"The time is 2,500 years ago." "The place is Persia." "The man is Ahasuerus, King of the Medes and the Persians," "Ruler of 127 provinces, the most powerful man on earth." "The army of the conqueror of all the lands from India" "To Ethiopia." "They are returning home now from fresh victories in Egypt." "Women camp over there by the water." "Then only two more marches to Shushan." "Shall I send a messenger to herald my king's arrival?" "Perhaps not." "It would give disloyalty time to put on its mask." "However, I already know someone who wears the mask." "Send your messenger." "Well, Simon, my loyal Judean, you no longer" "Need that rusty sword of bronze." "I don't understand, sire." "It served me well." "More important, it served me well, for in your hands," "It saved my life." "Still, it isn't worthy of you." "A sword of the golden rooster." "Persia's greatest military." "You're free to go home now, Simon." "And when you're rested, there'll be a place for you in my honor" "Guard at the palace at Shushan." "Aye?" "A royal guard to the king of the world." "My betrothed won't believe this could happen to me." "Who?" "A girl of my village." "We shall be married before I go to Shushan." "A gift for the bride." "And may the gods make her fertile." "May my god bless you, sire." "Take him to his house." "It is against the will of Haman," "The king's chief minister." "He demands an example to all who can not pay their taxes." "Haman's will offends the will of God." "You heard the executioner." "10 of us will die if we remove him." "Yes, I heard them, Nathan." "Would you rather live in fear for the rest of your life," "Or cut him down and take him home?" "Esther." "Hi." "Oh." "There will be no more hanging now that the king is back." "He is a just king." "He has given me honors and called" "Me to serve him at the palace." "Simon, you say this king is just." "But he goes off to fight the Egyptians" "And leaves his army to fight his people." "Does the hunting lion know what the cubs" "Are doing while he's away?" "The lion is the evil one." "If we could only go to our real home in Judah." "The King of Persia rules Judah too." "You call your Judah your homeland," "Yet you've never even seen it." "We were born in Persia." "Our home is where we live." "We worship our own God." "But Ahasuerus is our king." "You must admit he's generous." "This is his gift for you." "So he bought your devotion with gifts, this beautiful thing." "While our people are starving and men hang," "He gives you this from his bloodstained hand." "Oh, forgive me, Simon." "I've dreamed of the day that you would return," "But the dream wasn't like this." "Oh, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "The king approaches with his army!" "The king's messenger!" "Open the gate." "The king approaches Shushan." "The king." "The king, Queen Vashti." "But not until tomorrow." "I have followed his progress." "He is 10 leagues from Shushan." "The army is not even in sight yet." "Time is still with us." "No, Haman." "Your time has ended." "Ha, my time?" "Our time, if that saves your pride." "You know, you might be throwing" "Away the next king of Persia." "I'm well aware of your ambitions, Haman." "Then why be so final, my dear?" "Ahasuerus has no eyes in the back of his head." "And a secret alliance with me would be quite useful to you." "As well as to your own future, my dear Vashti." "Well, no one can say that the king's chief minister did not" "Serve him well during his absence," "Both politically and domestically." "I trust you, Prince Haman." "If I fall, you will lose your head too." "Ah, but what of your other lovers?" "My queen's diversions have caused much gossip." "But who will stand forth to testify?" "Their bloody heads would hang from the royal gates." "No, when I hold the king in my arm's" "Again, then who will he believe?" "Hm?" "I agree, Vashti." "The goddess of nature was especially generous to you." "And the royal purple is most becoming." "So wear it while you may." "Queens come and go." "Do your ambitions stem from the dreams" "That, uh, Eastern potion brings to you, my dear Haman." "Take care it does not loosen your tongue." "Great lord of Media and Persia." "Shaker of the Earth, master of the world," "Sovereign of Assyria and Babylon and Egypt," "Conqueror of Southern Asia and all the lands across the sea." "Your last statement is false." "I have not been able to conquer Greece." "I thought it only a matter of time, my lord." "Enough, enough." "Save that eulogy for my tomb." "I shall do so, sire." "So you plan to outlive me." "My master knows I would give my life for him." "I wonder." "And you, my general Klydrathes, what" "Is the condition of your army which remained in Persia?" "Splendid, Master." "Splendid." "Where is, uh, Lord Mordecai?" "Sire, he is the one councilor whose" "Cooperation I have not had." "It appears he pays reverence to no one" "But his invisible Hebrew god." "Mordecai." "Welcome, sire." "Welcome back to Shushan." "I see my king is well." "Not even a slight wound?" "No, Mordecai, not even a scratch, thanks to your friend" "Simon, who saved me from being ridden" "Down and speared like a wild animal." "I am rewarding him with honors." "My strong Simon." "I too am rewarding him by giving him my niece in marriage." "You are a man of warmth, Mordecai." "That is why I was surprised to note" "Your absence at my welcoming." "I thought it better to pray for my king's safe homecoming" "Than to hail him." "This unseen god of yours is strange to me," "But he does seem to get things done." "His works are sure." "And I have faith that you will be his instrument for stopping" "The cruelties of Prince Haman." "I shall examine the administration of Haman." "I have no fondness for the man, but he is a politic necessity..." "Efficient, though overzealous." "But let us speak of something more cheerful..." "Queen Vashti." "I trust she has not pined for me too much." "Her beauty is undiminished." "And her behavior?" "Still gaily spirited?" "Mordecai, I have called you the eye of the king, my keeper" "Of the accounts, my all-knowing minister." "So what have you to tell me?" "Nothing, sire." "My vision does not penetrate into the harem" "Of the queen's apartment." "My king, my beloved husband, how long I've waited." "Adulteress." "What?" "Have you gone mad?" "No, I have my senses, or I'd kill you." "You shamed this palace with your corruption." "Someone has filled your head with lies." "Truth, not lies." "The soldiers of my replacements told" "Me, men who fought and died, they had no reason to lie." "Who shares your guilt, Vashti." "Name them." "Name them, I command you." "There are no names." "There is no guilt." "Well, whoever it was, it's best I do not know." "My pride would fall with their public punishment." "Therefore, I condemn you in private." "No." "You will be forever dead to me." "Oh no, Ahasuerus, I pray you believe me." "I would rather die a real death than lose you." "Now send for your lovers, harlot." "Samuel." "Oh, Simon." "Aha." "Maybe we'd better hasten the wedding." "I've waited for him since I was a little girl." "I can certainly wait a few more days." "That would give her time to be sure that she loves me." "Yes, it's for a lifetime." "And she's only had 10 years to decide." "It's my great worry that she's never considered any other man," "For how can love untested ever be sure?" "Oh, yes, yes." "That's true." "I haven't ever looked at anybody else." "Maybe I should have done." "Simon." "Oh." "Simon." "Oh, Mordecai." "Our great soldier." "The image of a David." "The image of a good husband for your Esther, I hope." "Mm." "We didn't expect you so soon." "I know." "And I'm afraid the business of the king" "Will keep you from your wedding." "Oh, no." "I will explain all later." "So I made the journey today to bring you this" "Gift for your house and Simon's." "May I open it now?" "Simon, look, a mezuzah." "Thank you, Uncle." "Our thoughts will always be with you, Mordecai," "While this was mezuzah protects our home." "Yes, and I hope that you'll protect him" "While he serves at that palace of wickedness." "Nothing can convince her that our king is not a man of evil." "He's a good man at heart, or at least he was." "Was?" "Has anything happened to him?" "Yes, something has changed him..." "A disillusionment, a despair." "That is why I cannot attend your wedding." "It is imperative that I remain at the palace." "There are those who would take advantage of the king's" "Despair to further their own ends." "If they succeed, it may mean the end of every Judean settlement" "In Persia." "The king is an unhappy man." "In all his majesty, I think he would actually envy you." "Who is the one who wails like a she wolf baying at the moon?" "Probably a." "No, no." "She is the woman of the keeper of the wild animals." "What courtier decided to bore me with this sorry spectacle?" "Your chief eunuch, Hegai." "I'm going to the feast." "Prepare me." "Hurry, hurry!" "Hooray!" "Our king." "Hooray!" "For your good health, sire." "Our noble Judean seems to have no liking" "For my king's enjoyment." "By your leave, sire, we have much work to do." "I have here the figures you require" "On our military strength." "You seem inspired after your long journey into the country." "Indeed, I believe that even a king" "Could benefit from such a journey." "Here in Shushan, one is apt to forget that there are people" "Without these frenzied aspirations, people that have" "Their days of peace, serenity, and laughter" "In spite of oppression and cruelty." "Uh, who are these people you speak of?" "Oh, some of your Hebrew aliens." "Of Israel's religion, yes, but not alien." "We are loyal subjects of the king." "And now, with his permission, I shall" "Withdraw to attend to his affairs." "Tell me, Mordecai, are we well-prepared" "For an expedition against the Greeks?" "The home army of General" "Has a total of 400,000 men on foot" "And 60,000 mounted soldiers." "Good." "Now I will stem the ambitions of that young Macedonian upstart." "What's his name?" "Alexander." "That's it." "I'll cut him off in his youth and annihilate his armies." "I dream of the day, sire, when there will be an end to war." "I have been your councilor and councilor" "To your father Darius." "I have seen death and destruction." "I thought, how splendid it will be if all this waste of wealth" "Could be turned building instead of destroying... the building" "Of aqueducts, the irrigation of the desert," "The creation of worth and beauty." "The Jew speaks of peace." "Why do Jews always mouth of peace?" "Perhaps because war has forever driven us, dispersed us," "Made of us a people lost, seeking" "Always for some have of peace." "Even at war, Persia has done well enough for you." "Yes, she has been more than kind to a people who spurn her gods," "Who gather in their private worshipping of a god" "Who shows no signs of existence." "Stronger and wiser men than you have felt the power of my god..." "The pharoah of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon." "Beware, Haman, do not tempt him." "Let him defend you if I decide to cut your hear out." "He will, Haman." "He will." "Don't you ever draw a blade in my council chamber," "Or I will kill you myself." "Mordecai, transcribe this and place it" "In the vaults as our secret strategy against Greece." "And mind you, I shall hold you entirely" "Responsible as its custodian." "We shall strike against the Greek coastal fortress" "At Athos." "It is the key." "From Athos, we can cleave their lines from either side." "We shall pour men and provisions into the fort from our province" "Of Scythia, where the might of our forces will be based." "That is the plan." "You remember, it must be kept a secret at all costs." "A shame." "Oh!" "The laws of Persia clearly state the punishment" "For a queen who shames the throne." "That are two alternatives..." "Death or banishment." "Banish her." "This very night, my lord." "I shall return her to her tribe of Aryas." "And also as your first minister, I" "Shall fulfill my duty by providing you with a new queen." "That is not your lawful privilege, Haman." "You question my knowledgeable of the law of the Achaemenids?" "No, but I question your purpose for distorting it." "But it is written, "By the lawgivers of the great Cyrus"," "Any king of Media and Persia without a mail heir" ""Shall not be without a queen. "" "You quote correctly, but not enough." "It is also written, "The king's men shall search the provinces"" "That they may gather together all" "The fairest young virgins unto Shushan Palace." "And that maiden which most pleases the king" ""Shall become queen of him who rules. "" "Does that make it plain that she is not" "To be of your special choosing?" "Quite so." "Dear Mordecai, I thank you for saving me from error." "The dead hand of the dynasty trying" "To thrust on me some unknown female." "I can only execute the provisions of the law, sire." "So by your leave." "This, um, happiness you say you found on your journey" "Into the countryside, that would be my true desire." "Mighty power is a burden." "I know but one way to lighten it." "What is your way?" "By lessening the burdens of others, one removes his own." "The joy you would travel to seek could" "Thus be found in yourself." "And in time, perhaps, uh, you will find it." "Gisko." "Go quickly to the house of my beloved Keresh." "Tell her to come to me at once." "Yes, Master." "You mind if I drink some of your Syrian wine?" "There is another matter even more important." "It has to do with Queen Vashti." "Yes, Master." "Our poor king." "In his sorry state of mind," "He'll not be in any hurry to inspect" "His treasury at Persepolis." "Sometimes I feel you overdo your plunder there." "I could say the same about the abundance" "Of army secrets you sell to the Greeks." "But then I think how my store of gold grows in Corinth," "And I attempt to be cheerful." "There is no prospect for danger so long" "As we let the king continue to live." "There are more discreet places than Shushan" "For what you have in mind." "In time, you will find such place." "And I shall rule Persia as the ally of Alexander." "But until then, we're playing this game" "On the edge of a precipice." "Not at all." "In the event any guile comes to the king's attention," "I have found the perfect scapegoat." "Who?" "Mordecai and his whole colony of Judeans in Persia." "Ah!" "Oh!" "Here is the war secret which the king entrusted" "To Mordecai's safekeeping, his plan for a surprise attack" "On the Greeks." "I copied it from memory in Greek, and added in Hebrew" "An appropriately traitorous message." "My brilliant Haman." "You will keep these tables in your possession" "Until suspicion threatens us." "Then I'll tell you how to turn them to our use." "Keresh." "My master summoned me." "Come here, my dear." "Behold the future Queen of Persia." "You make sport of me." "A bride of the king must be a maiden." "I never heard of one who had been a concubine." "But you will, Klydrathes." "You will." "This will be history, for if the perfume of a rose is pleasing," "Nobody's going to ask who crushed the petals." "Your only love is danger, Haman," "And you caught it with the passion of a madman." "My timid general, here is the royal command for you." "Carry out the law of the gathering of the virgins." "You need not be too demanding of beauty or perfection," "Because the one who will wear the diadem" "Is already as good as crowned." "Get the one in the wedding gown." "The one in the wedding gown!" "Samuel, fetch my golden sword from the house." "They won't defy a symbol of the king." "What are you doing?" "Leave her alone." "Oh, let me go." "Let me go!" "Simon!" "Let go!" "Simon!" "For her sake and yours, don't!" "Don't let them take you." "Run!" "Did you see him try to murder me?" "Find him!" "Bring him to me alive!" "Sack this village." "Flog every man, woman, and child." "And let it be done to all the Hebrew settlements." "There are some here that seem a bit too worldly for maidens." "There are a few prime maidens here" "Who might attract the fancy of our monarch." "He isn't quite himself these days." "And it is my duty to decide what is best for him." "Naturally, Prince Haman." "So you will remove the one who plays with the water." "That one, with the fair skin Circassian." "And the one who sits in the corner." "Your guard may have them, heh." "And after that, you can send them" "To the soldiers at the garrison." "It is dangerous, Prince Haman." "Hegai the eunuch is a sharp guardian." "Yes, but you must have some guards" "Whose lives you would not mind risking." "Yes." "I have three new recruits not worth their salt." "Ha, strangers to the palace." "All the better." "Assign them." "Dangle the reward of women and disclaim them" "As lustful beacons if they're caught." "Only the ten most beautiful will" "Be sent to the king for the final choosing." "So tomorrow, I will judge you." "Oh, dear God of Israel, someone in Shushan" "Is Mordecai, who has been like a father to me." "Please let him know what's happened to me." "Please let him know soon." "Oh, please." "Esther?" "And I told you, they're taking of her was only" "The beginning of many horrors for our people." "From that one spot, Holocaust." "Ah, I must find some way to stop it." "But first, Esther." "Simon believed that your influence with the king" "Would free her." "No, he has become indifferent to everything" "But his own bitterness." "Haman, the chief minister, that prince of festering corruption," "Is to all intents and purposes our ruler." "Then I must carry the word to Simon that there is no hope." "There's always hope." "Give me time, time to seek God's counsel." "Where is Simon hiding?" "In the ancient ruins of the City of the Dead." "Go to him." "Tell him I shall come to him." "That's the way!" "Put him down." "Roll him." "Tyriak, you're the mightiest of us all." "Twirl him on your shoulders and flatten him." "That'll teach him not to withhold" "His strength when he vies with the king." "The old days, they were the best... those wild, hard days," "The scorching deserts, the raging storms at sea." "We conquered the enemies of Persia, my brave immortals." "A king with the Earth for his footstool." "And yet his only happiness is here with us." "Stop!" "Ah!" "If the king were only such a man." "He's not only brave, but pleasing to the eye." "You'll surely die if you try to escape." "There'll be soldiers behind him." "Uncle Mordecai!" "Where's Simon?" "Where is he?" "Take me to him." "Please, please take me to him." "I can't, Esther." "He fought the king's general, and now" "They hunt him like an animal." "At the village they looted and scourged." "They did likewise to every Judean settlement" "In their path." "They hung Emmanuel the Blacksmith." "They drove the women and children into the wilderness." "Our people are now scattered to the winds." "Oh, forgive me." "I was only thinking of myself, but I'm nothing." "Ah, but you are something, Esther." "You are something indeed that Jehovah may have selected" "As a means for saving our people." "It is a wondrous thing how gentleness can break the swords" "Of evil, so let it be your gentleness, Esther." "Your beauty of face and soul, let" "It sway Ahasuerus to stamp out the wickedness" "That springs from this palace." "You're asking me to strive for his favor?" "Yes, forgetting Simon, forgetting" "Your own small dreams, forgetting all this" "But the deliverance of our people." "I want the life they took away from me." "I want Simon!" "Simon is a soldier." "He turned aside from war." "This is your war, Esther." "A softer war fought with gentler weapons," "But nonetheless hazardous, for there" "Are dangers in the venture." "You too would be a soldier." "Perhaps Simon would see that with a soldier's pride." "He would despise me." "Then his love would not be worthy" "If he places it above the fate of so many others." "But I love him, Uncle." "Oh, how can you ask me to leave him forever?" "If I'm chosen by the king, it'll be a." "I can't use any persuasion." "No, it will be as yourself." "But I must warn you, do not make known" "Your people or your kindred." "Never forget that we are in the camp of many enemies." "Oh." "Guide me." "Kneel." "Bow, slowly." "Raise your head." "And await the king's decision." "Now we will proceed." "Kneel." "Bow." "Slowly, slowly." "Now, uh, raise your heads slowly." "Arise." "A plain white gown..." "Such simplicity." "Was it your choice?" "Yes." "Indeed one might think you have no desire" "To win a queen's crown." "A most becoming modesty." "It pleases me... an unassuming virtue that needs rewarding." "Fetch me the cloak of gold." "You may rest, my little doves." "I am grateful, but I don't wish to be so favored." "I will accept it." "Oh yes, yes." "Give it to her." "Speak only when you're spoken to." "Take care, eunuch." "I have mighty friends." "In the brothels of the street of the soldiers, no doubt." "Here, my child." "I ask you to wear it." "Please." "You viper." "I saw you." "I heard you." "Your poisoned tongue endangers me." "Forgive me, Master." "But I fear the attractions of the one" "With the golden cape, more