Beowulf
Page 18
FREAKED-OUT THANE
SWIFF ME! It’s the frican’ monster!!!
THE FREAKED-OUT THANE draws his sword, but Grendel is on him…It STOMPS on the thane, instantly crushing him.
BEOWULF climbs up on a table and walks across the table tops toward Grendel, very slowly and deliberately. He has an easy smile on his face, like a man walking to a party.
GRENDEL LAUGHS as he picks up a thane with both hands and punts him across the room…into the fire-pit. The fire begins to rise and spit, taking its violent, WHITE PHOSPHOROUS FORM.
ANOTHER THANE charges, but Grendel simply punches him, sending him crashing into the mead vat and spilling it into the fire-pit…a huge plume of STEAM AND SMOKE RISES from the pit.
HONDSHEW, cut and bloody, and SCREAMING like a madman, runs across the room toward Grendel…
HONDSHEW
Aaaaarrrrrrhhhhhhheeeeee!!!!!!!…
With his gigantic broadsword raised high above his head, Hondshew leaps from a table, dives toward Grendel, and with a LOUD CRACK, cleaves the sword blade into the demon’s skull!! But, of coarse, nothing happens…
GRENDEL grins at Hondshew. Who dangles helplessly from the sword hilt. And before he can react…
GRENDEL grabs the thane with one claw, and with its other, SNAPS the broadsword in two…leaving a chunk of the blade still imbedded in its skull.
Then, in one swift motion, Grendel opens his rotting jaws, sticks Hondshew’s head in its mouth…and CRUNCH!!
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(Mercifully, the billowing smoke from the fire-pit obscures our vision.)
THE SURVIVING THANES GASP in horror.
GRENDEL CHOMPS and GNAWS…then, as THE SMOKE CLEARS, the demon stops in mid-chew. Its eyes narrow at what it sees…
BEOWULF, naked as the day he was born, standing on a table. His hands on his hips in the classic Superman pose. He smiles at the creature.
GRENDEL charges, raising its fist to crush Beowulf. But Beowulf is too fast…he leaps to the other side of the table as Grendel’s fist SLAMS down on the planks, causing the table to seesaw…sending Beowulf flying into the rafters…then, from behind Grendel…
WIGLAF
Die Demon!
WIGLAF slides under Grendel and strikes at its groin with his sword, breaking the blade on the creature’s tough skin.
WIGLAF (CONT’D)
(flabbergasted)
The swifan bastard has no pintel!!!
Indeed, Grendel has been neutered long ago. The gelded GRENDEL spins and strikes at Wiglaf, who manages to hold up his small shield just before the massive arm swats him aside like a defenseless kitten.
Wiglaf slides backwards across the floor stopping inches from the piss-pit
BEOWULF swings from an iron chandelier like a trapeze artist, does a aerial somersault, and lands on Grendel’s back. He locks his arm around Grendel’s neck in a fierce chokehold.
GRENDEL SNARLS and jerks forward, causing Beowulf to topple over Grendel’s head and into its claw.
Grendel lifts Beowulf by the torso, about to bite his head off, but in a maneuver made famous by Scottish soccer hooligans, but originally invented by Swedish heroes, Beowulf HEADBUTTS Grendel!
GRENDEL is slightly dazed. Seeing Beowulf has the advantage, the surviving thanes stand down. This is Beowulf’s fight.
BLUE Rev. 2005-09-11 54.
Beowulf leaps on Grendel’s back. His hands around Grendel’s neck, squeezing: it’s as if he’s trying to choke a tree…Straining, pulling himself up near Grendel’s ear, Beowulf groans out loud…
BEOWULF
(groans)
Yyyoouu fffilty ffu…
GRENDEL SCREAMS!!
BEOWULF is startled, but then quickly realizes Grendel’s weak spot. He pulls himself close to Grendel’s deformed ear…and YELLS right into it!
BEOWULF (CONT’D)
YYyyaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!!
GRENDEL
(screaming in pain)
EEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiii!!!!
With one arm still around Grendel’s neck, Beowulf uses his free hand to box Grendel’s ear…punching and pounding it mercilessly!! Almost imperceptibly, Grendel begins to SHRINK.
GRENDEL HOWLS in pain. It convulses and shakes, desperately trying to dislodge Beowulf…smashing its body into the timber columns.
BEOWULF holds on, continuing to pummel the creature.
GRENDEL, desperate, hurls backwards…into the fire-pit!
BEOWULF sees it coming, and springs up onto the rafters!
GRENDEL SHRIEKS as it lands on the hot embers…putrid green and yellow smoke pours off its seared flesh.
Now contracted down to a mere 8 feet, Grendel leaps out of the fire-pit and runs toward the door.
In another magnificent aerial move…
BEOWULF dives for the chain that lifts the door bar. (The chain still holds a large chunk of timber). He swings on the chain…flying right at Grendel’s head!!!
GRENDEL lifts his claw to block the blow…SHATTERING the timber into splinters. However, that caused Grendel’s wrist to slip through the loop in the chain!
BEOWULF dives for the other end of the chain, then swoops down, cinching the chain tightly around Grendel’s wrist.
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GRENDEL lets out a HORRIFIC SHRIEK and lashes the chain like a whip, RIPPING the pulley out of the ceiling.
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Having had enough, it runs for the door, dragging the chain behind…
BEOWULF, fearing that Grendel might escape, dives for the chain and grabs it, he’s dragged along the stone floor like he was bare-foot water-skiing…
GRENDEL is at the great doors…
BEOWULF manages to hook the chain onto a large nail-spike…
GRENDEL jolts to a stop just in the threshold of the door…
BEOWULF pulls the chain with all his strength…
POP!! GRENDEL’s shoulder is violently dislocated…
BEOWULF quickly lashes the chain around a support beam…
GRENDEL ROARS in agony. It tugs so savagely at the chain, it jars the beam loose, causing stones, planks, and mud-fill to shower down from the ceiling.
BEOWULF slides like he was coming in to home plate and kicks the door closed with his foot, SLAMMING the heavy wooden portal onto Grendel’s arm…
GRENDEL lets out the SCREAM OF A CAGED HOWLER MONKEY!!
BEOWULF
(holding the door shut on the flailing arm)
Your days of blood-letting are finished, demon!
GRENDEL
Let…Grendel…free!
Beowulf is shocked!!!
BEOWULF
It speaks!!
GRENDEL
I…not…monster here! Kill Grendel…man can’t! What…thing are you!?
Beowulf presses the door against Grendel’s arm and leans in close to its mangled ear…
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BEOWULF
(almost whispering)
I am ripper and tearer and slasher and gouger. I am the teeth in the darkness and the talons in the night. I am all the things you believed yourself to be.
(louder)
Mine is strength and lust and POWER!
(now yelling)
I AM BEOWULF!!
GRENDEL’S eyes become racked with fear.
BEOWULF SMASHES the door with great fury…the iron door frame cutting Grendel’s arm like a knife-edge…
GRENDEL SHRIEKS!! Its sinewy tendons to begin to SNAP…its bones CRACK!!!
BEOWULF (CONT’D)
Think you now of the Thanes whose lives you’ve stolen!
For emphases, Beowulf SLAMS the door against Grendel’s arm!! Grendel SCREAMS!!!
BEOWULF (CONT’D)
Think of them…
(SLAM!)
as you die…
(SLAM!!)
your demon’s…
(SLAM!! SLAM!!!)
death!!!
And with one powerfu
l lunge…
BEOWULF SLAMS the door shut!! GRENDEL’S ARM lands on the floor with a satisfying MEATY THUD.
BEOWULF stands there, staring at the arm for a moment…when suddenly it grabs his foot. He kicks wildly at it, finally shaking it loose.
