CUT TO:
A ROCKY STAIRCASE leading to a turret-shaped plateau, and the Man In
Black is retreating like mad up the steps and he
can't stop Inigo -- nothing can stop Inigoo -- and in a frenzy, the
Man In Black makes every feint, tries every thrust, lets go with
all he has left. But he fails. Everything fails. He tries one or two
final desperate moves but they are nothing.
MAN IN BLACK
You're amazing!
INIGO
I ought to be after twenty years.
And now the Man In Black is smashed into a stone pillar, pinned there under the six fingered sword.
MAN IN BLACK
(hollering it out)
There's something I ought to tell you.
INIGO
Tell me.
MAN IN BLACK
I am not left-handed either.
And now he changes hands, and at last, the battle is fully joined.
CUT TO:
INIGO.
And to his amazement, he is being forced back down the steps. He tries
one style, another, but it all comes down to the same
thing -- the Man In Black seems to be in control. And before Inigo
knows it, the six-fingered sword is knocked clear out of his
hand.
Inigo retreats, dives from the stairs to a moss-covered bar suspended
over the archway. He swings out, lands, and scrambles
to his sword and we
CUT TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK
who watches Inigo, then casually tosses his sword to the landing where
it sticks in perfectly. Then the Man In Black copies
INIGO. Not copies exactly, improves. He dives to the bar, swings completely
over it like a circus performer and dismounts
with a 9.7 backflip.
CUT TO:
INIGO,
staring in awe.
INIGO
Who are you?!
MAN IN BLACK
No one of consequence.
INIGO
I must know.
MAN IN BLACK
Get used to disappointment.
INIGO
Okay.
CUT TO:
INIGO,
moving like lightning, and he thrusts forward, slashes, darts back, all in almost a single movement and --
CUT TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK.
Dodging, blocking, and again he thrusts forward, faster even than before, and again he slashes but --
CUT TO:
INIGO.
And there is never a move anyone makes he doesn't remember, and this
time he blocks the slash, slashes out himself with the
six-fingered sword.
On it goes, back and forth across the rocky terrain, Inigo's feet moving
with the grace and speed of a great improvisational
dancer.
CUT TO:
THE SIX-FINGERED SWORD
as it is knocked free, arching up into the air, and --
CUT TO:
INIGO
catching it again. And something terrible is written behind his eyes:
he has given his all, done everything man can do, tried every
style, made every maneuver, but it wasn't enough, and on his face for
all to see is the realization that he, Inigo Montoya of
Spain, is going to lose.
CUT TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK,
moving in for the end now, blocking everything, muzzling everything and
CUT TO:
THE SIX-FINGERED SWORD,
sent flying from Inigo's grip. He stands helpless only a moment. Then be drops to his knees, bows his head, shuts his eyes.
INIGO
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 --
And he dunks Inigo's head with his heavy sword handle. Inigo pitches forward unconscious.
MAN IN BLACK
Please understand, I hold you in the highest respect.
He grabs his scabbard and takes off after the Princess and we
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP: VIZZINI
VIZZINI
Inconceivable!
PULL BACK TO REVEAL
Vizzini, staring down from a narrow mountain path, as far below the
Man In Black can be seen running. FEZZIK, carrying the
Princess, stands alongside. It's a little later in the morning.
VIZZINI
Give her to me.
(grabs Buttercup starts off)
Catch up with us quickly.
FEZZIK
(starting to panic)
What do I do?
VIZZINI
Finish him, finish him. Your way.
FEZZIK
Oh, good, my way. Thank you, Vizzini.
(little pause)
Which way is my way?
CUT TO:
A COUPLE OF ROCKS
Nothing gigantic. Vizzini points to them. There is a large boulder nearby.
VIZZINI
Pick up one of those rocks, get behind the
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!
As Vizzini and Buttercup hurry away.
FEZZIK
(little frown; softly)
My way's not very sportsmanlike.
He grabs one of the rocks and plods behind the boulder and we --
DISSOLVE TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK,
racing up the mountain trail. Ahead is a bend in the trail. He sees it, slows. Then he stops, listening.
Satisfied by the silence, he starts forward again and as he rounds the
bend -- a rock flies INTO FRAME, shattering on a
boulder inches in front of him.
CUT TO:
FEZZIK.
He moves into the mountain path. He has picked up another rock and holds it lightly.
FEZZIK
I did that on purpose. I don't have to miss.
MAN IN BLACK
I believe you -- So what happens now?
FEZZIK
We face each other as God intended. Sportsmanlike. 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 to kill each other like civilized
people?
FEZZIK
(gently)
I could kill you now.
He gets set to throw, but the Man In Black shakes his head, takes off
his sword and scabard, begins the approach toward the
Giant.
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.
He flips the rock away.
CUT TO:
THE MOUNTAIN PATH AND THE TWO MEN.
The Man In Black is not now and has never been a shrimp. But it's like
he wasn't even there, FEZZIK towers over him so
much.
There is a moment's pause, and then the Man In Black dives at FEZZIK's
chest, slams him several tremendous blows in the
stomach, twists his arm severely, slips skillfully into a beautifully
applied bear hug, and in general makes any number of terrific
wrestling moves.
FEZZIK just stands there, kind of taking in the scenery. Finally the Man In Black pushes himself away, stares up at the Giant.
