- The Emperor: If the Gelfling learn what we have done...
- The Chamberlain: The Emperor must remember his own words. We are Lords of the Crystal, yes? Even if Rian talk, none will believe. They will shun him. Cast him out. How can they not? To believe him is not to believe themselves. Skeksis reign a thousand trine and will reign a thousand thousand more, until last star in sky goes dark. Gelfling will submit, head bowed, back bent as have always done. Gelfling want to be ruled. Gelfling need to be ruled. Because Gelfling are weak! Gelfling are small! And Skeksis are forever! We took the Crystal! Thra belongs to us, now! And is nothing... nothing Gelfling can do!
- The Scientist: Cruel, pernicious Emperor, preeminent minds are never properly appreciated in their time.
- [He grumbles as he toils away at his machine]
- The Scientist: But every problem obfuscates a solution waiting to be discovered. If the Crystal cannot draw enough power from Thra, then I must provide it with another source.
- The Scroll Keeper: Why? Why do Gelfling hurt us so? Skeksis give so much and ask so, so little. It breaks our hearts.
- [pause]
- The Scroll Keeper: Sad!
- [another pause]
- The Scroll Keeper: So sad.
- Lath'N: Who told you this, Deet?
- Deet: The Sanctuary Tree.
- Mitjan: The Sanctuary Tree's a tree, trees can't talk.
- Lath'N: Hm.
- Maudra Argot: Except... when they can.
- [skekLach leans into Brea]
- The Collector: Do you see this face?
- Brea: Uh-huh.
- The Collector: Once, this was a beautiful face.
- [Pus oozes from one of skekLach's pustules]
- Brea: Um...
- The Collector: But then came knowledge.
- The Scroll Keeper: Oh, hush! Such rubbish. You were never beautiful.
- The Collector: I remember.
- The Scroll Keeper: Never.
- [He cackles]
- [skekTek catches Mira wandering around the catacombs]
- The Scientist: I thought I heard something creeping about. Naughty, naughty!
- [He snarls]
- The Scientist: It's too much to bear. My every experiment ends in disaster. And now, I've accidentally reversed the Crystal's magnetostatic field!
- The Chamberlain: Please, small words. Chamberlain is not smart like Scientist.
- The Scientist: The Crystal is the heart of Thra. They are one and the same. But the more we take, the less it gives! All our survival is at stake!
- [the Emperor growls and grabs the Scientist by the shoulder]
- The Emperor: [angrily] So find. A. Solution.
- The Scientist: [whimpering] Of course, Emperor. Forgive me.
- [the Emperor releases the Scientist]
- The Emperor: [through labored breaths] I did not build an empire, only to watch it turn to dust!
- Deet: [singing] Far from the Brother's blinding light, Beneath the blanket of the long night, Grottans work in the dark and deep, Where the glow moss grows and there crawlers creep.