Kings (2009) s01e01 Episode Script
Goliath
JESSIE: It's starting! Come inside! Come on in, boys! There's a crowd waiting outside Unity Hall It's on.
Iike it wasn't nearly freezing temperatures.
It feels like the only one not here yet is the man himself.
(CROWD CHEERING) Is he doing the God thing? Oh, I hope not.
God's not popular right now.
He doesn't care.
He Iikes God.
And God Iikes him.
LEADER OF THE GUARDS: Detail! He's here.
The King approaches.
(TRUMPET SOUNDS) (CROWD CHEERING) Sir, I'd feel much better about this if I could see your speech first.
Stop asking.
GIance Where's Reverend Samuels? THOMASINA: Reverend Samuels isn't here yet.
Not Iike him to miss a crowd.
We'II just have to start without him.
He's supposed to give the benediction.
We could hold for another 15 minutes.
It's cold out there and the people are cheering.
I'II have my son do it.
You're not going to be warm enough.
Really, sir.
You have the entire country Iistening, and you choose today not to Iet me see your speech? I'd Iove to, if I had written one.
Didn't write a speech.
It will come.
(CROWD CHEERING) It's not popular to speak of God.
But I do so now and publicly because I feel blessed.
I am blessed.
I Iook at this city that we built through industry, through ingenuity, through war and sacrifice, and I feel that blessing.
(CROWD CHEERING) This city is the dream of a half century, and this morning, we bring that dream into the day.
We have built Shiloh! (CROWD CHEERING) There's no surprise.
I knew this day would come.
I knew this land, these territories once at war, factions fractured were meant to be one nation together at peace.
When I first looked out at the ruins that would become Shiloh, there was nothing.
Ashes.
An empty shell of a city bombed ten times over by three armies.
But I looked, and my eyes opened.
(BOYS LAUGHING) And I thought, "Unity Hall.
Right here as it stands today.
" Pay attention, boys.
Your father died fighting for this.
SILAS: I looked and I saw people, former enemies JESSIE: Damn fool.
(CAR HONKING) working together.
Rebuilding.
I'II get it.
SILAS: Hospitals, streets, traffic, jewelry shops, police stations, rude old men stealing your cab, trucks selling 50 different kinds of ice cream, I saw it all.
DAVI D: Someone's pulling into the shop.
I saw it all as if it was here already.
Under one flag, united.
Under one king, strong.
Morning.
Are you Jessie? My mom.
Didn't you get a name? David.
What's the problem? The car.
It used to work, and then it stopped.
We've got the ceremony on inside, if you want to watch it.
You Iook Iike you know what you're doing.
My dad taught me.
Is he around? He died in the war.
(SIGHS) You need a new hose.
Will that take Iong? A new one would.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING) The dead has arisen.
Look at you.
It was just a cracked hose.
For you, maybe.
But to me, that was a broken car.
You have a Iittle something on you, there.
(SIGHS) I can't charge you for a piece of tape.
It was your time that I owe you for.
I'II meet you halfway.
This broken thing has been in my pocket for the Iast six months.
I should have taken it to a shop, but if you can fix it, you deserve it.
Thank you, sir.
You are very polite, David.
It's just the way I was raised.
Well, do something about that before you grow up.
And that's when they came.
I felt the shadow above me.
I Iooked up and saw a great swarm of butterflies, and they circled around me Iike Ieaves in a storm, floating, soft, Ianding upon my head Iike a crown.
A Iiving crown.
God's signal to begin.
I pray, as I take my seat in this great new capital, to be worthy of his anointment and of your trust.
(CROWD CHEERING) NEWS REPORTER: Like the King himself, who rose from meager beginnings as a soldier to a monarch beloved by his kingdom, the new capital at Shiloh has risen up from the wreckage of war and become a beacon of hope for our people.
Well, there you go, boys.
Our taxes went into rebuilding that fool city for 20 years.
At Ieast you'II be able to tell your grandkids, "I saw it happen.
" Except for David.
He missed it.
Who was in the shop, anyways? Reverend Samuels.
(LAUGHS) Who wants pancakes? (BOYS CHATTERING) NEWS REPORTER: The only dark clouds on this day are reports of tension in the north.
With fears that border disputes with Gath could escalate.
Certainly King Silas, veteran of the Unification Wars himself, will do what he can to prevent another war.
NATHAN : Hey, S hep.
Shep! Seriously, bro.
I swear, man.
Your mom's making the best frigging brownies, man.
What's in these? Guilt.
Hey, give me a Iight.
Easy, killer.
I promised Mom I'd take care of you.
No smoking.
Oh, damn Goliath.
Every day, another round, just to remind us that we're outgunned.
(DAVID SIGHS) We're talking about it.
Must be working.
I've got a pool going on, when do you think they'II blow today? Actually, it should be any second.
You don't know that.
Yeah.
I kind of do.
It's a different time every day.
It's a completely random event Any second.
(FIRING) (ELI GRUNTS) (LAUGHING) I swear to God.
If you weren't my brother, I'd think you were a spy.
How did you know that was going to happen? (LAUGHING) Have another brownie.
Hey.
Did you guys hear? A squad got pinched.
At Foxland Forest.
They got out alone somehow.
No air support.
Bastards ambushed them.
They dead? SAVOY: Not all.
They took hostages.
(FOOTSTEPS RUNNING) A platoon was ambushed.
Foxland.
Twelve dead, two hostages.
Over the border.
They go too far.
Gath.
They'II find I'm willing to meet them and go further.
We don't negotiate for hostages.
Much as we want to, much as our soldiers deserve it.
War asks the heart to freeze at room temperature.
Send for the families.
Sir, it was the 1 27th.
I'm sorry, sir.
It's It's Call the Ambassador to Gath.
Get them back.
Get it done.
You can't.
We don't negotiate for hostages, as you said.
We can't now.
Then, what do we do? No one goes after the hostages.
We don't need any more Iosses.
In the Iast 1 8 months, anyone within 200 yards of a Goliath was a Ioss.
This comes from the top.
(THUD) (SIGHS) DAVID: Anyone on the move? Hell, you walk quiet, Shep.
What the hell are you doing out here? Nothing.
Anything moving out there? Oh, tank on five K-0 rolled 50 yards off a ditch.
I thought I saw a shelter go up.
Dude.
What are you doing? I can't run in these.
Whoa! You think it's them? The hostages? DAVID: I don't know.
I just have a feeling.
They could be hiding them behind the tanks, but They'II court-martial you for this.
If you Iive that Iong.
Don't worry.
I'm calling your brother, man.
Don't.
He'II just try and stop me.
Give me your wrench.
So, what are you going to do? Change their oil? (CAMERA CLICKING) (PANTING) (HOSTAGE GRUNTS) (DAVID WHISPERS) Go slowly.
Okay.
Okay.
Wait, wait, wait.
Okay, okay, come on.
(BOTH PANTING) Okay, come on.
Come on.
(MAN YELLING) Stay with me.
Stay with me.
(HOSTAGE GROANING) Come on.
Come on.
Get up.
Get up.
Come on.
(TURRET GUN WHIRRING) (TURRET GUN SHOOTING) (HOSTAGE YELLING) I'II cover.
Oh, my God.
Can you get him to Iookout? I think so.
(GOLIATH FIRING) (CAMERA CLICKING) (GOLIATH ENGINE STOPS) He's getting up.
You seeing this? (CAMERA CLICKING RAPIDLY) (EXPLODING) (PANTING) You dumb son of a (SIGHS) If you had died DAVID: What's this? ELI: It's your court-martial.
Shepherd! You were given an order! (HELICOPTER APPROACHING) How is he? Cut to the head and a scar to remember them by, but he'II be fine, sir.
That's Jack Benjamin.
You saved the King's son.
Ice trucks.
Means fish tonight.
Probably king salmon, given the season.
Nah, it doesn't mean fish.
Then, what? Lamb.
It's a hero's welcome.
Heroes get red meat.
I'd do it with a nice pistachio crust, if asked.
No chance.
Queen Rose hates Iamb.
Ever since she spent her summers on her uncle's sheep farm.
Everyone knows that.
Do they? Do they know what color panties she picks for Thursdays, too? Good day, sirs.
Names? Uh, David Shepherd.
Here to see, uh Oh! Here to see everyone, sir.
That's in the paper? KLOTZ: No, that's in all the papers, sir.
You're going to have to settle a bet for us, sir, on what's being served for you tonight.
Tonight? You know, at your banquet? The menu, ma'am.
Ah, the menu.
Squab, herb polenta, arrabiata for the vegetarians.
Good, good.
It's perfect.
But, uh Take off the Iamb.
Yes, ma'am.
And what about our guest of honor? Who's making sure he's presentable? We have Jack on that, ma'am.
Then put someone on Jack.
Yes, ma'am.
And, uh (CLUB MUSIC PLAYING) (INDISTINCT CHATTERING) I can't believe you came out tonight.
I mean, you almost died out there.
I didn't.
That calls for more Iiving.
Thomasina.
Oh, my Iove.
Don't be jealous.
Come.
We're meeting Shepherd.
He's coming to court.
I thought that was tomorrow.
It is tomorrow.
Oh.
Okay.
(PRESS CLAMORING) (CROWD EXCLAIMING) JACK: That used to hang up in my room.
It kept me up at night.
You saved my Iife.
We can skip all that.
Besides, you're the darling today.
Sorry, sir? I know.
I get taken hostage and almost get killed, and they're throwing you a party.
(SCOFFS) Mysteries of the palace.
I wish they wouldn't.
I'm not even really sure why I'm here.
Technically, so I'd give you a tour.
An hour ago.
(LAUGHS) Sorry.
You're here to get shown off.
You're going to take a pretty picture with my father, and then get sent back to wherever you came from.
Thanks for serving your country.
Is that what you're wearing tonight? I'II have something of mine sent over.
I think you're taller than me.
I'II send the tailor with it.
There's a tailor here? (LAUGHS) My father Iikes suits.
Gath.
ABNER: Now's the time to make a push forward.
Take the valley.
You've been saying that for three years.
Last presented.
Perry! Uh, sorry.
June 1 0th this year.
Unapproved by you, sir.
"We don't attack.
We respond.
Instigation is Gath's game.
" MINISTER OF FINANCE: Which is why they're winning.
This war has been a cancer on our economy.
If your valley can get us out, I support it.
We can't extend the border now for the same reason we couldn't in June.
We're outgunned and Iack public support.
Polling shows public opinion in favor of aggressive measures since the kidnapping.
Negatives.
Could draw an offensive.
World press would have a field day.
The Reverend won't Iike it.
The Reverend doesn't Iike anything.
He still thinks I owe him because he swore me in.
They've blasted us from those hills for years.
There's never been a better time to make them stop.
They're demoralized, and our troops are chomping at the bit.
They all want to take out a tank now.
Good.
Let them.
Let them.
Push back.
Enough to Iet Gath know we're done taking punches.
It's time to do something.
PIease say that clears the agenda.
There are petitions, sir.
We have four.
Court calls Miss Michelle Benjamin, petition on health care.
I think we'II only have time for one.
Sir, you've heard proposals to advance public health care before, I know Most from you.
Noah Tanner.
Six years old and needs a new heart.
Given the current options, patients Iike Noah are Ieft to treatments older than his parents.
He needs a new heart as badly as we need reform.
I've outlined a plan I recall my own daughter treated for childhood illnesses very well by the exact Ievel of care offered to each of our citizens, but deemed Iacking by you.
Your daughter had advantages many don't.
She had parents of privilege to watch over her day and night.
As they do now when they tell her to move on from an obvious impasse.
Sorry, puppy.
This push on Gath, make it Ioud.
It's time to end this damn war.
Write down, "He governed patiently and well, "then ran home for a shower.
" (MEN LAUGHING) I spend more time on cufflinks than I do on tax reforms.
Why aren't you ready? My darned cell phone.
I had it with me on my trip yesterday, and I I Iast saw it with my socks.
Your daughter is Iivid, by the way.
She spent months on that tax thing.
Health care.
Why with your socks? So it wouldn't get banged up.
It's my fault.
I should never have trusted anything that important with that new secretary.
Why is it that pretty people are always so bad with details? (SIGHS) King of all I survey, and I still can't find an office chair that doesn't give my back spasms.
You're an old soldier.
Don't complain.
Your pills are on the counter.
I don't Iike pills.
I'd rather have wine.
Wine makes your eyes droop, and you have to Iook nice for the pictures.
(PRESS CLAMORING) Is this really your first time in the capital? I missed the eighth grade class trip.
Mono.
Do you have any family here tonight? Is your dad proud of you? My dad died fighting in the Unification War.
REPORTER 1 : What about your mother? Is she here? My mother never really approved of me joining the army.
REPORTER 2: Why is that? Uh, you might have heard about my father.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) Ladies and gentlemen.
Shall we? Start on the Ieft and work our way over.
And back again.
You handle the hounds well, Private.
I have six older brothers.
Have fun.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) I'd Iike a Iarge glass of something really expensive.
Thank you.
(DINGS) We celebrate bravery tonight.
Tonight, I am as sure of our cause as I was the day we founded our great nation.
In fact, that idea is all Reverend Samuels.
It means so much to have you here Let me get a drink in me before you start asking me for things, would you, Marcus? SILAS: We had Iittle more than hope and a bad idea, two key ingredients for global change.
(ALL LAUGHING) And that's when they came.
Like a shadow overhead.
I Iooked up and saw a great swarm of butterflies, circling above my head Iike Ieaves in a storm, soft and Ianding Iike a crown, a Iiving crown on my head.
God's signal to begin.
Still with the butterflies.
Doesn't he ever get tired of that one? He'II tell it as Iong as they want to hear it.
And so will you someday.
If it's good enough for the hero, it's more than enough for an old preacher.
Sir.
(LAUGHS) The Lord's world is great.
And very, very small.
To the hero who can fix anything.
I don't know if I count as a hero.
What is this? A man hiding at the bar is a man who doesn't want to be at the party.
(SIGHS) I guess I'm just more used to the front.
Take a good Iook around you.
You, come on Have got a banquet in your name.
You're drinking a single malt the Iikes of which God himself only takes out of the cabinet but once a year.
You have your choice of Iadies all very interested in your attention.
You'II Iike the one in red.
Now, your nights will not always be this easy.
So Enjoy.
Just watch out for the cameras.
(CLINKING) You're not supposed to be playing that.
That piano is a gift to my father from the Prime Minister of Austeria.
This piano is a Broadwood Grand, 1848.
The same year Liszt wrote this.
The closest I've ever come to one is a picture on the Internet.
You can call security, but I'm finishing first.
I thought you were a mechanic.
I wouldn't have pegged you for a musician.
I wouldn't have pegged you for a snitch.
Well, they're all Iooking for you.
Sir, this is Mr.
and Mrs.
Acharon.
Excuse me.
You know him? The kid.
I'm not sure if I know anybody anymore.
You speak in riddles, Reverend, you're Iiable never to get your point across.
So you're going to pretend that I don't know? About Gath? I spoke my piece clearly.
The offensive can put an end to this war.
If you're against it, tell it to your flock.
I don't need your permission to defend my country.
Sit.
It's time we spoke plainly, you and I.
Yes, sir.
PIainly doesn't come with "sirs.
" Quit it.
I owe you a Iot.
More than I can say.
You don't have children, do you? I'm an uncle.
Then you don't know.
You saved my son's Iife.
That means I owe you mine.
Just tell me what you want, and it's yours.
They already offered me a reward that's way more than I can spend.
You're a young man.
Smart.
You must have some goals.
I'm a man with position offering you a thank you.
Even if you ask for half my kingdom, as the saying goes.
Well, speak up, or you're Iiable to get a car you can't afford the insurance on.
Ah! Half my kingdom, it is.
You have no idea how to dance, do you? Not even a Iittle bit.
You know, this really seemed Iike a good idea a minute ago.
You have a Iot of people watching you right now, you know that? Now, yes.
Very, very clear.
(WHISPERS) Follow my Iead.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING) Um, I'm sorry about before.
I took my bad day out on you.
Princessing is hard work, huh? Health reform, actually.
I showed them all a way to help people and got told it was inconvenient.
I'm trying to get a six-year-old a new heart.
What? Happiness suits her, Abner.
Who knew? Him.
ABNER: Yes, sir.
I'II not forget what he said and when he said it.
Yes, sir.
Don't make a show of it.
And the wife? No.
No need.
He'II be trouble.
You watch.
I know the type.
The only way to deal with them is a bullet.
PIease, he's an infant.
(WHISPERS) He's got everyone eating out of his hand.
The cameras are wearing themselves out.
No one's talking about the war.
This court needs a new face to Iook up to.
No.
We can use him.
Something's here for us.
Good kid, that David.
SILAS: Perfect timing.
Medium scrambled on whole wheat toast.
No butter on pain of death.
Hmm? A rare full house.
Eat.
No sign of it, ma'am.
They checked the cars? And the Iuggage? The Service is asking for an account of the information on there.
JACK: It's the Queen's cell phone.
It's got the email, birthdays, and bad spelling of every person comprising society in this country.
I think they're more concerned with national security.
You know I don't Iike getting involved with politics.
So, come.
Let's keep Iooking before they call in the National Guard.
It's got to be somewhere.
MICHELLE: Did Mom Iose her mind and hire Thomasina to fix everything, or was it the other way? Sort of a chicken-egg question.
SILAS: The chicken or the egg? I was told to come? SILAS: Chicken? Egg? Are we still using that expression? Given the overwhelming evidence in favor of evolutionary theory, I need to make a royal official declaration.
The answer is, roundly, an egg.
Not negating God, in whom I trust more than that damn Reverend will ever know.
Just recognizing that change occurs, thank said God, and that the egg would have to have been the natural improvement on whatever near-chicken mother hatched it and discovered that her young were delightfully different from herself.
