The Trojan Women (1971)

Brian Blessed: Talthybius

Photos 

Quotes 

• Talthybius : [to Hecuba about the ordered death of Astyanax]  A herald who must bring such orders should be a man who feels no pity and no shame either... not like me.

• Talthybius : [rides up and dismounts; he walks slowly forward and stops some distance from Andromache]  Wife of the noblest man that was in Troy... O wife of Hector, do not hate me. Against my will I come to tell you...

  [Andromache looks at him; he continues haltingly] 

  Talthybius : The people and the kings have all resolved -...

  Andromache : What is it? Evil follows words like those.

  Talthybius : This child they order - -

  [he can't finish the phrase - he looks away, then through clenched teeth] 

  Talthybius : Oh, how can I say it...

  Andromache : [presses her son against her]  Not that he does not go with me to the same master -...

  Talthybius : No man in Greece shall ever be his master.

  Andromache : [stares at Talthybius, perplexed]  But - - leave him here - - all that is left of Troy?

  Talthybius : I don't know how to tell you. What is bad words can't make better -...

  Andromache : [hoping against hope]  I feel you kind. But you have not good news.

  Talthybius : [long pause, then he screams out]  Your child must die! There, now you know the whole, bad as it is!

  Andromache : [silence. Then slowly, as if from the marrow of her bones, the scream comes - - wild, scaringly, rising from the dark roots of sound beyond words] 

• Talthybius : [he's told Hecuba that Cassandra is to be Agamemnon's prize and concubine]  A king's bed is not so bad.