Gorbash...
Come!
Man: There was a time between the waning age of enchantment
and the dawning age of logic when dragons flew the skies
free and unencumbered.
Look down there, gorbash, my friend.
On that troubled earth below us,
confusion and chaos reign.
All mankind is facing an epic choice --
a world of magic or a world of science.
Which will it be?
H' flight of dragons h'
h' soar in the purple light h'
h' in the sky h'
h' or in my mind h'
h' flight of dragons h'
h' sail past reality h'
h' leave illusion behind h'
h' is it the past I see h'
h' when I look up to the heavens h'
h' believing in the magic h'
h' that I know could never be? H'
n' I want to go where they are going h'
h' into the world they've been h'
n' can I open up my mind enough to see? H'
h' flight of dragons h'
h' heavenly argosies h'
h' catch the wind h'
h' rise out of sight h'
h' flight of dragons h'
h' pilots of fantasy h'
h' in the sky h'
h' or in my mind h'
h' flight of dragons h'
[cawing 1
this cannot be.
The worlds of magic and logic must exist side by side,
not destroy each other.
Take care! Be careful with your machines, I say!
Who's makin' all that rumpus?!
It's that old gent that lives upstream!
Your motors must not crowd out all magic
or the world is lost!
Some sort of magician, i hear.
I am carolinus, the green wizard!
You're loony, you are!
Get back to where you belong!
I belong everywhere,
for my domain is the green world --
nature itself and all its inhabitants!
Away with your mill wheel --
a ball of blue magic to make it disappear!
[Vibrating 1
disappear, say I!
Aah!
"Magic," he calls it.
My little boy could do better!
Father, you need rest.
No time.
It just was not there.
I called upon magic, and there was none.
Oh.
The pain again?
I can't let it bother me. Have you written the messages?
Yes, but --
then summon the silver owls.
- But -- - summon them, I say!
Is it true? Did they stone you?
Ah, me and young gorbash will fix 'em!
We'll burn down that mill
and devour every livin' one of 'em!
That would do no good.
Just a little scare, then, huh --
a short fiery blast to turn their hair white, huh?
Smrgol, please!
Father, the owls!
Smrgol, I'm summoning my brothers to a meeting --
our first in four centuries.
Away !
Ommadon too?
The ancient laws command he be included.
Make gorbash ready for the journey
to the temple of all antiquity.
I wish I could carry you, old friend.
You've served me well in the past.
Let young gorbash bear your burdens now.
Father, who are these brothers?
You've never spoken to me of them.
I know you are green wizard of nature's realm,
but the others?
My brother solarius is the blue wizard,
lord of the depths and heights.
His realm is outer space,
deepest ocean, highest mountain.
My brother calls counsel, but why?
Lunarian!
Carolinus: And my brother lotagal, the golden wizard --
his realm is light and air.
He is lord of transcendence, healing, contemplation.
I was expecting this.
It was inevitable.
Shin tsu -- shin tsu!
Carofinus". And finally, high in loathly tower,
my last brother, ommadon, the red wizard,
lord of the devil's domain, seducer of darkness,
master of that heartless magic the world calls black.
Briag!
My fool brother has just realized the inevitable.
Well, I'll go.
It should prove amusing.
Briag, I say!
Carohnus: Astride the terrible briag, he is absolute ruler
of that inferno-like mass of primordial filth
which is his domain.
Young woman". Why does antiquity force you
to include something so abominable?
As evil is a part of all things,
evil is a part of our world of magic,
for the irony of all existence
is that good would be totally impotent
without the contrast of evil.
Oh, father, take care.
Gorbash stands ready.
Then I am on my way.
Whither dost thou command me, oh, master?
Gorbash, for pity's sake, no formality, please.
Well, I, uh, like to do things by the book.
To the temple of all antiquity.
Right. Where?
I'll guide you as we go. Away!
Dear brothers...
We meet today in the temple of all antiquity.
Come, come.
Get on with it. Why did you summon us?
As you must have noticed,
our magic powers have been growing dim.
I have so noticed.
It is because man is choosing logic over magic.
But why?
Because logic is so... Logical.
So what are you going to do --
sit around like a bunch of old nannies and let it happen?
Please, hear me out.
I propose we create the last realm of magic.
Magnificent!
Incredible!
Carolinus: The magic realm --
where all enchanted things might retreat
before their age ends.
If we consolidate our powers,
there will be enough magic left to create such a place,
sealed off from the rest of the world
by the mists of invisibility.
You would defeat science and logic
with a foolish retirement village?
Not defeat, my brother, enhance.
The world, though it does not realize it,
cannot do without magic. For example --
man hears of the dragon's invulnerable skin, and lo,
he makes armor, battleships, tanks.
The fairy flies, and furiously jealous,
man himself defies gravity
with machines he will call airplanes.
A magician looks into his crystal
and sees and hears halfway across the world.
"Ahh," says man, "lf only it could be so,"
and centuries from now, he conjures up miracles
but calls them radio and television.
If man is to surmount the insurmountable,
there must always be magic to inspire him.
The world needs magic.
Magic cannot die.
[Applauds 1
it shall be.
I will bring you distant stars,
wonders from the sea.
And I will bring you peace and Harmony
so that every magic thing might live together and share
what enchantment remains.
No! Never!
I will not concede defeat by this modern world.
I will not retire to this fool's paradise!
But we have no choice!
Inevitability is the strongest magic of all!
I have weapons you would not dare use.
Fear rules man.
By summoning all the dark powers,
I will infest the spirit of man
so that he uses his science and logic to destroy himself.
What havoc and rage --
turn brother against brother.
Greed and avarice shall prevail.
And those who do not hear my words
shall pay the price.
I'll teach man to use his machines.
I'll show him what distorted science can give birth to.
I'll teach him to fly like a fairy.
And I'll give the ultimate answer
to all his science can ask.
And the world will be free for my magic again!
Stop! This must not be!
We want none of your dark magic!
While your powers die, mine will flourish!
Man will never inherit my domain,
for I am making man mine!
He will understand and come to desire my magic.
It is inevitable.
You shall see.
This dark determination i swear...
By this red crown...
...source of all my dark power,
so be it...
Now and forever!
Farewell!
Can you not feel the world
turning in my direction already?
Can his dark magic be stopped?
Only by invading his realm
and capturing that cursed red crown from his head.
You may include me.
I will bring the fire of the meteors,
the rage of the seven seas!
What was that all about?
Antiquity will not allow us to become involved.
The eternal laws of enchantment expressly forbid
the four magic brothers from warring on one another.
Oh, quite right.
Terribly sorry.
But what can we do?
We must inspire a quest
with its sacred mission to steal the red crown of ommadon.
We will enlist the aid of allies who share our beliefs --
mortals, enchanted folk, beasts, dragons.
All such creatures in my dominion are peaceful --
hardly suitable.
I can inspire Neptune himself to join,
and great whales and serpents of the sea!
Unfortunately, the quest will be waged on land.
It's no good, brothers.
It seems I and I alone can inspire such a mission.
Whom will you send?
Well, first, my old friend, sir orren Neville-Smythe,
a gallant knight and true.
And?
My dragon gorbash.
He's young and impetuous, but incredibly strong and brave.
And? There must be three to begin a magic quest.
The laws so command.
There will be another -- a leader.
- Vvho? - I haven't the slightest idea.
How, then?
Tonight, after you both have returned to your realms,
I will turn to antiquity for the choice.
Its wisdom shall prevail.
Well, whoever antiquity chooses,
your leader will have his job cut out for him.
I leave him this -- the shield of saturn.
Forged from the mystic dust of her rings,
it will deflect any dark magic spell.
I have only implements of peace, but perhaps he will find
the flute of healing sleep useful.
It is from the temple of the muses.
When played, it will lull
the most fearsome dragon to sleep.
Thank you, good brothers.
Ommadon will not prevail, and his crown shall be captured.
So be it!
May victory be ours!
Hey, a war at last!
Finally, I will see battle!
Not a war, a quest.
Well, whatever you call it, I'm ready for it!
Unfortunately, so is ommadon.
Carolinus: Hear me now, antiquity!
Hear me, great conglomeration of spirits gone before!
Make your will known!
Who shall lead the quest to capture the crown of ommadon?
Search the future.
He will be the distant descendant of great Peter,
the dragon master.
Oh, I have heard legends of great Peter.
Centuries ago, he tamed the dragons
and taught them to speak.
777 generations separate great Peter
from he whom you seek.
By why so many generations away from the original?
He is the first of the descendants
who is a man of science.
Why should that be important?
Trust the judgment of antiquity!
I do! I do -- implicitly.
Tell me, in which century will I find this champion?
10 hence from this -- our 9,000th.
That would make it the 20th century by man's calendar.
The closing decades.
A silver acorn?
Drop it into the limpid pool of time,
and you will find him.
And now, farewell.
Are you certain this is the limpid pool of time?
My dear young fellow, i am one of
the four magic brothers.
I should know a limpid pool of time when I see one.
Man: Dragons and wizards and dungeons and princesses --
dragons and wizards
and princesses and dungeons and castles --
Mr. Dickinson, is this all you think about?
Never mind what I think.
What do you think of this new "flight of dragons" game?
It's fun. What can I say?
Just a couple of thousand dollars,
we can manufacture this,
and we'll all be livin' like kings!
"Just a couple of thousand," he says,
like it was peanuts.
This is an heirloom. It must be worth something.
Your "heirs" didn't "loom" so big.
If I give you $50, I'd be fired.
"Flight of dragons" --
aren't you writing a book by the same name?
Was. I don't have time to work on it now --
not with holding down two jobs,
but if this game sells --
you know something, Mr. Dickinson?
Nothing personal, but you're a real dragon nut.
They fascinate me -- always have.
I'm sure they really existed at one time.
See, I'm trying to dope out how they breathe fire --
I take back the "nut" part.
You're a dragon fanatic.
Right. I eat, breathe, and sleep 'em.
I hope to become a member of england's dragon society,
and I live here in Boston.
Your turn, evil wizard.
Why am I always the bad guy?! Nine!
Ha-ha! I got you blocked in the enchanted ice passage --
frozen stiff!
Yeah, but an 11 will give me dragon fire to melt it.
That's going to be our leader?!
That's the 777th son of --
antiquity must know.
Trust antiquity.
How's he gonna stand up to ommadon
playing with toy dragons?
Look! Look closely at those small chessmen
he's playing with!
The piece the pawnbroker is playing with is ommadon!
And there's me and my brothers!
Dickinson's piece is you!
And in the background, Princess melisande!
Extraordinary!
Somehow, Dickinson knows what we look like!
Somehow --
good old antiquity!
I knew I could trust it!
Gorbash, fly to silvenair and wait for me.
Tell melisande to summon sir orren Neville-Smythe.
Where are you going?
Bring me to him! I insist!
What the heck happened?
Hey, are you deaf or something?
Carolinus: A splendid game!
Come down and join it!
What?!
Untranto kala!
12! Ha ha ha!
There's no beating that!
Come down, I say! Kala!
[Vibrating 1
what happened?
I'll explain during the journey.
Journey?
