Merlin (2008–2012): Season 5, Episode 11 - The Drawing of the Dark - full transcript

Merlin sees Mordred helping Kara, a wounded Druid with whom he was once in love, but agrees to keep it secret. Later Kara tries to kill Arthur and is sentenced to death, with Arthur turning down Mordred's pleas for mercy. Mordred uses magic to help Kara escape but they are recaptured and Kara is executed. Merlin rightly fears this will make Mordred determined to destroy Arthur; and, sure enough, he flees and goes to see Morgana, revealing to her that Emrys is Merlin.

In a land of myth
and a time of magic,
the destiny of a great kingdom

rests on the shoulders
of a young man.

His name...

Merlin.

I think it's been a good trip.

Yeah, we all caught something.

Including Merlin.

What did he catch?

A cold!

If you learnt to track,
you'd enjoy it more.

I'm the best tracker here.



Arthur, what is it? A deer?

A boar?

Arthur!

Saxons.

They were after the cargo.

Weapons bound for Camelot.

Morgana.

This close to the city walls?

Check for survivors.

Kara?

Go!

Kara, go!

What happened?

I thought I saw someone.
I was wrong. Probably a deer.



Are you sure? Yeah.

Move out.

I don't want that.
I want Lungwort!

Maybe it's in the... thing.

What is it, Merlin?
What's the matter?

Mordred. You're worrying
about what the sorceress told you.

Finna was right.
I must not trust Mordred.

He's a loyal knight.
He's proved it time after time.

He's beguiled you.
He's beguiled you all.

You're wrong, Merlin.

When we were out on patrol,
a Saxon escaped and Mordred let him.

Are you sure? Saw him.

There must be a simple explanation.
I can't believe that, Gaius.

Not after all I've been told.
He's fond of the king.

The feeling is mutual.
They've become great friends.

That's my fear.
Arthur's blind to him. I'm not.

I won't make that same mistake.

We've patients waiting.

Have you got everything? Yes.

Merlin?

'Kara.'

Mordred?

Mordred.

Mordred.

Mordred.

We believe they approached
from the gorge at Westhay

and tracked the ridge line all the
way through to the ford at Rushwick.

We can't allow our supply routes
to become vulnerable.
I want extra patrols

dispatched to the west
and the north of the citadel.
We ride at first light.

Leon.

I need not remind you
we're at war.

What's troubling you?

Morgana's men attacked only
a few leagues away from the citadel.

She is brazen. She does not fear us.

Then she's more foolish
than I thought.

She has sorcery on her side.
And you have the strength and love
of your people, Arthur.

When you became king, you gave them
something to fight for.

That's the most powerful
weapon of all.

Could you believe...?

No.

If it hadn't been you... I know.

Your leg?

It isn't deep.

Let me see.

I'll clean it.

These will help it heal.

What're we going to do?

I'm going to help you get better.

You're a knight.
That doesn't matter.

Of Camelot.

Why, Mordred?

Arthur is a good man.

I can't believe you'd say that.

You don't know him.

He's your friend?

Yes.

Does he know who you are?

You're a druid. You don't belong
in Camelot.

I believe in Arthur.

You'll see.

One day, it will change.

You're safe here.

No-one will harm you, I promise.

Where've you been?

Nowhere.

You're lying.

What right have YOU to question me?

Why are you doing this?

Everything I do,
you think the worst.

I saw you...

let a Saxon go.

Maybe I should tell Arthur. Merlin...

She's a Druid.

I knew her.

She was wounded. What could I do?
Let her be captured?

She had an arrow in her leg.
She cannot walk.

You're taking a risk.

I can't let her die.

She's...

someone.

I can't explain. Where is she?

She needs a few days.

She'll be gone. She means no harm.
Please, you mustn't tell anyone.

You know if Arthur catches her...

she'll be killed.

Please, Merlin, I beg you.

She's one of us.

Promise me.

Your secret is safe with me.

You have my word.

Merlin!

What ARE you doing? I'm like a swan.

It seems like I'm not
doing anything,

but there's a lot of work
going on underneath.

Interesting.

I see you more as a head louse.
Right.

Useless. Irritating.

Come on. We've got
a patrol to mount.

Merlin!

Here.

It's all about staying alert.
What do you see?

I see a pair of breeches
that need cleaning.

Come and have a look.

Closer.

Now what do you see? Brilliant.

Two pairs of breeches that need
cleaning. On the branch! It's broken.

What does that tell you?
Something left the trail.

It's recent. An animal.

You think so? A deer.

Would have to be a big one.
With very big antlers.

What makes you say that?

Because it's looking at us.

It's... all about keeping alert.

Come on.

That's not a deer.

Merlin.

They're from when
we were here yesterday.

It was dry yesterday. It rained
last night. These marks are fresh.

Our men have been patrolling
this area night-and-day.

It's probably one of them. Who?

I had their reports.
No-one's been through here.

Arthur.

Don't hurt me.

Careful, Arthur. She's wounded.

Please...

I mean you no harm.

You would've killed me!

I'm only sorry I failed.

Why?! I didn't tell him!
You gave me your word. I swear.

You did it because you hate me.

No. This time you've gone too far.

You'll pay, Merlin. What's going on?

What's this about?

Nothing.

Merlin?

Nothing.

Were you part of a cohort of Saxons

who attacked an arms shipment
bound for Camelot?

Yes.

And were you acting under the orders
of Morgana Pendragon?

What I did, I did for myself,

for my people

and for our right to be free.

I have no quarrel with the Druids.

I have spent my life on the run
because of my beliefs

and seen those I have loved killed.

Once, maybe.

But I'm not my father.

You don't kill those with magic?

It is not I, Arthur Pendragon,
who needs to answer for my crimes.

It is you.

You and your father have brutally
and mercilessly

heaped misery on my kind.

It is you who has turned a peaceful
people to war...

and it is you...

and Camelot that shall
pay the price. In your words...

I hear the voice of Morgana.

It is she and others like her who
have abused the powers of magic.

It is they who have brought
the rift between our people.

It is their deeds
that have terrorised Camelot

and forced us
to outlaw such practices.

But you stand before the court,

not because of an act
of sorcery or sedition,

but because of an act of murder.

Your actions have brought
about the deaths of many good men

and threaten the lives of many more.

They were casualties of war.

And I would do the same again

for I will not rest until you are
dead and your kingdom is no more.

Yet you have friends here.

Somehow you got treatment
for your leg...

from someone in Camelot.

Who?

I treated myself.

You are lying.

Whoever it was left a trail
of footprints in the mud...

footprints that resulted
in your capture.

A stranger came across me
and he helped me.

I have no idea who he was.

You show no remorse
for your actions.

I have no choice but to declare you
an enemy of Camelot.

At dawn tomorrow,
pursuant to the laws of this land,

you will be taken from your cell...

and hanged.

You can do as you wish.
It will not stop Morgana's uprising.

Your doom is near.

My only sadness is
I won't be there to see it.

Kara.

The king has sent me
to speak to you.

He is frustrated...

that you did not betray
the person who helped you.

You are very loyal.

That person is... very dear to me.

I will never tell anyone.

I would rather die
than see them harmed.

I will speak with the King.

He will never show mercy
to someone like me.

I will not let you die.

Yes?

Ah, Mordred. What is it?

It was me.

I was the one who took
the herbs to the Druid girl.

Arthur. I'm asking you, please,
to reconsider your sentence.

She is a good person.
She means no harm.

She is not to blame.

Morgana is using her
in her quest for power.

You know this girl?

She is... someone...

Since I was a child...

she's always lived
inside my heart.

You know there's nothing
I wouldn't do for you.

You are a Knight of Camelot.
It's a bond we share.

Yet what you ask...

This girl, she is a danger.

Not just to me.

She is a sworn enemy of Camelot,
ruthless to the cause. No.

I will change that.
She'll listen to me.

I cannot risk the lives
of my citizens, Mordred,
no matter who asks.

I beg you, Arthur.

She has admitted her guilt.

I have no option.

I'm sorry.

Sire.

What of the bond between knights?

The law must be applied.

It is paramount.

You're breaking his heart.

You'll lose his trust.

Think again.
There's nothing I can do.

In time, Mordred will
understand that.

He'll come to forgive me.

I fear you are wrong, Arthur.

Only time will tell.

He would not listen.

He has made his decision.

I tried.

It's too late.

No, Kara.

He doesn't care.

No matter what he preaches,

he is no different from his father.

A tyrant,

a brute.

I thought he and I were friends.

He's a Pendragon.

You did all you could.

Mordred.

I wanted to...

to apologise.

There's no need.

I'm sorry for what I did.

I hope you'll forgive me.

I'd never let something like this
ruin our friendship.

You took me in.

I will always remember that...

and everything you've done for me.

You have rewarded me by becoming
one of my most loyal of knights.

Thank you, sire.

I knew he'd come round.

What are you doing?

You're leaving.

You're going to take her with you.

Do not stand in my way.

I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Mordred...

Kara is sentenced to die
in the morning.

What would you do? You can't.

Tell me you wouldn't do the same
for the woman you love.

Don't be foolish.

You see...

you cannot.

Mordred...

Please.

I know you did not betray me before.

Do not do so now.

It's nothing you haven't done
yourself a hundred times before.

This is different. How?

Mordred isn't just going
to set Kara free.

He's going to leave with her.
If he does, there'll be no chance
of reconciliation with Arthur.

Arthur's decision's already set
Mordred against him.

With the girl at his side, he runs
straight into the arms of Morgana.

You cannot want Kara to die.

But I don't want Arthur to either.

As long as Mordred is within these
walls, there's still hope.

I have to stop him.

Gaius!

I have no choice.

Merlin! I'm sorry, m'lady. I need to
speak with Arthur. It's important.

It'd better be.

It's Mordred.

What is it? Arthur...

Are you going to tell me?

He, uh...

Well?

He's going to help
the Druid girl escape.

Rally the guards.

He's a Camelot soldier.

We're searching the citadel.
They'll be gone. Search the forest.

I want them captured. Alive?

They are fugitives.
The law is clear.

Dispatch as many riders as you can.

Put all personal feelings aside.

You need to rest.

We can't.

Over here.

I thought I saw something.

You go!

Please.

I won't leave you.

Mordred!

'Use your magic. Kill them!'

'They are my friends.'

Give yourselves up.

Let her go.

We will leave Camelot
and never return. You have my word.

Please.

Gwaine.

Leon.

'Use your magic.

'Do it!'

What are you going to do to me?

I wish I knew.

'Why couldn't you just
let things be?'

The very thing I was trying
to stop, it's happened.

There are some paths woven so deeply

into the fabric of the world,
Merlin,

that nothing can be done
to change them.

There must be an answer,
some way out of this. Perhaps...

if Arthur was
to repeal the sentence...
He won't change his mind.

But if I could manage
to persuade him,

then Mordred would no longer
be set against Arthur.

He'd be indebted to him.

You know Arthur.
I cannot see him agreeing.

I have to try.

It's my only chance.

I know it's not my place to speak...

Arthur...

I know what you're going to say...

The girl...

Her fate's sealed, it's Mordred's
that concerns me.

Should I allow him to go free?

Free them both.

The girl's murdered innocent
men in cold blood.

We are at war, I must be resolute.

How will one more death
bring about the peace we long for?

She's young, I don't believe
she is beyond redemption.

You've witnessed their love
for each other,

that's something far greater than her
desire to serve Morgana or her cause.

Give her one more chance,
she'll take it.

As King, I am sworn to uphold the
law.

It's the future of Camelot that
concerns me.

Please, Arthur.
You have to listen to me.

It is my decision...

my decision alone.

If I hadn't come to you...

I would've died from my wound.

It was my fault.

I have no-one to blame but myself.

I chose my path.

I have just one regret...

Only one regret.

Kara.

We've come to take her to the King.

Every person present knows

the crimes for which you are
guilty...

but I am willing to offer
you a chance.

I know that the
Druids are a peaceful people.

You are young...

and impressionable...

an easy target for the likes
of Morgana.

If you repent your crimes,

I will spare your life.

I cannot repent a crime I have not
committed.

Kara...

It is not a crime to
fight for your freedom.

It is not a crime to fight
for the right to be who you are.

You deserve everything that is
coming to you, Arthur Pendragon.

AAAAAAGH!

It's almost like he's vanished.

The guards searched as far
as the river. There was no sign.

I let him in.

You have a good heart,
don't blame yourself for that.

I shouldn't have trusted him.

I've made a terrible mistake,
haven't I?

I hope not.

My old friend.

Last time
we met you tried to kill me.

I am here for a purpose, Morgana.

I did not break stride to find you.

I bring you the news you
have longed for.

Arthur's death?

The key to it.

I was wrong to ever
question your wisdom, my lady,

and I wish to make amends.

Tell me!

There is someone you have been
searching for,

someone who has always eluded you.

Emrys.

I know where he is.

Where?

Camelot.

And I have his true name.

It is Merlin.

For Arthur is nothing without Emrys.
And Emrys is nothing without magic.

Noooooo!