A character in The Little Mermaid (1989)

King Triton quotes from The Little Mermaid (1989)

Kenneth Mars

4th most-quoted character in The Little Mermaid (1989): in 12 of its 36 quotes
Most scenes with: Sebastian (9), Ariel (7), Ursula (4)

Scenes with King Triton

12 scenes
King Triton

Ariel, how many times must we go through this? You could've been seen by one of those barbarians! By... by one of those... humans!

Daddy, they're not barbarians!

King Triton

They are dangerous! Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter snared by some fish-eater's hook?

[referring to Eric]

You don't even know him!

King Triton

Know him? I don't have to know him! They're all the same: spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling!

Daddy, I love him!

King Triton

No! Have you lost your senses completely? He's a human, you're a mermaid!

I don't care!

King Triton

Well, I guess there's just one problem left.

And what's that, your majesty?

King Triton

How much I'm going to miss her...

Triton
[confronts Ariel in her grotto]

I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules and I expect those rules to be obeyed.

But Dad, I...!

Triton

Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?!

Daddy, I had to.

Triton

Contact between the human world and the mer world is strictly forbidden! Ariel, you know that! Everyone knows that!

He would've died!

Triton

One less human to worry about.

[angrily]

You don't even know him!

Triton

Know him? I don't have to know him! They're all the same: Spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling.

Daddy, I love him! [gasps, as she has accidentally slipped the truth]

Triton
[shocked]

No. Have you lost your senses completely?! He's a human! You're a mermaid!

I don't care!

Triton

So help me, Ariel, I am going to get through to you. And if this is the only way, so be it!
[He proceeds to destroy most of the grotto with his magic trident]

Triton

She really does love him, doesn't she, Sebastian?

Well, it's like I always say, your majesty, children got to be free to lead their own life.

Triton

You always say that?

Triton
[Sebastian smiles sheepishly]

Then I guess there's just one problem left.

And what's that, your majesty?

Triton

How much I'm going to miss her.
[Sebastian stares at him in surprise as Triton uses his magic to turn Ariel into a human]

Herald
[Fish with trumpet-like noses play a fanfare. A tiny seahorse with a ruffled collar appears. He coughs before he speaks.]

His Royal Highness, King Triton!

Herald
[Triton enters dramatically, being pulled on a seashell chariot by a trio of dolphins to wild cheering. Sparks shoot from his trident and light a chandelier.]

And presenting the distinguished court composer, Horatio Thelonious Ignatius Crustaceous Sebastian!

King Triton
[A fanfare of kazoos play. Sebastian, a tiny red crab, enters riding a small seashell chariot being pulled by two orange fish. He is met with mild applause. He pulls up beside King Triton.]

I'm really looking forward to this performance, Sebastian.

Oh, Your Majesty, this will be the finest concert I have ever conducted. [Triton lets go bridles on the dolphins as the chariot on lands on the balcony] Your daughters - they will be spectacular! [The fish flip Sebastian upside down.]

King Triton

Yes, and especially my little Ariel.

Yes, yes, she has the most beautiful voice. Hmm? ... [under his breath] If only she'd show up for rehearsals once in a while...
[A spotlight appears over Sebastian, and he rides his chariot out over the stage and takes his place at the podium. He takes out a book of music. He taps his baton and directs the orchestra of fish.] [The sisters swim out of giant clam shells as they sing.] Ariel's Sisters: [singing] Oh, we are the daughters of Triton / Great Father who loves us and named us well: Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Attina, Adella, Alana And then there is the youngest in her musical debut / Our seventh little sister, we're presenting her to you / To sing a song Sebastian wrote, her voice is like a bell / She's our sister Ari– [A shell rises as the sisters surround it. But when it opens, it is empty! They all gasp. Sebastian drops his baton, puts his hands on his head and gasp in horror, then turns to Triton in fear and worry.]

King Triton
[angrily shouting, roaring]

ARIEL!!! [King Triton furious roaring with trident, his glaring red eyes and snarling teeth. King Triton has become a gruesome, terrible monster, and echoing.]

Andrina
[Cuts to Atlantica Palace.] [Cuts to Mersisters' dressing room.]

Ariel, dear, time to come out. You've been in there all morning.

Attina
[Ariel emerges from behind a curtain, humming "Part of Your World" to herself.]

