TEXT OVER BLACK: KING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE 3,000 YEARS AGO
INT. SOLOMON’S PALACE - THE SWORD CHAMBER - NIGHT
The mythical Sword of Solomon hangs behind a crystal door,
guarded by four NUBIAN EUNUCHS, 30s. Muscular and fierce,
they seem to be the perfect warriors to guard the sacred
prize.
A golden ball rolls in until it gently stops near the feet of
the eunuchs. Sweet incense pours out of its ornate grill.
The guards collapse, unconscious.
A man enters stealthily and creeps towards what looks like an
ornate safe's lock on the crystal door.
The man, JACK, 40s, (called JACOB in his past life) a code-
breaker who can take care of himself, a charming rogue; uses
a tiny jambiya (an Arab curved dagger) to pick the lock.
He then turns some dials to open the large safe inside and
lifts the Holy Sword of Solomon from its crystal hooks.
It becomes invisible when sheathed and Jacob wraps a scarf to
reveal its grip. The hilt glitters in the lamplight as one of
its jewels reveals itself. The Eye of Wisdom.
Beside the sword is another room holding an equally valuable
prize - Solomon's concubine princesses.
INT. SOLOMON'S SERAGLIO - CONTINUOUS
Jacob can't resist and sneaks himself past a SLEEPING EUNUCH,
40s, and slides into the seraglio. The CONCUBINES, 20s, seem
to be breathing in unison, softly.
An ancient Middle Eastern oil lamp suddenly comes to life
with a spark which lights up the exquisitely lit room. A
woman, PRINCESS REZANA, 20s, is stirring beneath silken
sheets.
Rezana is dark, almost Nubian, slim, playful, and with brown
eyes which are irresistible to kings and thieves alike.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
A Forbidden Encounter
INT. KING SOLOMON'S PRIVATE CONCUBINE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Jacob, using a key, now unlocks the King’s harem door where
the sleeping princess Rezana lies peacefully curled next to
her twin sister, SABIA, 20s. Sabia is identical to Rezana but
less playful and more serious.
He can't resist and moves closer, tip-toeing over a sleeping
EUNUCH, 50s.
Jacob kneels to watch Rezana sleep as a gloved hand quickly
strikes his head, causing him to drop the sword.
Dazed, but still conscious he looks up to see GRAND VIZIER
BELGARES' 50s, smiling, knowingly, almost understandingly
with his red, goat-like eyes.
Belgares moves to strike Jacob once again, but the concubines
stir and so does the sleeping eunuch. Belgares, his prize
attained, creeps away as Jacob tries, clumsily, to grab him
in his stupor.
Jacob reaches for the sword once more, but Belgares wraps a
silken scarf around the sword's hilt and knocks Jacob
backwards into the eunuch. Jacob in turn, knocks the guard
out before he can regain consciousness.
Jacob leaps toward Belgares but the grand vizier floats a
silken curtain over the lamp's flame and Jacob is forced to
beat out the flames in silence.
But Rezana wakes with a start, sensing something but, seeing
nothing, returns to her slumber. As she turns in her sleep
her face is lit by the soft light of some candles. She
returns to a slumber not noticing Jacob.
Although asleep, she seems to sense his presence and smiles.
REZANA
(in her sleep)
My love, my love.
Jacob kisses her foot tenderly and edges out of the harem.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Chase Through the Spider Pots Room
INT. SOLOMON'S PALACE - CORRIDOR LEADING TO THE ROOF
Groggy from the blows, Jacob shakes off the daze.
He looks down the corridor and spots Belgares' long robe
sliding away in the dark. He's holding the now unlit lamp.
INT. SOLOMON'S PALACE - CORRIDOR TO THE ROOF - CONTINUOUS
Two huge EUNUCHS, 40s, guard the stairs to the roof but
Belgares walks confidently and stands in between the two.
His feet are poised, one on each guard’s toes, as he seems
ready to whisper a password.
The guards lean in as he whispers...
BELGARES
“Scheherazade.”
We hear a SQUELCH, then a sound like coconuts being torn
apart. Belgares tears their heads off their necks. The
guards’ bodies tumble forwards as Belgares holds two skulls
like bowling balls, thumb and fingers in the eye sockets.
INT. SOLOMON'S PALACE - THE SWORD CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
Jacob returns to the crystal case which held the sword and
cracks away a side of the covering to use as the only shield
to defend against the sword.
Jacob chases Belgares into a room with a web of ropes
crisscrossing above pots of burning oil. Belgares stands
easily, bouncing like a spider, and slashes at Jacob!
CHING! Belgares makes contact with Jacob's crystal shield!
Recovering, he swings at the ropes instead.
Jacob dashes across and singes a foot in a boiling pot as
Belgares cuts the ropes as he tries to balance on them.
As the ropes fall into the boiling pots, Jacob jumps and
manages to leap onto the last attached strand, dragging
himself into another corridor.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Descent into Chaos
INT. SOLOMON'S PALACE - CORRIDOR TO THE ROOF - CONTINUOUS
Jacob sprints, but can't catch Belgares who is uncannily,
running backward. He pushes statues in front of Jacob,
slicing them to pieces, but the Sword makes no sound.
BELGARES
It is eerie how the blade makes no
sound is it not?
A GUARD hurriedly enters and is sliced in two, silently.
Belgares vaults the stairs and dashes to the top tower.
Belgares climbs to the top point and seems to be beckoning
something. There is a flutter of wings and a shadow which
gets closer.
Suddenly a huge HARPY with a monstrous woman's head and a
bird's wings descends and sinks its talons into Jacob’s
shoulders.
Jacob hooks his feet on the roof to hold on for dear life but
the force of the harpy is tearing away his sandals and
wrenching his shoulders.
Belgares moves in for the kill but Jacob ducks at the last
second and he accidentally cuts the harpy in two. Belgares,
in shock, falls past Jacob after the harpy sending them both
off the roof. They descend together, sliding down the side.
Jacob grabs the harpy's severed wings and tries to paraglide
down.
As he passes the grand vizier, Belgares leaps on him and they
helicopter down the steep temple roof entwined, Belgares
using the sword to slow their descent.
Belgares digs in using The Sword like an ice axe plowing
through snow while Jacob grimly holds on to the harpy wings.
The sword carves out a gash in the roof as it cuts the tiles.
Finally, they smash through a glass roof and crash into the
Molten Sea, a huge bathing receptacle, with a gigantic splash
in front of Solomon’s surprised courtiers.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Judgment and Sacrifice in Solomon's Court
INT. SOLOMON’S THRONE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The crashing water shocks the meeting midnight council
MEMBERS who recoil, soaked.
Belgares recovers his wits, and cunning, first. Rezana and
some startled CONCUBINES and COURTIERS rush over.
BELGARES
I feared for your safety my lady
and found this scoundrel with this
lamp working his evil sorcery among
King Solomon’s concubines.
Rezana approaches fearsome KING SOLOMON, 50s. Her doting,
bumbling father, MELIK, the Emir of Dubai, 70s trembles
beside her. His eyesight is poor but he hears everything.
SOLOMON
Is this true what my Grand Vizier
says?
JACOB
He lies! I love the princess.
MELIK
Please, wise King Solomon, be
merciful.
Solomon is terrifying and powerful; grandeur and toughness
gained from years spent fighting demons.
SOLOMON
What says the princess? Do you love
this thief?
REZANA
I do, my lord.
Jacob’s hands are bound.
Solomon looks to the QUEEN OF SHEBA, 30s, BLACK. She is
regal, beautiful, and dignified, a woman with a mission.
SHEBA
The grand vizier has defiled the
temple, stolen the holy Sword of
Solomon, and suborned your royal
harem.
BELGARES
The Queen of Sheba is... mistaken.
Solomon is furious but hesitates as if he is also suspicious.
SOLOMON
Ahijah the Shilonite, what say you?
AHIJAH THE SHILONITE, 60s, Levite prophet of Shiloh, steps
forward, with a staff. Ahijah, quiet, contemplative, and
deadly earnest, taps his staff for attention.
AHIJAH
He has stolen the holy sword but
also fallen in love with your
charge. It is for God to forgive
his weakness in love. His theft
cannot be forgiven.
Rezana hurls herself at Solomon’s feet.
REZANA
Did you steal the holy Sword of
Jerusalem, my love? I will not
believe till you have said so.
Jacob?
JACOB
I took it.
REZANA
Why my love, why would you do such
a thing?
TWO MASSIVE, muscular EUNUCHS hold Jacob fast. He's strong,
but the guards are twice his size. Solomon rests the Sword
across Jacob's outstretched arms, menacingly.
SOLOMON
Then kill the cur.
SHEBA
No!
The whole court seems to hold its breath as Sheba moves
towards Jacob and gently touches his hand.
JACOB
No, my queen, I beseech you.
BELGARES
A new trick, a new lie.
SOLOMON
Silence! Let the Queen speak.
SHEBA
My slave stole the sword for me.
REZANA
Slave?
SHEBA
Yes, slave. I promised his freedom.
In return for the blade.
SABIA
A lover's errand.
SHEBA
But he fell in love with Princess
Rezana.
MELIK
A fool in love.
JACOB
A thief in love.
MELIK
For just the sword?
AHIJAH
No, Emir Melik, for the Eye of
Wisdom. The all-seeing eye. The
most precious stone setting in the
sword. It bestows on the beholder
the utmost grace. And the ability
to be just.
Solomon holds up the magical sword, invisible when sheathed,
till the light catches the Eye of Wisdom.
The room seems to sparkle with refracted light as the gem
acts like a prism, a spectrograph, as it casts an image of
Jacob and Rezana romping in the sands, clearly besotted. The
court is entranced.
Solomon quickly covers the light show and the room goes dark
once more.
AHIJAH
Given to mighty Solomon by the King
of Sheba.
SHEBA
Stolen from the people of Sheba by
Solomon.
BELGARES
What use could Ethiopes have for
such a prize?
REZANA
I beg of you mighty King do not
damn him for all time.
SOLOMON
Then I shall spare his life but not
his grasp.
(MORE)
SOLOMON (cont'd)
Bring me the lamp which the wretch
used to reveal himself in my harem.
Hold his hands out.
EUNUCHS hold Jacob’s hands out. Jacob, chained, fights like a
bobcat, struggling against the massive eunuchs. He manages to
break free, crashes to the marble floor and is covered like a
muscle blanket by FOUR MORE EVEN BIGGER EUNUCHS.
Jacob still struggles, but with two guards on each limb, it's
hopeless. He SCREAMS in frustration.
Solomon renders the judgment and swiftly strikes down with
the Sword. Jacob's hands tumble to the floor the chains still
hanging silently on the wrists.
The court looks on in horror. Solomon symbolically uses the
same lamp to cauterize the bloody stumps as Jacob drops to
his knees in agony, SCREAMING.
He then turns to Belgares and uses the hot oil to burn
Belgares' heart out and condemns him to lust for Rezana
forever.
SOLOMON
Grand vizier, you shall pine,
unrequited, for this woman and
always desire for riches and
precious things, your thirst never
being slaked.
Belgares collapses in agony as the hot oil burns his chest.
Sheba looks imploringly toward Solomon. He softens.
SHEBA
But should she do a good deed
mighty king?
SOLOMON
Mercy shall be attained if you can
convince your new master to wish
for life and not riches.
REZANA
What say you, my lord?
SOLOMON
If you should gain grace by
granting one wish to bring back
life then you will gain your own
miserable freedom.
(MORE)
SOLOMON (cont'd)
Otherwise, spend eternity as slaves
granting wishes to those wretches
who will find you in your tiny
tombs. This is my judgement.
JACOB
She is innocent!
SABIA
No lord! It is my fault. I did give
this man the key to your harem.
Punish me for granting their love.
Solomon moves to kill Sabia.
SOLOMON
The truth at last. A life for a
life, then.
REZANA
Because I deny the mighty Solomon
you entomb us! Please, at least let
my sister go.
SOLOMON
So be it.
Princess Sabia throws herself before the king.
SABIA
Mighty king have mercy! What
bargain is it that she should give
her freedom to save my life?
Solomon holds up the brass lamp.
SOLOMON
Then behold your tomb for eternity!
Live there and save your sister.
SHEBA
Mercy, mighty Solomon!
SOLOMON
You will obey your human masters
and grant them three wishes. Obey
these and all diktats, however vile
or salacious. Without hesitation!
Or face damnation.
Sabia and Rezana embrace, their tears dropping to the floor.
REZANA
Live for both of us, Sabia. I love
you.
SABIA
I love you, sister. Until we are
together again.
Rezana disappears into the lamp. A golden pendant falls - an
Arabian Oryx. Sabia places it on her own neck.
SOLOMON
Take it and bury it beneath the
sands in the great desert.
IBLIS, the Devil, 50s stands in the shadows, eyes glowing. No
one can see him except Belgares who even shudders at the
sight. Iblis seems happy with his handiwork.
TEXT OVER BLACK:
"As for those who do not believe in the hereafter, We have
prepared for them a painful chastisement." - The Koran
Present day.
Dubai, one of seven states forming the wealthy oil kingdoms
of the United Arab Emirates.
With the Middle East in constant turmoil since 1991, Dubai
City represents an oasis in a desert sea of tumult. Rich from
oil, rich from trade -- and rich from staying out of war.
A few soldiers stayed on after the Gulf Wars. They fell in
love with the desert, the culture... and the dark-eyed women.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Drama","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Heist and Hangout
INT. DUBAI MUSEUM - NIGHT
JACK STANFORD, 40s (Jacob in the present day) intellectual,
but a real man of action, expertly hops over laser trip wires
until he's under a sparkling ancient scimitar. He rips it off
the wall and places it in a slim satchel on his back.
EXT. HELICOPTER ABOVE JACK STANFORD’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Jack rappels from a Black Hawk helicopter, the powerful rotor
creating a vortex in the sand below.
INT. JACK STANFORD’S HOUSE - SECRET ROOM - NIGHT
Jack places the beautiful, jewel-encrusted sword in a case
below another empty sword case labeled "Solomon's Sword."
JACK
We await your father, oh Blade of
Dubai.
INT. JACK’S HOUSE - ACADEMIC CITY - DUBAI - BEDROOM - DAY
Jack's house resembles Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca complete
with blue parrot, faux searchlights, and airport mural.
Exotic objets d'art adorn the place. Scimitars hang near
photos of a man in fencing gear, medals around his neck.
Spotlit on the wall are shards of cuneiform tablets. Jack
lingers on a particular tablet featuring a woman’s face.
He gently dusts a stela and smooths out a hanging Persian
carpet then paws a black Sumerian cuneiform tablet like Silas
Marner, finally falling onto the bed, exhausted. The curtains
in the open window sway gently with the cool desert breeze.
As Jack snores, NATHAN BELL, 40s, Jack's AFRICAN AMERICAN ex-
army buddy and best friend, creeps in and drips some booze
from a hip flask onto Jack’s lips. Jack stirs.
JACK
I am gonna whip your...
NATE
...Muscular, shapely black ass?
JACK
That’s the one.
As they shake hands Nate recoils from Jack’s stitches tattoo
circling his wrist.
JACK
You can shake ‘em, they ain’t gonna
fall off.
NATE
Weird looking that’s all, man.
Herman Munster. Never get used to
it.
