Arabian Nights Page #5

a humble player?

- Do you still deny he is your lover?

- Yes.

He came to us by chance before

we were sold into slavery.

He will regret that escape from

the tender mercies of those slavers.

Guard!

What are you going to do?

What will happen to him?

There are many ways

that death can come to a man.

His will not be easy.

But he's our friend!

What has he done that he should die?

You really love him, do you not?

Yes, yes, I love him!

Help me. Save him.

I'll be your slave. Only save him!

If I save him,

I shall need your help.

What do you want me to do?

This ring.

You see?

Wear it.

At the feast, when the

marriage cup is brought,

the slave will already have tasted

the wine. Kamar will suspect nothing.

As you pass your hands over the

cup during the betrothal dance...

It should be easy.

- And he?

- I will sign an order for his release...

and provide an escort

as far as the border.

Once across the river,

he should be quite safe.

Why are you doing this?

What will you gain?

My rightful place that

belongs to the strongest.

The throne.

I have been a servant long enough.

Now I will be king.

Come, make up your mind!

How do I know you

will keep your word?

You will see him leave the encampment

yourself. Will that satisfy you?

Very well.

I will make the arrangements.

When the time comes,

I will let you know.

I have kept my bargain.

See that you keep yours.

He is to reach the other

bank of the river safely,

but then...

I understand, my lord.

- You expect us to believe all of that?

- You must believe it!

- Haroun-Al-Raschid!

- Haroun-Al-Raschid...

And I thought he was a beggar.

I asked him if he could juggle.

We must do something!

What can we do?

Haroun's safe conduct

goes only as far as the river.

We must get there before the

soldiers and hide the ferryboat.

I have a plan.

We'll go to the smithy and...

All we want is to borrow

your smithy for an hour.

Borrow it?

- That's right.

- Don't worry. You'll be paid.

- You paid me nothing before.

- You paid him nothing?

- In that case, we'll double it.

- What?

Clear off, offspring of a beggar!

- Did you get the boat?

- Yes, we have it hidden downstream.

Good, good. Watch for the soldiers.

What's going on out there?

Ahmad! They are here.

The soldiers are coming.

Smith?

Oh, there you are.

We want the ferryboat.

- The ferryboat?

- Yes.

- Oh, oh, the, uh... the, uh, ferryboat.

- Yes.

- It's out of service.

- Out of service?

It's on account of the ferryman.

He's sick with confusionitis.

You see, for 25 years he's been

going to and fro, and fro and to.

And most of the time he didn't know

whether he was fro or to.

Have you ever been to when

you were supposed to be fro?

- It makes you wish you'd never started.

- This isn't getting us anyplace.

That's exactly what the ferryman said

to his wife after his 4,000th round-trip.

Oh, excuse me, but

there's a woman in there...

who used to know on which side

of the river the ferryman lived.

I'll go in and ask her.

Oh, if you have to leave,

don't go until you come back.

I can't hold off the corporal much longer.

The man's crazy!

That, that...

that gives me an idea.

- One of you will have to be a woman.

- No!

I'll do it. When I was

with the Strolling Players,

- I was known as the Bag of Bagdad.

- You can't do it with that beard.

Ridiculous! The woman that I loved

most dearly had a beard like that.

The corporal isn't that crazy.

No, you'll have to shave it off.

My beard? Rather my life

than my beard.

But it's Haroun's life

that matters now. Valda.

No, no, no.

Off with the beard.

No, Valda, I forbid it.

I forbid it. Valda, don't!

The woman said,

the last time she saw...

There's a horse with a split hoof.

See to it.

Who, me?

You! What's the matter with you?

- You're the smith, aren't you?

- Oh, uh... Yes, yes, yes.

Come on. I'll show you.

- He'll have to get down.

- Can't you manage without?

Without? Don't be ridiculous.

Don't you think I know my own trade?

Come on.

- Right this way, sir.

- Help bind him.

You'll be comfortable here.

You need not be gentle

with that accursed one.

By the stars,

this better be the one.

Allah, preserve us.

What was that?

- That was Sultana.

- A camel?

Oh, no. A woman,

a very beautiful woman.

Oh? I'm going to look for the ferryman.

I'll come back later.

- Why don't you come back now?

- Well, I...

Don't begin that again.

Get on with your work.

Where did I put my anvil? Sultana,

what have you done with my anvil?

Did you call, father?

Oh, I... I didn't know

you had company.

What a beautiful

distribution of flesh.

The most magnificent.

Not only the most magnificent,

but the most.

Um... may I?

Coochi-coochi-coochi.

- I've stood enough.

- Not now. Wait 'til we get him in here.

Coochi-coochi-coochi.

- What's going on here?

- I only chucked her under the chin.

Which chin?

How dare you pay court to my beloved.

- Silly boy, takes so much for granted.

- Away with you!

I dare you to cross this threshold.

I defy you to enter here.

Aren't you going

to accept his challenge?

- Oh, you do, do you?

- I double...

Peasant dreams.

Eedee, jedee, midee, moe.

Jedee, moe. The corporal, come.

Come quickly!

Come, the corporal!

Quick, go!

Come.

Wine! Wine! Come.

Wine. Wine.

Ali, what are you doing here?

Nadan ordered his soldiers

to kill you at the river.

- Why did he pretend to free me?

- He made a bargain with Sherazade.

- What bargain?

- She agreed to poison Kamar's wine...

- in return for your safety.

- What does my safety mean to her?

She loves you, my lord,

and she's in great danger.

Hurry, we must go quickly!

The soldiers are

sleeping peacefully.

We await your commands,

O Mighty Caliph.

Ali, cross the river

and rouse my people.

The rest of you, mount your

horses and follow me.

Proceed.

Bring the wedding gifts.

We will drink to our betrothal.

- Sherazade.

- Ahmeen!

- Seize that man!

- Sinbad! Sinbad!

Sinbad!

Guards, stop them!

Do you not recognize me,

my brother?

- Haroun.

- Haroun-Al-Raschid!

- The rightful Caliph!

- Haroun-Al-Raschid!

Haroun-Al-Raschid!

Why did you not tell me, my lord?

I could not until

I was sure of your love.

Her love?

Now, my brother, you condemned

me to the slow death.

Yours shall be swift and sure.

By Allah!

This has got to be the one.

Beautiful lamp. Magic...

It worked! It worked!

The palace guard. Look!

Oh, no, you won't!

Oh, Sherazade.

Hail, Haroun-Al-Raschid!

The rightful monarch

thus regained his throne.

There was great rejoicing

throughout the land.

Sherazade and Haroun lived in

peace and happiness all their days.

Did that really happen,

O Guardian of the Harem?

Of course it did.

Thus, as Allah had willed,

so did it come to pass.

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