The Witcher (2019–…): Season 3, Episode 1 - Shaerrawedd - full transcript

How may I help you?

We're seeking a girl and a witcher.

Her with ashen hair
and patrician countenance.

Him a mannerless, blanched brute.

Master Rience
will recompense you handsomely

for illumination as to their whereabouts.

Hmm?

We'll pay if you've seen them.

Step back, Professor.

Ah...

I importune you, benignant sir...



Hmm.

Dear friend, if our time
at Kaer Morhen proved anything,

it's that the world is changing
underneath our feet.

Days pass, but the threats keep coming,
fast and furiously.

Sometimes I wonder
if we will ever stop running.

- For your discretion.
- Thank you.

There is another ghost
that haunts us.

What I did to you.

I know I cannot change the past,

but I will do everything in my power
to help Ciri grow her magical skill.

And to help keep her safe.

By proving that to you,
maybe trust will find its way back to us.

In the meantime, wish Ciri luck.

It's going to be a long road ahead
for all of us.



Your friend, Yennefer.

This was the first lesson
Tissaia taught me.

Give it a try.

Dear friend,
even in your silence,

I know you're wondering
how Ciri's training is progressing.

She has great potential but little talent.

That will change over time.

Someday, she'll be able
to conjure something tastier

than the squid
you're likely bringing right now.

- Hmm.
- Your friend, Yennefer.

You need to focus on your breath.

From here. Okay?

Not again.

Ciri, Yennefer, we're leaving!

Quickly!

Stop!

- Quick, do that.
- That side!

Missed them again!
Where the fuck are they?

Burn it all down!

For your discretion.

That was brilliant!

Dear friend, it seems that

you and Ciri are thoroughly enjoying
our fourth house in as many months,

finding time to bond so delightfully.

I will remind you, though, that you asked,
nay, begged me to teach her magic.

Please conserve her energy
so that I may properly do so.

Also, less meat, more wine.

- Yennefer.
- Hmm.

Success only comes
with repetition.

You can do it. Don't give up.

Stay together! Hurry up!

They're just villagers, Geralt.

Let's go.

Yarpen!

You really wanna hide,
you'd dye that mop.

No one's lookin'
for the Black fuckin' Wolf.

- Hello, old friend.
- Don't break my shite!

And I expect payment for my discretion!

Dear friend,

we're so far off the map here
that we may never leave again.

Ooh!

Come to think of it,

would that be such a bad thing?

We'll continue magic lessons
before the ice melts, I promise.

But for now,
perhaps the girl deserves a break.

Perhaps you and I do too.

- Your friend, Yennefer.
- Let's go again.

- Again. Ready?
- Okay.

One foot...

I can magically intuit
your thoughts, Geralt.

You've been wanting to invite me
to dinner ever since we arrived.

Have I?

No. But I looked through
your window and you have more wine.

And I'm begging for a refill.

Hmm.

Thank you.

Just a bit of this.

- Perfect.
- Mmm!

- That one was a masterpiece.
- Right.

- Made by chef Ciri.
- Open your mouth!

Geralt's favorite food is radish.

Ooh!

We always made that, so at least once...

Wait...

Thank you.

- I'm going to go to bed now.
- Okay.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Uh. Well...

Good night.

Good night.

Water magic is tricky.

That's what you said
about earth magic, and air magic.

Well, you have power
like nothing I've seen.

Makes it hard for both of us.

That's enough for today.

Considering the mess I make
with every other kind of magic,

how could fire magic be any worse?

Remember Rience.

That look in his eye.
There's always a source.

With fire magic, the source is you.

It takes something you never get back.

Your magic?

Yes.

But magic isn't everything.

You say magic isn't everything,

but you were willing
to trade my life for it.

You almost lost me to Voleth Meir.
You almost lost Geralt.

- It was...
- I know.

Well, if you knew, why did you do it?

Because... I'd given up.

But I'll never make that mistake again.

Wish I had more for you,
but the Squirrels hit Henselt's convoy.

