Alexander (2004)

Val Kilmer: Philip

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Quotes 

• Philip : [to Young Alexander]  A king isn't born, Alexander, he is made. By steel and by suffering. A king must know how to hurt those he loves. It's lonely. Ask anyone. Ask Heracles. Ask any of them. Fate is cruel. No man or woman can be too powerful or too beautiful without disaster befalling. They laugh when you rise too high. And they crush everything you've built with a whim. What glory they give in the end, they take away. They make of us slaves.

• Philip : I'm sure you remember Achilles and the tales of Troy.

  Young Alexander : He's my favorite.

  Philip : Why?

  Young Alexander : Because he loved Patroclus, and avenged his death. Because he lived without fear.

  Philip : Some say he was a hotheaded fool, who fought only for himself and not for Greece.

  Young Alexander : But he was a hero! The greatest at Troy.

  Philip : And his fate?

  Young Alexander : That he must die young, with great glory.

  Philip : Did he have a choice?

  Young Alexander : Oh yes. He could've had a long life, but there would be no glory.

• Attalus : To Philip and Eurydice and to their legitimate sons! To Philip...

  [Alexander throws a wine cup at him] 

  Hephaistion : Alexander, don't...

  Alexander : And what am I? You son of a dog. Come then.

  [Attalus throws his cup at Alexander and soon a fight breaks out] 

  Philip : Shut up! Shut up all of you! This is my wedding, not some public brawl!

  [Looks at Alexander] 

  Philip : Apologize by Zeus, before you dishonor me.

  Alexander : You defend the man that called my mother a whore and me a bastard? And I dishonor you?

  Philip : Ah!You listen more like your mother. Attalus is my family now, the same as you.

  Alexander : Then choose your relatives more carefully. Don't expect me to sit here and watch you shame yourself.

  Philip : Shame?

  Attalus : You insult me!

  Alexander : I insult you? Am I not fit to lick the ground my mother walks on?

  Philip : Shame?

  Alexander : You dog, questioning your Queen.

  Philip : Shame? I have nothing to be ashamed of you arrogant brat. I'll marry the girl if I want, and I'll have as many sons as I want, and there's nothing that you or your harpy mother can do about it!

  Alexander : Why, drunken man, must you think everything I do and say comes from my mother?

  Philip : Because I know her heart, by Hera. And I see her in your eyes. You covet this throne too much. Now we all know that she-wolf for a mother of yours wants me dead. Well, you can both dream boy.

  [Grabs his genitalia in a mocking way] 

  Parmenion : Come Philip, it is the wine talking. Leave the boy, it can wait till the morning.

  Philip : Now! I command you, apologize to your kinsman.

  [Alexander stands in silence looking at Attalus] 

  Philip : Apologize.

  Alexander : His no kinsman to me. Good night old man, and when my mother remarries, I'll invite you to her wedding.

  [Walks away] 

  Philip : You bastard! You'll obey me. Come here.

  [Alexander looks at Philip and continues to walk away, Philip grabs his sword and prepares to attack Alexander, but falls to the ground] 

  Alexander : [Alexander sees Philip fall]  And this is the man who's going to take you from Greece to Persia? He can't even make it from one couch to the next.

  Philip : Get out of my palace. Your exiled you bastard. Vanished from the land.You're not welcomed here. You're no son of mine

• Philip : It's never easy to escape our mothers, Alexander. All your life beware of women. They're far more dangerous than men.

• Philip : There's no glory without suffering and this she will not allow. She makes you weak. The gods have never made it easy for man.Look, Herakles.Even after he accomplished his 12 labors he was punished with madness, slaughtered his three children. Poor Herakles. Great Herakles. All greatness comes from loss. Even you, the gods will one day judge harshly.

• Horse Seller : My noble king, it is a high spirited animal. High spirited and worthy of Philip of Macedon, for three and a half talents. I couldn't possibly make a bigger profit of it, but for you...

  Philip : Why would I want such a beast? I already have a wife.

• Philip : There's only one thing better than winning a battle, son...

  [he kisses a beautiful girl] 

  Philip : ... and that's the taste of a new woman. You'll find it far sweeter than self-pity.

• Philip : Truth is in our hearts, and none will tell you this but your father. Men hate the gods. The only reason we worship any of them is because we fear worse.

  Alexander : What's worse?

  Philip : The Titans. If they were ever to be set free it would be a darkness such as we have never seen before.

  Alexander : Could they ever come back? Can Zeus imprison the Titans forever under Mount Olympus?

  Philip : It's said that when Zeus burned them to dust with his lightning bolt they took the Titans' ashes and, in a cold revenge mixed it with those of mortal men.

  Alexander : Why?

  Philip : Who knows these things? One day, things will change.Men will change. But first, the gods must change. But all this you'll forget, Alexander. That's why we call them myths. We can't bear to remember them.

  Alexander : I'll remember. And one day, I'll be on walls like these.

• Philip : They say already that Philip is a great general, but *Alexander* is simply great. But if you ever insult me again, I'll kill you.

  [after a pause, he smiles] 

  Philip : I've missed you.

• Attalus : [Raising a toast at Philip's wedding party]  To Philip and Eurydice! And to their legitimate son! To Philip...

  Alexander : [Alexander throws a wine cup at him]  And what am I? You son of a dog. Come then.

  Philip : [Attalus throws his cup at Alexander and soon a fight breaks out]  Quiet. Shut up! Shut up all of you! This is my wedding, not some public brawl! Apologize, by Zeus, before you dishonor me.

  Alexander : You defend the man that calls my mother a whore and me a bastard? And I dishonor you?

  Philip : Bah! You listen like your mother. Attalus is family now, same as you.

  Alexander : Then choose your relatives more carefully. Don't expect me to sit here and watch you shame yourself.

  Philip : Shame?

  Attalus : You insult me!

  Alexander : I insult you? A man not fit to lick the ground my mother walks on? You dog, questioning your queen!

  Philip : Shame? I've nothing to be ashamed of, you arrogant brat! I'll marry the girl if I want, and I'll have as many sons as I want, and there's nothing you or your harpy mother can do about it!

  Alexander : Why, drunken man, must you think everything I do and say comes from my mother?

  Philip : Because I know her heart, by Hera! And I see her in your eyes. You covet this throne too much. Now! We all know that that she-wolf of a mother of yours wants me dead! Well, you can both dream boy.

  Philip : Come Philip, 'tis the wine talking. Leave the boy, it can wait till the morning.

  Philip : Now! I command you... apologize to your kinsman.

  [Alexander stands in silence looking at Attalus] 

  Philip : Apologize!

  Alexander : He's no kinsman to me. Good night old man, and when my mother remarries, I'll invite you to her wedding.

  [Walks away] 

  Philip : You bastard! You'll obey me. Come here.

  [Alexander looks at Philip and continues to walk away, Philip grabs his sword and prepares to attack Alexander, but falls to the ground in a drunken stupor] 

  Alexander : This is the man who's going to take you from Greece to Persia? He can't even make it from one couch to the next.

  Philip : Get out of my palace! You're exiled, you bastard! Banished from the land, you're not welcome here! You're no son of mine!

• Philip : Shut your foul mouth, you ten-titted bitch from Hades!

• Philip : Let these Greeks see for themselves the way I can walk through my people. Then let them call me tyrant. Bring the main guard in after my entry only.