Il colosso di Rodi (The Colossus of Rhodes)

Let's go. Hurry!

Come! This way, hurry!

Sound the alarm!

An extraordinary spectacle, uncle.

Fit for an oriental court.

- Amuse you, Dario? - Spectacles always amuse me.

You'll like my island of Rhodes

even more than your native Greece.

After the fatigue of war, I knew you'd like a short stay

on the island of peace.

And this perfume, what is it, uncle?

Roses, my son.

Rhodes is also the island of flowers.

And beautiful women, from what I can see.

In Rhodes, even the women have a special fragrance.

A mixture made out of sunshine

petals of flowers, the sea...

And flesh?

At my age, that's a superfluous ingredient, Dario.

You have designed and built

one of the greatest monuments of all time, Carete.

You, Carete, have made it possible for posterity

to learn of the strength and power of King Serse.

Rhodes now dominates the seas.

Perhaps our ceremony is not to the liking of the God.

The monument surely seems to be a threat to their omnipotence.

I assure you both it's not true.

I know the Gods could only be delighted

that a monument so imposing was built in their honor.

It is a proud day for the king of Rhodes.

To you, Apollo, God of the sun

we humbly dedicate this magnificent statue.

Conceived and born

from the divine mind of our king

and gloriously realized by the quiet labor

of his loyal subjects.

May the sacred fire burn always on this altar in the sky

and guide those who sail in the night.

And may it strike terror and awe

in the hearts of those who would plot against Rhodes.

Burn, oh, fire!

May your flame be as eternal

as the glory of King Serse.

Very relaxing, your island of peace.

If only he had talked to us about it.

What could he have hoped to do all alone?

Poor Rihanos.

What a great waste.

No, Mirte.

Our fight is more important now because of Rihanos.

The people in Rhodes do not want slavery.

This colossus was erected in blood.

They worked and labored on it for ten years

because of the whim of a ruler.

Our brother hoped he could inspire rebellion.

That's not enough.

Our people need supplies and arms...

not only inspiration.

The Greeks, they'd help us.

They'd be happy to aid our cause.

They don't even know our cause exists.

There's no help from them.

If only we could talk to someone

who might persuade the Greeks to aid us.

A man that Greeks respect. A man like that visitor Dario.

He's a great warrior in Greece.

I wonder if we dare approach him.

Brothers, if you like, I will go to Dario.

No, Mathos. We could not appear at court.

All four of us are too well known

as opponents of the regime.

I'm sorry, Mathos.

Always fiddling with toys.

This might not be a toy at all.

Thar.

The splendor of our court is pleasing, don't you think

to the ambassador of Phoenicia?

He seems to be enjoying it.

However, sire, your great wealth could propagate ill will.

Envy.

And you envy me, huh?

I only admire.

My profound loyalty to you only permits me one emotion

that of great admiration.

There's no doubt that you people know how to amuse yourselves.

I think my mother was right.

She said this island was a wonderful place.

Your mother knows Rhodes?

She was born here, Diala.

It's surprising that a stranger admires the island as you do.

Oh, I'm only half a stranger.

I already know quite a few people here.

Take that man over there, for instance.

He's been staring at me ever since the celebration began.

There's so little opportunity to stare at great heroes here.

Nectar of Euphrates.

An offering from your humble palace servant.

I think you ought to reward these people.

Let us allow him the first drink in gratitude for such devotion.

My boy, you drink it.

Drink or you'll be beheaded.

Somehow I've lost my desire for wine.

No need to do without wine, Dario.

Just never be the first one to drink.

Have the assassin taken away.

You seem to know Rhodes well.

Tell me something. Is this a celebration or a massacre?

It's not our affair. I'm not concerned.

Well, I think we ought to, uh, watch out.

You must be used to death?

The second in one day is too many in time of peace, I think.

I wanna forget it.

Shall we go outside?

Noble sir, when may I speak to you?

I'm quite busy right now. Tomorrow if you wish.

It's beautiful.

A marvelous garden.

Of course, the enchantment of nature is always enhanced

by the presence of a lovely lady.

Mm.

Now you sound like a poet.

I shall have to be quite careful.

No more so than you are now if you avoid my eye.

There.

What? You mean, you haven't already succumbed to my look?

Do all girls find you so irresistible?

Not all of them. With some of them, I commit the same error.

What?

Well, with some...

I, uh, waste too much time.

Diala!

Diala?

Diala?

The whole dynasty is here.

Diala?

Dario.

Haman.

Clio.

Nestor.

Geryon.

Hm, no name here.

Atreides.

- Philomela... - Dario.

Pardon me, was that you?

Have you forgotten me already?

Well, I followed you here. Isn't that enough?

Perhaps you need more proof of my ardor.

Why'd you bring me here?

To be alone with you. To speak.

I command you to say something beautiful.

Being so close to you, I've lost my voice.

Even my breath.

Then you shouldn't stay here.

Your cheek is fresh as a morning dew.

Your ear, a flower about to bud.

And my lips?

Your lips...

Diala.

I'm sure you'll find some good company in there.

Good company indeed.

The proposal, as it is offered, does appeal to me.

As the Phoenician ambassador states, it would mean

Rhodes and Phoenicia would control the sea.

But will not Greece protest an alliance

between us and their enemy Phoenicia?

Yes, naturally.

And we have always been a friend to Greece.

I think I should consider Rhodes before I think of Greece.

The colossus in our harbor makes us

the strongest port in the Mediterranean

for the simple reason that it provides

an impregnable harbor for our own ships

and the ships of our friends

beginning naturally with Phoenicia.

Imagine the surprise of the Greeks

when their ships are regularly plundered by the Phoenicians

who then take refuge in Rhodes.

What makes you think the Greeks don't already suspect us?

Please.

Uh, I, uh, I was hoping this doorway

would, uh, would reveal the secrets of this labyrinth.

Can you explain how you got into it, Dario?

Got in?

Well, more exactly, I, I fell in.

I was standing, uh, leaning against the wall.

Suddenly, the wall turned around

and there I was on the other side of the wall.

Well, that is, I, uh, I was on this side.

I was chasing a girl.

I pray your pursuit be continued, Dario.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

I hope you'll accept my, uh..

My apologies.

Thar, do you think that young Greek meant to spy on us?

It's likely.

However, no need to be alarmed.

I've foreseen something like this.

So much tension exists on Rhodes, I thought it wise

to issue an order that no one be allowed to leave the island.

Especially a soldier of Greece.