8000 metres is the altimeter's reading.
The cockpit has been invaded by dust. It lingers in the air and swirls over the deck, heavy with spice. Before his eyes, orange specks are drifting. Jessica coughs in the dust.
Wings are opened by Paul. He must use all of his might. They groan and complain, yet they unfold.
Miles above the ground, the tiny ornithopter emerges from the massive storm. Steering clear of the hurricane and away from the clouds.
Dust has scrubbed the glass bubble of the aircraft to a milky translucence. The wings are crooked and shaking. Dust that was as compressed as concrete clogged the engines.
Currently, the ornithopter is a glider.
Paul notices caution lights multiplying across his instrument panels as systems fail as he descends silently and quickly.
Paul: As soon as we're down, run for the rocks.
As she leans against the top of the fuselage, Jessica nods.
A ornithopter crashes into a sand ridge, causing Paul and Jessica to climb out and run towards the rocks. They hear a deep sand hush and a worm taking the wreck. They reach the rocks and see a large wormsign disappearing into the desert. The sun sets, and heat shimmers off the rocks and dunes. Jessica removes her nightgown, while Paul undresses and they slither into stillsuits.
Paul: Now we have to find Marcus and the Fremen.
Jessica follows Paul as he goes. He gets lost in thinking.
Voice: My dear friend
Paul envisions himself to be seated inside a cave.
He turns to meet James, a tough male Fremen who immediately puts us at ease with his relaxed and kind demeanour.
Jamis now appears to be rather close to Paul.
Jamis: Deep in your heart you know it's not you. You are not the One. Don't take that burden on your shoulders. You are free. I'll show you the ways of the desert. Come with me.
Till the rocky ridge runs out, Paul and Jessica make their way along it while sticking close to cover. They look across a four-kilometer expanse of open desert to a distant rock structure. Paul looks at the compass.
Jessica uses a pair of binoculars to scan the sand.
Jessica: There's greenery over there.
Paul receives the binoculars from her. Cactus and sage are growing tall in the rocks, which he can see through them.
Paul: That has to mean people. We'll cross after dark. Like the Fremen do.
The night sky is dark. Nearly full moons on both occasions cast a blue glow over the desert.
Paul: Remember. Walk without rhythm. Like the Fremen do. Erratic movement.
Paul and Jessica demonstrate sandwalking under moonlight, using their extraordinary bodies to navigate the sand. They leave strange tracks and continue sandwalking without rhythm, avoiding panic. A low hit and a wave of sand crest near them scare them off. However, fatigue makes Paul stumble onto a hardened sand plain, causing his steps to echo like explosions.
Paul: Drum sand!
The worm, which had been heading straight for the thumper, abruptly alters direction and approaches them.
Jessica: Run!
They both run, causing a worm to gain on them. They encounter sand, pea gravel, and rocks, with Paul slipping and Jessica running on without him. The worm surfaces, revealing a half-circle of death ringed with crysknife teeth in the moonlight. Paul stands frozen in front of it, its spice-laden breath washing over him. A distant thumper echoes across the sand, and the giant eyeless beast submerges and quests away. Paul and Jessica watch the worm go, then return to the rock outcrop and climb upward.
They arrive in a natural amphitheatre with rocky walls and a sandy dirt floor. Among the sharp stones, sage, saguaro, and mesquite are growing as plants.
Paul: Someone called it
"We are not alone", Paul signals with his hand.
They are surrounded by soft stirrings. In contrast to the stars, dozens of shapes emerge. A whole tribe is around them!
Paul and Jessica turn in an attempt to get away, but there isn't one. They are surrounded. They are placed side by side.
Stilgar: Do not run. You will only waste your bodies' water.
With their hands on their blades, four attackers advance to kill the intruders.
Paul: Stilgar!
Uneasy quiet.
Stilgar: Hold!
Attackers cease moving forward. To confront Paul, Stilgar steps outside into the moonlight. Paul makes eye contact.
Paul: I was there when you came to my father's council. With Duncan Idaho. You know me.
In the moonlight, Stilgar inspects his face and nods.
