Clash of the Titans Page #12

(CONTINUED)

38.

CONTINUED:

TIAMAT (V.0.)

What form, dear Set? Why this...

In the half-light appears the huge, deformed changeling:

KALIBOS.

TIAMAT (V.O.)

(to the monster)

My Servant, your lonely solitude

now ends... It's time to leave.

EXT. THE BASILICA - GARDEN MAZE - SUNRISE

Perseus wakes on the bed of foliage, looks around.

Andromeda is gone. He thinks, smiles. Then he remembers

his situation. The smile fades.

INT. THE BASILICA - GREAT HALL - EVENING

Perseus, in a white tunic and polished ceremonial armor,

moves through the crowd of REVELERS. The grandiose room

is hemmed by columns and statues. The royal family sits

on the dais. Andromeda motions Perseus up beside her.

ANDROMEDA:

You're late.

PERSEUS:

I didn't know how to get this

outfit on.

ANDROMEDA:

I want to thank you for seeing me

home. I was so flushed with wine

I can't recall much of the

evening.

Perseus half smiles and turns to the crowd.

PERSEUS:

Me either.

PERSEUS' POV - THE WILTING GIRL

watches from the back of the hall. When they make eye

contact, she quickly looks away.

BACK TO SCENE:

Perseus is surprised by his feelings. Andromeda has seen

her, too. He has a guilty moment and averts his eyes.

(CONTINUED)

39.

CONTINUED:

ANDROMEDA:

At what point do you plan to tell

them we're not getting married?

PERSEUS:

Tell who?

ANDROMEDA:

(a sweeping gesture)

Them...

FROM BEHIND THEM

We see the ecstatic crowd of thousands, all celebrating

the union. MUSIC STOPS and the crowd begins to settle.

ROYAL HERALD (0.5.)

The Queen will speak!

The room QUIETS as Cassiopeia moves front-and-center of

the dais with a cup of wine, not her first.

CASSIOPEIA:

I won't be long-winded. You all

know I am a modest person, no

matter my rank.

Some of the crowd react silently. Andromeda watches her

mother with trepidation, but not as much as Kepheus,

watching from his throne.

CASSIOPEIA:

(WITH EDGE)

This is not a celebration of a

betrothal...

(as Kepheus is on

ALERT)

not the celebration of the

happiness of two parents, or of

our good people.

Mild confusion in the hall, concern from the Royal

Entourage.

CASSIOPEIA:

This union represents new hope for

a lasting peace! That is the only

cause for celebration.

The crowd reacts with exclamations and applause. Amoun

wills her to stop. Cassiopeia takes another drink, looks

over at the Princess.

(CONTINUED)

40.

CONTINUED:

CASSIOPEIA:

(MOIST-EYED)

My sweet Andromeda... grown into a

fine young woman, confident and

sure. Look at her! Isn't she

beautiful?

Her subjects agree loudly. Andromeda wishes this would

end. Cassiopeia raises her glass.

CASSIOPEIA:

To my beautiful daughter... more

beautiful than all the women of

Joppa. More beautiful than the

Gardens of Nineveh...

Kepheus is about to pull her away. She throws him a

spiteful glance.

CASSIOPEIA:

More beautiful than the turquoise

ocean and its sublime Goddess of

the Deep... Tiamat herself! My

daughter is a beauty even a

Goddess must envy.

Amoun reacts in dismay. A distressed MURMUR roils the

crowd. Andromeda goes to her mother.

CASSIOPEIA:

I've gone on too long --

She stops with a look of sudden dread. The Great Hall

DARKENS. The torch flames TURN BLACK. The temperature

drops. The statues lining the hall shut their eyes and

the doors burst open.

TIAMAT, QUEEN OF THE DEEP, floats forward, parting the

terrified celebrants. Perseus sees his first Olympian.

Tiamat arrives at the dais. Cassiopeia drops to her

knees.

TIAMAT:

You have blasphemed powers beyond

understanding... You, a stupid

braying goat before the

unfathomable galaxies. You dare

put this frivolous, scrawny

slut...

(AS ANDROMEDA

FLINCHES)

above the infinite Goddess of

the Deep!

(CONTINUED)

41.

CONTINUED:

Tiamat tears off her cloak and STANDS NAKED. Her body,

made from the elements of the sea, is magnificent -- sexy

and terrifying.

Fantasos, the priest who proselytizes for Tiamat in the

streets, is in the throng. His reaction is a mix of

religious ecstasy and outright lust.

The celebrants shield their eyes, but Cassiopeia can't.

She crumples, aging before our eyes. Every word shakes

her frame --

TIAMAT:

Look upon the sublime and know

your error. You'll not blink.

Tell me now, mortal, how bright

your preening urchin shines?

No one dare look long at the Goddess. No one but

Perseus. Tiamat notices Perseus... and his boldness.

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