- 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 Silas Benjamin: Tomorrow has come. Some of you meet it with reproach, and with the unkind thought that the return of any land to an enemy is weakness; lose that thought, friends. The handover of Port Prosperity will take place, and Gath will be our unfiring chum. In the name of peace, I will crush any in the blessed event's way.
- Chancellor Hanson: There are some still in their homes, sir, refusing to leave.
- King Silas Benjamin: Any who have not vacated by the deadline will be arrested; any who resist arrest will be shot - twice.
- King Silas Benjamin: [observing two ministers whispering] Oh - say you have some dissent, please.
- Minister Forsythe: Not at all, sir... Shall I order a media blackout, to keep anyone from thinking you unsympathetic?
- King Silas Benjamin: But I *am* unsympathetic, to all those who oppose my will. Send *more* cameras. Let them remember it was my will that built from the ashes this nation and put in their mouth the right to complain - but there are limits, now reached. Go, do your jobs.
- Minister Forsythe: Sir - what is the official statement on the fate of David Shepherd?
- King Silas Benjamin: Who?
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Jack...
- King Silas Benjamin: Oh, forget Jack.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: No; he's in hiding from you.
- King Silas Benjamin: So he should be.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: He's your son... who once you held in the palm of your hand, whose laughter was God's greatest gift.
- King Silas Benjamin: Not anymore.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Jack is a surety under this family's legacy. He lives, or the crown dies with you.
- King Silas Benjamin: Lucky I don't die.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: ...I built this country with you. I bound it to our family and name. You may have the will, but I maximize your effect. And tomorrow will be your greatest hour - and you need at least one smile by your side that isn't trying to hold back the tears... So Jack will stand beside you; he will not be arrested, and he will not be harmed. You will acknowledge him, and you will do this for me.
- King Silas Benjamin: And if I don't?
- Queen Rose Benjamin: You'll find yourself standing alone.
- King Silas Benjamin: ...If he behaves, I won't cut his throat.
- Michelle Benjamin: Where's David?
- King Silas Benjamin: Held temporarily underground, until we can find a more permanent place for him there. Noon tomorrow, David Shepherd ceases to exist; time to find a new boyfriend.
- Michelle Benjamin: What if I already did? What if I found someone and was seen with him - let the cameras and the country see that the princess found someone she like more than David Shepherd, how he doesn't mean anything to her, and he shouldn't to them either.
- King Silas Benjamin: What a mature young lady you have become.
- Michelle Benjamin: I want to say goodbye.
- King Silas Benjamin: ...Better hurry.
- Michelle Benjamin: David... there's no way to say "sorry" well enough; you needed me, and I left you.
- David Shepherd: Did you think I was guilty?
- Michelle Benjamin: No - but there was a reason.
- David Shepherd: I would have bet my life you'd be there for me... I did; you didn't come.
- Michelle Benjamin: I couldn't. Please, just let me explain.
- David Shepherd: I can't trust you, Michelle! Nothing you say could matter to me. Just keep your reasons.
- William Cross: He thinks it's all selfish - CrossGen, our thick pocket-lining, our pockets swell for war... There's a language to civilization, and a small group of scholars who can read it. I was born fluent; General Benjamin could barely make out the glyphs - as king, he's lost his glasses. Can't see that war is just the fuel of progress. Nothing gets made in peace - except art... He changed; I remember when we first met - I really liked him. He used to be so funny...
- 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!
- Jack Benjamin: I come to beg forgiveness.
- [Silas motions for Jack to approach]
- King Silas Benjamin: Forgiveness is a form of love, and I do not love you.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Silas...
- Jack Benjamin: [whispering, almost inaudibly] Yes, you do.
- King Silas Benjamin: ...Kneel.
- King Silas Benjamin: [seeing Jack's hesitation] ... *Kneel*.
- [Jack slowly drops to his knees]
- King Silas Benjamin: Now kiss the ground I walk on.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Silas!
- King Silas Benjamin: ...Your mouth's been in dirtier places.
- [wincing, Jack prostrates himself and kisses the floor at Silas' feet]
- King Silas Benjamin: That's the second time your mother's given you life... It'll be the last.
- King Silas Benjamin: Last time we met, we weren't sure who should shake hands first.
- Premier Shaw: Well, you've taken the liberty twice; now, let me be the one to offer my hand.
- King Silas Benjamin: What's it like - governing when the people have hope?
- Premier Shaw: Unusual. And how has it been governing when they're afraid?
- King Silas Benjamin: Easier.
- King Silas Benjamin: Peace is not a lamb, but a lion - and it requires force and discipline; otherwise it will go wild, feed on you. I make no meek apology - history will thank me; you will, too.
