Merlin (2008–2012): Season 3, Episode 8 - The Eye of the Phoenix - 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.'

What's he actually doing?

Thinking.

About?

You.

Shh.

He has to decide upon a quest.

And crouching on his knees
all night is going to help?

Yes, he has to transcend his body,
so that the quest is revealed to him



in a vision.

And you're going to stay
here and watch?

Gwen, this is one of the most
important days in a Prince's life.

Now.

It is time.

What is the quest you have chosen?

I can see but one path, sire.

I am to enter the realm
of the Fisher King

and find the golden trident,

spoken of in the legends
of the Fallen Kings.

You do understand that if you are to
prove yourself worthy of the throne,

you must complete this task
alone and unaided?

I do.

You'll get hiccups.



Who is the Fisher King?

He was a sorcerer who lived
many hundreds of years ago.

And?

Legend has it he was
wounded in battle.

The wound festered and the infection
spread not just through his body,

but through his lands as well.

His mighty kingdom was reduced
to a wasteland

and has remained that way
till this very day.

I don't understand,
why is Uther so worried?

Some believe the Fisher King
is still alive...

..kept from death by his magic.

Do you?

Perhaps, perhaps not.

But the people of the north
call the area the Perilous Lands.

Few who have ever ventured
there have lived to tell the tale.

I ate too quickly.

Merlin. I can't help it.
I need to concentrate.

I am trying to prepare

for one of the most important
moments in my life.

All these maps.

None of them are the same.

Well done, Merlin.
Do you know why? No.

Because hardly anyone's
ever been there.

Couldn't you have chosen
something a bit easier?

I'm meant to be proving
my worth to the people.

A quick trip to the Lower Town
to collect a bundle of herbs
probably won't cut it.

But the Perilous Lands
are...perilous.

Maybe I should come with you.

What for?

To...help out.

You really don't get it, do you?

The task must be completed alone
and unaided.

That's the way it's been for
hundreds of years and it's
not about to change for you.

Now if you don't mind,

I've some important
preparation to do.

Please. Please, just spare me a
few minutes of your time, sister.

My lady? It's all right, Gwen.
I won't be a moment.

We must be quick, sister, this
enchantment will not hold for long.

Tell me, what has Arthur
chosen as his quest?

He sets out tomorrow
for the Perilous Lands.

How perfect.

Present this to the Prince as
a token of your good wishes.

When the time is right, you must
make a likeness of the Prince

and bind it to the gift using
the skills that I taught you.

When he does not return,
you, sister,

will take your rightful place as
sole heir to the throne of Camelot.

My lady? Are you all right?
Why wouldn't I be? I...

I thought...

The poor woman didn't have
a penny to feed her family.

I felt duty bound to help her, Gwen.

I know you have to go, but...

I'll be careful.

For me.

You look troubled, sire. He is
sole heir to the throne, Morgana.

Don't worry.

I'm certain a Pendragon will rule
over Camelot for a long time to come.

Beautiful, isn't it?
It was a gift from Morgana.

You're sure it wasn't a jewel?

No. Brighter than that.

And you think it was enchanted?

There was magic there,
I could feel it. You're sure?

And if it came from Morgana,
it can only mean one thing.

Arthur's in danger.

I'm not sure where else to look,
Merlin. There has to be something.

We've examined every
stone imaginable.

Unless...

Merlin!

Gaius! That's it!

Then it's not a stone, Merlin.
It's an eye of the Phoenix.

The Phoenix?
Some call it the firebird.

Its eye burns with a fire that
consumes the life force of anybody
it comes in contact with.

Arthur. The eye will draw
energy from him.

If it is worn for too long, Arthur
will die. I have to go after him.

This is not a task to be undertaken
lightly, Merlin. You'll need help.

What is it now?

I just wanted to see if there was
anything you needed. No, get out.

Is something burning?
I said, get out!

Hello, Gwaine. Ah, Merlin.

How are you?

Give me my money.

Gwaine.

Run!

Remind me again,
what are you doing here?

Arthur's in trouble, I need
your help. What kind of trouble?

There!

