All language subtitles for Esther and the King (1960) EN

The time
is 2,500 years ago.

The place is Persia.

The man is Ahasuerus, King of
the Medes and the Persians,

Ruler of 127 provinces, the
most powerful man on earth.

The army of the conqueror
of all the lands from India

To Ethiopia.

They are returning home now
from fresh victories in Egypt.

Women camp over
there by the water.

Then only two more
marches to Shushan.

Shall I send a messenger
to herald my king's arrival?

Perhaps not.

It would give disloyalty
time to put on its mask.

However, I already know
someone who wears the mask.

Send your messenger.

Well, Simon, my loyal
Judean, you no longer

Need that rusty sword of bronze.

I don't understand, sire.

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.

A sword of the golden rooster.

Persia's greatest military.

You're free to go
home now, Simon.

And when you're rested, there'll
be a place for you in my honor

Guard at the palace at Shushan.

Aye?

A royal guard to the
king of the world.

My betrothed won't believe
this could happen to me.

Who?

A girl of my village.

We shall be married
before I go to Shushan.

A gift for the bride.

And may the gods
make her fertile.

May my god bless you, sire.

Take him to his house.

It is against the will of Haman,

The king's chief minister.

He demands an example to all
who can not pay their taxes.

Haman's will offends
the will of God.

You heard the executioner.

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,

Or cut him down
and take him home?

Esther.

Hi.

Oh.

There will be no more hanging
now that the king is back.

He is a just king.

He has given me
honors and 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
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 your 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 Ahasuerus is our king.

You must admit he's generous.

This is his gift for you.

So he bought your devotion with
gifts, this beautiful thing.

While our people are
starving and men hang,

He gives you this from
his bloodstained hand.

Oh, forgive me, Simon.

I've dreamed of the day
that you would return,

But the dream wasn't like this.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

The king approaches
with his army!

The king's messenger!

Open the gate.

The king approaches Shushan.

The king.

The king, Queen Vashti.

But not until tomorrow.

I have followed his progress.

He is 10 leagues from Shushan.

The army is not
even in sight yet.

Time is still with us.

No, Haman.

Your time has ended.

Ha, my time?

Our time, if that
saves your pride.

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?

Ahasuerus 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 Vashti.

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 Haman.

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 hold the
king in my arm's

Again, then who will he believe?

Hm?

I agree, Vashti.

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 Haman.

Take care it does
not loosen your tongue.

Great lord of Media and Persia.

Shaker of the Earth,
master of the world,

Sovereign of Assyria
and Babylon and Egypt,

Conqueror of Southern 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
Klydrathes, what

Is the condition of your army
which remained in Persia?

Splendid, Master.

Splendid.

Where is, uh, Lord Mordecai?

Sire, he is the
one councilor whose

Cooperation I have not had.

It appears he pays
reverence to no one

But his invisible Hebrew god.

Mordecai.

Welcome, sire.

Welcome back to Shushan.

I see my king is 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 him my niece in marriage.

You are a man of
warmth, Mordecai.

That is why I was
surprised to note

Your absence at 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 Haman.

I have no fondness for the man,
but he is a politic necessity...

Efficient, though overzealous.

But let us speak of something
more cheerful... Queen Vashti.

I trust she has not
pined for me too much.

Her beauty is undiminished.

And her behavior?

Still gaily 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, sire.

My vision does not
penetrate into the harem

Of the queen's apartment.

My king, my beloved husband,
how long I've waited.

Adulteress.

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, Vashti.

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, Ahasuerus, I
pray you believe me.

I would rather die a
real death than lose you.

Now send for your
lovers, harlot.

Samuel.

Oh, Simon.

Aha.

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 would 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,

For how can love
untested ever be sure?

Oh, yes, yes.

That's true.

I haven't ever looked
at anybody else.

Maybe I should have
done. Simon.

Oh.

Simon.

Oh, Mordecai.

Our great soldier.

The image of a David.

The image of a good husband
for your Esther, I hope.

Mm.

We didn't expect you so soon.

I know.

And I'm afraid the
business of the king

Will keep you from your wedding.

Oh, 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, a mezuzah.

Thank you, Uncle.

Our thoughts will always
be with you, Mordecai,

While this was mezuzah
protects our home.

Yes, and I hope that
you'll protect him

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?

Yes, something
has changed him...

A disillusionment, a despair.

That is why I cannot
attend your wedding.

It is imperative that
I remain at the palace.

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 baying at the moon?

Probably
a.

No, no.

She is the woman of the
keeper of the wild animals.

What courtier decided to bore
me with this sorry spectacle?

Your chief eunuch, Hegai.

- I'm going to the feast.
- Prepare me.

Hurry, hurry!

Hooray!

Our king.

Hooray!

For your good health, sire.

Our noble Judean
seems to have no liking

For my king's enjoyment.

By your leave, sire,
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.

Uh, who are these
people you speak of?

Oh, some of your Hebrew aliens.

Of Israel's religion,
yes, but not alien.

We are loyal
subjects of the king.

And now, with his
permission, I shall

Withdraw to attend
to his affairs.

Tell me, Mordecai,
are we well-prepared

For an expedition
against the Greeks?

The home army of
General

Has a total of
400,000 men on foot

And 60,000 mounted soldiers.

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 to war.

I have been your
councilor and councilor

To your father Darius.

I have seen death
and destruction.

I thought, how splendid it will
be if all this waste of wealth

Could be turned 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 of peace?

Perhaps because war has
forever driven us, dispersed us,

Made of us a people
lost, seeking

Always for some have 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 their private
worshipping of a god

Who shows no signs of existence.

Stronger and wiser men than you
have felt the power of my god...

The pharoah of Egypt,
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

Beware, Haman, do not tempt him.

Let him defend you if I
decide to cut your hear out.

He will, Haman.

He will.

Don't you ever draw a
blade in my council chamber,

Or I will kill you myself.

Mordecai, transcribe
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 Athos.

It is the key.

From Athos, 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.

You remember, it must be
kept a secret at all costs.

A shame.

Oh!

The laws of Persia clearly
state the punishment

For a queen who
shames the throne.

That are two alternatives...
Death or banishment.

Banish her.

This very night, my lord.

I shall return her to
her tribe of Aryas.

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 knowledgeable
of the law of the Achaemenids?

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 mail 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
unto Shushan 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 error.

The 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, um, 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 lessening the burdens of
others, one removes his own.

The joy you would
travel to seek could

Thus be found in yourself.

And in time, perhaps,
uh, you will find it.

Gisko.

Go quickly to the house
of my beloved Keresh.

Tell her to come to me at once.

Yes, Master.

You mind if I drink
some of your Syrian wine?

There is another matter
even more important.

It has to do with Queen Vashti.

Yes, Master.

Our poor king.

In his
sorry state of mind,

He'll not be in any
hurry to inspect

His treasury at Persepolis.

Sometimes I feel you
overdo your plunder 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
for 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 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 any guile comes
to the king's attention,

I have found the
perfect scapegoat.

Who?

Mordecai and his whole
colony of Judeans in Persia.

Ah!

Oh!

Here is the war secret
which the king entrusted

To Mordecai's 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.

My brilliant Haman.

You will keep these
tables in your possession

Until suspicion threatens us.

Then I'll tell you how
to turn them to our use.

Keresh.

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 concubine.

But you will, Klydrathes.

You will.

This will be history, for if the
perfume of a rose is pleasing,

Nobody's going to ask
who crushed the petals.

Your only love is danger, Haman,

And you caught it with
the passion of a madman.

My timid general, here is
the 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
will wear the diadem

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.

What are you doing?

Leave her alone.

Oh, let me go.

Let me go!

Simon!

Simon!

Let go!

Simon!

Simon!

Simon!

For her sake and yours, don't!

Don't let them take you.

Run!

Did you see him
try to murder me?

Find him!

Bring him to me alive!

Sack 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 our monarch.

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 Circassian.

And the one who
sits in the corner.

Your guard may have them, heh.

And after that,
you can send them

To the soldiers at the garrison.

It is dangerous, Prince Haman.

Hegai the eunuch is
a sharp guardian.

Yes, but you must
have some guards

Whose lives you would
not mind risking.

Yes.

I have three new recruits
not worth their salt.

Ha, strangers to the palace.

All the better.

Assign them.

Dangle the reward of
women and disclaim them

As lustful beacons
if they're caught.

Only the ten most beautiful will

Be sent to the king
for the final choosing.

So tomorrow, I will judge you.

Oh, dear God of Israel,
someone in Shushan

Is Mordecai, who has
been like a father to me.

