The Northman (2022) Movie Script
1
(thunder and volcanic rumbling)
(rumbling continues)
HE-WITCH:
Hear me, dinn,
All-Father of the gods.
(voices whispering)
Summon the shadows of ages past,
when the thread spinning Norns
ruled the fates of men.
Hear of
a prince's vengeance quenched
at the fiery Gates of Hel.
A prince destined for Valhll.
Hear me.
(whispering voices exhale)
(horns blowing)
(waves crashing)
(ravens squawking)
(squawking and blowing horns
continue)
(man shouts in distance)
He's here.
-(excited chatter in distance)
-(dogs barking)
He's here.
-(horns blowing in distance)
-Mother, Father is here!
(gasps)
Never enter my chambers
without invitation!
The king, milady. The king.
(horns blowing in distance)
GUDRN:
Come.
AMLETH:
dinn brought him home.
(doors creaking)
(horses neighing)
MAN:
Hail, Raven King!
MAN:
War-Raven, hail!
MAN:
Hail, my lord!
MAN:
War-Raven, hail.
MAN:
Hail, ring giver!
(horses neighing)
FJLNIR:
Onward, brother!
(horses neighing)
MAN:
Come here.
-Go.
-(women grunting softly)
(horn playing fanfare)
(raven caws)
CROWD (in unison):
Hail, King Aurvandil War-Raven!
Hail!
(horse whinnies)
Like a battle-dog
returning to its master,
I've come to be fettered
by my queen's fair locks.
Ever are we bound, my lord.
Prince Amleth,
you have grown too old
to be greeted as a child.
Hail, Lord King.
But...
a father never grows too old
-for a good smothering!
-(laughter)
How I've missed you, my son.
Will your brother not
grace us with his presence?
Think not on Fjlnir.
He'll soon be with us.
(squawks)
This was worn round a
prince's neck when I found it.
But it was destined
for this prince.
Wear it always with my love.
Thank you, Father.
My king.
(dogs barking)
Fjlnir.
-MAN (quietly): Fjlnir's back.
-(others whispering)
-The brute has arrived.
-(door closes)
The brute has arrived.
(whispering quiets)
Hail, Lord King.
Furnish this fierce-hearted
slayer of men with some drink,
that I might drink to him.
Accept my cup, kinsman.
-Milady.
-(Heimir laughs mockingly)
Look how the queen's cup grows
wet for more men than her king.
What metal might buy
a fragrant sip?
Sweet silver...
or hard iron?
Silence, dog!
By Freyr, you slander
your lord and mistress!
-Please you, brother.
-(baby crying)
'Tis but a jest.
A jest.
Heimir keeps a foul tongue,
yet I keep him
as a deep-sworn friend.
(crying continues)
Come, brother.
Here's one more in need of
your safekeeping than myself.
FJLNIR (whispers):
Thrir.
(sighs)
Thrir!
My son!
To my brother, the War-Raven!
To the Kingdom of Hrafnsey!
ALL:
Skl!
(wind whistling softly)
(Aurvandil clears throat)
AURVANDIL: The enemy
had a taste of my liver.
Are you hurt?
Almost enough for Amleth
to be marked my successor.
I watched his innocence tonight.
He must be awoken
to what awaits him.
He is a puppy.
He's the same age
as my grandfather
when he took the throne.
That was different.
He had to kill his uncle first.
You have not seen your queen
in a season.
Come.
Let me take you to our bed.
No.
Pray my luck-spirits
see me to many war fields
after I defeat this wound.
I refuse to die in sickness
nor live the long life
of a shameful graybeard.
I must die by the sword.
I will die in honor.
(pained grunting)
Fret not.
(whispers): You will die
in battle, my lord.
The Gates of Valhll
await you, I know it.
(Aurvandil sighs)
-(ravens cawing)
-(wind whistling)
AURVANDIL: This is the same
path I walked with my father
and he with his.
Now it is our path to walk.
(door creaking)
(man praying in Old Norse)
(Amleth's breath trembles)
(man continues praying)
AMLETH (whispers):
dinn.
(panting softly)
(door creaking)
AURVANDIL:
Be not afraid, Amleth.
Do as I do.
(growling fiercely)
(both growling fiercely)
-(both barking)
-(rhythmic jangling)
(barking and jangling continue)
(both howling)
HEIMIR:
Who barks?
(barking continues)
Is it the wolves
of the High One?
(barking continues)
Or is it the barking
of the village dogs?
Harken to me,
you two-legged dogs.
Drink the vision mead
of knowledge.
To learn what it is
to live and die in honor.
-(Aurvandil and Amleth panting)
-To be in battle slain
and in death rewarded by
the Valkyrjur's embrace.
The warrior maidens
will carry you
to the shimmering
Gates of Valhll.
(lapping)
(snarling)
You are dogs
that wish to become men.
(sniffing)
Prove you are not a dog.
(burps loudly)
Not only are you a man,
you dine like a king.
(Amleth barking)
(both growling)
(barking)
(snarling)
(Heimir sniffing)
And you, little cub,
what are you?
(Amleth farts)
-Ah.
-(inhales deeply)
I smell a clever pupil.
(echoing):
At every passage,
one should turn his eye round,
one should spy round.
(echoing): For a foe might be
crouched within upon the floor.
Wise in measure
should each man be,
yet wise enough to be the fool.
Wise enough to be the fool.
(distorted echoing): Tell me,
how did dinn lose his eye?
To learn
the secret magic of women.
Never seek the secrets of
women, but heed them always.
HEIMIR: It is women that know
the mysteries of men.
The Norns that spin and weave
at their Well of Fate.
-Live in honor.
-Live in honor.
-Safeguard your familial blood.
-Safeguard your familial blood.
Know you what that means,
Amleth, son of Aurvandil?
(panting)
Should I fall
by the enemy's sword,
you must avenge me
or forever live in shame!
I will, Father, I will!
My blade will not rest
till it's drunk the blood
from his open neck!
Now live always without fear,
for your fate is set
and you cannot scape it.
Swear it.
I swear.
(Amleth panting)
(voices whispering)
(whispering fades)
(Amleth panting)
(whimpering softly)
This is the last tear
you will shed in weakness.
It will be given back
when most you need it.
Now, behold,
as a man.
AURVANDIL:
Approach, Amleth,
and in our blood
behold the tree of kings.
(Amleth whimpering)
(volcanic rumbling)
(heart beating steadily)
(heart beating faster)
(heart beating rapidly)
(sharp whoosh)
-(wind whistling)
-(footsteps)
-(arrow whooshes)
-(Aurvandil grunts)
-(grunting)
-(ravens cawing)
-(gasping)
-(horses neighing)
Father!
Run! Run!
-(Aurvandil grunting fiercely)
-(blades clanging)
Come for your carcass,
you mongrels!
-(panting)
-(Aurvandil grunting, yelling)
(blades clanging and stabbing)
(yelling)
(gasps)
(groaning weakly)
(ragged breathing)
(horse neighs)
(gasps)
(horse neighs)
You behold your brother's gaze
in amazement.
I knew well you would.
Pity you never paid
a bastard's eyes heed before.
Now... behold how swiftly
your brother swings his sword.
Strike, brother, strike.
But know
that bearing a stolen ring
makes no half-breed a king.
Soaked in my blood,
it will soon be sliding
off your arm like a serpent.
Your kingdom will not last.
(breathes deeply)
Let this misdeed
haunt your living nights
till a flaming vengeance
gorges on your death.
Strike.
Strike!
To Valhll!
(panting)
-(sword strikes)
-(Fjlnir yelling)
(gasps)
King Aurvandil is dead!
-Long live King Fjlnir!
-Long live King Fjlnir!
MEN (in unison):
Hail, Lord King!
Hail, Lord King!
Bring me the boy's head!
(gasps)
-(panting)
-(men chattering)
-Do you see him?
-(chatter continues)
-Over here.
-Cut him off!
(panting)
(both grunting)
(shushing)
I'll make it slow.
-(grunts)
-(Finnr screaming)
(people screaming)
-(gasps)
-(goats bleating)
(people continue screaming)
(rhythmic thumping in distance)
(cattle lowing)
(rhythmic thumping continues)
(rhythmic thumping
grows louder)
(Gudrn screaming)
Hail, Fjlnir the Brotherless!
Hail, King Fjlnir!
-Hail, Fjlnir!
-(screaming continues)
(Amleth grunting)
Hail, King Fjlnir!
HALLGRMR: King Fjlnir
has found himself a queen.
(men laughing)
FINNR:
Fjlnir!
Fjlnir! My lord!
The boy!
The boy.
(grunts)
The boy is dead.
Dead in the sea.
Yeah.
Sank like a stone.
(groans)
(grunting, crying)
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
(in distance):
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
(wind whistling)
(birds chirping and calling)
(horn blowing in distance)
(men grunting rhythmically)
(man speaking Old Slavic
frantically)
-(shouting)
-(arrows whooshing)
(men laughing)
(thunder rumbling)
-(fire crackling)
-(drums beating rhythmically)
(man droning)
(men howling wildly)
(men growling and barking)
(men grunting rhythmically
in unison to drums)
(men howling wildly)
(drums beating faster)
(men laughing wildly)
(men howling, laughing)
(laughing wildly)
-(yelling wildly)
-(thunder crashes)
(frogs croaking)
(rooster crowing in distance)
(men growling
and grunting quietly)
(man shouting frantically
in Old Slavic)
-(horn blowing)
-(men grunting)
(men yelling wildly)
To Valhll!
(grunting)
(men shouting in Old Slavic)
(yelling)
(woman screams)
-(horses neighing)
-(men shouting)
(yelling)
(horse neighing)
(choking)
(yelling)
-(people screaming)
-(frantic chatter)
(screaming and frantic chatter
continues)
(whispering in Old Slavic)
No!
(yelling wildly)
(screaming)
-(flesh tearing)
-(snarling)
(howling wildly)
(men howling, whooping)
-(people chattering, crying)
-(men coughing, spitting)
(dogs barking in distance)
(muttering)
(laughs) What are you doing?
Come now, come. Come here.
Come here.
(dog barking)
-(man grunting)
-(woman screaming)
(chatter and crying continue)
(baby crying)
These savages
make for fine chattel,
eh, Bjrnulfr?
We did good.
AMLETH:
Never better.
When we found you as a cub...
(man groaning)
...I knew then that you had
a heart of cold iron.
-(sword strikes)
-SHIELD MAIDEN: Too weak!
I want strong ones!
Not weak ones!
BOY:
Mama!
(men grunting)
(Olga speaking Old Slavic
frantically)
Mama!
(Olga continues speaking
frantically)
Mama!
-(man grunts)
-(Olga shouting)
Mama!
(crying)
(man yells)
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
(door closes)
(people screaming inside house,
pounding on door)
(people screaming frantically)
(men laughing, cheering)
(screaming and pounding
continue louder)
-(lively chatter, laughter)
-(flute playing)
Play, you idiot. Play!
-(laughter)
-(music continues)
-(rhythmic clapping)
-(man sings drunkenly)
-(screaming)
-(men cheering)
(voices fading)
(soft rhythmic rattling)
(soft rhythmic rattling
continues)
(soft rhythmic rattling
continues)
(whispering): Prowl in shadow,
slayer of my people.
Hide.
Even though your brother
stole my eyes...
...I see you.
I am no one's brother.
It is not enough
to be the man that never cries,
Prince Amleth.
The prince that turned
from his fate.
A beast that cares for naught.
A beast that wrings tears
from the eyes of men.
(gasps)
Now remember for whom
you shed your last teardrop.
Remember the oath
to right the wrong.
Remember the Raven King.
Remember.
(speaking): Remember,
it contains the salty ocean
you must sail upon
to the edge of the world.
It feeds the freezing river
of hate that runs in my veins.
It will take you
to an island in the north
where there will spring
a burning lake,
bursting from
a black mountain's peak.
There I will drown
my father's killer.
Follow the vixen's tail to
the dwelling of the ancient one
to seek the fated sword
that matches your brutal rage.
Why speak you my fortune, witch?
For where your path
of ashes ends,
another will begin her journey.
A maiden king.
Release me.
You cannot scape what fate
the Norns have spun.
-Now begone!
-(grunts)
(panting)
HIRD OFFICER:
These slaves go to Uppsala.
-(sizzling)
-(man screams, shouts)
Those to the market in Kiev.
(chatter, laughter)
Send them to Constantinople.
And these strong ones
should make it all the way
to Fjlnir's post in Iceland.
-(sizzling)
-(woman screams)
AMLETH:
Who is this Fjlnir?
Fjlnir the Brotherless.
So-called after
he killed his brother,
the disgraced
King Aurvandil War-Raven.
I know of him.
Why are his slaves
bound for Iceland?
Fjlnir rules over Hrafnsey.
He fled to the backwater
frontier with his wife and son
after King Haraldr of Norway
took his kingdom.
Fjlnir killed his brother
for nothing.
Now he's a sheep farmer.
-(laughing)
-(raven cawing)
(chirping)
Father.
(dogs barking in distance)
(chatter in distance)
-(sizzling)
-(pained grunting)
(panting)
Worry not.
When I meet your owner,
I will thank him
for the warmth you gave me.
-(panting)
-(distant chatter)
(men chattering, grunting)
CAPTAIN:
Bring those two ropes.
(Olga speaking Old Slavic)
CAPTAIN:
Take your place.
(Olga continues
speaking Old Slavic)
(crying)
(continues speaking Old Slavic)
(continues speaking Old Slavic)
(thunder rumbling softly)
(men chattering, laughing)
MAN:
Ah, how can he get that number?
-(laughter)
-MAN: He's cheating.
It is luck.
Let's see what you've got.
It continues then.
I've lost all my silver, then.
(chatter continues indistinctly)
Your sheep's clothing does not
disguise you, Northman.
AMLETH:
What say you, spell speaker?
You wish to be a slave,
hide your cunning.
Show the shepherd
you are a sheep.
I'll show the shepherd
his death.
-(wind roaring)
-(men shouting)
(frantic shouting)
Hold it strong!
(shouting continues)
-(Olga grunts)
-MAN: Stay on your feet!
AMLETH:
Take my hand!
I have you!
(Amleth and Olga shout)
(grunting)
(Amleth and Olga
panting heavily)
(heavy panting continues)
(soft rattling)
(soft rattling)
(soft rattling)
(voices shrieking and roaring)
(soft rattling)
YOUNG AMLETH (whispering):
I will avenge you, Father.
I will save you, Mother.
I will kill you, Fjlnir.
-(wind blowing)
-(waves sloshing)
-(panting, grunting)
-(men chattering)
MAN:
Over there.
(chatter continues)
Leave her here.
Move!
(grunts)
-MAN: Bunch of corpses.
-FINNR: Let him rot!
The seagulls will eat him!
They're hungry!
Move, swine!
(people coughing)
Why would you stow away
to such a hellish place?
This ground harbors evil.
My fate has brought me here.
To find what was stolen from me.
And what is that?
A mother, a father, a kingdom.
This is your kingdom?
The traitor who stole
my kingdom fled here
when another king
took it from him.
I will leave
when I'm done with him.
I am Olga of the Birch Forest.
And I, too,
vow to escape this island.
Then you must face many foes.
As do you.
Would you face them alone?
Your strength
breaks men's bones.
I have the cunning
to break their minds.
HALLGRMR:
You two, hold your traps!
Walk on!
(volcanic rumbling)
(birds squawking)
-(Fjlnir grunting)
-(axes chopping)
(Gunnar grunts)
(ax clatters on ground)
-(Gunnar grunting)
-(ax chopping)
Why are we doing this?
What?
-This.
-What?
It's slave work.
You're the chieftain.
It's your temple,
and I'm the heir
to this holy chiefdom.
No man knows if he will
celebrate next yuletide
as a king or as a slave.
Best to be prepared for both.
And to stave off the latter,
the least you can do
is show your slaves
you're as strong as they are.
But no one's watching us.
Go fetch us some whey.
Think on what I said.
-MAN: Keep your shield arm up.
-THRIR: I am.
-MAN: You're...
-I am!
MAN:
You are not!
-Attack, Hjalti!
-(Thrir grunting)
No! No!
(grunts)
-(shouts angrily)
-(sighs)
HALLGRMR:
Fjlnir, my lord!
Your shipment is here.
(wind howling)
Well, show me.
-Where's the rest of them?
-HALLGRMR: Get on your feet!
-FINNR: On your feet!
-On your feet!
FINNR:
Up, swines!
HALLGRMR:
Line up, bastards!
THRIR:
Pitiful. Can't even stand.
FJLNIR:
They won't last the winter.
Sell all of them.
(yelling wildly)
(Amleth growling, grunting)
Let me see this one.
(growling)
(panting)
We've kept worse.
(panting continues)
I'm not impressed.
His stench.
(men chuckling)
(Amleth groans)
Never look me
in the eye, slave.
Well, I wonder what they call
a beast like you
in the Land of Rus.
I am...
Bjrnulfr.
By name alone, you can tell
he's as strong as a bear.
But if you're
as untrustworthy as a wolf,
I swear
I'll put you down myself.
We keep this one.
The rest can go.
GUNNAR: But mother needs
two for the kitchen
-and one for the laundry.
-MAN: Move.
GUNNAR:
And two males for the harvest.
FJLNIR:
(sighs) Fine.
These two for the kitchen
and her for the laundry.
And choose two males
for the fields.
And her, too.
Keep her arms white...
...and her hair long.
(cattle lowing softly)
Plan to climb out, huh,
Bear-Wolf?
Even if you did
escape this farm,
you'd only be carrion
for the blue foxes and selkies.
This island is a barren waste.
You best find yourself
some sleep.
(grunts softly)
(chickens squawking)
(Vlundur grunts angrily)
VLUNDUR:
Get! Get! (groans)
-Get!
-(liquid splashes)
(chickens clucking)
Thieving demon-bitch.
(door opens)
GUDRN:
Away! Away.
-(Gudrn hisses)
-(ravens squawking, cawing)
Away with you!
(hisses)
Away! Begone!
(hisses)
Away with you!
(quietly):
I will avenge you, Father.
I will save you, Mother.
I will kill you, Fjlnir.
(men chattering)
-Here. Go.
-(Amleth grunts)
(grunting)
(panting)
(grunting)
(quiet chatter)
Go take a piss.
HALLDRA:
In there.
(chickens clucking)
(wind whistling softly)
Stop there.
(Gudrn humming a tune)
You! Get on with it!
On with you now!
(Gudrn continues humming)
Where's your wits?
Turn around.
(Gudrn continues humming)
(humming stops)
Shut the door.
-(cattle lowing)
-(chickens clucking)
Did you find it?
What you lost.
In the house today,
was it there?
That...
and more.
It's a nightmare.
Then you must wake up.
It's their nightmare.
FINNR:
You!
You, woman!
You come with us!
You don't belong here!
Fjlnir wants you close.
If you lose me, will you come
and look for me, too?
Will you?
-Come here.
-(grunting)
(fox squawking)
(fox squawking)
(fox squawks)
(sniffing)
(faint volcanic rumbling
in distance)
(ravens cawing)
(He-Witch chanting slowly
in Old Norse)
(drum beating slowly)
(chanting and drumming continue)
Sit, Amleth, son of Aurvandil.
Did our hen-eating friend
tell you of me?
No.
One much more talkative.
An old fool.
Poor Heimir.
He speaks of days past
and days yet to come.
Fjlnir cut out his tongue,
plucked out his eyes
before killing him...
...but I made him ones anew.
(laughing)
Kind friend.
Know that
I will avenge you, too.
I fear you must address me.
Alas, I made him no new ears.
(chuckles)
They also met
with Fjlnir's blade.
Enough!
You know why I have come.
You are still a beast
cloaked in man-flesh.
Speak, witch.
So be it, slave!
(sighing)
(fire roars, sizzles)
(moaning)
(He-Witch straining)
Wandering prophet...
(wheezing)
...wake now...
...from your murder.
(wheezing)
-(strained yelling)
-(drum beating faster)
(wheezing gasps)
(rapid panting)
(rapid grunting)
(wheezing)
Hear me!
Heimir is come!
(He-Witch quiets)
(Heimer's voice):
Hello, puppy.
I seek the weapon the Norns
of Fate chose for my revenge.
(Heimer's voice):
Hear me.
Forged by the deadliest
war-smiths
ever to crawl from under
the great worm's belly.
A sword of
the most secretive rare iron,
bound with bone of the jtnar.
Weightless in its owner's hand,
yet like a dragon's fang,
its bite can never be dulled,
-never broken nor bent.
-(tools clanging)
Its blade could only be quenched
in human blood.
-It is a battle flame like
none other. -(voices shout)
Its name:
Draugr.
(voices shout)
The Undead.
(voices shout)
(voices shout)
It is fated.
VOICES:
Draugr!
(normal voice): Yet,
difficult is the sword's nature,
for it can only be unsheathed
in the dark of night
or else at Hel's black gates.
The Gates of Hel.
There will my sword be just.
I will enjoy feeding Draugr
till then in everlasting night.
Then shall you also enjoy
the moment when you must choose
between kindness for your kin
or hate for your enemies.
That is nothing.
My heart knows only revenge.
Show it to me.
You must make a visitation
to Draugr's owner,
the mound dweller.
Mark well the full moon's light.
For shadows are not
hospitable hosts.
-(serpent lands on ground)
-(gasps)
(serpent hissing)
(He-Witch laughing)
(rope creaking)
(grunts)
(hisses, growls)
-(growling)
-(footsteps booming)
(grunting)
(straining)
(shouts)
(shouting)
(groaning)
(squealing, growling)
(panting)
(roaring)
(grunting)
(groaning)
-(yells)
-(hisses)
(growling)
(grunting)
(shrieking)
(wheezing, crackling)
Mark well the full moon's light!
(shouts)
(panting)
(shouts)
(panting)
(raspy breathing, growling)
(faint volcanic rumbling)
(rumbling grows louder)
(rumbling stops)
(men laughing in distance)
(dog barking in distance)
(men chattering)
(men laughing)
FJLNIR: Thrir will choose
our strongest.
Tomorrow we'll prove
that Hkon Iron-Beard's men
are born of mud and water.
(men chuckling)
HALLGRMR: Mud will be
all that remains of them.
(laughter)
FJLNIR:
Rakki!
(Rakki growling)
(barking)
-(snarls)
-(Rakki whimpering)
Rakki.
(whimpering continues)
Rakki.
Take Rakki home.
-And, you two...
-HALLGRMR: Rakki, come.
...it's nearly dawn.
Get you to bed.
HALLGRMR:
Yes, my lord.
-Rakki.
-(Rakki barking)
(cattle lowing)
-(cattle lowing)
-(chickens clucking)
Wake, you.
Fetch her. You know the one.
Aye.
Wake up, Olga. Wake up.
