Uther and the Secret of the Dragon Read online

  I will prove to you that they do.

  MERLAIN

  We couldn’t impose ourselves on you hospitality,

  although you are kind to offer.

  MEMET

  An imposition never, I need hands to work the

  camels so you’d be well rewarded for your efforts

  and I’d have a ready audience for my storytelling...

  UTHUR

  Say yes Merlain, please....

  MERLAIN

  For the boy’s sake, yes....

  SCENE 4 EXT DUSK

  We see a long camel train loaded with goods leaving the city. MEMET leads the first camel on foot while MERLAIN and UTHUR share a small horse at the rear. Soon the dusty road disappears under a flowing sea of sand dunes as far at the eye can see. Later that day they make camp and the boy helps MEMET erect a simple tent which they tether the camels to as MERLAIN makes a fire.

  MEMET

  It certainly gets cold during the darkness here,

  No matter how hard Ra, beats us with his rays

  during the day, at night his brother Set still

  chills the bones to their core.

  UTHUR

  Who is Ra? I’ve never heard that name before.

  MEMET

  In the country of my birth we have many gods

  but these two are the most important. Ra, the

  Sun God brings us the harvest and life itself;

  We call him the teacher of men, the good shepherd.

  He teaches us to respect the light; for

  light-the life giver-is the essence of all ife.

  If you are lucky you will see him walking on

  the waves when the sun is low on the horizon.

  Set is his evil brother, the bringer of darkness and all

  evil. At night he steals away the life-giving sun and

  replaces it with death and terror. These two brothers

  fight continually and each dawn Ra wins the fight and

  each dusk Set tries to beat him down again.

  MERLAIN

  So where does Ra go when Set is in charge? Does he

  die?

  MEMET

  Some believe that, but I was told that each night Ra

  sits aboard a golden boat which sails across the sky,

  at dawn he disembarks to rise again.

  UTHUR

  We too have a story in our homeland about the sun and

  Moon. It’s said that night is the time for the moon to rise

  from the underworld to bring light in the darkness; while

  the sun goes under the earth to sleep.

  MERLAIN

  And when the moon goes down to the underworld,

  to sleep, the sun wakes to bring us a new day.

  We don’t consider them gods but we know the

  power they hold over the life of men...

  MEMET

  You see, I could tell you were from an enlightened

  race. I am rarely wrong when it comes to people and

  I could see this in you from the first. The people of

  this land worship the golden bull, Minos. They have

  women running their temples, can you believe that,

  women? They are very strange lot, you’ll see...

  Tell me Merlain, do you ride well, or race the horses?

  MERLAIN

  I can ride any beast but at my age I am too cautious

  to race them really fast...

  UTHUR

  Where we come from I am considered the best horseman

  in our land, tell him it’s true Merlain.

  MERLAIN

  The boy rides without caution, that is true enough,

  but weather this makes him a good horseman is

  debateable, why do you ask Memet?

  MEMET

  The steed you shared today is a pure breed Arabic.

  It runs like the wind and can beat any nag in Babylon.

  Unfortunately I am too fat to do the beast justice and

  I am looking for a rider to enter the races in that city.

  The purse is big and I could share it with you both.

  MERLAIN

  What purse, food, drinks; what do they give the winners

  of races in these parts.

  MEMET

  They give the only thing that has real value in this world,

  Alum. And plenty of it. Gold is the only element that

  shines brighter than bronze but unlike that hard and

  sharp metal, Gold never dulls.

  If you bury gold in a tar pit for twenty seasons it will

  still shine like the sun when you are ready to collect it

  again. Not like bronze, to get that to shine, you have

  to polish it. Once the dragon has given it to man,

  man must work hard to maintain its lustre.

  MERLAIN

  Alum eh; what course do these horses have to ride over;

  my boy is good on the flat but not so if jumps are involved.

  MEMET

  Then we are winners before the race even begins, I tell

  you now; the track at Babylon is the flattest, straightest

  course in the world. All a rider needs is a horse with the

  wind in its heart and nerves of stone; what you say boy?

  UTHUR

  That’s sound just the race for me.

  MEMET

  Good, than let’s drink a toast to the beast.

  He hands the two wooden cups and pours wine from a goat skin before pouring himself a drink and standing.

  To the Queen of Arabia; may she bring us luck and

  Fortune. Let us win the race in Babylon?

  MERLAIN and UTHUR

  To the queen...

  MEMET

  Tomorrow when we reach a suitable place I will

  get the boy to ride a set distance and we will time him

  with the sand clock and I will know if he is as good as

  he thinks he is.

  UTHUR

  I won’t let you down; horse riding is in my blood.

  SCENE 5 EXT DAY

  The camel train is packed and we see their tracks in the dunes going into the distance as they come to a water hole. The lead camel is led to drink and Memet prepares the horse for its rider.

  MEMET

  UTHUR, can you see that long dune in the distance?

  UTHUR

  The one almost on the horizon, yes?

  MEMET

  Take the beast and ride like the wind till you reach

  that dune, turn as fast as she will allow and return to

  us. I will fill this goat skin with sand and see how

  much leaks out before your return.

  MERLAIN

  How will that help?

  MEMET

  Help, no. It’s just something I use to see how good

  a rider is. My best ever rider could cover the same

  distance before the skin becomes half empty, so if

  the boy is quicker I should see it still over half full...

  MERLAIN

  Very clever...

  MEMET

  We people of the sand are educated people, we

  know how to build great monuments, divide

  huge numbers and have

  a written language; we also know how to win races.....

  They both laugh....

  The boy climbs upon the horse while Memet fills the goatskin with sand. He inches closed one of the skins corners and once the boy nods that he is ready shouts.

  Go Queen of Arabia, let’s see your worth today.

  As the horse takes off Memet lets go of the corner and sand begins to leak from the skin. Both men watch the boy hunch down in a good racing position and kick up sand in their wake.

  The boy knows how to handle a horse, look at his

  posture, it’s perfect...

  MERLAIN

&nbs
p; He was taught by his father; the boy has ridden

  since he could talk....

  MEMET

  I can see, let’s watch how he turns, a race is won on

  the turns you know...

  UTHUR digs his heels in as the dune approaches and pulls the horses head about to turn in a second, Memet grabs Merlain’s arm and squeals with delight.

  MEMET

  The boy could do it, you know, look at his skill.

  With skills like that and my horse we will be

  able to take all the gold in Babylon.

  The horse pulls up in a flurry of sand and Memet pinches the goatskin. As UTHUR dismounts and leads the horse to water Memet smiles broadly.

  You certainly have the balls to win the races boy;

  the goatskin does not lie, if it is less than half full

  you were good but not that good.

  UTHUR

  Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Let me see inside

  the skin.

  The boy and Merlain join Memet as he slowly pulls open the top of the goat skin. Memet jumps for joy seeing only a small amount of sand has leaked from the skin and it is still over two thirds full.

  MEMET

  Look, less than a third had gone, that must be

  the fastest I have ever seen my horse run. I am

  truly amazed. I knew you were good but never

  in my wildest thoughts, that good; like I said,

  the skin does not lie...

  SCENE 5a INT DAY

  Back in Albion, Gwen and Ulan are forced to kneel before Erick the Boneless, pledging their allegiance to him.

  ERICK

  I am your new king and master. You will go and

  work in the mines but I want this woman to work here

  in the castle. I saw the burning of your king last

  night from my window. Did he die without issue?

  Ulan

  He was too young to have wed and born a son.

  ERICK

  Good, then my right to this realm is complete.

  SCENE 6 EXT NIGHT

  They are sitting again beside the raised tent and an open fire as a joint of meat spins over its licking flames. The old man is smoking a hubbly-bubbly pipe and offers Merlain a puff while UTHUR sleeps on a straw mattress nearby.

  MEMET

  Try this; it is the pollen from a plant that grows

  in the mountains around my home city.

  MERLAIN

  It smells sweet, like the scent of a musk ox, what

  do you call this.

  MEMET

  We call is hashish; some use it instead of the wine to

  relax. I like to smoke it when I think, especially under

  the full night sky, look up at the millions of stars.

  They look so pretty out here in this sea of sand.

  Merlain takes a puff and coughs before taking some more. Suddenly a smile crosses his face.

  It’s quite intoxicating don’t you think?

  MERLAIN

  Yes, beautiful. I see what you mean about the stars,

  they have never looked prettier; I feel like laughing...

  MEMET

  Then laugh why you don’t...

  They both burst into laughter....

  Try some more....

  Merlain puffs again and passes the pipe back.

  MERLAIN

  Now I am hungry, the meat smells so delicious, hmm;

  I could eat all that joint...

  They both laugh aloud again

  Tell me Memet, my friend. This alum you say we

  could win...

  MEMET

  The gold, yes what about it?

  MERLAIN

  Back in the market town we met a girl who was

  selling thin slivers of this substance to decorate her hair.

  Just thin foils, no thicker than a blade of grass.

  Is this what the gold will look like when we win it?

