AIDA Script Large

8/21/2019 AIDA Script Large

1/70

Pa

e2

ACT

PROLOG.UE - THE MUSEUM

(The

Egyptian

wingofa ma

J0

· "luseum. A contemporaty crowd. chic

and bcautifally

d ressed

is gath 'd around various artifacts, all under glas

inc/Juling a

mamuqtlin in

a11cimt Royal Egyptian dress. The

crowd

moves appreciatively

around the

exhibits.

In

the

center

of

he

room,

also

behind

glass

is a mysterious object-Mi ancient burialchamber, a tomb.

AMAN

anda

WOMAN also

dmsed

in

the fmhiom of

oday

approach

the tomb from different sitks. They are

both drawn

to it. They circle

it,

intriguedas i hey

have sem it

before. The

man is

RtWAMES; the

woman

is

AIDA.

Jn

a musical

mo.men/,

they look up. Their.

eyes

meet

s

the mannequin in ancient Royal Egyptian

dress

comes to lift emerging

from

her glass encasement

.

She

is

AMNERIS, an

ancient

Pharaoh.)

EVERY STORY

ISA

LOVE STORJ' · . . .

AMNERIS

(As

she

singr,

the

cast

ofmodern gom kaves

the

stage.}

EVERY STORY, TALE

OR

MEMOIR

EVERY 'SAGA OR ROMANCE .

WHETHER TRUE

ORFABIUCATED

.

WHETHER PI.ANNED OR HAPPENSTANCE

WHETHER

SWEEPING TiiROUGH

THE.{\.GES

CASTINGCENTUIUI S

ASIDE

.

ORA

HURRIBD BIUEF

RECITAL

JUSf A nUR1YMINUTE lU[ E .

··WHETHER BRIGHT ORMEl.ANCHOLY

ROUGH

ANO RFADY

FINELY

SPUN

WHETHER

WITH A THOUSAND·PLAYERS ·

ORA

LONELY C ST

OF

ONE

EVERY STORY, NEWORANCIENT

BAGATELLE OR

WORK OF

ART

ALL ARE TALES OF HUMAN FAILING

ALLARE TALES OF LOVEATHFART

(rhe

lights change violently

with a

rock

and

rt>H chord. "The MAN_

and

WOMAN reeze.)

THIS

rs

nm

STORY

OF A LOVE THATFWUIUSHED

IN A

TIME

OF

HATE


2/70

OF LOVERS NO TYR NNY COULD SEPARA

TE

LOVE SET .INTO MOTION ON THE NILE S

SHORE

DESTINY IGNITED BY AN ACT OF WAR

(The

M N

and WOMEN

exit

as the scene begins to dissolve

from

contemporary to

ancient

times.

The

Musetttn disappe.ars, we see

NUBI N

WOMEN captured by-EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS and then

an

Egyptian

Slave Barge comes into

view.

MNERIS

continues tu

sing.

EGYPT SAW

THE

MIGHTY

RIVERAS ITS VERY HEART AND SOUL

SOURCE OF LIFE FORALL HER PEOPLE

TH T

ONLY EGYPT COULD CONTROL

DESTRUCTION

OF

HER SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR

JUSTIFIED

NUBIA EXPLOITED, LEFT WITH LITTLE MORE THAN PRIDE

(AMNERIS exits as the change continuesJ

SCENE 1: A SLAVE BARGE

(EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS

man the

sails

as riches

and

the

spoils of

war

are 1aded

on

to

the deck

of

he ship.)

FORTUNEF


3/70

RAD

AMES

T'S ALL WORKED OUT Y ROAD JS CLEAR

THE

LINES

OF IATITUDE EXTEND

WAY BEYOND YWILDEST DREAMS

TOWARD SOME GREAT-TRIUMPHANT

END

WE SEIZED

THE

DAY

WE TURNED

THE

TIDE

WE TOUCHED THE STARS WE MOCKED THE

GRAVE

WE MOVED INTO UNCHARTED LANDS

RADAMES AND SOI.DIERS

FORTUNE FAVORS THE BR.A

V

RAD AMES

THE MORE WE FIND, THE MORE WE SEE, THE MORE WE COME

TO LEARN

Ti-IE MORE THAT WE EXPLORE, THE MORE WE

SHALL

RETURN

NOTHING

IS

AN

ACCIDENT

WE

ARE FREE

TO

HAVE

IT

ALL

WE ARE WHAT WEW NTTO

BE

IT'S IN OURSELVES

TO

RISE

OR FALL

THIS

IS

EASY

TO

BELIEVE .

WHEN DISTANT

PIACES

CALL

TO

ME

IT'S HARDER FROM THEPALACE

YARD

FORTUNE FAVORSTHE FREE

SOLDIERS

OHOH

RAD AMES

.·FORTUNE

FAVORS

THE YOUNG

SOLDIERS

OHOH

RAD

AMES

FORTUNE

FAVORS

THE

BRAVE

Sudtknly, AIDA and NUBIAN WOMEN

re

showd

·onstagc by

SOLDIERS. RADAMESifdrefatAIDA Theireyeswck)

RADAMES

What have we.here?


4/70

[ age

5

SOLD ER#l

We found them on the riverbank, Captain.

RAD

AMES

{To AIDA.)

Your counoy s at war and you go wandFring along the Nile s edge? You must have a burning

desire to sec

Egypt.

Put her in chains.

To one of is SOLDIERS.)

Have you finished the map?

·Yes

Captain.

Good work.

SOLD ER#2

RAD

AMES

Looking_

nt the map wit his men.)

{He traces his finger over the

map.)

But this is wrong, from the mast

it

looked like

it

curved

to

the North

..

like this. Here, let

me show you.·

AIDA tuddmly

grabs a

swordfrom

a

drunken

soldier and

points it nt

another.)

SOWIER#l

Mysword Mysword

AIDA sword

fights with

the SOWIERS taking one captiw.)

Release them

RADAMES crosses to

her.)

Hand

it over. NowJ

AIDA

RAD

AMES

l\lD;\

{Holdswordata throat.)

You took us from Nubia •. and now you saywe belong to you, yes?

.RADAMES

Yes

AIDA

Well, I took t is solcliedrom

yout

tanks Soiby your awn logic he to me. Now let

themgo, ·


5/70

(RADAMES smiks in acknowledgement, then poinu

to

the WOMEl

SOWIERS instantly grab them, puttingswords to thdr throaJs. A

stdemate. ID lays down the sword. A SOLDIER snatches it up.)

SOLDIER#

TI1row

her

in the

river

RAD AMES

No, I have a better plan for her.

(RAD

MES

kads

ID

ro

t

fowerquartm. The SOLDIERS

andNUBI N

WOMEN

exit.)

SCENE2:RADAMES'QUARTERS

(RADAMES lifo his hand. ID

covers

herface.)

AlDA

Don t.

R D

AMES

You don

t

w nt me

to

remove

your shackles?

AIDA

Oh. Yes.

(She holds

up

her hands for

him

and he unlocks her

shackles.)

RADAMES

Tl)ey11 only g t in the way. Very impr=ive up thCrc.

(Tosses

shackks

t de

and

/miles.)

·

I

should

enlist

you

in my

army.

Make

you

my

Lieutenant.

AIDA

Arc vou

mocking

me, Captain

R D

AMES

No. Admiringyi>u.

·

(He

rnnuva

l?is coat

dropping it

to the oor almostas a tlare.)

Do you know what's going to happen now? .Yo \'re going to scrub the

filth

of battle from m)'

skin.

(RAD

AMES removes

his IWbrd and s ts on

a stot I

in front

of

er.)

It

has

een a long.rime since I've

fu)t

dean. · . ,

(AIDA

beghu to scrub RADAMES

backfarioml) witb

a

sponge a,nd

waterfrom

a

basin. He

grlmam.)


6/70

much better a sword than you are with a sponge

AIDA

I wish I had a

sword

now

RAD

AMES

There s

mine.

Help yoursd£

(She

consldm

z't

1nq zent,

then resumes scrubbing

him. He

smiles.}

ho taught you to use a

weapon?

AIDA

My father.

R DAMES

Because he

knows

Nubian·mCn can t protect

their women?

· She straightens, farious.)

You re not finished.

Yes, I run.

On

your knees.

Standing.).

You enjoy

livipg dangerously, don t

you?

AIDA

AIDA.

About

as

much

as I

enjoy washing your Wthy Ff,yptian skin

AIDA

throws

the sponge.)

R D

MES

You•••

Pa e

THEPASTISANOTHERLAND ·

AIDA

HOW

COULD

YOU

UNDERSTAND

OUR

EMPTINESS

YOU VE PLUNDERfu:i OURWISPOM, OUR KNOWLEDGE, OUR

WEALTH , .

IN

BLEEDING US DRY

YOU LONG FOR OURSPIRIT

n THAT YOU WILL

NINER

POSSESS


7/70

Page8

THE PAST IS NOW ; •TI-IER LAND

FAR BEYOND Y R.. -

INVADED BYINSID'

FOREIGN BODIES,

l u;;EIGN

SPEECH

WHERE THE TIMELESS JOYS

OF

CHILDHOOD

LIE BROKEN ON THE BEACH

RADAMES

What s

your name?

AIDA

Aida.

SOLDIER 3

Offstage.}

Captain, we re ready to

clock

RADAMES scoops up the

sht1Ckks

ftom the floor and

orces them

on

AIDA.) .

AIDA

What-

No Please, leave diem off.

RAD AMES

You're a slave now And i you want to survive you better rcinember it.

RADAMES exitr. As AIDA continues to

sint,; the

scene.dissolves around

her

to Docks on the

banks

o he

Nik

in

AIDA

THE PRESENT IS

AN

EMPTY SPACE.

BETWEEN THE GOOD AND BAD

AM6MENT LEADING NOWHERE

]: 00 POINTLESS.TO

BE

SAD ·

·.

EVERY

CERTAINTY I HAD

SCENE 3: THE DO CKS

The ights

chititge ii

indicate

dawn whik EGYPTIANSOLDIERS

un/qiu/ the

NUBIAN WOMEN in

chains

from

their

Barge.}

AIDA

THE

FUTURE

JS A BARREN WOlU.D

FROM WHICH I CAN T

RETURN

.


8/70

BOTH HEARTLESS AND MATERIAL

ITS

WRETCHED

SPOILS

NOT

MY

CONCERN

SHINING

LIKE AN EVIL SUN

AS MY

CHILDHOOD

TREASURES BURN

SHINING

LIKEJ\N EVIL SUN

AS MY

CHILDHOOD TREASURES BURN

Ar dawn

rises

and

the docks are sti

somewhat in

the shadows, an

EGYPTIAN

M N

ofq1wtionable reput


9/70

Pa eJO

ZOSER

Careful, boy or I'll have y u

RADAMES

It s goo

to

sec you, Father.

ZOSER

You

were

gone

s

long

Radames

I was beginning worxy. You weren t

injured in

batt

?

RADAMES

No.

ZOSER

I kept telling the Pdncx:ss that no man can best you with a sword.

RADAMES

No

man

got the better

ofme.

Though a

certain

woman might have.

ZOSER

Amused.)

RCally?

·.•RADAMES

Listen, beyond the

filih

eatatact, the Nile heads dire tly Khartoum.

ZOSER

Then we

can

attack

the

city by water?.·· Exteilent You recorded

the

1andseape?

RADAMES

With

the m,wsW madC.

an

illitcrat.e foot soldier rould find his way through Nubia.

ZOSBR

. ·

And you brought home captives; Take them to

the

copper mines

We

can t seem-fl'

keep them alive dciwn there. · ·

. ZOSER motiom the SOLDIERSforward.)

RAD AMES

Stop

He

t kes

ID fem the SOLDJERS.)

Not.this one. · ·· · · ··

· To ZOSER.)


10/70

1 1n going to need a gi t for the Princess.

ZOSER

Yes. She'll be expecting somethillf

RAD

AMES

To SOLDIERS.)

Take them all to the Palace Groundskeeper.

ey

can help with the harvest.

(ToZOSER.)

TI1ey re all women. They wouldn:t last a

day

underground.

ZOSER

s you wish. They re your slaves.

Pa

11

The SOLDIERS exit with theNUBIAN WOMEN. RADAMES turns

AIDA

to face

him.)

Thank

you.

Give me your hands,

Aida.

(G11Sfi.)

Youq1ame isAida?

Mereb.

.. To AIDA.)

ID

RAD

AMES

MEREB

RAD AMES

I m

going to remove these. But iq,ow that i fyou date tty

to

escape, I ll come after you

myscl£

{RA:DAMES remoV.SAIDA} hackles,).

ID

You fia.tter me, Captain. You don t

look

like a man who would

· luse

after any woman.

RADAMRS

I ll make an exception for you. Moreb, take her t ·Princess Amnetis with my eomplimcnts.


11/70

PaveJ2

MEREB

ZOSER

You ve been gone

six.

months I

really

think

a personal appearance is in order.

. RAI>/i}4:£S

wava MEREBforward. MEREB luu4AIDA off.)

RAD

AMES

Jn good time, Fatl, hough you and the Princess should know that as soon as

my

re

rested,

I a.m setting ·..;;. again.

ZOSER

You can't. Radames, Egypt needs you

now.·

Pharaoh isnot the powerful leader hewA 5

when you left.

ANOTHERPYRAMID

· ·

Mort

MINISTERS

mter

during

the

song.)

ZOSER

WHILE YOU'VE BEEN AWAY CAVORTING

MATTERS HERE HAVE MOVED

APACE

. NOW

NEED YOU

HOME SUPPORTING

.ALL

TIIE PLANS

I VE

PUT IN PLACE .

FIRST

OFALL TIIIS

MEANS

YOURWEDDING

YOU LL RECALL YOUR FUTURE BRIDE

FOR

T E

WAY THAT PHARAOH S

HFADING

TIME S NO LONGERON OUR

SIDE

.

ACCORDINGTOTHE HAWK GOD IiORUS

OUR MOST REGALINVAIID

IS NOT TH T MUCH LONGBRFOR US

BUILDANOTHERI'YRAMID .

RAD

AMES

You

mean

the Pharaoh's fallen i J1 s serious?

ZOSER

I m

afraid.so.

RAD

AMES

must

go to

him.


12/70

Page

13

ZOSER

Yes

That will bring hitn some coinfort. I ll sec you tonight at the banquet, C3.ptain.

RADAMES

exits

as

the scene

changes

to

Catacombs beneath

the

Pharaoh s Palace. ZOSER and the MINISTERS move through the

Catacombs

and

sR

THERE WILL BEA TIMEFOR

MOORN NG.

BUT

FOR NOW PUT PLANS

ON

HOLD

FOR

I

GIVE

THE NATION

WARNIN.G

THAT BEFORE THE CORPSE IS COLD

MINISTERS

BUILD IT,

BUILD

IT

ANOTHER PYMMID

HOLD

COLD

. ZOSER

WE'LL EXTEND FAIREGYPT's POWER

EGYPT'S

GLORY

STRENGTH

AND STYLE

WESHALLHAVI OURFIN.ESTHOUR

FAR

BEYOND TH

MIGH1Y

NILE

HEMUSTHAvEAVAULTTHATS.GRANDBY

ANY

STANDARDS,

FLOOR

TO

LID

PUT.FIVE THOUSAND

SLAVES

ON

STAND

BY

BUILD

ANOTHER PYRAMID


13/70

BUILD IT, BUILD IT

BUILD IT, BUILD IT

BUILD IT, BUILD

IT.

BUILDIT-

Dance Break.)

BUILD IT, BUILD

T

BUILDIT-

MINISTERS

(MINISTERS

whisper among themselves.

Then

to

ZOSER.)

ZOSER

Someone has been telling the Pharaoh about our private meetings. Traitor

He

has bccon

a liability.

(The MINISTERS inilantly surround an ACCUSED MINISTER. An

ASSASSIN MINISTER crosses to ACCUSED MINISTER, pulls out a

knift, and

ki s

him. The ACCUSED MINISTER

is

dragged ojfitage.)

HEMU5THAVEAVAULTTHAT SGMNDBY

NY STANDARDS, FLOOR

TO

LID

PUT FNE THOUSAND SLAVES ON STAND BY

BUILD ANOTHER PYRAMID

A

MINISTER sidles

up to

ZOSER.)

You extracted more· arsenic

(71fEMINISTER holds up a vial)

Who would have thought that the

copper mincs

would yield such an abundant

supply?

Put

somein Pharaoh's wine tonight at the banquet, Again, only a few drops. We don't want

him

dying

...

just yet. . . . .

.

(ZOSER

and

the remaittingMINISTER e dtllS the

scme

dissolva to a

HaUwll)

in

the

PhartUihl

Palace.}

·

SCENE

4: HALLWAY

IN

THE PHARAOH S P L CE

v AIDA andMEREB enter. AfDA is dressed as a

pa/4ce

servant.)

.

MEREB

Well

now you

look like a handmaiden; But at least the Captain

saw

that

yo.u re special.

AIDA

What

tl1at man secs

and understands could be etched on a

j Un of sand.

MEREB

That

may

be,

but

Radanics

did

save

you and the other

women from the

copper

mines.


14/70

Page 5

ID

That was surprising. nd decent ofhim.

MEREB

When I

w s

ten, Radames saved

me"fi-om

being beaten to death

by

the palace guards.

He

promised he

d look out for me from then on. He s kept that

prOmise.

Sighs.)

Look,

I know

what

you re thinking ..

that I ve

become one

of them. But I m

still Nubian.

I ll always be Nubian.

ID

Of

course.

HOl\? KNOWYOU

..

: · •

··

MEREB

I GREW UP IN YOUR HOMETOWN

AT LEAsT BEGAN

TO GROW

I HADN T GOT

TO MY FIRST SHA

VE

BEFORE THE

BODY

BLOW

EGYPTIANS

IN TilE COURTYARD

MY

FAMILY

IN CHAINS

YOU WITNESSED OUR ABDUCTION

WHICH POSSIBLY EXPLAINS

HOWIKNOWYOU

HOWIKNOWYOU

BEFORE THATFATEFUL MORNING

MY

FAMILY

ENJOYED

A PR VJLEGED

EXISTENCE

FOR

MY

FATI-IER

WAS

EMPLOYED

AS ADVISOR

TO THEKING NO

LESS

WHICH SURELY RINGS A

BELL

FOR AS YOU

ARE

HIS DAUGHTER

YOU PROBABLY .CW TELL

HOWlKNOWYOU

YES I KNOW YOU

AIDA.

YOUKNOWTOOM .tJCHANDWHATYOUSAY

IS

BETTER

LEFT UNKNOWN

AND NOW

I;M

JUST A SIAVE LIKE YOU.


15/70

Pa < 6

·OUR

LIVES ARE

NOT

OUR

OWN

MEREB

I NEVER HAVE ABANDONED

ANDNOR1TH NKCOULDYOU

.

THAT

SP RK

OF HOPE

FOR FREEDOM

NO TERROR

CAN SUBDUE

AIDA

MY ONLY

HOPE

IS SILENCE

YOU VE NEVER SEEN MY

EACE

MEREB

NOYOUREMAJN

APRINCESS

JN

ANYTIME

OR

PLACE

YOU

DON'T

KNOW ME

YES I KNOW

YOU

YOUDON'TKNOWME

HOWIKNOWYOU ·

HOWIKNOWYOU

AIDA

MEREB

AIDA

. MEREB

AIDA

Mcrcb, you must treat. me like y od1er slaV


16/70

Pac 7

MEREB

Just so you know, Amncris is more

than

that

ro

Radames.

She s

his betrotl1ed.

ID

He s

to be

married?

When?

MEREB

The

day

his ship

sinks

and the royal builders

refuse

to

make

him another. Come, let s

g t

you

to the Princess. ·

(AIDA

and MERES exit

as

the

se ne changes w

the Palace Baths.)

SCENE 5:

THE

BATHS

(WOMEN

OF

THE PAIACE

enter

wrapped in

sheets.

SLA VE.s stand

by with

tray<

offrui4 oils and cosmetics. AMNEf IS enters, somewhat

winded.)

AMNERIS

It is such

hard work

m.aintaining perli:ction.

(She

is

flushed andpantingfrom excrdu but me bJoksfabubJus.)

But worth the

ef Ort,

don t

you

think?

·

WOMEN

Oh yes.

DcJlnitely worth it You re perfuct.

AMNERIS .

Really?

Pcrfi:ct?

Then

maybe .one

o

you can

explain to

me why

Radames, the man destined

to be my one and

only, is

neglecting

me?

(AIDA andMEREB

enter

un#en.)

He s

been to

seemyf.id1er. I hear he s spent time with

his f.tthcr.

In

&.ct,

he s probably

chununed

it up with

cvecy

withered old

man

in

Egypt.

But

clearly.

the thought of visiting a

ripe young

Princess,

with

fubulous

hair,

leaves im

rold.

MEREB

(Bowing

bJw.) ·

Princess

Amneris

-

fuSt

in

beauty, wisdom, anci

acocssorics.

Captain

Radam


17/70

Pad

AIDA

Aida.

(MEREB

and

fj OMEN

g 'P

at her

audacity.)

