The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride  

Screenplay by       William Goldman

Produced by       Arnold Scheinman

          Rob Reiner

Directed by       Rob Reiner

Cast List:

Cary Elwes     Westley

Mandy Patinkin      Inigo Montoya

Robin Wright     Buttercup

Chris Sarandon      Prince Humperdinck

Christopher Guest    Count Rugen

Wallace Shawn      Vizzini

Andre the Giant      Fezzik

Savage        The Grandson

Peter Falk      The Grandfather

FADE IN ON:

A VIDEO GAME ON A COMPUTER SCREEN

The game is in progress. As a sick coughing sound is heard.

CUT TO:

THIS KID

Lying in bed, coughing. Pale, one sick cookie. Maybe he's seven or eight or nine. He holds a remote in one hand, presses it, and the video game moves a little bit. Then he's hit by another spasm of coughing, puts the remote down.

His room is monochromatic, greys and blues, mildly high-tech. We're in the present day and this is a middle class house, somewhere in the suburbs.

CUT TO:

The Kid's MOTHER

As she enters, goes to him, fluffs his pillows, kissses him, and briefly feels his forehead. She's worried, it doesn't show. During this:

MOTHER

You feeling any better?

THE KID

A little bit.

MOTHER

Guess what.

THE KID

What?

MOTHER

Your grandfather's here.

THE KID

(not overjoyed)

Mom, can't you tell him that I'm sick?

MOTHER

You are sick, that's why he's here.

THE KID

He'll pinch my cheek. I hate that.

MOTHER

Maybe he won't.

The Kid shoots her an "I'm sure" look, as we...
 

CUT TO:

THE KID'S GRANDFATHER

Bursting into the room. Kind of rumpled. But the eyes are bright. He has a wrapped package tucked under one arm as be immediately goes to The Kid, pinches his cheek.

GRANDFATHER

Hey! How's the sickie? Heh?

The Kid gives his Mother an "I told you so" look. The Mother ignores it, beats a retreat.

MOTHER

I think I'll leave you two pals.

And she is gone. There's an uncomfortable silence, then:

GRANDFATHER

I brought you a special present.

THE KID

What is it?

GRANDFATHER

Open it up.

The Kid does. He does his best to smile.

THE KID

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.

THE KID

Has it got any sports in it?

CUT TO:

THE GRANDFATHER

Suddenly passionate.

GRANDFATHER

Are you kidding? Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles.

CUT TO:

THE TWO OF THEM

As the Grandfather sits in a chair by the bed.

THE KID

(manages a shrug)

It doesn't sound too bad. I'll try and stay awake.

GRANDFATHER

Oh. Well, thank you very much. It's very nice of you. Your vote of confidence is overwhelming. All right.

(book open now, be begins to read.)

The Princess Bride, by S. Morgenstern. Chapter One. Buttercup was raised on a small farm in the country of Florin.

DISSOLVE TO:

The story he's reading about, as the monochromatic look of the bedroom is replaced by the dazzling color of the English countryside.

GRANDFATHER (O.S.)

Her favorite pastimes were riding her horse and tormenting the farm boy that worked there. His name was Westley, but she never called him that.

(to the kid)

Isn't that a wonderful beginning?

THE KID (O.S.)

(doing his best)

Yeah. It's really good.

GRANDFATHER (O.S.)

(reading)

Nothing gave Buttercup as much pleasure as ordering Westley around.

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP'S FARM – DAY

BUTTERCUP is standing, holding the reins of her horse, while in the background, WESTLEY, in the stable doorway, looks at her. Buttercup is in her late teens; doesn't care much about clothes and she hates brushing her long hair, so she isn't as attractive as she might be, but she's still probably the most beautiful woman in the world.

BUTTERCUP

Farm boy. Polish my horse's saddle. I want to see my face shining in it by morning.

WESTLEY

(quietly, watching her)

As you wish.

Westley is perhaps half a dozen years older than Buttercup. And maybe as handsome as she is beautiful. He gazes at her as she walks away.

GRANDFATHER (O.S.)

"As you wish" was all he ever said to her.

DISSOLVE TO:

WESTLEY

Outside, chopping wood. Buttercup drops two large buckets near him.

BUTTERCUP

Farm Boy. Fill these with water –

(a beat)

– please.

WESTLEY

As you wish.

She leaves; his eyes stay on her. She stops, turns – he manages to look away as now her eyes stay on him.

GRANDFATHER (O.S.)

That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying, "As you wish," what he meant was, "I love you."

DISSOLVE TO:

BUTTERCUP IN THE KITCHEN – DUSK

Westley enters with an armload of firewood.

GRANDFATHER (O.S.)

And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back.

BUTTERCUP

(pointing to a pitcher that she could reach herself)

Farm Boy, fetch me that pitcher.

He gets it, hands it to her; they are standing very close to each other gazing into each other's eyes.

WESTLEY

As you wish.

(now he turns, moves outside)

DISSOLVE TO:

WESTLEY AND BUTTERCUP

Outside his tiny hovel in the red glow of sunset. They are locked in a passionate kiss.

THE KID (O.S.)

Hold it, hold it –

CUT TO:

THE KID'S ROOM

THE KID

What is this? Are you trying to trick me? – Where's the sports? – Is this a kissing book?

GRANDFATHER

Wait, just wait –

THE KID

Well, when does it get good?

GRANDFATHER

Keep your shirt on. Let me read.

(reading again)

Westley had no money for marriage. So he packed his few belongings and left the farm to seek his fortune across the sea.

CUT TO:

WESTLEY AND BUTTERCUP

They stand near the gate to the farm, locked in an embrace.

GRANDFATHER (O.S.)

(reading)

"It was a very emotional time for Buttercup –"

THE KID (O.S.)

(groaning)

I don't be-leeve this.

BUTTERCUP

I fear I'll never see you again.

WESTLEY

Of course you will.

BUTTERCUP

But what if something happens to you?

WESTLEY

Hear this now: I will come for you.

BUTTERCUP

But how can you be sure?