Major Charactres: Sinbad, Maeve, Doubar, Dermott, Firouz, Rongar, Dinar, Zabtut, Faha, Abu, Sali, Bakkar, King
Minor Charactres: Guards, Minor Crewmembers, Villagers, Dim-Dim

(The crew is sailing on the Nomad; Sinbad is walking along the length of the ship)

Sinbad: Curious. (holds up finger) Very curious.

Doubar: The wind just stopped. Dead calm. Do you think Maeve has anything to do with it?

Sinbad: She has been down there all day.

Doubar: Last time she split the mast in half. (Sinbad turns and glares at him) Not that I don’t think she’s getting any better.

Firouz: (comes up from the cabin) Sinbad! You better come quick.

(Sinbad runs to Firouz, and swings to the cabin on a rope; Maeve is inside, sitting at a table, holding her hands up; Rongar joins the two men)

Maeve: Come to me…be with me…come to me…be with me…

Firouz: I’ve never seen her like this. She’s way beyond anything she’s done before.

Maeve: Come to me…be with me…come to me…

Firouz: She just keeps saying that.

Doubar: (from the tiller) It’s coming this way! Hold on, men, this is it!

Crewmember: Holding on, Sir!

Doubar: Here it comes!

(There is a lot of wind and storm, etc, and a minor crewmember goes overboard; then the storm stops)

Crewmember: Man overboard!

Firouz: That was close. You gotta give her credit for trying. I was really beginning to think something weird was going to happen.

(Sinbad taps him on the shoulder, and the three men watch a book float by; the book falls onto the table in front of Maeve)

Firouz: At least nothing’s on fire.

(The candle lighting the room goes out)

Maeve: Come to me…be with me…come to me…Dim-Dim!

Dim-Dim: You have done well to reach me.

Maeve: Dim-Dim, where are you?

Dim-Dim: You must only listen. You are close to my friend. You are close to Mirhago. Mirhago.

Maeve: No, wait!

Dim-Dim: The power that holds me forbids me to stay.

Maeve: Please! No!

(Dim-Dim leaves, and there is a whirlwind of things around the cabin, and also above deck as well; Sinbad walks over to Maeve)

Firouz: Somebody better go check the mast.

Sinbad: Are you all right?

Maeve: Dim-Dim. It was Dim-Dim. (she sees the book that fell open in front of her) By the gods…

Sinbad: What?

Maeve: We have to go.

Sinbad: Where?

Maeve: See for yourself. (points to book)

Sinbad: Dinar of Mirhago. The truest of all who practice the art of white magic.

(Opening Credits)

(The crew is above deck; Sinbad is sitting beside Maeve)

Maeve: We have a chance to find Dim-Dim. We have to go to this magician.

Sinbad: Could be black magic. A vengeful apparition. We’ve made many enemies in our travels.

Maeve: You’d go. I know you would.

Sinbad: (laughs) Mmm hmm.

Maeve: I have to see him. Perhaps he can give me the power to defeat Rumina.

Sinbad: (gets up and walks to Doubar, who’s at the tiller) Let’s set sail for Mirhago.

Doubar: Aye, aye, Captain.

(They sail for Mirhago)

(The crew is walking through the city of Mirhago; everyone is scared of them)

Sinbad: This is a start…I guess.

Firouz: Do we wait for something here?

Maeve: We’re on a search. It won’t come to us.

Doubar: Where is everybody?

(Sinbad walks up to a small child playing in the dirt)

Sinbad: Well, hello there.

(The child’s mother runs up to the child and carries him off)

Maeve: This is definitely the right place.

Firouz: Why do I get the feeling we’re in trouble?

Doubar: Perhaps the warm reception?

Sinbad: What’s going on, Maeve?

Maeve: I’m getting something. A feeling. I don’t know what it is.

Sinbad: (runs up to a villager) Excuse me, Sir. If I might trouble you—

Villager: Go away! (runs off)

Sinbad: Hey!

(Some guards and Bakkar come out of Bakkar’s house)

Bakkar: No! Not that! We have nothing left!

Guard: I found it hidden in the chimney.

(The guards and Faha laugh)

Bakkar: Now you have it all.

Faha: Sir, I’ll mark you down for having paid your taxes to, ah (laughs) let’s seem last harvest. Good news for you, Sir. Now you’re only one year behind.

Bakkar: May you and the Royal Protector rot in hell!

Faha: Why, you swine! (he hits Bakkar, sending him to the ground)

(Abu, Bakkar’s son, comes running out of the house)

Abu: Are you okay, Father?

Bakkar: I’m all right, my son.

(They head back into the house, when Sali, Bakkar’s other son, passes them)

Bakkar: Don’t make trouble, my son. Come inside.

Sali: (walks towards Faha) Sir! Sir!

Faha: What do you want?

Sali: Well, well, I’ve come to tell you that as one of the King’s most loyal subjects, I understand how difficult (he gestures towards the guards, Faha looks at the guards, and he grabs Faha’s moneybag) your job must be. Anyways, I’ll be off now, to attend to my father and, ah, give him a good talking-to. (Sali goes back to the house)

(Faha looks down and realizes his moneybag is missing)

Faha: (runs to Sali) Not so fast! You took my moneybag.

Sali: Your moneybag? Sir.

Faha: I’ll teach you to mess with me!

Sali: Sir! If your moneybag is lost, I will help you look for it.

Faha: Give me back the moneybag!

Sinbad: (stands in between Faha and Sali) Excuse me, I think there’s been a mistake.

Faha: Stand aside!

(Faha moves to one side, and Sinbad moves the same way at the same time)

Sinbad: I’m afraid I can’t do that.

Faha: I’m afraid you’ll have to!

(Faha moves to the other side, and Sinbad moves the same way at the same time again)

Sinbad: Shall we dance?

Faha: Why, you--!

(Faha swings at Sinbad, who ducks; they fight; Firouz goes to the guards, keeping them back)

Firouz: Stay there! Stay there!

(They keep fighting; Sinbad flips his sword in the air and catches it, while all the villagers stop to watch someone actually go against Faha; Sinbad ends by holding his sword to Faha, and holding his left arm outwards, circling Faha)

Sinbad: Your mouth works better than your sword. As I was saying. I think there has been a mistake. I’m sure you wouldn’t wanna corrupt this boy’s loyalty with a false accusation. (Sinbad sneaks the moneybag from Sali with his left hand)

Faha: This urchin stole my pouch!

Sinbad: Look over there. (he walks over to where the guards were) It must have dropped out here. (he picks up the moneybag from the ground)

(Sali looks down where he put the moneybag, and looked back up, surprised)

Faha: If I had more time, I’d teach both of you a lesson!

Sinbad: I’m sure. It would be my pleasure.

(Faha and the guards leave)

Sali: I didn’t need your help.

Sinbad: I can only imagine what would have happened. You’re lucky I showed up.

Sali: I’m also lucky cows can’t talk and monkeys can’t fly.

(Sinbad smiles, and looks at his crew, who laugh)

Sinbad: You better leave. Before you get into anymore trouble.

(Zabtut, the Royal Protector, and two other men ride up behind the crew on horses)

Zabtut: Well, well, well. (the crew turns) I thought it was you. I saw your ship in the harbour, the Nomad. I’m honoured to greet you, Sinbad. Glad to see you in action. You’re every bit as good as they say you are.

Sinbad: I’m flattered, Sir.

Zabtut: Well, you should be. I am Zabtut, the Royal Protector of the young King. So, what brings you to our quiet kingdom, Sinbad?

Sinbad: We’re looking for a magician. Dinar.

Zabtut: Ah, yes. Dinar. Most unfortunate. I believe it was a fever of some sort. Many nasty boils. We bled him, but it was of no use.

Maeve: He’s passed on?

Zabtut: Yes. He’s dead. A wonderful old man whose departure will be mourned by all in the kingdom.

Maeve: I don’t believe you. He’s not dead. That’s not what I was feeling.

Sinbad: (turns to Maeve) Seems we wasted a good wind coming here.

Zabtut: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Sinbad: Perhaps we can stay, and catch a better tide.

Doubar: And take out some provisions as well.

Zabtut: You’re welcome to stay. Please enjoy our kingdom’s tide. A word of advice, since the death of our young King’s father, all the people of this land has grown selfish and uncooperative. I’m trying my best to teach them otherwise.

Sinbad: You seem to be having some difficulty with that.

Zabtut: Yes, yes. I like to think of it as a golly misunderstanding. You see, we protect the fine citizens throughout the kingdom, and these peasants reward us with cheating, and other treasonable actions.

Sinbad: I understand.

Zabtut: Do you? Then I trust you won’t be interfering again.

Firouz: Sinbad. We’re moving.

(The crew turns to leave; Faha passes Sinbad)

Faha: Sinbad, it’s not over yet.

Sinbad: (pats him on the shoulder) I hope not.

(The crew leaves, as Faha continues to Zabtut)

Faha: The sooner we get rid of that Sinbad, the better!

Zabtut: (laughs) To the contrary, my dear Faha. Sinbad sails under the protection of the Caliph of Baghdad.

(Zabtut and the guards with him turn around and leave on their horses)

(Faha and Zabtut are talking in the throne room of the palace)

Faha: I say we hit the harbour. I know they’re holding out on us. We can feel it.

Zabtut: The signature mark of the unmatted rug. My dear Faha, you must become more sophisticated with your collection technique. You see, we must trim the bush, not kill it. By merely trimming it, we know surely it will bear more fruit.

(The young King enters the room)

King: I have no use for these. I have everything that I want.

Zabtut: Someday, you will appreciate all I have done for you, your highness.

King: Preposterous, and more preposterous.

Zabtut: I’m sorry your upset.

King: I planned on going for a ride today. When I got to the gates of the palace, they were locked.

Zabtut: We’ve spoken of this, my King. The gates are locked to protect us.

King: So I am to remain prisoner here?

Zabtut: It is my duty to protect you, my Lord. We cannot have the tragedy that befell your father to visit you as well.

King: Don’t forget that his courageous blood runs in my veins as well.

Zabtut: We won’t, your majesty.

(The King leaves)

Faha: I’ll continue collection in the North sector.

(Faha leaves; Zabtut laughs)

(There a people on magic carpets, terrorizing Faha and the guards with him, in the woods)

Faha: (looks up) What the--? What was that?

Guard: They’re coming back!

Guard: What is it?

Faha: It was absolutely nothing.

(The carpets pass again)

Guard: It must be the devil’s spirit! We’re doomed!

Faha: Nonsense. Crossing winds can’t harm us.

Guard: We should return to the castle. Fast!

Faha: There’s nothing to be frightened of, you hear me? We’ll continue our tax collection on schedule.

Guard: But what if they should return?

Faha: There is no they! Anyway, they won’t return.

(The flying carpets fly past them again; Faha and a guard on the cart take off, leaving two behind)

Guard: Hey! Don’t leave us!

(They run after the cart)

(The crew of the Nomad is still in town)

Doubar: She’s got too much wind in her sails!

Sinbad: Maeve! Stop. (he catches up to Maeve) Let’s talk. Consider this. A magician who uses his powers for good, like Dinar or Dim-Dim, would be of little use to this Royal Protector, right?

Firouz: In a way, would be more like it.

Maeve: Yes. Which means only this: that this Royal Protector has somehow harmed Dinar. Which means that we have to go call in the castle!

(Maeve walks off)

Sinbad: You know how she is when she gets like this.

(They follow her)

(Faha and the guards are riding through the forest when they are again terrorized by the carpet-riding maniacs)

(The carpets make a number of passes)

Faha: Devils from the underworld! Or this world! Let’s kill them! All of them! We’ve got them now! Get up here! Get up here, or I’ll run you over! Come on, hurry!

(They take off)

Faha: Get them! Follow them! We’ve got them now! Now, don’t let them get away! Hurry, hurry! Before they steal something!

Sali: (he’s one of the people riding the carpets) Go signal the others!

(The other two on the other carpet take off)

Faha: We can’t let them get away this time! (he waits a while) Now where on earth have they—?

Sali: Here I come! Ready or not! (he charges them again from behind)

Guard: I’ve had enough!

Guard: Me too! I’m outta here!

(The two guards run off)

Faha: I dare you to come back! I dare you!

Sali: That will be done with, Faha!

(Sali comes back)

(Meanwhile, other kids jump out of the bushes, and go to the now-empty cart, stealing back everything Faha took)

Kid: Hurry!

Kid: I’m coming, I’m coming!

Sali: Come on, girls, go! Go, go, go! Come on, everybody! Let’s go!

(The Nomad crew comes down the path)

Firouz: What was in those carpets?

Maeve: Magic.

Doubar: Then Dinar is alive.

Maeve: That’s what I’ve been telling you.

Sinbad: And that boy was the one we saw back at the village.

Doubar: Aye, the one with the fire in his belly.

Maeve: He knows where Dinar is. We gotta find him.

(The kids are still stealing the things from Faha’s cart)

Sali: Victory is at last ours!

(His hoods flies off, and Faha sees who it really is)

(Faha and Zabtut are talking in the palace)

Zabtut: Young boys? You say young boys robbed you?

Faha: They had magic. Black magic. The carpets flew! They were on magic carpets.

Zabtut: Where did you see this happen?

Faha: On the main road to the castle.

Zabtut: Ah, yes. Dinar the magician. Someone coaxed him out of retirement. Sinbad, I’m sure. Why else would he be here? I knew Sinbad would be trouble.

Faha: I think I recognized one of the boys. His father lives in the village.

Zabtut: Perhaps you should pay him a visit.

Faha: It would give me great pleasure to drain the life out of him.

Zabtut: Not yet. I have a much better idea.

(They walk out of the room, and the King comes out of hiding behind a large plant)

King: Dinar the magician?

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