Original subtitles

Your exalted majesty, His Highness Aladdin Ebn Alcouz...

and his mother, the Princess Seleh Souman...

These aren't on my list...

they shouldn't be here. I don't know anything about them, your Majesty.

That must be very disturbing for you, Assad.

How did you get past my guards and into the Court?

- We had introductions. - What introductions?

Irresistible introductions.

Indeed, these are introductions no courtier could resist.

My Mother and I have brought them from Zourman.

They meet with your approval, Majesty?

- Flawless! - They're yours, Sir.

This is a most generous gesture, Prince.

You will always be most welcome here at Court.

And if we can make your stay more pleasant...

My son is too shy to ask...

but we've heard of the beauty of your daughter the Princess Zobeide...

my son, the Prince Aladdin, would formerly like to ask for her hand...

...in marriage. - This is outrageous!

Two strangers from Zourman asking to marry the daughter...

of the great Caliph Beder!

We wouldn't come empty handed. Two million gold pieces!

The Caliph doesn't need your vulgar gifts!

I wouldn't say two million was ever "vulgar", Assad.

- As a start... - Your Majesty...

...my son, your daughter... - Oh, yes, yes.

I'm sorry you came a little late. The Grand vizier's son Gulnare...

is pledged to my daughter.

Indeed, they're to be wed in three days.

- Father. - We were just talking of you, my dear.

This is Prince Aladdin of Zourman.

- He asked for your hand in marriage. - Too late, I fear.

Haven't I seen you somewhere, Prince?

I've been "somewhere" but I would've remembered you, Princess.

I have a marriage gift for Your Highness...

You're too generous, Prince Aladdin.

- Yes, I'd say that too! - He has a generous heart!

You may wish to withdraw these magnificent gifts now...

No, no, no, they're yours, Sir.

How do I stop that idiot Gulnare from marrying the Princess?

Let's turn him into a pig...

or better yet, a roast pig.

It's tempting, but it's just not me.

What about an accident?

- Too crude. - Then, before you do anything...

Master Aladdin...

I suggest you find out if the Princess. Zobeide whatever her name is...

has feelings for you. She might be in love with that eunuch Gulnare.

Women often love men who are unworthy of them.

The reverse is also true.

Men often love women unworthy of them...

...why? - Love has nothing to do with worth.

Love is a madness... prince or beggar, we have no control.

Was it the Genie who said "Women often love men unworthy...

of them" ...or was it you?

No, it was the Genie.

What is it, Giafar?

This is too early for affairs of state. You put me in a bad mood.

My news will only make it worse.

Your brother is raising an army against you.

He's finally come into the open. How big, how big?

Big enough.

You're right about women loving men unworthy of them.

Perhaps she loves Gulnare and not me...

but there's still time to find out. They don't marry until next week.

Wrong! Gulnare and the Princess're being married tomorrow!

Where did you come from little fellow?

He's a darling.

Come here, little fellow.

I'm getting married tomorrow... to the Grand vizier's son, Gulnare.

It's all signed, sealed and delivered...

you wouldn't understand, affairs of state.

But I did meet a charming young man, he...

there's no point in thinking about him, is there...

only... The saddest words in any language...

"if only"...

What did you learn, Master Aladdin?

She doesn't love Gulnare. She loves me!

You always were a terrible young monkey.

I was just telling Mother about...

The Princess and Gulnare were married...

an hour ago, in secret.

- No! - The Grand vizier won't let...

a little thing like magic monkeys stop him making his son heir to the throne.

Of course he won't! Look at her...

clever... beautiful... wealthy...

flexible...

Have they consummated the marriage yet?

Not yet, but any moment now.

I hear he's quite the acrobat in the sexual arena.

My love, why you look as beautiful as...

as beautiful as...

That's okay. I'll guess the rest.

Gulnare?

Gulnare?

Where are you?

It's an insult to my daughter, and worse, to me!

You stink!

So would you, Sir, if you'd spent all night in a privy.

He prefers a stinking privy to a beautiful young woman...

I tell you there's something seriously wrong with this boy, Assad!

The marriage is annulled!

Get out!

Three million in gold is most generous...

Prince Ala for my daughter's hand in marriage.

- I love her, Your Majesty. - Good, that always helps.