AMNERIS

Did you just speak

AIDA

My

name i&Aida, Princess. And I think you might wish to kuow

i AMNERIS

How

dare you You do

notloweryour eyes.

You

o

not

tremble.

Atr

you

not

afraid

c-1' m 2-

AIDA

Would

it

please

you ifl

were?

· AMNERIS

ot s much

ID

Then I

am dohJ$ as

yilu please.

AMNERIS

Wdi that's nue. You were starling to say something.;. about. .•

ID

Captain Radames.

do

kul>w of

the Captain?

AIDA

Only that he iswell.

He

sulkrcd no injuries in battle. I thought you might want to know'i

that. . . . .

AMNERIS

I did I've been so ••. You're very astute, aten't yPLi, Aida?

ID

Only.on occasion. My

nue

talent

lies with

a needle. ·And'ifyPu me,

Princcssj

I

111 make

yPU a tobe in

a shade

doses to that of

your eyes.

There

• a

dyctng


18/70

use which makes fab:i? glow. It s a secret that w s passed down frotn the

handmaidens o Queen Nefertiti.

Everyone cowm .. waiting for AMNERIS

to explode.)

.

AMNERIS

A slave who knows her fubrics?

I m

keeping her

Oh

Radames, he knows me.

He

really,

really knows

me.

GoJ

Mcreh, show

ida the sewing

room.

(AIDA exits with MEREB.)

All

rightladies, let's polish this gem.

llfl STRONGESTSUIT

.

(The

SI Vlli exit

during

the song leaving

AMNERIS with

the

WOMEN.)

AMNERIS

IN LIFE

ONE

HAS

TO

f


19/70

Page2

AMNERIS .

WOMEN

FROM YOUR CRADLEVIA

TROUSSEAU AH

TO

YOUR DEATHBED YOU RE

ON

VIEW, SO AH

NEVER COMPROMISE, ACCEPT NO

SUBSTITUTE AH

AH

I WOULD RATHER WEAR ABARREL AH

THANCONSERVATIVEAPPAREL AH

FOR DRESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AH

MY

STRONGEST SUIT AH

STAYING

IN

OR

HITTING

TOWNWA:RDS

FROM

THE TOP

AND WORKING

DOWNWARDS

I ENSURE

THAT EVERY

STITCH

IS

STITCHED

IN TIME

WHETHER WIG OR

HAT

OR

TURBAN

WHETHER

CLAD

BOUDOIR

OR

URBAN

NOT TO SfRUTYOUR

STUFF

OUTRAGEOUSLY S A CRIME

AND

THE FEW WHO

ARE INVITED

TO MY WARDROBE ARE DELIGHTED

AS THEY WANDERTHROUGH MY

THINGS

TO

FIND

NROUTE

THATINNEGLiGEEORFORMAL

IAMANYTHINGBUTNORMAL

·

THAT

DRESS HAS

ALWAYS

BEEN

MY STRONGEST SUIT

OVER

WE R

UNDERWEAR

ANYTIME

ANYWHERE

OOH OOH OOH AH

OOH OOH OOH AH

OOH OOH OOH

AH

IS STITCHED IN TIME

OOH

OOH OOH

AH

OOH OOH OOH

AH

OOHOOHOOHAH

SUCH ACRIME

OOOH

0VERWEAR

OOOH

UNDJ iRWEAR

OOOiiANYTIME

WE RE

WANDERING THROUGH

YOUR THINGS

OOH

FORMAL, FORMAL

OOH

NORMAL, NORMAL


20/70

AMNE US

(CONT.)

I AM WHAT I WEAR

SAID ANYTIME

ANYWHERE

SO

BRING MEALL MY FINEST

MOST

AUDACIOUS

MY

NINEST

MOST REVEALING

MOST

EXPENS VEAND

T BOOT

MOST

ARRESTING

MOST HEART-STOPPING

MOST FREE FLOWING

MOST EYE POPPING

MOST ARRESTING

.MOST HEART STOPPING

DRESS HAS

ALWAYS·

BEEN

MY STRONGEST SUIT

MY STRONGEST SOIT

YOU

KNOW THAT

IAMWHATIWEAR

DRESS HAS ALWi'..YS

BEEN

MY

STRONGEST

SUIT ...

Page21

WOMEN (CONT.}

OVERWEAR, UNDERWEAR,

ANYTIME,

ANYWHERE

OVERWEAR,

UNDERWEAR,

ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

OVERWFAR, UNDERWEAR,

ANYJ1ME, ANYWHERE

OVERWEAR, UNDERWEAR,

ANYTIME

FINEST

DIVINEST

MOST REVEALING MOST EXPENSIVE

MOST ARRESTING

MOST HEART-STOPPING

HEART-STOPPING

OVERWEAR·

UNDERWEAR

ANYTIME

ANYWHERE

DRESS

HAS AL

WAYS BEEN

I

AM WHAT

I

WEAR

JAM WHAT I

WEAR

JAM WHAT I WEAR

DRESS.HAS

ALWAYS

BEEN

Y STRONGEST SUIT .

Dance

Brettk.

The scene changes toAMNERIS CLOSET. AMNERIS

and WOMEN

prepare to dress

for

the

Banquet.}


21/70

Pa

e

AMNE US (CONT.)

SO B UNG

ME

ALL MY FINEST

MOST AUDACIOUS MY

DNINEST

MOST

REVEALING

MOST EXPENSNEAND TO BOOT

MOST ARRESTING

MOST HEART-STOPPING

MOST FREE FLOWING

MOST

EYE POPPING

DRESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN

MY STRONGEST

SUIT

MY STRONGEST SUIT

YOUKNOWTHAT

AM WHAT

I WEAR


MYSTRONGEST

MYSTRONGEST .

MY STRONGEST

MY

STRONGEST

MY STRONGEST SUIT

MY STRONGEST SUIT

WOMEN

MY FINEST

DN NEST

MOST REvFALING

MOST EXPENSIVE

MOST ARRESTING

MOST FREE FLOWING

MOST EYE POPPING


JAM WHAT I WEAR

IAMWHATIWEAR

IAMWHATIWEAR

DRESS HAS

ALWAYS

BEEN

MY STRONGEST SUIT; ..

MY STRONGEST

MY STRONGEST

MY STRONGEST

SUIT

(Lights

f Uk

out asAMNERISam WOMEN cdt.

The

scmt dmolvcs

the Banqua

Room.)

. .

SCENE 6:

PHARAOH S

PRIVATE

BANQUET

ROOM

T/1mBKOTIC DANCJJRS begin to dance,during the transition.

'MEREIJ:epters

and

immcdiatelj

afar

RADAMES

srarchcs him out.

They

mJSs

the

stage.)

RAD

AMES

Mereb, was the Princess

plcascx

with ygift?


22/70

MEREB

Yes. Aida

managed

to

make

herself indispensable in

record

time.

(Smiks.)

I m

not

surprised.

RADAMES

Stops walking

and aces

MEREB.)

'age 23

id she tell you anything about herself? Because rvc never n1et a woman like her before

And l can't help but wonder

MEREB

No Nothingl

She

said nothing.

Points

offitage.

MEREB

exits quickly fo kwed by

RADAMES.

The

EX011C DANCERS

sweep dcwnstagc in

an


23/70

AMNERIS

Then

again, I m

pretty busy.

The dfince dissolves jnto the

Banquet

scme,

as

the EXOTIC DANCERS

show thtmsdvcs

off

o the rich andpowctfalmen ofEgypt. AIDA is

pouring

wine.

A NUBIAN SERVANT

passes

her.)

NUBIAN SERVANT

Princess,

the

word of

your

arrival has spread

through the Nubian

camps.

DANCER

Your

people cannot w it

to.

sCe you. Welcome welcome.

NUBIA/V SERVANTmoves away

quickfy.

AIDA turns on MEREB

who

is trying

to

laok innoCCflt.)

· ID

Meteb

MERE

Okay,

so

I told one person.

Princess,

your

people

need to

know.

PHARAOH

Captain. To a successful expedition.

Thwb

to the routes

you

have

discovered,

our troop

will now be able

to attack Nubia

with

overwhdming

force.

The

gods

willing, this

long \Wt r

shall

soon end, with Egypt'• complete and linal

victoxy.

Mlibs

well

Amneris shall

r

continue?

Whatever

you tQjnk

is best,

Fath

et.

.AliWElUS

PHARAOH

&.dames. You

came to me this morning with a request

.to

set out on journey. But

· a

more

important mission

for

you; Although it

means

you

Cait never leave Egyptian •o

agaih, I

believe this

will bi:-a joyo.us

assignment.

One I would only

·trust

to a man I have

long

regarded

as a member

of

my owu f.unily.

RAD AMES

It has

been

my

privilege to serVcyoU, Yout Majesty.

PHARAOH

As

you ll

know,

C..ptain Ro.dames and my

have

been

betrothed for.nine years n 'l

Long enough,

I

say.

· · . .


24/70

(Banquetguem laugh. PHARAOH is struck

with

a sudden pain and

pauses to

compose

himself.}

Pa e 5

I wan( to see her and

our

nation

happily

settled

before

I leave this world. TI1ercfore

in

seven days, Ila.dames, sori ofZoscr will wed the Princess Amneris. The son of Isis has

spoken.

(There

is

much applause ndcheering. CO UR TIERS rush forward

to

congratulateAMNERJSand RADAMES. RADAMES

is

in shock;

AMNERIS

is delighted.

Suddenly PHARAOH

starts t cough rtp bwod.

As

he is

hurried

off ccompanied by

AMNERIS, MERES, COURTIERS

and NUBIAN SERVANTS, AIDA and

one

or two NUBIAN

SERVANTS remain. ZOSER turns

to

RADAMES.)

ZOSER,

A toast to the bridegroom. Ifl d known such an awkward

girl

could turn into such a

srunningyoung woman,. would have ol ercd for her myscl£

RAD

AMES

It s not too late.

ZOSER

I thought you loved Amncris?

RAD AMES

Ofcourse I do.

We

grcw·up together.

ZOSER

Then what is it?

(RADAMES cannot

answer.)

.

R.adamcs, I 've spent years working towards

t is

day. And you arc not going t

ruin

i t- for

yourself, or me . . ·

(Pause.) ·

Welcome

to

your

n::W Ufe,

son.

(ZOSJJR exits.)

REF-AVORS

11iE

BRA

l E (REPRISE)

RAD

AMES

(Ckar/y uptet.}

· .

