- King Silas Benjamin: The secret to cooking's all in the shopping - going to the market, finding the best produce, fighting over the best bread, bringing all the ingredients together; that's the hard work. Cooking is just the correct application of heat.
- King Silas Benjamin: [walking with Rev. Samuels through a supermarket] There's no pleasure in being told your favorite is your enemy... Tomato - still quietly a nightshade.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: He is not your enemy, Silas; you know that. You have a chance to end this, now - make it right.
- King Silas Benjamin: Whatever your visions...
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: He is only becoming what he is meant to be, what God intends for this nation.
- King Silas Benjamin: Well then, He didn't tell me.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Change is coming, Silas - you were supposed to foster it, to nurture it, to see the future improve upon the past. Now, you can still have your part, but *don't*.
- [Silas starts to walk away, but Rev. Samuels strikes his hand against the produce case, causing all the lights to go out]
- King Silas Benjamin: Oh, so that's it - change from arcana to tricks?
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Don't give God reason to tear from you this kingdom. I have known you to be a man to make mistakes in the name of... vanity - but never a villain.
- King Silas Benjamin: There was a time, once, not far from memory, when you lost what was most dear to you. And you asked me that those responsible for the death of your wife not be just punished, not be just killed, but that all memory of their existence on earth be swept clean. And you asked not with the countenance of God, nor magic hands - just as a broken man seeking revenge... and your friend did that for you, and you thanked him for it. So who are you now, to ask that friend not to exact revenge on those that would take from him?... Be the lamb, or be the knife; try to be both, you'll end up slaughtering yourself.
- King Silas Benjamin: There *will* be a trial; you will be asked to recall your time with Shepherd.
- Jack Benjamin: I'm not sure how I'll remember it.
- King Silas Benjamin: You *choose* how you remember it.
- Jack Benjamin: I find him interesting - his devotion to you, to doing the right thing, even when he has no idea what that is.
- King Silas Benjamin: You're my heir; you have something to lose in his success.
- Jack Benjamin: ...Not much success in an execution.
- King Silas Benjamin: You see the way the people look at him? We have to slit the throat on the legend.
- Jack Benjamin: And that falls to me.
- King Silas Benjamin: All the ingredients are there; all that's required is the correct application of heat.
- Jack Benjamin: Captain David Shepherd - we all heard the stories. He took down a Goliath, brought us peace, saved the nation, saved me. We all wanted to believe in him. It makes us feel good about ourselves to imagine someone like that is real. But can anyone ever be this... good?
- William Cross: A determined king - always a measure of weakness to show strength upon the feeble.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Shepherd is hardly feeble.
- William Cross: He will be by trial's end. Some time ago, I made you an offer - an offer you refused.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: This is not a discussion for here.
- William Cross: The way he watches me? This is the safest place of all.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: What you intend will fracture this country.
- William Cross: No more so than Silas will when he hands over our land to the enemy.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Seeing it done, I don't think I want to take part in treachery.
- William Cross: There's no place in war for a soft stomach. We *need* your support.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: ...And David.
- William Cross: Hmm; a place can be found - if he survives.
- David Shepherd: [watching a falsified videotape suggesting his treason] Sir, that's not me! This isn't real. This was set up! Sir, that's not me - you have to believe me.
- King Silas Benjamin: Belief may be enough in the house of God; this court needs proof.
- David Shepherd: ...I serve the king; that is all I am guilty of.
- Thomasina: Your eyes follow me.
- Klotz: No, ma'am.
- Thomasina: Are you lying?
- Klotz: Yes, ma'am.
- Thomasina: You are a guard at the royal gate; serious things are happening in this country. Stop it.
- Klotz: I'm sorry, ma'am; I can't.
- Thomasina: And why not?
- Klotz: It's love, ma'am... I'll stay out of your way.
- King Silas Benjamin: Your outburst in court - I don't think it'll help your case.
- David Shepherd: My case is that I'm innocent. You called me son once; I've only ever acted to earn that name.
- King Silas Benjamin: I recall learning of a relationship later than I was due.
- David Shepherd: That is my only sin to account for; that was against you as a father to Michelle, not to the state.
- King Silas Benjamin: You betrayed my trust once; it left a mark. If there's anything else that you have done to hurt this country or me, deliberately or not, now is the time to tell me.
- David Shepherd: I swear - if I had, I would confess my guilt, give myself up to your mercy.
- King Silas Benjamin: Yeah... yeah, I believe you would.
- Jack Benjamin: After all, what's more likely - that David Shepherd was somehow magically endowed, or that he's just like us - an ordinary soldier, stuck in a war with no end?
