Chapter 3:
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.
I can't help it, and start to laugh while the dragons snort. Stoick turns to give us a hard glare. I only look to Hiccup, and say, "would you like to do the honor." Hiccup nods, and begins "If the nest is destroyed, then yes the dragons would leave to the closest island, which is Berk, where they will come to live, and possibly seek revenge for the destruction of their home." All this is said in a calm tone. The Vikings blink, and try to process the information while the dragons simply nod affirmative at Hiccup's reasoning.
"Don't worry hatchling." a Gronkle says, scooting closer to cuddle. "You can live with us, no more nasty Vikings."
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.
"Wimps" Hiccup says sniggering, earning some glares from the Vikings.
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.
Hiccup lifts an eyebrow, and glares at his father.
"Really, Dad! That's how you get so many volunteers?'The dragons growl angrily at Stoick, muttering, "Using a hatchling to get manpower to fight us. Shame on you."
PHLEGMA THE FIERCE
To the ships!
SPITELOUT
I'm with you Stoick!
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.
Drago deciding to put in his two-cents asks "What's with him, and undies?" To which Hiccup replies with "Trust me, you do not want to know." And promptly shudders.
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?
"Well I have been around molten steel, and razor sharp blades most of my life. Haven't burned the stall down yet Gobber." Hiccup says dryly.
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.
"GOBBER!" Hiccup yells, "I already told ya lad that it was probably my fault" Gobber says sheepishly, while rubbing the back of his head.
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.
"Wait" Drago suddenly says. "Are you trying to tell me that the runt is hated so much by his tribe that they would kill him before dragon training?" Stoick could only sputter a reply of "Of course not" while receiving deathly glares from the dragons upon hearing that question.
"Since when is Drago this sensible?" Red asks me, I simply shrug.
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!
"Like a couple of 5 year olds" Hiccup mutters.
STOICK
Listen! You know what he's like. From the time he could crawl he's been...different. He doesn't listen.
(MORE)
STOICK (CONT'D)
Has the attention span of a sparrow. I take him fishing and he goes hunting for... for trolls.
"And who's fault was it for making me believe in trolls?" Hiccup turns to Gobber.
GOBBER
"Trolls Exist! They steal your socks" Hiccup says in a perfect imitation.
"But only the left one. What's with that?" Hiccup says imitating Gobber.
"Does he really say that" Drago asks.
"Only time will tell" Hiccup says.
(DEFENSIVE)
Trolls exist! They steal your socks.
(DARKLY)
But only the left ones. What's with that?
Stoick POV
'Is that what it is like in a father, and son relationship?' Stoick thought.
STOICK
When I was a boy...
"Oh here we go" could actually be heard from most Vikings in the room.
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 headache" Hiccup replies.
"You got your brains scrambled" came from Drago.
"You knocked yourself out" some dragon added.
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.
"I have never seen a Viking crush mountains, level forests or tame seas." Astrid says loud enough for us to hear. "Maybe the chief did get his brains scrambled" Fishlegs thought out-loud, but promptly shut up from the glare Stoick was giving him.
(BEAT)
Hiccup is not that boy.
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.
ON STOICK, as Gobber's words hit their mark.