Lights fade in. Achilles kneels, helping Patroclus don the armor. They do not speak

Achilles hands Patroclus the helmet and gestures for him to look at his own reflection in it

[ACHILLES]
There

The verse of “Who Is This Boy?” returns softly on lone piano as Patroclus contemplates himself. Then, Patroclus slips the helmet on, and the transformation is complete

As the strings swell, Achilles leads Patroclus outside to the waiting Myrmidons, including Automedon

[PATROCLUS]
Rally the men

[AUTOMEDON]
Patroclus?

[PATROCLUS]
Yoke the horsеs

[AUTOMEDON]
Achilles, you can’t possibly--

[ACHILLES]
As he says
Troubled and full of hopе, Automedon readies the chariot opposite them. Still, Achilles hesitates to let Patroclus go

You’ll turn back as soon as the ships are safe

[PATROCLUS]
Yes

[ACHILLES]
You won’t fight Hector

[PATROCLUS]
Yes

Patroclus moves towards Automedon and the chariot, but Achilles persists, following after him

[ACHILLES]
You won’t take Troy

[PATROCLUS]
I hope you’re joking

[ACHILLES]
You don’t like it much when I do that

[PATROCLUS]
Yes, I do
[ACHILLES]
No, you don’t

[PATROCLUS] solemn, almost an apology
Yes, I do

A moment. Patroclus tries to diffuse it

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this

[ACHILLES]
Chiron would be proud

[PATROCLUS]
Chiron would be horrified. What are you talking about?

[ACHILLES]
I won’t tell him

[PATROCLUS]
You’d better not

In the following lines, they speak over each other and laugh in the manner of nervous young people just getting to know one another, but their voices are too subdued for the exchange to read as humor

[ACHILLES] quoting Chiron
Dangerous behavior
[PATROCLUS]
Dangerous

[ACHILLES]
Unwise and unnecessary

[PATROCLUS]
Unsound and unnecessary

[ACHILLES]
Unsound and unnecessary. That was it

The clamor of impatient horses and untried armor. Patroclus looks over at the Myrmidons. It is a brief glance, but Achilles knows he has lost Patroclus once again

[PATROCLUS]
I shouldn’t keep them waiting

[ACHILLES]
I shouldn’t keep you from your glory

Almost shyly, they laugh at the unaccountable awkwardness of this moment, which belies the lifetime they have spent together

[ACHILLES] the beginning of a question
Patroclus. You know that I–

[PATROCLUS]
Achilles. We’ll talk tonight. Or tomorrow. Remember?

Tomorrow perhaps--
Tomorrow perhaps--

Patroclus waits for Achilles to finish, but Achilles does not know what to say

Meanwhile, Automedon signals the men to get ready, and the Myrmidons fall into formation. The young charioteer calls out to the couple. Over the verse of “Where You Go”:

[AUTOMEDON]
Are we giving the Trojans hell or not?

[PATROCLUS]
Maybe this is it, Achilles. Perhaps this will be enough to satisfy the prophecy. Maybe it won’t be. But we have time now. We can--

[ACHILLES]
Can what?

Patroclus is dreamy with hope now, perhaps even senseless with it. The pre-chorus of “Where You Go” rises to meet his sentiment

[PATROCLUS]
Anything

[ACHILLES]
Anything?

[PATROCLUS]
Anything

They embrace each other tightly, and the mutual transformation is complete

At last, Patroclus crosses to the waiting chariot. The music swells into its chorus, carried by acoustic guitar, violin, and piano, as Achilles chases after him, reaches out to stop him. Patroclus turns back. Achilles kneels to retie Patroclus’ sandals, but they are already secure

A few captive women, including Iphis and Diomede, emerge from their tents, bearing silent witness. They can only imagine what this day will hold for Troy. Briseis is among them, finally understanding what Patroclus has been planning to do

Patroclus mounts the chariot, which begins to pull away from the camp over the bright yearning of the orchestra. Achilles watches him go

Blackout