Ulisse Page #2

---

You must believe.

What does it matter

what I believe?

Ulysses is far off.

This alone we know to be true.

And that is why this tapestry

increases each day

and is undone each night.

And that is how I keep deceiving

these suitors who wait for me

while I wait for Ulysses.

Ulysses.

Nausicaa.

Nausicaa,

what are you doing?

Phaedra,

there's a dead man here.

- Where?

- Behind this rock.

Be careful, Nausicaa.

Do not touch him.

He's dead.

- He is alive.

- That's worse.

Where am I?

In the kingdom of Alcinous.

lam his daughter.

What part of the world is this?

The island of the Phaeacia.

Surely you know it.

It is very close to Ithaca.

Ithaca?

You've never heard

of Ithaca?

Who are you?

What is your name?

I don't know.

There's no name in my head.

You don't even know

the name of your country?

I remember nothing.

Hurry, girls. Hurry, please.

Send for Calops.

We must take him

to the palace at once.

Take care, Nausicaa.

He might be a god.

Sometimes the gods

take human form.

I hope he is not.

I want him to be a man.

As you know, Alcinous, I'm skilled

at mixing herbs and preparing potions,

but my remedies cannot help

this man found on the beach.

This stranger has no memory

of his past.

I have cured his body,

but his mind...

lam not a god.

But did you bleed him?

Aesculapius says

that bleeding is not a cure.

It is only a way of proving

that you are a physician

at the expense of your patient.

How could a man lose

all recollection of his past?

There are two alternatives.

Either the gods

have granted him oblivion,

or he wishes

to escape the memory

of some great sin

or misdeed of his past.

I would agree with the second

possibility.

Father! Father.

Father, he is here.

May your kingdom grow in power

and its king in wisdom.

My physicians tell me that your memory

has left you completely.

The past is gone.

Yet, you know

how to greet a king.

Your bearing, your noble manner

would seem to suggest

that you've stood

before other kings besides me.

Is there nothing

you can remember?

I remember nothing.

Nothing.

It is strange.

Whoever you are,

you shall be our honored guest.

Give the necessary orders

for the feasts,

for the dances

and for the games.

Bravo.

Krakos is the winner.

Who will fight with Krakos?

Go. You can beat him.

Who me fight that killer?

Oh no.

Who will fight with Krakos?

Who will

fight with Krakos?

Don't go away, my friend.

But he should not

be allowed to fight.

Why not? A good strong crack on

the head might be most healing.

Okay, so he seems to know a few tricks.

He might once have been a wrestler.

Diomedes believes

he was a soldier.

- It's not so easy, eh?

- I wouldn't hire you as a nursemaid.

Excuse me.

Father, he won.

He won!

Yes, Nausicaa, he won.

But why do you stare at me?

Because

I see the woman

taking the place

of my little child.

A hero, heh? Have you two

ever met a real hero?

Agamemnon, Ajax, Ulysses--

those were heroes.

Ulysses had a hand

as big as a barrel.

With my own eyes I've seen him

break the back of a bull with one blow.

Yes, this man is no weakling,

but he is not

to be compared with heroes.

He is like a sparrow against

the wings of an eagle.

This is the gift which King Alcinous

sends you for your victory.

My thanks to the king.

And this is my gift.

It is a rare ointment.

- It's fragrant, isn't it?

- Like springtime.

It is made from a secret formula.

Magic.

It was given to me by a woman

who lives in the hills.

And she told me that in one night

it will heal any wound.

- And will also restore one's youth.

- Youth?

Give me some.

I can use a few bottles.

Youth.

This is not a boy's arm.

You are the youngest man

in all Phaeacia.

For me, you were born

only a few days ago on the sands

when you opened your eyes

and looked at me.

And I will call you Stenos

the strong one.

And I'll make you most welcome.

What's wrong?

What is it?

I don't know.

A thought came to me.

A name, a voice.

Was it my name?

Was it Nausicaa?

Nausicaa?

Perhaps it was.

Leodes, 45 paces.

Eurymachus, 43.

The game is yours,

Eurymachus.

Does any of you

still doubt my victory?

We'll see about that

on Penelope's wedding day.

You won't have long

to wait, my friend,

now that we know

the trick of the tapestry.

You can marry Melanthius

for telling us

and I will marry Penelope.

Throw!

What are your stakes?

- The dowry of Penelope.

- Penelope's dowry?

- Is she gonna marry one of you?

- Of course.

Look here,

I've won.

I still have the stables

and half the horses.

The gods may still be with me.

I've won again.

Penelope, I've gambled away

your entire dowry.

If you choose me,

you may be quite sure

it is only for love

that I come to you.

Dirty spy!

You have revealed

the secret of the tapestry.

You spy!

You filthy spy!

Stop it.

Now go.

You will regret your treachery,

Madame Ghost.

What shall we do

now that our secret is discovered?

There's nothing we can do.

Your mother must marry one

of her suitors before they kill us all.

- Is it death that you fear so much?

- I am an old man.

I am only concerned with your safety

and that of Ithaca.

Enough, Mentor, enough

His rage is just,

even though it is useless.

Another suitor.

They're like flies around honey.

- Do you know him?

- I cannot see him well.

He's a good driver.

He handles his horses well.

- Antinous of Cephalonia.

- Son of Eupeithes?

- Mm-hmm.

- Loud mouth braggart.

There is no room for him.

We're already too many for one bed.

Stable my horses and prepare a bed.

- Why have you come here, Antinous?

- To see Penelope.

Not one of us up till now

has presumed to be so bold,

even to consider

entering her chambers.

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

I shall be the first.

- Here, wait.

- Stand aside.

Who are you?

Answer me.

I am Telemachus,

son of Ulysses.

Be calm, Telemachus.

I shall be your friend.

Greetings, Penelope.

Truly your beauty is beyond

a poet's dream.

Who are you?

I am Antinous of the island

of Cephalonia.

I know of your trick

with the tapestry, Penelope.

What is it you want

in my house?

You.

But I have not come to waste your

fortune like the others have done,

or to live under your roof

like a parasite.

I have not crossed the sea merely

to gaze into your eyes, Penelope.

I have come to fulfill

your destiny.

How dare you speak like that?

Because I of all the others

understand your loneliness.

Of how you were widowed

almost before you were a wife.

The ghost of Ulysses has haunted

this house long enough.

It needs a living man to rule it,

to drive this pack of suitors out...

to give you back your life,

Penelope.

Please, no more.

You may remain as a guest,

if that is what you wish.

I did not come to find a roof.

The sky is roof enough for me.

I have come to hear you

appoint the day

that will end

these long hours of waiting.

I have come to end

your loneliness, Penelope.

Allow me one more day

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes