Clash of the Titans Page #26

The prow of the galley cuts through ice. Rows of oars

slice the frigid water, pulling the boat through at a

steady clip.

INT. GALLEY - BELOW DECK - DAY

Dark, hot and loud: PIPES, STEAM, GEARS and PISTONS.

CHARON, a grizzled old sea captain, shovels coal and

slams the furnace closed. He walks past his "crew" --

MECHANICAL OARSMEN of tarnished brass, rowing tirelessly.

Charon dons furs, then climbs up to --

EXT. GALLEY - UPPER DECK - DAY

-- an icy, slick deck, snow. The Expedition huddle

around stoves, miserable. We HEAR the OARS BEAT, the

HULL GROAN, the ICE CRACKING. Charon CHORTLES, his VOICE

deeper than the sea --

CHARON:

Better stoke those fires, boys,

it's going to get cold soon.

INT. HOLD - DAY

In a small space among the stores, Vidalia circles

Perseus, whose eyes are shut. Suddenly, she sweeps his

legs out. He lands hard.

VIDALIA:

She's got a tail and she'll use it

just like that.

Perseus opens his eyes.

VIDALIA:

Keep your eyes shut! Open them

with Medusa and it will be your

last look.

PERSEUS:

(CLOSES EYES)

You're enjoying this too much.

(CONTINUED)

84.

CONTINUED:

He can't see her smile. Or that she regards him with

something hotter than amusement. She tries to punch him,

but he blocks it.

VIDALIA:

Good!

Pleased, he doesn't sense her right cross, which knocks

him down.

VIDALIA:

Do you think the Gorgon will hit

once and then surrender her head?

He gets up, eyes closed, and resumes the defensive

position, turning as she moves around him.

VIDALIA:

Listen... you will hear her

muscles coil. Feel her hunger in

your gut. Ask, how will she feed

it?

PERSEUS:

I wish it, but I can't perceive

the world that way.

VIDALIA:

You can. You're the son of a God.

PERSEUS:

Nothing I have done has convinced

me of that.

VIDALIA:

You do not see yourself clearly

yet. In time, your actions in

crisis will sharpen your view.

Her faith touches him deeply. She resumes the lesson:

VIDALIA:

You can do those things, Perseus,

and much more.

He shadows her movements more closely, back and forth.

VIDALIA:

We think a room is silent until

someone points out the wind. Then

the wind is all we hear.

She strikes. He dodges and locks her neck. Pleased, she

flips him.

(CONTINUED)

85.

CONTINUED:

Surprisingly, he lands on his feet, and immediately

sweeps her legs. She starts to fall backwards, but --

SLOW MOTION as Perseus dives forward and cradles her

gently as they both fall to the floor. A move beyond

human. She looks up at his closed eyes, worried. Their

lips are inches apart. REGULAR SPEED --

PERSEUS:

I'm beginning to hear the wind.

(senses something,

CONFUSED)

Vidalia... why are you afraid?

She kisses him, deeply. He returns it. Suddenly, she

rolls free and stands up, turning away from him.

PERSEUS:

Wait...

She is already climbing the ladder. She stops for only a

MOMENT --

VIDALIA:

You've learned enough for now.

EXT. GALLEY - UPPER DECK - DAY

Spyros is at the rail, looking over the ocean of ice.

Perseus, troubled, arrives. Spyros looks at him closely.

PERSEUS:

What?

SPYROS:

Nothing.

PERSEUS:

What do you see?

SPYROS:

A look I know well.

PERSEUS:

From me?

SPYROS:

Never before.

PERSEUS:

Then where?

Spyros smiles, puts his huge, calloused hand on Perseus'

shoulder.

(CONTINUED)

86.

CONTINUED:

SPYROS:

In my own mirror, son.

PERSEUS:

When does it go away?

SPYROS:

If we're lucky... never.

EXT. COAST OF TARTAROS - DAY

A landscape of volcanic rock. Lava pouring into the sea

raises VEILS OF STEAM, through which the Expedition

disembarks from the galley.

SUPERIMPOSE:
COAST OF TARTAROS... 10 DAYS REMAINING

EXT. TARTAROS - DAY

The Expedition crosses the black terrain, lava vents here

or there.

EXT. TEMPLE OF TARTAROS - LAVA FIELD - DAY

In the distance, dark ruins -- an ominous tilted facade,

half-sunk in the dried lava flow.

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