Chapter 4
ON STOICK, holding down the netted Nadders. He hears a familiar HOLLER and looks up to see... HICCUP running through the PLAZA, SCREAMING, with the NIGHTMARE fast on his heels. Alarmed, Stoick abandons the Nadders and runs off.
STOICK (to his men, re: the NADDERS) DO NOT let them escape!
IN THE PLAZA Vikings scatter as Hiccup dodges a near fatal blast. The Nightmare's sticky, Napalm-like fire splashes up onto buildings, setting them alight. Hiccup ducks behind the last standing brazier - the only shelter available. The Nightmare blasts it, spraying fire all around him. Hiccup peers around the smoldering post. No sign of the Nightmare. He turns back to find it leering at him, blocking his escape. It takes a deep breath. Hiccup is finished.
All the Vikings except for Stoick and Gobber lean to the edge of their seats, horrified yet captivated. How will Hiccup make it out of this one? Ali scoffed, These people are idiots! Do they not know that this was in the past?
Suddenly, Stoick LEAPS between them, tackling the Nightmare to the ground. They tumble and wrestle, resuming their earlier fight. The Nightmare tries to toast him, but only coughs up smoke.
STOICK (CONT'D) You're all out.
He smashes the Nightmare repeatedly in the face, driving it away. It takes to the air and disappears. Winded, Stoick turns to Hiccup.
Hiccup cringes; he remembers the scolding he got from his dad that night like it was yesterday. Ali whispered, "Be happy that your dad and the village didn't believe that you took down Toothless, if you did Toothless would've certainly been killed." Hiccup thought and understood what she said.
HICCUP (V.O.) Oh, and there's one more thing you need to know...
"Yeah? And what's that?" Tuffnut called out brashly.
"He's getting to it, idiot! Now stop talking, we're supposed to stay quiet!" His twin sister, Ruffnut snarled.
The burnt brazier pole collapses, sending the massive iron basket crashing. It bounces down the hill, destroying as it goes and scattering the Vikings who were holding down the netted Nadders. The freed dragons escape... with several sheep in tow.
HICCUP (CONT'D): Sorry, dad.
Ali said, "That would be it."
Tuffnut replied, "Oh." Ali rolled her eyes at the boy.
EXT. VILLAGE – UPPER PLAZA - CONTINUOUS
The escaped Nadders fly past with sheep in their clutches. The raid is over. The dragons have clearly won. The murmuring crowd eyes Stoick, awaiting his response.
The villagers sigh dejectedly. Another raid successfully executed by the monstrous beasts not because of the sheer number of dragons, but due to one of their own Viking runts.
In the back of the room, the dragons that were involved in that raid grinned; that'll show those pesky Vikings what they're made of! Thankfully they had brought enough food that night to temporarily satisfy the Queen's hunger. The nightmare growled at her comrades to keep quiet, all dragons quieted down. Ali thought, It's like she's regretting what happened.
HICCUP (SHEEPISH): Okay, but I hit a Night Fury.
Stoick grabs Hiccup by the back scruff of his collar and hauls him away, fuming with embarrassment.
HICCUP (CONT'D): It's not like the last few times, Dad. I mean I really actually hit it. You guys were busy and I had a very clear shot. It went down, just off Raven Point. Let's get a search party out there, before it-
STOICK: -STOP! Just...stop.
He releases Hiccup. Everyone goes silent, staring expectantly.
STOICK (CONT'D): Every time you step outside, disaster follows. Can you not see that I have bigger problems? Winter's almost here and I have an entire village to feed!
Hiccup looks around. All eyes are upon him.
Hiccup grins. He can practically feel the sarcastic comment coming. He tends to fall back on humor when he's put in an awkward or tense situation, and this was one of those moments.
HICCUP: Between you and me, the village could do with a little less feeding, don't ya think?
A few rotund Vikings stir self-consciously.
The teens giggled amidst the scowls that were appearing on the older Viking's faces. The Viking women agreed what Hiccup said. How disrespectful of Hiccup to mock his elder's appearances like that! Ali said, "I agree! I work out and look, I am fit! When was the last time you idiots even seen your feet?" The women, dragons and Hiccup laughed at Ali's comment as a few male Vikings glared at Ali. The new woman and Hiccup high fived; Hiccup thought, I'm beginning to like her.
