Major Charactres: Sinbad, Maeve, Doubar, Dermott, Rongar, Firouz, Prince Xander, Tiresias, Drax
Minor Charactres: Queen, Guards, Man Who Died, King Alderon
(The Nomad crew is down below deck; it is nighttime)
Firouz: According to my charts, we should be very near Arborea.
Sinbad: Not a breath of wind.
Firouz: It’s called the doldrums. It’s a strictly atmospheric condition.
Doubar: Passing wind. How long’s it been now?
Sinbad: Well, I estimate we’ve been drifting roughly thirty-six chickens, forty loaves of bread, and twelve skins of water.
(Dermott chirps)
Doubar: You, you’re just lucky you’re a member of the crew.
Maeve: Neither of us appreciates your sense of humour!
Sinbad: Maeve, we’re all just feeling a little…
Doubar: Hungry.
Sinbad: Yeah.
Doubar: And thirsty.
Sinbad: And that too.
Doubar: Doomed.
Sinbad: Well, I wouldn’t go that far. (pauses) Come on, everybody! Cheer up! Like Firouz says, there’s gotta be land nearby.
(They all go above deck)
Sinbad: There. I can smell the land. And see? A gust of offshore wind.
Doubar: I didn’t feel any wind. Did you feel any wind?
Maeve: Not a breath of wind, and yet, lanterns blow out, sails fill?
Firouz: At this accelerated rate, given the fact that darkness shrouds any potential landmass, shouldn’t we be more concerned about—
Sinbad: I’m concerned. I’m very concerned! (runs along deck) Take a sounding! All hands reduce sail! Doubar! Get to the tiller! Quickly!
(Doubar runs to the tiller)
Maeve: I would think right now that land would be a very good thing!
Sinbad: But we’re sailing blind! We…we can run aground! We gotta drop sail!
Firouz: Sinbad! The water’s getting shallower!
(Sinbad uses his sword to chop the ropes to get the sails down)
Sinbad: (to Rongar) Keep trying. We gotta bring these sails down! (runs to the tiller)
(The tiller is too strong for him, and gets out of his hands)
Doubar: What in the name of—
(Sinbad comes to Doubar and helps him with the tiller)
Doubar: It’s got a mind of its own! It’s as if it wants us to run aground!
Sinbad: Rongar! Drop anchor! Hurry!
(After a few minutes of struggling, the Nomad stops)
Sinbad: We hit a sandbar!
(The crew all gathers on one side of the Nomad; Sinbad throws over the rope ladder)
Maeve: Well, at least we’re not stuck in the doldrums anymore.
Sinbad: I better go down and check the damage.
Firouz: There! (points to the horizon) I can see it! Behold, the kingdom of Arborea?
Doubar: I think I’d rather be stuck in the doldrums.
(Someone begins to climb the ladder; the crew all draw their swords; the man comes up on board the Nomad)
Man: You…you…you must not land here. With mine own eyes, I have seen the dead walk. I have seen the dead bleed. There be…there be ghosts here. Go! Go now! Take me with you! Please.
(He collapses and Firouz goes to him)
Firouz: He’s dead, Sinbad.
(Opening Credits)
(The crew is walking through a forest)
Firouz: There must be some reasonable explanation.
Maeve: Firouz, ghosts exist.
Doubar: And something took control of the tiller back there.
(They hear neighs from horses)
Sinbad: Quiet!
(Horsemen come closer)
Sinbad: These aren’t ghosts. They’re men.
(The draw their swords and head over to the horsemen, and fight them; the horsemen eventually ride away, after the leader blows some kind of horn)
(They hear crying in the forest)
Sinbad: What’s that?
Doubar: Probably a real ghost, trying to lure us into the forest.
Firouz: It’s only wind. An owl at best.
Doubar: There is nothing ‘at best’ about this place.
Maeve: No, it’s a boy. A frightened little boy.
Doubar: How can you be so sure?
(They walk through the forest until they come to a statue)
Firouz: Strange. The noise seemed to be coming from right here.
Sinbad: Is it just me, or did it suddenly get chilly?
(Doubar notices the statue appearing to cry)
Doubar: Unworldly! What kind of proof do you need?
Firouz: No, it’s of this world. Damp air meets cold stone. It’s called condensation.
Maeve: There. It’s coming from over there.
(They walk through the forest for a few more minutes)
Maeve: (sees Xander, a young boy) Sinbad!
Xander: You are strangers. Welcome to what was once Arborea.
Sinbad: Those horsemen did this?
Xander: These were the last of the Whynots. Now none remain to be loyal to me.
Maeve: But you’re all right.
Xander: Funny, isn’t it? So much death, and yet, they miss the reign. But one still lives. The one that matters most. How angry Drax will be when he finds out.
(He stares at Dermott, who flies off)
Firouz: Pardon me, young sir. But I was led to believe that the kingdom of Arborea was a peaceful, happy place. Blessed with fruitful abundance, blue skies, famous for it’s strawberries!
Xander: It was all that and more. At least while King Alderon lived and sat on the throne.
Sinbad: Who sits there now?
