Alibaba

Scene I

Song

Marjina: Abdallah, Abdallah

Song

Abdallah: Oh, it is Begam Marjina?

Marjina: Making fun of me? You think I cant become a ‘Begam?’

Abdallah: Listen, Bandi, oh sorry Bibi! Bibi!

Marjina: You may joke but ‘Begam’ I shall be, by whatever means possible.

(Sakina Enters. Abdallah Exits.)

Sakina: Marjina, where are you?

Marjina: Yes, Bibi Sahiba.

Sakina: Go and ask Ali’s wife to come over here.

Kasem: Sakina, why are you so close to Ali’s wife?

Sakina: Why not? After all, Alibaba is your brother- isn’t he?

Kasem: How can that be? Don’t you know I am a Prince and Ali, only a wood-cutter. There just can’t be
anything between us.

Sakina: But, I buy wood from Ali’s wife and it is much cheaper than the market place. You think I’m that
kind of woman who would befriend a woodcutter’s wife without having a secret motive. With a little bit
of trickery and sweet talk, I can get so much from her.

Kasem: Really? I can hardly hold back my laughter.

(Kasem Exits. Fatima Enters.)

Fatima: Where are you Sakina didi?

Song

Sakina: Yes sister, today you have to give me 5 kilos of wood. How much will it cost?
Fatima: What should I charge you didi? I would have given it to you for free but it’s just that we are so
poor.

Sakina: Oh no no, everything should be fair. I don’t want you or Ali to feel pressurized or anything. Ok
so, I’ll tell you what, in the market you get 5 kilos with 1 rupee, what you can do is give me 5 and a half
kilos.

Fatima: As you wish!

Sakina: And listen, give me some extra as well.

Fatima: Yes, didi.

Sakina: Have the money ready Marjina. Make sure it is weighed properly.

Marjina: Yes, Bibi Sahiba.

Fatima: Well didi, I shall leave now.

Curtain
 Scene 2

Ali: So, Fatima Bibi, how was the business today?

Fatima: Today, it was 5 kilos.

Marjina: And an extra kilo and a sackful of barks.

Ali: And the price?

Fatima: 1 rupee and six paise

Ali: Oh dear! 7 kilos of wood sold for only 1 rupee and 6 paise! I must leave now, Fatima.

Fatima: Where will you go at this odd hour without having dinner?

Ali: The way you are doing business, it seems I will have to spend my entire life in the woods.

Marjina: You know Fatima Bibi, being Sakima Bibi’s maid I can’t say anything to her, but neither can I
bear seeing someone being cheated.

Abdallah: Oh Begam Sahiba! You are wanted by the master.

Song

Curtain
 Scene 3

Ali: Oh Alla! Do I have to go on cutting wood all my life?

(Sound)

What’s that noise? Oh! A group of people on horse back. Hope they are not bandits! Let me take cover.

First Bandit: Sardar, do we continue? Let us stop this business of robbery.

Sardar: Are you afraid?

First Bandit: No, not afraid! If we spend all our lives just gathering, when are we going to enjoy it?

Sardar: (Laugh) You fool! Are we gathering this wealth to enjoy it? We are the treasurers of God’s
treasury. Who knows from when this vast wealth has been gathered in this cave? Who knows who will
enjoy this?

Open Sesame

(Sound- Cave Opening)

Ali: I will enjoy this wealth. I am tired of cutting and carrying the wood. Kasem and I are born of the
same mother- but Kasem is a Prince and me, I am a wood-cutter. Oh God! Wouldn’t you turn my sack of
wood to a sack of Gold? I am now…

Sardar: Close Sesame

(Sound- Cave closing)

Let’s go towards Hirat today.

Song

Ali: I don’t think they will be back soon. It will soon be dark. Let me try my luck.

Open Sesame

(Sound- Cave Opening)

Yeha Alla!

Screen drops
 Scene 4

Fatima: Well, it is already dusk! Ali has not returned yet. Oh God! What has happened to him. What
shall I do? Why sis I send him to the forest?

Ali: Fatima, Fatima-

Fatima: So you have returned! Where did you go today looking for wood? What’s that? What have you
brought hiding?

Ali: Be quite, Calm down!

Fatima: Why? Why should I be quiet?

Ali: Hush! It isn’t wood, they are gold coins!

Fatima: Gold coins? What? Gold coins for us? Have you taken up robbery? Oh God! What has come over
us?

Ali: Oh no,no! be quiet, it is God’s grace. I went to the forest looking for wood and lo! I came across
these coins.

Fatima: What are you talking about? Gold coins? Oh dear!

Ali: Hush, hush!

