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| - KILGHARRAH 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. -[INT. DRUIDS’ CAVE - NIGHT] [Borden is inside a cave where all the druids are sleeping. He sneaks up to a wooden box and opens it, inside, there is a key. Borden steals the key. He connects it to his third of the key. He turns around and finds the druids all awake. He runs into the woods, but is pursued by the druids. They catch him and he pulls a dagger on a man.] ISELDIRIt is not worth anyone’s life. BORDENIsn’t it? It’s cost me twenty years of mine. ISELDIRIt is of no use. You will never find the third part of the Triskelion. BORDENAh, but you’re wrong. I already know where that bit is. [Borden shoves his captive at the druids and jumps off the cliff, saving himself by plunging his dagger into the ground on the other side of the gap. He rides to Camelot.] -[INT. KING’S PALACE, PHYSICIAN’S CHAMBERS - NIGHT][Gaius is working late when Borden knocks on the door. Merlin wakes. Gaius answers the door.] BORDENHello, Gaius. Surely you remember me? [Gaius makes a mean facial expression] GAIUSOnly too well. Why are you here? BORDENPlease, I could do with drying myself by your fire. GAIUSYou have a nerve coming back here. You left me in a lot of trouble. BORDENYeah. Yeah, sorry about that. What can I say? Execution...didn’t really appeal to me. Don’t pretend you supported Uther. GAIUSTell me why you are here. [Borden pulls out the two parts of the Triskelion.] BORDENSave your eyesight, Gaius. It’s the Triskelion of Ashkanar. GAIUSYou are sure? BORDENI’m certain. GAIUSLet me see. [Gaius examines the writing on it.] GAIUSIt’s in a druid tongue. The bind runes are in threes. That’s rare. BORDENOh, I can save you the trouble. They guide the bearer to the Tomb of Ashkanar. Yes, we both know the legend. We both know what he hid there. GAIUSA dragon’s egg, and you have come to steal it. BORDENI wouldn’t say “steal”. GAIUSYou’re forgetting one thing, you’re missing a part of the Triskelion. BORDENOh, no. I know where that bit is. GAIUSWhere? BORDENIn the vaults...beneath your feet. GAIUSIn Camelot? BORDENWhere it has lain safe and secure for the last four hundred years. GAIUSAnd you want me to help you to get it. BORDENWe could bring this noble creature back to life. [Gaius is sceptical.] GAIUSI want no part of your plan. BORDENYou don’t want to release the last living dragon? GAIUSThe old ways should be left to die. BORDENWell, that’s not what you taught me! GAIUSIt’s what I feel now. I believe in the king that Arthur will become and the future he will build. BORDENThink about it. GAIUSI’ve given you my answer. Now I think you should leave Camelot. Sooner rather than later. Arthur may not be his father, but is no friend of the old ways. [Gaius opens the door for Borden to leave.] BORDENYou’ll find me in the tavern in the lower town. Take your time. Gaius, I know I caused you trouble before, but I’m a changed man, believe me. [Borden leaves and Merlin emerges from his room.] MERLINWho was that? GAIUSOh, doesn’t matter. MERLINGaius. GAIUS (sigh) He was a pupil. His name is Julius Borden. MERLINWhy won’t you help him? This is our one chance of saving the dragons, of helping Kilgharrah preserve his kind. GAIUSBorden is not a man to be trusted. MERLINYou don’t think the Triskelion is real? GAIUSThat I have no doubt. MERLINThen what? GAIUSHis motives, Merlin. Even as a young man he was prone to dishonesty. Who knows what path he is on now. MERLINYou want the egg to remain lost forever. GAIUSI don’t want it to get into Borden’s hands! The Tomb of Ashkenar has lain untouched for more than four hundred years. It is my belief it should remain that way. Now let’s get some sleep. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. --[EXT. FOREST CLEARING - NIGHT] KILGHARRAHI never dared dream of such a moment, Merlin. [Merlin chuckles happily.] KILGHARRAHUntil now, I believed the egg would never be found, that I would be the last of my kind. MERLINSo the legend is true? KILGHARRAHThis is a chance in a thousand, Merlin. You must retrieve the egg. MERLINI know. KILGHARRAHThen what is the matter? MERLINGaius has forbidden it. KILGHARRAHMerlin! You are a dragonlord! It is a gift passed down from your father. He gave up everything in his life to save me. What do you think he would say? The egg harbours the last of my kind. I beg you, Merlin. In your father’s name, promise me that you will do everything in your power to rescue it. MERLINYou have my promise. --[EXT. LOWER TOWN - DAY][Merlin walks down to the tavern.] --[INT. THE RISING SUN - DAY][Merlin enters Borden’s room. There’s a lump on the bed in the shape of a body, but Borden jumps out from behind the door and pins Merlin against the wall with a dagger at his throat.] BORDENWhat do you want? MERLINTo help you. BORDENWho are you? MERLINA friend of Gaius. I heard what you told him. I want to see a dragon’s egg. I want to come with you. BORDENDid he send you? MERLINNo. BORDENNo? [Borden lets Merlin go and opens the door.] BORDENThen get out. MERLINPlease, I know everything about dragons. I’ve read everything...[?] BORDENNot interested. Go away. [Borden grabs Merlin’s shirt and shoves him out.] MERLINAll right, but you won’t get into the vaults without me. BORDEN (scoffs)And how’s a boy like you gonna help? MERLINBecause I’m the personal servant of King Arthur. --[INT. KING’S PALACE, ARTHUR’S CHAMBERS - NIGHT][Merlin tries to steal the vault keys while Arthur sleeps, but Arthur wakes.] KING ARTHURWhat on earth are you doing? MERLINLooking for woodworm. [Merlin pretends to look for woodworm.] KING ARTHURBefore breakfast? MERLINThat is when the worms are most active. KING ARTHURGet out. [Merlin starts to leave and sees the keys on Arthur’s belt on the trousers from the day before.] MERLINThese need washing. KING ARTHURSo do these. [Arthur throws some clothes at Merlin.] KING ARTHUROh, and Merlin, before you go, I need that belt. [Frustrated, Merlin leaves the belt with the keys on it.] --[INT. KING’S PALACE, COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY] AGRAVAINEWe need to strengthen all our outlying defences as Odin’s [?]. But it is the northern borders that are particularly vulnerable. KING ARTHURThere’s always been so, and the reason’s obvious. If you look at the terrain here. [Merlin’s eyes glow orange and Arthur’s trousers drop.] MERLINAllow me to help you, sire. KING ARTHURNo. No! Merlin! MERLINYour Majesty. KING ARTHURMerlin! MERLINMajesty! KING ARTHURGet off me! MERLINI’m trying to help you, sire! [They get up from the struggle. Arthur pulls up his own trousers and Merlin has the key.] MERLINThere we go. Will there be anything else, sire? KING ARTHURNo! [Merlin backs out with the key behind his back.] KING ARTHUR (clears throat)So, the terrain here... --[INT. KING’S PALACE, TUNNELS - NIGHT][Merlin lets Borden in through the outer wall.] BORDENI’m beginning to like you, Merlin. [They go down the stairs toward the vaults. Merlin stops part way down.] MERLINThis is as far as I go. And this key opens the last gate. But you have to get past the guards. [Borden takes the key.] BORDENThat won’t be a problem. [Borden distract and then knocks out the guards, enters the vaults, and takes the third piece of the Triskellian. He combines the three pieces. Borden returns to where Merlin is waiting. They hear some guards.] GUARDTo the right. MERLINFollow me. GUARD [They exit and hide by the door to the outer wall.] BORDENThanks. MERLINAnytime. BORDENTell me, Merlin, would you say you’re a good liar? MERLINYeah, if I need to be. [Borden knocks him out and tosses the key at him.] BORDENYou going to need to be. --[EXT. KING’S PALACE, CASTLE WALL - DAY][Merlin wakes, his legs hanging out of the wall doorway. He starts to get up and the key drops to the floor. Merlin realises what happened, stands up and locks the door.] --[INT. KING’S PALACE, ARTHUR’S CHAMBERS - DAY][Merlin tries to put the vault key back, but he knocks a goblet onto Arthur’s bed and he scrambles over Arthur, stops the cup mid-air with magic, sighs in relief, and grabs it. Arthur wakes and sits up in bed, startled.] KING ARTHURMerlin? What are you doing? MERLINShh! [Merlin puts a finger to his lips. Merlin uses the goblet as an amplifier to listen to the headboard as he taps it.] MERLINI’m listening for woodworm. KING ARTHURI’m getting slightly concerned about you. [The warning bells ring.] KING ARTHURThe hell is that? --[INT. KING’S PALACE, VAULTS - NIGHT] AGRAVAINEThe lock hasn’t been damaged, which would suggest whoever it was had a key. GAIUSStrange. KING ARTHUROf all these treasures, this is all they were interested in. What was in here? GAIUSI believe, Sire, one third of a Triskelion, a type of key. A key that, according to legend, opens the ancient Tomb of Ashkanar. KING ARTHURI remember my father talk of such a tomb. It contained a dragon’s egg. GAIUSIt has been said. KING ARTHURYou don’t believe it to be true? GAIUSWell, it is possible, Sire. The wealth and wisdom of Ashkanar are without equal. AGRAVAINEIs the egg still there? GAIUSI can’t be certain. But, to my knowledge, no one has disturbed the tomb for more than four hundred years. KING ARTHURBut with this Triskelion, someone could. AGRAVAINESire, a dragon’s egg can live for a thousand years. Even today, it could still hatch, and another dragon would be born into this world. KING ARTHURSo, all my father’s work to rid the world of these monsters would be undone. AGRAVAINEThat must be our fear. KING ARTHURThen we have no choice. We must hunt down this intruder, destroy the egg. --[INT. KING’S PALACE, PHYSICIAN’S CHAMBERS - DAY] GAIUSHow could you be so stupid!? What were you thinking!? MERLINI am a dragon lord. It is my sacred duty to protect the last of the dragons. GAIUSThe tomb could’ve remained closed for another four hundred years and the egg would’ve been completely safe! Now Arthur’s riding out intent on destroying it! MERLINWe have to hope that Borden gets there first. GAIUS (scoffs)You trust Borden? You really think he’s going to release that dragon? (scoffs) I fear to think what he intends for the poor creature. Why couldn’t you leave things alone?! --[EXT. KING’S PALACE, MAIN SQUARE - DAY] KING ARTHURHurry up, Merlin! [The knights ride out. Merlin mounts and joins them.] --[EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY][They ride through the countryside.] KING ARTHURSame hoof tracks. We must be closing on him. MERLINLook. [Merlin points to a pillar of smoke.] MERLINHe made camp. Ya! [They ride off.] --[EXT. FOREST, BORDEN’S CAMP - EVENING][Arthur checks the campfire ashes.] KING ARTHURIt’s still warm. SIR ELYANHe can’t have more than a few hours’ lead on us. KING ARTHURWe need to keep moving. [Later, Arthur dismounts and checks the hillside.] KING ARTHURDeer tracks. SIR LEONWe lost him? KING ARTHURIt’s getting too dark to see. We have to find somewhere to hole up for the night. MERLINBut we’re so close to him. KING ARTHURUnless you can see in the dark, Merlin, there’s not much else we can do. --[EXT. FOREST, CAMP - NIGHT][Merlin serves supper.] SIR LEONWhoa. I’m famished. [Merlin gives him more.] SIR LEONThank you. SIR GWAINEAh, I’m hungry as a horse. [Merlin serves Gwaine some extra and then crouches down to pour some in his own plate.] KING ARTHURAs a point, Merlin, have you fed them? MERLINWhat? KING ARTHURThe horses. MERLINWell— KING ARTHURCome on, there must be starving. MERLINBut— KING ARTHUROn your toes. [Merlin feeds the horses. He senses something, but sees no one.] SIR GWAINEMm. That was lovely, Merlin. Thanks. [Gwaine hands Merlin his empty plate. The others do likewise.] SIR PERCIVALEr, I loved it. SIR LEONMe, too. KING ARTHURIf you’re gonna wash those, wash this, too. [Arthur hands Merlin the cooking pot.] MERLINThanks. KING ARTHURHang on, there’s still a bit left. [Arthur scoops it up with the ladle and eats the last of the stew.] KING ARTHUR (nods and points to the pot)Mm. Mm. MERLINGood, was it? KING ARTHURLittle bit salty, though. [Arthur pats Merlin on the arm and walks off. Merlin sulks away to do the dishes.] SIR LEON (chuckles)Merlin. [Merlin turns around and Leon pulls out Merlin’s plate.] SIR LEONThere’s another plate here. [The knights laugh and Merlin can’t help but join them.] -- DELETED SCENE 44 - possible script location[EXT. FOREST - NIGHT] ARTHURYou're very quiet. MERLINI'm sorry. ARTHURWhat is it? [Merlin doesn't respond.] ARTHURMerlin. MERLINIt was here that I last saw my father. [Arthur processes that surprise.] ARTHURYou never talked about it. MERLINThere's not much that I can say. I didn't really know him that well, but...I was proud of him. I want him to be proud of me. ARTHURI can understand that. You should try being in my shoes. It was hard enough while he was alive, always having to live up to what he expected of me. It's even harder now. I now know what he faced, the decisions he had to make. I tell you Merlin, don't start measuring yourself against a man who's dead. You'll never win. MERLINI know. He will always be better than me. [Something occurs to Merlin.] ARTHURWhat? MERLINFor a moment there, I thought we had something in common. [They chuckle.] --[EXT. FOREST, CAMP - NIGHT][The knights sleep. Merlin wakes when he hears a whisper in his mind.] ISELDIR (telepathy)Emrys. Emrys. [Merlin stands up.] ISELDIR (telepathy)Emrys. [Merlin follows the sound of the voice through the woods.] ISELDIR (telepathy)Emrys. MERLIN (telepathy)Where are you? ISELDIR (telepathy)Emrys. [Merlin finds the druids in the woods. Iseldir lowers his hood.] ISELDIRDo not be afraid. We know your quest. MERLINHow? ISELDIRThe man you seek also stole from us. He passed through these woods not three hours before you. MERLINWhich way did he go? ISELDIRTo the east. But you must beware, Emrys. The legends tell a tale that only the druids know. MERLINWhat do they say? ISELDIRAshkanar was a wise man. He knew one day men would come seeking to disturb his rest. The Triskelion is not just a key. It is also a trap. MERLINWhat do you mean? What kind of trap? ISELDIRI do not know. But the legends are very clear, you must beware, Emrys. [Merlin looks uncomfortably at the circle of druids and starts to head back to camp.] ISELDIREmrys. [Merlin stops.] ISELDIRThere is one other thing the legends say. Only when the way ahead seems impossible will you have found it. [Merlin leaves.] --[EXT. FOREST - DAY][The knights sneak through the woods, swords drawn. They enter Borden’s camp only to find it abandoned.] KING ARTHURHe must’ve left in the night. SIR GWAINENo horse tracks. SIR LEONHe’s covered them. MERLINWe had him. We were so close. [Merlin walks off purposefully.] KING ARTHURWhere are you going? We don’t even know which way he went. MERLINHe’s heading east. KING ARTHURHow do you know that? [Merlin tries to think on his feet.] MERLINBecause I can sense it. KING ARTHURSense is not a word I associate with you, Merlin. [Elyan finds some horse dung.] SIR ELYANHang on! He’s right. KING ARTHURHe can’t be. SIR LEONWell done, Merlin. MERLIN (to Arthur)You ever heard of the word “sorry”? KING ARTHURNo, is that another word you made up? --[EXT. BALINOR’S CAVE - DAY] KING ARTHURIt’s a dead end. That’s it. Let’s go back. [The knights turn back.] MERLINWhat about the cave? KING ARTHURWe’re wasting our time. SIR PERCIVALArthur.SIR PERCIVALArthur. [Percival points down at a muddy footprint by the water. They enter the cave and draw their swords. They keep going deeper.] KING ARTHURMerlin, this is ridiculous. Where’s he heading? MERLINThere’s light ahead. [They come to a waterfall. Arthur sheathes his sword and puts his hand through it and crosses to the other side. They continue on the other side.] SIR GWAINENo wonder no one’s ever found it. [They walk down a hill towards a giant tower.] --[EXT. FOREST - DAY][They walk down a large trench path towards the tower and Percival gets shot in the leg with an arrow.] KING ARTHURTake cover! [They press their backs into the trench walls. An arrow lands between Arthur’s feet. Borden loads another arrow. Percival groans in pain.] KING ARTHURYou all right? SIR PERCIVALYeah. [An arrow flies next to Percival’s head.] KING ARTHURWhere’s he firing from? [Arthur turns to Leon.] KING ARTHURI’ll draw fire, get him to safety. [Arthur nods to Percival. Borden shoots at Arthur as he dodges to the other side and Leon helps Percival to his feet so he can take cover against the wall. Merlin sees Borden move on the ridge.] MERLIN (whisper)Arthur. [Merlin directs Arthur’s line of vision. Arthur peeks out for a moment, then motions a plan to the knights. Arthur sprints to the other side of the trench and Merlin magicks the crossbow out of Borden’s hands and smashes it against a tree. Borden runs off. Arthur reaches Borden’s former position.] KING ARTHURWhat happened? Where’s he gone? MERLINPerhaps he ran out of bolts. [Arthur sneaks through the woods and the others follow, Percival limps along. Merlin dashes past Arthur.] KING ARTHURCareful! [Merlin stops and slides and Arthur pulls him back.] KING ARTHURWho knows what he’s left lying in wait for us. MERLINWe can go around that. KING ARTHURNo. [Arthur grabs Merlin to stop him.] KING ARTHURHe knows we’re coming. MERLINThat’s a risk we have to take! KING ARTHURWe’ll make camp, continue at dawn. --[EXT. FOREST, CAMPSITE - DAY][The knights relax while Merlin cooks dinner. Merlin steps away from the pot for a moment Borden shoots something into it with a slingshot. Merlin checks to see that the knights are busy, then tries to serve himself first. Arthur comes over and grabs the plate just as he’s about to take a bite.] KING ARTHURMerlin, can you get some more firewood? MERLINWell, I was just going to try the soup-- [Merlin eats it.] KING ARTHURMm. Mm. Mm. Mm. This is good. Guys, you got to try this. [The knights head over with their plates and serve themselves. Merlin comes back from collecting firewood to find them all passed out.] MERLINAll right, don’t tell me...it was too salty. [Merlin gets closer and sees they’re fast asleep. Gwaine is snoring. Merlin drops the wood loudly, but no one stirs. He crouches down to the soup bowl.] KING ARTHURMERLINWell, if you think I’m doing the washing... [Merlin finds the poultice that Borden shot into the soup and sniffs it. He hears Arthur start having trouble breathing. Merlin rushes over to check on him. The rest begin to suffocate as well. Merlin places a hand on Arthur’s chest.] MERLIN (whisper)Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare! [Arthur takes a full breath and returns to normal. Merlin rushes to Leon next.] MERLIN (whisper)Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare! --[EXT. FOREST - DAY][Merlin scrambles through the forest in pursuit of Borden. He stops at the tower and sees Borden climbing into it. Merlin follows.] --[INT. TOMB OF ASHKANAR - NIGHT][Borden arrives at the entrance. The key hole is on the wall. Merlin approaches. Borden puts the key in the hole and turns the lock. Merlin turns the corner and finds him.] MERLINNo! [The door opens and Borden looks back at Merlin before entering. As he does, smoke pours into his face from the mouths of gargoyles. Borden coughs and sinks to the ground and the smoke floods down towards Merlin. Merlin covers his face with his jacket and holds up a hand.] MERLINÞrosm tohweorfe! [Merlin’s eyes glow and the smoke dissipates. Merlin crouches down by the unconscious Borden, picks up the torch, and continues on. Merlin walks up some steps to a great hall. He smiles as he sees the dragon egg, shaped like a teardrop, on a sunlit pedestal. He approaches and puts down the torch. He touches the dragon egg.] BORDENGive it to me. [Borden walks up the steps.] MERLIN (angry)It’s not yours to take. BORDENYou give it to me and I will grant you a half-share, Merlin. MERLINNo, it must go free. BORDENDon’t be a fool! Think of the power it could bring us! The lands we can rule over, the riches. MERLINI’m not interested in that. BORDENWith this dragon at our command, we will live like kings. We will have the freedom and power to do as we wish! MERLINDragons cannot be used like that! They must be left unshackled, free to roam the earth. BORDENBut this is your chance, Merlin. Your chance to escape your meaningless life, your worthless existence! MERLINIt’s not my life pitiable, it’s yours. Wasted...for nothing. [Borden grabs the torch and threatens Merlin with it.] BORDENI pieced together the Triskellian. I found the path that led us here! The dragon belongs to me! Now, hand it over! MERLINNo. [Borden swings the torch at Merlin.] BORDENYou are not gonna stop me, boy! MERLINDragon’s are magical creatures! They belong to no man! [Merlin falls to the ground.] MERLINThey are for the benefit of all! BORDEN (scoffs)What do you know? Huh?! You are but a serving boy! MERLINI am the last dragonlord. [Borden’s face falls.] MERLINAnd I am warning you...leave this egg alone. [Borden glances at the egg, then tries to strike Merlin with the torch. Merlin throws Borden backwards, knocking him unconscious. Merlin gets up and takes the egg and the tower begins to collapse. Merlin runs out, dodging falling rock. He reaches his satchel in the woods and puts the dragon egg in it. The knights run up to him.] KING ARTHURWhat the hell happened? MERLINThe tomb is a trap. He set it off. He never got out. KING ARTHURWhat about the egg? [Merlin shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders.] MERLINIt would’ve perished with him. KING ARTHURAre you sure? We need to be certain. SIR LEONNothing’s going to survive under all that. [The tower completely collapses. Merlin glances down at the bag at his feet.] --[INT. KING’S PALACE, PHYSICIAN’S CHAMBERS - NIGHT][Merlin and Gaius eat supper.] GAIUSShame about the egg. MERLINYes. GAIUSYou weren’t able to save it? MERLIN (shakes his head)No. [Gaius regards Merlin for a long moment and Merlin keeps himself busy. Merlin looks up and Gaius tilts his head in question. Merlin starts to grin and Gaius joins in. They start to chuckle. Merlin gets up quickly and fetches the egg.] MERLINAll the jewels, all the treasures, Gaius, they don’t compare. [Merlin pulls it out carefully and hands it to Gaius.] GAIUSAnd it was nearly lost because of you. MERLINI’m sorry, Gaius. I was too quick to act. GAIUSYou have to think things through. Ashkanar did exactly that. He had the foresight to conceal this for more than four hundred years. And now it’s down to you, Merlin. [Gaius hands the egg back to Merlin.] GAIUSFor you to decide what you intend to do with it. MERLINI thought about that. I’m going to make sure it goes back to where it belongs. --[EXT. FOREST CLEARING - NIGHT][Merlin carries the egg through the forest and places it on a tree stump. Kilgharrah flies in and looks happily down at the dragon egg.] MERLINIs it still alive? KILGHARRAHIt can live for more than a thousand years. [Merlin smiles.] MERLINSo, you are no longer the last of your kind. KILGHARRAH (chuckles)It would seem not. MERLINWhen will it hatch? KILGHARRAHYoung dragons were called into the world by the dragonlords. Only they had the power to summon them from the egg. As the last dragonlord, this solemn duty falls to you, Merlin. MERLIN How do I summon it? KILGHARRAH You must give the dragon a name. [Merlin thinks for a moment and sighs when he decides. He closes his eyes and Kilgharrah watches him.] MERLIN (dragon tongue) Aithusa. [The egg cracks and out pops the cutest little baby dragon you’ve ever seen.] KILGHARRAH A white dragon is, indeed, a rare thing...and fitting. For in the dragon tongue, you named him after the light of the sun. No dragon birth is without meaning. [Merlin smiles and cries as he watches the dragon continue to break its way out of its shell.] KILGHARRAHSometimes the meaning is hard to see, but this time I believe it is clear. The white dragon bodes well for Albion, for you and Arthur, and for the land that you will build together.
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