Chapter 16

EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - DAY

The grounds have been transformed. Banners and flags flap in the morning sun. Surrounding the ring, a festive crowd had gathered. All of Berk has turned out for the event.

STOICK

(aloud to the crowd)

Well, I can show my face in public again.

The dragons glower at Stoick, and upon noticing the dragons glares at him shrinks in his seat.

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

STOICK (CONT'D)

(PLAYFUL)

If someone had told me that in a few short weeks, Hiccup would go from being, well... Hiccup, to placing first in dragon training… I would've tied him to a mast and shipped him off for fear he'd gone mad. Yes! And you know it!

"How dare you say that about your own hatchling!" The Terrors say hissing in anger.

"... you know Stoick, the dragons are more of a family then you ever were" Hiccup states.

Stoick just sits there, and lowers his head in shame, he has no response to Hiccup's statement.

(BEAT)

But here we are. And no one's more surprised...

ON HICCUP standing at the entrance to the ring, listening, looking burdened.

STOICK (CONT'D)

... or more proud than I am. Today, my boy becomes a Viking. TODAY, HE BECOMES ONE OF US!

"Wasn't he already one of you?" A Nadder ask curiously.

"Never felt like it" Hiccup mumbles.

"You know, that none of you lot ever treated Hiccup like he was one of us" Gobber says glaring at all the teens.

"Thank you Gobber" Hiccup says dryly.

CHEERS and ROARS.

Astrid approaches Hiccup.

ASTRID

Be careful with that dragon.

HICCUP

(re: the roaring crowd)

It's not the dragon I'm worried about.

"Who are you worried about?" Tuffnut asks.

"Oh, every damned Viking on the island." Hiccup says with a frown.

"It's not like you will ever listen to me anyways so I don't know why I even thought of trying this" He continues while looking at his lap.

All of the Vikings look down in shame at his statement because they know it is true.

ASTRID

(WORRIED)

What are you going to do?

HICCUP

Put an end to this.

She eyes him, dubious.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

I have to try.

(BEAT)

Astrid. If something goes wrong... just make sure they don't find Toothless.

ASTRID

(GRIM)

I will. Just promise me it won't go wrong.

Hiccup can't.

Gobber approaches.

GOBBER

It's time, Hiccup. Knock him dead.

Hiccup puts his helmet on and enters the ring.

ON THE TEENS

HOOTING and HOLLERING from the stands.

TUFFNUT

Show 'em how it's done, my man!

Hiccup locks eyes with Stoick. Stoick nods with a smile. Hiccup returns a half-smile. Takes a deep breath. He hoists a shield onto his forearm and selects his weapon from a rack of many - a small dagger.

STOICK

(MUTTERED)

Hrmph. I would've gone for the hammer.

Hiccup turns to face a bolted, heavy door. Takes a deep breath.

HICCUP

I'm ready.

The door bolt is raised. The crowd grows quiet...

Beat.

BOOM! The doors blast open with a stream of sticky fire. Followed by a Monstrous Nightmare, coated in flames. It tears out of its cave like an irate bull - as the crowd roars and jeers. It climbs the walls and chain enclosure like a bat, hissing at the provoking crowd and blasting fire. It spots Hiccup and descends, leering and licking the flaming drool from its lips. The crowd grows silent, bracing for the big fight. With the Monstrous Nightmare's eyes locked upon him, Hiccup

deliberately drops his shield and dagger stepping away from them. The dragon pauses, confused.

Everyone in the theater is holding their breaths.

The Monstrous Nightmare from the arena creeps closer to Hiccup, and nuzzles him.

"I am so sorry hatchling" the dragon said as he sets his large head on the younger Hiccup's lap.

ON STOICK, also confused.

STOICK

What is he doing?

The dragon presses closer, snorting. Hiccup extends his open hand. It snarls.

HICCUP

(WHISPERED)

It's okay. It's okay.

The dragon continues to pace, focused on... HICCUP'S HELMET.

Hiccup realizes, then reaches up and removes it. Taking a breath to acknowledge the point of no return, he tosses the helmet aside. It hits the ground.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

I'm not one of them.

GASPS and MURMURS race through the crowd.

ON STOICK, as all eyes turn to him. He's welling with upset.

Hiccup avoids Stoick's glare and remains focused on the Nightmare, holding his hand out. It paces around him, calming down.

STOICK

Stop the fight.

"Oh Boy" Older Hiccup says.

HICCUP

No. I need you all to see this. The crowd gets restless.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

They're not what we think they are. We don't have to kill them.

STOICK

I SAID STOP THE FIGHT!

Stoick whacks his hammer against the iron enclosure, rattling the arena with a terrible reverberating clatter. Spooked, the Nightmare snaps at Hiccup's outstretched hand.

Hiccup YELPS and springs backward. The spell is broken. The Nightmare reacts to Hiccup's sudden movements and blasts another stream of fire. Hiccup SCREAMS and barely dives out of reach.

"Really! Didn't anyone teach you not to startle a dragon!" Older Hiccup yells at Stoick.

"I'm sorry I tried to hurt you hatchling" was said by the Nightmare who now has his snout on Hiccup's lap.

EXT. COVE - CONTINUOUS

ON TOOTHLESS

His ear plates shoot up. Panic flares in his eyes.

EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS

Hiccup scrambles around the ring. The Nightmare pursues, snapping and springing from ground to wall. Stoick pushes through the crowd, rushing to the doorway.

STOICK

Out of my way!

ASTRID

Hiccup!

Astrid wedges her axe under the arena gate and squeezes through.

"Astrid, what in Thor's name are you doing!" Hiccup yelled.

"Trying to save your scrawny behind!" Astrid yells back from her seat.

EXT. COVE - CONTINUOUS

Toothless bounds to the cove walls, clawing them in desperation. It seems he's as trapped as before, but with an incredible BURST of effort he HOOKS a claw over the upper lip of the stone wall.

"Toothless what are you doing! They'll catch you!" Hiccup turns to Toothless.

"Saving your behind from crazy stunts. What else." Toothless retorts.

"I am sure I would have been fine" Younger Hiccup says before glaring at his Father.

"If someone hadn't interfered" He continues before turning back to the screen.

EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS

A narrow stream of fire narrowly avoids Hiccup as he continues to dash around the ring, evading the Monstrous Nightmare. Desperate, he goes to the weapon rack in an attempt to arm himself, but the Nightmare quickly destroys the rack and closes in on him.

EXT. COVE - CONTINUOUS

Toothless tears through the woods, bounding like panther and taking to the air in short bursts.

EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS

Stoick wrenches the grated door to the arena and jumps through. The Monstrous Nightmare is only a few feet behind Hiccup. Astrid is now in the ring.

"Astrid what are you doing? Get the hell out of the ring!" Hiccup looks to Astrid then gestures to the screen.

"I am trying to help you" Astrid replies. "Can't you see that!"

"And I don't want you killed" Hiccup says giving Astrid a glare that could make a grown man run.

ASTRID

Hiccup!

She picks up a hammer and hurls it at the Monstrous Nightmare, hitting it in the head. It turns its attention to Astrid, and begins chasing her. Stoick raises the arena gate, waving her toward it.

"Oh yes, let's agitate the dragon more." Hiccup says dryly.

STOICK

This way!

Astrid makes it through, but the Nightmare BLASTS the doorway, cutting Hiccup off. It pounces on him and prepares to finish him off. Suddenly, a terrible roar pierces the din.

GOBBER

Night Fury! Get down!

Toothless bounds over the crowd and BLASTS a hole through the chain enclosure. He flies through it and disappears in the boiling smoke.

The Vikings rush to railings... in time to see a flurry of wings cutting through the dissipating smoke. Toothless and the Nightmare tumble into the clear, locked in a toothy, vicious fight. Toothless kicks the Nightmare off and plants himself between Hiccup and it.

The Nightmare snarls, circling them. Toothless lunges and ROARS... causing the Nightmare to relent and back away. To everyone's shock and horror, Hiccup gets to his feet and grabs Toothless protectively.

HICCUP

(PANICKED)

Alright, Toothless, go. Get out of here!

The crowd is gob-smacked, growing livid.

"This can't end well." Hiccup mutters. The dragons in the theater cover their eyes.

VIKINGS

Night Fury!

Hiccup tries to shoo Toothless away in vain. Vikings begin pouring clambering through the enclosure and dropping into the ring.

HICCUP

Go! GO!

VIKING

Take it alive!

Stoick grabs an axe and charges into the arena. Astrid calls out to him, panicked.

ASTRID

Stoick no!

HICCUP

Dad! No! He won't hurt you!

The other Vikings surround and attack Toothless. He tosses them aside like rag dolls, his eyes focused on Stoick.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

No, don't! You're only making it worse!

Stoick raises his hammer as he charges for Toothless. Toothless ducks and pounces on him. They tumble end over end.

"Stoick when will you listen to the boy?" Drago asks.

"Yyyeesss, when will you" A dragon says from the shadows directly above Stoick scaring him.

