His Dark Materials (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - The Fight to the Death - full transcript

I have Lord Asriel in a jail
controlled by bears.

SCREAMING

I've come here to save you.

When I leave, you're coming too.
All of you.

You didn't come to the north
just for this, Lyra. My father.

I need to free him.

Colonel John Parry, former marine
and explorer, presumed dead

around 13 years ago.

This house,

this family, they're connected to
someone I desperately need to find.

Watch them and report back to me.



Bears should not kill other bears,
Lyra,

but I did. I was exiled

and Iofur Raknison has become king.

If your father is
a prisoner of the Svalbard bears,

he will not escape.

Charles... I don't know who you are.

I had a visitor. I didn't know where
else to go.

Your mum's mental, Parry.

Oi! Tell me
what's in that folder, Mum.

Letters from your father.

But if she needs care, Will, well,
my door's always open.

ROARS

WHIMPERS

You didn't leave?



Why aren't you at the airfield
with the others?

The others are leaving?

Why?

This is the best place
we could possibly be.

They cut out your daemon, not your
brain.

You seem...

..upset.

The girl's gas balloon
did you see which way it went?

There were a lot of girls
at this facility...

Lyra.

Did you see which way Lyra went?

I don't know a Lyra...Mrs Coulter.

Then you are no use to me.

I'd like...to be of use.

I would like to make you happy.

Happy?

Here?

Yes.

This is the best place
you could possibly be.

SISTER CLARA CHOKES

GASPS

SISTER CLARA GASPS

No... Shhshhshh...

I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it,
I didn't mean it.

I don't know where to go.

I don't know where to go.

SISTER CLARA WHIMPERS

Hm.

PAN WHIMPERS

PAN: Lyra.

LYRA GROANS

GROANS

ECHOING: Iorek!

Lee!
FAINT SCREECHING

Shush. Those cliffghast
creatures might still be around.

FAINT SCREECHING

FAINT GROWLING

Iorek.

FAINT GROWLING

THUDDING

GROWLING

THUDDING

GROWLING

ROARS

THUDDING

THUDDING

ROARS

DOOR CLANGS SHUT

No! No!

BANGS ON DOOR

Lyra, check the alethiometer.

Ask it if anyone's coming to rescue
us.

Where is Iorek Byrnison?

He saw where we fell.

He saw the bear tracks.

And he's headed this way.

He's coming to rescue us.

And I wish I was a witch.

That way you could fly off
and see if my father is here.

SQUEAKS

But you are not a witch.
You're a little girl.

Who are you?

CHAINS RATTLE

Jotham Santelia.

Regius Professor of Cosmology
at the University of Gloucester.

You're a scholar?

And you...?

What's your name?

Lyra.

Lyra Belacqua.

CHUCKLES

I don't suppose you've seen...

...my father?

Asriel Belacqua.

He was taken prisoner by the bears.

It wasn't too long ago
he was sitting where you are now.

CHUCKLES

He was here?
Yes.

But the rogue cheated his way
to Iofur's side.

Word is,
he's persuaded your father

to let him return to his laboratory

on the highest of mountains.

But make no mistake -

that laboratory is still a prison.

And King Iofur will never let Asriel
leave that place.

He will die up there

conducting his heretical
experiments!

Me and Iorek Byrnison will save
him.

You're not getting out of here!

And Iorek Byrnison
will certainly not save you.

Why not?

Because there are 200 bears here.

They'll kill him with firehurlers
before he even gets close

and then set upon the corpse
like he's a seal or a walrus.

Iorek should have been king
but was disgraced and exiled.

He will never be allowed
back in the palace.

Hatred is a powerful motor,

and King Iofur hates every inch of
Iorek.

You're stuck here, as am I.

Till you wilt.

Or they break you!

LAUGHS

DISTANT GROWLING

I once heard that what Iofur wants
most is to be human.

It's why he hired me.

My downfall came
when I told him he was a bear

and will always be one.

But unless you are a witch
and can magic him a daemon,

you will fail to please him,

just as I have.

I need to speak to Iofur Raknison!

It's about Iorek Byrnison!

GROWLING

There's something I know
that the king needs to know!

Just like your father.

CHUCKLES

Protecting your own skin, are you?

LAUGHS

Betraying your friend.

LAUGHS

Try and stay hidden.
I will.

BEAR: What do you want?

DOOR CLANGS

GROWLS

GROWLS

JOHN PARRY: It's been easier to

explain it to him than to Elaine, my
wife.

I think....helping scientists
drill for ice

sounds kind of cool to a kid.

Not that he is going to be able to

remember any of it. But I'll be
writing,

keeping them all updated,

Shackleton style.

I'm going to write them some...
some truly epic, er...letters.

I'm going to write them some...
some truly epic, er...letters.

BREATHES QUICKLY

LOW GROWL

Who is this child?

Greetings to you, great king.

Why do you disturb me?

I've got something very important
and secret to tell you.

It's about Iorek Byrnison.

Iorek!

Come closer.

Come.

GROWLING

Well?

I am his daemon.

But you're just a human.

Humans get animals.

It makes sense for bears to get
humans, doesn't it?

Bears, leave!

Iorek Byrnison was the first bear to

get a daemon, but it should have
been you.

I would have much rather been your
daemon.

How has a bear got a daemon?

And how are you far away from him?

I'm like a witch's daemon.

I...

I can travel.

And we stay connected.

As for how he got me...

It was at Bolvangar.

Mrs Coulter probably didn't tell you
everything they were doing there.

Childcutting.

And all kinds of other things too.

Including making artificial daemons.

Even for bears.

Daemons?

For bears?!

Mrs Coulter didn't give me a daemon.

I imprisoned Asriel for her.

GROWLS

I want to be with you.

That's why I'm here.

To tell you there is a way
for me to be your daemon.

What way...

..is that?

Iorek's coming for you now.

My bears will kill him
before he even gets close.

Thinks he can challenge you
for the throne,

but what he doesn't know is that if

you were to beat him, in single
combat...

..his strength would flow into you
and we would be united as one.

Why should I believe you?

I can prove it.

I can prove what I am.

Ask me something that only
a daemon would be able to find out.

If you're lying to me...

..I will feed you to Iorek myself.

Tell me...

..the first creature I killed.

I will have to go to a room by
myself to do this.

Whatever you have to do,

you can do it in here!

When I am your daemon
I will show you how I do it.

Until then...

..I will die before I show my
secrets.

GROWLS

Over there.

PANTS

Come on, come on, come on.

Where is Iorek now?

And how am I supposed
to tell him what I've done?

Trust him.

Who was the first creature you've
killed?

WHIRRING

Well?

I beg your pardon, Iofur Raknison.

I didn't know you were so...

..great and powerful.

You're playing for time.

The first creature you killed
was your own father.

GROWLS QUIETLY

I think you're a new god.

Only a god would have had the

strength and power to do such a
thing.

Mrs Coulter deceived me.

She deceived all of us.

Now do you see why you need me?

You're scared.

That the other bears won't
understand.

Tell them you called Iorek here
yourself.

Tell them that the winner
will rule over the bears for ever.

Make it your idea.

Not his.

Make it my idea?

Yes.

And the fools will believe me.

Great king...

Now it's time for me to leave you.

Leave me?

Iorek approaches. I can feel him.

He must not know what he's fighting
for,

or else it will make him
too passionate and...

He can't see that I'm loyal to you.

No. You must stay here with me,
daemon.

If you make me, I will stay.

But give me a chance to prove my
love.

Very well.

Ready me for battle!

KNOCK ON DOOR

Charles Latrom.

I was back in Oxford again.

I thought we could have a chat,
Elaine.

No, thank you.

Elaine...

I'm sure you've guessed already.

I wasn't in Oxford by chance.

I have urgent information
about your husband.

And I can't say it to you on your
porch.

Where's your lounge?

What a pleasant room.

It's strange.

Some houses you walk into

and you know they're not happy
places.

Other houses, it could be a smell
or something indescribable,

but you know a happy family lives
inside.

You know nothing about this family.

I know you have a son.

Will.

Stay away from him.

I've no intention
of going anywhere near him.

I'm on your side, Elaine.

Who do you work for?

When I left the Marines, I was

offered the opportunity to do
some...

..some intelligence work.

So, MI5, MI6?

Maybe we don't need
to answer that question.

Tell me what you know about John.
We're concerned.

We believe that before he
disappeared

he was entangled in something nasty.

I'm sorry?

We're investigating the
disappearance 13 years ago

of some rather valuable objects.

Dangerous objects.

And your husband's name
keeps getting brought up.

What objects?

What if I told you there was
a possibility, albeit slight,

that we might,
with the right information,

be able to find John himself?

I have already buried my husband.

I'm not talking about his corpse.

And if our information is correct...

..he could be alive.

There is no chance of that.

And I'm telling you...

..there is.

I can't help you. I know nothing.

He wrote to you.

He wrote every day.

Those letters could have
vital clues in them.

My husband left me with nothing.

I have nothing for you.

That's not true.

He didn't leave you with nothing.

You get money every month

from a bank account that he
controls.

I'm not helping you.

I'm at liberty to search this place,
with or without your consent.

Do you have a warrant?

I can get one.
Well, we'll wait for that, then.

Otherwise I will call the police
and they can sort this out.

Are you aware that if you are

obscuring evidence from Her
Majesty's Government...

I've seen no evidence that you work
for Her Majesty's Government.

..that you're at risk of jail
time...

Can I see some ID? ..and your son
could end up in care.

Do you know what you're risking
here?

I'm frightened of everything.

Being frightened of you
is just one more thing.

GASPS

What...? What the hell's that?

What?

Snake. A snake.

There was nothing of the kind.

I know what I saw.

It's your mind playing tricks on
you.

Fine.

I'll leave you be.

But I will come back with...

..as you say...

..the right paperwork.

We can get him back for you.

You have every reason
to cooperate with us.

DOOR OPENS

DOOR SHUTS

WAILS

How was she?

Not good, then.

Do you ever think that people just

don't understand what's good for
them?

What do you want me to do?

I don't care how you do it.

I want the letters.

THUDDING

Lyra! Are you OK? What is it?

Tell me, child.
I've done a terrible thing.

I told Iofur to fight you in single
combat, and he's going to kill you.

I tricked him so he wouldn't just
kill you at the gates.

You tricked him?

I thought I was doing the right
thing.

You were.

I need to fight him,

to end his tyranny.

I can't lose you.

You won't, Lyra.

He's not the real king.

He doesn't even act like one.

You do.

Show him he's nothing.

IOFUR: Your king...awaits you!

My bears!

Iorek Byrnison has come back!

At my invitation.

I drew him back.

And I will destroy him.

I've come here
to give you a real fight, Iofur.

You are no king!

And I will show you that.

ROARS

ROARS

LYRA CRIES OUT

ROARS

ROARS

GROANS

Iorek!

Look at him. That's no king.

Whimpering pup!

I will place his head above my
palace!

I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

And his memory shall be obliterated!

Why are you helping him?

Liar!

You're no daemon!

SNARLING

SCREECH

SILENCE

GROWLS QUIETLY

You're hurt.

GROWLS QUIETLY

You're badly hurt.

You tricked a bear.

He wasn't a bear.

You showed me that.

There's a man in your dungeons.

Will you free him?

Yes. I will.

You helped me get my kingdom back.

You're one of us now, Lyra,

and I will give you a new name.

You're no longer Lyra Belacqua,

but Lyra Silvertongue.

Lyra Silvertongue.

Now...

..the bloodmoss.

Mum? Again?
You've got to stop doing this.

They were here, they were here. They
came. There was a man with a snake.

What?
He said he was secret service,

but he wanted...

I know he wanted stuff about your
dad. And I wasn't going to just...

Hey, OK, not here, please.

Your dad, I think he was involved
in something dangerous.

Dangerous?

And it's... It's still happening.

Whatever he started, it's still
happening.

Mum, you're scaring me.

And now they think he's still alive.

They think Dad's alive?

Hey, Mum, look at me.
They think Dad's alive?

DISTANT VOICES AND LAUGHTER

OK, OK. Not here, OK?
Let's get you home.

IOREK: Bears!

There will be no more killing.

This is the end of death in this
palace.

And it is time for a new beginning.

Bear ways,

not human.

Up ahead.

Go on.

Roger?

Roger!

Lyra!

Iorek Byrnison made me stay out

in the cold while he came to rescue
you.

We fell out of the balloon together.

I don't know what happened to Lee,

but he was still airborne
when I last saw him.

Lyra, I need you to use your
symbol-reader.

Tell me my friend Lee is safe.

COGS CLICK

He crashed with his balloon,

but he seems safe.

A man with nine lives. Ha!

And the Magisterium?

Iofur was their puppet.

They're coming here.

Trying to.

My mother's with them.
We need to get out of here.

Once she knows Iofur is dead,
who knows what she might to do?

Iorek, the alethiometer.

My father will need it.

We'll need the truth to defeat her.

I need to give it to him.

I need your help to get to him.

And we will go with you.

Yes. We will.

ROARS

CHATTER

What on earth is going on?

Iofur Raknison is dead.

Asriel is free.

They're sending everyone north.

You'll be coming too.

Father MacPhail.

Our paths do keep crossing.

You're to travel home.

The Cardinal wishes to speak to you.

You failed.

Your project lies in ruins,

all your experiments have yielded
nothing.

I'm here for Asriel.

Asriel?

Asriel is with Iofur.

I made sure that he...
Yes. I remember your reassurances,

but Iofur gave him the freedom to
experiment all he wished.

He had his own custom-built
laboratory.

It seems you had less control
than you thought.

And now Iofur is dead.

What?

When?

The bears that were his guards
are now his protectors.

The Magisterium needs him stopped
once and for all.

You're quite terrified of him,
aren't you?

Why?

STAMP TO ATTENTION

Do you think that he is ahead of
you?

Do you think he understands Dust
in a way that you don't?

I think you promised to control him
and you haven't.

Well, MacPhail, I need to come with
you.

Have you not listened
to anything I've said?

You've already endangered
enough... I know him.

You know I do.

I can smell his next move.

And I know Dust.

I've studied it.

I'll be able to understand
what he's doing, what he's done.

Please, don't deny the Magisterium
my help.

I seek only devotion to the
Magisterium.

The Magisterium has my devotion.

You do understand what I'm saying?

Lord Asriel needs to die.

Hm.

Hm.

FAINT CLATTERING

DOOR LOCKS CLICK

Mum...

W...W...

Mum, stay where you are.
They could still be here.

That man... I knew he would...

Come on.

Mum, we're going now.

I was right.
Not now, Mum. Come on.

They have been watching us.
They want the letters.

Come on, Mum.

Will, stop. You have to believe me!

I need you to believe me.

I know my head isn't right,
but you have to believe me.

I believe those letters are
important.

I believe there was a man with a
snake.

I believe you, OK?

OK.

OK. Come on.

Will?

My mum needs to come in for a bit.

There's been a break in at home.
She just needs a place to stay.

Come in. Let's call the police.
You can't.

They can't see her like this.

And if they do, they'll take me into
care.

Then what are you going to do?

Maybe I just need to go home, tidy
up, then I can bring her back.

I just need to think.

Please.

And your door was always open,
remember?

