“The Dragon's Call” · Season 1, Episode 1
In this episode: Merlin (5), Gaius (3), Uther Pendragon (3), Great Dragon (2), Arthur Pendragon (1), Morgana Pendragon (1), Gwen (1), Hunith (1)
(Mary Collins has taken the appearance of Lady Helen and is dining with Uther)
(about Arthur) Poor child. It can't have been easy to grow up without a mother.
No.
Hasn't been easy.
I'm sure. Perhaps if you found someone? If you remarried? I'm sure you'd have the pick of any lady in the kingdom.
Well, perhaps I'll find love again, but I'm afraid it's too late to replace Arthur's mother.
Yes. It's certainly too late for Arthur.
What did your mother say to you about your gifts?
That I was special.
You are special. The likes of which I've never seen before.
What do you mean?
Well... magic requires incantations, spells that take years to study. What I saw you do was... elemental. Instinctive.
What's the point if it can't be used?
That I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before, Merlin.
Did you ever study magic?
Uther banned all such work twenty years ago.
Why?
People used magic for the wrong ends at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons.
What, all of them?
There was one dragon he chose not to kill. He kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no-one can free it.
Hello? Gaius? (He spots Gaius standing and clears his throat. Gaius is startled and falls.)
Whoa!
(Merlin uses magic to move a bed. Gaius falls on the bed. He stands up and looks at Merlin.)
What did you just do?
Ehm.
Tell me.
I ... I ... I have no idea what just happened.
If anyone has seen that ...
Oh no, that was .. that was nothing to do with me, that was.
I know what it was. I just want to know where you learned how to do it.
No I..
So how is it that you know magic.
I don't.
:(after Merlin uses magic to save him from a fall) Where did you study? Answer me!
I've... I've never studied magic or been taught.
Are you lying to me, boy?
What do you want me to say?
The truth!
I was born like this.
That's impossible!
I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.
Wow. And how long have you been training to be a prat?
You can't address me like that.
Sorry. How long have you been training to be a prat, my lord?
(Merlin has been put in the stocks for standing up to Arthur)
I saw what you did. It was so brave.
It was stupid.
Well, I'm glad you walked away. You weren't going to beat him.
Oh, I could beat him.
You think? Because you don't look like one of these big muscley kind of fellows.
Thanks.
No, no. I'm sure you're stronger than you look. It's just... Arthur's one of these real rough, tough save-the-world kind of men and well...
What?
You don't look like that.
(beckoning her closer) I'm in disguise.
(laughing) Well, it's great you stood up to him.
You think so?
Arthur's a bully and everyone thought you were a real hero.
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 raises his hand and Thomas is executed)
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!
(There is a loud scream from the crowd)
There is only one evil in this land but it is not magic. It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son. But I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a son for a son!
Why are you not joining us at the feast?
I just don't think chopping someone's head off is cause for a celebration. That poor mother...
It was simple justice for what he'd done.
To whom? He practiced magic. He didn't hurt anyone.
You were not around twenty years ago. You have no idea what it was like.
How long are you going to keep punishing people for what happened then?
Until they realise there is no room for magic in my kingdom.
(voice-over; her letter to Gaius) 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 him 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.
(voice-over) 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 shall be for the young warlock arriving at the gates of Camelot. A boy that will in time father a legend. His name... Merlin.
None of us can choose our destiny, Merlin. And none of us can escape it.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Merlin pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
