剧本《特洛伊》(Troy)

特洛伊 TROY

by



David Benioff

February 21, 2003


FADE IN:


1 EXT. THESSALIAN VALLEY - DAY 1

A mangy, bone-thin DOG lopes across the broad valley
floor, sniffing at the ground. At first the scene
appears bucolic: tall grass, patches of wildflowers, blue
sky above.

But as the dog keeps running we see signs of conflict. A
spear, half imbedded in the earth, rises at an angle. A
bronze helmet, cracked and bloodied, lies on its side.
The dog pauses to sniff the helmet then continues his
search. Finally he stops, hackles on his back rising,
ears pricked up. He growls, and we see what the dog sees.
Dozens of CROWS have descended into a shallow ravine.
They squabble and peck, clustered around something on the
ground.

The dog growls louder and charges at the crows. The black
birds flap away to safety, shrieking in protest.
A DEAD SOLDIER lies facedown in the ravine. Whatever
armor he wore was stripped away, leaving his body to the
elements.

The dog walks slowly to the dead man, sniffing at the
corpse's hands. The dog whines and licks the man's
fingers.

Something in the air disturbs the dog, who looks up. And
now we hear it, faintly, in the distance. HOOF BEATS and
chariot wheels, marching men, the clank of bronze armor
and weaponry.

The dog runs, abandoning his dead master.




1A THE MYCENAEAN ARMY 1A

five thousand strong, storms into the valley from the
south. Armored with bronze breastplates, helmets and
shields, the soldiers glitter in the morning sun.
Riding alongside the infantry are dozens of horse-drawn
CHARIOTS, each holding a DRIVER, a SPEARMAN and an

OFFICER.

On the opposite side of the valley, three thousand
THESSALONIAN SOLDIERS march into view. The Thessalonians
are less disciplined, their armor and weaponry less
impressive.

(CONTINUED)





2.





1A CONTINUED: 1A




When each army reaches the battlefield they stop and stare
one another down, two hundred yards distant.







1B A MYCENAEAN CHARIOT AND A THESSALONIA CHARIOT 1B

emerge from their respective sides and meet at the center
of the field.

AGAMEMNON, king of the Mycenaeans, rides in his chariot
with a DRIVER and a SPEARMAN. Agamemnon holds a gold
SCEPTER, symbol of command. His breast plate is engraved
with an Alpha.

His counterpart in the Thessalonian cart, TRIOPAS (60),
does not project equal confidence. He eyes the size of
the Mycenaean army with evident unease. He holds his own

SCEPTER.

Both kings step down from their chariots and approach each
other. They stare at one another for several seconds.
Agamemnon smiles and looks into the sky.
The crows wheel overhead, cawing.

AGAMEMNON

It's a good day for the crows.

TRIOPAS

I told you yesterday and I'll tell
you again today. Remove your army
from my land.
Agamemnon smiles again and turns to examine the valley.

AGAMEMNON

I like your land. I think we'll
stay.
(beat)
I like your soldiers, too. They
fought bravely yesterday. Not
well, but bravely.

TRIOPAS

They'll never fight for you.

AGAMEMNON

That's what the Messenians said,
too. And the Arcadians. And the
Epeians. They're all fighting for
me, now.

(CONTINUED)





3.





1B CONTINUED: 1B





TRIOPAS

You can't rule the whole world,
Agamemnon. It's too big. Even for
you.



Agamemnon surveys Triopas's army.

AGAMEMNON

I don't want to watch another
massacre. Let's end this war in
the old manner.
(beat)
Your best fighter against my best.
For the first time, Triopas looks hopeful.

TRIOPAS

And if my man wins?

AGAMEMNON

We'll leave Thessaly for good.
(beat)
I'm a generous man. If mine wins,
you keep your throne. But Thessaly
falls under my command, to fight
with me whenever I call.
Triopas considers before nodding. He shouts to his army.

TRIOPAS

Boagrius!
The Thessalonians murmur and step aside. A giant emerges
from their midst, BOAGRIUS, a foot taller than the other
men, his face gouged with old knife scars. He marches out
to his king.

TRIOPAS

Here is my champion.
Agamemnon raises his eyebrows as the giant comes closer.

AGAMEMNON

(shouting to his army)
Achilles!
The Mycenaeans murmur amongst themselves, looking for
Achilles. Nobody emerges. Agamemnon frowns.

TRIOPAS

Boagrius has this effect on many
heroes.

(CONTINUED)





4.





1B CONTINUED: (2) 1B





AGAMEMNON

Be careful whom you insult, old
king.



An OFFICER on horseback gallops from the Mycenaean ranks
to the center of the field. He bows his head to
Agamemnon.

OFFICER

Achilles is not with the army.
Triopas laughs and looks up at Boagrius, who chuckles.

AGAMEMNON

(furious)
Where is he?

OFFICER

I sent a boy to look for him.




2 EXT. WOODS - DAY 2

A BOY (12) on a roan HORSE gallops through the woods.




3 EXT. MYCENAEAN CAMP - DAY 3

The boy rides into the camp. Scores of tents stand on the
banks of a river. The only men around are COOKS tending
fires and ARMORERS, mending armor and weapons.
The boy dismounts at one large tent in the corner of the
camp. He pulls open the tent flap and steps inside.




4 INT. ACHILLES' TENT - CONTINUOUS 4

The boy pauses for a moment inside the tent, eyes
adjusting to the dim light. Evidently last night was a
wild party. Jugs of wine are everywhere, and the remains
of a large feast.

Sleeping on a fur rug are two NAKED WOMEN and one NAKED
MAN, tanned arms and legs entwined. The boy sidesteps
shards of a broken jug. He bends to tap the sleeping
man's shoulder.

Before his fingers make contact, a hand shoots out, grabs
his wrist, and pulls him to the rug. The boy finds
himself flat on his back with a dagger to his throat.

(CONTINUED)





5.





4 CONTINUED: 4





ACHILLES

Shh.
The boy stares into the eyes of ACHILLES (30), who seems
to have barely moved. Somehow he managed to seize the boy
and put a knife to his throat without waking the women.

ACHILLES

(whispering)
I was having a good dream.
(beat)
A very good dream.
The boy nods, dumb with fear. Achilles has the lean,
efficient physique of a boxer. His face and body are dark
from a summer spent in the sun.

BOY

King Agamemnon sent me. He
needs --

ACHILLES

I'll speak with your king in the
morning.

BOY

But my lord -- it is morning.
Achilles frowns. He stands and walks naked to the tent
flap, holds it open and stares at the empty encampment.

BOY

They're waiting for you.




5 EXT. MYCENAEAN CAMP 5

Achilles prepares for battle, strapping on his
breastplate. The boy assists him, fixing the bronze
greaves to his legs.

BOY

Are the stories about you true?
They say your mother is an immortal
goddess.

Achilles lifts up his shield. He slips his left forearm
into the leather straps on the inside of the shield.

BOY

They say you can't be killed.

(CONTINUED)





6.





5 CONTINUED: 5





ACHILLES

I wouldn't be bothering with the
shield then, would I?




BOY

The Thessalonian you're fighting
-- he's the biggest man I've ever
seen.
Achilles mounts the boy's horse.

BOY

I wouldn't want to fight him.

ACHILLES

That's why no one will remember
your name.

Achilles gallops away, leaving the boy standing alone.




6 EXT. THESSALIAN VALLEY 6

Agamemnon confers with his OFFICERS on the battlefield,
including KING NESTOR (65), his trusted advisor.
When Achilles rides into view the Mycenaean soldiers
CHEER. Some cry out his name. Agamemnon and his officers
turn to watch Achilles dismount and approach them.

AGAMEMNON

Perhaps we should have our war
tomorrow, when you're better
rested?

Achilles ignores the king and examines the waiting giant.

AGAMEMNON

I should have you whipped for
impudence.

Achilles wheels on the king.

ACHILLES

Who's giving the whipping?
He walks toward Agamemnon, fingers curling over the hilt
of his sword. Nestor slides in between Achilles and the
king.

NESTOR

Achilles.

(CONTINUED)





7.





6 CONTINUED: 6




Achilles, nostrils flared, eyes narrowed, stares at
Agamemnon. Neither man is willing to turn away.

ACHILLES

(to Agamemnon)
Why don't you fight him yourself?
Wouldn't that be a sight, a king
who fights his own battles?

NESTOR

Achilles.
Achilles finally turns and looks at him.

NESTOR

Look at the men's faces.
Achilles surveys the faces of the battle-weary soldiers.

NESTOR

You can save hundreds of them. You
can end this war with a swing of
your sword.
(beat)
Think how many songs they'll sing
in your honor.
(beat)
Let them go home to their wives.
The soldiers, awed in his presence, stare at Achilles. He
finally turns and walks toward Boagrius.
Agamemnon watches Achilles with undisguised hostility.

AGAMEMNON

(to Nestor, under
his breath)
Of all the warlords loved by the
gods, I hate him most.

NESTOR

We need him, my king.

AGAMEMNON

For now.




6A ACHILLES 6A

When Achilles is forty yards from the giant, Boagrius
turns to his army and shakes his spear over his head.
They cheer, slamming their bronze swords against their
bronze shields.

(CONTINUED)





8.





6A CONTINUED: 6A




Achilles keeps coming. He looks up at the circling crows.
Boagrius turns and throws his spear. The bronze spearhead
glitters in the sun, blazing straight for Achilles.



Without breaking stride, Achilles raises the shield. The
spearhead blasts through the bronze skin of the shield,
through the thick leather on the underside, stopping
inches from Achilles' face.

Achilles keeps coming.

Boagrius hoists a second spear and hurls it, grunting with
effort. Again Achilles raises his shield, again the
spearhead tears through the shield but does not harm
Achilles.

Achilles casts aside the shield and keeps coming.
Boagrius unsheathes his tremendous bronze sword. He opens
his mouth, lets loose a battle cry, and charges at
Achilles.

When Boagrius raises his sword, Achilles lunges forward
with terrifying speed. It does not seem possible that he
could close the gap between them so quickly, but he does,
thrusting his sword straight through Boagrius'
breastplate.

Achilles pulls his sword from the giant's chest and
continues walking toward the Thessalonian line, never
looking back.

Boagrius stares down at the hole in his breastplate.
Blood pumps out, pouring down the polished bronze. He
topples over.

The Mycenaean Army ERUPTS with exultant victory cries.
Achilles now stands in front of the massed Thessalonian
troops. He searches from face to face. None of the
soldiers are willing to make eye contact with him.
Finally Triopas steps out of the ranks.

TRIOPAS

Who are you, soldier?

ACHILLES

Achilles, son of Peleus.

(CONTINUED)





9.





6A CONTINUED: (2) 6A





TRIOPAS

Achilles. I won't forget the name.
Triopas offers Achilles the heavy gold SCEPTER.




TRIOPAS

The ruler of Thessaly carries this
scepter. Give it to your king.

ACHILLES

He's not my king.
Achilles walks west, away from both armies. The soldiers
watch him go in silence.




7 EXT. IONIAN SEA - DUSK 7

We're high above the wine-dark sea, gliding north. Soon
the Peloponnesian coast comes into view. The only break
in the shoreline is the inlet of Laconia, and we follow it
inland.

The inlet ends in a natural harbor where several tall-
masted warships are beached, sails unfurled, oars locked
and rowing benches empty. Dozens of smaller fishing boats
are scattered about the harbor.

On top of the highest hill, overlooking all Sparta, stands
a thick-walled PALACE. Torch-bearing SENTRIES, wearing
plumed helmets and carrying long spears, man their posts.

MENELAUS (V.O.)

Princes of Troy, on our last night
together, Queen Helen and I salute
you.




8 INT. PALACE OF SPARTA - RECEPTION HALL - CONTINUOUS 8

MENELAUS (40), king of Sparta, stands at the head of a
massive table that spans the length of a hall lit by
torches. A battle-scarred warrior, Menelaus is already
halfway drunk.

Beside Menelaus sits his wife, HELEN (25), wearing a white
gown, head bowed, half listening to her husband. Fresh
flowers are woven into her hair. Her beauty is so extreme
she seems to exist in a separate realm.

(CONTINUED)





10.





8 CONTINUED: 8




The only woman in the room and the only one wearing white,
Helen shines amidst the unwashed WARRIORS of Sparta and
Troy. All sit at a table laden with platters of roasted
game birds, whole fish, octopi, suckling pigs and bowls of
fruit.

Menelaus holds his gold wine goblet in the air, toasting
his honored guests, HECTOR (35) and PARIS (25).
Hector is not the best-looking man in the room, nor the
largest, but the intensity of his expression, the regality
of his bearing, confirms that he is a born leader.
Paris is the best-looking man in the room, by a long shot.
He's not paying attention to Menelaus. He's staring at
Helen.

MENELAUS

We've had our conflicts before,
it's true. We've fought many
battles, Sparta and Troy. And
fought well!

Menelaus's soldiers cheer drunkenly. For a moment Helen
looks up and meets Paris's gaze.

MENELAUS

But I've always respected your
father. Priam is a good man, a
good king. I respected him as an
adversary, and I respect him now as
my ally.

More cheering, this time from the entire assembly.

MENELAUS

Hector, Paris, young princes, come,
stand, drink with me.
Hector stands. Paris does not. He's still staring at
Helen. Hector nudges his brother's shoulder. Paris
stands.

MENELAUS

Let us drink to peace.
Hector nods to Menelaus and raises his cup.

HECTOR

Peace between Troy and Sparta.

(CONTINUED)





11.





8 CONTINUED: (2) 8




The king and the princes drink deeply and slam their empty
cups to the table.

MENELAUS

May the gods keep the wolves in the
hills and the women in our beds.
All the men in the hall cheer and rise to their feet.

GUESTS

To Sparta! To Troy!

A band of MUSICIANS strike up their instruments; SERVANTS
roam the hall filling goblets with wine.

POLYDORA (20), one of Helen's handmaidens, leads a dozen
attractive YOUNG WOMEN into the banquet hall.

The warriors howl at the sight of the women. Soon each of
the handmaidens is flanked by drunken soldiers.

Menelaus grabs Hector in a bear hug. Hector gamely
accepts the embrace. When the king releases him, both men
spill a few drops of wine from their cups onto the floor.



They drink the rest of their wine. Menelaus grips
Hector's upper arm. SERVANTS refill the cups.

MENELAUS

A strong arm. Thank the gods we
made peace -- I've seen too many of
my men struck down with this arm.

HECTOR

Never again, I hope.

MENELAUS

Only one man works a sword better
than you. The son of Peleus the
Argonaut.

HECTOR

Achilles.

MENELAUS

That madman would throw a spear at
Zeus himself if the god insulted
him.

(CONTINUED)





12.





8 CONTINUED: (3) 8




Menelaus indicates Polydora, who stares at Hector openly.

MENELAUS

You see that one over there? I
picked her just for you. She's a
little lioness.
Menelaus grins at the girl, who lowers her eyes and
smiles. Helen notices this silent exchange but ignores
it, conversing instead with another HANDMAIDEN who sits
beside her.

HECTOR

Thank you. My wife waits for me in
Troy.

MENELAUS

My wife waits for me right there.
He leans forward to whisper conspiratorially in Hector's
ear.

MENELAUS

Wives are for breeding. You
understand? For making little
princes. Come, enjoy yourself
tonight.
Helen stands and walks out of the reception hall.
Menelaus does not notice. Hector does. He raises his cup
to Menelaus.

HECTOR

You make excellent wine in Sparta.
Menelaus laughs and drinks with Hector.
Paris excuses himself from the Spartan generals he's been
speaking with and heads outside -- in the same direction
as Helen. Hector watches with mounting agitation.




9 INT. HELEN'S CHAMBER - NIGHT 9

The room is lit by a dozen tall candles. Helen removes
the flowers from her hair and drops them into a bowl of
water. She hears a sound and looks up. Paris stands in
the doorway.
For several breaths they are silent, staring at each
other.

(CONTINUED)





13.





9 CONTINUED: 9





HELEN

You shouldn't be here.
Paris closes the door behind him.




PARIS

That's what you said last night.

HELEN

Last night was a mistake.

PARIS

And the night before?
Helen continues removing the flowers from her hair but she
cannot hide a half-smile.

HELEN

I've made many mistakes this week.
He approaches her.

PARIS

Do you want me to go?
His hands are on her now, sliding down her bare neck, down
her back, resting on her hips. His mouth is very close to
her ear. Helen closes her eyes.

HELEN

(whispering)
Yes.
Paris kisses her neck, her ears, her closed eyes. The
tightness we saw in her face when she sat by her husband's
side is gone, replaced by ecstasy.

PARIS

(whispering)
Where should I go?
She kisses him back now and there's a hunger in her
kisses, something close to violence in her desire. She
lifts off his tunic and pulls him nearer.

HELEN

(whispering)
Away. Far away.
In a moment the white gown slips to her feet. He stares
at her naked body in wonder. He opens his mouth to speak
but she kisses him full on the lips. They sink onto the
bed.




14.





10 INT. PALACE - RECEPTION HALL - NIGHT 10




As more and more wine gourds are emptied, the scene grows
rowdier. An impromptu choir of Spartan and Trojan
soldiers drunkenly sing battle songs.



Polydora sits on Menelaus's lap. She whispers in his ear
while he laughs and drains another cup of wine. Bits of
roasted boar fleck his thick red beard.
Hector sits nearby, half engaged in conversation with
several Spartan generals. He's clearly not happy that his
brother's still missing.




11 INT. HELEN'S CHAMBER - NIGHT (LATER) 11

Helen lies naked on her bed. In the candlelight her
flanks are mapped with copper trails of sweat. She
watches Paris, who stands bedside pulling on his clothes.

PARIS

I have something for you.
From his tunic he pulls a necklace of baby pearls threaded
with silver. He sits beside her in bed.

PARIS

Pearls from the sea of Propontis.
Paris strings the pearls around her neck.

HELEN

They're beautiful.
(beat)
But I can't wear them. Menelaus
would kill us both.

PARIS

Don't be afraid of him.

HELEN

I'm not afraid of dying. I'm
afraid of tomorrow, watching you
sail away and knowing you'll never
come back.
She runs her fingers across his jaw line.

HELEN

Before you came to Sparta I was a
ghost. I walked and I ate and I
swam in the sea, but I was a ghost.

(CONTINUED)





15.





11 CONTINUED: 11





PARIS

You don't have to fear tomorrow.
Helen watches him, unsure what he means.




PARIS

Come with me.
For a long moment they stare into each other's eyes.

HELEN

Don't play with me, prince of Troy.
Don't play.
The sounds of footsteps and laughter outside the door
startle them. Paris halfway unsheathes a KNIFE hanging
from his belt.
Whoever's walking by the door passes without stopping.
Paris sheathes his knife, kneels beside the bed and takes
her hand.

PARIS

If you come we'll never be safe.
Men will hunt us and the gods will
curse us. But I'll love you.
Until the day they burn my body I
will love you.
Helen stares into Paris' eyes, contemplating the
impossible.




12 INT. PALACE - COURTYARD - LATER 12

A group of TROJAN SOLDIERS lies on goatskins and furs
around a bonfire built in the middle of the courtyard.
Some sleep; some continue to drink and sing old Trojan
songs.
Hector stands by the fire, conferring with TECTON (30), a
bull-necked captain of the elite Apollonian Guard.

HECTOR

Make the proper offerings to
Poseidon before we sail. We don't
need any more widows in Troy.

TECTON

Goat or pig?

HECTOR

Which does the Sea God prefer?

(CONTINUED)





16.





12 CONTINUED: 12





TECTON

(smiling)
I'll wake the priest and ask him.



Tecton bows and exits the courtyard. Hector sees Paris
slinking past the bonfire, sneaking toward his quarters.

HECTOR

Paris!
Paris turns, smiles and waves, acting as if he hadn't seen
Hector before. He ambles over to join his brother.

HECTOR

You should get to bed. We won't
sleep on land again for weeks.

PARIS

I have no trouble sleeping on the
seas. The sea nymphs sing
lullabies to me.

HECTOR

And who sang lullabies to you
tonight?
Paris freezes for a moment but quickly regains his poise.

PARIS

Tonight? Tonight was the
fisherman's wife. A lovely
creature.

HECTOR

I hope you didn't let the fisherman
catch you.

PARIS

He's more concerned with the fish.
Paris smiles and starts to walk away but Hector holds him.

HECTOR

You do understand why we're in
Sparta?

PARIS

For peace.

(CONTINUED)





17.





12 CONTINUED: (2) 12





HECTOR

And you do understand that
Menelaus, King of Sparta, is a
powerful man? And that his
brother, Agamemnon, King of
Mycenae, commands all the Greek
forces?

PARIS

What does this have to do with the
fisherman's wife?
Hector seizes Paris's face between the palms of his hand.
Not a violent gesture, exactly, but not gentle, either.

HECTOR

Paris. You're my brother, and I
love you. But if you do anything
to endanger Troy I'll rip your
pretty face from your pretty skull.
He kisses Paris on the forehead.

HECTOR

Get some sleep. We sail in the
morning.
Paris, a bit shocked by the encounter, stumbles away.




13 EXT. IONIAN SEA - DAY 13

The TROJAN SHIP sails over the waves.




14 EXT. SHIP'S DECK - DAY 14

The winds are strong. Nobody needs to row. SAILORS tend
the sails or play dice.
Hector stands in the bow, leaning against the rail,
whittling a WOODEN LION. Paris joins him.

PARIS

A beautiful morning. Poseidon has
blessed our voyage.
Hector looks at the blue sky for a moment.

(CONTINUED)





18.





14 CONTINUED: 14





HECTOR

Sometimes the gods bless you in the
morning and curse you in the
afternoon.



Paris watches his brother work the wood. When Paris
speaks again his tone is more sober than we've heard it
before.

PARIS

Do you love me, brother?
Hector rests his knife on the deck and smiles.

HECTOR

What have you done now?

PARIS

I need to show you something.
Paris walks toward the staircase leading inside the ship.
Hector watches him for a few seconds and then follows.




15 INT. TROJAN SHIP 15

Paris pauses in front of his cabin door.

PARIS

Before you get angry with me --

HECTOR

Open the door.
Paris opens the door. Helen, wearing a hooded robe, sits
on the edge of a hammock, swinging slightly. She stands.
Hector stares at her in disbelief. He turns and glares at
Paris.

HECTOR

If you weren't my brother I'd kill
you where you stand.

PARIS

Hector --
Hector is already out the door. Helen looks at Paris.

HELEN

We'll never have peace.

PARIS

I don't want peace. I want you.

(CONTINUED)





19.





15 CONTINUED: 15




He kisses her -- a desperate, hungry kiss, the two of them
against the world -- then turns and follows his brother.







16 INT. PALACE OF SPARTA - HELEN'S BEDCHAMBER - DAY 16

Menelaus, followed by ten SOLDIERS, storms into Helen's
room.




17 INT. HELEN'S BEDCHAMBER 17

He finds Polydora polishing the queen's jewelry. Menelaus
grabs her arm roughly. She's terrified.

MENELAUS

Where is she?

POLYDORA

Who, my king?
Menelaus draws his sword.

MENELAUS

I swear by the father of the gods
I'll gut you here if you don't tell
me.
The handmaiden tries to speak but no words come out.
Fortunately for her, HIPPASUS, (50), a royal advisor,
enters the room at that moment followed by an old

FISHERMAN (65).


HIPPASUS

She left with the Trojans, my king.
Menelaus stares at Hippasus, who swallows and gestures at
the fisherman. The fisherman looks as if he'd rather be
fishing.

HIPPASUS

The old man saw her board their
ship.
Menelaus releases the handmaiden and stares at the
fisherman.

MENELAUS

The Trojans?

(CONTINUED)





20.





17 CONTINUED: 17





FISHERMAN

With the young prince. Paris.
She --



Menelaus holds up his hand. The fisherman shuts up.
Everyone watches the king, waiting for an explosion, but
the news -- strangely -- seems to focus him.

MENELAUS

Get my ship ready.




18 EXT. TROJAN SHIP 18

Hector walks quickly toward the stern, Paris right behind
him. The PILOT mans the rudder.

HECTOR

(to pilot)
Turn us around. Back to Sparta.

PARIS

Wait, wait.
Hector spins on his brother.

HECTOR

You fool.

PARIS

Listen to me --
Hector shoves his brother backwards. The older brother's
physical power is obvious. SAILORS watch in awed silence.

HECTOR

Do you know what you've done? Do
you know how many years our father
worked for peace? How many
brothers and cousins he lost on the
battlefield?

PARIS

I love her.
The muscles in Hector's jaw bulge against his cheeks.

HECTOR

Say another word and I'll break
your arm. This is all a game for
you, isn't it?

(MORE)


(CONTINUED)





21.





18 CONTINUED: 18





HECTOR (CONT'D)

You roam from town to town, bedding
merchants' wives and temple maids -
- you think you know something
about love? What about your
father's love? You spat on him
when you brought her on this ship.
What about love of your country?
You'd let Troy burn for this woman.
Paris starts to speak but Hector raises a warning finger.

HECTOR

I won't let you start a war for
her.

PARIS

May I speak?
(beat)
What you say is true. I've wronged
you. I've wronged our father. If
you want to bring Helen back to
Sparta, so be it. But I go with
her.

HECTOR

To Sparta? They'll kill you.

PARIS

Then I'll die fighting.
Hector laughs bitterly. He grabs the collar of Paris's
tunic.

HECTOR

That sounds heroic to you, doesn't
it? To die fighting. Tell me,
little brother, have you ever
killed a man?

PARIS

No.

HECTOR

Have you ever even seen a man die
in combat?

PARIS

No.
Hector's face is flushed with anger. Paris tries to look
away but Hector won't let him.

(CONTINUED)





22.





18 CONTINUED: (2) 18





HECTOR

I've killed men, brother. I've
watched them dying, I've heard them
dying, I've smelled them dying.
(beat)
There's nothing glorious about it,
nothing poetic. You think you want
to die for love, but you know
nothing about dying. You know
nothing about love.

PARIS

All the same, I go with her.
Hector releases his brother. He stares at the sea.

PARIS

I won't ask you to fight my war.
Hector shakes his head, still staring into the waves.

HECTOR

You already have.
For a long time Hector is silent. Finally he turns to the
pilot, who awaits the prince's command.

HECTOR

To Troy.
Hector walks away from his brother.




19 EXT. MYCENAE HARBOR - DAY 19

Three WARSHIPS are anchored in the harbor.
Menelaus, followed by Hippasus and a retinue of SOLDIERS,
climbs the long stone staircase that leads to the walled
city of Mycenae, a citadel hewn from the hilltop rock.




20 INT. MYCENAE CITADEL - THRONE ROOM - DAY 20

Menelaus and his followers enter the throne room.
Treasures from various conquests fill the room: statuary
and urns and intricate gold work. Armed GUARDS stand at
their posts.

(CONTINUED)





23.





20 CONTINUED: 20




Only Agamemnon is seated, on a beautiful throne carved
from solid oak. Two robed NOBLES are addressing him when
Menelaus enters -- they move away as the Spartans
approach.



Agamemnon stands. The two kings embrace.

AGAMEMNON

Your messenger came two days ago.
I know what happened.
Menelaus's face darkens, his rage barely submerged.

MENELAUS

I want her back.

AGAMEMNON

Of course you do. She's a
beautiful woman.

MENELAUS

I want her back so I can kill her
with my own two hands. I won't
rest until I've burned Troy to the
ground.

AGAMEMNON

(smiling)
I thought you wanted peace with
Troy.

MENELAUS

I should have listened to you.

AGAMEMNON

Peace is for the women and the
weak. Empires are forged by war.

MENELAUS

All my life I've stood by your
side, fought your enemies. You're
the eldest, you reap the glory --
this is the way of the world. But
have I ever complained, brother?
Have I ever asked you for anything?

AGAMEMNON

Never. You're a man of honor.
Everyone in Greece knows this.

(CONTINUED)





24.





20 CONTINUED: (2) 20





MENELAUS

The Trojans spat on my honor. An
insult to me is an insult to you.




AGAMEMNON

And an insult to me is an insult to
all Greeks.

MENELAUS

Will you go to war with me,
brother?
Menelaus reaches out his hand. Agamemnon looks into his
eyes. Finally he nods and clasps hands with his brother.




21 INT. MYCENAE CITADEL - THRONE ROOM - NIGHT 21

Agamemnon paces the vast, torch-lit room. Nestor sits at
a wooden table. Spread out on the table before him is a
rough map of Greece and environs, painted on a tanned goat
skin.

AGAMEMNON

I always thought my brother's wife
was a foolish woman. But she's
proven to be very useful. Nothing
unifies a people like a common
enemy.

NESTOR

The Trojans have never been
conquered. Some say they can't be
conquered.

AGAMEMNON

I haven't tried yet.
(beat)
Old King Priam thinks he's
untouchable behind his high walls.
He thinks the Sun God will protect
him. But the gods only protect the
strong.
(points at map)
If Troy falls, I control the
Aegean.

NESTOR

Hector commands the finest army in
the east. And Troy is built to
withstand a ten-year siege.

(CONTINUED)





25.





21 CONTINUED: 21





AGAMEMNON

There won't be a ten-year siege.
I'll attack them with the greatest
force the world has ever seen. I
want all the kings of Greece and
all their armies.
(beat)
Send emissaries in the morning.
Nestor stands and prepares to leave.

NESTOR

One last thing.
(beat)
We need Achilles and his Myrmidons.
Agamemnon shakes his head.

AGAMEMNON

Achilles can't be controlled. He's
as likely to fight us as the
Trojans.

NESTOR

We don't need to control him. We
need to unleash him. The man was
born to end lives.

AGAMEMNON

Yes, he's a gifted killer, but he
follows no king. He threatens
everything I've built.
(beat)
Before me Greece was nothing, a
province of warlords and cattle
raiders. I've brought all the
Greek kingdoms together -- with the
sword when necessary, with a treaty
when possible. I've created a
nation out of fire-worshippers and
snake-eaters.
(beat)
I build the future, Nestor.
Achilles is the past, a man who
fights for no flag, a man loyal to
no country.
Nestor waits a respectful moment before replying.

(CONTINUED)





26.





21 CONTINUED: (2) 21





NESTOR

Your words are true. But how many
battles have we won off the edge of
his sword?
(beat)
This will be the greatest war the
world has ever seen. We need the
greatest warrior.
Agamemnon thinks about it, pacing the room. Finally --

AGAMEMNON

There's only one man he'll listen
to.

NESTOR

I'll send a ship in the morning.




22 EXT. ITHACA - DAY 22

A lean, bearded SHEPHERD (40) sits on a hillside looking
over the Ionian sea.
Beside him sits his faithful hunting dog, ARGOS. They
watch a troop of EMISSARIES climb the steep hill. The
emissaries are panting for breath by the time they reach
the hilltop.

EMISSARY #1

Greetings, brother. We were told
King Odysseus is here in the hills.

SHEPHERD

Odysseus? That old bastard drinks
my wine and never pays.

EMISSARY #2

You ought to respect your king,
friend.

SHEPHERD

Respect him? I'd like to punch him
in the nose. He's always pawing at
my wife, trying to tear her clothes
off.
The emissaries, embarrassed, begin walking away. The
shepherd watches them go.

(CONTINUED)





27.





22 CONTINUED: 22





SHEPHERD

(to Argos the dog)
I hope Agamemnon's generals are
smarter than his emissaries.



Emissary #1 turns to look at the shepherd.

EMISSARY #1

What did you say?
The shepherd scratches behind Argos's ears. The dog wags
his tail happily.

SHEPHERD

You want me to help you fight the
Trojans.

EMISSARY #1

You're --
Emissary #1 exchanges glances with his compatriots.
They're confused. Finally the chastened emissaries bow.

EMISSARY #1

Forgive us, King Odysseus.
Odysseus stands and looks down at his dog.

ODYSSEUS

Well, I'm going to miss my dog.

EMISSARY #2

King Agamemnon has a favor to ask
of you.
Odysseus smiles and rubs his dog's head.

ODYSSEUS

Of course he does.




23 EXT. SEASIDE CLIFF - LATE AFTERNOON 23

Achilles stands in the ruins of an ivy-covered temple on a
cliff above the sea, sparring with his cousin Patroclus
(17). Both men wield wooden practice swords.
Patroclus is a talented, lean, flashy young fighter. His
sword whirls in the air like a thing alive.
Achilles, by contrast, is the apotheosis of the efficient
combatant, wasting no energy, waiting for weakness.

(CONTINUED)





28.





23 CONTINUED: 23




Patroclus presses in on the attack. Achilles tilts his
head to avoid one thrust, side-steps to avoid another.
Spying a momentary opening he lunges forward and taps
Patroclus' belly with the tip of his wood sword.




ACHILLES

You're getting fat, cousin.
Patroclus grins and relaunches his attack, sword spinning
with blazing speed. Achilles ducks beneath an arcing
swing and sword-taps Patroclus on the back.

ACHILLES

Fancy swordplay. The girls must be
impressed.
Patroclus grunts and charges in again. This time a
genuine duel develops, featuring splendid repartee and
parrying.

PATROCLUS

A little nervous, aren't you?

ACHILLES

Terrified.
Achilles raises his right hand and Patroclus lifts his
sword to parry the blow -- but Achilles no longer holds
his sword in his right hand.
Sword in hisleft hand, Achilles taps Patroclus on the
chest. Patroclus stares down at the wood blade.

PATROCLUS

You told me never to switch sword
hands.
Achilles rolls his head to loosen his neck.

ACHILLES

By the time you know how to do it,
you won't be following my orders
anymore.
Achilles tosses aside the sparring sword. He cocks his
head as if listening to some distant sound. Patroclus,
oblivious to the noise, practices his swordplay.
Achilles' foot curls around the wood shaft of one of the
spears lying on the ground. In one impossibly fast
motion, he flips the spear into the air with his foot,
catches it, and throws in the opposite direction from
where he was looking.

(CONTINUED)





29.





23 CONTINUED: (2) 23




The bronze warhead blazes between the temple's walls and
drives into the trunk of an old fir.
Only now do we see Odysseus, leading a black horse,
standing inches from the quivering shaft of the spear
blocking his path. He stares at the spear for a moment
before ducking his head under the shaft and walking
forward.

ODYSSEUS

(smiling)
Your reputation for hospitality is
fast becoming legend.

ACHILLES

I don't like that smile, my friend.
It's the smile you smile when you
want me to fight in another war.
(beat)
Patroclus, my cousin -- Odysseus,
king of Ithaca.

