Merlin (2008–2012): Season 5, Episode 12 - The Diamond of the Day: Part One - full transcript

Merlin finds himself facing the future he's fought so long to avoid.

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.

What a pleasure it is to see
you again, Ari.

The honour is all mine, my lady.

Your arrival has been keenly
anticipated, I can assure you.

I have boasted of your powers...

..though not all believe.

People may believe as they wish.

Perhaps some small proof
of your talents is in order.

After all, seeing is believing,
is it not?



I am not an entertainer, my lady.

Of course not.

Think of it more
as a demonstration.

Extinguish those flames.

My lady, I must protest.
Indulge me.

Forth fleoge.

Impressive indeed.

Who here now could deny your powers?

Aweax thu metethearfenda!

Not this!

Thicge thu thone drycraeft
the thinan deorcan mode gefylth.

Please, Morgana,
my lady, I beg of you.

I'm begging you.

Is he dead?



If I wanted him dead
I would've put a sword in his gut.

Don't despair, Ari.

We're nearly done.

If you would do me the favour
of re-lighting those fires?

You know I cannot.

For the benefit of my friends.

I will not humiliate
myself before you.

You will if you want to
see your family alive.

Bael onbryne.

Again!

If you please.

Bael onbryne.

HE SOBS

He was a loyal soldier.

In robbing him of his magic, you've
lost yourself a powerful ally.

Perhaps.

But we now know the war can be won.

For Arthur is nothing
without Emrys,

and Emrys is nothing
without magic.

Three!

CHEERING

Feel free to retire at any time.

Likewise.

It's no disgrace for a servant
to lose to his king.

Or a king to his servant.

LAUGHTER

Ooh...watch out... Here we go.

Ten!

CHEERING

Enjoy this moment,
Merlin, while it lasts.

12!

CROWD: Oooh!

You put me off!

What are you talking about!?
You just coughed!

I was clearing my throat!
You just coughed deliberately.

Ah... I knew you'd discover
my secret in the end.

There is just no fooling you,
my lord.

LAUGHTER

Right.

It's like that, is it?

12.

CHEERING

HISSING

HISSING

Oh!
HE GASPS

HISSING

Merlin.

Gaius.

Your head.

You should get that seen to.

Merlin?

What happened?

What was that thing?

Morgana's work.
That's for sure.

Mordred would have told her
of your powers by now, Merlin.

It was only a matter of time
before she struck out.

We can only be grateful
that she failed.

Strangath.

Strangath.

Strangath.

Gaius!

I don't think she failed.

Whatever do you mean?

I've lost my magic.

Look. Here.

It is the sign of the Gean Canach.

Gean Canach.

That's the language of
the Old Religion, isn't it?

Indeed.

The Gean Canach
is a fearsome creature,

forged by the tears
of the Earth Mother Nemaine.

It devours the magic of others...

..draining them of their power.

I thought all such creatures were
destroyed in the Great Purge.

All but one. It would seem.

The garrison is surrounded, my lady.

Good. Are you ready?

I'm ready.

Thurh minum gewealde ond
thinum maegen...

geclippath we thone lieg
the ealla awestath.

SHOUTING

WOMAN SCREAMS

Come here, pretty one!

Help! Help!

Let her go. She's not your enemy.

I am.

We cannot hold them! Sound the
retreat! Send word to Camelot.

The garrison at Stawell was
attacked.

Morgana? It would seem so.

It cannot be a coincidence.

She has picked the moment you are
most helpless to begin her attack.

What am I going to do?

For the moment, you're going to
help me treat the wounded.

Your skill as a physician is
still valid.

Sorry. Almost done.

Don't worry.
Merlin knows what he's doing.

Do you have news from Stawell?
Have you heard from my family?

Eira...your family...

..the people of your town...

you're the only one who
survived the attack.

I...alone...?

I'm sorry...

Eira.

Whatever happens, you'll be
safe here in Camelot.

You have my word.

Thank you.

A force of Saxons, sire.

They crossed the northern border
last night and attacked
the garrison at Stawell.

They march under Morgana's command?

There can be no doubt about it,
sire.

It was not just men we faced,
but sorcery.

We shouldn't be surprised. She has
been massing an army for weeks.

Now, with Stawell taken, she has
a base at our northern border,

which can only mean one thing.
She means to take Camelot.

Then she's already made her
first mistake.

We have sufficient time to
prepare our defences.
We can make our stand here.

However great her army,
the walls of Camelot will hold,

the citadel will not fall.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. But we have
already deserted Stawell.

I won't forsake the people of this
land while we take refuge here.

But we can protect them here,
sire, in Camelot itself.

Some, but not all.

Countless men, women
and children will be left behind.
People who I have vowed to protect.

We cannot save everyone, Arthur.
No matter how much we wish it.

There is a way. One way alone.

We ensure that she never
makes it this far.

We...ride out and meet them?

Man to man.

But, sire, Morgana commands
an army of thousands.

Nonetheless, it's our duty
as protectors of this land.

We cannot stand by
and let our citizens be slaughtered.

Those are not the values that
Camelot was built on.

Whatever the outcome of this battle,
my sister cannot and will not
desecrate those values.

The war has begun.

Your blade, Mordred.

Forged in a dragon's breath,
nothing can survive its touch.

A weapon worthy of my proudest
warrior.

Then I shall wield it in victory...
and with honour.

To reach Camelot, Morgana
will have no choice

but to cross the White Mountains.

Now, the only pass that gives
passage to an army that size

is here. I know it well.

The path is bounded by cliffs
on either side.

That's where we will meet them.

We may be outnumbered but if
we don't let them outflank us,
then we can hold the pass.

For how long? Morgana has no
care for the lives of her men.

She can't supply for an army that
size indefinitely,

not isolated by the mountains.

If we can hold out long enough,
she'll be forced to retreat.

Percival, at what point is
the pass at its narrowest?

Here, sire.

What do they call this place?

Camlann, sire.

Then it is at Camlann
that we make our stand.

I hoped never to hear that
name again.

He cannot go, Merlin.
You will have to persuade him...

I know Arthur better than
I know myself. He will not listen.

If Arthur goes to Camlann,
the prophecy will come true

and he will die.

This battle is the only way
he knows how to save his people.

If he's going to lose his life,
he will still go.

Then what are we to do?

If I can't prevent him from going,

then I must protect him
as best I can.

But you can't protect him
without your magic.
Then I must regain my magic.

I can't restore it.
It is beyond my power.

I know.
Perhaps it is beyond anyone's power.

If there is an answer,
I must seek it elsewhere.

But where?

The birthplace of magic itself.

The crystal cave.

But the Valley of the Fallen Kings
is crawling with bandits.

Without your powers,
you wouldn't stand a chance.

Which is why I won't be going alone.

I thought you weren't going
till sundown?

There is something
I have to do first.
A favour for my friend, Merlin.

Where are you going?

The Valley of the Fallen Kings.

Why?

Don't worry. I won't be long.

I think you'll find that's
everything, sire.

Impressive. Very impressive.
I've never seen work like it.

Well, not from you, anyway.

Thank you, sire.

So, what are you after?

After? You're the worst servant
in the history of the world.

Now suddenly this. Is it money?

No. No, it can't be that,
you already won all of mine.

Time off?

Arthur. No, it can't be that either.
You don't really do anything.

I just wanted to make sure you
had all you needed

for your journey to Camlann,
for the days ahead.

Thank you.

Merlin, what do you mean, my journey?

I'm afraid I won't be coming
with you.

Not this time.

I'm sorry.

I have to run an urgent errand
for Gaius.

Vital supplies that
I can't obtain here.

Vital supplies.

Yes.

It's not that I... No, no.

It's fine.

It's fine. I understand.

Arthur. You know, Merlin, all those
jokes about you being a coward...

..I never really meant any of them.

I always thought you were
the bravest man I ever met.

Guess I was wrong.

Arthur!

Guinevere! What are you doing?

I'm coming with you.

The battlefield is no place
for a queen.

I have no intention of joining you
there, I can assure you.

Arthur, if these are to be
your last days,

I would far rather spend them
together

than sit waiting for a man
I might never see again.

Gently, Mordred.

She can't speak with her throat
cut out now, can she?

Well, Eira.

I trust Sir Gwaine has found your
company to his satisfaction.

I like to think so.

Has he been forthcoming
about Arthur's plans?
He's kept no secrets from me.

Well? Does the king intend to
ride out and meet us?

He does, my lady.

The king and his men
depart from Camelot as we speak.

Then it is as we anticipated.

Thank you, Eira.
You've been most informative.

Something else. The knight said
he was taking Merlin somewhere.

The Valley of the Fallen Kings,
I think.

Merlin?

Why would Merlin leave Arthur now?

Why shouldn't he?

He's of no further use to his king,
after all.

Perhaps.

But why
the Valley of the Fallen Kings?

What is it, Mordred?

When I was a boy, the Druids told me
of this special place.

A place where magic itself was born.

It was said to lie within
the Valley.

They called it the crystal cave.

This can mean only one thing.

Emrys means to get his powers back.

Thanks for everything that
you did for Eira.

There's no need to thank me.
It was the least I could do.

You seem to care for her.

I could hardly leave her to
the Saxons now, could I?

So that was your only reason for
rescuing her? Of course!

Gwaine!

You OK?

Yeah. I think so. Thank you.

There's no need to thank me, Merlin.
It was the least I could do.

I can make my own way from here.

Sorry?

You needn't come any further.

I'll be fine.

How will you get back to Camelot?
There are bandits everywhere.

Once I have what I'm looking for,

I'll be perfectly safe,
I promise you.

What are you looking for?

I can't tell you that, Gwaine.

You'll just have to trust me.

You should get going.
Arthur will need you at his side.

Look after yourself, Merlin.

You know to use the sharp end,
right?

I hope you find what
you're looking for.

Emrys.

Over here, Emrys.

I see you, Morgana!

How well you've kept your secret.

How well you've
protected my brother.

Face me, Morgana!

Who'd have thought it? A worthless
servant with all that power.

Face me!

