Vikings: Valhalla (2022) s01e04 Episode Script
The Bridge
1
Retreat!
Fall back!
Your plan won't work.
The bridge has now been fortified with armed towers.
If we attempt to storm the gates, as you suggest, we will lose a thousand men before we reach it.
Then we raid England till it runs out of food.
They're prepared for that.
They appear well stocked for such a siege.
We will run out of men long before they run out of food.
What do you suggest? Forget about taking London.
What are you talking about? - London is the key to taking England.
- No.
Edmund is the key.
Take England's king, you take England.
Let me hear your plan.
It is the Greenlander's plan.
Think of the bridge like a boat.
Its main arch is its keel, built to withstand the great weight.
But the English have weakened it.
Why would they do that? It wasn't intentional.
They put a drawbridge in the middle, and in doing so, they've made it vulnerable.
If we are to succeed, our timing is crucial.
If you are not in the right position when the tide turns, nothing will work.
Do you understand what you're asking? Even if I put my strongest man in my best boat, it would be impossible to hold it against that current and out of range of their archers.
I'm not asking for your best boat.
I'm asking for your best three boats.
You're crazy.
And you're afraid of failure.
I'm afraid of stupidity.
His plan is ridiculous.
It cannot be done.
I did not say it would be easy.
That is why they won't expect it.
We look for another way.
Make way! Make way for the King! Hail King Edmund! King Edmund.
Congratulations on your coronation.
Thank you, Ealdorman Streona.
May I present my stepmother.
Queen Emma.
Queen Emma.
I'm sorry for your loss, your husband was a great warrior.
He is missed.
Thank you, Ealdorman Streona.
He would be pleased that you obeyed his call and have come to England's aid.
I am your servant.
The Vikings are camped on the other side of the Southwark Island.
Why the south? His spies have undoubtedly told him that you're here to protect London from an attack from the north.
But now that that is established, I want you to move, cross the Thames below his fleet and bring your army to his rear.
Trapping him between the river and the swamp.
Exactly.
You came up with this plan? Yes.
Why? Because it is excellent, Your Highness.
And where will you be while Mercia attacks the Northmen? Inside the walls of London? Where he is most valuable and where he will remain until Canute's defeat is being secured, which time he will ride out and accept the Viking's surrender.
I see.
Mercia takes all the risks And receives the glory.
Your sacrifice will not go unrewarded, Eadric Streona, but now is not the time to negotiate.
On the contrary, Your Highness.
With a Viking army camped on your doorstep, I can't imagine a better time.
And what is it you wish? Something far more tangible than glory.
I wish for Mercia to once again be independent.
As in the old days before your father.
Then I suggest you gather your army and leave.
For if you believe that Canute will not come for Mercia after taking London, then you're more naive than I thought.
Prepare the men to return to Mercia.
Wait.
Perhaps we can come to some other arrangement.
Such as doubling Mercia's lands.
Will these additional lands come from your holdings, Your Highness? Perhaps.
Maybe others will be forced to contribute, but the increase is assured.
You have my promise.
You've guaranteed a great victory, Your Highness.
I thought your plan was good.
Just not good enough? And you are asking me to risk 10,000 lives on the actions of six.
To do that I must be convinced that it will succeed.
Olaf is a great warrior.
Knows the English defenses better than anyone.
And yet, here you are.
Convince me, your plan will work.
Why should I trust you? Because I do not care about your success.
I care about them.
They'd risk their lives for me.
I was more concerned about your role than ours.
If you failed, everyone else's sacrifice would count for nothing.
I was not worried about that.
I have been Edmund.
The son of a great warrior king.
I know what the weight of a powerful father feels like.
So do I.
Even if my father was a Skogarmaor.
Yes.
I forgot.
Your father was Erik Thorvaldsson.
You also know the desire to stand in your own light.
All too well.
So, Greenlander.
How do you plan to get through the marshes? Hmm? What the hell are these things? This is a new Viking ship.
We've come a long way, my friends.
And I'm fortunate.
And grateful.
We are blessed by the Gods, who alone know our destinies.
Hmm.
If this is where we say goodbye on Earth, then it is only a quick farewell as we will hail each other soon in Valhalla.
Valhalla.
In Valhalla.
- May the Gods be with all of us.
- The Allfather watch us all.
- When did you learn to shoot a bow? - You taught me.
Skarde.
What do you think? It is like it was built by the Gods.
No, not Gods.
Just carpenters.
Tarps.
Formation! - Range? - Still too far, my lady.
Row! Row! Form a line! Attention! Raise the defenses.
Raise the defenses! Heave! Hold! Why is he marking time? He's waiting for something.
I hear drums.
No.
Shields.
Hold! Hold it! Acknowledge a parley.
What is he doing? He's coming to challenge you.
Keep him occupied until Streona arrives.
You must be the Boy King, Edmund.
And you must be the leader of the Vikings we've been hearing for days and smelling for a week.
My name is King Canute and I have come to kill you for the crimes your father committed against my people.
Well, I hate to disappoint you, but it is you who will pay the price for your crimes.
Such brave words from a boy hiding behind a wall.
Where I come from, we have a word for that.
Bleyða! Bleyða! Bleyða! Bleyða! - And what does that mean? - It means coward! And it is your new title.
King Bleyða! Archer.
Hold! Don't give in to your passion.
You must keep him in place until Streona arrives.
Why not come out like a Man King? And do battle with honor.
Honor? What honor is there in sweeping the field clear of a rabble, hungry only for Danegeld? You are no better than the beggars at my gate.
I must say, I I am disappointed in your response.
What has become of England? There used to be warriors here.
Your father, for example.
When I was your age, I saw King Ãthelred lead a hundred men against a thousand.
How he must anguish in his grave knowing that he has sired a mouse for a son.
I will make you a challenge.
Come down here and fight me man-to-man.
King-to-king.
Or if you wish, bring whatever troops you chose and fight my men on this magnificent bridge.
If you are victorious, then we will know that our quest was not endorsed by God.
We will accept His decision and leave this land without further bloodshed.
But if you do not, I promise you all the world will know the truth about Edmund, son of Ãthelred.
How he sacrificed the courage of his kingdom to hide his own fear, and they will join us in hailing, "King Bleyða, The Coward of London.
" Bleyða! I am not a coward! Come back here! I order you! Get me my horse! No, Your Highness.
It is not the time.
I disagree.
It is precisely the time.
Edmund, he has baited you, you must wait for Streona.
No! Streona lost his moment, I will lead this fight and the glory will be ours.
Men of England! I mean to wipe this Viking scourge from our shores! Who is with me? Yeah! Edmund, stop! - Open the gates! - Open the gates! The tide is turning.
Keep holding! Open the gates! Archers.
Prepare the roofs! More water! Attack! Shield wall! Hold! Hold! Hold! Now! Row forward! Forward! Row! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! - Retreat! - Retreat! Retreat! Fall back! Fall back! They're retreating.
After them! The King is winning ground.
Maybe.
Stop! Keep holding! Fall back! Bring him back.
- Bring him back.
- Your Highness? It is a trap.
- Ready the archers! - Archers! Draw! Pull! Pull! Archers! Ships! Loose! Tie it fast! Pull away! Harder! Row! For the love of God, give me everything you've got! Row! Defend the bridge! Archers.
Beneath the bridge.
Loose! Tomas! Njal! Leif! Ready yourselves, men! This is it! Shield wall! - Shield wall! - Shield wall! My lord, Edmund has taken the battle to the Vikings - He's what? - They battle on the bridge.
Double time! - Row harder! - Pull! Together! Now! Row! Sire! - You must return before it falls.
- What falls? The bridge.
They labor to bring it down and trap you.
Attack! No, Skarde! Skarde! Row! Row! Hold on! Hyah! Now! Raise the sails! Row! Row! Yeah! Yeah! - We did it! Yeah! - The Greenlanders! Greenlanders! Yes! Yes! Yeah! Yeah! Halt! Sir, we can still attack.
No.
He wanted glory, now let him taste defeat.
I will not sacrifice good men to a failed battle.
Especially when there's a greater victory to be gained.
- Forward! - Forward! Bring me the Boy King.
Bring me England.
Leif! You did it! This is for you! Your plan worked! We did it! Hail the Greenlander! Hail the Greenlander! Yes! Hail the Greenlander! Hail the Greenlander!
