aladdin and the ebony palace

8/14/2019 Aladdin and the Ebony Palace

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ALADDIN AND THE EBONY PALACE

Written By

Kenneth White

Kenneth White1108 Wellesley AvenueModesto, CA [email protected]


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1.

Aladdin and the Ebony Palace

FADE IN:

EXT. SILVER PALACE - EARLY DAWN

A sumptuous palace, straight from the Arabian Nights,glistens in the golden morning light.

SERIES OF SHOTS

of different parts of the palace. Minarets, gardens,chambers, pavilions, parapets, domes, turrets, andcourtyards.

As we move around and through the palace, we realize it isa very intricate, miniature sculpture carved from jade,ivory, and silver. It is encased in a glass orb filled

with water and grains of sand.

A gnarled, sinewy, blotchy HAND reaches into frame. Itturns the orb upside down, turns it back over, and sets itdown again. Grains of sand slowly float down around thecastle.

Off-screen, we hear malevolent LAUGHTER boom.

EXT. ENDLESS ARABIAN DESERT - DAY

On the horizon, the real version of the miniature silverpalace shimmers in the searing heat. It is under siegefrom a great host numbering a thousand thousand.

SCHEHERAZADE (V.O.)I am Scheherazade. It is the 500

th

night. Ah halfway home. And thisis yet another of my many wondroustales.

EXPLOSIONS pop above the palace. Fire licks at the walls.The assault force batters at the palace gate.

SCHEHERAZADE (V.O.)In a long ago time, in a faraway land,it is a time of turmoil. The Sultan

Farrukh of Araby and his empire are atwar with Xanadu the Wizard and hisarmy of darkness.

A tiny airship slowly floats into frame. Its sails areslack.


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SCHEHERAZADE (V.O.)The Sultan has sent his only daughter the Princess Fatima to hide ina remote desert palace. She carries

with her an ancient magic lamp thatXanadu covets, for it holds the key to

absolute power. If it falls into thehands of the Evil Wizard, the worldwill be lost.

A gigantic airship lumbers into frame, filling the screen.It fires a devastating broadside at the fleeing ship.

INT. SILVER PALACE - CORRIDOR - SAME TIME

A BLAST shivers and shakes the palace. Debris rains downon ARTHUR and OTHELLO as they scurry along a hallway lined

with STONE STATUES.

Arthur is a cherub-shaped Celt. He's dressed in theclothes of a medieval knight's squire, for that is what heonce was -- to the legendary Sir Gawaine of the RoundTable. Arthur looks and acts a lot like Lou Costello or a"Road Picture" -- era Bob Hope.

Othello is a giant, intense Blackamoor. He proudly wearsthe attire and attitude of the Barbary Pirate he was in a

previous life. Imagine Bud Abbott or Bing Crosby crossedwith Denzel Washington.

A thunderous EXPLOSION slams them both to the ground.

ARTHURThe end ist at hand.

OTHELLOBe still, spineless son of a sea hag.

They stand. A second BLAST rocks the walls. BehindOthello, a statue of lapis lazuli teeters and topples.

Arthur leaps forward and shoves Othello out of the way.

The statue CRASHES to the floor, knocking Arthur for aloop.

Othello scrambles over the top of the shattered statue andreaches Arthur, who clutches his bleeding left arm.

OTHELLOI owe thee my life.

ARTHURMethinks, we art finally even then.

Othello removes a simple cotton scarf from around his neckand binds Arthur's wound.


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3.

SOLDIERS of the Sultan's army hurry past them and down thehallway, taking up fighting positions along the walls.They anxiously stare at the barricaded door at the far endof the hallway, waiting.

ARTHUR

Princess Fatima ist surely doomed. Asart we.

Othello swivels to smite his sniveling companion as

A grotesque, monstrous MINOTAUR materializes, directly infront of them. He snorts flames from his blazing nostrils.He brandishes a massive broadsword.

MINOTAURSurrender or die mortals.

Othello whips his razor-sharp, saber of Damascus steel from

its Toledo leather and jewel-encrusted scabbard, slices itthrough the air, then assumes a defensive battle stance.Arthur ducks in behind him, cowering.

MINOTAURBy Zeus, I hoped you'd say that.

The half-man, half-bull lunges at Othello. Othello checkshis thrust then spins and slices at the monster's legs.The Minotaur blocks then counters, locking swords.

The duelists stare into each other's eyes, waiting to seewho'll blink first. Othello does.

Othello quickly retreats, nearly stumbling over Arthur.Arthur grabs an abandoned toad-sticker of a dagger. He

points it at the monster.

ARTHURMethinks he'll knowest what salamidoth feel like when I am done.

Othello shoves him out of harm's way.

The Minotaur rears its forelegs and gallops toward Othello.Their blades clash, shooting lightning sparks into the air.

The impact drives Othello to his knees. The Minotaurraises its broadsword and prepares to deal a deathblow.

Othello rolls away, leaps to his feet, and assumes amatador's stance. He dangles a small piece of red cloth.The bull charges.

Othello steps aside and plunges his saber to the hiltbetween the Minotaur's shoulder blades. The monsterstraightens, BELLOWS to the sky, then crumples.


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As the beast falls, Othello lops off its head. It rollscrazily along the stone floor. It stops at Arthur's feet.He turns a sickening shade of green.

Othello strides up, grabs the head by the hair, lifts ithigh in the air, and lops off an ear.

OTHELLOSouvenir.

Arthur covers his mouth with both hands and stumbles into anearby corridor, much to Othello's bemusement.

A SOUND like Armageddon shatters the air.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY - DAY

A magnificent, ancient walled city straddles the banks of acrystal blue river.

ALADDIN, a serenely handsome, confident young man with aninfectious smile, dashes down a narrow alleyway.

INT. IMPERIAL CITY - BACKALLEY - TAILOR'S SHOP

SALOME, a petite, sharp-eyed seamstress, searches throughscraps of fabric on a table. Beside the table is aTAILOR'S MANNEQUIN draped with a half-finished garment.She holds a piece of poor cloth up to the garment thentosses it aside. She heaves a WEARY SIGH.

Aladdin CRASHES through the door.

ALADDINMother! My destiny calls! The Sultanis recruiting men to fight Xanadu!

SALOMEMen not boys, Aladdin.

Aladdin throws out his arms in exasperation.

ALADDINI'll never become a man stuck in thiscrummy shop.

SALOMEYou'll never become a man until youlearn to do an honest day's work.

ALADDINWork is for peasants. I am the son ofa great warrior!

SALOMEAnd the son of a poor, widowedseamstress. With no cloth to sew.


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5.

Aladdin smiles tenderly at his mother.

ALADDINI can fix that.

SALOME

Please, son. No more stealing.

ALADDINNot stealing. Merely sport.

EXT. SILVER PALACE - DAY

A battering elephant BASHES away at the main palace gate.The gate buckles and crumbles.

Fantastical, mechanical ROBOTS; GOLEMS of stone, iron,bone, and glass; and ELEMENTALS of air, earth, fire, andwater storm into the central courtyard.

A PHALANX of mercenaries, outlaws, bounty hunters, soldiersof fortune, and other renegades follows.

It is a motley crew of Trolls, Manscorpions, Goblins, Orcs,Dopplegangers, Ghouls, Crabmen, Mongrel Men, Death Knights,Giant Apes, Ogres, Gibberlings, Centaurs, Yak-Men, Ogrima,and other nasty half-human creatures.

Within and without the palace, the Sultan's foot SOLDIERSbattle Xanadu's GHAZIS, or Muslim Holy Warriors, hand-to-hand, stave-to-stave.

Bedouin LANCERS, Turkish HORSE-SOLDIERS, and DaylamiMOUNTED CAVALRY fight the Sultan's badly outnumberedCAVALRY with lance, scimitar, and mace.

ARCHERS fire wave after wave of poison-tipped and flamingarrows.

NORSEMEN and MONGOLS catapult huge boulders, fiery balls oflead, and gunpowder grenades at the battlements.

SHAPESHIFTERS scamper up scaling ladders propped againstthe steep walls.

ROCS, VULTURES, and other BIRDS OF PREY dive bomb from theskies.

From the battlements, the DEFENDERS pour cauldrons full ofhot oil, molten wax and Greek fire onto their attackers.

Djinn, Efreet, Dao, and Marid GENIES use air, fire, earth,and water to slaughter their opponents.

It is a maelstrom of lethal winds, an inferno of blisteringfireballs, an avalanche of deadly earth, and a tsunamiofcrushing water.


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A leashed cavalcade of LIONS, SERPENTS and DRAGONS waits tofinish the leftovers.

It is man against man, beast against beast, and spiritagainst spirit. It is brutal and bloody.

A sable GRIFFIN hovers above the fray. Astride this pitch-black creature sits XANADU THE WIZARD, an evil sorcerer.His wizened face is framed by a long, black, curly beardand ebony dreadlocks. He wears a flowing, charcoal silkcaftanand djellabafringed in purple. In his gnarled,

blotchy right hand, he grasps a black staff crowned with acobra's head.

He aims the hooded snake at a SOLDIER, lying wounded on astone staircase.

Lightning bolts EXPLODE from the eyes of the cobra,pulverizing the helpless man.

XANADU(HISSES like a snake)

Always finish the job, my pet. A deadwarrior never fights again.

Xanadu finishes off several more mortally wounded MEN withhis lethal staff.

The anguished SCREAMS of wounded and dying men are downedout by CLASHING and CLANGING weapons and muffled by cloudsof thick, inky smoke.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY - STREET - DAY

Aladdin races between weathered buildings of wood, stoneand sun-dried brick. As he runs, he cradles a bolt ofexpensive silk cloth like a USC tailback.

A SHOPKEEPER and several ARMED MEN pursue him.

SHOPKEEPERGutter spawn. I'll have your hands in

payment.

ALADDINMust be a Republican. Democrats getupset over sex.

Aladdin darts and dodges around and over street obstacleslike Barry Sanders eluding Green Bay tacklers. He reachesan intersection one road goes high, one goes low.

ALADDINWhen you come to a fork in the road take it.

He takes the high road.


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SHOPKEEPERSplit up. Cut him off. Stop him!

Aladdin sprints up the lane and

Passes an attractive OLDER WOMAN combing out her hair. He

pauses to admire her and smiles. She blushes, then pullsher veil seductively across her face. Aladdin blows her akiss.

WOMANFor an old wench like me?

ALADDINBeauty, like fruit, is tastiest whenripe.

WOMANYou are truly a thief, Aladdin. Of

hearts as well as goods.

Aladdin reaches to kiss her hand when

A WOMAN in the window above dumps a bucket full of washwater onto Aladdin's head. He shakes himself like a wetdog, then brushes his lips lightly against her wrist. Hedrips water along her arm.

SHOPKEEPER (O.S.)There he is.

Aladdin spies his pursuers, bows respectfully to the young-

once-again woman, and dashes down the boulevard.

Aladdin ducks into a side street, wheezing and GASPING forair. He kneels and takes a few deep breaths. He looks upto see an especially large SAMOAN GUARD blocking his exit.

GUARDSlimy rat in a trap. And I am theOrkin Man.

The guard raises his impossibly large scimitar and

Aladdin dives headfirst between his legs like RickyHenderson stealing second. He rolls, tumbles, darts over a

bridge, and into a Bazaar.

INT. SILVER PALACE - CORRIDOR

A bleeding WARRIOR faces Arthur. He sheaths his nickedsword and removes his dented helmet.

We suddenly realize it is not a man after all, but abeautiful, very strong YOUNG WOMAN. She hands Arthursomething small wrapped in damask cloth.


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WOMANProtect it with your life, Arthur.The world as we know it depends on

you.

ARTHUR

I wilt, mistress. To the death.

INT. SILVER PALACE - DUNGEON

The mercenaries herd the Sultan's soldiers into the massivedamp, dark cells that fill the entire ground floor beneaththe palace. They chain the soldiers by neck, hand andankle to the ceiling, floor and walls.

The TORTURE MASTER tests each of his perverse torturedevices.

The EXECUTIONER sharpens his double-edged axe blade.

Xanadu strides into the central holding cell. It quicklybecomes as quiet as death with a head cold. Men who werebrave and fearless moments before now tremble in cornersand beneath rotting cots.

KHALED IBN BALTHAZAR VIZIER to Xanadu approaches theWizard. He kneels and kisses the ground.

BALTHAZARHe whose sword knows no rest, I wish

you everlasting joy and glory.

Balthazar rises. He TAPS a ruby-encrusted riding cropagainst his knee-high riding boots.

BALTHAZARMy Lord, we have yet to find the lamp.

Xanadu points a long, bony finger at an OFFICER. Acrackling beam of indigo light bubbles out of his finger,jumps across the cell, and enfolds the officer. He beginsshaking.

XANADUWhere is it, worm?

OFFICERI know nothing.

The beam burns brighter. The officer quakes moreviolently.

XANADUPrincess Fatima?

OFFICERFar from here.


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The indigo light glows so bright it burns the eyes. Like ablack light in a dark room. The quivering officerEXPLODES.

The beam retracts into the Wizard's finger. Xanadu blowson the tip of his finger, like a gunfighter blowing the

smoke from the tip of his Colt Peacemaker.

XANADUThe lamp is here. Find it, Balthazar.And bring the Princess to me alive.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY - BAZAAR

It is the spicy, bustling heart of the city. A goldenlight makes it all the more exotic and fascinating.

Turkish, Bedouin and Persian MERCHANTS mix with Moors,

Chinese and Mongols. They're all cutting deals, countingmoney, guzzling dark coffee, smoking cigarettes, andshooting the breeze.

The market overflows with Athenian wine, Syrian apples,Oman peaches, jasmine from Alepp, water lilies from

Damascus, and cucumbers from the Nile. It spills over withEgyptian limes, Sultanese lemons, olives, sweet-scentedmyrtle, sprigs of the henna tree, chamomile, anemones, andviolets. It smells of rosewater, frankincense, and lilac.Goods of all kinds are sold in a hubbub of noisy, barteringVOICES.

Aladdin screeches to a halt, momentarily overcome andtransfixed by the bewitching world before him.

He quickly comes back to his senses, looks around, and,seeing nothing, relaxes. He leans up against acoppersmith's shop, wipes his sweaty brow, checks the boltof fabric, and

A jeweled knife THUDS into the wooden sign beside his head.

SHOPKEEPER (O.S.)A reward for anyone who stops thatthief.

ALADDINWho is that guy?

Aladdin leaps over a FAKIR lying on a bed of nails. Theholy man sits up, looks around, reaches for a gourd of

water, drinks, and like all those old cartoons leakswater from a thousand pinholes.

Aladdin dives behind a SNAKE CHARMER, who plays a haunting,mesmerizing MELODY.


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A COBRA emerges from a woven reed basket. Its eyes glowviolet. The cobra looks a little like Xanadu.

ALADDINThat's one ugly snake.

COBRA/XANADU(HISSES)Fear me.

ALADDINWith attitude.

A sword slices through the air and whacks off a hunk ofsilk, just missing Aladdin's hand.

ALADDINClose is only good in horseshoes andhand grenades.

He grabs both chunks of fabric and leaps away.

Aladdin ducks in behind a FIRE EATER. As the guards rushup, Aladdin uses the fire eater like a flame thrower. Hesinges the beard of one man, leaving nothing but scorchedskin.

ALADDINTakes it off takes it all off.

He turns the flame thrower on the second guard and sets histurban on fire. The guard yanks the flaming hat off his

head and tries to throw it away, but can't because the endof it is still braided into his thick, matted hair. Heraces away, trailing flames.

ALADDINReminds me of a singer. Wore thisfunny silver glove.

The fire eater finally sputters and flames out. He burpsone last ember.

ALADDINOh, oh flame out. A multitude ofthanks, cinder breath.

The shopkeeper holds up a handful of gold dinars.

SHOPKEEPERCash for his head.

Several MERCHANTS, VAGRANTS, and BEGGARS converge onAladdin.


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ALADDINNow, fellas. I was just trying to geta present for my mother. It's her

birthday today.

They charge.

ALADDINWell, maybe I fudged on the date.

Aladdin dashes up to a SWORD SWALLOWER just as he gulpsdown a rapier to the hilt. Aladdin grabs the sword, yanksit out, and turns to face his pursuers.

SWORD SWALLOWEROoh, that smarts.

The Sword Swallower burps daggers.

ALADDINProfound apologies, but I need aweapon more than you need lunch.

Aladdin confidently approaches the shopkeeper, two morearmed guards, and the swelling CROWD. They all freeze intheir tracks.

ALADDINAt last

One of the guards steps forward and smashes Aladdin'ssword, shattering it to pieces.

ALADDIN an equalizer.

Aladdin stares at the stubble of a handle. He throws it atthe guard and runs toward a storefront filled with carpets,

mattresses, and overstuffed pillows.

He leaps onto one especially large pillow and catapults upand onto the wide awning of the shop next door, whichtrampolines him up to another awning higher up.

And so on and so on until he reaches the rooftop of a stonebuilding at the outer edge of the bazaar.

Aladdin turns, salutes his would-be captors with the piecesof fabric, tucks them away, then runs to the edge of the

building, spreads his arms like a condor, and flies overthe edge.

INT. SILVER PALACE - ROOMS AND CORRIDORS

Mercenaries search every inch of the palace. They ransackevery room, leaving no turn unstoned.


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INT. SILVER PALACE - HAREM

Mercenaries storm into the Harem. They brutally andgleefully slaughter all the EUNUCHS and MALE SLAVES. TheHarem WOMEN tremble in a clot behind colorful walls ofdraped sheer silk.

The mercenaries lick their lips. The monkey-faced CAPTAINunbuckles his sword belt.

A WARRIOR swings down from the rafters and neatly sliceshim in half. The other men scatter for cover.

The warrior lets go of the rope, lands on his feet, andturns to face the rest of the mercenaries.

WARRIORMen are not allowed here.

MERCENARYNor are you.

The warrior rips off his helmet. It is not a man afterall, but the young woman we met earlier.

Balthazar strolls into the Harem.

BALTHAZARAt last, Princess Fatima. We have

been searching for you.

FATIMA

You have found me.

Balthazar PATS his crop against his open palm. The razor-sharp stones nick his flesh. He seems to enjoy it.

VIZIERMy liege, the great Xanadu, requeststhe pleasure of your company.

FATIMAI would die first.

VIZIERI cannot allow that, your highness.

He SNAPS his fingers. A dozen mercenaries draw theirswords and leap toward Fatima. Her blade flashes out andcuts down the nearest one.

As she backs toward the door, more mercenaries try to barher path, but she hacks her way through them. SERVANTSstumble over each other to close the door and cut her off,

but she beats them back. As she battles at the door


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CORRIDOR OUTSIDE HAREM

We hear a CACOPHONY of conflict, shouts, and the clash ofsteel. Frightened SERVANTS gather and listen, not daringto enter.

BACK TO FATIMA

inside the hall, fighting off her attackers. Several havebeen run through and lie at her feet. Their fallen bodiesblock others trying to reach her.

Fatima rips a shield from a fallen opponent and snaps it upin front of her just as a dozen arrows thud into it. Shefrisbees the quill-studded shield at a charging OGRIMA(half-breed Ogre), severing its head from its neck.

CORRIDOR OUTSIDE HAREM

A hideous, scar-faced MONGREL-MAN and his MEN-AT-ARMS dashdown the hallway, weapons drawn.

BACK TO FATIMA

as the Mongrel-Man and his retainers CRASH through thedoors. The Mongrel-Man, stepping in behind Fatima, raiseshis sword to cut her down.

A EUNUCH SCREAMS.

Fatima whirls around in time to see the Mongrel-Man. Sheducks under the sword stroke and coming up, catches the

Mongrel-Man in the belly with her shoulder. With terrificforce, she heaves him full at her foes.

Then, cutting down a GIBBERLING who blocks her way, shedashes to the doorway, stops and turns for a brief second.

She looks at the eunuch and flashes him a salute with hersword.

As she spins to exit, an OGRE tosses a net over her.

She struggles against the tenacious webbing, but cannotescape. Several GHOULS dogpile on top of her, pinning herarms and legs.

FATIMAUnhand me, you foul-breathed slime

A DEATH KNIGHT cold-cocks her into silence.

