Transcript:A Remedy to Cure All Ills



KILGHARRAH 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.

[00:11]

EDWIN Bebeode þe arisan ealdu.

MORGANA'S CHAMBERS
[00:50]

GWEN Look what's just arrived for you.

MORGANA Who're they from?

GWEN I don't know. Maybe Arthur.

MORGANA How disappointing.

GWEN Why? Who'd you like them to be from?

MORGANA I don't know. Tall, dark stranger?

Main Square/Morgana's chambers.
[01:14]

GAIUS

Her body seems to have closed down.

UTHER Why? You don't have an answer do you? Nothing you've tried so far has worked. It's been nearly two days. And what do you know?

GAIUS I fear she may have some form of inflammation of the brain.

UTHER What could cause such a thing?

GAIUS An infection, possibly. Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to cure her, Sire.

GRIFFIN STAIRCASE
[03:08]

GWEN

Is she any better?

[''Gaius shakes his head. Gwen climbs the stairs as Gaius descends and meets Merlin on the landing''.]

GAIUS She's all but dead, Merlin.

MERLIN No, you're going to cure her. You have to.

GAIUS Don't you start. I've tried everything.

MERLIN I was wondering...

GAIUS What?

MERLIN Maybe I could...

[Merlin waits for a guard to pass by.]

MERLIN ...help.

GAIUS If you're suggesting magic...have you forgotten what happened with Gwen's father? This is not a magical illness, it must be cured by conventional means. We keep trying. See if you can find me some fresh rosemary.

MERLIN There must be something more I can do.

GAIUS And yarrow.

MAIN SQUARE
[03:53]

EDWIN

Yes...it was all originally designed for alchemy.

MERLIN Making gold?

EDWIN You have an interest in science?

MERLIN Well, science is knowledge.

EDWIN It has the answers to everything.

MERLIN Maybe. It can't explain love.

EDWIN So, you are in love?

MERLIN No. I mean feelings, emotions.

EDWIN You seem too bright to be just a servant.

MERLIN Oh, don't be fooled, I'm not that bright.

EDWIN Yes, we will need that. Now, we must hurry to the Lady Morgana. before it is too late.

MORGANA’S CHAMBERS
[08:44] And were your findings satisfactory?

EDWIN With regret, I would have to say they were not.

UTHER How so?

EDWIN Gaius is a great man, thorough, and dedicated.

UTHER But?

[Edwin sighs.]

EDWIN His methods are outdated. He has failed to keep up with the latest developments. This has led to a number of errors.

UTHER Gaius has served me well for 25 years.

EDWIN And one cannot blame him for the infirmity those years have brought. Age can be a terrible curse.

UTHER Perhaps it is time to lighten his burdens. Have you given any more thought to my offer?

EDWIN Yes. I have considered it very carefully.

UTHER Allow me some time to do the same.

[''Edwin bows and exits. Uther gets up and goes to the table for a drink. Morgana follows him.'']

MORGANA Uther, you can't do this.

UTHER You heard what he said. Gaius is old, he makes mistakes.

MORGANA Gaius has treated me since before I can remember. You can't cast him out.

UTHER You would have died if your care had been left to him. That's something I could not bear.

MORGANA I know that, but ...

UTHER I cannot risk something like this happening again.

GAIUS CHAMBERS/DRAGON'S CAVE
[26:11] [''Gaius watches Merlin in his sleep. Gaius goes down the Tunnel Corridor to the Dragon's Cave with a torch''.]

GAIUS Hello? It is me, Gaius.

[The dragon flies up to the rock by the entrance.]

KILGHARRAH How old a man can become and yet change so little.

GAIUS You have not changed either.

KILGHARRAH Twenty years, almost a lifetime to make the short journey back to where you began.

GAIUS I'm not here for myself.

KILGHARRAH The boy?

GAIUS You know about Merlin?

KILGHARRAH You have struggled against his destiny, but you can no more prevent it than he can.

