Rose of Persia
Dialogue Following Song No. 11 — Act I
- Abdallah:
- Your boon companions have gone?
- Hassan:
- Why, so they have! How very
unbooncompanionable!
Enter Rose-in-Bloom and Slaves, stealthily, with
Yussuf, from House.
- Abdallah (to Police):
- Then arrest those girls!
- Rose and Slaves:
- Us!
- Yussuf:
- Her! Over my dead body first!
- Hassan:
- And over mine second!
- Abdallah (to Hassan):
- Do you resist the order of the Sultan?
- Hassan:
- I don't say that. But I must say, O Priest,
after what has passed between us, I consider this
intrusion most unwarrantable!
- Abdallah:
- Here is your warrant, O Blind One -- to bring
before the Sultan types of persons whom you
entertain! (To Police.) Arrest the girls.
- Desire:
- What for?
- Abdallah:
- To be brought before the Sultan in the
morning.
- Rose: (aside).
- Before the Sultan! We shall lose our heads!
- Desire: (aside).
- Keep your heads now, and I will save them altogether. (Aloud.) O Priest, listen!
You are laying your hands on the Sultana!
- Abdallah, Yussuf, and Hassan:
- The Sultana!
- Rose:
- (aside). Why do you tell them that?
- Scent:
- A nice way to save us!
- Honey:
- Now you've done it!
- Desire:
- Not quite! (Aloud.) See -- the Royal Signet!
I am the Sultana!
- Yussuf:
- You! (Looks overwhelmed, then goes up as
if dazed.)
- Abdallah: (glancing at ring).
- It is true.
- Hassan (to Abdallah):
- I can assure you there is nothing
whatever between me and the Sultana.
- Abdallah:
- You can assure the Sultan.
- Hassan:
- I suppose you will tell the Sultan?
- Abdallah:
- I think so. (Stands
contemplating.)
- Hassan:
- I thought so. (Stands
contemplating.)
- Rose: (to Heart's Desire).
- Why did you tell
him that? That you are me!
- Desire:
- Don't you see -- the Sultan will think I stole the ring
and impersonated you, while you were at home and in
bed.
- Abdallah:
- I shall tell the Sultan in the
morning.
- Hassan: (to Abdallah).
- I suppose I shall be executed?
- Abdallah:
- I think so.
- Hassan:
- I thought so. It won't make any difference her having
come here against my will?
- Abdallah:
- Not a bit.
- Hassan:
- No.
- Abdallah:
- Speaking of wills, your will will be executed
directly you have been.
- Enter Dancing Sunbeam.
- Hassan:
- That will make no difference to me.
- Abdallah:
- It will to me.
- Sunbeam:
- What's this I hear? Police? What does it
all mean?
- Hassan:
- The Sultan is going to have me executed.
That's all.
- Sunbeam: (aside to Abdallah).
- You've
arranged this?
- Abdallah:
- I am going to.
- Sunbeam: (in pretended distress).
- And your poor
little wives are to be left widows?
- Hassan:
- Yes. That's all you will be left -- a
widow.
- Abdallah:
- The rest of the property is to be left to
me!
- Sunbeam:
- To you? (Realizing what he means.) Oh! Is
this how you have helped me?
- Abdallah:
- The Prophet says, "Providence helps him who
helps himself."
- Sunbeam:
- Don't talk to me of Prophets! (To Hassan)
Think of your wives! What will become of them?
Page created 6 February 1999