Kismet Page #8

---

Warm desert winds caressing your skin.

Glorious emir.

- Yes.

- The lady has been brought as commanded.

Marsinah.

Marsinah.

- Oh, Father, you're safe.

- Yes, of course.

I was so worried about you,

with you here in that butcher's clutches.

Eh-eh-eh... Marsinah,

may I present the butcher's wife?

My daughter, Marsinah.

- Forgive me, great lady.

- Uh...

Notice anything, Marsinah? Ahem.

- An emir. You really are.

- Yes.

She must have gowns and silks

befitting her station.

My dressmaker will prepare a selection

for your choice.

Thank you.

- Father, can we leave this place now?

- Hmm?

I didn't want to ask

while she was still here, but please.

You have your emirship.

Isn't that enough?

Please, let us leave

and buy our pretty house.

But you prefer a house to a palace?

Father.

Father.

I tried to tell you before.

- I have fallen in love.

- Oh.

It was there that I met him.

Maybe he'll come back.

At a time like this,

you talk of infantile infatuation.

It's love, Father.

It is real and deep

as the one I feel for you.

Marsinah.

Please forgive me. L...

I didn't realize.

I'll never find him again.

There's no way. L...

- I don't even know his name.

- Darling.

- Where he lives, nothing.

- Darling, please. Please don't cry.

We'll find him.

Now, what's he like, huh?

Can you describe him?

Wazir, all your men, your entire force...

...is to be set upon the task

of finding a certain young woman.

Your Caliph has already described her

to his councilors who will assist you.

Start the search immediately.

Immediately, highness.

A gardener? Hmm.

Well, tell me a little more about him.

Is he a tall gardener?

Short gardener?

I don't know anything else.

Well, now, come, let's have some facts.

Were his eyes gray?

Brown?

His eyes were...

Oh, Father,

we talked only for a few moments.

He touched my hand.

You'd say his eyes were

Sometime bright

But only sometime

Often dark

Well, that is plain

Plain words can't tell the thrill

Then tell it how you will

Dawrs promising skies

Petals on a pool drifting

Imagine these

In one pair of eyes

And this is my beloved

Strange spice from the south

Honey through the comb sifting

Imagine these

On one eager mouth

And this is my beloved

And when she speaks

And when she talks to me

Music

Mystery

And when she moves

And when she walks with me

Paradise

Comes suddenly near

All that can stir

All that can stun

All that's for the heart's lifting

Imagine these

In one perfect one

And this is my beloved

And this is my beloved

Wazir, why have I had no tidings?

All Highest,

the search is barely under way.

We have so little information

to start with.

You mean you have nothing to report?

Nothing at all?

Great ruler, I need time.

True, Wazir, true.

But a royal marriage has been promised

the people.

And a royal marriage

must be given them.

Exactly the point I was about to make.

You were?

Proceed.

Permit me to observe the illusion

that you can be happy with one woman...

...it's a phase man goes through.

If Your Highness would glance

into my harem...

...my wives are entertaining

three ravishing young guests.

I am not in the mood, Wazir,

for visiting other mers harems.

Not a visit, highness, a glance.

I have secret means of watching.

It's a small device from which I've derived

a great deal of innocent amusement.

The simple creatures do not know

they're being observed.

They are the princesses of Ababu.

Note their charms.

Consider that an alliance with them

would mean a safe northern frontier.

I do not require your advice

on military security.

But if you would look again, highness,

it is not military security I'm offering.

It is she.

It is.

Here in your harem.

My boy. My poor boy.

But this is impossible. Impossible.

Your Highness...

...one marries so many people.

Of course, she cannot now

become your wife.

But if you'd care to have her as

a concubine, with my compliments.

Concubine?

No, Wazir.

It was not a concubine I sought.

But I don't understand.

A harem wife to the Wazir of police

walking alone in the bazaar?

How is it possible?

She must have bribed the guard.

You. Get me the facts.

Yes, Excellency.

I pray Your Highness does not

blame me for his disappointment.

The incident is closed.

I shall hold a diwan this very night.

You may present your three princesses

of wherever it is.

Inform marriage missions

from other nations...

...to present their candidates

for the Caliph's hand.

This night will he choose

a wife of wives.

Well, where'd she come from?

The new emir brought her.

Oh, my brilliant magician.

He transferred the woman

to my own harem.

His power is unbounded

and therefore so is mine.

Bring me the girl.

Put her over there.

The Caliph believes this woman

to be one of my wives.

I would not have him discover me

in a lie.

Ah. Witness this ceremony and enter it

into the records as of a month ago.

Empowered as judge of Baghdad

to create and cause marriage...

...between two true believers...

...I officially accept this creature as wife

of the 7th rank. Therefore, be she mine.

Huh?

Congratulations.

- What is your name, woman?

- Marsinah.

What has happened?

- Marsinah, the Wazir has taken you

as a wife of the 7th rank.

Have her scrubbed and anointed.

I shall visit her

after the Caliph's diwan tonight.

If you do, I'll kill myself. I swear it.

Really? Oh, this may be

the first interesting wedding night...

...I've had in years. Hmm.

Inform the embassies to present

their candidates for royal marriage...

...at the diwan tonight.

Excellency, you dare not take that risk.

Suppose the All Highest

chooses the wrong bride?

I'm taking no risk at all.

My magician shall officiate

at the ceremony.

All Highest, the emir of whom I told you.

Let the diwan begin.

Oh, Prince of True Believers,

first of the enchanting maidens...

...who aspire to the incredible honor

of becoming your wife.

The beauteous Zubbediya of Damascus.

Sire, perhaps your guards

should advance a pace.

Why so?

- Princess Zubbediya is charm incarnate.

One cannot forget that Damascus

is a province famous only for the fact...

...that your great grandfather

was assassinated there.

O commander of the faithful,

a second contestant for your noble heart.

Samaris of Bangalore.

Alluring as the mirage,

pulsing as the sirocco.

And agile as the mongoose.

And now...

...now, Great Caliph,

the three princesses of Ababu.

O imperishable ruler,

it is said in the Koran...

...that he who looks out of three windows

sees more than one olive tree.

So devoutly do these princesses

desire your happiness...

...that they have put aside

the natural rivalry of womankind.

And each is prepared to marry

that third of you, which she can serve best.

Ah. The delight in your eyes

shows your decision.

O fount of wisdom,

all Baghdad will rejoice...

...and all Ababu as well.

Your Caliph has made no decision.

You have your curses ready

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes