Rose of Persia
Dialogue Following Song No. 24 — Act II
Enter Scent-of-Lilies, followed by Heart's Desire,
followed by Vizier — all excitedly.
- Scent:
- Stop the marriage!
- Desire:
- Don't go on with it!
- Vizier:
- Delay the wedding!
- Three:
- (together). Where's the Executioner?
Enter Executioner.
- Exec.:
- Here! (He brings on Hassan) The wedding is over.
- Vizier:
- Over! But the Sultan has relented!
- Scent:
- And is going to give the Sultana the chance of an
explanation. (Sunbeam looks up.)
- Enter Physician and Sultan.
- Phys:
- O King, you are too late!
- Sultan: (to Executioner).
- Dog, what have you done?
- Sunbeam: (to Hassan).
- An explanation! It's high time I
had an explanation from you! How dare you let this
brute divorce me and marry me to a wretched
Story-Teller?
- Hassan: (to Executioner).
- Have you divorced her and
married her to someone else?
- Exec.:
- Yes. It went against the grain — I'm not a marrying
man!
- Hassan: (taking his hand).
- I don't know why you have
done it, but let me thank you for lightening the gloom of
my declining moments.
- Sultan:
- Is it you who have been married?
- Sunbeam:
- Who else? Have you had a hand in
it?
- Sultan:
- My dear Executioner, you've made a
mistake.
- Exec.:
- Yes, O King! I've always looked on marriage as unlucky.
- Scent:
- Nonsense!
- Exec.:
- Shall I execute myself at once — or wait till I've finished
this?
- Hassan:
- Don't wait for me.
- Sultan:
- You've married the wrong woman! That's all. I'm very
pleased. I'll see about restoring this lady to her proper
husband when I have time.
- Hassan:
- Not during the next five minutes. I am to be beheaded in
five minutes. Wait till after that!
- Sultan:
- Very well!
- Sunbeam:
- (to Hassan). Do you mean to say
you're not the Sultan?
- Hassan:
- Go and talk to your husband.
Exit Sunbeam. Enter Abdallah.
- Desire:
- O King, hear me now. It was I who was at this man's
house. It was I who wore the Sultana's Royal Ring, and
showed it to the Priest. It was I who called myself
Sultana. Ask him.
- Sultan:
- Is this so?
- Abdallah:
- It was even so. Is not this Rose-in-Bloom?
(Indicates Heart's Desire.)
- Sultan:
- Then Rose-in-Bloom is innocent — and has been falsely
accused! (To Abdallah.) You shall die!
- Hassan:
- Another three minutes and it would have been too late
for me, O King. I suppose you will have to go through
the form of granting me the usual free pardon for what I
never did!
- Sultan:
- Pardon you! No, indeed! You distinctly said my
Royal Rose-in-Bloom did visit you, Dog! and so
besmirched her Royal character with calumny. You shall
die! And this slave who brought the name of Rose-in-
Bloom into such contempt, she shall die! You shall all die
— you and the Priest and the slave! I have spoken.
- Enter Honey-of-Life.
- Honey:
- The Royal Rose-in-Bloom approaches!
- Vizier:
- Let all men turn away their faces. (Men turn their
backs. Enter Rose-in-Bloom.)
- Rose:
- Let my slave live, O husband! Just to please
me!
- Sultan:
- Have you any reason why this girl should not be
executed?
- Rose:
- Yes, indeed! She — the fact is — she — (to
Heart's Desire) — say something!
- Desire:
- O King, the Sultana is much given to letting me tell
stories for her amusement. She is much interested in a
story I am engaged in telling her now.
- Rose:
- Yes, that's it! She has been telling such a lovely story
for me — and I do want to know that it ends happily!
- Sultan:
- Very well. She shall live until she has finished her
story. Is it a very interesting story, and original?
- Desire:
- Yes, O King.
- Sultan:
- Where did you get it from?
- Hassan:
- From me, that's why she has been in the habit of
visiting me. I am telling it to her in instalments. I merely
mention this because if I am executed I sha'n't be able to
finish it to her, and she won't be able to finish it to the
Sultana. That's all. It's quite immaterial to me.
- Sultan:
- You shall be spared till the story is finished. Is it
funny?
- Hassan:
- Excruciating!
- Sultan:
- And has a happy ending?
- Hassan:
- A happy ending! It has a dozen!
- Sultan:
- I will return in three minutes and listen to it myself.
Come, Rose-in-Bloom. (To Hassan) You are sure it
has a happy finish? I abominate unhappy endings.
- Exeunt all except Hassan, Abdallah, Honey-of-Life, and
Heart's Desire.
- Hassan:
- So do I. But I don't think I am going to have one after
all.
- Desire:
- Why, all we have to do is think of a story that's so
interesting and funny and long, that we can go on
telling it for years and years without boring the Sultan,
and we shall be all right.
- Honey:
- Yes, that's all you have to think of — in three minutes.
- Hassan:
- Two and a half now!
- Abdallah:
- Tell the Sultan you get your story in instalments
from me — and I will help you — think of one.
- Hassan:
- And give me back my will?
- Abdallah:
- Yes. (Hands document, which
Hassan tears up).
- Hassan:
- Very well. Now out with your story!
- Abdallah:
- I haven't thought of one yet.
- Hassan:
- I've got as far as that! (Enter Executioner
and Scent-of-Lilies.) Do you know any
good stories?
- Exec.:
- What?
- Hassan:
- Can you tell me anything interesting, but funny, that
has ever happened to you, that it would take a long time
to repeat?
- Exec.:
- The funniest thing that has ever happened to me has
happened just now. Scent-of-Lilies has persuaded me to
propose to her, and I've been accepted!
- Hassan:
- And now I suppose you can think of nothing
else?
- Exec.:
- Nothing else. I'm dazed! (Exit.)
- Scent:
- He is so happy. (Following him.)
- Hassan: (detaining her.)
- Then let him alone and stay here
and help me think of a funny story — that will do for
the Sultan.
- Enter Yussuf, followed by Dancing Sunbeam.
- Hassan: (to Yussuf).
- The very man! I want a very long,
interesting, funny story at once — to save my life with.
Can you help me?
- Yussuf:
- No: I can think of nothing now but my marriage with
your wife.
- Hassan:
- How abominably selfish young newly-married
couples are!
- Sunbeam:
- I will help you. The Sultan said he would rectify
this absurd marriage. And if he does, I shall want
to come back to you.
- Hassan:
- Do you know, I'm not so sure it's worth while to bother
about a story at all. I really begin to think it's better to
let the law take it's course.
- Sunbeam:
- Think of me, dear!
- Hassan:
- I am!
- Desire: (jumping up).
- Oh, I've just thought — no, that
won't do for the Sultan!
- Hassan:
- Once upon a time — no, that won't do for the
Sultan!
- Sunbeam:
- Listen! Do you think this will do — I'm sure no
one has heard it before.
- Hassan:
- I suppose it's only some silly bit of scandal — or we
shouldn't hear it now.
Page created 26 April 1999