屠龙记 (1981) 5.0

Valerian: Is... Hodge: Yes, this is Kragenmoor and yes, this is the house of Ulrich, and no, he won't see you. Valerian: But... Hodge: I know, you've come a long way, your business is urgent. It doesn't matter! He sees no one. [Addressing the dragon] Brother Jacobus: Unclean beast! Get thee down! Be thou consumed by the fires that made thee! Casiodorus Rex: Did you ever hear of King Gazerick? Oh no, of course not, you weren't even born. He was my brother, a great King and a valiant man-at-arms. When he ascended the throne, the dragon was unbridled. No one knew where it might strike next. So, he brought forth his broadsword, assembled his best company of fighters and went out to do battle. He was never seen again. But his attack provoked the most terrible reprisals: whole villages incinerated, entire crops burnt, death, famine... horrible. How did you advocate to yourself the role of 'savior'? Galen: I was invited. Casiodorus Rex: Not by me! I think you're nothing but a boy... an apprentice! [rips the amulet from around Galen's neck] Casiodorus Rex: Have you ever considered the consequences of failure? Galen: WHAT failure? What are you saying, do you want the dragon back? Casiodorus Rex: You came here and toyed with the monster! Who are YOU, to risk our people? Our villages? Galen: But your children were dying! Casiodorus Rex: Only a few, does that sound cruel? It is better that they should die that others might live. I created the lottery! [agreed murmuring among the King's court] Casiodorus Rex: Me! And from the moment it began, the dragon was tamed! The kingdom has prospered! Galen: At what price? You can't make a shameful 'peace' with dragons. You must kill them as I have done. Casiodorus Rex: Then the beast is dead? Galen: Yes, it's dead. Casiodorus Rex: We shall see. Hodge: Ah, so it's a test you're looking for. We don't do tests! Tyrian: No, of course not. They never do tests. Not many real deeds either. Oh, conversation with your grandmother's shade in a darkened room, the odd love potion or two, but comes a doubter, why, then it's the wrong day, the planets are not in line, the entrails are not favorable, "we don't do tests"! Horsrik: All hail Casiodorus Rex, dragonslayer!

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Valerian: Are you afraid of dragons? Ulrich: [confidently and calmly] No. In fact, if it weren't for sorcerers, there wouldn't be any dragons. Once, the skies were dotted with them. Magnificent horned backs, leathern wings... soaring... and their hot-breathed wind. Oh, I know this creature of yours... Vermithrax Pejorative. Look at these scales, these ridges. When a dragon gets this old, it knows nothing but pain, constant pain. It grows decrepit... crippled... pitiful. Spiteful! Tyrian: If he's ready to lay a dragon in its grave, he's nothing to fear from me. [Casiodorus Rex's men have captured Galen, who had been looking for the amulet in the castle] Casiodorus Rex: Stop! Don't... harm him. You, please. You know, I've always had the greatest admiration for the black arts, you chaps with your... mysterious spells. I didn't think it would be necessary. Vermithrax is an old dragon, and... that, I thought, was the beauty of my plan. Time, we waited out, and live to see the end of it. I WILL see the end of it. [pulls the amulet from around his neck] Tyrian: Sir, I beg you consider what you're doing. Give him that, he'll destroy everything you've built. Casiodorus Rex: He shall have it. It... it's my daughter. Save her, I beg you! Valerian: Twice each year, at the Spring and Summer Equinox, the king selects a new victim. Virgins. Ulrich: A lottery! Barbaric. And in return, this dragon... it leaves your villages and crops unburned. Your king has made a pact with a monster! Valerian: [to Galen] It's a shield. I made it. Might keep the fire off of you, might not. You know, you're an idiot. You're going to die tonight. You'll be ripped, limb from limb. This is the last time I'll ever speak to you! [Galen has interrupted the sacrifice of Princess Elspeth to the dragon, scaring everyone away except for Tyrian] Tyrian: I knew I'd find you here. Well, I'm not as sentimental as his majesty. The kingdom, everyone of us, needs this sacrifice. If you intend to interfere, you'll have to kill me. Galen: I've plenty of reasons to kill you that have nothing to do with this sacrifice. Tyrian: A toast... to the deed of the day! Urlander: What would you have of us? Tyrian: Not a thing. [turns to Galen] Tyrian: It's this one. The King would meet our newfound benefactor, and offer his gratitude to the one man who has succeeded where so many have failed. Galen: What sort of 'gratitude'? A knife in the belly? An arrow in the chest? Tyrian: My young friend... I would have soon dispatched you as I did the rest, for the same reason. But his Majesty would have a cozy little chat, and commands otherwise. Galen: You're back! I thank the powers that made me! Ulrich: Glad to see you, too. You didn't bring along anything to eat, by any chance? Galen: F

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ood? Ulrich: But, come along, there's much to do. Galen: No, please! I thought I was a sorcerer, I'm not. I thought I had power, I don't. You said to be strong. I wasn't! Ulrich: But you were, my boy, you were. And you'll be stronger yet. Ulrich: There's something you must do. Galen: Anything. Ulrich: I want you to destroy the amulet, and me along with it. [disappears and reappears on the mountainside] Ulrich: You brought me from the flame! You must send me back! You'll know the time! You must act while life is still in me! Valerian: You'll be dead Galen Bradwarden, Sorcerer's Apprentice. You'll be dead, the dragon will still be alive and I'll still be a virgin! You'll be dead, and I don't care! Galen: Of course, the lottery. Sons are spared, but daughters are not. Valerian: Yes, the lottery. Galen: You're right. I am in love - but not with the princess. [kisses Valerian] Horsrik: [the first virgin/victim is about to be sacrificed to Vermithrax] ... Now be it known throughout the kingdom that this maiden, having lawfully been chosen by a deed of fortune and destiny, shall hereby give up her life for the greater good of Urland! By this act shall be satisfied the powers that dwell underground! In gratitude of this sacrifice, His Majesty declares the father - a plowman - to be free of obligations for a period not to exceed five years! Duly ordained... [he notices heat and smoke rising from the mouth of the lair, as the earth trembles, and flees... leaving the maiden to her fate] Galen: [to the Urlanders] ... My lord Ulrich is no longer. All that you asked of him, you may now expect of me. The dangers he would face, I will now conquer. The task he would undertake, I will now fulfill. I'm Galen Brandwardyn... inheritor of Ulrich's craft and knowledge... and I am the sorcerer you seek. Casiodorus Rex: [Elspeth is preparing to sacrifice herself to Vermithrax] ... You... Tyrian... surely you'll do something. If not for me... out of loyalty to the kingdom. Tyrian: But that's just it, Your Majesty. My first loyalty is... loyalty to the kingdom. Princess Elspeth: [Princess Elspeth visits Galen in her father's dungeon] ... Please don't think ill of us. Father is a wise and evenhanded man. He's... [She notices a wound across Galen's temple] Princess Elspeth: ... What happened to you? Galen: [sullen] Nothing. Just some of your father's... evenhandedness. Princess Elspeth: It... it's better for everyone this way. A king must protect his people. Galen: Naturally. Just as he protects his daughter. Princess Elspeth: What do you mean by that? Are you referring to the lottery? Galen:

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You don't have to pretend, not to me, not down here. Everyone knows how this... choosing works. The families with money, royal connections... You've participated in a lie, and you know it.