Helen of Troy

Men are haunted
by the vastness of eternity.

And so we ask ourselves...

...will our actions echo
across the centuries?

Will strangers hear our names
long after we're gone...

...and wonder who we were...

...how bravely we fought...

...how fiercely we loved?

Good day for the crows.

I told you yesterday
and I'll tell you again today.

Remove your army from my land.

I like your land.

I think we'll stay. I
like your soldiers too.

They fought bravely yesterday.

Not well, but bravely.

They won't fight for you.

That's what the Messenians said.

And the Arcadians and the Epeians.

Now they all fight for me.

You can't have the whole world,
Agamemnon.

It's too big, even for you.

I don't want to watch another massacre.

Let's settle this war in the old manner.
Your best fighter against my best.

And if my man wins?

We'll leave Thessaly for good.

I'm a generous man.

If mine wins,
you can keep your throne...

...but Thessaly falls
under my command...

...to fight with me whenever I call.

Boagrius!

This is my man.

Achilles!

Boagrius has this effect on many heroes.

Careful who you insult, old king.

My king, Achilles is not with the army.

- Where is he?
- I sent a boy to look for him.

I was having a good dream.

Very good dream.

King Agamemnon sent me. He needs to...

I'll speak to your king in the morning.

But my lord, it is morning.

They're waiting for you.

Are the stories about you true?

They say your mother is
an immortal goddess.

They say you can't be killed.

I wouldn't be bothering
with the shield then, would I?

The Thessalonian you're fighting...

...he's the biggest man I've ever seen.
I wouldn't want to fight him.

That's why no one will remember
your name.

Achilles! Achilles! Achilles!

Achilles! Achilles! Achilles!

Perhaps we should have our war tomorrow,
when you're better rested.

I should have you whipped
for your impudence!

Perhaps you should fight him.

Achilles.

Look at the men's faces.
You can save hundreds of them.

You can end this war
with a swing of your sword.

Think how many songs they'll sing
in your honor.

Let them go home to their wives.

Imagine a king who fights his own battles.
Wouldn't that be a sight.

Of all the warlords loved by the gods,
I hate him the most.

We need him, my king.

For now.

Is there no one else?

Who are you, soldier?

Achilles. Son of Peleus.

Achilles?
I'll remember the name.

The ruler of Thessaly carries this scepter.

Give it to your king.

He's not my king.

Brothers in arms!
Brothers in arms!

Friendship!
Friendship!

Princes of Troy,
on our last night together...

...Queen Helen and I salute you.

We've had our conflicts before, it's true.

We fought many battles, Sparta and Troy.
And fought well!

But I have always respected your father.

Priam is a good king, a good man.

I respected him as an adversary.
I respect him now as my ally.

Hector, Paris, young princes, come.
Stand.

Drink with me.

Let us drink to peace.

To peace between Troy and Sparta.

May the gods keep the wolves in the hills
and the women in our beds.

Ah!

- For the gods.
- For the gods.

Strong arm.
Thank the gods we made peace.

I've seen too many of my men struck down
with this arm.

Never again, I hope.

Only one man wields a sword
better than you.

Achilles.

That madman.

He would hurl a spear at Zeus himself.
If the god insulted him.

See that one over there?
I picked her special for you.

She's a little lioness.

Thank you.
My wife waits for me in Troy.

My wife waits for me right there.

Wives are for breeding.

You understand, for making little princes.
Come enjoy yourself tonight.

You make excellent wine in Sparta.

You shouldn't be here.

That's what you said last night.

Last night was a mistake.

And the night before?

I've made many mistakes this week.

Do you want me to go?

Yes.

Where should I go?

Away.

Far away.

I have something for you.

Pearls from the Sea of Propontis.

They're beautiful.

But I can't wear them.

Menelaus would kill us both.

Don't be afraid of him.

I'm not afraid of dying.

I'm afraid of tomorrow.

I'm afraid of watching you sail away
and knowing you'll never come back.

Before you came to Sparta, I was a ghost.

I walked, and I ate,
and I swam in the sea...

...but I was just a ghost.

You don't have to fear tomorrow.

Come with me.

Don't play with me. Don't play.

If you come, we'll never be safe.

Men will hunt us, the gods will curse us.

But I'll love you.

Till the day they burn my body...

...I will love you.

Tecton.

Make the proper offerings to Poseidon
before we sail.

We don't need any more widows in Troy.

Goat or pig?

Which does the sea god prefer?

I'll wake the priest and ask him.

Paris.

We should get to bed.
We won't sleep on land again for weeks.

I have no trouble sleeping on the seas,
brother.

Athena sings lullabies to me.

And who sang lullabies to you tonight?

Tonight?

Tonight was the fisherman's wife.

A lovely creature.

I hope you didn't let the fisherman
catch you.

He was more concerned with the fish.

You do understand why we're in Sparta.

For peace.

And you understand that Menelaus,
the king of Sparta, is a very powerful man.

And that his brother, Agamemnon,
the king of Mycenae...

...commands all the Greek forces.

What does this have to do
with the fisherman's wife?

Paris...

...you're my brother and I love you.

But if you do anything
to endanger Troy...

...I will rip your pretty face
from your pretty skull.

Now get some sleep.

We sail in the morning.

A beautiful morning.
Poseidon has blessed our voyage.

Sometimes the gods bless you in the
morning and curse you in the afternoon.

Drop sail!

Do you love me, brother?

Would you protect me
against any enemy?

The last time you spoke to me like this...

...you were 10 years old,
and you'd just stolen Father's horse.

What have you done now?

I must show you something.

- Where is she?
- Who, my king?

I swear by the father of the gods,
I will gut you here if you don't tell me!

My king!

She left.

With the Trojans.

The fisherman here saw her
board their ship.

The Trojans?

With the young prince, Paris. She...

Get my ship ready.

Turn us round. Back to Sparta.

High on the sail!

- Wait, wait.
- You fool!

- Listen to me.
- Do you know what you've done?

Do you know how many years our father
worked for peace?

- I love her.
- Ah!

It's all a game to you, isn't it?

You roam from town to town, bedding
merchants' wives and temple mates.

You think you know
something about love.

What about your father's love? You spat on
him when you brought her on this ship!

What about the love for your country?
You'd let Troy burn for this woman?

I won't let you start a war for her.

May I speak?

What you're saying is true. I've wronged
you. I've wronged our father.

If you want to take Helen
back to Sparta, so be it.

But I go with her.

To Sparta? They'll kill you.

Then I'll die fighting.

Oh, and that sounds heroic to you,
doesn't it? To die fighting.

- Little brother, have you ever killed a man?
- No.

- Ever seen a man die in combat?
- No.

I've killed men, and I've heard them dying.
And I've watched them dying.

And there's nothing glorious about it.
Nothing poetic.

You say you want to die for love.
You know nothing about dying.

And you know nothing about love!

All the same, I go with her.

I won't ask you to fight my war.

You already have.

To Troy!

About ship! Set sail!

- I want her back.
- Well, of course you do.

She's a beautiful woman.

I want her back so I can kill her
with my own two hands.

I won't rest till I've burned Troy
to the ground.

I thought you wanted peace with Troy.

I should have listened to you.

Peace is for the women...

...and the weak.

Empires are forged by war.

All my life, I've stood by your side,
fought your enemies.

You're the elder, you reap the glory.
This is the way of the world.

But have I ever complained?
Have I ever asked you for anything?

Never. You're a man of honor.

Everyone in Greece knows this.

The Trojans spat on my honor.

An insult to me is an insult to you.

And an insult to me
is an insult to all Greeks.

Will you go to war with me, brother?

I always thought my
brother's wife was a foolish woman...

...but she's proved to be very useful.

Nothing unifies a people
like a common enemy.

The Trojans have never been conquered.

Some say they can't be conquered.

Old King Priam thinks he's untouchable
behind his high walls.

He thinks the sun god will protect him.

But the gods protect only...

...the strong!

If Troy falls...

...I control the Aegean.

Hector commands the finest army
in the east.

And Troy is built to withstand
a 10-year siege.

There won't be a 10-year siege.

I'll attack them with the greatest force
the world has ever seen.

I want all the kings of Greece
and their armies.

Send emissaries in the morning.

One last thing.

We need Achilles and his Myrmidons.

Achilles.

He can't be controlled.
He's as likely to fight us as the Trojans.

We don't need to control him,
we need to unleash him.

That man was born to end lives.

Yes, he's a gifted killer.
But he threatens everything I've built.

Before me, Greece was nothing.
I brought all the Greek kingdoms together.

I created a nation out of fire worshipers
and snake eaters!

I build the future, Nestor. Me!

Achilles is the past.

A man who fights for no flag.
A man loyal to no country.

How many battles have we won
off the edge of his sword?

This will be the greatest war
the world has ever seen.

We need the greatest warrior.

There's only one man he'll listen to.

I'll send a ship in the morning.

Greetings, brother.

We were told
King Odysseus is hid in the hills.

Odysseus?

That old bastard drinks my wine
and never pays.

You ought to respect your king, friend.

Respect him?

I'd like to punch him in the face.

He's always pawing at my wife,
trying to tear her clothes off.

I hope Agamemnon's generals
are smarter than his emissaries.

What did you say?

You want me
to help you fight the Trojans.

You're...

Are you...?

Forgive us, King Odysseus.

Well...

I'm gonna miss my dog.

King Agamemnon has a favor
to ask of you.

Of course he does.

Never hesitate.

Fancy swordplay.

Nervous?

Petrified.

You told me never
to change sword hands.

Yes. When you know how to use it,
you won't be taking my orders.

Your reputation for hospitality
is fast becoming legend.

Patroclus, my cousin.

Odysseus, king of lthaca.

Patroclus.

I knew your parents well.

I miss them.

Now you have this one
watching over you, eh?

Learning from Achilles himself.

Kings would kill for the honor.

Are you here at Agamemnon's bidding?

We need to talk.

I will not fight for him.

I'm not asking you to fight for him.

I'm asking you to fight for Greece.

Have the Greeks tired of fighting
each other?

- For now.
- For the Greeks!

The Trojans never harmed me.

They insulted Greece.

They insulted a man who couldn't hold
on to his wife. Is that my business?

Your business is war, my friend.

Is it? Am I the whore of the battlefield?

The man has no honor.

I won't be remembered
as a tyrant's mercenary.

Let Achilles fight for honor.
Let Agamemnon fight for power.

And let the gods decide
which man to glorify.

Forget Agamemnon.

Fight for me.

My wife will feel much better
if she knows you're by my side.

I'll feel much better.

Is Ajax going to fight in Troy?

They say he can fell an oak tree
with one swing of the ax.

Trees don't swing back.

We're sending the largest fleet
that ever sailed.

A thousand ships.

A thousand ships?

Prince Hector. Is he as good a warrior
as they say?

The best of all the Trojans.

Some say he's better
than all the Greeks too.

Even if your cousin doesn't come...

...I hope you'll join us.
We could use a strong arm like yours.