Stilgar: This is the Duke's son
A rangy wolf-like guy with a bristling beard who is one of the four assailants snarls in response. Jamis.
Jamis: Why are you waiting? We need their water
?: Keep your blade at ease, Jamis
Both Paul and Jessica look to where they heard that muffled voice from. They look up to see the masked figure Paul has seen in his visions.
Paul: I know you
Stilgar: This is the boy I told you about. The chosen one. We can't touch him.
Fremen woman: How can he be the Lisan Al Gaïb?
Fremen Man: He hasn't proven himself.
Jamis: They are weaklings!
Stilgar: Jamis, hold. That was a brave crossing they made in the path of Shai Hulud. He does not speak or act like a weakling. Nor did his father.
Jamis: My thumper saved his life. Come to your senses, Stilgar. He's not the one.
Jessica: We have powerful friends. If you help us get off-world, to Caladan - you'll be well rewarded.
Stilgar: What wealth can you offer beyond the water in your flesh?
The jaw of Stilgar is clenched.
He is aware of the law.
He weighs Jessica and Paul before deciding on a punishment.
Stilgar: The boy is young. He can learn. Liet favours him. He may have sanctuary. But the woman is untrained and too old to learn our ways.
Jessica traps and pummels Stilgar with a knife she seized from troopers on the ornithopter. He tries to escape, but Stilgar remains pinned in a chokehold. Paul, who darts for the shadows, intercepts Jamis, kicks him in the solar plexus, chops his neck with precision, and catches his pistol. The Fremen, ready to attack Jessica, tighten her grip until Stilgar shouts.
Stilgar: Back, you dogs! She'll cut my throat!
Paul climbs the rock wall rapidly until he comes upon a ledge that will support him. He controls his breathing as he crouches in the darkness. The gun was pointed towards Stilgar.
Paul: One move and you die.
Stilgar: Why didn't you say you were a weirding woman and a fighter?
Jessica: The conversation ran short.
She presses her neck into his till he yells out once again.
Stilgar: Peace, woman! I judged hastily.
The tribe reacts with superstitious trepidation to the words.
Jessica releases Stilgar with caution. He releases himself and shouts for the clan.
Stilgar: (in Chakobsa,) The night is fading. We must reach Sietch Tabr. The fates of these strangers will be decided there. Until then they have my countenance! My word is on them. (to Jessica) Tell your boy to come down. He made more noise than shai- hulud climbing that cliff.
Jamis is assisted in standing up by Fremen who dashes into the darkness.
Jessica: Paul. Come down.
Paul lowers the gun as he stands. A slim young woman emerges from the shadows next to him, their stillsuit masking them. Their cryknives are illuminated by the moon. Chani presents herself
Chani: I would not have let you hurt my friends.
She opens her stillsuit mask to look at Paul
Chani: They say you are the Mahdi. But you look like any boy.
Paul looks at her, at a person whose face he is familiar with as well. The woman he keeps dreaming about. Chani beams.
Chani: You chose the hardest way up. Follow me.
Chani takes a short leap down the rough incline and rejoins the others. Paul descends behind her with less style.
Paul's maula gun is the object of Stilgar's finger, cries out for it. Jessica draws Paul's attention. With a nod. He surrenders.
Stilgar: You will have your own mauls pistol when you've earned it.
Jamis quickly holsters the revolver after receiving it from Stilgar.
Stilgar: Chani. Take charge of the newcomers. See that they are safe on the journey.
The young lady nods. Paul looks at her. He now knows her name.
Jessica: We need to find my other son, Marcus. Please.
Stilgar: He's alive and well, I will take you both to him, soon.
They begin to move off, before...
Jamis: I will not have them!
Stilgar: Jamis! I have spoken. Be still.
Jamis: No. You talk like a leader. But the strongest leads! She bested you. I challenge her! I invoke the amtal!
There was a buzz among the Fremen of shock and exhilaration.
Stilgar: You may not challenge a Sayyadina.
Jamis: Then who will fight in her name?
Stilgar: Jamis. Don't do this. The night is fading.
