[man] Boy! The tide is on the turn!
I'm not warning you again!
[boy] Ships! There!
Danes... The devil's turds.
Are they traders?
No. They come as vikings! We go!
Go! Go!
[all grunting]
[man] Where's my son?
Uhtred, take half a dozen men and ride to the river.
There are pagans there, you watch them, see how many there are.
-Of course, Father. -Do nothing more. You understand?
-Yes, Father. -Osbert, what is it?
Ships! I saw them first from the beach.
-What ships? -Danes.
They're heading for the river!
[gasps]
Oh, God and his saints preserve us. They have no soul.
-We must pray. -We must act.
Uhtred, do not fight them, not a single one.
-Be back by nightfall. -Yes, Father.
They are sent by God to punish us for our sins.
Our sins be damned, they are here to support the Viking army in Eoferwic.
You must instruct the priest to pray for our deliverance.
-Aelfric! -Lord?
Get them inside!
We take in as many women and elders as we can,
and the rest to higher ground and out of sight.
Send word to rouse the country.
I want every man inside this fortress.
And every man must be prepared to die.
[wind whistling]
-[man 1] Port side ready to row! -[man 2] Port side ready to row!
-Starboard side ready to row! -Starboard side ready to row!
[men grunting]
Father.
-[men grunting] -[man gives orders indistinctly]
Taste.
Land.
-Fresh. -Sweet water.
-Yes. -What else do you see?
[exhales] I see a clear river, fish as big as a man's leg.
I see a forest alive with meat,
and more than that, I see a place to grow fat and old.
[horses neigh]
Horses.
Yeah, and I see spies shitting themselves.
[men] Yeah!
[men yelling indistinctly]
We'll meet sword with sword! You are pagans!
We have the greater god on our side!
Kjartan, I think we should teach this boy a lesson.
-Taking her in. At speed. -[man] Take her to speed!
[men grunting]
[baby crying]
[man yells indistinctly]
[lord] Why do I leave the villages unprotected and bring the men inside?
Is that your question?
A village can be rebuilt, a warrior can die only once.
The Danes may be heading south to Eoferwic.
But they will kill whoever they can on the way.
Now go find the priest.
Yes, Father.
[priest] Come in, Osbert, don't skulk in the shadows.
Yeah, he wants to know if you're ready?
Almost. Do you know what I am tasked with?
Um, a letter?
A response to a letter, this letter, from King Aelle,
asking your father for his support, his army,
to help recapture the city of Eoferwic.
This is why it is important for you to be able to read and write.
Father can't read nor write.
Yeah, well, for your father it's too late.
King Aelle could have sent a man on horseback.
Yeah, but who's to say the man on horseback speaks the truth
or has remembered the true message?
What these letters will represent is history, facts.
Your father is informing King Aelle and King Osbert
he will be alongside their armies at Eoferwic.
And the mark of Bebbanburg will guarantee the truth of it.
Why do we fight for Eoferwic?
Well, we fight for Eoferwic because we do not wish to see England
piece-by-piece become Daneland.
[Osbert chuckles]
I heard it said that we were pagans once,
that Woden and Odin are the same.
We saw the error of our ways and we looked to Rome.
I heard the pagans have fierce gods of war.
Well, we are right and they are mistaken.
Osbert, we are blessed.
I should make you swear on Saint Cuthbert's comb
never to mention the likes of Woden again.
But what if I had a hound called Woden?
What if I did? What would you do, then?
-You have not! -What then?
What about a pig called Thor?
Come, let's go see your father? Come!
[Osbert] A pig called Thor...
[Osbert] Is it really Saint Cuthbert's comb?
[priest] Of course it's Saint Cuthbert's comb,
and his holy hair lies in the teeth of that comb.
Where was your father last?
[Osbert] He was humping the servant girl.
-That's a lie, Osbert. -No.
Are you never gonna tire of teasing?
Nope!
[man] Horsemen approaching!
He rides Uhtred's horse.
Osbert!
[Osbert yells] No!
Bury what's left of him.
[panting]
Osbert, come on...
[lord] Remind me of the last words I spoke to him.
You told him to watch, "do not fight".
We have no idea of the circumstance--
-"Do not fight" means "do not fight." -He was young.
[lord] There was no fight to be had until Eoferwic.
[priest] You wanted to see Osbert, my lord?
You...
You are now called Uhtred. Uhtred, son of Uhtred.
-You have your stone, the amber? -Yes, Father.
The priest will show you your history, the parchments.
Make him understand who he is.
[priest] Lord, I should like to baptize him again.
Well, if he arrives at Heaven's gate as Uhtred,
they may wonder what's happened to Osbert.
Do what you must, but do as I ask.
Lord.
We were kings here once, boy.
Kings of all the lands between the Rivers Tweed and Tyne.
And we should be kings again.
Yes, we should, but it does not matter
what they call us so long as they obey.
Our ancestors took this land, and it has been strengthened with our blood and bone.
And now you are the new heir of Bebbanburg, do you hear me?
And you will die for it if needed.
Yes, Father. And I will give you the head
of the man who killed Uhtred.
No! You are Uhtred!
Have you not been listening to me?
Do not tell me what it is you will do, you are just a pup!
You will give me nothing, you will watch and you will learn!
Put him in the water before his mother's tongue gives me grief.
She's not my mother.
Will you take him with you to battle to watch and learn? He's old enough.
I need you to choose 30 men and remain here at Bebbanburg.
Protect the boy, he is the heir.
Thirty will hold and is few enough to feed.
Will you do this for me?
I'd rather be with you at Eoferwic,
-but I'll do as you ask. -Thank you.
[indistinct chatter]
[woman] Come on, quickly. Up there, go on.
[priest] Hurry, please.
[shivering]
[priest] Heavenly Father, receive Your servant Uhtred
into the holy kind of saints
and into the ranks of the most bright angels.
Let Your holy waters cleanse him and make him worthy of Your blessing.
Make him Your instrument and Your rod.
Let him realize the significance of the written word
so that he may learn of Your glory
and, in turn, may spread Your word.
[water bubbling]
-Beo-- -Let him grow in wisdom
and in respect, so he may lead in a godly manner...
Beocca, he's cleansed.
Amen.
[gasps]
[Beocca] Uhtred, son of Uhtred of Bebbanburg,
welcome to the Christian world.
Behold your people and your lands.
[cheering]
[birds squawking]
[footsteps approaching]
[Uhtred] Where are the people, the soldiers?
On the road to Eoferwic, led by your father.
He will join the other two kings of Northumbria.
With... Without me?
You are to remain at Bebbanburg with your kindly uncle.
I am sworn to keep you safe.
Should you wish to fight, we can arm wrestle.
-Where's the priest? -With your father. Eat.
You have work to do, Uhtred, in the stables.
Thankfully, we have been left some horses.
-You should eat. -[Uhtred] I'm not hungry.
We have work to do, horseshit to shovel.
Come and find me when you've finished.
[door shuts]
Scallion, if my brother falls in battle, the boy must fall.
[indistinct chatter]
[man coughing]
[dog barking]
[man] All this way and no reception party.
Earl Ragnar.
Guthrum!
-How are you? -I'm fine, I'm hungry!
-And your boy? -He's coming.
-Ragnar. -Ubba. I brought men and horses.
Good to see you. Are you well?
[men laughing]
You made a gift of his own son's head! How did this lord react?
He did nothing.
He brought his warriors into the fortress and kept them inside.
It was not cowardice.
Restraint. He is saving his men.
[Ubba] That man is Uhtred.
One of the three kings of Northumbria, a warrior king.
The other two are fools, they'd rather be here fighting each other.
This is true?
King Aelle and King Osbert, they, uh,
both lay claim to Eoferwic.
They have the strangest of names.
So, when do we fight?
Soon, I hope.
I am still to decide.
Fools or not, they have three armies.
-They have numbers. -[Ragnar] But are divided.
Three kings, but only one who can lead them, this Uhtred...
Then we kill him and Northumbria is ours, all of it.
[Ubba laughs]
Listen to him, listen to the boy, he reminds me of me!
Yeah, when you were younger.
Of course when I was younger, he's just a boy.
-Just saying. -Did you say I was old?
-Storri? I'm not getting old. -No.
Ubba, I have seen the land outside the city.
I have a plan in mind, a good plan.
And my son would like to wet his sword with you.
So do we fight?
Storri?
The signs are good.
Only this morning, I saw a raven
flying towards the Saxon camp,
and he was asking me to follow, I'm sure of it.
[Ubba sighs pensively]
Then we fight.
[men cheering]
[Osbert] What kind of hell is this?
It's a pagan's hell. We outnumber them!
But there are more, there must be...
Nothing changes. We attack with half our number,
the second half have to follow
once we have the measure of them.
They have conceded to higher ground.
[Osbert] King Aelle, yours and Lord Uhtred's armies
will attack in the first wave.
Prepare! Prepare!
[horns blow]
[Uhtred] Shield!
No... No, not without me!
Come nightfall, we'll be rid of this plague
and counting our share of the plunder!
[all cheer]
[Aelle] My shield!
[indistinct whispering]
[whispering stops]
Kill them all!
[all yelling]
[grunting]
[Aelle] The wall is holding.
Go! Transfer all your shield and drive!
Drive!
Ease.
Ease!
[Uhtred] Push! Keep pushing! It's working!
Drive them!
[screaming]
[Beocca] They are tiring, they can't fight back.
-We're winning, look. -[man] We're winning...
[indistinct yelling]
[Uhtred yells]
Not yet! Not yet!
Dear God, no...
[all yelling]
[Ragnar] Shieldwall!
[Danes shout]
Dear God of infinite mercy, not this!
Kill them all!
[screams]
[Uhtred] Legs! Legs! Protect your legs!
Lift up Your sword
and spare these men of England who fight in Your name.
Let the heathens' hearts crumble and wither.
Restore Your power upon these men of England,
so they can glorify Your name with the blood of the devils.
Have mercy now, lord.
Do not forsake us, do not forsake England.
[Uhtred] Follow me! Follow me!
Take him!
[grunting]
[Ragnar] Close the shieldwall! Close the wall and take him!
[gasps]
No!
[yells]
He's like a wasp.
-The wasp has lost its sting. -[Ragnar] Yeah.
[yells]
[groans]
[pants]
[groans]
Are you sure he's a Saxon? He fights like a Dane.
Yeah.
[grunts]
[indistinct chatter]
-[dog barks] -[woman screams]
[man screams]
[Ragnar] Leave her!
She is to live.
Some of these young ones can come in useful.
Father, there's the boy I spoke of.
The one who almost killed you? And you're leaving him with me?
I've never seen a man get the better of you yet.
[all cheer]
[woman screams]
[Ravn] Cut me some chicken.
Careful, the blade is sharp. It can kill a man.
The chicken is on your platter.
Have you always been blind?
Oh, I see enough.
So... who have they been killing below?
[woman screams]
[Uhtred] Prisoners...
Just now, a king.
-Did he die well? -No.
Then he shouldn't have been king.
Tell me, who sits in the middle of the hall?
[man screams]
Is it a big man and a small man?
[Uhtred] Yes, and a gray man sits in between them.
If you get to live, you should beware of the big man: Ubba.
My advice for you is
to never cross Ubba and never, never fight him.
If I get to live?
He listens to no one but the gods.
Men who take their orders from the gods are unpredictable.
What did you mean when you said if I get to live?
You're my prisoner.
The gray man will be Egbert, he's a Saxon ealdorman.
He has pledged allegiance and now he calls himself a king.
He is king of nothing.
Soon all of the kings in England shall be kings of nothing.
Northumbria's ours, Mercia will soon by ours.
Then East Anglia, Cornwallum,
and then the greatest prize is the last kingdom: Wessex.
I've heard of Wessex.
Anything will grow in Wessex.
[men groan]
Tell me your name.
Uhtred... I am the ealdorman of Bebbanburg.
You are, huh?
I am... I own lands to the north.
How long have you been an ealdorman of these lands?
Your father chose to fight us
and he's now... dead.
