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The Mithra Treatment
Jim Henson's Original Treatment of the Film
Introduction
The mystical legend of The Dark Crystal unfolds in a fantastic world imagined by Jim Henson. Its mysterious and exotic locations are teeming with unusual creatures and unique plant life.
Following is the original description of Mr. Henson’s vision of this world in its earliest conception.
Background
Our locale is a region called Mithra. The Reptus group is now in power. It has achieved total power and rule within Mithra by planning and executing a devious coup approximately twenty years ago.
It is this coup that ousted Malcolm the Wise, as well as the entire race of beings known as the (Eunaze). The (Eunaze) order had held power for many generations. Slowly, throughout the decades, the tribe became very gentle and highly cultivated. A stage was reached in their development which brought them to a point of being weak, extremely fragile, and ineffective. Their exposure and vulnerability was inherent to the success of the Reptus Coup.
The only known survivor of the coup is Brian, the son of Malcolm the Wise. Brian is unaware of his father’s identity. Brian was perhaps two or three years old when the Coup occurred. He is now a young adult. Brian has been raised by the Bada; the strange and mystical wizards of Mithra’s regions.
The Place
Mithra
The land of Mithra is Woodland, its tonal qualities are earthly and muted. Its inhabitants and creatures, although extensions of the total environment, function in specific and separate regions, both above and below Mithra’s landed surface.
Living things in Mithra possess abilities of speech, locomotion, hearing, smell, and taste, not always previously associated with their groups.
The mountains converse with one another in incomplete thought phrases. Their speech pattern is slow and mannered. Although sometimes forgetful, they are environmental historians, witnesses to all past and present.
Rocks and boulders are not stationary. They can maneuver under their own powers. Vegetation is diverse. Half-plant creatures are very much part of the overall scenic design. Vines, trees, shrubs, and weeds may very well have functioning abilities. Small Woodland beasts are everywhere. Flying things inhabit the air space within the region.
The Inhabitants of Mithra
The Reptus
The Reptus group control the inhabitants and societal structure of Mithra. Their power encompasses every aspect of daily life within each sub-group. The power they possess is evil. They are sunken in character, depraved, corrupt and vicious, and cruel to one another.
Living in a stately mountain citadel, the Reptus never leave their stronghold. These beings have always been haughty, vain, and quite posturing in their everyday lives.
They represent all that is despised in a ruthless and unfeeling ruling class.
Overbearing and brutal, the Reptus possess uncontrollable tempers. Their banquets are outrageously noisy—they are always voracious and animal-like. The Reptus gratify their desires in excess; luxuriating in strange and degenerate gatherings, inhaling extraordinary narcotic vapors, attentively listening to music that is both pounding and convulsive.
This strangely rural and foreboding region, devoid of great bodies of water, but dotted with tiny woodland streams meandering through the entire area, is inhabited by several groups of creatures.
Conversationally, the Reptus beings are erratic. A discussion marked by icy, courtly courtesy and ruthless civility might suddenly and violently change into a savage and screaming outburst. The physical characteristics of the Reptus are loathsome.
Their faces are repulsive; scaly, dark, and hairy. In sharp contrast to their physical features, the costumes and accouterments of the Reptus are beautifully ornate.
Clothing for the Reptus is constructed from the finest silks and most elegant brocades and hand-crocheted lace. Fine golden jewelry studded with multi-faceted gems embellishes their everyday dress.
The wealth of Mithra, overtly visible within the Reptus group, is entirely under their control. The Reptus control all of the subterranean world and all of its metal and jewel mines. The underground heat source, harnessed for the power needs of Mithra, is also under the command of the Reptus.
The power of the Reptus is derived from a physical object, perhaps lodestone. Through this power they are in total and unmerciful control.
The Bada
The Badas are the wizards of Mithra. They inhabit an uncharted valley of Mithra. This sorcerer tribe engages in bizarre religious rites.
Ancient, hunched-over, mysterious and alien in their everyday behavior, they are greatly feared by the inhabitants of Mithra.
Fear is generated by their ceremonious powers. Their contacts are spiritual; specters and illusions dominate their realm.
They communicate with transparent figures. These figures have become part of the mysterious ceremonies of the Bada wizards.
It is these ceremonies, inexplicable and surreptitious, which contribute to the general and overall feelings of dread and alarm when Mithra inhabitants think of the Bada.
The Army of the Reptus
The army of Reptus is malicious, violent, and brutal. It is the enforcer of the rule of the Reptus. Its barbarity has no bounds whatsoever; offenses are inflicted not only upon others, but within its own ranks.
It is common practice among the soldiers of the army to consume each other as a just punishment for violation of specific rules.
Their bodies are encased in metallic, armorlike uniforms. This casing slowly shrivels upon their death. There is no awareness of what physical characteristics are under their uniforms.
The Peasant Tribe
It is the Peasant group which caters to all daily needs of the Reptus tribe. They are in essence the servants of the Reptus.
The Peasants design and construct the clothing for the Reptus. They are under the control of the Reptus as long as the power lodestone is possessed by the Reptus.
On a very rare occasion, when a Reptus member may choose to leave the citadel, he would be physically transported by several workers of the Peasant group. He would have no obligation to walk or move by himself.
The Underground Tribe
This tribe is subservient to the Reptus. They are laborers in the metal and jewel mines. They have been conditioned to a daily routine. Supervised by the army of the Reptus, their thought processes have been numbed by routine toil to supply the Reptus group with its needs.
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