Stoick just glares at the ceiling before looking back at the screen with a grunt.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Toothless! STOP!

He pins Stoick and inhales. The familiar hiss of gas builds. Everyone braces...

HICCUP (CONT'D)

NO!

Toothless swallows back the blast and turns to Hiccup, not understanding.

VIKING

Get him!

The crowd rushes him, piling on, and taking Toothless down. Astrid holds Hiccup back.

HICCUP

(DESPERATE)

No! Please...just don't hurt him. Please don't hurt him.

Stoick gets to his feet, fuming, shaken. A Viking presents Stoick with an axe. He eyes Toothless a moment, then pushes the axe back into the Viking's hands.

STOICK

Put it with the others!

His burning glare turn to Hiccup.

"The Gods hate me." Hiccup mumbles.

"No…. You're just Loki's favourite" Red says with a smirk.

"WHAT, how come he's Loki's favourite, that is supposed to be us" Ruff and Tuff shout at the same time.

INT. GREAT HALL - DAY

ON HICCUP

Being shoved into the dank, dimmed hall.

SLAM! The massive doors rattle and echo. Stoick pushes past him. He paces against a backdrop of shadowy tapestries and carved pillars - a legacy of heroes, all peering down in angered judgement.

STOICK

I should have known. I should have seen the signs.

HICCUP

Dad.

STOICK

We had a deal!

"A one-sided deal." Hiccup says to his father. "You never listen to my side!"

Stoick mumbles something under his breath.

"What was that Stoick" Gobber says.

"I am just trying to keep you safe!" Stoick says louder this time.

"BY LOCKING ME IN THE HOUSE OR FORGE….. LIKE THAT'S GONNA HELP" Hiccup yells before curling into Toothless's wings, and hiding from view…. A few short moments later there is a soft sob coming from Toothless's wing cocoon.

Astrid silently stands up, and walks towards Toothless, and Hiccup.

"May I see him" Astrid asks quietly as she crouchs in front of Toothless, Toothless grunts, and lifts his wing enough that she can crawl in under it.

Stoick pauses to say something, but stops short. He SNORTS and resumes pacing, repeating the cycle.

HICCUP

(FLUSTERED)

I know we did... but that was before... ughh, it's all so messed up.

STOICK

So everything in the ring. A trick? A lie?

He stomps toward Hiccup. Stops short and points, fighting back words.

HICCUP

I screwed up. I should have told you before now. Take this out on

me, be mad at me, but please... just don't hurt Toothless.

STOICK

The dragon? That's what you're worried about? Not the people you almost killed?!

HICCUP

He was just protecting me! He's not dangerous.

STOICK

They've killed HUNDREDS OF US!

HICCUP

And we've killed THOUSANDS OF THEM! They defend themselves, that's all! They raid us because they have to! If they don't bring enough food back, they'll be eaten themselves.

(BEAT)

There's something else on their island dad...it's a dragon like-

Stoick HUFFS.

STOICK

-Their island?

He stomps back... pointing an accusing finger.

STOICK (CONT'D)

So you've been to the nest.

HICCUP

Did I say nest?

Hiccup goes silent - he said too much.

STOICK

How did you find it?!

HICCUP

No... I didn't. Toothless did. Only a dragon can find the island.

Stoick GLARES. A moment passes, then an idea takes form on his face. His eyes flare. Hiccup watches, realizing. Stoick stomps toward the doorway.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Oh no. No, Dad. No.

Hiccup chases after him, panicked.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Dad. It's not what you think. You don't know what you're up against.

It's like nothing you've ever seen.

He grabs Stoick by the arm, tugging with all his might. He has no effect whatsoever.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Dad. Please. I promise you that you can't win this one.

Nothing.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

No. Dad. No. For once in your life, WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME?!

He throws Hiccup off of him, SWATTING him to the floor. Icy stillness. Hiccup stares back, stunned.

"You big red haired Viking! You need to listen to your hatchling!" A Monstrous Nightmare growls, and puts her snout near Stoick's face lighting some of his beard hairs on fire.

STOICK

You've thrown your lot in with them. You're not a Viking.

(BEAT)

You're not my son.

Stoick pushes through the door, leaving Hiccup alone, devastated.

This statement almost causes a riot with the dragons. They look ready to turn Stoick into a piece of toast.

STOICK (CONT'D)

(CALLING OUT)

Ready the ships!

EXT. GREAT HALL - CONTINUOUS

Stoick staggers on the steps, breaking inside.

"I'm sorry son, I'm so sorry." Stoick mumbles an apology looking defeated.