THOR treatment

Something I was tinkering with...


THOR TREATMENT #4

CREDITS BEGIN ROLLING WITH SCENES OF VIKINGS AND GODS, AS IF CARVED IN WOOD BY ANCIENT NORSEMEN. BUT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE CREDITS THE CARVED FIGURES ARE FOR BRIEF TEASING FLASHES REPLACED BY STILLS OF CHARACTERS FROM MOVIE IN IDENTICAL POSITIONS. WE GET A GLIMPSE OF A SCENE OF VIKINGS ATTACKING MEN ONLY SEEN IN PART. THIS THEME BECOMES MORE PREVALENT AS WE NEAR THE END OF THE CREDITS.

TABLEAU RESOLVES INTO WALKTHROUGH SHOT OF OLD ENGLISH VILLAGE BURNING. CAMERA PANS TO SHOW DESTUCTION AND FLAME AND WHAT SEEMS TO BE BODIES ONLY HALF SEEN. SHOT THROUGH THESE VIEWS ARE OTHER IMAGES OF SNOW SWIRLING ON A MOUNTAIN TOP, BECOMING THE SIGHT AND ROARING THUNDER OF AN AVALANCHE, AND WE SEE OUR OWN HANDS CLAWING AT THE SNOW AND IT ENVELOPES US AND WE HEAR A MAN SCREAMING…

CUT TO DONALD BLAKE RIPPING BEDSHEETS OFF HIMSELF – BLONDE MAN IN EARLY THIRTIES. HE LOOKS TIRED WITH BED HAIR – LOOKS AT CLOCK AND SEES IT IS VERY EARLY MORNING. LIES IN BED A MOMENT WITH EYES CLOSED BREATHING HARD THEN ROLLS OVER TO RESUME SLEEP.

CUT TO MORNING. BLAKE MAKES HIS WAY THROUGH NEW YORK STREETS, STOPPING FOR HOT DOG WITH EVERYTHING. HE WALKS WITH A CANE FAVORING ONE LEG, AND AS HE MAKES HIS WAY ALONG IS PASSED BY YOUTHS RUNNING WHO PUSH PAST HIM AND ALMOST KNOCK HIM OVER. AS HE MAKES HIS WAY ACROSS THE STREET WE SEE A CLOSE UP OF A BLACK BIRD [RAVEN] WATCHING IN A TREE NEARBY. THAT GIVES ONE SHARP CAW.

GOING DOWN STAIRS TO SUBWAY HE TAKES TIME TO NEGOTIATE THE STEPS AND HAS TO PUT UP WITH ANNOYANCE OF SOME OF COMMUTERS FOR THE EXTRA TIME. IN BACKGROUND TV IS PLAYING FOOTAGE ABOUT GROUP OF MERCENARIES THAT HAVE BEEN HITTING MAJOR BANKS AND FINANCE INSTITUTES ALL OVER THE WORLD. CALL THEMSELVES THE WRECKING CREW

HE MAKES IT ONTO THE TRAIN AND FINDS A SEAT, RUBBING HIS LEG TO SHOW IT IS PAINING HIM. BUT AT LAST MINUTE AN OLD MAN GETS ONTO THE TRAIN SO BENT HE CAN BARELY STAND. AS THE TRAIN BEGINS MOVING THE OLD MAN STUMBLES AGAINST A BUSINESS MAN READING FINANCIAL TIMES WHO TELLS HIM TO BE CAREFUL. BLAKE WATCHES AND THEN STRUGGLES UP AND GIVES MAN HIS OWN SEAT. OLD MAN THANKS HIM. SITTING NEXT TO BUSINESS MAN WHO MOVES OVER LOOKING EVEN MORE ANNOYED.

BLAKE MAKES HIS WAY UP ONTO STREET LEVEL, BUT AS HE IS APPROACHING THE ENTRANCE IS SUDDEN TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. AMID SCREAMS OF PANIC BLAKE CLAMBERS FORWARDS TO SEE HEAVY ASSAULT HELICOPTER MOVING OVER CITY AND DROPPING ARMOURED VEHICLES WHICH MOVE TO SECURE AREA AROUND GOLD DEPOSITORY.

POLICE SWAT TEAMS BEGIN TO RESPOND BUT ARE CLEARLY OUTGUNNED. INSIDE BANKING INSTITUTE WE SEE HEAVILY ARMED MEN MOWING DOWN RESISTANCE. ARE LED BY HUGE INDIVDUAL INDETIFIED BY ONE MAN AS CREEL. HE TAKES OUT TWO BIG GUARDS UNARMED, THEN THE MEN BLOW THE VAULT.

OUTSIDE POLICE HAVE SEALED OFF AREA AND BLAKE STILL AMID CROWDS IN SUBWAY AS WRECKING CREW EMERGES AND BEGINS SHOOTING THEIR WAY OUT. IN CROSS FIRE ONE OF THIEVES IS HIT AND GOES DOWN. WITHOUT THINKING BLACKE GOES TO MANS AID, HELPING STAUNCH BLEEDING. SEEING THIS CREEL THANKS BLAKE FOR HELPING HIS FRIEND, THEN APOLOGIZES TO WOUNDED MAN AND SHOOTS HIM DEAD. BEFORE HE CAN TRAIN GUN ON BLAKE FIREFIGHT ESCALATES AND HE HAS TO WITHDRAW.

BLAKE IS DEBRIEFED BY POLICE. ASK IF WOUNDED MAN SAID ANYTHING BUT BLAKE SAYS NO. ONE COP QUESTIONS WHY HE WOULD TRY TO SAVE A MURDERER ANYWAY. BLAKE TELLS HIM LETTING PEOPLE DIE IN FRONT OF HIM “ISNT WHAT I DO.”

CUT TO A DOCTORS OFFICE. WE CAN SEE BLAKES NAME IN REVERSE OF GLASS DOOR. MAKES HIS WAY IN ACCEPTING HELP FROM PRETTY NURSE JANE FOSTER. SHE COMMENTS ON HIS TIRED APPEARANCE AND HE TELLS HER HAD A RESTLESS NIGHT AND SOME TROUBLE ON THE SUBWAY. SHE TELLS HIM THE EARLY MORNING COMMUTE CAN BE A KILLER AND HE NEEDS THIS VACATION AND HE AGREES. BUT STILL THINGS TO DO FIRST.

CUT TO EXAMINATION ROOM. SPANISH WOMAN WITH TWO CHILDREN BROUGHT IT, ONE BOY ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD AND OTHER ABOUT FOUR WITH A TOY TOOL BELT, USING HAMMER TO BANG ON TABLE AND WALLS. HIS MOTHER TAKES IT OFF HIM AND PUTS IT ON OTHER TABLE ON METAL TRAY. WITH THEM IS A PRIEST – FATHER MANION. HELPS BY TRANSLATING WHAT WOMAN IS SAYING FOR BLAKE.

BLAKE EXAMINES OTHER BOYS ARM AS HE LIES ON THE BED. ASKS ABOUT THE FEELING IN HIS FINGERS AND HIS RANGE OF MOVEMENT, IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECURRING PAIN SINCE OPERATION. HE SAYS NO. BLAKE TELLS HIM HE IS HEALING WELL AND WITH CONTINUED EXCERCISES SHOULD HAVE FULL MOBILITY IN SIX MONTHS.

MOTHER THANKS HIM THROUGH PRIEST BUT LOOKS WORRIED. TELLS HIM SHE HAS HEARD FROM INSURANCE COMPANY AND ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEIR INSURANCE IS MAXED OUT AND CANNOT BE USED FOR THE COST OF THE OPERATION AND THE PHYSIOTHERAPY. WE CAN SEE THE SMALL BOY TRYING TO REACH HIS TOY HAMMER IN BACKGROUND.

WHILE JANE WATCHES BLAKE TELLS MOTHER THAT THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO HELP HER MEET THE COSTS AND IS NOT URGENT. SHE STARTS CRYING AND BOY ON BED GETS EMBARRESSED.

LITTLE BOY REACHING FOR TOY HAMMER FLIPS OVER TRAY AND IT FLIES THROUGH THE AIR. QUICK CUT TO BLAKE CATCHING HAMMER WITH JUST BEFORE IT HITS OTHER BOY. HE LOOKS IMPRESSED. BLAKE SAYS TRIES TO LOOK COOL AND SAYS “TOUCHDOWN.” THE BOY LOOKS AT HIM STRANGELY. BLAKE LOOKS UNCERTAIN AND SAYS “HOMERUN?” JANE SMILES AND SHAKES HER HEAD.

LEAVING EXAMINATION ROOM BLAKE TELLS MOTHER HE WILL BE LEAVING ON VACATION AND THAT DOCTOR KINKAID WILL BE COVERING FOR HIM UNTIL HE RETURNS. BLAKE WILL MAKE SURE HE KNOWS ABOUT THE ARRANGMENTS AND SHE THANKS HIM AGAIN. LITTLE BOY WAVES BYE BYE TO A NAME IN SPANISH WHICH MANION TRANSLATES AS “HAMMER MAN”. MANION SAYS HE HAS BEEN A GODSEND TO THESE PEOPLE, AND WE CAN SEE THAT DEALING WITH SUCH POVERTY EVERY DAY IS TAKING ITS TOLL ON PRIEST. SHOWS SOME QUESTIONING OF HIS FAITH IN A HIGHER POWER, BUT DOES NOT WANT TO BURDEN DOCTOR. BLAKE WAVES DEPARTING FAMILY AND TRIES TO TWIRL HIM MEDICAL HAMMER, INSTEAD DROPPING IT ON FLOOR.

BLAKE STOOPS TO PICK UP INSTRUMENT BUT HAS DIFFICULTY GETTING DOWN TO IT. JANE SEES AND ASSISTS. AS SHE HANDS IT TO HIM SHE ASKS BLAKE HOW HE MET MANION AND HE TELLS HER HE WAS A LECTURER AT HIS UNIVERSITY WHEN HE HAD TO TAKE AN ARTS SUBJECT. MANION IT TURNS OUT IS A SCHOLAR OF MEDIEVAL AND DARK AGE HISTORY. JANE REMINDS HIM THAT IF THE ARRANGEMENT HE MEANT EARLIERWAS THE ONE WHERE HE NEVER GETS ANY OF THE MONEY BACK THEN HE CAN RELIVE THE DARK AGES BY LIVING IN A CARDBOARD BOX. HE REPLIES THAT HE WOULD PREFER A DUMPSTER.

