The Princess Bride

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The story introduces the main characters of Buttercup and Wesley and establishes their relationship on the farm, with Wesley serving Buttercup but expressing his love for her through saying 'As you wish'.

Wesley is a farm boy who works on Buttercup's farm. Though she orders him around, it is revealed that when he says 'As you wish' in response, he really means 'I love you'. Buttercup eventually realizes she loves him in return.

With no money for marriage, Wesley leaves the farm to seek his fortune across the sea. However, his ship is attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts and he is killed, with Buttercup receiving the news of his murder.

The Princess Bride

The Bedroom: The Introduction


[In the opening scene, a young boy is sick in his bed, playing a video game.
His Mother enters.]
Mother: [to her sick little boy] Hi Honey.
Kid: [mumbles quietly] Hi Mom.
Mother: You feeling any better?
Kid: A little bit.
Mother: Guess what?
Kid: What?
Mother: Your Grandfather is here.
Kid: [pleading] Mom, can't you tell him I'm sick...
Mother: You're sick? That's why he's here.
Kid: [distressed] He'll pinch my cheek...I hate that!
Mother: Maybe he won't...
[Enter the kid's Grandfather, also Narrator of The Princess Bride]
Grandfather: [entering the room] Heyyyyy...How's the sick? Huh? [pinching
the kids cheek]
Mother: I think I'll leave you two pals alone.
Grandfather: I brought you a special present.
Kid: [excitedly] What is it?
Grandfather: Open it up.
Kid: [opening the gift] A book?
Grandfather: That's right, when I was your age, television was called books;
and this is a special book. It was the book my father used to read to me when I
was sick and I used to read it to your father...and today, I'm gonna read it to
you.
Kid: [less interested] Does it got any sports in it?
Grandfather: Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants,
monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...
Kid: It doesn't sound too bad. I'll try and stay awake.
Grandfather: Oh, well, thank you very much. That's very nice of you. Your
vote of confidence is overwhelming. Oh...alright...The Princess Bride by S.
Morgenstern, Chapter 1.

The Farm: The Beginning


Narrator: Buttercup was raised on a small farm in the country of Florin. Her
favorite past-times were riding her horse and tormenting the farm boy that
worked there. His name was Wesley. But she never called him that. Isn't that
a wonderful beginning?
Kid: [with no enthusiasm] Yeah...it's really good.
Narrator: Nothing gave Buttercup as much pleasure as ordering Wesley
around.

Buttercup: Farmboy, varnish my horse's saddle. I want to see my face


shining in it by morning.
Wesley: As you wish.
Narrator: 'As you wish' was all he ever said to her.

Buttercup: [holding two empty pails] Farmboy, fill these with water...please?
Wesley: As you wish.

Narrator: That day she was amazed to discover that when he was saying 'as
you wish,' what he meant was, 'I love you.' And even more amazing was the
day she realized she truly loved him back.

Buttercup: Farmboy, fetch me that pitcher.


Wesley: [taking the pitcher and whispering] As you wish...

The Bedroom: The 1st Interruption


Kid: [interrupting the story] Hold it! Hold it! What is this? Are you trying to
trick me? Where's the sports? Is this a kissing book?
Grandfather: Wait, just wait.
Kid: Well when does it get good?
Grandfather: Keep your shirt on and let me read.

The Farm: The Departure


Narrator: Wesley had no money for marriage so he packed his few belongings
and left the farm to seek his fortune across the sea. It was a very emotional
time for Buttercup.
Kid: I don't believe this!

Buttercup: [crying] I fear I will never see you again...


Wesley: Of course you will.
Buttercup: But what if something happens to you?
Wesley: Hear this now, I will always come for you.
Buttercup: But how can you be sure?
Wesley: This is true love. You think this happens every day? [They kiss and
he leaves]

The Farm: The Death of Wesley


Narrator: Wesley didn't reach his destination. His ship was attacked by the
Dread Pirate Roberts, who never left captives alive. When Buttercup got the
news that Wesley was murdered...
Kid: [interrupting] Murdered by pirates is good!
Narrator: [continuing] ...she went into her room and shut the door, and for
days she neither slept nor ate.

Buttercup: I will never love again.

The Courtyard: The Announcement


Narrator: Five years later the main square of Florin City was filled as never
before to hear the announcement of the Great Prince Humperdinck's bride to
be.

Humperdinck: [Trumpets blaring] My people! A month from now, our country


will have its 500th Anniversary. On that sundown I shall marry a lady who was
once a commoner like yourselves. But perhaps you will not find her common
now. Would you like to meet her?!
Crowd: [echoing] Yes!!!
Humperdinck: My people, the Princess Buttercup!

Narrator: Buttercup's emptiness consumed her. Although the law of the land
gave Humperdinck the right to choose his bride, she did not love him. [The
scene fades to Buttercup riding her horse the next morning.] Despite
Humperdinck's reassurance that she would grow to love him, the only joy she
found was in her daily ride.

The Boat: The Kidnapping


[Enter a Sicilian, a Spaniard, and a Giant]
Sicilian: [halting Buttercup] A word my lady? We are but poor, lost circus
performers. Is there a village nearby?
Buttercup: There is nothing nearby. Not for miles.
Sicilian: Then there will be no one to hear you scream...
[The Giant quickly grabs the princess by the neck, rendering her unconscious.
They take the princess to their ship.]
Spaniard [Inigo Montoya]: What is that you're ripping?
Sicilian [Vizzini]: It's fabric from the uniform of any army officer of Guilder!
Giant [Fezzik]: Who is Guilder?
Vizzini: The country across the sea! The sworn enemy of Florin! [He attaches
the cloth to Buttercup's horse] Go!!! Once the horse reaches the castle, the
fabric will make the prince suspect that the Guilderians have abducted his
love. When he finds her body dead on the Guilder frontier his suspicions will be
totally confirmed.
Fezzik: You never said anything about killing anyone!
Vizzini: [angrily] I've hired you to help me start a war. It's a prestigious line of
work with a long and glorious tradition!
Fezzik: I just don't think it's right...killing an innocent girl.
Vizzini: Am I going mad, or did the word 'think' escape your lips?!! You were
not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic land mass!!
Inigo: [interrupting] I agree with Fezzik.
Vizzini: Oh, the sot has spoken! What happens to her is not truly your
concern. I will kill her! And remember this, never forget this; [yelling] When I
found you, you were so slobbering drunk, you couldn't buy brandy!!! [Turning
to Fezzik] And you! Friendless, brainless, helpless, hopeless!! Do you want
me to send you back to where you were? Unemployed, in Greenland!! [Vizzini
walks away, angered, and sets the ship free.]

The Boat: The Rhyming


Inigo: Vizzini, he can...fuss.
Fezzik: Fuss...fuss...I think he likes to scream at us.
Inigo: Probably he means no...harm.
Fezzik: He's very, very short on...charm.
Inigo: You have a great gift for rhyme.
Fezzik: Yes, yes, some of the time.
Vizzini: [overhearing Fezzik] Enough of that!
Inigo: Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?
Fezzik: If there are, we all be dead.
Vizzini: No more rhymes now, I mean it!
Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?
Vizzini: Aauuuggghhhhh!!!!!!

The Boat: The 'Local Fisherman'


[It is night-time, all three and the princess are still at sea.]
Vizzini: We'll reach the cliffs by dawn. Why are you doing that? [directed at
Inigo who is staring behind]
Inigo: Making sure nobody's following us.
Vizzini: That would be inconceivable.
Buttercup: [jumps in] Despite what you think, you will be caught; and when
you are, the prince will see you all hanged.
Vizzini: Of all the necks on this boat, highness, the one you should be
worrying about is your own...[pausing, then glancing at Inigo] Stop doing that!
We can all relax! It's almost over.
Inigo: You are sure nobody's follow us?
Vizzini: As I told you it would be absolutely, totally, and in all other ways
inconceivable! No one in Guilder knows what we've done, and no one in Florin
could have gotten here so fast. [pauses] Out of curiosity, why do you ask?
Inigo: No reason. Suddenly, I just happened to look behind us and something
is there.
Vizzini: [in disbelief] What?! [now, spying a ship in the distance]
Probably...some local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise at night...through eel
infested waters.

The Boat: The Shrieking Eels


[Buttercup jumps overboard]
Vizzini: What?! Go in!! Go after her!!!
Inigo: [frankly] I don't swim.
Fezzik: [turning to Vizzini] I only dog-paddle...
Vizzini: Aauuuggghhhhh!!!!!!
Vizzini: Veer left!...left!...left! [suddenly, horrible screeching is heard] Do you
know what that sound is, highness? Those are the shrieking eels! If you don't
believe me, just wait. They always grow louder when they're about to feed on
human flesh! If you swim back now I promise no harm will come to you...I
doubt you'll get such an offer from the eels.

The Bedroom: The 1st Explanation


Grandfather: [Narrator] She doesn't get eaten by the eels at this time.
Kid: What?
Grandfather: The eel doesn't get her...I'm explaining to you because you
looked nervous.
Kid: Oh...I wasn't nervous. Well, maybe I was a little bit concerned but that's
not the same thing.
Grandfather: ...Because we can stop now if you want.
Kid: No, you could read a little bit more, if you want.

Narrator: [reading Vizzini's part] 'Do you know what that sound is highness?
Those are the shrieking eels!'
Kid: Pass that, Grandpa. You read it already.
Grandfather: Oh...oh my goodness, I did. I'm sorry. Beg your pardon. [now
mumbling to himself] alright, alright, lets see...uh...she was in the water, the
eel was going after her, she was frightened, the eel started to charge her and
then...

The Boat: The Rescue


[Fezzik reaches out of the boat, hits the eel on the head, and pulls Buttercup
back on Board]
Vizzini: Put her down! Just put her down!
Inigo: [looking back at the other ship again] I think he's getting closer!
Vizzini: He's no concern of ours! Sail on! [now, turning to Buttercup] I
suppose you think you're brave, don't you?
Buttercup: Only compared to some.

The Cliffs of Insanity: The Rope Climb


[Dawn, the next morning]
Inigo: Look! He's right on top of us! I wonder if he's using the same wind we
are using?
Vizzini: Whoever he is, he's too late! See! [pointing skyward] The Cliffs of
Insanity!!! Hurry up! Move...the thing...and...that other thing! Move it!!!
[climbing out] We're safe! Only Fezzik is strong enough to go up our way. He'll
have to sail around for hours 'till he finds a harbor.
[Fezzik, all three holding on to him, proceeds to climb a rope up the side of the
cliff.]
Inigo: [in amazement] He's climbing the rope....and he's gaining on us.
Vizzini: Inconceivable!....Faster!!
Fezzik: I thought I was going faster.
Vizzini: You were supposed to be this colossus, you were this great legendary
thing and yet he gains!
Fezzik: Well, I'm carrying three people, and he got only himself.
Vizzini: I do not accept excuses! I'm just going to have to find myself a new
giant, that's all.
Fezzik: Don't say that, Vizzini, please?
Vizzini: Did I make it clear that your job is at stake?
The Cliffs of Insanity: The Rock Climb
[Finally, Fezzik reaches the top. Vizzini quickly cuts through the rope with a
dagger. Fezzik and Inigo peer over the edge of the cliff.]
Fezzik: He's got very good arms. [Vizzini comes over to look.]
Vizzini: He didn't fall! Inconceivable!
Inigo: [looking confused] You keep using that word? I do not think it means
what you think it means...[looking back down] my god...he's climbing.
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: I'm going to do him left-handed.
Vizzini: You know what a hurry we're in!
Inigo: Well, it is the only way I can be satisfied. If I use my right, over too
quickly.
Vizzini: Oh have it your way.
Fezzik: [to Inigo] You be careful. People in masks cannot be trusted.
Vizzini: [impatiently] I'm waiting...
[Inigo practices a few steps. He then calls to the Man in black.]
Inigo: Hello there. 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: [apologetic] Sorry.
Man in black: Thank you.
Inigo: [Inigo unsheathes his sword and practices more steps. Calls again to
the Man in black.] I do not suppose you could speed things up?
Man in black: If you're in such a hurry you could lower a rope or a tree
branch or find something useful to do.
Inigo: I could do that. I have got some rope up here. But I do not think you
would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.
Man in black: That does put a damper on our relationship.
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: [struggling up the cliff side] No good. I've known too many
Spaniards.
Inigo: Is there any way you'll trust me?
Man in black: Nothing comes to mind.
Inigo: [very seriously] I swear on the soul of my father, Domingo Montoya,
you will reach the top alive.
Man in black: Throw me the rope.
[Inigo throws the rope to the Man in black, and helps him to the top where
there's a clearing]

The Man In Black: The Conversation


Man in black: [exhausted] Thank you. [He struggles to draw his sword]
Inigo: Wait wait wait wait wait wait 'till you're ready.
Man in black: Again, thank you. [He sits and removes some stones from his
boots]
Inigo: I do not mean to pry, but you don't by any chance happen to have six
fingers on your right hand?
Man in black: [revealing his five fingers] Do you always begin conversations
this way?
Inigo: My father was slaughtered by a six-fingered man. He was a great
sword-maker, my father. When the six-fingered man appeared and requested a
special sword, my father took the job. He slaved a year before he was done.
[Inigo unsheathes his sword, and shows it to the Man in black]
Man in black: I've never seen its equal.
Inigo: 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 I challenged this
man to a duel. I failed...six-fingered man leave me alive, but he gave me this
[a scar on his cheek] and this [another scar].
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 six-fingered man and say 'Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my
father. Prepare to die.'
Man in black: [intrigued] You've done nothing but sword-play?
Inigo: More pursue more than study lately. You see, I cannot find him...it's
been twenty years now and I'm starting to lose confidence. I just work for
Vizzini to pay the bills. There's not a lot of money in revenge.
[After a moments silence, the Man in black stands up and prepares to battle]
Man in black: Well I....I certainly hope you find him someday.
Inigo: You all ready then?
Man in black: Whether I am or not, you've been more than fair.
Inigo: [drawing his sword] You seem a decent fellow...I hate to kill you.
Man in black: You seem a decent fellow...I hate to die.
Inigo: [confidently] Begin.

The Man In Black: The Fencing Match


[Slowly, a great battle ensues. Inigo tests the Man in black, and the Man in
black tests Inigo. They continue to battle on.]
Inigo: You are using Bonetti's Defense against me, ah?
Man in black: I thought it fitting considering the rocky terrain.
Inigo: Naturally, you must suspect me to attack with Capa Ferro?
Man in black: Naturally...but I find that Thibault cancels out Capa Ferro. Don't
you?
Inigo: Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa...which I have.
[They continue to exchange attacks and parries]
Inigo: You are wonderful!
Man in black: Thank you. I've worked hard to become so.
Inigo: I admit it, you are better than I am.
Man in black: Then why are you smiling?
Inigo: Because I know something you don't know.
Man in black: And what is that?
Inigo: [switching hands] I am not left-handed!
[Inigo switches to his right hand, and appears to overwhelm the Man in black]
Man in black: You're amazing!
Inigo: I ought to be after twenty years.
Man in black: [struggling to keep Inigo away] There's something I ought to
tell you.
Inigo: Tell me!
Man in black: I'm not left-handed either.
[The Man in black switches to his right hand, and performs a few amazing
feats. They stop fencing for a brief moment.]
Inigo: [in awe] Who are you?
Man in black: No one of consequence.
Inigo: I must know.
Man in black: Get used to disappointment.
Inigo: [disappointed] Okay...
[The battle rages on again, this time, the Man in black is dominating. The Man
in black knocks the sword out of Inigo's hand, and circles in behind him]
Inigo: [kneeling] Kill me quickly.
Man in black: I would as soon destroy a stained glass window as an artist like
yourself. However, since I can't have you following me either...
[The Man in black hits Inigo on the back of his head with the hilt of his sword,
knocking him out.]
Man in black: [sincerely] Please understand I hold you in the highest respect.

The Man In Black: The Wrestling Match


[The Man in black runs off to find Vizzini. Vizzini spies the man in black from
atop a huge hill.]
Vizzini: Inconceivable!! Give her to me! [taking Buttercup] Catch up with us
quickly!
Fezzik: What do I do?
Vizzini: Finish him! Finish him...your way...
Fezzik: Oh good. My way. Thank you Vizzini. Which way's my way?
Vizzini: [irritated] Pick up one of those rocks, get behind a boulder, and in a
few minutes the man in black will come running around the bend. The minute
his HEAD is in view hit it with the rock!
Fezzik: [to himself] My way is not very sportsman-like.

[The Man in black proceeds up the hill, and is met by a rock crashing against a
boulder right next to him.]
Fezzik: I did that on purpose. I didn't have to miss.
Man in black: I believe you. [pauses] So what happens now?
Fezzik: We face each other as god intended; sportsman-like...no tricks, no
weapons, skill against skill alone.
Man in black: You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my
sword and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Fezzik: [holding up a large rock] I could kill you now...
Man in black: Frankly, I think the odds are slightly in your favor at hand
fighting.
Fezzik: It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even
exercise.
[The Man in black charges Fezzik, but cannot knock him down]
Man in black: [agitated] Look, are you just fiddling around with me or what?
Fezzik: I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die
embarrassed. [Fezzik grasps at him, but misses] You're quick!
Man in black: Good thing too.
Fezzik: [swinging at the man in black] Why are you wearing a mask? Were
you burned by acid or something like that?
Man in black: Oh no, it's just they're terribly comfortable. I think everyone
will be wearing them in the future.
[The Man in black manages to jump onto Fezzik's back, and tries to choke him.
Fezzik pushes his back against a boulder, almost knocking the wind out of the
Man in black]
Fezzik: I just figured out why you would give me so much trouble.
Man in black: Why is that, do you think?
Fezzik: Well, I haven't fought just one person for so long...[struggles more
with the man in black]...I've been specializing in groups, fighting gangs for local
charities...that kind of thing.
Man in black: Why should that make such a [crash! pause] difference?
Fezzik: [slowing down] You see, you use different moves when you're fighting
half a dozen people, then when you only have to worry about one.
[Fezzik falls to the ground, unconscious. The Man in black checks to see if he is
still alive.]
Man in black: I do not envy you the headache you will have when you
awake. But in the meantime, rest well and dream of large women.

The Pursuit: The Fencing Match Revisited


[Enter Prince Humperdinck, the Count, and their guards, examining the
battleground of Inigo and the Man in black]
Humperdinck: [examining the ground] There was a mighty duel. It ranged all
over. They were both masters.
Count Rugen: Who won? How did it end?
Humperdinck: The loser ran off alone, and the winner followed those
footprints toward Guilder...
Count Rugen: Shall we track them both?
Humperdinck: The loser is nothing. Only the princess matters. Clearly this
was all planned by warriors of Guilder! We must all be ready for whatever lies
ahead.
Count Rugen: Could this be a trap?
Humperdinck: I always think everything could be a trap. That is why I am
still alive.
[Humperdinck and his men scurry off.]

The Man In Black: The Battle of Wits


[Meanwhile the Man in black finds and confronts Vizzini who is preparing to
eat.]
Vizzini: So, it is down to you, and it is down to me...if you wish her dead, by
all means keep moving forward.
Man in black: Let me explain...
Vizzini: There's nothing to explain. You're trying to kidnap what I have
rightfully stolen.
Man in black: Perhaps an arrangement can be reached?
Vizzini: There will be no arrangements...and you're killing her.
Man in black: But if there can be no arrangement, then we are at an impasse.

Vizzini: I'm afraid so. I can't compete with you physically, and you're no
match for my brains.
Man in black: You're that smart?
Vizzini: Let me put it this way: Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle,
Socrates?
Man in black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons!
Man in black: Really! In that case, I challenge you to a battle of wits.
Vizzini: For the princess? [Man in black nods] To the death? [Man in black
nods again] I accept!
Man in black: Good, then pour the wine. [Vizzini pours the wine] Inhale this
but do not touch.
Vizzini: [taking a vial from the man in black] I smell nothing.
Man in black: What you do not smell is Iocaine powder. It is odorless,
tasteless, and dissolves instantly in liquid and is among the more deadly
poisons known to man.
Vizzini: [shrugs with laughter] Hmmm.
Man in black: [turning his back, and adding the poison to one of the goblets]
Alright, where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you
decide and we both drink - and find out who is right, and who is dead.
Vizzini: But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine it from what I know of
you. Are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet or
his enemy's? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet
because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was
given. I am not a great fool so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of
you...But you must have known I was not a great fool; you would have counted
on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in black: You've made your decision then?
Vizzini: [happily] Not remotely! Because Iocaine comes from Australia. As
everyone knows, Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are
used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me. So, I can
clearly not choose the wine in front of you.
Man in black: Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.
Vizzini: Wait 'till I get going!! ...where was I?
Man in black: Australia.
Vizzini: Yes! Australia! And you must have suspected I would have known the
powder's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in black: You're just stalling now.
Vizzini: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you! You've beaten my giant, which
means you're exceptionally strong...so you could have put the poison in your
own goblet trusting on your strength to save you, so I can clearly not choose
the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested my Spaniard, which means
you must have studied...and in studying you must have learned that man is
mortal so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I
can clearly not choose the wine in front of me!
Man in black: You're trying to trick me into giving away something. It won't
work.
Vizzini: It has worked! You've given everything away! I know where the
poison is!
Man in black: Then make your choice.
Vizzini: I will, and I choose...[pointing behind the man in black] What in the
world can that be?
Man in black: [turning around, while Vizzini switches goblets] What?!
Where?! I don't see anything.
Vizzini: Oh, well, I...I could have sworn I saw something. No matter. [Vizzini
laughs]
Man in black: What's so funny?
Vizzini: I...I'll tell you in a minute. First, lets drink, me from my glass and you
from yours.
[They both drink]
Man in black: You guessed wrong.
Vizzini: You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched
glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha, you fool!! You fell victim to one of
the classic blunders. The most famous is never get involved in a land war in
Asia; and only slightly less well known is this: Never go in against a Sicilian,
when death is on the line!
[Vizzini continues to laugh hysterically. Suddenly, he stops and falls right over.
The Man in black removes the blindfold from the princess.]
Buttercup: Who are you?
Man in black: I'm no one to be trifled with. That is all you'll ever need know.
Buttercup: And to think, all that time it was your cup that was poisoned.
Man in black: They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building
up immunity to iocaine powder.

The Pursuit: The Wrestling Match Revisited


[The scene switches back to Humperdinck and his men]
Humperdinck: Some one has beaten a giant. There will be great suffering in
Guilder if she dies.

The Man In Black: The Warning


[The scene jumps back to the Man in black, running with the princess]
Man in black: [stops] Catch your breath.
Buttercup: If you'll release me, whatever you ask for ransom you'll get it, I
promise you.
Man in black: [laughing] And what is that worth... the promise of a
woman...You're very funny highness.
Buttercup: [catching her breath] I was giving you a chance. It does not
matter where you take me. There is no greater hunter than Prince
Humperdinck. He can track a falcon on a cloudy day. He can find you.
Man in black: You think your dearest love will save you?
Buttercup: [insulted] I never said he was my dearest love. And yes, he will
save me - that I know.
Man in black: [surprised] You admit to me you do not love your fianc?
Buttercup: He knows I do not love him.
Man in black: [snapping] ...Are not capable of love is what you mean.
Buttercup: [taken back] I have loved more deeply than a killer like yourself
could ever dream!
Man in black: [raising his hand at Buttercup] That was a warning, highness!
The next time my hand flies on its own; where I come from there are penalties
when a women lies.

The Pursuit: The Battle of Wits Revisited


[The scene cuts back to Humperdinck, examining the last battle scene]
Humperdinck: Iocaine! I'd bet my life on it. And there are the princess's
footprints. She is alive, or was an hour ago...if she is otherwise, I shall be very
put out!

The Man In Black: The Story


[Back to the Man in black, still running]
Man in black: Rest, highness.
Buttercup: I know who you are. Your cruelty reveals everything. You're the
Dread Pirate Roberts, admit it!
Man in black: With pride. What can I do for you?
Buttercup: You can die slowly, cut into a thousand pieces.
Man in black: [shaking his head] Hardly complimentary, your highness...Why
loose your venom on me?
Buttercup: [upset] You killed my love.
Man in black: It's possible, I kill a lot of people. Who was this love of yours?
Another prince like this one...ugly, rich, and scabby?
Buttercup: No, a farmboy...poor! Poor and perfect, with eyes like the sea
after a storm. On the the high-seas your ship attacked, and the Dread Pirate
Roberts never takes prisoners!
Man in black: I can't afford to make exceptions. I mean once word leaks out
that a pirate has gone soft people begin to disobey him and its nothing but
work, work, work all the time.
Buttercup: You mock my pain!
Man in black: Life is pain, highness! Anyone who says differently is selling
something. [pausing for a bit] I remember this farmboy of yours I think. This
would be what? Five years ago? Does it bother you to hear?
Buttercup: Nothing you can say will upset me.
Man in black: He died well, that should please you. No bribe attempts or
blubbering. He simply said please, please, I need to live. It was the please that
caught my memory. I asked what was so important for him; 'True love' he
replied. And then he spoke of a girl of surpassing beauty and faithfulness...I
can only assume he meant you. You should bless me for destroying him before
he found out what you really are.
Buttercup: And what am I?
Man in black: Faithfulness he talked of, madam, your enduring faithfulness!
Now tell me truly, when you found out he was gone did you get engaged to
your prince that same hour or did you wait a whole week out of respect for the
dead?
Buttercup: You mocked me once! Never do it again! I died that day!

The Man In Black: The Hill


[The Man in black and Buttercup see Humperdinck's horses in the distance]
Buttercup: [pushing him down the hillside] You can die too, for all I care!!
Man in black: [tumbling down and echoing] As.......you.....wish.......
Buttercup: [shocked] Oh, my sweet Wesley, what have I done?
[Buttercup hurls herself down the mountain, in chase of Wesley.]

The Pursuit: The Disappearance


[Humperdinck moves closer]
Humperdinck: They disappeared. They must have seen us closing in, which
might account for his panicking into error. Unless I'm wrong, and I'm never
wrong, they are headed straight into the fire-swamp.

The Man In Black: The Hill Bottom


[Wesley and Buttercup finally cease falling. Wesley moves over to help
Buttercup.]
Wesley: Can you move at all?
Buttercup: [joyous] Move? You're alive! If you want I could fly.
Wesley: [holding Buttercup] I told you I would always come for you. Why
didn't you wait for me?
Buttercup: [sincerely] Well, you were dead.
Wesley: But death cannot stop true love...all it can do is delay it for awhile.
Buttercup: I will never doubt again.
Wesley: There will never be a need.
[Buttercup and Wesley kiss.]

The Bedroom: The 2nd Interruption


Kid: [interrupting the story] Oh, no! No. Please!
Grandfather: What is it? What's the matter?
Kid: [disgusted] They're kissing again. Do we have to hear the kissing part?
Grandfather: Someday you might not mind so much.
Kid: Get on to the fire-swamp, that sounded good!
Grandfather: Oh...you're sick, I'll humor you. Oh, okay....[finds the right
page]

The Man In Black: The Ravine Floor


Narrator: Wesley and Buttercup raced along the ravine floor.

Wesley: Aha! Your pig fianc is too late! A few more steps and we'll be safe in
the fire-swamp.
Buttercup: [worried] We'll never survive.
Wesley: [confident] Nonsense! You're only saying that because no one ever
has.
The Fire-Swamp: The Flame Spurt
[They proceed into the dreary, damp swamp. Cautiously, they move on. The
sounds of many creatures permeate the air.]
Wesley: It's not that bad...[receives a glance from Buttercup] ...well I'm not
saying I'd like to build a summer home here but the trees are actually quite
lovely.
[They continue through an eerie maze of trees. Suddenly, a popping sound is
heard. A flame shoots up from the ground, catching Buttercup's dress on fire.
She screams.]
Wesley: [calmly, smothering the flame] Well now, that was an adventure.
Singed a bit, were you?
Buttercup: [nervously shaking her head no] You?
[Wesley simply shakes his head no, not losing an ounce of confidence. They
continue. Suddenly another popping sound is heard. Wesley calmly lifts
Buttercup out of harms way as a flame rises from the ground.]
Wesley: Well, one thing I will say; the fire swamp certainly does keep you on
your toes.

The Fire-Swamp: The Explanation


Wesley: This will all soon be but a happy memory. [Wesley cuts through a
mass of vines] Robert's ship Revenge is banked at the far end. And as you
know I am Roberts.
Buttercup: But how's that possible, since he's been marauding 20 years and
you only left me 5 years ago?
Wesley: I myself am often surprised at life's little quirks. See, what I told you
before about saying please was true...it intrigued Roberts, as did my
descriptions of your beauty. Finally, Roberts decided something. He said,
'Alright Wesley, I've never had a valet, you can try if you'd like. I'll most likely
kill you in the morning.' For three years he said that. 'Good night Wesley, good
work, sleep well, I'll most likely kill you in the morning.' It was a fine time for
me - I was learning to fence, fight, anything anyone would teach me. Roberts
and I eventually became friends. And then it happened.
Buttercup: What? Go on.
Wesley: Well, Roberts had grown so rich, he wanted to retire. He took me to
his cabin and told me his secret. 'I am not the Dread Pirate Roberts,' he said.
'My name is Ryar. I inherited this ship from the previous Dread Pirate Roberts,
just as you will inherit it from me.
Wesley: [continuing] The man I inherited it from was not the real Dread Pirate
Roberts either - his name was Cumberbun. The real Roberts had been retired
15 years and was living like a king in Patagonia.' [Buttercup pulls some
branches out of the way.] Thank you. Then he explained the name was the
important thing for inspiring the necessary fear. You see, no one would
surrender to the Dread Pirate Wesley. So we sailed ashore, took on an entirely
new crew and he stayed aboard for awhile as first mate, all the time calling me
Roberts. Once the crew believed, he left the ship and I have been Roberts ever
since. Except now that we're together, I shall retire and hand the name over to
someone else. Is everything clear to you?
The Fire-Swamp: The Lightning Sand
[Buttercup nods, but looks perplexed. She steps forward into a pit of sand and
suddenly vanishes. Wesley, thinking quickly, cuts a vine and ties it around
himself then plunges down in search of Buttercup. Moments later, they
resurface, gasping for breath and coughing.]
Buttercup: We'll never succeed. We may as well die here.
Wesley: No, no. [still gasping] We have already succeeded. I mean, what are
the three terrors of the fire-swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem - there's
a popping sound preceding each. We can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand
which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future
we can avoid that too.
Buttercup: Wesley, what about the R.O.U.S.'s?
Wesley: Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.

The Fire-Swamp: The R.O.U.S.


[Just as Wesley finishes, a huge rodent jumps on top of him. The rodent bites
Wesley on the shoulder. After some struggle, it breaks free and heads toward
Buttercup.]
Buttercup: [screaming] Wesley!!
[Wesley jumps on the beast and Buttercup fends it away with a large branch.
After much struggle, a popping sound is heard. A flame rises up and covers
the rodent. Not quite dead, the rodent hobbles away, but Wesley gives chase
and stabs it a few times, killing it.]

The Fire-Swamp: The Capture


[Wesley and Buttercup finally exit the fire-swamp, tired and worn.]
Buttercup: [triumphantly] We did it!
Wesley: Now, was that so terrible?
[They lean toward each other, and are about to kiss when...out of nowhere, the
galloping of horses. Prince Humperdinck has found them.]
Humperdinck: Surrender!
Wesley: You mean you wish to surrender to me? Very well then, I accept.
Humperdinck: I give you full marks for bravery. Don't make yourself a fool.
Wesley: Ah, but how will you capture us? We know the secrets of the fire-
swamp. We can live there happily for some time, so whenever you feel like
dying, feel free to visit.
[Humperdinck's men surround Wesley and Buttercup with crossbows.]
Humperdinck: I tell you once again, surrender!
Wesley: It will not happen! [Wesley draws his sword]
Humperdinck: [shouting] For the last time, surrender!
Wesley: Death first!
Buttercup: [interrupting] Will you promise not to hurt him?
Humperdinck: What was that?
Wesley: What was that?
Buttercup: If we surrender, and I return with you, will you promise not to hurt
this man?
Humperdinck: May I live a thousand years and never hunt again!
Buttercup: He is a sailor on the pirate ship Revenge. Promise to return him to
his ship.
Humperdinck: I swear it will be done. [Humperdinck whispers to Count
Rugen] Once we're out of sight, take him back to Florin and throw him in the Pit
of Despair.
Count Rugen: I swear it will be done.
Buttercup: [to Wesley] I thought you were dead once, and it almost
destroyed me. I could not bear it if you died again, not when I could save you.
[Buttercup is lifted onto Humperdinck's horse and taken away.]
Count Rugen: [to Wesley] Come sir, we must get you to your ship.
Wesley: We are men of action, lies do not become us.
Count Rugen: Well spoken sir. [He motions for the guards to escort him
away. Wesley notices the Count has six fingers.] What is it?
Wesley: You have six fingers on your right hand. Someone was looking for
you...
[Count Rugen quickly knocks Wesley out with the hilt of his sword.]