Play your tricks on me,
but not my cousin.

You have your swords. I have my tricks.

We play with the toys the gods give us.

We sail for Troy in three days.

This war will never be forgotten.

Nor will the heroes who fight in it.

They say the king of lthaca
has a silver tongue.

I knew they would come for you.

Long before you were born...

...I knew they would come.

They want you to fight in Troy.

I'm making you
another seashell necklace.

Like the ones I made you
when you were a boy.

Do you remember?

Mother...

...tonight, I decide.

If you stay in Lárisa...

...you will find peace.

You will find a wonderful woman.

You will have sons and daughters,
and they will have children.

And they will love you.

When you are gone,
they will remember you.

But when your children are dead
and their children after them...

...your name will be lost.

If you go to Troy...

...glory will be yours.

They will write stories about your
victories for thousands of years.

The world will remember your name.

But if you go to Troy...

...you will never come home.

For your glory walks hand in hand
with your doom.

And I shall never see you again.

You know this to be true, Mother?

I know this.

- My son.
- Father.

Paris.

Father.

- This is Helen.
- Helen?

Helen of Sparta?

Helen of Troy.

I've heard rumors of your beauty.

For once...

...the gossips were right.

Welcome.

Thank you, good king.

Come, you must be tired.

Look.

He's grown.

He is strong.

He's just like his father.

- Paris!
- Briseis!

Beloved cousin, your beauty grows
with each new moon.

Briseis.

A servant of Apollo now.

The young men of Troy were devastated
when Briseis chose the virgin robes.

Uncle.

I thank the gods for your safe return.

- For the gods.
- For the gods.

For gods.

Father...

...I know this is the last thing we need.

It is the will of the gods.
Everything is in their hands.

- But I'm surprised you let him bring her.
- If I'd let him fight Menelaus for her...

...you'd be burning a son's body,
not welcoming a daughter.

We could send peace envoys
to Menelaus.

You know Menelaus.
He'd spear their heads to his gate.

What would you have me do?

Put her on a ship and send her home.

Women have always loved Paris,
and he has loved them back.

But this is different.

Something has changed in him.

If we send her home to Menelaus,
he will follow her.

This is my country,
and these are my countrymen.

I don't want to see them suffer
so my brother can have his prize.

It's not just the Spartans
coming after her.

By now, Menelaus has gone
to Agamemnon.

And Agamemnon has wanted
to destroy us for years.

Once we're out of the way,
he controls the seas.

Enemies have been attacking us
for centuries. Our walls still stand.

Father, we can't win this war.

Apollo watches over us.

Even Agamemnon is no match
for the gods.

And how many battalions
does the sun god command?

Do not mock the gods.

When you were very young,
you came down with scarlet fever.

Your little hand was so hot.

The healer said
you would not last the night.

I went down to Apollo's temple
and I prayed until the sun came up.

That walk back to the palace
was the longest of my life.

But I went into your mother's room
and you were sleeping in her arms.

The fever had broken.

I promised that day
to dedicate my life to the gods.

I will not break my promise.

For 30 years I have worked for peace.
Thirty years.

Paris is a fool sometimes, I know that.

But I will fight a thousand wars
before letting him die.

Forgive me, Father,
but you won't be the one fighting.

They're coming for me.

The wind is bringing them closer.

What if we left?

Tonight. Right now.

What if we went down to the stables,
took two horses and left?

Ride east, keep riding.

- And go where?
- Away from here.

I could hunt deer, rabbit. I could feed us.

But this is your home.

You left your home for me.

Sparta was never my home.

My parents sent my there when I was 16
to marry Menelaus.

But it was never my home.

We'll live off the land.

No more palaces for us. No more servants.
We don't need any of that.

And your family?

We'd be protecting my family. If we're
not here, what's the need for war?

Menelaus won't give up.
He'll track us to the end of the world.

He doesn't know these lands. I do.
We can lose ourselves in a day.

You don't know Menelaus.

You don't know his brother.

They'll burn every house in Troy
to find us.

They'll never believe we've left.

And even if they do,
they'll burn it for spite.

Then I'll make it easy for him to find me.

I'll walk right up to him
and tell him you're mine.

You're very young, my love.

We're the same age.

You're younger than I ever was.

Look at that.

Take up your positions!

Black sail. It's Achilles.

What's the fool doing?

He's going to take the beach of Troy
with 50 men? Ha!

Row, Myrmidon, row!

My lord?

Should we wait for the others?

- They brought us here for war.
- Yes, but Agamemnon's orders...

You fight for me, Eudorus,
or Agamemnon?

For you, my lord.

Then fight for me. And let the servants
of Agamemnon fight for him.

Make way there! Make way!

Tecton, is the Apollonian Guard ready?

- Waiting at the city gates.
- Good. I'll be right there.

Lysander, how long
before the army is ready?

Half of our men are still coming.
We have to arm them...

- How long?
- Noon.

Make it sooner.

And, Lysander, I want patrols
to scour the countryside.

I want every home
and pasture checked...

...every Trojan to be
brought inside the city walls.

If they can't walk, carry them.

Patroclus!

Put down your spear.

- I'm fighting the Trojans.
- Not today.

I'm ready. You taught me how to fight.

And you're a good student.
But you're not a Myrmidon yet.

Look at these men.

They are the fiercest soldiers in all
of Greece. Each of them has bled for me.

- Guard the ship.
- But this is a war.

Cousin, I can't fight the Trojans if I'm
concerned for you. Guard the ship.

Trojans!

All my life, I've lived by a code.

