A Screenplay
Based on the Novel
by
Michael Crichton
Revised Draft
March 1991
--PART 2--
page 60
IBN FADLAN
Pulling the arrow from the wood.
IBN FADLAN
I could suffer a worse misfortune.
HERGER
Seated next to Ibn Fadlan
HERGER
Indeed, you could be killed in your sleep, Arab...
IBN FADLAN
I'd count that pleasant
HERGER
A shameful death, to die in sleep. A warrior must die with his weapons in his
hand, fighting.
IBN FADLAN
(fed up with this talk)
I do not believe as you do.
HERGER
(offering cup)
You have learned to drink mead.
IBN FADLAN
Only for the coldness of the night.
HERGER
You Arabs. Nothing is funny to you. You are the sourest, grumbling people I
ever saw.
IBN FADLAN
Not true.
HERGER
Oh yes? Tell me something funny.
IBN FADLAN
I will tell you a joke, In a mosque, a famous preacher stood in the pulpit and
gave a sermon. A man, Nulla, put on a robe and veil, and sat among the women
listening to the sermon.
Herger is blank, uncomprehending.
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IBN FADLAN
The preacher said, "According to Islam, it is desirable that no one should
let their pubic hair grow too long."
Herger chuckles.
IBN FADLAN
So someone asks "how long is too long, oh Preacher?' And the preacher says,
"It should not be longer than a barley."
Herger is not chuckling, just smiling rigidly.
IBN FADLAN
So Nulla turns to the woman next to him and says (falsetto) "Sister, please
check and tell me if my pubic hair is longer than a barley." The woman
reaches under Nulla's robes to feel the pubic hair, and her hand touches him.
She gives a cry.
Herger is no longer smiling
IBN FADLAN
The preacher hears the cry and is very pleased. He says, "All you people
should learn the art of listening to a sermon as this lady does, for you can
see how it touched her heart." And then the lady said, "It didn't
touch my heart, oh Preacher, it touched my hand."
Ibn Fadlan laughs heartily. Herger just stares blankly.
HERGER
What is a Preacher?
IBN FADLAN
You are a stupid Viking and know nothing of the ways of the world.
Now Herger laughs, and slaps Ibn Fadlan on the back...
SKELD
He gives a shout, and turns to look at the mountains beyond the camp.
HERGER AND IBN FADLAN
Get to their feet, look.
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WHAT THEY SEE
Nothing at all, just fog. But we hear the first low rumble of something that might be thunder, and might not.
HERGER
Here it comes.
IBN FADLAN
Peers forward, into the fog.
THE OTHER VIKINGS
Also peering forward.
IBN FADLAN
Staring, seeing nothing, as the rumble builds slowly.
THE GLOW WORM DRAGON
At first, it is just a single, faint point of light. Then it spreads, becorning two points, then three, then four and five. Soon it is a dozen, spread out in an ondulating, snake-like line of fiery points.
IBN FADLAN
IBN FADLAN
(almost to self)
The glow worm dragon.
THE VIKINGS
BULIWYF
Korgon!
Cries go up from all around the encampment: "Korgon" Men begin to run.
BULIWYF
(directing)
Ecthgow, the gate! Skeld, the roof! Rethel, there! Helfdane, east!
They all run in different directions.
A SLAVE GIRL
Jumping up from Rethel, and running for cover.
SKELD
Climbing up the side of the great hall, arrows slung over his shoulder.
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ECTHGOW
Running to the left, carrying his handaxes.
HIGLAK
Running to take up a position by one building, and stopping, panting.
HELFDANE
Calmly taking up a position beside the eastern part of the fence, and stringing his bow, chuckling to himself.
HERGER
Watching tensely.
IBN FADLAN
Watching tensely.
THE DRAGON
All this time, the thundering sound builds. The dragon still ondulates toward them through the fog, twenty strung-out points of light, getting brighter every minute, as the sound grows.
BULIWYF
He grips his great sword, and tenses his body.
THE DRAGON
We now suspect it is horsemen carrying torches, but we cannot see them yet.
THE CAMP
The Vikings wait tensely.
BULIWYF LOOKING AROUND
And seeing
SKELD ON THE ROOF
Ready.
HERGER AND IBN FADLAN
HERGER
(never taking eyes off dragon)
Luck in battle, Arab.
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IBN FADLAN
Luck in battle, Herger.
By now, the thunder is deafening.
THE GLOW WORM DRAGON
The points of light are very bright, but because of the fog, we cannot see the riders until the very last minute, when they suddenly come into view.
THE OUTER DITCH
One of the horses comes forward and stumbles in the ditch, tossing the rider, who falls into the ditch water. Horse and rider are black. the horse whinnies, the rider screams, but we cannot see much.
ANOTHER HORSE AND RIDER
As they try to jump the ditch and fence. The horse is impaled on the fence, the rider tumbles backward. He gets to his feet and runs off.
HELFDANE
Drawing his bow and shooting.
THE RUNNING RIDER
Takes an arrow in the back and pitches forward into darkness.
HELFDANE
HELFDANE
(chuckling)
First blood!
THE OUTSIDE OF THE DEFENSES
The horsemen, torches high, have fallen back and are now racing back and forth around the outside of the defense line.
IBN FADLAN
Watching, spear ready. All he can really see are points of light and vague outlines.
BULIWYF
BULIWYF
(shouting)
They can jump the western section!
He starts to run. He passes Ecthgow. Ecthgow starts to run.
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OUTSIDE THE FENCES
As the riders circle the defenses, horses rearing and snorting, torches held high. One rider charges the defenses and the horse stumbles; the rider is pitched forward. He lands just above Ibn Fadlan and Herger. His body is impaled on the stakes. He drops his torch. That section of the fence bursts into flame.
Herger jumps up on the fence and finishes off the rider. Then he comes down.
Ibn Fadlan is backing away. Everywhere the Vikings are running in the fog.
VOICES OVER
The western, section!
THE WESTERN SECTION
Already, in smooth graceful leaps, the horses are clearing the spiked fence. They come ove with a slow motion, unworldly floating quality. Two riders land inside the compound.
ONE RIDER races toward a building, intending to set it on fire. He goes past Ibn Fadlan, who is stunned by what he sees: the rider has the head of a bear.
Ibn Fadlan may be stunned, but Ecthgow comes up and throws a handaxe and
THE RIDER screams as the hand axe is buried in his back. He topples to the ground. The bear's head falls off: We see the face of a bearded man, filthy and matted. He is groaning.
HERGER rushes forward, he drives his sword deep into the groaning man, and rushes on.
THE SECOND HORSEMAN charges inside the compound, torch high, bearing down directly on Ibn Fadlan. Ibn Fadlan raises his spear and holds it firmly against the charge, and the horseman knocks Ibn Fadlan down as it rides by.
THE HORSEMAN TURNING and we see his body pierced entirely by the lance, but he rides on
IBN FADLAN gets to his feet and gives a little grin of pleasure.
