Original subtitles

ONCE UPON A TIME...

NO, NO, THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO START.

YOU'LL THINK THIS IS A FAIRY TALE, AND IT ISN'T.

IT HAS ELEMENTS OF A FAIRY TALE--

DRAGONS, ELVES

GRIFFINS, FAIRIES AND SO ON--

AND IT HAS MAGIC.

NOW, IN MY DAY, MAGIC WAS MUCH MORE COMMONPLACE.

OH, WELL, ALL THINGS CHANGE.

THE ARROW OF TIME POINTS IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY.

SO... WHERE SHOULD I BEGIN?

FIRE!

WELL, IT'S OBVIOUS

I SHOULD START AT THE BEGINNING...

LOOSE YOUR ARROWS!

...WITH THE TERRIBLE YEARS OF DARKNESS.

( men yelling )

KING CONSTANT WAS THE FIRST CHRISTIAN KING OF ENGLAND.

KILL...

ALL THE PRISONERS.

NO MERCY.

NO TRAITORS.

LET THE WHOLE WORLD DIE...

IF I DIE.

VORTIGERN IS HERE!

( men cheering )

Constant: TRAITORS.

VORTIGERN!

HE'S HAD ALL THE PRISONERS SLAUGHTERED!

Men: JUSTICE! JUSTICE!

I CURSE YOU ALL!

( cheering )

DEATH CAME SO EASILY THEN.

AND ONE TYRANT SMOOTHLY PASSED THE CROWN

TO ANOTHER...

EVEN WORSE.

( cheering )

( screaming )

CIVIL WAR TORE THE COUNTRY APART.

( men yelling and women screaming )

THEN THE SAXONS CAME.

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES WERE DESTROYED AND DEFILED.

SO WERE THE SACRED PLACES OF THE OLD PAGAN RELIGION.

MAB!

THE FOLLOWERS OF THE OLD WAYS CRIED OUT IN THEIR AGONY.

QUEEN MAB!

THERE WAS ONLY ONE BEING WHO COULD SAVE THEM...

AND SHE WOULD COME OUT OF THE LAND OF MAGIC.

( echoing ): I GOT YOUR MESSAGE, SISTER.

( raspy-voiced ): I'VE COME TO A GREAT DECISION.

OH...

I DON'T LIKE THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE

WHEN YOU SAY THAT, SISTER.

I'M GOING TO CREATE A LEADER

FOR THE PEOPLE--

A POWERFUL WIZARD WHO WILL SAVE BRITAIN

AND BRING THE PEOPLE BACK TO US

AND THE OLD WAYS.

IT'LL BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU, MAB.

IT'LL DRAIN YOU OF WHAT POWER

YOU STILL HAVE.

IF I DON'T DO IT, WE'LL DIE.

IF PEOPLE STOP BELIEVING IN US, WE WON'T EXIST.

THE NEW RELIGION HAS ALREADY PUSHED US TO THE BRINK.

SOON WE'LL BE FORGOTTEN.

ALL THINGS CHANGE

SISTER.

IT'S SAD, BUT HEAVEN, HELL AND THE WORLD MOVE ON.

IT'S FATE.

I WON'T ACCEPT IT.

I'LL FIGHT.

WILL YOU HELP ME?

NO.

YOU FORGET-- I'M THE LADY OF THE LAKE.

I'M MADE OF WATER.

NOW EVERYTHING'S

FLOWING AWAY FROM US, AND I ACCEPT IT.

I'M SORRY, MY DEAR.

THEN I'LL DO IT MYSELF.

FRIK!

YOU HEARD THAT, FRIK?

YES, BUT I'M AFRAID, MADAM

THAT YOUR SISTER IS RATHER, SHALL WE SAY

INDECISIVE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING DECISIONS.

SHE NEVER REALLY GIVES YOU THE BACKING YOU DESERVE.

WE'RE ON OUR OWN.

WE'D BETTER GET STARTED.

WELL, DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD AT LEAST

WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS TO BUILD UP YOUR STRENGTH?

NO TIME.

OUR WORLD IS DYING.

( whirring )

( gasps )

Mab: HE'S MAGNIFICENT!

NOW, I HAVE TO GIVE HIM... LIFE.

( explosion )

( baby crying )

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BOY.

PLEASE LOOK AFTER MY BABY.

I BEG YOU.

I BEG YOU.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, MY DEAR.

SWEAR IT.

I'M DYING.

I SWEAR.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILD.

( gasps )

LET ME SEE THE CHILD.

I NAME THIS CHILD "MERLIN."

WHILE YOU'RE MAKING GESTURES

SAVE THE MOTHER-- SHE'S DYING.

NO, SHE'S NOT.

SHE'S DEAD.

SLEEP EASY, CHILD.

MAY ANGELS FLY THEE HOME.

WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?

WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE HER?

SHE'D SERVED HER PURPOSE.

"SERVED HER PURPOSE"?

YOU ARE SO COLD.

IF I WERE TO PUNCH YOU IN THE HEART

I'D BREAK MY FIST.

AND TO THINK I USED TO SERVE YOU...

IN THE OLD WAYS.

( Frik groans )

THEN YOU CHANGED.

YOU BECAME A CHRISTIAN.

WHO TOLD YOU THAT, HMM?

UH, UH...

THAT SNOOPING

SMILING BLATHERSKITE.

I FOLLOW MY OWN HEART.

THAT'S RELIGION ENOUGH FOR ME.

WHY DO YOU ALLOW HER TO TALK TO YOU LIKE THAT, MADAM?

BECAUSE SHE NEEDS ME, IDIOT.

WHY DO I NEED YOU, AMBROSIA?

TO TAKE CARE OF THIS CHILD.

I CAN TAKE CARE OF HIM.

( deep whooshing )

Frik: WELL DONE, WELL DONE.

( goat bleating )

MILK OVER THERE.

YES, OOP...

WELL DONE.

OH... YES. THE MOSS THERE.

TRICKS.

YOU NEED MORE THAN TRICKS TO BRING UP A CHILD.

YOU NEED PATIENCE, UNDERSTANDING, LOVE...

MOST OF ALL, YOU NEED LOVE.

YOU USED TO HAVE THAT ONCE.

NO MORE.

SO... WHAT HAVE YOU DECIDED?

THE CHILD STAYS WITH YOU.

BUT REMEMBER-- HE'S ONLY HALF HUMAN.

HE BELONGS TO ME.

HE'S MY SON.

I WILL SEND FOR HIM WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

( baby gurgling )

AMBROSIA WAS LIKE A TIGER PROTECTING ME.

GET OUT OF THERE...

( squeals )

AND STAY OUT!

SHE WAS THE BRAVEST, KINDEST PERSON I EVER KNEW.

I CALLED HER AUNTIE A

BUT SHE WAS REALLY A MOTHER TO ME.

HAVE YOU NOTICED WHEN YOU'RE MISERABLE

TIME SEEMS TO SLOW TO A CRAWL?

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY...

MY CHILDHOOD MUST HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HAPPY

FOR IT WAS OVER

IN A FLASH.

( horse snorting )

( birds chirping )

( grunting )

( laughing )

PLEASE, EXCUSE THEIR RUDENESS.

WE'RE TRAVELING

TO LORD LAMBERT'S CASTLE

AND WE'VE LOST OUR WAY.

IT'S ABOUT A MILE.

TAKE THE RIGHT FORK

BUT DON'T TRY ANY SHORTCUTS.

IT'S DANGEROUS

AND YOU CAN GET LOST.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU AS A REWARD?

A KISS.

( gasping )

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO?

THIS IS THE LADY NIMUE.

LORD ARDENTE'S DAUGHTER.

SHE ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED

AND I TOLD THE TRUTH.

( laughing )

AND I THINK IT'S A FAIR PRICE.

( women gasping )

MY NAME'S MERLIN.

MINE'S NIMUE...

AND I THINK YOU'RE A VERY RUDE YOUNG MAN.

I'LL NEVER

FORGET YOU, NIMUE.

WE'LL MEET AGAIN.

I CAN SEE IT.

I DON'T THINK SO, MASTER MERLIN.

( grunting )

( horse whinnying )

Merlin: NIMUE.

( sighs )

COME ON, THIS WAY.

I'D WARNED NIMUE

NOT TO LEAVE THE PATH

BUT SHE WAS VERY HEADSTRONG, EVEN THEN.

WELL, I SUPPOSE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE.

SHE WENT OFF ON HER OWN.

( Nimue screaming )

( gasping )

Nimue: HELP ME!

( screaming )

HELP ME.

( Nimue screaming )

( screaming continues )

( screams )

Merlin: NIMUE...

MERLIN...

HELP ME.

HELP ME.

( both panting )

DON'T STRUGGLE.

YOU'LL ONLY SINK DEEPER.

STAY CALM.

( Nimue whimpering )

TAKE HOLD OF THE BRANCH.

( grunting )

I CAN'T REACH.

( grunting )

( screaming )

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS... I STILL REMEMBER HOW IT WAS.

I FELT THE POWER IN ME.

GROW.

GROW.

GROW!

GROW!

GROW NOW!

( softly creaking )

( creaking )

( grunting )

( Nimue sobbing )

KEEP HOLD.

THAT'S IT.

YOU'RE SAFE NOW.

I TOLD YOU WE'D MEET AGAIN.

HOW DID YOU DO THAT...

WITH THE BRANCH?

I DON'T KNOW.

WELL, WHATEVER IT WAS

YOU SAVED MY LIFE.

YOU DESERVE ANOTHER KISS.

( giggling )

Merlin: AUNTIE A!

I'VE SEEN HER--

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD...

THE ONLY GIRL I'LL EVER LOVE, I KNOW IT--

AND SHE LOVES ME AND WE'LL LOVE EACH OTHER ALWAYS AND...

WHAT ARE YOU BABBLING ABOUT?

YOU'RE DRIPPING WET. TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF.

I'M A HERO, TOO.

I SAVED HER.

OH, YES?

NOW, YOU SAVED WHO, FROM WHAT, HMM?

NIMUE. NIMUE-- SHE'S THE DAUGHTER OF SOME LORD.

SHE FELL INTO A MUD HOLE AND I SAVED HER.

THAT'S VERY BRAVE OF YOU, MY DEAR.

WELL, THE EXTRAORDINARY THING WAS HOW I SAVED HER.

I HAD THIS BRANCH AND SOMEHOW I MADE IT GROW.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS IMPOSSIBLE

BUT I SAID, "GROW, GROW," AND I-IT GREW.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, AUNTIE A?

I...

I-I NEED TO SIT DOWN.

TELL ME WHAT'S THE MATTER.

IT'S THE MOMENT I'VE BEEN DREADING...

ALL THESE YEARS.

IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE.

LEAVE?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YOU WERE CREATED BY QUEEN MAB.

YOU HAVE NO MORTAL FATHER.

THERE'S MAGIC AT WORK HERE...

AND NOW SHE WANTS YOU TO JOIN HER.

I WON'T.

YOU HAVE NO CHOICE, MY DEAR.

YOU CAN'T FIGHT IT...

NOT YET.

( snorting )

Merlin: HE'S TALKING TO ME.

HE SAYS I HAVE TO GO WITH HIM.

THIS WILL KEEP YOU WARM...

ON COLD NIGHTS.

AUNTIE A...

NOW, NOW, NOW, KEEP YOUR CHIN UP.

MAGIC HAS NO POWER OVER THE HUMAN HEART.

I LOVE YOU, AUNTIE A.

GO.

AND YOU CAN TELL HER ROYAL HIGH AND MIGHTY

QUEEN MAB, THAT MAGIC OR NO MAGIC

IF SHE HARMS YOU IN ANY WAY, I'LL HAVE

HER GUTS FOR MY BOOT LACES.

IT WAS VERY STRANGE...

AND YET IT WASN'T.

HALF OF ME FELT

ALL THIS WAS THE MOST NATURAL THING

IN THE WORLD.

I SUPPOSE I'M TO GET INTO THE BOAT.

( horse snorts )

THAT FEELING INSIDE WAS GROWING STRONGER AND STRONGER.

( man grunting )

I WAS COMING HOME.

( man grunting )

SORRY I'M LATE.

SHIP LEFT WITHOUT ME-- DREADFULLY RUDE, REALLY.

WELL, COMING ABOARD.

( three tones blown on whistle )

WHO ARE YOU?

SHH!

I CAN'T CONCENTRATE.

THESE ARE TREACHEROUS WATERS-- STRONG CURRENTS, UNSEEN ROCKS.

( screeching )

( wings whirring )

( squeaking )

( squeaking )

( Asian accent ): FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW ME.

FOLLOW ME...

FOLLOW ME.

DON'T GET LOST, DON'T GET LOST.

( gears cranking )

THIS WAY, IF YOU WILL, MASTER MERLIN.

( chuckles )

YOUR MAJESTY, WELL, I MEAN

I'M RATHER PLEASED TO PRESENT...

MERLIN.

YES.

MERLIN...

YES?

YOU'VE COME AT LAST.

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

QUEEN MAB.

YES.

YOU'VE GROWN HANDSOME AND TRUE.

I DID WELL WHEN I CREATED YOU.

THIS IS MERLIN...

( echoing ): MERLIN...

WHO COMES TO SAVE US.

( echoing ): SAVE US...

HE WILL BRING THE PEOPLE BACK TO THE OLD WAYS.

( echoing ): OLD WAYS, OLD WAYS...

WHY AM I HERE?

TO LEARN.

I WILL TEACH YOU TO BECOME

THE MOST POWERFUL WIZARD IN THE WORLD.

WHY?

TO LEAD MORTALS BACK TO US

( Frik groans ) AND THE OLD WAYS.

WELL, WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO BE A WIZARD?

IT'S YOUR DESTINY.

REMEMBER THAT BRANCH AND HOW YOU MADE IT GROW?

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE--

TO LEARN.

OH, MERLIN, MERLIN...

YOU'LL SOON KNOW THE POWER THAT IS IN YOU

AND WHEN IT IS UNLEASHED

YOU WILL HOLD THIS WORLD IN THE HOLLOW OF YOUR HAND.

ALL THE MAGIC OF THE UNIVERSE

AND ALL THE SPELLS YOU WILL EVER NEED

ARE IN THESE BOOKS, MERLIN.

IF I'M HALF MORTAL, WILL I DIE?

IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME.

WE CANNOT CHANGE THAT

BUT...

WE CAN CHANGE FORM.

HMM...

Queen Mab: BUT IT IS ONLY AN ILLUSION

PARTICULARLY IN HIS CASE.

SOMETIMES

WE CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE.

THIS IS YOU AS YOU WILL BE.

WILL I GROW THAT OLD?

HAVE A CARE, YOUNG MERLIN.

SORRY, SIR.

NO, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

TRY AND STAY AS YOUNG INSIDE AS YOU ARE NOW.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING

TO WATCH OUT FOR, YOUNG MERLIN.

DON'T START GIVING ADVICE.

( laughing )

Queen Mab: FRIK, IT'S YOUR TURN.

NOW, MASTER MERLIN

THERE ARE THREE CLASSES OF MAGIC.

THREE STAGES OF PROGRESSION TO FULL WIZARD STATUS.

( chuckling )

THE FIRST AND LOWEST STAGE

IS WIZARD BY INCANTATION.

ABRACADABRA.

DEVONSHOT.

THE SECOND-STAGE WIZARDS ARE HAND WIZARDS

WHOSE MAGIC IS PERFORMED BY GESTURES OF THE HANDS

AND FINGERS.

THE THIRD AND HIGHEST STAGE OF WIZARDRY--

THE SUPREME EXPONENTS--

ARE WIZARDS OF PURE THOUGHT

WHO NEED NO WORDS NOR GESTURES, BUT BY THEIR WILL ALONE

PIERCE THE HEAVENS.

OF COURSE, ONLY THE MOST SUPREMELY GIFTED

PERSONAGES BECOME

WIZARDS OF THE THIRD STAGE.

OH, GET ON WITH IT.

YES, MADAM.

( clears throat )

ANY QUESTIONS?

I STUDIED DAY AND NIGHT AND LEARNED

OF THOSE UNSEEN FORCES THAT HOLD THIS WORLD TOGETHER

LEARNT THE SECRET WAYS OF OTHER WORLDS

THAT EXIST BENEATH THE SURFACE AND BEHIND THE MIRRORS.

NOW YOU TRY IT.

( groaning ): MUST I?

YES!

RIGHT HAND, SIR.

RIGHT HAND.

NOW, MASTER MERLIN, PUT IT OUT.

LEFT HAND.

CONCENTRATE.

( groaning )

THAT HAPPENED

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T CONCENTRATE.

WELL...

HOW IS HE DOING?

DID YOU READ MY REPORT, MADAM?

YES, YES, BUT I WANT YOUR PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS.

WELL, I MEAN, I RATHER THINK HE'S GOT THE ABILITY.

HE COULD INDEED BE THE GREATEST.

OH, I KNEW IT.

BUT HE NEVER WILL BE.

HE CAN'T GET PAST BEING A HAND WIZARD.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT.

IN HIS HEART, HE DOESN'T LIKE MAGIC.

HE DOESN'T LIKE IT?

WELL, I-I-I-I KNOW IT SOUNDS SHOCKING

BUT, I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS, ISN'T IT?

WELL, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE HIM LIKE IT.

I HAVE WORK FOR HIM TO DO.

TH-THE TRUTH IS... HE WANTS TO GO HOME.

HOME?

HOME?!

WHY DID YOU CALL ME, MERLIN?

I DIDN'T.

YOU DID.

WHO ARE YOU?

THE LADY OF THE LAKE.

HOW ARE YOU GETTING ON WITH MY SISTER MAB?

WE TWO DON'T GET ON.

WHY?

I DON'T APPROVE OF WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING--

CREATING YOU, AND LETTING YOUR MOTHER DIE LIKE THAT.

SHE LET MY MOTHER DIE?

OH, DEAR.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU, BUT IT JUST SLIPPED OUT.

I'M GOING HOME.

YOU SHOULD.

YOUR AUNTIE AMBROSIA

IS VERY ILL.

( gasps )

OH, MASTER MERLIN?

WHERE IS HE?

HE'S ON HIS WAY HOME

TO THAT VIPER OF A WITCH AMBROSIA.

HOW CAN HE GET ACROSS THE LAKE?

MY DEAR SISTER.

OH.

IF I MAY SAY SO, MADAM

IT REALLY WOULD HELP MATTERS

IF YOU TWO COULD AGREE TO...

WHEN I WANT YOUR ADVICE, I'LL ASK FOR IT, FRIK.

AS YOU WISH, MADAM.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE HIM.

( no audio )

( coughing )

Mab: WHERE IS HE?

SO...

HERE YOU ARE AGAIN.

STILL A CHIP OFF THE OLD ICEBERG, I SEE.

OH, PLEASE, DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK.

WHERE'S MERLIN?

YOU'VE LOST HIM, HAVEN'T YOU?

WELL, I MUST SAY, IT'S TYPICAL.

YOU'VE BEEN SLIDING DOWN THE LADDER OF SUCCESS SO QUICKLY

THESE LAST FEW YEARS.

YOU MUST HAVE GOT SPLINTERS IN YOUR BACKSIDE.

( hisses )

( gags )

DON'T PROVOKE ME

AMBROSIA.

I'M IN NO MOOD FOR YOUR JIBES.

WELL, I'M ANXIOUS ABOUT HIM, TOO.

YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN BETTER CARE OF HIM.

HE'LL BE HERE.

HE'S HEARD YOU'RE ILL.

I'M NOT ILL.

I'M DYING.

WHEN HE COMES, YOU MUST SEND HIM BACK.

CAN'T YOU MAKE HIM COME BACK?

IT'S BETTER THAT YOU TELL HIM HIS PLACE IS WITH ME.

NO. I WON'T DO THAT.

DO YOU DEFY ME?

OF COURSE I DEFY YOU.

I'VE ALWAYS

DEFIED YOU.

WHY?

IT'S MY NATURE.

WHEN MY BOY COMES HERE, I'LL SAY NOT ONE WORD.

HE'LL DO WHAT'S IN HIS HEART.

( roaring )

NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO.

AMBROSIA?

AMBROSIA!

WHAT IS IT?

YOU TELL ME.

( chuckles )

YOU'RE THE MISTRESS OF MAGIC.

( chuckles )

AUNTIE A!

AUNTIE A!

DEAR BOY...

YOU'VE COME BACK.

WHAT'S WRONG?

NOTHING.

EVERYTHING'S AS IT SHOULD BE.

MERLIN, REMEMBER...

ONLY LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.

YOU KILLED HER.

NO, I DIDN'T.

YOU KILLED HER

LIKE YOU KILLED MY REAL MOTHER.

NO. I ONLY LET HER DIE.

YOU HAVEN'T THE POWER TO STRIKE ME.

WATCH MY POWER GROW.

( gasping )

THAT WAS VERY GOOD, MERLIN.

I'M IMPRESSED.

I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU.

I'M SORRY

ABOUT YOUR MOTHER AND AMBROSIA, BUT THEY WERE CASUALTIES OF WAR.

I AM FIGHTING TO SAVE MY PEOPLE FROM EXTINCTION.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU DIE AND DISAPPEAR.

I WILL, UNLESS I FIGHT AND WIN.

I'LL NEVER HELP YOU.

YOU WILL.

I'LL MAKE YOU.

( thunder crashing )

I SWEAR ON AMBROSIA'S GRAVE AND THE GRAVE OF MY MOTHER

I'LL ONLY EVER USE MY POWERS TO DEFEAT QUEEN MAB.

ON THIS, I SWEAR.

AND THUS I SET MY COURSE.

I KNEW MAB HAD HEARD ME

BUT RIGHT FROM THE START

SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD MAKE ME BREAK MY OATH.

AFTER ALL, PART OF HER WAS IN ME.

SO SHE WAITED PATIENTLY IN THE SHADOWS

FOR THE TIME WHEN SHE COULD STRIKE

AND MAKE ME SEE THE ERROR OF MY WAYS.

SO THE WORLD TURNED AND TURNED AGAIN.

THE RAIN FELL ON THE JUST AND UNJUST ALIKE.

MEN AND WOMEN WERE CUT DOWN LIKE WHEAT

TO BE BORN AGAIN STRONG.

MAB HAD TO WAIT YEARS, BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER.

THOSE YEARS PASSED AS IF IN SECONDS

AND THEN SHE FOUND A WAY OF MAKING ME BREAK MY OATH.

PULL AWAY!

Vortigern: IT'S A FINE POSITION FOR A NEW CASTLE.

DON'T YOU THINK, LORD ARDENTE?

IT WILL BE IMPREGNABLE, YOUR MAJESTY.

NO ARMY CAN TAKE IT.

NOT EVEN UTHER'S.

MY LORD, UTHER IS IN NORMANDY, SIRE.

MY SPIES TELL ME HE'S RAISING AN ARMY

AND GETTING READY TO SAIL FOR ENGLAND.

HE WANTS TO KILL ME.

I DON'T BLAME HIM.

I KILLED HIS FATHER, KING CONSTANT.

KING CONSTANT WAS A TYRANT.

NOT UNLIKE MYSELF.

YES, SIRE.

UH, NO, NO, SIRE.

( chuckling ): NO, NO.

YOU DON'T SOUND VERY CONVINCING, MY LORD.

WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS, IN CASE WE'D HAVE TO FIGHT

WHOSE SIDE WOULD YOU BE ON--

HIS OR MINE?

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LOYAL TO YOUR MAJESTY.

I'VE PLEDGED MY ENTIRE ARMY TO YOU.

TRUE UP TILL NOW.

TROUBLE IS I DON'T TRUST ANYONE.

I WANT GUARANTEES.

YOU HAVE MY WORD, SIRE.

IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I'M KEEPING YOUR DAUGHTER

NIMUE JUST TO BE SURE.

GUARDS!

Guard: SIRE!

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS... SIRE.

I'M SORRY.

Nimue: KING VORTIGERN.

WHATEVER YOU DO TO ME, MY FATHER WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

OF COURSE, HE WILL.

IF YOU STAY LOYAL TO ME, SHE'LL BE SAFE

BUT IF YOU BETRAY ME...

I WILL KILL HER MYSELF.

Nimue: FATHER!

FATHER!

( men shouting )

HOW DOES IT GO?

ANY PROGRESS?

FINE, SIRE, FINE.

THE LINETS ON THE WEST SIDE NEED BOLSTERING.

Man: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

( men screaming )

TELL ME ROUGHLY WHAT HAPPENED.

I DON'T KNOW, SIRE.

GUARDS!

Man: SIRE!

TAKE HIM AWAY!

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

IT'S THE LINETS.

I'M SURE IT'S THE LINETS.

GET ME A DIFFERENT ARCHITECT!

HEY, YOU.

YOU.

( frightened moan )

WHY WON'T IT STAND?

I'M A SOOTHSAYER, YOUR MAJESTY

NOT AN ARCHITECT.

IF YOU ARE A SOOTHSAYER, YOU SHOULD KNOW.

TELL ME WHY IT IS

THAT EVERY TIME I TRY TO REBUILD THE TOWER...

IT COLLAPSES.

AH, WELL, UH...

( clearing throat )

YES, INDEED, YES.

UM...

YOU THINK I SHOULD KNOW THAT, SIRE?

YES.

YES, YES. WELL, I'LL READ THE STONES.

THEN READ THEM.

OH, I WILL, SIRE. I WILL.

THAT'S SOMETHING I DO VERY WELL, SIRE.

WHY IS IT THAT I SURROUND MYSELF

WITH A BUNCH OF INCOMPETENT FOOLS?

Soothsayer: I'VE BEEN A WORSHIPPER

OF THE OLD WAYS ALL MY LIFE.

NOW THAT LIFE IS IN DANGER

AND IT'S A PRECIOUS LIFE.

IT'S MINE.

I'VE NEVER HAD ANY REAL HELP, NO, NOT NEVER.

OH.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

I'VE NO IDEA WHY HIS TOWER KEEPS FALLING DOWN.

( thunderclap )

( screams )

THE LAND IS CURSED.

YOU'VE APPEARED.

YOU'VE APPEARED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

IT IS-- IT IS QUEEN MAB.

YES... OLD MAN.

OH, MAJESTY.

THE LAND IS CURSED.

NEITHER TOWER NOR CASTLE WILL STAND.

SO... WHAT DO WE DO?

YOU MUST FIND A MAN WHO HAS NO MORTAL FATHER

AND MIX HIS BLOOD WITH THE MORTAR.

MMM.

( laughing )

SPLENDID.

BUT, UM...

A MAN WHO HAS NO MORTAL FATHER.

UM... HMM.

WHERE CAN I FIND A MAN LIKE THAT?

I WILL SHOW YOU.

( horses approaching )

( man shouting )

SEIZE THAT MAN!

WELCOME TO MY HOME, SIR.

( horse whinnying )

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

I'M THE KING'S SOOTHSAYER.

Merlin: AN IMPORTANT POSITION.

OH, AND A FRAGILE ONE.

I'M THE THIRD ROYAL SOOTHSAYER THIS YEAR.

VORTIGERN GETS THROUGH THEM AT AN ALARMING RATE.

HE GETS THROUGH EVERYTHING AT AN ALARMING RATE.

IT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING.

IT WILL HOLD THIS TIME, YOUR MAJESTY.

NEVER FEAR.

NEVER HAVE.

GOOD, GOOD.

THE FOUNDATIONS ARE AS SOLID...

( loud rumbling )

YOU WERE SAYING?

( whimpering )

Soothsayer: YOUR MAJESTY.

YOUR MAJESTY, I FOUND HIM--

THE MAN WITHOUT A MORTAL FATHER.

THIS BETTER NOT BE ONE

OF YOUR TRICKS.

NO, NO, NO, SIRE, IT'S ALL TRUE.

WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.

( grunts )

GET A BOWL.

CUT HIS THROAT.

( gasping )

DO IT NOW.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

HE'S A WIZARD.

HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH OF A WIZARD TO ME.

I NEVER DID ANYTHING TO YOU.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO CUT MY THROAT?

IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL.

I HAVE TO MIX YOUR BLOOD WITH THE MORTAR FOR THE CASTLE.

THIS OLD FOOL SAYS IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE BUILDING STAND.

IT'S EASY TO DIE

KNOWING YOU'LL DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY.

IF I MAY FIRST OFFER SOME ADVICE.

YOUR MAJESTY'S IN DANGER OF SEEMING...

A LITTLE STUPID.

( gasps )

WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?

STUPID.

( chuckles )

THIS MAN THINKS

HE'S ME.

WHY WOULD YOU CALL ME STUPID?

BECAUSE...

IT'S OBVIOUS WHY YOU

CAN'T BUILD A CASTLE THERE-- LOOK.

I'M LOOKING.

Soothsayer: I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.

CAN'T YOU SEE THE STREAM?

IT RUNS INTO A GREAT CAVERN BELOW.

NO WATER THERE, I SWEAR.

Soothsayer: I CAN SEE IT.

WE CAN ALL SEE IT.

YOU WANTED TO BUILD MY CASTLE ON WATER?

THAT'S NOT ALL THAT'S WRONG.

YOU'VE WOKEN THE DRAGONS.

DRAGONS? WHAT DRAGONS?

I SEE TWO DRAGONS...

ONE RED, ONE WHITE.

MY CREST IS A WHITE DRAGON.

Soothsayer: IT'S AN OMEN.

WOULDN'T YOU SAY, SIRE?

( battle sounds )

( screaming )

WHAT ELSE DID YOU SEE?

THE RED DRAGON CONQUERED THE WHITE.

IT'S AN OMEN.

WOULDN'T YOU SAY, SIRE?

IT COULD BE AN OMEN.

( horses approaching )

NEWS FOR KING VORTIGERN!

YOUR MAJESTY, PRINCE UTHER

HAS LANDED FROM NORMANDY

WITH A GREAT ARMY.

HE'S MARCHING ON WINCHESTER.

YOU FORESAW ALL THIS.

I SEE THINGS UNKNOWN.

GATHER MY ARMIES.

WE MARCH ON WINCHESTER.

I'VE BEEN FIGHTING

MY ENEMIES FOR 15 YEARS.

EVERY TIME I CRUSH ONE, ANOTHER ONE TAKES HIS PLACE.

WILL IT EVER END?

PERHAPS YOU NEED ME TO FORETELL THE FUTURE.

THEN YOU COULD CRUSH THEM ALL

BEFORE THEY GET A CHANCE TO CAUSE TROUBLE.

AH.

OF COURSE, THEN YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CUT MY THROAT.

YOU'RE AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN.

BUT I CAN'T HAVE EXTRAORDINARY MEN RUNNING AROUND.

YOU'RE NOT QUICK ENOUGH.

THAT'S A MISTAKE MANY OF MY ENEMIES MAKE.

THEY THINK BEFORE THEY ACT.

I ACT BEFORE I THINK.

THAT'S MY ADVANTAGE.

AND, YOU.

YOU'RE OUT OF A JOB.

OH, YES, SIRE.

TIE THE WIZARD.

COME ON, QUICK, BEFORE HE CHANGES HIS MIND.

Man 1: OPEN THE GATE!

Man 2: OPEN THE GATES!

Man 3: OPEN THE GATES!

Man 2: THE KING APPROACHES!

( horses whinnying )

THERE THEY ARE.

THROW HIM IN.

( chuckling )

FRIK.

( sighs ): HELLO, FRIK. HOW ARE YOU?

OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID.

HOW TERRIBLY SWEET OF YOU TO INQUIRE.

YOU'RE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

THIS TIME, MASTER MERLIN.

HOW DID THEY EVER MAKE A VULGARIAN LIKE VORTIGERN KING?

YOU MORTALS HAVE NO SENSE

OF THE FITNESS OF THINGS.

QUITE APPALLING.

( grunts )

ANYWAY, I'M HERE WITH A MESSAGE FROM MAB.

NATURALLY.

SHE'S GOING TO PUNISH YOU.

SHE HATES ME.

NO, BUT SHE'S RATHER DISAPPOINTED

THAT YOU'VE REFUSED TO USE YOUR MAGIC POWER.

I SWORE AN OATH ON AMBROSIA'S GRAVE, FRIK.

BUT WHY WON'T YOU USE IT, MASTER MERLIN?

BECAUSE MAB WANTS ME TO!

YOU WILL IN THE END, YOU KNOW.

YOU'RE HALF HUMAN.

SHE'S A TERRIBLE ENEMY, MASTER MERLIN

AND A VERY POOR EMPLOYER.

WELL, I MEAN, I COULD TELL YOU STORIES.

BUT ENOUGH OF MY PROBLEMS.

( thunder crashes )

( Nimue whispering ): MERLIN.

MERLIN.

( birds chittering )

MERLIN.

MERLIN?

NIMUE.

IT IS YOU, MERLIN.

NIMUE...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I'M A HOSTAGE.

VORTIGERN WANTS TO MAKE SURE

THAT MY FATHER DOESN'T JOIN PRINCE UTHER.

WHY? WAS HE GOING TO?

NO, BUT HE DOESN'T TRUST ANYBODY.

( voices approaching )

IT'S DANGEROUS BEING NEAR HIM.

NO ONE KNOWS

WHO HE WILL STRIKE DOWN NEXT.

IT SEEMS I SAID THE WRONG THING.

I TOLD HIM UTHER WOULD DEFEAT HIM.

( chuckles )

I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.

WHAT IS THE MATTER?

ARE YOU ILL?

NO, NO. IT'S JUST THAT I, UM...

I NEED SPACE TO BREATHE.

THESE FOUR WALLS ARE SUFFOCATING ME.

NIMUE...

I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN YOU

ALL THESE YEARS.

I'VE ALWAYS REMEMBERED YOU, MERLIN.

( all talking )

( talking stops )

UTHER HAS CAPTURED WINCHESTER.

HE'S UNSTOPPABLE.

I'LL STOP HIM.

( door opens )

I DIDN'T SEND FOR YOU.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

I'VE KILLED MEN FOR SUCH INSOLENCE.

AND WOMEN?

AND CHILDREN.

( scoffs )

I'M TREMBLING.

WHAT MAKES YOU SO BRAVE, WOMAN?

KNOWING THAT IF YOU HURT ME

MY FATHER AND HIS MEN WILL JOIN UTHER.

ALL RIGHT

YOU'RE HERE NOW.

SO, WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?

MERLIN, THE WIZARD, IS SICK.

GET HIM A PHYSICIAN.

THERE IS NO CURE BUT HIS FREEDOM.

I CAN'T GIVE HIM THAT.

WELL, THEN HE'LL DIE.

WE ALL DIE... EVENTUALLY.

EVEN WIZARDS.

BUT IF HE DOES

YOU WILL NOT KNOW ABOUT THE BATTLE.

HE HAS HAD ANOTHER VISION.

DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO WIN?

( door opens )

COME.

Vortigern: I NOW HAVE

THE STRONGEST ARMY BRITAIN HAS EVER SEEN.

IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH, YOUR MAJESTY.

UTHER AND HIS MEN FOLLOW THE CHRISTIAN WAY.

I THOUGHT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IN KILLING.

OH, THEY'LL KILL IN A HOLY CAUSE

AND DESTROYING YOU IS A HOLY CAUSE.

HOW CONVENIENT.

THEY KILL WHEN IT SUITS THEM.

LIKE THE REST OF US, SIRE?

WHEN WILL HE ATTACK?

NOT BEFORE THE SPRING.

GOOD.

WE'LL USE WINTER AS OUR ALLY.

WE'LL TAKE HIM BY SURPRISE.

( door opens )

Vortigern: MERLIN, I NEED YOUR HELP.

HOW ARE YOU?

I KNOW I'VE BEEN A LITTLE HOT-TEMPERED.

PATIENCE IS NOT ONE OF MY VIRTUES.

YOU HAVE SO FEW OF THOSE

I WOULDN'T CONCERN MYSELF

ABOUT THAT ONE TOO MUCH, SIRE.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

CAN UTHER BE DEFEATED?

I DREAMED A BATTLE NEAR WINCHESTER...

BUT I COULDN'T SEE HOW IT ENDED.

I WAS TOO WEAK.

DREAM IT AGAIN.

I WANT TO KNOW WHO WINS.

AND I WANT FRESH AIR AND LIGHT.

WITHOUT THEM, I CANNOT DREAM DREAMS

SEE VISIONS.

IS THAT ALL?

Nimue: WAY OVER THERE, BEYOND THOSE HILLS

IS AN ISLAND CALLED AVALON.

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA CAME THERE FROM JERUSALEM

WITH THE HOLY GRAIL;

THE CUP OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST USED AT THE HOLY SUPPER.

IT HAS THE POWER TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND HEAL THE SICK.

BUT THE HOLY GRAIL WAS LOST TO US.

MANY MEN SEARCHED FOR IT

BUT NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN IT SINCE.

BUT ONE DAY, A MAN WITH A PURE HEART WILL FIND IT

AND PEACE AND HAPPINESS WILL RETURN.

IT'S A LOVELY STORY.

AND SO ARE YOU.

OH, THEY HURT... MEMORIES.

MEMORIES OF LOVE, THEY HURT.

OUR WORLD WAS TEARING ITSELF TO PIECES

AND I DIDN'T CARE.

THOSE WERE TRULY THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF MY LIFE.

Nimue: ARE YOU REALLY A WIZARD?

A HAND WIZARD.

YOU MEAN THERE IS MAGIC IN HANDS?

WHY, YES.

WELL, FOR ONE THING

HANDS CAN SAY SO MUCH MORE THAN WORDS.

THEY CAN, UH...

WELCOME, BEG, PRAY.

THEY CAN...

HANDS CAN EVEN...

IF ONLY WE COULD KEEP

EVERYTHING AS SIMPLE

AS THE ROUNDNESS OF THE MOON.

LOOK AT ITS SIMPLICITY, NIMUE--

EVERYTHING EQUAL

NO PART MORE IMPORTANT

THAN THE REST.

Nimue: I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T

GOING TO DO ANY MAGIC.

OH, THAT WASN'T MAGIC.

MAGIC IS REAL.

THAT WAS JUST A TRICK.

Man: OPEN THE GATE.

Man 2: OPEN THE GATES.

HAIL, VORTIGERN, KING OF BRITAIN.

I AM MAB, QUEEN OF THE OLD WAYS.

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE, MADAM?

I CAN TELL YOU HOW TO DEFEAT UTHER.

WHAT WILL THIS ALLIANCE COST ME?

THERE IS A PRICE FOR EVERYTHING.

THE WIZARD, MERLIN...

I WANT HIM.

HE IS TOO VALUABLE TO ME.

HE SEES THINGS.

HE HAS VISIONS.

ANYONE CAN HAVE VISIONS.

DON'T YOU SEE VISIONS?

DON'T YOU SEE YOURSELF WINNING?

YES...

BUT I DON'T SEE WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO HELP ME.

I WOULD RATHER SEE YOU ON THE THRONE THAN UTHER.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN YOUR OLD WAYS.

YOU...

YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.

I BELIEVE IN ME.

THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE US WIN.

I UNDERSTAND.

UTHER WILL BRING CHRISTIANITY TO THE PEOPLE

AND THAT'LL BE THE END OF YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE WIZARD.

SO TELL ME, HOW DO I DEFEAT UTHER?

SACRIFICE NIMUE TO THE GREAT DRAGON.

THAT'S NOT SO EASY.

ETHICS?

POLITICS.

AH.

I CAN'T DO THAT.

SHE'S MY HOSTAGE.

IT KEEPS HER FATHER LOYAL TO ME.

( doors opening )

URGENT NEWS, YOUR MAJESTY.

LORD ARDENTE HAS DEFECTED.

HE'S JOINED PRINCE UTHER.

HOW CONVENIENT, MAB.

FOR BOTH OF US.

THE GIRL DIES.

LET MERLIN WATCH.

( roaring )

NIMUE.

GO!

NIMUE!

Man: RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

( men yelling )

( screaming )

( snorting )

( roaring )

( screaming )

( grunting )

( yelling )

MERLIN!

( Nimue screaming )

( roaring )

( screeching )

( screeching )

MERLIN!

NO!

( wailing )

MY NIMUE.

( howling )

VERY GOOD, MERLIN.

VERY GOOD.

Merlin: LIKE JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, I WENT TO AVALON

NOT WITH THE HOLY GRAIL, BUT WITH SOMETHING

MUCH MORE PRECIOUS TO ME.

Merlin: SISTERS!

SISTERS, HELP, PLEASE.

SHE'S VERY BADLY HURT.

STEADY, STEADY.

( sighs )

WHILST THE MONKS PRAYED

AND I THOUGHT OF REVENGE

THE NUNS WERE MORE PRACTICAL.

THEY USED THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ANCIENT HERBS AND POTIONS

TO TRY AND SAVE MY ONLY LOVE.

MERLIN...

UH...

SHE'S VERY BADLY WOUNDED.

THE SISTERS ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN

BUT YOU MUST PRAY WITH US.

WHY SHOULD I PRAY TO YOUR GOD

IF HE IS GOING TO TAKE HER FROM ME?

BUT THIS IS NOT GOD'S WORK.

NO, YOU'RE RIGHT. IT ISN'T.

DO YOU KNOW WHO DID IT?

OH, YES, I KNOW.

MAB!

MAB!

MAB!

DO YOU HEAR ME, MAB?!

Mab: YES, MERLIN.

YOU DESTROYED EVERYONE I LOVE--

MY MOTHER, AMBROSIA AND NOW NIMUE.

THE END JUSTIFIES

THE MEANS.

I DID IT FOR YOU.

I WANT YOU TO USE THE POWER

IN YOU.

RISE UP, DEAR, DEAR MERLIN, AND BE GREAT.

NO, MAB.

I'LL DESTROY YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!

YOU CAN'T, MERLIN.

I'LL ALWAYS BE TOO STRONG.

I'LL FIND A WAY.

I WILL FIND A WAY!

NEVER.

NOT EVER.

( groans )

SHH. DON'T TRY TO SPEAK.

SAVE YOUR STRENGTH.

DON'T... DON'T TURN YOUR FACE TO THE WALL.

NIMUE?

I'LL BE SCARRED.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS YOU'RE ALIVE.

NIMUE...

I HAVE TO GO AWAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

WHEN I COME BACK, IT'LL BE FOREVER.

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE BEAUTIFUL TO ME.

( horse whinnying )

MY LADY OF THE LAKE!

( voice echoing ): MY LADY OF THE LAKE...!

IT IS I, MERLIN!

( echoing ): IT IS I, MERLIN...!

IT IS I, MERLIN...!

I NEED HELP!

( echoing ): I NEED HELP...! I NEED HELP...! I NEED HELP...!

FOR WHAT PURPOSE, MERLIN?

TO DEFEAT VORTIGERN.

HE'S MAB'S ALLY

AND A TYRANT.

GOOD KING, BAD KING.

YOU JUDGE

TOO EASILY, MERLIN.

YOU'LL LEARN.

( rumbling )

( ice crackling )

Lady of the Lake: I GIVE YOU...

EXCALIBUR!

( sword humming )

I HEARD THE SWORD'S SONG...

( humming )

AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

NOW ARMED WITH THE SWORD OF THE JUST

I WAS GOING TO FACE ANOTHER DRAGON...

A RED ONE.

IT WAS UTHER'S CREST

AND I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE IT SUPREME...

IF HE'D LET ME.

( people murmuring )

( whispering ): A MAN CALLED MERLIN

WISHES TO SEE YOU, MY LORD.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO WINCHESTER CASTLE

MERLIN.

OH, ARE YOU MERLIN THE WIZARD?

WIZARD?

WE'RE CHRISTIANS HERE, SIR.

WE DON'T BELIEVE IN YOUR BLASPHEMY.

WELL, THAT'S YOUR CHOICE, SIR

BUT PAGAN OR CHRISTIAN

I HOPE YOU BELIEVE IN FRESH NEWS.

WELL, IS IT GOOD OR BAD?

THAT DEPENDS HOW YOU USE IT.

VORTIGERN WILL ATTACK YOU WITHIN DAYS.

( men chuckling )

LOOK, NO ONE FIGHTS IN WINTER.

IT ISN'T DONE.

RULES OF WAR-- WE FIGHT IN SUMMER.

WE REST IN WINTER.

VORTIGERN ISN'T INTERESTED IN RULES AND TRADITIONS.

HE WANTS TO WIN, AND IF CIRCUMSTANCES WERE DIFFERENT

I WOULD FAVOR HIM.

HIS ARMY'S ALREADY ON THE MARCH.

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.

WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS?

VORTIGERN...

IS THE FRIEND OF MY ENEMY MAB.

SO MY ENEMY'S ENEMY IS MY FRIEND.

AND, BESIDES, I'VE ALREADY SEEN

THE RED DRAGON DEFEAT THE WHITE

AND I THINK...

THAT YOU MIGHT MAKE A FAIR TO DECENT KING.

OH, YOU THINK SO, DO YOU?

KING CONSTANT WASN'T.

YOU'LL HAVE TO DO A LOT BETTER THAN YOUR FATHER

BUT I OFFER YOU MY SERVICES AS A WIZARD.

MERLIN!

I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY.

YOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT VORTIGERN.

WHAT A FOOL TO FIGHT

IN WINTER.

Uther: PERHAPS I WAS THE FOOL

THINKING THAT WINTER WOULD MAKE ME SAFE

BUT WE'LL BE READY FOR HIM NOW.

WE MUST CHOOSE OUR BATTLEGROUND, SIRE.

Merlin: HERE.

WE FIGHT HIM HERE.

YOU MEAN BY THE RIVER?

ON IT.

HE HAS TO COME DOWN HERE THROUGH THE PASS

AND CROSS ON HIS WAY TO WINCHESTER.

UTHER, THIS IS WHERE YOU MEET VORTIGERN

AND CRUSH HIM.

Man: BRING THEM ALL OVER HERE THEN.

MADAM.

UTHER KNOWS YOU'RE GOING TO ATTACK HIM.

HE'S WAITING FOR YOU.

I WONDER WHO TOLD HIM I WAS COMING.

MERLIN.

THE DRAGON DIDN'T KILL HIM?

WHAT ABOUT THE GIRL?

SHE'S ALIVE.

SO MUCH FOR YOUR MAGIC.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

I NEVER BELIEVED IN IT ANYWAY.

YOU'RE A VERY BRAVE MAN, VORTIGERN

BUT SO STUPID.

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING NOW.

LIKE WHAT?

I'VE BEEN KING FOR 20 YEARS.

I'VE NEVER BEEN DEFEATED.

I DIDN'T USE ANY MAGIC.

I DID IT WITH MY BARE HANDS.

WHAT IS IT?

IT'LL PROTECT YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF, MADAM?

THE WORLD IS PASSING YOU BY...

LEAVING YOU BEHIND.

KINGS AND QUEENS...

OLD WAYS, NEW WAYS, THEY...

THEY ALL COME TOGETHER IN THE END.

I'VE NEVER BEEN AFRAID, AND I NEVER WILL BE.

AH, VORTIGERN...

VORTIGERN, IT'S YOUR PRIDE.

YOUR PRIDE CONDEMNS YOU.

LORD ARDENTE, THE TRAITOR

WHO CHANGED SIDES.

LOOSE!

( man yelling )

( grunts )

I WISH I COULD.

CHARGE!

( men yelling )

( yelling continues )

( yells )

( horse whinnying )

( grunting )

( yells )

VORTIGERN!

( grunts )

( whispering ): ARDENTE...

( Ardente grunts and gags )

( sword humming )

( yelling )

( sword humming )

( grunting )

( groaning )

( sworn humming )

Vortigern: ARE YOU GOING

TO USE SOME OF YOUR MAGIC ON ME, MERLIN?

I'LL KILL YOU ANY WAY I CAN, VORTIGERN...

BUT I WILL KILL YOU.

( laughs )

( sword hums loudly )

( sword humming )

( loud rumbling and cracking )

( yelling )

( yelling )

( Vortigern's yelling echoes )

( sword humming )

( ice sizzling )

ONLY ONE TEAR WAS SHED FOR VORTIGERN

AND HIS PRIDE HAD CAST IT AWAY.

HE PAID FOR IT WITH HIS LIFE.

THAT IS A MIGHTY SWORD.

IT IS EXCALIBUR.

IT CAN ONLY BE USED BY A GOOD MAN IN A GOOD CAUSE.

I UNDERSTAND.

( men cheering )

I THOUGHT I COULD NOW SPEND TIME WITH NIMUE.

I THOUGHT UTHER WOULD BE A GOOD KING

AND SO HELP DEFEAT MAB

BUT I WAS NEVER A GOOD JUDGE OF MEN.

I ALWAYS EXPECTED TOO MUCH OF THEM.

( cheering )

CORNWALL...

Cornwall: YOUR MAJESTY, MAY I PRESENT MY WIFE

THE LADY IGRAINE...

AND MY DAUGHTER.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO PENDRAGON, MY LADY...

AND YOU.

MORGAN LE FEY, YOUR MAJESTY.

Uther: CORNWALL, WOULD YOU PERMIT ME

TO DANCE WITH YOUR LADY

AFTER THE FEAST?

IF YOUR MAJESTY PLEASES.

OH, YES, YES...

IT WILL PLEASE HIS MAJESTY VERY MUCH.

MERLIN...

Merlin: UTHER...

IGRAINE...

SHE'S BEAUTIFUL

ISN'T SHE?

BEAUTIFUL AND...

SOMEBODY ELSE'S WIFE.

BUT STILL BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT DOES THE REST MATTER?

( laughing )

ARE YOU REALLY A WIZARD?

SO THEY SAY.

DO SOME MAGIC FOR ME.

DO YOU WASH BEHIND YOUR EARS?

MM-HMM...

THAT'S NOT REAL MAGIC.

IT'S A TRICK.

ANYONE CAN DO IT.

OH. ALL RIGHT. YOU DO IT, THEN.

( blows )

THERE. YOU SEE?

I DID IT.

YOU'RE RIGHT. ANYONE COULD DO IT.

Cornwall: MORGAN?

HMM?

COME ON.

HE HARDLY HAD THE CROWN ON HIS HEAD

BEFORE IT BEGAN ALL OVER AGAIN.

I DECIDED TO LEAVE

AND LET THEM STEW IN THEIR OWN JUICES.

Uther: MERLIN!

MAY I RIDE WITH YOU?

OF COURSE.

I BELIEVE IN YOU, MERLIN.

AND I IN YOU, UTHER.

HOW GREAT IS YOUR POWER?

CAN YOU MAKE A WOMAN LOVE ME?

( chuckling ): NO.

MAGIC CAN'T CREATE LOVE.

COULD YOU KILL HER HUSBAND?

IGRAINE...

I WANT HER, MERLIN...

MORE THAN I'VE EVER WANTED ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE HER.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT LOVE IS?

( chuckles )

YES, UTHER, SAD TO SAY, I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS.

GIVE ME IGRAINE.

SHE'S NOT MINE TO GIVE.

THEN I'LL TAKE HER...

EVEN IF IT MEANS WAR.

IT WILL.

SO BE IT.

I HAVE EXCALIBUR.

( horse whinnying )

VERY WELL.

( horse snorting )

GIVE ME THE SWORD.

I SHALL MAKE A SPELL.

( sword humming )

( metallic scraping )

( horse whinnying )

( metallic scraping )

( rumbling )

( deep voice ): WHO...

DARES...

WAKE ME.

I AM MERLIN

AND THIS...

IS EXCALIBUR.

WHERE DID YOU GET IT?

A GIFT... FROM THE LADY OF THE LAKE.

SHE HAS BEEN

A FRIEND OF MINE SINCE BEFORE THE DAWN OF TIME.

( mountain laughing )

IF I CAN REMEMBER THAT, IT MEANS THAT I'M AN OLD MAN.

( laughing )

I ASK YOU TO HOLD EXCALIBUR FOR ME

UNTIL A GOOD MAN COMES TO TAKE IT FROM YOU.

THEN I WILL BE HOLDING IT FOREVER...

( rumbling )

IF NOT LONGER.

( mountain chuckling )

YOU TRICKED ME, MERLIN.

COME, COME, UTHER...

I'M A WIZARD.

THAT'S MY BUSINESS.

THE SWORD IS YOURS IF YOU CAN TAKE IT.

( panting )

( grunting )

MERLIN?

WHERE ARE YOU, MERLIN?!

( echoing ): WHERE ARE YOU, MERLIN, WHERE ARE YOU, MERLIN...

Merlin: IT'S AVALON.

JOURNEY'S END, SIR RUPERT.

I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

( sighs )

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT AS YOUNG AS WE USED TO BE.

( chuckling )

QUITE, QUITE.

COME ON, OLD FRIEND.

( distant bells ringing )

I'M NOT READY FOR YOU TO SEE ME.

LET ME BE THE JUDGE OF THAT.

I'M A MONSTER.

I CAN'T.

MAB IS TOO STRONG.

LEAVE THIS PLACE AND COME WITH ME.

I'M... I'M NOT READY TO FACE THE WORLD.

WHEN WILL YOU BE READY?

I DON'T KNOW.

Uther: THREE-MONTH SIEGE AND WE STILL HAVEN'T TAKEN IT.

THERE'S NO WAY ACROSS

THE CAUSEWAY, SIRE.

MY ADVICE TO YOU IS GIVE IT UP.

IT'S MADNESS.

I MUST HAVE IGRAINE.

AS ONE WHO'S BEEN TO COLCHESTER, SIRE

AS ONE WHO KNOWS A FEW THINGS

I HAVE TO TELL YOU

THAT THE KINGDOM IS FALLING APART

WHILST WE TEAR OURSELVES TO PIECES.

IF THIS WAS FOR MONEY OR LOVE OR POWER

I COULD UNDERSTAND IT

BUT ALL THIS FOR CORNWALL'S WIFE?

YOU WERE BORN OLD, BORIS.

YOU'VE NEVER KNOWN WHAT IT IS TO LUST AFTER A WOMAN.

I'VE SPENT ALL MY LIFE FIGHTING...

BLOODY DAYS AND COLD NIGHTS

WITH A NAKED SWORD AS MY BEDFELLOW.

YOU'LL NEVER TAKE TINTAGEL.

( horse whinnying )

WHA...?

HUNDREDS ARE DEAD BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ITCH.

WILL YOU HELP CURE ME

OF THAT ITCH?

YOU'VE LOST YOUR REPUTATION, UTHER.

A REPUTATION'S LIKE GLASS-- ONCE CRACKED, IT CAN

NEVER BE REPAIRED.

WILL YOU HELP ME?

I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE. YOU'VE BECOME AN OUROBOROS.

YOU'LL DEVOUR

THE WORLD IN YOUR LUST.

WILL YOU HELP ME?

YES, I'LL HELP YOU.

I HAVE TO BE MAD TO STOP THIS MADNESS.

WHAT WILL IT COST ME?

YOU WILL HAVE THE LADY IGRAINE

BUT THERE WILL BE A CHILD, A BOY--

I'VE SEEN HIM, UTHER.

HE'S MINE.

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH HIM?

TEACH HIM HONOR AND GOODNESS.

I CAN DO THAT.

HONOR AND GOODNESS-- THE WORDS STICK IN YOUR THROAT.

YOU CHOKE ON THEM JUST AS YOU'LL CHOKE ON YOUR VOMIT IN THE END.

VERY WELL.

I AGREE.

AND ONCE MORE...

CORNWALL WILL NOT BE HARMED.

NOT BY ME.

THEN BREAK CAMP.

WITHDRAW YOUR ARMY NOW, IN DAYLIGHT

WHILE CORNWALL CAN SEE YOU.

Cornwall: UTHER'S BREAKING CAMP.

WE'LL FOLLOW HIM.

DON'T LEAVE, MY LORD.

WHY NOT?

I HAVE A FEELING...

THE CASTLE'S WELL-GUARDED.

YOU WILL BE SAFE, MY LOVE.

( seagulls calling )

LOOK AFTER YOUR MOTHER, EH, MORGAN?

I WILL, FATHER.

( door opens and shuts )

Man: COME ON! PICK THEM UP!

COME ON!

AND ON!

Merlin: REMEMBER, UTHER

YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL THE MORNING.

THE NIGHT IS YOUR FRIEND.

USE IT.

( thunder crashing )

( laughing )

YOU DON'T APPROVE.

WELL, OF COURSE I DON'T APPROVE.

THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS, SIR RUPERT.

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THAT BEFORE?

Man: HIS LORDSHIP CORNWALL APPROACHES!

OPEN THE GATES!

OPEN THE GATES.

HIS LORDSHIP RETURNS.

MY LORD.

( door opens )

BACK SO SOON, MY LORD?

YES.

YES.

UTHER'S REALLY GONE.

MOTHER...

MY PLACE

IS HERE WITH YOU.

MOTHER, THAT'S...

TIME FOR YOU TO GO TO BED

LITTLE GIRL, HUH?

LET ME GO!

NOT... NOT ANOTHER WORD.

BUT I DIDN'T SAY GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

AND THEN, GOOD NIGHT.

THINGS FALL APART, THEY SAY.

UTHER HAD BETRAYED ME, KILLED CORNWALL

BUT THEN, I'D BETRAYED IGRAINE BY HELPING UTHER

SEDUCE HER.

SO THE WHEEL OF LIFE TURNS--

ONE BETRAYAL LEADS TO ANOTHER AND ANOTHER.

THE INNOCENT DIE.

IT HAUNTED ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

( gasping )

Woman: NEARLY THERE.

NEARLY THERE.

Woman 2: MORE WATER.

FRIK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WRITING FAIRY STORIES SO YOU'D BE REMEMBERED.

YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.

I'LL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

WELL...

WELL?

FOR US.

THINGS ARE GOING RATHER WELL FOR US.

I'M GOING

TO MAKE SURE.

( Igraine gasping )

Woman: THAT'S IT.

Frik: HELLO, MORGAN.

WHO ARE YOU?

SHH.

I'M A GNOME.

YOU'RE TALL FOR A GNOME, AREN'T YOU?

AS A MATTER OF FACT

GNOMES DO INDEED COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

I'M THE TALL KIND.

CAN YOU DO MAGIC?

OF COURSE.

WATCH.

AH!

BEAUTIFUL LADY...

I AM AT YOUR SERVICE.

YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND.

( laughing )

WATCH ME SWASH A BUCKLE.

( chuckling )

THAT'S REAL MAGIC

NOT TRICKS.

WILL YOU TEACH ME HOW TO DO THAT?

I CERTAINLY SHALL IF YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME.

YOUR NEW BABY BROTHER

WILL BE BORN SOON.

HOW TERRIBLY EXCITING, DON'T YOU THINK?

HE'S NOT MY REAL BROTHER.

THE MAN WHO MADE HIM WASN'T MY REAL FATHER.

WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S CLEVER, MORGAN.

YOU'LL MAKE A WONDERFUL PUPIL

FOR THE FANTASTIC THINGS I CAN TEACH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

JUST PUT THIS STONE IN THE BABY'S CRIB.

Woman: JUST A LITTLE MORE.

PUSH.

Igraine: NO!

PUSH.

Ingraine: NO!

PUSH.

YES, YES. YOU'RE DOING SO WELL.

Ingraine: NO!

THAT'S IT. TAKE MY HAND.

TAKE MY HAND.

COME ON, COME ON.

( Igraine gasping )

( agonized gasping continues )

Merlin: AND SO, ARTHUR WAS BORN.

IT'S A BOY!

( baby crying )

AT LAST

A GOOD MAN, A GOOD KING.

( thunder crashes )

YOU'RE EASILY FOOLED, MERLIN.

UTHER FOOLED YOU WHEN HE KILLED CORNWALL.

NOW HIS CHILD IS DAMNED.

THE BOY

IS MINE!

HE'LL BE HIS FATHER'S SON.

BECAUSE OF HIM

THE DAYS OF BLOOD WILL GO ON AND ON

AND OUT OF IT

THE PEOPLE WILL COME BACK TO ME.

I'LL SEE YOU FADE

INTO NOTHING!

POOR MERLIN.

WRONG AGAIN.

I'M WINNING.

I CAN'T STAND THE THOUGHT

OF PEOPLE PEERING

WHISPERING, POINTING AT ME.

WE'LL LIVE IN THE FOREST.

ANIMALS DON'T POINT AND WHISPER.

BUT IT'S A DREAM, MERLIN.

I WANT TO MAKE IT REAL.

I FOUND A PEACE HERE

IN PRAYER AND MEDITATION.

IT IS A PEACE THAT I'VE NEVER KNOWN BEFORE.

IT PASSES MY UNDERSTANDING.

TO BE HONEST, NIMUE

IT PASSES MY UNDERSTANDING, TOO.

WHY DO YOU SHUT YOURSELF AWAY HERE?

TO BE NEARER MY GOD.

THE NEARER YOU ARE TO HIM THE FURTHER YOU ARE FROM ME.

WILL YOU TAKE OFF THAT VEIL?

WHERE WAS I?

OH, YES, YES.

ARTHUR HAD JUST BEEN BORN.

I FOSTERED HIM WITH SIR HECTOR.

THE GOLDEN RULE-- DO UNTO OTHERS

AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.

NOW, BY OTHERS...

I WAS HIS TUTOR.

I DIDN'T TEACH HIM MAGIC.

I TAUGHT HIM ETHICS AND MORALS.

ARTHUR.

IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, BELIEVE ME.

( fist banging )

HIS REAL FATHER

KING UTHER, WENT MAD...

KILL THE PRISONERS.

AND KILLED HIMSELF.

( gasping )

Man: GUARDS, THE KING!

AND THAT BRINGS US UP TO DATE, I THINK.

ARTHUR GREW UP TO BE A FINE YOUNG MAN.

PERHAPS, AS USUAL, I EXPECTED

TOO MUCH FOR HIM BUT HE WAS THE VESSEL OF ALL MY HOPES.

ARTHUR, DON'T CHARGE AROUND LIKE THAT.

THE HORSES DON'T LIKE IT.

AND DON'T GET OFF.

WE'RE LEAVING RIGHT AWAY.

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?

KING UTHER'S DEAD. RUPERT.

DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?

THE KING'S DEAD.

I KNOW.

KNOW?

HOW COULD YOU KNOW OUT HERE

IN THE WOODS?

LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

TO MAKE YOU KING.

MERLIN, TELL ME.

HOW CAN I BE KING?

BECAUSE YOU WERE BORN TO IT.

I'VE NO ROYAL BLOOD IN ME.

MERLIN.

Man: STAND ASIDE.

THIS IS A JOB FOR A MAN.

THE OLD WINDBAG BACK AGAIN.

IF HE'S NOT CAREFUL

HE'LL DO HIMSELF AN INJURY.

( groaning )

( crowd laughing )

ARTHUR KEPT ASKING ME, BUT I WASN'T READY.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS FATHER, THE DEATH OF CORNWALL

MY PART IN THE WHOLE SQUALID PLOT.

NO WONDER I FOUND IT HARD TO TELL HIM.

BESIDES, I WAS DISTRACTED.

( horse whinnying )

( screeching )

GRIFFINS!

ARTHUR!

( griffins screeching )

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE! LOOK OUT!

ARTHUR!

MY SWORD.

( buzzing )

ARTHUR, KEEP STILL.

THANK YOU.

I DID NOTHING.

I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU.

WHAT WAS THAT?

THAT...

THAT WAS A MESSAGE FROM AN OLD FRIEND.

( crackling )

ARTHUR WANTED ME TO EXPLAIN.

NOW WILL YOU TELL ME?

HE COULDN'T KNOW THAT EXPLAINING EVERYTHING

SETTLES NOTHING.

YES, IT'S... IT'S TIME.

I HOPED HE'D UNDERSTAND MY PART IN IT.

ARTHUR, YOU SHOULD KNOW

THAT SIR HECTOR ISN'T YOUR REAL FATHER.

YOUR FATHER WAS KING UTHER

AND YOU ARE THE TRUE HEIR TO THE THRONE.

IT TURNED OUT BETTER THAN I'D HOPED.

IF I AM UTHER'S ONLY SON, I WANT WHAT'S MINE.

I WANT TO BE KING.

WHEN YOU ARE KING, WHAT THEN?

WELL, I...

WHOA, WHOA.

WHAT?

WHAT IS IT NOW?

HE HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY.

YOU WERE SAYING IF YOU WERE KING...

I'D DO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU TAUGHT ME.

I'D BUILD A GOLDEN CITY...

DEVOTED TO PEACE

AND CHARITY.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS IS JUSTICE AND COMPASSION

MORE THAN CHARITY.

STILL, CAMELOT SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM WORTHY OF A KING.

COME ON, RUPERT.

CAMELOT?

CAMELOT.

Merlin: COME ON, ARTHUR.

Merlin: ALL THE KNIGHTS IN BRITAIN HAVE TRIED TO TAKE IT

BUT IT IS THE SWORD OF THE TRUE KING.

IT IS YOURS, ARTHUR.

( rumbling )

The Mountain King: MERLIN!

IT SEEMS YOU WERE HERE ONLY A MOON AGO.

MY LORD

THIS MAN CLAIMS EXCALIBUR.

WHO IS IT?

ARTHUR.

ONLY SON OF UTHER

AND RIGHTFUL KING OF BRITAIN.

( thunderous rumbling )

WHY GIVE HIM THE SWORD?

HE WILL BETRAY THE PEOPLE

JUST AS HIS FATHER DID.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO

OR WHAT I'LL BECOME.

ONLY WHAT I AM.

A WISE ANSWER.

I HAD A WISE TEACHER.

YOU ARE DESTROYING

THE OLD WAYS.

YOU WILL BE FORGOTTEN JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.

THAT IS YOUR FEAR, NOT MINE.

I CANNOT DIE.

I AM THE ROCK OF AGES.

I WILL LIVE FOREVER...

ON THE EDGE OF DREAMS.

TAKE IT NOW, ARTHUR.

NOW, ARTHUR!

( grunting )

The Mountain King: THE SWORD IS YOURS.

EXCALIBUR!

( echoing ): EXCALIBUR!

LOOK AT HIM

MERLIN.

HIS REIGN BEGINS

IN BLOOD.

IT WILL END THE SAME WAY.

NO, MAB

YOU'RE WRONG.

ARTHUR WILL HEAL THE LAND.

Man: THE SWORD!

HE HAS EXCALIBUR!

HE'S GOT THE SWORD!

( clamoring )

( people ): LONG LIVE THE KING!

DON'T YOU EVER TIDY UP, FRIK?

OH! I TRY, YOUR MAJESTY

BUT I'M TERRIBLY OVERWORKED

AND I CAN'T USE IMPS, GNOMES OR FAIRIES.

THEY'RE UTTERLY USELESS WITH ANYTHING PRACTICAL.

I MEAN, I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

AND YOU'LL HAVE MORE.

I'VE TOTALLY GIVEN UP ON MERLIN.

I THOUGHT, PERHAPS, DESPITE EVERYTHING

HE MIGHT COME 'ROUND IN THE END.

WELL, I MEAN, HE'S A STUBBORN CREATURE, ISN'T HE?

I WANTED HIM TO, SO I FOOLED MYSELF.

I'VE NEVER KNOWN YOU TO DO THAT BEFORE

OVER ANYONE.

OOH!

ENOUGH!

OH... ARTHUR'S CURSED.

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IN GOOD TIME

AND THAT WILL BE YOUR JOB, FRIK.

UTHER WAS MY COUSIN! I CLAIM THE THRONE!

YOU DID NOT

PULL THE SWORD EXCALIBUR FROM THE ROCK!

( clamoring )

MY FATHER IS KING BY RIGHT OF BLOOD!

I'M CLOSER TO UTHER THAN YOU!

MY SISTER WAS UTHER'S NIECE.

I PLEDGED MY ARMY TO LORD LEO!

I, TOO, HAVE A CLAIM!

NOBODY'S GOING TO FOLLOW

A BEARDED BLOWHARD!

( silence )

Merlin: THAT'S BETTER, ISN'T IT MY LORDS?

NOW YOU CAN LISTEN INSTEAD OF FIGHTING.

IT SHOULD BE A NOVEL EXPERIENCE FOR MOST OF YOU.

UTHER HAD A SON.

I GIVE YOU ARTHUR, TRUE KING OF BRITAIN.

( laughter )

UTHER HAD

NO SON!

HE DID.

UTHER DID HAVE A SON.

Man: WHEN?!

WHEN UTHER CONQUERED TINTAGEL

HE TOOK THE LADY IGRAINE.

A SON WAS BORN.

IT'S TRUE.

I WAS THERE.

( murmuring )

ARTHUR...

IS UTHER'S SON?

IF HE IS

LET HIM DRAW EXCALIBUR FROM THE STONE.

I ALREADY HAVE.

WELL, PROVE IT.

PROVE THAT THIS IS EXCALIBUR.

YOU DO HAVE EXCALIBUR.

YOU ARE UTHER'S SON.

I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU MY LIEGE LORD AND KING.

AND SO DO I.

HE HAS THE SWORD.

ACCEPT HIM, LOT.

NEVER!

I'LL NOT BEND MY KNEE TO A BOY

NOR WILL MY SON.

I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF, FATHER.

HE HAS EXCALIBUR.

HE IS THE KING.

GAWAIN!

YOU'D GO AGAINST YOUR OWN FATHER?!

IF THE CAUSE IS JUST.

AND IF IT'S NOT, AND YOU'RE WRONG?

THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME IN BATTLE.

I'M THE KING'S MAN, FATHER.

Man: SHAME ON YOU!

SO BE IT.

Merlin: MY LORDS...

HARD AS IT MAY BE FOR YOU

THINK FOR A MOMENT.

WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY WARS.

MY MIND'S MADE UP.

ALL WITH ME, FOLLOW ME!

HELLO, MORGAN.

MY, YOU'VE GROWN.

WHO ARE YOU?

DON'T YOU REMEMBER ME?

I USED TO VISIT YOU WHEN YOU WERE VERY YOUNG.

( unpleasant chuckle )

AH!

( giggling )

HA-HA!

( laughing )

YES!

EN GARDE!

( grunting dramatically )

I REMEMBER YOU.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE A DWEAM.

I'M REAL.

YOU LIED TO ME.

YOU TOLD ME YOU'D MAKE ME BEAUTIFUL

BUT YOU NEVER DID.

I TOLD YOU I'D MAKE YOU BEAUTIFUL, DID I?

MMM.

THEN I WILL.

BUT FIRST, IT'S TIME TO PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS.

WHY SO SAD?

IT'S JUST A TOY.

LOOK AT YOURSELF.

I'M BEAUTIFUL!

VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL.

I THINK CLOTHES CUT IN THE ROMAN STYLE

ARE THE ONLY GOWNS FOR A LADY OF FASHION.

MMM?

OH, IT'S WONDERFUL!

( chuckling ) ( giggling )

NOW, GET ME THE THRONE.

THAT'S BEYOND MY POWERS.

( chortling )

BUT I'LL TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

THAT ELVES ARE SO SHORT THAT WHEN IT RAINS

THEY'RE THE LAST TO KNOW.

( laughing )

BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE.

