SEVENTH CHAPTER! Hope is signing back in for the 7th chapter! Enjoy!
Key:
Normal Text
Thoughts
"Speech"
[Movie]
"Movie Speech"
Dragon Thoughts
"Dragon Speech"
INT. STOICK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Hiccup enters to see...
STOICK, seated on a thick slice of tree-trunk. He is slouched
over the fire-pit, stirring the coals with his axe. Embers
waft around his beard.
Hiccup tries to sneak past, up the stairs to his room. Stoick
seems none the wiser, when...
STOICK
Hiccup.
"Busted" the twins sang.
HICCUP
(CAUGHT)
Dad. Uh...
Stoick stands, takes a deep breath.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
I, uh... I have to talk to you,
Dad.
STOICK
I need to speak with you too, son.
[Hiccup and Stoick STRAIGHTEN at the same moment.]
HICCUP STOICK
I've decided I don't want to I think it's time you learn
fight dragons. to fight dragons.
(BEAT) (BEAT)
What? What?
Laughter rang out across the room as Hiccup looked away from the screen embarrassed.
STOICK (CONT'D)
You go first.
HICCUP
No, you go first.
"Ugh I should've gone first!"
STOICK
Alright. You get your wish. Dragon
training. You start in the morning.
HICCUP
(SCRAMBLING)
Oh man, I should've gone first. Uh,
'cause I was thinking, you know we
have a surplus of dragon-fighting
Vikings, but do we have enough
bread-making Vikings, or small home
REPAIR VIKINGS-
STOICK
-You'll need this.
Stoick hands Hiccup his axe. Hiccup avoids taking it.
HICCUP
I don't want to fight dragons.
STOICK
Come on. Yes, you do.
HICCUP
Rephrase. Dad I can't kill dragons.
STOICK
But you will kill dragons.
HICCUP
No, I'm really very extra sure that
I won't.
STOICK
It's time Hiccup.
HICCUP
Can you not hear me?
"I swear he can never hear me".
STOICK
This is serious son!
[Stoick forces the axe into Hiccup's hands. Its weight drags
him down. He looks up to see Stoick under-lit with firelight.]
STOICK (CONT'D)
When you carry this axe... you
carry all of us with you. Which
means you walk like us. You talk
like us. You think like us. No more
of...
(GESTURING NON-
specifically at Hiccup)
... this.
HICCUP
You just gestured to all of me.
Hope looks at Hiccup "is that your catch phrase?"
Hiccup shrugs "I guess".
STOICK
Deal?
HICCUP
This conversation is feeling very
one-sided.
STOICK
DEAL?!
[Hiccup glances at the axe in his hands. It's a no-win
argument.]
HICCUP
(RESIGNED)
Deal.
Satisfied, Stoick grabs his helmet and duffel bag... and
heads for the door.
STOICK
Good. Train hard. I'll be back.
Probably.
HICCUP
And I'll be here. Maybe.
"What do you mean by that?"
[Stoick heads out the door, leaving Hiccup holding the axe.]
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - DAY
[Gobber raises a massive iron gate at the entrance of a vast
stone arena.]
GOBBER
Welcome to dragon training!
[The recruits file through the gate, and out onto the arena
floor. They take it in like gladiators entering the
colosseum. The walls are covered in scorched silhouettes of
blasted Vikings. It's a grim yet awe-inspiring place.]
ASTRID
No turning back.
TUFFNUT
I hope I get some serious burns.
RUFFNUT
I'm hoping for some mauling, like
on my shoulder or lower back.
ASTRID
Yeah, it's only fun if you get a
scar out of it.
"You Vikings are weird, liking scars"
HICCUP (O.S.)
Yeah, no kidding, right? Pain. Love
it.
[The recruits turn to see Hiccup behind them. Groans all
around.]
TUFFNUT
Oh great. Who let him in?
"Duh! The door"
GOBBER
Let's get started! The recruit who
does best will win the honor of
killing his first dragon in front
of the entire village.
"seriously how is taking a life an honor?"
SNOTLOUT
Hiccup already killed a Night Fury,
so does that disqualify him or...?
[The recruits LAUGH and chatter in the background.]
