The Princess Bride Page #8

Their swords cross, then again, again, and the sound comes

so fast it's almost continual. Inigo presses on, the Man In

Black retreating up a rocky incline.

INIGO:

(thrilled)

You're using Bonetti's defense

against me, ah?

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31.

MAN IN BLACK:

I thought it fitting, considering

the rocky terrain --

INIGO:

Naturally, you must expect me to

attack with Capo Ferro.

And he shifts his style now.

MAN IN BLACK:

(coping as best he can)

-- naturally --

(suddenly shifting again)

--but I find Thibault cancels out

Capo Ferro, don't you?

The Man In Black is now perched at the edge of the elevated

castle ruin. No where to go, he jumps to the sand.

Inigo stares down at him.

INIGO:

Unless the enemy has studied his

Agrippa-

And now, with the grace of an Olympian, Inigo flies off the

perch, somersaults clean over the Man In Black's head, and

lands facing his opponent.

INIGO:

-- which I have.

The two men are almost flying across the rocky terrain,

never losing balance, never coming close to stumbling; the

battle rages with incredible finesse, first one and then the

other gaining the advantage, and by now, it's clear that

this isn't just two athletes going at it, it's a lot more

that that. This is two legendary swashbucklers and they're

in their prime, it's Burt Lancaster in "The Crimson Pirate"

battling Errol Flynn in "Robin Hood" and then, incredibly,

the action begins going even faster than before as we

CUT TO:

INIGO:

And behind him now, drawing closer all the time, is the

deadly edge of the Cliffs of Insanity. Inigo fights and

ducks and feints and slashes and it all works, but not for

long, as gradually the Man In Black keeps the advantage,

keeps forcing Inigo back, closer and closer to death.

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32.

INIGO:

(happy as a clam)

You are wonderful!

MAN IN BLACK:

Thank you -- I've worked hard to

become so.

The Cliff edge is very close now. Inigo is continually being

forced toward it.

INIGO:

I admit it -- you are better than

I am.

MAN IN BLACK:

Then why are you smiling?

Inches from defeat, Inigo is, in fact, all smiles.

INIGO:

Because I know something you

don't know.

MAN IN BLACK:

And what is that?

INIGO:

I am not left-handed.

And he throws the six-fingered sword into his right hand and

immediately, the tide of battle turns.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

stunned, doing everything be can to keep Inigo by the Cliff

edge. But no use. Slowly at first, he begins to retreat. Now

faster, Inigo is in control and the Man In Black is desperate.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

and the six-fingered sword is all but invisible now, as he

increases his attack, then suddenly switches styles again.

CUT TO:

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33.

A ROCKY STAIRCASE leading to a turret-shaped plateau, and

the Man In Black is retreating like mad up the steps and he

can't stop Inigo -- nothing can stop Inigo -- and in a

frenzy, the Man In Black makes every feint, tries every

thrust, lets go with all he has left. But he fails.

Everything fails. He tries one or two final desperate moves

but they are nothing.

MAN IN BLACK:

You're amazing!

INIGO:

I ought to be after twenty years.

And now the Man In Black is smashed into a stone pillar,

pinned there under the six fingered sword.

MAN IN BLACK:

(hollering it out)

There's something I ought to tell

you.

INIGO:

Tell me.

MAN IN BLACK:

I am not left-handed either.

And now he changes hands, and at last, the battle is fully

joined.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

And to his amazement, he is being forced back down the steps.

He tries one style, another, but it all comes down to the

same thing -- the Man In Black seems to be in control. And

before Inigo knows it, the six-fingered sword is knocked

clear out of his hand.

Inigo retreats, dives from the stairs to a moss-covered bar

suspended over the archway. He swings out, lands, and

scrambles to his sword and we

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

who watches Inigo, then casually tosses his sword to the

landing where it sticks in perfectly. Then the Man In Black

copies INIGO. Not copies exactly, improves.

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34.

He dives to the bar, swings completely over it like a circus

performer and dismounts with a backflip.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

staring in awe.

INIGO:

Who are you?!

MAN IN BLACK:

No one of consequence.

INIGO:

I must know.

MAN IN BLACK:

Get used to disappointment.

INIGO:

Okay.

CUT TO:

INIGO:

moving like lightning, and he thrusts forward, slashes,

darts back, all in almost a single movement and --

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

Dodging, blocking, and again he thrusts forward, faster even

than before, and again he slashes but --

CUT TO:

INIGO:

And there is never a move anyone makes he doesn't remember,

and this time he blocks the slash, slashes out himself with

the sixfingered sword.

On it goes, back and forth across the rocky terrain, Inigo's

feet moving with the grace and speed of a great

improvisational dancer.

CUT TO:

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35.

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