"What news?" "There's a man to see you from Baghdad." "Chief Execution... what brings you here?" "Sayid, in his sickness, your brother, the Sultan, planned to kill his bride after the wedding." "You see, he's mad!" "But he can't go through with it..." "the Sultana is still alive." "Better, he's weak... the people will follow a madman but never a weakling!" "I'm not here to betray the Sultan, but to protect my own interests." "The Sultan's too soft for killing... which leaves me out of work... on the other hand I never saw you shrink from using rope, axe or knife... so, if you should change places with the Sultan..." "Never fear, there'll be much for you to do when I win." "The streets of Baghdad will be lined with nooses... there'll be gallows on every corner." "It'll be a golden time, I promise." "Thank you, Sayid." "Thank you." "Prepare to march on Baghdad." "We will be revenged, my love..." " But he wasn't laughing, was he?" " No that's right." "He wasn't." "I let you live so you could finish the story of Aladdin... you should at least get it right." "Now... there was a storm, wasn't there?" "Yes, there was..." "You were saying?" "I am your humble and obedient servant." "What?" "I didn't get that!" "Oh, nothing, just a mere technicality... the fine print on my contract, show to speak." " You have to obey me, don't you?" " I, obey you?" "I should cast you into a sea of torment..." "I should have you trampled in... yes, you can have everything you ever wanted." "How about stopping the rain?" "I'm sure there must be another... wish I can grant your exalted Lord and Master Aladdin..." "I'm in love with the Princess Zobeide the Caliph's daughter..." " Love?" "I don't know her, but I've seen her across a crowded street..." "It's usually across a crowded room, as strange as that may seem." " I want her!" " I can give you things, Master Aladdin... but when it comes to the human heart, I am powerless." "You can have anything in the world you want and all you can think of asking for is for some young chit of a girl who isn't good enough for you!" " Genie, you can give us things?" " You've got it in one, Mother." "Not so much of the "Mother"." "I'm young enough to be your granddaughter." " Things, like money..." " I've never heard that request before." "You would be the first to ever ask for that." "Bushels and bushels of money!" "With money, you don't need magic!" "Are you sure that's the way you want to go?" "I mean, money is great and all, but everybody asks for money." "Why not ask for something new and exciting?" "Okay, how about some sort of flying machine?" "What?" "A flying machine?" "So you could fly all over the world?" "You could have drinks... and someone could serve us peanuts!" "A flying machine!" "Maybe we should just stick with the money." "Make way for the lovely Princess Seleh Alcouz of Souman..." "Aladdin's mother put on an extraordinarily..." "vulgar display of wealth... but as usual, it worked." "We have more petitions, Your Majesty, they're important." "Your son Gulnare doesn't think so." "Your exalted majesty, His Highness Aladdin Ebn Alcouz... and his mother, the Princess Seleh Souman..." "These aren't on my list... they shouldn't be here." "I don't know anything about them, Your Majesty." "That must be very disturbing for you, Assad." "How did you get past my guards and into the Court?" " We had introductions." " What introductions?" "Irresistible introductions." "Indeed, these are introductions no courtier could resist." "My Mother and I have brought them from Zourman." "They meet with your approval, Majesty?" " Flawless!" " They're yours, Sir." "This is a most generous gesture, Prince." "You will always be most welcome here at Court." "And if we can make your stay more pleasant..." "My son is too shy to ask... but we've heard of the beauty of your daughter the Princess Zobeide... my son, the Prince Aladdin, would formerly like to ask for her hand in marriage." " This is outrageous!" "Two strangers from Zourman asking to marry the daughter... of the great Caliph Beder!" "We wouldn't come empty handed." "Two million gold pieces!" "The Caliph doesn't need your vulgar gifts!" "I wouldn't say two million was ever "vulgar", Assad." " As a start..." " Your Majesty my son, your daughter..." " Oh, yes, yes." "I'm sorry you came a little late." "The Grand vizier's son Gulnare... is pledged to my daughter." "Indeed, they're to be wed in three days." " Father." " We were just talking of you, my dear." "This is Prince Aladdin of Zourman." " He asked for your hand in marriage." " Too late, I fear." "Haven't I seen you somewhere, Prince?" "I've been "somewhere" but I would've remembered you, Princess." "I have a marriage gift for you Your Highness..." "You're too generous, Prince Aladdin." " Yes, I'd say that too!" " He has a generous heart!" "You may wish to withdraw these magnificent gifts now..." "No, no, no, they're yours, Sir." "How do I stop that idiot Gulnare from marrying the Princess?" "Let's turn him into a pig... or better yet, a roast pig." "It's tempting, but it's just not me." "What about an accident?" " Too crude." " Then, before you do anything..." "Master Aladdin..." "I suggest you find out if the Princess." "Zobeide whatever her name is... has feelings for you." "She might be in love with that eunuch Gulnare." "Women often love men who are unworthy of them." "The reverse is also true." "Men often love women unworthy of them why?" " Love has nothing to do with worth." "Love is a madness... prince or beggar, we have no control." "Was it the Genie who said "Women often love men unworthy... of them" ...or was it you?" "No, it was the Genie." "What is it, Giafar?" "This is too early for affairs of state." "You put me in a bad mood." "My news will only make it worse." "Your brother is raising an army against you." "He's finally come into the open." "How big, how big?" "Big enough." "Schahzenan!" "Kill him!" "Kill him!" "Traitors!" "Guards!" "Guards!" "You're right about women loving men unworthy of them." "Perhaps she loves Gulnare and not me... but there's still time to find out." "They don't marry until next week." "Wrong!" "Gulnare and the Princess are being married tomorrow!" "Where did you come from little fellow?" "He's a darling." "Come here, little fellow." "I'm getting married tomorrow..." "to the Grand vizier's son, Gulnare." "It's all signed, sealed and delivered... you wouldn't understand, affairs of state." "But I did meet a charming young man, he... there's no point in thinking about him, is there... only..." "the saddest words in any language..." ""if only"..." "What did you learn, Master Aladdin?" "She doesn't love Gulnare." "She loves me!" "You always were a terrible young monkey!" "I was just telling Mother about..." "The Princess and Gulnare were married... an hour ago, in secret." " No!" " The Grand vizier won't let... a little thing like magic monkeys stop him making his son heir to the throne." "Of course he won't!" "Look at her... clever... beautiful... wealthy..." "flexible..." "Have they consummated the marriage yet?" "Not yet, but any moment now." "I hear he's quite the acrobat in the sexual arena." "If Gulnare had his life to live again, he'd still fall in love with himself." "What has to be, cannot be changed." "I'll think of something pleasant..." "like that young prince from Zourman." "My dove...it's me...your husband..." "Who else..." "I'm here!" "My love, why you look as beautiful as... as beautiful as...as...um..." "That's okay." "I'll guess the rest." "Gulnare?" "Gulnare?" "Where are you?" "It's an insult to my daughter, and worse, and to me!" "Your Majesty..." "You stink!" "So would you, Sayid, if you'd spent all night in a privy." "He prefers a stinking privy to a beautiful young woman..." "I tell you there's something seriously wrong with this boy, Assad!" "The marriage is annulled!" "Get out!" "Three million in gold is most generous" "Prince Ala for my daughter's hand in marriage." " I love her, Your Majesty." " Good, that always helps." "But I can't sanction this marriage unless I know my daughter is going to live in the style to which she is accustomed," " and you haven't even got a palace." " I'm building one." "You can marry her when I see it with my own eyes." "It'll be ready in a week's time." "You don't know builders, my boy." "My own palace took over a year to build." " Mine will take a week!" " A week?" "I like you, Master Aladdin... believe it or not, I've had some two hundred odd Masters in my time, and you're the noblest of them all," "but remember, I still have Solomon's curse in my face, and I will betray you at the drop of a turban, if it suits me." " Of course... no hard feelings." " No hard feelings..." " I have to survive." " Don't we all?" "Perhaps..." "Palace!" "Well, mortals, where are my compliments, please?" "Magnificent!" "It is my best work since the Taj Mahal!" "Let's go and feed the sturgeon!" "Yes, much better!" "This was perhaps the happiest day of Aladdin's life." "He should have been a bit more pessimistic... he always said a pessimist is someone who really knows what's going on..." "Mustafa, you're working too hard!" "Too hard!" "You're right, Hector." "But there's so much to learn..." "Ahhh, I'm naked." "Naked!" "What's going on, Chief?" " I once swore by Hector's feathers." " I want them back!" "Tell me harp, is that rogue Aladdin dead in the cave?" "No, he is not dead on this very day." "He is to be wed." "Losing your temper" "Mustafa, didn't pay." " Who's he marrying?" " The fairest flower in the land" "He must be very smart and plucky to wed the Princess of Samarkand." "He finally got very lucky." "No, he finally got the lamp!" "New lamps for old!" "New oil lamps for old oil lamps!" "That's right, I'm exchanging new lamps for old lamps!" "Come and see for yourself!" "New lamps for old..." "It's too early." "That ring...is beautiful!" "It's yours!" "You're so generous, my love." "Have you always been rich?" "Always, always." "My father was rich, and his father before him... our title is one of the most ancient in Zouman." "Well, it suits you." "You're everything a prince should be, but never is...you're handsome, you're gallant, you're generous... but your mother..." "My mother's what they call an eccentric..." "after all, she can afford to be." "No, I love her for it...she's different..." "like a breath of fresh air..." "I've never known anyone like her." "And I've never known anyone like you!" "They were in love and only had eyes for each other... so they didn't see what was going on around them." "Why are you giving new oil lamps for old?" "There's a catch, huh?" "No, no catch, no catch...just the bargain of the year." "You see, where I come from, we prize old and ancient things." "Hey, can I trade in my wife for a new one?" "No, my friend, only oil lamps this trip, eh?" "New lamps for old!" "Didn't Aladdin sense something was wrong?" "He must've sensed some danger?" "Normally he would've done... but he was in love." "And that changes everything?" "Yes, men and women act out of character." "You, for example?" "Oh, yes, my father thought I'd never get married... he said when two people marry, each of them has to make sacrifices, and I was too strong-willed for that... but I've changed." "That must be love." "Tell me about Aladdin." "New lamps for old!" "I'm giving away new oil lamps for old!" " A once-in-a-lifetime offer!" " Did you say new lamps for old?" "It's a bargain!" "Everyone loves a bargain." "Here we are, thank you!" "Everyone loves a bargain..." " What happened?" " What happened?" " Where's the lamp?" " Gone." "Vanished." "Mustafa!" "Now my Princess will find out I'm not a Prince." "Worse, what happens when the Caliph discovers all the money we gave him has turned to dust?" " Time to run, my son." " No one runs in our family!" "Where did you hear that rubbish?" "Taste my dust!" "What's going on?" "Where is everyone?" " Where's the palace?" " Gone... like the snows of yesteryear!" "It was all a fake... there's no palace, no riches, and this your husband is no prince..." "he's a thief" " from a family of thieves!" " It's a lie!" "Tell him, Aladdin!" " Well, it's a bad way of putting it." " Don't be ashamed, son!" "We are proud of our heritage, daughter." "Our family are aristocrats, too... descended from the finest rogues in all Asia!" "That's for telling me you were a prince!" "It's Mustafa!" "Don't believe everything he says!" "He's go no reason to lie..." "you do!" "Hey, smart boy!" "You're in trouble, oh..." "Where did the palace come from?" "And the money?" "Magic!" "Ingrate!" "Genie..." "Genie... how could you possibly team up with this African squelch." "I couldn't warm to him if we were cremated together!" "What do you want?" "What do you want?" "I just got off my sick bed to come here." "What this?" "Oh.." "Pretty slave girl." "Allah!" "What in the name of evil are you doing here?" " And you?" " You two know each other?" "Yes, yes unfortunately." "We're distant, distant cousins" " on my father's side." " I've hated you for centuries!" "Yes, that's right, you lying, bullying dog!" "You turn my stomach!" "It would take the whole Persian Army to turn your stomach... you pimple!" "You grease spot on the backside of a camel!" "I've waited for you for so long..." "You wouldn't hit a fellow wearing whatever... these are, would you?" " Hold still while I think about it." " Okay, well then, bye!" "No, no, no, no, my Genie will challenge your Genie..." " winner takes all!" " This sounds interesting..." "No, no!" "He's feverish, he's babbling on...." "Done!" "Done?" "You do not understand, I cannot fight him, his magic is stronger than mine." "Shows you how unfair the Genie world is, doesn't it?" "Ouch.." "Toothache!" "I have a toothache, I can't fight." "No, let's do this right..." "we must have the proper setting." "No, no, no, no, no, I'm not in good shape," "I've never been in good shape... as a matter of fact I'm in the worst shape now than I have ever been." " This is not good for me." " You can do it, Master Genie!" "You're our man!" "Okay, I'm ready, Allah, exalted parent, creator of all... granter of wishes, you are my sufficiency... pray for me in this moment." "Help me!" "Thank you." "No!" "Here!" "Here!" "Here!" "Don't send me out there again, I'm no match for him, please!" "You're a pro." "Get in there and fight!" "Aladdin, did you love me, or was that another lie?" " Not now my love..." " Do you love me?" " Did you?" " Always!" "You heard him, get in there and fight!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" " No!" "Don't!" " Cheese!" "Let me out of here!" "Let me out of here!" "Let me out of here!" "I win!" "Get your chattel..." "Out!" "Out!" "out!" "Out!" "Out!" "Out!" "Out!" "Mercy for my wife and my mother," "No!" "Winner take all!" "But Mustafa had already lost and didn't know it." "He couldn't beat a man like Aladdin when it came to stealing." "He was a master." "You cheat!" "Next time I will show no mercy, I will kill you." " I will squash you, like a bug..." " This time... he had stolen Mustafa's victory." "So Aladdin had won." "He had picked his last pocket." "Something I'd expect from a rogue." "He gets it from his mother!" "He gave the Ring Genie his freedom." "He didn't need to be told twice." "Sayonara!" "Bye bye!" " The Genie of the Lamp..." " My freedom?" "...refused the gift." "What would I do with that?" "I would have to get a job, a fat wife and lazy children... no thank you!" "I've got power here, I've got total control..." "I'll decide when I want to be free..." "He was always contrary, it was.. part of his character." "Would Aladdin really offer the Genies their freedom and give up all that power?" " Power isn't that important." " What is?" "Happiness." "That's something poor Amin Adbur didn't have." "In fact he had nothing." "No peace, no comfort no happiness." " Who is Amin Adbur?" "A young beggar in Cairo." "You're starting another story." "I was going to tell you about Amin... because I thought you'd be particularly interested." "Why?" "Because he looked exactly like you..." "Like me?" "But the extraordinary thing about this story... is that the other leading figure in it is Sultan Abraschild... and Abraschild looked exactly like your brother, Schahzenan." "Like my brother?" "So I'm the beggar in this story..." "and my brother is the Sultan of Cairo?" "But you'll want to save that for tomorrow night." "...Some years ago, never mind how long just remember that all..." "There's a competition tomorrow, sponsored by the Baghdad Story-Teller's Association..." "I'm President." "You should enter it, Your Highness." "We're only competing for money... you've been competing for your life!" "I've told him an adventure story, a comedy, a fantasy, and now I want to tell something tragic..." "I hooked his interest by saying the main characters resemble him and his brother, but where do I begin?" "You begin at the beginning and go on to the end, and then stop... just make sure he doesn't know what will happen next." "I don't know what happens next, so I'm sure he won't, but should I go on?" "His brother Schahzenan is marching against him..." " is this the time for storytelling?" " It's the perfect time!" "Stories show us how to win... and in your case, defeat... death." "Sayid, your brother's army is only two days away." "What are you going to do, Sayid?" "Wait." "You need strong nerves to wait." "Well I've been taught what strong nerves really are." "Amin the beggar still had a few coins left, and headed straight for the nearest tavern." "Meanwhile, Sultan Abraschild prowled the streets of Cairo in disguise," "Looking for adventure." "Abraschild was accompanied by Commander Nouz, and his Grand Vizier Moussel who looked just like my father." "Being Sultan is the most boring job in the world, Moussel." "Is that why Sayiddi has to disguise himself and rub shoulders with his subjects?" " I find it amusing." " As Commander of your