Immortals
EXT. DAY #1#
On a grassy hill, next to a scrub tree, a man hits a woman over the head, then jumps on top of her. He begins choking the woman to death. Her face is bright red, the veins popping out beneath her skin as his hands attempt to squeeze the life out of her.
She goes limp... lifeless. He stops choking her and, after a moment he leans back against the tree, panting from the effort. ACHILLEUS (ak-i-le-oos) closes his eyes for a moment, then reaches into his coat pocket. He finds an empty travel size bottle of whiskey. Dissapointed, he tosses it and digs around for another. Finding one, he opens it. LARENTIA, lying on the ground, coughs back to life, rubs her neck for a moment, coughs, then speaks.
Larentia
That was childish.
Achilleus
(smirks)
Childish.
Larentia continues to rub her neck, trying to relieve the bruises a bit.
Larentia
Still angry I see.
Larentia looks at him with skepticism, disdain. Achilleus dismisses her with a wave of his hand.
Achilleus
Why am I here Laurentia?
Larentia
Do you remember this place?
Achilleus scans the horizon a bit, then grins to himself.
Achilleus
(chuckling)
You shot me (beat) right over there.
Achilleus snaps his head towards Larentia, a look of disdain crosses his face.
Achilleus
They deserved it. All of it.
Larentia
You didn't care about sides. You just wanted blood.
Achilleus
How nostalgic. You know I don't care. That's history, long passed. You didn't answer my question. Why now?
Larentia
You're making pretense. You care. You're here and you just killed me again.
(beat)
Achilleus
If killing is caring.
Larentia
By the way, that hurt. (rubs her neck)
Achilleus
Again. (short beat) It was fun at first. Surprise! You kill me. I kill you. The adrenaline (short beat)
Achilleus smirks and looks away, a look of remembrance.
Achilleus
You remember when we tried the first time? When we crossed under the Tigris?
Achilleus
I wasn't scared.
Laurentia gives him a sarcastic smirk.
Larentia
I can still see that look in your eyes.
Achilleus
I WASN'T scared.
Larentia
I didn't care. I was happy.
They both sit in silence for a moment.
Achilleus
The things we've done, the places we've been, all just dust and ashes.
Larentia
You act like you don't care anymore, but you do.
Achilleus
Once upon a time I would have died for you.
Larentia
You did. Several times.
Achilleus
I was quite the hero. I was the warrior, you were the damsel.
Larentia
When did you become the victim?
Achilleus isn't comfortable with her all too rapid and all too accurate assessment.
Achilleus
I didn't ask for this.
Achilleus
Besides, you shot me, remember? Right over there.
Larentia
Right here a hundred, hundred twenty years ago...
Achilleus
A hundred sixty.
Larentia
A hundred sixty... Sitting here in in dirt, mud, blood. You left, but you were already gone. Don't know why I didn't see it. (short beat) I was hoping one day you'd come back. (short beat) That's why we're here. I want to know if you're willing to come back. I want to know if you will stop.
Achilleus
Come back. To what Lara? You?
Larentia
The unexamined life is not worth living.
Achilleus
Those were my words.
Larentia
Not any more. You're consumed, lost in your own...
Achilleus
I'm hungry, and bored with this, (waves his hand, dismissive) whatever this is.
Achilleus gets up and starts to walk away. Laurentia stands and speaks.
Achilleus keeps walking.
Achilleus stops. No one has spoken that name in over three thousand years.
Larentia
We know what you're doing, and we're not going to let you...
Achilleus turns on her suddenly, marching towards her.
Achilleus
You know? What do you know? Do you remember Ephraim?
Larentia recoils slightly, hurt by that name.
Larentia
Don't Achilleus...
Achilleus
The first time I knew, I was certain what we have would pass on, that we would raise a race of gods... but it didn't happen. Then you begged, begged me and even though I knew that it would hurt... there was Ephraim. He was so bright, so happy, so full of life.
Larentia
I still see his face.
Achilleus
Me too, covered in blood, resting on a pike above the wall where they left it to rot in the sun..
Larentia
Stop it Achilleus...
Achilleus
I left all right. They murdered our son. They murdered him and he didn't come back and yeah, I ordered Thessolonica burned. I burned them then, and I'm going to burn them now.
Larentia
I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I couldn't stop them there were too many.
Achilleus
See, I knew that if they all died I'd be free. But I wasn't, so I thought if only I could die I'd be free. And then I knew that if I could just kill you I'd be free. Then, oh then I knew, just knew, that if I didn't have to see your face any more I would finally, finally be free. But I'm not free, am I Lara? I'm not free and I'll never be free. But, that doesn't mean I can't be at peace.
Achilleus turns to leave again. Laurentia is wounded, her heart aching. Crying, she begins to question, maybe he has lost his soul...
Larentia
Did you love our children?
Achilleus stops, angry.
He turns away, his hands on his hips in defiance. Laurentia pleads...
Achilleus stands fast, stands taller. Laurentia begs...
Crestfallen, defeated, he turns to her.
Achilleus
I can't stop seeing them.
Laurentia shudders, inhales... relieved, elated. He has a soul!
Larentia
Then if you loved our children, if you loved him, then you have to stop. You can't do this.
Achilleus
That's why I'm doing this...
Larentia
Mortals fear death and you seek it. They dream of tomorrow, you live the past. You forgot about now. Our children lived. They loved. We shared that. That's what life is. Those moments now. You remember dust and ashes. I remember living and love.
Achilleus
Wow. That was really good.
Larentia
Achilleus if you...
He puts up his hand in resignation. He nods his head in ascension.
Achilleus
So maybe I don't kill them all. Is that what you want?
Larentia
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Achilleus
But we remember those forgotten generations...
Larentia
But not the ones yet to come. What you're doing isn't living.
Suddenly a spark of happiness, a remembrance comes to Achilleus' mind.
Achilleus
Do you remember that guest house we owned, the one near Hamburg?
Larentia
Yeah. I remember.
Achilleus
One winter, you had those puppies. They were just born and you brought this tiny little, slimy puppy, just brand new and you were so excited...
Larentia
Britta. Her name was Britta.
Achilleus
There was a flash in your eyes... Like sunshine in the snow, all sparkles and magic. Just now you...
Larentia
We'll get a new puppy. I like puppies. You like puppies.
Larentia looks at Achilleus and smiles, her face warm, her eyes happy, at peace.
Laurentia moves closer to Achilleus. He puts his arms around her as they both lean against the tree. Laurentia suddenly elbows him in the ribs.
Larentia
That's for killing me. Again.
Achilleus
I would still die for you.
Larentia
But will you live for me. Will you live for me Achilleus?
Fade Out.
END