And the code is simple:

Honor the gods, love your woman...

...and defend your country.

Troy is mother to us all.

Fight for her!

Myrmidons...

...my brothers of the sword.

I'd rather fight beside you
than any army of thousands.

Let no man forget how menacing we are.
We are lions!

Do you know what's there, waiting,
beyond that beach?

Immortality! Take it! It's yours!

Fight positions!

Archers!

Archers, draw!

Draw!

Keep forward!

Form up!

Formation!

The man wants to die.

On my command!

Break off! Break off!

Achilles! Achilles! Achilles!

Achilles! Achilles!

Achilles! Achilles! Achilles!

Give him the battle,
we'll take the war.

Give him too many battles
and the men will forget who's king.

Ajax, you need to see this.

Look at him...

...hogging all the glory.

Row, you lazy whores, row!

Greeks are dying! Row!

Those men down there need help. Now!
Tecton, with me.

I am Ajax, breaker of stones!

Look upon me and despair!

Flank! To the flank!

No!

Achilles! Achilles!

Back to the city! Back to the city!

The sun god is a patron of Troy,
our enemy.

Take whatever treasure you can find.

With your permission, my lord.

- Speak.
- Apollo sees everything.

Perhaps it is not wise to offend him.

Huh?

Warn the men.

Wait.

You are very brave or very stupid
to come after me alone.

You must be Hector.

Do you know who I am?

These priests weren't armed.

Yes. There's no honor
in cutting old men's throats.

Only children and fools fight for honor.

I fight for my country.

Fight me!

Why kill you now, prince of Troy...

...with no one here to see you fall?

Why did you come here?

They'll be talking about this war
for 1000 years.

In 1000 years, the dust
from our bones will be gone.

Yes, prince. But our names will remain.

Go home, prince. Drink some wine,
make love to your wife.

Tomorrow, we'll have our war.

You speak of war as if it's a game.

How many wives wait at Troy's gates
for husbands they'll never see again?

Your brother can comfort them. I hear
he's good at charming other men's wives.

Psst.

My lord, you let him go?

It's too early in the day
for killing princes.

Achilles! Achilles!

Achilles! Achilles! Achilles!

- Achilles.
- Ajax.

You're as fearless as the gods.
I'm honored to go to war with you.

As am I.

If you sailed slower,
the war would be over.

I'll miss the start as long as I'm here
at the end.

My lord?

I've got something to show you.

The men found her hiding in the temple.

They thought she'd...

...amuse you.

What's your name?

Did you not hear me?

You killed Apollo's priests.

I've killed men in five countries,
never a priest.

Then your men did.

The sun god will have his vengeance.

What's he waiting for?

The right time to strike.

His priests are dead,
and his acolyte's a captive.

- I think your god is afraid of me.
- Afraid?

Apollo is master of the sun.
He fears nothing.

- Where is he?
- You're nothing but a killer!

You wouldn't know anything
about the gods.

I know more about the gods
than your priests.

I've seen them.

You're royalty, aren't you?

Spent years talking down to men.

You must be royalty.

What's your name?

Even the servants of Apollo have names.

Briseis.

Are you afraid, Briseis?

Should I be?

My lord.

Agamemnon requests your presence.

The kings are gathering
to celebrate the victory.

You fought well today.

My lord.

What do you want here in Troy?

You didn't come for the Spartan queen.

I want what all men want.

I just want it more.

You don't need to fear me, girl.

You're the only Trojan who can say that.

King Triopas, my lord.

You have won a great victory,
my king of kings.

No one thought the Trojan beach
could be captured so easily.

A beautiful gift, Triopas.

You will be among the first to walk
in the streets of Troy tomorrow.

My father, Neleus, had this urn made to
commemorate his victory at Cyparisseis.

I present it to you...

...in honor of an even more
memorable victory.

Thank you, old friend.

Tomorrow, we'll eat supper
in the gardens of Troy.

Leave us.

War is young men dying and old men
talking. You know this.

Ignore the politics.

Apparently, you won some great victory.

Perhaps you didn't notice. The Trojan
beach belonged to Priam in the morning.

It belongs to Agamemnon
in the afternoon.

Have the beach.
I didn't come here for sand.

No.

You came here because you want
your name to last through the ages.

A great victory was won today.

But that victory is not yours.

Kings did not kneel to Achilles.

Kings did not pay homage to Achilles.

Perhaps the kings were too far behind
to see. Soldiers won the battle.

History remembers kings!

Not soldiers.

Tomorrow, we'll batter down
the gates of Troy.

I'll build monuments
on every island of Greece.

I'll carve "Agamemnon" in the stone.

My name will last through the ages.

Your name is written in sand...

...for the waves to wash away.

Be careful, king of kings.
First, you need the victory.

Your men sacked the temple
of Apollo, yes?

You want gold? Take it.

It's my gift to honor your courage.
Take what you wish.

I already have.

Aphareus!

Haemon!

The spoils of war.

No argument with you, but if you don't
release her, you'll never see home again.

- Decide.
- Guards!

Stop!

Too many people have died today.

If killing is your only talent,
that's your curse.

I don't want anyone dying for me.

Mighty Achilles, silenced by a slave girl.

Tonight, I'll have her give me a bath.

And then...

- ...who knows?
- You sack of wine!

Before my time is done, I will look
down on your corpse and smile.

If they want a war,
we will give them a war.

I would match the best of Troy
against the best of Greece any day.

The best of Greece outnumber
the best of Troy two to one.

So, what do you suggest?

We surrender our city?

We allow the Greeks to slaughter our men?
Rape our wives?

