Weekly 4: February 18th

Movie Script

Question: Is History Created by 'the People' or by Individuals? Write a script for a movie about the events that took place in Athens during the Peloponnesian Wars. You should create a character that will live through some of the major events and you will tell the story through that character's eyes. Your character should be a common Athenian unknown to history. Scripts should be between three and five pages (longer is ok) and must include at least two major events. Be creative, but stick to the historical reality of what took place. Really think about what it would have been like to live in this time period and think about structuring your script so that there is some real drama.

Setting: Athens, between the walls built to protect Greece from the outside world attacks. It connects to its ports at Piraeus and Phalerum. They thought it was a brilliant idea to put up walls to protect them from the world around them. This ends up not exactly being the best idea...

Characters: Narrator

                Agnes- Woman, Athenian citizen

                Agatha- Young Athenian girl

                Alexius- Man; Athenian worker/citizen

                Elpis- Man; Athenian worker/citizen

                Hagne & Pelagia- Spartan guards

                Hercules- Athenian hero

(In the Athenian streets between work hours.)

Agnes: Well, good morning Alexius! How are you?

Alexius: I’m alright, thank you for asking. Aren’t you worried about these walls that our government has been attempting to put up? I do not know why but they give me an uneasy feeling.

Agnes: Oh, they’re fine! There’s nothing to worry about, I mean what could go wrong?

Alexius: Well, I guess you’re right. I have to head off to work now. Hopefully I’ll see you later!

Agnes: Have a good day!

(While working on building the Long Walls, two Athenian workers are discussing random things during work hours)

Elpis- Hey, Hercules, how is it going?

Hercules- I’m good, tired, but good. All this work is wearing me down; it’s too much for this short amount of time they are making us build these walls. I don’t even understand the point of these.

Elpis: I believe that these are for protection from the outside enemies and for us to still be able to get to our ports and everything without being ambushed.

Hercules- Ah, I see now. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling these won’t work…

Elpis- It’s possible. But before we start contemplating that thought, let’s build these walls so we don’t lose our jobs.

Hercules- I agree.

On the other sides of the walls, Spartan guards talk about the plan just devised by their leader)

Hagne- I cannot believe what we are planning to do!

Pelagia- Neither can I! It is so risky, but these Athenians don’t even know what’s coming. They will be so surprised.

Hagne- I’m still confused on how we are going to get our army into their land.

Pelagia- It’ll all work out, don’t worry. By the time you know what is going on, we will have conquered Athens.

(As you know, the Spartans come and surround the citizens of Athens inside of their walls. They are all trapped and do not have food, water, or supplies. The plague is going around, too. Soon enough, everyone will be dead, and Sparta will win. )

Hercules- I knew everything was totally wrong about building these walls! It just was looking for trouble!

Alexius- I said the same thing. What is your name young man? You look very tough and strong.

Hercules- My name is Hercules, and you are?

Alexius- I am Alexius, pleased to meet you, considering these terrible conditions.

Agnes- This is horrible! What are we going to do? How will we live? How will we eat? How will we sleep? Where is my daughter too?!

Hercules- Agnes, calm down. I am determined to help all of the people in danger here.

Agatha- Mama! There you are! I couldn’t find you for the longest time! I thought you had been killed by those nasty Spartan guards!

Agnes- Agatha, my dear! Good, you are safe! I also thought you had been killed! This man Hercules here says he wants to save us all, but I do not know how. Spartans are watching us everywhere. They are just waiting for us to die and then they will conquer our city.

Elpis- Hercules, you can’t do this. We can’t figure out how to conquer that great army in this little amount of time. People are already dying of starvation, just wait until this plague comes and hits us all! Then we are in big trouble.

Hercules- We can do this. We will find a way out and we will survive to redeem our city.

Agnes- I sure do hope so!

(On the other side of the walls, Spartan guards keep watch of everything they can see.)

Hagne- These worthless Greeks think they can overrule us? Ha! Now they do not know what hit them.

Pelagia- Of course they will never succeed over us again. Big mistake in overlooking us! We will always fight back.

Hagne- You’re completely right. Now stand guard.

(Back inside the walls)

Hercules- Elpis! You can’t do this! You must stay alive; we need you to help us defeat them!

Elpis- I just can’t… I’m too sick… They finally won over me… Don’t let them beat you…

Hercules- No, Elpis!

Agnes- (weeping) He is gone.

Hercules- He would want us to fight back for him. We must think of a way to get out of here!

Agatha- I know I’m just a little girl, but I might have an idea…

Hercules- Tell us Agatha! And We can modify your idea!

(After sharing her plan with Hercules and everyone that needed to know, Hercules got an even better idea from Agatha when they told them her idea. They actually, somehow rose up and beat the Spartans)

Hercules- I don’t know how we did it, but we made it! We defeated them and came back to claim our city that was rightfully ours! And we couldn’t have done it without you, Agatha!

Agatha- Well thanks, I think we could have gotten out of there with or without my help.

Hercules- No, we could not have, which is why we give you this award for your braveness in battle. Thank you Agatha!