"previously, on kings... father's birthday is days away." "days in which a thousand things go wrong unless managed with attention." "pay attention, boys." "Your father died fighting for this." "welcome home, son." "this time things will be different, I trust?" "we give up what we want when we want power." "I can't be like I was, joseph" " I can't." "but I love you-- when I was a little girl, I was very sick, and the doctors told me I wouldn't get better." "Your daughter takes chances with her life as if it wasn't hard-won." "I owe you the truth." "I'm promised to someone else." "I'm sorry." "thank you." "happy birthday, sir." "a gun from an ally." "Now, is that a gift or an invitation to a duel?" "a gift." "I know better than to rankle a silas with a gun in his hand." "thank you." "happy birthday,ir." "thank you, hanson." "all this open access to you, sir" "At least let us prescreen first." "I will not take cover every time a threat is made by some quacking loon." "you had a death threat made against you this morning." "It's...the least we can do." "well, tre must be a way of doing less, hmm?" "Oh, invite more guards if you wish." "have you reconsidered inviting andrew?" "William was hoping-- 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." "Thank you." "I'm sorry, william." "He still says no." "we're running late." "We should go." "You know, I never much liked parties before, but it might be nice to be royalty again." "I honestly never thought that aunt rose would ever associate with me again in public." "I was thinkin'..." "Maybe we shouldn't go." "With my schedule-- a night out is a rare thing." "Why waste it in the company of so many empty people when you and I can catch up, have dinner together." "You still like steak?" "I wasn't invited, was i?" "Of course you were!" "We're family." "you don't have to be mad on my account." "Most people don't want me around." "You should go." "I have my reading to do." "plans have changed." "Silas's grand birthday..." "Is hereby canceled." "...with local news reporter lucinda wolfson at his side." "The wolfson family is renowned for... jack!" "you're nervous." "oh, god." "nothing to worry about." "When in doubt say..." "Thank you and happy birthday." "okay." "a party fit precisely for a king." "and I'm sure he hates it." "oh, he does, but shows appreciation for the effort." "And who is this?" "you remember lucinda wolfson?" "She's making an honest man of me." "well, with a face like that, how could she not?" "How long have you two been seeing each other?" "thank you." "Happy birthday, sir." "find us some drinks, would you?" "usefully quiet." "And a wolfson." "She's a little out of her depth, but we can fix that." "Well chosen, jack." "happy birthday, sir." "used to be you'd see me and head towards me." "I'm trying to respect your wishes." "You're promised to someone else." "What am I supposed to do?" "david...the world doesn't just stop because we want to be together." "we?" "You need to go." "You should go ahead." "all right, everyone." "The birthday boy." "Come." "me?" "say something." "oh, I hate public speaking." "To get old..." "It's 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." "all: aw... so I see-- Well-- well, almost see..." "Friends, family, blessings." "Oh, there have been days." "And 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." "Good timing." "To our city." "To our people." "May we all grow old together." "all: hear, hear!" "ah." "Happy birthday." "on his birthday." "the blackout covers the full city through the entire southland." "None of our enemies are claiming responsibility." "the entire grid shut down." "Power, communications, lan and cellular." "we asked the world to watch our skies and offered them a display of our humiliation." "Cause?" "not cause, not source." "Eight por plants were over serviced simultaneously, creating a demand spike." "and how did you manage to have eight power plants service simultaneously?" "uh...clerical error." "mm-hmm." "I'd like to meet this cleric, hmm?" "Every minute the lights stay down powers rumors of our impotence and tempts opportunists." "Just get the lights on." "there's a switch somewhere." "Flip it." "it's like a blanket over the city." "Let's go see." "you know what this is?" "This is time stopped." "This is permission." "for what?" "for us." "This is our chance." "Should we take it?" "sir...you should hear this." "pfc chris beals, the man issuing your death threats over port prosperity, he was just seen outside altar mansion." "Service went after him, but he eluded capture, headed east towards the river." "They said they saw him armed." "taking advantage of the blackout." "the princess, sir, she's..." "Not here." "was he following her?" "we don't know." "They passed out pictures of him." "All are on highest alert." "We'll find her." "We have every available man on it." "is the power back on?" "no." "Sir?" "then why is there music?" "sir?" "gath has unveiled a hundred new armored divisions." "Calls them "goliaths."" "Range doubles hours." "They amass at the demilitarized zone." "another sneak attack in the plains of down." "We have 36 casualties." "And more of the wounded just airlifted in." "critical and in the balance." "if we counter, it will only cause gath's escalation." "We'll provoke a new war." "what news of my daughter?" "no updates, sir." "As she was an hour ago." "an hour ago she was not well." "you have run his court since it began, chancellor scholar." "You know when his moods are foul..." "Dark." "You fear as I do." "My daughter's illness has left him unable." "he's hurt badly." "We