He's gone to the Perilous Lands.
You serious? Yeah.

Just now, that sounds
pretty attractive.

All right, we go for the horses.

You have got to be joking.

Yah!

Go on! Yah! Yah!

Who is it that wishes
to cross my bridge?

A knight...

on a quest to find the trident
of the Fisher King.

Then you must be Courage.

No, I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot.

I'm Grettir.

I have to say, you're not as
short as I thought you'd be.

Before I let you pass,
I'll give you a little advice.

As Courage, there are two more
things you will need

to complete your quest -
Strength and Magic.

I don't condone the use of magic.

You'd be wise not to
dismiss it so freely.

The rules in the land that you
are heading to are quite different
to those in the world that you know.

Thank you for your help.

That's a very beautiful bracelet.

It was a gift from someone
very dear to me.

She hoped it would bring me
good fortune. Did she now?

How very thoughtful of her.

Why were those men so angry?

It's always the way in gambling -

you make a man a fool,
he calls you a thief.

How did you find me?

It wasn't easy, I've been in
almost every tavern in Engerd.

So have I.

You're so good to me, Gwen.
Thank you.

It's nothing.

You're upset with me.

I know. I shouted at you last night.

I'm sorry.

What can I do to make it up?
It's forgotten.

Why don't I give you some time off?

Don't look like at me that,
I'm sure I can look after
myself for one night.

That's very kind of you, my lady.

I'm glad we're friends again.

Before I go, I'll make sure
everything is ready for your return.

That's sweet,

but don't stay too late.

This is it. On the other side of
the forest lie the Perilous Lands.

Doesn't look too friendly.
That's because it's not.

Believe me, it's wretched.

How do you know?
You've never been there.

I've travelled to
many places, Merlin.

But not to the Perilous Lands.
I know that.

Why? There aren't any taverns.

I told you it was wretched.

Gwen?

So, Magic has arrived.

What?

There is nothing to be afraid of.

Your presence is essential if Arthur
is to succeed on his quest. How do
you know about Arthur? Who are you?

I'm the Keeper of the Bridge. I only
wish to see the Fisher King's lands
restored and prosperity reign again.

Until your mission is complete,
this cannot happen.

It is not my mission, it is Arthur's.

If that's what you choose
to believe.

It is no accident that
Arthur chose this path

or you chose to follow him.

Ah.

Finally. Strength has arrived,
the trio is complete. Who is he?

I mean no harm to either of you

and would thank you
to mean no harm in return.

Where's my sword?

It will return
once you reach the other side.

The Fisher King has waited
many years for this day.
Do not deny him what he wishes.

And remember,
nothing is as it seems.

What was that?

A pheasant.

A pheasant? A very big one.

You can turn back if you want.

I'm not scared of pheasants.

I don't know.
Why do you want to do this?

Same reason as you.

Help a friend.

Arthur's lucky to have us.

Not Arthur.

I'd do the same for you.

I hope so.

You're the only friend I've got.

I'm not surprised.

UNEARTHLY WAILING, LOUDER

That sounded like three pheasants.

At least.

I'm sorry to wake you.
Don't be silly.

I'm not sure who else I can talk to.
What is it, child?

It's Morgana. What's happened?

She had a box.

And her eyes...
It was like they were on fire.

What do I do, Gaius?
She's using magic.

Everything may not
be as it seems, Gwen.

No, no. I know what I saw.

I've known Morgana for so long.

I didn't want to believe it.
But she...

isn't the person I knew.

She's changed, Gaius.

I don't think she means
well to any of us any more.

I wish I could say otherwise,

but I fear you are right.

There it is.

What's that in the sky?

They're not birds.

I've never seen creatures like that.

It's like they're hunting something.

What was that?

A sword.

It's Arthur.

I should have known.
What are they? Wyverns.

Distant cousins of the dragon.

They're creatures of magic.

So be careful.

Quick, quick, quick!

Let's split up.

Arthur?

Arthur?

Nun de ge dei s'eikein
kai emois epe'essin hepesthai!

What the hell are YOU doing here?

Why can you never just say thanks?

Thanks! What,
for completely ruining the quest?

It's a good job I was here,
otherwise you'd be wyvern fodder!

How many times do I have to get it
into your thick skull?

I'm supposed to be doing this alone!

Great. This just gets
better and better.

Are Gwen and Morgana here too?

Are we going to have
a surprise party?

There are more wyverns on their way.
We need to get out of here.

I'm not leaving without the trident.

That was the whole
point of this quest.

Do you want us to help you?

Or do you want to do this alone?

Merlin!

Do you know where the trident is?

If I did, there wouldn't be
a problem, would there?

Any clues you can give us?

This is a quest, Merlin,
not a treasure hunt.

Well, it is sort of... Merlin!

Look at this.

Looks like a throne room.

If the trident's
going to be anywhere...

Merlin?

Merlin, are you all right?

Gwaine! Arthur!

There's got to be
a way to open this.

So, Emrys,
you are here at last.

So you ARE still alive.

For now.

Now, I'm sure if we can just
reach in here...

..we'll be able to find something
to release the door.

Go on, then.

Don't be such a princess.

This is your quest, after all.

That'll be... Your friends.

Courage and strength, I know.

Without their help you would not
be here. What is it you want?

I want an end to my suffering.

You want to die?

I have been waiting
all these years...

..for the arrival of a new time,

the time of
the once and future king.

I've heard these words before.

And you will hear them again,

for that time is dawning.

And my time finally
can come to an end.

This is why you were brought here.

For this is not Arthur's quest,

it is yours.

Arthur thinks the prize
is the trident.

But the real prize...

..is something far greater.

Water from the Lake of Avalon.

I have kept it safe these years,

waiting for the right person
to claim it.

And that is you.

You are the one chosen.

What are you talking about?

Albion's time of need is near,

and in that dark hour
you must be strong,

for you alone can save her.

Your powers are great,
but you will need help.

And that is what I'm giving you.

When all seems lost,

this will show you the way.

Thank you.

I have given you a gift.

Now you must give me one in return.

But I have nothing to give.

I think you do.

If I give you this, you will die.

'Thank you.'

Merlin.

Ha! Look what I found.

Now let's get out of this place.

This is the border.

By Uther's decree, I can go
no further. I'm sorry, Gwaine.

There's nothing I can do
to change that.

Maybe one day. Yeah, when Camelot
gets itself a half-decent king.

Careful...

he is my father.

Well, you can't have everything.
Where will you go this time?

Think I'll ride south.

You can't keep living like that.

Yeah, but it's fun trying.

Thanks, Gwaine.

I'll remember this, Gwaine.

Got to say, that was a good quest.

Did you meet that man on the bridge?

Then the wyverns,
they were really scary.

And the door to the throne room!
That was so close.

You do talk some nonsense sometimes.
What on earth

would you even know about it?
It's not like you were there.

Of course I was. You were not there,
you have not seen me for days.

You've been on a little trip to...
pick herbs, or whatever it is

you do in your spare time.
Ah, course, if your father was
to find out you weren't alone...

Yes, Merlin.
So just keep your mouth shut!

Absolutely, sire.

Do anything you say.

For a price.

What kind of price?

A day off. Mmm.

I think you've had too many of
those herbs you've been picking.

My lady?

Arthur!

Thank god.

Isn't it wonderful? I'm so happy.

I'll clear that up.

Arthur, I don't know what
pleases me more -

to be in possession
of such a precious artefact

or know that you have
finally proved yourself to be

the man I had always
hoped you would be.

Thank you, father.

I have no doubt that you
will one day make a fine king.

It's from the Lake of Avalon?

That's what he told me. Interesting.

You think? Well, it must have
some significance.

Maybe...

Do you believe his warnings?

Well, we already know of
one enemy within our walls. Morgana.

Her abilities are growing.

Whether the Fisher King
is right or wrong,

we would be foolish
to ignore his words.

I've missed you. And I you.

Ye bay ode ick.

There's some kind of creature
in your room. That is the manticore.

The ancients lived in fear of it.
Trembled at its very name.

I love you, Alice.

She's up to something,
and whatever it is it isn't good.

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