THE PRISON Lyrics

The lights change and the set transforms to a prison cell. AIDA and MEREB
are with a GUARD. MEREB glances around and hands the GUARD a sack of gold.

MEREB
A word with the prisoner.

GUARD
Alright, Mereb. But be quick about it.

(Guard exits. AIDA and MEREB enter the cell.)

AIDA
Father?

AMONASRO
Aida? I knew you would survive. That I trained my daughter well. At least,
I would not allow myself to believe anything else.

AIDA
Have they mistreated you?

AMONASRO
No, I believe they are saving that part for my execution... Three days from
now.

AIDA
It won't come to that. We'll get you out of here.

MEREB
In two days, the daughter of the Pharaoh will wed. Most of the guards will be
needed to control the crowds

AMONASRO
And who is this young Minister of War?

AIDA
This is Mereb. You remember... Henu's boy.

AMONASRO
Henu. Your father was a great warrior. He had hopes you would grow up to be a
scholar.

MEREB
Sire. The chief jailor will attend Amneris' wedding. They've assigned a lowly
guard to take his place - a man I know.

AMONASRO
You are suggesting you may be able to bribe this guard?

MEREB
Let's just say, we've done business in the past.

AIDA
That would take a lot of gold

MEREB
I have it. For years I've been stealing from the palace. I thought maybe,
someday, I could use it to get back to Nubia. But if I can send my King
home...

AMONASRO
We will all be going home soon, Mereb. Now, how are the docks guarded?

MEREB
By the Captain's soldiers.

AMONASRO
So the odds are slim. Can you use a sword, boy?

MEREB
Me? Actually I'm better at providing encouragement from the sidelines.

AIDA
A fight won't be necessary. They'll let us through.

(Aida takes out the amulet RADAMES gave her. MEREB gasps.)

MEREB
Captain Radames gave you that?

AMONASRO
Who is this Captain? An Egyptian?

AIDA
Yes, but he's not like the others, father.

AMONASRO
He leads Pharaoh's army, and he did not lay waste to our country like the
others?

AIDA
He regrets his past.

AMONASRO
Aida! Do not shame yourself and me with such witless sentiment. Do not tell
me this Egyptian grieves for the Nubian men executed, the women ravaged,
and the children taken into slavery. Any soft look you have given this
Captain, any soft word, betrays the innocents who suffered at his hands and
at the hands of every soldier he commands. You will cut this man from your
heart.

AIDA
Yes, Father

AMONASRO
I would not have thought it possible that these Egyptians could give me one
more reason to hate them.