Song

Fatima: Well Ali! How many coins have you brought?

Ali: Look at her! Could I possibly count all these coins? You better go to Kasem’s house and fetch a
weighing scale. We have to weigh these coins. Go!

Fatima: Alright, alright. I am going.

Kasem: Get on with your dancing and singing.

Maids- Song

Sakina: Abdalla! Where is your Kasem Sahib?

Kasem: Here I am Bibijan!

Sakina: Where are you? I can’t see you very well. Are you really Kasem?

Kasem: What is the matter bibijan?

Sakina: The matter is serious! Look what is stuck at the bottom of this scale.

Kasem: Good heavens! It is a gold coin. A coin from the royal period. Where did you get it.

Sakina: Fatima came for the weighing scale and I put some glue at the bottom of the scale- you see!

Kasem: The wood-cutter Ali has become so rich that he needs a weighing scale to measure his coins?

Sakina: Imagine that! Oh God! I can’t bear it.

Screen drops
 Scene Six

Fatima: Alibaba!

Ali: Yes, Fatima!

Fatima: Darling, would you please buy me a maid? A good maid like Marjina?

Ali: Patience, patience! If we start living like… ‘prince’ peop—

Fatima: Darling! What should we eat from now on?

Ali: Why darling? Pilau, Kalia, Puri, Grapes, Raisins, nuts and Pistas---

(Knock)

Who is it, oh! It is you, Kasem! What brings you here so late?

Kasem: Tell me what is the matter? Where did you get this coin?

Ali: Co-in?

Kasem: So you don’t know? Either you tell me immediately where you got this gold coin from or else I’ll
call the police.

Ali: Well, I am not afraid of that. But you are my brother, if you want to know, I can tell you.

Kasem: Well, well! Brother Ali, my dear brother Ali- tell me brother, tell me.

Ali: But before I do, promise me on thing. You will sell your maid Marjina to me.
 Scene Seven

Kasem: Open Sesame

Of course, I will remember it- how could I possibly forget. Open… oh, what a word they invented. Even
after repetitions, I have forgotten it. Oh! Here is the tree by the side of that hill. There it is- this is the
door of the cave. Open Sesame!

(Sound of Cave Opening)

Yeah Alla! What on earth is this? What is that my goodness, who am I?

All these are mine- all this wealth is mine. The servants and maids are mine. I shall do what I may please.
There will be a fountain of joy around me! (Laugh)

What should I do now? Should I this or perhaps that. These diamonds or some precious stones or some
gold coins. I shall take all of these things, leave nothing behind. Well, for the time being, let me take one
sackful of diamonds, rubies and emeralds and three sacks full of gold coins. And then I will return
whenever I wish to fetch more.

(Background Music)

Oh my God! How do I open the door now? Yes, that’s it “Open apple, open pears” No it is not opening.
Who is out there- my dear brother, please open the door.

Open grapes, open pistas. Oh God open, open, open.

Sardar: Open Sesame

(Sound of Cave Opening)

Kasem: Who is it- Ali?

Who are you people?

Sardar: Don’t you recognize me- your godfather!

Screen drops
 Scene 8

Sakina: Marjina, Marjina!

Marjina: Yes, Bibi Saheba?

Sakina: The afternoon has passed, the evening is over and the night has fallen. When will he be back,
Marjina?

Marjina: He will be back Bibi Saheba. Please do not worry.

Song

Ali: Sakina Bibi!

Sakina: Oh, Brother Ali! My dear Kasem has not returned yet! What shall I do?

Ali: Please calm down. I am going out to find him. Do not cry- that will make it worse.

(Everybody goes out)

(Marjina comes back and is pensive)

Abdalla: Hey, what are you thinking so deeply, Marjina?

Marjina: Have a guess!

Abdalla: You are thinking only if I get a handsome man like Abdalla I shall marry him.

Marjina: (Laugh) You were nearly there but not quite. I am thinking when Abdalla dies who will bury
him?

Abdalla: Why? It will be ofcourse.

Marjina: That’s what you think!

(Ali calls- Abdalla, Abdalla)

Abdalla: Just now Ali Saheb has returned from the forest; with the dead body of Kasem Saheb- a dead
body in four pieces.

Marjina: Wh—a—t?

Abdalla: Be quiet! Listen we have a dead body cut into pieces. We have to find a way to put them
together before burying.

(After thinking a while).

(Both exit)

Stage Dark

Mustafa: God please let me have 10 paise, 5 for wine, one for olives and 4 for eggs.

Marjina: Baba Mustafa!

Mustafa: What is it Bibi Saheba?

Marjina: May I sit down here for a while?

Mustafa: But Bibi Saheba, this is a cobbler shop.

Marjina: May I lie down here for a while?

Mustafa: Hey, What are you doing Bibi Saheba?

Marjina: Baba Mustafa! Are you a pir? Can you stitch a torn body and bring it back to life?

Mustafa: No! Not Quite! But I can stitch the pieces back into perfect body.

Marjina: You can? Then here is the advance. Come with me.

Mustafa: Yeah Alla- a gold coin!

Marjina: Come on- what are you waiting for? Mind you, I shall take you there blind folded.

Mustafa: Please—‘shahjadi’—I’ll be in dead trouble, I am a poor man.

Marjina: Don’t be afraid, Baba Mustafa! Let’s go now.

Song
 Ninth Scene

Sardar: Open Sesame.

(Sound of Cave)

Bandit: Sardar, the dead body is missing.

Sardar: What? We have been so cautious still someone has fooled us. Listen, we shall have to find the
thief. There seems to be no way out. Who amongst you will go?

Bandit: I will go, Sardar.

Sardar: Make sure you get him or else you will be beheaded.

Bandit: Yes, Sardar.

(Everyone Exits)
 Tenth Scene

Bandit: Are you going the right way, Baba Mustafa.

Mustafa: Yes, yes you follow me.

Bandit: Baba Mustafa, you are so careful even then you got carried away by the sweet talk of a young
woman. Was she very beautiful?

Mustafa: Oh no, not me, I am just an old man with poor eyesight. Anyway, you do deserve credit for
finding me.

Bandit: Otherwise, I would have lost my life. But, how far is it?

Mustafa: Wait, wait. This seems to be the place where we stopped. See if there is a house in front of us.

Bandit: Bravo, Baba Mustafa. Indeed you have made it. Open your blind fold, here, take some tips.

Mustafa: Adab, Adab!

Bandit: Oh dear, all the houses look alike. How would I recognize the house next time. Well, let me mark
it on the door. Now let’s call the Sardar.

(Sound-music)

Marjina: What is it- why this mark on our door! Strange indeed. Is this done by a mischievous character?
Let me mark all the houses same, so that it…
 Eleventh Scene

(Kitchen)

Marjina: Damn it, of all the dishes Bibi Saheba wishes to have fried overgins! But we have run out of
cooking oil. Abdalla, go and buy some oil.

Abdalla: Look, this merchant is carrying dozens of oil barrels. Why don’t you get some fresh oil from
there?

Marjina: Not a bad idea! Let us see which of these barrels is full.

Abdalla: (Toc Toc)

(Background Music)

Bandit: Sardar is that you? Has the moment arrived?

Abdalla: Not yet.

Marjina: Now I understand, this is definitely the same gang of bandits who killed Kasem Saheb. They
have to pay for it. Abdalla! Go and buy plenty of oil from the market.

(Sound)

(Abdalla exits and comes back)

Abdalla: I have bought the oil, Marjina.

Marjina: Let’s go and boil it. When it is ready you will open the top of each barrel and I will pour some
hot oil.

…
 Twelfth Scene

(The living room of Alibaba)

Ali: Good heavens! It is already so late. Why didn’t anyone wake me up?

Abdalla: Please come in sir! (Aiye Janab)

Darbesh: Adab! I am darbesh a simple Fakir. Would you let me spend the night at your place?

Ali: I am blessed by the arrival of a darbesh. Please take some rest- let me arrange for your dinner.

(Calls Marjina by gesture)

Darbar: But I have a vow- I do not take salt.

(Exits)

Marjina: That’s strange. Darbesh does not take salt. Is he really a Darbesh or is he our old enemy in
disguise.

Abdalla: Marjina! There will be songs and dances tonight. Mia Saheb has asked for your dance.

Marjina: Alright, Alright. But let me have your dagger please.

Abdalla: Here it is!

Marjina: Allah, please help me some more!

(Stage dark)

(Ali, Darbesh, Abdalla and others seated)

(Dance music)

(Marjina dances and then stabs Darbesh)

Darbesh: Ah—aa----a…

Ali: What have you done Marjina? You stabbed a Fakir Darbesh?

Marjina: Sir, he was really the Bandit Sardar. Sardar forgive me. You didn’t take salt here because you
planned to kill Ali Saheb. But I have taken his salt, so, I had to save him.

Darbesh: You are right, Marjina. Ali Saheb, I came here to kill you. You are fortunate that you had
Marjina: nobody else could have saved you. Marjina, all my wealth in the cave is yours now!

Abdalla: Sardar, so you have given her everything but what is the secret for entering the cave?

Sardar: Open Sesame!

Screen Drops