Look at these.
Potatoes the size of gnome nuts.

Did they attack your convoy as well?

I'd like
to see them fuckin' try it!

The elves' gripe is with the kings,
not us.

They're just trying to soften the North
for the grand cock of Nilfgaard.

Nilfgaard gave elves refuge,
and now they're fighting on their behalf.

Amazing what people will do
when you give them a second chance.

Hold on.

Hold on!

Are you two fuckin' again?

Subtle, Yarpen.

Who would blame you?

Spring's almost here.

Ah, the whole world's wakin' up.

Our Belleteyn festival is just
down the valley. You should come.

I'd love to.

- It's not safe.
- Bad idea.

No one's asked about me in months.

And everyone will be in costume.

And... I was born on Belleteyn.

Ah! You'd have had a shot
at bein' May Queen.

Except my niece's beard
is comin' in nice and full this year.

Just say yes, already!

About time for a fuckin' thaw round here.

I promise I'll be safe.

Now see how you like my new pet.

- Hmm!
- What is that thing?

I should have warned you before,
you elven mutt.

That jackapace is trained
to smell your kind from a league away.

Then I've come
to the right place.

Show yourself.

Or I open that and you can be its dinner.

I need to find a girl with elven blood.

All my jacky needs is a scent.

Lock of hair, piece of clothin'...

I'll do you one better.

Put that fucking thing away.

How much?

Gage, take your best fighters
and head west to Maribor.

Filavandrel, take yours south to Caed Dhu.

She is out there.

Have there been sightings,
or are we chasing more rumors?

We don't know

if Cirilla has Elder Blood.

We're basing it all
on the words of...

of some mage
who came and went just as fast.

You have your orders.

I want to kill them all
for what they have done to your child.

Our hope.

But, sister, it is not enough.

My aim has not wavered.

I will find Dol Blathanna.

But how? Where?
There is no sanctuary left for elves here.

All will become clear
once we have Cirilla. She is our new hope.

Do you doubt me?

- Wake up! Hurry!
- Move the carts out!

The others are starting to.

Gallatin and the Scoia'tael, they're back!

- It's not good.
- We need help!

Get the healer.

- I need help!
- Help!

He doesn't need you to play nursemaid.

He needs you to play soldier.

Fuck.

Leave it! It's spent.

Needed.

Let me know if you plan
to start holding weapons back next,

leaving unarmed Squirrels
to fight for our freedom.

I told you. I've given you
all the fighters I can spare.

We both know that's bullshit.

Your best fighters
are running secret missions

to who the fuck knows where,
while the rest of us are out there,

following orders, attacking convoys,

doing the work to get our land back.

Doing the bidding
of yet another self-important human.

You think I give a shit
about that White Flame nonsense?

I give a shit about food in my stomach
and a place to call home.

I have plans, and they don't involve dying
in the woods because of your selfishness.

- Plans with Nilfgaard?
- What don't you get?

If Nilfgaard takes the North,
elves are free everywhere.

The whole Continent is our Dol Blathanna.

We tried sharing the Continent
for centuries.

If there's to be another genocide,
this time, it'll be the humans'.

You keep spouting off
about ancient times, prophecies.

I don't know
what you're looking for out there.

But you want to keep elves alive?

Here we are.

You promised me a princess.

Now every king knows about her,
thanks to Tissaia de Vries.

It's not a good look, Dijkstra.
You swore Cirilla would be mine.

Perhaps a tad quieter, your Highness.

We wouldn't want your beloved
to catch wind.

Being the king used to mean something.

It's been six months.
What have you got to show for it?

Excuses, expenses,

but no sign of the new princess
you wanted me to marry.

Sir, our attention has been diverted
because of the Squirrels.

Oh, yet more excuses.

Don't even get me started
on those bastards.

Blaming us for murdering
that stupid elven baby.

That definitely wasn't us?

You have the North's largest army
and spy network.

We are the most feared kingdom
of the North.

What do I have to show for it?

