Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger

[Man praying in native language]

[Man praying in native language]

[Praying in native language continues]

Come on! Come on, come on, boys.

Hey, captain, why the haste? The city will not vanish.

It's not the city of Charak he wishes to see, but someone who dwells within.

After a long voyage, it is good to stretch one's legs.

The only good thing about this port is the inn of Abu Jamil the squint,

who, for six months, I have been dreaming of his roasted sheep's eyes.

And I the eyes of his daughter. You were dreaming of more than her eyes.

Oh, captain, my mouth is dry.

And mine. Let's stop and sample the wines of Charak.

My thirst is a thirst of a thousand men.

Stop and drink, and I promise, you will go no further. Remember the last time?

You were stripped of all your possessions.

Because of that, I added four more eunuchs to the population.

Allah be with you. All the paradise I seek is here. Who wants anything more?

I shall stay behind.

All is silent. No sound, no lights-a city of ghosts.

Why is the gate closed? Curfew is not until midnight.

No sentries about.

Ho, there, captain of the watch! Open the gate!

Captain! Wake, wake, wake, wake.

It's Sinbad, friend of the Caliph Kassim.

And a better friend to the princess Farah.

Captain Sinbad.

You know me? I am a merchant.

I hope to purchase some of the cargo you will unload tomorrow.

Ah! No one is to be admitted to Charak after sunset.

- But why? - The plague. Many have died.

Every time we reach this port, some misfortune strikes us. The plague.

The caliph Kassim and his sister, princess Farah?

They are well, but Kassim is not the caliph-not as yet.

I was told in Jerash that the caliph Kassim's father died three months ago.

True, but Kassim has not yet been crowned.

Captain, we'd better return to the ship.

Yes, best to leave and sell our cargo elsewhere.

I'm not leaving Charak until I see princess Farah and Kassim.

- But captain, it is the plague. - Is there another way into the town?

No, but if you wish to take the risk,

you may enter at daybreak, when the curfew is lifted.

Until then, I can only offer to relieve your disappointment.

My tent has wine, food and music. My people are your servants.

Please, be welcome.

Come.

Hassan, don't drink. The wine is poisoned. Help Aboo-seer.

Aboo-seer.

Aboo-seer.

Who are you? And why have you tried to poison us?

From the depths of the earth, I command you, arise.

Destroy them! Kill Sinbad!

Raf“.!

Come, rah .

Everyone, back to the ship!

Captain Sinbad, wait!

Princess Farah.

Quickly.

- How did you get here? - Praise to Allah I found you. I must talk to you.

No here and not now.

And no going back that way. Come with me.

Keep rowing back to the ship!

Keep rowing, keep rowing.

Mohammed, Musah, Naveen! Where are they?

Easy, easy. Make for the open sea.

Hoist the mainsail. Do it! Aye, captain.

But the shoals, captain. We will risk them. There is a full moon.

We'll lie offshore for the rest of the night and not return until daybreak.

Return? You will go back? At dawn.

Aboo-seer! Naveen!

Warm yourself.

Here, take this.

Drink this.

You were searching for me. Why? I was told of your return.

I need help desperately. My brother is in great danger.

Prince Kassim? I owe him my life.

A spell has been cast upon him.

My Uncle Balsora will tell you. Why not you?

Please, I beg of you, do not leave Charak. Trust me...

For my brother's sake. For him, I would risk my life.

For you, I would give it.

I was told there was plague. Not true.

Balsora rules the city by day,

but by night, fear rules Charak.

People whisper of witchcraft.

How can I help'?

You will find a way. Come, lie down.

I prayed every day for your return.

It's been almost a year. Then I was not willing to give up the sea.

Nor I my life at court. Now I've decided to live on land.

And I to live at sea.

I have returned to Charak to ask Kassim for your hand.

Will you consent? Willingly.

But only when my brother is able to stand before you and give his consent.

When he is himself again. “himself”?

After my father's death- Allah protect his soul-

the astrologers decided that the first full moon would be auspicious...

For the coronation of my brother Kassim.

On the day of the ceremony, the procession began,

but even as the crown was being placed upon his head-

he- shh, shh.

Lie back, lie back.

It was the last time I saw him as the Kassim I've known all my life:

Young, handsome, a true prince.

You talked of a spell. Or has he fallen victim to the plague?

Worse than a thousand plagues.

Shh, do not talk of it now.

Shh.

Hassan, where's the captain?

What is it, Maroof? His excellency is here-the vizier Balsora.

Hassan. Ask the princess to come on deck. Yes, captain.

Aye, aye.

Excellency. Captain, welcome again to Charak.

Ah, there she is. May Allah's name be exalted.

I prayed that princess Farah might reach you safely last night.

- Has she told you? - Yes, this morning.

But is it true, excellency?

Let us go on board.

Oh, my beloved child. Praise be to Allah you are safe.

Hassan, Boucheri, food and drink for our guests. The rest of you, back to work.

So, you have told the captain of our misfortune.

But is it true, excellency?

Tragically, horribly.

We have consulted all the wisest men and skilled doctors from here to Alexandria.

- They can do nothing. - Come, sit down.

Sinbad, you have traveled to many foreign lands. Help us.

Perhaps there is someone somewhere. Truly, my lord,

I will do all in my power to help,

but what has happened to Kassim requires skills far greater than mine.

It needs an understanding of the black arts, a great alchemist, a magician.

A- wait.

Yes, I have heard of such a man, if he still lives.

Who? Where can he be found?

A Greek. Some say the wisest man in the world.

His name is- Hassan, you remember.

Melanthius. That's it, the hermit of-Maroof.

- Casgar. - Yes, a remote haunted island off the coast of Phyrgia.

Have you been there? No, nor have I met anyone who has.

His deeds are legendary, but he may not even exist.

- The islands is ringed with deadly reefs. - You must take us to him.

- It would be a dangerous voyage. - I will risk it.

No, my child, I cannot allow you to go.

Unless prince Kassim is crowned before the passing of seven moons,

he will lose forever his right to be caliph.

- Melanthius is our only hope. - Some say he's mad.

And that the island savages eat human flesh and worship him as a God.

I will send treasure-

gold and precious jewels for you, your crew and for melanthius,

if only he can restore my nephew.

Should I undertake this voyage, it would not be for gold or jewels,

but for a treasure far more precious.

Oh, my beloved son.

May Allah preserve you. Zabid!

Zabid!

Here.

Keep those horses steady!

Who is that? Zenobia, my stepmother. She hates me.

She was not at court.

My mother died when I was born.

It is said Zenobia is a witch and willed her death.

Allah protect us. Why is she here?

Be on your guard, Sinbad. She's more dangerous than a scorpion.

Oh queen, may Allah's blessings be on thee.

We meet at last, captain. What brings you back to our shores?

To deliver my cargo and visit my friend, Kassim.

- And his sister? - I am bound by love to them both.

I intend to ask the caliph Kassim for the hand of princess Farah in marriage.

There is no caliph to consent to your marriage.

Kassim has not yet been crowned, nor is he likely to be.

I have been told of the events at the coronation.

I shall help, if I can.

Kassim is beyond help. Do not be blinded by love, Sinbad.

Balsora must be made to understand once and for all no one can help him.

- I shall tell him. - Do not provoke her.

Foolish old man, why do you interfere? You can do nothing for Kassim.

Captain Sinbad can help us. I implore you, be silent.

What can you do...

When they've consulted all the wise men, doctors, priests, astrologers?

- There may be another. - No one.

- Abandon this false hope. Kassim is doomed forever. - You lie. You want him doomed.

Within the passing of seven moons, if Kassim is not crowned caliph,

he will lose his right forever- that is the law.

You bewitched him. You want your son Rafi to be caliph.

Let me cut the smile from her face! Let me go, let me go!

You will bring an eternal curse on all our heads...

If you draw one drop of blood from any member of the royal family.

It's only for that she hasn't murdered Kassim.

As cunning as a snake, as malicious as a shark.

- But Rafi will never be caliph. - There is no one to prevent it.

Melanthius will prevent it.

Melanthius is a myth, and his powers are a legend. He does not exist.

We shall soon discover if the myth and the legend exist.

- We sail tonight. - Oh, my beloved, may your days always be blessed.

Sail for rhodes or tripoli. You'll find richer cargo there.

Set sail in search of melanthius and you'll set a course for hell and damnation.

- Aboo-seer, Hassan, Bahadin, prepare the ship for sea. - Aye, aye, captain.

Order your men to bring treasure for melanthius.