Major Charactres: Nomad Crew, Rumina, Omar
Minor Charactres: Omar’s Two Assistants, woman, Cicero, Cairpra, Guards

(Rumina is walking through the town with someone; she is carrying her cat, Cicero)

Woman: A big place will cost you ten drachmas a week.

Rumina: A small place?

Woman: Ten.

Rumina: I’ll take a big place.

Woman: Only got a small place. It’s right here.

Rumina: (they come up to Cairpra) Out of my way, old woman.

Cairpra: So, you’re finally here, Rumina. Daughter of Turok.

Woman: Daughter of Turok? The evil sorcerer? Well, I don’t rent to practitioners of black magic. I run a clean establishment.

Rumina: I am but a simple country girl only hoping to master some magic to help my family out of their poverty. My daddy always said to pay in advance. With gold. (she hands the woman a bag of gold)

Woman: (takes the bag of gold) I always had a soft spot for you country folk. Out of my way, old one.

(They to the doorway of the room; Rumina uses her eyes [magic] to make the room look nicer)

Rumina: This’ll do perfectly.

Woman: Expensive taste, for a poor country girl.

Rumina: I read a lot.

(She walks into the room, and closes the door behind her, using magic)

Rumina: (holding peacock feather over a bowl of water) Hestar, ebar, gar, hepeek. Show me the object I seek. (the bowl shows her Omar’s obelisk) There you are, object of my desire. Once I get my hands on the obelisk, my powers will be unstoppable. (she laughs) There’s no one here to stop us. No one.

(Rumina doesn’t notice that the image of Sinbad at the tiller is in her bowl of water)

(Opening Credits)

(The crew is on the Nomad, playing a game that resembles present-day bowling; Sinbad had just rolled the ball)

Sinbad: Scores! (he turns around and pats Firouz on the back, laughing) This one’s a keeper, Firouz.

Firouz: Excellent. I call it ‘Rolling Ball, and Falling Dragons’.

Doubar: (comes up to Sinbad) So why did this Omar of Basra confiscate the Caliph’s property in the first place?

Sinbad: There was this terrible war. Before either one of us was born. Both the Caliph and Omar were young men. Impetuous. (Sinbad rolls the ball)

Doubar: What makes this obelisk-thing we’re supposed to bring back so special?

(Rongar knocks down the only remaining pin with his foot, and claps; the others laugh)

Firouz: Well, legend has it, that the obelisk is the most important magical object in Egypt during the reign of Ramses the Second. It’s supposed to give whoever owns it unlimited power, good luck, the usual mythological stuff.

(Sinbad walks over to Maeve, who is sitting with Dermott, reading a book)

Sinbad: Maeve, you should see the game Firouz invented. It’s amazing!

(Maeve just nods her head, not taking her eyes of her book)

Sinbad: Good book?

Maeve: Huh? (she looks up) Oh, yeah! Dim-Dim wrote pages and pages on Basra. It’s a haven for magicians.

Sinbad: We’re going to Basra on official business, Maeve.

Maeve: Oh, I know, I know. But Dim-Dim spent a lot of time there. Listen. He said he ‘met a woman who far exceeds the boundaries of womanhood. And reaches into the spheres of the masterful knowledge of the ways of magic.’ Think of what she could teach me. Think of the tips she could give us on locating Dim-Dim. We’ve got to find her!

Sinbad: I’ll leave that to you. Me, I just want to give Omar his gifts, get the Caliph’s obelisk, and go home. Simple. No muss, no fuss. (he leaves her)

Maeve: (turns to Dermott) We’ll let Sinbad take care of the politics, Dermott. You and I, we’re going to find this woman. What harm can it do?

(Omar is in his palace, talking to his assistants)

Omar: If my late father could see me now, dressed like a shartan. I, who was once known as (he snaps his fingers)

Assistants: The Savage Sultan.

Omar: Now, look at me. Perhaps it was worthwhile to finally make peace with the Caliph of Baghdad. Finally he has sailed with the obelisk. Which has given me nothing but trouble since I came out. When is Sinbad coming back?

Assistant #1: He should reach the palace by morning, Sire.

