Sample #3 Create a Sequel Assignment
(written by a former student in a previous class)
HUM 110: Introduction to American Film
JC Clapp, North Seattle College
This should give you an idea of what is expected. The screenplay formatting in this is especially
well done.
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
FADE IN –
EXT. FARM, TWILIGHT –
We see in a WIDE SHOT, WESTLEY chopping wood outside. The camera sweeps right to left
as he pauses to watch the slowly setting sun, and rubs sweat from his brow. He looks over to the
window of the cottage and smiles. 1
INT. FARMHOUSE, TWILIGHT –
WIDE SHOT of a monochromatic room, greys and blues, very 16th century. We’re in the
renaissance and this is a humble, successful farmhouse, somewhere in the suburbs of Guilder. 2
BUTTERCUP is reading a book to her five year-old son, who lies in bed with a cold. She is
about to finish the story. 3
BUTTERCUP
Since the invention of the kiss, there have
been five kisses that were rated the most passionate,
the most pure, this one left them all behind… The End.4
Buttercup sets the open book in her lap. The young boy is happy, but then looks confused.
YOUNG BOY
You guys really did all that?
1
By opening the first scene in the farmhouse, I am using a visual establishing wide shot. The audience can see that Westley and
Buttercup are “happily ever after”, emphasizing the beautiful countryside where they live, and that this story takes place after
their previous adventures.
This is an altered copy of the original screenplay’s opening scene. The wide shot used in PB1 by Director Rob
Reiner and copied in PB2 establishes the scene and the time period.
2
3
I decided to copy Director Rob Reiner’s opening scene, by using and mirroring some of the original film’s dialogue, and also
by using the same camera angles of Grandpa and Buttercup, as they read to the little boy. This gives the audience a chance to see
that PB2 will be playing with the original.
Buttercup’s words here are the final words of the original film. Again, establishing a connection between PB2 and
the original PB1.
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The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
BUTTERCUP
Well, it’s in the book, right?
CLOSE UP of the book in a beautiful handwritten script.
YOUNG BOY
Who wrote it? Some historian? Ha! 5
BUTTERCUP
Actually, yes. Sir William Goldman came by one day
to do research when I was pregnant with you. Nice man. 6
The boy looks at his mom with an uncertain gaze. She closes the book.
YOUNG BOY
Ok, whatever. But then what happened?
BUTTERCUP
Well…
She looks uncertain. Should she go on?
The boy looks insistent.
BUTTERCUP
Well, the rest isn’t written. Not in a book.
But you know what happened.
YOUNG BOY
I know that I happened. But what else happened?
BUTTERCUP
Clever boy. Ok.
CUT TO –
EXT. FARM, DAY –
WIDE SHOT of Westley and Buttercup on horseback, arriving on a hilltop overlooking the
farmland.
The young boy’s disbelief with his mother’s story is in line with PB1’s use of the boy’s reticence to hear his
grandfather’s story.
6
Sir William Goldman is a playful reference to the original author of the book, on which PB1 is based.
5
2
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
INTERCUT SCENES OF –
Westley and Buttercup are happily ever after. They have a farm, animals to tend, and each other
to love.
BUTTERCUP (VO)
After we escaped Prince Humperdinck and fled
from Florin, we crossed the channel and into Guilder.
Your father had considerable earnings from his time
as a pirate, so we could certainly afford the land.
The nobles from Guilder were happy to welcome us,
or at least leave us alone.
VO – BUTTERCUP (Cont’d)
Then came the message from Miracle Max.
There was trouble with Guilder. He feared that
war was imminent.
YOUNG BOY
Oh, so Humperdinck started another war?
BUTTERCUP
No. You might think so. But no, son. This time,
Humperdinck was trying to be good.
CUT TO –
INT. FLORIN CASTLE, HUMPERDINCK’S STUDY, DAY –
Even though it’s daytime, and the light is sneaking around the heavy curtains, the somewhat
darkened room is lit with candles. Humperdinck is with an advisor, the Captain of the Guard. 7
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
I’m afraid your… involvement with the… shall
I say… failed attempt, at starting a war with
Guilder, has… shall we say –
HUMPERDINCK
Just say it man.
7
This is in stark contrast to cinematographer Adrian Biddle’s lighting of the original film, which often used classic
Hollywood style high-key lighting. By using a juxtaposed outside lighting (sunshine) with interior darkness and
candles, the audience is urged to see the self-created darkness which has fallen upon Humperdinck.
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The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
Well, they don’t like it. Guilder is becoming…
Shall we say…
HUMPERDINCK
Unpleasant? Aggressive?
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
Yes. Indeed.
CUT TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE, TWILIGHT –
BUTTERCUP
Humperdink now had to avoid war.
YOUNG BOY
But he was trying to start one in the first place, right?
BUTTERCUP
Yes, but after he was disgraced, the people no
longer backed him. His captains no longer trusted him.
The kingdom was in decline. He couldn’t go to war.
Besides, as Westley and I soon found out, he had
experienced a serious change of attitude.
CUT TO –
INT. FLORIN CASTLE, BUTTERCUP’S BEDCHAMBER, NIGHT –
Scene from First Film – LONG LENS SHOT –
Westley is threatening Humperdinck. Humperdinck backs down, drops his sword, and sits in the
chair. 8
HUMPERDINCK
No one has ever spoken to me that way before.
CUT TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE, TWILIGHT –
BUTTERCUP
This is an example of Cinematographer Adrian Biddle’s use of depth of field, The sword and Westley are in focus,
but the rest of the room is out of focus. By doing so, the audience, and Humperdinck are drawn in to Westley’s
threat.
8
4
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
The whole adventure changed him. For the better.
YOUNG BOY
Really?
BUTTERCUP
Well, he was still rather annoying. But yes, he was
trying to be good.
YOUNG BOY
How could Humperdinck be good?!!
Jeesus mom!!
BUTTERCUP
Ok. Hold on. Maybe this story is too much
for you.
The boy takes a breath, calms down.
YOUNG BOY
No – I’m ok.
BUTTERCUP
Ok, well then…
WESTLEY enters the room from outside, clearly having worked all day on the farm.
BUTTERCUP
Hello farmboy.
Westley smiles. He pets his son’s head.
WESTLEY
How are you, Jack?
JACK
I’m ok dad.
Westley sees the closed book in Buttercup’s lap.
WESTLEY
The story, huh?
He laughs.
JACK
What happened next, dad?
5
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
Westley smiles at his son, looks at Buttercup, then looks serious.
WESTLEY
Pirates.
FADE TO BLACK –
MUSIC – “Story Book Love” from Original Soundtrack9
FADE IN –
ROLL CREDITS as camera moves over a map of the two kingdoms of Florin and Guilder
END CREDITS –
CROSS FADE TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE, TWILIGHT –
JACK
Pirates?! Wow!
BUTTERCUP
Inigo took your father’s advice and became the
Dread Pirate Roberts. Fezzig the Giant worked as
First Mate.
EXT. HIGH SEAS, DAY –
FEZZIG is onboard a sailing ship, waving his big hand at INIGO, who is aboard his ship, nearby.
Inigo salutes him along with a smile.
WESTLEY (VO)
The two of them were a very effective team. They
branched out, became involved in shipping, added
more ships, creating a small armada of thirteen vessels.
Camera pulls back in a WIDE CRANE SHOT and up to a WIDE SHOT of Fezzig and Inigo’s
ships, which are leading another eleven ships.
WESTLEY (VO, cont’d)
They had travelled all the way up to Greenland, Fezzig’s
homeland, for a wedding. Fezzig the Giant had finally
found a woman big enough to match him.
9
Written and composed by Mark Knopfler, sung by Willy deVille
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The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
EXT. GREENLAND, DAY –
Fezzig lifts his new bride with some effort and kisses her. She laughs as everyone cheers.
WESTLEY (VO, cont’d)
Meanwhile, Prince Humperdinck was not so happy.
