Vikings Page #6

28.

FLOKI:

Yes, but it will be lighter and

faster than before, and carry a

much bigger sail. The construction

is different. It’s built with a

strong central plank. The two

strakes above it are nailed

directly onto the knees of the

frames. But the ones below - look! -

are cleated and lashed onto the

frames, not nailed, so they can

move in relation to each other.

This means the boat will not butt

against the waves like a goat, but

move over them like a ripple.

Ragnar continues to study the boat.

Meanwhile, Bjorn studies Floki’s tools with all the

fascination they exert upon a young boy’s mind. Planes, spoonshaped

bores, small axes and rivets. And then, almost with a

shock, he sees the small, strange figure hunched in the

shadows, wearing a conical hat and grinning. It’s a wooden

statue of the god Loki and the grin is not pleasant, but

wicked and somehow disturbing.

Bjorn moves quickly away.

RAGNAR:

Why have you cut the oarports into

the sheerstrake?

FLOKI:

It makes it easier to row, and the

ports can be closed when the boat

is at sea.

RAGNAR:

You think this boat could handle

long sea voyages?

FLOKI:

That’s why I built it.

RAGNAR:

And it will be strong enough?

Floki shrugs.

FLOKI:

We won’t know that until we try.

Ragnar looks at him.

29.

RAGNAR:

When will it be ready?

FLOKI:

Ah, as to that...

RAGNAR:

What?

FLOKI:

We’re out of money. We have to pay

for the sail...and then the anchor.

You know what those blacksmiths are

like! Such greedy bastards.

A beat. Ragnar reluctantly brings out a leather pouch.

RAGNAR:

This is almost all I have left from

last summer’s raids.

Floki takes the pouch, with a grin.

FLOKI:

Don’t worry, Ragnar Lothbrok. We’ll

soon be as rich as dwarves!

And he laughs.

INT. GREAT HALL - EVENING

Great trestles have been set up and the freemen sit around

them, drinking and ready to feast. Music is playing. Earl

Haraldson, with his wife and family members, sits at high

table.

There is much laughter in the hall. Then a horn is sounded -

for silence.

EARL HARALDSON:

Before we feast, we have an

important ceremony to perform. Two

young men have joined us for the

first time and must receive their

arm-rings. Olaf the son of Ingolf

and Bjorn son of Ragnar Lothbrok.

Both of you come up here.

Bjorn and the other YOUNG MAN approach the high table. The

Earl walks round to the front of the dais...and draws his

sword.

30.

EARL HARALDSON (CONT’D)

Kneel.

They both kneel. A housecarl slips two ornate bracelets of

twisted silver, the clasps fashioned as animal heads, onto

the blade. Earl Haraldson holds the blade close to the young

men’s faces.

EARL HARALDSON (CONT’D)

These rings symbolize your coming

of age - and they also bind you in

loyalty to me, your chieftan. Any

oath you swear upon your ring, you

must honor and keep, or else lose

your honor. Do you understand and

do you swear so?

BOYS:

Yes, lord.

EARL HARALDSON:

And you freely recognize your

fealty to me?

BOYS:

Yes, lord.

EARL HARALDSON:

Then take your rings.

The boys take their rings from the point of the sword and

clasp them around their arms. Ragnar looks on proudly. Then

sees that Haraldson is staring at him.

But the moment is lost as the freemen shout out their

approval, banging their fists on the tables as the boys

return, embarrassed but delighted, to their seats.

RAGNAR:

Let me look! Ah - it’s a fine ring.

Never lose it, my son, or something

dreadful will happen to you.

BJORN:

I won’t father.

EARL HARALDSON:

Now let’s feast.

Ragnar suddenly stands up.

31.

RAGNAR:

My lord...we all want to feast: but

we also want to know where we will

be raiding this summer.

EARL HARALDSON:

Can’t it wait?

ROLLO:

No, tell us. We’re anxious to know.

We have a right to know.

A beat. The hall has fallen silent.

EARL HARALDSON:

Very well. Then we shall go raiding

to the east again, into the

Eastlands, into Rus...

RAGNAR:

Every year we do the same thing. We

raid people who have nothing more

than we have. We have a hard life,

and they have a hard life - but we

take from them even the few things

which they have. But, lord, we have

an alternative...a choice...another

journey...

There is a groundswell of noise...of some disagreement. The

Earl is alive to it.

EARL HARALDSON:

Oh yes, I too have heard the

rumors. I hear that if we sail

west, across the open, fathomless

ocean, we shall somehow come to

lands far richer and more

plentiful. Yes, I have heard those

stories. But I tell you now that I

will not risk my ships or my

reputation on wild, speculative and

unrealistic visions.

(beat)

I pay for the ships. Therefore they

go where I tell them to go, and

that is the end of the matter.

(beat)

Now let’s feast.

He claps his hands...and the feast is brought in.

Ragnar looks at Rollo, who shrugs.

32.

Then a HOUSECARL approaches their table. The housecarl has a

livid scar which runs from the corner of his mouth up his

cheek to his eye.

HOUSECARL:

Ragnar Lothbrok, Earl Haraldson

wants to speak with you in private.

Ragnar nods, glances reassuringly at Bjorn, follows the

housecarl behind the dais, into a small chamber.

INT. CHAMBER - EVENING

Haraldson is flanked by several of his heavily-armed

HOUSECARLS. It’s an intimidating atmosphere.

EARL HARALDSON:

Ragnar Lothbrok...

RAGNAR:

Yes, lord.

EARL HARALDSON:

Are you hungry?

A beat.

RAGNAR:

Yes, lord.

EARL HARALDSON:

You want to feast in my hall? You

want to sail in my ship? What else

do you want of me?

RAGNAR:

Lord, I -

Haraldson slams his fist onto the table. The housecarls close

around him.

EARL HARALDSON:

I know you question my rule. I know

you have big ideas. But you should

keep them to yourself, Ragnar

Lothbrok. What are you? You’re a

farmer. Remember that. You’re just

a lowly farmer. And you owe

obedience and rent to me.

(beat)

I warn you.

33.

(MORE)

If you dare to stick your nose in

my face, I will kill you.

He stares at Ragnar.

CUT TO:

EXT. KATTEGAT - NIGHT

Ragnar leads his sleepy son by the hand through the dark

settlement. Bjorn trips over something, yowls. Dogs bark.

BJORN:

Where are we going now?

RAGNAR:

Just to a place. Just to see

someone.

BJORN:

What place? To see who?

(beat)

I’m so tired.

Ragnar sees a lamp set outside a low door.

RAGNAR:

Here it is. Wake up.

He finds the door open, pushes his son inside, follows.

INT. HOUSE/HUT - NIGHT

A few low tallow candles, otherwise darkness. The shapes of

things.

A long beat.

BJORN:

I’m frightened.

Ragnar grasps his wrist. Then there’s the sound of a voice,

ancient, unsexed.

VOICE:

Why don’t you come in? I’m waiting.

Ragnar encourages his son to push aside the curtained wall,

and go inside.

34.

EARL HARALDSON (CONT'D)

The ANCIENT SEER is sitting in the dark. An old man or woman,

with withered dugs, sightless, white-eyed. Probably an old

woman, it’s actually impossible to tell. But there’s a

strange and powerful aura about the figure which makes Bjorn

instinctively recoil. Before her is a bowl of dried brown

shrivelled mushrooms. She reaches out gnarled fingers and

chews one.

ANCIENT WOMAN:

What do you want?

RAGNAR:

I want to know what the gods have

in store.

ANCIENT WOMAN:

For you - or for your son?

RAGNAR:

I’m more interested in myself.

The ancient hag chuckles.

ANCIENT WOMAN:

The gods desire you to have a great

future. I see that. But they can

withdraw their goodwill at any

time.

RAGNAR:

To have this great future, must I

challenge the law?

This seems to be the nub of it. There’s a pause. The ancient

one reaches out and touches his face and her sightless eyes

peer into his.

ANCIENT WOMAN:

It is always possible for a man to

shape his own fate. You must

convince the gods to alter the

runes, so they work in your favor.

But the laws of men are far below

the workings and shapings of the

gods.

RAGNAR:

So I should take the law of men

into my own hands?

Silence.

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