Merlin (2008–2012): Season 2, Episode 9 - The Lady of the Lake - full transcript

DRAGON: 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.

(THUNDERING)

(HORSE NEIGHING)

(GRUNTS)

If he's not better in the morning,
let me know.

(CHAINS RATTLING)

MERLIN: Gaius!

She's fallen prey to a bounty hunter.

She's only a girl!



She'll still fetch a good price, though.

Someone's going to pay for her?

Uther offers a big reward
for anyone with magic.

There must be something we can do.

Merlin.

Bounty hunters are dangerous men,
they're not to be meddled with.

You of all people
should understand that.

(COUGHING)

(PEOPLE TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you.

(CHANTING)

(CHANTING)

(SNIFFS)

(CHANTING)



(CLANGING)

(CHANTS)

He won't find you here.

Here.

(GASPS)

Sorry!

Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you.

I just thought you might be cold.

Why did you do that?

-What?
-Help me.

I saw you and...

It could've been me in that cage.

You'll be safe down here.

I'll come back in the morning,

with some food and candles.

Will you be all right till then?

I'm Merlin, by the way.

I'm Freya.

Freya.

I'll see you in the morning, Freya.

Thank you.

(SNORING)

(OPENS CURTAIN)

MERLIN: Breakfast!

ARTHUR: Oi!

Where's the meat, cheese...

That's the new breakfast menu.

This isn't enough.

We've got to keep you in shape.

I'm fighting fit.

And we want to keep you that way.

Merlin!

Is there somewhere you have to be?

Of course not.

Good, because I've got
some chores for you to do.

(SIGHS)

ARTHUR: Make sure it's hot enough.

(CHANTING)

Is it ready?

Yeah, freshly heated.

(FIZZING)

(SHOUTS)

You bumpkin! It's boiling.

Boiling?

You're half asleep today.

I'm sorry, Sire. I'll get you some cold.

No, I'll get you some.

That woken you up?

Raring to go, Sire.

Ah, Halig,

you come bearing gifts?

Yes, Sire.

A Druid girl.

But she escaped last night,

here in Camelot.

Don't worry, we'll soon find her.

Have some guards help with the search.

You need to warn them, Sire.

The girl is dangerous.

My informer told me she was cursed.

UTHER: How so?

He didn't know,

but he said even the Druids
were frightened of her.

They cast her out of the camp.

It's against all the Druids beliefs
to reject those in need of care.

Then why would they do such a thing?

I dread to think.

Set up sentries on all the gates.

We should search the lower town, Sire.

Someone may be harboring her.

You think she had help?

I saw two figures running away.

Give Halig all the help he needs.

I want this girl and
her accomplice found.

SOLDIER: Get in line!

Move along.

(CRYING)

SOLDIER: Hurry up.

MERLIN: Freya?

It's all right. It's okay. It's me.
It's Merlin.

And look...

It's good.

Believe me, it's fit for a prince.

Is that a Druid symbol?

Were you born a Druid?

Why are you asking me
all these questions?

Sorry, I didn't mean to.

I'm sorry.

I understand.

You could never understand.

I know what it's like to keep secrets.

Does anyone know you have magic?

Only you.

And one other person.

He knows,

but I'm not sure he understands.

I wish I was like everyone else, but...

You always know deep down you're not?

Because I'm cursed.

Freya, don't say that.

Magic doesn't have to be a curse.

It can be a gift.

(SIGHS)

Look.

(CHANTING)

Beautiful.

I have to go.

Someone might notice I'm missing.

But I'll come back

and I'll bring you some more food.

(LAUGHS)

I promise.

Do you know anything about the girl?

What girl?

The girl from the cage.
She escaped last night.

Good. I'm pleased.

They're out hunting for her.

Why can't they just let her be?

Did you help her escape?

No...

Merlin!

You told me not to get involved.

You promise me you had
nothing to do with this?

Yes!

Good,

because when Halig
finds out who helped her,

I wouldn't want to be in their shoes.

Would you like some water with that?

Mmm.

I had two drumsticks.

No, you didn't.

Merlin, I had two drumsticks.

Maybe it fell on the floor.

I had sausages.

You sure?

They must've fallen under the table.

-Merlin!
-What?

You can search me, I haven't taken them.

Well, where have they gone?

-Strange.
-Very!

Are you sure you didn't eat them?

I haven't had the chance!

(PANTING)

It's just the Prince's leftovers.

Does he know you steal his food?

Not exactly.

Where were you taking it?

Home for my dinner.

Really?

The Druid girl I'm looking for,
have you seen her?

No.

Do you know how much money
she's worth to me?

More than your life.

So I'm asking you again,

have you seen the Druid girl?

No.

(GROANS)

Hold him.

I think you're lying to me.

I'm not.

I don't believe you.

ARTHUR: Halig!

What do you think you're doing?

We caught the boy,

behaving suspiciously, Sire.

ARTHUR: Merlin?

He could be harboring the girl
and he's going to tell us where.

Leave him alone!

Merlin is my servant.

He has my absolute trust.

If you have a problem with him,

you come to me. Do you understand?

Sire.

Goodnight, Merlin.

Don't forget your dinner.

MERLIN: Thank you.

Ah!

Are those my sausages?

-Mmm.
-You took them?

To keep you in shape.

Are you saying I'm fat?

No.

Well, not yet.

I am not fat!

You see, it's working.

I'm sorry I took so long.

You must be hungry.

What is it?

-Nothing.
-But you're upset.

No.

Did you think I wasn't coming?

I promised you I would.

I scare most people away.

I'm not most people.

(CHUCKLES)

How long had you been in that cage?

A few days.

-And the bounty hunter...
-Halig.

How did he find you?

(SNIFFS)

You can't always trust people.

I know.

That's why I left home.

Where is home?

Ealdor.

It's a small village.

Just a few fields, a couple of cows.

Nothing special.

My home was next to a lake,
surrounded by the tallest mountains.

In the winter the storms whipped up
the water into waves

and you thought they'd crash down
and take away all the houses.

But in the summer,

wild flowers and light.

It was like heaven.

Sounds perfect.

It was.

Was?

My family died.

Have you been on your own ever since?

You're not on your own anymore.

I'm going to look after you,

I promise.

You can't look after me, no one can.

I don't think you understand.

I've never known anyone like you.

I wish I could stay.

You're going?

We need to be careful.

I'll come back in the morning.

You know I will be back, don't you?

Merlin?

I've never known anyone like you,
either.

(BELL TOLLING)

(ANIMAL GROWLING SOFTLY)

(CONTINUES GROWLING)

(MAN LAUGHING)

-(ROARING)
-(SCREAMS)

(BELL RINGING)

GAIUS: I think they've been killed
by some kind of wild animal.

Have your men been able
to track the creature?

That's the strange thing.

'Cause the ground is soft obviously
a bear or wolf would leave some mark.

But there are no tracks.

Then what are these?

Human footprints.

They're leading away from the bodies.
Did someone escape the attack?

Hmm.

No one's come forward.

Could the person
who made these be responsible?

I don't believe so.

These wounds could've
only been afflicted

by a beast of considerable size.

And if this was done
by neither a man nor beast,

there's only one other explanation.

It must be the work
of a magical creature.

I know. I'm late again.

Sorry, but this is
going to be the best bread,

you've ever tasted.

What do you want with it?

Come on, you can have anything.

Ham, cheese...

Strawberries.

Strawberries it is.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(CHANTS)

That's not a strawberry.

It's the right color.

(CHUCKLES)

Why are you so good to me?

Because...

I can't help it. I don't know.

I like you.

With you, I can just be who I am.

We don't have to hide anything.

We don't have to worry.

Merlin, please.

Listen to me.

I'm not like you...

(DOOR OPENS)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

They must've followed me.

They're going to find me.

I can't go back in that cage.
I can't.

(CRYING)

I won't let that happen.

I promised you I'd look after you

and I will.

No matter what.

You really don't realize
how special you are, do you?

You're not scared of me?

Being different is
nothing to be scared of.

(MERLIN HUMMING)

Will you stop that!

What?

Sit down and eat your soup.

(HUMMING)

Merlin!

Sorry.

What is wrong with you?

Nothing.

I feel great.

Good. Then you can do some chores.

Chores?

Unless you've got
something better to do?

Sorry, I'm going out.

Well, what time will you be back?

Mmm.
Don't wait up for me, I might be late.

-What're you doing here?
-Couldn't help it.

-It's dangerous.
-I don't care.

No, Merlin. You have to be careful.

I'm fed up with being careful,
I am fed up with all of this.

So I've decided.

I'm getting you out of here.
Out of Camelot.

How?

Get you some clothes, disguise you.

What's wrong?

It's just...

I'm going to miss you.

No, you won't.

Because I'm going to come with you.

What?

I told you. I'm going to look after you.

You can't. Don't say that.

It's not what you want?

Merlin, you have a good life here.

My life is...

I have to keep moving.
Always looking over my shoulder.

People chasing me.

Then we'll go somewhere no one knows us.

Somewhere far away.

(CHUCKLES)

You haven't given me your answer.

I want that more than anything.

Where will we go?

Somewhere with mountains.

A few fields.

Wild flowers.

A couple of cows.

And a lake.

And a lake.

(KNOCKING) Lady Morgana?

Lady Morgana?

Merlin?

I'm sure there's an obvious explanation.

There is.

Which is?

Moths.

Moths?

Yes. The castle's overrun with them.

Really?

I was just checking that they
hadn't got in here as well.

And have they?

It's totally infested.
I'll have to burn it.

Burn it?

Yeah.

If we don't stop them,

we'll all be walking around naked.

What're you doing?

Uh, running an errand for Gaius.

For Gaius?

Yes.

Strange.

(LAUGHS) I don't think it's for him.

As long as you do a decent day's work,
Merlin, that's all I care about.

No, it's not for me.

What a man does in his spare time
is completely up to him.

No. You've got this wrong.

Color suits you, Merlin.

(BELLS TOLLING)

(LOW GROWLING)

(HEAVY BREATHING)

(WHOOSHING)

(GROWLING)

(GRUNTING)

(GROWLING)

(RUMBLING)

(SCREAMS)

(BELL RINGING)

The beast has struck again?

GAIUS: I'm afraid so.

Their wounds match those
of the previous victims.

The men who saw it spoke of
a huge black cat with wings.

I was right, this is not
the work of a natural creature.

Are there any tracks this time?

Just human footprints again.

Can you identify this monster?

I will need more time to investigate.

Oh, come on, you always
have theories on these matters.

This time, Sire,
I'd prefer to wait till I'm certain.

There is no time to waste, Gaius.

I will report back to you
before the day is out, Sire.

Believe me, it was not easy,

getting this.

It's beautiful.

You look like a princess.

I'm not.

I can't take this.

Freya, I don't understand.

You keep doing all this for me.

I don't deserve it.

I want to. What's wrong?

Nothing.

Here. Please.

You'll look wonderful in it.

We can leave tonight as soon as
it gets dark. And we'll be together.

We'll need supplies.

Food, water.

All right.

I'll try to get horses
and we'll need blankets.

But...

That's all we'll need.

Go on, go.

I won't be long.

Goodbye, Merlin.

(DOORKNOB CLICKING)

Gaius. I was just...

Sit down. I want to talk to you.

Is everything all right?
You look worried.

The beast struck again last night.

Two more deaths in the lower town.

Do you know what it is?

Once more there were
no tracks around the bodies,

but human footprints
were leading away from them.

-Right.
-It doesn't seem to add up.

The footprints indicate
that a human is responsible,

but the wounds inflicted,

are definitely the work of
some kind of beast.

-Strange.
-Yes.

Until I remembered
what Halig said about the Druid girl.

That she's cursed.

What's that got to do with the monster?

Ancient chronicles
speak of a heinous curse.

It dooms its victim
to turn at the stroke of midnight,

into a vicious, bloodthirsty beast.

The writers of old
called this creature a Bastet,

a monster of nightmare
that inhabits the twilight world

between the living and the dead.

Merlin, I want the truth.

Did you release
the Druid girl from the cage?

Of course not!

There was a time when you
thought twice before lying to me.

I did what was right.

You know the creature and the girl
are one and the same.

You're wrong.

Freya is just a girl.

Merlin, please think
about what I'm saying.

You know it is the truth.

Where is she now?

No.

She's killed already
and she'll kill again.

She can't stop herself.

Please, Gaius.

Where are you going?

To Uther.

I'm begging you.

Just Give me time to get her
out of the city. Please.

I'm sorry.
I can't let more innocent people die.

Freya?

(SHOUTS) Freya!

I had no choice, Merlin.

Uther had to be told.

They won't find her.

She's gone.

I'm sorry.

I do understand how
you must feel, Merlin.

You could never understand.

Do you know how it
feels to be a monster?

To be afraid of who you are?

Freya is very different from you.

She's dangerous.

Whatever she is, whatever she's done,
she doesn't deserve to die.

I just hope she's safe.

Somewhere far away.

(BELLS CHIMING)

SOLDIER: There she is!

(HENS CLUCKING)

Stop!

Please, let me go.

No one escapes from me.

(BELL RINGING)

(SCREAMS)

(SCREAMING IN A DISTORTED VOICE)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(GROANING)

(GRUNTING)

(GROWLING)

(GROWLING)

(ROARING)

(HOWLING IN PAIN)

(GROWLS)

(PANTING)

(GROWLING)

(CRACKING)

(GROWLING)

You're all right,

you're safe now.

(HOWLING)

(CRYING)

You must hate me.

No.

I'm a monster.

I tried to tell you.

I know.

I wasn't always like this.

(SHUSHES) You shouldn't try to talk.

There was a man.

He attacked me.

I didn't mean to hurt him,

but I thought he was going to kill me.

It was an accident.

His mother was a sorceress.

When she found out,

that I'd killed her son.

She cursed me to kill forever more.

I'm going to make you better, Freya.

No, Merlin.

The wound is too deep.

Please go.

No.

I'm not leaving you here.

You remembered.

Of course.

I'm so sorry for what
that sorcerer did to you.

Merlin, you have
nothing to be sorry for.

There must be something I can do,
some way to save you.

You've already saved me.

You made me feel loved.

I don't want you to go.

One day, Merlin,

I will repay you.

I promise.

Freya.

(CRYING)

(CHANTS)

(SIGHS)

(CHANTING)

GAIUS: Merlin.

I was so worried.

I'm sorry, Gaius.

Where's the girl?

She's gone.

She's dead.

I'm sorry, Merlin.

Truly I am.

(DOORKNOB CLICKING)

Ah! Merlin,

I've been looking for you.

Yeah, right. You're going to
ask me to polish your armor

and to wash your clothes,
and clean your room.

Something's been upsetting you,
hasn't it?

Maybe.

Was it when I threw water over you?

(CHUCKLES)

That wasn't very nice.

It was a bit unfair.

Like when you called me fat.

Why was that unfair?

Because I'm not...

(MERLIN GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

Still think I need to get in shape?

No! No! No! No! No!

That's better.

Thanks.

You are right, though.

You need to polish my armor,
wash my clothes and clean my room.

DRAGON: Merlin.

Sleep well, Arthur,

and when you wake may your thoughts
be only of Vivian.

ARTHUR: My job, is to woo.

He's enchanted.

Yes, with Lady Vivian. I can see that.

(CHANTS)

Unhand her, or suffer the consequences.

Your actions may yet
bring war to Camelot.