Original subtitles

These are times that try Our very souls.

Times of change...

Times of betrayal...

When the world's magnificent Capacity for malice,

Madness, folly,

Envy and destruction

Put all life out of balance...

And all nature out of place...

When thoughtless intrusion Causes greater pain,

There is no alternative But anger...

No solution but rage!

I've been thinking about The nature of healing.

You see, a sore stomach,

Aching head, sore muscles. Even itching.

These herbs can cure All of that.

But what cures The aches and pains

Brought on by our emotions And by our heart?

Friends help.

Talking to people,

And animals you trust.

Exactly.

We're thinking the same thing.

If a snake bites you, You use the yellow herb

To draw out the poison, when The poison's gone, you heal.

With an emotional pain, It's talking

That draws out the poison.

Talking with friends And people we trust.

I guess animals, in your case, Would be included.

Something's happening In xinca.

Somebody's having some fun.

We should go take a look.

Beastmaster.

Voden.

You may sheath your weapon.

You and your eiron friend Are safe within the city.

It's tao, is it not?

I'm told you're a man Of wisdom and healing.

Just not wise enough To stay away from here.

Ha! Ha! I like a man of wit.

My present company Don't often excel

In the art of conversation.

I'll leave you to your business. Perhaps later, we'll talk?

Who wants to be next?

There must be others in xinca Who'd like to test their skills!

And the purpose of this test?

Simply the joy of sport.

Joy of sport? That's all?

Well if my performance is good,

You're welcome to Show your appreciation.

I'll gladly accept Food and drink.

Care to compete?

No. I don't Compete that way.

What about this one here?

He looks like a fighter.

You look like a worthy opponent.

Well, that may be, but... I don't fight for fun.

It would really give them a Show. Sure I can't convince you?

I think I can.

Sorry.

Not today.

In an age when nature And magic rule the world...

There is An extraordinary legend:

The story of a warrior

Who communicates with animals,

Who fights sorcery And the unnatural.

His name is dar, Last of his tribe.

He's also called...

So what are You gonna do?

Self-control is the Master of ability.

Make a man lose his control And you become the master.

Watch.

Very good.

You should have been Fighting me...

Not yourself.

[ growling ]

[ growling ]

-you all right? -did you see that?

What I saw Was impossible.

-what I heard was impossible. -what?

I'm going after him.

Dar.

I've warned you.

Ancient one. You look angry.

Running out of patience would Be a more exact description.

Why?

Because certain children Fail to listen.

I am not a child.

You act like one.

I don't know what you mean.

You know exactly what I mean.

Human affairs And their piddling emotions

Are none of your concern.

I-I don't--

Oh...Perhaps you Forget who I am?

When I choose,

I can think what you think,

Know what you know, And see what you see.

So I suggest you forget All of the above

In respect to what You've just seen in xinca.

You're a hypocrite.

You don't practice What you preach.

And you're stepping very close To the edge, my dear.

You must have some interest In that boy

Or you would never be This angry.

If you fall, it's forever.

Do you know how Long that is?

No. Tell me.

About the boy...Or forever?

They both take you somewhere You don't want to go.

Ambiguities, riddles, Silly proverbs.

That's all you ever say.

Never the truth about anything.

You never meant to teach me About your world.

Only tease me and control me.

Enough!

Fools talk. The wise listen.

Take that advice. And forget.

Silk.

The finest.

It's always been your favourite.

It looks quite good.

It brings out the Colour in your face.

I miss that.

I can't impress you?

Not even a bit?

Cold.

Even though The colours are warm.

I want to see you smile.

Is that asking too much?

Please?

I don't understand your anger.

I've done nothing.

Certainly nothing to you.

Anger is a poison. It destroys.

It's what's making you sick.

That upsets me.

I just want to make you happy.

That's all I want...

Mother.

[ growling ]

I only become the puma when...

When I'm angry.

Very angry.

You were very angry in xinca.

No, I was angry at myself.

It felt like you were Angry at me.

I'm sorry.

No need.

I don't like to fight. Not like that.

So why do you do it?

It's a way to get rid Of the anger from inside.

Before...

Well, so I don't do Anything really bad.

You see, I've this friend Who has an idea

That you can get rid of bad Emotions by talking.

All right.

You say that when you change Into the cat,

It's because you're angry.

But that's not natural.

So do you know why It really happens?

Yes.

And I hate it.

I'm a man. Not some wild animal.

It was unfair!

Some day, I'll right the wrong.

Thank you for the talk.

Maybe your friend's idea Is a good one.

Don't! And don't follow me.

You don't trust me.

I do. But this is none Of your concern.

You know that there--

No.

[ sorceress ]: let's turn Back the hands of time.

[ ancient one ]: I've warned you.

You're becoming quite the spark.

Death. It's coming for you.

[ ancient one ]: meddling In my affairs again.

[ sorceress ]: all in good time.

[ ancient one ]: because Certain children fail to listen.

We can overthrow him, sharak.

[ ancient one ]: if you play With fire, you'll get burnt.

If you fall, it's forever.

Don't move.

One small favour.

You'll be free.

And someone else

Will captive be.

Forever.

You're sure? Absolutely sure?

Yes.

It was bahktiar?

Then why didn't you take him And bring him to me?

When he ran off,

The beastmaster Went after him.

They can't be far.

I can find Them quickly.

But...I want one of them Alive and one of them dead.

To be safe, I have A better idea.

You always do.

Yes.

This is very interesting. You should look at this.

Have you noticed how the Sun is casting a shadow

Across this plate here?

Well, this shadow is moving Slowly the whole time.

I could measure from...

King voden.

I knew I should have come alone.

All these soldiers.

Gives people the Wrong impression.

Not today -- because today, I'm not coming to you as a king,

Simply as a man, a humble man,

Who would like To ask for your help.

Many healers Have tried

And failed to Help my mother.

Herbs, potions, Spells.

All kinds Of medicines.

But nothing Seems to work.

Maybe the problem Isn't physical.

I've often Thought that.

But then, what Could it be?

Well, emotional, psychological.

Does she seem angry or afraid?

She does seem angry And perhaps afraid,

But how to tell?

She's given up On talking.

Be the sign that The problem isn't physical.

You know, maybe she's Bottling something up inside.

Something she's Afraid to talk about.

You have the Reputation

Of being a very

Knowledgeable man, I can see why.

You couldn't help My mother to talk?

Heal her?

I don't know if I can heal anyone,

But, uh...I've been Thinking that if someone

Has an emotional problem, If that's what this is,

Then talking with someone That you trust can help.

Naturally, the trick is to get

That person to talk -- Have you tried?

Of course, but I'm just a simple Boy who happens to be king.

I don't suppose you could Talk to my poor mother?

-I'd be glad to. -you would? -of course.

It might help her and I could Try out some of my theories.

That would be wonderful.

Your son, king voden, Tells me you've been sick.

He's worried about you -- He's wondering

If I might be able to help.

I have this theory that...

When an illness doesn't Appear to be physical,

Which seems to be the case here,

Then perhaps The problem is emotional.

I think that...

If people could talk to one Another about their feelings,

That maybe it'd help.

It might be the cure That you're looking for.

You want to tell me what You're feeling right now?

[ sighing ]

Where to start?

I feel so many things.

Sorrow, fear, rage.

And what are you thinking about When you feel these things?

My son.

I'm always thinking about him.

And what are you Thinking about him?

His gentle manner,

His kind heart.

Well, that's...

A side that only A mother could see.

These are good qualities.

Why would they make you sad?

Because they'll be The death of him.

That's why I'm afraid

And so very, very angry.

When I think about What happened--

Why does good count for nothing And evil for so much?

You're talking! This is wonderful.

Now aren't you glad You decided to come meet tao?

I did not Decide anything.

You had your

Warriors bring me here.

Not as much progress As I'd hoped.

I want to talk to you... In private.

I'd like to come. I feel we're making progress.

These things often take A little bit of time to...

You wait here.

If I need you, you'll Be the first to know.

Wait.

This is far enough.

I have news for you, mother.

News I'd rather not Share with strangers

Such as tao -- we've

Found your golden boy.

And it's only a Matter of time

Before he's persuaded To return to us.

[ growling ]

What is this animal...

So angry?

Why does it look at me So strangely?

What does it want?

