Episode 6 The Last Kingdom

'My name is Uhtred, son of Uhtred.

'Born a Saxon, but raised as a Dane.

'I now serve King Alfred of Wessex.

'I have married a pious wife for Alfred.

'I have taken on land, burdened with debt and cheating workers.

'And I killed the mighty sword Dane, Ubba.

UBBA SCREAMS

'But with Odda the Elder wounded in battle,

'his son took the credit for my kill.

'The truth was ignored...'

I fought Ubba man-on-man and I killed him!

'..and I was forced to my knees before Alfred's God.'

I will lead, but you owe me!

You must lay flat and kiss the cross.

Kiss my arse.

'Fate is testing me, but I will survive.'

Uhtred!

'Destiny is all.'

This programme contains some violent scenes

Are you certain you want to do this, arseling?

Is there a law against it?

Dressing up as Danes? No.

Plundering Cornwalum? Yes.

We're supposed to be at peace.

If I'm to reclaim Bebbanburg, I'll need an army.

If I am ever to raise an army, I'll need silver.

-We go.

-I have no quarrel.

Will Odda not miss you?

I'm doing as he asks - I'm watching you.

He's building Alfred a church at Cynuit - have you heard?

With an altar of gold, they say.

-Who are they?

-They belong to Oswald.

Their mother sends them,

hoping to shame me for killing their lying, thieving father.

CHILD YELPS

I see her plan is working.

They're not the first to lose a parent.

They'll live.

LEOFRIC BELCHES

The food is good, Mildrith. Thank you.

I'm pleased you like it.

I was beginning to believe you had lost your tongue, wife.

I was worried.

I doubt it.

She grieves for the thief.

-Not my business.

-He kills a man I have known all my life.

He refuses to pay wergild to a family I have known all my life -

and the village my father helped build

now call him Uhtred the Godless.

Not forgetting that I refuse to have my son baptised a Christian.

-I will excuse myself.

-Leofric, sit, please.

-None of this is my business.

-I'll stop.

Tomorrow, I will be gone.

-Gone?

-Should anyone ask, we are keeping Alfred's kingdom safe.

-Again.

-For how long will you be gone - and gone where?

No idea how long - weeks.

Your place is here. Oswald's wife has gone to Bishop Alewold.

The bishop will go to Alfred and Alfred will send men to our door.

I won't pay a penny - and if men do come calling,

that's what you'll tell them.

He was killed because he was a thief - that's my law.

Leave me, and I'll go directly to the church and have our son blessed.

Then he won't be my son.

May God forgive you for saying such a thing!

-Which God?

-What has happened to you?

What has happened to the kindness -

and perhaps, even the love you have once shown me?

-I was made to crawl!

-Yes, before God!

We all fall to our knees before God!

I won't forget what Alfred did to me in the name of his God.

I reject that God!

I will excuse myself.

Are you there, still?

The man I cared for?

Are you there, still? The woman I ached to plough?

Progress is being made daily, lord.

You must come to Cynuit and inspect the building work.

Oh, I will, I will. I would like that.

It's impressive enough, even now.

Yes.

We have the nave here,

the transepts thus - and then, into the chancel.

..With its already famous altar of solid gold?

It will be gilding - no more, lord. But you know how tongues wag.

-Mmm.

-With your permission, I would like to place the altar just here.

Why would you need my permission?

It's on the exact spot where Ubba Lothbrokson is now buried.

You wish God's altar to be built over the buried remains of a pagan?

Oh, no - no, lord.

With your permission, we will exhume the remains and...

I don't know, have them thrown into the river.

You will exhume the remains and have them buried elsewhere -

unmarked, but with respect.

It was a joke, lord - a poor joke.

We must do nothing to endanger the peace.

With respect, lord -

I am not the fool my father, at times, made me out to be.

-BEOCCA COUGHS

-Father Beocca, you wish to see me?

Ah, a letter, lord - from Bishop Alewold.

-Private, or business?

-A matter of law, I was told.

Then read it.

Let Odda's active mind rest.

Well, can you not read the writing, Beocca?

It concerns the Ealdorman Uhtred.

He has slain a farm-worker

and is refusing to pay the monies owed to the family - the wergild.

-Would you like me to investigate further, lord?

-No.

No, it is not your place. Odda, you shall investigate

the rights and wrongs of the matter on my behalf.

I only hope for the sake of Uhtred's wife, the killing was justified.

Uhtred has always been fair-minded. I am sure there are mitigations.

Mmm. We shall see.

In the meantime, Odda - do your best. Keep the peace.

Yes, lord.

Father Beocca?

The letter.

You might do well to examine your loyalties, Father.

My loyalties are to God and to the King, in that order.

Lord, are you suggesting I am wrong?

I am suggesting nothing of the sort.

But I am watching you.

And God is watching all of us.

Uhtred!

Uhtred!

I'll find the wealth to pay off the debt.

We want the same thing - the land of our birth.

Yours won't be taken from you.

Mine?

Are you no longer the ealdorman?

I'll never be accepted as an ealdorman. Not here.

Then I beg you, for one last time -

change your ways, Uhtred.

If you allow God into your heart, he will guide you.

I can never become the man you want me to be.

-You could try.

-I would despise that man.

Arseling!

I have loved you.

Don't pray for me.

Did you hump her goodbye, arseling?

I want to have left Wessex by tonight.

You're going to have to ride faster than that, arseling.

No-one is to wear these till we have crossed into Cornwalum.

What you can do is polish them, so that when you do wear them,

they will be seen clearly...

..and you'll be feared.

You're going to find out what it's like to be a Dane.

Every man stand where he is! No-one move!

You!

Stay where you are!

Do I know you?

Lower your hood.

I said, lower your hood!

Aethelwold.

Look, I... I merely want to come with you -

to be part of your adventure.

I wanted it to be a surprise!

He cannot be here. He cannot hold his tongue.

I say we kill him.

Kill me?

You can't kill me - I'm the rightful king, you fool.

-Not here! Leofric! Not in Wessex!

-Then I will drag him into Cornwalum!

-Not now!

-You... You can't!

Uhtred, you owe me a favour - I call it in now!

If Alfred hears of Christians raiding Cornwalum,

we will all be killed! He guarantees that outcome.

Leofric, I am a changed man, I swear!

We kill him. He will not be missed.

We take him with us.

I owe him. He's my responsibility.

He has my protection.

And who will protect the rest of us?

I've never seen him so angry.

You will clean our mail and tend to the horses.

Anything.

-You will wipe our arses, if I say so.

-Of course.

I am gathering the moss and dock leaves as you speak, lord(!)

What do you know of Cornwalum?

That it's not Wessex.

The Wessex-Cornwalum border is this river, the Tamar river.

Which is why we are camped here.

It flows north to south -

and Cornwalum itself has a coastline shaped like a leg.

-So, they are traders?

-Yes.

On the north coast, to the Welsh Kingdoms and Ireland,

and on the south, to the Franks.

How do you know this?

I am an educated man, Leofric.

I simply enjoy hiding the fact.

You do it well.

Do they have a king?

-More than one.

-Fierce fighters?

Have no fear, Leofric. We are Danes.

I want to be blooded - in battle.

Don't worry, boy.

You'll be first in line.

I look forward to it.

Good day, lord.

Tell your master - Ealdorman Odda is here, with God's Bishop Alewold.

Yes, lord.

Quickly!

It's not the most desirable farmstead I've seen.

Ealdorman Odda. Bishop Alewold.

A pleasant surprise.

May I offer a refreshment?

We are here in the King's business.

It is with your husband.

Is he here?

He is not.

Can he be fetched, my dear?

All crucifixes and crosses!

You are god-fearing Christians no more.

You are Danes now - pagans.

You don't cross yourself, nor look to the heavens.

-Let's make ourselves rich!

-CHEERING

My husband is protecting our kingdom.

From whom? We are at peace.

He only said he was doing Alfred's work.

He doesn't trust the Danes.

He thinks he knows better than the King.

Your own man Leofric will give you detail, I'm sure.

-Yes.

-Odda, it's not the child's fault

that she was married off to a tyrant and a fool.

No...

of course not.

Mildrith...

It is with great reluctance

that I must serve you with this letter.

For your husband, upon his return.

He must settle the wergild for Oswald's death,

or face confiscation of his property.

..Which is also my property.

If you are ever in need, my father's house will always be your house.

How is Lord Odda faring? Well, I hope?

Frail. He's still very frail.

The blow would have killed many a man.

Take consolation, lady -

that should your land be confiscated,

it is the Church that will benefit.

SCREAMING

Where's it buried? Where's the silver?

Where is it?

These people have nothing.

-Please!

-MAN WHIMPERS

Five days and nothing.

There is time yet.

We're not the first Danes they've seen.

-I need silver.

-So, we keep looking.

And what if the whole of Cornwalum has been sacked already?

We keep looking. We keep heading west.

Do they want to speak?

Five men, to match theirs...

..and only I speak.

Aethelwold?

I heard.

Only the great Uhtred speaks.

I am Brother Asser.

I bring you a gift, from my king.

From King Peredur.

King who?

King Peredur...

of the Britons.

Never heard of him.

I assure you, my king has heard of you.

A troop of Danes raiding villages in Cornwalum does not go unnoticed.

Why does your Peredur send me these miserable offerings?

A gesture of peace - a token.

Our king has been attacked by a fellow Briton and neighbour -

Callyn - whose forces have seized the fort guarding our land.

I am sent to tell you,

Peredur will pay you well to help him recapture this fort.

"Pay us well"? How much?

I do not know the sum, but I am sure he will be generous.

He has silver?

He is a king.

CHILDREN LAUGH

ALL FALL SILENT

-KNOCKS AT DOOR

-Up-up-up-up-up!

Winchester, it is not.

Alfred, he is not.

The King greets you.

He does? I hear nothing.

You are pagans.

The King is Christian, and will only speak with you through me.

If you would come forward and pay your respects...

Please inform the King - Danes don't bow to Christians.

This fort you want us to recapture - it is defended by how many Britons?

And what price will you pay?

It would be much simpler if the King addressed me directly.

Easy...

They have between 40 and 50 men.

No more than 50.

We are 30 - fighting men.

And we are 20.

How much in silver?

100 pieces of silver.

I won't bargain. I'll tell you the price.

400 pieces of silver.

-That is an absurd sum.

-Is Peredur a king, or not?

I will call for Queen Iseult.

Lord, perhaps, instead,

-you should take a moment and pray, for guidance...

-Iseult!

You are needed!

I am blessed with two wives...

..two queens.

Iseult is a Shadow Queen.

You know what I require of you - of course you do.

Who are you?

And what will you do for the King?

I am Uhtred Ragnarson.

I am here to fight for your King,

if he pays me what I'm worth.

He is the one.

You are fortunate to have such a wife.

She is not to hump.

She is too valuable.

400 pieces of silver...

-Agreed.

-I will see it.

-You'll see it once the fort is taken.

-No, I'll see it now.

All of my wealth is hidden within the fort.

Then your enemy has it.

Well-hidden.

You have your price, you have my terms.

I know you will accept.

I know you can smell the silver.

Danes...

You have a nose for blood and silver...

..and women.

And so, I will add to the price...

..my Queen.

This Queen.

LAUGHTER

If we win back the fort and you are lying about the silver,

-I'll kill you.

-Which is why I do not lie!

Call the men up - we stay here.

I'll dream about that Shadow Queen.

You told her your name - and word travels.

Uhtred Ragnarson?

I have noticed that you have Saxons amongst your ranks.

Some, from Mercia. They'd rather fight than work in the fields.

The pay is better.

He would like to attack at the earliest opportunity.

He does not wish to feed you for more than one night.

How Christian of him(!)

He would like to be a man of God,

but as you have witnessed, he cannot let go of his pagan ways.

The Queen Iseult.

She is a gwrach.

A sorceress.

What are her powers?

Peredur believes she can see into the future...

..for as long as she remains a virgin.

What do you believe?

I know the devil exists.

Hiding within beauty is a trick he will use often, I'm sure.

Tell the King to have his men ready.

Peredur - any in the fort who try to escape are yours, yes?

You will do your part, Dane - I will do mine!

Walk on. Advance!

Let's scare the shit out of these bastard Britons -

see if they have the stomach for this.

Hold!

We hold here!

Why would they leave a fortress to face us?

Aethelwold, advance.

