Chapter 9
CUT TO:
EXT. COVE - MAGIC HOUR
CLOSE ON
Hiccup peaks into the cove from behind a shield. A fish...is seen being thrown into the cove. It hits the ground and slides.
"Hey, a flying fish!" Tuffnut remarks earning groans from the rest of the viewers.
A moment later, Hiccup peeks through a gap in the rock, looking around cautiously. His shield gets stuck in the entrance. He tries to dislodge it but fails.
"Hiccup, you went back again!" Stoick shouts.
"Well, like I said where better to find information then the source" Hiccup says, and grins right along with Toothless.
Nothing. Hiccup squeezes through and enters the cove.
A BEAT, then Hiccup hears a SNORT from behind him. Hiccup turns to see the Night Fury, crouched on a rock like a stealthy panther. It descends, approaching him... ready to pounce. Hiccup swallows his fear and offers the fish. Doing so reveals the dagger at his waist.
"Well at least the boy isn't defenseless." Gobber says to Stoick, who is currently watching through his hands.
The dragon sees it and hisses. Hiccup reaches for it, eliciting a growl. He pauses, carefully lifts it by the handle, and drops it. The Dragon is still not satisfied, and motions for the dagger to be tossed further away.
"Nevermind Stoick." Gobber groans.
The dragons watch with rapt attention for they have never seen a Viking willingly disarm themselves in the presence of a dragon.
After Hiccup does this the dragon calms.
"Is it just me, or does that dragon actually look cute?" Drago says as he watches the screen.
This comment earns him the incredulous looks from the Vikings.
"What!" Drago huffs.
"Never thought I would hear that comment from Drago." Red says amused.
As it approaches the fish, Hiccup notices that it's missing teeth.
HICCUP
Huh. Toothless. I could've sworn you had...
A set of razor sharp teeth emerge from its gums to grab the fish. Toothless snatches and gnashes it up, swallowing it.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
... teeth.
The teeth retract again. Toothless presses closer with an expectant look. Hiccup retreats nervously.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Uh, no. No, I don't have any more.
The Fury backs Hiccup against a rock, placing himself the same position as before. The dragon closes in over him, staring blankly. A tense moment passes... then Toothless regurgitates a chunk of fish onto Hiccup's lap.
"EEEUUWWW" could be heard from the Vikings.
"What are you lot going on about!" A Nadder asks. "He's just sharing his food with the hatchling."
"All of us would have done the same." A Nightmare adds. "You hatchling, are too thin."
They exchange stares. Hiccup realizes what Toothless wants him to do. Hiccup crouches slowly and squeamishly picks it up.
"Hiccup. You didn't." Astrid asks.
The dragon waits expectantly. Hiccup gags and gnaws off a bite of the slimy fish.
"I did." Hiccup tells Astrid as he sees many Vikings turn green.
"Lad, ya got a stomach of iron." Gobber tells Hiccup.
"I'd have to with dad's cooking." Hiccup remarks.
"Aye, that you do lad, that you do." Gobber says as he twists his beard.
"What is wrong with my cooking!" Stoick yells.
"….Nothing…." Hiccup and Gobber say together while looking away.
He forces a smile. Toothless mimics him.
"Is that dragon smiling?" Fishlegs asks looking excitedly at the screen.
Amazed, Hiccup sits up and tries to touch him. Toothless HISSES and flaps off to a crash on the other side of the cove. He BLASTS the mossy ground to a red-hot temperature... and curls up on it like a giant dog. He turns to find Hiccup seated beside him.
"Persistent aren't ya lad?" Gobber simply says smiling.
Toothless tolerates his persistent presence... until Hiccup tries to touch his damaged tail. Toothless SNAPS at him. Hiccup takes the hint and leaves.
"Finally you take the hint son." Stoick lets out a relieved sigh now that Hiccup would leave the area.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. COVE - LATER
It's MAGIC HOUR. Toothless wakes, hanging upside down from a tree. He spots Hiccup sitting on the other side of the cove. Sketching in the sand.
"Eh, nevermind." Stoick says exasperated.
"Toothless you definitely look like a giant bat here." Hiccup remarks earning a tail slap.
CLOSE ON a sketch of Toothless. Hiccup draws with a stick, minding his own business. Toothless appears behind him, watching carefully. Aware of his presence, Hiccup continues, trying not to scare him off.
Toothless walks off. A moment later, he reappears with an entire sapling, drawing lines in the sand. He rushes here and there, making haphazard lines in every direction. Finally, Toothless drops the tree and inspects his work. He seems pleased.
"Bud, what were you trying to draw?" Hiccup asks as he, and the rest of the viewers tilt their heads trying to figure out the picture.
"Why you of course, can't you see it" Toothless says.
"Well….. Not quite, I don't have your point of view" Hiccup responds cautiously.
"Well, the part at the top of the screen is your head, and the part in the middle is your body with your arms crossed" Toothless says happily.
"If you ask me it looks like something Stoick would draw." Gobber says, earning him a smack upside the head from Stoick himself.
"Hey now, I worked hard on that masterpiece" Toothless grumbles.
"Why don't you leave the art to me Toothless" Hiccup say quietly to Toothless, Toothless warbled grumpily before resting his head down again.
Hiccup stands and takes in the sprawling scribble, amazed by it. He accidentally steps onto one of the lines, eliciting an instant growl from Toothless. He steps on it again. Toothless growls again. Realizing how sensitive he is, Hiccup steps carefully between each line, turning round and round until he unwittingly bumps into Toothless. Toothless snorts. Once again, they're face to face. Hiccup slowly extends his hand. Toothless hesitates. Hiccup turns his head away and closes his eyes. To his amazement, Toothless bridges the gap and presses his muzzle against Hiccup's hand. In a flash, the dragon is gone, leaving Hiccup astounded.
This scene has left all the Vikings slack-jawed.
EXT. VILLAGE - NIGHT
Gobber and the recruits are seated at the top of an abandoned catapult tower, toasting campfire food around a roaring bonfire.
GOBBER
...and with one twist he took my hand and swallowed it whole. And I saw the look on his face.
(can't deny it)
I was delicious. He must have passed the word, because it wasn't a month before another one of them took my leg.
FISHLEGS
Isn't it weird to think that your hand was inside a dragon. Like if your mind was still in control of it you could have killed the dragon from the inside by crushing his heart or something.
At this statement Red and I, as well as all other theater occupants give Fishlegs a 'What-the-fuck' look.
SNOTLOUT
I swear I'm so angry right now. I'll avenge your beautiful hand and your beautiful foot. I'll chop off the legs of every dragon I fight, with my face. He postures to Astrid. She rolls her eyes.
"Snotlout… Nothing about Gobber's hand or foot is beautiful." Hiccup says dryly.
"What are you saying about my hand and foot" Gobber exclaims standing up.
"Nothing, you're missing them" Hiccup responds back with a smirk.
GOBBER
(with a mouthful)
Un-unh. It's the wings and the tails you really want. If it can't fly, it can't get away. A downed dragon is a dead dragon.
ON HICCUP hiding his horrified look from the others.
Gobber stands and stretches.
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Alright. I'm off to bed. You should be too. Tomorrow we get into the big boys. Slowly but surely making our way up to the Monstrous Nightmare.
(playful, taunting)
But who'll win the honor of killing it?
He hobbles off. The teens reflect.
Hisses could be heard from the dragons, and Hiccup asks "How is killing an honor?"
TUFFNUT
(very matter of fact)
It's gonna be me.
(BEAT)
It's my destiny. See?
Tuffnut rolls up his sleeve to reveal a red dragon on his arm.
FISHLEGS
(GASPS)
Your mom let you get a tattoo?
"NO I DID NOT!" Tuffnut Madeline Thornston you are in so much trouble." Tuffnut's mom yells.
"Dammit MOM I told you not to call me that in public" Tuffnut says standing up.
"How dare you talk to me like that young man." Tuffnut's mom yells, while Tuffnut starts stomping his foot like a male yak, his mother starts doing the same.
Hiccup calmly gets up, and walks to Tuffnut. Just as Tuffnut goes to charge at his mom Hiccup sticks his foot in front of his. Almost in slow motion I watch as Tuffnut falls forward, and faceplants square on Fishlegs crotch, Fishlegs yelps, and jumps at the sudden impact, when Fishlegs jumps he hits Tuffnut off of his legs and into Snotlout's waiting arms.
Snotlout lifts Tuffnut up by the back of his tunic, and gives him a dragon crushing hug, most of the Vikings who are watching wince at the force used. When Snotlout let's go, Tuffnut stumbles around in a dazed state and stumbles right into Ruffnuts lap, which leads into another of their infamous fights.
TUFFNUT
It's not a tattoo. It's a birthmark.
RUFFNUT
Okay, I've been stuck with you since birth, and that was never there before.
TUFFNUT
Yes it was. You've just never seen me from the left side until now.
SNOTLOUT
It wasn't there yesterday. Is it a birthmark or a today-mark?
Hiccup gets up and walks away from the group. Astrid watches him as he leaves the bonfire.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - MOMENTS LATER
Hiccup enters a small room at the back of the stall. It's covered in drawings of weaponry and scale models. He lights a candle and lays his sketchbook out on the desk, opening it to the drawing of Toothless. With a look of determination. Hiccup picks up a charcoal stick and re-draws the missing tail.
"Hiccup, what are you planning this time?" Gobber asks.
"You'll see Gobber." Hiccup says.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - LATER
CLOSE ON
... a creaking leather bellows. The stone forge glows with every pump. Tongs pull intricate iron pieces from the coals. They're dropped onto the anvil, twisted, lightly hammered, and dunked in a barrel. The pieces are carried to Hiccup's workbench and laid out in place on a one-to-one schematic. It's a sketch of a mechanical fin.
"Hiccup, that's a…" Gobber trails off looking at the screen.
"Yep" Is simply heard from Hiccup.
"And you're gonna…" Gobber turns, and looks at Toothless's tail.
"Yep" Was all Hiccup replied with.
"Gobber, what is Hiccup planning?" Stoick asks his old friend.
"Sorry Stoick I can't say right now, might ruin the surprise" Gobber replies with a smirk.
"Thank you Gobber" Hiccup says as his shoulders relax.
