Esther and the King (1960)

Richard Egan: King Ahasuerus

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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.

• King Ahasuerus : Now I will stem the ambitions of that young Macedonian upstart. What's his name?

  Haman : Alexander.

  King Ahasuerus : That's it.

• 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!

• [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] 

• 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!

• [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.