ODYSSEUS

Patroclus, son of Menoetius?
The boy nods. Odysseus grips Patroclus's shoulder.

ODYSSEUS

I knew your parents well. I miss
them.
Patroclus nods again, looking at his feet.

ODYSSEUS

Now you have this one watching over
you, eh? Learning from Achilles
himself -- every boy in Greece must
be jealous.
(to Achilles)
We need to talk.

ACHILLES

Tell me you're not here at
Agamemnon's bidding.
Odysseus hesitates. Achilles shakes his head.

ACHILLES

How many times have I done the
savage work for the King of Kings?
And when has he ever shown me the
respect I've earned?

(CONTINUED)





30.





23 CONTINUED: (3) 23





ODYSSEUS

I'm not asking you to fight for
him. I'm asking you to fight for
the Greeks.




ACHILLES

Why? Are the Greeks tired of
fighting each other?

ODYSSEUS

For now.

ACHILLES

The Trojans never did anything to
me.

ODYSSEUS

They insulted Greece.

ACHILLES

They insulted one Greek, a man who
couldn't hold on to his wife. What
business is that of mine?

ODYSSEUS

Your business is war, my friend.

ACHILLES

(angry)
Is it? Am I the whore of the
battlefield? Can my sword be
bought and sold?
(beat; calmer)
I don't want to be remembered as a
tyrant's mercenary.

ODYSSEUS

Forget Agamemnon. Fight for me.
My wife will feel much better if
she knows you're by my side. I'll
feel much better.

PATROCLUS

Is Ajax going to fight in Troy?

ODYSSEUS

Of course. You've heard of Ajax,
eh?

PATROCLUS

They say he can fell an oak tree
with one swing of the axe.

(CONTINUED)





31.





23 CONTINUED: (4) 23





ACHILLES

Trees don't swing back.
Odysseus chuckles, but he's alert to the boy's enthusiasm.




ODYSSEUS

We're sending the largest fleet
that ever sailed -- a thousand
ships.

PATROCLUS

A thousand ships! Prince Hector,
is he as good a warrior as they
say?

ODYSSEUS

The best of all the Trojans. Some
say he's better than all the
Greeks, too.
(beat)
Even if your cousin doesn't come,
Patroclus, I hope you'll join us.
We could use a strong arm like
yours.
Patroclus beams with pride and looks at his cousin.
Achilles wraps his arm around Odysseus's shoulders and
leans closer to the Ithacan. The embrace is friendly, but
there's no mistaking the power in Achilles' grip.

ACHILLES

Play your tricks on me, if you'd
like. But leave my cousin out of
it.

ODYSSEUS

You have your sword, I have my
tricks. We play with the toys the
gods give us.
Odysseus goes back to his horse and mounts.

ODYSSEUS

We sail for Troy in three days.
(beat)
This war will never be forgotten.
Nor will the heroes who fight in
it.
Patroclus, eager but frustrated, watches him ride away.




32.





24 EXT. BEACH - SUNSET 24




Achilles makes his away across the sandy hillocks. He
spies a woman in the distance.







25 EXT. SEASHORE - SUNSET 25

Achilles finds his mother, THETIS (45), standing in the
surf. Her long black hair is streaked with gray. She
sees a shell that she likes and stoops down to pick it up.

ACHILLES

Mother.
Thetis turns and smiles at Achilles.

THETIS

I thought I'd make you another
seashell necklace.

ACHILLES

I haven't worn a seashell necklace
since I was a boy.
Thetis looks at Achilles' bare neck.

THETIS

Don't you like them anymore?
Achilles spots a good shell. He hands it to his mother.

THETIS

Oh, that's a pretty one.
She surveys the beach for more pretty shells.

ACHILLES

They want me for another war.
Thetis bends down and scoops up a silvery shell.

ACHILLES

Are you listening?

THETIS

Yes, my sweet. Another war.

ACHILLES

Patroclus wants to go.

THETIS

Patroclus has never seen war.

(CONTINUED)





33.





25 CONTINUED: 25




Thetis examines the shells in the palm of her hand.
Finally she stands and looks at her son.

THETIS

If you stay here, with me, with
your family, you'll have a long,
peaceful life. You'll marry,
you'll have children, and your
children will have children.
They'll love you, and when you're
gone they'll remember you. But
when your children are dead, and
their children after them, your
name will be lost.
Thetis reaches up to touch her son's cheek. Her eyes are
clear, her voice steady. She speaks these lines with no
hesitation, no doubt.

THETIS

If you go to Troy, no one will earn
more glory than you. Men will tell
stories of your victories for
thousands of years. The world will
remember your name.
Achilles stares at her, his eyes burning. These are words
he's wanted to hear since the day he was born. His mother
waits a moment before speaking again. The words hurt her.

THETIS

But if you go to Troy, you'll never
come home. You'll die there.

ACHILLES

And you know this, mother?

THETIS

I know it.
Achilles looks out to the sea. Thetis, tears in her eyes,
smiles bravely.

THETIS

Whenever your father came home from
war, he'd stare at the sea, just
like that.
(beat)
He never stayed for long.
In the distance Achilles sees a white sail. He fixates on
the lonely spot of white on the endless expanse of dark
water.




34.





26 EXT. AEGEAN SEA - DAY 26




We soar above the greatest armada the world has ever seen.
ONE THOUSAND SHIPS sail east, crowding the sea, churning
the waves with their keels.



The white sails are painted with the signs and emblems of
the various nationalities represented in this alliance.
One ship sails slightly out of formation. Alone amongst
the entire fleet, this ship's sail is black.




27 EXT. ACHILLES' WARSHIP - DAY 27

Achilles stands in the prow of his boat, staring east.
Patroclus stands behind him, wearing a new SHELL NECKLACE.




28 EXT. TROY - DAY 28

Hector, Paris, Helen, and an entourage of SOLDIERS walk
through the gates of Troy.
The city is magnificent, a wonder of white-washed walls,
lush gardens, and towering STATUES of the gods. ZEUS,
APOLLO, APHRODITE, and POSEIDON stand eighty feet high in
the four corners of the main square.
The princes' return is a holiday for the Trojans.
Thousands of ONLOOKERS line the road, cheering. Other
well-wishers, standing on the roofs of houses, throw
flower petals.
Paris holds Helen's hand and occasionally whispers in her
ear, pointing out various sights, but Helen looks nervous.
People in the crowd, mystified by her appearance, point at
her and whisper amongst themselves.
Helen holds her head high and pretends to ignore the
murmurs and stares. Hector looks at her. She carries
herself like a queen -- but she's gripping Paris's hand
with white knuckles.




29 EXT. PALACE OF TROY 29

At the bottom of a long staircase leading into the palace,
four APOLLONIAN GUARDS, wearing horsehair-plumed helmets,
are mounted on beautiful WHITE HORSES.

(CONTINUED)





35.





29 CONTINUED: 29




Hector reunites with his wife, ANDROMACHE (30), pale
skinned and dark eyed. He holds her to his chest; she
closes her eyes, and they stand like that for a long time.



A NURSE standing nearby holds Hector's ten-month-old son,
SCAMANDRIUS. Now Andromache takes the baby from the
nurse. Hector stares into the boy's wondering eyes and
puts his finger in the boy's hand.

HECTOR

He has a good grip.

ANDROMACHE

He's just like his father. He even
hates peas.
While this reunion is going on, Paris embraces his father,
PRIAM (70), king of Troy. Priam is a regal-looking man
with a shock of white hair and sharp blue eyes. He adores
Paris.

PARIS

Father, this -- is Helen.
Helen bows her head, paying respect.

PRIAM

Helen? Helen of Sparta?
Both Helen and Priam now look at Paris.

PARIS

Helen of Troy.
If Priam is disturbed by this revelation, his face doesn't
betray it. He leans forward and kisses the former queen
on both cheeks. Helen didn't know what to expect -- she's
flustered and gratified at the same time.

PRIAM

I've heard rumors of your beauty.
For once, the gossips were right.
Welcome.

HELEN

Thank you, good king.

PRIAM

Come, you must be tired.
He leads them up the stairs and into the palace.




36.





29A INT. ENTRANCE HALL (PALACE OF TROY) 29A







BRISEIS, a seventeen-year-old girl with an aristocratic
demeanor, wearing the white robes of a temple acolyte,
approaches the royal family. Paris smiles when he sees
her.

PARIS

Briseis! Beloved cousin, your
beauty grows with each new moon.
Briseis, cheeks flushing, dips her knees in deference.
Hector approaches her now, arms open. Briseis's face
lights up. She hugs the eldest prince. Hector kisses the
top of her head.

HECTOR

Did you miss me, little swan?
Briseis nods. Hector pinches the sleeve of her robe.

HECTOR

A servant of Apollo now?

PRIAM

The young men of Troy were
devastated when she chose the
virgin robes.
Briseis' cheeks turn bright red.

BRISEIS

Uncle.
Priam laughs and kisses the girl's forehead. He takes
three goblets of wine from a SERVANT holding a silver
platter and hands them to Hector and Paris, keeping one
for himself.

PRIAM

I thank the gods for your safe
return.
The king and the princes spill a few drops of wine.

PRIAM, HECTOR AND PARIS

For the gods!
They drain their goblets.




30 INT. PRIAM'S MEETING HALL - DAY 30

The camera glides down the long hall, past tall columns
and marmoreal depictions of the Olympians.

(CONTINUED)





37.





30 CONTINUED: 30




At the far end of the hall, Priam stands by an open
archway looking over the city. Hector sits at a table
that could seat fifty men.




PRIAM

It's the will of the gods.
Everything is in their hands.
(beat)
But I'm surprised you let him bring
her.

HECTOR

If I'd let him fight Menelaus for
her, you'd be burning a son's body
instead of welcoming a daughter.
Priam closes his eyes at these words.

PRIAM

We could send peace envoys to
Menelaus.

HECTOR

You know Menelaus. He'd spear your
envoys' heads to his gate.

PRIAM

What would you have me do?

HECTOR

Put her on a ship and send her
home.
Priam thinks for a moment, staring out at his city.

PRIAM

Women have always loved Paris and
he's loved them back.
(beat)
But this is different. Something
has changed in him. If we send her
back to Menelaus, he'll follow.
Hector stands and joins his father in the archway. He
gestures outside. The city of Troy teems with life, the
CITIZENS going about their business.

HECTOR

This is my country. These are my
countrymen. I don't want to see
them suffer so my brother can have
his prize.

(MORE)


(CONTINUED)





38.





30 CONTINUED: (2) 30





HECTOR (CONT'D)

(beat)
It's not just the Spartans coming
after her. By now Menelaus has
gone to Agamemnon, and Agamemnon's
wanted to destroy us for years.
Once we're out of the way he
controls the seas.

PRIAM

Enemies have been attacking us for
centuries. Our walls still stand.

HECTOR

Father.
(beat)
We can't win this war.

PRIAM

Apollo watches over us. Even
Agamemnon is no match for the gods.

HECTOR

How many battalions does the Sun
God command?

PRIAM

Don't mock the gods.
Hector opens his mouth to argue but holds his tongue.

PRIAM

When you were very young you came
down with scarlet fever.
Hector nods impatiently. He's heard this story before.

PRIAM

Your little hands were so hot. The
healer said you wouldn't last the
night. I went down to Apollo's
temple and I prayed until the sun
came up.
(beat)
That walk back to the palace was
the longest of my life. But I went
into your mother's room and you
were sleeping in her arms. The
fever had broken.
(beat)
I promised that day to dedicate my
life to the gods. I will not break
my promise.

(CONTINUED)





39.





30 CONTINUED: (3) 30




Hector takes a deep breath. He knows Priam has decided.