NOTHING IS

AN ACCIDE >lT

WEARE FREE

TO

HAVE

IT

ALL

WEAREWHATWE WANT TO DE

rrs IN

OURSELVES TO RISE OR

FALL

THIS IS

EASY TO

BELIEVE


25/70

No

stay

WHEN DISTANT

PLACES

OILL

TO

ME

rs HARDER FROMTH PAI.ACE

YARD

FORTUNE FAV0RS rHE FREE

AIDA waJches him

from

the shaMws. Whm.RADAMES looks ttp he

spots

her.

AIDA

backs

away.

7be NUBIAN SERVANTS exit

ID

re1nains.

AIDA

Yes, Captain?

RAD AMES

Where

are

you

from

. .

AIDA

Ikaita

••.

it s a village near the Second Cataract.

RAD AMES

Together.)

••• near the Second Cataract. The river s an entlrely diffi:rent cofor there.

AlDA.

No. _ t's an entlrdy dlfferent color here.

.

RA DAMES

F.ir enough.

.

AIDA

My fathervand'1 used to


26/70

Page 7

RAD AMES

But there are no Egyptians.at the First Only these tiny, grassy islands. And

tl1e

sunlight

is

different there. In Egypt

it

is direct, harsh. But there

it

shimmers. It s the

most

beautiful place I ve ever

seen. .

AIDA

Ofcourse.

r s

Nubia. I would like to see that part ofmy country.

ENCH NTMENTP SSJNG THROUGH

RAD AMES

TO SAIL

A

WAY TO

HALF DISCOVERED

PLACES

TO SEE TH

SECRETS SO FEW

EYES HAVE SEEN

TO SEE

MOMENTS OF ENCHANTMENT

ON OUR FACES

THE MOMENTS WHEN

W

SMILE AND THOSE BE1WEEN

AIDA

Are

you talking about Nubia

now?

RADAMES

Yes, a

way

. . AIDA

IF I

COULD

LEAVE

THIS

PLACE

THEN

I D

GO

SAILING

TO CORNERS OF

Y

L ND WHERE.THERE WOULD BE

SWEET SOUTHERN WINDS OF LIBERTI PREY

A1LING

·

TH

BFAUTI.SO MAJESTIC AND SO FREE

RAD AMES

I would take you sailing South. You could be my guide

ftJ

Would you let

me steer?

RAD

AMES

Would you run us

aground?

AlDA

Oh

yes

Wherever there arc no people.

l

d jump out.

of

he boat, kick offmy

sandals

and

run. And there d be no one there

to

scold me and tell me to behave l ike•-

fo behave

Catches henelfJ .


27/70

a

< 8

RADAMES

THERE D

BE

NO TIES OF TIME

AND

SPl\.CE

TO BIND ME

_ AIDA

AND NO HORIZON I COULD NOT PURSUE

RAD

AMES

I D LEAVE THE WORLD S MISFORTUNES FAR

AIDA

I D PUT

MY

FAI11-i AND TRUST IN SOMETHING NEW

RADAMES AIDA

BUT

WHY SHOULD I TELL YOU THIS

AIDA

A STRANGER I VE JOST MIIT

RAD

AMES

A

WOMAN W O I HARDLY KNOW ATALL

AND SHOULD FORGET

.

RADAMES AIDA

AJOURNEY WE CAN ONLY DREAM OF

ENCHANTMENT PASSING

THROUGH

AND How S IT I

SAY

THESE THINGS

SO FASILY TO YOU

RADAMES

• .

This

is meaningless

I ll

never

take you sailing, I m never going to ag.iin.

on

the throne

and

send

other men off

on

their

expeditions,

·

AIDA

You

talk

as though

you ve been

enslaved.

RADAMES

·Notwith

chains,

maybe. Butwith a marriage promise.

AIDA grabs her

shawl

What s ·that


28/70

Pa e 9

AIDA

To dr.y my weeping cyci. Forced to marry a Princess? Oh, what hardships. I know-you

want to go to lands where people have been living for centuries

and

say tha.t you

"discovcredn them. But instead, you're being thrust o.nto the Pharaoh's throne. Ir is a great

tragedy. ·

RAD

AMES

You go too far

AIDA

No You go

too far If

you don t like your fate, change it. You are

your

own master.

There

are no shackles

on

you. So

don t

expect pity

or

understanding from

this

humble palace ·

slave.

(AIDA

stdrl

to leave.)

RAD AMES

Stop. I command you

to

stop

(AIDA

M


29/70

Pa •3

Smiles suddenly.)

Well it

was ;i. magnificent feast, wasn t

it?

ID

Yes Princess.

AMNERIS .

Oh there

is

so much to do get fur the wedding ceremony. the bronzed

e i.

statue

ofme

to tl1e centerpieces

offilics·and

roses

arranged to look

like

... me.

ID

It

must be

difficult.

AMNERIS.

Planning a

weddini;?

ID

No. Being a

princess.

AMNERIS

.

Oh you

have no idea.

The

responsibilities are .. overwhelming.

ID

Your pe,opie.must

expect so

much.

·AMNERIS

heywant

a

goddess

and I mjnst ..

ID ·

Human.

A YSTRONGESTSU T(f/EPRISEJ

AMNEJ.US

IMAYLFAVEAGRFATIMPRESSION

/IS

I

RACE

THOUGH A

SUCCESSION

OF THE LA TEsT CRAZES, CHASE THE

NEWEST

FAD

I

FEEL

BETTER WHEN BEGUIUNG ·

FINDUMTFASI:llONKEEPSMESMILING

Bl}TIN

.lA.THERSAD,

·


30/70

AIDA

THAT A LIFE OF GREAT POTENTIAL

IS

DISMISSED, INCONSEQUENTIAL

•

AMNERIS

AND ONLY EVER SEE \ AS BEING CUTE

SO I LL FLUTTER TO DECEIVE

AIDA

OH NO.

NO, YOU MUST

BEU.EVE

THAT ONE DAY YOU RE BOUND TO FIND

A

STRONGER

SUIT

RADAMESmt= }

AIDA/AMNERIS

AMNERIS

a e3

Radames This

is my

bedchamber. You can t just ..

You

know

you

shouldn t ..

Aida,

leave.

RADAMES

No

stay. Pour the Princess·a cup ofwine.

AMNElUS·.•

Are you trying

to

get me drunk Radames? You knowHs not

nC=s:uy.

--.gf ;t

Is

that

your

bed

in

there?

AMNERIS

Silk covercd and f t with

feathers.

.

P-ADM'rl S

Why don t you

go

in and I ll join you in

a.moment.

AMNERIS

Radames

...

arc

you

sure?

We re going to be married in awcck.

RAD

AMES

Anincris we ve been erig gtd nine rears


31/70

Pagr3

AM NERIS

Good point.

AMNERIS

exits.

RADAMES

turns

to AIDA.

She is intimidated

w exit. R:/JDAMES

blocks

her path, standing too close.)

RADAMES .

You

think

you

can speak to

me

like that, scold

me

like a shrew, then walk away? Yov

that can have

you

carried off to tl1e copper 1nines.

ID

And you

forget

that rm her property now, not yours.

It doesn t matter

(Pause.)

RADAMES

•. :

because

I

know now

that you are right.

What?

AIDA gives him a

look.)

AIDA

I'm

shocked.

Even in enlightened Nubfa, one never heats a man admit he s wtorq

- AMNERIS

. (Of ita?:e.)

Radames,

I m

rCadf.

-

·RADAMES

I ll be right in, Princess.

Aida;

I

was

I

have

been

selfish.

If

does

.

recover, llgypt s going to need a new leader. 'A leader.

A,nd

I don t think tho- -- 5

Amneris

.

··

·

·

Radamcs,

come nd d im y ur

You

should

go

:to

her. ·

AIDA

RAD

AMES

Were you a noblewoman bcfure yi>u

'Were-captured

. . . .


32/70

l age33

ID

What

docs it matter? -TI1cre s nothing noble about me now.

RAD

AMES

You re wrong.

You

arc noble.

A 114

cpurageous. Very

few

of

us dare to speak

so

honestly.

And considering you re a slave...

ID

Hurt.)

Yes,

we

mustn t

ever forget

that I m

a slave.

RAD AMES

Gently.)

I cannot

take back

the past, Aida.

But even ifl

could...

He touches her.)

rm

not

sure

I

want

to.

Aida,

Radames

AMNERIS

RADAMES andAIDA

move

apartjust asAMNERIS entm. She

is

wrapped in a

sheet.)

You batge into my bcdchambers, waging a full frontal attack,

so to

speak

..

and now you re

stalling. Why?

RAD

AMES

I m soriy. l didn t realize .. .

. ·

AMNERIS

.

]:here s • bu91


33/70

ID

Where

MEREB

111e

Nubian camp.

She turnsfrbm him andstarts to walk away.)

Look, everybody

knows

I m the one who can get things. And our people ••.

Sighs.}

They've asked me to bring rhcm .•. you.

ID

Why? So they can see a rcd


34/70

Page35

NEHEBKA

NEHEBKA and other NUBI NS hold a robe

before

AIDA

made

from

scraps o

cloth.)

YOUR ROBE

SHOULD BE

GOLDEN YOUR ROBE

SHOULD

BE

PERFECT

INSTEAD OF THIS RAGGED

CONCOCfION

OF THREAD

BUT M Y YOU BE MOVED BYlTS DESPERATE BFAUTY

TO GIVE US

NEW

LIFE

FOR WE D

RATHER

BE

DEAD

THEN

LIVE IN THE SQUALOR AND SHAME OF THE SL VE

TO

THE DANCE

TO THE

DANCE

NUBIANS

GROUP

1

ID J ID

LLWEASKOFYOU

NUBIANS GROUP 2

LL WEASKISALIFETIMEOF

. NUBIANS

SERVICE, WISDOM, COURAGE

TO ASKMORE WOULD BE

SELFISH

BUT

NOTHING

LESS WILL DO

ID J ID J

(Dance break.)

NUBIANS

ID J ID J

ID J ID J

ID J

.

(AIDA breaks

away

fem MERES and NtlBIANS. MEREB mmcs to

htr

now

holding

the

robe.

AIDA

seizes

the

robe

from

MEREB

and

moves

to NUBIANSJ . ·

AIDA

. I KNOW EXPECTATIONS

RE

WILD ANDAIMOST

BEYONDMYFULFILLMENTBUTTHEYWON THFAR

A WORD OFADOUBT OR SEE SIGNS

OF

WEAKNESS.

MY NIGH ON IMPOSSIBLE DUTY IS CLFAR

IF I CAN REKiNDLE

OUR

ANCESTORS' DRFAMS

IT'S

ENOUGH

IT S

ENOUGH


35/70

Pagc36

AIDA NUBIANS

TS ENOUGH

AIDA

NUBIANS

AIDA AIDA

AIDA AIDA AIDA

AIDA NUB ANS

IT S

ENOUGH

AHAHAHAHAHAH

(As the song ends,

the

NUBIANS gather

round

AIDA. The NUBIAN

WOMEN

exit.

The NUBIAN

MEN

liftAJDA up with

pride

and

parade

her in a royal display before carrying

her

offas

the

scene dissolves to

the Niles' Edge.} .

SCENE

:

THE NILE S EDGE

The great washing d y at the Nile} Edge. Under music, apl J'ade

of

WASHER WOMEN

enw

with baskets

of

aundry

on their heads.

A

ritualUtk rhythm

takes

holdas

the

linens are

soaked,

wrung and beaten

to

dry AIDA enters and oins in

the

work.

RADAMES

enters

with

a

SOLDIER. Astheytalk,AIDAwatcheshimcovrrtly. RADAMES

dimtistes the SOWIER.)

RAD.AMES

(To AIDA.)

Y9u

were

watchingme-again. All week your

o/cs

have beep on -me.

AIDA

I don't know what you

mean.

........

RADAMES

·

Do you think yoti're'going

to

claim

y1>ur

freedom, just because

you've

gained my

You

are beautiful, but I'm not

easilyled.

A1DA.

If

I've looked ln your direction,

it

was only

to

see

i

your

chalice

needed

filling.

RAD

AMES

I

have

no

chalice no".\' and yet

you're looking.

(/JeAt.)

AIDA

xcuse me,

Captain, hut I have linen to

wash.


36/70

f Me

37

AIDA

moves away.

The

WASHJ:.11 WOMENgradually exit during the

scene

st nglj nd

in

pairs.}

I

do not excuse you. Stop there.

AIDA

stops}

You wanted something from me?

RAD AMES

AIDA

RAD AMES

Oh

yes.

She

steps

back

t his insinuaJing tone. He becomes

serious now.)

I want to inake

your life

easier Aida. Tell me ho\v. What

cap

I do for you?

AIDA

Help my people.

RADAMES

I want to help you.

· AIDA

I

am my people. And

I i not

continue to

live

in the comfott

of

the palace while my

countrymen

a:c dying.

You

w nt

my affection, Captain?

RADAMES

I

could have your

"aJ Ccrion"

right here

if

commanded it.

I

want to know

if

you

fi:d

anything for me

- aside from contempt. -

AIDA

j

_ don t know;

Then let s find out.

RADAMES

RADAMES kisses

her.

MEREB-runs onstage.)

.

Afda,

I just

saw-

-MEREB·

MEREB stops short

upon seeing RADAMES andAIDA.

He is shocked.

. •

They

pull

apart,

f, li/ty.)

. Afda, Amneris

requests youi ptesence. . ·

turns.to RADAMES as i xplaining.)


37/70

Prt

e 8

The Princess. Your betrothed.

AIDA

exits.

MEREB and RADAMES remain onstage as the scene

i lltlif/ dissolv >

to the

Martt

durint the followi115 s w}

RAD

AMES

I

ONCE

KNEW

ALL

THE

ANSWERS

I STOOD ON

CERTAIN

GROUND

A PICTURE OF TRUE HAPPINESS

CONFIDENCE

SO EFFORTLESS

NO BRIGHTER

COULD

BE

FOUND

OH NO

RAD

AMES

I NEVERASKED

THE QUESTIONS

THAT

TROUBLE ME TODAY

I

KNEW ALL

THERE WAS TO KNOW

LOVE

WORN

LIGHTLY,

PUT

ON

SHOW

Y

CONQUESTS ON DISPLAY

MEREB

MEREB

I CAN T BELIEVE

HE'S

CHANGING

SCENE1 :MARKETPLACE

MERCHANTS enur hawking their

wares.)

RAD

AMES

MEREB

AND WHO D HAVE THOUGHT THAT OH,

NO

CONFIDENCE COULD DIE?

NOT ME NOT ME NOT ME NOT ME

THAT..ALLrToOKFORGRANTED

WAS

ALIE

NOT ME NOT ME NOT ME

NOT

ME

AND

WHO D

HAVE GUESSED

I D

THROW

MY

WORLD

AWAY

TO BE WITH

SOMEONE I M

AFRAID

WILL

SAY

THIS

CAN NEVER

NOT

ME NOT ME

BE

M >IillB

HE S

IN

LOVE . .

..

BUT

HF,'S

NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO LL BE

CHANGED


38/70

Pa

e 9

(AMNERIS and AIDA

enter

and walk between bhnkets and

stands

/,,oking

at the

displayed

merchandise. AIDA

picks

up a piece ofabric.)

ID

This would be

lovely

on you.

I ll

s r

this

for

you Egyptians: your

thread

count

is

amazing.

AM

NERIS

Why hasn t Ra.dames come to sec

me again?

We re to be married in three

days

and yet

Aida,

I

must make things right

with him.

Aida.

ID

I

SHALL

NOT

ENVY LOVERS

BUT

LONG FOR WHAT THEY

SHARE

AMNERIS

AN EMPTY

ROOM

IS

MERCILESS

oON'T

BE

SURPRISED.

IF I CONFESS

I NEED SOME COMFORT THERE

AMNERIS

AIDA

AND

WHO'D

HAVE

THOUGHTALOVE COULD BE

SO

GOOD?

NOTMENOTME '

AND SHOW ME THINGS I J' J}VERUNDERSTOOD

NOT MENOTME

(Suddenly NEilEBKA

rushes byAIDA, her anm filkd

with .She

hat·a

new

ckJth

thrDWll

wer her shoukkr. It

bi&ws out

behind

her.}

NEHEBKA

where

ru you

g t

that

.

ID

NEHEBKA

fhe Egyptian Captain He's

giving

away everythinght

owns.

And he's givfug ital to

us

(NEHEBKA

rushes

offi

AMNERIS

nd:.1.lDA look

attach

other in

lima.umtnt

as the scene amolves to

JIAtlames'

Tent.)

SCENE

11: RADAMES TENT

.

(NUB ANS and othrr EGYPTIANS

wait hungrily

atJ?at ames'

Tent.

RADAMIJS

appe m

from the

tent

witha

basket

of

ood,

atid a jug

of


39/70

Pa e4

wine. MEREB

appears

with another bas

kt

handing outfruit. During the

song,

RADAMES

with

MERER} help

gives

aWdf

all

hispossessions

tc

NUBIANS and EGYPTIANS. The NUB/ANS and EGYPTIANS

exit

with thdrgifts:)

, AMNERIS

AIDA

WHO'D

HAVE

GUESSED HE'D THROW HIS WORLD

AWAY

TO BE WITH SOMEONE TILL HfS

DYING

DAY

NOT ME NOT ME

RADAMES,

AIDA AMNERIS

A,

JIJUJames Tent disappears.)

AND WHO D HAVE IBOUGHTA

LOVECOULDBESO GOOD

NOT ME

NOT

ME

(MY/HIS) SECRETS

(MY/HIS)

.

PASSIONS

UNDERSTOOD

NOT ME NOT ME

RAD AMES, AIDA AMNERIS

WHO D HAVE-GUESSED

·MEREB

NOT

ME NOT ME

NOTMENOTME

(I'D/HE'D) THROW

(MYIHIS)

WORLD ·

. AWAY . .

.

TO BE

WITH SOMEONE TIL (MY/HIS)

DYING

DAY . . . MEREB

NOTMENOTME

THISCANNEVERBE

MEllElJ exits.)

·

ldNmus

he's pr¢paring to

move

into the Palace. So,

whatever

doubts he had

the

other nig

mmi

be gone.

.

She tu,nu

to

kave.)

But you

stay,

Aida. Aplogizc

fur

me., ,

ID

Oh, no I can't.

. ·.''

. .

·

.

AMN nms

. Youcan. lncverdo,

AIPA

Princess••• please

don't

rnake me.


40/70

AMNEIUS

I would never make

you.

But I ain

asking

you as my friend.

AMNERIS exitsjust as R D MESspotsAIDA.)

·

AIDA

TI1ankyou.

RAD AMES

It was nothing.

Actually,

it was cvetything, but it doesn t matter.

AIDA

Pa

c41

Captain,

came to

tell

you that

the Princess

is sorry about what she said the other night.

And she wants you

to know

that... ·

RAD AMES

Aida.

AIDA

You

are·

betrothed

to

my

misrress

RAD AMES

It

w s arranged by

my

father and it will'be unatrangcd byme.

AIDA

You could raid another countty tomorrow and rebuild your fur-tune.

Radames,

you're an

Egyptian

Nothing w ll

ever

ch nge that fact. I don't

even know

wl\yyou bothered

to

do

this.

. • . .

RADAMES

Don t

you?

EL BOR TE

UVES

.

RADAMES

WEALLLEAD SUCHELABORATELIVES.

WILD AMBITIONS

IN OUR

SIGHTS ..

HOWAN.f>FFAIROFTIIB jFARTSURVIVES

DAYSAPA lTAND HVJµUED NIGHTS

SEEMS QUITE UNBEUEVABLE TO ME

I

DON TWANT fO

UYE

LIKE

THAT

SEEMS

QUITE·UNBELIEVABLE

TO

ME

I DON T WANT TO LOVE LIKE THAT

I JUST WANT QUR TIME TO BE


41/70

SLOWERAND GENTLER WISER. FREE

WE

ALL LIVE IN

EXTRAVAGANT

TIMES

PIAYING GAMEs

WE CAN T

ALL WIN

UNINTENDED.EMOTIONAL

CRIMES

TAKE

SOME OUT

TAKE

OTHERS

JN

I M S TIRED OF ALL WE RE GOING THROUGH

I DON T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THAT

I M SO TIRED OFALL WE RE GOING THROUGH

I DON T WANT TO LOVE LIKE THAT

I JUST WANT T BE WITH

YOU

NOW AND

FOREVER

PEACEFUL TRUE

THIS

MAY

NOT

BE TH

MOMENT TO

TELL

YOU

FACE

T

FACE

BUTICOULDWAITFOREVERFOR.THEPERFECTTIMEANDPLA

(AIDA

wuclu:s.him,

unabk

to

dmy

her

ftdings

a y

kmger.)

AIDA RADAMES

WE ALL LEAD SUCH ELABORATE LIVES

WE DON T KNOW WHOSE WORDSARETRUE

STMNGERS,

LOVERS;

HUSBANDS

WNES

HARD TO

KNOW WHO S LOVING WHQ

AIDA

TOO

MANY CHOICES TEAR US APART

I

DON TWANTTO

LIVE UKE

THAT

RADAMES.

