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| - KILGHARRAH No young man, no matter how great, can know his destiny. He cannot glimpse his part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone, he must live and learn. And so it will be for the young warlock arriving at the gates of Camelot. A boy that will, in time, father the legend. His name: Merlin. -- UTHER Let this serve as a lesson to all. This man, Thomas James Collins, is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And, pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass. UTHER When I came to this land, this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin. MARY COLLINS [Wailing] There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic! It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son! And I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son. UTHER Seize her! MARY COLLINS [Chants a spell] -- MERLIN Where would I find Gaius, the- the court physician? MERLIN Hello? MERLIN Hello? Gaius? [clears throat] GAIUS What did you just do? MERLIN Erm... GAIUS Tell me! MERLIN I- I- I have no idea what happened. GAIUS If anyone had seen that... MERLIN Er, no! That- that was, that was nothing to do with me. That- that was... GAIUS I know what it was! I just want to know where you learned how to do it! MERLIN Nowhere. GAIUS So how is it you know magic? MERLIN I don't. GAIUS Where did you study?... Answer me! MERLIN I- I've never studied magic or, or been taught. GAIUS Are you lying to me, boy? MERLIN What do you want me to say? GAIUS The truth! MERLIN I was born like this! GAIUS That's impossible! Who are you? MERLIN Oh, erm... MERLIN I have this letter. GAIUS I- I don't have my glasses. MERLIN I'm Merlin. GAIUS Hunith's son? MERLIN Yes! GAIUS But you're not meant to be here till Wednesday! MERLIN It is Wednesday. GAIUS Ah, right then. You better put your bag in there. MERLIN You- you won't say anything about, erm... GAIUS No. Although, Merlin, I should say thank you. -- HUNITH [voiceover] My dear Gaius, I turn to you for I feel lost and alone and don't know who to trust. It is every mother's fate to think her child is special, and yet I would give my life that Merlin were not so. Ours is a small village and he is so clearly at odds with people here that, if he were to remain, I fear what would become of him. He needs a hand to hold, a voice to guide, someone that might help him find a purpose for his gifts. I beg you, if you understand a mother's love for her son, keep him safe, and may God save you both. -- UTHER Morgana. MORGANA Yes? UTHER What is this? Why are you not joining us at the feast? MORGANA I just don't think chopping someone's head off is cause for a celebration. That poor mother. UTHER It was simple justice for what he'd done. MORGANA To whom? He practiced some magic, he didn't hurt anyone. UTHER You were not around twenty years ago, you have no idea what it was like. MORGANA How long are you going to keep punishing people for what happened then? UTHER Until they realise there is no room for magic in my kingdom! You will be with me when I greet Lady Helen. MORGANA I told you! I want no part in these celebrations! UTHER I'm your guardian! I expect you to do as I ask. If you show me no respect at least respect our finest singer. MORGANA You know, the more brutal you are, the more enemies you will create! -- LADY HELEN Hello? Gregory? GREGORY Lady Helen. LADY HELEN Is all well? GREGORY Yes, ma'am. With luck, we should reach Camelot late tomorrow. LADY HELEN That's good. GREGORY I'll be outside if you need me. GREGORY Who's there? Who's there? MARY COLLINS Akwele seo magdp. Akwele seo magdp. Akwele seo magdp. MARY COLLINS Ghefrolinz grimpoxin kouata. -- KILGHARRAH Merlin... Merlin... GAIUS I got you water. You didn't wash last night. MERLIN Sorry. GAIUS Help yourself to breakfast. GAIUS How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind? MERLIN I don't know any spells. GAIUS So what did you do? There must be something. MERLIN It just