Merlin

Once upon a time...

No, no, that's

not the way to start.

You'll think this is

a fairy tale, and it isn't.

It has elements

of a fairy tale--

Dragons, elves

Griffins, fairies and so on--

And it has magic.

Now, in my day,

magic was much more commonplace.

Oh, well, all things change.

The arrow of time

points in one direction only.

So... Where should I begin?

Fire!

Well, it's obvious

I should start

at the beginning...

Loose your arrows!

...With the terrible years

of darkness.

( men yelling )

King constant was the first

Christian king of England.

Kill...

All the prisoners.

No mercy.

No traitors.

Let the whole world die...

If I die.

Vortigern is here!

( men cheering )

Constant:

Traitors.

Vortigern!

He's had all the prisoners

slaughtered!

Men:

Justice! Justice!

I curse you all!

( cheering )

Death came so easily then.

And one tyrant

smoothly passed the crown

To another...

Even worse.

( cheering )

( screaming )

Civil war

tore the country apart.

( men yelling

and women screaming )

Then the Saxons came.

Christian churches

were destroyed and defiled.

So were the sacred places

of the old pagan religion.

Mab!

The followers of the old ways

cried out in their agony.

Queen Mab!

There was only one being

who could save them...

And she would come

out of the land of magic.

( echoing ):

I got your message, sister.

( raspy-voiced ):

I've come to a

great decision.

Oh...

I don't like

the sound of your voice

When you say that, sister.

I'm going to

create a leader

For the people--

A powerful wizard

who will save Britain

And bring the

people back to us

And the old ways.

It'll be too much

for you, Mab.

It'll drain you

of what power

You still have.

If I don't do it, we'll die.

If people stop

believing in us,

we won't exist.

The new religion

has already pushed

us to the brink.

Soon we'll be forgotten.

All things change

Sister.

It's sad, but Heaven, hell

and the world move on.

It's fate.

I won't accept it.

I'll fight.

Will you help me?

No.

You forget--

I'm the lady of the lake.

I'm made of water.

Now everything's

Flowing away from us,

and I accept it.

I'm sorry, my dear.

Then I'll do it myself.

Frik!

You heard that, Frik?

Yes, but I'm afraid, madam

That your sister is

rather, shall we say

Indecisive when it comes

to making decisions.

She never really gives you

the backing you deserve.

We're on our own.

We'd better get started.

Well, don't you think

you should at least

Wait a couple of days

to build up your strength?

No time.

Our world is dying.

( whirring )

( gasps )

Mab:

He's magnificent!

Now, I have to

give him... Life.

( explosion )

( baby crying )

It's a beautiful boy.

Please look after my baby.

I beg you.

I beg you.

It's all right, my dear.

Swear it.

I'm dying.

I swear.

I'll take care

of your child.

( gasps )

Let me see the child.

I name this child "Merlin."

While you're

making gestures

Save the mother--

she's dying.

No, she's not.

She's dead.

Sleep easy, child.

May angels fly thee home.

What's your excuse?

Why didn't you

save her?

She'd served

her purpose.

"served her purpose"?

You are so cold.

If I were to punch you

in the heart

I'd break my fist.

And to think

I used to serve you...

In the old ways.

( Frik groans )

Then you changed.

You became a Christian.

Who told you that, hmm?

Uh, uh...

That snooping

Smiling blatherskite.

I follow my own heart.

That's religion enough for me.

Why do you allow her

to talk to you like that, madam?

Because she needs me, idiot.

Why do I need you, ambrosia?

To take care of this child.

I can take care of him.

( deep whooshing )

Frik:

Well done,

well done.

( goat bleating )

Milk over there.

Yes, oop...

Well done.

Oh... Yes.

The moss there.

Tricks.

You need more than tricks

to bring up a child.

You need Patience,

understanding, love...

Most of all,

you need love.

You used to have that once.

No more.

So... What have you decided?

The child stays with you.

But remember-- he's

only half human.

He belongs to me.

He's my son.

I will send for him

when the time is right.

( baby gurgling )

Ambrosia was like

a tiger protecting me.

Get out of there...

( squeals )

And stay out!

She was the bravest,

kindest person I ever knew.

I called her auntie a

But she was really

a mother to me.

Have you noticed

when you're miserable

Time seems to slow to a crawl?

On the other hand,

when you're happy...

My childhood must have been

very, very happy

For it was over

In a flash.

( horse snorting )

( birds chirping )

( grunting )

( laughing )

Please,

excuse their rudeness.

We're traveling

To Lord Lamberts castle

And we've lost

our way.

It's about a mile.

Take the right fork

But don't try

any shortcuts.

It's dangerous

And you can

get lost.

Thank you, sir.

What can we offer you

as a reward?

A kiss.

( gasping )

Do you know who

you're talking to?

This is the

Lady Nimue.

Lord Ardente's daughter.

She asked me

what I wanted

And I told the truth.

( laughing )

And I think

it's a fair price.

( women gasping )

My name's Merlin.

Mine's Nimue...

And I think you're

a very rude young man.

I'll never

Forget you, Nimue.

We'll meet again.

I can see it.

I don't think so,

master Merlin.

( grunting )

( horse whinnying )

Merlin:

Nimue.

( sighs )

Come on,

this way.

I'd warned Nimue

Not to leave the path

But she was very headstrong,

even then.

Well, I suppose

all young people are.

She went off on her own.

( Nimue screaming )

( gasping )

Nimue:

Help me!

( screaming )

Help me.

( Nimue screaming )

( screaming continues )

( screams )

Merlin:

Nimue...

Merlin...

Help me.

Help me.

( both panting )

Don't struggle.

You'll only sink deeper.

Stay calm.

( Nimue whimpering )

Take hold of the branch.

( grunting )

I can't reach.

( grunting )

( screaming )

After all these years...

I still remember how it was.

I felt the power in me.

Grow.

Grow.

Grow!

Grow!

Grow now!

( softly creaking )

( creaking )

( grunting )

( Nimue sobbing )

Keep hold.

That's it.

You're safe now.

I told you we'd meet again.

How did you do that...

With the branch?

I don't know.

Well, whatever

it was

You saved my life.

You deserve another kiss.

( giggling )

Merlin:

Auntie a!

I've seen her--

The most beautiful girl

in the world...

The only girl I'll ever love,

I know it--

And she loves me

and we'll love each

other always and...

What are you

babbling about?

You're dripping wet.

Take your clothes off.

I'm a hero, too.

I saved her.

Oh, yes?

Now, you saved who,

from what, hmm?

Nimue. Nimue-- she's

the daughter of some Lord.

She fell into a mud

hole and I saved her.

That's very brave of you,

my dear.

Well, the extraordinary

thing was how I saved her.

I had this branch and

somehow I made it grow.

I know it sounds impossible

But I said, "grow,

grow," and I-it grew.

What's the matter, auntie a?

I...

I-I need to sit down.

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