The bridge has now been fortified with armed towers.
If we attempt to storm the gates, as you suggest, we will lose a thousand men before we reach it.
Then we raid England till it runs out of food.
They're prepared for that.
They appear well stocked for such a siege.
We will run out of men long before they run out of food.
What do you suggest? Forget about taking London.
What are you talking about? - London is the key to taking England.
- No.
Edmund is the key.
Take England's king, you take England.
Let me hear your plan.
It is the Greenlander's plan.
Think of the bridge like a boat.
Its main arch is its keel, built to withstand the great weight.
But the English have weakened it.
Why would they do that? It wasn't intentional.
They put a drawbridge in the middle, and in doing so, they've made it vulnerable.
If we are to succeed, our timing is crucial.
If you are not in the right position when the tide turns, nothing will work.
Do you understand what you're asking? Even if I put my strongest man in my best boat, it would be impossible to hold it against that current and out of range of their archers.
I'm not asking for your best boat.
I'm asking for your best three boats.
You're crazy.
And you're afraid of failure.
I'm afraid of stupidity.
His plan is ridiculous.
It cannot be done.
I did not say it would be easy.
That is why they won't expect it.
We look for another way.
Make way! Make way for the King! Hail King Edmund! King Edmund.
Congratulations on your coronation.
Thank you, Ealdorman Streona.
May I present my stepmother.
Queen Emma.
Queen Emma.
I'm sorry for your loss, your husband was a great warrior.
He is missed.
Thank you, Ealdorman Streona.
He would be pleased that you obeyed his call and have come to England's aid.
I am your servant.
The Vikings are camped on the other side of the Southwark Island.
Why the south? His spies have undoubtedly told him that you're here to protect London from an attack from the north.
But now that that is established, I want you to move, cross the Thames below his fleet and bring your army to his rear.
Trapping him between the river and the swamp.
Exactly.
You came up with this plan? Yes.
Why? Because it is excellent, Your Highness.
And where will you be while Mercia attacks the Northmen? Inside the walls of London? Where he is most valuable and where he will remain until Canute's defeat is being secured, which time he will ride out and accept the Viking's surrender.
I see.
Mercia takes all the risks And receives the glory.
Your sacrifice will not go unrewarded, Eadric Streona, but now is not the time to negotiate.
On the contrary, Your Highness.
With a Viking army camped on your doorstep, I can't imagine a better time.
And what is it you wish? Something far more tangible than glory.
I wish for Mercia to once again be independent.
As in the old days before your father.
Then I suggest you gather your army and leave.
For if you believe that Canute will not come for Mercia after taking London, then you're more naive than I thought.
Prepare the men to return to Mercia.
Wait.
Perhaps we can come to some other arrangement.
Such as doubling Mercia's lands.
Will these additional lands come from your holdings, Your Highness? Perhaps.
Maybe others will be forced to contribute, but the increase is assured.
You have my promise.
You've guaranteed a great victory, Your Highness.
I thought your plan was good.
Just not good enough? And you are asking me to risk 10,000 lives on the actions of six.
To do that I must be convinced that it will succeed.
Olaf is a great warrior.
Knows the English defenses better than anyone.
And yet, here you are.
Convince me, your plan will work.
Why should I trust you? Because I do not care about your success.
I care about them.
They'd risk their lives for me.
I was more concerned about your role than ours.
If you failed, everyone else's sacrifice would count for nothing.
I was not worried about that.
I have been Edmund.
The son of a great warrior king.
I know what the weight of a powerful father feels like.
So do I.
Even if my father was a Skogarmaor.
Yes.
I forgot.
Your father was Erik Thorvaldsson.
You also know the desire to stand in your own light.
All too well.
So, Greenlander.
How do you plan to get through the marshes? Hmm? What the hell are these things? This is a new Viking ship.
We've come a long way, my friends.
And I'm fortunate.
And grateful.
We are blessed by the Gods, who alone know our destinies.
Hmm.
If this is where we say goodbye on Earth, then it is only a quick farewell as we will hail each other soon in Valhalla.
Valhalla.
In Valhalla.
- May the Gods be with all of us.
