The King and I Quotes
A widow accepts a job as a live-in governess to the King of Siam's children.
King: [chanting to Buddha before banquet preparations] Help also Mrs. Anna to keep awake for scientific sewing of dresses, even though she be only a woman and a Christian and therefore unworthy of your interest!
Anna: [greatly offended, rising] Your Majesty!
King: A promise is a promise! Head must not be higher than mine! A promise!
Anna: [greatly offended, rising] Your Majesty!
King: A promise is a promise! Head must not be higher than mine! A promise!
Anna: In your house she's just another woman. Like a bowl of rice is a bowl of rice no different from any other bowl of rice.
King: Now you understand about women! So, many English books talk about love etc etc etc ha!
Anna: You disapprove?
King: It is a silly complication of a general simplicity. A woman is designed for pleasing man that is all. A man is deigned to be pleased by many women
Anna: Then how do you explain, your majesty, that many men remain faithful to one wife
King: They are sick.
Anna: Oh, but you do expect women to be faithful?
King: Naturally!
Anna: Well why naturally?
King: Because it is natural. It is like old Siamese saying. A girl is like a blossom, with honey for just one man. A man is like a honey bee and gather all he can. To fly from blossom to blossom a honey must be free. But blossom must not ever fly from bee to bee to bee.
Anna: Hee hee. Oh your majesty in England we have a far different attitude. We believe for a man to be truly happy he must love one woman and one woman only.
King: This idea was invented by woman.
Anna: Oh but it's a great idea your majesty and in England we're brought up with it. When your young and at your first dance.
King: Young girl? They dance also. Like I see you in arms of stranger tonight not a husband.
Anna: Why of course!
King: I would not permit it.
Anna: Ha when your young and at your first dance, and your sitting on a small guilt chair with your eyes lowered, terrified that you'll be a wall flower. Suddenly, you see two black shoes, a white waist coat, a face, it speaks.
King: Now you understand about women! So, many English books talk about love etc etc etc ha!
Anna: You disapprove?
King: It is a silly complication of a general simplicity. A woman is designed for pleasing man that is all. A man is deigned to be pleased by many women
Anna: Then how do you explain, your majesty, that many men remain faithful to one wife
King: They are sick.
Anna: Oh, but you do expect women to be faithful?
King: Naturally!
Anna: Well why naturally?
King: Because it is natural. It is like old Siamese saying. A girl is like a blossom, with honey for just one man. A man is like a honey bee and gather all he can. To fly from blossom to blossom a honey must be free. But blossom must not ever fly from bee to bee to bee.
Anna: Hee hee. Oh your majesty in England we have a far different attitude. We believe for a man to be truly happy he must love one woman and one woman only.
King: This idea was invented by woman.
Anna: Oh but it's a great idea your majesty and in England we're brought up with it. When your young and at your first dance.
King: Young girl? They dance also. Like I see you in arms of stranger tonight not a husband.
Anna: Why of course!
King: I would not permit it.
Anna: Ha when your young and at your first dance, and your sitting on a small guilt chair with your eyes lowered, terrified that you'll be a wall flower. Suddenly, you see two black shoes, a white waist coat, a face, it speaks.
Kralahome: [to Anna] Why are you so blind; have you no eyes to see? King tries impossible task - wishing to be scientific man who know all modern things... He will only tear himself in two, trying to be something he can never be!
Anna: Of course he can never be, if those who are closest to him are unwilling to help him!
Kralahome: You do not know King as well as you think you do. You believe you have great influence over him. You will end up as his slave-like all the others!
Anna: Of course he can never be, if those who are closest to him are unwilling to help him!
Kralahome: You do not know King as well as you think you do. You believe you have great influence over him. You will end up as his slave-like all the others!
King: You think you teach King lesson, but this is one lesson you do not get paid for teaching! In the future, you will stop instructing wives and children in silly English song "Home Sweet House" to remind me of breaking promises I never make, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!
Anna: Your majesty, I do not intend to have my boy brought up in a harem, and you did promise me a house; "a brick residence adjoining the palace," those were your very words in the letter.
King: [obviously does remember] I do not remember such words.
Anna: I remember them.
King: I will do remembering! Who is king here? I remind you, so you remember that! I do not remember any promises! I do not remember anything except that you are my servant!
Anna: Oh, no, your majesty.
King: What, what, what? I said you are my servant!
Anna: No, your majesty, that is not true. I am most certainly not your servant, and what is more, if you do not give me the house you promised, I shall be forced to return to England immediately.
[children protest]
Princess Ying Yaawolak: I believe in snow!
Lady Thiang: Do not let her go away.
King: I let her do nothing that is not my pleasure! It is my pleasure that you stay here, in palace, in palace!
Anna: No, your majesty.
King: [heavy sigh] Why do you wish to leave these children, all of whom are loving you so extraordinarily?
Anna: I do not wish to leave them. I love them, too, quite extraordinarily, but I cannot stay in a country where a promise has no meaning.
King: I will hear no more about this promise!
Anna: A land where there is talk of honor and a wish for Siam to take its place among the modern nations of the world, where there is talk of great changes, but where everything still remains according to the wishes of the king.
King: You will say no more! No more!
Anna: I will say no more, because there is no more to say. Come, Louis.
[Anna and Louis leave. Children protest]
King: Out, out, OUT!
[everyone, except the King, leaves]
Anna: Your majesty, I do not intend to have my boy brought up in a harem, and you did promise me a house; "a brick residence adjoining the palace," those were your very words in the letter.
King: [obviously does remember] I do not remember such words.
Anna: I remember them.
King: I will do remembering! Who is king here? I remind you, so you remember that! I do not remember any promises! I do not remember anything except that you are my servant!
Anna: Oh, no, your majesty.
King: What, what, what? I said you are my servant!
Anna: No, your majesty, that is not true. I am most certainly not your servant, and what is more, if you do not give me the house you promised, I shall be forced to return to England immediately.
[children protest]
Princess Ying Yaawolak: I believe in snow!
Lady Thiang: Do not let her go away.
King: I let her do nothing that is not my pleasure! It is my pleasure that you stay here, in palace, in palace!
Anna: No, your majesty.
King: [heavy sigh] Why do you wish to leave these children, all of whom are loving you so extraordinarily?
Anna: I do not wish to leave them. I love them, too, quite extraordinarily, but I cannot stay in a country where a promise has no meaning.
King: I will hear no more about this promise!
Anna: A land where there is talk of honor and a wish for Siam to take its place among the modern nations of the world, where there is talk of great changes, but where everything still remains according to the wishes of the king.
King: You will say no more! No more!
Anna: I will say no more, because there is no more to say. Come, Louis.
[Anna and Louis leave. Children protest]
King: Out, out, OUT!
[everyone, except the King, leaves]
