A Knight's Tale

In the midst of a 14th-century European jousting tournament, three destitute squires - William Thatcher, Roland, and Wat - are left reeling from the untimely demise of their master, Sir Ector. The trio's fortunes take a drastic turn when William, fueled by determination and a dash of audacity, dons his fallen lord's armor to claim victory in the tournament, securing a prize that would have otherwise eluded them.

As the days pass, William becomes enamored with the notion of competing against nobles, despite the strict rules prohibiting commoners from participating. His companions, however, are more concerned with capitalizing on their windfall and departing the scene. Undeterred, William convinces Roland and Wat to stay and assist him in honing his skills, driven by a fierce desire to prove himself as a worthy competitor.

Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they encounter a down-on-his-luck Geoffrey Chaucer, who agrees to fabricate a patent of nobility for William, allowing him to assume the guise of Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein from Gelderland. However, this arrangement comes with a steep price: Chaucer's debts to Simon the Summoner and Peter the Pardoner, which William vows to settle in full.

As the competition unfolds, William's armor suffers significant damage; he goads Kate, a skilled blacksmith, into repairing it without compensation, further solidifying his reputation as a shrewd and resourceful competitor. His triumphs in the sword event ultimately enable him to settle Chaucer's debts, while his impressive performance in the joust earns him a coveted spot in the tournament's final round.

The proceedings are closely watched by Jocelyn, a noblewoman who has caught William's eye, as well as Count Adhemar of Anjou, a rival in both the joust and for Jocelyn's affections. Although Adhemar initially emerges victorious, William vows to exact revenge, only to be met with a mocking retort: "You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting."

Kate joins William's party and forges new lightweight armor, propelling him toward future triumphs. In the next tournament, Adhemar and William are both paired against Sir Thomas Colville, only to discover that their opponent is none other than Prince Edward, the heir apparent to the English throne. Rather than risk harming the prince, Adhemar withdraws; however, William chooses to joust against him anyway, earning the prince's respect through his boldness.

With Adhemar called away to battle, William seizes the opportunity to prove himself, achieving a string of victories in his absence. In a display of devotion and selflessness, William initially complies with Jocelyn's request to deliberately lose, before ultimately deciding to claim victory in her name, solidifying his love for her.

As the group arrives in London for the World Championship, a poignant flashback reveals William's humble beginnings, where he abandoned his father to train with Sir Ector and strive to rewrite his destiny. Meanwhile, Adhemar drops a bombshell, announcing that he has negotiated with Jocelyn's father to secure her hand in marriage. William's dominance at the tournament is met with awe, but beneath the surface lies a deeper significance as he secretly visits his now-blind father, rekindling old wounds.

Adhemar, fueled by jealousy and deceit, alerts the authorities to William's true identity, leading to his swift arrest and placement in the pillory. However, his friends rally around him, defending their champion from the hostile crowd. Just as the mob reaches its frenzied peak, Prince Edward intervenes, acknowledging William's unwavering honour and unshakeable dedication that embodies the very essence of knighthood.

Edward then shatters the illusions surrounding William's lineage, revealing him to be a scion of an ancient noble family. With this newfound knowledge, he knights William "Sir William", asserting that his declaration is beyond dispute as Prince-royal. As the dust settles, William returns to the tournament, only to face Adhemar in the final showdown.

In a shocking turn of events, Adhemar resorts to unsportsmanlike tactics, employing an illegally sharpened lance to inflict serious harm on William. With his strength waning and his arm battered, William must conjure up every ounce of resilience to unhorse Adhemar in a desperate bid to win. He demands time to remove his armor, and Chaucer seizes the moment to deliver a long-overdue introduction that sets the stage for the ultimate showdown.

As William charges into the final pass, he is met with a vision of his father and Jocelyn watching anxiously from the sidelines. With a Herculean effort, he straps Wat's help to secure the lance to his arm, readying himself for one last stand against Adhemar. In a burst of unbridled fury, William bellows out his true name as he gallops forward, unleashing a crushing blow that sends Adhemar crashing to the ground.

In the aftermath of this glorious victory, Jocelyn and William share a heartfelt embrace as the crowd erupts in jubilation. Amidst the celebration, Chaucer muses about chronicling these extraordinary events, marking the beginning of an unforgettable chapter in their lives.