INT. FLORIN CASTLE, HUMPERDINCK’S STUDY, DAY –
HUMPERDINCK sits at his desk and worries over maps, and letters from foreign powers. He
pulls at his hair and is clearly frustrated.
WESTLEY (VO, cont’d)
The old king had died, and Humperdinck was now crowned
as king. The responsibility of it all was almost too much for
him, who had previously only played at running things.
And it didn’t help that I had absolutely humiliated him.
CUT TO –
INT. FLORIN CASTLE, BUTTERCUP’S BEDCHAMBER, NIGHT –
(FOOTAGE FROM ORIGINAL FILM)
Westley stands up from the bed, raises his sword at Humperdinck.
WESTLEY
Drop… your… sword.
BUTTERCUP (VO)
It also didn’t help his confidence much that
I tied him to a chair.
Humperdinck is tied to the chair, and Westley staggers, barely able to stand.
HUMPERDINCK
I knew he was bluffing!
CUT TO –
INT. FLORIN CASTLE, HUMPERDINCK’S STUDY, DAY –
7
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
King Humperdinck holds his head in his hands, wearing the same royal robes as in the previous
scene. Overwhelmed. He is sitting in the same style chair (the same chair) he was tied to in the
previous scene. We have similar high-key lighting as in the original (previous) scene. 10
WESTLEY (VO)
KING Humperdinck’s swagger was, shall we say,
swagger-less.
BUTTERCUP (VO)
He was a broken man.
WESTLEY (VO)
Not broken. “Nearly broken.”
Humperdinck, gets an idea. He starts to write a letter.
WESTLEY (VO, cont’d)
He decided to try find help. He was desperate.
He reached out to Miracle Max.
INT. MIRACLE MAX’S HOUSE, NIGHT –
LOW KEY LIGHTING in this cramped, cluttered house of a magician. MIRACLE MAX
finishes reading a letter from Humperdinck, and wads it up. Throws it in the corner.
MIRACLE MAX
I hate this man. I don’t care what he says. I hate him!!
As Miracle Max runs about his place –
WESTLEY (VO)
Miracle Max was understandably upset from the King’s
requests for help. Humperdinck had indeed ruined Max’s
previous career. He couldn’t even stand the mention of
the man’s name.
CUT TO –
INT. MIRACLE MAX’S HOUSE, MORNING –
VALERIE, Max’s wife, is chasing Max about the house with a wrinkled letter in her hand.
VALERIE
Humperdinck!! Humperdinck!!11
10
By copying the same camera angle and lighting, as well as costume, we see the connection between
Humperdinck’s defeat in PB1 and his continuing failure in PB2.
11
Valerie also chased Max and yelled Humperdink’s name to get him to change his mind in the original film.
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The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
Max runs from her, and she chases him around the table. He holds his hands over his ears.
MIRACLE MAX
I’m not listening!!!
VALERIE
Husband, you will listen to me!! You have to do
the right thing!!
Max and Valerie stop chasing each other and stand across the table from each other. Max slaps
the table.
MIRACLE MAX
I did do the right thing, when I helped that boy,
that Westley. And he went on to defeat that terrible
prince. That’s the story. It’s in a book!
She admires him for a moment, but is ready to get mad again.
VALERIE
Oh, yes. And it was indeed one of your greatest feats.
That Miracle Pill.
. He accepts the praise warily.
VALERIE (cont’d)
But that’s NOT the end of the story is it?
There’s more. And here we are. What do we do now?
A Kingdom in disarray, and a King, whom you do
indeed rightfully, dislike –
MIRACLE MAX
Dislike?! I can’t stand him!!
VALERIE
You are truly at odds. But this king, even though he is
perhaps the biggest jerk ever, well, he and our
kingdom need some help.
Max is not amused.
MIRACLE MAX
And…?
VALERIE
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The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
He is outside right now. You need to talk with him
and make some kind of arrangement.
MIRACLE MAX
What!?!?!
VALERIE
You need to help him. Help the Kingdom.
And I think you are the only one who can.
CUT TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE, DAY –
CLOSE UP of the young boy, as he sits up a bit in bed, agitated.
