Clash of the Titans Page #8

Peshet faces the Queen.

PESHET:

Is she not in her chambers, ma'am?

CASSIOPEIA:

She is not. You are expected to

know her --

A SQUEAL and WHISPERING from the closet stops Cassiopeia.

She throws a perturbed glance at the door. Peshet looks

guilty.

CASSIOPEIA:

(LOUDLY)

Tell the Princess -- should you

find her -- her father and I want

to see her at once.

She stalks away. Urgently, through the door --

PESHET:

Princess, it's the King as well!

INT. BASILICA - ROYAL PARLOR - DAY

A lavish room. Cassiopeia and Kepheus sit in golden

chairs, looking off. Andromeda ENTERS FRAME, furious.

with conviction --

ANDROMEDA:

To please you, I would submit to

such a marriage... except I would

rather die; Please let me know

you're serious about this perverse

plan so I can make arrangements to

kill myself.

(CONTINUED)

25.

CONTINUED:

She stomps out. Their gaze follows until she's gone.

FINALLY:

KEPHEUS:

It will take more than half-a-God

to handle her.

CASSIOPEIA:

She'll be a great ruler one day.

EXT. SMALL SAILBOAT (COAST OF JOPPA) - DAY

Perseus can't take his eyes off the Wilting Girl, who

steers. She tries not to be self-conscious; she would

blush were she not so pale.

WILTING GIRL:

You're looking in the wrong

direction.

PERSEUS:

I don't think so.

WILTING GIRL:

Perhaps you should give some

thought to your immediate future.

PERSEUS:

(laughs, flirtatious)

That's what I'm doing.

WILTING GIRL:

Maybe you should take another

look...

She indicates the view behind him. Perseus turns, jaw

dropping.

HIS POV:

A breathtaking view of Joppa -- a city in two parts.

At sea level, tangled hovels, boats, and docks crowd the

working-class area -- the LOWER WHARF.

Above, twisting stone stairs climb the cliffs to the

ACROPOLIS with its gleaming villas, temples, statues, and

colonnaded towers, hugging the precipice.

EXT. STREETS OF JOPPA - DAY

(CONTINUED)

26.

CONTINUED:

The Wilting Girl leads Perseus through the city. He's

never seen anything like it. He rubbernecks, awestruck

as he passes a BLACKSMITH who takes a dragon skin from

the coals and fashions armor by pounding the white-hot

scales over a mold.

WILTING GIRL:

All the goods, armies, and culture

of Man's dominion flow through

this port. He who reigns in

Joppa, rules the world.

Amidst the exotic chaos, Perseus is struck by the

homeless refugees on the street and the ruins of once-

proud buildings.

PERSEUS:

The war has badly scarred this

place.

WILTING GIRL:

It is the war you have the power

to end.

He throws her an angry look, grim.

PERSEUS:

Don't joke about such things. I'd

be useless before such a huge

responsibility.

WILTING GIRL:

Perhaps you would be...

(TO HERSELF)

... as you are now.

They pass an evangelist (FANTASOS) haranguing a crowd.

FANTASOS:

(MID-SPEECH)

-- one true God is not Zeus but

she called the Deep -- Tiamat!

(quoting from his

GOSPEL)

'Before the first dawn, the eyes

of the Deep watched the earth.'

(to the crowd)

Bow down to the Goddess of Chaos

or know despair, for Tiamat will

rule the heavens and the earth.

Perseus is mystified by this talk. He turns to Vidalia

for explanation, but she seems disturbed by the preacher L

and does not return Perseus' gaze.

(CONTINUED)

27.

CONTINUED:

Perseus and Vidalia round a corner and see the regal

Basilica. WORKMEN hang banners and decorations,

preparing for a big event.

PERSEUS:

What are they celebrating?

WILTING GIRL:

You.

INT. BASILICA - ROYAL PARLOR -.DAY

Cassiopeia hurries down a corridor to the parlor. WE

FOLLOW to find:

Kepheus speaking sternly to Perseus, before him.

KEPHEUS:

. before I am a king or a

peacemaker, I am a father. Do you

know what that means?

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