300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

[bunniefuu]

[HORSE NICKERS]

QUEEN GORGO: The oracle's
words stand as a warning.

A prophecy.

"Sparta will fall.

All of Greece will fall."

[YELLING]

And Persian fire will
reduce Athens to cinder.

For Athens is a pile of stone
and wood and cloth and dust.

And as dust, will
vanish into the wind.

Only the Athenians
themselves exist.

And the fate of the world hangs
on their every syllable.

Only the Athenians exist.

[GRUNTS]

And only stout wooden
ships can save them.

Wooden ships...

And a tidal wave of heroes' blood.

Leonidas, my husband...

Leonidas, your king...

Leonidas and the
brave 300 are dead.

The free men and women of Greece

are not bound by a
beautiful spartan death.

w*r is not their love.

Yet he lay down his life for them.

For the promise Greece holds.

'Tis our enemies who
forged our freedom

in the fires of w*r.

It was king Darius who
came to take our land.

Ten years ago,

when youth still
burned in our eyes,

before this bitter w*r forced
our children to become men.

Ten years ago,

this w*r began as all wars begin:

With a grievance.

Marathon.

The Persian king, Darius,

annoyed by the notion
of Greek freedom,

has come to Greece
to bring us to heel.

He makes landfall at
the field of marathon

with an invading force

which outnumbers the Greek
defenders three to one.

And so at dawn,

the hopeless Athenians
do the unthinkable.

They attack.

They attack the weary Persians
as they disembark their ships

on shaky legs after a month at sea.

They attack before they can
establish their w*r camp

and supply their soldiers.

And who is the architect
of this mad strategy?

A little-known Athenian soldier.

His men call him Themistokles.

He gives the Persians a taste
of Athenian shock combat.

[MEN YELLING]

[YELLING CONTINUES]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[NEIGHING CONTINUES]

[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

[YELLS]

[YELLS]

QUEEN GORGO:
All thoughts of glory are gone.

Thousands dead.

Hundreds of them their own.

All for an idea:

A free Greece...

An Athenian experiment
called "democracy."

Could this idea be worth it?

Worth all this sacrifice?

Themistokles would let the
good king Darius decide.

[GRUNTS]

QUEEN GORGO: For through the chaos

a moment appeared.

[MAN VOCALIZING MYSTICALLY]

And Themistokles would seize it.

A moment that would ring
across the centuries.

A moment that would raise
him from simple soldier

to the height of Athenian
political power.

[ECHOING] No!

A moment that would make
Themistokles a legend.

[ARROW STRIKES]

[VOCALIZING CONTINUES]

Yet even as the praise and
glory were heaped upon him,

Themistokles knew in his
heart he had made a mistake.

It was Darius's son, Xerxes,

whose eyes had the stink
of destiny about them.

Themistokles knew he should
have k*lled that boy.

That glorious mistake
would forever haunt him.

And so it was Themistokles himself

who sent a ripple across
the Persian empire

and set into motion

forces that would bring fire
to the heart of Greece.

For as the good king lay dying,

all his greatest
generals and advisors

were summoned to his bedside.

None greater than his finest
naval commander, Artemisia.

Her ferocity bested
only by her beauty.

Her beauty matched only by
her devotion to her king.

Darius favored Artemisia
among his generals

for she had brought him
victory on the b*ttlefield.

In her, he had the
perfect warrior protégée

that his son Xerxes would never be.

[WEAKLY] So sweet, my child.

My sweet...

Child.

[BREATHES SHALLOWLY]

Father.

Xerxes.

Do not repeat your
father's mistake.

Leave the ignoble
Greeks to their ways.

Only the gods can defeat them.

Only... the gods.

QUEEN GORGO:
For seven days, Xerxes mourned...

Paralyzed by grief.

On the eighth day,

Artemisia whispered
the seed of madness

that would consume him.

Your father's words
were not a warning...

But a challenge.

Only the gods can
defeat the Greeks?

You will be a God-king.

Artemisia gathered the
priests, wizards and mystics

from every corner of the empire.

They wrapped the young
king in cimmerian gauze

dipped in ancient potions...

And set him to wander the desert...

Till in a delirium
of heat and thirst,

he stumbled upon a hermits' cave.

[MAN VOCALIZING MYSTICALLY]

Xerxes passed the vacant
eyes and empty souls

of the hollow creatures

that dwell in the dark
corners of all men's hearts.

[FOOTSTEPS SPLASHING]

And in that darkness,

he surrendered himself completely

to power so evil and perverse...

that, as he emerged,

no part of a human man
that was Xerxes survived.

His eyes blazed like Scarlet coals.

He was stripped, cleansed,

glabrous and smooth.

Xerxes was reborn a God.

Artemisia trusted no one.

So, in the cover of night

the palace was cleansed
of all Xerxes' allies.

All those he trusted.

All those who had raised him.

All those he had once
looked to for counsel

were quickly introduced
to her wrath.

[CROWD ROARS]

And as the God-king stood
before his people,

Artemisia watched her flawless
manipulation take shape.

BOTH: For glory's sake...

For vengeance's sake...

w*r!

w*r!

[CROWD ROARS]

QUEEN GORGO:
w*r is coming to Greece

in the visage of a monster
army over a million strong.

It should be little more than
a formality for Themistokles,

the hero of marathon, to
finish what he began.

Please!

We must appeal to Xerxes' reason!

Coward!
Athens is a city of cowards!

Shut your c*ck hole!
Shut your own!

I'll k*ll you!
f*ck the Spartans!

f*ck those muscle-bound boy-lovers!

Silence!

MAN:
Silence for the hero of marathon!

This is a democracy,
not a street fight.

Quiet!
It's Themistokles.

The Persian attack will come

from both the north and the South.

The city-states should
negotiate a truce.

Yes, yes, we must negotiate.

Negotiate with tyranny?

Give me one example of when that
has ever profited a nation.

You're right.
We must unite.

My fellow countrymen...

We can only judge the future

from what we have
suffered in the past.

Now, many of you here stood
with me at marathon...

And for those of you who served

and faced the cut and
thrust of battle,

you know how true peace is forged.

Do not be deceived.

Xerxes, the son of Darius,
is a wolf at our door.

Right here, right now...

We must choose:

Do we stand and fight
for Greece or not?

Argos...

Corinth...

Megara...

Athens.

Not even Sparta can match
the Persians alone.

We must persevere as one nation.

Or we will perish clinging
onto our own self-interests.

Send us the ships that we
need to defend Greece.

Themistokles will need more
than our cities' ships.

He will need our children
to join the fight.

[MEN MURMURING]

And what of Sparta?

You send every ship that we have

to the northern coast of Euboea.

I will go and seek the help
of the great Spartans.

[MEN MURMURING]

Still no word from the
messenger you sent to Sparta.

King Leonidas may
have been insulted

by your generous offer.

Perhaps I need to march
into Sparta myself

and burn it to the ground.

[BEAST GROWLS]

Remember...

When a king is loved as I am...

Much can be accomplished.

They would be fools to
resist my divine power.

Athens is attempting to
assemble a coalition.

It'll be nothing more than
a patchwork of ships.

Once these waters
have been traversed,

I will lead my force
across the land.

I will remind the cowards of Greece

that we have not forgotten
their insolence.

[HORSE SNORTING]

Rest and water the horses.

It's best I go alone.

Spartans don't get along
well with others.

[WARRIORS CHANTING AGGRESSIVELY]

Aah!

[COUGHS]

Spartans.

DILIOS: Themistokles.

You old snake.

What brings you this far South?

I've come to see Leonidas to warn him
that the Persians are on the march.

Well, you're too late.

Persian messenger already
presented his terms

to Leonidas.

Symbolic offering
of earth and water.

Spartans!
Know this and know it well.

[COUGHING]

That any Spartan's finest moment...

The greatest fulfillment
of all he holds dear...

Is that moment...

When he has fought his heart out

for the preservation of Sparta...

And lies dead on the b*ttlefield...

Victorious.

Now, who is willing to
die at our king's side?

[WARRIORS CHANTING AGGRESSIVELY]

Themistokles.

You've come a long way
to stroke your c*ck

whilst watching real men train.

THEMISTOKLES: Queen Gorgo.

Shouldn't he be training them

to live at their king's side?

A new age is dawning, Gorgo.

Won't be long before men rise up

and shed the yoke of
mysticism and tyranny.

That sounds like a threat.
No.

An opportunity to join
the rest of free Greece

and stand against a true tyrant...

Unless, of course, you and Leonidas

have already made a
deal with Xerxes.

No terms were reached.

Xerxes' messenger was...

Well, he was rude
and lacked respect.

He didn't understand
the same threats

made in Thebes and Athens
would not work here.

This is the birthplace of the
world's greatest warriors.

Men whose king would
stand and fight and die

for any one of them.

Xerxes' messenger
did not understand

this is no typical
Greek city-state.

This is Sparta.

So it was clear to the messenger

there would be no
spartan submission.

It was clear.

Even now, Leonidas is in
counsel with the oracle

over his battle plan.

The festival of the Carnea

is all that stands in our way.

Surely, the oracle will
see we must fight.

Well, then my timing is perfect.

I am commanding a fleet of ships

that will represent
a united Greece.

I need Sparta to join me.

Give me your ships, Gorgo.

I will make sure that Xerxes wishes

he never crossed the Aegean.

You will receive no spartan ships.

We are not interested
in a united Greece.

That is your dream,
Themistokles, not ours.

All I am concerned with is
the preservation of Sparta.

[EXHALES]

My guards will see you out.

It's funny that you mock freedom

here in your selfish isolation.

Yet, freedom, in her wisdom,
has chosen you to defend her.

My queen.

Will Sparta join our fight?

Apparently, the Persians
have offered the Spartans

something they cannot refuse.

And what is that?

A beautiful death.

They say you are the
bravest of our captives.

They say you are a wh*re
from the eastern seas.

[SPITS]

You're not the smartest.

Your commander is a Greek.

Just like me.

You Persian men take your
orders from a Greek woman.

Yes, my brother.

I am Greek by birth...

And I have Greek blood
running through my veins.

But my heart...

is Persian.

[GASPS]

ARTEMISIA: Within hours...

The Greek fleet will be shattered.

What of our master and the
much-feared Spartans?

There's nothing to fear.

Only king Leonidas and his
personal guard of 300

have marched to fight.

They'll collapse instantly.

[THUNDER CRASHES]

You.

Do you agree?

Many will perish.

Your confidence leaves me
with a strong impression.

It's a curious thing for
a simple ship guard

to not lower his eyes
when questioned by me.

That could've been just
a lack of discipline.

But a man's hands do not lie.

They can reveal every imperfection

and flaw in his character.

You see, your hands
are not rough enough

to work the rigging of this ship.

I know every single
man beneath my lash.

Can you explain to me
how I don't know you?

Forgive me, commander.

Let me introduce myself.

Seize the spy.

[ARROWS WHOOSHING]

Coward.

Storm is upon us.

It's just some mad Greek weather.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

SCYLLIAS: Themistokles.

Come.

[OBJECT TAPPING]

Calisto.

What is spoken here
must not be repeated.

Anywhere.

My son has not earned the right

to sit at the table
of combat veterans,

but you can trust him.
Very well.

Tell me.

A Greek woman commands all
of Xerxes' ships to the South.

Artemisia.

I know of her.

Artemisia is murderous by trade

with true skill on the sea

and she has thirst for vengeance.

Rumors are her entire family

was m*rder*d by a squad
of Greek Hoplites.

I have heard all the stories.

And the Hoplites spared
no one on that day.

[WOMAN SCREAMING]

[CRYING]

[SCREAMING CONTINUES]

[SWORD THRUSTS, SCREAM ECHOES, DIES]

The story goes that
they r*ped and m*rder*d

her entire family.

And then they turned their
attention towards her.

[RIGGING CREAKS]

After years of being
kept in the bowels

of a Greek sl*ve ship...

She was discarded
and left for dead,

where she was found near
death by a Persian emissary.

Artemisia vowed that day
to return to Greece...

Only when she could watch it burn.

[GRUNTS]

She was fed, clothed and
trained by the finest warriors

of the Persian empire...

Aah! ...Until no
match could be found

for her skills and
gift with the sword.

The great king Darius was
impressed by her commitment.

And she quickly rose to
command at his side.

AESKYLOS: She has sold her
soul to death himself.

Well, some could say that
I've sold mine to Greece.

And what do you think?

Me?
Yes.

You are the future of this country.

I'm ready to fight.

[CHUCKLES]

I like him.
He reminds me of you.

We will need every last man.

Well, he is still just a boy.

Much younger have defended
our country, father.

Enough!

You are a dreamer and will
speak of this no more.

Themistokles, I've set
your plan in motion

and my land force will be
assembled by the second day.

You will be needed.

I can assure you of that.

And there is bad news.

Leonidas has marched
north to the hot gates.

AESKYLOS: Bad news?

With the Spartans at the hot gates,

our victory is assured.

If the army were with him.

But between the oracle
and the Carnea,

Leonidas has marched to Thermopylae

with just 300 men.

So the only thing
standing between Athens

and total annihilation is
Leonidas and 300 Spartans.

I will search out the
veterans among them.

Establish some order
among the volunteers.

Good. There's little time to
teach these farmhands strategy.

Just keep them well-fed...

And sober.

Anything else?

Wouldn't hurt if they
could swing a sword.

Well, I'll be damned.

sh*t!

Does your father know
that you're here?

No, sir.

And this shield and sword?

My grandfather's.

My mother entrusted them
to me this morning.

When she gave you her blessing?

Yes, sir.

With a sharp blade, no less.

Your father is preparing a surprise

for our enemy tomorrow.

I choose to fight here.
Now.

Come aboard my ship.

That is where you will fight.

Yes, sir.

MAN: We've just over 50 ships.

Persian forces reported a
number in the thousands.

Those ships appear
hardly seaworthy.

They're nothing like the monster
ships of the Persian fleet.

Then we have the advantage.

Speed and maneuverability.

Rest of the city-states
have sent anywhere

from a handful to a single ship.

Of course, Athens
supplied the balance.

We have report that a small
advance force of Persian ships

have taken refuge from the
storm just across the strait.

If the weather breaks, we
could hit them at dawn.

An early Greek victory.

MAN: The gods have given
us an opportunity

to wound the Persians and
strengthen Greek morale.

A tempting distraction.

But we'll stick to the battle plan.

Today at sundown,

we will sail out to meet
the main Persian fleet.

We'll attack them in the open water

with no shore to narrow the battle.

MAN 2: To attack a force
of over a thousand ships

with our meager force is suicide.

Such is my plan.

ARTAPHERNES:
Look at their excuse for a Navy.

Their ships are of little threat.

I need a second in
command, Artaphernes.

And whoever proves their excellence

will earn a place beside me.

General Bandari has offered
to lead the first attack.

Bandari.

Commander.

If I let you lead our
first offensive,

what guarantee do I have

that you'll bring
me a quick victory?

My word and my life.

Good.

My rules of engagement?

Humiliate the Greeks

and lay waste to their tiny ships.

BANDARI:
They'll be dead to the last man.

[SWORD SHARPENING]

THEMISTOKLES: My brothers...

Steady your hearts.

Look deep into your souls.

For your mettle is to
be tested this day.

And if in the heat of battle...

You need a reason to fight on...

An idea for which you will give up

all that you will ever have...

You need only to look at the
man who fights at your side.

This is the "why" of battle.

This is the brotherhood
of men-at-arms.

An unbreakable bond

made stronger by the
crucible of combat.

You will never be closer

than with those who you
shed your blood with.

[WHIP CRACKS]

For there is no nobler cause

than to fight for those who will
lay down their life for you.

So you fight strong today.

You fight for your brothers.

Fight for your families.

Most of all, you fight for Greece!

ALL: Greece!

Yeah!

And there is only one
thing to make sure of

when the fighting starts.

What's that?

Don't get k*lled on the first day.

[LAUGHTER]

That goes for the rest of you.

[GULLS CRYING]

The Persian ships are
strong at the front

but they are weak in the middle.

We attack them there.

Now!

Attack!

[MEN SHOUTING]

Aah!

[YELLS]

PERSIAN WARRIOR: Aah!

Ram them!

PERSIAN COMMANDER:
Archers, now! Now!

Reverse! Now!

Go through them!

The enemy's tactics are creative.

The defensive circle leaves
no front to as*ault.

We are losing.

No, you are losing.

Pull back.
Let them have this day.

I'm bored with your
failures, Bandari.

I'll not let this wound slow me.

[CHUCKLES] Somehow I believe you.

My blade will be sharp and
ready by the morning.

Good.

Tomorrow, you will fight
alongside your father.

Not bad for a bunch of farmers.

