Merlin Page #10

with our banners

held high, sire.

You're right, Gawain.

Raise your banners

And your hearts, men!

We're home!

( all cheering )

( cheers continuing )

Where is everyone?

Something's

wrong, sire.

I didn't expect this

kind of homecoming.

What's wrong here?

Guinevere.

Where's Merlin?

Where's Lancelot?

I'll tell you.

Who the devil are you?

Elegantly put.

"who the devil...?"

Yes, indeed.

Who the devil.

Well, don't you

recognize me?

No. Should I?

Oh, I'm hurt.

Here in my heart.

Not usually

my most vulnerable spot.

I recognize you... Father.

I'm your long-lost

son, Mordred.

Morgan le Fay...

Is your mother.

Not "is," father. "was."

She passed over

into a better world.

She sleeps alone

at last.

A great loss.

One day she was laughing,

smiling

The next, gone--

like a Summer's breeze

In the midst of life

Et cetera, et cetera

and so on and so forth.

It's why I'm here.

I don't understand.

To protect your

interests, father.

You see, your interests

are my interests.

Whilst you were away

on this great spiritual quest

To cleanse your soul...

How should I put it?

You were being betrayed.

Merlin:

Mordred!

That's enough.

It isn't.

Merlin, let's speak

the truth at last.

Father...

This isn't the time!

Courtiers:

It is!

Father...

Lancelot betrayed you

with the Queen.

Or should it be the Queen

betrayed you with Lancelot?

No point being pedantic.

You were betrayed.

Guinevere.

This isn't the place

to discuss this.

Mordred:

Oh, I think it's

the perfect place!

Is it true?

Arthur, you are

just returned.

We must talk calmly...

Guinevere,

is it true?

Yes, it's true.

Mordred, you have

no right to be here.

I have every right

to be here.

This isn't

a private matter.

It concerns us all.

How could you

do that to me?

Didn't you think

of me at all?

You left me

alone for years.

Did you not

think of me?

What of my honor?

Finding out you had a

child by Morgan le Fay?

Good one.

Come, come, father.

This is becoming

distressingly personal.

You're forgetting

it's a matter of state.

Matter of state?!

We are talking

treason here.

Aren't we?

My lords?

( courtiers murmuring

in dissent )

I don't see it

as treason.

She betrayed me

and only me.

That's enough.

No, sire.

Mordred is right.

You are the king

And that makes

adultery treason.

Then we must condemn

her to death.

Merlin:

Do you really think

we should do that?

It's the law.

Merlin:

It's harsh.

It must be.

My lords, this is a time

When we should temper

Justice with mercy.

After all, your religion

proclaims it.

Let he who is not guilty of sin

cast the first Stone.

Now, I know I have been

guilty in my time

And I suspect that

you have been, too.

I must confess,

I have sinned a little.

( all laughing )

So we make excuses for her

because she is a Queen.

Because

she is human.

No, because she

is Arthur's wife.

Are we going back

to one law for the rulers

And one for the ruled?

Is that the way it is?

Arthur, I thought Camelot

was to be different.

It is.

Then show the world you mean it.

Merlin, what should I do?

In the end,

you must uphold the law.

Guinevere will be

tried for treason.

A splendid decision.

Both fair and just,

eh, father?

Now, let's drink

and enjoy ourselves.

I want you out

of Camelot.

But, father, I've

only just arrived.

I thought we could reminisce

about old times

And play happy family.

Stop him talking!

You can't mean

that, father.

I'm your beloved son,

the crown Prince

Your one and only heir.

I want you out

of my sight.

Embrace me, father.

Never.

Or I'll take what's

rightfully mine.

Guards, seize him!

Don't get up.

I know my way out.

I'm sorry, father,

but I'm going to destroy you.

And this time

your pet wizard

won't save you.

Mab?

( thunder rumbling )

I'm here, Nimue.

You made me a promise

years ago.

Will you keep it?

Yes.

But what made you

change your mind?

The king is

coming home.

Merlin is free

to be with me.

I've discovered all

I want is Merlin.

Will you agree

to live with him

In a place that I choose?

If you make me

whole again.

I have to warn you, Nimue

That if you go

to this place

You can never leave it.

Will he come

to me there?

Yes, he will.

Then do it, Mab.

( crowd taunting )

Man:

Burn in hell!

I can't bear

to watch.

The sin was mine,

not hers.

She's burning.

It's too late.

Merlin...

( thunder rumbling )

Come on.

Merlin:

Lancelot always left everything

to the last moment.

And my memory of Lancelot

Is that he never

got anything right.

Thank God.

And so Lancelot and Guinevere

rode out of my story

And into legend.

What's the meaning of this?

You tricked us, father.

You pretended to condemn

the Queen to the stake

Then you had her

rescued by your wizard.

You hadn't even the courage

to set her free yourself.

That's true.

I should have done it.

One law for you

and another for us.

Courtier:

We can't live like that.

Others:

We can't.

Do you hear?

They can't live like that.

I call upon

all true-born Britons

To rally to freedom's flag!

Courtiers:

Yeah!

Depose this...

( yells )

You caught me

by surprise, father.

I know how that is.

Nobles

The time for

talking is over.

Those who value right

and Justice follow me.

Who's there?

Father abbot.

I rode all night

to get here.

Nimue's gone.

She's gone?

Yeah.

But she left

you a message

That she'll be

waiting for you

At the door of magic.

You're a liar.

Oh, Merlin.

How can you say

such a thing?

You're a liar!

( sinister laughing )

( laughing and shuddering )

I'm glad to see

You haven't lost all

the skills I taught you.

I've lost none of them.

And it was Frik who taught me.

Don't mention that ingrate.

He's left my employment

Without a reference.

Anyway...

Nimue has gone.

And she does want

you to join her

When you're ready.

Merlin...

My noblemen don't want you

with us against Mordred.

They say that if you come,

then they won't follow me.

Ah.

What will you do now?

Close my books.

Break my wand and retire.

I have a life to live

and a Chance to live it.

Nimue?

I'm going to meet her now.

Will you be able

to deal with Mordred?

It's just one more battle.

And right is on our side.

I'm proud of you, Arthur.

Don't worry

about me, Merlin.

I've still got Excalibur.

Hello.

Nimue!

Nimue:

Merlin. I am here.

( horse whinnies softly )

Look.

Look where we are.

( rustling )

( birds flapping wings )

Come.

( wolf howls )

Wait.

This is all Mab.

Oh, forget her.

We've wasted so much

of our lives together already.

Now it's our turn.

Isn't it what

you always wanted?

( distant battle sounds )

Oh!

( soldiers yelling )

( yelling )

Gawain!

What a pleasant surprise.

Stop talking, Mordred,

and fight.

I thought you'd enjoy light

conversation before you die.

But as you wish.

( chuckling )

( yelling )

Father!

Father!

Clever boy.

Father! Father!

( grunting )

So...

Mordred.

Hello...

Father.

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