Troy Page #5

The king and the princes drink deeply and slam their empty

cups to the table.

MENELAUS:

May the gods keep the wolves in the

hills and the women in our beds.

All the men in the hall cheer and rise to their feet.

GUESTS:

To Sparta! To Troy!

A band of MUSICIANS strike up their instruments; SERVANTS

roam the hall filling goblets with wine.

POLYDORA (20), one of Helen's handmaidens, leads a dozen

attractive YOUNG WOMEN into the banquet hall.

The warriors howl at the sight of the women. Soon each of

the handmaidens is flanked by drunken soldiers.

Menelaus grabs Hector in a bear hug. Hector gamely

accepts the embrace. When the king releases him, both men

spill a few drops of wine from their cups onto the floor.

They drink the rest of their wine. Menelaus grips

Hector's upper arm. SERVANTS refill the cups.

MENELAUS:

A strong arm. Thank the gods we

made peace -- I've seen too many of

my men struck down with this arm.

HECTOR:

Never again, I hope.

MENELAUS:

Only one man works a sword better

than you. The son of Peleus the

Argonaut.

HECTOR:

Achilles.

MENELAUS:

That madman would throw a spear at

Zeus himself if the god insulted

him.

(CONTINUED)

12.

8 CONTINUED:
(3) 8

Menelaus indicates Polydora, who stares at Hector openly.

MENELAUS:

You see that one over there? I

picked her just for you. She's a

little lioness.

Menelaus grins at the girl, who lowers her eyes and

smiles. Helen notices this silent exchange but ignores

it, conversing instead with another HANDMAIDEN who sits

beside her.

HECTOR:

Thank you. My wife waits for me in

Troy.

MENELAUS:

My wife waits for me right there.

He leans forward to whisper conspiratorially in Hector's

ear.

MENELAUS:

Wives are for breeding. You

understand? For making little

princes. Come, enjoy yourself

tonight.

Helen stands and walks out of the reception hall.

Menelaus does not notice. Hector does. He raises his cup

to Menelaus.

HECTOR:

You make excellent wine in Sparta.

Menelaus laughs and drinks with Hector.

Paris excuses himself from the Spartan generals he's been

speaking with and heads outside -- in the same direction

as Helen. Hector watches with mounting agitation.

9 INT. HELEN'S CHAMBER - NIGHT 9

The room is lit by a dozen tall candles. Helen removes

the flowers from her hair and drops them into a bowl of

water. She hears a sound and looks up. Paris stands in

the doorway.

For several breaths they are silent, staring at each

other.

(CONTINUED)

13.

9 CONTINUED:
9

HELEN:

You shouldn't be here.

Paris closes the door behind him.

PARIS:

That's what you said last night.

HELEN:

Last night was a mistake.

PARIS:

And the night before?

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