Assistant #2: By morning, Sire.

Omar: Make sure the reception’s ready. (the two assistants turn to leave) It’s been many years since the war. (the assistants turn back) I can’t even remember what it was all about. Never mind. From tomorrow, Basra and Baghdad will begin a new chapter in their joint history. Peace will once again bless us all.

(Rumina is watching them through her bowl of water)

Rumina: Well. Things just keep getting better and better. Well, Cicero, let’s get some sleep. We have a very busy day ahead of us tomorrow.

(The crew is walking along the shore, carrying everything Firouz had crafted for Omar)

Firouz: Careful, Doubar! That’s important stuff. It’s all breakable, I assure you!

Doubar: I don’t suppose you’ve invented anything that’ll help us carry all this stuff.

Firouz: Good idea. I must address that subject on our next voyage.

(Sinbad walks over to Maeve)

Sinbad: Maeve?

Maeve: Huh?

Sinbad: Please be careful on your search.

Maeve: (chuckles) Sinbad, it’s you who should be careful. Politics is more unpredictable than magic.

(Inside the Palace)

Voice inside the palace: Announcing Sinbad, the sailor from Baghdad, and his crew!

(The doors open, and Sinbad enters; holding an umbrella, which he opens, and holds it over his hands)

Sinbad: The Savage Sultan! I am Sinbad.

Omar: (stands up, cautiously) What is that? A sword?

Sinbad: A gift, Sire. One to protect you from the rain, as well as the harsh rays of the sun.

Omar: I’ve never seen anything like it. May I look?

Sinbad: Absolutely. (he hands Omar the umbrella)

Omar: Practical. Very ingenious. Those who fear the sun can travel about without worry, eh?

(Meanwhile, the crew had entered the room)

Omar: Wondrous. Very clever.

Sinbad: It’s one of a kind, your highness.

Firouz: The Caliph contacted me, Firouz, who’s a scientist to create all these gifts for a man of your great reputation.

Firouz: (hands Omar a magnifying glass) Look through here, your highness. It magnifies everything you see.

(Omar looks around the room through the magnifying glass, until he gets to assistant #2, who smiles at him; he quickly takes the magnifying glass down from his eye, and glares at the assistant)

Sinbad: Your highness, a device to light your way. (he shows Omar a lantern)

Omar: Oh, it’s truly amazing!

Firouz: A wind machine. It moves the air around in a room, creating a breeze, whenever you want.

Omar: Such excitement!

Firouz: And look! A stargazer! At night, it brings the heavens to you.

Omar: Oh, how the schoolchildren will love this! Watching the heavens from close by! You, all of you, have made me very happy this day. Show Sinbad and his men any pleasures until we return. (to Sinbad) Come with me. Let me show you exactly why you’ve come.

Firouz: Thank-you, thank-you.

(Omar and Sinbad walk through the palace, and stop in a corridor, just outside of a room)

Sinbad, your coming here signifies a new beginning for us all. Wear this medal while you are here in Basra. (he hangs a medal around Sinbad’s neck) It signifies our friendship and your honoured status.

Sinbad: (holds the medal) I’m without word, Sire.

Omar: Come. This way. (Omar leads Sinbad to the room they were standing outside of) This is where the medallion comes in handy. (they walk into the room; there is the obelisk, sitting on a table in the middle of the room) There it is. The source of all the troubles between our two lands.

Sinbad: May I?

(Omar nods, and Sinbad walks towards the obelisk)

Omar: It belonged to a high priest magician, who guarded the articles of Isis, the Egyptian goddess of magic.

Sinbad: Stunning.

Omar: It has great power, not that I’ve ever found it. Over the last thirty years, hundreds of people have died either trying to steal it, or defend it. Pirates, rogues, spies, magicians. As a result, no one else is allowed in this room but myself…yeah, and you.

Sinbad: I’m honoured.

Omar: Don’t be. Sometimes I’m sorry I didn’t destroy the little devil. I offer my heart-spoken condolences to the Caliph for if he wants it, he can have it...and it’s reputation. (Omar holds the medal) Use this as safe passage into the shrine until you sail back to your Caliph. My guards will slaughter anyone else who will come in here.

Sinbad: What?

Omar: Oh, harsh, I know, but you’d be surprised how many would-be dictators it keeps out.

Sinbad: I will use this medallion wisely.

(They leave the room)

(Rumina is watching Sinbad and Omar through her bowl of water)

Rumina: Thank-you, Sinbad. You’ve given me a way to get my hands on the obelisk. And once I possess it, I’ll have enough power to possess you, my unwilling love.

(Maeve is walking through the streets of Basra; she comes to a house and knocks on the door)

Maeve: Hello? Anyone here?

(The door opens and Dermott flies inside, and lands on a stand)

Maeve: Dermott!

Cairpra: Come in, Maeve.

(Maeve enters, and sees a woman sitting on a chair in the corner)

Maeve: How did you know my name?

Cairpra: I am Cairpra, Maeve. That’s what I do. I know things. I knew Dim-Dim would send you to me. I know why you’re here.

(The crew and Omar are sitting in Omar’s palace, eating food, drinking wine, listening to music, and watching belly dancers)

(A belly dancer dances towards Sinbad, who stares, then smiles; when the music finishes, he smiles again, then raises his glass; the belly dancer walks up to assistant #1, whispers in his ear, then leaves the room; the assistant goes up to Sinbad)

Assitant #1: His highness has directed me to provide you with every pleasure possible, Sinbad. Follow me, please.

(Sinbad looks at Doubar, then Omar, who gestures for him to go)

(Sinbad is walking through gardens in the kingdom, when he sees an arm sticking out from behind some vines; he pulls on the arm, and out comes the belly dancer; Sinbad pulls her close, close enough to kiss her; he acts like he is about to kiss her, when he lifts up the veil that was hiding her mouth)

Sinbad: Hello, Rumina. Those dancing lessons have sure paid off.

Rumina: How did you know it was me?

Sinbad: Well, when you make eye contact, you really make eye contact. (he holds up her right hand) And your choice in jewelry sets you apart from the rest of the chorus line.

Rumina: You may pretend to hate me, Sinbad, but I know you really want me. Admit it. You did want to kiss me just now.

Sinbad: As much as I’d wanna cuddle a snake.

Rumina: (pushes him away) That can be arranged, you conceited sea dog!

Sinbad: Oh, temper, temper, temper!

(Rumina throws some magic dust in his eyes, and pulls the medallion from around Sinbad’s neck; Sinbad shrinks)

Rumina: (chuckles) This would look much better with my outfit.

Sinbad: (who is now two inches tall) Rumina, you’ll never get away with this!

(Rumina puts him into a cloth)

Sinbad: Where are you taking me?!

(She stuffs him into her shirt)

Rumina: Oh, Sinbad. So close to my heart.

(She chuckles, and walks back to her room)

(Rumina arrives to her room with Sinbad)

Rumina: Did you enjoy the ride?

(She drops him into a bottle; and her cat, Cicero, jumps up onto the table, to see what she put into the bottle)

Rumina: He’s all mine, Cicero. (she shoves her away) Stay away.

Sinbad: My crew will find me! They’ll turn this city upside down!

Rumina: Not if they don’t realize you’re missing. (she walks over to the other side of the room) How would it feel to have a twin brother, dearest? (she picks up a mirror and uses her magic to turn into a spitting image of Sinbad) (she walks over to Sinbad, still in the bottle) I should thank you, Sinbad. Now I can stroll into the shrine and simply take the obelisk. It’ll save a lot of wear and tear on my powers. (she clears her throat, and she begins to sound like Sinbad) Mmmm. That’s better. (She peers into the bottle) Think of it, Sinbad. Once the obelisk is stolen by you, there will be war once again. I owe that to the Caliph, don’t you think? You killed my father…but the Caliph was responsible.

Sinbad: It’ll never work! My friends will see right through your disguise!