And now I need it to be open.

Come in, love.

She...She might need to stay
overnight.

I've got some spare pyjamas.

We'll be fine.

Mum...

Mr Hanway's a good man.

He'll keep you safe here.

He will keep you safe, OK?

Find them, the letters.

OK. OK, OK.

DOOR OPENS

DOOR SHUTS

CLANKING

CHEERFUL HUMMING

I'm not sure I like that song any
more.

LEE: I have to sing when I'm
nervous, you know that.

Think she's bust?
Of course not. We just need

to get out of here
so someone can take a look at her.

And how do you suppose we do that?

She's our only means of travel!

WHOOSHING

Maybe I can be of assistance.

When did you...?

I didn't... I-I didn't expect...

One of my sisters
managed to track your movements.

You are important to us, Mr
Scoresby.

But I failed you.

And her.

I lost Lyra.

You didn't fail me in the slightest.

Or her.

You fought for her.

And now her fate is in another's
hands.

She's alive?

And Roger? And Iorek?

Kaisa brings word
that they all live and all thrive.

Iorek, with Lyra's help,
has reclaimed his throne.

Yes!

She is...

Well, isn't that something? Wow!

SERAFINA: I believe this is yours.

Where did you...?

How did...?

Oh.

Oh, this means you need me to fight
again, doesn't it?

The battles are just beginning.
The great war is coming soon.

No-No more fancy talk.

I'm just a hustler. I've played my
part.

I was useful for a piece,
but I'm no use to you now.

You're wrong.

And it's Lyra who will need you.

So this is still about fate?

Of course it is.

She needs me?

She needs all of us.

Then I hope I'm strong enough.

THUDDING

There. Can you see?

LYRA: That's where my father is?

Why does he want to be here?

That...you will have to ask your
father.

DOOR OPENS

DOOR SHUTS

Are you sure they've gone?
DOOR SHUTS

CLATTERING

FOOTSTEPS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

BREATHES QUICKLY

YELLS

CAT MEOWS

Oh!

THUD

THUDDING

WIND HOWLS

LYRA GASPS

If you need me, I will be close.

I will stand down the bears

that are keeping your father
prisoner.

His guards are now my guards.

Be safe.

Both of you.

You all right, Lyra? Last time we
saw him, he was your uncle.

We're just giving him his
alethiometer.

And then maybe we can...go home.

This for me or for you?
Bit of both.

I know you're brave,

but hopefully you know
that if you are ever scared...

..I'm here.

I do.

I do know that.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Lyra.
Hello, Thorold.

Little Lyra!

Come in, come in.
What are you doing here?

You must be chilled.
I'll get the fire lit.

No!

SHOUTS: No!

I did not send for you!

I did not send for you!

You have to leave.
You have to turn around and leave!

I did not send for you!

I came here to free you.
No.

No, you have to get out before...

GROWLS
Asriel.

GROWLS QUIETLY

Oh, you didn't come alone.

Who are you?

Roger Parslow, sir.

I work in the kitchens.

At Jordan College.

Thorold, prepare these children
a hot bath and...

..make them some food.

Sir.

Roger Parslow...

..I am very pleased you came.

This is why I'm here.
I fought the Magisterium,

enlisted the witches, fought
the bears, all to bring it to you.

If dust can cross that barrier, then

we can build a bridge
and we can cross.

Cross multiple worlds.
Let's go to the source.

Let's ask what dust is.

Asriel will be waiting.

All he has is his own distorted
arrogance. And his work.

I'm not frightened of it. The
Magisterium have no power any more.

And once the world sees
the possibility of all this...

He's important, the boy.

Now, think where this Will might be.

The bond between human
and daemon is incredibly powerful.

What's he trying to do with dust?
Where are they going?

What does he want with him?

In war, there are casualties.
Open fire.

ROARING

No more oppression...
No more darkness.

In the name of the Authority, he who
shines above us and lights the way.

It's time.

I know.