And poets and sculptors.

Who'd have known a
group of untrained men

would do so well against such
a considerable adversary.

We're going to need
all of our strength

for tomorrow's fight.

How long do you think
we can hold them?

If my plan is to work...

long enough for the
Spartans to unite Greece.

Men!

Who will share their wine with me?!

[MEN YELL ENTHUSIASTICALLY]

Report.

We are still tallying the losses.

But you must understand,

it is extremely difficult,

given the sea and the darkness,

to get an accurate...

[SCREAMS]

Report?

ARTAPHERNES:
Seventy-five ships lost.

Thirty damaged beyond repair.

Twenty could return
with a few weeks' work

in a safe harbor.

The commander of the Greek
force is named Themistokles.

Yes, he is an Athenian general.

He's rumored to have
loosed the arrow

that felled the great
king Darius himself.

[MAN VOCALIZING MYSTICALLY]

[ECHOING] No!

[RIGGING CREAKS]

This Themistokles has shown himself

to be quite brilliant in battle.

Which is more than I can
say for any of you.

Do you gentlemen find my
command unreasonable?

Is it too much to ask for victory?

Your disappointment
in yesterday's losses

is warranted.

My disappointment.

My disappointment is
not with my losses.

The meager number of damaged
ships and dead sl*ves

means nothing to me.

No, my disappointment...

is in these men.

For though I stand among 10,000,

I am alone.

I long for a soul who
would stand by my side.

Who I could trust.

Tell me, general Kashani.

Are you that man?

You will taste your
victory by the day's end.

I will make certain of it.

I hope so.

[GRUNTING, CHAINS RATTLING]

Advance!

[WHIP CRACKS]

Now!

[ALL GRUNTING]

Don't lose sight of them!

The Greeks are retreating.

He's got him right
where he wants him.

Kashani is a fine tactician.

I was speaking of Themistokles.

Rocks!

Stop! Stop!

Stop!

Brace yourselves!

[YELLING]

[YELLS]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[MEN SHOUTING]

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[SHOUTING IN DISTANCE]

[YELLS]

[GRUNTS]

What are you doing here?

A man's responsibility
is to protect his family

and his nation.

Who told you this?
My father.

[YELLS]

Aah!

[GROANING]

You see how Themistokles employs
deception with such grace?

Why is it so much
to ask for victory?

How can I make amends?
Silence.

You will carry a message for me.

MAN: Now they will fear us!

Now they will fear the
Greek men-at-arms!

Hup!

THEMISTOKLES: He's right!

Fear the Greek fighting man!
Fear his sword!

His shield.

Fear his love for mother Greece.

But most of all...

Fear his freedom!

Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!

Yeah!
Yeah!

Do not be angry with the boy.

I took him under my command.

Anger is something I
reserve for my enemies.

Themistokles!

Artemisia's ship is being
anchored in neutral waters.

She'd like to meet
with Themistokles.

How can you guarantee
his safe return?

Well, boy, the only
honor for her now

will be when she watches your
crushed and broken fleet

sinking to the bottom
of the Aegean...

And is able to recognize you

nailed to the mast of
your ship with her sword

as you descend to a watery grave.

Why didn't you just say
that to begin with?

Welcome to my humble barge.

We are honored by your presence.

Your barge and you

are quite impressive.

Kind words.

Now come, Themistokles,
we have much to discuss.

Do you believe the Greeks are
descended from the gods?

I have heard some say that.

And what of you?
Is there a God in your lineage?

My men say so.

And based on the last
two days' battle,

I'd say there's a spark
of the divine in you.

Now who is using kind words?

My men also say that it was you

who slayed the good king
Darius at marathon.

Many heroic deeds
occurred on that day.

But it was ten years ago,

and the facts of battle
are often embellished.

This deed, you would remember.

I do what I must to defend Greece.

And I do what I must to defeat her.

For every one Greek k*lled,

you must k*ll a thousand Persians.

For every ship I sink...

You must sink a hundred.

I can sustain losses for weeks.

Months, if need be.

My numbers will defeat you

and I will take your precious
boats with my sword.

I will take your Greek freedom.

Are you asking me to
negotiate a surrender?

No.

I offer you a chance to avoid
such misery and join me.

I'm in need of a
commander such as you.

Look at the defense you've mounted.