I suggest diplomacy.

The Greeks came here for one thing.

Let's be honest, my friends.
Trojans are now burning on the pyre...

...because of one youthful indiscretion.

Glaucus.

You have fought with me for 40 years.
Can we win this war?

Our walls have never been breached.

We have the finest archers in the world.

And we have Hector...

...whose men would fight
the shades of Tartarus if he commanded.

Yes, we can win.

I spoke with two farmers today.

They saw an eagle flying
with a serpent clutched in its talons.

This is a sign from Apollo.

We will win a great victory tomorrow.

Bird signs.

You want to plan a strategy
based on bird signs.

Hector, show respect.

When Archeptolemus prophesied
four years of drought we dug deeper wells.

The drought came
and we had water to drink.

The high priest is a servant of the gods.

And I am a servant of Troy.

I've always honored the gods, Father.
You know that.

But today I fought a Greek
who desecrated the statue of Apollo.

Apollo didn't strike the man down.

The gods won't fight this war for us.

There won't be a war.

This is not a conflict of nations.

It is a dispute between two men.

I don't want to see another Trojan die
because of me.

Paris.

Tomorrow morning, I will challenge
Menelaus for the right to Helen.

The winner will take her home.
The loser will burn before nightfall.

Does he have a chance?

Father...

...I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you.

Do you love her?

You are a great king because you love
your country so much.

Every blade of grass.

Every grain of sand.

Every rock in the river.

You love all of Troy.

That is the way I love Helen.

I've fought many wars in my time.

Some were fought for land,
some for power, some for glory.

I suppose fighting for love makes
more sense than all the rest.

But I won't be the one fighting.

The sword of Troy.

My father carried this sword,
and his father before him...

...all the way back
to the founding of Troy.

The history of our people
was written with this sword.

Carry it with you tomorrow.

The spirit of Troy is in that sword.

So long as a Trojan carries it...

...our people have a future.

The man who killed Tecton
outside Apollo's temple...

...I've never seen a spear
thrown like that.

An impossible throw.

He has no idea what's happening.

Thank the gods.

Don't go tomorrow.

- Please don't go.
- Paris fights tomorrow, not me.

Fifty thousand Greeks didn't cross the sea
to watch your brother fight. You know this.

You'd make a fine general, my love.

You've been fighting your whole life.
Let other men do battle this time.

You know I don't want to fight.
I want to see my son grow tall.

I want to see the girls chasing after him.

Just like they chased his father.

He's much more handsome
than I ever was.

I must see Paris.

I lost...

...seven brothers...

...in the Spartan wars.

You'd think I'd be good at losing by now.

I can't lose you.

I won't survive.

Wait.

Wait!

Helen, what are you doing?

- Let me go.
- No.

I saw them burn.

I saw them burning on the pyres.

That's my fault.

It is. You know it is.

All those widows.

I still hear them screaming.

Their husbands died because I'm here.

I'm going down to the ships.

No, you're not.

I'm giving myself back to Menelaus.

He can do what he wants.

Kill me, make me his slave, I don't care.

Anything is better than this.

It's too late for that.

Do you think Agamemnon cares
about his brother's marriage?

This is about power. Not love.

Paris is going to fight in the morning.

- Yes.
- Menelaus will kill him.

I won't let that happen.

- It's his decision.
- No.

I can't ask anyone to fight for me.

I'm no longer queen of Sparta.

You're a princess of Troy now...

...and my brother needs you tonight.

My lord.

The army is marching.

Let them march. We stay.

But the men are ready.

We stay till Agamemnon groans
to have Achilles back.

As you wish.

Are you ready to fight?

I am.

Are you ready to kill? To take life?

At night, I see their faces,
all the men I've killed.

They're standing there on the far bank
of the River Styx.

They're waiting for me.

They say, "Welcome, brother."

We men are wretched things.

I taught you how to fight,
but I never taught you why to fight.

I fight for you.

Who will you fight for when I'm gone?

Soldiers, they fight for kings
they've never even met.

They do what they're told,
die when they're told to.

Soldiers obey.

Don't waste your life following
some fool's orders.

Go.

Are you sure you want to do this?

I started this war.

Helen...

...sit with me.

All my life I have prayed against this day.

Yes, my king.

Call me Father, dear child.

Forgive me, Father...

...for bringing this.

I blame you for nothing.

Everything is in the hands of the gods.

Besides...

...how could I blame anyone
for falling in love with Paris?

Prepare to halt!

Prepare to halt!

Halt!

Move.

Menelaus is a bull.

He'll charge you,
but keep your distance and use your speed.

Brother...

...you don't have to do this.

I see you're not hiding behind
your high walls. Valiant of you.

Ill-advised, but valiant.

You come here uninvited.
Go back to your ships and go home.

We've come too far, Prince Hector.

Prince? What prince?

What son of a king would accept
a man's hospitality...

...eat his food, drink his wine, then steal
his wife in the middle of the night?

The sun was shining
when your wife left you.

She's up there, watching,
isn't she? Good.

I want her to watch you die.

Not yet, brother.

Look around you, Hector.

I brought all the warriors of Greece
to your shores.

You can still save Troy, young prince.

I have two wishes.

If you grant them,
no more of your people need die.

First, you must give Helen
back to my brother.

Second, Troy must submit
to my command...

...to fight for me whenever I call.

You want me to look upon your army
and tremble?

Well, I see them.

I see 50,000 men brought here
to fight for one man's greed.

Careful, boy.

My mercy has limits.

And I've seen the limits of your mercy.