MAN IN BLACK
Look are you just fiddling around with me or what?
FEZZIK
I just want you to feel you're doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed.
They get set to begin again. Then suddenly --
CUT TO:
FEZZIK,
as he jumps forward with stunning speed for anyone his size and reaches
for the Man In Black who drops to his knees, spins
loose, and slips between the Giant's legs.
FEZZIK
You're quick.
MAN IN BLACK
And a good thing too.
FEZZIK
(getting set for another onslaught)
Why do you wear a mask? Were you burned by acid, or something like that?
MAN IN BLACK
Oh no. It's just that they're terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.
FEZZIK considers this a moment, then attacks, and if he moved quickly
last time, this time he is blinding and as the Man In
Black slips down to avoid the charge, FEZZIK moves right with him,
only instead of twisting free and jumping to his feet, this
time the Man In Black jumps for FEZZIK's back and in a moment he is
riding him, and his arms have FEZZIK's throat, locked
across FEZZIK's windpipe, one in front, one behind. The Man In Black
begins to squeeze. Tighter.
FEZZIK
(standing, talking as he does so)
I just figured out why you give me so much trouble.
CUT TO:
FEZZIK,
as he charges toward a huge rock that lines the path, and just as he
reaches it he spins his giant body so that the entire weight of
the charge is taken by the Man In Black.
CUT TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK.
And the power of the charge is terrible, the pain enormous, but he clings to his grip at FEZZIK's windpipe.
MAN IN BLACK
(his arms never leave FEZZIK's throat)
Why is that, do you think?
FEZZIK
(his voice just beginning to get a little strained)
Well, I haven't fought just one person for
so long. I've been specializing in groups. Battling gangs for local
charities, that kind of thing.
CUT TO:
ANOTHER HUGE ROCK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PATH.
Again FEZZIK charges, slower this time, but still a charge, and again
he spins and creams the Man In Black against the rough
boulder.
CUT TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK.
And the punishment is terrible, and for a moment it seems as if he is
going to let go of FEZZIK's windpipe and crumble, but he
doesn't, he holds on.
MAN IN BLACK
Why should that make such a difference?
FEZZIK
Well ...
(And now his voice is definitely growing weaker)
... you see, you use different moves when you're
fighting half a dozen people than when you only have to be
worried about one.
Again FEZZIK slams the Man In Black against a boulder, only this time
his power has diminished and FEZZIK starts to slowly
collapse.
CUT TO:
FEZZIK.
And there isn't much breath coming.
CUT TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK,
holding his grip as FEZZIK tries to stand, halfway makes it, but there
is no air. Back to his knees he falls, holds there for a
moment, and pitches down to all fours. The Man In Black increases the
pressure. FEZZIK tries to crawl. But there is just no
air. No air. FEZZIK goes to earth and lies still.
CUT TO:
FEZZIK,
as the Man In Black turns him over, puts his ear to FEZZIK's heart. It beats. The Man In Black stands.
MAN IN BLACK
I don't envy you the headache you will have
when you awake. But, in the meantime, rest well ... and dream of
large women.
And he nimbly scoops up his sword with his foot, catches it and as he dashes off up along the mountain path --
CUT TO:
PRINCE HUMPERDINCK,
as he slips his boot into a foot print in the sand.
Count Rugen mounted, watches. Behind him, half a dozen armed WARRIORS,
also mounted. A GREAT WHITE HORSE
waits riderless in front. Humperdinck is all over the rocky ground,
and maybe he isn't the best hunter in the world. Then again,
maybe he is. Because, as he begins to put his feet into strange positions,
we realize that what he is doing is miming the fencers.
HUMPERDINCK
There was a mighty duel -- it ranged all over. They were both masters.
RUGEN
Who won? How did it end?
HUMPERDINCK
(looking down in the position where Inigo fell unconscious)
The loser ran off alone.
(points in the direction Vizzini and FEZZIK took)
The winner followed those footprints toward Guilder!
RUGEN
Shall we track them both?
HUMPERDINCK
The loser is nothing. -- Only the Princess matters --
(to the armed warriors)
-- clearly this was all planned by warriors of Guilder. We must be ready for whatever lies ahead.
RUGEN
Could this be a trap?
HUMPERDINCK
(vaulting onto his horse)
I always think everything could be a trap -- Which is why I'm still alive.
And he gallops off --
CUT TO:
THE MAN IN BLACK,
cresting the peak of the mountain.
CUT TO:
CLOSE-UP ON
a knife pointed at a throat -- PULL BACK TO REVEAL Vizzini munching
on an apple, holding the knife to Buttercup's throat.
She is blindfolded.
A PICNIC SPREAD is laid out. A tablecloth, two goblets and between them,
a small leather wine container. And some cheese
and a couple of apples. The picnic is set on a lovely spot, high on
the edge of a mountain path with a view all the way back to
the sea.
The Man In Black comes running around the path, sees Vizzini, slows. The two men study each other. Then --
VIZZINI
So, it is down to you. And it is down to me.
The Man In Black nods and comes nearer --
VIZZINI
If you wish her dead, by all means keep moving forward.
And he pushes his long knife harder against Buttercup's unprotected throat.
MAN IN BLACK
Let me explain-
VIZZINI
-- there's nothing to explain. You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.
MAN IN BLACK
Perhaps an arrangement can be reached.