[Ahinoam] Previously on House of David…
The king is losing himself. I recognize him less every day.
Samuel!
There are those who still worship other gods.
I need your help.
This song. It is beautiful.
Perhaps I can write a song for you someday.
-I need someone followed. -Whose footsteps do you wish me to trace?
-Samuel. -David. The Lord's anointed.
Anointed? As what?
King of Israel.
[gasps, pants]
Hello?
What is this place?
Hello?
What did I see?
Something happened to me,
when you poured that oil.
I saw something.
I went somewhere.
The spirit.
It rests on you now, as it did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses before you.
No, I don't understand.
Well, you do not need to understand something to feel its power. Hmm?
No, forgive me, but Israel already has a king.
A good one.
Perhaps you meant to pick--
I did not pick you.
In fact, I tried to convince Hashem he was wrong. [chuckles]
God does not see only what you are,
he sees what you will become.
He sees--
[inhales sharply]
What's wrong?
David.
There is great power in you, I feel it.
Great capacity, passions, that range in many directions,
and this will be your blessing and this will be your curse.
This is what I see.
[groaning]
[David] Wait, you could stay with us.
I cannot be seen here.
It's not safe for you.
Well, then let me come with you.
Hmm. That would not be safe for me.
Why?
If Saul hears of this, he will try to kill us both. [clicks tongue]
Oh.
David,
I will return soon with answers, I hope.
All right.
[Eliab] Samuel has gone mad.
-What if he's not? What if he's not? -[Nathaneel] This cannot be.
-Boys. -He speaks the words of Hashem.
Stop!
Everything he says comes true.
Words I've heard spoken of this man since I was a boy.
So God intends us to die, hmm?
I do not know what God intends.
Father, I know you respect him,
that he lead Israel before the time of kings,
but all men age, all men fail.
[Nathaneel] He is not any man.
He's the prophet of the Most High.
He is dangerous and no one can know he was here.
-If someone's seen him in the village-- -[Jesse sighs]
I must go to the elders. I must tell them.
No, no, no, no, no, they cannot know this.
-Eliab, this is my home. -[sighs]
-I will choose how to protect it. -Would you listen to me, Father?
All of you.
[breathes shakily] I have struck men down for less than this.
As have you, Abinadab.
Is that how we wish to die?
As traitors.
So, your loyalty to this king
is greater than your loyalty to the one true God,
or to your father's house?
-No, it is not. -[Jesse] Hmm?
And that is the point.
Father, brothers,
no one can know of this.
What do we do with David?
[birds chirping]
Who are you?
Who--
-What is this pla-- -[rumbling]
-[Eliab] Hey! Wake up! -What?
-Hmm. -What do you want?
-The family have come to a decision, and… -[grunts]
…I am to deliver it to you.
[sighs]
You're going to banish me to Philistia.
No, we are going to sell you to Egypt, actually.
You can play for all the old women there
and we can get a good price for you I think.
[chuckles]
Trouble is I can see that option actually being considered.
[both chuckle]
You know my purpose is to protect this family and to redeem it.
I do.
Then I need you to stay in these hills, if only for a time.
You do this for me.
Brother, please.
Thank you.
For what?
For calling me brother.
[growls, chuckles]
But if somehow…
Eliab, if somehow God did intend for this to--
No. He did not.
But what of Samuel?
-The seer is beyond his time. -You don't know that.
You will not breathe a word of this ever.
Samuel's visit never happened.
But it did happen.
And if it were known, the king would order you killed, along with all of us.
Is that what you want?
-[horse blusters] -[hoofbeats approaching]
Soldiers.
[Eliab] And Joab.
You stay here.
Orders from the house of Saul.
[horse whinnies]
[Eliab] Cousin.
What is this?
It is a summons.
Signed with the king's own ring.
Let us get ready. Come. Abinadab.
No.
It's not for you.
What?
It's for David.
[footsteps approaching]
[Saul humming]
I asked to be by myself.
Hours ago.
-[groans] -It's me, Father.
-Hmm? -Allow me to stay.
No king should be alone.
To be a king is to be alone.
Well, how can I ease your burdens?
Stop angering your mother.
[chuckles]
Hmm.
Now you ask too much.
[sighs]
[Eshbaal] What if you took a day off?
-With me. -[grunts]
I know a tavern not far from here.
Wine and, uh, women.
[Saul] Esh…
You expect me to disrespect your mother?
[chuckles] No, no, but, uh…
You can still look.
[chuckles] Eshbaal.
[chuckling]
-[groans] -Father.
-[Saul grunts] -I had a thought about Gibeah.
What would make this city a grand capital?
I've been thinking much about it lately.
Speak.
I believe it should be more than a stronghold,
it should be a destination for our people.
So, we build grand theaters for the arts.
We bring the greatest performers and spectacles from Egypt, and even beyond.
Entertain them, and they will love you for it.
And, Father, this will be the ultimate distraction.
Hmm.
This is a wise idea.
[stammers] And I was thinking that, uh…
I could lead this effort.
-Serve a purpose. -[chuckles] Eshbaal.
Leadership is not your strength.
And, uh…
Had I been born ten months earlier perhaps I would have this, uh…
this strength.
Son, it is not about when you were born, it is who you are.
Then who am I to you?
In time you will find your purpose, but for now,
-please leave me to mine. -[sighs] But, Father,
this is a chance for me to find that purpose.
-For once-- -[shushes]
[sighs]
[sighs] May the king live forever.
[clamoring]
-No, you… Slow down! -I have waited long enough.
Yahir, slow down. Slow down.
What is so urgent?
Yahir,
the elder of the tribe of Dan.
I must speak to you, my friend.
[inhales deeply] Privately.
Saul, please, why am I denied?
You will stop and address him as your king.
I will not stop.
You mind your place, Abner.
The house of Saul has betrayed me!
[Saul] Abner.
It's all right.
Speak.
How have we betrayed you?
Your Highness, God blessed my family with only one beautiful daughter.
Dinah.
She was a prize bride, fit for a nobleman.
[breathes shakily] But now that is out of the question.
And what does that have to do with our family?
Your brother defiled her.
[Jonathan] And how can you be sure it was him?
[Yahir, distorted] I am no liar!
-My daughter swears it! -[grunting]
[normal voice] Saul.
[Saul grunting]
[Yahir] What is this? Where are you going?
What is this?
I am not finished!
-I demand that you stay! -[Eshbaal] Demand?
-Who do you think you are? -Brother.
You're not needed.
Seems I am.
You shamed my daughter and my house.
Which one is your daughter again?
Is she the one with the lumpy back or the eyes that don't match?
Eshbaal.
-You apologize. Now. -[chuckles]
I'm sorry, I am, that your daughter's eyes don't match, I--
[Jonathan] Just--
Did you defile this man's daughter?
I mean, probably, I--
It is your brother's duty to marry my daughter and join our houses.
I certainly am not about to marry a defiled woman.
[Yahir] How dare you?
Amends must be made.
And unless they are,
the tribe of Dan will no longer be loyal to your house.
-Yahir, we can discuss this. -[Eshbaal] No. No.
-Let me simplify this for you. -Eshbaal.
Our houses will never be joined, Yahir of Dan.
Eshbaal, be quiet.
[Yahir] Then I invoke the Law of Moses.
It is written.
Oh, you read now.
You must marry her or be stoned to death.
Who speaks of death in this palace?
Where is the king?
The king sends me.
I will speak only to power.
I am power enough.
If you invoke the Law of Moses then my son must be stoned.
[Yahir] We are all under the Law of Moses.
Even the king.
Yes. Yet the Law of Moses would also demand
that your daughter be stoned alongside my son.
Is this something you offer?
[scoffs]
Do you not know the law?
I will speak to the king.
Return tomorrow and we shall settle this.
[scoffs]
This order has no merit!
-The king has taken enough! -Father. Stop, I will deal with this.
What is this about?
He didn't tell me.
Joab, he is my brother, you must know something.
I do not question the orders, I carry them out.
Family or not.
It would be good for you to remember that.
Cousin.
For you.
I'm not scared of the lion anymore.
Now you won't be scared either.
Avva, watch the sheep for me.
[Jesse] There is no need for goodbyes.
I will see you again.
Soon.
Eliab.
Supplies for the road.
Do what you must.
Protect him and this house.
[grunting]
-Ooh, which one's she going to move? -[chuckles]
-Which one? -[chuckles] Quiet.
-[Eshbaal] And okay. -Okay. Go ahead.
What do you think they're going to do to you?
They? What can they do? I'm the prince.
There are laws you have to follow, Eshbaal.
Yes.
So, they will, uh, give him some cattle, buy back his loyalty.
It'll all be forgotten, whatever.
[inhales sharply] That's…
I saw Mother today.
She was upset.
[chuckles] Well, I'm sure she'll forgive me.
She always does.
[Mirab] You can't do that.
-Why not? -It's cheating.
-I… -You touched this one,
-you have to move it. -I…
I have to move it? [chuckles]
-You have to. -I have… [scoffs]
Mirab, I don't have to do anything.
[scoffs]
Take your turn.
What are you waiting for?
Esh, I know her.
I-I know Dinah, and I know her father too.
You really humiliated him.
And if he can't get revenge on you, on us, then he's going to take it out on her.
What-What is this? W-What are you doing?
What's your point?
-My point is there are consequences. -Oh.
-And people get hurt. -Consequences.
-I'm trying to look out for you. -Thank you.
Thank you so much for enlightening me.
-No. I'm just… -Thank you. Now I understand.
-Now I know. -[chuckles] I'm not…
Who are you to tell me
-how to behave? -I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that.
Let's just play. Let's play.
It's my turn.
[scoffs] Yeah, uh…
You can… [sighs] You can continue playing whatever.
Find Mychal, play with her. I'm…
[insects buzzing]
[sighs]
What?
I made an error in judgment.
Why is everyone so surprised?
-It's not like I killed a servant. -[Ahinoam] Stop this.
-[Jonathan] Why must you shame this house? -So that we're not going to talk about.
We're going to pretend that never happened, but I'm the black sheep.
You are the black sheep.
Please.
You do this to yourself. You talk too much.
You get yourself in trouble every time.
You will speak no further.
Mother, I have so much more to say.
You asked what you are to me.
And the truth is from the day you first drew breath,
you are nothing but a curse!
Leave us.
[inhales deeply]
Remember when you were a boy, we used to go to look at the goats?
Of course.
On one of those trips there was a particularly blue sky.
And you asked if we could go swimming in it.
[chuckles]
So we jumped around, scooping our arms through the air.
You jumped
too high and you fell, and scraped your knee.
[chuckles]
I kissed it and promised to make it feel better.
And so we lay down in the grass and…
looked at the shapes in the sky.
Do you remember what you told me that day?
You said that I was your favorite.
[chuckles, inhales shakily] But, later that night, I had to wash the wound.
It hurt and you cried and you cried.
I tried to explain why it needed cleaning, but… [chuckles]
…you said that you hated me.
That night
I cried too.
-I was young, Mother. -Mmm.
I'm sorry.
No, no.
[sniffles]
I am sorry.
Because now I need to clean another wound.
[Ahinoam] Yahir, elder of the tribe of Dan.
I also wish to invoke the Law of Moses.
I choose to banish my son to the refuge city of Endor.
[whispers] Endor?
No. Endor?
Mother, have you lost your mind? That is a place for criminals and outcasts.
You cannot!
