Adventure Story Page #5

---

on the general situation.

On the left wing, Parmenion and Cleitus.

In the centre, Ptolemy and Perdiccas.

Myself and Hephaestion on the right.

One mile away,

in front of the village of Gaugamela,

the enemy has deployed an army

roughly twice the size of the one

he used against us at Issus.

It could have been four times as large,

but our crossing of the desert

in summer has surprised him.

Nevertheless we are faced by

nearly a quarter of a million men.

Here, in the heart of Asia, there can

be no question now of evading battle.

We must destroy that army

or that army will destroy us.

Our objective will be

the death or capture of

the enemy commander in chief.

Are there any comments?

Well, I'm not going to criticise

your plan, sir.

I think against an army outnumbering us

by nearly five to one,

it is the best of its kind

that can be devised.

-But I would suggest another.

-Yes, what is that?

Our troops are trained

in night fighting.

-Why not attack now?

-No, this is what Darius is expecting.

Let the Persians

stand to arms all night.

We attack in the morning.

Are there any other comments?

Hmm?

-Ptolemy?

-Sir?

If anything should happen to me,

you will take over the special duties

assigned to Parmenion

who, of course,

will automatically assume

the responsibility

of commander-in-chief.

And after you, Perdiccas.

-I understand.

-Yes, sir.

Gentlemen, no doubt you wish to issue

your orders for tomorrow.

Mazeres!

Might it be an idea to take a couple

of patrols out into the Persian lines?

I could easily organise

a bit of a panic out there.

Yes, organise that, Philotas,

but don't go yourself.

I don't want you a casualty

before the battle.

I wouldn't have suggested it

if I thought you'd do that to me.

One word more.

This is our last battle.

If we win it, the world is ours.

If we lose it, we're dead.

I don't think I need say any more.

Goodnight, gentlemen,

a pleasant rest till dawn.

-Goodnight.

-Goodnight, sir.

Hephaestion, are you ready

for another all-night vigil?

Of course.

I wonder how many hours of sleep

I've robbed you of in your lifetime?

You've robbed me of nothing, Alexander.

Good. Come back then. I shall need you.

Alexander,

take proper care of yourself tomorrow.

Don't go charging chariots like you did

at the Granicus.

Because you won't be on my wing to save

my life, Father Cleitus?

It's not you I'm thinking about,

it's us.

If we lose you here

in the middle of Asia,

I don't know how we'll find

our way back home to Greece.

-Goodnight.

-Goodnight, Cleitus.

Take care of yourself.

-Yes?

-Shall I prepare Your Majesty's bed?

No, I shall remain in here.

Why are my hands shaking?

God, God, take this fear from me.

What is it I fear?

Capture? Wounding?

Pain? Death?

I've never feared them before,

why should I fear them now?

It's the thought of losing my battle,

is that it?

I can't lose it, I'm invincible.

Is it the thought of wining my battle,

is that it, God?

If it is, then my fear is nothing.

Tomorrow, I'm master of the world,

the mortal partner of the Gods.

Or I'm dead.

Either way, there is nothing to fear.

So take this agony from me.

Father, Father Philip,

I invoke you then,

look down at me now and sneer.

Say, "What a weak, effeminate coward

I have for a son."

Say it, Father!

You said it often enough

in your lifetime.

Say it now and help me

by making me angry!

Thank you, dear Father.

I am very grateful.

Sir?

I gave orders I was not to be disturbed.

I have two things, sir,

and they both concern your life.

Yes?

Well, the first is this,

our agents report that

Darius has made a selection

of his special horse guards,

the so-called Immortals,

whose single aim in the battle tomorrow

will be to cut their way through

to wherever you may be,

and hack you down

at whatever charge to themselves.

Each man has taken a separate vow

to kill you or die.

Then I suppose they'll die,

which, for Immortals, should

prove an interesting experience.

I must beg of you, sir,

to take the threat seriously.

I would suggest that tomorrow

you neither wear your red cloak

nor ride Bucephalus.

-They make you so conspicuous.

-Well, exactly.

And so if I might suggest, sir,

perhaps someone else might...

And who do you suggest?

-Well, if I was to shave my beard off...

-(LAUGHING)

Oh, no.

You're still 40 years too old

and much too ugly.

Besides, old Bucephalus

would never forgive me

for allowing someone else

to ride him into battle.

No, I appreciate the offer, Parmenion.

-What was the other thing?

-That's more serious, sir.

A plot against your life,

here in the camp.

Go on.

A Persian spy, whom we caught yesterday,

confessed under torture

that his mission was to achieve

your death by poison.

And how was he going to do that?

-Through an agent.

-What agent?

The Queen Mother of Persia.

(LAUGHING) Poor man.

What a forlorn mission they gave him.

He was on his way back to the Persian

camp when they caught him.

The Queen Mother had promised to do

what he asked.

I realise that this has come

as a great shock to you, sir.

How was it to be done?

I understand she's in the habit

of preparing you

some kind of drink each evening,

isn't she?

Yes.

You may have noticed that

she hasn't done so tonight.

-You haven't?

-No.

I've left her for you to deal with.

And you haven't said

anything to her at all?

No, sir. I merely had the sentry

prevent her bringing you the drink

a few minutes ago.

I said you were still in council.

She was angry I may say.

She said it would get cold.

Mazeres.

Yes, master?

Tell the Queen Mother

I'm now ready for my drink.

-I'm very sorry, sir, I realise...

-Yes, thank you, Parmenion.

You did your duty.

Leave me now, will you?

Yes, sir.

Here's a verbatim account

of the interrogation,

if you should wish

to confront her with it.

Go now, please.

Perhaps, as a precaution, we might have

the sentries inside the tent?

No. Good night, Parmenion. Until dawn.

Her Majesty awaits your pleasure.

Let her pass the guards

and have the curtains drawn.

-Ah. Then it didn't get cold.

-I kept it warm.

-Have you seen the Persian camp fires?

-Yes.

Thousands of them.

Beautiful sight, isn't it?

Beautiful.

Sit down, will you?

-You read Greek, don't you?

-You know I do.

Read that, will you? To yourself,

while I drink this.

Alexander, that was

a foolish thing to do.

-Why?

-This report might have been true.

It might.

You have no right

to take risks like this.

-Did you see this man?

-Yes.

-Did he ask you to poison me?

-Yes.

And you said you would?

If I hadn't, he would have

asked someone else.

I'm not the only Persian in your camp.

Why didn't you try to kill me?

Tomorrow, I'm going

to try to kill your son.

Alexander, why must you fight him?

He's less than a mile away out there.

I could go to him now,

I could offer him peace.

He would be a fool to accept it.

He would from me.

I'll go Alexander, I'll go gladly,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes