Excalibur Merlin

'In a land of myth and a time of magic,

'the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy.

'His name...Merlin.'

Yehairamay wan knicht awak.

Beyar stranger an steacra for brektha wanei.

Upares arek

Uther Pendragon!

THUD

STONE BEGINS TO CRACK

MAN: Do you solemnly swear

to govern the people of this kingdom and its dominions

according to the statutes, customs and laws

- laid down by your forebears? - I do, Sire.

Do you promise to exercise mercy

and justice in your deeds and judgments?

I do, Sire.

And do you swear allegiance to Camelot now,

and for as long as you shall live?

I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service

and to the protection of this kingdom and its peoples.

Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth,

you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot.

APPLAUSE

So how does it feel to be servant to the Crown Prince?

Washing his royal socks will be even more of a privilege.

You're proud of him, really!

- I am not. - You are. I can see it in your face.

Those socks are clean! Of course I'm proud.

HORSE WHINNIES

I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge.

Single combat. Noon tomorrow.

Have you ever seen this Black Knight before?

I don't believe so.

- You didn't recognise his crest? - Crest?

- Which house is it? - I'm not sure.

I didn't see it clearly.

But he's not someone you'd forget in a hurry.

No.

So you don't think he's from around here?

- That would seem likely. - Then what's he doing here?

Your faith in my knowledge is both touching and wholly misplaced.

Maybe if you've finished your work,

you could go to bed and leave me to finish mine.

OK, I'm going.

Gaius?

Merlin.

Do you think Owain can beat him?

We will find out soon enough.

- He shouldn't have picked it up! - So put an end to it.

The challenge has been taken up. It cannot be stopped.

- Then fight in his place. - I can't!

- Why not? - Owain picked up the gauntlet.

Owain is the one who must fight. That is the Knight's Code.

He knew that.

- You know why I'm here? - The Black Knight.

So it is he?

- You saw his crest? - Have you confirmed it?

It is the crest of Tristan de Bois.

And he's the only knight ever to have carried such a crest?

Yes. According to the records.

DOOR OPENS VIOLENTLY

Yes?

I'm sorry to disturb you, Sire.

What is it?

The knight,

the stranger.

He bears the crest of Tristan de Bois.

Yes.

But he's been dead for 20 years.

I know.

You've never fought in mortal combat before. It's different.

- It's not like the training. - Yeah, I know.

Listen to me. The problem is, we've never seen him fight.

- You have to get the measure of him. - But I have the same advantage.

He's never seen me fight.

True.

- You've watched me. - Yes.

And?

And I know no-one braver.

The Lady Morgana asked me to give you this token.

She wishes you to wear it for luck.

You can thank her,

and tell her I shall wear it with pride,

but I won't need luck.

Now remember, find the flow of the fight and try to control it.

The fight shall be to the knight's rules.

Let battle commence.

Come on, Owain!

One well-aimed blow!

Yes!

CROWD GASPS IN HORROR

Who will take up my challenge?

I, Sir Pellinor, take up the challenge.

So be it.

Should we tend to his wounds?

He took a hit.

Owain didn't land a blow.

- The sword definitely pierced him. - Are you sure?

My eyes are quicker than yours.

- Why did you stop me? - Our knights must prove themselves.

- Have you seen how he fights?! - Sir Pellinor is his match.

He's not recovered from the wounds he suffered at Othanden.

It was his choice to take up the gauntlet.

I am not to blame.

Are you sure we should be doing this?

You're not scared, are you?

No, I love old crypts. I wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else.

THUD!

Must've been a gust of wind.

We should've brought a torch.

Leoc morla.

- Huh...handy! - Yes.

What are we looking for?

Bring your torch over here.

We're breaking into someone's grave?

We're too late.

I think someone has already broken out.

It's my guess we're dealing with a wraith.

A wraith?

So this is the work of a sorcerer?

Powerful magic can make a grieving, demented soul live again.

- How do we stop it? - We can't.

There must be something.

Nothing can stop it until it has achieved what it came for.

What's that?

Revenge.

On Camelot?

What does that mean for Sir Pellinor?

I'm afraid it doesn't look good.

CROWD GROANS

I, Arthur Pendragon, challenge you.

So be it.

Single combat.

Noon tomorrow.

How could you be so stupid? I will revoke the challenge.

The Knight's Code must be upheld. That's what you told me.

This is different.

- Once the challenge is laid down... - You are Crown Prince.

There cannot be one rule for me and one for all the rest.

I forbid you to fight.

You want me to prove I'm worthy of the throne.

I cannot do that by being a coward.

I'm sorry you have so little faith in me, Father.

Arthur!

You said yourself, no mortal weapon can kill it.

We have to find a way to defeat the wraith ourselves.

- How do you propose to do that? - With mortal magic.

- It's too dangerous. - We don't have a choice.

- Good evening, Sire. - Gaius.

There is a matter of great urgency which I must discuss with you.

Then spit it out.

Tristan's tomb is empty.

I believe he's a wraith.

A spirit?

He has come to take vengeance. You cannot allow Arthur to fight.

No weapon forged by man can kill a wraith.

It will stop at nothing until it has accomplished what it came for.

Arthur cannot win. You must tell him who the knight is.

- No. - You cannot hide the truth forever.

I am the King!

You will not tell me what I can and cannot do!

Very well, Sire.

Leave me.

DOOR SLAMS

Cume hay forbearnar.

BLACK KNIGHT ROARS

Merlin, that conversation we had about knocking...

- You have to pull out. - Why does everybody think that? - Because they're right.

Just pull out. You're the Crown Prince.

- I am not a coward. - I know that.

I've watched you overcome every fear you've ever faced.

- That's what's required. - You are more than a mere warrior.

You're a prince, a future king. You've proved your courage,

- but you must prove your wisdom. - I'm not backing down.

Arthur, listen to me. This is no ordinary knight.

Look at him. He doesn't eat, he doesn't sleep.

He just stands there.

I'm not listening to this.

DISTANT GROWLING

- Haven't you tired of revenge? - You began this war.

You brought it on yourselves. You practised evil.

I was your friend, Uther! You welcomed me here.

- You betrayed that friendship. - I did as you asked!

CRASHING

How did you get in here?

- The door was open. - No, I locked it.

Someone else must've opened it.

And you thought you'd come in and help yourself?

I was looking for a book.

For Gaius. He thinks the Black Knight is a wraith.

Then Arthur is in grave peril.

Which is why I'm here. I need to find a weapon

that will kill something that's already dead.

I have read of such things in the ancient chronicles.

Really? What did they say?

Several fables speak of ancient swords.

Can you show me one of these fables?

Well, let me think. Yes.

Mm...

I'm sort of in a hurry.

Yes, you young people always are.

This is the Chronicle of Beltain.

Now then... Ah, here we are.

Sir Marhaus looked upon the great sword,

begotten in the dragon's breath and found it passing good.

- What did you say? - Sir Marhaus...

No, no, no. Not about him. The dragon.

The great sword begotten in the dragon's breath

and found it passing good.

Merlin. What're you doing here?

- I've come to ask a favour. - Yes?

I'm not sure how to ask it.

Ask, Merlin. You know I'd grant you anything.

I...I've come to ask for a sword.

The strongest your father's ever made.

What for?

To save Arthur.

I don't want you to fight tomorrow.

You're worried about me?

I don't know what it is.

Please, I'm begging you.

I have to do this.

It's my duty.

I understand.

I'm sorry.

You knew that this business would come back to haunt me.

Not quite so literally.

I should've listened to you.

- I cannot let Arthur die. - Then you must stop the fight.

No, I will take his place.

Do you know what you're saying?

I have no other choice.

But it means that you are the only person left

who knows the truth about Arthur's birth.

