(They make their way towards the window; first Firouz jumps out of the window, then Rongar, then Doubar; all landing in the street below)

Rumina: (she’s standing against the wall, near where the three men landed) Good distance, bad form.

Doubar: (grabs Rumina and puts her against the wall) What the devil has gotten into you?!

Rumina: Hey! You’ll mess up my hair! (she gets away from Doubar)

Doubar: You’re not going to have any hair left on your head, once I’m done whomping you!

Rumina: Fine, whomp me. What then?

Doubar: Wait! (throws Rumina against the wall) What is that supposed to mean?!

Rumina: Face it, big guy. Without me, you’d all be stuck. (she gets out of Doubar’s grip) I’m the one who does all the thinking in this outfit.

Doubar: (pushes her against the wall again) I don’t know what has happened to your brain, but if I have to, I’m going to knock some sense into it!

Rumina: See what I mean? (she puts his right hand up, to touch Doubar’s face) All muscle, no mind.

Doubar: (grabs Rumina’s hand, and sees the ring) Where’d you get that?

Rumina: Does my taste in jewelry upset you?

Firouz: Here they come!

Rumina: Oh! Run! This way! (She takes off running, as the crew watches after her) Out of my way!

Firouz: Sinbad’s running strangely.

Doubar: Perhaps what has inflamed his mind has given him a rash as well.

Firouz: Well, let’s discuss this problem later.

(They run after Rumina)

Rumina: (hiding behind a wall; uses her own voice, as Sinbad’s crew runs past) Oh, Sinbad. By the end of this day, I will be your only friend.

(Cicero is terrorizing Sinbad in the bottle)

Sinbad: Your mistress said, ‘Paws off’!’ Get out of here, fur face, before I whistle for a dog!

(Cicero jumps off the table, and goes to lie down)

(Sinbad again tries to escape from the bottle; now he had tied his sash to his saber, and is trying to throw it up, so he can climb out; the first time, his sword falls)

Sinbad: If at first you don’t succeed… (he throws it up again)

(Sinbad’s crew is walking though the city, after they at last outran the guards)

Doubar: Even as a little kid, he was never this hard to handle.

Firouz: Where is Sinbad?

(Guards come from behind them; Rongar pulls out a dirk, prepared for attack)

Firouz: Careful, Rongar! We’re on a diplomatic mission. Maybe we can still repair the damage done to the Omar. (some guards come up from behind them) Maybe not.

(Sinbad is still trying to escape from the bottle, by using his saber tied to his sash; it finally reaches, and stays)

Sinbad: Score! Here goes nothing.

(He climbs almost to the top, when the door opens)

Sinbad: Oh, boy! (he climbs back down, and pulls his saber and sash down after him)

Rumina: (in Sinbad’s voice) Hi, honey. I’m home. (she waves her hand, and the door shuts behind her; she walks over to the bottle) And how’s my little man, today?

Sinbad: How do you think?!

Rumina: It must be nice to stay home, while us menfolk go out and do all the work. (she looks down at Sinbad) And believe me, I accomplished quite a lot today.

Sinbad: I don’t want to hear about it.

Rumina: Suffice to say that your reputation isn’t what it was. And Basra and Baghdad, very close to all-out war. (she laughs, leaves the table, then turns back into herself) Well, I worked up a little sweat, and I have so much more to accomplish. Perhaps a luxury bath before I go back to the job at hand. (she uses her magic to make appear before her a tub behind a blind)

Sinbad: Great.

(While Rumina is taking her bath, Sinbad tries to push the bottle over; one of the pushes sends the bottle almost falling off the table; he tries one more time, and the bottle falls to the floor down below)

Sinbad: Wwwwwwwwwwwwwoooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

(Sinbad leaves the bottle, and immediately, Cicero sees him, and chases after him; Rumina is heard laughing, but she has no idea what is happening in the room thus far; Sinbad takes one of Rumina’s slippers and sneaks by the cat, by pushing it as he walked; Dermott flies to the window and lands on the windowsill; Sinbad stops)

Sinbad: Dermott! (Dermott chirps, looking around) Down here! (Dermott still can’t see Sinbad) Over here! (Sinbad waves his arms) Dermott! Over here by the shoe!

(Dermott sees Cicero, and begins to squawk)

Rumina: Cicero! What’s going on out there?

Sinbad: Dermott! (Dermott finally sees him; Sinbad heaves a sigh of relief) Nice of you to drop in. How about giving me a lift out of here?

(Dermott squawks at Cicero again)

Rumina: Can’t I ever have any peace and quiet? All right, Cicero, I have had it. (she gets dressed and comes out from behind the blind)

Sinbad: Dermott! Fly away! Find help!

(Dermott squawks)

Rumina: Cicero! Mommy is very angry! (she sees the bottle lying on the floor) What’s happened here?

Sinbad: Dermott! Go now! Go find Maeve!

(Dermott flies off)

Rumina: Cicero! What has gotten into you? I told you he was mine! Now open up! (she check Cicero’s mouth) Well, if you didn’t eat him, then where did he go? (she sees Sinbad run to hide behind a stool leg) My, my. Now, where could he have gone? (she walks over to the stool and quickly lifts it up; Sinbad is hanging onto the leg with all the strength he could muster) You’re my prisoner, Sinbad! You can’t escape me.

(Omar, his guards, and Sinbad’s crew are all in the dungeon; the crew is all tied up)

Omar: (he walks up to Doubar) Your Captain has betrayed you. Give him to me.

Doubar: I will never give you my brother.

(Omar walks up to Firouz)

Firouz: And he’s like a brother to me.

(Omar walks up to Rongar, who turns his head away)

Omar: Your loyalty is misplaced. Sinbad is moving me to war with your Caliph. I will be assuaged only if I have an apology, or his head.

Assistant #1: What should we do with his crewmates, Sire?

Omar: Go to his ship. There’s all aboard an isle, but these three. Stretch them.

Firouz: Actually, your highness, it’s a proven fact that bodies on the rack don’t actually stretch.

Omar: Silence! Make ready my army and my navy. The Caliph of Baghdad will rue the day he sent Sinbad to insult me! I wanted peace! Now I see that peace is no option! (he leaves)

(Rumina is busy looking for Sinbad; she lifts up some pillows)

Rumina: Come out! Come out! Wherever you are!

(There is a knock out at the door)

Maeve: Hello? Anybody home? I’m looking for my bird. He’s a hawk. Have you seen him?

(Rumina changes back into Sinbad)

Maeve: Hello?

(Sinbad climbs onto a table, just as Rumina answers the door)

Rumina: Hello, Maeve. Won’t you come in? (she gestures for Maeve to enter)

Maeve: What are you doing here? (she comes in) And in such a nice room?

Rumina: (closes the door) There are many things about me you don’t know, my Celtic dream.

Maeve: You’re about to kiss the blarney stone.

Sinbad: Maeve! Don’t trust her! It’s Rumina!

Rumina: Care for some wine? Food? Good company? Afvter all, we don’t spend much time together…alone.

Maeve: Why would we want to be alone?

Rumina: (she sits down on the bed) I should think that’s fairly obvious. Come. Sit by me. (she pats the seat beside her)

Maeve: I’m looking for Dermott. I don’t have time for sitting.

Rumina: (Gets up) Perhaps we should spend our time doing (looks up and down Maeve) something else.

Maeve: I’m leaving. If you see Dermott, tell him I’m looking for him.

(She turns to leave, but Rumina runs around her, and blocks her off)

Rumina: I know you want me! I’ve known it from the very beginning. You and me, on the open seas, making magic together. (she leans in to kiss Maeve; poor Sinbad has to helplessly watch all this take place; Maeve pushes Rumina to the ground)

Maeve: You’re driving me crazy!

(Rumina changes back to herself)

Maeve: What kind of magic is this?

Rumina: The deadly kind, you pesky peasant witch! (Rumina gest up)

Sinbad: Maeve! Over here! Here!

Maeve: (turns around and sees a tiny Sinbad standing on the table) Sinbad?

Sinbad: Maeve!

Maeve: (walks over to the table and lowers her face to it) What has she done to you?

Sinbad: Maeve! Behind you! (he points, for Rumina is coming up behind Maeve; Maeve spins around, but doesn’t have time to do anything, for Rumina uses some magic to make her collapse)

Rumina: I think it’s time we drain the life-force out of her, dearest. And after I’m done with her? It’s back to the bottle for you. (she chuckles as she moves her hand to Maeve’s face)

Sinbad: NEVER!!!!! (he throws his tiny saber, and it sticks in Rumina’s hand)

Rumina: Even you can’t save her now, dearest.

(Dermott flies through the window)

Sinbad: Ah! Dermott!

(Dermott lands on a stand in the room; the door then opens, revealing Cairpra)

Cairpra: Evil be on it! (she makes Rumina chained to the wall)

Rumina: You old crone! You can’t stop me!

Cairpra: Perhaps not. But I can slow you down, quite a bit. (she waves her hand, and Maeve wakes up) Rumina: You can’t stop me, old woman! The obelisk is mine!

Cairpra: You will find me a worthy opponent, witch. You will not trick me, as you did my trusting husband, Dim-Dim. (when she say that, Maeve widens her eyes, surprised at that)

Rumina: You won’t stop me! It isn’t over yet, old woman! (she disappears)

(Later, Maeve is trying to help Sinbad grow; Sinbad is walking back and forth on the table)

Maeve: (groans) Will you just hold still?!

Sinbad: What? I move, you can’t see me?

Maeve: Oh, why isn’t anything working?

Cairpra: Because Rumina’s spells are strong.

Sinbad: She knows what she’s doing.

Maeve: I don’t even know why I’m helping you.

Sinbad: You haven’t even helped me, yet.

Maeve: (crosses her arms) Huh. Fine. Stay a BUG the rest of your life.

Cairpra: All right, you two. That’s enough. Stop acting like an old married couple.

Sinbad: Married to her? HAHAHAHAHA!

Maeve: Oh, and you’re such a big catch.

Cairpra: While you two argue, Omar is calling out his troops to attack Baghdad.

Sinbad: Attack Baghdad? When?

Cairpra: As soon as his anger peaks.

Sinbad: Maeve?

Maeve: (sighs) I’m trying.

Cairpra: And your three comrades are chained in Omar’s prison. They’re to be stretched in the noonday sun.

Maeve: (raises hand) You are somo hanalo.

Cairpra: Concentrate, Maeve.

Maeve: You are somo hanalo.

Cairpra: (comes up behind her) Come on, Maeve. I know you can do better than that.

Maeve: You are somo hanalo. (Cairpra is doing it with her, and the room is beginning to shake) You are somo hanalo.

(Sinbad grows, and jumps down from the table; he hugs Maeve, then they pull apart quickly)

Sinbad: Ah, we have work to do.

Maeve: Yes. Work. Right. (she leaves the room)

(Sinbad goes up to Cairpra)

Sinbad: I saw what you did. Thank-you.

Cairpra: Off with you, now. I did nothing. It was all Maeve.

(Cairpra walks up to Dermott after Sinbad leaves)

Cairpra: I can see why Dim-Dim was so fond of them both. The old softy. (she leaves)

(Doubar is on the rack, being stretched, while his two friends have to watch him)

Guard: More!

Doubar: I don’t suppose I could change your mind about science?

Guard: More!

(In the background, a guard suddenly stumbles, and disappears; two people come out with some food)

Guard: What’s all this, then?

Sinbad: His highness, Omar the thoughtful, has sent some bread.

Maeve: (in a raspy voice) In appreciation of your great vigilance.

Guards: Mmmm. Is there anything to drink with that? Some wine, perhaps?

Sinbad: (chuckles) How about…a little punch! (he turned around, took off his disguise, and punched the guards; Maeve does the same)

Firouz: Sinbad!

(Maeve and Sinbad cut the ropes holding Doubar down)

Sinbad: (after a little fighting) I think you just made him a knight.

(A lot of more fighting takes place)

Doubar: (holding two guards) Two heads bounce better than one! (he bangs the two heads together)

Firouz and Doubar: (pointing at each other) Science!

(The fight is now over)

Sinbad: Come on! We have to be quick! Omar’s about to attack Baghdad!

Doubar: (grabs Sinbad) Yeah, because of you!

Sinbad: What?

Doubar: Where’s your ring?

