Esther and the King (1960)

Joan Collins: Esther

Photos 

Quotes 

• Hegai : A plain white gown. Such simplicity! Was it your choice?

  Esther : Yes.

  Hegai : 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.

  [to the servants] 

  Hegai : Fetch me the cloak of gold!

  [to the maidens] 

  Hegai : You may rest, my little doves.

  [Hegai brings the golden cloak] 

  Esther : I am grateful, but I don't wish to be so favored.

  Keresh : I will accept it.

  Esther : Oh, yes. Yes, give it to her.

  Hegai : [to Keresh]  Speak only when you're spoken to!

  Keresh : Take care, eunuch! I have mighty friends.

  Hegai : In the brothels of the street of the soldiers, no doubt!

  [to Esther] 

  Hegai : Here, my child. I ask you to wear it. Please.

  [wraps the cloak around Esther] 

• 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.

• 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.

• Esther : If I'm chosen by the King, it'll be as Esther. I can't use any persuasion.

  Mordecai : 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.

  Esther : [praying]  Oh Lord God of Israel, guide me. Guide me.

• Esther : [sees Mordecai in the palace]  Uncle Mordecai! Where's Simon? Where is he? Take me to him. Please, please take me to him.

  Mordecai : 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.

  Esther : Oh, forgive me. I was only thinking of myself, but I'm nothing.

  Mordecai : 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.

  Esther : You're asking me to strive for his favor?

  Mordecai : Yes. Forgetting Simon, forgetting your own small dreams, forgetting all this but the deliverance of our people.

  Esther : I want the life they took away from me! I want Simon!

  Mordecai : Simon is a soldier. He turns aside from love when there is 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 for the soldier's pride.

  Esther : He would despise me!

  Mordecai : Then his love would not be worthy, if he places it above the fate of so many of us.

• [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] 

• Mordecai : Esther!

  [finds Esther in the garden] 

  Mordecai : I've just left the King and he smiles again, often and readily. Indeed, each passing day seems another proof that you were God-sent 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.

  Esther : I'm in no danger, Uncle Mordecai. So far he's shown nothing but kindness to me.

  Mordecai : You do not know him as I do. His violence can be great.

  Esther : You see him as a man among men. You do not see him as I do - through a woman's eyes.

  Mordecai : Oh! Surely such a quick defense can only spring from affection.

  Esther : 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?

• Esther : How dare you come into my room!

  Haman : Ugh! 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 in the tenth hour. But, uh, there is still time for us to know one another.

  Esther : You must be mad! This can destroy you.

  Haman : And Ahasuerus also, if you force me to tell him that you often invite me to share your lonely evening hours.

  Esther : Your such a liar he'd never believe you!

  Haman : You're no match for me in this game, Esther. Mine is a life of hazards, so please do not aggravate me. Our King is happy with his faith in you. Let us keep him so.

  Esther : Well, then get out. Get out of here or I'll call the guards!

  [Esther heads toward the gong but is detained by Haman] 

  Haman : 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 facts that we require each other - you and I.

  [Esther runs to the gong and is about to strike it but Haman grabs her hand] 

  Haman : You would... you would plunge us all into destruction.

  Esther : Not the King, if I can help it! But you, Haman! I'll find a way to destroy you!

• [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.