Sit down! Szvisumaad kala!
Keep your wits. We're almost there.
That's what you said before!
Since those dice burned out,
it seems like we've been falling for hours!
Actually, it's been more like 10 centuries!
Welcome home, carolinus!
Good old smrgol!
A dragon!
I'm actually seeing a dragon -- a real dragon!
Call me smrgol!
Son of a gun -- a dragon! I'm talking to a dragon!
I'll get you down!
A dragon!
I'm riding a blooming dragon!
What'd you call me?!
Ow! Turn your head.
Whoops! I'm sorry.
I've just been singed by dragon fire!
What a great way to travel!
Well, if you don't need me any longer,
I hear the call of my comrades --
a mating dance, perhaps.
Really, smrgol, at your age!
You wanted dragons, my son. Dragons you shall have.
I'll never understand.
All those toy chessmen i carved --
those dragons and wizards --
how did I know what you look like?
Why question? Just trust antiquity.
Am I dreaming all this?
Am I on the game board or in reality?
Perhaps somewhere in between.
Imagination is the most potent of all magic.
Look!
Another of your creations come to life...
Father! Father!
...the Princess melisande.
My fairy Princess.
Oh, I made her everything I'd ever desired in a woman.
Well, what I mean to say...
What you mean to say is just what you said.
- Will I meet her? - Yes...
But not dressed like that --
department-store seersucker all charred by dragon exhaust.
Convento serculum kala!
I hope the fit is correct.
As I explained during the drop,
my magic is quite limited these days.
Your highness, may I present, uh...
Sir Peter.
Sir Peter, this is the Princess melisande.
Your highness.
Oh, you must be he
who my guardian has sought to save our world.
Uh, I...Suppose I am.
Am i'.>
trust in antiquity.
Did you summon sir orren Neville-Smythe, as I requested?
He'll be here by dawn tomorrow.
Gorbash: Carolinus! Hello!
Another one!
Hey, look at what I've been saving!
It's gold, gold, gold!
Oh, that pain again.
I've asked him not to bellow so.
Simply magnificent sight!
But, sir Peter, it is only gorbash, our house dragon.
House dragon?
You've met the entire family.
Gorbash, this is sir Peter.
Oh, yes. How do you do?
See? A soup tureen -- a bowl to you -- of solid gold!
Really, gorbash, if your hoard grows much larger,
there will be no room for furniture in the house.
Blast! That's what i keep tellin' ya!
I need a cave of my own!
Soon enough -- when our quest is victorious.
Well, sir Peter, old buddy,
your armies better be worth their salt.
We need power!
My armies?
Sir Peter has brought no armies.
What?! No armies?!
Will you please --
what good is he?!
What good is he?!
Calm down! Just look at yourself.
Release some gas at once!
Huh? Oh!
And turn your head!
Extraordinary!
The fiery breath has something to do
with the dragon's ability to fly, but what?
Lam certain you will figure it out.
Smrgol: Help!
Help me!
Uncle smrgol!
He's lost his fire! Help him, gorbash!
What happened, old friend?
My -- my comrades...
My cronies...
The entire flight...
They all --
all turned against me.
The other dragons? Why?
Because i-l wouldn't denounce you and --
and join...Ommadon.
The other dragons have gone over to ommadon?
Aye.
Aye, he's cast a spell on 'em all --
a flight of dragons to protect his crown.
What a strange use for gold.
Because dragons tend to ignite ordinary bedding,
they must find a soft metal to sleep on.
And gold proves most comfortable for them.
Ah, hence the dragon's need for a hoard.
Perhaps we better continue this conversation in my study --
less chance of interruption there.
The last realm of magic -- my own personal dream.
Wow! What a movie show!
Oh, sit down, my son.
I've got lots to explain.
So, that is Peter Dickinson.
That is the pathetic fool
carolinus has enlisted to steal my crown.
Still...
Antiquity must have had a reason.
Briag...
Fetch me the fool.
And so, you are the one person from all the centuries
whom antiquity has chosen.
Because I am a man of science?
Well, aren't you?
I was at first -- honor student, scholarships,
awards, grants, research --
but how it all bored me!
Who could ponder equations
when he had the chance to imagine dragons?
So I turned my back on it all
and started on my book, "the flight of dragons."
"The flight of dragons."
Yes! Yes, here it is.
"'The flight of dragons' by Peter Dickinson."
But...
It's impossible!
That's not even half finished!
Of course not!
This is my library of unwritten books!
See -- "beowulf," "the idylls of the king,"
"gulliver's travels," "the tempest,"
"Alice in wonderland," "the wizard of oz."
Incredible.
Nice to know you'll finish it someday, eh?
Oh! No fair peeking at the end!
You are unique --
a man with one foot in the realm of magic
and the other in the realm of science.
Sir Peter, I present you with the shield of saturn
and the flute of Olympus.
Sir, I'm no warrior.
I'm awkward, clumsy.
Not anymore, my son,
for I believe you have found your time and place.
You are too modest, sir Peter.
Let us toast the quest.
No. No, my dear.
Cider makes evil magic in the stomach.
Oh, poor father.
You know, I had a professor with your condition,
but it had nothing to do with magic.
It was plain stomach ulcers.
Milk was the only thing that helped.
Milk. Really?
Alas, gorbash has devoured every cow within 20 miles.
Father, waste a little magic and change the cider.
This toast is important.
I suppose you're right.
Kala bovina mo!
All: To the quest!
Amazing!
I've tried all kinds of spells and incantations.
You see, sir Peter, your science has helped already.
Do you find this enchanting, sir Peter?
Beyond my wildest dreams.
If all this is just a game, i wish to play it forever.
