I shall tell you of William Wallace.
Historians from England will say lam a liar,
but history is written by those who have hanged heroes.
The king of Scotland had died without a son,
and the king of England,
a cruel pagan known as Edward the Longshanks,
claimed the throne of Scotland for himself.
Scotland's nobles fought him
and fought each other over the crown.
So Longshanks invited them to talks of truce--
no weapons, one page only.
Among the farmers of that shire was Malcolm Wallace,
a commoner with his own lands.
He had two sons-- John and William.
I told you to stay.
Well, I finished my work.
Where are we going?
MacAndrews'. He was supposed to visit
when the gathering was over,
- Can I come? - No, go home, boy.
But I want to go.
Go home or you'll feel the back of my hand.
Go you home, William.
[Whinnying]
MacAndrews!
HolyJesus.
[Wings Fluttering]
Aah!
It's all right!
William!
William, it's all right.
It's all right. Easy, lad.
William.
Uhh!
And I say we hit back now!
We cannot fight them! It's suicide!
Wallace is right] We fight them!
Every nobleman who had a will to fight
was at that meeting.
We cannot beat an army.
Not with 50 farmers.
We do not have to beat them, just fight them.
Now, who's with me?
I am, Wallace.
All right, all right.
Ready.
Where do you think you're going?
I'm going with you.
Ah, you're going with me, are you?
And what are you going to do?
I'm going to help.
Hey, and a good help you'd be, too,
but I need you to stay here
and look after the place for me
while I'm away.
I can fight.
I know.
I know you can fight.
But it's our wits that make us men.
See you tomorrow.
Ha]
[Laughing]
Hiya]
English.
Get down.
With your father and brother gone,
they'll kill us and burn the farm.
It's up to us, Hamish.
[Screaming]
Nah.
Uhh!
[Laughing]
[Owl Hoots]
[Rooster Crowing]
Uhh. Ahh.
Da?
[Pours Water]
William.
Come here, lad.
[Praying ln Latin]
Amen.
[In Unison] Amen.
[Thunder]
[Horse Whinnies]
William.
I'm your uncle. Argyle.
You have the look of your mother.
Mmm.
We'll stay here tonight.
Tomorrow you'll come home with me.
I don't want to leave.
You didn't want your father to die either, did you?
But it happened.
Did the priest give a poetic benediction?
"The Lord bless thee and keep thee"?
It was in Latin.
You don't speak Latin?
Well, that's something we shall have to remedy, isn't it?
The Lord bless thee and keep thee.
The Lord cause His light to shine on thee.
The Lord liftup His countenance upon thee
and give thee peace.
Amen.
Your heart is free.
Have the courage to follow it.
[Thunder]
[Bagpipes Playing]
What are they doing?
Saying good-bye in their own way--
playing outlawed tunes on outlawed pipes.
It was the same for me and your daddy
when our father was killed.
First, learn to use...
this.
Then I'll teach you to use...
this.
Manyyears la ter,
Edward the Longshanks, King ofEngland,
sup ervisedthe wedding ofhis eldestson,
wh o wo uld succeedhim to the throne.
Amen.
Asbride forhis son,
Longshanks hadchosen the da ugh terofhis rival,
the king ofFrance.
[Singing ln Latin]
It was widely whisp eredthat fortheprin cess to conceive,
Longshanks wo uld have to do the honors himself.
That may have been what he hadin mindall along.
Scotland... my land.
The French will grovel to anyone with strength,
but how will they believe our strength
when we cannot rule the whole ofour own island?
Where is my son?
Your pardon, milord.
He asked me to come in his stead.
I sent for him, and he sends you.
Shall I leave, milord?
If he wants his queen to rule when I am gone,
then, by all means, stay and learn how.
Please.
Nobles.
Nobles are the key to the door ofScotland.
Grant our nobles lands in the north,
give their nobles estates here in England,
and make them too greedy to oppose us.
But, sire, our nobles will be reluctant to uproot.
New lands mean new taxes,
and they're already taxed for the war in France.
Are they?
The trouble with Scotland is that it's full ofScots.
