The Princess Bride

VIZZINI

(shrieking)

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's got only himself.

VIZZINI

(cutting through)

I do not accept excuses.

(shaking his head)

I'm just going to have to find myself a new giant, that's all.

FEZZIK

(hurt)

Don't say that, Vizzini. Please.

And his arms begin moving much more slowly.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

His arms still work as before. If anything, he has speeded up. Fezzik's lead is smaller and smaller.
 

CUT TO:

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE CLIFFS

Maybe a hundred feet for Fezzik to go. Maybe more.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI AND THE OTHERS

And it's getting too close now.

VIZZINI

Did I make it clear that your job is at stake?

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

Less than a hundred feet behind them. And gaining.

CUT TO:

THE CLIFF TOP AS

Fezzik makes it!
 

Vizzini leaps off and takes out a knife, begins to cut the rope which is tied around a great rock while Inigo helps the Princess to her feet and Fezzik just stands around, waiting for someone to tell him to do something. Nearby are some stone ruins. Once they might have been a fort, now the kind of resemble Stonehenge.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

75 feet from the top now, maybe less – maybe only 50 – and his pace is as dazzling as before, and...

CUT TO:

VIZZINI

Cutting through the last of the rope and...
 

CUT TO:

THE ROPE

Slithering across the ground and out of sight toward the Channel, like some great serpent at last going home.

CUT TO:

FEZZIK

Standing with Inigo and Buttercup by the cliff edge.

FEZZIK

(to Inigo – impressed)

He has very good arms.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

Hanging suspended hundreds of feet in the air, holding to the jagged rocks, desperately trying to cling to life.

CUT TO:

VIZZINI

Stunned, turning to the others, looking down.

VIZZINI

He didn't fall? Inconceivable!!

INIGO

(whirling on Vizzini)

You keep using that word – I do not think it means what you think it means.

(looks down again)

My God! He's climbing.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

And so he is. Very slowly, he is picking his way upwards, sometimes a foot at a time, sometimes an inch.

CUT TO:

 
The group
 

At the top, staring down.

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 nods.

INIGO

I want to duel him left-handed.

VIZZINI

You know what a hurry we're in.

INIGO

Well, it's the only way I can be satisfied. If I use my right – tch – over too quickly.

VIZZINI

(turns abruptly, starts off-screen)

Oh, have it your way.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

Still creeping his way upward.

CUT TO:

FEZZIK

Who goes to Inigo.

FEZZIK

You be careful.

(gravely)

People in masks cannot be trusted.

VIZZINI

(calling out)

I'm waiting!

Fezzik nods, hurries after Vizzini.

CUT TO:

INIGO

He watches them depart, then turns, peers down over the Cliffs. He watches a moment, then paces, shaking his hands loose. He practices a few of his honed fencing skills. He is a taut and nervous fellow, and has never been one for waiting around.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

Climbing on. He must be six inches closer to the top than when last we saw him. Inigo is watching.

CUT TO:

INIGO

Walking away. Finally he goes back to cliff edge, starts to talk. It's instant death if the Man In Black falls, but neither gives that possibility much credence. This is our two heroes meeting. They don't know it yet; but that's what it is.

INIGO

(hollering down)

Hello there.

The Man In Black glances up, kind of grunts.

INIGO

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

Sorry.

MAN IN BLACK

Thank you.

Inigo steps away, draws his sword, loosens up with a few perfect thrusts. Then resheathes and looks eagerly over the edge again.

INIGO

I do not suppose you could speed things up?

MAN IN BLACK

(with some beat)

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. In fact, I've got some rope up here. But I do not think that you will accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.

MAN IN BLACK

That does put a damper on our relationship.

(he finds another bold a few inches higher)

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

No good. I've known too many Spaniards.

And he just hangs there in space, resting, gathering his strength.

INIGO

You don't know any way you'll trust me?

MAN IN BLACK

Nothing comes to mind.

And on these words, CAMERA ZOOMS into a CLOSEUP on Inigo. He raises his right hand high, his eyes blaze, and his voice takes on a tone we have not heard before.

INIGO

I swear on the soul of my father, Domingo Montoya, you will reach the top alive.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

There is a pause. Then, quietly:

MAN IN BLACK

Throw me the rope.

CUT TO:

INIGO

He dashes to the giant rock the rope was originally tied to.

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

As his grip loosens a moment, trying to cling to the side of the cliff.

CUT TO:

INIGO

Now with a small coil of rope, hurries back to the edge and hurls it over –
 

CUT TO:

THE ROPE

It hangs close to the Man In Black. He releases the rocks, grabs the rope, hangs helplessly in space a moment, then looks up at Inigo and –

CUT TO:

INIGO

Straining, forcing his body away from the cliff edge and –
 

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

Rising through the early morning light, slowly, steadily, and as the cliff top at last comes within reach –
 

CUT TO:

INIGO

Watching as the Man In Black crawls to safety, then looks to Inigo.

MAN IN BLACK

Thank you.

(pulling his sword)

INIGO

We'll wait until you're ready.

MAN IN BLACK

Again. Thank you.

The Man In Black sits to rest on the boulder that once held the rope. He tugs off his leather boots and is amazed to see several large rocks tumble out. The Man In Black wears gloves. Inigo stares at them.

INIGO

I do not mean to pry, but you don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?

He glances up – the question clearly baffles him.

MAN IN BLACK

Do you always begin conversations this way?

INIGO

My father was slaughtered by a six-fingered man. He was a great swordmaker, my father. And when the six-fingered man appeared and requested a special sword, my father took the job. He slaved a year before he was done.

He hands his sword to the Man In Black.

MAN IN BLACK

(fondling it – impressed)

I have never seen its equal.

CUT TO:

CLOSEUP – INIGO

Even now, this still brings pain.

INIGO

The 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, challenged his murderer to a duel... I failed... the six-fingered man did leave me alive with the six-fingered sword, but he gave me these.

(he touches his scars.)

CUT TO:

THE MAN IN BLACK

Looking up at Inigo.

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."