Merlin Page #4

How did they ever make

a vulgarian like Vortigern king?

You mortals

have no sense

Of the fitness of things.

Quite appalling.

( grunts )

Anyway, I'm here

with a message from Mab.

Naturally.

She's going to punish you.

She hates me.

No, but she's

rather disappointed

That you've refused

to use your magic power.

I swore an oath

on ambrosia's

grave, Frik.

But why won't you

use it, master Merlin?

Because Mab

wants me to!

You will in the

end, you know.

You're half human.

She's a terrible enemy,

master Merlin

And a very poor employer.

Well, I mean,

I could tell you stories.

But enough

of my problems.

( thunder crashes )

( Nimue whispering ):

Merlin.

Merlin.

( birds chittering )

Merlin.

Merlin?

Nimue.

It is you, Merlin.

Nimue...

What are you doing here?

I'm a hostage.

Vortigern wants to make sure

That my father doesn't

join prince Uther.

Why? Was he going to?

No, but he doesn't

trust anybody.

( voices approaching )

It's dangerous

being near him.

No one knows

Who he will strike down next.

It seems I said

the wrong thing.

I told him

Uther would defeat him.

( chuckles )

I hope you're right.

What is

the matter?

Are you ill?

No, no. It's

just that I, um...

I need space to breathe.

These four walls

are suffocating me.

Nimue...

I've never forgotten you

All these years.

I've always remembered

you, Merlin.

( all talking )

( talking stops )

Uther has captured

Winchester.

He's unstoppable.

I'll stop him.

( door opens )

I didn't send

for you.

That's why I'm here.

I've killed men

for such insolence.

And women?

And children.

( scoffs )

I'm trembling.

What makes you

so brave, woman?

Knowing that if

you hurt me

My father and his men

will join Uther.

All right

You're here now.

So, what is it

you want?

Merlin, the wizard, is sick.

Get him a physician.

There is no cure

but his freedom.

I can't give him that.

Well, then

he'll die.

We all die...

Eventually.

Even wizards.

But if he does

You will not know

about the battle.

He has had

another vision.

Don't you want to know

how to win?

( door opens )

Come.

Vortigern:

I now have

The strongest army

Britain has ever seen.

It may not

be enough,

your majesty.

Uther and his men

follow the Christian way.

I thought they didn't

believe in killing.

Oh, they'll kill

in a holy cause

And destroying you

is a holy cause.

How convenient.

They kill

when it suits them.

Like the rest

of us, sire?

When will he attack?

Not before

the spring.

Good.

We'll use winter as our ally.

We'll take him by surprise.

( door opens )

Vortigern:

Merlin, I need your help.

How are you?

I know I've been

a little hot-tempered.

Patience is not one

of my virtues.

You have so few

of those

I wouldn't

concern myself

About that one

too much, sire.

How can

I help you?

Can Uther be defeated?

I dreamed a battle

near Winchester...

But I couldn't see

how it ended.

I was too weak.

Dream it again.

I want to know

who wins.

And I want fresh

air and light.

Without them, I

cannot dream dreams

See visions.

Is that all?

Nimue:

Way over there,

beyond those hills

Is an island called Avalon.

Joseph of Arimathea

came there from Jerusalem

With the holy grail;

The cup our Lord Jesus Christ

used at the holy supper.

It has the power to feed

the hungry and heal the sick.

But the holy grail

was lost to us.

Many men searched for it

But no one has

ever seen it since.

But one day, a man

with a pure heart

will find it

And peace and happiness

will return.

It's a lovely story.

And so are you.

Oh, they hurt... Memories.

Memories of love, they hurt.

Our world was tearing itself

to pieces

And I didn't care.

Those were truly

the happiest days of my life.

Nimue:

Are you really a wizard?

A hand wizard.

You mean there is

magic in hands?

Why, yes.

Well, for one thing

Hands can say

so much more than words.

They can, uh...

Welcome, beg, pray.

They can...

Hands can even...

If only

we could keep

Everything as simple

As the roundness

of the Moon.

Look at its

simplicity, Nimue--

Everything equal

No part

more important

Than the rest.

Nimue:

I thought

you weren't

Going to do any magic.

Oh, that wasn't magic.

Magic is real.

That was

just a trick.

Man:

Open the gate.

Man 2:

Open the gates.

Hail, Vortigern,

king of Britain.

I am Mab, Queen of the old ways.

What brings you here, madam?

I can tell you

how to defeat Uther.

What will this

alliance cost me?

There is a price

for everything.

The wizard, Merlin...

I want him.

He is too valuable to me.

He sees things.

He has visions.

Anyone can

have visions.

Don't you

see visions?

Don't you see

yourself winning?

Yes...

But I don't see

why you would want to help me.

I would rather see you

on the throne than Uther.

I don't believe

in your old ways.

You...

You don't believe

in anything.

I believe in me.

That's not enough

to make us win.

I understand.

Uther will bring Christianity

to the people

And that'll be

the end of you.

All right.

I'll give you the wizard.

So tell me,

how do I defeat Uther?

Sacrifice Nimue

to the great dragon.

That's not so easy.

Ethics?

Politics.

Ah.

I can't do that.

She's my hostage.

It keeps her father

loyal to me.

( doors opening )

Urgent news, your majesty.

Lord Ardente has defected.

He's joined prince Uther.

How convenient, Mab.

For both of us.

The girl dies.

Let Merlin watch.

( roaring )

Nimue.

Go!

Nimue!

Man:

Run for your lives!

( men yelling )

( screaming )

( snorting )

( roaring )

( screaming )

( grunting )

( yelling )

Merlin!

( Nimue screaming )

( roaring )

( screeching )

( screeching )

Merlin!

No!

( wailing )

My Nimue.

( howling )

Very good, Merlin.

Very good.

Merlin:

Like Joseph of Arimathea,

I went to Avalon

Not with the holy grail,

but with something

Much more Precious to me.

Merlin:

Sisters!

Sisters, help, please.

She's very badly hurt.

Steady, steady.

( sighs )

Whilst the monks prayed

And I thought of revenge

The nuns were more practical.

They used their knowledge

of ancient herbs and potions

To try and save my only love.

Merlin...

Uh...

She's very

badly wounded.

The sisters are

doing all they can

But you must

pray with us.

Why should I pray to your God

If he is going

to take her from me?

But this is

not God's work.

No, you're right. It isn't.

Do you know

who did it?

Oh, yes, I know.

Mab!

Mab!

Mab!

Do you hear me, Mab?!

Mab:

Yes, Merlin.

You destroyed everyone I love--

My mother, ambrosia

and now Nimue.

The end justifies

The means.

I did it for you.

I want you to use the power

In you.

Rise up, dear, dear Merlin,

and be great.

No, Mab.

I'll destroy you

for what you've done to me!

You can't, Merlin.

I'll always be too strong.

I'll find a way.

I will find a way!

Never.

Not ever.

( groans )

Shh. Don't try to speak.

Save your strength.

Don't... Don't turn

your face to the wall.

Nimue?

I'll be scarred.

Rate this script:4.3 / 4 votes