CUT TO END OF WORKING DAY. JANE OFFERS TO BUY BLAKE A DRINK. HE ASKS WHAT IS WORLD COMING TO WHERE WOMEN ARE NOW BUYING MEN THE DRINKS. SHE CALLS HIM HOPELESSLY OLD FASHIONED. HE SAYS HE JUST COMES FROM AN OLD FASHIONED FAMILY.

CUT TO BAR AND WE SEE BLAKE HANDING JANE A PICTURE OF TOUR GUIDE TO NORWAY. PICTURES OF FJORDS, GLACIERS. SHE SAYS IT IS BEAUTIFUL BUT MOST PEOPLE TAKE VACATIONS TO GET AWAY FROM THEIR TROUBLES, NOT TO CONFRONT OLD ONES.

SHE TAKES ANOTHER PHOTO MIXED IN AMONG THE PAMPHLETS – IS OF A BEARDED MAN STANDING NEXT TO A BLONDE YOUTH WITH GLACIER IN THE BACKGROUND. BLAKES FATHER [PHOTO SHOWS HIM WEARING DARK GLASSES]. JANE ASKS ABOUT HIM AND BLAKE SAYS HE CANNOT REMEMBER MUCH. WE GET SENSE THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. APPARENTLY HE WAS ON HIKING TRIP WITH FATHER WHEN WAS CAUGHT IN AVALANCHE, CAUSING THE LAMENESS IN HIS LEG.

MUSIC PLAYS IN BACKGROUND AND WE SEE COUPLES DANCING. BLAKE LOOKS WISTFUL. JANE SUGGESTS THEY LEAVE BUT HE SAYS IS OKAY. HE TALKS ABOUT HAVING LEFT SOME PART OF HIMSELF IN THOSE MOUNTAINS. SHE UNDERSTANDS BUT TELLS HIM THERE IS ALSO PLENTY WAITING FOR HIM HERE WHEN HE GETS BACK. THERE IS A MOMENTARY ACKWARDNESS AND THEY AGREE TO CALL IT A NIGHT.

CUT TO BLAKES APPARTMENT. WE SEE HIM TOSSING IN BED. IN HIS HEAD VISIONS PLAY OF WARRIORS WITH SWORDS, MEN AND WOMEN IN PEASANT GARB SCREAMING. THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WITH GOLD HAIR IN A GARDEN. HE REACHES OUT TO HER BUT THEN WE HEAR A BIRD CAWING. HE LOOKS UP AND SEES PAIR OF RAVENS CIRCLING. WHEN HE LOOKS DOWN GIRL IS GONE AND GARDEN REPLACED BY A WINDSWEPT MORE WITH DARK SKY. SOMETHING IS BEHIND HIM. HE LOOKS AROUND AND UP. IT IS A TREE – LARGE, DARK AND MENACING. IT SEEMS TO BE WHISPERING TO HIM.

BLAKE WAKES SWEATING AND FEARFUL. STAGGERS TO KITCHEN AND GETS GLASS OF WATER. LOOKING DOWN ON COUNTER TOP SEES AGAIN PICTURE OF FJORDS. STARES AT IT HARD.

TRANSITION FROM PICTURE ON PAMPHLET TO ACTUAL LOCATION IN NORWAY.

BLAKE IS MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH A SMALL NORWEIGAN TOWN. WE CAN SEE MOUNTAINS TOWERING IN THE BACKGROUND. HE ENTERS A HOSTEL AND MAKES ENQUIRIES ABOUT TOURIST TRIPS UP THE GLACIERS. THE WOMAN AT THE COUNTER IS EAGER TO HELP HIM, BUT WHEN HE ASKS ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF THE MOUNTAINS SHE REPLIES NO ONE CAN HELP HIM.

LATER IN A LOCAL INN IS DRINKING ALONE AND LOOKING AT WOODEN CARVINGS OF GODS ON SPACE ABOVE THE BAR. APPROACHED BY ANOTHER WOMAN – INTRODUCES HERSELF AS HRIST AND ASKS TO BUY HIM A DRINK. HE COMMENTS THAT SEEMS TO BE BECOMING A POPULAR PASSTIME. HE ALSO COMMENTS THAT SHE HAS AN UNUSUAL JACKET, WHICH SHE TELLS HIM IS LINED WITH SWAN FEATHERS.

NOTICING HIS INTEREST IN GODS SHE BEGINS TO TELL HIM ABOUT THEM. BALDER IS THE GOD OF THE SUN AND MUSIC. HEIMDALL STANDS ON THE RAINBOW BRIGDE BIFROST THAT LEADS TO ASGARD, WHERE ODIN SITS WITH HIS TWO RAVENS WELCOMING FALLEN HEROES INTO VALHALLA.

BEYOND THEM IS GREAT WARRIOR WITH HAMMER – THOR. BLAKE COMMENTS HE WAS ONE THURSDAY NAMED FOR AND HRIST SMILES. GOES ON TO TELL HIM THOR WAS GAURDIAN OF MANKIND AND GOD OF THUNDER. HAMMERS NAME WAS MJOLNIR AND ENCHANTED TO ALWAYS RETURN TO HIS HAND WHEN HE THREW IT.WITH TWO STAMPS OF HAMMER COULD BRING LIGHTINING AND TEMPEST, THREE STAMPS ENDED IT.

HRIST ASKS HIM WHY HE IS INTERESTED IN SPECIAL AREA OF MOUNTAINS. SAYS HE LOST HIS FATHER THERE YEARS AGO. SHE WARNS HIM THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS – SOME OF THE LOCALS EVEN BELIEVE IT AN EVIL PLACE, BUT WHEN HE SAYS HE WILL GO ANYWAY SHE RELENT AND AGREES TO HELP HIM.

AS THEY LEAVE INN WE SEE A MAN STANDING NEARBY WATCHING. SPEAKS ON RADIO TO SOMEONE SAYING HAS FOUND BLAKE. ON OTHER END WE SEE CREEL. TALKS TO SMALL GROUP SAYING TOMORROW THEY WILL HAVE KILLED BLAKE AND BE ON WAY TO SOMEWHERE WARM. ONE OF MEN SAYS DOESN’T SEEM RIGHT TO KILL HIM AFTER HE TRIED TO HELP THEIR FRIEND. [THEY DON’T KNOW CREEL SHOT HIM]. CREEL SAYS CANNOT TAKE CHANCE HE REVEALED SOME INFORMATION, BUT AS THANKYOU WILL KILL BLACK QUICK.

NEXT DAY THE TWO ARE SEEN IN THEIR GEAR HEADING UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS. BLAKE NOTES THAT IT IS JUST THE TWO OF THEM AND SEEMS UNCERTAIN. SHE TELLS HIM SHE HAS BEEN LIVING AMONG THE CLOUDS ALL HER LIFE.

AS THEY APPROACH THE TRAIL LEADING UP INTO THE GLACIER THEY COME AROUND A CORNER AND BLAKE FINDS HIMSELF CONFRONTED BY THE TREE FROM HIS DREAM. HE STARES AT IT, FEELING UNEASY, NOTING THE ABSENCE OF GRASS OR FLOWERS NEAR TO IT.

HE LEANS IN CLOSER, AND WE SEE HIM FROM BEHIND. SUDDENLY HE SPINS AROUND AND FINDS HIMSELF FACING AN OLD WOMAN. SHE SPEAKS IN BROKEN ENGLISH, WARNING HIM THAT THE TREE IS CURSED BY THE AESIR. SHE HURRIES OFF AS HRIST RETURNS AND TELLS HIM TO HURRY ON. HE HEADS OFF, BUT AS HE DOES THE TREE SEEMS TO MOVE SLIGHTLY. HRIST PAUSES AND LOOKS AT IT A LITTLE FEARFULLY, THEN HURRIES ON TOO.

UP AND UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS BLAKE AND HIRIST CLIMB, HEADING UP INTO THE REGIONS OF THE GLACIER. AS BLAKE CLIMBS HE SOMETIMES SEES FAMILIAR LANDMARKS AND GETS FLASHES OF LAST TIME HE WAS HERE, STUMBLING THROUGH THE SNOW. HRIST NOTICES AND ASKS IF HE WANTS TO TURN BACK BUT HE REFUSES.

FINALLY THEY COME TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE MOUTH OF A VALLEY LEADING HIGHER INTO THE MOUNTAINS. AS THEY PAUSE BLAKE SAYS HE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE. WE SEE HIM REMEMBERING HIS FATHER, BUT THE IMAGE IS INTERSPERSED WITH OTHER PICTURES OF HIS FATHER DRESSED IN ARMOUR. HE SEES BLOOD ON HIS HANDS, BUT THEY ARE BIGGER, MORE POWERFUL. DEAD PEOPLE IN PEASANT GARB STARE UP AT HIM. HE FALLS TO HIS KNEES, HEAD IN HIS HANDS.

HIRST TRIES TO COMFORT HIM. ASKS WHAT HE IS SEEING. THEN WE HEAR A NOISE BEHIND THEM.

SUDDENLY IS EXPLOSION BLAKE LOOKS UP AND SEES HRIST FLYING THROUGH THE AIR, HITTING THE ROCKS HARD AND ROLLING OVER. HE DUCKS AND SOMETHING HEAVY SMASHES THE SNOW WHERE HE WAS KNEELING. THERE IS A BELLOWING ROAR AND HE ROLLS AGAIN, SEEING HIS ATTACKERS AT LAST – THE WRECKING CREW.

