ACT 1

4. EXT. - INSIDE MAKKAH - DAY

Majeed walks ahead of Xena and Gabrielle to show them the way to the palace. They walk through the busy marketplace where there are vendors of all kinds. People are selling beautiful, bright colored fabrics, exotic fruits and vegetables, spices, and all kinds of crafts. Gabrielle and Xena begin to quietly discuss what is going on.

XENA

(whispering and a bit annoyed)

Gabrielle, what do you think you're doing?

GABRIELLE

(whispering back)

Xena, we have to help these women, and show Schahriar that not all women are evil. Sure there are some bad ones in the bunch, but we must change his mind.

She smiles at a small monkey stealing olives from a vendor.

XENA

Well, do you actually have a plan?

GABRIELLE

Not a complete plan, no, but I am working on something.

XENA

The palace is not far ahead... plus, slave girl???

Majeed, hearing the loud hiss from Xena, turns and looks at them.

MAJEED

Did you say something?

GABRIELLE

No. Nothing. Amira was just wondering if she should shop for me now or later, and I instructed her that we could deal with this later.

XENA

(looking bitter)

Yes, of course mistress.

The servant begins to walk again in the direction of the king’s palace. Xena and Gabrielle trail behind, trying to stay far enough back that he's unable to hear them.

GABRIELLE

Yeah, I thought the part about you being my slave girl was a nice touch.

XENA

Wonderful...

Xena flashes a fake smile.

CUT TO:

4. INT. - SCHAHRIAR'S THRONE ROOM - DAY

Majeed leads Gabrielle and Xena into Schahriar’s throne room. It is lavishly decorated with gold statues, flowers, and a beautiful mosaic of Schahriar himself. As they enter the room, the three of them bow, and the servant presents Gabrielle to the king.

MAJEED

Your majesty, may I present Scheherazade.

Schahriar glares at Gabrielle for a moment, then his gaze shifts to Xena.

SCHAHRIAR

(annoyed)

I’m glad you finally arrived, my schedule was beginning to run behind, and I hate that. So, where is the high priest? Let’s get this wedding moving?

(nodding towards Xena)

Who's she?

GABRIELLE

She is my slave, Amira.

(beat)

Wedding?

SCHAHRIAR

(with a smirk)

Don’t you remember, you are here to marry me, but don’t worry, I have a feeling that things just won’t last.

GABRIELLE

(shaken)

Yes, of course. I just didn’t realize that it would all happen so soon.

CUT TO:

5. INT. QUEEN’S CHAMBERS - DAY

The door flies open and Gabrielle comes storming in, Xena fast behind. Gabrielle turns on her heels and looks at Xena. She is lavishly dressed in a crimson wedding gown covered in golden beads.

GABRIELLE

Do not even say it.

XENA

I cannot believe you just did that!

GABRIELLE

Well, what did you want me to do?

XENA

Hmm. I don't know. Let me think. How about NOT get married?!

GABRIELLE

And how would I do that?

XENA

I don't know. Maybe… stall?

GABRIELLE

Xena… I… young girls are being killed. We have to stop this.

Xena walks to the window and glances out at the bustling city below.

XENA

And how do you propose to stop this?

GABRIELLE

I'll think of something.

XENA

Well, think fast.

CUT TO:

6. INT. QUEEN’S CHAMBERS - EVENING

A large table is set up in the chamber. Dishes are piled upon it, candles lit. Gabrielle is seated on a pile of cushions, adjusting her dress nervously. Xena stands slightly behind her holding a bowl of fruit and looking a bit irritated.

The door opens and Schahriar enters. He looks at the table for a moment, and then questioningly to Gabrielle.

SCHAHRIAR

Scheherazade, what is this?

GABRIELLE

I have prepared a feast in your honor.

She gestures towards the table, inviting him to sit, which he does. Xena walks stiffly to him and offers him fruit, which he refuses with a wave of his hand.

SCHAHRIAR

I'm tired. We should consummate this marriage and get this over with so I can get some sleep.

GABRIELLE

(smiling weakly)

Might I entertain you first with a story?

SCHAHRIAR

(already nodding off a bit)

A story?

GABRIELLE

Yes, surely a man like you would enjoy a tale of high adventure?

SCHAHRIAR

High adventure? Is there fighting in it?

GABRIELLE

(mysteriously)

Possibly…

SCHAHRIAR

Very well then, but make it quick.

Gabrielle adjusts herself on her cushions so she can see him better in the candlelight. She takes a sip of water before she begins. We can see Xena watching Gabrielle questioningly in the background.