Get to your feet.
The hair of a Valkyrja...
...on a savage Slav bitch.
(grunts)
A little blood.
(both grunt)
Unclean whore!
(both grunt)
(rooster crowing in distance)
You will correct her, or you'll
both be dead in the ground.
(Fjlnir clears throat)
(roosters crowing in distance)
Thank the Norns
that the woman's tide
is the only blood that runs
in your house tonight, coward.
I am a fool.
It was foretold that I would
slay my father's killer
in a burning lake.
Till that day comes,
I will torment the man
who made my life a hell.
Now sleep well, night blade.
Yes, we thirst for vengeance,
but we cannot escape our fate.
MAN (in distance):
Get them in line!
-Look lively!
-(horse grunting)
-Move it!
-Don't be idle!
Those are for the feast...
Where are they taking us?
Something about
the chieftain's feast.
Last night, I saw him with you.
(man shouts in distance)
Then you know Fjlnir's touch
will not linger on me
when I leave this island.
You marked him well.
And I have found the cold iron
that will strike him down.
-When will you do it?
-When I must.
For now, I will haunt this farm
like a hungry corpse
returned from the grave.
Fjlnir thinks
Amleth is long dead.
Yes, but what of your mother?
She will revel
in Fjlnir's anguish.
She only feigns her love
to protect their child.
-Won't she wish...
-When I free her,
I will bring the boy if I must.
They've moved me
back into the kitchen.
-FOREMAN: Bjrnulfr!
-If we can keep his men...
Our plan will have to wait. Go.
FOREMAN:
Bjrnulfr, move!
(foreman grunts)
-You, to the back!
-FOREMAN: Move!
MAN:
Woman!
-(shildur speaking Old Norse)
-(chatter continues)
(horses neighing)
MAN: Thrir, my Lord,
we're lacking one man.
I'm not a child.
My hair is my own.
I know grown men who need
a woman to tend their hair.
MAN:
Get them in line.
FOREMAN: You can celebrate
after the games, slave.
Look lively!
MAN:
My lord.
FOREMAN:
Come on!
MAN:
Thrir, my lord.
Can you fight, slave?
Look me in the eye, slave.
I asked you
do you know how to fight.
What are those?
You've never seen
a knatttr before?
(chuckles softly)
By nightfall, you'll have
seen enough of them.
(men shouting
and grunting wildly)
(shouting and grunting continue)
MAN:
Play for blood!
(men yelling
and whooping wildly)
-(grunting)
-(clamoring)
(men and crowd cheering)
(men shouting and grunting
in distance)
(shouting and grunting continue)
(yelling wildly)
-(grunting)
-(clamoring)
(man shouts)
(yells)
(spits, yells)
(clamoring continues)
(crowd cheering)
(crowd groans)
(Thrfinnr yells)
(crowd jeering)
You're shaming
our family's name!
We need more men!
(yelling, clamoring)
(shouting angrily)
(crowd cheering)
Yeah!
-(Thrfinnr sighs)
-(Gunnar shouts)
No! No!
(crowd murmuring)
-(both grunting)
-(crowd cheering)
-(Gunnar shouting)
-(both yelling)
-Gunnar!
-No!
Halt the game! Halt it now!
-WOMAN: Don't touch him!
-(Gunnar grunts)
-FJLNIR: Gunnar!
-HKON: Halt the game!
FJLNIR:
Gunnar! Gunnar!
THRFINNR:
Stupid runt!
-GUDRN: No!
-(Thrfinnr yelling)
(yelling)
(both grunting)
-(Amleth yelling)
-(Thrfinnr stops grunting)
(bones cracking)
(panting and grunting wildly)
(crowd murmuring)
-GUDRN: Gunnar. Gunnar.
-FJLNIR: Wake up. Wake up.
Stupid, stupid boy. Wake up.
(panting)
-GUDRN: Gunnar. Gunnar. Gunnar.
-FJLNIR: Gunnar.
-Wake up, come on.
-(light slapping)
Wake up, Gunnar. Wake up!
GUDRN (whispering):
Gunnar. Gunnar. Gunnar.
-FJLNIR: Wake up.
-Gunnar. Gunnar.
-Wake up!
-No.
(Gudrn panting)
Wake up.
(Gudrn gasping)
Did we win?
(laughter)
Spoken like
a true chieftain's son.
(sighing)
MAN:
A brave boy.
A brave young man.
(rhythmic drumming)
-(singing in Old Norse)
-(rhythmic drumming continues)
-(both imitate horse neighing)
-(others whooping)
(singing in Old Norse continues)
-(singing continues)
-(others chanting, whooping)
(singing and drumming continues)
-(singing continues faster)
-(whooping, laughter)
You.
This way.
(music and chatter in distance)
You showed yourself brave
and loyal.
When we return to the farm,
certain privileges
will be granted you.
Your work will be
less burdensome.
You will command others' burden.
And, Bjrnulfr,
as a reward
for winning us the game,
I'll let you choose a woman
for yourself.
Even that Slav bitch
I've seen you eyeing.
Father found her too...
...unyielding.
(men chuckle softly)
But know that we will never
make you a free man.
The stench of a lowborn slave
cannot escape him.
Yes.
Thank you.
(scoffs)
HERSVEINN: We'll miss you
cleaning the shithouse.
(men laugh)
(chatter continues)
(people whooping, laughing)
(people moaning, laughing)
AMLETH:
Olga.
(people continue moaning)
OLGA:
You found me.
Were you lost?
Only if you were searching
for me.
(both panting, moaning)
(Olga speaking Old Slavic)
What do you do?
Here, where the threads of fate
have bound us together,
embraced beneath the trees,
here I speak with the earth.
What does she tell you?
How to reach your mother.
My Earth magic will stoke
the flames of your sword.
Tomorrow night, you and I...
...will begin this nightmare
and bring Fjlnir's life
to chaos.
-Finish.
-(pigs snorting)
(goats bleating)
Back to the stalls.
MAN:
Hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
AMLETH:
You.
(rattle jingles)
(rattle jingles)
(rattle jingles)
The servants of Freyr.
Lay them before our lord's feet.
(rattle jingles)
(Fjlnir praying in Old Norse)
(praying continues in Old Norse)
-(sharp thumping)
-(rattle jingling)
(praying continues)
(rattle jingles)
(praying continues)
(rattle jingles)
(praying continues)
(rattle jingles)
(lively chatter, laughter)
-(Hersveinn vomiting)
-HJALTI: You weakling.
-(Hjalti laughs)
-(Hersveinn groans)
(both singing in Old Norse)
-AMLETH: Fear not.
-(Hersveinn shouts)
-You're the first of many.
-HJALTI: (gasps) No.
HERSVEINN:
Please! We'll set you free!
-(sword stabbing)
-(men grunting in pain)
(yells)
Oh, I will find who did this.
I will find them,
and I will tear out their eyes!
And I will
tear out their tongues!
They will all sup in Hel!
(yells)
Look, Father.
Look what has been done
to my brave friends.
Christian monsters!
Monsters!
-(yells)
-(grunts)
Monsters!
-Lack-beard, did you do this?!
-(gasping)
Answer me! Answer me!
-(yells)
-Stop this!
-Son.
-(panting wildly)
Regain your calm.
(panting softly)
They were good boys.
By Freyr, we will avenge them.
Take him away.
(Thrir crying)
Is Thrir right?
Could it be
the Christian swines?
Their god is a corpse
nailed to a tree.
For what?
These boys never touched them.
And how might they find weapons?
No.
These wounds
are not of our world.
This distempered spirit
will ride again.
It wields a hungry blade.
Go.
I will prepare a sacrifice.
FINNR:
On with you!
-(man grunts)
-Blood-drinking Christians!
(man grunting)
Do as you're told.
(Finnr grunts)
Go.
OLGA:
The mushrooms, I have them.
Not tonight.
The spirits will ride
and spill more blood.
(shildur praying in Old Norse)
Black she-spirit, abate.
Bear this offering
to your mistress
and sheath
your rageful corpse-hound.
(wild howling in distance)
(wild howling continues)
-(Rakki growling)
-(wild howling continues)
(barking)
-FJLNIR: Rakki.
-GUDRN: Rakki!
FJLNIR:
What is it, Rakki?
GUDRN:
Rakki!
Down, Rakki!
-Rakki! Ra...
-(Rakki snarling)
(both howling wildly)
-GUDRN: Rakki! Rakki!
-(clothes ripping)
-(knife stabbing)
-(Rakki whimpers)
(Gudrn yells)
(Fjlnir shouts)
-(dogs barking in distance)
-(Gudrn panting)
-(men shouting, grunting)
-(dogs barking wildly)
(dogs barking and howling
in distance)
(muffled groaning)
(muffled groaning continues)
Free her.
(blade cutting bonds)
Freyr, it seems,
has chosen for himself
who is deemed fit for sacrifice.
SHILDUR: (grunts)
Blighted by his blood...
Let us hope
his hunger has been sated.
This is not the work of my god.
(shildur sobbing)
This is trollish sorcery.
FJLNIR: Tonight, you will be
armed to defend the farm,
-for this is also your home.
-(ravens cawing)
THRIR: How can we trust them
to protect us?
HALLGRMR:
Here, dog.
Your father
does not want an uprising
-by emboldened slaves.
-HALLGRMR: Go!
Do not doubt his wisdom.
HALLGRMR:
Walk!
OLGA:
Black dreams arise.
FINNR:
Hey, slaves, I like your sticks!
(Finnr laughs)
Yeah, good luck fending off
the demon with that thing.
(Finnr chuckles)
Here.
Hungry?
Tonight, you are the food!
(laughing)
Go take some night air.
I'll finish here.
Go on.
-(ravens cawing faintly)
-(groaning softly)
(neighing echoes)
(breath distorting and echoing)
(exhales sharply)
-(howling echoes)
-(gasping)
(panting)
(voices laughing)
(voices laughing louder)
(Finnr shouts)
-(panting)
-(voices laughing wildly)
(shriek echoes)
(shouts)
(grunting)
-MAN: Get them away!
-MAN: Run!
-She's a she-devil!
-(shouts)
-(wild howling)
-(screaming)
(heavy footsteps booming)
-(blades stabbing)
-(men screaming, grunting)
-(clamoring, screaming)
-(blades clanging)
FJLNIR:
Touch them not.
Look not into their eyes.
The night spirits
have entered their skins
and are riding their minds.
-(clamoring continues)
-(Thrir groaning, retching)
Thrir! Out, Dsir!
-(Thrir screaming)
-Begone!
(clamoring continues
in distance)
We will meet you before dawn.
(wind whistling softly)
(whispers):
Father.
(wood creaks)
(footsteps approaching)
Leave me.
(gasps softly)
(whispers):
Your sword is long.
AMLETH:
Stop your jest.
I am your son.
(gasps softly)
(whispers):
Amleth?
You live still?
A life of death.
Yet I swore to survive
till this moment.
Tomorrow, I shall finish
my deeds in honor.
Only then will I discover
whether living is to my liking.
You are your mother's son.
And my father's.
I am come to avenge
King Aurvandil,
to choke my traitorous uncle
in his death-blood...
...and to free you.
I see you have inherited
your father's simpleness.
What say you?
I never mourned him.
You were his queen.
(Gudrn sighs)
Your father endured me...
...because I bore him a son.
-N-No.
-His affections were
only for silver
and rutting his whores.
I know not if he had
heart enough to love you.
S... Silence.
He was a coward
feigning to be a king.
He was nothing.
He was just another proud,
lust-stained slaver.
Hold your tongue!
You spit in the face
of your dead husband.
(whispers):
Yet his brother...
(gasps)
...his fine brother.
A bastard has no shame
of himself nor his trade.
Your uncle loved me,
though he knew well my past.
(sighs softly)
(whispers):
Amleth.
Even now, you believe the
fairy tale I told you is true?
"A noble bride hailing from
the land of Brittany"?
I never began as his bride.
How easily we all become
princesses again
when the beasts
take us for their wives.
Yes.
You were forced
upon your mother.
Gunnar was received freely
with love.
(whispers):
No.
And know you this:
It was I who begged on my knees
for Fjlnir
to kill King Aurvandil.
I pressed my lips
upon his strong, sweet hand.
I kissed it and I begged.
And so this day
would never come,
Fjlnir ordered your death,
along with
your own mother's blessing.
(breathes deeply)
But I saw it.
(breath trembling)
I saw Fjlnir
carrying you away... screaming.
Screaming?
I was laughing.
Lies!
(panting)
Now that you are here,
what do we do?
I should kill you
and all that is dear to you.
But you love me.
A son loves his mother
and a mother loves her son.
And you saved
your brother's life.
You.
You love.
You...
love.
None but me knows who you are.
And you are so hot for revenge,
child born of savagery.
-If you kill Fjlnir...
-(gasping)
if you kill Thrir,
and if you are so untamed
as to kill my Gunnar...
(gasps)
...you would be
my new king, Amleth,
and together...
we will rule.
(gasping)
(both grunting, yelling)
-Bitch!
-Your taste and your mind
reek of your foul father!
You should have joined him
in death!
Your words are poison!
I am your death!
-(panting)
-(Gudrn laughing)
(laughing continues)
(laughing echoes)
Die!
(Thrir groaning, choking)
(yells)
(Amleth panting)
(horse neighing in distance)
-Where is your mother?
-(panting continues)
Tell me.
Where?
She's as evil as Fjlnir.
I will destroy him
and all that she loved.
-I will become a hailstorm
of iron and steel! -(shushing)
I will have my vengeance!
And more.
Then what must we do now?
(panting)
I... I...
I must take to the hills.
My mother discovered who I am.
Soon everyone will.
-I'll go with you.
-No.
They cannot know
you are part of this.
Come morning,
they will hunt for me.
Why?
You killed her?
I would not kill a woman.
Not even her.
Thrir met his end by my fury.
Well, good riddance.
Tomorrow night, you will return
and kill Fjlnir?
If the Norns of Fate allow it.
And whatever happens tomorrow,
be ready to run.
(sobbing softly)
(sobbing)
His heart.
His...
His heart.
It's taken his heart!
What evil is this?!
What evil eats the hearts
of brave young men?!
Freyr, do you hear me?!
Behave.
-Be a man in front of
your inferiors. -(sobbing)
There is no evil spirit here.
I told you. I told you.
It is my cursed son Amleth.
We rid ourselves of him
as a boy.
You must believe me.
He is here.
The progeny of Aurvandil
lives still.
I fear he was led here
by the raven-spirit
of your dead brother.
-It's not possible.
-Think.
He's killed your men.
He has murdered your eldest son.
And he will not rest
till you lie cold in the ground
and our own Gunnar
lies slain beside you.
It is Amleth.
No god can help you
with this task.
You must discover my son
and kill him
with your own hands.
Let my words be the whetstone
to your biting rage,
for the mischief of last night
was not the work of one man.
Find the slaves
who ally with him.
Find them!
FINNR:
On your knees!
-HALLGRMR: Down with you!
-(grunts)
Down with the lot of you!
(groans, chokes)
I know not, nor care not,
if that slave aided
in the death of my son...
...but this is the end
you will all meet
if you speak not what you know.
(grunts)
No?
(chokes)
(grunts, shouts)
-(growls)
-(grunts)
I see you're no longer afraid
of a woman's blood.
(whispers):
You.
-(laughing)
-Of course it is you.
AMLETH:
Fjlnir!
Let her alone!
I offer you your son's heart
in exchange for her life!
I am Amleth the Bear-Wolf,
son of
King Aurvandil War-Raven,
and I am his vengeance!
-(yelling)
-Kill him!
FJLNIR:
Bring him to me!
-GUDRN: Kill him!
-He's mine!
(men yelling)
(grunting)
(panting wildly)
(grunting)
(yelling)
(panting wildly)
(grunting)
(Amleth groaning)
(blade slices)
In the end...
...you're just like your father.
Evil begets evil.
How do you know
it's your son's heart...
...and not the heart of a rabid
dog killed two nights ago?
-FJLNIR: Where is it?!
-(gurgles)
(grunts, mutters weakly)
You cannot kill me.
Even if you were
to strike me with your sword,
it would not bite.
It is not my time.
I will die in battle.
(Fjlnir grunts)
Where is my son's heart?!
(panting)
dinn the All-Father
will vanquish
your god of erections.
Fear him.
Silence!
I will come back for your heart.
And your mother and I
will eat it.
(strains, yells)
(raven chirping)
(ravens cawing)
(rope crackling)
-(grunting)
-(ravens cawing wildly)
(groaning softly)
(panting)
dinn, let the Valkyrja,
your warrior maiden,
fly me to your shining gates.
(cawing echoes, fades)
I see my father and mother.
I see my dead kindred.
I see my master
in Freyja's hall.
He calls me to him.
-(men beating shields rapidly)
-(women ululating)
(singing mournful song)
(men beating shields
slowly and rhythmically)
(women wailing)
(singing continues)
(singing continues)
(shildur speaking Old Norse)
(horse whinnies)
(men continue beating shields
slowly and rhythmically)
(women continue wailing)
Tonight, our mourning
for Thrir ends.
(Kormlth singing)
(women ululating)
(singing continues)
May the neck-ale
of this swift steed
hasten you to the highest tree
of the battle-weavers, brother.
(singing continues)
-(blood splashes)
-(horse neighs)
-(grunting)
-(men beating shields faster)
(women ululating)
-(singing stops)
-(shildur grunting)
-(men beating shields faster)
-(women ululating)
My hour of grief
has passed.
The time of
wrath-kindled revenge
is upon us!
(crowd ululating, cheering)
-(Fjlnir yelling)
-(rattle jingling)
(crowd clamoring)
(grunts)
(ravens cawing)
(ravens cawing wildly)
(grunts)
(thunder crackling, rumbling)
(horse neighs)
(horse panting)
(horse neighs)
(horse neighs)
(horse neighs)
(shrieking)
(heart beating)
(water flowing softly)
(birds chirping)
(sighs softly)
This is not Valhll?
I did not carry you that far.
I am no Valkyrja.
The dreams of your afterlife
must wait.
Besides...
I'm not done with you yet.
My fate brought me to Iceland
to carry out
my pledge of vengeance.
But my fate...
...did not ready me
for finding you.
I thought I must always
shield my heart in stone.
I could not think
I would open it to a Northman.
You sacrificed yourself
that I could flee.
And you came back for me.
I have never f-felt close
to another person.
Not since I was a child.
I curse your mother's evil.
She murdered my past.
Could it not be
that your Norns of Fate
have spun another thread
for you to follow?
What do your earth gods
tell you?
That wherever I go,
I must take you with me.
I have kinsmen in Orkney.
We could find s... we could
find safe passage there.
Together.
Yet I cannot truly believe
that you have extinguished
your fire for vengeance.
Hate is all I have ever known.
But I wish
I could be free of it.
That is for you to choose.
Let us find our future.
(seagulls chirping)
(horse neighs)
Welcome, seafarers.
The deck of
this wooden saddle-beast
will be the only ground
you tread for 21 days.
I was expecting
more of Fjlnir's men.
His son was to join us.
Anchor up!
Sail down!
Secure the shrouds.
MAN:
Shrouds secured.
VOLODYMYR:
Keep her downwind, helmsman.
MAN:
Aye, aye!
Your wound.
It is nothing
to what we have endured.
I have forgotten it already.
(heart beating slowly)
(heart continues beating slowly)
My family's blood.
My own blood is inside you.
You are the well
our dynasty will spring from.
I did not wish you to know
until I could trust
that our child would be safe.
While Fjlnir lives,
our children will never be safe.
If he but knew of this,
he would hunt you
with all the fire of the gods.
It cannot wait.
Stop this.
There is now a living thread
that binds us.
I was a fool.
I wished to flee with you
from my fate.
My vision shows me
you will have two.
And my sword will save them.
(Olga gasps)
But you must come with us.
You must!
It was prophesied
that I must choose...
between kindness for my kin
and hate for my enemies.
And see what hope
we have before us.
I choose both.
Take her to Orkney.
In return for this ring,
my kinsmen will give you
-ninefold its worth.
-No!
No!
Amleth!
(sobbing)
You will be mother to a king!
We cannot escape our fate.
No!
(grunts) Amleth!
(sobbing)
-(shouts)
-(wind howling)
(heart beating slowly)
(heart continues beating)
(heart beating faster)
(explosive rumbling)
-(horses neighing)
-(cattle lowing)
(sword clanging quietly,
slicing)
-(sword stabs)
-(man grunts)
-MAN: It's the slave!
-(men shouting)
-(sword clanging, stabbing)
-(men grunting)
It's him!
(grunting, choking)
(panting)
Close off the house!
-(sword strikes)
-(groans)
(whimpers)
(panting)
(sword clanging)
(grunting)
(ragged panting)
The cub you once hunted
ate of your nose.
Now the wolf is grown.
He hungers for the rest.
Whatever you hear,
you must stay hidden.
Keep him safe.
Keep both of you safe.
(whispers):
I will.
(man choking outside)
-(sword slices)
-(man yells)
(door bangs open)
AMLETH:
Take your freedom...
and do with it what you will.
Fjlnir!
(grunts)
Never!
(grunting)
-(yelling)
-(grunting)
(panting)
In the heart.
Thank you.
(panting stops)
-GUNNAR: Mother!
-(footsteps running)
-(both grunting)
-(blade stabbing)
(yells)
-(sword strikes)
-(Gunnar grunts)
(panting)
(grunts softly)
I will meet you
at the Gates of Hel.
At the Gates of Hel,
you will find me.
And there you will die...
...by the hand
that killed your father.
-(people clamoring wildly)
-(shildur screaming)
HALLDRA:
Let me down!
(screaming)
(shouting and clamoring
continue)
(volcanic rumbling)
(thunder crashing)
(wheezing)
(grunts)
(panting weakly)
(grunting weakly)
Slain by iron,
we shall all meet again in the
stronghold of the All-Father.
(volcanic rumbling continues)
(sword ringing)
My blood will live on!
Valhll awaits!
(volcanic rumbling)
(voices chant)
(panting)
(voices chant)
(voices chant)
-(voices chanting)
-(Fjlnir yelling)
-(sword clanging)
-(both grunting fiercely)
(straining)
(panting)
(yelling)
(panting)
(panting)
(yelling)
-(sword slices)
-(Fjlnir grunts)
(panting)
(yelling)
(roaring)
(panting weakly)
(both yelling)
-(sword strikes)
-(groaning, panting)
(sword clangs on ground)
(roars)
(volcanic rumbling)
(groaning, panting)
(groans)
(yelling wildly)
(both yelling wildly)
(wheezing softly)
OLGA: The thread that binds us
can never break.
We are safe.
(breathing weakly)
Now make your passage.
(breathing weakly)
(exhales sharply,
breathing stops)
(music fades)
(thunder and volcanic rumbling)
(rumbling continues)
HE-WITCH:
Hear me, dinn,
All-Father of the gods.
(voices whispering)
Summon the shadows of ages past,
when the thread spinning Norns
ruled the fates of men.
Hear of
a prince's vengeance quenched
at the fiery Gates of Hel.
A prince destined for Valhll.
Hear me.
(whispering voices exhale)
(horns blowing)
(waves crashing)
(ravens squawking)
(squawking and blowing horns
continue)
(man shouts in distance)
He's here.
-(excited chatter in distance)
-(dogs barking)
He's here.
-(horns blowing in distance)
-Mother, Father is here!
(gasps)
Never enter my chambers
without invitation!
The king, milady. The king.
(horns blowing in distance)
GUDRN:
Come.
AMLETH:
dinn brought him home.
(doors creaking)
(horses neighing)
MAN:
Hail, Raven King!
MAN:
War-Raven, hail!
MAN:
Hail, my lord!
MAN:
War-Raven, hail.
MAN:
Hail, ring giver!
(horses neighing)
FJLNIR:
Onward, brother!
(horses neighing)
MAN:
Come here.
-Go.
-(women grunting softly)
(horn playing fanfare)
(raven caws)
CROWD (in unison):
Hail, King Aurvandil War-Raven!
Hail!
(horse whinnies)
Like a battle-dog
returning to its master,
I've come to be fettered
by my queen's fair locks.
Ever are we bound, my lord.
Prince Amleth,
you have grown too old
to be greeted as a child.
Hail, Lord King.
But...
a father never grows too old
-for a good smothering!
-(laughter)
How I've missed you, my son.
Will your brother not
grace us with his presence?
Think not on Fjlnir.
He'll soon be with us.
(squawks)
This was worn round a
prince's neck when I found it.
But it was destined
for this prince.
Wear it always with my love.
Thank you, Father.
My king.
(dogs barking)
Fjlnir.
-MAN (quietly): Fjlnir's back.
-(others whispering)
-The brute has arrived.
-(door closes)
The brute has arrived.
(whispering quiets)
Hail, Lord King.
Furnish this fierce-hearted
slayer of men with some drink,
that I might drink to him.
Accept my cup, kinsman.
-Milady.
-(Heimir laughs mockingly)
Look how the queen's cup grows
wet for more men than her king.
What metal might buy
a fragrant sip?
Sweet silver...
or hard iron?
Silence, dog!
By Freyr, you slander
your lord and mistress!
-Please you, brother.
-(baby crying)
'Tis but a jest.
A jest.
Heimir keeps a foul tongue,
yet I keep him
as a deep-sworn friend.
(crying continues)
Come, brother.
Here's one more in need of
your safekeeping than myself.
FJLNIR (whispers):
Thrir.
(sighs)
Thrir!
My son!
To my brother, the War-Raven!
To the Kingdom of Hrafnsey!
ALL:
Skl!
(wind whistling softly)
(Aurvandil clears throat)
AURVANDIL: The enemy
had a taste of my liver.
Are you hurt?
Almost enough for Amleth
to be marked my successor.
I watched his innocence tonight.
He must be awoken
to what awaits him.
He is a puppy.
He's the same age
as my grandfather
when he took the throne.
That was different.
He had to kill his uncle first.
You have not seen your queen
in a season.
Come.
Let me take you to our bed.
No.
Pray my luck-spirits
see me to many war fields
after I defeat this wound.
I refuse to die in sickness
nor live the long life
of a shameful graybeard.
I must die by the sword.
I will die in honor.
(pained grunting)
Fret not.
(whispers): You will die
in battle, my lord.
The Gates of Valhll
await you, I know it.
(Aurvandil sighs)
-(ravens cawing)
-(wind whistling)
AURVANDIL: This is the same
path I walked with my father
and he with his.
Now it is our path to walk.
(door creaking)
(man praying in Old Norse)
(Amleth's breath trembles)
(man continues praying)
AMLETH (whispers):
dinn.
(panting softly)
(door creaking)
AURVANDIL:
Be not afraid, Amleth.
Do as I do.
(growling fiercely)
(both growling fiercely)
-(both barking)
-(rhythmic jangling)
(barking and jangling continue)
(both howling)
HEIMIR:
Who barks?
(barking continues)
Is it the wolves
of the High One?
(barking continues)
Or is it the barking
of the village dogs?
Harken to me,
you two-legged dogs.
Drink the vision mead
of knowledge.
To learn what it is
to live and die in honor.
-(Aurvandil and Amleth panting)
-To be in battle slain
and in death rewarded by
the Valkyrjur's embrace.
The warrior maidens
will carry you
to the shimmering
Gates of Valhll.
(lapping)
(snarling)
You are dogs
that wish to become men.
(sniffing)
Prove you are not a dog.
(burps loudly)
Not only are you a man,
you dine like a king.
(Amleth barking)
(both growling)
(barking)
(snarling)
(Heimir sniffing)
And you, little cub,
what are you?
(Amleth farts)
-Ah.
-(inhales deeply)
I smell a clever pupil.
(echoing):
At every passage,
one should turn his eye round,
one should spy round.
(echoing): For a foe might be
crouched within upon the floor.
Wise in measure
should each man be,
yet wise enough to be the fool.
Wise enough to be the fool.
(distorted echoing): Tell me,
how did dinn lose his eye?
To learn
the secret magic of women.
Never seek the secrets of
women, but heed them always.
HEIMIR: It is women that know
the mysteries of men.
The Norns that spin and weave
at their Well of Fate.
-Live in honor.
-Live in honor.
-Safeguard your familial blood.
-Safeguard your familial blood.
Know you what that means,
Amleth, son of Aurvandil?
(panting)
Should I fall
by the enemy's sword,
you must avenge me
or forever live in shame!
I will, Father, I will!
My blade will not rest
till it's drunk the blood
from his open neck!
Now live always without fear,
for your fate is set
and you cannot scape it.
Swear it.
I swear.
(Amleth panting)
(voices whispering)
(whispering fades)
(Amleth panting)
(whimpering softly)
This is the last tear
you will shed in weakness.
It will be given back
when most you need it.
Now, behold,
as a man.
AURVANDIL:
Approach, Amleth,
and in our blood
behold the tree of kings.
(Amleth whimpering)
(volcanic rumbling)
(heart beating steadily)
(heart beating faster)
(heart beating rapidly)
(sharp whoosh)
-(wind whistling)
-(footsteps)
-(arrow whooshes)
-(Aurvandil grunts)
-(grunting)
-(ravens cawing)
-(gasping)
-(horses neighing)
Father!
Run! Run!
-(Aurvandil grunting fiercely)
-(blades clanging)
Come for your carcass,
you mongrels!
-(panting)
-(Aurvandil grunting, yelling)
(blades clanging and stabbing)
(yelling)
(gasps)
(groaning weakly)
(ragged breathing)
(horse neighs)
(gasps)
(horse neighs)
You behold your brother's gaze
in amazement.
I knew well you would.
Pity you never paid
a bastard's eyes heed before.
Now... behold how swiftly
your brother swings his sword.
Strike, brother, strike.
But know
that bearing a stolen ring
makes no half-breed a king.
Soaked in my blood,
it will soon be sliding
off your arm like a serpent.
Your kingdom will not last.
(breathes deeply)
Let this misdeed
haunt your living nights
till a flaming vengeance
gorges on your death.
Strike.
Strike!
To Valhll!
(panting)
-(sword strikes)
-(Fjlnir yelling)
(gasps)
King Aurvandil is dead!
-Long live King Fjlnir!
-Long live King Fjlnir!
MEN (in unison):
Hail, Lord King!
Hail, Lord King!
Bring me the boy's head!
(gasps)
-(panting)
-(men chattering)
-Do you see him?
-(chatter continues)
-Over here.
-Cut him off!
(panting)
(both grunting)
(shushing)
I'll make it slow.
-(grunts)
-(Finnr screaming)
(people screaming)
-(gasps)
-(goats bleating)
(people continue screaming)
(rhythmic thumping in distance)
(cattle lowing)
(rhythmic thumping continues)
(rhythmic thumping
grows louder)
(Gudrn screaming)
Hail, Fjlnir the Brotherless!
Hail, King Fjlnir!
-Hail, Fjlnir!
-(screaming continues)
(Amleth grunting)
Hail, King Fjlnir!
HALLGRMR: King Fjlnir
has found himself a queen.
(men laughing)
FINNR:
Fjlnir!
Fjlnir! My lord!
The boy!
The boy.
(grunts)
The boy is dead.
Dead in the sea.
Yeah.
Sank like a stone.
(groans)
(grunting, crying)
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
(in distance):
I will avenge you, Father!
I will save you, Mother!
I will kill you, Fjlnir!
(wind whistling)
(birds chirping and calling)
(horn blowing in distance)
(men grunting rhythmically)
(man speaking Old Slavic
frantically)
-(shouting)
-(arrows whooshing)
(men laughing)
(thunder rumbling)
-(fire crackling)
-(drums beating rhythmically)
(man droning)
(men howling wildly)
(men growling and barking)
(men grunting rhythmically
in unison to drums)
(men howling wildly)
(drums beating faster)
(men laughing wildly)
(men howling, laughing)
(laughing wildly)
-(yelling wildly)
-(thunder crashes)
(frogs croaking)
(rooster crowing in distance)
(men growling
and grunting quietly)
(man shouting frantically
in Old Slavic)
-(horn blowing)
-(men grunting)
(men yelling wildly)
To Valhll!
(grunting)
(men shouting in Old Slavic)
(yelling)
(woman screams)
-(horses neighing)
-(men shouting)
(yelling)
(horse neighing)
(choking)
(yelling)
-(people screaming)
-(frantic chatter)
(screaming and frantic chatter
continues)
(whispering in Old Slavic)
No!
(yelling wildly)
(screaming)
-(flesh tearing)
-(snarling)
(howling wildly)
(men howling, whooping)
-(people chattering, crying)
-(men coughing, spitting)
(dogs barking in distance)
(muttering)
(laughs) What are you doing?
Come now, come. Come here.
Come here.
(dog barking)
-(man grunting)
-(woman screaming)
(chatter and crying continue)
(baby crying)
These savages
make for fine chattel,
eh, Bjrnulfr?
We did good.
AMLETH:
Never better.
When we found you as a cub...
(man groaning)
...I knew then that you had
a heart of cold iron.
-(sword strikes)
-SHIELD MAIDEN: Too weak!
I want strong ones!
Not weak ones!
BOY:
Mama!
(men grunting)
(Olga speaking Old Slavic
frantically)
Mama!
(Olga continues speaking
frantically)
Mama!
-(man grunts)
-(Olga shouting)
Mama!
(crying)
(man yells)
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
(door closes)
(people screaming inside house,
pounding on door)
(people screaming frantically)
(men laughing, cheering)
(screaming and pounding
continue louder)
-(lively chatter, laughter)
-(flute playing)
Play, you idiot. Play!
-(laughter)
-(music continues)
-(rhythmic clapping)
-(man sings drunkenly)
-(screaming)
-(men cheering)
(voices fading)
(soft rhythmic rattling)
(soft rhythmic rattling
continues)
(soft rhythmic rattling
continues)
(whispering): Prowl in shadow,
slayer of my people.
Hide.
Even though your brother
stole my eyes...
...I see you.
I am no one's brother.
It is not enough
to be the man that never cries,
Prince Amleth.
The prince that turned
from his fate.
A beast that cares for naught.