But you cannot help your king now.
You cannot even help yourself.

Then why do you hide?

Are you still afraid of me?

I fear no-one.

Least of all you.

You have defied me
for the last time, Emrys.

Stanas ahreosath!

Send word to the king.

The enemy will reach
Camlann by sundown tomorrow,

and we underestimated their force.

They outnumber us five to one.

Aaargh!

Vital supplies.

Excuse me, sire?

It's a shame Merlin didn't
feel able to join us.

I'm sorry, sire,
for I must take the blame.

But I cannot treat the wounded
without sufficient medicine.

The timing is unfortunate,
I grant you. Yes.

Unfortunate, as you say.

I'm not sure he believes you, Gaius.

I'm not sure I do, either.

I know how devoted Merlin
is to Arthur.

He would never leave him
at a time like this,

not for a mere errand.

Not unless there was something else.

Something he doesn't feel able
to talk about.

My lady, there is something else.

Something of the very greatest
importance.

And I dearly wish
I could tell you what it is

but I cannot,

for reasons that affect us all.

Then there is nothing more
to be said,

except for whatever it is,
I wish him luck.

This is it.

Camlann.

The fate of the kingdom
will be decided here.

Make camp, take up positions.

It's a death trap, sire.

That's the idea.

Morgana will have no means
of escape, and neither will we.

They would always outflank us.

This is our only chance.

It ends here, Leon.

Be it life or death...

..it ends here.

Merlin.

Father?

My son.

Are you here?

Are you real?

Dead or alive,

real or imagined,

past or present...

..these things are of no consequence.

All that matters is that you heed
the words of your father,

who loves you.
Do not let go, Merlin.

Do not give in.

I have no reason to go on.

The battle is already over.

Morgana has won.

Only if you accept defeat.

But if you fight,
if you let hope into your heart,

Morgana cannot be victorious.

What hope is there without my magic?

Merlin...you are more than
a son of your father.

You are son of the earth,
the sea, the sky.

Magic is the fabric of this world...

..and you were born of that magic.

You are magic itself.

You cannot lose what you are.

But how do I find myself again?

Believe, Merlin.

Believe what your heart
knows to be true.

That you have always been...

..and always will be.

Always will be...

Rest now.

Rest, my son.

And soon...

..you shall awaken into the light.

What is it?

What if Sir Leon was right?

Perhaps we should have
made our stand at Camelot.

Your plan is brave.

And bold.

And our only chance to defeat
Morgana once and for all.

Yes, we could have held out
in the citadel.

But for how long?
And at what cost to the kingdom?

I have never for a moment
doubted the valour

and the wisdom of this choice.

If you do not doubt me, Guinevere,
then I do not doubt myself.

And that gives me
a strength greater than any weapon.

Come.

We must rest while we can.

SHE GIGGLES

Have the outriders returned?

Arthur has made camp at Camlann.

And the path? Did you find it?

It was well concealed.

If Arthur imagines
we can't outflank him,

he's in for an unpleasant surprise.

Send 100 warriors.

Good ones.

I'll choose them myself.

And prepare the army.

We attack tonight.

Gewyrc an lif.

Arthur, where are you?

Arthur.

Arthur, I'm sorry I had to leave
you. I didn't want to.

I hope one day
you'll understand why.

Your plan is a good one.

And you may yet save this kingdom.
But you must beware.

Your army's flank is vulnerable.

There's an old path
over the ridge at Camlann.

Morgana knows of it.
She means to trap you, Arthur.

Find the path, or the battle
will be over before it's begun.
Find the path!

What's the matter?

Merlin.

It was a dream, Arthur. Just a dream.
It didn't feel like a dream.

It felt...

Arthur!

Sire. The scouts report that
Morgana's army is on the move.

She'll attack before the night's
done. Tell the men to prepare.
Yes, sire.

Percival, Gwaine!

Take a patrol of men
to the rear of us.

You're looking for a hidden path
running to the mountains.

She means to outflank us,
we must stop her now.

Tonight...

..we do battle.

Tonight, we end this war.

We end a war as old
as the land itself.

A war against tyranny...

..and greed...

..and spite.

Not all will greet the dawn.
Some will live.

Some will die.

But each and every one of you
fights with honour...

..and with pride.

For not only
do we fight for our lives...

..we fight for the future.

The future of Camelot.

The future of Albion.

The future of the united kingdoms!

For the love of Camelot!

ALL: For the love of Camelot!

Thank you for your help,
your guidance.

I offered only a hand.

You stand tall on
your own two feet, Merlin.

You always have done.

As did you, Father.

I follow in your footsteps.

Your journey has only just begun.

You wield a power
you cannot yet conceive of.

Only in the heart
of the crystal cave

will your true self be revealed.

Move towards the light.

Your destiny awaits.

Do not be afraid.

Trust in what you are.

Trust in what will be.

Goodbye, Father.

There are no goodbyes, Emrys.

For I will always be...

..as you...

..will always be.

ARTHUR: On me!

BATTLE CRIES

SIR LEON: On me!

GREAT DRAGON: Merlin!

I'm a sorcerer.

I have magic.