JACK
Wait a second. Come on! Miracle Max, actually
Speaking with Prince Humperdinck?? No way!12
WESTLEY
Oh yes. You see, Prince, now King Humperdinck
was truly desperate, and came to Miracle Max
on, well, almost bended knee.
EXT. MIRACLE MAX’S HOUSE, MORNING –
King Humperdinck waits outside Max’s house, arranging a handkerchief on the ground to place
his knee on, but unable to actually do it.
Max opens the door upon this awkward situation.
They stare at one another for a beat.
They both try and speak at the same time.
HUMPERDINCK
Max –
And at the same time (overlap voice)
MIRACLE MAX
You…
12
Again we see the young boy reacting to the story, as in the original PB1.
10
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
An awkward moment.
HUMPERDINCK
Please hear me out –
MIRACLE MAX
I don’t like you.
HUMPERDINCK
Fair enough. I know. I deserve that.
He looks to Valerie, who gives him a nod. Go on.
WESTLEY (VO)
Humperdinck and Max eventually came to an
understanding.
Valerie brow-beats Max into listening to Humpredinck. She chases him around the table this
time with a rolling pin raised.
WESTLEY (VO cont’d)
And Max decided to give Humperdinck another chance.
He made the king a first ever miracle pill for combating
the somewhat ubiquitous problem in this world, especially
in his case, of being, well, how shall we put this..?
CUT TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE, TWILIGHT –
The boy listens to his father. Buttercup intervenes.
BUTTERCUP
Of being a bit of a jerk. The pill helped him not
be like that.
Westley smiles at her.
WESTLEY
Well said.
The boy laughs.
JACK
An anti-jerk pill.
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The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
Westley tousles his son’s hair and laughs with him.
WESTLEY
Again, well said.
CUT TO –
EXT. THE CASTLE GARDENS, DAY –
King Humperdinck is on hands and knees gardening, having a great time.
WESTLEY (VO)
The pill seemed to work. Humperdinck looked to
be a changed man.
The Captain of the Guard approaches the King.
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
Sire…
The Captain, who was always uncomfortable around Prince Humperdinck, clearly doesn’t know
how to act around the changed King Humperdinck.
HUMPERDINCK
Hmmm?
The King continues gardening without looking up. He is engrossed with his task of weeding the
flower beds.
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD13
Sire… Um… Well, how to say…?
Humperdinck smoothes the dirt around the base of a beautiful rosebush.
HUMPERDINCK
Yes…?
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
Guilder has… that is the Kingdom of Guilder…
HUMPERDINCK
Mmm-hmmm?
13
Again, we see the Captain of the Guard being uncomfortable around Humperdinck, as in the original film.
12
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
Guilder has declared war.
King Humperdinck finally looks up at the Captain. He is distressed, confused, and lost.
HUMPERDINCK
But… why?
The Captain seems to be explaining things to Humperdinck as:
WESTLEY (VO)
King Humperdinck was perhaps a new and better man,
but he was a terrible King. His Captain of the Guard
had a decent grasp of the situation, and explained to the
King that Guilder was none too pleased with his
actions as Prince. They had decided, with the help of
a new advisor, to wage war against Florin.
King Humperdinck was unpopular in the eyes of his
people, and therefore weak.
HUMPERDINCK
But, I sent them an apology letter… I sent roses…
He is clearly not up to task.
The Captain sets in again, explaining things, as:
EXTREME CLOSE UP –
WESTLEY (VO)
Guilder didn’t want an apology. They wanted first
blood. 14
CUT TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE, TWILIGHT –
BUTTERCUP
The fools. They could have just left it be.
WESTLEY
But not with HIM as an advisor. He twisted things.
Jack looks at his parents, searching them in their sudden silence.
JACK
14
By using an extreme close up, emphasis is placed upon Westley’s statement.
13
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
Who..?
WESTLEY
Vissini.
JACK
I thought he died from the duel you had with him.
The iocane powder. You beat him!!
