Guinevere (1994) - full transcript

[OPENING THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

WOMAN: Come with me, Guinevere.

GUINEVERE : They say

Britain's greatest age began

when Arthur pulled

the sword from the stone.

They got this story

only part right.

History is written by men.

And there is much in life

that they ignored.

WOMAN: Quickly, Guinevere.

GUINEVERE: Mama, mama!

[MOURNFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[LABORED BREATHING]

GUINEVERE: My mother died

when I was five years old.

Such things as the passing of

the queen meant little then,

save to her little girl.

My father ruled a kingdom

in the midlands.

But the truth is...

throughout Britain,

only chaos truly reigned.

And so, like all

the other local kings,

my father was consumed

by constant wars.

Unable to raise me himself,

he sent me North

to the sanctuary

of the old religion.

I found I was not alone.

Many other future

Kings and queens

had been sent to

the sanctuary

for instruction.

But from the very first day,

I was singled out

for special attention

from the young priestess,

Morgan L'Fei.

MORGAN: Welcome, Guinevere.

GUINEVERE: In this company,

my childhood quickly passed.

[METAL CLANKING]

GUINEVERE: But among

the royal born, there

was a foundling.

A boy L'Fei had saved

from drowning.

Now grown to be

a fighter, and a leader...

Lancelot.

MAN: Guinevere.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[METAL CLANKING]

GUINEVERE: He was my hero.

He was my friend.

And from the time

I was a little girl,

I hoped he would

become something more.

GUINEVERE: Do you

remember your mother?

I have no mother.

Except for L'Fei.

She fished you out of the lake.

GUINEVERE: Someone had

to have thrown you in?

[WATER TRICKLING]

There was a time

I brooded on that.

That time has passed.

I will never forsake you.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MERLIN: I come seeking

Britain's high priestess.

LANCELOT: Morgan L'Fei

is the high priestess.

MERLIN: Tell her I bring word...

of the new high king.

GUINEVERE: We knew nothing

of a new high king.

Isolated in the north,

we heard little from

the rest of Britain.

So when the rare traveler

came, we eagerly gathered

to hear the news.

And though we did not know

the old pilgrim's name,

we were fascinated by

the story that he told.

All save for our priestess,

Morgan L'Fei.

PILGRIM: And then

in a churchyard...

a huge stone appeared.

A stone...

with a sword...

embedded in it,

upto its radiant hilt.

And on the stone was

emblazoned the words,

"Who so pulleth

forth this sword,

"is high king.

"And shall bring greatness."

When all those

battling monarchs,

blustered along...

and came and tried,

[LAUGHS]

[DRAMATICALLY] Huh, Ohh, Uh...

[LAUGHS]

But it was a boy.

It was a boy of 15...

who succeeded.

He pulled out the sword.

A boy raised in a cave,

away from the world,

raised by the mage...

Merlin...

servant to his father.

For it was Arthur Pendragon,

who pulled out the sword.

Son of Uther.

And he is now Britain's...

new crowned king.

Morgan: Then there is peace

across this blighted island?

There will be.

The king, Arthur, has sworn it.

And has he sworn on

his foul conception?

His father raped another

man's wife to bring him forth.

I do none speak more of Igraine

and her murdered husband.

Many are disinclined to

argue with a miracle.

Others are learning not to

argue with Arthur's sword.

GUINEVERE: Maybe L'Fei knew

something we did not.

I thought the unnamed pilgrim

had come by chance,

and that it was an accident

when he found me alone

by the water.

But as we talked,

I began to feel that there

was a purpose to everything

this stranger did.

GUINEVERE: Also Healing,

Geography,

History, and Latin.

I study Mathematics

and science on my own.

Why?

So I may rule my kingdom wisely.

A fearless king and

a mighty army will

do that for you.

Kings and armies have

not done it wisely so far.

Indeed.

They dominate...

Breeding cruelty and resentment.

True government

requires equality,

shared prosperity,

and trust.

So, you too have designs

on the whole of Britain?

My kingdom alone provides

all the challenge I need.

Mm-mmm, what kingdom is that?

Camelot.

[LAUGHING] Camelot!

I've never heard of it.

It must be quite

an insignificant little dot.

Insignificant?

It is the only kingdom

to spare in all Britain.

It controls all movement

North and South.

The Romans wanted it

and never took it.

Look...

We drew the line

the legions never crossed.

Above us, fierce tribes

still keep to the old ways.

Below us, the madness,

the empire, and Uther.

Left...

trading routes shattered,

holy groves laid waste,

the whole fabric of

community unraveled.

And in its place...

Chaos, and Christianity.

Oh, I think if he is

truly to rule all Britain,

this Arthur has

a lot of work to do.

I'll be sure to tell him.

MORGAN: What exactly is this?

MORGAN: Bo... Look at it!

[HORSE NEIGHING]

MORGAN: Sword in a stone?

The fatal phallus.

Trust a man to think that up!

BOY: But, isn't it

a miracle, lady?

MORGAN: Life is a miracle.

Birth!

Creation!

Have you learned nothing here?

But it's a wonderfully

heroic story.

[SARCASTICALLY] Thank you.

And are more heroes

what we need?

MORGAN: Men who stand tall on

the corpses of their victims?

There was a time...

When all Britain

celebrated the Goddess.

We celebrated the bounty

of this Earth.

The gifts she gave us.

And women lay with

her chosen ones,

and embraced them closely.

And we celebrated life...

MORGAN: That grew

within their wombs.

And now, we have heroes...

with bodies piled about them.

Those are the fruits of

the harvest they offer now.

Mens victories in blood

are what they celebrate.

And women's blood?

MORGAN: Once the sacred

symbol of our fertility

now make us what?

Guinevere?

Unclean.

MORGAN: And do you think

all this will change with

Arthur Pendragon?

Crowned in a Christian church

where the only God is male?

[EXHALES]

MORGAN: Worship heroes?

And you join those...

who have abandoned

this earth's beauty.

MORGAN: Worship Pendragon?

And you join those

who have traded life

for death.

MORGAN: You two...

Come to the sacred circle

at midnight.

[FIRE CRACKLING]

[HORSES NEIGHING]

[FIRE CRACKLING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

Kneel before the power

of the Goddess.

MORGAN: I have waited

a long while for this moment.

Now it is time you knew

what must be done.

MORGAN: Raise your left arm.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

Lancelot.

You are my son...

though I plucked you from

the water, not from my womb.

MORGAN: Among boys,

you are a man.

MORGAN: Among men,

you will be king.

No warrior in this land

will defeat you.

You have the strength

to stop the night.

[DRUMS BEATING]

MORGAN: Wear this as a sign

of the covenant you have made.

And you, Guinevere...

Wise priestess...

When you become a woman,

you will rule the heart

of this green island.

No one can control Britain who

does not control your kingdom.

MORGAN: You have the power

to stop the night.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MORGAN: Wear this...

Even unto your grave.

The triple spiral...

The never ending cycle of birth,

and life, and death.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

MORGAN: Rise.

Our blood and power

are joined together.

Nothing can stop us now.

We will defeat Arthur Pendragon,

and rule Britain.

Are we going to make war?

We are already at war!

Don't you understand that?

Where are the women

in Pendragon's world?

Where is this Merlin's

mother, or his wife?

Where is Arthur's

mother or wife?

You said Igraine

was Arthur's mother.

Igraine was my mother first!

But Uther raped her.

MORGAN: He murdered

my father and he raped her.

Then he married her with

the bishop's blessing.

And he ordered me,

a nine year old child,

to be hanged.

GUINEVERE: But you live still.

I was hid here on condition

I never speak my true name,

and I have not.

MORGAN: For too many years

I have remained silent

while the forces of darkness

have run rampant in this land.

But when the Goddess sent you

both to me to be my children...

I began to see how I might

have my voice again.

MORGAN: King and Queen

you shall be.

First of Camelot,

then of all Britain.

All is ready.

Our people nearly

awake their leaders.

You will offer your next

blood to the Goddess.

And the first full moon after...

you shall lie with her.

MORGAN: And thus...

you shall both be wed.

Without my father's blessing?

Long ago, he abandoned you

to me.

MORGAN: And tonight I have

given you to the Goddess,

and to each other.

MORGAN: Your vows

are written in blood.

But it is my father's kingdom,

and what if he will

not accept this?

Then he will die.

And if you deny

your vow, Guinevere...

you will burn.

MORGAN: Just as

your offering did.

[BASS DRUM SOUNDING]

GUINEVERE: I'd sworn to wed

Lancelot when next I bled.

But I could not bring

myself to it without

my father's consent.

GUINEVERE: And so...

When my menses began I tried

to hide it from the world.

How long?

How many days has

it been, Guinevere?

It doesn't matter.

MORGAN: We can begin now.

BOY: Lady...

Riders have come from Camelot

seeking Guinevere.

MORGAN: If your

father is dead...

Then that solves everything.

[HORSE GALLOPING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[HORSE GALLOPING]

[BOYS CHATTING IN BACKGROUND]

GUINEVERE: Is my father...

MORGAN: Your father is well.

And sends his thanks

to the Goddess.

He simply wanted you home.

Then you must send me.

I said I would.

And I will send your

husband beside you.

MORGAN: And all the warriors

of the triple spiral as well.

Now you must fast and

prepare yourself for

the bride's blessing.

I will come for you

when the moon is high.

[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]

GUINEVERE: I'll take

you to the stable.

GUINEVERE: Come on.

[METAL CLANKING]

[LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING]

[HORSES GALLOPING]

[HOSES NEIGHING]

[PANTING]

LANCELOT: You would leave

without saying goodbye to me?

[WHISPERING] I'm so sorry.

[EXHALES]

[WHISPERING] I'm so sorry.

GUINEVERE: How could I get her

to this thing she wants?

You cannot marry me?

I cannot do it without

my father's knowledge.

I cannot make war on

the high king, Arthur,

without knowing

for what he stands.

Did you know she was

half sister to this Arthur?

No.

GUINEVERE: Did you know

what she had planned?

LANCELOT: NO.

Then come with me.

GUINEVERE: I'll tell my father

how much I love you.

If I can't have you,

I'll never wed.

I'm of unknown birth.

He won't think me worthy.

Then I'll renounce my crown.

And we can wander together free.

No.

Please, you cannot abandon

your obligation to your people.

And I cannot abandon mine.

Neither to the goddess

or to L'Fei.

You agree with her?

You can't imagine what

it's like to be drowning.

And then when someone

gives you your life back...

You remember it.

Then this is it?

I'll never again see you?

[EXHALES]

[CREAKING]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

MORGAN: I order you to stay.

If you defy me,

the Goddess will despise you!

MORGAN: You'll be cursed.

And the dark ones

will possess your life.

No!

I think not, Morgan!

Stop her!

[HORSE GALLOPING]

[BIRD WHISTLING]

GUINEVERE: This place is darker

and sadder than I remember.

MAN: There is no joy

in preparing for war.

[DOOR OPENS]

GUINEVERE: Father?

Guinevere!

Guinevere!

LEODOGAN: It has been so long.

So long.

And I must send you away again.

MAN: Not necessary.

MAN: I like this place.

MAN: I'm ready to stay here.

LEODOGAN: Malgin, King of Gal,

has come to seek your hand.

I seek this kingdom!

I will have it

through marriage,

or through war.

MALGIN: Marriage,

of course, will be...

MALGIN: Much more pleasant.

I'll leave you to

plan our wedding.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

GUINEVERE: Father, I come

to you out of obedience,

but I do not want

to marry that man.

I should hope not.

He's a cruel and

ambitious beast.

But the weeks have delayed...

Summoning you,

awaiting your arrival has

given us time to call on men,

and to manufacture arms.

Then this was all a game?

No.

Oh no, Guinevere.

There's no game.

Many thousand of lives will

be saved if you marry Malgin.

LEODOGAN: What they'd

be worth under him...

I cannot say.

Freedom is not easily claimed.

I had to leave

in a hurry, father,

you'll have to lend me

a sword.

Spoken like a true

queen of Camelot.

But I cannot let

you on the field.

I can wield a sword

as well as anyone...

I don't doubt it.

But you are the prize.

Malgin must not seize you.

Forward!

[MEN SCREAMING]

Camelot, and Guinevere!

[MEN SCREAMING]

[METAL CLANKING]

[GROANING]

[METAL CLANKING]

[GROANING]

[MAN GROANING]

[COUGHING]

[FLUTE MUSIC PLAYING]

[GROANING]

[DOOR OPENS]

GUINEVERE: I will marry him.

Let there be

no more dying.

LEODOGAN: I will send a message.

MAN: My Lord,

visitors to see you.

We fight under no banner.

But we've heard of your

struggles with this ruffian,

and we've come to offer you aid.

I thank you.

But I'm on the verge

of surrendering.

Let us fight alone then.

Even we six can

do some damage.

No, I cannot allow that.

But I will stand with you,

together with what

remains of my army.

[HORSES NEIGHING]

MALGIN: Alone!

MALGIN: Battle line!

Battle line!

MAN: Line for battle!

Form a line!

[MEN SCREAMING]

[METAL CLANKING]

[MEN SCREAMING]

[METAL CLANKING]

[SCREAMING]

[MOANING]

The king is dead.

Long live the Queen.

My father and I discussed

how we might repay you.

GUINEVERE: Anything

I have is yours.

Anything.

GUINEVERE: Even

the great castle

at Aiden.

On point of fact,

we're not much interested

in real estate.

MERLIN: What he needs is a wife.

[HORSES NEIGHING]

Will you have me, my lady...

as your husband?

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

How can I deny you?

I owe you more than my life.

MERLIN: How can you value

anything more than your

own life, my lady?

The life of my kingdom,

GUINEVERE: the men who

would have been slaughtered,

the women who would have

been taken had the enemy

not been stopped.

MERLIN: And so...

not knowing his name, or birth,

you will give to this

young boy your

maiden hand?

Nobility of heart is

more important than

nobility of birth.

If you are not entitled

to be King, then you shall

rule here as my consort.

And we shall be as

equals, you and I.

GAWAIN: I'm afraid not,

my lady.

Not quite as equals.

For you are Queen of Camelot,

but this man...

who'll be rolling you between

the sheets soon enough,

is Arthur Pendragon,

high king of Britain.

I wanted to win you

on merit, my lady.

That you did, my Lord.

[LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING]

[DOOR CREAKING]

[FLUTE MUSIC PLAYING]

They call me Merlin.

GUINEVERE: So even you

just wanted my kingdom?

If we had wanted that,

we would have taken it by force.

MERLIN: Guinevere...

White shadow.

You have been chosen by me.

Chosen above all others

to be Arthur's queen.

MERLIN: And though

men desire you...

for your lands, and for your...

for your great beauty...

I have chosen you...

For your mind.

MERLIN: I raised Arthur.

I know his magnificence.

And I have made him

High king of Britain.

And I know his flaws.

And that the great challenges

are yet to come.

It's one thing to

conquer a country...

It's another to transform it.

MERLIN: But Britain

must be raised

from its bloody darkness...

into a land of peace,

and law.

Arthur can't do it.

Not alone.

And I...

I am an old man.

I had to find him someone

with the strength and wisdom,

to keep the promise.

MERLIN: And so...

I found him you.

It will not be an easy job.

But it is the one

you were born to do.

MERLIN: So...

Are you ready now...

to wed Arthur Pendragon?

[SOFTLY] Yes.

Are you a woman?

I have taken on the power of

those who bleed but do not die.

MERLIN: And are you pure?

[SNIFFLES]

I have fasted...

and bathed myself

in sacred ways.

Then...

The moon is full.

The Goddess awaits.

[WATER FLOWING]

GUINEVERE: Mother, this is

your daughter, Guinevere...

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

I know you still love me,

despite Morgan's hate.

Tonight, I will be

a child no longer.

As you turned from new,

to full,

to dark.

As all existence turns,

from birth,

to life,

to death.

I too turn...

from maiden to woman.

To be reborn again

in your image.

The source...

of life.

Aah!

[GROANING]

Aah!

[GROANING]

[METAL CLANKING]

[GROANING]

ARTHUR: Guinevere!

ARTHUR: Guinevere!

Who taught you

to fight like that?

At the sanctuary...

I had a good instructor.

I'll say.

Malgin must've sent

these two cowards.

I'll have them dumped

back over his border.

ARTHUR: I haven't seen

a hilt like this before.

It balances the blade

much better than ours.

ARTHUR: I'll talk to Kei,

see if he can come up...

GUINEVERE: Morgan L'Fei!

Oh, God.

[EXHALES]

ARTHUR: You were right.

We shall rule as equals,

you and I.

[DOOR CREAKING]

[DOOR CREAKING]

GUINEVERE: This room has

been unused since I was five.

And now, finally, my

mother sleeps with

my father once again.

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

I need not take you for

the first time while

you are in mourning.

But in the eyes of your

religion, we are not wed

until it is done.

All I know about this

is what I read in Ovid.

Well, it's easier lying

down for one thing.

I will try to be gentle...

and quick.

[TRUMPETS SOUNDING]

The king awaits...

his honor guard!

You worship

the white Christ,

Merlin?

Underneath the ritual...

it's all the same God.

Goddess!

[MERLIN LAUGHING]

I want to explain to you

about this coronation.

You may be pagan...

and worth pagan wealth.

But most of your kingdom...

is Christian.

The bishops will

run this coronation.

It's called, uh,

being queen,

to all the lands.

But if I do not

honor this God...

I make my vows to?

You honor the hope of peace.

To which they are made.

Your right to the crown...

perhaps, even to your life...

depends on this.

BISHOP: Merlin.

Merlin, we will speak with you.

My Lords.

MERLIN: Guinevere.

Arthur's bride.

BISHOP: Not in our eyes.

MERLIN: Perhaps you will

be able to rectify that

at the coronation.

The knife.

Remove it.

Arthur wears his sword.

He has said that we

will rule as equals.

An anointed queen

does not shed blood.

Let them have the knife,

Guinevere.

[FOOTSTEPS]

And now I'm supposed to

spread my hands and

let myself be killed?

MERLIN: You'll not go

unprotected here.

MERLIN: You'll have

your own champion.

A brave warrior,

sworn to protect you.

MERLIN: Just as Gawain

is sworn to Arthur.

GUINEVERE: And where

do I find him?

MERLIN: Normally, we'd choose

him from among the best

in the kingdom,

but today...

your champion arrived,

as a gift.

GUINEVERE: And I

must accept him?

MERLIN: Yes.

MERLIN: Yes!

GUINEVERE: Then it was just

the kingdom you wanted!

MERLIN: You're forgetting

everything I told you!

But if you are to rule Britain

you must forget yourself.

No more fear.

No more desire.

No more anything.

There isn't time.

You have a great deal to learn.

MERLIN: Listen...

Your king and your courtier

will be entirely Christian.

But the pagans are powerful.

They must be given their due.

To refuse an offering

from the high priestess...

would be taken badly.

The high priestess?

Morgan sent this champion?

I wasn't sure you

knew about L'Fei.

I know she hates Arthur.

I know she tried to

have me murdered.

We were aware of that.

But we still need

the illusion of her loyalty.

And I am to entrust

my life to an illusion?

MERLIN: It's called politics.

MERLIN: But the warrior

is brave enough.

MERLIN: I believe you know him.

GAWAIN: Merlin,

you're wanted

for the procession.

GAWAIN: He'll be back

with you presently.