- Michelle Benjamin: They'll see that their evidence was tampered with, their witness corrupt; my father'll *have* to rule you innocent.
- David Shepherd: Yeah, unless he doesn't want to.
- Michelle Benjamin: Of course he wants to - you're his adviser, his friend.
- David Shepherd: That was before he knew about us.
- Michelle Benjamin: What, you think he'd try you for treason because his daughter fell in love with you?
- David Shepherd: I think... maybe he was afraid his country would.
- Michelle Benjamin: You know, one of the things that I've always loved about you is how much you believe... I *will* take the stand, I *will* defend you, and my father will be glad. If you believe in me, believe in him.
- King Silas Benjamin: Let him go.
- Michelle Benjamin: I don't care what anyone thinks of me, so long as they know David is innocent.
- King Silas Benjamin: Dammit, Michelle, we're trying to make this easy for you.
- Michelle Benjamin: I'm going to help him.
- King Silas Benjamin: Don't you dare.
- Michelle Benjamin: I *have* to.
- King Silas Benjamin: Everyone for David is against me; now stay out of this, or by God I'll count you amongst them.
- Michelle Benjamin: [frozen in shock] ... You *want* him dead.
- King Silas Benjamin: He's guilty... I'll have every shred of his existence wiped from this earth; it'll be against the law ever to speak his name.
- [David had been abducted from his prison cell, and suddenly finds himself deposited in a field where Rev. Samuels waits]
- David Shepherd: ...I don't understand.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: It's all been arranged; a plane is waiting. We have friends in other countries, until it's safe for you.
- David Shepherd: You want me to run?
- William Cross: [suddenly speaking from his car] Only if you want to live. Your death is a foregone conclusion; Silas is only waiting to sell the last few believers on his version of your truth.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Which is why we must protect you, David.
- William Cross: Silas won't be around for long - we need to keep you safe, so he doesn't kill you first.
- David Shepherd: Why are you so sure he won't be around for long?
- William Cross: [getting out of his car, he approaches David] The problem with great men is they don't always die at their best; some live to make mistakes which outlive their accomplishments.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: Come on, David.
- David Shepherd: [pulling away from Rev. Samuels] No... If I go with you, everything Silas says about me is true.
- William Cross: You're worried about his good opinion of you?
- David Shepherd: I'm worried about my own... I'm no traitor.
- William Cross: You'd rather die than be misperceived? Careful, David; you never wanna be *too* good.
- William Cross: [to his men] ... You heard him; rush the man back to his execution.
- Rev. Ephram Samuels: ...David...
- David Shepherd: You, of all...
- David Shepherd: [he removes the wristwatch which Rev. Samuels gave him after anointing him, and returns it] If I *do* die, it shouldn't be while wearing this.
- Jack Benjamin: You demanded my presence; fine. Begging gets redundant after the first snot bubble, so let's try to do this quick.
- David Shepherd: ...There's a plot against your father... I think they mean to kill him, replace him as king.
- Jack Benjamin: You call me here to... make up some stories about what? Some coup? You think that's gonna save you? You should've stuck to begging; it has more dignity.
- David Shepherd: It's your uncle... and Reverend Samuels.
- Jack Benjamin: ...The reverend - really? And what do they want from you? You wanna be their king?
- David Shepherd: If I did... easier for you to attack me when you know I've done no wrong. You need to warn Silas.
- Jack Benjamin: ...You sit here in a cell, thinking your voice'll save a man who's gonna let you hang? You think you're *that* good?
- David Shepherd: He won't listen to me, but he'll listen to you.
- Jack Benjamin: He's not your father; he's mine.
- David Shepherd: He's still my king.
- Jack Benjamin: ...Even now?
- David Shepherd: I'm just doing what you'd do, Jack... You should be careful, too.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: The trial's not over yet... but you'll probably cry then, too.
- Michelle Benjamin: ...I'm pregnant.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: ...But... you can't - you can't be. Are - are you sure? The doctor said it was impossible.
- [the queen slowly registers a deep fear]
- Queen Rose Benjamin: ...David's child... oh, God; does he know?
- Michelle Benjamin: [nervously shaking her head] ... I'm afraid - of my own father.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Your father... must never know.
- Michelle Benjamin: You'll help me...
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Oh... this - this is a blessing. This is our family's future - this kingdom's future. But you must have nothing to do with David, ever again.
- Michelle Benjamin: I can't; he needs me.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: No, it doesn't matter. You're scared of your father; you should be. He has eyes for David's blood, and that blood now pumps through your veins. He will see David dead, and all his kind. If he knew, he would never let that child live. You've been given this... nothing else matters. You'll listen to me... you understand now; you feel it. A mother will do anything to protect her own... as I will protect you.
