Brave (2012 film)

Brave (in 108 minutes release: 1:48:20) is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Set in the highlands of 10th century Scotland, a rebellious princess named Merida, in hopes of changing her fate, inadvertently unleashes an ancient curse, and is forced to undo the spell and save her kingdom before its too late.

Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one's destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led.

Change your fate.

Princess Merida

• [narrating] Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one's destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led.
• [narrating] I became a sister to three new brothers. The princes. Hamish, Hubert, and Harris. Wee devils, more like. They get away with murder! I can never get away with anything!
• [narrating] But every once in a while, there's a day when I don't have to be a princess. No lessons, no expectations. A day where anything can happen. A day I can change my fate.
• [after Queen Elinor unexpectedly turns into a bear] Mum? You're...You're a BEAR! Why a bear? [realizing] OH! That scaffy witch gave me a gammy spell! [Bear Elinor stares at her, demanding to know what she meant] It's not my fault. I didn't ask her to change you into a bear! I just wanted her to change...you. [a shocked and outraged Bear Elinor roars at Merida]
• [looks at the black berries; to Bear Elinor] Find those by the creek, did you? [Bear Elinor nods and keeps eating the berries] They're nightshade berries. [Bear Elinor eats another one] They're poisonous. [Bear Elinor spits out the berries and tries to chug down some water] Where did you get this water? It has worms! [Bear Elinor spits out the water]
• SHUT IT!!!
• [to the men in the throne room] Legends are lessons. They ring with truths. Our kingdom is young; our stories are not yet legends, but in them, our bond was struck. Our clans were once enemies. But when we were threatened from the north, you joined together to defend our lands. You fought for each other. You risked everything for each other.
• [after realizing Bear Elinor isn't changing back into a human] No...No...I don't understand. [crying] Oh, Mum...I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I did this to you...to us. [hugs Bear Elinor] You've always been there for me. You've never given up on me. I just want you back. I want you back, Mummy. [murmurs] I love you.
• [closing narration] There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own, but I know better. Our fate lives within us. You only have to be brave enough to see it.

Lord Dingwall

• Then our alliance is over! This means war!

The Witch

• [after turning her woodcarving hut into a spell-casting lair] You never conjure where you carve; very important.
• [repeated lines] Fate be changed, look inside. Mend the bond torn by pride.

Dialogue

[First lines; Queen Elinor and young Merida are playing hide-and-seek]

Queen Elinor: Where are you? Come out! Come out! Come on out! I'm coming to get you! [Young Merida laughs as she hides under the table] Where are you, you little rascal? I'm coming to get you! [looks under the table but Merida quickly moves to hide somewhere else] Hmm. Where is my little birthday girl, hm? I'm going to gobble her up when I find her! [Merida comes up behind her and goes to run away, but she catches her] I'm going to eat you! [as she and Merida play, Fergus places his bow on the table] Ach! Fergus, no weapons on the table!

Young Merida: Can I shoot an arrow? [picks up the large bow from the table] Can I, can I, can I, can I? Please, can I? [falls and laughs as the bow is too big for her]

King Fergus: Not with that. Why not use your very own? [presents her with a small bow] Happy birthday, my wee darlin'!

---

Young Merida: I missed...

Elinor: Go and fetch it, then. [turns to Fergus after Young Merida leaves] A bow, Fergus? She's a lady! [Fergus grabs her butt] Oh! You!

---

Young Merida: [sees Mor'du for the first tim] Daddy!

Fergus: Mor'du! Elinor, run!

---

Fergus: [telling a story] Then out of nowhere, the biggest bear you've ever seen! His hide littered with the weapons of fallen warriors! His face scarred with one dead eye. I drew my sword and...

Princess Merida: [cuts in] WHOOSH! One swipe, his sword shattered, then CHOMP! Dad's leg was clean off! Down the monster's throat it went!

Fergus: Awwwwww...That's my favorite part!

Merida: Mor'du has never been seen since. And is roaming the wilds, waiting his chance at revenge. [roars]

Fergus: Let him return. I'll finish what I guddled in the first place.

---

Elinor: Merida, a princess does not place her weapons on the table.

Merida: [moans] Mum! It's just my bow.

Elinor: A princess should not have weapons in my opinion.

Fergus: Leave her be! Princess or not, learning to fight is essential.

Merida: [removes her bow from the table] Mum, you'll never guess what I did today.

Elinor: [not really listening] Mmm-hmm?

Merida: I climbed up the Crone's Tooth and drank from the Fire Falls.

