Part 87 (1/2)
_Curtain._
ACT III
SCENE 1
[This scene (suggested by a friend) was entirely cut before rehearsals began.]
_Zira's house. Same scene as Act I, Scene 3. Small courtyard.
The sun has just set. It is dusk.
The gate is opened from the street.
Old Woman I (Narjis) enters, locks the gate, and lights a lamp.
Knocking at the gate.
Old Woman I opens the gate.
The two porters bring in the chair.
Hajji gets out, bent double, and trembling.
He pays the porters: they withdraw.
The Old Woman says: ”Who are you?”_
_Hajji._ Hajji throws back the shawl.
He reveals himself, asks for food and his daughter.
_Old Woman I._ ”Hajji!”
Hajji explains that he must escape: Leave the city at once.
Too long to explain.
He can never come to Bagdad again.
Old Woman to bring his daughter at once, Old Woman says she has just taken daughter to Executioner's house.
Hajji: ”I said not before sundown”
”It is sundown.”
Hajji curses Old Woman.
Says that it is her fault that he took his daughter to Executioner.
”My fault?” says she.
”Yes! You urged me on.
You agreed with me.
If I have lost her, you are to blame.
But I can't lose her.
I must risk everything.
I must get her out of his clutches.”
Where did Old Woman leave her?
With princ.i.p.al wife.
An idea!
He had appointment with wife in bath at moon rise-- He will go.
If it costs him his life, he must try to get his daughter.
He goes to door; as he does so, there is knocking at door from without.
They have found him.
What shall he do?
Old Woman opens lattice in Courtyard.