The Pit of Despair: The Albino


[Enter an albino. The albino examines Wesley, who is tied down, and cleanses
his wounds.]
Wesley: Where am I?
Albino: [in a raspy voice] The Pit of Despair....don't even think...cough, gag
[The albino loses his raspy voice.] Don't even think about trying to escape.
The chains are far too thick. And don't dream of being rescued either, the only
way in is secret. Only the Prince, the Count and I know how to get in and out.
Wesley: Then I'm here 'till I die?
Albino: 'Till they kill you, yeah.
Wesley: Then why bother curing me?
Albino: Well, the Prince and the Count always insist on everyone being
healthy before they're broken.
Wesley: So it's to be torture. [The albino gestures happily] I can cope with
torture. [The albino vigorously shakes his head no.] You don't believe me?
Albino: You survived the fire-swamp, you must be very brave. But nobody
withstands the machine.

The Nightmare: The King Dies


[The Castle]

[Buttercup roams the castle, saddened. Prince Humperdinck and Count Rugen
are planning, and notice Buttercup.]
Humperdinck: She's been like that ever since the fire swamp. It's my father's
failing health that's upsetting her.
Count Rugen: Of course.

Narrator: The King died that very night, and before the following dawn,
Buttercup and Humperdinck were married. And at noon she met her subjects
again, this time as their queen.
Humperdinck: [to anticipating crowd] My father's final words were...

The Bedroom: The 3rd Interruption


Kid: Hold it! Hold it! Grandpa, you read that wrong. She doesn't marry
Humperdinck, she marries Wesley. I'm just sure of it...after all that Wesley did
for her, if she didn't marry him, it wouldn't be fair.
Grandfather: Well who says life is fair? Where is that written? Life isn't
always fair?
Kid: [angry] I'm telling you, you're messing up the story! Now get it right!
Grandfather: Do you want me to go on with this?
Kid: [apologetic] Yes.
Grandfather: Alright then, no more interruptions. At noon she met her
subjects again, this time as their queen.

The Nightmare: The Booer


Humperdinck: My father's final words were, 'Love her, as I loved her and
there will be joy.? I present to you, your queen; Queen Buttercup.
[Buttercup comes out before the crowd. She is met by a hideous woman]
Woman: [in a horrid voice] Booooooo! Booooooo! Boooooooo!
Buttercup: [upset] Why do you do this?
Woman: Because you had love in your hands and you gave it up!
Buttercup: But they would have killed Wesley if I hadn't done it.
Woman: Your true love lives, and you marry another! True love saved her in
the fire-swamp, and she treated it like garbage. And that's what she is, the
Queen of Refuse. So bow down to her if you want. Bow to her. Bow to the
Queen of Slime, the Queen of Filth, the Queen of Putrescence! Boo! Boo!
Rubbish! Filth! Slime! Muck! Boo! Boo! Boo!

[Buttercup wakes up]

Narrator: It was ten days 'till the wedding. The king still lived, but
Buttercup's nightmares were becoming steadily worse.
Kid: See? Didn't I tell you she'd never marry that rotten Humperdinck.
Narrator: Yes, you're very smart. Shut up.

The Quarters: The Deal


[Buttercup confronts Humperdinck in his quarters]
Buttercup: It comes to this: I love Wesley, I always have - I know now I
always will. If you tell me I must marry you in ten days, please believe I will be
dead by morning.
Humperdinck: I could never cause you grief. Consider our wedding off.
[turns to the Count] You um...returned this Wesley to his ship?
Count Rugen: [in a sly voice] Yes.
Humperdinck: Then we will simply alert him. Beloved, [to Buttercup] are you
certain he still wants you? After all it was you who did the leaving in the fire-
swamp. Not to mention that, uh, pirates are not known as men of their words.
Buttercup: My Wesley will always come for me.
Humperdinck: I suggest a deal. You write four copies of a letter. I'll send my
four fastest ships, one in each direction. The Dread Pirate Roberts is always
close to Florin this time of year. We'll run up the white flag and deliver your
message. If Wesley wants you, bless you both; if not, please consider me as an
alternative to suicide. Are we agreed?

The Tree Grove: The Plot


[Count Rugen and Humperdinck are just outside the secret entrance to the Pit
of Despair.]
Count Rugen: Your princess is quite a winning creature. A trifle simple,
perhaps. Her appeal is undeniable.
Humperdinck: I know, the people are quite taken with her. It's odd, but when
I hired Vizzini to have her murdered on our engagement day, I thought that was
clever. But it's going to be so much more moving when I strangle her on our
wedding night. Once Guilder is blamed, the nation will truly be outraged -
they'll demand we go to war.
Count Rugen: [snickers, then examines a huge tree] Now where is that secret
knot? It's impossible to find...[he finds it and the tree opens to reveal a hidden
passage] Ah. Are you coming down into the pit? Wesley's got his strength
back. I'm starting him on the machine tonight.
Humperdinck: [sincerely] Tyrone, you know how much I love watching you
work, but I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to
arrange, my wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it; I'm swamped.
Count Rugen: Get some rest. If you haven't got your health, then you
haven't got anything. [smiles halfheartedly]
[Count Rugen enters the pit, and Humperdinck leaves the tree grove.]

The Pit of Despair: The Machine


Count Rugen: [admiring his torture contraption] Beautiful isn't it? It took me
half a lifetime to invent it. I'm sure you've discovered my deep and dividing
interest in pain. Presently I'm writing the definitive work on the subject, so I
want you to be totally honest with me on how the machine makes you feel.
This being our first try, I'll use the lowest setting.
[Count Rugen activates the water powered torture machine. Wesley writhes in
great pain.]
Count Rugen: [calmly] As you know, the concept of the suction pump is
centuries old. Really that's all this is except that instead of sucking water, I'm
sucking life. I've just sucked one year of your life away. I might one day go as
high as five, but I really don't know what that would do to you. So, lets just
start with what we have. What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember,
this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel?
[Wesley cries and moans in pain]
Count Rugen: Interesting.

The Quarters: The Orders


[Humperdinck again is in his quarters. Yellin, Humperdinck's man-at-arms,
enters the room]
Humperdinck: Yellin.
Yellin: Sire.
Humperdinck: As chief enforcer of all Florin, I trust you with this secret:
killers from Guilder are infiltrating the Thieves' Forest and plan to murder my
bride on our wedding night.
Yellin: [surprised] My spy network has heard no such news.
[Buttercup quietly enters]
Buttercup: Any word from Wesley?
Humperdinck: [startled] Too soon, my angel. Patience.
Buttercup: He will come for me. [Buttercup leaves]
Humperdinck: Of course. [turns to Yellin] She will not be murdered! On the
day of the wedding, I want the Thieves' Forest emptied and every inhabitant
arrested!
Yellin: [distraught] Many of the thieves will resist. My regular enforcers will
be inadequate.
Humperdinck: [angered] Form a brute squad then! I want the Thieves' Forest
emptied before I wed.
Yellin: It won't be easy, Sire.
Humperdinck: [sarcastically] Try ruling the world sometime.

The Thieves' Forest: The Drunk


Narrator: The day of the wedding arrived. The brute squad had their hands
full carrying out Humperdinck's orders.

[The Thieves' Forest. Yellin and his men are clearing out the forest.]
Yellin: Is everybody out?
Brute: Almost. There's a Spaniard giving us some trouble.
Yellin: Well, you give him some...trouble. Move!

[Inigo is giving one of the guards a difficult time. Inigo is drunk.]


