Merlin (2008–2012): Season 3, Episode 11 - The Sorcerer's Shadow - full transcript

MAN: 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.

Your mother know you're out here?

What's your name, boy?

Gilli.

What's in the bag? Nothing.

Where you heading? Camelot.

To fight in the tournament.

Is that what your pretty
new sword's for? Yeah.

Let me see.



You ever seen this tournament?

Believe me, a little boy
like you has got no chance,

especially without a sword.

THEY LAUGH

Give it back. I'm doing you
a favour. One day you'll thank me.

I said, give it back!

I thought you were a fighter.
Well, here,

I'll show you how to fight.

Good luck at the tournament.

THEY LAUGH

Did anyone think this
tournament through?

A contest, open to all-comers,
with a prize of 100 gold coins.

Hmmm. I wonder what kind of people
are going to turn up?

It's tradition, Merlin.
The tournament's been held
every ten years for centuries.



Nothing to worry about.

Tell me he can't use that
in the contest!

He can use what he likes.
It's an open tournament.

What about the knight's code?

Counts for nothing. The only
rule is, there are no rules.

Yeah, you're right,
there is nothing to worry about.

Excuse me. Hello?

Drink? A room.
I'm only taking competitors.

Spectators have to stay
outside the city walls.

Well, I am a competitor.
Course you are.

Here.

I'd like a room, please.

You'll have to share. But...
You want a bed or not?

And I'll have my money now. Why?

Because you'll be dead by sunset.

My, if it's not
the Prince of Camelot.

I'm his servant.
I've always wanted a servant.

Here, clean them.

What? My boots.

Hurry up!

I'm looking for a cloth. I don't care
if you use your tongue. Clean 'em!

Stay where you are. Oh, so you've
decided to join us after all.

I think you should put
that down, sir.

THEY LAUGH

Did you hear that?
Oh, I heard it, all right.

Why don't you say that again?
I'm sorry, this is my fault.

I'm not hearing you.
I've said what I had to say.

Watch out!

Argh!

Now, get out!

Thanks for the warning.
It's me who should be grateful.

It's all right.

I've already had a run in
with those two.

You have? I know what's it's like
to be picked on. Merlin!

Well, thanks again... Merlin!

Merlin, that's me.

I'm Gilli.

Merlin! Ah! I've got to go.

Remind me how many times you've
won this tournament, Uther? Three.

That's a lot to live up to,
Arthur. Indeed.

I remember your last victory.

You were a master in the arena.

It's such a shame we won't
see you compete again.

Who says you won't?
You said you were too old.

It's not age that stops me.
I'm still a match for any man.

Well, we won't be finding out.

Why ever not? Because I don't
want you getting hurt.

HE LAUGHS

Do you think you could still
win the crown? The kingdom needs
him to rule, not to fight.

You think I can't do both? You're not
as young as you used to be.

Besides, I need someone to keep me
company in the stands.

If you'll excuse me, I need to
prepare for the tournament. Merlin.

It is such a shame.

It would have been good
for the people to see you
compete one last time.

But still, Arthur's probably right.

You can't do everything.

How're you feeling?

Confident. Are you sure?

Yes. Because last time
this tournament was held,

three men died. Really?
That was just on the first day.

Thanks for that, Merlin.
And on that second day...

Let's just get through the first...

You're right,
because that's when most people die.

Merlin? Yes.

Shut up.

APPLAUSE

SWELLING APPLAUSE

It is my pleasure
to welcome you all to Camelot.

This is a contest like no other.

It is open to all-comers...

FANFARE

..including our reigning champion,
the King.

APPLAUSE

There are no rules,
no weapons are banned.

The last man standing
takes the prize.

Let the tournament begin!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING

CHEERING

HE SCREAMS

CHEERING

GASPING

SPECTATORS BOO

CHEERING

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING

Who'd have believed it?

That was a fine victory.

Thank you. That'll need treating.

It's all right.
Gaius is the Court Physician.

It's just a nick. I'm fine.

He's using magic.

I suspected as much.

The ring bears a mark
of the Old Religion.

Such rings are very rare
but they act as a conduit,
a channel for magical powers.

So does have magic like me?
He doesn't have your powers, Merlin.

But to wield a ring such as that
would need considerable gifts.

Well, he's braver than me, using
magic in front of all those people.

Brave or stupid?

If Uther finds out,
he'll have him killed.

Argh...

HE CHANTS IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE

Argh!

Hey!

HE SIGHS

BELLS CHIME

Sorcery. It is the only explanation.

We must not jump
to conclusions, sire.

What other explanation
could there be?

