The 300 Spartans Page #6

- You must have done something wonderful.

- Nothing another Spartan wouldn't do.

- How are you now?

- My fever's all gone.

Old Toris made me a bowl of herbs.

She's so kind.

I can look at you again.

I'm no longer ashamed of myself.

I've never been ashamed of you.

I knew you were always a good soldier.

- But...

- Yes?

I've been watching Samos and Toris.

They're such good and simple people.

They know nothing about honor and glory.

But Toris knows that every night

her man will be sleeping at her side.

They live for themselves. They do no harm.

Is it a crime to want to live in peace?

No, Ellas. But you shouldn't speak like that.

- Why, you yourself gave me the shield.

- I know. I know it all.

I know that for a Spartan,

life is a kind of preparation for death.

But why should a love like ours go down

and be trampled in dirt and blood?

We must be ready to die for our country.

But we don't have to die.

- I want to live and come to you with victory.

- Victory? Did you see the enemy out there?

And there are only 300 of you.

We have men from other cities. Good men.

Everybody expects the Spartans to die first.

- Why hasn't the Spartan army arrived?

- They will come.

- When?

- I don't know, but they will come.

Our people won't abandon us.

(horses galloping)

- Those are the horses of Leonidas.

- That's my aunt's servant riding them.

It must be an important message from Sparta.

I must get back to camp.

Ellas, I must go.

My wife is a very clever woman.

Even if the messenger had been captured,

no one would have guessed that

there was a message hidden under the wax.

Shall we leave you alone, Leonidas?

No.

This news concerns us all.

Our troops are not coming.

Why, Leonidas?

The council made a secret decision

to fortify the isthmus of Corinth,

and not to go beyond it.

- Then we cannot stay here!

- We can. And we must.

We've received no orders to leave.

And we have our duty to Greece.

Greeks followed us because they believed

in our word. We are not going to break it.

Here we stay! And here we stand!

- For how long?

- Until we win!

Or die.

Greetings, friends. What are the omens?

Last night a lioness came down

to the pass with three of her cubs.

She cried piteously,

as if begging mercy for her children.

This is a bad omen for Persia.

I accept the omen.

The Spartans will meet the first attack.

The rest of the troops

will stand by in reserve until I send for them.

- My men want to fight, Leonidas.

- All Greeks want to fight.

But the Spartans were here first. We will lead.

The others will watch us,

ready to move in when ordered.

To your places, friends.

- How many altogether?

- 20,000, my lord.

The rest are ready to march

through the pass once it's cleared.

- We shall be in Athens in four days.

- Good.

I've ordered Mardonius to draw up

the Sagartian horsemen behind the infantry.

Just before contact with the enemy, they will

surprise the Spartans and take them alive.

Excellent, my lord.

I shall have Leonidas nailed to a board

and watch him die

as we eat our meal at noon.

Come, let us enjoy this in peace.

Enemy is on the move. Drawing nearer to us.

Good. It also means

that we are drawing nearer to them.

(man) Spears!

They intend to surprise us

by faking an infantry charge.

Pass the word to Agathon and Pentheus.

Be ready for horsemen.

- Cavalry.

- Cavalry.

- Cavalry.

- Cavalry.

Spartans...

attack!

Spartans attack!

Drive them into the sea!

Don't let them escape!

- What does this mean?

- Leonidas has guessed our maneuver.

He's killed most horsemen, forcing the rest to

confound our foot soldiers. Then he attacked!

He is slaughtering my men like sheep!

The cowards!

No. These men are a match for any regular

soldiers. The Spartans fight like machines.

Leonidas. Leonidas.

- What news?

- A Persian herald.

Hydarnes wants to speak with you.

- Hydarnes?

- Yes. Shall I bring him here?

So he can see our defenses? No. Here.

Get me a clean cloak.

How many men for your escort?

A Spartan king needs no escort

to talk to a mere Persian.

- Greetings, Leonidas.

- Greetings, Hydarnes.

The great king admires the valor

of you and your men.

Thank him. And tell him we will earn

even more of his admiration today.

Stubbornness will avail you nothing. It's only

a matter of time before you lose this battle.

Perhaps.

But by that time you will have lost your war.

Yesterday we only probed your defenses.

When we attack today,

our arrows will blot out the sun.

Then we will fight in the shade.

But this slaughter is useless.

Surrender your arms...

and my king will spare you

and your Spartans.

What shall I tell him?

Molon lave.

Come and take them.

(man) Spears!

(whistles)

Archers!

Spears! Spears!

Guards!

Advance!

The greatest army in the world,

routed by savages!

We are giving Leonidas

cheap victories, my lord.

Chariots cannot maneuver in that pass!

- I must see this pass cleared this morning.

- Then do it quickly. Send in the Immortals.

- My own bodyguard?

- They are the only men that can match them.

Once we wipe out the Spartans fanatics,

the rest of the Greeks will give way.

Very well, Hydarnes.

But I hold you responsible.

Pentheus.

What would you do now, if you were Xerxes?

Send in fresh troops. My very best.

That is just what he's doing.

These are his Immortals.

The whole Persian army is watching them.

If we beat them back, fear will grip the others.

Phylon!

We'll fall back deliberately.

Pretend to be dead and stay here.

Put the torches under the chariot.

To your places, friends.

(groans)

Yes.

What are we to do now?

It was your idea.

You told me to send in the Immortals.

You! You!

How can you expect these others to fight

after what they've seen today?

My lord... you have the power

to have me slain.

Silence!

Death is too good for you.

Get out of my sight!

I don't want to see

your insolent face again! Go!

Another day.

The Spartans fought well.

So did the Thespians and all the other Greeks.

We can hold Thermopylae.

I've...

I have waited for the time

when I could see you alone.

Why?

I'm...

I'm going down into the valley.

This is no place for you.

Come with me. Come with me.

I'll give you rubies and gold.

Touch me again and I'll strike you.

You? You strike me?

My lord.

Artemisia.

Surely you at least must be

the bearer of good tidings.

Would that I were.

- Artemisia. You are hurt?

- No. I'm all right.

But your fleet had no more success today

than your army.

And three of my ships were sunk.

Even the gods seem to conspire against me.

My ships falter, my troops in revolt...

Seized by fear that spreads

like leprosy through the camp.

- What am I to do?

- Halt these senseless attacks

which the Greeks are turning into victories,

demoralizing your men.

Another day of this

and your own troops will destroy you.

You must stop this war.

With two of my brothers slain?

And Leonidas still in the pass?

I've sworn to destroy him.

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