Gawain and the Green Knight (1973) - full transcript

NARRATOR: Our tale has been
sung by bards and minstrels

down through the centuries.

The legend of Gawain
and the Green Knight.

Long ago, when pagan gods

haunted the world
and good men
longed for miracles,

there towered
upon a craggy cliff
by a winter sea

the rugged
fortress of Camelot.

(TRUMPETS PLAYING)

Many years had passed
since founding
the Round Table.

War had ceased and
the land secured.

The knights grew
slack and settled,



chivalry declined,

and the ideals of knighthood
fell into neglect.

Only Gawain, a humble squire,

prayed for knightly
glory and adventure.

King Arthur
feared for his realm
and as the old year waned,

he summoned his
knights to a feast.

A feast he would make sure
they would never forget.

Take it away!

Take it all away!

I am not hungry.

In fact, this whole
feast turns my stomach.

And so to speak
God's truth, do you?

Not yet!

We have feasted too
much of late years.



We have
quenched our knighthood
with too many cups of wine.

Therefore tonight
not one crust of bread,

not one mouthful of wine,

until I know that the men I
feast with are still deservant

of the name of knight!

(AWED GASPS)

So rich a feast and
yet an empty throne?

You may have found a
castle with its guards asleep,

but not a court
without a king.

By this staff, great King,
you may know I come in peace.

All I seek is good sport.

(SHOCKED GASPS)

And the ax would
suggest the sport.

Single combat to the death?

Ha ha.

It is yuletide,
and the old year is dying
to make way for the new.

I propose a game more in
keeping with the season.

Here is my ax.

Feel it! Huh?

(LAUGHS)

It is a heavy instrument,
but true,

and for sharpness

the East wind
is not its equal.

Sirs,

I offer it to you.

I shall kneel here

with neck bare

for any man who dares the deed
to hack my head
from off my shoulders.

Come, take up the ax.

There is no trick.

I will not flinch away or
seek to defend myself.

I will kneel here
ready for the blow.

Uh... One blow and no more.

All I ask is that afterwards

I shall be
allowed to return it
in a like manner.

(LAUGHS) It's a simple game.

A cut for a cut.

Is there no man among you
who will play my game?

What kind of
court is this, hmm?

Where is your pride?
Your prowess?

Your courage?

I am waiting.

My neck grows cold.

If you are so firmly
set on seeking folly,

then by Heaven
you shall find it.

I will take the ax myself

-and bestow
the boon you claim of us.
-My Liege.

What are you doing,
you young fool?

My Liege, give me the game.

Let the cut be mine.

(COURT JEERING)

Quiet!

I will have quiet!

A while since I
doubted your right
still to be called knights.

Now, God help us all,
I see there is no
longer any room for doubt.

Only one man in the court
had the courage to
take up the challenge.

And since he is
but a humble squire,
let him come here.

Arise a knight, Sir Gawain.

Now the challenge is accepted.

Young Gawain.

You have but the one blow.

Take care there is
no chance afterwards
of its being returned to you.

Sir Knight, it may be too late
after I have dealt my blow

for you to tell us
your name and your home.

You know of me all
you have need to know.

Come.

Let the game begin.

(SHOCKED GASPS)

I came to
challenge a man, not a boy,

and a sorry thing it would be
to slay one so young.

Because you are
green and unschooled,

and you humble those
whose courage could not rise
to my challenge,

I give you another year's
grace to grow your beard.

Another twelve months of
life to do with as you will,

and if you
choose to spend them
seeking me

and find me
before the year is out,

I give you leave to challenge
me to any form of
combat that you will.

But, mark,
when four seasons have passed
and you find me not

then I will claim my right
to an undefended blow.

Where will I know
where to find you?

If you do not find me

I will send you
guides and counselors

signs and portents to set you
on the right path.

And this shall
be a sign unto you

the advent of green
proclaims that I am at hand.

Bright green is the mark
of your deliverance.

NARRATOR:
Gawain resolved not to
pass the year in idleness,

but to set out at once
with Humphrey, his squire,

in quest of the Green Knight.

Weapons, armor, horses,
all had to be
borrowed from the King,

the loan to be redeemed only
by the success of his mission.

Failure would bring death.

What adventure lay ahead?

Could the supernatural power
of the Green Knight

be overcome from
a beardless boy?

Gawain left
Camelot a green youth

determined to return a man.

Seldom resting, sparing
neither horse or man,

he searched from
dawn till dusk.

Stealthily,
the seasons changed

and the delicate hues
of spring stirred the land

deep in winter somnolence.

Could the budding green of
spring herald
the hour of combat

with his mysterious foe?

Gawain hoped
the time was surely near.

GAWAIN: At last a sign.
The Green Knight.

Come on.

Enter and be welcome.

This is a trick.

You need fear no
treachery at my hands.

GAWAIN:
What then are the signs
that I have been following?

Patience, young hot blood.

Here is a haven.

Rest,
and you will learn in time.

I have no need to tarry,
my way is clear.

I have only to
find the Green Knight.

Sir Gawain, I know nothing
of the signs
that led you here.

I know nothing of
this knight you seek.

Yet, in so strange a quest,

no trail is too
strange to follow.

Young man, ride on.

Let your horses'
shadows fall behind you,

but ride on still.

At the sea's edge
you will come upon
the Grotto of the Green Stone.

There you will find a spring,
a chalice and a green stone.

Take the water to the stone.

(ETHEREAL VOICE): Gawain.
Gawain.

Gawain.

Gawain.

Gawain.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(GULLS CRYING)

MAN: Young Knight!

Young Knight,
what have I done to you

that you commit
a crime against me?

What does he mean?

I am protector of this grotto.

I beg your forgiveness.

You have violated
our sacred spring.

I couldn't know
the storm would come.

By your evil act

you have brought down
the torrents of Heaven.

I have no
quarrel with you, sir.

You have defiled the spring

from which our
land of Lyonesse
draws sustenance.

Get thee an arm!

(HORSE WHINNYING)

(GAWAIN CRYING OUT)

NARRATOR: The goodly
charger cantered on,

a warrior's horse
bearing faithfully
to the end it's dying master.

Gawain had
inflicted a mortal wound.

MAN:
The Black Knight approaches.
Open the gates.

(ALL CLAMORING)

NARRATOR: Black Knight,
by grace of God,
Lord of Lyonesse,

protector of the Grotto of
the Green Stone, was dead.

His good wife,
the Lady of Lyonesse,

mourned the passing of her
beloved spouse
and vowed vengeance.

Revenge. I will be revenged!

We must search for the villain
who slew my noble lord.

My Lady,

do not send forth
your men-at-arms.

There is no need to
search for this man.

How dare you even
think of such a thing.

He will come to us.

(ALL CLAMORING)

Please take this ring.

Put it on your finger,
and hide
the stone in your hand.

So long as you hide the stone
it will hide you.

It has magic powers
to change all things,

but beware not to drop it.

As soon as the gates
are opened, follow me.

MAN 1: He's gone.

MAN 2: He's gone. Disappeared.

(ALL CLAMORING)

You saved my life
and I don't even
know your name.

I'm called Linet.

Does it hurt very much?

I must bind it.

Sweet Linet, why are
you doing this for me?

I'm an enemy of your land.

I know only that
you needed my help,
and that you need it still.

It's just that
it was as though
you were expecting me.

Yes, I was expecting you.

-So you knew of my coming?
-Yes.

I have always known it.

I have always known that once
within these walls,

you would be in sore
peril of your life,

and I must use my
ring to save you.

And then?

Do you not know what land
this is that you have entered?

No.

This is Lyonesse,
the lost land of Lyonesse.

Lost

in
the wilderness of past dreams
and ages yet to come.

(BELL TOLLING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

-The Kingdom mourns.
-The Black Knight?

Why? Why was he
wearing a green plume?

Green is
the color of elfin kind.

Spring's resurrection,
the color of the dead.

No other knight in this world
carries that
color on his crest.

Then it was he.

Three days ago,
a knight dressed in green

crossed the path of
our protector and he,

when challenged to fight,

refused but paid tribute
with one of his
own green plumes.

I told my master it would
bring him ill
fortune to wear it,

and I was right.

The Green Knight.
I must find him.

