"Braveheart"

ANALYSIS INFORMATION:

Comments:

"BRAVEHEART" is a good example of a steadfast main character and a change obstacle character. An interesting aspect of the subjective story is that both the main character and the obstacle character are driven by "hidden" characters. William is spurred on by the memory of his murdered wife, Murron. She appears to him in dreams and visions, and her spirit is symbolized by her thistle embroidery. Robert the Bruce is influenced by his leper father, of whom the nobles are told "his affairs in France keep him long overdue," though he is living in seclusion in Edinburgh Castle. Unlike William's driver, who is a positive motive-force behind his never giving up, Robert's driver is a negative and detrimental force. William uses the male mental sex problem solving approach; Robert uses the female mental sex problem solving approach as he tries to hold things together. This is a very quotable script and has a great many memorable lines.

Brief Synopsis:

The Scottish patriot, William Wallace, strives against the tyranny of the English King Edward I (the Longshanks) to obtain freedom for his homeland.

Objective Character Mini-Synopsis:

LONGSHANKS, though highly-polished, is "a cruel pagan," "the most ruthless king ever to sit on the throne of England." WILLIAM WALLACE is an "uncompromising" commoner, who "fights with passion," against the English. ROBERT is "the seventeenth Earl of Bruce, a leading contender for the crown of Scotland." Out of filial obligation he follows his father's (the LEPER) counsel which leads him to make regrettable choices. PRINCESS ISABELLA is the daughter of Longshanks' rival, the king of France. She marries Longshanks' "weakling," homosexual son, the Crown Prince. An attractive and desirable, yet unloved woman, she is used by Longshanks to occupy Wallace at York while Longshanks prepares for the battle of Falkirk. Because of her respect for William she helps Wallace whenever she can. MURRON is a girl from Wallace's own village who he loves even from childhood. She is the symbol of peace and hope for all that is worth living. She marries William secretly to avoid Prima Noctes, and the magistrate kills her to provoke William.

THE OBJECTIVE CHARACTERS:

Name: William Wallace
Gender: Male
Description:
An educated commoner with a handsomely rugged face. His eyes shine with sincerity, ingenuity, and a passion for life.
Story Activities:
As a child, William loses all of his immediate family and is taken to live and travel with his Uncle Argyle. He returns to the family homestead as an adult with the hopes of settling down. To circumvent the English Right of Prima Noctes, William secretly marries Murron, a girl from his village. The magistrate kills her to egg William into a fight. When William kills the magistrate he finds himself the leader of a rebellion; other clansmen join him. He leads them to Lanark where they kill the English Lord Bottoms and burn the outpost, then on to a victory against the English at the battle of Stirling. William is knighted by the Scottish lords, after which he and his men invade northern England, taking the town of York and killing the governor, Longshank's nephew. Princess Isabella, as Longshanks' emissary, attempts to bribe William. Instead, his knowledge of languages and his moral strength leave the princess with a very positive impression. Later, she informs him of Longshank's plans to attack him on Scottish soil, so William hurries his men back to Edinburgh where he attempts to coerce the Scottish nobles into uniting. But on the field at Falkirk, he is abandoned by these nobles, loses the battle, and nearly loses all hope. He takes revenge on the Scottish lord who deserted him. At the end when the nobles say they will unite under him, he trustingly goes to meet them at Edinburgh Castle, only to be captured and taken to London for judgment and execution.
Role: Scottish patriot
Extended Role:
"A military genius" . . . "but at the same time he was kind of a savage," (Gibson's comments, A Filmmaker's Passion), William has visited other European countries and knows French and Latin as well as can read and write English. And despite all that he has seen of the world, he wants only to settle down in a peaceful and free Scotland.
Function:
William's function is to pursue the independence of Scotland and a peaceful life for himself. Once he has considered the importance of this goal, he never reconsiders.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Consider; Pursuit;
Methodology: Certainty; Proaction;
Evaluation: Proven; Effect;
Purpose: Knowledge; Actuality;

Name: Robert the Bruce
Gender: Male
Description:
Young, intelligent, and "a bit of a lost soul." (MacFadyen's comment, "A Filmmaker's Passion")
Story Activities:
Robert discusses Longshanks' Right of Prima Noctes with Lords' Craig and Mornay in the courtyard of his home---Edinburgh Castle, giving them his father's approach. Later, he goes to a room where his father is hidden away with leprosy to tell him of Wallace's rebellion. Although Robert subconsciously wishes to join Wallace, he acquiesces to his father's advice to support both sides. He is again attracted by William's words that if Robert takes the reins of leadership, he would follow him. Eventually Robert gives William his word to unite the clans, but then listens to the Leper's rationalization--so Robert is at Longshanks' side against the Scots at Falkirk. Commanded to protect Longshanks, he knocks the injured Wallace off his horse. The shock and desolation on William's face cuts Robert deeper than any knife. Still, Robert sees to William's rescue. And though Robert sorely laments following his father's counsel, he is at his father's sickbed, reaching out to comfort him. Eventually, a gathering is arranged at Edinburgh Castle for William to meet the nobles so they can give the rebel leader their pledge of united support. When William arrives, Robert learns the meeting is a ruse and witnesses how far his father's ambitions go. On the field of Bannockburn after William's death, Robert takes control, winning Scotland's freedom.
Role: Scottish noble
Extended Role:
Robert knows that because of his family lineage he is listened to and respected.

But when he tells William "this country has no sense of itself," he is really speaking of himself.

He needs a cause to really care about; he needs something to really despise.
Function:
Robert is always logical with William, reasoning with him at every turn. He is the level-headed balance to William's passionate approach.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Logic; Control;
Methodology: Probability; Inaction;
Evaluation: Theory; Trust;
Purpose: Ability; Aware;

Name: Edward The Longshanks
Gender: Male
Description:
Longshanks is impeccably groomed and striking in appearance. There is no doubt that he is royalty, in control, and completely self-assured.
Story Activities:
When Longshanks can't "get [the Scots] out" he decides to "breed them out" with the establishment of the Right of Prima Noctes. He arranges the marriage of his son, Edward the Prince of Wales, to the daughter of the King of France. Just as Wallace's rebellion is starting, Longshanks departs for France, leaving all responsibility in Prince Edward's hands. He returns to find that the situation has become very grave for England. Secretly, he sends Irish, Welsh, and his troops from France to attack Wallace at Falkirk. But when this doesn't stop William, Longshanks schemes to have the rebel assassinated. This failing, Longshanks makes a secret pact with the Scottish nobility---the Leper in particular: Wallace in exchange for the Scottish crown for the 17th Earl of Bruce.
Role: King of England
Extended Role:
Longshanks is "sinister." (Gibson's comment on the character, "A Filmmaker's Passion") He gives little thought to the feelings of others, and accepts no flattery.