Evolution is just one of God's many tools.
Like me.
The only real and Iingering question being How do you Iike them first-come eggs? Is there something you'd Iike me to do? He'd Iike you to sit and eat.
My father insists on making breakfast.
It makes him feel Iike his kids are still five.
When you were small and manageable.
And I preferred it that way.
I can't stay Iong.
I have to report back to base this morning.
Oh.
Oh, no, you're not.
You're not going back to the front.
You've been transferred to Shiloh.
Military Liaison to the Press Office.
The press Iikes you.
Captain Shepherd.
Mmm-hmm.
Captain.
You're an officer now.
Hell of a time to Iose your powers of speech.
You're going on air in an hour.
There a problem? I'm not sure I can answer that without insulting my King.
Well, your King hears insults with alarming regularity.
I just don't think I'm cut out for the city, sir.
Walter? Next time you hear Captain Shepherd call me sir, I want you to take out your sidearm and shoot him.
What, uh What have you got against our city? Well, I'd probably have an apartment the size of my dog's shed at home.
And no one talks about the war here.
My company is fighting just a few hours from here, and it's as if nothing's happening, except on TV.
PIus, the city sort of smells Iike trash.
(MICHELLE CHUCKLES) I'm not going to tell you what to do, but you could do good here.
Hope Iies in bravery.
And we need hope.
Give us a shot.
Yes, sir.
I can't believe I've been in this many cars in three days.
I could have sworn that I gave it to you.
I'm so sorry, ma'am.
I don't know where it went.
A cell phone full of state secrets and private Iines Let's hope not far.
I'II go tear up my bedroom again.
No Iuck? Oh, It's your fault.
Ooh.
I blame the grief.
You really had me worried, Jack.
You promised me you'd never die.
Well, I kept my promise.
See? (CHUCKLES) Look.
How Iong are we going to have to suffer that one? Oh, he's harmless.
He's a cocker spaniel.
That cocker spaniel just got the best post in the military.
Hell, I was the one taken hostage.
That should have been my job.
Instead, I'm being brought in for questioning.
More discipline.
(SIGHS) You don't do yourself any favors with your night Iife.
They're saying things about the kidnapping, that it was my fault the squad was ambushed.
That I was impulsive and went in without a support team.
Did you? Of course not.
I called for over-watch as soon as I got the order.
Those woods were crawling.
We had support, at Ieast when we went in.
And then the shooting started and we were alone.
I Iost men.
We had support.
PIease, talk to him.
They could bring me up on charges.
Yes.
I know.
You know I don't Iike to get involved with politics.
(SIGHS) But if I were to suggest something, I'd say Iet them.
Let them court-martial me? Why not? Truth outed slowly is remembered Iongest.
So, sit through their meetings.
They'II see what's what soon enough, and then they'II have to cover you with so many medals and apologies that you'II be stuffed from all the banquets in your high honor.
Be patient, Jack.
It will all come out in the wash, probably along with my damn cell phone.
And sadly, he suffered a coronary while jogging near his home.
Minister of Energy Fawkes was a 15-year servant of our government and a patriot.
King Silas will be visiting with his family after the funeral.
DAVI D: Listen, Mom.
I don't think I' m going to make it back home this weekend Iike I thought.
JESSIE: I thought you had some leave coming.
Did you get in trouble? Sort of.
Turn on the TV.
We also have some news from the front.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING) Ladies and gentlemen You know we can't tell you too much, but here to tell you what we can, we have our new Military Liaison.
Some of you may know of him already.
Let me introduce Captain David Shepherd.
JESSIE: What's going on with you? Mom, I've got to go.
JESSIE: David.
I've got to go.
(CAMERAS CLICKING) (SOLDIERS CHEERING) They made him the monkey.
Hey, Shepherd.
What? There's a package here for you.
Is anyone else really sick of that picture? Can we turn that off? Thanks.
Cool.
(PRESS LAUGHING) REPORTER 1 : Does this mean no more action for you? You'II be staying here in Shiloh? Uh, Iook.
I only had, Iike, ten minutes of briefing this morning, but I'm pretty sure they just want me to read what's on the prompter, so How about I just say yes and we get straight to it, okay? "An offensive was issued two hours ago by King Silas.
" (PRESS CHATTERING) "At present, we have troops advancing across the neutral zone into Gath territory.
"We have reports that Gath has retreated its armor units.
" REPORTER 2: Is this in response to the kidnappings? I think it's in response to everyone wanting this damn war over already.
This is embarrassing.
We could pull him.
No, no, no, no.
He's perfect.
Watch.
REPORTER 3: What about Jack Benjamin's involvement with the ambush of the 1 27th? As far as I know, Captain Benjamin's involvement was as a victim.
Is it true there's an early inquiry into his negligence? DAVID : I have no official information on that.
But from personal knowledge, I can state that that's a load of bull (BLEEP) put out by people trying to cash in on tragedy.
Men died in that ambush.
T ry and show some respect.
Next question.
FORSYTHE: Okay.
Thank you, Captain.
A Iittle too much time around soldiers.
Any, uh, Iast comments? No? Uh, actually, yeah.
Yeah, one Iast thing.
I have a report that there's progress on a promising new health care petition to expand, uh, you know, coverage, which, I guess, will, uh I guess will benefit everyone.
Thank you for that update.
THOMASINA: FIying colors.
How you feeling? I thought I was going to vomit the whole time.
You're Iucky you didn't.
(CHUCKLES) Come, sir.
There's a call for you.
(SOLDIERS CHEERING) You got my package? You seriously spent your whole reward on beer and video games? You're sick.
You have a sickness.
All right, all right, all right.
How are you holding up, Captain? (SOLDIERS CHEERING) I've been trying to get out ever since I got here.
Why? Why? What's wrong with you, man? You're in the capital! You're dancing with the princess! Nobody's shooting at you.
The princess.
Y eah, I just thought I should be out there with you guys.
Are you kidding me? Oh, that's sweet, no.
You're kidding? You need to be scooping this up with both hands, okay? You're living the good life.
SAVOY: Come on, David.
You deserve it.
(HORN BLARING) (SOLDIERS YELLING) What's going on, EIi? (PLANES APPROACHING) Air raid! Air raid! EIi! EIi! ABNER: We're Iooking at preparation for full-scale invasion.
We have to attack first.
They're coming for us.
MINISTER OF FINANCE: They haven't fired.
It could be a retreat.
HANSON: We were told to expect an official message from them any minute.
ABNER: Recalling all your planes from our air space is a message.
"We're going to push you into the sea.
" Your brother's fine.
You'II call him Iater.
Message from the Premier of Gath, sir.
(SILAS SIGHS) Son of a bitch.
It's a peace treaty.
They're offering us a truce.
(CROWD CHEERING) (KNOCKING ON DOOR) I owe you a thank you for the free publicity.
I just thought I'd drop off a note.
So you hoped I wouldn't be home.
You know, this treaty is half your doing.
You really should be out celebrating.
You haven't seen Well, turn on your TV.
Oh, you don't have a TV.
Well, what do you think all that noise is outside? I just thought that was the city.
AII right.
Come on.
Come on.
We're going.
(CROWD CHEERING) (DRUMS BEATING) Here.
Wow.
Beautiful, isn't it? Do you remember the inauguration of Shiloh? When we moved to the capital? The celebration? Of course.
I watched it with my family.
Well, we were on our way to it all, driving, and my dad sees this truck and he stops the entire cavalcade.
He just can't get over this ice cream truck here, where there was nothing before someone dreamt it.
Just ashes.
Ruins.
He hugged me to hide that he was crying.
Nobody else saw, but (SIGHS) It's Iike it wasn't real to him until that moment.
It was freezing out, and he bought us all Rocket Pops.
That was when I realized that the human will can take ashes and turn it into ice cream.
This city is about progress.
This is what we've been fighting for this entire time.
Dancing in the streets and you're here, draining my wine cellar.
JACK: Isn't it great? Peace in our Iifetimes.
AII thanks to the cocker spaniel.
Good news for all of us.
Especially for me.
You transferred me.
Moved me to an intelligence desk in the capital.
Promotion to Major.
Then you heard.
Congratulations, Jack.
And you took me off active duty.
That is a demotion.
An admission of guilt couched as an honor.
"That Jack couldn't really handle the war.
"He nearly got himself killed.
Let's move him to a desk, where it's safe.
" AII while you prop him up on a stage.
Come in.
There's enough fair hair to go around.
Do you really mean to do this now? If I'm going to be king and telling the butterfly story, I need to be a war hero in command of my company.
I can't do that from the sidelines.
Do you believe what they're saying? That ambush wasn't my fault.
I know that.
Then, what? I fought for you.
Commanded.
I have the respect of everyone in our army except the one who owes it to me most.
Is it my reputation? "The party prince?" Is that it? None of that matters, Dad.
It's not who I am.
Oh, if only it was.
What would I give for a playboy who couldn't keep it in his pants and who runs through women? But what I have is a son who shows no interest in them.
Oh.
