Bagdad

Baghdad, the fabulous city of the Scheherazade of "The Thousand and One Nights".

Fortress in the desert for five thousand years,

crossroads between the civilized world and the wild East.

Legend has it that Adam and Eve founded Baghdad

when they were expelled from the Garden of Eden.

Perhaps it is true, because in Baghdad, the incredible is possible.

Baghdad, the bastion of peace for the Arabs

where for seven centuries there has been no peace.

Although the faithful pray on their knees five times a

day, unfortunately, Allah does not answer his prayers.

The Turkish military authorities do not pray, of course.

Prayers are useless before the rapacious tribes of the desert.

You forget, Pasha Ali Nadim, that my people come from the desert.

I was not referring to the Bedouin tribes, but to the Black Chilabas,

but growing up in England it is logical that you do not know them.

- Black Djellabas! Q - Less than an hour from Baghdad! Q

Do you realize you weren't exaggerating, ma'am?

Curious Bedouin custom! Q

They know they are more and we cannot fight them.

They stop to negotiate before beginning the massacre.

I'll go see what I can do.

I wouldn't worry about Pasha. He is not in danger.

Neither do you.

The black Djellabas only want weapons and ammunition.

How do you know?

We camel drivers, sooner or later, find out everything.

Do you learn to speak English with a French accent?

- Who are you? - They call me Hassan,

and the accent is Viennese, not French.

Our military governor diligently fulfills his duty

but the Black Djellabas will take what they want, as always.

In Constantinople this is not going to like

anything, nor will I deal with thieves and murderers.

- It's very dangerous? - Do you think we're in England?

Those savages will stop at nothing! Q

Except when they get what they want! Q

Apparently he considers me a coward! Q

No, the military governor is a very sensible diplomat.

You would prefer him to be a dead foolish hero.

- A very Bedouin look! Q - That's what I am! Q

The soldiers will escort you the rest of the way.

I must reach the citadel before the mail leaves Constantinople.

I have to report the latest outrage by the Djelabas Negras.

I will visit you later.

I'll be here for a short time, if my father waits for me we'll leave tomorrow.

I will not lose hope.

It is written in the Qur'an: "What will be, will be."

We weren't expecting you, ma'am.

We are full, but I will arrange for you a satisfactory accommodation.

I'm sure they're waiting for me. My father stays here.

There is no English gentleman in the hotel.

My father is Sheikh Khasim Ibn Barak of the Aremlak tribe of Bi-en-Naga.

- Are you Princess Marjan? - Indeed.

A thousand pardons, princess, I did not imagine that he was an Arab.

Well, she already knows.

Some of your subjects have come.

They said they would camp outside.

- Go find them immediately. - Yes, princess.

Immediately. You camel driver! Q

Bedouin beggars and thieves! Q

Sir, these gentlemen are looking for you.

They say your cousin is in Baghdad and wishes to see you immediately.

He waits in the citadel of the Turkish governor.

-Since when is he in Baghdad? - I don't know, sir.

- Since when? - Mr. Raizul will inform you.

He must come right away.

Go back to your master and tell him I'll come when I please.

It's not pretty but it's not bad, I'll keep it.

Let's see this.

Princess, I beg you, I am poor and my children are hungry.

-I want to know if his father will pay me. - It will.

- But it is that... - Silence, paunchy.

Yes, princess.

Muhammad Jad! Q

The veil! Q

Since you were a child I have not seen his uncovered face.

Many people have seen it.

Your father would sink his august beard into the earth.

I'll have to talk to him, that's very unhygienic.

Where is he, why hasn't he come?

Allah forgive me, I spoke without thinking.

My father said that it was one of his weaknesses.

-Where is the? -His father...

I can't speak in front of these people.

- Get your things and go right away. - Waiting! Q

Now a servant of my father gives orders for me?

Who will pay for all this?

They told me that the great sheikh of the Aremlak.

-And he will. - There is no money to pay anything.

The Aremlak is uninhabited,

jackals roam the ruins of our oasis

and your father is dead! Q

- I don't believe you. - Your father is dead.

They treacherously killed him and his tribe was liquidated.

Quick, go away! Q

That dress is mine, I will not allow it to be stolen.

I am a poor man with many hungry children.

This is £200 in London, no one is out to rip you off.

- Gather your things and go! Q - Yes, princess.

Come on, come on, hurry up! Q

Run! Q

Muhammad Jad! Q

Tell me everything.

Prince Ahmed Khabar of El Jhazir, mortal enemy of the Aromlak,

summoned your father to a meeting to end the bloody fights.

Ahmed Khabar offered his life to ensure his safety.

Your father, having no son, wished to make peace.

Disregarding my advice, he went to the indicated place,

an ambush by the Black Djellabas.

That night they entered Bir-en-Naga and threw your father's head at us,

mocking everything as they burned and killed.

Allah took mercy on me and I survived the slaughter,

I saw his boss leave on your father's white horse.

Was their leader Prince Ahmed Khabar?

Only he knew about the meeting,

and only a prince would ride a horse of the Burnaya breed.

So life for life, Ahmed Khabar's for my father's.

You. He will avenge you? A spoiled woman in England?

If you have friends there she comes back with them,

if not, maybe a rich man from Baghdad will buy you for his harem.

You can't do anything for the Aremlak! Q

- We can't help you. - We will appeal to the military governor.

How naive! Q They informed the Pasha before leaving for Damascus.

So, did you know that my father had been murdered?

Yes, and he will do nothing.

He called me crazy for accusing Khabar of being with the Black Djellabas.

Even a cousin of Ahmed Khabar is a guest of the Pasha in the citadel.

And do you suggest that we go to the Pasha to demand justice?

We would be expelled from the city! Q

Remember that I am your princess.

You will follow me wherever I go.

The Pachá will attend to us, I promise.

- Where are these people going? - We want to see Pasha Ali Nadim.

Like all of Baghdad, but rests and must not be disturbed.

He is already awake, so we will not interrupt his sleep.

What happen? Who has sounded the alarm?

I want to see the Pasha.

It is impossible! Q

Tell him that Princess Marjan of Aremlak requests an immediate audience.

Her highness awaits you.

So Hassan the camel driver! Q

Your father the emir would be proud if he could see you.

I doubt it, cousin, although you seem to like it.

I've come to take you home.

Your relationship with the Djellabas Negras is a disgrace to our people,

but your father offers you to be judged by the elders of the

tribe, to which you are entitled as the crown prince of El Jhazir.

This is what your father has ordered me to tell you.

You have fulfilled it very well and before witnesses.

But, between cousins, tell me Raizul,

Do you think I'm the leader of the Black Djellabas?

What does it matter what I believe?

Can you come with us?

I cannot, to defend myself against that accusation,

I need to know many things about the Black Djellabas.

- Do you defy the emir? - It's one way of interpreting it.

Then I'll give you some personal advice,

For your own safety and the honor of our people, go

back to Europe where you learned and forgot so much.

Stay there and let your father think you're dead.

Cousin, your concern touches me deeply.

You are very generous.

I thank you for making me the richest camel driver in Baghdad,

which is what I intend to be for a while.

Good to maintain the figure and calm the nerves.

I just spoke with Prince Ahmed Khabar.

Yes, I knew that already.

Did you also know that he has come from Damascus in

your caravan, disguised as Hassan, the camel driver?

So your cousin was present at the Djelabas Negras attack.

Very interesting.

He refuses to leave Baghdad.

It is stupid on his part, in Baghdad he is in great danger.

- And what do you plan to do? - Whatever is needed.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a lady waiting for me,

she very beautiful and very impatient.

- Find Hassan, the camel driver. - Yes, Excellency.

- When you do, kill him. - Yes, Excellency.

Sorry to keep you waiting, she had urgent business.

- Are you angry, madam? -Why didn't she tell me?

- The fact that? Oh, about her father. - Yes, exactly.

Would he have given her life back?

I didn't want to tell you such dire news,

she would have made me very sad.

You knew that my father was murdered, and also who killed him.

That is not quite correct. An accusation is not proof.

The government cannot avenge bloody tribal disputes.

Prince Ahmed Khabar swore to ensure my father's safety.

We have a right to claim that life! Q

Unfortunately, you have to claim it from the Emir of El Jhazir,

Constantinople orders me not to intervene in anything

that compels the emir to denounce our treaty of alliance.

I already said that justice would not be done to us here! Q

You seek revenge and not justice! Q

It's a Bedouin matter, I can't do anything.

But sit down, let us consider the matter sensibly.

Your people could work in the

citadel as servants or even as soldiers,

if they swear allegiance to the government and cease their bloody fights.

What do you think, respectable old man?