EXT. SILVER PALACE - COURTYARD GARDEN - SAME TIME

In a brush-shrouded corner of the lush inner sanctuary,Othello leans over Arthur, who holds the damask-enfolded

package.


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OTHELLOA magic lamp? What art thou talkingabout?

ARTHURIt ist mine to protect

OTHELLOGiveth it to me.

Othello reaches for the bundle.

ARTHUR even from thou.

Arthur grabs his wounded arm and gives Othello a "You oweme" look. Othello lunges at the bundle. Arthur jumps backand

Bumps into a hideous GIANT APE, who's just stepped out ofhiding from behind a palm tree. A second APE appears in

back of Othello.

Each ape is as dark as the blackest night, as hairy as acoconut. Their eyes blaze with fire, their thick lips hangdown like a camel's, their sharp teeth CHATTER like athousand drums, and their black tails swing to and fro likea lion pacing its cage.

Arthur quickly tucks the bundle inside his djibbah, ortopcoat. Othello winks. Arthur walks back to Othello,facing him. They begin a game of pattycake.

OTHELLOPattycake

ARTHURPattycake

The apes are bemused, but confused. They waddle around towatch from either side.

OTHELLOBaker's man

ARTHURBake me a cake

The enthralled apes begin to mimic Arthur and Othello'schild's game.

OTHELLOAs fast as thou

OTHELLO/ARTHUR canst!


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As they pat their two hands flat together on the last word,they turn and punch out the lights of the fascinated apes.Arthur and Othello wince with pain and madly shake theirnumb fists.

They race to where a small airship is docked. Arthur

clambers up the rope ladder dangling from the anchoredvessel. He reaches the bottom hatch and climbs inside.

OTHELLOThis wilt lead to no good I am sure.

Othello reluctantly clambers up after him.

INT./EXT. AIRSHIP

Arthur pulls up the ladder and cuts the anchor rope.Othello sets the sails and grabs the rudder. The airshipdrifts away, over the palace walls.

Mercenaries sling arrows and lob flaming balls of wax andgrenades at the fleeing ship.

Moving to the aft porthole, Arthur trips over a cache ofexplosives. He grabs a stick of dynamite, lights it, andheaves it back at the castle. It knocks out the highestziggurat with a resounding BOOM. He's beside himself withexcitement over his new found power.

EXT. SILVER PALACE - COURTYARD GARDEN

A black-toothed, tattooed CAPTAIN of Xanadu's Elite Guards

(dressed in black from head to foot) races into the gardenjust in time to see the airship clear the wall, catch anairstream, and zip out over the open ocean of sand.

INT. SILVER PALACE - HALLWAY

Balthazar leads a band of MERCENARIES escorting PrincessFatima. We get a much better look at her now that she'sall cleaned up.

Tall and graceful, she has eyes as lovely as a gazelle's,eyebrows like the new moon at Ramadan, cheeks likeanemones, and lips like coral. She is more beautiful thana clear pool in a desert oasis.

Her hands are bound tight behind her. A velvet ropeencircles her neck. She pulls against the rope. TheJACKALWERE holding the rope yanks her to her belly anddrags her along the polished stone floor.

SENTRIES throw open the throne room doors.


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INT. SILVER PALACE - THRONE ROOM

Xanadu lounges in the Caliph's sumptuous throne ofalabaster plated with red gold, as if he were born tooccupy it.

Balthazar approaches, steps to one side, and gestures.

BALTHAZARSome precious booty, All Powerful One.

The Jackalwere pulls the Princess forward and shoves herdown at the foot of the steps leading up to the throne.She refuses to raise her eyes. Xanadu leans forward andsmiles a lecherous leer.

XANADUPrincess Fatima at last. I trustyou were not too badly harmed.

Balthazar kicks her in the ribs.

BALTHAZARAnswer his Lordship.

FATIMAHe is no lord of mine He is closerto the devil.

Balthazar lashes her across her bare lower back with hisriding crop, drawing blood.

FATIMABy Allah and all the sands of time, Iswear you will die a thousand mosthorrible deaths for that.

BALTHAZARIt barely shows. A lover will nevernotice.

XANADULook at me, child. I have no wish toharm you. I seek only the lamp.

She finally looks him in the eye. If looks could kill,Xanadu would be toast.

The Captain of the Elite Guard strides into the throneroom. He bows to Xanadu, then approaches Balthazar and

WHISPERS something to him.


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BALTHAZARThe lamp is not inside the palace,sire.

(he listens again tothe Captain)

An airship escaped during the assault.

Princess Fatima reacts. It does not go unnoticed.

XANADUTake her away.

The mercenaries drag the Princess from the room. Shethrows a "You will pay" glare at Balthazar as she goes.

XANADUThe Princess would not make a goodcard player. From her reaction, I

would say the lamp was onboard that

airship. Find it.

VIZIERWith pleasure, my liege.

Xanadu fondles the cobra's head.

XANADUDo not disappoint me, Balthazar. Itcould be lethal.

EXT. OPEN DESERT

The airship floats across the desert.

INT. AIRSHIP

Othello mans the rudder.

ARTHURWhere art we bound?

OTHELLOAway from that place.

ARTHURDost thou know what thou art doing?

OTHELLOI am a corsair. I can sail anything.On the high seas or the air.

The airship takes a massive hit, knocking Arthur to thefloor. Othello swings 180 degrees on the rudder handle.

OTHELLOAir pocket.


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ARTHURNot quite.

He points dead ahead where

EXT. AIRSHIP

A CHIMERA floats in the air.

It is a fearful monster, breathing fire. It has threeheads. That of a goat, a lion, and a fierce dragon.

The goat head is pitch black, with glowing amber eyes andlong, ochre horns. The lion head is framed by a brown maneand has green eyes. The dragon head is covered with orangescales and has black eyes.

The beast has the hindquarters of a black goat and theforequarters of a tawny lion. It has two great dragon

wings and four limbs -- two like human arms and two likelion's paws, with claws of iron.

DAHISHKnow then that I am an Efreeti Genie,

by name Dahish. And I am here toplay.

The Genie zooms around the airship, playing with it like acat toys with a dead mouse. The Genie bats the airship

back and forth between its hands and paws.

INT. AIRSHIP

Arthur and Othello bounce off the walls.

OTHELLOWell, this ist a fine mess thou hastgotten us into.

Arthur grasps his left arm and begins to WHINE.

OTHELLOI shouldst have been a eunuch like my

mother wanted. I wouldst have livedlonger.

EXT. AIRSHIP

The Genie flings blades of energy at the airship, nickingthe rudder and slicing the mast.

INT. AIRSHIP

Othello grabs a parachute and tosses it to Arthur.

OTHELLOPrepare to abandon ship.


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ARTHURI canst not swim.

OTHELLOIt ist a desert, fool.

EXT. AIRSHIP

The Genie hurls a ball of fire at the bow. And thebattered airship EXPLODES into flames.

Arthur and Othello bail out, floating slowly toward earth.

The Genie grabs them both and wraps them into a ball.

A clay tennis court and net magically appear. The Genietransforms itself into McEnroe and Connors, savagelyvolleying the ball back and forth over the net.

The court morphs into a baseball diamond and the Genie,looking a lot like Mark McGuire, hits number 70 out of the

yard.

The baseball diamond morphs into a basketball court. TheGenie gets some Jordan air and slam dunks the ball throughthe rim.

The hardwood court morphs into a football stadium. TheGenie drop kicks the Arthur-and-Othello ball through thegoal posts.

As they hit the sand and roll to a stop, the desert

suddenly becomes the world's largest sand trap. The Genie(as Long John Daly) takes out his sand wedge and blasts the

ball toward the horizon.

DAHISHFore!

EXT. DEEP DESERT - DAY

The abandoned parachutes lie in a crumpled heap. Under themaddog, midday sun, Othello trudges away across the deserttoward the distant mountains.

OTHELLOWhat didst I do in a previous life todeserve this?

Arthur stumbles along behind. He checks the bundle hiddendeep inside his coat.

ARTHURThis must be where they recycle allthe old hourglasses.

BUZZARDS circle above them.


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OTHELLOWhat art they looking for? I am notdead yet.

ARTHURThose scavengers art carrying Handi

Wipes.

EXT. DESERT OASIS

Arthur and Othello sit in front of a low bush, guzzlingwater and splashing it on their faces and beneath theirarmpits.

OTHELLOPraise Allah. I thought we wertlunch.

ARTHUR

All's well that ends well, I alwayssayeth.

OTHELLOThou sayest that?

ARTHURI certainly didst.

Glad to be alive, the two men stare straight ahead, lost intheir own private thoughts.

Directly behind them, a CAMEL ambles up to the bush. It

leans in and licks Arthur's face, then backs away. Arthurwipes his wet cheek and turns to Othello.

ARTHURI love thou, too.

OTHELLOI dost not love thee.

ARTHURThen why didst thou kiss me?

OTHELLOThe devil takest me if I didst.

ARTHURFine.

They go back to drinking their water and daydreaming. Thecamel leans in again and licks Arthur again.

ARTHURThou didst it yet again.


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21.

OTHELLODidst what?

ARTHURKissed me.

OTHELLOI warn thou. This game ist not funny.

ARTHURThou havest a tongue like a wet

paintbrush.

OTHELLOI didst not use my tongue.

ARTHURThen thou didst kiss me.

OTHELLOI wouldst kill thou, instead.

Othello leaps to his feet and is startled to see the camelnibbling on the bush.

OTHELLOBlessed be Allah, the all-seeing.

Arthur jumps to his feet.

ARTHURA kangaroo.

Othello hops over the bush and grabs the camel by its loosereins. As Arthur follows, the camel spits in his face.

OTHELLOGood girl, good girl.

EXT. DEEP DESERT - ROCK CANYON

Othello and Arthur ride tandem between the sheer jaggedrock walls. The canyon is shrouded in a spectral mist.

ARTHURDost this beast have sufficient gas?

The camel FARTS.

Othello gives Arthur a "Thanks for asking" look.

A small rock RATTLES down the rugged wall ahead. An owlHOOTS in the distance. Arthur slaps the rump of the camel,

but it continues its plodding pace. The mist thickens, thesilence becomes deafening.


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OTHELLONow I knowest how Ichabod Crane felt.

A branch, like a skeletal hand, suddenly appears out of thefog and rakes across Othello's face. He reaches for hissaber, but the scabbard is empty.

OTHELLOThis ist the last time I listen tothee.

ARTHURI promised the Princess.

OTHELLOBut I didst not.

A voice like the hounds of hell SHRIEKS and CACKLES.Othello reins in the camel. He turns his head to listen

and

A TUAREG leaps from the rocks above. He kicks Arthur inthe head, catapulting him from the camel's back andknocking him senseless. The lamp ejects from his coat andflies into middle of the trail.

Two more TUAREGS materialize from the swirling mist infront of the camel. They grab Othello, yank him to theground, and pummel him with the flat sides of their swords.The frightened camel BRAYS and dashes away down the canyon,disappearing in the gloom.

Several more TUAREGS dive down from the surroundingboulders. Each one of these desert tribesmen wears a blueveil to conceal his face from strangers.

A large covered transport wagon, pulled by six CAMELS,emerges from the fog. The Tuaregs carry the dazed Arthurand confused Othello to the wagon and toss them inside.

The blue-eyed LEADER notices the ancient bronze lamp. Hepicks it up and inspects it closely. Because it is old,common looking, and apparently of no value, he cavalierlytosses it in the back of the wagon.

We hear a THUNK and Othello's GROAN from inside.

INT. TRANSPORT WAGON

Arthur and Othello stare back at the pack of emaciated andmutilated SLAVES huddled at the far end of the wagon.

OTHELLOI wilt not be enslaved again. I

wouldst die first.


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ARTHUROnce the slaver, now the slave.

OTHELLOI never wast. The other Barbary

pirates sold their fellow man into

captivity. I wouldst not.

ARTHURAnd thou payest dearly for it.

OTHELLOHad I not freed thee, I wouldst neverhave felt the chain around my neck.

Arthur holds his left arm and gazes sad-eyed at Othello.

ARTHURAnd for that, I wilt thank thee until

my dying day. Which, I fearest,mayest be soon.

Arthur pats his coat, checking for the lamp.

ARTHURBy Sulaiman's beard, I have lost it.

Othello gingerly touches the lump on his head and grimaces,wondering how he got it.

ARTHURAlas, I have broken my promise.

A THREE-FINGERED SLAVE rummages in a dark corner. He findssomething, CHUCKLES, then turns. He holds the lamp.

Othello lunges forward and vise-grips the wrist of theman's short-fingered hand.

OTHELLORelease it. Unless thou wouldst losethe other two.

The slave drops the lamp. Othello takes it and hands it toArthur.

ARTHURMy life ist not forfeit. Thou arttruly my friend and savior. Time andagain.

OTHELLOUntil this journey ends. Then we artquit of each other.


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EXT. DEEP DESERT - ROCK CANYON

As the wagon rolls out of the canyon and into the vastdesert sea.

EXT. DEEP DESERT

A dead-eyed NORSEMAN sits atop a camel, cradling a double-edged axe.

A one-armed TURCOPOLE (Syrian mercenary) stands next to thesmoldering ruins of the charred airship. He pokes throughthe ashes with his javelin, then shakes his head.

TURCOPOLEWhatever fell with this, burned withit.

NORSEMAN

The Sorcerer will not be pleased.

TURCOPOLEPerhaps we should not tell him.

NORSEMANI fear he already knows.

We hear a strangled SCREAM.

INT. SILVER PALACE BED CHAMBER

Fatima bites her lip until it bleeds. She's tied to the

four bedposts with satin ropes. Xanadu and Balthazar arethe only ones in the room.

XANADUWhere are they?

BALTHAZARWe will find them. We have more menthan there are fleas in the Sahara.

Besides, gold has loosened many aman's tongue.

XANADU(to Balthazar)

It will be your tongue and thensome if they are not in my hands.

Xanadu turns a large hourglass on end.

XANADUYou have until then.

Xanadu strides from the room. Balthazar turns back toFatima.


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He lightly drags his riding crop down the inside of hertaut, sweating leg. She struggles to kick him.

VIZIERAlone at last.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY - BAZAAR SQUARE - DAY

Arthur and Othello, shackled in chains, stand with otherCAPTIVES on auction blocks next to displays piled high withTuareg plunder. Bolts of fine cloth, brass and copperware,objects of gold, trinkets, and jewelry.

A small crowd of impatient BIDDERS jostles at the foot ofthe platform.

The Tuareg slavers stand to one side of the platform infront of their empty wagon.

Heavily-armed MONGOLS stand guard. A pock-marked Mongolunlocks each slave's chains. Arthur and Othello rub theirchafed wrists and ankles. A bearded pirate of a TURKaddresses the crowd.

TURKCome, citizens. Behold the raretreasures we bring you from distantlands.

Out of nowhere, a MAN gallops in front of the platformtrailing a two-wheeled wooden cart. It is Aladdin.

ALADDINNo man can take your freedom.

Without hesitation, Arthur and Othello dart to the edge ofthe platform and dive into the cart.

TURKStop! Thief!

ALADDINWho's calling the kettle black?

Aladdin lashes the horses and dashes away.

Two mounted MEN-AT-ARMS put their horses to gallop inpursuit. The Turk jumps for the saddle of his horse.

The horse moves at exactly the wrong moment and the Turklands flat on his brains.

The Tuareg slavers clamber aboard their wagon as the driverlashes the camels and chases after the fleeing cart.

Among the CROWD, there is welter, confusion and fighting.


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26.

BAZAAR STREETS

Aladdin gallops hell-bent-for-leather through the streets.

RIVER CROSSING - DRAWBRIDGE

The bridge is down and guarded by two SENTRIES. A half-dozen BEGGARS lounge nearby, seeking alms from PASSERSBY.

We hear HOOFBEATS and the sound of THUDDING wooden wheelson cobblestones.

The sentries lower their spears. The beggars look down thestreet toward the commotion.

BAZAAR STREETS

The cart careens around a corner just as

A portly FRIAR spurs his flea-bitten DONKEY from a sidestreet to the right, directly into Aladdin's path.

ALADDINComrades do as I do.

Aladdin throws his weight against the left side of thecart. Arthur and Othello do the same.

The cart tips up onto one wheel just long enough to scootby the clueless clergyman. The cart crashes back down onboth wheels, fishtails, then darts away toward the river.

The friar turns to see Aladdin's dust then turns back justin time to get corkscrewed into the ground by Aladdin's

pursuers.

DRAWBRIDGE

The sentries cross their spears, blocking entry to thebridge. The HOOFBEATS grow louder. The sentries tense asthe rampaging cart appears at the far end of the street.

CART

Aladdin lashes the slathering, frothing horse. Arthur andOthello lean into the wind on either side of Aladdin.

DRAWBRIDGE

The sentries tense.

CART

Aladdin sees the bridge and the sentries. He notices thebridge is still down. He urges the horse to go faster.


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DRAWBRIDGE

One sentry looks ahead, then back at the bridge. Realizingit's still down, he rushes to the lift chain and yanks onit, raising the bridge.

A beggar leaps on his back and covers his eyes. The sentrystaggers in circles and plunges into the river.

The second sentry dashes to the lift chain and pulls on it.

CART

Aladdin stiffens, seeing that it's going to be close.

DRAWBRIDGE

Two beggars tackle the sentry at the chain, one high andone low. A third beggar grasps the chain and lowers the

bridge.

CART

Aladdin smiles. Arthur and Othello clap him heartily onthe back when

The leather trace holding the horse in the harness SNAPS.The runaway horse yanks Aladdin out of the cart and ontoits back.

The cart continues rolling under its own momentum, carryinga stunned Arthur and Othello.

DRAWBRIDGE

Aladdin rights himself in the saddle just as the horse hitsthe foot of the drawbridge full tilt. Horse and ridergallop up the inclined bridge, leap the chasm and

Land on the far side. But, not quite. Only the horse'shead, forelegs and belly make it safely. The animal'shindlegs dangle over the edge.

RIVER'S EDGE

The first sentry climbs back on shore. He bludgeons thebeggar away from the lift chain and begins raising thebridge again.

CART

Arthur and Othello dive to the back as the horseless cartcrashes into the base of the elevated bridge.


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DRAWBRIDGE

Aladdin pulls himself over the neck of the horse and ontothe bridge. He yanks on the reins, pulling the horse untilits back legs finally find terra firma.

The horse skids to the base of the elevated bridge andcanters away.

Aladdin pulls himself up to balance on the edge of thedrawbridge. He stares across at the other side.

CART

Arthur and Othello stagger from the wrecked cart. Theyshake their heads to clear them.

They look over at Aladdin and salute their would-be savior,then turn to face the men-at-arms and Tuaregs as they

gallop up.

DRAWBRIDGE

Aladdin returns the salute, slides down the back side ofthe bridge and scampers away.

EXT. EBONY PALACE - DAY

The palace sits on a solitary, dark mountain beside araging red sea.

An ominous black storm CRACKLES above the palace.

It is obsidian black, as though hewn from a mountain ofbasalt or molded of black Cimmerian iron. A gate ofgleaming China steel dazzles the eyes and dims the wits ofthose who look upon it. Its lowering battlements, walls,and bulwarks tower unclimbable. Round about it are athousand steps and a vast central dome, fashioned of lead,an hundred cubits high, and guarded by twin towers ofAndalusian copper.

There are five-and-twenty gateways in these walls, but allare hidden and none may be opened but from within.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY - TAILOR'S SHOP - DAY

Salome DRUMS her arthritic fingers on the worn woodentabletop.

TUAREG SLAVERTwo for the price of one, Madame. A

bargain.

The TUAREG SLAVER strikes the kneeling Othello hard on theback with the business end of his whip. The Blackamoorbristles.


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SALOMEWhere is that lazy boy?

She stands and goes to the window of her threadbare shop.

SLAVER

Strong backs, good teeth, sturdy legs,both eyes. It doesn't get any betterthan this.

The blue-eyed slave leader gestures to one of his MEN. Heyanks Arthur's mouth open, displaying his teeth. The manlets go at last and Arthur snaps at him.

SALOMEYou should thank Allah you do not havea worthless thief for a son like I do.

SLAVER

Please, mistress, I have my ownproblems. Do you wish the slaves orshall I take my business elsewhere?

SALOMEThe price is a little steep for a poorold widow lady like me

SLAVERTake them off my hands and I'll throwin this fine Moroccan whip to keepthem in line.

The slaver dangles the blood-encrusted thongs of the lashalong the back of Othello's neck.

Othello leaps to his feet, grabs the whip, and wraps itaround the slaver's neck.

SALOMEI'll take them.

She gently touches Othello's arm. He releases the slaverand hands the whip to his new owner.

SLAVERGood luck taming this one, my lady.

The slave leader and his men back quickly out of the shop.

EXT. EBONY PALACE - DAY

The conquering caravan returns to the palace. At its headrides Xanadu, astride his griffin. There are wagons andcarts overflowing with stolen goods from the Silver Palace.The Sultan's captured soldiers trudge behind in a long,dispirited chain.


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30.

Balthazar rides a coal-black Arabian stallion ahead of aheavily guarded, caged wagon.

Behind the iron bars of the cage, a shackled Fatima sits,staring at nothing. She is clad in a chador a body-robe of fine gauze embroidered with pearls. On her breast,

she wears an amulet filled with frankincense. Her head iscrowned with a fillet of jewels worth more than the empireof the Caesars.

Balthazar drops back to ride alongside the Princess.

BALTHAZARYou look every inch the blushing brideto be, your highness.

She spits at her tormentor.

BALTHAZAR

My lord had best tame this hellcatbefore he beds her.

FATIMAHe's not man enough.

BALTHAZARPerhaps I am.

She leans toward the bars, suddenly softer and enticing.

FATIMAPerhaps

He leans forward, encouraged.

FATIMA in your dreams.

She dives at the bars, reaches through them and tries toscratch his eyes out.

He yanks his horse back, leers, then digs his heels hardinto the side of his horse, spurring it forward.

INT./EXT. EBONY PALACE

It is a place of mystery and wonder. Houses and mansions,soukhsand markets, all built from black stone and copper.

In the courtyards, fountains play and streams flow inmarble channels across the floor.

The floors of the pavilions are cunningly made of veinedmarble, inlaid with precious stones so they resemble acarpet of flowing water.


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31.

The palace is peopled with MEN and WOMEN going about theirdaily business. Except they are all dead. Whereliving eyes should reside, the sockets are filled withlifeless white orbs.

In the houses, SERVANTS wait by the gilded vestibules.

In the markets, there are TRADERS in their accustomedplaces: the silk MERCHANTS amongst their silks andbrocades, the PERFUMERS surrounded by bladders of musk andambergris, and the MONEY-CHANGERS with their shops full ofgold and silver coin.

EXT. EBONY PALACE - COURTYARD

The caravan halts.

Fatima and the other prisoners stare in wide-eyed horror atthe macabre scene surrounding them.

The griffin lands, Xanadu dismounts, and walks to Fatima'scage, where Balthazar waits.

BALTHAZAR(to Fatima)

Pretty are they not?

XANADUThese ones will never betray me.

The living dead stagger toward them. They begin to peltFatima with garbage. They HECKLE her with chilling

CACKLING and SHRIEKING.

INT. IMPERIAL CITY - TAILOR'S SHOP - EVENING

Salome, Aladdin, Arthur, and Othello share a meager meal.

Fatima strokes her new gown made of silk.

SALOMEThank you, my son.

ALADDINIt was nothing.

He arches his back and grimaces.

ARTHURThou lookest like an empress, mistressSalome.

OTHELLOMore beautiful than Helen andCleopatra combined.


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SALOMEYou are too kind to one who no longerremembers how to blush. Thank you.

Othello thumps Aladdin hard on the back.

OTHELLOIt ist thou son who shouldst bethanked.

ARTHURIt ist truly a small world after all.

OTHELLOWhat art the odds of being sold to themother of the one who tried to freeus?

ARTHUR

Even the fabled Omar Khayyam couldstnot have imagined a better tale.

ALADDINBut I failed.

OTHELLOThou didst try.

ARTHURAnd, for that, we art forever in thydebt.

ALADDINOur paths seem destined to cross.

OTHELLOIt is kismet.

ARTHURIndeed, we wert meant to journeytogether.

Salome eyes Arthur and Othello's clothing. She feels thecloth of Arthur's tunic.

SALOMEFine garments for lowly slaves.

ARTHURWe art not slaves.

OTHELLOWe wert captured.

ARTHURWe art servants of Her HighnessPrincess Fat


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33.

Othello clamps his hand over Arthur's mouth. Too late.

ALADDINPrincess Fatima? The Sultan'sdaughter?

OTHELLONo, Princess Fatima the milkmaid.

SALOMEPrincess Fatima, prisoner of Xanadu.

ARTHUR/OTHELLO(together)

Prisoner!

SALOMEIn the market, they say Xanadu holdsher captive in the Ebony Palace.

ARTHURShe ist surely lost.

OTHELLOSniveling faintheart. The Princess

wilt be a scorpion in Xanadu'spantaloons.

SALOMECould Xanadu be seeking you?

OTHELLO

Why dost thou asketh?

SALOMEXanadu's men are searching the cityfor two renegade thieves.

Arthur and Othello exchange an "Uh-oh" look.

ARTHURHe seeketh the lamp.

Othello rolls his eyes.

OTHELLORight. The precious, all-powerfullamp.

ALADDINLamp?

Othello fishes the lamp from Arthur's sash and holds it up,regarding it with contempt.

OTHELLOThis this worthless hunk of junk.


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34.

Arthur yanks the lamp back from Othello.

ARTHURWe must goest to her.

OTHELLO

If thou goest, thou goest alone. Ihave had my fill of slavery.

ARTHURFine.

OTHELLOFine.

Arthur slumps in his chair and sulks.

Aladdin grabs a golden pear from a wooden bowl. He smilesat the memory of how he liberated it. He's about to bite

into it when something out the window catches his eye. Hewalks over.

An emaciated WOMAN rummages through a heap of garbage. Anequally skeletal YOUNG GIRL hungrily watches her.

ALADDINYou there.

The woman turns. Aladdin holds out the fruit. Sheapproaches the low window and hesitantly takes theoffering.

WOMANMay Allah bless you and your children,

young man.

She kisses his hand.

ALADDINI should live so long.

SALOMECome, sit again, my son.

He does, reluctantly.

ALADDINIt's a pity.

SALOMEWhat, my pearl?

ALADDINWhen so many have so much, how is itso many have so little?


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35.

OTHELLOThat ist the way it hast been sincetime began, master.

ARTHURAnd wilt be until it ends, young

master.

ALADDINI am not your master because you arenot slaves. You will earn your foodand shelter here.


As thee wish, ma

ALADDINAnd the name is Aladdin.


Yes Aladdin.

Aladdin takes his mother's hands.

ALADDINMother, I plead with you. Sell thisshabby shop and release me from this

boring life.

SALOME

It is all that remains of your father.

He lets her hands drop.

ALADDINThen let us bury it with him.

Salome SLAPS her son. Suddenly regretting it, she tries tocaress his burning cheek and broken pride. He pulls away.

ALADDINThere is a whole world out there. Andall I've seen of it are the dingyalleys of this dying city.

SALOMEI need you here. Perhaps another

year. If you don't end up in thedungeon first.

Frustrated, Aladdin abruptly leaves the table and stormsout the door.


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36.

ARTHURI dost not know thy son very well,

mistress, but I canst see he ist notailor.

OTHELLO

He hast the heart and soul of apeaceful warrior.

SALOMEYes, he has much of his father in him.And I fear that above all.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY WALL - SUNSET

Aladdin stands alone, watching the dying sun. He begins aslow duel with a phantom opponent.

INT. TAILOR'S SHOP - NIGHT

Salome finishes her prayers and blows out the candle besideher bed.

EXT. TAILOR'S SHOP - NIGHT

Arthur slithers out a window. He checks inside his topcoatto make sure the lamp is secure. He looks both ways, thenslinks into the shadows.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY WALL

Aladdin stares at the silver moon. He hears a NOISE, jumps

to his feet, and prepares to fight.

OTHELLO (O.S.)Fearest not, Aladdin.

Othello steps out of the shadows of the ancient stonewalls.

OTHELLOIt ist but I Othello.

ALADDINYou surprised me.

OTHELLOThen I have not lost my skills.

ALADDINSit with me a moment, friend.

OTHELLOI wouldst, but there ist not time.


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ALADDINAh, but there is world enough andtime.

OTHELLOArthur hast escaped.

ALADDINThat ungrateful

OTHELLOTread lightly, sir. Though thee art

my master, he ist my friend.

ALADDINI told you about the "master" word.

OTHELLOMy deepest apologies.

(a beat)Arthur intends to keepest his holy

promise to the Princess. He wiltprotect that worthless lamp withhis life.

ALADDINIt must not be too worthless if heintends to surrender his life for it.

OTHELLOWe must find him. He is no warrior.

EXT. OPEN DESERT

Arthur turns to look back at the distant palace. A JAGUARHOWLS. Frightened, the Celt scurries into the night.

EXT. IMPERIAL CITY - MAIN GATE

Though it is late, SERVANTS and TOWNSPEOPLE still come andgo through the massive iron gates. Two GUARDS play a gameof chance. Their Arabian STALLIONS graze nearby.

Aladdin and Othello leap into the saddle of the pair ofhorses. They yank the tethered reins loose, gallop pastthe surprised guards, and THUNDER away from the city intothe darkness.

EXT. DESERT MOUNTAINS - CAVE - NIGHT

Rugged desert mesas drop down to the flat dune sea.

Arthur stands before an ancient cave. A flat slab of rockcovers the entrance. He thinks for a moment, then SNAPShis fingers.


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38.

ARTHUROpen rice!

He waits. Nothing happens.

ARTHUR

Open caraway!

Still nothing.

ARTHUROpen rye! Open barley!

Nothing.

ARTHUROpen all sorts of seed and grain!

And nothing yet again. He kicks at the sand and stubs his

toe on a hidden rock.

He HOWLS and grabs his big toe, dancing a painful dance.He drops to the sand, removes his shoe, and kisses his

poor, throbbing toe.

ARTHURAh sesame!

Straightaway, with a noise like a thousand grindstones,part of the massive stone GROANS open.

A startled Arthur puts his shoe back on and hobbles inside.

