[MEN SHOUTING TO OPEN THE GATE FOR THE KNIGHTS AND BISHOP’S CARRIAGE]
[A CROWD GATHERS TO SEE THE COMMOTION]

JOLS
Welcome back, Arthur.

ARTHUR
Jols.

JOLS
(nodding at Lancelot) Lancelot.

[KNIGHTS DISMOUNT]

ARTHUR
Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you.

BISHOP
Ah, yes. I must rest.

VANORA
(slaps Bors) Where’ve you been? I’ve been waiting for you!

BORS
(groaning) Oh, my little flower... such passion.
(aggressive kissing)
(suddenly breaking) Where’s my Gilly? (picks up boy)
Gilly. You’ve been fighting.

GILLY
Yes.

BORS
You’ve been winning.

GILLY
Yes.

BORS
That’s my boy. Come on, all my other bastards!

CHILDREN
Yay!


[CUT TO SCENES OF LAUGHTER AS THE KNIGHTS SIT AROUND THE ROUND TABLE. ARTHUR STANDS.

ARTHUR:
Let us not forget that we are the fortunate ones.

[THE OTHER KNIGHTS STAND AS ARTHUR DOES AND HOLD THEIR GOBLETS.]

ARTHUR:
Let us raise our wine to those gallant and extraordinary men we have lost but who will be remembered for eternity.

[KNIGHTS DRINK WINE]
BORS:
To freedom.
[RAISES GOBLET AND THE REST DO TOO]

ALL:
To freedom.

[CUT TO BISHOP IN ARTHUR’S QUARTERS, RUMMAGING THROUGH HIS STUFF. HE SEES A COIN WITH PELAGIUS’ FACE ON IT.]

BISHOP
(fingering coin) Pelagius...

BISHOP’S AIDE
(making the bed) Very kind of Arthur to give up his room. But of course, it is to be expected.

BISHOP
(looks at the coin some more)
(nonchalantly drops it behind him and it smashes)

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[ENTER JOLS]

JOLS
Sir. I’m here to escort you to the fortress hall.

[BISHOP EXITS]

BISHOP’S AIDE
(picks up a box) (to JOLS)
When my Master meets with your knights, he must be seated last and he must be seated at the head of the table.

JOLS
Your Master can plop his holy arse wherever he chooses. (faint smile)

[SOUNDS OF KNIGHTS LAUGHING AS BISHOP’S AIDE ENTERS; HE LOOKS SLIGHTLY BEWILDERED AT THE ROUND DONUT-SHAPED TABLE]

HORTON:
His Eminence, Bishop Naius Germanius.

[BISHOP ENTERS]
[KNIGHTS RISE TO MEET HIM]
[BISHOP LOOKS VERY ASTONISHED AT THE ROUND TABLE]

BISHOP’S AIDE
A round table? What sort of evil is this?

JOLS
Arthur says for men to be men, they must first all be equal.

BISHOP
I was given to understand that there would be more of you.

ARTHUR
There were. We have been fighting here for fifteen years, Bishop.

BISHOP
Of course. (lifting cups out of a platter)
Arthur and his knights have served with courage to maintain the honor of Rome’s empire on this last outpost of our glory. Rome is most indebted. To you, noble knights, your final days as servants to the Empire.

LANCELOT
(looking up from his cup) Day. Not days.

[BISHOP SMILES BACK]
[KNIGHTS SIT BACK DOWN]

BISHOP
The Pope’s taken a personal interest in you. He inquires after each of you, and is curious to know if your knights have converted to the word of Our Savior or...-

ARTHUR
They retain the religion of their forefathers. I’ve never questioned that.

BISHOP
Oh-of course, of course. They are pagans.

[GALAHAD AND OTHER KNIGHTS SHIFT SOMEWHAT UNEASILY]

BISHOP
For our part, the church has deemed such beliefs innocence.
But you, Arthur. Your path to God is through Pelagius? I saw his image in your room.

ARTHUR
He took my father’s place for me. His teachings on free will and equality have been of great influence.
I look forward to our reunion in Rome.

BISHOP
Ah- Rome awaits your arrival with great anticipation! You are a hero.
In Rome, you will live out your days in honor. And wealth.

[LANCELOT LOOKS AWAY, DISGUSTED]

BISHOP
Alas. (sighs) Alas, we are all but players in an ever-changing world. Barbarians from every corner are almost at Rome’s door.

[BISHOP’S AIDE PLACES BOX WITH DISCHARGE PAPERS AT BISHOP’S SIDE]

BISHOP
Because of this, Rome, and the Holy Father, has decided to remove ourselves from indefensible outposts, such as Britain.

[KNIGHTS ALL SLOWLY STAND IN PROTEST]

BISHOP
What will become of Britain is not our concern anymore.
I suppose the Saxons will claim it soon. (opening box)

ARTHUR
Saxons?

BISHOP
Yes. In the north, a massive Saxon incursion has begun.

LANCELOT
Saxons only claim what they kill.

GAWAIN
And only kill everything.

GALAHAD
So you’ll just... leave the land to the Woads. I risked my life for nothing.

BISHOP
(strenuous smile) Gentlemen.
Your discharge papers with safe conduct throughout the Roman Empire.
But first, I must have a word with your commander.

[KNIGHTS STILL STANDING AND WATCHING]

BISHOP
(sitting down) In private.

ARTHUR
(looking around) We have no secrets.

[LOUD BANG]

LANCELOT
Come. Let’s leave Roman business to Romans. (takes a sip from his goblet)

DAGONET
(patting Bors on the shoulder) Let it go, Bors.

[TRISTAN PICKS UP GOBLET AND TURNS IT OVER IN HIS HANDS. WALKS AFTER LANCELOT AND THE OTHER KNIGHTS STILL HOLDING THE GOBLET! HAHA THIEVERY!]
[BISHOP SMIRKS]

BISHOP
Rome has issued a final order for you and your men.

ARTHUR
Final order?

BISHOP
You are to travel north to rescue the family of Marius Honorius and return in particular with Marius’ son, Alecto.
Alecto is the Pope’s favorite godchild and pupil. It is his destiny to become a Bishop. Perhaps even Pope, one day.

ARTHUR
On this day. You ask this of my men, on this day?

[ARTHUR STANDS AND STARTS PACING AROUND]
ARTHUR
They have risked their lives for fifteen years for a cause not of their own - and now, on the day they are to be liberated, you send them on a mission that is far more dangerous than any other they have undertaken.
You tell me, Bishop. How do I go to my men and tell them instead of freedom, I offer death?

BISHOP
If your men truly are the knights of legend, perhaps some will survive. If it is God’s will.
Your men want to go home. And to get home, they need to cross the entire breadth of the Roman Empire.
Deserters would be hunted down like dogs.
Will you defy the Pope, Arthur? Rome? God Himself?

ARTHUR
Everything I’ve done has been for the Church and for Rome. Do not mistake a loyal soldier for a fool, Germanius.

[BISHOP STANDS]

BISHOP
Would you leave a defenseless Roman boy, destined to lead our Church, at the hands of the Saxons!?
Fulfill this mission, and your men will receive their discharge.
Their papers will be waiting here the moment they return.
(packs the box and prepares to leave)
You have my word.

ARTHUR
You think very hard upon our vow, Bishop, for I will hold you to it.
(BISHOP stops and turns around to face ARTHUR)
Break it, and no Roman legion, papal army, nor God Himself will protect you.
That is my word.

 

[HAPPY FESTIVE MUSIC OF KNIGHTS AT A BAR]
[GAWAIN KICKS A KNIFE UP FROM HIS BOOT, CATCHES IT AND CHUCKS IT AT THE BOARD, LANDING HIGH AND LAUGHS LIKE A MANIAC AS HE WALKS OVER AND PULLS THE KNIFE OUT WITH A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE, A MUG IN HIS RIGHT HAND. GALAHAD IS DANDLING A BUXOM BRUNETTE ON HIS KNEE AND LAUGHS WITH GAWAIN.]
[EVERYONE SEEMS REALLY REALLY DRUNK]


RANDOM MAN #1
She gave me fleas!

RANDOM MAN #2
You’d better hope they’re fleas.

[MEN ROLL DICE, LANCELOT LOOSES. OTHER MAN PROCEEDS TO TAKE HIS WINNINGS]
[LANCELOT SUDDENLY STICKS HIS DAGGER INTO THE TABLE]

LANCELOT
Best of three.

[BORS IS CARING FOR HIS BABY, WATCHING THE OTHER KNIGHTS HAVING FUN AT THE TABLE]

VANORA
Who wants another drink?

[LANCELOT PULLS HER SO THAT SHE SITS ON HIS LAP. VANORA ROLLS HER EYES]
LANCELOT
When are you going to leave Bors and come home with me, huh? (tries to kiss her neck)

VANORA
(slaps Lancelot)
(through gritted teeth) My lover is watching you.


[LANCELOT LOOKS BACK AND LAUGHS AT BORS]
[BORS LOOKS DOWN AT HIS BABY, WHO SEEMS TO LAUGH AT HIM BUT IS ACTUALLY CRYING]

BORS
... you look nothing like him. You’re all Bors.

[GALAHAD CHUCKS A KNIFE AT THE BOARD, IT LANDS RELATIVELY IN THE CENTER]
[GAWAIN BLOWS A RASPBERRY]
[TRISTAN COMES UP BEHIND GALAHAD AND THROWS A KNIFE ON THE BOARD. KNIFE LANDS ON TOP OF GALAHAD’S]

GALAHAD
Tristran.

GAWAIN
How do you do that?

TRISTAN
(pointing with an apple in hand and sounding kinda drunk to me!) I aim for the middle.

[CUT TO VANORA]

VANORA
Ugh, they want more.

BORS
Here. Be a mother to your son.
(kisses baby on the head and gives him to Vanora)
Dagonet, where’ve you been? We got plans to make.

[DAGONET DRINKS]

BORS
Here please. Sing.

VANORA
No!

BORS
It’s a last-

VANORA
No!

BORS
Come on-

VANORA
I’m trying to work-

BORS
(pulling her forward) SHUT UP!
Vanora will sing.

VANORA
(nervous laughing)
No no.

[OTHER KNIGHTS CHEER AND ENCOURAGE HER TO SING]

BORS
Sing, sing.

GALAHAD:
Sing about home.

RANDOM MAN #4
Don’t drop the baby!

GALAHAD:
(emphatically) Sing!

[VANORA RELUCTANTLY STANDS FORWARD]
[OTHER KNIGHTS CONTINUE TO TELL HER TO SING]

VANORA
Land of bear and land of eagle
Land that gave us birth and blessing
Land that called us ever homewards
We will go home across the mountains

We will go home
We will go home
We will go home across the mountains

We will go home, singing our song
We will go home...

[SINGING FADES; SENTIMENTAL MOMENT]
[ARTHUR APPROACHES WHERE ALL THE KNIGHTS ARE AND SEES VANORA SINGING]

VANORA
Hear our singing
Hear our longing
We will go home across the mountain

We will go home
We will go home...


JOLS
(noticing Arthur) Arthur!

GALAHAD
(happy to see him) Arthur!

[ARTHUR SUDDENLY APPROACHES THEM]

RANDOM MAN #6
Arthur!

[BORS AND VANORA KISS]

GALAHAD
You’re not completely Roman yet, right?

BORS
RUUUUUUUUUUS!

[LANCELOT LOOKS AT ARTHUR SKEPTICALLY]

ARTHUR
Knights. Brothers in arms.
Your courage has been tested beyond all limits, but I must ask you now for one further trial.

BORS
(drinking imaginary beer) Drink.

[GALAHAD LAUGHS]

ARTHUR
We must leave on a final mission for Rome before our freedom can be granted.

[KNIGHTS LAUGH, THINKING IT IS A JOKE]

ARTHUR
Above the wall, there lies a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxons.
Our orders are to secure their safety.

BORS
Let the Romans take care of their own.

GAWAIN
(rather drunk) Above the wall is Woad territory.

GALAHAD
Our duty to Rome, if it was ever a duty, is done. Our pact with Rome is done.

BORS
Every knight here has laid his life on the line for you. (points) For you.
And instead of freedom, you want more blood? Our blood!?
You think more of Roman blood than you do ours?!

ARTHUR
Bors, these are our orders. We leave at first light and when we return, your freedom will be waiting for you. A freedom we can embrace with-

BORS
I’m a free man! I will choose my own fate!