PRIAM

For thirty years I've worked for
peace. Thirty years.
(beat)
Paris is a fool sometimes. I know
that. But I'll fight a thousand
wars before letting him die.
Hector looks past the city to the sea. The waters are
empty now, but he knows what's coming.

HECTOR

Forgive me, father. But you won't
be the one fighting.
He bows and leaves the old king alone in the great hall.




32 INT. PARIS'S BEDCHAMBER - NIGHT 32

Paris paces about the room. Helen stands in the archway
looking out to the dark sea. The wind blows through her
hair.

HELEN

They're coming for me.
(beat)
The wind is bringing them closer.
Paris stops pacing and stares at her.

PARIS

What if we left? Tonight, right
now, what if we went down to the
stables, took two horses and left.
Ride east, keep riding --

HELEN

And go where?

PARIS

Away from here. I could hunt deer,
rabbit. I could feed us.

HELEN

This is your home --

PARIS

You left your home for me.

(CONTINUED)





40.





32 CONTINUED: 32





HELEN

Sparta was never my home. My
parents sent me there when I was
sixteen to marry Menelaus, but it
was never my home.
Paris, excited with his new-hatched plan, barely listens.

PARIS

We'll live off the land. No more
palaces for us, no more servants.
We don't need any of that.

HELEN

And your family?

PARIS

We'd be protecting my family! If
we're not here there's no need for
a war.

HELEN

Menelaus won't give up. He'll
track us to the end of the world.

PARIS

He doesn't know these lands. I do.
We can lose ourselves in a day.
Helen stands and kisses him on the lips.

HELEN

You don't know Menelaus. You don't
know his brother. They'll burn
every house in Troy to find us.
They'll never believe we've left --
and even if they do, they'll burn
Troy for spite.
Paris considers her words and finally nods.

PARIS

Then I'll make it easy for him to
find me. I'll walk right up to him
and tell him you're mine.
Helen wraps her arms around Paris and rests her chin on
his shoulder.

HELEN

You're very young, my love.

(CONTINUED)





41.





32 CONTINUED: (2) 32





PARIS

We're the same age!

HELEN

You're younger than I ever was.




33 EXT. TROY - DAWN 33

The sun rises above Troy and the Trojan countryside.




33A IN THE MAIN SQUARE 33A

dozens of SUPPLICANTS kneel before the statue of Poseidon
and lay down their offerings: bundles of flowers; small
carvings; goatskins filled with wine.




33B SOLDIERS 33B

prepare a series of fortifications at the beach. Men
carrying torches ignite giant pumice urns filled with
burning pitch. Others hammer long spikes deep into the
sand to hinder enemies rushing up from the beach.
There is little conversation and the men look tense.
Everything is touched with an air of extreme urgency.




33C A TEMPLE OF APOLLO 33C

overlooks the beach.




33D INSIDE THE TEMPLE 33D

two PRIESTS carve strips of fat from a roasted PIG and lay
them on the god's altar, muttering chants as they perform
the ritual.
Briseis, the temple acolyte, stands beside the priests,
pouring ceremonial wine on the stone floor.




33E MERCHANTS 33E

in the marketplace set up their stalls and display their
goods: wine, olive oil, dates, figs, nuts and spices.
The BRONZESMITH hammers a bronze sword into shape.




42.





33F A SHEPHERD 33F




watches over his herd of SHEEP.




33G A FARMER AND HIS SON 33G




lead a team of yoked OXEN to the fields.




33H FOUR FISHERMEN 33H

in a small boat, a mile from shore, spread their nets in
the water.




34 EXT. GUARD TOWER - DAWN 34

Two SENTRIES stand in a guard tower on a corner of Troy's
city walls, sipping hot broth from bowls. A large flag,
emblazoned with Troy's HORSE EMBLEM, flies above the
tower.
Sentry #1 blows steam off his soup. He raises his eyes,
blinks and squints into the distance. He bolts upright.
Sentry #2 stands and follows his partner's gaze out to the
sea. Both of them stand slack-jawed.




34A A THOUSAND GREEK WARSHIPS 34A

clog the horizon, sailing straight for Troy.




34B SENTRY #2 34B

grabs a gong tapper and begins hammering the brass gong
hanging from the tower's lintel. Sentry #1 still stares
at the swarm of ships. No Trojan has ever seen such a
force.




34C SENTRIES 34C

in other guard towers hammer their warning gongs.




35 INT. HECTOR'S CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS 35

Hector sits on a rug by his bed, beside his wife
Andromache, watching his son.
The boy plays with the WOOD LION Hector carved on the
journey back from Sparta.

(CONTINUED)





43.





35 CONTINUED: 35




The city bells begin to ring.
Hector looks at his wife and walks to the balcony, where
he can see over the city walls to the Aegean.



He sees a thousand enemy sails. For a moment he stares at
the armada before hurrying back into the palace.




36 INT. PRIAM'S MEETING HALL - DAY 36

Priam kneels before a grand statue of Zeus in the great
hall. The Thunder God, his stone face a mask of rage,
thunderbolts clutched in his stone hands, stares down at
the old king.
Listening to the bells, Priam takes a deep breath and Looks up
into Zeus's eyes. The father of the gods stares back.




37 EXT. TROY - DAY 37

Panic in the streets of Troy. Merchants quickly pack away
their goods; mothers run into the streets looking for
their children; young men hurry to the armory.




38 EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY 38

A mad rush to get inside the safety of the city walls.




38A THE FARMER AND HIS SON 38A

hastily load provisions onto a wagon.




38B THE SHEPHERD 38B

hurries his herd toward the Trojan gates. He's joined by
hundreds of COUNTRY DWELLERS racing for sanctuary.




38C THE FISHERMEN 38C

row desperately for shore.




39 EXT. AEGEAN SEA - DAY 39

The armada draws closer to shore. One ship sails far
ahead of the rest. Its sail is black.




44.





40 EXT. ACHILLES' WARSHIP 40




Achilles' OARSMEN holler encouragement to their shipmates
and check to see that their boat is safely in the lead.
Achilles stands in the prow, scanning the Trojan shore.
Patroclus stands beside him. EUDORUS (40), a Myrmidon
lieutenant, approaches Achilles.

EUDORUS

Should we wait for the others?
Achilles marks the progress of the other ships. The
nearest is a quarter-mile back.
Those MYRMIDONS (Achilles' countrymen and comrades) not
rowing are suiting up for battle.

ACHILLES

They brought us here for a war,
didn't they?

EUDORUS

Yes, my lord. But Agamemnon --
Achilles stares at his officer until the man bows his
head.

ACHILLES

Do you fight for me, Eudorus? Or
Agamemnon?

EUDORUS

For you, my lord.

ACHILLES

Then fight for me. And let the
servants of Agamemnon fight for
him.




41 EXT. AGAMEMNON'S WARSHIP 41




Agamemnon, Nestor and Menelaus stand in the ship's prow.

MENELAUS

Whose ship is that?
Nestor shields his eyes from the sun and looks.
Nestor
Black sail. Achilles.
They watch Achilles' ship approach the beach.

(CONTINUED)





45.





41 CONTINUED: 41





AGAMEMNON

What is that fool doing? He's
going to take the beach of Troy
with fifty men?







42 EXT. TROJAN BEACH FORTIFICATIONS - DAY 42

The TROJAN ARCHERS check their catgut strings one last
time.




43 EXT. TROJAN ARMORY - DAY 43

Tecton dismounts at the door of the armory and runs
inside.




44 INT. TROJAN ARMORY - DAY 44

The cavernous building is crowded with armaments: racks
and racks of spears, swords, breastplates, and shields.
Hector watches as hundreds of male CITIZENS rush into the
armory and are issued weapons by TROJAN SOLDIERS. The
faces of the men reflect fear, excitement, and resolve.
Tecton approaches the prince and bows.

HECTOR

The Apollonian Guard?

TECTON

Waiting at the city gates.

HECTOR

Good.
Hector grabs the captain, LYSANDER, overseeing arms
distribution.

HECTOR

How long before the army is ready?

LSYANDER

Half our men are still coming in
from the countryside. We have to
arm them, we have to match them
with the right officers --

HECTOR

How long?

(CONTINUED)





46.





44 CONTINUED: 44





LSYANDER

(taking a deep breath)
Noon?




HECTOR

Make it sooner.
We've never seen the prince in martial mode before. He
looks different: eyes harder, mouth set and unsmiling.




HECTOR

I want patrols to scour the
countryside. Check every home,
every pasture. I want every Trojan
brought inside the walls. If they
can't walk, carry them.
Lysander bows his head. Hector walks swiftly away,
followed by Tecton. Lysander and the other Trojans watch
their prince with silent respect. There is no doubt who
leads the city.




45 EXT. ACHILLES' WARSHIP 45

Though the oarsmen continue to pull, everyone is now
armored. Achilles sees Patroclus, armed and ready to
fight.

ACHILLES

Where are you going?

PATROCLUS

To fight the Trojans.
Achilles shakes his head and takes Patroclus' spear.

ACHILLES

You're not ready.

PATROCLUS

I am ready. You taught me how to
fight.
Achilles rests his hand on the back of the boy's head.

ACHILLES

And you're a good student. But
you're not a Myrmidon yet.
He gestures to the Myrmidons around them.

(CONTINUED)





47.





45 CONTINUED: 45





ACHILLES

These are the fiercest soldiers in
Greece. Each of them has bled for
me before.
(beat)
I can't fight the Trojans if I'm
worrying about you, cousin. Guard
the ship.
Patroclus looks about the deck. The only unarmored man
aboard is an old, ONE-LEGGED COOK, mending spears.
Patroclus angrily strips off his breastplate and drops it
to the deck.




46 EXT. GATES OF TROY - DAY 46

Hector and Tecton gallop through the gate. They rein in
their horses and look over the elite Apollonian Guard,
eighty of Troy's finest soldiers, riding well-groomed,
snorting mounts.
When Hector speaks his voice is clear and steady.

HECTOR

All my life I've lived by a code,
and the code is simple.
(beat)
Honor the gods.
(beat)
Love your woman.
(beat)
And defend your country.
The men roar.

HECTOR

Troy is mother to us all. Fight
for her!
The men roar and thrust their spears into the air. Hector
leads the charge to the beach.




47 EXT. ACHILLES' WARSHIP - DAY 47

Achilles stands in his ship's bow, scanning the Trojan
dunes. He turns to face his men. He smiles.

ACHILLES

Myrmidons, we are brothers of the
sword. I'd rather fight alongside
you than any army of thousands.

(CONTINUED)





48.





47 CONTINUED: 47




The Myrmidons cheer. Achilles points his sword toward
Troy.

ACHILLES

Do you know what's waiting beyond
that beach?
(beat)
Immortality.
The Myrmidons raise their swords and cry out with one
voice.
The oarsmen give one last mighty pull on their oars and
beach the tar-caulked keel of the warship on Trojan sand.
Achilles puts on his helmet, grabs a coiled rope anchored
to a bronze cleat, and rappels down to the beach. The
Myrmidons follow him, tossing the ropes off the deck and
shimmying down to the beach.




48 EXT. TROJAN BEACH FORTIFICATIONS - CONTINUOUS 48

The archers behind the fortifications watch the Myrmidons
climb down from their ship.
Their CAPTAIN raises his hand: wait... wait...
CAPTAIN of archers
Now!
The archers rise and release their arrows.




49 EXT. TROJAN BEACH - CONTINUOUS 49

Hundreds of arrows whistle through the air. Four of the
Myrmidons climbing down cry out as arrows hit them; they
tumble into the sea. Other arrows rip into the packed
sand or zip harmlessly into the water.
The Myrmidons, clustered together and holding their
shields above their heads, look to Achilles. Achilles
makes a hand signal. Half his men split off and run to
the fortifications on their left, howling like wolves as
arrows rain down.




