FADE IN:
EXT. ASGARD -- DAY
Establishing shot. It is a land of great beauty.
DONALD BLAKE (V.O.)
I am Thor, son of Odin. I was born
in Asgard, over a thousand years
ago. I have become the greatest
warrior in Asgard or Midgaard. With
my hammer Mjolnir, I control the
thunder itself. No man may command
me, and no man will stand in my way.
The wrath of a God is not to be
tempted lightly. I give you one
chance to avoid it. Return to me my
property, and release me so that I
might do what must be done.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION - CELLS -- DAY
DONALD BLAKE, a thin and not very impressive man is at one
of the cells, yelling out.
DONALD BLAKE
Release me!
POLICE OFFICER #1
You say you're Thor? I've been on
my feet all day!
The police officer laughs and starts walking down the hall.
Donald continues to scream.
INT. POLICE STATION -- DAY
Blake's yells can be heard, even at the desk where JANE FOSTER
sits, waiting to be interviewed by DOCTOR SIMONSON, a
psychologist called in by the police department. The
detective returns with a cup of coffee, listening in.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Has Mr. Blake shown any signs of
instability in the last few days?
JANE FOSTER
Doctor. It's Doctor Blake. And to
answer your question, no. He's
probably the most grounded man I
know. I'm having trouble believing
he'd do something like this.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Are you and Dr. Blake close?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
JANE FOSTER
We work together. I'm a nurse at
Bellevue Hospital. He's a surgeon.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
And that's it? You're just coworkers?
Nothing... more?
JANE FOSTER
What exactly are you implying?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Well, you are listed as his contact
number.
JANE FOSTER
Dr. Blake doesn't have any family.
I suppose we've become friends.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Maybe a little more than friends?
JANE FOSTER
That would be against hospital rules.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
You must know it happens all the
time. So, you wouldn't be willing
to... cover for him?
JANE FOSTER
I don't understand. Cover for him
for what?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
You work into a hospital together.
So, he would have access to any number
of drugs which might have led to a
psychotic break such as this one.
JANE FOSTER
We are very careful with that. I
can assure you, Doctor Blake is not
on drugs. Except... he takes
painkillers, sometimes. For his
leg. But they're prescription.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
We know about those. I just want to
make sure you're honest with me. As
a medical professional you should
know the more we know about his case,
the more likely we'll be able to
help him.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
JANE FOSTER
I know. But I'd stake my reputation
on it, Doctor Blake isn't the type
to take drugs.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Has he been under any unusual stress
lately? Maybe the death of a patient?
JANE FOSTER
If he was, he didn't show any sign
of it. He seemed perfectly normal,
and then... this.
Questions continue to be asked, but the voices fade away as
the camera takes us back towards where Blake is being held,
and there's the sound of an increasing ruckus and more
unidentifiable shouting.
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY -- DAY
Blake has grabbed hold of a door handle and is using it to
halt his progress.
DONALD BLAKE
Thou shalt rue the day you dishonored
Thor. My business is vital, and
mortals must not stop me.
The guards pull.
ORDERLY #1
Cripes, he's holding on tight.
DONALD BLAKE
I give thee one last warning. Get
in my way again, and I shall use my
godly strength and break your limbs.
ORDERLY #2
We're going to have to sedate him.
DONALD BLAKE
Thine choice is made.
Blake lets go of the door and, with a mighty yell, hurls a
punch at the closest orderly. It makes contact, knocking
the man down. He turns to the other. His attacks are
forceful but not very stylistic, and, after a few dodges,
ORDERLY #2 knocks him to the ground with a leg sweep. In a
moment, the much larger orderly is on him, holding him down,
and Orderly #1 rises to help too.
ADMITTING DOCTOR
Hold him steady.
The admitting doctor prepares an injection.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
ORDERLY #2
All right, 'Thor', meet Thorazine.
The injection is made. Blake continues to struggle until he
finally goes slack and relaxes. His eyes loll back in his
head.
OPENING CREDITS
INT. SIMONSON'S OFFICE -- DAY
Blake sits in an interview room, waiting. Doctor Simonson
enters.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Hello, Doctor Blake. They tell me
you're feeling more yourself today.
My name is Doctor Simonson. We met
earlier, but I'm not sure if you
remember...
DONALD BLAKE
I remember.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
So you remember all of what went on
while you were in a delusional state.
DONALD BLAKE
Most of it. I remember going to the
museum, trying to break into the
display... fighting the security
guards. They tell me they're all
okay?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Yes, that's correct. One of them
has a broken nose. Nobody's pressing
criminal charges, but you might have
a civil suit coming.
DONALD BLAKE
I'm sorry I hurt anyone.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
So you remember what you did. Do
you remember why?
DONALD BLAKE
Yes.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Would you like to tell me?
Blake is quiet for a few moments.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.
DONALD BLAKE
I was sure that if I found my hammer,
I'd get back my true form.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Your true form?
DONALD BLAKE
What I thought was my true form.
Thor, god of Thunder.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
From Norse mythology.
DONALD BLAKE
Yes. Believe me, I realize now that
it's completely insane. I mean, I'm
a doctor. I can't understand how
this happened to me.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
You said it yourself, you're a doctor.
That's a pretty stressful job, and
stress sometimes has unexpected
effects on the human mind.
DONALD BLAKE
I didn't feel particularly stressed.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Well, we've ruled out drugs as a
cause. You have no history of mental
illness.
DONALD BLAKE
There's a history of cancer in my
family. I was worried it might be a
tumor.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
We'll certainly look into that, once
you're out of here. You seem much
more lucid now. Do you think whatever
this is has passed?
Blake doesn't reply. There's something he's holding back,
something he's not sure he should say.
DOCTOR SIMONSON (CONT'D)
Donald?
DONALD BLAKE
No. It hasn't.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
What makes you say that?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.
DONALD BLAKE
I don't feel like I am Thor. Not
anymore. Like I said, intellectually
I realize how crazy it all is.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
But?
DONALD BLAKE
I still have all the memories.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
I'm not sure I understand. Just
because you remember your delusion...
DONALD BLAKE
No, I remember more than the delusion.
I remember being Thor. Not just for
the time I was trying to steal the
hammer. I remember a whole lifetime.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
You remember a life as Thor. In
addition to your life as Donald Blake?
DONALD BLAKE
Yes. I don't know how this could
be. They feel the same as all my
other memories, except they don't
make sense together.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
I'm glad you felt free to admit that.
It must have been difficult for you.
DONALD BLAKE
My fear is... while I still have
these memories, how do I know I'm
better? What if this isn't just a
one time thing, brought on by stress.
What if I suddenly think I'm Thor
the next time I'm on the subway, or
god forbid, with a patient?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
That's a perfectly understandable,
perfectly reasonable fear.
DONALD BLAKE
Do you have any idea what might cause
something like this?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Cause? Not specifically. But I
have heard of similar cases. You're
a doctor, have you ever heard of The
Jerusalem Syndrome?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.
DONALD BLAKE
That's where tourists to Jerusalem
have a sudden religious experience,
right?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Exactly. Some of them feel compelled
to go out and preach the word. Others
identify themselves with a paticular
character in the Bible, like, say,
John the Baptist.
DONALD BLAKE
And what happens to these people?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Most of them recover shortly after
leaving the area, and some of these
are people who had no known mental
illness before or since.
DONALD BLAKE
You think this is what I have?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Not quite. There are enough
differences that it might be worth
calling it something different.