than all the others." "She'll not be in the way if you will do as I bid you." "Yes?" "The maidens must pass through the harem's antechamber" "Tonight to be presented at the throne." "There is a small door of the slaves in there." "Draw the bolt." "How?" "It's like a prison here." "Ah, it is the hour of rest." "Even Hegai will go to his quarters." "Go, go now." "Gisko, you see the maid with the golden cape?" "Remember, remember well the one with the cape of gold." "This will be a blow to my prestige," "But let us have it done with." "You, go forth." "Vanity!" "That cloak won't hide your wickedness." "Do not grieve that you've lost the splendor" "Of the golden robe." "Nothing can prevail against the king's" "Mistrust of female ambition." "What a squandering of beauty." "The fairest from all the provinces, and now they" "Will be sent home to milk goats." "Home?" "Where else?" "You are children of the kingdom, not captive concubines." "So it becomes merely a matter of paying." "Go, my sweet, and fair well." "You may go." "Wait." "That face of light I remember." "The man who fought the guards." "You can't be the king." "I sometimes wish I weren't." "What are you called?" "Esther." "And you had been crying." "I remember." "Tell me about it." "Your soldiers had just take me from the man" "I was about to marry." "Well, there is the law." "And I too am it's servant, even though I dislike it at times." "You are hoping that I would let you go, were you not?" "No, no." "Not if this is..." "Your destiny?" "Well, it seems we are both bound," "I by the commandments of my grandfather," "And you by some fate." "I was determined to flaunt the sacred law" "But declaring every aspirant unfit." "But now I honestly cannot, Esther, and be a good king." "I can't deny that in my eyes, you" "Have filled they decree of Cyrus." "I choose you, Esther, but I do not command you." "I ask you to remain here for a while." "Let time be the king." "Let it command your heart to go or to stay." "Attend her, Hegai, as if she already wore the crown." "My queen to be." "May I ask which fortunate maiden my lord has chosen?" "A girl named Esther." "Idiot." "Idiot!" "Monster of civility." "Esther." "I've just left the king." "And he smiles again, often and readily." "Indeed, each passing day seems another proof" "That you were a godsend to that troubled man." "But I worry about your safety, Esther." "The king is not a patient man." "He is attracted not only by your beauty," "But by your integrity and sense of justice..." "The qualities that still bind you to Simon." "Yet I fear that same conscience of yours" "May in time destroy his patience and perhaps" "Turn him against you." "I'm in no danger, Uncle Mordecai." "So far, he's shown nothing but kindness to me." "You do not know him as I do." "His violence can be great." "You see him as a man among men." "You do not see him as I do, through a woman's eyes." "Oh, surely such a quick defense could" "Only spring from affection." "I can't deny that I am attracted to him by some power" "That I don't understand." "I've tried to believe that it's simply power of admiration." "But then do you think that it was only admiration that I felt" "For Simon all these years, just..." "Just the hero worship of a child?" "He said once that my love for him" "Had never been tested by any other man." "Please, go to him, Uncle Mordecai." "Take him whatever he needs." "I go now, dearest." "Simon!" "Simon!" "Simon!" "It's Mordecai!" "Mordecai." "Simon, my poor boy." "Provisions." "I will see that you're kept supplied" "Until the men of Klydrathes abandon the hunt." "The hunt will never end." "Why do you say that?" "Because I shan't rest until I take Esther out of bondage." "She is not enslaved." "The king himself is her protector." "Then he prepares her to be his concubine." "His queen." "Hear me, Simon." "I've spoken with Esther and I've seen what I believe" "To be the dawning of a sincere, affection in her for the king," "An affection which I don't deny I urged," "Because I could foresee in it the answer that" "May lead to the salvation of our people." "Not only now, but for the ages to come." "So you would sacrifice her like a lamb" "Upon the altar for posterity." "What if the king learns of this?" "What then would be her punishment?" "No, no." "You can't do this." "I won't let you do it." "No, oh, please." "Take them away." "Please leave me alone." "Wait, I'm..." "I'm sorry." "You need not be." "I'm only slave." "I'm a slave too." "I don't mean to be unkind, but it's just that" "I'm..." "I'm trouble about by this life." "And by memories of another life." "How dare you come into my room?" "Ah, what a rude greeting for the chief minister." "I am here, officially, my dear, to bring the king's word" "That he will visit you at the 10 hour." "But, uh, there is still time for us to know one another." "You must be mad." "This can destroy you." "And Ahasuerus also if you force me to tell him that you often" "Invite me to share your lonely evening hours." "You're such a liar." "He'd never believe you." "You're no match for me in this game, Esther." "Mine is a life of hazard, so please." "Do not aggravate me." "Our king is happy with his faith in you." "Let us keep him so." "Well, then, get out." "Get out of here, or I'll call the guards." "You