- David Shepherd: [praying as he awaits his execution] I have only ever lived for peace... I lift my eyes to You, and I know I'll find it.
- King Silas Benjamin: Our cause is peace. We've been on a long drift from God, and it is the duty of the leader to cinch the tide and turn the soft, blind swimmer towards where we conceive the shore.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: You've come to tell me... you've come to tell me he's dead.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: ...Ma'am.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: No - he can't be. I know him; he's harder than lead. He once looked at a man and he fell dead of fright. And you would have known this - you see things of this size. Did you see some sign? No! Silas does not die like this; he... does not die.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Rose... Rose, he was just a man, after all... more so today than ever. Now, your son and daughter... the country... they are all gonna look to you for how to mourn... Shall we go and see the body?
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Silas is not a body! He is not dead! Any moment, the king will walk through the door.
- Jack Benjamin: I didn't want it to be this way... but we're here now. I take my place - *his* place. As you've always said, mother, many times: The people must see us *be* us - even when we're not.
- [he softly kisses his mother's cheek]
- Jack Benjamin: We must be a family now.
- David Shepherd: It's true, then; he's dead.
- Jack Benjamin: Mourn, if you must.
- [Jack steps forward and embraces David]
- Jack Benjamin: I was worried you wouldn't make this.
- David Shepherd: It was you - you saved my life; why?
- Jack Benjamin: We're rid of the poison. My father is gone; it's *my* turn to rule, and I want to do it well. I need someone good around here. I will try to do right by your example. I swear to you - from this moment on, I am your friend.
- Jack Benjamin: They took from us our best. But we can not let the work of rogues impede my father's best ambition - peace. To that end, let it be said, let it be known, let it be remembered that I, on the day of my melancholy ascension, saw through that goal. But we needn't give up our land to achieve that peace; we can reach out to Gath...
- William Cross: [unable to contain his impatience] Enough! We suffered enough peacock speeches under him; if there's to be change, let's start there. I don't speak the backwards language of kings, so I'll talk plain: Silas is dead, killed by Gath assassins. The media will confirm the story today. Jack will be king; his first order will be to avenge his father's murder. Gath has never wanted peace with us; they want war, and we will give it to them. Ready our planes to strike.
- Jack Benjamin: No.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Perhaps we should wait, mourn our loss - not let grief cloud our good judgment.
- David Shepherd: The country doesn't want this.
- William Cross: They will, when we're attacked. And Gath will strike, right here in Shiloh - you can count on it.
- Jack Benjamin: No; war is not the answer. As king...
- William Cross: Sit down, Jack.
- [a soldier steps behind Jack and places his hand on his shoulder, pressing him into his seat]
- William Cross: The reverend was right; grief clouds judgment. Our heir apparent has had a traumatic day, so until he has recovered properly and mourned his loss, I'll help make his essential decisions.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: *You* did this.
- William Cross: I've allied the media, the military, now our new king, all to this purpose.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: And you used my son!
- William Cross: Neither you, nor he, nor any vagrant opinion will interrupt what - God, you've got *me* doing it! We attack - today!
- Andrew Cross: Father...
- William Cross: What?
- Andrew Cross: They found his ambulance; there's no sign of him.
- William Cross: Who?
- Andrew Cross: Silas... he's gone.
- Jack Benjamin: Mother...
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Just tell me you didn't know... even if it's not true.
- William Cross: [entering] Come; time to greet your country.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Don't do this, Jack. You don't know him - he's alive. I know it; he's alive, he'll come back... and he will kill us all.
- King Silas Benjamin: [lying wounded in bed, attended by Helen] You come to finish me off?
- [Thomasina appears behind David, pointing a pistol at his head]
- David Shepherd: I'm not here for that.
- King Silas Benjamin: Or maybe plant a garden?
- David Shepherd: Jack has named himself king, but only as a puppet; Cross is the real power. He wants a war with Gath that will never end.
- King Silas Benjamin: [he motions for Thomasina to lower her gun] ... Someone had to win.
- David Shepherd: Don't you understand? Everything you ever built will be destroyed unless you go back!
- King Silas Benjamin: I'm done, boy; read the signs.
- David Shepherd: ...What about your country?... No; you don't deserve to die loved. You don't deserve it, you son of a bitch! Get up! After all the wrong you've done to them - to *me*... I fought for you; I believed in you! We all did! You told us you were chosen to lead; was that a lie? Or did God just make a mistake?
- Seth: Daddy?
- King Silas Benjamin: Come here, puppy.
- Seth: Are you leaving again?
- King Silas Benjamin: Remember what I said about working for the king?
- [Seth nods]
- King Silas Benjamin: [summoning the strength to sit up from his bed] I *am* the king.