SCENE (12) – SULTAN DEFENDS SAFA IN THE COURT
Characters
- SULTAN
- SAFA
- QUEEN
- NOBLES (chorus / ensemble)
- JURIST (or rival accuser)
Setting
- The public court. Daylight. Formal.
- The court is in session. Murmurs ripple. SAFA stands at the edge—visible, but unclaimed.
JURIST
My Sultan, the matter concerns influence exercised without mandate—private access, private counsel—
(The nobles murmur approval.)
JURIST (cont.)
—by a woman whose position remains… undefined.
(SULTAN, seated, does not respond immediately.)
(SAFA does not look at him.)
QUEEN (measured)
If there is confusion, clarity will help us all.
(SULTAN rises. This alone silences the room.)
SULTAN (looking directly at the JURIST.)
You speak as if access were theft.
Tell me—who among you has not spoken to me privately?
(No answer.)
Who among you has not advised me when it suited you?
(Still silence.)
(He turns toward SAFA.)
This woman has never advised me when I was strong. Only when I was uncertain.
She has not asked for land. She has not asked for gold. She has not asked for position.
She has asked me to stay alive and be safe.
(The court freezes. The QUEEN studies SAFA now—not with jealousy, but calculation.)
QUEEN
Is that so?
(SAFA finally looks up. Meets the QUEEN’s eyes.)
SAFA
Yes.
SULTAN
If loyalty frightens you, say so.
(To the JURIST.)
But do not disguise fear as law.
(He turns to the court.)
From this day, any accusation against her is an accusation against my judgment.
Choose your words accordingly.
(Nobles bow. Some reluctantly. Some sincerely.)
(JURIST bows last.)
JURIST
As you command, my Sultan.
(The SULTAN sits.)
(The QUEEN stands, then exits—measured, unreadable.)
(The court disperses.)
(Only SAFA and the SULTAN remain briefly.)
SULTAN (softly, without looking at her)
You see what trust costs.
SAFA
I see what it yields.
(They do not look at each other.)
(Lights fade.)
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