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The Odyssey · written by Christopher Nolan · 2026
Scene 75 of 199 · ≈ 2 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.
Odysseus urges his men to hurry as the gate bolts grind open under mounting alarm.
Trojan soldiers scramble to arm themselves as the alarm spreads.
Odysseus holds off the counterattack with arrows as the gates are finally forced open, revealing Agamemnon's waiting army pouring in.
This scene
Telemachus has TEARS running down his cheeks.
MENELAUS
Moved by my telling? You should hear
the Bards sing it.
TELEMACHUS
I have. But they weren't there. With
all of you --
HELEN
With Odysseus. Your father.
Telemachus looks at Helen. NODS. Menelaus grabs his shoulders warmly --
MENELAUS
You are so like him.
TELEMACHUS
When did you last see him?
Menelaus's FACE FALLS. He releases Telemachus's shoulders.
MENELAUS
When we left Troy. The Gods gave us
our righteous victory --
HELEN
Righteous?
Menelaus carries on --
MENELAUS
Our righteous victory, but didn't
bless our voyages. It took me years to
get home. And many didn't --
HELEN
Some did and wished they hadn't.
Menelaus looks at her.
HELEN (CONT'D)
Tell him. Tell him about your brother.
About the fate the Gods bestowed on
him after your righteous struggle...
MENELAUS
No.
HELEN
About his hero's welcome...
MENELAUS
No.
HELEN
About how Agamemnon made it home years
before us...
INSERT CUT: AGAMEMNON, RESPLENDENT IN HIS DARK ARMOUR, APPROACHES HIS PALACE, A GREETING PARTY OUTSIDE THE GATES...
HELEN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Tell him how he was welcomed by his
queen, my twin sister, Clytemnestra...
The Queen steps forward to greet Agamemnon with a beautiful SMILE. This is CLYTEMNESTRA, who looks EXACTLY like Helen, UNSCARRED...
HELEN (CONT'D)
Tell him about how --
MENELAUS
No! He's not here for news of my
brother. He wants to hear about his
father.
Helen BACKS DOWN. Looking at her DRUNK husband with CONTEMPT.
MENELAUS (CONT'D)
But I never heard any more of Odysseus
after Troy.
Telemachus, INCREDULOUS, leans forward, FRUSTRATED...
TELEMACHUS
Nothing? From any of your men, or
Agamemnon's? Or from traders? Some
traveller must've --
Mentor places a calming hand on Telemachus's arm... Menelaus looks at Telemachus. DISAPPOINTED.
MENELAUS
You're interested in rumours, young
man? You came here to ask me for
gossip? Fine. Some said he'd perished.
Some said he'd got richer, some
poorer. Or imprisoned.
TELEMACHUS
Imprisoned?
MENELAUS
(dismissive)
What kind of prison...