Arabian Nights: Volume 3, The Enchanted One

Pardon me.

I mistook you for another.

For someone who has already passed away.

When God decided to take you...

I thought that, in all his wisdom and fairness,

he was depriving me of my most cherished treasure,

while forcing me to bolster the qualities that shape a man's character.

I would have to be more righteous...

more aware...

more generous...

less cruel.

I would have to be faithful to your memory.

I'd have to be more like you.

Instead, I lost myself.

I did everything opposite.

When all cried, I just laughed,

and tears crept up to my eyes when the moment was deemed for a roaring laugh.

I made heads roll and kicked many backsides.

I took vengeance for your loss on other men and women

for no fault of their own.

I left a trail of corpses behind due to despair and cowardliness.

Wherever you are in paradise, you're surely vigilant

and must know our daughters have become the greatest wonders of the kingdom.

No woman or man compares to them

in graciousness, spirit, tenacity,

innocence and kindness.

No one has but affection for them.

It was good God's wish to make them so,

not punishing them for the ugliness of my crimes,

my treacheries and my absences.

I fear that I may be put to the test for a second time...

and again I may fail to have the strength or qualities to provide the answer.

The mad and bloodthirsty king to whom I swore obedience

shall not be eternally satisfied without blood.

And even the most delightful creature, intelligent and seductive,

will not be able to ensnare him in a maze of stories for much longer.

I know I can't bear the loss of Scheherazade and Dinazade,

and I shall kill him first and then myself.

I hence find myself impotent, belonging to the expendables,

with nothing to say...

and nothing to tell.

My dear father,

many nights I have been able to quench

the thirst for blood of my husband, our sovereign.

This outcome I owe to luck,

to some wit that God offered me

and to the accomplished education you provided me with.

I thought time would soften this man's fierceness.

I'm afraid I have failed.

It appears to me that the king is tired and has no patience.

I believe he will soon chop off my head

and the cycle of bloodshed will begin again

with a new season of sacrificing virgins.

I am not writing to bemoan

because I knew the rules since day one.

It would be foolish to lament a foreseeable fate.

I write so you can make any necessary arrangements.

I wish you far from this kingdom as soon as possible,

and take with you my dear sister, Dinazade.

Missing you immensely in these last days will amount to nothing

when compared to the joy of knowing you are safely away from this horror castle.

- You look like you're washing clothes! - Indeed!

Deliver this to my father, the grand vizier, as quickly as possible.

I will be away from the palace for as long as there is sunlight.

- What will you do, my lady? - I'll do what I very well please.

Have you ever seen the flower of the thousand scents,

as described by the botanists and sung by the poets?

Right. Neither have I.

To tell you the truth there are many things I have never seen.

One, two, three!

Daddy, where do babies come from?

They come from the will of the Almighty, who loves children very much

because he recognizes in them the greatest aptitude to understand

and appreciate what the world gives them.

If a tiger and a lion fight, who wins?

A tiger and a lion?

- I don't have the faintest idea! - Which one do you like best?

The tiger.

That's wise. The tiger is smart.

So smart that he would never fight a lion.

Why is there wind sometimes, and other times not?

Why what?

Why is there wind sometimes, and other times not?

Because God teaches the seafarers that some days are good to sail

and others are to remain patient.

Damned, this lady knows everything!

My lady, what's the other side of the world like?

There are rocks, sea, trees.

There are old men and children like you.

To see it, you need to be patient and very strong-willed.

Close your eyes and count to one thousand

because the other side of the world is very far away.

One, two, three -

I'd like to buy all you have there.

These are all my children.

I enjoy seeing them play.

I feel very much in love.

Furthermore...

I want to have a child with you.

What you just said was very stupid...

and it was presented in an even more stupid manner.

In truth, I think you are quite foolish...

although that's okay because you are somewhat radiant.

I'm honest but I don't want to make you sad...

because your beauty gives me a little more hope in this atrocious world.

In a few years that beauty will vanish

and nobody can save you.

But you'll have done your part

by making everyone a little happier.

I offer you a piece of advice.

Happiness will be ever greater

if you can remain silent.

Good-bye, child of the sun.

Go and procreate with others.

Scheherazade!

Scheherazade!

All right?

I'm great!

Why do you cry?

Are you insane?

Sometimes I feel sad.

Well, just like everyone else.

- What do you do? - I'm a thief.

- Are you going to steal from me? - No, because you are very beautiful.

But I will dance to make you happier.

Are you really going to sleep?

Yes.

Sorry, you're very sweet,

but I'm ever so sleepy.

Hey, this isn't a trash can!

It's not all that fragrant!

SCHEHERAZADE, SERIOUS FAMILY TALKS, NOW!

It's a relief to know you're safe, away from the king's reach.

Our fate and yours are entwined.

If it happens as you fear, then that is what was destined for us.

Unfortunately what is written must unfold.

I don't think that the fate of men should be subjected to a madman.

It may be, at times.

Just as it may be their fate to see the coming of one who may confront them.

Someone with the spirit, tenderness and strength to suspend tyrannical gestures.

In recent nights, every tale I tell comes out sad and heavy.

That's why we are here!

I am tired. And this tiredness brings me anger!

Anger is not a bad thing,

if it's well directed.

Have a little fun!

- I think I no longer know how to. - You do.

But don't make too much of an effort.

I think I'm more foolish than I seem.

That's also expected, Scheherazade.

Okay, let's start from the beginning.

Where are stories born?

They spring from the wishes and fears of man.

And what is their purpose?

To help us to survive.

To bridge the time of the dead with the time of those to come.

We live in the age of King Shahryar and Scheherazade.

One could not exist without the other.

There is no antidote without its poison.

It'll be as hard for you as for me, as I'm your father.

But by the end of this turn you will have dried your eyes

and be cunning and agile as a fox.

And you'll head to the palace

to take your place and do what is unavoidable.

Watch, Queen.

Down below your servants await to carry you back to the palace...

given that you still have stories to tell that the king wants to hear

and that the people hope will never end.

O Auspicious King -

It's metal day today, heck! It's metal day today, man!

A really good wash.

Alberto!

That was Alberto!

Son of a bitch, you're roguish, you are!

And a cloth for you now?

Mother!

Pass me those cloths over there.

Those washed ones.

Mother, they're here, here!

You're talking to yourself!

Oh, patience.

- So? - Wait!

You -

Just ask the cloths why you're taking so long.

I had a really good cloth here. I knew it, you're hiding my cloths!

I had a great one, damn. It lit up and all!

It lit up and all! You're wicked.

Hey, Bela! You okay, sweetie?

Hey, when are we going for lunch? You never invite!

- Such bad temper you have lately! - Take this spotty one.

No, that belongs to another.

I've never seen such badly washed cloths in my life!

Have this one.

Rude, you are!

No, this is the green cloth.

No, this is the right cloth.

This is the right one.

This one belongs to Golias.

Thanks!

Good night!