Kismet Page #6

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It's both, milord. It's good and short.

But...

I need my hands to tell it.

And now, what did your master

of Morocco do?

While the king was amazed

at the lightning in one hand,

the other drove a dagger

through his heart.

Proceed.

I heard the king's messenger.

The words sounded fair but...

Your lordship is trapped.

Before the mosque this morning,

a mans' head rolled in the gutter.

He'd fumbled his job.

You told me yourself how much

the caliph loved you.

Of course, you know you've just written

your death warrant.

Unless I can serve you.

What you want done in Baghdad today,

only these hands can do.

Get me before the king today and you

will rule the empire by sundown.

- You have courage, my friend.

- I have for this, milord.

I'm keeping a golden promise.

I'd rather die than break it.

- A promise to whom?

- To my daughter, milord.

Dear to me beyond the hopes of Paradise.

The highest place in the world I've

promised her since she was a baby.

If you serve me today,

I'll make you a prince of Islam,

and she can have anything she wants.

If I send this peacock to Paradise

one split second later, I'll be dead.

You risk that, of course.

Now, what do you want?

This and it must be done rapidly.

My Marsinah brought here in state.

I must see her installed not as

one of your dancers but as queen.

As head of your household.

But what about the tiger cat?

Leave the tiger cat to me.

Another assignment in magic?

You met the lady

for only a brief moment.

It was love at first sight, milord.

I can always tell.

Very well, my friend, very well.

Your princess Marsinah shall be

brought here in state.

And now some wine.

That means good things.

Like a bursting sunrise.

You've heard many fables, child.

But the sands never lie.

What's that?

Have you risen from the dead?

Marsinah, my child, there's nothing

to be distressed about.

A word to my friend, the Grand Vizier,

and those hounds went off yelping.

Tears, my poor baby?

Has this croaking old parchment

frightened you?

I've good news for you.

The greatest of all news.

You are to be queen of the household

of the Grand Vizier.

Think of it.

The Princess Marsinah.

Not just one of a score

of dancing girls.

But queen of them all.

Don't lie to her anymore.

I do not lie, cactus.

Before the sun goes down,

she'll be the greatest lady in Baghdad.

- Why must you make life so horrible?

- Marsinah, it is written.

I love you, father,

but I can't obey.

What's this? What's happened?

She's fallen in love.

That's what's happened.

Who? When?

I'll send him floating down the river

without his head. Where is he?

He told her his father's the royal

gardener but he lied.

The royal gardener has no son.

I want to put you on the mountaintop

but you choose the gutter.

Don't you see how miserable I am?

My little Marsinah,

I built these walls to protect you.

Every day of your life,

I've tried to bring a world

of dream in here.

And now those dreams are coming true.

I know what life with the gardener's son

will mean.

Slavery, poverty, ugliness.

A few short years and life will be over.

That's not true.

Leave me alone.

- Captain of the guard.

- Father.

Bring them in.

Don't make me do this.

For this I've risked my life

a dozen times today.

For this I descended a bottomless pit.

The bargain is made.

You mean I...

I'm to marry a...

I'm giving you the place in the sun

I promised you.

Deliver this maid to the Grand Vizier.

They don't have to touch me.

I'll go.

When will she arrive?

Just before sunset.

After the gardener's son has

battered the wall down.

The messenger has returned.

You may speak.

You majesty, this beggar we've been

searching for seems to have vanished.

Ridiculous.

Beggars don't vanish from Baghdad.

He must be found and found today.

In your search,

did you learn anything about him?

He calls himself king of beggars.

He masquerades at night

as the Prince of Hassir.

He is also quite a magician.

Double your efforts.

Set a watch around the house

where he lives.

You may go.

You're not serious about this wedding

after what you've just heard?

Nothing can change my mind.

I shall bring her here myself.

In the name of Destiny, you...

It's insane to risk your neck

in the streets.

You can send a thousand men with me

if you like.

But the gardener's son is going to

lead her through the royal gardens.

I'll tell her nothing till we're here.

I want the memory of this day

to live in her heart

forever.

I'm ready, milord.

Where's the princess?

- She's being costumed.

- Good.

Your appearance in court

has been arranged.

The caliph has accepted your petition.

And he...

What are you laughing at?

There's vast excitement among the ladies

because of the Princess Marsinah.

Her highness, Queen Jamilla,

refuses to leave the tower, milord.

You hear? She won't leave the tower.

There's a good deal at stake.

I think she'll have to.

Right, but what are you going to do,

put her under a spell?

Exactly.

As soon as you've

formally dethroned her.

There are formalities, milord.

All right.

Stay here. I'll take care of

the formalities.

Don't you dare come up here.

Or I'll drive a dagger

through your heart.

But, Lady Jamilla...

I shall stay in this tower

as long as it pleases me.

And only when I decide to leave,

shall I leave.

Oh, you decide.

Remember I told you I would cut

your throat even if I lost Macedonia.

Now the time has come.

- I'll call out the...

- Never mind.

I have decided to leave.

You what?

Jasmina.

Marsinah.

Prince Charming.

Let no one make hash of fairy tales,

my rosebud.

Your veil, please.

You should have brought a poet

to talk about her.

Arise, my dear.

And be honored.

From now on, this distinguished young

lady is queen of the household.

There will be a marriage ceremony

later in the day.

A word to your father before

I lead you to the tower.

Once, milord,

there grew a single rose

in a beggar's garden.

He swore it should never bloom

for some camel boy.

How do you do things like this?

Magician.

You brought this girl here?

Yes, I brought her here.

So that I would be free?

It was a bargain.

I was going to tear the place to pieces.

And I would have.

If I hadn't seen you.

I told you you couldn't escape me.

Can a woman escape her destiny?

The name of Jamilla

still echos in palace windows.

And the Garden of the Stars

is written in the sand.

I'll come back for you in an hour.

Another hour here?

I'm a deposed queen.

Forgive me.

First I've a duty to perform.

It's not as simple as I thought.

Was is this duty?

My part of the bargain.

If I live through it,

I'll be here.

You'll live through anything.

There's a secret entrance.

My slave will be looking for you.

Near the eastern gate.

If you don't see me within the hour,

I'll be dead.

You'll be alive when the man in the moon

is forgotten,

my beloved.

The Lady of the Moonlight

will be waiting.

Come quickly.

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