Kismet Page #2

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Well, it's a famous name, Jawan.

Let me see, it strikes a chord.

You're Jawan the great astronomer.

You dissemble poorly.

I'm Jawan, the robber, the brigand,

as you very well know.

But I don't know.

I've no interest in such matters.

By tomorrow, I will have forgotten

your face, I could never identify you.

- Bare his belly.

- Why? What for?

We're gonna decorate it with a white-hot

coal, gleaming in its navel like a jewel.

- In Allah's name, what have I done?

- Can it be he's forgotten?

Fifteen years ago you put a curse upon me,

Hajj the Beggar.

I have only been Hajj the Beggar

since this morning.

- His mind has rotted like a fig.

- I have never seen you before.

I know that. But 15 years ago, you put

a curse upon my name, Hajj the Beggar.

Soon after,

my only son was stolen from me.

All these years,

I've sought for my son everywhere.

I've offered ransom

that would purchase all Persia.

- Now, I am to die soon.

- Oh, let's hope not.

I must find my son in the weeks

remaining to me.

The wise men tell me it is your curse...

...that keeps me from him.

- Ah. Do they really?

- How much ransom did you offer?

- Never mind. Remove the curse.

Certainly, of course. Delighted to do

the best I can under these conditions.

- Don't haggle. Remove the curse.

- Jawan, you don't understand.

A curse must be removed voluntarily.

That's the law of curses.

A curse is nothing more than a prayer,

a prayer for harm.

A prayer is born in the heart,

not the mouth.

- You'd pray for me and not mean it.

- For money, I would.

- Would Allah accept prayer that's paid for?

- Aye, indeed so.

Do you not give money to mosques

and to holy men?

Do they not bless you and pray for you?

- That is true. Give him a gold piece.

- Is that all your son is won'th?

- Lf my patience snaps...

- You'll have eternity to regret it.

Think, Jawan.

Listen to death chuckling in your chest.

What good will your wealth be

when the chuckle becomes a roar?

Your tongue is cunning.

Give him 10 gold pieces.

- A hundred. Do I not offer you your son?

- A hundred?

Happiness on Earth

as well as a cushion in paradise?

How much is too much for eternal bliss?

Will I find my son this day?

This day? Possibly within the hour.

Saddle a horse.

A plain mount, it'll go unnoticed.

Don't risk entering the city. You'll be taken

by the Wazir's police. Tortured. Beheaded.

If I must die in Baghdad,

how can I avoid it?

By staying out of Baghdad.

No man can avoid his fate.

That is kismet.

- Break camp.

- Break camp.

Return to the mountains.

Wait for me there.

Pray well, Hajj the Beggar.

Excuse me, which way is Mecca?

Hey, ho. Hey, ho, ho.

Hey, ho.

I'm rich.

I am rich.

On the rim of torture and death

and now, treasure.

Why, I'm the richest man I ever knew.

Today's my day

My day of days

My blessings unfold

In a hundred golden ways

Fate has played the trick with the twine

And woven evil and good in one design

And I can face the sun

No more to dodge, no more to run

I can eat, I can buy

I can sleep in a bed

In the certainty I'm fed and free

For fate has claimed its child

And smiled on me

Make way for the Wazir.

Make way for the Wazir.

Make way for the Wazir.

Clear the bazaar.

Make way for the Wazir.

- Clear the bazaar.

- Clear the bazaar.

- Make way for the Wazir.

- Make way for the Wazir.

- Clear the bazaar.

- Clear the bazaar.

Follow.

Make way for the Wazir.

Make way for the mighty Wazir

who has eyes in every house.

And hands in every pocket.

Investigate that laughter.

Wife of wives to the Wazir.

Wife of wives to the Wazir.

To the Wazir's wife of wives.

Salaam, Lalume,

possessor of my entire heart.

Happiness attend your return.

Salaam, my exalted husband.

Lalume, I sent you to Ababu

to negotiate a loan. Did you get it or not?

And I had thought your impatience

was for me.

I found a new and wondrous ointment,

feel my skin.

Lalume, without that loan, I perish.

Answer me, do I get it?

All the gold 10 camels can carry.

- Heh-heh. Lalume.

- But there is a condition.

A high marriage

for the three princesses of Ababu.

Oh, what a nuisance.

I don't need any more wives.

In fact,

I've got more than I've any use for.

My lord, no one knows that

better than I.

However, it is not you the sheik of Ababu

wants for a son-in-law.

He wishes his eldest daughter

to become wife of wives to the Caliph.

To the Caliph?

And her two sisters,

second and third wives to the Caliph.

How can I influence the Caliph?

He's too young to understand

an honest bribe.

Nor can I frighten him, not while he keeps

that certainty of divine destiny.

He's shown not the slightest inclination

to marry.

With your wit and enterprise,

you will change his mind.

Remember,

all the gold 10 camels can carry.

Are they attractive,

these three young women?

Judge for yourself, my lord.

Guards.

Guards, bring the Ababus.

Exalted Wazir, may I present Their

Royal Highnesses the Princesses of Ababu.

In the name of our illustrious Caliph,

I welcome you to Baghdad.

What they say?

They could not be happy here...

...no matter what their father wants.

- What? Heh-heh. What?

Not happy in Baghdad?

Why, that's impossible.

Well, Baghdad...

Well, it's a symbol of happiness on Earth.

- Fetch me 50 happy people, quickly.

- My lord, it will take a month.

Sacred cats of Nefertiti.

Am I to be balked at every turn?

Will no one cooperate?

Unless I'm served as a Wazir should be...

...I warn you, heads will roll in the dust.

And the streets of Baghdad

will flow with the tears...

Baghdad

Don't underestimate Baghdad

A city rich in romantic oriental lore

Aye

Baghdad

You must investigate Baghdad

And learn a few of the facts

You never knew before

Aye

Due south of the Garden of Eden

Due north of the Gulf of Aden

Where every male and maiden

Is laden down

With the blisses of Baghdad

This irresistible

Town

When or where

Could you compare high life

To the life you find here

Not since Nineveh, not since Tyre

Not since Babylon turned to mire

For a sin of a kind we never mind here

Where or when ever again low life

Like the life well-known here

Not since Nineveh, not since Sidon

Not since Jericho started slidir

From the din of a horn

That's never blown here

Our palaces are gaudier

Our alleyways are bawdier

Our princes more autocratic here

Our beggars more distinctly aromatic here

Where could you ever pursue your life

With the zeal we feel here?

Not since Babylon read that writing

Not since Jericho heard that trumpet

Not since Nebuchadnezzar's

Hanging garden went to pot

Aye

- Not since that village near Gomorrah got

Too hot for Lot

- No, not since Nineveh

Aye, shabash

Not since Nineveh

Ah ah

- Nineveh

Come to Baghdad, live in Baghdad

Life in Baghdad

Takes you back to Nineveh

Nineveh!

Stay in Baghdad, stay in Baghdad

Stay in Baghdad, stay in Baghdad

Stay in Baghdad, stay in Baghdad

Stay in Baghdad, stay in Baghdad

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