OTHER HORSEMEN CLEARING THE FENCE in smooth swoops through the air. They land inside the compound.
SKELD ON THE ROOF fires one arrow after another. From his vantage point we see down on all the action. Helfdane is also shooting arrows.
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A HORSEMAN RIDES BY, bends over and scoops up the body of the fallen wendol previously seen. As he straightens up, four arrows simultaneously pierce his body. His bear head is thrown back in a death scream.
ONE OF THE LONG HOUSES
Now aflame, a WOMAN comes to douse water, and a wendol rides by and sets her afire. She runs, screaming. The horseman rides on, throwing his fiery torch onto the roof of the great hall.
SKELD as the torch lands at his feet. He must stop firing arrows to put it out.
ANOTHER HORSEMAN rides by. This one does not have a torch, but a bow and arrow. He rides, shooting swiftly and skillfully.
IBN FADLAN runs for cover. He is pursued by arrows, which thunk in the wood all around him. He finally stumbles, another arrow plunks into the wood just above his eyes. The horseman thunders past. He gets to his feet, eyes wide.
THE HORSEMAN as his horse collapses beneath him, and the rider rolls to the ground. Buliwyf falls him and hacks him to death.
BACK TO THE FENCE
As more horsemen jump the walls, in several places, now. The fences are aflame. Several unhorsed riders come running through on foot.
ECTHGOW stands near a a section of burning fence, and throws his handaxes. A running bear-headed man charges him. Ecthgow, takes a section of flaming fence and jams it into the man's chest. Immediately a horseman swoops down toward Ecthgow. A lance whizzes past. Ecthgow ducks away.
HIGLAK takes a running start, jumps up on the horse, behind the horseman, and hauls him to the ground. He kills him.
HERGER fights in sword-to-sword combat with the bear-heads. He is losing the fight, being pressed back into the flames, when Ibn Fadlan runs up, spear in hand, and drives it into the back of the wendol.
Herger waves thanks. Ibn Fadlan smiles, then is abruptly knocked on the back of the head by a passing horseman, and sent spinning into the flaming fence.
THE FLAMING FENCE
As Ibn Fadlan rolls through it, and out into the ditch. He picks himself up, the flames are reflected in the water of the ditch. A Northman lies on his face in the ditch, a spear protruding through his back. Ibn Fadlan turns: a horseman is
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bearing down on him. Ibn Fadlan runs along the outer perimeter of the fence. The pursuing horseman stumbles, and is thrown.
OUTSIDE THE FENCE
Ibn Fadlan runs, while the running wendol chases him. They splash through the ditch. Ibn Fadlan has no weapon. The wendol has a sword. He swings it hissing through the air. Ibn Fadlan falls to avoid it. He rolls on this back.
THE WENDOL directly above him, raising a sword to deliver the death blow: an arrow pierces him, he screams and falls back.
Ibn fadlan gets up and sees Helfdane, who has shot the arrow that saved his life. Helfdane chuckles
HELFDANE
You're lucky, Arab!
Ibn Fadlan grins, and then sees Helfdane take a spear full in the chest, an
obviously mortal wound.
BULIWYF
Seeing the horseman who just killed Helfdane. He runs forward. The horseman
charges Buliwyf at full tilt. Buliwyf stands his ground in the middle of the
blazing compound, and at the last moment Buliwyf swings his sword and kills
the man in a stroke.
IBN FADLAN
Scrambling back through the fence, to Helfdane.
HELFDANE
(last breaths)
Take care, Arab. They're tough, eh?
Helfdane dies. Ibn Fadlan lets him drop. He snatches up Helfdane's sword, and
runs forward, then stops, and looks back.
A wendol has crept up on Relfdane's body and is preparing to sever the head. Ibn Fadlan gives a blood curdling warrior's howl, and falls upon the wendol, showing more anger than effectiveness. His sword-swings are too wide but he startles the wendol, and makes him back off. the wendol, in fact, gets away unharmed. Ibn Fadlan stands beside Helfdane's fallen body protectively.
IBN FADLAN
Damn them! Damn them!
Arrows hiss through the air all around him. He doesn't care.
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ONE OF THE LONG HOUSES
Burning freely, forcing the occupants, women and children, to run through the compound. Riders swoop down upon them, killing them. One child is running when a rider grabs him up, and gallops out of the compound, into the darkness.
ON THE ROOF
Skeld still firing arrows. He brings down another rider.
ANOTHER RIDER BELOW
Circling the buildings, firing arrows up at the roof.
SKELD
Continuing to shoot, through a hail of arrows.
HERGER
Running hard toward us.
HERGER
Rethel!
Up ahead, Rethel is battling a wendol, which lies on the ground. A horseman rides up and slashes down. The wendol Rethel was fighting gets to his feet.
Herger runs up and plunges a lance into the body of the risen man. He looks to Rethel, who is painfully pulling himself toward shelter; he bleeds freely from a stomach wound.
RETHEL
I'll be all right...
Herger starts to pull him toward one of the long houses. But Rethel is heavy.
Ibn Fadlan comes running up, and helps Herger to pull Rethel to safety.
RETHEL
Go on, don't mind me...
Even as he speaks, a wendol charges up and Herger fights him with a lance. Ibn Fadlan is left alone to pull Rethel to safety.
RETHEL
I am too heavy for you, Arab.
IBN FADLAN
(terse)
Save your breath.
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He pulls Rethel out of the battle.
RETHEL
Saved by a midget.
INT. A LONG HOUSE
Ibn Fadlan hauls him into a long house, where women jump to assist him. Together with several women, they pull Rethel to the fireside, and they begin to bathe his wounds. Ibn Fadlan pauses a moment. The battle sounds outside are very loud.
He looks at the others in the long house, they are frightened of the sounds, and frightened of him, too. They back off, involuntarily.
He looks down at himself and realizes that he is bloody, a macabre, fearsome appearance. For an instant, he sees himself as they do. Then the moment passes; he's given mead, gulps it back and dashes outside again.
BACK TO THE BATTLE
As Ibn Fadlan rushes into the thick of it, ducking a passing swordsman who
swings at him.
BULIWYF looks over and sees three wendol crouched over a fallen warrior. He
races toward them. The wendol look up, surprised in their work of beheading.
Buliwyf falls on them, and kills them in three quick swipes of his sword, as
he executes a kind of dance. At the end he gives a scream.
A PASSING HORSEMAN throws a lance up toward Skeld.
SKELD ON THE ROOF takes the spear and falls out of our view
IBN FADLAN sees what has happened, and immediately runs to the wall of the great hall, and starts climbing toward Skeld.
IBN FADLAN
Skeld!
A horseman goes by, and swipes Ibn Fadlan with a torch; the Arab bursts into
flame. He drops back to the ground.
HERGER
(running up)
Fall! Roll!