Guard..." "Sayiddi." "I have to say it's a very dangerous enjoyment." "That adds spice to the joke!" "When I mingle with the ordinary folk..." "I'm laughing inside." "If only they knew who I was!" "What tricks, what jests I can play on the poor fools... here's entertainment to please the most jaded palette!" "Let's go in here and see what jollies I can conjure up." "I'll do the same for you, friend, when my ship comes in." "What ship is that, friend?" "That's my ship." "That's my destiny." "I have a destiny, that's why I drink." "I drink while I'm waiting for my destiny." " Which is?" " Oh, I don't know, but it'll be great!" "If you could choose your destiny, what destiny would you choose?" "Oh.." "I'd choose to be.." "Sultan." "But look at you!" "Do you think you're fit to be Sultan?" "What do you mean "look at me"?" "What's fitness to do with it anyway?" "Sultan Abraschild was born he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth... everyone else had a tongue... he's about as useful as a glass eye at a keyhole!" " That's what you think of him, is it?" " Friend, if only I was the Sultan... if only I was the Sultan, you'd see, yeah..." "Perhaps it's your destiny after all..." "Are you all right, Sayid?" "Never better." "The jest, the jest!" "Come on, take him to my palace!" " But, Sayid..." " Oh, Moussel, you dry stick... you desert cactus!" "Quick, I can't wait to start the game!" "It was a sick joke." "He was washed and perfumed, so that even his mother wouldn't have recognized him." "Everyone remembers what to do when he wakes?" " Yes, Sayid, but..." " No one spoils my fun." "No one!" "I want wine." "No, I don't." "This is the drink." "I've had daylight dreams before, but..." "Go!" "Go!" " Where, where am I?" " In the palace, Sayid." " What palace?" " Your palace." "My palace?" "Who am I?" "Commander of the Faithful, Monarch of the World... the Prophet's voice on Earth." "You are the Sultan Haroun Abraschild." "This is madness." "I want to talk to someone in authority." "You were up drinking late last night, Sayid." "It has affected your memory." "I do drink." "And I do have a terrible head." " Your Majesty." " Who am I?" "You're Commander of the Faithful, Monarch of the World..." "No, I'm not!" "I'm Amin the Beggar!" "Is this another one of Sayiddi's jokes?" "No, I'm Amin." "Amin the Drunkard." "They know me in every tavern in Cairo!" "I'm you Grand vizier, Moussel." "Don't you recognize me?" "Yeah." "I've seen you riding through the streets." "And I'm Abu Nouz, Commander of the Palace Guard for the last ten years." "Why would you say I'm Sultan Abraschild?" " Because you are." " But I'm not!" "Have you ever seen His Majesty, Sultan Abraschild?" " No." " So how do you know you're not him?" "'Cause I'm me..." "I know me, don't I?" "It's the wine, Sayid." "It's clouding your brain." "Through the lingering alcoholic fumes in his wine-stained brain," "Amin was already half-inclined to agree with Vizier Moussel and the others." "The whole Palace went along with the Sultan's cruel jest." "They had to...it was more than their lives were worth to object." "Pray silence for His Majesty, Sultan Haroun Abraschild, Commander of the Faithful," "Monarch of the World, the Prophet's Voice on Earth..." "I'm not any of those things... not Commander, I'm not Monarch, I'm not the Prophet's Voice, and I'm not Sultan Haroun Abraschild!" "It is one of Sayiddi's jokes?" "No." "I'm just a drunk from the backstreets of Cairo." "Then why would the whole Court say that you were Sultan?" "Look at yourself, Sayiddi..." "that's not the face of a drunkard... that is the face of a king!" "The only thing Amin thought about for years was where the next drink was coming from... but everything had changed..." "he was a different man." "Then there is the matter of the Chinese Ambassador... we have already decided to resume negotiations with the Great Khan..." "Ah, you say I'm Sultan?" "Of course you are, Sayiddi." "And I have absolute power?" "By Divine Right." "Then instead of talking about the Great Khan, we should be talking about my people." "Their needs." "Their happiness..." "Scribe:" "I, Sultan Abraschild, institute the building of new schools in each of the major cities." " But, Sayid... we must consult and ponder this matter." "If I consult and ponder, I'll do nothing." "Scribe another degree." "We will reduce the people's taxes..." "by half!" " But, Sayid, the Treasury..." " Can afford it." "Now, Commander, do you believe the Army is