Merlin (2008–2012): Season 3, Episode 5 - The Crystal Cave - 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.

HE PANTS

MEN SHOUT

Are they still after us?

I told you we'd outrun them.

You sure?

Why is it you never trust me, Merlin?

MEN SHOUT



Come on. This way.
Where are we going?

Trust me!

Arthur!

What are you doing? Come on.

What is this place?
The Valley of the Fallen Kings.

Is it cursed? No.
Not unless you're superstitious.

It is. It's a myth.

They'll never follow us in here.
They won't dare.

Trust me.

If you say that one more time...!

What was that? An arrow. An arrow?

Oh, good(!) For a moment
I thought it was something terrible.

RUNNING FOOTSTEPS

Come on.



Dollop head...

I need you to recover.

Purhhaele dolgbenn.

TWIG SNAPS, BIRD'S WINGS FLUTTER

Listen to me, clotpole.

I don't care if you die,
there are plenty of other Princes.

You're not the only pompous,
supercilious, condescending,

royal...imbecile I could work for.

The world is full of them.

But...I'm going to give you
one more chance.

Licsar gestapol nu.

HE WHIMPERS

Tell me...

why are you so sad?

My friend is dying.
I can't help him.

Then do not waste your tears.

For I can tell you that the time
for him to die is not yet upon us.

Don't be afraid. My name is Taliesin.

I'm Mer... I know who you are.

The moment of our meeting has been
written for many, many years.

You are Emrys.

Aweorp be.

Arthur? He is sleeping. Within
hours he will be fully recovered.

You're sure?

If my memory serves me well.
What d'you mean?

I want to show you something, Merlin.

What? You must wait and see.

Where are we going?

Why have you brought me here?

In good time you will discover all.

HE CHUCKLES

What is this place?

This is where magic began.

It is the Crystal Cave.

What is it you see?
Images, flashes...

I've seen something like this
before...in the Crystal of Neatid.

What you see here
is exactly the same,

for the Crystal of Neatid
was hewn from this very cave.

Look into them, Emrys, really look.

Much will be revealed.

EERIE SCREECH

No.

Take me out of here.

How do I get back to Arthur?
The future is hidden to all
but a very few, Emrys.

You are one such person. No.
I've been through this before.

Perhaps there is a reason you were
brought here at this moment in time.

What reason?
Only the crystals can tell you.

They contain futures
that are not yet born.

The secrets they reveal, Emrys,
are unique to you...and you alone.

Look into them, Emrys,

really look.

Use what you see for good.

EERIE SCREECH

'NO!'

HORSE NEIGHS

'NO!'

FOOTSTEPS

What...was that?

What was that?!

You look like a startled stoat. Yeah?

Well...at least I don't
look like a bone-idle toad.

Let's go.

Are you saying I look like a toad?

Yeah, maybe one day you'll magically
transform into a handsome Prince.

But as magic is outlawed,
it'll probably never happen.
Come on, let's go. Merlin...

What?

..I'm the one who gives
the orders. Remember? Yeah.

You ready? Let's go.

I don't understand.

You said I had an arrow
in my back. How come all I can feel
is a slight bruise?

Don't know. Merlin...

did something happen that
you're not telling me about? No.

Come on...
I'm missing your usual prattle.

You're certainly making up for it.

You still haven't
answered my question.

The arrow didn't pierce your
armour and when you fell
you knocked yourself out.

All right, I don't normally
say things like this, but...

you did a good job back there.

Did you hear what I just said?

All right, maybe I should give you
some kind of reward. What d'you want?

Some peace and quiet.

The bandits probably have
a stronghold somewhere
in the White Mountains.

How we escaped, I'll never know.

Although some credit
must go to my servant, Merlin.

Dispatch a patrol, I want these
men caught and brought to justice.

Immediately, father. We feared you
might miss Lady Morgana's birthday.

It would take more than a bunch of
thieves to keep me from such a feast.

Tomorrow promises
to be quite a night.

Gaius, I can't get these visions
out of my head.

You are extremely lucky
to have seen the Crystal Cave.

Even before the Great Purge, wizards
would talk about it with reverence.

That man who led me there,
who is he?

Who WAS he?

He died, I'd say,
about 300 years ago.

Taliesin was a seer
to the great Kings of old.

It is said that the Crystal Cave
was the source of his prophecies.

He told me...

He said there was a reason
I was brought there
at this moment in time.

Why?

It must mean
the events I saw are imminent.

Morgana is going to kill Uther.

Merlin, you must be careful.
The crystals are treacherous.

What you saw may not
be all that it seemed.

So I do nothing?

There is nothing to suggest that what
you saw is imminent, is there?

No. So, I wouldn't let it
put you off your soup.

You're right.

Come on, eat up. What is it?

Sometimes it's best not to know.

You're up! It's Morgana's birthday.

I have to get her a present.
What are you getting her?

It's a secret.
Come on, you can tell me.

A dagger.

HORSE NEIGHS

It's happening! The future I saw,
it's started... Calm down, Merlin.

I just saw Morgana struggling
with a horse exactly as she was
in the crystals. Are you certain?

It was the same image.
But she's always riding.

It's not unusual to see her with
a horse. That's not the only thing.

Arthur's present for Morgana...
he's told me it's a dagger.

A dagger?

Merlin, I think you're overreacting.

It could be ANY dagger.

As for the sight of Morgana
with a horse... It was the same.

..it's hardly a rare sight.

It's certainly not one to be
trusted as a harbinger of doom.

DOOR OPENS

Ah, Merlin... Have you done
my clothes for the feast?

Ah...no. No. No.

Well, what HAVE you been doing?

Um...

Right, well, you can start
by pressing my robe,

and, er, cleaning my shirts
and, ooh, polishing my boots.

Ah, Morgana's present.

What d'you think?

Beautiful, isn't it?
Feel the balance.

Feel the sharpness of the blade.

Yeah, it's just what
every woman wants, isn't it?

What d'you mean?

Well, I'm no expert, but don't women
normally go for pretty things,
like, maybe, jewellery?

How do I look?

Same as you always do.

Handsome. You've brightened up.

I've seen Morgana's present.
The dagger?

It's very plain, bit boring.
And not like the one you saw?

No, that was sumptuous, ornate.

I'd probably be disappointed
if I were Morgana.

Good, so now you can stop worrying.

Oh, I have. I'm going to continue
as if I'd never even met Taliesin.

I'm going to enjoy this
feast like everyone else.
Even if it's for Morgana.

ALL: To Lady Morgana.

Happy birthday! Arthur...!

It's not often you're right, Merlin,
but this is one of those
rare occasions.

Girls do like pretty things. Thanks.

Don't you see? It's started.

It's coming true.
We can't be certain about that.

We have to stop her. How?

Merlin, we don't know when this is
going to happen. We don't even know
if it will. We have to watch her.

Night and day? I was shown
these visions for a reason.

This is madness.

We'll take it in turns.
She cannot be left alone.

You've got some lovely presents.

Mainly hairbrushes.

Who is King...Gremoaus?

At least he doesn't think
my hair needs brushing!

It's so pretty.

Here. I want you to have this.
Me? No! It's a thank-you.

Thank you.

SHE BREATHES ON MIRROR

BELL CHIMES

DOOR OPENS

SHE SCREAMS

No!

We need water and bandages.

I'll get that. And yarrow.
We need to stop the bleeding.

She's having problems breathing.
Dianthus?

Yes, and a preparation
of pulmonaria. ..Lungwort, Merlin.

Quarter of an ounce,
ground fine and mixed with viola.

How could this have happened?
Arthur, I need room here.

Yes. Of course.

Anything you need, just tell me.

Will she be all right?

We've done the best we can. I can
heal her skin, Gwen, but her skull,

the cranium is broken.
She's bleeding inside.

I had to stop the future.

I had to stop Morgana killing Uther.

I didn't mean to do it like this.
It wasn't your fault, Merlin.

I've prevented something
much worse from happening.

I just...wish it could have been
some other way.

WHIMPERING

DOOR OPENS

Sword belt, Merlin.
Where's my sword belt?

What the hell's it doing over there?

It's twisted. Here. ..Here.

I'm sorry about Morgana.

If Gaius could do something,
he would.

After all we went through to rescue
her...for her to survive all that...

I know. ..and to lose her now,

like this.

I've grown up with her.
She's like a sister to me.

I would sacrifice my place
on the throne for her to see
another sunrise.

So beautiful.

Yes, Sire.

I cannot watch her die, Gaius.

I wish there was something
I could do...

No. You don't understand.

I cannot lose her.

No matter what happens,
she cannot die.

I will do everything
I can, Sire, but... No, Gaius.

Whatever it takes, whatever.
I don't care.

You must save her.

If I knew a way...
You're not understanding me, Gaius.

Cure her.
I don't care what remedy you use.

In all these books
there must be something.

Something in the Old Religion?

Are you suggesting...? Sorcery, yes.

I know she is dear to you, Sire,

but surely you're not going
to risk everything for Morgana.

Gaius...you don't understand.

There's something you should know.

Something I've told no-one.

Morgana is my daughter.

It was whilst Gorlois was away
fighting in the Northern Plains.

Her mother...Vivian...

grew lonely.

I understand, Sire.

I've said enough.

The people must never know
who Morgana really is...

for Arthur's sake.

I assure you, Sire,
your secret is safe with me.

That explains everything. No wonder
he spent a year looking for her.

Now we know why she can do no wrong.

DOOR OPENS

Sire...

..this is from Gaius. He thought
it might help...ease your mind.

You are Gaius's boy?

He is my guardian.

You are like a son to him. Yes.

I see the way he cares for you.

You feel your child's
every joy...and their pain.

You watch their failings
and you see your own.

All you want
is for their happiness.

For them to escape
the sufferings of life.

Why? Why has this happened?

I would do anything. Any...

ARTHUR GRUNTS IN ANGER

Her breath is leaving her.

She will be gone by morning.

You summoned me, young warlock.

And to what do I owe
the pleasure this time?

I have been to the Crystal Cave.

I saw Morgana make an attempt
on Uther's life.

It does not surprise me.

But I stopped her.

To change the future
is no simple matter, Merlin.

To do so is fraught with danger.

I know, and as a result of
my actions, Morgana is dying.

Then you should rejoice!

I want you to help me to save her.
Merlin, have you learnt nothing?

I did not mean to kill her. All I
wanted was to avoid the future

that would've unfolded,
to prevent Uther's death,
to prevent Camelot being torn apart.

I will not cure her!

She is Uther's daughter! Yes.

You knew. Why didn't you tell me?

It makes no difference.

Whatever she was about to do,
I stopped her.

There's no need
for people to suffer.

The witch must die,
as she should have done long ago.

I will not save her.

I am a Dragonlord,
you cannot refuse me!

How DARE you treat me such!

How DARE you abuse your power!

I command you.

Very well. But I warn you,
the evil that will follow

is of your doing and yours alone.

DOOR OPENS

I'll sit with her.
Why don't you go and get some sleep?

Come on, you must be exhausted.

If she wakes up... I'll call you.

Thank you.

Ic pe purhhaee pinu licsar

mid pam sundorcraet

paere ealdan ae.

I never thought...

It's truly a miracle.

Thank you, Gaius.

I knew you would not fail me.

I assure you, Sire, I did nothing.

Of course. I understand.

I won't ask any questions.

But I will not forget this, Gaius.

I couldn't watch everyone's grief.

I know,

but you're playing with things
that are beyond you.

Thank you, Gwen.

I couldn't ever let you die. I think
I somehow willed you to live.

You've always been so good to me.

I am grateful. You and Arthur.

You mean everything to me, Morgana.

I know I could have
no better guardian.

Being so close to death has made me
realise how important

you and Arthur are to me.

How close we are to each other. Yes.

You are like a father to me.

Yes.

I wish the people knew that.

They do. Not really.
Of course they do.

In the eyes of the people I am no
more than your ward, a 'guest'.

What matters is what WE feel.
That's what's important,
not what the people think.

I must let you rest.

THUNDER RUMBLES

CLATTERING

Morgause. Sister! I waited for you
the other night. What happened?

Something is wrong. There is much
to tell you, Morgause. What is it?

I overheard Uther. What?

Uther is my father.

I am his daughter.

Uther? He has been lying
to me all these years.

But this is glorious news.
He disowned me.

He wants people to think
that he's the perfect King.

It's more important to him
than his own flesh and blood.

Don't you see? This is wonderful.

You have a legitimate claim
to his throne.

No, sister,

you don't understand.

He must pay for this.

BELLS TOLL

You must go. No. I don't want
to leave you like this.

You must or they will find you here.

Do not do anything rash,
Morgana. Promise me.

We must bide our time.

DISTANT SHOUTING

We need to seal the drawbridge,
search the grounds.

I'll inform the King.

BELLS TOLL

Merlin? What's the matter?

That was the next image
I saw in the crystal.

I haven't stopped anything.

Have they found the intruder?

Not yet.

Looks like it's going
to be a bad night.

Yes.

THUNDER RUMBLES

What are YOU doing here?
Arthur sent me to look after you.

He's worried about the intruder.

I don't need you.
He was quite insistent.

Get out of my way!

Ah!

Oh!

NO!

What's going on?

Uh...there was a fire...
and I was scared.

I wanted to be with you. You're
the only person I feel safe with.

You saved the King's life.

Only just.

I thought I could alter the future,
but instead, I caused it,

I made it happen.

What you did was dangerous,
even for someone as gifted as you.

But, what's done is done.

There are more important things
for us to worry about.

I fear that Morgana knows the truth.

About what?
She knows the King is her father.

That explains why she acted
so suddenly.

Arthur must be careful. Why?

Morgana is of royal blood.
If Uther were to die,

Arthur is all that stands between
her and the throne of Camelot.

Marriage?!
I cannot marry someone I don't love.

You can and you will.

..Whoops!

I'm not the perfect Princess, am I?
Poppycock!

We have waited many years
for this moment!

If I marry her, what will you do?

I will watch you grow into the
King that Camelot deserves.