Herger knocks Ibn Fadlan to the ground, and sends him spinning, rolling, along the ground, until his fire is out and he is just smoking. Ibn Fadlan starts to get up.
Herger starts to climb to the roof.
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SKELD ON THE ROOF
The spear has torn his tunic beneath his armpit; he is uninjured. He gets to his feet and looks down, to see Herger climbing up. A horseman is attacking Herger; Skeld throws the spear, striking the horseman.
HERGER
(looking up)
All right?
SKELD
Look to yourself.
A horseman has halted by the wall, where Herger is climbing down. The horseman
is about to kill Herger, when Ecthgow takes a running leap, he springs off a
low cart and flies through the air, handaxe held high. He buries it in the back
of the wendol.
HERGER looks down, surprised at his narrow escape.
HIGLAK
Fighting fiercely with a wendol, he drives him back into the burning fence; and posts fall on the wendol. He screams.
THE HORSEMEN RIDING AWAY
Out through the flames, back into the night. The first one gives a kind of war whoop. Almost immediately another follows, also whooping.
BULIWYF WATCHING
Realizing that the wendol are retreating.
A THIRD HORSEMAN LEAVING
With thundering hooves.
IBN FADLAN CROUCHED
His jacket still smoulders, he watches the retreat.
MORE DEPARTING HORSEMEN
Each with a dead body cross the horses' neck
BULIWYF
As they leave, he counts the dead they carry off. He ticks them off with his fingers.
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EXT. THE COMPOUND
As the horsemen pass camera. The Vikings watch them go. Their faces are triumphant, but exhausted, utterly exhausted.
INT. THE COMPOUND
Ibn Fadlan and the others cross toward one of the buildings. As they go, Ibn Fadlan comes across a bear head left behind by one of the wendol. He picks it up and stares at the animal face in the flickering light of the tires. Then, he tosses it aside. The bear's head rolls on the ground.
EXT. THE COMPOUND - DAWN
A morning mist still faintly shrouds the Rothgar compound. And here is plenty
of smoke pouring from the smouldering fires on the buildings and the fence fortifications.
A few ghostly figures move about.
CLOSER
The ghostly figures are women, who move silently through the destruction: impaled
horses on the fences, dead men, women, and children, puddles of blood on the
ground, charred bodies, blackened buildings. In many places the sides of buildings
are like pincushions of arrows. The women move resolutely through this scene.
Some search for dead relatives. Some put water on still burning fires. One carefully
plucks out arrows from the wood, discarding those that are not usable again.
There is no evident grief, just practicality.
In passing, we note the defense works are a shambles.
INT. THE GREAT HALL - MORNING
It's quiet here, by the fire, women are tending Rethel, binding his wounds and feeding him soup. The other warriors of Buliwyf are sprawled, sleeping in attitudes of total exhaustion.
A SLAVE WOMAN comes over to Ibn Fadlan, sleeping open-mouthed on his back. She shakes him gently. He sits bolt-upright, instantly awake, ready to fight. Then he realizes where he is, and she leads him over to the fire, where they are going to bind his wounds.
Ibn Fadlan sits next to the Viking. Rethel drinks soup.
RETHEL
They cut you a little?
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IBN FADLAN
(looking at leg wound)
I didn't even notice... and you?
RETHEL
I drink this onion soup. then they smell my stomach--smell it, you bitches !
(laughs) And if they smell onions in my wound, they know I am done for.
The women smell his wound.
RETHEL
You smell it? Even I can smell it (laughs) At least they didn't cut off my nose,
eh?
Ibn Fadlan is unable to be as casual about the news that Rethel will die.
RETHEL
Well don't be so dog-faced! Give me a cup of mead, and then you will smell mead!
You can be drunk from the fumes of my stomach!
Laughing, he drinks mead. Meanwhile, Ibn Fadlan's leg wound is exposed and bathed in astringent. He winces a little.
RETHEL
He is still an Arab, be gentle.
Rethel hands Ibn Fadlan the cup. The bathing continues.
IBN FADLAN
(to slave)
What is that that you use on my wound?
SLAVE GIRL
Cow urine.
Ibn Fadlan rolls his eyes. Rethel kisses a slave girl on the lips, passionately.
IBN FADLAN'S LEG - LATER
Sufficiently bound. Pan up to see him walking toward the window. He looks outside.Suddenly a bear-head pops into view, with a frightful scream. Ibn Fadlan is startled.
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OUTSIDE THE GREAT HALL
A child of six or seven, barely tall enough to see over the window sill, scampers off, wearing the bear's head. The child is laughing. The mother scolds. Ibn Fadlan looks out the window. Then he turns away.
EXT. THE COMPOUND - RAIN
It is some time later. Fierce rain pours down. It is a melancholy scene. The Vikings move sedately through the rain, carrying bodies of two slain comrades.
CLOSER ON THE DEAD MEN
One is Haltaf. The other is Rethel, his stomach binding still in place. Their immobile faces are pelted by rain.
THE BURIAL PIT
Where two bodies are already placed. These two more are added.
THE COVERING OF THE BURIAL PIT
Where there are now four shields, instead of two. The rain hammers on the metal
of the shields.
INT. THE GREAT HALL - RAIN
The Vikings confer. They are now only five. they speak in low voices chile the rain pounds on the roofs, and echoes in the great hall.
Ibn Fadlan stands apart, by the window, staring out at the burned defenses in the rain. Behind him, the Viking conference breaks up, and Herger comes over to him.
HERGER
Buliwyf must seek the counsel of the dwarves. But he wishes you to go with him.
IBN FADLAN
Me?
HERGER
Yes.
IBN FADLAN
Why me? (beat) Never mind.
HERGER
Yes. Never mind. You will leave now.
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EXT. THE ENCAMPMENT - RAIN
Buliwyf and Ibn Fadlan mount horses, and ride off in the driving rain. They head out into the broad, grassy plain, and are soon lost from view.
EXT. CLIFFS - RAIN
This is a section with outcroppings of bare rock, in which there are numerous caves. Buliwyf and Ibn Fadlan ride forward to it, From the caves, occasional smoke issues.
Buliwyf and Ibn Fadlan rein up near the caves and dismount. Ibn Fadlan sees the first of several dwarves, up in the caves.
IBN FADLAN (over)
The Northmeh believe that the dwarves have magical powers. They make their living
forging weapons, which are much prized. They are said to live longer than ordinary
men, and they can see the future.
INT. ONE CAVE
As Ibn Fadlan and Buliwyf enter. Inside, dwarves are forging red-hot sword blades in cauldrons.
IBN FADLAN (over)
Buliwyf sought one dwarf, known as the tengol. He is a prophet and a soothsayer.
THE DWARF
He sits cross-legged, a short man with a very large head, bearded and solemn. He nods to Buliwyf, who sits opposite him. Ibn Fadlan sits, at Buliwyf's gesture, a short distance off. There is a brief silence, and then the dwarf begins to laugh, a high cackle, which reverberates.
DWARF
So, Buliwyf, you have come to me because you attacked the wendol in their home,
and they eluded you, and they have attacked you at Rothgar's town, and you have
not beaten them. Now you come to me for advice and admonishment, as a child
to his father, saying what shall I do now, for all my plans have failed me.
The dwarf laughs a long time at this. Buliwyf takes no offense.
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DWARF
I see the future, Buliwyf. You are a greaT warrior but you have met your match
in the wendol. This shall be a struggle to the death, and you will need all
your strength and all your wisdom, What was the purpose of your plans? They
avail you nothing.
BULIWYF
We have killed many Wendol.
DWARF
And you can kill more, it does not matter. Any more than cutting off the fingers
will kill the man. You must pierce the head and the he heart of the wendol,
or you shall never win. You must kill their very mother in the thunder caves.
BULIWYF
Kill the mother...
DWARF
A hero's great challenge is in the heart, not in the adversary. What choice
have you? To be a hero, or to be an ordinary man.
BULIWYF
I will kill the mother.
DWARF
Good. Then I shall help you.
Other dwarves bring ropes and daggers.
DWARF
Here are ropes made of the skin of seals caught in the first melting of the
ice. These ropes will help you.
BULIWYF
I thank you.
DWARF
And here are six daggers, forged with steam and magic, for your warriors. Use
these daggers in the thunder caves, and you shall succeed.
BULIWYF
When shall we do this thing?
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DWARF
Yesterday is better than today, and tomorrow is better than the day which follows
that. Make haste. If you succeed, your name shall be sung in glory in the halls
of the North country evermore.
BULIWYF
The deeds of dead men are so sung.
DWARF
That is true. And also the deeds of heroes who live, but never the deeds of
ordinary men. All this you know.
BULIWYF AND IBN FADLAN - LATER
Riding back toward the encampment of Rothgar, in slashing rain. They carry the ropes on their shoulders, and over their horses.
INSIDE THE GREAT HALL - NIGHT
Two sheep, being brought to the table, where they are carved up. A scene of great merriment.
HERGER
Kissing and fooling with two slave girls at once.
ECTHGOW
Drinking, slopping mead down his chin.
BULIWYF
Kissing a slave girl.
IBN FADLAN
He drinks mead, heavily. He is, in fact, drunk. He grabs a slave girl, flings her to the ground, and throws himself on her. They roll in skins on the floor.
THE VIKINGS cheer, and shout bawdy comments
HERGER
Go, stallion, go!
SKELD
Show her your mighty spear!
HIGLAK
Show us all your mighty spear!
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The slave girl moans. The Vikings also moan, mimicking her, and then laugh.
A DOG moves over toward Ibn Fadlan and the girl--in our angle we cannot see much of the action--and begins licking Ibn Fadlan.
HERGER
More! More!
IBN FADLAN sits up, arranging his clothes, grinning broadly, He pushes the dog away, and takes a cup of mead, and drinks it sloppily. The Vikings cheer. Ibn Fadlan comes back and sits at the table; they slap him on the back.
EXT. THE COMPOUND - NIGHT
IBN FADLAN walks gingerly, his head aching, toward his horse. The Vikings are all mounted up, waiting for him. As he comes to is horse, Herger tosses him a coil of rope.
HERGER
Come, Arab. We have much to do.
Ibn Fadlan feels the impact of the rope on his shoulders like some excruciating pain. He slowly gets on his horse. The Vikings laugh. They gallop off. Ibn Fadlan also gallops. It really hurts.
EXT. THE CLIFFS - PREDAWN
As the Vikings ride along. They are flowing the cliff-face with the ocean crashing
onto the rocky beach below them. Here, the cliffs are more than five hundred
feet high, and the riders above them seem very small.
The Vikings ride hard, flat out. Ibn Fadlan is distinctly queasy, as he looks
toward the ocean, and the drop-off not far away. The cliffs are now several
hundred feet high.
The Vikings reign up. All dismount.
IBN FADLAN DISMOUNTING
Still queasy, he looks around at the others. Up here, the sound of the waves is hardly audible; there is just a whine of wind.
THE OTHER VIKINGS
As they go about their work. Businesslike: driving stakes into the ground, looping ropes around the stakes, preparing to climb down the cliff face.
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IBN FADLAN
As he realizes what is to happen.
IBN FADLAN
(to Herger)
You mean we're going down there?
HERGER
Yes. The thunder caves, where the mother of the wendol lives, can be reached
only from the sea.
IBN FADLAN
Yes, but...
He walks to the cliff edge, and looks down. The view down is dizzying, sheer. The waves are so fàr below that they appear miniature. Ibn Fadlan turns back.
IBN FADLAN
(desperate honesty)
Listen: I have a fear of high places. Even in my city in Arabia, I avoid tall
buildings of any kind--
BULIWYF
--Then be thankful. You are fortunate.
IBN FADLAN
(snappish)
How am I fortunate?
BULIWYF
If you have a fear of high places, then today you will overcome it. You will
meet the challenge and be judged a hero.
IBN FADLAN
I do not want to be a hero.
HERGER
(laughing)
That is only because you are an Arab.
IBN FADLAN
I swear to you: I would do anything; anything that is against my beliefs, I
would lie with a woman in menses, I would drink from a gold cup, I would put
out my own eyes--anything, but climb that cliff.
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BULIWYF
Those things are not called for. This is.
The Vikings work steadily, never pausing a moment.
IBN FADLAN
You may all be heros as suit your temper, but I have no part of this
affair, and will not be one of you.
BULIWYF
(laughter)
Yes, Arab. You will.
IBN FADLAN
If you force me to do this, I will surely die.
HERGER
How will you die?
IBN FADLAN
I will lose my grip on the ropes.
HERGER
Only a fool would lose his grip, and you are an Arab. But no fool. (slaps him
on the back)
BULIWYF
Don't prove us wrong.
Buliwyf then goes over to the side. The Vikings work in smooth coordination.
Buliwyf sits in a sling, and is lowered by his
companions. Meanwhile he grips a rope which has already been staked, and thrown
down the cliff. He carries a pole, which he uses to push himself off the cliff
face.
IBN FADLAN
Watches Buliwyf disappear over the side
HERGER
Straining, with the others, to pay out the descent rope.
HERGER
Come. Help us.
Ibn Fadlan helps. We can see only the rope being paid out, and it goes down, in coil after coil, a hell of a lot of rope. But none of the angles give us a view down the cliff face.
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The rope finally goes slack. they step to the edge fo the cliff and look down.
THE VIEW BELOW
Buliwyf, a tiny figure below, waves to them.
IBN FADLAN
Recoiling at the distance.
HERGER
You are next, Arab.
IBN FADLAN
I feel poorly: my stomach. Let another go, and I can study his method.
HERGER
It is more difficult for each succeeding man. It is a mark of favor that you
go second. Now go.
Ibn Fadlan is fitted into the harness.
HERGER
Praise Allah, for he put death at the end of life, and not the beginning.
IBN FADLAN
Indeed, but I see no benefit in hastening the end.
HERGER
No man does.
Herger hands him the pole. It has a wrist strap of leather. He slips it over Ibn Fadlan's wrist.
HERGER
Hold the other line with your free hand. Use the pole to move yourself.
Breathe slowly. (laugh) And don't look down.
IBN FADLAN
This is madness.
Herger helps him start his descent. Ibn Fadlan glancs down.
HERGER
Don't look down!
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IBN FADLAN
(staring forward)
Allah be praised, Allah be praised, Allah be praised--oh damn--Allah be praised...
He repeats it over and over, and down he goes.
THE VIKINGS PAYING OUT ROPE
As we have seen before. But now the camera moves along the taut line, and aims down the cliff, at Ibn Fadlan. He is getting smaller.
CLOSE ON IBN FADLAN
He stares at the cliff face; muttering "Allah be praised" over
and over.
FROM THE SEA TO THE CLIFF
We see Ibn Fadlan, a tiny figure on the cliff face.
HERGER AND THE OTHERS
They pay out rope. The wind freshens; it blows their hair.
HERGER
The wind is coming up.
IBN FADLAN ON THE CLIFF
He is starting to be blown, back and forth, in widening arcs.
HIS POV - THE CLIFFS
As it rushes up toward him
IBN FADLAN STRIKING CLIFF
And poling off, only to swing back in another direction.
IBN FADLAN
Slides in a pendulum swing across the cliff face, and hits with his back against the far side, It knocks his breath from him. He drops the stick with the thong; it catches on his toe.
Now he starts to swing back toward the rock again, trying to lift his leg, and retrieve the stick.
IBN FADLAN
Allah..be...praised...
He gets the stick in his hand, and once again slams into the rock wall. He almost drops it again, but keeps his grip on it.
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BULIWYF BELOW
He looks up with concern.
POV BULIWYF - IBN FADLAN
A small figure, swung back and forth
CLOSE ON IBN FADLAN
We see his wincing face, and then pull back...and back... and back... to show him on the immensity of the cliff. He's really almost lost in the full shot.
HERGER AND THE OTHERS
Paying out rope.
IBN FADLAN
Swung back and forth, he's really taking a beating.
ANGLE DOWN ON IBN FADLAN
Waves are closer now; He's not far from the bottom. Buliwyf is looking up at him.
IBN FADLAN REACHING THE BOTTOM
And the line goes slack. There is a narrow ledge down here on the bottom; waves,
no longer miniature, crash over him; he slips, falls, and is tangled in the
ropes. Buliwyf helps him to his feet, and frees him of the ropes.
Down here on the ledge, they must shout. Waves drench them periodically.
BULIWYF
Well done! You are a hero!
IBN FADLAN
I am a fool.
BULIWYF
(deadpan)
No! It is not the same thing.
He looks up and so does Ibn Fadlan.
WHAT THEY SEE
The tiny figure of another man coming down, high above.
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IBN FADLAN
Where is the entrance to the thunder caves?
BULIWYF
(pointing to waves)
There!
IBN FADLAN
Where!
BULIWYF
Beneath the waves, we must swim! You must take care, there are currents!
Another wave crashes over them, knocking Ibn Fadlan back. He is now thoroughly soaked and miserable. He clings to the rock wall.
IBN FADLAN
I cannot survive this!
BULIWYF
You said that before, but see? Here you are!
IBN FADLAN
Yes: here I am.
Another wave smashes over him.
EXT. THE LEDGE - LATER
All the Vikings are down now. They stand in a line. They all put their daggers between their teeth. Ibn Fadlan tries it too. But his teeth are chattering so badly from cold and fear that he can't hold the blade. He jams it into his belt.
Buliwyf prepares to jump; he watches the waves, timing it, and then he jumps.
HERGER
You're next!
IBN FADLAN
But I--
HERGER
Now!
Ibn Fadlan jumps.
IBN FADLAN UNDERWATER
As he is knocked back and forth by boiling surf, confused.
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HIS POV - BULIWYF
As Buliwyf goes through a passage in the rocks. We see his kicking feet.
IBN FADLAN
As he follows Buliwyf, toward the passage.
INSIDE THE PASSAGE
A dark tunnel, with light at the far end. Ibn Fadlan is inside halfway through, when the undertow starts to pull him helplessly back.
THE SURFACE OF THE WATER
As Ibn Fadlan comes up, gasping and sputtering.
HIS POV - THE VIKINGS ON THE LEDGE
Herger is shouting something that can't be heard; he points toward the tunnel.
IBN FADLAN DIVING
Once again, through the raging surf.
IBN FADLAN UNDERLATER
And this time he moves more purposefully and
INSIDE THE PASSAGE
As again, the surge draws him back, he clings to the rock wall, and waits, and then the surge runs the other way and he's pushed headlong forward and
INT. THE THUNDER CAVES - DAY
A POOL OF STILL WATER
As Ibn Fadlan surfaces, sputtering. He is next to Buliwyf, who is standing neck deep in water. Buliwyf quickly covers Ibn Fadlan's mouth. Ibn stares forward.
WHAT HE SEES
The caves communicate to the outside, ending in this quiet pool, where Ibn Fadlan and Buliwyf wait. With each pounding of the surf, the level rises, and there is a a thundering echo of compressed air in the cave. For the rest of this sequence, there is a steady rhythmic BOOM...BOOM....BOOM...of the waves.
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Looking around, he notices a firelit passage, and several stooped WENDOL moving around. They are near-naked dark men in loincloths. They do not notice the Vikings.
THE VIKINGS IN THE POOL
One head after another bobs to the surface. No one speaks. They just stare, grimly.
THE WENDOL
They are definitely men, and they seem to speak a grunting language, but we can't really hear, because of the booming of the surf. They ignore the pool of water; their backs are to it.
THE VIKINGS
As they slip stealthily out of the water.
THE VIKINGS AND THE WENDOL
As the Vikings kill them silently. It is a shadowy business, lit by firelight, and the fires leap and dance with each pounding of the surf.
IBN FADLAN
(looking at a dead wendol)
These are men.
BULIWYF
(grimly)
They are wendol.
The Vikings look down the tunnel. We hear a ghostly echoing chant. Buliwyf move down the passageway.
IN THE TUNNEL
They creep along; the chanting becomes louder. They stop.
THE THRONE ROOM
The tunnel ends in a room. This is the source of the chanting. There are three wendol, prostrate on the ground in attitudes of supplication. PAN UP to see the object of their veneration: the MOTHER of the wendol. She is backlit by fires, and difficult to see clearly, but she is very old, and filthy, and somehow frightening. She is surrounded by hissing, coiled snakes that are draped over her body, her head and shoulders, and writhing around her feet.
IN THE TUNNEL
The Vikings watch in horror. Buliwyf holds out his arm, to bar the others, and then moves forward.
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HERGER
(whispering)
This is his destiny.
THE THRONE ROOM
As Buliwyf creeps in. The supplicant wendol do not see him, but the mother screams horribly. The sound echos, reverberating in the cave. The three wendol scramble to their feet. Buliwyf falls upon them and kills them all swiftly with his dagger. He stands and faces the mother of the wendol, and he hesitates.
THE MOTHER is ghastly. She opens a rotted, toothless mouth, and her tongue flicks out, like a snake. Her eyes gleam red. Her entire manner is demonic. She hisses
MOTHER
Bul-li-wyf.....Bu-li-wyf...
Buliwyf holds his dagger, wavering...
And then he attacks her, and she screams, and the waves pound thunderously.
She tries to defend herself with a small silver pin, which she waves at him,
but she is obviously not prepared. Buliwyf stabs her repeatedly. She gushes
blood, like a fountain.
She never falls, but screams with each stabbing, and with each withdrawal, there
is an arc of blood. Finally Buliwyf steps back--she is apparently unkillable--and
he looks at her, as the blood pours from her many wounds, and she gives a final
blood-curdling howl, and tilts back her head, and falls on her back.
THE FALLEN MOTHER
The snakes slither and hiss around her.
BULIWYF
He turns to his warriors. He walks toward them. Only then do they see that he is wounded.
IBN FADLAN
(seeing the injury)
Buliwyf...
Buliwyf looks down: the silver pin protrudes from his stomach. With each heartbeat, it twitches. He stares for a moment, then looks back to his warriors, and pulls out the pin. Blood drips from the open wound.
BULIWYF
We must leave now.
And vigorously he leads them off in another direction.
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ANOTHER PASSAGE
As Buliwyf leads the warriors.
A LANDWARD ENTRANCE
As the wendol guards flee, scampering away. Buliwyf and his warriors come out, into daylight
BULIWYF
(pointing)
This way.
He leads them off.
EXT. A ROCKY STEP - PASSAGE
They climb up toward the top of the cliffs. Buliwyf leads, wincing a little. But he remains strong. They all follow, last of all Ibn Fadlan, looking worried.
THE WAITING HORSES
On the clifftop where they left them. the warriors mount up.
BULIWYF
Rothgar will not be glad to see us. He must set out still another banquet, and
he is a most depleted host.
He laughs, and the others laugh too, but hollowly.
THE VIKINGS RIDING
Back to the encampment. Buliwyf leads. Wincing in pain; it's worse now.
THE VIKINGS RIDING
Galloping back to Rothgar's camp.
EXT. ROTHGAR'S ENCAMPMENT
As the people cheer their arrival. The Vikings, led by Buliwyf, ride proudly
up to the great hall.
BULIWYF
We have killed...the mother...
And then he falls from his horse. The people gasp. His warriors quickly dismount to help him. they carry him into the great hall.
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BULIWYF
(as he is carried)
We must...be merry. A celebration!
INT. THE GREAT HALL - NIGHT
There is indeed, a celebration. As pagan and vigorous as ever. Ibn Fadlan kisses a slave girl, squeezes her breasts. Herger laughs and drinks, watching him. Ecthgow eats enthusiastically.
THE KING AND BULIWYF
Buliwyf has his stomach bound, and he sits next to the king. He is laughing,
but his color is ashen gray, he looks like a man about to die, even if he does
not act it. He kisses a slave girl.
BULIWYF
(to Rothgar)
I have no slaves.
ROTHGAR
All my slaves are your slaves.
BULIWYF
I have no horses.
ROTHGAR
All my horses are yours. Do not trouble yourself on these matters.
BULIWYF
(as slave girl leaves)
Where are you going? I am not a dead man!
And he takes her, and tumbles back on the ground, and fornicates out of view.
IBN FADLAN
He looks over and sees this. He nudges Herger.
HERGER
Do not be fooled.
BULIWYF
As he resumes his place at the table, straightening his clothes.
BULIWYF
A dead man is no use to any one.
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And he laughs again, and drinks mead.
IBN FADLAN
Drinking mead, too.
ANGLE DOWN - BULIWYF ASLEEP - LATER THAT NIGHT
He breathes shallowly. He is extremely pale, almost snow-white.
HERGER AND IBN FADLAN
They stare down at him.
HERGER
He is afraid, he will not wake from this sleep. See how he grips his sword.
BULIWYF'S SWORD
His hand grips it tighly.
IBN FADLAN AND HERGER
IBN FADLAN
Will he live?
HERGER
No. Think no more upon this. You must leep.
IBN FADLAN
I'm not tired.
HERGER
Sleep. The wendol will come tomorrow.
IBN FADLAN
Again?
HERGER
It will be their last vengeance. For the killing of their rnother. Now sleep.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ROTHGAR'S COMPOUND - DAWN
Nothing moves in the misty morning. There is no sign of life, nothing at all. Ibn Fadlan comes out, to piss.
page 90
THE HILLS BEYOND
Nothing, alI quiet. He stares at them.
THE GRASSY PLAIN
Silent in the morning.
ROTHGAR'S COMPOUND
As Ibn Fadlan finishes his urination. He yawns, and turns back sleepily to go
back into the great hall. then he stops. We hear the faint sound of thundering
hoofbeats. He turns and looks.
HIS POV - THE HILLS
Misty, shrouded. Nothing. But the sound cornes from there.
IBN FADLAN
Terrified. He is alone in the morning, with the thundering hooves bearing down
on him. He rushes inside.
INSIDE THE GREAT HALL
He rushes over to Buliwyf, and looks down.
HIS POV - BULIWYF
Peaceful, ash white, no breathing, evidently dead.
IBN FADLAN
As Herger comes over.
HERGER
Come, Arab. They know he is dead, and they have come to fight us.
OUTSIDE THE GREAT HALL
As the remaining Vikings emerge. First Ecthgow, then the consummate swordsman fighter, who rushes off to the left. Then Higlak, his admirer, who follows him. Then Skeld, the archer, who goes to the right. Then Herger and Ibn Fadlan, who go straight forward.
IBN FADLAN AND HERGER
As they craoch in what's left of the defense works. The hoofbeats are very loud, now.
IBN FADLAN
I wish we had Buliwyf, we are so few.
page 91
HERGER
We will manage. Wendol are few, too.
IBN FADLAN
They are men.
HERGER
Do men eat the flesh of other men? They are wendol. We will kill them all.
But Herger is not convincing. Ibn Fadlan looks over and sees
ECTHGOW
The consummate warrior is worried; he licks his lips.
HIGLAK
Patently afraid; his knees tremble.
SKELD
Frowning at his bow and arrows, unconvinced.
FEW OF ROTHGAR'S WARRIORS
As they come out, timidly, weapons in hand. they look afraid of their own shadows.
IBN FADLAN
As the sound of the approaching wendol grows.
IBN FADLAN
We will all be killed.
HERGER
HERGER
Who cares for that?
IBN FADLAN
IBN FADLAN
I care for that!
THE HILLS BEYOND
As we discern the first shapes of the charging wendol, coming out of the morning hazy mist.
THE VIKINGS
They watch, grim-faced, determined, but somehow defeated.
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THE CHARGING WENDOL
PANNING them as they rush forward toward Rothgar's camp. They are clearly going to be victorious.
THE VIKINGS
Ready to do their jobs, however dispiritedly.
ROTHGAR AND WIGLIF
They stand at a window and look out, timidly.
THE CHARGING WENDOL
Sweeping up the hiss toward the camp, furiously paced.
THE WAITING VIKINGS
Getting ready for battle.
THE DOORS TO THE GREAT HALL
As they suddenly burst open, with a bang.
THE VIKINGS
They look back toward the sound of the doors.
THE DOORS
As though them steps Buliwyf. He is dressed in white, and his skin is deathly white. He grips his sword in his hand. But most remarkable, he has two black ravens, on on each shoulder.
THE VIKINGS
They just stare.
BULIWYF
As he walks forward, with a measured step, looking directly ahead, recognizing nobody. Altogether, he is as white as the faint fog through which he moves.
HERGER AND IBN FADLAN
HERGER
They say that Odin appears among men, with a raven on each shoulder...
IBN FADLAN
Odin?
page 93
ECTHGOW AND THE OTHERS
As each takes up a triumphant shout.
ECTHGOW
Odin!
SKELD
Odin!
NOBLES
Odin! Odin!
BULIWYF
He moves, stately, through the shouting warriors.
WARRIORS
Odin! Odin!
THE WENDOL
As they charge forward.
POV - THE WENDOL - BULIWYF
As they see him with his ravens on his shoulders.
THE WENDOL
Their horses buck and rear; the charge disrupted by this sight.
BULIWYF
The ravens fly off, black wings flapping. He stands to meet the now-disrupted charge.
THE VIKINGS
Joining battle.
WARRIORS
Odin!
A WENDOL CHARGING BULIWYF
And bearing down on him. Buliwyf lops off the man's head. It is an almost superhuman effort, but he does it.
THE WENDOL
Seeing this, they fall back a moment, and when they charge again, it is less
purposefully.
page 94
ECTHGOW
Flinging his handaxe.
A WENDOL
Taking one in the chest, toppling from his horse.
A SLAVE GIRL
As a wendol cuts off her head as she runs.
A HORSE
Rearing and lunging.
IBN FADLAN
Looking positively fierce, as he joins fully in the attack.
WIGLIF AND THE KING
As they shutter their doors, cowardly.
BULIWYF
As he takes an arrow, then another. He still stands.
HERGER
As he hacks at a wendol with his sword.
THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WENDOL
We won't detail it here, excep't to note that Buliwyf is not seen again, after
the first arrows. Herger battles on. Ibn Fadlan fights valiantly. Wiglif runs.
Ecthgow is beheaded. Higlak runs to him and weeps openly over the dead body.
Skeld, the master archer, is also killed.
The wendol take a terrible beating. They do not collect their dead.
EXT. AFTER THE BATTLE
Three wendol--all that remain--ride off into the morning mist. Herger and Ibn Fadlan walk among the ruins of the fight.
HERGER
They did not take their dead. That means that it is over.
IBN FADLAN
They will not attack again?
page 95
HERGER
Not for a time. Not now.
They come upon the body of Buliwyf, among the ochers.
HERGER
Here he is.
IBN FADLAN
(near tears)
Does nothing make you sad?
HERGER
He died as a warrior, and for that, I am happy.
Ibn Fadlan bursts into tears, and cries. Comforted by Herger, he walks back
into the great hall.
HERGER
You are an Arab. It is all right.
INT. THE GREAT HALL - NIGHT
A banquet is laid out, but nobody is eating. The body of Buliwyf lies on the
ground in front of the king's table. At the table, Rothgar and his son sit.
ROTHGAR
Here is a warrior and a hero fit for the gods. Bury him as a great king.
Rothgar gets up and leaves the hall.
IBN FADLAN AND HERGER
HERGER
Rothgar is ashamed, that he did not fight himself.
THE KING'S TABLE
WIGLIF (remaining behind)
This Buliwyf has done us much service, all the greater for his death at the
concluding of it.
BULIWYF'S BODY
In repose at death.
IBN FADLAN AND HERGER
As Ibn Fadlan draws his sword.
page 96
HERGER
Do no battle this man. You have wounds.
IBN FADLAN.
Who cares for that. Bastard: Fight me!
Ibn Fadlan rushes forward. Herger comes up, and with a well-placed kick, sends Ibn Fadlan sprawling. Herger and Wiglif begin to fight.
WIDE ON THE ROOM
As the Herald moves around Herger, intending to kill him from behind.
IBN FADLAN
Seeing this, he plunges forward, and kills the Herald. He screams.
HERGER
Thank you, Arab.
The battle with Wiglif continues.
IBN FADLAN
Hesitating, then, he trips Herger, and kicks him away.
IBN FADLAN
I am sorry, my friend. This is my destiny.
And Ibn Fadlan fights Wiglif.
HERGER
Watch him, he is a fox.
IBN FADLAN
He is a dead man.
WIGLIF
(grinning)
We shall see, runt.
IBN FADLAN AND WIGLIF
In that moment, fighting while standing astride Buliwyf's corpse.
IBN FADLAN
Runt?!!
And Ibn Fadlan lunges, and kills Wiglif with a forward thrust.
page 97
WIGLIF
He screams and falls across the table. He reaches for the cup of King Rothgar. His hands almost touch it. Then he dies. The cup rolls, and falls to the ground.
IBN FADLAN AND BULIWYF
Looking down at the dead body.
IBN FADLAN
(to Buliwyf)
I do this for you.
WIGLIF
Dead, blood dripping over the table edge.
FADE TO BLACK
IBN FADLAN (over)
For the burial of the Viking chieftain, it requires a slave girl...
FADE IN ON
THE BEACH BELOW THE ROTHGAR CAMP - DAY
WIDE ON THE BEACH
Where a boat is fitted out, magnificently, and also there are several tents ranged around.
ONE OF THE TENTS
As a slave girl emerges, and is taken by a noble to the next tent.
IBN FADLAN (over)
...who will die with her master. First she has knowledge of each of the warriors,
saying, "My master thanks you."
The girl goes to the next tent.
INSIDE THE NEXT TENT
Ibn Fadlan waits there. The girl enters. She lies on the bed. He falls on her.
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OUTSIDE THE TENT
Where the nobles waits. Meanwhile, the ship is loaded with riches of gold and silver, and also the carcasses of dead horses.
INSIDE THE TENT
As Ibn Fadlan and the girl finish.
GIRL
(dressing)
My Master Thanks You.
IBN FADLAN
Tell your master, when you see him, that I have live to write his story.
GIRL.
Write?
IBN FADLAN
It was the wish of your master.
GIRL
Then I will tell him, for it will make him happy.
Smiling, cheerful, she leaves his tent.
EXT. THE TENTS
As the girl is led from one to another.
IBN FADLAN (over)
So the girl had knowledge of each of the warriors of Buliwyf. In the meanwhilee,
sacrifices were offered...
THE SHIP
As a dog is killed, and its parts thrown onto the ship. Also a dismembered horse, hacked into pieces, and thrown onto the ship.
EXT. THE SHIP - EVENING
As the girl is led by several warriors toward the ship.
IBN FADLAN (over)
Then in the evening, she was led to the ship by the warriors, and also the old
woman known as the angel of death.
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Whe see the old crone. The party halts near the ship, in front of a kind of door-frame of three pieces of wood, which stand in the middle of nowhere.
THE MEN
They hold up their hands for the girl to stand in, and they raise her up.
THE GIRL
As she is raised the first time, above the "door".
GIRL
Lo, I see my father and mother.
She is lowered, and raised again.
GIRL
Lo, I see my master, who sits in Paradise. Paradise is beautiful and green.
He calls me. Bring me to him.
They lower her.
ANGLE ON THE SHIP
As they lead her to a tent in the ship, located amidships.
INSIDE THE TENT
As the warriors gather, with the girl. Also the old crone. Buliwyf is there, propped up against the mast. He is black with cold and death. He stares straight forward.
THE GIRL
As the old crone, the angel of death, draws two anklets from the girl's feet. She tosses them outside.
OUTSIDE THE TENT
As the anklets are thrown out, and young girls scramble to retrieve them. Meanwhile, on this signal, warriors begin to beat on their shields, making a great noise.
INSIDE THE TENT
The men give the girl a cup of mead. She drinks it, smiling.
GIRL
With this, I take leave of those who are dear to me.
She is given another cup.
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GIRL
With this, I take leave of all of you.
She drains both cups. By now, she is obviously drunk. Still she suddenly hesitates, and seems about to leave.
Now Herger and Ibn Fadlan, at a prepared signal whip a rope around the girl's neck, and each of them pulls at it. The girl gasps and collapses back, her cries are masked by the pounding on shields from outside.
OUTSIDE THE TENT
As the men pound on the shields.
INSIDE THE TENT
As Herger and Ibn Fadlan strangle the girl. Meanwhile, the old crone plunges
a dagger through the girl's ribs. The girl writhes a moment, and dies.
ANOTHER ANGLE
As the girl, deathly pale, is propped against the mast, alongside Buliwyf who
is dark black. Both figures--the pale girl, the black man--stare straight forward.
IBN FADLAN
Your Master wishes it.
CLOSE ON BULIWYF
His black face, and his darkened eyes stare forward, dignified even in death.
OUTSIDE THE SHIP
As the warriors leave the ship, and everyone pushes it off the shore into the ocean.
THE SHORE
As archers, with flaming arrows, let fly.
THE SHIP
As the flames begin to engulf it, while it rocks upon the sea.
IBN FADLAN
Watching, sad but no tears.
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THE SHIP
Now burning brightly, a funeral pyre, it moves off into deeper water.
BULIWYF AND THE SLAVE GIRL
One black, one white, as the flames lick around them. They still stare forward.
THE SHIP
Now a flaming, blazing pyre.
IBN FADLAN
Crying, turning away.
A DOG HOWLING.
Seeing the pyre.
IBN FADLAN
Turned away, sobbing, not looking at the pyre. Herger puts an arm around him, looks back.
HERGER
We should be happy, for Buliwyf is burned in a twinkling, and so enters Paradise.
Be happy!
THE SHIP
Bobbing, burning, on the seas.
EXT. THE BEACH - DAY
ANGLE DOWN on a Viking ship, being fitted out.
EXT. A CLIFF ABOVE
Herger and Ibn Fadlan walk to the ship.
HERGER
You start upon a long journey. We shall make prayers for your safe-keeping.
IBN FADLAN
To whom will you pray?
page 102
HERGER
To Odin, and Frey, and Thor, and Wyrd, and the other gods who may influence
your journey home.
IBN FADLAN
I believe in only one God, who is Allah, the All-Merciful and Compassionate.
HERGER
I know this. (beat) Perhaps in your lands, one god is enough, but not here.
Here there are many gods and each has his importance, so we shall pray to all
of them on your behalf.
IBN FADLAN
I thank you for that. You are sincere.
They walk along, coming closer to the ship.
HERGER
What is the nature of your god Allah?
IBN FADLAN
He is the one god, who rules all things, sees all things, knows all hings, and
disposes all things.
HERGER
Do you never anger this Allah?
IBN FADLAN
I do, but he is All-Forgiving and merciful--
HERGER
When it suits his purposes?
IBN FADLAN
This is so.
HERGER
(after a long beat) The risk is too great. A man cannot place too much faith
in any one thing, neither a woman, nor a horse, nor a weapon, nor any single
thing.
IBN FADLAN
Yet I do.
page 103
HERGER
As you see best. But there is too much that man does not know. And what man
does not know, that is the province of the gods.
Ibn Fadlan smiles.
IBN FADLAN
Goodbye, North man.
HERGER
Goodbye, Arab.
They embrace.
EXT. A SHIP ON THE SEA - DAY
IBN FADLAN WAVING
As he looks back at the coastline.
IBN FADLAN (over)
Thus ended my adventures among the people of the North country.
HERGER ON THE SHORE
Waving goodbye.
HERGER
Luck, Arab...
And uncharacteristically, Herger begins to cry.
IBN FADLAN ON THE SHIP
Waving goodbye.
IBN FADLAN
Luck, you simple, primitive, stupid barbarians...
He is also crying.
IBN FADLAN
(a moment of triumph)
Odin!
HERGER ON THE SHORE
Hearing the shout.
HERGER
Al-lah... Stupid Arab bastard...
page 104
He begins to cry freely.
HIS POV - THE SHIP ON THE SEAS
Disappearing from sight.
CLOSE ON IBN FADLAN
He is crying.
CLOSE ON HERGER
He is also crying.
IBN FADLAN (over)
Thus ended my adventureg among the brutish and gavage men of the North country...
DISSOLVE TO
INT. IBN FADLAN'S ROOM - ARABIA
He writes.
IBN FADLAN (over)
...and so ends this account of my experiences among these people, and I praise
Allah for my miraculous and safe return...
PAN DOWN to the arabic writing. Teardrops spatter the page.
IBN FADLAN (over)
I wish them well.
The ink runs like blood.
IBN FADLAN
As we see his face. He mouthes the words as he writes.
IBN FADLAN
I wish them well.
FADE TO BLACK
END