Function:
King Edward the Longshanks functions to get the Scottish, by whatever necessary and devious means, to reconsider their push for self-rule.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Reconsider;
Methodology: Potentiality; Reaction;
Evaluation: Unproven; Cause;
Purpose: Thought; Perception;

Name: Hamish
Gender: Male
Description:
Brawny but not particularly clever, Hamish is doggedly loyal to William. Despite his physical strength, he is soft-hearted and lovable.
Story Activities:
As a lad, Hamish is always beaten by his more clever playmate, William. Even when Wallace returns to the village as an adult, Hamish still can't outwit him. All the same, when Campbell, Hamish's father, backs William he too follows, always at William's side. At the time of the skirmish in the village, when Hamish's father is shot by an arrow, Hamish can't bring himself to remove it. It is Hamish that William sends on ahead to gather the Scottish Council before the battle at Falkirk. After the defeat, Hamish tends to his wounded father, not able to accept that his father is dying. When the Scottish lords arrive at Wallace's secret camp to persuade William to meet with them in Edinburgh, Hamish strongly protests. But he stays devoted to William right up to the execution in London. At Bannockburn he, like Stephen, joins the Bruce against the English in the name of Wallace.
Role: Close friend
Extended Role:
Hamish is William's right-hand man. Whatever William needs done, he sees to it. Like the Bruce, he is devoted to his own father (Campbell).
Function:
At every turn he is skeptical. When William contemplates going against the English cavalry at Stirling, Hamish doubts that it would be possible to succeed. He has no faith in Scottish nobility--- "The Bruce isn't coming, William." And in the end, he distrusts the nobles' call for a meeting at Edinburgh Castle, and opposes William's intention to go. "The nest of scheming bastards couldn't agree on the color of shit. It's a trap, are you blind?"
Characteristics:

Motivation: Disbelief; Oppose; Uncontrolled;
Methodology: Induction; Nonacceptance;
Evaluation: Non-Accurate; Process; Hunch;
Purpose: Chaos; Change;

Name: Isabella, Princess of Wales
Gender: Female
Description:
She is "regal" and "statuesque" (Gibson's comment, "A Filmmaker's Passion"), possessing flawless beauty.
Story Activities:
Princess Isabella comes to England to marry Prince Edward whom she has never met. She is prepared to love him, but soon realizes that he does not love her. When she tries to comfort her husband after Longshanks knocks him to the floor, her care is rejected. When her French lady-in-waiting, Nicolette, tells her of Wallace's romantic heroism, Isabella is moved. And when the princess is sent by Longshanks to negotiate with Wallace, she has a chance to see this chivalrous man. Isabella's fascination is further fueled when Wallace speaks in Latin and her own language, and rejects Longshanks' bribe. Before returning to London, she gives the gold meant for William, to the suffering children, so that Longshanks would be thought of as a kind and generous king. When she learns that Longshanks has used her to delay William at York, she knows the truth of what William said about Longshanks' treachery. Thenceforth she is William's ally, informing him of Longshanks' plans for Falkirk, and later, of the ambush Longshanks has set for him. After killing his English assassins, William goes to a cottage where she is waiting, alone. They make love. She returns to London in love and feeling loved. When William is finally captured and imprisoned in London, she goes to him to implore him to take a drug to dull his senses, making the execution less painful. Then she goes to Longshanks to beg for William's life. When it isn't granted, she tells Longshanks that she is pregnant by someone other than his son, and swears that her husband will not sit long on the throne. In the end, all she can do is grieve for William.
Role: Longshanks' daughter-in-law
Extended Role:
The daughter of the King of France, (Longshank's enemy on the continent), she is out of place, both in English court life and in her marriage. But being of the aristocracy, she has been trained well to accept her fate stoically.
Function:
Princess Isabella, once learning the full extent of William's courage and noble purpose, has complete faith in him, and assists him every chance she gets.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Faith; Help;
Methodology: Deduction; Acceptance;
Evaluation: Accurate; Result;
Purpose: Equity; Projection;

Name: Leper
Gender: Male
Description:
Keen-eyed and affable, he has an appealing face which becomes disfigured over the years from the so-called leprosy he suffers from. Behind his congeniality, however, lurks a shrewd intelligence as ruthless and cunning as Longshanks'.
Story Activities:
Hidden away in his room because of leprosy, he writes, thinks, and schemes. Since he has his son's devotion, he is Robert's mind and will. He advises his son to listen to the nobles--to play it safe by supporting both Longshanks and Wallace. When Robert tells him of his pledge to Wallace to unite the clans, the Leper advises his son to give allegiance to Longshanks instead, since there's no sense in "being on the side that is slaughtered." Secretly, the Leper makes a pact with Longshanks to hand over Wallace in exchange for the Scottish crown for his son, Robert.
Role: Robert's father
Extended Role:
The Leper and his views represent the Scottish nobility. He is the master-mind behind their approach. Although never seen by these nobles, his ideas hold a powerful sway over them.
Function:
He serves to hinder Wallace from succeeding against the English. It is really his plan that Lord Craig proposes to Sir William to tempt the rebel leader into the ambush at Edinburgh Castle.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Temptation; Hinder;
Methodology: Production; Reevaluation;
Evaluation: Determination; Unending;
Purpose: Inequity; Speculation;