[HORSES NEIGHING]

Oh, she sent you too...

To kill me?

Kill you?

It is for the loss of you

that I've wanted to die.

I am so alone, Lac.

When you ruled away

from me, I could feel my

soul wrenched out of me.

This past year I prayed

so often you would come.

Oh!

LANCELOT: I've spent

this past year mad.

Roaming the darkest roads.

Challenging all those

who crossed my path.

I wanted them to kill me.

And Morgan knew it.

Knew that unless she changed,

she could not stop me.

And finally she has let me go.

Let you go?

To be with you.

As I need to.

And I am married

to Arthur now.

LANCELOT: No!

Not in his world,

I heard them.

In our world, the Goddess

knows that you were

pledged to me first.

Or have you come

to love this Arthur?

You are the only

one that I love.

Then come with me now.

Before they set their

crosses on you.

WOMAN: My lady.

They wait on your attendance.

[FOOTSTEPS]

It's too late, Lac.

Then I will kill Arthur!

It is not Arthur who binds me

or sets me free.

As a wheel turns in water,

I too am being

turned by something.

I believe there is a possibility

of peace with this high king.

Out of all this pain...

something new will be born.

GUINEVERE: I have a chance to

make it something good, Lac.

A world of justice.

Not ruled by violence,

nor Morgan's rage and envy.

You think that fair to her?

To destroy Arthur she has

tried to stop me twice.

Once by a murderer's hand...

And now with you.

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[WHISPERING] Kiss me.

[WHISPERING] For the last time.

And then there's nothing

more between us.

GUINEVERE: Promise?

I won't.

Then you must go and

never come back again.

[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[SOBBING]

[LANCELOT WHISPERING] Don't.

[GUINEVERE SOBBING]

[TRUMPETS SOUNDING]

[FIRE CRACKLING]

MAN: Arch!

MAN: Swords!

[METAL CLANKING]

You picked a winner, Merlin.

She's a better queen

than you know, my boy.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[RUMBLING]

Sending Lancelot on ahead.

We're going to try to outfox

these Northern pagans.

Go with the goddess.

MAN: I'll get some more wood.

[MEN CHATTING]

ARTHUR: Guin.

I hoped the fighting

would be over long ago.

There's still too many

local kings who make

war on their neighbors.

Maybe you should

be heading home.

All the other women have.

I won't go home before you.

And when the prince is born,

will you not say

I'm in a midst

of playing of battle?

The "princess" I hope

will be weaned on peace.

[BIRD WHISTLING]

I do not like these woods.

SOLDIER: Rider approaching!

[HORSE GALLOPING]

Rise and identify yourself, sir.

I have been sent

from the castle

seven miles yonder,

to bid the high King,

and his party take shelter

from this night.

ARTHUR: Are there more

horses like these?

I could use more for

such sturdy footing.

Forty brood mares

at least, sire.

And half a dozen stallion.

ARTHUR: Bring the horses.

ARTHUR: Mm-mmm.

ARTHUR: It's too bad Merlin's

gone back to his lair.

He may say he's too old for

all our rampaging about,

but he's not too old

for a feast such as this.

Our cook thought you

might prefer a warming

drink, my lady.

ARTHUR: Go on, Guin,

it's just a bit.

ARTHUR: Mm-mmm.

WOMAN: Your bed is ready, sire.

[LAUGHTER]

ARTHUR: Yes.

GUINEVERE: Stay with me, Arthur.

ARTHUR: No.

I'm too restless

to lie in bed yet.

And there are things I need

to discuss with Gawain.

It would be better for

you to get some sleep.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[EXHALES]

[DOOR OPENS]

[CREAKING]

WOMAN: Our mistress

awaits your pleasure.

[CREAKING]

[GROANING]

GUINEVERE: Arthur?

[GROANING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Arthur!

Arthur.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

GUINEVERE: Arthur?

[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]

Arthur.

GUINEVERE: Arthur!

[GROANING]

[THUDS]

Leave us.

This is woman's work.

GUINEVERE: Oh, God!

[GROANING]

[GROANING]

GUINEVERE: Arthur.

[GROANING]

[GROANING]

It's ergot.

MORGAN: Do you

recognize its action?

Only ten times more

than we would usually give.

GUINEVERE: Why?

Why did you poison me?

Arthur's seed is now within me.

Child of the queen's daughter

by the old laws.

Child of the King's son

by the new.

But this one cannot be denied.

It will still be second to mine!

Do you really think so?

Your babe is dying.

MORGAN: And you are dying too.

[GUINEVERE SCREAMING] Whore!

Don't torment yourself.

MORGAN: It will

all be over soon.

[SCREAMING]

[MOANING AND SOBBING]

[SOBBING]

[FOOTSTEPS]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[MOANING]

[COUGHING]

[MOANING]

WOMAN: It's over now, dear.

You have a sweet young girl.

[BABY BABBLING]

[BABY BABBLING]

Well, no, you're

not finished yet.

I have to get out of here.

But you must rest.

You'll bleed to death.

No, I can't let Morgan find her.

[BABY BABBLING]

[SOBBING]

When I'm gone...

you must leave

this place forever.

You must... You must tell

no one that you saw me.

[SOBBING]

Raise my daughter as your own.

Mother, guard my baby.

[HORSE GALLOPING]

GUINEVERE: Lac.

[WHISPERING] Where's my baby?

Is she safe?

Everyone searched.

They found nothing.

They say that it

came too early.

They all think your

baby's dead, Guin.

She'll be safe from L'Fei.

I promise.

Now sleep.

GUINEVERE: Lac.

ARTHUR: It's Arthur, your king.

Lancelot is gone.

We're clearing some Irish

invaders from Dundrennan.

You sent him away?

I thought he was to protect me.

I was tired of his

silent accusations!

I was tired of always hearing

you call his name!

I was here too!

Not as often, maybe, but I

have a country to rule.

And without you it

hasn't been easy.

[EXHALES]

ARTHUR: Come on, Guin.

Can we forget what happened?

It was a night's foolishness

and nothing more.

You are my queen.

That woman...

I can't even remember

what she looked like.

Then you should make

an effort, Arthur.

That woman you

lay with was L'Fei.

GUINEVERE: Also known as Morgan.

Igraine's daughter, your sister!

I will have her killed.

And we will never

speak of this again.

GUINEVERE: You cannot kill

the High Priestess of Britain,

without bringing down upon

you all the pagan kingdoms,

and plunging Britain

once more into civil war.

But she has stained

my crown with incest.

She's defiled my kingship.

I can't bear that she's out

there unpunished after

having done that to me!

To you?

And have I emerged unscathed?

ARTHUR: They say that you'll

never bear me an heir.

We will never have our own...

loving family.

[SARCASTICALLY] Uh, not that

I would know what it looks like.

Haven't you heard the stories?

ARTHUR: That my father

raped my mother?

[SCOFFS] Merlin says

that it isn't true.

But he took me the day

I was born. There had

to be a reason.

You never asked your father?

I never saw him.

I never saw either one of them.

ARTHUR: This island

will be my children.

And that is how we will

overcome what has happened.

By not allowing it to

destroy our dreams.

Your dreams.

I'm just here clearing

out all the clutter.

You do more than that, Arthur.

No.

I know my limits,

give me credit for that.

What I am is a great warrior.

And it is time I took

my people back to battle.

Malgin was using my

absence to unite

the last kings in rebellion.

And I will crush him,

end them all... for good.

It will be a magnificent fight.

We've got these new

things called crossbows,

that allows us to fire with

one hand while we ride.

Oh, Guin, you should see them,

well, you will see them.

No.

ARTHUR: But...

They told me you were better.

Just tired.

And fresh air would

do you good, Guin.

This could be our

very last battle.

Arthur, someone will always

be wanting to test his

sword against yours.

There will always be violence

until we say "enough."

Malgin killed your father.

ARTHUR: You think

enough will stop him?

I've had a lot of time

to think about that.

Traveling with you for a year...

Lost in nightmares

these past few months.

It is upto us to create

a different way.

A different way of

solving differences.

A different way

of wielding power.

We have to be better.

Not just in battle.

And make others

want to be like us.

To win not just our protection,

but our esteem.

Well, I can tell you

they'll esteem us when

they see these crossbows.

We seem like an army twice

as fierce as our numbers.

GUINEVERE: Arthur, I will

not be riding with you

again to battle.

It is time I begin what

Merlin shows me to do.

Well, it's easy to say that

with him hidden away in

his lair, now, isn't it?

Nothing is easy anymore.

[DOOR CREAKING]

GAWAIN: Ahem.

My Lord.

Troops are ready.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Then I leave the kingdom in

your capable hands, Guinevere.

I accept the burden gladly.

[FOOTSTEPS]

Arthur.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

Return safely.

That is my intention.

[DOOR CREAKS]

MAN: My lady, an envoy.

He demands to see the queen.

Has he come from Dundrennan?

Has he word of Lancelot's army?

He has come from Gal.

He says he has news of the king.

Who's at the end of

the long board always feel

less honored.

Arthur wants every one

of his guests close at hand.

Big and square.

It'd be hard to pass

the haggies, ma'am.

Then make it hollow,

with places for

servers to enter.

[EXHALES]

And make it round.

It's been six months since

I last saw my husband.

What news do you bring me, sir?

That you will never

again see him.

He has been captured and is

prisoner of Malgin of Gal.

And will die.

He and all his army.

Britain will not allow

Arthur to be slain.

I think it will.

For Malgin is high king now.

By who's authority?

One could ask by who's

authority Arthur held it?

When in lying with his sister

he committed incest.

An act which you...

has said to have witnessed...

my Queen.

Is this Morgan's doing?

ENVOY: Only half.

As they say...

The beast has two backs.

It has none!

This accusation is

a damnable lie.

Is it?

