Original subtitles

[ cheering ]

[ grunting ]

[ cheering ]

The game is hard, king zad, But it is just.

Is it just for men to die For the pleasure of a mob?

Men often die for Much less, queen nyoka.

At least these men have a chance

To control their destiny.

In other cities, criminals Are simply executed.

In chalka, we allow The gods to decide.

It's brute force That decides.

Brute force has its place.

This game instills

They're the envy of all those Who appreciate true grit.

Yeah!

Two points!

Your champions are victorious.

The gods have spoken.

Seems a shame to sacrifice Such fine specimens.

Men like these Would assure success

In my campaign against voden.

You hear that, nyoka?

King zad would use Our dregs for his army.

Unfortunately, they die To serve another cause.

[ roaring ]

They await your signal, Queen nyoka.

Out of my way, dagan.

These men stole tigers From the royal compound.

You need to make an example.

Nomar, see to my tigers.

Yes, your highness.

The laws of chalka

Forbid pardoning these men.

I won't send others To die in your war with voden.

Recruit your Warriors elsewhere.

If you are in chalka After sunset,

You may find Your own grit tested.

[ cheering ]

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...

Sorry, ruh, there Was a stream here.

Maybe there's some Water up ahead.

Dar, that's not A good idea.

According to my Map, this riverbed

Leads all the Way to chalka.

What's chalka?

It's a...A place Eirons try to avoid.

It's another city.

The people of chalka are War-like and unfriendly.

The total opposite To the people of xinca.

Tao, no people Are completely unfriendly.

Dar, trust me.

Chalka is different.

Where's he going?

He doesn't care Which way we go.

He just wants A drink of water.

He'll catch up.

Well...Which way Do you want to go?

I don't want to see Another city.

What do we do now?

Now we wait.

Queen nyoka will have Her new tigers soon enough.

Get him...Kill him!

Kings and queens of chalka Rule with an iron hand.

Their people have no freedom Or joy in their lives.

What if you Got to know them?

It wouldn't be allowed. They don't like strangers.

They don't trade Or share knowledge.

The only thing the people Of chalka embrace is cruelty.

[ shrieking ]

Ruh's hurt.

Oh...

The queen's loyal Tiger steward.

You'll pay dearly For this, nomar, ha, ha...

Ruh!

It's poisoned.

He's still breathing -- The poison must have been meant

To knock him out, not kill him.

Someone wants To take him alive.

Careful, they may Still be out there.

I hope so.

[ shrieking ]

Hello.

Dar, look!

He's coming to.

Can he tell you anything?

Some men ambushed him.

They would have succeeded, only Someone else warned him in time.

-who? -I don't know.

They've taken him prisoner.

Where to?

To the foothills.

[ sighing ]

Chalka.

Tao, he saved ruh. We have to help him.

What about ruh?

If they're hunting tigers, He'll be safer here.

So would we...

Not that it makes Any difference.

My queen...

What is it now, dagan?

I have captured the last of

The men who released Your sacred tigers.

He awaits.

What is it?

An icon.

The symbol of chalka.

Tigers are revered In the city.

Then why do they capture them?

To show the world their Power -- see, it tells their

Enemies that if their Warriors can subdue tigers,

Something else you Should know about chalka.

People to her own tigers Just to keep them in line.

Nomar?

We were hunting new tigers,

When he helped One of them escape us.

Nomar, is this true?

I had no choice.

The man you entrusted With your tigers

Betrays that trust.

You helped the others free

The sacred tigers, didn't you?

I knew that.

The tigers are unhappy.

They whither away in despair,

Preferring death to having to--

To serving chalka?

The sacred tigers ensure The safety of our city.

And the respect of our queen.

They show others

That we are strong!

Holding those tigers...

Makes our enemies fear us.

If we lose the tigers,

Oh, they're only animals. They have no power--

Silence!

I mean no disrespect my queen.

But caging those Tigers is wrong.

No one cares what you think.

Dagan.

The punishment of criminals

Falls to my office, Your highness.

The game

And the gods

Will determine his fate!

[ cheering ]

He is right, nomar.

Our duty --

Yours, mine

And the sacred tigers --

Is to the welfare of chalka.

I'm sorry.

[ coughing and spitting ]

I can't believe We're inside these walls.

Being here makes my skin crawl.

Asking these people only Makes them more suspicious.

Your friend counsels wisely.

In chalka, the safe course Is to mind your own business.

We're looking For a man

Nomar, the queen's steward Of the sacred tigers.

Nomar...

Yes...They've taken him To wait his turn at the game.

What game?

I've heard of this game.

Played by criminals In the arena.

The losers are executed.

Sacrificed...To The sacred tigers.

The winners live,

But only to fight the next day,

But at least they live... A little longer.

With no hope of freedom. It's babaric!

I wonder if you could Get any louder?

There are ears Everywhere in chalka.

To speak against their ways

Is the quickest way To play the game yourself.

Who are you?

They call me barzo.

[ coughing ]

Whatever you need

Barzo can provide.

Food, lodging...

Women?

Information.

Ohh... That depends.

On what?

What you Want to know...

And how much you want to pay.

Ahhh! Pernicious devil!

Would I could pluck you From my head.

You have an Infected tooth.

It exists only to torture me.

Here, chew these. They deaden the pain.

Freshen the breath.

[ dar ]: I doubt That's possible.

If this works,

Barzo will help get you Anything you desire.

I've never seen A man so gratified

By a simple herbal remedy.

If barzo's telling the truth,

The cells should be Behind this courtyard.

He didn't tell us there'd Be this many guards.

Nomar saved ruh's life, tao.

It doesn't matter How many guards there are.

Come on.

Why not? The more the merrier.

The sacred tigers of chalka.

They don't Look very happy.

Keep watch. I'll try To find the cells.

What about them?

Nomar first.

[ door opening ]

I'm sorry, my queen. I heard a disturbance.

Leave us.

They seem restless.

Nomar was the only one Who could calm them when

-they got like this. -is that why you were

Reluctant to send him To his punishment?

He may have broken our laws,

But he did what he did From compassion.

Nyoka...Perhaps you could Show some compassion

To king zad.

He would make A powerful friend.

King zad's only friend Is himself.

He'd send our men To their deaths

For nothing But his own vanity.

And he may not defeat Voden without them.

Then we would be

The boy king's Next target.

I'm tired of reigning Over so much death.

The crown of chalka Is a heavy burden.

You know you've only To say the word

And I would gladly Share your troubles.

Rid yourself of that fantasy,

Dagan, you are my advisor.

Not my consort.

I was only Thinking of our people.

If something should Happen to you--

If something should happen, Your family stands next in line.

Don't overstep your place again.

Humblest apologies.

Guards....Guards!

What are you doing?

-what's going on? -silence.

Seize him!

There's nothing you can do.

You'll kill us both.

Who are you?

My name is dar.

The only way You could

Reach this courtyard is by

Deliberately Avoiding the guards.

This is a crime Of the highest magnitude.

But you made the tigers obey.

No...She was

Just frightened and confused.

I just...Just calmed her.

He broke into The sacred precinct.

He must be punished.

He saved My life, dagan.

While you are in chalka, You shall by my guest.

See to it.

The queen may be taken in...

But I am not.

I'll remember that.

You, find barzo. Ask him what He knows of a man called dar.

[ laughing ]

Ah!

Your friend is a guest

In the sacred Precinct.

Guest? Is he in danger?

Oh, difficult to say.

You've driven The demons

From my mouth.

What's happened to dar?

Oh....Well...

They say the queen Favours him...

But dagan doesn't.

Dagan usually gets his way.

Can you help Me find him?

Mmm...It could be arranged.

I've got contacts

Among the guards.

Of course, there would be A little consideration.

Psst, nomar.

Who are you?

Someone who's getting you out.

Come on, move it.

Come on, On your feet.

You're to join your team.

What team?

For tomorrow's game.

[ chuckling ]

[ humming ]

Pardon me, my queen, but this Stranger, that you insist on

Treating with gratitude, Is no simple traveller.