A spy master who can't find one girl.

No. It's time for a change.

I've decided
to put my best person on it.

Someone who I can trust.

Radovid!

What's that?

Whoo!

Oh.

The king's baby brother?

Now we have to chaperone
that royal seed-waste too?

No, it's all for show.

Vizimir just needs to remind everyone
who wears the crown.

He wears it thanks to us.

By gods, we've been doing this
too long, Dijkstra.

There's no such thing.

Our alliance, however old,

keeps us young.

Now, as for Prince Seed-waste,

boulder, parchment, dagger.

Absolutely not.

I was the one who seduced
the Lyrian baroness last month,

and the only secret she was hiding
was syphilis.

And that's worse than the week I spent
perched over a shit-filled moat in Temeria

while they debated timber prices?

Fair.

Perhaps I can order someone to babysit
the prince while he looks for the girl.

Mmm. We don't trust anyone else.

Hmm.

If I do this...

I'll be the only one giving orders
when I get back.

I've never been to a Belleteyn
festival outside of Cintra before.

You know, this one year, Sir Lazlo tried
to jump the bonfire in full armor.

What do you think?

I think you need to hide your hair
and mask your eyes.

Would it kill you to say,
"You look lovely"?

Ciri.

I knew this was a bad idea.

You look lovely.

Whoa!

- Stay close.
- Should we, uh, find the ale tent?

Read my mind.

Cods, I've missed this.

- I'm going dancing.
- Be safe.

Look at what happens
when we let her have one good night.

Let's not pretend your motivations
aren't entirely unselfish, Yennefer.

Play "Old Times"!

Happy birthday to you too.

You remembered.

I don't forget much.

So you remember our good nights.

After the djinn.

The library in Kovir.

So much for staying quiet.

The farmhouse.

In Murivel.

The overnight carriage ride
from Ellander to Moën.

And the ride back.

Don't forget the ride back.

How could I? That would be like
forgetting our night in Caingorn.

Ah!

That dragon hunt.

Those nights were amazing.

- But the mornings...
- They were lonely.

You often left before dawn.

Or you did.

I know why I left, but why did you?

Scared of what would happen
if we really tried?

I was unsure
if it was actually what I wanted.

Not just some trick of the djinn's magic.

And now?

Let's go in the maze!

Come on!

Come on!

- Run!
- Run!

Ciri.

Ciri!

Ciri!

Ciri!

Ciri!

Yennefer!

Geralt!

Geralt!

Yennefer!

Geralt!

- We'll find another home.
- I liked this one.

We all did.

- How did that thing find us?
- A jackapace hunts by scent.

- It found Ciri because it knew her.
- Her scent? How?

Vesemir told me that Rience
stole Ciri's blood from Kaer Morhen.

He must have used the blood
as a scent marker.

So wherever we go,
he'll find us?

Yes. Unless we find him first.

We draw him out.

We give him the thing he wants most.

Me.

Look, I'm sorry. I wouldn't have
invited you if I knew it weren't safe.

We know. But now you can make it up to us.

You have a caravan leaving tomorrow,
don't you?

- Aye. To Hagge.
- I want to go with you.

- By yourself?
- Not quite.

We'll be there too.

But it's important
no one knows that.

Or else this plan isn't going to work.

Count me in. Tell me what I need to do.

There's only one monster handler
reckless enough to cage a jackapace.

Name's Veldhoek.

- Oh...
- Nasty fellow with a nasty habit.

Rience hired Veldhoek to find me.

Now they'll want
to hear about your convoy.

We need you to complain
about the spoilt brat

who ruined Belleteyn for everyone.

And what's worse, now I have to haul
that ivy-eyed brat's pale arse

all the way to Aedirn with my caravan.

Gonna charge them double if I have to
put up with any of her yappery.

Come on, you elven mutt.

They'll know
who you're talking about.

And how much
that information is worth.

- Enjoy your reward.
- Hold up, buttercup.

You think this mage is gonna believe
you'd let Ciri ride without an escort?

