Chapter 4
EXT. SEA STACK/ISLAND COASTLINE - DAY
ASTRID rising into view, astride Stormfly. Stormfly grabs talon-fulls of rock to slow her landing.
"Perfect landing, like always." Stormfly preens.
HICCUP
`Afternoon m'lady. Where have you been?
Astrid dismounts and throws back her fur hood as Toothless rushes up to greet them.
ASTRID
Winning races. What else? The real question is... where have YOU been?
HICCUP
Avoiding my dad.
"I wonder what the hatchling's sire could have done now." A Monstrous Nightmare comments.
"He'd better not have hurt our hatchling's feelings like the last time." A Terror interjects.
"Hey I'm right here ya know!" Stoick shouts to the dragons.
"We know!" Was shouted back.
ASTRID
Oh, no. What happened now?
Astrid sits beside Hiccup, inspecting his latest addition to the map. Behind them, Toothless greets Stormfly, inciting a play fight.
HICCUP
Oh, you're gonna love this. I wake up. The sun's shining. Terrible Terrors are singing on the rooftop. I saunter down to breakfast, thinking all is right with the world, and I get...
"Wait Terrible Terrors sing?" Dagur asked perplexed. "I thought they were trying to make us deaf."
"Oh no crazy man." A purple Terror commented. "We can sing very well. Why one of our hosts here even taught us a new song."
"Vala, you didn't…" I ask and I then notice that Vala had put in some earplugs and was sporting a smirk. "You did." I groan.
The purple Terror turns to his flock mates. "Shall we show them guys?" And cheers could be heard from the Terrors while the dragons groaned and the Vikings looked clueless.
"And a 1…..2…..3….4...5" The Purple Terror shouts and the other Terrible Terrors break out in song. They were doing a version of 'Living la vida loca'
"AAAh…" and shouts of "Oh my ears!" Could be heard from the audience.
Suddenly loud hysterical laughter could be heard from the cavern ceiling causing the Terrors to stop singing and the entire audience looked up.
There hanging from a stalactite was an owl like dragon with a rider on top. The rider was currently still in a fit of giggles.
"Well there goes the surprise." I mumbled. "You can come down now." I yell and the mysterious rider and dragon descend.
The audience was about to ask who they are but I see Vala holding up a hand and effectively silencing them. "The rider's mask will stay on until it is time for the big reveal. Now let's get back to the story."
He gets to his feet and puffs out his chest.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
(APING STOICK)
... Son, we need to talk.
Laughter echoes through the theater from both Vikings and dragons.
"Hatchling that was a very good impression." Meatlug commented.
"I don't sound like that." Stoick mumbled.
"Yes ya do Stoick." Gobber added with a laugh. "That was spot on."
Astrid smiles and adopts Hiccup's sloppy slouch.
ASTRID
(APING HICCUP)
Not now, Dad. I've got a whole day of goofing off to get started.
Hiccup breaks character, grimacing at her impression of him.
"Woah…. Astrid can also do impressions?" Tuffnut asked.
"That does not sound like me." Hiccup protests.
"Yes it does Hiccup." Stoick now commented while laughing.
HICCUP
Okay, first of all, I don't sound like that. What is this character? And second... what is that thing you're doing with my shoulders?
Astrid laughs, jostling her shoulders in an awkward way.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
A truly flattering impersonation.
Anyway, he goes...
(resuming Stoick's brogue)
You're the pride of Berk, son, and I couldn't be prouder...
ASTRID
(continuing her impression OF HICCUP)
Aw, thanks, Dad. I'm pretty impressed with myself, too.
HICCUP
WHEN have I ever done that with my hands?
ASTRID
You just did.
"Well she got you there." Drago mumbles as he finally frees himself from Opal who had fallen asleep.
She laughs, playfully.
HICCUP
Okay... just...
(holding her arms, mock- STERN)
Hold still. It's very serious.
She giggles, trying to hold a straight face.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
(resuming Stoick's brogue)
You're all grown up, and since no chief could ask for a better successor, I've decided-
Astrid straightens, her face brightening.
ASTRID
-TO MAKE YOU CHIEF! Oh, my gods!
"What why HIM" Snotlout whines and lets his anger out.
"Wait what" Hiccup comments confused.
"I thought we had an agreement uncle Stoick" Snotlout mutters loud enough for some people to hear.
"Hold on DAD YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE HIM CHIEF!" Hiccup yelled in outrage.
Stoick is awkwardly trying not to respond from the onslaught of the two boys.
"Are you kidding!" Both Dagur and Drago yell. "We'd have conquered Berk a long time ago if Snotface was made chief!"
"Ah….." Stoick mumbles not sure how to respond.
Snotlout jumped up from his chair. "MY NAME IS SNOTLOUT!" He yelled.
"Your point?" Drago asked unamused.
"I'd make a better Chief than my useless cousin!" Snotlout yelled.