- The Allfather watch us all.
- When did you learn to shoot a bow? - You taught me.
Skarde.
What do you think? It is like it was built by the Gods.
No, not Gods.
Just carpenters.
Tarps.
Formation! - Range? - Still too far, my lady.
Row! Row! Form a line! Attention! Raise the defenses.
Raise the defenses! Heave! Hold! Why is he marking time? He's waiting for something.
I hear drums.
No.
Shields.
Hold! Hold it! Acknowledge a parley.
What is he doing? He's coming to challenge you.
Keep him occupied until Streona arrives.
You must be the Boy King, Edmund.
And you must be the leader of the Vikings we've been hearing for days and smelling for a week.
My name is King Canute and I have come to kill you for the crimes your father committed against my people.
Well, I hate to disappoint you, but it is you who will pay the price for your crimes.
Such brave words from a boy hiding behind a wall.
Where I come from, we have a word for that.
Bleyða! Bleyða! Bleyða! Bleyða! - And what does that mean? - It means coward! And it is your new title.
King Bleyða! Archer.
Hold! Don't give in to your passion.
You must keep him in place until Streona arrives.
Why not come out like a Man King? And do battle with honor.
Honor? What honor is there in sweeping the field clear of a rabble, hungry only for Danegeld? You are no better than the beggars at my gate.
I must say, I I am disappointed in your response.
What has become of England? There used to be warriors here.
Your father, for example.
When I was your age, I saw King Ãthelred lead a hundred men against a thousand.
How he must anguish in his grave knowing that he has sired a mouse for a son.
I will make you a challenge.
Come down here and fight me man-to-man.
King-to-king.
Or if you wish, bring whatever troops you chose and fight my men on this magnificent bridge.
If you are victorious, then we will know that our quest was not endorsed by God.
We will accept His decision and leave this land without further bloodshed.
But if you do not, I promise you all the world will know the truth about Edmund, son of Ãthelred.
How he sacrificed the courage of his kingdom to hide his own fear, and they will join us in hailing, "King Bleyða, The Coward of London.
" Bleyða! I am not a coward! Come back here! I order you! Get me my horse! No, Your Highness.
It is not the time.
I disagree.
It is precisely the time.
Edmund, he has baited you, you must wait for Streona.
No! Streona lost his moment, I will lead this fight and the glory will be ours.
Men of England! I mean to wipe this Viking scourge from our shores! Who is with me? Yeah! Edmund, stop! - Open the gates! - Open the gates! The tide is turning.
Keep holding! Open the gates! Archers.
Prepare the roofs! More water! Attack! Shield wall! Hold! Hold! Hold! Now! Row forward! Forward! Row! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! - Retreat! - Retreat! Retreat! Fall back! Fall back! They're retreating.
After them! The King is winning ground.
Maybe.
Stop! Keep holding! Fall back! Bring him back.
- Bring him back.
- Your Highness? It is a trap.
- Ready the archers! - Archers! Draw! Pull! Pull! Archers! Ships! Loose! Tie it fast! Pull away! Harder! Row! For the love of God, give me everything you've got! Row! Defend the bridge! Archers.
Beneath the bridge.
Loose! Tomas! Njal! Leif! Ready yourselves, men! This is it! Shield wall! - Shield wall! - Shield wall! My lord, Edmund has taken the battle to the Vikings - He's what? - They battle on the bridge.
Double time! - Row harder! - Pull! Together! Now! Row! Sire! - You must return before it falls.
- What falls? The bridge.
They labor to bring it down and trap you.
Attack! No, Skarde! Skarde! Row! Row! Hold on! Hyah! Now! Raise the sails! Row! Row! Yeah! Yeah! - We did it! Yeah! - The Greenlanders! Greenlanders! Yes! Yes! Yeah! Yeah! Halt! Sir, we can still attack.
No.
He wanted glory, now let him taste defeat.
I will not sacrifice good men to a failed battle.
Especially when there's a greater victory to be gained.
- Forward! - Forward! Bring me the Boy King.
Bring me England.
Leif! You did it! This is for you! Your plan worked! We did it! Hail the Greenlander! Hail the Greenlander! Yes! Hail the Greenlander! Hail the Greenlander!