Briseis Quotes in Troy (2004)

Briseis: Why did you choose this life?

Achilles: What life?

Briseis: To be a great warrior.

Achilles: I chose nothing. I was born and this is what I am.

[Eyes closed, Briseis has blade against his throat]

Achilles: Do it.

[Briseis doesn't do anything, but only stares at him. Achilles opens his eyes]

Achilles: Do it. Nothing is easier.

Briseis: Aren't you afraid?

Achilles: Everyone dies, whether today or fifty years from now.

Briseis: If I don't, you'll kill more men.

Achilles: Many.

Achilles: What's your name?

[no reply]

Achilles: Did you not hear me?

Briseis: You killed Apollo's priests!

Achilles: I've killed men in five countries, never a priest.

Briseis: Well, then your men did. The sun god will have his vengeance.

Achilles: What's he waiting for?

Briseis: The right time to strike.

Achilles: His priests are dead, and his acolyte's a captive. i think your god is afraid of me.

Briseis: Afraid? Apollo is master of the sun, he fears nothing.

Achilles: Where is he?

Briseis: You're nothing but a killer! You wouldn't know anything about the gods!

Achilles: I know more about the gods than your priests. I've seen them. You're royalty, aren't you? Spent years talking down to men.

[sniffs her hair]

Achilles: You must be royalty. What's your name? Even the servants of Apollo have names.

Briseis: Briseis.

Achilles: Are you afraid, Briseis?

Briseis: Should I be?

Eudorus: [poking head through door flaps] My lord, Agamemnon requests your presence. The kings are gathering to celebrate the victory.

Achilles: You fought well today.

Eudorus: My lord.

Briseis: What do you want here in Troy? You didn't come for the Spartan queen.

Achilles: I want what all men want, I just want it more. You don't need to fear me, girl. You're the only Trojan who can say that.

Briseis: Would you leave this all behind?

Achilles: Would you leave Troy?

Briseis: I thought you were a dumb brute. It would have been easier to forgive a dumb brute!

Achilles: Apparently you won some great victory.

Agamemnon: Ah, Perhaps you didn't notice. The Trojan beach belonged to Priam in the morning. It belongs to Agamemnon in the afternoon.

Achilles: You can have the beach. I didn't come here for sand.

Agamemnon: No. You came here because you want your name to last through the ages. A great victory was won today, but that victory is not yours. Kings did not kneel to Achilles. Kings did not pay homage to Achilles.

Achilles: Perhaps the kings were too far behind to see, the soldiers won the battle.

Agamemnon: History remembers kings! Not soldiers! Tomorrow we'll batter down the gates of Troy! I'll build monuments to victory on every island of Greece. I'll carve "Agamemnon" in the stone.

Achilles: Be careful, king of kings. First you need the victory.

Agamemnon: Your men sacked the temple of Apollo, yes?

Achilles: You want gold? Take it. It's my gift to honour your courage. Take what you wish.

Agamemnon: I already have. Aphareus! Haemon!

[Aphareus and Haemon appear dragging Briseis]

Agamemnon: The spoils of war.

Achilles: No argument with you, brothers. But if you don't release her, you'll never see home again. Decide!

Agamemnon: Guards!

[Achilles draws his sword]

Briseis: [breaking free from guards] Stop! Too many men have died today. If killing is your only talent, that's your curse. I don't want anyone dying for me.

[Achilles groans, then sheathes his sword]

Agamemnon: Mighty Achilles, silenced by a slave girl. Tonight I'll have her give me a bath, and then, who knows?

Achilles: You sack of wine! Before my time is done, I will look down on your corpse and smile.

Briseis: Am I still your captive?

Achilles: You're my guest.

Briseis: In Troy, guests can leave whenever they want.

Achilles: We should leave.

Achilles: You were brave to fight them. You have courage.

Briseis: To fight back when I'm attacked? A dog has that kind of courage.

Briseis: You lost your cousin, and now you have taken mine. Where does it end?

Achilles: It never ends.

Briseis: Am I still your captive?

Achilles: You're my guest.

Briseis: In Troy, guests can leave whenever they want.

Achilles: We should leave now.

Briseis: Would you leave this war behind?

Achilles: Would you leave Troy?

Briseis: Do you enjoy provoking me?