FADE IN:

EXT. THE SCOTTISH COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

Epic beauty:
cobalt mountains beneath a glowering purple sky

fringed with pink, as if the clouds were a lid too small for

the earth; a cascading landscape of boulders shrouded in

deep green grass; and the blue lochs, reflecting the sky. We

hear a voice, husky, Scottish...

VOICE OVER:

I will tell you of William Wallace.

EXT. MACANDREWS FARM - DAY

A farmhouse and a large barn lie nestled in a Scottish valley.

Riding down the roads that lead in from opposite sides are

Scottish noblemen in full regalia: eye-popping tartans,

sparkling chestplates. Even the horses are draped in scarlet.

Behind each nobleman rides a single page boy.

VOICE OVER:

Historians from England will say I

am a liar. But history is written by

those who have hung heroes.

Another noble rides in from the opposite side. Two more appear

down the road, converging on the barn.

VOICE OVER:

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 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.

The nobles eye each other cautiously, but the truce holds.

They enter the barn, with their pages...

EXT. SCOTTISH FARM - DAY

Nestled in emerald hills are the thatched roof house and

barn and outbuildings of a well-run farm. The farmer, MALCOLM

WALLACE, and his nineteen-year-old son JOHN, both strong,

tough men, are riding away from the farm. They hear hooves

behind them and turn to see a boy riding after them.

VOICE OVER:

Among the farmers of that shire was

Malcolm Wallace, a commoner, with

his own lands and two sons: John...

We FAVOR JOHN WALLACE, the nineteen-year-old sitting easily

on his horse, beside his father...

VOICE OVER:

...and William.

WILLIAM, a skinny eight-year-old riding bareback, catches up

to his father and older brother.

FATHER:

Told ya to stay.

WILLIAM:

I finished my chores. Where we goin'?

FATHER:

MacAndrews'. He was supposed to visit

when the truce was over.

They ride on, over the lush hills.

EXT. THE MACANDREWS FARM - DAY

The horses are all gone; the place looks deserted. UP ON THE

HILL we see the three Wallaces, looking down.

FATHER:

Stay here.

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