[BABY CRYING IN THE BACKGROUND]

TRISTAN
Yeah yeah, we’re all going to die someday. If it’s death by a Saxon hand that frightens you - stay home.

GALAHAD
Well if you’re so eager to die, you can die right here!

LANCELOT
(trying to stop Galahad from hurting Tristan) Enough, enough-

GALAHAD
I’ve got something to live for!

DAGONET
The Romans have broken their word.
We have the word of Arthur. That is good enough. I’ll prepare.
(starting to walk off)
Bors, you coming?

BORS
Of course I’m coming! Can’t let you go on your own; you’ll all get killed!

[TRISTAN FOLLOWS DAGONET TO GO PACK]

BORS
I’m just saying what you’re all thinking!
(quietly) Vanora'll kill me.


ARTHUR
And you, Gawain?

GAWAIN
(sighs, then nods) I’m with you.
(looks at the reluctant GALAHAD) Galahad as well.

[GALAHAD STARES AT GAWAIN IN ASTONISHMENT BUT SAYS NOTHING]
[GALAHAD LAUGHS IN DISBELIEF, TAKES HIS BOTTLE OF WINE HE WAS DRINKING OUT OF, TIPS IT UPSIDE DOWN, LETS ALL THE WINE DRIP ONTO THE GROUND, THEN THROWS THE BOTTLE ONTO THE GROUND]
[BOTTLE SHATTERS]

[GAWAIN AND GALAHAD LEAVE]
[ARTHUR LEAVES LANCELOT STANDING THERE]


 

[ARTHUR STARTS TO SADDLE UP AND PREPARE FOR THE NEXT MORNING]
[ARTHUR THROWS SADDLE ONTO THE GROUND IN FRUSTRATION]


ARTHUR
O merciful God, I have such need of Your mercy now. Not for myself, but for my knights, for this is truly their hour of need. Deliver them from their trials ahead and I will pay You a thousand fold with any sacrifice You ask of me. And if in Your wisdom, You should determine that sacrifice must be my life for theirs; so that they can once again taste the freedom that is so long been denied to them, I will gladly make that covenant. My death will have a purpose.
I ask no more than that.

[LANCELOT IS SNEAKING AROUND THE ENTIRE TIME]

LANCELOT (interrupting ARTHUR)
Why do you always talk to God and not to me?
Pray. (gestures for ARTHUR to continue)
To whomever you pray that we don't cross the Saxons.

ARTHUR
My faith is what protects me, Lancelot. Why do you challenge this?

LANCELOT
I don't like anything that puts a man on his knees.

ARTHUR
No man fears to kneel before the God he trusts. Without faith, without belief in something, what are we?

LANCELOT (angrily)
To try and get past the Woads in the north is insanity!

ARTHUR
Them, we've fought before.

LANCELOT (pacing around)
Not north of the Wall!
How many Saxons? Hmm? How many!?

[ARTHUR LOOKS BACK SOLEMNLY]
[HORSE NEIGHS]

LANCELOT (sighing)
Tell me. Do you believe in this mission?

ARTHUR (sternly)
These people need our help. It is out duty to bring-

LANCELOT (angrily)
I don't care about your charge. And I don't give a damn about Romans, Britain, or this island. If you desire to spend eternity in this place, Arthur, so be it. But suicide cannot be chosen for another-!

ARTHUR (shouting)
And yet you choose death for this family!

LANCELOT (very angry and also shouting, interjecting Arthur)
No, I choose life! And freedom! (slams hand down on the stables)
For myself and the men! (angry sigh)

[LANCELOT SITS]

ARTHUR (calm)
How many times in battle have we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat? Outnumbered, outflanked, but still we triumph? With you at my side, we can do so again.
Lancelot, we are knights. What other purpose do we serve if not for such a cause?

LANCELOT (shaking head)
Arthur, you fight for a world that will never exist.
Never. There will always be a battlefield.

[LANCELOT LEANS OVER STABLES TO FACE ARTHUR]

LANCELOT (nodding head)
I will die in battle. Of that I'm certain. Now hopefully, a battle of my choosing.
But, if it be this one, grant me a favor: don't bury me in our sad little cemetery.
Burn me.
Burn me, and cast my ashes to a strong east wind.

[ARTHUR LOOKS BACK, EMOTIONLESS]

[LANCELOT LOOKS LIKE HE HAS SAID TOO MUCH AND LEAVES THE STABLES, ARTHUR WATCHING HIM DEPART]



[SAXONS ARE RAIDING A VILLAGE]
[RANDOM SOLDIER IS TRYING TO RAPE A WOMAN]
[CERDIC SLOWLY PACES OVER TO HIM AND KICKS HIM OFF]

CERDIC
Don’t touch their women.
(looking around)
We don’t mix with these people. What kind of offspring do you think that would yield? Weak people. Half people. I will not have our Saxon blood watered down by mixing with them.

SAXON SOLDIER
(yelling over the wind) According to our laws, no man can deny me the spoils of our conquest.

CYNRIC
He speaks the truth, Father.

[CERDIC GLARES AT CYNRIC, SUDDENLY DRAWS SWORD AND KILLS THE SOLDIER]
[SAXONS ARE SLIGHTLY FRIGHTENED]

ALMOST-RAPED WOMAN (clinging to CERDIC)
My Lord! Oh, my Lord, God’s thanks, my Lord!
Thank you! Thank you! (half sobbing) Thank you!

[CERDIC PLACES ONE HAND UNDER HER CHIN, THEN WALKS AWAY]

CERDIC
Kill her.

[SOLDIERS PICK HER UP, WOMAN SCREAMS]

CERDIC (half whispering to CYNRIC)
Are you challenging me?
If you want to challenge me, you have to have a sword in your hand.
As long as my heart beats, I rule and you hold your tongue. Or I’ll cut it out.


[CERDIC WALKS OFF]

[ARTHUR IS SEEN WALKING INTO THE STABLES ALREADY DRESSED FOR THE UPCOMING MISSION. LIGHTING SUGGESTS EARLY MORNING. HE STOPS JUST INSIDE STABLE DOOS AND GALAHAD IS SEEN PRANCING AROUND ON HIS WHITE HORSE IN CIRCLES. HE LOOKS AT ARTHUR ANGRILY BRINGING HIS HORSE TO A HALT. ARTHUR LOOKS AT GALAHAD BLANDLY AND STARTS TO WALK INTO THE STABLES. GALAHAD, STILL ANGRY (what a shock) AND KICKS HIS HORSE TO A GALLOP AROUND THE STABLE ENCIRCLING ARTHUR AS HE WALKS FURTHER INTO THE STABLES IN PROBABLY THE BEST SCENE IN THE WHOLE MOVIE (in my humble opinion)]

[CUT TO SCENE OUTSIDE THE STABLE. BISHOP GERMANIUS CAN BE SEEN ENTERING THEM WITH TWO ROMAN GUARDS AND HORTON WITH HIM.]

[JOLS STANDS BESIDE ARTHUR AND IS FIDGETING AT SOMETHING. WHEN GERMANIUS WALKS IN HE LOOKS AT HIM... LOOKS AWAY... THEN LOOKS BACK WITH A LOOK OF SHOCK ON HIS FACE. ARTHUR BESIDE HIM DOES NOT LOOK IMPRESSED. GERMANIUS LOOKS DISGUSTED as per usual]

[A HALF DRESSED BORS PULLS HIS SWORD UP OFF THE BENCH AND GAWAIN CARRIES ON SHINING HIS SWORD. SCENE CUTS TO GERMANIUS. DAGONET IS SEEN WALKING UP BEHIND HIM AND ALMOST DELIBRATELY BUMPING INTO THE BISHOP'S SHOULDER. THE BISHOP LOOKS ANGRY. DAGONET LOOKS BACK ANGRIER. BORS STANDS AS GERMANIUS STEPS IN FRONT OF THE BENCHES THE KNIGHTS ARE GATHERED AROUND. GALAHAD IS NOW IN FRONT OF SAID BENCHES. TRISTAN IS SEEN ADMIRING HIS BLADE.
A GENERAL UNCOMFORTABLE AND SINISTER FEELING PERMEATES AS THE SILENCE LENGHTENS. FINALLY GERMANIUS SPEAKS:]

BISHOP GERMANIUS:
To represent the holy court, my trusted secretary, Horton... (looks around for Horton. Scrawny Bishop's Aide walks in)... Horton? ... will accompany you with your quest.

[ARTHUR DOES NOT LOOK IMPRESSED AND STARES AT THE BISHOP]

ARTHUR:
Jols, find him a horse.

[GAWAIN STABS A KNIFE INTO THE BENCH AND JOLS DEPARTS TO FIND A HORSE FOR RAT FACE]

JOLS:
This way.

[HORTON SQUEEZES PAST THE BISHOP OVER TO JOLS.]

BISHOP GERMANIUS:
Godspeed, as you fulfill your duty to Rome.

ARTHUR: (stepping forward intimidatingly)
My duty is also to my men.

BISHOP GERMANIUS: (so smug! wanna punch him!)
Then get them home.

[ARTHUR WALKS OFF]

[CUT TO KICK BUTT SCENES OF ARTHUR, & HIS KNIGHTS RIDING OUT FROM THE FORT ALONGSIDE THE WALLS. GERMANIUS IS SEEN CLIMBING STEPS WITH ROMAN GUARDS AND MAKES THE SIGN OF THE CROSS ON HIS FOREHEAD STANDING ON THE BATTLEMENTS AS HE WATCHES THE KNIGHTS RIDE OFF IN A CLOUD OF DUST. SOME SCENES OF BIG RUSTY GATES BEING OPENED UP BY TWO HUGE BIG STALLIONS. AT THE BACK OF THE PACK YOU CAN SEE HORTON & JOLS HOLDING A COUPLE OF SPARE HORSES/PACK HORSES. ]

[PAN OF SERFS FARMING THE LAND]
[LOTS OF INDISTINCT YELLING]

[GATES OPEN AND RANDOM DRAMATIC SCENES OF KNIGHTS RIDING OVER HILLS INTO FORESTS AND THINGS.]


[CUT TO SAXON ARMY AND THE TRAITOR, BRITISH SCOUT]

BRITISH SCOUT (pointing at map)
We are three days march from great Wall. If we camp at night-

CYNRIC
We won’t camp.
The wall... what troops are stationed there?

BRITISH SCOUT
Light Roman infantry. And possibly Sarmatian knights.
Arthur Castus is their leader.

CERDIC (whispering)
Arthur...

CYNRIC (enraged)
Who is this Arthur?

BRITISH SCOUT
It is said he has never been defeated in battle. It is said he is a great warrior.

CERDIC
(places one hand on BRITISH SCOUT’s shoulder)
Why should I trust you? You’re a traitor to your own people.

CYNRIC
Tell my father of the Roman estate.
(silence)
Speak up!

BRITISH SCOUT
A very high ranking family live there. They are of great importance to Rome.

CYNRIC (approaching CERDIC)
Father, their ransom could pay for the entire campaign.

[CERDIC CONTEMPLATES THE THOUGHT AND NODS]

CERDIC
Attack from the north with the main army. (pointing to map)
You take your men down here; cut off their retreat to the south.
Burn every village, kill everybody.
Never leave behind you a man, woman, or child who can ever carry a sword.


[SAXON ARMY PREPARES TO MOVE OUT]


 

[WOAD WARRIOR RIDES ON A HORSE, LOTS OF LIGHTNING FLASHES, WOAD ARRIVES AT A CIRCLE OF OTHERS AND THROWS A SAXON KNIFE INTO THE GROUND]
[MERLIN LOOKS AT IT AND TAKES IT OUT FROM THE GROUND]

MERLIN (in native tongue)
Saxon. How many?

WOAD WARRIOR (in native tongue)
Thousands.

[MORE THUNDER AND LIGHTNING]


 

[THE KNIGHTS ARE TRAVELING THROUGH THE WOAD-INFESTED FOREST]

TRISTAN
Woads. They’re tracking us.

ARTHUR
Where?

TRISTAN
Everywhere.

[WOADS CRAWL THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH, KNIGHTS HORSES GET SLIGHTLY SPOOKED]
[KNIGHTS ARE ALERT, THEN SUDDENLY ARROWS SHOOT OUT, BLOCKING THEIR PATH]

LANCELOT
Get back!