She'll be traveling with someone we trust.

Someone...

seemingly innocuous.

Oh, come on! No...

It was one time!

Admittedly, with many different people.

And it meant nothing!

I mean, these aren't even mine!

Did you think you were the only one
having some fun on the side,

you lying, wretched son of the devil?

Well...

yeah, kinda!

This is what we do, my sweet.
We are creatives.

Freethinkers.

- All is fair!
- Is it, though?

Ah! Oh!

Ooh! When will magic, sexy women
just stop jumping out at me?

Usually it's you coming at me from above.

- She doesn't have a crossbow, does she?
- No!

Possibly. Yeah, no,
I wouldn't rule it out.

No crossbows!

And you can fuckin' have him!

And his pox-marked cock!

Now who's lying, Vespula?

We've lost patience, Sandpiper.

- I... I'm doing everything that I can. I...
- You're doing nothing.

Except fucking people over.

We invested a lot in your operations.

And we've gotten nothing in return.

Dijkstra and I are ready to cut you loose.

But King Vizimir is more forgiving.

He's ready to welcome the girl
with open arms. Shall we?

Yeah, and an open pair of pantaloons.

Yeah... Uh, no, darling...

No! Look at me.

Look at my eyes.
There is no need to harm the innocent!

No, no, no, don't!

No...

I thought I left you cradling
a pint of ale some distance away.

- You did. I got bored.
- Hmm. Oh.

How fortunate that is.
I've long wanted to see you in person.

"Song of the Seven" is my favorite.

Yeah. That's... slightly ironic,
but thank you.

You see? People like me.

I've got fans.
Sorry, I didn't quite catch your name.

- Uh, Radovid.
- Right.

Comma, Prince.

Comma, wow. Whoa... wow. You're...

Ooh! The Prince of Redania.

Fuck, I don't really know
what I'm supposed to... Bow?

Or curtsy, or... Been holding your hand
a very long time. I'm so sorry.

Listen, I wish I could help you, truly.
But...

- But nothing, Sandpiper...
- If I may offer a thought.

Ah, this poor Cirilla girl
has enemies everywhere,

and, truth be told,
Redania's not a bad place.

Bit cold in the winter
and humid in the summer,

but the food is spectacular.

And my brother's not bad.

As monarchs go.

Redania may not be perfect,
but it's her least bad option.

You could be our royal bard.

Uh... Ha, ha!

No. No, a staid life at court
is not for me.

If your time at court's been staid,
you've been doing it wrong.

Either deliver the girl,

or we will single-handedly undo

every good deed
you have done for the elves.

We will kill them all.

- Yeah, yeah, I got the gist.
- Mmm.

I've got business in town
before we portal back to Tretogor.

You... have five days.

Oi, you lute-playin' walloper!

Again with this fresh hell...

Mr. Zigrin!

- Julian Alfred Pankratz.
- Yeah, I know. I know.

I fucking know!

I know you know. It's a rule of threes
thing. Has to be done.

What can I do for you, Yarpen?

I've got ears and good taste, so... nothin'.

But... your friends need help.

Of course they do.

Bait!

I rode for days to get here,

battling hunger, battling the elements,

only to discover upon my arrival
that I'm being used as...

- Jaskier, me.
- ...bait.

I am the bait. Rience is after me.

Yes, which means he wants you alive,
and me very much not alive.

You see my anxiety?

We're not gonna let
anything happen to you.

I saved your arse once.
I can do it again, Pankratz.

You didn't save me...

She didn't save me. She...

She didn't!

But seriously,
you are gonna save me, right?

We won't make Hagge by sunset.

We should make camp here.

What is this place?

It's Shaerrawedd.

Tread lightly.
This land is full of stories.

Never seen
so many wild roses in one place.

They're beautiful.

Their story, sadly, is not.

Aelirenn.

A brave and inspiring elven warrior
who thought she could defeat the humans.

She was wrong.

A rather condensed version of the story.