TUFFNUT
Can I transfer to the class with
the cool Vikings?
[Gobber throws a supportive arm around Hiccup and ushers him
along.]
GOBBER
(cheery, in confidence)
Don't worry. You're small and
you're weak. That'll make you less
of a target. They'll see you as
sick or insane and go after the
more Viking-like teens instead.
"how is that helpful?".
Gobber looks sheepish "eh it sounded better in my head"
Hiccup innocently looks at his mentor "sure Gobber"
[GOBBER stick him in line with the others and continues on
toward five massive reinforced doors. Terrible ROARS and
BELLOWS issue from within.]
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Behind these doors are just a few
of the many species you will learn
to fight.
[Fishlegs bounces and giggles with excitement, barely able to
contain himself.]
Fishlegs gains stares. "What?" he shies away.
GOBBER (CONT'D)
The Deadly Nadder.
FISHLEGS
(under his breath)
Speed eight. Armor sixteen.
The Nadders' look at the screen "speed eight, Armor sixteen sounds impressive".
GOBBER
The Hideous Zippleback.
FISHLEGS
Plus eleven stealth. Times two.
The zipplebacks' mainly the future Barf & Belch "Whatever it is times two is awesome!"
GOBBER
The Monstrous Nightmare.
FISHLEGS
Firepower fifteen.
The nightmares puff out their chests and flame up "That's right we've got 15 times firepower".
Hope looks at the dragons. "One that doesn't make any sense two… TURN YOUR FLIPPIN FLAME OFF BEFORE YOU BURN THIS PLACE DOWN OR I DECIDE TO KILL YOU!" Hope smiles innocently at the dragons and the two sitting beside her who look rather startled.
"I'm not gonna kill you so settle down".
Hiccup and Astrid settle back into their spots beside Toothless even though the tension hadn't faded entirely though.
GOBBER
The Terrible Terror.
FISHLEGS
Attack eight. Venom twelve.
Hiccup picks up a terrible terror who walked past the barrier. "For your size you sure pack a punch" The movie continues as he strokes the terror into a blissful sleep.
GOBBER
CAN YOU STOP THAT?!
(BEAT)
And...the Gronckle.
FISHLEGS
(quietly; to himself)
Jaw strength, eight.
[Gobber pulls a lever, raising the cross beam on the last of
the doors.]
SNOTLOUT
Whoa, wait! Aren't you gonna teach
us first!?
Hiccup meaningfully looks up at Gobber "Gobber believes learning on the job, thanks Gobber!"
GOBBER
I believe in learning on the job.
[BAM! A GRONCKLE thunders out of its cave, charging into the
ring like an irate rhino.
The recruits scramble in every direction. Except for Ruffnut
and Tuffnut who rush toward it, like pumped-up rodeo clowns.]
The twins shrug casually as Vikings turn to stare at the duo.
"seriously!"
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Today is about survival. If you get
blasted, you're dead. Quick, what's
the first thing you're going to
need?
HICCUP
A doctor?
"No that's after" Hiccup smiles at Astrid.
Stoick looks surprised at Gobber's teaching method, chuckles to himself then settles back down.
FISHLEGS
Plus five speed?
Fishlegs looks sheepish "it could be possible…?"
ASTRID
A shield.
GOBBER
Shields. Go.
[The recruits scramble for shields, finding them scattered
around the ring.]
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Your most important piece of
equipment is your shield. If you
must make a choice between a sword
or a shield, take the shield.
[Hiccup STRUGGLES to lift his. Gobber helps him and sends him
running.
Ruff and Tuff stand amidst a dozen shields. But only one has
a skull painted on it. They both grab it.]
TUFFNUT
Get your hands off my shield!
RUFFNUT
There are like a million shields!
The teens groan.
TUFFNUT
Take that one, it has a flower on
it. Girls like flowers.
Ruffnut uses the shield to BASH Tuffnut in the face. He
doesn't let go.
"You know not all girls like flowers" Ruffnut nods along with Hope and moves to sit with her.
As Ruffnut approaches she notices a black lump on the floor "is that a dragon" she looks at Hiccup and Astrid as they nod.
"Cool!" and she moves to sit next to Astrid near the black dragon.