Dagan,

He is known as the beastmaster.

Including the ability to Communicate with animals.

He also travels with a man Called tao, who's well-steeped

In ancient lore. What of it?

Their presence here Can be no coincidence.

They come to free The tigers and to overthrow

Your throne.

Then why did he save me?

Did he really?

Or did he Cause you to

Be threatened in The first place?

Doesn't it strike you

As odd that the tigers Broke from the cage

At the precise Moment he arrived?

Bring him to me.

At once, majesty.

I'm already here.

-guards! -nyoko, listen to me.

-stay away from me. -I mean no harm.

Stay back.

Oi, face-ache.

The sacred precinct's in uproar.

Your friend Attacked queen nyoka.

That's impossible.

They've already Got him in the cells.

I have to find him.

No, you can't.

[ belching ]

Not without me.

Back off!

Why have you come to chalka?

Tell me the truth.

To save a man from Your kind of justice.

-which man? -he's called nomar.

Nomar?

Nomar betrayed my trust

He saved a friend of mine From your cages.

A friend?

A tiger.

Then it's as dagan says.

You are the beastmaster.

Do you have power Over the animls?

I have power over no one.

Is dagan right?

Did you free the tigress To demonstrate your magic

-and win my confidence? -I don't have magic either.

Would you have my throne?

No.

But dagan would.

What do you mean?

He's the one who released The tiger from the cage.

-how do you know this? -she told me.

She's also seen him Plotting against you,

Because he thinks you've changed The way chalka's ruled.

And that means Taking away the game.

And you believed her? An animal?

Animals don't lie.

Is what nomar said also true?

That the tigers Are unhappy in my courtyard?

They shouldn't be in cages.

But the rulers of chalka have Had tigers for generations.

They show the world That we are strong...

And not to be trifled with.

They show the world That you have no heart.

What else would you Have me believe?

That I'm no threat to you.

But you are.

You are.

Guard.

He won't see us.

You're sure?

Would I be here If I wasn't sure?

[ hacking and coughing ]

I didn't save your life Just to spend it the next day.

I do for him, he does for me.

What a world.

It's true...

I do want to end the game.

And I struggle With many of our ways.

-I understand. -but the tigers are privileged.

Lavished with attention.

They have everything.

Everything but their freedom.

You're just like nomar.

Why am I even Discussing this with you?

Because you ask yourself The same questions.

Don't cry out. I'm not going to hurt you.

All right?

What are you going to do?

I'n going to Show you the truth.

Call the guards.

The cells are up ahead.

What's your plan When we find him?

I'm not sure.

Here, take this.

I don't need A weapon.

Take it -- You know the people of chalka

Would as soon kill As ask questions.

And I don't know all the guards.

Take it.

I just hope they Don't figure out

That I won't Really use it.

Perhaps simply having it Will serve the purpose.

They can't feel what we feel.

They're not like us.

But they have the same longing To live life to the fullest.

And you deny them that.

Can't you see what they feel When you look into their eyes?

Of course I can.

She knows that I love her And I give her the best I can.

When all she wants From you is her freedom.

But what my duty To my people?

I mean, you're Asking me to deny

Everything that Has meaning to me.

No, I'm asking you to see

That the way of chalka Is the way of death.

It has to end... And you can do it.

I don't have That power.

You're their queen.

It's not that Simple. My people--

Your people will understand.

-stop it! -you can show the way.

I'm sorry.

[ sobbing ]

Wait here.

Barzo.

Seize the...

Assassin.

[ chuckling ]

[ growling ]

What is it?

Someone's coming.

You mustn't be found here.

Stay back.

This man means me no harm.

Step away From the queen.

Forgive me, My queen.

You have been Badly used.

-what do you mean? -bring him in.

This man is a friend Of the beastmaster.

He was found in the corridors

Of the sacred precinct... With this.

On his way here to join In a conspiracy

-to murder you. -that's not true. It's not.

I don't believe this, dagan.

If dar wished me dead,

I would be dead by now.

