Vikings Page #6

13.

There’s a long beat. Ragnar glances at his son, then away

again, with a shrug.

RAGNAR:

It’s not up to me. Earl Haraldson

decides. I wish it was not so...but

that is the law.

But Bjorn can see that the question has affected his father’s

mood.

They splash through a stream.

RAGNAR (CONT’D)

All the ice has gone. Spring is

here again, thanks to Frey.

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

They have camped in the open. A fire is burning and they have

cooked some small animal over it and eaten it. The dog gnaws

at the bones.

BJORN:

There’s something I want to ask

you.

RAGNAR:

Then ask me.

BJORN:

How did you meet mother?

Ragnar’s smiles.

RAGNAR:

Hasn’t she ever told you?

BJORN:

Of course. But I want to know if

your story is the same as hers.

A beat.

RAGNAR:

Well, it occurred when a Swedish

chieftan invaded our part of

Norway. I went off to fight him and

many of the local women dressed up

in men’s clothing and joined our

camp. Lagertha was amongst them.

14.

(MORE)

I was impressed by her courage and

courted her from afar.

BJORN:

How far is that?

RAGNAR:

Hush. Listen. After a while I went

to confess my love for her - but

when I arrived I was set upon by a

bear and an enormous hound who

guarded her home. I killed the bear

with my spear and managed to

strangle the hound with my bare

hands.

(beat)

And that’s the way I gained her

hand in marriage.

(glances at his son)

What did she tell you?

Bjorn smiles, then lies down, pulls the blanket over himself.

RAGNAR (CONT’D)

Did she tell you the same story?

A long beat.

BJORN:

Just about.

And he closes his eyes, still smiling.

EXT. KATTEGAT - DAY

They ride into Kattegat, a sizeable town and a trading

station, set on the bank of a river. It’s a busy place with

open carts and covered wagons, horses and boats bringing

people and goods to the local market, as well as delegates to

the Thing, wearing ribbons around their foreheads.

At the market place, TRADERS - several of them of Arabic

appearance, and dressed in totally different costumes - are

examining the pelts, furs, ropes and bear-skins for sale.

The ARABS are also examining the handful of SLAVES for sale,

most of Slavic appearance, checking their teeth, hair and

nails, as if they were horses.

There is a lot of good-humored banter and loud haggling.

All of this Bjorn has clearly seen before, and is not fazed

by.

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