Marco Polo (TV Series)

Let God's Work Begin (2016)

Benedict Wong: Kublai Khan

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Marco Polo : [riding up]  Eight keshig dead. And ten horses.

  Kublai Khan : My son's horses?

  Marco Polo : No sign of Jingim or Ahmad.

  Kublai Khan : How close to Karakorum?

  Marco Polo : Close enough.

  Kublai Khan : Kaidu...

  Marco Polo : Who else?

  Kublai Khan : To harm my sons...

  Marco Polo : An act of war.

  Kublai Khan : We ride for Karakorum!

• Kaidu : You'd take the word of a round eye over blood?

  Kublai Khan : Sad, isn't it? But his words have proven true.

• Old Woman : [sitting at her pot of potions]  Great Khan. How you've grown greater and greater with each passing year. And you, Cousin Shabkana more and more delicate.

  Kublai Khan : Your skin brings to mind fine parchment, or the rose petals I use to clean my ass.

  Old Woman : Your words no longer cut me, Kublai. That is the great gift of age.

  Kublai Khan : Nor yours me. The great, great gift of sovereignty.

  Old Woman : You speak as you rule, like a bull-yak. Your mother's blood has proven unyielding.

  Kublai Khan : [to Byamba]  To be mothered by a yak or a nagging witch? Which do you prefer?

• Kublai Khan : What is it about progress that makes you squeal like a pig in heat?

  Kaidu : Sight of my origins. Purity of my ancestors' intent. Lose that and I lose my soul.

  Kublai Khan : Purity is cried by those who follow. Leading is putting your soul on the line, so others may have the freedom to ponder theirs. It's an onus like no other.

  Kaidu : If you so resent it, why not relinquish it?

  Kublai Khan : So that you could tear down everything I built? You really want to be remembered for ruining an empire on the cusp of ruling over all?

  Kaidu : I want to be the one remembered for saving it. From you.

  Kublai Khan : Rhetoric is easy. But it masks envy, lust, greed. Or is just a desire to finally still your old mother's nagging?

  Kaidu : Spoken by the son of a murderous, thieving bitch!