won't." "Because I would tell Ahasuerus that it" "Was his loyal Haman who summoned the witnesses." "No, we must be reasonable, my dear." "We must face the fact that we require each other," "You and I. You wouldn't." "You would plunge us all into destruction." "Not the king if I can help it." "But you, Haman, I'll find a way to destroy you." "And I you, Esther." "The golden sword." "The king has summoned me." "I hope he will not going be in a dark mood when he receives." "The moods of the great one are milk and honey" "Now that he has a new favorite." "Follow the upper corridor." "It'll lead you direct to his audience room." "The king has urgent dispatches for me" "To deliver to the province of Galan." "Have a chariot at my disposal in case I'm charged with it." "A brave lion, the symbol of Persia." "Oh, I hope he's a tame one." "Your gentleness will conquer him." "Oh." "I fear I could never imitate a." "My hand was fashioned for the sword" "And not the strings of a lyre." "And this feet were not made to prance to music." "They're uncommonly large, don't you think?" "I used to think that they'd be cloven," "Like the hooves of Satan." "There are those who still think I'm akin to the devil." "I trampled hard on some who dared to defy the empire." "Yes, you have." "And on many innocent people too, because" "Of the authority that you give to Haman." "Oh, I've tightened the reins on him," "Thanks to your constant mentioning of his wrongdoing." "But I sometimes wonder, Esther, what are you?" "My mentor, the keeper of my good behavior," "Or a woman who might someday return" "The warmth I have for her." "Oh, but there is much warmth in my feeling for you as a man." "Then at least I've gained the outer parts," "Though you guard the inner with more tenacity than the Greeks." "See, all the village girls for a king" "Is not easily cast aside." "Don't think of me as a king in a palace," "But as a man who loves you, who loves you very much." "Esther." "What are you thinking?" "When I was first taken from my village," "I hated you with all my heart." "But now that I've seen you as you really are," "I find the hatred leaving me and different feelings taking" "Its place, feelings that, well, that... that could be love." "My couriers are here from Nubia and Tangiers with gifts." "I'll be back." "Pearls from the Far East." "Treasures from Nubia." "Esther!" "My Esther." "I've come to take you away from Shushan." "Oh, no, Simon." "Good fortune is with us." "The doors open like magic, and there's a chariot." "It could take us to Judah if you like." "Simon, you must go." "You're in great danger here." "You're in danger too." "And you invite it, standing alone against our enemies." "Oh, Simon, I had to do this." "The king is no longer our enemy." "You love him." "I don't know." "Esther!" "Oh, Simon, please." "Save yourself." "He shan't have you." "I'll kill him." "You're unharmed?" "Stop that man!" "Stop him!" "He's a rogue." "I'll see the captain of the guards." "The thief entered the palace by using" "The Sword of the Golden Rooster." "I think he stole it for one of my governors." "And now he's made good his escape." "I will double the guard for your protection, Esther." "But I'd rather take care of you myself." "How long must I wait?" "Esther." "Queen Esther." "But the title of queen is much less important to me" "Than wife of Ahasuerus." "Then obey Ahasuerus and wear a crown." "And whatever else you desire will" "Be yours, even to have the kingdom." "But I only want the kingdom of your heart," "With its love and its mercy." "You already possess that Esther," "You rule my heart and my life." "Arise." "Hegai, have the concubines sent to the Winter Palace." "There he is!" "Behold the golden sword of King Ahasuerus," "And bear these tidings to him." "Someday it will spill his blood." "I have gathered you here to pay homage Esther, my queen." "She has given me a new vision of my Persia, which I never before" "Looked upon with eyes of justice." "Now I see it." "Therefore, factors will be determined according" "To conditions of scarcity or abundance" "And no longer by fixed levies." "General Klydrathes will no longer judge without trial" "The villages of the provinces." "Mordecai, the financing of the kingdom" "Will not suffer from these new laws of taxation," "For I intend to journey to the treasury at Persepolis" "And draw from its great surplus." "That is all." "My nobleman and councilors, I have spoken, and it is the law." "I do not forbid discussion, however." "Sire, I have just recalled a long-neglected law" "Of King Cyrus, which would save you the necessity of a trip" "To Persepolis." "I quote precisely." ""And so be it that any subject of Media's"" "Persia who does not bow down to our god Mithras" ""Shall be put to death and his good taken by the king. "" "Now, my lord, there is, within the confines of Persia," "A people called Judeans who defiantly worship an alien god." "The law is clear." "They must be annihilated." "And by your command, sire, I can destroy these people" "And enrich you by 10,000 talents of silver." "No, no." "No." "This law is of a cruel age, long before our king of justice" "Sat upon the throne." "Deny it, sire." "Cast it out." "I beg you." "Listen not to him, my Lord," "I pray you, for he is one of the