[Chuckling]
Perhaps the time has come
to reinstitute an old custom.
Grant them prima noctes.
First night.
When any common girl inhabiting their lands is married,
our nobles shall have sexual rights to her
on the night of her wedding.
Ifwe can't get them out, we'll breed them out.
That should fetch just the kind of lords
we want to Scotland,
taxes or no taxes, huh?
A most excellent idea, sire.
Is it?
Now in Edinburgh ga thered the council of Scottish nobles.
Among these was Robert the 17th earl of Bruce,
the leading contender forthe cro wn ofScotland.
Ah, I hear that Longshanks has granted prima noctes.
Clearly meant to draw more of his supporters here.
My father believes that we must
Iull Longshanks into our confidence
by neither supporting his decree nor opposing it.
A wise plan.
And how is your father? We missed him at the council.
His affairs in France keep him long overdue.
But he sends his greetings,
and he says that I speak for all ofthe Bruces
and for Scotland.
[Inhaling]
[Festive Music Playing]
Ah, it's all over now.
You've dropped your rock.
Test of manhood.
You win.
Ah.
Call it a test ofsoldiery, then.
The English won't let us train with weapons,
so we train with stones.
The test ofasoldier is not in his arm.
It's here.
No. It's here.
[Gasps And Laughter]
Ha ha!
Hamish?
Mm-hmm.
Here you go, son.
Show him how.
Come on, Hamish]
Ha ha ha ha! My boy!
That was a good throw.
Aye. Aye, it was.
I was wondering if you could do that when it matters.
As it-- As it matters in battle.
Could you crush a man with that throw?
I could crush you like a worm.
[Crowd] Ooh]
You could?
Aye.
Well, then do it.
Would you like to see him crush me like a worm?
Come do it.
You'll move.
I will not.
Right.
He'll move.
Come on, Hamish.
Come on there, boy]
Well done!
[Laughter]
Ah!
Fine display, young Wallace.
Are you all right?
You look a wee bit shaky .
I should have remembered the rocks.
Aye, you should have.
Get up, you big heap.
It's good to see you again.
Aye. Welcome home.
Oh, me head.
Oh, you should have moved.
William...
will you dance with me?
Of course I will.
I've come to claim the right ofprima noctes.
As lord ofthese lands,
I will bless this marriage
by taking the bride into my bed
on the first night of her union.
Oh, by God, you will not!
It is my noble right.
Good evening, sir.
Ah, young Wallace.
Grand softevening, huh?
Aye, it's that.
I was wondering if I might have a word with your daughter.
What do you want to have a word about?
Well, um...
Murron, would you like to come and ride with me
on this fine evening?
In this? You're out of your mind.
It's good Scottish weather, madame.
The rain is falling straight down.
Well, slightly to the side, like.
She can't go with you.
No the now, anyway.
No the now.
- No the now? - We'll see you later.
The weather'sjust fine. It's hardly raining.
Did you not hear what I said?
Murron] Get-- Oh.
It's you she takes after.
How could you know me after so long?
Well, I didn't.
I saw you staring, and I didn't know who you were.
I'm sorry. I suppose I was.
Are you in the habit
of riding off in the rain with strangers?
It was the best way to make you leave.
Well, if I can ever work up the courage to askyou again,
I'll send written warning first.
Wouldn't do much good. I can't read.
Can you not?
No.
Well, that's something
we shall have to remedy, isn't it?
You're going to teach me to read, then?
if you like.
In what language?
You're showing off now.
That's right. Are you impressed yet?
No. Why should I be?
[Speaking French]
Do that standing on your head, and I'll be impressed.
My kilt will fly up, but I'll try it.
God, you certainly didn't learn any manners.
The French and Romans have far worse manners.
You've been to Rome?
Aye. Argyle took me on a pilgrimage.
What was it like?
What does that mean?
Beautiful.
But I belong here.
[Mother MacClannough] Murron?
Come in now.
Sir, I know it was strange of me
to invite Murron to ride last night,
but I assure you--
MacClannough's daughter is another matter.
I've come to fetch you to our meeting.
What kind of meeting?
The secret kind.
