Arabian Nights Page #3

regardless of power, of everything.

No, it is not true.

I will not let it be true!

Sherazade! Sherazade!

Word has just come.

Kamar, they've made him Caliph.

Haroun is dead.

They found his body last night.

And Kamar has been proclaimed

Caliph by the Great Council.

- His soldiers control the city!

- So the Caliph Haroun is dead!

- Believe me, I did not know...

- Never mind, Ali.

In fact there are times when it

is most desirable to be dead.

Kamar, Caliph of Bagdad.

Kamar upon the throne!

Did I not tell you?

You are not yet

on the throne beside him.

Of course she is.

Already she is as good as queen.

Sherazade, whom I have

loved as my own daughter,

for whom I have done

countless favors.

The good, the sweet,

the grateful Sherazade.

Listen.

- Are you the dancing girl, Sherazade?

- I am.

You are to come with me

and your friends with you.

You hear? All of us!

- By whose command?

- The new Caliph, Kamar-Al-Zaman.

But a moment to prepare

and I am ready.

Did you hear? His first act as

Caliph was to send for Sherazade.

I shall be practicing how

to salaam when you pass by.

- You must not go. Stay here.

- I will go.

But remember from now forward

my name is Ahmeen.

I better find you

some other clothes!

Alms for the love of Allah.

Praise Allah.

Alms for the love of Allah.

Praise Allah.

Alms for the love of Allah.

Praise Allah.

Alms for the love of Allah.

Praise Allah.

Alms for the love of Allah.

Praise Allah.

Alms for the love of Allah.

Praise Allah.

What is this?

Why have you brought us here?

This does not look to me

like the way to the palace.

- I do not like it.

- Be silent.

No one has asked

for your opinion.

You must get away.

This may be your last chance.

Look!

Slave traders!

Be ready.

- Now what?

- Slave traders.

So this is the girl.

Good.

In fact, excellent, excellent!

Is this man mad?

When the new Caliph hears of this...

The new Caliph Kamar

will never hear.

Where we are sending you,

not even Allah himself could find you.

Chain them, quickly!

Hurry, go! Hurry, hurry!

Pick him up.

Hold him fast!

Put the chains on him.

Inside.

No! You, back there.

The amount agreed upon.

You, you, bear the litter.

Follow me.

Alms for the love of Allah.

Allah, Allah!

Allah. Praise Allah.

Praise be to the prophet.

"Be it known to

all loyal subjects...

that any person bringing

news of the whereabouts...

of the dancing girl Sherazade

and her companions...

to the summer palace of the Caliph

will be richly rewarded."

Tighter!

Tighter!

No!

Son of infamy,

every bone in your body shall be

broken if you continue to defy me.

The blind beggar said you

sold Sherazade into slavery.

Is that true?

Tighter!

Tighter.

More!

Enough!

- I know nothing, my lord.

- You lie.

There must've been others with

you in this plot. Who were they?

Tell me their names and I

promise you a quick death.

- See that he lives 'til he speaks.

- Yes, my lord.

I am going now to find her.

No power on earth can keep me from that.

If when I return you're still alive,

I promise you an eternity of suffering.

Slacken the rope.

I can release you from this torture

if you will be honest with me.

The blind one spoke the

truth, did he not?

Yes, my lord.

You told me to make certain that the

girl would never return so I thought...

You could obey my commands and

fill your purse at the same time.

I meant no harm, my lord.

What is the slave trader's name?

Hakim.

Where can I find him?

At the marketplace of El Bessera.

It is the truth, my lord.

You have served me well...

and I shall release you.

Now, my noble sirs,

I have 90 dinars bid.

Surely a trifling figure

for so sublime a slave.

Do I hear 100?

Oh, come now, noble sirs.

Behold this young, beauteous damsel.

See, my noble gentlemen.

I remove her veil.

And now, my noble sirs,

do I have your final bid...

for this ravishing

vision of loveliness?

I have 90 dinars.

Who'll say 100?

- One hundred dinars!

- She is sold.

Sold to the merchant Abdullah.

Quickly. Fetch another.

Next one.

You!

Hurry.

- Come on. Hurry.

- I am ready!

Come on!

- Does it move?

- Not yet.

Sherazade, there's still a chance.

You must not give up hope.

What have I to hope for?

That out there?

And now, my noble sirs, we have another

tempting and tantalizing morsel,

Marzena, the exquisite flower of the Nile.

What am I bid?

150 dinars!

I have 150 dinars.

Will someone say 200?

Oh, come, noble sirs!

200 dinars!

Stand back.

Let me.

Come along, my masters, bid.

- Have you no eyes for beauty?

- 200 dinars!

That is a man who speaks.

Who'll make it 250?

250 dinars.

They are in a good mood.

It's time to offer them

the dancing girl. Bring her.

Who says 300?

Come, my good sirs,

who'll say 300? 300!

Speak one of you. Are you all women?

Or will one of you say 300?

- 300 dinars.

- She is sold!

Sold to the noble and most

venerable Kassim Baba.

May Allah strengthen him.

They are coming for Sherazade.

- So this is the end.

- No, Sherazade, listen to me.

- You, on the top tier, forward.

- There are things I cannot explain,

but in my rightful place

I have power, great power.

Somehow I will regain that power.

Then I swear to you, I'll seek you out and

set you free, free to fulfill your destiny.

And if I am dead

when that day comes?

No, Sherazade.

All right, you, outside.

- Not you, step back.

- Where I go, she goes.

Sherazade, you must believe me.

Here, I'll help.

Pull!

Wait! Wait! And now, noble sirs,

prepare yourselves...

for a sight such as is

seldom seen by mortal eyes.

A vision of beauty

beyond your dreams.

A foretaste of paradise itself.

She is as a young moon,

mounting the stairway of the stars.

See how she approaches.

What poise, what grace.

See, my noble lords,

what an exquisite creature.

Think that she can be yours or yours

or yours to possess for all time.

Do not dare. I warn you, if you show

me to those men, this will be yours.

I swear it.

Do you hear that, you old men?

If this man as much as touches me,

I swear I will kill him.

What am I to do?

You she-cat!

Noble sirs, you see my plight.

This impossible creature...

No, no, no, I mean,

this superb woman of character...

cannot bear to deprive one

of you of the privilege...

of being alone in his joy.

Which one of you is

to be that lucky man?

Oh, come, sirs, what am I bid?

Unveil her. Come, come, unveil her.

Unveil her.

We want to see her first!

Does it mean nothing to you

to have the sole, the exclusive,

the breathtaking privilege of seeing

the beauteous damsel alone?

1,000 dinars.

Ah, that's better, noble sir.

I am bid...

What was that you said, noble sir?

1,000 dinars.

A thou...

Come this way, noble sir.

Come this way.

Sherazade has been sold.

- May we know the name of the noble lord?

- Do you wish names or gold?

Together now! Together!

Let me go too, master.

This must not fail.

The rest of you, be ready.

Help! Help!

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