You thought I didn't know? I've been keeping pictures of our family out of the free press for years.
What you do at night with your boys after your show of skirt chasing is a disgrace.
If you were my second son, I wouldn't care.
But for a king, it's not possible.
Not possible.
We give up what we want when we want power.
Believe me.
Now, if you want to show me you have the heart to be King, show me you can control it.
Wrestle it to the ground.
Numb it with ice.
But you cannot be what God made you.
Not if you mean to take my place.
Celebrate, Jack.
It's what you're good at.
SILAS: Read it back.
PERRY: "And it happened that Silas King forged an accord of peace with Gath.
"The dancing in the streets could be felt even up unto the King's chambers, "shaking his pen as he signed his name.
" Nice turn, Perry.
We made Iegend today.
Thank you, sir.
(DOOR OPENING) Ah.
William.
Who comes to the King uncalled? Why aren't you out on a parade float somewhere? No sign of it Ietting up, either.
Even Michelle is out having fun, for once.
It was a good gamble.
We scared them into peace.
We can build again.
I was thinking this truce might not be the best thing for the country right now.
I just signed the treaty.
Which makes a perfect opportunity to invade.
They'd never see it coming.
We only attacked to scare them into peace.
Everything this country needs is wrapped in peace.
You heard the parades.
The people want peace.
And they can have it.
Say, in a year.
Then, you could end the war.
CrossGen has too much invested in the military right now.
This war needs to continue.
No, this isn't some government contract, building a bridge or a pipeline or a helmet.
People will die.
You can see that building.
Of course you can.
I made sure this room faced it.
You may have built this country, but I paid for it.
I handed you your crown.
Oh, I repaid that debt many times.
Don't forget all you sacrificed to get where you are right now.
You gave up that whore you Ioved, made me your brother, all so you could have my money at your back.
You knew the cost.
And if I refuse? One call.
AII it takes to pull our gold from your treasury.
Everything you built will collapse.
By Iunch, those parades will be riots and your banks will be on fire.
You'II have more death on your head than would come from any war.
One more year, Silas, then sign whatever you want.
Find a way.
And how do I Iive with myself? Same as you always have.
Thomasina.
You never sleep either.
The family needs 24-hour care.
You all right, sir? Quarterly reports are the death of innovation.
Will you ready me a car? I woke you.
I was up.
Long night? Sit.
I made soup.
What kind? The kind you Iike.
(GROANS) Your back's bothering you again? I'II get you a pillow.
(SIGHS) Why do I ever Ieave? I'm happy when I'm here.
Sad when I'm gone.
Sadness can be useful, too.
BOY: Mama! (BOY COUGHS) Easy, puppy.
Daddy's here.
(LAUGHING) Easy.
(GUNS FIRING) We're getting hammered out here! Where's our air support? (SCREAMING) We'II have to take extreme measures to compensate.
Take them head on, hit their capital.
We should prepare for heavy Iosses.
Press conference in two hours at the front.
You'II announce this.
Abner? I'II need the Reverend to give the benediction after.
Re-engaged? We're invading? But we had peace.
You don't want this.
If you invade, there will be no end.
There has to be some way you can rescue this.
One tank, and he thinks he can fashion history.
There's a Iot of generals there who think differently.
They can't tell you how to move people.
You can do that.
Talk to Gath face to face.
Call out to the Premier directly.
You have to try Do not presume to tell us what to do.
We are King and we do what seems right in mine eye.
Say otherwise again, and we will snap your neck right now.
And next time you touch my daughter, don't do it on camera.
There would have been a much different picture in the paper this morning if it didn't come to me first.
Captain Shepherd.
(SIGHS) You and I, we've had our differences.
But on the people, we agree.
They're going to need you.
I want you to get on the air.
Lead them in a national prayer.
Declare a fast.
Band them together, Iike the old days.
No.
I won't do that.
You're refusing your King? You are not my King.
Not anymore.
Not after what you have done.
Or do you still want to pretend that I don't know? The kidnappings.
Those soldiers.
The ambush that ended 1 2 Iives.
That was you.
You recalled their air support.
You allowed an assault on your own soldiers.
You sacrificed your own son.
Jack was never supposed to be anywhere near there.
They are all your children, Silas.
I had to do something.
We needed to strike.
I couldn't get the people behind it.
I only wanted a chance at peace.
And you couldn't take that, either.
I bring a message.
Since you have cast aside the word of the Lord, he has cast you aside as King.
He grants you no more favors.
He protects what you Iove no Ionger.
God wishes a man after his own heart.
You have none.
He will find another.
That's what he says? Then to hell with God.
You are just a man now, Silas.
Try to Iive Iike one.
For as Iong as you can.
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING) What happened? A Goliath.
Took out the entire front.
We got hit hard.
Where's EIi? ELI: There he is.
How's the big city? God, EIi Hey, tell me something.
How did you know those tanks were going to shoot? Come on.
Don't make me die before I know.
Their tank teams Iike to use the exhaust stacks to heat up their field rations.
They drop the entrees in when they're idling.
You can hear them gun the engines to blow the packs out.
They always do it before they shell.
So they can have a hot meal in peace while we While we had our heads in the sand.
(CHOKING) (COUGHING) Hey, hey.
(SIGHS) It's not good out there.
It's going to get worse.
I don't know what to do.
Oh, no.
You'II figure something out.
You're always good at fixing things.
They're so much bigger than me there.
Bigger than you? You're the kid in front of the tank.
You're a hero.
(WHISPERING) I'm not what you think I am.
I'm not a hero.
That whole picture is a Iie.
But you stood up to them.
When they took that picture, I wasn't standing up.
DAVID: I was surrounded.
They had me, so I surrendered.
I dropped my gun.
My grenade went off.
I got a lucky shot in.
It wasn 't even luck.
It was stupid.
I surrendered.
Everyone thinks I' m brave, but I' m not.
Be brave now.
Sir? You'd better see this.
You want blood? Come here and take it! It's fresh! Still warm from the Iife that just Ieft it.
The blood of my brother.
So, take it! Take his blood and call it enough! If you need more, take mine! Do it! I surrender! Shoot me and call that enough! Or can one of you come down here and show me your face? Show me that you're more than tank, metal and shell! That you're human Iike we are.
That you breathe.
That you bleed.
That you feel and feel pity.
That you Iive for more than our deaths.
Come! Any of you who have Iost a brother, come and tell me it's enough! Lost his mind.
Get a gun on him.
MAN: Yes, sir.
(ENGINE STARTING) Hold.
Hold.
SILAS: We Iooked into our hearts and found a new opportunity for peaceful dialog and truce.
I personally sent Captain Shepherd, our bravest soldier, to extend the offer of mutual surrender to Gath.
Where is David Shepherd now? Captain Shepherd is suffering his own Ioss today.
I hope that you will extend to him the privacy he and his family deserve.
Opportunity for peaceful dialog? What are you going to do about this? I'm going to hold peace talks with the Gath Ieadership at the Vineyard.
Shepherd's stunt was too grand a gesture.
My hands are tied.
You planned it, the whole thing, didn't you? You fed your words to that upstart and sent him out there.
Me? I'd kill him myself if I could.
I hope you're happy.
Silas.
You just traded one war for another.
At which the King's brother-in-Iaw came and congratulated him on the truce.
Nice to have my own country back, Abner.
Yeah.
Call the Treasury.
Pull the gold.
We'II see how Iong they cheer for him when they're starving.
Then, we handle Shepherd.
Royal Guard? Palace finest.
Are you arresting me? More Iike delivering an invitation and a small housewarming gift.
Took the Iiberty of installing it for you.
Be seeing you, I suppose, sir.
ROSE: And we'II be receiving the peace negotiators from Gath here at the Vineyard.
It's my proud task to make them all comfortable during these historic talks.
THOMASINA: We found it, ma'am.
Your cell phone.
ROSE: Lord bless.
I Iost it days ago.
National security disaster.
Where was it? Oh.
PIease, just tell me, for goodness sakes.
I have no secrets from the press.
Jack's car, ma'am.
A maid found it in the backseat.
It was with this.
So, then, I did give it to you, unless this belongs to someone else.
(GASPS) Oh, Jack.
I Iose more good secretaries that way.
REPORTER: Is that off the record? Oh, well, go ahead.
I owe you one.
But please, just promise to make him Iook rakish.
I'II do my best.
WILLIAM: Silas and his time has passed.
Being king is a young man's game, and he's grown old.
This is the time for bold action, and for action, we need to know we have a replacement at the ready.
What say you? (DOOR OPENING) There are no words.
Your brother was, by all accounts, the kind of man this country was built on.
You are free to Ieave the city.
I won't even try to make you stay.
The piano is yours regardless.
They really need me back home, but I was thinking I might stay.
It feels Iike the braver thing.
It's what EIi would have done.
ROSE: She Iikes him.
You Iike him, too.
Happiness really suits her.
ROSE: Hmm.
Yes.
Oh, it's embarrassing.
I am still a bit in awe of you after all these years.
AII you've accomplished.
(CHUCKLES) Still accomplishing.
Well, I'II Iet you work.
(DOOR OPENS) Be right back.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
Iike it wasn't nearly freezing temperatures.
It feels like the only one not here yet is the man himself.
(CROWD CHEERING) Is he doing the God thing? Oh, I hope not.
God's not popular right now.
He doesn't care.
He Iikes God.
And God Iikes him.
LEADER OF THE GUARDS: Detail! He's here.
The King approaches.
(TRUMPET SOUNDS) (CROWD CHEERING) Sir, I'd feel much better about this if I could see your speech first.
Stop asking.
GIance Where's Reverend Samuels? THOMASINA: Reverend Samuels isn't here yet.
Not Iike him to miss a crowd.
We'II just have to start without him.
He's supposed to give the benediction.
We could hold for another 15 minutes.
It's cold out there and the people are cheering.
I'II have my son do it.
You're not going to be warm enough.
Really, sir.
You have the entire country Iistening, and you choose today not to Iet me see your speech? I'd Iove to, if I had written one.
Didn't write a speech.
It will come.
(CROWD CHEERING) It's not popular to speak of God.
But I do so now and publicly because I feel blessed.
I am blessed.
I Iook at this city that we built through industry, through ingenuity, through war and sacrifice, and I feel that blessing.
(CROWD CHEERING) This city is the dream of a half century, and this morning, we bring that dream into the day.
We have built Shiloh! (CROWD CHEERING) There's no surprise.
I knew this day would come.
I knew this land, these territories once at war, factions fractured were meant to be one nation together at peace.
When I first looked out at the ruins that would become Shiloh, there was nothing.
Ashes.
An empty shell of a city bombed ten times over by three armies.
But I looked, and my eyes opened.
(BOYS LAUGHING) And I thought, "Unity Hall.
Right here as it stands today.
" Pay attention, boys.
Your father died fighting for this.
SILAS: I looked and I saw people, former enemies JESSIE: Damn fool.
(CAR HONKING) working together.
Rebuilding.
I'II get it.
SILAS: Hospitals, streets, traffic, jewelry shops, police stations, rude old men stealing your cab, trucks selling 50 different kinds of ice cream, I saw it all.
DAVI D: Someone's pulling into the shop.
I saw it all as if it was here already.
Under one flag, united.
Under one king, strong.
Morning.
Are you Jessie? My mom.
Didn't you get a name? David.
What's the problem? The car.
It used to work, and then it stopped.
We've got the ceremony on inside, if you want to watch it.
You Iook Iike you know what you're doing.
My dad taught me.
Is he around? He died in the war.
(SIGHS) You need a new hose.
Will that take Iong? A new one would.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING) The dead has arisen.
Look at you.
It was just a cracked hose.
For you, maybe.
But to me, that was a broken car.
You have a Iittle something on you, there.
(SIGHS) I can't charge you for a piece of tape.
It was your time that I owe you for.
I'II meet you halfway.
This broken thing has been in my pocket for the Iast six months.
I should have taken it to a shop, but if you can fix it, you deserve it.
Thank you, sir.
You are very polite, David.
It's just the way I was raised.
Well, do something about that before you grow up.
And that's when they came.
I felt the shadow above me.
I Iooked up and saw a great swarm of butterflies, and they circled around me Iike Ieaves in a storm, floating, soft, Ianding upon my head Iike a crown.
A Iiving crown.
God's signal to begin.
I pray, as I take my seat in this great new capital, to be worthy of his anointment and of your trust.
(CROWD CHEERING) NEWS REPORTER: Like the King himself, who rose from meager beginnings as a soldier to a monarch beloved by his kingdom, the new capital at Shiloh has risen up from the wreckage of war and become a beacon of hope for our people.
Well, there you go, boys.
Our taxes went into rebuilding that fool city for 20 years.
At Ieast you'II be able to tell your grandkids, "I saw it happen.
" Except for David.
He missed it.
Who was in the shop, anyways? Reverend Samuels.
(LAUGHS) Who wants pancakes? (BOYS CHATTERING) NEWS REPORTER: The only dark clouds on this day are reports of tension in the north.
With fears that border disputes with Gath could escalate.
Certainly King Silas, veteran of the Unification Wars himself, will do what he can to prevent another war.
NATHAN : Hey, S hep.
Shep! Seriously, bro.
I swear, man.
Your mom's making the best frigging brownies, man.
What's in these? Guilt.
Hey, give me a Iight.
Easy, killer.
I promised Mom I'd take care of you.
No smoking.
Oh, damn Goliath.
Every day, another round, just to remind us that we're outgunned.
(DAVID SIGHS) We're talking about it.
Must be working.
I've got a pool going on, when do you think they'II blow today? Actually, it should be any second.
You don't know that.
Yeah.
I kind of do.
It's a different time every day.
It's a completely random event Any second.
(FIRING) (ELI GRUNTS) (LAUGHING) I swear to God.
If you weren't my brother, I'd think you were a spy.
How did you know that was going to happen? (LAUGHING) Have another brownie.
Hey.
Did you guys hear? A squad got pinched.
At Foxland Forest.
They got out alone somehow.
No air support.
Bastards ambushed them.
They dead? SAVOY: Not all.
They took hostages.
(FOOTSTEPS RUNNING) A platoon was ambushed.
Foxland.
Twelve dead, two hostages.
Over the border.
They go too far.
Gath.
They'II find I'm willing to meet them and go further.
We don't negotiate for hostages.
Much as we want to, much as our soldiers deserve it.
War asks the heart to freeze at room temperature.
Send for the families.
Sir, it was the 1 27th.
I'm sorry, sir.
It's It's Call the Ambassador to Gath.
Get them back.
Get it done.
You can't.
We don't negotiate for hostages, as you said.
We can't now.
Then, what do we do? No one goes after the hostages.
We don't need any more Iosses.
In the Iast 1 8 months, anyone within 200 yards of a Goliath was a Ioss.
This comes from the top.
(THUD) (SIGHS) DAVID: Anyone on the move? Hell, you walk quiet, Shep.
What the hell are you doing out here? Nothing.
Anything moving out there? Oh, tank on five K-0 rolled 50 yards off a ditch.
I thought I saw a shelter go up.
Dude.
What are you doing? I can't run in these.
Whoa! You think it's them? The hostages? DAVID: I don't know.
I just have a feeling.
They could be hiding them behind the tanks, but They'II court-martial you for this.
If you Iive that Iong.
Don't worry.
I'm calling your brother, man.
Don't.
He'II just try and stop me.
Give me your wrench.
So, what are you going to do? Change their oil? (CAMERA CLICKING) (PANTING) (HOSTAGE GRUNTS) (DAVID WHISPERS) Go slowly.
Okay.
Okay.
Wait, wait, wait.
Okay, okay, come on.
(BOTH PANTING) Okay, come on.
Come on.
(MAN YELLING) Stay with me.
Stay with me.
(HOSTAGE GROANING) Come on.
Come on.
Get up.
Get up.
Come on.
(TURRET GUN WHIRRING) (TURRET GUN SHOOTING) (HOSTAGE YELLING) I'II cover.
Oh, my God.
Can you get him to Iookout? I think so.
(GOLIATH FIRING) (CAMERA CLICKING) (GOLIATH ENGINE STOPS) He's getting up.
You seeing this? (CAMERA CLICKING RAPIDLY) (EXPLODING) (PANTING) You dumb son of a (SIGHS) If you had died DAVID: What's this? ELI: It's your court-martial.
Shepherd! You were given an order! (HELICOPTER APPROACHING) How is he? Cut to the head and a scar to remember them by, but he'II be fine, sir.
That's Jack Benjamin.
You saved the King's son.
Ice trucks.
Means fish tonight.
Probably king salmon, given the season.
Nah, it doesn't mean fish.
Then, what? Lamb.
It's a hero's welcome.
Heroes get red meat.
I'd do it with a nice pistachio crust, if asked.
No chance.
Queen Rose hates Iamb.
Ever since she spent her summers on her uncle's sheep farm.
Everyone knows that.
Do they? Do they know what color panties she picks for Thursdays, too? Good day, sirs.
Names? Uh, David Shepherd.
Here to see, uh Oh! Here to see everyone, sir.
That's in the paper? KLOTZ: No, that's in all the papers, sir.
You're going to have to settle a bet for us, sir, on what's being served for you tonight.
Tonight? You know, at your banquet? The menu, ma'am.
Ah, the menu.
Squab, herb polenta, arrabiata for the vegetarians.
Good, good.
It's perfect.
But, uh Take off the Iamb.
Yes, ma'am.
And what about our guest of honor? Who's making sure he's presentable? We have Jack on that, ma'am.
Then put someone on Jack.
Yes, ma'am.
And, uh (CLUB MUSIC PLAYING) (INDISTINCT CHATTERING) I can't believe you came out tonight.
I mean, you almost died out there.
I didn't.
That calls for more Iiving.
Thomasina.
Oh, my Iove.
Don't be jealous.
Come.
We're meeting Shepherd.
He's coming to court.
I thought that was tomorrow.
It is tomorrow.
Oh.
Okay.
(PRESS CLAMORING) (CROWD EXCLAIMING) JACK: That used to hang up in my room.
It kept me up at night.
You saved my Iife.
We can skip all that.
Besides, you're the darling today.
Sorry, sir? I know.
I get taken hostage and almost get killed, and they're throwing you a party.
(SCOFFS) Mysteries of the palace.
I wish they wouldn't.
I'm not even really sure why I'm here.
Technically, so I'd give you a tour.
An hour ago.
(LAUGHS) Sorry.
You're here to get shown off.
You're going to take a pretty picture with my father, and then get sent back to wherever you came from.
Thanks for serving your country.
Is that what you're wearing tonight? I'II have something of mine sent over.
I think you're taller than me.
I'II send the tailor with it.
There's a tailor here? (LAUGHS) My father Iikes suits.
Gath.
ABNER: Now's the time to make a push forward.
Take the valley.
You've been saying that for three years.
Last presented.
Perry! Uh, sorry.
June 1 0th this year.
Unapproved by you, sir.
"We don't attack.
We respond.
Instigation is Gath's game.
" MINISTER OF FINANCE: Which is why they're winning.
This war has been a cancer on our economy.
If your valley can get us out, I support it.
We can't extend the border now for the same reason we couldn't in June.
We're outgunned and Iack public support.
Polling shows public opinion in favor of aggressive measures since the kidnapping.
Negatives.
Could draw an offensive.
World press would have a field day.
The Reverend won't Iike it.
The Reverend doesn't Iike anything.
He still thinks I owe him because he swore me in.
They've blasted us from those hills for years.
There's never been a better time to make them stop.
They're demoralized, and our troops are chomping at the bit.
They all want to take out a tank now.
Good.
Let them.
Let them.
Push back.
Enough to Iet Gath know we're done taking punches.
It's time to do something.
PIease say that clears the agenda.
There are petitions, sir.
We have four.
Court calls Miss Michelle Benjamin, petition on health care.
I think we'II only have time for one.
Sir, you've heard proposals to advance public health care before, I know Most from you.
Noah Tanner.
Six years old and needs a new heart.
Given the current options, patients Iike Noah are Ieft to treatments older than his parents.
He needs a new heart as badly as we need reform.
I've outlined a plan I recall my own daughter treated for childhood illnesses very well by the exact Ievel of care offered to each of our citizens, but deemed Iacking by you.
Your daughter had advantages many don't.
She had parents of privilege to watch over her day and night.
As they do now when they tell her to move on from an obvious impasse.
Sorry, puppy.
This push on Gath, make it Ioud.
It's time to end this damn war.
Write down, "He governed patiently and well, "then ran home for a shower.
" (MEN LAUGHING) I spend more time on cufflinks than I do on tax reforms.
Why aren't you ready? My darned cell phone.
I had it with me on my trip yesterday, and I I Iast saw it with my socks.
Your daughter is Iivid, by the way.
She spent months on that tax thing.
Health care.
Why with your socks? So it wouldn't get banged up.
It's my fault.
I should never have trusted anything that important with that new secretary.
Why is it that pretty people are always so bad with details? (SIGHS) King of all I survey, and I still can't find an office chair that doesn't give my back spasms.
You're an old soldier.
Don't complain.
Your pills are on the counter.
I don't Iike pills.
I'd rather have wine.
Wine makes your eyes droop, and you have to Iook nice for the pictures.
(PRESS CLAMORING) Is this really your first time in the capital? I missed the eighth grade class trip.
Mono.
Do you have any family here tonight? Is your dad proud of you? My dad died fighting in the Unification War.
REPORTER 1 : What about your mother? Is she here? My mother never really approved of me joining the army.
REPORTER 2: Why is that? Uh, you might have heard about my father.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) Ladies and gentlemen.
Shall we? Start on the Ieft and work our way over.
And back again.
You handle the hounds well, Private.
I have six older brothers.
Have fun.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) I'd Iike a Iarge glass of something really expensive.
Thank you.
(DINGS) We celebrate bravery tonight.
Tonight, I am as sure of our cause as I was the day we founded our great nation.
In fact, that idea is all Reverend Samuels.
It means so much to have you here Let me get a drink in me before you start asking me for things, would you, Marcus? SILAS: We had Iittle more than hope and a bad idea, two key ingredients for global change.
(ALL LAUGHING) And that's when they came.
Like a shadow overhead.
I Iooked up and saw a great swarm of butterflies, circling above my head Iike Ieaves in a storm, soft and Ianding Iike a crown, a Iiving crown on my head.
God's signal to begin.
Still with the butterflies.
Doesn't he ever get tired of that one? He'II tell it as Iong as they want to hear it.
And so will you someday.
If it's good enough for the hero, it's more than enough for an old preacher.
Sir.
(LAUGHS) The Lord's world is great.
And very, very small.
To the hero who can fix anything.
I don't know if I count as a hero.
What is this? A man hiding at the bar is a man who doesn't want to be at the party.
(SIGHS) I guess I'm just more used to the front.
Take a good Iook around you.
You, come on Have got a banquet in your name.
You're drinking a single malt the Iikes of which God himself only takes out of the cabinet but once a year.
You have your choice of Iadies all very interested in your attention.
You'II Iike the one in red.
Now, your nights will not always be this easy.
So Enjoy.
Just watch out for the cameras.
(CLINKING) You're not supposed to be playing that.
That piano is a gift to my father from the Prime Minister of Austeria.
This piano is a Broadwood Grand, 1848.
The same year Liszt wrote this.
The closest I've ever come to one is a picture on the Internet.
You can call security, but I'm finishing first.
I thought you were a mechanic.
I wouldn't have pegged you for a musician.
I wouldn't have pegged you for a snitch.
Well, they're all Iooking for you.
Sir, this is Mr.
and Mrs.
Acharon.
Excuse me.
You know him? The kid.
I'm not sure if I know anybody anymore.
You speak in riddles, Reverend, you're Iiable never to get your point across.
So you're going to pretend that I don't know? About Gath? I spoke my piece clearly.
The offensive can put an end to this war.
If you're against it, tell it to your flock.
I don't need your permission to defend my country.
Sit.
It's time we spoke plainly, you and I.
Yes, sir.
PIainly doesn't come with "sirs.
" Quit it.
I owe you a Iot.
More than I can say.
You don't have children, do you? I'm an uncle.
Then you don't know.
You saved my son's Iife.
That means I owe you mine.
Just tell me what you want, and it's yours.
They already offered me a reward that's way more than I can spend.
You're a young man.
Smart.
You must have some goals.
I'm a man with position offering you a thank you.
Even if you ask for half my kingdom, as the saying goes.
Well, speak up, or you're Iiable to get a car you can't afford the insurance on.
Ah! Half my kingdom, it is.
You have no idea how to dance, do you? Not even a Iittle bit.
You know, this really seemed Iike a good idea a minute ago.
You have a Iot of people watching you right now, you know that? Now, yes.
Very, very clear.
(WHISPERS) Follow my Iead.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING) Um, I'm sorry about before.
I took my bad day out on you.
Princessing is hard work, huh? Health reform, actually.
I showed them all a way to help people and got told it was inconvenient.
I'm trying to get a six-year-old a new heart.
What? Happiness suits her, Abner.
Who knew? Him.
ABNER: Yes, sir.
I'II not forget what he said and when he said it.
Yes, sir.
Don't make a show of it.
And the wife? No.
No need.
He'II be trouble.
You watch.
I know the type.
The only way to deal with them is a bullet.
PIease, he's an infant.
(WHISPERS) He's got everyone eating out of his hand.
The cameras are wearing themselves out.
No one's talking about the war.
This court needs a new face to Iook up to.
No.
We can use him.
Something's here for us.
Good kid, that David.
SILAS: Perfect timing.
Medium scrambled on whole wheat toast.
No butter on pain of death.
Hmm? A rare full house.
Eat.
No sign of it, ma'am.
They checked the cars? And the Iuggage? The Service is asking for an account of the information on there.
JACK: It's the Queen's cell phone.
It's got the email, birthdays, and bad spelling of every person comprising society in this country.
I think they're more concerned with national security.
You know I don't Iike getting involved with politics.
So, come.
Let's keep Iooking before they call in the National Guard.
It's got to be somewhere.
MICHELLE: Did Mom Iose her mind and hire Thomasina to fix everything, or was it the other way? Sort of a chicken-egg question.
SILAS: The chicken or the egg? I was told to come? SILAS: Chicken? Egg? Are we still using that expression? Given the overwhelming evidence in favor of evolutionary theory, I need to make a royal official declaration.
The answer is, roundly, an egg.
Not negating God, in whom I trust more than that damn Reverend will ever know.
Just recognizing that change occurs, thank said God, and that the egg would have to have been the natural improvement on whatever near-chicken mother hatched it and discovered that her young were delightfully different from herself.
Evolution is just one of God's many tools.
Like me.
The only real and Iingering question being How do you Iike them first-come eggs? Is there something you'd Iike me to do? He'd Iike you to sit and eat.
My father insists on making breakfast.
It makes him feel Iike his kids are still five.
When you were small and manageable.
And I preferred it that way.
I can't stay Iong.
I have to report back to base this morning.
Oh.
Oh, no, you're not.
You're not going back to the front.
You've been transferred to Shiloh.
Military Liaison to the Press Office.
The press Iikes you.
Captain Shepherd.
Mmm-hmm.
Captain.
You're an officer now.
Hell of a time to Iose your powers of speech.
You're going on air in an hour.
There a problem? I'm not sure I can answer that without insulting my King.
Well, your King hears insults with alarming regularity.
I just don't think I'm cut out for the city, sir.
Walter? Next time you hear Captain Shepherd call me sir, I want you to take out your sidearm and shoot him.
What, uh What have you got against our city? Well, I'd probably have an apartment the size of my dog's shed at home.
And no one talks about the war here.
My company is fighting just a few hours from here, and it's as if nothing's happening, except on TV.
PIus, the city sort of smells Iike trash.
(MICHELLE CHUCKLES) I'm not going to tell you what to do, but you could do good here.
Hope Iies in bravery.
And we need hope.
Give us a shot.
Yes, sir.
I can't believe I've been in this many cars in three days.
I could have sworn that I gave it to you.
I'm so sorry, ma'am.
I don't know where it went.
A cell phone full of state secrets and private Iines Let's hope not far.
I'II go tear up my bedroom again.
No Iuck? Oh, It's your fault.
Ooh.
I blame the grief.
You really had me worried, Jack.
You promised me you'd never die.
Well, I kept my promise.
See? (CHUCKLES) Look.
How Iong are we going to have to suffer that one? Oh, he's harmless.
He's a cocker spaniel.
That cocker spaniel just got the best post in the military.
Hell, I was the one taken hostage.
That should have been my job.
Instead, I'm being brought in for questioning.
More discipline.
(SIGHS) You don't do yourself any favors with your night Iife.
They're saying things about the kidnapping, that it was my fault the squad was ambushed.
That I was impulsive and went in without a support team.
Did you? Of course not.
I called for over-watch as soon as I got the order.
Those woods were crawling.
We had support, at Ieast when we went in.
And then the shooting started and we were alone.
I Iost men.
We had support.
PIease, talk to him.
They could bring me up on charges.
Yes.
I know.
You know I don't Iike to get involved with politics.
(SIGHS) But if I were to suggest something, I'd say Iet them.
Let them court-martial me? Why not? Truth outed slowly is remembered Iongest.
So, sit through their meetings.
They'II see what's what soon enough, and then they'II have to cover you with so many medals and apologies that you'II be stuffed from all the banquets in your high honor.
Be patient, Jack.
It will all come out in the wash, probably along with my damn cell phone.
And sadly, he suffered a coronary while jogging near his home.
Minister of Energy Fawkes was a 15-year servant of our government and a patriot.
King Silas will be visiting with his family after the funeral.
DAVI D: Listen, Mom.
I don't think I' m going to make it back home this weekend Iike I thought.
JESSIE: I thought you had some leave coming.
Did you get in trouble? Sort of.
Turn on the TV.
We also have some news from the front.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING) Ladies and gentlemen You know we can't tell you too much, but here to tell you what we can, we have our new Military Liaison.
Some of you may know of him already.
Let me introduce Captain David Shepherd.
JESSIE: What's going on with you? Mom, I've got to go.
JESSIE: David.
I've got to go.
(CAMERAS CLICKING) (SOLDIERS CHEERING) They made him the monkey.
Hey, Shepherd.
What? There's a package here for you.
Is anyone else really sick of that picture? Can we turn that off? Thanks.
Cool.
(PRESS LAUGHING) REPORTER 1 : Does this mean no more action for you? You'II be staying here in Shiloh? Uh, Iook.
I only had, Iike, ten minutes of briefing this morning, but I'm pretty sure they just want me to read what's on the prompter, so How about I just say yes and we get straight to it, okay? "An offensive was issued two hours ago by King Silas.
" (PRESS CHATTERING) "At present, we have troops advancing across the neutral zone into Gath territory.
"We have reports that Gath has retreated its armor units.
" REPORTER 2: Is this in response to the kidnappings? I think it's in response to everyone wanting this damn war over already.
This is embarrassing.
We could pull him.
No, no, no, no.
He's perfect.
Watch.
REPORTER 3: What about Jack Benjamin's involvement with the ambush of the 1 27th? As far as I know, Captain Benjamin's involvement was as a victim.
Is it true there's an early inquiry into his negligence? DAVID : I have no official information on that.
But from personal knowledge, I can state that that's a load of bull (BLEEP) put out by people trying to cash in on tragedy.
Men died in that ambush.
T ry and show some respect.
Next question.
FORSYTHE: Okay.
Thank you, Captain.
A Iittle too much time around soldiers.
Any, uh, Iast comments? No? Uh, actually, yeah.
Yeah, one Iast thing.
I have a report that there's progress on a promising new health care petition to expand, uh, you know, coverage, which, I guess, will, uh I guess will benefit everyone.
Thank you for that update.
THOMASINA: FIying colors.
How you feeling? I thought I was going to vomit the whole time.
You're Iucky you didn't.
(CHUCKLES) Come, sir.
There's a call for you.
(SOLDIERS CHEERING) You got my package? You seriously spent your whole reward on beer and video games? You're sick.
You have a sickness.
All right, all right, all right.
How are you holding up, Captain? (SOLDIERS CHEERING) I've been trying to get out ever since I got here.
Why? Why? What's wrong with you, man? You're in the capital! You're dancing with the princess! Nobody's shooting at you.
The princess.
Y eah, I just thought I should be out there with you guys.
Are you kidding me? Oh, that's sweet, no.
You're kidding? You need to be scooping this up with both hands, okay? You're living the good life.
SAVOY: Come on, David.
You deserve it.
(HORN BLARING) (SOLDIERS YELLING) What's going on, EIi? (PLANES APPROACHING) Air raid! Air raid! EIi! EIi! ABNER: We're Iooking at preparation for full-scale invasion.
We have to attack first.
They're coming for us.
MINISTER OF FINANCE: They haven't fired.
It could be a retreat.
HANSON: We were told to expect an official message from them any minute.
ABNER: Recalling all your planes from our air space is a message.
"We're going to push you into the sea.
" Your brother's fine.
You'II call him Iater.
Message from the Premier of Gath, sir.
(SILAS SIGHS) Son of a bitch.
It's a peace treaty.
They're offering us a truce.
(CROWD CHEERING) (KNOCKING ON DOOR) I owe you a thank you for the free publicity.
I just thought I'd drop off a note.
So you hoped I wouldn't be home.
You know, this treaty is half your doing.
You really should be out celebrating.
You haven't seen Well, turn on your TV.
Oh, you don't have a TV.
Well, what do you think all that noise is outside? I just thought that was the city.
AII right.
Come on.
Come on.
We're going.
(CROWD CHEERING) (DRUMS BEATING) Here.
Wow.
Beautiful, isn't it? Do you remember the inauguration of Shiloh? When we moved to the capital? The celebration? Of course.
I watched it with my family.
Well, we were on our way to it all, driving, and my dad sees this truck and he stops the entire cavalcade.
He just can't get over this ice cream truck here, where there was nothing before someone dreamt it.
Just ashes.
Ruins.
He hugged me to hide that he was crying.
Nobody else saw, but (SIGHS) It's Iike it wasn't real to him until that moment.
It was freezing out, and he bought us all Rocket Pops.
That was when I realized that the human will can take ashes and turn it into ice cream.
This city is about progress.
This is what we've been fighting for this entire time.
Dancing in the streets and you're here, draining my wine cellar.
JACK: Isn't it great? Peace in our Iifetimes.
AII thanks to the cocker spaniel.
Good news for all of us.
Especially for me.
You transferred me.
Moved me to an intelligence desk in the capital.
Promotion to Major.
Then you heard.
Congratulations, Jack.
And you took me off active duty.
That is a demotion.
An admission of guilt couched as an honor.
"That Jack couldn't really handle the war.
"He nearly got himself killed.
Let's move him to a desk, where it's safe.
" AII while you prop him up on a stage.
Come in.
There's enough fair hair to go around.
Do you really mean to do this now? If I'm going to be king and telling the butterfly story, I need to be a war hero in command of my company.
I can't do that from the sidelines.
Do you believe what they're saying? That ambush wasn't my fault.
I know that.
Then, what? I fought for you.
Commanded.
I have the respect of everyone in our army except the one who owes it to me most.
Is it my reputation? "The party prince?" Is that it? None of that matters, Dad.
It's not who I am.
Oh, if only it was.
What would I give for a playboy who couldn't keep it in his pants and who runs through women? But what I have is a son who shows no interest in them.
Oh.
You thought I didn't know? I've been keeping pictures of our family out of the free press for years.
What you do at night with your boys after your show of skirt chasing is a disgrace.
If you were my second son, I wouldn't care.
But for a king, it's not possible.
Not possible.
We give up what we want when we want power.
Believe me.
Now, if you want to show me you have the heart to be King, show me you can control it.
Wrestle it to the ground.
Numb it with ice.
But you cannot be what God made you.
Not if you mean to take my place.
Celebrate, Jack.
It's what you're good at.
SILAS: Read it back.
PERRY: "And it happened that Silas King forged an accord of peace with Gath.
"The dancing in the streets could be felt even up unto the King's chambers, "shaking his pen as he signed his name.
" Nice turn, Perry.
We made Iegend today.
Thank you, sir.
(DOOR OPENING) Ah.
William.
Who comes to the King uncalled? Why aren't you out on a parade float somewhere? No sign of it Ietting up, either.
Even Michelle is out having fun, for once.
It was a good gamble.
We scared them into peace.
We can build again.
I was thinking this truce might not be the best thing for the country right now.
I just signed the treaty.
Which makes a perfect opportunity to invade.
They'd never see it coming.
We only attacked to scare them into peace.
Everything this country needs is wrapped in peace.
You heard the parades.
The people want peace.
And they can have it.
Say, in a year.
Then, you could end the war.
CrossGen has too much invested in the military right now.
This war needs to continue.
No, this isn't some government contract, building a bridge or a pipeline or a helmet.
People will die.
You can see that building.
Of course you can.
I made sure this room faced it.
You may have built this country, but I paid for it.
I handed you your crown.
Oh, I repaid that debt many times.
Don't forget all you sacrificed to get where you are right now.
You gave up that whore you Ioved, made me your brother, all so you could have my money at your back.
You knew the cost.
And if I refuse? One call.
AII it takes to pull our gold from your treasury.
Everything you built will collapse.
By Iunch, those parades will be riots and your banks will be on fire.
You'II have more death on your head than would come from any war.
One more year, Silas, then sign whatever you want.
Find a way.
And how do I Iive with myself? Same as you always have.
Thomasina.
You never sleep either.
The family needs 24-hour care.
You all right, sir? Quarterly reports are the death of innovation.
Will you ready me a car? I woke you.
I was up.
Long night? Sit.
I made soup.
What kind? The kind you Iike.
(GROANS) Your back's bothering you again? I'II get you a pillow.
(SIGHS) Why do I ever Ieave? I'm happy when I'm here.
Sad when I'm gone.
Sadness can be useful, too.
BOY: Mama! (BOY COUGHS) Easy, puppy.
Daddy's here.
(LAUGHING) Easy.
(GUNS FIRING) We're getting hammered out here! Where's our air support? (SCREAMING) We'II have to take extreme measures to compensate.
Take them head on, hit their capital.
We should prepare for heavy Iosses.
Press conference in two hours at the front.
You'II announce this.
Abner? I'II need the Reverend to give the benediction after.
Re-engaged? We're invading? But we had peace.
You don't want this.
If you invade, there will be no end.
There has to be some way you can rescue this.
One tank, and he thinks he can fashion history.
There's a Iot of generals there who think differently.
They can't tell you how to move people.
You can do that.
Talk to Gath face to face.
Call out to the Premier directly.
You have to try Do not presume to tell us what to do.
We are King and we do what seems right in mine eye.
Say otherwise again, and we will snap your neck right now.
And next time you touch my daughter, don't do it on camera.
There would have been a much different picture in the paper this morning if it didn't come to me first.
Captain Shepherd.
(SIGHS) You and I, we've had our differences.
But on the people, we agree.
They're going to need you.
I want you to get on the air.
Lead them in a national prayer.
Declare a fast.
Band them together, Iike the old days.
No.
I won't do that.
You're refusing your King? You are not my King.
Not anymore.
Not after what you have done.
Or do you still want to pretend that I don't know? The kidnappings.
Those soldiers.
The ambush that ended 1 2 Iives.
That was you.
You recalled their air support.
You allowed an assault on your own soldiers.
You sacrificed your own son.
Jack was never supposed to be anywhere near there.
They are all your children, Silas.
I had to do something.
We needed to strike.
I couldn't get the people behind it.
I only wanted a chance at peace.
And you couldn't take that, either.
I bring a message.
Since you have cast aside the word of the Lord, he has cast you aside as King.
He grants you no more favors.
He protects what you Iove no Ionger.
God wishes a man after his own heart.
You have none.
He will find another.
That's what he says? Then to hell with God.
You are just a man now, Silas.
Try to Iive Iike one.
For as Iong as you can.
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING) What happened? A Goliath.
Took out the entire front.
We got hit hard.
Where's EIi? ELI: There he is.
How's the big city? God, EIi Hey, tell me something.
How did you know those tanks were going to shoot? Come on.
Don't make me die before I know.
Their tank teams Iike to use the exhaust stacks to heat up their field rations.
They drop the entrees in when they're idling.
You can hear them gun the engines to blow the packs out.
They always do it before they shell.
So they can have a hot meal in peace while we While we had our heads in the sand.
(CHOKING) (COUGHING) Hey, hey.
(SIGHS) It's not good out there.
It's going to get worse.
I don't know what to do.
Oh, no.
You'II figure something out.
You're always good at fixing things.
They're so much bigger than me there.
Bigger than you? You're the kid in front of the tank.
You're a hero.
(WHISPERING) I'm not what you think I am.
I'm not a hero.
That whole picture is a Iie.
But you stood up to them.
When they took that picture, I wasn't standing up.
DAVID: I was surrounded.
They had me, so I surrendered.
I dropped my gun.
My grenade went off.
I got a lucky shot in.
It wasn 't even luck.
It was stupid.
I surrendered.
Everyone thinks I' m brave, but I' m not.
Be brave now.
Sir? You'd better see this.
You want blood? Come here and take it! It's fresh! Still warm from the Iife that just Ieft it.
The blood of my brother.
So, take it! Take his blood and call it enough! If you need more, take mine! Do it! I surrender! Shoot me and call that enough! Or can one of you come down here and show me your face? Show me that you're more than tank, metal and shell! That you're human Iike we are.
That you breathe.
That you bleed.
That you feel and feel pity.
That you Iive for more than our deaths.
Come! Any of you who have Iost a brother, come and tell me it's enough! Lost his mind.
Get a gun on him.
MAN: Yes, sir.
(ENGINE STARTING) Hold.
Hold.
SILAS: We Iooked into our hearts and found a new opportunity for peaceful dialog and truce.
I personally sent Captain Shepherd, our bravest soldier, to extend the offer of mutual surrender to Gath.
Where is David Shepherd now? Captain Shepherd is suffering his own Ioss today.
I hope that you will extend to him the privacy he and his family deserve.
Opportunity for peaceful dialog? What are you going to do about this? I'm going to hold peace talks with the Gath Ieadership at the Vineyard.
Shepherd's stunt was too grand a gesture.
My hands are tied.
You planned it, the whole thing, didn't you? You fed your words to that upstart and sent him out there.
Me? I'd kill him myself if I could.
I hope you're happy.
Silas.
You just traded one war for another.
At which the King's brother-in-Iaw came and congratulated him on the truce.
Nice to have my own country back, Abner.
Yeah.
Call the Treasury.
Pull the gold.
We'II see how Iong they cheer for him when they're starving.
Then, we handle Shepherd.
Royal Guard? Palace finest.
Are you arresting me? More Iike delivering an invitation and a small housewarming gift.
Took the Iiberty of installing it for you.
Be seeing you, I suppose, sir.
ROSE: And we'II be receiving the peace negotiators from Gath here at the Vineyard.
It's my proud task to make them all comfortable during these historic talks.
THOMASINA: We found it, ma'am.
Your cell phone.
ROSE: Lord bless.
I Iost it days ago.
National security disaster.
Where was it? Oh.
PIease, just tell me, for goodness sakes.
I have no secrets from the press.
Jack's car, ma'am.
A maid found it in the backseat.
It was with this.
So, then, I did give it to you, unless this belongs to someone else.
(GASPS) Oh, Jack.
I Iose more good secretaries that way.
REPORTER: Is that off the record? Oh, well, go ahead.
I owe you one.
But please, just promise to make him Iook rakish.
I'II do my best.
WILLIAM: Silas and his time has passed.
Being king is a young man's game, and he's grown old.
This is the time for bold action, and for action, we need to know we have a replacement at the ready.
What say you? (DOOR OPENING) There are no words.
Your brother was, by all accounts, the kind of man this country was built on.
You are free to Ieave the city.
I won't even try to make you stay.
The piano is yours regardless.
They really need me back home, but I was thinking I might stay.
It feels Iike the braver thing.
It's what EIi would have done.
ROSE: She Iikes him.
You Iike him, too.
Happiness really suits her.
ROSE: Hmm.
Yes.
Oh, it's embarrassing.
I am still a bit in awe of you after all these years.
AII you've accomplished.
(CHUCKLES) Still accomplishing.
Well, I'II Iet you work.
(DOOR OPENS) Be right back.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)