What is with her lately?

[Ariel picks a red flower and swims away. She bumps into her father.] [bumps into his Father]

Oh! Uh... Morning, Daddy.

Attina
[Ariel puts the flower in his hair and swims off, spinning in circles. He chuckles.]

Oh, she's got it bad.

King Triton

What? What has she got?

Andrina

Isn't it obvious, Father? Ariel's in love.

King Triton

Ariel? In love?

[King Triton picks the flower from his hair and looks at it.] [Cuts to the undersea rocks. Sebastian paces on a rock.]

O.K. So far, so good. I don't think The King knows.

[Orange flower petals fall around Sebastian. One lands on his face, and he blows it off.]

But it will not be easy keeping something like this a secret for long.

[The camera rises up to reveal Ariel picking orange flowers.]

He loves me... hmm, he loves me not... He loves me! I knew it!

[Ariel hugs the last flower petal. Sebastian joins her on the rock.]

Ariel, stop talking crazy.

I gotta see him again - tonight! Scuttle knows where he lives.

[Ariel begins to swim away. Sebastian grabs onto her fins.]

Ariel? Please. Will you get your head out of the clouds and back in the water where it belongs?

I'll swim up to his castle. Then Flounder will splash around to get his attention, and then with... -

[Sebastian gets in front of her face.]

Down here is your home! Ariel, listen to me. The human world, it's a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there.

[Sebastian and various other sea creatures sing to Ariel to convince her living in the ocean is the best life.]

The seaweed is always greener / In somebody else's lake / You dream about going up there / But that is a big mistake / Just look at the world around you / Right here on the ocean floor / Such wonderful things surround you / What more is you lookin' for? / Under the sea / Under the sea / Darling it's better / Down where it's wetter / Take it from me / Up on the shore they work all day / Out in the sun they slave away / While we devotin' / Full time to floatin' / Under the sea

Down here all the fish is happy / As off through the waves they roll / The fish on the land ain't happy

They sad 'cause they in their bowl {a fish is seen in a bubble} / But fish in the bowl is lucky / They in for a worser fate / One day when the boss get hungry

Deep Voice Fish
[bubble around him pops]

Guess who's gon' be on the plate?

Oh, no, under the sea / Under the sea / Nobody beat us / Fry us and eat us / In fricassee [fish swim around Ariel] / We what the land folks loves to cook / Under the sea we off the hook / We got no troubles / Life is the bubbles / Under the sea (under the sea) / Under the sea (under the sea) / Since life is sweet here / We got the beat here / Naturally (naturally) / Even the sturgeon and the ray / They get the urge 'n' start to play / We got the spirit / You got to hear it / Under the sea / The newt play the flute / The carp play the harp / The plaice play the bass / And they soundin' sharp / The bass play the brass / The chub play the tub / The fluke is the duke of soul / (Yeah) / The ray he can play / The lings on the strings / The trout rockin' out / The blackfish she sings / The smelt and the sprat / They know where it's at / And oh that blowfish blow

[As Sebastian sings the first chorus, Flounder swims past the bunch but is pulled back by a fish, who shimmies with him. He pulls free and finds Ariel, whispering in her ear. She smiles and swims away, following him.]

Yeah, under the sea (under the sea) / Under the sea (under the sea) / When the sardine / Begin the beguine / It's music to me (it's music to me) / What do they got? A lot of sand / We got a hot crustacean band / Each little clam here / Know how to jam here / Under the sea / Each little slug here / Cuttin' a rug here / Under the sea / Each little snail here / Know how to wail here / That's why it's hotter / Under the water / Ya we in luck here / Down in the muck here / Under the sea!

[Sebastian does not notice and continues his song and dance with the sea creatures. Everyone points to Ariel's empty place as the grand finale and turns away disappointed.]

Ariel? Oh... somebody's got to nail that girl's fins to the floor.

Herald

Sebastian! Sebastian, I've been looking all over for you. I've got an urgent message from The Sea King.

The Sea King?

Herald
[tugging at Sebastian]

He wants to see you right away. Uh, something about Ariel.

[Sebastian gasps.]

He knows!

King Triton
[At the palace, King Triton is sitting on his throne, as he looking at flower] [laughs]

Let's see, now... Oh, who could the lucky merman be? [notices Sebastian] [clears throat] Um... Come in, Sebastian.

[as he walks to King Triton]

I mustn't overreact. I must remain calm. [Five octaves higher than normal] Yes. Ahem... Yes, Your Majesty.

King Triton

Sebastian, I'm concerned about Ariel. Have you noticed she's been acting peculiar lately?

[pretending to act confused]

Oh! Uh, peculiar?

King Triton

You know, mooning about, daydreaming, singing to herself. You haven't noticed, hmm?

Oh- well, I-

King Triton

Sebastian?

[looks up]

Hmm?

King Triton

I know you've been keeping something from me.

[nervously]

Keeping... someting?

King Triton

About Ariel?

Ariel?

King Triton
[point his trident at his chin]

In love?

[protested]

I TRIED TO STOP HER, SIRE! SHE WOULDN'T LISTEN! I TOLD HER TO STAY AWAY FROM HUMANS! THEY ARE BAD! THEY ARE TROUBLE! THEY—!

King Triton
[as he shocked at what Sebastian said]

Humans? [and also losing control of his rage with his magic trident at full power and yelling at Sebastian] WHAT ABOUT HUMANS?!

Humans? Ho ho ho ho… Who said anything about humans?
[King Triton angrily grabs Sebastian] [Triton grabs Sebastian and pulls him away.]

[Grimsby sits at the head of the table as Eric gazes out the windows, which stretch from floor to ceiling, at the ocean.]

Oh, Eric, be reasonable. Nice young ladies just don't - swim around rescuing people in the middle of the ocean and then - flutter off into oblivion, like some -

I'm tellin' you, Grim, she was real! I'm gonna find that girl - and I'm gonna marry her.

Carlotta

Ha Ha. Come on honey. Don't be shy.

[Carlotta and Ariel come through the entrance. Ariel wears a long sleeve pink gown with pink high heels.]

Oh, Eric, isn't she a vision?

Uh, you look - wonderful.

[taking Ariel]

Come come come, you must be famished. Let me help you my dear. [Grimsby and Eric settle Ariel into a chair.] There we go - ah - quite comfy? Uh. It's - It's not often that we have such a lovely dinner guest, eh Eric? [Ariel sees a fork on the table and picks it up, combing her hair. Eric holds a goblet and raises an eyebrow. Grimsby looks perplexed. She puts it down, embarrassed] Uh, do you like it? It is rather a fine one...

Carlotta
[She blows into it, covering Grimsby's face in ashes by Ariel. Eric laughs.]

Oh, my!

Ahem, so sorry, Grim.

Carlotta

Why, Eric, that's the first time I've seen you smile in weeks.

[Ariel smiles at this. Grimsby wipes his face.]

Oh, very amusing. Carlotta, my dear, what's for dinner?

Carlotta

Ooo, you're gonna love it. Chef's been fixing his specialty, stuffed crab.

Chef Louis
[Sebastian watches Chef Louis take out a bowl of dead fish. He sings to himself as he cooks.]

Nouvelle Cuisine / Les Champs-Elysées / Maurice Chevalier / Les poissons, les poissons / How I love les poissons / Love to chop and to serve little fish / First I cut off their heads / Zen I pull out their bones / Ah mais oui, ça c'est toujours délice / Les poissons, les poissons / Hee hee hee, haw haw haw / With the cleaver I hack zem in two / I pull out what's inside [pulls out the guts from the fish and throws it in a pot] / And I serve it up fried / 'Cause I love little fishes, don't you? / Here's something for tempting ze palate [Sebastian quivers and hides as Louis brutalizes the sea creatures.] [A fish's head lands in front a mortified Sebastian. He hides under a leaf of lettuce to escape] / Prepared in the classic technique / [But as Louis clangs down on the table with a cleaver, Sebastian is jolted into the air.] First you pound the fish flat with a mallet / Then you slash through the skin / Give the belly a slice / Then you rub some salt in / 'Cause that makes it taste nice. [Louis raises the leaf and sees Sebastian.] Zut alors, I have missed one! [Louis picks up Sebastian.] Sacre bleu! What is this? How on earth could I miss such a sweet little succulent crab? Quel dommage, what a loss! Here we go in the sauce. [He throws him in a sauce bowl with Polynesian sauce and throws flour on him.] Now some flour-I think just a dab. [Sebastian sneezes.] Now I stuff you with bread. [Louis stuffs Sebastian's shells with lettuce and bread.] It don't hurt, 'cause you're dead And you're certainly lucky you are. [he spits it out.] 'Cause it's gonna be hot in my big silver pot. Tootle-loo, mon poisson, au revoir! [He tosses Sebastian into the boiling pot, with one of the hot bubbles popping at him changing him back to red and tossing him out of the pot and on the counter. Chef Louis notices him. He picks him up with a fork.] What is this?

Carlotta
[Sebastian pinches his nose and Sebastian flies away, landing on the handle of a saucepan. Louis tries to grab him again and his hand goes on the stove. Yowling, he reels back in pain. A pan lands on his foot and he hops about.] [He grabs knives from a knife block and throws them towards Sebastian, who scampers through a small hole in the cabinet. On the counter he drops a bowl with food onto Louis' head. He runs under the cabinet again as the chef lifts an enormous knife and chops it in half.] [Sebastian dashes across the floor as a knife lands in front of him. He runs between Louis' legs towards a cabinet with dishes. Louis runs screaming toward the cabinet as Sebastian takes cover, he jumps to the cabinet with a hammer.] [Crashing noises are heard.]

I think I'd better go see what Louis is up to.

Chef Louis
[The kitchen is in total disarray as Louis digs around looking for Sebastian.]

Come out, you little pipsqueak, and FIGHT LIKE A MAN!!!

Carlotta
[losing control of her rage and yelling at Louis]

LOUIS!

Carlotta
[Louis bangs his head. Carlotta puts her hands on her hips.]

What are you doing?!

Chef Louis

Well - I - I was just - er, er, I'm sorry, Madame. [Extinguishes the flame on his mustache]

[Carlotta carries out the dinner plates in a huff.]

You know, Eric, perhaps our young guest might enjoy seeing some of the sights of the kingdom. Something in the way of a tour?

[Carlotta sets their plates down. Eric gazes at Ariel, head in hand.]

I'm sorry, Grim, what was that?

You can't spend all your time moping about, you need to get out. Do something, have a life.

[Grimsby lifts his plate's cover to reveal Sebastian cowering in the salad. He motions "shh."]

Get your mind off -

[Ariel beckons him to hide in her plate.]

It's not a bad idea, if she's interested.

[Sebastian runs to Ariel's plate, and she covers it.]

Well - whaddaya say? Would you like to join me on a tour of my kingdom tomorrow?

[Ariel nods vigorously, leaning heavily on her plate's cover.]

Wonderful, now let's eat, before this crab wanders off my plate.

[He stabs his fork at an empty plate.] [Ariel leans on her balcony, wearing a long sleeve pink nightgown. She watches as Eric plays with Max on the lawn.]

Come here, boy! Grrr...

[Max licks Eric's face and Eric ruffles his fur. He sees Ariel and waves. She waves shyly and backs into her room.] [Ariel brushes her hair with a fork and Sebastian sits on a table.]

This has got to be, without a doubt, the single most humiliating day of my life. [Sebastian picks a lettuce leaf off his head. Ariel passes him and pats his head] I hope you appreciate what I go through for you, young lady. [Ariel sinks into her bed.] Now - we got to make a plan to get that boy to kiss you. Tomorrow, when he takes you for that ride, you gotta look your best. You gotta bat your eyes - like this. You gotta pucker up your lips - like this. [Sebastian demonstrates to Ariel. He sees Ariel has fallen asleep. Smiling, he blows out a candle on the nightstand and hops onto the pillow beside her.] Hmm. You are hopeless child. You know dat? Completely hopeless...

King Triton
[The seahorse swims hurriedly to the throne room, where King Triton swims back and forth with his hands behind his back.]

Any sign of them?

Herald

No, Your Majesty. We've searched everywhere. We've found no trace of your daughter - or Sebastian.

King Triton
[angrily; losing patience]

Well, keep looking. Leave no shell unturned, no coral unexplored. Let no one in this kingdom sleep until she's safe at home.

Herald

Yes, sire.

King Triton
[The seahorse bows and leaves. Triton sits in his throne.]

Oh, what have I done? What have I done?

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