erik the viking - selling your screenplayjennifer the viking sways and leans against a door post....

ERIK THE VIKING - Terry Jones ---------------

Blackness. Flames begin to lick upwards from the bottom ofthe screen. Suddenly all hell breaks loose. Screaming,yelling. Black figures flash across the foreground, with theflames still burning behind. There follows a confusion ofburning, raping, killing and looting - we don't clearly seewhat's going on. Suddenly we cut to the interior of a hut.The door is in the process of being broken down. The camerapans onto the close-up face of an attractive girl who isstaring in horrified fascination at the door. Her arms arewhite with fresh dough and flour. Suddenly the door burstsopen and a wild-looking Viking leaps into the hut. He holdsa sword. He looks around wildly and then his eyes come torest on the girl. This Viking, I'm afraid, is Erik. We areabout to see him in the worst possible light so be prepared.The girl, whose name is Helga, cowers, and looks terrifiedbut resolute. Erik glances round. Then slowly he advances onthe girl, forcing her back onto a chest. Erik holds hissword to Helga's throat with his right hand, while his lefthand searches to find the thongs holding up his trousers. Heis clearly having difficulties trying to hold his heavysword to Helga's throat at he same time as undoing histrousers. He fumbles and lowers his sword for a moment.

HELGAHave you done this sort of thingbefore?

ERIKMe? Of course! I've been looting andpillaging up and down the coast.

HELGA(looking sceptical)

Looting and pillaging, eh?

ERIK(on the defensive)

Yes.

HELGAWhat about the raping?

ERIKShut up.

HELGAIt's obvious you haven't rapedanyone in your life.

ERIKSh!

He covers her mouth with his free hand, and looks round tomake sure no one's heard. Then he carries on trying to undohis trousers, but he is now somewhat more than half-heartedabout it. Helga watches suspiciously.

HELGADo you LIKE women?

Erik is clearly shocked and stung by the insinuation. Hestops.

ERIKOf course I like women... I LOVE

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'em.

HELGA(pointing out the obvious)

You don't love ME.

ERIKNo... right... this is RAPE... Markyou, I'm not saying I couldn't getto like you... in fact... well, tobe quite honest, I prefer it whenthere's some sort of mutual feelingbetween two people...

HELGAWhat - rape?

ERIKNo. It isn't rape then, is it?

HELGAOh, get it over with.

ERIK(hesitates again)

I don't suppose... no...

HELGAWhat?

ERIKI don't suppose you... you DO likeme at all?

HELGAWhat d'you expect? You come in here,burn my village, kill my family andtry to rape me...

This is too much for Erik. We withers under the irony.

ERIKI'll kill you if you say anythingabout this to anyone.

HELGA(puzzled)

About raping me?

ERIKAbout NOT raping you...

HELGAYou DON'T like it, do you?

ERIKWell it just seems a little bitcrude, that's all.

HELGAWhat about the killing and looting?That's just as crude, isn't it?

ERIKOh well - you've GOT to do them.

HELGAWhy? Why have you got to go roundkilling and looting?

ERIK


To pay for the next expedition, ofcourse.

HELGABut that's a circular argument! Ifthe only reason for going on anexpedition is the killing andlooting and the only reason for thekilling and looting is to pay forthe next expedition, they canceleach other out.

ERIKOh! Stop talking as if we weremarried!

HELGAWell you started it.

ERIKI just said I didn't feel likeraping you.

HELGAAnd I was just saying that rape isno MORE pointless or crude than allthe killing and looting that goeson. Erik vents of his frustration onthe already shattered door.

ERIKScream.

HELGAAh.

ERIKLouder.

HELGAAaagh! Rape!

ERIK(he'd forgotten about that)

Oh, thanks

Two more Vikings burst in with eyes blazing. They have thevery unfortunate names of Ernest and Jennifer, but itdoesn't really matter, for reasons which will become obviousvery quickly. They are also slightly drunk.

ERNESTRape?

JENNIFERWhere?

Jennifer the Viking sways and leans against a door post. Themarauder's eyes come to rest on Erik and Helga who arestanding, fully clothed, about six feet apart. They lookslightly puzzled.

HELGAHe raped me standing up.

There is a pause. Erik looks up at Helga. Why has she savedhis face by telling this lie? Jennifer the Viking turns toErik.

JENNIFER


You finished, then?

ERIKOh... yes... I suppose so...

ERNESTRight! Me first!

JENNIFERNo! I asked!

Ernest leaps on top of Helga and pins her to the ground.Jennifer joins in. Erik looks stunned for a moment. Then hesuddenly leaps to Helga's defence.

ERIKLeave her alone!

He pulls Jennifer off, but Jennifer fights back. Erik forcesJennifer back until he falls into the kneading trough. Theyfight in the dough for some moments, until Erik runsJennifer through. The dough is stained red, and the film isrid of such an inappropriately named Viking once and forall.

Erik then turns his attention on Ernest who is still on topof Helga. Without a moment's hesitation, Erik runs himthrough the back. Ernest screams. So does Helga. Erik turnswhite, and pulls out his sword. Ernest falls over into aheap with his co-misnomer, and Erik kneels beside Helga tofind a bloodstain under her breast where he hasinadvertently run her through. She is clearly not long forthis world.

HELGAThanks for saving me from a fateworse than death.

ERIKI didn't mean to!

HELGA(gasping for breath)

Oh, that's all right then... it'sthe thought... that counts...

Erik cradles her head and tries helplessly to staunch theblood.

ERIKYou told them I raped you - why?

HELGA(dying)

I dunno... you looked so... sovulnerable...

ERIKWhy should you care?

HELGA(dying)

Why... should YOU care?

ERIKTell me your name?

Helga looks up at him, but dies in his arms, without eversaying her name.


ERIKTell me... what IS it...?

Erik realizes she has gone. He gazes at her for some time.He looks around at the two dead bodies beside them. Then helistens to the sound of raping and slaughter continuing onthe outside. Screams and bloodthirsty shuts echo alongsidethe roar of flames and the cries of animals. The cameratracks into a big close-up on Erik.

Superimpose the title: ERIK THE VIKING:

Second title: TIM ROBBINS.

Mix through to wide shot of the burning village. Figuresrunning here and there. Superimpose the rest of the openingtitles. By the last of the opening titles the last of theflames are dying down.

Cut to a close-up of a very loud-looking Viking screaminginto the camera, as he hurls an axe. This Viking's name isThorfinn Skull- Splitter. The axe thuds into the wall a fewinches away from the face of a frightened girl, Unn, who ispinned to the wall with her braids spread out. The Vikingsare hurling axes at her a la Kirk Douglas in THE VIKINGS.

Several Vikings sitting at ale-bench, laugh in a ratherunpleasant way. Erik, however, frowns. He is sitting at atable on a dais, next to his grandfather, the chief of thevillage. His grandfather almost chokes with merriment.Erik's mother glances at him with some hostility. Meanwhilethe drunken Thorfinn has just lifted the totally leglessIvar the Boneless up off the floor and presses an axe intohis hand. A tremor of nervousness ripples round the femalesin the Mead Hall. Ivar is clearly in no condition to throwanything, except, perhaps, the contents of his stomach. Unnwinces. Finally, amidst much giggling, Ivar throws wildly,and the axe smashes into a jug being carried by one of theserving girls. The menfolk erupt into drunken hysterics atthis. The women clearly feel that the occasion is gettingout of hand. But before any of them can work up enoughcourage to intervene, Thorfinn Skull-Splitter has thrust anaxe into the hands of the even more plastered Sven theBerserk. Now Sven is not the Viking to let a little matterlike not being able to see straight stop him heaving the axeat a young maiden. He takes the axe and whirls it wildlyover his head. Even the other drunken Vikings realize thiscould be dangerous, and they cower behind the table. Svenlets go of the axe. Unn shuts her eyes prepared for theworst. There is a dull thud and a grunt and then a whoop ofmirth. Unn opens her eyes to find that the axe has come torest in the back of a totally stupefied Viking who merelyslumps forward onto the table he is sitting at. On theopposite side sits Harald Missionary, a rather seedy clericwho has long since given up trying to convert the pagans andfound solace in their mead. He thinks about intervening, butdecides that it's a bit late really and that he might aswell finish off his ale-cup instead. GRIMHILD HOUSEWIFE (hisonly admirer) refills it for him. At this moment, however,the axe-throwers have run out of axes, so, as they go toretrieve the ones they've thrown, Harald Missionary salveshis conscience by lurching across to the unfortunate Unn. Hepokes his dog-eared bible under her nose.

HARALDIf you were thinking of converting,my dear, this would be an IDEALopportunity...


UNNNot now!

HARALD(who is used to rebuffs)

No, of course not...(he hesitates)

You might not get another chance,you know...

UNNGo away.

At this moment another axe thuds into the wall, speeding upHarald's desire to get back to the ale-bench.

HARALDYes, of course... I'll pray for youanyway, my dear...

Suddenly an axe shatters a large earthware vessel.

HARALDYes.. That's what I'll do...

Harald scuttles back to the ale-bench as fast as he can.Erik meanwhile, stares in astonishment as, for a fleetingmoment, he sees Helga, the girl he accidentally killed,standing there with her braids spread out in place of Unn.He shakes his head and the vision passes. In the meantime,however, Ivar's mum (perhaps the toughest lady in thevillage) has decided that enough is enough.

IVAR'S MUMLet her go!

THORFINNWhy?

VIKINGSYes, why?

SVEN THE BERSERKWhy should we let er go?

THORFINNWe haven't hit a single braid yet!

The Vikings all guffaw. Ivar's mum has had enough. Shethrows the contents of a jug of ale over Thorfinn. He isshocked, but after the first shock he grins evilly, becausenow he's been given carte blanche to do the thing he enjoysdoing most. Without another thought he throws a viciousright hook at Ivar's mum and lays her out cold. Erik reactswith disgust. His grandad, however, gives a whoop of glee.

GRANDADWhoah! Heee! That showed her!

Meanwhile a little shrivelled old man is jumping up anddown.

INGEMUND THE OLDHey! He hit my wife!

Ingemund starts to go for Thorfinn, but Thorhild beats himto it. She grabs one of the long-handled cooking griddlesfrom the fires and swings it at Thorfinn. Thorfinn, however,ducks, and the red-hot griddle hits Sven the Berserk, who isstanding with his back to Thorfinn. Sven screams and goes


berserk, turning round and hitting Thorfinn who is nowstanding upright again.

INGEMUND THE OLDLeave him alone.

Ingemund hits Sven. Thangbrand hits Ingemund and a generalfight breaks out. Erik's grandad clearly considers this thehighlights of the evening, but Erik looks at it in disgustand at his grandad in despair. Eventually he gets up andwalk out of the Mead Hall. His grandad notices and frowns.He knows something's wrong with his grandson but hasn't aclue what it could be. Erik's mother frowns and nods to hisgrandad. Grandad gets up and fights his way through themelee to follow Erik out of the Hall. The snow lies thickover the village as Erik's grandfather joins his grandsonbeside the little quay. Erik is staring broodily into thenight.

GRANDFATHERWhat's the matter, son?

Erik doesn't reply. His grandfather glances back at the MeadHall, whence the sound of the fight drift across the snow.

GRANDFATHERWe're missing all the fun...

ERIKWhat's it all about?

GRANDFATHERWhat?

ERIKWe toil and labour, we loot andpillage, rape and kill... and yet...

GRANDFATHERYou talking piffle, son?

ERIKWhere does it all get us, Grandpa?

GRANDFATHERWho have you been talking to?

ERIKI met this girl...

GRANDFATHERIt's always the women that start thetrouble.

ERIKShe got me thinking...

GRANDFATHERSo? What'd you do to her?

Erik stops in his tracks - as if brought up short by thehorror of what he has done.

ERIKI... I... KILLED her...

GRANDFATHERThat's my boy!

Erik's grandfather gives him a paternal hug. Erik looks athim and thinks about the generation gap. Cut to feet running


in the snow. It is day.

ERIKFreya!

Erik looks around him and calls out again.

ERIKFreya!

Erik runs into the distance - a small figure against thedramatic wintry landscape.

Cut to a remote, barren mountainside. Erik climbs up intoshot, and continues climbing until he reaches a cave. Heenters it. As his eyes get used to the dark he can make outa few signs of life: a cooking pot on a fire, a straw bed, apile of rune-sticks.

ERIKFreya? Freya?

There is a bundle of rags behind Erik. A head rises from it.This is Freya.

FREYAAh... Erik... Erik the "Viking"...

It is not clear whether her words are not a little mocking.

FREYANow what CAN you want with me, Erikthe "Viking"?

ERIKI shouldn't have come.

FREYAThey will make fun of you forlistening to an old woman's stories?

Erik doesn't reply. Freya watches him craftily.

FREYAYoung men are only interested infighting and killing.

Erik looks up at her sharply. It is as if she has read hismind.

ERIKBut has it always been like that,Freya? From the beginning of time?

Freya doesn't reply. Instead she walks to the mouth of thecave. Erik follows her. They look out at the grey, desolatelandscape. Nothing but arctic wastes, snow and desolation.Above them the black clouds boil ceaselessly.

FREYAWhat do you see, Erik?

ERIKI see the world.

FREYAI it night or day, Erik?

ERIKIt is day, of course, Freya.


FREYAIs it summer or winter, Erik?

Erik looks round at the snowy wastes and ten back at Freya,puzzled.

ERIKThe winter is past, thank goodness,Freya. It is summer.

Freya puts her face close to Erik's and peers into his eyes.

FREYAHave you ever seen the sun, Erik?

ERIKThe sun is up beyond the clouds -where it always is.

FREYABut have you ever seen it? Thinkback...

ERIKOf course not... but... when I was achild.... I remember a dream.... itwas as if the whole sky was blue...

FREYAThe sky WAS blue, Erik... once.

Erik looks at her.

FREYAThe Old Stories tell of an age thatwould come such as this - whenFenrir the Wolf would swallow thesun, and a Great Winter would settleupon the world. It was to be an axeage, a sword age, a storm age, whenbrother would turn against brother,and men would fight each other untilthe world would finally bedestroyed.

Erik looks out across the bleak and gloomy landscape and theblack, boiling clouds in the sky.

ERIK(almost to himself)

Then... this is the Age of Ragnarok?

Freya turns to go back into the cave.

ERIKWait, Freya!

Erik re-enters the cave.

ERIKIs there nothing men can do?

FREYAThe Gods are asleep, Erik.

ERIKI will go and wake them up!

Freya turns and looks at him. She clearly enjoys his earnestenthusiasm, but is afraid he doesn't know what he is talkingabout.


ERIKTell me what I must do, Freya!

Freya thinks for some moments. The she speaks.

FREYAErik... Far out in the midst of theWestern Ocean there is a land... mencall it Hy-Brasil. There you willfind a horn that is calledResounding. You must take the HornResounding, and three times you mustblow it. The first note will takeyou to Asgaard. The second willawaken the Gods, and the third notewill bring you home. But remember...once you are in the spell of theHorn, hatred will destroy you.

Erik turns to go and then hesitates.

ERIKAnd will the dead ever return,Freya?

FREYAThat I cannot tell you.

Cut to a big close-up of a head being banged on the ground.It is Thorfinn Skull-Splitter's. The person doing thebanging is an enraged Sven the Berserk. Suddenly Erik pusheshis way through the crowd and separates them. There isgeneral disgruntlement all round, and murmurs of: "Who doeshe think he is?"

ERIK'S GRANDADWhat are you doing, Erik? Thorfinnjust said SVEN'S GRANDFATHER

died of old age.

INGEMUND THE OLDThey must fight to the death.

THORFINN SKULL-SPLITTERThat's right! Sven must kill me.

OTHERSYes. Stay out of this. What's it todo with you?

(etc)Sven grids his teeth and strugglesto get at Thorfinn, but Erik stillkeeps them apart.

ERIKAren't you afraid of death, ThorfinnSkull-Splitter?

Thorfinn shrugs.

THORFINNNot death by the sword! It means Ishall drink in Valhalla with thegreat warriors.

Cut away To Harald Missionary engaged in his usual businessof chatting up any available female.


HARALD MISSIONARYYou don't still believe in all thatValhalla stuff, do you?

THORHILD THE FEMALEGo away.

HARALDFine... right... just checking.

He moves off.

ERIKAnd you, Sven, aren't you afraid ofcrossing the Rainbow Bridge toAsgaard?

SVENI will join my grandfather there.

THORFINNHe's not in Valhalla! He died of oldage!

SVENYou liar!

They start trying to kill each other again, and crashthrough a fence into the pig-sty. Pigs squeal and run in alldirections.

ERIKStop it!

OTHERSLeave them alone! Keep out of it,Erik!

The others pull Erik away.

GRANDADThere's only one way to settle it.

EVERYONEYes!

THORFINNHe MUST kill me!

EVERYONEYes! That's right!

(etc)Sven struggles again to oblige, andthey both topple into the duck pond.Erik dives back to keep them apart.

ERIKThere is another way.

GRANDADWho gets killed?

ERIKNobody gets killed.

THORFINNOh, well...

He starts attacking Sven again. Erik decides there is onlyone way to make his point. He lets fly with his fists andlays both the antagonists out for a moment.


ERIKBut it will be dangerous. Maybe noneof us will return.

SNORRI THE MISERABLEAh well, that's much more sensiblethan just Thorfinn getting killed.Shall we all go and pack now?

SVENWhat are you talking about, Erik?

ERIKWhat if we could find Bi-Frost theRainbow Bridge?

This causes a sensation amongst everyone watching, on thelines of "You can't do that" and so on. They scoff at Erik.

THORFINN(in disbelief)

FIND the Rainbow Bridge?

ERIKFind it... AND cross it!

Super-sensation amongst everyone - except for HaraldMissionary who shakes his head sadly.

HARALDLook! You can't find somewhere thatdoesn't exist.

GRANDAD(to Harald)

Shut up!

Harald shrugs.

SVENOnly the dead reach Asgaard, Erik.

ERIKWhat's the matter? Are you afraid totry?

Thorfinn and Sven are put on the defensive.

THORFINNOf course we're not afraid to try,but...

Erik rounds on Thorfinn, sensing he had the advantage.

ERIK"But" what?

THORFINNBut...

ERIKWhat?

Thorfinn's mental powers find it hard to articulate anyproposition on such a vast metaphysical concept. Sven comesto his rescue.

SVENNobody's ever crossed the RainbowBridge to Asgaard.


ERIKWe'd be the first!

SNORRIYou mean we'd be dead?

ERIKNo! We'd be the first living men toset foot in the Halls of the Gods.

Pause. Uncomfortable shifting.

SVENBut HOW?

ERIKI don't know - but I'm not afraid totry.

THORFINNWell I'M certainly not, either.

SVENNeither am I.

ERIKThen you'll come.

HARALDBut there isn't such a place as...Look...

THORFINN & SVENShut up!

ERIKWhat d'you say?

SVENWell... I'm game.

THORFINNMe too.

Erik grins. He has persuaded them against their will.

GRANDADAren't you going to go on fighting?

SVEN & THORFINNNo.

OTHERSOh...

There is general disappointment all around.

IVAR THE BONELESSOh, go on...

GRANDADJust have a bit of a fight.

INGEMUND THE OLDI'LL fight someone.

GRANDADYou're too old.

INGEMUND THE OLDNo, I ain't.


Cut to an adze striking timber. The Viking's ship, GOLDENDRAGON, is being repaired and fitted out for a JOURNEY. Erikis there, directing operations. The camera tracks throughall the activity and finally comes to rest on KeitelBlacksmith. He is a magnificent mountain of a man in anArnold Schwarzeneggarish sort of way. He hammers a sword,and sparks fly, but his eyes keep returning to thepreparations for the voyage. Clearly something is worryinghim. His assistant, Loki, sidles up to him.

LOKIWish you were going too?

Keitel grunts angrily and plunges the sword into cold water.Steam and bubbles.

LOKIBut you CAN'T because you're toobusy.

Keitel pulls the sword out of the water and tests it. Itslices like as razor, Loki watches.

LOKIOoh, that's a good one! You couldcharge Halfdan fifteen for that one.

KEITELYes, it is good. But I told him ten.

LOKIYou could charge him what you like.

Loki takes the sword from Keitel and stacks it alongside alot more freshly made swords.

LOKIYou just can't make enough swordsand spears and knives and daggers tosatisfy the demand. You could chargeHalfdan twenty and he'd pay it.

KEITEL(shocked)

Oh, I couldn't do that! TheBlacksmith's Code says...

LOKIYes yes... of course.... the"Blacksmith's Code"...

Keitel goes back to his forge and pulls out a fresh dollopof white-hot ore. Loki comes up behind him.

LOKIIf this IS the Age of Ragnarok,Keitel Blacksmith, it is GOOD to us.

KEITEL(banging with his hammer)

Can't make enough swords!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

KEITELCan't make enough axe-heads!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

LOKI


But, Keitel, if Erik ever finds theHorn Resounding... if he evercrosses Bi-Frost, the RainbowBridge... if he ever wakens thegods..

Keitel stops smiting the metal on his forge. He stares intospace.

KEITELThey chase Fenrir the Wolf from thesky...

LOKIThe Age of Ragnarok ends...

KEITELThe bottom falls out of the swordbusiness!

LOKIIt's not just YOUR livelihood that'sat stake but your son's, and thelivelihood of ALL blacksmiths.

KEITEL(this touches a nerve in hismuscular mind)

My brother blacksmiths!

LOKIThat's right.

KEITELThe Blacksmith's Code says I must...

LOKIHonour and protect all blacksmiths.

KEITEL(as if reciting his oath)

Together we stand!

LOKIYou can't let Erik do THAT.

Loki smiles. He has Keitel playing into his hands, althoughKeitel doesn't realize it. Fade. Cut to some days later. Theexpedition is set to leave. Thorfinn Skull-Splitter takingleave of his mum and dad.

THORFINN'S MUMAnd you've got BOTH axes?

THORFINNYes, Mother.

THORFINN'S MUMAnd something to sharpen them with?

THORFINNYes, Mum.

THORFINN'S MUMAnd don't forget: never let yourenemy get behind you.

THORFINNNo, Mother.

THORFINN'S MUM


And keep your sword greased.

THORFINNYes, Mother. Goodbye, Dad.

THORFINN'S DADAnd don't forget to was - you know -ALL over.

THORFINNNo, Dad.

THORFINN'S MUMAnd if you have to kill somebody,KILL them! Don't stop to think aboutit.

THORFINN(mildly)

I never do...

Cut to Sven the Berserk who is also being lectured. Thelecture is coming from his father - Ulf the MaddeninglyCalm.

SVEN'S FATHER(sotto voce)

It's a tradition.

SVENI know, Dad.

SVEN'S FATHERI was a Berserk for King HaraldFairhair...

SVENYou went berserk...

SVEN'S FATHERI went berserk in every battle Iever fought for King Harald...

SVENSo did your father...

SVEN'S FATHERSo did my father and his fatherbefore him.

SVENBut it's a responsibility...

SVEN'S FATHERBut it's a responsibility being aBerserk.

SVENI must only let the red rage...

SVEN'S FATHERYou must only let the red rage takehold of you in the thick of battle.

SVEN(losing his temper)

I KNOW! I'VE HEARD IT ALL I THOUSANDTIMES!

A sudden silence falls, as all the village turns to starenervously at Sven. He goes berserk and demolishes a nearby


hut with his head. Ulf the Maddeningly Calm shakes his head.

SVEN'S FATHERNo no... you'll never make aBerserk. If you let it out nowyou'll have nothing left forbattle...

IVAR'S MUMBesides... it's dangerous.

SVEN'S FATHER(gloomily)

It's the end of a family tradition.

In another corner of the village Leif the Lucky is standingwith his pregnant girlfriend.

GIRLBye, Leif.

LEIFBye... sorry...

GIRLYeah... well...

LEIFYou will wait?

GIRLWhat d'you expect me to do?

She takes a bracelet off her arm and gives it to Leif.

GIRLWear this for luck.

Leif looks at it.

LEIFThat's why they call me... Leif theLucky.

GIRLPlease.

Cut to Harald Missionary dumping a bag on board the ship.GRIMHILD HOUSEWIFE

is helping him. Snorri looks at him in surprise.

SNORRIYOU coming? You don't even believein Asgaard.

HARALDI thought I might do a bit ofbusiness on the way.

SNORRIYou're wasting your time.

HARALDListen. I've been in this dump forsixteen years and I haven't made asingle convert...

SNORRIThere was Thorbjorn Vifilsson'swife. You converted HER.


HARALDThorbjorn Vifilsson's wife became aBuddhist, not a Christian.

SNORRISame thing, isn't it?

HARALDNo, it is NOT.

Meanwhile in another part of the village, Loki is strappinga large consignment of swords onto a pony. He glances roundand then sneaks surreptiously out of the village, over thebarren hills of Norway, under the boiling black skies ofRagnarok. Back at the quayside, GOLDEN DRAGON is ready forthe journey. Erik addresses the villagers.

ERIKWell... we'll be off now...

Erik's grandad waits for some time before he realizes thatErik isn't intending to say anything else.

GRANDADYou need to say a bit more thanthat!

ERIKOh... er... yes...

The faces of the village-folk turn towards him. There aremany moist eyes. Erik's mother starts to cry.

ERIKOh, there, Mum...

(he turns and addresseseveryone)

Don't be sad.... You all know whywe're going, so don't grieve. Maybeuntold dangers do lie ahead of us,and some of you may well be lookingat the one you love for the lasttime...

Someone bursts out sobbing. Erik desperately tries to rallytheir spirits.

ERIKBut don't grieve! Even tough theHordes of Muspel tear us limb fromlimb... or the Fire Giants burn eachand every one of us to a cinder...

More crying.

ERIK...though we may be swallowed by theDragon of the North Sea or fall offthe Edge of the World... don't cry.

More crying.

ERIKNo! Don't cry....

By this time most of the village is blubbering profusely.Cut to Harald Missionary. He has his arm round his weepinggirlfriend.

HARALD MISSIONARY


Sh... There... it's all fantasy,there's no Dragon of the North Sea,no Edge of the World...

GRIMHILD HOUSEWIFEThat's what YOU say.

ERIK(aside to his Grandad)

What's the matter with them?

GRANDADJust say something cheerful.

ERIKOh... right!

(He can't think of anything)Well.... CHEERS everybody!

Erik smiles broadly and waves. The entire village staresback at him with tears in their eyes, and biting their lips.Suddenly one mother can't hold it back any more.

THORFINN'S MUMDon't go!

Another mother rushes out and grabs Ivar the Boneless.

IVAR'S MUMMy son! I don't want you to go!

IVARI don't want to go, either...

ERIKOh gods! Please, everybody! Keepcalm! It's not certain ALL of us aregoing to die... and in any case wemay not die HIDEOUS deaths...

More renewed sobbing. Grandad's eyes go heavenwards.

GRANDAD(to Erik)

I think we should go...

ERIKRight.

(he turns for a last salute)Farewell... for the last time... maythe gods prevent...

GRANDADNo, don't say anything else!

Suddenly Keitel Blacksmith steps forward. His musclesripple. His handsome face radiates heroism and manliness.

KEITELWait, Erik!

ERIKKeitel Blacksmith?

They stop and turn.

KEITELYou can't go without me. Who willrepair your swords and mend yourshields?


Renewed sobs from the women.

WOMENOh, no! Ah, lackaday! Not HIM too!

ERIKWhat's the matter now?

UNNIf Keitel Blacksmith goes withyou...

THORHILDWe'll have no one to do the thingshe did for us.

THORKATLA THE INDISCRETEOR sharpen our knives and make ourpans.

An awkward silence. The others all turn on her and frown - abit of shin-kicking goes on. It's clear that Keitel ispopular amongst the womenfolk. Erik doesn't notice.

ERIKYou will have Keitel's assistant,Loki, to do all that.

WOMENLoki? Eurrgh!

ERIKWhat's wrong with Loki? He's becomevery good at blacksmithing.

WOMENYes... but...

THORKATLAHe's so small and...

The others all shush her up. More shin-kicking.

THORHILD(innocently)

Oh, yes... we've got Loki... That'strue...

Cut to Loki leading his pony across a bleak landscape. Heeventually stops and looks ahead. There stands a gibbet withtwo corpses dangling from it. He is nearing his destination.Cut back to Erik and his men getting into GOLDEN DRAGON.Erik notices Thorfinn and Sven quarrelling over Leif theLucky.

ERIKHey, you two! What's going on?

SVENI was sitting there.

LEIFNo, you weren't.

THORFINNLeif's sitting here. I need a bit ofluck.

LEIFSee.


SVENLook, I bagged it last week.

ERIKIt doesn't matter WHERE you sit!

SVENYes it does! We could be at sea formonths.

ERIKWell, what difference does it makewhere you're SITTING?

SVENI don't want to have to sit next toSnorri all that time.

Sven nods towards Snorri the Miserable - an Eeyore of aViking if ever there were one.

SNORRIThank you VERY much indeed.

ERIKNow stop it!

SNORRIIt's SO nice to feel wanted.

ERIKLeif, you sit there. Even, you sitthere. Harald, you'd better sit overthere...

SNORRITrust me to get the missionary.

Suddenly Erik notices Sven's father climbing aboard.

ERIKWhat are YOU doing here?

SVEN'S DADYou may need a real Berserk.

