THE DOCKS Lyrics

The scene has now changed to the docks in Egypt, where RADAMES' soldiers are
unloading the ship and securing the slaves. A MERCHANT enters, carrying gold.
MEREB, RADAMES' young servant, enters after MERCHANT, carrying a few casks
of wine.

MERCHANT
Mereb, Mereb...Is that the wine?

MEREB
You have the gold?

(They exchange gold and wine. The MERCHANT runs off. RADAMES comes down the
platform and onto the docks.)

RADAMES
Mereb!

MEREB
(He stuffs the bag of gold down his shirt, then turns.)
Master, I am so glad you've returned.

RADAMES
(Descending gangplank.)
Have you kept my house in order?

MEREB
Yes, well except for a few casks of wine, which have mysteriously disappeared.

RADAMES
Again?

(ZOSER and his MINISTERS enter from SR to RADAMES and MEREB.)

ZOSER
Here you are my son, home at last! Step aside Mereb!

MEREB
(He bows to ZOSER)
Yes, oh Chief Minister Zoser... loved by the Gods, the people and himself.

ZOSER
Careful boy or I'll have you...

RADAMES
(He embraces ZOSER.)
It's good to see you father.

ZOSER
You were gone for so long Radames, I was beginning to worry. You weren't
injured in battle?

RADAMES
No.

ZOSER
I kept telling the princess that no man could best you with a sword.

RADAMES
No man got the better of me. Though a certain woman might have...

ZOSER
Really?

RADAMES
Listen, beyond the fifth cataract the Nile heads directly toward Khartoum.

ZOSER
Then we can attack the city by water? Excellent! You recorded the landscape?

RADAMES
With the maps we made, an illiterate foot soldier could find his way
through Nubia.

ZOSER
And you brought us captives. Good. Take them to the copper mines. We can't
seem to keep them alive down there.

(ZOSER motions the GUARDS forward)

RADAMES
Stop! Not this one.
(He takes AIDA from the GUARD.)
I need a gift for the princess.

ZOSER
Yes. She'll be expecting something.

RHADAMES
Take the others to the Palace Groundskeeper. They can help with the harvest.
(To ZOSER.)
They're all women. They wouldn't last a day underground.

ZOSER
As you wish. They're your slaves.

(RADAMES turns AIDA to face him.)

AIDA
Thank you.

RADAMES
Give me your hands, Aida.

MEREB
Your name is Aida?

RADAMES
Mereb.
(To Aida, taking her chains off.)
I'm going to remove these. But know that if you dare try to escape, I will
come after you myself.

AIDA
You flatter me, Captain. You don't look like a man who would chase after any
woman.

RADAMES
I'll make an exception for you.
(To Mereb.)
Mereb, take her to Princess Amneris with my compliments.

(AIDA and MEREB exit.)

ZOSER
You've been gone six months. I really think a personal appearance is in order.

RADAMES
In good time, father. Though you and the Princess should know that as soon as
my crew is rested, I am setting out again.

ZOSER
You can't. Radames, Egypt needs you now. Pharaoh is not the powerful leader
he was when you left.