YOU'RE CUTE.

Mab: FRIK!

STOP ENJOYING YOURSELF AND GET ON WITH IT.

( clearing throat )

I'VE BEEN THINKING, MORGAN

THAT THERE MIGHT BE A WAY OF GIVING YOU WHAT YOU WANT.

YOUR SON COULD BE KING.

WELL, HOW?

IF ARTHUR DEFEATS LORD LOT, HE'LL BE KING

AND I CAN'T MARRY HIM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO MARRY HIM

TO HAVE HIS SON.

WE HAVE THE SAME MOTHER.

AND UNDERNEATH THIS CHARMING

AND DEVILISHLY HANDSOME EXTERIOR

I'M A CRABBY OLD GNOME.

MMM...

MMM! MMM!

DOES IT MATTER?

WELL, IT DEPENDS.

( laughing )

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEDUCE ME TO WIN ME OVER.

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I WANT THE CWOWN.

I LIKE YOU, MORGAN LE FAY.

YOU'RE A TRUTHFUL YOUNG WOMAN.

AND I LIKE YOU...

WHOEVER YOU ARE.

STAND ASIDE!

THE ARMY IS ALMOST READY, SIRE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BLOODY FIGHT!

WAIT FOR MY SIGNAL.

Soldier: HE'LL BE KILLED.

MERLIN!

WHAT THE DEVIL DOES HE THINK HE'S DOING?!

THERE IS NO REASON

WHY MEN SHOULD DIE TODAY, MY LORD.

THE QUARREL IS BETWEEN US.

IT IS.

THIS IS EXCALIBUR--

SWORD OF THE TRUE KING.

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO IT...

TAKE IT...

AND KILL ME.

FORGIVE ME, ARTHUR.

I CAN FEEL IT.

THE SWORD IS YOURS

YOU ARE THE TRUE KING.

THE WAR IS OVER!

( cheering )

ARTHUR

IS OUR TRUE KING BY BLOOD

AND RIGHT!

( yelling )

HERE, IN THIS CIRCLE

LET US GIVE THANKS TO OUR SAVIOR

FOR THIS DELIVERANCE

AND LET THIS CIRCLE BE A SYMBOL OF OUR PURPOSE.

EACH MAN IN IT IS EQUAL TO THE OTHER.

EACH HAS A VOICE...

AND EACH WILL STRIVE TO FIGHT FOR TRUTH AND HONOR.

LET US PRAY.

I THOUGHT I'D FINALLY ACHIEVED ONE OF MY DREAMS.

AT LAST THERE WAS A GOOD KING ON THE THRONE.

YOUR MAJESTY.

MAY I PRESENT LADY... MARIE, QUEEN OF THE BOROCELTS

WHO COMES TO PAY YOU HOMAGE.

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME, MY LADY

THIS WAY.

THANK YOU.

NOW, WHAT HAVE YOU BROUGHT?

WHAT IS THIS?

THESE ARE JEWELS AND SILKS.

MILADY

WE ARE OVERWHELMED BY YOUR GIFTS.

WELL, PERHAPS I... AND MY SERVANTS...

CAN JOIN YOU FOR THE NIGHT.

WE'VE HAD A LONG...

TIRING JOURNEY... AND WE'D LIKE TO REST

BEFORE WE RETURN HOME.

OF COURSE.

WE CAN SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER.

YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT...

YOUR PEOPLE.

IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE...

YOUR MAJESTY.

WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING ME, MAB?

( moaning )

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

ARTHUR...

( cackling )

I RODE FAST THAT DAY, BUT I KNEW I WAS

ALREADY TOO LATE TO STOP SOMETHING

THAT COULD FINISH US ALL.

OUT, MY LORDS.

OUT!

AND CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU.

MERLIN, WHAT'S THE MATTER?

TELL ME THE TRUTH, ARTHUR.

TWO NIGHTS AGO YOU SLEPT WITH A WOMAN.

YES. IF YOU MUST KNOW, I DID, THOUGH I DON'T SEE WHY

I NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

THAT WAS MORGAN LE FAY.

WHO?

HER MOTHER WAS THE LADY IGRAINE, YOUR MOTHER.

I DIDN'T KNOW.

I SWEAR I DIDN'T KNOW.

THERE WILL BE A CHILD.

MAB WILL SEE TO THAT.

HE'LL BE THE FUTURE, AND HE'LL DESTROY US.

A MIRROR.

THERE ARE NO MIRRORS IN AVALON.

YOU SEE HOW I CAN CHANGE YOU?

YOU'VE CHANGED ME ALREADY.

YOU SCARRED ME.

I KNOW.

IT'S SO UNFAIR.

UNFAIR? THAT WAS EVIL.

WITH EVIL ALL AROUND ME

I CAN DO NOTHING BUT EVIL TO SURVIVE.

OH... THAT'S TOO EASY.

YOU CAN FIGHT IT, LIKE MERLIN.

IT'S BECAUSE OF MERLIN THAT ALL THIS CAME ABOUT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WHY ARE YOU HERE, MAB?

TO MAKE YOU AN OFFER.

I WILL RESTORE YOUR BEAUTY

IF YOU TAKE MERLIN TO A PLACE THAT I HAVE CREATED FOR YOU.

YOU CAN LIVE WITH HIM THERE TO THE END OF YOUR DAYS.

AND BE HAPPY?

AND BE HAPPY.

HE HAS A DESTINY.

IT WOULD KEEP HIM FROM HIS PURPOSE.

IT WOULD KEEP HIM FROM WASTING HIS LIFE.

HE BELIEVES THAT FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT ISN'T A WASTE.

I WOULDN'T DO THAT TO HIM.

I LOVE HIM.

I LOVE HIM.

YOU HATE HIM.

I HATE HIM, TOO.

SO WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER?

NO.

I'M...

I'M... SORRY.

IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, JUST CALL MY NAME... OUT LOUD.

I COULDN'T STAY AWAY FOR LONG.

ARTHUR WAS MORE TO ME THAN JUST A KING

AND I WAS CURIOUS.

TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

MERLIN!

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, OLD FRIEND.

WHAT'S ALL THIS, ARTHUR?

A PROMISE MADE FLESH.

I'M BUILDING THE CITY OF CAMELOT.

IT'S A NEW BEGINNING.

I MADE A MISTAKE THAT NIGHT WITH MORGAN

BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'LL BE CONDEMNED

FOR ALL ETERNITY FOR ONE MISTAKE.

NO, NOT BY ME.

I'LL NEVER CONDEMN YOU, ARTHUR.

I'M TO MARRY LORD LEO'S DAUGHTER.

OH. DO YOU LOVE HER?

SHE'LL MAKE A SPLENDID QUEEN

AND BE A GOOD WIFE.

WE HOPE TO GET MARRIED HERE AT CAMELOT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S NOT FINISHED.

WILL YOU BE THERE WITH ME?

I'D BE HONORED.

WHAT'S HER NAME, YOUR BRIDE?

GUINEVERE.

( bells ringing )

( speaking Latin )

I WAS GOING TO TINTAGEL CASTLE.

PERHAPS ARTHUR WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO EAGER

TO LEAVE ON HIS QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL

IF HE'D KNOWN WHAT A TERRIBLE ENEMY

HE WOULD LEAVE BEHIND IN MORGAN LE FAY.

MERLIN

IS HERE TO SEE YOU, MY LADY.

SEND HIM IN.

YOU HEAR THAT, MORDRED?

THERE'S A WIZARD COME TO SEE US.

WON'T THIS BE FUN?

MY LADY MORGAN.

DO YOU KNOW WHY I'M HERE?

SAY HELLO TO MY SON, MORDRED.

MASTER MORDRED.

( blowing raspberry )

THAT WAS RUDE, MORDRED.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU LIKE, BUT YOU MUST NEVER BE RUDE.

RUDE IS BEING WEAK.

YOU WERE SAYING, MERLIN?

DO YOU KNOW WHY I'M HERE?

IT'S TO DO WITH MY SON.

HASN'T HE GROWN?

YES, HE HAS, AND RATHER MORE THAN IS NATURAL.

OH, OF COURSE.

IT'S MAGIC.

MORGAN... I BEG YOU, FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY.

YOU MUST NOT TEACH HIM THE OLD WAYS.

THIS COUNTRY MEANS NOTHING TO ME.

A BASTARD SITS ON THE THRONE

THAT SHOULD BE MINE.

A BASTARD BEGOT IN BLOOD

WHEN HIS FATHER UTHER

SEDUCED MY MOTHER AND KILLED MY FATHER.

IT'S THE FUTURE I'M THINKING OF, MORGAN.

OH, YOU WOULD THINK OF THE FUTURE, MERLIN

BECAUSE THE PAST IS TOO PAINFUL.

YOU CHOSE UTHER TO BE KING.

YOU HELPED HIM SEDUCE MY MOTHER

AND DESTROYED ME.

IN THE END, YOU BEGOT MORDRED

JUST AS SURELY AS QUEEN MAB AND ARTHUR.

I KNOW THAT, BUT I CAN LIVE WITH IT.

Morgan: JUST AS YOU'D HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE FACT

THAT MORDRED WILL BE KING.

NO. THAT CAN NEVER BE.

MORDRED!

MERLIN'S A GUEST.

DON'T BE NAUGHTY.

HE JUST WANTS ATTENTION.

YOU'LL GET ALL YOU WANT WHEN YOU'RE KING.

AND HE WILL BE, MERLIN.

HE'S ARTHUR'S SON.

WHAT ABOUT THE OLD WAYS, MORGAN?

YOU'RE IN NO POSITION

TO LECTURE ME ON WHAT I CAN

OR CAN'T DO.

BESIDES

THE OLD WAYS HAVE BEEN GOOD TO ME.

THEY'VE GIVEN ME A SON...

AND MADE ME BEAUTIFUL.

OH, POOR MORGAN.

IT'S ONLY AN ILLUSION.

BEAUTY IS ALWAYS ONLY AN ILLUSION, MERLIN.

DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT?

( wind howling )

WE THOUGHT WE'D COME IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY--

THROUGH THE DOOR.

IT'S TRADITIONAL TO OPEN IT FIRST.

MORDRED, LOOK WHO'S HERE.

YOUR AUNTIE MAB

AND UNCLE FRIK.

IT'S BEEN AGES

MASTER MERLIN.

DO YOU EVER THINK OF THE OLD SCHOOL

WHERE I TRIED TO TEACH YOU

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MAGIC?

HE COULD HAVE BEEN MY STAR PUPIL, MORDRED

BUT HE PROVED...

DISAPPOINTING.

BUT YOU WON'T, WILL YOU, MORDRED?

ISN'T HE HANDSOME?

HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE PHRASE.

Mab: TOYS, MORDRED.

AUNTIE ALWAYS BRINGS YOU

LOTS OF LOVELY TOYS.

( pony nickering )

YOU SEE, MERLIN?

YOU TOOK MY FAMILY AWAY FROM ME

AND NOW I HAVE A NEW ONE.

THEY WON'T LAST, MORGAN.

NOTHING DOES.

CAN'T YOU SEE IT?

FEEL IT?

I'M WINNING, MERLIN.

I HAVE THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF PATIENCE.

IT'LL BE YEARS

BEFORE MORDRED CAN CLAIM THE THRONE

BUT I CAN WAIT.

TIME MEANS NOTHING TO ME.

YOU'LL BE THE DEATH OF ARTHUR, AND THE END

OF ALL POOR MERLIN'S DREAMS

WON'T YOU, MY SWEETIE?

OH, LOOK.

THE BIG, BAD WIZARD CAN'T DO A THING.

( laughing and jeering )

MERLIN, YOU'RE TROUBLED AGAIN.

STILL THE SAME CRY FOR HELP, LADY.

YOUR SISTER, MAB, GROWS MORE POWERFUL.

AND I GROW WEAKER.

WHAT CAN I DO?

I... I HAVE TO FIND A MAN TO GUARD THE THRONE

WHILE ARTHUR GOES QUESTING FOR THE HOLY GRAIL.

THE TEMPTATION WILL BE TO SEIZE THE CROWN WHEN HE'S GONE.

YOU NEED A MAN PURE IN HEART.

I'VE TRIED TO FIND HIM BEFORE.

HE DOESN'T EXIST.

THE ANSWER IS AT JOYOUS GARD.

MY SHIP WILL TAKE YOU.

IT WAS LIKE A DREAM...

A DREAM OF A DREAM.

THE SKIES PARTED AND I SAW THE DREAM COME ALIVE BEFORE MY EYES.

THEN, ONE DAY, THEY'LL DESCRIBE

ME, ARTHUR, GUINEVERE AND CAMELOT AS A DREAM.

WHO ARE YOU?

I'M MERLIN, THE WIZARD.

THERE AREN'T ANY WIZARDS LEFT.

I'M THE LAST OF THEM.

AND WHO ARE YOU?

GALAHAD...

AND MY MOTHER IS THE LADY ELAINE

AND MY FATHER IS SIR LANCELOT.

Merlin: I'VE COME HERE TO FIND A MAN

TO DEFEND KING ARTHUR IN HIS KINGDOM...

AND HE MUST BE A GOOD MAN, PURE IN HEART.

YOU'VE FOUND HIM.

IT WAS ALL TOO EASY.

ARE YOU SURE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT?

IT'S NOT WHAT I WANT.

IT'S WHAT YOU WANT.

I CAN'T HOLD YOU BACK.

IT'S YOUR CHANCE FOR ONE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE.

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.

Lancelot: GALAHAD, PROTECT YOUR MOTHER WHILE I'M AWAY.

( trumpet fanfare )

Arthur: MY LORDS, LADIES

KNIGHTS OF THE REALM:

I SHALL LEAVE SOON

ON A GOD-GIVEN QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL.

NOW, I SEEK A CHAMPION

TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND THE HONOR OF OUR FAIR QUEEN

WHILE I'M GONE.

I CLAIM THAT HONOR, SIRE.

OH, GAWAIN...

I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T WIN.

YOU KNOW I NEED YOU

TO COME WITH ME.

LET ME COMPETE IN THE TOURNEY, SIRE.

YOU'RE TOO OLD

SIR BORIS.

OF COURSE HE'S TOO OLD.

BUT I'M NOT.

Merlin: YOUR MAJESTY.

I WISH TO VOUCH FOR SIR LANCELOT OF THE LAKE.

HE WANTS TO ENTER THE JOUSTS.