Toothless looks curiously at the new viking "Who's the new hatcling?"
"Toothless meet Ruffnut, she's a friend ok" Toothless huffs and lays back down.
"Awesome!"
RUFFNUT
Ooops, now this one has blood on
it.
"You know you just gave the shield to your brother right?" Ruffnut shrugs and leans against the large dragon.
[The Gronckle takes aim at the distracted twins. Blam! The
shield is blasted out of both of their hands. Tuff and Ruff
SPIN like tops and go down.]
GOBBER
Tuffnut, Ruffnut, you're out!
TUFFNUT
(DAZED)
What?!
RUFFNUT
(CONFUSED)
What?!
[The Gronckle scoops up a pile of rocks and SWALLOWS them
back. The teens gather on the far side of the ring.]
GOBBER
Those shields are good for another
thing. Noise. Make lots of it to
throw off a dragon's aim.
[The kids scoop up weapons and begin hammering on their
shields. The Gronckle shakes its head at the clatter.]
GRONCKLE'S POV - the teens targets become blurry and
scrambled. It's working.
"So that's what it looks like" Fishlegs mused.
GOBBER (CONT'D)
All dragons have a limited number
of shots. How many does a Gronckle
have?
SNOTLOUT
Five!
FISHLEGS
No, six.
GOBBER
Correct, six. That's one for each
of you!
FISHLEGS
I really don't think my parents
WOULD—
[BAM! Fishlegs has his shield blasted away.]
GOBBER
Fishlegs, out.
[Gobber spots Hiccup hiding from the Gronckle's molten slugs.]
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Hiccup, get in there!
"Technically I'm doing what you asked… I'm surviving" The others nod in agreement.
[ON ASTRID bouncing on her heels, ready to dodge a blast.
Snotlout appears, trying to hit on her.]
SNOTLOUT
So anyway I'm moving into my
parents' basement. You should come
by sometime to work out. You look
like you work out—
[She cartwheels out of the way, allowing a shot to shoot past
her and hit Snotlout's shield. He's blasted onto his back.]
Ruffnut and Astrid high-five "You go girl!"
GOBBER
Snotlout! You're done!
[Astrid ROLLS to a stop beside Hiccup, who stirs awkwardly,
trying to look cool.]
HICCUP
(VOICE BREAKING)
So, I guess it's just you and me
huh?
Astrid stares at Hiccup. "Seriously"
Hiccup smiles weakly. Astrid rolls her eyes and looks back at the screen.
ASTRID
No. Just you.
[Astrid ROLLS away. A split-second later a lava slug knocks
Hiccup's shield clear off of his arm. Hiccup is exposed.]
Stoick looks at Gobber "Doesn't that mean he's out?"
"I decided to give him another chance…? Heh. Heh. Heh?"
GOBBER
One shot left!
[Hiccup panics and chases after his shield as it rolls across
the ring.
The sudden movement sends the Gronckle chasing after him,
leaving Astrid in the clear.]
GOBBER (CONT'D)
(WORRIED)
Hiccup!
[The Gronckle drives straight toward Hiccup, pinning him
against the wall. It opens its mouth and cocks its tail,
ready to fire point-blank.
Everyone gasps, except Gobber and Hiccup. Gobber looks sheepish.
Gobber lunges in and hooks the Gronckle's mouth at the last
second, causing its head to jerk back and fire against the
stone wall above Hiccup's head.]
GOBBER (CONT'D)
(rattled, but masking it)
And that's six!
[
Gobber wrestles the irate Gronckle back into his pen.]
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Go back to bed, ya overgrown
sausage! You'll get another chance,
don't you worry.
[Slam! Lock. Gobber turns to the recruits.]
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Remember... a dragon will always,
(with a stern look to HICCUP)
always go for the kill.
He hoists Hiccup to his feet and walks off. Hiccup looks
overhead to see a steaming pit in the solid stone wall.
"Not always" points out Ruffnut who is now stroking Toothless' scales.
Hiccup and Astrid smile at each other. If we can get Ruffnut we can get others.
Dun Dun Daaa! Chapter 7 complete! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Did you like ruffnut joining the others? Who should join the trio next? Till next time… aka tomorrow…
-Hope signing out.