[Hamish, Hubert and Harris look at her in awe]

Fergus: Fire Falls? They say only the ancient kings were brave enough to drink the fire.

[Merida wrinkles her nose at Fergus and giggles]

Elinor: [looks up from the documents she's reading; to Merida] What did you do, dear?

Merida: [disappointed] Nothing, Mum.

Elinor: Hungry aren't we?

Merida: Mum!

---

Fergus: Oh, come on, now! Pretend I'm Merida, speak to me. What would you say?

Elinor: I can't do this!

Fergus: Sure, you can! [Elinor gives him a skeptical look] There, there! That's my queen! All right, here we go. [takes a deep breath and speaks in a shrilly voice, impersonating Merida] "I don't want to get married! I want to stay single and let my hair flow in the wind as I ride through the glen, firing arrows into the sunset!" [smiles and nods]

Elinor: [smiles, and takes a deep breath] Merida, all this work, all the time spent preparing you, schooling you, giving you everything we never had. I ask you, what do you expect us to do?

Merida: [in the royal stables; taking care of Angus and rehearsing her own speech] Call off the gathering! Would that kill them? You're the queen. You can just tell the lords, "The princess is not ready for this. In fact, she might not ever be ready for this, so that's that. Good day to you. We'll expect your declarations of war in the morning."

Elinor: I understand this must all seem unfair. Even I had reservations when I faced betrothal. [Fergus looks up in surprise] But we can't just run away from who we are.

Merida: I don't want my life to be over. I want my freedom!

Elinor: But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost?

Merida: I'm not doing any of this to hurt you.

Elinor: If you could just try to see what I do, I do out of love.

Merida: But it's my life, it's...I'm just not ready.

Elinor: I think you'd see if you could just...

Merida: I think I could make you understand if you would just...

Elinor: Listen.

Merida: Listen. [Angus whinnies at her] I swear, Angus, this isn't going to happen. [Angus touches her sympathetically and she pets him] Not if I have any say in it.

---

[Somebody just called Lord Dingwall a liar]

Lord Dingwall: I heard that! Come on! Say it to my face, or are you scared simperin' jackanapes, 'fraid to muss your pretty hair?!

Lord Macintosh: At least we have hair!

Lord MacGuffin: And all our teeth!

Young MacGuffin: [in a thick accent] If he was a wee bit closer, I could lob a caber at him, ye ken?

Lord Macintosh: [confused at first, then regains composure] And we don't hide under bridges, you grumpy old troll!

[The Macintoshes, Macguffins and Fergus chortle]

Dingwall: You wanna laugh, eh? [to his son] WEE DINGWALL!

[Wee Dingwall attacks Lord Macintosh, starting a brawl]

---

Merida: [after Young MacGuffin shoots and misses] I bet he wishes he was tossing cabers.

Fergus: Or holding up bridges...

[Elinor nudges Fergus scoldingly while he and Merida snicker]

---

[Young Macintosh smashes his bow on the ground after barely missing the bullseye]

Merida: [sarcastically] Oh, that's attractive.

[Young Macintosh throws his bow over the crowd]

Random Clan Member: I got it!

Merida: [to King Fergus] Good arm!

Fergus: [brushes back his hair] And such lovely, flowing locks.

Elinor: [annoyed] Fergus!

Fergus: What?

---

[After Merida shoots another arrow in front of everyone, Elinor furiously throws her in the training room]

Elinor: Mitchy me! I've just about had enough of you, lass!

Merida: You're the one that wants me to...!

Elinor: [angrily] You embarrassed them. You embarrassed me!

Merida: I followed the rules!

Elinor: You don't know what you've done! [shuts the door]

Merida: I just don't care how...

Elinor: It'll be fire and sword if it's not set right.

Merida: Just listen!

Elinor: [refuses to listen] I am the Queen! You listen to me!

Merida: [groans in frustration] This is so unfair!

Elinor: [shocked and gasps] Unfair?

Merida: [swinging her sword] You're never there for me! This whole marriage is what YOU want! Do you ever bother to ask what I want? No! You walk around telling me what to do, what not to do! Trying to make me be like you! Well, I'm not going to be like you!

Elinor: Oh, you're acting like a child.

Merida: [points at her tapestry] And you're a beast! That's what you are!

Elinor: [gasps] Merida!

Merida: I'll never be like you!

Elinor: No! Stop that!

Merida: I'd rather [slashes the tapestry in half] DIE THAN BE LIKE YOU!!!

Elinor: [gasps in shock at the tapestry that is now slashed between her and Merida's hands, then gets livid and storms up to Merida] Merida, you are a princess! [throws her sword out of her hand and takes the bow] And I expect you to act like one! [throws the bow into the fireplace, breaking Merida's heart; Merida starts running away and weeps] Merida! Merida! [notices Merida's bow starts to burn out] Oh dear. [she quickly pulls it out and realizes it's been burned out] Oh, no. What have I done? [starts crying, realizing too late that she had gone too far]

---

[Merida discovers that the woodcarver is a witch]

Merida: [excitedly] You're a WITCH!

Witch: [still trying to hide her identity; carving] Woodcarver.

Merida: That's why the wisps led me here!

Witch: [getting angrily; carving] Woodcarver!

Merida: [more excited] You'll change my fate!

Witch: [more angriest; chopping up the log with an axe] WOODCARVER!!

Merida: You see...It's my mother-

Witch: [snaps] I'M NOT A WITCH! TOO MANY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS! [Merida stares at her in fright; calms down] If you're not going to buy anything...get out! [snaps fingers and knives point at Merida]

---

[The witch picks up the cake from the boiling cauldron]

Merida: [confused] A cake?

Witch: [sounding angry] You don't want it?

Merida: Yes, I want it! Are you sure...if I give this to my Mum, it will change my fate?

Witch: [chuckles] It'll do the trick, deary.

---

[Queen Elinor feels sick after eating a cursed cake]

Merida: Just take all the time you need to get yourself right, mom. And maybe in a bit you might have something new to say on the marriage?

Elinor: [groaning] What was in that cake?

Merida: Cake? [suddenly Elinor rolls off the bed in pain] Mum? So, I...I'll just tell them the wedding's off then. [hears a growling noise from where Elinor rolled of down the bed] Mum? [walks round to see if Elinor is fine, she sees a giant shape under the blanket. It rises from the floor and the blanket falls off, revealing Elinor has transformed into a bear, making her scream in terror] You're...You're a BEAR! Why a bear?! [realizing] OH! That scaffy witch gave me a gammy spell! [Bear Elinor stares at her, demanding to know what she meant] It's not my fault. I didn't ask her to change you into a bear! I just wanted her to change... [realizing she screwed up] ...you. [a shocked and outraged Elinor as a bear roars at her]

---

Merida: Mum, wait. We have to...

Fergus: [offscreen; to the men] Follow me.

Merida: Stop! STOP! YOU'RE COVERED WITH FUR!! You're not naked! It's not like anyone's gonna see you! [they see Maudie, who stares in shock, and runs away, screaming] Now you've done it.

[Maudie runs into Fergus and the others]

Fergus: Maudie! [Maudie stutters] Just calm down, lass. What is it? [Maudie still stutters; impatiently] Spit it out, Maudie!

Maudie: A BEEEEAR!!!

Fergus: I KNEW IT!! HYAAAAAH!! [he and the other men charge to where Maudie came from]

Merida: [to Bear Elinor] Would you just listen to me?

---

[Fergus, the lords, their sons, and the rest of the men are being distracted by the triplets, thinking there's a bear in the castle]

Lord MacGuffin: I think we should lay a trap.

Fergus: [angrily] TRY SHUTTING YOURS! [they then hear a growl and see a shadow of a bear] There he is!

[They chase it up the castle roof and realize it is gone]

Lord Dingwall: It must've sprouted wings.

Lord MacGuffin: Or was carried away by a giant birdy.

Lord Dingwall: A dragon, perhaps.

Lord Macintosh: [mockingly] "Bear in the castle!" [normal] Doesn't make sense. It cannot open doors. He's got big, giant paws!

King Fergus: [groans] Let's just get inside. [tries to open the door, but can't] It's locked!

Lord MacGuffin: [points to Dingwall] Dingwall was the last up!

Lord Dingwall: I propped it open with a stick!