Jamis: Then Al-lat, the Sun, will witness this death. Where is her champion?
Marcus is beginning to step down to be his mother's champion but Paul draws all eyes to him. He suddenly finds himself advancing. Jamis grunts in approval. He wanted this to happen. He starts taking his stillsuit off.
Jamis: I accept her champion.
It is now pre-dawn and a rocky platform has been cleared from the earth by the Fremen. Jamis paces the area while holding a crysknife, eager to battle.
Jessica watches in horror as her son gets ready to battle this skilled fighter. In the east, the sky gets lighter as dusk approaches. The masked figure is still sitting on rocks near Paul.
Paul is thinking deeply while staring at a wall. He suddenly sees something.
Paul returns to reality.
Paul takes off his gear and prepares for combat. He had never felt so alone. After giving his father's ring some thought, he places it back in one of his pockets.
Chani approaches him next.
Chani: I don't believe you are the Lisan Al Gaib. But I want you to die with honour.
He receives her own crysknife from her.
Chani: This crysknife was given to me by my great aunt. It's made out of a tooth of Shai-Hulud. The great sandworm. This will be an honour for you to die holding it.
Jamis: Where is the outworlder?!
Chani: Jamis is a strong fighter. He won't let you suffer.
Paul: Chani...
Chani: Yes?
Paul wonders whether to tell her about his visions. Paul gives Chani a direct gaze. She is distressed. There was an oddly private hush between them.
Paul: I... Never mind
Before Chani walks Paul to the circle, the masked figure steps down and approaches Paul.
?: If you wish to survive this, young Atreides. Remember your footwork, the speed, and always look for that opening.
The masked figure walks back up to where he was. Paul looks at him as if he knows him already.
Paul is walked to the circle by Chani. Paul enters the circle while balancing the odd knife in his hands. To get the hang of it, he throws and catches it a few times.
Jamis: May thy knife chip and shatter!
Paul extends a dashing knife-style salutation. They start to go around each other.
Jamis: You should welcome my blade! This world will kill you. Quicker this way.
He hits swiftly, brutally, and again, each blow a fatal blow. He is stronger, taller, and very arrogant towards this weak foreign lad.
However, Jamis has encountered a degree of training that the Fremen have never seen in Paul. Paul is cool and composed as he avoids and deflects every onslaught. Every time, his counterattack is flawlessly elegant, precise, and slow, timed as though Jamis were shield-wearing. Jamis pulls away in time to escape each time.
Jamis is quickly shown to be severely outmatched. He is sweating and worn out, but Paul seems unfazed.
When he rushes, Paul meets his arm with the blade's edge and makes a terrible cut. Jamis snarls and springs back.
Paul: Do you yield?!
There was some grumbling among the Fremen. Stilgar raises his voice.
Stilgar: The boy doesn't know our rule. There can be no yielding under the amtal rule. Death is the test of it.
Kill or perish. Paul takes a deep breath and braces himself. The fighting continues to take place. Each time, Paul proves untouchable but falls short of delivering the decisive blow.
Stilgar: (to Jessica) Is he toying with him?
Jessica: No. Paul has never killed a man
As Stilgar realises what he is witnessing, his eyes begin to enlarge.
Jamis lunges viciously and frantically at Paul. He leaps and twists in the air, changing hands with his knife to attack from a different angle.
Paul has nonetheless noticed the switch. He also swaps hands with the knife and uses his free hand to block Jamis' knife arm. He uses one hand to insert his knife between Jamis' ribs and into his heart.
Paul's body is slashed by a gout of blood.
Jamis falls to the ground as Paul retreats like a matador. A couple of Fremen run in and put a plasticine sheet around Jamis.
In the East, the dawning light becomes more intense. Chani appears to be in wonder as she observes Paul. The masked figure stands up and is the first one to approach Paul and welcome him.
Paul is surrounded by the Fremen, who applaud him and touch him, admiring his talent. Paul's face is beginning to flush with pride. To them, this battle is sacrosanct. He is welcomed.
