Braveheart (1995)

Angus Macfadyen: Robert the Bruce

Photos 

Quotes 

• Robert the Bruce : Lands, titles, men, power, nothing.

  Robert's Father : Nothing?

  Robert the Bruce : I have nothing. Men fight for me because if they do not, I throw them off my land and I starve their wives and their children. Those men who bled the ground red at Falkirk, they fought for William Wallace, and he fights for something that I never had. And I took it from him, when I betrayed him. I saw it in his face on the battlefield and it's tearing me apart.

  Robert's Father : All men betray. All lose heart.

  Robert the Bruce : I don't want to lose heart. I want to believe as he does.

• Robert the Bruce : [his last line, to the Scots]  You have bled with Wallace.

  [unsheathes his sword] 

  Robert the Bruce : NOW BLEED WITH *ME*!

• Robert the Bruce : I'm not a coward. I want what you want, but we need the nobles.

  William Wallace : We need them?

  Robert the Bruce : Aye.

  William Wallace : Nobles.

  [laughs a little] 

  William Wallace : Now tell me, what does that mean to be noble? Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country, but men don't follow titles, they follow courage. Now our people know you. Noble, and common, they respect you. And if you would just lead them to freedom, they'd follow you. And so would I

• Robert the Bruce : I respect what you said, but remember that these men have lands and castles. It's much to risk.

  William Wallace : And the common man, who bleeds on the battlefield, does he risk less?

• Robert's Father : At last, you know what it means to hate. Now you're ready to be a king.

  Robert the Bruce : My hate will die with you.

• Robert's Father : I'm the one who's rotting, but I think your face looks graver than mine. Son, we must have alliance with England to prevail here. You achieved that. You saved your family; increased your land. In time you will have all the power in Scotland.

  Robert the Bruce : Lands, titles, men, power... Nothing.

  Robert's Father : Nothing?

  Robert the Bruce : I have nothing. Men fight for me because if they do not, I throw them off my land and I starve their wives and children. Those men who bled the ground red at Falkirk fought for William Wallace. He fights for something that I never had. And I took it from him when I betrayed him. I saw it in his face on the battlefield and it's tearing me apart.

  Robert's Father : All men betray. All lose heart.

  Robert the Bruce : I don't want to lose heart! I want to believe as he does... I will never be on the wrong side again.

• Robert the Bruce : Now, you've achieved more than anyone ever dreamed. But, fighting these odds, it looks like rage, not courage.

  William Wallace : It's well beyond rage. Help me. In the name of Christ, help yourselves. Now is our chance. Now. If we join, we can win. If we win, well then we'll have what none of us has ever had before: a country of our own.

• Robert's Father : Longshanks required Wallace. So did our nobles. That was the price of your crown.

  Robert the Bruce : DIE. I want you to die.

• Robert the Bruce : [Robert the Bruce is visiting his leper father]  Father?

  Robert's Father : Ah, come in. Come in.

  Robert the Bruce : A rebellion has begun.

  Robert's Father : [pause]  Under whom?

  Robert the Bruce : A commoner... named William Wallace.

  Robert's Father : [another pause]  You will embrace this rebellion. Support it from our lands in the north. I will gain English favor by condemning it and ordering opposed from our lands in the south. Sit down. Stay awhile.

  Robert the Bruce : This Wallace... he doesn't even have a knighthood. But he *fights*, with *passion*, and he *inspires*.

  Robert's Father : [laughing]  And you wish to charge off and fight as he did, eh?

  [Robert nods slightly] 

  Robert's Father : So would I, eh?

  [he laughs again] 

  Robert the Bruce : Well, maybe it's time.

  Robert's Father : [the elder man stops laughing]  It is time... to *survive*. You're the seventeenth Robert Bruce. The sixteen before you passed you land and title because they *didn't* charge in. Call a meeting of the nobles.

  Robert the Bruce : But, they do nothing but talk.

  Robert's Father : Rightly so. They're as rich in English titles and lands as they are in Scottish, just as we are. You admire this man, this William Wallace. Uncompromising men are easy to admire. He has courage; so does a dog. But it is exactly the ability to *compromise* that makes a man noble. And understand this: Edward Longshanks is the most ruthless king ever to sit on the throne of England. And none of us, and nothing of Scotland will remain, unless *we* are as ruthless. Give ear to our nobles. Knowing their minds is the key to the throne.

• [first lines] 

  Narrator : I shall tell you of William Wallace. Historians from England will say I am a liar, but history is written by those who have hanged heroes. The king of Scotland had died without a son, and the king of England, a cruel pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, claimed the throne of Scotland for himself. Scotland's nobles fought him, and fought each other, over the crown. So Longshanks invited them to talks of truce - no weapons, one page only. Among the farmers of that shire was Malcolm Wallace, a commoner with his own lands; he had two sons, John and William.

  Malcolm Wallace : I told ye to stay.

  Young William : Well, I finished my work. Where're we goin'?

  Malcolm Wallace : McAndrews'. He was supposed to visit when the gatherin' was over.

  Young William : Can I come?

  Malcolm Wallace : No! Go home, boy.

  Young William : But I want to go.

  Malcolm Wallace : Go home, William, or you'll feel the back o' my hand.

• Robert the Bruce : ...After his execution, the body of William Wallace was torn to pieces. His head was mounted on London Bridge. His limbs were sent to the four corners of Britain as a warning. The effect it had was great... but it was not the effect that Longshanks planned. And I rode out to pay homage to the armies of England's new king, and to accept his endorsement of my crown.

• Robert the Bruce : This cannot be the way!

  Robert's Father : You said yourself, the nobles will not support Wallace. So how does it help us to join the side that is slaughtered?

  Robert the Bruce : [hopelessly]  I gave him my word.

  Robert's Father : [gently]  I know it is hard. Being a leader is. But, son... son... look at me. I cannot be king. You, and you alone, can rule Scotland. What I tell you, you must do. Not for me, not for yourself, but for your country.