Sinbad: I don’t own one.

Doubar: Your games are getting tiresome.

Sinbad: Look, I can explain everything. Whatever happened, it wasn’t me. Are you coming or not?

Doubar: (grabs Sinbad again) Just once, let me be the brains of this outfit. I say we sail now, and warn the Caliph.

Sinbad: Maeve, you explain everything. I don’t have time for a debate! (he leaves)

(Omar is in a room; his two assistants being out the plans for the attack, and drop them on the table [clumsy fools])

Assistant #1: The attack plans are ready, Sire.

Assistant #2: They are ready, Sire.

Omar: Fine, fine. You may leave me, now. Go.

(The assistants whisper to each other)

Assistant #1: We will await your word to the troops, Sire. Should I tell them you will give the go ahead when the first shadow shows itself?

Assistant #2: When the first shadow…

Assistant #1: Shows itself, Sire.

Omar: Fine, fine. Whatever.

(Sinbad jumps in the window)

Sinbad: Sire!

(Omar turns)

Omar: How dare you, Sinbad?

Sinbad: I beg your forgiveness. There’s been a horrible mistake.

Omar: Yes, mine. For ever letting you into my home.

Sinbad: No, mine. For allowing black magic to better me.

Omar: Black magic? What are you talking about, man?

Sinbad: It was not me who visited you and insulted you.

Omar: It was you! The face before me now!

Sinbad: No! Yes, the face! But not the soul. A sorceress wove an enchantment. She’s out to steal the obelisk for herself.

Omar: Do you expect me to fall for your tricks again? Guards! Take him away!

(A bunch of palace guards, and Omar’s two assistants then pass by the room; they stop)

Assistant #2: Sire?

Omar: Yes?

Assistant #1: How did you get back here?

Assistant #2: We just saw you going towards the shrine.

Assistant #1: The shrine.

(Omar looked back at Sinbad)

Omar: Sorceress?

(Sinbad drew his sword and they all left the room)

Rumina: (as Omar; speaking in her own voice) At last you’ll be mine!

Omar: (running up the corridor) Arrest that impostor!

Rumina: (in Omar’s voice) Yes! Arrest that impostor!

Omar: He’s trying to steal the obelisk!

Rumina: I’m trying to hide it from that impostor!

Rumina: He lies! I tell the truth!

Assistant #1: Well, we could arrest them both…

Omar: What?!

Assistant #2: That’s the only way of getting to the truth, Sire.

Sinbad: (puts sword in its sheath) No, there is another way. (he takes Rumina’s hands) Did I ever tell you that you’re beautiful when you’re being phony? (he leans towards her, and she changes back, and they kiss; Sinbad pulls away, after pulling the medallion from her neck; he seems dazed)

Omar: Arrest that witch!

Rumina: You’ve only postponed the inevitable. (disappears)

Doubar: Brother, we all owe you an apology.

Sinbad: Huh?

Maeve: You act as though you enjoyed that.

Sinbad: You’re welcome.

(Omar and the crew are standing outside of the shrine)

Omar: Take this medal once again as token of our friendship. It kept our two lands from war.

Sinbad: I will wear it proudly. And carefully, your highness.

(Cairpra and Maeve walk up the corridor, and join the rest of them)

Cairpra: Remember, Maeve. Read, practice, meditate. But the most important thing you need to remember is that the magic comes from you. Believe in yourself.

Maeve: I’ll try.

Cairpra: Oh, and one more thing.

Maeve: Yes, Cairpra?

Cairpra: When you do find my husband, tell him his dinner’s grown quite cold.

(Maeve smiles)

(It is evening, Sinbad is at the tiller, and Maeve walks up to him)

Maeve: You enjoyed kissing Rumina, didn’t you?

Sinbad: Of course not. It was all in the line of duty.

Maeve: Oh, come on! Why don’t you just admit it!

Sinbad: I did not!

Maeve: Did too.

Sinbad: Did not.

Maeve: Did too.

Sinbad: Did not.

Maeve: Did too.

Sinbad: Did not.

Maeve: Did too.

Sinbad: Did not.

Maeve: Did too.

Sinbad: Did not!

Maeve: Did too.

THE END