Kings (TV Series)

Chapter One (2009)

Ian McShane: King Silas Benjamin

Quotes 

• King Silas Benjamin : You and I are gonna make this tragedy into an opportunity. You will go south, and do whatever is necessary to bring back what was stolen.

  David Shepherd : Sir - I know I lied to you about me and Michelle. I know that was wrong; I'd do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness.

  King Silas Benjamin : Prove you're better than the lie. The Charter was stolen; bring it back.

  David Shepherd : As you ask.

  King Silas Benjamin : You will go now, telling no one - not your family, not Michelle. Supported only by your wits, a gun, some money, and a phone - should you wish to call and declare failure. Succeed, and history will remember you... and you'll have my forgiveness *and* my daughter. But come back empty-handed, and that's all we'll see - empty hands.

• Thomasina : Two weeks, and no news from Captain Shepherd.

  King Silas Benjamin : Dangerous country, our southern border; perhaps he doesn't return at all.

  Thomasina : You don't sound concerned... Your faith was misplaced?

  King Silas Benjamin : All faith is misplaced; his lie belies his ambition, whether he knows it or not - but I see it.

  Thomasina : What of the Charter?

  King Silas Benjamin : To hell with the Charter; today we start a new one. It's time for *me* to be the hero of my country again.

• King Silas Benjamin : I owe my country an apology. The theft of a national treasure reflects not only on security but on me. The loss, a lesson - not to let stagnate a country that should lead. Today I make amends. The Charter spoke of ideals; Perry - Article Five...

  Perry Straussler : "Never to mistake yesterday's glory for tomorrow's security, but to always exercise genius, judgment and hope; never to rest assured of what we have, but to imagine - "

  King Silas Benjamin : "But to imagine what we have yet to achieve." So let us imagine - example: energy. How do we achieve a 100% self-sufficient, clean, energy-fueled Gilboa?... Don't be shy - give me, give me some ideas.

  Energy Minister : Resume renovation at Pella Dam?

  Michelle Benjamin : Plan for wind farms in the plains of Dan is in research stages.

  King Silas Benjamin : Resume... accelerate... talk to the young; learn to think how they think. Perry - start a new book, one to be read a thousand years from now, about what began here, today - how we found and followed a vision.

  Perry Straussler : The Book of Silas!

• King Silas Benjamin : Your sacrifices haven't gone unnoticed - or your new discipline. We've had difficult conversations; I bade you retouch your image the same - feign lightness under the eyes, and you did.

  Jack Benjamin : I answer to you, sir.

  King Silas Benjamin : Can't have been easy - fabulising on that scale... taking a new fiancée when you could have been free. It wasn't for nothing - or for shame, or a lesson on the cruelty of being a king; well, you'll experience that soon enough.

  Jack Benjamin : Sir?

  King Silas Benjamin : You heard me - an engagement gift. On the day of your wedding, I will stand before all and designate this country a blood dynasty, with you as my heir - the future king... That's if you want it so.

  Jack Benjamin : With all that I am.

• King Silas Benjamin : I pass you when you are born, flailing in blood; I pass you again, and you're at an age for love.

  Michelle Benjamin : I never got to thank you - for taking care of David. Sending him on diplomatic training, I...

  King Silas Benjamin : Just want you happy.

  Michelle Benjamin : You've been telling me for years to live my life; you were right.

  King Silas Benjamin : No regrets? For your vow?

  Michelle Benjamin : Dolls and stories... scared of the dark; I couldn't stay a little girl forever.

  King Silas Benjamin : ...I thought you might.

• [in his dream, David finds himself next to his father at the piano] 

  Judah Shepherd : Follow the time, David; you know the meter... One and two... one and two... one and two...

  David Shepherd : Dad - is it really you?

  Judah Shepherd : You haven't learned your lesson, David.

  David Shepherd : My lesson?

  Judah Shepherd : Keep playing; if you stop, I'll have to go... One and two... one and two... one and two... Look at you - you *have* practiced.

  David Shepherd : But I failed...

  Judah Shepherd : Remember what I always told you - if you find yourself lost, follow the time; you'll find your way.

  [in his dream, David now finds himself in the king's boardroom, with Silas standing behind his chair facing him] 

  King Silas Benjamin : It's time you learned your lesson, David.

  [now David finds himself at the front of the boardroom, with the queen, Michelle, Thomasina and other court members around the table; in front of them, he is faced by his own self, dressed in business attire] 

  King David Shepherd : Follow the time.

• King Silas Benjamin : You've been waiting here some time; can I help you?

  Jessie Shepherd : I only wait for David.

  King Silas Benjamin : We wait on him too... I'd be happy to send you word of his return, should he forget his upbringing and neglect to tell his mother.

  Jessie Shepherd : You sent him somewhere; I know it. You've done something to him.

  King Silas Benjamin : ...If David *was* charged somehow, I can assure you it was for a good cause, and you'll be proud.

  Jessie Shepherd : You don't have good causes; you pretend to be a good man, like you pretend to be a young man. But I don't wait here out of worry, but to see it when he comes home victorious - which he will. His course is set on something; I tried to change it - you set that monster loose. And the shame of it is, you and I will be the only ones who will wish it never happened. And we'll have to *watch*.

• Michelle Benjamin : Geothermal drilling also on hold due to seismic disturbance; construction on the wind farms halted, pending assessment. At this time, the timetable for the king's renewal initiative remains... indefinite.

  Rev. Ephram Samuels : You can still renew the land; perhaps it is not our energy that needs to be clean first.

  King Silas Benjamin : What then? Why does He reject all my offerings?

• King Silas Benjamin : Must have been a hell of an adventure.

  David Shepherd : It tested my faith - in many things. Did you intend for me to rescue your Charter, or to die trying - as perhaps you've sent others to die before?

  King Silas Benjamin : I intended it a test of mettle, no less than I would ask my own natural-born son - to come out deserving or dead.

  David Shepherd : Then here I am.

  King Silas Benjamin : Here you are.

  David Shepherd : My eyes opened.

  King Silas Benjamin : To see my arms opened wide, rejoicing in your triumph - and giving you leave to press any noble intentions on my daughter. Our country welcomes home its Charter - and its hero.