SVENI AM one, Dad!

ERIKWe haven't got a spare place.

IVARHe can have my place. I don't wantto go anyway.

ERIKWell, you ARE!

KEITELBjorn's not. He could have Bjorn'splace.

ERIKWhat's the matter with Bjorn?

THORFINNNothing... Halfdan the Black choppedhis hand off last night.

ERIK


HE was lucky...(to Sven's dad)

Sit there.

SNORRIYou can't have Sven's father sittingnext to Sven. They'll argue thewhole time.

ERIKThat's true.

(to Sven)YOU'D better sit there.

(to Sven's dad)You there, and Ornulf there.

SNORRINow you've got all the big ones onone side.

Erik looks around. It is true that all the tall burly onesare on one side.

ERIKAll right, you go there. You here...

Sven's dad and Ornulf swap places.

SVEN'S DADOhh! I wanted to sit next to Leif.

ERIKShut up. You there. You there andyou there.

Ivar and Ornulf swap places. Erik surveys this re-arrangement.

ERIKThat's better.

SNORRINow you've got all the ones withbeards on one side and all themoustaches on the other.

This is true. Erik thinks some moments and then:

ERIKIt doesn't matter.

They start to haul the sail up. Ropes are released. The boatrocks. Suddenly a voice cuts through the crowd. It is Erik'smother.

ERIK'S MUMWait! Wait! Wait!

ERIKWhat is it?

(he is clearly a littleembarrassed)

ERIK'S MUMHere, son.

She tries to hand Erik what looks unmistakably like apillow. Erik is dumbfounded.

ERIK'S MUMYour father always made sure he


could rest his head at night.

Erik is mortified. The others snigger, though not withoutsome sympathy for Erik. They've ALL been embarrassed bytheir mums at one time or another.

ERIKI can't take THAT on a voyage!

ERIK'S MUMIt was your father's!

Erik will find it hard to refuse now. But he hesitates.

ERIK'S MUMIt was the pillow HE took with him.He said it once saved his life.

Erik reluctantly takes the precious object. His motherkisses him. Everyone has fallen silent now. The relativesstand helpless on the shore as GOLDEN DRAGON starts to driftaway from them. The Vikings sit in their places, hands onthe oars looking back at their loved ones. Erik stands atthe prow of GOLDEN DRAGON. For a moment he thinks he seesthe girl he killed, standing, white in death, the spear-wound still fresh. Erik raises his hand in a half-goodbye.We cut back to the loved ones, now the girl is no longerthere. They too half-raise their hands. Erik suddenly turnsand gives a shout:

ERIKHuuup!

The oars go up and then into the water, and GOLDEN DRAGONcommences her voyage. Cut back to GOLDEN DRAGON at sea.Snorri is feeling queasy and gazing gloomily at the recedingcoastline of Norway. Thangbrand is sitting near him andfeeling equally queasy.

SNORRIHave a good look... that's the lastwe'll see of old Norway.

Snorri is desperately trying to control his insides.

SNORRIGoodbye home... goodbye family...goodbye loved ones...

(he starts to throw up)Goodbye lunch...

THANGBRANDOh! Shut up.

Harald Missionary puts his arm around Snorri.

HARALDYou know, my son, our lord said...

SNORRIYOUR lord.

HARALDQuite... MY lord... said: "ThePrayer of Faith shall have thesick."

SNORRII hope the Dragon of the North Seagets YOU AND your lord.


Harald Missionary gives him a condescending smile and aweary shake of the head. He knows the Dragon of the NorthSea does not exist.

HARALDDarkness and ignorance...

Meanwhile Ivar the Boneless and Sven the Berserk are bothsuffering from the effects of the sea.

SVEN(keeping a wave of nauseadown)

It's not so bad when you're rowing.

THORFINN SKULL-SPLITTERThat's right

Thorfinn gobs onto the whetstone with which he is sharpeninghis axe. Sven can control himself no longer. He rushes forthe side.

SVEN THE BERSERKI want to die.

This sets off Ivar.

IVAR THE BONELESSUh oh!

He leaps up and pukes over the side. Mass puking breaks outall over the boat. Keitel Blacksmith looks around at hispreoccupied shipmates, and it slowly dawns upon him thatthis might be the moment to try a little sabotage. He goesto the ship's lodestone, which is hanging from the mast.Keitel glances around. No one is looking, but this sort ofcovert behaviour goes against his normally sunny and opendisposition.

KEITEL(to himself)

The Blacksmith's Code...

He steels himself, takes down the lodestone, snaps out thepiece of metal in the base and throws it over the side.Keitel hangs it up again on the mast.

THORFINNAre you all right?

IVARNo, I'm not.

THORFINNYou don't need to feel bad aboutbeing sea-sick, you know.

IVARHow can you help feeling bad whenyou're sea-sick?

THORFINNI mean many of the greatest sailorswere.

Pause.

IVARI know. I know.


THORFINNOlaf Tryggvason used to throw up onevery single voyage... the wholetime... non-stop... puke... puke...puke.

IVARLook! I don't feel BAD about it. Ijust feel ILL.

Thorfinn pauses and waits for a wave of nausea to creep upon Ivar.

THORFINNHe used to puke in his sleep.

IVARBastard.

He throws up. Meanwhile Erik is in the stern, gazing outbehind them.

ERIKThorfinn... look over there.

Thorfinn leaves Ivar and joins Erik. On the horizon asinister sail is following them. Thorfinn grins with evilpleasure. He scents a fight. Erik turns to the crew.

ERIKBreak out the oars!

Thorfinn's smile disappears and he spins round to confrontErik.

THORFINNWhat are you talking about?

ERIK(to his reluctant crew)

Come on, move it!

Most of the men are being sea-sick.

MORD FIDDLEWe've only just started cookinglunch.

The crew glance at Mord Fiddle and then throw up again.

ERIKMove it!

Reluctantly the crew take up their rowing positions.Thorfinn buttonholes Erik (except of course that he doesn'thave any buttonholes).

THORFINNIt's Halfdan the Black!

ERIKI know. Snorri! Get your oar out!

Snorri is sitting in position but without his oar. Keitelhas meanwhile joined them. He, too, stares at the horizon.He is a little puzzled by this turn of events. Loki has saidnothing about Halfdan coming after them.

KEITEL(uneasily)

Do you suppose he wants to stop us


waking the Gods?

Erik looks at Keitel with a certain amount of contempt.Keitel is not renowned even amongst these Vikings for hisbrain-power.

ERIKWhat do you think?

KEITELBut how could he know... unless...

Keitel stops in mid-sentence as he realizes it must beLoki's doing.

THORFINN(scornfully)

So are you going to run away fromhim, Erik?

Erik turns to Thorfinn.

ERIKRow, Thorfinn Skull-Splitter.

Thorfinn hesitates.

ERIKAnd you, Keitel Blacksmith.

KEITELBut...

Keitel shrugs and turns to take up his rowing position. Heis still a little confused by this turn of events. Erikconfronts Thorfinn.

ERIKI gave an order. Or didn't you hear?

There is something about Erik's manner that carries anauthority that Thorfinn cannot argue with.

ERIKCome on, Ivar.

Erik manhandles Ivar over to his drum and thrusts hisdrumsticks into his hands. Halfdan's ship is twice the sizeof Erik's and, as Erik is only too well aware, consequentlytravels at twice the speed. There is no real chance of themescaping, unless... Erik suddenly catches sight of a thickbank of mist in the distance, and steers his ship towardsit.

IVAR(still feeling ill)

I want to die...(then, suddenly catchingsight of Halfdan's shipbehind him)

No, I don't!

ERIKRow! Row! Row!

Ivar tries to get into the new rhythm, but has a bit ofdifficult. As Halfdan's ship gains on them inexorably,GOLDEN DRAGON glides into the sea mist. There is atremendous roll of thunder very close. All the Vikings lookscared. Erik, however, grins.


ERIKRow! Row! Row!

He doubles the speed. The drum beats faster.

SVEN'S DAD(shouts out angrily)

We can't keep this up!

Erik grins and then leans on the steering oar. GOLDEN DRAGONcurves around to its left. Then Erik lays his hand on Ivar'sdrum and silences it.

ERIKOars up!

The Vikings ship their oars and sit there in the mistlistening to beating of Halfdan's drum getting closer andcloser. At the final moment, however, Halfdan swings hisship in the opposite direction from Erik's and the sound ofhis drum disappears into the mist. Erik's men breathe a sighof relief... even Keitel Blacksmith... Fade. Fade up sometime later. GOLDEN DRAGON is still drifting in the mist.Erik has his fish-lodestone and is trying the direction, butthe lodestone is just swinging round uselessly. After tryinga few times, Erik gives up and throws the lodestone awayinto the boat. The men peer into the thick mist; they arelost. Suddenly Erik sees something ahead.

ERIKThe Gates of the World...

MORD FIDDLEWhat?

GOLDEN DRAGON silently guides between two weird islands.

ERIKWe have passed through the Gates ofthe World

(he looks around at theother)

No we are in the Unknown...

GOLDEN DRAGON drifts on and the mist gets thicker. There isa crash of thunder. Then a series of flashes lights up themist around them. The Vikings are uneasy, sensing a stormbrewing. Suddenly Erik points above them. The others look uptoo. They all gasp.

ERIK(hardly daring to breathe)

So THAT is what the sun looks like!

Above them hangs a luminous yellow globe, its light justbreaking through the mist.

VIKING(to each other)

The sun! It's the sun! Look!

SVEN'S DAD(in wonderment)

I never though I should live to seethe sun again.

HARALD MISSIONARYWhere?

The Vikings all gaze up above them in awe. Harald looks from


one to the other and then tries to follow their eyelines. Heclearly can't see it. Magic music fills the air. Suddenlythe "sun" swoops off to one side and starts swaying from oneside to another.

ERIKShould the sun do that?

HARALD MISSIONARYWhat are you looking at?

ERIKLook out!

VIKINGSAh!

The Vikings scream and flatten themselves against the sidesof the boat, as the "sun" suddenly lurches down on them outof the sky, revealing for the first time that it is NOT thesun at all but a strange monster with a long neck thatdisappears off into the mist and a glowing globe for a head,and huge chomping jaws. The Vikings are, understandably,terrified.

VIKINGSIt's not the sun! It's not the sun!

HARALD MISSIONARYWhat is it?

SNORRIIt's the Dragon of the North Sea!

HARALD MISSIONARY(knowingly)

Ah! THAT'S why I can't see it.

As the Dragon of the North Sea rises up again, however, itsjaw apparently drops off and falls to the deck, and lands onSnorri.

SNORRIAaah!

Keitel nervously picks it up and holds it up for everyone tosee. I is a strand of sea-weed. The Vikings are non-plussed.They look back at their now jawless monster. HaraldMissionary picks up the sea-weed.

HARALDSome dragon! Ooh!

He tosses it back amongst his terrifies companions. Suddenlythere is an incredibly loud clap of thunder and flames shootout of the mist.

SVENLook out!

As... unbelievably... a huge monstrous visage looms out ofthe mist... It is a creature from the nethermost depths ofthe ocean... and the incandescent globe is no more than asprouting on the end of its nose! More fire shoots out fromits nostrils and sends all the Vikings (and even HaraldMissionary) diving for the deck. Then the monstrous headdisappears back into the mist as quickly as it came, takingits light with it... The Vikings are paralysed with fear forone brief moment.


ERIKRow! ROW!

They all scramble for the oars in a determined hysteria.Ivar the drummer, in his panic, has set a ridiculously fastrate and nobody can keep up with it.

ERIKSlower! Nobody can row at thatspeed!

IVAR(hoarsely)

Sorry.

HARALDWhat's all the panic about?

SVEN'S DAD(in a panic, shouting backover his shoulder)

The Dragon...

Harald gives a patronising smile.

HARALDChildren afraid of the dark...

Suddenly there is another roar, and flames shoot out of themist and across the deck of GOLDEN DRAGON. One man, OrnolfFishdriver, who hasn't had much to say so far, is set onfire. Another, Bjarni Jerusalem-Farer, who has and will haveeven less to say then Ornolf Fishdriver, leaps out of theway of the flames and falls over the side.

THORFINNMan over board!

Thorfinn starts trying to fish him out. Ivar has started topanic and is beating the drum too fast.

ERIKSlower! In... Out...

IVARSorry!

SVEN(his eyes showing theirwhites)

We're being attacked! KILL! Kill!Kill!

SVEN'S DADNot now, Sven...

SVENI must KILL! Kill!

SVEN'S DADIt's no good going berserk against adragon!

Sven's dad slaps him around the face. There is another roarfrom the monster. Erik turns to Ivar.

ERIKFaster!

IVARMake your mind up.


Suddenly the Dragon's head appears out of the mists abovethem once again. There is panic amongst the Vikings as somestart to row faster than others. Screams.

ERIKKeep up the strike!

The Dragon's jaws open. Flame licks out, and down the centreof the vessel. There are screams as the Vikings leap out ofthe way. Sven goes berserk again.

SVENKILL! KILL!

SVEN'S DADStop it!

The Dragon's eyes dilate and its jaws open. The men throwthemselves to the deck as if expecting more fire. Butinstead the creature's fangs crash into the wood of thestern of GOLDEN DRAGON.

ERIKROW!

SVENDEATH!

SVEN'S DADShut UP!

ERIKRow!

Erik looks around at his terror-stricken crew. He realizesthis is an important moment. It is up to him to save thesituation. Suddenly an idea occurs to him, as he catchessight of the pillow that his mother gave him.

ERIKKeep rowing!

Erik dashes to his sea-chest under the mast and pulls outthe pillow.

THORFINNErik! Row! What are you doing?

ERIK(holding up the pillow)

It saved my father!

Erik starts to shin up the mast.

SNORRIBarmy.

Sven's dad is desperately holding Sven back.

SVEN'S DADHOLD it! HOLD it in!

SVENDEATH TO DRAGONS!

ERIKRow!

SNORRIHas anyone told him we've got a


dragon eating our boat?

Erik has reached the top of the mast and is now right upwith the incandescent globe on the end of the long stalkthat grows onto the monster's nose. He grabs hold of it andswings across onto the monster's nose. At his moment Svenbreaks free of his dad and throws himself onto one of theDragon's teeth.

SVENRed mist!

He bangs his head against the monstrous denture. Sven's dadlooks heavenward in despair. Cut to Harald Missionary who isoffering his bible to the petrifies Vikings in the prow.

HARALDIt's at time like this that you'llfind this book MOST useful, youknow...

Keitel takes the bible from him and hits him over the headwith it.

KEITELRow! You idiot!

The monster's eyes dilate wildly as they try to focus on thetiny figure of Erik on its snout. Erik shoves the pillow upone of the Dragon's nostrils. Snorri watches Erikincredulously. He shakes his head.

SNORRIHis father went crazy too... Used totake forty winks in the middle of abattle...

Thorfinn frowns - he has a glimmering of an idea of whatErik is doing. Erik now plunges his sword through the pillowin the Dragon's nostril, and feathers immediately fly intothe air.

ERIKNow... take a deep breath.

The Dragon goes cross-eyed, trying to see what's going on onits snout.

ERIKGo on! Breathe in, you cod-brain!

Meanwhile the Dragon's tongue suddenly licks out around itstooth. Sven instantly slices through it with his sword. Thebright blood spurts, like bursting a sausage. The Dragongives an agonized roar and a sharp intake of breath. Thefeathers that have leaked out from the pillow are instantlysucked inside and the whole pillow disappears right up theDragon's nose. For a moment everyone holds their breath. TheDragon's eye dilate wildly. Then it wrinkles its snout. Thenit starts what is unmistakably a sneeze.

THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH SEAAh... ah... ah...

ERIKHold TIGHT!

THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH SEAAh... ah... ah...


Erik leaps back across the mast.

THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH SEACHOO!!

A hurricane of wind and feathers blasts out of the Dragon'snostrils and hits all the Vikings at once. Everyone isdisgusted by the Dragon's breath.

SNORRIUrgh! What's it been eating?

But the blast has already catapulted the boat into the sky,and it hurtles through the clouds. leaving the Dragon of theNorth Sea far behind. They all look up at Erik and cheer.Shot of Erik. He doesn't look too happy. Neither does Ivarthe Boneless, because he too has just noticed that they arenow flying and the ocean is several thousand feet belowthem. Ivar screams. The other all rush to the side to looktoo.

ERIKNo! No! Get back!

Unfortunately they all rush to the SAME side and the boattips over with far more instability than when it is in thewater. Leif and Thangbrand are catapulted down into the sea.We watch them descend into tiny dots and tiny unheardsplashes below.

THORFINNWho was that?

SNORRILeif the Lucky.

Others are almost falling out. There is renewed panic.

ERIKGet back!

Poor Erik is still up the mast but has been dislodged and isnow hanging on by his hands, dangling over the open sea.Some of the men - Thorfinn and Sven the Berserk amongst them- are hauling themselves up the almost vertical slope of thedeck, trying to redress the balance. Meanwhile KeitelBlacksmith is dangling by one hand.

KEITELI can't hold on! I can't hold on!

Sven worms his way along the edge - at great peril tohimself - and grabs Keitel's wrist just as his fingers slip.

KEITELAaagh!

SVENGot you!

Keitel looks up in Sven's eyes. He is totally at Sven'smercy. What thoughts are going through his mind? How is hegoing to betray Sven in future if he is rescued? Guiltsuddenly overwhelms him.

KEITELLet me go, Sven.

SVENWhat are you talking about?


KEITELI'm not worth risking your life for.

SVENI've got you, Keitel Blacksmith. Ifyou go... I go too...

KEITELFor your own sake... For theothers... I...

SVENHang on...

The boat begins to right itself just as Erik finally can'thold on any more, and he plummets, straight into the ship,and through the bottom up to his waist. His legs dangle. Atthe same moment the prov of the boat tips and suddenly theyare plummeting down towards the ocean. They hit the waterwith an almighty splash. Erik is thrown clear of the hull bythe force of the water now cascading up through the hole hehas made.

SNORRIFirst we're flying - now we'resinking!

ERIKWell, come on!

He whisks off his helmet and starts bailing. All followsuit. Night falls. Some time later. The Vikings are stillbailing out, but the water is up to their thighs.

IVAR THE BONELESSWho are we fooling? It's hopeless!

Ivar flings down the helmet with which he's been bailing.The others look at each other. They are reconciled to thefact that they are going to drown.

HARALD MISSIONARY(hopelessly)

Let's sing something!

SNORRIAnyone know any good drowning songs?

The suggestion falls flat.

ERIKListen! Maybe we won't get to Hy-Brasil! Maybe we won't find the HornResounding... but at least we'vetried... and at least we shall havedied like men.

SNORRILike fish.

SVENShut up.

THORFINN(raising his sword)

Erik's right! We'll all meet inValhalla.

IVARI don'T want to die!


HARALD MISSIONARYIsn't there ANYBODY who'd like to bechristened before we go down?

Silence. A distinct lack of enthusiasm.

HARALDIt can't do you any HARM...

SVEN'S DADWhat do we have to do?

HARALDNothing... I just immerse you inwater...

THORFINN AND OTHERSGet lost...

The ship creaks and starts to go under. Erik picks his uphis sword. The others follow suit.

ERIKDon't let me drown, Thorfinn!

Water starts to pour over the sides of the boat. Erik andThorfinn raise their swords to each other.

THORFINNTill we meet in Valhalla.

They all prepare to run each other through. The boat sinksrapidly.

IVAR THE BONELESSI'm too young! Oh Odin! Not me!Please not me! Perhaps I'd ratherdrown...

HARALD MISSIONARYI do WISH you'd let me convert you.

Then Erik pauses in his attempt to kill Thorfinn and looksaround. The ship has sunk, but the prow and the stern postsare still sticking up out of the water, and the Vikingsthemselves are only up to their chests.

ERIKHow deep IS the ocean?

THORFINNVery deep... usually...

The realization gradually dawns on the Vikings that they'renot going to sink any more.

ERIKWait! Nobody kill anybody!

Fade. Fade up on the sun shining down from a blue sky. TheVikings have fallen asleep where we last saw them - up totheir necks in water. Gradually the warmth of the sun coaxesthem awake - Thorfinn is the first to look up and see thebrilliant shining orb in the sky.

THORFINNWhat is it?

IVAR THE BONELESS(he panics and turns)

It's the Dragon again!


ERIKNo.. no, it isn't...

Ivar has turned and is staring at something else.

ERIKLook, the sky is blue...

SVEN'S DADThe sun! That's it!

Ivar, meanwhile, is recovering from the amazement that hasimmobilized him. He taps Erik on the shoulder. Erik turnsand he, too, gasps.

ERIKLook!

They all turn to see they are standing in the shallow watersof a natural harbour. Above nestle the white walls of abeautiful city set in a green and pleasant land.

VIKINGSYeaaaah!

The Vikings wade ashore, enchanted by the paradise they seebefore them. All at once Thorfinn spies something. He drawshis sword and they all approach with caution to find thatunder a weeping willow tree lies the most beautiful girl.She is raven-haired, scantily dressed and fast asleep. TheVikings approach her with trepidation, their swords and axesdrawn. They glance around uneasily.

SNORRI(whispers)

She's got no clothes on!

THORFINNIt's disgusting.

ERIKGet her weapons.

Sven kneels quietly beside the girl. She stirs. Svenfreezes. The others look around fearfully.

SVEN(whispers)

She hasn't got any.

ERIK(incredulous)

She MUST have a knife orsomething...

But they look. She hasn't.

THORFINNWhat kind of place IS this?

IVAR THE BONELESSP... p...perhaps they've got weaponswe haven't even dreamed of...

Suddenly the girl stirs again in her sleep. The Vikingsretreat several paces and grip their weapons, and glancearound as if expecting an ambush.

THORFINNLet's hack her to pieces.


ERIKNo.

KEITELWell, what else do we do?

ERIKHow about making friends?

SVEN(with disgust)

"FRIENDS"?

VIKINGSEurrgh!

ERIKWhat's wrong with making friends?

THORFINNYou don't go through all thehardships of an ocean voyage to make"friends".

SVENWe can make "friends" at home...

This conversation has woken the girl, Aud.

AUDWelcome!

The Vikings react with terror, take a step back and raisetheir swords and axes.

ERIKWHAT did you say?

AUDI said welcome.

ERIK(suspiciously)

WELCOME?

AUDWell, of course. We always welcomefriends.

The Vikings look at each other and at their swords. Theydon't think they look that much like friends themselves.

ERIKHow d'you KNOW we're "friends"?

AUDWell, EVERYONE is friends here onHy-Brasil.

SVENHy-Brasil?

ERIKIs THIS Hy-Brasil?

AUDWell, of course.

The Vikings erupt into an impromptu dance of joy, huggingeach other and waving their swords in the air.


AUDPlease! Please! What are those?

ERIKWhat are what?

AUDThose things in your hands.

ERIKThese? What are THESE? They'reswords.

Aud instantly recoils with terror.

AUDOh no! NO! Out them down! PUT THEMDOWN!

The Vikings gradually cease their mock battles and turn tolook at Aud with incredulity.

ERIKWhat's the matter?

AUDPLEASE! You don't know what you'redoing!

ERIKWhat?

AUDPut them down!

(To Erik)PLEASE make them put them down.

THORFINNWhy?

OTHERSYes, why?

AUDWHY?

ERIKYes.

AUDBut surely you know...?

VIKINGSEr... n... no...

ERIKKnow what?

Cut to big close-up of King Arnulf.

KING ARNULFThe wonderful blessing under whichwe live here on Hy-Brasil!

The king beams. The Vikings shift uneasily. They look out ofplace and extremely scruffy in the midst of the scantilydressed courtiers of Hy-Brasil. Aud sits beside her fatherthe King.

ERIKNo... we don't...


KING ARNULFThe Gods decreed that if ever swordspills human blood upon theseshores, the whole of Hy-Brasil willsink beneath the waves.

King Arnulf beams rapturously at the Vikings, expecting themto be overjoyed. Instead they are horrified.

THORFINNThat's terrible!

ERIKYou mean if just ONE PERSON getskilled?

KING ARNULFYes!

(He thinks: isn't itwonderful?)

The Vikings look at each other,feeling they haven't quiteunderstood.

THORFINNYou mean... you can't kill ANYBODY?

KING ARNULFRight! Isn't it wonderful?

The Vikings are non-plussed.

THORFINNWhat? Not being able to killanybody?

KING ARNULF(bemused)

Well, of course.

ERIK(interested)

How?

KING ARNULF(explaining the obvious)

Well... for a start... er... there'sno killing...

ERIKWell, OBVIOUSLY there's no killing.

KING ARNULFWell...

(isn't it great?)

THORFINNBut how d'you take revenge?

KEITEL(guiltily)

How do you punish people?

IVARHow do you DEFEND yourselves?

KING ARNULF(getting a little irritated)

We don't have to. We're all terribly


nice to each other. Aren't we?

COURTYes!

Aud catches Erik's eye and gives him a dangerously slowwink. A pause of disbelief from the Vikings.

SVENALL the time?

KING ARNULFWell, of course! We HAVE to be.

He turns and conducts the courtiers, who chant in unison:

COURT"Being nice to each other is whatit's all about."

KING ARNULF(rising as if to sing)

You see?

We're terribly nice to each other

We're friendly bold and free.

We never say anything nasty

'Cause we dare not...

COURT(almost SINGING)

No sirreeeee!

They hold the note while King Arnulf looks anxiously at theVikings.

KING ARNULFWould you like us o sing to you?

ERIKThat's very kind of you, but we'rein rather a hurry...

We're...

King Arnulf claps and the court stop singing.

KING ARNULFWhat's the matter, don't you WANT tohear our singing?

ERIKOh... well, yes, of course; it'sjust we're looking for the

Horn Resounding and -

KING ARNULFYou don't think our singing's goingto be good enough for you?

ERIKOh, no no no! It's just the HornResounding is...

KING ARNULFA lot of people like our singing.

ERIK


ERIKI'm sure it's lovely.

KING ARNULFBut you don't want to hear it.

ERIK(changing tack)

No... no...(he looks at the others)

We'd love to hear it.

Wouldn't we?

VIKINGSOh... yes.

KING ARNULFWell, you'll have to ask us REALLYnicely.

ERIK(realizing he has to bediplomatic)

Er... well... we... we... would be

TERRIBLY grateful if you... all... would sing for us.

KING ARNULFYou're just saying that.

SVENWell, of course he is!

SVEN'S DADSh!

They restrain Sven.

ERIKOf course we're not; we'd genuinelylike to hear you sing.

KING ARNULFREALLY?

ERIKReally.

KING ARNULFAnd you're not just saying itbecause you think we want you to?

Erik swallows hard.

ERIKNo.

(He bites the lie)

KING ARNULFRight! Summon the musicians! We'lldo the one that goes "TUM-

TUM-TUM-TUM-TI-TUM-TUM"

COURT(disappointed)

Oh...

CHAMBERLAINREALLY?


KING ARNULF(apologetically to Vikings)

It isn't the one we're BEST at.

CHAMBERLAINCouldn't we do the one that goes"TI-TUM-TI-TUM-TI-TUM"?

The rest of the court look hopeful.

KING ARNULF(whispering)

Not when we've got guests.

VOICE FROM COURTHow about the one that goes "TI-TUM-TI-TUM-TI-TUM-TI-TI-TUM"?

KING ARNULFDon't be silly.

CHAMBERLAINThat was a stupid suggestion.

VOICESorry! I just thought they mightlike to hear something that we

can do.

ANOTHERYes! At least we know that one.

YET ANOTHER VOICENobody knows the "TUM-TUM-TUM-TUM-TI-TUM-TUM" one.

REST OF COURTNo! Right! I agree!

ODD MAN OUTI do!

REST OF COURTSh!

ANOTHER VOICEIt's too difficult!

CHAMBERLAINSh!

KING ARNULFAll right. We'll do the one thatgoes "TI-TUM-TI-TUM-TI-TUM-

TI-TI-TUM". Ah! The musicians!

The musicians are huge, unshaven, have broken noses andtattoos, and are covered in black oil - like mechanics.Their instruments are like heavy industrial machinery,pushed in large vats of black oil that drip all over theshow.

KING ARNULFRight... Oh dear...

(he glances across at theVikings)

I'm sure

you're not going to like this...


Erik and the others smile reassuringly. There is a lot ofcoughing. The King raises his baton and then brings it down,humming to himself as he does so. There is a most awful din;caterwauling, crashing and banging, whining, screaming...The Vikings look at each other, trying to pick out sometune, but it's impossible. Ivar the Boneless can't stophimself bursting out into giggles and this eventuallyspreads to the other Vikings. King Arnulf notices and bangsthe throne for silence. Gradually the din stops. King Arnulfsinks down in despair.

KING ARNULF(tragically)

We're just not a very musicalnation...

ERIKNo, no... It was very... er, nice.

KING ARNULFNow I want you to be ABSOLUTELY,totally, genuinely honest with

me. Did you really, truly, honestly like it?

Erik thinks for some moments and then decides to make aclean breast of it.

ERIKNo.

KING ARNULF(goes hysterically)

They didn't like it! Oh God! I wantto die!

The whole court looks as if it's about to commit mass HARA-KIRI, while the musicians look rather dangerous. Erik takesthe moment to get down to business.

