Major Charactres: Nomad Crew, Vincenzo, Nissam
Minor Charactres: Queen Nadia, King Kayan, Archers
(The crew is on the Nomad, and they just his land)
Doubar: Sinbad! We’ve run aground!
Firouz: This wouldn’t have happened if you’d have let me finish installing my fluid-inducting system. I could have had us out of here, and fast! (turns in a huff) Nobody listens to me! I don’t even know why I’m here. Now we’re just going to have to sit around and wait for the tide to come back.
Maeve: Well, I hope it comes back soon. I don’t like the looks of this place. Empty, and lonely.
Sinbad: Lonely or not, we may as well go ashore and find some fresh water.
Doubar: Little brother, why must you always be so practical?
Sinbad: Huh?
Doubar: Why couldn’t you have just said, ‘Men, let’s go ashore! Who knows what adventures may await us there! Maybe wine, women, song!’
Sinbad: And fresh water.
Doubar: And fresh water.
Sinbad: (turns to Maeve) You don’t have to come along, Maeve, if you don’t want to. There is a strangeness about this place. And we’ll be slogging over rough terrain, in this heat. (he turns and looks toward the island)
Maeve: Isn’t that just like a sailor. (Sinbad turns to her) Using chivalry against me. I’m a part of this crew, aren’t I? I pull my weight around here, don’t I? (she looks at Doubar, who nods) I will NOT be left behind. Excuse me, Doubar. (she walks past Doubar, to the other end of the ship)
(The crew are walking through a field)
Doubar: I can’t take another step in this heat, little brother.
Sinbad: We haven’t even started, yet.
Doubar: I’ve not only started, I’ve finished.
(The crew laughs)
(Doubar sits down under a tree, as Sinbad notices a statue; he walks over to it)
Sinbad: Wow, look at that! She’s beautiful. (he reaches out a hand and touches the face)
Maeve: (comes up behind him) If you like the strong, silent type.
Sinbad: No, really. Look at her legs. Her arms. So graceful.
Maeve: (reaches a hand up to the statue’s face) She seems kinda…sad, don’t you think?
Vincenzo: (comes up behind them) Yet, sadness is an inherent part of beauty, don’t you agree?
(The crew puts their hands on their swords, ready to attack, if need be)
Vincenzo: My name is Vincenzo. And this, this is my island. I see you’ve noticed my creations. I’m a sculptor. And whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?
(Sinbad holds out his hand to shake Vincenzo’s, but Vincenzo takes Maeve’s hand, and kisses it)
Maeve: (dreamy-like) My name is Maeve.
Vincenzo: Maeve. Striking name. An equally striking woman.
Maeve: And this is Rongar, Doubar, Firouz…and Sinbad.
(With the hesitation in mentioning his name, Sinbad gave her a look, as she kept staring at Vincenzo)
Sinbad: We didn’t mean to trespass on your island, sir.
Vincenzo: Trespass? Please. Many ships get caught in our temperamental tides. As a matter of fact, I was hoping you could spend a few days with me, until the water rises enough to free your ship.
(The guards with Vincenzo surrounded the crew, and the crew began to draw their swords, just in case; the guards move to reveal a beautiful castle)
Maeve: Magnificent.
Vincenzo: Yes. It gives me great pleasure.
Sinbad: Well, it’s much too rich for our blood, sir. However, if you could sell us some provisions—
Vincenzo: And have your time while away while you’re on your ship, watching the tide slowly come in, when you could be my guest, enjoying wine, women, song?
Sinbad: Well…(the other crewmates nod)
Vincenzo: I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer, dear Captain. Come.
(Maeve links arms with Vincenzo, and the other crewmates follow; Sinbad stays behind, watching Maeve with disbelief; he begins to follow, when he hears a moan; he turns and sees nothing)
Sinbad: (turns back to the guards that waited to escort them back to the castle; he clears his throat) All right.
(They walk to the castle)
(Vincenzo leads the crew into a room inside the castle, which has a lot of tropical birds in cages)
Sinbad: Nice little place you have here.
Vincenzo: I’m glad you appreciate it. I designed it myself. I believe that architecture should be a reflection of the soul.
Sinbad: Well, your soul dwells in quite the exclusive neighborhood.
(A soldier, Nissam, disguised as a servant, watched the Captain from the stairs as a group of servants walked into the room)
Vincenzo: I’ve always felt that birds were among the most spiritual of beings.
Sinbad: And I’ve always felt they shouldn’t be kept in cages.
Vincenzo: I’ll have my servants escort you to your quarters, and dinner will be served at sundown. Until then…
(He leaves, and Sinbad walks up to Maeve)
Sinbad: There’s something about that man I really don’t like.
Maeve: He’s sensitive, poetic, knows how to treat a woman with respect. Course, you don’t like him.
(She leaves with some maids, as Sinbad watches after her)
(Maeve is having a bath, and talking to the birds around her)
Maeve: I love you too, young one. (she says that to a pretty red macaw) But why such a sad song? (she splashes it with some water)
(Then a face appears in the bath bubbles; who we later discover is Queen Nadia)
Nadia: You must leave! (Maeve sits up quickly) You must go! Beware of Vincenzo!
(She disappears)
Maeve: No, come back! Please, come back! No! Who are you?
(Opening Credits)
(Sinbad is in a room when he hears a noise; he walks up some steps, to where there is someone hiding on the other side of the curtain)
Sinbad: Hello? Anybody there?
(Nissam runs out; Sinbad chases after him across the platform, then grabs one of the ropes hanging from the ceiling, and swings so that he gets in front of Nissam before Nissam reaches the bottom)
Sinbad: Not so fast! We haven’t even been introduced.
(Nissam draws his sword, and swings at Sinbad, who swings on the rope all around the room; Sinbad gets off the rope, and draws his sword; they fight for a bit; and Sinbad finally disarms Nissam)
Sinbad: You know, my friend, in my country, we don’t call this hospitality. Who are you?
Nissam: Forgive me. I meant you no harm.
Sinbad: Could have fooled me.
Nissam: I had to know if you could be trusted. Your lady friend, she’s in grave danger.
Sinbad: I don’t doubt it, with all the servants as blade-happy as you are.
Nissam: I’m not a servant. I’m a soldier in King Kayan’s army. The palace and the island belong to him and his Queen Nadia. Vincenzo’s only the court’s artist.
Sinbad: Where is this King of yours now?
Nissam: Hidden away. Vincenzo’s taken everything by force.
Sinbad: What kind of force? I don’t see any army.
Nissam: He doesn’t need an army. He has something much more powerful.
Sinbad: Well, what could be more powerful than an army? (he hands Nissam his sword, and they both put their swords back in their sheaths)
Nissam: His art. Please. You’ve got to help me! You’re friend is in grave danger. Please!
Sinbad: Why should I trust you?
Nissam: (puts his hands on Sinbad’s shoulders) On this island, there’s a place known as the Glittering Caves. Inside, you will find proof that all I say is true!
(They hear a bird squawk behind them, in the window)
Nissam: My life is over! I’ve been seen! (he runs out of the room)
Sinbad: Wait!
(The crew, except for Maeve, is sitting at the table, eating a feast; that’s when Maeve enters; Doubar stares at her, Firouz taps Rongar on the shoulder, all the while not taking his eyes off her, and when Sinbad notices, he is holding a piece of food in his hand, he drops it, not taking his eyes from Maeve; she walks over to the chair beside Sinbad; Vincenzo pushes it in for her; Sinbad stands up, then sits down when she sits)
Vincenzo: Everyone comfortable? Hope everyone found what they needed.
Sinbad: Indeed. The servants are above and beyond the call of duty. The palace definitely gets four turbans.
Firouz: Point of fact, you have created a paradise on Earth.
Vincenzo: Maeve. You would do me a great honour if you allowed me to fashion one of my sculptures after you. I want to capture your radiance for all the ages. Although, I confess, I could never do it full justice.
Maeve: I don’t know what to say.
Vincenzo: Well. (he gets up and goes behind Maeve) Perhaps if you saw the rest of my work, that would put your mind at ease.
Maeve: I’d be honoured.
Sinbad: So would I. Vincenzo, I would love to see more of your artwork.
Vincenzo: (slightly annoyed) Of course. Anyone else?
Doubar: No, no. I’m fine right where I am, Vincenzo, if that’s all right with you.
Vincenzo: Shall we?
(He links arms with Maeve, and Sinbad follows them out)
(They are walking through a long corridor lined with statues)
Vincenzo: I appreciate the beauty of the female form. It moves me to create.
Sinbad: You obviously have great taste in female forms. There’s not a drudge among them.
Maeve: They’re all stunning.
Vincenzo: You see, I treat them as my children. I could tell you stories about each one.
(Maeve stops at one statue)
Maeve: Wait. This woman. I saw her reflection in my bath. She tried to speak with me.
Vincenzo: Yes, ah, this is my wife. She passed away, less than a year ago.
(Sinbad looks at Vincenzo, not quite believing him)
Maeve: Oh, so sorry.
Vincenzo: She’s permanent by nature, I’m afraid. In a way, she’s immortal, now. She’ll always be like this. Radiant, strong. Ravishes a time that will take their toll on it.
