Paris quotes from Troy: Fall of a City

Paris

[to Menelaus and Helen] How did you two get together?’

Odysseus

We have another condition. Such an insult as King Menelaus has suffered... demands retribution.

Priam

We will return all gifts and make reparations.

Odysseus

These are King Agamemnon's demands. The Straits of the Dardanelles; you control them. You tax every cargo, every ship.

Priam

Is this a joke?

Odysseus

I assure you, not.

Priam

This will break us!

Odysseus

A few years' hardship, nothing more. A lesson learned.

Priam

Oh, I see: this is why you're here. To destroy our economy.

Menelaus

We are here because you insulted my honor!

Odysseus

Don't be hasty. King Priam, consider the best option for your city.

Hector

I was the loudest voice in advocating Helen's return.

Odysseus

Hector is wise-

Hector

[sharply] Get out. And take your conditions with you.

Paris

No one's taking her. [he brandishes his sword at Menelaus as Hector holds him back] No one.

Odysseus

This is a disgrace. A breach of the protocol.

Priam

Alexander! Put down your weapon. Your queen isn't going anywhere. [Paris lowers his sword] Troilus, Deiphobus, see them out.

Menelaus

We will bring the rage of the Gods down on your ASIATIC HEADS! [he storms out]

Odysseus

Think again. No one wants this war. Make a counter-offer-

Hecuba

Leave... and take your smooth tongue with you.

Achilles

We will be back. [bows and leaves]

Paris

It's good. Tastier than anything in Troy.

What happened to that woman you stole?

Paris

It's over.

Don't you love her?

Paris

More than ever. But I lost. So they have to give Helen back to Menelaus, it's the code of war. They probably already have. [pause] What if I'd never left here?

But you did. Paris... I'm an old man. I can't protect you.

The boy's suffered enough.

Priam should have killed the baby himself. Then none of this need have happened.

You set the whole thing up. The competition, Helen... all just to satisfy the Omens.

No... I gave the boy a chance to seize his own destiny. And he took it.

[strokes his arm] ...Forgive him. For me.

Thing is... forgiveness isn't our way, is it?

We found this. [hands Paris his dagger] Do Troy's common soldiers carry weapons like this?

Paris

I am Alexander. Son of Priam, Prince of Troy. My fate and that of the city are entwined.

So it was nobility that led you to jump?

Paris

There is a prophecy-

There always is with boys like you.

Paris

So long as I live, Troy is doomed.

So if I killed you now, I'd be doing Troy a service?

Paris

I'm not afraid to die.

Just not very good at it. [smirks]

Paris

So, you say you come to fight for Troy?

I come to fight for whoever wants to kill Greeks.

Paris

What did the Greeks do to you?

Most of them, nothing. I'll kill them anyway. I'll kill any man that fights under the banner of the Myrmidons.

Paris

So, you wish to kill Achilles.

I wish to try. We ride for the city tomorrow. Come with us, and fight for your people. If it makes you feel any better, you'll almost certainly die in the process.

Helen

[about Andromache] Why didn't you send her out of the room?

Paris

She lost her husband!

Helen

Do you believe what she said? That I lured you, that I'm Menelaus' vassal?

Paris

Of course not!

Helen

I fell in love with you. That's what happened.

Paris

This war will end. Things will return to normal.

Helen

No, they won't. They'll never return.

Paris

What?

Helen

I can't stay here. Let's leave... together. We could escape tonight. What do we need but each other? They'll never accept me, Paris. If we don't go now, we never will.

Paris

[shakes his head] I can't leave.

Helen

Why not?

Paris

The city needs me.

Helen

I need you. Doesn't that mean anything?

Paris

Of course it does. (squeezes her hand) But they took me in. They suffered for me. Hector died for me!

Helen

I have a daughter. I haven't seen her in years; I left her for you. Not for anything else, Paris.

Paris

My name is not Paris! (shoves her hand away) That's a shepherd's name. I'm Alexander, the name given to me by my family.

Helen

But I didn't choose to run away with Alexander. I ran away with Paris.

Paris

Well, I'm not him anymore. And Troy is my home.

Helen

It's not mine.

The Greeks! They're coming!

Achilles

Priam!! Where are you?! [the gates open and Priam emerges with several guards] You broke the truce.

Priam

You broke it! [draws his sword]

Achilles

Lies! [two of Priam's guards attack him, but he easily cuts them down] You killed one of my men in cold blood!

Priam

Greek trickery, not ours!

Achilles

No. NO! [he kills the other three guards and advances on Priam] Odysseus wouldn't do that.

Achilles

May the Gods forgive you.

Achilles

[weakly]... Lies. Treachery.

Paris

We didn't lie. You Greeks broke the truce.

Achilles

You killed one of my men.

Paris

We never left the city during the truce!

Achilles

Swear that on your brother's grave.

Paris

[kneels over him] I swear it. You were betrayed by your own side.

Achilles

Tell Odysseus... to him the glory. This was always a shabby war.