Elric Swords and Roses - Michael Moorcock [131]
URLIK: “Now I believe I’ve found my true identity—it all seems—right …” (Urlik frowns as he unbuckles his sword and lays it on the nearby table.) “Yet there’s still something—a warning voice …”
Iolinda is at the door, now. She hesitates.
IOLINDA: “Perhaps a Hero, like a King, must lose his free will to follow his destiny …”
Urlik finds this idea sobering. He looks up at her, ready to continue this line of thought, but she changes her mood, becoming lighter.
IOLINDA: “Sleep well, Sir Champion. We marry as soon as the Eldren are destroyed.”
Iolinda leaves, as if embarrassed by her own boldness, and Jarak enters almost immediately, staring with ironic curiosity after the disappearing Iolinda.
JARAK: “Forgive the intrusion, Lord Urlik. I’m not sure of the protocol due to a legendary hero brought back from the dead …”
Urlik is pleased to see him. He gets up, moving to a chest where wine and cups have been set.
URLIK: “You’re the first to treat me as an ordinary man, so I’m glad to welcome you, Captain Jarak. Perhaps you can answer some of the questions Belphig avoids …”
JARAK: “I know nothing of high politics—or sorcery. If it wasn’t for my skills I wouldn’t be aboard at all. Until lately I commanded my own fate …”
URLIK: “More than I can say. Why serve King Meliadus now?”
JARAK: “There’s no-one else left. Our wars were savage. Whole nations were destroyed. Negrana was the last city to survive. At least this new threat forces the remnants of mankind to unite. Meliadus won his victories at terrible cost—brutality, ignorance, superstition reign supreme …”
Jarak shrugs as if the list is endless. He is evidently something of a cynic. Urlik takes to him, pours him wine, smiling. He hands Jarak the cup.
URLIK: “So I’m called to unite the factions—represent the old ideals, eh?”
Jarak accepts the cup, appreciating Urlik’s remark. It is evident a strong liking exists between the two.
JARAK: “True—they don’t want a human being. They want a myth.”
They drink.
URLIK: “They’ll have to take me as I am …”
Jarak is skeptical.
JARAK: “It might be more comfortable to accept Belphig’s talk of Destiny, Demons and a Grand Design. But I’ll drink to the man—the legend needs more than luck …”
They toast one another with their goblets. We fade on the goblets and—
28. Int. Urlik’s cabin. Dawn.
—we fade in on the empty goblets on the table and move from them along the length of the great black sword which lies beside them. The sword is pointing at Urlik who lies in his bunk, half-naked, tossing his head from side to side in his sleep. It’s evident many strange thoughts go through his sleeping mind. Suddenly the door is flung open, the light strikes his face, waking him to panic. But it is Jarak standing there, dressed slightly differently, grinning at him.
JARAK: “Good morning, Sir Legend—join us on deck as soon as you’ve breakfasted. The enemy city’s almost in sight!”
Urlik grunts and begins to rise. He stumbles from his bunk and his hand alights on the Black Sword. For a moment he pauses as he stares down at it. Then he dismisses the thought from his mind and goes to splash water on his face. From outside are shouts and yells as the ship comes awake.
29. Ext. Bridge of the flagship. Day.
Meliadus, Iolinda, Belphig and Jarak are already on the bridge as Urlik climbs up to join them. The whole fleet is stretched behind them. The four are staring at a coastline to starboard. Iolinda gives him a “special” smile as Urlik arrives. Meliadus grunts. Belphig points.
BELPHIG: “We have made good speed. It is Paphanal.”
Urlik peers in the direction Belphig points.
30. Ext. Paphanal in distance. Day.
A long shot of Paphanal, the beautiful, ethereal city of the Eldren. It is a harbour town and we see the delicate, slender ships of the Eldren in the harbour.
URLIK (voiceover): “So that’s the haunt of demons. They don’t seem ready for war …”
31. Ext. Bridge of flagship. Day.
A close-up of Belphig looking extremely grave, more animated than usual.
BELPHIG: “Typical Eldren deception! You’ll learn to recognize it. These Eldren are Masters