Kismet Page #5

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Nothing has changed.

You mean you hoaxed your way in here?

This is magnificent. You took your life

in your hands to see me.

A poor risk for such a reward.

Then I must see you tonight.

You must tell me

all about this before

you forget any of it.

What you said, every word.

What the great man said.

Oh, this is wonderful!

I'll laugh in his face

every time I look at him.

You'll never laugh in his face again.

We're leaving tonight you and I

for my Garden of the Stars.

If you will accept this little gift,

beautiful dancer,

it may remind you of the pleasure

you gave a weary traveller.

You're too gracious, your highness.

Well?

Well.

She's a great artist, milord.

Then we'll hear no more

about the maid of Hassir.

Of course, she's much younger.

But she's queen of them all.

You're not suggesting

I get rid of Jamilla?

No, no, no, my lord.

But of course, fate moves queens

into place and out again so...

You never can tell.

We're too shaking with Macedonia

right now, aren't we?

I didn't come here to

give you the shakes.

I just wanted you to

see the girl, that's all.

To see her dance. And when she sings,

my lord, the angels are still.

In the name of the seven burning lakes,

do you expect me to travel

all the way to Hassir

to see this paragon?

No, she's here with me in Baghdad.

Then before you start singing

her praises all over again,

I'll send for her in state.

That's something I must do myself,

if you don't mind.

No, anything you want, of course.

The superlative hand that fashioned

the gift shall have something from me.

Here.

Give this to the miracle of all girls

and say to her that

never before in it's history

has this palace held its breath

as it does now.

And what's her name?

- Marsinah.

- Marsinah.

And now gentlemen,

to the Princess Marsinah.

This needlework!

What material!

I poured all my love into it.

Oh, Karsha.

I like it myself.

Listen.

Listen. Oh, he sounds happy.

Sounds like an extra glass of wine

or a new fairy tale.

Here, you come take that off.

That's not for everyday.

Please, Karsha, I want father to see it.

Ah, my blossoming flower, greetings,

my unblossoming cactus.

Salam, salam, salam.

Happiness. Where did you get it?

To those of royal blood, one never asks,

"Where did you get it?"

Those pearls.

Gorgeous.

Who was it said every son's a blessing,

every daughter a desolation?

Who'd dare say anything so wicked?

I wouldn't barter you this day

for all the sons of all the guardians,

all the nobles or...

am I talking like a king?

Who went crazy.

Silence, cactus.

Or I'll call my slaves

to chop your head off.

How would my little princess

like to live in a palace?

With pillows of ostrich plumes,

in courts of marble

with ceilings of molten gold.

She'd go blind in the eye, enslaved.

To bring on the feast.

Come on, slave, the feast. Ha, quiet.

Your wishes, princess?

I shall have a sherbert.

In my costliest china bowl.

With exquisite spoons

made from the pear tree.

Here is pheasant from Mazanderland.

Here are the choicest bites

of the wild antelope.

I get the bellyache

just listening to them.

So, I go roaring through Baghdad, do I?

Such a roar was never heard

through Baghdad.

Please, father, tell me what did you do?

I have had wine with

the greatest man in Arabia.

Wine, music, he even brought out

his dancing girls.

I looked at them, I thought of you.

Milord, I said, these are swamphens.

He said, "Off with his head."

I said, "Wait", said I, "Wait."

Not until you've seen

the Princess Marsinah and so...

He sends you this.

With his compliments.

Now, my lotus,

my little pigeon,

you are to dance for the Grand Vizier!

I?

I dance for the Grand Vizier?

I promised you when the time came,

a king should bow his turban

to the dust for you.

All day your father has been stepping

from one mountain peak to another.

But don't be uneasy,

my little Marsinah.

You'll dazzle them all.

Open up in the name of justice.

This way, quick!

In here, both of you.

Quick!

The police, police.

- I knew they wouldn't be far behind you.

- Stay there.

- The robber.- The rascal.- That's my tunic

- My shoes.- My ring.- My turban.

- He stole my purse.

- Quiet.

They're lying dogs, captain.

These clothes in this shack?

These clothes are mine and those too.

You can have them back. Here...

Come along, you're under arrest.

Alfife, this is an outrage.

I'm a man of religion and peace.

Three doomsday break if I lie.

Father.

I'll be back, my little one.

Don't worry.

I'll see my friend, the Grand Vizier.

He'll send them all where they belong.

Come along.

I knew it. I knew it.

Karsha.

- Karsha.

- Come, my little one.

No, no, I must get help.

The king of beggars.

- Gardener?

- Yes?

- What is it?

- This young lady wants to see you.

Wants to see me?

Yes, please.

A flower from the caliph's garden.

Is that what she was?

Here.

Thank you.

That has a blessing.

Where can I find your son?

My son?

This garden is the only wife I ever had.

Thousands of these flowers

are my only children.

Oh, see what you've done.

Forgive me.

Milord...

My friend, I didn't believe it

when they told me.

I've seen princes made and unmade

pretty fast in my time.

But never with a speed like this.

Go ahead.

The accusers may speak one at a time.

Quiet.

I have heard the accusations.

And what has his highness

of Hassir to say?

And what of the magician?

Can he juggle his way out of this?

Come, speak.

Milord, when the trick fails, when it's

exposed, the magician's a poor thing.

The other gift, the bracelet

you gave the princess, milord.

Oh, no, hang it around your neck again.

I did enjoy you.

You surprised a man

pretty hard to surprise.

And you remember poor Abdul?

Yes.

You know the law.

If a man steals, you cut off his hands

in front of his victims.

My hands!

Actually, you'll cut my heart out.

If a man knows the law,

he should think of that before he steals

Milord!

It is no pleasure to see rare talent

cut off before its time.

But it is so written in the law.

There can be no compromise.

What is it?

A message from the imperial palace.

I have come from the all highest

of the center of the universe

to give his compliments to you.

He has sent a very substantial

number of his royal guard.

His serene highness is thus assured that

you will be conducted to his presence

in a manner befitting

your exulted position

and the distinction of your house.

Did you say royal guard?

By the express orders of the caliph.

Your palace is now completely surrounded

by your escort.

Milord.

Milord, shall we proceed?

What are we waiting for?

Cut off his hands and dismiss the court.

Milord, wait, these hands

can serve you.

Silence, mountebank.

But I can tell you of my master in Morocco.

He toppled the king off the throne.

When everything else had failed.

Halt.

My friend,

your story will have to be

exceedingly good.

Or it will be exceedingly short.

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