Say, the Asgard Syndrome, after the
land of the Norse Gods. Still, it
seems to fit. Your file says you
were recently in Norway on vacation.
DONALD BLAKE
It was a medical conference.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Right. And your symptoms started
when you learned about the hammer
Mjolnir, and all that inspired you
to go to a museum exhibit about Norse
culture.
DONALD BLAKE
Mjolnir.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Excuse me?
DONALD BLAKE
It's pronounced Mjolnir.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
My apologies. Still, you see, it
follows some of the same pattern as
the Jerusalem syndrome.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.
DOCTOR SIMONSON (CONT'D)
What I'd like to do, before we try
drugs, is talk to you about your
memories. They won't be logically
consistent, or if they are we'll
find they came from some book you
read long ago, and you'll be able to
see how they can't possibly be real.
DONALD BLAKE
I know they can't be real.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
You know it up here
(taps his head)
But not yet here.
(taps his heart)
At least not completely. Right?
DONALD BLAKE
So where do you want me to start?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
We were talking about the hammer, so
let's start there. Tell me about
the hammer.
DONALD BLAKE
Well, it was created by Thor's father,
Odin when he was young. He...
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Let me stop you there for a moment.
These memories. Do you remember
them as though they're happening to
you, or are they impersonal, like
you're watching a film.
DONALD BLAKE
They feel like they happened to me.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Then, at least to start with, I'd
like you to talk in that way, as
though you're relating a memory.
Also, really listen to yourself.
DONALD BLAKE
All right.
(takes a deep breath)
My father created the hammer when I
was young. It was made of a rare
metal, Uru, by the finest dwarven
craftsmen. While it was intended
for me, it was not a gift. It could
be won by anyone.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.
DONALD BLAKE (CONT'D)
Father placed many enchantments on
the hammer, giving it the power to
call down thunder and lightning, to
return to the hand of whoever throws
it, among others.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
So you, as Thor, God of Thunder,
couldn't do these things yourself?
DONALD BLAKE
No, I only became God of Thunder
once I mastered Mjolnir. Asgardians
don't really mean the word God in
the same way you do. It's more a
term of nobility, and a position.
Asgardians are stronger than the men
of Earth, and never age, but beyond
that we are fundamentally the same,
except where magical tools or
knowledge set us apart.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
So anyone who held the hammer could
become God of Thunder?
DONALD BLAKE
If they mastered it, perhaps. But
the most important enchantment on it
was that only one who was worthy
could lift the hammer Mjolnir.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
What makes one 'worthy'?
DONALD BLAKE
Many things. Bravery. Nobility of
spirit. Holding true to your oaths.
Things that would make my father
proud, although ultimately the magic
of the hammer looks into your soul
and decides whether you're worthy to
bear it.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
And you were worthy.
DONALD BLAKE
No, not for many years. My father
placed it near to his throne. I
tried to lift it that first day. So
did my brother Loki. Neither of us
could budge it.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
How did you become finally claim it?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.
DONALD BLAKE
Years after the hammer was created,
when I was a young man, we were riding
out in the countryside.
EXT. ASGARD FOREST -- DAY
We see for the first time, THOR, LOKI, and BALDER. They
ride horses in a vast wilderness. The camera follows them,
riding purposefully, in multiple shots that slowly transition
towards night, as Blake continues to speak.
DONALD BLAKE (V.O.)
That is, Loki, Balder, and I. Odin
had charged us with negotiating a
weregild between two noble families.
There had been a fight between two
young men over a woman, and one
accidentally slew the other. We
finished early, as Balder and Loki
was able to convince the families to
agree. I was mostly there in case
it broke out into violence. When we
were done, I was eager to return
home, so we rode until darkness fell,
and then we made camp.
FADE TO:
EXT. ASGARD CAMP -- NIGHT
There is a fire lit. Thor sits in front of it, staring into
the low flames. Balder sleeps, fitfully. Loki is nowhere
to be seen. Balder suddenly sits up, waking from a nightmare.
THOR
Easy, Balder. There are no foes to
fight this night.
BALDER
I had a dream.
THOR
Yes. Go back to sleep, and there'll
be another. May the next one be
filled with mead and maidens.
BALDER
No, this was... where is thy brother
Loki?
THOR
Who knows? Who cares?
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.
THOR (CONT'D)
No doubt out in the woods, practicing
potions and spells.
(beat)
What was thy dream?
BALDER
I dreamed of mine own death.
THOR
Death must come even to immortals
like us. All of us will fall in
Ragnarok, if not before.
BALDER
Yes, but we both heard the same
prophecy. My death is what helps
unleash Ragnarok.
THOR
Then thou hast less to worry than
most men. My father wishes to delay
Ragnarok as long as he is able. He
will find a way to make thee safe.
BALDER
Perhaps.
THOR
Art thou a coward, Balder? Would
thee run from battle, to preserve
thy own life?
BALDER
Never.
THOR
I thought not. Rest easy. Only
cowards need fear death. When we
fall, we shall share drinks in
Valhalla till the stars burn no more.
There is a rustling sound, causing Thor and Balder to come
to alert. Loki bursts through woods, out of breath.
THOR (CONT'D)
(muttered)
Speaking of cowards.
(aloud)
Ho, Loki. Wherefore dost thee run?
Has one of thy potions finally earned
thee the amorous attention of some
she-wolf?
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.
INT. SIMONSON'S OFFICE -- DAY
DOCTOR SIMONSON
I'm going to stop you there for a
moment. When does this take place?
DONALD BLAKE
Well, we were still young. This was
before my mother laid enchantments
protecting Balder from all harm, for
instance. We knew that, according
to prophecy, one of Loki's children
would be a gigantic wolf, and we
made a lot of jokes about that.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
No, I meant more along the lines of
what year.
DONALD BLAKE
I can't pin it down to an exact year,
but it was before we Asgardians
stopped coming to Earth regularly,
so... over a thousand years ago.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Yet you're all speaking English.
DONALD BLAKE
Oh, no. We spoke in the Old Tongue,
then. I'm just translating into
modern Asgardian.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Modern Asgardian. I have to say,
Modern Asgardian sounds a lot like
old fashioned English.
DONALD BLAKE
Yeah, I know it sounds strange.
There's actually a really good
explanation for that.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
No doubt. I'm eager to hear it.
DONALD BLAKE
Hundreds of years ago, Odin ordered
the Bifrost Bridge closed, and for
us to cease our interference with
Midgaard... with Earth, I mean.
However, he continued to watch the
Earth, and sometimes he would open a
gate in the heavens to allow us to
witness fierce battles on Earth, or
great works of art.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.
DONALD BLAKE (CONT'D)
One play so enamored the faerie folk
of Asgard, that they wove a spell
over all the land, replacing our
language with that of the play's
author.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
What play was that?
DONALD BLAKE
A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Shakespeare.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Of course. So you talk with thees
and thous and thines.
DONALD BLAKE
The first few years we all spoke
entirely in rhyming couplets, but
that part of the spell wore off.
The rest of the language stayed with
us, though. Many can still speak
the old tongue, but it requires a
deliberate effort.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
That's a very convenient answer.
Let's put it aside for now and come
back to it later. What happened
when Loki returned?
INT. ASGARD CAMP -- NIGHT
THOR
Has one of thy potions finally earned
you the amorous attentions of some
she-wolf?
LOKI
This is not the time to mock me,
brother, or you'll not know what
I've discovered.
BALDER
What is it, Loki?
LOKI
I've seen a troll.
BALDER
Thou hast gone into the caves?
LOKI
No, it was here, on the surface.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.
THOR
Impossible. Odin has decreed the
trolls not leave their underground
kingdom.
LOKI
One has broken our father's law, it
seems. He will want to deal with
this.
THOR
Or we could handle the problem for
him.
BALDER
Art thou sure that wise?
THOR
Wiser to solve a problem early than
to wait. There's only one of them?
LOKI
I only saw one, brother.
THOR
Are we men or are we boys? If we
three cannot defeat one troll, we
should flee Asgard in shame.
BALDER
Very well. Lead on, Loki.
They investigate, and come upon a troll in the woods. The
troll has grey skin and an ugly face, but is small for a
troll, only slightly larger than Thor himself. The troll is
eating some sort of animal, and is unaware of Thor and his
group. They are hiding in the bushes as they discuss the
situation.
THOR
Fah. This one's not even a challenge.
BALDER
Prudence would still be in order.
THOR
Fine, be prudent. I'll handle this
one on my own. Don't come to my aid
unless I call thee, Balder.
LOKI
Brother, I think...
THOR
Worry not, Loki. No one will think
less of thee if thee hides in the
woods.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.
LOKI
But, Brother...
THOR
Let the warriors handle it. If I
cannot defeat it, thou should run.
LOKI
Brother...
THOR
What is it, Loki? Thou nag worse
than a mother.
Loki finally gives up and smiles icily.
LOKI
I merely wanted to wish thee luck,
Brother.
Thor claps Loki on the shoulder, then gets to his feet. He
circles around to the Troll.
THOR
Troll. Thou art breaking Odin's
law. I give thee one chance to return
on your own legs, else I shall smite
thee down and drag thee there myself.
The troll begins to laugh, finds a broken tree branch on the
ground, and raises it as a club. Taking that as a cue that
diplomacy has failed, Thor charges into battle. Thor is
clearly the superior warrior, not only faster than the troll,
but smarter as well. He dodges many attacks, and eventually
lands a blow on the creature's legs. It lets out a howl and
goes into a stagger. Thor moves in, more confident and cocky,
and his cockiness is almost his undoing as the troll swings
a fist out and knocks him from his feet.
SMALL TROLL
ULIK! Asgardian!
Thor regains a standing posture and picks up his hammer.
THOR
Not just any Asgardian. Thou faces
Thor, son of Odin.
Behind Thor, more trolls appear. Larger ones. One of them
is ULIK, the leader of this band of rock Trolls.
ULIK
Soon to be Thor, dead son of Odin
whose bones will decorate my crown.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.
THOR
Ah, more of you. Good. I prefer a
fair fight. You have broken Odin's
law, and shall be punished.
Thor's last words are heard only quietly, as we cut to Balder
and Loki in the bushes, speaking in quiet tones.
BALDER
Thou said thee only saw one.
LOKI
I did.
(beat)
But the troll I saw was not the one
Thor went to fight. I think it was
that big one, there.
BALDER
(rising to his feet)
Yet thee let him charge in all the
same.
LOKI
He seemed so eager. I couldn't bear
to stop him.
BALDER
We'd better help him.
LOKI
We? May fortune favor thee, Balder,
and I'll drink a toast to you both,
but this is not my fight.
Loki gets up and gets ready to go.
BALDER
If Thor falls because of your
mischief, Loki, Odin will not be
pleased with you.
LOKI scowls, but turns back to the fight. He walks slowly
behind as Balder rushes in.
The next few minutes are an extended action sequence. Balder
joins Thor, and they stand back to back as they face the
oncoming trolls, separating now and then to fight one. Ulik
allows the other trolls to do most of the fighting at this
point. The rest of the trolls are dumb combatants, and
although they are somewhat stronger than the Asgardians,
their skill in battle is lacking. Balder redirects one
charging into him into striking another. Thor jumps on
one's back and holds on to his neck, twisting until it cracks
with a loud noise. Another knocks Thor to his feet
immediately after the dead troll falls, and comes very close
to killing him.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.
It's at then we see Loki deciding to intervene at last.
LOKI
(mutters in an ancient
language, possibly
old Norse)
Yorn desh born, der ritt de gitt der
gue, orn desh, dee born desh, de umn
bork bork bork!
With this, the trees themselves begin to come alive, and
wrap themselves around the trolls. Loki looks satisfied,
and not particularly interested in joining in the physical
confrontation. Although most of the trolls are captured in
this way, it is done over about thirty seconds, during which
the fight continues. One of the trolls knocks Balder roughly
to the ground, at the feet of Ulik, who is angry at the
suddenly attacking trees.
Ulik grabs Balder by the throat and lifts him into the air.
Thor's attention is immediately on the danger his friend is
in.
ULIK
Cease this sorcery, or I shall snap
his neck.
THOR
Harm him, and thou will be able to
count the remaining beats of thy
heart on thy fingers.
ULIK
Bold words. You men of Asgard are
very bold, very arrogant. You presume
to make laws for trolls. But we are
stronger than you, and your deaths
will be but the first. The trees
still hold my brothers.
Ulik squeezes Balder's throat.
THOR
Wait. Loki, stop your magic.
From his hiding spot, Loki waves a hand, and the tree limbs
squeeze more tightly. He's ignored Thor's advice, deciding
that a threat would work better than an agreement.
LOKI
I should cause the river to change
its course, and swallow you all.
Let him go.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.
ULIK
This Loki must not care much for
your friend. In this we agree. I
tire of him.
(he flexes ready to squeeze again)
THOR
Wait. Thou thinkest trolls are better
than men?
ULIK
I know it.
THOR
Then I give thee the opportunity to
prove it. I challenge thee under
the ancient codes, to single combat,
until death or one of us yields.
ULIK
(amused)
Thou darest challenge me?
THOR
If thou wins, I shall be thy prisoner.
Thou will release my friends to tell
my father Odin. He will pay any
ransom.
ULIK
I think I would enjoy keeping the
son of Odin as a slave.
THOR
Only if thou wins. If I win, thou
and thy band shall return to the
troll kingdoms, and remain there for
no less than a thousand years.
ULIK
No weapons.
THOR
(hesitating only a
moment)
Agreed.
Thor drops his hammer, and gets into a crouch. It's clear
he's outmatched here. Ulik is nearly twice his size, stronger
than any of the other trolls. Thor gets in a good first
shot, kicking at the troll's kneecap and sending him down on
one knee, and then landing several blows before Ulik catches
him by the hand and flinging him into the woods. This begins
a round where Thor is being hurt most.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19.
Now that the fight is a formal challenge, the rest of the
trolls, released from the trees, stand watching. Loki moves
to help up Balder to his feet.
LOKI
He has no hope. It would be wise
for us to leave now. The sooner we
reach home, the sooner father might
ransom him.
BALDER
Do not discount thy brother yet.
The fight continues. Thor is now taking a cagier approach.
He's still striking where he can, but is relying more on
feints and trying to dodge any of Ulik's serious blows.
ULIK
Yield, son of Odin. Thou hast fought
well, but even the most stubborn-
minded must acknowledge I am superior.
Thor spits out blood.
THOR
Thou art superior to no man.
Ulik kicks Thor, who rolls with it and then rests on his
hands and knees.
ULIK
Yield. Thou shalt never defeat me.
THOR
(very softly)
I don't have to.
ULIK
What's that? Did thee yield?
THOR
(louder)
I said I don't have to defeat thee.
Ulik is amused and suspicious all at once, enough to stop
approaching for the moment.
ULIK
No? Pray tell, why not?
THOR
My father's laws enforce themselves.
Any troll struck by rays from
Asgard's sun shall turn to stone. I
need not defeat thee. I need but to
hold the line until sunrise.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20.
Ulik becomes enraged, approaching again.
ULIK
YIELD!
THOR
I say thee nay, Ulik.
Ulik rushes Thor, desperate to finish the fight before
sunrise. This makes him sloppier, and Thor is able to stumble
out of the way, and, with renewed strength, trip him. He
launches attacks while Ulik is down. Ulik pushes Thor back
while getting to his feet again. There are a few more blows
traded. Both combatants are nearing the end of their
strengths, but Thor manages to wrap an arm against Ulik's
neck. He's too large to snap it directly, but he does his
best to block his airway.
THOR (CONT'D)
Dost thou see the sky, troll? See
how light it is? Dawn appraoches
fast.
Ulik roars.
THOR (CONT'D)
Yield, Ulik. Yield, and there may
yet be time to return to thy caves.
Ulik bends down suddenly, tossing Thor to the ground in front
of him. Thor groans, and rolls out of the way of Ulik's
follow-up punch to the ground. He's still lying on the
ground, on his back, but when Ulik approaches next time,
Thor kicks him in the groin. Ulik slumps to the ground,
giving Thor time to reach his feet. Thor approaches
menacingly, and stops only when Ulik cries out.
ULIK
I yield!
Thor stops, shoulders slump.
THOR
Good. Go, Ulik. I have thy oath.
One thousand years. Now run. I
hear even trolls reawakened from
stone lose their memories of the
last year. I'd hate for thee to
forget I triumphed over thee.
Ulik growls, gets to his feet, and waves to his troll allies.
They begin to run through the woods. Balder runs up and
claps Thor on the shoulder. This last blow is too much for
him, and he falls to the ground.
BALDER
Loki. Help me with thy brother.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.
Loki rolls his eyes.
INT. ASGARD - ODIN'S HALL -- DAY
Thor still moves stiffly, covered with bruises, but he is
happy.
DONALD BLAKE (V.O.)
We returned home to tell Odin of
what we did, but it seemed he already
knew.
ODIN
Thou hast done well, my son. Come,
I have arranged a feast in thy honor.
Thor responds politely, but his eyes are drawn elsewhere.
THOR
Thank you, father.
Odin follows Thor's gaze, and we see Mjolnir, the mighty
hammer that Thor will become famous for. It is larger than
the one he normally carries, and made of a stone-like metal.
ODIN
Dost thou think thou art worthy?
THOR
I would like to try, father.
Loki steps forward.
LOKI
Wait. I defeated far more trolls
than thee, Thor. I contained nearly
the whole band, and could have killed
them if not for Balder. I should be
allowed to try first.
THOR
Thou used magic, brother. Being
clever does not make thee worthy.
LOKI
Magic is no less noble than hitting
someone. Or being hit and being too
stubborn to fall.
ODIN
True, Loki. However, it is the way
one's talents are used that determines
worth. Do you think what thou didst
reflects well upon thee?
Loki considers, but knows in his heart that it did not.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.
ODIN (CONT'D)
Try, Loki. Try to lift the hammer.
LOKI
No father. Let Thor try first.
ODIN
Loki, I say try.
Loki hesitantly moves towards the raised slab with the hammer
upon it. He reaches down and, with both hands, using all
his strength, tries to lift it. It doesn't even budge. He
quickly gives up, humiliated but too proud to show it.
LOKI
I want it not. Of what use would a
hammer be to me? It is a fool's
weapon, no subtlety at all.
ODIN
Thou hast great potential within
thee, Loki. However, it remains up
to thee whether to use that potential
for the good of Asgard, or for
selfishness.
THOR
Make way, and allow me my turn.
Odin holds up a hand to stop him.
ODIN
Be warned, Thor. One act rarely
makes a man worthy or unworthy. If
the hammer is too heavy for thee
this day, do not be discouraged, and
continue to act as I expect from
both of my sons.
Loki makes another annoyed face. Thor simply nods, and grabs
the hammer with one hand. At first he strains with all his
might, and nothing happens. Loki is pleased, and is on the
verge of saying something mean when, very slowly, the hammer
begins to raise from the floor. It seems to take all of
Thor's strength, but he's done it. Thor is triumphant, Loki
is once again dismayed.
DONALD BLAKE (V.O.)
It was heavy at first, but it soon
felt like it belonged in my hand,
like it had always been there.
THOR
May I keep it, father?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.
ODIN
Thou hast lifted it, my son. Mjolnir
is thine, and so long as thou canst
weild it, not even I shall take it
from thee.
DONALD BLAKE (V.O.)
My father was so proud, that he sent
word throughout Asgard. I was no
longer simply Thor, son of Odin. I
had taken my first steps to becoming
Thor, God of Thunder.
INT. SIMONSON'S OFFICE -- DAY
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Wasn't it always certain you'd become
the God of Thunder?
DONALD BLAKE
What do you mean?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
You talked about how Balder's death
brings forth Ragnarok, and both of
you knew this. The gods of Asgard
were bound by fate. So wouldn't
you... wouldn't Thor have known he'd
always become the God of Thunder?
So why be so proud of it? For that
matter, how could he be brotherly
with Loki, knowing what is to come.
DONALD BLAKE
It's not as simple as that. We never
knew the whole story, only some of
the details, and the details
themselves were sometimes misleading.
Yes, my brother might become my enemy,
but he's still my brother. If I
treated him differently because of
it, that might very well be the cause
of our conflict.
(beat)
We had an eye on the future, but we
also lived very much in the moment,
because we expect to be alive for
hundreds, if not thousands of years
before our destinies play out in
Ragnarok. It's like... you know
you're going to die. But you still
live every day on its own, most of
the time without focusing on what is
to come. What other choice do you
have?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
I see. I think that's enough for
the moment. I think in order to
help you, I'm going to need to do a
little more research on the Norse
stories. It's almost time for lunch,
get something to eat.
Blake stands. At the window, a raven lands, and caws.
INT. BELLEVUE CAFETERIA -- DAY
A clean room for ambulatory patients to get together and
eat. Donald Blake holds a tray of food, and looks around.
The patients here are mentally ill, and more than a few of
them show it. Blake is out of his element, and a bit afraid
that he really belongs here. He limps around and finds an
empty place, next to two patients, BETA-RAY BILL, and LEE
KIRBY. Bill is an older man in glasses, reminiscent of Stan
Lee (maybe played by him in cameo).
DONALD BLAKE
Mind if I sit here?
LEE KIRBY
Go ahead. You're new here?
DONALD BLAKE
Yes.
LEE KIRBY
My name's Lee Kirby.
DONALD BLAKE
Donald Blake.
BETA-RAY BILL
William Lawrence Leiber, but everyone
calls me Bill.
LEE KIRBY
Actually, everyone calls him Beta-
Ray Bill.
DONALD BLAKE
Beta-Ray Bill?
BETA-RAY BILL
The government uses Beta-Rays to
keep us ignorant of their mind control
techniques. I built a machine that
lets me see through Beta-Ray fields.
It also detects Skrulls. There aren't
any of those here, though.
DONALD BLAKE
Skrulls?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25.
LEE KIRBY
Don't even get him started. What's
wrong with your leg?