GABRIELLE

Once there was a rich merchant named Nazeem who fell madly in love with and married a common woman named Sabiha.

SCHAHRIAR

You said this was a tale of adventure. I have no wish to hear a love story.

GABRIELLE

(ignoring his interruption)

After many years together, Nazeem fell deathly ill and there was nothing anyone could do to cure him.

DISSOLVE INTO:

7. INT. MERCHANT'S HOUSE - DAY

We can hear the hustle and bustle of a crowded city outside. Sabiha can be seen leaning worriedly at the window, looking at the street below. The sun is just setting and the sky is a beautiful array of oranges and pinks.

GABRIELLE

(voice over)

His wife loved him very much, but the servants whispered that she was poisoning his food to kill him so she could take his fortune…

SCHAHRIAR

(voice over)

I'm sure she was!

GABRIELLE

(voice over)

Sabiha grew more and more concerned for her husband…

Nazeem lays pale and sweating in the bed. He twitches in his sleep and then suddenly his eyes open.

NAZEEM

(moaning)

Ahhh… my head… it is so hot in here.

SABIHA

(comfortingly)

I know, my love, I know. It is the fever.

Sabiha crosses the room to Nazeem and places a cool, wet cloth on his forehead. She dabs gently and then takes his hand, watching his eyes dart about the room.

NAZEEM

(delirious)

No, it’s the camels. Always flying around stirring up all the heat. If I’ve told them once, I’ve told them once, not to move the sun…

He begins to mumble to himself.

SABIHA

I shall talk to the camels again. Now you get some rest while I go to get more medicine.

CUT TO:

8. EXT. CITY STREETS - EVENING

The streets are crowded with merchants selling their wares and packing up for the night. Sabiha, deep in thought, makes her way through the crowd as if there is no one there.

As she passes a jewelry store, a man rushes past her, followed by the shopkeeper.

SHOPKEEPER

Stop! Thief!!

Sabiha steps to the side and hurries onwards.

CUT TO:

9. INT. GYPSY CARAVAN - NIGHT

We see Alti – cast as a gypsy by Gabrielle - sitting amidst brightly colored pillows and fabrics, surrounded by medallions and talismans. A lone candle sits on the table, illuminating her face and a deck of cards. Sabiha enters the caravan and looks around nervously.

GAMEELA

(with a smile)

I've been expecting you.

She indicates for Sabiha to be seated and then begins to shuffle her cards, placing three face up on the table.

GAMEELA

(continued)

I have no remedy for his sickness. Without a cure he will die.

(pause)

But there is hope.

She passes her hand over the second card that shows a heart with a sword pierced through it.

GAMEELA

(continued)

There is a lamp. A magic lamp. Legend claims it to have great magic. Only it can cure your husband.

SABIHA

Where can I find this lamp? I must help my husband.

GAMEELA

The way is very dangerous, and no man is known to have ever survived. The lamp is housed in a cave far from here, deep in the mountains. Inside, it is full of treasure, which you must not touch, and the lamp itself has a guardian and is surrounded by many traps. The lamp is in a garden, and you may, however, take the treasure in the garden if you reach it. But even a master thief would have a difficult time. You surely have no chance in succeeding.

She watches Sabiha for her reaction.

SABIHA

(determined)

Even if I could die, I must try. Regardless of the danger I must go.

GAMEELA

(with a gleam in her eye)

Child, you are too headstrong for your own good, but if you must go, take this ring with you. It will protect and help you throughout your journey.

She hands Sabiha a golden ring, so small it can only fit on her pinky finger. Sabiha places it on her finger, and without even remembering to thank Gameela for the information or to pay her, heads quickly into the dark.

CUT TO:

10. EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT

Night has fallen, and the noise of the marketplace has now been replaced by the sounds of people laughing and drinking in the local restaurants.

As Sabiha hurries home, Gameela's words come back to her.

GAMEELA

(voice over)

…even a master thief would have a difficult time…

On impulse, she switches direction and heads for the local jail.

CUT TO:

11. INT. JAIL - NIGHT

The jail is dank and murky. Rats rush about the floor, hunting for crumbs. Two guards sit playing dice. Sabiha enters with a basket of food and smiles sweetly at the guards.

SABIHA

I bring this for my brother. The thief you arrested earlier.

GUARD #1

Not so fast. We need to check it first.

The guards begin to eat the food and are soon fast asleep.

SABIHA

(smiling to herself)

Serves you right. Eating another man’s food without asking first.

Sabiha takes the keys cautiously from one of the guards and then steps nervously towards the cells.