Your meetings are a waste oftime, Campbell.
Your father was a fighter and a patriot.
I know who my father was.
I came back home to raise crops
and, God willing, a family.
If I can live in peace, I will.
Go on.
You say you want to stay out ofthe troubles?
If you can prove it, you may court my daughter.
Until you prove it, my answer's no.
No?
No, Wallace. No.
Didn't I just prove it?
No!
No?
No!
Uh!
Of course, running a farm's a lot ofwork,
but that will all change when my sons arrive.
So you've got children?
Oh, not yet, but I was hoping
that you could help me with that.
So you want me to marry you, then?
Well, it's a bit sudden, but all right.
Is that what you call a proposal?
I love you. Always have.
I want to marry you.
Is that a "yes"?
Aye, that's a "yes."
It is?
We best hurry. He'll be waiting.
Oh, wait.
Where are you going?
What's that?
You'll see.
Father.
I will love you my whole life,
you and no other.
And I you,
you and no other, forever.
[Speaking Scots Gaelic]
[Speaking Latin]
When am I going to see you again?
Tonight?
I can't.
Why not?
My dad's growin' suspicious.
Growin' suspicious, is he?
Wouldn't have anything to do with that.
When? When? When?
When?
Tonight.
Look lively, Sergeant.
Where are you going, lassie?
Ooh, that looks heavy.
Let me help you with it.
No. It's fine.
I'm not going to steal it.
Oh, you remind me of my daughter back home.
Hello, lassie.
Aah!
No!
Shh! Shh!
Keep it quiet, Smythe.
Ah!
You bitch!
Aah!
[Biting]
Aah] You...
bitch!
Are you all right?
All right? Come on.
Are you all right?
Aye.
Are you all right?
Can you ride?
Aye.
Come back here, you bastard!
Raise the alarm!
Help!
Meet me at the grove.
Ride!
They're getting away!
Go round back!
[Men Shouting]
Get him!
Come on!
Ah!
Murron?
Murron!
All of you know full well
the great pains I've always taken
never to be too strict, too rigid
with the application ofour laws,
and as a consequence,
have we not learned to live together
in relative peace and harmony?
Huh?
And this day's lawlessness
is how you repay my leniency!
Well, you leave me with little choice.
An assault on the king's soldiers...
is the same as an assault on the king himself.
Now...
Iet this scrapper come to me.
[Soldier] Sir]
[Thunder]
There.
[Whinnying]
Aah!
Argh!
Ahh!
Corporal.
Some archers on the tower now]
Ah] Aah...
Hold still.
Aah!
You idiot boy!
Aah!
Argh!
Aah!
Unh!
Father, how are you?
Unh.
[Thunder]
Macaulish.
Macaulish!
[Everyone Chanting] Macaulish! Macaulish!
[Everyone Chanting] Wallace! Wallace! Wallace!
[Priest Reciting Latin Rites]
[Crying]
What you waiting for, boy?
[Laughing]
Here. You can do it.
I'll hold him down.
Here. You can do it.
I'll hold him down.
Pour it straight in the wound.
It seems like a waste of good whiskey.
Indulge me. Ah!
Aah!
Hold him. Hold him.
Now let him go.
Aah!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
[Laughter]
That'll wake you up in the morning, boy.
There's somebody coming!
Arm yourselves!
There's somebody coming.
MacGregors-- from the next clan.
We heard about what was happening.
We don't want you amadans
thinking you can have your fun without us.
Go home.
Some of us are in this.
Can't help that now.
But you can help yourselves.
Go home.
We'll have no homes left
when the English garrison from the castle
comes through and burns us out.
And they will.
Welcome.
Patrol returning, milord]
So what news?
I have dispatched 1 00 soldiers to Lanark.
They will be returning now]
What, are they dressed like this?
Actually, it was more like 50.
Make it quick.
You remember me?
I never did her any harm.
It was my right.
Your right?
I'm here to claim the right ofahusband]
Ah]
I am William Wallace.
And the rest of you will be spared.
Go back to England and tell them there
that Scotland's daughters and her sons are yours no more.
Tell them Scotland is free.
Burn it.
[Applause]
The Scottish rebels have routed
one of my garrisons
and murdered the noble lord.
I heard.
This Wallace is a brigand, nothing more.
And how would you deal with this brigand?
Like any common thief.
Have the local magistrate arrest him
and punish him accordingly.
Leave us.
Wallace has already killed the magistrate
and taken control ofthe town.
Stand up.
In the morning,
I depart for France to press our rights there,
and I leave you here to quell this little rebellion.
Understood? ls it?
Unh!
One day, you will be a king.
At least try to act like one.
Get away from me!
Convene my military council.
[Speaking French]
[Shouting]
Aah!
There!
After them.
No point resisting.
You're out numbered and trapped.
Now, where are the rest of you? Where's Wallace?
Father?
Oh, come in. Come in.
A rebellion has begun.
Under whom?
A commoner...
named William Wallace.
You will embrace this rebellion.
Support it from our lands in the north.
I will gain English favor
by condemning it and ordering it opposed
from our lands in the south.
Sit down.
Stay a while.
This Wallace...
he doesn't even have a knighthood,
but he fights with passion,
and he inspires.
And you wish to charge off and fight as he did, eh?
So would l.
Well, maybe it's time.
It is time...
to survive.
You're the 1 7th Robert Bruce.
The 1 6 before you passed you land and title
because they didn 't charge in.
Call a meeting ofthe nobles.
They do nothing but talk.
Rightly so.
They're as rich in English titles and lands
as they are in Scottish, just as we are.
You admire this man, this William Wallace.
Uncompromising men are easy to admire.
He has courage. So does a dog.
But it is exactly the ability to compromise
that makes a man noble.
And understand this--
Edward Longshanks is the most ruthless king
ever to sit on the throne of England,
and none of us and nothing of Scotland
will remain unless we are as ruthless.
Give ear to our nobles.
Knowing their minds
is the key to the throne.
Wait. Wait.
Look.
This is out, and this is left.
Carry on.
Carry on]
[Speaking French]
You know...
eventually, Longshanks will send
his whole northern army against us.
Heavy cavalry, armored horse--
shake the very ground.
They'll ride right over us.
Uncle Argyle used to talk about it,
how no army ever stood up to a charge of heavy horse.
So what do we do?
Hit, run, hide, the Highland way.
We'll make spears.
Hundreds ofthem.
Long spears-- twice as long as a man.
That long?
Aye.
Some men are longer than others.
Your mother been telling you stories about me again.
[Men Laughing]
[Man] Volunteers coming in!
William Wallace,
we've come to fight and to die foryou.
Stand up, man. I'm not the pope.
My name is Faudron. My sword is yours.
I brought you this.
[Man] We checked them for arms.
I brought you this.
My wifemade it foryou.
Thankyou.
[Man Chuckling]
Him? That can't be William Wallace.
I'm prettier than this man.
All right, Father. I'll ask him.
If I risk my neck foryou,
will I get a chance to kill Englishmen?
Is your father a ghost,
or do you converse with the Almighty?
To find his equal, an lrishman talks to God.
The Almighty says don't change the subject.
Just answer the fucking question.
Mind your tongue.
Insane lrish.
Smart enough to get a dagger past your guards, old man.
That's my friend, lrishman,
and the answer to your question is yes.
You fight for me, you get to kill the English.
Excellent]
Stephen is my name.
I'm the most wanted man on my island,
except I'm not on my island, of course.
More's the pity.
Your island? You mean lreland?
Yeah. It's mine.
You're a madman.
Ha ha ha!
I've come to the right place, then.
Aah!
Sure didn't the Almighty send me to watch your back?
I didn't like him anyway.
He wasn't right in the head.
William!
It's several runners!
Hello.
The English are advancing an army toward Stirling.
Do the nobles rally?
Robert the Bruce and most ofthe others
will not commit to battle,
but word has spread,
and the Highlanders are coming down on their own.
In droves of hundreds and thousands.
Are you ready for a war?
[Cheering]
What news?
We're outnumbered, at least three to one.
How many horse?
300. Maybe more.
300 heavy horse?
We must negotiate.
Who's in command?
Did he have a scarlet chevron?
Aye, he did.
We can still negotiate.
[Indistinct Conversation]
What are they talking about?
I can't hear, but it does not look good.
The nobles will negotiate.
They'll do a deal,
then we go home.
If not, we charge.
We have no chance.
[Distant Rumbling]
[Rumbling Drawing Closer]
So many.
I didn't come here to fight
so they could own more lands.
Then I'll have to work for them.
Nor me.
All right, lads! I'm not dying for these bastards.
Let's go home!
[Men Murmuring]
Stop, men! Do not flee!
Wait until we've negotiated!
William Wallace.
Can't be. Not tall enough.
The Almighty says this must be a fashionable fight.
It's drawn the finest people.
Where is thy salute?
For presenting yourselves on this battlefield,
I give you thanks.
This is our army.
Tojoin it, you give homage.
I give homage to Scotland,
and ifthis isyo ur army...
why does it go?
We didn't come here to fight for them]
[Shouting ln Agreement]
Home! The English are too many.
Sons ofScotland...
I am William Wallace.
William Wallace is 7 feet tall.
Yes. I've heard.
He kills men by the hundreds,
and if he were here, he'd consume the English
with fireballs from his eyes
and bolts of lightning from his arse.
[Laughter]
I am William Wallace...
and I see a whole army of my countrymen
here in defiance oftyranny.
You've come to fight as free men.
And free men you are.
What will you do with that freedom?
Will you fight?
- No! - No!
Against that? No]
We will run, and we will live.
Aye.
Fight, and you may die.
Run, and you'll live...
at least awhile.
And dying in your beds many years from now,
would you be willing to trade
all the days from this day to that
for one chance-- just one chance--
to come back here and tell our enemies
that they may take our lives,
but they'll never take our freedom?
[Cheering]
Albagu bra!
[Cheering]
They seem quite optimistic to me.
Maybe they do want to fight.
Confrontation might be a foregone conclusion, milord,
but, nonetheless,
I think we should deliver the king's terms.
The king's terms? He'll never live up to them.
Milord, I think--
All right. Offer them the terms.
[Craig] Shall we go and meet them?
[Mornay] Let me do the talking.
Agreed.
Fine speech.
Now what do we do?
Just be yourselves.
Where are you going?
I'm going to pick a fight.
Hyah!
[Neigh]
Well, we didn't get dressed up for nothing.
Mornay, Lochlan, Craig.
Here are the king's terms--
Lead this army off the field...
and he will give you each estates in Yorkshire,
including hereditary title,
from which you will pay--
from which you will pay him an annual duty--
I have an offer foryou.
Cheltham, this is William Wallace.
From which you will pay the king an annual duty--
I said I have an offer foryou.
You disrespect a banner oftruce?
From his king? Absolutely.
Here are Scotland's terms--
Loweryour flags and march
straight back to England,
stopping at every home you pass by
to beg forgiveness
for 1 00 years oftheft, rape, and murder.
Do that, and your men shall live.
Do it not, and every one of you will die today.
Ha ha ha ha!
You are outmatched.
You have no heavy cavalry.
In two centuries, no army has won--
I'm not finished!
Before we let you leave,
your commander must cross that field,
present himself before this army,
put his head between his legs,
and kiss his own arse.
I'd say that was rather less cordial than he's used to.
Be ready and do exactly as I say.
On my signal,
ride round behind our position and flank them.
We must not divide our forces.
Do it, and let the English see you do it.
They'll think we run away.
Take out their archers. I'll meet you in the middle.
Right.
Come on.
Hyah!
[Praying ln Latin]
Insolent bastard.
I want this Wallace's heart on a plate.
Archers.
Archers! Archers!
Archers!
Archers, forward!
[Neigh]
Aah!
[Shouting]
You bastards!
Loose!
The Lord tells me he can get me out ofthis mess,
but He's pretty sure you're fucked.
Ha ha ha!
Aah!
[Shouting]
Ready!
Loose!
Ride!
See. Every Scot with a horse is fleeing.
Our cavalry will ride them down like grass.