Name: Murron
Gender: Female
Description:
Young and the possessor of rustic beauty, strength of character, and a pure and independent spirit.
Story Activities:
From an early age, Murron has been attracted to William. Seeing his suffering at the funeral for his father and brother, she gives him a thistle. When William returns to the village as an adult, she doesn't recognize him at first, but is attracted all the same. At their secret wedding in the woods, Murron gives William a cloth she has embroidered with a thistle pattern. After she is entrapped and killed in the village, this embroidery becomes symbolic of hope throughout the story. She appears to William in a dream, and at his execution she appears as a vision among the crowd, inviting him home with her warm, all-loving smile.
Role: William's wife
Extended Role: Murron "represented [William's] desire to live in peace. She was the thing that propelled him." (Randall Wallace's comment, "A Filmmaker's Passion") She also represents innocence, detached from concerns of politics, hatred, etc.
Function:
She functions as William's conscience. And it is the memory of her that helps him to keep on fighting in the face of near hopelessness.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Conscience;
Evaluation: Expectation; Ending;

Name: Prince Edward II
Gender: Male
Description:
"A weakling" of slender build, he has fair hair and a pale complexion. His gestures and glances indicate insecurity, nervousness, and hint at his homosexuality.
Story Activities:
Prince Edward is more interested in clothes, harmless activities, and his fawning friends than in attending to the affairs of state. Because of this, he sends his wife when Longshanks calls him to discuss Scotland. While Longshanks is in France he does little to stop Wallace's advance into England. When Longshanks throws Phillip, the prince's lover, out a window to his death, Prince Edward draws a dagger but hasn't the physical strength to do any injury. At the end, when Longshanks lays dying, unable to speak, Prince Edward is present, but does nothing to comfort his father.
Role: Longshanks' eldest son
Extended Role:
Being the crown prince and the first Prince of Wales, Edward will be the future ruler of the island kingdom, though by temperament he is unsuited for such responsibility.
Function:
He is the cause of (and represents) England's inertia against William's attack on York.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Avoidance;
Purpose: Inertia;

Name: Stephen
Gender: Male
Description:
Wild-looking and brash, Stephen is given to exaggeration: "I'm the most wanted man on my island, except I'm not on my island, of course. More's the pity."

Story Activities:
Stephen arrives in William's camp, talking wildly and disrespectfully. They soon learn how clever he is when he pulls out a knife that William's guards have overlooked. He is almost mistakenly shot by William in the woods as he throws his knife over William's shoulder to kill a new recruit who is intent on assassinating William. After that, he is always at William's side---at Stirling, at William's knighting---a trusted "captain." At Falkirk, seeing William pursue the departing Longshanks, he rides after him and rescues him from onrushing English soldiers. He is even with William to the end---at the execution. And since there are still more Englishmen to be killed, he is on the field at Bannockburn.
Role: Irish volunteer
Extended Role:
Stephen is clever and has a sense of humor that pops up at the oddest moments. (On the battlefield at Stirling, with arrows raining from the heavens, he turns to William: "The Lord says He can get me out of this mess, but He's pretty sure you're fucked." He is deadly serious, though, about protecting William. He has no love for the English, and has a healthy disregard for status.
Function:
He becomes William's bodyguard, fiercely protecting him from all enemies.
Characteristics:

Motivation: Support; Feeling;
Methodology: Possibility; Protection;
Evaluation: Test;
Purpose: Desire; Self Aware;

AUDIENCE AND STORY DYNAMICS APPRECIATIONS:

Nature as it relates to Actual Work:

William's steadfastness in always using his wit and never giving in to Longshanks' tyranny leads to success through inspiring (and shaming) Robert the Bruce into taking up the fight.

Essence as it relates to Negative Feel:

Longshanks and a few others aside, the objective characters put their efforts into avoiding the consequences of failing to achieve the goal--deceit, betrayal, revenge, attempted rape, execution, and especially the savagery---head smashings, blood, and battlefield slaughter.

Tendency as it relates to Willing:

William, of his own accord, chooses to take up the fight against the English. In fact, he is passionate about stopping Longshanks' tyranny on Scottish soil.

Reach as it relates to Both:

Both men and women will empathize with William Wallace because he can be both savage and gentle, vengeful and compassionate. His willingness to listen to the Princess of Wales shows him to be a man who can accept women as equals.

Resolve as it relates to Steadfast:

William steadfastly fights the English in spite of the odds. He neither yields to the persuasion of Robert the Bruce nor does he give in to Longshanks' attempt to buy him off. And although eventually he has to change his attitude towards the Scottish nobles, his determination to get Scotland free of England remains as solid as a rock.

Approach as it relates to Do-er:

Unlike the Scottish lords, who "do nothing but talk," William's first approach to conflict is to take action. While the Scottish nobles are quibbling over the rightful successor to their throne and "squabbling over the scraps from Longshanks' table," Wallace prepares for battle and the invasion of England.

Direction as it relates to Stop:

Wallace, like the audience, is waiting for England to stop its oppression and domination of Scotland; waiting for the Scottish lords to stop their cross-purposes and unite against England.

Mental Sex as it relates to Male:

Wallace throws his whole effort into vanquishing the cause of Scotland's (and his own personal) misery---English rule and Longshanks' treachery.

Outcome as it relates to Success:

Wallace's goal is taken up with success by Robert the Bruce, and Scotland's freedom is secured.

Judgment as it relates to Good:

William strives to get Robert the Bruce to lead the Scots in a united effort against the English, and although William never lives to see it happen, Robert in the end, on the field at Bannockburn, does exactly what William had hoped---and wins Scotland's independence.

Work as it relates to Action:

The murder of Murron forces William to decide to give up his neutrality and fight. William's victory at Stirling forces the Scottish nobles to decide to present this commoner with a knighthood. Wallace's sacking of York forces Longshanks to decide to send Princess Isabella to negotiate with Wallace, while he sends Irish, Welsh, and his own troops in France to fight the Scottish at Falkirk. Mornay's and Lochlan's desertion forces William to decide to take revenge.

Limit as it relates to Optionlock:

William can only do so much without the support of the Scottish nobles, their armies, and their clansmen. His last option for securing Scottish freedom is Robert the Bruce.

THE OBJECTIVE STORY THROUGHLINE:

Throughline Synopsis:

The King of England, Edward I, rules his domain with absolute authority. The Scottish peasantry are not pleased with this, and neither are their nobles. But the king knows how to control the Scottish lords. When the Scottish patriot and commoner, William Wallace, gains support, the king realizes he could lose Scotland, and maybe even his own life. He has to stop Wallace and put the Scots in their place.

