300 (2006)

Peter Mensah: Messenger

Photos 

Quotes 

• Messenger : Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas. They may be your last as king.

  King Leonidas : [to himself: thinking]  "Earth and water"?

  [Leonidas unsheathes and points his sword at the Messenger's throat] 

  Messenger : Madman! You're a madman!

  King Leonidas : Earth and water? You'll find plenty of both down there.

  Messenger : No man, Persian or Greek, no man threatens a messenger!

  King Leonidas : You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city steps. You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death! Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same!

  Messenger : This is blasphemy! This is madness!

  King Leonidas : Madness...?

  [shouting] 

  King Leonidas : This is Sparta!

  [Kicks the messenger down the well] 

• Queen Gorgo : Do not be coy or stupid, Persian. You can afford neither in Sparta!

  Messenger : What makes this woman think she can speak among men?

  Queen Gorgo : Because only Spartan women give birth to real men!

• Messenger : All that God-King Xerxes requires is this: a simple offering of earth and water. A token of Sparta's submission to the will of Xerxes.

  King Leonidas : Submission? Well that's a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it the Athenians have already turned you down, and if those philosophers and, uh, boy-lovers have found that kind of nerve, then...

  Theron : We must be diplomatic.

  King Leonidas : [ignoring Theron]  ... and, of course, Spartans have their reputation to consider.