Stilgar: You are one of us now. A life for a life. Come with us to Sietch Tabr. The night is flown: We must travel under the sun. There you will meet your other son.
Jessica is in distress. Witnessing her son become a murderer and a tribesman among these barbaric people...
Jessica: Paul needs to get off world. You must have ways. Smugglers. Ships...
Paul: No
She turns to face her son. In the early morning light, Paul's eyes flicker. He sees everything clearly.
Paul: The Emperor sent us to this place. And my father came - not for the spice, but for the strength of these people. I am the Duke now. And my road leads into the desert. I can see it. If you'll have us.
Jessica nods. Despite her ignorance, she has faith in him. Paul turns to face Stilgar.
Paul: We will come. And learn your ways.
Marcus sensed the excitement in the air as he stood among the Fremen disguised, his existence hidden from his family. The stony terrain of Arrakis appeared to hold its breath as the hour for action drew near.
Stilgar's voice burst out, grabbing everyone's attention.
Stilgar: We move out
Marcus nodded discreetly as his heartbeat with a mixture of resolution and eagerness. He had acquired their methods through training with the Fremen and improved his Force sensitivity. The day of judgment had finally come.
But Marcus stopped as he prepared to go with the Fremen. A warning from the Force sent a prickling feeling crawling up his spine. To stop their advance, he raised a hand.
Marcus: We are not alone,
Two Sardaukar warriors landed among them from the rocky outcrops above before anybody could react. They had the element of surprise in their favour, but Marcus was bigger than they had anticipated.
The skirmish started in a split second. Marcus glided through the uneven terrain with the elegance of an experienced fighter, his lightsaber lit. Although the two Sardaukar troops were adept and possessed accurate moves, Marcus had the Force on his side.
He used his lightsaber, the azure blade a flurry of movement, to parry their blows. He thought it, released the Force, and with a concussive force sent one of the warriors smashing against the rocky wall.
Marcus started fighting the last Sardaukar soldier he had left. Their battle of wills and power was ferocious. Marcus used the Force to speed up his preparations and movements.
As the fight heated up, Marcus struck one of the opponents quickly and fatally. However, in the last seconds, the Sardaukar soldier delivered a strike that caused Marcus' helmet to fall to the ground.
The startled spectators, Paul and Jessica, Marcus' family, who had seen the struggle develop with a mixture of dread and amazement, saw Marcus' face for the first time as the mask slid away.
As Marcus continued to fight the last remaining Sardaukar soldier, he put everything into his technique and fighting style.Marcus' skill and technique proved to be too much for the last remaining Sarduakar soldier and struck him down with all of his power. Marcus had won, for now. He walked over to his mask and picked it up from the sandy rocks, which it fell onto. He knew now he would have to explain to his brother and mother.
Marcus turned to his family after the struggle, his face etched with resolve and a tinge of regret.
Marcus: Brother. Mother.
Jessica's look changed from one of dread to one of relief as Paul's eyes brightened with recognition. They both hugged their long-lost son and brother, reinforcing the links of family.
A sign of the unbreakable bonds that united them, their reunion was a time of strength and harmony. They realised that their voyage was far from done as the sun rose higher in the Arrakeen sky, yet they faced the future as a united front.
Along a ridge that is high, the tribe travels in single file. Stilgar takes the lead; three Fremen carry Jamis's shrouded body at the end of the column. a water treasure.
Paul and Marcus are grabbing Jessica's arm in the centre of the column, watching the sun. She pivots to gaze.
A sandworm passes in the distance, silhouetted against the rising light as it moves across the surface. Fremen are riding on its back, holding on with "maker hooks," their robes billowing in the wind.
Paul and Jessica marvel as they watch the worm go by. In intense triumph, Paul goes to confide in his mother.
Paul: Desert power!
He feels his heart skip a beat as she grins in the golden light. This is the visionary picture he saw. The ideal female.
Marcus: Amazing, isn't it?
Chani: This is only the beginning.
Turning, she continues to cross the rocks in the golden light. Marcus and Paul come next. The dunes around them extend all the way to the horizon, towards a future that none of them can envision.