(Firouz walks up to Sinbad)

Sinbad: What?

Firouz: I was just admiring your…your sense of purpose. You just led us through a maze without any doubt whatsoever.

Sinbad: Is that what it looked like to you? Should’ve been an actor.

Firouz: Why do you say that?

Sinbad: Because most of the time, my sense of purpose amounts to the feeling, gee, I wonder what would happen if I tried this. It’s amazing what you accomplish that way.

Firouz: I can’t believe that, with all your years at sea, your previous adventures, that anything could surprise you.

Sinbad: I’m surprised every day, Firouz. It’s half the fun of living.

Firouz: And the other half?

Sinbad: Wondering what’s gonna surprise me next. Look out!

(A whirlwind comes and takes a screaming Serendib away; she leaves her bag behind)

Sinbad: Are you all right?

Firouz: Where’s Serendib?

Doubar: The demon took her! (pauses) It’s as if the wind itself had snatched her away!

Sinbad: Is that the girl’s?

Firouz: She must have left it here for us, so the demon would not possess it.

Doubar: Poor kid.

Firouz: It’s all she had in the world.

(The crew is searching for Serendib)

Maeve: Sinbad! Slow down!

Doubar: You don’t even know where you’re going!

Sinbad: Of course I do! After the thing that took the girl!

Doubar: And where is that?

Maeve: Doubar’s right, Sinbad. That demon could have taken her anywhere.

Sinbad: So we simply search until we find her. That girl tried to help us. She saved my life! She probably saved all yours as well, when she allowed herself to be taken!

Doubar: Brother, we’re up against powers we don’t understand. Why is Serendib so special? Who is she? What is she?

Maeve: And what demons are pursuing her?

Firouz: Well, I, for one, want some answers.

Maeve: And, once we find Serendib, we find out the secret to the City of Mist.

Firouz: I never heard scientific curiosity expressed better. As for Serendib, I can assure you that, despite her great powers, she’s still a young woman, not a witch of some sort.

Sinbad: And how did you deduce that?

Firouz: The first dictative logic is observation. And I’m a man of observation.

Doubar: And I’m a man of action. So, let’s act!

Sinbad: Now let’s proceed with the plan.

Doubar: We have a plan?

Sinbad: Certainly. We find Serendib, rescue her, repair the ship, and sail away. (starts running through the cavee again)

Doubar: Not one of his more detailed plans, but you get the general idea.

(The crew follows Sinbad)

(Rumina is talking to Bedoura and Ishmal)

Rumina: I gave you a single task. Raise the girl, keep her from harm. She may be my key to achieving ultimate power. I put a spell on this town to keep her here, and what do you do? You allow her to escape.

(There is a sound at the door)

Rumina: (to Ishmal) Open it! I’m expecting a delivery.

(Ishmal opens the door and in comes Serendib)

Rumina: My, my. Look what we have here. You’ve gotten so tall. Can she talk, do you think.

Serendib: I can talk. I can walk. I can whistle, wanna hear?

Rumina: Perhaps it’s time you go away with me.

Serendib: I’m not going anywhere.

Rumina: Oh, do you expect Sinbad to rescue in the nick of time?

Serendib: He might.

Rumina: (laughs) I’ll deal with Sinbad. But first, before we go, can you tell me where he is?

Serendib: Why don’t you use your powers and find out?

Rumina: Now, is that any way to talk to your only benefactor? Why don’t you help me?

Serendib: Because you’re evil!

Rumina: Who told you that?! Your keepers?

Serendib: Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?

Rumina: (holds up hand in front of Serendib) Your powers are very resilient, Serendib. You’re very strong for someone so young. But untrained. Unequipped. (puts down hand) But with me as your tutor, eventually your partner, together our powers will be amazing. Join with me, Serendib. Help me defeat Sinbad!

Serendib: No. I’ll never help you.

Rumina: Either you help me, or I’ll stunt your growth permanently. (laughs) I’ll deal with you later, my pretty. Bedoura, Ishmal, what a disappointment you have been. Consider yourself lucky that I must conserve my energy to defeat Sinbad. Your destruction will just have to wait. (laughs)

(The crew is going through the tunnel)

Doubar: (sees opening) Sinbad! This way!

Firouz: I can’t believe we made it.

(They walk out the opening)

(The crew is back in the City of Mist, and walking around)

Sinbad: There has to be a reason for us returning here. (pauses) Hey, look! (picks up a rag)

Firouz: Is it Serendib’s?

Sinbad: Yes!

Maeve: The demon brought her back here? I wonder why.

Doubar: What’s this? (takes mirror from Firouz and looks in it, and begins playing around with his mustache)

Firouz: Ah, please.

Sinbad: Doubar? Admire your beauty another time.

Maeve: A mirror.

Firouz: Yes.

Sinbad: Where did it come from?

Firouz: The silver piece of glass was in Serendib’s bag. I fastened it to a board because—

(Meanwhile, some villagers are approaching them, prepared for attack)

Sinbad: I think you should put the mirror away, Firouz. This doesn’t look like the welcoming committee.

(They fight)

Sinbad: There’s too many of them!

Firouz: I have an idea!

Sinbad: Would it involve us getting out of here?

Firouz: No, not really. Actually—

Sinbad: Hold that thought!

(More fighting goes on)

Firouz: (can’t make out what he says here)

Sinbad: No?

Firouz: No!

(More fighting goes on)

Firouz: As I was saying, look here! (holds up window)

Sinbad: Firouz, not now!

Firouz: Sinbad, take a look at your opponents!

Sinbad: (looks in mirror) You can’t see any of the attackers in the mirror!

Firouz: That’s because they’re not real! They’re illusions of some kind!

Doubar: Well, they certainly don’t hit like illusions!

Maeve: What difference does it make?

(More fighting goes on)

Maeve: Wrong time to be a gentleman!

Sinbad: Some of them are real…

Doubar: And?

Firouz: Have you ever heard the concept of (can’t make out what he says here)?

Sinbad: What?

Maeve: What Firouz means is, whatever affects the real person, affects the shadow as well!

(At the end, some of the attackers disappear, when they’re on the ground)

Firouz: I’ve never seen the principle demonstrated more impressively.

Maeve: Must be very strong magic behind it.

Sinbad: I wonder whose magic.

(A whirlwind comes)

Firouz: I think we’re about to find out.

Sinbad: Don’t bother. Now I know who’s behind all this.

(Rumina appears out of her whirlwind)

Rumina: Hello, Sinbad. You managed to defeat my shadow warriors. How do you think you’ll do against us?

(Don’t know what happens here)

Sinbad: All right! All right! We’ll talk!

(Don’t know what happens here)

Sinbad: What do you want?

Rumina: Sinbad. So blunt. Where’s your light and romantic touch?

Sinbad: Well, I’d like to buy you dinner sometime, but this doesn’t seem like the time or place.

Rumina: Oh, you don’t like my little city?

Sinbad: I guess I’ve only seen the depressed sections of town.

Rumina: Well, I rather like it.

Sinbad: You see? We’re a bad match. We just don’t agree on anything.

(Serendib laughs)

Rumina: Shut up, dear!

Sinbad: I thought you liked us.

Serendib: She made me help her!

Maeve: You don’t have to serve Rumina. You’re strong.

Rumina: I don’t think I was talking to you.

Sinbad: No. You were talking to me. I think you were just about to say how you would be kind enough to let Serendib go.

Rumina: Serendib is my protegee. I…I couldn’t possibly give her up…unless…

Sinbad: Unless what?

Rumina: Unless I was to receive something in exchange.

Firouz: We’re stranded sailors. We’ve nothing but what we carry, and our damaged ship.

Sinbad: I think I know what Rumina wants. Or shall I say who?

Maeve: What are you talking about?

Sinbad: I’ll trade myself for Serendib’s freedom.

Firouz: Don’t trust her, Sinbad!

Sinbad: What do you say, Rumina? I’m the one you really want.

Rumina: Would I have your word of honour?

Sinbad: (puts sword in sheath) My life, for Serendib’s.

Rumina: Done. (throws Serendib at crew) Our daughter will be even more powerful. And our son, unstoppable.

Sinbad: (to crew) Don’t be too shy about saving me, okay?

Rumina: And as for you, little one. I think it’s time we neutralize your powers. I wouldn’t want you being a constant threat to my newly found happiness. (uses magic to neutralize Serendib’s powers)

Sinbad: Leave her alone, Rumina! I said—ah!

(Rumina pulls on Sinbad’s hair, and takes him away in her whirlwind)

Doubar: Sinbad!

(Rumina and Sinbad arrive back to where Bedoura and Ishmal are)

Rumina: Bedoura, Ishmal, I give you fair warning, which is more than you deserve.

Sinbad: I guess we’re not hanging around the City of Mist.

Rumina: No. I’m taking you home. Do you find me desirable, Sinbad?

Sinbad: In a suicidal kind of way.

(The city starts shaking)

Sinbad: What’s that all about?

Rumina: I don’t need this city anymore. I’m collapsing my spell. Everything will revert to its original state.

Sinbad: Which was?

Rumina: Dust.

Sinbad: What about my companions?

Rumina: Hhm. I hope they managed to leave in time.

(The Nomad crew and Serendib are searching for Sinbad)

Doubar: Sinbad! Where are you, little brother?

(The city starts shaking)

Maeve: Well, I’m open to anyone’s bright ideas. Assuming we can actually get out of here, where are we gonna go without Sinbad?

Serendib: Can’t you just go home?

Doubar: I’m not going anywhere without my little brother.

(The city starts shaking again)

Maeve: (can’t make out what she says here)

Doubar: Where’s that leave us?

Firouz: (can’t make out what he says here)

Maeve: (to Serendib) We can stop this.

Serendib: What?

Maeve: Rumina’s magic. Together, you and I can fight it.

Serendib: She took all my power away.

Maeve: No. Serendib, the power’s part of you! It’s who you are! No one can rob a person of who they are.

(Rumina and Sinbad are in Rumina’s lair)

Rumina: Here we go. And it was such a complicated spell, too.

Sinbad: Why not leave it, Rumina? Let people from miles around come to admire it.

Rumina: Sinbad. Magic has its price. And as long as the City of Mist exists, well, I can only cast small spells. (starts conjuring) Arooka, masashay, mooray…

Sinbad: You know, you’re beautiful when you’re conjuring. (takes Rumina in his arms and kisses her)

Rumina: Sinbad, there’ll be plenty of time for that later. But first—

(Sinbad kisses her again; the City of Mist builds up again)

Ishmal: What kind of magic is this?

(Rumina pulls away)

Rumina: I should’ve known better, Sinbad! This isn’t going to make things any easier for you. Now, I’ll finish the city once and for all. Sashay, sashay, sashay…

(Sinbad laughs when the city doesn’t begin to shake)

Sinbad: Looks like your spell’s a little too pooped to pop.

(Rumina opens door, to find the Nomad crew and Serendib)

Rumina: I don’t believe it. You should be at sea or dead.

Sinbad: I can hardly believe it myself.

Rumina: Neither of you have to strength to copy my spell.

Firouz: Quite true.

Rumina: (sees Serendib) I see. You little traitor.

Serendib: I won’t let you hurt anyone else.

Rumina: Even you two aren’t that powerful. You did try once before, didn’t you? You can’t stop me.

Maeve: Maybe. Maybe not. Serendib?

Serendib: I say we try.

(Maeve and Serendib hold hands and use magic to zap Rumina)

Maeve: Willing to retreat, Rumina?

Serendib: You said yourself, I have a lot of power for someone my age.

Rumina: Give me a break. I’m just warming up. (starts zapping them)

Sinbad: (picks up Serendib’s bag) I’ve always wanted to try my hand at magic. I guess this is as good a time as any. Oh, Rumina! (throws rock) (can’t make out what he says here)

(All the magic stops)

Rumina: Fine then. You’re little pebbles are quite unique. The city belongs to you. You sustain it. Then see how long your powers’ll last. (to Sinbad) And as for you, next time I’ll do the kissing. (disappears in whirlwind)

Sinbad: This spell-casting’s like eating peanuts. Once you start…

(Serendib takes her bag and stones)

Sinbad: …it’s hard to stop.

(The crew is talking to Serendib, Bedoura, and Ishmal)

Sinbad: Doubar! Is the ship ready to set sail?

Doubar: Provisions are all aboard, Sinbad.

Sinbad: It feels wrong to leave you here like this.

Serendib: Oh, I don’t know. With a few tricks, I can make this town really pretty. Gardens, trees, Ishmal and Bedoura would like a farm.

Sinbad: But Rumina said that as long as your spell keeps the city alive, you won’t be able to perform any other magic.

Serendib: One spell at a time is enough.

Sinbad: You’ve matured a lot in a very short time.

Serendib: Thanks to all of you. (pauses) I will always remember you. I will always have your gifts.

Doubar: We’ll miss the tide, little brother, if we don’t sail now.

Sinbad: All right.

(They leave the City of Mist)

(The crew is back on the Nomad)

Firouz: At least we got out of that one alive, Maeve. I thought only those with the gift could use sorcery. Yet Sinbad was able to use those rune stones successfully.

Maeve: Sailing with Sinbad is full of surprises, Firouz.

(Doubar walks by, whistling The Skyeboat Song)

(Sinbad ties a rope down then looks out over the water, smiling)

THE END