The Odyssey · written by Christopher Nolan · 2026

In the inner sanctum, the "head priest" greeting them is revealed to the audience as Irus in disguise, offering suspicious wine.

Scene 156 of 199 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Irus
Telemachus
Odysseus

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:49 into a 2:26 film

The story so farBefore scene 156

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.

Scenes 1–9
Ithaca frozen in a decade of waiting: Penelope weaving, the suitors feasting, Telemachus unheard.
Scenes 9–27
Telemachus needs proof of his father's fate; Penelope needs the throne secured before the suitors force her hand.
Scenes 28–29
Telemachus sails from Ithaca in secret, crossing into the unfamiliar world beyond his mother's house.
Scenes 30–144
Odysseus's remembered ordeal — Troy, the Cyclops, Circe, Hades, Charybdis — paid for in men, ships, and years, while Telemachus searches the courts of Sparta.
Scene 145
Odysseus makes landfall on Ithaca at last, alone but alive — what he wanted, stripped of everything else.
Scene 151
At Eumaeus's hut, disguised as a beggar, Odysseus begins quietly assembling the plan to reclaim his house.
Just before
Scene 153
Mentor leads Telemachus's party toward a cave temple, wary of drawing attention.
Scene 154
Approaching the temple, the disguised Odysseus — mistaken for a common beggar — tries to warn Telemachus's party he carries a message from Eumaeus, but is shoved aside by guards.
Scene 155
Telemachus and Mentor are led into the temple's inner sanctum, forced to surrender their weapons at the door.
Scene 156
This scene

156INT. INNER SANCTUM, TEMPLE, PYLOS - CONTINUOUS

Telemachus and Mentor enter the calm of the INNER SANCTUM. A STATUE of Athena is LIT FROM BELOW BY VOTIVE OFFERINGS. They are GREETED BY SIX PRIESTS. The HEAD PRIEST steps forward... it is IRUS, IN DISGUISE...

IRUS

Zeus welcomes you, strangers.

CLEANER, and WEARING the ROBES OF A PRIEST, HIS EDGE IS STILL APPARENT TO TELEMACHUS.

TELEMACHUS

Thank you.

Irus motions a PRIEST to hand Telemachus and Mentor CUPS OF WINE.

IRUS

Have you travelled far?

Telemachus SNIFFS the wine, but CAUTION STOPS HIM DRINKING. MENTOR GULPS HIS DOWN...

TELEMACHUS

Not that far.

IRUS

You're here to rest for the night?

Mentor frowns at Irus, CONFUSED...

TELEMACHUS

We're here to make sacrifice to Athena. Then whatever hospitality you can offer might be considered.

IRUS

Of course.

Telemachus notices A SPOT OF BLOOD ON IRUS'S SLEEVE... Odysseus is PUSHED INSIDE THE ROOM.

IRUS (CONT'D)

Get this beggar out of here.

Telemachus looks around at Odysseus IN HIS RAGS.

TELEMACHUS

He has a message for me.

Irus looks at Odysseus, CHALLENGING.

TELEMACHUS (CONT'D)

Eumaeus sent you?

ODYSSEUS MARVELS AT HIS GROWN-UP SON...

ODYSSEUS

Yes, sir.

TELEMACHUS

What's the message?

Odysseus LOOKS AT IRUS. And the OTHER PRIESTS.

ODYSSEUS

It's private.

TELEMACHUS

These men are Priests...

Odysseus says nothing... the SILENCE STRETCHES...

MENTOR CHOKES, DROPPING TO HIS KNEES -- Odysseus REACHES DOWN, GRABBING HIM. Mentor, in AGONY, looks into Odysseus's eyes... RECOGNIZES HIM... JUST AS HE DIES.

The Priests DRAW DAGGERS --

Odysseus, HEAD DOWN, RISES between them and Telemachus.

IRUS