Backstory:

"The King of Scotland had died without a son, and the King of England, a cruel pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, claimed the throne of Scotland for himself. Scotland's nobles fought him and fought each other over the crown. So Longshanks invited them to talks of truce---no weapons, one page only," luring them "to a barn where he had them hanged."

Domain as it relates to Universe:

England has taken Scotland for itself, attempting to suppress the natives through harsh and unjust laws. The Scots fight for what is rightfully theirs.

Concern as it relates to The Future:

Longshanks is concerned that if the French see that England cannot subjugate the entire island, there will be very little future for English interests and influence on the continent. William and his men are concerned that the Scots and their culture will have no future if they are ruled by England. The Scottish lords are concerned that if they support Wallace, Longshanks will take away all they have---even their very lives.

Range as it relates to Choice:

Longshanks chooses to subjugate Scotland; English lords choose to move to Scotland to avail themselves of the Right of Prima Noctes; Wallace chooses to fight; the Bruce first chooses to follow his father's advice to play along with Longshanks, then seeing the devastating results, he finally chooses to follow his own conscience. The Scottish nobles choose protecting their own status over their obligation to the commoners.

Counterpoint as it relates to Delay:

Wallace delays his confrontation with the English until Murron's murder drives him to retaliation and rebellion; Longshanks delays Wallace at York by sending Princess Isabella to negotiate in his stead. The Bruce delays his commitment to Wallace out of filial obligation. The nobles delay their commitment to Wallace for fear of losing what they have.

Thematic Conflict as it relates to Choice vs. Delay:

At the beginning, William's choice to remain neutral to gain Murron's father's approval, delays his stand against Longshanks' injustice. Longshanks' choice to use Princess Isabella in order to delay Wallace, causes the Princess to aid Wallace. The Bruce's choice of giving into his father's strategies, delays his support of Wallace until it ultimately leads to Wallace's capture and execution.

Problem as it relates to Conscience:

William is the only one who lives by his conscience. And this is a big problem for Longshanks because the rebel cannot be stopped by the usual methods. It becomes a problem for the Scottish nobles, too, because William will not compromise. He becomes a threat when he takes revenge on Lords Mornay and Lochlan for abandoning him on battlefield at Falkirk.

Solution as it relates to Temptation:

Longshanks and the Scottish nobility come to realize that the only way to stop William and the spread of his reputation of legendary proportions is to tempt him with the very thing Wallace wants: A promise of Scottish unity. So in the end William is lured---tempted---into an ambush at Edinburgh Castle. To do this, Lord Craig exploits the special bond of mutual respect between Wallace and the Bruce.

He hands him Murron's thistle embroidery. William reaches up and grabs it, shocked to see it again.

Focus as it relates to Logic:

Because Longshanks cannot manipulate Wallace like he can the less scrupulous Scottish lords, he has to use different logic. At first he doesn't think about this because he has already formed a prejudiced opinion of the man.

and therefore readily accepts Princess Isabella's intentionally misleading (and one wonders if it is not really a bit sarcastic) description of Wallace as "a mindless barbarian," and thus he continues to see and treat Wallace as such. But even when defeat at Falkirk only dampens the rebellion and doesn't halt the spread of William's overblown reputation, logic dictates the king's future course of action.

Direction as it relates to Feeling:

William Wallace's hatred of Longshanks' tyranny becomes the "passion" behind his fight for Scottish freedom. And this aggravates and escalates the problem for both Longshanks and the Scottish nobles.

Stipulation as it relates to The Past:

Always keeping in mind Longshanks' ruthlessness as it touched his own life, William is able to keep moving forward uncompromisingly. Bribing and "negotiation" always worked in the past to subdue the Scottish lords, so Longshanks attempts this approach with Wallace. The devastating results from following his father's advice in the past compels Robert the Bruce to finally make up his own mind and follow his conscience instead.

Catalyst as it relates to Delay:

Wallace delays his confrontation with the English until Murron's murder drives him to retaliation and outright rebellion; Longshanks delays Wallace at York by sending Princess Isabella to negotiate in his stead, which leads her to aid the rebel. The Bruce's delay in committing himself fully to Wallace's cause, leads him to great anguish that finally pushes him to take up the fight after William's death.

Inhibitor as it relates to Approach:

Longshanks' approach is to "make [the Scottish lords] too greedy to oppose" him and to demoralize the Scots by depriving them of their culture and their brides. The Scottish nobles, out of fear and self-interest, are more than willing to negotiate with their pagan oppressor, which impedes William's efforts.

Goal as it relates to The Future:

The central goal of all the characters revolves around the future of Scotland. What happens in and to the country will affect all their futures.

Consequence as it relates to The Subconscious:

If Scotland fails to achieve independence, hatred and war will continue, with great loss of life on both sides, and loss of any kind of peaceful existence. This is a moral issue and even the Scottish nobles feel uneasy about it.

Cost as it relates to Becoming:

In order for Scotland to gain its independence from England, the clans must become united--costing many lives in the process.

Dividend as it relates to Obtaining:

By obtaining their independence from England, the Scots reap the bounty of peace, freedom, and justice, along with the return of their cultural heritage.

Requirements as it relates to The Past:

The past has shown the Scots how ruthless Longshanks can be---this can never be forgotten or forgiven, otherwise their fight for independence becomes "just a dream." The past reminds them that they have just cause and that Scotland will have nothing if things remain status quo.

Prerequisites as it relates to Memory:

Just when things are getting desperate, Murron's thistle embroidery returns to William, reminding him of just how important his struggle and sacrifices are, not only for himself personally, but for all the other Scotsmen and their families.

Preconditions as it relates to Conceptualizing:

The patriots insist that it is Wallace who must conceptualize how to defeat the English. After the execution of Murron, Wallace devises a plan to route the English soldiers from his village by pretending to be unarmed and alone. He then figures out a way to capture and burn an outpost and kill the English lord who claimed the Right of Prima Noctes. William even comes up with an idea of how to win against the English cavalry by crafting long spears, "twice as long as a man."

Forewarnings as it relates to Understanding:

Longshanks finally understands that it is not the Scottish per se whom he must destroy in order to crush the rebellion, but that it is necessary to put an end to the legend surrounding William. And this can only be achieved by destroying the man.

THE SUBJECTIVE STORY THROUGHLINE:

Throughline Synopsis:

The Scottish patriot, William Wallace, has the backing of a good percentage of the common Scottish population but knows that what Scotland really needs is a leader who can rally all the classes, and he sees that capability in the 17th Earl of Bruce. However, Robert the Bruce wavers, caught between his obligation to "survive" and what his conscience tells him is right.

Backstory:

William is born a commoner whose hard life of physical labor has prepared him for difficulties and action. Robert is born into comfort and security, which leads him to compromise and passivity. Their dissimilar upbringings gives each a vastly different way of going about securing Scotland's freedom.

Domain as it relates to Mind:

William's hatred of English rule is unbending, but Robert accepts his father's attitude of playing both ends to the middle. Neither William nor Robert is much inclined to yield.

Concern as it relates to The Subconscious:

Robert subconsciously wants to be like William, he wants the respect that William commands. William subconsciously sees Robert as the ultimate hope for Scotland.

Range as it relates to Dream:

Both William and Robert dream of the same thing.

However, William sees his dream as something worth fighting, and even dying, for. Robert sees it from a more pragmatic, albeit circumscribed, perspective.

Counterpoint as it relates to Hope:

William's hope for Scottish independence sustains him throughout the entire story; Robert is the symbol of this hope. And when the Bruce betrays him at Falkirk, this hope is well-nigh taken from him.

Thematic Conflict as it relates to Dream vs. Hope:

Before Falkirk, William has hope. But with the Bruce's betrayal, hope turns to an almost unattainable dream because the nobles will not support him. In the end, hope beckons again:

Problem as it relates to Control:

William has control over the commoners but not enough clout to gain the cooperation of the Scottish nobles and their armies. He knows he must get Robert the Bruce to take control. Little does he understand, however, that Robert is controlled by his conniving father.

Solution as it relates to Uncontrolled:

The solution for the Bruce to break away from his father's control, to follow his own conscience and arise to lead like Wallace wishes and like he knows he should. It is Wallace's capture that pushes him over the edge. The Bruce storms into the Leper's room in uncontrollable rage, shouting, "Die! I want you to die!" . . . "You're not my father. And you're not a man."

Focus as it relates to Logic:

William's logic tells him that Longshanks is never to be trusted; negotiation can only lead to the weakening or destruction of what he is fighting for. But Robert sees the logic behind keeping Longshanks at bay by neither actively supporting nor opposing him.

Direction as it relates to Feeling:

William's feelings for the English go "beyond rage." These make it possible for him to continue on. Not until Robert possesses the same sort of hatred, will he be an effective leader. Even his father realizes this.

Stipulation as it relates to Memory:

The memory of his own moral failure at Falkirk haunts the Bruce:

It is a turning point for the Bruce, as he declares to his father:

Remembering how Robert helped him escape at Falkirk, William trusts the Bruce to extend his protection at the meeting at Edinburgh Castle.

Catalyst as it relates to Hope:

"Hope" accelerates the growth of William and Robert's relationship. William has set his hopes on Robert uniting the clans to fight the English at Falkirk. But Robert's father dashes this hope when he says to his son: "You said it yourself, the nobles will not support Wallace. So how does it help us to join the side that is slaughtered?" It is the discovery of the Bruce's betrayal at Falkirk that nearly causes Sir William to lose all hope. Yet this hope is rekindled when the Bruce seemly calls a meeting with William and the nobles in order to create a unified Scotland.

Inhibitor as it relates to Rationalization:

William's rationale that the Scottish lords will never change their approach of negotiation and compromise, and therefore are not worthy of listening to, impedes his recognizing the truth of the Bruce's counsel that he cannot do without the nobles. On the other hand, the Bruce's taking to heart the Leper's rationale that compromise and passivity for the sake of survival, blinds Robert to the fact that William's uncompromising approach of never trusting or giving into Longshanks might be the only way to deal with a tyrant.

William Wallace's THROUGHLINE:

Role:

Scottish patriot

Description:

An educated commoner with a handsomely rugged face. His eyes shine with sincerity, ingenuity, and a passion for life.

Throughline Synopsis:

As a child, William loses all of his immediate family and is taken to live and travel with his Uncle Argyle. He returns to the family homestead as an adult with the hopes of settling down. To circumvent the English Right of Prima Noctes, William secretly marries Murron, a girl from his village. The magistrate kills her to egg William into a fight. When William kills the magistrate he finds himself the leader of a rebellion; other clansmen join him. He leads them to Lanark where they kill the English Lord Bottoms and burn the outpost, then on to a victory against the English at the battle of Stirling. William is knighted by the Scottish lords, after which he and his men invade northern England, taking the town of York and killing the governor, Longshank's nephew. Princess Isabella as Longshanks' emissary, attempts to bribe William. Instead, his knowledge of languages and his moral strength leave the princess with a very positive impression. Later, she informs him of Longshanks' plans to attack him on Scottish soil, so William hurries his men back to Edinburgh where he attempts to bully and shame the Scottish nobles into uniting. But on the field at Falkirk, he is abandoned by these nobles, loses the battle, and nearly loses hope. He takes revenge on Lords' Mornay and Lochlan for their desertion. At the end when the nobles say they will unite under him, he trustingly goes to meet them at Edinburgh Castle, only to be captured and taken to London, where he is judged and executed.

Backstory:

As a young lad, William Wallace sees Longshanks' treachery firsthand. It affects him even more personally when his father and brother are killed in a skirmish against the English.

Domain as it relates to Physics:

The hanging of the Scottish nobles in the MacAndrews' barn, has a profound effect on the child William. When Murron, his wife, is killed by the English magistrate, William steps from neutrality to striking out at the oppressor. In fact, William's entire adult life is centered around the activity of expelling the usurpers from his homeland

Concern as it relates to Obtaining:

After Murron's murder, William puts all his energy into obtaining freedom from Longshanks' tyranny and independence for Scotland. But ultimately he must obtain the cooperation of the nobles, and especially Robert the Bruce.

Range as it relates to Approach:

William's approach is never to compromise. Indeed, he scoffs at those who do. To the Scottish Council before the battle at Falkirk, William says in sarcasm: "Don't you wish at least to lead your men onto the field and barter a better deal with Longshanks before you tuck tail and run?" But the nobles see compromise as a necessary tool and sign of refinement.