THE ARM FLOPS around on the stone floor for a few moments like a beached fish and then suddenly seizes into a contorted position of agony.
BEOWULF stands against the door, breathing heavily. For the first time, he seems freaked.
SEVERAL THANES, swords drawn, cautiously approach the arm.
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WIGLAF pushes himself to the front…
WIGLAF
Grendel’s arm! You’ve done it!
(turning to the other men)
He’s done it! He’s torn the limbs from the beast! BEOWULF HAS KILLED HIM!!!
They all begin CHEERING.
Beowulf wipes the demon’s green-black blood from his face.
CUT TO:
41 INT. HEROT - HROTHGAR’S QUARTERS - NIGHT
41
Hrothgar is in his bed, wide awake. Wealthow stands by the window anxiously clutching a scarf.
WE HEAR the CHEER coming from the mead hall.
Hrothgar sits up…
HROTHGAR
Is that a cheer? Could that be a cry of victory?
The door suddenly BURSTS open and Wulfgar runs in, eyes glowing with delight…
WULFGAR
My lord! Beowulf has killed the demon!
HROTHGAR
Praise Odin!!
Small tears of joy form in Wealthow’s eyes.
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
Call the scops. Spread the word! Tomorrow will be a glorious day of rejoicing!
Wulfgar quickly leaves.
Hrothgar walks up behind Wealthow. He puts his hand on her shoulder -- almost a paternal gesture.
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HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
Our nightmare is over.
(he slides his hand toward her breast)
Come to bed, my sweet.
Wealthow whacks his hand away.
WEALTHOW
Do not touch me.
HROTHGAR
My kingdom needs an heir. I need a son. It’s time you do your duty.
WEALTHOW
How can I ever lay with you…knowing you laid with her.
Hrothgar looks very uncomfortable.
HROTHGAR
I should never have told you.
We hear HAMMER BLOWS, rhythmic as sex.
CUT TO:
42 INT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - NIGHT
42
CLOSE ON: Grendel’s arm is being NAILED into a massive wooden beam in the mead hall
BEOWULF wields the massive blacksmith’s hammer. Beowulf laughs, strangely, almost maniacal.
WIGLAF turns to look at the four dead thanes…laid-out on their shields, covered with their capes. He looks back at Beowulf hammering and cackling. He looks concerned…who is the monster?
CUT TO:
43 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - NIGHT
43
Grendel comes stumbling into the safety of the cave, making a DREADFUL, SOBBING SOUND.
Grendel falls into the pool, black blood from his missing arm, pumps into the water, until everything is black…then…
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GRENDEL’S MOTHER (O.C.)
Oh Grendel, my son. My poor son.
GRENDEL’S MOTHER’S P.O.V.
THE CAMERA comes up from the pool, skimming the surface of the water, gliding toward Grendel.
GRENDEL
Mama…mama…he hurt me…mama..
Grendel is dying -- nearly dead.
GRENDEL’S MOTHER (O.C.)
I warned you. You must not go to them…
GRENDEL
He killed me, mother.
GRENDEL’S MOTHER (O.C.)
Who killed you, Grendel my son?
GRENDEL
He tore my arm away…it hurts so…Grendel hurts so bad…
GRENDEL’S MOTHER’S GOLDEN HAND enters frame and strokes its forehead. It’s a beautiful hand, with webbed fingers and golden scales, and long golden fingernails.
GRENDEL’S MOTHER (O.C.)
I know. Sleep now, my sweet son. Sleep forever. Mother is here. WE SEE GRENDEL’S MOTHER’S GOLDEN REFLECTION…rippling in the water. Is she humanoid? Reptilian? It’s hard to tell.
GRENDEL
Mama? He was so strong…so strong. He hurt me.
GRENDEL’S MOTHER (O.C.)
He shall pay, my darling. Who was this man?
