The Book of Esther Page #6

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No, this cannot be.

On the 13th of this month,

all the Jews

will be put to death,

including you.

I've said too much.

Zara, I beg you

to keep this a secret.

My lady, I would

never betray you.

My father is an evil man and

I beg you a thousand pardons.

It's no fault

of yours, Zara.

There's no need

for forgiveness.

What is Mordecai's advice?

He asks that

you go to the king

to beg him for mercy

and plead for our people.

Judith, I cannot,

for no woman is permitted

to enter the king's presence

without being summoned.

Even the queen

must obey this law.

Then this

is Mordecai's answer...

There is a time

to remain silent

and a time to speak,

but if you

remain silent now,

you and your people

will perish.

Is it not possible that you have

come to your royal position

for such a time as this?

Judith, I...

Go then, and tell Mordecai

to gather all the Jews of Persia

and have them fast for me.

They shall not eat or drink

for 3 days, day or night,

and I shall do the same,

and then I will

go to the king.

And if I perish,

I shall perish.

It will be done

as you say, my queen.

I beg you, my queen,

do not make this mistake.

The king is

a man of his word,

and you will surely

be put to death.

Azada, do not fear.

Now take me at once

to the king.

I honor you,

Queen Esther.

Tell me, Lord Haman,

that this concludes

our business for the day.

If Your Majesty commands it

then we shall

continue at another time.

I do command it.

By your word,

Great Majesty.

I honor you,

King Xerxes.

What is the meaning

of this intrusion?

Lord Haman.

The queen is here to

see you, Your Majesty.

Summoned you the queen,

great king?

I did not.

Esther, my queen.

Forgive my transgression,

Your Majesty,

for I know that

your word is the law.

Forgive my

transgression, my love,

for because of Lord Haman,

I have placed

the affairs of the state

above the affairs

of the heart.

If it pleases Your Majesty,

I would like to make a request.

It does indeed please me.

My petition is this:

Let Your Majesty

come tomorrow

to a banquet

which I will prepare.

You and Lord Haman.

Then I will make

my request known.

What say you, Lord Haman?

Your Majesty...

I wouldn't dream of declining

such a gracious invitation.

Then let it be done.

Thank you, my king.

Does my wife

adore her husband?

Your persistence

exceeds your cruelty,

a quality much

to be admired.

Do we not have everything?

A great name.

Ah, and vast wealth.

And revenge.

And with the king

under my thumb,

the house of Haman

rules.

Oh, I forgot to mention,

my dear, beautiful wife,

that I am the only person

the queen has invited

to the royal banquet

for the king.

Queen Esther?

What a bizarre invitation.

Surely she knows

what will become of her

benefactor, Mordecai.

Mention not that name.

His demise

will be soon enough.

It is the queen who

arouses my suspicion.

Harbor no such thoughts,

dear wife.

It is the king who

controls the queen,

but it is I who

controls the king.

Is my husband, the king,

well pleased?

As well pleased

as I am well fed.

And you, Lord Haman?

The pleasure of this meal

is matched only by the pleasure

of the queen's company.

Queen Esther,

what is your petition?

Ask and it shall be granted.

Whatever you request,

even up to half my kingdom,

I will give it to you.

If it pleases

Your Majesty,

grant me my life and spare my

people, for this is my request.

Esther, my love,

you make a strange petition.

Who has threatened your life?

A great enemy,

Your Majesty.

Lord Haman.

Lord Haman, would you

molest a queen in her own home?

Your Majesty,

the queen is surely mistaken.

I would never

lay a hand on her.

Lord Haman speaks falsely,

Your Majesty,

for he has ordered the

destruction of my people

and me.

If he had merely made us slaves,

I would have remained silent,

for there would be no need

to disturb the king.

Lord Haman, have you

an answer to this accusation?

Your Majesty, I know not

of what this queen speaks of.

Lord Haman knows full well,

Your Majesty,

for did he not cause you

to order the destruction

of the Jews?

The Jews?

They are a treacherous

people, my queen.

Lord Haman has

shown me the evidence.

Has he indeed?

Your Majesty, may I ask,

what has this matter

got to do with the other?

Only that the Jews

are my people.

If they be found traitors,

let me be guilty as well.

This cannot be.

Your Majesty,

perhaps the queen is unwell.

Please, I beg you

to have mercy on her.

You would beg mercy for me

yet deny it to my people

and Mordecai?

Is he a traitor?

Has it not been

recorded in history

that Mordecai

once saved your life?

Does a traitor

conspire against himself?

Great Majesty...

Were not for Mordecai,

Esther would not be my queen.

Yes, that is indeed true.

I have made

a terrible mistake.

One that is

easily rectified, Your Majesty.

You will simply have to

find yourself another queen.

I have condemned

a man to death

without first giving him the

opportunity to defend himself,

he and his people.

Azada!

Send for Mordecai at once

and summon my counselors.

I wish for everyone to hear

the testimony tomorrow at noon.

By your word, King Xerxes.

Then we shall

know the truth.

All hail,

King Xerxes of Persia!

Hail, King Xerxes!

Men of Persia, this day

I have summoned you to hear the case

against the Jewish people.

I was persuaded

of their guilt

and sentenced them

to a violent death,

all the Jews, all the Jews,

including Mordecai

and my queen.

But as Lord Haman

once pronounced,

the king who judges quickly

judges not wisely.

And in this event,

he is correct.

Therefore I shall

ask Lord Haman again

to present his case

against the Jews.

But this time, Mordecai will

be allowed to defend the Jews.

Lord Haman?

Your Majesty, as I

believe I have so eloquently proven,

that the Jews are

a traitorous people,

who honor their God

and despise their king,

and as their

writings also affirm,

it is their God

who rules them,

and it is their God

who sits upon the throne.

Mordecai, have you

an answer to this charge?

Your Majesty, Lord

Haman does indeed quote the writings

of my people accurately,

but not completely,

for it also written

that God establishes kings.

Therefore to disobey the king

would be to disobey God.

Mordecai,

I must ask you in truth

if you are and always have been

an obedient servant to me?

Your Majesty knows

well the answer to that question,

for I have served you

faithfully and obediently

all these years, and

indeed your father before you.

Of this, Mordecai,

I am certain.

But I must also ask you,

are you also an obedient

servant of your God?

Your Majesty also knows well

that as a Jew from

the Tribe of Benjamin,

I am an obedient

servant to my God.

That was

quite elegant, Mordecai,

if not a bit deceptive.

But answer me this,

Mordecai:

What if there was

a contradiction?

What if His Majesty

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