Characters: Haman, Mordecai, Servants, Esther.
[Servants are standing and walking by the gate. Women come by carrying water jars. Mordecai stands apart from the crowd. Herald comes in.]
Herald: Bow the knee, bow the knee. The chief counselor, Haman, approacheth! Thus saith the King.
[Haman comes in. All bow to him except Mordecai.]
Haman [pointing to Mordecai]: Who is this man who doth not bow the knee to me?
First Servant: He is Mordecai, the Jew, my lord. [To Mordecai]: Why dost thou break the King's commandment?
Haman: Thou Jew! Dost thou think that thou art mightier than I, whom the King hath set above all the princes of the land? Thou shalt suffer for this. [Turns to servant.] Send letters unto all the King's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day—even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and to take the spoil of them for prey.
[Servant bows and goes away. Haman passes on, leaving Mordecai with two servants. Mordecai, in deep thought, walks anxiously up and down.]
Mordecai: I must see Queen Esther. Canst thou not take me to the Queen?
Second Servant [laughing scornfully]: Thinkest thou that the Queen will see thee?