[The men groan, and from the other side of the door, it is revealed that two of the triplets took the stick and chucked it away]

---

[Merida and Bear Elinor reach the witch's cottage]

Merida: I can't believe it. I found it. [excitedly opens the door, only to find the cottage completely empty with only the cauldron still in the middle; confused] No. She was here. [closes the door; to Bear Elinor] No, really, she was just here. [Bear Elinor whines] Oh, wait. [snaps her fingers then opens the door again, but finds it the same as before] No. [bangs the door shut. Tries again several times, but to no avail] No, no. No! No! [steps in the door and accidentally trips a wire, starting a Rube Goldberg machine that eventually shoots a knife, nearly killing Merida. The cauldron begins to bubble and glow green. Merida and Bear Elinor walk over. A ghostly image of the witch appears above the cauldron]

Witch: Welcome to the Crafty Carver, home of bear-themed carvings and novelties. I am completely out of stock at this time. But, if you'd like to inquire about portraits or wedding cake toppers, pour vial one into the cauldron. If you'd like the menu in Gaelic, vial two. If you're that red-haired lass, vial three. To speak with a live homunculus- [Merida quickly grabs the third vial, pops it open and pours its contents into the cauldron] Princess! I'm off to the Wickerman Festival in Stornoway and won't be back till spring. There's one bit I forgot to tell you about the spell. By the second sunrise, your spell will become permanent, [Merida gasps] unless you remember these words: [turns red] "Fate be changed, look inside, mend the bond torn by pride." [turns back to green]

Merida: [confused] "Fate be changed? Mend the bond?" What does that mean?

Witch: One more time. [turns red again] "Fate be changed, look inside, mend the bond torn by pride." [turns back to green again; cheerfully] That's it! Tah-tah! Oh, and thank you for shopping at the Crafty Carver! [disappears]

Merida: [panicking] No. No! Where'd you go? [pours another vial into the cauldron]

Witch: [suddenly reappears] Welcome to the Crafty Carver...

Merida: [horrified] What?

Witch: ...for all your- [Merida pours in another vial, causing the speech to overlap]

Merida: Maybe there's a book of spells. [to Bear Elinor] Look around. We'll need more vials. [proceeds to frantically dump in the last two vials]

Witch: I'm off to the Wickerman Festival in Stornoway, and- [all of the messages begin talking over one another. Merida and Bear Elinor brace for impact] Thank you for visiting. Have a lovely day!

[The cauldron explodes, tearing apart the cottage]

---

[Merida, assisted by Bear Elinor, asks the lords' sons to write their own stories, follow their hearts, and find love in their own time]

Lord Macintosh: Well, since you've obviously made up your minds about this, I have one thing to say: This is-

Young Macintosh: [interrupting in a gleeful tone] A GRAND IDEA! [to his father] Give us our own say in choosing our fate.

Lord Macintosh: [stunned with outrage] WHAT?!

Wee Dingwall: Aye. Why shouldn't we choose?

Lord Dingwall: [also stunned] But she's the princess!

Wee Dingwall: I didn't pick her out. It was your idea.

Lord MacGuffin: [to his son] And you, you...feel the same way?

Young MacGuffin: [in a thick accent] It's just not fair making us fight for the hand of a queen who doesn't want any bit of it. Good?

[The Dingwalls and Macintoshes stare at each other confused; Merida giggles]

---

Merida: [looks up and sees Elinor has changed back into a human] Mum, you're back! You changed!

Elinor: [warmly] Oh, darling. We both have.

---

[Last lines, after the credits; the guard sleeps by the gate, then he hears a caw]

The Crow: Delivery. Sign here. Sign here. [caws at the guard] Come on, birdbrain. I haven't got all day.

[The spear lays on the ground]

About Brave (2012 film)

• Merida was created specifically to break that mold. She was created to turn the regular Disney princess on its head. To show that Merida is closer to a real princess than those princesses. Princesses were working girls and so were their mothers and so I gave her a modern twist.

I wanted to create a stronger character, one that feels and looks attainable, that’s not waiting for the prince or the man to come along or needs romance to make them complete. I also left it open so that romance wasn’t completely cut out of the picture when she’s ready and of her own choosing as opposed to her being forced into something that she didn't choose. I wanted to give her that strength.

• Brenda Chapman in "A Mighty Girl Interviews "Brave" Writer/Co-Director Brenda Chapman on the Merida Makeover", by Carolyn, A Mighty Girl, May 15, 2013.

Voice cast

• Kelly Macdonald as Princess Merida
  • Peigi Barker (young)
• Billy Connolly as King Fergus
• Emma Thompson as Queen Elinor
• Julie Walters as The Witch
• Robbie Coltrane as Lord Dingwall
• Kevin McKidd as Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin
• Craig Ferguson as Lord Macintosh
• Sally Kinghorn and Eilidh Fraser as Maudie
• Steven Cree as Young Macintosh
• Steve Purcell as The Crow
• Callum O'Neill as Wee Dingwall
• Patrick Doyle as Martin
• John Ratzenberger as Gordon

External links

• Official website
• Brave quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Brave at Rotten Tomatoes
• Brave at Mojo
• Brave at Metacritic