BORS
Get back!!

[KNIGHTS TRY TO FIND AN ALTERNATE PATH THROUGH THE FOREST BUT EVENTUALLY GET COMPLETELY CORNERED AND COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY WOADS]

[ARROW NARROWLY MISSES DAGONET. ]
[ANOTHER DEAD END]

ARTHUR: (shouting)
This way!

[KNIGHTS RUN IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, ARTHUR LEADING BUT COME UP TO YET ANOTHER DEAD END! WOADS START JABBING UP AT HTE KNIGHTS WITH PITCHFORKS AND LONG SPEARS. 'NOTHER DIRECTION, 'NOTHER DEAD END.]

[ARTHUR DRAWS EXCALIBUR, AND EACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS]

[HORN BLOWS IN THE DISTANCE. WOADS LOOK AROUND. 'PICK IT UP' WOAD IS THERE WITH AN ARROW POINTED AT ARTHUR'S HEAD. HORN SOUNDS AGAIN AND 'PICK IT UP WOAD' LOOKS DISAPPOINTED NOT TO HAVE KILLED ARTHUR.]

GAWAIN
What are you waiting for?!


[WOADS LOWER THEIR ARROWS AND RETREAT]

[KNIGHTS STILL HAVE WEAPONS READY AND LOOK AROUND WARILY FOR MORE WOADS TO SURPRISE THEM]

DAGONET
Inish! (methinks this is another language cause the subtitles have it in italics!) Devil ghosts!

GALAHAD
Why would they not attack?

ARTHUR
Merlin doesn’t want us dead.

[KNIGHTS, SUSPICIOUS, LOOK AROUND BUT SEE NOTHING]
[MERLIN IS WATCHING ON WITH OTHER WOAD LEADERS]

WOAD (in native tongue)
We should have killed them Merlin.

MERLIN (in native tongue)
There might be a purpose for Artorius and his knights

WOAD (in native tongue)
No! He is our enemy! So is the Saxon!


[KNIGHTS ARRIVE AT MARIUS’ ESTATE, SEVERAL SERFS GATHER AROUND TO SEE THE COMMOTION]
[MARIUS’ MERCENARIES CLOSE THE GATES ON THEM]

MERCENARY #1
Who are you?

ARTHUR
I am Arthur Castus, commander of the Sarmatian knights and by Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gate.

[THEY OPEN THE GATE]
[MANY SERFS ARE WATCHING IN AWE]
[ENTER MARIUS, ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERAL MERCENARIES]

MARIUS
It is a wonder you have come!
Good Jesus, Arthur and his knights.

[HE REACHES UP TO PET GALAHAD’S HORSE BUT GALAHAD PULLS BACK]

MARIUS
You have fought the Woads. Vile creatures.

ARTHUR
Our orders are to evacuate you immediately.

[MARIUS LOOKS AROUND NERVOUSLY]

MARIUS (stuttering)
Th-That’s impossible.

ARTHUR (looking around)
Which is Alecto?

ALECTO (above)
I am Alecto.

MARIUS
Alecto is my son. And everything we have is here in the land given to us by the Pope of Rome.

LANCELOT
Well, you’re about to give it to the Saxons.

ARTHUR
They’re invading from the north.

MARIUS
Then Rome will send an army.

ARTHUR
They have. Us. We leave as soon as you’re packed.

MARIUS
I refuse to leave.

[THERE IS SILENCE, ALECTO STARTS WALKING OUT IN THE BACKGROUND]

MARIUS (to his serfs)
Go back to work! All of you! Get back to work!

MERCENARY (repeating MARIUS’ orders)
Back to work!

[MERCENARIES SHOVE SERFS TO THE GROUND, YELLING AT THEM TO GO TO WORK. ARTHUR WATCHING ON MOST UNHAPPY AT THE POOR TREATMENT.]

GANIS
All right, all right-

MERCENARY
Go on!

MARIUS
Go!

MERCENARIES
Go back to work!

ARTHUR (dismounts horse and approaches a very fearful Marius who is taking steps back)
If I fail to bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land. (through gritted teeth) So you’re coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way to Hadrian’s Wall myself.
(mock bow) My lord.
Lady, my knights are hungry.

[MARIUS’ WIFE FULCINIA PATS MARIUS ON THE SHOULDER]

MARIUS
Go.

[FULCINIA LEAVES]
[MARIUS STARES BACK AT ARTHUR, WHO STARES BACK]

MARIUS (leaving)
(to Alecto) Come.

[ARTHURS EYES LAND ON A STRANGE BUILDING OF ROCK WITH A TORCH]

BORS
(to Arthur) Come. Let’s go.

[ARTHUR IS LOOKING AT THE SERFS, BORS’ EYES FOLLOW ARTHUR’S]
[ARTHUR MAKES HIS WAY TO THEM, DRAWING EXCALIBUR]
[BORS REALIZES WHAT HE IS DOING AND DRAWS HIS SWORD AS WELL]
[TWO MONKS LOOK ON, FRIGHTENED]

GANIS (to Arthur)
Sir. You’re famous! You’re Arthur, aren’t you?
I’m Ganis, I’m a good fighter and I’m smart. I’d serve you proudly.

MONK (to Bors)
Are you from Rome?

BORS
From hell.

[MONK PULLS BACK, BORS FOLLOWS ARTHUR]

GANIS
Sir-

ARTHUR (pointing at an old man with his sword)
Who is this man?

GANIS
He’s our village elder.

ARTHUR
(looking at the man, who is chained up) What is this punishment for?
(silence)
Answer me!

[A LARGE CROWD OF SERFS ARE GATHERING AROUND ARTHUR, GANIS, AND THE OLD MAN]

GANIS
(pointing at the estate) He defied our master, Marius.
Most of the food we grow is sent out by sea to be sold. He asked to keep a little more for ourselves, that’s all.
My arse has been snappin' at the grass, I’m so hungry!
You’re from Rome! Is it true that Marius is a spokesman for God? And that it is a sin to defy him?

[ALECTO AND MERCENARIES ARE PRESENT, WATCHING]
[ARTHUR TAKES ONE MORE LOOK AT THE OLD MAN, THEN FACES THE CROWD OF SERFS]
[ARTHUR POINTS EXCALIBUR AT GANIS, THE CROWD OF SERFS BECOME FRIGHTENED BY THE BLADE POINTED AT THEM AND STEP BACK]

ARTHUR
I tell you now. Marius is not of God.
And you - all of you - were free from your first breath.

[ARTHUR HACKS THE CHAINS OFF OF THE OLD MAN, FREEING HIM]

ARTHUR
Help this man.

(no response)

ARTHUR
Help him!

[SERFS RUSH FORWARD TO HELP HIM TO HIS FEET]

ARTHUR
Now hear me. A vast and terrible army is coming this way.
They will show no mercy, spare no one.
Those of you who are able should begin to gather your things and move south, towards Hadrian’s Wall.
Those unable shall come with us.
(to GANIS) You. Serve me now. Gather these people.

GANIS (distant)
Right! You heard him!
You go grab enough food and water for the journey.
Let’s get a hurry on or else we’re all dead!

[TRISTAN RIDES TO THE ESTATE WHILE THE SERFS ARE PACKING THEIR CARAVANS]
[MERCENARIES ARE PUSHING MONKS TO FINISH BUILDING THE BRICK WALL TO SEAL UP A STONE BUILDING]

MERCENARY
Come on! Hurry!

TRISTAN
(reporting to Arthur) They have flanked us to the east; they’re coming from the south, trying to cut off our escape.
(out of breath) They'll be here before nightfall.

ARTHUR
How many?

TRISTAN
An entire army.

ARTHUR
And the only way out is to the south?

TRISTAN (shaking head)
East. There is a trail, heading east. Across the mountains.
It means we'll have to cross behind the Saxon lines, if that's the road we shall take. (catching breath)
(looks at all the packing serfs) Arthur, who are these people?

ARTHUR
They're coming with us.

TRISTAN
Then we'll never make it.

[ARTHUR LOOKS DOWN, SOLEMNLY]
[TRISTAN LOOKS UP AND LISTENS TO THE POUDING OF SAXON DRUMS]
[THE OTHER KNIGHTS ALSO TURN AROUND, LISTENING]
[MARIUS LISTENS, WORRIED. HIS MERCENARIES LISTEN FOR A MOMENT, THEN TURN BACK AROUND]

MERCENARY
Come on. Get back to work!

MERCENARY
Back to work!

[MONKS CONTINUE BUILDING UP THE WALL]
[ARTHUR APPROACHES THEM ON HORSE, DRAWS EXCLAIBUR, THEN DISMOUNTS]
[MERCENARIES STAND IN THE WAY TO STOP HIM FROM SEEING WHAT IS THERE]

ARTHUR (pointing Excalibur at the MERCENARIES)
Move. (no response)
Move.

[OTHER KNIGHTS RIDE IN TO SEE THE TROUBLE]

ARTHUR
Move!

[MERCENARIES BACK AWAY SLOWLY]
[LANCELOT RIDES IN AND HIS HORSE SNORTS LOUDLY IN ONE MERCENARY’S FACE]

ARTHUR (pointing)
What is this?

OBNOXIOUS MONK
You cannot go in there. No one goes in there.
This place is forbidden.

MARIUS (distant)
What are you doing! Stop this!

[KNIGHTS BLOCK MARIUS’ PATH, ARTHUR PROCEEDS TO TRY AND SEE WHAT’S INSIDE]

LANCELOT
Arthur, we have no time.

GALAHAD
Do you not hear the drums?

ARTHUR
(pointing his head in the direction of the structure) Dagonet.

[DAGONET DISMOUNTS HORSE AND USES HIS AXE AND STRENGTH TO TEAR THE WHOLE THING DOWN]
[KNIGHTS WATCH, DAGONET HITS A DOOR]

ARTHUR
(to MERCENARY) Key.

MERCENARY
It is locked... from the inside.

[ARTHUR NODS AT DAGONET TO KNOCK DOWN THE DOOR]
[DAGONET KICKS DOOR OPEN, CHAINS AND METAL ARE VISIBLE]
[LANCELOT DISMOUNTS HORSE, ARTHUR ENTERS]

GAWAIN
Here you. (pushes OBNOXIOUS MONK forward) Go. Move!

[TRISTAN UNSHEATHES SWORD]
[ARTHUR VENTURES DEEPER USING TORCH FOR LIGHT]

LANCELOT
Gawain. (gives torch to GAWAIN)

[MONK CHANTING IN LATIN INSIDE]

MONK: (offscreen, praying in Latin) (Knights are seen slowly walking down staircase into darkened chamber]
Exaudi orationem meam.
In nomine Dei Patric omnipotentis et in virtute Spiritus Sancti.

[ARTHUR HOLDS A TORCH UP TO THE WALL AND SEES A DEAD MAN HANGING BY CHAINS]

MENTAL MONK
Who are these defilers of the Lord’s temple?

LANCELOT
(shoving MENTAL MONK aside) Out of the way.

[KNIGHTS LOOK AROUND AT ALL THE DEAD PEOPLE]

LANCELOT (to ARTHUR)
The work of your God. Is this how he answers your prayers?

ARTHUR
See if there’s still any alive.

[KNIGHTS SPREAD OUT, ARTHUR OPENS THE CAGE OF ONE CELL, DAGONET OPENS A CELL AND RECOILS FROM THE HORRID SMELL]

OBNOXIOUS MONK
(grabbing LANCELOT) How dare you set foot in this holy place!

[LANCELOT STABS OBNOXIOUS MONK IN THE STOMACH]
[MONK FALLS OVER, DEAD]

MENTAL MONK
There was a man of God.

LANCELOT (angrily)
Not my god!

DAGONET
(opens another cage) This one’s dead.

GAWAIN
By the smell, they are all dead.
(turns to MONKS) And you.
You even move, you join him. (points at OBNOXIOUS MONK on the ground, dead)

[ARTHUR SEES DEAD, WHITHERING OLD MAN]
[DAGONET OPENS ANOTHER CELL AND FINDS A LITTLE BOY]

DAGONET
Arthur!

[DAGONET LIFTS LUCAN OUT OF THE CELL HE WAS TRAPPED IN]

DAGONET
You must not fear me.

