Talia quotes from Arrow

Talia

General Shreve, Baron Reiter, Konstantin Kovar. You keep looking for new fights when the real fight has been in front of you all along. Your father literally wrote it for you, a list of all the Yurieviches and Kovars in Starling City.

Oliver

He told me he left me a message.

Talia

And yet you still don't return home. Why do you deny your father's wish for you?

Oliver

You saw the reason tonight. I am not the man that my father raised. Not anymore.

Talia

You're afraid. Of what's happened to you, of what you've become, and you're running from it.

Oliver

How do you know all this?

Talia

Because I've been there. And I can help you find your way back. You think yourself a monster.

Oliver

No. I am a monster.

Talia

There is a monster inside you, yes. But it is not you.

Oliver

I don't see the difference.

Talia

No. You need to create one. [opens the trunk, takes out a uniform] You need to give the monster an identity. It's only when the monster becomes someone else -- something else -- that you're free to be Oliver Queen.

Talia

You're beginning to understand now.

Oliver

Understand what?

Talia

That a man who embraces the dark is never without sight.

Talia

Our business together concluded five years ago.

Oliver

No. One of your former students is trying to kill me.

Talia

He doesn't want to kill you, Oliver. He needs to destroy you utterly.

Oliver

You knew. If you knew, then why would you train him? Why wouldn't you warn me?!

Talia

Two years ago, he sought me out. He'd already learned much about you. Isn't that a remarkable capacity?

Oliver

Talia, enough!! If you knew what he wanted, then why would you train him?

Talia

Because you killed his father. And I helped him in his pursuit of vengeance because by then, you'd killed mine. I never told you my full name, did I?

Oliver

No, you didn't.

Talia

It's Talia al Ghul.

Oliver

Ra's al Ghul was your father.

Talia

Yes. My father and I came to be at odds, so I forged my own path. But he was still my father when you put a sword through his chest.

Oliver

So that's why you're not gonna help me. That's why you won't tell me who this... Prometheus is.

Talia

Of course I will, Oliver. Because I want you to suffer. He calls himself... Adrian Chase.

Talia

You've seen what happens to people who go into that room. They come out in body bags.

Oliver

Talia, we are doing this my way, or we're not doing it at all.

Talia

You'd risk both our lives to help these prisoners, despite knowing that every last one is a murderer or worse?

Oliver

These people are being treated like they are disposable. No one deserves that.

Talia

Tell me, did you feel that compassion when you rammed a sword through my father's chest?

Oliver

No, because back then, I still allowed the monster that you helped unleash take over.

Talia

Don't insinuate that my father's death was my fault.

Oliver

Look. I - Ra's' death was my fault. I couldn't see past what he intended to do to my city, so I didn't stop and think about his family, and for that, I am truly sorry. I know you hate me... But I was your student once, and we trusted each other completely. We need to find that trust again because it is the only way both of us will get what we want.

Oliver

Your students used to ask questions first.

Talia

I have learned that hesitation often proves fatal. You should have not come to this place.

Oliver

You owe me a debt. I'm here to collect.

Thea

You're leaving?

Talia

I have betrayed my honor and sacred traditions to the league. The sword was destined to be yours, daughter of Merlyn. I am sorry for the pain I've caused you both.

Oliver

What about your students?

Talia

I have released them. They will follow you if that is what you wish.

Thea

It's not. You're their teacher. They need someone to follow.

Talia

If I was meant to lead them, I would wield Al-Fatih's sword, but you do, so the honor and the burden are yours.

Thea

Yeah. Hard pass.

Talia

It is your destiny.

Thea

Yeah, but, see, about that. I don't really believe in the whole fate, destiny thing. We can all make our own choices.

Talia

Meaning?

Thea

Meaning I don't think the world doesn't need another League of Assassins. It could use a league of heroes. It wouldn't be a one-woman job.

Talia

You'd extend me that honor despite my betrayals?

Thea

You made a mistake. We've all made mistakes.

Talia

Not one but two woman to wield my father's sword? He would be aghast. I accept.