happens. GAIUS Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me until I find some paid work for you. Here. GAIUS Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival, and this is for Sir Olwin. He's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once. MERLIN Okay GAIUS And here. GAIUS Off you go. And Merlin, I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will get you killed. MERLIN Erm, I brought you your medicine. MERLIN Oh, and Gaius said don't drink it all at... MERLIN I'm sure it's fine. -- ARTHUR Where's the target? MORRIS There, Sir? ARTHUR It's into the sun? MORRIS But, it's not that bright. ARTHUR A bit like you, then? MORRIS I'll put the target on the other end, shall I, Sir? KNIGHT #1 Teach him a lesson. Go on, boy. ARTHUR This'll teach him. KNIGHT #2 Yeah. KNIGHT #1 Haha. Teach him a lesson. MORRIS Hey! Hang on! ARTHUR Don't stop! MORRIS Here? ARTHUR I told you to keep moving! ARTHUR Come on! Run! ARTHUR Do you want some moving target practice? MERLIN Hey, come on, that's enough. ARTHUR What? MERLIN You've had your fun, my friend. ARTHUR Do I know you? MERLIN Er, I'm Merlin. ARTHUR So I don't know you. MERLIN No. ARTHUR Yet you called me "friend." MERLIN That was my mistake. ARTHUR Yes, I think so. MERLIN Yeah. I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass. ARTHUR [snorts] Or I one who could be so stupid. ARTHUR Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees? MERLIN No. ARTHUR Would you like me to help you? MERLIN I wouldn't if I were you. ARTHUR [chuckles] Why? What are you going to do to me? MERLIN You have no idea. ARTHUR Be my guest! Come on! Come on! Come oooooon. KNIGHTS Whoa. ARTHUR I'll have you thrown in jail for that. MERLIN What, who do you think you are? The King? ARTHUR No. I'm his son, Arthur. -- -- UTHER Lady Helen. Thank you so much for coming to sing at our celebrations. HELEN The pleasure's all mine. UTHER How was your journey? HELEN [sighs] Oh, the time it took, Sire. UTHER Well, it's always worth the wait. HELEN It will be. -- KILGHARRAH Merlin... Merlin... KILGHARRAH Merlin... GAIUS Merlin! GAIUS [sighs] You never cease to amaze me! The one thing that someone like you should do is keep your head down, and what do you do? You behave like an idiot. MERLIN I'm sorry. GAIUS You're lucky. I managed to pull a few strings to get you released. MERLIN Oh, thank you! Thank you! MERLIN I won't forget this. GAIUS Well, there is a small price to pay. -- MERLIN Oh, no. MERLIN Thanks! GUINEVERE I'm Guinevere, but most people call me Gwen. I'm the Lady Morgana's maid. MERLIN Right. I'm Merlin. MERLIN Although, most people just call me Idiot. GUINEVERE No, no, no. I saw what you did. It was so brave. MERLIN It was stupid. GUINEVERE Well, I'm glad you walked away. You weren't going to beat him. MERLIN [snorts] Oh, I- I can beat him. GUINEVERE You think? Because you don't look like one of these big, muscle-y kind of fellows. MERLIN Thanks. GUINEVERE No! No, I'm sure you're stronger than you look. It's just, erm... Arthur's one of these real rough, tough, save the world kind of men, and... well... MERLIN What? GUINEVERE You don't look like that. MERLIN I'm in disguise. GUINEVERE [laughs] Well, it's great you stood up to him. MERLIN What? You think so? GUINEVERE Arthur's a bully, and everyone thought you were a real hero. MERLIN Oh, yeah? GUINEVERE [nods] Mm-hmm. MERLIN Oh, excuse me, Guinevere. My fans are waiting. -- GAIUS Do you want some vegetables with that? MERLIN [snorts] I know you're still angry with me. GAIUS Your mother asked me to look after you. MERLIN Yes. GAIUS What did your mother say to you about your gifts? MERLIN That I was special. GAIUS You are special. The likes of which I have never seen before. MERLIN What do you mean? GAIUS Well, magic requires incantations, spells. It takes years to study. What I saw you do was... elemental, instinctive. MERLIN What's the point if it can't be used? GAIUS That I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before, Merlin. MERLIN Did you ever study magic? GAIUS Uther banned all such work twenty years ago. MERLIN Why? GAIUS People used magic for the wrong end at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons. MERLIN What? All of them? GAIUS There was one dragon he chose not to kill, kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no one can free it. Now, eat up. When you've finished, I need you to take a preparation to Lady Helen. She needs it for her voice. -- HELEN What are you doing in here? MERLIN An... I- I was asked to deliver this. -- ARTHUR How's your knee-walking coming along? ARTHUR Aw, don't run away! MERLIN From you? ARTHUR [sighs] Thank God. I thought you were deaf as well as dumb. MERLIN Look, I've told you you're an ass. MERLIN I just didn't realise you were a royal one. Oh, what are you going to do? Get your daddy's men to protect you? ARTHUR [laughs] I could take you apart with one blow. MERLIN I could take you apart with less than that. ARTHUR Are you sure? KNIGHT #1 Come on, then. KNIGHT #2 Fight. KNIGHT ...toying with him, then! ARTHUR Here you go. KNIGHT That a way. ARTHUR Come on, then. I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth. MERLIN Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat? ARTHUR [snorts] You can't address me like that. MERLIN I'm sorry. H-How long have you been training to be a prat, My Lord? ARTHUR Come on then, Merlin! Come on! ARTHUR Haha. You're in trouble now. MERLIN Oh God. ARTHUR OW! Argh! MERLIN Do you want to give up? ARTHUR To you? MERLIN Do you? Do you want to give up? ARTHUR Wait. Let him go. He may be an idiot, but he's a brave one. There's something about you, Merlin. I can't quite put my finger on it. -- GAIUS How could you be so foolish?! MERLIN He needed to be taught a lesson. GAIUS Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good! Not for idiotic pranks! MERLIN What is there to master? I could move objects like that before I could talk! GAIUS Then, by now, you should know how to control yourself! MERLIN I don't want to! If I can't use magic, what have I got?! I'm just a nobody, and I always will be. If I can't use magic, I might as well die. GAIUS [sighs] Merlin? Sit up. Take your shirt off. MERLIN You don't know why I was born like this, do you? GAIUS No. MERLIN I'm not a monster, am I? GAIUS Don't ever think that. MERLIN Then why am I like this? Please, I need to know why. GAIUS Maybe there's someone with more knowledge than me. MERLIN If you can't tell me, no one can. GAIUS Take this. It will help with the pain. -- UTHER Will you sing for me tonight? HELEN You will have to wait, Sire. UTHER You will not deny me. HELEN I am saving myself for my performance tomorrow. Will everyone be there? UTHER Who would dare to miss it? HELEN How about your son? UTHER Well... HELEN It seems a shame not to have met him. UTHER That's Arthur. HELEN Poor child. UTHER Hmm? HELEN Poor child. It can't have been easy to- to grow up without a mother. UTHER No. HELEN Hmm. That bond between mother and son, it's so hard to replace. UTHER Hasn't been easy. HELEN I'm sure. HELEN Perhaps if you found someone...If you remarried. [laughs] I'm sure you'd have the pick of any maiden in the kingdom. UTHER Well, perhaps I'll find love again. But I'm afraid it's too late to replace Arthur's mother. HELEN Yes. It's certainly too late for Arthur. -- KILGHARRAH Merlin... Merlin... KILGHARRAH Merlin... KILGHARRAH Merlin... Merlin... KILGHARRAH [laughs] Merlin. MERLIN Where are you? KILGHARRAH I'm here! How small you are for such a great destiny. MERLIN Why? What do you mean? What destiny? KILGHARRAH Your gift, Merlin, was given to you for a reason. MERLIN So there is a reason. KILGHARRAH Arthur is the Once and Future King who will unite the land of Albion. MERLIN Right. KILGHARRAH But he faces many threats from friend and foe alike. MERLIN I don't see what this has to do with me. KILGHARRAH Everything. Without you, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no Albion. MERLIN No. No, you've got this wrong. KILGHARRAH There is no right or wrong, only what is and what isn't. MERLIN But I'm serious! If anyone wants to go and kill him, they can go ahead. In fact, I'll give them a hand. KILGHARRAH [laughs] None of us can choose our destiny, Merlin, and none of us can escape it. MERLIN No. No way. No. No. There must be another Arthur because this one's an idiot. KILGHARRAH Perhaps it's your destiny to change that. MERLIN Wait! Wait! Wait, stop! No, I- I need to know more! -- GAIUS Oi! GAIUS Have you seen the state of this room?! MERLIN It just happens. GAIUS By magic? MERLIN Yeah. GAIUS Yes. Well, you can clear it up without magic. And then I want you to get me some herbs: henbane, wormwood, and sorrel. And deliver this to Morgana. Poor girl's suffering from nightmares. MERLIN Mmm, I know the feeling. MORGANA You know, I've been thinking about Arthur. I wouldn't touch him with a lance pole. Pass me that dress, will you Gwen? MORGANA I mean, the man's a total jouster. And just because I'm the King's ward, that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it. MORGANA Well, does it? MERLIN (high pitched) (shakes head) Mm-Mmm. MORGANA If he wants me to go, then he should invite me, and he hasn't. MORGANA So do you know what that means? MERLIN (high pitched) (shakes head) Mm-Mmm. MORGANA Where are you? MERLIN (high pitched) Here. MORGANA It means I'm going by myself. MERLIN I need some help with this fastening. MORGANA Gwen? GWEN I'm here. GWEN (mouths) What are you doing here? GWEN (mouths) Oh. MORGANA So, it's whether I wear this little tease... MORGANA or give them a night they'll really remember. -- BRONWEN Lady Helen. [curtsies] Compliments of the King. HELEN Come in. HELEN So sweet. How will I ever repay him? BRONWEN When he hears you sing. Well, that will be more than enough won't it? I'm really looking forward to the performance. HELEN So am I. BRONWEN I love singing, you know. I sing all the time. My betrothed says I have the voice of a fallen angel. -- ARTHUR Merlin... [they laugh]... so I stood up and... [feints a punch into one of his mate's stomach. They laugh. Arthur turns and does a double take as Morgana walks into his line of sight. All the men stare]. ARTHUR God have mercy. GAIUS Merlin. Remember, you're here to work. MERLIN Oh, yeah. ARTHUR [lip reading] Morgana, you look well... GUINEVERE She looks great, doesn't she? MERLIN Yeah. GUINEVERE Some people are just born to be queen. MERLIN No! GUINEVERE I hope so. One day. Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur? MERLIN Oh, [chuckle] come on, Gwen. I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save the world kind of men. GUINEVERE No, I like much more ordinary men like you. MERLIN Gwen, believe me, I'm not ordinary. GUINEVERE No, I didn't mean you, obviously. Not you. But just, you know, I like much more ordinary men like you. MERLIN Thanks. -- UTHER We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honour of introducing Lady Helen of Mora. UTHER You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid. MERLIN Oh, well... UTHER Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded. MERLIN No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness. UTHER No, absolutely. This merits something quite special. MERLIN Well... UTHER You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant. ARTHUR Father! -- GAIUS Seems you're a hero. MERLIN Hard to believe, isn't it? GAIUS No. I knew it from the moment I met you. When you saved my life, remember? MERLIN But...that was magic. GAIUS [nods] And now, it seems, we finally found a use for it. MERLIN What do you mean? GAIUS I saw how you saved Arthur's life. MERLIN: Oh, no. GAIUS Perhaps that's its purpose. MERLIN [sighs] My destiny. GAIUS Indeed. This book was given to me when I was your age, but I have a feeling it will be of more use to you than it was to me. MERLIN [snorts] But this is a book of magic. GAIUS Which is why you must keep it hidden. MERLIN I will study every word. GUARD Merlin, Prince Arthur wants you right away. GAIUS Your destiny's calling. You'd better find out what he wants.
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