- [first lines]
- Narrator: Another world, another time, in the age of wonder. A thousand years ago, this land was green and good - until the Crystal cracked. For a single piece was lost; a shard of the Crystal. Then strife began, and two new races appeared: the cruel Skeksis, the gentle Mystics. Here in the castle of the Crystal, the Skeksis took control. Now the Skeksis gather in the sacred chamber, where the Crystal hangs above a shaft of air and fire. The Skeksis with their hard and twisted bodies, their harsh and twisted wills. For a thousand years they have ruled, yet now there are only ten. A dying race, ruled by a dying emperor, imprisoned within themselves in a dying land. Today, once more, they gather at the Crystal as the first sun climbs to its peak. For this is the way of the Skeksis. As they ravaged the land, so too they learned to draw new life from the sun. Today, once more, they will replenish themselves, cheat death again, through the power of their source, their treasure, their fate - the Dark Crystal.
- [Title card]
- Narrator: ... But today, the ceremony of the sun gives no comfort. Today, an emperor lies dying. Today, a new emperor must seize the throne.
- Chamberlain: Hmmmmm...
- General: I hate your whimper!
- Chamberlain: HMMMM!
- [they proceed down the hallway]
- Chamberlain: Hmmmmmmm-mmmmm...
- General: QUIET!
- Narrator: [In the Valley of the Mystics] A thousand years ago, the Crystal cracked. And here, far from the castle, the race of Mystics came to live in a dream of peace. Their ways were the gentle ways of natural wizards. Yet now there are only ten. A dying race, numbly rehearsing the ancient ways in a blur of forgetfulness. But today, the ritual gives no comfort. Today, the wisest of the Mystics lies dying. Today, they summon the one who must save them.
- [All Mystics sing a low tone of summoning]
- Narrator: [cut to Jen playing a double-pipe by a pond] In the valley of the Mystics, there lives a Gelfling, Jen. The Skeksis killed his family, destroyed his clan. Only Jen survived, to be raised by the wisest of the Mystics. But there is a prophecy. A thousand years have passed, and now, once more, the world must undergo a time of testing. Now it must he healed, or pass forever into the rule of evil. At this time, Jen is the chosen one. Today, Jen's pipe gives no comfort. For today, his master lies dying. And a journey must begin - the journey of Jen.
- High Priest: Chamberlain, no. Wait, stop, you can't!
- Chamberlain: Get back, spit-head!
- High Priest: Huh?
- General: Chamberlain! Lay down that scepter!
- Jen: [reading the prophecy] When single shines the triple sun/What was sundered and undone/Shall be whole, the two made one/By gelfling hand or else by none.
- Scientist: You're next, little Podling!
- [puts Podling in chair]
- Scientist: This won't hurt. We just want to drain your living essence. Then you can be the same as the other Podlings here, a slave.
- [turns to his assistant]
- Scientist: Open the wall!
- [wall opens revealing fiery shaft]
- Scientist: Now, Podling. Out there is the great shaft of the castle. Position the reflector.
- [reflector moves into position]
- Scientist: The reflector will capture the beams of the Dark Crystal floating high above. Look into the relfector, Podling. Feel the power of the Dark Crystal!
- [the reflector shines purple light into the Podling's eyes]
- Scientist: Mmm, yes, and now the beam will rid you of your fears... your thoughts... your vital essence.
- Narrator: The Skeksis, with their hard and twisted bodies, their harsh and twisted wills. For a thousand years they have ruled. Yet now, there are only ten: a dying race, ruled by a dying Emperor, imprisoned within themselves in a dying land.
- [last lines]
- Aughra: [citing the prophecy] What was sundered and undone, shall be whole, the two made one!
- Urskeks: And now, the prophecy is fulfilled. We are again one.
- [an awestruck Jen carries Kira's body, and walks towards the Urskeks]
- Urskeks: Many ages ago, in our arrogance and delusion, we shattered the pure Crystal, and our world split apart. Your courage and sacrifice have made us whole, and restored the true power of the Crystal.
- [notices Jen cradling the lifeless Kira in despair]
- Urskeks: Hold her to you. She is part of you, as we all are part of each other.
- [Kira is miraculously restored, much to Jen's wonder and relief]
- Urskeks: Now we leave you the Crystal of Truth. Make your world in its light.
- [the Urskeks become a swirling light, and ascend into the sky, as an enthralled Jen and Kira watch]
- Jen: Where is this Augrah? How does she look like? How will I find her? "Follow the Greatest Sun for a day to the home of Augrah"... hmph. Some directions!
- General: Is it ready?
- Scientist: Very fresh. Very strong, sire.
- [skekUng consumes the liquid and lumbers over to the mirror]
- Scientist: Oh, it will make you young again, sire.
- [skekUng's face revitalises. He studies his hands in awe and bursts into triumphant laughter]
- General: Young! Young! Yes, young!
- [skekUng sees his hand withering and turns angrily towards skekTek]
- General: You fraud!
- [He throws the essence bottle to the ground]
- Scientist: [backing away in terror] Wait. Please, sire.
- General: Liar!
- [He angrily brushes the bottles on skekTek's desk and storms off]
- General: Slave squeezer...
- Scientist: It always worked better when we used Gelflings.