Helen of Troy
Narrator: You may have heard the story of Helen,
a woman whose beauty launched a thousand ships
and started the most famous war in history. You
may have heard of that valiant struggle that took
place beneath the golden walls of Troy. Ten years,
the best of our lives. Ten thousand men, the best the
gods and dreams of glory could have fashioned. All
led by Agamemnon, the mightiest of the Greeks.
And Achilles, who could strike down 10 warriors
with one blow. You may even have heard of Paris,
who they say betrayed his country and crown for
love. But that is not the way it happened. Let me tell
you the real story. I know. I was there.
Cassandra (little girl): Kill him! Kill him! Kill
him! Kill him!
[Woman Groaning]
[Baby Crying]
Midwife: It’s a boy, Your Highness. A boy!
King Priam: You said, “Kill him. Kill him.” Before
any of us knew that it was a boy. Cassandra, have
you just had one of your visions, hmm? Tell me!
Queen Hecuba: Priam, come see your son.
Cassandra, come see your brother Alexandros.
King Priam: Look, Cassandra. I know that you see
things, and I know that people don’t believe you,
but I do. You-you saw that it was a baby boy, right?
[Panting]
King Priam: Hmm? What else did you see? What
else?
Cassandra: If he lives, Troy will burn.
King Priam: Take my son to the mountain.
Queen Hecuba: No!
King Priam: Throw him from the highest peak.
Queen Hecuba: No!
King Priam: Do it now!
Queen Hecuba: No! No! No, no, no, no! No! No!
Please! No! Please! My son!
Narrator: One of the kingdom’s servants carried
the baby to the highest peak of the mountain. As
soon as he reached there, he laid the baby on the
ground.
King’s servant: Gods, do your will.
Narrator: From afar, a man noticed the kingdom’s
servant. He then went to the spot where the baby
was left.
[Baby Crying]
Paris’ father: Why would they? What was it,
child? Some foul prophet jealous of your beauty?
Nevermind. With me, you shall be loved and
honoured. I shall name you Paris.
Narrator: Years passed and Paris became a young
man.
Man #1: I’ve got goats who fight better than you.
Man #2: Hey, too bad you can’t watch your goats
as well as your flank.
[Laughing]
Paris: What?
Man #3: Look! (points at the goat)
[Goat Bleating]
Paris: Watch my herd!
Paris: Stubos! Stubos!
Narrator: Paris followed Stubos and ended up
entering a cave.
Paris: Stubos? Stubos?
[Water flowing]
[Indistinct Whispering]
Paris: Who’s there?
Aphrodite: Beauty is all; all is beauty.
Athena: Victory goes to the strong.
Hera: Gold rules men. Wealth is power.
Aphrodite: Paris must choose.
Hera: You must judge who of us is fairest.
Paris: Who are you?
Hera: Choose me Paris. I am Hera. I can give you
wealth beyond your dreams.
Athena: Athena brings victory and glory forever.
Aphrodite: Look into its face, Paris. See what
Aphrodite gives, the most beautiful woman in the
world – Helen.
Narrator: Meanwhile in Sparta, a city-state in
southern Greece, people united at the King’s palace
to witness a very important event.
[Blowing Horn]
Tyndareus: High King Atreus, Prince
Agamemnon, Prince Menelaus, we welcome you to
Sparta.
Atreus: Great Tyndareus, made greater by his
kindness.
Tyndareus: Made greater only by his dutiful and
obedient daughter. May I present the lovely
Clytemenstra.
Agamemnon: Clytemenstra, I hereby claim you as
my wife.
[Helen arrives]
Agamemnon: (looks at Helen) And who is this?
Tyndareus: My youngest. Still a child. An untamed
and disrespectful child. I might add.
Menelaus: Her name, my lord?
Tyndareus: She is Helen.
Menelaus: Helen.
Pollux: Father, I will take her to her room.
Tyndareus: Yes. Indeed you shall. As punishment
for her disrespect, she will miss the wedding feast.
Agamemnon: Father-in-law, I see my bride is
distressed. You’re quite right. Clytemnestra’s little
sister is but a child, a child who meant no harm.
Why not invite her to join us?
Menelaus: Well. That sounds fair. I would be
honored to be Helen’s escort. Should the king’s
legendary kindness permit?
Tyndareus: Pollux, see that she’s properly dressed.
Pollux: Yes, Father.
Narrator: Helen went to her room to get dressed
for the feast. After a while, two unknown men
arrived and abducted Helen.
(Gasps. Screams) (Muffled screaming)
Soldier #1: Halt there!
Theseus: Would you hold this, please?
Theseus: Thank you! (Grunting)
(Screaming continues)
Helen: Why are you doing that?
Theseus: Doing what?
Helen: Casting lots. And I know what for too.
You’ve no right. I’m not some sort of a prize.
Man #4: Well done, my friend. So you get the girl,
and I get the horse. Well, I’ll just have to find
myself another stunningly beautiful princess.
Persephone, perhaps.
Theseus: She’s sweet on pomegranates, I heard.
Man #4: I hate pomegranates.
Theseus: Farewell, my friend. May the gods be
kind.
Helen: Who are you?
Theseus: Theseus, King of Athens.
Helen: You don’t look like a king.
(Spits)
Theseus: You’d better get used to me. I’m going to
marry you.
Helen: I think you’ve got me confused with my
sister. I’m not the daughter of Tyndareus who does
what anybody says.
Theseus: You’re not the daughter of Tyndareus at
all.
Helen: Of course I am. You think my mother found
me under a cabbage leaf?
Theseus: Some say that. I don’t. You’re Queen
Lida’s daughter. All right. There’s no mistaking that
face.
Helen: I’m my father’s daughter too.
(Laughs)
Theseus: You’d have to be. That’t the way it works.
Helen: Tyndareus is my father.
Theseus: They never told you anything at all, did
they?
Helen: Told me what?
Theseus: What do you think happened to your
mother?
Helen: She died.
Theseus: Why?
Helen: Because of me. I made her sick.
Theseus: How? Do you know? Tyndareus told you,
you killed your mother?
Helen: He didn’t have to say it. He can’t look at
me.
(Sighs)
Theseus: your mother took her own life. Helen. She
leapt from the west wall of the palace.
Helen: No. You lie. Why would she?
Theseus: She was raped.
Helen: Because she was beautiful?
Theseus: Yeah.
(Helen screams)
Helen: Is that what you intend with me?
Theseus: What?
Helen: Rape.
Theseus: I don’t rape children. Or are you a
woman?
Helen: No. No. No.
Theseus: Well, when you are, we’ll be good
friends. You will be fine.
Helen: Tell me the truth about my mother. I need to
know. Please!
(Sighs)
Theseus: When it happened, Tyndareus was away
in Egypt. When she began to show a couple of
months later, he’d been gone for half a year. So the
kingdom watched her belly swell month after
month. She was disgraced. She had no husband
beside her. She waited till she had you, then…
Helen: Had me? (Shuddering) It was me? No!
Theseus: Helen, no. There are wolves.
Helen: Do I look like her?
Theseus: Well. You’re younger, and dirtier. When
you grow up, if you grow up and don’t make me
wring your neck, you’ll be more breathtaking.
Helen: Who was it? Who did it? Tell me who?
Theseus: Helen, you’re the daughter of the greatest
god. Zeus is your father. That’s why your beauty
will never be matched. That’s why no man will ever
resist it.
Helen: You resisted me.
Theseus (laughs): Well. Not without great effort.
Let me be your friend. I think you could do with
one.
Helen: I must always know the truth.
Theseus: Always.
Narrator: And so Paris came to Troy. It was the
richest city in the world. Into it were brought silks
from Asia, spices from Arabia, rare woods from
Africa.
(Chicken clucking) (Speaking Asian language)
Street performer: A feast for the eyes. Both of
them. Huh?
(Chattering continues)
Narrator: From its strategic harbor, with its
massive walls, Troy controlled all trade north and
south of the Aegean. And Paris would control
Troy’s fate more than he could know.
(Horse whinnying)
(Bull mooing) (Mooing continues)
(Applause. Cheering)
(Chattering) (Cheering continues)
(Crowd chanting): Hector! Hector! Hector!
Hector!
Register: You here to sign up? What’s your name?
Paris: Paris.
Register: Of? As in where from?
(Applause)
Paris: Mount Ida.
Register: All right. Where’s your cuirass?
Paris: My what?
Register: Breastplate. No? What about a helmet?
Any kind of armor? Boy! Fetch me some of that old
armor. How about your cudgel?
Paris: I could use this.
Register: Look here, lad. You can’t win, but at least
you have to put on a good show. Go ahead. Choose
one. You’ll find some better than others.
Paris: Why can’t I win?
Register: No one ever beats Prince Hector. Leave
your knife on the rack.
Head of the soldiers: Hey, shepherd boy! The hero
from Mt. Ida! (Laughing)
Paris: Ah, the king’s thief.
Register: You’re on, shepherd. With your friend.
Go! Go, go!
Announcer: Paris of Mt. Ida meets Pres Byterian,
commander of the guard!
(Cheering. Booing) (Booing. Jeering)
(Both grunting) (Grunting) (Cheering)
Announcer: The winner is Paris of Mt. Ida.
(Groaning)
Hector: Need better armor. This old Hittite stuff is
junk. Is it bad?
Paris: It’s nothing. An old wound.
Hector: You shouldn’t be fighting.
Paris: I have to.
Hector: Oh really? And why is that? Paris: I love you, Father.

Paris: I don’t like thieves sent by kings to steal my
livestock for their games and amusement.
Hector: The bull?
Paris: My bull.
Announcer: The winner, Paris of Mt.Ida.
Paris’ father: I can’t watch my only son get killed.
Cassandra: He’s not your son. Begone. Old
shepherd.

Hector: Ah. (Laughing) Paris: Wait. He’s my father.

(Crowd cheering) Paris’ father: No, Paris, don’t. It’s Princess

Cassandra.
Hector: My father’s games must be fair. I can’t
fight a wounded man. Cassandra: Alexandros?

Announcer: The rules are clear, my lord. You Paris: My name is Paris.
must.
Cassandra: You should be dead.
Paris’ father: Paris. Son.
Paris: Give me a minute.
(Groaning)
Announcer: The final match! Prince Hector of
Announcer: Paris of Mt. Ida will fight Damien of Troy against Paris of Mt. Ida.
Argos.
Cassandra: No. (Whispering) You must kill him.
Paris’ father: You’re hurt.
Hector: These are just games. Cassandra.
Paris: I’ll be fine.
Cassandra: You don’t understand!
Paris’ father: Your ribs. You can’t.
Hector: Look, he is good, but he’s only a shepherd.
Paris: Father. I’ll be fine.
Cassandra: He’s Alexandros. He’s baby
(Crowd cheering) Alexandros! If you love your family, honor Troy,
you must destroy him.
Announcer: The winner is Paris of Mt. Ida.
Hector: You don’t intend to fight me?
(Crowd cheering) (Announcer continues)
Paris: I’ll fight you the way I live, not Troy’s way.
Paris’ father: Paris, you must stop this. I’ve seen
these crush a man’s head. Paris, you must never Hector: Do you know how to use a dagger,
mind what happened. We’ll survive without our shepherd?
bull. Paris, you’re my only child. I beg you, come
home! Paris: Can’t stop wolves with sticks.

(Panting) Priam: What is he doing?

Paris: You raised me to be strong, to be loyal, to Hector: Then use it.

defend what I believe in. (Crowd murmuring)
Announcer: Paris of Mt. Ida will fight Hideus of (Both grunting) (Grunting continues)
Seronea.
Cassandra: Kill him!
Priam: What?
Cassandra: Kill him! Kill him!
Priam: Alexandros?
Cassandra (screaming): Kill him!
Paris: Do you surrender?
Hector: I’m prepared to die.
Paris: I don’t want your life!
Announcer: Does Prince Hector surrender?
Paris: Does Troy surrender?
Announcer: The winner: Paris of Mt. Ida.
(Crowd cheering)
Priam: Approach, Paris of Mt. Ida.
Cassandra: Don’t look at him, Mother.
Queen: Alexandros?
Priam: Are you Alexandros?
Paris: My name is Paris. Father, what are you
doing? We have our bull. We can go home.
Paris’ father: You are home. Noble King Priam, if
someone must be punished, let it be me.
Queen: My son?
Priam: There’s no doubt, my queen.
Paris’ father: I found him on the mountain.
(Sobs)
Queen: My darling, darling child!
Priam: Shepherd, you’ve done well. You have
brought home our son. Welcome home, Prince Paris
of Troy!
(Cheering. Applause)
Hector: The prophecy has been fulfilled.
Paris: What prophecy?
Hector: Because you live, we all must die.
(Horse nickers)
Theseus: How was the ride? Mount Hymettus
honey. Best in the world.
Helen: How do you know it’s the best?
Theseus: Well. I suppose I don’t.
Helen: Well, then. There’s always a chance you
might find something better.
Theseus: No.
Helen: I want to love.
Theseus: Well. You will someday.
Helen: I’m ready now.
Theseus: You’re young.
Helen: I’m a woman.
Theseus: Someday, someplace you’ll find someone
better. Someone worthier. When you do, neither the
gods will nor the earth’s will keep you from him.
Helen: That’s how I feel about you.
Theseus: But Helen, this has just been, well, a
kindof practice. Someday you’ll know the
difference.
Helen: You always said we’d be married.
Theseus: Hey.
(Gasps)
Helen: Pollux!
Pollux: Shh. Quiet.
Helen: Why are you here?
Pollux: We finally found you. You’re safe now.
(Murmuring) (Shouting) (Gasps)
Pollux: Aah!
(Grunting)
Helen: Leave him! Let me go! Let me go! Pollux,
make them stop!
Theseus: Get her out of here! Don’t let her see this!
Pollux: It will warm her heart!
Helen: No, Pollux! You don’t understand! Get off
me! (Grunts)
(Grunting continues)
Helen: Pollux! If you love me, hear me!
Helen: Let me go! No!
Pollux: It’s all right here, Helen!
Theseus: It’s a fair price, and I gladly pay it.
(Groans)
Helen: No! (Whimpering) No!
(Grunts)
Helen: Pollux! No!
(Helen screaming) (No audio)
Narrator: With the death of Pollux, Tyndareus had
no heir. The great kings of the Aegean were drawn
to Sparta lime moths to the flame.
Odysseus: Odysseus, king of Ithaca, remembers the
fallen Pollux and offers his heart to the great king
Tyndareus.
Achilles: Achilles brings greetings from the
Myrmidons who stand shoulder to shoulder with the
people of Sparta to defend the honor of Sparta and
to revenge the blood of the great king Tyndareus.
Achilles: To die for a woman—it’s hard to imagine
such weakness.
Menelaus: You can’t comment. You have not seen
her.
Achilles: I don’t need to.
(Scoffs)
Agamemnon: You afraid to try?
Achilles: I’m afraid of nothing.
Odysseus: There.
Tyndareus: You shed no tears. By your actions,
you have left me without love or hope and Sparta
without its future king. And you show no grief. It
should have been you who died. Is there any among
you who will take this cursed woman? Is there any
among you who wishes their home devastated, his
country brought to ruin, his heart broken beyond
repair? I leave her to you. Leave her!
Odysseus: Tyndareus is right. She’ll bring her
husbandmore trouble than he could ever imagine.
The path to her bed is strewn with ash and death.
Menelaus: And yet is there not one man around this
table who does not want her?
Odysseus: Do you suggest that every king here
draws his sword against the other?
Menelaus: No, of course not. That would be…
Agamemnon: What he wants is to have her all to
himself. Isn’t that right, little brother?
(Kings laughing)
Agamemnon: In truth, if we raise our swords at all,
it should be together and pointed in the same
direction.
One of the kings: Toward riches in Byzantium.
Another king: Or Perseus?
Agamemnon: If we unite, we can conquer anything
at all. Any creature, any nation.
Achilles: Well spoken. Agamemnon. But you
control no army.
Agamemnon: Perhaps I should tell you, brothers,
that as we speak, our father, the clear-eyed Atreus,
lies alone, speaking only with the gods. In a matter
of days they will take him and I will return to the
citadel at Mycenae.
Achilles: Then let us greet you now as our new high
king. Mighty Agamemnon of Mycenae.
All: Agamemnon! Aga Agamemnon!
Agamemnon: Can we agree to unite in time of
war? What do you say, Odysseus?
Odysseus: I have a family. I’d rather plow a field
and sow it with salt than go to war.
(Sighs)
Agamemnon: And you, Achilles?
Achilles: Some of us may prefer a long and quiet
life at home. I, for one, would live it short; if I knew
I could die with a taste of glory on my lips.
Odysseus: You will have it short if one of us takes
Helen.
(Scoffs. Chuckles)
Odysseus: And yet, perhaps this is the way that we
can unite as Agamemnon wishes.
One of the kings: Good Odysseus, the wisest of us
all.
(Scoffs)
Achilles: Tell us. O wise one, what do you propose?
Odysseus: Two things. First, we swear an oath.
Another king: What sort of oath?
Odysseus: Whoever takes Helen can trust that we
will defend that man’s sole right to her with our
lives. The rest must be content to admire her from
afar.
Achilles: And second?
Odysseus: We cast lots. The winner takes the bride.
Menelaus: Never! Who-, what gives you the right
to agree on such a thing?
Odysseus: The right of one man to one vote.
Menelaus: Who in the world has ever heard of that?
There is no such thing.
Odysseus: Then we begin here. Who swears the
oath? Agamemnon, as we two are the only ones
who are married, how do you suggest we cast the
lots?
Agamemnon: Given this noble assemblage. I
would say our seals.
Odysseus: Closest to the jar may claim his bride.
Odysseus: Menelaus!
Menelaus: What say you, my brother?
Agamemnon: I say the gods have spoken. And
each man here would be wise to keep his oath or
face the everlasting wrath of Mount Olympus.
Hector: Paris, Father asked to see you.
Paris: Hmph.
Hector: He’s sending you to Sparta.
Paris: Why?
Hector: Because he wants you to take a message to
the new king Menelaus, younger brother of High
King Agamemnon of Mycenae.
Paris: High king? Some sort of supreme ruler, is
he?
Hector: That’s right. And now he’s talking more
against Troy.
Paris: Why?
Hector: Because we control access to the silks and
spices of Byzantium.
(Scoffs)
Hector: What?
Paris: I just can’t believe people go to war over
nutmeg.
Hector: Well, they do, Paris, and you’d better get
used to it.
Paris: Where is he now, this high king of theirs?
Hector: Don’t know.
Paris: Agamemnon’s in Sparta for the funeral of
Tyndareus and the crowning of Menelaus, and when
I get there, it will appear that I’ve been sent to drive
a wedge between the brothers who will then kill me
and put my head on a spike. Then Troy will be rid
of me, Cassandra will be redeemed, and you can get
back to being the sole heir to the throne. Am I
close?
Hector: You’ve been a fool.
Paris: Look me in the eye and say that. Look me in
the eye. Brother, if the gods have divined it, so be it.
(Winds whistling)
Soldier: Such strong winds, my lord. The gods must
have hurried us here.
Paris: Yes, it would seem.
Soldier: They must favor your mission.
Paris: I wouldn’t count on it.
Clytemnestra: Helen, I’m the obedient wife, but
even I will tell you he’s taken his oath too far.
When you were a child and Father punished you,
you would always come back fighting. Why aren’t
you fighting now?
Helen: I’ve caused such grief and destruction.
Clytemnestra: Helen, you did not ask to be
kidnapped nor rescued for that matter. It’s not your
fault.
Soldier (Whispers): It’s Paris of Troy.
Menelaus: Bring him here.
Helen: You don’t know.
Clytemnestra: Why do you have to do this?
Helen: Menelaus commands it.
Clytemnestra: I don’t do it for Agamemnon.
Helen: Ten thousand men have sworn their lives to
defend the right of Menelaus to have me.
Agamemnon believes the kings should seek proof
of my worth.
Clytemnestra: How can you let them treat you like
this?
Helen: They can look all they want, but they’ll
never see me.
(Crowd chattering. Murmuring)
(Grunting)
Paris: Wait! Wait! Wait! We come in peace! I’ll be
fine.
Menelaus: He seeks peace, my brother.
Agamemnon: There is no peace with Troy.
Menelaus: He bears a letter from their king.
Agamemnon: To whom is it addressed?
(Crowd murmuring)
Agamemnon: Do not shame me, brother. Troy
seeks to align with Sparta and Sparta alone.
Menelaus: They have sent him to drive a wedge
between us. We can let nothing divide the blood of
the house of Atreus. But not now. Not here. Let him
remain, freely speaking until we know enough of
Troy to find a way inside its golden walls.
Agamemnon: The weight of a crown has made my
little brother wise beyond my expectations.
(Laughing, chattering resume) Narrator: Everything was doing fine between the
two kingdoms until one night…
Narrator: Helen went to the balcony of the palace.
Soldier: Come with me! You! And you! Let’s go!
(Sniffling)
(Woman screaming)
(Winds whistling)
Soldier: Quiet! Let’s go!
Helen: Catch me, Theseus. Catch me, Pollux.
Paris’ soldier: I thought we were here to make
(Gasps) peace.
Helen: You. I’ve seen you. Another soldier: We like making peace.
Paris: In the pool. Another soldier 2: Yes. A lot.
Helen: You saw me too. Paris: The Greeks have other ideas.
Paris: I’ve come for you. Soldier: What sort of ideas?
Helen: It’s too late. Paris: Like cut off our heads, put them on spikes,
Paris: The gods decree it. Aphrodite herself. let birds eat our eyes. That sort of thing.

Helen: Then the gods torment me. Helen: Prince Paris of Troy, my king bids you a
fond good night.
Paris: How can you say that?
(Grunting) (Groaning)
Helen: When I’m there with them, I feel nothing.
Naked in front of a hundred kings, nothing. But Soldier: Man those oars! Get to the turret!
then tonight, when I saw you, something began to Helen: Go now. You’re free.
tear away my shield to expose the one thing that I
cannot endure. Hope. Paris: Without you?

(Sighs) Helen: You have my love.

Paris: Have it now. I love you. Paris: Without you I have nothing.

(Gasps. Sobs) Soldier: My lord! My lord! The tide begins to turn!

Helen: Loving me kills people. It destroys families, Helen: Menelaus is shamed, but he fears to harm
causes such grief you cannot imagine. me. Now go. I beg you, please go.

Paris: I’ve imagined you all these years. And now Soldier: My lord, the wind is up!
I’ve found you. I cannot let you go. I will never
leave you. The day I do is the day I die. Helen: Please. Please.

Helen: Go away. Leave me. You will never see me Paris: Make way, men.
again. (Crewmen shouting. Chattering)
(Groans) Crewman: Ready oars! Ready? Pull! Ready? Pull!
Ready? Pull!
Helen: No.
Crewman: Hold oars!
Paris: Make way!
Helen: What have we done?
Narrator: Paris together with Helen went back to
Troy. Meanwhile in Sparta…
Agamennon: Two months. The wind remains
against us.
Achilles: The men grow impatient!
Agamennon: I grow impatient, Achilles. Calchas.
Calchas: My lord.
Agamennon: When will the winds blow with us?
What say the gods? Speak, seer. What must I do?
Calchas: A terrible thing.
Agamennon: Tell me. I command you.
Calchas: The goddess Artemis asks for your
daughter in trade for fair wind. Artemis demands
your daughter’s life, here, on this altar.
Agamennon: And this will satisfy the goddess?
Calchas: But you must hold the knife. The gods
demand it.
Agamennon: Of course they do. The winds will
soon be with us.
Clytemnestra: Pitch! Oh!
(Giggles)
Clytemnestra: Okay. Ready? Ready?
(Laughing) (Continue giggling. Laughing)
(Laughing continues) (Blade slicing) (Laughing
stops)
(All shouting): To Troy! To Troy!
Narrator: The troop of Menelaus went to Troy.
Helen: Must we leave now that the ship’s repaired?
Paris: The men have asked…
Helen: I understand. I know. They have wives,
families.
Paris: You know. We could stay here, just the two
of us. I promise you I’ll make a far better shepherd
than I do a prince.
Soldier: My lord! Many ships!
Helen: We have to warn Troy. You must go now.
Paris: We must go now.
Helen: You can’t give Agamemnon an excuse for
war.
Paris: Agamemnon wants Troy. He’s always
wanted Troy. That’s why my father sent me to
Sparta. And now, wherever this path may lead,
we’re on it together.
(People chattering)
Paris: This way. Hector.
Hector: The elders demand to see you alone.
Paris: Do not harm her.
Helen: I’ll be all right.
Hector: It is you who brings harm to Troy.
Paris: Men, thank you. Go home.
Priam: You steal the king of Sparta’s wife? And
you bring her here with the entire Aegean fleet on
your heels, and you expect us to turn a blind eye to
your wanton frolics?
Paris: Father, please allow me to present my case.
Priam: You have presented us with a war! That is
case enough.
Paris: Agamemnon presents war, not me. You sent
me to Sparta to confirm it, my king. Elders of Troy,
the high king of Mycenae has fastened himself to
Troy as gateway to the treasures of Byzantium.
One of the elders: The woman belongs to Sparta.
Paris: Where she’s treated worse than a Hittite
whore? Forced to walk naked among Aegean kings
who leer and spit obscenities. I did not take her. I
saved her from a people who find no worth in
women, place no value on beauty, and seek their
only honor through glorious death in battle.
Cassandra: Father, do not listen. The woman
brings the end of Troy. She must be returned to
Sparta.
Paris: Where is Helen?
Cassandra: She’s being prepared.
Paris: For what?
Cassandra: Her husband.
Paris: Does Troy so fear the Aegeans it turns its
face from mercy? Are the gilded walls of Ilium so
weak they cannot defend kindness and compassion?
Cassandra: Are you all blind? The woman is a
Spartan. She must leave here. She must go. She will
kill us all.
Helen: Good king, your daughter speaks the truth. I
have no right to be here.
Paris: Helen.
Helen: I wish to return to my husband.
Sailor: Row! Row!
Agamemnon: Your wife awaits you.
Man #5: Menelaus, king of Sparta! Odysseus, king
of Ithaca!
Priam: Troy welcomes you.
Menelaus: Great King Priam, we are honored to
stand before you. We know you to be just and wise,
and therefore will see reason to return to Sparta
what belongs to Sparta.
Priam: For what purpose?
Menelaus: Purpose?
Priam: You ask us to return to Sparta that which
belongs to Sparta. Is this your property, your chattel
or your evening’s amusement?
Menelaus: Will you insult me? I demand you return
my wife!
Priam: Bold King of Sparta, I ask the question
again. For what purpose?
Menelaus: Because she is mine! Because she is my
wife!
Priam: It is a simple question.
Menelaus: And I will make it painfully simple if
only for your benefit. You will return Helen to me,
or the combined armies of the Aegean will sack
your city and raze it to the ground!
Priam: Good King Priam, if I may speak on the
matter? A man loses his wife to another. Perhaps
she’s stolen. Perhaps she goes of her own free will.
It makes no difference. That man is so consumed
with grief and passion. He becomes rash, even
senseless at times. It would be the same for any man
here, the farmer in ther field, the merchant in the
street, even a king. King Menelaus pleads with you
to return his wife. For what purpose, you ask. For
the only purpose that can account for such fervor.
Love. Only that.
Priam: King Odysseus, you’ve spoken well and
wisely. You shall have our answer before sunrise.
Priam: Leave us.
Helen: I asked to be returned.
Priam: Is that what you want?
Helen: It is my duty.
Priam: I have two questions. Do you love my son?
Helen: With all my heart. (All Shouting)

Priam: If I send you back, will it stop this war? Man #6: Move ahead!
Why not?
(Grunting) (Shouts)
Helen: I know him.
Menelaus: We need to move the barriers now!
Priam: Menelaus? Drop and hold now!

Helen: The other. (Panicked chattering)

Agamemnon: Bring me Achilles. Menelaus: On to Troy!

Achilles: The main fleet lands here, Agamemnon (Screams)

and I here. We scale the cliffs to a plain that leads to
the marketplace below the city. Up a staircase, (Woman): There is no time.
through an arch in front of the city gates. Agamemnon: Move away!
Menelaus: The moment we attack, the merchants Troy’s soldier: Soldiers! Alert the guards.
will retreat to the city.
Hector: You brought all this upon us, Paris. You
Agamemnon: And the weakness of compassion and your golden Aphrodite!
will keep the gates open. Menelaus, take the beach.
We will pass through the market in disguise. A Man #7: They’re coming!
short life full of glory. Isn’t that what you wished?
Soldier: Onward!
May the gods smile on our destiny.
(All shouting)
Priam: I agree with the elders, who have no doubt
that the high king of Mycenae comes to Troy for the Achilles: Fall before Achilles!
purpose of making war. We are also aware of
speculation that he has sacrificed his daughter for Priam: Archers! Fire!
the purpose of securing a favorable wind. This is
(Shouting, Sword clashing stops)
not the conduct of a man of peace. We also agree
that to sacrifice your honor or even your life will One of Greek generals: I fear for Agamemnon! He
not appease his desire or make peace more likely. should be here by now!
For these reasons, we invite you to consider this city
to be your home for as long as you shall live. Menelaus: Spartans! Follow me!
Furthermore, should you choose to renounce any One of Greek generals: Bring armors!
further affiliation with Sparta, you shall henceforth
be known as Helen of Troy. Do you accept this Priam: Ten of your best men.
offer?
(Ferocious yell)
Helen: I accept.
Paris: Back to Troy!
(Squawking)
(Screams)
Menelaus: It appears they will keep her. To Troy!
Paris: Agamemnon!
(Men cheering): To Troy!
Agamemnon: Unfortunate.
Hector: Paris!
Paris: Thank you, brother.
One of Greek generals: Retreat from the archers!
Agamemnon: Head them off!
Troy’s soldier: Now!
Agamemnon: Fall back!
Helen: There!
(Groans)
Hector: Quickly!
Paris: Close the gates!
Priam: Well done, my boy.
Paris: Thank you, father.
Paris: I owe you my life.
Hector: We are blood. What say you now, sister?
Will Troy still burn?
Cassandra: Don’t ask a question if you don’t want
an answer.
Priam: Well, Cassandra, is there an answer?
Cassandra: For 10 years, the Greeks will pillage
our country, attack our gates. For 10 years, they will
raid the southern shores, enslave our neighbors,
fatten themselves on their butchered battle, become
rich with spoils. And our friends will flee here and
flee there, flee here until these walls are packed
with broken people and our city is filled with
sorrow, our streets flooded with tears, until there
will not be one of us with food to eat, water to drink
or air to breathe!
Priam: Cassandra! Enough!
Cassandra: The war will not be over until the curse
is lifted. You all know it. Why can you not
understand? Why do you not believe?
Priam: Because, child, we must not believe you.
We cannot believe you.
Cassandra: Paris must die.
Hector: Stop her, Father!
Cassandra: I cannot stop. I will not stop until you
listen!
Queen: Cassandra, please. You don’t know what
you’re saying.
Cassandra: I say the truth, only the truth! But none
of you have seen what I see. (Gasping)
Hector: She’s mad.
(Screaming)
Priam: Enough! This family, this city speaks with
one voice! There will be no dissent. Guard! Take
her away. Put her in the dungeon.
(Screaming continues)
Cassandra: A creature will come, a creature that
eats men! He will eat you, Father! And you! And
you! And you! He will eat all of you! (Screaming)
You all will die! (Screaming)
Narrator: And so 10 years passed beneath the walls
of Troy. At home our own cities crumbled into ruin.
The men had lost all their dreams. They’d forgotten
what their own lives looked like. But I could not
forget, and Agamemnon would not forget, and so
we stayed and stayed.
Helen: You seem sad. What?
Paris: A message. Agamemnon proposes peace.
Helen: At what price?
Agamemnon: This war has gone on too long. I
propose we negotiate an end to it.
Hector: On what terms?
Agamemnon: Paris fights Menelaus. Single
combat. Whoever wins claims Helen.
Hector: Helen belongs to Troy.
Agamemnon: No matter who wins, we will leave.
Paris: If you speak for Menelaus, it’s you I should
fight.
Agamemnon: My brother?
Menelaus: I challenge you Paris, to the death for
my wife! And for my honor.
Narrator: Paris and Menelaus had their fight. But
at the end, no one won the battle. Hector took the
place of Paris because he was severely wounded.
He was then challenged by Achilles. Unfortunately,
Hector died because he was strucked with a spear
directly to his heart. After the battle between the
two kingdoms, Helen went to the dungeon to see
Cassandra.
(Indistinct shout) (Sobbing continues)
(Prisoners wailing) (Cell door slams)
Helen: Cassandra?
Cassandra: Leave me!
Helen: Paris believes Aphrodite protests him. Can
you see…
Cassandra: You bring ruin to my house, kill my
family, destroy my world, and you expect me to
soothe your worries! How dare you! (Spits)
(Panting) My brother is dead.
Helen: Yes.
Cassandra: It wasn’t a question.
Helen: Then you must know why I’m here. I will
do anything to save him. Anything. Tell me what to
do.
Cassandra: See me.
Helen: I do.
Cassandra: See me. See me! Achilles dies. The war
begins again. Ajax dies. Odysseus is wounded, also
Agamemnon. When the day’s sun sets, only
Menelaus will be left to lead.
Helen: Paris won’t die?
Cassandra: Not today.
Helen: And if I…
Cassandra: Give myself up? If you surrender to
Agamemnon, the Aegeans will leave.
Helen: And Paris?
Cassandra: He will live.
Narrator: Meanwhile at Paris’ room…
Guard: Wake Prince Paris, quickly!
Soldier: Sire, your lady has left the palace.
Paris: Huh?
Narrator: Paris went out of the palace and tried to
find Helen from the pool of people having their
feast and celebrating the death of his brother,
Hector. Due to his anger on Achilles, who killed his
brother, he had his revenge and killed him by hitting
Achilles’ ankle with a bow and arrow. With what he
did to Achilles, Helen found him and they ran as
they escaped from their rivals.
Soldier: It’s Paris!
Soldier: After him!
Paris: You’ve given me a hundred lifetimes worth
of happiness. (Gasps)
Helen: Paris! Paris!
(Groans)
Helen: Paris! (Sobbing) Please stay. Please stay.
Please. Please.
Paris: Goddess.
(Horn blows)
Queen: He wouldn’t believe the prophecy. He
always saw the fire in Cassandra’s dream as a
burning love for you.
A Trojan general: My king, the Greeks have
sailed.
Priam: Can it be possible? Search their camp.
(Dog panting, whimpering) (Singing in foreign
language)
A Trojan boy: Mommy!
Man #8: What is that?
(Chattering): What is that? I’ve never seen anything
like that.
(Chattering continues)
Helen: The Aegeans are not to be trusted, nor their
gifts.
Priam: Archers! Burn it.
Courtier: Noble king, this is a day of great sadness
for you. Still, we must not be rash. This, whatever it
is, might be an offering or a gift to honor the great
horse tamers of Troy.
Priam: Hands that built this killed my sons.
(Shouting in foreign language)
(Foreign language)
Priam: What is he saying?
Man #8: It seems they’ve left him here as some
kind of sacrifice. (Foreign language)
Priam: What about the creature they left behind?
Why so big?
(Foreign language)
Man #8: An offering to their goddess Athena.
(Foreign language)
Man #8: It’s big to shadow our city. They say we
cannot get it inside our gates.
Priam: That’s what they think. Do they? Hmm!
(Foreign language)
Priam: Dig him out.
Narrator: King Priam was challenged by the
thought and agreed to let the Trojan Horse enter
their city.
(Chattering): It’s too big!
(Crowd cheering) (Chattering)
(Roars) (Gasps)
(Chattering)
Narrator: With all the chaos happening outside,
Helen decided to go to Cassandra and talk to her.
Helen: Cassandra, can you see what happens?
Cassandra: I see you following
Helen: Follow? Am I following? Who? Where am I
going?
Cassandra: Where you belong.
Helen: I belong with Paris. I gave myself up. It
didn’t save him!
Cassandra: You gave yourself up, but you didn’t
surrender, did you? Did you?
Narrator: The people of Troy didn’t know what’s
in store for them. The Trojan Horse was occupied
by the troops of Agamemnon.
Menelaus: Did you see him?
Odysseus: No, not yet.
Queen: I hear them playing. I can always tell that
sweet laughter. (Chuckles) Little Hector. Do you
see them?
Priam: Yes, yes, yes. I see them.
Queen: Are they all right?
Priam: Yes, they’re all right. When they grow up,
they will make you so proud of them. So very, very
proud. You gave me such beautiful children. Such
beautiful children.
(Hmming)
The Greek spy: You are free, my friend.
(Neck snaps)
(Taps horse)
(Men gasping)
Agamemnon: Well done, cousin.
(Men grunting)
(Footsteps approaching)
Priam: Spare my queen. (Gasps, groans)
(Screaming) (Sobbing, screaming) (Screaming,
grunting)
Agamemnon: Bring her.
Soldier: My lord, this way.
Agamemnon: As I said, no trade.
(Screams)
Odysseus: No!
(Helen screaming) (Grunting)
Helen: No! No! No! (Crying)
Menelaus: Leave her!
(Crying continues) (Grunting)
(Baby crying) (Chattering) (Woman grunting)
(Woman screaming) (Chattering continues)
(Woman screaming) (Horse neighing)
Clytemnestra: Helen. What has he done? Go. Go
quickly.
Agamemnon: Clytemnestra, I told you once. Never
interfere.
Clytemnestra: I come for Iphigenia.
Agamemnon: She’s not here.
Clytemnestra: I know. (Yelling) My daughter!
(Yelling continues) My daughter!
(Baby crying) (Women Screaming) (Soldiers
laughing)
Narrator: War is waged by nations, but it is human
beings that pay the price. For those of us that
survived, we are left with the memory of shame and
misery and bloodshed.
Soldier: The king is dead!
Narrator: In these dark times, the only thing we
have left to hold onto is love, the one true gift of the
gods. And it is through love that we hope and pray
the gods will send us peace.
Helen: Paris.
Paris: Brave Helen. Wherever you are, take me
with you.
Paris: I cannot.
Helen: Will we ever meet again?
Paris: I’ve prepared your place.
Helen: Good.
Menelaus: Do you think I would kill you, Helen?
Helen: I do not thank you for my life.
Menelaus: I understand.
Helen: I cannot love you.
Menelaus: What will you do?
(Sniffs) Helen: I will follow.
Menelaus: I accept