Merlin · Season 2
Merlin.
(turns)
I want you to know that, I never doubted you.
(looks doubtful)
Alright maybe I did, but it's your own fault. You've a suspicious air about you. Shifty. Like you've for something to hide...
(look of innocence) I am an open book.
I don't believe that for a second.
It cannot continue.
I will hunt down those responsible, father; I promise they will not escape unpunished.
No. Stronger methods are called for. [pause] Send for the Witch Finder.
[startled whispers]
Sire! Is it necessary to resort to such measures?
The Witch Finder is a trusted ally, Gaius – his help will be invaluable.
Of course.
Do you smell it? Do you smell it, Uther?
Aredian.
It’s all around us, the foul stench of sorcery. It’s infected your great city like a contagion.
I welcome you to Camelot, Aredian. Thank you for making such haste to be here.
Well let’s hope I’m not too late, mm? For every hour counts in the war against sorcery. Unchecked, it spreads like a disease; seeks out the young and the old, the weak and the able, the fair and the foul of heart alike. You have grown lazy, Uther. You’ve grown idle. Your once noble Camelot is rotten to the core. You stand on the brink of dark oblivion.
I am at your disposal, Aredian. The knights will aid you in any way they can.
You must be Arthur.
I must be.
You’re a great warrior – the finest this kingdom has ever known.
Thank you.
So you won’t be offended when I say that I shall have no need of you, or your knights. The subtle arts of sorcery can only be fought by yet subtler means, methods honed over decades of study. Methods known only to myself.
I don’t know what to say.
You don’t have to say anything.
Yeah, I do… the amulet isn’t mine either.
Then how did it get there?
Aredian.
Aredian?
There’s no other explanation.
But why?
It doesn’t matter why, all that matters is if I can prove he planted it you’re saved –
No. You must let this go.
No? But you’re falsely accused, I have a chance to prove that, I must take that chance –
No, Merlin, you must not!
I don’t understand. Do you want to die?
No – but neither do I want you to die. And die you surely will if you get too close to Aredian. He will trap you, Merlin. He will manipulate you and without ever meaning to you’ll incriminate yourself.
But –
You must let this go.
...I must let you go... (eyes bright with tears)
(nods gravely)
Arthur! Arthur! Arthur, you’ve got to stop this!
I can’t Gwen, you know I can’t.
Merlin has proof that Gaius is innocent.
My father’s already passed sentence, there’s nothing I can do.
You can do the right thing, Arthur Pendragon! You can show some faith in a loyal friend or you can stand by and watch an innocent man die!
Guinevere –
You did it once before to my father; are you really willing to let it happen again? And you can stop looking at me like that, I know I’m only a servant – I thought you were a prince, so start behaving like one!
(to Uther) You see foes where there are friends, you see sorcerers where there are servants! I am not the first to be falsely accused of magic and not all have been as lucky as I.
Uther won’t forgive you if he finds out you’ve collaborated with a sorcerer.
What if my father’s attitude to magic is wrong?
You really think that?
Perhaps it’s not as simple as he would have us believe. Morgause is a sorcerer, she’s caused us no harm. Surely not everyone who practices magic is evil?
I am indebted to you, Merlin. I had become… confused. It is once again clear to me that those who practice magic are evil and dangerous – and that is thanks to you.
(Merlin tearing up, on hearing this)
Glad I could help.
Arthur's thanking me, Uther's grateful, you're proud... I've never been this popular!
I'm almost certain it won't last.
Just let me enjoy the moment.
If I don't show up it might be because I don't know where I'm going.
The path you must follow will become clear to you.
Merlin, what are you doing? Lower the rope!
There is no more rope!!!
...Merlin. Do not. Let go. Of the rope.
(Struggles for a few moments but then looses his grip, falling back. He looks at the window in alarm, and a few moments later there is a loud crash.)
I feel as though I somehow know Morgause.
I don't know how.
Breakfast. [makes his way to the door to leave.]
[sits up] Oi! Where's the meat, cheese?
That’s the new breakfast menu.
[picks up food] This isn't enough!
We've got to keep you in shape.
I'm fighting fit!
We want to keep you that way!
Merlin! [He throws food at him] Is there somewhere you have to be?
Of course not.
Good. Because I've got some chores for you to do.
You can't always trust people.
I know. That’s why I left home.
Where is home?
Ealdor – it’s a small village – few fields, couple of cows, nothing special.
My home was next to a lake surrounded by the tallest mountains. In the winter the storms whipped up the water into waves – we thought they were going to crash down and take away all the houses, but in the summer, wild flowers and light, it was like heaven.
Sounds perfect.
It was.
Was?
My family died.
You’ve been on your own ever since? [she nods] You're not on your own anymore. I'm going to look after you. I promise.
You can't look after me. No one can.
I don’t think you understand. [takes her hand in his] I've never known anyone like you.
(to Merlin) I have lived for over a thousand years. Do not believe that you can lie to me.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Merlin pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
