Jack quotes from The Pillars of the Earth

Tom Builder

I want you to make a statue of St. Adolphus.

Jack

Me? I've never worked in stone.

Tom Builder

That's not true. I saw the carvings you did in the cave. I think you'll manage.

Jack

I wouldn't know where to start.

Tom Builder

Take your time. Experiment. Listen.

Jack

To what?

Tom Builder

To the stone.

Jack

Love's not a contest, Martha.

Then why is there always something to be won or lost?

You're a new man, Jack. A Lazarus.

Jack

I'm sure I stink like Lazarus. You must have died too from the look of you.

Nearly. God has further plans for me. For you too, I suspect.

Jack

What plans?

What do you remember of the last 3 days? Did you pray?

Jack

I was laying with the dead. I suppose I don't remember. I dreamt, though. I remember that.

What of?

Jack

Of Aliena.

Alfred

[after Philip says that either Alfred or Jack must leave after they fought and destroyed part of the cathedral] He's an apprentice! I'm a master stonemason. Send him away, DA, not me! I'm your real son! If Ma was alive, this wouldn't even be a choice! We were a team once, remember? I was supposed to be your successor!

Tom Builder

Alfred, you'll have to pay a fine for the damage caused. One month's wages.

Alfred

A month?

Tom Builder

Doubt the prior would accept any less. Could you leave us for a moment.

Alfred

Da!

Tom Builder

Go... before I double it. I'm sorry, Jack.

Jack

Why me?

Tom Builder

I pleaded with Philip, but he wouldn't soften.

Jack

This is my life.

Tom Builder

He's my son.

Jack

I'm your son too. You said it.

Tom Builder

You're the one that Philip will miss. You know, Alfred... he's competent. But you're brilliant. Now, in a week or a month, the Prior will see his mistake.

Jack

[Crying] And if he doesn't? You wouldn't even have a job if it weren't for me.

Tom Builder

That's enough.

Jack

Do you hear what I'm saying? I burned it down. I burned the old cathedral so that you would have work.

Tom Builder

God forgives you then. Get out. Get out!

Jack

Abbot Suger, forgive me. I... I want to learn here. The walls are so high, how do they bear their weight?

You know Euclid, the father of geometry?

Jack

No, non.

Then you know nothing.

Jack

Aliena!

Aliena

[Crying] Is it really you?

Jack

[Smiling] Yes.

Aliena

I followed your work.

Jack

You left Alfred?

Jack

He's mine? [Aliena smiles. Jack cries] He's mine. [Aliena nods]

Aliena

[Putting the baby in his arms] He won't break.

Jack

Aliena, he's beautiful. What's his name?

Aliena

I haven't chosen one yet. Shall we call him Jack?

Jack

No. No. No, Jack's the father I never knew. Let's name him after the father I did know.

Aliena

Tom.

Jack

Tom.

Jack

A storm is coming. I'll go check the cathedral for cracks. You should take Tom back before he gets wet.

Aliena

God forbid anything should happen to your precious cathedral.

Jack

What did you say?

Aliena

I said cathedral first, family second.

Jack

That's not true. It's my work.

Aliena

It's your life, Jack.

Jack

I've been an ass and an idiot.

Well, if that's a sin, we'll all burn in hell. What about?

Jack

Aliena, the roof, everything that is important in my life.

What you said this morning was right. You're right, you're not Tom. You're Jack, which is something much better. Tom was a dreamer with enough faith to give his dreams weight, but you... you have an exceptional gift. And you have determination instead of faith. We all need faith, Jack. It makes it easier for God to help us. And Aliena believes in you more than you do.

How much faith do you have in her?

Jack

What do you mean, Prior?

She left an hour ago with Richard and an army of men to retake Shiring.

Waleran

Citizens of Kingsbridge... you have brought the wrath of God upon yourselves. You harbour liars, witches, sodomites and thieves.

Jack

And unholy priests! Because of your treachery, England has been steeped in blood for 16 years. Soldiers have died, wives mourned, sons grown fatherless into manhood and then gone themselves to fight and to die. This town has been burned, its citizens slaughtered... and yet, still we survive. We build a cathedral like none has ever seen before in praise of God and our abilities and our faith in some peaceful tomorrow. And in spite of you, Waleran Bigod, the people of Kingsbridge will find that peace.