(The crew is walking when they hear Omar)

Omar: Come back here, you piece of demon! Bring back my soldiers! Come back here and fight me, you coward!

Sinbad: It’s Omar!

Assistant #1: We knew he’d be safe.

Assistant #2: Come this way, the voice came from over here!

Sinbad: Just be careful!

(They draw their swords)

Assistant #1: Where’s the weaponry?

Assistant #2: We have none at all!

Assistant #1: None!

(Doubar takes two dirks from Rongar’s bandoleer and hands them to the two assistants)

Omar: My men! My men! Bring back my men!

(They all run to where they see Omar stuck in a cage hanging from a tree)

Sinbad: Omar!

Omar: Sinbad!

Assistant #1: My Sultan, we are here!

Assistant #2: We have come to rescue you!

Assistant #1: Set you free!

Omar: Oh, my brave men! I knew you’d get help!

Sinbad: Now to get you down.

Omar: You must hurry, Sinbad! I fear when the creature will return anytime!

Sinbad: The rescue, men?

Omar: I am the last! That thing has an appetite for flesh!

(They hear a roar)

Omar: It’s coming back!

Sinbad: Don’t worry, your highness. I’ll climb this tree and have you down in no time!

Omar: There is no time! Off you go! Hurry! Save yourselves!

Doubar: Omar is right, Sinbad. If you climb that tree, you’ll be stuck up there with him!

Firouz: The skyhook!

Sinbad: Quickly!

Firouz: Rongar!

(They put together a rope and crossbow; Rongar takes the crossbow)

Firouz: Aim for the branch above Omar. We only have one chance.

Doubar: You can do it.

(Rongar shoots the rope up)

Sinbad: Yes!

(Another roar is heard)

(Sinbad sticks a foot in the loop of the rope and holds on, while the others pull the rope, pulling him upwards)

Firouz: He’s getting closer!

Sinbad: (cuts open the cage) Omar, quick!

(Omar stands on Sinbad’s shoulder and holds onto the rope)

Sinbad: Hold on!

(They go down with the rope; another roar is heard; they run; Rongar collects the rope and runs after them)

Omar: The beast returns!

Sinbad: Behind those rocks! Now!

(They run behind the rocks)

Firouz: We shouldn’t overreact. It’s probably just an ordinary human being afflicted with some strange disease. I know of one disease, elfentisis. It could explain a very large fellow. In some cases, they grow to be eight feet tall.

(Another roar is heard)

Doubar: And the thumbprint on that soldier’s chest was as big as a horse’s head!

Firouz: (pauses) Well, there’s this other condition, acromegali. It causes one’s hands and feet to grow very, very large.

(Another roar is heard, as a cyclops comes into view; the crew and Omar and his assistants slowly look up at the creature)

Doubar: By all that is holy!

Sinbad: Or unholy! (pauses) And what condition would you call that?

Firouz: Monstrous. Definitely monstrous.

(The cyclops throws the empty cage past the crew, Omar and the Assistants; he leaves; the crew stands up)

Sinbad: We have to get off this island. The sooner, the better.

Doubar: I’m with you there, little brother.

Omar: Sinbad, I cannot leave this place. There’s a village nearby full of innocent people…my people stranded here by this monster, marooned. I promised to protect them with my army.

Maeve: Oh, Omar. They don’t stand a chance.

Firouz: Neither do you, if you try to stop that creature.

Sinbad: Maybe if we all work together with the villagers. Why, we have brawn, and brains on our side.

(Rongar points to Maeve, just as Dermott lands on her gauntlet)

Sinbad: As well as a healthy dose of sorcery.

Omar: I can’t ask you to take your chance.

Sinbad: You haven’t.

Doubar: We volunteer.

Assistant #1: We will do what we can.

Assistant #2: More, even.

Sinbad: Then it’s settled. Omar? Lead the way.

(They begin the walk; Firouz stands in a giant footprint)

Firouz: On the plus side? This thing should be easy to track!

(They are still walking along)

Omar: This is all my doing, Sinbad. I should have taken action sooner.

Sinbad: You knew about this beast?

Omar: Oh, for a few months, yes. It began two years ago as a farming community, suppliers on the mainland. I heard rumours that a terrible monster had landed. Human, yet not human. The reports varied, of course. Citizen of the Land of Andiopia.

Sinbad: I never heard of such a place.

Omar: Supposedly on the other side of the world. Now, when this one-eyed demon landed, with some of its livestock, it consumed the harvest. And when it was done with the harvest—

Sinbad: He began consuming the harvesters.

Omar: At first, I thought the reports were exaggerated, but I had to do something. I planned on good will to negotiate with the creature, man-to-man.

Sinbad: The treasure chest on the beach.

Omar: His for the taking. Didn’t even make the shore. He was on us in an instant.

Sinbad: You did your best.

Omar: And one hundred brave men died as a result.

Sinbad: You behaved nobly, Omar. I found you can’t reason with wild beasts. Being a bully is just part of their nature.

Omar: With a wild beast, death is the only bargaining tool, my friend.

