Merlin (2008–2012): Season 1, Episode 5 - Lancelot - full transcript

In a land of myth
and a time of magic,

the destiny of a great kingdom

rests on the shoulders
of a young boy.

His name... Merlin.

(BIRDSONG)

(CREATURE SCREECHING)

(SCREECHING, HISSING)

(SCREECHING)

(MAN SHOUTING)

Run. Run!

It's gone.



You saved my life.

I'm Merlin.

Lancelot.

(GROANING SOFTLY)

The wound is superficial.

The fever will pass.

He should be fine by morning.

What creature could've done this?

We found no tracks in or out.

What the villagers say must be true -
it has wings and...

What?

...and it took no livestock -

only people.

Whatever it is,
it has a taste for human flesh.



Post sentries
at all the outlying villages.

Put the lookouts on full alert.

If this thing makes for Camelot,
we must be ready.

Ever since I was a child I...
I've dreamed of coming here.

It's my life's ambition
to join the knights of Camelot.

I know what you're thinking.
I... I expect too much.

After all, who am I?

They have their pick of
the best and bravest.

- Lancelot.
- Yes.

They are going to love you.

- They are?
- Yeah.

I've seen you in action.
You could shame the great Arthur himself.

I hardly think so.

In fact, you know what I'll do?
I'll talk to him right now.

You know Arthur?

Oh, yes.

Right, you jumped-up dung beetle,
this is it -

the final test.

Pass this
and you're a knight at Camelot.

Fail, and you're no-one.

You face the most feared of all foes,
the ultimate killing machine.

You face me.

Your challenge - to last one minute,
free combat.

Grimond, second son of Wessex.

Your time starts now.

Ha!

(SPECTATORS EXCLAIMING)

(APPLAUSE)

Take him away.

He's the third to fail this month.

How can I defend Camelot
with rubbish like that?

- I might be able to help.
- You, Merlin?

You have no idea
what it takes to be a knight -

courage, fortitude, discipline.

No, of course I don't,
but I do know someone who does.

Yeah?

- Saved my life.
- That's blown it.

- He's really good, honestly.
- I'm sure he's terrific.

- You forget Camelot's first code.
- What?

Only those of noble blood can be knights.

So unless your friend
is a nobleman...

He is... a nobleman.

- Is he?
- Absolutely.

Very well. Bring him to
the training ground tomorrow.

Make sure he brings his seal of nobility.

Thanks, Arthur. You won't regret it.

- Well? Did you speak to him?
- I spoke to him.

- And?
- And...

- He'd like to meet you.
- Yes!

Thank you. Thank you.

Hey, it's no problem, really.
It was nothing.

You're not a nobleman, are you?

A nobleman? No. Good Lord, no.

- Why do you ask?
- It's just that...

The first code of Camelot states
only noblemen can serve as knights.

Uther created the knights
to protect this kingdom

from those who wish to destroy it.

He knew he'd have to trust
his knights with his life,

so he chose them from the families
that had sworn allegiance to him.

The nobility.

Thus the first code of Camelot was born.
And ever since that day,

only sons of noble families
have served as knights.

That is not fair!

Fair or unfair, that's the way it is.

I'm sorry, Lancelot.

Truly I am.

(SIGHING)

Why do you want to be a knight so much?

When I was a boy,
my village was attacked by raiders

from the northern plains.

They were slaughtered
where they stood -

my father, my mother, everyone.

I alone escaped.

I vowed that day

that never again would I be helpless
in the face of tyranny.

I made swordcraft my life.

Every waking hour since that day,
I devoted to the art of combat.

When I was ready,
I set forth for Camelot.

And now it seems my journey ends.

Everything I've fought for - wasted.

I give you my word,

whatever it takes,
I will make this right.

Homework.

(SNEEZING)

Icuis bisan raditani huhnan.

(WHISPERING) Come on, come on. Yes!

(CLEARING THROAT)

It's, um, a real page-turner.

- What's that?
- This is your seal of nobility.

I don't understand.

I give you Lancelot, fifth son
of Lord Eldred of Northumbria.

No, Merlin, no.

- You don't want to be a knight.
- Of course I do!

The rules don't allow it?
Damn the rules. They're wrong.

It's a lie.
It's against all they stand for.

You have as much right to be
a knight as any man. I know it.

But the rules, Merlin.

We're not breaking the rules.
We're bending them.

You get your foot in the door.

After that,
you'll be judged on your merit alone.

And if you succeed,
if they make you a knight,

it'll be because you have earned it,
noble or not.

I can't change the way things
are done here,

but you can...
if you let me help you.

(LANCELOT CLEARING THROAT)

- This is very kind of you, er...
- Gwen.

Gwen.

- Short for 'Guinevere'.
- Ah.

Then thank you, Guinevere.

Don't thank me. Thank Merlin.

