One Night with the King Page #4

---

this evening.

- My throat is sore.

- Your throat or your heart?

It has only been a few days

since you read for him.

A few days is a thousand years.

If Xerxes had found pleasure in me,

surely he would've...

You think a eunuch cannot know love?

Back before I was a cripple of a man,

there was one that held my heart.

What became of her?

I know not.

I never found the courage to return

to face her again.

She is beautiful but delicate,

Your Majesty.

Just one more moment, please.

You may approach.

How do they call you?

(GAGGING)

(CHITTERING)

Esther.

This is your day.

We gather to honor Esther of Susa.

You enter as a peasant

and leave a princess.

You can let go of my arm now.

He will be the fortunate one

to choose you.

He will be the one

to whom congratulations are due.

Esther, my arm.

XERXES:
The scroll is on the stool.

You may begin whenever you are ready.

Is there a problem?

Did they not tell you I weary

at this procession of candidates?

I simply wanted someone to...

Wait.

You are the one who read to me before.

You tried to beguile me with love stories.

Did you not think I had the sense

to see through your little parable?

The arrogance! You speak to me

as if I was this Rachel

in need of help to look after

my father's sheep.

- My lord, I meant no...

- And this is how you come to see me?

Your only adornment before your

one night with the King.

It is, Your Majesty.

You consider yourself of so little worth

- that I can purchase your love so cheaply?

- I was taught

that when you visit a king,

rather than expect a gift,

one should bring one to lay at his feet.

This is my most

valuable possession in the world.

It is my past, my present, and my future.

And all of it is yours.

Some would call you foolish indeed,

as they would call your Jacob.

Of all commodities, love is the easiest,

and most cheaply purchased.

If it is for sale, my lord,

it is not love.

Even you.

Even you must have a price.

I am neither a buyer

nor a seller of love.

Suppose, my lady,

a man offered you a more treasured gift,

say, a kingdom.

(CRYING)

The only gift I would accept

is your heart.

Then it is yours.

And you did not serve

seven years to get it.

Tell me Esther of Susa,

who are you really?

Tell me of your people.

Teach me of your ways.

My father taught me

it takes the glory of God

to conceal a matter,

and the honor of kings to search it out.

Then marry me.

And we shall spend an eternity

discovering this truth,

together.

Persians, your queen!

(ALL CHEERING)

Know you how many times I tried to

come for you after that first night?

How many evenings

I spent counting the stars

to keep my mind off of you?

How many excuses I created

just to avoid the other candidates?

Fools.

Misfits.

Donkey-brained caricatures of men,

you guaranteed me that Misgath

would be chosen queen.

Who is she? From whence did she come?

Who are her people?

There is little known about her, my lord.

She is called Esther of Susa. An orphan.

We should've stuck to our first plan

and poisoned Hagai ourselves.

- Quiet.

- Poison?

He did not, my lord.

He is far too impetuous.

- Far too...

- You know about poison.

Of course you do.

You were once the royal cupbearers.

Suppose in theory,

you wanted to poison another.

Suppose... Suppose this other

remained nameless,

but was, in effect, one whom

you had once vowed to protect.

My lord prince...

Come, come. Don't look so distressed.

We plot nothing here.

My lord.

(PEOPLE CHANTING)

From India to Babylon,

my sword has spilt the blood of

traitors against the crown.

Proud, arrogant "chosen ones".

Allowed to return to their homeland.

But do they go?

Do they?

(MURMURS GREETING)

Thank you.

How wonderful are the ways of the Lord

that he should have raised up

my little Hadassah

and made her queen.

Have you told anyone our secret?

No.

If you continue to call me Hadassah,

it will no longer matter.

Will you not join me in the palace?

I could have you named

to any post you desire.

My Lord will take care of me.

Do you take care of your lord?

Remember not his orders?

Procure it not from the palace,

so nothing can be traced back to us.

The Jews have apothecaries.

Where is he now?

- You, over there...

- Why cannot a truce be arranged?

Truce?

That devil Memucan

has beaten me twice in a row.

I fear losing you.

I gave an oath

to my father.

He's the one I fear losing you to.

You must dream. You'll be gone much

in the coming months.

Keep this for me.

- But it is yours. I...

- Then be at peace.

I always return for what is mine.

Will thou sit there all day, my lord?

This one.

MORDECAI:
Why would they

buy belladonna off you?

Maybe they seek to poison someone.

Very deadly, very quick.

You sold them poison?

A Jew sells poison

to the King's food tasters?

Have you any idea for whom

it might've been intended?

Please, just allow me to see it.

The scribe says it is

for the Queen's eyes only.

(GIRLS GIGGLING)

That is what she told.

A plot to kill the King.

The King should be notified at once,

my lady.

He and Memucan are a day's ride away

at the training grounds.

Then it would be better, my lady,

if I send for the captain of the guard

- to investigate.

- Who else is closest to the King?

Admantha.

This is treachery.

If my lady will permit, I myself

will bring these two eunuchs to you.

I'm armed, so I doubt the need for force.

That will not be necessary.

The King's new captain of the guard

has gone to investigate.

Time was of the essence, my lady.

If only all shared your loyalty

to the King, my prince.

Captain of the guards.

Master Haman, my lady.

What of the eunuchs?

They are being led

to the gallows as we speak.

I found this about their person.

I interrogated them both.

I'm convinced they plotted alone.

Make sure Mordecai's name

is entered in the chronicles

and that it is certified with my seal so

he may be properly rewarded by the King.

ADMANTHA:
Please, help yourself.

Only a bite.

Now I no longer ride the highways,

my appetite suffers.

Then may I assume that your fee

for spying for me will be reduced?

My appetite may be less,

not of my sons,

my wife.

Well, that may cost you more, my prince.

Much,

- much more.

- What might you have done?

I would save the King for last.

As in the palace board game.

Rid yourself first

of all of those pieces

that are closest to him.

One

by one.

- HEGAI:
My lady, this is foolish.

- I go with or without you.

There are too many rumors

drifting through the palace,

and not enough answers.

These hinges are well-oiled.

There must be plenty who use it.

Lovers always find a way, my lady.

HAMAN:
The time has come,

my brothers and sisters,

where we must root out

those amongst our midst

who seek our wreck and ruin!

When a field of crops is defiled by disease,

do we not set it on fire?

(ALL CHEERING)

I am asked why I choose

to speak against these foreigners

and strangers in our midst.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote