Chapter 4

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.

"Hiccup, what did that book ever do to you?" Fishlegs asks.

"It hit me on the head several times" Hiccup says with a straight face which makes everyone laugh. Hiccups Huffs. "That book is very mean."

HICCUP

Uggh, the gods hate me. Some people lose their knife or their mug. No, not me. I manage to lose an entire dragon.

Hiccup WHACKS a low-hanging branch. It SNAPS back at him, hitting him in the face.

Laughter could be heard from both the dragons and humans.

I notice Hiccup look down in shame, then Red whispers something to him, and he brightens up.

He looks up to see a snapped tree trunk. His eyes follow it to a long trench of upturned earth. He follows it to a downed, black dragon, its body and tail tangled in a bola. It appears dead. Hiccup approaches, beaming.

At this point most Vikings are openly gaping. Before Hiccup could apologize to Toothless he gets a big lick. "EEUUW, Toothless, You KNOW THAT DOESN'T WASH OUT"

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.

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!

There was a collective intake of breath as the Vikings watched.

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.

"Why doesn't he kill the dragon." Vikings could be heard muttering.

He turns to leave. Pauses. And glances back at the dragon, chest heaving. 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. As the last rope falls free, the Night Fury suddenly POUNCES!

Stoick and Gobber raise their hands before their eyes, afraid of what might happen.

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.

Hiccup starts counting down "3…2…..1"

"Hiccup!" Stoick screams, and stands going over to his son. I take my remote and press the blue button. Suddenly a giant pile of grass falls on Stoick, effectively burying him. Gobber, and many of the Vikings can't stop laughing at the scene, while the dragons are sniffing the air.

"What is that stuff?" Red asks as he watches a hoard of Terrible Terrors attack the grass pile.

"Oh, just some dragon-nip.' I say (with an evil smirk).

"Now Stoick, are you calmed down enough so that we can continue" I ask to the pile. Only muffled words are heard over the chattering, and purring of the Terrors. Pressing another button on the remote promptly vanishes the grass pile. The Terrors return wobbling to their seats completely high on dragon-nip. Stoick stands up, and sees a Terror gnawing on his beard. The Terror scurries off at the glare he receives, while Stoick returns to his seat grumbling about teenagers.

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.

"Oh, busted" Snotlout, and the twins jeer.

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

(Hiccup)I've decided I don't want to (Stoick) I think it's time you learn fight dragons. (Hiccup) to fight dragons.

(BEAT) (BEAT)

What? What?

There is laughter from both sides. "Do they always change their minds at the same time" Astrid asks, to which Gobber simply nods an affirmative, earning glares from both Stoick and Hiccup.

STOICK (CONT'D)

You go first.

HICCUP

No, you go first.

"You should have gone first" Red remarks.

"Don't I know it" was Hiccup's only reply.

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-

I simply raise an eyebrow at Hiccup. "What, I don't work well under pressure" Hiccup said waving his hands around in the air.

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.

"You should really listen to your hatchling" a female Monstrous Nightmare says to Stoick. The dragons, some Vikings, and even Drago nod.

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?

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.

"That's going to be hell on the shoulders" Hiccup remarks dryly.

You talk like us.

"Can you guys even understand each other with your thick accents?" Hiccup asks.

You think like us.

"NOOO, my brain, I don't want it to turn into a walnut" Hiccup exclaims holding his head.

No more of...

(GESTURING NON-specifically at Hiccup)

... this.

HICCUP

You just gestured to all of me.

A Nadder spike shoots past Stoick, barely missing his mustache. "You fear your sons adaptability, and thus scorn his individuality. How dare you." Toothless growls. Many dragons are glowering at Stoick for his statement.

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.

Stoick heads out the door, leaving Hiccup holding the axe.