Helen of Troy Page #6

in case they prove troublesome.

He still refuses to fight

so long as you're in command. . .

. . .and your lovesick jackass of a brother

brays upon this beach.

Then he'll get not one obol

of Trojan tribute.

Helen?

Helen.

-Where is she?

-She's not here, Paris.

Not here? Where?

She's gone to the camp of the Greeks.

To Menelaus?

She was determined to end

the destruction. . .

. . .and restore you to the hearts

of the Trojans.

-And you conspired with her--

-She was not a captive here, Paris. . .

. . .but a woman of self-determination,

a queen with more courage. . .

. . .than l would have had

to sail against the tides of heaven.

-He shan't take her.

-The hour has passed, Paris.

You can't prevent it.

Wait, Trojans.

You've returned the wife of Menelaus,

but that isn't all your debt.

Debt?

-We recognize no claim of debt.

-No?

Then who pays for the Greek blood

shed on this plain?

Trojan blood has paid in full.

Trojan blood is not valid currency

in Sparta. . .

. . .nor does it pay for launching

1 000 ships.

The terms of this truce were clear.

The return of Helen,

in exchange for which. . .

. . .you agreed to sail

from these shores.

-You trusting fools.

-Two things only will suffice:

Half the treasury of Troy

before we depart. . .

. . .and after that,

1 000 talents every year.

Take these nobles as security!

-Here's payment, Menelaus!

-To the gates with her!

Bring her back to Troy!

Follow them!

After them! After them!

Back! Turn back!

Don't go too close

to the Trojan walls.

Not against Hector.

Patroclus! Patroclus!

-Bring me my armor.

-Yes, master.

Thank you, Trojan, for bringing us

the body of Patroclus.

Thank you very much.

My son, Greek treachery has proved

that theirs is not a war of honor.

Helen, through you, we have learned

that they seek plunder, not justice.

l ask forgiveness of you both.

Cassandra. . .

. . .we have found there

is great wisdom in you.

-What more can you tell us?

-New storms shall ride the sky. . .

. . .but the guilt will be Athena's,

not Helen's.

-Thank you, Cassandra.

-Such courage must not go unrewarded.

Helen, you will be

a princess of Troy.

Where is Hector

and Andromache?

They are to bestow the laurels.

Where is Hector?

By the Scaean gates, sire.

He anticipates a call to single combat

for the death of Patroclus.

l killed him. Any Greek challenge

would come to me.

But Hector didn't want you

to be challenged by Achilles.

-He was devoted to Patroclus.

-Hector sent him his friend's corpse. . .

. . .with personal compliments.

No one can match Achilles,

not even Hector.

This must not happen.

He cried like an animal in grief, my lord,

and then called for his armor.

Ah, so he comes.

Hector!

Hector!

-lt is done, Andromache.

-Achilles?

By his hand, my father

and my brothers fell.

-While you live, l still have them in you.

-l intend to live, Andromache, for you. . .

. . .and for our son.

This helmet always frightens him.

Let's pray that he may never need one. . .

. . .that he finds peace.

Arms to bear.

lf Achilles wins, we move.

We strike at once!

To the palace!

And if Achilles dies, we retire

to consider a certain plan of mine.

-There's an immortal shield around him.

-Mighty Zeus, help me find a weakness.

Achilles is dead!

So dies Greek courage,

but not Greek cunning.

Defeated by men,

deserted by the gods.

l used to number the months by a battle,

a pestilence, a famine.

Now it's all one long nightmare.

l fought wars since most of you

were sucklings, but never one like this.

Let's take our ships

and sail back home.

That we shall do.

l have a plan that first required

a Trojan victory.

-That much, at least, is accomplished.

-You speak treason.

As you will,

but let's be realistic.

The greatest army on Earth

has lost its war.

What are you dreaming, Ulysses?

l'm dreaming of my wife,

the good, constant Penelope.

And in my dreams, l see myself returning

to her with all the treasures of Troy.

-But how?

-Has this anything to do with the work. . .

. . .that Apagos and his men

have been doing in the woodlands?

They're building a monument

to the triumph of Paris and Helen.

A gift from the goddess Athena.

A sacred horse,

so big and so beautiful. . .

. . .that Troy cannot help

taking it to her heart.

Remember, blow the retreat

loud enough for Troy to hear.

Let the ships sail but keep

sufficient force in the woodlands.

The ships will return at dawn.

Are you sure the Trojans will take

this monstrosity into the city?

l promise. Their gratitude to Athena

for her victory will be tremendous.

And they'll give a loving welcome

to her wondrous horse.

And to Bacchus, the god of grapes.

Make ready, men of Greece!

First they sounded retreat,

and now the call to man the oars.

Their torches are moving

back to the sea.

-Aboard the ships?

-We'll soon know.

Lord Aeneas has gone

to the shore with scouts.

Sire, they've sailed.

The last of their ships has gone to sea.

Sound the cry! Light the victory torch.

Carry it through the streets.

Good, Priam. Good.

-Our heroes would wish us to rejoice.

-Light the victory torch!

You'll see a Troy

you've never known before.

l see it in your faces.

Open it! Open it!

Let us look at the world again!

The night smiles on us.

Look, Priam.

l was trying to tell you of it, sire.

Some strange monument that

the Greeks have left at our doorstep.

Beware the Greeks bearing gifts.

My sister speaks truly. lt is a thing of

evil that should be burnt upon the plain.

l agree.

The enemy doesn't give

joyful presents.

My children, this is no gift

from the Greeks. . .

. . .but a symbol of worship

they had to abandon.

Sire, the people beg permission to bring

this amazing prize into the square.

They have fought long and bravely.

l cannot deny them.

Father, please hear me.

lt is not the end of ruin,

but the beginning.

We must not be ungrateful. . .

. . .to a goddess who has proved herself

our goddess. Bring in her sacred horse.

lt shall be a monument

to Trojan valor.

Yes, sire.

lt is a great and perfect thing.

How childish l was

to have misgivings.

And l to be afraid

of a wooden giant.

What was that for?

Athena. So forgiving of a rival goddess.

Are you jealous, Aphrodite?

l'm only Helen. . .

. . .who wonders if she'll

ever be a Trojan, really.

When the Trojan people

look upon that plain. . .

. . .won't they always think

of Helen of Sparta?

There is peace everywhere now.

We're not bound to remain here.

Wherever you wish to go, Helen,

l'll take you.

Hail to Prince Paris and his Helen!

Hail to Helen!

-All hail to Paris!

-Hail to Helen!

Destiny, Paris. Destiny.

There is no escape, it seems.

Not even from happiness.

No, and l am happy. Very happy.

Men of Sparta!

Men of Sparta, to the palace!

Forward!

Troy is lost, but you must not die.

While the Greeks plunder,

make for the north gate.

-Do you think l would leave you now?

-Or l?

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