CLEO CAT, a rough Egyptian Mau, sidles up to him, licking
Jack's wrists affectionately.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Shadows of Power
INT. DUBAI - SECRET POLICE H.Q. - NIGHT
The moonlight reflects off the plaque on the door in gold:
'Ahmed Belgares - Chief of State Security' in Arabic.
AHMED BELGARES, 50s, is also playing with a cuneiform tablet.
He's sadistic, driven, ruthless, and still driven by avarice.
TARIQ, 40s, Belgares' OBSEQUIOUS AND SADISTIC sidekick, half
curtsies half genuflects as he enters and shadows Belgares.
TARIQ
Master. It has been found. The
storm has revealed all.
BELGARES
Yes, Tariq. And another storm is
coming.
TARIQ
You will use your magic, master, or
the Jinn’s?
BELGARES
I am but a simple mortal.
TARIQ
Are you a Jinni master?
Belgares gives Tariq an icy stare, but no answer. He
concentrates and sees Sabia in the flames then Rezana in the
lamp and sweeps the images out of his temples towards Jack.
EXT. JACK STANFORD’S HOUSE - SECRET ROOM - DAY
Jack presses a button, walks into a secret room, and again
runs his hands over precious Persian carpets, brass lamps,
trophies, and historical objets d’art.
A pair of canine eyes peep through a slit in the door.
JACK
GRR!
Pharaoh Dog, his beloved mangy mutt, takes off in fright.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
Haunted by Guilt
EXT. JACK STANFORD'S HOUSE - PORCH - LATER
Jack sweeps sand from the veranda. He returns to his desk by
the pool and resumes translating The Koran.
Thoughts from somewhere stream into Jack’s mind. When he
closes his eyes he sees the burning explosion of a
Mesopotamian palace and a woman in military uniform, Sabia,
caught inside. An explosion, SCREAMS, and bright orange fire.
FLASHBACK
Lt. SABIA GANJIZADEH, DARK, CRYPTIC, IRANIAN, 30s, removes
her goggles but is hidden behind a bandana. She throws the
keystone and lowers her head as the flames consume her.
As Jack runs to her his face blisters, then is shot-blasted
with sand as the building vaporizes. The flames of the blast
melt into the orange-red Sun and reflect on Jack's eyes.
JACK
No! No! Sabia! Because I sinned,
you take her from me!
END FLASHBACK
He mulls a faded photo bookmark of Sabia, identical to
Rezana, then plays a video of her frolicking and drinking at
some army base.
The wind pushes open several pages until it settles on a
particular text: A paragraph appears on the writing pad:
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful...the
beneficent God, he created man, taught him the mode of
expression...he created man from dry clay like earthen
vessels, and he created the Jinn of a flame of fire...
Jack, spooked, sweeps the Koran away dropping a tumbler,
which smashes the glass.
He then takes a swig directly from the Scotch bottle and
peers out into the desert, face pressed to the window bars
like he’s trapped in a jail cell straining to hear something.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
The Beggar's Revelation
INT. THE LAMP - FLASHBACK - TRAPPED
Rezana, in a time unknown, crouching in the ridiculously
small “Tiger Cage” Lamp, half choking with claustrophobia, is
breathing heavily.
She claws at the sides, breaking her nails but they regrow
instantly. Finally, she lets out a harrowing SCREAM.
INT. JACK STANFORD'S HOUSE - BY THE BARRED WINDOWS
Jack strains his ears to the desert and thinks he hears a
woman’s plaintive SCREAM. The scream turns into the HOWLING
DESERT WINDS. Jack shakes it off but is rattled.
Jack tosses a tidbit, but Cleo snatches it. He tosses
another, this time Pharaoh swallows it whole. Pharaoh sits,
paws in the air. Cleo, incredibly, does the same.
EXT. SIDE DOOR - JACK'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Belgares, disguised as a toothless, gnarled OLD BEGGAR MAN,
70s, RAPS his stick on the door.
OLD BEGGAR MAN (O.S.)
Alms for the love of Allah.
Jack grabs some coins and walks to the door.
INT. JACK'S HOUSE - SIDE DOOR - CONTINUOUS
Jack starts to pass the coins.
JACK
Here you...
OLD BEGGAR MAN
...Salaam Aleikum effendi.
JACK
(sarcastically)
Allahu, sabanahu rahimun hazzan
taffadal.
Jack notices Belgares' red, goat-like eyes.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
My mother had the same eyes.
The pets whimper and hurry away from the old man, terrified.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
I am not here for alms. You are the
cryptologist, yes?
JACK
Cryptographer.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
My friend, there is a cave in the
desert near the border with Oman.
The storm has revealed it.
Jack tries to shut the door on him but catches his arthritic
hand in the door. Backtracking, Jack bows in apology.
JACK
A thousand apologies. Please,
please.
The old man clutches his hand in agony and Jack lets him in.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
The Mysterious Encounter
INT. JACK'S HOUSE - SINK - CONTINUOUS
The old man holds his hand under the tap groaning while Jack
hands him a towel.
JACK
Your hand seems okay now.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Inside the cave is a lamp
containing a spirit that can grant
three wishes.
Jack fences, tilting at hanging carpets, trying not to listen
but clearly intrigued.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Perhaps a valuable piece for your
collection?
The old man pushes a button on the wall and a door flies
open, revealing Jack's priceless booty. Jack flings a knife
into the wall, inches from where the old man’s hand lies, as
a warning.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Please, please, I know you are a
"collector" Mr. Stanford. I am not
interested in reporting you to the
authorities. A handshake in trust?
Belgares gives Jack a customary limp Middle Eastern
handshake. His index finger feels for Jack’s pulse but it’s
as if he tried to drain the blood from Jack’s body.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
I will have the exact location
soon.
(MORE)
OLD BEGGAR MAN (cont'd)
Besides, the tomb is protected by
coded ancient Sanskrit.
JACK
Checking the pulse?
OLD BEGGAR MAN
It warms me to feel a pulse. You
have the marks.
Belgares notices Jack’s tattoos around each wrist.
JACK
In memory. This piece here. I found
it in Iraq.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Yes, from a stela, no?
JACK
Yes.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
The carpets are exquisite. Perfect.
Persian?
Jack nods as Belgares spots a photo of Jack and Nate.
JACK
You are a collector of antiquities?
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Of people.
Belgares drops a map on the table but Jack starts to usher
him towards the door.
JACK
Seventy-year-old minefields. It’s
suicide.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Please. Please. The spirit in the
lamp can bring back life. I have
need for it.
Jack stops in his tracks as the old man seems to be
mesmerizing him, then, suddenly clutching his head, slumps.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
A migraine. I will be fine.
Jack, recognizing a strange bedfellow, passes the Demerol.
OLD BEGGAR MAN (CONT'D)
You too?
JACK
I've heard all these fairy tales.
Jinnis locked up by Solomon, put in
bottles, thrown into the sea,
sealed in caves. These folk tales
are all over the Middle East.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Not folk tales. True! Each Jinni
condemned to slavery for eternity.
JACK
You're crazy, old man.
The old man puts the painkillers back on the table.
JACK
The war, the Forever war.
Jack notices Belgares furtively looking for something. He
hides the keystone under a book and goes to escort him out,
but the photo of Sabia falls.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
Your wife. Beautiful. Arab?
JACK
Persian. Friend.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
She loved you?
JACK
She tried to.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
You loved her.
JACK
I meant to.
OLD BEGGAR MAN
She is waiting for you in Barzakh.
Find your love. Have your wish.
Then bring me the lamp. One wish to
bring back life then that is all.
Jack is finally stumped and quits dissembling.
Belgares thrusts the map into Jack's hands. Jack tries to
give it back but the old man has vanished into the alleyway.
Belgares flicks a CAT into an oncoming truck. An OLD WOMAN,
70s, sees the incident and seems to recognize pure evil when
she sees it and scurries indoors.
EXT. JACK'S HOUSE - BACK DOOR - DAY
BEGGAR CHILDREN run up, embracing Jack. He slips a twenty-
dollar bill to a cute, crippled LITTLE WAIF, 10. Pharaoh Dog
brings out a food basket and the children hug him as Jack
scans the crowded streets for the old man.
EXT. JACK STANFORD’S HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAY
Jack, mulling over the visit, tries, unsuccessfully to keep
the sand away from coming into his house and sweeps nervously
at it. It keeps blowing in. His foot sinks a little in a soft
spot and he jumps back, startled.
FLASHBACK
EXT. CONNECTICUT WOODS - QUICKSAND PIT - NIGHT
Jack, as a BOY, struggles to reach with a branch to his
FATHER, THOMAS STANFORD, 40s, caught fast in the sand. He
sinks. Jack can do nothing.
Jack plays the scene over and over in his mind; sometimes he
manages to get a larger branch and pull his father in.
END FLASHBACK
EXT. ARABCO OIL COMPANY - DUBAI - DAY
Outside Arabco, Jack unhitches Pharaoh from the back of his
big BMW dirt bike.
JACK
You know the rules. No dogs. Beat
it, punk. I'll be fine. Go.
Pharaoh Dog takes off at speed into the dust.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Tensions in the Desert
INT. ARABCO OIL COMPUTER ROOM - DAY
The door reads: “Jack W. Stanford, Geophysical Analyst."
A mini Zen sand garden sits next to a photo of Jack and army
buddies. Nearby sit copies of The Koran and Seven Pillars of
Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia).
Jack stares at the border with Oman on a map on the screen. A
spot indicates a cave glowing under the infrared satellite in
no man's land between the Emirates and Oman. Nate creeps up,
nursing a beer.
Nate playfully grabs Jack's sand garden then notices the
hidden playing card-size golden tablet, Hammurabi's Code
keystone, fall out. Jack gets snippy.
JACK
Was there something, captain?
NATE
Here's the maps you wanted Major
Stanford, sir. You know there's a
fucking minefield out there? Hello.
JACK
Sorry.
NATE
Your sorry ass is sorry. When we
going home, Jack? Come up on the
net. Fall off your bike again?
Nate extends his back. Tries to hang from something.
JACK
Your back?
NATE
It's killing me, Jack. Give me one
of your painkillers brother.
Nate limps off, bumping deliberately into Defense
Intelligence Agency spook COLONEL EDWINA PEARCE, STYLISH,
SMART AND POLISHED, AFRICAN AMERICAN, 40s.
PEARCE
What are you staring at?
NATE
Your chest-candy, Miss Pearce. You
still in uniform? I thought you was
a spook now.
PEARCE
How’s the Middle East treating you,
Captain Bell? Heat OK?
NATE
Screw you Pearce, Miss Colonel
Pearce, ma’am. He’s gone to lunch.
Spook.
Jack wanders out, jumps on his BMW dirt bike, and roars off.
Pearce follows in a Jeep.
EXT. OLD DUBAI OUTSKIRTS - MARKET - DAY
Pearce shadows Jack around the bookshelves in a second-hand
bookstore. She catches up to him at a reading table.
PEARCE
Jack. Our Jack. Still panhandling
at the oil company?
JACK
"Panning for black gold."
PEARCE
Whatever. We have a little task for
you. Something for Uncle Sam. That
is unless you want to go back and
explain to the Iraqis how you stole
the Hammur...
JACK
...What Edwina? Are you still
working for the military, or are
you freelancing full-time?
She flips through some ancient magazines on his table then
drops Jack’s army record on the sandy floor.
PEARCE
I can have you thrown away for ten
years.
JACK
Guantanamo still open Ed?
PEARCE
I'll have it reopened.
Jack opens his army record.
JACK
Am I really “oppositional defiant?”
Hostile to authority?
PEARCE
Remember the Gulf War?
JACK
Which one, Eddie? So many. You mean
the Liberation of Iraq?
Afghanistan? Operation "Grab the
Oil and piss off the entire Middle
East?" Yeah, I remember. Get lost,
Edwina.
Jack tosses a military aviation magazine at her.
PEARCE
The new Iraqi administration wants
their precious stone back.
JACK
What stone? All that stuff was
blown to hell by your flyboys,
remember? I’m leaving, going home.
She waves a passport.
PEARCE
Why did you do it? Ruin your army
career, piss off the Hajjis...
JACK
You wouldn't understand.
PEARCE
For a “Desert Queen?”
JACK
She was better than a desert queen.
PEARCE
You steal ancient artifacts and
search for this mythical sword for
God knows what reason. Redemption?
You killed Lt. Ganjizadeh and
you’re punishing yourself. Your
side trip for the keystone on a
military mission led directly to
her death Major!
JACK
It was an accident.
Pearce is just getting a good head of steam now.
PEARCE
You steal priceless national
treasures and women’s hearts like
they’re ethnic toys. Then you sell
them or toss them.
JACK
Like you?
PEARCE
Still the smartest guy in the room,
hey Jack. Historian, archaeologist,
cryptologist...
JACK
'Pimp and betrayer of women.'
PEARCE
You said it, not me.
Pearce plonks down a file with a photo of a stela, an ancient
law-giving granite pillar. The keystone is missing.
PEARCE
Missing the keystone huh? Inscribed
with Hammurabi's Code, the earliest
known written version of any law.
Worth about five million on the
open market?
JACK
Seven.
Pearce drops a photo of Sabia. Jack picks it up.
PEARCE
Just your type, Jack. Dark. Black,
high Yellow, “butter wouldn’t melt
in my mouth”; loving and ready to
swallow all your “Arab Culture is
wonderful” bullshit while you steal
all the museum pieces not nailed
down in the entire Middle East!
JACK
Goddammit! Tea, please.
PEARCE
Then you leave her here to die! And
break her heart too.
FLASHBACK
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Chasing Shadows
EXT. DUBAI BEACH - DAY
Jack chases Edwina down a beach until they tumble into a
beach towel. Clearly besotted, she pours some illicit hooch
into his open mouth.
PEARCE
Major don't waste none of that, you
don't know how hard it was to get
bourbon in a dry country.
They roll in the sand until she is on top of him.
END FLASHBACK
Jack softens. A TEA MAKER 60s, passes sweet Arab tea and two
glasses of Arak. Pearce adds something from a hip flask.
PEARCE
So, they never found her body. Some
people think you killed her; set
her up. Maybe you just let your
women do your pilfering for you -
like a pimp.
JACK
Godamnit! She was my friend.
PEARCE
Shut-up! “Friend.” Listen to me
really carefully Jack, you return
that missing keystone or...
JACK
...Or what?
PEARCE
Or, or you can find me a religious
artifact, an icon.
JACK
Why?
PEARCE
Because the Arabs think this
"artifact" was put there as a
symbol of Zionist rule. It
symbolizes Hebrew oppression of the
Arabs by...
JACK
...Solomon, King of Israel. And
they're going to use it to fire up
the whole region in a jihad. It's a
lamp.
PEARCE
You're smart, Stanford. Ever
thought about going back into Army
Intel?
He rifles through some old books, dust flying everywhere.
Pearce secretly places a copy of Sir Richard Burton’s "The
Arabian Nights" into the satchel. It seems to act on Jack.
PEARCE
Why would a man who hates sand and
religion live in the Middle East
where every third house is a
mosque?
JACK
Why would a woman who hates Arabs
live in the Middle East?
PEARCE
You go where your clients are.
Look, just do this one for me,
please Jack. I’ll owe you.
They down their tea and booze. Jack hops on the dirt bike and
Pearce clings on as he pops a wheelie out of the small
passageway into the main market square.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
Chasing Shadows in the Market
EXT. OLD MARKET - DUBAI - CONTINUOUS
Jack drives like a nut, stuffing books into a satchel. Pearce
is fearless, relaxed like she’s lolling on a couch.