Merlin would do anything for anyone.

Sorry, can you raise your arms?
Thank you. Sorry.

I think it's great
that Merlin's got you this chance.

We need men like you.

You do?

Well, not me personally,
but, you know, Camelot.

Camelot needs knights.

Not just Arthur and his kind,
but ordinary people like us.

I'm not a knight yet, my lady.

- And I'm not a lady.
- Sorry. I...

OK, we're done.
I should have these ready in no time.

It's nice to meet you, Lancelot.

She seems lovely.

- Guinevere.
- Oh, yeah, yeah, she is.

And the best seamstress in Camelot,
I promise.

Are you two...

...you know?

(LAUGHING) No. No, no.

Just friends.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

One.

Two.

Three.

You certainly look the part.

- Doesn't he just?
- I don't feel it.

That'll do for today. Well done.

Here's your chance. Go for it.

Yes?

Lancelot, fifth son
of Lord Eldred of Northumbria.

'Lance-alot'?

My servant mentioned you.

- Got your seal?
- Sire.

Oh!

Sluggish reactions. On a battlefield,
you'd be dead by now.

Come back when you're ready.

I'm ready now, sire.

You are, are you?

Fine. You can start
by cleaning out the stables.

(LAUGHING)

I'm sorry about Lancelot.
I could see you were upset.

Oh... you know, that's life.

You win some, you lose some.

You're taking it very well,
I have to say. Very mature.

Thank you, Gaius.

(DOOR OPENING)

- How'd it go?
- (GRUNTING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

- He found work at the stables.
- I see.

And the truth,
before I lose my temper.

He's, er...
trying out for the knights.

The first code of Camelot
has never been broken for any man.

- What have you done?
- I bent the rules.

But the rules are wrong, unfair.

Bent the rules using magic?

It was nothing, honestly.

It was more of a trick
than actual magic.

Magic is not a toy for you
to use or abuse as you see fit.

- I know.
- Then why did you do it?

I owe Lancelot my life.

I am paying for that debt by giving
him the opportunity he deserves.

If you want to punish me, go ahead.

(METAL SCRAPING)

Not bad.

Would you like me to sweep
the guardhouse again?

It certainly needs sweeping.

First, I'd like you to kill me.

Sire?

Come on. Don't pretend
you don't want to.

Hell, if I were you, I'd want to.

Come on.

Come on, Lancelot.
You're not beating a carpet.

- Ohh! (COUGHING)
- Congratulations, Lancelot.

You just made basic training.

(BELLS RINGING)

(SCREAMING)

You're safe now. I promise.

- How is she?
- OK.

- What happened to these people?
- Attacked by a winged monster.

I'd hunt this thing,
but I can't track it through the air.

You don't have to track it.

First Greensward, then Willowdale -

it's heading south towards
the mouth of the valley.

To Camelot.

You must prepare
your knights, Arthur.

Have faith, Father. We'll be ready.

The wings of an eagle

and the body of a lion.

The wings of an eagle

and the body of a lion.

The beast is heading for Camelot.

It's fast and agile, but big enough
to hit and to hit hard.

Starting today
on training routines,

we'll concentrate
on an attack strategy.

We don't have much time. Dismissed.

Yes, Lancelot.

Is there anything I can do, sire?

I know in the event of battle,
only a knight may serve.

That's correct
and you are not yet a knight

which is why I'm bringing
your test forward.

You can face me in the morning.

Well, here we are -

your final challenge.

Succeed and you join the elite.

Fail and yourjourney ends here.

Lancelot, fifth son
of Lord Eldred of Northumbria...

...your time starts now.

(CLAPPING)

(GRUNTING)

Oh!

I'm sorry.

(GRUNTING)

Ohh!

(CLAPPING)

Shame.

Oh!

Do you submit, sire?

On your knees.

Arise, Sir Lancelot,

Knight of Camelot.

(APPLAUSE)

Who is this man? He seems
to have come out of nowhere.

I know. He's been a bit
of a surprise to all of us.

You do us a great honour,
Sir Lancelot.

The knighthood
is the very foundation of Camelot.

The honour is all mine, sire.

- Your father would be very proud.
- Yes, sire.

I've not seen
Lord Eldred for many years,

longer than I'd imagined.

Last time I saw him,
he only had four sons.

Well... here I am.

Indeed you are.
And I've kept you too long already.

Enjoy the celebrations.

Sire.

Take this seal to Geoffrey
of Monmouth, the court genealogist.

I want his opinion by morning.

(JOVIAL MUSIC PLAYING)

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

Look at him, Gaius. Does Lancelot
not deserve this moment?

I never said he didn't.

But destiny and deserts
are not the same thing.

You played God, Merlin. You set him
on a path of your choosing.

You brought him triumph,
but who knows what the future may hold?

I don't know what
it said in your invitation.