- Thomasina: Colonel Shore is grateful for his immunity, and looking forward to a quiet and comfortable life on the eastern coast.
- King Silas Benjamin: If there's a number that made him lie, there's a number that'll make him tell the truth; see to it there's no more talking.
- Thomasina: Are you sure that's necessary?
- King Silas Benjamin: [he waves his guards away] ... We spoke some time ago of promotion.
- Thomasina: I recall.
- King Silas Benjamin: Since then there's been an increase in responsibility which you have handled with your usual grace.
- Thomasina: Thank you, sir.
- King Silas Benjamin: I need someone by my side that I can trust at all times and in all things. You've always taken care of the family; you said it was your highest aspiration.
- Thomasina: It was... and it is.
- King Silas Benjamin: That's all I ask now - to take care of the family... just on a higher order.
- David Shepherd: I have only ever tried to embody what is good about this nation. My family has sacrificed life, and life again to keep alive the idea of a home as spoken by our king. I am a faithful servant to this country, this court... this man.
- King Silas Benjamin: Betrayal has its own particular sting. Unfortunately, one gets accustomed.
- David Shepherd: I have never betrayed you... though I've been given the opportunity. There *are* those who work against you.
- King Silas Benjamin: Oh, I know full well the dealings of William Cross. There's nothing whispered in this kingdom I'm not privy to. There are many traitors, and though you're not complicit in their dark work, you're not innocent. Even my daughter's lost faith in David Shepherd.
- David Shepherd: I *am* innocent.
- King Silas Benjamin: Are you?
- David Shepherd: I am.
- King Silas Benjamin: Even if you are, of the charges brought against you, hasn't the effect of you been the same?... King, all these years - authority unquestioned. You think there's a coincidence they conspire against me now? A monarchy stands on the belief in the singularity of its sovereign, all vectors pointed here... and then along came you. Oh, and they looked at you, and they thought how they might improve upon me... replaceable. You thought to inspire, but you inspired treason.
- David Shepherd: I... I only ever meant to serve you. I never meant to hurt you.
- King Silas Benjamin: Oh, I know that; but don't you see now that you *have*? You've weakened the country.
- David Shepherd: What can I do?
- King Silas Benjamin: You swore that if you ever hurt me or this country, you'd admit guilt and fall upon my mercy - did you not?
- David Shepherd: I did.
- King Silas Benjamin: Then keep your word.
- King Silas Benjamin: Captain David Shepherd - you have stood before this court protesting your innocence. Now, having heard the weight of evidence against you, and knowing the penalty of guilt... how do you plead?
- David Shepherd: ...Guilty.
- [gasps ripple through the court]
- David Shepherd: I stand before you, prepared to elaborate on my crime.
- Jack Benjamin: Stop talking, David.
- King Silas Benjamin: [startled] You're out of order, major.
- David Shepherd: I'm guilty.
- Jack Benjamin: No, he's not!
- King Silas Benjamin: The prosecution will stand down...
- Jack Benjamin: I can't go along with this anymore; this was all a set-up. David Shepherd was framed. He's not a traitor - I am; Silas is.
- King Silas Benjamin: Silence!
- Jack Benjamin: There's been silence for too long. I am guilty - but not more so than my father, who colluded to have David found a traitor, when he is anything but.
- King Silas Benjamin: Shut up!
- Jack Benjamin: King Silas framed this entire case, coerced witnesses, faked evidence, convinced me to lie against David. But I see now that David is a better man than the rest of us - innocent, deserving respect.
- King Silas Benjamin: What do you know about respect? You never had it, you never give it!
- Jack Benjamin: He's innocent; it's over!
- King Silas Benjamin: He's admitted guilt!
- Jack Benjamin: You're no king.
- King Silas Benjamin: And you're no prince, you faggot!... Guards - arrest Major Benjamin now! David Shepherd - you are guilty of treason! Take him away - take him away!
- David Shepherd: You lied - to everyone.
- King Silas Benjamin: You're a traitor - you're both traitors; you're all traitors!
- Jack Benjamin: [taken by guards from Unity Hall, he finds himself at a rear exit with guards aiming their sights at him] So this is it? Not even a trial?
- William Cross: [getting out of his car] We have their allegiance now. The king's own guardsmen follow you - as do all Silas' generals.
- Jack Benjamin: I couldn't watch him do that to David; I'm sorry.
- William Cross: Don't be; you were perfect. After seeing what Silas really is, they'll be begging for his replacement. Only one thing changes.
- Jack Benjamin: What?
- William Cross: No more waiting; we act *now*.