I want you to swear to me that you will keep your oath.

I will take it to my grave.

You have always been a good friend,

despite my temper.

I have one other favour to ask.

My father's been saving this.

He's always said it was the best sword he's ever made.

It's perfect.

Merlin!

Do you know why I'm here?

It may surprise you, Merlin,

but my knowledge of your life is not universal.

It's to do with Arthur. His life's in danger,

unless I can make a weapon.

So what do you come to ask of me?

Will you burnish it, to save Arthur?

That is your destiny, young warlock, not mine.

But if Arthur fights the wraith and dies, Camelot will have no heir.

I will have no destiny.

A weapon forged with my assistance will have great power.

I know.

You do not know. You can only guess.

You have not seen what I have seen.

If you had, perhaps you would not ask this of me.

What do you mean?

In the wrong hands, this sword could do great evil.

It must be wielded by Arthur and him alone.

I understand.

You must do more than understand.

You must promise.

I promise.

DRAGON GROWLS

Heed my words.

The sword was forged for Arthur,

and him alone.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

I've brought you something to help you sleep.

I'm fine. I don't need it.

Here.

It'll relax you,

take the edge off your nerves.

Ugh...I wouldn't drink it for pleasure.

Why don't you sit down for a moment?

Mind you, if you...

forget about the taste, the after effect is...

quite pleasurable.

Just lie back.

I will be taking Arthur's place.

But Sire...

Prepare me for battle.

Arthur should fight.

The grievance was with me, the fight is mine.

- I don't have your armour. - That will do.

It's likely to make little difference.

- I'll get you your sword. - This one will be fine.

No, Sire. You don't understand.

That one was made specifically for Arthur.

Who made it?

Um, er, Tom, the blacksmith.

It's worthy of a king.

You would be better off with a sword you trusted.

No. It has almost perfect balance.

Tom is not the Royal Swordsmith. I'm surprised Arthur went to him.

That was me.

I felt he needed a better sword.

You show him the most extraordinary loyalty.

That is my job, Sire.

But beyond the line of duty.

Well...

..you could say...

..there is a bond between us.

I'm glad.

Look after him.

You can have what you came for.

The father, not the son.

SWORDS CLASH >

HE ROARS

CROWD GASPS

CHEERING

Is that a new sword, Sire?

It's the best I've ever fought with.

May I have a look?

I was intrigued by those markings.

On one side it says, "Take me up,"

and on the other, "Cast me away."

- What does that mean? - May I ask who made it, Sire?

Merlin gave it me. It was forged for Arthur.

That should heal pretty quickly. I'll re-dress it tomorrow.

Thank you, Gaius. Thank you for everything.

- I was meant to fight him! - No, you weren't.

You mean more to me than anything I know,

more than this entire kingdom, and certainly more than my own life.

I've always thought that...

What?

That...I was a big disappointment to you.

Well, that is my fault, and not yours.

You are my only son.

And I wouldn't wish for another.

- I heard you fought pretty well. - Thanks.

You should join us for training.

Sort out your footwork.

I'll show you footwork.

UTHER GROANS

Uther told me you provided him with his sword today.

- Did you enchant it? - No...I didn't.

Who did then?

Wasn't me.

Shame.

It saved the King's life, I'd have been very proud of you.

- Well... - Never mind.

'Merlin!

'Merlin...

'Merlin!'

So, does Arthur live?

Yes, the sword worked. It was incredible, amazing.

- As I promised. - But...

Yes?

Things didn't quite go according to plan.

I mean they did, except...it wasn't Arthur who wielded the sword.

It was Uther.

HE ROARS

The sword was born of the old magic. You have no idea of its power.

In the hands of Uther, it will bring only evil.

I'll get it back.

You have betrayed me. You are not ready to be trusted.

I'll bring it to you.

You can destroy it.

What is made cannot be unmade.

So what do you want me to do?

Take the sword far from here

and place it where no mortal man can ever find it.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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