Merlin (2008–2012): Season 3, Episode 1 - The Tears of Uther Pendragon - full transcript

A year after being whisked away from Camelot, Morgana is found, disheveled and bruised in the forest and claiming abduction by bandits. Superficially contrite and charming, she remains in league with Morgause, for whom she collects tears shed by Uther. These Morguase uses to curse him through a doll fashioned from mandrake root, which Morgana places under his bed. As it slowly starts to drive the king mad with hallucinates of ghosts, Morgause - after taking Merlin prisoner - induces rival king Cenred to invade the weakened kingdom, for which Merlin summons the Great Dragon for aid.

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.

Check for survivors.

Seems their attackers headed north.

Come on.

Do you think we should be
going after them?

You are such a girl's petticoat.

Sire, how many more men are you
going to lose in this quest?

As many as it takes.

I need to speak to you as a friend.
I have no time for friends.



Then I'll speak to you
as your physician.

This is madness.

She has been missing
for more than a year now.

When are you going to stop?

When Morgana is found.

BIRDS CAW
Ow...

Is there something wrong with you?

Yeah, I've been on a horse all day.

Is your little bottom sore?

Yes. It's not as fat as yours.

You know, you've got a lot
of nerve...for a wimp.

I may be a wimp, but at least
I'm not a dollop-head.

There's no such word.
It's idiomatic.

It's what?!



You need to be more in touch with
the people. Describe dollop-head.

In two words? Yeah.

Er...Prince Arthur.

AN ARROW FIRES

MEN ROAR AND SHOUT

On me!

Ecg geteoh ping to!

We're not playing
hide and seek, Merlin.

Dollop-head.

A BIRD'S WINGS FLAP

Morgana.

You need to rest.

I'll stay with her.

Call me when she wakes, Guinevere.

How is she? She'll be fine.

There's nothing wrong with her?

Nothing physical.

May I see her?

Best wait till morning.

Yes. Of course.

Gaius?

Thank you.

DOOR OPENS

Did you talk to her? She's sleeping.

Did she say anything about me?
Nothing as yet.

Well, she's going to.

Does she know your secret, Merlin?

Does she know you have magic?

No, she doesn't. No-one does.

Good. Because if Uther finds out...

She knows I tried to poison her.
She knows that. You had no choice.

Camelot was dying. Morgana was
the source of the enchantment.

Either you poisoned her
or the kingdom fell.

Uther won't know that. All
she'll say is I tried to kill her.

We can't be sure, Merlin.

What do you think
Uther will do to me?

Let's just wait and see
what tomorrow brings.

Merlin.

Arthur's requested your presence...

..in Morgana's chambers.

I was kept in a cell
for almost a year.

I thought I'd go mad.

How did you escape?

They moved me about a week ago.
I don't know why.

It may have been
the patrol from Camelot.

The patrol found you?

I thought I was going to be free.

But then I saw them killed.

Every one of them cut down.

But that night the bandits
were distracted by their spoils.

I took my chance.

When I saw you,
I couldn't believe it.

SHE SOBS

I think I need to rest.

Everything's going to be
all right. You're safe now.

Merlin?

I want to speak to you.

I know what you did.

You tried to poison me.

I...I didn't want to.

It's all right, Merlin.
I understand.

You were just trying to protect your
friends. I would've done the same.
Really?

I was so naive, Merlin.

I don't think I really understood
what I was doing.

But, believe me,

I have seen the evils in this world.

I have seen first-hand what it
is that Uther fights against.

You don't know how much I regret
everything that I've done.

I just...

hope that you can forgive me.

I am so sorry for everything
you've been through.

It's good to have you back.

What are you looking so happy about?

The sun is shining,
we've found Morgana,

and I've just finished
all my chores.

Hmm.

Do you have to go in there
right now? Why?

I just washed the floor.

Don't worry. I won't slip over.

You really have no idea, do you?
All you have to do is wipe it.

How would you know?
I beg your pardon, Merlin.

It's just
you've never had to do it.

Oh, I know how to use
a cloth and bucket.

Oh, yeah.

It's easy. Here. Let me show you.

Hmm?

Hmm!

HUMS TO HIMSELF

HE HUMS

Mmmm.

Would you like me to show you
how to use the bucket? No.

The grain stores are running low,
but we're expecting supplies

from the northern borders before
the end of the week. That's enough.

Leave us.

You should sit. No, no. That's all
I've done for the past year - sit...

and pray that
you hadn't given up on me.

Oh, never. I don't know why.
I wouldn't blame you.