Unfortunately, my queen... There is a witness.

One who overheard Them plotting.

They tried to

Enlist him in their conspiracy.

It's true, my queen.

They intended to kill you,

And then loose the sacred Tigers to create chaos.

Who are you?

I am one whose word Can not be doubted.

Because...My own life depends

On your...Friendship.

Zad?

Slay me if you wish,

For remaining Within your walls,

But I had to gain your trust.

How did you know?

I've crossed paths with this

Beastmaster before.

Surely, saving your life Proves my affection.

King zad, I offer you the Profound gratitude

Of myself, my queen

And of all our people.

I did no more than my duty

To a fellow monarch And cherished ally.

Still troubled, My queen?

It's hard to believe.

He seemed so trustworthy.

I've encountered The beastmaster

Many times, your highness.

He shares the cunning Of the beasts he commands.

Yet refuses to command them.

Nyoka?

[ sighing ]

My apologies, dagan.

You were right.

I was, I was foolish.

No apology Is necessary.

I live only To serve you.

Well, perhaps we should

Discuss how many of our

Soldiers you will need...

And how chalka Will be rewarded

For its help.

I'll leave those Details to you, dagan.

If you'll excuse me, king zad.

Of course.

[ growling ]

Your plan was superb.

You shall have The pick of

Our young men For your army.

When voden is gone, I'll return the favour

By getting rid of that Royal pain in the ass.

[ laughing ]

Barzo served us better

Than you led us to expect.

Even the beastmaster Was fooled.

He goes to the Arena tomorrow.

Where he will, no doubt, Lead the victorious team.

The queen's current champions Are formidable foes.

They've yet to meet The beatmaster.

If he wins, Nyoka will think he's

-favoured by the gods. -ha, ha, oh, yes.

[ as barzo ]: I've given That some thought.

Go on!

You're the man on the roof.

Yeah.

You were going to get me out.

There's been A change of plan.

I didn't trust myself.

The moment I looked at his face--

Once you're here, Your fate is decreed.

What's decreed for us?

-the game. -tomorrow.

The game...

What exactly are The rules of this game?

Well, the object of the game Is to stuff the shiny rocks

That they toss us into The eye sockets of the icon.

Two scores wins.

What if each side scores?

The last rock must be placed

In the opening Of the tiger's throat.

The other side will do Anything to stop us.

If they don't, then they'll Be the ones who'll die.

[ cheering ]

We should form a plan -- attack, Counter-attack -- like warfare.

Toa, they're Going to

Kill us with Their bare hands.

Four men In this arena

Will soon be dead.

Just who? The gods Will decide.

No. We'll decide.

These two

Made an attempt On our queen's life.

We should

See them at Each other's throats.

Place that man

On the other side.

It gives the crowd Greater pleasure

To see the criminals Fight amongst themselves.

The beastmaster won't Allow his friend to die.

You can count on it.

Let the game

Begin!

They'll kill you If you don't play to win.

What do we do?

Play to win.

Begin!

Go, I'll cover you.

He's condemning his own Team-mates to save us.

I know.

One to one.

Next score wins.

He's only making it More interesting.

Life and death.

I do love this game.

Number three!

Time to go for the throat.

He cannot be allowed to win.

Kill that man!

Kill him!

-kill them all! -no!

-spare no one! -dagan, stop it!

Dagan...Are you mad?

My, my queen...

Guards!

Stay back!

Stay back!

[ growling ]

Dar!

Ahh!

[ roaring ]

[ screaming ]

I'm sorry.

This time the gods Have truly spoken.

My tigers will go free.

Chalka has seen Enough bloodshed.

I know this is The right thing, but--

It's hard To say goodbye.

Yes.

What's the tiger saying?

She wants you to know That she forgives you.

Enjoy your freedom.

Will she be happy?

She's free...

The rest will be up to her.

You've freed me to,

You've freed all of us from the Cage that we built ourselves.

Will you be all right?

It'll take some Getting used to.

But, given time, I guess,

Perhaps, like them, We may find our way.

Captions performed by The national captioning centre