Ulisse Page #7

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You are welcome in my house.

Thank you, Penelope.

Argos!

You recognized me.

Quiet, Argos.

Quiet.

Yes, old dog,

we both have changed, huh?

Do you remember how we hunted

the hills from dawn till dusk?

You were always

the first in the pack.

Quick on the trail,

sharp to the kill.

Now you're almost too weak

to hold up your head,

but you recognized me,

didn't you?

Yes, at least that's something

of a homecoming.

He recognized you.

- Who are you?

- Telemachus.

My son.

Father.

Father.

- Father!

- Shh, quiet.

No one must know I'm here.

I cannot wait to tell.

I'll tell them all. I'll make them

quake with fear and tremble.

Tell no one.

Not until we're ready.

Why these strange clothes, Father?

Why do you come dressed like a beggar

into your own house?

When I set foot here,

the gods advised me to do this.

And gave me other

counsel besides.

It is Mother.

She is desperate.

- We'll tell her you've come back.

- No.

Not even she must know yet.

Not until tomorrow.

Then will I know

if she still loves Ulysses

in the way she did when I left

the port of Ithaca.

- Leucanthus, bring some more wine.

- In a moment.

What do you want?

How did you get in here?

As any beggar would,

by the servants' gate.

Well, you'd better go before I set

the dogs on you. Go on, get out.

Let me ask alms

of these noblemen here.

No.

Telemachus is my friend.

He won't object.

Telemachus has nothing more to say

in this house. Get out.

Let him stay, Leucanthus.

Let him stay.

You, come here.

Come here.

Alms for a child of misfortune,

O noble illustrious friend?

Alms for a child of misfortune?

Why don't you go and ask

your noble friend Telemachus?

He may not be with us

much longer.

Beggars were always welcome

in the house of Ulysses.

Not only unwashed,

but insolent.

You speak as if

you're already master here.

Surely, Prince,

we are both just guests in this house.

Get away, you filthy bundle of rags.

Alms for a child of misfortune?

Here.

Here, are you thirsty?

Well, drink.

Give him another drink.

Thank you, my lords.

May the gods reward you.

Here, take this.

It's all I can do for you now.

You're kinder than the others,

young man.

Run away from here as fast as you can

before it's too late.

What are you saying?

Are you mad?

Go on, get out.

Until the games are over,

Amphinomus,

lam the one to decide

who will be ordered from this house.

He's quite right, Amphinomus.

You presume too much.

Delighted to see you,

Telemachus.

What is the meaning of these axes?

It is the queen's own wish.

She will explain it herself.

Where is the queen?

Be patient, Antinous.

She is preparing herself,

as befits a bride.

When the heart is full of love,

there is no room for patience.

Well said, Antinous.

You have expressed

what we're all thinking.

The queen.

May the gods protect you.

Your beauty shines down upon us

like the sun

from heaven, Penelope.

The day has arrived,

and lam ready to fulfill

my obligation.

I will marry the winner

of the games.

We have waited long

and anxiously for this.

For your contest,

I have selected a game

that has been long forgotten.

This is the bow of Ulysses.

I shall marry the man

who can bend it

and send this arrow

through the holes in the axes.

This is not part

of Apollo's games.

If you are afraid of failure,

you may withdrawal from the contest.

I have no fear, Penelope.

I accept the challenge.

I was the first to pass through

these doors many years ago

to ask for the hand of Penelope.

I have a right to be the first

to bend the bow of Ulysses.

You may also be

the first to leave.

I cannot bend it.

Let me try.

I cannot bend it.

Not even a little.

You're too fat, Leodes.

This bow has been cursed

by the gods.

Here, let me try now.

There's something strange here.

Apollo is offended.

He has taken away our strength.

How can Apollo take away

what you never had?

Give me that bow.

- Come on, Antinous.

- Come on, you can bend it.

- Come on, Antinous.

- Come on.

Let him try it again.

He can do it.

- He'll make it this time.

- Yes, Antinous, come on.

This time he'll do it.

He can't do it.

It's beyond human power.

- He's almost got it.

- He'll make it.

- This is a trick.

- Like the tapestry, Penelope.

- Yes, like the tapestry.

- I do not accept this.

I still hold you

to your promise, Penelope.

May I have the queen's

permission to draw the bow?

A beggar competing with princes?

Can I do worse than you?

- What insolence!

- It's incredible.

Did you hear? The beggar wants

to compare his strength with ours.

Penelope, would you like

to have this beggar for a husband?

Have no fear, my queen.

I can make no claim on you.

I already have a wife.

If you desire it, stranger,

I give you my approval.

You can't allow it, Penelope.

It's an insult to all of us.

This is a farce.

Get out.

Get away.

- Come now, hurry.

- This farce has lasted long enough.

- Incredible.

- Impossible.

It's Ulysses!

- Ulysses!

- Take my queen to safety.

No, let me stay.

Father.

The other door.

Antinous,

first among the suitors,

first in pride,

first in arrogance.

You will be the first served today.

Take these weapons.

No, Eurymachus!

Here, Crotone, kill him.

Don't kill me, Ulysses!

Telemachus!

No no, Ulysses.

Have Pity!

Too late.

I warned you before.

I never make a present

of a man's life a second time.

Athena, I thank you.

Divine friend and goddess...

benefactress of our house,

you who have soothed

my waiting hours

and protected my Ulysses,

I thank you for his return.

Many terrible things have

happened to me, Telemachus,

but none more terrible than to bring

death into my house

on the day of my homecoming.

You are not to blame, Father.

Tell the servants to purify

this room with fire.

And may the revenge of the dead

never overtake us.

Yes, Father.

His revenge has been just, Athena,

but terrible.

The Ulysses you bring back to me,

my protectoress, is an angry man,

forced to kill ruthlessly.

O divine Athena,

did his long road back to me

have to be so bloodstained?

My road had to be long

and bloodstained.

Ulysses.

There was no other way

to bring me back to you.

Such wasted time.

So many years.

So many years of our youth

squandered in the savagery of war...

in lost and confused wanderings

and in roaming.

I was so lonely.

I promise you.

I'll make up for it

in the tranquil years

that lie ahead.

Yes, together!

Ulysses!

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