don't know." "He can hear you." "Come tell him that you're here." "Let your father know you're praying." "it's not fair." "I know." "we weren't supposed to be fighting anymore." "Why did they attack us?" "Why did dad have to be there?" "come on." "Let's go see him." "the anc?" "too low." "She's severely anemic." "try something else." "her blood and bone marrow are overwhelmed." "she's strong." "She'll survive another treatment." "sir..." "There's nothing left but to spend time." "she's looking better." "In less pain." "This treatment's working." "I'm sorry, sir." "It's not-- no!" "She doesn't lose tonight." "Beautiful princess..." "Friend to elves and maker of music in the meadow with nothing but her hair." "dad, I'm not five." "you're four." "You're two." "Eyes that light up the beltway." "You look strong." "Look what I ought you." "harlow." "I thought we were doing the classics." "you know the classics better than any professor." "we've read this a hundred times." "well, what's one more time?" ""harlow, several dumplings, and the sabbath queen."" "mm." "right." ""she knew she was meant for school," ""for book things and pencil time," ""and yet and yet, harlow found herself" ""veering left, not right," ""where she knew the schoolhouse still sat," ""and with that confidence, she dropped her books and took her first step into the dark."" "nothing yet on the princess, ma'am." "we've posted lookouts all around the city." "We're checking everywhere we know." "everyone we have on the street." "I want her back here safe now." "I'll coordinate with city police." "We'll pull palace guard and remaing service." "everyone!" "I'm talking about a whole house full of guests standing around doing nothing." "I want her back safe-- now!" "are we allowed to dance?" "last time we danced, you didn't know how." "last time we danced, I was very nervous." "I was wearing a tux for the first time..." "And I thought you hated me." "I just didn't know what to think." "People like you aren't supposed to exist." "someone could see." "no, they can't." "Not a princess." "Just a girl in the dark..." "Who can do anything she wants." "princess." "Princess!" "Nope." "Not her either." "you're him, right?" "mm." "You gonna freak out on me?" "the lights are down." "Be anyone you want." "jack." "Jack!" "Jack!" "Jack!" "if you're not here to tell me you found her, get out!" "I'm not leaving you here alone, sir." "oh, unless you doubt I know how to use this?" "silas." "ivan, you stay with the king." "Even if a counter order comes from god." "We'll find her, sir." "oh, you wouldn't dare." "You don't come." "what is this?" "Are you hearing music?" "silas..." "The sabbath queen." ""'no, you cannot go home,' ruled the sabbath queen," ""'you stay here until you die and after.'" ""not for the first time, harlow began to worry she would ever get back to her mother and homework ever again."" "you've been reading me harlowfor days, and somehow we never get to the end." "I'm a thief and a cheater." "you don't want to end it." "You don't want things to finish." "only beginnings with you." "you okay?" "youaskme?" "I'll start again." "shouldn't we finish it?" "there's time for that." "is there?" "they say no." "but you know better?" "I do." "what do you know?" "you'll live forever." "I thought I would win this time." "What can I do?" "I don't know." "can I pray?" "I've never stped praying." "pray with me." "help!" "Someone!" "I need a doctor!" "A doctor!" "joseph." "I don't want any trouble." "the lights are down." "one night together, and you decide to bring me here?" "I've always loved this house." "Used to come here in the summers, and there were no press or cameras allowed." "My mom let me wear shorts." "most girls, they grow up wanting to be princesses." "You're the only princess who wants to be a regular girl." "you know, the caretaker's house is miles away." "We're completely alone." "we could have been alone back in the city." "yeah..." "But then I couldn't have shown you this." "your favorite painting?" "no, I hated this." "Used to give me nightmares." "I had my first kiss here." "I was 12, 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." "not very romantic." "not at all." "was it a good one?" "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 okay." "I accept it." "All the disappointments and the wasted moments to come." "I won't have any regrets about anything." "'cept for this..." "One wasted memory." "I would have that back." "I would have you in the thief's place." "ma'am." "what news, chancellor?" "unityreports slow going." "We start in the main plant servicing shiloh." "the king feared so." "He...he wants the transformer from our plant at pella brought to the main station north of shiloh." "Then have them trigger a black start." "He also wants an account of that blackout's cause, that surge." "we've already got that, ma'am." "Energy ministry traced it to a single location." "A switchboard failure at the manufacturing plant in new carmel." "and what company owns that plant?" "crossgen, ma'am." "we're lucky she lasted this long." "there's been severe organ failure." "She's not coming back." ""'no, you cannot go home,' ruled the sabbath queen." ""'you stay here until you die and after.'" ""even while deciding her fate," ""harlow thought the sabbath queen" ""had eyes as blue as any sky or sea" ""or fruit stain she'd ever seen." ""not for the first time, harlow began to worry if she would ever get back to her mother..."" "ma'am." "chancellor scholar." "I was looking for him." "He's still here." "yes, he's-- He's always here." "You've seen what I have." "You alone..." "Know the king is not the king." "gath threatens war." "Attack or retreat." "Security demands decision." "The country waits on his rule." "and the country shall have it." "it's over." "Let it be done." "Tell her...it's okay." "Tell her she can rest." "finish the book." "you." "You make the music that drives me mad." "a gift." "Others meet me in silence." "Out of deference to those who love you, I give warning." "you came for her." "You cannot have her." "can't i?" "I was chosen by him who made you and all things." "Leave us, you and your music." "you can't threaten me." "He made death even outside his reach." "you like to see us suffer." "it is...beautiful to see." "Yours most of all." "I come to you sometimes, silas." "I look at you." "then make me suffer more." "Give me pain..." "Endless, endless pain." "Name the knife." "for this life..." "I would see you lose what you love more..." "Your crown." "it's yours." "not for me." "who then?" "Anyone." "not anyone." "To the better man." "When he's found, when he comes, you stand aside." "yes." "willingly, freely, you support his succession else I come for you." "And you'll live to see your name be cursed, forgotten." "yes." "swear it." "Before all." "evermore." "seal the contract." "You'll wish I'd taken her." "You'll beg to change now." "the contract's sealed." "Rose, look." "A partyeveryone's invited to." "because he waleft off a guest list?" "beluga." "You want some of this?" "It'll only spoil." "Shutting down a city for want of an invitation." "It's a party." "he's my son." "You've done worse for yours." "If you insist on keeping andrew in the cold, you'd better learn to live in the dark." "you have no idea what you're dealing with." "Turn the lights back on, william." "no." "He needs to learn." "And so do you." "you're my brother, but I swear I will have your head!" "more bombings from gath?" "They've destroyed our front lines." "We cannot wait and do nothing!" "yet silas does not come." "we will not declare war without him." "the king remains in meditation." "On the question of war or not war..." "I bring you his answer and I pray wit on his wisdom." ""our hearts, armor heavy," ""our grief hot as the fire we must bring." ""and we must..." ""to war..." "And not lightly."" "And the rest I- is not for me." ""we launch against gath at sunrise." ""our army shall seize the north as we cut gath off from the sea to leave its war machine parched and in ruins."" "So writes our king." "Wha-- stop it!" "What are you doing?" "thought there were no cameras allowed in the royal vineyard these days." "give it to me." "look so beautiful." "keep going." "really?" "keep going." "anybody there?" "Rose." "silas?" "you're gorgeous." "And filthy." "Could you imagine if your father saw these?" "he'd have my head." "no, he'd have worse." "I'll delete these." "Don't worry." "don't." "You should keep them." "To rember." "you were once this happy?" "Just tell me who." "david." "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?" "it's not him." "It's...a promise I made." "It's my vow." "I don't understand." "Who...are you promised to?" "Who are you supposed to marry?" "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." "From this day forward, i'll earn this gift, helping others and not myself." "Witness as I swear-- no, stop." "Your debt is paid." "I live in service for him, for them, for no happiness of my own, for no man." "I beg you, don't do this." "as you live..." "You cannot let me waver." "Promise me." "michelle." "promise me." "I promise you." "how can I compete with god?" "where are you?" "Show yourself!" "silas." "sir, there you are." "Somebody's in the house." "Stay here." "I'll clear the north wing." "you come for me in my house." "I'm ready." "You hear me?" "I'm ready." "Come to me." "now!" "I'm ready." "hello, aunt rose." "you brought the lights back on." "I reversed his order in his name." "He'll be furus with me, but not for long." "Thought you could use the help." "I'd rather live in the dark than owe you a thing." "you have to go?" "the lights are on." "just tell me so I know." "Was it real?" "you're the only real thing I ever touched." "you've made god into my enemy." "it would kill me if that were true." "I finally fall in love..." "And he takes you from me." "you love me?" "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 c ould pretend you died." "He saved it so you could live." "you think he wants this." "how does god not want love?" "my father can't know." "I'll send a doctor." "you all right, father?" "yeah, yeah." "I'm so sorry I lost you." "I was looking for you." "I'm glad you're safe." "sir." "you're hurt." "it's nothing." "Where were you?" "I-it was a beautiful night out." "I wanted to see the city." "Luckily, I had a friend who wouldn't let me go alone." "He kept me safe." "a friend." "friend." "and a gentleman." "thank you." "I thought you bargained me away." "if I die..." "I die with you." "doctor says it's a miracle." "and how is the king?" "The piano?" "then...my mind is clear." "your daughter recovers." "we are blessed." "Doubly." "We have back our king." "thank god." "you did well for us in difficult times." "You should be rewarded." "Lands in the countryside, I think, one of our ranches." "You take your family and finally spend the time with them they deserve." "you're dismissing me?" "no one...can ever know the king broke with greatness." "sir, sorry." "I" "My father died." "death took what was near." "What is that piece?" "I don't know." "Just something he taught me." "Now he's gone." "you play well for him." "Play on."