Beowulf
Page 17
I am Unferth, son of Ecglaf.
Beowulf addresses the thanes like a seasoned politician.
BEOWULF
Unferth? Son of Ecglaf? Your fame has crossed the ocean ahead of you. I know who you are…
Unferth does not know if Beowulf is telling the truth. But he starts to preen a little…
BEOWULF (CONT’D)
Let’s see…. they say you are clever. Not wise, but sharp. And they say that you killed both of your brothers when you caught them having knowledge of your mother, “Unferth Kinslayer”.
(laughs)
A crime for which you will roast in agony forever.
After a protracted moment of hate, Unferth throws himself at Beowulf, growling. Beowulf steps aside and Unferth trips and falls to the floor. Beowulf crouches beside him.
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 41.
BEOWULF (CONT’D)
I’ll tell you another true thing, Unferth Kinslayer. If your strength and heart had been as strong and fierce as your words, then Grendel would never feel free to murder and gorge on your people, with no fear of retaliation. But tonight will be different. Tonight he will find Geats waiting for him: not frightened sheep…like you.
SUDDENLY, DANES on the side of Unferth, pull their weapons and take an angry step toward Beowulf…
BEOWULF’S THANES draw their swords and daggers…the two lines of warriors stand eyeball to eyeball…then…
HROTHGAR starts CLAPPING. Is he senile, or sensibly breaking up the fight? He steps out between them.
HROTHGAR
Well done! That’s the spirit, young Beowulf! That’s the spirit we need! You’ll kill my Grendel for me. Let’s we all drink, and make celebration for the kill to come! Eh?!
Beowulf smiles and places his hand on Hrothgar’s shoulder. Everyone relaxes.
CUT TO:
34 INT. MEAD HALL -- LATER
34
A FINGER PLUCKS a harp string. PULL BACK TO REVEAL WEALTHOW SINGING a balled, beautiful and melancholy.
Beowulf’s thanes are eating, with their fingers and with knives, from a huge cut of beef on the table.
Hondshew cuts a slice of beef, with his knife, and feeds it to Yrsa, who passes with a jug of mead.
Beowulf sits in a place of honor at the bottom of the throne dais. Gitte arrives and re-fills Beowulf’s cup.
Hrothgar calls down to Beowulf…
HROTHGAR
The High King’s mead! The finest mead! Careful. Three cups of that and they’ll be carrying you out of here.
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 42.
Beowulf raises his cup and toasts…Wealthow.
Still strumming the harp, Wealthow nods and smiles what looks like an inviting smile.
Hrothgar has completely missed the moment of strange romance between his wife and the young warrior. Or perhaps he hasn’t…
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
Beowulf, son of Edgethow…come close, I want to show you something…
Hrothgar claps his hands then motions to Unferth to get out of his seat. Hrothgar pulls Unferth’s chair next to his throne and Beowulf sits. Wulfgar arrives with a carved wooden box.
CLOSE ON BOX:
Inside is the ROYAL DRAGON HORN that we saw in the opening scene.
BEOWULF’S EYES WIDEN at the sight of the horn, gleaming in the firelight.
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
The Royal Dragon Horn.
Hrothgar hands the horn to Beowulf. He holds it up…
BEOWULF
It is beautiful.
HROTHGAR
Isn’t she magnificent? The prize of my treasury.
Beowulf runs his fingertips over it.
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
I claimed it after my battle with Fafnir, the dragon of the Northern moors. It nearly cost me my life.
(confiding with a loud whisper)
There’s a soft spot just under the neck.
Hrothgar points to the ruby set in the dragons throat.
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
You go in with a knife or a dagger…it’s the only way you can kill a dragon.
(more)
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 43.
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
(admiring the horn)
I wonder how many men have died for love of this beauty?
The light glints off the cup alluringly.
BEOWULF
Can you blame them?
Hrothgar takes the horn, holds it up in front of Beowulf.
HROTHGAR
If you can take care of Grendel, she’s yours forever.
BEOWULF
You do me great honour.
Wealthow finishes her song.
WEALTHOW
It is we who are honoured.
Another furtive look between Wealthow and Beowulf. Unferth watches this exchange from the shadows.
Beowulf clambers onto a table. He takes an ordinary goblet from a thane and raises it high…
BEOWULF
My lord, my lady, people of Herot. When we crossed the rolling sea to come to you, we knew, my men and I, that we will either triumph over evil, or we will perish in Grendel’s grasp. Tonight, we shall live forever in greatness and courage, or, forgotten and despised, we shall die!
CHEERS from the hall. Wealthow smiles sadly.
CUT TO:
35 INT. MEAD HALL - SUNSET
35
CLOSE ON THE SUNDIAL: The pinpoint of sunlight focused on the carved wall…extinguishes.
Hrothgar points to the dial…
HROTHGAR
Ah, I see the hour is upon us.
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 44.
He yawns, ostentatiously.
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
Well, this old man needs his sleep. Where’s my bed-mate? Wealthow my dear?
Hrothgar holds out his hand to Wealthow.
WEALTHOW
In a moment.
HROTHGAR
Come my beauty. Shall we pound the pillow?
Hrothgar grabs Wealthow by the arm…she violently pulls it away. There’s a sudden vehemence in her voice.
WEALTHOW
Don’t touch me!
Everyone is stunned. Hrothgar freezes, anger rising in his face.
Wanting no part of a marital squabble, Beowulf steps forward in an attempt to mediate the situation…
BEOWULF
Perhaps her majesty could grace our ears with one more melody…before we all retire.
Wealthow walks past Hrothgar and picks up her harp.
WEALTHOW
It’s the least I can do.
Hrothgar ignores her and instead, speaks to Beowulf.
HROTHGAR
I hope to see you in the morning, Beowulf…Odin willing. Be sure your thanes secure the door.
His four thanes lift his throne and carry him, out of the room. Unferth follows, but turns back to Beowulf…
UNFERTH
Good night, Beowulf. Watch out for sea monsters. I’m sure your imagination must be teeming with them.
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 45.
Beowulf brushes past him and sits beside Wealthow. She begins to PLAY. Again the song is sad. She SINGS directly to Beowulf, her eyes full of romance and longing.
CUT TO:
36 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - GRENDEL’S LAIR
36
We can SCARCELY HEAR Wealthow SINGING in the distance.
GRENDEL bolts upright!! And SCREAMS!!
CUT TO:
37 EXT. HEROT - OUTSIDE MEAD HALL NIGHT
37
HONDSHEW and YRSA are outside the mead hall, dallying in the shadows.
GRENDEL’S SCREAM breaks the night…
HONDSHEW
(thinks he’s being cute)
Is that your demon?
YRSA
That was a wolf. You don’t hear Grendel when he comes.
HONDSHEW
No? Well, you’ll hear me, I promise.
Yrsa shoves him away. He pulls her back…
HONDSHEW (C
ONT’D)
Come on, my mighty lustleomb can transport you to paradise…to ecstasy and back…no other man will ever be able to satisfy you again.
YRSA
Sorry…
While the conversation is going on, DANES are SLIPPING OUT OF THE HALL, looking around nervously. Hondshew presses Yrsa closer.
HONDSHEW
Aw, come on…
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 46.
YRSA
I said no and I meant no.
HONDSHEW
Why not?
YRSA
Because it’s late…and it’s dark…and the monster could arrive at any moment.
HONDSHEW
Well, then…how about a quick gobble?
Yrsa SLAPS him hard across the face.
CUT TO:
38 INT. MEAD HALL -- NIGHT
38
Wealthow finishes her song. Beowulf smiles, there is a moment between them.
BEOWULF
That was beautiful. But you need to go now, your majesty.
WEALTHOW
Of course, Grendel.
Beowulf begins removing his breastplate and weapons belt.
Wealthow sets down her harp, then turns back to Beowulf.
WEALTHOW (CONT’D)
(she hesitates, and then…)
The demon is my husband’s shame.
BEOWULF
Not a shame. A curse.
WEALTHOW
No, shame. My husband has no other…no sons. And he will have no more, for all his talk.
Beowulf frowns, not exactly understanding her enigmatic words. Then…
THANES (O.S.)
Oy, Hondshew. Did you get any? How was she?
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 47.
HONDSHEW enters the hall. Yrsa’s handprint burned in on the side of his face. The thanes HOOT AND JEER him:
HONDSHEW
Nah. Not my type.
OLAF playfully tosses a half-eaten goose leg at him.
OLAF
Yeah? I n…n…know your type. Baaa! Baaa! Baaaaa…
Hondshew throws himself at Olaf, and they roll around on the floor, fighting -- or mock fighting, anyway.
The other thanes CHEER and LAUGH. We see that Beowulf’s thanes are all that’s left in the hall. Not a Dane in sight.
The two wrestling thanes knock over a table.
WEALTHOW
Why don’t you stop them?
BEOWULF
It’s just high spirits.
Without taking his eyes off Wealthow, Beowulf lifts his tunic over his head.
BEOWULF (CONT’D)
You really need to go now, your majesty.
Then, very slow, like a strip-tease, he begins unhooking his chain mail.
WEALTHOW
My lord Beowulf…What are you doing?
BEOWULF
(continuing to undress)
When Grendel comes, we will fight as equals. The creature has no sword, no armor. And I have no weapon capable of slaying a monster. But I have teeth, and sinews of my own. Armor forged of man will only slow me. We will fight as equals. Fate shall decide.
CA-CHINK!! Beowulf’s chain-mail drops to the floor…now naked, except for his loincloth, Beowulf’s perfectly chiseled pecs glisten in the fire-light.
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 48.
WEALTHOW blushes. Then, flees through the anteroom door. WE HEAR it being triple-bolted from the other side.
BEOWULF, lost in his thoughts, stares at the door.
CLOSE ON THE MAIN DOOR:
FOUR THANES are securing the main door. A thick chain lowers the massive wooden bar into the door’s iron brackets.