EXT. OPEN DESERT

Aladdin and Othello follow Arthur's tracks in the sand.Dead ahead, they spot the open cave mouth.

ALADDINHe went thataway!

They gallop toward the desert mesas.

INT. CAVE

Aladdin and Othello follow Arthur's tracks into the dank,slimy cave.

They enter a cavernous chamber. A magical, fairytale placecolonnaded with stalactites and stalagmites. Some massiveand towering, others delicate and slender. All glowing

with a phosphorescent blue-green light. The luminouscolumns and cavern walls are studded with multicoloredcrystals, sparkling like jewels.

In a corner, Arthur sleeps, his arm curled around the lamp.


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39.

OTHELLO (O.S.)Arthur

He shakes his slumbering friend.

ALADDIN (O.S.)

Arthur abandon your dreams.

Arthur's eyes flutter open, slowly focusing on Aladdin andOthello.

ARTHURAh

OTHELLOThought thou wouldst get away, didthou?

ARTHUR

No!

OTHELLOExactly.

ARTHURNo I mean "No!"

Arthur, a look of terror on his face, points a quiveringfinger toward something behind and above Aladdin andOthello. Just then, a horde of MONGOL THIEVES drops onthem from all sides.

Othello reaches for his scabbard. Still empty. He SMACKShis forehead with the flat of his hand.

MONGOL LEADERKill them!

Aladdin breaks off the stave-like tip of a stalagmite.Othello does the same.

The two men stand back-to-back, facing their assailants.Arthur scoots around behind them.

A Mongol lunges. Quick as light, Aladdin's staff wingsdown, crushing his attacker's skull.

ALADDINIf it's schooling you seek, you'vecome to the right place.

Another wave of Mongols rolls in. Aladdin and Othellofeint, strike and parry staff to sword.

Othello smacks one man with a mighty blow.


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OTHELLOThou shouldst be rewarded for whatthou art teaching today.

Aladdin cracks another attacker in the ribs.

ALADDINThere's your down.

And Othello drives another down the left field line.

OTHELLOAnd that art the balance in full.

Aladdin launches a hurricane of blows at two charging men.

OTHELLOA grand windmill, thou wouldst maketh,Aladdin.

And, like a flash, Othello's staff licks forward andcatches an attacker across the ankles, then whirls andcracks him so hard he sees stars.

ALADDINAnd you a thresher.

OTHELLO(to Arthur)

Methinks these scalawags need a merrytune to dance to.

Arthur removes a pennywhistle from inside his topcoat. Heplays an Irish JIG when

A Mongol ram-butts into him head-first. Arthur fliesthrough the air in one direction as the lamp flies in theopposite direction, landing at Aladdin's feet.

Othello dashes to Arthur's aid. As he leans to help, aMongol slices him deeply in his side.

Othello grabs the man by the throat, lifts him in the air,and crushes his windpipe. He tosses the lifeless bodyaside and returns to assist Arthur.

Aladdin grabs the orphaned lamp. He bashes the skull ofone Mongol, then another. Left, right, WHAM, BAM!

Aladdin and Othello fight off the last of the Mongols withfrenzied fury. The cavern floor is soon littered with

broken bodies. The survivors flee.

OTHELLOThou hast the makings of a great

warrior, my friend.


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41.

An UNSEEN VOICE, distinctly Oriental, is suddenly heard.

VOICE (FILTERED)Excuse please.

They look around. There's no one to be seen.

ALADDINWho's there?

VOICE (FILTERED)Correction, please. Not there, buthere in hand. Inside lamp.

Aladdin stares in wonder at the lamp.

VOICE (FILTERED)Please to rub lamp. Not bash allaround.

Aladdin starts to rub the lamp.

ARTHURNo !

Aladdin ignores him and rubs anyway. Instantly, it beginsto TREMBLE and there's a TREMENDOUS ROAR.

Aladdin drops the lamp and jumps back. The three of themwatch spellbound as a TOWERING PILLAR of RUMBLING, thickgreen smoke, CRACKLING with LIGHTNING, pours from the lamp.

And, just as quickly, the mammoth pillar collapses into theform of a diminutive CHINAMAN. A cherubic bald Buddha. A

Persian Night Charlie Chan. He smiles benignly and bows.

HANNIBALGreetings. Am Hannibal, Genie of the

Lamp. Master of earth and wind, waveand flame. But

(he holds up afinger)

Also slave to the lamp, now rudelydented.

(he bows towardAladdin)

And slave of lamp bearer. Your wishmy command, master.

Aladdin, Arthur and Othello are struck dumb. They havenever seen the likes of this spirit.

ALADDINI am not your master.


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HANNIBALBeg forgiveness. You hold lamp, youthe man.

ALADDINThen, here.

He offers the lamp back to Arthur.

HANNIBALLamp like ugly Father's Day tie. Notsomething can give away.

ALADDINThen what I am supposed to do?

HANNIBALSuggest leave now, talk more later.

They shrug their shoulders in agreement and Hannibal swan-dives back inside the lamp.

EXT. DESERT OASIS - GROVE - NIGHT

Beneath the open-faced moon and rustling leaves ofpomegranate and orange trees, Arthur mends Othello's wound.A fire burns.

ARTHURHow dost it feel being theThanksgiving goose?

OTHELLOI saved thy worthless hide. Again!

ARTHURThank thee! Again!

OTHELLOThou art welcome! Again!

Arthur touches that old wound on his arm and gives Othellohis hang-dog look. Othello reaches to slap him, butdoubles up in pain.

Aladdin sits down beside them.

ALADDINTell me about the lamp, Arthur.

ARTHURThe Princess explained that it ist

most powerful. She gaveth it to me soXanadu, the Evil Sorcerer, wouldst nothave it.


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ALADDINWhy would he have it?

ARTHURWith it, he couldst rule the world.

OTHELLOCurse enough for any man, I wager.

ALADDINPerhaps he who inhabits it can tell usmore about its power.

Aladdin rubs the lamp.

DESERT OASIS - LATER

Some time has passed. The campfire burns low. As he tellshis tale, Hannibal conjures holographic visions above the

fire's flames.

ARTHURArt thee a sorcerer?

HANNIBALCan do things.

ALADDINLike what?

HANNIBALCast spells. Disappear. Walk on

wind. Make carpets fly.

ARTHURDisney stuff.

HANNIBALCan turn men into dung beetles.

Arthur moves closer to Othello.

OTHELLO(SNORTS)

You? A wee Chinaman. Master of theelements?

HANNIBALYou wish demonstration? What bepleasure? Diamonds rain down fromsky? Butterflies fly out buttocks?Sumptuous feast with naked hootchie-cootchie girls?

ARTHUR/OTHELLO/ALADDIN(together)

Aye!


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HANNIBALPiece of cake.

Hannibal waves his hand. Presto! They're all lounging onsilk cushions around a table sumptuously heaped with food.

Lovely, scantily-clad SERVING GIRLS attend them while a

STATUESQUE BEAUTY performs an erotic belly-dance tosensuous Middle Eastern MUSIC.

Aladdin, Arthur and Othello feast upon the goodies.Hannibal looks on, smiling benevolently. He turns toAladdin and bows.

HANNIBALSo. He who release Hannibal from lampnow get three wishes.

ALADDINAny kind of wish?

HANNIBALWhatever heart desire. But


Three thing Genie no can do. Killperson. Bring back dead. Or, makeperson fall in love.

ALADDINFair enough. Okay now, lemme think

HANNIBAL

Suggestion please.(he holds up hishand)

Take time. Genie like man on way tovisit mother-in-law. No big hurry.

Hannibal CHUCKLES at his own lame joke.

ALADDINI wish only to do good.

HANNIBALIs that command?

ALADDINIt will be. When I am ready.

HANNIBALGenie would trade all Chinamen inTeaneck, New Jersey for one wish.

ALADDINWhat would you wish for?


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XANADUThe Sultan will defeat us if we do nothave the power of the lamp. We musthave it. Whatever the cost.

BALTHAZAR

It will not come cheaply, yoursovereign.

Xanadu SLAMS his goblet to the table, capsizing thedecanter of red wine.

XANADUI will have it.

BALTHAZARYes, your grace.

The spilled wine trickles over the edge of the table,

dripping and pooling on the stone floor.

EXT. DUNE OCEAN - COASTLINE - DAY

Blood oozes along the edge of a chipped and dented sword,clutched in the death grip of a fallen TUAREG. Hisshredded veil is stained scarlet.

Aladdin, Arthur and Othello stand beside the smoking Tuaregslave transport wagon. The same wagon that not long beforehad carried them to the Imperial City.

Scattered around it are the charred, dismembered DEAD

BODIES of the Tuareg slavers. Pieces of their blue veilsflutter in the wind like fallen azure leaves

OTHELLOThe vermin that madest us slaves.

He kicks the rigid body of the slave leader who whippedhim.

OTHELLONo debt in the universe goest unpaid.

ARTHURHad it not been for them, we wouldstnot have met master Aladdin.

Aladdin shoots him a look about that word again.

OTHELLOTwice.

ALADDINWe should bury them.


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OTHELLOLet them rot.

ALADDINWho would do such a thing?

OTHELLOBounty hunters.

ARTHURNo I fearest not.

Aladdin and Othello turn to look at Arthur, who points atthe lamp tucked in Aladdin's sash. Aladdin touches it.

ARTHURI fearest it ist Xanadu.

OTHELLO

I knew no good wouldst come of this.

ALADDINIf the slavers talked, Xanadu's menknow who bought you.

A sudden terror strikes Aladdin.

ALADDINMother!

Aladdin races to his stallion.

OTHELLOIt ist too late, Aladdin. It ist

Aladdin leap-frogs into the saddle and gallops away.

ARTHURThey wilt kill him.

OTHELLOBecause of thou and that cursedlamp.

Arthur touches his old wound.

OTHELLOThe next time I am under a wall, letit fall.

ARTHURWhat doth that mean?

OTHELLOWe art returning to the Imperial City.


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He mounts his stallion and Arthur jumps on behind. TheyTHUNDER off in pursuit of Aladdin.

INT. TAILOR'S SHOP - DAY

MERCENARIES and ELITE GUARDSMEN ransack the shop. They

pull shelves from the walls, smash glass display cases, ripopen boxes of fabric, and empty chests of sundries.