A handful of triremes.

Leonidas with 300 Spartans.

[SCOFFS]

It's insulting, frankly,

that the mightiest empire
the world has ever seen

is met by this.

I don't blame you, Themistokles.

You fought as if the blood
of Poseidon himself

was coursing through your veins.

No, I blame Greece.

The squabbling bureaucrats

protecting their political hides

by sending you here to die.

And yet you still fight.

So there must be...

What?

Family back home in Athens

that compels you to...
battle with such passion?

Truth is, I've had
no time for family.

I have spent my entire adult life

with my one true love...

The Greek fleet...

And my one passion...

Readying it for you.

[LAUGHS]

Now, that brings me pleasure,

the thought of you
pining away for me,

forsaking family and love...

For the promise of
a deeper ecstasy.

The ecstasy of steel and flesh...

Death and life.

Of rage...

And sweat of muscle.

Of pure joy...

And deepest sorrow.

Die with me each night

and be born again with
me each morning...

As you plant your sword into
the hearts of our enemies.

You fight for freedom.

I offer freedom without
consequence or responsibility.

Join me...

At my side.

Breathe each breath with me
as if it were your last.

[CLATTER]

[GASPS]

[FABRIC RIPS]

[MOANING]

[GRUNTING]

[ARTEMISIA GRUNTING]

Ahh.

[GROANS]

[FABRIC RIPPING]

Aah.

Join me.

[PANTING]

No.

ARTEMISIA: Aah!

You're no God.

You're just a man.

Be quick with your sword.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

You'll not have your death tonight.

Guards!

Remove this filth from my ship.

Aah!

[SWORD CLATTERS]

AESKYLOS: Well?

What have you learned?

[SIGHS]

Can Artemisia be beaten?

The next time that we face her...

She's going to bring
all of hell with her.

[MACHINERY GRINDING]

Hold! Hold!

Send in my personal guard.

Pull back!

Retreat!

Retreat!
Retreat!

Retreat!
Retreat!

Themistokles!

In the water!

Archers!
On deck, now!

Archers on deck, now!

Quickly!
Starboard side!

Fire at will!

[YELLS]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTING]

[ARROW STRIKES]
[GROANS]

[GASPS LIGHTLY]

Fight on, boy.

Uh-huh.
Fight on!

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

Aim for the men on top!

Up there!

[GRUNTING]

[MYSTICAL VOCALIZING]

Abandon ship!

Abandon ship!

Abandon ship!

[GROWLS]

Aah!

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

QUEEN GORGO:
The dead have no guilt.

No responsibility.

Themistokles watches
the bodies of his men

turn the Aegean red with blood.

Were they sacrificed for his ego?

Or to relieve the guilt

of the long-ago
mistake at marathon?

How many men would have been saved

if Themistokles had
k*lled that boy?

Not even his own soul can be sure.

My friend.

We faced the odds.

[WEAKLY] Together.

Listen to me, Themistokles.

You will have to fight...

With twice as much
strength in the morning.

We will fight shoulder-to-shoulder.

No, my son.

You will carry on for both of us.

[WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY]

[CRIES]

What did he say?

I will tell you in time, boy.

Quiet now.

You go and be with
your father's spirit.

How many times do you think we
will repeat such a tragedy?

As many times as we must.

We are turning young
men into memories.

Do you think I enjoy this?

Witnessing my friend's
final breath?

Every widow that is
made by my decision...

Every child that will
grow without a father...

They are my choices.

This is the burden of my command.

[CROWS CAWING]

[SQUAWKS]

XERXES: How easy it is to silence

the strong and self-disciplined.

Let my army witness the
great warriors of Sparta.

[CROWS CAWING]

March them past these corpses.

Let them see the cost of daring
to challenge the God-king.

King Leonidas and his brave 300

were the finest
Greece has to offer.

There will be no saviors to
rise up and vanquish us.

Nothing will stop the
march of my empire.

[GASPING] Your majesty.

You, take this dead
king's sword to Athens.

Let them know that I am
coming next for them.

Let them know...

Athens...

Their prize jewel of a city...

Will disappear from the histories.

[HORSE WHINNIES]

Themistokles!

[PANTING]

I bring word from Thermopylae.

Leonidas was betrayed
by a hunchback.

The Spartans have been slaughtered.

