Chow Yun-Fat credited as playing...
King Mongkut
- King Mongkut: [to Anna] When a woman who has much to say says nothing, her silence can be deafening.
- King Mongkut: Until now, Madame Leonowens, I did not understand supposition man can be satisfied with only one woman.
- Anna Leonowens: My mind has taken me down many roads of late. All of which lead absolutely nowhere. What would Buddha say of that?
- King Mongkut: That roads are for journeys, mem, not destinations.
- Anna Leonowens: I would like to know why, if science can unravel something as beautiful as music... why it cannot posit a solution for a schoolteacher and a king.
- King Mongkut: The manner in which people might understand such new possibilities is also process of evolution.
- Anna Leonowens: Everything in Siam has its own time.
- King Mongkut: You are teacher?
- Anna Leonowens: Yes, Your Majesty, I am.
- King Mongkut: You do not look sufficient of age for scientific teaching. How many years have you?
- Anna Leonowens: Enough to know that age and wisdom do not necessarily go hand in hand, Your Majesty.
- The Kralahome, Prime Minister: Your Majesty, I believe there has been enough insult caused by this woman who believes herself to be the equal of a man.
- King Mongkut: Not the equal of a man, Chao Phya. The equal of a King.
- King Mongkut: Gazing at the moon?
- Anna Leonowens: Yes, it is beautiful.
- King Mongkut: As the sun rises, she will surrender the night, but she is always with him, even when he cannot see her.
- Anna Leonowens: It must be a great comfort to him.
- King Mongkut: Yes.
- Anna Leonowens: [ascending a staircase, arriving late for dinner, a little out of breath] Forgive me, Your Majesty. l believe the sun set a little earlier today.
- King Mongkut: [amused] Mem. You arrange all this to influence positive future of Siam. And now you steal attention away from it.
- Anna Leonowens: [shyly] Well, that was not my intention, Your Majesty.
- King Mongkut: You! Why did you not go to monastery like king order?
- Anna Leonowens: Because l lost one man to the jungle, Your Majesty. l was not about to let that happen again.
- King Mongkut: Presenting original pupil and heir apparent. Prince Chulalongkorn.
- [to the Prince]
- King Mongkut: This, my son, is your new teacher.
- Anna Leonowens: It is a great honor, Your Highness.
- Anna Leonowens: You have the power to lead your people...
- King Mongkut: Now is not the time to change the way that things are done!
- Anna Leonowens: Well, if not now, then when? How many more people must die so that you might save face?
- King Mongkut: [to Anna and Louis] The Royal Family: Twenty three wives, forty two concubines, fifty eight offspring, and ten more on the way. Each one unique. Each one my hope for the future. I understand your surprise. Not as many as the Emperor of China, but he did not spend half of life in monastery. King making up for lost time.
- King Mongkut: l have decided to give self anniversary dinner and invite important English nobles and diplomats.
- Anna Leonowens: l don't understand.
- King Mongkut: French lndochina grows stronger and more aggressive. But if l improve our foreign intercourse with your queen's special envoy, French will think three times before trying to undermine Siam.
- Anna Leonowens: That's very clever, Your Majesty.
- King Mongkut: As if to sound English bugles in own defense. You shall take charge of all formalities as Mem is obvious choice to make certain guests feel at home.
- Anna Leonowens: But... the anniversary is when?
- King Mongkut: Three weeks from yesterday.
- Anna Leonowens: Three weeks? That's impossible!
- King Mongkut: Mem... The egg is in the bottle.
- King Mongkut: How many years have you?
- Anna Leonowens: Enough to know that age and wisdom do not necessarily go hand in hand.
- King Mongkut: l doubt you would say same for being bold and English.
- Anna Leonowens: They are rather inseparable, l'm afraid.