Please let him know
what's happened to me.

Please let him know soon.

Oh, please.

Esther?

Esther?

And I told you, they're
taking of her was only

The beginning of many
horrors for our people.

From that one spot,
Holocaust.

Ah, I must find
some way to stop it.

But first, Esther.

Simon believed that your
influence with the king

Would free her.

No, he has become
indifferent to everything

But his own bitterness.

Haman, the chief minister, that
prince of festering corruption,

Is 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.

That's the way!

Put him down.

Roll him.

Tyriak, 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.

The 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.

Stop!

Ah!

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 him.

Uncle Mordecai!

Where's Simon?

Where is he?

Take me to him.

Please, please take me to him.

I can't, Esther.

He fought the king's
general, and now

They hunt him like an animal.

At the village they
looted and scourged.

They did likewise to
every Judean settlement

In their path.

They hung Emmanuel
the Blacksmith.

They drove the women and
children into the wilderness.

Our people are now
scattered to the winds.

Oh, forgive me.

I was only thinking of
myself, but I'm nothing.

Ah, 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 Ahasuerus to
stamp out the wickedness

That springs from this palace.

You're asking me to
strive for his favor?

Yes, 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 from
war.

This is your war, Esther.

A softer war fought
with 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

If he places it above the
fate of so many others.

But I love him, Uncle.

Oh, how can you ask me to
leave him forever?

If I'm chosen by the king,
it'll be a.

I can't use any persuasion.

No, 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.

Oh.

Guide me.

Guide me.

Kneel.

Bow, slowly.

Raise your head.

And await the king's decision.

Now we will proceed.

Kneel.

Bow.

Slowly, slowly.

Now, uh, raise
your heads slowly.

Arise.

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're 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 it.

Please.

You viper.

I saw you.

I heard you.

Your poisoned
tongue endangers me.

Forgive me, Master.

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 harem's antechamber

Tonight to be presented
at the throne.

There is a small door
of the slaves in there.

Draw the bolt.

How?

It's like a prison here.

Ah, it is the hour of rest.

Even Hegai will go
to his quarters.

Go, go now.

Gisko, you see the maid
with the golden cape?

Remember, remember well the
one with the cape of gold.

This will
be a blow to my prestige,

But let us have it done with.

You, go forth.

Vanity!

That cloak won't
hide your wickedness.

Do not grieve that
you've lost the splendor

Of the golden robe.

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.

Home?

Where else?

You are children of the
kingdom, not captive concubines.

So it becomes merely a
matter of paying.

Go, my sweet, and fair well.

You may go.

Wait.

That face of light I remember.

The man who fought the guards.

You can't be the king.

I sometimes wish I weren't.

What are you called?

Esther.

And you had been crying.

I remember.

Tell me about it.

Your soldiers had just
take me from the man

I was about to marry.

Well, there is the law.

And I too am it's servant, even
though I dislike it at times.

You are 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 by the commandments
of my grandfather,

And you by some fate.

I was determined to
flaunt the sacred law

But declaring every
aspirant unfit.

But now I honestly cannot,
Esther, and be a good king.

I can't deny that
in my eyes, you

Have filled they
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 it command your
heart to go or to stay.

Attend her, Hegai, as if
she already wore the crown.

My queen to be.

May I ask which fortunate
maiden my lord has chosen?

A girl named Esther.

Idiot.

Idiot!

Monster of civility.

Esther.

I've just left the king.

And he smiles again,
often and readily.

Indeed, each passing
day seems another proof

That you were a godsend
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
patience and perhaps

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.

Oh, 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.

But then do you think that it
was only admiration that I felt

For Simon all
these years, just...

Just the hero
worship of a 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.

Simon!

Simon!

Simon!

Simon!

It's Mordecai!

Mordecai.

Simon, my poor boy.

Provisions.

I will see that
you're kept supplied

Until the men of Klydrathes
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 her 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 only 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 can't do this.

I won't let you do it.

No, oh, please.

Take them away.

Please leave me alone.

Wait, I'm... 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'm... I'm trouble
about by this life.

And by memories of another life.

How dare you come into my room?

Ah, 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 10 hour.

But, uh, there is still time
for us to know one another.

You must be mad.

This can destroy you.

And Ahasuerus 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 so.

Well, then, get out.

Get out of here, or
I'll call the guards.

