The time is 2500 years ago.
The place is Persia.
The man is Assir
king of the medes and the Persians
ruler of 100 and 27 provinces.
The most powerful man on earth.
The army is the conqueror of all the lands. From India to Ethiopia.
They are returning home now from fresh victories in Egypt.
We'll encamp over there by the water.
Then only two more Marsters to
Shushan. Shall I send a messenger to Harold? My king's arrival?
Perhaps not.
It would give this loyalty time to put on its mask.
However, I already know someone who wears the mask. Send your messenger.
Well, Simon,
my loyal Judean,
you'll no longer need that rusty sort of bronze. I don't understand, sir.
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.
The sword of the golden rooster.
Persia's greatest military honor.
You're free to go home now, Simon. And when you're arrested,
there'll be a place for you and my honor guard at the palace at
Shushan. I
a royal God to the king of the world.
My betrothed won't believe this could happen to me. Who
a girl of my village,
we should be married before I go to
Shushan
a gift for the bride.
And may the guides make a hurdle.
May my God bless you, sir.
Take him to his house. It is against the will of Haman, the king's chief minister.
He demands an example to all who cannot pay their taxes.
Haman's will offends the will of God.
You heard the executioners, 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?
Cut him down and take him home?
That's good.
There will be no more hanging just now that the king is back.
He's a just king.
He's given me honors and has 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 here 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 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 as
Cyrus is our king,
you must admit he's generous. This is his gift for you.
So He's brought you a devotion with gifts,
this beautiful thing.
While our people are starving and men hang,
he gives you this from his blood stained hands.
Forgive me, Simon.
I dreamed of the day that you would return. But the dream wasn't like this.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
The king approaches with his army.
The king's messenger,
the king approaches shoe
shine.
The king, the king queen
b
but not until tomorrow,
I have followed his progress.
He is 10 leagues from shore.
The army is not even in sight yet. Time is still with us.
No, Haman,
your time is ended
my time.
Our time. If that saves you a prize,
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 Osiris
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
Ashton.
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 Hayman.
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 unfold the king in my arms again,
then whom will he believe.
Hm.
I agree. Ashley,
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 Hayman.
Take care. Does not loosen your tongue.
Great Lord of media and Persia
shaker of the earth master of the world
sovereign of Assyria and Babylon in Egypt,
Conqueror of
Figone
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 Clara,
what is the condition of your army which remained in Persia? Splendid master.
Splendid.
Where is uh Lord Mordecai?
Sire?
He is the one counselor whose co-operation
I have not had.
It appears he pays reverence to no one
but his invisible Hebrew God
mode.
Welcome sir.
Welcome back to
Suan.
I see my king as 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 you my niece in marriage.
You are a man of warmth, Mordecai.
That is why I was surprised to note your absence of 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 Hayman.
I have no fondness for the man but he is a politic necessity,
efficient or overzealous.
But
let us speak of something more cheerful.
Queen
Vasti. I trust she has not pined for me too much. Her beauty is undiminished
and her behavior
still.
Kayleigh 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, sir?
My vision does not penetrate into the harem or the queen's apartment,
my king, my beloved husband. How long I've waited
adulterous.
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. Basti
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,
sir. I pray you believe me. I would rather die a real death than lose you.
Now, send for your lovers Harlot
Samuel.
Yeah.
Uh,
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 will 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.
But how can no one test it ever be sure. Oh, yes. Yes, that's true.
I haven't ever looked at anybody else. Maybe I should have done
time for.
00,
Simon.
Oh Mordecai,
a great soldier.
The image of a David,
the image of a good husband for your Esther. I hope
we didn't expect you so soon.
I know
and I'm afraid the business of the king will keep me from your wedding.
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, I Azusa,
thank you, Uncle.
Our thoughts will always be with you
Mordecai
while this Mizza
protects our home.
Yes. And I hope that you'll protect him.
Uncle 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?
Here's something that has changed him. A disillusionment, a despair.
That is why I cannot attend your wedding.
It is imperative that I remain at the palace
and 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 bang at the movie.
Probably a better more of glades.
No, no,
she is the woman of the keeper of the wild animals.
What
idiot decided to bore me with his sorry spectacle.
Your chief eunuch.
Hey J
OK.
I'm going to the feast.
Prepare me,
hurry, hurry.
Ok.
Oh
yeah.
Yeah.
Our noble Judean
seems to have no liking for my king's enjoyment
by your leave. Sir. 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.
Who are these people you speak of,
of some of your Hebrew aliens
of Israel's religion. Yes, but not aliens.
We are loyal subjects of the king.
And now with his permission,
I shall withdraw to attend to his affairs.
Tell me what a kind
are we well prepared for an expedition against the Greeks. The home army of General
has a total of 100,000 men on foot and 60,000 mounted fighters. 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.
I have been your counselor
and counselor to your father, Darius and
I have seen death and destruction.
I thought
how splendid it would be
if all this waste of wealth and manner could be turned to
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 apiece? Perhaps because
war has forever driven us,
dispersed us,
made of us. A people lost,
seeking always
for some
haven 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 the private worshiping of a God
who shows no signs of existence,
stronger and wiser men than you have felt the power of my God,
the pharaoh of Egypt
Nizar
of
Babylon. Beware Haman.
Do not tempt him.
Let him defend you.
If I decide to cut your heart out,
he will,
he will.
Don't you ever draw a blade in my council chamber or I will kill you myself.
Mordecai.
Inscribe 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 Ethos.
It is the key
from Ethos.
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.
Remember,
it must be kept a secret at all costs
ashamed,
right?
The laws of Persia clearly state the punishment for a queen
who shames the throne.
There are two alternatives,
death
or banishment,
banish her
this very night. My Lord,
I shall return her to a tribe of Arias
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 knowledge of the law of the
aids. 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 male 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 on to
sh on the 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 era,
a 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
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 listing the burdens of others?
One removes his own,
the joy you would travel a field to seek.
Could this be found in yourself?
And in time perhaps
you will find it.
Disco
go quickly to the house of my woman.
Kish.
Tell her to come to me at once.
Yes.
Do you mind if I drink some of your Syrian wine,
there is another matter even more important.
It has to do with Queen Vashti
Mr
oh poor king.
Uh
in his sorry state of mind, he'll not be in any hurry to inspect his treasury.
Of Persepolis.
Sometimes I feel you overdo your plundering 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 but 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 a 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, not at all
in the event,
Gile comes to the king's attention.
I have found
the perfect scapegoat
boom,
Mordecai
and his whole colony of
Jans in Persia.
Here is the war secret which the king entrusted to Mordecai 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
by brilliant Hayman.
You will keep these tablets in your possession until suspicion threatens us. Then
I'll tell you
how to turn them to our use.
Paris,
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 Constantine,
but you will clyed
Rhys.
You will,
this will be history
for if the perfume of a rose
is pleasing.
Nobody's going to ask who crush the petals.
Your only love is danger Haman
and you caught it with the passion of a madman.
I
my timid general
here is a 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
died in
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
that
for her
sake and yours don't,
don't let them take you.
Oh
Agent Dean tried to murder me. I said, find him, bring him to me alive.
Thank 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 harmonic.
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 of Circassia
and the one who sits in the corner,
your gods may have them
and after that, you can send them to the soldiers at the garrison.
It is dangerous. Prince Hayman,
Hegi, the eunuch is a sharp guardian. Yes. But you must have some gods whose lives
you would not mind risking.
Yes,
I have three new recruits. Not worth their salt, strangers to the palace.
All the better assign them,
dangle the reward of women and disclaim them as lustful beasts.
If they're got
only the 10 most beautiful will be sent to the king for the final choosing.
So tomorrow
I will judge you
dear God
that my
Children.
If my guy
happened to me,
I know what's happened to me.
Please let him know soon.
Is the,
is
the,
if I told you
the taking of her was only the beginning of many
horrors for our people from that one spark a holocaust.
I must find some way to stop it.
But first, Esther Simon believed that your influence with the king will free her.
No, he has become indifferent to everything but his own bitterness.
Haman,
the chief minister that prince of festering corruption
is now 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.
I'm doing
it.
Oh
and
rolling
Jac,
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.
Oh,
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
up to that.
Yeah.
You,
yeah.
What
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 it.
Uncle Mordecai.
Where's Simon?
Where is he?
Take me to him? Please, please take me to him.
I can't
ether.
He fought the king's general. Now they hunt him like an animal
at the village. They looted and scourged.
They did likewise to every Jordan
settlement in our path.
They hung Emmanuel the blacksmith.
They drove the women and Children into the wilderness.
Uh People are now
scattered to the winds,
forgive me.
I was only thinking of myself but I'm nothing 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 as Cyrus to
stamp out the wickedness that springs from this palace.
You're asking me to strive for his favor, 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 in love when there is war.
This is your war? Esther,
a softer war or fought with the 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.
Maybe places above the fate of so many others,
but I love him, Uncle.
Oh, how can you ask me to leave
you and chosen by the king?
It'll be
assessed.
I can't use any persuasion.
So 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.
Lord God of Israel,
guide me,
guide me.
Neo,
bow slowly,
raise your head
and await the king's decision.
Now, we will proceed
Neo
b
slowly slowly.
Now,
uh raise your heads slowly
arises
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 are 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,
please,
Hugh Viper.
I saw you. I heard you your poison tongue endangers me. Forgive me. Math
D
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 Harlem's Antechamber
tonight to be presented at the throne.
There is a small door of the slaves in there.
Draw the boat. How it's like a prison. Here it is the hour of rest. Even ha
I will go to his quarters. Go go now,
just go.
You see
the maid with the golden cape.
Remember,
remember? Well, the one
with the cape of gold.
This failure will be a blow to my prestige. But
let us have it done with
you. Go forth
vanity,
avarice. That cloak won't hide your wickedness.
Do not grieve that you've lost the splendor of the Golden Roe.
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.
Oh, where else
you are? Children of the kingdom, not captive concubines.
So it becomes merely a matter of paying obeisance. Go my sweet and farewell.
You may go
wait,
that face of light.
I remember
the man who fought the gods.
You can't be the king.
I sometimes wish I weren't.
What do you call
Eton?
And
you had been crying.
I remember. Tell me about it.
Your soldiers had just taken me from the man I was about to marry.
Well, there is the law
and I to one servant,
even though I dislike it at time,
you were 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 buy the commandments of my grandfather and you buy some faith.
I was determined to flaunt the sacred law by
declaring every aspirant outfit.
But now
I honestly cannot Ester and be a good king.
I can't deny that in my eyes.
You have fulfilled the 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 her command your heart to go with the state.
Attend to
ha I
as if she already wore the crown, my queen to be.
May I ask what fortune it maiden. My Lord has chosen
a girl named Esther.
Mm
and
monster of stupidity.
Mhm
Esther,
I have just left the king and he smiles again
often and readily.
Indeed,
each passing day seemed another proof that you were gods sent 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 patients and pep 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.
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.
Do you think that it was only admiration that I felt for Simon all these years?
Just, just the hero worship of the 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
good.
Mm
What a guy,
Simon, my poor boy
provisions.
I will see that you are kept supplied until
the men have played Dorothy's 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 a 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 alone 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 cannot do this.
I won't let you do it.
No. Oh, please take them away. Please leave me alone.
Wait, 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, I'm, I'm troubled by this life and by memories of another life.
Yes, I understand that.
How dare you come into my room?
Oh, 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 10th hour.
But uh
there is still time.
It's for us to know one another.
You must be mad.
This can destroy you and a serious. 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 himself.
Well, then get out, get out of here. I'll call the gods.
You won't
because I would tell assy
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 would,
you would plunge us all into destruction.
I
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 be in a dark mood when he receives me.
The moods of the great one are milk and honey. Now that he has a new favorite,
follow the upper corridor to lead you direct to his audience room.
The king has urgent dispatches for me to deliver to the province of Galen.
Have a chat at my disposal in case I'm charged with haste,
a brave lion, the symbol of Persia.
Oh, I hope he's a tame one.
Your gentleness will conquer him.
I fear I could never imitate a lover.
My hand was fashioned for the sword and not the strings of a liar.
And these feet
were not made to prance to music.
They're uncommonly large. Don't you think?
I used to think that
there'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 dare to defy the empire.
Yes, you have.
And on many innocent people too
because of the authority that you give to Hayman.
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.
But there is much warmth in my feeling for you as a man,
then at least have gained the outer Ramparts.
So you guide the inner citadel with more tenacity than the Greeks.
The a of a village girl for a king is not easily cast aside.
Don't think of me as a king in a palace,
but as a man who lives
pull up
you
best
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
different feelings, taking its place,
feelings that
well, that the
could be love.
My carriers are here from Nubia and tangent with gifts.
I'll be back
girls from the Far East
treasures from Nubia
Esther,
my
Esther.
I've come to take you away from
Simon.
Good fortune is with us, the doors open like magic and there's a chariot.
It can take us to Judah. If you like
Simon, you must go. You're in great danger here. You're in danger too.
And you're invited, standing alone against our enemies. Time and I have to do this.
The king is no longer our enemy. You love him.
I don't know. I don't know.
Yes, sir.
Oh, Simon. Please save yourself.
He should have you not kill it.
You're unharmed
man.
Stop
it.
He's a daring 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 from one of my governors and now he's made good his escape.
I will aa guard for your protection,
but I'd rather take care of you myself.
How long must I wait?
Ester
queen?
But the title of queen is much less important to me than wife of a cirrus. Then obey a
cirrus and wear a crown
and whatever else you desire will be yours,
even the half of the kingdom.
But I only want the kingdom of your heart
with its love
and its messy.
You already possess that
you rule my heart
and my life.
Arris.
Hey, J
have the concubine sent to the Winter palace.
Yes,
to hold the golden sword of Pac
Cyrus
and bear these tidings to him
someday. It'll spill his blood.
I
have gathered you here
to pay homage to Esther,
my queen.
He has given me a new vision of my Persia
which I never before looked upon with eyes of justice. Now
I see it.
Therefore,
taxes will be determined
according to conditions of scarcity or abundance and no longer by fixed levies.
General Clyde
Rothes
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 of Persepolis
and draw from its great surplus.
That is all
my noblemen 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 and Persia
who does not bow down
to our God,
Mithras
shall be put to death
and his goods
taken by the king.
Now, my Lord,
there is within the confines of Persia,
a people called
Jans who defiantly worship an alien God.
The law
is clear,
they must be annihilated
and by your commands. 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 set up on the throne.
Deny it sir. I cast it out. I beg you
listen not to him. My Lord,
I pray you
for. He
is one of the Judean,
the Lord, the Lord.
It is written
for any woman, even unto the queen who interrupts royal councils.
There is but one degree
and that is death.
Complete the text
except for her to whom the king holds out. The golden scepter.
I dare to speak a there
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 castile,
depression and intolerance.
Wherever you find it,
the
Jans may worship as they desire.
There will be a new code,
the code of
Osiris
and perhaps it will not be necessary for you to know it too well, Prince Haman,
for there's a governor's post in the Syrian desert
that requires no such astute knowledge.
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 Suan.
But if he goes to Persepolis, is he so announced
that may be delayed too by,
by a very important event,
the slaughter of the
Jans
and the hanging of Mordecai,
the forage tablets you gave me
when Hayman,
the moment will be determined by the will of the gods.
We shall cast the lots.
I never joined battle without the casting of purr,
the red sign of blood falls in the month of Ada.
And that is now
now indeed, it shall be tonight
and this is how it shall be done.
You will bear witness before the king that you saw me remove these tablets
with nothing added
and nothing eliminated
my good king.
We have all the evidence of a traitor.
I charged 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 sir,
your private plan for seizing the Grecian port at Athos copied in Greek.
And here
here a message in Hebrew
to a Judean
in Greek 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
would testify that the evidence is the same which
they saw hidden in the temple of the Hebrews
who would defile the ark of the temple
swears falsely, but I declared against violating the worship of the
Jans.
Yes, sir.
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 her.
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.
I was
sir
for we are Persian.
And before I brought this evidence to you,
I cast her 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 provoked my 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
he will step
to defend his
Juans.
No, no,
not Queen Esther.
The intimacy of conspirators.
What do you know Esther of Mordecai
is treason.
The only treason here is Ris is Haymans.
He's the one that should be on trial. But under laws far above this palace
words, words, words,
how 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.
Listen
to me, this judgment will be upon your sorrow.
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 out your scepter to me because I shall die anyway.
I am a Jew
Esther
as to 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 desert sand and
your gods are forgotten.
But I can't hate you for this decision. Azis
because I know that again, you were influenced by Hayman.
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 Azis
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.
You have been very patient. Replied,
Rati,
I restrain you no longer
and I offer 1000 talents
of gold
for his head.
The king must pass here on the caravan track.
And remember
Prince
Haman offers 1000 gold talents to the man who brings me the king's head.
Ok?
You scavenger of shush.
I thank the providence that put your filthy life into my hands.
You plundered your last helpless village
retreat.
Then we'll charge
three.
Does it surprise the greatest heroes to find the as 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 ray perhaps?
Would you not see if you were?
I if the king had used his power to steal the girl you were about to marry.
Now hold you fool
Esther was your betrothed.
Now she'll be your widow.
Yes.
Who
you risk your life when she can 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 door where you would enter.
She chose your life against mine
and gave the alarm.
You were the ones you put to flight. Her love was yours.
And his
glad Ratley is the one who tried to assassinate you.
I settled an old account with him.
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 and 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. Clay Brothers
and I condemned Estra
to Haman's hands 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 Judean.
Mm
It is the eve of the Sabbath of the
Jans.
They gather in their temple.
Osman
see that they never leave it.
Go go.
You will use your horsemen to put down any resistance in the city.
My good Schumer.
I give you the pleasure of escorting
their leader Mordecai to the gallows.
Talk with you,
Jessica,
the queen,
my
master.
I prophesy
that our Prince Hayman will be the most popular ruler in the history of Persia
at
university.
Don't worry, my stupid one.
The gates are guarded. No one can leave the city
or enter it.
Simon.
I served with you in the Egyptian campaign.
I'm a blacksmith now
the buyer,
I'm here on the king's orders to arm our people.
Are there any more of the old company in
Shushan enough for a car to fetch 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 and we'll arm them too to
seek them out and send them to the temple.
God, I called to the,
even as David could
in David's words, I affirm my love for thee.
The Lord is my shepherd. 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 in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yeah.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil
for thou art with me.
Thy rather
and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
I'll wait for 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
now
the day at last.
So they congregate like animals in the slaughter pen
simplifies my work.
You and you close the doors.
Who
goes there?
I bring a token to Prince Haven from General,
open the gate.
Ha a token from Clara
just go,
just go
my chariot,
open the door, open up,
seize him,
hang him,
hang him high
he that keepeth 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
pouring
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
first pur
in the
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 Cyrus gave you a choice of Romania,
it was a secret wish
that you would return to him
when you didn't,
he went away 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 his victories that I loved him.