A beast that wrings tears
from the eyes of men.
(gasps)
Now remember for whom
you shed your last teardrop.
Remember the oath
to right the wrong.
Remember the Raven King.
Remember.
(speaking): Remember,
it contains the salty ocean
you must sail upon
to the edge of the world.
It feeds the freezing river
of hate that runs in my veins.
It will take you
to an island in the north
where there will spring
a burning lake,
bursting from
a black mountain's peak.
There I will drown
my father's killer.
Follow the vixen's tail to
the dwelling of the ancient one
to seek the fated sword
that matches your brutal rage.
Why speak you my fortune, witch?
For where your path
of ashes ends,
another will begin her journey.
A maiden king.
Release me.
You cannot scape what fate
the Norns have spun.
-Now begone!
-(grunts)
(panting)
HIRD OFFICER:
These slaves go to Uppsala.
-(sizzling)
-(man screams, shouts)
Those to the market in Kiev.
(chatter, laughter)
Send them to Constantinople.
And these strong ones
should make it all the way
to Fjlnir's post in Iceland.
-(sizzling)
-(woman screams)
AMLETH:
Who is this Fjlnir?
Fjlnir the Brotherless.
So-called after
he killed his brother,
the disgraced
King Aurvandil War-Raven.
I know of him.
Why are his slaves
bound for Iceland?
Fjlnir rules over Hrafnsey.
He fled to the backwater
frontier with his wife and son
after King Haraldr of Norway
took his kingdom.
Fjlnir killed his brother
for nothing.
Now he's a sheep farmer.
-(laughing)
-(raven cawing)
(chirping)
Father.
(dogs barking in distance)
(chatter in distance)
-(sizzling)
-(pained grunting)
(panting)
Worry not.
When I meet your owner,
I will thank him
for the warmth you gave me.
-(panting)
-(distant chatter)
(men chattering, grunting)
CAPTAIN:
Bring those two ropes.
(Olga speaking Old Slavic)
CAPTAIN:
Take your place.
(Olga continues
speaking Old Slavic)
(crying)
(continues speaking Old Slavic)
(continues speaking Old Slavic)
(thunder rumbling softly)
(men chattering, laughing)
MAN:
Ah, how can he get that number?
-(laughter)
-MAN: He's cheating.
It is luck.
Let's see what you've got.
It continues then.
I've lost all my silver, then.
(chatter continues indistinctly)
Your sheep's clothing does not
disguise you, Northman.
AMLETH:
What say you, spell speaker?
You wish to be a slave,
hide your cunning.
Show the shepherd
you are a sheep.
I'll show the shepherd
his death.
-(wind roaring)
-(men shouting)
(frantic shouting)
Hold it strong!
(shouting continues)
-(Olga grunts)
-MAN: Stay on your feet!
AMLETH:
Take my hand!
I have you!
(Amleth and Olga shout)
(grunting)
(Amleth and Olga
panting heavily)
(heavy panting continues)
(soft rattling)
(soft rattling)
(soft rattling)
(voices shrieking and roaring)
(soft rattling)
YOUNG AMLETH (whispering):
I will avenge you, Father.
I will save you, Mother.
I will kill you, Fjlnir.
-(wind blowing)
-(waves sloshing)
-(panting, grunting)
-(men chattering)
MAN:
Over there.
(chatter continues)
Leave her here.
Move!
(grunts)
-MAN: Bunch of corpses.
-FINNR: Let him rot!
The seagulls will eat him!
They're hungry!
Move, swine!
(people coughing)
Why would you stow away
to such a hellish place?
This ground harbors evil.
My fate has brought me here.
To find what was stolen from me.
And what is that?
A mother, a father, a kingdom.
This is your kingdom?
The traitor who stole
my kingdom fled here
when another king
took it from him.
I will leave
when I'm done with him.
I am Olga of the Birch Forest.
And I, too,
vow to escape this island.
Then you must face many foes.
As do you.
Would you face them alone?
Your strength
breaks men's bones.
I have the cunning
to break their minds.
HALLGRMR:
You two, hold your traps!
Walk on!
(volcanic rumbling)
(birds squawking)
-(Fjlnir grunting)
-(axes chopping)
(Gunnar grunts)
(ax clatters on ground)
-(Gunnar grunting)
-(ax chopping)
Why are we doing this?
What?
-This.
-What?
It's slave work.
You're the chieftain.
It's your temple,
and I'm the heir
to this holy chiefdom.
No man knows if he will
celebrate next yuletide
as a king or as a slave.
Best to be prepared for both.
And to stave off the latter,
the least you can do
is show your slaves
you're as strong as they are.
But no one's watching us.
Go fetch us some whey.
Think on what I said.
-MAN: Keep your shield arm up.
-THRIR: I am.
-MAN: You're...
-I am!
MAN:
You are not!
-Attack, Hjalti!
-(Thrir grunting)
No! No!
(grunts)
-(shouts angrily)
-(sighs)
HALLGRMR:
Fjlnir, my lord!
Your shipment is here.
(wind howling)
Well, show me.
-Where's the rest of them?
-HALLGRMR: Get on your feet!
-FINNR: On your feet!
-On your feet!
FINNR:
Up, swines!
HALLGRMR:
Line up, bastards!
THRIR:
Pitiful. Can't even stand.
FJLNIR:
They won't last the winter.
Sell all of them.
(yelling wildly)
(Amleth growling, grunting)
Let me see this one.
(growling)
(panting)
We've kept worse.
(panting continues)
I'm not impressed.
His stench.
(men chuckling)
(Amleth groans)
Never look me
in the eye, slave.
Well, I wonder what they call
a beast like you
in the Land of Rus.
I am...
Bjrnulfr.
By name alone, you can tell
he's as strong as a bear.
But if you're
as untrustworthy as a wolf,
I swear
I'll put you down myself.
We keep this one.
The rest can go.
GUNNAR: But mother needs
two for the kitchen
-and one for the laundry.
-MAN: Move.
GUNNAR:
And two males for the harvest.
FJLNIR:
(sighs) Fine.
These two for the kitchen
and her for the laundry.
And choose two males
for the fields.
And her, too.
Keep her arms white...
...and her hair long.
(cattle lowing softly)
Plan to climb out, huh,
Bear-Wolf?
Even if you did
escape this farm,
you'd only be carrion
for the blue foxes and selkies.
This island is a barren waste.
You best find yourself
some sleep.
(grunts softly)
(chickens squawking)
(Vlundur grunts angrily)
VLUNDUR:
Get! Get! (groans)
-Get!
-(liquid splashes)
(chickens clucking)
Thieving demon-bitch.
(door opens)
GUDRN:
Away! Away.
-(Gudrn hisses)
-(ravens squawking, cawing)
Away with you!
(hisses)
Away! Begone!
(hisses)
Away with you!
(quietly):
I will avenge you, Father.
I will save you, Mother.
I will kill you, Fjlnir.
(men chattering)
-Here. Go.
-(Amleth grunts)
(grunting)
(panting)
(grunting)
(quiet chatter)
Go take a piss.
HALLDRA:
In there.
(chickens clucking)
(wind whistling softly)
Stop there.
(Gudrn humming a tune)
You! Get on with it!
On with you now!
(Gudrn continues humming)
Where's your wits?
Turn around.
(Gudrn continues humming)
(humming stops)
Shut the door.
-(cattle lowing)
-(chickens clucking)
Did you find it?
What you lost.
In the house today,
was it there?
That...
and more.
It's a nightmare.
Then you must wake up.
It's their nightmare.
FINNR:
You!
You, woman!
You come with us!
You don't belong here!
Fjlnir wants you close.
If you lose me, will you come
and look for me, too?
Will you?
-Come here.
-(grunting)
(fox squawking)
(fox squawking)
(fox squawks)
(sniffing)
(faint volcanic rumbling
in distance)
(ravens cawing)
(He-Witch chanting slowly
in Old Norse)
(drum beating slowly)
(chanting and drumming continue)
Sit, Amleth, son of Aurvandil.
Did our hen-eating friend
tell you of me?
No.
One much more talkative.
An old fool.
Poor Heimir.
He speaks of days past
and days yet to come.
Fjlnir cut out his tongue,
plucked out his eyes
before killing him...
...but I made him ones anew.
(laughing)
Kind friend.
Know that
I will avenge you, too.
I fear you must address me.
Alas, I made him no new ears.
(chuckles)
They also met
with Fjlnir's blade.
Enough!
You know why I have come.
You are still a beast
cloaked in man-flesh.
Speak, witch.
So be it, slave!
(sighing)
(fire roars, sizzles)
(moaning)
(He-Witch straining)
Wandering prophet...
(wheezing)
...wake now...
...from your murder.
(wheezing)
-(strained yelling)
-(drum beating faster)
(wheezing gasps)
(rapid panting)
(rapid grunting)
(wheezing)
Hear me!
Heimir is come!
(He-Witch quiets)
(Heimer's voice):
Hello, puppy.
I seek the weapon the Norns
of Fate chose for my revenge.
(Heimer's voice):
Hear me.
Forged by the deadliest
war-smiths
ever to crawl from under
the great worm's belly.
A sword of
the most secretive rare iron,
bound with bone of the jtnar.
Weightless in its owner's hand,
yet like a dragon's fang,
its bite can never be dulled,
-never broken nor bent.
-(tools clanging)
Its blade could only be quenched
in human blood.
-It is a battle flame like
none other. -(voices shout)
Its name:
Draugr.
(voices shout)
The Undead.
(voices shout)
(voices shout)
It is fated.
VOICES:
Draugr!
(normal voice): Yet,
difficult is the sword's nature,
for it can only be unsheathed
in the dark of night
or else at Hel's black gates.
The Gates of Hel.
There will my sword be just.
I will enjoy feeding Draugr
till then in everlasting night.
Then shall you also enjoy
the moment when you must choose
between kindness for your kin
or hate for your enemies.
That is nothing.
My heart knows only revenge.
Show it to me.
You must make a visitation
to Draugr's owner,
the mound dweller.
Mark well the full moon's light.
For shadows are not
hospitable hosts.
-(serpent lands on ground)
-(gasps)
(serpent hissing)
(He-Witch laughing)
(rope creaking)
(grunts)
(hisses, growls)
-(growling)
-(footsteps booming)
(grunting)
(straining)
(shouts)
(shouting)
(groaning)
(squealing, growling)
(panting)
(roaring)
(grunting)
(groaning)
-(yells)
-(hisses)
(growling)
(grunting)
(shrieking)
(wheezing, crackling)
Mark well the full moon's light!
(shouts)
(panting)
(shouts)
(panting)
(raspy breathing, growling)
(faint volcanic rumbling)
(rumbling grows louder)
(rumbling stops)
(men laughing in distance)
(dog barking in distance)
(men chattering)
(men laughing)
FJLNIR: Thrir will choose
our strongest.
Tomorrow we'll prove
that Hkon Iron-Beard's men
are born of mud and water.
(men chuckling)
HALLGRMR: Mud will be
all that remains of them.
(laughter)
FJLNIR:
Rakki!
(Rakki growling)
(barking)
-(snarls)
-(Rakki whimpering)
Rakki.
(whimpering continues)
Rakki.
Take Rakki home.
-And, you two...
-HALLGRMR: Rakki, come.
...it's nearly dawn.
Get you to bed.
HALLGRMR:
Yes, my lord.
-Rakki.
-(Rakki barking)
(cattle lowing)
-(cattle lowing)
-(chickens clucking)
Wake, you.
Fetch her. You know the one.
Aye.
Wake up, Olga. Wake up.
Get to your feet.
The hair of a Valkyrja...
...on a savage Slav bitch.
(grunts)
A little blood.
(both grunt)
Unclean whore!
(both grunt)
(rooster crowing in distance)
You will correct her, or you'll
both be dead in the ground.
(Fjlnir clears throat)
(roosters crowing in distance)
Thank the Norns
that the woman's tide
is the only blood that runs
in your house tonight, coward.
I am a fool.
It was foretold that I would
slay my father's killer
in a burning lake.
Till that day comes,
I will torment the man
who made my life a hell.
Now sleep well, night blade.
Yes, we thirst for vengeance,
but we cannot escape our fate.
MAN (in distance):
Get them in line!
-Look lively!
-(horse grunting)
-Move it!
-Don't be idle!
Those are for the feast...
Where are they taking us?
Something about
the chieftain's feast.
Last night, I saw him with you.
(man shouts in distance)
Then you know Fjlnir's touch
will not linger on me
when I leave this island.
You marked him well.
And I have found the cold iron
that will strike him down.
-When will you do it?
-When I must.
For now, I will haunt this farm
like a hungry corpse
returned from the grave.
Fjlnir thinks
Amleth is long dead.
Yes, but what of your mother?
She will revel
in Fjlnir's anguish.
She only feigns her love
to protect their child.
-Won't she wish...
-When I free her,
I will bring the boy if I must.
They've moved me
back into the kitchen.
-FOREMAN: Bjrnulfr!
-If we can keep his men...
Our plan will have to wait. Go.
FOREMAN:
Bjrnulfr, move!
(foreman grunts)
-You, to the back!
-FOREMAN: Move!
MAN:
Woman!
-(shildur speaking Old Norse)
-(chatter continues)
(horses neighing)
MAN: Thrir, my Lord,
we're lacking one man.
I'm not a child.
My hair is my own.
I know grown men who need
a woman to tend their hair.
MAN:
Get them in line.
FOREMAN: You can celebrate
after the games, slave.
Look lively!
MAN:
My lord.
FOREMAN:
Come on!
MAN:
Thrir, my lord.
Can you fight, slave?
Look me in the eye, slave.
I asked you
do you know how to fight.
What are those?
You've never seen
a knatttr before?
(chuckles softly)
By nightfall, you'll have
seen enough of them.
(men shouting
and grunting wildly)
(shouting and grunting continue)
MAN:
Play for blood!
(men yelling
and whooping wildly)
-(grunting)
-(clamoring)
(men and crowd cheering)
(men shouting and grunting
in distance)
(shouting and grunting continue)
(yelling wildly)
-(grunting)
-(clamoring)
(man shouts)
(yells)
(spits, yells)
(clamoring continues)
(crowd cheering)
(crowd groans)
(Thrfinnr yells)
(crowd jeering)
You're shaming
our family's name!
We need more men!
(yelling, clamoring)
(shouting angrily)
(crowd cheering)
Yeah!
-(Thrfinnr sighs)
-(Gunnar shouts)
No! No!
(crowd murmuring)
-(both grunting)
-(crowd cheering)
-(Gunnar shouting)
-(both yelling)
-Gunnar!
-No!
Halt the game! Halt it now!
-WOMAN: Don't touch him!
-(Gunnar grunts)
-FJLNIR: Gunnar!
-HKON: Halt the game!
FJLNIR:
Gunnar! Gunnar!
THRFINNR:
Stupid runt!
-GUDRN: No!
-(Thrfinnr yelling)
(yelling)
(both grunting)
-(Amleth yelling)
-(Thrfinnr stops grunting)
(bones cracking)
(panting and grunting wildly)
(crowd murmuring)
-GUDRN: Gunnar. Gunnar.
-FJLNIR: Wake up. Wake up.
Stupid, stupid boy. Wake up.
(panting)
-GUDRN: Gunnar. Gunnar. Gunnar.
-FJLNIR: Gunnar.
-Wake up, come on.
-(light slapping)
Wake up, Gunnar. Wake up!
GUDRN (whispering):
Gunnar. Gunnar. Gunnar.
-FJLNIR: Wake up.
-Gunnar. Gunnar.
-Wake up!
-No.
(Gudrn panting)
Wake up.
(Gudrn gasping)
Did we win?
(laughter)
Spoken like
a true chieftain's son.
(sighing)
MAN:
A brave boy.
A brave young man.
(rhythmic drumming)
-(singing in Old Norse)
-(rhythmic drumming continues)
-(both imitate horse neighing)
-(others whooping)
(singing in Old Norse continues)
-(singing continues)
-(others chanting, whooping)
(singing and drumming continues)
-(singing continues faster)
-(whooping, laughter)
You.
This way.
(music and chatter in distance)
You showed yourself brave
and loyal.
When we return to the farm,
certain privileges
will be granted you.
Your work will be
less burdensome.
You will command others' burden.
And, Bjrnulfr,
as a reward
for winning us the game,
I'll let you choose a woman
for yourself.
Even that Slav bitch
I've seen you eyeing.
Father found her too...
...unyielding.
(men chuckle softly)
But know that we will never
make you a free man.
The stench of a lowborn slave
cannot escape him.
Yes.
Thank you.
(scoffs)
HERSVEINN: We'll miss you
cleaning the shithouse.
(men laugh)
(chatter continues)
(people whooping, laughing)
(people moaning, laughing)
AMLETH:
Olga.
(people continue moaning)
OLGA:
You found me.
Were you lost?
Only if you were searching
for me.
(both panting, moaning)
(Olga speaking Old Slavic)
What do you do?
Here, where the threads of fate
have bound us together,
embraced beneath the trees,
here I speak with the earth.
What does she tell you?
How to reach your mother.
My Earth magic will stoke
the flames of your sword.
Tomorrow night, you and I...
...will begin this nightmare
and bring Fjlnir's life
to chaos.
-Finish.
-(pigs snorting)
(goats bleating)
Back to the stalls.
MAN:
Hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
AMLETH:
You.
(rattle jingles)
(rattle jingles)
(rattle jingles)
The servants of Freyr.
Lay them before our lord's feet.
(rattle jingles)
(Fjlnir praying in Old Norse)
(praying continues in Old Norse)
-(sharp thumping)
-(rattle jingling)
(praying continues)
(rattle jingles)
(praying continues)
(rattle jingles)
(praying continues)
(rattle jingles)
(lively chatter, laughter)
-(Hersveinn vomiting)
-HJALTI: You weakling.
-(Hjalti laughs)
-(Hersveinn groans)
(both singing in Old Norse)
-AMLETH: Fear not.
-(Hersveinn shouts)
-You're the first of many.
-HJALTI: (gasps) No.
HERSVEINN:
Please! We'll set you free!
-(sword stabbing)
-(men grunting in pain)
(yells)
Oh, I will find who did this.
I will find them,
and I will tear out their eyes!
And I will
tear out their tongues!
They will all sup in Hel!
(yells)
Look, Father.
Look what has been done
to my brave friends.
Christian monsters!
Monsters!
-(yells)
-(grunts)
Monsters!
-Lack-beard, did you do this?!
-(gasping)
Answer me! Answer me!
-(yells)
-Stop this!
-Son.
-(panting wildly)
Regain your calm.
(panting softly)
They were good boys.
By Freyr, we will avenge them.
Take him away.
(Thrir crying)
Is Thrir right?
Could it be
the Christian swines?
Their god is a corpse
nailed to a tree.
For what?
These boys never touched them.
And how might they find weapons?
No.
These wounds
are not of our world.
This distempered spirit
will ride again.
It wields a hungry blade.
Go.
I will prepare a sacrifice.
FINNR:
On with you!
-(man grunts)
-Blood-drinking Christians!
(man grunting)
Do as you're told.
(Finnr grunts)
Go.
OLGA:
The mushrooms, I have them.
Not tonight.
The spirits will ride
and spill more blood.
(shildur praying in Old Norse)
Black she-spirit, abate.
Bear this offering
to your mistress
and sheath
your rageful corpse-hound.
(wild howling in distance)
(wild howling continues)
-(Rakki growling)
-(wild howling continues)
(barking)
-FJLNIR: Rakki.
-GUDRN: Rakki!
FJLNIR:
What is it, Rakki?
GUDRN:
Rakki!
Down, Rakki!
-Rakki! Ra...
-(Rakki snarling)
(both howling wildly)
-GUDRN: Rakki! Rakki!
-(clothes ripping)
-(knife stabbing)
-(Rakki whimpers)
(Gudrn yells)
(Fjlnir shouts)
-(dogs barking in distance)
-(Gudrn panting)
-(men shouting, grunting)
-(dogs barking wildly)
(dogs barking and howling
in distance)
(muffled groaning)
(muffled groaning continues)
Free her.
(blade cutting bonds)
Freyr, it seems,
has chosen for himself
who is deemed fit for sacrifice.
SHILDUR: (grunts)
Blighted by his blood...
Let us hope
his hunger has been sated.
This is not the work of my god.
(shildur sobbing)
This is trollish sorcery.
FJLNIR: Tonight, you will be
armed to defend the farm,
-for this is also your home.
-(ravens cawing)
THRIR: How can we trust them
to protect us?
HALLGRMR:
Here, dog.
Your father
does not want an uprising
-by emboldened slaves.
-HALLGRMR: Go!
Do not doubt his wisdom.
HALLGRMR:
Walk!
OLGA:
Black dreams arise.
FINNR:
Hey, slaves, I like your sticks!
(Finnr laughs)
Yeah, good luck fending off
the demon with that thing.
(Finnr chuckles)
Here.
Hungry?
Tonight, you are the food!
(laughing)
Go take some night air.
I'll finish here.
Go on.
-(ravens cawing faintly)
-(groaning softly)
(neighing echoes)
(breath distorting and echoing)
(exhales sharply)
-(howling echoes)
-(gasping)
(panting)
(voices laughing)
(voices laughing louder)
(Finnr shouts)
-(panting)
-(voices laughing wildly)
(shriek echoes)
(shouts)
(grunting)
-MAN: Get them away!
-MAN: Run!
-She's a she-devil!
-(shouts)
-(wild howling)
-(screaming)
(heavy footsteps booming)
-(blades stabbing)
-(men screaming, grunting)
-(clamoring, screaming)
-(blades clanging)
FJLNIR:
Touch them not.
Look not into their eyes.
The night spirits
have entered their skins
and are riding their minds.
-(clamoring continues)
-(Thrir groaning, retching)
Thrir! Out, Dsir!
-(Thrir screaming)
-Begone!
(clamoring continues
in distance)
We will meet you before dawn.
(wind whistling softly)
(whispers):
Father.
(wood creaks)
(footsteps approaching)
Leave me.
(gasps softly)
(whispers):
Your sword is long.
AMLETH:
Stop your jest.
I am your son.
(gasps softly)
(whispers):
Amleth?
You live still?
A life of death.
Yet I swore to survive
till this moment.
Tomorrow, I shall finish
my deeds in honor.
Only then will I discover
whether living is to my liking.
You are your mother's son.
And my father's.
I am come to avenge
King Aurvandil,
to choke my traitorous uncle
in his death-blood...
...and to free you.
I see you have inherited
your father's simpleness.
What say you?
I never mourned him.
You were his queen.
(Gudrn sighs)
Your father endured me...
...because I bore him a son.
-N-No.
-His affections were
only for silver
and rutting his whores.
I know not if he had
heart enough to love you.
S... Silence.
He was a coward
feigning to be a king.
He was nothing.
He was just another proud,
lust-stained slaver.
Hold your tongue!
You spit in the face
of your dead husband.
(whispers):
Yet his brother...
(gasps)
...his fine brother.
A bastard has no shame
of himself nor his trade.
Your uncle loved me,
though he knew well my past.
(sighs softly)
(whispers):
Amleth.
Even now, you believe the
fairy tale I told you is true?
"A noble bride hailing from
the land of Brittany"?
I never began as his bride.
How easily we all become
princesses again
when the beasts
take us for their wives.
Yes.
You were forced
upon your mother.
Gunnar was received freely
with love.
(whispers):
No.
And know you this:
It was I who begged on my knees
for Fjlnir
to kill King Aurvandil.
I pressed my lips
upon his strong, sweet hand.
I kissed it and I begged.
And so this day
would never come,
Fjlnir ordered your death,
along with
your own mother's blessing.
(breathes deeply)
But I saw it.
(breath trembling)
I saw Fjlnir
carrying you away... screaming.
Screaming?
I was laughing.
Lies!
(panting)
Now that you are here,
what do we do?
I should kill you
and all that is dear to you.
But you love me.
A son loves his mother
and a mother loves her son.
And you saved
your brother's life.
You.
You love.
You...
love.
None but me knows who you are.
And you are so hot for revenge,
child born of savagery.
-If you kill Fjlnir...
-(gasping)
if you kill Thrir,
and if you are so untamed
as to kill my Gunnar...
(gasps)
...you would be
my new king, Amleth,
and together...
we will rule.
(gasping)
(both grunting, yelling)
-Bitch!
-Your taste and your mind
reek of your foul father!
You should have joined him
in death!
Your words are poison!
I am your death!
-(panting)
-(Gudrn laughing)
(laughing continues)
(laughing echoes)
Die!
(Thrir groaning, choking)
(yells)
(Amleth panting)
(horse neighing in distance)
-Where is your mother?
-(panting continues)
Tell me.
Where?
She's as evil as Fjlnir.
I will destroy him
and all that she loved.
-I will become a hailstorm
of iron and steel! -(shushing)
I will have my vengeance!
And more.
Then what must we do now?
(panting)
I... I...
I must take to the hills.
My mother discovered who I am.
Soon everyone will.
-I'll go with you.
-No.
They cannot know
you are part of this.
Come morning,
they will hunt for me.
Why?
You killed her?
I would not kill a woman.
Not even her.
Thrir met his end by my fury.
Well, good riddance.
Tomorrow night, you will return
and kill Fjlnir?
If the Norns of Fate allow it.
And whatever happens tomorrow,
be ready to run.
(sobbing softly)
(sobbing)
His heart.
His...
His heart.
It's taken his heart!
What evil is this?!
What evil eats the hearts
of brave young men?!
Freyr, do you hear me?!
Behave.
-Be a man in front of
your inferiors. -(sobbing)
There is no evil spirit here.
I told you. I told you.
It is my cursed son Amleth.
We rid ourselves of him
as a boy.
You must believe me.
He is here.
The progeny of Aurvandil
lives still.
I fear he was led here
by the raven-spirit
of your dead brother.
-It's not possible.
-Think.
He's killed your men.
He has murdered your eldest son.
And he will not rest
till you lie cold in the ground
and our own Gunnar
lies slain beside you.
It is Amleth.
No god can help you
with this task.
You must discover my son
and kill him
with your own hands.
Let my words be the whetstone
to your biting rage,
for the mischief of last night
was not the work of one man.
Find the slaves
who ally with him.
Find them!
FINNR:
On your knees!
-HALLGRMR: Down with you!
-(grunts)
Down with the lot of you!
(groans, chokes)
I know not, nor care not,
if that slave aided
in the death of my son...
...but this is the end
you will all meet
if you speak not what you know.
(grunts)
No?
(chokes)
(grunts, shouts)
-(growls)
-(grunts)
I see you're no longer afraid
of a woman's blood.
(whispers):
You.
-(laughing)
-Of course it is you.
AMLETH:
Fjlnir!
Let her alone!
I offer you your son's heart
in exchange for her life!
I am Amleth the Bear-Wolf,
son of
King Aurvandil War-Raven,
and I am his vengeance!
-(yelling)
-Kill him!
FJLNIR:
Bring him to me!
-GUDRN: Kill him!
-He's mine!
(men yelling)
(grunting)
(panting wildly)
(grunting)
(yelling)
(panting wildly)
(grunting)
(Amleth groaning)
(blade slices)
In the end...
...you're just like your father.
Evil begets evil.
How do you know
it's your son's heart...
...and not the heart of a rabid
dog killed two nights ago?
-FJLNIR: Where is it?!
-(gurgles)
(grunts, mutters weakly)
You cannot kill me.
Even if you were
to strike me with your sword,
it would not bite.
It is not my time.
I will die in battle.
(Fjlnir grunts)
Where is my son's heart?!
(panting)
dinn the All-Father
will vanquish
your god of erections.
Fear him.
Silence!
I will come back for your heart.
And your mother and I
will eat it.
(strains, yells)
(raven chirping)
(ravens cawing)
(rope crackling)
-(grunting)
-(ravens cawing wildly)
(groaning softly)
(panting)
dinn, let the Valkyrja,
your warrior maiden,
fly me to your shining gates.
(cawing echoes, fades)
I see my father and mother.
I see my dead kindred.
I see my master
in Freyja's hall.
He calls me to him.
-(men beating shields rapidly)
-(women ululating)
(singing mournful song)
(men beating shields
slowly and rhythmically)
(women wailing)
(singing continues)
(singing continues)
(shildur speaking Old Norse)
(horse whinnies)
(men continue beating shields
slowly and rhythmically)
(women continue wailing)
Tonight, our mourning
for Thrir ends.
(Kormlth singing)
(women ululating)
(singing continues)
May the neck-ale
of this swift steed
hasten you to the highest tree
of the battle-weavers, brother.
(singing continues)
-(blood splashes)
-(horse neighs)
-(grunting)
-(men beating shields faster)
(women ululating)
-(singing stops)
-(shildur grunting)
-(men beating shields faster)
-(women ululating)
My hour of grief
has passed.
The time of
wrath-kindled revenge
is upon us!
(crowd ululating, cheering)
-(Fjlnir yelling)
-(rattle jingling)
(crowd clamoring)
(grunts)
(ravens cawing)
(ravens cawing wildly)
(grunts)
(thunder crackling, rumbling)
(horse neighs)
(horse panting)
(horse neighs)
(horse neighs)
(horse neighs)
(shrieking)
(heart beating)
(water flowing softly)
(birds chirping)
(sighs softly)
This is not Valhll?
I did not carry you that far.
I am no Valkyrja.
The dreams of your afterlife
must wait.
Besides...
I'm not done with you yet.
My fate brought me to Iceland
to carry out
my pledge of vengeance.
But my fate...
...did not ready me
for finding you.
I thought I must always
shield my heart in stone.
I could not think
I would open it to a Northman.
You sacrificed yourself
that I could flee.
And you came back for me.
I have never f-felt close
to another person.
Not since I was a child.
I curse your mother's evil.
She murdered my past.
Could it not be
that your Norns of Fate
have spun another thread
for you to follow?
What do your earth gods
tell you?
That wherever I go,
I must take you with me.
I have kinsmen in Orkney.
We could find s... we could
find safe passage there.
Together.
Yet I cannot truly believe
that you have extinguished
your fire for vengeance.
Hate is all I have ever known.
But I wish
I could be free of it.
That is for you to choose.
Let us find our future.
(seagulls chirping)
(horse neighs)
Welcome, seafarers.
The deck of
this wooden saddle-beast
will be the only ground
you tread for 21 days.
I was expecting
more of Fjlnir's men.
His son was to join us.
Anchor up!
Sail down!
Secure the shrouds.
MAN:
Shrouds secured.
VOLODYMYR:
Keep her downwind, helmsman.
MAN:
Aye, aye!
Your wound.
It is nothing
to what we have endured.
I have forgotten it already.
(heart beating slowly)
(heart continues beating slowly)
My family's blood.
My own blood is inside you.
You are the well
our dynasty will spring from.
I did not wish you to know
until I could trust
that our child would be safe.
While Fjlnir lives,
our children will never be safe.
If he but knew of this,
he would hunt you
with all the fire of the gods.
It cannot wait.
Stop this.
There is now a living thread
that binds us.
I was a fool.
I wished to flee with you
from my fate.
My vision shows me
you will have two.
And my sword will save them.
(Olga gasps)
But you must come with us.
You must!
It was prophesied
that I must choose...
between kindness for my kin
and hate for my enemies.
And see what hope
we have before us.
I choose both.
Take her to Orkney.
In return for this ring,
my kinsmen will give you
-ninefold its worth.
-No!
No!
Amleth!
(sobbing)
You will be mother to a king!
We cannot escape our fate.
No!
(grunts) Amleth!
(sobbing)
-(shouts)
-(wind howling)
(heart beating slowly)
(heart continues beating)
(heart beating faster)
(explosive rumbling)
-(horses neighing)
-(cattle lowing)
(sword clanging quietly,
slicing)
-(sword stabs)
-(man grunts)
-MAN: It's the slave!
-(men shouting)
-(sword clanging, stabbing)
-(men grunting)
It's him!
(grunting, choking)
(panting)
Close off the house!
-(sword strikes)
-(groans)
(whimpers)
(panting)
(sword clanging)
(grunting)
(ragged panting)
The cub you once hunted
ate of your nose.
Now the wolf is grown.
He hungers for the rest.
Whatever you hear,
you must stay hidden.
Keep him safe.
Keep both of you safe.
(whispers):
I will.
(man choking outside)
-(sword slices)
-(man yells)
(door bangs open)
AMLETH:
Take your freedom...
and do with it what you will.
Fjlnir!
(grunts)
Never!
(grunting)
-(yelling)
-(grunting)
(panting)
In the heart.
Thank you.
(panting stops)
-GUNNAR: Mother!
-(footsteps running)
-(both grunting)
-(blade stabbing)
(yells)
-(sword strikes)
-(Gunnar grunts)
(panting)
(grunts softly)
I will meet you
at the Gates of Hel.
At the Gates of Hel,
you will find me.
And there you will die...
...by the hand
that killed your father.
-(people clamoring wildly)
-(shildur screaming)
HALLDRA:
Let me down!
(screaming)
(shouting and clamoring
continue)
(volcanic rumbling)
(thunder crashing)
(wheezing)
(grunts)
(panting weakly)
(grunting weakly)
Slain by iron,
we shall all meet again in the
stronghold of the All-Father.
(volcanic rumbling continues)
(sword ringing)
My blood will live on!
Valhll awaits!
(volcanic rumbling)
(voices chant)
(panting)
(voices chant)
(voices chant)
-(voices chanting)
-(Fjlnir yelling)
-(sword clanging)
-(both grunting fiercely)
(straining)
(panting)
(yelling)
(panting)
(panting)
(yelling)
-(sword slices)
-(Fjlnir grunts)
(panting)
(yelling)
(roaring)
(panting weakly)
(both yelling)
-(sword strikes)
-(groaning, panting)
(sword clangs on ground)
(roars)
(volcanic rumbling)
(groaning, panting)
(groans)
(yelling wildly)
(both yelling wildly)
(wheezing softly)
OLGA: The thread that binds us
can never break.
We are safe.
(breathing weakly)
Now make your passage.
(breathing weakly)
(exhales sharply,
breathing stops)
(music fades)