Helen of Troy Page #6

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Her weaving ruse will only last so long.

[Laughter] And 10 years is too long.

We must finish this war...

or go home.

So we shall.|[Menelaus] So we shall what?

Fight... or retreat?

Both.

When the outcome of Troy|is determined, I wish to know it.

You seem sad.

What?

A message.

Agamemnon proposes peace.

At what price?

[Agamemnon] This war has gone on too long.

I propose...

we negotiate an end to it.

On what terms?

Paris fights Menelaus.

Single combat.

Whoever wins...

claims Helen.

Helen belongs to Troy.

No matter who wins,

we will leave.

If you speak for Menelaus,|it's you I should fight.

My brother?

I challenge you, Paris,

to the death...

for my wife!

And for my honor.

- Your weapon?|- Javelin.

I accept.

These belonged to Atreus.

It is he you avenge today.

Can you envision a future...

where some feckless Trojan...

leaps up onto the tomb|of the great Menelaus...

and proudly recounts this day?

Can you see that day, my brother?

Can you even imagine it?

[Cheering, Shouting]

[Cheering Grows Louder]

[Cheering]

[Cheering]

Oh. Aah.

[Cheering]

[Cheering]

[Panting]

[Sniffing]

[Cheering]

[Ferocious Yell]

[Yells, Grunts]

[Jug Shatters]|[Men Cheering]

Revenge the house of Atreus!

Die, Trojan.

Die!

[Menelaus Grunts]

[Gagging]

[Gasping, Panting]

[Coughing]

[Panting, Grunting]

The gods must be on your side.

[Panting]|I could have told you that.

[Sniffs]

I know this substance.

How long have I got?

The Thracians use it to hunt monkeys.

It's not lethal, just--|Unfair.

I swear I did not know.

Tell me something.

Do you--

Do you honestly believe|that you deserve her more than I do?

Yes.

Yes, I do.

We took an oath.

I am ashamed, the way we--

the way I treated her.

Somehow, I feel...

you're not much like your brother.

Something you might have noticed in|Sparta before you abused my hospitality.

Before you had me killed, you mean.

I might have let you go.

Probably not.

Is she well?

Yes.

Does she ever--

Has she spoken of me?

Now I must ask you something.

[Sighs]|Agamemnon wants Troy, not Helen.

Yes.

Then why are we trying to kill each other?

His amusement.

Have you ever thought|some day you should defy him?

Can you walk?

I think so.

[Man] There's Menelaus!

[Cheering]

You're alive!|A misunderstanding.

[Man Shouts] Paris lives!

[Cheering]

[Man] All hail Prince Paris!

They will fight again tomorrow.

No. We will settle this today.

I will take the place of my brother.

Hector!

I challenge you, High King Agamemnon!

But this time without poison!

You do not stand for me.|I cannot allow you to fight for me.

I stand for Troy.

- I fight for my country!|- Not my firstborn.

[Crowd Cheering]

Hector, it is for me|to end it with Agamemnon.

It is my path to follow.

You are my mortal brother,

and I am proud to share your journey.

Hector, my boy! Come back|within these walls, I beg you.

I stand for High King Agamemnon.

I've skewered nothing but rabble|for the last 10 years. I'm sick of it!

I thirst for royal blood.

Mighty Achilles!|Helen is not your fight.

I do not fight for Helen.|[Paris] Then for what?

Something a Trojan could never understand.

Achilles fights for his own hollow pride!

He honors nothing|but his own image in the glass!

He hungers only for glory.|If you do not feed him, he will starve!

[Priam] Hector, my boy, pity your|mother's misery... and mine.

I beg you, do not hand over your glory|and your own sweet life...

to such a brutal, war-loving dog!

You throw first.

- We should draw lots.|- No.

Go ahead. Take it.

I'm waiting.

You should have hit me|when you had the chance.

- I don't fight that way!|- I do!

- No!|- [Hecuba Screams]

No.

[Screams]

Achilles! Take me!

Die, Hector!

[Hector Groaning]

[Sobbing]

[Soldiers Cheering]

[Cheering Continues]

[Grunting]

Today I feed your son to my dogs!

[Sobbing]|Tomorrow they will devour your Prince Paris!

[Indistinct Shout]

Hyah!

[Sobbing Continues]

[Prisoners Wailing]

[Cell Door Slams]

- Cassandra?|- Leave me!

Paris believes Aphrodite protects him.

Can you see--|You bring ruin to my house,

kill my family, destroy my world,

and you expect me to soothe your worries!

How dare you!|[Spits]

[Panting]

- My brother is dead.|- Yes.

It wasn't a question.

Then you must know why I'm here.

I will do anything to save him.|Anything. Tell me what to do.

- See me.|- I do.

See me.

See me!

Achilles dies.|The war begins again. Ajax dies.

Odysseus is wounded, also Agamemnon.

When the day's sun sets,|only Menelaus will be left to lead.

Paris won't die?

Not today.

- And if I--|- Give myself up?

if you surrender to Agamemnon,|the Aegeans will leave.

- And Paris?|- He will live.

Wake Prince Paris, quickly!

Sire, your lady has left the palace.|Huh?

[Shouting, Chattering]

[Horse Neighing]

Hyah!|[Horse Neighing]

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Brave Trojans, please.

I thank you with all my heart.

But this is a weight I must bear alone.

High King of Mycenae,

I come to end this war.

Just like that?

I will do your bidding.

My bidding?

A trade.

The daughter of Zeus for the body of Hector.

And you think that's enough?

Do you think my daughter's|death was for nothing?

Hmm?|Is that what you think?

is that what you're saying?

Can you even imagine|the innocence in her eyes...

as she reached out for her own father?

He held her in his arms,

raised her up.

Poor little love.

So full of trust.

As if he somehow was capable of good.

And then that startled look.

Can you imagine?

No.

Then I will tell you.

There is no trade.

Not you,

not Troy,

not even my own life|will balance the scales.

Now, do you understand?

Yes, I understand.

Your rage destroys worlds,

but it is yourself you hate.

[Soldiers Cheering]

[Soldiers Chanting]|Achilles! Achilles! Achilles!

Achilles! Achilles!

[Shouting]

Achilles! Achilles!|Achilles! Achilles!

Achilles! Achilles!|Achilles!

[Chanting Continues]

[Shouts]|Hyah!

Achilles! Achilles!

[Chanting Continues]

Agamemnon!

We end this now!|Right here, to the death!

Whoa! I stand for High King Agamemnon!

- Hyah!|- [Horse Neighs]

Hyah! Hyah!

[Horse Neighs]

[Screams]

[Horse Neighs]

- Paris!|- [Paris Groans]

[Soldiers Yelling]

- It's Paris!|- After him!

You've given me a hundred|lifetimes worth of happiness.

[Gasps]

Paris! Paris!

[Groans]

Paris.|[Sobbing]

Please stay.

Please stay.

Please. Please.

Goddess.

[Horn Blows]

He wouldn't believe the prophecy.

He always saw the fire in Cassandra's dream|as a burning love for you.

My king, the Greeks have sailed.

Can it be possible?

Search their camp.

[Dog Panting, Whimpering]

[Singing In Foreign Language]

- Mommy!|- What is it?

- [Chattering]|- What is that?

I've never seen anything like that.

[Chattering Continues]

The Aegeans are not to be|trusted, nor their gifts.

Archers!

Burn it.

Noble king, this is a day|of great sadness for you.

Still, we must not be rash.

This, whatever it is,|might be an offering...

or a gift to honor|the great horse tamers of Troy.

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