Judeans." "Ahasuerus, Ahasuerus." "The law!" "It is written for any woman, even unto" "The queen, who interrupts royal council," "There is but one decree." "And that is death." "Complete the text." ""Except for her to whom the king holds out the golden scepter. "" "I dare to speak, Ahasuerus, because once you gave me" "A kingdom called the kingdom of the heart." "It's only power is love." "And today, that love cries out to you" "Against these old injustices, and against that man" "Who perpetrates them." "I see you now, the greatest of all kings." "But I've also seen you simply as a brave man defending the weak." "And I know that you now have the wisdom" "To be able to cast out oppression" "And intolerance wherever you find it." "The Judeans may worship as they desire." "There will be a new code, the Code of Ahasuerus." "And perhaps it will not be necessary" "For you to know it too well, Prince Hama," "For there's a governor's post in the Syrian desert that" "Requires no such astute knowledge." "Make way!" "So he considers retiring me to a sand hill in Syria." "By all the gods, I'll make him sorry for taking" "Counsel from this new queen." "I remind you again that his assassination" "Has been too long delayed." "And I still remind you that it cannot be done in Shushan." "But if he goes to Persepolis as he so announced." "That may be delayed too by a... by a very important event." "The slaughter of the Judeans?" "And the hanging of Mordecai." "The forged tablets you gave me?" "When, Haman?" "The moment will be determined by the will of the gods." "We shall cast the lots." "I never join battle without the casting of pur." "The red sign of blood falls on the month of Adar." "And that is now." "Now indeed." "It shall be tonight." "And this is how it shall be done." "Look." "You will bear witness before the king" "That you saw me remove these tablets with nothing" "Added added and nothing eliminated." "My good king." "We have all the evidence of a traitor." "I charge the Jew with storing your secrets of war" "Amid the tablets of his temple while" "Preparing to sell them to the Greeks." "I remember well the day you entrusted him with it." "Mark you, sire, your private plan for seizing the Grecian" "Port at Athos, copied in Greek." "And here, here a message in Hebrew to a Judean in Greece." "Lies, all lies, my king." "I am your loyal, your faithful servant." "He has fabricated all of this." "How could I?" "I cannot write in Hebrew or Greek." "But it is well known that Mordecai has written" "All royal messages to Judah, as well" "As your negotiations with the Greeks." "These scribes have verified the treason on that tablet." "And these soldiers will testify that the evidence is the same" "Which they saw hidden in the temple of the Hebrews." "Any who defile the arc of the temple swears falsely." "But I declared against violating" "The worship of the Judeans." "Yes, sire." "We confess to that." "But I would not wish to live and see this glorious empire" "Devoured by Alexander the Greek." "Defend yourself, Mordecai." "I have no guilt to defend, sire." "I swear my innocence on the holy word of God." "And on what god's word do you swear?" "My god." "And he will sustain me." "Our gods will destroy you." "Ours, sire, for we are Persians." "And before I brought this evidence to you," "I cast pur for guidance, knowing that my king is" "As faithful as I to our own temples." "I am." "And perhaps I've been too trustful" "Of Mordecai and the strange believers in our midst." "Much too trustful, sire." "Even in your choice of a new queen." "Yes, yes, I realize I provoke by king's wrath." "I must, in the name of loyalty, for he is unaware" "That his queen and Mordecai have been meeting in secret." "Remember, she risked death to defend his Judeans." "No, no, Esther." "Esther, not Queen Esther." "The intimacy of conspirators." "What do you know, Esther, of Mordecai's treason." "The only treason here, Ahasuerus, is Haman's." "He's the one that should be on trial, but under laws" "Far above this palace." "Words, words, words." "Have Mordecai taken to prison." "If no defense is presented, hang him," "And his people put to the sword, unless they" "Renounce their leaders and their faith." "Ahasuerus, listen to me." "This judgement will be upon your soul" "You speak of deceits." "You deceived me with your gift of the kingdom of mercy." "You've given it to Haman, and he's filled it with wickedness." "Do you realize, Esther, that you could be put to death" "For speaking out in this chamber?" "Yes." "And I don't ask you to hold our your scepter to me," "Because I shall die anyway." "I am a Jew." "Esther, Esther, renounce your faith and live." "I speak for myself and for my uncle Mordecai" "And for all my people." "We'll still be keeping our faith when Shushan" "Is a mound of the desert sand and your gods are forgotten." "But I can't hate for this decision, Ahasuerus," "Because I know that again you were influenced by Haman." "Why is he so anxious for you not to go to Persepolis that he" "Brings you this false evidence the very night" "Before you're leaving." "Is he afraid of what you might see at the treasury?" "Oh, please, Ahasuerus, for the sake of my love for you," "Don't condemn us until you've made the journey." "I do not believe your love." "However, there is something