Conan the Adventurer (1997–1998): Season 1, Episode 21 - Lethal Wizards - full transcript

After the
ocean swallowed Atlantis,

and before recorded history,

there was an age when mythical kingdoms

spread across an uncharted world.

This was the age of Conan.

Enslaved as a boy, Conan
grew into a warrior.

He escaped to encounter
mystery, magic, and myth.

While forever facing the
ultimate master of sorcery.

Lover, friend, hero.

His destiny was to free the oppressed

and become a king by his own hand.



Conan.

You see how easy it is?

To find Conan, one must simply follow

the trail of dead soldiers.

You are certain that Conan did this?

Who else has fought Hissah Zul

with such aggressive vengeance?

Gero, what are you waiting for?

His fear binds him to that tree.

Nonsense, I only want to make certain

that we are not acting too soon.

Really?

And wait 'til Hissah Zul discovers

every village in his treasury?



We have not the time.

I did not take that much.

I pray in defense, tell
that to the executioner.

We will be butchered.

That is why we must find Conan.

He's every bit the
hero that I heard he was.

He will have to be,

and his compatriots
they also do quite well.

May I remind you?

We come not to praise him, but to use him.

By Crom, what is it?

Was I dreaming?

No, I saw it too.

And I as well.

A conjurers illusion.

Child's play.

Please,

you have no need for that.

We come as friends.

My friends, do not use magic.

We were trying to help you.

Yes, yes, we wanted you to succeed.

Crom and my sword, help me to succeed.

Who are you?

I am King Gero of Shem, you have no doubt,

heard stories of me?

I have, but not good ones.

And you?

I am the Emperor Norbu.

Of the Black Kingdom?

Obviously.

And I am King Penor II
of Ruel, at your service.

A king bows to me?

The first of many if we work together.

Three kings, all wizards,
what do you want from me?

You are fighting Hissah Zul,

we seek to help you.

We too have grown weary of his tyranny.

Since when?

You also part of his power.

No, more like his
servants, or his prisoners.

You have shown us that
his yolk can be broken.

You have weakened him.

And now you wish to change sides.

Will you accept this?

Will you let us show you the way?

You are all wizards?

The same as Hissah Zul?

It is true, but how else
can you defeat a wizard

unless you accept the
services of other wizards?

Together we can bring him down.

You and us.

And when it comes to the fight,

what weapon will you carry?

Our weapons may be spells and potions,

but rest assured we can
be very useful warriors.

The key to our plan is
to seize Argos, his castle.

Then Hissah Zul.

That is why he moved his castle.

That is where his power is.

Then we will go there.

Let's see how well you fight.

Master?

My best troop of men can't stop Conan.

I ought to execute the lot of them.

The execution of your soldiers

is a luxury you can no longer afford.

Ah, how dare you tell me
what I can or cannot afford.

As an oracle it is my
duty to tell you what I see.

Mmm, and what is it
exactly that you see?

Norbu, Penor, and Gero
they all plot against you.

They stole from me.

They must be punished.

Your armies fight theirs and
you leave yourself weakened.

Your very home here in
Argos could be threatened.

I am strong enough.

I guarantee it.

I admire your certainty.

Yes, but they are all
together now in a single spot.

One huge blow should see
the end of them.

What

is there to laugh at?

Conan actually believes
that I, the King of Shem,

would serve him, a lowly barbarian.

It is exactly what you will do.

Perhaps, but only long enough
to dispose of Hissah Zul.

Then I will dispose of Conan.

I have not yet decided whether
to use a spell or a potion.

What do you think Penor?

Neither.

But the sword is not my weapon.

You will do nothing to Conan.

If we were to kill him,

the people would not
accept us as their leaders.

They would revolt.

Then how, may I ask,
are we to come to power?

Or have you changed your
mind about that as well?

We do it slowly,
carefully, a transition.

You see Conan would
not be the kind of king

that Zul was right?

He would be strong and
disgustingly righteous.

He is a barbarian, skilled
with a sword, but unschooled.

He might be able to conquer a kingdom,

but he could never run one.

Yes, and his only hope would be

to acquire advisors and ministers.

And who better than we
three to advise him?

A good plan.

Yes, it is.

There is only one thing
that can cause it to fail.

What?

It is absolutely imperative

for we three to be loyal to each other.

For who else can we trust?

Who indeed?

King Conan, what a regal figure you are.

What do you want Karella?

Why I've brought you your
morning feast my dear King.

Can't you tell?

Such manners, so regal, so refined.

Nobody ever taught me
the ways of nobility.

I am a warrior.

That's not all you are.

What do you mean?

Horse thief, burglar, should I continue?

The truth doesn't hurt me.

But it might hurt the king.

If I were king, I would
rule wisely and justly.

The people would forgive me.

Yes, they might.

But what about a queen.

A beautiful queen, who
could share your riches

and rule your lands.

Would she forgive you?

I hope so.

Karella, you can't be serious.

Oh Conan, you've spent your whole life

surrounded by warriors.

Who better for a queen

than someone who understands
how a warrior thinks?

Because she is one.

And we will continue our
battles into the bedchamber?

Battling wasn't what I had in mind.

I'll have to think about it.

You do that.

You'd like to call
out to her wouldn't you?

To greet her, talk to her, wouldn't you?

How they love to hear poetry recited.

What woman's heart is not melted

by the sound of finely formed words.

There's always hope.

Yes, I can do it.

I can give you a voice.

Not now, I must prepare.

This healing power of
mine must be our secret.

If the others found out, I'll
be deluged with requests,

and there is a limit
to what even I can do.

Conan, Otli, Bayu.

This is just between you and me.

Do you want your voice back or not?

Then all I ask from you, is
for your trust and loyalty.

Is that too much?

You had some business
at the river Penor?

As a matter of fact Gero,

I did nothing that would concern you.

There is too much jeopardy
for it not to concern me.

I was doing business that
one usually does at a river.

Are you sure that's all?

I wish that there had been more.

But at my age.

Do you remember what
we said about loyalty?

Without loyalty, there can be no trust.

My thought exactly.

Conan, Conan, coming up
over the crest of that hill.

Zul's men, they're coming back.

How many?

Too many.

No Zzeben not this time.

The wizard fooled them once,
they won't be fooled twice.

This way.

Right now it looks like
Conan will never need our help.

He is powerless, when the time comes.

And when will that time be?

When faces Hissah Zul's
castle, and his magic.

All right Karella, they're all dead.

You can come out now.

What are you waiting for?

You turn around.

The things I do for you.

Yes things have changed a lot

in the Black Kingdom these last few years.

And when were you there last?

Oh, a long time ago.

When your uncle was ruler.

Why did you leave?

I was a low born peasant.

There was no future, no hope.

And I was a little wild, I had to leave.

We lost many like
you during those times.

Warriors, scholars, men who
could have been leaders.

My uncle was a fool for
not sharing his power.

That is why he had to die.

But tell me something.

Are things that much better for you here?

They are.

Yet it is Conan that leads.

You are still taking orders.

And I have no quarrel with that.

Conan will make a good king.

And you would too given change.

Here or even back home
in the Black Kingdom.

Why are you telling me all this?

Why all this free advice?

Easy my friend, I asked for nothing.

This is a strange land for me.

And for you too.

One never knows when
one will need a brother.

I am not your brother.

Oh, but your blood

and your skin say something else.

Like it or not, you are.

You should not be having to do that.

Why not? I'm the one that's thirsty.

You should be granted
the ability to reach it.

Size, do you see me complaining?

I use it to my advantage.

How so?

Let's just say that I'm
often where no one thinks I am.

Ah, the gift of obscurity.

I never thought of that.

That's probably because

you haven't had as much time
to think about it as I have.

True, true.

Otli, you're a brilliant fellow.