Pearce hollers over the roaring WIND.
PEARCE
If the Israelis find the lamp it
proves they were here first, if the
Hajjis find the lamp...
JACK
...You people have gone nuts! Why
don't you get it yourself?
PEARCE
'Cause it's in no man's land, the
disputed border between Oman,
Saudi, and the Emirates. Besides,
the seal can only be opened by
cracking the code, written in
Sanskrit, encrypted gibberish. Jack
language.
JACK
Forget it.
Pearce, sitting close on the pillion, watches Jack’s face.
PEARCE
Ever thought of getting plastic
surgery on that burn scar Jack?
JACK
It gives me character.
PEARCE
Half the security forces in the
region are looking for it. Last
week's storm blew away the dunes.
Satellites picked it up.
JACK
One bird for backup.
PEARCE
OK. You get to stay out of a
Baghdad prison and help Uncle Sam.
Keep your illegal "collection."
JACK
You fuckers. You all worship the
same "God" and you think he wants
you to nuke each other.
Jack narrowly misses slicing through a Tuk-tuk. Pearce
finally loses it and SHRIEKS in fright.
PEARCE
She Jack. She. God’s a woman
remember?
JACK
I remember.
PEARCE
God loves war, that's why she made
men so ornery and women so smart.
(MORE)
PEARCE (cont'd)
Listen, Jack, I don't really give a
monkey’s about the keystone. Keep
it. Keep the artifacts. Sell ‘em,
keep the money, I don't care. Just
get me that Goddamn lamp.
JACK
Keep the oil flowing, right Eddie?
PEARCE
That’s right, Jack. This hopped-up
dirt bike runs on gas, right?
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Philosophy and Urgency in Dubai
EXT. MARKET DUBAI - SIDE ROAD - CONTINUOUS
Jack slides and Pearce gamely clings on. She paws the sand
like a snowboarder looking for balance.
PEARCE
Life is eternal, like the sand.
"The soul..."
JACK
(remembering)
...“The soul - a prisoner of the
body, released, to migrate into
different animals before
reincarnation into a human being.”
PEARCE
Pythagoras.
Jack feels the “Arabian Nights” book and his finger magically
finds a page, a lithograph. He can feel it. He’s in. Pearce
is smart enough to quit selling beyond the close.
PEARCE
If - when - you find it, stick this
on it. We'll find it - and you.
Pearce rams a tiny tracker down Jack’s shirt back.
PEARCE
If it isn't transponding in 72
hours we'll assume you went AWOL
and rescind the offer.
They screech to a halt in front of Arabco Oil.
EXT. ARABCO OIL COMPANY - DUBAI - CONTINUOUS
The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, looms in the
background haze. Pearce, somewhat worse for wear, gracefully
hops off the BMW as Jack stares solemnly to the south,
towards the desert.
PEARCE
Bring the lamp to my office on top
of the Burj. Don't take the
elevator, Jack.
EXT. OMAN DESERT - DAY
Six Israeli F-16s circle above Ar Rub al Kali. The Strait of
Hormuz and endless desert stretch below.
INT. COCKPIT - F-16 ABOVE ARABIAN PENINSULA - DAY
ISRAELI SQUADRON LEADER COL. BOOSTAN, 40s, scours the sands
from 10,000 feet.
COLONEL BOOSTAN
His transponder must be broken.
ISRAELI CAPTAIN (V.O.)
500 miles of sand. One more pass,
colonel?
COLONEL BOOSTAN
No, Erez is finished. We've already
lit up every SAM battery in the
region. Next thing the Persians
will be up here.
The F-16s drop flares to confuse the SAMs then begin to turn.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Desert Shadows
INT. JAIL - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DAY
Israeli Air Force officer, EREZ, 30s, is being beaten by
HOODED SECRET POLICE, 40s. Belgares lurks in the shadows.
SECRET POLICEMAN 1
We are looking for an "object."
EREZ
I strayed off course.
TARIQ
It may resemble an oil lamp.
SECRET POLICEMAN 1
There is a cave revealed by the
storm. The Zionists think it is
near the disputed border between
the Emirates, Oman, and Saudi
Arabia and we believe you are
right. We think you found it.
EREZ
I told you I was on a training...
Tariq whips him with a pistol.
TARIQ
We are looking for an "object."
EXT. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DESERT BORDER WITH OMAN - DUSK
Fumes pour from two motorcycle tailpipes. Jack and Nate scan
the horizon from the top of a massive golden dune.
NATE
Where’d you get that map from? Is
that a Goddamn minefield?
JACK
Look, we get outta Dodge after we
grab the icon, sell it for a
fistful. Buy a Gulfstream and head
back stateside or wherever.
NATE
Adios Hajjis.
JACK
Adios.
NATE
I don't buy that you want it just
to sell it. You've got a hustle on
the side, Jack. Jack?
Nate pulls up beside barbed wire and a rusty sign with skull
and crossbones: "Danger - Mines."
EXT. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MINEFIELD - LATER
It’s darker now but more mines are visible. A rare ARABIAN
ORYX appears. It seems to recognize Jack.
JACK
A live Arabian Oryx - found only in
the eastern edge of Oman.
NATE
Yeah, and if we in Oman that ain't
cool either. Some Jack, Jack?
Nate passes an expensive-looking hip flask.
NATE (CONT'D)
Edwina ain’t gonna like this. You
still think she’s hot?
EXT. ARABIAN DESERT - MINEFIELD - DUSK
They tiptoe after the Oryx as it darts through the mines to a
wadi littered with BODIES. The Oryx stops and lifts its head.
JACK
Shush.
Jack follows the Oryx tracks as Nate plays with the GPS. The
scratched black wall of the tomb is just visible. Broken
pickaxes are everywhere. The granite entry is unbreached.
Suddenly GUARDS appear waving flashlights and AK-47s.
GUARD
ya ‘Ali! Hal ji’ta bi-ta’am? ya
‘Ali?
The guards open up. Bullets tear into Nate's Kevlar backpack
which he uses like a shield and advances, firing confidently.
Nate icily empties his SIG Sauer pistol into two guards
before he runs out of bullets.
Nate and the last guard are both empty now. It's a Mexican
standoff and Nate is ready to let him escape.
NATE
Hey Dick! Run!
Nate grabs a rock to hurl at him but then notices the guard
already has a knife stuck in his neck.
JACK
So.
NATE
Still the old Jack-knife.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Cave of Shadows
EXT. SECRET ENTRANCE TO CAVE - NIGHT
Jack explores the smooth walls.
JACK
Old, Aramaic, Mesopotamian.
NATE
Germs and bugs. Remember what
happened to that English brother...
JACK
...Howard Carter...scarab beetles.
NATE
Yeah, when he opened Tutankhamun's
tomb? I hate beetles and bugs.
EXT. SECRET ENTRANCE TO CAVE - NIGHT
Hours later. Their flashlights are dimming. Distant lights
glow and are getting closer. Jack can't get in.
JACK
I've tried everything.
NATE
It’s so clear here. Can you see the
stars, man? There’s Corvus...
Procyon.
Flashlights glow and weave in the minefield.
NATE (CONT'D)
They ain't gonna be too friendly
when they find their homeboys.
Let's get moving Jack!
The SOUND OF WEAPONS being COCKED. ARAB VOICES.
Jack tosses and swallows a Demerol like a rhythmic gymnast.
As he rubs the keystone, images pour into his head.
FLASHBACK
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
The Keyhole Revelation
INT. ANCIENT ISRAEL - SOLOMON’S ROOM OF PUZZLES - NIGHT
"Jack" as Jacob holding a fast-disappearing candle, with
cauterized stumps for hands, wrestles with a wall of
hieroglyphics, feverishly looking for a clue.
END FLASHBACK
EXT. SECRET ENTRANCE TO CAVE - CONTINUOUS
Back to the present - Jack shakes the images away.
JACK
Someone was here before. I was here
before.
NATE
What?
Jack MUTTERS in ARABIC and finally a small section recesses.
JACK
There!
RIFLES BEING COCKED, SANDY FOOTSTEPS. The recess is a map of
the heavens, an exact mirror of Jack's keystone.
JACK
A slot? A keyhole. For a keystone!
Jack snaps his keystone in with a "CLICK." The wadi shakes.
The ARAB VOICES are almost on top of them. The granite doors
suddenly WHOOSH open and Nate and Jack dash in.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Secrets of the Ancient Cave
INT. CAVE - ARABIAN DESERT - CONTINUOUS
A trap door opens to a stairway. A "THOOMP" as heads crack on
the low doorway.
JACK
Flashlight.
NATE
It's full of bullet holes. Crack
the glow sticks.
From the soft glow stick's light, Jack freezes under a bas-
relief. He blows away some dust to reveal the inscription.
JACK
"O Assembly of the Jinn and the
men! If you are able to pass
through the regions of the heavens
and the earth, then pass through;
you cannot pass through but with
authority." The Koran.
Nate leans on an ancient statue, which crumbles into dust.
JACK
"And when the heaven is rent
asunder, and then becomes red like
red hide...so on that day neither
man nor Jinni shall be asked about
his sin." But the Koran came later
than this tomb.
INT. CAVE - ARABIAN DESERT - NIGHT
Jack and Nate pull themselves up with ropes to a tall ledge
and tiptoe across a narrow wall.
INT. CAVE - ARABIAN DESERT - NIGHT
They shimmy through a “squeeze”, an 18-inch high opening. The
cave shudders; it seems the rock will pancake them both.
INT. CAVE - FURTHER IN - MUCH LATER
Their hands run along smooth walls with ancient writing. Even
the glow sticks are dimming now.
JACK
It’s getting too hard to read.
He slides the keystone along the wall looking for an opening.
Finally a “click.” A huge room\cave opens up before them.
NATE
I knew the keystone would come in
handy one day.
JACK
The hell you did.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Navigating Danger
INT. SOLOMON’S PALACE ROOM OF PUZZLES - NIGHT
The room is vast, like an upended maze or labyrinth. They
cautiously step inside. Scimitars hang like stalactites from
the ceiling, some swaying ominously.
JACK
Nice. Let’s walk right down the
middle.
NATE
Down the middle, that’s smart.
One falls and slices a neat line down Jack’s forehead. Blood
drips. The joking stops.
NATE
Jack, you OK?
JACK
I’m OK.
The next room is like a checkers board only when stood upon
some squares flip away only to flip back and reappear.
INT. CHECKERS ROOM - JINNI CAVE - CONTINUOUS
They link up by rope for safety.
Nate steps on a white square and nearly tumbles into the void
pulling the rope out of Jack's harness.
Jack tosses a knife that pins Nate’s rope to the square,
inches before he tumbles away. He laboriously hauls Nate up
from the dark void.
NATE
It don't like me 'cos I'm black.
JACK
It don't like you 'cos you're fat.
NATE
Thanks, man.
Jack tosses some pebbles and sand and watches which tiles
fall then flip back.
NATE
You got it?
JACK
Got it.
They start hopping, missing tiles and half running to the
other side. A tile falls away and they both almost go down.
NATE
I thought you said you’d got it!
JACK
I’ve got it. I’ve got it!
They make it to the other side and watch all the tiles pop
then reorder themselves. Even the colors change.
JACK
Good luck on the return trip.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
The Cave's Enchantment
INT. CAVE - ARABIAN DESERT - LATER
Hours later. Their glow sticks are fading. Jack and Nate
stumble through a labyrinth. A weapon CLICKS in the dark.
JACK
Hear that?
NATE
Mmm-uh.
Nate swings his rifle butt in the dark and it hits home. TWO
HUGE, UNIFORMED MEN slump to the cave floor.
NATE
How'd they get their fat asses down
here?
JACK
Another entrance. Exit?
The men stir. Nate whacks them again and ties them up.
Another noise. A CLICK. Jack lets loose a knife in the dark.
It SQUISHES AND THUNKS.
Jack thinks it's hit home but a crazed SKINNY MAN screams and
rushes toward Jack. BLAM! Nate takes him out with one shot.
NATE
When was the last time you missed?
JACK
Ten seconds ago. Thanks, pal.
Nate retrieves the knife.
NATE
Your knife, sir.
They enter a huge cave, eerily lit from somewhere above. A
box sits in the middle of the room. Inside it is another then
another. Jewels, coins, and gold coins are everywhere and
surround the sealed boxes.
JACK
Like a Russian Matryoshka doll.
NATE
Even if we don’t find the icon,
we’re rich.
JACK
Yeah.
Jack and Nate scoop up gems, gold, and precious objects. They
keep opening boxes until they find a small square stone. It
has a groove in it like somewhere to rest a smartphone.
Jack takes out the keystone and slots it into the stone. The
light from above bounces onto the wall revealing a hidden
slot. Jack slides the keystone in and the whole black granite
obelisk lifts. Underneath they see a glowing object.
JACK
Look, there’s something in there.
NATE
That whole thing’s gonna squash
your ass soon as you get under it.
JACK
My ass? Some sort of old oil lamp.
It’s not gonna off us now.
Just in case, Jack ties a rope to a backpack and swings it
under the hanging massive stone to drag out the lamp. He
succeeds only in pushing it further.
JACK
What have you got in here? There’s
like a month’s rations.
Nate empties the food, Jack swings again - and out comes the
lamp. He grabs it and blows off the dust. Iridescent orange
flames light up the cave, then a blinding flash. They spot a
figure in the shadows. Nate lets off a round. BLAM!
JACK
Hold your fire captain!
The JINNI of the lamp, 40s, demure, yet sensual appears like
a ghost, translucent. Jack seems to recognize her.
JACK
She's with the irregulars. No, it’s
a ghost.
NATE
That bitch's no ghost boy. She's a
Goddamn ringer for Sab...
JACK
...Did you rub the lamp? Don’t
rub...
Nate reaches but falls right through. The Jinni vanishes into
the shadows. Jack, in spite of himself, is spellbound.
JACK
She looks just like she's taken on
the form...
NATE
...It's one of the Hajjis. Shoot
it, Jack!
As Jack’s hand moves into the shadow, a hand touches his.
JACK
Jeezus!
Nate leaps back in fright.
JACK
Spirit what do you want?
(In Arabic)
We mean you no harm.
NATE
Maybe it’s guarding the icon.
A GENTLE VOICE IN ARABIC from the shadows.
REZANA
ana Jinni l-gandil fa-tlub mi
tasha?
JACK
Christ, it's trying to communicate.
Wait, Arabic, "wishes?"
The Jinni seems to recognize Jack, leaping to embrace him.
NATE
Let's go, this is frickin’ weird
man.
JACK
No, wait a second. I know her.
NATE
Let’s get outta here Jack.
Jack sticks a transponder on the Lamp.
NATE
C'mon man.
Nate grabs the lamp. Jack can't take his eyes off the Jinni.
REZANA
Stana jinni l-gandil ma talabuk?
The Jinni moves. A moment of recognition. Jack goes to
embrace her then hesitates.
NATE
I wish it spoke English.
REZANA
In English then. I am the Jinni of
the Lamp. Make your second wish...
Jack, shocked, stumbles into a low stalactite, bumps his
head, and falls into a shallow well. Nate is oblivious.
REZANA
New master, what is your wish?
JACK
I wish you’d stop moving.
Nate doesn't hear Jack MOANING AS THE CAVE RUMBLES.
NATE
Yeah well, I wish I was back in
L.A. with a hundred billion
dollars. Oh shit Jack, sorry.
Rezana, Nate, and the Lamp disappear.
JACK
Nate! Jinni! No! Where are you?
Genres:
["Adventure","Fantasy","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Desperate Measures
EXT. NATHAN'S WEST COAST MANSION - DAY
A LAMBORGHINI DEALER hands over car keys in front of Nate's
new villa, a William Randolph Hearst Xanadu.
INT. NATE'S WEST COAST MANSION BEDROOM - NIGHT
Nate reclines in a black satin bed attended to by African-
American twins RENEE and ROSIE TENISON.
NATE
Hold on ladies, I need to find a
friend who's in deep shit.
INT. LAMP-ROOM NATE’S MANSION - LATER
The Lamp sits inside super-hardened epoxy. From within,
faint, almost imperceptible, SOBS. Nate sits outside, lost as
to what to do.
INT. CAVE, ARABIAN DESERT - NIGHT
Thin strands of moonlight pierce the dark cave.
JACK
This cave is my tomb. Tomb for the
“Thief of Bagdad”. The Thief of
Dubai.
From the scratches, it looks like he’s been trying for hours
as Jack swings a rope towards the roof and a crack in the
ceiling. Finally, it catches and Jack hits a green button on
a transponder. It lights up inside a...
...HELICOPTER OFF SCREEN
INT. NATE'S WEST COAST MANSION/THE LAMP - NIGHT
Rezana is curled up inside the lamp, tears streaming.
EXT. AWAY FROM THE GRANITE OBELISK - DAWN
Jack, out of the obelisk, sprints away behind a dune,
avoiding some guards with AK-47s, and signals to a chopper.
INT. HELICOPTER COCKPIT - NEARBY - CONTINUOUS
CAPTAIN MIKE BELLOWS, 50s a CRUSTY, TACITURN HELICOPTER JOCK,
spins the helicopter towards Jack as the dust creates a mini-
sandstorm hiding the pick-up area.
Mike lowers a very long rope with straps. Jack attaches
himself with carabiners as it lifts him up to a safe height.
The chopper takes off at speed with Jack dangling below.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Descent into Memory
EXT. HELICOPTER - CONTINUOUS
Jack grins, enjoying the view, and dangling nonchalantly as
the chopper rises higher and higher as it flies above
downtown Dubai City.
Jack's bootlaces flap around in the swirling winds as he
looks down at the slim antenna column of the Burj Khalifa,
the world's tallest building.
It hovers over the top and releases Jack onto the narrow
antenna spire, 163 stores up.
MIKE
On a dime. No sand in sight. Adios
Major!
JACK
Thanks again, Mike!
INT. BURJ KHALIFA TOP TOWER - CONTINUOUS
Jack starts climbing down inside the antenna's interior
ladder until he feels a bullet WHISTLING by from an ASSAILANT
who’s three floors below.
Unable to get a shot in, Jack wedges his knife between his
feet and drops straight down like a deadly water tube ride.
The knife skewers the shooter, who drops dead instantly and
falls, pulling and entangling Jack in his harness who starts
to fall inside the thin tube again.
Finally, he pulls up, managing to grab a rung opposite an
Emirates stewardess pinup posted with some graffiti on the
inside of the wall. The woman's face triggers a memory.
FLASHBACK
INT. THE LAMP - DREAM SEQUENCE - NIGHT
King Solomon and COURTIERS greet the Queen of Sheba. Jacob
catches Rezana's eye. Sabia stands next to Rezana.
REZANA
Is he not magnificent, sister?
CUT TO:
INT. THE LAMP - CONTINUOUS
Now Rezana curls up and reminisces. Jacob and Rezana are at a
desert caravanserai with just a handful of chaperones.
INT. TENT OUTSIDE DESERT CARAVANSERAI - NIGHT
Jacob is playing with some dates, pouring over some books,
and, obviously antsy, looks for Rezana. He peeks out of his
tent and sees an outline of her body backlit against her tent
wall. It sends a shiver of excitement through him.
Suddenly there is a NOISE and the tent starts lifting at the
side but it is only a nosey CAMEL and Jacob gently pushes it
away. He drops his head on a pillow in frustration. Again
there is a NOISE and lifting of the tent fabric.
JACOB
The camel just wants to warm his
nose but pretty soon...
REZANA
...The whole camel is inside.
It's not the camel this time but Rezana and she's a sight to
see, like Scheherazade and the Arabian Nights, complete with
silky veil and is accompanied by a HANDMAIDEN, 50s. She rests
her legs in his lap and he gets the hint.
He starts rubbing precious oils on her feet and gets a raised
eyebrow from the handmaiden as his hand touches her knee. He
starts reading from a book of Arab poetry.
Rezana is having a hard time resisting. He reaches for some
dates.
REZANA
Barhi. Eaten fresh. You are Halawi.
Sweet and small.
JACOB
Your maid.
The maid leaves and Rezana lies gently on top of him.
The CAMELS startle at their braces as a sudden GASP is heard
from the lovers’ tent. Several of Rezana’s SERVANT GIRLS
titter and smile as they huddle by the fire in the cold.
INT. TENT OUTSIDE DESERT CARAVANSERAI - MORNING
Rezana is massaging the web in Jacob’s hand to help a
migraine. She works on his temples, pinching the pressure
point just above the bridge of his nose. He laps it up.
REZANA
Better?
He smiles, he’s smitten. And smote.
CUT TO:
EXT. SOLOMON'S PALACE SWIMMING POOL - FLASHBACK - CONTINUOUS
JACOB and Rezana walk around a fabulous pool. Only it’s not
Rezana but Sabia, playing games. Rezana appears.
JACOB
That is unfair! You are the same. I
mean twins.
SABIA
Yes, we often used to fool father
and other suitors.
JACOB
That’s cruel.
REZANA
Are we not?
JACOB
My lady the Queen of Sheba is here
to congratulate King Solomon on his
great victory over Suleyman and
Jannistan.
REZANA
Yes, a great victory.
JACOB
Is it not?
REZANA
The vanquished are to be placed
inside bottles, slaves forever.
JACOB
But these were devils, disciples of
Iblis?
REZANA
Yes.
JACOB
Then Solomon will be in good
spirits. Ready to grant wishes to
newfound lovers!
Jack snaps out of the daydream and creeps from the slim tower
and onto the observation deck and starts emptying the sand
from his boots.
An elevator suddenly opens and Belgares and cronies charge
out, guns blazing, pummeling his Kevlar vest and slamming
Jack backward, shattering an access window.
The small window CRACKS open, sending Jack tumbling over the
edge. He manages to hold on with his bare feet.
BELGARES
You are in my world now western
dog.
Jack clings on with his legs, upside down on the outside of
the 159th floor, his bare feet exposed. Tariq begins to beat
his feet with a rod. It’s agonizing. He SCREAMS in agony as
Tariq works the bastinado on the soles of his feet.
INT. THE LAMP - NATHAN'S MANSION - PRESENT-DAY
Rezana hears Jack's CRY, and wakes in great despair.
INT. BURJ KHALIFA TOP TOWER - CONTINUOUS
As Tariq reaches for a knife, Jack hurls himself backward in
what looks like a suicide leap but he lands on a platform
manned by a stunned WINDOW CLEANER, 30s, 40 feet below.
One of Tariq’s men, ADNAN, 30s, hurls himself down the
building after Jack and keeps on falling to his death. Tariq
then grabs AKIL, 20s, and hurls him after Jack too. Akil,
amazingly, lands on Jack and the stunned window cleaner.
The platform drops away with just the safety ropes holding
the three men who start hurtling to the ground as the safety
rope slips under the weight.
Akil tries to knife him with his jambiya and stabs at Jack’s
face viscously, SCREAMING hysterically, unnerving Jack.
Jack rams a commando knife under Akil’s jaw and it seals his
mouth shut like a toothpick in a bun. He cuts him loose with
his own jambiya by slicing off 100 feet of remaining line.
Akil descends to his death with a muffled SCREAM.
It looks like Jack and the window cleaner are done for as
their weight slips them down the rope. They slide faster,
dropping like stones. It’s curtains.
But Jack and the cleaner land in a small ornamental pool in
the outdoor observation deck with a huge splash, sending
TOURISTS scattering.
He hauls the unconscious window cleaner out of the water and
drags himself past the HORRIFIED ONLOOKERS to the elevators,
barefoot, bloody, and bedraggled.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Underwater Escape
EXT. WATER PARK - DUBAI CITY - CONTINUOUS
Jack, exhausted, splashes his face in the fountains below the
Burj and binds his wounds. As he’s under the water he
realizes he can’t raise his head again as Belgares, Tariq,
and WASIM, 40s, muscle him under. They’re overpowering him.
Jack sees the lamp on the bottom, swims toward it, and
magically slips from their grasp. Belgares' men jump in but
he's vanished. The men cringe, awaiting Belgares' fury.
EXT. RIVER BANK - UAE - LATER
Jack emerges in a river near Dubai City, and sees Rezana. She
dives under, and Jack follows her under the water. His breath
is bursting, but he swims after Rezana's mirage.
INT. NATE'S WEST COAST MANSION BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Jack finally sees a bedroom and walks toward Nate's arms.
EXT. ARABIAN DESERT SIDE STREET - NIGHT
At an outside street vendor, Belgares spots a Fortune
magazine. The cover: "Nathan Bell, Rich enough to buy out
Jeff Bezos?" Ebony: "Nathan Bell - Wall Street's African
Prince." He recognizes Nate from the photo at Jack’s home.
Tariq rushes up and grabs the magazines. Belgares waves the
photo of Nate's L.A. mega-mansion.
BELGARES
Prepare my jet, Tariq.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Confrontation in the Mansion
INT. NATE'S WEST COAST MANSION - NIGHT
Jack, still soaking, materializes in Nate's bedroom, his
swollen feet enjoying the thick, soft carpet.
NATE
Stanford, I can't believe I wasted
my last wish bringing you here!
JACK
You sonnofabitch, leaving me in
that cave!
NATE
Listen I didn’t know where you
was...
TOMI AND ANTWOINE, AFRICAN AMERICAN, 20s, muscular, slickly
dressed in black faux turbans, appear with automatic weapons.
JACK
What the hell happened to you, man?
I need the Lamp, Nate.
NATE
You really want it? I already got
the IRS crawling over my ass...
JACK
Godamnit Nate!
The twins come running into the room.
RENEE
Are you all right baby? Who's this?
ROSIE
Yeah, who the hell are you white
boy?
JACK
We're old friends. From Africa.
The twins start to escort Jack out. Jack does a take.
LATER
NATE
...She fixed my back. Look. See.
Nate flexes his back. It's not killing him anymore.
NATE (CONT'D)
Insane right? You become her master
by possessing the lamp. Holding the
lamp kinda switches her on. It
turns her powers on but not the
wishes.
JACK
Thanks for the primer.
INT. NATE'S LAMP ROOM - NIGHT
Jack gently touches the casing around the lamp.
INT. THE LAMP - CONTINUOUS
Rezana jumps awake and presses her body to the sides.
INT. LAMP ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Nate lifts out the lamp and gives it to Jack, who finally
collapses in exhaustion.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
The Weight of Wishes
INT. NATE'S MANSION GUEST ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Jack, exhausted and unconscious, sleeps uneasily.
INT. NATHAN'S GUEST ROOM - LATER
JACK wakes again, and peers into the gloom as soft hands work
his swollen feet, massaging them. He’s incredibly moved.
Rezana is on the bed, crying.
JACK
Did I sleep? How did you get out?
She hands him the lamp -- he can barely hold it through
fatigue.
JACK
You come and go as you please?
NATE
Not quite.
Nate and Renee leave.
JACK
You could do one task for me and
then give me my wish.
REZANA
No. You must wish for it. I can
help with tasks, but hasten, you
must make a wish, any wish, then I
am yours.
JACK
There's a cop after the lamp too.
REZANA
He wants me.
JACK
But I need just to possess the
lamp, no?
REZANA
Quickly! Possession of the lamp is
all!
(whispering)
I can help with tasks but not
create solid objects until you rub
the lamp.
JACK
And Nate?
REZANA
Nathan is your friend. He has used
up all his wishes.
JACK
What can I wish for?
REZANA
Anything you desire. Anything that
can be imagined. Anything that can
be formed.
JACK
I want you to bring back someone
who died. If I do this then I only
get one wish right?
She looks ready to burst into tears.
REZANA
The "wish of life" must be the
first and only wish. Such a wish. I
cannot do this.
JACK
Cannot or will not?
REZANA
This wish. Such a wish...
JACK
What? What?
Jack grabs the lamp and shakes it as if clearing his head.
JACK
There's no way you were in here.
It's all nuts. I'm hallucinating
from the pain.
REZANA
I would be redeemed. Returned to my
own time.
JACK
Yes...no!
REZANA
Alone. You would be here. I would
be there. Set free for bringing
back life.
JACK
You could stay. Here.
REZANA
No. Not in this time. You have a
wife, a woman?
Jack awkwardly wraps a satin sheet around her.
JACK
You're, solid. I mean fleshy. I
mean human.
REZANA
I am a woman. See.
He can’t turn his eyes away.
JACK
(in Arabic)
"Men fall in love through the
eyes..."
REZANA
(in Arabic)
..."but women through the ear."
He grabs her arms but her covering falls again.
JACK
Maybe like this. Always. Your arms
are strong. Solid.
REZANA
Out of the lamp, we become flesh
again, but inside, it is as if we
are spirits, made of air. I cannot
explain it. See, I am real.
She examines his wrists, looking for the cuts, then places
both his hands on her chest.
JACK
But you’re not real. But
very...real.
She can't keep her eyes off him. Suddenly a migraine comes
over him. She holds his head and it quickly goes away.
REZANA
Do you remember?
JACK
Jinni...
REZANA
Rezana.
JACK
This is all crazy! Jinnis don't
exist. I'm dreaming and still in
the cave.
REZANA
You are with me, Jacob.
JACK
Jack. Rezana. You remind me of
someone. I can't explain it but
it's like Déjà Vu.
REZANA
What woman? Another Arab girl?
JACK
Can you take on another's form?
REZANA
No.
JACK
Who sent you? I need to know who
sent you!
REZANA
You need to choose! Jacob, Jack,
make a wish before it is too late!
JACK
I'm losing my mind!
He grabs Rezana and starts shaking her, but she rubs her
wrists together and makes his arms disappear then, just as
rapidly, they materialize once more.
He tries to stop her wrists from making the magic but his
arms become limp like noodles and his hands like soft
sponges. He's finally convinced of her power.
REZANA
Please believe.
JACK
This is crazy! They're no devils,
no gods, jinnis...how'd?...
REZANA
The Jinni of the lamp is Mubarakin,
a "blessed one." Mubarakin are
beautiful creatures who must use
their powers to help man.
JACK
Then show me. Take me to my old
house in New England.
REZANA
Is this a wish?
JACK
I'm not your master yet so it isn't
a wish. Right?
REZANA
You are clever Jacob.
JACK
You're just doing this on your own
volition.
She's not entirely convinced. But acquiesces.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
A Jinni's Curiosity
INT. CAPE COD BEACH HOUSE - SUNSET
Suddenly they are on a Cape Cod beach house at sundown. He
grabs a bottle of bourbon and starts draining it.
JACK
No, in modern dress. A bikini. Now
a sundress. Unreal. Wait a minute,
where’s the lamp?
She appears in modern dress, then a bikini.
REZANA
It has to stay in place, for the
spell to work.
TEXT OVER BLACK: THE NEXT DAY
INT. JACK’S CAPE COD BEACH HOUSE - MORNING
Jack’s making coffee. He’s still wary of the Jinni. He
watches her poke around the appliances, unsure of their
modern function. She burns her wrist on the toaster.
JACK
No, I'm sorry, I should have warned
you.
REZANA
I feel pain but can never die.
This last statement stops Jack in his tracks but he plays
dumb. Rezana makes some sweet dates appear - it seems to
trigger some sort of memory in Jack.
JACK
The dates are not all syrupy and
sugary. Sweet but tasty. I remember
something.
REZANA
Yes.
She watches for a hint of recognition.
JACK
A caravanserai.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
The Urgent Wish
INT. NATE'S WEST COAST MANSION BEDROOM - NIGHT
Nate and the ladies dash in.
NATE
Where the hell have you been? You
look like you’ve been gone a week.
Jack checks the clock on the wall.
JACK
Needed some time together. It's
only been three minutes. Let’s make
this wish.
NATE
Let's.
JACK
OK, then this is it. The point of
no return. I wish...
EXT. BUSHES - NATE'S MANSION - CONTINUOUS
Outside, Belgares peers into the dimly lit lamp room. Tariq
and THREE MEN unfurl ropes.
EXT. MANSION BALCONY - MOMENTS LATER
Belgares watches from the balcony.
BELGARES
Yes. Yes. Now you are mine.
TARIQ
Captain. The Jinni. It is there.
Mubarakin!
Belgares' men and ALAMBAR, 20s, make the sign of repentance.
BELGARES
Quiet, you fools!
ALAMBAR
It is the work of Allah. Look, the
Jinni, it lives!
TARIQ
It is a woman!
Belgares stops in his tracks when he sees Rezana.
BELGARES
Fools. Go, go.
ALAMBAR
Allahu Akhbar.
The men hesitate.
BELGARES
Bring me my lamp.
Belgares prods them forward with a huge, curved dagger.
BELGARES
He has made no wish yet. The Jinni
cannot harm us. Go! Quickly!
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Chaos in the Lamp Room
INT. LAMP ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Tariq and crew smash into the lamp room.
BELGARES
Iblis be prais...kill them all!
Immediately Nate, Tomi, and Antwoine bust in.
NATE
Everybody stay real still.
TOMI
Why don't y'all drop your weapons,
nice and slow like?
ANTWOINE
'Sright man. Let's pop some caps in
their asses.
Belgares grabs Rezana but Jack decks him with a right hook
and he crumples on the floor.
REZANA
I am unable to help until the lamp
is rubbed and I have a master.
Jack leaps but a firefight starts. Antwoine goes down in a
hail of bullets.
Automatic weapons blast from everywhere and tear up Nate's
mansion. Alambar pounces on the lamp and rubs.
ALAMBAR
To Mecca and paradise. Jinni I wish
for you to take us to Mecca!
Rezana twirls her finger. The room spins; sand is everywhere.
Darkness. Spinning. Desert. The ceiling becomes stars.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Chaos in the Sandstorm
EXT. DESERT OUTSIDE MECCA - NIGHT
In the chaos of a sandstorm, guns blaze from the shadows.
ALAMBAR
Allah be praised. No jinni! Why did
you bring the infidels?
Alambar tries for his second wish but the lamp shoots outward
from his chest with a PING, as Belgares' scimitar pokes
through Alambar's ribs. He has been stabbed from behind.
BELGARES
Fool. You shall be in your
paradise.
Alambar lets go of the lamp and it flies in the air, bullets
ricocheting off its sides. As the lamp spins in the storm
many hands reach for it.
NATE
Get some!
Some of Nate's living room has, incongruously, been carried
to the desert and is scattered on the sand.
Nate blows away the guards who fall onto the fine furniture,
as bloody splatter and pieces of fabric fly onto the sand.
Belgares grabs one guard to use as a shield.
Tariq lets loose a burst at Nate but cuts down Tomi who leaps
into the line of fire and crashes face-first into a glass
coffee table. Nate, out of ammo, finally surrenders.
Jack scrambles on the floor and grabs the lamp.
JACK
Nate! Nate!
Belgares pounces, hurling sand into Jack's eyes.
BELGARES
Pig! Now, it is mine at last!
JACK
Too late pal, it's mine! Jinni, I
wish...
Tariq, from behind, thwacks Jack with a rock.
TARIQ
Salaam!
Jack keels backward in a stupor, then seems to find balance.
JACK
I wish...I wish...
Belgares crowns Jack with the sword butt and he falls like a
plank. Rezana hurls herself over him for protection.
Belgares rubs the lamp.
BELGARES
Jinni! Behold your new master.
She starts to vanish but Belgares grabs her by the hair.
BELGARES
Not so quickly slave. There is
work, much work, for you. Jinni, I
wish to return home with 100
camels, food, and massive diamonds,
piled 100 feet high. And a
Mercedes...no, ten...one hundred.
Rezana stalls for time to make a plan.
BELGARES
Bring back my family and bring me
wealth.
REZANA
Your wife?
Belgares is suddenly hit with a migraine as he wrestles with
the dilemma. He grabs a Demerol.
BELGARES
My wife, my son, my daughter.
REZANA
Master, I grow weak, I cannot...
BELGARES
Will not!
Belgares seems to recall Rezana from the past and softens.
BELGARES
I command you to desire me. Love
me.
REZANA
This I cannot grant.
BELGARES
Infidel! Devil woman. Give it all
to me. Make my family come back.
Bring me also a mountain of
diamonds!
She shrugs her shoulders and bows her head “No.”
He lashes her, then threads some rope through her collar.
Rows of camels and precious gems and gold materialize in the
sandstorm. Belgares stumbles over a pile of baseball-sized
diamonds and grabs Rezana’s ponytail.
BELGARES
Destroy the infidel’s house Jinni!
REZANA
A wish master?
Belgares twists the Lamp, Rezana knows she must obey, for if
it breaks, she is doomed.
BELGARES
A command.
REZANA
Please master, do not break the
lamp!
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Ambition and Betrayal
EXT. NATE'S WEST COAST MANSION - CONTINUOUS
SERVANTS AND HOUSEKEEPERS disappear, crushed beneath the
rubble as Nate’s LA Mansion crumbles into a pile of rubble.
ARABIAN HORSES WHINNY as the stables crush them to death. The
twins, Renee and Rosie, lie dead in the hot tub.
EXT. DESERT OUTSIDE MECCA - CONTINUOUS
Back at the desert, sand collects on Rezana's falling tears,
as she, saddened and depleted, searches for Jack.
BELGARES
Take us to my fortress. The Jinni
needs to "regain her strength".
Rezana swoons and weakly rubs her wrists together. She and
Belgares and the rest disappear.
INT. BEDROOM - ARABIAN CITY FORT - LATER
Belgares is meeting with someone.
BELGARES
A palace with ten thousand virgin
slaves...the will of the almighty
dark one.
PEARCE
Sure. Whatever. It is now. Who
needs the wife and kids when you
can have your own country, right,
Sheik? Or should I say, Caliph?
BELGARES
Indeed. They are not coming back.
PEARCE
Go on. Bring back the wife. What's
wrong Ahmed? Afraid?
He shakes his head “no”. Then Pearce spots a huge
paperweight, a diamond as big as a grapefruit on the ornate
table. She passes him some Vicodin and picks up the Belgares
family photo and understands.
PEARCE
How are the headaches, Ahmed? Do me
a favor - bury Stanford deep in the
desert.
BELGARES
You are here for your lamp.
She nods.
BELGARES
There has been a "change."
PEARCE
Fifty million was the price. And
since we had to help you, you're
lucky to be getting that.
BELGARES
You are going into business for
yourself? Why give it to an infidel
woman when I may have the world?
PEARCE
Listen Belgares, if you try and
start your own country, they'll
drop a JDAM right down your palace
chimney. So be smart huh? Give me
the bloody lamp.
BELGARES
I could command the Jewish state
and your America to be dropped on
the surface of The Sun. The United
States turned to a handful of ash.
I could rebuild the Middle East.
PEARCE
Wouldn't that count as a wish?
BELGARES
No. A command.
PEARCE
You know your Jinnis better than
me.
(taking out a pistol)
BELGARES
My kingdom will be of the
underworld. You, you are the
eternal unwanted house guests who
never leave. You come here, take
everything you want, oil, our
culture, our women.
PEARCE
The women? The ones hidden behind
the sheets? And what culture? Says
here...
(checking a tracker)
...that our little lamp is right
about...
BELGARES
...Here.
Belgares thrusts a jambiya into Pearce's chest.
PEARCE
My mama...
BELGARES
Your mother?
PEARCE
My mama...
Pearce's gun FIRES. Belgares doesn't budge.
PEARCE
Through the heart!
BELGARES
I have no heart.
A bullet hole appears on the wall behind Belgares.
PEARCE
That smell...sulfur.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Betrayal in the Shadows
INT. CELL - ARABIAN CITY FORT - CONTINUOUS
Jack wakes in a cell. Rezana materializes into the room.
She moves closer and unties his cuffs.
JACK
Sweet breath.
Rezana vanishes suddenly. Before Jack can escape, Belgares
and Tariq return. There's a red stain in the middle of
Belgares' robe - where the heart would be.
TARIQ
How did you untie these bonds?
Speak infidel! Dog.
BELGARES
Soft Tariq. You are perhaps the
only man alive who could have
opened the cave.
JACK
There are others.
BELGARES
There are other lamps, other caves;
help me find them. You and I are
not so dissimilar. The Zionists
will be powerless against me. Us.
Share this power with me. Allies
searching once more.
FLASHBACK
INT. SOLOMON'S PALACE ROOM OF PUZZLES - NIGHT
Jack remembers dragging, with no hands, Belgares with no
heart, through countless corridors, searching for the
keystone. He shakes off the memory as an aberration.
END FLASHBACK
BELGARES
Ha, ha, you fool. Sentimental grave-
digging adventurer. You want
someone. The woman. But I will do
away with Israel and the United
States. I will hurl them into the
Sun!
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
The Tyrant's Command
EXT. OUTSIDE ARABIAN POLICE STATION - NIGHT
The FAITHFUL outside CHANT as Belgares holds up the lamp.
THE FAITHFUL
Allahu Akhbar!
Belgares cringes at the chanting but pretends to listen.
BELGARES
Behold! Behold! The Hebrew king
enslaved our people, set them among
devils, imprisoned and buried them.
He raises the Lamp to the stars.
BELGARES
No more delays! Jinni! I wish for
one billion perfect diamonds as big
as dates in a palace with slaves,
as big as a desert.
He rubs the lamp. Rezana appears, tossing handfuls of gems
his way until he is swimming in thumb-sized, flawless
diamonds.
BELGARES
Now deliver me my palace and
virgins! I wish to be fed honey.
REZANA
Is this a wish master?
BELGARES
Silence! Slave.
Belgares holds the lamp over the fire. As Rezana leans in,
his hand whips out like a cobra and strikes her face.
BELGARES
Unredeemed and without your lamp
you will wander through the night
forever, a spirit forsaken by
Allah. Never to be freed.
REZANA
Please. Master. Please.
BELGARES
Good slave.
Tariq and some GUARDS struggle to keep the CROWD at bay.
TARIQ
Master. The people are ready.
BELGARES
Ah, the faithful. Of course. Jinni,
hurl the United States and Israel
into the sun! I wish it. Now!
The crowd GASPS. Tariq's eyes widen. Rezana goes pale.
REZANA
It is not permitted to take life
master. "He who takes an innocent
life kills all mankind..."
BELGARES
I believe this was written after
your time, my dear.
He backhands Rezana so hard she falls to her knees, then
grabs her by the hair, brandishing the lamp.
BELGARES
I will have that dog STANFORD’S
throat cut like a sheep!
He motions to a eunuch. Rezana, tearfully, rubs her wrists.
Genres:
["Action","Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
Rise of Chaos
EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - THE MALL - DAY
PEOPLE tumble as the Washington Monument shakes.
EXT. SANTA CRUZ - CALIFORNIA - BEACH - DAY
A SURFER tumbles into a fissure. BEACH-GOERS scramble.
EXT. TEL AVIV - BUSY MARKET STREETS - NIGHT
Tel Aviv shoppers brace as the ground lifts under them.
INT. POLICE STATION - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Jack lunges at the cell bars, straining to hear the TV.
EXT. OUTSIDE ARABIAN POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS
The faithful chant “Allahu Akhbar!”. Tariq turns on CNN.
CNN: Shots of massive earthquakes along the coastal U.S.
CNN (V.O.)
Massive earthquakes rocked the
United States’ east and west coasts
today and Israel was hit by a
gigantic Tsunami...
EXT. POLICE STATION - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - CONTINUOUS
The world seems to shake. Belgares is thrown to the ground.
BELGARES
Burn the Zionists! Destroy the
American infidels. I will be
Caliph. Master of the world.
Rezana falls in a faint. Belgares drags her up by her ears.
REZANA
Master this cannot be done for it
is in the holy days. Here.
(she hands him an
hourglass)
When the sands cease, four days
hence.
Suspicious, he goes to slap her. The sand begins.
BELGARES
Yes, slave. Anticipation will
heighten the event. Now complete my
second wish! My caliphate, larger
than any building on earth. Fill it
with slave girls and eunuchs. And
gold. Much gold. Gold.
Rezana rubs her wrists and a huge palace rises. It's like
Dubai City times one hundred with Burj Khalifa's everywhere.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - DUNGEON - NIGHT
Nate, suspended, finds his rusty shackles turned to gold.
NATE
Now that doesn’t help. Or maybe.
Nate starts to twist and bend the soft, pliable metal.
EXT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - ARABIAN DESERT - NIGHT
Belgares' city emerges. ONLOOKERS flee, SCREAMING. MASSIVE,
DARK EUNUCHS appear. Then SLAVE GIRLS, kneeling.
BELGARES
Jinni, you have done well.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
Desperate Escape
INT. CELL - BELGARES’ MARBLE PALACE - NIGHT
As Jack's cell transforms, he escapes into a corridor where
CONFUSED SERVANTS offer him food and silk robes.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - A LITTLE LATER
Jack dashes along endless corridors.
JACK
Rezana! Rezana!
REZANA (O.S.)
Stop the hourgla...
Belgares muffles her but Jack follows the voice.
BELGARES
Goodbye, infidel. Send the intruder
to the ends of the earth. In a
sack. With animals for company.
INT. BURLAP SACK - CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - DAY
Like the notorious Byzantine punishment, Jack’s suddenly
inside a sack with a boar, serpent, and monkey. HISSING water
sprays in. The frenzied critters bite and scratch as the
water streams in.
Jack desperately RIPS open the sack and kicks to the surface.
EXT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - ARABIAN DESERT - CONTINUOUS
Belgares yanks Rezana's hair. Through her, he sees all.
BELGARES
Some hand grenades?
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Descent into Danger
EXT. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - SOUTH AFRICA - DAY
As Jack breaches the waves, hand grenades PLOP into the
water. He spots Table Mountain above Cape Town.
