Dragonslayer Page #2

---

in our own way.

What are you doing? Don't come in!

- How's the water?

- It's cold.

I prefer to swim alone

if you don't mind.

Stay away!

- Look. Isn't that the...?

- Yes.

- The retainer from Cragganmore.

- Why is he here?

- Filling in for his chief.

- You going to allow that, sir?

Bring me my bow.

No, I'm not going to say anything.

I don't blame you.

I was careless. A silly woman.

Oh, I... I knew the moment I saw you.

I've known the whole time.

You never knew a thing.

No one's known, not since I was born.

The lottery.

- Daughters are chosen, sons are not.

- That's right.

- Unless you're the King's daughter.

- What do you mean?

If you're rich enough,

your name never goes in.

My father is poor.

So are a lot of fathers.

No!

No!

No!

Hodge!

Hodge!

Hodge.

- Galen, can you hear me?

- I hear you.

Do you know, somebody shot me,

but I can still talk.

There's something

that needs to be done.

- I know.

- No, no. Not the dragon.

The master's ashes. Here.

I'm sorry.

You'll have to peel it loose.

- Burning water!

- What?

Find the lake. Throw it in.

Hodge, what are you doing with this?

Burning... water.

Hodge, don't die.

Listen to me.

You're not going to die.

Urland.

Come on. Don't slow down here.

- Is the whole kingdom like this?

- No. We're near the lair.

The lair? Where is it?

- It doesn't matter.

- Show me. Where?

We're in no danger

if we just pass through quickly.

I want to see it.

Griel.

Malkin! Malkin!

- Are there other entrances?

- No. One's enough.

Don't be a fool! You'll provoke it!

How do you know it's in there?

Go on, then.

Get yourself burned alive.

What a fine trick that will be.

Vermithrax?

Tu saxum saxorum

in adversum montem operam da!

Inatibulum inquinatum draconis!

No! Consistete!

Redite... No!

Ascedete!

He's done it!

Put that away!

What if you were seen?

Musicians?

She was twice the man

of anyone in the village.

Now she's twice the woman.

Would that I was

as clever as her father.

Come, Griel.

Don't begrudge a life spared.

No, I... I begrudge nothing.

But I wonder at what we have seen...

and how it was done.

- You were there.

- Aye. And isn't it strange

that the very moment

that the beast was put down,

there should be a holy man

in the village?

Now, isn't that strange?

Could the Christian god

bring down a mountain?

- Is it possible, Father?

- Of course. Why not?

A celebration!

Well, don't stop on my account.

Musicians, more music.

A toast... to the deed of the day.

What would you have of us?

With you? Not a thing.

It's this one.

The King would meet

our new-found benefactor,

and offer his gratitude

to the one man who has succeeded

where so many have failed.

What sort of gratitude?

A knife in the belly?

An arrow in the chest?

My young friend, I would as soon

dispatch you as I did the rest,

and for the same reason,

but His Majesty would have a cosy

little chat and commands otherwise.

Behold. Eggs fit for a king.

All right...

How many of you

have ever seen a table fly?

None of you. None of you

have ever seen a table fly.

Stand back.

Heus... mensa... surge!

Surge mensa.

- Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

- Enough. That'll do.

- I can do this.

- It's not necessary.

Tell me, the landslide,

it was accomplished this same way?

Er... yes.

Did you ever hear of King Gaiseric?

Oh, no. Of course not.

You weren't even born.

He was my brother. A great king

and a valiant man-at-arms.

When he ascended the throne,

the dragon was unbridled.

No one knew where

it might strike next,

so he brought forth

his broadsword and his spear,

assembled his fighters

and went out to do battle.

He was never seen again,

but his attack provoked terrible

reprisals - villages incinerated,

entire crops burned, death, famine...

Horrible.

How did you arrogate

to yourself the role of saviour?

- I was invited.

- Not by me.

I think you're nothing

but a boy... an apprentice.

Have you considered

the consequences of failure?

What failure?

You want the dragon back?

You came here

and toyed with a monster!

Who are you

to risk our people, our villages?

- But your children were dying!

- Only a few.

It is better they die

that others might live.

I created the lottery - me -

and from the moment it began,

the dragon was tamed.

- The kingdom has prospered.

- At what price?

You can't make

a shameful peace with dragons.

- You must kill them as I have done.

- The beast is dead?

Yes, it's dead.

We shall see.

Caela... orrida... aperere.

Open up, I say! Caela orrida aperere!

Salve, magister juvenilis.

I studied Latin. Greek, too.

Me apellant Elspeth, filiam Regis.

Filiam Regis? You're his daughter.

Please don't think ill of us.

Father is a wise

and even-handed man. He's...

What happened to you?

Nothing. Just some

of the King's even-handedness.

It... It's better

for everyone this way.

A king must protect his people.

Naturally.

Just as he protects his daughter.

What do you mean by that?

- Are you referring to the lottery?

- You know about the lottery?

I have participated in every

choosing since I came of age.

The whole kingdom knows that.

You don't have to pretend.

Not to me. Not down here.

Everyone knows

how this... choosing works -

the families

with money, royal connections...

You've participated

in a lie. You know it.

- I have to go now.

- You know I'm right.

Vale. Dorme bene.

Horsrik, remove all but one bar.

We'll try it one at a time.

- I, Casiodorus Rex...

- Father...

do some families pay bribes

to stay out of the lottery?

Nonsense.

By the power of this amulet,

justly wielded by my hand

in accordance

with the laws of Urland,

now, lead, be thou gold.

I'm burnt!

Have you ever kept

my name off the lottery list?

What are you suggesting?

Am I not exposed to the same risk

as other men's daughters?

There's been a loose tongue

here somewhere, sire.

- Where did you get such ideas?

- Answer my question.

Please... Don't think

of such things, I beg you.

- Answer me.

- The answer is no.

I mean yes. You are a participant.

We have seen to that.

How could we not?

Yes...

The answer is yes.

- You are lying to me.

- Elspeth!

Stay calm.

Go on.

You little meddler!

Stop him!

Close the gate!

What are you waiting for, idiots?

Stop him!

Tyrian!

In here! So much for your magic.

So much for your sorcery.

Feel that? It's alive.

Listen to me. The moment of our fear

is the hour of our triumph.

This is a sign from God.

Horns, tail, wings

and clawed feet - this is no dragon.

This is Lucifer!

Dear Father, we beseech thee,

show us thy goodness

in this evil place.

Show us thy power.

Cursed worm, a devil flung

from Heaven will now rise from Hell!

Stay and fear the word of God!

You call yourselves Christians?!

Fear not, brethren.

There is no dragon.

Unclean beast! Get thee down!

Be thou consumed

by the fires that made thee!

- Where is he?

- Not here. Can't help you.

As the proud new father of a daughter

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes