Saga of Beowulf by Thomas Cole

This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent

Interior of the mead hall Heorot.
Stage right: two mead tables with benches.
Center stage: one small table with two stools.
Upstage right: An archway,
entrance to Heorot.
Stage left and downstage are vacant. Scenes that do not take place in the interior of Heorot in Act One take place in these open areas.
Actors are dressed simply in garb evocative of the Viking era. The Scop is the play’s narrator and a character in the play. He is chronicler, historian, myth maker, commentator, wise man and magician. “Scop” is an Old English word for bard or poet. Scholars differ about the pronunciation of “scop”. In this play the word is pronounced shope.

”Scop” is etymologically related to “shape”, “scoff” and “scold”. Via narration by the Scop, the story of Beowulf flows from scene to scene.

ACT ONE

Beowulf in Denmark
PROLOGUE
Downstage. The SCOP.
SCOP
Listen! You have heard of the glory of the Danish kings
And their triumphs long ago. Scyld Scefing
Fought many battles, vanquished the opposing armies,
Struck terror in the hearts of the kings of other nations,
And forced them to submit. Scyld was an excellent king!
Scyld Scefing died after a long reign.
His warriors took his body to the shore
And placed it gently in a royal boat
Decked with glorious jewels and instruments of war.
They hung a golden standard from the mast,
And solemnly they bade their king farewell,
And pushed the sacred vessel out to the wide sea
To wander to a region none can tell.
Long was the reign of Beo, son of Scyld,
And long the reign of Healfdene, Beo’s son;
And Hrothgar, son of Healfdene, came to wield
The further reaching power of the Danes.
He put affairs in order and took it in his head
To build a banquet hall beyond compare.
The name of this great hall was Heorot;
Splendid were the days of feasting there;
Drinking, singing, dancing, merriment;
And tales of valor marvelous were told;
And Hrothgar gave the rings of royal trust
To his loyal followers, and bags of gold.
There was no grander hall than Heorot.
Famous it was in lands across the sea,
And foreigners who came to that high hall
Partook of Hrothgar’s hospitality.

But deep within the dark beyond the moor
That lay near Heorot a creature stirred
And roamed one night and strayed to Heorot,
And loathed the sounds of joy that he heard.
Grendel was the name of this poor beast.
Descended he was from Cain and cursed by God;
And Grendel dimly took it in his head
To desecrate the hall with human blood.
Welcome! I am the scop. That’s spelled s-c-o-p but pronounced shope. It’s the Old English word for bard or poet. I am an Anglo-Saxon scop of ninth century England. I am also King Hrothgar’s scop in seventh century Denmark, here at Heorot.

And - I am your scop. Let’s see, the seventh century, the ninth century, and now the twenty-first century. I’m looking well for my age, don’t you think?
But I am scathed by Time. Time stole my harp, a harp with six strings. The old music is dead. Nevertheless, this story lives.
On the Danish coast on a spring day
A watchman watches a Viking ship approach.
SCENE ONE -- THE ARRIVAL OF BEOWULF
Downstage right. The SCOP.
Downstage left. Enter the
WATCHMAN.
The WATCHMAN peers across the
audience as if it were the sea.
WATCHMAN
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. Fifteen warriors on board that
ship.
SCOP
The ship lands and the warriors come ashore. The watchman
goes to question them.

WATCHMAN
(addresses the audience as if
the audience were Beowulf
and his men.)
What kind of strangers could you be,
Who come in arms from across the sea
To invade this land of mine?
For numerous years, I’ll have you know,
I have encountered many a foe
Down the length of this coastline.
Pirates and raiders sneak ashore
In darkness to slake their thirst for gore
And rape our girls and wives.
Villains seldom openly
Dare to cross a sunlit sea
To devastate our lives.
You give no password nor present
Our leader’s good consent
For your docking here.
Enter BEOWULF and two of his
warriors.
WATCHMAN
But one in your midst I see must be
A man with the blood of royalty,
A champion without peer.
Unless his princely bearing proves a lie,
And actually the man’s a fool or spy,
He is no commoner.
Foreigner, it’s time for you to say
Who you are and what you want without delay.
BEOWULF
Our people are the Geats.
Our king is Hygelac.
My father, Ecgtheow,
Is remembered by the wise.
He was a famous warrior
Who lived for many years.
We have come to see your king,
The leader of the Danes,
Hrothgar, son of Healfdene.

If the tales we hear are true,
Watchman, there is a hellish beast
That freely goes about at night
Slaughtering the Danes.
Darkness echoes with the cries
Of rage, terror, shame.
We want to help your king
Put an end to suffering.
We would kill the thing
That wanders without the sun.
Your king will accept our offer of protection,
Or life at Heorot will soon be done.
Watchman, show us the way to him.
Our business cannot wait for the sun to set.
WATCHMAN
“Words are words and deeds are deeds.”
That’s a maxim a warrior heeds
If he plans to keep his hide.
But I believe your speech is true.
Bring your arms, provisions too,
And I will be your guide.
I’ll take you close to Heorot
And lead you safely to a spot
Where you will see the hall,
Glittering and tall.
Hrothgar will be pleased to greet
Such a mighty, highborn Geat
And his men of war.
Our men will guard
Your newly tarred
Vessel upon the shore.
The day you sail for your homeland
You will be praised by our people and
The generous Hrothgar.
That is the fortunate outcome I foresee.
Gather your arms and goods and follow me.
BEOWULF
These two men will go with me to Heorot.
The rest will stay with your men at the boat.

SCOP
The Watchman guides Prince Beowulf
And warriors to a spot
Whence they observe for the first time
The golden roof of Heorot.
BEOWULF and the WATCHMAN gaze at Heorot in the distance.
WATCHMAN
Prince Beowulf, farewell. I must return to my post.
Exit the WATCHMAN.
SCOP
Beowulf and his two men
March up the road
That takes them straight to Heorot,
Their story there to unfold.
Shutters left and right of them
Slam shut as they pass by.
Beowulf strikes fear and awe
In every watching eye.
SCENE TWO -- THE ENTRANCE TO HEOROT
Downstage right:
The SCOP.
Upstage right: the entrance to Heorot.
Enter BEOWULF and TWO WARRIORS.
SCOP
Beowulf and his men arrive
At Heorot’s front door,
Marked by many gashes.
There is blood upon the floor.

BEOWULF performs the actions
described below by the SCOP.
SCOP
Beowulf’s hand on the door frame
A loosened spike does find.
He pulls it out and puts it back,
And keeps it in his mind.
Enter WULFGAR.
WULFGAR
(addresses BEOWULF and his
warriors)
Never have I seen such weapons decked with gold,
Such masks of war so grim!
It is plain you are not exiles,
But proud warriors of great courage
Who have come to see our king.
I am Wulfgar, Hrothgar’s herald. Whence have you come?
BEOWULF
Hygelac’s kingdom is our home.
Beowulf is my name.
We wish to speak with your generous king,
The son of Healfdene.
WULFGAR
I will tell the great ring-giver of your arrival.
Exit WULFGAR into Heorot.
SCENE THREE -- DAY AND NIGHT AT HEOROT
Interior Heorot.
HROTHGAR is seated at his mead
table. The CUP BEARER stands nearby.

WULFGAR approaches HROTHGAR.
WULFGAR
Lord of the Scyldings, warriors have come
Resplendent and strong from across the broad sea.
The leader of the band is Beowulf,
A stout warrior of high degree.
I pray that you honor his request
To speak with you and earn your trust.
HROTHGAR
I knew Beowulf when he was a boy.
He is the son of the excellent Ecgtheow.
I have been told that Beowulf
Grew to become a mighty warrior.
Certainly God is merciful and has sent Beowulf
To save us from the monster Grendel!
I will offer treasures to Beowulf and his men
To reward them for their bravery,
Once they have slain the beast.
Tell them they are welcome. Bring them in.
Exit WULFGAR through the archway.
The CUP BEARER pours ale for
HROTHGAR.
Enter WULFGAR, followed by BEOWULF
and his TWO WARRIORS.
BEOWULF approaches HROTHGAR.
WULFGAR stands unobtrusively to the
side.
The SCOP stands downstage right
observing BEOWULF and the others.
BEOWULF
King Hrothgar, may your life be long!
I am kinsman of Hygelac and the victor of many battles.
Travelers have told me
That people desert Heorot when the sun goes down,

And this great hall stands empty every night.
Wise men said I should offer you
My service and the service of my men.
Grendel, however, I will fight alone.
Grendel, I have heard, fears neither sword nor spear,
Which are flimsy toys to that devil.
Weapons I will not use to slay Grendel.
I will kill him with my hands or become his living feast.
Lord of the Scyldings, allow me to serve!
HROTHGAR
Beowulf, I know you. Your father
Was my friend and a mighty warrior.
I am ashamed of the disaster caused by Grendel
I am powerless to protect my people.
Every one of my brave nobles
Who fights Grendel dies.
And those who do not fight,
If they sleep here at night,
Are eaten in their sleep.
The floor, tables and benches
Where they slept are soaked in blood.
Once in a while some of my thanes,
Drunk on mead from large ale horns,
Vow to charge the beast at night
And slay him with many cuts.
But in the morning all we find
Are the remnants Grendel leaves behind.
Enough! Beowulf has come and we are grateful.
Celebrate, Geats and Danes together!
Wulfgar! Spread the word for the others to join us!
WULFGAR
Yes, my lord.
Exit WULFGAR.
HROTHGAR
Cup Bearer! Bring ale!
And tell the cook to prepare a feast. Bring ale for Beowulf’s men.
CUP BEARER
Yes, my lord.
Exit CUP BEARER.
HROTHGAR
Come join me, Beowulf.
BEOWULF sits at the mead table with
HROTHGAR, who pours ale for him.
SCOP
Hrothgar and Beowulf pass the time pleasantly. Danish
noblemen and their ladies soon arrive and seat themselves.
Beowulf’s warriors join them.
Enter NOBLEMEN, LADIES and BEOWULF’S WARRIORS. They seat themselves.
The CUPBEARER pours drinks.
HROTHGAR
Thanes and ladies, please welcome Beowulf and his men. They have come to save us from Grendel!
SCOP
The Queen arrives.
Enter WEALTHEOW.
HROTHGAR
Ah, my wife! Dear Wealtheow, this is Beowulf, Prince of Geatland and our friend.
BEOWULF
Your Highness.
WEALTHEOW
Prince Beowulf.
HROTHGAR
Join us, my dear. We will celebrate.