I must play out the game.

Linet?

Linet.

-LADY LYONESSE:
I will not listen.
-LINET: Please hear me out.

You have been hiding him.
That's why he's
not been found.

-Admit it.
-No, you don't understand...

Yes. Yes.

Treason, indeed.
I'll have your head for this.

Guards!

Guards!

I submit myself to your mercy

for I am the knight you seek.

You may withdraw.

I meant no harm to your lord.

I swear to God I was tricked
into that killing,

and I humbly beg
your forgiveness.

Mmm.

Forgive me, child,

I have misjudged your purpose.

I see now that you sheltered
this valiant knight

from the highest of motives,

the welfare of our
land of Lyonesse.

Who better to be
the new
defender of our spring.

Come.

I will call a meeting
of the Royal Counsel
and summon my bishops tonight.

As soon as My
Lord is given burial.

Lady, forgive us for having
broken into your mourning.

Oh, why should I mourn?

My late husband
was a terrible man.

From our marriage night
he proved a most cruel tyrant.

He bled the very people
he should have protected.

And what is more, far worse,

he treated me
like a hedgerow hag.

No tenderness, no respect...

No, I cannot speak of it.

And the wenching
and the drinking.

Many is
the morning I have buckled on
his armor with my own hands

because I was ashamed
for his squires to
see his sorry state.

(CHUCKLES)

You cannot know what I have
suffered all these years,

but now everything is changed.

We have a true champion
to defend the kingdom.

And be my husband.

What have I done?

It was no fault of yours.

I just wanted you
to stay in Lyonesse.

You truly wanted me to stay?

Oh, Linet.

And I've done you nothing but
harm and now you've got to go,

and quickly,

-if you can win
free of the castle.
-I will not go without you.

You cannot know
what you are saying.

There must be
some way of escape.

For you,
but you must go alone.

Do you not want to go with me?

I do.

Yes, you do.

As I knew that one
day you would come,

as I knew that one
day I would save you.

GUARD: After them!

(GROANS)

(GRUNTS)

(SCREAMS)

(GROANS)

GUARD: Quickly, over there!

Gawain.

Gawain, take care!

(GRUNTING)

Gawain the ring will save you.

(WIND HOWLING)

Linet?

Linet!

Linet.

Linet!

(MEN CHANTING)

(AWED GASPS)

Peace.

I come in peace.
Where are you traveling?

We are pilgrims,
we have been traveling

for many years,
for all time, it seems,

but our wandering continues.

In your wanderings,

did any one of you

see a fair maiden wearing
a ring in which is set
a strange stone?

No. No.

Or the knight,
garbed all in green.

Green-haired and bearded

with eyes of
green fire and ice.

Once seen one would never
forget such a one.

Indeed one would not, my son.

Such vexing
questions from one so young.

Then what shall I do?

Come with us, my son.

I am bound by another quest.

I must find my own way.

NARRATOR: Bereft of his
enchanting Linet, and with no
comrade to cheer him,

Gawain tramped
the vagrant by-ways
resolute upon his quest.

Gray spring
yielded to bleak summer,

a summer of dust and drought.

A glaring
summer without solace
for the valiant young knight.

Come harvest time,
tidings reached him
that many leagues to the north

there dwelt
the wisest of wise men

who favored garments
trimmed with green.

But some claimed he was
the greatest of fools

to sport the color
of the elfin kind.

Such dubious fame
Gawain could only read

as a portent of
the Green Knight.

Is anybody there?

(CREAKING)

Who is it?

And whom do you come seeking?

I come seeking the wise man.

And you have found him.
(LAUGHS)

I said,
and you have found him.

You have been long
on your journey, Sir Gawain.

If you know so much of me,

can you tell me where I can
find the Green
Knight whom I seek?

The Green Knight? Aye,
I know all about
the Green Knight.

I know of
the challenge between you

and I know that
you will meet him
at a green chapel

when the time falls due.

I, truly.
I know all about that.
(LAUGHS)

At last!

O wisest of wise men,

can you tell me the road
to this green chapel?

(EXCLAIMS IN FRIGHT)

That is a thing
beyond my telling.

But, you said...