And what's yours, then?

After the Conjunction, humans arrived.

The elves thought
the humans were just a nuisance,

like a plague of locusts or a drought.

That they would die off
in the blink of an elven eye.

But the humans kept multiplying.

And killing.

Aelirenn knew
the threat wasn't going away.

So she rallied all of the young elves
to fight, at Shaerrawedd.

Sounds like she fought
for what she believed in.

To protect her people.

She did fight
for what she believed in.

She led those young
and passionate elves to war.

They revered this place.

This is where they fought.

They fought for her.

And they died with her name on their lips
and their honor and integrity intact.

And in doing so, they condemned
their species to annihilation.

She led them all to their deaths.

Neutrality.

It won't get you a statue.

But it'll certainly help
in keeping you alive.

- And fight!
- Weak humans!

- Ahh! That'll teach them!
- Yeah!

When will the humans learn
to travel with more guards?

- How many men did you kill?
- Eat.

- Here they are.
- Here.

Got to fatten you up.
Need you back out there.

- Well done, brother.
- Here.

Eat.

- Food goes to the ones who fought.
- We fight just like you.

Then eat what you captured.

All elves share equally.

Otherwise,
we're no better than the humans.

All elves must risk equally, as well.

You were right.

Our Scoia'tael forces should be united.

In purpose,

but also in action.

Must've been an eventful morning.

What did you see out there
to change your mind?

Nothing. I simply had time
to consider your position.

We have different ideas
of what Dol Blathanna looks like.

But we both want a home.

And we can find it faster together.

You should get out of that tent
more often.

Hmm.

Tomorrow, we make our next move.

I'll be by your side. As long as it takes.

- Ciri!
- Ciri.

You two really think
I'm that shitty of a guard?

I had another dream.

A nightmare?

No, it wasn't frightening.

Just couldn't sleep
thinking about Aelirenn.

And my grandmother.

They lived centuries apart,

but burned with the exact same mission.

Wipe the other species off the Continent.

When I finally fell asleep,

it came to me.

If I can offer something different...

A way forward that doesn't divide,
but unites.

I'm part elf, I'm part human.

I understand both because I am both,
and that is my strength.

I understand what you're saying.

History, it...

...has a way of repeating itself.

Even for the idealistic.

You say Aelirenn's idealism is what led
to the massacre of the young elves,

but maybe if her elders had supported her
instead of abandoning her,

they could've won.

Yen, you overheard something
when you were taken prisoner by the elves.

You told me they had a saying.

What has been need not always be.

Francesca, the elven queen,

she believed she could offer
something more to her people.

And so do I.

Geralt, you taught me how to fight.
Just like Calanthe.

And Yen, you're teaching me how
to harness my powers. Like Mousesack.

What if this is the reason
destiny brought us together?

Nenneke said I have the power
to change the cycle of hatred.

And I want to.

To be the balance between kings and mages,
and to align the Continent,

instead of constantly pitting parts
against each other.

Because I am sick and tired
of destruction and loss.

I don't doubt you, Ciri.

I do doubt the world, though.

It...

Let's go. Now.

We'll be right here.

Are you ready?

- How long do we wait?
- Until she draws them out.

She can do this.

Cirilla of Cintra.

Alone at last.

Well, not quite.
I've brought more friends this time.

Last time, I beat you with my wits.
This time, you meet my magic.

- With me!
- Get in there, lads!

I like my odds.

I like our odds better!

This is too easy!

Geralt!

Fuck!

Go!

Can you keep it open?

Some new strain of Chaotic insanity.

But I will.
We just need to wait for Geralt.

Archers! Get down!

- Where the fuck is the caravan?
- She's all that matters.

- You have your orders. Go.
- What?

Shit!

Keep it open.

- Follow me!
- Right!

You don't look so special.

Motherfucker!

You bastard!

- Move!
- Come on.

Come on, I got you. I got you.

You call yourself an elf.

She's Hen Ichaer.

- And she belongs with...
- Me!

