Kings (TV Series)

The New King: Part One (2009)

Brian Cox: King Vesper Abaddon

Quotes 

• King Vesper Abaddon : You got yourself here; it's time to change - or die. You have to learn to live without air, and for you air is adoration.

  King Silas Benjamin : Oh, is it wrong to seek the opinion of the people?

  King Vesper Abaddon : Of course it is; you're the best thing for them, and they don't know it. That's right - what would they have without Silas?

  King Silas Benjamin : You.

  King Vesper Abaddon : You see? They owe you; stop trying to win their approval. It is better to be feared than loved - necessary. Maybe you once brought your country into a new day, but that day is done; now, you rule by night.

  [cut to Jack discussing plans with William Cross] 

  King Silas Benjamin : My son...

  King Vesper Abaddon : Hang 'im.

  King Silas Benjamin : My peace...

  King Vesper Abaddon : You wanna give Gath the land, do it. Those for, plant in front of the cameras; those against, plant in the dirt.

  King Silas Benjamin : That simple?

  King Vesper Abaddon : Don't hide it - let the sun dapple the whole damn mess. And anyone still plotting against you will do it slipping in a blood puddle.

  King Silas Benjamin : I'm trying to win my people back, not get them to hate me more; they already think me a tyrant.

  King Vesper Abaddon : I know you, Silas, better than anyone. My worst enemy - now, my only friend. You're no tyrant... but you could be - if you tried.

  [cut to William conferring with his son Andrew] 

  King Silas Benjamin : And Shepherd?

  King Vesper Abaddon : You need to kill him - and soon.

  King Silas Benjamin : He's watched over. How do you kill someone whom God protects?

  King Vesper Abaddon : Easy - with a bullet.

• King Vesper Abaddon : [speaking to David through the prison vent]  Are you *really* not gonna eat any of that? I can smell the meat from here... oh, shame to waste steak.

  [he tosses a string with a hook through the vent, and David attaches the steak and sends it through] 

  King Vesper Abaddon : Aaah... thank you. Mmm... The girl?

  David Shepherd : The king's daughter.

  King Vesper Abaddon : Oooh - not bad.

  David Shepherd : Doesn't matter; the king, in all his wisdom, set me up to die any minute.

  King Vesper Abaddon : That was my idea; sorry about that, David.

  David Shepherd : You know who I am?

  King Vesper Abaddon : Oh, I know lots about you. You gave me back my mind. I was asleep for a long time; I talked to weevils in my mash, filled books with garbage - and then you came, rose like the sun, and outshone the world's brightest star. And then he came to me, and I told him - heh, I told him to blot you out, bring back the night, to turn into me... and he listened! And in helping him, I got my mind back. At some point he'll realize that I was up to no good, and boy, will he be mad!

  David Shepherd : Who are you?

  King Vesper Abaddon : I... am the king.

  David Shepherd : [dismissing the idea as a prisoner's delusion]  You're a prisoner.

  King Vesper Abaddon : I don't suppose they tell in school of Vesper Abaddon?

  David Shepherd : Only about his atrocities.

  King Vesper Abaddon : Hmm - interesting fellow, with his faults. If he were alive, he'd probably tell you that there is nothing to be afraid of in death... Were you loved, David?

  David Shepherd : I'm not sure.

  King Vesper Abaddon : You were; I saw. That's someone whose heart will die when you do. It's lucky - even if it was just skyfire-fast... Since I owe you double, let me give you a parting gift - your obol coin in the mouth:... It is always better to be loved than feared. Some of us made the mistake the other way, and it does not go well. Die loved, you die happy.

  David Shepherd : I'd rather live miserable.

  King Vesper Abaddon : I like you!

• [first lines] 

  King Vesper Abaddon : Yes. I think you may have made a mistake.