Original subtitles

(IF I HAD A HEART PLAYING)

(HORN BLOWING)

(HORN CONTINUES BLOWING)

-(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) -(METAL CLANGING)

I know what you're all thinking.

But it is not true!

I didn't mean to kill him.

He made me kill him.

(BJORN SCOFFS)

He taunted me. He made fun of me.

What was I supposed to do?

What kind of a man

taunts and tells lies about his own brother?

And what lies did he tell?

Well, you know that as well as I do, Hvitserk.

He said you weren't a real man.

And what would you have done

if he had said that to you, Ubbe?

What would you have done if you were "a real man"?

I swear to the gods and everything that is sacred

that I never meant to kill him.

Anger overcame me.

And I wasn't thinking.

I am truly sorry.

You cannot leave him in charge of the Great Army.

BJORN: That is your affair, Ubbe.

You're his big brother.

You take charge.

I told you, this is none of my concern.

I plan to return to the Mediterranean...

(EXHALES DEEPLY) With Halfdan.

Will you return first to Kattegat?

I have no intention of doing that.

My fate is too urgent.

Then I will go there.

And I will tell Lagertha about

the avenging of your father's death

and the defeat of the Saxons.

And the great gift of land to our people.

And tell my mother,

and Torvi and the children

that I think of them,

and I will return...

If the gods will it.

Skol.

-(MUGS CLATTER) -Skol.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(HORSE NEIGHS)

(HORSE NEIGHS)

This place is full of ghostly memories.

-God help those who did this. -(HORSE NEIGHS)

If King Ecbert's body is here, let us find it!

-ALL: Yes, Your Grace! -(HORSE NEIGHS)

SAXON CAPTAIN 1: Spread out!

SAXON CAPTAIN 2: Captain! Call your men forward!

Search through there!

SAXON CAPTAIN 1: Look for signs of life!

SOLDIER 1: Can we make a search through here?

SAXON CAPTAIN 1: Bring some more men!

SAXON CAPTAIN 1: Yes! Five more!

SAXON CAPTAIN 1: Forward!

VIKING 1:Tie it up!

(SPEAKING IN OLD NORSE)

WOMAN 1: Time for food!

VIKING 1: We need to hurry!

Put those in the front.

VIKING 1: Take this! WOMAN 1: Be careful!

(WOMAN SPEAKING IN OLD NORSE)

VIKING 1: Do you have it? VIKING 2: Another turn!

VIKING 1: Don't go away!

HARALD: You are sure?

I don't understand why you want to split with me.

We're brothers. We belong together.

We've always had the same dream.

No. It's your dream.

You want to be King of Norway.

I don't have a dream about being the brother

of the King of Norway.

Then what is your dream?

(SIGHS) I want to travel.

I mean, what is your ambition?

You have ambition enough for the both of us, brother.

(CHUCKLES)

I'm a simple fellow.

Traveling to the ends of the known world,

that's enough for me!

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION IN THE BACKGROUND)

I will miss you.

Everyone needs a brother to cover their back.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION IN THE BACKGROUND)

I'll still do that.

Wherever I am.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION IN THE BACKGROUND)

(INHALES DEEPLY)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Go to your new boyfriend! Be happy together!

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

Tides are turning. We have to leave.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPEAKING IN OLD NORSE)

(SPEAKING IN OLD NORSE)

WOMAN: On the left.

SAXON SOLDIER 1: Only if we can use it!

SAXON SOLDIER 2: May as well pull it down.

CAPTAIN: Keep searching. SOLDIER 1: We need a fire!

SOLDIER 2: It's destroyed, it's no good.

SOLDIER 4: Salvage what you can!

SOLDIER 2: Pull it down!

SOLDIER 1: We might be able to use that!

(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)

(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)

(GRUNTS)

(PANTS)

I think we've found our King.

SAXON CAPTAIN: Godforsaken people.

Look what they've done.

(WATER DRIPPING)

(HORSE NEIGHS)

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

We must clean and restore this place,

despoiled by those heathen barbarians.

Tell the people who fled from here that it's safe to return.

DENEWULF: Yes, Your Grace.

(FOOTSTEPS LEAVING)

Hyah! Hyah!

-Hah! -(HORSE NEIGHING)

Hyah!

Walk on!

Ah...

(GRUNTING)

IVAR: Floki!

Why are you building a toy boat? Huh?

FLOKI: It's not a toy.

It's a one-man boat.

I don't need the help of anyone to sail it.

IVAR: And where do you think you're going to sail it to?

To where the gods decide.

I don't want you to go.

I still need you in the fight against the Christians.

My brothers are too soft and you know that, Floki.

Please?

You know that you are like my real father.

(SIGHS)

No.

Your real father was Ragnar Lothbrok.

The most famous man in the world.

Don't you ever forget that, Ivar.

Or the gods will punish you.

Now let me get on with my boat.

You cannot leave me.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

My brothers... (SNIFFLES)

(CLEARS THROAT)

They don't believe that I didn't mean to kill Sigurd.

But I didn't want to. He was my brother.

Hmm?

That is why you cannot leave.

I will be too lonely.

(SOBS)

(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)

I have to leave, Ivar.

With Helga gone, there's nothing left for me here.

This world no longer interests me.

That's why I will submit myself

to the tides and the winds,

and the will of the gods,

come what may.

(WHISPERS HOARSELY) My heart is broken.

It will repair.

(SOBS)

Ivar, the Boneless.

Scourge of the world, hmm?

You don't need me.

VIKING 1: Bring out the oars!

-(HORN BLARING) -(SIGHS)

(LAUGHS)

WOMAN: Good luck!

VIKING 1: Good luck! VIKING 2: Safe return!

(HORN CONTINUES BLOWING)

(SPEAKING IN OLD NORSE)

WOMAN 1: Gods be with you!

VIKING 3: Row! Keep the pace!

VIKING 4: May Thor be at your side!

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPEAKING IN LATIN)

And so we commit the body of Ecbert,

King of Mercia and Wessex, Bretwalda,

King of Kings, to the earth.

As the Lord sayeth,

"I am the Resurrection and I am the Life.

"He who believes in me though he is dead will live on.

"He who has life and his faith in me,

"to all eternity

"will not die." Amen.

ALL: Amen.

Why did the Northmen let you live?

I don't know.

I suppose they weren't interested in me.

So when I had a chance, I ran away and hid.

And what purpose did you serve here?

I transcribed and witnessed

the treaty between King Ecbert and the sons of Ragnar,

whereby they were granted the title

to the lands of East Anglia.

HEAHMUND: Even as he feared death,

King Ecbert should have never sold part of his inheritance

to those pagans.

He didn't.

What do you mean?

It wasn't his to sell.

You had best explain yourself.

Before he sent his family away, King Ecbert

renounced his crown in favor of his son, Prince Aethelwulf.

(INHALES DEEPLY)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Then Aethelwulf is King,

and the grant of land worthless.

Yes.

The King is dead.

Long live the King.

(WATER SPLASHING)

(WATER SPLASHING)

WOMAN 1: They need to dry here.

WOMAN 2: Take that one.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

WOMAN 1: I would use these nets.

MAN 1: (SHOUTING) Edgar!

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

(INHALES DEEPLY)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

How is he?

Alfred.

Is he dying?

I don't know.

(SIGHS)

I don't know.

AETHELWULF: It's just as the Holy Father said.

God has sent the Northmen here to scourge us,

punish us for all our vanity,

all our wickedness, all our abominable iniquities.

And how can you be so sure, Aethelwulf?

Because there's no other way to understand

what's happened to us.

-None. -Oh, of course.

Of course, God!

Alfred must... Must die for our sins?

For my sins!

No!

No one is without sin, Judith.

(SOBS) And I can only pray

that our Lord chooses to be merciful to us,

and bless us,

and cause His face to shine upon us again.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(MAN GRUNTING)

You were planning to leave

without telling us, Floki, huh?

I wanted to spare you the trouble of trying to stop me.

UBBE: But we will anyway.

(FLOKI SIGHS)

And you can't.

So let us just say farewell properly instead.

Where are you going?

FLOKI: Wherever the gods will take me.

But as long as I live and breathe,

you,

the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok,

will always be close to my heart.

-Farewell, Floki. -Hmm.

You are the greatest boat builder of all time.

HVITSERK: Farewell, Floki.

Beloved by the gods.

You knock-kneed fool.

Stay.

We need you just as much as our father needed you,

but instead you choose to run away, you coward.

Stand up and say that to my face!

(SIGHS)

MAN: I will see you again.