The world will see no army

comes to dispute it.

Trial by combat has

been replaced by law.

Not in the rebel kingdoms.

You have till the full moon

to bring your warriors.

Malgin holds most of them.

And the rest...

with Lancelot...

have not been heard from

for many months.

ENVOY: Shall I tell my lord

you concede to the charge?

Tell your Lord I

concede nothing.

GUINEVERE: Tell him he will

have to defend his lies.

Against who?

Against Guinevere,

High Queen of Britain.

And remind him that Britain has

a tradition of warrior queens.

GUINEVERE: Tell him to think

on Boudica, queen of Iceni,

who destroyed Rome's

entire ninth legion.

Tell him to think on Katemanda,

queen of the Buganti's,

from whom I am descended.

GUINEVERE: Tell him though

I have sworn on my crown,

never to raise a weapon,

if he harms one hair on

Arthur's anointed head...

tell Malgin I will

kill him myself.

[FOOTSTEPS]

It's deadly sharp.

And I made it lighter

befitting your size, my lady.

I will not touch it

till I need to.

Then, if you would permit...

I will come along

as your squire.

MAN: We will not

let you ride alone.

GUINEVERE: You are

welcome, my friends.

MERLIN: Arthur...

is a great warrior.

A charismatic leader.

But only an ordinary man.

And you thought he was

sent by the heavens.

Uh, I think...

considering he

was Uther's son...

I did a pretty good job.

So the truth means nothing?

MERLIN: It means a great deal.

But nothing in this

world is either

black, or white.

MERLIN: It's not a bad thing...

Guinevere...

to inspire the world

to true nobility.

One man or one woman...

makes it possible

for the rest of us...

to rise above what

we thought we could do.

One hero makes us all heroes.

One visionary...

can show us all

the way to peace.

And that is why I am riding

armed into battle?

MERLIN: I told you,

you were being tested.

But I know you will

find a way to triumph.

Just as you found a way

to save your child.

You've seen my baby?

She...

She is well.

And well hidden

on the isle of Anglesey.

I told you I was practiced

at spiriting a vase more

wet than Draconus.

MERLIN: I must

tell you something...

Something I told

Arthur's mother.

This child...

belongs to Britain.

Claim her...

and she will be destroyed.

MERLIN: One day...

she will return like her father

to save her country.

But now...

Guinevere...

It is your turn to

save your country.

Will you come with me?

I have never left you.

And I never will, my child.

MERLIN: Go with God.

And with the Goddess.

One day...

we will meet again.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

MAN: We've come to

fight for Arthur.

Onward to the North then.

[TRUMPETS SOUNDING]

MEN: This way... Join us.

[LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING]

SQUIRE: That's the castle,

my lady.

Fortified till the hilt.

No way in, and no way out.

Not only that, but...

four kings have

joined with Malgin.

GUINEVERE: Our men

will be slaughtered.

All will be slaughtered.

MAN: I'm going off

to fetch more wood...

[HORSE GALLOPING]

[LAUGHTER]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[GROANING]

GUINEVERE: Tell your lord

that Guinevere,

High Queen of Britain, would

see him here and now alone.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

SOLDIER: Open the gate.

[MEN CHATTING]

[FOOTSTEPS]

How did you get here?

GUINEVERE: Morgan is not

the only one who knows magic.

I was tutored by Merlin

as well as by she.

Even Morgan isn't leaving

Arthur's death to magic.

Strip her and search her.

You would let other men

touch your future wife?

Stop!

I have come to make you a deal.

What kind of a deal

could you make with me?

Four kings have come

to make sure Arthur dies.

I can offer you something far

better than Arthur's blood.

GUINEVERE: One unfairly when he

and his army are all in chains.

What kind of truth?

What kind of honor will

such a victory accord you?

Release Arthur.

GUINEVERE: And I will

come to you myself.

Freely.

With all my lands

and all my subjects.

GUINEVERE: You will have

no more and no less than

Arthur did when he wed me.

And if you then

unite all of Britain...

you must be acknowledged

greater than he.

I will have you anyway.

No, I will kill myself

if he dies.

And you will have bloody

chaos on your hands,

and Saxons on your shores

quick to smell the advantage.

You will come to me.

You will...

surrender yourself, you'll...

spread your legs for me?

And you expect me to believe...

that you won't change

your mind again?

You have my word.

I will swear whatever

vow you wish.

You will swear also never...

to seek escape...

or accept rescue.

I will swear that also.

You will swear...

in the morn...

before the Goddess

and her armies.

I will come to you in the morn.

In all my finery.

In the morn then...

or when the sun reaches mid-sky,

your king, and your country...

will die.

[THRILLING MUSIC PLAYING]

GUINEVERE: Make sure

my horse is fed.

SQUIRE: Yes, my lady.

[DOOR OPENS]

[RUMBLING]

[FIRE CRACKLING]

GUINEVERE: Lac?

LANCELOT: Yes, it is I.

[BREATHING EXCITEDLY]

GUINEVERE: Have you

really come to help me?

To save Arthur?

I don't think I would, if it's

all I could to extricate

us from the siege.

He sends us against a force

a hundred times our own.

But you...

You and your army,

you can still rescue him.

Guin, my army...

what's left of my army is

still three days behind.

I could not make them ride

any longer without sleep.

But you came!

You would think of something.

If not I must exchange myself

for him in the morn.

That I will not let you do.

And I cannot let Arthur die.

As he let you lie dying

while he bed Morgan?

He was enchanted,

you know her powers.

Then why they never

worked on us?

Perhaps she plays with us

in a different way.

Or perhaps Arthur

chose to be enchanted!

It would not have

been the first time,

nor the last.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

He's not perfect, Lac.

He is perhaps further

from it than you.

But he has allowed his people

to believe they are a nation,

and they need him if

they are to endure.

No, Guin.

You are what they need now.

Not another warrior with

a blood dripping sword.

It is your wisdom

that will carry them.

Your dreams that

will inspire them.

It is you they followed here!

I will take responsibility,

and I will carry you away,

and not until Arthur is dead

will I set you free.

[RUMBLING]

And then you may

have me executed.

LANCELOT: As you may need to.

LANCELOT: But the people

will understand my passion,

and you will remain

as their high queen.

And I will be asking of Arthur

no more than I ask of myself.

And I will never

have had the pleasure...

of anyone's sheets.

[FIRE CRACKLING]

Tonight then.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[KISSING PASSIONATELY]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

LANCELOT: No!

GUINEVERE: I know.

Because your plan

wont work, Lac.

It won't work.

If I refuse Malgin, he'll send

five kingdoms against me.

And without you or

Arthur to protect them

my people will be drowned

in their own blood.

MORGAN: You can

leave Malgin to me.

[SOFTLY] You!

You did all this?

He used me

for his purposes.

And I will use him

for mine.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[GUINEVERE SCREAMING]

LANCELOT: No, Guin!

Now none of us is perfect.

[WHISPERING] What?

GUINEVERE: What do

you want from me?

Nothing other than what

you want for yourself.

MORGAN: Lancelot beside you

on the high throne of Britain.

I know you hate me.

I know you have reason.

Sometimes our paths are crueler

than we would wish them to be.

MORGAN: But I can give

you both a piece of the

love you have dreamed of.

Think back, Guinevere,

of your days at the sanctuary.

And realize that your vision

is not so different from mine.

Where do you think

you got it from, child?

[RUMBLING]

Let Lancelot take you from here.

I will deal with

what comes after.

LANCELOT: It's almost

dawn, Guin.

We should be going.

You serve me...

Not L'Fei.

Her darkness offers

her heart's desire.

It is the darkness still.

And I say I will defeat her.

Arthur will not die.

GUINEVERE: You will fight

one last battle for me.

And then you will be

discharged of all your

vows and obligations.

Perhaps if I'm lucky I will

not survive this battle.

But if I live...

I will accept your release,

and depart this country.

Know that when you leave,

you take my heart with you.

I await your orders, my queen.

Rise, Lancelot.

And hear what you must do.

[HORSES NEIGHING]

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

Don't do this.

GUINEVERE: L'Fei has

promised to betray you.

And Lancelot has come

with all his army.

Look up, Malgin,

and face your destroyer.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

By this army...

you know that Arthur Pendragon

is high king.

By this Arthur, you know

that Camelot will live.

And that the time

of swords raised...

Britain against Britain is over!

We are one people.

One nation!

We are sharers of one dream.

Or so you can choose to be.

You can choose to put your might

to the work of greatness.

GUINEVERE: Or you can die.

And miss the splendor

that will come.

Urian!

URIAN: We came

to witness a trial.

Not to be slaughtered.

Stater.

You encouraged my campaign

against Pendragon.

I was wrong.

She is right.

GUINEVERE: I think you

had better you release

Arthur, my Lord.

[MORGAN SCREAMING]

Kill him now, Malgin,

as you promised!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Release him.

Come on, Arthur.

We're going home.

[LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING]

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

GUINEVERE: Enter.

GUINEVERE: Kaethi, could you

please excuse us for a moment.

[DOOR CLOSES]

He has left, hasn't he?

Yes, my lady, he has.

Did he...

give you any message for me?

No, my lady, he said nothing.

But he...

just sent you this.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[CLAPPING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

ANNOUNCER: The King and Queen!

I would have thought Merlin

would have come to see this.

He is gone, Arthur.

Both of them are gone.

We're alone then?

It's just we two together.

It will be enough.

ALL: All hail, Arthur!

ALL: High King of Britain!

ALL: All hail, Guinevere!

ALL: His most high Queen!

[LAUGHTER]

GUINEVERE: And so,

Lancelot left,

Merlin died,

but Arthur and I endured.

Peace came to Britain.

And with it, prosperity.

And Camelot,

became a beacon

to all people

in all lands

for all time.

[MUSIC ENDS]