The battlefield. The chorus is fighting as soldiers on both sides now. We see a battle take place; the Achaians drive the Trojans off, and are just about to pursue when Achilles takes the field. They line up dutifully.
Achilles: How's the Left Wing doing? I've been fighting on the Right. You should see the carnage I'm inflicting on their sorry saps. I just killed Hypeirochus... he clasped my knees in supplication and pleaded for mercy. His eyes were wide and blue and glassed over as I killed him, as I saw Hector's face in his.
Chorus 3: My lord Achilles...
Achilles: Well, answer me! How's the battle?
Chorus Leader: We have routed the enemy, my lord.
Achilles: Routed? No, look... they're coming back!
Chorus Leader: Sir, those are not the same soldiers. By their plumes and bold colours, we see that they are Hector's special contingent.
Chorus 9: His guard. And with them, I see many noble Princes. At their head is Hector.
Achilles: Hector is coming? Excellent.
Enter Hector, Aeneas, Polydamas, Paris and more of the Chorus as Hector's guards.
Polydamas: Hector, stay back. Don't fight him. Please.
Paris: He won't stand a chance.
Hector: Achilles!
Achilles: Why it's Hector, scourge of my people. Hector, the murderer of my best friend. Hector, who is about to die.
Hector: So be it. I am prepared. I expect mercy from no man—-and I give none.
A ferocious duel ensues. Achilles is obviously the stronger, and soon Hector drops to his knees. A Chorus member (Chorus 5) comes up and touches him on the shoulder.
Chorus 5: Hector... Hector, don't give up. You're a man of honour. You are strong in spirit. (She clasps his hand and raises the surprised Hector up.) Let me fight with you. I can save you.
Hector: Who are you? Thank you. Achilles! See if you can fight us together.
Chorus Leader, sternly pulling 5 away: Stop this! It is forbidden to interfere with the path of fate.
Chorus 5: Hector...
She reaches out as Hector looks about in bewilderment.
Hector: Where did you go? Come back!
Achilles wastes no time. Grinning, he runs Hector through.
Achilles: Let all Trojan scum die so. Hector, I'm going to have fun with this new toy of your corpse! I'll drag you around from my chariot like the dead dog you are.
Chorus Leader: It was unavoidable.
Polydamas: I told you not to fight. Hector, you should have listened.
Aeneas: Give us back his body. Achilles. Give it back so we can bury it honourably.
Polydamas: Don't be an idiot. That bastard doesn't believe in honour.
Aeneas: Then I'll fight him, too, if I must!
Polydamas: No. Nothing can stop him. He has the power of fate in every sword-swoop. The gods are behind him. Aeneas, Hector didn't listen to me, and now he's dead. Don't die, too. <
Chorus 5: Priam! Priam! Come and reclaim your son!
Enter Priam.
Priam: What happened? ...Hector?
Aeneas: He—he....
Polydamas: He's dead.
Priam: Dead?
Aeneas: By Achilles' hand.
Polydamas: Shh, sire. We'll weather this. Do you remember what Menelaus said, long ago, on the battlefield? About mourning for the death of only one man?
Priam: He wasn't only one man. He was our army. Without him, we're lost. Dead already. He was all our heros.