GRENDEL
He was…so strong…so…strong…he…his name…Beowulf--
Her hand suddenly stops stroking Grendel’s head.
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The life has gone from Grendel’s eyes. They have misted over, like the dead eyes of a rotten fish.
EXTREME CLOSE ON: Grendel’s mother’s lips.
GRENDEL’S MOTHER
(with vengeance)
Beowulf.
CUT TO:
44 EXT. HEROT - STOCKADE RAIN DAY
44
CLOSE ON BEOWULF
He stands in the pouring rain with Wiglaf, watching a burning funeral pyre. On the pyre are the four bodies of Beowulf’s thanes. The CRACKLING FIRE gets LOUDER as the flames consume the dead.
Beowulf’s 10 surviving thanes are present, along with a few of Hrothgar’s subjects.
BEOWULF
They were great warriors.
Wiglaf’s eyes begin to tear.
WIGLAF
They died a most foul death.
BEOWULF
They were murdered by a foul creature…from the depths of hell.
Wiglaf takes four daggers out from under his cape…
WIGLAF
I’ve got their knives. We’ll take them home…for their widows.
BEOWULF
They will not be forgotten. The bards will sing of their glory forever.
(Beowulf takes Wiglaf by the shoulder)
Come. Let’s drink to their memory. I want you to raise the first cup.
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WIGLAF
Nay, I’m not in the mood for merrymaking. I’ll ride down to the mooring, to prepare the boat.
Wiglaf gives Beowulf a look…
WIGLAF (CONT’D)
We still leave tomorrow, on the tide? Do we not?
BEOWULF
(nods)
Aye.
CUT TO:
45 INT. MEAD HALL DAY
45
HROTHGAR is standing on his portable throne, positioned under GRENDEL’S ARM. He’s making a speech to BEOWULF.
BEOWULF’S THANES, WEALTHOW, UNFERTH AND THE ENTIRE COURT are assembled. The great doors are open, and outside, the rain is POURING down in sheets
HROTHGAR
This hall has been a place of sadness and misery and blood. But today the monster’s reign has ended. And we owe thanks to one man and one man alone: Beowulf. Come here, lad.
He puts his arm around Beowulf’s shoulders. Beowulf grins out at the crowd. It’s hard to believe that this grinning, friendly guy is the same naked lunatic who ripped Grendel’s arm off the night before.
HROTHGAR (CONT’D)
Beowulf, I love you like a son. With Grendel dead, you are a son to me. And a son deserves his reward.
(to thanes)
Come on -- bring it out!
A couple of thanes haul a closed chest though the crowd.
YRSA, GITTE and Wealthow, off to one side, stare up at Grendel’s arm.
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YRSA
(whispers to Gitte)
They say Beowulf ripped it off with his bare hands.
GITTE
Mm. I wonder if his strength is only in his arms, or in his legs as well…all three of them.
Yrsa and Gitte GIGGLE like schoolgirls.
WEALTHOW
Well, a
fter the feast tonight, I’m sure you can find out, Gitte.
GITTE
Me? It’s not me he wants my queen.
Wealthow looks from one to the other. Yrsa agrees with her eyes. Wealthow says nothing.
HROTHGAR
Opens the wood chest. Then, with a dramatic flourish, lifts the Royal dragon Horn -- the one we saw at the beginning, and hands it to Wealthow.
HROTHGAR
(with a touch of sarcasm)
Why don’t you do the honors, my queen?
Wealthow reluctantly takes the horn and presents it to Beowulf.
WEALTHOW
For you…my lord.
The royal dragon horn is very beautiful. It glints and glitters. For a moment, Beowulf is awed: He raises the Horn on high, and the crowd goes wild.
Then, suddenly serious, Beowulf raises his hand, and like a politician or a statesman…
BEOWULF
I find it hard to find in my heart the words I should say to thank you, great king. And all of you, I wish you could have been there last night, when I killed the monster. I was asleep when he arrived…