BETA-RAY BILL
There's nothing wrong with his leg,
it's all in his head.
DONALD BLAKE
No, it isn't.
BETA-RAY BILL
Yes, it is. That's why you're here,
isn't it?
DONALD BLAKE
No, it isn't.
(to Kirby)
It's just a childhood injury.
LEE KIRBY
So if you're not here about the leg,
what are you here for?
DONALD BLAKE
Pardon?
LEE KIRBY
You're not in Bellevue Psychiatric
for the scenery.
DONALD BLAKE
I had some kind of breakdown... tried
to break into a museum. They've got
me here to make sure I'm okay. What
about you?
LEE KIRBY
Different kind of break down.
(raises his wrists to
show scars)
Depression. I'm getting better,
under treatment, but I don't think
I'm ready to go out there yet.
DONALD BLAKE
I'm sorry.
LEE KIRBY
You've got nothing to be sorry about.
BETA-RAY BILL
They say I suffer from paranoid
schizophrenia, so they forced me in
here to shut me up and discredit my
work.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.
BETA-RAY BILL (CONT'D)
Actually, this is the safest place
for me right now, since I can see
any assassin coming and freak out
until the orderlies send them away.
(takes a bite)
Yes, I know that that sounds like
just what a paranoid schizophrenic
would come up with. Sometimes the
best lies are the the most obvious
ones.
DONALD BLAKE
You sound like my brother.
(gets flustered)
I mean... I don't have a brother. I
don't even know why I said that.
LEE KIRBY
Hey, don't worry about it. There's
no shame here. The sooner you
confront your problems, the sooner
you deal with them.
In the background, we see Jane Foster talking to an orderly,
who points in Blake's direction. As it's behind Blake, he
doesn't see this.
BETA-RAY BILL
Looks like you have a visitor.
LEE KIRBY
How do you know she's not here to
see me?
BETA-RAY BILL
She's too pretty to be here for you.
If she was here to see you, you
wouldn't be depressed.
Blake sees who it is, stands up.
DONALD BLAKE
She's a friend of mine. Excuse me
for a moment.
Blake walks to meet her halfway. Jane holds up a wooden
cane.
JANE FOSTER
I thought you might want to have
this. They said it was okay to bring
it in.
DONALD BLAKE
Thank you so much.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.
DONALD BLAKE (CONT'D)
The one they gave me's just a little
too short to be comfortable. You
didn't have to come out of your way
just to bring this, though.
JANE FOSTER
Well, I wanted to see how you're
doing. You're seeming...
DONALD BLAKE
Less crazy?
JANE FOSTER
I was going to go with better. How
are you?
DONALD BLAKE
I feel more or less like myself. I
don't know what happened to me.
JANE FOSTER
So do you think you'll be getting
out soon?
DONALD BLAKE
They're holding me for the full 72
hours, just to be safe, but even if
they would let me go today... I need
to know what's happening to me. I
don't feel like I should be practicing
medicine until I can be sure this
won't happen again. That is, if
I'll still have my job at all after
this. I'm probably the laughing
stock of the hospital now. Went
straight from surgery to behavioral.
JANE FOSTER
I didn't say anything but... word
does get around.
DONALD BLAKE
Yeah.
JANE FOSTER
I'm sure they'll understand, it's
just stress.
DONALD BLAKE
I wish I could blame it on stress.
To be honest, I'm scared there's
something seriously wrong with me.
JANE FOSTER
No, it's just stress.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.
JANE FOSTER (CONT'D)
I'm sure that's all it is. But I
want you to know, no matter what, if
you need a friend, I'm here for you.
DONALD BLAKE
Thanks.
(beat)
Hey, aren't you supposed to be on-
call?
JANE FOSTER
I switched shifts. But I can't stay
very long. In fact, I really should
get going.
DONALD BLAKE
I understand. Thank you for coming.
Jane stands, and Donald does likewise.
JANE FOSTER
You have my number. When they let
you out, if you need a ride or
anything.
DONALD BLAKE
Thanks.
Impulsively, she hugs Donald, surprising him. There are
tears in her eyes.
JANE FOSTER
Get better.
She walks off. Shortly after, Beta-Ray Bill and Other Patient
come back.
BETA-RAY BILL
That your girlfriend?
DONALD BLAKE
No... no, she's just a friend. A co-
worker, actually. She brought me
this.
Donald shows off his cane.
BETA-RAY BILL
Is it heavy? It looks heavy.
DONALD BLAKE
No, not that heavy. Sturdy though.
BETA-RAY BILL
It made of some kind of stone? Or
is it metal?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29.
DONALD BLAKE
(puzzled)
No, just plain wood.
LEE KIRBY
What does she do?
DONALD BLAKE
She's a nurse.
LEE KIRBY
You said she was a co-worker. Does
that make you a nurse too?
DONALD BLAKE
I was a doctor.
BETA-RAY BILL
And now?
DONALD BLAKE
(looking downward at
his cane)
I don't know anymore.
INT. SIMONSON'S OFFICE -- DAY
Donald Blake and Doctor Simonson are talking. It's nearing
the end of their session.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Well, we're almost out of time.
DONALD BLAKE
You haven't asked me anything about...
Thor.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
I know, I wanted to look at the rest
of your life. Your real life. Does
that bother you?
DONALD BLAKE
No, I just... thought it was odd.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
It's okay if it does. It's an
understandable reaction.
DONALD BLAKE
It just seemed like we were dancing
around the elephant in the room.
Why I'm here.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Why you're here has more to do with
what we've talked about right now,
about your childhood and life, your
need to prove yourself, than any of
those memories you've invented. But
since you've brought it up, how do
you feel about what you told me this
morning?
DONALD BLAKE
I'm not sure what you mean.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Does it still feel real?
DONALD BLAKE
Of course it does.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Okay. Well, for our next session,
I'd like you to try something new.
I want you to write something from
Thor's life, on paper. Not the same
story you told me this morning.
Something new. Something about a
time you felt weak, and what you did
to overcome it. But instead of
writing it as a story that happened
to you, write it in the third person.
Thor is a character, like any other.
Tell it from the perspective of
another character in the story.
Make it entertaining, and remember
that's what it is, a story.
INT. BELLEVUE COMMON ROOM -- EVENING
Donald Blake is struggling to write something in a notebook.
He's started and crossed out his work several times already,
and is looking around the common room for inspiration. He
sees SULLY, a bald orderly, a tough guy type, speaking to
Bill.
SULLY
I don't care. My chart says you
take your pills, so you're going to
take them if I have to shove them
down your throat.
Bill seems suitably cowed, and empties his pill-cup into his
mouth, swallowing. The bald orderly turned away, muttering
to himself, and Bill immediately spits something into his
hand. We follow the bald orderly from Donald's point of
view, and then suddenly see the paper, where he has begun to
write:
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
Through a montage, we see Blake continue to write for some
time. He's got quite a bit, when he is interrupted, with a
start.
BETA-RAY BILL
What ya writing?
DONALD BLAKE
Nothing, really. It's just a story.
BETA-RAY BILL
I like stories. What's it about?
DONALD BLAKE
Warriors. Love. Jealousy. Magic.
It's not very good.
BETA-RAY BILL
Sounds interesting to me.
He gets Blake's attention away from the paper and back towards
the Sully.
BETA-RAY BILL (CONT'D)
Sully's on the warpath again. Just
a warning.
DONALD BLAKE
He seems like a real charmer.