[GAWAIN SEARCHES FOR SURVIVORS]
[ARTHUR KNEELS OVER AND SEES A WOMAN IN RAGS, HIDING BEHIND THE WALL, BUT ALIVE]
[LANCELOT BENDS DOWN AND SEES HER AS WELL]
[ARTHUR HANDS THE TORCH TO LANCELOT, ARTHUR CUTS THE METAL CAGE OPEN]

[KNIGHTS WALK OUT, LANCELOT THROWS TORCH ONTO THE GROUND, EXTINGUISHING IT IN THE SNOW]

ARTHUR (carrying WOMAN)
Water! Give me some water!

[ARTHUR PUTS GUINEVERE ON THE GROUND]
[OTHER KNIGHTS EXIT THE STRUCTURE, DAGONET IS CARRYING LUCAN, GAWAIN PUSHES MONKS FORWARD]
[GANIS BRINGS WATER FOR ARTHUR TO GIVE WOMAN]
[ARTHUR FEEDS WOMAN WATER, WOMAN CHOKES]
[DAGONET GIVES WATER TO LUCAN]

HORTON (bending over)
His arm is broken. And his family?

[DAGONET SHAKES HIS HEAD]
[TRISTAN SHEATHES SWORD AND WATCHES]

TRISTAN
She’s a Woad.

ARTHUR
I’m a Roman officer. You’re safe now.
(WOMAN tries to finger his cloak)
You’re safe...

MARIUS
Stop what you are doing!
(approaches ARTHUR)

ARTHUR
What is this madness?

MARIUS (furious)
They are all Pagans here!

GALAHAD
So are we.

MARIUS
They refuse to do the task God has set for them!
They must die as an example!

[WOMAN EMBRACES FULCINIA’S TOUCH]

ARTHUR (angrily)
You mean they refused to be your serfs!

MARIUS (shocked)
You are a Roman. You understand.
And you are a Christian!
(looking at FULCINIA comforting WOMAN) You! You kept them alive!
(slaps FULCINIA)

[ARTHUR IMMEDIATELY RETALIATES BY PUNCHING MARIUS, KNOCKING HIM OVER]
[ARTHUR GRABS EXCALIBUR AND POINTS IT AT MARIUS’ NECK]
[MERCENARIES START COMING TO MARIUS’ RESCUE]

MARIUS
No, no! Stop!
(looking at ARTHUR) When we get to the Wall, you will be punished for this heresy.

ARTHUR (sternly)
(grabbing MARIUS) Perhaps I should kill you now and seal my fate.

MENTAL MONK
I was willing to die with them. Yes, to lead them to their rightful place.
It is God’s wish that these sinners be sacrificed. Only then can their souls be saved.

ARTHUR
Then I shall grant His wish.
(to KNIGHTS) Wall them back up.

TRISTAN
Arthur.

ARTHUR
I said, wall them up!

BORS
(urging horse) Yah!

MENTAL MONK (half sobbing)
Don’t you see it is the will of God these sinners be sacrificed!

[SERFS COME IN AND PUSH MONKS AND START TO WALL THEM UP]

MENTAL MONK (being drowned out)
These sinners! These sinners!

[WOMAN LOOKS UP, THEN PASSES OUT]


 

[KNIGHTS AND SERFS ARE TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS]
[ARTHUR CATCHES A GLANCE OF WOMAN IN THE CARAVAN]

LANCELOT
(riding up to ARTHUR) We’re moving too slow. The girl’s not going to make it and neither is the boy.
The family we can protect, but we’re wasting our time with all these people-

ARTHUR
We’re not leaving them.

LANCELOT
If the Saxons find us, we will have to fight.

ARTHUR
Then save your anger for them.

LANCELOT
Is this Rome’s quest? Or Arthur’s?


[ARTHUR AND LANCELOT EXCHANGE LOOKS]
[LANCELOT LEAVES]
[MORE TRAVELLING]

[IN CARAVAN WITH DAGONET, FULCINIA, AND RECOVERING LUCAN]

DAGONET (looking up)
Arthur.

ARTHUR
How is he?

DAGONET
He burns. Brave boy.

[ARTHUR SITS AND APPROACHES WOAD WOMAN HE RESCUED, AND IS GREETED SLIGHTLY SUSPICIOUSLY]
[ARTHUR UNWRAPS A BANDAGE ON HER HAND AND SEES DISLOCATED FINGERS]

ARTHUR (somewhat slowly)
Some of your fingers are out of place. I have to push them back.
If I don’t do this, there’s a chance you may never use them again.

[FINGERS CRACKING, WOMAN PANTING THEN SCREAMING IN PAIN GUINEVERE WATCHES ARTHUR, HER FACE DETERMINED THE WHOLE TIME.]
[ARTHUR IS ABOUT TO LEAVE, WOMAN STOPS HIM]

GUINEVERE (catching breath)
He tortured me. With machines.
He made me tell him things I didn’t know to begin with.
(slowly rising to meet ARTHUR’s face) And then, I heard your voice in the dark.
(to ARTHUR's face) I’m Guinevere.
You’re Arthur, of the knights from the great Wall.

ARTHUR (sternly)
I am.

GUINEVERE
The famous Briton who kills his own people.

[GUINEVER STARES, THEN FALLS BACK IN EXAUSTION WHILE CLINGING ONTO ARTHUR’S CHEST]


 

[MARIUS’ ESTATE HAS BEEN LIT AFLAME BY SAXONS]
[CERDIC PACES THROUGH]

BRITISH SCOUT (striding to keep up)
I found tracks coming from the south, but none going back.
Horsemen, traveling light and fast.
Could be Roman cavalry. Could be knights.

CERDIC (stopping)
They know we’re after them.

BRITISH SCOUT
They’ll head east now. Through the mountains.

[SAXON SOLDIER STARTS DRAGGING OUT MONKS FROM BEFORE]

MENTAL MONK (half sobbing)
God’s holy work has been defiled- I am a servant of God-!

[SAXON SOLDIERS THROW THEM ONTO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF CERDIC]

SAXON SOLDIER
He says they walled him up in a building and took the family. Someone who goes by the name of Artorius.

BRITISH SCOUT
It’s him. It’s Arthur.

CERDIC
(to CYNRIC) Take your men east. Hunt them down.
I’ll take the main army to the Wall. Bring the family there.

BRITISH SCOUT
And the monks?

CYNRIC
Put them back where you found them.

MENTAL MONK (rising slowly)
I am a servant of God! (being dragged away) Please! I am a servant of God! I am-

CERDIC
(sighs) Burn it all.

[ENTIRE PLACE IS COMPLETELY LIT ON FIRE. CERDIC AND HIS MEN MARCH THROUGH AND ADVANCE FORWARD]


 

[ARTHUR AND KNIGHTS ARE RIDING THROUGH THE SNOW]
[ARTHUR LOOKS BACK AT GUINEVERE]
[LANCELOT NOTICES ARTHUR’S GLANCES AND, ANNOYED, RIDES AHEAD]
[ARTHUR STOPS TO RIDE BESIDE GUINEVERE]

GUINEVERE
My father told me great tales of you.

ARTHUR
Really? And what did you hear?


GUINEVERE
Fairy tales. The kind you hear of people so brave, so selfless that they can't be real.
Arthur and his knights.
A leader both Britain and Roman.
And yet you chose your allegiance to Rome. To those that take what does not belong to them. That same Rome that took your men from their homeland.

ARTHUR (angry)
Listen, Lady, do not pretend that you know anything about me or my men.

GUINEVERE (annoyed)
How many Britons have you killed?

ARTHUR (annoyed)
As many as tried to kill me. It's a natural state of any man to want to live.

GUINEVERE (annoyed)
Animals live. It's the natural state of any man to want to live free, in their own country.
(serene) I belong to this land. Where do you belong, Arthur?

ARTHUR
(silent for a moment) How’s your hand?

GUINEVERE
I’ll live, I promise you.
Is there nothing about my land that appeals to your heart? Your own father married a Briton. Even he must have found something to his liking.

[ARTHUR DOESN’T REPLY]

[SCENES OF DEVESTATION SURROUND THE KNIGHTS. LOOKS TO BE A TORCHED VILLAGE. DEAD BODIES STREWN ABOUT. LOOKS LIKE SAXON WORK. ARTHUR & LANCELOT ARE SEEN LOOKING AT WRECKAGE]

ARTHUR:
Saxons.

[GUINEVERE IN CARRIAGE LOOKS OUT AT WRECKAGE ANGRILY.]

[ARTHUR RIDES BACK TO AN OVERLOOK WITH HIS KNIGHTS.]

ARTHUR
We’ll sleep here. Take shelter in those trees.
Tristan.

ARTHUR
(to hawk) You want to go out again? Yeah...

[HAWK FLIES OFF]
[TRISTAN RIDES OFF TO SEE IF THE ROAD IS CLEAR]

[ARTHUR RIDES OFF TO THE HEAD OF THE PACK AND GUINEVERE IS SEEN WATCHING LANCLOT WHO HAS HIS BACK TO HER, LOOKING OUT OVER THE TREES AND LAND.]

GUINEVERE:
'Tis a beautiful country is it not?

[LANCELOT TURNS HIS HEAD AND LOOKS RATHER SURPRISED THAT GUINNY IS TALKING TO HIM]

LANCELOT: (smiling, but still with back to Guinny)
If you say so.

GUINEVERE:
And where do you come from that compares?
(Lancelot turns horse to face her, he is smiling)
The Black Sea?
This is heaven for me.

LANCELOT: (looks stern)
I don't believe in heaven. I've been living in this hell.
(cheeky grin and shifty eyebrows)
But if you represent what heaven is, then take me there.

[GUINEVERE DOES NOT REPLY, HER EXPRESSION DOESNT EVEN CHANGE. THUNDER IS HEARD AND LANCELOT LOOKS UP INTO THE SKY, LOOKING LIKE HE IS SAVOURING IT ALMOST. RAIN IS HARD STARTING TO FALL HEAVIER NOW WITH SNOW. LANCELOT STRETCHES OUT A HAND AND FEELS THE RAIN, HIS HEAD STILL TURNED UP TO THE SKY, RAIN AND SNOW NOW FALLING ON HIS FACE. FINALLY HE LOOKS BACK DOWN AT GUINEVERE WHO IS STILL LOOKING AT HIM BLANDLY]

LANCELOT:
Rain and snow at once. A bad omen.

[CUT TO TRISTAN RIDING ALONE THROUGH SOME WOODS. MOMENTS LATER THE SAXON ARMY MARCHES THROUGH THE SAME WOODS. NOW CUT TO CAMPING SCENE.

[KNIGHTS ARE CAMPING FOR THE NIGHT, DAGONET TAKES HIS JACKET AND GIVES IT TO LUCAN AS A BLANKET]
[DAGONET PUTS HIS SWORD UP INTO THE WAGON AND HANDS LUCAN SOMETHING TO KEEP HIM WARM. HE LOOKS TO THE SIDE AND SEES MARIUS PLOTTING WITH HIS MERCENARIES BY THE FIRE]

MARIUS:
It is here, given to us by the Pope. These people, they send an army for us.

[LANCELOT TURNS AND CATCHES A GLIMPSE OF GUINEVERE GETTING CLEANED BY FULCIANA AND HALF NAKED. HE LOOKS DOWN FROM WATCHING HER AND TAKES A DEEP BREATH, SLOWLY HE LIFTS HIS EYES AND SEES HER STILL THERE BEING BATHED. SHE LOOKS OUT AND SEES HIM AND HE SLOWLY LOOKS AWAY, ALMOST SADLY (poor Lance), TAKING ONE LAST LOOK AT HER HE TURNS AWAY AND WALKS OFF. ARTHUR IS THEN SEEN WALKING IN THE RAIN WITH EXCALIBUR OUT. HE SETTLES BY A TREE]

[CUT TO LANCELOT SITTING UNDER A TREE HIS HANDS FIDGETING NERVOUSLY. HE RUBS HIS FACE TIREDLY AND GUINEVERE APPROACHES SILENTLY. WHEN SHE SPEAKS HE LOOKS OVER AT HER]

GUINEVERE:
What is it like, your home?

LANCELOT: (looks kinda serious at first)
We sacrifice goats, drank their blood, and danced naked round fires.

[GUINEVERE SMILES AND LANCELOT LAUGHS HAPPILY AT HIS OWN JOKE. HE LOOKS AWAY LAUGHING, WHEN HE LOOKS BACK GUINEVERE IS STILL LOOKING AT HIM WITH A SMILE NOT SAYING A WORD. HE STUDIES HER FACE FOR A MOMENT, STILL HALF SMILING. A LOOK OF SADNESS COMES ON HIS FACE WHEN HE REALISES SHE MEANS TO MAKE HIM TALK. HE STANDS UP AGAINST THE TREE AND SQUINTS HIS EYES FROM THE SNOW.]

LANCELOT:
What I do remember.... Home... (looks wistful)
Oceans of grass from horizon to horizon, further than you can ride.
The sky, (looks proud and sounds enthusiastic) bigger than you can imagine.
(deep breath and a shake of his head)
No boundaries.

GUINEVERE: (smiling contentedly)
Some people would call that freedom.
(Lancelot smiles and looks down.)
That's what we fight for - our land, our people.
The right to choose our own destiny. (Lancelot looks away slightly annoyed)
So you see Lancelot, we are much alike, you and I..
(walking towards Lancelot)
And when you return home, will you take a wife, have sons?

LANCELOT: (looking resigned)
I've killed too many sons. What right do I have to my own?

GUINEVERE:
No family. No Religion. Do you believe in anything at all?

[LANCELOT LOOKS AT GUINEVERE AND SEEMS TO BE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING, INSTEAD HE SIGHS AND LOOKS ASHAMED]

LANCELOT:
I would have left you and the boy there to die.

[GUINEVERE ~ NO EXPRESSION. WATCHES AS LANCELOT TURNS AND WALKS AWAY, GIVING HIM THE EVIL EYE]

[ARTHUR IS SLEEPING BY A TREE, LIGHTLY, AND IS AWAKEN BY LEAVES CRUNCHING]
[GUINEVERE WALKS OFF, ARTHUR FOLLOWS]
[LANCELOT IS ALSO AWAKE AND SEES ARTHUR WALK OFF, HE FINGERS HIS RAT NECKLACE]
[GUINEVERE LOOKS BACK AT ARTHUR, WHO APPROACHES HER]

[SUDDENLY MERLIN APPEARS, ARTHUR DRAWS HIS SWORD]

ARTHUR
You betrayed me!

GUINEVERE
He means you no harm.

MERLIN
Peace between us this night, Arthur Castus. (walks down to greet ARTHUR)
So Rome is leaving. The Saxon have come.
The world we have known and fought for is ended. Now, we must make a new world.

ARTHUR
Your world, Merlin. Not mine. I shall be in Rome.

MERLIN
To find peace? The Saxon will come to Rome.

ARTHUR
My knights trust me not to betray them to their enemy.

MERLIN
Rome was my enemy. Not Arthur.
We have no fight between us.

ARTHUR
You tell that to the knights you killed before my eyes!
Whose bones are buried in this earth!

MERLIN
We have all lost brothers.

ARTHUR
You know nothing of the loss I speak! Shall I help you remember?
An attack on a village. The screams of an innocent woman.

[THUNDER ROLLS, FLASHBACK TIME!]
[WHOLE VILLAGE IS BURNING, WOADS ARE FIGHTING KNIGHTS]
[YOUNG ARTHUR RUNS UP TO A FENCEPOST]

YOUNG ARTHUR (screaming)
Mother!

ARTHUR’S MOTHER
Artorius! (gets trapped inside the house by a flaming cart)

[YOUNG ARTHUR JUMPS THE GATE TO TRY AND GET TO HIS MOTHER, AND SHIELDS HIS FACE FROM THE FIRE]

YOUNG ARTHUR (screaming)
Mother! Mother!

ARTHUR (voiceover)
I ran to the burial mound of my father to free her.
(back in present scene with MERLIN) To kill you.
(threatens MERLIN by pointing his sword at MERLIN)

[THUNDER CRASHES]

YOUNG ARTHUR (crying)
Father, please... let loose your sword.

[YOUNG ARTHUR PULLS EXCALIBUR OUT OF HIS FATHER’S GRAVE]
[LEGENDARY LIGHTNING FLASHES AND THUNDER ROLLS]
[YOUNG ARTHUR RUSHES TO SAVE HIS MOTHER BUT THE ENTIRE BARN HAS BEEN COMPLETELY BURNED]
[YOUNG ARTHUR FALLS TO THE GROUND IN DEFEAT]

ARTHUR
I feel the heat of that fire on my face even now.

MERLIN
I did not wish her dead. She was of our blood.
As are you.

GUINEVERE
If you were so determined to leave us to slaughter, why did you save so many?

[ARTHUR SLOWLY LOWERS EXCALIBUR]

MERLIN
My men are strong but have need of a true leader. They believe you can do anything.
To defeat the Saxons, we need a master of war.
Why do you think I spared you in the forest?

[MERLIN WALKS BEHIND GUINEVERE]
[ARTHUR TURNS TO LEAVE]

MERLIN
That sword you carry is made of iron from this earth, forged in the fires of Britain.
It was love of your mother that freed the sword, not hatred of me.
Love, Arthur.

GUINEVERE:
It is your destiny.

ARTHUR: (angry)
There is not destiny. There is only free will.

[ARTHUR TURNS FROM GUINEVERE AND MERLIN ANGRILY AND STARTS TO WALK OFF. HE STOPS WITH HIS BACK TURNED WHEN MERLIN SPEAKS AGAIN]

MERLIN:
And what of the free will of your knights? (Arthur stops walking) Did they die in vain?

[ARTHUR STANDS FOR A WHILE IN THE DISTANCE HEAD LOWERED, THEN CARRIES ON WALKING WITHOUT LOOKING BACK.]

[ARTHUR LOOKS AT EXCALIBUR, THEN LEAVES]

[LUCAN IS SLEEPING PEACEFULLY AS THE SNOW FALLS]

MERCENARY (whispering)
Seize him!

[MARIUS’ MERCENARIES SUDDENLY WRENCH DAGONET FROM HIS SLEEPING SPOT AND TOSS HIM ONTO THE GROUND]

LUCAN
No!

[DAGONET FIGHTS BACK, PUNCHES MERCENARIES, GETS HIS SWORD]
[MUFFLED CRIES FROM LUCAN AS HE IS SNATCHED BY MARIUS]
[ALECTO COMES OUT FROM HIS TENT TO SEE WHAT IS THE MATTER]
[DAGONET IS ABOUT TO KILL SOMETHING WHEN-]

MARIUS
(holding knife to LUCAN’s neck) I have the boy!

[MERCENARIES GET UP AND DRAW THEIR SWORDS]

MARIUS (to MERCENARIES)
Get him!

[FULCINIA RUNS FORWARD TO TRY AND RESCUE LUCAN]

FULCINIA:
No, don't! Let him go!

[MARIUS SHOVES HER ASIDE]

MARIUS
Kill him now!

[ARROW SUDDENLY FLIES AND MARIUS IS SHOT]
[GUINEVERE COMES TROTTING IN, FOLLOWED BY LANCELOT AND ARTHUR]
[MARIUS DIES]
[LUCAN RUNS TOWARDS DAGONET; DAGONET PUSHES HIM BACK UNDER THE WAGON]

DAGONET: (to Lucan)
Down.

[DAGONET THEN TAKES HIS SWORD OUT WITH A GROWL AND STANDS WITH IT RAISED]

LANCELOT (smirking)
Your hands seem to be better.

[GUINEVERE GLARES AND SHOOTS AN ARROW AT THE MERCENARY’S FEET]

BORS (on horseback)
ARTORIUS! Do we have a problem?

ARTHUR
(to MERCENARIES) You have a choice. You help, or you die.

[BORS’ HORSE WHACKS THE MERCENARIES A FEW TIMES, OBNOXIOUSLY]
[HEAD MERCENARY THROWS HIS WEAPON TO THE GROUND]

HEAD MERCENARY
Put down your weapons.
Do it, now!

DAGONET (in fighting position)
Yeah!

[OTHER MERCENARIES PUT DOWN THEIR SWORDS]
[JOLS PICKS THEM UP]

BORS (to TRISTAN, riding in)
How many did you kill?

TRISTAN
Four.

BORS
Not a bad start to the day. (laughs)

[TRISTAN DROPS A CROSSBOW AT ARTHUR’S FEET]

TRISTAN
Armor piercing. They’re close; we have no time.

ARTHUR
You ride ahead.

[THE GROUP CONTINUES TO TRAVEL]
[ARTHUR RIDES TO ALECTO]

ARTHUR
I'm sorry for your loss.

ALECTO
My father lost his way. He used to say, the church is there to help us stay on our
path. It didn't help those he made suffer.

ARTHUR
The path he chose was beyond the reach of the church, Alecto.

ALECTO
But not of Rome. What my father believed, so Rome believes.

ARTHUR
What, that some men are born to be slaves? No, that isn't true.

ALECTO
It is so! He told me so.

ARTHUR
Pelagius, a man as close to me as any there is now teaching that all men are free.
Equal. And that each of us has the right to choose his own destiny.

ALECTO
Teach? How? They killed Pelagius. A year past. Germanius and the others were damned by his teachings. They had him excommunicated and killed. The Rome you talk of doesn't exist.
(tearing) Except in your dreams.

[ARTHUR'S HORSE SLOWS AS HE SIMPLY STARES AT ALECTO, STUNNED]

 

[KNIGHTS ARRIVE AT A LARGE, FROZEN LAKE]

ARTHUR
Is there any other way?

TRISTAN
No. We have to cross the ice.

ARTHUR
Get them all out of the carriages. Tell them to spread out.

[EVERONE GETS OFF THEIR HORSE AND STARTS TO SLOWLY LEAD THEIR HORSES AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE ICE]
[SOUNDS OF ICE CRACKING BELOW THEIR FEET]
[EVEN KNIGHTS LOOK CONCERNED AT THE CREAKING ICE. ARTHUR HOLDS UP HIS HAND TO HALT THE TRAIN OF PEOPLE]

[SAXON DRUMS ARE VERY NEAR. KNIGHTS LOOK AT ANOTHER]
[GUINEVERE GETS OFF OF HER CARRIAGE]
[ARTHUR TURNS AROUND TO FACE HIS KNIGHTS]

ARTHUR
Knights....

BORS
Well I’m tired of running.
And these Saxons are so close behind, my arse is hurting.

TRISTAN
Never liked looking over my shoulder anyway.

[DAGONET SMIRKS]

GAWAIN
It’ll be a pleasure to put an end to this racket.

GALAHAD
We’ll finally get a look at the bastards.

DAGONET (already moving)
Here. Now.

[LANCELOT SHAKES HIS HEAD DISAPPROVINGLY]

ARTHUR
Jols.

JOLS
(to people behind him) You two, take the horses.

[EVERYONE STARTS UNLOADING WEAPONRY AND EQUIPMENT]

ARTHUR
Ganis, I need you to lead the people.
The main Saxon army is inland so if you track the coastline until you’re well south of the wall, you’ll be safe.

GANIS
You’re seven against two hundred!

GUINEVERE
Eight.
You could use another bow.

GANIS (hesitant)
I’d rather stay and fight.

ARTHUR
You’ll get your chance soon enough.
(to MERCENARIES) This man is now your captain. You do as he says, am I understood?

MERCENARY
Yes sir.

ARTHUR
Go. Go.

GANIS
Right. Come on, then! Move on!

[KNIGHTS KEEP UNLOADING GEAR]

ALETO
I am able. I can fight.

ARTHUR
No. You must bear witness to what you have seen.
(puts one hand on ALECTO’s face) There’s one thing you must do, and that’s get back to Rome.

[CARRIAGES START TO LEAVE]
[DAGONET WAVES GOODBYE TO LUCAN, LUCAN WAVES BACK SADLY]
[EVERYONE FINISHES UNLOADING WEAPONS AND AMMO INTO EIGHT LITTLE PILES]

[WIND BLOWS, AND THE SAXONS ARRIVE]
[KNIGHTS ARE STANDING ON THE ICE, WAITING]

ARTHUR
Hold until I give the command.

LANCELOT (to GUINEVERE)
You look frightened. (sighs)
That’s a large number of lonely men out there.

GUINEVERE
Don’t worry, I won’t let them rape you.

CYNRIC (seeing KNIGHTS)
Archer.

[SAXON STEPS FORWARD AND LAUNCHES AN ARROW]
[IT SKIDS ACROSS THE ICE, NOT HITTING THE KNIGHTS]

SAXON COMMANDER
We’re out of range.

CYNRIC (angrily)
I can see that.

ARTHUR
I believe they’re waiting for an invitation. Bors, Tristan.

GUINEVERE
They're far out of range.

[ARTHUR SMILES]
[TRISTAN AND BORS LAUNCH ARROWS, WHICH PIERCE A FEW SAXON SOLDIERS AND THEY DIE]
[ARTHUR RAISES HIS EYEBROWS AT GUINEVERE]
[GUINEVERE GLARES BACK AT ARTHUR]
[CYNRIC, ANGRY, STARTS MARCHING ONTO THE ICE]

SAXON SOLDIER
(shouting) Let’s go!

[SAXONS MARCH ACROSS THE ICE]
[KNIGHTS DRAW THEIR BOWS]

ARTHUR
Aim for the wings of the ranks. Make them cluster.

[KNIGHTS FIRE]
[SAXONS FALL]
[SAXONS NEAR THE EDGES, SEEING THE PATTERN TO THE ARROWS, START TO CLUSTER]
[MORE ARROWS]
[MORE KILLING]
[MORE ICE CRACKING]

CYNRIC
(realizing what’s going on) Hold the ranks!

SAXON COMMANDER
(shouting) Hold the ranks! Hold the ranks!

CYNRIC
Hold the ranks! Hold the ranks! I kill you myself!

[SAXONS KEEP MARCHING, BUT THE ICE IS NOT CRACKING]

ARTHUR
It’s not going to crack. Fall back. Fall back!
(draws Excalibur) Prepare for combat.

[KNIGHTS PICK UP THEIR WEAPONS, READY TO FIGHT]
[DAGONET IS FIDGETY; HE SUDDENLY DROPS HIS SWORD, GRABS HIS AXE, AND IN A YELLING FURY, CHARGES FORWARD]

BORS
Dag!

ARTHUR
Cover him.

[KNIGHTS GO BACK TO ARROWS]

CYNRIC
Archers! Move! Move!

[DAGONET STARTS HACKING THE ICE SO IT CRACKS]
[KNIGHTS SHOOT DOWN THE SAXON ARCHERS]

CYNRIC (pushing more archers forward)
Move! Move! Kill him!

[DAGONET HACKS AT THE ICE SOME MORE, ICE STARTS TO BREAK]

BRITISH SCOUT
The ice is breaking!

[KNIGHTS CONTINUE TO FURIOUSLY LAUNCH ARROWS]
[SO DO THE SAXONS]

CYNRIC
Kill him!

[DAGONET GETS SHOT]

BORS
Dag!

[ARTHUR DROPS HIS ARROWS AND RUNS FORWARD]
[DAGONET HAS A FEW ARROWS SHOT IN HIS SIDE, HE HACKS ONE MORE TIME AND THE ICE FULLY BREAKS]
[SAXONS START FALLING INTO THE ICY WATERS BELOW]

[DAGONET FALLS OVER INTO THE WATER, MOSTLY DEAD]
[ARTHUR SLIDES ONTO THE ICE, CATCHING HIM]

BORS
(grabbing a shield) Dag! (runs forward)

[BORS RUNS FORWARD TO SHIELD ARTHUR, WHO IS DRAGGING DAGONET BACK ONTO THE ICE]

LANCELOT (shouting)
Pull back! Arthur!

[ARTHUR AND BORS START DRAGGING DAGONET’S BODY BACK TOWARDS THE KNIGHTS]

CYNRIC
Kill him!

[KNIGHTS START SHOOTING FURIOUSLY]

BORS
(yelling) Help us!

[GAWAIN AND TRISTAN RUSH FORWARD TO HELP WHILE GALAHAD ENTHUSIASTICALLY SHOOTS AN ARROW]
[SO DOES LANCELOT]
[AND GUINEVERE]

[SAXONS KEEP DYING]
[MORE ARROWS]
[MORE ICE CRACKING]

BORS (holding Dagonet's head in his lap)
Dagonet! Stay with me! Dagonet! Stay with me!

[DAGONET IS DEAD]
[GUINEVERE SEES CYNRIC AND TRIES TO KILL HIM, BUT TO NO AVAIL]
[CYNRIC RETREATS]

 

[WIDE SHOT OF FORT LAY OUT AND GATES CLOSING. THE KNIGHTS AND CARAVANS ARRIVE BACK AT HADRIAN'S WALL SLOWLY]
[BISHOP LOOKS ON, SEES ALECTO, AND SMILES]

BISHOP
Ah! Good! Christ be praised! Against all the odds Satan could possi- Alecto!
Let me see you! You have triumphed! Young Alecto! Let me see you! You are here!

[LUCAN GETS OFF THE CARRIAGE AND RUNS IMMEDIATELY TO FIND DAGONET]

GUINEVERE
Lucan!

ROMAN SOLDIER
You! Boy!

[GALAHAD DRAWS A DAGGER AND POINTS IT AT THE ROMAN SOLDIER’S NECK]
[GUINEVERE HOLDS LUCAN’S SHOULDERS AS LUCAN TAKES A RING FROM DAGONET’S BODY’S FINGER AND KEEPS IT]

BISHOP
(chuckling nervously) Great Knights. You are free now!
Give me the papers. Come, come!
Your papers of safe conduct throughout the Roman Empire!
Take it, Arthur. (laughs nervously to himself)

ARTHUR
(approaches BISHOP and gives him very little breathing room)
Bishop Germanius. Friend of my father.

[ARTHUR EXITS]
[LANCELOT GRABS THE PAPERS FROM THE BOX AND GIVES THEM OUT TO EACH KNIGHT]

BISHOP
You are free. You can go!

[EACH KNIGHT ACCEPTS IT EXCEPT BORS, WHO STARES BLANKLY]

LANCELOT
Bors. (no response) Bors.
(holding up two papers) For Dagonet.

BORS
This doesn’t make him a free man. He’s already a free man!
(throws papers at the BISHOP’s feet) He’s dead!

[GAWAIN APPROACHES THE BISHOP AND TAKES THE PAPER]
[TRISTAN APPROACHES THE ROMAN SOLDIERS HOLDING THE BOX THAT CONTAINED THE PAPERS AND, AFTER INSPECTION, TAKES IT WITH HIM]

[CUT TO CEMETERY]
[GAWAIN WALKS UP TO TRISTAN WHO HANDS HIM THE BOX THAT HAD CONTAINED THEIR LEAVE PAPERS. GAWAIN PUTS DAGONET'S PAPER BACK INSIDE WHILE TRISTAN HOLDS THE BOX. THEN GAWAIN PLACES THE BOX ON A FRESH MOUND OF EARTH. (sniff)]
[ALL THE KNIGHTS LOOK SAD, 'SPECIALLY BORS WHO IS WEARING A FUNNY HAT. GAWAIN STANDS OVER THE GRAVE]

GAWAIN:
Goodbye, old friend.
(Jols is seen holding Dagonet's horse and patting it's neck) We'll be along soon.

[LUCAN IS BEING HELD BY GUINEVERE AND HIS LITTLE FACE DISTORTS IN SADNESS AS HE CRIES. GUINEVERE LOOKS AT ARTHUR AND HE LOOKS BACK, THEN HE TURNS AND WALKS AWAY FROM HER. THE OTHER KNIGHTS STILL STAND BY DAGONET'S GRAVE. FULCININA WALKS FORWARD AND PUTS A HAND ON LUCAN'S SHOULDER AND HER, LUCAN AND ALECTO WALK OFF. GUINEVERE WATCHES AS ARTHUR WALKS DOWN A HILL ON HIS OWN. THEN WALKS TO FOLLOW HIM. LANCELOT LOOKS AT HER BUT SHE DOESNT SEE HIM.]

[ARTHUR LOOKS DOWN AT THE CEMETERY ON HIS HUNKERS. BORS IS SEEN TAKING A LONG DRINK FROM A CLAY PITCHER IN FRONT OF DAGONET'S GRAVE. HE PLONKS DOWN BESIDE THE HEAD OF THE GRAVE AND POURS SOME OF THE PITCHER'S CONTENTS ONTO THE GRAVE. HE LOOKS QUITE DRUNK.]

BORS:
Let's drink. (takes another mouthful of liquid) Get drunk.
(he wipes a hand across his mouth and looks to the sky sadly)

[CUT TO GUINEVERE APPROACHING ARTHUR FROM BEHIND. SHE CROUCHES NEXT TO ARTHUR AS HE WATCHES THE SUN SETTING OVRE BADON HILL]

GUINEVERE (slowly)
A grave with no sword.

ARTHUR (quietly)
It was my father's wish that if he died on this island
(GUINEVERE brings one hand to her mouth), he would be buried with his knights.

GUINEVERE
He died in battle?

ARTHUR
It's a family tradition.

GUINEVERE
I can see why you believe you have nothing left here.
Except (stands) what you and your knights have done. You have your deeds.

[ARTHUR ALSO RISES]

ARTHUR
Deeds in themselves are meaningless unless they are done for some higher purpose.
We have waged a war to protect a Rome that doesn't exist. Is that the deed I am to be judged by?

GUINEVERE
You stayed and fought when you didn't have to. You bloodied evil men when you could have run.
You did all that for no reason.

[ARTHUR LOOKS AWAY FROM HER AND HIS VOICE SOUNDS SAD]

ARTHUR:
Pelagius told me once there is no worse death, (voice breaks, he is obviously trying not to cry) than the end of hope.

GUINEVERE: (looks almost disblievingly at Arthur)
You and I are not the polite people that live in poems. (Arthur looks at her)
We are blessed and cursed by our times.

ARTHUR:
Perhaps the curse is of our own making.
And the blessing.

GUINEVERE:
What are you afraid of, Arthur?

[ARTHUR LOOKS AWAY WITHOUT ANSWERING. GUINEVERE CONTINUES TO LOOK AT HIM]

GUINEVERE:
You are like this country - Britons with a Roman father. (ARTHUR looks at her)
Rome is dead. (ARTHUR looks away from her)
This place, this land - your home - is the last outpost of freedom, of everything you hold dear.

(cups ARTHUR's chin with one hand)
These are your people.

[ARTHUR AND GUINEVERE LOOK TO BE ABOUT TO KISS BUT DONT. GUINEVERE DROPS HER HAND AND ARTHUR STARES AT HER WITH HIS MOUTH OPEN]

[CUT TO CYNRIC APPROACHING SAXON CAMP FIRE. HE DROPS TO HIS KNEES BESIDE CERDIC WHO IS LOUNGING IN FRONT OF THE FLAMES. ]

CYNRIC:
Father, I have failed.

CERDIC: (looking away from Cynric)
You've lost the respect of the enemy.

[CERDIC STANDS UP AND STANDS TOWERING OVER CYNRIC. CYNRIC PULLS OUT A BLADE AND OFFERS IT UP TO CERDIC AND SEEMS TO BE QUITE SCARED]

CYNRIC: (voice shaking)
I offer my life for my disgrace.

[CYNRIC POINTS THE BLADE AT HIS THROAT AND CERDIC PUTS HIS HAND DOWN ON THE BLADE TO STOP CYNRIC]

CERDIC:
No. (takes the blade and kneels beside Cynric; sighing)
No son.

[CERDIC PUTS AN ARM AROUND CYNRIC'S SHOULDER AND GRABS HOLD OF HIS BEARD. TILTING HIS HEAD UP TO HIM, CERDIC CARVES OUT A LINE UNDERNEATH CYNRICS RIGHT EYE, OPENING UP AN OLD SCAR. (obviously not the first time he upset daddy) SAXON SOLDIERS WATCH ON. ]

[CERDIC FINISHED AND LOUNGES BACK DOWN IN FRONT OF THE FIRE. CYNRIC LOOKS UTTERLY EMBARRASSED AND ANGRY]

CERDIC:
Raewald. (bit hairy man nods) You're second in charge now. (Cynric & Raewald look shocked)
Yeah. You're like a son to me.

[CYNRIC STANDS AND TAKES THE BLADE AND STABS A RANDOM SAXON SOLDIER IN THE CHEST. CERDIC LAUGHS EVILLY!!]


**** MOVED PIECE HERE!!! ****

[ARTHUR IS RESTING, EXCALIBUR’S HILT BY HIS HEAD WITHIN EASY REACH. HIS EYES ARE CLOSED]

[THERE IS A THUD]
[ARTHUR OPENS HIS EYES AND SITS UP ON HIS BED.]
[GUINEVERE PULLS BACK THE NEARLY TRANSPARENT CURTAIN OF HIS SLEEPING CHAMBER]
[SHE SLOWLY APPROACHES ARTHUR AND RUNS ONE HAND DOWN THE SIDE OF HIS FACE, ARTHUR STARES BACK]

GUINEVERE
What tomorrow brings, we cannot know.

[GUINEVERE SETTLES INTO ARTHUR’S LAP AND KISSES HIM PASSIONATELY]
[GUINEVERE BARES HER LEG UP TO THE HIP AND GUIDES ARTHUR’S HAND TO HER LEG]
[ARTHUR BEGINS TO STROKE HER THIGH]
[GUINEVERE AND ARTHUR DISPOSE OF ALL CLOTHING AND CONTINUE KISSING AND STROKING]

[THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR]
[ARTHUR AND GUINEVERE STOP THEIR SMOOCHING AND LOOK AT THE DOOR ALARMED]

VOICE
Arthur. Come to wall now.

SOMEONE
Make way! Make way!

[ARTHUR, WITH GUINEVERE BEHIND HIM, RUNS UP THE STEPS AND SEES LANCELOT. ARTHUR THEN NOTICES THE FIRES]
[ARTHUR LOOKS AROUND, AT HIS KNIGHTS, THEN AT THE DEFENSELESS SERFS]
[HE LOOKS BACK AT GUINEVERE AND LANCELOT]

ARTHUR
Knights. My journey with you must end here.
May God go with you.

[ARTHUR INCLINES HIS HEAD AND LEAVES. LANCELOT AND GUINEVERE LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER AND LANCELOT RUNS AFTER ARTHUR]

LANCELOT
Arthur. This is not Rome's fight. It is not your fight.
All these long years we've been together, the trials we've faced, the blood we've shed...
What was it all for, if not for the reward of freedom?
And now when we are so close! When it is finally within our grasp - look at me!
(grabs ARTHUR) Does it all count for nothing?

ARTHUR
You ask me that. You who know me best of all?

[ARTHUR AND LANCELT LOOK AT EACH OTHER]
[ARTHUR BEGINS TO WALK AWAY]

LANCELOT
Then do not do this! Only certain death awaits you here.
Arthur! I beg you! For our friendship's sake, I beg you -

[ARTHUR GRABS LANCELOT’S SHOULDER/RESTS A HAND BY HIS NECK]

ARTHUR
You be my friend now and do not dissuade me. Seize the freedom you have earned and live it for the both of us.
I cannot follow you, Lancelot.
I now know that all the blood I have shed, all the lives I have taken have led me to this moment.

[ARTHUR CUPS HIS HANDS AROUND LANCELT’S FACE AND THEN WALKS AWAY]
[LANCELOT REACHES FOR ARTHUR’S ARM, BUT IT SLIPS FROM HIS GRASP]
[LANCELOT EXHALES AND TURNS TO WATCH ARTHUR WALKING OFF. THEN LOOKS TO THE GROUND AND UP TO THE SKY, RELEASING ANOTHER LOUD SIGH]


[ARTHUR STANDS ON A HILL, FULLY ARMED. HE WATCHES A CARAVAN OF ROMANS AND HIS KNIGHTS LEAVE]
[PEOPLE ARE WANDERING ABOUT THE FIELDS POURING DOWN OIL AND STACKING HAY. FULCINIA AND ALECTO LOOK ON FROM A CARRIAGE]

[PAN OF BORS AND TRISTAN LOOKING BACK AT ARTHUR. ONLY LANCELOT REFUSES TO LOOK BACK]
[BORS DRAWS HIS SWORD AND GALLOPS TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF A LOW HILL]
[LANCELOT LOOKS AT BORS DARKLY]

BORS
Artorius! (salutes ARTHUR with his sword)
Rus!!

[PAN OF GAWAIN AND GALAHAD. BORS SLOWLY LOWERS HIS SWORD]

ARTHUR
Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus! (raises the standard he's holding in his hand)


[THE KNIGHTS RIDE ON GLUMLY. ARTHUR'S GREEN EYES FILL WITH TEARS. BACK AT THE CARAVAN, BORS STRUGGLES TO SEE ARTHUR THROUGH THE SMOKE THEN GALLOPS BACK TO JOIN THE OTHERS.]


[WOADS ARE PREPARING FOR BATTLE]
[GUINEVERE IS LEADING THEM SHE TURNS HER FACE AND LOOKS UP AT A SHIMMERING FIGURE ON THE HILL, ARTHUR.]

[BRITISH SCOUT SCURRIES BACK AND REPORTS TO CERDIC]

BRITISH SCOUT
The Roman Auxiliary has left the Wall.

CERDIC
And the horsemen?

BRITISH SCOUT
Leading a caravan away from the fort and running south, with their tails between their legs.

CYNRIC
So there will be no resistance.

BRITISH SCOUT
A few dozen villages.

CERDIC
(leaning in) I’m going to slaughter your people. I think you should watch.
(pointing) The tree might be a good place.

SAXON
Up on the hill!

[ARTHUR IS STANDING ALONE ON THE HILL, FULLY DECKED OUT IN ARMOR]
[CERDIC STARES AT CYNRIC]

CYNRIC
(shrugs)
A single knight.
(strangling BRITISH SCOUT) Didn’t you just say they were gone?
What is this? A ghost?

BRITISH SCOUT
(choking) One man. A tiny fly on the back of your great army.

CERDIC
Who is he?

BRITISH SCOUT
(slightly terrified and half whispering) Arthur.

[BRITISH SCOUT GETS CHOKED AND THROWN TO THE GROUND WITH A THUD BY CYNRIC]

CERDIC (musing)
Arthur...

[CYNRIC SQUATS AND PONDERS]

[ON THE HILL, ARTHUR SEES BRITISH SCOUT WAVING A LARGE WHITE FLAG AND CERDIC STANDING BEHIND HIM]
[ARTHUR STABS HIS STANDARD INTO THE GROUND AND GALLOPS TO MEET CERDIC]
[CERDIC THEN DISMISSES BRITISH SCOUT AND HE LEAVES TO CLIMB UP THE TREE]
[DOORS SQUEAK OPEN AND SMOKE ROLLS OUT, SLOWLY ARTHUR, WITH EXCALIBUR DRAWN, AND IN FULL ARMOUR RIDES OUT AND CERDIC CALMLY WATCHES.]

CERDIC
Arthur. Wherever I go on this wretched island, I hear your name.
Always half whispered, as if you were a... god.
(ARTHUR circles around CERDIC)
All I see is flesh, blood. No more god than the creature you’re sitting on.

ARTHUR
Speak your terms, Saxon.

CERDIC
The Romans have left you. What are you fighting for?

ARTHUR
I fight for a cause beyond Rome’s or your understanding

CERDIC:
Ah.

[CERDIC TURNS AWAY WITH A WRY SMILE]
[ARTHUR KEEPS CIRCLING AROUND CERDIC]

CERDIC
You’ve come to beg a truce. You should be on your knees.

[HORSE NEIGHS AND ARTHUR POINTS EXCALIBUR AT CERDIC]

ARTHUR
I came to see your face, so that I alone may find you on the battlefield, and it would be good for you if you marked my face, Saxon, for the next time you see it, it will be the last thing you see on this earth.

[ARTHUR TAKES ONE MORE LOOK THEN RIDES BACK TO THE WALL]

CERDIC (murmuring)
Ah Finally. A man worth killing.

[CERDIC POUNDS HIS CHEST AND STRETCHES, THEN WALKS OVER TO TO HIS TROOPS. CYNRIC GLARES AT HIS FATHER WHO TAKES SOME BREAD FROM RAEWALD, AND STARTS EATING IT]

CERDIC
Prepare the men for battle.

[RAEWALD TURNS TO THE SAXON ARMY AND SHOUTS AN ORDER. SAXONS BEGIN GROUPING AND BEATING ON THEIR DRUMS]


[FROM ACROSS THE WALL, ARTHUR'S KNIGHTS RIDE TOGETHER. AT THE SOUND OF THE SAXON DRUMS, BORS' HORSE WIELDS UP, QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY THE OTHERS.]

BORS
(softly) Whoa.

[GAWAIN, GALAHAD, TRISTAN, AND LANCELOT ATTEMPT TO CALM THEIR STEEDS. THE HORSES TURN AROUND, BACK TO THE WALL]

LANCELOT
Sshh. (strokes his horse, slowing as he hears the drums)

[LANCELOT LOOKS AT BORS, THEN GAWAIN AND GALAHAD, THEN TRISTAN.]

TRISTAN
Hey. (clicks tongue) You're free. (raises arm; hawk flies off)

[BORS LOOKS BACK AT HIS LOVER AND BASTARD CHILDREN; A CHILD WAVES SADLY]
[LANELOT NODS. THEN LOOKS AT GAWAIN FOR HIS RESPONSE. GAWAIN NODS AND LANCELOT LOOKS TO THE SKY, A SMALL SMILE OF SATISFACTION QUIRKING HIS LIPS. ALL THE KNIGHTS BEGIN TO SMILE - GALAHAD IS GRINNING]
[TRISTAN TAKES A BOW AND DRAWS BACK THE STRING]

[SHOT OF ARTHUR RIDING UP THE HILL. LANCELOT JOINS HIM]
[THE TWO SMILE]
[THE REST OF THE KNIGHTS JOIN THEM ON THE HILL, BEARING ROMAN STANDARDS]

[ARTHUR SMILES]

[BELOW, CERDIC AND THE SAXON'S CONTEMPLATE THE KNIGHTS ON THE HILL]
[THE GATES SLOWLY OPEN]

CERDIC
He's got a plan, this Roman.
(to CYNRIC) Send what's left of your infantry.

CYNRIC
(warily) You want to kill my men?

CERDIC
(shouts) They’re my men!

[DISBELIEVINGLY, CYNRIC NODS AT ONE OF HIS CAPTAINS]

SAXON
Battle formation!

[CYNRIC STARTS TO JOIN HIS MEN, BUT CERDIC STOPS HIM]

CERDIC
No, you stay here with me.

[SAXONS MARCH, AMID CRIES FOR “SAXON”]


 

ARTHUR
Knights. The gift of freedom is yours by right.

SAXONS
SAXON - SAXON - SAXON!

ARTHUR
But the home we seek resides not in some distant land. It's in us! And in our actions on this day!

SAXONS
[chant]

ARTHUR
If this be our destiny, then so be it. But let history remember that as free men, we chose to make it so.

[ARTHUR DRAWS EXALIBUR]

KNIGHTS
RIIIIIIIDDDEEEE! (or RAAAAA or ROUSSSSSS!)

[KNIGHTS STAB THEIR STANDARDS INTO THE GROUND WITH MANLY GRUNTS, EXCEPT TRISTAN, WHO DOES SO SILENTLY]
[TRISTAN DRAWS HIS BOW AND KNOCKS AN ARROW. HE SCANS THE HORIZON, HE TAKES AIM AND SHOOTS THE BRITISH SCOUT IN HIS TREE.
BRITISH SCOUT
AHHHHH!!!!! (dies)

[THE KNIGHTS GALLOP OFF LEAVING THEIR STANDARDS FLUTTERING ON THE HILL.]



[SAXONS RUSH INTO THE WALL. THEY STOP WHEN THEY REALISE THERE IS NO ONE WITHIN. THEY LOOK AROUND WARILY, HEFTING WEAPONS NERVOUSLY.]

SAXON SOLDIER
There! On the hill!

[KNIGHTS BARELY VISIBLE BEHIND FIRE]
[STRANGE SAXON ORDER AGAIN AND SAXON'S MOVE TOWARDS THE KNIGHTS THROUGH THICK SMOKE]
[DOORS CLOSE]
[GUINEVERE LOADS HER BOW AND AIMS HER ARROW AT THE SKY. WOAD ARCHERS DO THE SAME. WOADS LAUNCH ARROW SHOWER, KNIGHTS ATTACK OUT OF THE SMOKE, SLICE AT SAXON LINES AND DISAPPEAR IN MORE SMOKE. MORE WOAD ARROWS, FOLLOWED BY KNIGHTS ATTACK FROM BEHIND AND AGAIN.]
[LOADS OF KILLING]
[SCREAMING IS HEARD OVER THE WALLS, CYNRIC CLUTCHES THE HILT OF HIS SWORD NERVOUSLY]

[DOORS CREAK OPEN, A SINGLE SAXON STAGGERS OUT AND CRAWLS TOWARDS CERDIC. WITHIN FEET OF HIM HE WRITHES ON HIS STOMACH]

SAXON:
The knights are demons. That is the gate to hell.