We need to
get her out of here!

Come on, Geralt.

Your mage is out of her depth.

The elves came for Ciri.

This way!

Move!

Come on. She could be in here!

You two, with me!

You're gonna fuckin' die,
Squirrels!

Go. Fall back.

- Fall back!
- Fall back!

- Fall back! Quick!
- Follow me!

Come on, come on. Wake up.
Come on, get up.

Oh!

Oh, ho-ho!

I've got her! I've got her!

No! No!

No!

We have to go.

- Fall back!
- Careful.

Oh, if I die, promise me
Valdo Marx will not play at my funeral.

You'll be fine.

Your lute, on the other hand,

has seen better days.

You helped my men.

You have my thanks.

Jaskier.

- You're the bravest bait that ever lived.
- Whew!

You owe me one!

Promise me we will never do that again.

Thank you, Jaskier.

You said the portal was different
from anything you've experienced.

- What did you mean?
- It was dark.

It took me over.

I can still feel its residue.

Rience isn't the only rogue mage
we're dealing with.

Someone very powerful is puppeting him.

You need to make more progress
with Ciri's training.

- Mmm...
- I'll work harder.

It's not about what you can do.

It's about what I can do. I need help.

- If I can talk to Tissaia...
- No.

You don't know how difficult it is
to embody power but not have access to it.

Going to Aretuza
cannot be the only answer.

It's the best thing for her.

Is it?

Come with us, then.

Stay and make sure she's safe.

All I want

is for us to stay together.

I can make this work.

If you can find a way to trust me.

I need to find Rience to finish him off.

I can't go with you.

And we can't go with you.

Then we have to split up.

♪ In our dirt, young Baldrin sleeps ♪

♪ Ever sowed by human greed ♪

♪ Brave Hogal vows on bent knee ♪

♪ Let man-blood flood our reeds ♪

♪ In new dirt, still Hogal dreams ♪

♪ Of that vengeance... ♪

She has lost her brother.

And I have lost a dozen more.

We were supposed to attack
the caravan together.

She lied to us.

All this loss

because of one girl.

You knew that girl.

Princess Cirilla... of Cintra.

I warned them.

She brings nothing but death.

The problem isn't her.

It's that one.

I've had enough. Lost enough.

Where are you going?

To get help from an old friend.

Yah!

Geralt.

Wherever you're going, please come back.

As soon as you can.

Jaskier's waiting for me in Ban Gleán.

But we'll meet again soon.

I've got her.

Whatever you think of me,

that's my promise to you.

I know you do.

- Yen, I...
- Just say this isn't goodbye for good.

That there are more good nights to come.

That you will...

in whatever form...

think of me.

That's my promise to you.

It has been...
an eventful few days, and...

I've been thinking about
your... generous offer.

- And your excuse this time is?
- I'll do it.

Ciri's in danger. Uh...

And so are the people around her.

People I love.

It would be best
if she landed somewhere... safe.

And you make quite the case for Redania.

For... eurgh, "settling down".

Wonderful.

- We can escort her back tonight.
- No.

Not yet.

There's a... mage with a fondness for fire.

Rience.

I'm familiar with his work.

Get rid of him.

Get rid of him, and...

you will have earned Ciri's trust.

And Geralt's.

And mine.

You're good at this game.

If you say so, Pip.

Pip!

Dear friend...

I miss you already.

Or should I say, we miss you?

Your friend, Yennefer.

P.S., if Ciri decides
Aretuza is not to her liking,

I have my eyes on our next home.

A dollhouse on a squid farm.

Dear friend...

...you asked at Belleteyn if...

I left after all those good nights
because I was scared.

Perhaps I was.

Perhaps that is what led me
to this very moment.

Now, for the first time,

I understand real fear.

Never seeing you and Ciri again.

Much is uncertain on this Continent.

The dangers we've seen
foretell an even more menacing future.

But, Yen, please know

I will learn to trust you again.

You, Ciri, and I, we belong together.

Your friend,

Geralt.