I beg you to take this -- a talisman.
Take it, and may it protect you.
You are my champion, sir Peter.
Bring me back the red crown.
[ Roaring 1
aah!
I tell you, i smell strange dragon!
Look! Terrible!
Briag's capturing your scientist for ommadon!
Carolinus: And our quest is over before it starts!
Father! Gorbash! Do something!
Wait here. Come on.
I'll overtake the swine!
The devil dragon is too swift.
A removal spell is called for to bring Peter back.
That takes too long! Let me do it!
I call on all antiquity to give me magic enough.
How does it begin?
Oh! Father! He's dropping sir Peter!
May the rocks crush your skull!
Oh, the blazes -- kala!
What happened?!
Where's Peter?!
He's gone!
Gorbash, you're releasing too much fire!
Breathe in! Breathe in!
Smrgol: Come, nephew, you can pull through.
Keep breathing.
Now, open your eyes.
Yeah.
Yeah, he'll be coming around soon.
I didn't have time!
The spell was incomplete!
I'm certain we'll find sir Peter.
Where?
He could be at loathly tower, Boston, or on the moon,
for all I know.
He's awakening --
right as rain!
By all, that's magic.
Is the dragon not a wonderful creature?
Open your eyes, boy.
Come on, come all the way about.
Ahh, ha ha.
It's me, lad, your uncle.
Don't you recognize me?
Uncle? What?
Melisande!
Iam here, brother.
Brother?
Uh...
W-we kissed.
Kissed?
What is it, child?
Does he know where Peter...
He...He...
He is sir Peter!
Well, of course I'm Peter.
By the beards of antiquity!
I went and merged them!
Merged?
Peter and gorbash are one!
Peter is in gorbash!
Well, blast it, man! Undo it!
I can't undo till I find out
what I did in the first place.
But -- but where is gorbash?
He's still inside here with me.
I can feel him in the back of my mind
sleeping soundly right now.
Well, may he rest well till I figure out
how to separate you.
This can't be a game.
I never invented a rule to cover a situation like this.
[ Door creaks 1
sir orren Neville-Smythe
at your service!
I've ridden all night.
Before the quest begins,
I hope there's time for a good hot cup of tea.
Tea? Milk.
"My dearest brothers, lotagal and solarius,
"today at noon began the quest
to capture the red crown of ommadon..."
"...lf the urgency of our mission is ever questioned,
"yestereve's tragic comedy is proof enough
"of our waning magic powers, for a spell went wrong
"and sir Peter of beacon street
was merged with my dragon gorbash..."
"...our quest now contains
"one knight, sir orren Neville-Smythe,
"and one dragon with the mind and heart of 20th-century man.
"The laws command that three begin.
"Melisande being out of the question,
I enlisted the temporary aid of old smrgol."
I know smrgol is aging and none too strong,
but I hope carolinus will gather other allies.
He'll need them.
"...meanwhile, the old dragon will be able to teach Peter
the ways of his species."
A dragon...
That doesn't know how to be...A dragon!
Come on out, you mealy-mouthed little runts!
Is this necessary?
You want to fly, don't you?
To fly, you need gemstones.
To get gemstones, you rob dwarf mines.
Come on out, I say! And bring gems!
[ Roaring 1
[ sizzling 1
hurry, now, before we devour you!
You wouldn't really?
Not dwarves, no.
They're all sinewy and hairy.
The meat you get's not worth pickin' out of the teeth.
Now, swallow them down.
Not all the way.
Let them find your craw.
Odd sensation.
Never had diamonds in your craw?
I never had a craw.
They help grind up
the white fire rock when you eat it.
That's limestone.
A puny man word if I ever heard it. Eat.
You'd wear down your teeth grinding this stuff,
so you swallow it in chunks.
Wiggle it around with the gemstones
till they're pulverized.
It's like birds use grit to grind seed.
Yeah, but don't talk with your mouth full!
What's all this to do with flying?
It makes the fire in your belly that gives you lift.
Hmm, limestone is high in calcium.
Calcium, when mixed with stomach acids,
would form hydrogen.
Hydrogen is lighter than air,
thus giving the lift you talk about --
something like a blimp.
What?
You got fire inside you when you go up.
That's all you need to know.
No, that's not logical.
How could my ribs contain fire?
If I could only visualize --
oh, for cryin' out loud -- visualize!
I know.
Man, this is great!
Now, as you explain, I'll make a diagram.
Of all the...
Well, I'm doin' it for carolinus.
You see, we got this great, like --
like a honeycomb of bone and muscle inside us.
Something like this?
Aye. Aye, that's it.
Compartments we can expand and contract.
And when we expand, the hydrogen --
I mean, dragon fire, as it were --
expands and makes us lighter than air,
and up we go!
Hey, how do I get down?
Blow it out -- belch!
Yes! Close the valves and expel gas to come down.
Well, go ahead.
Turn your head, you dummy!
Wh-- whoa! Ooh! Uh!
But I wonder why it comes out as fire?
Because we're dragons, and dragons breathe fire!
Yes, but what makes the ignition?
The Thor thimble, fool.
Look, in the roof of your mouth --
feel it -- feel it with your tongue.
Mmm...Yes!
It feels like a thimble.
Ow! Ow! Ow!
Mmm! Electricity!
The electricity ignites the hydrogen.
Dragon fire, dragon flight -- it all makes perfect sense!
Oh! Oh, what I wouldn't give for my typewriter!
Ah, shut up and eat your limestone.
Sir orren: I must say, lancer,
this is the loneliest quest I've ever undertaken.
Still, I suppose it necessary that sir Peter learn how to fly.
Nice chap -- what?
Soon it will be nightfall -- ommadon's hours.
Hmm. I'd best summon them.
Hark! Hear that? Aye, he's calling us.
Shall we go back on foot,
or do you think you can manage a short flight?
I can try.
Expand...
Feel the lift.
Now, propel yourself this way.
Use your wings to steer -- to navigate,
and to keep your balance.
Whoo!
Look, I know you don't like comparisons,
but this is exactly how a 747 does it.
I love it!
I say, old chap, bad show.
I'm okay, I'm okay.
Ahh, you blew all your fire.
You won't have any lift again until dawn.
Well, you certainly don't want to chance night flight.
We'd best make camp.
Aye.
I'm going to miss my bed of gold.
[Growling 1
care to join me, sir Peter?
No, I suppose not.
All big-dragoned as you are -- must be most annoying.
Ahh.
I have a longing to eat a cow. I can't believe it --
an entire cow -- hooves, tail, bones, ears --
the whole thing!
Yes, well, to each his own.
You know, I shouldn't really like you so much --
all that business with melisande and all.
If it weren't for this dragon business,
the laws of chivalry
would force me to challenge you to a joust.
I hope we never come to that, sir orren.
I do love her with all my heart --
her purity, grace, innocence, and title are an inspiration.
Have you known her long?
Since she was five.
Oddly enough, you brought us together.
Me?
Well, gorbash did.
You see, about a dozen years ago,
I was mucking about in ommadon's red-devil realm
or whatever it's called --
some sort of quest --
returning from a crusade, perhaps.
I suddenly spied a rather smashing sight --
a nest of dragon's eggs.
Well, I was about to do a charcoal sketch
when who showed up but briag...
[ Roaring 1
...and he began to sup on the next generation,
as it were.
Hold and get ye hither,
or prepare to die!
[Growling 1
aaahhhh!
Got a -- got a good blow, if I do say so.
Must have been half an hour before I opened my eyes.
But when I did...
...l found he'd decimated the entire litter, save one.
Well, it seemed a shame to die for an egg,
but I'd made the challenge --
the laws of chivalry and all that, you know.
Bit of this, bit of that,
he had me, I had him.
Couldn't open his mouth, you see?
The gases built up inside.
And I took a bit of a chance
and let him devour my metal gauntlet.
In less than a moment,
it touched Thor's thimble --
bit of an internal explosion, i fear.
[ Roaring 1
almost killed him.
Wished it had.
He didn't like it at all.
Took him seven years to recuperate --
quite a bit for a dragon.
Hates me, needless to say.
Anyway, I'd saved the egg.
Cute little fellow -- awkward and helpless.
Named him gorbash in honor of the contest.
It was rather gory, and i did geta bit bashed about.
Get it -- gory, bashed?
Hence, gorbash.
Popped in on my old friend, carolinus.
Found he'd adopted an enchanting daughter.
Gave her the little dragon.
Old smrgol said he'd be like an uncle --
teach him the way of dragons.
I made a vow to fall in love with melisande --
when she was old enough, of course.
Kept the vow.
Dashed lot of good it did me.
And now she likes me.
I did write the rules to this game, you know.
No, I mean, I'm really quite sorry.
Not at all, old chap!
Feel lucky she's attracted to you.
Blast! It's fading!
Is all my magic spent?
Father, rest.
But I thought I heard just as it faded...
Heard what?
A chattering sound
which could indicate something so terrible --
no, it's impossible --
not in the forest.
And yet, I wouldn't put it past ommadon to --
see! See, blast you!
[Vibrating 1
gentle, sweet brother.
My magic's not spent, just confused.
I want the forest, not --
I am speaking to you through my magic,
which is none too strong.
Let me be quick.
Melisande has powers to see over distance.
Father, let me try.
Very well, my dear.
Close your eyes.
Easy, now.
You will see gormly forest.
Our friends, defenders of the magic realm...
Yes. Yes.
Smrgol is asleep.
Peter and sir orren are speaking.
[ Rattling 1
oh, father, i do hear that sound!
It's terrifying!
We'd best follow the old fellow's example.
We'll be nearing the devil's realm by the morrow,
and we'll need all the rest we can get.
Do you hear...
Strange -- like some insects.
Ah, crickets, no doubt.
Seems to make my whole head tingle.
Yes, it is rather annoying.
It couldn't be!
They only appear at the seashore!
What?
Impossible, I tell you!
Why are you yelling at me?!
You stupid, slobbering beast!
Don't you know sandmurks?!
Why, you idiotic, tin-coated goody-two-shoes!
Peter, it's the brain fryer!
Blot out the cursed sound!
Sandmurks -- try to understand!
Hold, sir Peter, i beg you!
Lt's the sandmurks --
horrid little creatures who attack by the millions!
Their chirping drives all living things insane!
Your brain will burn till you die!
Ow!
I did it to bring you to your senses!
Now, listen -- fly! Fly away before it's too late!
Can't -- I can't!
Used up all my lift in the crash before!
Look!
I see them!
Clear your mind!
Think anything -- a poem, a song!
Don't let them burn your mind!
Aaahhhh!
N' I come from Alabama with a banjo on my -- aah! H'
n' I'm goin' to Louisiana, my true lo-- my true... H'
aaahhhh!
No!
N' ...For to see -- for to see... h'
help me!
H' it rained all night... H'
the noise! I cannot stand it!
Melisande, come to your senses!
You killed my mother and father!
You blamed it on demons, but you --
melisande!
[ Howling 1
Dickinson: Aahhh-aah-aah-aah!
N' oh! Susanna, don't you cry-y-y-y-y h'
h' come from alabam-a h'
aaaaahhhhhhhh!
N' cuckoo, cuckoo bird, sing, sing h'
ii sing, cuckoo, sing, cuckoo ii'
aaaahhhhhh!
Aaah!
[ Barking 1
[ screeching 1
[growling 1
what?
They've -- th ey've retreated!
Thank heaven. Thank heaven.
Oh, my child, what have I allowed to happen?
Have they robbed you of all your senses?
Will you sleep like this forever?
Oh, my darling, darling child.
[Sobbing 1
hold, cur!
Not one step further!
Is this the thanks I get?
Gorbash, old friend,
you look like you've seen a ghost.
Matter of fact, maybe you have.
Who's laughing --
making such a confounding racket?
I haven't slept a wink all night.
Missed my gold and --
arak, good old boy...
I thought you were dead.
You know him?
Know him? Of course I know him.
Lt's arak, a friend of the family --
like a big brother to you.
What's the matter, gorbash?
Did the sandmurks steal your memory?
Sandmurks? Were there sandmurks here?
Nonsense. They live by the sea.
Smrgol, you could always sleep through anything.
The whole trick with sandmurks
is to get the big one -- the queen.
The others are brainless without her.
Arak, you're supposed to be dead, killed,
dragged out to sea by a giant squid.
Quite right.
I woke up underwater.
Awaken, brave arak.
I am solarius, lord of this realm,
and I can restore you.
Why?
Do I live once more?
No. You are drowned. But I have a task for you.
Accomplish it, and you will live again.
Ommadon has enlisted the sandmurks
to defeat carolinus.
You must destroy them.
Give me life, and I will.
After the task,
for nothing living can withstand their terrible cries.
Destroy them, and you will start to breathe once more.
It seemed like a fair bargain.
I did my part, and as soon as queen sandmurk was gone,
I started to breathe,
so solarius obviously did his.
Good old gorbash.
What times we used to have.
Arak, i-I've got to explain.
Explain later!
We have the sun and must press on.
Forward!
To the realm of the red death and the red crown of ommadon!
You have friends about?
A female.
Trouble -- she's protecting her cubs.
Wait.
If he's not careful,
he'll have a whole family on his hands.
I can't say I'd mind the chance to rest, though.
What the blazes?
Blazes -- we've gotta get loose.
It's dragon rose.
Hold your breath.
Don't breathe.
Ugly, foul smell.
Those goganflowers.
Can't...Stay...Awake.
[Sniffing 1
not a wolf for miles.
Well, whoever is doing the shooting, god bless him.
He certainly can handle a longbow.
I trust he's on our side.
There he is.
Good show, man.
I bow to such expertise
and doff this helmet to a better man than l.
And I doff my cap to you, sir orren.
By all that's holy!
I am Danielle of the woodland, sir orren.
You know me?
My father sang of your exploits.
You have always been a hero of mine.
Oh, too good to be true.
Hush!
You must forgive the wood elves.
They are petty outlaws but good at their jobs.
And this is their leader, giles of the treetops.
For shame.
We saw the dragons.
We thought they were ommadon's raiders.
A thousand pardons, sir orren. Had we but known --
oh, think nothing of it, little fellow.
The way things are nowadays, we all get a bit mucked up.
Get your men down from the trees
and awaken the dragons. Hurry, now.
Whatever your quest is, i should be honored to join.
Well, it's a bit unusual, but, speaking for myself,
I should be honored --
nay, delighted -- to have you.
I assure you my skills will prove most useful.
Melisande: Danielle has joined them, father,
and giles, the elfin outlaw.
Night is falling,
and they are but a day away
from the realm of ommadon.
Looks like an inn.
Hellsway -- last outpost of civilization
before the realm of the red death.
Arak: And beyond that wall, all is ommadon's.
Peter: There seems to be a castle guarding the gate.
Aye...Gormlykeep,
the tollhouse on the way to Hades,
with a giant ogre as tollkeeper.
The ogre of gormlykeep?
I've heard tell of him.
A lumbering, 3-eyed giant as big as a house.
Press on -- the hellsway inn.
A good bed and some hospitality will be welcome tonight.
Innkeeper!
Innkeeper, I say!
At your service, sir orren.
How are my friends doing below?
I will look to them.
I do not usually allow dragons in my cellars,
but for you --
who are those four somber spoilsports?
Merchants from ommadon's realm.
You allow ommadon's swine?!
Shh! My inn is between two worlds.
I cannot take sides.
Well, I don't like 'em!
I'll see to the dragons downstairs.
On to ommadon.
More wine?
Wine not?
This isn't wine. It's mead...
But not bad.
Peter, how'd that "beacon street" song go again?
H' I came from Louisiana h'
h' with a banjo on my knee h'
h' oh'. Susanna n'
h' oh, don't you cry for me h'
h' I've gone to Alabama h'
h' with a banjo on my knee h'
n' pluck-a pluck-a pluck-a pluck-a n'
I am ruined!
Those dragons -- they've devoured over 100 hams,
60 cheeses, and at least 30 barrels of my finest mead.
Tut, tut. You will be well paid.
Dragons have gold, you know.
They have it with them?
You will be paid eventually.
My father told me,
"never extend credit to a dragon."
Shh. Too late for such caterwaulings --
too late, for the morrow brings --
[yawns 1
your rooms are ready. Will you finally to bed?
Aye, good innkeeper.
For we may not see another night.
I'll show you the way.
Melisande: And, lo, they sleep,
an all-too-brief surcease, well-earned.
And but for the watchful moon
keeping her vigil o'er the slumbering countryside,
all is still.
Aaaaah!
What is it, child?
Something looms --
huge, terrifying,
with two mad eyes where three once were!
Carolinus: The ogre.
Ommadon has sent the ogre of gormlykeep.
Smrgol, look!
Hmm? Ach, what a terrible mess.
Did we --
don't -- don't admit anything.
Look!
The innkeeper -- murdered.
It's horrible.
I smell ogre.
Giles: Help! Over here!
Giles, are you all right?
I'm near parboiled to a fare-thee-well,
but I'd sooner be cooked than crushed by that thing.
Tell me what happened, man.
I hid in the soup when I first heard him.
He reached in the window
and took Danielle and sir orren from where they lay.
Then off he goes.
Where to?
The dungeon at gormlykeep, no doubt.
There they'll hold 'em till ommadon decides
what foul deed to perform on 'em.
Oh, no.
A fat lot of good I am to this quest,
overcome by the sandmurks and trapped by the elves' net
and in a stupor when the ogre attacks.
Now, now, Peter, you've got a job to do,
and you'll do it.
What's that?
Take the ogre of gormlykeep.
Let me tell you something about how to fight ogres.
- Are you listening? - Yes.
Good. The first thing to know is about the bones in an ogre.
They're thick.
See, an ogre's arms and legs are mainly bone.
That's why biting is no use.
And their flesh don't burn, so save your fire.
If this were my game and I faced these odds,
I'd just fold up the board and put it on a shelf.
Uh, please continue.
Let's see -- hopefully throw him over a cliff.
If no cliff, go for the throat or stomach.
Never let him get a grip.
Hmm. I-I'd take him myself,
but age has got to me.
I know, sir.
- You mean I show it?! - No, sir!
Don't tell anybody what I just confessed.
Ahh, there it is...
Gormlykeep.
You go back in there and hide in the brush.
We'll need the horse when we free them.
Now call him out.
Give him the challenge.
Uh, what's his name?
It don't matter with an ogre. "Hey, you" will suffice.
Hey, you! Come on out and fight!
Go to it, lad! Go to it! Now!
Charge him. Hit his chest.
Knock him over the wall. Strength -- give me strength!
No, lad! No!
What are you doing?!
Oh, lad, no.
You let him get a grip on you.
Oh, blazes!
Hey, hey, you!
Let that schoolboy go!
Look out. Ommadon's coming!
You think he can help you?
S-s-smrgol?
Yes?
[Weakly 1 ah, that's a -- a backside maneuver.
I, uh -- well, that was one
i-i failed...To mention.
Easy. Easy, old friend.
I think --.
I think something's burst inside of me.
L-i think my heart's gone.
But -- but i-l did do him in, huh?
Yes. Yes, you certainly did.
What a grand -- grand way
to finish a glorious...Life.
Melisande: And so they moved through gormly gate.
Arak: Oh, smrgol, how i shall miss you, friend.
And, lo, they enter...
The realm of the red death.
Easy, lancer. Easy, boy.
Just a stagnant stream. We can Ford it.
Wait. I know that smell.
Don't go near it!
Danielle, take one of your arrows
and shoot it into the stream.
Waste an arrow? We'll need all we have.
I'd do as he says.
By my father! What is that slime?
Dark magic, that's what -- dark magic.
Maybe. But it's also a highly corrosive acid
much stronger than anything i ever ran into at the lab.
It's got a sulfur base, though. That's what I smelled.
You do speak in riddles, old man.
[Sniffing 1
what's causing the horrible muck?
What is it?
Arak: The worm of sligoth.
[ Roaring 1
I never saw one that big.
If lancer can get me in and out quickly enough,
I believe I can behead the scummy thing.
It wouldn't do any good.
Chop it up in a hundred parts,
and each one would live to spread the slime.
Do we make a run for it?
Too chancy.
Oh, the worm is filthy.
Steady, lass.
Peter, drive the others away.
I'll remain and do what I can.
I'll not take flight.
Either I'll have worm for supper tonight,
or worm sups on bone.
No, there's a better way.
Sir orren: Peter, are you intact?
Used up all my fire, though. No lift left.
Don't know if anyone's thought of this,
but after that display,
ommadon's sure to know we're here.
These replicas of our visitors
are exact to the smallest detail.
Perhaps they can handle ogres and worms...
But see how they fare
with the evil arts of ommadon.
No! No! Most terrible!
What is it, daughter? What does your mind see?
A grasping hand, dark and fearsome,
to rob them of their will and courage --
to take their hearts and extinguish all hope.
A spell -- an evil, black-magic spell.
Press on, you say? What's the use?
The cause is hopeless.
Aye. We've killed a worm. What's that?
Wait. What are you talking about?
I am just a little man, but my foolishness is great.
I belong in the trees, the forest, not here.
My arrows -- no matter how true, what good are they here?
I don't believe my ears!
Well, fool...
Tricked by carolinus to bring us here.
[Crying 1
Peter: They are bewitched, surely.
Solarius: Listen, Peter of beacon street!
Listen to me before it gets to you!
Uh, what? Who --
a blue wizard? Solarius.
Was the shield of saturn not given to you?
The shield?
Oh, yes. Carolinus said --
it will protect you from ommadon's spells.
Find the shield, son,
and drive this obscene force away.
Easy, boy. Easy.
Away! Away!
What's this?
How dare he?
[Growling 1
yes, briag...
Lt's your turn now --
you and your legions.
Attack!
Demolish!
Devour!
Burn!
Grind them to dust!
Go forth,
and death be thy destination!
Doom...Doom.
[ Growls 1
a flight of dragons --
I command it!
The flight...Of dragons!
Doom...Doom...Doom...Doom.
Look!
Sir orren: Dragons!
Dozens of them!
Hopeless!
It may be hopeless, but I'll take a few before they get me.
Let me take briag.
If I die, let me die a dragon killer!
No offense, gorbash,
but I suddenly hunger for dragon!
Wait. We've got a chance.
Sir orren, in your saddlepack -- the tiny golden flute --
give it to giles.
Now pipe us a tune.
Quickly!
And they are down -- all the dragons.
Destroyed?
Asleep.
But an enchanted sleep.
When they awaken,
ommadon's spell over them will be broken.
They will join us!
The red crown of ommadon may soon be ours!
Nay, father, nay. One still is awake --
briag.
Ommadon's power over him is stronger than lotagal's.
He has blood on his mind and can take them all.
Peter will fight him.
No, father.
Peter, being a dragon, now sleeps, too.
Awaken, old boy! We've won!
I've never seen such a sleep!
Puny scum of carolinus,
prepare to die!
[ Roaring 1
no!
Oh, my darling...Dead.
[Crying 1
I'll crush you both, you filthy crawly.
Ahh!
Giles. My darling Danielle and arak, too.
Blade with whom I have lived,
blade with whom I now die,
serve right and justice one last time.
Seek one last heart of evil,
still one last life of pain.
Cut well, old friend --
then...Farewell.
Praying?
Now die.
I would have lived a life with thee, Lassie,
so now I die.
I...Am...Victorious!
Not quite yet.
Well, well, well...
The scientist.
And how did you shed dragon, filthy little man-thing?
As gorbash slept, I suddenly felt myself, Peter Dickinson,
and I thought, "two things cannot occupy the same place
at the same time,"
and the moment i comprehended that,
volla.
I guess logic is stronger than magic.
Stronger than my magic?
Noooooooo!
L...Have gathered... The sum total
of the world's evil
in one place,
and that place is me!
I...Am...Invincible!
No magic stronger!
L...Am the world,
and the world is ommadon.
I can do anything! Test me!
Allow me to reach up and pluck down the sun.
You can't do that.
Why?! Why, you insect?! Why?!
Seven heads, and each one a simpleton.
Don't you know what you reach for
isn't in that position anymore?
The sun is the sun!
I can see where it is!
Where it was, pipsqueak.
Any schoolboy knows
that light travels at 186,300 miles per second.
What you see is the sun's position 8 1/2 minutes ago.
No magic but mine can move the sun!
I command it!
Not magic, gashead -- mathematics.
And that's the answer to why antiquity chose me.
You are magic -- mere illusion.
I am science -- logic and the truth.
[ Roaring 1
you don't frighten me.
Nothing so horrible could be real.
I deny you!
Deny me, and you deny all magic.
Say it, then!
I deny all magic!
Deny this...
Those incantations can't hurt me.
I have some incantations of my own.
How about "a body in motion tends to stay in motion"?
"Protons have 1,832 times the mass of electrons."
"All light is bent or refracted
"as it goes from one medium to another,
"save in a direction perpendicular to the interface
between the two mediums..."
Aaaaaaaah!
"...upon the variations from their specific type
which individuals present."
"Gravity varies as to the inverse square of the distance."
"The velocity of light is equal to the wavelength
times the frequency of vibration..."
Aaaaaah!
"...are determined by the masses present in space and time."
Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Come, devils, witches, demons, ogres, trolls,
sandmurks, harpies, ghouls, sorcerers.
Come algebra, anatomy, astronomy, biology,
chemistry, geology, geometry, mathematics,
meteorology, mineralogy, oceanography,
paleontology, physics, psychology, sociology,
trigonometry, and zoology.
Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Behold, my darling -- the magic realm!
And look!
Caroli-i-i-nus!
I am home.
We are home.
Well, gorbash, awake at last?
Arak! I thought you were dead beneath the sea!
No.
Old friend!
Oh, thank heaven, you're still intact!
We've won! Sir Peter, we've won!
I don't understand.
Why the blazes do you call me by this man name?
Gorbash?
Of course gorbash.
Why so shocked, sir orren --
you who practically hatched me?
Sir Peter is gone.
Gone?! Where?!
As carolinus hoped,
he used his knowledge of science to deny magic.
By denying magic, he is lost to us forever.
Melisande: Father!
Melisande! She's awake!
Father! Sir Peter was here!
Yes. Yes, my darling.
Look!
The crown of ommadon.
As foretold, it awakened you.
No. The kiss awakened me.
The kiss?
I was lost in that sleep of death.
Then I felt his lips upon mine.
I opened my eyes,
and, for an instant, i saw his smile.
Then he was gone.
Awakened you with a kiss, eh?
Well, perhaps he isn't completely lost to magic.
May -- may I join him, father?
Of all questions,
I feared that the most.
May I?
That must be your decision, child.
Go...And you may never return to the magic realm,
for even now, the great dome of lnvisibility
grows over our world
to protect its sanctity for all time,
and no one on the outside may enter its boundaries,
save for the length of a dream or flash of an inspiration.
But it will stay through the years
and the centuries and the ages
a part of man for all time,
and whenever man needs magic, we will be here.
11!
Your dragon fire melts my ice!
Oh! You win!
Look, I gotta get back to work.
Wait a minute. I do have some business now.
I told you that watch of yours --
not the watch.
This.
Ye gods!
Solid gold!
Where did you find this?
Oh, I had a horde.
I don't blame you for not telling.
You can live off this for years!
Travel -- Europe, Asia, cruises.
No. I'll be satisfied with a cottage
surrounded by trees near a stream...
Like one I used to know.
Oh. Can I help you, miss?
Where do you kids get these things?
Melisande!