Kings

Come inside.

Come on in, boys.

- The crowd's waiting outside unity hall - It's on.

like it wasn't nearly freezing temperatures.

It feels like the only one not here yet is the man himself.

- Is he doing the God thing? - Oh, I hope not.

God's not popular right now.

He doesn't care.

He likes God.

And God likes him.

Detail!

He's here. The king approaches.

Sir, I'd feel much better about this if I could see your speech first.

Stop asking.

- Where's Reverend Samuels? - Reverend Samuels isn't here yet.

Not like him to miss a crowd.

- We'll 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. The people are cheering.

We'll have my son do it.

You're not gonna be warm enough.

You have the entire country listening,

and you choose today not to let me see your speech?

I'd love to... If I'd written one.

- He didn't write a speech. - It'll come.

It's not popular to speak of God.

But I do so now and publicly

because I feel blessed.

I am...

blessed.

I look at this city that we built through industry,

through ingenuity, through war and sacrifice,

and I feel that blessing.

This city is the dream of a half-century,

and this morning...

we bring that dream into the day.

We have built Shiloh.

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...

and I saw unity hall, right here as it stands today...

Pay attention, boys. Your father died fighting for this.

- I looked and I saw people... - Damn fool.

former enemies working together... rebuilding

- I'll get it. - I saw hospitals, streets, traffic,

jewelry shops, Police Station.

Rude, old men stealing your cab.

Trucks selling 50 different kinds of ice cream.

Someone's pulling into the shop.

... was here already.

Under one flag, united.

Under one king... strong.

Morning.

- Are you Jessie? - My mom.

Didn't you get a name?

What's the problem?

The car. It used to work, and then it stopped.

We've got the ceremony on inside if you wanna watch it.

You look like you know what you're doing.

My dad taught me.

Is he around?

He died in the war.

You need a new hose.

Will that take long?

A new one would.

The dead has arisen. Look at you.

- It was just a cracked hose. - To me that was a broken car.

You have a little something on you.

Here.

- I can't charge you for that. - It's your time I owe you for.

I'll meet you halfway.

This broken thing has been in my pocket

for the last six months.

Should've taken it to a shop, but...

if you can fix it, you deserve it.

- Thank you, sir. - You are very polite, David.

It's the way I was raised.

Do something about that before you grow up.

And that's when they came.

I felt a shadow above me.

I looked up and saw a great swarm of butterflies.

And they circled around me like leaves in a storm, floating, soft.

Soft landing upon my head

like a crown, a living 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.

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.

There you go, boys.

Our taxes went into rebuilding that full city for twenty years.

At least you'll be able to tell your grandkids, "I saw it happen."

Except for David. He missed it.

- Who was in the shop, anyways? - Reverend Samuels.

- Who wants pancakes? - I do. I'm starving.

The only dark clouds on this day are reports of tension in the north.

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.

Seriously, bro...

I swear, man, you moms makes the best friggin' brownies, man.

What's in these?

Guilt.

Gimme a light.

Easy, killer.

I promised mom I'd take care of you, no smoking.

Damn Goliath.

Every day another round just to remind us we're outgunned.

We're talking about it. It must be working.

I got a pool going on when you think they'll blow today.

- Actually, it should be any second. - You don't know that.

- I kinda do. - It's a different time every day.

- It's a completely random event. - Any second.

If you weren't my brother I'd think you're a spy.

How'd you know that was gonna happen?

Have another brownie.

You guys hear? A squad got pinched.

At Foxland forest.

They got out alone somehow, no air support.

Bastards ambushed them.

- They dead? - Not all. They took hostages.

A platoon was ambushed. Foxland.

12 dead, 2 hostages.

Over the border.

They go too far...

They'll 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.

It was the 127th.

I'm sorry, sir, 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 losses.

In the last 18 months, anyone within 200 yards of a Goliath was a loss.

This comes from the top.

- Anyone on the move? - How do you walk quiet, Shep?

- What are you doing at here? - Nothing.

Anything moving out there?

No, a tank on 5-ko rolled to 50 yards off the ditch.

I thought I saw a shelter go up.

- Dude... what are you doing? - I can't run in these.

You think it's them? The hostages?

I don't know. I just have a feeling.

They could be hiding 'em behind the tanks, but...

they'll court-marshal you for this.

- If you live that long. - Don't worry.

- I'm calling your brother, man. - Don't.

He'll just try and stop me.

Give me a wrench.

What are you gonna do, change their oil?

Slowly.

Okay, okay. Wait, wait, wait.

Okay, come on. Come on.

Stay with me. Stay with me.

Come on, come on. Get up.

Come on.

I'll cover.

- Can you get him to lookout? - I think so.

He's getting up.

You seeing this?

You dumb son of a...

If you'd have died, I'd...

- What's this? - It's your court-martial.

Shepherd!

You were given an order.

How is he?

A cut to the head and a scar to remember it by, but he'll be fine.

That's Jack Benjamin.

You saved the King's son.

Ice trucks. It means fish tonight.

Probably king salmon, given the season.

No, it doesn't mean fish.

- Then what? - Lamb.

It's a hero's welcome. Heroes get red meat.

I'd do with a nice pistachio crust, if asked.

No chance. Queen Rose hates lamb.

Ever since she spent her summers on her uncle's farm. Everyone knows that.

Do they?

Do they know what color panties she picks for Thursdays too?

'day, sirs. Names?

David Shepherd.

Here to see...