[RAEWALD KILLS THE SAXON WITH A SMALL AXE. CERDIC LIFTS HIS ARM TO RAEWALD WHO THEN TURNS AND ADDRESSED SAXON ARMY WITH THAT STRANGE ORDER]
[ON A HILL OVERLOOKING THE BATTLEFIELD, MERLIN STEPS FORWARD AND SURVEYS THE GOINGS ON]
[SAXONS BEAT THE SHIELDS, CERDIC LEADS ARMY TOWARDS THE WALL, WALKING THE RUNNING, RANDOM SHOUTS]

[THEY STRIDE THROUGH THE GATE AND NO ONE IS INSIDE. ON THE HILLSIDE THE KNIGHTS LOOK AT THE SAXONS GATHERING. FROM ANOTHER SIDE OF THE BATTLE GUINEVERE WAITS FOR THE SIGNAL FROM MERLIN, WHO IS WATCHING THE SAXONS STILL.]
[SAXON WAVE TWO]

CERDIC
RAEWALD (points) The left flank.
(to CYNRIC) You go with him.

RAEWALD:
Move out!

[THEY MARCH]
[LOTS OF WAR CHANTING AND DRUMS]
[MERLIN ARRIVES WITH FLAMING CATAPULTS!]
[WOADS LAUNCH FIRE ARROW SHOWER, THEN CHARGE INTO BATTLE AGAINST CYNRIC'S BATTALION]
[ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS RIDE DOWN TO BATTLE WITH CERDIC'S BATTALION AMID FIREBALLS FROM MERLIN'S CATAPULTS]

[LOADS MORE FIGHTING]

[ARTHUR IS UNSEATED FROM HIS HORSE AND FIGHTS ON FOOT, AS IS BORS. A SAXON LEAPS ON LANCELOT AND PULLS HIM FROM HIS SADDLE. LANCELOT TAKES A KNIFE FROM LEG ARMOUR AND KILLS SAXON. JOLS FIGHTS FROM BATTLEMENTS.]

[GUINEVERE GOES TO FIGHT RAEWALD. GAWAIN GETS HIT BY A CROSSBOW BOLT, HE FALLS OFF HORSE, STANDS, RIPS OUT ARROW THEN CARRIES ON FIGHTING. TRISTAN SLIDES FROM HORSE AND CASUALLY DANCES FROM ONE SAXON TO THE NEXT KILLING. GUINEVERE AND WOAD WOMEN KILL RAEWALD.]

[CERDIC SEES TRISTAN FROM ACROSS THE BATTLE FIELD AND PREPS HIMSELF. HE SENDS OUT A SAXON FIRST AND TRISTAN DISPATCHES HIM QUICKLY. TRISTAN AND CERDIC NOW SQUARE OFF WITH EACH OTHER, THEIR SWORDS MEETING EQUALLY]

[GAWAIN AND BORS SLICE AND KILL, BORS IS ATTACKED FROM BEHIND BUT SURVIVES AND SCREAMS, USING HIS KNUCKLEKNIFE THINGS TO KILL LOTS MORE PEOPLE. GANIS LEAPS FROM BATTLEMENTS INTO THE FRAY]

[GUINEVERE AND CYNRIC FIGHT.]

[LANCELOT LOOKS FROM ARTHUR TO GUINEVERE AND THEN RUSHES TO GUINEVERE’S AID]

[TRISTAN AND CERDIC FIGHT ON. CERDIC PULLS A KNIFE AND STICKS IT IN UNDER TRISTAN'S ARM. TRISTAN STEPS BACK AND PUTS A HAND TO THE WOUND, LOOKS AT THE BLOOD ON HIS PALM]

[CYNRIC KNOCKS GUINEVERE TO THE GROUND. HE IS ABOUT TO STAB IN WITH HIS SWORD FOR THE KILL BUT LANCELOT'S SWORD STOPS HIM. CYNRIC AND LANCELOT FIGHT]

[CERDIC AND TRISTAN ARE STILL PARRYING WITH THEIR SWORDS. CERDIC USES HIS SWORD TO FORCE TRISTAN TO TURN, WHEN HE DOES, HE SLASHES AT TRISTAN'S LEGS WITH A BLADE. AS TRISTAN FALLS, CERDIC SLASHES AT HIS FACE WITH THE SAME BLADE. TRISTAN WRITHES ON THE GROUND AWAY FROM CERDIC. CERDIC LEANS DOWN AND LOOKS AT TRISTAN CURIOUSLY. TRISTAN GETS TO HIS FEET AND CERDIC CUTS AT HIS SWORD ARM, KNOCKING TRISTAN'S SWORD FLYING. CERDIC KICKS THE SWORD BACK TOWARDS TRISTAN. TRISTAN PICKS UP SWORD AND TRIES TO FIGHT WITH ONE HAND. CERDIC TAKES ADVANTAGE AND STABS HIM IN THE CHEST. TRISTAN FALLS. CERDIC PICKS UP TRISTAN'S SWORD AND PUTS HIS OWN INTO THE GROUND. CERDIC SEES ARTHR FIGHTING NEARBY AND SLOWLY WALKS TO TRISTAN]

[CYNRIC AND LANCELOT STILL FIGHT. BOTH MEN ARE KNOCKED TO THE GROUND AND WHEN LANCELOT STANDS HE STARTS TO DEFEND HIMSELF FROM 2 OTHER SAXONS. CYNRIC PULLS A CROSSBOW FROM UNDER A DEAD SAXON]

[CERDIC PULLS TRISTAN TO HIS KNEES BY HIS HAIR. TRISTAN TAKES A KNIFE FROM HIS CHEST ARMOUR AND STABS CERDIC IN THE THIGH WITH IT. CERDIC RETALIATES BY STABBING TRISTAN IN THE RIBS]

[LANCELOT KILLS MORE SAXONS. HE TURNS AND A CROSSBOW BOLT PENETRATES HIS ARMOUR. HE LOOKS UP AND SEES CYNRIC. GUINEVERE WATCHES. LANCELOT TOSSES ONE OF HIS SHORT SWORDS WITH A GRUNT AND IT LANDS IN CYNRIC'S CHEST. GUINEVERE RUNS TO LANCELOT, FIGHTING HER WAY THERE]

[CERDIC STILL HOLDS TRISTAN BY THE HAIR, TRISTAN LOOKS UP TO THE SKY, HIS FACE BLOODY AND BRUISED, HE SEES HIS HAWK FLYING FREE IN THE SMOKE. CERDIC SEES ARTHUR IS WATCHING AND THEN WHIRLS AROUND WITH HIS SWORD, RELEASING TRISTAN'S HAIR, AND SLASHES THE KNIGHT DOWN THE CHEST. TRISTAN DIES. *sniff*
ARTHUR STARES IN HORROR AND FIGHTS HIS WAY TO CERDIC]

[LANCELOT AND CYNRIC CRAWL TOWARDS EACH OTHER. THEY GRAPPLE HANDS AND LANCELOT MANAGES TO OVERPOWER CYNRIC, SLOWLY PLUNGING HIS OTHER SHORT SWORD THROUGH CYNRIC'S NECK. LANCELOT FALLS TO THE GROUND, HIS MOUTH OPENING AND CLOSING. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BATTLEFIELD ARTHUR AND CERDIC FIGHT]

[CERDIC WOUNDS ARTHUR IN THE THIGH AND ARTHUR FALLS TO THE GROUND. WHEN CERDIC APPROACHES, ARTHUR STRIKES EXCALIBUR UPWARDS INTO CERDIC, BUT STILL THE SAXON LIVES. THE TWO ATTACK AGAIN. CERDIC SLICES THE BACK OF ARTHUR'S LEGS. CERDIC COMES IN FROM BEHIND. ARTHUR SEEMS TO BE INJURED AS CERDIC SLOWLY WALKS UP BEHIND. ARTHUR STABS CERDIC AND STANDS UP TURNING, SLICING EXCALIBUR ACROSS THE SAXON'S CHEST]


CERDIC
(hair being grabbed by ARTHUR, whispering) Arthur...

[ARTHUR STICKS EXCALIBUR INTO CERDIC'S CHEST AND WAITS UNTIL THE SAXON IS DEAD BEFORE BRINGING HIS SWORD OUT OF THE BODY]

[ARTHUR SEES GUINEVERE FALL TO HER KNEES BY LANCELOT’S BODY]
[LANCELOT’S HORSE IS STANDING OVER LANCELOT]
[ARTHUR RUNS OVER AND FALLS TO HIS KNEES; HE TOSSES ASIDE HIS HELMET]

ARTHUR
(to God) It was my life to be taken! Not this! Never this!

[BORS CARRIES TRISTAN'S BODY TO ARTHUR. HE PUTS IT ON THE GROUND NEXT TO ARTHUR AND PEERS DOWN AT LANCELOT'S DEAD FACE]
[GALAHAD AND GAWAIN FOLLOW, SOBMERLY]

ARTHUR
(tearfully) My brave knights, I have failed you.
I neither took you off this island, nor shared your fate.



[CUT TO GRAVEYARD, BURIAL MOUNDS EVERYWHERE, ALL BUT ONE MARKED WITH A SWORD]
[GALAHAD HANDS ARTHUR THE TORCH, AND ARTHUR PLACES IT TO LIGHT LANCELOT’S BODY]
[LANCELOT BURNS]

LANCELOT (voiceover)
For two hundred years knights have fought and died for a land not our own.
But on that day at Badon Hill, all who fought put our lives in service of a greater cause: Freedom.




[MERLIN HOLDS OUT A GOBLET AND WALKS THROUGH A ROW OF TORCH-BEARING WOADS TO ARTHUR AND GUINEVERE]
[MERLIN HANDS A GOBLET TO GUINEVERE. SHE RAISES THE GOBLET TO HER MOUTH AND DRINKS]
[SHE PASSES THE GOBLET TO ARTHUR]
[ARTHUR RAISES THE GOBLET TO HIS LIPS AND DRINKS, WHILE LOOKING SOLEMNLY AT GUINEVERE]
[BOTH LOOK AT MERLIN]

MERLIN
Arthur. Guinevere.
Our people are one...(nods slightly)...as you are.

[ARTHUR AND GUINEVERE KISS]
[CROWD CHEERS]

BORS
(holding up one of his bastard babies] Now I'm really going to have to marry your mother.

VANORA
(reaching for the baby) Who said I'd have you?

MERLIN
(still holding torch loftily) King Arthur!

EVERYONE
Hail Arthur!

[MERLIN KNEELS]
[EVERYONE FOLLOWS SUIT]

ARTHUR
Let every man, woman, child bear witness that from this day, all Britons will be united in one common cause.
(thrusts Excalibur toward the sky)

EVERYONE
(thrusting his/her fists in the air]
ARTHUR! ARTHUR! ARTHUR!

BORS (drawing sword)
ARTORIUS! (salutes ARTHUR with his sword)

[GAWAIN AND GALAHAD ALSO SALUTE ARTHUR WITH THEIR SWORDS]
[GUINEVERE LATCHES HER ARM TO EXCALIBUR SO BOTH SHE AND ARTHUR ARE HOLDING IT]
[THEY SIGNAL TO THE WOADS; WOADS FIRE FLAMING ARROWS ACROSS INTO A BODY OF WATER




[SCENE TRANSITIONS TO THREE HORSES, TWO DARK AND ONE WHITE, GALLOPING ACROSS THE HILLS]

VOICEOVER (LANCELOT)
And as for the knights who gave their lives, their deaths were cause for neither mourning nor sadness.
For they live forever, their names and deeds handed down from father to son, mother to daughter, in the legends of King Arthur and his knights.

[FADE OUT]
[CREDITS ROLL]
[*SONG* LONG AGO, YOUR NAME, A SHADOW IN MY DREAMS....]