STOICK: This isn't a joke, Hiccup! (EXASPERATED) Why can't you follow the simplest orders?
HICCUP: I can't stop myself. I see a dragon and I have to just... kill it, you know? It's who I am, Dad.
"No it's not, and I never will be that person.", Hiccup mumbled darkly to himself. He had been so eager to finally earn his dad's praise that he was willing to take another's life just to gain it! Dragon or human, Hiccup viewed them both as equals. Ali nodded as she thought, Just like her.
STOICK: You are many things, Hiccup. But a dragon killer is not one of them.
"Glad we got that cleared up.", drawled Hiccup, loud enough for everyone to hear. Stoick turned his head slightly, annoyed that Hiccup was speaking that way towards him. Wasn't being a dragon killer all Hiccup wanted to be? What happened to his son? Ali said, "For a guy who rules a village that can't even win, you definitely know how to rub it in to someone who just wanted to help." Hiccup said, "You got that right, Miss Ali."
Hiccup looks around to see many nods of agreement.
STOICK: (CONT'D) Get back to the house. (TO GOBBER) Make sure he gets there. I have his mess to clean up.
Ali said, "Oh sure, blame it on the little guy!" Ali gasped on what she said and replied, "No offense, Hiccup." Hiccup shrugged as he knew she didn't mean it.
Stoick lumbers off in the opposite direction. Gobber leads Hiccup through the walk of shame. They pass the teen fire brigade as they snicker.
TUFFNUT: Quite the performance.
SNOTLOUT: I've never seen anyone mess up that badly. That helped!
HICCUP: Thank you, thank you. I was trying, so...
Hiccup avoids Astrid's glare and heads up toward a large house, standing prominently on the hill above the others.
Astrid looked somberly at the screen, watching herself coldly stare at Hiccup like a disapproving adult. She had never smiled at Hiccup back then, much less acknowledge his presence willingly. Hopefully that will change soon.
Snotlout and Tuffnut were cackling at the snide comments their past selves had made. They quietly high-fived and watched the screen again, hoping they had more screen-time later on. Ali appeared behind Astrid and said, "This is what you are dealing with?" Astrid turned at the woman and nodded. Ali came up to the two boys and gave each of them a huge bonk on the head with a hammer. Snotlout and Tuffnut looked at Ali with a glare as she showed them her weapon as they turned back. Ali said, "Watch it."
HICCUP (CONT'D): I really did hit one.
GOBBER: Sure, Hiccup.
HICCUP: He never listens.
GOBBER: Well, it runs in the family.
Ali gave Gobber a disapproving frown as the blacksmith frowned at himself. He remembered he had been so focused on getting Hiccup home without causing more trouble that he hadn't realized how dejected Hiccup sounded. He should've said something more comforting than 'Sure, Hiccup'!
HICCUP: And when he does, it's always with this... disappointed scowl. Like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich. (MIMICKING STOICK) Excuse me, barmaid. I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring. I ordered an extra large boy with beefy arms. Extra guts and glory on the side. This here. This is a talking fish bone.
Hiccup, Ali, and the teens smiled slightly; Hiccup did a pretty accurate impression of his dad's Viking accent! Ali said, "Hiccup, if all fails, you could have a future of making impersonations and do standup comedy. You have the talent and voice for it." Hiccup blushed, besides Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid, no one else ever noticed his talents. A few Viking laughed while Stoick looked miffed at his son's outburst. Did Hiccup really think he thought of him like that? He was trying to help his future and be a real Viking.
GOBBER: You're thinking about this all wrong. It's not so much what you look like. It's what's inside that he can't stand.
Beat.
Stoick stared pointedly at Gobber, who coughed awkwardly. "Yeah, I probably could have phrased that better, eh?" Ali said, "Uh, yeah."
HICCUP: Thank you, for summing that up.
They reach the doorway.
GOBBER: Look, the point is, stop trying so hard to be something you're not.
Hiccup SIGHS heavily.
HICCUP: I just want to be one of you guys.
Ali looked sorry as she said, "Man, either you guys need to know how to stop being stupid or how to treat your own with respect." Snotlout said, "Useless keeps on making our lives worse. He ruins the village, he's weak, small, his inventions destroy houses, and now-" Ali appeared before Snotlout as she grabbed his neck and began to strangle him. Ali said, "Hiccup may be different from the average Viking, but Odin has huge plans for him, and if I were you, can it and NEVER insult Hiccup again!" Ali's eyes turned to slits as she hissed her last words, "GOT IT?" Snotlout quickly nodded in fear as Ali let him go and stomped back to her seat.
Hiccup was amazed that someone else would protect him like that. Hiccup, the nightmare, and Toothless looked at her with shock. Ali said, "If there is one thing I hate the most is jerks, bullies, and morons. They make me sick."
Gobber eyes him sympathetically. Hiccup turns and goes through the front door. And straight out the back door. He hurries off into the woods, determined.
"Aw come on, lad! At least listen to one thing we tell you!" Gobber cried out, exasperated. The teens smirked – leave it to Hiccup to not even stay in the house for longer than a minute! Ali shouted to Gobber, "Well, let's see. He's in an age that is optional to not obey orders, so in the terms of obeying his elders/parental figures, NO!"
Hiccup gulped, this was the day he finally encountered Toothless! Were they going to see him free the feared dragon? What was his dad going to do? He shuddered. He wondered if he could disappear inside Toothless if he leaned hard enough.
INT. GREAT HALL - DAY
A noisy din of PROTESTING VOICES leads to... STOICK, glowering in the firelight. Surrounded by his men.
STOICK Either we finish them or they'll finish us! It's the only way we'll be rid of them! If we find the nest and destroy it, the dragons will leave. They'll find another home.
A couple of dragons snorted and Ali scoffed. As if it were that easy to find their nest! Ali whispers to the Monstrous Nightmare, "Bet you ten licks they fail." The Nightmare roared in agreement.
He sinks his blade into a... LARGE NAUTICAL MAP, spread out on the table... the blade pierces the middle of an uncharted corner, swirling with painted sea monsters and dragons.
STOICK: (CONT'D) (DECIDEDLY) One more search. Before the ice sets in.
VIKING: Those ships never come back.
STOICK: (MATTER-OF-FACT) We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard. Now who's with me?
Stoick throws up his fist. No one follows. The crowds shifts in restless silence. Head scratches. Eyes averted.
VIKING: (FEEBLE) Today's not good for me.
VIKING: (CONT'D) (EQUALLY FEEBLE) I've gotta do my axe returns.
Ali called out, "WHIMPS!" Hiccup snickered as the teens, Ali, Hiccup, and the Dragons laughed at her comment.
STOICK: Alright. Those who stay will look after Hiccup.
Hands jut into the air, volunteers galore. Enthusiastic murmurs of prep and packing fill the room.
PHLEGMA THE FIERCE: To the ships!
SPITELOUT: I'm with you Stoick!
"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence guys!" Hiccup called out sarcastically. Ali said, "Dude, that was cold." The teens were struggling to contain their laughter. This was how they got so many volunteers to go with Stoick on the nest searches?
Stoick was slightly embarrassed at his tactic being revealed but quickly got over it – this was for the good of the village! Once they found the nest, they could finally get some peace on the island.
STOICK: (DRY) That's more like it.
The Vikings rush for the door, leaving Gobber and Stoick alone. Gobber gulps back the contents of his tankard attachment and scrapes back the bench.
GOBBER: I'll pack my undies.
"Aw man, did NOT need to hear that last part!" Snotlout groaned disgustedly. Ali gagged and said, "And for once I agree!"
STOICK: No, I need you to stay and train some new recruits.
GOBBER: Oh, perfect. And while I'm busy, Hiccup can cover the stall. Molten steel, razor sharp blades, lots of time to himself...what could possibly go wrong?
"Chaos and destruction!", grinned Tuffnut.
"Just how we like it", Ruffnut agreed with a malicious smile.
Stoick sinks onto the bench beside Gobber, his brow burdened.
STOICK: What am I going to do with him Gobber?
GOBBER: Put him in training with the others.
"As if!" snorted Snotlout. "He'd probably faint once a dragon looks him straight in the eye!" Ali and Astrid came and gave him a fist to the face and shoulder, silencing him. Astrid gave a fist bump at Ali as they smiled.
STOICK: No, I'm serious.
GOBBER: So am I.
Stoick turns to him, glaring.
STOICK: He'd be killed before you let the first dragon out of its cage.
GOBBER: Oh, you don't know that.
STOICK: I do know that, actually.
