Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves Page #2

and the slave girls who

attend the bride.

- There is your guards.

- To the Pool of Midnight!

No, wait! We must not rush

headlong into danger.

Does the little mouse fear

aged camel drivers and slave girls?

Surely Ali does not object

without reason.

My son, let's hear your counsel.

Remember, there is a price

on our heads.

Aye, 10,000 pieces of gold.

Think you the Khan would bring

his betrothed under

the shadow of our swords

without his butchers guarding her?

You speak wisdom, my son.

Then let us move with caution.

The wealth of kings collected

for us in one caravan!

Now we let it go

for fear of shadows.

We will take the caravan,

but first I'll make sure

it is not a golden snare.

We will await your signal.

Abdullah, go with him.

Ten years! Still the nursemaid.

Why am I forced to bear

the heat of the day inside my tent?

I'm a prisoner in my own caravan.

Such was the order

of Hulagu Khan, my Lady.

But why?

Already the great Khan

guards you jealously, Lady Amara.

The beauty of his queen

is not for the eyes of all men.

You forget, I am not yet

Queen of Baghdad.

Besides, who is there

to see me here?

A few old camel drivers

and a handful of guards.

It is not ours to question, my Lady.

Nalu!

Yes, my Lady.

You have lived at

the court of Baghdad.

Tell me, what is

the Khan really like?

He is magnificent, my Lady.

He rules the world.

He is the greatest warrior

in all the land.

Ali Baba is greater.

Slave, you would be flogged

if your words reached the ears

of the great Khan.

We are camped beside

the Pool of Midnight, my Lady.

The water is clear

and blue and very cool.

Then I need not bear

this terrible heat any longer.

You may not leave this tent.

The guard would not permit it.

Attract the attention

of the guards, Jamiel.

Give me your clothes.

But the order of the Khan!

Hulagu Khan is not yet my master.

Your clothes.

Wait here. I will signal.

Let me go, I haven't killed

a single Mongol all day!

Hello.

Where are you?

I'm curious to see you.

I feed on the curiosity

of foolish men.

An evil genii in the pool.

I distract the thoughts of men

and lead them in

the ways of mischief.

I know the ways of mischief.

Come out and let me see you.

A confection of the gods!

Are you among the men

in the caravan?

I haven't seen you before.

I'm a weary traveller who

also takes the road to Baghdad.

And your caravan rests beside

the Pool of Midnight?

Nay, I am alone.

I hope to join your caravan

and so find protection

against the thieves.

That's not possible.

We carry the betrothed

of Hulagu Khan.

Now go away and let me dress.

What manner of woman is she

who marries the Khan?

Very much like any other woman.

Some find her beautiful.

If I had 1,000 pieces of gold,

I'd give them all for you.

That's not enough.

My price is high.

My mistress awaits my coming.

Who may your mistress be

that you grudge me

a few minutes of your company?

She's the betrothed of Hulagu Khan.

Return to your mistress, then.

But know I shall come to you

under the stars.

And some day I will buy you

for my very own.

It is the duty of a slave

to please her master,

and if he be young and handsome,

so much the better.

Wait!

Tell me...

Would I be safe in your caravan?

Is it well-guarded?

It is not guarded at all.

Who would dare rob

the betrothed of the great Khan?

Who indeed?

What are you?

Abdullah!

It's a trap!

Ride for your life!

- My Lady!

- You are not harmed?

- Are you alright?

- I'm safe.

Woman of the Mongols!

Traitor!

Well?

We lost him,

he was too far ahead.

One poor thief!

It is a small catch.

But we'll take him back

to Baghdad.

The people shall see what happens

to those who defy the Khan.

Jamiel.

Yes, my Lady?

What will they do to the thief?

They will make an example

for all Baghdad to see.

The whip and the rack,

mangled on the wheel perhaps.

He is one of the thieves,

it is hard telling what they will do.

Can we not find

some way to help him?

Help an enemy of Hulagu Khan?

We must take care, my Lady.

Somehow see to it

that he does not thirst.

Is one permitted to curse

that mangy thief?

Dog of a thief!

Ignominious son of a camel!

- Filthy scum!

- Why, you...

The ride across the desert

will be very hot.

Here is water

for your parched lips.

Many in Baghdad love the followers

of your leader, Ali Baba.

Allah be with you.

May Allah send you warts

and give you bedbugs for company!

O Mighty Khan,

Ruler of the World.

Master of the Universe.

My daughter, Lady Amara.

Know, O Mighty Khan,

that peace and happiness

will come once more to Baghdad

when the blood of my noble family

blends with that of the Mongols.

Because she's your daughter,

Prince Cassim,

there will be

a royal marriage ceremony.

Nalu, you may go.

As the bride of Hulagu Khan,

you will one day rule the world,

my daughter.

And if I do not choose to

rule the world, father?

We must face facts.

Once you are married to Hulagu,

my position in this court

will be made safe.

Must I be sacrificed for

your position

in the court of this tyrant?

Amara, for years I have planned

and worked for this.

I have suffered contempt

and humiliation at his hands.

That's why I have kept you in Basra.

Now that my dream

is about to be realized,

I will not see it shattered!

And if I refuse to marry the Khan?

Why not accept conditions

as they are, Amara?

This marriage brings wealth

and power and luxury.

Would you rather starve

and die for a lost cause?

That choice is easy.

When you look on the tortured bodies

of those who stood against the Khan,

you'll know what it means

to rebel.

When you know the agony

of a thousand deaths,

you will be glad to

accept my counsel.

Amara...

For your sake I have been

a slave to the whims of the Khan.

For you I have sacrificed

my dignity that...

you may one day reign in Baghdad.

Does all this mean nothing to you?

It is written that a daughter

must obey her father.

The wealth of the world

shall be yours, Amara.

Your slightest whims

shall be commands.

You will never regret

what you have done for me this day.

The Khan calls for you,

Prince Cassim.

See how the thongs

cut his flesh, Cassim.

A thief bleeds as any other man.

And the hatred in his eyes.

His gall bladder

is like to burst...

with the venom that is in him.

I have given the order for

your execution at noon tomorrow.

But if you tell me the hiding place

of the thieves of Ali Baba,

a way to freedom might be found.

Shall I trust the enemy

of my people?

Or the murderer of the Caliph?

Who are you?

I'm the sword

hanging over your head.

By moonrise tomorrow,

you will be carrion for the vultures.

I know how to deal with

these men of Baghdad.

I will wring the secret from him.

Splendid!

The Royal Seal of Baghdad!

On your knees before it,

you traitor!

I begin to see now.

You were not drowned.

You are Ali.

Ali Baba the thief!

Ali, the son of Hassan!

Aye, Cassim,

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