TQO

MANY CHOICES TEAR US APART

rnoN:'l'WANT,TO LOVE EIKl .TitAt

IJUST WANT TO TQllqRYOUR

HEART

MAYTHIS

co ·

RI.DAMES

(/ hey l:iJJ

·

The fights

faik

o.111.

The tiif ts

come

tip

and t

s

some

time

/akr.

RADAMESam/AIDA

are in tac J other} 1111111. ·

Arcyoucoldl

AIDA

could

have

at

lea.st

kept a

bla:nket

or

two.


42/70

RAD AMES

No. I could not. Mari enters this world naked without possessions.

(RA.DAMES

wraps

his ama around her.}

Iwant to be a new

man

for you

Aida Reborn

Cleansed o

my

past sins.

(In the

dmance, mililftrydrums beat.)

ID

What

is

it?

RAD AMES

Pa

c4

My

armies

have·returned Pharaoh will expect roe at the victory celebration. Go back to

the palace You ll be safe there.

(He

starts to go.)

Wait, take my amulet. f nyone bothers you, show them this and they ll let you pass.

(He

kisses

her and turns

to leave.}

·

ID

(Softly,

almost

to

hme/f.}

I love you

RADM1ES

(Turning

back.)

I heard that.

AIDA

covm

her mouth with her

hand.)

Say it again I command you.

(He

tries to

peel

her

fingm fem

her

lips. They re both laughing. Then a

SOLDIER runs on.)

Captain

SOWI R·

(RADAMESputsAJDA

behind him, shieWng

h r

with his body.)

. . .

(To SOLDIER.)

I heard the dtums .

But we ve captured the Nubian KIDj;l

.

Excitd.)

The

king?

You ve rakcn

him alive?

RAD AMES

SO

WI R

RADAMES


43/70

SOLDIER

Yes,

Captain.

_ RAD AMES

Find

out

which

men are responsible for this. I'll see that they receive the highest honol

Tell the others I m on rnyway.

Yes,

Captain.

SOLDIER

RADAMES

watr:hes umil

the

SOLDIER

has kji

then

he

turns

to

AIDA. She has backedawqy from

him,

her

faee

refkrnng her horror.)

RAD

AMES

Aida:, our couqtriCs

arc

at war. I can t

ch nge

that.·

AIDA

But

he's

my; •.

Covering.)

He s

my King

SCENE 12: THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP

(AIDA

pulls awqyfrom RADAMES. e

realizes what done-and

haµs himself

or it

J0DAMES

exits.

A •mJJd ofNUB

TANS itppears

and

eircks AIDA. The light

ChlttlfP

and

'

:·•at the. Nubian

Slave Camp.) '

NEHEl '.A

- y not trucl

MALE NUBIAN

1

I

saw our King,dramcd through the streets

with

my

own

eyes.

'

FEMALE

NUBIAN

ill

I've heard they've

already executed him

. . . . MALE NUBIAN ti2

And

they're can:ying

his

throughout the

city

on the

end of

a

spike.

.

'

.

.

.

AIDA

;No,.

no

MEREB

Amonasro ofNubia

is alive.

I saw

him taken to tb.e

prisOn.

'

.


44/70

PMe 5

NEHEBKA

But t s

only a

matrer of rime

before the

Egyptians

slaughter

him.

MALE

NUBIAN

#1

J

alway; imagined that your &ther march upon Egypt in triumph. But now we have

no hope. When cl e King dies - so does Nubia.

AIDA

No Nubia will never die. \Vb.ether

w

are ensla.ved or w?.ether

w

are fur from

our

native

soil Nubia

lives

in our hearts. And therefore ... it lives.

THE GODS LOV NUBIA

- - · .

AIDA

TAKE

M JNMY DREAMS

RECURRING

CHEERFUL

AS

A CHILDHOOD DANCE

INTO ONE MORE TASTE OF FREEDOM

ONE MORE LONGING

BACKWARD GLANCE

As she sings .. aftw.voicesjoin

hm

.. humming softlyw thesong they all

.know v ry well.) ·

AIDA

IN

TIIB

SWAY

OF SOMBER MUSIC

I SHAl:L NEVER.

NEVER

UNDERSTAND

LET ME

SLIP

INTO TH SWEETER

CHORUS OF THAT OTHER

LAND

TIIB

GODS

LOVE NUBIA

THE

BFAUT Fl}L,

TH GOLDEN

THE RADIAl.jt, THE.FERTILE

THE GENTLllAND THE BLESSED .

THE

PAIN

OF NUBIA

IS ONLY OF Um MOMENT

THE DESOIATE,

TH

SUFFERING

THE PLUNDERED, THE. OPPRESSED

MMMMMM

MMMM¥M

MMMMMM

MMMMMM

NUBIAN

HMM HMM

HMM HMM

HMMI- MM

HMMHMMHMM

HMM HMM

HMM

HMM

HMM HMM

HMM HMM

. . · NE ffiBlqi. .

THE GODS LOVE

NUBIA,

THEIR GLORIOUS CRFATION .

THEIR SONGS ROLL SWEETLY.ACROSS TH HAR: IEST PLAiN .


45/70

Pa e 6

AIDA NEHEBKA

THE TEARS OF NUBIA

HMM

HMM

HMM

NUBIANS

A PASSING ABERRATION.

THEY

WASH

INTO

THE

RIVER

AND

ARE

NEVER

CRIED AGAIN NEVER CRIED

AGAIN

(The other NUB ANS begin to join in... some defamt .. some joyous.

AIDA,

NEHEBKA,

MEREB

NUBIAN

NUBIAN M N

WOMEN

THE GODS

LOVE NUBIA

OOH

WE,HAVETOKEEPBELlEVING OOH

TI-IOUGH SCll.TffiRED AND

DIVIDED

OOH

WEARE

STILL ITS HEART ·OOH OOH OOH

ALL

TIIB

FALL

OF NUBIA

EPHEMER ;LAND FLEETING

TI-IE SPIRIT ALWAYS

BURNING

THOUGH Tl-IE FLESH IS TORN APART

TAKE

MEIN MY

DREAMS

RECURRING

Cf EERFULAS A CHILDHOOD DANCE

INTO ONE MORE TASTE OF FREEDOM

ONE MORE LONGING BACKWARD Gl:ANCE

TI-IE GODS LOVE

NUBIA,

TI-IE

BEAUTIFUL

THE

GOLDEN

·TI-IE RADIANT, THE

FERTILE,

THE GENTLE

AND

TI IE

BLESSED

'fH1l PAIN OF NUBIA.JS ONLY.OF THE MOMENT

TI-IE DESOlATE, THE SUFFERING, THE

P.LUNDERED,

THE

OPPRESSED

TI-IE GODS

LOVE NUBIA, WE

HA.VE TO

KEEP

lEUEVING

I OUGH SCATrER.ED.AND DIVIDED. WEARE STILL ITS iiEAR f

TI-IE FALL OF NUBIA EPHEMERAL AND FLEETING TI-IE

SPii.U'f

. ALWAYS

BURNING THOUGH THE FLESH IS TORN APART

TI-IE

SPIRIT

ALWAYS,BURNING

THOUGH.THE

FLESH

IS

TORN

ID

AfART


46/70

ALL

TAKE ME IN MY DREAMS RECURRING

ONE MORE LONGING

BACKWARD GLANCE

Blackout.)

End

of

Act

ACT2

SCENE1:STARSCAPE

Pa e47

0fDA

R D MES and

AM

NERIS

are

alone

in their thoughts, each in

a

uparateplace.) ·

STEP TOO

FAR . .

AMNERIS

rrs

so

STRANGE

HE DOESN'T SHOW

ME

MORE

AFFECTION TH N

HE

NEEDS

ALMOST FORMAL, TOO RESPECTFUL

NEVERTAKESROMANTICLEADS

T IBREARE TIMES WHEN I IMAGINE

I'M NOTALWAYS ON HIS MIND

HE S NOT THINKINGWHAT I'M THINKING

ALWAYS

HALF

A STEP BEHIND

ALWAYS

HALFA

STEP

BEHIND·

OH, OH; OH, OH

OH, OH, OH, OH

OH, OH, OH,

OH

RADAMES

I'M IN EVERY KIND

OF

TROUBLE

C4N'TYOUTELL?JUSTLOOKATME

HAlJ ECSTATIC, H LF

DEJl'.CI'ED

ALL

INALL

I M

ALL

AT SEA

EASY TERMS I THOUGHT I WANTED

FILLME

NOW

WITH

CHILLlNG

DREAD

YOU

COULD

NEVER

KNOW

THE

CHAOS

OF A LIFE TURNED ON

ITS

HEAD · .

OF A

LIFE

TURNED ON ITS

HEAD

OH, OH,

OH

OH

OH, OH,

OH

OH

RADAMllS &AMNERIS.


47/70

OH,

OH, OH,

OH

OH, OH,

OH, OH, OH

. AIDA

AM

CERTAlNTHATI

LOVE HIM

BUT

A LOVE CllN BE MISPLACED

HAVE I COMPROMISED MY PEOPLE

N

MY

PASSION AND

MY

HASTE

I COULD

BE

HIS LIFE COMPANION

ANYWHERE BUT

WHERE

WEARE

AM I LEADER?

AM

I

TRAITOR?

DID

ITAI


48/70

SCENE 2: THE PRISON

The

lights change

and

the set

tramfonns

to

aprison ce holdiog

AMONASRO AIDA andMEREB re

with GUARD.

MEREB

glances

around

and hands the

GUARD

a sack

of

old.)

MEREB

word wit the prisoner

GUARD

Glanca

around too,

fl1hs

sack.)

Alright, Mereb.

But be quick about it.

GUARD

exits.

AIDA andMEREB enter the

ceU.)

ID

Father?

AMONASRO

Aida?

. .

P e 9

They nnbrace.)

. .

I knew you woul.d survive- that J

fiafoed

my daughter

well. Adeast

I would·not allow

myself

to

believe

anything

else.

ID

H ave they mistreated you?

AMONASRO

No,

I

believe

they

are saving

that part

for my

execution ... three

days from now.

ID

It

won t

come

to

that. We ll get

you

out

of

here.

· .

· .

MEREB

-

In two days, the daughter of the Pharaoh will wed. Mostof the

guards

will be needed to

control the

crowds. ·


49/70

Page5

AMONASRO

And

\vho

s this

)'oung

vfinister o

War?

AIDA

This

is

Mercb.

You

rc1.nerribcr

.. Henu's

boy.

AMONASRO

I-Icnu.

Your father

was a great warrior. He

had

hopes you would grow up to be a

MEREB

Sire. The

chief

jailer

will

attendArnneris' wedding. They've assigned a lowly guard

to

his

place

a man rknow.

AMONASRO

You arc suggtscing you may be able to bcibe this £l dl

MEREB

Let's

just

say,

we ve done basiness

n

the

past.

AIDA

That would take

a

lot -0fgold.

MEREB

I

have

it. For years

fvc

been stealing from

the

palace. I

thought maybe,

someday, I c

use it

to get back

to

Nubia.

ButifI

can send y

Klnghomc

•.

, .

. AMONASRO

W c

will all

be

going home soon, Mcicb. Now, how

arc.

the docks

gup.rded?

.

.

.

MERE

By the

%Ptain's soldiers.

AMONASRO

So the

odds

arc slim. an you use a

sword, boyi

MmIBB

Mc?

Actually

I'm better

at

providing

encouragement from the sidelines

AIDA

A

fight

wi:m t

be

ncoesmy. They'll

let us thtough. .

· AIDA tllk out the amuktRADAMES f tlve her.)

. . . . . . .


50/70

PatTe 5

MEREB

Captain Radames gave you that?

AMONASRO

Who

is

(his Captain?

A 11

Egyptian?-

AIDA

Yes, bur

he s

not like the others

Father.

AMONASRO

lf

leads

Pharaoh s army, but he did not

lay waste

to otir

country

like

the

others?

ID

He

regrets

Ws

past.

AMONASRO

Aida

Do not

shame yourself

and

me

with

such

witless

sentiment.

Do not

tell me tWs

Egyptian

grieves for the Nubian men executed the women ravaged and the children taken

into slaveiy. Any soft look you have given· this Captain any >oft word berrays the innocents

who suffered

at Ws

hands and

at

the hands ofevety soldier

he

commands.

{Beat.

Youwill cut this man from your heart.

ID

Yes, Father.

AMONASRO

I

wotild

not

have thought

it

possible

that

Egyptians eollid give

inc

one more reason

to

hate them ·

The

.lights

fatk. A shaft of ight remains onAIDA.

EASYASUFE

ID

THIS

s

THE

MOMENT

WHEN THE GODS EXPECT

ME

TO

BEG FOR HELP

BUT

WON'T EVEN TRY . .

I WANT NOTHING IN

TllE

WORLD BUT MYSELF

TO

PROTECT ME

AND I WON'T LIE

DOWN,

ROLL OVERAND DIE

MEREB

mui

AMONASRO

exiJ

as

thi:

Prison.

Cell

tlisappi:ars

dissolving

·t a

solitarypW where

AIDA

is k{ia/qne with her thoughts.) ·

ALL

I HAVE

TO

DO IS FORGET

HOW MUCH

I LOVE

HIM


51/70

Pagc5

ALL I HAVE T DO

S

PUT MY LONGING T ONE SIDE

'IBLLMYSELFTHAT

LOVE S AN

EVER-CHANGING SITUATION.

PASSION

WOULD HAVECOOLED

AND

ALL

THE

MAGIC

WOULD

HAVE

DIED

IT S EASY •

IT S EASY

ALL

I

HAVE T

DO

S

PRETEND l

NEVER

KNEW HIM

ON THOSE

VERY

R RE

OCCASIONS

WHEN HE

STEALS

INTO

Y

HEART

BETTERT HAVE LOST HIM WHEN THE TIES WERE BARELY

BINDING

BETrER THE CONTEMPT OF THE fY

IT'S EASYAS LIFE

BUT THEN I

SEE

TIIE.FACES

OFA

WORN,

DEFEATED

PEOPLE

AFATHERANDANATiciNWHO WON T LET A COWARD RUN

IS THIS HOWTIIE GODS REWARD THE FAlTHf-OL THROUGH 'fli E

AGES? . . . . ·. ,

FORCING

US

TO PROVE TIIAT

ALL THE HARDEST

THINGS

WE Vll::

•DONE.:.

REJl SY

Sb

EASY

AND TiiOUGH I'LL THIN. ;:ABOUT HIM TILL THE

EARTH

DRA

wt

lNAROUNDME . .

.AND THOUGH I CHOOSE TO

LEAVE

HIM FORANOTHERKINi>Cl'F

LOVE . . . .

THIS s NO DENL\L,NO llETRAYAL. llUTREDEMPl'ION

REDEEMED lN MY OWN EYHs AND IN IBE l?ANTIIBONABOVE

IT S.EASY . .

IT'S

EASY AS

iJFE


52/70

IT'S

EASY

AS

LIFE

IT'S

EASY AS LIFE

Black

out.)

SCENE : THE W R ROOM OF THE PALACE

Pa e5

ZOSER

is showing

AMNERIS a

giant

map of

he

Nik.

Thete is

large

table

covered with maps and scrolls. A fow MINISTERS arepresent.}

AMNE US

But why

did we

invade Babylon?

ZOSER

Because once w have control of the waterways the rest of the world opens up to us.

AMNERIS

Yes but our Egyptian armies just stormed

in

and sciz.ed

power? liow

oppressive ofus.

ZOSER

Perhaps Princess. But

where

do you think that beautiful necklace came from?

He poinJs

to

her necklace. AMNERIS

laoks

down at then mnovet it,

placing

it on ZOSER} table.)

Suddenly it's not so

RADAMES enters.)

You

summoned me

father?

Princess.

AMNER/S steps into vkw.)

AMNERIS

ZOSER

I've ·been explaining our foreign campaigns to Amneris.

Really?

RADAMES

. .

ZOSER

Yes.

Because

she

wanted

to

know

;what's

bee.Ii

preoccupying you

of

ate.

AMNERIS -

Radames I feel lik we .haven't.had a moment alone since you returned from Nubia.

She

ft/ks

his hand.)


53/70

Pa e5

I m ss you

we

spend this afternoon togecl1er?

RAD

MES

Of

course ofcourse

we

can.

But first, I d

like to have a

word wit

my

father.

(He

knd

h er

fir

the

dcor.

He

motcha

up

a

scroll

from his.father} mble.

Iiere you

can

read

this

while

you wait.

TI1e Campaign at

Kadesh.

•

It

will

give us something to talk about.

I didn t

realize

we were at

a

loss for topics.

(Sighs.)

But

then there's

a

lot

I

haven't

realized.

(AMNERIS exitsJ

'Ibat

was

clever

of

you.

AMNERIS

RAD

AMES

AMNERIS

RAD AMES

ZOSER

I

can't have you

neglecting

the

girl.

Not

after all

the

trou.ble

I've

gone

to.

RAD

AMES

You arranged a marriage;

ZOSER

There ha.Ye been othet arrangements as

wcU

son.

Things

I ve done on your

beha £

RADAMES

I haven't asked you to do anything fur mcl

ZOSER

No you're

right,

you haven't because.you ve been too

busy whiling away

the

slave girL ·

RAD

AMES

Oh, yout

spies

te goOd


54/70

Pa e

ZOSER

Radames, you can have your little diversions, just wait until after you ve wed ·

RAD

AMES

Like

you

did?

ZOSER

Your mother never had any complaints.

RAD

AMES

She never

had

any choice.

ZOSER

Exp/,HUS.)

Don t

you

realize that whore could cost you the

throne

RAD

AMES

I don t care

•bout the

throne, father. Because

fm

not like you. And I never will be.

LIKE FATHER LIKESON

There

ts

an abrupt transttto.n [ the lights ehange. The

War

Room map

and

table disappear.

MINISTERS

ring the

space

surrounding

RADAMES and ZOSER spoiGngfor a

good

fight.

UKE FAIBER,

UKE

SON

UKE

FAWER,

UKE

SON

MINISTERS

ZOSER

DON T COME ON

SO COCKSURE BOY

YOU CAN T ESCAPE YOUR GENES

TI:i.Elm S NO POINT

IN FEELING

PURE BOY

YOUR BACKGROUND INTERVENES

USTEN GOOD AND

LISTEN SI RAIGHT

YOU RE

NOT

THE

MASTER

OF YOUR

FATE

T THIS YOU MUST BE RECONCILED

YOU LL

ALWAYS BE

YOUR

FATHER S HIW

AT TIMES

ACCLAIMED,

AT TIMES REVILED

YOU LL WIND UP DOING JUST WHAT I D HAVE DONE


55/70

Page56

ZOSER

LIKE f-ATHER LIKE

SON

SON

RAD

AMES

DON T

ASSUME YOUR VICES

GET HANDED DOWN

THE

LINE

THAT PARENT'S BLOOD SUFFICES

TO CONDEMN THE CHILD'S DESIGN

I'VE

DONE WRONG

I CAN T DENY

BUT AT

LEAST I KNOW THAT I

SHOULDN T BLAME 11-iAT

ON

MY

STOCK

THIS

MAY

COME

AS

QUITE

SHOCK

BUT I'M NO CHIP OFF ANY BLOCK

RAD

AMES

I

WOULDN T

WISH

THOSE

WORDS

ON

ANYONE

LIKEFATHERLIKESON . SON

ZOSER

SON, YOU'RE NERVOUS, TAKE MY HAND

LL IS SETTLED, ALL IS PLANNED

MINISTERS

MINISTERS

YOU'VE GOTTifE

WORLD

AT YOUR COMMAND

DON T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND

Do you

really

want

to

throw

away

your

IUmrc? All fur some

wretched slave

R DAMES

She

has a

name

v

ZOSER

Frustrated.)

In a few

months,

you

won't

even

be able

to

remember

her

name

RADA¥ES

I

APPRECIATE TOO WELL

THE

SQUALOR

AT WHICH

YOU EXCEL

IT

ISN'T

VERY

HARD TO TELL

EVIL'SADISTINCTIVESMELL

You

can

forget about your

plans,

lather, There will

be

no wcddihgt

.

RADAMES

stotmS

off.

kavi11 ;ZOSER horrifad.) -


56/70

•

ZOSER

HE S LOST ALL SENSE OF REASON

AND

WHY

SOME FOREIGN SLUT

NOT ONLY

IS

THAT TREASON

SOME DOORS JlE SLAMMING SHUT

JUSTLIKEMEHE SFOUNDTHATFLESH

O\ EXCITE BUT WILL ENMESH

ONCE

WE

RID HIM OF THIS BLIGHT

ONCE

THE

HARLOT S OUT

OF SIGHT

THEN I THINK HE LL SEE

THE LIGHT

HE WON T WALK BACK

TO

DADDY

HE

WILL RUN

ZOSER

KE

f


57/70

Page58

OH I

WISH

I COULD TELL

YOU

THIS f


58/70

AIDA

Mereb. I do not ask you to understand. I do

ni >t

understand. I must see im

MEREB

No.

AIDA

But I do. I have to sec

him

MEREB

With the rage

of

he newly converted.}

Pa 59

No

No You cannot give

yourself

to him. The Egyptlans have taken enough from us

already. You are

our Princess, our inspiration, our protnise ofa new day.