Aladdin's mother crouches in a corner, witnessing thecomplete destruction of her life. The black-toothed,tattooed Captain looms over her.

CAPTAINThe lamp, woman.

SALOMEI burn only candles, merciful sir.

The Captain grabs the whip the slaver gave Salome andthrashes her with it.

CAPTAINLies can kill you.

Flecks of blood splatter the walls.

INT. EBONY PALACE - TORTURE CHAMBER

The TORTURE MASTER cranks the wooden wheel a half-turn.The PRISONER strapped to the rack SCREAMS. Another turn.And we hear tendons, cartilage, and bone stretch, tear, and

SNAP. The prisoner goes slack.

BALTHAZARPity.

Balthazar hands Xanadu a sack of coins. The Grand BeholderCACKLES.

XANADUMaybe next time.

They turn to face the shackled Princess, who's dressed likesome type of leather and lace, S&M fantasy.

BALTHAZARYou're on deck, your highness.

FATIMAHit me with your best shot, usurper.

XANADUThe location of the lamp, please, andI will spare you.


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FATIMAI will go to the grave with it.

BALTHAZARAs you wish.

Xanadu steps in close to Fatima.

XANADUBecome my empress and we will rule theworld together.

Balthazar barely conceals a look of jealousy.

FATIMADeath or marriage death ormarriage. A truly difficult choice.

She looks Xanadu square in the eye.

FATIMAKeep your wedding gown. I prefer theshroud.

The massive hairy back of the Torture Master fills thescreen. We hear Fatima SCREAM.

INT. TAILOR'S SHOP

Aladdin picks through the ruins. Tears stream down hisdazed face. He sees the blood spatters and begins tearingapart the already destroyed shop, frantically searching for

any sign of his mother. Suddenly, he stops and

He leans down. He touches a shredded piece of her blood-soaked silk gown.

Lying beside it is the bloody whip. Sadness, anger,regret, and guilt wash across his youthful face.

He tucks the whip into his sash, stumbles out the frontdoor into the street and collapses.

Othello gallops the stallion up the lane and skids to ahalt. Arthur and Othello rush to their friend's side.

ARTHURThere ist nothing thou couldst havedone.

OTHELLOWe wouldst have all been killed orenslaved.

ARTHURAnd the lamp wouldst now be in that

madman's hands.


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Aladdin rubs the bloody silk fabric.

ALADDINShe's dead because of me. All she

wanted was for me to work harder andhave a better life than she.

He balls the fabric up in a tight fist.

ALADDINNow, everything she worked for isgone. And so is she.

He yanks the whip from his sash and cracks it across hisown shoulder and back.

OTHELLOPlace the blame where it truly liest,Aladdin.

ALADDINI have.

ARTHURIt ist not thee. It ist Xanadu.

OTHELLOHis thirst for power hast killed morethan thy mother.

ARTHURAnd still more wilt die.

ALADDINI have nothing left. I must startagain. I must become my own man.Someone like my father.

OTHELLOShe feared thou wouldst become him.

ALADDINIt is my destiny. It is who I am.

Aladdin removes the lamp, stares at it a moment, then rubsit. Hannibal appears in a puff of smoke.

HANNIBALHail, hail Rock 'N Roll! Tell me what

you need.

ALADDINHannibal, I just want to talk.

HANNIBALCan do that.


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ALADDINI want to learn the ways of the

peaceful warrior the ways of myfather. So I can use my power todestroy all the twisted evil in this

world

HANNIBALWhoa, big picture stuff now.

ALADDINIt is time.

HANNIBALLike song say, "Whatever must be, mustbe." Or something.

ALADDINSo be it.

HANNIBALNYT.

They all look at the Genie as if to say, "What the hell areyou talking about?"

HANNIBALNYT Now you talking.

OTHELLOWe must first free the Princess. Solong as Xanadu holds her captive, the

Sultan wilt be at his mercy.

ARTHURPerhaps Aladdin couldst wish her free.

HANNIBALSuggestion please. Not waste wisheson what can accomplish ownself.

ALADDINRight. Stroll into the Ebony Palaceand waltz out with the Princess. Fatchance.

HANNIBALWish to be great warrior, yes?

ALADDINHow did you know?

HANNIBALHannibal like mouse in harem. Seeeverything.

Again he CHUCKLES at his own marginal wit.


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HANNIBALTo be great warrior, rule number one.

Believe in ownself. Rule number two.Fear no challenge.

OTHELLO

Hannibal speakest true. Thou shouldstsavest thy wishes for dire need.

Hannibal takes a 3X5 card from his sash and puts it to hishead, imitating Johnnie Carson's Karnak. Arthur plays EdMcMahon -- BELLY LAUGHS and all.

ARTHURThe answer ist.

HANNIBALToshiro.

ARTHURThe question ist.

HANNIBALWho is no friend of Xanadu and knowEbony Palace well?


Seek him out.

EXT. DESERT BADLANDS - DAY

Hannibal navigates the flying carpet. Aladdin rides

shotgun. Arthur and Othello sit behind, teasing each otherlike two bored siblings.

OTHELLO (VO)(SNORTS)

I knowest of this pi-dog, Toshiro. Aonce honorable warrior who now sellesthis sword to the highest bidder.

HANNIBAL (VO)So, bid high.

ALADDIN (VO)We've nothing to bid with.

HANNIBAL (VO)Correction please. Have daughter ofSultan. Rescuing Princess bring way-high reward.

The carpet clears a mesa, revealing the coastline and thefabled port city of Timbuktu.

ALADDIN (VO)Where would we find this Toshiro?


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HANNIBAL (VO)He like black widow spider. Hide inlow, dark places.

EXT. TIMBUKTU - CASBAH

HIDEOUS LIFEFORMS and WEIRD CREATURES slither along thedark alleys and crawl down the squalid backstreets of thisthief's and pirate's den.

Hannibal docks the flying carpet. They all dismount.

ALADDINTime for a nap, Hannibal.

HANNIBALWould prefer stay up longer.

ALADDIN

Maybe later.

HANNIBALHannibal never get to play.

Hannibal belly-flops down the spout. Aladdin stashes thelamp in his sash.

Aladdin, Arthur and Othello walk toward an especiallynefarious, sleazy, and dangerous looking tavern.

INT. TAVERN

This cesspool seems to have trapped only the most repulsiveof CREATURES.

Giant Amoebas, Birdmen, Bugbears, Broken Men, Dwarves,Elves, Gargoyles, Pirate Giths, Gorgons, Grells, Gremlins,Grimlocks, Halflings, Harpies, Hobgoblins, Hydras,Jackalweres, Lycanthropes, Mind Flayers, Moldmen,Mongrelmen, Mummies, Poltergeists, Spectres, Tarrasques,Troglodytes, Trolls, Vampires, Wraiths, and Zombies.

All the darkest denizens of your deepest nightmares.

Aladdin, Arthur and Othello stand at the threshold, strucknumb by the sight.

ARTHURWhat kind of place ist this?

OTHELLOThe last ring of hell.

ALADDINBe careful. There's bound to be aprice on our head by now.


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Aladdin leads Arthur and Othello to a table in the back,facing the bar and the front door. They sit with their

backs to the wall.

ARTHURWhat now?

OTHELLOI wilt ask around.

Othello finds an open spot at the bar. He leans over andWHISPERS something to the BARTENDER.

The bartender points to a shadowy MAN with braided pigtailsstanding at the end of the bar. Othello nods "Thanks" tothe bartender and moves down the long, weathered bar.

Othello stops in front of the dark stranger. He wears aGhost Dancer tunic of the Lakota Sioux. There's something

in the way he stands and smiles and looks at you. He's gota little of the Huey Long, southern politician or BossTweed, Tammany Hall huckster about him.

OTHELLOI seekest the one they callest Lame

Duck.

LAME DUCKHow much I say depends on who'sasking?

OTHELLO

Othello, Barbary Pirate. Son ofBarbarossa. Terror of Tunisia.

LAME DUCKOh, that Othello.

OTHELLOWell?

LAME DUCKYou've found him.

OTHELLOYon tavern keeper sayest thou wouldknowest where one might find a samurai

warrior by the name of Toshiro. Ifone wert looking.

LAME DUCKMaybe yes, maybe no.

Othello strikes the bar with a balled fist, surprising evenhimself. Everything is suddenly very QUIET.


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OTHELLOThere ist not time for children'sgames.

Lame Duck wheels sharply on his heels and strides toward arow of rooms behind the bar. He enters the last one.

Othello motions across the room for Aladdin and Arthur tofollow.

INT. BACK ROOM

The room resembles a Japanese tea house. Tatamimats, asimple flower arrangement, a scroll with a calligraphed

poem in an alcove, tea utensils, ceramic tea bowls, ironteapot, coal brazier, and bamboo dipper.

In a dark corner, a man sits cross-legged on the floor. Heplays a melancholy MELODY on his bamboo flute. He stops,sips tea from a small cup, then resumes.

He is outfitted in the armor and armament of a ronin amasterless samuraiwarrior.

Over his lattice-patterned orange brocade battle robe hewears armor laced with red leather. A lavender cloakdrapes from his shoulders. Encircling his neck is anodowa, or iron collar. In the sash around his waist iscradled the wakizashi, or short sword.

From the sash dangles a sheath of lacquered wood and ivoryhousing the gold-studded katana, or long sword. In thequiver on his back are arrows with black and white spotted

hawk feathers. Leaning in the corner is his bow, boundthickly with lacquered rattan. A small whip of braidedleather lies across his lap.

Lying on the mat beside him is a helmet from which curvestwo long ox horns. His face is covered with a mempo ahideouspapier machemask.

LAME DUCKComrade. These men would like a

moment of your time.

The man looks up. He removes his mask and leans into thelight of a single candle.

He is about Aladdin's age, but his scarred face andattitude make him appear much older. He wears a blood-red,satin eyepatch. He appraises our heroes head to toe, thengestures for them to sit.

Its a minor comedy of errors as each tries to cross theirlegs and sit on the floor.

Lame Duck easily crosses his legs and squats Sitting Bullstyle.


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ALADDINSalaam Peace be upon you.

TOSHIROOn you be peace and the mercy and

blessings of Buddha.