underpaid?" "Undoubtedly." "I have submitted reports indicating we can't expect troops... to defend the nation if they're poorly paid." "I accept all your recommendations, Commander... and we'll start by doubling the pay of all the troops." "How will we finance this, Sayiddi?" "Cut out all the waste and extravagance... particularly here in the Palace." "Now vizier, I've read your reports too." "The state bureaucracy needs a radical overhaul." "Now, I propose to put you ideas into practice immediately." "What a fool!" "We've got more done today than we have in years." "This time Sultan Abraschild wasn't laughing." "Amin the Beggar was taking his role very seriously... feed a grub royal jelly... and he will turn into an Emperor butterfly in an instant." "Sultan Abraschild now wanted to complete the joke." "What a jest, eh?" "I doubt he'll enjoy it, when he wakes." "I enjoyed it, that's what is important." "Besides, he's had a day of power." "That's more than most get in a lifetime." "What will you do with him now, Sayid?" "Throw him back." "That's the best part of the joke!" "It was a rude awakening... it was terrible." "From extreme wealth, to extreme poverty." "That's enough to send any man mad." "Oh, no... no... this is a dream... this is a dream." "I'm the Sultan." "I'm the Sultan." "I'm the Sultan." "I'm the Sultan." "I'm the Sultan." "I give orders." "I give orders." "I give orders." "I give orders." "It's the demons." "It's the demons." "It's the demons." "It's the demons." "Only a madman could think he was ruler of the world." "But it was so real to me." "So real." "But it all grew less and less real as the days past." "Soon Amin began to doubt if it had ever happened." "But fate and Sultan Abraschild hadn't finished playing with him yet." "You should eat." "I'm not hungry." "Stay and talk" "Stay and talk." "No one will talk to me... they think I'm mad." "Are you?" "I was." "I thought I was Sultan Abraschild..." "I dreamed of being the Sultan for so long... it became real for me." "Were you better than Sultan Abraschild?" "Only in my dreams." "Thank you, friend, thank you... thank you, thank you." "Laughter's the cure for all our ills." "He thinks he's cured." "Now you've found out what happened to him, he can be left alone, Sayiddi?" "He thought he did a pretty good job as a one-day Sultan..." "I think I'll give him another crack at it." "You're going to repeat the jest?" "A good jest is worth repeating." "But Sayid, it could send him mad for the rest of his life." "You two have no sense of humour." "Compliments of the Sultan himself." "It's his birthday... every prisoner is given a free cup of wine to celebrate the occasion." "Long live Sultan Abraschild!" "And so Amin's torture continued..." "It was a terrible nightmare... which was happening again." "I'm mad again!" "Save me!" " What is it, Sayiddi?" " I'm Amin." "This is a prison cell..." "I'm mad!" "Calm yourself, Sayid." "You had another bad dream!" "But which is the dream and which is real?" "Is this the dream or was that the dream?" "We'll send for the Royal Physicians." "It's the demons!" "They carried me here..." "they're in the air..." "Demons!" "Demons!" "Listen, listen, it's the demons, they're laughing at me!" " Death to all demons!" " No!" "No!" "Death!" "Perhaps he should have remembered... never tell the same joke twice..." "Dead!" "Well, there's one good thing..." "no more jokes." "And he died with a smile on his face..." "What do we do now?" "Who's his heir?" "He has none." "There'll be a fight amongst the nobles, it'll mean civil war..." " unless... we act." " In what way?" "Well, Sultan Abraschild ordered us to treat Master Amin as Sultan." "Yes, but he meant he was to be Sultan for a day." "We know that, but others don't." "Well, if he keeps cutting taxes, he has nothing to fear from anyone." "We'll say Sultan Abraschild has gone on a holy pilgrimage to Mecca... and asked his friend to take his place." "Well, it's true, in a way." "True or false, it's plausible, that's the important thing." "Your physicians will see you later, Majesty." " You've been ill." " I have?" "Who's that?" "That, oh that was the Royal Jester." "What's the matter with him?" "His last joke was a killer!" "What's so funny?" "He always said we had no sense of humour!" "Amin became one of the most beloved Sultans in history... and Abraschild was completely forgotten." "I saw myself as Sultan Abraschild... he was consumed by laughter..." "I was consumed by fear of betrayal, and I was prepared to do anything to feed... that fear while Abraschild fed his cruel humour." "That wasn't you... that was the darkness inside you." "Is it still there?" "Look into my eyes..." "who do you see, Scheherazade?" "Me..." "looking at you, my love." "Sayid, your brother's army is camped outside the city." "Soon, my love." "It's too low." "I'm hot." "One of my stories will help." "No, the only danger you face now is from my brother... you won't be able to tell him one of your tales to save yourself... he'll have cut your throat." "This isn't the time, Scheherazade." "It's the perfect time." "It's the incredible story of three brothers... who fought each other like you and Schahzenan." "It happened long ago in far Yemen..." "before recorded time." "and he had three sons..." "Princes Ahmed, Hussain and Ali." "Prince Hussain was the best swordsman in Yemen." "Ahmed, on the other hand, was a master bowman." "Prince Ali had extraordinary strength in his hands." "Oh, they're at it again!" "It's just youthful exuberance, my love, they'll grow out of it." "You've been saying that for the last ten years..." "Look!" "No my prize hibiscus!" "Not the palms!" "Not the palms!" "You vandals!" "Vandals!" "Go back, you sissy." "What was the fight about this time?" " Princess Fatima loves me." " No, she loves me." "No, she loves me." "She said so!" "Rubbish!" "You could lose ten pounds of surplus fat if someone would just cut your head off!" " Everytime you look into the mirror you take a bow!" " Oh yeah!" "What's going to happen when I die?" "You'll tear the country apart!" "See what you boys've done..." "all this talk of dying... your making your father ill." "We didn't mean anything, Mother..." "Father's not really dying, is he?" "But when I am dying, I will have to name my heir." "You should do it now, Father." "Don't forget, I'm the eldest." "And don't you forget that I have the final say, according to law." "Who do you favor, Father?" "I have three blockheads for sons, how can I favor anyone?" "Let it be proclaimed throughout, Yemen..." "I'm sending my sons on a quest... whoever brings back the greatest wonder in the world... will be my heir." "How long have we got?" "One year." "You must all leave together and return together." "Wrap up warm, boys." "And don't get lost." "Yes, Mother." "And so the brothers went forth into the unknown... to find the greatest wonder in the world." "We should meet back here on the same day next year, and travel home together." "And may the best man win!" " What are you smiling at?" " Well, I'm obviously the best man." "The only thing you're best at is shovelling camel dung." "They had no maps to guide them... they were going to countries where traveller's said..." ""There be dragons!"" "Losers!" "Ali found himself in a fabled land... the Bronze City of Zirog." "It's all gone now... the bronze rusted and the fountains dried up... but then...return together but then..." "it was a wonder to behold." "So, my brothers and I are searching the world... for wonderous objects for my father." "I have something wonderous." "I have seen a telescope before, Master Schaca." "Not like this." "Put it to your eye... you only have to ask, and you'll see anything you wish to see." "I'd like to see of Princess Fatima of Yemen." "That's her!" "That's Fatima!" "You're right, Master Schaca, it's a wonder." "Can I buy it?" "It's not mine to sell." "I'm delivering it to Hari ben Karim." "But would he sell it?" "Ask him." "The telescope's not for sale." "As you can see" "I have no need of the money but" "I might give it to you as a gift." "And what could I give you in return?" "Entertainment." "Schaca tells me you're a master fighter." "Would you fight my champions for the telescope?" "Gladly." "The telescope's mine." "I've killed your champions." "What makes you think they're dead?" "This time, knives." "Knives?" "That's cheating." "That's cheating..." "Fair game, Master Schaca." "As Ali made his way back to "The Traveller's Rest" with his magical telescope," "Ahmed was heading North..." "I am Prince Ahmed of Yemen." "I've learned you have a rare fruit... a holy green apple that is said to cure all illnesses..." "I'd like to buy it." "Is there something I can give you..." "It is not for sale." "in exchange for it?" "Perhaps..." "you have a special skill?" "With the bow." "Then you will undergo a test... to see if you are fit to own the apple of life." "I'm impressed, Ahmed." "I have one more test..." "and the apple