UBBE: Is it true he has completely

committed himself to the sea?

IVAR: Do not worry.

I have given him the means to guide himself.

We do not want him to be lost.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

MAN: Let Odin guide you!

WOMAN: Floki! Farewell!

MAN 2: All hail Floki!

ALL: (CHANTING) All hail Floki!

(CHANTING) All hail Floki!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

(CHANTING) All hail Floki! All hail Floki!

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

Ecbert, our martyred king,

hear my prayer.

Let the wrath of God fall upon these heathens

who desecrate the holy places of our land.

Let them suffer at our hands.

Slaughter them in battle.

Cut them down like the ears of corn at harvest.

Let us rejoice in their ruin,

and drive them back into the sea from whence they came.

And let God's holy church arm itself

against these worshippers of the devil.

And let this war never end,

until not a single pagan lives

or breathes.

Ecbert, martyr,

hear my prayer.

WOMAN: Hear my prayer.

ALL: Hallelujah.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

Do not be afraid.

-Christ is here. -(MURMUR IN THE CROWD)

-HEAHMUND: You are safe. -(ALL MURMUR)

WOMAN 1: Your Grace. Your Grace.

WOMAN 2: Your Grace.

Your Grace. Thank you.

Thank you.

God bless you, Bishop Heahmund.

God bless you.

MAN: Your Grace.

WOMAN: Bless you, Your Grace. Bless you.

-(MEN TALKING INDISTINCTLY) -(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

Speaking for our father, I think we should claim

and settle the land given to us by Ecbert.

The Saxons are in disarray.

This is a good opportunity.

We have the resources to make a permanent settlement.

Good.

Do you agree, Ivar?

I don't want to disband the army.

In fact, I want to continue the war against the Saxons

while we are still in a position of strength.

My suggestion is that we go back north,

to where we defeated Aelle.

We should establish a permanent camp, as you say,

but near the coast, from where we can raid wherever we want.

Our father's dream was that we wouldn't be just raiders.

That we would behave in a different way.

You're not listening, Ubbe. We have to have a stronghold.

If we go north, we are closer to our own lands

and shipping routes.

We can build an impregnable fortress.

Where?

I've heard of a town called York.

It is built on a major river,

and it is not far from the sea.

And I think that we should take it.

No. It would seem like a withdrawal.

IVAR: Yes, yes, it would.

But it is only tactical.

Surely you understand, Ubbe,

if we establish ourselves in the middle of the country,

then we are surrounded by enemies.

In York, we are nearer home.

Right, Hvitserk?

I agree with Ivar.

We should go north and attack York.

It's good.

(WIND WHISTLING)

(BIRD SQUAWKING)

Thank you, Ivar.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPLASHING)

SOLDIER: That the last of them?

(MEN TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

There's a lady in the church needs to talk to you.

WOMAN: Give us the strength, which the world cannot give,

with Your kindness,

with mercy, and under Thy protection. Amen.

For whom do you pray?

For all of us, in these terrible times.

-What is your name? -Aethelgyth.

Aethelgyth.

You should consider your own soul.

Will you take Mass at my hands?

Then kneel.

(SPEAKING LATIN)

(SPEAKING LATIN)

(SPEAKING LATIN)

Amen.

Amen.

(HEAHMUND GRUNTING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(HEAHMUND SCREAMS)

Lord, forgive this pitiful and miserable sinner.

(YELLS)

I have sinned in thought and in deed.

Please forgive me, three-person God.

Punish me, ravish me!

Cleanse me of my sin.

Father.

(TREMBLING) Father.

(CROW SQUAWKING)

IVAR: York. Look at her.

So ripe for plucking!

HVITSERK: And they don't even know that we're here.

I say we attack tomorrow before they find out.

-Yes. -Hmm...

UBBE: Wait.

I remember something our father said.

It was always better to attack an English town

when they are celebrating one of their Saint's Days.

On those days, most of the people

will either be in church or they will be drunk.

So how do we find out?

We'll find a way.

All right.

(DISTANT WHISTLING)

(STICKS CLATTER)

(CHILDREN BREATHING HEAVILY)

(GRUNTS)

(SIGHS)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

Hmm?

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

Er...

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

Now, we must make a sacrifice.

(GRUNTS)

(CHANTING)

(ALL YELLING AND CHEERING)

(BOYS SCREAMING)

(CHURCH BELL RINGING)

(GOAT BLEATING)

(ROOSTER CROWING)

-(SHOOTS) -(GROANS)

(SHOUTING) Northmen! Ready your bows!

SOLDIER 1: The walls! SOLDIER 2: Prepare!

CAPTAIN: Ready. MAN: Ready your bows!

SOLDIER: Stand up, men!

VIKING: Down!

(VILLAGERS SCREAMING)

SAXON CAPTAIN: You two, move!

-(ARROWS WHISTLING) -(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

-(SCREAMS) -(THUDS)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(WOMEN SCREAMING)

(ALL YELLING)

Charge!

(SWORDS CLANKING)

Hyah! Hyah!

(HORSE NEIGHING)

(YELLING)

Hyah! Hyah!

(SCREAMING)

(PRIEST PRAYING IN LATIN)

(PRIEST PRAYING IN LATIN)

(PRAYING IN LATIN)

(CONTINUES PRAYING IN LATIN)

(SCREAMS)

(PEOPLE SCREAMING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTING)

(MAN GRUNTING)

(BRASS KNUCKLES CLANKING)

(WOMEN SCREAMING)

(GROANS)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(PANTING)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

(WOMAN GASPING)

(EXHALES)

(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)

(GROWLING)

(ROARS)

Shh, shh, shh.

-(LAUGHS HYSTERICALLY) -Domine...

No!

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(GROANING)

(CRYING)

(WOMEN SOBBING QUIETLY)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

IVAR: Hold his head.

Hold it.

Take his head.

(SPEAKING LATIN)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(WHIMPERING)

(IN NATIVE TONGUE)

(WHIMPERING)

(HISSING)

(SHOUTING) Horse!

-MAN: Hyah! Hyah! -(HORSE NEIGHING)

(LAUGHS)

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

To you, my brothers.

And to our town of York.

To York.

And to all our brothers,

not forgetting Sigurd.

To all of us!

Skol.

Skol.

(CLATTERS)

(SCOFFS)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(HORN BLARING)

(GRUNTS)

-(CHUCKLING) -(PANTING)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTING)

Oh!

(PANTING)

-(GRUNTING) -(CHUCKLING)

(LAUGHING)

Enough. Enough.

-Oh! -(THUDS)

You are almost too strong for me, Guthrum.

You need someone else to train with.

You must remember your father was a great warrior.

He still is a very great warrior.

I don't mean Bjorn.

I mean your real father, Jarl Borg.

It is a name you must be proud of, and never forget.

And even though Ragnar killed him,

I know in my heart that they are now fighting

and feasting together in Valhalla.

(HORN BLARING)

Ships!

(HORN CONTINUES BLARING)

GUTHRUM: Who are they?

I have to warn Lagertha.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)

(THUDDING)

Queen Lagertha, I bring wonderful news.

The Great Army, led by your son Bjorn Ironside,

succeeded in avenging the death of Ragnar Lothbrok.

Both King Aelle and King Ecbert are dead,

but not before King Ecbert gave us a great gift of land

for future settlement.

You've done well to tell me this, King Harald.

But why did my son not bring the news?

-Is he dead? -HARALD: Oh, no.

Of Ragnar's sons, only Sigurd is dead,

killed by his own brother, Ivar.

Then I ask again, why is Bjorn not here?

HARALD: He told everyone he wished to sail

straight back to the Mediterranean,

and asked me to convey his respects to you,

his mother, and to Torvi,

the mother of his children.

Now tell me why you've really come here, King Harald.

(SCOFFS)

I told you.

Since your own son

refused to bring you the news of our affairs,

I thought I should do it.

And I thought that perhaps you wanted to find out how well

Egil the bastard had served you.

Perhaps you expected to find him here,

sat upon the throne,

keeping it warm for you?

Perhaps I did.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

The truth can be a bad choice for a wise man.

(LAUGHING)

I have never been accused of being wise.

Even so, I never took you for a fool.

But you know what they say,

"If a fool persists in his folly, he can become wise."

The gods may not give you the time.

(BLADE SCRAPING)

I cannot blame the gods.

They gave me so much else.

So much else.

(DRAWS SWORD)

I'm happy to die.

(SWORD CLANGING ON FLOOR)

Don't be afraid.

Strike.

(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)

Strike!

Strike!

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)