Taran looks around the strange hallway. Quietly he gets up, and begins to search for
Hen Wen. As he rounds a corner, Taran hears a snort. Carefully Taran looks around to
see a guard sleeping, his head resting on a table. Taran quickly slips past the guard, but
looks back to make sure he wasn't seen. Then the guard dog sees Taran and barks
visously at him. The guard wakes up, but instead of looking to see what the dog was
barking at, the guard yanks the dog's leash.
Guard: Shutup ya thick-skulled dolt! Always barking at nothing ! Alright, might as well make
our rounds!
Taran begins to get out of the corner he was hiding in, but he accidentally pushes
open a hidden door. Taran looks into a large dining hall, with a throne at one end. The
Henchman celebrate the capture of Hen Wen. The Henchmen cry out bloodcurtling
threats at each other, at Prydain, and at a dwarf called Creeper. Creeper had just been
trying to snatch a little supper for himself. But the Henchman won't allow it. They trip
Creeper, who lands hard on the ground. Just then a chilly wind blows through the dining
hall that stirs the wall hangings. Everyone becomes deadly silent, and all the candles
and torches blow out. A small explosion occurs at one end of the hall. And there stands
the Horned King himself. Creeper hurries over to the throne and begins to dust it.
Creeper: Welcome Your majesty! We're celebrating our success! I-I-I mean YOUR
success! We have made no mistakes this time ! ( The Horned King
seats himself,and begins to drink the wine Creeper poured for him.)
Bring in the prisoner! ( One of the Henchmen brings out Hen Wen all chained
up.) There sire! This is the pig that creates visions! ( to Hen Wen) Alright pig! Show
his majesty where the Black Cauldron can be found! Go on, show it! ( Hen
refuses.) Heh, heh! Stubborn little thing, isn't she? Heh, heh.( the Horned King grabs
Creeper and throws him to the ground.) Why yes, sire. You're quite right! I'll take
take care of it at once! ( to Hen) The Black Cauldron! Where is it? Show us, swine!
( Creeper shoves Hen's face into the bowl of water they want the visions to be seen.
Hen still refuses, then Creeper grabs a hot coal.) I warn you! The King's patience
is short!
Taran: No! Don't! Nnnnooooo! ( Taran falls from his perch and lands on the floor, the
Henchmen, run over to capture him. Taran picks up a broom and points
it at them.) Get back! Or I'll, I'll...( One of the Henchmen look at Taran and
laughs, he takes his sword, and with one swing cuts the broom into a
million pieces. Taran looks at what's left of the broom in disbelief.) Oh!
( the Henchmen picks Taran up and points his sword at Taran's stomach.)
Creeper: Release him! ( the Henchmen looks at Taran, then throws him over by
Hen Wen. Taran tries to calm her.)
Taran: Hen Wen! Oh, Hen Wen! There, there.
Horned King: I presume, my boy. You are the keeper of this oracular pig.
Taran: ( Who is scared out of his wits.) Y-y-y-y- yes, sir.
Horned King: Then instruct her to show me the whereabouts of the Black Cauldron!
Taran: Oh, sir! I-I can't, I promised!
Horned King: Very well, in that case the pig is no use to me!
Creeper begins to laugh madly and grabs Hen Wen. Taran tries to stop him, but he is
siezed by one of the Henchmen.
Taran: What are you going to do?!?! ( He sees Creeper place Hen on a chopping-block.)
No! You can't! Don't! ( the axe is raised...) No! Stop! I'll make her tell you!
Horned King: That's better.
Creeper: Now, get on with the visions, pig!
Taran: ( sadly ) Hen Wen from you I do beseech.....
Creeper: Look! Look sire! It's working!
Horned King: The Black Cauldron! So it does exist for sure! ( The Horned King gets up
from his throne and walks toward Taran.) Yes. Where is it? Show me.
Show me!
The Horned King lunges at Taran. Taran cries out in terror, and backs away spilling the
water where visions are taking place. The water hits the Horned King's 'eyes' and he
screams in fury and in pain. Taran scrambles to his feet and picks up Hen Wen.
Taran: C-c'mon Hen!
Creeper: After them! Get them! After them!
The Henchmen chase Taran. The gwythaints, who have been chained to one of the beams,
fly after Taran. Because they are so strong, the gwythaints ripped the beam right off the
wall, forcing the Henchmen to give up the chase for the few seconds that the beam
takes to get ahead of them. Taran, who, is running for dear life, is almost caught by the
gwythaints. If it wasn't for the beam catching in a doorway. The Henchmen are on the
chase again. Taran runs into the kitchen, where a cook is cutting meat with a rather
large knife. Taran tries to get out but Creeper blocks his way. Creeper lunges at Taran.
Hen squeals making Taran turn his head seeing that rather large knife coming at him.
Taran ducks missing the knife and Creeper.
Creeper: Gotcha! Pig boy!
Creeper flies over Taran and hits the cook. Taran runs into the next hallway, seeing that
the Henchmen are closing in. Taran goes through a door and locks it behind him. As
Taran turns around he sees he's at a balcony, and dead end. Taran looks over the
battlements and notices it is a easy jump to the moat.
Taran: The moat! It's our only chance! C'mon Hen!
Taran tries pushing Hen Wen over. Taran sees the swords and axes of the Henchmen
hacking away the door. Taran with one final push sends Hen Wen into the moat.
Taran: Swim, Hen! Swim! ( Taran readies himself to jump.) I'm coming! ( Taran is dragged
backwards. Creeper has grabbed his legs.)
Creeper: Gotcha! Pig boy! ( Creeper drags Taran over to the Horned King.) I caught him, Your
Majesty! I caught the boy! ( The Horned king picks Creeper up by the throat.)
Horned King: But you let the pig go, didn't you?
Creeper: I wasn't my fault! ( The Horned King chokes Creeper, then throws him to the ground.)
Horned King: Throw the boy into the dungeon!
Taran is brought to a dungeon, only a small grating gives him light. Taran is feeling
that he has failed his quest, and broke his promise to Dallben. As Taran sits, the words
that he once said and heard haunt him.
Voice of Dallben: You must make sure he never uses Hen Wen to find the Black Cauldron!
Voice of Taran: I won't fail you, Dallben. Look at me Hen, I can do it!
Taran shakes these words out of his mind, looks around him and picks up a rock about
the size of his hand and slams it against the dungeon wall, and begins to cry. The
voices no longer bother him.
Taran: ( sobbing ) I can do it! I can do it.
To Taran it looks like all hope is lost. He crouches on the floor and cries out his failure.
Then when it seems to us all hope is lost, one of the flagstones gets pushed up and
moved to the side. A bright ball of light comes up from the hole the flagstone was
covering. The ball of light (bauble) flirts around in mid-air providing light for the beautiful
young girl that climbs out of the hole. The girl has long red-gold hair that reaches down
to her waist, and blue eyes.
Eilonwy: ( to her bauble ) Hmmm. I thought I heard a noise in here.( She turns around to
see Taran and the bauble circles around Taran so Eilonwy can see him better.)
Ah! Was that you?
Taran: ( who watches the bauble with distrust and curiosity.) Yes, yes! I..
Eilonwy: ( who cuts Taran off ) You're being held a prisoner, aren't you?
Taran: ( still watching the bauble.) Yes!
Eilonwy: I've been held against my will, too.
Taran: ( The bauble floats in front of him. Taran touches the bauble with his hand. The
bauble flickers, then the light comes back and madly circles around Taran, who,
has jumped back in fear.) It lights up!
Eilonwy: ( laughing ) Why of course, it's magic! Oh, I hate this place! I do hope there
aren't any rats in here. Oh, not that I really mind them you know, but they
do jump out at one so! I'm Princess Eilonwy. Are you a lord.....or
a warrior?
Taran: Er, no, I'm, uh, an assistant pig-keeper.
Eilonwy: Oh, what a PITY. I was so hoping for someone who could help me escape!
Oh well, if you want to come with me you may.
Taran: Can I?
Eilonwy: Why yes! I just said you could.( Eilonwy disappears into the hole with Taran
following her.) Oh, that wicked, wicked king! You know, he stole me. He thought my
bauble could tell him where some old cauldron was.
Taran: That's what he wanted my pig for.
Eilonwy: ( giggling ) Oh, yes! Your PIG!
Taran: But my pig can tell the future!
Eilonwy: Oooooo! How interesting! Well, you better stay close to me or you'll get
lost.
The bauble flies around the dark passages that no one but Eilonwy has been in for
years. The bauble chases the rats that live in the passages, for Eilonwy dosen't like
them.
Taran: Your bauble!
Eilonwy: Oh, it's always chasing those rats! ( Taran finds a hole in the wall and looks in.