If you were not, would
Conan follow your advice

the way he does?

We've been through a lot together.

Do not be modest.

It is not the volume of
experience, my friend.

You have a gift Otli.

A gift to make up for the curse.

Curse?

I am not cursed.

I thought you would
appreciate plain speech.

I appreciate conversation
not judgements.

A voice like yours
Otli, informed, shrewd.

It should be heeded by
more than just Conan.

And we both know why it is not.

The respect I gain is real.

If people do not take me
seriously it is their problem.

It does not have to be that way.

Of course it does, and it should be.

As a child grows, so can an adult.

My height, it's impossible.

Not with me.

It is not necessary.

I have the power.

I am not accustomed to being laughed at.

I would think with a crown like that,

you would be accustomed to it.

Captain, welcome.

You summoned me my lord?

Yes, tell me, how is it going?

Our forces are split three ways.

We continue to fight hard

against the armies of our former allies.

Ingrates all of them.

Yes my lord, but with just a little luck

our warriors will soon
bring them to their knees.

Luck?

An element I have never
had to rely on before.

Poor choice of words.

The advantage will soon
be on our side again,

if I have any control over it.

Come, come, have some wine.

Thank you, my lord.

So tell me Captain, when
things are most difficult,

do you ever consider deserting?

Never, I have taken an oath my lord.

And you die before you broke that oath.

As always.

Good, because you just have died.

The drink is poison.

You'll be dead in two days.

Oh, no.

No need for that.

The poison did it's work the
moment it touched your lips.

But, why?

Because of an order
I may have to give you.

That only a man with nothing
to lose would carry it out.

An order?

I have the means to destroy Argos,

and everyone in it, including myself.

And that is what I will do

rather than let Conan take the thrown.

Does it make sense,

to you now?

So, have you thought about it?

'Bout what?

About me becoming your future queen?

Oh that.

Yes, that.

I gave it some thought.

And?

Wouldn't you agree that
a queen must be dignified?

Of course.

Good, so no more stealing.

Missed.

What does business have
to do with the future

of me being queen?

Everything.

Besides you're already a queen.

Queen of thieves.

Conan, look what we found
trying to escape from Argos.

Captain, no less.

There is only one kind poison I know

that shows few symptoms
for the first few days,

then suddenly kills.

Yes, Hashem root.

I can test for it.

Hashem, all right.

So he was telling the truth.

So he is dying.

I would not feel sorry for him.

He should have known what to expect

with someone like Hissah Zul.

I will tell Conan.

Not yet.

Hissah Zul's poisoning his own men now,

which tells me he's reaching for a plan.

A defensive one.

Indeed.

Things are looking
better and better for us.

So our pact is all the more important.

Are you still together
with me on this my friends?

Of course we are, as always.

Well, it appears my
early medical training

was not for not.

Get to the point.

He has only one day at most.

Oh, I had hoped he was bluffing.

One day.

What would you do with it?

Women, food, drink?

What would you do?

I would know I had two choices.

To die, or to get your
revenge and then die.

Revenge?

But how?

Help me to destroy Hissah Zul,

by leading me into his fortress.

I want to go with you.

What our future queen
wants to join the battle?

You haven't agreed to my bargain yet.

And I'm still a warrior at the moment.

Sorry, but the Captain says
the way to Hissah Zul's palace

is long and narrow.

Too many people would slow us down.

One more warrior won't
make the difference.

You and your men stay here.

I want you to keep an eye
on our three new friends.

That's not the reason why
you don't want me to go, is it?

I just said it was.

No, there's another reason.

You don't want to lose me.

There might be another reason.

Really?

If you go to Argos first,
you would rob the city clean.

Heya.

To Argos!

This tunnel will lead
us to Zul's chamber.

He's always there so, poison.

Maybe you should stay here.

Conan, I have a good skin of brandy.

I was saving it for a celebration but...

No, the only tonic
I want is Zul's blood.

Zul had this tunnel built many years ago.

It was to be his escape route.

It hasn't been used.

He still has his power.

He'd rather destroy a whole population

than admit to failure.

We know, we're all
part of that population.

You traitor.

Zzeben go back and hold them off.

The entrance is sealed,

Conan, we need the three wizards.

Conan, we need the three wizards.

We will go.

Poisoned by Hissah Zul
and still loyal to him.

Makes no sense.

Aye, the screams were
deafening in there.

I didn't even hear you say thank you.

Next time, do what I say.

If I did,

the rats would be picking
at your carcass right now.

Karella, I told you several times.

Conan.

Just like they're married.

How could they have allowed themselves

to be ambushed like that?

I'd ask, but they're all dead.

As you will be shortly.

You have wasted your life.

Do not be concerned sire.

I've only lived to carry your orders.

First, just tell me one thing.

What is your name?

My name, is Adsmir.

And what is your family name?

My parents were Leonis

and Preeyu.

Their farm was near here.

They are both dead.

Yes, my lord.

That will make your own death easier.

And I will hear no funeral chanting.

Even if they were alive,

there would be no second thoughts.

No.

Then go, go.

Such loyalty, if only all
my soldiers were like that.

Indeed.

He said his mother's name was Preeyu.

I once had concubine by that name.

It was the same person.

Then do you suppose, he could be my...

His ability to be devious
compliments you sire.

I'm sure that Preeyu thought the same.

does he know?

Yes, but Preeyu made him
swear never to tell a soul.

And why was that?

She was afraid that the other heirs

to your thrown might target him for death.

I have no heirs.

Preeyu didn't know that,
and you do have one heir.

The one you just poisoned.

Yes of course, him.

Let us hope, that his
death will serve me well.

Well, what happened?

I'll tell you on the way.

On the way where?

We're going back to Argos.

All of us this time.

But, but...

We must finish what we started.

By Crom, now is the time.

Now!

Hee-ya.

I fear we're gambling
with our own lives.

What choice do we have?

The choice is the hope,
that the three of us together,

will be strong enough to
fight Hissah Zul's magic.

Conan, let me come with you.

Yes, you can come.

Come on.

You expect us to climb that?

Unless you know how to fly, wizard.

A sorcerer's illusion.

This is all treachery.

Nobody move.

Scatter your powder to the wind.

You wizards.

Yes, you, do your work.

Do what I brought you for.

Do what you must do, now!

Only a little further to go.

Go, go.

You're a stupid man Captain.

Conan!

I won't be taking you up on your offer.

Karella I made no offer.

Now be quiet, so I can stop the bleeding.

He needs you more than ever now.

What words of comfort will you say to him?

Bayu, go help him, but
remember he's just your friend.

Not your brother.

Let this be the last time I
have to address you this way.

There's some wizadry I need from you.

First to hear Karella.

Then to get me to Hissah Zul's castle.

Why hasn't Conan been stopped?

Has that worthless dog
of a son betrayed me?

Rise up, and answer me.

Is it more rubies you want?

Take them, and may they
do you as much good

as they've done me.

Now, rise up.

Hissah Zul.

Your head is mine!

Wait?

After all we did for him,

now we have to wait to see him?

Come forward you three.

We have won the war.

What do you want as payment?

Wealth has no meaning to us.

All we ask is the
opportunity to serve you.

So be it.

You three will be my advisors.

With one of us, perhaps,
being the most favored?

No, all equal.

All equal.

But I must say thank
you, for saving Karella.

Anything for the future queen.

There is no crown in he future.

She will never change.

And where is she?

Karella left this morning.

If she's on her way to
one of your kingdoms,

you will be lucky if anything remains.

I know Zzeben.

They will be back.

My brother, those
three made many promises.

But none of you were drawn in, were you?

No, we weren't.

But why keep them around as allies?

My friends, I always
want you next to me.

But them, I need just
close enough to watch.

Brothers.