Inigo: [loud] I am waiting for you Vizzini! You told me to go back to the
beginning, so I have. This is where I am, and this is where I'll stay. I will not be
moved.
Brute: [angry] Ho there!
Inigo: [stumbling] I do not budge. Keep your ho there.
Brute: But the prince gave orders!
[Inigo jumps up and slashes at the brute with his sword. The guard is taken
back.]
Inigo: I know you Vizzini...when the job went wrong you went back to the
beginning...And this is where we got the job, so it's the beginning. And I am
staying 'till Vizzini comes.
Brute: [calls out behind Inigo] You! Brute, come here!
Inigo: [mumbling to himself] I...am...waiting...for...Vizzini. [Just then, large
hand grabs him from behind.]
Fezzik: You surely are a meany.
[Inigo looks up, and sees that it's Fezzik.]
Fezzik: Hello.
Inigo: It's you!
[The brute jumps in to see what's going on, but Fezzik knocks him out with one
punch.]
Fezzik: You don't look so good...You don't smell so good either.
Inigo: Perhaps no. I feel fine... [Fezzik lets go of Inigo, who falls on his face]

The Thieves' Forest: The Sober


Narrator: Fezzik and Inigo were reunited, and as Fezzik nursed his inebriated
friend back to health, he told Inigo of Vizzini's death and the existence of Count
Rugen, the six-fingered man. Considering Inigo's life-long search, he handled
the news surprisingly well. [Inigo falls face first into a bowl of soup]. Fezzik
took great care in reviving Inigo. [by repeatedly soaking his head in and out of
hot and cold barrels of water.]

Inigo: [more sober] That's enough! That's enough! Where is this Rugen now,
so I might kill him?
Fezzik: He's with the prince in the castle. But the castle gate is guarded by
thirty men.
Inigo: How many could you handle?
Fezzik: I don't think more than ten.
Inigo: [counting on his fingers] ...Leaving twenty for me. At my best I could
never defeat that many. I need Vizzini to plan. I have no gift for strategy.
Fezzik: But Vizzini is dead.
Inigo: [inspired] No...not Vizzini. I need the Man in black.
Fezzik: What?
Inigo: Look, he bested you at strength, your greatness. He bested me with
steel. He must have out-thought Vizzini, and a man who can do that can plan
my castle onslaught any day! Let's go!
Fezzik: Where?
Inigo: ...Find the Man in black obviously.
Fezzik: But you don't know where he is?
Inigo: Don't bother me with trifles, after twenty years at last my father's soul
will be at peace. There will be blood tonight!

The Quarters: The Insult


[The scene moves back to Humperdinck, sharpening a dagger in his chambers.
Yellin arrives.]
Humperdinck: Rise and report!
Yellin: The Thieves' Forest is emptied. Thirty men guard the castle gate.
Humperdinck: Double it! My princess must be safe.
Yellin: The gate has but one key, and I carry that.
[Buttercup arrives]
Humperdinck: Ah, my dulcet darling! Tonight, we marry. [turns to Yellin]
Tomorrow morning your men will escort us to Florin Channel, where every ship
in my armada waits to accompany us on our honeymoon.
Buttercup: [disturbed] Every ship but your four fastest, you mean.
[Humperdinck looks confused.] Every ship but the four you sent.
Humperdinck: [recovering badly] Yes. Yes of course. Naturally not those four.
Yellin: [feeling tension, he exits] Your majesty.
Buttercup: You never sent the ships. ******************************. Doesn't
matter, Wesley will come for me anyway.
Humperdinck: You're a silly girl.
Buttercup: Yes I am a silly girl, for not having seen sooner that you were
nothing but a coward with a heart full of fear.
Humperdinck: [outraged] I would not say such things if I were you.
Buttercup: Why not? You can't hurt me. Wesley and I are joined by the
bonds of love, and you cannot track that; not with a thousand bloodhounds.
And you cannot break it, not with a thousand swords. And when I say you're a
coward, it is only because you are the slimiest weakling ever to crawl the Earth.

Humperdinck: [furious] I would not say such things if I were you!!! [He
forcefully escorts Buttercup to her chamber, and locks her in.]

The Pit of Despair: The Death of Wesley


(again)
[Humperdinck exits the castle and enters the Pit of Despair]
Humperdinck: [To Wesley] You truly love each other, and so you might have
been truly happy. Not one couple in a century has that chance, no matter what
the storybooks say. And so I think no man in a century will suffer as greatly as
you will. [Humperdinck sets the machine to the maximum of 50.]
Count Rugen: [screaming] Not to fifty!!

The Sound of Ultimate Suffering


[Wesley screams out in pain. The entire kingdom can hear his cries. Inigo and
Fezzik hear the echoing noise from afar.]
Inigo: Fezzik! Fezzik! Listen. Do you hear? That is the sound of ultimate
suffering. My heart made that sound when Rugen slaughtered my father. The
Man in black makes it now.
Fezzik: The Man in black?
Inigo: His true love is marrying another tonight. So who else is the cause for
ultimate suffering. [Inigo and Fezzik push their way through a mass of people.]
Excuse me. Pardon me, it's important. [They struggle to move even a few
feet.] Fezzik, please?
Fezzik: [in a bellowing voice] EVERYBODY, MOVE!!!
Inigo: Thank you. [The whole crowd clears out, leaving a perfect path for the
two.]

The Tree Grove: The Albino


[Inigo and Fezzik trace the screams to the tree grove where they find the
Albino working with a wheel-barrow.]
Inigo: [to the Albino] Where is the man in black? You get that from this
grove, yes? [No response] Fezzik, jog his memory.
[Fezzik hits the Albino on the top of his head, who falls over from the blow]
Fezzik: I'm sorry Inigo. I didn't mean to jog him so hard. Inigo?

The Tree Grove: The Guidance


[Inigo, not giving up, kneels on one leg, holding his sword high. He speaks:]
Inigo: Father, I have failed you for twenty years. Now our misery can end.
Somewhere, somewhere close by is a man who can help us. I can not find him
alone. I need you. I need you to guide my sword, please. Guide my sword.
[Inigo stands, eyes closed, and follows his sword. It sticks into a nearby tree.
Inigo thinks he has failed. He leans against the tree, and the secret entrance is
revealed.]

The Pit of Despair: The Diagnosis


[Fezzik and Inigo enter the Pit of Despair, where they find Wesley.]
Fezzik: [putting his ear to Wesley's chest] He's dead.
Inigo: This is no fair.

The Bedroom: The 4th Interruption


Kid: [jumping in, upset] Grandpa! Grandpa! Wait, wait. What did Fezzik
mean, 'He's dead.' I mean, he didn't mean 'dead'? Wesley is only faking,
right?
Grandfather: Do you want me to read this or not?
Kid: Who gets Humperdinck!
Grandfather: I don't understand?
Kid: [annoyed] Who kills Prince Humperdinck? At the end, someone's got to
do it! Is it Inigo? Who?!
Grandfather: Nobody. Nobody kills him. He lives.
Kid: You mean he wins? Jesus, Grandpa! What did you read me this thing for?

Grandfather: You know, you...you've been very sick and you're taking this
story very seriously. I think we'd better stop now.
Kid: No. I...I'm okay. I'm okay. Sit down. I'm alright.
Grandfather: Okay. Alright, now lets see...where were we? Oh, yes, in the Pit
of Despair.

The Pit of Despair: The Body


Inigo: The Montoya's have never taken defeat easily. Come Fezzik, bring the
body.
Fezzik: The body?
Inigo: Have you any money?
Fezzik: I have a little.
Inigo: I just hope it's enough to buy a miracle, that's all.
The Cottage: The Miracle
[Inigo and Fezzik arrive with Wesley's body in front of a small wooden house.
Inigo knocks on the door]
Voice: [from inside, irritated] Go away...
[Inigo knocks harder until a very old man answers. He looks through a hole cut
in the door]
Max: [Old man] What?! What?!
Inigo: Are you the Miracle Max who worked for the king all those years?
Max: The king's stinking son fired me. And thank you so much for bringing up
such a painful subject. While you're at it, why don't you give me a nice paper
cut, and pour lemon juice on it. We're closed! [Max closes a flap over the door
hole, but Inigo still knocks] Beat it or I'll call the brute squad!
Fezzik: I'm on the brute squad.
Max: You are the brute squad!
Inigo: We need a miracle. It's very important.
Max: Look, I'm retired. Besides, why would you want someone the kings
stinking son fired. I might kill whoever you want to make the miracle.
Inigo: He's already dead.
Max: He is, eh? I'll have a look. Bring him in. [They enter. Max slowly
examines Wesley.] I've seen worse.
Inigo: Sir...sir.
Max: Huh?
Inigo: We're in a terrible rush.
Max: Don't rush me sonny. You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles.
You got money?
Inigo: Sixty-five.
Max: Sheesh! I never worked for so little; except once and that was a very
noble cause.
Inigo: This is noble sir. His wife is...crippled...children on the brink of
starvation...
Max: Are you a rotten liar.
Inigo: I need him to help avenge my father, murdered these twenty years.
Max: Your first story was better. Where's that bellows cramp. He probably
owes you money, huh. Well, I'll ask him.
Inigo: He's dead. He can't talk.
Max: Ooooohhh! Look who knows so much, eh! It just so happens that your
friend here is only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead
and all dead. Please open his mouth. [He inserts the bellows] Now, mostly
dead is slightly alive. Now, all dead...well, with all dead, there's usually only
one thing that you can do.
Inigo: What's that?
Max: Go through his clothes and look for loose change. [Max pumps air into
Wesley and yells at him] Hey! Hello in there! Hey! What's so important?
Whatcha got here, that's worth living for? [Max pushes on Wesley's chest]
Wesley: [barely audible] True....love....
Inigo: [excited] True love! You heard him! You could not ask for a more
noble cause than that.
Max: Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world; except for a nice MLT
- mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich - when the mutton is nice and lean, and
the tomato's ripe. They're so perky. I love that. But that's not what he said!
He distinctly said, 'to blaithe.' And as we all know, to blaithe means to bluff.
So, you were probably playing cards and he cheated...
Old woman: [interrupting] Liar!! Liar!! Liarrrrrrr!
Max: Get back, witch!
Old woman: I'm not a witch, I'm your wife. But after what you just said, I'm
not even sure I want to be that anymore.
Max: You never had it so good. [Max smiles at Inigo]
Valerie: [Max's wife] True love, he said true love, Max!
Max: Don't say another word, Valerie...[Inigo looks on in disbelief]
Valerie: You're afraid. Ever since Prince Humperdinck fired him, his
confidence has shattered.
Max: [yelling] Why'd you say that name?! You promised me that you would
never say that name!
Valerie: What, Humperdinck?!
Max: [cringes] Ahh!!
Valerie: Humperdinck!
Max: Ahh!!
[Valerie is chasing Max around the room yelling. Max is covering his ears]
Valerie: Humperdinck!
Max: Ahh!!
Valerie: Humperdinck!
Max: Ahh!!
Valerie: [now in a sing-songy voice] Humperdinck.... Humperdinck!
Humperdinck! Humperdinck! Humperdinck!
Max: I'm not listening!
Valerie: True love, life expiring and you don't have the decency to say why
you won't help!
Max: Nobody's hearing nothing!
Valerie: Humperdinck! [She continues to yell 'Humperdinck']
Inigo: [interrupting] This is Buttercup's true love. If you heal him, he will stop
Humperdinck's wedding!
Max: [to Valerie] Shut up!
Inigo: Thank you. Thank you.
Max: Wait, wait. I make him better, Humperdinck suffers?
Inigo: Humiliations galore!
Max: Ha ha!! That is a noble cause! Give me the sixty-five! I'm on the job!

[Max, with help from Valerie concocts a pill for Wesley.]


Inigo: That's a miracle pill?
Valerie: The chocolate coating makes it go down easier. But, you have to wait
fifteen minutes before potency. And, he shouldn't go in swimming after for at
least...
Max: [jumping in] An hour!
Valerie: An hour.
Max: ...a good hour...here. [gives Inigo the pill.]
Inigo: [leaving] Thank you for everything.
Max: Okay! [Inigo and Fezzik leave.]
Valerie: Bye bye, boys!
Max: Have fun storming the castle!
Valerie: [to Max] Think it will work?
Max: It would take a miracle.
Max and Valerie: [waving] Buh-bye!
The Courtyard: The Plan
[It's dusk. Inigo and Fezzik are just outside the castle, looking down at the
main gate.]
Fezzik: Inigo, there's more than thirty!
Inigo: [propping up Wesley] What's the difference? We've got him! Help me
here. We have to force-feed him.
Fezzik: Has it been fifteen minutes?
Inigo: We can't wait. The wedding is in half an hour. We must strike in the
hustle and the bustle before hand. Tilt his head back. Open his mouth. [Inigo
puts the pill into Wesley's mouth.]
Fezzik: How long do we have to wait before we know if the miracle works?
Inigo: Your guess is as good as mine.
Wesley: [disoriented] I'll beat you both apart! I'll take you both together!
Fezzik: I guess not very long.
Wesley: Why won't my arms move?
Fezzik: You've been mostly dead all day.
Inigo: We had Miracle Max make a pill to bring you back.
Wesley: Who are you? Are we enemies? Why am I on this wall? Where's
Buttercup?
Inigo: Let me explain....no, there is too much. Let me sum up; Buttercup is
marrying Humperdinck in little less than half an hour. So all we have to do is
get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape - after I kill
Count Rugen.
Wesley: That doesn't leave much for dilly-dally.
Fezzik: You just wiggled your finger! That's wonderful!
Wesley: I've always been a quick healer. What are our liabilities?
Inigo: There is but one working castle gate, and it is guarded by...[he
looks]...sixty men.
Wesley: And our assets?
Inigo: Your brains, Fezzik's strength, my steel.
Wesley: That's it? Impossible. If I had a month to plan maybe I could come
up with something. But this...[shakes his head no]
Fezzik: You just shook your head! That doesn't make you happy?
Wesley: My brains, his steel and your strength against sixty men and you
think a little head jiggle is supposed to make me happy? Hmm?? I mean if we
only had a wheelbarrow, that would be something.
Inigo: Where did we put that wheelbarrow the Albino had?
Fezzik: Over the Albino, I think?
Wesley: Why didn't you list that among our assets in the first place?! [sigh]
What I wouldn't give for a holocaust cloak...
Inigo: There we cannot help you.
Fezzik: [pulls a black cloak from under his shirt] Would this do?
Inigo: Where did you get that?
Fezzik: At Miracle Max's. It fit so nice, he said I could keep it.
Wesley: Alright, alright, come help me up. [They help him up] Now I'll need a
sword eventually.
Inigo: Why? You can't even lift one.
Wesley: True, but that's hardly common knowledge, is it? Thank you. [Inigo
gives him a sword.] Now, there may be problems once we're inside.
Inigo: I'll say. How do I find the Count? Once I do, how do I find you again?
Once I find you again, how do I escape?
Fezzik: Don't pester him, he's had a hard day.
Inigo: Right, right....sorry.
Fezzik: Inigo?
Inigo: What?
Fezzik: I hope we win.

The Honeymoon Suite: The Bride-to-be


[Inside the Castle]
Humperdinck: You don't seem excited my little muffin.
Buttercup: Should I be?
Humperdinck: Brides often are, I'm told.
Buttercup: I do not marry tonight. My Wesley will save me. [Buttercup
leaves]

The Chapel: The Marriage


[In the chapel: Music blares. Humperdinck and Buttercup stand before a
clergyman. The clergyman has a speech impediment.]
Clergyman: Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethaw today.
Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam...
[From outside, the voice of Yellin is heard]
Yellin: Stand your ground, men! Stand your ground! Stand your ground!

The Courtyard: The Dread Pirate Roberts


[Fezzik is dressed in the black cloak, and being pushed from behind in the
Wheelbarrow. He now looks enormous and fearsome!]
Fezzik: I am the Dread Pirate Roberts! There will be no survivors!
Inigo: Now?
Wesley: Not yet.
Fezzik: My men are here! I am here! ... but soon you will not be here!
Inigo: [barely holding up Fezzik] Now?!
Wesley: Light him! [They light Fezzik's robe with a torch]
Fezzik: The Dread Pirate Roberts takes no survivors! All your worst
nightmares have but to come true!
[Most of the gate guards scatter in all directions]

The Chapel: The Love


[Inside]
Clergyman: Then wove, twue wove, will follow you fowever...

The Courtyard: The Soul


[Outside]
Fezzik: The Dread Pirate Roberts is here for your soul! [Yellin yells for the
guards to fight. The rest run.]

The Chapel: The Ring


[Inside]
Clergyman: So tweasure youw...
Humperdinck: [interrupting] Skip to the end!
Clergyman: Have you the wing?
Buttercup: Here comes my Wesley now.

The Courtyard: The Portcullis


[Outside]
[Fezzik has removed the robe and all the guards except Yellin have fled.]
Wesley: Fezzik, the portcullis! [Fezzik lifts the portcullis with some trouble]

The Chapel: The Fear


[Inside]
Humperdinck: Your Wesley is dead. I killed him myself.
Buttercup: Then why is there fear behind your eyes.