If it comes any closer, kill it!

Quickly, back to xinca.

I saw what happened!

I'm not with the nords... Or king voden.

I think I can help you.

But first, You have to let me try.

Why do you think You can help me?

Because I've seen your rage.

And I know who causes it.

But what you have To do is tell me why.

Maybe we should Start with names.

I'm called dar.

I'm bahktiar.

Once, a long time ago, I was prince bahktiar.

I wanted to talk to Her myself, but we were...

I think it's better She speak with you.

You can't help me. No one can help me.

I'd like to try.

I don't deserve your kindness.

Everyone deserves Kindness.

What I have done is so terrible.

I will have to live With the shame

Of that for the rest of my life.

I am a prisoner, Not just the prisoner

Of my son and his guards.

I am a prisoner of my heart, For what I did.

Please, go on.

Voden is not my only child.

I had...

I mean, I have another son.

A lovely boy.

His name is bahktiar.

The woman you saw, the one

Being held by the nords, Is my mother, margret.

Your mother?

That means That voden...

Is my brother.

You're right.

He provokes the Worst of my anger.

But I couldn't attack him.

-not in front of our mother. -when they were young boys,

Bahktiar was very athletic.

The girls liked him.

Voden was jealous.

And his jealousy grew Into deceit and wickedness.

-I've seen it happen. -children often outgrow it.

But voden was never Really a child.

At least, not here.

He always thought like an adult,

But with the emotions Of a child.

Dangerous combination.

And he grew into A very cruel young man...

Which is what he is today.

At first, it was silly things, Then it grew into other things.

And lies.

To my mother, then to others He would accuse me of stealing.

Killing other people's animals.

Beating other boys and worse.

I knew he was jealous of me.

And he knew his lies Made me very angry.

Then one day, we had a fight.

It was terrible.

I beat him badly.

I knew I should have stopped,

But I couldn't control the Rage that was inside of me.

It didn't teach voden a lesson?

No.

In fact, he enjoyed it.

Voden was very clever,

In an evil way.

He knew the more his Brother beat him,

The worse it made bahktiar look In the eyes of others.

To see one brother Set against the other.

It was.

But it was bahktiar Who suffered the most.

He was beside himself With guilt, remorse.

He begged voden's forgiveness.

What did voden do?

He laughed.

He'd won, you see.

I wanted to Love my brother.

But how do you love someone Who doesn't have a heart?

I knew that one day,

I wouldn't just beat him.

I'd kill him.

He was in Such despair.

The rage was poisoning him.

So I called on a sorcerer That I knew for help.

An older man.

Not very pleasant, but we...

Knew each other.

He said there would Be two conditions.

I had to send bahktiar away,

And I had to accept the fact I might never see him again.

He said bahktiar feared His own rage.

So he put a curse on him.

Whenever the rage Wells up inside him,

The curse takes over.

Does voden know this?

No.

He asked you to Talk to me because

He thinks I know Where bahktiar is.

Do you?

But I think if voden finds him, He will kill us both.

What do you want to do now?

Free my mother.

But I can't help her As an animal.

I have to do it as a man.

So you shall... And never more a puma be.

What are you doing?

More to the point. What have you been doing?

Meddling in my affairs again?

Changing the puma into the boy?

As a favor.

So the beastmaster would Know who he is and...

Be able to help him.

Have you made him a puma again?

I've removed the curse From him permanently.

Yes, you're right.

I am the sorcerer queen margret Came to, in her time of need.

So all the lectures You gave me...

The dire warnings not to meddle

In the piddling emotions Of human beings--

Seems hypocritical to you?

Yes, yes, it does.

You say one thing And yet do another.

It never Occurred to you

That I might be trying to save You from repeating my mistake?

My one error in an otherwise Perfect record?

You admit to making a mistake?

What, is this the day That hell freezes over?

In a certain sense.

I thought it would be amusing To...Fall in love.

To try to understand What made humans

Lose all sense of proportion.

Or rationality.

And to otherwise Act like idiots.

You were in love With queen margret?

I was.

And it was everything I suspected.

What happened?

She was a widow With two young sons,

Trying to rule until the Eldest could take over.

Our relationship Didn't last long.

She felt it was inappropriate.