ERIKYour Majesty! We come from a worldwhere there IS no music.

where men live and die by the axe and by the sword...

KING ARNULFWell, how d'you think I feel?

ERIKThe Gods are asleep, King Arnulf.

KING ARNULFYOU try to be nice to people, whenthey're rude about your

singing...

Erik feels he is making a mess of all this diplomacy.

ERIKWe must find the Horn Resounding!

The King glares at Erik.

ERIKIs is HERE in Hy-Brasil?

King Arnulf thinks for a moment and then speaks.


KING ARNULFI'll tell you what...

ERIKYes?

King Arnulf hesitates - he bites his lip and then takes theplunge.

KING ARNULFWe'll do the one that goes "TUM-TUM-TUM-TUM-TI-TUM-TUM".

Perhaps you'll like that better.

Erik gives up. A lot of throat clearing. Aud, the King'sdaughter, gives Erik another dangerously slow wink. Theterrible "music" starts up, shattering the calm of thebeautiful city. Fade. Fade up on GOLDEN DRAGON now afloatonce more, riding at anchor in the bay. Ivar is standing onguard in it. Suddenly he sees something that makes him gabein horror. We don't find out what it is, however, because weimmediately Cut to Erik. He is deeply in love. He is also inbed with the King's nubile daughter, Aud.

AUDHave you ever felt like this aboutanyone else?

ERIKWhat... you mean "got into bed with"them?

AUDNo, of course not, silly - I meanFELT like this about the?

ERIKYou mean... you HAVE got into bedwith somebody else?

AUDNo, I mean have you ever felt thatfor the first time in your

life you'd met somebody you could believe in with your whole

heart... someone whose goals suddenly seem to be YOURgoals...

whose dreams seem to be YOUR dreams?

ERIKHAVE you ever been to bed withanyone else?

AUDWhat does that matter? But you've...you've... FELT like this

before...

ERIKIt was different...

AUD(just for a moment it isHelga speaking)

What was she like?

ERIK


Oh... oh, I didn't know her verywell...

AUDBut you LOVED her all the same...

ERIKWe never went to bed together.

AUDWhy do you go on about that? Whatdoes it matter?

ERIKYou've been to bed with somebodyelse, haven't you?

AUDI've never LOVED anybody!

ERIKI'VE never been to bed with anybody!

Suddenly there is a banging on he door.

KING ARNULF(v/o)

Open up! I know you're in there!

AUDAh! It's my father!

KING ARNULF (V/O)Open up! I know you're in there!

Suddenly the note from Ivar's horn rings out across from thebay. Erik rushes to the window and looks out to see whatIvar saw previously: a black ship approaching on thehorizon.

ERIKOh, no! Halfdan!

There is more banging on the bedroom door.

KING ARNULF (V/O)Aud! You've got someone in thereagain, haven't you?

Erik gives her a sharp look.

AUDQuick! Throw this over you!

She throws a shabby bit of cloth over Erik and at thatmoment the door bursts open, and King Arnulf enters.

KING ARNULFRight! Where is he?

AUDWho, Father?

KING ARNULFWho? Who? Whoever you've got in hereof course!

AUDThere IS no one.

The King starts prowling round the chamber. Erik stands


there, naked and petrified, with the cloak hanging over hishead, just where it landed.

KING ARNULFI can SMELL one of thosestrangers... That's who it is, isn't

it?

Aud keeps mum.

KING ARNULFThis is the fifth one this week.

Before he can stop himself, Erik blurts out:

ERIKFifth...

Aud motions him to be quiet, but it's too late. The Kingspins round to see who she is signalling to. The Kingappears to be looking straight at Erik. Erik can hardly bearthe suspense.

KING ARNULFWell... where is he?

AUDThere's nobody here, Father. Lookfor yourself.

King Arnulf looks around the chamber carefully. He looksstraight through Erik as if he weren't there. Suddenly theKing strides over to Erik and Erik instinctively cowers outof the way. The King walks straight over to a very smallcupboard no more than a foot high, flings the door of itopen, and starts throwing clothes around the room.

AUDHe wouldn't be a midget, Father!

The King turns on her.

KING ARNULFAh! So you admit there IS someone!

AUDYou're losing your temper!

KING(becoming instantly pleasant)

Of course I'm not. I never lose mytemper...

Ivar's horn sounds again. A shadow passes over King Arnulf'sface.

KING ARNULFOh dear... more visitors!

He strides to the window and sees Halfdan's ship. As he doesso, Erik has to leap out of the way, inadvertently knockinga chest. The King spins round and addresses the chest.

KING ARNULFCome out... come out like a man... Iknow you're in there...

King Arnulf flings the chest open. revealing nothing butclothes. He is baffled. He reluctantly starts to leave.


AUD(gently)

It's all in your own mind, Father...It's YOU who imagine that

I'm always up here with some man or other....

KING ARNULFI don't know how you do it, Aud... Isometimes think you've got

some of your mother's magic...

He suddenly spies a small trinket-box and looks in that. Buthe doesn't find any strange man in it.

AUDThere is no magic, Father... Mymother had no magic...

KING ARNULFShe did, I tell you! She could blindme as easily as the night

the day.

AUDIt's your fantasy...

KING ARNULFBut one day I'll catch you... Like Icaught her...

He leaves. Aud closes the door. Erik throws the cloak offand starts getting dressed.

AUDThe Cloak Invisible. It was mymother's parting gift.

ERIK"The fifth one this week"!

AUDOh, for goodness' sake!

ERIKAnd I thought you said it wassomething special...

Aud runs to his side and puts her arms around him.

AUDThat's just what I was trying totell you. You ARE...

ERIKFive this week; how many the weekbefore?

AUDYou're as bad as my father.

ERIKAnd the week before that?

ERIKErik...!

(she is really sincere)I want to help you get to


Asgaard.

Erik is torn. He doesn't know whether to believe her or not.Ivar's horn sounds for a third time. Erik races to thewindow. He looks out. Halfdan's ship is even closer.

ERIKWe mustn't let him land!

AUDWho?

ERIKHalfdan the Black.

AUDBut, Erik...

But Erik is off out of the door.

AUDNo. Wait! My father will be -

There is a thump and a yell as Erik is set upon by theKing's two musicians.

KING ARNULFI might have known it was you!

MUSICIAN 1(pinning Erik's arms behindhim)

I'm not hurting you, am I?

ERIKWhat?

MUSICIAN 2You WILL tell us if we hurt you?

They start to march Erik through the palace.

ERIKLet me go!

Erik struggles.

KING ARNULF(to musicians)

Careful!(to Erik)

They're not supposed to hurt you.

ERIKYou've got to let me go!

MUSICIAN 2Oh no! We can hold onto you - justso long we don't squeeze too hard orbump you.

In the distance we hear the horn again.

ERIKHalfdan the Black's here!

They have reached a cell. The musicians starts to chain Erikup.

KING ARNULFIt's all part of our safety


regulations. You see if someone

were to get hurt they might get angry and then... well...

ERIKThey'll be more than "hurt" ifHalfdan the Black lands! Ow!

MUSICIANOoh! I'm terribly sorry.

KING ARNULFWho is Halfdan the Black?

ERIKHe's trying to stop us waking theGods.

KING ARNULFWhy?

ERIKBecause that's how he makes hismoney, by war and plunder!

KING ARNULFDon't talk nonsense.

ERIKHe wants to kill US!

KING ARNULFNot when we explain about the GreatBlessing.

ERIKYou don't know Halfdan the Black.

KING ARNULFI know that the Great Blessing haskept the peace for a

thousand years, and will keep it for the next thousand.

The horn sounds again. Erik is about to argue this pointwhen Thorfinn suddenly bursts in.

THORFINNErik!

MUSICIAN 2We're not hurting him!

MUSICIAN 1(to Erik)

Are we?

ERIKJust let me go!

THORFINNHalfdan the Black's here!

ERIKI know!

THORFINN(to the King)

He wants to KILL us.

They both look at King Arnulf. The King thinks.


ERIKYou don't want him to kill us ON Hy-Brasil! Do you?

The King thinks some more. The horn sounds once more. Cut toGOLDEN DRAGON. Erik and the Vikings are scrambling intotheir war gear. They glance nervously over to where Halfdanthe Black's ship is riding on the waves.

THORFINNI feel strange.

Erik looks at Thorfinn, shocked.

IVAR THE BONELESS(his throat dry)

Sort of wobbly and excited?

THORFINNSort of...

IVARThat's fear.

SVENBut Thorfinn doesn't know themeaning of fear.

THORFINNIs it sort of... like a sinkingfeeling in your stomach?

IVARThat's it!

ERIKBut. You're not even afraid ofDEATH, Thorfinn!

THORFINNI know. I know.

SVEN'S DADIt's magic.

ERIKWhat "magic"?

SVEN'S DADI've heard stories of a magic thatstrikes fear into the heart

so you cannot fight.

SVEN(deadly serious)

Yes... I can feel it.

IVAR THE BONELESS(eagerly)

I always feel like this!

Suddenly Halfdan's ship rises up out of the water , andrevealing the secret of its hidden power. Under the water-line is another line of oars! The Vikings are dumbfounded.Ivar drops trembling to his knees. The rest go white.Thorfinn draws his sword. Erik realizes his men are rapidlytalking themselves into a blue funk.

ERIK


It's not magic! It's just a trick!

THORFINN(turning on him angrily)

Don't you FEEL it?

Erik looks around at his paralysed crew. He realizes he isthe only one who can save the situation.

ERIKVery well! It they're using magic -we'll use magic of our own!

He leaps out of GOLDEN DRAGON and races up to the shoretowards the city of Hy-Brasil. Erik races into the Forum andgazes up at the high walls of the Palace. Without a thoughthe produces two daggers and plunges them into the stonework.Then he hauls himself up the sheer cliff of wall up to Aud'sbedchamber fist over fist. It is, indeed, a prodigious feat.He arrives at Aud's window exhausted. Aud, who has appearedat the window, looks at him curiously.

AUDWhy didn't you come up by thestairs?

Erik looks around and notices for the first time themagnificent flights of stairs leading up to the top of Aud'stower.

ERIK(rather miffed)

Just give me a hand.

AUDI mean, you could have killedyourself.

Erik clambers into Aud's room.

ERIKWhere's the Cloak Invisible?

AUDWhy?

Erik looks around and is suddenly suspicious.

ERIKI can't see it!

(Indignation suddenly seizeshim)

Have you got

another man in here?

Erik starts feeling the air as if expecting to find aninvisible body.

AUDIt's in the chest.

Erik races over and grabs the cloak.

AUDNo!

ERIKI'll bring it back.

AUD


Erik. You don't understand.

ERIKNo. It's YOU who doesn't understand,Aud. Halfdan has come to

kill and destroy. We brought him here. We must stop him.

AUD(pointing at the cloak)

But you don't realize....

ERIKGoodbye, Aud...

Erik leaps out of the window. For a moment Aud is surprisedand then alarmed as she realizes he's jumped out of thewindow, which is some forty feet off the ground.

AUDErik!

She rushes to the window in time to see Erik parachutingdown, holding the four corners of the cloak. Erik landssafely and waves with the cloak.

ERIKAnd thanks for the Cloak Invisible!

AUDNo! WAIT! ERIK! The Cloak! The CLoakInvisible! It only seems

to work on my father!

But Erik cannot hear her. He is already racing back to hisship. Back on GOLDEN DRAGON, Thorfinn is taking "BeingScared" lessons from Ivar the Boneless.

THORFINNAnd a sort of slightly sick feeling?

IVARThat's it! AND you keep wanting togo to the lavatory.

THORFINNOh, yes! I hadn't noticed that!

SNORRIOh, shut up, you two. You're makingus ALL nervous.

Erik leaps into GOLDEN DRAGON brandishing the CloakInvisible.

ERIKSo Halfdan the Black's using magic,is he? Well, I have a magic

to match his!(he holds up the CloakInvisible)

KEITELWhat is it?

SNORRIA magic dishcloth.

ERIK


To the oars!

THORFINND'you think I've got time to gobehind that bush?

Ivar starts to drum and the Vikings begin to row. GOLDENDRAGON heads out of the harbour. Cut to Halfdan the Blackflanked by his advisers, Gisli Oddsson and Eilif the Mongul.He gives a nod and Eilif bangs his staff of office on thedeck, as a signal for the galley slaves to speed up. Down inthe galley, the slave master (a diminutive Japanese)

stalks down the decks lashing the sweat-streaked galleyslaves and cursing them in incomprehensive Japanese.Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately)

a translation appears in subtitles.

SLAVE-DRIVER(subtitled)

Row! You incomprehensible,horizontal-eyed, Western

trouser-wearers! Eurgh! You all look the same to me! How I

despise your lack of subtlety and your joined-up writing!You,

who have never committed ritual suicide in your lives!

SLAVE(whispering to his neighbour)

You know, I don't think it would beso bad,

if we knew what he was saying...

SLAVE-DRIVERSILENCE! Unceremonious rice-puddingeaters! How I abominate

your milk-drinking and your lack of ancestor-worship andyour

failure to eat your lunch out of little boxes!

Meanwhile the Vikings are growing increasingly uneasy asthey row towards Halfdan.

SVEN'S DADWhat "magic" have you brought, Erik?

ERIKYou'll see!

At this point, back on the Black Ship, Halfdan gives anothernod and Eilif raps out yet another command with his staff.This time the prow of the Black Ship opens up like a pair ofjaws. The Vikings see it and panic.

IVAR THE BONELESSI've done it!

THORFINNOh, yes...

(he has too!)Halfdan nods again and another orderis rapped out. This time a harpoonis fired from the prow. It thudsinto gOLDEN DRAGON and two of


Halfdan's dog-soldiers start towinch the line in. The two ships arehauled closer and closer. TheVikings panic even more. Erik holdsup the Cloak Invisible and grinsround at his men, knowing he isgoing to surprise them.

ERIKHere! Here is the magic from theKing's daughter!

Erik's men watch, half sceptical and half hopeful. Erikenjoys the moment of suspense. The he throws the CloakInvisible over his head and shoulders and grins round at hismen triumphantly, imagining he has vanished from theirsight.

ERIKThere! I have become the wind!

The Vikings look at him, rather puzzled. Only Harald seemsto be impressed.

HARALDHow did he do that?

SVEN'S DADDo what?

HARALDVanish into thin air?

SVEN'S DADHe hasn't.

HARALDWell, where is he then?

Harald looks around. He is the only one who can't see Erik.

SVEN'S DADHe's THERE!

At this point Halfdan's ship suddenly bites into the side ofGOLDEN DRAGON. Erik leaps onto the side of GOLDEN DRAGON andswings across onto Halfdan's ship. The Vikings react to thehorror of Halfdan's ship biting into GOLDEN DRAGON and toErik's blithe leap onto the enemy boat. Erik lands on thedeck of Halfdan's ship, and grins at the ferocious skull-helmeted dog-soldiers.

ERIKOoh! Scary! Scary! Don't we lookmean?

Two dog-soldiers look at each other, totally non-plussed.Erik grimaces at Halfdan's men, and does a little pirouetteto show them all that he's invisible from every angle.

ERIKYou can't see me! But I can see you!

He breaks into a little dance. Halfdan glares at hisadvisers.

HALFDANWhat's going on?

GISLI ODDSSON


That's Erik.

HALFDANWell, why isn't he scared of us?

Erik, meanwhile approaches one of the dog-soldiers and makessilly faces at him.

ERIKBoo!

The dog-soldier topples overboard. The galley slaves watchanother dog-soldier fall into the hold amongst them and liethere stunned. His sword falls onto the deck between theslaves. One of the slaves throws down his oar, and picks upthe dog-soldier's sword. The slave-master suddenly appears.Once again he speaks immaculate JApanese.

SLAVE-MASTER(subtitled)

Hey! What's going on? Your big-breasted women give me

no pleasure with their warmed-up fish and... Urgh!

The slave-master strides down the ship to flay the offendingslave, but another slave trips him up and in a twinkling ofan eye four others have leapt on the slave-master (despitetheir chains)

and are extracting his keys.

HALFDANWhat's the matter? Haven't you seenanyone fight before?

DOG-SOLDIER 1No.

DOG-SOLDIER 2They're usually too scared of us.

HALFDANKILL him!

Erik, still thinking he's invisible, is running amongst thedog- soldiers, having fun. He runs one dog-soldier throughand kicks another overboard, then he runs past a few more,right up to Halfdan himself. He whisks the Cloak Invisibleoff his head for an instant.

ERIK(thinking he's revealinghimself)

Here I am!

Then he turns and is off. Halfdan turns to his aides.

HALFDANWhat?

Back on GOLDEN DRAGON, the Vikings' disbelief has turned toadmiration.

SVEN'S DADThere! THAT'S a true Berserk.

SVENI'm just building up to it, Dad.

Sven starts banging his head on the side of the boat.


SNORRIHe's gone batty!

THORFINNNo! The fear's gone!

Halfdan grabs a sword off one of his dead dog-soldiers andthrusts it into the unwilling hands of his military adviser,Eilif.

HALFDANFight, damn you! Fight!

Cut back to GOLDEN DRAGON. Now Sven leaps across ontoHalfdan's ship followed by Ivar, yelling. Snorri looks backat Keitel.

SNORRIWell! Come on!

KEITELI... I...

Keitel is thinking: "Maybe I should let Halfdan win" but heknows he can't let a thing like that happen, now he is facedwith the reality of it. The companionship of the voyage hasbrought them all too close for that.

KEITEL(under his breath)

Hang the Blacksmith's Code!

Keitel leaps to his feet and joins in the attack. Erik,meanwhile, is swinging across the deck from a rope.

ERIKI am the air! I am the wind!

Keitel and Thorfinn are now fighting side by side.

THORFINNThis is life, eh?

Keitel grins and strikes out. Ivar turns on Eilif who hasreluctantly joined the fray. Maybe he's singled Ivar out asthe most harmless. Ivar suddenly realizes he's only armedwith drumsticks. Eilif smiles evilly.

IVAROoh... er...

Eilif's sword slices through Ivar's drumsticks. Ivar turnsto run, but is stopped by a dog-soldier. Eilif takes theopportunity to run him through from behind.

IVAR(as he dies)

Ouch.

Erik sees Ivar's demise.

ERIKIvar!

Erik leaps to take revenge. He jumps into the galley-pit andout again a la Douglas Fairbanks in THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD anddispatches Eilif with a single thrust. Sven and his dad arefighting surrounded by dog- soldiers.

SVEN'S DAD


Well, go on! Go berserk!

SVENGIVE US A CHANCE, Dad!

Snorri appears from behind.

SNORRI(to Sven's dad)

What about you? Why don't YOU goberserk?

SVEN'S DADI got to keep my eye on HIM...

Sven's dad looks uneasy. He is surrounded and, as a seasonedcampaigner, knows they haven't much chance. Halfdan smilesto himself. The battle is going his way. Thorfinn meanwhileis fighting two dog- soldiers but is attacked from behind bya third.

SVENLook out! Thorfinn!

But it's too late. Thorfinn is run through the back. Svengoes berserk and kills all three dog-soldiers. Sven's dadlooks on, proud of his son for the first time. Maybe theirrelationship will never be the same again. Now Snorri seessomething that cheers him up. SLaves are coming up frombelow to join the battle. They are armed with oars andswords. They join the fray, knocking dog-soldiers overboardwith their oars. The dog-soldier are suddenly outnumbered.Halfdan's smile fades, and he looks around for an escaperoute. The tide of battle has now turned dramatically asdog-soldier after dog-soldier is tossed over the side orlaid low by the combination of Vikings and slaves. Halfdanand Gisli slip into a lifeboat and sneak off. The rats areleaving the sinking ship. Back on the deck, all the dog-soldiers are dead or overboard. The slaves and Vikings arecheering and embracing each other. At the other end of theboat, Sven is cradling the dying Thorfinn in his arms. Allaround are jubilant slaves celebrating their freedom.

SVENThorfinn! You can't die!

THORFINNI'm not frightened... of anything...

SVENYou'll see my grandfather inValhalla!

THORFINN(dying)

No... he's not... not... there...

SVENTell him I'm coming!

Thorfinn dies. Sven holds him and a tear comes down hisface. The danger has made comrades of the two rivals. Erik,however, is still fighting a last lone dog-soldier; but justas he is about to run him through the dog-soldier is stabbedin the back. He sinks to the floor, revealing another dog-soldier. Erik is outraged by this act of treachery and turnson the assassin.

DOG-SOLDIERNo! No" Wait! Please wait, Erik!


The dog-soldier pulls his mask off to reveal he is, in fact,Loki. Erik is totally non-plussed.

ERIKLOKI! Where did YOU come from?

LOKIHalfdan wanted to stop you wakingthe Gods... so... I disguised

myself to sabotage their plans.

Erik has meanwhile been joined by the remaining comrades.

LOKITo save YOU, Erik.

Erik is about to say "But how can you see me? I'm wearingthe Cloak Invisible."

ERIKBut -

LOKIIt was my master Keitel's idea.

All eyes turn on Keitel who looks very uncomfortable.

LOKIWasn't it, Keitel?

KEITELWell... I... I thought...

Keitel is overcome b the power of Loki's will, but he isdeeply ashamed of his complicity in Loki's deeds. Snorrigazes at Keitel with growing suspicion.

ERIKBut... How is it you can see me?

(he looks round)You can all

see me?

LOKIWhat d'you mean?

SNORRI AND OTHERSWhy shouldn't we see you?

HARALDI can't see him.

ERIKI'm wearing the Cloak Invisible....

Erik takes it off to demonstrate.

HARALDOh! There you are!

ERIK(to the others)

You mean... you could see me all thetime?

The Vikings look at each other, mystified.

SNORRIWeren't we supposed to?


ERIKOh... I feel a little... oh...

Erik's knees give way and he faints onto the deck. Cut toKing's Hall some time later. A victory celebration is inprogress. It is a little bit like a Hampstead cocktailparty, and the rough, battle-stained Vikings look rather outof place holding their little canapes. Suddenly the Kingclaps for silence.

KING ARNULFWe are grateful to you, Erik, and toyour men...

COURTYes, we are...

KING ARNULFAnd there is only ONE way we canrepay you... Musicians!

King arnulf claps his hands. Erik rushes over to him,anxious to avoid another Hy-Brasilian concert.

ERIK(hurriedly)

Well, we'd love to hear you singagain, but what we'd really

appreciate would be if you could see your way to lending...not

giving of course...(continuing)... but justlending us the....

um... the, well, to be quiteblunt... the Horn Resounding.

All the time Erik is talking the doors of the hall behindare opening and a vast lur or horn is carried in by sixbearers. One or two of the Vikings have turned to look andare now standing speechless. King Arnulf beams at Erik.

KING ARNULFIt's yours.

Now Erik finally turns and looks at what everyone else islooking at. Erik's jaw drops. Everyone in the court beams atErik,except Aud who is looking sad and disappointed.

ERIK(when he can find his voice)

Is THAT it?

A cloud passes over King Arnulf's happy face.

KING ARNULFIs there something the matter withit?

ERIKOh! No! No... of course not... it'sjust I hadn't expected it to bequite so big.

KING ARNULFWell, it's not called the HornResounding for nothing.

(aside)


You DO know how to play the horn,don't you?

ERIKYes... oh, yes...

KING ARNULFThen I expect you'll be leavingfirst thing in the morning.

The King manhandles Erik away from his daughter. Perhaps wehave the feeling that she's isn't going to let Erik go aseasily as that...Mix through to later that night. TheVikings are lying asleep on the Great Hall, beside the HornResounding. The camera closes in on Keitel. Suddenly a voicecomes from the shadows:

VOICE(whispering)

Keitel! Keitel Blacksmith!

Keitel opens his eyes and finds Loki close beside him.

LOKIWhat's the matter, KeitelBlacksmith? Have you forgotten whyyou came on this voyage?

Keitel is silent.

LOKIAre you going to let Erik wake theGods?

KEITELHow can we stops him now?

Loki looks around and then opens his hand in front ofKeitel. In it is the mouthpiece from the Horn Resounding.

LOKITake this and throw it from thecliff heights. They'll never makethe Horn Resounding sound withoutit.

Keitel frowns. Then an obvious thought limps across hismuscular mind.

KEITELBut why me? Why don't you do it?

Somebody stirs.

LOKISh! Hurry!

KEITELYOU do it!

LOKIYou'll be able to throw it furtherthan I could.

Keitel thinks. This is true.

LOKIIt must go far out to sea.

Loki presses the mouthpiece on Keitel. Keitel takes it, butreluctantly. Another Viking stirs.


LOKISurely you haven't forgotten theBlacksmith's Oath?

Keitel is about to reply and say he's been having secondthoughts about it, but somehow he can't. Loki has such powerover him.

KEITELI...

Suddenly another Viking stirs, and Loki hisses at him.

LOKIHurry!

Loki pretend to go back to sleep. Keitel (feeling a bitlumbered) thinks about his task and hesitates... Who knows?Perhaps he is about to stand firm, but Loki plays his trumpcard.

LOKI(without opening his eyes)

Or I might have to tell Erik why youreally came on this voyage.

Keitel is caught. He closes his eyes in resignation and thenreluctantly starts to make his way out of the Hall. As hegets to the doors he trips over Snorri, who wakes. Themouthpiece falls a few feet away.

SNORRIWho's that?

KEITELIt's me. I'm just going to water thedragon...

(he gives a false laugh)

SNORRIOh...

Snorri notices the silver mouthpiece on the floor, but hepretends he hasn't.

SNORRIOh... clumsy idiot.

Snorri pretends to go back to sleep, but he opens one eyeand watches Keitel Blacksmith recover the mouthpiece, andthen follows Keitel out. Loki gets up too. He follows tokeep an eye on Snorri. Cut to Aud on the shore, gazingmoodily out to sea. She is brooding in Erik's imminentdeparture. Suddenly a stone falls from above; she looks upand sees a figure appear on the cliff above. Hurriedly shewithdraws into the shadows. Keitel Blacksmith appears on thecliff-top. In his hands he holds the mouthpiece of the HornResounding. e examines it, turning over in his mind whetherhe is doing the right thing or not. then he decides he must.

KEITEL(to himself)

My fellow blacksmiths.

He prepares to throw it.

SNORRIKeitel!

Keitel jumps out of his skin.


KEITELWhat?

SNORRIWhat are you doing, KeitelBlacksmith?

KEITELGet away, Snorri.

SNORRIWhat have you got there?

Snorri advances towards Keitel. Keitel backs away,dangerously near to the edge of the cliff. His boot slipsand he jerks himself forward. At the same time Snorri makesa grab for the mouthpiece. A scuffle ensues, during whichthe mouthpiece of the Horn Resounding is dropped. It bouncesoff the cliff and falls down to the shore below. Aud stepsout of the shadow and picks it up. She frowns and looks up,and then screams, as she sees the men fighting.

AUDNo!

But it's too late. Snorri goes white, gives a hideousgasp... and sinks slowly to his knees - revealing Lokistanding behind him with a bloody knife. As Keitel and Lokiwatch Snorri die, a drop of blood from the knife falls tothe ground. The moment it lands, there is a deepsubterranean groan, and the earth begins to trembleviolently. Keitel and Loki look around in alarm.

KEITELOh Gods! What have we done?

Back in the King's Hall, Sven, Sven's dad and Harald arewide awake, but for the moment paralysed, as bits of masonrycrash around them. The cheerful figure of King Arnulfappears at the top of a stairway. He raises his hands.

KING ARNULFStay calm! This is NOT happening.

The King then hurries out of a door at the top of thestaircase.

SVEN'S DADWhat did he say?

ERIKLook out!

The doors of the Great Hall burst open and a wall of watercrashes through, knocking the Vikings off their feet. Thereis little doubt that the whole of Hy-Brasil is sinking see astreet go down, a statue sink and then we Cut to a close-upof King Arnulf. He is standing at the top of the Forum stepsaddressing a crowd of anxious citizens. They are keepingsurprisingly good order considering they are alreadystanding ankle-deep in water, and the whole town is rapidlysinking around them.

KING ARNULFNow, I know what some of you must bethinking... the day has come....we're all going down, etc. etc. Butlet's get away from the fantasy andlook at the FACTS. FACT ONE - The


threat of total destruction has keptthe peace for one thousand years.FACT TWO - The chances of it failingnow are therefore one in threehundred and sixty-five thousand.FACT THREE...

By this time the water is up to people's knees, and severalhave crowded onto the lower steps to avoid getting wet.

KING ARNULFFACT THREE - Our safety regulationsare the most rigorous in the world.We are all nice to each other, wenever rub each other up the wrongway or contradict each other, do we?

CROWDNo.

Rumble. The buildings sink and masonry falls.

CITIZENWe... er... do seem to be going downquite fast, Your Majesty - nottrying to contradict you, course.

KING ARNULFNo, of course you're not, citizen.But let's stick to the facts. Therehas NEVER been a safer, more certainway of keeping the peace. Sowhatever's happening, you can restassured, Hy-Brasil is NOT sinking.Repeat, NOT sinking.

We cut to an unfortunate Hy-Brasilian who looks out of awindow to see if it's raining, but is immersed before he canfind out. The citizens in the Forum, however, are reassuredby the King's words - even though they are now up to theirwaists in water. One of them steps forward.

ANOTHER CITIZENMay I just make a point in supportof what King Arnulf's just said?

KING ARNULFWe'd be delighted - wouldn't we?

CITIZENSYes, we'd certainly like to hearwhat one of us has got to say...

Erik, Sven, Sven's dad and Harald struggle out of the GreatHall, carrying their belongings and the Horn Resounding,while the citizen is still speaking most articulately insupport of the King. They are ALMOST in a panic.

ERIKWhat are you all doing?

CITIZEN AT THE BACK(cheerfully)

It's all right. It's not happening.

ERIK(urgently)

The place is sinking!

CITIZEN AT THE BACK


Yes... I thought it was too, but theKing's just pointed out that itcan't be.

CITIZEN(still speaking in support ofthe King)

...and, of course, we mustn't forgetKing Arnulf's EXCELLENT eye forflower-arranging.

There is a smattering of applause. A few people pull theirrobes up out of the wet. Erik leaps onto a wall and shoutsto the crowd.

ERIKSave yourselves! Hy-Brasil... issinking.

There are a lot of knowing smiles amongst the citizens.

CITIZEN FROM MIDDLELook, you don't know our safetyregulations.

KING ARNULFIt can't happen.

ERIKBut it IS! Look!

KING ARNULF(ignoring Erik)

The important thing is not to panic.

CITIZENSQuite... yes... we understand....

KING ARNULFI've already appointed theChancellor as Chairman of acommittee to find out exactly whatIS going on, and meantime I suggestwe have a sing-song!

CITIZENSGood idea!

ANOTHERCan we do the one that goes "TUM-TI-TUM-TI-TUM-TI-TUM"?

Erik looks around in despair. Meanwhile in another streetsomeone is struggling in the floodwater.

LOKII can't swim! I can't swim!

KEITELRelax!

LOKII'm drowning! Help!

Loki grabs Keitel round the neck.

KEITELLet go!

But Keitel is pulled under. He re-emerges spluttering.


KEITELUrrgh! Argh! Let go, you idiot!

LOKIHelp!

KEITELYou'll drown us bo...

But they go under again. At this point Erik, Sven, Sven'sdad and Harald swim round the corner, pushing the HornResounding. They see the figures disappearing under thewater.

KEITELHelp!

LOKIHelp!

Erik, Sven and Co. swim as fast as they can to rescue thedrowning pair. They struggle to overpower the panic-strickenLoki, but he puts up a manic fight. Unexpectedly, HaraldMissionary suddenly unleashes a vicious right hook and laysLoki out cold. There is a moment's stunned silence that isno unmingled with indignation.

SVEN(with hurt surprise)

You hit him!

HARALDWell, it's what you're supposed todo... isn't it?

SVEN'S DADLook!

They look up as GOLDEN DRAGON sails around a corner of thestreet, piloted by Aud. As the Vikings scramble aboard, thesound of the "sing-song" reaches a particularly noisy anddiscordant climax attract their attention. Back in what wasthe Forum, a crowd of unconcerned-looking citizens issitting on the last roof and just coming to the end ofanother appalling song.

CITIZENS...Te...Tum!

KINGYou know, I think we're gettingbetter.

CITIZEN 1(with genuine interest)

How can you tell?

KING(a bit stumped)

Er...

AUDFather!

The King looks up.

KING ARNULFIt's all right! It isn't happening!

AUD


But, Father, it IS!

ERIKGet on board!

CITIZEN 2No THANKS!

CITIZEN 3Who do you think YOU are?

CITIZEN 1Panic-monger!

The roof is now sinking rapidly, though the citizens appearas unperturbed as ever.

CITIZENLeave us alone!

SVENYeah. Leave 'em alone.

AUDIt's sinking! Hy-Brasil is sinking!

KING ARNULFWell, my dear, I think you'll findit's all a question of what you wantto believe in.... I have slightlymore experience of these mattersthan you...

Unfortunately, at this point, the entire gathering ofcitizens, the King and the Forum Temple disappear below thewaves.

AUDFather!

(tears spring to her eyes)Harald Missionary has put his armaround Aud in a fatherly way.

HARALD MISSIONARYThere, my child... It's at timeslike this that this book can be agreat help...

Erik shoos him away.

HARALD MISSIONARY(with his usual promptness)

Right!

GOLDEN DRAGON spins alone in the wide ocean. Fade. Fade upsome time later. They are all gathered in front of the HornResounding.

ERIK(to himself)

We must blow the first note... henote that will take us to Asgaard...

SVEN(nervously and with awe inhis voice)

Over the Edge of the World.

The other men look up at the Horn Resounding, and begin tofeel a bit nervous.


ERIKWe are going where only the deadhave been before...

Erik takes a deep breath and then puts his lips to the HornResounding. He blows. There is a splutter, and one or two ofthe Vikings titter amongst themselves. He has another go.But again, all he produces is a pathetic spluttering.

SVEN(not unkindly in his manner)

Uh! Here! Give it to me!

Sven pushes Erik aside. Sven blow... he becomes redder andredder. But all he produces is a splutter. He gets a bitangry.

SVENThor's blood!

Sven's dad looks heavenwards.

SVEN'S DADYou're not using the righttechnique.

Sven's dad tries to take it over.

SVENNo! I'm doing it!

They start to struggle.

SVEN(getting angry)

You're always telling me... TELLINGme!

Erik tries to separate them.

ERIKSven!

SVEN(to his dad)

Let me do something for myself for achange!

Suddenly Aud comes forward.

AUDNo! Don't quarrel!

Sven and his dad stop fighting, surprised by the vehement inher voice.

AUDWe'll never get where we want to goif we fight.

Aud crosses to the Horn and inserts the mouthpiece. Lokiglances at Keitel. He hadn't bargained for this!

LOKIEr... don't blow it! You never knowWHAT might happen...

AUDIt has not spoken for a thousandyears... You must bring it to lifewith a kiss...


She puts her lips to the mouthpiece and just touches it withthem... almost a kiss... then... very gently... she beginsto blow... a soft... slight note can just be heard... Audtakes her mouth away from the mouthpiece... and the softnote goes on... reverberating... A sweet note... a magicnote... the Vikings stand stock-still, enchanted by thesound... and the sound all the time is getting louder andthe Horn begins to vibrate with the note. As the volumeincreases the GOLDEN DRAGON itself begins to reverberatewith the sound. Rings of ripples begin to radiate out fromthe boat across the calm water. The note grows louder andlouder, and the Vikings, who at first were laughing andcheering at Aud's success, begin to get rather alarmed.Louder and louder gets the note and the Horn shakes and theboat vibrates. Things start to be shaken loose, and fallonto the deck. Ropes uncoil and run loose. A heavy blocksuddenly crashes down to the deck, crowning Harald andlaying him out flat. Louder and louder grows the note, andthe Vikings have to stop their ears for the pain. The wateraround the ship becomes more and more agitated. And thenanother sound is heard. It is the thunder of water in thedistance like a million distant waterfalls. And suddenlythey notice the sea is running like a river - all in onedirection... sweeping the ship forward with incrediblemomentum. In no time they are engulfed in a mist, stilltravelling at a rate of knots. Almost at once appointed rocklooms out of the mist ahead of them. Erik flings himself atthe steering oar, and everyone is thrown about as the shipveers wildly and just misses the rock, only to see anotherlooming up ahead of them. The ship veers again, as a thirdrock looms ahead. This time Sven has grabbed a coil of rope,and as they pass the third rock, he throws it like a lassoover the rock. Loki and Keitel leap to grab the rope just asthe rope goes taut and the ship comes to a lurching stop,anchored by the rope, but still swaying and buffeted in theracing waters. Those on board shout to each other, soaked tothe skin. It is difficult to make out what they areshouting.

LOKIHelp!

AUDWhat are you doing?

LOKIWhat d'you think? Help! Somebodyhelp us!

SVENShut up!

LOKI(pointing at Aud)

She wants to kill us!

KEITELShe wants to take us over the Edgeof the World!

AUDYou want to get to Asgaard, don'tyou?

LOKIHow do we know this is the way?

ERIK


(shouting)We blew the Horn Resounding.

LOKI(screaming and pointing anaccusing finger at Aud)

SHE blew the Horn

Resounding.

KEITEL(shouting)

Don't you see, Erik! She wantsrevenge!

ERIKWhat are you talking about?

LOKI(to Keitel)

Shut up!

KEITELShe knows it was our fault!

LOKIKeep your mouth shut, Keitel!

KEITELNo! It's YOU, Loki! I should neverhave listened to you!

Loki looks around desperately.

LOKIYou've lost your mind.

KEITELWe came to stop you waking the Gods,Erik! But I didn't want anyone toget hurt!

LOKIYou fool!

Suddenly Loki produces his stiletto and leaps onto Keitel,stabbing at him.

LOKII should have got rid of you longago!

KEITELLike you got rid of Snorri!

Erik tries to separate them.

AUDNo! No! We are in the spell of theHorn! Hatred will destroy us.

ERIKThat's right!

For a split second Erik is distracted. He looks across atAud and for a moment he sees Freya standing there.

FREYAOnce you are in the spell of theHorn, hatred will destroy you...


Then it is Aud once more. But in that split second Loki hasstabbed Erik.

ERIKArrgh!

Erik staggers back clutching his arm. Keitel gives a roar ofrage, and picks Loki up bodily and hurls him out of the boatinto the maelstrom. The other Vikings look on aghast. Keitelturns on them

KEITELHe killed Snorri! He caused the landof Hy-Brasil to sink! SHE knew!

AUDI didn't know!

KEITELNow she wants to send us over theEdge of the World!

AUDHow else d'you think we're going toget to Asgaard?

The Vikings look at each other amidst the roaring waters andthe thick spray. Erik holds his bleeding arm and looks atAud. Should he trust her or not? Suddenly he turns on theothers.

ERIK(shouting above the din)

Do YOU know the way to Asgaard,Keitel Blacksmith?

Keitel shakes his head.

ERIKDo YOU know the way to Asgaard,Sven?

Sven shakes his head.

ERIKThere is one road before us, andthat leads over the Edge of theWorld.

Harald sits up as he returns to consciousness.

HARALDThere IS no Edge of the World.

Sven's dad bonks him again. Erik takes the rope and beginspaying it out. With grim faces the Vikings turn and facetowards the roaring of the waters, as Erik edge the shipfurther into the mist. The noise is deafening. It would bealmost impossible to hear any voice above it. The faces ofthe Vikings betray their fear as they find themselvesemerging from out of the mist at the Edge of the World. Theygape as they find themselves confronted by a Waterfall ofSeas - stretching on either side of them - as far as the eyecan see - water falling and plunging over the lip of theworld. And in front of them - the blue sky continues on downand down until it shades into blackness strewn with starsbeneath their feet... Sven, Sven's dad and Keitel edge tothe prow and gasp.

AUD


No! Don't look over the Edge!

Erik lets out a little more rope, until the ship isprotruding over the edge. Sven, his dad and Keitel peer overthe side, and stare down into the abyss. They gasp. Fromabove we see the prow of GOLDEN DRAGON and the backs of theVikings' heads in plain view against a backdrop of starsbelow them.

ERIKLet me see!

Aud holds him back.

AUDNo. Don't look... The abyss willsuck away your strength.

ERIKI MUST look! Keitel! Hold this!

Erik turns to see Sven and Keitel trembling... They holdonto the sides of the ship but their legs can barely supportthem.

SVENThere is nothing we can do...

SVEN'S DADHelpless...

Keitel start to laugh.

KEITELHa ha... I believed Loki... Ibelieved I had a duty toblacksmiths! Ha ha ha!

Keitel laughs a little hysterically. Aud turns urgently toErik.

AUDYOU still want to go to Asgaard?

ERIKOf course.

AUDDo you believe I love you?

ERIKI... but I...

AUDYou don't have to love me. Just: doyou believe I love YOU?

ERIKYes - I believe you do.

AUDThen let go!

Erik hesitates, then he decides to believe in Aud. He throwsthe rope away. At once the ship shoots off over the Edge ofthe World into space... Everything seems to slow down, asthe longship drops down and down... the ship twists slowlyas it drops.... round and round. The Vikings gaze about themin wonder, as they find their ship if falling in silenceamongst the stars. Harald comes to once again.


HARALDI'm still seeing stars.

Keitel looks round at him.

KEITELWe're ALL seeing stars.

HARALDNo! I was hit on the head.

The longship falls and falls through the star-strewn spaceuntil it softly lands in a white wilderness. On the deck theVikings are huddles up, covered with rime-frost. It seems asif they have been lying there half-frozen for some time.Perhaps the entire adventure has all been a dream, and theyhave been stuck in the Arctic pack-ice the whole time. Thehallucinations of men near to death. Aud tries to wake Erik.

AUDDon't sleep... wake... Look!

Erik opens his eyes and, for an instant, he sees Helga. Heblinks and realizes it is Aud who is calling him back toconsciousness. Suddenly coloured lights begin to play to hisface.

ERIKBi-Frost... The Rainbow Bridge.

Above them the Aurora Borealis stretches up, magnificent andawesome in the sky. Erik makes his way through the otherVikings.

ERIKWake up!

The others slowly begin to rouse themselves from their icyslumber and sit up, awed by the sight.

KEITEL(whispering)

Are we dead?

VIKINGSThe Rainbow Bridge.

They all peer up at the ever-changing colours of the AuroraBorealis, hanging in the sky above them like organ-pipes.But something is happening. The lights begin to fade toreveal a magical city on a mountain. The Vikings realizethat this is journey's end.... they have reached Asgaard...the City of the Gods. The Vikings all catch their breathsand gaze in awe.

ERIKAsgaard!

HARALD MISSIONARYWhere?

SVEN'S DADUp there, you fathead.

HARALD MISSIONARYUp WHERE?

Harald look round quizzically at the others. It is clearthat he can see nothing.

ERIK


Look! It's real.

Harald looks around at the others.

HARALDHallucinations are real.

It's no use; Harald can see nothing. The Vikings, transfixedby the sight of their fabled home of the Gods, rise to theirfeet. Aud whispers to Erik.

AUDThe second note.

ERIKThe second not to wake the Gods...

Erik kneels in front of the Horn.

AUDGently...

Erik blows... a soft gentle note... He takes his mouth away,and smiles at Aud. Once again the Horn stars to vibrate andthe note gets louder... the ship starts to vibrate... louderand louder... The whole landscape starts to vibrate...louder and louder grows the not until even the stars in thesky are vibrating and then a magical thing starts tohappen... The note fades as one by one the shimmering starsstart to fall out of the night sky... they fall like silversnow... until the ship... the Vikings... Asgaard... thewhole landscape is covered in sparkling dust... then in theensuing silence the first light begins to glow in the Hallsof Asgaard... then another... and another... Erik stares asis bewitched and slowly begins to climb out of GOLDENDRAGON.... but Aud tries to pull him back.