of life is yours." "It's a risk." " The prize is worth it." " Not for the boy." " Then you lose, and go away empty-handed." "I lose." "No, you win." "What?" "You win by losing." "You weren't prepared to win at any cost." "The apple of life is yours." "The Holy Seer gave Ahmed the apple and some words of advice... before he left." "Hussain was riding towards the fabulous city of Petra." "That Petra disappeared under the sand, but then, she was the jewel of the East." "Hussain discovered the most amazing thing about Petra." "It was two cities.. not one." "The second city lay under the first." "Underground Petra survived many years after the other one... but that too, is gone..." "swallowed by the sand." "Is this the only carpet you have to sell?" "Fifty pieces of gold." "You must be mad!" "Have you gold enough to pay for it?" " If I want it." " You'll want it." "Follow me." "Why're you out there trying to sell this one old carpet... when you've got hundreds like these?" "Because it's a Flying Carpet... it can take you anywhere." "I may be a stranger in Petra, but I'm no child." "There is no such thing as a Flying Carpet." "But there are thousands, and this.." "this is one of them." "Rise, carpet, Rise!" "Down!" "Down!" "Come to rest!" "All you have to do is tell it where you wish to go." "Fifty in gold you say?" "It's worth every penny." "I'll pay cash." " What's this?" " We're going to rob and kill you." "It's nothing personal..." "I can't sell a magic carpet for a paltry fifty in gold... it wouldn't be good for business." "Kill him!" "Stop thief!" "Come on!" "Take me..." "to the "Traveller's Rest"!" "We've done well... a magic apple, a flying carpet, and a wonderous telescope." "Tell me, have you actually tested this yet, Ali?" "Of course I've tested it!" "Just tell it what you want to see." "I'd like to see our father, Sultan Billah, please." "It's Father!" "He's dying." "We have to be there." "The brothers learned a simple but abiding truth... men united were better than men divided." " It'll take us a week to get home." " No." "I have a better way!" "They arrived in time to save their father with Ahmed's Apple of Life." "United now, and for the rest of their lives... they ruled in peace and harmony." "What advice did the Holy Seer give Ahmed... when he handed him the magic apple?" "He said the world was an inferno full of darkness and evil... and there were only two ways of dealing with it... the first was easy and wrong, to accept it and become part of it... the second way was harder and right, you fight it... and recognize those who aren't evil and help them endure." "You've taken me the second way..." "you've helped me... and saved me from the darkness." "Why?" "I loved you." "Is that the answer?" "It'll have to do until something better..." "We've had reports the enemy is being led by Schahzenan... and the former Sultana." "The Sultana is dead." "I killed her." "Even dead she can still help to destroy you." "The army thinks she's good luck... they make a powerful combination." "Tell them we have one even more powerful, I'll be riding into battle beside my husband." " No, it's too dangerous." " You don't have to prove your love." "It would raise the spirits of our men." "They have a dead Queen and... we have a live one." "It was a cold desert morning as the city gates opened and the great army came forth to do battle." "Sultan Schahriar planned to take his enemy by surprise... there was no fear in his heart as he went boldly on the attack." "Guard my wife!" "She is more precious to me than my life." "A small group led by Sultan Schahriar led the main party to make a daring raid." "They say fortune favours the brave, and those who can learn from their mistakes." "The story-teller always said, stories can save us." "The guess only meant was... they can save us, if we use our imagination." " Gather your men!" " Yes, Sayid." "Rise your swords!" "Open sesame!" "Schahriar!" "It's time to take responsibility for your actions brother and die!" "Arrows..." "Schahzenan's troops were caught in a pincer movement... with hostile forces in front... and back." "Death comes in many shapes and sizes." "Now, it was Schahzenan's turn." "The battle was over." " And Father won?" " Yes, Father won... and saved Baghdad." "That was very exciting your good at stories, Mummy." " Tell us another one!" " Another one, Mummy!" " Another one!" " Oh, tomorrow night..." "I'll tell you another story tomorrow night... just wait till tomorrow night."