Elric Swords and Roses - Michael Moorcock [125]
3. Ext. Sky and desert. Day.
Suddenly the Arab leader lifts his arm in a signal and the Arabs are galloping on course with the falling airship. There is a great flurry of hoofs, flying sand, drapery, as they gradually speed up in pursuit of the ship which leaves a trail of black smoke behind it. As it drops lower in the sky, the smoke writhes around the riders.
4. Ext. Desert. Day.
The airship looms large on the screen as, with a crashing, tearing, scraping sound, it mashes into the dunes. Behind it the Arab horses rear and snort in terror.
5. Ext. Desert. Day.
After the noise of the previous sequence there is an uncanny silence broken only by the muffled sounds of the still-fluttering flames and by the Arabs who, on instructions from their Arab leader, duck into the wreckage to drag the ship’s only occupant, Urlik, free. Urlik is as battered and smoke-blackened as the ship. His long almost white hair is secured by a headband of silver filigree. His clothing is torn and singed and there are livid welts where his naked flesh shows through—some of the wounds could have been made by the raking claws of an animal. Little remains of his silk shirt. His vaguely Arabian-looking loose silk divided kilt, with its highly decorated embroidery, is almost all in one piece as are his soft doeskin boots. Across his broad bruised and blackened chest is a wide sword belt which supports an ornate but empty scabbard. In haste, the Arabs drag him well clear of the ship.
6. Ext. Desert. Day.
The ship blows up as they get clear and Urlik opens mad blue eyes, his lips writhing as he tries to form words. He struggles feebly as the Arabs gently but firmly restrain him.
URLIK (mumbling): “Must go back … I love her … Oh, God—the destruction!”
7. Ext. Desert. Day.
The Arab leader signs for his men to take the raving Urlik back to their camp. There is a general mood of rough sympathy about them. We still see nothing of their faces except the occasional glitter of their eyes. Urlik is still semi-conscious as he is swung over a saddle in front of one of the Arabs. They ride back towards the fairly elaborate tents of their camp which is pitched near an oasis.
8. Ext. Oasis. Arab camp. Day.
The Arabs erect an awning over Urlik. They wash his wounds and make him drink some water while the Arab leader looks broodingly on. Slowly Urlik begins to recover. His expression becomes less wild as he understands where he is and who he is with. A look of bitter resignation replaces the previous expression, then he buries his head in his hands and we see his shoulders shaking as he weeps silently. The Arabs withdraw and watch. Another sign from the Arab leader and a small brass cup is put into the leader’s waiting hand. The Arab leader moves towards Urlik, taps him on the shoulder. Urlik looks up, his eyes full of misery.
End of titles.
9. Ext. Oasis. Arab camp. Day.
The Arab leader hands the cup to Urlik who accepts it, though his look is vaguely questioning. The Arab leader replies to the question in the look.
ARAB LEADER (quiet, dignified): “Herbs. To give you strength.”
Urlik sips the brew and finds it palatable. He looks back at the Arab leader.
URLIK (in resignation): “I’m back, then? In the twentieth century?”
URLIK (pauses, sipping again): “… Punishment for my—treachery …”
ARAB LEADER: “A man should not be so full of guilt as you.”
Urlik is bitterly amused.
URLIK: “No-one in the whole history of the world has had my burden of guilt …”
ARAB LEADER (interrupting): “A burden is lighter when shared.”
The Arab leader sits down near Urlik, staring intently at him.
10. Ext. Oasis. Arab camp. Day.
Urlik and Arab leader are now in background. We see Arabs dragging some of the airship wreckage into the camp on the other side of the water hole. They hold up bits of twisted metal and carved wood. They talk quietly amongst themselves. We continue to hear Urlik and Arab leader conversing.
URLIK (distantly): “Reincarnation, prehistoric civilizations, an alien science, magic, monsters. A thoroughly incredible story …”
ARAB LEADER (amused): “We desert