Esther and the King (1960)
Richard Egan: King Ahasuerus
Photos
Quotes
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King Ahasuerus : Do you realize, Esther, that you could be put to death for speaking out in this chamber?
Esther : Yes! And I don't ask you to hold out your scepter to me because I shall die anyway!
[pauses]
Esther : I am a Jew.
King Ahasuerus : Esther. Esther, renounce your faith... and live.
Esther : 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, Ahasuerus, because I know that again you were influenced by Haman.
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King Ahasuerus : I trample hard on some who dare to defy the empire.
Esther : Yes, you have. And on many innocent people, too, because of the authority that you give to Haman.
King Ahasuerus : Oh, I've tightened the reins on him, thanks to your constant mentioning of his wrongdoings. 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?
Esther : Oh, but there is much warmth in my feeling for you as a man.
King Ahasuerus : Then at least I've gained the outer ramparts, though you guard the inner citadel with more tenacity than the Greeks.
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King Ahasuerus : Now I will stem the ambitions of that young Macedonian upstart. What's his name?
Haman : Alexander.
King Ahasuerus : That's it.
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Queen Vashti : My king, my beloved husband! How long I've waited!
King Ahasuerus : Adulteress.
Queen Vashti : What? Have you gone mad?
King Ahasuerus : No, I have my senses or I'd kill you. You shame this palace with your corruption.
Queen Vashti : Someone has filled your head with lies.
King Ahasuerus : True! 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!
Queen Vashti : There are no names. There is no guilt.
King Ahasuerus : [pauses] Well, whoever it was, it's best I do not know. My pride would fall with the public punishment. Therefore I condemn you in private.
Queen Vashti : No!
King Ahasuerus : You will be forever dead to me.
Queen Vashti : [embraces Ahasuerus] Oh no, Ahasuerus! I pray you, believe me! I would rather die a real death than lose you.
King Ahasuerus : [throws her to the floor] Now send for your lovers, harlot!
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[Esther enters the throne room, kneels on a cushion in front of the King, bows her head, and then lifts her head to see the King]
King Ahasuerus : [looking at Esther] You may go.
[the King stands, heads toward another room, but turns to look at Esther again]
King Ahasuerus : Wait.
[he goes to Esther]
King Ahasuerus : That face of light, I remember.
Esther : The man who fought the guards! You can't be the King.
King Ahasuerus : I sometimes wish I weren't. What are you called?
Esther : Esther.
King Ahasuerus : And you'd been crying. I remember. Tell me about it.
Esther : Your soldiers had just taken me from the man I was about to marry.
King Ahasuerus : Well, there is the law. And I, too, am its servant, even though I dislike it at times. You were hoping that I would let you go, were you not?
Esther : No. No, not if this is...
King Ahasuerus : Your destiny. Well, it seems we are both bound. I, by the commandments of my grandfather, and you, by some faith. I was determined to flaw the sacred law by 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 fulfilled the decree of Cyrus.
[turns to a soldier behind him, who blows a horn]
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King Ahasuerus : 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.
[to Hegai]
King Ahasuerus : Attend her, Hegai, as if she already wore the crown.
Hegai : My Queen to be!
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[Ahasuerus brings a cub to Esther's room]
King Ahasuerus : A brave lion. The symbol of Persia.
Esther : Oh, I hope he's a tame one!
King Ahasuerus : Your gentleness will conquer him.