You won't.

Because I would tell
Ahasuerus 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 wouldn't.

You would plunge us
all into destruction.

Not 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 going be in
a dark mood when he receives.

The moods of the great
one are milk and honey

Now that he has a new favorite.

Follow the upper corridor.

It'll lead you direct
to his audience room.

The king has urgent
dispatches for me

To deliver to the
province of Galan.

Have a chariot at my disposal
in case I'm charged with it.

A brave lion, the
symbol of Persia.

Oh, I hope he's a tame one.

Your gentleness
will conquer him.

Oh.

I fear I could never
imitate a.

My hand was fashioned
for the sword

And not the strings of a lyre.

And this feet were not
made to prance to music.

They're uncommonly large,
don't you think?

I used to think that
they'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
dared to defy the empire.

Yes, you have.

And on many innocent
people too, because

Of the authority that
you give to Haman.

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.

Oh, but there is much warmth
in my feeling for you as a man.

Then at least I've gained
the outer parts,

Though you guard the inner with
more tenacity than the Greeks.

See, all the village
girls for a king

Is not easily cast aside.

Don't think of me as
a king in a palace,

But as a man who loves you,
who loves you very much.

Esther.

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
and different feelings taking

Its place, feelings that, well,
that... that could be love.

My couriers are here from
Nubia and Tangiers with gifts.

I'll be back.

Pearls from the Far East.

Treasures from Nubia.

Esther!

My Esther.

I've come to take you
away from Shushan.

Oh, no, Simon.

Good fortune is with us.

The doors open like magic,
and there's a chariot.

It could take us to
Judah if you like.

Simon, you must go.

You're in great danger here.

You're in danger too.

And you invite it, standing
alone against our enemies.

Oh, Simon, I had to do this.

The king is no longer our enemy.

You love him.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Esther!

Oh, Simon, please.
Save yourself.

He shan't have you.

I'll kill him.

You're unharmed?

Stop that man!

Stop him!

He's a 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 for
one of my governors.

And now he's made
good his escape.

I will double the guard for
your protection, Esther.

But I'd rather take
care of you myself.

How long must I wait?

Esther.

Queen Esther.

But the title of queen is
much less important to me

Than wife of Ahasuerus.

Then obey Ahasuerus
and wear a crown.

And whatever else
you desire will

Be yours, even to
have the kingdom.

But I only want the
kingdom of your heart,

With its love and its mercy.

You already possess that Esther,

You rule my heart and my life.

Arise.

Hegai, have the concubines
sent to the Winter Palace.

There he is!

Behold the golden
sword of King Ahasuerus,

And bear these tidings to him.

Someday it will spill his blood.

I have gathered you here to
pay homage to Esther, my queen.

She has given me a new vision of
my Persia, which I never before

Looked upon with
eyes of justice.

Now I see it.

Therefore, factors will
be determined according

To conditions of
scarcity or abundance

And no longer by fixed levies.

General Klydrathes 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 at Persepolis

And draw from its great surplus.

That is all.

My nobleman 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's"

Persia who does not bow
down to our god Mithras

"Shall be put to death and
his good taken by the king."

Now, my lord, there is,
within the confines of Persia,

A people called Judeans who
defiantly worship an alien god.

The law is clear.

They must be annihilated.

And by your command, 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

Sat upon the throne.

Deny it, sire.

Cast it out.

I beg you.

Listen
not to him, my Lord,

I pray you, for he is
one of the Judeans.

Ahasuerus, Ahasuerus.

The law!

The law!

It is written for
any woman, even unto

The queen, who
interrupts royal council,

There is but one decree.

And that is death.

Complete the text.

"Except for her to whom the king
holds out the golden scepter."

I dare to speak, Ahasuerus,
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 cast
out oppression

And intolerance
wherever you find it.

The Judeans may
worship as they desire.

There will be a new code,
the Code of Ahasuerus.

And perhaps it will
not be necessary

For you to know it
too well, Prince Hama,

For there's a governor's post
in the Syrian desert that

Requires no such
astute knowledge.

Make way!

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 Shushan.

But if he goes to Persepolis
as he so announced.

That may be delayed too by
a... by a very important event.

The slaughter of the Judeans?

And the hanging of Mordecai.

The forged tablets you gave me?

When, Haman?

The moment will be determined
by the will of the gods.