SO BE IT, MERLIN.

( crowd cheering )

AH! GAWAIN OR THIS LANCELOT.

YAH!

COME ON!

( crowd cheering and applauding )

Arthur: LANCELOT OF THE LAKE

TAKES THE HONORS.

HE IS THE BEST AND THE NOBLEST

OF THE KNIGHTS.

HE'S VERY HANDSOME, ISN'T HE?

YES.

WHAT DID YOU SAY, MY LADY?

NOTHING.

Lancelot: YOUR MAJESTY

I OFFER YOU MY SWORD AND MY LIFE.

IT IS AN HONOR, BRAVE KNIGHT.

AS CHAMPION, LANCELOT SHALL...

( crowd gasping )

HOW IS HE?

FAIR TO MIDDLING

CONSIDERING WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THE LANCE OUT YET.

AND WHY NOT?

THERE IS A DISPUTE--

UH, A SCHOLARLY DISPUTE

AS TO WHETHER WE TAKE IT OUT CON OR CONTRA WISE

WHICH MEANS TO THE MERE LAYMAN

TURNING AND PULLING IT TO THE LEFT

OR TO THE RIGHT.

CONTRA...

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU

SIR LANCELOT?

HOLD MY HAND, LADY.

Physician: NO, TURN AND PULL CON WISE...

THE PLANETS OF VENUS AND URANUS WILL BE THE DOMINANT INFLUENCES.

Gawain: YOU'RE PHYSICIANS.

INSTEAD OF ARGUING ABOUT IT, DO IT.

DO IT?

WE MUST TALK ABOUT IT FIRST.

INDEED. THESE ARE WEIGHTY MATTERS

FIT ONLY FOR EXPERTS.

TRUST US. IF WE TREAT A KNIGHT FOR A BROKEN ARM

THAT IS WHAT HE'LL DIE OF.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

ENOUGH.

LANCELOT...

ARE YOU READY, SIR KNIGHT?

DO IT, GAWAIN.

( bells tolling )

GOOD-BYE, MERLIN.

GOOD-BYE, ARTHUR.

COME BACK TO US.

THEY LEFT TO CHASE DREAMS... SHADOWS.

BUT IF I'D TOLD THEM, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE LISTENED.

AND SO, THE YEARS ROLLED ON...

ONE YEAR MERGING INTO ANOTHER... AND ANOTHER.

IF YOU FIVE GENTLEMEN

DON'T STOP TREMBLING

I MIGHT MISS AND KILL YOU ALL.

( screaming )

LESS THAN PERFECT.

THAT'S ENOUGH, MORDRED.

YOU MUSTN'T GET CARRIED AWAY, MY SWEET.

IT SHOWS LACK OF CONTROL.

WHY FIRE AT AUNTIE MAB AND UNCLE FRIK?

I DO HOPE THAT THE BOY IS JUST HAVING FUN

AND IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL.

OF COURSE IT'S NOT PERSONAL.

HE LIKES YOU.

I OFTEN WONDER WHAT HE WOULD DO

IF HE DIDN'T LIKE ME.

STOP FUSSING, MOTHER.

AUNTIE MAB UNDERSTANDS, DON'T YOU, AUNTIE MAB?

OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND.

YOU WERE TESTING YOURSELF.

NOW, COME AND SIT BY ME.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE MY FAVORITE, MORDRED

BUT YOU HAVE TO CHANNEL YOUR AGGRESSION.

AGAINST ARTHUR?

YES.

ALWAYS ARTHUR...

AND MERLIN.

YOU'RE LOOKING PALE, MORDRED.

YOU'RE NOT EATING ENOUGH.

I ALREADY HAVE THE STRENGTH OF TEN MEN.

LISTEN TO YOUR AUNT.

AND PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR HAIR.

VERY WELL, MOTHER.

THERE'S A GOOD BOY.

THE WORK IS GOING MUCH TOO SLOWLY.

YOU KEEP ON CHANGING YOUR MIND, SIR LANCELOT.

FIRST THIS, THEN THAT.

I'M DOING MY BEST, SIRE.

WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.

HOW COULD I DO BETTER THAN MY BEST?

ARE YOU ALL ALONE, MY LADY?

MERLIN IS MY FAITHFUL SHADOW.

THAT'S RIGHT AND PROPER.

WHY NOT YOU?

YOU'RE MY CHAMPION.

BECAUSE WHEN I'M NEAR YOU

I CAN'T CONTROL MY HEART.

YOU'RE NEAR ME NOW.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

MY LADY?

YES.

MY LADY?

PERHAPS WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL

FOR MY SHADOW.

WHAT'S WRONG, MERLIN?

THE WALLS ARE WHISPERING, GUINEVERE.

CAN'T YOU HEAR THEM?

NO.

WHAT DO THEY SAY?

THAT YOU'RE TOO FRIENDLY WITH SIR LANCELOT.

DO YOU BELIEVE SUCH WHISPERS, MERLIN?

NO, BUT I'VE SEEN HOW YOU TWO LOOK

AT EACH OTHER.

I DON'T CARE WHAT OTHERS THINK.

I'M THE QUEEN.

AND THAT IS WHY YOU MUST TAKE SPECIAL CARE.

I CAN'T PROTECT YOU IN THIS MATTER.

( soft knocking )

YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

I SHOULD JUMP.

THROW MYSELF FROM THE BATTLEMENTS.

THEN I'LL JUMP, TOO.

I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU.

( gasps )

( gasping )

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

LANCELOT WOULDN'T...

( sobbing )

( fly buzzing )

( continues buzzing )

( muted crunch )

AUNTIE?

YOU'RE LOOKING

EXTRAORDINARILY PLEASED WITH YOURSELF.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

IS IT TERRIBLE?

DO TELL.

I'M SURE IT'S PERFECT.

I'VE MADE SURE ELAINE KNOWS

THAT LANCELOT AND GUINEVERE ARE LOVERS.

HOW ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.

ISN'T THAT RATHER UNWORTHY OF US?

UNWORTHY?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, MOTHER?

HMM?

OH, I'VE FORGOTTEN.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Mab: YES, IT IS UNWORTHY.

BUT I DON'T LIKE TO BE TOLD, FRIK.

( grunting )

( Mordred laughing )

I WARNED YOU.

YOU DIDN'T LISTEN.

WHAT'S HAPPENED?

Lancelot: HOW DID SHE DIE?

SHE DIED OF A BROKEN HEART.

BECAUSE OF YOU.

I'M SORRY.

I JUDGED THEM TOO HARSHLY.

THE BLAME WAS MINE, TOO.

I PICKED LANCELOT, AFTER ALL.

I WISH I'D TOLD THEM THAT.

IT MIGHT HAVE MADE IT EASIER.

GREAT NEWS.

GREAT NEWS, NIMUE.

ARTHUR'S COMING HOME.

OH, THANK GOD.

DID HE FIND THE HOLY GRAIL?

NO. BUT WHAT OF IT?

HE'S COMING HOME.

HOLY GRAIL OR NO HOLY GRAIL.

HE SHOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT.

MERLIN IS FREE.

HE CAN START LIVING HIS OWN LIFE AGAIN.

YES.

AND IT SHOULD BE WITH YOU, CHILD.

YOUR TRUE VOCATION IS MERLIN.

GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU WHEN YOU LOVE ANOTHER.

AND I, UH...

I SHOULDN'T REALLY SAY THIS IN THESE HALLOWED WALLS--

FAITH IS SUPREME, OF COURSE--

BUT LOVE...

IS EVEN BETTER.

Mab: BE CAREFUL, MY DEAR.

THESE STEPS ARE VERY SLIPPERY.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

TO MY LAND.

THE LAND OF MAGIC.

CAN I CREATE MONSTERS?

OH, IF YOU WISH.

YOU'RE SO GOOD TO ME, AUNTIE.

IT WON'T ALL BE FUN AND GAMES.

ARTHUR'S COMING BACK.

THERE WILL BE THINGS I HAVE TO TEACH YOU.

IS MOTHER COMING?

NO. WE DON'T NEED HER ANYMORE.

MAB!

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING MY SON?

IT'S TIME.

WITHOUT A WORD?

WITHOUT A BY-YOUR-LEAVE?

I HAVE TO MAKE HIM READY.

YOU'RE NOT TAKING HIM. HE'S MY SON.

HE'S MINE!

I GAVE HIM LOVE. YOU GAVE HIM TOYS.

I GAVE HIM LIFE.

I'M NEVER LETTING HIM GO.

( startled gasp )

( screams )

NO!

( gasping )

THAT WAS VERY CLEVER, AUNTIE.

OH, MY LOVE.

MY LOVE.

FRIK... MY LOVE.

AM I STILL BEAUTIFUL?

BEYOND WORDS, MY LOVE.

AM I?

OH, YES.

BEYOND WORDS.

YOU KILLED HER!

PERHAPS SHE JUST SLIPPED.

IN ANY CASE, WHAT DOES IT MATTER?

YOU'RE HOLDING US UP, FRIK.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DO.

MAB, YOU EVIL OLD CROW.

MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL.

HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ON THE REST OF YOU!

WHY IS EVERYBODY SUDDENLY AGAINST ME?

FRIK, I'M LEAVING YOU WITH YOUR MISERY AND PAIN.

BUT WITH NO MORE MAGIC POWER.

NOW YOU WILL WANDER THROUGH THE WORLD

UGLY AND ALONE.

JUST AS IF YOU WERE HUMAN.

GOOD-BYE, FRIK.

I'LL MISS YOU.

NO, I WON'T.

WHY DIDN'T YOU KILL HIM, AUNTIE MAB?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED ME TO DO.

( Frik sobbing )

Arthur: CAMELOT. IT'S BUILT.

LANCELOT HAS KEPT HIS WORD.

WE HAVE TO RIDE IN WITH OUR BANNERS HELD HIGH, SIRE.

YOU'RE RIGHT, GAWAIN.

RAISE YOUR BANNERS

AND YOUR HEARTS, MEN!

WE'RE HOME!

( all cheering )

( cheers continuing )

WHERE IS EVERYONE?

SOMETHING'S WRONG, SIRE.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS KIND OF HOMECOMING.

WHAT'S WRONG HERE?

GUINEVERE.

WHERE'S MERLIN?

WHERE'S LANCELOT?

I'LL TELL YOU.

WHO THE DEVIL ARE YOU?

ELEGANTLY PUT.

"WHO THE DEVIL...?"

YES, INDEED.

WHO THE DEVIL.

WELL, DON'T YOU RECOGNIZE ME?

NO. SHOULD I?

OH, I'M HURT.

HERE IN MY HEART.

NOT USUALLY MY MOST VULNERABLE SPOT.

I RECOGNIZE YOU... FATHER.

I'M YOUR LONG-LOST SON, MORDRED.

MORGAN LE FAY...

IS YOUR MOTHER.

NOT "IS," FATHER. "WAS."

SHE PASSED OVER INTO A BETTER WORLD.

SHE SLEEPS ALONE AT LAST.

A GREAT LOSS.

ONE DAY SHE WAS LAUGHING, SMILING

THE NEXT, GONE-- LIKE A SUMMER'S BREEZE

IN THE MIDST OF LIFE

ET CETERA, ET CETERA AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IT'S WHY I'M HERE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS, FATHER.

YOU SEE, YOUR INTERESTS ARE MY INTERESTS.

WHILST YOU WERE AWAY ON THIS GREAT SPIRITUAL QUEST

TO CLEANSE YOUR SOUL...

HOW SHOULD I PUT IT?

YOU WERE BEING BETRAYED.

Merlin: MORDRED!

THAT'S ENOUGH.

IT ISN'T.

MERLIN, LET'S SPEAK THE TRUTH AT LAST.

FATHER... THIS ISN'T THE TIME!

Courtiers: IT IS!

FATHER...

LANCELOT BETRAYED YOU WITH THE QUEEN.

OR SHOULD IT BE THE QUEEN BETRAYED YOU WITH LANCELOT?

NO POINT BEING PEDANTIC. YOU WERE BETRAYED.

GUINEVERE.

THIS ISN'T THE PLACE TO DISCUSS THIS.

Mordred: OH, I THINK IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE!

IS IT TRUE?

ARTHUR, YOU ARE JUST RETURNED.

WE MUST TALK CALMLY...

GUINEVERE, IS IT TRUE?

YES, IT'S TRUE.

MORDRED, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HERE.

I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE HERE.

THIS ISN'T A PRIVATE MATTER.

IT CONCERNS US ALL.

HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?

DIDN'T YOU THINK OF ME AT ALL?

YOU LEFT ME ALONE FOR YEARS.

DID YOU NOT THINK OF ME?

WHAT OF MY HONOR?

FINDING OUT YOU HAD A CHILD BY MORGAN LE FAY?

GOOD ONE.

COME, COME, FATHER.

THIS IS BECOMING DISTRESSINGLY PERSONAL.

YOU'RE FORGETTING IT'S A MATTER OF STATE.

MATTER OF STATE?!

WE ARE TALKING TREASON HERE.

AREN'T WE?

MY LORDS?

( courtiers murmuring in dissent )

I DON'T SEE IT AS TREASON.

SHE BETRAYED ME AND ONLY ME.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

NO, SIRE.

MORDRED IS RIGHT.

YOU ARE THE KING

AND THAT MAKES ADULTERY TREASON.

THEN WE MUST CONDEMN HER TO DEATH.

Merlin: DO YOU REALLY THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT?

IT'S THE LAW.

Merlin: IT'S HARSH.

IT MUST BE.

MY LORDS, THIS IS A TIME

WHEN WE SHOULD TEMPER JUSTICE WITH MERCY.

AFTER ALL, YOUR RELIGION PROCLAIMS IT.

LET HE WHO IS NOT GUILTY OF SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE.

NOW, I KNOW I HAVE BEEN GUILTY IN MY TIME

AND I SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN, TOO.

I MUST CONFESS, I HAVE SINNED A LITTLE.

( all laughing )

SO WE MAKE EXCUSES FOR HER BECAUSE SHE IS A QUEEN.

BECAUSE SHE IS HUMAN.

NO, BECAUSE SHE IS ARTHUR'S WIFE.

ARE WE GOING BACK TO ONE LAW FOR THE RULERS

AND ONE FOR THE RULED?

IS THAT THE WAY IT IS?

ARTHUR, I THOUGHT CAMELOT WAS TO BE DIFFERENT.

