The 300 Spartans

(narrator) Greece,

that hard and timeless land

where even the stones speak -

of man's courage,

of his endurance, of his glory.

And none more eloquently

than this lonely pillar in a desolate pass

some 200 miles north of modern Athens.

Across the hush of 24 centuries,

this is the story of a turning point in history.

Of a blazing day

when 300 Greek warriors fought here,

to hold with their lives

their freedom...

and ours.

At last we are in Europe.

- Mardonius.

- My lord.

How long will it be before

the whole of our troops pass into Greece?

About seven days and seven nights, my lord.

Whip them on if they are slow.

I am anxious to avenge my father's defeat.

My lord, this army will give you

not only Greece, but the whole world.

You are right.

It was my father's dream:

One world, one master.

But at Marathon, 10 years ago,

he sent a mere wave.

I am leading an ocean!

So this is the Spartan spy

caught trying to count my troops?

Yes, my lord.

All our best torture is wasted on him.

He's worn out two of my men

without uttering a sound.

Bring him here.

Why do you not speak?

I have nothing to say.

Tell me, is it true that the Spartans

are the bravest warriors in all Greece?

You will find that out for yourself.

Fool! You have but few men.

Your little country is divided.

You have no single ruler.

How can you defy me,

the master of the whole world?

That's not for you to understand, sir.

For you are the master of slavery.

And you know nothing of freedom.

Enough!

Let us see how insolence meets death.

Seize him!

Wait!

Release him.

Come here, my friend.

I have spared your life, but not out of pity.

I am told the Greeks are holding

some assembly at Corinth.

Go there,

and tell them what you have seen here.

The power that neither man

nor the gods can thwart.

Go!

Agathon.

Gryllus. What evil wind has blown you

into this scorpions' nest?

- I am here with Demaratus.

- You are with Xerxes.

I am in his camp, but not with him.

You know, after all, Demaratus was once

our king in Sparta, before he was exiled.

I'm not interested in Demaratus.

Kings have their ways, but you,

you are in the camp of our enemies,

and therefore an enemy of Greece.

- You know my son Phylon in Sparta?

- Yes.

Please give him a message from me. Tell him

not to judge me until he knows all the...

That Greek spy, this morning.

He was a brave man.

He was a Spartan, my lord.

Demaratus, you were once king

of those people.

Tell me, do you really believe

that Sparta will fight?

Do you wish for a truthful answer

or an agreeable one?

- Tell me the truth. I shan't hold it against you.

- Sparta will fight, even if the rest submit.

How can they do anything together

when they have two kings ruling them?

The one who stole my throne is a usurper, but

the other, Leonidas, is a true Spartan king.

His name means "lion", and he lives up to it.

There is no man who can match him

in courage and skill in battle.

Nor in devotion to his country.

You seem to have great regard

for Spartan kings, Demaratus.

I have, my lord. I was one myself.

Yet you do not look to me

like a formidable fighter.

I have never yet met the man

I could not master.

I'll give you a chance to prove your words.

I have in my bodyguard

a remarkable young man.

I've seen him kill four good swordsmen

with as many thrusts -

just for displeasing me

with their bragging words.

Now you can prove your boast.

Hurry. Hurry.

Argh!

(woman screams)

Once again, Demaratus,

you've succeeded in spoiling my dinner.

My lord.

- Artemisia.

- May I enter this war council?

By all means.

My ships have just dropped anchor.

Five vessels, fully fitted and manned.

This is a pleasant surprise, Artemisia.

I expected your ships, but not you yourself.

If my men fight, I want to be with them. That's

the least a queen can do for her subjects.

To watch them die for her? I never deny

my subjects that pleasure. Come, sit with me.

Artemisia, queen of Halicarnassus.

We visited her city last year and the great king

sought her advice about the war.

I'm glad to have you with me, Artemisia.

Everyone gives me different advice.

Artabanus, to abandon this war.

Mardonius, to conquer the whole world.

And Demaratus,

to seek peace with the Spartans.

Only because I know my people well.

I can always predict their actions.

Even when they choose

to discard one of their kings?

Will you forgive me, my lord?

I do not relish the noble lady's wit.

It has served me well, Demaratus.

At least I'm still with my people.

And still a queen.

Well spoken, Artemisia. I've tried to curb

his arrogance with the wrong weapon.

A woman's tongue is deadlier than the sword.

Why do you permit him to remain here?

He may serve my purpose.

The Greeks are assembled at Corinth

to discuss my demands.

Above all, I don't want them to unite.

Once they disagree among themselves, men

like Demaratus may be of great use to me.

To us, you mean.

Yes.

I need your advice, too.

Come tonight, Artemisia.

Will you come?

Only if you promise to limit our discussions...

to the Corinth assembly.

As I said before, the independence of

our cities is the cornerstone of our freedom.

Therefore I propose that each city

deal with this problem independently.

Without surrendering its dignity.

But also...

without futile heroics which can only end

in the mass suicide of the Greek race.

(muttering)

Silence! Silence!

We shall now hear from

the representative of Athens, Themistocles.

of Persia invaded Greece at Marathon.

On that occasion,

the Athenians rose to challenge him.

Our Spartan friends,

famed for their piety

no less than their military prowess,

volunteered help, but were delayed by,

if I remember correctly, a religious festival.

Whereupon the Athenians,

unaided, outnumbered ten to one,

attacked the invader

and threw him into the sea.

We've no time for history now.

Things are different today.

Yes. Things are different today.

Today the danger is much greater.

The whole of Asia is descending upon us.

Many times more men than there are Greeks.

These men are fierce, savage,

bloodthirsty, merciless.

But that is not the reason why we should fear

them. That is not the source of their power.

Their power lies in their unity.

Unity.

Remember that one terrible word

which will surely destroy Greece

unless we counter it with a unity of our own.

A unity of free men fighting together,

resisting this united tide of tyranny.

We all know Themistocles

to be a master of words.

But before we allow ourselves

to be led by them,

let us consider some other words

that have been spoken.

Has Athens not sent for and received

a prediction from the Delphic oracle?

Come now, Themistocles.

No Greek state acts

without first consulting the gods.

Why not reveal this prediction to us, instead

of trying to draw us into a hopeless war?

There are no hopeless wars, friend.

Only hopeless cowards.

You are evading the answer.

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