Tiffany Dupont credited as playing...
Hadassah • Esther
- Hagai: [leading Esther to Xerxes chambers] You can let go of my arm now. He will be the fortunate one to choose you... He will be the one who congratulations are due...
- [she still won't let go]
- Hagai: Esther, my arm.
- Queen Esther: [in Xerxes's chambers, walking towards the stool]
- King Xerxes: [standing in the shadows] The scroll is on the stool. You may begin when ever you are ready.
- Queen Esther: [glances at the stool and back towards Xerxes]
- King Xerxes: [pacing around] Is there a problem?... Did they not tell you I weary at this procession of candidates? I simply wanted someone to...
- [stops and looks at Esther]
- King Xerxes: Wait. You were 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 I were this Rachel, in need of help to look after my father's sheep!
- Queen Esther: My lord, I meant no disrespect.
- King Xerxes: [walking towards her] And this is how you come to see me? Your only adornment before your one night with the king.
- Queen Esther: It is, your majesty.
- King Xerxes: You consider yourself of so little worth, that I could purchase your love so cheaply.
- Queen Esther: I was taught... that when you visit a King, rather than expect a gift, one should bring one to lay at his feet.
- [removes her necklace and offers it to him]
- Queen Esther: This is my most valuable possession in the world. It is my past, my present, and my future. And all of it is yours.
- King Xerxes: [takes her necklace and turns away] Some would call you foolish, indeed. As they would call your Jacob. Of all commodities, love is the easiest... and the most cheaply purchased.
- Queen Esther: [considerate] If it is for sale, my lord. It is not love.
- King Xerxes: Even you...
- [moving closer]
- King Xerxes: Even you must have a price.
- Queen Esther: I am neither a buyer nor a seller of love.
- King Xerxes: [earnestly] Suppose, my lady. A man offered you a more treasured gift. Say a kingdom.
- Queen Esther: [near tears] The only gift I would accept is your heart.
- King Xerxes: [taking her hands] Than it is yours. And you didn't have to serve 7 years to get it. Tell me, Esther of Susa. Who are you really? Tell me of your people. Teach me of your ways.
- Queen Esther: My father told me it takes the glory of God to conceal a matter. And it takes the honor of Kings to search it out.
- King Xerxes: Than marry me and we shall spend an eternity discovering this 'truth'... together.
- King Xerxes: Of all commodities love is the most cheaply purchased
- Queen Esther: If it is for sale, my lord, it is not love.
- King Xerxes: Tell me of your people, teach me of your ways
- Queen Esther: My father told me, It takes the glory of God to conceal the matter and the honor of kings to search it out.
- King Xerxes: Suppose, my lady. A man offered you a kingdom.
- Queen Esther: [almost in tears] The only gift I would accept... is your heart.
- Hagai: [to Esther as she is feeding the monkeys] I am curious, to whether you frustrate me of sincerity or to ensure you're never chosen Queen.
- Queen Esther: [getting to her feet, turning around] You assume I actually care about being chosen Queen.
- Hagai: I am serious!
- Queen Esther: Serious of what? Finding a real Queen? Is that why you subject us to these beauty treatments? These... classes?
- Hagai: You do not like our fine instructors?
- Queen Esther: They simply neglect to teach us some things.
- Hagai: Such as?
- Queen Esther: Well seemingly anything to do with actually being Queen. The thought well thought; the word well spoken; and the deed well done. As it is said in the great books.
- Hagai: [very amused] You read?
- Queen Esther: Many times.
- Hagai: [turns away and starts laughing]
- Queen Esther: [going after him] Before I received your 'invitation', I was reading of Gilgamesh and the Babylonian!
- Hagai: You read not for the candidates this evening?
- Queen Esther: [sadly] My throat is soar.
- Hagai: Your throat or your heart? It has only been a few days since your read for him.
- Queen Esther: [walking] A few days is a thousand years. If Xerxes had found pleasure in me, surely he would have...
- Hagai: You think a eunuch can know love? That before I was a cripple of a man, there was one that held my heart.
- Queen Esther: What became of her?
- Hagai: I know not. I never found the courage to return to face her again.
- Queen Esther: Perhaps, instead of asking questions of our trials, our trials are ment to ask questions of ourselves.
