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The Odyssey · written by Christopher Nolan · 2026
Scene 131 of 199 · ≈ 3 min on screen · Act two
Twenty years after leaving for the Trojan War, Odysseus fights his way home across a hostile sea only to find his kingdom overrun — and must return in disguise to reclaim his wife, his son, and his throne from the suitors laying siege to his house.
Ithaca frozen in a decade of waiting: Penelope weaving, the suitors feasting, Telemachus unheard.
Telemachus needs proof of his father's fate; Penelope needs the throne secured before the suitors force her hand.
Telemachus sails from Ithaca in secret, crossing into the unfamiliar world beyond his mother's house.
Odysseus's captivity with Calypso opens the parallel strand — a man who has forgotten his own family, slowly remembering his way home.
Circe begins transforming Odysseus's starving men into pigs mid-feast — the crew's appetite becomes literal cost, and Odysseus is forced to act alone.
Antinous banishes Eumaeus from the palace grounds after catching him spying, leaving the dying dog Argus behind.
At Menelaus's court, Telemachus impresses with a hunting shot as Menelaus needles him about his father's loyal swineherd.
On Calypso's beach, Odysseus admits he doesn't want to remember the truth — he's happy staying with her.
This scene
Odysseus's ship moves into a field of SMALL ROCKY ISLANDS... Odysseus peers from rock to rock...
Odysseus hears the SOUND OF THE WIND. Gestures to Eurylochus.
ODYSSEUS
We're nearing the Sirens. Put wax in
the men's ears.
Eurylochus HANDS OUT WAX TO THE MEN. Odysseus looks ahead to the rocks, COVERED IN LIGHT MIST...
Eurylochus offers Odysseus the wax.
ODYSSEUS (CONT'D)
No. Tie me to the mast.
EURYLOCHUS
Why?
ODYSSEUS
I want to hear the Sirens' song.
Eurylochus watches MEN TIE ODYSSEUS TO THE MAST...
EURYLOCHUS
This is a bad idea. No one's heard the
song and lived.
Odysseus smiles at him --
ODYSSEUS
That's why it's a good idea -- I'll be
the first. No matter how I plead, do
not untie me until we're well clear.
Eurylochus nods. TESTS THE KNOTS. STEPS BACK.
ODYSSEUS (CONT'D)
Check the men's ears.
EURYLOCHUS
A WEEK'S RATIONS FOR THE FIRST 'YES,
SIR!'
NOTHING. The men KEEP WORKING, OBLIVIOUS. Odysseus nods, EXCITED --
ODYSSEUS
Listen!
Eurylochus can hear the WIND SINGING THROUGH THE RIGGING...
Eurylochus reaches into the pot of BEESWAX, stopping up his ears -- THE SOUND BECOMES MUTED. Odysseus shouts something, but WE CAN'T HEAR IT AT ALL, WE HEAR ONLY MUFFLED THUDS OF OARS AND FEET ON DECK... Eurylochus NODS HIS HEAD, marking time for the rowers visually...
Eurylochus looks at approaching rocks covered in light mist... above the breakers, SEALS lie on the rocks... Eurylochus spots PALER FORMS AMONGST THE SEALS, barely visible in the mist. He stares, fascinated, TRYING TO SEE IF THEY ARE... HUMAN?
Glancing at the rowers, he sees them all STARING BEHIND HIM --
He turns to Odysseus, then FREEZES, SEEING ODYSSEUS'S EXPRESSION...
Odysseus is TRANSFIXED, his expression a combination of BLISS AND TERROR...
EURYLOCHUS (V.O.)
What was the Sirens' song?
ODYSSEUS (V.O.)
All the things you'd want it to be.
Then all things you wish you never
wished for...
Odysseus stares at the FORMS ON THE ROCKS, MOUTH OPEN IN CRIES AND CRIES, EXULTANT, FRUSTRATED...
A sailor, ANCHIALUS, seeing Odysseus's reaction, PULLS THE WAX FROM HIS EAR...
FLASH-FORWARD TO ODYSSEUS SITTING ON THE DECK RELAYING HIS EXPERIENCE --
ODYSSEUS (V.O.)
It was the delicious itch you go to
scratch...
Anchialus, in BLISSFUL MADNESS, struggles with his SHIPMATES, breaking free - HE DIVES OFF THE SIDE OF THE BOAT...
Eurylochus watches Odysseus struggle against the ropes -- Odysseus looks at Eurylochus, PLEADING, CRYING, CRAZED...
ODYSSEUS (V.O.)
But find it's under the skin, and
can't be reached...
Eurylochus turns back to the men. HE CAN'T WATCH...
ODYSSEUS (V.O.)
So the delicious itch becomes
unbearable...
The ship glides past the rocks, passing close enough to make out NAKED FEMALE FORMS on the misty rocks, MOUTHS OPEN IN SONG, SITTING ATOP BONES and BONES...
ODYSSEUS (V.O.)
It told you what you most want is what
you most can't have, and what you most
can't have is what you already had and
lost...
Eurylochus turns back to Odysseus, who WEEPS BITTER TEARS...
Finally Odysseus slumps against the ropes, PASSED OUT...
Eurylochus pulls the wax from his ears -- once again WE HEAR WIND AND WATER, the lapping of oars, the creaking of the deck.
ODYSSEUS (V.O.)
It was the song of all the promises
I've failed to keep...
Eurylochus gives Odysseus WATER as the men UNTIE him from the mast. Odysseus looks up at Eurylochus. HAUNTED.
ODYSSEUS
And it told me I don't really want to
go home.
Odysseus RUBS TEARS OF SHAME FROM HIS FACE. Eurylochus looks down at him. PITYING. The boat moves past the rocks into more open water...