LIGHTS UP
Esther before Ahasuerus
Peter Paul Rubens, 1620
Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna
NARRATOR:
Now luckily for Esther, the golden Sceptre found its way to her.
So she was able to invite the King and Haman to a two-day banquet, thinking
that a King plied with a little liquor could only be a good thing for
her cause. Unfortunately for the Queen, Haman was one of those guys
who makes a
nasty drunk. So while Esther was making preparations for the second day of
festivities, Haman was building the gallows on which he planned to hang
Esther's favorite, if fashion-challenged, uncle. Next time Haman was to
speak unto the king, he would ask to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he
had prepared for him. But even the best laid plans can change in an
instant...and, well...you'll see what happened...
BLACKOUT
LIGHTS UP-VERY DIM- THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
KING AHASHUERUS is in bed, tossing and turning. ESTHER lies next to him.
First his arm flops over and hits her in the face. Then he rolls back to
his side of the bed. Then he flips over onto his back, and starts to snore,
louder, and louder and louder until finally he is so loud, he wakes himself
up with a jolt, sitting upright in his bed.
KING AHASHUERUS: What was that! (looks over to Esther) Are you asleep?
I'm not keeping you up, am I?
ESTHER (sarcastic): Whatever would make you think that?
KING AHASHUERUS: This is useless. I can't sleep. (turns on the LIGHT)
ESTHER (rolls over): Here, watch me. I'll show you how. (turns off the
LIGHT--BLACKOUT)
A few seconds pass.
KING AHASHUERUS: Esther?
ESTHER (now exhausted): Yes, My King.
KING AHASHUERUS: I've been thinking. Your guy Mordecai saved my life. I
put that one into my daily Gratitude Journal Scroll, but I didn't really do
anything to show him how much I appreciated that. Keep thinking...what
would Oprah do? What do you think?
Esther is fast asleep. KING AHASHUERUS looks at her, asleep, and lightly
touches her face, smiling. He lays back down on his side of the bed.
KING AHASHUERUS (to himself as he drifts off to sleep: It IS good to be the
King