50 EXT. ACHILLES' WARSHIP - CONTINUOUS 50

Patroclus huddles under the railing beside the cook as
arrow after arrow screams by. A flaming arrow hits one of
the sails, and then another. The sails begin to burn.

(CONTINUED)





49.





50 CONTINUED: 50





ONE-LEGGED COOK

Help me get the sails down!
The cook limps over to the sails, ignoring the arrows that
rain around him. Patroclus takes a deep breath and runs
in a crouch to the cook. Together they lower the burning
sails.




51 EXT. TROJAN BEACH - DAY 51

Achilles sprints toward the archers, half his men behind
him. The archers let off another volley. More Myrmidons
fall.




52 EXT. AGAMEMNON'S SHIP - DAY 52

Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Nestor watch the battle from the
prow of their ship. They're still half a mile away.

AGAMEMNON

(in awe despite himself)
The man wants to die.
We hear SHOUTS of "Achilles!" from the other ships, a
great clamor as men bash the flats of their swords against
their shields and cheer their hero on.
Agamemnon hears the cheering. He grits his teeth and
glares at the distant Achilles. Nestor notices
Agamemnon's barely concealed fury. He speaks quietly, so
no one else can hear.

NESTOR

Give him his battle. You'll take
the war.

AGAMEMNON

Give him too many battles and the
men will forget who's king.




53 EXT. TROJAN PLAIN - DAY 53

Hector and his men near the high dunes, galloping at
breakneck speed.




54 EXT. TROJAN BEACH - CONTINUOUS 54

Achilles, three arrows in his shield, sprints across the
sands. Arrows tear through the air about him. No man
alive can run with Achilles.

(CONTINUED)





50.





54 CONTINUED: 54




He leaps over the fortification, sword flashing before his
feet ever touch the ground. The archers crumple to the
ground as Achilles' sword cuts through them.



In a moment the Myrmidons catch up to Achilles and lay
into the archers. Within seconds they massacre them.
Achilles turns and nods to the temple: the next target.
Eudorus gasps for air. Achilles regards him with
amusement.

ACHILLES

Breathe, my friend.
Eudorus takes two deep breaths. Achilles dashes for the
temple. His Myrmidons follow behind.




54A EXT. TEMPLE OF GOLD 54A

The archers at the temple unleash a fusillade of arrows.
Every few yards another Myrmidon falls. Several of them
are wounded, but if they're not dead they keep moving
forward.




55 EXT. AJAX'S SHIP - CONTINUOUS 55

Ajax's ship is one hundred yards from shore. Legendary
AJAX (30) -- a huge man, brutally muscled, head shaved,
face and body scarred -- stands in the prow, watching
Achilles.

AJAX

Look at him, hogging all the glory.
He walks over to his rowers, grabs an oarsmen on the front
bench under the armpits and tosses him away. Ajax sits,
grabs the oar handle, and begins rowing maniacally, the
veins in his massive arms bulging through the skin.

AJAX

Row, you lazy whores, row! Greeks
are dying!
The oarsmen redouble their efforts and the ship leaps over
the waves toward the shore.




56 EXT. TROJAN BEACH DUNES - DAY 56

Hector and the Apollonian Guards rein in their horses atop
the dunes. Hector sees Ajax's ship plowing into the
beach. Hundreds of other ships are close behind.




51.





56A EXT. BEACH DEFENCES 56A




The Trojan archers rain arrows down on Ajax's ship.
Several flaming arrows catch in the hull and begin to
burn.







56B EXT. TROJAN BEACH DUNES - DAY 56B


TECTON

We can't hold the beach, my prince.
Hector sees where Achilles and the Myrmidons are heading.

HECTOR

They're trying to take the temple.

TECTON

No believer would spill blood in
Apollo's temple.
Hector, increasingly uneasy, watches Achilles dodge
arrows. He turns and points to the spot where Ajax's ship
has landed.

HECTOR

(to an Apollonian officer)
The archers need help. Burn as
many ships as you can, but don't
sacrifice yourself. Bring the men
back to the city.
The OFFICER bows and leads 60 Guards to the
fortifications.

HECTOR

(to Tecton)
Follow me.
He gallops toward the temple, Tecton and his men behind
him.




57 EXT. TEMPLE OF APOLLO - DAY 57

Achilles, his shield now quilled with arrows, hurls his
spear. It catches the closest archer just above the
breastplate, tearing through the man's throat.
The archers near by throw down their bows and take up the
spears racked behind them.

(CONTINUED)





52.





57 CONTINUED: 57




But Achilles is already upon them, cutting them down with
ruthless precision. Every time his bronze sword flashes
through the air another Trojan falls, and Achilles keeps
sweeping through them, his face painted with Trojan blood.



The other Myrmidons are fighting beside their leader now,
and the Trojan archers are no match for the Myrmidons in
hand to hand combat. Soon the temple area belongs to the
Greeks.




58 EXT. AJAX'S SHIP - CONTINUOUS 58

Ajax and his men rappel down the ship's hull while arrows
rip into wood and flesh.
Ajax carries a giant battle-axe and a shield twice the
size of most men's.
When he reaches the surf he doesn't wait for his men; he
roars and charges at the archers in the dunes.




59 EXT. TEMPLE OF APOLLO - CONTINUOUS 59

Achilles, not even breathing hard after the slaughter,
removes his helmet and rests it on the wall. The
surviving Myrmidons search the grounds, dispatching any
dying Trojans.
Eudorus hurries over to Achilles' side.

EUDORUS

The temple is secure.

ACHILLES

The Sun God is the patron of Troy,
our enemy. Take whatever treasure
you can find.
The Myrmidons cheer and rush the temple.

EUDORUS

With your permission, my lord --

ACHILLES

Speak.
Eudorus gestures to the sun above them.

EUDORUS

Apollo sees everything. Perhaps
it's not wise to offend him.

(CONTINUED)





53.





59 CONTINUED: 59




Achilles nods and walks over to the towering statue of
Apollo in front of the temple.
Eudorus watches in horror as Achilles climbs atop the
statue and beheads Apollo with a swing of his sword.




60 EXT. TROJAN BEACH - CONTINUOUS 60

Hector and Tecton rein in their horses.

TECTON

He dares attack Apollo?
Hector spurs his horse and races toward the invaders,
followed by his twenty men.
The other sixty Apollonians gallop to Ajax's landing spot.




61 EXT. TEMPLE OF APOLLO - CONTINUOUS 61

Achilles gazes at the sky as if waiting for the sun to
blast him for blasphemy. Nothing happens.
Hearing hoofbeats, Achilles turns and spots Hector and his
men, two hundred yards away.

ACHILLES

(to Eudorus)
Get inside the temple, warn the
men.
Eudorus hurries to warn his comrades.

ACHILLES

Eudorus! Wait, wait a moment.
The Myrmidon captain stops. Achilles hefts a spear,
judges the distance, and throws.
One hundred yards from Achilles, the spearhead finds its
mark: Tecton's breastplate. Tecton is knocked from his
horse and skewered to the ground. He clutches at the
wooden shaft, not comprehending his fate.
Hector reins in his horse and stares at his fallen
captain. The man is finished. Hector turns to look at
Achilles.
Eudorus's eyes are wide. No other man alive could have
thrown a spear that far or that accurately.

(CONTINUED)





54.





61 CONTINUED: 61





ACHILLES

Now you can go.
Eudorus runs inside the temple.



Hector kicks his horse and gallops toward Achilles. His
men cry out and follow him. Achilles waits. Hector
raises his own spear. When he is fifty yards away, he
throws.
At the very last moment, Achilles bends his head to one
side, an almost lackadaisical movement. The spear rips
through the air occupied by Achilles' head half a moment
before.
Achilles smiles.
Hector draws his sword and charges, his men right behind
him. Achilles walks, with insulting insouciance, into the
temple.
A series of high steps lead inside the temple. Hector and
the Trojans dismount and proceed cautiously to the temple.




62 EXT. TROJAN BEACH - DAY 62

An arrow sticks out of Ajax's leg but he doesn't seem to
notice it. He bulls forward, giant shield held in front,
and slams into the Trojan ranks.
Where Achilles is all grace and speed, Ajax is brute
force. Parrying his blows is useless: his battle axe
splits bronze shields, bronze swords, bronze helmets.
The sound of his axe carving through a breastplate and the
man beneath the breastplate is like nothing else on earth.
As Ajax drops another Trojan, he lifts his ax to the
heavens.

AJAX

I am Ajax, breaker of stones,
widow-maker of Salamis! Look upon
me, Trojans, and despair!
The Apollonians join the fight against the Greeks. The
Guards are far better than the archers at hand-to-hand
combat.




55.





63 INT. TEMPLE OF APOLLO - DAY 63




Hector and his men enter the temple. Eyes adjusting to
the gloomy light, they gingerly advance. All is quiet.
Evidence of looting is everywhere.



At the back of the temple, stairs lead up to the altar
room. Hector walks toward the stairs. Blood trickles
down the steps. Hector raises his eyes.
Achilles stands atop the staircase, both hands wrapped
around the hilt of his sword, the sword point resting on
the top step. He stares down at Hector.
WAR CRIES explode through the temple. The Myrmidons burst
from their hiding places and rush the Trojans.
Hector is an obvious target. Two Myrmidons charge him,
their spears leveled.
If Achilles is the apotheosis of martial grace, Hector is
something altogether different -- a man of ordinary gifts
who has become an extraordinary warrior by dint of
experience, endless training, and powerful intelligence.
As the Myrmidons charge he waits. At the last moment he
swings his sword, slicing both spearheads from their
shafts. The Myrmidons stare at their decapitated spears.
Hector doesn't give them a chance to recover. He pounces,
sword flashing, and both men fall to the temple floor.
Achilles watches from the top step. Hector begins running
up the stairs. Achilles disappears inside the altar room.
Another Myrmidon bounds up the stairs after Hector. The
prince wheels about and kicks the Myrmidon in the
breastplate. The soldier tumbles down the steps. Hector
continues up the stairs.




64 EXT. TROJAN BEACH - DAY 64

As more Greek ships make landfall, the Apollonian officer
sees that their position is no longer defensible.

APOLLONIAN OFFICER

Back to the city! Back to the
city!
The Trojans begin to retreat. The archers still turn to
fire whenever there's time. Mounted Guards haul fleeing
archers onto their horses.




56.





65 INT. ALTAR ROOM - DAY 65




Hector finds the bodies of two PRIESTS. They lie on the
stone floor, limbs splayed, throats slit.
Sitting atop the altar, half-hidden by the shadows, is
Achilles. He's a terrible sight to behold, splattered
with blood, his bronze sword still dripping.

ACHILLES

You must be very brave or very
stupid, to come after me alone.
(beat)
You must be Hector.
Hector stares at Achilles a moment before kneeling by the
dead priests' bodies.

ACHILLES

A private audience with the prince
of Troy. I'm flattered. Do you
know who I am?

HECTOR

These priests weren't armed.
Hector closes the eyes of the murdered priests. Achilles
jumps down from the altar and looks at the bodies.

ACHILLES

I didn't kill them. Cutting old
men's throats -- there's no honor
in that.

HECTOR

Honor?
(spits)
Children and fools fight for honor.
I fight for my country.
Hector charges. Achilles dances back, staying just out of
reach. Achilles looks relaxed, almost playful.

HECTOR

Fight me.

ACHILLES

Why kill you, prince of Troy, with
no one here to see you fall?
Achilles backs out of an archway opening onto the bright
day outside. Hector follows.




57.





66 EXT. TEMPLE OF APOLLO - CONTINUOUS 66




Down at the beach, scores of Greek ships are on the sand.

HECTOR

Why did you come here?



Achilles gestures at the invading flotilla.

ACHILLES

They'll be talking about this war
for a thousand years.

HECTOR

In a thousand years even the dust
from our bones will be gone.




ACHILLES

Yes, prince. But our names will
remain.
A band of bloodied Myrmidons, led by Eudorus, emerges from
the temple. Hector, surrounded by enemies, warily backs
off.

EUDORUS

(to Achilles)
The Trojans are dead.

ACHILLES

Go home, prince. Drink some wine.
Make love to your wife. Tomorrow
we'll have our war.

HECTOR

You speak of war as if it's a game.
But how many wives wait at Troy's
gate for husbands they'll never see
again?

ACHILLES

Perhaps your brother can comfort
them. I hear he's good at charming
other men's wives.
Hector stares at Achilles and the Myrmidons for another
moment before walking away.

EUDORUS

Why did you let him go?

ACHILLES

It's too early in the day for
killing princes.




58.





67 EXT. TROJAN BEACH - DAY 67




Thousands of Greek soldiers on the beach watch as the
Trojans retreat, many of the archers riding behind their
Apollonian saviors.



Hector mounts his horse and rides back toward the city.
When the Greeks see Achilles climbing onto the temple's
roof they stare in awe, silent.
Achilles raises his bloodied bronze sword toward the sun.
The CLAMOR that erupts from the beach is deafening.
Thousands of men cheering and yelling his name: Achilles!
Achilles!




68 EXT. AGAMEMNON'S SHIP - DAY 68

Agamemnon, still aboard his ship, waits for the gangplank
to be lowered. His dark eyes are cold and hateful as he
listens to the men cheering.




69 EXT. BEACH ENCAMPMENT - LATER 69

Soldiers tug more and more ships onto the sand. From the
landed ships, primitive cranes are already beginning to
lower boxes of provisions, military materiel, and horses.
Achilles walks across the beach, carrying his helmet,
accepting the congratulations of the troops. Ajax,
shirtless, strides over.

AJAX

Achilles!
Achilles halts. For a moment there seems to be tension in
the air. Everyone watches. Ajax gives Achilles a bear
hug.

AJAX

You're as fearless as a god.

ACHILLES

The gods are immortal. What do
they have to fear?
Ajax laughs and releases Achilles.

AJAX

I'm honored to go to war with you.
Achilles nods and grips the big man's thick arm.

(CONTINUED)





59.





69 CONTINUED: 69





ACHILLES

I don't have to worry about my back
with you behind me.



Achilles continues walking. He sees Odysseus walking down
a gangplank from his ship to the beach.

ACHILLES

(calling out)
If you sailed any slower, the war
would be over.

ODYSSEUS

I don't mind missing the beginning
of the war -- as long as I'm here
at the end.
Achilles smiles and keeps walking. He arrives at the
Myrmidon's newly established base. Patroclus, Eudorus,
and the other surviving Myrmidons greet Achilles.

EUDORUS

We have something to show you.
Achilles follows Eudorus and the grinning Myrmidons to a
large tent twenty yards inland from their beached ship. A
few Myrmidons hammer the last tent pegs deep into the
sand.
Eudorus holds open the tent flap. Achilles looks at his
captain for a moment before entering the tent.




70 INT. ACHILLES' TENT - CONTINUOUS 70

No rugs have been laid down yet, so loot from the temple
has been stacked on the sand: gold chalices, black
amphorae, woven tapestries, goatskins filled with sacred
wine.
But Achilles does not look at this plunder. Bound by the
wrists to the center pole of the tent is Briseis, dressed
in her white robes.
Terrified but trying to retain her composure, she returns
Achilles' stare. Robes torn, hair disheveled, bleeding
from the lip: she still possesses her innate dignity and
strength. Something changes in Achilles' eyes when he
looks at her.

(CONTINUED)





60.





70 CONTINUED: 70





EUDORUS

The men found her hiding in the
temple. They thought she'd...
please you.




ACHILLES

Leave us.
Eudorus bows and exits.
Achilles pulls a small, sharp knife from his belt.
Briseis stares at the blade.
Achilles walks over to her and cuts the ropes that bind
her. She sits back, rubbing the chafed skin of her
wrists, still watching Achilles. He sheathes his knife.

ACHILLES

What's your name?
Briseis stares at him but doesn't answer. Achilles
becomes aware, for the first time, that he's covered in
blood. He wipes a hand across his face. Briseis looks
about the tent, as if searching for a way out.

ACHILLES

You're safer in this tent than out
there. Believe me.

BRISEIS

You killed Apollo's priests.

ACHILLES

I've killed men in five countries.
But never a priest.

BRISEIS

Then your men did.
(beat)
The Sun God will have his
vengeance.
Achilles removes his bronze grieves.

ACHILLES

What's he waiting for?
Briseis is stunned by such blunt blasphemy but she can't
take her eyes off him, because Achilles, after all, is
Achilles.

BRISEIS

The right time to strike.

(CONTINUED)





61.





70 CONTINUED: (2) 70




Achilles removes his breastplate.

ACHILLES

His priests are dead and his
acolyte's a captive.
(beat)
I think your god is afraid of me.
Briseis laughs bitterly.

BRISEIS

Afraid? Apollo is master of the
sun. He fears nothing.
Achilles nods and looks around the dark tent.

ACHILLES

Then where is he?
Briseis has no answer. Achilles smiles and she looks
away.
A bucket of hot water sits beside a washcloth. Achilles
wets the cloth and begins to scrub the blood from his
body.

BRISEIS

You're nothing but a killer. You
don't know anything about the gods.

ACHILLES

You haven't seen twenty summers and
you think you know my heart? I
know more about the gods than
priests could ever teach you.
(beat)
You're royalty, aren't you?
Briseis says nothing. Achilles smiles again.

ACHILLES

You've spent years talking down to
men, you must be royalty. What's
your name?
(beat)
Even the servants of Apollo have
names.

BRISEIS

Briseis.

(CONTINUED)





62.





70 CONTINUED: (3) 70





ACHILLES

Are you afraid, Briseis?
Briseis is quiet for a moment. She watches Achilles with
a mixture of fear and curiosity.

BRISEIS

Should I be?

EUDORUS (O.S.)

(calling from outside
the tent)
My lord --

ACHILLES

What is it?
Eudorus sticks his head inside the tent.

EUDORUS

King Agamemnon requests your
presence.

ACHILLES

Why would I want to look at him
when I can look at her?

EUDORUS

All the kings are there,
celebrating the victory.
Achilles stands.

ACHILLES

Give me a moment.
Eudorus withdraws. A long beat while Achilles studies
her.

ACHILLES

You don't need to fear me, girl.
You're the only Trojan who can say
that.




71 EXT. AGAMEMNON'S TENT - LATER 71

Two muscular GUARDS stand by the opening to Agamemnon's
tent. Achilles, wearing clean clothes, doesn't bother
waiting for the guards' permission to enter; he brushes
past them and through the tent flap.




63.





72 INT. AGAMEMNON'S TENT - CONTINUOUS 72




The largest tent on the beach, Agamemnon's command
quarters are a lush affair, decorated with the spoils of a
dozen wars. Several AIDES-DE-CAMP bustle in and out on
various errands. The Greek kings are here: Odysseus,
Ajax, Menelaus, etc.
Agamemnon sits on a heavy wood throne, garishly inlaid
with gold, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.
Triopas, king of Thessaly, kneels before Agamemnon.

TRIOPAS

You've won a great victory, King of
Kings. No one thought the Trojan
beach could be captured so easily.
He hands Agamemnon a ceremonial dagger with a gold hilt.

AGAMEMNON

A beautiful gift, Triopas. You
will be among the first to walk the
streets of Troy tomorrow.
Triopas stands and bows. Achilles has watched this
exchange with disbelief. He glances at Odysseus, who
shrugs. Now Nestor, king of the Pylians, kneels before
Agamemnon and hands him an urn decorated with painted
warriors.

NESTOR

My father Neleus had this urn made
to commemorate his victory at
Cyparisseis. I present it to you
in honor of an even more memorable
victory.

AGAMEMNON

Thank you, old friend. Tomorrow
we'll eat supper in the gardens of
Troy.
Nestor stands and bows. Agamemnon places the dagger and
urn beside a pile of other luxurious gifts. As the kings
file out of the tent, Odysseus clasps Achilles' shoulder
and speaks to him out of the others' earshot.

ODYSSEUS

War is young men dying and old men
talking. You know this. Ignore
the politics.

(CONTINUED)





64.





72 CONTINUED: 72




Odysseus exits the tent. Agamemnon deigns to notice
Achilles waiting for him.

AGAMEMNON

(to his aides)
Leave us.
The aides exit, leaving Achilles and Agamemnon alone.
Achilles eyes the pile of gifts.

ACHILLES

Apparently you've won some great
victory.

AGAMEMNON

Ah, perhaps you didn't notice. The
Trojan beach belonged to Priam in
the morning. It belongs to
Agamemnon in the afternoon.

ACHILLES

You can have the beach. I didn't
come here for sand.

AGAMEMNON

No, you came because you want your
name to last through the ages.
(beat)
A great victory was won today --
but the victory is not yours.
Kings did not kneel to Achilles.
Kings did not bring homage to
Achilles.

ACHILLES

The battle was won by soldiers.
The soldiers know who fought.

AGAMEMNON

History remembers the kings, not
the soldiers.
(beat)
Tomorrow we'll batter down the
gates of Troy. I'll build
monuments to victory on every
island of Greece, and carve
Agamemnon in the stone. My name
will last forever. Your name is
written in the sand, for the waves
to wash away.

ACHILLES

First you need the victory.

(CONTINUED)





65.





72 CONTINUED: (2) 72




Achilles turns to leave.

AGAMEMNON

One more thing, son of Peleus.



Achilles stops.

ACHILLES

I don't want to hear my father's
name from your mouth.

AGAMEMNON

The first pick of the battle's
spoils always goes to the
commander. Your men sacked the
temple of Apollo, yes?

ACHILLES

You want gold? Take it, it's my
gift, to honor your courage. Take
what you want.

AGAMEMNON

I already have. Aphareus! Haemon!
Two battle-scarred soldiers, APHAREUS and HAEMON, drag
Briseis into the tent. Her face is bruised -- clearly
she's been slapped around.

AGAMEMNON

The spoils of war. Tonight I'll
have her give me a bath. And then
-- who knows?
Achilles draws his sword.

ACHILLES

(to the soldiers)
I have no quarrel with you,
brothers. But you'll never see
home again if you don't let her go.
The soldiers hesitate, then draw their own swords.
Achilles advances on them.

AGAMEMNON

Guards!
The two sentries rush into the tent, swords drawn.
Achilles is surrounded. He raises his sword.

(CONTINUED)





66.





72 CONTINUED: (3) 72





BRISEIS

Stop!
Everyone stops and looks at the girl. Despite her torn
robes, her noble bearing and authoritative tone command
respect.

BRISEIS

Too many people have died today.
She looks at the various men in the room and finally
addresses Achilles.

BRISEIS

If killing is your only talent,
that's your curse. But I don't
want anyone dying for me.
Everyone is quiet until Agamemnon laughs.

AGAMEMNON

Mighty Achilles, silenced by a
slave girl.

ACHILLES

She's not a slave.

AGAMEMNON

She is now.
Achilles' eyes are flat and merciless.

ACHILLES

Before my time is done, King of
Kings, I will look down on your
corpse and smile.
Achilles turns and leaves the tent.