Doubar: Your highness, is this village much further?

Omar: Not far now, Doubar. We’re taking the longer route to avoid the bog pits that infest this place.

Sinbad: I hope we make it before night falls.

Doubar: I’d hate to think what that creature can do, once darkness falls.

(The villagers are going about their normal activities when they hear a roar; they run all over the place; the cyclops comes and eats a bunch of the villagers, then eventually leaves)

(The crew enters the village)

Sinbad: Looks like we’re a little too late.

(Two villagers are talking)

Villager #1: I say we leave this place, take our longboats and head for the sea!

Villager #2: The creature won’t allow it. He’s always stopped us before.

Villager #1: I’d rather take my chances out there!

Villager #2: We have to let the Sultan know.

Villager #1: The Sultan is supposed to be killing the beast, but the beast is killing us! Omar’s deserted us! He doesn’t care about our farmers. He only cares about the rich, the powerful.

Doubar: Keep the simple tongue in your head, man.

Villager #1: Oh, your highness, I had no idea. I spoke hastily, in grief.

Omar: I understand. I speak also in grief. My soldiers and sailors all slain by the monster. But these brave men survived, and they brought help. Sinbad, and his crew. I cannot order you to stay. But if you do defend your homes, your dreams, we will stand with you. Together, prepare to fight to the death, eh, Sinbad?

Sinbad: Aye. We’ll prepare the village against a further attack, and slay the cyclops. Won’t we?

Firouz: If we had the time, I could construct a giant crossbow. Some netting, using a variation on the skyhook—

Sinbad: I’ll take that as a yes.

Firouz: Most definitely a yes. Remember, the bigger they are, the harder—

Doubar: —they are to kill.

Sinbad: We’ll need al these good citizens to help us. Time is a big concern.

Villager #1: The cyclops has gone off into the hills to digest his meal. He’s usually gone for a day or two.

Sinbad: (whispers to himself) A day or two. (to Firouz) Firouz?

Firouz: If we work around the clock, we could make it. I’ll need some papyrus, and a writing tool to make some diagrams.

Villager #2: I’ll fetch them. (leaves)

Firouz: And some netting. Lots of it! The stronger the better.

Villager #1: We’ll get the fishermen at the ready! (leaves)

Omar: Excellent! Firouz, give me an order.

Firouz: Lumber. We need lots of lumber.

Omar: We brawny men will start immediately, eh?

Doubar: If you say, your highness.

(They leave)

Sinbad: Maeve! Find a good spot to stand central. Have Dermott be our eyes and ears in the air.

Maeve: I think we can manage that.

Sinbad: And I don’t want any member of my crew taking unnecessary chances. Especially the feathered one. (scratches Dermott’s chest)

(Sinbad walks up to a man who is looking out to the hills)

Sinbad: Is there a problem?

Villager #3: Our mayor, Harun al-Disar took his family into the hills to safety. I hope the cyclops doesn’t find them.

(Sinbad recognizes the name; the look on his face says it all)

Sinbad: Harun al-Disar. (pauses) Does he have a steel hand?

Villager #3: Yes. He lost it as a child.

Sinbad: I know. He was careless making kindling.

(Sinbad turns and leaves; walking past Maeve and Doubar)

Maeve: Doubar, does Sinbad know this man?

Doubar: Harun al-Disar is responsible for Sinbad becoming a sailor.

Maeve: Really. Then why doesn’t he seem happy about a reunion?

Doubar: Sinbad didn’t become a sailor because he wanted to. He had to. Your highness, Rongar, if you start the logging, I will catch up with you in a moment.

(Sinbad is sitting alone on the shore; he is thinking about his childhood; the scene melts away as he sees one painful memory happen in front of him once more)

(Sinbad is running as a child along the rock; Lea is chasing after him)

Lea: Sinbad, Sinbad, wait for me! Sinbad! Sinbad! You stop this instant!

Sinbad: Lea, I can’t play today. I told Doubar I’d go straight home and do chores for Master Dim-Dim.

Lea: If we’re to be married, you should at least talk to me when I call you.

Sinbad: Tell me again about being married.

Lea: (links arms with Sinbad) Well, all the nobles will be there. I’ll become a Princess. And you, you’ll become a Prince.

Sinbad: Just like that?

Lea: Just like that. My aunt’s a fortune teller. She says that you’re gonna be famous.

(Harun al-Disar and his two cronies show up on the other side of the rocks)

Harun al-Disar: Famous? Puny little Sinbad famous? That’ll be the day!

Sinbad: You leave us alone, Harun!

Harun al-Disar: You’re not so tough without your big brother around, are you, orphan? Well Doubar isn’t going to protect you this time. I saw him in town. Come on, Prince Sinbad. Save your Princess. Be a hero. Be famous.

Sinbad: Run Lea!

(Harun goes after Lea, while the other two go after Sinbad; the two boys hold Sinbad down, punching him, while Harun chases Lea to the edge of the rocks, where the ocean is raging below)

Lea: Sinbad!

