Solomon and Sheba Page #5

Not even of wisdom.

And there is Sheban wine | to warm the heart.

My offering to you.

Tonight, we are alone in a different world.

My world.

Yes, we are in a different world.

Is not the wine to your taste, my Lord?

It almost made me forget | that you are an ally of the Pharaoh.

An enemy of Israel.

Your Majesty, | everything is prepared for tonight.

I chose this one.

Mmm. Attar of roses. I love it.

- The king"s favourite scent. | - How do you know?

The women of his harem told me.

I don"t want to remind him | of other women.

What else have you heard?

They complain | of Solomon"s neglect of them.

There is no reason | to be jealous of me as yet.

In spite of the way he left, | he must have had difficulty forgetting you.

Tonight, I will make it even more difficult.

Dry me.

He may still come, Majesty. | It is not yet midnight.

Do I need you to tell me the time?

Take it away. Get it out of my sight.

How dare he treat me this way!

What does he think I am? | Just another cat in his royal cage?!

I don"t care if he never comes!

Never. Never.

Weren"t you supposed to dine with her?

- Yes, I was. | - Then why are you sitting here alone?

I felt in need of being alone.

What is it that weighs | so heavily upon your heart?

Has it come to where | you can read my thoughts?

Haven"t I always shared your thoughts?

Yes.

At times, a man feels drawn | toward the dangers that confront him,

even at the risk of his own destruction.

Like a moth approaches a flame.

Is there something different | about this flame?

I could put it out in one second.

- Wouldn"t that be simpler? | - Such a little flame, Abishag.

And yet unrestrained, | it could destroy all of Jerusalem.

Simpler, yes,

but perhaps without it, | there would be darkness.

In light or in darkness, | you"ve only to reach for my hand.

I"ll be at your side always.

- Good night. | - Good night.

- His Majesty. | - His Majesty.

Sire.

Her Majesty awaited you until | after midnight and then she retired.

- I"m sorry. | - Takyan, admit His Majesty.

I have disturbed your rest.

Could I rest, thinking that perhaps | I had displeased you in some way?

Now you have to be | completely truthful with me.

Why did you come to Jerusalem?

Why do you ask me such a question now?

Because I know that behind those lovely | eyes is the brain of a very clever woman

who would never have travelled | 800 leagues without a purpose.

You have found me out.

I will confess to you.

The Pharaoh is paying me | a fabulous price to spy on you.

To deliver to him all of your secrets.

I have considered that, | but Israel has no real secrets from Egypt.

Pharaoh is aware | of our weaknesses and our strength.

How could I hope to deceive you?

I have been trying to entrap you.

With these.

To bind you to me in soft chains | so that I may do with you as I will.

Now perhaps we are | approaching the truth.

Every woman exacts her price | from a man.

You"re a queen, | but you also demand a price.

I do. So great that I wonder | if you will pay it.

I want you to love me wholly, completely,

and that love to be | the most precious thing in your life.

I hope it is true,

but if it is not, | then let me remain blind to the truth.

Even when you are not with me, | I find myself trying to recall

every moment we have spent together.

The words you have said to me, | I will never forget.

After what has come to pass between us, | new words keep singing in my heart.

- Tell them to me. | - Behold, thou art fair, my love.

Thine eyes are as doves, | thy lips are as pomegranates.

How much better is thy love than wine.

I have never before | known such happiness.

Nor I, and if I have thought I was happy, | I know now that I was deceived.

You look like two birds | who have hatched out a nestful of snakes.

You may speak freely. | I have no secrets from Joab.

We have come to take counsel | with Your Highness.

About what? I am the commander | of the host, not a minister of state.

It concerns the king.

- Then why not consult with him? | - Because he will not listen.

Grave criticism is being | brought against him by people.

Who would dare to murmur | against the great Solomon?

His association with the Sheban queen | has developed into an open scandal.

Worse, he has even brought this | pagan woman to live within the palace,

daring to install her in an apartment | adjoining his own private chambers.

That is his affair, not mine.

We thought perhaps if you were to | talk to him privately, reason with him.

Point out that it is a matter | of concern not only to the high priest

but to the prophet and the council.

I, presume to admonish His Majesty?

You forget, Hezrai, he is the king. | The king can do no wrong.

Well, something must be done.

Not by me. You are his chancellor, Hezrai, | and you his high priest, Zadok.

You do something. You reason with him.

We had hoped for the cooperation | of Your Highness.

You have it. | My sympathies and my best wishes.

We thank you for receiving us.

Not at all, not at all.

Always at your service.

It could not have served your interests | better if you had arranged her visit.

The priesthood is aroused against him. | The council condemns him.

Even the people talk openly of his shame.

Your Highness is reflecting | my own thoughts.

I would be a fool | to ignore such an opportunity.

You might have to wait forever | for another one like this.

I will solve | Hezrai and Zadok"s problem for them

and at the same time, my own.

Or rather, this is a problem that you, Joab, | with a little help, will solve.

I await your command, Highness.

Your Majesty commanded me | to attend upon her?

It took you long enough to get here. | I sent Takyan to bring you an hour ago.

Ten minutes ago, if Your Majesty pleases.

Come in. Don"t stand there | arguing with me.

In what way can I serve Your Majesty?

You can arrange | for my safe conduct out of Israel.

Stop looking at me like that! | Do as I tell you!

- But when, Your Majesty? | - Now. Today. This minute.

Your Majesty will pardon me | if I seem shocked...

Do I have to consult you first | concerning everything I wish to do?

Your Majesty would go without | accomplishing her purpose?

Permit me to decide the question | of my comings and goings.

Your Majesty will forgive me if I venture | to touch upon her personal, private affairs.

Get to the point, Baltor.

I have sensed a change | in Your Majesty. A softening.

A desire to evade reality.

You are accusing me | of being in love with him? Is that it?

I hope for Your Majesty"s own sake | that such is not the case.

And if such is the case,

do you deny me the right | for the first time in my life to be human?

May I remind Your Majesty that | you cannot put your personal feelings

above the Pharaoh | and the good of your country?

Don"t lecture me, Baltor.

Your Majesty once told me that you could | not afford the luxury of being a woman,

that always you were forced | to remember that you are a queen,

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