"Well could you defeat a Berserker armada without weapons?" Dagur asked.
"No" Snotlout said looking like he was crazy.
"Could you beat dragon hunters at their own game?" Drago commented.
"Eh…. no" Snotlout mumbled.
"Could you teach me how to ride a dragon?" Dagur asked. This earned him some awkward stares.
"Wait…. What!" Snotlout replied.
"Can you converse with Dragons?" Drago asks.
"Well no… I …" Snotlout tries to respond looking flustered.
"I think we rest our case." Dagur and Drago stated leaving the audience staring wide-eyed at a gobsmacked Snotlout, an incredulous looking Hiccup, and an astonished Stoick.
She jumps to her feet, beaming...
ASTRID (CONT'D)
Hiccup, that's amazing!
And socks Hiccup in congratulations, deliberately hitting the dorsal fin release button and triggering it to pop up. She laughs as Hiccup reels it back in, self-consciously.
HICCUP
You're gonna wear out the spring coil. The calibration is very sensitive!
They're suddenly BOWLED OVER by Toothless and Stormfly.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Yeah, so... this is what I'm dealing with.
Astrid helps him up and dusts him off.
ASTRID
(EXCITED)
What did you tell him?
HICCUP
I didn't. By the time he turned around, I was gone.
Astrid picks up the map, folding it as she paces around him, processing it all.
ASTRID
Well, it's a lot of responsibility. The map will have to wait for sure, and I'll need to fly Toothless, since you'll be too busy...
She pauses, wincing in sympathy. She turns to Hiccup. He nods knowingly, taking the map from her.
HICCUP
It's not me, Astrid. All those speeches, and planning, and running the village... that's his thing.
ASTRID
I think you're missing the point. I mean, chief. What an honor. I'd be pretty excited.
Hiccup shakes his head.
HICCUP
I'm not like you. You know exactly who you are. You always have. But...
He shuffles to the cliff's edge, gazing out at the new land.
"Hiccup, son. Do ya not wanna be Chief?" Stoick asked his son who was busy scratching a couple of Terrors who wanted attention.
"I never actually thought about becoming Chief dad." Hiccup comments absentmindedly. "I really don't think I'm Chief material."
"PFFFF" Dagur lets out annoyed. "Now that I don't believe. You've managed to do just fine leading the riders."
"Dagur. Too much information." Vala states while giving him a glare.
"Right….. Shutting up now." Dagur mumbled.
"What did you do to him this time?" I ask Vala.
"I'll tell you after the movie. A girl's gotta have some secrets." Vala tells me and blows me a kiss while the Vikings and the dragons are watching on curiously.
"C'MON…. Can't I get one hint?" I asked grumpily.
"Well it has to do with…." Vala starts but Dagur scrambled out of his seat so fast and tackled her.
"Dagur what the frick!" Vala shouts as she kicks Dagur off of her.
"Hmmm… guess I can't" I say offhandedly watching the scuffle with interest.
"You promised not to tell anyone!" Dagur shouts in agitation.
"FINE!" Vala shouts and then levitates Dagur back to his seat. "Don't think I won't get you back. You just don't tackle girls Dagur!"
Instinctively the Vikings near Dagur cower and inch away from the poor fellow.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
I'm still looking. I know that I'm not my father... and I never met my mother... so, what does that make me?
He sits at the edge, looking burdened, restless. Astrid approaches and settles beside him, joining him in looking out at the distant horizon. She weaves another braid into his hair as she speaks.
ASTRID
What you're searching for... isn't out there, Hiccup.
She places a hand on his chest.
ASTRID (CONT'D)
It's in here.
(BEAT)
Maybe you just don't see it yet.
She kisses his cheek, but gets a mouthful of Toothless' slobber. She grimaces, wiping it off.
"HAHAHA" Could be heard coming from the dragons.
"Pay up, she kissed him." One of the Nadders said to another.
"Hold your spines." The other Nadder replied. "You'll get your fish."
"Wait you guys bet on Astrid kissing me?" Hiccup asked perplexed.
"Of course hatchling." A Monstrous Nightmare replied and then turned towards the Nadders. "Don't forget about me. I had five salmons riding on that kiss."
"OOhhhh… My…. Thor! Why are you guys betting!" Hiccup shouted looking completely flustered.
"Because we ship Hiccstrid of course." One of the Nadders replied and then turned towards Drago. "Oi you…., yes you Drago." The Nadder yelled getting Drago's and everyone else's attention. "You owe us fourteen fishes."
Both Astrid and Hiccup facepalm as Drago sputters and the audience laughs.
Distracted, Hiccup eyes the horizon keenly.
HICCUP
Maybe. But, y'know... there is something out there.
ASTRID
(EXASPERATED)
Hiccup...
He turns her face to the horizon. A distant smoke plume rises from a misty valley.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about that." Fishlegs commented.
"... Why does everyone say that when I find things?" Hiccup asked with exasperation.