SABIHA

Is the thief who robbed the jeweler earlier here?

VOICE

That would be me. I’m Aladdin. Who wants to know?

SABIHA

Please, I need your help. I must find a very important treasure. If you will help me, there will be riches for you as well.

From the shadow of one of the cells a figure emerges. It's Autolycus - whom Gabrielle has cast as Aladdin.

ALADDIN

Treasure you say? What type of treasure?

SABIHA

I must find a magic lamp. I need it to cure my husband. It is kept in a treasure filled garden. If you help me, you may keep the treasure and the lamp, after I have used it, if you wish.

ALADDIN

Well, it's probably better than being here. All right, I'll help. But only under the condition that you pay all travelling expenses. Deal?

SABIHA

(smiling with relief)

Deal!

As Sabiha steps forward to unlock the cell door, Aladdin raises a hand to stop her and moves his hand over the lock and opens the door, releasing himself in a matter of seconds.

SABIHA

(puzzled)

But… if…

ALADDIN

It's all in the wrist.

And with that remark, he saunters out into the street.

CUT TO:

12. EXT. JOURNEY - TIME MONTAGE

We see Sabiha and Aladdin making their way across great desert for what seems like an eternity before they finally coming to rest before a great mountain range at the edge of the desert.

FADE INTO:

13. EXT. BASE OF THE MOUNTAINS - DAY

Sabiha and Aladdin have begun to slowly climb up the base of the mountains, only to find they cannot climb any higher. Sabiha shields her eyes from the setting sun and scans the mountain peaks. Suddenly her eye catches something and she points at it.

SABIHA

Look! A cave!

ALADDIN

Well a fat lotta good that's going to do us without any rope. How do you propose we get up there?

SABIHA

You're the master thief. Don't you have any tools we could use?

ALADDIN

Listen, if I had my stuff we'd be heading home by now. You were in such a hurry I didn't have time to get it. Didn't you bring anything with you?

SABIHA

Just some bread… and I have this ring the gypsy gave to me.

She holds out her hand to show it to him. Noticing it has been dulled by the dust, she rubs it gently with her skirt, polishing it. Suddenly, a cloud of smoke appears around them and materializes into a huge genie, three times as tall as a man.

GENIE

(singsong voice)

I genie of the ring. Help to you I bring. My cousins and I, live in the sky. Wish you make, wish I take. Wish you do, hope you not rue.

Sabiha and Aladdin stare at the genie in disbelief for a few moments, speechless. Then Aladdin's eyes light up.

ALADDIN

Well... we need the treasure and lamp from that cave up there.

Aladdin points to the entrance of the cave. The genie follows with his eyes and then shudders. Slowly he shrinks in size until he is level with Aladdin.

GENIE

No, no, no, I not go. Big cousin up there, for me he no care.

He smiles apologetically. Aladdin looks at Sabiha in disbelief and then turns to the genie again.

ALADDIN

Well, we could sure use a way to get up that mountain then. How about some rope?

GENIE

Rope you wish, here, go fish.

The genie hands Aladdin a small length of rope that Aladdin looks at for a moment before giving him a puzzled look.

ALADDIN

Now how do you expect us to get up there with this? It's hardly as long as my arm.

GENIE

Then please to say, what your way. I try to please, and give you ease.

ALADDIN

Very well, we wish to be at that cave entrance.

Aladdin turns to point again, but before he can, everyone suddenly vanishes in a puff of smoke, only to reappear at the cave entrance.

GABRIELLE

(voice over)

And so Sabiha and Aladdin reached the entrance to the cave which held the magic lamp. But they still had great perils to face. The worst of which was the guardian.

CUT TO:

14. INT. QUEEN’S CHAMBERS - PRE-DAWN

Gabrielle looks tired and tries to hide a yawn. Xena can be seen in the corner, quietly eating from her bowl of fruit. Only Schahriar seems awake. As Gabrielle stops talking he leans forward towards her.

SCHAHRIAR

Well, what happened next? Did they meet the guardian immediately?

GABRIELLE

Please, it is nearly dawn and the story is very long. We will continue again tonight.

SCHAHRIAR

(angry)

I demand to know what happens next!

GABRIELLE

For a story to be told properly, its teller must follow the correct rhythms. And I need rest to do that.

From outside we hear the birds start singing in the dawn.

SCHAHRIAR

Very well, but you will finish the tale tonight, and tomorrow you will die!

With that Schahriar exits the room in a huff, leaving Xena and Gabrielle. Xena looks up from her fruit.

XENA

That’s your plan?

FADE OUT.