Daily Dialogue — July 10, 2013
COUNT RUGEN: Kill the dark one and the giant, but leave the third for questioning.
Inigo goes wild. The fourth warrior is dead before the first one has even hit the floor.
INIGO: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Unexpectedly Rugen turns and runs the hell away. Inigo chases him through corridors. Hurls his body against a locked door.
INIGO: Fezzik, I need you —
FEZZIK: (Re: Westley) I can’t leave him alone.
INIGO: He’s getting away from me, Fezzik. Please. Fezzik!
FEZZIK: (to Westley) I’ll be right back. (finds Inigo and breaks the door down)
INIGO: Thank you.
As Inigo catches up to Rugen, Rugen throws a dagger into Inigo’s stomach.
INIGO: Sorry, father. I tried. I tried.
COUNT RUGEN: You must be that little Spanish brat I taught a lesson to all those years ago. Simply incredible. Have you been chasing me your whole life, only to fail now? I think that’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard. How marvelous.
Inigo struggles feebly, pulls the dagger from his stomach.
COUNT RUGEN: Good heavens. Are you still trying to win? You’ve got an overdeveloped sense of vengeance. It’s going to get you into trouble someday.
Rugen stabs Inigo’s left shoulder, then his right. Inigo doesn’t seem to feel it, his other agonies are so much worse. Just before the Count strikes again, Inigo manages a little flick of his own.
INIGO: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Rugen attacks, but Inigo defends vigorously.
INIGO: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. (a more vigorous bout) HELLO. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
COUNT RUGEN: Stop saying that!
INIGO: (stabs Rugen’s left shoulder, then his right) HELLO. MY NAME IS INIGO MONTOYA. YOU KILLED MY FATHER, PREPARE TO DIE.
COUNT RUGEN: No —
INIGO: Offer me money — (slashes Rugen’s left cheek)
COUNT RUGEN: Yes —
INIGO: Power, too. Promise me that — (slashes Rugen’s right cheek)
COUNT RUGEN: All that I have and more — Please —
INIGO: Offer me everything I ask for —
COUNT RUGEN: Anything you want —
INIGO: (runs his sword through Rugen’s stomach) I want my father back, you son of a bitch. (Twists sword and throws Rugen against a table.)
— The Princess Bride (1987), screenplay by William Goldman, based on his novel
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is begging for one’s life, suggested by Despina. Today’s suggestion by asmara bhattacharya.
Trivia: Max and Valerie, played by Billy Crystal and Carol Kane respectively, were named after author William Goldman’s parents, Max and Valerie.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from asmara: “This is technically 3 scenes, which is longer than I meant to do. But they work together towards the theme, are cut together nicely in this clip, and offer several takeaways. The turnarounds are fantastic, with the probable victor switching multiple times. When Inigo easily dispatches the warriors, Rugen doesn’t even beg for his life — he just flees, seemingly without end, and in a complete parody of what appeared to be “the final confrontation.” In this case, lack of dialogue wins.
Then when it seems that Inigo must beg for his life, the same dialogue over and over wins. Rugen holds his own and shows no sign of begging for his life until the line reaches its most powerful iteration.
Also interesting: Christopher Guest (Rugen) never chooses to interpret the dialogue as pathetic or desperate, instead staying irritated, pissed off, even arrogant nearly to the end. And Inigo’s repeated line has a beautifully intuitive, musical rhythm to it.”
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