Script

SIDE 1

SULTAN

This is preposterous! Clearly I’ve spoiled the girl. Well, all that’s going to change. From now on, I intend to reign over her with an iron fist!

(JASMINE enters.)

JASMINE

Father?

SULTAN

(instantly doting)

Yes, pumpkin?

(catches himself)

What did you say to that poor prince?

JASMINE

I told him the truth: that if he marries me, he’ll get an equal partner with an equal say. Why do I even have to marry at all? What’s wrong with a woman running the kingdom?

SULTAN

Jasmine, you’re a princess. The law states that you must marry a prince by the next moon. We must uphold the ancient ways, dearest.

JASMINE

If I have to marry someone I don’t love, then maybe I don’t want to be a princess anymore.

SULTAN

It’s not just the law. I won’t be around forever, and I want to make sure you’re taken care of.

JASMINE

I can take care of myself, thank you!

(JASMINE exits.)

SULTAN

(flustered, following JASMINE

Jasmine, if you don’t choose a husband tomorrow, I will choose one for you!

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.