The hot gates have fallen.

Such a sacrifice.

Now Greece has her martyrs.

Daxos, take that message
from the hot gates

to every city, every village.

Let every countryman
hear your words.

But they are dead.
All of them.

Sparta's sacrifice will
be what unites us.

Now, go.

[HORSE SNORTS] Hyah!

Move all of our ships and men

back to the safety of salamis.

And you?

I will take Daxos'
message to Athens.

I was told a hunchback
was accountable

for the fall of the hot gates.

That he sold out his country,

pulled the crimson from his back

and replaced it with Persian gold.

What is your name...

Traitor?

Ephialtes of Trachis.

I should wet this noble
blade with your blood.

You would be right to do so.

There is little beauty about me.

There is little beauty
in what I have done.

[PANTING]

Say what you must.

I beg of you...

And all of Athens!

The God-king will burn
this city to the ground!

[MEN MURMURING]
MAN: What's going on?

MAN 2: What does he mean?
MAN 3: Xerxes!

Quiet yourselves!

Leonidas and Sparta's great
sacrifice was no defeat.

It was a beautiful victory.

This simple act of valor

will allow us to rally
each of our city-states

and unite Greece...

For one purpose...

Against one enemy!

And you.

You take this message
to your God-king.

That we will take whatever
ships we have left

and finish this in
the bay of salamis.

But there will be death
and destruction.

Yes, there will be.

Themistokles.

I'm here to speak to your queen.

A warning, Athenian.

You may not receive a warm welcome.

May I offer my deepest sympathies.

I cannot change what has
happened to Leonidas,

but his sacrifice will
not be forgotten.

Do not lecture me on sacrifice

and be quick with
your words, Athenian.

I request of you the
entire spartan Navy.

Every man, every ship
that you can spare.

Have I not given
enough for your dream

of a united Greece?

Shall I put swords in
the hands of my son?

Our children?
Would that please you?

Have I not given enough for
your ambitions, Themistokles?

A king.

Husbands, fathers, brothers.

Sparta will give no more.

This belongs with you.

Avenge him.

[MYSTICAL VOCALIZING]

QUEEN GORGO: The oracle's
words stood as a warning.

All of Greece will fall...

As Persian fire reduces
Athens to cinder.

For Athens is a pile
of stone and wood

and cloth and dust.

And as dust, will
vanish into the wind.

Only the Athenians
themselves exist.

And the fate of the world hangs
on their every syllable.

Only the Athenians exist.

And only stout wooden
ships can save them.

Wooden ships...

And a tidal wave of heroes' blood.

XERXES: The Greeks were
fools to stand against us.

Leonidas and his pride were no
match for the will of a God.

[SLURPS]

Themistokles was a
worthless coward.

And now [SCOFFS]

This pathetic Navy is
barely worth our attention.

If that "worthless coward"
had stood at my side,

we would have laid the
world at your feet.

EPHIALTES: My king.

Your humble servant
brings you news.

The Greek fleet are defenseless

within the bay of salamis.

You need only finish them.

Who commands their forces?

Themistokles of Athens.

Themistokles is dead.

He is alive.
I have seen him myself.

[SIGHS]

Ready my troops and armor.

We will attack at once.

Wisdom...

Would have us send a probing force

to confirm it is not a trap.

You would dare to advise
me in matters of w*r?

I am the God-king.

I am the one who
triumphed over Leonidas.

I am the one who laid waste
to this showpiece of Athens.

I am your king.

k*lling Leonidas and his men

only made them martyrs.

And when you razed Athens,

you set fire to the only thing
of value in this country.

[GRUNTS]

I will attack the Greeks...

With my entire Navy.

Artemisia.

Enough!

Do not forget who put the
crown on your childish head.

My king.

Now sit on your golden
throne and watch this battle

from the safety I provide you.

There, in the distance...

We witness the
destruction of Athens.

Alone, we will face the
monster that casts the shadow

across our land.

I had prayed that the Spartans

would come to lend a
hand this morning.

Perhaps they feel they
have given enough.

MAN: You failed us all.

This is your fault, Themistokles.

Without Spartans,
we're just farmhands.

We should've negotiated with the
Persians when we had the chance.

You are all right.

Yes, we are down to
a handful of boats.

And, yes, we are just farmhands.

We are tradesmen.

