The Book of Esther Page #3

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Permit me

a word, gracious Majesty.

As you wish,

Lord Haman.

The selection of a bride

is no small matter,

but I would think

you would agree with me

that only women of quality

should be selected.

Did not Gaspar

say that my nobles and advisors

could select a woman

of good standing?

Why then do you disagree

with your own eunuch?

Very well then,

are there any others?

I have a candidate,

Your Majesty.

I also have a candidate,

Your Majesty.

As well do I, Majesty.

I command that the daughters of

Persia be brought to the palace

at the time of my choosing

and presented to me

for my royal perusal.

In such manner

shall I find a new queen.

All hail, King Xerxes!

Hail, King Xerxes!

This is a disaster

for the kingdom.

Oh, a fatalist sees a disaster;

a wise man sees an opportunity.

Oh, silence,

you foolish eunuch.

Didn't I tell you to

prepare well your speech?

Lord Haman,

I had no idea Mordecai

would suggest a contest.

It's insolence,

the nerve of that hapless Jew.

He proposes that a stray,

a cast-off become queen.

Mordecai said

she was an orphan.

We know not the child's

true circumstances,

nor are we likely

to find them out.

Lord Haman, if she

was raised by Mordecai,

she is clearly unsuitable.

What further proof

do you require?

Because Mordecai

is cunning, if nothing else.

Who knows what trickery

this old Jew has up his sleeve?

Lord Haman, I can confidently

predict that whatever candidates

may appear, they will be

no match for your Zara.

What, are you a prophet

suddenly as well as a fool?

Rarely are those two qualities

captured in one man.

Shh, shh.

There we go, there we go.

Keep your head,

Lord Haman.

All will be well, shh.

All better be well,

because it will be

your head that is lost.

Haman!

Esther, my love.

Oh, forgive me, Teacher.

I must remember not to make

noise while you are studying.

Esther, your singing is sweet

and it bothers me not.

My love, did I not

promise that you would marry

when I found

a suitable match?

Teacher, has the Lord

revealed his will to you?

Well...

All my worrying was for naught,

for I know that the Lord

has heard my prayers

and he has answered them.

Tell me, Teacher, tell me.

Who is it that I'm to marry?

It is the king.

The king of what?

Why, the

king of Persia of course.

The same king

who banished the queen

because she refused

to dance?

Esther, my love, I know

this is a difficult thing.

Difficult?

Might I suggest impossible?

Why would the king

choose me as his queen?

He knows me not.

You speak the truth,

my love,

but it is also true the king

may not take you for a queen.

I thought you said

that a match had been made.

Not quite.

Am I to compete,

as in a race?

Esther, the competition

is fierce,

and if you lose it may mean

the death of our people.

This is beyond

my understanding.

My child, listen to me.

Lord Haman, the wicked

man who hates our people

has proposed his own

daughter as a match.

If she becomes queen,

Haman will be the power

behind the throne.

Our king is still young

and requires sound advice.

I worry that Haman's evil

will be unrestricted.

You must pray, Esther.

You must ask God for

wisdom and strength.

I will need much

of both, I fear.

Fear not,

they are richly blessed

who put their

trust in God.

I will pray, Teacher, for

both wisdom and for strength.

Pray also for me.

I have lit a fire that

will not be easily put out.

Yes, Father Mordecai.

I honor you, Lord Haman.

Oh, honor me later.

Fetch me my wife

and be quick about it.

Begging

your pardon, Lord Haman.

Your wife left word that

she is too busy to see you.

Too busy?

If my wife intends to follow

the example of the queen,

tell her she can

obtain the same results,

only I shall banish her

to the desert,

and when the vultures

have had their fill,

she'll make

a pretty fossil.

Hush Husband, this foolish slave

has taken leave of his senses.

Nasir, return to your chores!

As you command,

Lady Haman.

Oh my husband,

what good news from the palace?

There is none.

Has the king rejected

our daughter as his queen?

He has not as yet.

Then why did you

insist the news is bad.

Because of that Jew,

Mordecai!

Thanks to his treachery,

the betrothal is now a contest

in which his own candidate is

a rival to our daughter, Zara.

The impertinence

of that man.

Now, we'll have to

depend on our daughter

to win the affections of the

king with her charm and beauty.

You realize, of course, that

puts us at a great disadvantage.

Oh, have I not eyes,

woman?

If only the

king were blind,

then all our troubles

would soon be over.

Our daughter's

not entirely unfair,

and what of

Mordecai's candidate?

Have you seen her?

Then perhaps this

tension is for naught.

Oh, unlikely,

Mordecai's too clever.

Perhaps you

give him too much credit.

All I know is that Zara

was not meant to have a rival.

There, there,

my husband.

Leave it to me.

With some jewels and

cosmetics and fine fabrics,

I shall fashion our Zara

into a worthy queen.

That'll take

an act of the gods.

Is your ambition lacking?

I shall see the

house of Haman rule,

then shall I have my revenge

on those insidious Jews

whose king

exterminated my people.

One task at a time,

my lord.

Incline your ear,

O Lord, and hear me,

for I am poor and needy.

You are my God.

Save your servant

who trusts in you.

Oh God, what you ask

is a difficult thing,

and yet I know that nothing

is impossible with you.

If you will but call me by name,

I will answer and obey.

Hadassah, Hadassah.

Who's there?

Hadassah.

Who calls me by that name?

It is I.

Lord?

Speak, Lord,

for I am listening.

Because I am with

you, you shall not be harmed,

for I am the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel.

Yes, God.

There will come for

you a time to keep silent,

and a time for you to speak,

for in all things

shall I be glorified.

My God speaks

and I will obey.

Oh, house of Haman,

today shall you

receive your glory.

Where is my wife?

Is it success or failure?

Patience, Husband.

The house of Haman did not

become great in 1 day.

No, but it

can be ruined in 1 day

if my wife

and my daughter fail me.

We shall not fail.

Nasir.

Have a look.

It's a failure.

Oh, why have the gods not

given me a worthy daughter?

She is worthy.

I didn't ask for a daughter

as handsome as myself.

If she had but a fraction of

our beauty, all would be well.

Hush, Husband,

you upset the girl.

I will add a veil.

It will add an air of mystery

for the king.

Nasir,

fetch me my fabrics.

If His Majesty is enchanted

by a bolt of cloth,

then he's a greater fool

than he's been given credit for.

Hush, Husband.

We shall not fail;

all will be well.

All better be well!

I tell you this day

that either my daughter Zara

will be crowned

the queen of Persia

or I will have

no daughter at all.

I may be poorly dressed,

but I am rich in faith.

My child, the palace will

provide you with all the oils

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