EL English Lord
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.
[one of William's soldiers spots the English nobleman who had intercourse with his wife on the night of their wedding]
Make it quick.
Soldier Remember me?
N Nobleman
I did nothing to hurt her. It was my noble right.
Soldier 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.
'[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?
I don't want to be a martyr.
Nor I. I want to live. I want a home, and children, and peace.
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.
I am the Princess of Wales. I come as the king's servant, and with his authority.
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.
[in Latin]
He is a bloody murdering savage. And he's telling lies.
[in Latin]
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.
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.
I have come to beg for the life of William Wallace.
PE Prince Edward
You're quite taken with him, aren't you.
I respect him. At worst he was a worthy enemy. Show mercy, O great king, and win the respect of your own people. Even now you are incapable of mercy. And you. To you that word is as unfamiliar as love.
PE Prince Edward
Before he lost his powers of speech he told me his one comfort was he would live to know Wallace was dead.
[whispered in Longshank's ear]
You see, death comes to us all. But before it comes to you, know this. Your plot dies with you. A child who is not of your line grows in my belly. Your son will not sit long on the throne, I swear it.
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.
[to Isabelle]
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.
[pause]
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.
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.
L Longshanks
Ah, my son's loyal wife returns unkilled by the heathen. So he accepted our bribe?
L Longshanks
Then why does he stay? My scouts tell me he has not advanced.
He waits for you at York. He says he will attack no more towns or cities if you are man enough to come face him.
L Longshanks
Did he? The Welsh bowmen will not be detected arriving so far around his flank. The main force of our armies from France will land here to the north of Edinburgh. Conscripts from Ireland will approach from the southwest to here.
E Edward
Welsh bowmen? Troops from France? Irish conscripts? Even if you dispatched them today, they'd take weeks to assemble.
L Longshanks
I dispatched them before I sent your wife. [to Isabelle] So our little ruse succeeded. Thank you. And while this upstart awaits my arrival in York, my forces will have arrived in Edinburgh behind him. You spoke with this Wallace in private? Tell me, what kind of man is he?
A mindless barbarian, not a king like you, my lord.
L Longshanks
You may return to your embroidery.
Humbly, my lord. [turns to leave]
E Edward
You brought back the money, of coarse?
No. I gave it to ease the suffering of the children of this war.
L Longshanks
[laughs]
That's what happens when you send a woman!
Forgive me, sire. I thought that generosity might demonstrate your greatness to those you mean to rule.
L Longshanks
My greatness will be better demonstrated when Wallace returns to Scotland and finds his country in ashes.
His legend grows. It will be worse than before.
He rallies new volunteers in every Scottish town. And when he replenishes his numbers, --
They're sheep, mere sheep. Easily dispersed if we strike the shepherd. Very well. Take a flock of your finest assassins and set a meeting.
My lord, Wallace is renowned for his ability to smell an ambush.
If what Lord Hamilton tells me is correct, he warmed to our future queen and would trust her. So we'll dispatch her with the notion that she comes in peace.
My Lord, the princess might be taken hostage, or her life be put in jeopardy.
My son would be most distressed by that. But if she were to be killed, we would soon find the King of France a useful ally against the Scots. [to Prince Edward] You see, as king, you must find the good in any situation.
Nobles. Nobles are the key to the door of Scotland. Grant our nobles lands in the north. Give their nobles estates here in England, and make them too greedy to oppose us.
Advisor But sire, our nobles will be reluctant to uproot. New lands mean new taxes, and they are already taxed for the war in France.
Are they? Are they? The trouble with Scotland is that it's full of Scots. Perhaps the time has come to reinstitute an old custom. Grant them prima noctes. First night, when any common girl inhabiting their lands is married, our nobles shall have sexual rights to her on the night of her wedding. If we can't get them out, we breed them out. That should fetch just the kind of lords we want to Scotland, taxes or no taxes.
Advisor A most excellent idea, sire.
Scotland. My land. The French will grovel to anyone with strength, but how will they believe our strength when we cannot rule the whole of our own island?! [Isabelle walks in] Where is my son?
Pardon, my lord. He asked me to come in his stead.
I sent for him, and he sends you?
If he wants his queen to rule when I am gone, then by all means, stay and learn how. Please. Nobles. Nobles are the key to the door of Scotland. Grant our nobles lands in the north, give their nobles estates here in England, and make them too greedy to oppose us.
Advisor But sire, our nobles will be reluctant to uproot. New lands mean new taxes and they are already taxed for the war in France.
Are they? Are they? [glaring at Isabelle] The trouble with Scotland... is that it's full of Scots! [Longshanks' advisors laugh] Perhaps the time has come to reinstitute an old custom. Grant them prima noctes. First night, when any common girl inhabiting their lands is married, our nobles shall have sexual rights to her on the night of her wedding. If we can't get them out, we'll breed them out. That should fetch just the kind of lords we want to Scotland, taxes or no taxes, eh?
Advisor A most excellent idea, sire.
Scottish rebels have routed one of my garrisons and murdered the noble lord.
PE Prince Edward
I heard. This Wallace is a brigand, nothing more.
And how would you deal with this 'brigand?'
PE Prince Edward
Like any common thief. Have the local magistrate arrest him and punish him accordingly.
[to the others]
Leave us. [strikes the Prince] Wallace has already killed the magistrate, and taken control of the town!