The guards report seeing
an unnaturally bright light,

its heat was so intense they could
feel it at the end of the corridor.

These scorch marks would seem
to support their story.

They appear to have been there
for some time.

Did the guards get
a good look at this man?

No, it was too dark. Unfortunate.
I can see no evidence of magic.

There's a strange odour.
How do you explain that?

It's coming from
the grain store, there...

It's, er...alecost. For the tavern.
They use it in their brewing...

Brewing? Indeed, sire.

It imparts a special flavour.

Very well.

It was clearly Gilli, judging by
the scorch marks and the odour.

There's an old healing spell,
it's crude but it works.

You heat the skin to coagulate the
blood and it cauterises the wound.

His shoulder? No wonder
he didn't want any treatment.

You'll have to talk to him
before it's too late.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR

Who is it?

Merlin. Come to see how you are.

It's a lot better. Can I have
a look? There's nothing to see.

The way you fought earlier...
That was incredible. Yeah?

For someone your size,
to go and beat a man like that.

I'm sure a lot of people are going
to think you're using magic.

I'm not going to tell anyone.

I'm not using magic.

You don't have to fear me.

It bears the mark
of the Old Religion.

Where did you get it from?

My father. He left it me.

Did he have the same powers as you?

He was a gifted man,

but he would not touch magic.

He vowed never to use it.
He feared it,

wouldn't even let me talk about it.

Why?

He was scared Uther would find out,

that the King would discover
he was a sorcerer.

Even when he was attacked -
he had three men on him -

he still wouldn't use this.

Is that how he died?

I'm not going to be like him.

Because you want to be proud of
who you are? All these questions...

You remind me of someone I know. Who?

You saved my life
and I'm trying to save yours.

You need to withdraw
from the tournament.

It's an open competition.

You're supposed to be able
to use whatever skills you have.

Fighting skills. You're not
a swordsman or a gladiator.

Fighting is not your talent.

Magic is. Then why can't I use it?
Because it's banned.

Without magic, I'm a nobody.

People think they can kick dirt
in my face. You're not a nobody.

You're...special.

Then let me prove that.

If you continue to use magic here...

..you'll be caught.

Uther will have you executed.

CHEERING

CHEERING

CHEERING

Have you seen who you're to face
in the semi-final tomorrow?

HE LAUGHS

You might need to put in some
practice. Well, the crowds
are really looking forward to it.

So am I. It should be quite a match.

APPLAUSE

Seems like you're my next opponent.

Excuse me.

Can you let me past, please?

No, because I want you
to help me decide...

..which of these I'm going
to kill you with.

HE LAUGHS

HE SCREAMS

Hello again.

GASPING

SAD, EPIC MUSIC

I've never killed a man before.

I just wanted to feel...

..what it was like to be...

..respected.

But this...

I'm not a killer.

This isn't me.

You need to withdraw.

I'm going to.

There he is!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Drinks are on the house!

Three cheers for Gilli!
Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!
Hip, hip, horray!

What do I do, Merlin?

If I fight my father tomorrow,
the way I can,

I'll show him up, I'll humiliate him
in front of his people.

Or worse, I could wound him,
even kill him.

He's not going to back down.

He's determined to prove himself.

You have to let him win.

You don't have to put up
with the gloating.

Do you have any idea what
it's like to live with a man
who constantly thinks he's the best?

Mmm... Must be irritating.

APPLAUSE

FANFARE

CHEERING

Good luck.

And you. You'll need it.

Don't be so sure, father.

When I was your age,
I conquered Camelot.

I didn't inherit this Kingdom,
I won it.

One day you'll be strong enough
to take my crown, but not yet.

Ready? Ready.

I thought you said you were ready.

Need a breather, father?

Footwork. Always was your weakness.

HE BREATHES HEAVILY

CHEERING

Well done.

That can't have been easy.
If he wasn't my father...

The King's through to the final.

You need to worry about
who he might be facing next.

CHEERING

I thought you said the boy was going
to withdraw. That's what I thought.

We'll have to warn the King. No.

Why are you protecting him?

You know what Uther will do. Gilli
is using magic for his own gain.

It's corrupting him, poisoning him.
Just let me talk to him.

I fear it's too late. Gaius, please.

You taught me what magic was for,
you gave me the opportunity
to be the person that I am today.

I've had you to help me. Give me
one more chance to talk to him.

We'll have to put an end to this.
If he fights tomorrow,

either his magic
will be found out or, worse,

the King will die.

Now, a lot of people ask me,
how did he fall on his back?

I just tripped him like that. I
mean, I'm strong. You don't realise.

What's this about? Your opponent.

Thought you might like to know
how he is. Is he all right?

Gaius thinks
he'll pull through but...

..he might not have been so lucky.

It could've
been me that got injured.
I thought you weren't going to fight.

You've seen the way people are now.

They're showing me respect.

You don't know what
that's like for me.

I do. No.

No. No-one does.

HE INTONES A SPELL

It's...lonely...

..to...be more powerful

than any man you know
and have to live like a shadow.

To...be special and have
to pretend you're a fool.

I know how it feels. I understand.

Then you understand
why I have to fight.

If Uther is killed, so what?

How many of our kind
have died at his hands?

How many more will?

It's time those with magic
fought back.

Gilli... You can't tell me
what to do!

You need to learn to use your magic
for good. That is its true purpose.
It's not meant for your own vanity.

I'm not going to apologise
for who I am!

You can be a servant
and pretend you're less than them.

That's not what I do!

No? You're defending the King!

Protecting a man that would have
you dead. I'm protecting you.

You've been pretending
for so long now

that you've actually forgotten
who you are.

That's not true. Isn't it?

No. It's time someone struck a blow
for the likes of you and me.

And if you're too weak, then I will.

Oh, drakon, mala soi fthengometh
tesd' hup anankes erkheo...

HE CONTINUES INVOKING A SPELL

I was beginning to hope
you'd forgotten me.

I don't think so.

The problem is, young warlock,
that you wish to talk,

but you don't wish to listen.

The last time we met, you chose to
ignore my advice and overrule me.

I'm sorry. A Dragonlord
should never abuse their power.

What reason do you have
to summon me this time?

You are a creature of magic

and only a creature of magic
could hope to understand.

Uther is to fight a young sorcerer
in the tournament tomorrow.

Gaius wants me to prevent him
from using magic.

But if I do that,
there is every chance he will die.

Your choice is a hard one,
young warlock.

Yet you, like I, must hold hope that
Arthur will bring about a new age,

an age where the likes of you and I
are respected once again.

If he sees his father killed
through the use of magic,

it will harden his mind forever.

No. There must be some...other way.

To see one of your kin die
is never an easy thing.

But all great struggles
demand sacrifice.

I am sorry, young warlock.

I wish I had some words to help you.

Some choices are easy.

Some...stay with you forever.

I've come to wish you luck.

Against a boy?

He's reached the final.

Arthur, even you could beat him.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

For glory.

For glory.

CHEERING

CHEERING

I'm sorry.

I didn't have a choice.

You did what you had to do,

and you betrayed your kind.

No, that was you.

You betrayed us.

You'd won,

but you were going to kill
the King anyway?

There's no honour in that.

Come on, look inside yourself.
You're better than this.

Magic is not meant for fighting,
it's not meant to bring you glory.

I never understood my father. I
thought that he was afraid of magic,

but he wasn't.

He was afraid of what it can do,
how it can corrupt.

I know now that he was strong.

Well, he was stronger than me.

I'm sorry.

I know it doesn't seem like it now,
but one day magic
will be permitted once again.

And when that day arrives,
you will no longer have

to hide who you are. Your gifts will
be recognised and we will be free.

Who knows,

maybe then our paths
will cross again.

I hope so. Oh, they will. We're kin.

Kin.

I thought the boy
was going to kill me.

So did I.

Then suddenly, the old
fighting spirit kicked in.

I dug deep, found my strength and
the whole thing just began to flow.

I felt at one with the sword.

My feet moved instinctively.

And now you're champion once again.

Maybe you can give Arthur
some lessons.

It is I who learnt
a great deal from our fight.

I can't see what. He's a far better
warrior than you think.

It is Arthur who should
have claimed the prize.

But sadly, he wasn't good enough.

Because he threw the fight
that I might save face.

You knew?
I have followed your progress
with a sword since you were a boy.

I know your abilities
better than anyone.

I am eternally grateful.

I hope that when you are King
and have sons of your own,

that they will afford you
the same honour.

Indeed, the most satisfying
outcome of the tournament

is that Arthur's actions
have shown me that

he is now truly ready to be King.

I'm proud of you.

I don't deserve it.

You're being hard on yourself.

All right.

What are you doing?!

You said you didn't deserve it.

Gaius, I haven't eaten.
Pity, it's delicious.

Gaius!

HE LAUGHS

All right.

Thanks.
THEY LAUGH

The Cup of Life
will soon be in our hands.

It's imperative that we get
to the Cup before he does.

With such a weapon
at their disposal,

Camelot would be all but lost.

Stop!

Get the Cup, then kill them.

398
00:43:29,893 --> 00:43:33,414