ESTHER (Scene Outline)
Region: Africa and India
Location: The Kingdom of Susa
Era: Biblical Times (Old Testament)
Date: Third Year of the Reign of King Ahasuerus
CHARACTERS
ESTHER, a young Israelite woman
MORDECAI, her cousin
HAMAN, officer of King Ahasuerus
AHASUERUS, King of Susa
HEGAI, eunuch in charge of the King’s harem
THE COUNCIL, advisors to Ahasuerus
VASHTI, 1st wife of Ahasuerus
MALE SERVANTS (2)
HANDMAIDENS (2)
PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
PEOPLE OF SUSA
ACT I
1) The King’s Bacchanalia (Ahasuerus, Vashti, The Council, Haman, Guests)
o Ahasuerus throws his party. Sends Hegai to fetch Vashti.
o Vashti (off-center, separate) argues with Hegai and refuses the King’s order.
o Rejected, Ahasuerus furiously leaves the banquet with The Council.
2) The King’s Council
o The Council advises Ahasuerus to demote Vashti by royal decree; Haman, heretofore ignored at court, suggests that the King seek another wife. Ahasuerus agrees with Haman and The Council.
o Upon hearing the royal decree, the People of Susa are amazed at what has happened, while Ahasuerus vows that if his new wife ever enters his presence without his approval, he will have her executed. The Council celebrates the King’s willingness to show his power.
3) Mordecai’s Home
o Esther remembers the beauty of her home in Jerusalem, and the love of her parents. She wonders if her tragic story can ever have a happy ending.
o Mordecai enters to tell her that the King's officials are rounding up young women to take to the palace. He prays with her, telling her to be strong, that there may yet be a purpose for everything she's endured, ultimately warning her not to reveal her background or heritage. Their Israeli neighbors join the prayer, asking for protection and favor for Esther. Soon thereafter the King's officials arrive, ordering Esther to go with them.er.
4) The Palace at Susa
o Esther enters the palace with the other women but is separated from the group while marveling at the riches surrounding her; she soon encounters Vashti on her way out of the palace. At first speaking viciously toward Esther, Vashti is soon overcome by the girl's natural grace and gentleness. She softens a bit toward her, warning her that the King's love is both a fan and a flame, and the freedom of royalty comes at a price. Esther thanks Vashti for her brief kindness, before the queen turns to leave the palace with her entourage.
o Hegai finds Esther wandering around and, mildly berating her, brings her to the apartments of the harem, where she meets the other young women, many of whom are from wealthy and noble families. Her unpretentious, natural beauty captures Hegai's attention, and he sets her aside with her own apartment along with seven other extraordinarily beautiful women.
o The women undergo beautification and edification rituals to prepare them for royal presentation (time lapse).
o Before presentation to the King, each woman is allowed to take one item from the harem. Whereas all the other women take jewels, precious stones, robes, etc., Hegai advises Esther to take a simple, lovely flower, knowing that she will seem more innocent and humble than Vashti or the other women. When Esther enters the throne room, she offers the flower to the King, who falls for her immediately. After a brief visit, he orders the royal crown and robes to be brought in and given to her, declaring her his new queen.
5) The Plot Against the King
o At the palace gates, Mordecai is talking to the locals, who are telling him about how the new Queen, Esther, has found favor with the King and his entire court. Two of the King’s disgruntled eunuchs, however, are making threats against the King, insulted by his promotion of Hegai, over them, as chief overseer of all the King’s harems.
o Mordecai follows the two men, overhearing them as they review their plot to kill the King. Slipping away, Mordecai sends a sealed letter via messenger to Esther.
o In her private palace apartment, Esther reads Mordecai’s letter. Following his instructions, she calls her servant to ask for an audience with the King, who accepts her request.
o In the King's throne room, Esther explains that a "stranger" named Mordecai has uncovered an assassination plot and asks the King to investigate. Furious, the King calls in Haman, sending him to find and arrest the men. Ahasuerus thanks Esther, who tells him his favor is the only thanks she needs.
6) Haman and Mordecai
o Recently promoted to a lead official at court following his investigation of the eunuchs’ assassination plot, Haman is walking by the palace gates with his aid, enjoying his new status, as the citizens bow before him per the King’s command. He stops short, however, when Mordecai, again talking to the locals for information about Esther, refuses to bow. After a brief, terse exchange, Haman walks away, asking his aid about the man who didn’t bow. His aid tells him the man’s name is Mordecai, from the people of Israel. Haman is insulted and enters the palace.
o On another day (time lapse), Haman passes through the citadel streets, where everyone bows to him except Mordecai. Again, they exchange words, with Mordecai refusing to acknowledge Haman’s position.
o A third time (time lapse, different day) Haman walks along the palace gates, and Mordecai still refuses to bow. Enraged, Haman storms off into the palace.
7) Finale to Act I
o Haman realizes he can’t have Mordecai arrested or killed because of Mordecai’s role in uncovering the assassination plot, so he vows to make him pay by destroying all the Israelites. His riches, power, and position mean nothing to him as long as he sees Mordecai the Israelite sitting at the King’s gate. At the same time, Esther is celebrating her newfound fortune in the palace with the King, Mordecai prays and reaffirms that there’s only One to Whom he will ever bow, and the people of Israel offer thanks for Esther’s rise to influence.
ACT II
1) Haman and Ahasuerus
o While meeting with the King, Haman informs Ahasuerus that certain immigrants in the kingdom are following their own native customs rather than royal laws. If word of their rebellion spreads, the King’s power will suffer. Haman suggests that Ahasuerus decree that these people be destroyed, facilitated by a payment of 10,000 talents of silver for any of the King’s officials who carry out his orders. After a brief conversation, the King agrees, giving Haman his signet ring as confirmation.
o Upon leaving the King, Haman revels in his newfound power, which he will exercise by destroying not just the only man in the kingdom who refuses to bow to him, but all of the man's people, as well. He writes the decree in the name of the king, authorizing the slaughter of Mordecai and all his people, and sends it via courier to the royal heralds.
o As Haman returns to the King's chamber, they sit down together to toast the King's power, while outside the people of Susa are in an uproar at the decree that tens of thousands of Israelites must be killed. Absolute pandemonium.
2) Esther’s Choice
o In her chambers, Esther is told by her handmaiden that a man named Mordecai is mourning in the midst of the city square. Distressed, Esther orders a servant to quietly bring Mordecai to a side entrance to the palace so she can speak to him.
o At the secret palace entrance, Mordecai waits in agony to see his adopted daughter. When Esther arrives, she sees that Mordecai is beside himself. He immediately tells her about the King’s order, which grieves her. She asks Mordecai what can be done, and he says she must go to the King. She recoils, saying that the King hasn’t sent for her in thirty days, and if she goes to him but he doesn’t approve her visit, she’ll be put to death. Mordecai turns on her, saying she should not suppose that she will escape the King’s edit simply because she shares his bed in the palace. If she remains silent, Israel will be saved another way, but she and the remainder of her family will perish. Beyond this, she has always wondered what meaning her life could have, how her story would end; who knows but that she has come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther turns away from Mordecai into the palace, terrified.
o In a palace hallway, Esther is near tears. Why has she survived such agonies and disappointments in her life up to now, only to have her newfound happiness potentially destroyed? If she speaks up for her people, she may die and they might still be destroyed. If she doesn’t, the same fate may await them all. Still, Mordecai’s final words ring in her ears: who knows but that she has suffered and risen to power for such a time as this? She decides that this time, her fate will be a choice, rather than a circumstance.
o Esther returns to her chambers and writes a message to Mordecai, telling him to order every Israelite he can find to fast and pray for her for three days, after which she will visit the King, uninvited, even though it is forbidden. She ends the letter by saying, “If I die, I die.” She calls in her servant to deliver the note, then kneels at her bedside.
o Esther prays for her safety and her people, Mordecai leads the Israelites in prayer for Esther's successful visit to the King, and Haman exults in the imminent destruction of the Israelites.
o Three days later (time lapse), Esther dresses in her finest robes to see the King.
3) Esther’s Plot
o Esther approaches the door to the throne room; the King smiles at her and holds out his scepter. She touches the scepter and kneels before the King, who offers to give her anything she asks, even up to half of his kingdom. She asks Ahasuerus to invite Haman to a feast that she intends to prepare for the King; the King immediately agrees, then asks Esther again what she has come to request of him, repeating that he will give her anything she desires. She humbly demurs, agreeing to tell him at the feast.
o In the afternoon before Esther’s banquet, Haman celebrates his royal invitation by ordering his officers to erect gallows near the city center, on which he plans to execute Mordecai. He believes his power, confirmed by the King’s invitation, is absolute.
4) The Banquet
o At the banquet, Esther personally serves wine to Ahasuerus and Haman, both of whom are in high spirits. When the King asks once more what she would request of him, she begs him to spare her people, saying that the enemy of her people has conspired to have them slaughtered. Stunned and angry, Ahasuerus demands to know who would dare to do such a thing; Esther points to Haman and discloses his plot. Enraged beyond reason, the King storms off, leaving Haman and Esther alone together.
o Terrified and desperate, Haman practically assaults Esther while begging her for mercy. She refuses and tells him he is worse than a pariah to her people and will suffer the worst torment the King can muster. Nearly chasing her around the banquet room, Haman grabs her by the shoulders just as Ahasuerus re-enters. Esther pushes Haman away and runs to the King, who strikes Haman down and calls for the royal guards, one of whom informs the King that the royal gallows have been completed and are ready for the execution. Surprised, the King demands to know who would dare order an execution without his approval; he is told that Haman used the King's signet ring not only to order the slaughter of Esther's people, but also the execution of the man who foiled the assassination plot: Mordecai. Esther tells the King that Mordecai is her family, which infuriates Ahasuerus even more. He orders the officers to hang Haman on the gallows he had erected for Mordecai's execution. The King then gives Mordecai his signet ring and orders him to be clothed in royal robes.
5) Finale to Act II
o In the town square, amidst the people of Susa and Israel, Mordecai ordains the celebration of the feast of Purim as everyone celebrates the new accord among the diverse citizenry. Esther, Mordecai, and the Israelites give thanks as the King applauds his beloved Queen, and the people of Susa honor their King.