GAIUS So, it is true then?

KILGHARRAH Oh yes. He and the young Pendragon one day will unite the land of Albion.

GAIUS But he is in danger.

KILGHARRAH No. It is my gaoler who stands in peril.

GAIUS Must Uther be sacrificed for the boy?

KILGHARRAH Their time cannot come until his is past.

GAIUS But is that time now?

[The dragon chuckles darkly.]

KILGHARRAH That is of your choosing.

GAIUS I will not choose between them.

KILGHARRAH Then turn a blind eye. That is, after all, your talent.

GAIUS' CHAMBERS
[28:13] [Gaius sits and ponders.]

ARTHUR Gaius, my father needs to speak to you.

GAIUS When?

ARTHUR Immediately.

==='''COU​NCIL CHAMBER '''===

[28:33]

GAIUS Sire. Is there a problem? Are you unwell?

UTHER This is not an ailment you can treat me for. You've been a loyal servant for many years. I look on you as a friend.

GAIUS I regard you in the same way, Sire.

UTHER You've been here since Arthur's birth. And all that entailed. What I'm trying to do I think is best for you.

GAIUS I'm confused, Sire.

UTHER I'll give you a generous allowance, make sure you're looked after.

GAIUS You're retiring me?

UTHER I don't want you to worry. I'll allow you to continue living in your chambers until more suitable accommodation can be found.

GAIUS Because I made one mistake? Although in truth, Sire, it was not a mistake.

[Gaius sees Edwin creep out from behind a column.]

GAIUS It was...

EDWIN Yes Gaius?

UTHER It was unfortunate, I accept that.

GAIUS May I ask who is to be the next court physician?

UTHER None of this was Edwin's idea. Initially, he turned down the offer.

GAIUS I'm sure.

UTHER It's not been an easy decision, but .... the younger man, new ideas.

GAIUS Yes.

UTHER You're hesitant. Is there a reason you oppose his appointment?

GAIUS Sire...

EDWIN If you have anything to say, then say it now, Gaius.

UTHER This is difficult for both of us.

GAIUS I thank you for your patronage. It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve your family, for all these years.

GAIUS' CHAMBERS
[30:37] [Merlin enters while Gaius is packing.]

MERLIN Gaius! Uther cannot do this to you. You tried to save Morgana.

GAIUS Uther's not to blame.

MERLIN I will speak to Edwin, you can work together.

GAIUS No, you mustn't do anything.

MERLIN I can't stand by and do nothing.

GAIUS Uther's right. It's time I stepped down.

[Merlin sees him packing.]

MERLIN What are you doing?

GAIUS I cannot stay when there's no longer a use for me.

MERLIN You're not leaving?

GAIUS I believe it's for the best.

MERLIN Then I will come with you.

GAIUS Merlin, you're like a son to me. I never expected such a blessing so late in life.

MERLIN And you are more than a father to me.

GAIUS Then, as a father, I must tell you, you must remain here. Camelot is where you belong.

MERLIN But you belong here too.

GAIUS Not anymore. Merlin, you must promise me you will not waste your gifts.

MERLIN My gifts mean nothing without you to guide me.

GAIUS You have a great destiny. If I have had a small part to play in that, then I'm pleased.

MERLIN There is so much I have yet to learn. I need you to teach me.

GAIUS I'm afraid I am leaving here tonight, Merlin. And there's nothing you can do or say that can persuade me otherwise.

MERLIN I will not let this happen.

[Merlin exits.]

GAIUS Goodbye, Merlin.

==='''TRAINING GROUNDS '''===

[32:11] [Merlin watches Arthur practice.]

MERLIN I can't understand why Uther would sack him over one mistake.

ARTHUR A mistake that nearly killed Morgana. Besides, it wasn't the only one.

MERLIN What do you mean?

ARTHUR Edwin said his work was riddled with errors.