He... He was not fond of me.
I now understand why my son spared you...
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, you are a warrior.
Have some ale.
Drink it...
lots of it.
[man] Here.
Take it up there.
[clinking]
I am thinking of keeping them both,
the boy and the girl They can help your mother.
Disagree?
No, but we did kill his father.
And if he is an ealdorman, we could sell him for ransom.
Perhaps.
[gasps softly]
[water sloshing]
[woman] Brida, be careful not to spill the water.
You'll turn the floor to mud.
Uhtred, wood needs to be chopped.
Brida, you can do the goats.
[girl] Will there be time for Uhtred to play?
Only when work is done.
[Ragnar] I don't like our daughter having to play with the slaves.
-They're only children. -They have a place.
Grumpy...
[man] My horse.
Hey, Ragnar Ragnarson!
Hey, Uhtred of... wherever.
How about you teach me how to use a sword.
We don't teach slaves how to fight.
That tongue of yours will be your death, boy.
Now get back to work!
What does the play involve?
We built a hall in the gorge.
I'm a mistress and Uhtred is a warrior.
-Not a servant? -It is a game.
[children giggle]
-[Uhtred] A wolf? -[Brida] Uhtred!
-That was it, a wolf. -Boar, watch out!
I saw it, it's sharp teeth and yellow eyes.
Don't let the wolves get to me, Uhtred.
Use the fire to keep them away.
I see them. They are as big as Ubba and smell worse.
[cooing]
Did you see that?
[branch snapping]
[girl] Uhtred?
Stay up there.
[Brida gasps] Look!
Uhtred, what is happening?
Stay up there, Thyra.
It's Sven, he won't hurt you.
[Brida] But he'll kill us.
[yells]
[Brida] He will kill us! Run!
That was a real sword!
I saw it.
[Thyra screams]
-Uhtred! Uhtred! -Thyra!
[Thyra sobs]
[yells]
What's this? You been fighting again?
[Uhtred] Yes.
With Sven?
Kjartan's son?
[Uhtred] Yes.
Uhtred, he's much bigger than you.
-He's a turd. -Why do you say that?
[Ravn] Who started it?
-Who began the fight? -[Uhtred] I began the fight.
For no other reason than that he's a turd?
Danes have murdered for less.
[woman] Uhtred, that's enough!
-You want to be sold boy? -I wish to eat.
-[Ragnar] Speak up. -I wish to eat!
You want to eat?
You know what? I say you starve.
Fighting is expected, disobedience is not.
-[slapping] -[Uhtred grunts]
Sven began the fight!
[Ragnar] Kjartan! Kjartan!
Earl Ragnar, let me first say he's a... he's a good boy.
He brought this sword onto my land. I will have words with him.
In time, he'll serve on your ship. He... he--
-He's offended me. -He'll honor you
and he meant no harm, lord.
He meant no harm?
He looked at my daughter's nakedness.
And he was punished, your Saxon slave cut him.
[Ragnar] Shall I make a square of branches?
Are you gonna fight me for your son or fetch him?
Sven! Come out here.
Tell him what you have to say.
-I'm sorry. -He can't hear you.
I'm sorry, lord, for what I did.
You laid hands on my daughter. You stripped her naked.
-Half naked, lord. -He is at an age, lord.
-Is this true, half naked? -Yes, lord.
[exhales]
Then I shall only take his one eye.
[Kjartan] No, lord, please!
[Sven grunts]
[Ragnar] Kjartan, you are banished from my land.
[Sven groans in pain]
[fire crackling]
I have something for you.
What is it?
An amulet, Thor's hammer.
Ah, but, um...
But what?
You're Christian.
Take it.
-I can't. -Don't you want it?
-I... I do want it! -Take it.
-I'm trying. -Take it!
-[Uhtred grunts] -I don't think he wants it.
-I... I do want it! -No, I don't think so.
Thank you.
Tell me about Denmark...
your home.
What can I say about Denmark?
It's wet.
And harsh... and the ground is so flat and sandy
you can't grow a fart.
Which is why we are here in England.
To grow.
And why young Ragnar will soon be going for Ireland.
You leave to fight?
To make my wealth.
If you want land or silver, you have to take it.
You made me... proud today... Uhtred...
You made me proud.
[birds squawk]
[Aelfric] I don't know you. You don't have the appearance of a messenger
and Ubba's payments not yet due.
No, lord, I was a ship's master.
Ah, well I have no ships, I need no ship's master.
I have news that you will want to hear.
Well...
I would want something in return, lord.
[scoffs]
Not now, not quite.
But perhaps we could continue to help each other.
Perhaps.
Two days south of here.
This little rat with the man I used to serve until he banished me.
He has a slave, treats him well.
This is a slave you are entitled to buy back if you wish to.
Buy back?
It's your nephew Uhtred, lord. He lives.
[men talking indistinctly]
[Uhtred] What if I'm against being ransomed?
Your family has discovered that you're still alive,
and they wish for you to be returned. But they must pay.
Pay Ragnar?
Ubba takes more than half. It's normal.
But I have no family.
[Ragnar] Keep them over there, tether the horses.
Scallion, here.
Uhtred. Are they treating you well?
I am fed, yes.
Good, good. That's all we ask.
And what is that around your neck, some symbol?
Oh, this... They make me wear it.
May I see it?
Look, I will speak plainly. Your uncle will kill you.
Right? You cannot go back to Bebbanburg, you must escape.
He wants to be the ealdorman. He wants to be the king, in fact,
like the pathetic Egbert over there.
A puppet king for his Danish masters.
You should go to Wessex.
King Aethelred, real King Aethelred,
and his brother the Prince Alfred,
they are good men, good Christian men.
[Ragnar] That is enough whispering in his ear, priest.
-Uhtred! -One more word and I'll have your balls.
[whispers] I will meet you there.
[speaks normally] That will not be necessary.
What did he say?
He... He asked if you were treating me well.
-[Aelfric] How much? -[Ravn] Three hundred.
[Aelfric] That is a ridiculous amount.
How can a boy be worth 300 pieces of silver?
Because I say so, because he is a lord, an ealdorman.
He is a boy.
I am the ealdorman of Bebbanburg.
I carry the seal and the banner.
That seal is my father's, which is now mine!
You will be silent. You are for sale, nothing more.
-For ransom, lord. -That is what I said.
My lords, I have given up land, horses,
I have offered a generous supply of food as well as my sword.
All I ask in return is a fair price for my only nephew.
[Ravn] What would you say is a fair price?
[Aelfric] I will offer 100 pieces of silver.
[Ravn] Two hundred.
My allegiance and 100 pieces is surely a fair price.
[Ravn] It is not.
I will give 120 pieces of silver for the boy.
[Ravn chuckles] Not enough!
Very well, 200 pieces.
I agree to your terms.
[whispering indistinctly]
The boy's sold to Earl Ragnar.
-What? -Ransomed, lord!
That's what I said! So the matter is closed!
My lords, I have come a long way,
I have offered my allegiance.
Which is why you are allowed to breathe.
If you have an argument, it's with me now.
If business is done, we have ale to drink.
And King Egbert needs to sit.
[laughs]
[Uhtred] Am I not for ransom anymore?
[Ragnar] You heard Ubba, I bought you.
I thought I might sacrifice you to Odin.
You bought me for how much?
-Too much. -How much is too much?
My sword's weight in silver.
I agree, I may have been robbed,
but we like you boy, we're going to keep you.
[Uhtred] Does this mean I'm a Dane?
It means is you are Uhtred Ragnarson. You are a son to me now.
[Uhtred yelps]
Brida, not that way! Take the goat out the side.
Next time, I promise!
[Thyra] Mother, look!
It's beautiful, it really is.
I can't believe I'm losing you already!
I will be living across the field.
And if he doesn't treat you well, you come right back across that field.
[Uhtred] Oh, look at this place...
Uhtred, do you like my wedding necklace?
I do, very pretty.
[Ravn] He doesn't know anything about necklaces.
You might as well ask me.
Uhtred, with me. You can help me slaughter the goats.
[Uhtred] I've only just washed.