Eilonwy looks too.) A burial chamber! This could be the tomb of the great king
who built this castle! Before the Horned King took it over ..Ahh! ( The wall
begins to fall apart. Taran falls forward and Eilonwy backs away. The dust settles
leaving a hole big enough to walk through.) Are you all right? ( Taran looks at
her like he wants to say 'oh, you little..'. Eilonwy sees he is alright.) Well, c'mon
then! Help me have a look around.
Taran gets up and walks over to the body of the fallen king.
Taran: He must have been a great warrior! ( Taran looks more closely at the body and
sees a faint outline of a sword.) A sword! ( Taran dusts the sword and the its
golden hilt shows through. Taran gasps at his discovery. Then Taran's attention is
drawn to Eilonwy who is watching Creeper and one of the Henchmen.)
Creeper: This will please him! Piece of good luck this time! Hurry! In with it!
Hurry! He'll reward me for this! Don't stop you weakling! Put your back into it!
Creeper is leading the Henchmen, who is pulling a cart but you can't see who or what
is on it because it is covered by a sheet, into one of the Horned King's rooms. Before
Creeper closes the doors behind him an arm belonging to a skeleton warrior drags
behind the cart. The doors close, the coast is clear.
Eilonwy: Let's get out of here before they come back! ( Taran and Eilonwy sneak by the
doors and stop around the next corner. Now Eilonwy notices that Taran has a
sword.) Where did you get that sword?
Taran: Uh, back there.
Eilonwy: You mean...
Taran: Well, he's not going to use it!
Suddenly they hear a dog barking and a voice pleading. They go to see who it is.
Fflewddur: You're making a horrendous mistake! I'm not a spy! I'm a bard! I sing! Uh, I
entertain! Oh, careful sir, these are the hands of an artist!
Guard: This'll hold you!
Fflewddur: Now, look, you seem an intelligent sort of chap to me! ( The guard looks at him with
an expression that says 'duh') I assure you I had no idea who owned this
castle! I just happened to be passing! ( FFlewddur looks at the guard ) Oh, he's nice! What's his name? ( The
dog tries to bite Fflewddur, but the guard leads the dog away.) Down! You don't
realize who I am! I shall sing of your dastardly deed! I'm Fflewddur Fflam! Minstrel of
minstrels! Balladeer to the grandest courts in all the land! ( The harp, that hangs
from a string around Fflewddur's neck, shakes violently and one of the strings
snap. Fflewddur looks at the harp and simply replies.) Well, so you've forgotten!
I've sung in some of the finest courts! ( Another string breaks, it seems it
does so when Fflewddur lies or exaggerates.) Well I'm only waiting
for an invitation! ( a fat string breaks.) Oh, shush! Why do you judge every
word I say? Oh! What's that? ( He sees a skeleton of a former minstrel
chained to the wall.) Hhheeeeellllllppppppp!!!!!!!
Eilonwy: Oh, hello! We'll have you untied in a moment. I'm Princess Eilonwy. And
you are in bad trouble aren't you?
Fflewddur: Trouble? Don't you know where you are? Haven't you seen him?
A noise stops their conservation. Fflewddur, who, is half free with one hand still tied up.
They are suddenly alerted that the Henchmen know Taran is missing.
Henchmen: ( from behind a door.) Pig- boy's escaped! Look in there!
Taran: We've been discovered!
Fflewddur: You? Oh! Great Belin! Run! Run! Make haste! ( to himself ) Make haste? I've must
save myself!
Taran and Eilonwy run for dear life. Taran would've have made it across the parapet if
he hadn't tripped on a flagstone. Eilonwy, not seeing Taran's fault, keeps on going. As
Taran gets up he realizes the sword is gone. Taran looks around him and sees that the
sword has fallen in the ditch that is aside the parapet. Hearing the Henchmen, Taran
jumps into the ditch and, grabbing the sword, crawls underneath one of the arches of
the parapet. The Henchmen pass over him, without being seen. When they're gone,
Taran climbs on the parapet and searches for Eilonwy.
Taran: Princess! Princess Eilonwy!
Clutching the sword, Taran rounds a corner and runs into one of the Henchmen.
Henchmen: Pig-boy! You little scut!
With a single blow with his hand, the Henchmen sends Taran sprawling. The Henchmen
takes out his axe and swings at Taran, missing him only by a hair! Taran grabs onto a
beam to help him get on his feet. The Henchmen swings again, missing Taran but his
axe is caught in the beam. Taran sees that his only hope is the sword.
" The Black Cauldron " (c) Copyright MCMLXXXV Walt Disney Pictures