And I tell you now, no son of Troy
will ever submit to a foreign ruler.

Then every son of Troy shall die.

There is another way.

I love Helen. I won't give her up
and neither will you.

So let us fight our own battle.

The winner takes Helen home.
And let that be the end of it.

A brave offer, but not enough.

Let me kill this little peacock.

I didn't come here for your pretty wife.
I came here for Troy.

I came for my honor.

His every breath insults me.

Let me kill him. When he's lying
in the dust, signal to attack.

You'll have your city.
I'll have my revenge.

So be it.

I accept your challenge. And tonight,
I'll drink to your bones.

My lord.
Back to the line!

Make him swing and miss. He'll tire.

Brother...

...if I fall, tell Helen... Tell her...

I will.

Don't let Menelaus hurt her. If he...

You think of your sword and his sword
and nothing else.

Get up.

Come on.

See the crows?

They never tasted prince before.

Is this what you left me for?!

Fight!

Fight me!

You coward!

Fight me!

We have a pact! Fight!

Fight him, son. Fight him.

- Fight me!
- The Trojans have violated the agreement!

Prepare for battle!

This is not honor!

This is not worthy of royalty!

If he doesn't fight, Troy is doomed.

Paris.

No. No.

The fight is over.

The fight is not over.

Stand back, Prince Hector.

I'll kill him at your feet. I don't care.

He is my brother.

Paris!

Go! Go!

Get inside, Paris!

Archers!

- Our men are too close to the walls.
- Pull back.

Pull back, you fool!

For Troy!

For Troy!

- Now!
- Loose!

Get them in line!

Get the men back into lines!

Front line, push!

Ah!

So you're the best of the Trojans.

Forward.

Forward!

Apollonians! Now!

Prince Hector!

We need to retreat!

My army's never lost a battle yet!

You won't have an army
if you don't fall back!

Back to the ships!

- Back to the ships!
- Retreat!

Back!
Retreat!

Go back!

Back. Back to the ships!

Fall back!

- Men, fall back!
- Halt!

Halt!

But we have them on the run!

We're in range of their archers.

Have our men gather our fallen.

Send an emissary to them.
They can collect their dead.

Would they have done the same for us?

Go! Back!

Fall back into line!

Before I leave...

...I will burn their city to the ground.

Brother, I promise you that.

They're laughing at me in Troy.
Drunk with victory!

They think I'll sail home at first light.

Maybe we should.

Flee? Like a whipped dog?

The men believe we came here
for Menelaus' wife.

Won't be needing her anymore.

My brother's blood still wets the sand,
and you insult him!

It's no insult to say a dead man is dead.

If we leave now, we lose all credibility.

The Trojans can beat us so easily.
How long before the Hittites invade?

If we stay, we stay here
for the right reasons.

To protect Greece, not your pride.

Your private battle with Achilles
is destroying us.

Achilles is one man.

Hector is one man.

Look what he did to us today.

Hector fights for his country!
Achilles fights only for himself!

I don't care about the man's allegiance.
I care about his ability to win battles.

He's right.

The men's morale is weak.

Weak? They're ready to swim home.

Even if I could make peace with Achilles,
the man won't listen to me!

He's as likely to spear me
as to speak to me!

I'll talk to him.

He'll want the girl back.

He can have that damn girl.

I haven't touched her.

Where is she?

I gave her to the men.

They need some amusement after today.

Come on, give the bitch to me!

Who's first?

Trojan whore!

What's this? A virgin's robe?
You won't be needing that...

...for much longer!
Hold her.

Come on. Come on. Hold her down.

Ah!

Shh.

Are you hurt?

I watched you fight them.
You have courage.

To fight back when people attack me?
Dog has that kind of courage.

Eat.

I've known men like you my whole life.

No, you haven't.

You think you're so different
from 1000 others?

Soldiers understand nothing but war.
Peace confuses them.

- And you hate these soldiers.
- I pity them.

Trojan soldiers died trying to protect you.

Perhaps they deserve more than your pity.

Why did you choose this life?

- What life?
- To be a great warrior.

I chose nothing. I was born,
and this is what I am.

And you? Why did you choose
to love a god?

I think you'll find the romance one-sided.

Do you enjoy provoking me?

You've dedicated your life to the gods.

Zeus, god of thunder. Athena,
goddess of wisdom. You serve them.

- Yes, of course.
- And Ares, god of war?

Who blankets his bed with the skin
of men he's killed?

All the gods are to be feared
and respected.

I'll tell you a secret...

...something they don't teach you
in your temple.

The gods envy us.

They envy us because we're mortal.

Because any moment might be our last.

Everything's more beautiful
because we're doomed.

You will never be lovelier
than you are now.

We will never be here again.

I thought you were a dumb brute.

I could have forgiven a dumb brute.

Do it.

Nothing is easier.

Aren't you afraid?

Everyone dies. Today or 50 years
from now. What does it matter?

Do it.

You'll kill more men if I don't kill you.

Many.

My lord, there's...

Tell the men to start loading the ship.
We're going home.

Gather the stores.

Prepare the ship.

Agamemnon is a proud man.

But he knows when he's made a mistake.

The man sends you
to make his apologies?

What are you doing enthralled
to that pig of a king?

The world seems simple to you,
my friend...

...but when you're a king,
very few choices are simple.

Ithaca cannot afford an enemy
like Agamemnon.

Are we supposed to fear him?

You don't fear anyone.
That's your problem. Fear is useful.

We need you back.

Greece needs you.

Greece got along fine before I was born.

Greece will be Greece long after I'm dead.

I'm not talking about the land.

The men need you.

Stay, Achilles.

You were born for this war.

Things are less simple today.

Women have a way
of complicating things.

Of all the kings of Greece,
I respect you the most.

But in this war, you're a servant.

Sometimes you have to serve
in order to lead.

I hope you understand that one day.

We're going home?

We sail in the morning.

Greeks are being slaughtered.
We can't just sail away.

If it's fighting you still long for,
there will always be another war.

These are our countrymen.

I ate, laughed, mourned with these men
while you hid in your tent.

You betray all of Greece
just to see Agamemnon fall.

Someone has to lose.

In all my years to come,
may my heart never turn as black as yours!

We sail in the morning!

The omens are gathering.

The directive is clear.

Fight for your country,
that's the only directive.

Last time the high priest spoke to us,
he prophesied a great victory for Troy.

We won a great victory. Let him speak.

What course of action
do you recommend?

The gods favor our cause.

Now is the time to destroy
the Greek army.

Glaucus?

Their morale is battered.

Hit them now. Hit them hard.

And they will run.

I must admit,
I overestimated the Greeks.

They lack discipline and courage.

The Myrmidons didn't fight yesterday. There
must be dissension among the Greeks.

But if we attack their ships,
we will unify them.

If they decide to attack us, let them.

Our walls can't be breached.
We'll beat them back again.

Yesterday, the Greeks underestimated us.

We should not return the favor.

You're confident about the meaning
of these omens?

The desecration of his temple
angers Apollo.

The gods have cursed the Greeks.

Two of their kings
have already gone down to the dust.

Prepare the army. We attack at daybreak.

Father.

We're making a mistake.

Prepare the army.

Come on. Come on.

Am I still your captive?

You're my guest.

In Troy, guests can leave
whenever they want.

You should leave, then.

Would you leave this all behind?

Would you leave Troy?

Hold those barricades!

Archers to the rear.

Achilles!

Achilles.

Now!

Forward!

Enough for one day.

Yes.

Back to the ships!

Back to the ships!

It was his cousin.

To Troy!

- Back to the city!
- Back to the city!

To Troy!

We were going to sail home today.

I don't think anyone's sailing home now.

Achilles.

You violated my command.

No, my lord. There was a mistake.

I ordered the Myrmidons to stand down.

You led them into combat.

I didn't lead them, my lord.
We thought you did.

Where's Patroclus?

Patroclus!

We thought he was you, my lord.

He wore your armor, your shield,
your greaves, your helmet.

He even moved like you.

Where is he?

- Where?
- He's dead, my lord.

Hector cut his throat.

Don't. Don't.

Where are you taking me?

Do you remember how to get here?

Yes.

The next time you come here,
follow the tunnel.

There are no turns, so you can't get lost.
Just keep walking.

Why?

When you get to the end,
you'll be by the river.

Follow the river until you get
to Mount Ida.

The Greeks won't go that far inland.

Hector.

Why are you telling me this?

- If I die...
- No.

If I die, I don't know how long
the city will stand.

Don't say that.

If the Greeks get inside the walls,
it's over.

They'll kill all the men, throw
the babies from the city walls.

- Please.
- The women, they'll take as slaves.

That, for you, will be worse than dying.

Why are you saying such things?

Because I want you to be ready.

I want you to get our boy,
and I want you to bring him here.

You save as many people as you can,
but you get here. And you run.

Do you understand?

I killed a boy today.

And he was young.

He was much too young.

That boy has just saved this war for us.

- Eudorus.
- My lord.

I need my armor.

No.

Don't go!

Rope!

Hector's my cousin. He's a good man.

Don't fight him. Please don't fight him.

Please.

Ha.

Ha!

No.

Hector!

Hector!

Father...

...forgive me for any offenses.

I've served you as best as I could.

Hector!

May the gods be with you.

Hector.

No father ever had a better son.

Hector!

Apollo guard you, my prince.

You're the best man I know.

You're a prince of Troy.

I know you'll make me proud.

Hector!

Remember what I told you.

You don't have to go. You don't.

You remember what I told you.

Hector!

Hector!

I've seen this moment in my dreams.

I'll make a pact with you.

With the gods as our witnesses...

...let us pledge that the winner will allow
the loser all the proper funeral rituals.

There are no pacts
between lions and men.

Now you know who you're fighting.

I thought it was you
I was fighting yesterday.

And I wish it had been you. But I gave
the dead boy the honor he deserved.

You gave him the honor of your sword.

You won't have eyes tonight.
You won't have ears or a tongue.

You'll wander the underworld, blind, deaf,
and dumb, and all the dead will know:

This is Hector, the fool who thought
he killed Achilles.

Ah!

Ah!

Get up, prince of Troy.

Get up. I won't let a stone take my glory.

Ah!

Ah!

You lost your cousin.

Now you've taken mine.

When does it end?

It never ends.

Who are you?

I have endured what no one
on earth has endured before.

I kissed the hands of the man
who killed my son.

Priam?

How did you get in here?

I know my own country better
than the Greeks, I think.

You're a brave man.

I could have your head on a spit
in the blink of an eye.

Do you really think death
frightens me now?

I watched my eldest son die...

...watched you drag his body
behind your chariot.

Give him back to me.

He deserves the honor of a proper burial.
You know that.

Give him to me.

He killed my cousin.

He thought it was you.

How many cousins have you killed?

How many sons and fathers
and brothers and husbands?

How many, brave Achilles?

I knew your father.

He died before his time.

But he was lucky not to live long enough
to see his son fall.

You have taken everything from me.

My eldest son...

