Hey, guys. Just another chapter for ya'll. Hope you like it!
HICCUP Their job is so much cooler.
Hiccup tries to join them as they pass, but he is hooked by Gobber and hoisted back inside.
HICCUP (PLEADING) Ah, come on. Let me out, please. I need to make my mark.
GOBBER Oh, you've made plenty of marks. All in the wrong places.
HICCUP Please, two minutes. I'll kill a dragon. My life will get infinitely better. I might even get a date.
Snotlout scoffed. "Not likely."
A glare from Christina quickly shut him up.
GOBBER You can't lift a hammer. You can't swing an axe . . .
Gobber grabs a bola (iron balls connected by rope).
GOBBER (CONT'D) . . . You can't even throw one of these.
A Viking runs by and nabs it out of Gobber's hand, hurling it at a dive-bombing Gronkle. The bola binds its legs, sending it into a heavy crash.
HICCUP (ready with the answer) Okay fine, but . . .
He rushes to the back corner of the stall and presents a bizarre, wheelbarrow-like contraption.
HICCUP (CONT'D) . . . this will throw it for me.
Hiccup OPENS the hinged lid of the device. An arm springs up, equipped with twin bows. They prematurely launch a bola, narrowly missing Gobber . . . and taking out a Viking at the counter.
"That had to hurt." Hiccup winced, earning nods in agreement.
VIKING Arggh!
GOBBER See, now this right here is what I'm talking about.
HICCUP Mild calibration issue.
GOBBER Hiccup. If you ever want to get out there to fight dragons, you need to stop all . . .
Gobber gestures in Hiccup's general direction.
"Great inspirational speech, there, Gobber." Hiccup said jokingly, giving Gobber a fake mean look.
This caused everyone to laugh, even Gobber.
"Thank you. I try my best." Gobber stood, giving a small bow.
GOBBER (CONT'D) . . . this.
HICCUP (ASTONISHED) But . . . you just pointed to all of me.
GOBBER Yes! That's it! Stop being all of you.
HICCUP (THREATENING) Ohhhh . . .
GOBBER (MIMICKING) Ohhhhh, yes.
HICCUP You, sir, are playing a dangerous game. Keeping this much, raw . . . Vikingness contained. (BEAT) There will be consequences!
"Vikingness?" Astrid questioned, laughing. "What exactly IS Vikingness?!"
Hiccup fake-pouted. "I was mad. Gobber wouldn't let me go outside. Treated my like I was two."
"Still do, lad." Gobber said, smirking. This made them all laugh even more.
Gobber tosses him a sword.
GOBBER I'll take my chances. Sword. Sharpen. Now.
Hiccup takes it begrudgingly and lobs it onto the grinding wheel. He stews . . . fantasizing . . .
Everyone was shocked. Hiccup could lift an ADULT sword?!
HICCUP (V.O.) One day I'll get out there. Because killing a dragon is everything around here.
EXT. VILLAGE - LOWER PLAINS - CONTINUOUS
Nadders land, gathering like seagulls around a seemingly vacant house.
HICCUP (V.O.) A Nadder head is sure to get me at least noticed.
The Nadders clamber onto the building, tearing the roof and walls apart. Sheep pour out and SCATTER.
Elsewhere, hippo-like Groncles pick drying racks of clean fish and fly off like loaded pelicans.
"I think you've been noticed," Astrid said, then covered her mouth as if she hadn't meant to say it aloud.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D) Groncles are tough. Taking down one of those would definitely get me a girlfriend.
A stealthy, snake-like dragon peeks over a rooftop, breathing gas into a chimney.
"I think you've got one, if you're not a wuss," joked Astrid. Well, maybe she was only joking about the second half.
Hiccup blushed, looking down. A small smile crossed Astrid's face at his reaction.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D) A Zippleback? Exotic, exciting. Two heads, twice the status.
A second head pokes through the door and lights it. KABLAM!The two heads fly through the explosion, their necks zipping together to reveal a single body.
It flies past Stoick as he climbs to the top of a CATAPULT.
CATAPULT OPERATOR They found the sheep!
STOICK (FRUSTRATED) Concentrate fire over the lower bank!
CATAPULT OPERATOR Fire!
Boulders are catapulted at the corralling Nadders . . .
Just as a huge red dragon whips past, spraying the base of the catapult with sticky fire.
HICCUP (V.O.) And then there's the Monstrous Nightmare. Only the best Vikings go after those. They have this nasty habit of setting themselves on fire.
It emerges from the flames, climbing the catapult with a leering, toothy grin.
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing." Stoick said, laughing.
STOICK Reload! I'll take care of this.
Stoick takes on the Nightmare, face to hammer.
Suddenly, a LOUD BALLISTIC MOANING streaks overhead. The catapult crew ducks.
ON HICCUP, looking up from his work, reacting to the same sound.
HICCUP (V.O.) But the ultimate prize is the dragon no one has ever seen. We call it the-
VIKING Night Fury! Get down!
Said dragon perked up its head at the sound of its name.
Vikings everywhere take shelter. The moaning sound BUILDS.
The Monstrous Nightmare suddenly stops fighting and takes flight. Stoick looks skyward.
"Uh-oh." Astrid and Hiccup whispered at the same time.
STOICK JUMP!
KABOOM! The Catapult EXPLODES as though hit with an artillery shell . . . sending Stoick and the crew leaping for their lives.
HICCUP (V.O.) This thing never steals food, never shows itself, and . . .
The sounds recedes, leaving the crippled catapult in flames.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D) . . . never misses. (BEAT) No one has ever killed a Night Fury. That's why I'm going to be the first.
This caused most of the crowd to laugh in various degrees. Some were rolling on the floor, while some were simply chuckling under their breaths.
"What?" Hiccup asked, turning to face the crowd. "I really did hit one!"
"I believe you. Totally." Snotlout said sarcastically between fits of laughter.
Astrid punched him in the arm, causing him to fall out of his seat.
"It's true!" She said, looking at the entire room. "Just watch, and you'll all find out."
So, everybody begrudgingly settled back into their seats, and the movie began playing again. What in Thor's name was Astrid talking about? No way could such a scrawny little twig like Hiccup shoot down a NIGHT FURY. It was impossible.