Go on the ridge and see why they're prepared to leave the fortress.

On my own?

You wanted to be first in line!

SWORD UNSHEATHES

HORSE WHINNIES LAUGHTER

What do you see?

They are Danes!

Real Danes!

Stand still! Hold!

What are you waiting for?

-They're Danes!

-What do you care?

You people will fight anyone for money - even yourselves!

You lied to me!

Think of the silver!

The Queen has seen your victory, so fight!

Uhtred.

He's a sword Dane...

..a Lord of War.

If the Lord of War wants to talk, may I suggest we listen?

Name yourself.

I am Uhtred Ragnarson.

Who are you?

Skorpa of The White Horse.

You are the Uhtred Ragnarson who was at Cynuit?

I am.

The Saxon son of Earl Ragnar.

Yes.

You will not defeat me.

You know this.

Perhaps not, but I could kill half your men trying.

Ah...

Yes.

Yes, you could.

Then it would be best for us both if you did not try.

Lord? Lord, I fear what will happen if they are allowed to speak.

Then, go to them! Listen to what they're saying.

My presence, lord, will serve only to antagonize the Dane.

Uhtred Ragnarson!

What is happening here?

They must leave my kingdom or die!

Bastard Danes!

The Queen saw victory.

I pray, lord.

What is your battle price?

Silver.

He says it's hidden in the fortress.

SKORPA LAUGHS

No.

No, we have ripped the fortress apart.

We found nothing.

He must have something.

-Somewhere.

-Uhtred Ragnarson!

Whatever he has,

I say we split.

Half and half.

We kill his men, we spare the King.

He takes us to his wealth.

Half and half.

I will advance.

You will turn...

..and we will attack together.

Now, this is for the benefit of the King.

You bastard piece of rassragr!

I will destroy you!

Be ready! We kill them all - every last one of them dies!

Tell the men we are with the Danes.

At the ready!

You trust this Skorpa?

We have no choice but to trust him.

BATTLE CRIES

Now, turn!

To the death!

You bastard Danes!

You'll cry for your stinking whore mothers!

You lying, thieving, bastard Danes!

I could kill at least one more of you!

It is over.

Your wealth.

My wealth for my life, is it?

Your wealth and your Shadow Queen.

Useless bitch. She saw victory.

Where is the silver?

If I tell you, you'll kill me - and I would rather you remained poor.

You have my word, as a warlord...

..you will be spared.

Where is the silver?

Speak, or you will die.

It's buried...

..in the hall, beneath my throne.

I'll need a small amount myself...

Do we split her, too?

-You have the tits, I'll have the arse.

-She's mine.

You are here for the silver.

It is beneath this seat.

I have a question.

Have you been waiting for us?

-For you.

-AXE THUDS

Then you saw what would happen?

I knew that you would come.

That is all.

Uhtred, what do you know of a church with a golden altar?

At Cynuit.

To celebrate the killing of Ubba.

I hear they're building a church.

Who's been telling you this?

Men...

..begging to live.

..Would say anything.

And that's where you'll go? To Cynuit?

Well, I have ships to repair.

The coastline here has been murderous.

How do we do this? How do we share?

We don't...share.

Oh, we can fight -

and some of us will die,

including your queen.

Uhtred Ragnarson,

keep your sword in its scabbard.

Wise queen.

She stays with me.

-She stays with me!

-Do nothing!

SKORPA CACKLES

Uhtred, no! Uhtred!

-They have our treasure!

-No!

I will not fight these Danes for silver.

-For King, yes - but not for silver!

-I am tethered by debts.

I need to raise an army and they get away further with every second!

I will not allow half of these men or more to die!

I can give you what you need.

There's more -

silver.

What did Skorpa whisper, when he was leaving?

I will tell you when I believe you need to know.

How was I - as a warrior?

Aethelwold...

..you are as much a warrior as you are a king.

This isn't part of the plunder.

It's a holy cross. It goes back to the Church. There'll be blessings.

But the rest...

..it's all ours!

Home?

Wessex.

And our separate ways. There's a bishop I must see.

I've never seen a village like this before.

We will be here for just the day.

-Who are you?

-I'll speak with the Bishop Alewold.

Bishop Alewold is at prayer.

-He'll see me.

-He is at prayer and won't be disturbed!

Alewold? Bishop Alewold!

What is this?

Get out!

Out! We're...busy with our work.

So I see!

I said, get out!

I know you!

Uhtred...

..The Godless, yes.

And my wife, through her father, has inherited a debt to the Church.

Oh, yes.

A substantial debt, I recall.

Which I would now discharge.

You would? Very well. As you see, we're busy with...

ALEWOLD GASPS

That's Irish work.

It looks Irish -

and its weight...

A thing of beauty and of great value.

It seemed a fitting way of settling the debt -

if you'll accept, of course.

If not, I'll put it in the smith's fire.

I accept. On behalf of the Church, I accept.

I trust I can rely upon your good judgment

in dismissing the matter of my servant Oswald's wergild.

He was a thief.

-His family will swear otherwise.

-My people will swear he was.

And time will be wasted, with no end.

In that case, consider all matters resolved.

Bless you.

I've been praying daily for your safe return.

Who's this?

She's a queen.

Queen of where - of whom?

Britons.

Uhtred, you walked by your son without a look.

Is he baptised now?

Yes.

Against my wishes.

I have done nothing that requires forgiveness.

What's her name?

-I am called Iseult.

-I'm speaking with my husband.

You can kindly remain silent.

Mildrith, we are hungry, thirsty and in need of rest.

I am not your servant!

Do not speak to me as if I were!

I am your wife.

You are no longer a part of Uhtred's path.

It is true.

Out.

Out! This "Queen" can sleep with the animals.

You should know that your land is safe.

I have seen Bishop Alewold. The debt's settled - all of it.

That's what I've come to tell you, nothing more.

And what of Oswald's wergild?

That, too, is settled. His family won't receive a penny.

Then you can explain that to the King's council.

Alfred has called you to the Witan.

It's finished -

everything.

Before I left, I said that I've loved you...

..and it's true.

You will not speak of us in this way -

and in the presence of a pagan whore!

She is with me.

Will you be resting with your family, or with the animals?

You chose the company of pigs and a goat over your wife and son.

My wife's a good woman.

She loves her God and it's hard for her to be with the like of me.

If the marriage is to be ended,

I must become used to life without my son.

I am here because I choose you...

..though I won't keep you against your will.

What?

I will be with you, Uhtred...

..from now, until the very end.

That is what I see.

I want you to see my home - my land in the north.

It is this Alfred who directs you, for now.

You must give in to fate.

Attend his Witan.

Will you sleep alongside me tonight, under the furs?

Sleep?

Nothing more.

I would like that...

..as the only other source of warmth would be a goat.

QUIET LAUGHTER

Edwina.

Lady?

Please inform your family that I will be travelling, with the child.

We will leave for Lord Odda's estate.

I would like you with me, but it is your decision.

I know how important it is to be amongst the people who care for you.

I would not wish to leave you.

MILDRETH SOBS

The very day I am told that my home is my own

is the day I decide I must leave.

O Lord, grant wisdom to your servants gathered here.

Help them to decide what is right, what is just and what is fair.

Grant us this, O Lord.

-ALL:

-Grant us, O Lord.

-Leave your sword.

-SWORD UNSHEATHES

Uhtred!

-Uhtred!

-Beocca.

Quickly. You're late.

You were sent for days ago. You should have been here on time!

Since when has my presence been so important?

-Who is she?

-She's with me.

Is she part of your plunder?

What's been said?

You will hear it all, soon enough.

Now we must go and you must be respectful - now more than ever.

And as local thegns skimp in their duty to repair the bridges,

I wish to ask of the King

to appoint an official to survey the kingdom's roads.

The bridge on the road out of Avingdon, for example,

-is in such a state of disrepair...

-Now's the time, my lord.

..it is now dangerous for man or...

What reason do I have to beg for mercy? What's been said?

-Quiet, now.

-Is it Cornwalum?

-Respect.

-..Remains disinterested.

We shall talk of bridges later.

-Beocca, what is this?

-You will be quiet there!

Face your King!

Come.

There is an urgent matter which, with the Witan's permission,

we shall deal with now.

Ealdorman Uhtred...

..also known in your parish as Uhtred the Godless...

..you are on this day charged

with taking a troop of the King's men into Cornwalum

and there making war against the Britons without your King's consent.

You are also charged with joining forces

with the Dane called Skorpa...

..to murder Christian-folk in Cornwalum,

despite these folk all living in peace with Alfred and with Wessex.

All this is proven with oaths.

And the punishment for these crimes is death.

Who swears these oaths?

-We shall get to that!

-Show me! Who swears?

I, Brother Asser, swear these oaths.

-Uhtred, to your knees.

-Never!

Lord, we were patrolling your borders

and protecting your kingdom, nothing more.

There is more to my story, lord - if I may.

Now is the time to beg.

Yes, let him speak. Let's hear his story.

On my way to make this complaint to King Alfred,

I came via Cynuit.

And such a sight I hope never to see again.

For, where the church to commemorate

Lord Odda's victory over Ubba was to be built,

I saw devastation, destruction

and the charred remains of 15 monks or more.

Men have told me that this evil

was the work of the very same Skorpa who was in Cornwalum

and that with him, once more, was the Ealdorman Uhtred.

-This man!

-No! No, these are lies! Lord, he lies with every breath!

-Lord, hear me - let me speak - and hear the truth...

-We are the Witan!

And we shall behave in the way of a Witan!

The ealdorman is entitled to respond.

Yes, I was at Cynuit.

I was at Cynuit once and once only.

I was at Cynuit on the day that I, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, killed Ubba.

I look around this hall

and into the eyes of the warriors who know this to be true.

-And that is the ONLY occasion I was at Cynuit.

-We are here...

We are here to deliver judgment on the murder of King Peredur

and the Christian Britons of Cornwalum.

-Then if I can speak of Cornwalum, lord?

-There is a further witness, I believe.

What if Peredur's Queen was to stand in front of this Witan

and tell you that Peredur lied and cheated us?

She is a Shadow Queen and a pagan, lord.

-Her words would be meaningless.

-Is the truth not important, lord?

-Lord!

-Odda, we shall move on. There is a further witness.

Yes, lord. Bring the prisoner.

-What is this?

-Odda means for you to die as a traitor...

-You will stand separate.

-..and you will die.

If it is Valhalla you want, I will do my best to give it.

I said, you will stand separate!

Leofric, you have sworn your oath.

And you will tell the truth.

I will, lord.

God is merciful.

You are a man of Wessex and have been loyal to the King?

I am loyal to the King, lord - always.

Were you in Cornwalum with the Ealdorman Uhtred?

I was. CROWD MURMURS

Did you kill and plunder Peredur and his Britons?

I did.

Leofric, have you now donated your share of the plunder to the Church?

I have, lord - and have begged forgiveness.

APPROVING MURMURS

The Witan hears you, Leofric.

Whom did you follow into battle?

I went willingly, lord.

No. Uhtred led, you followed.

He is the ealdorman, he is to blame.

-I share the blame, lord.

-No, he is responsible!

-Irresponsible!

-And he will pay for it with his life!

For the very last time, beg.

No, I will not beg! I will fall to my knees for no man, no King

and no Christian God!

He must pay, with his life.

Lord, if I may make a plea to the King and the Witan?

-I have not yet finished.

-I beg your pardon, lord, but if I may?

It is clear that, like me, the arseling here is guilty.

Thank you, my friend(!)

It is also clear that he is too proud and too stupid to repent -

and as a consequence, will die.

He will die for leading men to treachery.

Because of my own guilt,

and because of my respect for Uhtred as a warrior,

I request that he dies at my sword.

You wish to become executioner, Leofric?

My plea is for a fight to the death, lord.

Me against the arseling.

If God is with me, I will be the victor -

and the ealdorman is allowed to die as a warrior should.

If he should win this fight to the death - what then?

He will not.

It would take God's intervention for him to beat me.

Let them fight, lord!

Let God decide!

CROWD SHOUTS

Lord? Lord, it is clear the guilt lies with Uhtred.

SHOUTING INCREASES

VOICES DIE DOWN

Leofric, you have spoken well...

..and your request is granted.

You will fight tomorrow, to the death.

CROWD SHOUTS

Swords and shields.

God shall determine the victor.