Yul Brynner credited as playing...
Solomon
- Solomon: Nothing must come between us.
- Sheba: Not even our gods? I knew this moment would come, for the things we believe in are not the same.
- Solomon: I had hoped that in time you would come to accept Jehovah.
- Sheba: As King of Israel, would you abandon the god of your people for mine?
- Solomon: Still, I dared hope.
- Solomon: [holding Abishag dead in arms] Oh, no. Oh, no. Why? The sin was mine. Why did you not strike me?
- Solomon: In the last few days, I have shown you much of Israel. But you have not told me anything of your own country.
- Sheba: At the moment, my own land seems as distant as the stars.
- Solomon: In my youth, I used to dream of visiting all the faraway kingdoms of the earth.
- Sheba: And now, instead, the rulers of those countries come to you.
- Solomon: Why did you come to Jerusalem?
- Sheba: Why do you ask me such a question now?
- Solomon: Because from the the first time you looked behind those lovely eyes is the brain of a very clever woman who would never have travelled 800 leagues without a purpose.
- Sheba: You have found me out. I will confess to you. The Pharaoh is paying me a fabulous price to spy on you. To deliver to him all of your secrets.
- Solomon: I have considered that, but Israel has no real secrets from Egypt. Pharaoh is aware of our weaknesses and our strength.
- Sheba: How could I hope to deceive you? I have been trying to entrap you. With these. To bind you to me in soft chains so that I may do with you as I will.
- Solomon: Now perhaps we are approaching the truth. Every woman exacts her price from a man.
- [Abishag enters Solomon's chambers, trying to dissuade him from attending Sheba's pagan ritual]
- Solomon: My door was closed. Must you intrude upon my privacy?
- Abishag: Can you shut out your conscience by closing the door?
- Solomon: Say what you must, then please leave me alone.
- Abishag: I come seeking the man I once knew. The man who was noble, gentle and kind, the man who walked with God.
- Solomon: Those are mere words, Abishag.
- Abishag: I entreat you to listen. When I was a child, you were the world and I adored you. But time passed, and love changed even as I did. My love became that of a woman for a man. But the man became a king, and in his eyes, the woman was still a child. I know how strongly it calls to you. Listen to your people. Their love calls to you, as I call in my love. Listen to them if not to me.
- Solomon: Whether you or my people approve, I must go.
- [Solomon walks to the doors, while Abishag stands against the doors, barring his way]
- Abishag: You cannot go. Do not destroy yourself! I beg of you!
- Adonijah: Solomon! What are you doing here?
- Solomon: On my way to Jerusalem, we got word the Egyptians were on the prowl again. I thought you might need some help.
- Adonijah: You are better suited to singing songs than exploits on the field of battle.
- Solomon: Our father David was a singer of songs, but he's also a mighty warrior.
- Solomon: At times, a man feels drawn toward the dangers that confront him, even at the risk of his own destruction. Like a moth approaches a flame.
- Nathan: I charge you, Solomon, to cleanse yourself of this iniquity you have permitted to spawn in Israel. Abjure this woman of her idolatries. Tear down the abomination she has erected.
- Solomon: I have given her permission to hold the sacred rite of her own religion, in the privacy of the Vale of Seth.
- Zadok: A pagan revel. An orgy!
- Solomon: No matter how few of us are left, we'll fight on. If I cannot live as a king with honor, at least I can die as a king with honor.
- [last lines]
- Solomon: His anger is but for a moment. But his love is forever. Weeping may tarry for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.