face.
Â
CAIN reaches out, tentatively, for a golden goblet, similar to the one Wealthow gave young Beowulf earlier.
CUT TO:
127 EXT. GUTHRICâS HALL - DAY
127
Guthric is standing at the door to his hall. Then, almost to his surprise, in comes Cain, edging towards him in a servile,
scared sort of way. He is cradling the goblet, so it cannot be seen.
GUTHRIC
Cain!
CAINIâ¦
Iâm sorry I runned away, master. I brought you something -- what I found. Please donât hurt me no more.
CLOSE ON: Guthricâs face -- he says nothing, and then he viciously hits Cain.
GUTHRIC
I thought youâd come back when you got hungry.
Cain goes tumbling to the ground, WHIMPERING and MOANING and pleading.
CAIN
Sorry master, sorry, please no master, please noâ¦
Guthric kicks at the fallen Cain, and the Golden cup falls from his grasp, and rolls onto the snow.
CAIN
Brought it for you. Good master. Nice master. Sorry. Sorry.
Guthric looks at Cain, and then reaches down and picks up the goblet.
Â
The weal across Cainâs face has started to heal and scab. He looks scared.
CAIN
Please donât kill me.
GUTHRIC
(taking the goblet)
This is quite exquisite. Where did you find it?
CAIN
(too scared, initially to speak, he says nothing but points to the moors, then, nervously)
Up there. On the moors--
GUTHRIC
You didnât steal it?
CAIN
I swear I didnât master!
Guthric holds the Goblet up to the lightâ¦
CUT TO:
128 EXT. KING BEOWULFâS CASTLE - DAY
128
The sea spray lashes the rocks in front of Beowulfâs castle. We are looking in at from the sea.
129 INT. KING BEOWULFâS CASTLE - ANTEROOM - DAY
129
There are A COUPLE OF GUARDS guarding the way. Old Wiglaf is standing beside Guthric, who is holding something wrapped in cloth at his side.
OLD WIGLAF
Well, I really do not know, Guthric.
GUTHRIC
It is vitally important that I see the King, Lord Wiglaf. I am certain that Beowulf wants to see what I have brought to him.
OLD WIGLAF
Hmmâ¦I, um, Iâll tell you what, Guthric, you leave it with me and Iâll make sure his majesty gets to see it. Yes?
GUTHRIC
(keeping his temper but the effort is showing)
No! Look, I have brought something for King Beowulfâs eyes. Iâm not going to give it to just anyone and watch it vanish into thin air.
OLD WIGLAF
I am not just anyone. I am the Kingâs chamberlain and I am certainly not going to
GUTHRIC
For the last time, you doddering old coot! I have a gift for the King, and--
But he is interrupted in his turn by King Beowulf. Who entered unnoticed.
KING BEOWULF
And you may at least show it to the king, Guthric.
GUTHRIC
Thank you, your majesty. It was found on the moors, a gift fit for a King.
He offers the goblet, still wrapped in oilcloth, to the King. King Beowulf unwraps the cloth.
KING BEOWULF
A fine piece, Guthric. Long it is since I have seen something as fine, and old. You found it, you say?
GUTHRIC
One of my slaves found it. It is a gift for you, my lord.
KING BEOWULF
It reminds me of somethingâ¦
GUTHRIC
I thought perhaps we could talk again about my sisterâs bride-price.
CUT TO:
130 EXT. GUTHRICâS HALL - SUNSET
130
Guthric draws his horse up outside his hall. Heâs in a good mood, and is singing happily to himselfâ¦breaks off as he realizes thereâs no-one there to meet him.
GUTHRIC
(calling out)
Cain! You good-for-nothing! Help me off my horse!
(to himself)
If heâs run away againâ¦
Thereâs a pause. No-one comes. The place is in silence. Smokeâ¦or mistâ¦hangs on the air.
GUTHRIC
Hello? Anybody here? Gretchen? Children? Wilferth?
But there is silence.
Guthric slides off his horse, and walks into his
131 COURTYARD
131
There, in the courtyard, stand, in expressions of UTTER TERROR, as if caught trying to flee, standing and lying, CHARCOAL-BLACKENED, CARBONIZED CORPSES of Lady Guthric, children, slavesâ¦but no
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