[Ragnar chuckles] The goats will be pleased.
[Brida] Later you can sweep the floor.
[Brida gasps and laughs]
Move over!
[Ragnar] This is an excuse to talk, that's all.
With Thyra to be married, maybe it's time you got together with Brida.
There are men, good men, asking about her.
So you have to decide what you are to her, what you are to each other.
[chuckles] Brida has her own mind.
She has... but I see the way she looks at you.
She's watching the charcoal tonight in the woods.
Take my horse and join her.
-The earth will be warm. -[laughs]
Why not?
I just thought, in order to be a real Dane, I had to marry a Dane.
[Ragnar sighs]
Come on.
I love you like I love young Ragnar.
[indistinct chatter]
What are you doing here?
[they breath heavily]
[they moan]
[both giggle]
Do you ever think of your English life,
who you were before we came to Ragnar?
No.
Do you?
-I think of who I-- -Shh!
[men whispering]
Voices...
Men below.
Danes. Who are they?
[man whispers] This way...
That's Kjartan! Remember him?
That must be Sven.
This is wrong. We need to tell Ragnar.
They are between us and the wall.
Then we go up and around, we leave the horses and run.
[whispering] In front of the door. That's it!
[dog barks]
[Ravn] Ragnar, smoke!
Fire!
Thyra! Wake up!
Wake up! Fire!
[screaming]
[Ragnar] Come on! come on!
[woman] This way. Ravn!
Come. Come quickly.
Come!
[Ravn coughs]
-The door is blocked! -[Ragnar] So is this one!
Be ready.
[screaming]
This one's open, this one's open!
Come on, follow me! This way!
[screaming]
[indistinct orders]
[Kjartan] Archers!
[Ragnar] Don't go up there, wait for me!
[woman] Come. Come!
Ragnar!
Close the doors, we have Thyra.
Let the rest burn.
[grunts]
Take her with you to Valhalla.
-Yes. -I will meet you there.
[yells]
-[Ragnar grunts] -[men scream]
[Ragnar screams]
[Brida] Oh, no...
Find the silver!
Now!
[men speak indistinctly]
They're searching for Ragnar's wealth.
They'll never find it.
[Kjartan] Search in the back! Come on, were leaving soon.
[Sven] You thought I'd let you marry someone else?
But... do you know what I will do with this body...
this... mouth?
I will do all I have dreamt of... and more.
And who will call a halt?
Earl Ragnar the Fearless is gone.
And, with him, Uhtred,
his Saxon pet, a pile of ashes.
Anything.
Get down!
Look at that man, the Saxon. His name is Scallion.
He works with my uncle. He'll tell him that I'm dead.
-Let him do it. -I see him with Kjartan.
[Kjartan] Burn it to the ground.
[Brida] He and your uncle maybe are in it together!
And what makes them believe they can do this without punishment?
Shh! They will be punished, but not by you.
Uhtred, listen to me, we serve Ragnar best alive, we tell the story.
-I need to kill someone. -No.
And I choose him.
Uhtred, no!
[man] Come on!
[men speaking indistinctly]
[sighs]
[laughing]
[Kjartan] The main thing is to keep the horses together, yeah.
Don't leave any weapons behind.
Move those over and we'll look in the back.
Don't leave anything in there, just bring it all out.
[pants]
-Yeah, come on. -[man] Over here!
OK, come on.
[grunts]
You know who I am? It's me your looking for.
-[blade pierces skin] -[grunts]
It's me your looking for.
You remember me? You remember me?
[groans]
[pants]
-There's no more. We are going! -Come on!
[Kjartan] Bring the horses.
[sobs]
[grunts]
By right, it belongs to young Ragnar.
[Brida] Yes...
But we spend what we need to spend. We stay alive.
We tell the story and then what?
We find a new lord to serve.
I will not stand by and have everything that is mine taken from me.
I'm going back.
Where?
To the beginning.
[horn blows]
-Is it Scallion? -No, my lord.
-He looks like a Dane. -Could be one of Kjartan's men.
I am Uhtred of Bebbanburg, and I shall take what is mine!
Bebbanburg is mine!
Horses!