(Harun pushes Lea off the cliff, and all Sinbad hears is Lea’s scream; Harun and his cronies run off)

Sinbad: (sits up) What?

Harun: Come on, let’s get out of here!

Sinbad: Lea! (gets up and runs to the cliff) Noooooooooooooooooo! Lea! Lea! Please, Lea! Don’t die! Lea! I can’t swim! I can’t swim.

(Later on, Sinbad is sitting on a rock, watching the very spot he last saw Lea; Doubar comes and sits down beside him)

Doubar: They found Lea, little brother. It wasn’t your fault. Harun has run away.

Sinbad: I couldn’t save her, Doubar. I…I couldn’t save her. I was weak. The sea took her from me, because I was weak.

(Doubar puts his arm around Sinbad’s shoulders; Sinbad then gets up and walks towards the cliff)

Sinbad: But you just wait. I’ll learn to beat you. I’ll train. I’ll study. I will be your master. I will become Sinbad, Master of the Seven Seas.

(The memories fade away as Doubar walks up to Sinbad)

Doubar: Sinbad! (comes closer) Thinking about Lea?

Sinbad: And Harun.

Doubar: I always felt that it was all my fault. If I’d only been there.

Sinbad: Doubar. You’ve always been more than a brother to me. You’ve been a father, a teacher, protector, and the best of friends. You gave up a life of your own, to watch over me. But even you, brother, even you couldn’t be in two places at the same time.

Doubar: Well, things turned out all right.

Sinbad: Tell that to Lea. (pauses) She was my first love, Doubar.

Doubar: Sinbad, what are you going to do?

Sinbad: After we kill the villagers’ monster, I’m going to go off and kill one of my own.

(Sinbad arrives back at the village, he is in an extremely bad mood)

Sinbad: Firouz! Get the defenses set up outside of the village! We don’t want the cyclops to get inside! (sees a couple of people drop lumber) Do I have to do everything myself?! (picks up the lumber and carries it off)

(The villagers and crew set up the trap for the cyclops, and all gather around it)

Firouz: Excellent job, people! Excellent!

Sinbad: Our job is far from completed, Firouz!

(Doubar squawks)

Doubar: I think completion is on its way.

Sinbad: Well done, Dermott!

(Dermott chirps from a rooftop)

Sinbad: Take your places.

(All the villagers and the crew take their places as the cyclops nears the village)

Sinbad: Come on, you big bully. Archers! Now!

(The people holding crossbows shoot the arrows, taking the net up over the cyclops)

Sinbad: Secure the netting! Quickly! Go, go, go!

(The cyclops pulls the net off, pulling the people holding the other end of the net with it)

Sinbad: Get out of there! The nets aren’t holding! Come on!

(Nothing seems to be working)

Sinbad: Firouz!

(The people frantically try to stop the cyclops without success)

Doubar: Little brother, we must fall back now!

Sinbad: (draws sword) Never! (runs to the cyclops, and begins hacking away at his leg) Down here! Come on! That’s gotta hurt! Down here! (Sinbad runs from the cyclops) Over here! Come on! Come and get me!

Doubar: Sinbad! Come back!

Sinbad: I’m leading him to the bog!

(Omar gets trapped under some logs, and his assistants run to him)

Omar: Oh, my brave lads. I will reward you with diamonds, rubies, dancing girls!

(Sinbad runs with the cyclops in hot pursuit, all the way to the quicksand)

Sinbad: (puts sword back in sheath when he reaches the quicksand) I better be right about this. (hops across the quicksand and stops at the other side)

(The cyclops follows him)

Sinbad: Come on!

(The cyclops steps in the quicksand, and gets stuck)

Sinbad: You weren’t so tough after all.

(Sinbad arrives back at the village; he walks by his crew, holding his sword on his shoulder)

Sinbad: Creature’s dead.

Doubar: Brother?

Sinbad: I have some unfinished business, Doubar.

(Sinbad arrives at a house in the woods)

Sinbad: Harun al-Disar? Come out!

Harun al-Disar: (opens door) I am Harun al-Disar.

Harun al-Disar’s Wife: (sticks head out window) There’s no time for idle chatter, Harun. We have to get out of here! The cyclops will get us! I told you we shouldn’t be out here all by ourselves! You’re a fool, Harun!

Harun al-Disar: Yes, dear. Right away, dear. Do I know you, Sir? Was it something you wanted?

Sinbad: (looks at Harun’s son, then smiles and shakes his head; he puts his saber in its sheath) The Sultan sent me to tell you that the cyclops is dead. All is well. Return to your village.

(Sinbad turns and leaves the house)

(Sinbad arrives back to the shore, where the longboats are waiting; he runs up to Doubar, who’s waiting for him)

Sinbad: Why so glum, brother? We have a tide to catch.

Doubar: Did you find your monster, Sinbad?

Sinbad: Funny thing, Doubar. That monster died years ago. I just never got around to burying it. So, I guess this trip was worth it, eh? Everything has its reason. (laughs)

(Sinbad turns and walks towards the others)

Sinbad: What’s everybody waiting for? Looks like smooth sailing ahead!

THE END