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The purchaser of the horse claims he was not told. . .
of the vicious nature of the beast.
Yet in the terms of the contract, he was perfectly at liberty
to try the animal before offering payment,
or accepting delivery.
The seller has the right to remain silent
and let the buyer find any fault he can.
It is the buyer's fault if he does not do so.
The buyer must pay full price.
- Thank you, my lord. - Thank you, my king.
Zadok, why are there so many people here today?
There is great interest in the next case, my lord.
It came before the Provincial Governor of Gilead.
Old Bengeber?
The facts are simple, but the case, very complex.
Your judgment is eagerly awaited.
( rapping staff )
my Lord King--
the facts of this case. . .
are well established, and are not in dispute.
The two petitioners share a house on the outskirts of Gilead,
where they ply their trade as prostitutes.
Some six months ago, one gave birth,
and shortly thereafter, the second did likewise.
Both had boy children.
This dispute arose after one of the babies died.
You may each state your case.
You go first, you lying cow.
Then I'll tell the truth.
Well, we each have our own room--
Are you a citizen of this country?
Yet you show no respect to your king?
Now, rise--
state your name and the facts as you see them.
My name is Basemah.
It was just us in the house.
Us and our babies.
I'd gone to bed with little Joachim.
- That's his name. . . - Michael!
- Michael is his name! - Silence!
Me and Joachim. . .
went to sleep.
And I'd given him a good meal,
and he was a happy little baby.
Well, that pig must have rolled on her baby. . .
and killed him,
because when I woke up, there was her baby beside me. . .
dead. . .
and my Joachim was gone.
- Liar! - Silence!
- A mother knows her own baby! - That is my baby!
Silence!
I'd pick him out from a thousand!
What is your name?
Hannah, my lord.
Tell your story, Hannah.
It's a pack of lies!
She's clumsy enough to smother her own child,
and thinks she can get away with claiming mine!
That's my Michael!
And no woman, or man on earth--
is going to take him away from me--
Your Majesty.
That is for the King to decide.
Was no midwife present?
No, my lord.
Lay the child on that table.
My judgment is this--
since both women claim the living child
and neither claim the dead child,
it is therefore fair that they should share the living child.
So, I will cut the child in half.
( pleading and outcries )
Spare my baby!
Don't kill him!
She can have him.
God bless this child. . .
Crowd: God bless this child.
. . .and his children's children.
Crowd: And his children's children.
And most of all. . .
his true mother.
Crowd: Solomon! Solomon!
( chanting continues )
He spoke to the crowd and said,
It is my judgment that both women should share the child.
This is not wise. A child cannot have two mothers.
They will fight and ruin its childhood.
He took the baby, laid it on a table,
drew a sword from a nearby soldier. . .
and what do you think he did?
I don't know. Killed one of the mothers?
He raised the sword over the baby
and declared he was going to cut it in half!
Brilliant!
When the real mother saw he was going to kill the baby,
she ran forward. . .
and screamed for the baby to be saved. . .
. . .even if it meant giving the baby to the other woman!
Exactly, my queen!
Brilliant!