BETA-RAY BILL
We all hate him. So pushy.
DONALD BLAKE
He doesn't really seem suited to the
job... but you know, you really should
take your medication. For your own
sake.
BETA-RAY BILL
I bet your patients love you. You
got that whole caring doctor thing
down pat. But I know what I'm doing.
DONALD BLAKE
And what's that?
BETA-RAY BILL
Staying sharp. The pills make me
all foggy. If they come for me, I'd
rather be crazy and sharp than sane
and dull.
DONALD BLAKE
I'd think you'd want to be well.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32.
BETA-RAY BILL
A wise man once said, "They called
me mad, and I called them mad, and
damned, but they out voted me." But
maybe I'm right after all. Maybe
we're the sane ones.
DONALD BLAKE
I don't think so, Bill.
Over on the other end of the room, Sully takes the remote
control away. Distantly, we hear,
SULLY
Fine, you don't want to take your
pills, no TV. Everyone, blame Mary
here for no TV for the next hour.
BETA-RAY BILL
What a jerk.
DONALD BLAKE
He can't do that, can he?
BETA-RAY BILL
None of the other orderlies on the
shift will stand up to him. Sully
the Bully.
Lee Kirby walks over.
LEE KIRBY
Sully the Bully did it again. Want
to play a game of checkers?
BETA-RAY BILL
I'm sick of checkers. Hey, Donald
here's got a story to tell us.
DONALD BLAKE
I really don't think...
BETA-RAY BILL
It's got magic. I love a good story.
And you always did go for the fantasy,
didn't you Kirby?
DONALD BLAKE
It's part of my therapy, I really
don't think...
LEE KIRBY
It must be Simonson's idea. He's a
good guy. Doesn't go straight through
to the drugs like most doctors do.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33.
BETA-RAY BILL
So come on, tell us. We'll help.
We can make your story better,
constructive criticism. What else
are we going to do?
LEE KIRBY
I could tell you one of my stories,
if you'd like, but my best one has
my wife cheating on me with my best
friend, so they're kind of depressing.
BETA-RAY BILL
No, Donald's going to tell us his
story. It's got magic. We could
use a more little magic in our lives.
DONALD BLAKE
(giving in)
Okay.
EXT. ASGARD INN -- NIGHT
A tall, bald man stands, in full armor, with an axe in one
hand. This is SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER. He is standing outside
an inn. The inn is full of music and song, a party is going
on within. But there is no party going on for Skurge. He
has a look of stern determination.
DONALD BLAKE (V.O.)
They called him Skurge the
Executioner. He was a warrior of
some reknown in the lands of Asgard.
But he was a hard man, and very much
a bully. Some warriors defend the
weak, Skurge pushed them around.
But no man's soul is all good or all
bad. Skurge was also a man in love,
with the beautiful Enchantress Amora.
He would do anything for her to prove
his worth, and she gave him a task.
He was to capture Thor, son of Odin,
god of Thunder. He was no match
for Thor's mighty hammer Mjolnir.
So he would strike at Thor when he
was weakest.
INT. ASGARD INN -- NIGHT
Inside the party continues, as Norse men and women of all
sizes enjoy themselves. Thor is the center of attention,
and he is exceptionally drunk, though not quite so drunk as
the man beside him, who soon collapses over. There is a
resounding cheer.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34.
THOR
Who is the greatest drinker in all
of Asgard?
ALL
THOR!
THOR
And who is the greatest warrior in
all of Asgard?
ALL
THOR!
THOR
Who makes the sky tremble at his
command?
ALL
THOR!
THOR
And never forget that! More mead!
There is another cheer.
EXT. ASGARD INN -- NIGHT
Some time later, Thor staggers out. He shouts,
THOR
Thou art next, Volstagg, as soon as
I make some room.
He begins humming to himself to the tune of the music, and
stands against a tree, where we hear a slight tinkling sound.
Once he's finished, he turns and Skurge is there. With one
blow, Skurge knocks him unconscious. Thor's hammer falls
to the ground, and at first Skurge tried to pick it up, but
cannot make it leave the ground. Finally, he throws Thor
over one shoulder and walks into the night.
INT. ASGARD - AMORA'S HOME -- NIGHT
We see for the first time, AMORA the Enchantress, a beautiful
sorceress. She lies on a large bed, reading a book to
candlelight. Her home is rustic, but not without its share
of majesty. Skurge enters, still carrying Thor.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
Amora, my dear, my angel, I have
done as thou hast requested.
AMORA
(surprised)
Thou hast?
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35.
AMORA (CONT'D)
(rises to look)
Thou hast! My, Skurge, this is a
surprise. How manly of thee.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
My lady inspires me. Thou hast but
to wish, and I will move Asgard itself
to make it so.
AMORA
Indeed. My thanks.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
What are we to do with him?
AMORA
Oh, I have an idea. We'll transform
him into something. A frog, perhaps.
But I need something else from thee.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
Anything. Just ask.
AMORA
I need one of Idunn's golden apples,
picked fresh by moonlight.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
But it will take me all night. What
if he wakes?
AMORA
I have spells that will keep him in
slumber. Go, now. I will grant
thee a kiss upon thy return.
Skurge hesitates, but leaves the cave. Amora smiles, looking
over Thor's form. She places a hand on his face lovingly,
then moves to a cauldron, where there is a rack of small
bottles. As her back is turned, we see Thor open one eye
and look around, then close it again as he hears Amora moving.
She returns to her book.
AMORA (CONT'D)
The poor dumb fool. By the time he
returns, thou wilt be mine, body and
soul, Lord of Thunder. Why have a
warrior when I can have royalty?
EXT. ASGARD - AMORA'S HOME -- NIGHT
We see that Skurge is waiting outside the cabin, listening.
AMORA
Ah, here it is... the formula of a
love potion.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36.
INT. ASGARD - AMORA'S HOME -- MOMENTS LATER
Skurge comes bursting in.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
Nay, Amora. How dare thee do this
to me.
AMORA
Do what?
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
A love potion. On him, after all
I've done.
AMORA
Thou must have misheard.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
Nay. Thou wouldst betray me. Well,
there'll be no Thunder God for thee.
I'd rather remove his head than see
thee in his arms.
AMORA
Skurge, no!
Skurge makes a chopping motion with his axe. Thor springs
into action, opens his eyes, and rolls to the side just in
time.
THOR
No execution today, Skurge.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
I'll kill thee, Thunder God.
THOR
Will it make thee feel better, Skurge?
To kill thy better? Then try.
They fight, while Amora rushes to her cauldron and begins
furiously mixing things. Thor is on the defensive, having
no weapon. At one point, Thor ducks barely out of the way
of a swing of the axe, and it gets lodged in a wall. Thor
takes the opportunity to strike, knocking Skurge off balance
and so he is unable to retrieve the blade.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
I'm still stronger than thee, even
without the axe.
The struggle continues. Skurge presses forward in the fight
and catches Thor in a hold.
THOR
Tis true, but I'm the better warrior.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37.
Thor makes a move that uses Skurge's own weight against him,
and then knocks him quickly onto his back.
During the fight, Amora has been adding things to the
cauldron. Now that Skurge is down, Thor kicks it over,
spilling the contents anywhere.
THOR (CONT'D)
Halt, witch. No magic.
Skurge is crawling towards where he left the axe. Thor stomps
on Skurge's hand.
THOR (CONT'D)
Thou art a coward and a fool, Skurge.
The only way thou could best me is
when I was drunk and my back was
turned. All will know thou wast
afraid to fight me in fair combat.
And thou did it all for the love of
an unfaithful harlot.
(to Amora)
And as for thee, thou art a lovely
face, tis true. Without magic, I
might even fall in love with thee...
for one night. No more. After that,
it would get tiresome. Thou art not
worthy of Thor.
(shakes head, to both
of them)
You two deserve each other. At least
I'll have one trophy of the night.
He reached for Skurge's axe, and, with time and proper
leverage, releases it from the wall.
SKURGE THE EXECUTIONER
No, that axe was my father's. How
dare thee touch it.
THOR
Thy father could not bear to see
thee born, and fled into the hills
of Jotenheim. Thou hath most likely
stolen it. Whoever's it was, it is
mine now. Punishment for thy
foolishness.
INT. BELLEVUE COMMON ROOM -- EVENING
Blake has finished his story.
BETA-RAY BILL
What happened after that?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38.
DONALD BLAKE
I don't know. Thor went back to the
bar and got his hammer. He later
lost the axe in a game of chance, I
think. Skurge and Amora both swore
revenge but were never really a threat
to him. That's all another story,
though. What did you think?
There's an uncomfortable pause.
LEE KIRBY
Don't quit your day job, buddy.
DONALD BLAKE
Not very good?
LEE KIRBY
Well, maybe it's just me, but there
was nobody really to root for.
Everyone was a jerk, even this Thor
guy.
BETA-RAY BILL
Yeah, I felt bad for Skurge more
than him.
DONALD BLAKE
Really?
BETA-RAY BILL
Well, Skurge was in love, at least.
DONALD BLAKE
But Thor was attacked from behind,
his weapon was taken from him, and
still he prevailed.
BETA-RAY BILL
I guess. But there's more to being
a hero than winning against the odds.
The call of heroism should be
Excelsior! That means 'always
upward', in latin. That's what heroes
should be, always looking for the
best path. Skurge and Adora...
LEE KIRBY
Amora.
BETA-RAY BILL
Amora. You said he was a bully and
she was an evil witch, but Thor didn't
care until they bothered him
personally, and then he just
humiliated them and walked off,
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39.
BETA-RAY BILL (CONT'D)
instead of doing something about
them. You see what I'm getting at?
DONALD BLAKE
I never thought of it like that
before, but yeah.
BETA-RAY BILL
Don't worry, not everyone can be a
great storyteller. Maybe you could
go into sales.
INT. BELLEVUE PSYCHIATRIC -- EVENING
Jane Foster approaches the orderly desk, where Sully is
waiting, reading a magazine.
JANE FOSTER
I'm here to see Donald Blake.
SULLY
Visiting hours are over.
JANE FOSTER
I know, it's just... I'm a nurse, I
work here. He's a dear friend of
mine, could you please just make an
exception?
SULLY
What do I get out of it?
JANE FOSTER
What do you want?
SULLY
A date with you would help...
She smiles at him coquettishly.
INT. BELLEVUE COMMON ROOM -- EVENING
SULLY
Blake! Visitor.
He stands up as Jane's approaching.
DONALD BLAKE
What are you doing here? It's not
visiting hours.
JANE FOSTER
I wanted to see how you were doing.
You look good.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40.
DONALD BLAKE
Thanks.
(beat)
You know, I don't think I've told
you how much I appreciate you
visiting, but you don't have to do
it so much.
JANE FOSTER
It's nothing. What are friends for?
DONALD BLAKE
Well, thank you. It's important to
me that I have a connection to the
outside world. In a place like
this... it can be hard to lose track
of things.
JANE FOSTER
How are you doing, with all this?
DONALD BLAKE
I don't know. I'm not on any
medication right now, Doctor Simonson
wants to see if I can sort through
everything on my own. Sometimes I
think I can, it should be easy, but...
my head's full of all sorts of
memories. It's like some kind of
storybook tale. The Doctor is trying
to help me see through them.
JANE FOSTER
That's good. You'll just accept who
you are?
DONALD BLAKE
Maybe. Enough about me. I feel so
out of touch with everything here.
Tell me what's going on with you?
JANE FOSTER
Oh, you know. I've been working
under Doctor Conway lately.
DONALD BLAKE
He's good.
JANE FOSTER
Yeah, and he doesn't let anybody
forget it, either. I miss working
with you.
DONALD BLAKE
I miss working with you too.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41.
JANE FOSTER
Oh, and I'm dating a great guy.
Blake looks down in some embarassment.
DONALD BLAKE
Oh?
JANE FOSTER
He's lawyer and a lobbiest. He
represents a lot of corporate
interests, trying to get environmental
restrictions lifted.
DONALD BLAKE
Lifted?
JANE FOSTER
Yeah, it's like he says, business is
business.
DONALD BLAKE
Wow. I have to say, that doesn't
sound like your type.
JANE FOSTER
There's something very appealing
about a man who lies for a living.
He's going to help me sue the hospital
for discrimination, because I'm a
woman. I mean, it's totally baseless,
but I could use the money, I don't
want to change bedpans forever.
DONALD BLAKE
What? That doesn't sound anything
you. You were always so...
compassionate.
JANE FOSTER
Well, people change. I mean, look
at you, you used to be one of the
most respected people I knew, now
you're a common lunatic.
(off his look)
Oh, I'm sorry, was that rude? I
didn't mean it like that. What I
meant to say is that if any of your
friends saw you talking about your
strange other life, they'd wonder
about you too... and for good reason.
DONALD BLAKE
(looks away)
Maybe you should go, Jane.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42.
JANE FOSTER
Maybe I should. After all you have
your... snack. It's rather funny.
Once you feasted on fresh-caught
venison and the finest mead of Alfhiem
flowed like water. Now you eat cheese
and bread and a tiny apple juice.
How low the mighty have fallen.
DONALD BLAKE
What?
He looks back. Now, where Jane once sat, is LOKI. He's
dressed in Jane's nurse's uniform.
LOKI
It's not even fermented, for our
father's sake. That's a disgrace.
DONALD BLAKE
Loki?
LOKI
Finally, dear brother. You really
have lost your touch. You used to
spot me in disguise much sooner than
that.
DONALD BLAKE
I'm going crazy. I'm having a
psychotic break.
LOKI
No, brother, you're going sane.
DONALD BLAKE
What are you doing here?
LOKI
I'm here for you. As you asked.
Don't you remember? The night father
banished you to Earth, after he told
you what was to come, you came to
me. You couldn't bear the thought
of being a mere mortal, and you asked
me to find you and restore your mind.
We've had our differences over the
years, but that request truly touched
me. That you, future Lord of Asgard,
would come to me, the God of Mischief,
in your hour of need. I promised
you that I would. It took me some
time to find where father had stashed
you, but I did, and I restored to
you your memories. I've only returned
because you've begun to doubt
yourself.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43.
DONALD BLAKE
No. You're some kind of
hallucination. Maybe a dream.
LOKI
It's only the tiresome mind of this
Donald Blake that doubts me. Let me
put him to sleep again for a moment,
so we can talk as brothers.
Loki snaps his fingers. Donald begins to grin and speak
much more confidently.
DONALD BLAKE
Loki! My surprise doth know no bounds
that thou hast kept thy word. All
thy past trespasses against me art
forgiven.
LOKI
Oh, it was nothing. What are brothers
for?
DONALD BLAKE
What hast happened to thy tongue?
Thou speakest like... like the men
of Midgaard do today.
LOKI
Well, of course. It doesn't take
much to shake off a faeriespell, and
I've had to spend some time on this
world looking for you. I quite like
it, actually. I've been away so
long. There are so many new ways to
trick people, with the television
and this internet thing. I only
intended to come to do what I needed
to do, but I think I'm going to stay
a while and see what's changed.
DONALD BLAKE
I warn thee, Loki, Odin will be
displeased with thee if thou makest
sport on the mortals again.
LOKI
Where's your gratitude, Thor? No
sooner have I arrived to try and
help you do you assume I will do
someone harm. I've changed some in
the years since we've spoken.
DONALD BLAKE
I cry thy pardon, Loki. Indeed I
should be thanking thee. How is
everybody back home?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44.
LOKI
They are as they always are. But
I'm afraid I must be the bearer of
grim tidings.
DONALD BLAKE
What is it?
LOKI
I am not the only one who has found
you. Someone has alerted your
enemies. They seem to feel that
since Odin hid you here, the law
about staying out of the affairs of
Midgaard is no longer valid. Even
now they are crossing the Rainbow
Bridge on their way to face you. I
suspect you have less than three
days before they arrive.
DONALD BLAKE
Can you restore to me my true form?
LOKI
Even my magics cannot do that,
brother, only Odin can.
DONALD BLAKE
Then bring me Mjolnir! He said if I
needed to use it in his name, I could
be restored, and I know where it is.
It lies in the natural history museum.
LOKI
Nothing would please me more.
However, there is another enchantment
I cannot defeat. 'Only one who is
worthy can lift the mighty Mjolnir'.
We know in father's eyes, I've never
been worthy enough to touch it, much
less carry it to you.
DONALD BLAKE
At least break me out of here, so I
can get it myself!
LOKI
I wish I could, but like I said, I
have changed my ways. Sincerely,
brother. I only came this far because
I promised you I would not let you
remain living a lie. But beyond
that I will break no law, neither
Odin's nor Midgaard's.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45.
DONALD BLAKE
Then what good is thy warning, if I
can't do anything about it?
LOKI
Yes. I suppose when you look at it
that way, it does seem a cruel jest...
to restore your mind but not your
body, to warn you of impending doom
but leave you impotent to do anything
about it, so that the mighty Thor
might finally know fear before he
dies. It would have been one of my
best tricks... were it a trick at
all.
DONALD BLAKE
Treacherous swine. Thou hast done
this on purpose. Thou has told my
enemies where I was.
LOKI
Same old Thor. Always blaming me
for your problems. When I return to
Asgard, I'll give your regards to
Balder, and the Warriors Three, and
of course, your love to Sif.
Loki gets up and starts to leave.
DONALD BLAKE
(raised voice)
I will have my vengeance upon thee,
Loki.
Blake gets up to follow Loki, who is speaking to one of the
doctors. When Blake steps forward, though, it is with the
confidence of Thor, and he's forgotten that he's in the body
of Blake. He's not using his cane, and so his body falls
out from under him.
DONALD BLAKE (CONT'D)
LOKI! LOKI!
It now appears that Jane Foster is talking to the orderly.
She appears to be crying and very distraught. Orderlies
come to Thor's side.
CUT TO:
INT. SIMONSON'S OFFICE -- DAY
DOCTOR SIMONSON
So, I've heard we had a little setback
the the other day. Do you want to
talk about it?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46.
DONALD BLAKE
I saw my brother yesterday.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
I wasn't aware you had any family.
DONALD BLAKE
No, I mean I saw Loki.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
I see.
(makes note)
I think it may have been a mistake
to leave you off medication entirely.
I'd like to prescribe something.
DONALD BLAKE
Wait. Could we at least talk about
this a little? Explore this?
DOCTOR SIMONSON
What do you want to explore?
DONALD BLAKE
The possibility that I might not be
crazy.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Donald, you're suffering from
hallucinations about mythological
characters. I don't like to use the
word crazy, but you do need help.
DONALD BLAKE
But it feels so real. The memories...
and when Loki reversed Odin's spell,
I actually felt like Thor.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Hallucinations often feel very real,
Donald. That's why they're so
dangerous. But look at this
logically. You're a man, and you
make decisions every day that affect
who lives and who dies. No matter
how accomplished you are in your
field, you don't feel qualified to
make those decisions. You've got no
strong ties to anybody, no family.
All your life you've had to deal
with not being physically strong,
because of your leg. Now suddenly,
these delusions come, where you're
stronger than any man. You're not
just a man, you're a god, with the
responsibility to use your powers.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
47.
DOCTOR SIMONSON (CONT'D)
You've got a vast extended family
who cares about you. We've been
over this. It's classic wish
fulfillment. It feels real because
it's everything you wish for yourself.
DONALD BLAKE
What if it's not? Loki said...
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Loki proves my point completely. On
some level, you know all of this is
wrong. You know it can't be true.
But when you're starting to pull
yourself out of it, the part of you
that wants to believe comes up with
a visit from Loki, to give you an
excuse to retreat back into it. But
the real Donald Blake gave you a
clue, there, too. It's in all the
mythologies. Loki is the God of
Lies, the God of Mischief, a trickster
God. He cannot be trusted. Even
within the bounds of your delusion,
you must understand that. He always
lies.
DONALD BLAKE
Doctor, if Loki always lied, he could
never be a God of Mischief. Loki's
strength is that he lies judiciously,
he lies well, and that he knows you
can be often more mischievous with
the truth.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
And what is it you're telling me?
You really believe this? That you're
secretly some God of Thunder? What
changed from the man who told me
that he knows it doesn't make sense.
That was a man who wanted to get
better.
DONALD BLAKE
When I saw Loki, he unlocked the
rest of my memories. I remember
now. I know why I was sent to Earth.
DOCTOR SIMONSON
Why's that?
DONALD BLAKE
To be taught a lesson.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48.
EXT. ASGARD -- DAY
Out in the wilderness of Asgard, near a hilly plain. We are
in a closeup on an arrow being cocking in a bow. It is then
let loose.
We then pull back to see an arrow thunk into the ground near
a magnificent stag. The stag's head shoots up, looking for
the sudden sound, but it doesn't see anyone near it. We
pull back furthur to see Balder has fired the arrow, and
that he is farther than any arrow should go. Thor is with
him, looking out in the direction of fire. Loki sits on a
rock, bored.
THOR
Close, but a miss.
BALDER
Take a turn?
THOR
Nay. I am out of arrows.
LOKI
Finally. Can I use my magic to summon
the steed now?
Balder and Thor exchange a disdainful look.
THOR
That's my brother, always seeking
the easier path. He knoweth nothing
of Asgardian valor. The meat will
be all the more delicious for that
it was won fairly.
LOKI
It's hardly fair if the beast can't
fight back.
THOR
Hunting is a test of one's skill
against that of nature Herself.
LOKI
I would describe magic the same way.
THOR
Ah, but hunting brings men together.
Thou could use thy magic to bring a
stag anywhere, but Odin set us the
task of fetching one. Just enjoy,
brother, seize the moment.
LOKI
We are immortal, brother.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49.
LOKI (CONT'D)
There will always be more moments.
And in truth, thy company is best in
smaller quantities.
THOR
In truth I feel the same way. But
Odin wished us to go out together,
so let's make the most of it and
enjoy it. We are family, after all.
LOKI
(mocking)
Odin wished, Odin wished. Thy
favorite phrase. That is the