in what you say." "I stay the execution of Mordecai and the Jews" "Until I return from Persepolis." "He must never reach Persepolis." "Huh." "You have been very patient, Klydrathes." "I restrain you no longer." "And I offer 1,000 talents of gold for his head." "The king must pass here on the caravan tracks." "And remember, Prince Haman offers a 1,000 gold talents" "To the man who brings me the king's head." "You scavenger of Shushan." "I thank the providence that put your filthy life into my hands." "You plundered your last helpless village." "Oh!" "Retreat, then we'll charge." "Does it surprise the great Ahasuerus" "To find he has enemies?" "Help me among them, you king of thieves." "Simon, Captain of the Golden Sword," "You've joined my enemies?" "No, I declare my own war against you." "I refuse to fight the man who saved my life in battle." "Why, you're crazed." "Perhaps." "Would you not see, if you were I," "The king had used his power to steal" "The girl you were about to marry?" "Now, hold, you fool Esther, was your betrothed?" "Thou shalt be your will." "Ho!" "You risk your life when she could still be yours." "She never loved me, only the cause she served." "That is not true." "On a certain night, I stole into her rooms" "And stood with drawn sword beside a doorway" "You would enter." "She chose your life against mine and gave the alarm." "You were the one she put to flight?" "Her love was yours and is." "Help, help." "Klydrathes, the one who tried to assassinate you," "I settled an old account with him." "Help, oh, oh." "Oh!" "Help." "Master, forgive me." "Help me." "Stop the pain." "That I will do." "That, or more pain unless you speak the whole truth." "I speak, I speak truly." "Haman was the chief of all our crimes against you..." "Your intended murder, the thieving of Persepolis," "The selling of your strategies to the Greeks." "He forged the false evidence against Mordecai" "And offered a price for your own royal head." "I'll give you peace, Klydrathes." "And I condemned Esther into Haman's hand," "And Mordecai and all their people." "Condemned, they're doomed." "Unless... here." "Take this, my seal of empire." "While I gather my forces here, you ride into Shushan." "Find a way into the city, and bring" "This seal to my master of arms." "Tell him I said to arm all the Judeans." "It is the eve of the sabbath of the Judeans." "They gather in their temple." "Azmand, see that they never leave it." "Gerka, you will use your horseman" "To put down any resistance in the city." "My good Shumer, I give you the pleasure" "Of escorting their leader Mordecai to the gallows." "Off with you!" "Gisko, the queen." "Yes, Master." "Guards!" "I prophesied that our Prince Haman" "Will be the most popular ruler in the history of Persia." "Don't worry, my stupid one." "The gates are guarded." "No one can leave the city, or enter it." "Simon!" "I served with you on the Egyptian campaign." "I'm the blacksmith now." "Tobiah, I'm here on the king's order to arm our people." "Are there any more of the old company in Shushan?" "Enough for a core of defense, my captain." "Gather them together and wait in the marketplace." "And there are others here in Shushan." "Not soldiers, but they can swing a club or an ax." "Then we'll arm them to, Tobiah." "Seek them out and send them to the temple." "Good." "Oh, dear God, I call to thee, even as David called." "In David's words, I affirm my love for thee." "The Lord is my sheperd, I shall not want." "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." "He leadeth me beside the still waters." "He restoreth my soul." "He leadeth me on the paths of righteousness for his namesake." "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," "I will fear no evil, for thou are with me." "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence" "Of mine enemies." "Ha." "I'll wager my weight in gold they'll reject their faith" "By remaining away from their temple." "I wouldn't wager a copper mite against our new king's wisdom." "Simon is waiting for us." "Our day at last." "So they congregate like animals in the slaughter pen." "Simplifies my work." "You and you, close the doors." "Who goes there?" "A bring a token to Prince Haman from General Klydrathes." "Open the gate." "Ah, a token from Klydrathes." "Gisco." "Gisco, my chariot!" "Open the door!" "Open up!" "Seize him." "Hang him." "Hang him high." "Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." "This night of the deliverance of our people" "Must live in memory." "Haman cast pur to decide our doom," "So let it be called Purim." "And let it be remembered with holidays of gladness," "Like those we knew sometimes at the village." "So it shall be, my lion of Israel." "The first Purim, and just as Simon would have wanted it." "We who are alive must go on living." "Simon wouldn't have your sorrow." "Nor, would he have you bring sorrow to the king." "I know that although Ahasuerus gave you a choice of remaining" "Here, it was his secret wish that you would return to him." "When you didn't, he went way to the wars," "Because he cared not whether he lived or died." "Have you heard anything from the battle?" "Yes." "Word of a Persian defeat by the Greeks." "And to him, defeat is a word worse than death." "It was never for victory that I loved him."