Xander: Drax. He was Alderon’s most trusted advisor and friend. He betrayed Alderon. He imprisoned his Queen. He seized the throne. That was just three moons ago. In that brief time, this once happy place has been transformed into a kingdom of sorrows.
Maeve: How tragic.
Xander: I will destroy the tyrant. I’ll lift the curse. And this will be Arborea once again.
Sinbad: Those warriors on horseback are what you’re up against. You have your work cut out for you, little man.
Xander: They are many and strong, but I hold the secret to the tyrant’s undoing.
Sinbad: You do?
Xander: Drax will not rest. He cannot rest! At least while the rightful heir to the throne still lives.
Maeve: You.
Xander: I am Prince Xander. Son of King Alderon. Prince of Arborea.
(The crew bows)
Sinbad: It’s a miracle you survived. How did they miss you?
Xander: I…I played dead.
Firouz: Very practical solution.
Maeve: A boy your age should be surrounded by laughter and friends. Not death.
Xander: Twice I have failed my father. A few moons ago, in the battle in which he fell, and again today. I will never prove myself as a warrior.
Maeve: No, you mustn’t rush. You’ll have years ahead of you to prove yourself. (holds out hand)
Xander: I’m not used to being touched by commoners.
(Maeve draws her hand back)
Sinbad: Well, you may have to get over that, if we’re gonna help you.
Xander: Come on. We must hurry! Every moment that passes puts my mother in greater danger!
Sinbad: Where do we find this Drax?
Xander: In my father’s castle, on the far side of the forest. Come on!
(He runs, and the others follow him; but Sinbad, Doubar, and Maeve stay behind)
Doubar: He knows more than he’s saying. I tell you, something’s not right here.
Maeve: Dermott trusts him. That’s good enough for me. (goes after the others)
Sinbad: Brother, he needs us. Just as we once needed Dim-Dim. (goes after the others)
(It is now morning, and the crew is still walking through the forest)
(Dermott chirps)
Xander: No, it only seems we’re lost.
(Dermott chirps)
Xander: Don’t worry. I know where I’m going.
(Doubar sees a man walking through the woods)
Doubar: Sinbad, looking over there. (points) Did you see it?
Sinbad: No. (sighs) I think we’re all just getting a little punchy. We’ve been walking for hours.
(Xander notices a pretty flower and runs over to it)
Xander: Look! Look!
(The crew comes running)
Xander: See this flower? It means that the tyrant’s hold over the kingdom is not yet secure! There’s still hope!
(The flower wilts before their eyes)
Xander: We must hurry! My mother’s in danger.
Sinbad: Woah there, my Prince. We’re all exhausted. We need a rest.
Xander: No, not yet. We cannot. You’ll understand. Drax never rests!
(They all run after Xander, further into the forest)
(Drax and Tiresias are talking in Drax’s room)
Drax: Damnation! How hard is it to kill a little boy?
Tiresias: I wouldn’t know. Not in my line, really.
Drax: You and your scruples! Any wizard worth a salt would have rid me of that brat months ago! Oh, but no! You’re too…sensitive!
(There is a knock at the door)
Tiresias: There’s your men now. Goo news, perhaps.
Drax: I hope. Another night like the last, I should go mad. Enter!
(A guard enters)
Guard: Good news, your majesty.
Drax: (blinded by the light) Close the door, you idiot!
(The guard closes the door)
Drax: Well?
Guard: The Prince is dead, Sire. By my own hands!
Drax: (smiles) At last. (laughs) At last! Excellent! (pauses) When was this?
Guard: Early last night, before the rising of the moon.
Drax: Liar! I didn’t sleep a wink last night!
Tiresias: Alderon’s curse!
Drax: That die-hard fiend! I beat him in a fair fight! And still he puts this curse on me!
Tiresias: Well, it was you who gave him the idea, Sire. You see, as he plummeted the sword into King Alderon, and gave it a twist, Drax said I shall not rest until the last of your line is snuffed out! And the King, with his dying words said, so be it. Let that be my curse, hellhound! That was three moons ago, and our lord and master has not slept since.
Drax: And I won’t, while that little brat still lives!
Guard: My Liege! I struck him down with my battleaxe! He is dead! I swear!
Drax: Is he? We shall see. Tiresias, find him. Show him to me!
Tiresias: Please, please, your Majesty! You know it gives me headaches!
Drax: It’s time you earned your keep around here, Wizard!
Tiresias: Smartry, smartry, let us see what needs to be seen.
(An image of Xander and the Nomad crew appears in the room)
Drax: Oh, god. Oh, God! Not only is he alive and well, but he’s made some friends. And he’s coming this way!
Guard: Impossible! I saw him fall!
Drax: I’ve heard it before! Three moons ago. On the battlefield which Alderon fell. And archer came to me. Sire, I killed the Prince! Buried my arrow deep into his back, up to the feathers! So the man said. As you can see, I think both of you were a little optimistic.
Guard: Must have a guardian angel protecting him. Or the Devil himself!
Drax: The only protection he has is your incompetence! Now. You know where he is? Hmm? Take as many warriors as you need. I want him dead, before the sun sets. And this time, bring me back his head, or by God, I shall have yours!