You dropped your rock.
Test of manhood.
You win.
Call it a test of soldiery, then. The English won't let us train with weapons, so we train with stones.
Well, a test of a soldier is not in his arm, it's here [points to his head].
No, it's here [points to his fist, then punches William]
Are you in the habit of riding off in the rain with strangers?
It was the best way to make you leave.
Well, if I can ever work up the courage to ask you again, I'll send you a written warning first.
'O it wouldn't do you much good. I can't read.
Can you not?
No.
Well that's something we shall have to remedy, isn't it?
You're going to teach me to read, then?
Aye, if you like.
Aye.
In what language?
Are you showing off now?
That's right. Are you impressed yet?
No. Why, should I be?
Yes. Because every single day I thought about you.
Do that standing on your head and I'll be impressed.
My kilt may fly up but I'll try.
You certainly didn't learn any manners on your travels.
I'm afraid the Romans have far worse manners than I.
You've been to Rome?
Aye, Uncle Argyle took me on a pilgrimage.
What was it like?
Not nearly as beautiful as you.
What does that mean?
Beautiful. But I belong here.
Sir, I know it was strange of me to invite Murron to ride last night, but I assure you I--
MacClannough's daughter is another matter. I've come to fetch you to a meeting.
What kind of meeting?
The secret kind.
Your meetings are a waste of time, Campbell.
Your father was a fighter, and a patriot.
I know who my father was. I came back home to raise crops, and God willing a family. If I can live in peace, I will.
You say you want to stay out of the troubles?
Aye.
If you can prove it, you may court my daughter. Until you prove it, my answer is no.
No?
No Wallace, no.
Didn't I just prove it?
No.
Of course, running a farm is a lot of work, but that will all change when my sons arrive.
So, you've got children?
Not yet, but I was hoping you could help me with that.
So, you want me to marry you then?
Well, that's a bit sudden, but alright.
Is that what you call a proposal?
I love you, always have. I want to marry you.
Is that a yes?
Aye, that's a yes.
I have sent 100 of my troops. They return now.
Were they wearing these? [points to an English troop uniform that he and his men are wearing] Actually, it was more like fifty.
Make it quick.
Remember me?
I did nothing to hurt her. It was my noble right.
Well, I'm here to claim the right of a husband! [beats the nobleman to death]
I am William Wallace. You all will be spared. Go back to England...tell them Scotland's daughters are yours no more! Tell them Scotland is free! [turns to Hamish] Burn it.
We'll make spears. Hundreds of them, long spears. Twice as long as a man.
That long?
Aye.
Some men are longer than others.
Your mother been telling you stories about me again, eh?
Him? That can't be William Wallace. I'm prettier than this man. All right Father, I'll ask him. [To William] If I risk my neck for you, will I get a chance to kill Englishmen?
Is your father a ghost, or do you converse with the Almighty?
In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God. [Heavenward] Yes, Father. [To William and Hamish] The Almighty says don't change the subject, just answer the **** question.
Mind your tongue.
Insane Irish.
Smart enough to get a dagger past your guards, old man.
That's my friend, Irishman. And the answer your question is yes - if you fight for me, you get to kill the English.
Excellent! Stephen is my name. I'm the most wanted man on my island. Except I'm not on my island of course. More's the pity.
Your island? You mean Ireland.
Yeah. It's mine.
You're a madman.
The Almighty says this must be a fashionable fight. It's drawn the finest people.
Where is thy salute?
For presenting yourselves on this battlefield, I give you thanks.
This is our army. To join it you give homage.
I give homage to Scotland. And if this is your army, why does it go?
We didn't come here to fight for them.
Home! The English are too many!
Sons of Scotland! I am William Wallace.
William Wallace is seven feet tall!
Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds. And if HE were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes, and bolts of lightning from his arse.
I AM William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my country men, here, in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?
Against that? No, we'll run, and we'll live.
Aye, fight and you may die, run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!
I said I have an offer for you.
You disrespect a banner of truce?
From his king? Absolutely. Here are Scotland's terms. Lower your flags, and march straight back to England, stopping at every home you pass by to beg forgiveness for 100 years of theft, rape, and murder. Do that and your men shall live. Do it not, and every one of you will die today.
You are outmatched. You have no heavy cavalry. In two centuries no army has won without--.
I'm not finished. Before we let you leave, your commander must cross that field, present himself before this army, put his head between his legs, and kiss his own arse.
I'd say that was rather less cordial that he was used to.
Sir William, where are you going?
We have beaten the English, but they'll come back because you won't stand together.
Well what will you do?
I will invade England and defeat the English on their own ground.
Invade? That's impossible.
Why? Why is that impossible? You're so concerned with squabbling for the scraps from Longshank's table that you've missed your God given right to something better. There is a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with possession. I think your possession exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.
Wait! I respect what you said, but remember that these men have lands and castles. It's much to risk.
And the common man who bleeds on the battlefield, does he risk less?
No, but from top to bottom this country has no sense of itself. Its nobles share allegiance with England. Its clans war with each other. If you make enemies on both sides of the border, you'll end up dead.
We all end up dead; it's just a question of how and why.
I'm not a coward. I want what you want, but we need the nobles.
We need them?
Aye.
Now tell me, what does that mean to be noble? Your title gives you claim to the thrown of our country, but men don't follow titles, they follow courage. Now our people know you. Noble, and common, they respect you. And if you would just lead them to freedom, they'd follow you. And so would I.
I understand you have recently been given the rank of knight.
I have been given nothing. God makes men what they are.
Did God make you the sacker of peaceful cities, the executioner of the king's nephew, my husband's own cousin?
York was the staging point for every invasion of my country. And that royal cousin hanged innocent Scots, even women and children, from the city walls. Oh, Longshanks did far worse the last time he took a Scottish city.
Sanguinarius homo indomitus est, et se dite **** mendacium. (He is a bloodthirsty savage, and he is telling lies.)
Ego nunquam pronunciari mendacium! Sed ego sum homo indomitus. (I never lie! But I am a savage.) [to Princess] Ou en français, si vous pr?f?rez? (Or in French, if you prefer?) [in English] You ask your king to his face, ask him, and see if his eyes can convince you of the truth.
Let us talk plainly. You invade England, but you can not complete the conquest so far from your shelter and supply. The king desires peace.
Longshanks desires peace?
He declares it to me, I swear it. He proposes that you withdraw your attack. In return he grants you title, estates, and this chest of gold which I am to pay to you personally.
A lordship and titles. Gold. That I should become Judas?
Peace is made in such ways.
Slaves are made in such ways! The last time Longshanks spoke of peace I was a boy. And many Scottish nobles, who would not be slaves, were lured by him under a flag of truce to a barn, where he had them hanged. I was very young, but I remember Longshank's notion of peace.
I understand you have suffered. I know... about your woman.
She was my wife. We married in secret because I would not share her with an English lord. They killed her to get to me. I've never spoken of it, I don't know why I tell you now, except... I see her strength in you. One day, you will be a queen. And you must open your eyes. You tell your king that William Wallace will not be ruled... and nor will any Scot while I live.
William, there's riders approaching. Personal escort of the princess. You must have made an impression.
Aye.
I didn't think you were in the tent that long.
With such a force of raid against us, it is time to discuss other options.
Other options? Don't you wish at least to lead your men onto the field and barter a better deal with Longshanks before you tuck tail and run?
Sir William -
We can not defeat this army.
We can!
Sir William -
And we will! We won at Stirling, and still you quibble. We won at York and you would not support us. If you will not stand up with us now then I say you're a coward. And if you are Scotsmen, I am ashamed to call myself one.
Please, Sir William, I must speak with you alone... I beg you. Now you've achieved more than anyone ever dreamed, but fighting these odds it looks like rage, not courage.
It's well beyond rage. Help me. In the name of Christ help yourselves. Now is our chance, now. If we join, we can win. If we win, well then we'll have what none of us have ever had before: a country of our own. You are the rightful leader, and there is strength in you. I see it. Unite us. Unite us. Unite the clans.
'[about the nobles] The scheming bastards couldn't agree on the color of shit. It's a trap, are you blind?
We've got to try. We can't do this alone. Joining the nobles is the only hope for our people. You know what happens if we don't take that chance?
What?
Nothing.
I don't want to be a martyr.
Nor I. I want to live. I want a home, and children, and peace.
Do you?
Aye, I do. I've asked God for these things. It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom.
That's all a dream, William.
A dream? Just a dream? What we've been doing all this time; we've lived that dream.
You dream isn't about freedom. It's about Murron. You're doing this to be a hero because you think she sees you.
I don't think she sees me. I know she does. And your father sees you, too.
Sir, I've come to beg you to confess all and swear allegiance to the king, that he might show you mercy.
Will he show mercy to my country?
Mercy is to die quickly, perhaps even live in a tower. In time, who knows what could happen.
If I swear to him, then all that I am is dead already.
You will die. It will be awful.
Every man dies, not every man really lives.
Drink this. It will dull your pain.
No. It will numb my wits, and I must have them all. For if I'm senseless or if I wail, then Longshanks will have broken me.
It can all end, right now. Peace. Bliss. Just say it. Cry out mercy.
Mercy...mercy!
Cry out. Just say it. Mercy.
Mercy lad, mercy.
Jesus, mercy.
The prisoner wishes to say a word.
FREEEEE-DOMMMMMM!!!!!
I have dispatched a hundred soldiers to Lanark. They will be returning now!
Were they dressed like this? Actually, it was more like fifty.
You know, eventually Longshanks will send his whole Northern Army against us.
Heavy cavalry, armored horse; shake the very ground.
They'll ride right over us.
Uncle Argyle used to talk about it; how no army had ever stood up to a charge of heavy horse.
So what'll we do?
Run, hide, the highland way.
We'll make spears. Hundreds of them! Long spears, twice as long as a man.
That long?
Aye.
Some men are longer than others.
Your mother been telling you stories about me again, eh?
Mornay, Lochlan, Craig. Here are the king's terms. Lead this army off field and he will give you each estates in Yorkshire, including hereditary title, from which you will pay- from which you will pay him an annual duty-
I have an offer for you.
Cheltham, this is William Wallace.
From which you will pay the king an annual duty-
I said I have an offer for you.
You disrespect a banner of truce?
From his king? Absolutely. Here are Scotland's terms. Lower your flags, and march straight back to England, stopping at every home you pass by to beg forgiveness for a hundred years of theft, rape, and murder. Do that and your men shall live. Do it not, and every one of you will die today.
You are outmatched. You have no heavy cavalry. In two centuries no army has won without—
I'm not finished! Before we let you leave, your commander must cross that field, present himself before this army, put his head between his legs, and kiss his own arse.
I'd say that was rather less cordial than he was used to.
You be ready and do exactly as I say. On my signal, ride round behind our position and flank them.
We must not divide our forces!
Do it. And let the English see you do it.
They'll think we're running away?
Aye. Take out their archers. I'll meet you in the middle.
I'm dreaming.
Yes you are. And you must wake.
I don't want to wake. I want to stay here with you.
And I with you.
I am the Princess of Wales. I come as the king's servant, and with his authority.
To do what?
To discuss the king's proposals. Will you speak with a woman? [William follows her into the tent] I understand you have been given the rank of knight.
I have been given nothing. God makes men what they are.
Did God make you the sacker of peaceful cities, the executioner of the king's nephew, my husband's own cousin?
York was the staging point for every invasion of my country. And that royal cousin hanged innocent Scots, even women and children, from the city walls. [Isabelle looks at Hamilton in disbelif] Well, Longshanks did far worse the last time he took a Scottish city.
I never lie. But I am a savage. [in French] Or in French if you prefer? [in English] You ask your king, to his face, ask him. You see if his eyes can convince you of the truth.
Hamilton, leave us.
My lady?
Leave us. Now. [Hamilton leaves the tent] Let us talk plainly. You invade England, but you can not complete the conquest so far from your shelter and supply. The king desires peace.
Longshanks desires peace?
He declares it to me, I swear it. He proposes that you withdraw your attack. In return he grants you title, estates, and this chest of gold which I am to pay to you personally.
A lordship and titles. Gold. That I should become Judas?
Peace is made in such ways.
Slaves are made in such ways! The last time Longshanks spoke of peace I was a boy. And many Scottish nobles, who would not be slaves, were lured by him under a flag of truce to a barn, where he had them hanged. I was very young, but I remember Longshanks' notion of "peace".
I understand you have suffered. I know... about your woman.
She was my wife. We married in secret because I would not share her with an English lord. They killed her to get to me. I have never spoken of it. I don't know why I tell you now, except... I see her strength in you. One day, you'll be a queen. And you must open your eyes. You tell your king that William Wallace will not be ruled... and nor will any Scot while I live.
M'lady. I received your message. This is the second time you have warned me of danger. Why?
There will be a new shipment of supplies coming north next month, foods and weapons, they won't...
No, stop. Why do you help me? Why do you help me?
Because of the way you're looking at me now.
William Wallace, you stand in taint of High Treason.
Against whom?
Against your king. Have you anything to say?
Never in my whole life did I swear allegiance to him.
It matters not. He is your king. Confess, and you may receive a quick death. Deny, and you must be purified by pain. Do you confess? [William remains silent] Do you confess? Then on the morrow you shall receive your purification.