We are boys...

Turned to men through the sacrifice

and forge of combat.

I played a dangerous game...

And I lost!

If you choose to turn
your back on me,

on your country...

I will not judge you.

You are free to leave.

You are still free men.

Very well.

Then let us put our
shoulders to work

and free those ships from
the bosom of Greece.

Today is a privilege
to call our own.

A story that will be told
for a thousand years.

Let our final stand

be recorded to the histories.

And let it be shown

that we chose to die on our feet

rather than live on our knees!

[WARRIORS SHOUTING AGGRESSIVELY]

There is only one thing
you need to know today.

Not to get k*lled.

No.

Your father's last words.

He told me that you
had earned the right

to sit at the table.

Well, my brother,

I have no more tactics or tricks.

This will be the last
battle that we share.

We have fought next to one another

for as long as I can remember.

[CHUCKLES]

Nothing would please me more
than to rest this sword.

The preparations that are required?

Below deck.

Good.

Are you sure that you want
to commit everything?

Yes.

Without Artemisia's command,

the Persian Navy is nothing.

We will never be able to reach her.

I will reach her...

And put an end to this.

There will be no
room for a retreat.

I know.

ARTEMISIA: Today, the last
Greek ships will be destroyed.

Show them no mercy.

Give them no quarter.

Today we will dance across
the backs of dead Greeks.

Today we deliver submission.

Today I want to feel
Themistokles' throat

beneath my boots.

[SHOUTING IN DISTANCE]

Men!
Brace yourselves.

Prepare for close quarters.
Attack!

[WARRIORS YELLING AGGRESSIVELY]

Your father watches you!

Hold nothing back!

Seize your glory!

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

Aah!

[YELLS]

I'm not here as a witness!

[WARRIORS SHOUTING]

Now!

And let them send our
souls straight to hell!

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[YELLS]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

Hyah! Come on!

[SCREAM ECHOING]

[YELLS]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[MEN GRUNTING]

[MYSTICAL VOCALIZING]

You offered freedom
without consequence

or responsibility.

Are you accepting my offer?

My answer is still no.

[YELLS]

Aah!

You fight much harder
than you f*ck.

[YELLS]

[GROANS]

[SHOUTING IN DISTANCE]

Surrender to me.

Or meet your death.

Who would you fight if not for me?

No one could challenge your skill.

I would rather die a free
man than as a sl*ve.

Even if the chain was
attached to you.

QUEEN GORGO:
It begins as a whisper.

A promise.

The lightest of breezes
dances through the rigging

as it creaks above the death
cries of ten thousand men.

It moves through her hair as
gently as a lover's hand.

That breeze, that
promise, became a wind.

A wind that is blown across Greece

carrying a message told again
and again of our lady freedom

and how wise she was
to charge Leonidas

to lay all at her feet.

A wind, my brothers, of sacrifice.

A wind of freedom.

A wind of justice.

A wind of vengeance.

[AGGRESSIVE CHANTING]

Aah! [GROANS]

You are being surrounded.

All of Greece has
united against you.

Delphi, Thebes,

Olympia, Arcadia, and Sparta.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

If death comes for
me today, I'm ready.

I could lower my sword.

There's still time for you to
ready a launch and escape.

It would be a poor choice to
force my hand into action.

Now order your ships to disengage

and surrender to me.

Surrender?

[GROANS]

[SWORD THRUSTS]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[YELLS]

[TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYS]

[YELLS]

♪ Generals gathered
in their masses ♪

♪ just like witches
at black masses ♪

♪ evil minds that
plot destruction ♪

♪ sorcerers of death's
construction ♪

♪ in the fields the
bodies burning ♪

♪ as the w*r machine
keeps turning ♪

♪ oh, lord, yeah ♪

♪ oh, lord, yeah ♪

♪ oh, lord, yeah ♪

♪ oh, lord ♪

♪ day of judgment, God is calling ♪

♪ on their knees the
w*r pigs crawling ♪

♪ no more w*r pigs have the power ♪

♪ hand of God has struck the hour ♪

♪ oh, lord ♪

♪ oh, lord, yeah ♪

♪ oh, lord, yeah ♪

♪ oh, lord, yeah ♪

♪ oh, lord ♪

[THUNDER CRASHING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]

[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

[MUSIC SOFTENS]