Original subtitles

Ahh...

Something wrong?

Ha, ha...No, I just had a dream,

And you were in it.

I was? What was I doing? Wait.

Let me guess.

I was with a beautiful woman.

There was a beautiful woman.

Ah, ha, I knew it, What was I doing?

You were Eating a peach.

What was she doing?

She was smiling at me.

Great.

Ahh! Ah, ha, ha.

Oh, my back.

I've got to find Some purple herb.

-hey, you know what today is? -something special?

Something special.

Today is the day Of the longest sun.

Tomorrow the days Start getting shorter.

How do you know all of this?

Odd things happen This time of year.

You know, beautiful women In your dreams, peaches...

Strange things.

Kalex, let him go!

He's only a cub. Just a baby.

For once, reon, You may be right.

Yeah, we'll Kill him next year...

When he's bigger.

This year... It's his mother's turn.

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...

[ straining ]

Ahh!

Ahh!

Tao, will you just...

Will the purple herbs take away The pain in your back?

As quickly as the sun takes--

Ow!...The night.

So, where do you find them?

In the forest.

They prefer the shade, Like the best ferns.

I'm going to find some for you.

No, no, no...It's, it's--

I'll find them. I just... Need a moment.

Tao, you're in pain.

It's beginning to drive--

It's nothing, It's nothing.

And besides, What's a little...Pain!

You never seem To suffer any pain.

Why is that? I do, I just

Try not to think about it.

If I don't think about it, It won't hurt?

Maybe.

[ straining and struggling ]

Oh, I think, therefore I hurt.

What is it?

I'm not sure.

Is he hurt?

No, he's just exhausted.

What's he saying?

He wants to know If I'm the beastmaster

That his mother told him about.

Ha, ha, his mother...Cute.

She isn't around here, By any chance, is she?

No, she's been captured And put in a cage.

You know, I wish animals could Put people in cages,

Then maybe they'd know How it feels!

I don't suppose he has a name?

It's arjuna.

And what a handsome, Little prince he is, too.

What are you doing?

I'm going to do What he asked me to do.

Go find his mother And set her free.

Go find the purple herbs, And get ruh.

He'll know how to find us.

We may need Your help.

Yeah, yeah, fine, fine.

See you, little fellow.

Which way?

Up there?

Ssss...

Ahh! Ahh!

Think "No pain," Think "No pain."

Think "No pain"...Ohh.

Oh, ho, ho...

This is not what you need.

Look again.

Wow.

This is what you need.

Thank you, um...

Wh-where did you...

I mean, I didn't Hear you arrive--

You were busy.

I'm called layla.

-I'm tao. -I know.

You seek the way.

I've heard of you...

And your friend, The beastmaster.

Uh, he's helping a young lion Get his mother back...Somewhere.

And I'm going to help you.

Take off your shirt.

Ah, ha, um....

It'll only take a short while.

And then all your pain Will have gone.

Well, if you say so...I mean, Everything's worth a try.

Ahh!

Sometimes, pain Is only a state of mind.

All you have to do Is think of another one.

Hey! Leave the cub alone!

There are enough Animals to kill.

The cub should go free.

You could hurt yourself If we continue.

Leave the cub alone, And I won't hurt you.

Ok, that sounds fair.

How do I know You are trustworthy?

You have my word.

What do you think, arjuna, huh?

Is it good enough? [ growling ]

We have a problem -- Arjuna says you were with

Those who captured his Mother and tried to hurt him.

I-I tried to stop them.

You can talk to him?

When he feels like it, yeah.

You're the beastmaster.

In the territory -- they Were afraid you'd stop them.

-they're looking for you. -who?

The ones who captured The animals.

That's good -- 'cause I'm looking for them, too.

I'm dar. What's your name?

Why'd they capture The animals, reon?

They're going to sacrifice them?

-when? -this afternoon.

Y-you can't go like that. They'll recognize you.

What is this place?

It used to be a place of Ceremony for my people,

Now it's a place of ritual And false worship.

Arkon -- calls himself a lord, But he's only a man.

He's tricked my people Into believing

They see him as some Kind of...Saviour

And protector.

And you don't?

He's a liar, a thief

And an evil man.

He takes all the best Girls for himself.

Your girl?

He will.

-do they fight for him? -they compete at

The festival here -- The best join

Arkon's guards -- A warrior who wins

The competition, sacrifices them To arkon's greater glory.

There's an empty cage.

It'll be Filled soon.

You think it's big Enough for arkon?

Ahh!

Your back is better.

Better?

I haven't felt this good ever.

There are other things I'd like to show you.

Uh...

I would love to...

But I need to go.

But we need and what we want, Aren't always the same thing...

Are they?

Tiger.

Are you brave?

Come, tiger, come fight kalex.

The beast has spirit.

Arkon will be pleased.

We never used to conduct Animal sacrifices.

Arkon demands it, huh?

He said it gives Our men strength,

But it demeans us all.

Arjuna, no!

Arjuna, arjuna.

He says his mother Doesn't recognize him.

Hey!

Reon, who's Your friend?

He's just a friend. I'm showing him the animals.

I can't talk to them.

Arkon drugs them.

What does he do to the people?

He does something.

Trickery to deceive them.

Somehow, he makes the people Want to believe in him.

And you don't.

I did, once.

I'll do what I can, But you'll need

More than my help to free them.

Well, first, We have to stop arkon.

-we better get out of here. -no, wait.

That's ruh.

He's a friend.

He can't talk to me either.

Where's tao?

How did you suddenly Appear like that?

I'm dreaming -- if I'm dreaming, I'm not complaining, but...

Wha...

What's this place?

We were in the forest Just a second ago,

And I didn't notice It changing and...

This, this must be a dream.

Or witchcraft.

You think I'm a witch?

Is this real Enough for you?

You're so beautiful.

Tao should be around

Here somewhere.

Tao?

He would have stopped kalex And the others, wouldn't he?

[ laughing ]

He would Have tried.

Reon!

Padma!

Hey.

These are my friends.

Dar and arjuna.

Dar, this is padma.

Dar's the beastmaster.

He's going to save the animals.

Reon, no!

No, reon.

You're already in trouble.

You show disrespect For our lord arkon.

And that cannot be allowed.

Arkon's a fraud.

He brought the rain After the long drought.

Without him we would have died.

We paid for his help.

We're still paying for it.

This year, you'll be Part of the price.

You don't know That I'll be chosen.

Well, in that case, It would be an honour.

An honour to leave me?

-it's only for a year. -a year?

None of the chosen Have ever come back.

We'd never see each other again. Don't you care?

Don't cause any more trouble,

Reon...Please.

Terrible things will happen.

A magnificent offering.

Khadro, the high priest.

Another bountiful harvest.

And now, we must give Thanks to our saviour...

Our protector...

The great lord arkon!

Arkon gives you night!

Arkon gives you day!

Arkon...Accepts your gifts.

Arkon will now choose,

From amongst our youngest And fairest of women,

Those who will Be his priestesses

For the year to come.

What an honour awaits Three of these young women.

Behold...

Our new priestesses.

Let us all rejoice

In their good fortune, and

In the honour Which arkon has bestowed

On them

And their families.

This place we're going, Is it much further?

We're almost there.

All I see is sand.

Look again.

I know this place.

This is the sanctuary.

This is dar's sanctuary.

You will feel no pain...

Only pleasures.

No cares or worries...

Only delights.

It's all here for you, tao:

Food, drink...Anything Your heart desires.

Trust your feelings, tao.

Trust me.

[ intoning ]

You are now in arkon's service.

A new life awaits you, Such as you have never known.

It is an honour, my lord.

You may, of course, bid Farewell to your families.

It is an honour, my lord.

Reon.

Stay away From me, kalex.

She belongs to arkon now.

Not while I live.

Guards!

Go! Get out! Save yourselves!

-guards. -he's a fraud; he's evil!

Can't anyone see?

Seize him.

We all saw him, reon.

We know you were with him, reon.

Only one man has That kind of strength.

It was the beastmaster, Wasn't it?

Yes, and he'll be back.

And you, arkon -- before the Sun sets, they'll see you

For what you are!

Any more of these?

I'm seeing things.

[ laughing ]

[ laughing ]

What is it, tao?

Tao?

It's an illusion.

Don't do this, tao.

Laughing breaks the spell.

You're trying to Put me in a trance.

[ laughing ]

You did.

You did put me in a trance.

Brilliant!

Look at me, tao.

Look at me!

You're making A mistake.

I'm unmaking one.

There was no snake.

I was almost killed By an illusion.

Ruh?

Ruh!

Surely, what I've shown you

Is preferable to this.

I have nothing against Pleasure, layla,

But what you offer Costs too much:

Free will, self-respect, Loyalty to others.

To dar?

He doesn't need you.

You will Regret this.

I can live with that.

Strength...

Courage...Ferocity.

When the winner of Today's tournament

Drinks the blood Of these beasts,

He will have all these Qualities and more.

One warrior will earn The right to wear this:

The necklace of invincibility.

No one can harm The man who wears it.

No one.

May the bravest and Strongest prevail.

Let the battle commence.

[ yelling ]

Victory!

Not yet.

There's one more left.

A pause

Before the final bout,

A bout to be fought

Under different rules

With different weapons.

When arkon returns,

A fight to the death.

Seems a pity these noble beasts Have to die, doesn't it?

Still, when the time comes, I'll Kill them quickly and cleanly.

What?

Did you think I'd give you

The honour of performing The sacrifice?

No, but you're not going To be doing it, either.

What are you waiting for? Call the guards.

I'm no coward.

I will show them who you are...

When I rip the mask From your severed head.

I promise you a quick death.

Thank you, I think.

Should you win, would you Do me the same honour?

Hey, sharak.

Arjuna.

Am I glad to see The two of you.

That means, you're here, That means dar's nearby.

Hey, arjuna.

I understand.

Dar's staff.

Make sure you all see Arkon's magic at work!

Watch the blood Of men and animals

Stain our holy grounds.

Shut up, reon. This is craziness.

You're all so blinded By arkon you allow him

To steal the fruits Of your labour,

The beauty of your young women.

You praise him even As he's killing us.

Wait.

I'll shut his Mouth for him.

Make it look like I've hit you.

I warn you; in my hands--

In your hands, it's A waste of time.

Thanks for finding it.

Dar.

What's with the helmet?

So we've got To stop arkon.

And he's got ruh.

They say this arkon has A hold over the people.

Is it some kind of magic?

I don't know What it is.

Sleight of hand, Smoke and mirrors.

His disappearing; His reappearing.

He's a master of illusion.

Illusion -- well, I know The strongest illusions

Can be broken by laughter.

So what I could do is--

Just be ready.

What for?

Anything, tao... Anything.

It is arkon's command

That the battle be Conducted on horseback.

Your attendants wait With your mounts.

It was arkon's fervent desire

That the devils besetting

This young man

Would depart.

Sadly,

As you have all witnessed,

They did not.

Therefore,

At the conclusion

Of this contest,

Reon will be put to death

By the victor

And his body

Fed to these animals

Before they, too,

Are sacrificed.

And, now,

Arkon!

Step forward.

Whoa.

Look out.

Whoa, frisky animal.

Oh, I'm sorry, I thought

You said step forward -- I--

Whatever you do, Don't look at arkon.

What?

He does something with his eyes.

May fortune favour the best man.

You're getting Permission to ride him?

[ laughing ]

He's telling me not To fall off this time.

I've never seen You ride before.

I told him it Wouldn't be for long,

So he agreed to help.

Dar.

What?

You have to laugh.

Laugh?

It's a fight to the death.

Yeah, I know, but you have to--

Aahhh!

Aim at me! Leave the horses out of this!

It's him.

It's the beastmaster.

Laugh!

Laugh...Dar!

Laugh!

I think you're right.

He's trying to kill you.

-laugh! -this isn't funny.

The horse is funny. Think about the horse.

No, no, no, don't Think. Just laugh.

Ahh! Remember?

The back, it hurts When you think.

This is an illusion, dar.

Laughing breaks the illusion.

Oh, I think that hurt.

[ laughing ]

Come on, dar. That's the way.

Laugh, dar.

[ laughing ]

Ah, dar!

[ laughing ]

[ laughing ]

Quick and clean, you promised.

I'm not going to kill you.

I don't want to. But you owe me your life.

So, tell you what.

Give me a chuckle. Ha-ha.

Come on, you can do it. Laugh.

That's it. Laugh.

Laugh.

[ laughing ]

[ laughing ]

Kill them!

It's over, arkon.

That won't work any more, arkon.

I know where he's going.

You going somewhere?

Kill him!

Listen!

Kill him! Kill him!

Listen to me.

You could kill him.

It would be no more Than he deserves.

But if you try to solve Your problems by killing,

Then he will have won.

And nothing will change.

Dar's right.

Then what do We do with him?

You don't have to Do anything any more.

He no longer has Any power over you.

Captions performed by The national captioning centre