NARRATOR:
Once again, the King decided to have a party to celebrate his royal
wedding. So the king gave a great banquet to all his princes and servants
in honor of the new Queen Esther. He also granted a remission of taxes
to the provinces, and gave gifts with royal liberality. But as happy
as he was, little did he realize this was perhaps the best decision
he had ever made.
"Queen Esther"
Andrea del Castagno, c. 1450
Fresco transferred to wood
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
LIGHTS UP. Mordecai sits on the palace stoop, obviously hearing as 2
Palace Guards have what they think is a private conversation.
NARRATOR: Because during the whole beauty contest thing, Esther's Uncle
Mordecai, who was sitting at the king's gate, waiting to see how things
turned out for Esther, overheard two of the Kings guards plotting against
King Ahasuerus.
ESTHER comes out to see MORDECAI. He is elated to see the crown on her
head. He hugs her and rejoices, then turns visibly serious as he whispers
in her ear.
NARRATOR: Once Esther came out, and he knew her to be the new Queen,
Mordecai quickly relayed this information to the new Queen Esther, and
Esther told the king about the plot, in the name of Mordecai. (LIGHTS DIM)
When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both
hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in
the presence of the king. (LIGHTS UP)
THRONE ROOM OF KING AHASHUERUS
MORDECAI stands in front of KING AHASHUERUS, who is sitting on his throne,
HAMAN stands at the King's side, while members of the court and servants are
gathered in audience.
KING AHASHUERUS: (to Mordecai) You're the bomb, man. I won't forget it.
MORDECAI: My pleasure, your Majesty.
MORDECAI smiles, gives the King a slight nod.
KING AHASHUERUS: Haman, your turn. Come before me.
HAMAN does as the King requests. MORDECAI steps back to make room for
Haman.
KING AHASHUERUS (to Haman): You sir, know how to run one bodacious beauty
contest. Props, man. Serious props. You're the kind of guy that gets
ratings, if you know what I mean. The kind of guy you want leading your
team. So I'm giving you a long-term contract. How about that promotion
you've been asking for...consider it done. You're officially a Prince among
Princes now.
HAMAN: Thank you, My Lord.
As HAMAN turns and walks through the crowd, Princes and servants alike bow.
He eats up all the attention.
BLACKOUT
LIGHTS UP
Two servants have a conversation in front of KING AHASHUERUS'S PALACE.
SERVANT #1: Wasn't that kind of weird?
SERVANT #2: Well, I heard that Bertha told Naruja who told my cousin Rotha
that Mordecai is one of those Jews.
SERVANT #1: But he's the King. You don't not bow before the king. Even
Princes bow before the King.
HAMAN walks in front of the palace.
SERVANT #2: I don't know. I think the Jews have all kind of strange rules
and regulations.
HAMAN's ears perk at the mention
of the word "Jew". As he passes the two
servants, they bow in reverence. Suddenly, MORDECAI is in his path.
Literally, as the two of them bump into each other. HAMAN is knocked to the
ground as MORDECAI remains on his feet. The two servants bear witness to
their exchange. MORDECAI offers Haman his arm to help him to his feet.
MORDECAI: So sorry about that Haman. My mind must have been elsewhere.
Haman (furious): Really.
MORDECAI: Yeah, I don't what's with me. I'm sorry. I gotta go.
He takes off down the path.
SERVANT #2: (low voice, to other servant) You see...I don't think they bow
for anyone. Only their God.
Haman reacts. He has heard this comment, and doesn't like it one bit.
SERVANT #1: Oh, crap. I left the parsnips in the oven. They're probably
burnt to a crisp right now.
SERVANT #2: Wait!! (runs after SERVANT #1)
Haman, now left to himself in the courtyard, begins to fume.
Haman: Oh, yeah, Mordecai. You've gotta go, alright.
BLACKOUT
NARRATOR: Now when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance
to him, Haman was filled with fury. But he disdained to lay hands on
Mordecai alone. Didn't want to look bad. So, instead, Haman sought to
destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom
of Ahasuerus.
LIGHTS UP