Clash of the Titans Page #5

KEPHEUS:

Where is the lucky young suitor?

EXT. UNDERWATER (THE AEGEAN SEA) - DAY

Perfectly blue, sunlight shafting from the surface.

A GREAT WHITE SHARK appears, ensnared in a fisherman's

net. Panicked, the shark is diving as fast as it can.

As the net passes we see --

ANTEROS, a hapless young fisherman, his legs entangled in

the net, desperately trying to hold his breath. When

they have disappeared, we see a FIGURE appear through the

blue in pursuit. As he passes, we get our first look

AT --

PERSEUS, 25, wiry, bronzed from the sun, a stubbled jaw,

a knife in his teeth. He swims with the power and grace

of a porpoise -- beyond the ability of any normal man.

EXT. SEA FLOOR - DAY

The shark thrashes about, jaws snapping close to Anteros.

(CONTINUED)

14.

CONTINUED:

Perseus swims INTO VIEW and uses his knife to cut the net

near the shark's snout. The shark tries to swim through

the hole, but instead drags the net upwards. Perseus

hangs on.

One more slice and the shark zooms out of the net,

bumping the young hero as it swims away. Perseus pulls

Anteros toward the surface.

EXT. FISHING TRAWLER - DAY

A CREW of FISHERMEN wait desperately at the rail.

SPYROS, the oldest and toughest, watches in agony.

Perseus breaks the surface, gasping, his lifeless friend

in his arms. Five crewmen dive in to help, but Perseus

is mad with despair. They have to pull him away.

Spyros watches sadly. But also, relieved to see the one

survivor.

EXT. FISHING TRAWLER - DAY

Spyros makes his way to the bow, where Perseus sits

alone, downcast, in pain. Spyros watches in silence.

Then, gruffly --

SPYROS:

Your grieving does Anteros no

good. It comforts only you.

PERSEUS:

It's my fault he's gone.

SPYROS:

He was careless with the net.

Perseus gives him a hard look.

PERSEUS:

So it's his fault. Not mine, not

fate, not the Gods?

SPYROS:

(DISDAINFULLY)

The Gods delude themselves about

their power and watch in envy

while we act. We make our own

history.

(CONTINUED)

15.

CONTINUED:

PERSEUS:

(breaks down, crying)

Now my history is I let my friend

die in my arms. I made it back,

why couldn't he?

SPYROS:

What you do, no other man can do.

Have you not noticed?

PERSEUS:

To what purpose? I failed him.

SPYROS:

(SCOFFS)

Purpose! Looking for purpose is

what ensnares men in the

superstition of the Gods, as

surely as your friend was caught

in that net. And all the

searching leads down to the same

place.

The trawler is approaching its home island, Seriphos.

Perseus looks off at the rocky coast. Collects himself,

QUIETLY --

PERSEUS:

You always say that my abilities

are greater than other men's. But

they were not enough to save him.

SPYROS:

You are still a man, confined by

man's limits. You are just as

likely to fail as succeed.

PERSEUS:

How is that greater than other

men?

SPYROS:

Ordinary men fail most of the

time.

The trawler rounds a point on the island.

Perseus spies a beautiful girl on the cliff. A closer

LOOK --

A huntress; a pagan leather bandeau hugs her lithe

figure. Flowers in her golden hair -- wilted dahlias.

Young yet ancient. THE WILTING GIRL.

(CONTINUED)

16.

CONTINUED:

She watches Perseus intently as the boat passes. He

turns to see if Spyros or his friends have seen her, but

no one has. When he looks back, she's gone.

EXT. PROMONTORY NEAR THE HOME OF SPYROS - MAGIC HOUR

Perseus sits looking sadly at the sea that killed his

friend. TEKLA, 14, Perseus' adoptive sister, runs up

from the modest stone dwelling. She sees his mood and

touches his arm gently.

TEKLA:

Mother wants you to come in for

supper.

(as he is

UNRESPONSIVE)

Perseus, why are you so sad?

This breaks his spell. He looks at Tekla warmly, gets up

and puts a reassuring arm around her shoulders as they

head inside.

INT. HOME OF SPYROS - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Perseus eats with his adoptive family: Spyros, his wife

MARMARA, and Tekla. Spyros is patient and twinkly with

his wife though he disagrees with her beliefs.

TEKLA:

I still don't understand.

SPYROS:

Your mother can explain. She

believes everything has an

explanation, even if we have to

make it up.

(OFF MARMARA'S

WARNING LOOK)

It's one of the reasons I love

you, Marmara.

TEKLA:

Tell me! Why is there war between

Man and the Gods?

Marmara and Tekla continue to bring out the food.

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