1Is that the wine?
You have the gold?
2Mereb!
Master!
I'm so glad you're home.
3Have you kept my house in order?
Yes, yes... well. Except for a few casks of wine which have mysteriously disappeared.
4Here you are my son, home at last! Step aside Mereb!
Yes, oh Chief Minister Zoser... beloved by the Gods, the people and himself
5Give me your hands, Aida.
(Gasp)
You name is Aida?
6I'll make an exception for you. Mereb, take her to Princess Amneris with my compliments.
Yes, Captain.
7Who would have thought that the copper mines would yield such an abundant supply? Put some in Pharaoh's wine tonight at the banquet. Again, only a few drops. We don't want him dying... just yet.
Well now you look like a handmaiden. but at least the Captain saw that you're special.
8What that man sees and understands could be etched on a grain of sand.
That may be, but Radames did save you and the other women from the copper mines.
9That was surprising. And decent of him.
When I was ten, Radames saved me from being beaten to death by the palace guards. He promised he'd look out for me from then on. He's kept that promise.
Look, I know what you're thinking... that I've become one of them. But I'm still Nubian. I'll always be Nubian.
10Post How I Know You
Princess.
11Mereb, you must treat me like any other slave. If the Egyptians knew I was the daughter of the Nubian King...
They would kill you. But our people will keep your secret.
12No. You must not tell anyone who I am. From now on, I am nothing but a gift from an Egyptian Captain to his Princess.
Just so you know, Amneris is more than that to Radames. She's his betrothed.
13He's to be married? When?
The day his ship sinks and the royal builders refuse to make him another. Come, let's get you to the Princess.
14He's been to see my father. I hear he's spent time with his father. In fact, he's probably chummed it up with every withered old man in Egypt. But clearly the thought of visiting a ripe young Princess, with fabulous hair, leaves him cold.
Princess Amneris - first in beauty, wisdom, and accessories. Captain Radames has not forgotten you. He knows you will be at the feast tonight in all your extravagant finery. And he can hardly wait. But for now, he sends you this gift.
15Mereb, was the Princess pleased with my gift?
Yes. Aida managed to make herself indispensible in record time.
16I'm not surprised.
Did she tell you anything about herself? Because I've never met a woman like her before. And I can't help but wonder...
No! Nothing! She said nothing.
17Your people cannot wait to see you. Welcome, welcome.
Mereb!
Okay, so I told one person. Princess, your people need to know.
18Was it something I said? When we were children we understood each oher so well. Now he's a mystery to me.
Aida, there you are. Will you come with me?
19Where?
The Nubian camp.
Look, everybody knows I'm the one who can get things. And our people...
They've asked me to bring them... you.
20Why? So they can see a reckless fool dressed as a servant?
*Random Protests*
21I deserve this. And our people deserve a leader who thinks of them. Not of her own selfish pleasures.
Aida, the Nubians want their princess.
22Then let's find out. *Kiss*
Aida, I just saw -
Aida, Amneris requests your presence.
The Princess. Your betrothed.
23And they're carrying his head throughout the city on the end of a spike.
No, no!
Amonasro of Nubia is alive. I saw him taken to the prison.
24After A STEP TOO FAR
A word with the prisoner.
25It won't come to that. We'll get you out of here.
In two days, the daughter of the Pharaoh will wed. Most of the guards will be needed to control the crowds.
26Henu. Your father was a great warrior. He had hopes you would grow up to be a scholar.
Sire. The chief jailer will attend Ameneris' wedding. They've assigned a lowly guard to take his place - a man I know.
27You are suggesting you may be able to bribe this guard?
Let's just say, we've done business in the past.
28That would take a lot of gold.
I have it. For years, I've been stealing money from the palace. I thought maybe, someday, I could use it to get back to Nubia. But if I can send my King home...
29We will all be going home soon, Mereb. Now, how are the docks guarded?
By the Captain's soldiers.
30So the odds are slim. Can you use a sword, boy?
Me? Actually I'm better at providing encouragement from the sidelines.
31A fight won't be necessary. They'll let us through.
Captain Radames gave you that?
32After /Radames Letter
Tomorrow, Princess, you and your father will be free!
33We will live to tell our grandchildren on the King's great escape!
Nubia will prevail! Quiet!
34Forgive us, Princess. But you cannot be sacrificed. Every person here would risk their life for Nubia.
Where are you going?
You're going to meet him, aren't you?
35Mereb, I do not ask you to understand. I do not understand. I must see him--
No.
36But I do. I have to see him-
No! No! You cannot give yourself to him. The Egyptians have taken enough from us already. You are our Princess, our inspiration, our promise of a new day.
37No one must reach the pier before I arrive there.
Princess, we must hurry. They've sounded the alarm.
38She's alive?
Stop there!
39Radames. He's...
Forgive me Princess. I failed you.
40No... never! You, Mereb, inspired me.
I wanted to go back to Nubia. Aida, take me home.