EXT. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - UNDERWATER - DAY
Now ropes twine bowling-ball-sized rocks on his ankles and
also bind his hands. Jack sinks. The water gets darker.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - CONTINUOUS
Belgares is enjoying the show, tightly gripping her hands.
BELGARES
Some sharks, perhaps.
Monstrous GREAT WHITE SHARKS circle Jack. But unknown to
Belgares, Rezana makes their teeth disappear as quickly.
Fearsome but now less lethal, Belgares watches them bump up
against Jack but is not yet suspicious.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - CONTINUOUS
Satisfied with his work, Belgares tires of watching and moves
away. Rezana springs a finger. As she does...
EXT. DEEP UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS
...Jack's own finger springs loose from the ropes.
The deepest grenade bursts and the concussion drives away the
sharks. Rezana's hands form the shape of a pineapple.
Jack and the remaining grenades plummet together toward the
deep. They start to resemble harmless pineapples.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - CONTINUOUS
Rezana, still watching, has turned the grenades into
pineapples but is dragged away by Belgares and they begin to
return to being grenades.
BELGARES
Come slave, there is much work to
be done and one unfinished wish.
Belgares looks over her shoulder knowing Jack can see them
and drags her away, Rezana loses focus and the pineapples
turn back into grenades.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Descent and Rescue
EXT. DEEP UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS
Jack sees her led away and bubbles a SCREAM of frustration.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - CONTINUOUS
Rezana plays along.
BELGARES
My temples throb so.
REZANA
Master, your head.
BELGARES
Never mind. Clothing! Fit for a
slave princess; jewels. Gold, a
bodice of pure gold. Sleep child.
Belgares ushers Rezana away. Rezana pretends to sleep and
remembers bottles, jinnis, and directs Jack to a...
EXT. DEEP UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS
...Green bottle on the sea bed. Another grenade explodes but
a Great White shark absorbs the impact. Jack hits the bottom,
lungs bursting, and spots the green, barnacle-encrusted
bottle. He kicks towards it but starts to black out.
EXT. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - THE BOTTOM - CONTINUOUS
Nearly unconscious now, he reaches out and manages to grasp
the bottle with his teeth. A Jinni inside shakes himself
awake and into action. Jack begins to rise to the surface as
the tiny Jinni inside furiously pushes the bottle upward.
EXT. CAPE TOWN BEACH - CONTINUOUS
Jack shivers in the cold night air, soaked. Rezana warms him
motherly and wraps his hands on her warm skin to revive him.
She pulls off his wet clothes and presses her body against
his to warm him. The heat from her skin revives him.
TEXT OVER BLACK: A DAY LATER
Rezana feeds Jack hummus, couscous and falafels. He devours
them, watching her, his mind racing.
Jack is observing Rezana curiously. She’s feeding him grapes.
He’s gaining strength, eating out of the palm of her hand.
She blows sweet breath like a jolt of pure oxygen into his
mouth, and Jack passes out again.
She suddenly spots the green bottle in the sand, tries to
hurl it back in the ocean but it won't leave her hand. The
bottle heats up, burning her hand. She drops it.
Rezana furiously covers the red-hot bottle with sand and goes
to dissolve it with her wrist magic but she's blown backwards
and vanishes.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
The Jinni's Bargain
EXT. CAPE TOWN BEACH - EVENING
The orange-yellow circle of the sun sinks over the beach.
Jack looks for Rezana as if it was all a dream, but traces of
the food remain.
Jack peers at the creature in the bottle, and the tiny bald,
black Jinni inside. Jack pops open the cork and the JINNI,
MOCCIO, 40 feet tall, 50s, a giant in sandals, BLACK, CRANKY,
AND MUSCULAR, emerges and drops to his knees.
MOCCIO
Free! Free at last! Praise be to
Allah! My day has come! You!
Jack stumbles backward in shock.
JACK
I have to leave. It's very urgent.
MOCCIO
Leave? But it was I, little man of
mud who saved you from a watery
tomb. In turn, you have freed me
from my bondage.
Moccio lets out an awful LAUGH, which shakes the sand.
JACK
Think nothing of it my large
friend. Farewell.
MOCCIO
And I shall reward you by being
merciful!
JACK
Merciful?
MOCCIO
By allowing you to choose the
manner of your death.
Jack runs but Moccio picks Jack up like a hamster.
JACK
Death? I saved you! Why would you
kill me?
MOCCIO
I saved your life and you have
returned the favor. We are even.
For three thousand years Moccio has
been imprisoned in this bottle. For
the first thousand years, I vowed
whomsoever released me would
receive all the riches of the
world.
JACK
But, my wishes. You have to
grant...
MOCCIO
I must grant nothing! Marida are
not as Mubarakin jinnis!
JACK
It was a woman who saved me.
MOCCIO
Silence, sea scoundrel! In the
second thousand, I vowed to give
all the riches in the sea. Still,
no one came. During the next
thousand, I promised my benefactor
all the riches contained in the
earth. Still, no one came! I became
angry because neither Allah nor man
heard my pleas.
(MORE)
MOCCIO (cont'd)
I vowed to kill whomsoever finally
released me. So I now ask one more
time - how do you wish to die?
Jack's face is now purple. Moccio drops him.
JACK
I don't understand.
MOCCIO
What, what?
JACK
How'd you get into that tiny
bottle?
MOCCIO
I was imprisoned by the hand of
Solomon the Great when he warred
against Jannistan! So tell me, my
salty-faced pilferer, how do you
wish to die?
JACK
I don't buy it.
Moccio stamps his size 66 feet. The beach shakes.
MOCCIO
Impudent little satyr!
Moccio tries to stomp Jack, who manages to dive away.
JACK
How could a big Jinni like you
squeeze into a tiny bottle? You
came outta the sea. I am the
capturer of Marida!
MOCCIO
So, the young imp does not believe?
Watch this, unbeliever!
Moccio disappears. Jack rushes to the bottle but Moccio is
out again in a flash.
JACK
Okay, okay, but all I saw was some
smoke. Check this out, mighty
Jinni.
Jack whips out his Smartphone from a Ziplock plastic bag and
shoots a video selfie.
MOCCIO
You are trapped inside this strange
'bottle'.
JACK
If I wish it to be so. Behold! I
travel back between this ‘bottle’
and the world with ease. Surely you
are not afraid to try?
The phone ruse fails to get Moccio in the bottle.
MOCCIO
Mini master this is strange magic
indeed. I will still kill you. Yet,
for you have given me
entertainment, I will make it
without pain. Farewell.
Jack grabs his pants and is dragged along, spitting out sand.
JACK
Hold on. You’re afraid.
MOCCIO
Afraid? Moccio? Dog of a thousand
fathers. Watch this!
Moccio snorts and leaps inside the bottle. Jack seals it
quickly this time and sprints to the shoreline.
MOCCIO
Nooo, young master! Please do not
condemn Moccio again.
Jack shakes his head “No”.
MOCCIO
Please! I will grant you your
desires. Only, by the love of the
One True God, do not leave me in
this bottle. Please, young master!
JACK
If you break your word...
MOCCIO
Please oh, sultan of thieves,
prince of pilferers; by the beard
of Suleyman, Lord of all Jannistan,
I swear it. As Allah bears witness -
I will not harm you!
Jack releases Moccio from the bottle and the big Jinni seems
even larger, towering above him even when prostrate.
JACK
OK. Get up, get up.
Moccio closes the bottle and punts it over the horizon.
MOCCIO
Come close young master. "Lord of
Larceny."
Moccio lays a gigantic fingernail on Jack's head and turns
ghostly pale with fright and whispers.
MOCCIO
A thief! You are the thief!
JACK
I'm no thief.
MOCCIO
Indeed. You steal from tombs.
JACK
Archaeology. I live in Dubai.
MOCCIO
You did steal the Sword of
Jerusalem with the all-seeing eye.
For this, there is no redemption.
Jack slowly catches on.
JACK
You looked into my mind. My past.
If I find it again, I’ll keep it.
It’s mine. I deserve to keep it.
MOCCIO
Ah, but look here.
Jack’s Zen garden tears out of his pocket. Moccio rubs his
wrists together and it opens up into a floating map of the
Middle East.
JACK
I'll be damned.
MOCCIO
You may well be. Here, little man
of mud. Here is your fate. Ha!
Hidden within this keystone. Magic
indeed!
Jack is flabbergasted but waffles.
JACK
I knew the key of course, but not
the map.
MOCCIO
Indeed.
The keystone shows Jinnis hidden around the world.
JACK
A map of all the Jinnis? Why give
me this?
MOCCIO
I have given you nothing my tiny
friend. This was in your
possession. Do you not know?
JACK
Know! What?
MOCCIO
You are the finder of the children
of the Great Jinn.
JACK
Wait! What do you mean?
MOCCIO
Here! Here, is your future, young
lord of a thousand felons! Ha! Ha!
"Thief of Dubai!" Ha! Now, I leave
you. I have been imprisoned too
long, and I want to see what
changes in the world have occurred
since I was confined. May the One
True God protect you -- from
temptation.
JACK
I need to get back to "Arabia."
Moccio is now very serious.
MOCCIO
Go there to find your way back.
(he points to a cave)
Take whatever single item will help
you in your quest. Enter here. Take
naught else or damnation be upon
your head. There will be many
temptations.
(MORE)
MOCCIO (cont'd)
I warn you, thief, touch ought else
or I will be back to chastise you
myself.
JACK
Take what? What item?
MOCCIO
Hah! Cut your coat according to
your cloth.
Moccio leaps into the clouds and disappears over the horizon.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
The Enigmatic Encounter
EXT. MOCCIO'S CAVE - CONTINUOUS
Jack steps into the cave and is instantly transported to
another place. Another time. A portal, floating, like outer
space. It is littered with treasure, and jewels.
Untold objects litter the cave, telescopes, paintings, and
gadgets. Jack picks up a few gems, ponders, then puts them
down. He searches but nothing looks like a coat. Or cloth.
JACK
"Cut your coat according to...
Then he comes across a tatty, worn, peasant's coat.
JACK
...your cloth!"
Jack grabs it. Nothing. But behind it now he can see mirrors
and shines his phone flashlight and watches for the
refraction. A sparkle shines from the shadow, the Eye of
Wisdom cannot be hidden, even by an...
JACK
An invisible sword.
Jack almost walks into it, feels for the steel, and plucks it
from its scabbard. A magnificent, jewel-encrusted scimitar
materializes out of the case. He blows some dust off the Eye
of Wisdom and sees Rezana walking to him
JACK
The Sword of Solomon. Damascus
Steel. Lost for thousands of years.
The hardest blade ever made.
Jack slices some rocks like cookie dough then slides the
blade back into the scabbard - both become invisible.
JACK
Finally, I have you.
As he pushes forward in the dark he suddenly feels a hand,
jumps, and finds Rezana in the shadows.
JACK
Good God! You scared me.
REZANA
Quietly, or they will hear.
She’s like a ghost, Jack's hands passing through her.
JACK
I see you’re working the other side
now.
REZANA
What mean you? I have no free will.
JACK
You’re here.
REZANA
I am only for you. How can I prove
my fidelity?
She rubs her wrists together and her garments slowly
disappear. Jack tries to resist by closing his eyes, but she
appears in his mind's eye just as powerfully. Then she
vanishes again.
JACK
Wait! Damnit.
Jack moves through the portal till it ends abruptly. The
sounds of a MARKET, CAMELS, and VOICES. He tosses a rock
toward the wall. It flies through like a waterfall and Jack
walks through only to find himself outside Belgares' palace.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
The Tenuous Alliance
EXT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - DAY
The palace is an impenetrable walled city fortress. At one
end is a towering, glistening brown granite pyramid.
Belgares' caliphate stretches for 100 miles, a metropolis of
marble and gold with skyscraper-sized minarets.
JACK
Holy shit.
EXT. STREET - BELGARES CITY - CONTINUOUS
Guards in turbans and portraits of Belgares dot the city.
INT. BELGARES' THRONE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
A GUARD, 20s, flies in, prostrating himself on the floor.
PALACE GUARD
Master. He is back! See. The
infidel.
Video screens show Jack scaling the south pyramid wall.
INT. THRONE ROOM - LATER
Jack slips into the throne room and spots Belgares sitting
placidly on a magnificent, opulent golden throne.
BELGARES
I have been expecting you my
thieving friend.
JACK
We're all thieves these days.
BELGARES
There are others! You saw how the
girl responded to you. You are a
mortal who found the Jinn. Together
we could conquer all things. The
entire world.
JACK
Redo the world and make it right.
BELGARES
You redo your half. Take the
Western Hemisphere. We can
transform the world.
JACK
What’s wrong with the world?
BELGARES
My people seem intent on a final,
suicidal showdown with the West.
Your people believe their dogs are
their children and have melted the
polar ice caps, flooding the world.
We should build an “Ark”.
JACK
You and me. Shipmates.
Jack tosses Belgares a Vicodin. Belgares tosses a Demerol
which they both catch like seals.
A moment of strange painkiller kinship. Almost, between them.
Belgares leads Jack inside the sumptuous palace.
But the FAITHFUL gathered in the palace can't watch any
longer and rush forward. Before Belgares can call them off
one strikes Jack with a scimitar but the blade splinters
harmlessly on the invisible Sword of Solomon.
BELGARES
Bring me this!
Belgares unsheathes it, puts it back and it disappears.
BELGARES
Behold the Holy Sword! Take it to
my chambers.
JACK
Now who's the thief?
Belgares' mood changes and he gives Jack a wicked backhand.
BELGARES
You will take me to the Jinn who
gave you this sword.
JACK
I think not.
BELGARES
Then kill him!
Eunuchs move in with swords.
JACK
Wait! I'll tell you!
BELGARES
I will find him myself.
JACK
No. I'll show you where all the
Jinnis are buried.
TARIQ
How?
JACK
I'll need access to a satellite.
TARIQ
He could be lying.
BELGARES
Yes, indeed. But the Sword. Get him
what he needs. Throw the infidel in
the Pit of Sighs for his "own
safety" while the equipment
arrives.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
Escape from the Pit of Sighs
INT. PIT OF SIGHS - NIGHT
Jack hangs in the dungeon, feet just touching the sand. Nate,
shackled in the shadows, is just inches away from Jack and
still working his golden shackles.
JACK
Nate! What the hell are you doing
here?
NATE
That sonnofabitch Belgares threw me
in here! Dang, it's good to see
you, boy.
Jack tries to vault off but just spins around.
NATE
One more time, Jack!
Jack tries again and his gold shackles start to break.
JACK
Listen Nate we have to get to
Rezana. Belgares is going to drop
the USA and Israel into The Sun
when an hourglass runs out.
NATE
Holy shit!
JACK
Yeah, exactly. Remember the tracker
on the lamp - the Israelis are
coming at any moment to turn this
place into the world's biggest
barbecue pit.
NATE
Jeez, Jack! You gotta find that
hourglass man!
JACK
Your house in LA is gone. I'm sorry
man.
Nate spins in frustration but fails to escape the shackles.
NATE
Your sorry ass is sorry. What is
it, Jack? I steal shit because I
grew up poor. You steal because
you’re mad at the army, over Sabia.
You’ll never get revenge that way.
JACK
Maybe not but I’ll have the Sword.
NATE
And do what with it? You’re nuts,
Jack.
Jack spins free of the chains and crashes to the sand.
NATE
Listen, you're in deep shit, Jack.
I heard the guards talking about
Belgares putting a "fatwa" on you.
JACK
A decree of death. Nothing unusual.
I'm going to find Rezana. You have
to stay here Nate.
NATE
Your ass is grass. What are you
gonna do when you find her? No,
don't leave me here. Jack! Jack!
INT. LOCKED PALACE ROOM - NIGHT
Rezana, kneeling, is sleeping, bound by crystal shackles. He
tries to nudge her awake.
JACK
"Crystal chains - to hold a Jinni."
Jack smashes the shackles and gently carries her out.
INT. PALACE HALLWAY - LATER
Jack and Rezana skate along an endless corridor and walk
straight into Belgares and CRONIES.
BELGARES
Jack Stanford. I am delighted you
are enjoying my humble palace.
JACK
It’s big, I’ll give you that.
BELGARES
My map?
JACK
Yes.
BELGARES
Come with me, my resourceful
friend. Come, come it is good.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Negotiations on the Veranda
EXT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE VERANDA - NIGHT
Belgares leads Jack and Rezana to a veranda.
BELGARES
See. See. As far as your eyes can
see, my domain. Give me the map of
the Jinn. I’ll let you have the
girl.
REZANA
The Marida!
BELGARES
Where is its lamp?
JACK
Bottle. Bottom of the ocean, last
time I looked.
BELGARES
Get it for me!
JACK
How many palaces can you live in at
one time?
BELGARES
It is for my wife. And children. To
bring them back. I was mistaken.
JACK
You're lying.
BELGARES
No, all this, all this I will share
with you for the map of the Jinn.
It is the prophecy.
Jack knows he's lying but Rezana is softening. A brazier
CRACKLES in the center of the room.
REZANA
He wants to return his family. It
can be done. With many lamps.
JACK
One wish, one life, for each
flunky? Then keep it close by.
REZANA
No, by then I would have vanished.
JACK
He doesn't care about his family.
(whispering)
“The Angels were created from light
and the Jinn from smokeless fire.”
BELGARES
Very good. But you, you don't even
believe.
A screaming migraine seems to come over Belgares.
JACK
You should have wished for peace
and quiet.
BELGARES
Peace. Peace and quiet.
JACK
The Fatwa?
BELGARES
I can have it revoked.
JACK
Captain Bell?
BELGARES
It shall be done.
JACK
And my sword.
Belgares hesitates but realizes he has bigger fish to fry.
BELGARES
This too.
REZANA
What sword?
BELGARES
Quiet, slave.
Servants appear with tea.
JACK
You'll find the first Jinni in this
cave. The rest will follow.
Jack scribbles some coordinates and hands the paper to Tariq.
REZANA
Jack, do not do this! Not for me.
JACK
I have a plan.
REZANA
The Marida are not like me. It will
be very bad for all people.
He takes her out on the veranda and they take in the huge
palace city.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
Shackles of the Night
EXT. VERANDA - BELGARES' PALACE - CONTINUOUS
REZANA
This is a strange time to emerge.
JACK
"May you live in interesting
times."
REZANA
I have lived in interesting times.
Jack notices how beautiful Rezana looks in the flickering
firelight.
JACK
How many masters have you had since
then?
REZANA
A slave obeys. A woman obeys. Does
what she has to -- to survive. I am
trapped.
JACK
We’re all trapped.
Belgares comes out and unclasps Rezana's collar.
BELGARES
Come, "Jack." Your quarters await.
Enjoy the company of the slave in
the meantime.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - GUEST ROOM - NIGHT
Jack and Rezana are led to a room filled with SLAVES who fawn
over them.
EXT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - HELIPORT - NIGHT
Helicopters start as Belgares' men go in search of Moccio.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
Confrontation in the Guest Room
INT. GUEST ROOM - NIGHT
Jack and Rezana find Nate, surrounded by food.
REZANA
The release of the devil children
of Iblis. This is great evil.
JACK
Listen, Belgares wants all the
Jinnis. He's going to use them to
become Caliph of planet Earth.
REZANA
We would not help him make war.
JACK
You can't speak for all Jinnis.
NATE
So what's all this shit about
Moslems rising up against the
Hebrew enslavers?
JACK
A red herring. Belgares doesn't
care about that.
(MORE)
JACK (cont'd)
He'll let the Israelis nuke the
region then take over when it's all
clear.
NATE
I don't know what you’re planning
my man, but it better be really
good.
JACK
Just don't sleep too soundly.
Nate leaves with some slaves. Jack and Rezana find some
delicacies and start wolfing them down.
REZANA
Why do you wait?
JACK
Help is coming.
REZANA
What help?
JACK
Help. But you must help me get the
lamp.
REZANA
This I cannot do.
JACK
But Belgares' final wish. At the
end of Eid Al-Adha?
REZANA
Yes. At the end of Eid Al-Adha, an
hourglass will run out, then the
only way to save your country and
Israel is by my redemption or
death.
JACK
What could kill a Jinni?
REZANA
If the lamp is destroyed by fire.
Or by the hand of another Jinn.
What is it, my love?
Jack drops his pita bread and goes pale.
JACK
Nothing. I have to kill Belgares.
REZANA
You cannot. I must protect him.
JACK
Then how can you be redeemed?
REZANA
By giving my life to save the life
of another.
JACK
What kind of bargain is that?
REZANA
We all make bargains with Allah.
JACK
My mind, how do you...?
REZANA
Just the dreams.
JACK
(to himself)
I promised I wouldn't leave the
Middle East until I found her. Her
body.
REZANA
But the Fatwa. You cannot stay.
She wipes some hummus from his lips then kisses them.
JACK
My artifacts. I can sell them in
London. Probably get a great price.
REZANA
You must give back the sword.
JACK
I can't.
REZANA
Won't.
JACK
There is someone else. Was someone
else.
REZANA
The dead Persian girl.
Rezana finally gets it and slinks off.
JACK
Rezana! Godamnit. I didn't love
her. Not like you. Rezana come
back! Damnit! I love you.
Jack tries to chase her but she snaps a finger and his legs
crumple under him and he falls on some pillows, dead tired.
In his half-slumber Moccio's voice BOOMS inside Jack's head:
MOCCIO (O.S.)
"I warn you, thief, touch ought
else or I will be back and chastise
you myself!"
Sprawled exhausted, on pillows she makes Jack sleep. Finally
there is darkness, and, rest. Winds gently fan the curtains.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Action","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
Caught in the Storm
INT. CAVE - CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - NIGHT
Belgares' FLUNKIES sweep through the magic cave, grabbing
everything not tied down. The cave RUMBLES ominously.
EXT. ISRAELI AIR FORCE BASE - NIGHT
Israeli F-16s roar down a runway, afterburners glowing.
INT. GUEST ROOM - BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - LATER
Jack wakes to BOOMING thunder and a sandstorm.
JACK
Rezana! I must have slept for
hours.
Moccio spots him, smashes a wall, and reaches for Jack.
Jack runs, but a Hummer-sized foot blocks his way. His ears
drum to an incredible POUNDING and SHAKING sound.
Jack sprints to the other door but a massive hand blocks his
way. Moccio's SCREAMING shakes the palace walls.
MOCCIO
Son of a thousand thieves! Could
not resist the temptation could
you? Sired by a monkey! Thief of
ancient corpses! Cursed Christian
beggar to bring me back from my
rest! I shall kill you with no
compunction this time!
Jack dives, head first, through a window, but lands in
Moccio's huge palm.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Action","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
Chaos in the Palace
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE BATHING ROOM - NIGHT
Jack slices Moccio's hand with the Sword and blood sprays
like a fountain splattering and burning the curtains.
MOCCIO
Accursed son of beggars! Dog of
dogs. May Allah curse you!
Jack dashes away. Rezana sees the sword and saddens.
INT. BELGARES' ROOM - NIGHT
Jack runs to Belgares' room for the Lamp and finds Nate.
NATE
Holy shit, you see the size of that
Negro! Who, what is that?
JACK
Let him bring the house down. We
need the lamp. If the Israelis nuke
this place before we find the
hourglass 300 million people are
gonna be turned into ash.
NATE
Yeah, but what about our - your
wishes?
JACK
First things first my friend.
Jack spots Moccio. Nate leaps behind a mountain of pillows.
JACK
Hey Moccio!
Moccio's fist smashes free the locked lamp. Jack grabs it but
Moccio's dagger-like nails tear into his shoulder.
MOCCIO
Dog!
Moccio sweeps away three rooms sending Jack tumbling outside,
onto an awning, then headfirst into a swimming pool.
EXT. SWIMMING POOL - NIGHT
Dust from the crumbling palace covers the pool surface and
hides Jack under the water, then he sprints back for Rezana.
INT. PALACE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
It’s pandemonium as Moccio tears the palace apart. GUARDS
fire at him, but Moccio sweeps them away like chess pieces.
INT. ISRAELI AIR FORCE F-16 ABOVE DUBAI - NIGHT
Israeli F-16s scream to Belgares City. A homing screen lights
up a jet's dashboard as the lamp's transponder BEEPS.
Genres:
["Action","Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
Sacrifice in the Storm
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - REZANA'S ROOM
Jack kicks in Rezana's door. As she runs, he tackles her, but
she SMASHES a vase on his head.
JACK
Rezana. Rezana! I need your help.
REZANA
No! No help for you. You thief. I
saw The Sword. You stole the Holy
Sword of Solomon and you stole me
from my king three thousand years
ago. You’re a liar.
JACK
I’m sorry about the Sword and I
never met you before a few days
ago.
He whips out the Lamp. She pauses for a second. Then starts
running.
JACK
Wait! I need to tell you
something...
REZANA
What?
Moccio's BELLOWING interrupts them.
JACK
I...can you get rid of Moccio once
he's destroyed this palace?
(MORE)
JACK (cont'd)
I must find Belgares and stop that
hourglass.
REZANA
This, I cannot do.
JACK
What?
REZANA
He is too powerful.
The storm drives them to a quieter spot. Jack rubs the lamp.
JACK
In case something happens I need to
make a wish now. I have a promise
to keep.
Rezana catches Jack’s eye and starts to read his intention.
JACK
I'm sorry.
Jack also sees it in her eyes.
JACK
No. I’ll free you. We can be
together. Here.
REZANA
I must return to my own time. I
cannot be free here.
JACK
I can't live in ancient
Mesopotamia.
REZANA
No, no, it will be all right. One
moment. A girl, her name?
JACK
Sabia.
REZANA
What? That name! Show me.
Jack swipes through a million photos searching for Sabia on
his phone but then the battery dies.
Then he pulls out a faded photo. Rezana GASPS.
REZANA
It is her!
JACK
I vowed I wouldn't leave the Middle
East without her. She gave her life
for me. But I love you.
REZANA
She gave her life that you and I
would be together.
JACK
What!
REZANA
Sabia was my sister.
JACK
The pendant.
REZANA
She gave her life in this time to
bring us back together.
Jack looks closely at Rezana - the resemblance to Sabia's
photo with her short hair, military fatigues, and goggles
seems more obvious now.
REZANA
I waited three thousand years to
find you.
JACK
But Sabia guided me to the
keystone!
REZANA
Yes, the love of a sister and a
promise kept.
JACK
(in Arabic)
For the love of...
REZANA
...We have found each other.
A long kiss.
JACK
But Sabia.
REZANA
I protected my sister with my
freedom and she has paid the debt.
JACK
But Sabia's dead.
REZANA
No, she lives. She lives in the
spirit of the beautiful Oryx.
JACK
The antelope in the minefield. You
must take the lamp.
REZANA
No. But what of us?
JACK
I won't lose you again.
She wraps herself tightly around him as Jack rubs the lamp.
JACK
I...
They tumble into pillows kissing like coiled snakes.
JACK
...set you...
JACK REZANA
...free. ...free.
GUNFIRE outside, explosions, and terrifyingly DEEP SHOUTS.
Moccio crashes through the ceiling and grabs Jack.
MOCCIO
Die, son of a donkey.
JACK
Allah will punish you...
Moccio slams Jack's mouth shut with a teeth-cracking thud.
MOCCIO
I will enjoy killing you. Slowly.
He flings Jack against the wall, and he slams onto the floor.
Moccio's GUFFAW shakes the ceiling and sweeps his hand for
the coup de grace, but Rezana hurls herself in front of him.
JACK
No!
Rezana pushes, but Moccio is too powerful. She rubs her
wrists together, but he locks them so she can't work her
magic as they seem to be stuck like one appendage.
She forces her wrists to move and suddenly silken curtains
fly off the walls, curling around Moccio's ankles, pinning
his legs together and he crashes into the wall.
She manages to squirm free momentarily and rubs her wrists
and the sheets become ropes, then chains. Moccio snaps them
loose. Rezana starts to create crystal bonds, the only chains
that can hold a jinni.
Jack, still held fast, tries to pry Moccio's fingers loose.
JACK
Run!
Moccio flicks Jack away. As the crystal chains form, one
ceiling stone falls toward Jack. Rezana takes focus off
Moccio and freezes the rock for a beat to give Jack time to
escape. Moccio seizes his chance and squeezes the tiny Jinni.
REZANA
Run!
JACK
No! No!
Rezana can't move, can't fight.
As her strength runs out, she slumps in Moccio’s big fingers,
then dies. She vanishes.
JACK
Rezana, no! You son of a bitch!
MOCCIO
I will now kill the Thief of Dubai.
But Jack slices Moccio’s chin with the Sword and jinni blood
hits the floor, burning the marble tiles like paper.
MOCCIO
Aiee! You thief of a thousand
tombs. I will put you in a bottle!
Moccio's fist descends, but Jack hides in the billowing
curtains. GUARDS rush in with bazookas and begin firing.
Irritated by the noise and explosions, the big jinni grows
tired of his rampage.
Moccio crouches, and, with a ROAR, vanishes into the stars.
As Jack watches Moccio disappear into the clouds from behind
the curtains the Eye of Wisdom on the Sword lights up softly.
Jack fails to notice.
CLOSE ON THE EYE OF WISDOM
Rezana seems to be floating away, adrift on a sea of clouds.
Then the Eye of Wisdom goes dark once again.
INT. BELGARES' MARBLE PALACE - ARABIAN DESERT - CONTINUOUS
Jack materializes inside the golden throne room.
BELGARES
Infidel pig. Son of a dog! You took
away my Jinn, my wishes. Now they
will never return. And neither will
you.
JACK
You made the wrong wish.
BELGARES
We are not so unalike. You also
made the wrong wish.
JACK
Did I? You’re wrong.
Jack unsheathes the Sword of Solomon and points it
threateningly at Belgares who, unfazed, holds his arms out as
if welcoming the blade.
BELGARES
Blades cannot kill what is already
dead.
Belgares' red eyes seem to cackle, mocking Jack.
But Jack, resolute, throws a commando knife into Belgares'
chest. Nothing. Belgares flicks it out and scurries away
backward, at speed. Jack is stunned.
Jack takes off after Belgares into the endless dark palace
corridors.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Action","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
A Blade's Resolve
INT. DOOR OUTSIDE THE TREASURY - MOMENTS LATER
Tariq stands laughing at the end of an immense corridor,
holding a knife to an unconscious Nate's neck.
TARIQ
Hah! Watch the dog die.
JACK
No!
He starts to slice Nate's throat but Jack hurls a knife. It
lodges in Tariq's arm, holding it fast.
Still, he persists with his other arm but Jack hurls the
Sword of Solomon which spins through the air like a demented
boomerang, spinning and spinning Frisbee-like until...
