ELABORATE LIVES We all lead such elaborate lives
wild ambitions in our sights
How an affair of the heart survives
days apart and hurried nights
Seems quite unbelievable to me
I don't want to live like that
seems quite unbelievable to me
I don't want to love like that
I just want our time to be
slower and gentler, wiser, free

We all live in extravagant times
playing games we can't all win
Unintended emotional crimes
Take some out, take others in

I'm so tired of all were going through
I don't want to live like that
I'm so tired of all were going through
I don't want to love like that
I just want to be with you
Now and forever , peaceful, true
This may not be the moment
to tell you face to face
But I could wait forever
for the perfect time and place

AIDA & RADAMES
We all lead such elaborate lives
We don't know whose words are true
Strangers, lovers, husbands, wives
Hard to know who's loving who

AIDA
Too many choices tear us apart
I don't want to live like that

RADAMES
Too many choices tear us apart
I don't want to love like that
I just want to touch your heart
May this confession

RADAMES & AIDA
Be the start

(They kiss. The lights fade out. When the lights come up they are in each
other's arms.)

RADAMES
Are you cold?

AIDA
You could have at least kept a blanket.

RADAMES
No. I could not. Man enters this world naked, without possessions. I want to
be a new man for you, Aida. Cleansed of my past sins.

(Drums sound from offstage.)

AIDA
What is it?

RADAMES
My armies have returned. Pharaoh will expect a victory celebration. Go back
to the palace. You'll be safe there.
(He gets up and puts his shirt back on. He begins to walk away and then
turns back.)
Wait, take my amulet. If anyone stops you, show them this and they'll let
you pass.

(He starts to leave again.)

AIDA
I love you.

RADAMES
I heard that. Say it again. I command you. I command...

(SOLDIER enters.)

SOLDIER
Captain!

(AIDA turns her face away from the SOLDIER.)

RADAMES
I heard the drums.

SOLDIER
But we have captured the Nubian King!

RADAMES
The king? You have taken him alive? Find out which men are responsible for
this. I'll see they receive the highest honors. Tell the others I'm on my way.

SOLDIER
Yes, Captain.

RADAMES
(He sees AIDA is upset by the news.)
Aida, our countries are at war. I can't change that.

AIDA
But he's my...He's my king.

(AIDA begins to cry as RADAMES exits.)

ACT ONE
Scene Twelve
THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP

She leaves him. RADAMES realizes what he's done - and hates himself for it.
A crowd of Nubians appear and circle AIDA. The light changes and we are at
the Nubian Slave Camp.

NEHEBKA
Princess - say it's not true!

MALE NUBIAN #1
I saw our king dragged through the streets with my own eyes.

FEMALE NUBIAN #1
I heard they've already executed him.

MALE NUBIAN #2
And they are carrying his head through the street on the end of a spike.

AIDA
No, No!

MEREB
Amonasro of Nubia is alive. I saw him taken to the prison.

NEHEBKA
But it's only a matter of time before the Egyptians slaughter him.

MALE NUBIAN #1
I always imagined that your father would march upon Egypt in triumph. But now
we have no hope. When the king dies - so does Nubia.

AIDA
Nubia will never die! Whether we are enslaved or whether we are far from our
native soil, Nubia lives in our hearts. And therefore, it lives.