horror, Aida, while serving the banquet, discovers that all of the Nubian slaves have heard of her arrival into Egypt. The Pharaoh, enters the banquet to announce that Ramades will never leave the soil of Egypt again, because in seven days, he will be wed to Princess Amneris. At the end of his announcement, the Pharaoh begins to cough up blood (Zoser’s poison is beginning to take effect), which quickly causes the banquet to disband. Zoser, giddy with the progress of his plan, questions Radames about his apparent unhappiness with the announcement of the Pharaoh. Radames explains that what he loves most is journeying to new places and that his marriage to Amneris will end his journeying forever. After his father leaves, Radames, in a tender moment of unspoken love, calls Aida from the shadows and they discuss the joy they both find in making new discoveries. s Aida tends to Amneris in her dressing room, the two women discuss the demands of being a princess. Amneris is surprised to find how much her new slave understands of her plight as princess. They are interrupted by Radames who suggests that Amneris meet him in her bedchambers. After Amneris leaves to prepare for a night with her fiancé, Radames reveals that he wanted Amneris out of the way so that he could question Aida about her past, in private. Just before Radames can confess his love to Aida, a furious Amneris (who has been waiting on her bed) enters and orders him to have a map made of her body so that he will “be more inclined to explore.” Mereb tries to convince Aida to claim her role as Princess and go to the Nubian slaves to give them hope. Aida accepts her place as the leader of her people despite her own self-doubt, Radames discovers Aida at the Nile’s edge washing linen. He offers to make her life easier by elevating her position at the palace. Staying true to her people, Aida refuses his offer, stating that she “can not continue to live in the comfort of the palace while my countrymen are dying.” Aida’s words have truly moved Radames; in fact, her love of her people has changed his values forever. Radames confesses his love for Aida to Mereb, while a confused Amneris sees this change in Radames as his deepening affection for her. Amneris, overwhelmed by the change in Radames, asks Aida to speak to Radames for her. Aida is to apologise for Amneris’ bad behavior in her bedchamber on the previous night. Aida tries to carry out the wishes of Amneris, denying her own feelings for Radames, but he interrupts Aida and confesses his love for her. War drums interrupt their embrace and a soldier enters to tell Radames that the Nubian King has been captured. His excitement about this development in the war against her country horrifies Aida, who cannot tell Radames that the King is her father. As the news of the King’s capture spreads through the Nubian slave camp, Aida leads her people from despair by reminding them that the gods love Nubia. Amneris wonders why Radames will not show her the attention she deserves; Radames confesses that his love for Aida could end his life as he now knows it; and Aida contemplates her love for Radames verses her love for her people. Mereb bribes a prison guard so that Aida can spend some time with her recently captured father, King Amonasro. As the three create a plan to allow King Amonasro to escape from jail, they realise that the docks are heavily guarded by Radames’ soldiers. Aida tells Mereb and King Amonasro that the soldiers will let them pass without a fight if she shows them the amulet that Radames gave her. When she reveals the amulet to Mereb and King Amonasro, she also reveals her true feelings for Radames. The King is outraged King. Aida explains that changing her feelings for Radames is impossible. Zoser, knowing how unhappy Amneris is with the way she has been treated by Radames, shows Amneris a giant map of the Nile, explaining the many conquests of the Egyptian army, and material gains, that have caused Radames to neglect her. Radames enters and asks Amneris to leave him alone with his father, which she regretfully does seeing this moment as yet another rejection. Zoser challenges Radames by telling him that he knows of his feelings for Aida, but that he must wait until after his wedding to have his little diversions. Radames admits that he cares nothing for the throne because he is not like the power-hungry Zoser. The argument between Zoser and Radames comes to a climax. Radames rejects all ideas of the throne and of marrying Amneris causing Zoser and his ministers to plan Aida’s death to rid him of any distraction. Aida receives a letter from Radames, in which he apologises for his behaviour and confesses his love. Mereb and the Nubians come to wish Aida well on her escape, planned for the following day, as guards storm the encampment searching for Aida. Before Aida can speak, Nehebka tells the guards that she is Aida and they
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