You've done more for me
than any guardian.

You've always cared for me, loved
me like I was your own daughter.

And yet I've insulted you,
defied you, hurt you.

I don't know why you put up with me.

And I promise that in the future
I will show you the love
and respect that you deserve.

I will leave you to your counsel.

My sister.

How have you fared?
Camelot has welcomed back
its daughter with open arms.

Uther does not suspect?

He laps up my lies like
the snivelling dog he is.

And the boy?

Merlin.

He believes I've changed.

And he's right.

Soon he will see exactly how much.

You've done well.

The tears of Uther Pendragon
have only begun to fall.

PIERCING SCREAM

The mandrake root is very special.

Only those with magic
can hear its cries.

But for those without magic,

the mandrake pierces
the very recesses of the soul -

twisting the unconscious into
the very image of fear and dread.

Uther Pendragon will find that
his great kingdom

counts for nothing
when he has lost his mind.

Mid paem wundorcraeft paes
ealdan aew ic pe hate niman

Utheres wopdropa ond
pa gemengan mid his blode.

Sy he undewittig ond deofolseocnes
his heortan afylle.

How is Morgana? She seems to have
made a remarkable recovery, my lord.

She was always like that as a child.
Very brave.

She inherited much from her father.
Gorlois was a great man.

Indeed. I trust she will be
well enough to attend the feast?

I see no reason why not.
Thank you, Gaius.

Let's change weapons.

What do you think?

I've seen better.

Of course. Well, you are the expert
at fighting with your eyes closed.

You didn't see what I did
when we rescued Morgana.

Because you were hiding behind
a tree. No, I was not.

I'm not going to use a blindfold.
I'm just going to fight
like Merlin here.

HE WHIMPERS

"I'm Merlin, don't hurt me."
LAUGHTER

"Don't hurt me!"

Ready?

HE GROANS

ARTHUR COUGHS AND SPITS

Standing here,
seeing so many happy faces,

it seems almost like a dream.

I can tell you I have not
felt like this in a long time.

What, drunk?

Drunk with happiness. I would've
searched the entire world -

the seas, skies, stars...

for that smile.

To have it stolen from me
was like a blade to my heart.

Morgana, there are no words.

You mean more to me
than you will ever know.

To the Lady Morgana.
ALL: The Lady Morgana!

Oh...I need some air.

Who is that?

Arthur?

HE LAUGHS

SCREAMING

Oh!

(Please.)

HE CRIES OUT

Please!

AH!

HE SCREAMS

HE PANTS

MORGANA: Careful.

Is he going to be all right?
He should sleep till morning.

What could've made him like this?

I've no idea. Gaius, he was
lying on the ground crying.

Exhaustion.

Gaius.

What aren't you telling me?
What's wrong with him?

Tell me.

When I found him, he was mumbling.

Most of it was incoherent but...

What?

He kept mentioning
your mother's name.

He never talks about her.

He claimed that he saw her.

In the well.

Did the guards see him
in this state?

I think you're worrying too much. If
the people get to know about this...

We'll say that he was ill,
but now he's recovered.

Already the rumours are spreading.
The mandrake's poison
does its work well.

Soon all of Camelot will believe
that their king is going mad.

And a kingdom without a king
is ripe for the picking.

When do you go to Cenred?

Tomorrow. And he will do as we wish?

Cenred wishes only to please me.

Then your time with him
has been well spent.

PIERCING SCREAM

Lady Morgana?

I was just taking a stroll.

What's that, my lady?

Nothing. You're bleeding.

I'm fine, really. You're wounded.

My lady.

I saw the light. I wanted
to make sure you were all right.

I'm fine. You're still dressed.

I'll prepare MYSELF for bed.

Are you sure?
That will be all, Gwen.

To what do I owe this pleasure?

If you will not leave your
castle then I must come to you.

I see that you've lost
none of your audacity.

I wish I could say the same.
But I find the great King Cenred

cowering in his chambers when he
should have met me at the border.

Perhaps he has lost his nerve.

Perhaps he is a coward.

You are very beautiful
when you're angry.

Is that why you continue to defy me?

You wouldn't like it
if I made it easy for you.

I'm certain you've not come all
this way just to drink, Morgause.

You know me well. Extremely well.

And yet somehow we're still close.

I've come to talk to you about
our old friend.

Uther Pendragon.

Yes, I've heard the sad news.

He's finally lost his mind.
Camelot is weak -
weaker than it's been for years.

The kingdom is vulnerable,
just as I promised.

Yet it doesn't change the fact that
the citadel is still impregnable.

So, even without his wits,
Uther is too strong for you.

You're a woman of great courage,
Morgause, but I don't think
with my sword.

An assault on Camelot
cannot be undertaken lightly.

You forget,
we have an ally in the court.

That is no guarantee.

Traitors blow like the wind.

Not this one.

She can be relied upon until the end.
You can be certain of that.

We've had reports that mercenaries
are streaming into Cenred's kingdom.

Do we know why? There is rumour
that Cenred is amassing an army.

I think we should send a patrol
out to assess the situation.

Father?

Leave me alone.

Get out of here.

Father, we...

I said, "Get out."

Get out!

I will have you hanged!

You...you...you...

There must be some explanation.

During the Great Purge, Uther drowned
many he suspected of sorcery.

And some, God help them,
were children -

killed for the magic
they were born with.

Maybe his conscience
is playing tricks with him.

Whatever it is,

we can no longer hide this.

A king's hold on his people's
a very fragile thing, Merlin.

If they start to
lose faith in him,

I fear for Camelot.

CHURCH BELLS RING

Take this man to my chambers.

I need to speak to Arthur
as a matter of urgency.

The sentry must have been attacked
at some point during the night.

Who could've done this?
That is the sigil of the Bloodguard.

The Bloodguard?

Warrior Priests sworn to protect the
High Priestesses of the Old Religion.

Surely they were wiped out during
the Great Purge? Not all of them.

So, you believe there's a traitor
in Camelot? It is possible, sire.

The sentry will be able to
tell us soon enough.

He's still alive? Indeed.

Gaius?

Merlin?

Gaius.

You said he was recovering.

I thought he was. Then what happened?

You don't think it's strange?

Very.

Sorry you had to wait.
There was much to discuss.

But your visit was successful?

Cenred's army ride for
Camelot on my command.

There is nothing you cannot do.

It is you that gives me
strength, sister.

How goes the battle for Uther's mind?

When Cenred marches on Camelot,

he will find a kingdom
without a leader.

Then finally we are ready.

Not quite.

Merlin suspects me.

Has he told Arthur?

Not yet, but he will.

Then we must stop him.

That will not be difficult. Why?

Because he's already here.

Did you really I was
that stupid, Merlin?

How are you, sire?

It's not me who's sick.

It can't be easy to see your
father this way.

No.

He's always been so strong.

He lifted this kingdom
from its knees, Gaius.

To see him now...

I'm sure that, over time,
he will recover.

But until then, we have
to make plans, Arthur.

We need you to assume control.

That's ridiculous.
Camelot needs a leader.

It falls to you.

You must fulfil your role as Regent.

This is not just me talking.
Members of the court have spoken.

So now you've taken to
whispering behind my back?

What kind of treason is this?
It is for the good of the kingdom.

I'm not going to usurp my father.

The palace is awash with rumours.
The people are restless.

I swore allegiance to my king, and
as long as there is breath in his
body it is my duty to uphold that.

Arthur, please...

You are giving up on my father.
That is something I will never do.

You intrigue me, Merlin.

Why does a lowly servant continue
to risk everything for Arthur
and for Camelot?

You know the answer,
but you're not telling me. Why?

Come on, time and again
you put your life on the line.

There must be a reason.

I believe in a fair and just land.

And you think Arthur
will give you that? I know it.

And then what? You think you'll be
recognised, Merlin? Is that it?

All this so one day you can
be a serving boy to the king.

No, there's something more.

Something you're not
telling me, isn't there?

I've told you.

Well, you can take
your secret to your grave.

Weorp untoworpenlic!

You chose to poison one of my own.
You may regret that.

Merlin!

You're going to be...

Abrecap benda.

Abrecap benda!

Irenfaestnunga onlucap me!

BRANCHES CREAK

BRANCHES CREAK

Have you seen Merlin?
Not since yesterday.

Is there a problem? I'm not sure.

What is it?

Merlin didn't come home last night.

That's not like him.

No.

RUMBLING

Min strangest miht
hate pe tospringan!

I need him to get better.

I know.

I'm glad you're here.

I'll make sure he's
looked after, don't worry.

Awendap eft wansaeliga neatu!

Forletap me a!

Ah!

HE ROARS

Oh...
drakon, e male so ftengometta

tesd'hup'anankes.

The great battle
for Camelot has begun.

It is your fate to be the greatest
king Camelot has ever known.

Retreat! Morgana, she's
summoned an army of the dead.

What are you going to do? Kill me?

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