HRIST AND BLAKE ARE QUICKLY SUBDUED AND BROUGHT OVER TO CREEL. BLAKE RECOGNIZES HIM BUT IS GAGGED BY OTHER MEN, DESPITE WONDERING WHY CREEL WOULD DO THIS [HE DOESN’T WANT COMPANIONS TO KNOW HE KILLED THEIR FRIEND]

HRIST IS PAWED BY THE MEN – ONE OF THEM FINDS A NECKLACE UNDER HER CLOTHES FASHIONED LIKE A HAMMER AND MADE OF SOLID GOLD. HE GOES TO REMOVE IT BUT SHE SAYS HE SHOULD NOT DO THAT, SINCE IT IS THE ONLY THING PROTECTING THEM FROM AN ANCIENT POWER SET HERE BY THE OLD GODS TO KEEP AWAY TRESSPASSERS. ONE OF MEN LAUGHS AND YANKS IT OFF, AND INSTANTLY A HUGE WHTE HAND ERUPTS FROM SNOW AND GRABS HIM. TROLL EXPLODES UP FROM GROUND, THROWING MAN AGAINST TREE 50 FEET AWAY AND ATTACKING THE MERCENARIES.

THE SCENE INSTANTLY DISSOLVES INTO CHAOS. THEM MEN FIRE THEIR WEAPONS, MAKING THE TROLL ANGRY. OTHER BEASTS BEGIN TO EMERGY FROM THE SNOW AND ROCKS.

BLAKE TRIES TO DODGE AND KEEPS AHEAD OF IT FOR A MOMENT BUT IS SUDDENLY CORNERED BY ONE OF THE MERCENARIES. AS THE MAN RAISES HIS WEAPON TO FIRE, HE SCREAMS AND THEN A SWORD FLASHES AND THE MERC HOWLS IN PAIN FROM A GASH IN HIS LEG. HRIST HAD THE SWORD AND TELLS HIM TO RUN AS THE BULLETS FLY AGAIN.


BLAKE RUNS, STUMBLING ALONG THROUGH THE SNOW AS THE SOUNDS OF BATTLE ECHO BEHIND. FINALLY HE PAUSES BEHIND A ROCK TO CATCH HIS BREATH.

THEN HE HEARS THE TROLLS AGAIN, FOLLOWING. LOOKING AROUND THE STONE HE CAN SEE THEM SNIFFING OUT HIS TRAIL.

BELOW CREEL IS CALLING FOR BACKUP AS HE AND HIS REMAINING MEN RUN FROM RAMPAGING TROLLS. ON OF THE MEN COMES TO THE STONE MARKER BUT FIRES A GRENADE LAUNCHER, DESTROYING IT. THE MEN FLEE AND THE TROLLS PURSUE THEM, HEADING FOR THE TOWN.

BLAKE RUNS ON, BUT HE HAS LOST HIS CANE AND CANNOT MAKE ANY SPEED. HE HAS TO DRAG HIMSELF OVER THE ROCKS. AHEAD OF HIM HE SEES A CAVE AND SCRAMBLES INTO IT.

BLAKE QUICKLY DISCOVERS THE CAVE HAS A CHAMBER WITHIN WHERE THERE IS A STONE SLAB. ON IT IS A WOODEN CANE. BEYOND IT ANOTHER EXIT BUT IS BLOCKED BY ROCKFALL.

WE CAN HEAR THE TROLLS GETTING CLOSER OUTSIDE.

IN DESPERATION BLAKE GRABS THE STICK AND TRIES TO USE IT AS A LEVER TO MOVE THE ROCKFALL, BUT HIS OWN LEG GIVES OUT AND HE FALLS HARD. HE RISES AND TRIES AGAIN BUT IT IS HOPELESS. THE TROLL APPEARS IN THE ENTRANCE. IN BLIND ANGER HE LASHES OUT WITH THE STICK, SCREAMING AND CRACKING IT AGAINST THE STONES.

THERE IS AN EXPLOSION OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. THE TROLL IS HURLED BACKSWARDS AS BLAKES FORM CHANGES. IMMERSED IN THE BLINDING RADIANCE HE FEELS HIS BODY SWELL, WE SEE HIS MUSCLES EXPAND. AGAIN WE CATCH GLIMPSES FROM HIS DREAM, DOMINATED BY THE VISION OF A WHITE BEARED MAN WITH ONE EYE.

THE LIGHT FADES. IN THE SHADOWS A FIGURE MOVES. IT LIFTS ITS HAND, THE HAND IN WHICH BLAKE HELD THE CANE. BUT NOW THE HAND IS HUGE, POWERFUL, AND THE CANE IS NOW AN ANCIENT WARHAMMER.

THE MAN STUMBLES BACK INTO THE LIGHT AND WE SEE HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME – A MIGHTY BLOND WARRIOR IN ARMOUR AND WITH A CAPE AND WINGED HELMET. HE LOOKS AT HIMSELF, EYES FULL OF DISBELIEF. WE HEAR HIM QUESTION HIS SANITY.

THE MAN WHO WAS BLAKE LOOKS DOWN AT THE HAMMER. AS HE DOES, LETTERS APPEAR ON THE SIDE OF THE STONE HEAD, ANCIENT NORSE RUNES. HE NARROWS HIS EYES, AND THE FIRST SET OF RUNES RESOLVE INTO MODERN ENGLISH – “WHOSOEVER”. HE READS ALOUD, EACH WORD MORPHING TO ENGLISH AS HE READS AND THEN MACK TO NORSE AFTER.

“WHOSOEVER HOLDS THIS HAMMER
IF THEY BE WORTHY
SHALL POSSESS THE POWER OF
THOR”

BLAKE/THOR SETS HIMSELF UP AGAINST THE ROCK BLOCKING THE OTHER EXIT TO THE CAVE. HESISTANTLY HE PUSHES – THE HUGE MASS OF STONE MOVES. THRUSTING THE HAMMER INTO HIS BELT HIS PUSHES WITH BOTH ARMS AND OUTSIDE WE SEE THE ROCK MOVE AWAY AND THOR STEP OUT INTO THE LIGHT. THE SUN BEATS DOWN ON HIM THROUGH A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS AND HIS CAPE UNFURLS IN THE BREEZE AS HE AGAIN DRAWS THE HAMMER AND LOOKS DOWN ON IT.

CUT TO THE MERCENARIES AND CREEL. THEY ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO REGROUP AND WE SEE A HELICOPTER GUNSHIP SWINGING DOWN TOWARDS THE TOWN.

THE TROLLS COME TO THE ANCIENT STONE MARKER, LOOKING OVER THE MASS OF RUBBLE IT HAS BECOME. THE CAMERA PANS AROUND THEM TIL WE ARE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER TO THE TOWN AS ONE OF THEM BELLOWS AND POINTS WITH HIS CLUB.

ON THE HEIGHTS ABOVE THOR HAS CLAMBERED DOWN AND FOUND HIMSELF IN A STRETCH OF ALPINE FOREST. HE WANDERS AND CATCHES A GLIMPSE OF HIS REFLECTION IN THE WATER OF A POOL AND WE SEE HIM COMING TO GRIPS WITH THIS IMPOSSIBLE REALITY. AGAIN HE EXAMINES THE HAMMER, DWELLING ON THE WORDS “POWER OF THOR” AND THEN GLANCING AT THE CLOUDS OVERHEAD.

STOoPIND DOWN, HE RAISES THE HAMMER AND WE SEE THE HEAD FRAMED AGAINST THE CLOUDS ABOVE. THEN HE STAMPS THE HANDLE TWICE ON THE GROUND.

FOR A MOMENT NOTHING HAPPENS. THOR LOOKS SHEEPISH.

THE SKY BEGINS TO DARKEN, AND THE WIND PICKS UP, THERE IS A SOUND OF THUNDER RUMBLING SOFTLY. RAIN BEGINS TO FALL AND THE WIND PICKS UP.

THOR STANDS, LIFTING HIS ARMS TO THE WIND AS IT GROWS IN POWER. THERE IS A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. HE CALLS TO SKY “MORE!” AND THE STORM GROWS. HE LAUGHS, HOLLERING TO THE STORMY SKY AS WE SEE THE TREES BEND IN THE GALE. WITHOUT THINKING HE THRUSTS THE HAMMER SKYWARDS.

THERE IS A FLASH AND LIGHTNING SPEARS DOWN, STRIKING THE HAMMER AND BATHING THOR IS BLAZING WHITE ARCS OF FIRE. CAUGHT BY SURPRISE HE STUMBLES BACK AND HURLS THE HAMMER FROM HIM. IT STRIKES A TREE AND IT TRUNK EXPLODES IN A BLAST OF LIGHTNIGN AND A MASS OF FLYING SPLINTERS. THOR STAGGER AND RAISES HIS HAND TO PROTECT HIS FACE, PEERING THROUGH THE RAIN AT THE RUINED TREE.

SUDDENLY WE SEE THE HAMMER HURTLING BACK TOWARDS HIM TO SLAM INTO THE HAND HE HAD RAISED TO SHIELD HIS EYES.

THOR STARES AT IT IN AMAZEMENT AS THE RAIN AND THUNDER CONTINUE. KNEELING HE AGAIN STAMPS THE HANDLE, THIS TIME THRICE. MAGICALLY THE STORM ABATES. BY THE TIME HE STANDS UP AGAIN THE CLOUDS HAVE ROLLED BACK THE SUN RETURNED.

WE SEE HIM STEP OVER TO THE DESTROYED TREE, HOLDING THE HAMMER IN ONE HAND. TENTATIVELY HE CASTS THE HAMMER UNDERHAND ACROSS THE CLEARING. AS IT ARCS DOWN TOWARDS THE GROUND IT ABRUPTLY TURNS IN MIDFALL AND RUSHES BACK INTO HIS HAND.

THOR TRIES AN OVERHAND THROW. THE HAMMER FLIES OUT ACROSS THE TREETOPS DWINDLING TO A SPECK, THEN AGAIN RUSHES BACK TO HIM.

SETTING HIMSELF, THOR STEPS ONTO A OUTCROP OF STONE AND BEGINS TO SWING THE HAMMER BY ITS THONG. FASTER AND FASTER IT WHIRLS, THE WIND WHIPPING UP AROUND HIM. THEN WITH A CRY HE HURLS IT INTO THE SKY. WHERE IT VANISHES.

MOMENTS PASS.

THOR SCANS THE HORIZON, LOOKING FOR THE HAMMER. NOTHING.