The Courtyard: The Gate Key


[Outside]
Wesley: [to Yellin] Give us the gate key.
Yellin: I have no gate key.
Inigo: Fezzik, tear his arms off.
Yellin: Oh, you mean this gate key. [Yellin hands over the key]

The Chapel: The Man and Wife


[Inside]
Clergyman: Do you Pwincess Buttecwup...
Humperdinck: [annoyed] Man and wife! Say man and wife!
Clergyman: Man and Wife.
Humperdinck: Escort the bride to the honeymoon suite. I'll be there shortly.
Buttercup: He didn't come...

The Chase: The Hallway


[Fezzik, Inigo and Wesley are in the castle. Fezzik is holding up Wesley. Inigo,
leading the way, meets with Count Rugen and four of his guards.]
Count Rugen: Kill the dark one and the giant but leave the third for
questioning.
[The guards try to rush by Inigo, but are no match for his brilliant
swordsmanship. Inigo slays all four. Only Count Rugen remains.]
Inigo: Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

The Chase: The Door


[Just as Inigo and the Count prepare to duel, the Count turns around and runs
away. Inigo chases after Count Rugen, who locks one of the doors behind
him. Inigo is not strong enough to break through.]
Inigo: Fezzik! I need you!
Fezzik: I can't leave him [Wesley] alone!
Inigo: He's getting away from me Fezzik! Please!! Fezzik!
Fezzik: [to Wesley] I'll be right back. [Fezzik goes and knocks the door down
easily]
Inigo: Thank you.

The Honeymoon Suite: The King is Kissed


[The King and Queen escort Buttercup from the chapel.]
King: Strange wedding...
Queen: Yes, a very strange wedding. Come along. [The Queen exits]
King: [Buttercup kisses him on the forehead] What was that for?
Buttercup: Because you've always been so kind to me, and I won't be seeing
you again since I'm killing myself once we reach the honeymoon suite.
King: [happily] Won't that be nice...she kissed me! [He giggles]

The Chase: The Dagger is Thrown


[Count Rugen eventually runs into a dead end. Inigo is still giving chase. The
Count removes a dagger from boot and surprises Inigo with it. Rugen throws it
and stabs Inigo in the stomach.]
Inigo: [falling to his knees] Sorry father, I tried.
Count Rugen: You must be that little Spanish brat I taught a lesson to all
those years ago. Simply incredible. You've been tracking me your whole life,
only to fail now? I think that's the worst thing I ever heard. How marvelous.

The Honeymoon Suite: The Perfect Breasts


[In the Honeymoon suite, Buttercup is preparing to kill herself with a knife.
Unbeknownst to her, Wesley lies on her bed.]
Wesley: There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity
to damage yours.
Buttercup: Wesley! Oh, Wesley darling! [she kisses him all over] Wesley,
why won't you hold me?
Wesley: Gently... [Wesley has almost no strength.]
Buttercup: At a time like this, that is all you can think to say? Gently?
Wesley: Gently... [Buttercup accidentally bangs Wesley's head on the head-
board of the bed]
The Chase: The Count's Last Stand
[The scene is back to Inigo and Count Rugen. Inigo pulls the dagger from his
stomach and tries to stand.]
Count Rugen: Good heavens...are you still trying to win? You've got an over-
developed sense of vengeance. It's going to get you into trouble someday.
[Rugen tries to slash Inigo through the heart, but Inigo blocks the attack.
Rugen only stabs his arms.]
Inigo: Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
[Inigo still stumbles and holds his stomach. The Count and Inigo exchange
attacks.] Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to
die. [Inigo gains strength. He fiercely lunges at Count Rugen. Yelling] Hello,
my name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die!
Count Rugen: [frightened and angry] Stop saying that! [Inigo nips Rugen]
Inigo: [enraged] Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father!
Prepare to die! [Inigo corners Count Rugen and slashes his cheek] Offer me
money! [He slashes his other cheek]
Count Rugen: All that I have and more. Please...
Inigo: Offer me anything I ask for.
Count Rugen: Anything you want... [Count Rugen tries a quick move on
Inigo]
Inigo: [plunging his sword into Rugen's chest] I want my father back, you son
of a bitch! [Count Rugen falls to the floor, dead. Inigo runs off to find Wesley.]

The Honeymoon Suite: The Hideous Sin


[The Honeymoon suite]
Buttercup: Oh, Wesley, will you ever forgive me?
Wesley: What hideous sin have you committed lately?
Buttercup: I got married. I didn't want to. It all happened so fast.
Wesley: It never happened.
Buttercup: What?
Wesley: It never happened.
Buttercup: But it did! I was there...this old man said man and wife.
Wesley: Did you say I do?
Buttercup: Uh...no. We sort of skipped that part.
Wesley: Then you're not married. You didn't say it. You didn't do it. Wouldn't
you agree, your highness?

The Honeymoon Suite: The Pain


Humperdinck: [standing in the doorway] A technicality that will shortly be
remedied...but first things first.. [He draws his sword] To the death!
Wesley: [slowly sitting up] No! To the pain!
Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase?
Wesley: I'll explain, and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to
understand. You warthog-faced-buffoon!
Humperdinck: [insulted] That may be the first time in my life a man has
dared insult me.
Wesley: It won't be the last. To the pain means the first thing you lose will be
your your feet below the ankles, then your hands at your wrists. Next, your
nose.
Humperdinck: Then my tongue, I suppose? I killed you too quickly the last
time, a mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight.
Wesley: I wasn't finished! The next thing you lose will be your left eye
followed by your right!
Humperdinck: And then my ears...I understand! Let's get on with it!
Wesley: Wrong! Your ears you keep, and I'll tell you why; so that every shriek
of every child at seeing your hideousness is yours to cherish. Every babe that
weeps at your approach, every woman that cries out, 'dear god what is that
thing!' will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means
I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.
Humperdinck: I think you're bluffing.
Wesley: It's possible, pig. I might be bluffing. It's conceivable you miserable
vomitous mass, I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. Then
again, perhaps I have the strength to stand after all. [Slowly, Wesley stands, his
sword pointed at Humperdinck's chest.] Drop... your... sword. [Humperdinck
throws his sword to the ground] Now have a seat. Tie him up. Make it as tight
as you like.

The Honeymoon Suite: The Bluff is Discovered


[Buttercup ties up Humperdinck. Just then, Inigo comes in]
Inigo: Where's Fezzik?
Wesley: I thought he was with you? In that case...[Wesley starts to move
then almost fall over.]
Inigo: [to Buttercup] Help him.
Buttercup: Why does Wesley need helping?
Inigo: Because he has no strength.
Humperdinck: I knew it! I knew you were bluffing! [Inigo points his sword at
him] I knew he was...bluffing.
Inigo: Shall I dispatch him for you?
Wesley: Thank you, but no. Whatever happens to us, I want him to live a long
life, alone with his cowardice.

The Honeymoon Suite: The Four White Horses


Fezzik: [from outside the window] Inigo! Inigo! Where are you? [Inigo runs
to the window] Oh...there you are. Inigo, I saw the prince's stable, and there
they were four white horses. And I thought there are four of us, if we ever find
the lady. [Buttercup and Wesley run to the window to see Fezzik on a horse]
Hello lady! So I took them with me in case we ever bumped into each other.
But I guess we just did.
Inigo: Fezzik, you did something right.
Fezzik: Don't worry, I won't let it go to my head.

The Honeymoon Suite: The Jump


[Buttercup jumps out of the window and is caught by Fezzik]
The Honeymoon Suite: The Window Talk
Inigo: You know, it's very strange. I have been in the revenge business so
long, now that it's over I don't know what to do with the rest of my life.
Wesley: Have you ever considered piracy? You'd make a wonderful Dread
Pirate Roberts. [Both leave.]

The End: The Ride to Freedom


Narrator: They rode to freedom. As dawn arose, Wesley and Buttercup knew
they were safe. A wave of love swept over them. And as they reached for
each other...

The Bedroom: The 2nd Explanation


Kid: What?! What?!
Grandfather: Naah, it's kissing again. You don't want to hear that.
Kid: Well...I don't mind so much.
Grandfather: Okay.

The End: The Kiss


Narrator: Since the invention of the kiss, there had been five kisses that were
rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. THE
END.

The Bedroom: The Conclusion


Grandfather: Now, I think you ought to go to sleep.
Kid: Okay...
Grandfather: [searching his pockets, making sure he forgot nothing] Okay...
okay... okay...alright...shalom.
Kid: Grandpa. Maybe you could come over and read it again to me tomorrow.
Grandfather: As you wish.

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