Kismet Page #7

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Did I hear you laugh?

Oh, no.

Why tears at this great moment?

You've reached about the highest place

a woman can have in this kingdom.

What good is a high place

if your heart breaks?

We women are not supposed to

have hearts, my dear.

Who was he?

Nobody.

A gardener's son.

I see.

You do strange things in Hassir.

Hassir?

Yes, your province.

I've never heard of the place.

But you have been formally presented

by the Prince of Hassir.

I've never been out of Baghdad.

But who's the man who brought you?

You mean my father.

- Your father?

- Yes.

He didn't bring me from anyplace

but the shack we live in.

But who is your father

if he's not the prince of Hassir?

My father is a beggar.

A beggar?

Yes, he sits on a rock

before the beggar's mosque.

This magnificent man a beggar.

Oh, how wonderful.

How wonderful! A beggar!

And his daughter a queen.

What fun.

Oh, I didn't mean to hurt you.

Come on, cheer up.

Hear that?

Come here.

The song of ceremony for the new queen.

You're supposed to sing it.

I...

We expect it.

Sing for them.

Like the willow in the wind,

I have a weeping.

Like the willow in the wind moaning low

Like a willow leaf, love is ever brief

So my heart weeps away never sleeping

Weeps away like the night winds

that blow

Like a willow leaf

Love will come to grief

Only yesterday spring was here to stay

The voice is good.

I could do with a happier song.

Youth can be sad

without rhyme or reason.

Now that I've signed

the marriage agreement,

I've fulfilled my part of the bargain.

See that you don't fail to do yours.

Not I, milord.

If I don't juggle you out of trouble,

I've done nothing for her.

That's true, that's true. Alfife.

Double the guard around the tower.

And what's so amusing?

I was thinking if I fail

with the caliph, they'll kill me.

If I don't then your lordship

will do it.

I might not.

Milord, I've an inheritance.

My father lived to be 100,

my grandfather 110.

They won't be expecting me

in either place for years.

They won't be ready for me.

Find courage, my friend, find courage.

Kismet.

His lordship, the exalted

Grand Vizier of Baghdad.

Let every tongue be silent.

His serene highness,

commander of the faithful,

lion of the imperial forest,

rider of the spotless horse,

shadow of Allah on earth,

ruler of all Arabia.

If it please the all highest...

The ruler of faithful is not to be

addressed except at his own request.

As you well know.

Your case is third on the list,

your lordship.

But to summon me here

on a few hour's notice,

shows contempt for my great office.

In the name of dignity and high justice,

I demand time to prepare myself

against the accusations,

no matter what they may be.

I will always listen when a man says,

"In the name of justice."

I'll grant you the time you ask.

And I'm going to tell you what

you're accused of

so you'll know how to prepare.

But during the time I'm granting you,

all duties and power of office

is stripped from you.

The seal is worthless.

But this is outrageous.

You are accused of brutal taxation,

robbery of the poor,

years of corruption.

My witnesses are here by thousands.

And I have it from their own lips

throughout the kingdom.

When you have an answer

you think we should hear, let us know.

When your serene highness

apologizes to me,

may I hope that he does it

as publicly as this.

I will not keep your fate

a secret I promise you.

Number one on the divan program,

is the case of Alwah,

the woodchopper against Wapu the barber.

Which is the barber?

I am the barber, your excellency,

I am the barber.

State your case.

Great keeper of all justice,

this miserable woodchopper,

he pays my barbershop a visit.

He inquires how much will be the

charge to shave him and his friend.

I stated a most reasonable price.

I shaved the rascal and I said,

"Now, bring in your friend."

And what does he do? He brings in his

ass and says, "This is my friend."

Well, Alwah?

Most high and just,

Two moons ago,

I brought to this b-barber

a load of wood

on the back of my friend here.

He bargained for all of the wood

on the ass' back.

In those very words.

So this hard-hearted b-barber

he took also my pack saddle

saying that too was made of wood.

He said...

Agha, have this overly smart barber

shave the woodchopper's friend.

The next case is a petition

from a stranger.

It is a tradition in Baghdad

to hear strangers without delay.

The man is a magician

from far off Morocco.

And craves assignment

as conjurer to the imperial court.

This magician is the beggar

we've been searching the city for.

The next case is your father-in-law.

The Prince of Hassir?

That roustabout who kicked me

and called me a yahoo?

My father-in-law.

The heavens are having fun.

Perhaps not.

His petition came from the valets

of the Grand Vizier.

Let's be on guard.

I shall not weary your serene highness.

I shall conjure before the eyes

of the lion of the imperial desert

only such feats of magic.

He's gone.

He's gone.

Now, oh rider of the spotless horse

On my right is this beautiful young lady

and here, the handsome lad she loves.

but it's springtime, your highness

and with your royal permission.

Let me out of here!

Hey, let me out of here!

Let me out.

Thus demonstrating to the all highest

that nothing in the world is real.

Excellent, excellent.

And now,

oh, prince of true believers,

I will show you a feat so incredible

it has staggered

all the rulers of the world.

But the king must watch closely.

May a stranger beg humbly to approach?

The king's eyesight is excellent.

Proceed.

What use if the king can't see?

Proceed.

Watch the kerchief closely, milord.

- See amazing things it can see.

- Halt!

Serene highness,

I am a failure. My chance is a nothing

unless you examine the kerchief closely.

Stay where you are.

Let him come up.

Allah reward thee,

commander of the faithful.

Before your eyes,

I will produce a forest

and put it on the mountaintop.

I now summon the gods of thunder.

- And from these changing colors...

- You will produce a knife.

You showed me the trick last night.

Remember the yahoo?

Don't kill him. Bring him to me.

Bring him to me.

I want silence.

Let every tongue be silent.

This is the second attempt today.

It is clear life is in the hands

of fate.

Praise Allah.

Before this fool's execution,

I want him to hear something.

You were told of a royal wedding today.

That wedding will still take place.

I've combed the corners

of Baghdad for this man.

And while he was plotting

with my enemies,

I was arranging to make his daughter

queen of the empire.

That girl must disappear immediately.

The Grand Vizier, stop him.

Stop him. Don't let him get away.

- Don't worry about him.

- Don't let the Grand Vizier get away.

Our chancellor will now give you

the order of the day.

- Proceed.

- Guards, get him!

Where's Marsinah? She goes with us.

Quick, lead the way.

Come back, you fool.

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