He pours each of them a cup of tea.

ALADDINWe have come seeking a favor.

TOSHIROAre you sure I am the man to ask?

ALADDINYou are known far and wide as a greatand honorable warrior.

TOSHIROWhat is it you wish?

ALADDINWe seek passage and entry to the EbonyPalace.

A dark shadow crosses Toshiro's face. It goes as quicklyas it came.

ALADDINThe genie of the lamp said you werethe one who could accomplish this.

TOSHIROWhat is there within the walls of thatunholy place you would risk your livesfor?

Aladdin exchanges a glance with Arthur and Othello.

ALADDINTreasure. Of the fairest kind.

TOSHIROYou seek Princess Fatima.

ALADDINHow ?

TOSHIRODo not play me for the fool, youngman. The entire world knows ofXanadu's ambition. And of the genie,the thief, and the two slaves who hold

what he covets.


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ALADDINThen you realize what's at stake?

TOSHIROI do.

ARTHURAnd thou wilt help us save thePrincess and the Sultan's empire

OTHELLO from being destroyed by theSorcerer.

TOSHIROI am a dangerous man. I have a priceon my head. Are you sure you want toconsort with me?

ALADDINYou are the only one who can help us.

TOSHIROI do not come cheap.

ALADDINSo we have heard.

TOSHIROLet me see the glint of your gold.

INT. EBONY PALACE GREAT HALL - DAY

A monstrous obsidian table fills the center of the hall.It is dotted with miniature castles, cities, palaces,armies, navies, and air forces. The Grand Beholder hoversabove it.

Balthazar positions a cavalry unit with a long croupierstick, completing a circle surrounding a tiny ImperialCity.

BALTHAZARAt last, Great Lion of the Kingdom.

Each piece is in place.

Xanadu picks something up from the table. It is a scale-model version of "The Ark of Creation."

XANADUSave one.

He runs a finger around the edge of an empty hole in thecenter of the ark, tracing the shape of

Aladdin's magic lamp.


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EXT. TIMBUKTU BAZAAR - DAY

A trading caravan destined for the Silk Road makes finalpreparations for departure.

Toshiro speaks with the HETMAN, a bug-eyed Persian.

Toshiro surreptitiously slips the man a bag of gold. Theman opens it, then points to the rear of the caravan.

Toshiro strides to his stallion, a fine, light bay with along tail and mane. The saddle is beautifully lacqueredand decorated with gold dust. The rich saddlecloth isfringed with red-dyed tassels whose pompoms sweep theground.

Toshiro mounts up and gallops for the end of the line.

He reins up in front of a conestoga wagon, pulled by fourCAMELS. Large clay jars used to carry lamp oil ring the

outside of the wagon.

Toshiro signals and Lame Duck SNAPS the reins along thebacks of the camels. The camels move off. The Siouxglances back over his shoulder.

Inside the wagon, Aladdin, Arthur and Othello peek out frombeneath the hatch leading to a secret compartment below thewagons floorboard. They close it.

EXT. TIMBUKTU CITY GATES

A squad of Xanadus BOUNTY HUNTERS check the caravan as it

passes through the portcullis. They wave Toshiro and thewagon through. Toshiro salutes them as he passes. LameDuck comically mimics his master. It gets a sharp LAUGH.

INT. EBONY PALACE TORTURE CHAMBER NIGHT

Balthazar faces a huddled clump of rags wedged in thecorner of the dark room.

An EXAMINER BEHOLDER dances in anticipation in the mustyair beside Balthazar. This rotting, mold-encrusted orb iscovered with shriveled wounds that expose its internal,spherical network of circular ribs. Each of its tentaclesfeatures some type of torture device or source of unusual,excruciating pain.

BALTHAZARI would never have thought you sostrong.

HUDDLED MASS(CROAKS)

Allah watches over the weak.


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BALTHAZARAnd the broken.

He motions for the Beholder to do its job. The oozing balldarts toward the quivering shape on the floor.

EXT. DESERT CARAVANSARY DUSK

The caravan camps for the night.

Away from the rest of the caravaners, our heroes sit arounda fire, finishing a meal.

Hannibal stretches, popping the kinks in his neck andknuckles.

HANNIBALAttention please. Have something ofgreat value for exalted warrior to be.

Hannibal presses his palms together tightly and checks tomake sure everyone's watching him. As he slowly draws hishands apart, a long, thin shape appears. As he opens hisarms wider, the shape lengthens and becomes more distinct.He stops to reveal

A saber unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Hannibal cradles the blade in the palms of both hands andpresents it to Aladdin.

HANNIBAL

Sword of black stone. From metal offallen meteor. No stronger or sharper

blade in universe. Least universe Itravel in.

Aladdin takes it carefully, reverently. He grasps it bythe lapishilt. It fits as if molded from his hand. He

whips it through the air and around his head several times.

He takes it in the palms of his own hands and approachesToshiro. He holds it out to the ronin.

ALADDINShow me the way.

TOSHIROThe sword is the warrior's most prized

possession. It contains his soul. Itis who he is. Or hopes to become. Tolose your sword is to lose yourself.

Toshiro takes the sword with equal awe and respect. Fromthe gleam in his eye, you can tell he likes it. He reallylikes it.


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TOSHIROIt is a fine weapon, Aladdin. It will

be handed down from generation togeneration. And this day will becelebrated in story.

The samuraiexecutes a number of quick fighting moves --the swallow in flight and the leaping monkey. Then, aseries of lethal cuts -- the cleaver, wheel stroke andthunderstroke.

TOSHIROThe samuraibelieve a sword can bringits owner one of eight differentfates. Good fortune, property,

wealth, virtue, long life, fame,sickness, or poverty.

ALADDIN

What about justice?

TOSHIRODepends on the man.

ALADDINTeach me.

TOSHIROI shall.

Toshiro points the sword at the full moon. Then the fire.Then the earth.

TOSHIROThere are two kinds of swords. Thedeath-dealing sword and the life-giving sword. An ordinary swordsmanuses the death-dealing sword to linehis pockets or stroke his ego.

Toshiro moves slowly outside the circle of men encirclingthe fire, stalking an invisible opponent.

TOSHIROThe peaceful warrior uses the death-dealing sword only for good. Thereare times, because of one man's evil,that thousands may suffer. You maykill that man in order that others maylive. When used this way, the swordis transformed.

Toshiro slices the blade through the night air, cleavinghis unseen enemy.


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TOSHIROThe blade that deals death becomesthe sword that gives life.

He leaps into the center of the circle.

TOSHIROWe shall save this weapon for later.

Toshiro hands the sword to Othello, who carefully slides itinto the golden sheath held by Hannibal. Arthur takes it,tenderly wraps it in satin and lays it carefully onAladdin's bedroll.

TOSHIROWe will start with kendo the wayof the no-sword. And we will usethese the shinai-bokken.

Lame Duck hands Toshiro a practice sword made of slats ofwood padded with cloth and encased in leather. He handsone each to Aladdin, Arthur and Othello. And keeps one forhimself. Hannibal reaches for his.

LAME DUCKMortals only.

HANNIBALGenie life no walk in park.

TOSHIROThe key to harmony is found in

conflict.

Toshiro motions for Lame Duck to approach. He does.

TOSHIROIt is only in the heat of conflictthat you can know and possiblytransform aggression or fear.

Lame Duck assumes the stance of the uke attacker inaikido. Toshiro plays the nage defender.

TOSHIROBy joining and blending with theattack, the attack can be redirected

back into the harmony of the universe.

Lame Duck charges, thrashing wildly a whirling, ducking,slicing dervish. Toshiro waits. As Lame Duck spins,Toshiro grabs him and uses the Indian's momentum toeffortlessly throw and pin him.


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TOSHIROThe peaceful warrior not only defendshimself, but also defends the attackeragainst himself.

ALADDIN

It resembles a dance.

TOSHIROIt is.

Toshiro helps Lame Duck to his feet and dusts him off.

TOSHIROA warrior's dance. A dance thatembodies all the movements of theuniverse. The ancient, geneticchoreography of attack and defense,active and passive, yin and yang,

death-dealing and life-giving.

Toshiro backs away. He motions for them all to stand andface him. They do. All but Hannibal, who's still poutingfrom his earlier rejection.

TOSHIROI will show you how one man in harmony

with himself and with nature can throwseveral attackers at once.

Toshiro closes his eyes, stands stock-still and waits.

Othello, Arthur, Lame Duck, and Aladdin fan out. Theycharge, yelling and screaming like Yankee's fans when

Boston comes to town.

Toshiro executes three swift somersaults which catapult himabove and beyond the astonished men.

TOSHIRORegardless of how quickly an opponentattacks, or how slowly I respond, Icannot be defeated.

Othello advances, swinging madly. Toshiro parries hislunges, then hooks the back of Othello's legs and upendshim.

TOSHIROIt is not that my techniques arefaster than those of my enemy. It hasnothing to do with speed or slowness.

Arthur and Lame Duck attack from each side. Toshiro easilyhandles their simultaneous assault, alternating blows fromside-to-side.


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Arthur and Lame Duck inch closer. At the exact samemoment, they both lunge at Toshiro. The samurai leapsstraight up into the sky and

The two men crack each other across the shoulders, knockingeach other senseless to the ground.

Toshiro lands softly on the sand between them.

TOSHIROI am victorious right from the start.As soon as the thought of attackcrosses my opponent's mind, heshatters the harmony of the universeand is instantly defeated. No matterhow quickly he attacks.

Aladdin steps into the circle. He mimics Lame Duck'searlier role as the uke, or attacker.

TOSHIROThe way of the peaceful warrior is to

put new life into the universal lifeforce which gives birth to all things.Harmony, love and discipline areessential to achieving this.

Aladdin slices his wooden sword forcefully down, aimingstraight at Toshiro's forehead.

At that exact second, Toshiro dodges and deflects the swordby grabbing the hilt. The very next moment, the sword is

flying through the air.

TOSHIROThe true way is to nourish life andfoster peace, love, respect, andharmony. The true way demonstratesthat it is the warrior, not the sword,

who is death-dealing or life-bestowing.

Toshiro grabs Aladdin tightly with his left hand, thenlightly taps Aladdin's chest with his right fist. AndAladdin falls.

TOSHIROTr

aladdin and the ebony palace

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