PULL BACK TO FIND WIGLAF supervising this procedure.
WIGLAF
That’s good…tie it off with more chain.
Now Wiglaf grabs a bucket of water and throws it on Hondshew and Olaf who are still rolling around on the floor.
WIGLAF (CONT’D)
All right girls…enough frican’ about!!
BEOWULF strips off his loincloth and lies down on the floor, his head pillowed by his rolled-up cape.
WIGLAF approaches and LAUGHS…
WIGLAF (CONT’D)
You’re mad, you know that?
BEOWULF
(his eyes closed, to himself)
Yes.
Wiglaf continues to stand there…wanting to say more.
BEOWULF (CONT’D)
(his eyes still closed)
Something vexes you, my Wiglaf?
WIGLAF
Aye, I don’t like the smell of this one, my lord. The men are not prepared. They’re distracted. There’s too many untended women here. Abstinence prior to battle is essential. A warrior’s mind must be unblurred…focused.
BEOWULF
You worry too much, Wiglaf.
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 49.
WIGLAF
Of course. That’s my job!
Beowulf opens his eyes and gives Wiglaf a “you worry way too much” look.
BEOWULF
Good night, Wiglaf.
WIGLAF
And while you’re sleeping, what are we meant to do?
BEOWULF
Sing. Loudly.
Wiglaf turns to the gaping thanes.
WIGLAF
You heard him. He wants us to sing…
Nobody does anything.
WIGLAF (CONT’D)
So…SING!
(kicks Olaf)
Olaf…SING!!
Olaf takes his cue, the tune is upbeat, rowdy, rough-and-ready:
OLAF
(singing in verse)
There were a dozen virgins, Friesians, Danes and Franks! We took ’em for some swifan’ And all we got were wanks! OOoohh…
THANES
(chorus)
OOohh, We are Beowulf’s army, Each a mighty thane, We’ll pummel your asses, and ravage your lasses, Then do it all over again!
HONDSHEW
The prettiest of the virgins, She was the fairest Swede! I told her I’d an urgin’, For where to spend my seed!
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 50.
OLAFY.. you g…g…go, Wiglaf.
WIGLAF
The oldest of the virgins, She was a Vandal lass! I showed my mighty weapon, And she showed me her ass!
CUT TO:
39 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - NIGHT
39
SLOW PUSH INTO the great cave. The SINGING, now LOUDER than ever, REVERBERATING inside the murky burrow…reaching a fever pitch.
THANES (O.S.)
(chorus)
OOoohh, We are Beowulf’s army, Each a mighty thane, We’ll pummel your asses and ravage your lasses, Then do it all over again!
GRENDEL writhes in pain…the SONG SMASHING inside his head. His hands are clutched tightly over his skull. His golden eyes pinched tightly shut, tears drip from them.
The dank walls, seem to close in on Grendel. Is the cave growing smaller, or is Grendel GROWING BIGGER?!?
CUT TO:
40 INT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - NIGHT
40
THE THANES SING all the verses together now…picking up the tempo…POUNDING their fists and cups on the table in rhythm.
THANES
The fattest of the Virgins, I knew her for a whore! I gave her all my codpiece, And still she wanted more!
BEOWULF, naked and laying on the floor, is asleep…anyway, his eyes are shut.
THE THANES SING FASTER…
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 51.
THANES (CONT’D)
Her sister was from Norway, She cost me twenty groats! She showed me there was more ways, Than one to sow my oats!
AND FASTER…
BEOWULF opens his eyes…something is coming.
THANES (O.S.) (CONT’D)
(singing in verse)
Their mother was from Iceland, And she was mighty hot! She’d need a whole damn iceberg, To cool her burning tw--
TWAAACKKK!!!
The SINGING abruptly STOPS. All eyes turn toward the gre
at door.
TWACK! TWACK! TWACK…three very LOUD KNOCKS on the door.
No one in the room moves, then…
OLAFG
…G…Grendel! He n…n…knocks.
The Thanes LAUGH raucously at Olaf’s witticism.
Hondshew jumps from the table and backs toward the door…
HONDSHEW
That must be my sweet plum, Yrsa! She’s ready for me to taste her juicy fruit!
The Thanes LAUGH LOUDLY. Hondshew, drunk as a skunk, stumbles up to the double doors.
HONDSHEW (CONT’D)
Patience, my lovely! Give a thane a chance to open…
WIGLAF
HONDSHEW! NO!!
But it’s too late…
BLAAAMMM!!!!
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 52.
The great timber bar EXPLODES into matchsticks. Instantly, the two massive doors violently fly open on their hinges…sending Hondshew sailing across the room. The chain that held the timber bar dangles uselessly from the pully.
GRENDEL leaps into the room…snarling and drooling.
Its SNARL is a horrific gaping grin of yellow canines. Its sick skin glistens a wet, greenish gold. Its talons, hard as marble. Simply put, Grendel is one scary motherficker.