IT IS.

THEN SHOW THE WORLD YOU MEAN IT.

MERLIN, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

IN THE END, YOU MUST UPHOLD THE LAW.

GUINEVERE WILL BE TRIED FOR TREASON.

A SPLENDID DECISION.

BOTH FAIR AND JUST, EH, FATHER?

NOW, LET'S DRINK AND ENJOY OURSELVES.

I WANT YOU OUT OF CAMELOT.

BUT, FATHER, I'VE ONLY JUST ARRIVED.

I THOUGHT WE COULD REMINISCE ABOUT OLD TIMES

AND PLAY HAPPY FAMILY.

STOP HIM TALKING!

YOU CAN'T MEAN THAT, FATHER.

I'M YOUR BELOVED SON, THE CROWN PRINCE

YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEIR.

I WANT YOU OUT OF MY SIGHT.

EMBRACE ME, FATHER.

NEVER.

OR I'LL TAKE WHAT'S RIGHTFULLY MINE.

GUARDS, SEIZE HIM!

DON'T GET UP.

I KNOW MY WAY OUT.

I'M SORRY, FATHER, BUT I'M GOING TO DESTROY YOU.

AND THIS TIME YOUR PET WIZARD WON'T SAVE YOU.

MAB?

( thunder rumbling )

I'M HERE, NIMUE.

YOU MADE ME A PROMISE YEARS AGO.

WILL YOU KEEP IT?

YES.

BUT WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?

THE KING IS COMING HOME.

MERLIN IS FREE TO BE WITH ME.

I'VE DISCOVERED ALL I WANT IS MERLIN.

WILL YOU AGREE TO LIVE WITH HIM

IN A PLACE THAT I CHOOSE?

IF YOU MAKE ME WHOLE AGAIN.

I HAVE TO WARN YOU, NIMUE

THAT IF YOU GO TO THIS PLACE

YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE IT.

WILL HE COME TO ME THERE?

YES, HE WILL.

THEN DO IT, MAB.

( crowd taunting )

Man: BURN IN HELL!

I CAN'T BEAR TO WATCH.

THE SIN WAS MINE, NOT HERS.

SHE'S BURNING. IT'S TOO LATE.

MERLIN...

( thunder rumbling )

COME ON.

Merlin: LANCELOT ALWAYS LEFT EVERYTHING TO THE LAST MOMENT.

AND MY MEMORY OF LANCELOT

IS THAT HE NEVER GOT ANYTHING RIGHT.

THANK GOD.

AND SO LANCELOT AND GUINEVERE RODE OUT OF MY STORY

AND INTO LEGEND.

WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS?

YOU TRICKED US, FATHER.

YOU PRETENDED TO CONDEMN THE QUEEN TO THE STAKE

THEN YOU HAD HER RESCUED BY YOUR WIZARD.

YOU HADN'T EVEN THE COURAGE TO SET HER FREE YOURSELF.

THAT'S TRUE.

I SHOULD HAVE DONE IT.

ONE LAW FOR YOU AND ANOTHER FOR US.

Courtier: WE CAN'T LIVE LIKE THAT.

Others: WE CAN'T.

DO YOU HEAR?

THEY CAN'T LIVE LIKE THAT.

I CALL UPON ALL TRUE-BORN BRITONS

TO RALLY TO FREEDOM'S FLAG!

Courtiers: YEAH!

DEPOSE THIS...

( yells )

YOU CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE, FATHER.

I KNOW HOW THAT IS.

NOBLES

THE TIME FOR TALKING IS OVER.

THOSE WHO VALUE RIGHT AND JUSTICE FOLLOW ME.

WHO'S THERE?

FATHER ABBOT.

I RODE ALL NIGHT TO GET HERE.

NIMUE'S GONE.

SHE'S GONE? YEAH.

BUT SHE LEFT YOU A MESSAGE

THAT SHE'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU

AT THE DOOR OF MAGIC.

YOU'RE A LIAR.

OH, MERLIN.

HOW CAN YOU SAY SUCH A THING?

YOU'RE A LIAR!

( sinister laughing )

( laughing and shuddering )

I'M GLAD TO SEE

YOU HAVEN'T LOST ALL THE SKILLS I TAUGHT YOU.

I'VE LOST NONE OF THEM.

AND IT WAS FRIK WHO TAUGHT ME.

DON'T MENTION THAT INGRATE.

HE'S LEFT MY EMPLOYMENT

WITHOUT A REFERENCE.

ANYWAY...

NIMUE HAS GONE.

AND SHE DOES WANT YOU TO JOIN HER

WHEN YOU'RE READY.

MERLIN...

MY NOBLEMEN DON'T WANT YOU WITH US AGAINST MORDRED.

THEY SAY THAT IF YOU COME, THEN THEY WON'T FOLLOW ME.

AH.

WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW?

CLOSE MY BOOKS.

BREAK MY WAND AND RETIRE.

I HAVE A LIFE TO LIVE AND A CHANCE TO LIVE IT.

NIMUE?

I'M GOING TO MEET HER NOW.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH MORDRED?

IT'S JUST ONE MORE BATTLE.

AND RIGHT IS ON OUR SIDE.

I'M PROUD OF YOU, ARTHUR.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, MERLIN.

I'VE STILL GOT EXCALIBUR.

HELLO.

NIMUE!

Nimue: MERLIN. I AM HERE.

( horse whinnies softly )

LOOK.

LOOK WHERE WE ARE.

( rustling )

( birds flapping wings )

COME.

( wolf howls )

WAIT.

THIS IS ALL MAB.

OH, FORGET HER.

WE'VE WASTED SO MUCH OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER ALREADY.

NOW IT'S OUR TURN.

ISN'T IT WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED?

( distant battle sounds )

OH!

( soldiers yelling )

( yelling )

GAWAIN!

WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

STOP TALKING, MORDRED, AND FIGHT.

I THOUGHT YOU'D ENJOY LIGHT CONVERSATION BEFORE YOU DIE.

BUT AS YOU WISH.

( chuckling )

( yelling )

FATHER!

FATHER!

CLEVER BOY.

FATHER! FATHER!

( grunting )

SO...

MORDRED.

HELLO...

FATHER.

IT'S TIME TO END IT ALL.

WELL...

WE AGREE ON THAT AT LEAST.

YOU KNOW, FATHER, IF YOU'D LIVED

I DON'T THINK WE'D HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY AS A FAMILY.

( man screaming )

WHAT IS IT, MERLIN?

I HEARD A SCREAM.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

IT WAS THE SOUND OF BATTLE.

ARTHUR AND MORDRED.

OH!

NO.

IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH US.

OH.

I'M SORRY, MORDRED.

NO, DON'T... DON'T, FATHER.

ANOTHER SIN.

YOU'D KILL YOUR OWN SON.

( groans )

( groans )

MORDRED!

( echoing )

Merlin: ARTHUR IS DYING.

I MUST GO TO HIM.

I'LL BE BACK VERY SOON.

I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU...

ALWAYS.

VERY SOON, I SWEAR!

NO!

NIMUE!

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?

( yells )

NIMUE!

NIMUE!

I KNEW I WOULD NEVER SEE HER AGAIN.

I CANNOT SAVE YOU.

DON'T DIE, MORDRED.

DIE...

THAT'S THE LAST THING I SHALL DO.

NO...

NO!

( roaring growl )

MY OLD FRIEND.

I...

I KNEW YOU WOULD COME.

HOW GOES THE DAY, ARTHUR?

I'VE SEEN BETTER.

MERLIN...

TAKE THE SWORD TO THE LAKE.

NO ONE MUST HAVE IT.

GO, MERLIN.

NOW.

REST EASY, SON.

YOU WERE THE RIGHT MAN TO HOLD EXCALIBUR.

TAKE IT BACK, LADY.

YOU LIED TO ME!

I DIDN'T LIE TO YOU, MERLIN.

I TOLD YOU THE ANSWER WAS AT JOYOUS GARD.

THAT'S WHERE I FOUND LANCELOT.

( sighs )

IT WASN'T LANCELOT, WAS IT?

IT WAS THE BOY

GALAHAD.

IT'S HUMAN

TO MAKE MISTAKES, MERLIN.

AND PART OF YOU IS HUMAN.

THE BEST PART.

GOOD-BYE, MERLIN.

MY SISTER MAB WAS RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING.

WHEN WE'RE FORGOTTEN...

WE CEASE TO EXIST.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, FRIK?

BETRAYING MY PRINCIPLES, I'M AFRAID.

INDEED, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED

THAT IT WAS BETTER TO BE A COWARD FOR A SECOND

THAN DEAD FOR A LIFETIME.

AND YET, HERE I AM FIGHTING...

FIGHTING ON THE SIDE OF RIGHT, WHICH IS WORSE.

AND MAB?

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I GAVE IN MY NOTICE.

IF YOU'RE GOING AFTER HER, MASTER MERLIN

YOU'LL NEED HELP.

( door creaking )

I KNEW I'D FIND YOU HERE, MAB.

YOU'VE COME TO SEE MY FINAL TRIUMPH.

NO, I'VE COME TO SEE YOUR FINAL DEFEAT.

AH...

YOU ALWAYS WERE A DREAMER, MERLIN.

LET ME SEE...

YOU'VE LOST ARTHUR...

THE BATTLE...

YOUR ONE TRUE LOVE...

THE BATTLE ISN'T OVER YET, MAB.

YOU CAN'T WIN.

SHE'S WEAKENED HERSELF.

SHE'S VULNERABLE.

I KNOW THAT...

WHY ARE YOU CONSORTING WITH THAT TRAITOR?

MADAM, AFTER ALL MY YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE

THAT'S RATHER HARSH.

NOT AS HARSH AS I'M GOING TO BE.

SORRY!

CAN'T STAY.

MORDRED'S DEAD.

SO, WE BOTH HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.

THE BATTLE'S JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME, MAB.

( rumbling )

( grunts )

I'LL SHOW YOU HOW WEAK I AM.

( grunts )

( creaking )

( hissing )

( rumbling )

( hisses )

( rumbling )

( rumbling )

( grunts )

( grumbling )

MY STRENGTH MAY BE FAILING, MERLIN

BUT I CAN STILL DEAL WITH THESE POOR HUMANS.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO--

USE YOUR PUNY SWORDS AND AXES ON ME?

NO, MAB, WE'RE JUST GOING TO FORGET YOU.

MERLIN?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU CAN'T FIGHT US OR FRIGHTEN US.

YOU'RE JUST... NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH ANYMORE.

WE FORGET YOU, QUEEN MAB.

GO JOIN YOUR SISTER IN THE LAKE...

AND BE FORGOTTEN.

LOOK AT ME.

LOOK AT ME!

FRIK...

MERLIN?

MERLIN!

DON'T FORGET ME, MERLIN.

I, UH... LOVE YOU...

AS A SON.

MERLIN!

MERLIN!

( gasping )

MERLIN!

I HAD WON.

I WAS TRYING TO SMILE

BUT IT WAS THE SMILE OF DESOLATION.

INSIDE, I FELT ONLY THE PITY AND THE TERROR

AND THE WASTE OF IT ALL.

EVERYONE I EVER LOVED, AND WHO EVER LOVED ME--

ALL GONE... ALL GONE DOWN...

AND THEN GALAHAD RETURNED

AND BROUGHT WITH HIM THE HOLY GRAIL AND SPRING

AND THE LAND BECAME FERTILE AGAIN

AND THE CYCLE OF DEATH AND DARKNESS ENDED

AND SO DOES MY STORY.

NOW...

IF MY STORY ENTERTAINED OR ENCHANTED

YOU MAY SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION

IN ANY WAY YOU SEE FIT

BUT, PARTICULARLY, WITH MONEY.

MASTER MERLIN

DID YOU EVER FIND NIMUE?

NO, I NEVER FOUND NIMUE

OR EVEN THE CAVE AGAIN.

WHAT ABOUT THE MAGIC?

CAN YOU STILL DO MAGIC?

NO.

I GOT OUT OF THE HABIT

AND BESIDES, NOBODY BELIEVES IN IT ANYMORE.

THANK YOU.

IT'S ALL OVER, FRIEND.

THERE IS NO MORE.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE WAY I REMEMBER IT

MASTER MERLIN.

FRIK?

IS IT YOU?

YES.

IT'S ME.

( laughing )

( both laughing )

I MUST SAY YOU DO TELL A RATHER GOOD TALE...

TERRIBLY EXCITING AND ALL.

BUT I WAS INTRIGUED

THAT YOU CHOSE TO OMIT CERTAIN...

WELL, THAT'S THE WAY THEY LIKE IT.

AND BESIDES, I DIDN'T THINK THEY'D BELIEVE IT

IF I TOLD THE WAY IT REALLY WAS.

AND HOW ARE YOU DOING IN THIS WORLD, MASTER FRIK?

WELL, I MEAN, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NEED

FOR THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN.

AND I WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE

ONE OF THE BEST, YOU SEE.

( laughing )

( gasps )

IT CAN'T BE.

IT IS.

SIR RUPERT.

YES, WELL, I FOUND HIM GRAZING IN A FIELD

AND WE GOT TO REMINISCING.

DEAR OLD BOY.

SHOULDN'T YOU BE DEAD BY NOW?

NO, NO.

THERE'S A LITTLE MAGIC IN ME, TOO, MERLIN.

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT.

NIMUE.

WHAT ABOUT HER?

OH, NOTHING REALLY

OTHER THAN SHE WAS INQUIRING ABOUT YOU

WHEN I SAW HER LAST MONTH.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHAT HAPPENED?

SOMETIME AFTER MAB DISAPPEARED

HER SPELLS BEGAN TO LOSE THEIR POWER

AND NIMUE WAS SET FREE.

WHERE IS SHE, FRIK?

SIR RUPERT KNOWS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

OH, NO NEED TO THANK ME.

I JUST LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

MERLIN.

OH, MY DEAREST.

FRIK FOUND YOU.

I NEVER BELIEVED I WOULD EVER SEE YOU AGAIN.

SO MANY YEARS LOST.

YOU'VE GROWN OLDER.

( laughing )

YOU, TOO.

( both laughing )

DOES IT MATTER?

NO.

NOT ANYMORE.

( both laughing )

BUT...

WHAT?

I THINK I HAVE ONE LAST TRICK.

OH!

THERE'S NO MORE.

THAT'S THE END OF MAGIC.

( Merlin laughing )