- In mine, it said 'celebration'.
- (CHUCKLING) Point taken.

- Don't come back too late.
- All right.

Here's trouble.

Tell me, do you think
her... beautiful?

Yes, sire, I do.

Yeah, I suppose she is.

MERLIN: You know what?

I think our Sir Lancelot
might have eyes for you, Gwen.

Don't be silly.

What if he did?
Would it be so bad?

- He's not really my type.
- Well, there's a surprise.

Sometimes I wonder
if you'd know what your type was

if he was standing right next to you.

You're probably right.

Oh, thank you.

So come on -

just for the sake of argument,
if you had to, Arthur or Lancelot?

- I don't have to and I never will.
- Oh, you are no fun.

(BANGING)

Ladies and gentlemen,

please join me

in a toast to our new recruit,

our new knight of Camelot,
Sir Lancelot.

(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)

(JOVIAL MUSIC)

(SIGHING) Two yards of ale?
Two miles, more like.

Good morning. Don't look at it,
don't smell it, just down it in one.

(LIQUID FIZZING)

Whoa!

Better? Good.

Can't have you nodding off
first day on the job, Lancelot.

That's Sir Lancelot.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

(DOOR OPENING)

- What are you doing?
- King's orders.

Stop!

UTHER: Tell him what you told me.

These credentials are faked.

The seal itself is faultless.

Forgery of the highest standard,
but a forgery.

There is no record of a fifth son
of Lord Eldred of Northumbria.

- Therefore, he...
- Lied.

Do you deny it?

No, sire.

You've broken
the first code of Camelot.

You've brought shame
upon yourself and upon us.

You're not worthy of knighthood.

You never were and you never will be.

Get him out of my sight.

Sire...

Do you contest my judgment?

His deception was inexcusable.

But he meant no harm,
sire, I'm sure of it.

He only wished to serve.

The first code
is a sacred bond of trust.

It is what binds the knights together.

How can you trust a man
who's lied to you?

I don't know what
to say to you, Lancelot.

- You're not to blame.
- I am.

I pushed you.

- I made you lie.
- The choice was mine.

My punishment
is mine to bear alone.

I wish there was something I could do.

There is.
You can stop blaming yourself.

- Merlin?
- Don't say "I told you so".

I have no wish to gloat.
What's done is done.

Here, come and take a look at this.

I've realised my mistake.

I've been looking in the wrong place,

the records of living things
in the kingdom.

What about creatures
only recorded in legend? In myth?

- And I discovered this.
- That is it! That's the monster!

(BELL TOLLING)

(SCREECHING)

(SHOUTING)

(SCREECHING)

(SCREECHING)

Defence!

(SCREECHING)

What's happening?!

(SCREECHING)

(SHOUTING) Charge!

(SCREECHING)

(SHOUTING)

(SCREECHING)

You said your knights
were the best in the land.

You proved that today.

- All I know is it's still out there.
- Let's not wait for it.

The kingdom has been
menaced by this creature for too long.

- We finish this now.
- GAIUS: Sire, if I may?

Gaius?

I've researched
this creature, sire.

- I believe it to be a griffin.
- A griffin? What's in a name?

- It's a creature of magic.
- I don't have time for this.

It is born of magic, sire,
and it can only be killed by magic.

You are mistaken.
It's a creature of flesh and blood.

- Arthur proved that.
- I'm not so sure.

There may be some truth
in what he says.

- What truth?
- The griffin was unharmed.

- Our weapons were useless.
- Useless? I think not.

No. It's tasted our steel once.
The next time will be its last.

When will your knights
be ready to ride again?

An hour, maybe two.

Good. We finish this tonight.

Is it true that the griffin
can only be killed by magic?

Yes, I'm certain of it.

If Arthur rides out
against it, he'll die.

Then he must be stopped.
Uther must see reason.

Where magic is concerned,
our king is blind to reason.

And yet, magic is our only hope.

You're not suggesting...

It is your destiny, Merlin.

The true purpose of your magic.

You saw it, Gaius.
I can't go up against that thing.

But if you do not,
then Arthur will surely perish.

No, no. This is madness.
I don't have magic that powerful.

- There must be another way.
- It's the only way.

Do you even care about me?
"Do this, Merlin! Do that, Merlin!

"Kill the griffin, Merlin!"

Merlin!

Merlin, you are the only thing
I care about in all this world.

I would give my life
for you without a thought.

But for what?

I cannot save Arthur.

It is not my destiny. You know.

I am sorry.

- I don't know what else I can say.
- Then I'll say it for you.

We have two hours
to find a way to kill that thing.

I should have known.
How could I have been so stupid?

You don't look like a knight!

- I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry too.

Because, Lancelot,
you fight like a knight.

And I need...

Camelot needs...

The creature...

We could not kill it.

- I have never faced its like.
- I faced it myself, sire.

Some days past.
I struck it full square.

I wondered how it endured.

There are those that believe
this creature, this griffin,

is a creature of magic,

that only magic can destroy it.

Do you believe this?

It doesn't matter what I believe.
The use of magic is not permitted.

The knights must prevail
with steel and sinew alone.

- Sire...
- There's a horse waiting outside.

Thank you. Thank you, sire.

Lancelot...

...take it and never return
to this place.

No.

No, please,
it's not my freedom I seek.

- I only wish to serve with honour.
- I know.

- Then let me ride with you.
- I cannot.

My father knows nothing of this.
I release you myself, but can do no more.

Now go, before I change my mind.

GAIUS: There.

You must do this for Arthur.

I've never cast a spell of enchantment
this powerful.

Nothing less will kill it.

Here. Try.

You have it within you.

I know you do.

Bregdan anweald gafeluec.

Don't worry, Merlin.

We've plenty of time.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

- Sorry to disturb you, my lady.
- What are you doing here?

There's no time.
I need weapons, armour.

- What?
- Arthur's in peril.

I must do what I can to protect him.
It's my duty, knight or not.

- You believe that, don't you?
- Yes, my lady.

Lancelot, I don't believe
I've ever met your like before.

Guinevere, if I should not return...

Don't go, Lancelot. Please.

But go I must.

It's time.

Bregdan anweald gafeluec.

Bregdan anweald gafeluec.

- Merlin, I know you're trying.
- And failing.

If Arthur dies
because I'm not good enough...

- Merlin!
- Merlin!

Lancelot's going to kill the griffin!

He's what?

Merlin!

- I'm coming with you.
- No, you're not.

- Try and stop me.
- You're not a soldier.

Arthur needs all the help he can get.
Now, let's go.

(SCREECHING)

For Camelot!

ALL: For Camelot!

(MEN SHOUTING)

(GRIFFIN SCREECHING)

(METAL CLANGING)

(HORSE WHINNYING)

Arthur!

Well?

He's alive.

(GRIFFIN SCREECHING)

(HORSE SNICKERING)

(SCREECHING)

OK, Merlin. It's now or never.

(HORSE WHINNYING)

Bregdan anweald gafeluec.

Bregdan anweald gafeluec.

Bregdan anweald gafeluec.

Bregdan anweald gafeluec.

(ELECTRICAL CRACKLING)

(MERLIN LAUGHING) Yes!

(ARTHUR GROANING)

(PANTING)

- Lancelot.
- Sire.

You did it!

You killed it, Lancelot!

- You did it?
- I did it.

(CHUCKLING) Thank God!

You did it, my son. You did it!

Not I, Father. It was Lancelot.

UTHER: What's he doing here?

Father, I can explain.

You! Wait outside.

UTHER: You had no right to...

(DOOR SLAMMING SHUT)

- What are they doing?
- Deciding my fate.

I released him.
I'll take the consequences.

Surely Lancelot's actions
change things.

They change nothing.
He broke the code!

He laid down his life for me!

He served with honour.

I see you feel strongly
about this, Arthur.

Under the circumstances,
a pardon, perhaps.

No. Not good enough, Father.

You must restore Lancelot
to his rightful place

as a knight of Camelot.

Never!

The law is the law.

The code bends for no man!

Then the code is wrong!

They'll restore your knighthood,
of course.

- You killed the griffin.
- But I didn't kill it.

You did.

(LAUGHING) That's ridiculous.

"Bregdan anweald..."? I heard you.

I saw you.

Don't worry.
Your secret's safe with me.

But I cannot take credit
for what I did not do.

No more lies. No more deceit.

- What are you going to do?
- The only thing I can do.

- What is this?
- Let me speak!

Wait! I'll hear him.

Forgive me, sire.

I've come to bid you farewell.

What is this, Lancelot?

I lied to you both, and now
there is conflict between you.

I cannot bear that burden,
as you should not bear mine.

I must start again, far from here.

Then, maybe one day, fate
shall grant me another chance

to prove myself a worthy
knight of Camelot.

But, Lancelot, you've already
proved that to us.

But I must prove it to myself.

Your Highness.

Prince Arthur.

Gwen? Guinevere?

- Lancelot?
- Oh!

Yes.

Come, Gwen. Busy day ahead.

Yes, my lady...

Perhaps you were right, Gaius.

I should never have got involved.

No, Merlin. I was wrong.

Lancelot needed you
and you needed Lancelot.

Your destinies were entwined.

- Will he ever return?
- That I cannot say.

Till next time, then...
Sir Lancelot.

My name is Edwin Muirden
and I have a remedy to cure all ills.

We cannot preserve her life
for much longer.

She has hours, maybe less.

You have magic? I wonder what Uther
will do. Probably have him burnt.

MERLIN: Find Edwin!