| King Ahashverosh, Haman, Zeresh and Hegai enter. |
|
| Hegai: I’m sorry to hear about Vashti, your highness. She DID dance divinely! |
|
| King: I know, but she was SO disagreeable. Wives are supposed to cater to their husbands’ every whim. Isn’t that right, Zeresh?t |
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| Zeresh: Oh yes, sire. Absolutely, sire. [Aside, to audience] What century is HE living in? |
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| Haman: That’s right, your excellency. Zeresh always obeys me! |
| King: Frankly, Haman... [PAUSE] I suspect that she had better obey you... or suffer the consequences. You DO have a pretty nasty
temper. |
| Haman: It’s because I have so much responsibility, sir. You count on me to do an awful lot around here. In fact, I think it’s time for me to have
a new title. “Prime minister” just doesn’t cut it anymore. I would like to be known as “Tzar Haman.” [PAUSE] |
| King: Fine, fine... You can be the Tzar. I don’t care. I have much more important concerns at the moment. I need a new queen – and the
sooner the better! I’m lonely. |
| Hegai: Vashti has only been gone since the end of the last scene. How can you be lonely already? |
| King: I am a very impatient man! |
| Haman: You heard him, Hegai... Get out there and find him a queen! And while you’re at it, keep your eyes open for those nasty Jews. We
wouldn’t want one of THEM to be queen, now, would we?. |
| Hegai: Oh, no. Perish the thought, Haman! [PAUSE] |
| Haman: Perish... now THERE’S an idea! |
| Zeresh: I just love the way you think, Tzar Haman! [PAUSE] |
|
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