...heir to my throne...

...defender of my kingdom.

I cannot change what happened.
It is the will of the gods.

But give me this small mercy.

I loved my boy from the moment
he opened his eyes...

...till the moment you closed them.

Let me wash his body.

Let me say the prayers.

Let me place two coins on his eyes
for the boatman.

If I let you walk out of here...

...if I let you take him...

...it doesn't change anything.

You're still my enemy in the morning.

You're still my enemy tonight.

But even enemies can show respect.

I admire your courage.

Meet me outside in a moment.

We'll meet again soon, my brother.

Your son was the best I've fought.

In my country, the funeral games
last for 12 days.

It is the same in my country.

Then the prince will have that honor.

No Greek will attack Troy for 12 days.

Briseis?

I thought you were dead.

You are free.

If I hurt you...

...it's not what I wanted.

Go.

No one will stop you. You have my word.

Come, my girl.

You're a far better king than the one
leading this army.

Achilles makes a secret pact, and I
have to honor it? What treason is this?

Consorting with the enemy king.
Giving him 12 days of peace.

Peace! Peace!

Their prince is dead.
Their army is leaderless.

This is the time to attack!

Even with Hector gone, we have
no way to breach their walls.

They can wait 10 years for us to leave.

I will smash their walls to the ground...

...if it costs me 40,000 Greeks.

Hear me, Zeus!

I will smash their walls to the ground.

That's good.

For my son back home.

Well, Odysseus.

You found a way to make the sheep
invite the wolves to dinner.

Forgive me, Eudorus.
I should never have struck you.

You've been a loyal friend all your life.

I hope I never disappoint you again.

It's I who have been the disappointment.

Rouse the men. You're taking them home.

Aren't you coming with us?

I have my own battle to fight.

Let me march beside you.

No. I don't want our men
to be a part of this.

It's a beautiful night.

Go, Eudorus.
This is the last order I give you.

Fighting for you has been
my life's honor, my lord.

Open the gates! Open the gates!

Here.

Plague.

Don't go too close, my king.

This is the will of the gods.

They desecrated the temple of Apollo...

...and Apollo desecrated their flesh.

They thought they could come here
and sack our city in a day.

Now look at them,
fleeing across the Aegean.

What is this?

An offering to Poseidon.

The Greeks are praying
for a safe return home.

I hope the sea god spits in their offering.

Lets them all drown
at the bottom of the sea.

This is a gift. We should take it
to the temple of Poseidon.

- I think we should burn it.
- Burn it?

My prince, it's a gift to the gods.

The prince is right.

I would burn the whole of Greece
if I had a big enough torch.

I warn you, good men,
be careful what you insult.

Our beloved Prince Hector
had sharp words for the gods...

...and a day later
Achilles' sword cut him down.

Father, burn it.

Forgive me, my king,
I mean no disrespect...

...but I don't want to see
any more sons of Troy...

...incur the gods' wrath.

I will not watch another son die.

Look at them.

You'd think their prince had never died.

You are their prince now.

Make your brother proud.

Let it burn! Let Troy burn!

Burn it! For Menelaus! Burn it!

Burn Troy! Burn Troy!

I promised you, brother!
I promised you!

Burn it! Burn it for Menelaus!

Briseis. Where is she?

- Where?
- I don't know.

Please. I have a son.

Then get him out of Troy.

Briseis!

Paris! Andromache!

Helen. We must go.

Where?
I'll show you. Now. Hurry.

Paris. Paris.

It's a long way. Quick. We must go now.

Briseis!

Paris!

It's a long way. Quick.

Hurry. There's a tunnel.

- Come.
- I stay.

- No.
- My father will never abandon the city.

I can't leave him.

The city is dead.
They're burning it to the ground.

- What's your name?
- Aeneas.

- Do you know how to use a sword?
- Yes.

The sword of Troy.

As long as it's in the hands of a Trojan,
our people have a future.

Protect them, Aeneas.
Find them a new home.

- I will.
- Hurry. Quick.

Paris, Paris, Briseis wasn't in her room.

I'll find her.

Go.

- I'll stay with you.
- Go.

Please don't leave me.

- How could you love me if I ran now?
- Please.

We will be together again, in this world
or the next. We will be together.

Go.

To the gate!

Forward!

Follow me!

Into line!

Soldiers of Troy...

...you men are warriors!

To lead you has been my honor!

My prince!

The boatman waits for us.

I say we make him wait a little longer!

Ah!

No one. Spare no one.

Paris!

Save yourself.

Briseis!

Beware, my friends.
I am a servant of the gods.

Have you no honor?

Have you no honor?

I wanted you alive, old man.

I wanted you to watch your city burn.

Please.

The children.

Spare the innocents.

Nobody's innocent.

Nobody.

Too late for prayer, priestess.

I almost lost this war
because of your little romance.

I want to taste what Achilles tasted.

You'll be my slave in Mycenae.

A Trojan priestess scrubbing my floors.

And at night...

Get up!

Hold her.

Come with me.

No!

Paris!

No!

Don't!

Don't! Please!

Paris! Don't!

It's all right.

You gave me peace...

...in a lifetime of war.

Briseis, come.

Go.
No.

You must.

No.

Troy is falling.

- Go.
- No.

Begin anew.

We must go. I know a way out.

It's all right.

Go.

Find peace...

...my brother.

If they ever tell my story, let them say...

...I walked with giants.

Men rise and fall like the winter wheat...

...but these names will never die.

Let them say I lived
in the time of Hector...

...breaker of horses.

Let them say...

...I lived in the time of Achilles.