She sent me away.

Hmm, the rejected lover.

How tragic.

She came to me years later, Needing help for bahktiar.

I knew I shouldn't become Involved again, but I did.

Love was still strangling My rationale.

It's...

It's insidious the way it...

I don't understand.

That's always been Your problem.

No, I mean--

You mean...Why am I

Opening up my heart To you in this fashion?

I think you do understand.

Because...

It doesn't matter now.

You see, it's one Of the last things

You'll ever understand.

So I'm to be punished For the same mistake

You just confessed To making yourself?

My worst mistake was to Give you so many chances.

Far too many.

It's clear you'll never change.

I've failed with you.

Don't be so hard On yourself, old man.

Oh, insolent and Irreverent to the last.

You really Don't understand.

No, you're the one Who doesn't understand.

All this time, you say you've Been teaching me and you have.

But what I've learned Is to value those things

That you would have me believe

Like human emotions, Love and joy and hope.

What of despair, Sorrow and pain?

Yes, yes, those two feelings.

They're all that really matter.

Unless you feel, what is there?

More than you'll ever know.

You're afraid of feelings.

You tried them once.

Couldn't control the outcome And you got hurt,

So you run from them.

For all your knowledge

And all your power...

You're a coward.

I could argue with you, But you're too human

To understand.

No!

I give you forever

To contemplate Your limitations.

We are of no further Use to one another.

Goodbye, my little lovely.

My friends will help us. We should hurry.

Before we get there,

Regardless of What happens,

I want to thank you.

-keep a good eye. -brother!

Go, get some of the Other men quickly.

Bahktiar.

It's been a very long time.

I've come for my mother.

Really? And no other greetings After all these years?

You disappoint me.

I have no greetings For you, voden.

And you won't have Our mother, either.

You thought it Would be that simple --

Come to me, ask and walk away?

You keep her a prisoner.

She isn't well.

The price of having such a son.

Watch your tongue, brother.

Or I'll cut it out.

It would be a shame; I want To hear you beg for your life.

Like I begged, when You used to beat me.

Do you remember?

Where's that boy now?

The fighter, the athlete.

The one everybody thought Was a gift from the heavens.

Where is he now, bahktiar?

Quickly! Voden wants us!

Now, in the marketplace.

You two, stay there!

Come with me!

What's wrong?

Hurry!

Hey!

Well, this isn't Very fair, is it?

You've got that

Big, metal knife And I've just got...

My friend.

Don't be afraid, Don't be afraid.

I'm not going to hurt you.

-bahktiar is here. -bahktiar.

We will take you to where We're going to meet.

No, he'll protect you, I promise.

Trust me.

Thank you.

I want the pleasure of my Brother's death in private.

I won't fight you, but no One's taking me anywhere.

Your mother's safe. We should hurry.

Beastmaster!

You're a very dangerous man.

But in my own way, so am I.

Consider your options, Beastmaster.

Consider them carefully.

I have to get my friend back.

No. Your mother is waiting For you in the forest.

She needs you.

Voden, maybe we can Talk about this.

There's nothing to talk about.

Either he brings them Back or you're dead.

That certainly Isn't very fair.

It is fair in my world.

Beastmaster.

I'm a dangerous man, Voden. Remember?

See, you'd do well to Keep out of his way.

Mother!

Bahktiar...

Ah, I missed you so much.

Let me look at you.

Can you forgive me?

[ crying ]

You're letting him Get away with this.

For now.

I have to remember

What I really want From this beastmaster.

I will never forget you, tao.

Never forget what you Have done for me,

For us.

We'll be safe in the downs.

We have friends there.

Don't forget, you'll always Have friends here too.

Well, I was right.

Talking, and how it heals Emotional wounds.

Do you what Surprised me the most?

No, but I'm sure

You're going To tell me.

I had no idea that Something so simple

Could also be so powerful.

I mean, your talk with bahktiar Took away his curse.

He didn't turn Into a wild animal,

Even though voden Put him into a rage.

Talking took away his fear.

Yeah, I think You're right.

I think we should Do that more often.

What?

Talk.

Absolutely, I intend to.

Ah, somehow, I knew you

Were going to say that.

Captions performed by National captioning centre