· · ·
turning to page one
turning to page one
The Odyssey · written by Christopher Nolan · 2026
Scene 8 of 199 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one
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.
Black screen, a bard's chant — "a time of apparent magic" — sets the tone of myth about to be tested by memory.
The bard leans into his audience and chants "a trick."
Over the half-buried Wooden Horse on the tide, the bard says the trick will "break the walls of Troy."
The bard vows the trick will "burn it screaming to the ground" as he brings down his staff.
This scene
At the sound of HOOVES, Sinon turns -- TROJANS on HORSEBACK APPROACH from far down the beach, riding FASTER and FASTER through the DETRITUS of a departed army...
THWACK -- an ARROW hits his arm -- THWACK, THWACK, THWACK -- ARROW after ARROW forces him back until WHUMP -- A SPEAR PINS HIM to the Horse...
The Trojans ENCIRCLE, DISMOUNT, APPROACH. They stare up at the giant Horse, INDIFFERENT to Sinon's suffering.
FIRST TROJAN
What does it mean?
He DRAWS BRONZE, puts it to Sinon's chin and LIFTS HIS HEAD to look into his DYING EYES --
SINON
A gift. For Athena.
The First Trojan SWINGS HIS SWORD -- a SECOND TROJAN blocks --
SECOND TROJAN
Common Gods. Respect their offering.
He YANKS the spear free, DROPPING Sinon to the sand.
SECOND TROJAN (CONT'D)
(to soldiers)
Save it from the waves. Take it to Athena's temple. The war's over.
A CHEER turns into a CHANT ringing out across the water...
HUNDREDS of Trojans throw DOZENS OF ROPES around the Horse, DRAGGING it painfully, INCH BY INCH, out of the rising tide...
WE PUSH IN on the Horse as it grinds through wet sand, CLOSER and CLOSER on the rough wooden planking, until --
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
STOP!
CUT TO: