you another true thing, Unferth Kinslayer. If your strength and heart had been as strong and fierce as your words , then Grendel would never have crippled you. But he murders and gorges on you people, with no fear of retaliation. Tonight he will find Geats waiting for him: not crippled sheep, like you.
Hrothgar starts CLAPPING. Is he senile, or sensibly breaking up the fight?
HROTHGAR
Thatâs the spirit, young Beowulf! Thatâs the spirit we need! Youâll kill my Grendel for me.
CUT TO:
50 EXT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - SUNSET
50
A bloody sky in the west, and the sun hangs like a huge ball of orange fire. We hear the sound, MUFFLED, OF PARTYING. It sounds like theyâre starting to have fun in the hallâ¦
CUT TO:
51 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - GRENDELâS LAIR - SUNSET
51
Grendel is on the floor of its cave, rolling back and forth, moaning in misery. We cannot be sure whether or not Grendel is even awake. We can hear, distorted, THE PARTY SOUNDS.
CUT TO:
52 INT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - SUNSET
52
The party is in full swing, and, following the fracas between Beowulf and Unferth, everything seems to have loosened up. The Danes know that Grendel will not be attacking until dark, and are beginning to party.
Â
We see the glitter of gold everywhere, rings on fingers, light flashing from mugs and goblets (each person has his or her own mug or goblet). Beowulfâs thanes are eating, with their fingers and with knives, from a huge cut of beef on the table.
Â
Hondshew cuts a slice of beef, with his knife, and puts it into the mouth of Yrsa, who is walking past with a jug of mead.
Wealthow has brought a huge, silver and golden jug of gold mead out.
HROTHGAR
The High Kingâs mead! The finest mead!
WEALTHOW
For our brave Geats.
Wealthow moves from Thane to thane, pouring each of them a cup of mead, while Hrothgar says things like:
HROTHGAR
I know it doesnât look like much, but itâs the most powerful stuff we have. Three cups of that and theyâll be carrying you out of here.
The mead runs out just as it gets to Beowulf. Wealthow walks off, looking back at Beowulf.
UNFERTH
(to Beowulf)
The mead is gone, before Lord Beowulf mighty fighter of sea monsters had his cup of inspiration.
BEOWULF
At least I do not get my courage from the mead-cup.
But at this moment Wealthow returns, bearing high a huge golden cup crusted with jewels, the treasure cup, filled with mead. She smiles at Lord Beowulf and passes him the cup. The hall rings with loud CHEERS.
CUT TO:
53 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - GRENDELâS LAIR - SUNSET
53
Grendelâs eyes are open. We hear the CHEERS FROM THE PARTY, blasting at monstrous and distorted levels. Grendel clamps his hands over his ears and thrashes on the rocky floor of its Den.
CUT TO:
54 INT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - SUNSET
54
Wealthow gives the cup to Beowulf. The party is loud enough that they are able to speak quietly to each other, unheard by everyone else. Beowulf sips the mead from the goblet.
WELTHOW
The goblet is a gift for you, Beowulf.
BEOWULF
You do me great honour, lady.
WEALTHOW
It is we who are honoured.
(she hesitates then)
Grendel. Our curse. He is my husbandâs shame.
BEOWULF
Not a shame, but a curse.
WEALTHOW
Shame. Hrothgar has noâ¦other sonsâ¦And he will have no more, for all his talk.
And with these enigmatic words, she returns to the Kingâs throne, Beowulf following her progress back with his eyes.
Â
Someone SHOUTS âSpeech!â and the CRY is taken up by the whole room, slamming mugs and feet against the floor and the bench.
Â
ALL
(rhythmic chant)
Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech!
CUT TO:
55 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - GRENDELâS LAIR - SUNSET
55
Grendel writhes in agony as we hear this NOISE, louder and harsher than anything heâs heard so far. He MOANS. He hits his head against the cave floor, as if trying to distract himself from the noise, causing his forehead to bleed.
CUT
Hrothgar starts CLAPPING. Is he senile, or sensibly breaking up the fight?
HROTHGAR
Thatâs the spirit, young Beowulf! Thatâs the spirit we need! Youâll kill my Grendel for me.
CUT TO:
50 EXT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - SUNSET
50
A bloody sky in the west, and the sun hangs like a huge ball of orange fire. We hear the sound, MUFFLED, OF PARTYING. It sounds like theyâre starting to have fun in the hallâ¦
CUT TO:
51 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - GRENDELâS LAIR - SUNSET
51
Grendel is on the floor of its cave, rolling back and forth, moaning in misery. We cannot be sure whether or not Grendel is even awake. We can hear, distorted, THE PARTY SOUNDS.
CUT TO:
52 INT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - SUNSET
52
The party is in full swing, and, following the fracas between Beowulf and Unferth, everything seems to have loosened up. The Danes know that Grendel will not be attacking until dark, and are beginning to party.
Â
We see the glitter of gold everywhere, rings on fingers, light flashing from mugs and goblets (each person has his or her own mug or goblet). Beowulfâs thanes are eating, with their fingers and with knives, from a huge cut of beef on the table.
Â
Hondshew cuts a slice of beef, with his knife, and puts it into the mouth of Yrsa, who is walking past with a jug of mead.
Wealthow has brought a huge, silver and golden jug of gold mead out.
HROTHGAR
The High Kingâs mead! The finest mead!
WEALTHOW
For our brave Geats.
Wealthow moves from Thane to thane, pouring each of them a cup of mead, while Hrothgar says things like:
HROTHGAR
I know it doesnât look like much, but itâs the most powerful stuff we have. Three cups of that and theyâll be carrying you out of here.
The mead runs out just as it gets to Beowulf. Wealthow walks off, looking back at Beowulf.
UNFERTH
(to Beowulf)
The mead is gone, before Lord Beowulf mighty fighter of sea monsters had his cup of inspiration.
BEOWULF
At least I do not get my courage from the mead-cup.
But at this moment Wealthow returns, bearing high a huge golden cup crusted with jewels, the treasure cup, filled with mead. She smiles at Lord Beowulf and passes him the cup. The hall rings with loud CHEERS.
CUT TO:
53 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - GRENDELâS LAIR - SUNSET
53
Grendelâs eyes are open. We hear the CHEERS FROM THE PARTY, blasting at monstrous and distorted levels. Grendel clamps his hands over his ears and thrashes on the rocky floor of its Den.
CUT TO:
54 INT. HEROT - MEAD HALL - SUNSET
54
Wealthow gives the cup to Beowulf. The party is loud enough that they are able to speak quietly to each other, unheard by everyone else. Beowulf sips the mead from the goblet.
WELTHOW
The goblet is a gift for you, Beowulf.
BEOWULF
You do me great honour, lady.
WEALTHOW
It is we who are honoured.
(she hesitates then)
Grendel. Our curse. He is my husbandâs shame.
BEOWULF
Not a shame, but a curse.
WEALTHOW
Shame. Hrothgar has noâ¦other sonsâ¦And he will have no more, for all his talk.
And with these enigmatic words, she returns to the Kingâs throne, Beowulf following her progress back with his eyes.
Â
Someone SHOUTS âSpeech!â and the CRY is taken up by the whole room, slamming mugs and feet against the floor and the bench.
Â
ALL
(rhythmic chant)
Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech!
CUT TO:
55 INT. THE GREAT CAVE - GRENDELâS LAIR - SUNSET
55
Grendel writhes in agony as we hear this NOISE, louder and harsher than anything heâs heard so far. He MOANS. He hits his head against the cave floor, as if trying to distract himself from the noise, causing his forehead to bleed.
CUT
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