  MEMET

  No, we will win a trunk of gold coins, as heavy as three

  sheep. Those thin foils the girl was selling, you could

  make a hundred of them from every coin...

  MERLAIN

  Coin?

  MEMET

  Gold is pressed and beaten into coins. Each coin must

  weigh a specific weight but some, like the girl,

  will beat the gold with stone axe heads until it is the

  width of a blade of grass and then she will cut small

  discs from it and sell or barter them. Like I said you could get at least a hundred

  foils from one coin.

  MERLAIN

  How many coins weigh the same as two fully grown sheep?

  MEMET

  Many hundreds my friend. With such wealth I could buy

  several horses like my lovely queen over there.

  Or build a great fortress for my family and staff it

  with slaves from Nubia.

  We will do very well if our boy runs as good as he did today.

  MERLAIN

  Then we will do well...

  They both laugh again.

  Memet takes a bronze dagger from a sheaf on his waistband and cuts some meat to eat. He passes the blade to Merlain who looks at it intently.

  This is what we seek. The secret of this substance

  here, will alum gets us its secrets?

  MEMET

  The people who keep the dragons are very dangerous;

  they guard them well and only bring the elements

  from the dragon’s heart in secret. They will barter

  you bronze for gold but you will never take their

  dragon, it is too valuable...

  MERLAIN

  We’ll see, all men have their price and if alum is as

  valuable as you say, I will have to make sure I

  have enough...

  Memet bursts into laughter...

  MEMET

  Men never have enough gold my friend.....

  SCENE 7 EXT DAY

  The camel train approaches a high walled city in the distance with trailing vine and ivy spilling over the uppermost parapets. A central gate made from thick timbers and wooden pegs open to allow them entry and both Merlain and UTHUR are amazed by the height and beauty of the buildings. People are milling around decorated in fine gold jewellery and wearing thin cotton clothing, Merlain’s thick woollen cloak looks bulky in comparison. UTHUR notices how beautiful the young women are and how perfect their teeth look; in fact all the inhabitants look well fed and healthy.

  They approach a square which is dominated by a huge, mechanical bronze bull. It snorts steam from its nostrils and its giant horns poke the air as maidens lay offerings of flowers at its giant feet.

  MERLAIN

  My word, what is this great beast?

  MEMET

  It is the god of these people, you see how it lives

  and yet it is made from the same elements that make

  my dagger. Their god has given it life and they lay

  flowers at its feet to prevent it going mad and

  destroying the city.

  UTHUR

  Amazing.

  MEMET

  See yonder in the hills there?

  MERLAIN

  What, those building carved into the rock

  high in the mountain?

  MEMET

  That’s where they keep the dragons, at night you

  will see it breathing fire down the mountain, you’ll see...

  MERLAIN

  What a truly wondrous place...

  They continue through the city until they reach a huge one story house. Memet gets off his camel and beckons for Merlain and the boy to join him.

  MEMET

  This is the house of my good friend where I store

  the carpets I have brought from the coast. Let’s go

  inside while his slaves unload the camels, I will
/>   introduce you to him....

  UTHUR is shocked to see black men come from the house and begin to unload the bails that are attached to each of the camels. One takes the Queen, Memet’s horse, to a rear stable and they walk into the house to find it cool and light. The floor is covered with intricate mosaic and the walls decorated with bright frescos depicting beautiful men and women frolicking among the crops.

  Adrius, my friend, please let me introduce my

  companions; they are new to these parts and have

  travelled far.

  ADRIUS

  Any friend of Memet is a friend of mine.

  How go you friend?

  He holds out his hand and Merlain looks confused. Memet nods to indicate that he should take the man’s hand. Merlain does so and the three men smile.

  MERLAIN

  I go well, how go thee?

  ADRIUS

  All the better for meeting you my friend. I am

  Adrius Seronius and who is this, your son?

  MERLAIN

  No, no, I am his mentor and protector. His father

  has placed the youth in my hands for his betterment...

  ADRIUS

  So, you are his Zeus, and he your Ganymede.

  How very traditional; come brother in arms and

  mentor, you and your cup bearer are welcome in

  my house.

  He leads them into a huge room with an open ceiling where a fountain blows a tower of cool water into the air. They recline upon soft cushions as women bring fruit and other things to eat upon wooden trays.

  So Memet, have you brought some fine rugs

  for me to sell for you. The last consignment sold

  within days and my stall has been empty since yesterday.

  MEMET

  Rugs and something else?

  ADRIUS

  Come, you have sparked my curiosity now. What else

  does your train carry for me?

  MEMET

  Not for you, my friend, oh the rugs and carpets are

  there and many more than before. You see my helpers