Battle with the Tarnhag
Excerpt from Beowulf

By Daniel Hwang

© 2018 Daniel Hwang

HIGH ANGLE Underwater - DAY
The depth of this lake is unknown. Bubbles begin to rise out of the
abyss with gradual intensity, and gradually a SHAPE begins to emerge.
A human…? Two FIGURES: GRENDEL’S MOTHER has BEOWULF locked in tight
embrace as they LAUNCH toward the surface.
ANGLE ON: Beowulf strains his eyes toward a growing light, teeth
clenched.
BEOWULF (underwater)
Ahhhhhh!!
LONG SHOT: Dimly lit CAVERN. Torches sparsely line the wall; piles of
treasure here and there; mainly weapons and armor from past victims.
On the left wall, there is a pool where…!
GRENDEL’S MOTHER leaps out of the water, high into the air. She drops
BEOWULF onto the ground.
HIGH ANGLE MEDIUM SHOT: BEOWULF tumbles violently and coughs up water.
LOW ANGLE SHOT: GRENDEL’S MOTHER arcs gracefully, then lands
violently, coiling her TAIL with a threatening HISS.
MEDIUM SHOT: BEOWULF rises to his feet and draws his sword.
OVER THE SHOULDER LONG SHOT (B): Across the cavern, GRENDEL’S MOTHER
(a shadow) rises from her coils.
CLOSE-UP: GRENDEL’S MOTHER’s face emerges, her eyes glowing a firey
red and her teeth bared in rows of sharp, gleaming white teeth.
No words need be spoken. GRENDEL’S MOTHER suddenly SPRINGS forward and
BEOWULF rushes forward with the roar. The battle ensues. BEOWULF’s
sword, Hrunting, clangs upon the head of GRENDEL’S MOTHER, but has no
effect. GRENDEL’S MOTHER appears to have the advantage over BEOWULF.
After a series of dodges, parries, and strikes, the two opponents
separate to re-establish the fighting ground.
MASTER SHOT: The two opponents briefly circle each other.
MEDIUM SHOT: BEOWULF throws HRUNTING down in spite, prepares himself
to rush back into battle. He remembers his fight with GRENDEL during
which no weapons were used, and a flame of bloodlust appears in his
eyes. With a shout, he springs forward and grapples with GRENDEL’S
MOTHER. He twists around to her back and puts her in a choke hold, but
she grabs him with her tail and begins to smash him violently against
the ground before throwing him into the wall.
CLOSE-UP SHOT: BEOWULF groans, his face bloodied and worn. The sound
of slithering appears and BEOWULF is slowly dragged until…

TWO-SHOT: GRENDEL’S MOTHER’s TAIL coils tightly around BEOWULF’s LEGS
and TORSO until just his HEART and HEAD are exposed.
OVER-THE-SHOULDER (GM): GRENDEL’S MOTHER raises a wavy golden knife,
the tip pointed threateningly at BEOWULF’S HEART as he prepares for
death. Suddenly...
LOW-ANGLE: She strikes!
CLOSE-UP: BEOWULF shuts his eyes as the blade strikes true. His face
relaxes and his eyes open to figure out…
...why he is not dead. His chain mail has saved him! Infuriated,
GRENDEL’s MOTHER strikes again, but is once again repelled. Again and
again she stabs at his heart, each strike with more fury and passion.
Finally she pauses and takes aim for BEOWULF’s...head!
CLOSE-UP: At the last moment, BEOWULF moves his head to the side and
the dagger glances off his helmet and into her tail. She lets out a
blood-curdling shriek as she swiftly uncoils, releasing her victim.
MEDIUM SHOT: Beowulf gasps for air and crawls away from the creature.
OVER-THE-SHOULDER (B): Beowulf spots an enormous sword whose hilt is
sticking out of a pile of spoils. He continues to crawl forward and
reaches for it.
REVERSE OVER-THE-SHOULDER LONG SHOT (B): GRENDEL’S MOTHER rips the
knife out of her tail. And casts a MENACING LOOK toward BEOWULF and
begins to approach him. She crouches, preparing to spring forward.
BEOWULF firmly grasps the sword, his back still toward her, but feet
and knees planted firmly on the ground. She springs! While she is in
mid-air, Beowulf swivels around, swings with his sword, and…!
WALLOPS her head clean from the body. The WRITHING body of GRENDEL’S
MOTHER continues to wobble through the air as it lands heavily on the
ground, sliding to a stop with her tail in the air. Finally, with a
solid THUMP, the tail is laid to rest.
CLOSE-UP: The light from GRENDEL’S MOTHER’s eyes fades away into
darkness.
MEDIUM SHOT: A panting BEOWULF looks askance at the decapitated body
with a look of closure on his face.

END