That I knew of your challenge
and your meeting
at the green chapel.

One is a thing of the past,
the other is yet to come.

I know all things of the past
and most things of the future,

but what you ask me
is of the present.

And the present
is the one thing
in all the world

of which I know
absolutely nothing.

But you said...

When you come to think of it,

perhaps that's why
men call me the fool.

Good day!

(FLAMES BURSTING)

GREEN KNIGHT: I will send you
guides and counselors,

signs and portents
to set you on the right path.

(PANTING)

Lyonesse!

LINET: This is Lyonesse.

The lost land of Lyonesse.

Lost in
the wilderness of past dreams
and ages yet to come.

Humphrey?

Whoa!

Hey!

(BOTH LAUGHING)

-Hey!
-Hey!

Where have you
been, eh?

I searched for you.

I tried to find you
but you disappeared.

NARRATOR: Linet pondered upon
her strange dream
of the Green Knight

and the finding
of the green sash.

She was not aware
that danger approached

from the domain of the robber
Baron Fortinbras.

To the eyes of his
devious Seneschal,

and to Oswald,
the Baron's scapegrace son,

a defenseless maid

was always
a desirable conquest.

(URGING HORSE)

(LINET SCREAMING)

Don't be a fool.

Look, there are at least
ten of them,

maybe more nearby.

Come on.

Now!

Are these knaves
the best you could find?

My Lord,
these were the only ones
who were fit enough.

Then they'll have to do.

(SHOUTING) Stand proud.

For today you join the army
of his most exalted Highness,

the Baron Fortinbras.

(SOLDIERS LAUGHING)

(SOLDIERS SINGING)

(SIGHING)

(SOLDIERS LAUGHING)

(LOUD THUD)

You!

You there!

Don't you know
how to use a sword
better than that?

No.

Show me.

You see,

a sword is three foot
of tempered steel,

with death
dancing at every inch

and hanging like a dark star

on the very point.

You don't wield it
like a broomstick,

but so!

(OSWALD GRUNTING)

SENESCHAL:
Your pupils learn quickly.

No doubt due
to your excellent teaching.

I think perhaps it is time
for an even sterner exercise.

For the Pas d'Armes.

That should show us what stuff

our young warrior is made of.

Hey, you!

Young man,

you must defend that position
against any and all comers

from this time until sunset.

Take care you
don't disappoint us.

That's it, get him!

(GROANING)

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(GROANING)

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(ALL APPLAUDING)

(ALL CHEERING)

(MAN GROANING)

(ALL CHEERING)

To the death.

You dare defy me!

What happy occasion
have I interrupted?

A combat to the death?

My Lord,
these men found guilty
of gross insubordination

to your high office.

We decided, quite naturally,
one must pay with his life.

(LAUGHING)

Well done, good Seneschal.
Well done!

Well, our bellies
are howling with hunger
after our long journey

and death sits not easy on
an empty stomach. (LAUGHS)

First let us feast.

And let these
wretches join our feast.

Let them eat their fill
on this,
their last day on Earth.

And then the child declared
he owed his loyalty to...

Bertilak!

And when I said
I'd have his head
for that, he fled!

(LAUGHING)

-Father, I want a word.
-Not now, my boy.

Later, my boy. Later.

(SHOUTING)

Let's have some entertainment.

Hey!

Bring on the fatted calves.

(ALL CHEERING)

Now!

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(LAUGHING)

SOLDIER: My Lord!

What?

-My Lord!
-What is it?

Sir Bertilak and retinue
are outside the gates.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

SOLDIER: Sir Bertilak wishes
parley with you.

Let him enter.

(ALL TALKING EXCITEDLY)

(SILENCE)

Ah! Sir Bertilak.

We are indeed honored
by such an august presence.

I did not come here
to dally with you.

Your ceaseless raiding
into my Western
provinces must stop.

From this day forward,
my people must be safe.

Your provinces?

(CROCKERY SHATTERING)

This land is mine!

Then it is war.

Sir Bertilak,

perhaps another way
may be found

to settle our differences.

Wars, after all,
are such a clumsy way
to settle anything.

We can offer in exchange
for this desolate swamp land,

a prize which
fortune has found fit

to strew among our path.

A treasure worth
a dozen provinces.

It is a maiden.

So fair she would put
even
the silvery moon to shame.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(GUARD LAUGHING)

(DOOR OPENING)

(DOOR SLAMMING)

(METAL CLANGING)

(GRUNTING)

(METAL CLANGING)

(GRUNTING)

(SOLDIER GROANING)

(SCREAMS)

Humphrey!

Here!

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

GAWAIN: Linet!

Here!

Linet.

(DOOR OPENING)

(STRUGGLING)

Linet!

Linet!

Linet!

(SCREAMING)

(OSWALD SHOUTING)

GAWAIN: Linet!

(LINET SCREAMING)

(SCREAMING)

GAWAIN: (SHOUTING) Linet!

(GRUNTING)

(STRUGGLING)

(LINET SCREAMING)

GAWAIN: Linet!

Linet!

LINET: Gawain!

GAWAIN: Linet!

(STRUGGLING)

Gawain.

You must know I
share your sorrow.

(SIGHING)

We must keep moving.

They'll be looking for us
everywhere.

We must find some horses.

And these clothes,
they could
easily recognize us.

Gawain!
Quickly, we must hurry!

No, Humphrey, I can't.

It's no good, I can't go on.

Well, you just can't sit there
and let them take you.

I'd as soon.

I've nothing to live for.

Well, we'll find
something later on,

but for now it's enough
to keep moving.

Look, come on, man.
Come to your senses!

Oh, get off!

For God's sake, get off!

I'll go my own way.

HUMPHREY: Gawain!

NARRATOR: Now was his ordeal
ever more arduous.

Haunted by a nightmare

of his fair enchantress
consumed by flames,

Gawain deserted the
trail of the Green Knight

and, in sore distress,
roamed the desolate places

without hope or aim.

All that somber
fall he wandered,

half slain by autumn gales
that bared the trees.

Green leaves yellowed,
turned russet brown.

A sign to
Gawain's fevered mind

that his adversary
also had abandoned the game.

(PANTING)

(CRYING)

(CRYING)

I hope to God
there's someone here.

(SOBBING)

If there's anybody there,
let me in.

Please,
God, in the name of charity,
let me in!

(GATE OPENING)

GAWAIN: In the name
of Christian charity

let me in.

PORTER: Patience! Patience!

I'm coming.

(SHOUTING) I'm coming.

Is it you who was calling?

What do you mean
by disturbing a good man?

Go on! Off with you.

We have no truck with beggars
in this court,

no indeed.

Good man, I am a knight,
not a beggar.

I have traveled very far.

Take me to your master.

You, a knight? (LAUGHS)

Take you to my master?

Let me tell you,
he's not so
comical minded as me.

He just might not see
the joke of it.

I said take me...

All right, all right.

But let me warn you,

whatever you are,

if he finds
himself not amused,

oh, yes indeed,

you will be the sorry one.

Come on.

In you go.

They're only sleeping off
a hard night's drinking.

All's well.

(CHUCKLING)

(SNORING)

Great Lord!

I pray your pardon
for disturbing you.

I am Gawain.

I am a knight and
of a noble court,

though I look more fitted

for carrying a staff
and a begging bowl.

I have journeyed far,

I am sick and sore
in need of shelter.

Open those shutters there.

Young Knight, you shall have
what you seek

and you shall not leave here

till you are made
right well again.

I bid you welcome, Sir Gawain.

Prepare the finest chamber.

Meantime,
we will to the chapel.

(MEN CHANTING)

(BELLS TOLLING)

(BELLS TOLLING)

(BELLS TOLLING)

Oh, Linet, it is you.

I thought it was the fever.

Oh, Linet!

(SOBBING)

I've...

I've been looking for you
for so long,

so many places.

I've dreamed of you so often

and of having found you,

waking always to that same
emptiness of loss.

Now, you're here.

Oh, God is good.

LINET: Yes.
In his infinite mercy,
he sent me a protector.

Sir Bertilak brought me out
of my captivity.

He must have carried you away.

That was not the way of it.

He found me
when I was in
peril of my life...

(SCREAMING)

(SCREAMING)

LINET:
Sir Bertilak could have done
what he would with me,

but he set me free.

And he told me
that I must stay
or go as my heart bade me,

and I thought
that I had lost you
for all time

and Sir Bertilak
was so kind and good.

So, I chose to stay.

I'll take you away.

(DOOR OPENING)

Aha! This makes good seeing.

Linet must have
tended you well

for already the life
is coming back into you.

You're on the mend,

soon you will be well again.

Seems that your prayers
have been answered.

NARRATOR:
Linet's affectionate care,

and the healing
herbs she gave him
by the homely fireside,

slowly mended Gawain's
tortured health.

LINET:
Now you look like the Gawain
I used to know.

NARRATOR:
Winter was upon them,

but not for him the rough
and ready yuletide pleasures.

(HUNTING HORN BLOWING)

NARRATOR: Let Sir
Bertilak hunt wild boar,

pursue the elusive fox,
chase deer in frosted woods.

Gawain would
husband his strength

for the hour of his
deliverance or death from
the Green Knight,

was now but one day distant.

Take anything you want of me.

(GAWAIN SIGHING)

If we were to kiss,

our hearts would fly together
and there would be no parting.

Ever again.

(WHISPERING) Please anything.

And tomorrow, after I've gone,

will not the sorrow
be all the more harder

for the both of us to bear?

And you maybe only one day
left for sorrow

and I shall have many.
Days and days

to want you and long for you.

I love you.
I've always loved you.

Gawain!

I want to give you something.

Take this sash,
which I wear round my waist.

Wear it tomorrow
and no evil will befall you.

Please take it.

What magic can overcome
the Green Knight?

I will wear it as
a token of our love,

for the rest of my life.

GAWAIN: I'm glad to
see you, Humphrey.

HUMPHREY: I was expecting you.

GAWAIN: Were you?

HUMPHREY: I heard the maiden
was not dead and in Sir
Bertilak's protection.

I knew that one day
you'd make your way to her.

GAWAIN: Linet, go back.

You know where I must ride.

I ride with you.

Young Knight,

you have robbed
us of the prize.

(HORSES WHINNYING)

(KNIGHT GRUNTING)

(METAL CLANKING)

GAWAIN: Ah!

(GAWAIN GROANING)

(STRUGGLING)

(GAWAIN GROANING)

(GRUNTING)

You think you are the victor?

You think that,

but soon you
shall meet my master.

Baron Fortinbras will come.

He will come, I tell you!

(EXCLAIMING JOYFULLY)

(SENESCHAL LAUGHING)

(SCREAMING)

(FORTINBRAS LAUGHING)

(SWORDS CLANGING)

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(FORTINBRAS EXCLAIMS)

-(GAWAIN GRUNTING)
-(FORTINBRAS EXCLAIMS)

Come on.

Now, let no man say
he can overcome you.

And let no man say
he can overcome me.

I must go, Linet.

Welcome to my dwelling.

Kneel and make ready
to receive your cut.

What?

You who think yourself
afraid of no man,

you who have conquered
so many,

do you now flinch at the ax?

I did not flinch
when you let fly your blow,

but held as
still as the grave.

Yet, you tremble.

Deal me my destiny.

It was foolish to dream
of glory and knighthood.

I was a fool ever
to play your game,

now as I've played it,
let us bring it to an end.

Strike and be done.

Strike!

You've had your cut.

The game is over.

(LAUGHING)

You tell me
when my game is over?

I make the rules.

Come.

Come.

Stay your sword.

The full circle of the year

is turned.

And just as every green
shoot of spring

returns to the earth,

so return I.

Live on, Sir Gawain.

Live on.

NARRATOR:
Now Gawain understood
the aim of his quest.

He had prayed for knighthood

and the nature gods
had taken heed.

Green Knight was sent
to ripen his untutored youth

and reveal to him,
through trial and ordeal,

the mystery of life.

To each his seasons,

to each his moments
of defeat and glory,

of loving and losing,

of death and joyful rebirth.

That his time on this Earth

might be fulfilled

with courage and
the purity of heart

that befits a man.

Thus ends the tale

of Gawain and
the Green Knight.