CLOSE ON:
Tariq's face, still grinning but as we:
PULL BACK:
His torso is on the same level as his legs, cut in half.
JACK
For the death of a princess.
Tariq looks to Hell and then to Heaven and realizes the end
is close. He seems to be looking for absolution.
TARIQ
A thousand apologies, infidel.
Unmoved, Jack runs up to him and strikes off his head.
Jack notices a breeze coming from inside a pair of gargantuan
golden doors. They barely budge but with a great effort, he
muscles them open.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
Quicksand and Chaos
EXT. ISRAELI AIR FORCE F-16 - SKIES ABOVE OMAN - NIGHT
Backlit by stars, the Israeli F-16s close on their target.
COLONEL BOOSTAN (O.S.)
Safeties off, arm warheads. Final
coordinates in five minutes.
INT. INSIDE THE TREASURY - CONTINUOUS
Behind the golden door is an immense warehouse full of gold
dust. Behind the 'dunes' are perfectly painted stars to make
it look like the desert night.
Jack spots Belgares far on the other side of the building. He
trepidatiously steps onto the sand but sinks more with each
step. Pretty soon he's up to his knees.
Between them are yards of deadly quicksand. He hesitates on
the fringe, then edges forward, sweat beading on his brow.
BELGARES
I read your army file. 'A morbid
fear of sand'.
Jack's feet seem to move heavily in the 'sand'.
JACK
Heavy sand.
INT. BELGARES' TREASURY - DUNES - NIGHT
Jack crouches and lets the sand fall between his fingers.
BELGARES
The woman Jinn is dead. One hundred
million of the faithful are trying
to kill you.
JACK
Hundred million and one.
BELGARES
Ha! Ha!
Belgares watches the last grains of sand fall in the
hourglass.
BELGARES
Witness! The final elimination of
the great Satan and the Zionists!
EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - THE MALL - NIGHT
The Capitol Building CREAKS as the ground rumbles beneath it.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
54 -
Descent into Chaos
INT. QUICKSAND PIT - CONTINUOUS
As he gets to within 20 feet of Belgares, Jack starts sinking
fast into the 'sand,' actually millions of tons of gold dust.
He panics and tries not to struggle.
BELGARES
Perhaps some tomb robber will find
you in a thousand years.
Jack spits out some dust and realizes it's gold now. Belgares
smiles, swoops down, and pours some more into his mouth.
Jack's in the sand up to his neck now.
BELGARES
"The Infidel Thief of Dubai" bears
witness to the final death of the
Americans and Zionist dogs!
Jack lunges futilely at the hourglass. Belgares himself
nearly sinks into the quicksand and tiptoes close to a
pillar.
Belgares, trying to keep clear of the sand and with one hand
on the pillar, crouches and stretches, until the sword tip
rests on Jack's head. His robe flows behind for twenty feet.
BELGARES
Good night, boy. I must go and
enjoy my harem.
Belgares pushes the blade point slowly onto Jack's head.
BELGARES (CONT'D)
Be with your love, for she too lies
beneath the sand.
JACK
You son of a bitch.
BELGARES
Son of a Jackal. Watch.
Belgares puts the hourglass down. Each grain falling seems to
shake the building as it drops. Belgares pokes the sword into
Jack’s forehead and he slips up to his chin now in the sand.
BELGARES
Farewell, Infidel. Take your lamp
with you. I need it no more for now
I will have all the jinn.
Belgares tosses the lamp next to Jack. It too sinks.
But Jack whips the Sword from under the sand and hurls it
into a pillar.
BELGARES
Aaagh, you accursed slave!
The sword seems to have cut the pillar. Maybe not.
BELGARES
Dog of a thousand fathers!
Belgares moves to behead Jack but the roof GROANS. A CRACK!
The sliced supporting pillar flies down into Belgares' robe
and drives it into the sand.
BELGARES
The structure holds but you, you
will die tonight.
Belgares watches him sink, but the column pulls Belgares
down. He tries to slip free of his cloak, claws at the dust
and follows the pole beneath the sand. The faded photo of his
family lingers behind, his fingers grasping for it.
JACK
You can’t kill a man who can’t be
killed. But you can bury him.
BELGARES
No! No! I will not allow this. My
gold. My golden palace!
Jack pushes the photo and Belgares grabs it and disappears.
JACK
See you in Hell!
But Belgares rises again from the sand and raises his arms to
the heavens.
He waves a hand and summons dozens of palace slaves to the
treasury to displace the golden quicksand, but they too sink
under as Belgares uses them as human ladders.
BELGARES
Here, my children! Here, in here!
No!
Genres:
["Fantasy","Action","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
55 -
Descent into Darkness
EXT. PALACE COURTYARD - CONTINUOUS
In a rage Belgares places his palm where his heart was and
outside, people fall to the ground like wheat being scythed.
Like concentric rings, people fall dead by the thousands as
Belgares reaps his suicidal apocalypse.
Jack, next to Belgares now, grabs a palace slave's
outstretched hand and pulls his upper body out of the sand.
INT. QUICKSAND PIT - CONTINUOUS
Jack grabs Belgares' shoulders to push him beneath the sand
but feels the life draining out of him from Belgares' magic.
A few whispers of grey appear on his temples as his body
begins to rapidly age. Soon he will be an old man.
BELGARES
Age catches up to us all. Die
infidel.
JACK
You, you are with Iblis, the devil.
Belgares' red eyes seem to glow and Jack shudders in horror.
BELGARES
Let the whole world die and come to
me in the underworld where I will
be their master.
Jack manages to shake him off once more but Belgares gets
hold of him in the eye socket death grip. Jack shuts his eyes
against the gouging talons of Belgares as he furiously tries
to tear Jack's head off.
There’s a terrible TEARING sound and we think Jack’s head is
being torn off as his collar rips away but he shakes free at
last.
With superhuman strength, Jack forces Belgares, in spite of
the pain, beneath the sand once more. Again Belgares' hand
reaches up through the gold dust and grasps Jack’s throat.
He stretches, inching for the Sword, and lops off Belgares'
arm, the Sword falling into the quicksand.
Belgares disappears beneath the sand. Jack spots the
hourglass, beyond his grasp. He reaches for the sword, then
the hourglass. He can’t take both.
JACK
Come here. C’mon!
He grasps the hourglass and raises it above his head,
struggling to turn it as the final grains fall. He finally
turns it upside down and then sinks under. Darkness.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Action","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
56 -
The Veiled Encounter
EXT. DESERT DUNES PORTAL SEQUENCE - NIGHT
Jack emerges through the sand as if he has come out the other
side of the world, upside down, the sand reversing itself.
The stars spin the wrong way.
But Jack finally shatters the hourglass and the sands melt
into the dune. THUNDER. The world stops and Jack loses his
footing. The earth now spins in the right direction.
EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. THE MALL - CONTINUOUS
Washington D.C. bumps back down with a CRASH.
EXT. DESERT DUNES PORTAL SEQUENCE - NIGHT
In the distance, Jack spots a tent, a fire flickering inside.
EXT. DESERT DUNES - CARAVANSERAI - NIGHT
Camels rest outside and several travelers, enjoying tea
around a fire, salaam and greet him.
INT. CARAVANSERAI TENT - NIGHT
A veiled woman sits in front of a gold chalice filled with
crushed ice and rose petals. She gently presses the ice on
his cut forehead.
JACK
Rezana!
REZANA
Find me at this caravanserai. On
the full moon.
JACK
What caravanserai?
She closes his lips with a ring-encrusted finger.
REZANA
No, you must not touch me. Your
love opened this oasis for us, this
caravanserai. On the full moon.
JACK
Am I dead? I'm dreaming.
REZANA
The caravanserai, at the moon.
Jack gives her the lamp and Rezana disappears.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
57 -
Rescue and Reflection
INT. ISRAELI AIR FORCE F-16 ABOVE OMAN - CONTINUOUS
Inside the F-16, the transponder screen stops beeping.
ISRAELI COLONEL (V.O.)
The lamp signal has disappeared.
Flight leader to attack group;
abort. We are heading home. Repeat,
abort mission.
INT. QUICKSAND INSIDE PALACE - CONTINUOUS
As Jack reaches for Rezana, Nate hauls him out of the sand.
NATE
Jack! Jack! I thought I'd lost you,
baby.
JACK
Jeez, am I glad to see you, pal.
NATE
What happened under that gold dust?
I was pulling a long time. You
stopped the war, Jack.
They embrace each other like reprieved men.
TEXT OVER BLACK: ONE WEEK LATER
EXT. DUBAI STREET - A WEEK LATER - DAY
Jack grabs a Gulf Times: "Army cyber-spy sought for missing
Iraqi historic treasure." Jack's photo is on the front page.
A cart crashes and Jack jumps. A BEARDED MAN, 40s, approaches
purposefully, his midriff covering something.
A gun. A bomb? Jack waits for the curtains to draw but the
man simply hands him a phone which Jack dropped.
EXT. NEXT DAY - JACK'S HOUSE - POOLSIDE - NIGHT
Jack stares at the full moon rising between the pillars over
his swimming pool, Pharaoh Dog by his side.
NATE
Man, it don't make any sense to go
chasing ghosts.
JACK
It wasn't a dream.
NATE
Don't do this, Jack.
JACK
Keep an eye on the place will you,
and Pharaoh Dog? Cleo's fine -
always been wild. You?
NATE
Me? I’m going back to run for
President, my man.
JACK
I'd vote for you.
The old friends hug a last goodbye.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
58 -
Fading Memories in the Desert
EXT. JACK'S HOUSE - DAY
Jack loads up his BMW. Pharaoh looks on, anxiously.
JACK
Forget it, fur face.
EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY - DUSK
Jack zooms along the highway. Pharaoh laps up the breeze.
EXT. ARABIAN DESERT - NIGHT
The BMW sputters to a halt. Jack grabs his Heckler & Koch
MP5K machine pistol. As they walk away a side pannier cracks
open and a pair of amber eyes peep out.
EXT. ARABIAN DESERT - LATER THAT NIGHT
Hours later, he's lost, disoriented, and ready to abandon
hope. He pulls the Sword of Solomon from its sheath and the
Eye of Wisdom lights up. It seems to be pointing forward.
Leading to a desert encampment - outside a caravanserai.
Jack clambers up a steep dune, using the Eye like a compass
and guiding light.
REVERSE ANGLE ON
JACK:
From the POV between the horns of an ARABIAN ORYX on an
opposite dune - the animal is watching. Pharaoh barks.
JACK'S POV:
The Oryx silhouetted against the moon. Jack once again
follows the Oryx but suddenly it stops.
JACK
Two in one year. We'll soon both be
extinct. Wait...
MONTAGE:
Jack's mind wanders back. Sabia on a cot, looking up at Jack
lovingly. Visible under her dog tags is the Oryx pendant.
REZANA (V.O.)
"She lives in the spirit of the
beautiful Oryx."
Sabia disappearing into the explosion. The search party
finding no remains at the bomb site. Jack running his hands
over and over the stela.
Sabia disappearing into quicksand.
Sabia now on the dune silhouetted by the Pleiades, dressed
first in military khakis but then as a princess, like Rezana.
Pharaoh Dog sees her too and BARKS. Sabia blows Jack a kiss,
and he closes his eyes to receive it. When he opens them
again, Sabia is once more the Oryx.
He hears an ARAB VOICE behind him, but when he turns back,
the Oryx is gone.
JACK
You saw her too didn't you, boy?
The night sky has changed to a single bright star. Jack
follows the star to a camp in the distance. A BEDOUIN MAN,
20s, dressed from a Nativity scene, appears on the crest as
the dawn begins to wax.
JACK
Salaam Aleikum. Caravanserai? Ca-
ruh-van-sur-i?
BEDOUIN
Salaam Aleikum. Allahu Akhbar.
JACK
Caravanserai, here?
The Bedouin reaches for something in a campfire. Jack whips
out the HK, but the man just picks up a firebrand.
He’s finding it harder to hold the weapon as his hands are
fading away, dissolving.
JACK
OK, OK, Jack. Easy.
The Bedouin disappears over the crest. Jack throws a rock
after him and it disappears as if through a curtain of water.
JACK
You can't come with me, big guy. I
already told you. No! Stay!
Pharaoh creeps behind his master. Jack's heart is breaking.
JACK
No! Bad. Jack's angry! Go home.
Back to the slums where I found
you. Bad Pharaoh Dog!
Pharaoh slinks off. Jack reaches through the pane and GROANS
in agony as his hands disappear. He grits his teeth and melts
into the shadows at the summit then moves through the
“waterfall” and disappears.
A camel train moves across a dune. The stars are sparkling
now, as they are always brightest - just before dawn.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Fantasy"]
Ratings
Scene
59 -
A Moment of Connection
INT. GULF AIR A10 AIRBUS - DAY
A STEWARDESS, MIDDLE EASTERN, PERKY, 30s offers champagne.
NATE
No, thank you. I’m on the wagon.
Nate can't take his eyes off a book being read by a woman,
70s, a ringer for BARBARA EDEN. It IS Barbara Eden.
BARBARA
I'm sorry, but if you want to read
this book why don't you just buy a
copy? Better still, take mine.
NATE
I'm sorry, ma'am. I just, well I
saw you was reading "The Arabian
Nights," and I thought I saw
something. I do apologize, ma'am.
BARBARA
It's all right. Here take it. You
look like you've had a rough week.
NATE
Ma'am, you have no idea.
Nate feverishly flicks through "The Arabian Nights" until he
comes to an illustration. He LAUGHS out loud.
BARBARA
A Dinar for your thoughts.
NATE
Huh? Oh, I'm sorry ma'am. You're
gonna be OK, Jack boy. Yes, sir,
you're gonna be all right.
Barbara stares at the illustration. The book is Sir Richard
Burton's "The Arabian Nights," and the page is open to a
color litho of a man, in repose, surrounded by servants.
At his feet sits a woman, a grape in one hand, rubbing his
foot with the other. The man is Jack/Jacob, and the woman is
Rezana. Nate closes his eyes as the air conditioning blows
open another page.
It shows Jack returning the Sword of Solomon to its rightful
place. Barbara Eden notices it and goes to show Nate but
stops when she realizes he’s already fallen asleep.
Genres:
["Adventure","Fantasy","Action","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
60 -
Restoration and Reunion
INT. TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM - NIGHT
Jack’s (Jacob's) handless stumps gently replace the Sword of
Solomon in the temple as his hands miraculously grow back.
But the Sword is missing the Eye of Wisdom.
INT. QUEEN OF SHEBA'S PALACE - ETHIOPIA - DAY
Jacob, kneeling, places the Eye of Wisdom gem on a silken
pillow in front of the Queen of Sheba. She takes his head in
her hands and gently kisses his forehead.
EXT. EXOTIC RIVER BARGE - TIGRIS RIVER - BAGHDAD - DAY
As the heat shimmers off the river, a hand peels a grape,
visible through silken curtains on an exotic river barge.
JACK
Another?
REZANA
Another.
The hand is Jack's, feeding grapes to Rezana, recumbent on
silk pillows. He sits at HER feet. She has a slight tummy.
Jack rests his hand tenderly on her stomach.
Jack flings a grape and it is caught by Cleo Cat, who paws it
into the mouth of Pharaoh Dog. Rezana smiles and looks back
towards the drifting desert sands and into their future.