(They hear laughter coming from behind them; they turn around and see Reynard, an old man, sitting on a rock)

Reynard: Oh, excuse me! Ah, do go on! I haven’t heard such amusing chatter for quite some time! (laughs)

Sinbad: Are you an Old One?

Reynard: No, no, no! I’m not one of them. I’m Reynard, caretaker of this lovely spot.

Sinbad: Well, I am Sinbad. And these are my—

Reynard: No, please. No introductions are necessary.

Sinbad: Excuse me?

Reynard: I don’t want to become too attached to you. You see, by the end of the day, you’ll all be dead.

Sinbad: Why do these spirits here want us dead?

Reynard: Oh, they’re more than spirits, dear Captain. They’re the Old Ones.

Maeve: I’ve never heard of these Old Ones, and I’m a sorceress.

Rumina: A sorcerer’s apprentice, peasant! I, however, am a true sorceress. The daughter of the greatest sorcerer in the East, Turok.

Reynard: Is he here as well?

Rumina: No. He’s dead.

Reynard: He couldn’t have been all that great, hmm?

Rumina: I don’t have to stand for this!

Reynard: Oh, but you do. No one invited to of this hollow spot. You trespassed in spite of the warning! And now you must pay for your disrespect.

Sinbad: I take it these Old Ones are powerful.

Reynard: Oh, yes. In the days before time became affect, there were only two things in existence. The earth, and the Old Ones. Gods they were, gods they still be.

Sinbad: If they are indeed gods, why haven’t we heard of them?

Reynard: Well, I’m not an expert, but as far as I can gather, gods have their weaknesses, just as mortals do. The Old Ones were premordians. Full of emotion. Unfortunately, they were excellent at anger. In spite of the fact that the earth was all theirs, they squabbled over it. Eventually, their squabbling led to all-out war. Quite simply, they destroyed each other. And those that weren’t destroyed, weakened to a point of exhaustion, I’m afraid.

Firouz: So where’s the threat?

Reynard: Their anger, their power to hate, were so great, it never died. Nowadays, when someone dares to trespass on this small portion of the earth they still cling to, that hatred emerges once again.

Sinbad: All right. We trespassed. Now what?

Reynard: Now you die.

Sinbad: Would you care to elaborate?

Reynard: Let’s just say the Old Ones have a very healthy appetite.

Sinbad: How is it you came to work for them?

Reynard: Oh, you have nothing to fear from me, dear Captain. I came here just like you, as a young man, foolish headstrong. I thought I could cut off a few of these statues, make a profit. The Old Ones caught me of course. I assume yet marred my gold.

Maeve: They showed you mercy?

Reynard: Not quite. It was a trade-off. They needed a servant. A slave, if you will. Someone to honour their memory, tend their ground. Thus, all my days have been spent surrounded by decay and death, and these lovely crumbling statues.

Sinbad: Well, I for one have no plans of either being ripped apart, or spending the rest of my life scraping moss from these old statues.

Reynard: You have spirit, Captain. Not much sense, but spirit. As much as I enjoy your company, your false sense of bravado is beginning to tire me. If you’ll excuse me, I do have to tend the grounds. (gets up) If I shouldn’t see you again, It’s been…interesting. (leaves)

Sinbad: All right. This is where we make our stand.

Rumina: Excuse me?

Sinbad: We’ll use these rocks as our fortress. We’ll force the Old Ones to come to us at the end of the day.

Doubar: And then?

Sinbad: Either we’ll defeat them, or we’ll go out fighting.

Rumina: Now I know what the old man meant by the false bravado.

Maeve: Let’s see if your sword is as sharp as your tongue.

Sinbad: Ladies? Enough! We have a few hours before sundown. I suggest we search the surrounding area and see if we can find anything that we can use as either fortification, or weaponry. Remember, the longer we stay alive, the more our odds of survival increase.

Doubar: How’s that?

Sinbad: In all our encounters of magic, we’ve seen that the bigger and more prolonged the spell, the more it weakens the spell-caster.

Rumina: Nonsense.

Sinbad: Does the City of Mist ring a bell?

Doubar: Speaking of mist…little brother!

(The Old Ones are appearing and disappearing)

Sinbad: It’s probably just the Old Ones toying with us. (sighs) Now, we have work to do. Food, weaponry, defense.

Rumina: I’m not going on a scavenger hunt with those beneath my station.

Sinbad: We’re gonna have to split up. And I don’t want any of us killing each other before the Old Ones have a chance to. Doubar? Maeve? You take the East.

Doubar: Aye. Come on, Maeve.

(Doubar and Maeve leave)

Sinbad: Firouz? Rongar? You take the West. Rumina? Can you use a sword?

Rumina: I’d rather use my charm.

Sinbad: A sword would be more affective. Rongar? Would you be all right with just your dirks?

(Rongar hands Sinbad his sword, and stomps off, as Sinbad hands the sword to Rumina)

(Sinbad and Rumina are walking together through the forest)

Sinbad: All right. Let’s split up.

Rumina: What?

Sinbad: We don’t have a lot of time, Rumina. We can cover twice as much ground if we take different paths. I’ll be close by. If you get frightened, just holler.

Rumina: What, frightened? Don’t be absurd.

Sinbad: Right. And you have a sword. Why don’t you just concentrate on gathering food. See if you can find any fruit trees. Use the sword to do a little…pruning.

Rumina: I will not!

Sinbad: Would you rather hunt wild game? Don’t stray too far. (points)

(They go different ways)

(Sinbad is walking by himself through the forest; he hears ocean sounds)

Sinbad: An ocean in the middle of nowhere?

(He falls into the ocean, and is being chased by a whirlwind, while trying to swim to shore; this is just like in the Beast Within)

(Rumina is walking by herself and sees a structure; she enters)

Rumina: Hello? (she walks in) Anybody here? Hello?

Old Rumina: You won’t survive long without your magic, will you dear?

(Rumina sees an older version of herself in the mirror)

Old Rumina: Don’t you like what you see, dear?

Rumina: Who are you?

Old Rumina: Who do you think? Now don’t be afraid, dear. Won’t you step inside? Join me. I’m so lonely. So old. Join me, dear, now.

Rumina: What kind of trickery is this?

Old Rumina: See what a lifetime of hatred produces?

Rumina: There isn’t supposed to be magic on this land!

Old Rumina: Look at me, dear! Solitary. Unloved. Hated by all. I wake up every morning with a taste of business in my mouth. I spent a lifetime seeking vengeance. Accumulating power. To say myself off from people, that I could care for, and who might care for me. Now I face death…alone.

Rumina: Your problems don’t concern me, old woman. Be off! I never want to see you again!

Old Rumina: Ah, but I’m afraid you must see me. I will appear to you gradually. Every time you pick up the mirror. Every time you see your reflection in a pool of water. As time goes on, you will see me more and more.

Rumina: You’re crazy.

Old Rumina: Perhaps. That is what loneliness does to a person.

Rumina: No! SINBAD!!!!!!!

(Runs from the structure; Old Rumina laughs; Reynard watches Rumina run away)

(Sinbad is still struggling to get out of the ocean; he hears Rumina calling his name, and the next thing he knows, he is struggling on dry land, with Rumina standing above him)

Sinbad: (gets up) Are you all right?

Rumina: Yes. What about you?

Sinbad: Ah, me? Ah, sure. I just tripped over something. That’s all. I thought I heard you calling me.

Rumina: Oh, yeah. I, um, I wanted to let you know that…that I wasn’t able to, um, to find any fruit trees, anywhere.

Sinbad: Maybe we should finish exploring together.

Rumina: Oh, wise choice. There’s safety in numbers.

Sinbad: My thought’s exactly.

Rumina: Although, personally, I haven’t seen anything even remotely close to being frightening.

Sinbad: Nor I. Shall we?

(They go walking off)

(Rongar is walking alone, past some rocks; he sees the wind warriors from Conundrum trying to get him; he throws all his dirks; they finally disappear, and he picks up his dirks, and leaves, wondering what on earth was going on)

(Firouz is walking by himself, when he sees a rope and a sign that says Forbidden to Pull)

Firouz: Now, why would anybody put that sign here, except to stimulate curiosity? Old Ones, you’re dealing with a scientific mind here. I weigh the pros and cons of every situation. You probably think I’m gonna pull it, but I’m a scientific mind, so I’m not gonna pull it. Unless, of course, you know that I’m a scientific mind, then I should pull it. But if you’re not smart—(he gives up and pulls the cord) Childish prank!

(Suddenly, there is a lot of fire, and Firouz finds himself fighting for his life; Rongar comes)

Firouz: Rongar! You gotta save yourself, my friend!

(Rongar shakes Firouz out of it, and shows that there was no fire there in the first place; the fire is now gone)

Firouz: Fascinating. I’ve always been afraid of fire. Let’s go. (remembers he forgot his sword) Oh. (picks it up)

(They go off to find the others)

(Maeve and Doubar are walking together when they here a moan)

Doubar: What on earth was that?

Maeve: Didn’t sound like anything on earth to me.

Doubar: Sounds like it’s coming from that direction.

Maeve: Oh, no. I think it’s coming from over there.

Doubar: It’s probably a trap.

Maeve: If we split up, one of us can lure the trapper out of hiding.

Doubar: While the other traps the trapper.

Maeve: Exactly.

Doubar: There’s logic in that. Now, don’t wander too far off.

Maeve: You be careful, too.

(They go separate ways)

(A man, Fortasa, sneaks up behind Doubar)

Fortasa: So, Doubar. We meet again.

(Doubar turns around)

Doubar: Fortasa!

Fortasa: Yes.

Doubar: Butcher of women and children. I thought I killed you in Baghdad, ten years ago!

Fortasa: Not quite. Wanna try and finish the job?

Doubar: When I think of all the suffering you’ve caused…

(They fight)

(Maeve turns around and Doubar turns into Rumina)

Maeve: Rumina!

Rumina: Come on, peasant witch. Don’t dally. You wanted to know if my sword is as sharp as my tongue? Well, let me show you that it’s sharper. Much sharper. And a lot more deadly.

Maeve: I’ve sworn to kill you, Rumina. It’s my life’s quest.

Rumina: Well, I’m sorry to ruin your plans.

Maeve: I won’t mind dying at the hands of the Old Ones, as long as I get to kill you first!

(They fight)

Doubar: Butcher!

Maeve: Born of hell!

(They keep fighting)

(The rest of the crew comes running, and Sinbad jumps at Doubar, who is now pushing Maeve’s head to the ground; the crewmembers try to hold them apart)

Maeve: No! No! Just kill her!

Sinbad: Let me go, little brother! He’s a butcher! Madman!

(Doubar and Maeve suddenly go limp, then stand up)

Doubar: What happened?

Sinbad: You were trying to kill each other!

Maeve: What? I’d never try to hurt Doubar!

Doubar: I’d lay my life on the line to save Maeve from any harm!

Sinbad: We all know that. Someone, however, is trying to break our will to live.

Rumina: Don’t you think it’s about time we asked that old man a few more questions?

Maeve: (sighs) For once (sighs) I think Rumina has a good idea.

(They leave)

(The crew and Rumina go to Reynard)

Sinbad: Reynard! We have a few questions for you.

Reynard: Well, I have all the time in the world. I’m afraid your time has run out.

Doubar: What kind of riddles are you blathering about now?

Reynard: No riddles. It’s just that the Old Ones have arrived. They seem to think it’s time to finish their little exercise.

(The Old Ones appear)

Sinbad: Good. Cause I’m tired of running. (to Rumina) Thought you didn’t like swordplay.

Rumina: I don’t. But before I learned sorcery, I had to keep others at bay somehow.

Reynard: I believe the Old Ones would like to fight the leaders. May I suggest Sinbad, and the red-headed gilt.

Sinbad: It’s fine with me. Maeve?

Maeve: I’d love to teach the Old Ones a few tricks.

Doubar: I don’t like it.

Sinbad: Crew? You just make sure you keep the other Old Ones back.

(Sinbad and Maeve go to the leaders of the Old Ones)

(They fight)

Maeve: Their swords are better than they look!

Sinbad: It’s as if they know every move we’re gonna make—

Maeve: —before we make them!

(They keep fighting)

(Firouz puts his hand on Doubar’s shoulder, and the Old One standing across from him does the same to the Old One next to him)

Firouz: It’s as if we’re fighting ourselves!

(Fighting keeps going)

(Sinbad discovers that the Old One is doing the same thing he is, so he tests it, then slowly stands up straight)

Doubar: Little brother, are you hurt?

Rumina: More importantly, are you crazy?

Sinbad: Maeve? I think it’s time we took a little breather.

Maeve: We’ll be killed!

Sinbad: Trust me on this one.

(Maeve stops fighting)

Reynard: What are you stopping for? You nearly had them! Go ahead, you can do it! I know you can!

(Dermott flies down and attacks Reynard, until he turns into a young boy)

The Trickster: Get away from me! Somebody call this bird off!

(Dermott flies off)

The Trickster: Oh, thanks a lot! You spoiled everything!

Maeve: Coyote?

Rumina: Ishu?

Sinbad: You know this twirp?

The Trickster: Who are you calling twirp? Bonehead!

Maeve: He’s known by many names in many lands, but mostly as the Trickster.

The Trickster: You spoiled everything!

Maeve: He’s part god, part mortal, and all trouble!

The Trickster: I’m as good as clever. And as strong as any god.

(Wind blows the hoods off the Old Ones standing opposite each crewmember and Rumina; they look like spitting images of each of them)

Doubar: We’re chasing our tails!

Firouz: And fighting ourselves.

Sinbad: I still don’t understand. What was the point of all this?

Maeve: There wasn’t one. The Trickster’s goal in life is to play tricks on mortals. He likes to make them squirm. Don’t you?

The Trickster: And I would have made you squirm a lot, if that bird hadn’t shown up!

Sinbad: Dermott, I owe you one.

(Dermott chirps)

The Trickster: I set up this island as a trap for fools like you. No one showed up. I was just about to move on, when I saw your ship. You’ve arrived. And then the sorceress. I thought I’d have myself a good time, scaring the wits out of all of you.

Sinbad: And the Old Ones?

The Trickster: There aren’t any. But you were so frightened of what they might do, that you imagined the worst. You all thought of what you feared and hated the most. Your deepest, darkest nightmares. You were all so scared, that even the witches lost their powers, all on their own. You know, you could have fought me with your magic. You’ve had it all along. You just frightened yourselves out of using it.

Rumina: So, we still have our powers?

The Trickster: Yeah.

Maeve: And we can use them anytime we wish…on anyone we wish.

The Trickster: Yes.

(Maeve and Rumina form fireballs and are ready to throw them at the Trickster)

The Trickster: Uh, oh.

(The Trickster disappears, and doesn’t get hit with the two fireballs)

(The crew laughs)

Sinbad: Well, I guess we got the last laugh, after all, Maeve.

(Maeve and Rumina start circling each other)

Sinbad: Rumina!

Maeve: It’s finally time, Rumina. You and I.

Rumina: Black magic against white magic. But I will choose the time and place. Farewell, fools.

(She waves her hand and disappears)

(The crew hears a roar)

Sinbad: Everyone! Out of here! Whatever that was sounded real!

(They run out of there)

(The Trickster appears, swinging on the tree branch)

The Trickster: Gotcha!

(Sinbad and Maeve are walking and talking)

Maeve: Oh, I can’t believe that little squint duped us! He used our only fisses against us, and almost killed us.

Sinbad: Sometimes, it’s the only way to make it through life. Just to face your fears, and move on.

Maeve: Do you realize I had the chance to destroy Rumina once and for all, and it slipped right by me. I had the chance to…make everything as it should be.

Sinbad: I’m sure Rumina is as disappointed as you are.

Maeve: Oh, don’t make fun of me.

Sinbad: Oh, I’m not. I’m very worried about what happens when you run into her next.

(Sinbad rubs Maeve on her head, then leaves her)

Maeve: Next time, I’ll be ready.

THE END