Erik the Viking Page #14

Let go!

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

KEITEL:

Urrgh! Argh! Let go, you idiot!

LOKI:

Help!

KEITEL:

You'll drown us bo...

But they go under again. At this point Erik, Sven, Sven's dad and Harald swim round the corner, pushing the Horn Resounding. They see the figures disappearing under the water.

KEITEL:

Help!

LOKI:

Help!

Erik, Sven and Co. swim as fast as they can to rescue the drowning pair. They struggle to overpower the panic-stricken Loki, but he puts up a manic fight. Unexpectedly, Harald Missionary suddenly unleashes a vicious right hook and lays Loki out cold. There is a moment's stunned silence that is no unmingled with indignation.

SVEN:

(with hurt surprise)

You hit him!

HARALD:

Well, it's what you're supposed to do... isn't it?

SVEN'S DAD

Look!

They look up as GOLDEN DRAGON sails around a corner of the street, piloted by Aud. As the Vikings scramble aboard, the sound of the "sing-song" reaches a particularly noisy and discordant climax attract their attention. Back in what was the Forum, a crowd of unconcerned-looking citizens is sitting on the last roof and just coming to the end of another appalling song.

CITIZENS:

...Te...Tum!

KING:

You know, I think we're getting better.

CITIZEN 1

(with genuine interest)

How can you tell?

KING:

(a bit stumped)

Er...

AUD:

Father!

The King looks up.

KING ARNULF:

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

AUD:

But, Father, it IS!

ERIK:

Get on board!

CITIZEN 2

No THANKS!

CITIZEN 3

Who do you think YOU are?

CITIZEN 1

Panic-monger!

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

CITIZEN:

Leave us alone!

SVEN:

Yeah. Leave 'em alone.

AUD:

It's sinking! Hy-Brasil is sinking!

KING ARNULF:

Well, my dear, I think you'll find it's all a question of what you want to believe in.... I have slightly more experience of these matters than you...

Unfortunately, at this point, the entire gathering of citizens, the King and the Forum Temple disappear below the waves.

AUD:

Father!

(tears spring to her eyes)

Harald Missionary has put his arm around Aud in a fatherly way.

HARALD MISSIONARY

There, my child... It's at times like this that this book can be a great help...

Erik shoos him away.

HARALD MISSIONARY

(with his usual promptness)

Right!

GOLDEN DRAGON spins alone in the wide ocean. Fade. Fade up some time later. They are all gathered in front of the Horn Resounding.

ERIK:

(to himself)

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

SVEN:

(nervously and with awe in his voice)

Over the Edge of the World.

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

ERIK:

We are going where only the dead have been before...

Erik takes a deep breath and then puts his lips to the Horn Resounding. He blows. There is a splutter, and one or two of the 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 and redder. But all he produces is a splutter. He gets a bit angry.

SVEN:

Thor's blood!

Sven's dad looks heavenwards.

SVEN'S DAD

You're not using the right technique.

Sven's dad tries to take it over.

SVEN:

No! I'm doing it!

They start to struggle.

SVEN:

(getting angry)

You're always telling me... TELLING me!

Erik tries to separate them.

ERIK:

Sven!

SVEN:

(to his dad)

Let me do something for myself for a change!

Suddenly Aud comes forward.

AUD:

No! Don't quarrel!

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

AUD:

We'll never get where we want to go if we fight.

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

LOKI:

Er... don't blow it! You never know WHAT might happen...

AUD:

It has not spoken for a thousand years... You must bring it to life with a kiss...

She puts her lips to the mouthpiece and just touches it with them... almost a kiss... then... very gently... she begins to blow... a soft... slight note can just be heard... Aud takes her mouth away from the mouthpiece... and the soft note goes on... reverberating... A sweet note... a magic note... the Vikings stand stock-still, enchanted by the sound... and the sound all the time is getting louder and the Horn begins to vibrate with the note. As the volume increases the GOLDEN DRAGON itself begins to reverberate with the sound. Rings of ripples begin to radiate out from the boat across the calm water. The note grows louder and louder, and the Vikings, who at first were laughing and cheering at Aud's success, begin to get rather alarmed. Louder and louder gets the note and the Horn shakes and the boat vibrates. Things start to be shaken loose, and fall onto the deck. Ropes uncoil and run loose. A heavy block suddenly crashes down to the deck, crowning Harald and laying him out flat. Louder and louder grows the note, and the Vikings have to stop their ears for the pain. The water around the ship becomes more and more agitated. And then another sound is heard. It is the thunder of water in the distance like a million distant waterfalls. And suddenly they notice the sea is running like a river - all in one direction... sweeping the ship forward with incredible momentum. In no time they are engulfed in a mist, still travelling at a rate of knots. Almost at once appointed rock looms out of the mist ahead of them. Erik flings himself at the steering oar, and everyone is thrown about as the ship veers wildly and just misses the rock, only to see another looming up ahead of them. The ship veers again, as a third rock looms ahead. This time Sven has grabbed a coil of rope, and as they pass the third rock, he throws it like a lasso over the rock. Loki and Keitel leap to grab the rope just as the rope goes taut and the ship comes to a lurching stop, anchored by the rope, but still swaying and buffeted in the racing waters. Those on board shout to each other, soaked to the skin. It is difficult to make out what they are shouting.

LOKI:

Help!

AUD:

What are you doing?

LOKI:

What d'you think? Help! Somebody help us!

SVEN:

Shut up!

LOKI:

(pointing at Aud)

She wants to kill us!

KEITEL:

She wants to take us over the Edge of the World!

AUD:

You want to get to Asgaard, don't you?

LOKI:

How do we know this is the way?

ERIK:

(shouting)

We blew the Horn Resounding.

LOKI:

(screaming and pointing an accusing finger at Aud)

SHE blew the Horn

Resounding.

KEITEL:

(shouting)

Don't you see, Erik! She wants revenge!

ERIK:

What are you talking about?

LOKI:

(to Keitel)

Shut up!

KEITEL:

She knows it was our fault!

LOKI:

Keep your mouth shut, Keitel!

KEITEL:

No! It's YOU, Loki! I should never have listened to you!

Loki looks around desperately.

LOKI:

You've lost your mind.

KEITEL:

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

LOKI:

You fool!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes