ODYSSEY, THE {PART 2 OF 2} (TV)
Summary
Part two of two in this miniseries based on Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey," a tale of Greek hero Odysseus and his long journey home to Ithaca following the fall of Troy. The program begins with Odysseus in Hades entering Tiresias's realm. After much struggle, Odysseus reaches the blind prophet. He hands over the ram as a sacrifice as Tiresias tells him that he is a clever man but not a wise one. Tiresias reveals to Odysseus that the answer to getting home has always been in front of his eyes. He tells him to follow the constellation Orion's brightest star to the insatiable monster Scylla and the deadly tidal pool Charybdis. Then, Odysseus's dead mother Anticleia appears, explaining that she took her own life out of grief at her son's disappearance. She tells Odysseus to hurry home to Penelope. Emerging from Hades, Odysseus find his men awaiting him. In Ithaca, the portly farmer Elatus joins the growing number of suitors at Penelope's home, eliciting derision from the others. Penelope tells Telemachus that she believes Odysseus is still alive. Further, she reveals how she promised his father that she would remarry if he had not returned by the time Telemachus grew a beard. Penelope says she will hold off her suitors a little longer, not selecting one until she finishes a large shroud for Odysseus. The suitors are unhappy, however, claiming they will stay at her home until she has chosen one of them. Meanwhile, Odysseus and his men, now having traveled for sixteen years, head toward Scylla. Entering her cave, the three-headed monster quickly emerges out of the dark, eating several men. Odysseus offers the creature a goat and asks for Athena's protection. Then, they are blown out of Scylla's cave, hovering over the gaping jaws of the watery Charybodis. Ultimately. the ship and Odysseus's men fall into the monstrous whirlpool. Meanwhile, Penelope's suitors grow increasingly wild, with Eurycleia complaining about their treatment of her. At the same time, Odysseus floats alone in the sea, wondering when he shall die. He eventually makes it to a small island where he meets the beautiful goddess Calypso. Calypso tells him that no one ever leaves her island and that he is now "home." Calypso's maids are amused to see a man for the first time in their lives. Calypso leads Odysseus to a place he can rest. Later, Odysseus cries to Calypso over the loss of his men and she tells him that he must forget. She begins kissing him, attracting a crowd of curious maids. Meanwhile, Telemachus tries to string his father's bow, determined to kill his mother's most boorish suitor, Antinous. The next day, Telemachus summons an assembly, imploring the citizens of Ithaca to help him rid the house of Penelope's suitors. However, the suitors convince the assembly that they are not in the wrong. Telemachus then asks to be given a ship so that he may locate his father. Eurymachus agrees, later stating to Antinous that he'll kill the boy if he returns. Back on Calypso's island, Odysseus sees a boat far off in the sea. He tries to swim toward the ship as Calypso orders her maids to bring him back, which they do. Calypso is angered that Odysseus would try to leave without thanking her. She tells Odysseus that he is there to serve her and never leave. Meanwhile, Athena appears to help Telemachus before his journey begins. Athena points Telemachus toward Sparta, but he has no idea what to do upon reaching that land. Athena tells him to use his wits. Now, Penelope is alone without her husband or son. For two more years, Odysseus remains imprisoned on Calypso's island and his hopes of ever reaching Penelope begin to fade. One day, Hermes arrives to speak with Calypso, claiming that she is to set Odysseus free, as ordered by Zeus. Calypso claims they are all jealous of her for making love to a mortal. However, after being threatened with her island's destruction, Calypso releases Odysseus and tells him to find Penelope. Odysseus asks for Calypso's help in building a ship and she advises him on where to find some wood. Despite the intense weather, Odysseus works day and night to build a ship. Meanwhile, Eurymachus makes a move on Melanthe in order to find out why Penelope's tapestry is never finished. Melanthe reveals that Penelope pulls out her stitching each night. Afterward, Eurymachus exposes Penelope's deception and has the loom burned, causing a small riot among the suitors. Ultimately, Odysseus completes his boat and, just as he is about to leave, Calypso makes one final plea for him to stay, but he refuses. Meanwhile, Telemachus finally arrives in Sparta to speak with King Menelaus. Telemachus asks for Menelaus's help in finding his father but the king claims that Odysseus is already dead. At the same time, Poseidon destroys Odysseus's ship in the sea. Calling out for the sea god, Odysseus wonders what he wants. Poseidon responds that he wants Odysseus to suffer more, but he is not going to kill him. Eventually, Odysseus washes up on the shore of Phaeacia, in a land of mariners and fishermen. Brought to King Alcinous, Odysseus refuses to share his name, claiming he is cursed. However, Alcinous guesses his identity, saying he has heard of the cunning Odysseus. Alcinous gives Odysseus his finest ship and mariners in order to voyage home. Eventually reaching the far shores of Ithaca, Odysseus finally realizes how he antagonized Poseidon, admitting his mistakes. The disheveled Odysseus then tries to walk home, encountering a swineherd on his way who takes him back to his hut. The man, Eumaeus, soon realizes that it is his former master. Later, Eumaeus unites Odysseus with Telemachus, who refuses to believe his father is still alive. After Telemachus is finally convinced, Odysseus orders his son to not tell any men that he has returned. That night, Odysseus speaks with Athena, who commends the man for his patience. Odysseus worries that Penelope's heart is no longer with him. Athena turns Odysseus into an old white-bearded man, in order that he may find the answer without revealing himself. The next day, the disguised Odysseus ventures into his palace, disgusted by how the suitors have treated his home. The suitors think Telemachus has returned from his journey with an old, filthy beggar as opposed to his rescued father. Now that Telemachus is finally bearded, Eurymachus plots with Antinous to slay him. Telemachus keeps up his father's ruse, though he tells his mother that he is certain Odysseus is still alive and believes that the old beggar will prove this. Then, Telemachus squares off with Antinous, with the boy taking a bad beating. When Antinous has bloodied Telemachus and scarred him, Eurymachus goads Telemachus into killing his antagonist. However, Odysseus intervenes, causing Antinous to throw a chair which hits Odysseus. Odysseus tells his son that there is no shame in how he behaved. Eurycleia subsequently tends to Odysseus and recognizes an old war wound. He swears her to silence. Later, Penelope goes to see the beggar and thanks him for saving her son's life. Not realizing that he is Odysseus, she says that, since her husband has not returned, she will finally end the madness and set a contest for her hand in marriage. She also admits that she's still in love with her husband, making Odysseus know that Penelope has been true to him. The next day, Penelope sets up a seemingly impossible contest amongst her suitors in order to win her hand: stringing the bow of Odyseus and shooting an arrow through a series of targets. They complain about the contest but eventually decide to attempt it, with Eurymachus and Antinous the first to try, and fail. The old beggar shocks the men by making an attempt and, to their amazement, he succeeds. He immediately turns back into the young Odysseus. Immediately, Odysseus and Telemachus begin slaying the suitors for their "crime." Telemachus puts a spear through Antinous while Odysseus shoots an arrow through Elatus. Eurymachus calls for Melanthe to open the locked door for him. However, as she opens the portal, Odysseus shoots an arrow that pierces them both. Afterward, Odysseus tells his son to cleanse the bloody room and then to tell Penelope that he is home. Before Telemachus can act, Athena appears to Penelope, sending her to Odysseus. Finally, after twenty years, Penelope is reunited with Odysseus, who claims that he will never leave her again. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: May 19, 1997 Monday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:32:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:56622
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1997
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Francis Ford Coppola … Executive Producer
- Fred Fuchs … Executive Producer
- Nicholas Meyer … Executive Producer
- Robert Halmi … Executive Producer
- Dyson Lovell … Producer
- Chris Thompson … Line Producer
- Andrei Konchalovsky … Director, Writer
- Chris Solimine … Writer
- Homer … Based on the epic poem by
- Edward Artemyev … Music by
- Armand Assante … Cast, Odysseus
- Greta Scacchi … Cast, Penelope
- Geraldine Chaplin … Cast, Eurycleia
- Jeroen Krabbe … Cast, King Alcinous
- Christopher Lee … Cast, Tiresias
- Irene Papas … Cast, Anticleai
- Bernadette Peters … Cast, Circe
- Michael J. Pollard … Cast, Aeolus
- Eric Roberts … Cast, Eurymachus
- Isabella Rossellini … Cast, Athena
- Vanessa Williams … Cast, Calypso
- Ron Cook … Cast, Eurybates
- William Houston … Cast, Anticlus
- Alan Cox … Cast, Elpener
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths … Cast, Polites
- Michael Tezcan … Cast, Eurylochos
- Andoni Anastasse … Cast, Perimedes
- Stewart Thompson … Cast, Antiphus
- Nicholas Clay … Cast, Meneleus
- Yorgo Voyagis … Cast, Agamemnon
- Alan Stenson … Cast, Telemachus
- Vincenzo Nicoli … Cast, Antinous
- Tony Vogel … Cast, Eumaeus
- Freddy Douglas … Cast, Hermes
- Paloma Baeza … Cast, Melanthe
- Heathcote Williams … Cast, Laoccon
- Richard Truett … Cast, Achilles
- Mark Hill … Cast, Orsilicus
- Peter Woodthorpe … Cast, Mentor
- Pat Kelman … Cast, Elatus
- Katie Carr … Cast, Nausicaa
- Reid Asato … Cast, Cyclops
- Josh Maguire … Cast, Young Telemachus
- Oded Levy … Cast, Leocritus
- Vernon Dobtcheff … Cast, Aegyptius