The Princess Bride

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 him.

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 fiancée?

BUTTERCUP

He knows I do not love him.

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 POV

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, spinning, 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 her, 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.

CUT TO:

COUNT RUGEN

The mere mention of the Fire Swamp makes him pale.

CUT TO:

THE RAVINE FLOOR

TWO BODIES lie a few feet apart, not moving. It is, of course, Buttercup and Westley. They might be corpses. After a time, Westley slowly forces his body into motion and as he does,

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP

Bruised and torn, as Westley crawls slowly toward her.

WESTLEY

Can you move at all?

BUTTERCUP

(weakly stretching out an arm toward him)

Move? You're alive. If you want, I can fly.

WESTLEY

I told you, "I would always come for you." Why didn't you wait for me?

BUTTERCUP

Well... you were dead.

WESTLEY

Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.

BUTTERCUP

I will never doubt again.

WESTLEY

There will never be a need.

And now, they begin to kiss; it's a tender kiss, tender and loving and gentle and –
 

THE KID (O.S.)

Oh no. No, please.

CUT TO:

THE KID'S BEDROOM

GRANDFATHER

What is it? What's the matter?

THE KID

They're kissing again, do we have to hear the kissing part?

GRANDFATHER

Someday, you may not mind so much.

THE KID

Skip on to the Fire Swamp – that sounded good.

GRANDFATHER

Oh. You're sick, I'll humor you.

(he picks up the book again)

So now, where were we here? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ah. Oh. Okay. Westley and Buttercup raced along the ravine floor.

CUT TO:

WESTLEY AND BUTTERCUP

Racing along the ravine floor. Westley glances up.

CUT TO:

HUMPERDINCK AND HIS MEN

Perched on top of the cliff, looking down at Westley and Buttercup.

CUT TO:

WESTLEY

WESTLEY

Ha. Your pig fiancée is too late. A few more steps and we'll be safe in the Fire Swamp.

CUT TO:

BUTTERCUP

And Westley has tried to say it with Chevalier-like nonchalance, but she ain't buying.

BUTTERCUP

We'll never survive.

WESTLEY

Nonsense – you're only saying that because no one ever has.

As they race off, leaving Humperdinck and his men stranded, defeated.

CUT TO:

THE FIRE SWAMP

And it really doesn't look any worse than any other moist, sulphurous, infernal horror you might run across. Great trees block the sun.

CUT TO:

WESTLEY AND BUTTERCUP

Buttercup is clearly panicked and maybe Westley is too, but he moves jauntily along, sword in hand.

WESTLEY

It's not that bad. I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely.

THE GIANT TREES

Thick and black-green, look ominous as hell and they shield all but intermittent stripes of sun.

A GIANT SPURT OF FLAME leaps up, preceded by a slight popping sound, and this particular spurt of flame misses Westley, but Buttercup is suddenly on fire; at least the lower half of her is and –