Troy

FADE IN:

1 EXT. THESSALIAN VALLEY - DAY 1

A mangy, bone-thin DOG lopes across the broad valley

floor, sniffing at the ground. At first the scene

appears bucolic:
tall grass, patches of wildflowers, blue

sky above.

But as the dog keeps running we see signs of conflict. A

spear, half imbedded in the earth, rises at an angle. A

bronze helmet, cracked and bloodied, lies on its side.

The dog pauses to sniff the helmet then continues his

search. Finally he stops, hackles on his back rising,

ears pricked up. He growls, and we see what the dog sees.

Dozens of CROWS have descended into a shallow ravine.

They squabble and peck, clustered around something on the

ground.

The dog growls louder and charges at the crows. The black

birds flap away to safety, shrieking in protest.

A DEAD SOLDIER lies facedown in the ravine. Whatever

armor he wore was stripped away, leaving his body to the

elements.

The dog walks slowly to the dead man, sniffing at the

corpse's hands. The dog whines and licks the man's

fingers.

Something in the air disturbs the dog, who looks up. And

now we hear it, faintly, in the distance. HOOF BEATS and

chariot wheels, marching men, the clank of bronze armor

and weaponry.

The dog runs, abandoning his dead master.

1A THE MYCENAEAN ARMY 1A

five thousand strong, storms into the valley from the

south. Armored with bronze breastplates, helmets and

shields, the soldiers glitter in the morning sun.

Riding alongside the infantry are dozens of horse-drawn

CHARIOTS, each holding a DRIVER, a SPEARMAN and an

OFFICER.

On the opposite side of the valley, three thousand

THESSALONIAN SOLDIERS march into view. The Thessalonians

are less disciplined, their armor and weaponry less

impressive.

(CONTINUED)

2.

1A CONTINUED:
1A

When each army reaches the battlefield they stop and stare

one another down, two hundred yards distant.

1B A MYCENAEAN CHARIOT AND A THESSALONIA CHARIOT 1B

emerge from their respective sides and meet at the center

of the field.

AGAMEMNON, king of the Mycenaeans, rides in his chariot

with a DRIVER and a SPEARMAN. Agamemnon holds a gold

SCEPTER, symbol of command. His breast plate is engraved

with an Alpha.

His counterpart in the Thessalonian cart, TRIOPAS (60),

does not project equal confidence. He eyes the size of

the Mycenaean army with evident unease. He holds his own

SCEPTER.

Both kings step down from their chariots and approach each

other. They stare at one another for several seconds.

Agamemnon smiles and looks into the sky.

The crows wheel overhead, cawing.

AGAMEMNON:

It's a good day for the crows.

TRIOPAS:

I told you yesterday and I'll tell

you again today. Remove your army

from my land.

Agamemnon smiles again and turns to examine the valley.

AGAMEMNON:

I like your land. I think we'll

stay.

(beat)

I like your soldiers, too. They

fought bravely yesterday. Not

well, but bravely.

TRIOPAS:

They'll never fight for you.

AGAMEMNON:

That's what the Messenians said,

too. And the Arcadians. And the

Epeians. They're all fighting for

me, now.

(CONTINUED)

3.

1B CONTINUED:
1B

TRIOPAS:

You can't rule the whole world,

Agamemnon. It's too big. Even for

you.

Agamemnon surveys Triopas's army.

AGAMEMNON:

I don't want to watch another

massacre. Let's end this war in

the old manner.

(beat)

Your best fighter against my best.

For the first time, Triopas looks hopeful.

TRIOPAS:

And if my man wins?

AGAMEMNON:

We'll leave Thessaly for good.

(beat)

I'm a generous man. If mine wins,

you keep your throne. But Thessaly

falls under my command, to fight

with me whenever I call.

Triopas considers before nodding. He shouts to his army.

TRIOPAS:

Boagrius!

The Thessalonians murmur and step aside. A giant emerges

from their midst, BOAGRIUS, a foot taller than the other

men, his face gouged with old knife scars. He marches out

to his king.

TRIOPAS:

Here is my champion.

Agamemnon raises his eyebrows as the giant comes closer.

AGAMEMNON:

(shouting to his army)

Achilles!

The Mycenaeans murmur amongst themselves, looking for

Achilles. Nobody emerges. Agamemnon frowns.

TRIOPAS:

Boagrius has this effect on many

heroes.

(CONTINUED)

4.

1B CONTINUED:
(2) 1B

AGAMEMNON:

Be careful whom you insult, old

king.

An OFFICER on horseback gallops from the Mycenaean ranks

to the center of the field. He bows his head to

Agamemnon.

OFFICER:

Achilles is not with the army.

Triopas laughs and looks up at Boagrius, who chuckles.

AGAMEMNON:

(furious)

Where is he?

OFFICER:

I sent a boy to look for him.

2 EXT. WOODS - DAY 2

A BOY (12) on a roan HORSE gallops through the woods.

3 EXT. MYCENAEAN CAMP - DAY 3

The boy rides into the camp. Scores of tents stand on the

banks of a river. The only men around are COOKS tending

fires and ARMORERS, mending armor and weapons.

The boy dismounts at one large tent in the corner of the

camp. He pulls open the tent flap and steps inside.

4 INT. ACHILLES' TENT - CONTINUOUS 4

The boy pauses for a moment inside the tent, eyes

adjusting to the dim light. Evidently last night was a

wild party. Jugs of wine are everywhere, and the remains

of a large feast.

Sleeping on a fur rug are two NAKED WOMEN and one NAKED

MAN, tanned arms and legs entwined. The boy sidesteps

shards of a broken jug. He bends to tap the sleeping

man's shoulder.

Before his fingers make contact, a hand shoots out, grabs

his wrist, and pulls him to the rug. The boy finds

himself flat on his back with a dagger to his throat.

(CONTINUED)

5.

4 CONTINUED:
4

ACHILLES:

Shh.

The boy stares into the eyes of ACHILLES (30), who seems

to have barely moved. Somehow he managed to seize the boy

and put a knife to his throat without waking the women.

ACHILLES:

(whispering)

I was having a good dream.

(beat)

A very good dream.

The boy nods, dumb with fear. Achilles has the lean,

efficient physique of a boxer. His face and body are dark

from a summer spent in the sun.

BOY:

King Agamemnon sent me. He

needs -

ACHILLES:

I'll speak with your king in the

morning.

BOY:

But my lord -- it is morning.

Achilles frowns. He stands and walks naked to the tent

flap, holds it open and stares at the empty encampment.

BOY:

They're waiting for you.

5 EXT. MYCENAEAN CAMP 5

Achilles prepares for battle, strapping on his

breastplate. The boy assists him, fixing the bronze

greaves to his legs.

BOY:

Are the stories about you true?

They say your mother is an immortal

goddess.

Achilles lifts up his shield. He slips his left forearm

into the leather straps on the inside of the shield.

BOY:

They say you can't be killed.

(CONTINUED)

6.

5 CONTINUED:
5

ACHILLES:

I wouldn't be bothering with the

shield then, would I?

BOY:

The Thessalonian you're fighting

-- he's the biggest man I've ever

seen.

Achilles mounts the boy's horse.

BOY:

I wouldn't want to fight him.

ACHILLES:

That's why no one will remember

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