[Ahinoam] You shall appoint for yourself cities of refuge,
so that the one who trespasses may flee there.
Those cities will serve as refuge for the avenger.
This is the law and this is what I choose.
-Please, Mother. -[Ahinoam] Guards.
[Eshbaal] No, Mother. Mother, please.
This will spare blood from both our houses.
No. No!
Once he enters this city, he can never return without paying his debt.
I am aware.
You know what this palace was before Father took it?
It was a prison!
You think you can hang tapestries on these stone walls
and make it something different?
It was never a home!
I'm glad to be free of it!
[breathes heavily]
Uh, no. Mother, no.
No, no, no. Mother, there must be something you can do!
You can do something.
Please! Mother! No!
No!
-Eshbaal! [breathes shakily] -Mirab!
Eshbaal!
Move. Move! Esh!
-Eshbaal, wait! Stop! -[Eshbaal] I'm sorry, Sister!
Hey, enough.
[sighs] Sorry, Sister, guess you were right.
[panting] You are coming back though, right?
I don't know.
Wh… What do you mean you don't know?
[sniffles] I hope you find the happiness you deserve.
[clicks tongue] Hope you die in a ditch.
-[Eshbaal sniffles] -[chuckles]
[sobs] I'll miss you, too.
[sobs]
-All right. All right. Be strong. -Wait. I'm sorry.
Look after Mother.
-I'll see you again. -[Mirab] Eshbaal. [sobs]
See you again, Sister.
[cries]
Silas!
Silas.
[screams]
[breathes heavily]
Silas.
[sobbing]
Silas!
-[passerby 1] Hello. -[passerby 2] You all right?
[passerby 1] Path's clear up ahead.
[passerby 2] Have a good journey. [speaks indistinctly]
The way is clear.
You're not needed anymore, Eliab. Head to the barracks.
Joab.
[Joab grunts]
I suggest you do not defy a commanding officer.
I do not wish to defy you, but I'm not leaving my brother's side.
Not until I know what this is about.
Joab.
[Joab] Let's go.
[knocks on door]
Bow to your queen, shepherd.
-Your name. -David.
My queen, if I may, why is he here?
Your brother?
Mmm.
[inhales sharply] You have gained quite the reputation.
I am anxious to hear you play.
To play?
[sighs]
That will be all.
Fetch him some new clothes.
[Joab] Mm-mmm.
You stay.
-[David] She said to go. -[Eliab grunts]
[inhales sharply] When my poor husband was at war,
he was bitten by a serpent in his sleeve.
The healers say the venom caused an unusual illness
where the symptoms are more of the mind than the body.
A friend of mine, a wise one, said she had a vision of a lion.
And she reminded me that in Egypt the lion Bes
is the god of music.
Forgive me, my queen, but I serve no god but Hashem.
Yes.
Yes, yes.
But we can learn from others, can't we?
Truth can be found in many places.
[taps on chair]
But understand this, my husband's illness must be kept within these walls.
Otherwise you jeopardize the king's privacy.
And the price for that is…
significant.
You have nothing to worry about.
I have been, um, insignificant my whole life.
[chuckles]
Good.
[music playing]
[Saul] Get out! Stop it!
-[banging] -[music stops]
You're next.
[Jonathan] The tax Abner proposed would allow for new projects.
We'd be able to establish the capital city much sooner.
You didn't even consult me, just made a choice and sent him away.
[Ahinoam] Would you prefer he be stoned to death?
-[Joab] Play. -[Saul] That Yahir,
threatening me and my family.
-If I was there-- -[Ahinoam] But you weren't there!
I'll take the head of any man who tried to seize my throne!
Any man!
[Jonathan] We will speak with Abner about this another time.
[Saul] No! No!
[David breathing heavily]
-I won't beg my people for money. -Play.
[Saul] That's exactly what Samuel would do.
[heartbeat thumping]
[Jonathan] Father…
[Mychal] Are you all right?
-[Saul] Stop! -I'm sorry.
-[Saul] Stop. -Here, look at me.
-You-You may look in my eyes. -[Saul] I have made my choice.
[Mychal] Take a deep breath. All right? I'll do it with you.
[Saul] Speak no more of it!
[both breathe deeply]
[Mychal] You may not recall, but I…
I heard you play at the wedding.
And you were wonderful.
That… That is why I asked the queen to bring you here.
So just play like that again.
You chose me?
I did. [chuckles]
But I've never played anywhere like this.
I don't know who to play to.
-[sighs] -[Mychal] Well then just…
Just play to me.
-Hmm? -Mm-hmm.
[inhales sharply]
[groaning, panting]
David, play.
[singing in Hebrew]
[music stops]
[David] She told me to look at her.
-So I looked at her. -I'm sure you did.
She did, okay?
And she said she chose me, and then I-I just sang,
and I think everyone enjoyed it.
-She looked right at me. At me! -Great, David, hang on.
[stammers] And it was incredible.
And she was so beautiful.
-David. -[gasps] Is this my room?
-Do I get my own-- -Enough!
You are lucky to be alive.
But hear me, you must not draw attention to yourself.
[gasps] Look!
[grunts]
You can see the whole city.
Never talk to the princess again. Understand?
-She talked to me. -[scoffs]
And it was just talking.
I wonder if Samson thought he was just talking to Delilah
when he was crushed beneath the temple pillars.
Delilah was a Philistine.
[scoffs] And Mychal is the daughter of the king.
The truth about you cannot ever be known to him.
[sighs] I understand.
[sighs] I will find a way to get you out of here as soon as I can.
Until then, you are not to move, you are not to be seen.
-Hey, I mean it. -[snaps fingers]
[grunting]
Stay.
My queen, I must ask you.
That boy today, the musician.
[Ahinoam] What of him?
I found his spirit…
curious.
How so?
He carries not just light.
I sense darkness as well.
[Ahinoam] Well, he has a gift.
If it helps the king then he serves his purpose.
He's just a musician.
Oh, It's beautiful.
[Mychal] What are you doing here?
[David] Princess.
You cannot be in here, it's-it's sacred.
Forgive me, Princess. I'll-I'll leave.
No.
No, stay.
You said it was beautiful here.
Why?
A room filled with the words of God.
My father tells us a version of his own, but, uh,
I've always longed to see a place like this.
You love words.
I'm a poet. I live for them.
Men die, but their words live on.
That's beautiful.
Princess, it is…
[David] Um…
Sh-Should I call the guards?
Mmm, no, um,
I will allow him to stay.
Um, do not let anyone enter.
Does your tribe not recite scripture during the Feasts? At the Tabernacle?
Uh, they may, but I'm not permitted to worship with them.
Why?
Uh. Ooh. What are you reading?
[scoffs] Here, look for yourself.
Can you read it for me?
Oh, are…
Are you not…
M-My father can read, but, uh, he never took the time to teach me.
Here, um, let me share this passage with you.
It's the Song of Moses.
People sang this?
Five hundred years ago, yes.
I've always wondered what it would sound like put to music.
-[David] Hmm. -[chuckles]
Here. [sniffs]
"Give ear, O heaven, and I will speak.
And let the earth listen to the words of my mouth."
Uh, it's lovely.
It's poetry.
Um… [inhales sharply] …here.
"For I proclaim the name of the Lord.
Ascribe greatness to our God, for he is the rock.
His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice.
A God of truth.
And without injustice, righteous and upright is he."
[David singing in Hebrew]
[music stops]
Was that The Song of Moses?
Yes.
Beautiful.
I've always loved it.
[lyre music playing]
[mumbles] Uh, this is the wrong room.
Come with me.
[Joab] You asked for us, Lord Commander.
I asked for you, Joab.
Eliab can be trusted.
He's my blood.
And yet sometimes, blood must turn on blood.
Leave us.
Let me confide in you this,
I believe there's a new plan
to take power from Saul and to give it to a pretender.
And I believe it comes from the tribe of Judah.
[Joab] Mmm. We will end this threat.
At all costs.
Lord Commander.
Eliab, this is an honor.
We have been chosen.
To kill our own people?
For a threat we do not even know is real.
I just spoke of your loyalty.
Don't tell me it was a mistake.
It was not.
Whispers say that Samuel visited our lands.
If you knew more of it, you would tell me.
I would.
Joab. Eliab.
Another border village has been attacked.
We must leave immediately.
Yes, my prince.
Let me gather my things.
David, we must… [gasps]
[whispering] Where are we going?
[shushes]
[sighs]
-All right. -[shushes]
[knocks on door]
-[chuckles] -[Mychal chuckles] Come.
Um, everybody deserves to know how to read.
[chuckles]
[Mychal] Come. Come.
[David chuckles]
How old are these?
Uh, some, hundreds of years.
[chuckles] Our purpose is to transcribe them from clay and skin
to the finest Egyptian parchment,
so they can endure for all time. [chuckles]
Do you think they knew, in writing, that we would be here,
reading their words so many years later?
I believe they wrote them for our sakes, yes.
What troubles you?
Nothing. [chuckles]
You can tell me.
[sighs] Um…
My father is an excellent king, but…
-[sighs] -It pains you to see him this way.
Watching your father lose sanity must be--
No, he's not insane.
-Do not say that. -No… [stutters] …I'm sorry.
Your father is a great man and he is blessed to have you as a daughter.
[sighs] No… mmm. You don't understand.
I wonder… David, I…
I worry our family's been cursed.
Cursed?
You father is the Lord's anointed.
[Mychal] So I thought.
But I can't help feeling that the seer has abandoned us.
I wonder if God has as well.
No. He has not.
I feel his presence here in these walls and in the words you read.
I feel it too.
[inhales sharply, sighs] But I feel the darkness just as much.
And… [inhales sharply]
And it scares me.
When my mother died, uh…
[sighs] I was, uh, I was also scared.
And I was so alone.
I couldn't make sense of it.
But mystery is a part of knowing him.
And the songs we sing about grief and death, they honor him too.
[inhales deeply] I will comfort the king with my music
and I hope that that will comfort you too.
You deserve to be adored.
[chuckles]
[Mychal] I'm…
I'm glad you're here.
And I'm sorry about your mother.
I'm glad I'm here too.
Um, look, I, uh…
I made this for you.
It's your first lesson.
Here.
[David chuckles]
Thank you.
What does it say?
Uh. Sorry.
Here, like… this.
-[chuckles] -[Mychal] Um.
Uh, David. [chuckles] It says David.
[horse neighs]
Hila! [pants]
[groans] Hila!
-Samuel. -Hila!
[pants, groans]
-My love, what is it? -[sighs]
I thought I lost you.
[pants] Silas was murdered.
By who?
Saul.
I fear he will come for us now.
We must…
We must go.
-Now, go gather. -All right. All right.
Just what you need.
Go! Go!
[horse neighs]
-[guard 1] Halt! -[guard 2] Whoa! Whoa!
[guard 3] What's that?
[sighs]
[guards chattering]
Why did we stop?
Hey, why did we stop?
Guards!
[grunts]
-[grunts] -[guards clamoring]
[clattering]
[guard 1] They're coming for us!
-[screaming] -[horse whinnies]
Guards!
[coughs]
Guards!
[grunts, coughs]
[coughs]
[pants]
[coughs]
[yelling]
Hey!
[screams]
[bandit] You are Eshbaal.
Prince of Israel.
-Yes? -[breathes shakily] Yes.
[pants]
Good.
[breathes heavily]
Are you coming?
[breathes heavily]