellow. I hate

to die.

INIGO:

Begin!

And on that word --

CUT TO:

THE TWO OF THEM:

And what we are starting now is one of the two greatest

sword fights in modern movies (the other one happens later

on), and right from the beginning it looks different.

Because they aren't close to each other -- none of the

swordscrossing "en garde" garbage.

No, what we have here is two men, two athletes, and they

look to be too faraway to damage each other, but each time

one makes even the tiniest feint, the other counters, and

there is silence, and as they start to circle --

CUT TO:

THE SIX-FINGERED SWORD

feinting here, feinting there and --

CUT TO:

THE TWO MEN:

finished teasing, begin to duel in earnest.

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