WESTLEY
So I thought. But I was wrong. 15
CUT TO –
(FOOTAGE FROM ORIGINAL FILM)
EXT. HILLTOP, DAY –
Vissini and Westley are at the table, engaged in a duel of wits.
They have just both drank the wine before them.
HIGH ANGLE SHOT –16
VISSINI
… and never go in against a Sicilian when death is
on the line.
Vissini laughs maniacally, then suddenly falls to the side, apparently dead.
CUT TO –
INT. MIRACLE MAX’S HOUSE, NIGHT –
A knock at Max’s door. Door opens. Max ushers in two men carrying Vissini’s body.
WESTLEY (VO)
But apparently Vissini had put in place a binding
contract with Miracle Max. He had a Get out of
Death Free card. Of course, it wasn’t free. It was actually
quite expensive, so I hear.
BUTTERCUP
Farmboy – get on with the story!!
15
Westley defeated Vissini by dosing him with iocane powder, from Australia. If further pages were to be written on
this story, iocane powder an Australia would be referenced again.
16
The high angle shot on Vissini from the original PB1, diminishes his power, suggesting to the audience that
Vissini is weaker that Westley, who is framed in low angle “Hero” shots.
14
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
WESTLEY
As you wish.
Westley and Buttercup share a moment, and smile.
Jack smirks.
JACK
Yuk. On with the story!!
WESTLEY (cont’d)
Ok, ok. So…
CUT TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE, EVENING –
WIDE SHOT of the farmhouse. 17Five years earlier. A pregnant Buttercup tries to reach for a
bowl on a shelf in the kitchen. Westley gets it for her and they smile.
WESTLEY (VO)
We had a couple of quite unexpected visitors.
A knock at the door.
Westley opens the door to reveal Inigo and Fezzig, both in pirate gear.
INIGO
Hello, my friend.
WESTLEY
Well if it isn’t the Dread Pirate Roberts,
and the Brute Squad!!
INIGO
My name, is Inigo Montoya…
They embrace.
CROSS FADE TO –
Inigo and Fezzig are it the table with Westley and Buttercup. Inigo is explaining their visit as
Fezzig gently pets Buttercup’s round belly, delighted by the occasional kick from the baby.
17
By using the wide shot once again, we establish the location.
15
The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
WESTLEY (VO)
We were happy to see our old friends and to
hear about their exploits as pirates, and now
as very successful trade merchants. But Inigo
had more to say.
Inigo leans forward over the table.
INIGO
War is coming to the kingdoms, my friends.
We can’t let that happen.
FEZZIG
Bad for the people.
INIGO
Bad for piracy.
WESTLEY
And I would assume, bad for trade?
Inigo smiles.
BUTTERCUP
Who put you up to this? And what do we have
to do with it? Or you?
Inigo waits a beat.
INIGO
Humperdinck.
CROSS FADE –
Inigo and Fezzig explain to the wary couple.
WESTLEY (VO)
The pirates told us of Humperdinck’s transformation.
It took a while, but we believed our friends. We
agreed to help them.
CUT TO –
INT. FARMHOUSE BEDROOM, TWILIGHT –
Back to the present (16th century).
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The Princess Bride 2 – The Rise of Guilder
JACK
What could you do?
Buttercup and Westley laugh out loud.
BUTTERCUP
Weren’t you listening to the story I read you?
She holds the book up before her son’s eyes.
JACK
Yeah, but that’s just a story-book story. 18
WESTLEY
Son, your mother is both brave and very clever.
BUTTERCUP
And your father is the greatest swordsman in
the two kingdoms.
Jack rolls his eyes.
WESTLEY
Ok, maybe it’s time for bed. If you’re not going to
take this seriously…
Jack sits up, pleading.
JACK
No, no. I’m listening! I’m serious! Please, go on.
Buttercup takes Westley’s hand, and they both settle back into their chairs by the boy’s bedside.
WESTLEY
Ok. Where were we…?
FADE OUT –
MUSIC – “Story-book Love” theme song…
18
This is a reference to the lyrics from PB1’s theme song “Story Book Love” played during the final credits.
“My love is like a story-book story…”
17