Ah, 'Buttercup's Baby'—William Goldman's elusive sequel to 'The Princess Bride'! It's such a shame it hasn't been fully released, but from fragments and Goldman's playful hints, we can piece together some key players. Buttercup and Westley remain central, of course, but their dynamic shifts dramatically as they navigate parenthood. Their daughter, Waverly, becomes the heart of the story, a spirited kid caught in the legacy of her parents' adventures. Fezzik and Inigo return too, with Inigo especially stepping into a mentor role. There's also a mysterious new villain, the 'Crippler,' who’s shrouded in Goldman’s trademark wit and menace.
What fascinates me is how Goldman toys with the idea of legacy—Waverly isn’t just a repeat of Buttercup; she’s her own force of chaos. The snippets suggest a darker tone, with Westley grappling with fatherhood’s vulnerabilities. And honestly, the way Goldman writes Fezzik’s gentle giant persona adapting to unclehood? Pure gold. It’s a tease of what could’ve been a masterpiece, leaving fans like me endlessly theorizing about the rest.