Rumina: (walks around the room) Are you afraid I might tarnish your good name? (she laughs) What a wonderful idea! I think I’ll have a little fun at your expense before I enter the shrine. When I return, maybe you’ll see that being nice to Rumina could save your life. See you around, short stuff. (she opens the door with her magic, and leaves, laughing, closing the door with her magic again)

(Sinbad tries to push the bottle around, to tip it over)

Sinbad: Hello! Hello! Can anyone hear me? Hello!

(Siserra gets up and goes to the bottle)

(Cairpra and Maeve are still talking in Cairpra’s house)

Maeve: Dim-Dim wrote in his books that you have great powers.

Cairpra: As you do. As Rumina does.

Maeve: Why did you bring up Rumina?

Cairpra: Your goal is to destroy her, isn’t it?

Maeve: I’ve never told a soul about that.

Cairpra: It’s not only Rumina’s knowledge of incantations, or her supply of feathers and knots. It is her belief in her magic.

Maeve: But I believe in it as well.

Cairpra: Do you trust that you are a conduce to its power? Of all its power?

Maeve: I want to. I have to. I want my brother back. Her magic took him away. And I want to find Dim-Dim. I miss them both. Will you help me?

Cairpra: Only you can undo Rumina’s black magic. You must fight it with the strongest strength.

Maeve: I’m trying. But she had Turok as a teacher. He was a very powerful sorcerer.

Cairpra: Knowledge will help. But the only thing that will stop those who deal in black magic is a strong heart. Good is more powerful than evil, but its magic is more difficult to learn.

Maeve: What if I’m never good enough? What if my heart isn’t that strong?

(Omar and Sinbad’s crew are in the palace)

Firouz: Where’s Sinbad?

Doubar: He didn’t return last night. He must have got caught up counting the muscle groups on that belly dancer.

(They laugh)

Omar: (stands up) Gentlemen! Where is your Captain? I’ve planned to take you all on a tour of my kingdom before you set sail.

Doubar: (stands up) He’ll be with us presently, your highness. He wasn’t feeling this well this morning.

Omar: Not the food, I hope.

Rumina: (opens the door, disguised as Sinbad) Nope. It’s just that I set my own schedule, gentlemen. (she picks up a roll, and tosses it over his back; Rongar gives her a strange look) I decided to stretch my legs outside the palace. See your countryside on my own. (walks towards Omar) You made a very shrude bargain, Omar. Perhaps I should be working for you, instead of the Caliph.

Omar: What?

Rumina: Think of it, big man. You’re getting the best out of this deal.

Omar: I am dealing in good faith, Sinbad.

Rumina: Sure, you fod off a worthless statue that you hate anyway. And the Caliph gives you state-of-the-art (pats her hand all over Firouz’s face) inventions. Now, that’s what I call taking advantage of the situation.

Omar: Why you—

Firouz: (goes ahead of Rumina) What Sinbad means, your excellency, is that you have a natural talent for bartering.

Rumina: (pushes Firouz aside) Not exactly. Actually, Sire, it’s just that strolling through your city, I longed for the sight of a real town.

Omar: Do you insult my kingdom, Sailor?

Rumina: Seems you’ve beaten me to it.

Omar: This diplomat must keep his simple tongue in his head. Guards!

Rumina: You’re just like all men, going back on your word. You said, as long as I wear this medal, I could do whatever I want in Basra!

Omar: I gave you that medal as a sign of friendship. One does not insult one’s friend!

Rumina: I never called you a friend.

Omar: Do you know what I could do to you, boy?

Doubar: (walks forward) Great Omar of Basra, my brother must have a fever. Why, he’s never acted this way before.

Omar: Well, perhaps a stay in the dungeon will cure you all! Guards! Arrest them all!

(Guards appear, and the crew tries to fight them off; Rumina stands by and watches them)

Rumina: (watches Doubar) That a boy, Doubar! (watches Firouz) A little more wrist action, Firouz! (watches Rongar) Oh, baldy! Fight like you mean it! With feeling! (she gets up onto the windowsill, and looks over at Omar) So long, Omar. (she salutes) I’ll pick up your trinket later. (she jumps out of the window)

(The crew continues to fight guards)

Firouz: Up for a little fresh air?

Doubar: Do I have a choice?

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