Counterpoint as it relates to Attitude:

William's attitude towards the "squabbling" and "quibbling" Scottish nobles and their penchant for negotiating with Longshanks, is apparent in the way he deals with them on the field at Stirling.

Even in his words to the Bruce, his attitude shows:

Just the opposite of the Leper's words.

Thematic Conflict as it relates to Approach vs. Attitude:

In the end William realizes that his attitude towards the nobles and their approach must change.

Problem as it relates to Consider:

The biggest problem for William is that he doesn't consider any approach other than killing, destruction, and annihilation. He doesn't even seem to hear when Robert points out that "we need the nobles."

Solution as it relates to Reconsider:

He reconsiders his passivity when Murron is murdered by the English magistrate. And at the end he reconsiders his attitude towards the Scottish nobles.

Focus as it relates to Logic:

William's logic tells him that Longshanks can never be trusted to negotiate fairly. He must always focus on Longshanks' treacherous logic in order to survive.

Direction as it relates to Feeling:

William is driven by a hatred so passionate that it is "beyond rage." And it is just this passion that makes it impossible for him see until the end that he will have to listen to the nobles in order for Scotland to gain its freedom from England.

Stipulation as it relates to Understanding:

William understands Longshanks' treachery very well. He understands military tactics and what must be done to defeat the English and drive them from Scotland. He understands the methods of the Scottish nobles, as well. But it is not until Falkirk that he comes to understand that he should not put his hope in Robert the Bruce.

Unique Ability as it relates to Self Interest:

William is interested in having a home and a family in a peaceful and free land. It is what sustains him to the end and is what makes him able to resolve the story's difficulties.

Critical Flaw as it relates to Openness:

In accepting the Bruce's invitation to meet with the Scottish lords at Edinburgh Castle, William has to open up and trust that the nobles are being honest and sincere with him.

Robert the Bruce's THROUGHLINE:

Role:

Scottish noble

Description:

Young, intelligent, and "a bit of a lost soul." (MacFadyen's comment, "A Filmmaker's Passion")

Throughline Synopsis:

From the start, Robert tells the nobles (and the audience) that he speaks for his absent father (The Leper) and for Scotland. Shortly after, he informs his father, who is leading a reclusive life in Edinburgh Castle, of Wallace's rebellion. And although Robert subconsciously wishes to join Wallace, he accepts his father's observation.

But again he is attracted to William's position when the rebel leader says that if Robert would arise to lead, he'd follow him. Eventually Robert brings himself to give William his word that he would unite the clans, but again he listens to the Leper's logic, much to his future regret. Robert is at Longshanks' side against the Scots at Falkirk. Commanded to protect Longshanks, Robert knocks the injured Wallace from his horse. The shock and desolation on William's face cuts Robert deeper that any knife. Yet with the help of Stephen, he is able to save William from onrushing English soldiers. And though Robert sorely laments that he followed his father's disastrous counsel, he doesn't fail to show his loving concern as his father lingers near death. Eventually, a meeting at Edinburgh Castle is called so that the Scottish nobles can give Wallace their pledge and unite against the English. This, however, unbeknownst to Robert, is a mere ruse. When William arrives alone, Robert witnesses how far his father's scheming can go, and at last sees his father for what he truly is. On the field of Bannockburn after William's death, waiting to receive the English acknowledgment of him as King of Scotland, Robert gives into his initial impulse to "charge in," and leads Sir William's men and the other Scots to a decisive victory, securing Scotland's independence for the next four hundred years.

Backstory:

Robert, the 17th Earl of Bruce, is in line for the throne of Scotland. The Scottish nobles respect his family even if they don't like their politics. And being born and raised in the lap of ease, he has no desire to see any radical changes, except to see Scotland ruled once again by its own king. Hate and true suffering have rarely touched him.

Domain as it relates to Psychology:

The Bruce always tries to persuade Wallace to accept the way the Scottish nobles are thinking. Though he promises Wallace he will unite the clans and fight beside him at Falkirk, he accepts his father's manner of thinking and instead takes up Longshanks' banner.

Concern as it relates to Becoming:

In order to become the leader under whom all of Scotland will unite, Robert must become passionate like Wallace. He must also become his own man, free of his father's influence.

Range as it relates to Rationalization:

Robert accepts his father's rationalization that staying alive for the sake of his heritage is most important.

Counterpoint as it relates to Obligation:

It is Robert's sense of filial obligation that keeps him from doing what in his heart he knows only HE can (and must) do.

Thematic Conflict as it relates to Rationalization vs. Obligation:

The Leper is good at giving Robert reasons for why staying alive by not overtly favoring either side of the issue is best--and Robert accepts all the rationale. But by doing so, he turns his back on his obligation to the commoners. As William says to those lords gathered at his knighting: "There is a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom."

Problem as it relates to Conscience:

Robert knows what is right, but other people more ambitious and less scrupulous have a strong influence on him. He gives William his word to unite with him against Longshanks at Falkirk, but acquiesces to his father's tactics instead. The Scots sustain great losses, losses that Robert knows would have been considerably less had he kept his promise. The consequences torment him.

Solution as it relates to Temptation:

Inspired by Wallace, Robert is tempted to "charge off and fight as he did." After William's knighting, the seduction of William's words is written all over Robert's face.

But until he is able to reject his father's self-serving and ambitious logic, and give into this temptation, he will never be free of his conscience and do what is right.

Focus as it relates to Control:

Robert accepts his father's point that to "charge off" like Wallace is not the way the Bruces can "survive" against Longshanks. He allows the Leper to control his life, to control the way the nobility think, and to ultimately to control Scotland's future.

Direction as it relates to Uncontrolled:

Robert the Bruce leaves everyone off-balance by one minute by saying he is going to support Wallace, and the next not getting involved or by siding with the enemy.

Stipulation as it relates to Conceptualizing:

Robert must envision his responsibility towards Scotland and the Scottish people, as well as his role in the fight for freedom if he is to have any effect.

Unique Ability as it relates to Commitment:

The Bruce's commitment to his father's and the nobles' approach finally makes Wallace accept that he will have to listen to them in order to gain their support.

Critical Flaw as it relates to Closure:

Robert doesn't put a halt to his father's scheming soon enough, for in the end it leads to the ultimate betrayal---the capture and execution of Wallace. On the field at Bannockburn, he is well aware that he could fail again in his moral obligations if he doesn't put an end to his own delay and indecision in confronting the English.