AUDErik! You've done what you came todo!

ERIKNot quite...

Aud looks at him.

AUDBlow the third note! The note totake us home!

ERIKThere is something I must ask theGods...

AUDNo living man has ever set foot inthe Halls of Asgaard... The Godswill never let you return.

Erik looks at her... for a moment... But he knows he has nochoice.

SVENI came to find my grandfather.

ERIKI have to go...

AUDThen I shall come too.


ERIK(stares at her)

No... no..

AUDI don'T want to live WITHOUT you.

ERIKBut, Aud... I... I came to findsomeone...

Aud is about to say "Her?", but she bites the word back andlooks down at the ground.

ERIKI'm sorry, Aud... I really am.

Aud kisses Erik, who then turns and climbs out of GOLDENDRAGON and sets off across the ice. Sven follows.

SVEN'S DADWait for me! I'll be dead soonanyway...

KEITELYou can't go without me!

They follow. Even Harald Missionary starts to follow.

HARALDWhere are they all going?

AUDAren't you afraid?

HARALDOh... There's nothing for ME to beafraid OF.

Harald smiles and sets off after the others. Aud follows.The stars have fallen to form a shining, winding pathway upto the City of the Gods. This is what the Vikings head for.Between them and the Citadel strange huge forms rise up. TheVikings approach and find the vast skeletons of the slaingiants. The Vikings are but tiny gnat-sized figures wendingtheir way between the vast figures. They climb the stairway-path of stars, up the winding road and eventually finsthemselves outside the massive doors of Asgaard.

ERIKValhalla...

Sven turns on Harald.

SVENThere! It's real! It's solid! Now doyou believe us?

He pats the wall of Valhalla - the Great Hall. Haraldreaches out, but his hand goes right through the wall.

HARALDThere isn't anything.

Harald Missionary walks straight through the wall anddisappears from sight. The Vikings gasp, and run up to feelthe point where he disappeared. The door is perfectly solidto them, and they jump pout of their skins as Haraldsuddenly reappears again.

HARALD


You're having me on, aren't you?

ERIKIt's Valhalla - where the warriorsslain in battle go.

AUDIt doesn't exist for him.

SVEN'S DADHe's just s cynic.

At this moment there is a creak and the great doorsmysteriously swing open. As if mesmerized, the Vikings enterthe Halls of Asgaard. The door slams behind them. They spinround, but the doors have vanished... No man has everentered the Halls of Asgaard and left alive... Erik slowlystarts to cross the vast floor looking around him as he doesso. One by one the other Vikings follow. After a while Erikstops.

ERIKListen!

The Vikings listen. They hear the sound of children laughingand shouting. Erik and his men follow through the columnstowards a pool of light. The scene that greets their eyes isnot at all what they had been prepared for. Valhalla is notfull of the warriors slain in battle, quaffing mead on theale-bench and reliving old battles - it is, instead full ofchildren romping, laughing, shouting, quarrelling andplaying games... chess, fencing... dice... tag, etc., arounda wide hearth fire. Women are cooking and doing otherhousewifely things... weaving, making bread, etc. It is athoroughly domestic scene. Suddenly one of them turns atErik. It is Helga, whom Erik accidentally killed in SceneOne. She is once again kneading dough. She has a red stainunder her breast.

HELGAOh good! It's Mr Wonderful!

Erik leaps to her side.

ERIKI've come to take you back to theland of the living.

HELGAWhat a stupid idea.

ERIK(mortally hurt)

Why?

HELGAWhat's the point of being dead inthe land of the living?

ERIKI'll ask the Gods to give you lifeagain!

Helga looks at Erik very sceptically. She obviously thinkshe doesn't know what he's talking about. Aud reacts. Eriktakes Helga's hand - and gets covered in dough.

HELGAHave you tried to ask the God foranything?


ERIKWell... no...

HARALD MISSIONARYWho is he talking to?

AUDSh!

HELGAOdin!

One of the children, throwing pennies against the wall,looks round.

CHILD ODINI'm busy.

The Vikings are recovering from their surprise.

VIKINGSOdin?

HELGA(getting back to herkneating)

He's busy.

ERIKIs THAT Odin?

HELGAYou'll have to wait till he'sfinished his game.

ERIK(shouting across)

Odin!

Odin leaves his game and saunters towards Erik.

ERIKWe have come from the world ofMidgard...

The child whom Odin is playing with points his hammer at theground near Erik and a lightning bolt zaps into it. Erikjumps.

CHILD-THORClear off.

ODINNo, wait, Thor.

ERIKYou must help us.

ODINWe don't HAVE to help anybody.

ERIKFenrir the Wolf covers the sun - menfight and kill each other

the whole time.

ODINWhy should WE care?

ERIK


Because... you're... you're theGods....

ODINSo?

ERIKBring the Age of Ragnarok to an endand stop all this fighting andbloodshed. Harald looks around atthe Vikings in increasingdesperation.

HARALDThis is ridiculous.

VIKINGSSh!

HARALDRight!

The other Child-Gods have stopped playing around now and arewatching Erik and Odin.

ODINErik the Viking! The things you seekare not in our power. We don't makemen love each other or hate eachother.

ERIKBut you're the Gods!

ODINLook... Erik...

Odin whistles. The other children look over their shoulders.From out of the darkness of the perimeter of the Hall,shadows emerge... shadows that, as they shuffle and stumbleinto the light, reveal themselves to be the heroes that theVikings had expected to find in Valhalla. But they are nothale and hearty giants quaffing mead and reliving theirgreat battles... they are, in fact, a sorry lot... theslain-in-battle still bearing the hideous deformities oftheir fatal wounds. Most have a sword or an axe buried insome part of their anatomy. One has been cleft in twain...The Vikings react to this grisly gathering as more and moreof them emerge from the shadows. They gasp as they noticeSnorri, Ivar, Thorfinn, Loki and Leif the Lucky.

ERIKSnorri! Ivar!

HARALDHere we are standing on a baremountain top talking to thin air.

We notice that Harald's cloak is being blown about as if hewere indeed on a bare mountain top. The other's cloaks arestill. Sven's dad is gazing across at one horribly mutilatedspecimen.

SVEN'S DADDad!

KEITEL(disbelievingly)

How can you tell?


SVEN'S DADI'll never forget him! The BASTARD!

Sven reacts. Sven's dad starts to go berserk.

SVEN'S DADHe drove me mad!

SVENEasy, Dad!

SVEN'S DADAll his "you'll never be a Berserkif you lose your temper"...

SVENDad!

SVEN'S DADI hate you! I hate you!

Sven's dad collapses against Sven and Sven comforts him,understandingly. A figure emerges from the throng of dead.It is Thorfinn. Sven looks up at him.

THORFINNYou won, Sven.

LOKIWhat right have YOU to try and stopmen fighting, Erik the Viking? Thereis glory in battle. There are richesto be made and won...

KEITELMade by YOU, Loki!

LOKIBy YOU - Keitel Blacksmith! Don'tyou know, Erik, that is why he wentwith you? Ragnarok was good for hisbusiness...

KEITELIt's not my business any more!

Suddenly there is a howl... a bitter howl that echoes aboveand around the Halls of Asgaard and that gets more distantand more distant. Everyone (including the dead heroes andthe Gods) freezes and looks up, listening. Perhaps we cutaway to the boiling sky as it resolves itself into the shapeof a wolf that snarls and slinks away. Odin turns to Erik asthe howling recedes.

ODINFenrir the Wolf has gone, Erik. Butwill men cease fighting each other?THAT is not in our power...

Odin starts to laugh. All the other children start tolaugh... so do the dead heroes. Erik and his men look rounduneasily.

ERIKI have one more request before wereturn...

Erik turns towards Helga, who is still standing at hertrough of dough with her arms up to her elbows in flour. Audwatches Erik with sadness in her heart.


ODINReturn? You have set your foot inthe Halls of Asgaard, Erik.

You cannot return.

Aud looks round to see how the others react. It is as shehad feared. Erik pales. The blood drains from the other'sfaces. Aud whispers something to Harald. Harald looks at herblankly.

AUD(whispering)

PLEASE!

HARALDBut you're all imagining this...whatever it is.

AUD(earnestly)

You're the only one who can. PLEASE.

Harald look around at the dumbfounded Vikings. Then heshrugs and wanders off, disappearing through the closeddoors of Valhalla.

ERIKYou mean... we must stay hereforever?

As he says this Erik's eyes turn again towards Helga. He isclearly thinking at least there are compensations... Odin,however, is laughing again.

ODINStay HERE? Ha ha! This is Valhalla.This is reserved for those slain-in-battle.

HORRIBLY SLAIN WARRIOR(grinning cheerfully)

Yeah! We're the LUCKY ones!

A HORRIBLY SLAIN FRIEND OF HISYeah. It's much better than dying ofold age.

The ghastly and dismembered dead warriors all chortle no endat the dismay written on the face of Erik and his men. Atthe same time there is a grinding, winching sound. All thosearound the hearth-place fall back as a vast grating iswinched up from out of the flames. The Vikings look at eachother.

ODINFor YOU there is only the Pit ofHel!

As Odin says this there is a roaring sound and the flamesand smoke are suddenly reversed and as the roaring increasesthe flames are sucked down altogether to reveal the blackPit of Hel itself. And now the Pit is sucking the Vikingsinto it... their hair blows... they try to withstand theforce that is drawing them towards the abyss... The Godslook on in some amusement. But some of the dead areconcerned.

SVEN'S GRANDFATHERSon! My son!


SVEN'S DADGet lost!

SVENDad! Grandfather!

Sven tries to reconcile his father and grandfather, but it'sno use. He is sucked towards the Pit.

VIKINGSHelp!

ERIK(to Helga)

I tried to save you!

HELGAWhy should you care?

ERIKI don't know! I just did!

Erik can no longer withstand the force that is sucking himdown to the Pit of Hel. Suddenly, however, Snorri has leaptfrom the ranks of the dead. He grabs Erik and tries to stophim sliding towards the Pit of Hel. But it's no good.

ERIKNo! Let go, Snorri!

SNORRII've got you!

ERIKYou'll be sucked down too!

SNORRINo! Arrgh!

Meanwhile, Ivar and Thorfinn and Leif the Lucky have alsoleapt forward to save their comrades. They put up afantastic struggle but remorselessly they are all suckeddown.

VIKINGSAagh!

The Vikings clutch at the stone floor, their fingers traceblood as they try to cling on... but to no avail. The firstare already toppling into the Pit.

VIKINGSNoooh!

VIKINGSAh!

And the rest - including Aud - soon follow. The mouth of thePit of Hel, through which the Vikings are now tumblinghiggledy-piggledy, is a round white disc set in theunutterable blackness of the pit. However, as the Vikingsfree-fall slowly towards camera, they are lit up by a faint,reddish glow from below. They are staring, wild-eyed andscreaming as they fall. As they fall, Erik manages to smashhis axe into the side of the Pit. Thorfinn grabs his leg andholds onto Sven's foot. Leif clutches at Sven's belt. Sven'sdad hangs onto Sven's foot. Ivar clutches Thorfinn's foot.Erik clutches Ivar's leg and Aud clutches Erik's. Theydangle like this for some seconds, and look fearfully


beneath them. Then they can see the Infernal Regions offlame and molten lava... somehow suggesting the face of ahuge and sinister creature. No wonder they're scared out oftheir wits. Meanwhile, Odin and Thor appear at the top ofthe Pit and look down with mild amusement. Thor casuallypoints his hammer and a streak of lightning zaps Erik's axe.It instantly glows red hot. Erik screams. Suddenly we hear anew sound - a long, high, sweet note.

AUDListen! LISTEN! The third note!

But it's no good. Erik has to let go of the red-hot axe.Everyone screams as they start to plunge down towards thePit of Hel. Cut to GOLDEN DRAGON. Harald Missionary isblowing the Horn Resounding.

HARALD MISSIONARY(to himself)

I want to go home... Oooh!

Suddenly GOLDEN DRAGON, the Horn Resounding and HaraldMissionary shoot up into the air and disappear from sight.Cut back to the Pit of Hel. The Vikings are looking down asthey fall - they are still scared but gradually startlaughing... laughing as they fall down and down and downuntil they fall out of sight. We are left with a blacknessand just the white disc of the mouth of the Pit of Helabove, until the disc changes magically into the moon. Thereis a series of splashes. The note begins to fade and thecamera slowly pans down to reveal the Vikings all falleninto the duck pond back at Ravensfjord. They are laughingand whooping and splashing each other.

ERIKI don't believe it... Ha ha ha! Itbrought us HOME!

LEIFBut who BLEW it?

IVAROh! Who cares? We're HOME!

THORFINNMum! Dad!

SVENWe're back!

Sven embraces his father and dances him around with joy.

ALL

Yo hoo! We're here! We're...

Suddenly the joy drains from their faces and they each gapein horror. What is it they see? We cut to see that out ofthe huts the women and children and old men are emerging -but they are anything but happy. In fact they are all boundand gagged. Behind them emerge the sinister figures ofHalfdan the Black, Gisli and maybe half a dozen armed men.Halfdan and his cronies no longer look sleek and self-assured. They are haggard and desperate. Their faces arestreaked with dirt and sweat, and their clothes are torn andsoiled. They have clearly been going through a lean time,since Ragnarok ended, and have descended on the village forrevenge and for whatever plunder they can find. They have afew sackfuls of booty with them. They herd the women,


children and old men into a pathetic huddle in the middle ofthe village. Halfdan is spitting evil and hatred.

HALFDANThrow down your weapons - or weshoot the children first.

Erik hesitates... The others look at him. What choice havethey? Reluctantly, Erik throws his weapons into the pond.The others follow suit. Halfdan watches. His men standaround him in a tight group with their backs to each other.

HALFDANGood... Good... Right, now we'lljust shoot the children anyway...

Erik is paralysed. What can they do? Half Halfdan's men areaiming their crossbows at Erik and his comrades, and halfare aiming at the women and children. They raise thecrossbows to shoot. Their fingers tighten on the triggers.Suddenly there is a scream from above.

HARALDLook out below!

Everyone looks up and, amazingly, out of the sky fallsGOLDEN DRAGON and lands fair and square on top of Halfdanand his gang, squashing them flat. Harald Missionarystaggers blearily from the wreckage.

GRIMHILD HOUSEWIFEHarald!

She rushes to Harald, while the Vikings rush to releasetheir loved ones. Great celebrations all round.

IVARLook!

They all turn and see the sun rising. The villagers gasp inwonder. They've never seen the sun before. Erik looks aroundand sees Thorfinn and Sven with their arms round each other.Aud looks up as Erik smiles at he and holds her to him. Thenthey all turn and gaze at the spectacle of the sun returningto the world.


erik the viking - selling your screenplayjennifer the viking sways and leans against a door post....

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