I shall tell you of William Wallace.
Historians from England will say I am 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 a truce.
No weapons. One page only.
One farmer 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 after the gathering.
- Can I come? - No! Go home, boy!
- But I want to go! - Go home, or you'll feel the back of my hand!
Away hame, William.
MacAndrews!
Holy Jesus.
William! William!
It's all right, it's all right. Easy, lad.
William!
And I say we hit back now!
- We cannae fight them. - Something's got to be done.
Wallace is right! We fight them!
Every nobleman willing to fight was at that meeting!
We cannot beat an army! Not with the 50 farmers we can raise.
We do not have to beat them... Just fight them.
- Now, who's with me? - I am, Wallace.
- All right, all right. - Aye.
- Where do you think you're going? - I'm going with you.
Och, are ye? And what are you going to do?
I'm gonna help.
Aye, and a good help you'd be, too.
But I need you to stay here...
...and look after the place for me while l'm away.
I can fight!
I know! I know you can fight.
But it's our wits that make us men.
See ye tomorrow.
- English! - Get down.
With your father and brother gone, they'II kill us and burn the farm!
It's up to us, Hamish.
Da?
William.
Come here, lad.
De profundis...
...clamavi ad te, Domine.
Domine, exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes...
...in vocem deprecationis meae.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.
William.
I'm your uncle. Argyle.
You have the look of your mother.
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.
The Lord...
...bless thee and keep thee.
The Lord cause his light to shine on thee.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee...
...and give thee peace.
Amen.
Your heart is free.
Have the courage to follow it.
What are they doing?
Saying goodbye 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 l'll teach you... to use...
...this.
Many years later...
...Edward the Longshanks, King of England...
...supervised the wedding of his eldest son, who would succeed him as king.
Amen.
As bride for his son...
...Longshanks had chosen the daughter of his rival...
...the King of France.
It was widely whispered that for the Princess to conceive...
...Longshanks would have to do the honours himself.
That may have been what he had in mind all 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 of our island?
Where is my son?
Your pardon, my Lord.
He asked me to come in his stead.
I sent for him and he sends you?
Shall I leave, my Lord?
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 of Scotland.
Grant our nobles lands in the North.
Give their nobles estates here in England.
And make them too greedy to oppose us.
But, sir, 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 of Scots.
Perhaps the time has come...
...to reinstitute an old custom.
Grant them primae noctis.
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.
If we 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, eh?
A most excellent idea, sire.
Is it?
Now, in Edinburgh were gathered the council of Scottish nobles.
Among these was Robert, the 17th Earl of Bruce...
...a leading contender for the crown of Scotland.
I hear that Longshanks has granted primae noctis.
Clearly meant to draw more of his supporters here.
My father believes we must lull Longshanks into our confidence...
...by neither supporting his decree nor opposing it.
- A wise plan. - How is your father? He missed the council.
His affairs in France keep him long overdue.
But he sends his greetings.
And he says that I speak for all of the Bruces...
...and for Scotland.
- You've dropped your rock. - A test of manhood.
- You win. - Ah-hah!
Call it a test of soldiery, then.
The English won't let us train with weapons, so we train with stones.
The test of a soldier is not in his arm. It's here.
No. It's here.
- Hamish? - Mm-hm.
Here you go, son. Show him how.
- Come on, Hamish! - Come on, boy!
Come on!
That's 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.
- You could? - Aye.
Well, then, do it.
Would you like to see him crush me like a worm?
- Come and do it. - You'll move.
- I will not. - Right.
He'll move.
Come on, Hamish!
Come on there, boy!
Well done!
A 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 of...
- It's good to see ye again. - Aye, welcome home.
- Look what you did to my head. - You should have moved.
William, will you dance with me?
Of course I will.
I've come to claim the right of primae noctis.
As lord of these lands, I will bless this marriage by taking the bride into my bed...
...on the first night of her union.
By God you will not!
It is my noble right.
Good evening, sir.
Ah, young Wallace. A grand soft evening, huh?
Aye, it's that.
Might I have a word with your daughter?
What do you want to have a word with her about?
Well, erm...
Murron?
Would you like to ride with me this evening?
In this? You're out of your mind!
It's good Scottish weather, madam. The rain is falling almost straight down.
- She cannae go with you. - No?
No. No the now, anyway.
- No the now. - No the now.
- We'll see ye later. - The weather's fine. It's hardly raining.
Did you no hear what I said?
- Murron! - Murron!
It's you she takes after.
How did you know me after so long?
I didn't.
I saw you staring at me 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.
If I ever find the courage to ask ye again, l'll warn you in writing first.
- It wouldn't help. I can't read. - Can ye not?
No.
Well, that's something we shall have to remedy.
- You're gonna teach me to read? - If you like.
Aye.
In what language?
You're showing off now.
- That's right. Are you impressed yet? - No. Should I be?
Do that standing on your head, and l'll be impressed.
My kilt'll fly up, but l'll try...
You learnt no manners on your travels!
The French and the Romans are worse than I.
- You went to Rome? - Aye. Uncle took me on a pilgrimage.
What was it like?
What does that mean?
Beautiful.
But I belong here.
Murron!
Come in now!
Sir, I know it was strange of me to invite Murron to ride last night, but...
MacClannough's daughter is another matter.
- I've come to fetch you to a meeting. - What kind of meeting?
- The secret kind. - Your meetings are a waste of time.
Your father was a fighter...
...and a patriot.
I know who my father was.
I came home to raise crops and, God willing, a family.
If I can live in peace, I will.
Go on!
- You want to stay out of the troubles? - Aye.
If you can prove it, you may court my daughter.
Until you prove it, the answer is no.
- No. - No, Wallace. No.
Didn't I just prove it?
No!
- No? - No!
Of course, running a farm is a lot of work.
But that will all change when my sons arrive.
So, you've got children.
Well, 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. - Yeah?
- We'd 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... for ever.
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti...
When will I see ye again? Tonight?
- I can't. - Why not?
My dad's growing suspicious.
Would that have anything to do with...
When?
- Tonight. - Tonight?
Look lively, Sergeant.
What are you carrying, Lassie?
- That looks heavy. Can we help you? - That's fine.
I'm not going to steal it...
Ohh! You remind me of my daughter back home.
Hello, lassie.
Ssh.
Keep quiet, Smythe.
Aagh! Bitch!
You bitch!
Are you all right?
- Are you all right? - Aye.
- Can you ride? - Aye.
Come back here, you bastard!
Ring the alarm! Help!
Meet me at the grove.
- Ride! - They're getting away!
All right, you bitch!
Murron!
All of you know full well the great pains l've always taken...
...never to be too strict, too rigid, with the application of our 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...
...let this scrapper come to me.
There.
Corporal! Some archers on the tower! Now!
Hold still, Father.
You idiot, boy!
- Father, are you all right? - Aye.
MacCaulich.
MacCaulich!
MacCaulich! MacCaulich!
MacCaulich!
Wallace! Wallace!
Anima eius et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum...
...per misericordiam Dei...
...requiescant in pace.
In nomine Patris, et Filii...
...et Spiritus Sanctus.
- Amen. - Amen.
What are you waiting for, boy?
Here. You can do it. I'll hold him down.
Pour it straight in the wound, boy.
I know it seems like a waste of good whisky. Indulge me.
Hold him! Hold him! Hold him. Now...
...let him go.
All right?
That'll wake you up in the morning, boy.
- There's somebody coming! - Arm yourselves!
There's somebody coming.
MacGregors! From the next glen.
We heard about what was happening.
We don't want you amerdans thinking you can have your fun without us.
Go home.
Some of us are in this.
I can't help that now.
But you can help yourselves. Go home.
We'll have no homes left when the English garrison comes through and burns us out.
- And they will. - Aye.
Welcome.
Patrol returning, my Lord.
So, what news?
I have dispatched 100 soldiers to Lanark. They will be returning now!
Were they dressed like this?
Actually, it was more like 50.
Make it quick.
Do you remember me?
I never did her any harm. It was my right!
Your right. I'm here to claim the right of a husband!
I'm 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.
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 and punish him.
Leave us.
Wallace has already killed the magistrate and taken control of the town.
Stand up.
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? Is it?
One day you will be a king.
At least try to act like one.
Get away from me!
Convene my military council!
There!
After them!
No point resisting. You're outnumbered and trapped.
Where are the rest of you? Where's Wallace?
- Father. - Ah, 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 favour by condemning it...
...and ordering it opposed from our lands in the South.
Sit down. Stay awhile.
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 I. - Well, maybe it's time.
It is time... to survive.
You're the 17th Robert Bruce.
The 16 before you passed you land and title because they didn't charge in.
- Call a meeting of the nobles. - They do nothing but talk.
Rightly so! They're as rich in English titles and lands as they are in Scottish, as we are.
You admire this man... this William Wallace.
Uncompromising men are easier 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!
You know...
...eventually Longshanks will send in his northern army.
Heavy cavalry. Armoured horse. Shake the very ground.
He'll ride right over us.
Uncle Argyle used to talk about it.
How no army had ever stood up to a charge of heavy horse.
- So what do we do? - Hit. Run. Hide. The Highland way.
Or make spears.
Hundreds of 'em. 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, eh?
Volunteers coming in!
William Wallace. We've come to fight and to die for you.
Stand up, man. I'm not the Pope.
My name is Faudron. My sword is yours.
- I brought you this... - We checked them for arms.
I brought you this.
My wife made it for you.
Ah, thank you.
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 for you...
...will I get to kill Englishmen?
Is your father a ghost or do you converse with the Almighty?
To find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God.
Yes, Father!
The Almighty says, 'Just answer the fucking question!'
- Mind your tongue. - Insane Irish!
Smart enough to get a dagger past your guards, old man.
That's my friend, Irishman.
And the answer to your question is yes. Fight for me, you get to kill the English.
Excellent!
Stephen is my name.
I'm the most wanted man on my island.
Except l'm not on my island, of course.
- More's the pity. - Your island?
- You mean Ireland? - Yeah. It's mine.
You're a madman.
I've come to the right place, then.
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 our runners!
The English... are advancing an army towards Stirling!
- Do the nobles rally? - Robert the Bruce and others will not fight.
But word has spread. The Highlanders are coming down on their own.
Aye... In droves of hundreds... and thousands!
Are you ready for a war?!
- What news? - We're outnumbered, at least three to one.
- How many horse, then? - 300, maybe more.
- 300 heavy horse! - We must try to negotiate.
Who was in command? Did he have a scarlet chevron?
- Aye, he did. - That'll be Cheltham.
We could still negotiate...
What are they talking about?
I cannae hear, but it doesnae look good.
The nobles will negotiate.
They do a deal... and we go home.
If not... we charge.
300 heavy horse! We've no chance!
So many.
I didn't come here to fight so they could own more lands.
Then l'd have to work for them.
Nor me.
All right, lads!
I'm not dying for these bastards!
Let's go home!
Stop, men!
Do not flee! Wait until we've negotiated!
William Wallace!
Can't be. Not tall enough.
The Almighty says this is a fashionable fight. It's drawn the finest people.
- Where is thy salute? - For coming to this battlefield, I thank you.
This is our army. To join it, you give homage.
I give homage to Scotland.
And if this is your army...
...why does it go?
We didn't come here to fight for them!
Home! The English are too many!
Sons of Scotland!
I am William Wallace!
- William Wallace is seven feet tall. - Yes, l've heard.
He kills men by the hundred.
And if he were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes...
...and lightning from his arse!
I am William Wallace!
And I see...
...a whole army of my countrymen...
...here in defiance of tyranny.
You've come to fight as free men...
...and free men you are!
What will you do without freedom?
Will you fight?
Against that? No!
We will run, and we will live.
Aye. Fight and you may die.
Run, and you'll live.
At least a while.
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!
Alba qu bra!
They seem quite optimistic. Maybe they do want to fight.
Confrontation might be a foregone conclusion.
But nonetheless... I think we should deliver the King's terms.
The King's terms? They'll never live up to them.
My Lord, I think...
All right! Offer them the terms.
- They're coming out. Should we go to them? - Let me do the talking. Agreed?
Aye.
Fine speech.
Now what do we do?
Just be yourselves.
Where are you going?
I'm going to pick a fight.
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... - I have an offer for ye.
Cheltham, this is William Wallace.
From which you will pay the King an annual duty...
- I said I have an offer for you. - You disrespect a banner of truce!
From his King? Absolutely.
Here are Scotland's terms.
Lower your flags... and march straight back to England.
At every home you pass, beg forgiveness for 100 years of theft, rape and murder.
Do that, and your men shall live.
Do it not... and every one of you will die today.
You are outmatched. You have no heavy cavalry.
In two centuries, no army has won without...
l'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.
L'd say that was rather less cordial than he was used to.
You 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.
Ego vos absolvo...
...ab omnibus peccatis vestris. In nomine Patris...
Insolent bastard! I want this Wallace's heart on a plate!
Archers!
Archers forward!
You bastards!
The Lord tells me He can get me out of this mess...
...but He's pretty sure you're fucked.
Ready... Loose!
Ride!
See? Every Scot with a horse is fleeing.
Our cavalry will ride them down like grass. Send the horse.
Full attack.
Steady...
Hold!