GOBBER: No, you don't.
STOICK: No, actually I do.
GOBBER: No you don't!
Hiccup was unsure whether to be happy Gobber was so earnestly pushing for what Hiccup longed for all those years – being given the chance to kill dragons – or to be distressed at the position this brought him in. He definitely couldn't kill dragons, that much he knew.
STOICK: Listen! You know what he's like. From the time he could crawl he's been...different. He doesn't listen.
"More like I use the sensible and rational part of my brain," Hiccup thought dryly to himself. Ali said, "Brain and brawn must balance to make man, you know."
STOICK (CONT'D): Has the attention span of a sparrow. I take him fishing and he goes hunting for... for trolls.
GOBBER: (DEFENSIVE) Trolls exist! They steal your socks. (DARKLY) But only the left ones. What's with that?
A low laughter spread across the room as Gobber gave a hard stare at those around him, silently challenging them to question Gobber's belief in the troll's existence. He had a bucket of right-footed socks to prove it!
STOICK: When I was a boy...
GOBBER: (GRUMBLING) Oh here we go.
STOICK: My father told me to bang my head against a rock and I did it. I thought it was crazy, but I didn't question him. And you know what happened?
"You got a concussion?" Fishlegs finally spoke feebly, genuinely concerned for the chief's well-being. Ali said, "No. He broke his head, smushed his brain, and then he got a concussion." Ali's words scared Fishlegs.
Stoick sighed. "No, Fishlegs. I'm fine, don't you worry." Fishlegs looked relieved as Snotlout and Tuffnut rolled their eyes. Stoick glared at Ali, who shrugged innocently and said, "Hey, I'm just telling the truth."
GOBBER: You got a headache.
STOICK: That rock split in two. It taught me what a Viking could do, Gobber. He could crush mountains, level forests, tame seas! Even as a boy, I knew what I was, what I had to become. (BEAT) Hiccup is not that boy.
Even though Hiccup was used to constant condemnation from others, hearing it from his father stung more than anyone ever could. He slumped against Toothless, head hanging down. Would he ever make his dad proud?
GOBBER: You can't stop him, Stoick. You can only prepare him. (BEAT) Look, I know it seems hopeless. But the truth is you won't always be around to protect him. He's going to get out there again. He's probably out there now.
Hiccup lifted his head slightly, Gobber's words of encouragement lightening his dampened mood slightly. At least someone still believed in him, even if it wasn't his dad.
ON STOICK, as Gobber's words hit their mark.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
ON AN OPEN NOTEBOOK
A drawn map of the island, covered in X's. Hiccup looks up from it and peeks over a gorge, expectantly. Sees nothing. He adds another 'X' to the page, then scratches his pencil over the whole map in frustration. He snaps the book closed and pockets it.
"What's Hiccup doing? He's just scribbling over his notebook!" Tuffnut inquired loudly, squinting at the screen as he attempted to decipher what Hiccup could possibly be doing.
"Are you dumb? He's obviously searching for secret treasure. X marks the spot! Duh." Snotlout's voice rang out clearly and confidently, proud that he could answer the question. Hiccup rolled his eyes and continued to watch, growing anxious as the meeting between him and Toothless drew near.
HICCUP: Uggh, the gods hate me. Some people lose their knife or their mug. No, not me. I manage to lose an entire dragon.
"Maybe it flew away?" Fishlegs hypothesized curiously. Although no one could see him, Hiccup slightly shook his head and braced himself for the what was about to happen next.
Hiccup WHACKS a low-hanging branch. It SNAPS back at him, hitting him in the face. He looks up to see a snapped tree trunk. His eyes follow it to a long trench of up-turned earth.
Stoick harshly sucks in his breath, realizing what this means. The Vikings all stared at the screen, realization all striking them at once.
"No way…" Snotlout breathed quietly, eyes widening at the screen.
He follows it to a downed, black dragon, its body and tail tangled in a bola. It appears dead. Hiccup approaches, beaming.
"THAT'S MY BOY!" Stoick's voice, full of pride and excitement rang out through the room, filled with whoops and hollers from the other Vikings.
Hiccup frowned at the screen, hating seeing Toothless in that state. The other dragons took in Hiccup's reaction but were also amazed to see one of the rarest species of their kind seen in such a vulnerable state.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) (IN SHOCK) Oh wow. I did it. I did it. This fixes everything. (ELATED) Yes!
He strikes a victory pose, planting his foot on the fallen Night Fury.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) I have brought down this mighty beast!
It suddenly shifts.
The Vikings freeze in their celebration. The beast wasn't dead? Stoick stared anxiously, gripping the armrests tightly. This was his son's chance to finally kill a dragon, a legendary dragon at that! He felt excited, waiting for the moment his son would finally become a Viking.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) Whoa!
Hiccup springs back, terrified. He turns his blade on it. Rattled, Hiccup creeps along the length of the weak, wounded dragon, dagger poised to strike. As he reaches the head, Hiccup finds the Night Fury staring coldly at him. Hiccup tries to look away, but he's drawn back to its unnerving, unflinching stare. With the dragon safety tangled in the ropes, Hiccup jabs with his dagger, puffing himself up with false bravado.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) I'm going to kill you, Dragon. I'm gonna cut out your heart and take it to my father. I'm a Viking. (BEAT) I am a VIKING!
"Atta' boy, Hiccup!"
"Go get him, boy!"
"Kill the beast!"
Fierce encouragement sprang from the mouths of other Vikings, drawn into the excitement of finally witnessing the feared Night Fury. Hiccup's heart felt heavier which each new encouragement and steeled himself.
Ali's eyes widened in horror as the Nightmare moaned in terror.
Hiccup raises the dagger, determined to prove his Viking ness. The dragon's labored breathing breaks Hiccup's clenched concentration. He opens an eye, uncertainty leaking through. The dragon holds the stare. Something profound is exchanged. Finally, the Night Fury closes its eye and lowers its head, resigned to its fate. Hiccup tries to go through with it, holding the dagger aloft... fighting himself... until finally lowering it with a frustrated sigh. He looks over the dragon's chaffed rope wounds. HICCUP (CONT'D) (muttered, ashamed) I did this. He turns to leave. Pauses. And glances back at the dragon, chest heaving.
"No…" Stoick breathed, a feeling of dread washing over him. At that moment he knew. He knew Hiccup. He realized what Hiccup would do before it happened, but didn't want to believe it. Ali gave a smile of pride that Hiccup was about to do the right thing.
Hiccup GRUMBLES. He checks over his shoulder to ensure that no one is watching... then hurries back to cut the ropes. The Night Fury's eye shoots open. With the dragon watching his every move, Hiccup hurriedly saws through the bola ropes.
A gasp resonates through the crowd, followed by furious whispering. What is Hiccup doing?! The teens are stunned into silence, all except Astrid wondering if Hiccup had finally lost his mind.
Hiccup stares resolutely, not regretting anything that is happening on the screen. In fact, he decides that was the best decision he had ever made as a Viking.
The dragons stare, taken aback at the human's actions. He's saving a dragon? Risking his life to do what was forbidden and unheard of? They stared at the human curled against the Night Fury, a new sense of reverence and awe infused within them as they regarded the rider.
As the last rope falls free, the Night Fury suddenly POUNCES! In a blur, the dragon is upon him, pinning Hiccup down, grazing his neck. Looking like it's about to kill him. Hiccup is paralyzed. The dragon's breath ruffles his hair. Hiccup opens his eyes to find the Night Fury's wolf-like stare boring into him. The exchange is intense, profound. The dragon draws a deep breath, as though it's about to torch him, then lets out an ear-piercing scream instead. It turns and takes flight, flapping violently through the canopy of trees. It bashes against a nearby mountain side, recovers, and drops out of view some distance away. Winded, Hiccup struggles to his feet, staggers a few steps, collapses to his knees, and faints.
A long silence fills the room, the tension so thick not even Astrid's axe could slice through it. Hiccup tensed and shut his eyes, knowing what was about to come. Toothless, noticing the stiffened posture of his rider, stared curiously, ears perked at the sudden silence. Ali silently counted the seconds, "5...4...3...2...1..." Then Hiccup heard the voice he was dreading to hear, with a tone so thick with anger and betrayal it caused him to flinch.
"HICCUP HORRENDOUS HADDOCK THE THIRD!"
Ali and Hiccup said in unison, "Da da da! We're dead!" Ali and Hiccup turned to each other in amazement, and immediately they turned away and blushed. Ali said, "Oh, sorry."