We shall cast the lots.

I never join battle
without the casting of pur.

The red sign of blood
falls on the month of Adar.

And that is now.

Now indeed.

It shall be tonight.

And this is how
it shall be done.

Look.

You will bear witness
before the king

That you saw me remove
these tablets with nothing

Added added and
nothing eliminated.

My good king.

We have all the
evidence of a traitor.

I charge 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, sire, your private
plan for seizing the Grecian

Port at Athos, copied in Greek.

And here, here a message in
Hebrew to a Judean in Greece.

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 will testify
that the evidence is the same

Which they saw hidden in
the temple of the Hebrews.

Any who defile the arc of
the temple swears falsely.

But I declared against violating

The worship of the Judeans.

Yes, sire.

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, sire.

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.

Ours, sire, for we are Persians.

And before I brought
this evidence to you,

I cast pur 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
provoke by 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, she risked death
to defend his Judeans.

No, no, Esther.

Esther, not Queen Esther.

The intimacy of conspirators.

What do you know, Esther,
of Mordecai's treason.

The only treason here,
Ahasuerus, is Haman's.

He's the one that should
be on trial, but under laws

Far above this palace.

Words, words, words.

Have 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.

Ahasuerus, listen to me.

This judgement
will be upon your soul

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
our your scepter to me,

Because I shall die anyway.

I am a Jew.

Esther, Esther, 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 the desert sand
and your gods are forgotten.

But I can't hate for
this decision, Ahasuerus,

Because I know that again
you were influenced by Haman.

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, Ahasuerus, 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.

Huh.

You have been very
patient, Klydrathes.

I restrain you no longer.

And I offer 1,000 talents
of gold for his head.

The king must pass here
on the caravan tracks.

And remember, Prince Haman
offers a 1,000 gold talents

To the man who brings
me the king's head.

You scavenger of Shushan.

I thank the providence that put
your filthy life into my hands.

You plundered your
last helpless village.

Oh!

Retreat, then we'll charge.

Does it surprise
the great Ahasuerus

To find he has 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're crazed.

Perhaps.

Would you not see,
if you were I,

The king had used
his power to steal

The girl you were
about to marry?

Now, hold, you fool
Esther, was your betrothed?

Thou shalt be your will.

Ho!

You risk your life when
she could 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 doorway

You would enter.

She chose your life against
mine and gave the alarm.

You were the one
she put to flight?

Her love was yours and is.

Help, help.

Klydrathes, the one who
tried to assassinate you,

I settled an old
account with him.

Help, oh, oh.

Oh!

Help.

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 of 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, Klydrathes.

And I condemned Esther
into Haman's hand,

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 Judeans.

It is the eve of the
sabbath of the Judeans.

They gather in their temple.

Azmand, see that
they never leave it.

Gerka, you will
use your horseman

To put down any
resistance in the city.

My good Shumer, I
give you the pleasure

Of escorting their leader
Mordecai to the gallows.

Off with you!

Gisko, the queen.

Yes, Master.

Guards!

Guards!

I prophesied that
our Prince Haman

Will be the most popular ruler
in the history of Persia.

Don't
worry, my stupid one.

The gates are guarded.

No one can leave the
city, or enter it.

Simon!

I served with you on
the Egyptian campaign.

I'm the blacksmith now.

Tobiah, I'm here on the
king's order to arm our people.

Are there any more of the
old company in Shushan?

Enough for a core of
defense, 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.

Then we'll arm them to, Tobiah.

Seek them out and send
them to the temple.

Good.

Oh, dear God, I call to
thee, even as David called.

In David's words, I
affirm my love for thee.

The Lord is my sheperd,
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 on the paths of
righteousness for his namesake.

Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,
for thou are with me.

Thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence

Of mine enemies.

Ha.

I'll wager 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.

Our day at last.

So they congregate like
animals in the slaughter pen.

Simplifies my work.

You and you, close the doors.

Who goes there?

A bring a token to Prince
Haman from General Klydrathes.

Open the gate.

Ah, a token from Klydrathes.

Gisco.

Gisco, my chariot!

Open the door!

Open up!

Seize him.

Hang him.

Hang him high.

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 Purim.

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.

The first Purim, 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 Ahasuerus
gave you a choice of remaining

Here, it was his secret wish
that you would return to him.

When you didn't, he
went way 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 would never
that I loved him.