Lord Zeus, I was a sinner. I never tried to deny it.
But I didn't sin every day. Why then do you punish me every day?
What in the name of the gods are they?
Jason!
- Are you phineas? - Yes.
Take my arm, I can't see yours. Don't flinch.
Zeus gave me the gift of prophecy, but I misused it, so I was blinded.
Zeus ordered the Harpies to torment me.
Jason, listen to me.
The gods have ordered me to tell you what you want to know.
The gods have gone too far with me.
They can punish a man so much, and then one day he abandons them.
He says, "All right, Zeus, let the earth swallow me."
I defy you!
Growl away all you like, Zeus. I mean what I say.
Jason, I'll tell you what you want to know only if you meet my price.
- What is your price? - Free me from these Harpies.
If Zeus sent them to plague him, we can't interfere.
- That's my price. - Then we'll meet it.
We'll make you the master of the Harpies.
Get to the ropes!
Now!
Castor, phalerus! Find some wood to build a cage.
Here you are, you hungry fellow. A big fish for you and more wine.
- We've done our part now. - What do you want to know?
- The way to Colchis. - It's through the Clashing Rocks.
Steer north-west and you'll reach them in five days.
Turn north-east after the Clashing Rocks. Then you'll reach Colchis.
- But what gods protect you? - None, now.
- Then you won't pass the rocks. - What are they?
They speak for themselves, don't they?
All I can offer you is this.
It's not much reward for what you've done, but it's all I have.
If that's all you can tell us, then goodbye.
May the gods be merciful to you.
phineas, from now on, they'll eat the scraps you leave.
Good appetite.
There's not much water here.
Steady as you go. Row easy.
- Easy, all. - Easy, all!
It's a narrow channel. But what made phineas so frightened?
- It looks calm enough. - Too calm. Acastus!
I know the sea god's moods. Most of them are dangerous.
Acastus, take a sounding.
The rest of you be prepared to row. An easy stroke. Save your strength.
They may need it later.
Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!
There she is. She doesn't seem to be in any great difficulty.
- A whole ship's crew. - And Lynceus.
There was no hope of saving him. Not in that sea.
- Are we going through? - Yes.
But... All right, we're going through.
Back to your places.
- There's no turning back now. - No, Acastus. Not on this voyage.
Drummer! Beat out the stroke!
But keep it easy!
The gods want their entertainment.
- Jason goes too far. - Because he speaks the truth?
Turn back, we're trapped.
- Trapped, Hera. - You've left me only one move.
- pray to the gods, Jason. - The gods of Greece are cruel.
In time, all men shall learn to do without them!
pull!
Get back to your place.
pull! pull till your hearts crack and your backs break!
pull! pull!
Keep the stroke going!
Jason dared to speak of the end of the gods, and yet you let him live.
If I punished every blasphemy, I'd lose all loyalty and respect.
You are the god of many men, but you are nothing without their faith.
You understand that, and yet you remain with me?
- Is it weak of me, my lord? - Not weak, almost human.
We owe thanks to the god that helped us. The others weren't so fortunate.
What's that?
- Who are you? - Your ship was lost.
We found only two other survivors. They're being looked after.
- When did you sail from Colchis? - Dawn, this morning.
Dawn? Then our journey is nearly over.
- Where have you come from? - Thessaly.
That's the other side of the world. You don't look like a merchant.
- Your vessel's a fighting ship. - We'd be foolish to sail unarmed.
By all accounts your king, Aeetes, fears the gods.
We were sent by the gods. But l will talk to him alone, peacefully.
Now you answer a question. What was your ship doing here?
We came to sacrifice to the gods. To make the sea safe for our ships.
I'm afraid our gods were angry and not so powerful as yours.
- Are you a priestess? - I serve in the temple of Hecate.
A dancer. Is Hecate the god of the Colchians?
I heard they worshipped a strange idol. The skin of a ram.
Its fleece is of gold. The gift of the gods themselves.
It brought us peace and prosperity.
We'll put you ashore tomorrow. perhaps you'll show us to the city.
- Now tell me your name. - Medea.
- Who are you? - My name is Jason.
In a few hours we'll sight Colchis. I'll come in quietly by night.
- I don't want any trouble. - There won't be.
- Just tell us when we attack. - We don't attack.
But you have good fighting men.
- 40 fighting men against a nation? - Better 40 than one.
- We're not pirates. - Aren't you a fighting man?
I'll go up alone and see what the situation is.
You mean spy the land? Why not take a few of us?
If few go, less can get caught. And what's the fewest?
- One. - Right. I accept your advice.
After sailing this far together, we can speak our minds.
- What's on yours? - We nose our way upstream.
Rush the guards, seize the fleece. We'll be gone before they know it.
A night attack? And in the dark, a man will die. Me.
A javelin in my back. A Greek javelin, Acastus. Maybe yours.
- You'll die for that, Jason. - Keep back.
Euphemus!
It's Euphemus. He's dead.
Look at this. Slashed and bloody.
Acastus must be at the bottom of the sea.
- Make sail! - And Euphemus?
The sea was his kingdom while he was alive. Let it take his body now.
Make sail! Make sail!
You're wounded. We have a flower in Colchis which heals and soothes.
Tomorrow I'll show you.
- What do you call the flower? - It sprang from prometheus' blood.
It has been used over the years for its soothing and curing powers.
The sun is getting high. We must go.
Follow the road to the east. I go another way.
The goddess Hecate has spoken.
There will be one among us today from the ends of the world.
His name is Jason. Any man of whom he asks his way shall say this:
Aeetes, king of Colchis, awaits him in the temple of Hecate.
And that is all any man shall say to him.
Come forward, Jason.
You have done all of us a great service. Tonight we shall feast.
We know of your great heroism. Bring your companions to my palace.
I thank you, my lord. But I don't understand.
- Medea? - Welcome to Colchis.
- To Jason and the Argonauts! - Jason and the Argonauts!
Tell me, why did you come here?
- In peace. - I said why, not how.
- How many men have you? - Enough.
And you do not threaten us? Envoys who come in deceit remain in death.
I know you've come for the fleece. If necessary, you will steal it.
We won't part with the gift of the gods. It brought wealth to Colchis.
To part with it would mean the destruction of our country.
We can no longer welcome you, but treat you as you deserve.
As thieves, as pirates, as murderers.
We give our thanks to one person.
The person who exposed a criminal attempt on our kingdom.
The son of King pelias of Thessaly. Acastus!
Hecate, queen of darkness. You've always helped me.
Tell me now what I must do. You gave me the gift of foresight.
Why didn't you reveal to me Acastus' treachery?
He who sits drinking with Aeetes, -
- while Jason... in prison... condemned to death.
If I help him in his quest for the fleece, -
- I shall be a traitor to my country and to you, Hecate.
And if not... to myself.
Help me, Hecate.
Medea, why did you come here? Did Aeetes send you?
I came to ask you to give up your quest and sail away in peace.
- And never return. - Forget about the golden fleece?
Then it was Aeetes. Tell him I will fulfil the task the gods gave me, -
- and never betray the Argonauts, whatever he offers me.
Even if it's Medea, the high priestess of Hecate.
Forget the golden fleece. I fear for your safety.
If you're set on carrying it away, I must come with you.
- I'll go alone. - No, I have to go with you.
I have no country now. And I love you.
Castor, phelarus, Dimitris, get to the door.
The rest of you, back to your places.
- The priestess! - Listen.
Go back to the ship and row downstream.
There's a break in the cliff. Anchor there, we'll join you.
- What is it? - Jason has escaped.
- And his men? - All gone. The guards were drugged.
Then he has an accomplice.
- Where's Acastus? - Not in his quarters.
Acastus helped Jason? But there's no reason to it.
Unless it was Medea who mixed the drug.
I saw how she looked at Jason.
She'll guide them to the fleece.
The Argonauts will take ship. The landward way is shorter.
Muster your men!
Listen.
Soldiers!
phalerus, Castor, come with me. No, not you, polydeuces.
Stay aboard with the rest of the men and guard the ship.
Jason... Jason!
Aeetes and the Colchians... We heard them. They're coming.
Get the fleece.
Guards, follow them up there, and that way.
Wait!
Hecate, queen of darkness! Avenge yourself against the Thessaliens.
Give me the children of the hydra's teeth. The children of the night!
Fetch me the hydra's teeth. Quickly!
Against the children of the hydra's teeth there is no protection.
The fleece, give me the fleece. It has the power to heal.
It's true. It does have the power to heal.
Jason!
Hold the guards back, or they may die with Jason and his pirates.
Rise up, you dead, slain of the hydra.
Rise from your graves and avenge us.
Those who steal the golden fleece must die.
Argus, get down to the ship. Take Medea.
There!
And there!
There's another!
And more!
Destroy them!
Kill!
Kill! Kill! Kill them all!
Get back.
That proves I'm a worthy opponent.
Where are you going? The game certainly isn't over.
Let them enjoy a calm sea, a fresh breeze, and each other.
The girl is pretty, and I was always sentimental.
But for Jason there are other adventures.
I have not yet finished with Jason. Let's continue the game another day.