But I can't sanction this marriage unless I know my daughter...

is going to live in the style to which she is accustomed...

and you haven't even got a palace.

I'm building one.

You can marry her when I see it with my own eyes.

It'll be ready in a week's time.

You don't know builders, my boy.

My own palace took over a year to build.

- Mine will take a week! - A week?

I like you, Master Aladdin...

believe it or not, I've had some two hundred odd Masters in my time...

and you're the noblest of them all...

but remember, I still have Solomon's curse in my face...

and I will betray you at the drop of a turban, if it suits me.

- Of course... no hard feelings. - No hard feelings...

- I have to survive. - Don't we all?

Perhaps...

Palace!

YEEEEEEESSS

This was perhaps the happiest day of Aladdin's life.

He should have been a bit more pessimistic...

he always said a pessimist is someone who really Knows what's going on...

Mustafa, you're working too hard!

Too hard!

You're right, Hector. But there's so much to learn...

I'm naked. Naked! What's going on, Chief?

- I once swore by Hector's feathers. - I want them back!

Tell me harp, is that rogue Aladdin dead in the cave?

No, he is not dead On this very day

He is to be wed Losing your temper

Mustafa, didn't pay

- Who's he marrying? - The fairest flower in the land

He must be very smart and plucky

To wed the Princess of Samarkand He finally got very lucky

No, he finally got the lamp!

New lamps for old! New oil lamps for old oil lamps!

That's right, I'm exchanging new lamps for old lamps!

Come and see for yourself! New lamps for old...

New lamps for old!

I'm giving away new oil lamps for old!

- A once-in-a-lifetime offer! - Did you say new lamps for old?

It's a bargain!

Everyone loves a bargain.

Here we are, thank you!

Everyone loves a bargain...

- What happened? - What happened?

- Where's the lamp? - Gone. Vanished.

Mustafa! Now my Princess will find out I'm not a Prince.

Worse, what if the Caliph finds all the money...

we have given him has turned to dust?

- Time to run, my son. - No one runs in our family!

Where did you hear that rubbish? Taste my dust!

What's going on?

Where is everyone?

- Where's the palace? - Gone...

like the snows of yesteryear! It was all a fake...

there's no palace, no riches...

and this your husband is no prince... he's a thief...

...from a family of thieves! - It's a lie! Tell him, Aladdin!

- Well, it's a bad way of putting it. - Don't be ashamed, son!

We are proud of our heritage, daughter. Our family are aristocrats, too...

descended from the finest rogues in all Asia!

That's for telling me you were a prince!

It's Mustafa! Don't believe everything he says!

He's go no reason to lie... you do!

Hey, smart boy! You're in trouble, oh...

Where did the palace come from? And the money?

Magic!

Ingrate!

Genie, Genie...

how could you possibly team up with this African squelch.

I couldn't warm to him if we were cremated together!

Shut up!

Mother!

What do you want? What do you want?

I just got off my sick bed to come here. What this? Pretty slave girl.

Allah! What in the name of evil are you doing here?

- And you? - You two know each other?

Yes, yes unfortunately. We're distant, distant cousins...

...on my father's side. - I've hated you for centuries!

Yes, that's right, you lying, bullying dog!

- You turn my stomach! - It would take the whole...

Persian Army to turn your stomach...

you pimple!

You grease spot on the backside of a camel!

I've waited for you for so long.

You wouldn't hit a fellow wearing, whatever these are, would you?

- Hold still while I think about it. - Okay, well then, bye!

No, no, no, no, my Genie will challenge your Genie...

...winner takes all! - This sounds interesting...

No, no! He's feverish, he's babbling on...

- Done! - Done?

You do not understand, I cannot fight him...

his magic is stronger than mine.

Shows you how unfair the Genie world is, doesn't it?

Toothache! I have a toothache, I can't fight.

No, let's do this right...

we must have the proper setting.

Toothache. No!

No, no, no, no, I'm not in good shape.

I've never been in good shape...

as a matter of fact I'm in the worst shape now than I have ever been.

- This is not good for me. - You can do it, Master Genie!

You're our man!

Okay, I'm ready, Allah, exalted parent, creator of all...

granter of wishes, you are my sufficiency...

pray for me in this moment.

Help me!

Help me!

Thank you.

No!

Here! Here!

Don't send me out there again, I'm no match for him, please!

You're a pro. Get in there and fight!

Aladdin, did you love me, or was that another lie?

- Not now my love... - Do you love me?

- Did you? - Always!

You heard him, get in there and fight!

Oh, no!

No!

No! No!

No!

- No! Don't! - Cheese!

Let me out of here!

Let me out of here! Let me out of here!

I win!

Get your chattel...

out, out, out!

Out! Out! Out! Out!

Mercy for my wife and my mother, oh, great Mustafa!

No! Winner take all!

But Mustafa had already lost and didn't Know it.

He couldn't beat a man like Aladdin when it came to stealing.

He was a master.

You cheat! Next time I will show no mercy... I will kill you.

- I will squash you, like a bug... - This time...

he had stolen Mustafa's victory.

So Aladdin had won.

He had picked his last pocket.

Something I'd expect from a rogue.

He gets it from his mother!

He gave the Ring Genie his freedom.

He didn't need to be told twice.

The Genie of the Lamp...

- My freedom? ...refused the gift.

What would I do with that?

I would have to get a job, a fat wife and lazy children...

no thank you!

I've got power here, I've got total control...

I'll decide when I want to be free...

He was always contrary.

It was part of his character.

Would Aladdin really offer the Genies...

their freedom and give up all that power?

- Power isn't that important. - What is?

Happiness.

That's something poor Amin Adbur didn't have.

In fact he had nothing. No peace, no comfort...

...no happiness. - Who is Amin Adbur?

A young beggar in Cairo.

You're starting another story.

I was going to tell you about Amin...

because I thought you'd be particularly interested.

Why?

Because he looked exactly like you...

Like me?

But the extraordinary thing about this story...

is that the other leading figure in it is Sultan Abraschild...

and Abraschild looked exactly like your brother, Schahzenan.

Like my brother? So I'm the beggar in this story...

and my brother is the Sultan of Cairo?

But you'll want to save that for tomorrow night.

Sayid, your brother's army is only two days away.

What are you going to do, Sayid?

Wait.

You need strong nerves to wait.

Well I've been taught what strong nerves really are.

Amin the beggar still had a few coins left...

and headed straight for the nearest tavern.

Meanwhile, Sultan Abraschild prowled the streets of Cairo in disguise...

looking for adventure.

Abraschild was accompanied by Commander Nouz...

and his Grand Vizer Moussel...

who looked just like my father.

Being Sultan is the most boring job in the world, Moussel.

Is that why Your Majesty has to disguise himself...

and rub shoulders with his subjects?

- I find it amusing. - As Commander of your Guard...

Your Majesty. I have to say it's a very dangerous enjoyment.

That adds spice to the joke!

When I mingle with the ordinary folk...

I'm laughing inside. If only they knew who I was!

What tricks, what jests I can play on the poor fools...

here's entertainment to please the most jaded palette!

Let's go in here...

and see what jollies I can conjure up.

I'll do the same for you, friend, when my ship comes in.

What ship's that, friend?

That's my ship. That's my destiny.

I have a destiny, that's why I drink.

I drink while I'm waiting for my destiny.

- Which is? - Oh, I don't know, but it'll be great!

If you could choose your destiny, what destiny would you choose?

Oh, I'd choose to be Sultan.

But look at you! Do you think you're fit to be Sultan?

What do you mean "look at me"? What's fitness to do with it anyway?

Sultan Abraschild was born he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth...

everyone else had a tongue...

he's about as useful as a glass eye at a keyhole!

- That's what you think of him, is it? - Friend, if only I was the Sultan...

if only I was the Sultan, you'd see, yeah...

Perhaps it's your destiny after all...

Are you all right, Sayid?

Never better. The jest, the jest! Come on, take him to my palace!

- But, Sayid... - Oh, Moussel, you dry stick...

you desert cactus! Quick, I can't wait to start the game!

It was a sick joke.

He was washed and perfumed...

so that even his mother wouldn't have recognized him.

Everyone remembers what to do when he wakes?

- Yes, Sayid, but... - No one spoils my fun. No one!

I want wine.

No, I don't.

This is the drink. I've had daylight dreams before, but...

Go!

Go!

- Where, where am I? - In the palace, Sayid.

- What palace? - Your palace.

My palace? Who am I?

Commander of the Faithful, Monarch of the World...

the Prophet's voice on Earth. You are the Sultan Haroun Abraschild.

This is madness.

I want to talk to someone in authority.

You were up drinking late, last night, Sayid.

It has affected your memory.

I do drink. And I do have a terrible head.

- Your Majesty? - Who am I?

You're Commander of the Faithful, Monarch of the World...

No, I'm not! I'm Amin the Beggar!

Is this another one of Your Majesty's jokes?

No, I'm Amin. Amin the Drunkard. They know me in every tavern in Cairo!

I'm you Grand vizier, Moussel. Don't you recognize me?

Yeah. I've seen you riding through the streets.

And I'm Abu Nouz, Commander of the Palace Guard for the last ten years.

Why would you say I'm Sultan Abraschild?

- Because you are. - But I'm not!

Have you ever seen His Majesty, Sultan Abraschild?

- No. - So how do you know you're not him?

'Cause I'm me. I know me, don't I?

It's the wine, Sayid. It's clouding your brain.

Through the lingering alcoholic fumes in his wine-stained brain...

Amin was already half-inclined to agree with Vizier Moussel and the others.

Then there is the matter of the Chinese Ambassador.

We have already decided to resume negotiations with the Great Khan...

You say I'm Sultan?

Of course you are, Your Majesty.

And I have absolute power?

By Divine Right.

Then instead of talking about the Great Khan...

we should be talking about my people. Their needs. Their happiness...

Scribe: I, Sultan Abraschild, institute the building of new schools...

...in each of the major cities. - But, Sayid...

we must consult and ponder this matter.

If I consult and ponder, I'll do nothing.

Scribe another decree.

We will reduce the people's taxes by half!

- But, Sayid, the Treasury... - Can afford it.

Now, Commander, do you believe the Army is underpaid?

Undoubtedly. I have submitted reports indicating we can't expect troops...

to defend the nation if they're poorly paid.

I accept all your recommendations, Commander...

and we'll start by doubling the pay of all the troops.

How will we finance this, Your Majesty?

Cut out all the waste and extravagance...

particularly here in the Palace. Now, vizier, I've read your reports too.

The state bureaucracy needs a radical overhaul.

Now, I propose to put you ideas into practice immediately.

What a fool!

We've got more done today than we have in years.

This time Sultan Abraschild wasn't laughing.

Amin the Beggar was taking his role very seriously...

feed a grub royal jelly...

and he will turn into an Emperor butterfly in an instant.

Sultan Abraschild now wanted to complete the joke.

What a jest, eh?

I doubt he'll enjoy it, when he wakes.

I enjoyed it, that's what is important.

Besides, he's had a day of power. That's more than most get in a lifetime.

What will you do with him now, Sayid?

Throw him back. That's the best part of the joke!

It was a rude awakening.

It was terrible.

From extreme wealth, to extreme poverty.

That's enough to send any man mad.

Oh, no... no... this is a dream...

this is a dream. I'm the Sultan.

I'm the Sultan. I'm the Sultan.

I'm the Sultan. I'm the Sultan.

I give orders. I give orders. I give orders. I give orders.

It's the demons. It's the demons.

It's the demons. It's the demons.

Only a madman could think he was ruler of the world.

But it was so real to me. So real.

But it all grew less and less real as the days past.

Soon Amin began to doubt if it had ever happened.

But fate and Sultan Abraschild hadn't finished playing with him yet.

You should eat.

I'm not hungry.

Stay and talk

Stay and talk. No one will talk to me...

they think I'm mad.

Are you?

I was. I thought I was Sultan Abraschild...

I dreamed of being the Sultan for so long...

it became real for me.

Were you better than Sultan Abraschild?

Only in my dreams.

Thank you, friend, thank you...

thank you, thank you.

Laughter's the cure for all our ills.

And so Amin's torture continued...

It was a terrible nightmare...

which was happening again.

I'm mad again! Save me!

- What is it, Your Majesty? - I'm Amin. This is a prison cell...

I'm mad!

Calm yourself, Sayid. You had another bad dream!

But which is the dream and which is real?

Is this the dream or was that the dream?

We'll send for the Royal Physicians.

It's the demons! They carried me here...

they're in the air... demons!

Demons!

Listen, listen, it's the demons, they're laughing at me!

- Death to all demons! - No! No!

Death!

Perhaps he should have remembered...

never tell the same joke twice...

Dead!

Well, there's one good thing... no more jokes.

And he died with smile on his face.

What do we do now? Who's his heir?

He has none. There'll be a fight amongst the nobles...

it'll mean civil war...

unless we act.

In what way?

Well, Sultan Abraschild ordered us to treat Master Amin as Sultan.

Yes, but he meant he was to be Sultan for a day.

We know that, but others don't.

Well, if he keeps cutting taxes...

he has nothing to fear from anyone.

We'll say Sultan Abraschild has gone on a holy pilgrimage to Mecca...

and asked his friend to take his place.

Well, it's true, in a way.

True or false, it's plausible, that's the important thing.

Your physicians will see you later, Majesty.

- You've been ill. - I have?

Who's that?

That, oh, that was the Royal Jester.

What's the matter with him?

His last joke was a killer!

He always said we had no sense of humor!

Amin became one of the most beloved Sultans in history...

and Abraschild was completely forgotten.

I saw myself as Sultan Abraschild.

He was consumed by laughter...

I was consumed by fear of betrayal...

and I was prepared to do anything to feed...

that fear while Abraschild fed his cruel humour.

That wasn't you...

that was the darkness inside you.

Is it still there?

Look into my eyes... who do you see, Scheherazade?

Me... looking at you, my love.

Sayid, your brother's army is camped outside the city.

Soon, my love.

It's too low.

I'm hot.

One of my stories will help.

No, the only danger you face now is from my brother...

you won't be able to tell him one of your tales to save yourself...

he'll have cut your throat.

This isn't the time, Scheherazade.

It's the perfect time. It's the incredible story of three brothers...

who fought each other like you and Schahzenan.

It happened long ago in far Yemen... before recorded time.

The land was ruled by old Sultan Billah...

and he had three sons...

Princes Ahmed, Hussain and Ali.

Prince Hussain was the best swordsman in Yemen.

Ahmed, on the other hand, was a master bowman.

Prince Ali had extraordinary strength in his hands.

Oh, they're at it again!

It's just youthful exuberance, my love, they'll grow out of it.

You've been saying that for the last ten years...

Look! No my prize hibiscus!

Not the palms! Not the palms! You vandals!

Vandals!

Go back, you sissy.

What was the fight about this time?

- Princess Fatima loves me. - No, she loves me.

No, she loves me. She said so!

Rubbish! You could lose ten pounds of surplus fat if someone...

...would just cut your head off! - Everytime you look into the mirror...

...you take a bow! - Oh yeah!

What's going to happen when I die?

You'll tear the country apart!

See what you boys've done... all this talk of dying...

your making your father ill.

We didn't mean anything, Mother...

Father's not really dying, is he?

But when I am dying, I will have to name my heir.

You should do it now, Father.

Don't forget, I'm the eldest.

And don't you forget that I have the final say, according to law.

Who do you favor, Father?

I have three blockheads for sons, how can I favor anyone?

Let it be proclaimed throughout, Yemen...

I'm sending my sons on a quest...

whoever brings back the greatest wonder in the world...

will be my heir.

How long have we got?

One year.

You must all leave together and return together.

Wrap up warm, boys. And don't get lost.

Yes, Mother.

And so the brothers went forth into the unknown...

to find the greatest wonder in the world.

They had no maps to guide them...

they were going to countries where traveller's said...

"There be dragons!"

Losers!

Ali found himself in a fabled land...

the Bronze City of Zirog.

It's all gone now...

the bronze rusted and the fountains dried up...

but then, but then... it was a wonder to behold.

So, my brothers and I are searching the world...

for wonderous objects for my father.

I have something wonderous.

I have seen a telescope before, Master Schaca.

Not like this. Put it to your eye...

you only have to ask, and you'll see anything you wish to see.

I'd like to see the Princess Fatima of Yemen.

That's her!

That's Fatima!

You're right, Master Schaca, it's a wonder. Can I buy it?

It's not mine to sell. I'm delivering it to Hari ben Karim.

But would he sell it?

Ask him.

The telescope's not for sale. As you can see...

I have no need of the money but I might give it to you as a gift.

And what could I give you in return?

Entertainment. Schaca tells me you're a master fighter.

Would you fight my champions for the telescope?

Gladly.

The telescope's mine. I've killed your champions.

What makes you think they're dead?

This time, knives.

Knives? That's cheating.

That's cheating...

Fair game, Master Schaca.

I am Prince Ahmed of Yemen.

I've learned you have a rare fruit...

a holy green apple that is said to cure all illnesses...

I'd like to buy it.

It is not for sale.

Is there something I can give you...

in exchange for it?

Perhaps...

you have a special skill?

With the bow.

Then you will undergo a test...

to see if you are fit to own the apple of life.

I'm impressed, Ahmed.

I have one more test...

and the apple of life is yours.

It's a risk.

- The prize is worth it. - Not for the boy.

Then you lose, and go away empty-handed.

I lose.

No, you win.

What?

You win by losing. You weren't prepared to win at any cost.

The apple of life is yours.

The Holy Seer gave Ahmed the apple and some words of advice...

before he left.

Hussain was riding towards the fabulous city of Petra.

That Petra disappeared under the sand...

but then, she was the jewel of the East.

Hussain discovered the most amazing thing about Petra. It was two cities...

not one.

The second city lay under the first.

Underground Petra survived many years after the other one...

but that too, is gone... swallowed by the sand.

Is this the only carpet you have to sell?

Fifty pieces of gold.

You must be mad!

Have you gold enough to pay for it?

- Lf I want it. - You'll want it. Follow me.

Why're you out there trying to sell this one old carpet...

when you've got hundreds like these?

Because it's a Flying Carpet...

it can take you anywhere.

I may be a stranger in Petra, but I'm no child.

There is no such thing as a Flying Carpet.

But there are thousands, and this is one of them.

Rise, carpet, Rise!

Down! Down!

Come to rest!

All you have to do is tell it where you wish to go.

Fifty in gold you say? It's worth every penny. I'll pay cash.

- What's this? - We're going to rob and kill you.

It's nothing personal...

I can't sell a magic carpet for a paltry fifty in gold...

it wouldn't be good for business.

Kill him!

Stop thief!

Come on!

We've done well...

a magic apple, a flying carpet, and a wonderous telescope.

Tell me, have you actually tested this yet, Ali?

Of course I've tested it! Just tell it what you want to see.

I'd like to see our father, Sultan Billah, please.

It's Father!

He's dying. We have to be there.

The brothers learned a simple but abiding truth...

men united were better than men divided.

- It'll take us a week to get home. - No.

I have a better way!

They arrived in time to save their father with Ahmed's Apple of Life.

United now, and for the rest of their lives...

they ruled in peace and harmony.

What advice did the Holy Seer give Ahmed...

when he handed him the magic apple?

He said the world was an inferno full of darkness and evil...

and there were only two ways of dealing with it...

the first was easy and wrong, to accept it and become part of it...

the second way was harder and right, you fight it...

and recognize those who aren't evil and help them endure.

You've taken the second way... you've helped me...

and saved me from the darkness. Why?

I loved you.

Is that the answer?

It'll have to do until something better...

We've had reports the enemy is being led by Schahzenan...

and the former Sultana.

The Sultana is dead. I killed her.

Even dead she can still help to destroy you.

The army thinks she's good luck...

they make a powerful combination.

Tell them we have one even more powerful...

I'll be riding into battle beside my husband.

- No, it's too dangerous. - You don't have to prove your love.

It would raise the spirits of our men.

They have a dead Queen, and we have a live one.

Guard my wife! She is more precious to me than my life.

The story-teller always said, stories can save us.

The guess only meant was...

they can save us, if we use our imagination.

- Gather your men! - Yes, Sayid.

Rise your swords!

Open sesame!

Schahriar!

It's time to take responsibility for your actions brother and die!

Arrows...

Schahzenan's troops were caught in a pincer movement...

with hostile forces in front and back.

Death comes in many shapes and disguises.

Now, it was Schahzenan's turn.

The battle was over.

- And Father won? - Yes, Father won...

and saved Baghdad.

That was very exciting your good at stories, Mummy.

- Tell us another one! - Another one, Mummy!

- Another one! - Oh, tomorrow night...

I'll tell you another story tomorrow night...

just wait till tomorrow night.