princess bride page5

VIZZINI

There will be no arrangement --

(deliberate)

-- and you're killing her!

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP'S THROAT,

as Vizzini jabs with his long knife. Buttercup gasps against the pain.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK,

stopping fast.

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?

The Man In Black nods.

VIZZINI

To the death?

Another nod.

VIZZINI

I accept.

MAN IN BLACK

Good. Then pour the wine.

As Vizzini fills the goblets with the dark red liquid, the Man In Black pulls a small packet from his clothing, handing it to Fizzini.

MAN IN BLACK

Inhale this, but do not touch.

VIZZINI
(doing it)

I smell nothing.

MAN IN BLACK
(taking the packet back)

What you do not smell is called iocane powder. It is odorless, tasteless, dissolves instantly in liquid, and is among
the more deadlier poisons known to man.

VIZZINI

Hmm.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI,

watching excitedly as the Man In Black takes the goblets, turns his back. A moment later, he turns again, faces Vizzini, drops
the iocane packet. It is now empty.

The Man In Black rotates the goblets in a little shell game maneuver then puts one glass in front of Vizzini, the other in front of
himself.

MAN IN BLACK

All right: 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 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?

He studies the Man In Black now.

VIZZINI

     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'm 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
(And now there's a trace of nervousness beginning)

You've made your decision then7

VIZZINI

     Not remotely. Because iocane comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And 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
(very nervous)

You're just stalling now.

VIZZINI
(cackling)

You'd like to think that, wouldn't you?

(stares at the Man in Black)

     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.

As Vizzini's pleasure has been growing throughout, the Man In Black's has been fast disappearing.

MAN IN BLACK

You're trying to trick me into giving away something -- it won't work --

&nb sp; VIZZINI
(triumphant)

It has worked -- you've given everything away -- I know where the poison is.

MAN IN BLACK
(fool's courage)

Then make your choice.

VIZZINI

I will. And I choose --

And suddenly he stops, points at something behind the Man In Black.

VIZZINI

-- what in the world can that be?

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK,

turning around, looking.

MAN IN BLACK

What? Where? I don't see anything.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI,

busily switching the goblets while the Man In Black has his head turned.

VIZZINI

Oh, well, I-I could have sworn I saw something. No matter.

The Man In Black turns to face him again. Vizzini starts to laugh.

MAN IN BLACK

What's so funny?

VIZZINI

I'll tell you in a minute. First, let's drink -- me from my glass, and you from yours.

And he picks up his goblet. The Man In Black picks up the one in front of him. As they both start to drink, Vizzini hesitates a
moment.

Then, allowing the Man In Black to drink first, he swallows his wine.

MAN IN BLACK

You guessed wrong.

VIZZINI
(roaring with laughter)

You only think I guessed wrong --

(louder now)

-- that's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned. You fool.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK.

There's nothing he can say. He just sits there.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI,

watching him.

VIZZINI

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is "Never get involved in a land war in Asia." But
only slightly less well known is this: "Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line."

He laughs and roars and cackles and whoops and is in all ways quite cheery until he falls over dead.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK,

stepping past the corpse, taking the blindfold and bindings off Buttercup, who notices Vizzini lying dead.

The Man In Black pulls her to her feet.

BUTTERCUP

Who are you?

MAN IN BLACK

I am no one to be trifled with, that is all you ever need know.

He starts to lead her off the mountain path into untraveled terrain.

BUTTERCUP
(a final glance back toward Vizzini)

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 an immunity to iocane powder.

And with that, he takes off, dragging her behind him.

CUT TO:

A MOUNTAIN PATH

It's where FEZZIK fought the Man in Black. CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL the Prince, kneeling, inspecting every
grain of misplaced sand. The others wait behind bim.

HUMPERDINCK

Someone has beaten a giant!

(roaring)

There will be great suffering in Guilder if she dies.

He leaps onto his horse and they charge off.

CUT TO:

A WILD STRETCH OF TERRAIN

The Man In Black comes running into view, still dragging Buttercup, who sometimes stumbles, but he keeps forcing her along.
Finally, when she is close to exhaustion, he lets go of her.

MAN IN BLACK
(his voice harsh now, carrying the promise of violence)

Catch your breath.

BUTTERCUP

If you'll release me ... whatever you ask for ransom ... you'll get it, I promise you...

MAN IN BLACK

And what is that worth, the promise of a woman? You're very funny, Highness.

BUTTERCUP

I was giving you a chance. No matter where you take me ... there's no greater hunter than Prince Humperdinck.
He could track a falcon on a cloudy day. He can find you

.
MAN IN BLACK

You think your dearest love will save you?

BUTTERCUP

I never said he was my dearest love. And yes, he will save me. That I know.

MAN IN BLACK

You admit to me you do not love your fiance?

BUTTERCUP

He knows I do not love him.

&nb sp; MAN IN BLACK

"Are not capable of love" is what you mean.

BUTTERCUP

I have loved more deeply than a killer like yourself could ever dream.

And the Man In Black cocks back a fist. Buttercup flinches, but does not retreat.

MAN IN BLACK

That was a warning, Highness. The next time, my hand flies on its own. For where I come from, there are
penalties when a woman lies.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI'S BODY.

The picnic is spread as before.

CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL the Prince kneeling by the body as the others ride up. The Prince grabs the empty
poison packet, hands it to Rugen, after first sniffing it himself.

HUMPERDINCK

Iocane. I'd bet my life on it.

(gestures to the trail ahead)

And there are the Princess's footprints. She is alive ... or was, an hour ago. If she is otherwise when I find her, I
shall be very put out.

And as he vaults onto his horse and the all charge off --

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP,

being spun INTO CAMERA view, falling heavily as the Man In Black releases her. We are at the edge of an almost sheer
ravine. The drop is sharp and severe. Below, the ravine floor is flat, but getting there would not be half the fun.

MAN IN BLACK

Rest, Highness.

BUTTERCUP
(stares at him)

I know who you are -- your cruelty reveals everything.

The Man In Black says nothing.

BUTTERCUP

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

Hardly complimentary, Your Highness. Why loose your venom on me?

CLOSE UP - BUTTERCUP, quietly now.

BUTTERCUP

You killed my love.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

watching her closely.

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 farm boy. Poor. Poor and perfect, with eyes like the sea after a storm.

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP.

And probably, if she did not hate Roberts so, there would be tears.

BUTTERCUP

On the high seas, your ship attacked, and the Dread Pirate Roberts never takes prisoners.

MAN IN BLACK
(explaining as a teacher might)

I can't afford to make exceptions. Once word leaks out that a pirate has gone soft, people begin to disobey you,
and then it's 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. I remember this farm boy of yours, I
think. This would be, what, five years ago?

Buttercup nods.

MAN IN BLACK

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 him 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 is about to reply as they stand there on the edge of the sheer ravine. But then something catches his attention
and as he stares at it briefly,

CUT TO:

HIS P.O.V.:

The dust cloud caused by Humperdinck's HORSES is rising up into the sky.

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP,

and while his attention is on the dust cloud, rising high, she pushes him with all the strength she has.

BUTTERCUP

You can die too, for all I care!!

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK,

teetering on the ravine edge, for a moment, then he begins to fall. Down goes the Man In Black. Down, down, rolling, spinni ng,
crashing always down toward the flat rock floor of the ravine.

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP,

staring transfixed at what she has wrought.

There is a long pause. She stands there, alone, as from far below the words come to ber, drifting on the wind --

MAN IN BLACK

... as ... you ... wish...

BUTTERCUP

Oh, my sweet Westley; what have I done?

And without a second thought or consideration of the dangers, she starts into the ravine. A moment later, she too is falling,
spinning and twisting, crashing and torn, cartwheeling down toward what is left of her beloved.

CUT TO:

THE DUST CLOUD,

rising.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

Prince Humperdinck and the others reining in at the spot where Buttercup promised ransom in exchange for her freedom. The
Prince shakes his head.

HUMPERDINCK

Disappeared. He must have seen us closing in, which might account for his panicking in error. Unless I'm wrong,
and I am never wrong, they are headed dead into the fire swamp.