- Joseph: [watching Jack get dressed] You have to go?
- Jack Benjamin: ...The lights are on.
- Joseph: [as Jack heads for the door] Just tell me, so I know... was it real?
- Jack Benjamin: ...You're the only real thing I ever touch.
- [at the hospital, David is startled to see the king enter the empty hall, and gets up from the piano]
- David Shepherd: Sir - sorry... my father died.
- King Silas Benjamin: ...Death took what was near. What is that piece?
- David Shepherd: I don't know... just something he taught me. Now he's gone.
- King Silas Benjamin: You play well for him; play on.
- Dignitary: [handing Silas a gift] Happy birthday, sir.
- King Silas Benjamin: A gun from an ally; now, is that a gift, or an invitation to a duel?
- Dignitary: A gift; I know better than to rankle a Silas with a gun in his hand.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Have you reconsidered inviting Andrew? William was hoping...
- King Silas Benjamin: My birthday, my list. I will endure a party in the company of my choosing, but with none that sour the wine in my cup.
- Jack Benjamin: You remember Lucinda Wolfson; she's making an honest man of me.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Well, with a face like that, how could she not? How long have you two been seeing each other?
- Lucinda Wolfson: [unsure of how to answer, she reverts to Jack's coached small talk] ... Thank you. Happy birthday, sir.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Oh.
- Jack Benjamin: [to Lucinda] Find us some drinks, would you?
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Usefully quiet... and a Wolfson. She's a little out of her depth, but we can fix that. Well chosen, Jack.
- Michelle Benjamin: Used to be, you'd see me and head towards me.
- David Shepherd: ...I'm trying to respect your wishes; you're promised to someone else. What am I supposed to do?
- Michelle Benjamin: David... the world doesn't just stop because we want to be together.
- David Shepherd: We?
- Queen Rose Benjamin: Say something.
- King Silas Benjamin: Oh, I hate public speaking.
- [the guests laugh encouragingly]
- King Silas Benjamin: To get old is a terrible thing. We should do it in reverse, so that we can appreciate the strength; the only consolation in the creaks and the limited range of vision is that we don't endure it alone. So I see - well, well, *almost* see - friends, family, blessings. Oh, there have been days - and this, this is one of those days I feel that strength. My heart is filled with richly oxygenated blood from experience, and my mind is clear.
- [fireworks go off in the distance]
- King Silas Benjamin: [to his wife] Good timing...
- King Silas Benjamin: To our city... to our people; may we all grow old together.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: We ask the world to watch our skies, and offered them a display of our humiliation. Cause?
- Energy Minister: Cause, not source - eight power plants were ordered serviced simultaneously, creating a demand spike.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: And how did you manage to have eight power plants serviced simultaneously?
- Energy Minister: Uhh, clerical error?
- King Silas Benjamin: Mmm... I'd like to meet this cleric. Every minute the lights stay down powers rumors of our impotence and tempts opportunists; just get the lights on.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: There's a switch, somewhere; flip it.
- Michelle Benjamin: [observing the darkened city] You know what this is? This is time stopped; this is permission.
- David Shepherd: For what?
- Michelle Benjamin: For us; this is our chance. Should we take it?
- King Silas Benjamin: Beautiful princess - friend to elves, and maker of music in the meadow with nothing but her hair.
- Michelle Benjamin: Dad, I'm not five.
- King Silas Benjamin: You're four - you're two; eyes that light up the beltway.
- Michelle Benjamin: Last time we danced, you didn't know how.
- David Shepherd: Last time we danced, I was very nervous. I was wearing a tux for the first time... and I thought you hated me.
- Michelle Benjamin: I just didn't know what to think; people like you aren't supposed to exist.
- Michelle Benjamin: You've been reading me "Harlow" for days, and somehow we never get to the end.
- King Silas Benjamin: I'm a thief and a cheater.
- Michelle Benjamin: You don't want to end it; you don't want things to finish.
- King Silas Benjamin: Only beginnings with you.
- [Silas suddenly hears music]
- Michelle Benjamin: Are you OK?
- King Silas Benjamin: *You* ask *me*? I'll start again.
- Michelle Benjamin: Shouldn't we finish it?
- King Silas Benjamin: There's time for that.
- Michelle Benjamin: Is there?
- King Silas Benjamin: ...They say no.
- Michelle Benjamin: But you know better?
- King Silas Benjamin: I do.
- Michelle Benjamin: What do you know?
- King Silas Benjamin: You'll live forever.
- David Shepherd: Your favorite painting?
- Michelle Benjamin: No, I hated this; used to give me nightmares. I had my first kiss here... I was twelve, and there was a party on the lawn for Jack, and I was standing here, staring at this - trying to convince myself that I could look at it without getting scared, and failing... and someone came and kissed me.
- David Shepherd: Not very romantic.
- Michelle Benjamin: Not at all.
- David Shepherd: Was it a good one?
- Michelle Benjamin: [laughs] Not at all. My first kiss - stolen, wasted. My whole life has been planned out, and scored in perfect 4/4 time by forces larger than myself. It's OK; I accept it - all the disappointments and wasted moments to come. I won't have any regrets - about anything... except for this one wasted memory. I would have that back... I would have you in the thief's place.
- King Silas Benjamin: You - you make the music that drives me mad.
- Death: A gift; others meet me in silence. Out of deference to those who love you, I give warning.
- King Silas Benjamin: You came for her; you cannot have her.
- Death: Can't I?
- King Silas Benjamin: I was chosen by Him who made you and all things; leave us - you and your music.
- Death: You can't threaten me; He made death even outside his reach.
- King Silas Benjamin: You like to see us suffer.
- Death: It *is* beautiful to see - yours most of all. I come to you sometimes, Silas; I look at you.
- King Silas Benjamin: Then make me suffer more. Give me pain - endless, endless pain; name the knife.
- Death: For this life... I would see you lose what you love more - your crown.
- King Silas Benjamin: It's yours.
- Death: Not for me.
- King Silas Benjamin: Who, then? Anyone.
- Death: Not anyone; to the better man. When he's found, when he comes, you stand aside.
- King Silas Benjamin: Yes.
- Death: Willingly, freely; you support his succession - else I come for you, and you live to see your name be cursed, forgotten.
- King Silas Benjamin: Yes.
- Death: Swear it, before all.
- King Silas Benjamin: Evermore.
- Death: Seal the contract.
- [she tears the last pages from the book Silas has been reading to Michelle; he smashes the mirror and marks the pages with his bloody hand]
- Death: You'll wish I'd taken her; you'll beg to change now.
- William Cross: Rose! Look - a party *everyone's* invited to.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: [incredulously] Because he was left off a guest list?
- William Cross: Beluga - you want some of this? It'll only spoil.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: [laughing] Shutting down a city for want of an invitation. It's a party!
- William Cross: He's my son... You've done worse for yours. You insist on keeping Andrew in the cold, you'd better learn to live in the dark.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: You have no idea what you're dealing with; turn the lights back on, William.
- William Cross: No; he needs to learn... and so do you.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: You're my brother - but I swear I will have your head.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: The king remains in meditation; on the question of war or not war, I bring you his answer - and I pray with you on his wisdom.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: [reading] "Our hearts armor-heavy, our grief hot as the fire we must bring... and we must. To war, and not lightly."
- David Shepherd: Just tell me who.
- Michelle Benjamin: David...
- David Shepherd: If I lose you to someone, tell me before I read about it in some newspaper... Some alliance? Something to help your father expand his empire?
- Michelle Benjamin: It's not him; it's... a promise I made. It's *my* vow.
- David Shepherd: I don't understand. Who... are you promised to? Who are you supposed to marry?
- Michelle Benjamin: No one... ever. I... I was dying; by all measures gone. I swear I could feel my last breath coming; I could smell death in the room. I prayed to God... and I said, give me one more breath... and I'll give it right back. Let me have another after that, and I'll give it back again. From now on, every breath you give me, I'll use it to serve you - to live for you, for your work... And He listened.
- Michelle Benjamin: [in a flashback, speaking to her father in her hospital bed] From this day forward, I'll earn this gift - helping others, not myself. Witness that I swear.
- King Silas Benjamin: [wide-eyed in shock] No, stop; your debt is payed.
- Michelle Benjamin: I live in service for Him, for them - for no happiness of my own, for no man.
- King Silas Benjamin: I beg you, don't do this.
- Michelle Benjamin: As you live, you cannot let me waver; promise me.
- King Silas Benjamin: Michelle...
- Michelle Benjamin: Promise me!
- King Silas Benjamin: [grieved] ... I promise you...
- David Shepherd: [overwhelmed by her story] ... How can I compete with God?
- King Silas Benjamin: You come for me in my house... I'm ready. You hear me? I'm ready. Come to me - now! I'm ready!
- [the city lights come back on, and Rose's cell phone rings]
- Andrew Cross: Hello, Aunt Rose.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: You brought the lights back on.
- Andrew Cross: I reversed his order in his name. He'll be furious with me, but... not for long. Thought you could use the help.
- Queen Rose Benjamin: I'd rather live in the dark than owe you a thing.
- [she hangs up]
- David Shepherd: You've made God into my enemy.
- Michelle Benjamin: It would kill me if that were true.
- David Shepherd: I finally fall in love, and He takes you from me.
- Michelle Benjamin: ...You love me?
- David Shepherd: I do... I love you. Everyone keeps saying they know what God wants from us; I don't know which of the voices in my head at night is his. God didn't save your life so you could pretend you died; He saved it so you could live.
- Michelle Benjamin: You think He wants this?
- David Shepherd: How does God not want love?