73 EXT. BEACH ENCAMPMENT - DAY 73

Most of the ships have been hauled onto the beach.
Hundreds of soldiers finish digging a long trench in the
sand. Pikes are anchored and other fortifications
constructed to protect the tents and ships from attack.




74 EXT. CITY OF TROY - DUSK 74

In the dying light, the Trojans prepare their city for
siege. Gray-bearded OFFICERS oversee the reinforcement of
the main gates. SOLDIERS haul thousands of arrows atop
the city walls.




67.





74A EXT. TEMPLE OF ZEUS 74A




A massive CONGREGATION at the Temple of Zeus kneels before
the Thunder God's statue while PRIESTS burn the BODIES of
fallen Trojan soldiers on tall PYRES. The WIDOWS keen.







75 EXT. BEACH ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT 75

The beach is lit by thousands of torches. The Greeks have
transformed the serene beach into a well-fortified camp.




76 INT. PRIAM'S MEETING HALL - NIGHT 76

Priam stands by the room's open archway. Beyond the city
he sees his beach occupied by the tremendous Greek force.
Hector, Paris, and several of Troy's leading GENERALS,
ARISTOCRATS and PRIESTS sit around the long table. One of
the generals, GLAUCUS (60), pounds the table with his
fist.

GLAUCUS

If they want a war, we'll give them
a war. I'd match the best of Troy
against the best of Greece any day.
VELIOR (40), a big-bellied nobleman, shakes his head.

VELIOR

The best of Greece outnumber the
best of Troy, two to one.

GLAUCUS

So what do you suggest, we
surrender the city, let the Greeks
slaughter our men and rape our
wives?
Velior looks at Paris until the prince returns his gaze.

VELIOR

I suggest diplomacy. The Greeks
came here for one thing. Let's be
honest, my friends. Trojans are
burning on the pyre right now
because of one youthful
indiscretion.
Paris looks away from Velior.

(CONTINUED)





68.





76 CONTINUED: 76





PRIAM

Glaucus, you've fought with me for
forty years. Can we win this war?




GLAUCUS

Our walls have never been breached.
Our archers are the best in the
world. And we have Hector. His
men would fight the shades of
Tartarus if he commanded. We can
win.
ARCHEPTOLEMUS (65), High Priest of Troy, wearing a long
white robe embroidered with gold thread, now raises his
voice.

ARCHEPTOLEMUS

I spoke with two farmers today.
They saw an eagle flying with a
serpent clutched in its talons.
(beat)
This is a sign from Apollo. We
will win a great victory tomorrow.
Troy is the eagle. The Greeks --

HECTOR

Bird signs! You want to plan our
strategy based on bird signs?

PRIAM

Hector. Show respect. When
Archeptolemus prophesied four years
of drought, we dug deeper wells.
The drought came and we had water
to drink. The high priest is a
servant of the gods.

HECTOR

And I'm a servant of Troy.
(beat)
I've always honored the gods,
father. You know that. But today
I fought with a Greek who
desecrated the statue of Apollo.
Apollo didn't strike the man down.
(beat)
The gods won't fight this war for
us.

(CONTINUED)





69.





76 CONTINUED: (2) 76





PARIS

There won't be a war.
(he stands)
This is not a conflict of nations.
It's a dispute between two men.
And I don't want to see another
Trojan die because of me.

PRIAM

Paris --

PARIS

Tomorrow morning I will challenge
Menelaus for the right to Helen.
The winner will take her home. The
loser will burn before nightfall.
Paris leaves the room. The others sit in stunned silence.

GLAUCUS

Does he have a chance?
Everyone looks at Hector, who meditates before answering.

HECTOR

I want our army outside the gate in
the morning. Agamemnon won't let
this war end with a duel.




77 EXT. PALACE GARDEN - NIGHT 77

Priam's gardens are wondrous: palm trees grow in the
courtyard; flowered vines climb the walls; Aeolian harps
chime in the breeze.
Priam and Paris sitting on a bench, facing a statue of
Aphrodite. The king holds a cloth-wrapped bundle in his
lap.

PARIS

Father, I... I'm sorry for the pain
I've caused you. I --

PRIAM

Do you love her?
Paris looks up at the statue of Aphrodite.

(CONTINUED)





70.





77 CONTINUED: 77





PARIS

You're a great king because you
love your country so much. Every
blade of grass, every grain of
sand, every rock in the river --
you love all of Troy.
(beat)
That's the way I love Helen.
Priam nods and contemplates the goddess of beauty.

PRIAM

I've fought many wars in my time.
Some were fought for land, some for
power, some for glory.
(beat)
I suppose fighting for love makes
more sense than all the rest.
Paris says nothing, but his father's words seem to relieve
a great burden from his shoulders.

PRIAM

But I won't be the one fighting.
He hands Paris the bundle. Paris, curious, begins
unwrapping the cloth. Finally the object is uncovered: a
shining sword, expertly forged, inscribed with the seal of
Troy.

PARIS

The Sword of Troy.

PRIAM

My father carried this sword, and
his father before him, all the way
back to the founding of Troy. The
history of our people was written
with this sword.
(beat)
Carry it with you tomorrow.
Paris holds the sword up and it glows in the moonlight.

PRIAM

The spirit of Troy is in that
sword. As long as a Trojan carries
it, our people have a future.




78 INT. HECTOR'S CHAMBER - NIGHT 78

Hector sits on the bed beside Andromache, who nurses their
baby boy.

(CONTINUED)





71.





78 CONTINUED: 78




Hector looks exhausted. He stares at his son.

HECTOR

He has no idea what's happening.




ANDROMACHE

Thank the gods.

HECTOR

The man who killed Tecton outside
Apollo's temple -- I've never seen
a spear thrown like that. An
impossible throw.
A long beat until Andromache breaks the silence.

ANDROMACHE

Briseis was in Apollo's temple this
morning.
Hector stares at Andromache.

HECTOR

Are you sure?
She nods, swallows hard, and closes her eyes. After a
moment Hector, his eyes full of sorrow, runs his hand
through her long hair.

HECTOR

I need to see my brother.

ANDROMACHE

Don't go.

HECTOR

I need to speak with him.




ANDROMACHE

I mean tomorrow. Don't go. You've
fought enough. Let other men go
out there.

HECTOR

You think I want to fight, my love?
I want to see my son grow tall. I
want to see the girls chasing after
him.

ANDROMACHE

Just like they chased his father?

(CONTINUED)





72.





78 CONTINUED: (2) 78





HECTOR

He's much more handsome than I ever
was.



For a moment they sit quietly, watching their son.

ANDROMACHE

I lost seven brothers in the
Spartan Wars. You'd think I'd be
good at losing by now.
(beat)
I can't lose you. I won't survive.
Hector stares at her for a beat before pulling her close
and kissing her. Everything is in this kiss, their entire
past. Andromache finally lets him go and Hector walks out
the door.




79 INT. PALACE HALL - LATER 79

As Hector walks to Paris's room, he spies someone in a
dark cloak sneaking down the candle-lit hallway -- an
assassin?

HECTOR

Wait!
The cloaked figure looks back and then runs. Hector
chases. The fugitive runs through the archway at the end
of the corridor and into the garden.




80 EXT. PALACE GARDEN - CONTINUOUS 80

Hector runs into the garden. He's far faster. He seizes
his quarry and pulls aside the fugitive's cowl. It's
Helen.

HECTOR

Helen?
By the light of the moon he examines her face. The stress
of recent weeks has taken its toll, but the shadows
beneath her eyes make her face more compelling than ever.
Embarrassed by the awkwardness of their position, Hector
stands and helps Helen to her feet.

HECTOR

What are you doing out --

(CONTINUED)





73.





80 CONTINUED: 80




Helen runs. Hector catches her again after a few strides.

HELEN

Let me go.




HECTOR

Where?
Helen struggles against Hector's grip, but it's useless.

HELEN

Let me go!
Helen, still struggling, begins to cry. Hector pulls her
to his chest. She cries for real now, violently sobbing,
her mouth muffled against Hector's body.

HECTOR

Shh. Shh.

HELEN

I saw them burn. I saw them
burning on the pyres.
(beat)
It's my fault.

HECTOR

No.

HELEN

It is. You know it is. All those
widows. I still hear them
screaming.
Helen takes a deep breath. She manages to control
herself.

HELEN

Their husbands died because I'm
here.
Hector can't deny this. Helen pushes herself out of his
grip.

HELEN

I'm going down to the ships.

HECTOR

No. You're not.

(CONTINUED)





74.





80 CONTINUED: (2) 80





HELEN

I'll give myself back to Menelaus.
He can do what he wants -- kill me,
make me his slave. Anything's
better than this.

HECTOR

It's too late for that. You think
Agamemnon cares about his brother's
marriage? This is about power.
Not love.

HELEN

Paris is going to fight in the
morning.

HECTOR

Yes.

HELEN

Menelaus will kill him.
Hector looks away, the words hurting him.

HELEN

I won't let that happen.

HECTOR

It's his decision.

HELEN

No. No. I can't ask anyone to
fight for me. I'm no longer queen
of Sparta.
Hector bows to Helen and kisses her hand.

HECTOR

You're a princess of Troy. And my
brother needs you tonight.
Helen stares at Hector in wonder. The words seem to
bolster her spirit, and she smiles though her eyes are
still wet. She nods, touches his arm and goes back to the
palace.




81 EXT. BEACH ENCAMPMENT - DAWN 81

Up and down the beach thousands of GREEK WARRIORS prepare
for battle. Despite their vast numbers, the men are oddly
quiet, each absorbed with his own thoughts.

(CONTINUED)





75.





81 CONTINUED: 81




CLOSE ON SEVERAL FACES -- these are men we haven't seen
before and probably won't see again, not kings or heroes
but ordinary men preparing for battle.



One warrior prays with eyes closed, mumbling the words,
kneeling in the sand. A second man inspects each
arrowhead in his quiver. A third sits in the sand,
snapping seashells.




82 INT. ACHILLES' TENT - LATER - DAY 82

Achilles sits cross-legged, arms held straight out in
front of him, palms up. His bronze sword is balanced on
his palms.
Patroclus and Eudorus, armored for battle, enter the tent.
Achilles does not look away from his blade. Though the
sword must be heavy, his arms do not tremble.

EUDORUS

My lord? The army is marching.

ACHILLES

Let them march. We stay.

EUDORUS

But the men --
Achilles turns to glare at him and Eudorus falters.

EUDORUS

-- the men are ready.

ACHILLES

Agamemnon spat on my honor
yesterday. I promised that girl
her safety and he stole her from
me. Let him fight the Trojans
today.
Eudorus and Patroclus exchange glances. Eudorus bows to
Achilles and exits the tent. Patroclus remains behind.

ACHILLES

When I was very small I saw my
father kill a man with his bare
hands.
Patroclus doesn't know how to respond to this.

(CONTINUED)





76.





82 CONTINUED: 82





ACHILLES

There's so much blood in a human
body.



Achilles flips the sword in the air and catches it by the
hilt. He examines the edge.

ACHILLES

You're ready to fight, Patroclus?

PATROCLUS

I am.
Achilles rests his sword on the ground. He stares at
Patroclus for a moment before speaking.

ACHILLES

You're ready to kill?
Patroclus hesitates.

ACHILLES

At night I see their faces. All
the men I've killed. I see them
standing on the far bank of the
River Styx.
(beat)
They're waiting for me.
Patroclus stands absolutely still. He's never heard his
cousin speak this way before.

ACHILLES

Some nights I walk among them.
When I wake I can still hear their
words.
(beat)
They say, "Welcome, brother."
Achilles inspects the knuckles of his fist.