Sinbad: (feeling another statue with his hand) You have an amazing hand, Vincenzo. I can’t detect the mark of a chisel anywhere on the surface of this marble.
Vincenzo: Thank-you. I take that as a great compliment.
(He removes Sinbad’s hand from the statue)
Sinbad: Where are your tools? Where do you actually do your work?
Vincenzo: (looks back at Maeve, who smiles, then points down the corridor) Over there is my studio. (Sinbad starts to walk towards the door) I don’t let anyone in there, Captain. The thought of seeing someone before the work’s done.
(A moan is heard)
Sinbad: What was that?
Vincenzo: Probably just one of my servants, tripping over himself. They’re so clumsy at times. (Maeve smiles) Let me show you the rest of the palace.
(They leave)
(Sinbad comes back to the corridor, to check out Vincenzo’s room; it is dark out, and the corridor is lit by candles; there are two guards, guarding the door; Sinbad throws a shield from on the wall, which makes the guards run to the source of the sound; Sinbad goes to the door of Vincenzo’s room, but runs to hide, when Vincenzo leaves the room)
Vincenzo: How am I supposed to work with so much noise?! Fools!
(Sinbad sneaks into the room, and finds Nissam there, turned to marble)
Sinbad: Nissam! (he touches the marble)
(Meanwhile, Vincenzo is talking to the guards)
Vincenzo: Put it back in the wall! Search the palace for intruders.
(The guards do that; Vincenzo goes back into his room, and Sinbad sneaks out the window; Vincenzo turns around, just as Sinbad disappears into the darkness)
Vincenzo: Hmm.
(It is the next day; Sinbad and Maeve are talking in the room filled with birds)
Sinbad: I told you what I saw last night.
Maeve: No, you told me what you thought you saw.
Sinbad: I searched the palace all morning, looking for Nissam. Nobody’s seen him.
Maeve: Sinbad, you are always prepared to think the worst.
Sinbad: Well, I’m usually right.
(Maeve laughs)
Maeve: All right, I admit this place is a little…odd. But I find Vincenzo to be a very sensitive, wonderful man. He appreciates the side of me that has been ignored by the likes of you, for a very long time.
Sinbad: Maeve, don’t let his flattery go to your head. Nissam said something about the King and Queen. Now Vincenzo’s done something to them.
Maeve: All right. Let’s be sepulsive for one tiny moment, that you may be a little bit right. What would you like me to do?
Sinbad: Distract him. I’m going to do a little exploring.
(Vincenzo walks in)
Maeve: (whispers) Don’t do anything to get us into trouble!
Sinbad: (moves closer to Maeve, and quietly talks, hardly moving his lips) If Vincenzo is who he says he is, he’s got nothing to worry about. Now, I’m going to go get the crew. (he turns around) I’m going to go…check out the tide. (turns back to Maeve) Just be careful.
(He turns to leave, walks a few steps, then turns back and salutes her)
(Firouz is in another room, working on his latest invention, which happens to be exploding sticks; Sinbad knocks and enters)
Sinbad: Firouz, I need your help.
Firouz: In a second, in a second. I’m about to test my hypothesis.
Sinbad: Your hypotho—what?
Firouz: (holds up a stick) I call this a sulfur stick. (he lights it on fire, and it blows up; Firouz’s and Sinbad’s face now have black on them) Success!
Sinbad: Success?
Firouz: Just as I suspected. Some of the minerals compounds in sulfur have very combustive properties when mixed together with flame. I could turn this into a new and powerful tool. (A bird squawks from the window) I think I’ll call it blasting powder. Yes!
Sinbad: Maybe Vincenzo used this to take over the island!
Firouz: Mmmm. In order for it to be effective, you’d have to have a lot more of it, and you’d also have to find a way to contain it, somehow.
(Sinbad picks up a rock from the table)
Firouz: Pretty, isn’t it?
Sinbad: What is it?
Firouz: It is the essential ingredient in my explosive mixture. But I could only find such a small amount of it outside the palace grounds.
Sinbad: Nissam told me to find the Glittering Caves! Maybe this is what he’s talking about! Go get the crew! We’re going on a little expedition.
(They leave)
(Maeve is posing for Vincenzo, who is sculpting a small model of her)
Vincenzo: These preliminary models that I do help me decide on the…um…final position. You’re truly dazzling, Maeve. You will be my best work ever.
(A bird squawks from a nearby tree)
Maeve: It’s beautiful.
Vincenzo: Hmmm? (he follows her gaze to the blue macaw sitting on a branch) Oh, yes, he’s one of my favourites. Excuse me a moment. (he walks over to the bird, and seems to listen to what it’s saying) Hmm? (he walks back to Maeve) I have to speak with my guards. There’s a slight problem. I’ll be right back.