- Prince Memucan: [playing an ancient, lifesize version of chess] Now let me see... you over there.
- Queen Esther: Why can not a truce be arranged?
- King Xerxes: Truce? That devil, Memucan has beat me twice in a row.
- Queen Esther: I fear losing you.
- King Xerxes: I gave an oath
- [rising to feet, with Esther]
- King Xerxes: to my father.
- Queen Esther: He's the one I fear losing you to. You must dream You'll be gone much in the coming months.
- King Xerxes: Keep this for me.
- [giving her the necklace]
- Queen Esther: But it is yours.
- King Xerxes: Than be at peace. I always return for what is mine.
- [before kissing her]
- Prince Memucan: Will thoust sit there all day, my lord!
- [gesturing for him to play]
- Hagai: [listening to Esther and others read an Old Babylonian heroic poem from behind a pilar] Gilgamesh. In the original. I read translation, never the original.
- Queen Esther: [now beside him, smiling] You read?
- Queen Esther: [surprised by Hagai] You have a very bad habit.
- Hagai: The palace is no place for children.
- Queen Esther: You think of me as a child? Well, you are wrong. I am much younger than that!
- [lauging and dancing around]
- Hagai: How do they call you?
- Queen Esther: [stopping] Esther.
- Hagai: Curious name. From where you come?
- Queen Esther: [dancing around] I'm of the wind, whose sound is heard. Yet none know from whence it comes or where it goes.
- Hagai: Well, we gather with in the hour. Try not to blow away before then.
- [leaves Esther laughing and dancing]
- Hagai: Where are you from?
- Queen Esther: I am... of the wind. Whose sound is heard yet none can tell from whence it comes or where it goes.
- Hagai: Well, we gather in an hour. Try not to blow away before then.
- Queen Esther: Let my life be given me, at my petition and my people at my request
- King Xerxes: You demand me your life, and that of your people? My dear girl,I know not of your people, you have yet to tell me who they are.
- Queen Esther: Have we been nearly sold as slaves? I would have held my tounge, This... This Haman wanted our blood, my blood, the blood of Jacob, your Jacob. Your Jacob was given a new name, Israel. As do was I.
- King Xerxes: You... Esther, a Jew?
- Queen Esther: Not Esther, my lord, Hadassah Batabihan ,Daughter of the tribe of Benjamen, Child of the most high God.
- Haman, the Amelekite: Never have I heard I heard a more pathetic story in my entire life.
- Queen Esther: Please God. Look upon us with favor and turn this dungeon into someplace wonderful.
- Queen Candidate: Is this the dungeon or someplace wonderful...
- Jesse: [finding Esther by the garden pool] They tell you're called Esther now.
- Queen Esther: [turning around and hugging him] Oh Jesse.
- Jesse: [correcting] Hatack.
- Queen Esther: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pagan names too. We're in good company.
- Jesse: [very stricken] The names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were thrown into the furnace.
- Queen Esther: [laughing] But than what happened?
- Jesse: Come on. I've found a way out and there's a caravan leaving for Jerusalem tonight... So we can get out of here.
- Queen Esther: Escape?... Jesse, I... I can't leave... What if... What if I am chosen?
- Jesse: What if you're chosen what? What if you are chosen Queen? Look what they's done to us? What good could come of any of this?
- Queen Esther: Perhaps, instead of asking questions of our trials, our trials are ment to ask questions of ourselves.
- Jesse: They cut me!... I know we can't be what I hope, but...
- Queen Esther: [as he leaves] Jesse... I can't leave. I'm sorry. Sorry.
- Hagai: [to Esther, as the other chose from the royal jewels] You stand not impressed?
- Queen Esther: [shyly] Matters not what impresses me. How is one to choose when they know not what impresses the King. Will you teach me?
- Hagai: I will do far more than that. Come.
- [open the box on the table and gives her the necklace]
- Hagai: A recent acquisition, one I believe the King will find most pleasing.
- Queen Esther: [in her prayers] Obedient I have been. I walk before you with a loyal heart and now I stand in the hour of trouble precisely because of my obedience. I beseech you father. Let there be another way. Rise up a deliverer and let this pass... let this pass.
- King Xerxes: [Xerxes is returning from the training camp, having been gone for quite some time] Have you had a busy morning?
- Queen Esther: Not as busy as it could get.