SIDE 1

KASSIM

So, what did you steal this time?

ALADDIN

Steal? I don't know what you're talking about, Kassim.

BABKAK

Come on, Aladdin. You've taught us every swindle we know.

OMAR

Babkak's right. You're the best thief this side of the River Jordan.

ALADDIN

That's all behind me now, Omar. I promised my parents before they died that I'd never steal again.

KASSIM

(pulls a loaf of bread of out ALADDIN's satchel)

So what's this?

ALADDIN

(grabs the bread back)

Food doesn't count. A guy's gotta eat.

OMAR

Maybe we should all clean up our act. Every time I pick a picket, I feel awful.

BABKAK

Falafel? Did somebody say falafel?

KASSIM

The way I see it, we're just stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. It just so happens that we're the poor.

ALADDIN

I don't know, Kassim. When people see me, I don't want the first thing they think to be "thief."

KASSIM

People don't think that.


RAZOUL

Thief!


KASSIM

Of course, I could be wrong. Time to run!

 

SIDE 2

JASMINE

Do you think we lost them?


ALADDIN

Don’t worry, they’ll never find us up here. So... where you from?

JASMINE

I thought you had me all figured out.

ALADDIN

Well ... you’re definitely not a local girl ... which means you must be on the run from something.

JASMINE

My father.

ALADDIN

Running away from home?

JASMINE

Running away from life. He’s trying to force me to marry against my will.

ALADDIN

That’s terrible. You should be free to make your own choices, right?

JASMINE

Right.

(looks around, shocked by the poverty)

Do you live here?

ALADDIN

Oh, I know it’s not much to look at. But how about the view? Look how beautiful the palace is.

JASMINE

(deadpan)

Spectacular.

ALADDIN

Not impressed?

JASMINE

It’s beautiful, but why should some people get to live in such splendor, when others...

(looks around again)

... don’t? That’s not fair.

ALADDIN

Welcome to my life!

(looks out at the palace)

I wonder what it would be like to live there, to have servants and valets... and a bed.

JASMINE

And people who keep you locked behind walls and then tell you what to do and who to love.

ALADDIN

It’s better than here. Always scraping for food and dodging the guards.

JASMINE

You’re not free to make your own choices.

ALADDIN

Sometimes you feel so...

JASMINE

You’re just...

ALADDIN, JASMINE

Trapped.

(ALADDIN and JASMINE smile as they look out toward the horizon.)

ALADDIN

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to take off and never look back?

JASMINE

Only every hour of every day.

 

SIDE 3

GENIE

Hello everybody! Did ya miss me?

ALADDIN

I think I might be hallucinating...

GENIE

Hallucinating? Impossible! I may be dreamy, but I’m no hallucination.

ALADDIN

Who are you?


GENIE

Who am I? Who am I? Isn’t it obvious? The Genie is here!

ALADDIN

So you’re from inside the lamp?

GENIE

No, I’m from Cleveland. Of course I’m from inside the lamp! And you are the master of said lamp, so you get three wishes!

ALADDIN

You’re gonna give me three wishes?

GENIE

And I thought the echo in the lamp was bad! Try to keep up, kid! I got a production number to get to!

ALADDIN

You mean ... I can wish for anything I want?

GENIE

That’s right! But ixnay on wishing for more wishes. You got a name, kid?

ALADDIN

Aladdin.

GENIE

Mind if I call you Al... Al? Why don’t you just ruminate whilst I illuminate the poss-o- bilities!