Clash of the Titans Page #16

EXT. THE VIA DAHLIA - NIGHT

The sound of that same DISTANT THUNDER as the Expedition

follows the road. To the south behind them, LIGHTNING

FLASHES over faraway Joppa.

SUPERIMPOSE:
THE VIA DAHLIA, NORTH OF JOPPA...

28 DAYS REMAINING

Perseus and the Wilting Girl ride side by side. Perseus

looks back at the distant storm.

PERSEUS:

Joppa is pummelled by the Dark

Goddess.

WILTING GIRL:

(WITHOUT LOOKING)

It will not stop. Tiamat knows no

mercy.

The moonlight illuminates a crumbling, limestone arch on

which time-worn letters read: "VIA DAHLIA."

PERSEUS:

By what name may mortals call you?

WILTING GIRL:

I have no name.

PERSEUS:

Who do your worshippers pray to?

WILTING GIRL:

I can't remember.

PERSEUS:

Perhaps that is why they are

falling in number?

(CONTINUED)

52.

CONTINUED:

The Wilting Girl flinches, and Perseus feels guilty about

his jest.

PERSEUS:

I have to call you something...

(THINKING)

Since we're naming you on this

road, what about 'Via Dahlia'?

She gives him a sharp look. Is he mocking her? He's

defensive.

PERSEUS:

That's a pretty name. Wait,

better yet -- 'Vidalia'? How's

that... 'Vidalia'? That's more

than pretty, beautiful really,

just as you are.

She is pleased, self-conscious, concentrating on the road

ahead.

PERSEUS:

You don't like it?

(as she murmurs)

What's that? I missed it --

WILTING GIRL:

(just loud enough to

HEAR)

I do not object.

She picks up the pace, moving her horse a little ahead.

He smiles.

EXT. FOREST CLEARING (VIA DAHLIA) - NIGHT

They've camped for the night in a clearing. A fire

burns, food cooks.

Mongke and Tamburlane emerge from the woods with armfuls

of timber and kindling. Draco glances up from striking

his flintstone. Gruffly --

DRACO:

More.

The Mongols stare -- either not comprehending or ready to

fight.

DRACO:

It must last all night. Get some

more.

(CONTINUED)

53.

CONTINUED:

PERSEUS:

(SUDDENLY BETWEEN

THEM)

I'll find some more.

ABAS:

Commander, I'll get some, too.

Perseus and Abas head off into the woods in different

directions.

EXT. VIA DAHLIA WOODS - NIGHT

Perseus hacks branches and picks up deadwood. He slashes

at a tree -- TING! Under the vines is a stone column.

He climbs mossy steps.

EXT. ABANDONED BATH (THERMAE) - NIGHT

The ruins of a public bath, its marble pool fed by a

stream.

Perseus sees Vidalia on the far side, her back turned.

Perseus freezes as she drops her garment. He peers

through the vines.

HIS POV:

The leaves offer tantalizing cover to her naked body.

She dives in with a quiet SPLASH.

BACK TO SCENE:

PERSEUS:

Now is when an honorable man would

turn around and walk away...

(DOESN'T MOVE)

. but they say I am not really a

man.

Vidalia surfaces and drifts on her back, looking sadly

into the sky.

Perseus fixates on the sadness in her eyes. His

expression changes, and the tenor of this stolen vigil is

altered.

RAINDROPS fall as the SKY OPENS and a CLOUDBURST pelts

the pool. Vidalia opens her lips to taste the rain and

smiles. LIGHTNING.

(CONTINUED)

54.

CONTINUED:

Perseus' HEART POUNDS in his ears as he watches. KRA-

KOOM! The ROLLING THUNDER hits exactly on his

heartbeat -- BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Vidalia instantly knows he is nearby. She looks around

quickly and huddles in the water.

Perseus retreats. After a few yards, he stops, face

flushed with the awareness of a whole new dilemma.

PERSEUS:

Vidalia...

EXT. ELSEWHERE IN THE VIA DAHLIA WOODS - NIGHT

Abas uses his sword to HACK at dried wood. He bends to

pick up a branch when he HEARS the CRACK of wood. He

whirls, sword at ready. But there is nothing there.

Embarrassed, he picks up the firewood. Now he HEARS

something unidentifiable -- is that BREATHING? Spooked,

he turns to head back to camp --

A DARK FIGURE is standing behind him, larger than a man,

grotesquely misshapen. Abas raises his sword, but a

twisted PAW swats it away with a ROAR. Abas tries to

raise the sword again and realizes his arm is gone. He

looks up in horror as the Creature envelops him --

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