HE HEARS A SOUND IN A NEARBY TREE. TURNING HE SEES A RAVEN, APPARENTLY LOOKING AT HIM. HE STARES AT A MOMENT, AS IF TRYING TO REMEMBER SOMETHING, BUT OVER HIS SHOULDER HE SEE A DOT GROWING INTO THE HAMMER AS IT COMES SCREAMING BACK LIKE A MISSILE. THOR HEARS THE ROAR OF ITS RETURN AND TURS JUST IN TIME, REACHING OUT AND CATCHING HOLD OF THE THONG AND BEING JERKED OF HIS FEET AND DRAGGED INTO THE AIR.

IN THE WAKE OF THE HAMMER THOR TWISTS, STILL GRASPING THE THONG. HE CAN SEE THE MOUNTAINSIDE BELOW AS HE IS PULLED THROUGH THE AIR. HE IS DUMFOUNDED, THEN LOOKS FORWARDS AND SEES HIMSELF ABOUT TO HIT THE SIDE OF A MOUTAIN, EYES WIDENING IN PANIC! A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE IMPACT THE HAMMER MAKES A 90 DEGREE TURN HEADING STRAIGHT UP OVER THE CLIFFFACE AND TAKING THOR WITH IT.

WE GET A CLOSE UP OF THOR’S FACE AS THE CLIFF RACES PAST, EYES WIDE WITH FIRST PANIC, THEN ASTONISHMENT AND DELIGHT. AT LAST HE CLEARS THE WALL OF STONE AND HURTLES UP FREE INTO THE ATMOSPERE, THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND OUT OVER THE TOWERING LANDSCAPE.

STILL HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE, HE CLOSES HIS EYES, COCENTRATING. ABRUPTLY THE HAMMER MAKES ANOTHER RIGHT ANGLE TURN, LEVELLING OFF AND TAKING HIM WITH IT. LOOKING DOWN HE CAN SEE THE PEAKS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE CLOUDS. HE CONCENTRATES AGAIN, BANKING AMID THE CLOUDSCAPE, WHOOPING AS HE PERFORMS A BARREL ROLL AND THEN DROPS DOWN AGAIN AMID THE CLIFFS, THREADING THROUGH THE RAVINES AND CHASMS.

FINALLY HE COMES TO REST ON THE TOP OF ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS, PERCHED ON THE VERY PEAK WITH ONLY CLOUDS AND THE HORIZON ABOUT HIM. HE STAGGERS, CATCHING HIS BREATH AND AGAIN LOOKING DOWN AT THE HAMMER IN HIS HAND. HE MURMURS TO HIMSELF “THE POWER OF THOR”. HE SITS, SETTING THE HAMMER DOWN ON THE GROUND BESIDE HIM.

ABRUPTLY THE CLOUDS ON ONE SIDE PART AND THE SUN GLEAMS DOWN IN THE GAP CREATED. AS IT STRIKES THE WHITE MIST IT BREAKS UP INTO A RAINBOW ARCH. THOR WATCHES CURIOUSLY, THEN WE BEGIN TO SEE, AT THE UPPER END OF THE MULTICOLOURED SPAN, WHAT SEEM TO BE WALLS AND A GATE, AND DIMLY BEHIND THEM THE ROOVES OF GREAT HALLS AND BUILDINGS SHINING LIKE GOLD.


DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THE RETREATING MERCS STUMBLE UPON A BUS FULL OF TOURISTS, FORCING THEM OFF THE ROAD. THE PASSENGERS SCREAM AS THE MERCS SEND A HAIL OF GUNFIRE TOWARDS SOMETHING WE CANNOT SEE. THEN THE SNOW TROLLS LOOM INTO VIEW, RAMPAGING PAST THE BUS IN PURSUIT. ONE OF THEM PAUSES THE VIEW THE SCREAMING PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE, SEIZING IT AND LFTING IT TO HURL IT DOWN THE SLOPE AS THE SHRIEKING PASSENGERS ARE BUFFETED ABOUT INSIDE.

THE ENTIRE BATTLE MOVES EVER CLOSER TO THE TOWN.

ON THE HEIGHTS FAR ABOVE, THOR STANDS MESMERISED BY THE GLEAMING VISION AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW. HE TAKES A STEP FORWARD, THEN HEARS THE SOUNDS OF EXPLOSIONS FROM BELOW. HE TURNS, CLEARLY TORN.

AT THAT MOMENT THE HAMMER STARTS TO GLOW, THE RUNES BECOMING CLEAR AGAIN. THERE IS A RUMBLE, THEN A BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHTING.

WHEN THE FLASH CLEARS DONALD BLAKE IS STANDING ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP, AND THE HAMMER HAS BECOME A CANE AGAIN. HE STANDS DAZED, THEN THE SNOW BENEATH HIS FEET CRACKS OMINOUSLY. HE HAS TIME FOR A SINGLE EXPLETIVE AND THEN HE LUNGES FOR THE CANE AS THE SNOW GIVES WAY.

BLAKE TUMBLES DOWN, GRABBING THE ROCKY EDGE WITH ONE HAND AND DANGLING THOUSANDS OF FEET OVER EMPTY SPACE. ABOVE HE CAN SEE THE CANE HALF HANGING OVER THE EDGE, JUST OUT OF REACH!

CUT BACK TO THE TOWN AND SCENES OF CHAOS.
MERCS AND TROLLS RAMPAGING THROUGH THE TOWN NOT CARING WHO GETS IN THE WAY OF THEIR FIRE FIGHT. WE SEE SOME LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DESPERATELY CALLING FOR HELP ON CELL PHONES.

BLAKE TRIES TO REACH THE HAMMER BUT IT REMAINS JUST OUT OF FINGERTIP TOUCH. BETWEEN HIS FEET HE CAN SEE THE DROP DOWN TO ROCKS BELOW.

THE TROLL AT THE BUS IS TRYING TO BATTER ITS WAY INSIDE TO THE SCREAMING PASSENGERS.

IN THE TOWN CARS EXPLODE, PEOPLE RUN SCREAMING. CREEL SEEMS ALMOST EUPHORIC AS HE UNLEASHES DESTRUCTION AGAINST THE SNOW BEASTS BUT THEY KEEP ON COMING.

BLAKE LUNGES FOR THE CANE, GETTING A FINGER TO IT. HE SMILES – JUST AS THE SNOWY LEDGE GIVES WAY COMPLETELY AND HE PLUNGES DOWNWARDS IN A HAIL OF ROCK AND WHITE POWDER. HE CAN SEE THE CLIFF FACE FLASHING BY…AND THEN THE CANE TUMBLING THROUGH SPACE WITH HIM.

HE GRABS AND MISSES. THE ROCKS ARE RUSHING UP TO CLAIM HIM. PICTURES FLASH THROUGH HIS MIND OF VIKINGS, MEN AND WOMEN SCREAMING. THE CLIFF. TWO RAVENS. THE CLIFF. THE SOUND OF COLD MOCKING LAUGHTER. SCREAMING HIMSELF HE GRABS THE HAMMER AS HE IS ABOUT TO HIT THE ROCKS AND HOLD IT BENEATH HIM.

FROM AFAR WE SEE LIGHTNING STRIKE THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE THUNDER ROLLS DOWN THE HILLS AND THE TROLLS PAUSE IN THEIR DESTRUCTION, LOOKING TO THE PEAKS AS ONE HOLD CREEL BY THE THROAT.

AS THEY STARE, AMID THE SUDDEN SILENCE THE WIND BEGINS TO BLOW. THE SKY DARKENS.

HUDDLED BEHIND SHELTER, THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN LOOK UP. SO DO THOSE STILL TRAPPED ON THE BUS AS THE TROLLS THERE PAUSE. AS THE BEASTS LOOK UP THERE IS A RUMBLE OF THUNDER AND A SHADOW FALLS OVER THEM.

WE CUT BACK TO THE TOWN AS THE TROLLS CONGREGATE IN THE RUINS OF THE TOWN SQUARE. CREEL CRAWLS TO ONE SIDE, WOUNDED BUT ALSO INTRIGUED.

SUDDENLY FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE TOWN WE HEAR THE SOUND OF TROLL ROARS, AND THEN WHAT SOUNDS LIKE HEAVY BLOWS BEING STRUCK. WINDOWS SHAKE IN THEIR FRAMES AS THE POUNDING AND ROARING LAST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN STOP.

ZOOM IN ON THE TROLLS LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, THEN THE SKY.

A DOT IS SEEN RISING UP FROM THE GROUND. IT HANGS FOR A MOMENT IN MID AIR, THEN RUSHES DOWNWARDS, GROWING IN SIZE. IT STRIKES THE GROUND IN A MASS OF YELLOW METAL A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE TROLLS AND BOUNCES FORWARDS. AS IT COME NEARER IT IS CLEAR IT IS THE REMAINS OF THE BUS, TWISTED INTO A CRUDE SPHERE.

THE METAL BALL COMES TO A STOP. ONE OF THE TROLLS BENDS FORWARDS TO SNIFF AT IT. IT HE DOES, THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE GRINDS OPEN AND WE SEE THE REMAINS OF ONE OF THE TROLLS WRAPPED INSIDE.

THE BEASTS JERK BACK IN SHOCK.

FROM OUT OF NOWHERE A BLUR OF A MISSILE CATCHES ONE OF THE MONSTERS IN THE CHEST, LIFTING IT OFF ITS FEET AND SENDING IT SPRAWLING ACROSS THE SQUARE. THE TROLLS SPREAD OUT BUT THE MISSILE RETURNS, SLAMMING INTO ANOTHER BEASTS JAW AND SHATTERING IT AS IT MAKES ITS RETURN FLIGHT. IT RUSHES BACK INTO THE HAND OF ITS OWNER AND THE CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL THE THUNDER GOD, FRAMED AGAINST A STORM SWEPT SKY, BRIMMING WITH WRATH.

THE TOWNSPEOPLE LOOK IN AWE. CREEL IN DISBELIEF. ONE OF THE OLD MEN OF THE TOWN WHISPERS “DONNER!” BESIDE HIM, A YOUNG BOY SNAPS PHOTOS WITH HIS CAMERA PHONE.

THE TROLLS EYES NARROW. SO DO THORS. HIS HAND CLENCHES ON MJOLNIR. THEY SNARL.

THEN AS A PACK THEY LAUNCH THEMSELVES AT THEIR ENEMY, AND THOR ROARS FORWARD TO MEET THEM!