ACT PROGRESSIONS:

The Objective Throughline Act Order:

Objective Story Signpost 1 as it relates to The Future:

Longshanks thinks about England's future in France; Wallace ponders his own future and that of his village and homeland if England continues to rule them; the Scottish nobles worry about how they are going to survive sandwiched between their need to be loyal to Longshanks and supporting Wallace's struggle for independence. Bruce's father wants to secure the future for his line.

Objective Story Journey 1 from The Future to Progress:

In order to keep control over Scotland, Longshanks calls a meeting of truce with the Scottish nobility, where he has them hanged. Now he can go forward with other things, like his son's marriage. He then enacts the Right of Prima Noctes. Robert the Bruce and the Scottish nobles "lull Longshanks into [their] confidence by neither supporting the decree nor opposing it." A commoner on her wedding day rides away with the English Lord Bottoms in order to secure a peaceful future and get on with life.

Objective Story Signpost 2 as it relates to Progress:

The Scottish, under Wallace, progress from killing the magistrate to skirmishes to all out rebellion and confrontation at Stirling.

Objective Story Journey 2 from Progress to The Present:

William wins at Stirling and invades England as he progresses towards London. Longshanks is brought into the present when he returns to London to find that Wallace has taken York.

Objective Story Signpost 3 as it relates to The Present:

Longshanks returns from France to deal with what is happening to his country---Wallace's sacking of York. He must deal with the here and now, because his son hasn't. Wallace, getting news from Princess Isabella about Longshank's plans for Falkirk, has to get his men back to Scotland as quickly as possible and talk to the Council.

Objective Story Journey 3 from The Present to The Past:

Longshanks' Advisor reminds him how Wallace has evaded past ambush attempts. The idea of an ambush is reminiscent of the hanging in MacAndrew's barn. But having faith in Robert the Bruce, William forgets this and nobles' past fickleness.

Objective Story Signpost 4 as it relates to The Past:

Knowing from the past that the planned meeting at Edinburgh Castle is most likely an ambush, Hamish tries to make William realize this, but Stephen counters with his own interpretation of the past:

The Subjective Throughline Act Order:

Subjective Story Signpost 1 as it relates to The Subconscious:

William wants to live in peace but, driven by the need and desire to avenge Murron's death, he kills the British magistrate, starting a rebellion. Hearing of this, Robert subconsciously wants to join but is torn by his obligation to listen and heed his father's counsel.

Subjective Story Journey 1 from The Subconscious to The Conscious:

William's intention in killing the magistrate was not to start a rebellion, but when the MacGregors show up to join "the fun," he must seriously consider becoming an aggressor. The Bruce, however, follows his father's advice about supporting both sides, without giving much consideration to the ultimate consequences.

Subjective Story Signpost 2 as it relates to The Conscious:

When confrontation with the English seems inevitable, William gives consideration to how to win against their cavalry. And as usual, Robert only considers his father's words. William succeeds at Stirling, then considers his next move---invading England. He asks Robert to give consideration to leading the Scots, and asks again just before the battle at Falkirk. But Robert's father has his son reconsider his promise to Wallace to unite the clans to fight against England at Falkirk:

Subjective Story Journey 2 from The Conscious to Memory:

At William's knighting, though conscious of his position as a noble, the Bruce still remembers the initial desire to fight like Wallace, when William says: "Noble and common, they know you. And if you would only lead them, they'd follow you. And so would I."

Subjective Story Signpost 3 as it relates to Memory:

After the lose at Falkirk, William remembers Mornay and Lochlan's desertion, and takes revenge. Robert is tormented by his own memories:

Subjective Story Journey 3 from Memory to The Preconscious:

Remembering how Robert helped him escape at Falkirk, William unthinkingly trusts that the meeting in Edinburgh is what it appears to be.

Subjective Story Signpost 4 as it relates to The Preconscious:

On the field at Bannockburn, Robert, giving no consideration to the consequences or to whether that particular moment was the right one, at last goes with his initial impulse and takes up the fight against England.

The Main Character Throughline Act Order:

Main Character Signpost 1 as it relates to Doing:

William goes after the English magistrate for killing Murron; he and his men enter an outpost dressed as English soldiers and burn it; he "pick[s] a fight" at Stirling instead of letting the nobles negotiate.

Main Character Journey 1 from Doing to Learning:

After killing the magistrate, William learns that the English will retaliate. But he also learns that there are other clans who will follow him. And when they take Lord Bottoms' outpost, William learns that with his new recruits he and his men can be successful.

Main Character Signpost 2 as it relates to Learning:

At Stirling, William learns that with a little "wit," the English can be defeated. And when Princess Isabella comes to negotiate on behalf of Longshanks, William learns that, although she is a strong and intelligent young woman, she is not aware of the full extent of her father-in-law's ruthlessness. And it is through her that he eventually learns of Longshank's plans to attack him "from behind."

Main Character Journey 2 from Learning to Obtaining:

From learning how to defeat the English cavalry at Stirling, William obtains a knighthood. He also learns he has obtained an ally in Princess Isabella. But he learns the hard way just how powerful Longshanks' influence over the Scottish nobles is when he discovers the Bruce siding with the English at Falkirk.

Main Character Signpost 3 as it relates to Obtaining:

William appeals to Robert the Bruce in order to obtain the support he needs to win a decisive victory over the English. He obtains information from the princess. He continues to obtain followers through his courage, his wit, and unbound determination.

Main Character Journey 3 from Obtaining to Understanding:

When William does not obtain the support of Robert and other Scottish nobles at Falkirk, he understands that he can no longer hold out any hope of uniting the clans. In obtaining knowledge of an ambush from Princess Isabella, he understands that Longshanks is out to get him personally.

Main Character Signpost 4 as it relates to Understanding:

William grows to understand the extent of Longshanks' ability to control the Scottish nobles, and he grows to understand that the only way to gain the support of these nobles is to change his attitude towards them and use their approach with them---talking.

The Obstacle Character Throughline Act Order:

Obstacle Character Signpost 1 as it relates to Conceptualizing:

Robert is energized by the vision of a rebellion fueled by a passion as great as William's. "Maybe it's time."

Obstacle Character Journey 1 from Conceptualizing to Being:

Robert is drawn to the idea of "fight[ing] with passion" and "inspir[ing]" like Wallace does. But his father reminds him that he is the 17th Earl of Bruce because his ancestors didn't "charge in." He must accept being a noble obligated to see that his bloodline survives.

Obstacle Character Signpost 2 as it relates to Being:

Robert cannot help being who he is. And his noble rank is important, for it gives him the leverage necessary to unite Scotland.

Obstacle Character Journey 2 from Being to Becoming:

Robert moves from being like the other nobles towards becoming an effective leader when he gives William his word to unite the clans before the battle of Falkirk.

Obstacle Character Signpost 3 as it relates to Becoming:

Once Robert sees for himself the suffering his betrayal at Falkirk causes, not only to William but to families of the Scots who died, he starts becoming the man of moral strength and righteousness that William knows him to be.

Obstacle Character Journey 3 from Becoming to Conceiving:

When Robert learns that his father arranges for the capture of Wallace in the castle courtyard he not only at last becomes the stuff king's are made of---

---he has a good idea of just how devious, manipulative, and conniving his father really is, a person unworthy of being called a man.

Obstacle Character Signpost 4 as it relates to Conceiving:

On the field at Bannockburn, the idea of victory over England and of the nearness of Scotland's independence becomes a conceivable possibility to Robert.

Miscellaneous Other Storytelling Items:

All Concerns:

Scotland's future is at stake. Is it destined to vanish into the highlands only to be spoken of on sleepy nights around the campfires as some mythical land of centuries past as Longshanks hopes? Or can it possibly shake loose of England's stranglehold to regain its cultural identity and freedom? William Wallace bets on the latter. But little, if any, good will be obtained for Scotland unless Robert, the 17th Earl of Bruce, arises to lead his people to victory over the English. This is William's greatest hope, and something Robert subconsciously longs for, as well.

Master Plot Synopsis:

England is ruled by a tyrant, King Edward the Longshanks, who has taken Wales and the Scottish throne for himself. His cruelty and unscrupulousness cause great suffering for his Scottish subjects. William Wallace loses his father and brother in a skirmish against the English. He must marry in secret in order to circumvent the Right of Prima Noctes. And then when the English kill his wife, he takes revenge. Thus rebellion is founded. Longshanks, before setting out for France, leaves his son in charge of quelling the rebellion, but Wallace wins at Stirling and goes on to invade northern England, successfully capturing York, "the staging point for every invasion of [Scotland]." When Longshanks returns and learns that York has been sacked, he sends Princess Isabella to negotiate with Wallace, while he makes plans to attack Wallace at Falkirk, "from behind." Wallace, receiving intelligence from the princess regarding Longshanks' plan, rushes his army back to Scotland and meets with the Scottish Council, where he pleads with the Bruce to unite the clans. Trusting that Robert will do so, William goes into battle at Falkirk, only to be abandoned by the Scottish Lords' Mornay and Lochlan, and betrayed by the Bruce himself. This leaves Wallace demoralized, but not so much that he can't take revenge on Mornay and Lochlan. The other Scottish nobles begin to fear for their own lives. Both Longshanks and the Scottish nobles know that the only way to stop Wallace is to kill him. So the nobles lure Sir William to Edinburgh, where he is captured in the castle courtyard, taken to London and executed. "After the beheading, William Wallace's body was torn to pieces. His head was placed on top of London Bridge, his arms and legs sent to the four corners of Britain as a warning. It did not have the effect that Longshanks planned." Robert the Bruce presents himself on the field at Bannockburn to receive English acceptance of him as King of Scotland, but instead he takes up where Wallace left off and strikes a decisive blow to the English that secures at last the independence of Scotland.

Master Theme Synopsis:

Braveheart has the feel of reality, idealism that is not overblown.

Subjective Character Synopsis:

Despite the fact that William is a commoner and Robert is of the nobility, they share the same desire for a free Scotland. Essentially they are both men of conscience, but it is their upbringings that give them different approaches and perspectives, and therefore they deal with England in the way each knows best.

Master Character Synopsis:

King Edward I (the Longshanks), the antagonist, is determined to subjugate all of Britain by whatever means it takes. William Wallace, the protagonist, having seen Longshanks' ruthlessness up close as a boy, loathes the man. Then at the Morrison wedding feast, he again experiences Longshanks' fiendishness. William secretly marries his childhood sweetheart, Murron. And when the magistrate executes her, William takes up the task of ridding Scotland of English tyranny. Campbell, a fighter and a patriot, and his son Hamish, a childhood friend of William, join the latter in his campaign. They are further joined by Stephen, an "insane" Irishman who is itching to kill Englishmen. Longshanks has a son, whom he marries to the daughter of his rival, the King of France. Longshanks knows the Crown Prince is "a weakling," unsuited to rule the country, but still the young man must be trained.

The princess, Isabella, is a beautiful but unloved young woman of strong resolve and an independent mind who Longshanks sends to York to bribe Wallace. There, her eyes open to the lies told about William. She sees that he is not an uncouth barbarian, but an educated and intelligent man of conscience and moral strength. When, upon her return to London, she learns that Longshanks has only used her so that he can prepare for battle at Falkirk, she aids William by informing him of the king's plans, and on another occasion by informing him of an ambush. Robert the Bruce, in line for the Scottish throne, is drawn to the rebellion, but his father advises him otherwise: "Son, we must have alliance with England to prevail here." And so he gives into pursuing the path of least resistance. When William tries to get him to unite the clans against the English he first says he will, but ends up being on Longshanks' side at Falkirk. This nearly dashes all of William's hopes. Yet, finally, when Longshanks arranges for William's capture and execution, Robert finds the moral courage to take up Wallace's goal, and defeats the English at Bannockburn.

CHARACTERS RELATIONSHIP TO THE GOAL:

Longshanks is determined to beat or "breed" Scotland into submission. His son could care less. But Hamish, Campbell, Morrison, Murron's father, MacGregor, and Stephen, join Wallace in his determination to get the English out of Scotland. Princess Isabella, out of her love for the Scottish rebel, helps Sir William whenever she can by providing him with information on the King's intentions. The memory of Murron is the impetus for William's efforts.