AIDA

I m

sotrj

Mercb.

(She runs off. MEREB watches

her

go.)

HOWIKNOl\7YOU l/EPRISEJ

MEREB

THERE IS A TIME. Tri.ERE ISA

PLACE

WHEN LOVE SHOULD CONQUERALL

THE REST OF

LIFE

IS PUSHED ASIDE

· · ASTRUTHANDREASONFALL

BUT ONLY

IF TH T SELFISHNESS

CAN LEAD

TO

SOMETIIING GOOD

I

THOUGHT

I KNEW YOU PRINCESS

BUTI NEVER UNDERSTOOD

IDON TKNOWYOU

I DQN'"t-KNOWYOU

MERBB cdtr as

the lightsfotk out.

The scene changes

to

Radames'

Gartkn akmgtheNikRiver.)

SCENE 5:

RADAMES

GARDEN

(Night. Al

the

lights ctfme up, PADAMES is

d;,covern

walking the Nik,

bereaved.

AIDA

mters. They

stare

at

each other

for

a moment then

embrace

passionauly.)

Aida I thought you were ••

RAD

AMES


59/70

Pan6

AIDA

Thcyaune for me. But they took another. I b :une myself.

RAD AMES

No.

I

put

you in

danger.

But

I

sweat;

it

ll never·

happen

again.·

I'm

calling

off the

wedding. I am going to build you a house on

an

isknd at the

border of

our countries. And

we will

sail

the

Nile.

AIDA

OhRadames-

.

(She

wps

hmdfshort; reali=

thisfoi herflflher}


60/70

ARE WE PAYING

FOR SOME

CRIME?

IS

THAT ALL THAT WEARE GOOD FOR

JUST A STRETCH

OF

MORTAL TIME?

OR

SOME GOD'S

EXPERIMENT

IN

WHICH WE HAVE NO SAY

IN

WHICH WE'RE

GIVEN

PARADISE

BlJT

ONLY FORA DAY

AIDA

Many the Princess, Radames. You can help

my

people. This could be our chance to do

something

imporranc

Oon t you

sec? It 1nay be

the whole reason we

met

RADAMES

111en it would e a cruel trick

AIDA

Not if

the Gods

put

us togethct for some greater purpose.

NOTHING

C N

BE

ALTERED,

THERE IS NOTHING

TO

DECIDE

NO ESCAPE,

NO CHANGE

OF

HEART,

NORANY

PLACE

TO HIDE

RADAMEs

YOU

AREALL I'LL EVER

W NT

BUT THIS I AM DENIED

SOMETIMES IN

Y DARKEST

THOUGHTS I WISH I'D NEVER

LEARNED. .

RADAMES&AIDA

WHAT

IT

IS

TO

BE

IN

LOVE

AND HAVE

THAT LOVE RETURNED

AIDA

IS IT

WRITTEN IN

THE

STARS? .

AREWE l?AYING

FOR SOME

CRIME?

IS THAT

ALL

THAT WE ARE GOOD FOR.

JUST

STRETCH

OF

MORTAL TIME?

·RADAMES·&AIDA

OR SOME GOD'S EXPERIMENT

IN WHICH

WE

HAVE

NO

SAY?

IN WHICH WE'RE GIVEN PARADISE

BUT ONLY

FORAD Y


61/70

Page62

RAD

AMES

I will do what you ask ofme. But you must also do something for me.

o

hi me leave

Egypt

forever.

AlDA

What

are

you saying?

RAD MES

While I am taking

y

wedding vows, there will be a boat waiting fur you

at

the docks to

return you to NUbia At

lea St I

will

have a

measure

of

happiness

knowing you

are free

RAD

AMES

kisses

AIDA one /aJt

time

and leaves. AIDA

looks t J the

sky.•.

knowing

her gods

have

provtlkd

the way.

The irony o

t

nwly

breaks

her

in two. She exits in

the

opposite

dfrection.

AMNERIS emerges

from

the shadows.

She has seen and hMrd evetything.)

IKNOl VTHETRUTH

·

AMNERIS

HOWHAVEICOMETOTHIS?.

HOW

DID I SLIP AND

FALL?

HOWDID ITHROWHALFALIFETIMEAWAY

WITHOUT

ANYTHOUGH .f AT ALL?

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN

MY

TIME.

IT S OVER- T NEVER

BEGAN

I CLOSED MY

EYES

TO

SQ MUCH FOR SO LONG

AND I

NO

LONGER CAN

ITRYTOBLAME

'

0NFORTONE

SOME KIND OF Si11FTINASTAR

mJTIKNOWTHJ .

TRUTHANDITHAUNTSME

IT S

FLoWN

JUST A LITI Lll TOO f AR

I

l


62/70

stands

liftless, stiU

reeling

rom the

shock

ofwhat

she witnessed as

the

HANDMAIDENS dress

Im

AMNERIS

WHY DO I WANT HIM STILL?

WHY

WHEN

THERE S NOTHING THERE?

HOW

TO GO

ON WITH THE

REST OF MY LIFE

TO

PRETEND I

DON'T

CARE

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY TIME

IT S OVER -

IT

NEVER BEGAN .

I CLOSED MY EYES TO SO

MUCH FOR

SO LONG

AND I NO LONGER CAN

I TRY TO BLAME IT ON FORTUNE

SOME KIND OF TWIST IN MYFAT.E

BUT I

KNOW THE TRUTH

AND

IT·HAUNTS ME

I LEARNED

IT

A LITTLE

TOO

LATE

OH

I KNOW

THE

TRUTH AND

IT

MOCKS ME

I KNOW

THE TRUTH

AND.IT SHOCKS ME

I LEARNED

IT

A LITTLETOO

LATE

TOO

LATE

Pa e63

AMNERIS

is now fatly dressed

and stands there a/Qne on

the stage like

a

painud_

iife-si=l doU

The scene

dissowq a haU in

the

Palac/Me iJt

AMNERIS

siM

He

fqpks

as

numb

andduty boun4

The

PHARAOH, sicker than

ever,

PHARAOH

.

k witnessed by the Gods and all

ofEgypt,

I pronounce you man and wife. May your

lives

· e 61led furcvcr with thejoy

of

his moment. · ·

.

RADAMES

moves to

liftAMNERIS veil A

GUARD

nt n mddmly.)

GUARD l

Your Majesiy, the Nubian King has

escaped


63/70

Pa c6

PHARAOH

Radamcs, call your inen to

arms.

RAD AMES

Fan out across the city

ZOSER

TI1c fastest route to Nubia is by water Send a regiment to search tl1e docks

RAD AMES

Remembers

AIDA.)

No Seal off the docks

ZOSER

RADAMES

o

one must reach

the pic;r before

I arrive there

Chaos ensues. PHARAOH, AMNERIS and LADIES OF THE

PALACE

exit.

RADAMES andZOSER exit

together with

the

GUARD.

The

dissipation of he

wedding

e


64/70

Patre65

MON SRO

Daughter

(She leaves

the

boat and

runs to

llADAMES.)

RAD

MES

f

course, you're the Nubian

Princess.

And you had me marry

A.mneris

just so your king

could escape

What

a fuol I am t was all a lie n ace Evety word Evety kiss

AIDA

No But I have made too many mist.akcs and

too

many people have suffered. I could

not

act

selfishly now

RAD

AMES

So

you lied to me?

AIDA

Not when I said I love you Say you believe me

She's.alive?

Stop

there

Aida,

come

As RADAMES struggles

to

find the answer. ZOSER

and

a

GUARD

appear on the rise.)

ZOSER

To the GUARD.)

(MERED rushes forward.

He

stands in font ofZOSER. brandishing a

nwrd.)

MER EB

(MEREB and

GUARD

fight

MEREB

c«tsdown

GUARD.)

AMONASRO

RAD

AMES

Aida, get in the boat This is your last chance.

NotwithoutMereb

AIDA

· · · ZOSER

ci

out

ofmy way, boy.

• ·

· . ZOSER pulls h1inwr and euts

MEREB

down

' fter

a brief ight.)


65/70

Page66

Mereb

AIDA

(AIDA puUs

awayfrom

liADAMES and

runs to

MEREB. RAI>AMES

take,

MEREB ;f ' "ord and lifo t

high above the rope

that

secures the

boat.)

. ·

ZOSER

Radamcs

For

die love

of

Egypt

stop them

RAD

AMES

brings bis sword down on the

rope...

severing

it.)

Nooooo

AMONASRO

Aida

(The boatwithAMONASRO

is swept

away

... )

ZOSER

Radames

What have you donel

RADAMES

It s

all over,

Father. When they come fur

me,

they ll take

you away

too.

ZOS R

No - that can t happen- Egypt needs m ·

RADAMES

You're the one who tied our fates together. Like father; like son. I think you should

run.

(ZOSER exitsJ .

AIDA

Radam


66/70

lovers

as the scene changes to the judgment all with a

throne

for

PHARAOH and

next

to it a

smaller throne

for AMNERJS.)

SCENE : THE JUDGEMENT

H LL

(AMNERIS

enters-and

approathes

RADAMES and AIDA

as

the

GUARDS

puU them

apart.

shackling

their

hand, and fiet. AIDA is

dragged to

one

side, leaving RADAMES andAMNERJS together.)

RADAMES

\mneris. I never meant to hunyou.

(Suddenly drums

sound

announcing

PHARAOH'S

arrival

PHARAOH. MINISTERS, COURTIERS and SOLDIERS begin

to

j k on

upstage.

AMNERIS

is

panicked.)

AMNERIS

Radames, ifyou deny everything there is a chance.

My

father might spare your life. Listen

to me, they want to bury you alive.

RAD AMES

Yes That s What we do to traitors.

AMNERIS

You must say that cvc;:iyonc is

wrong and

RADAMES

No,

I

eao t. Aida is everything

I

thought

I

was meant.to be. But her

nd

her love .

fur her people have putme to shame. Eve }' a«t ofmy

lifu

has been wrong, except for this.

AMNERIS

Did you ever love me

ot

all?

R DAMES

Amneris.

(He touthes her

cheek

gently.)

I ve

loved

you all my

life.

(The GUARD

Jrau

RADAMES away. pushing him to one

side.

A

GUARD forces AIDA to her

knees. Angrily.

AMNER S cal .t to him.)

Take your hands offhcrl

AMNERIS

After . (AMNER S crosses to.AIDA.)

. all, she

s

a

ps;incC.s.


67/70

Page68

(The

GUARD

baeks away, leavingAIDA standing.)

ID

Amncrls d1erc

were

s

n:any I

wanted

to

tell you evcrycltlng.

Documents

AIDA Script Large