MERLIN That's nonsense.

ARTHUR No one wants Gaius to go, but my father's made his decision. There's nothing anyone can do.

===CORRIDOR ===

[32:41] [Uther walks with Edwin in the castle.]

UTHER I think you'll be very happy here.

EDWIN I'm sure I will. When I reviewed Gaius's work, I noticed that he's been prescribing you arnica.

UTHER It's for, er, my shoulder, it's an old battle wound. It gives me a lot of pain.

EDWIN May I take the liberty of providing a new prescription? It should prove far more effective.

UTHER Really?

EDWIN Oh, yes. It is a remedy to cure all ills.

==='''LOWER TOWN '''===

[33:24] [Gwen sees Gaius lead a horse out of the main gate while she buys fruit from a stall.]

GWEN Gaius? You're leaving?

GAIUS Yes, I'm sorry I didn't come and say goodbye.

GWEN I don't want you to go. I don't trust Edwin. There was no blood in Morgana's ear, he put it there. He did something to her, I know he did.

GAIUS You need to be careful who you say that to.

GWEN I'm saying it to you because you can do something about it.

GAIUS I can't.

GWEN But you think the same, don't you? He's evil.

GAIUS It's not that simple.

GWEN So you're going to turn your back on us?

GAIUS I have no choice, I'm sorry Gwen.

GWEN In life you always have a choice. Sometimes it's easier to think that you don't.

GAIUS Well, then. My choice is to leave.

GWEN Then I'll miss you.

[Gwen kisses Gaius on the cheek.]

GWEN Goodbye Gaius.

==='''UTHER'S CHAMBERS '''===

[34:16] [Uther drinks a potion and passes out on the bed.]

[34:35, Gaius sits by a campfire in the woods.]

==='''UTHER'S CHAMBERS '''===

[34:42] [Edwin leans over Uther's bed as Uther wakes from his drug induced sleep.]

EDWIN My Lord. My Lord. It seems the drugs I gave you have taken hold. Your body is now paralysed. Now, open your eyes, My Lord. I want my face to be the last face you ever see. You took my childhood from me. And now finally, I take my parents' revenge. Within a few hours, the beetle will eat into your brain. And you will suffer, as they suffered. And I long to hear you scream, as they screamed the night you gave the order for the fires to be lit. With your death, magic will return to Camelot. Bebeode þe arisan ealdu.

[The bug crawls into Uther's ear.]

EDWIN Goodbye, Uther Pendragon.

==='''ED​WIN'S GUEST QUARTERS '''===

[36:00] [Edwin enters.]

GAIUS I will not allow you to kill Uther.

EDWIN You've never had a problem letting people die before.

GAIUS Your parents were practising dark magic, just like you.

EDWIN And how do you propose to stop me?

GAIUS Wáce ierlic.

[Nothing happens.]

EDWIN Hmm. I think you meant: vaki ierlt.

[The spell throws Gaius against the wall.]

EDWIN Have you forgotten everything, Gaius? You're getting too old. I have a cure though. Forbærne yfel.

[The spell encircles Gaius in flames.]

===GRIFFIN STAIRCASE ===

[26:59] [Arthur runs in as Merlin descends the curved stairs.]

ARTHUR Merlin! My father has Morgana's illness! We must find Edwin!

==='''EDWIN'S GUEST CHAMBER '''===

[37:07] [Merlin bursts in.]

MERLIN What are you doing?

GAIUS He was trying to kill the King. I couldn't let him.

EDWIN I can rule the kingdom now. And with you at my side, we can be all-powerful.

MERLIN Release him!

EDWIN It's your loss, Merlin.

[Edwin's spell throws an axe at Merlin, but Merlin stops it.]

EDWIN Swilte, Merlin.

[Merlin's magic overpowers Edwin's. Merlin sends the axe to kill Edwin and the flames disappear.]

MERLIN Are you alright?

GAIUS Yes. Thank you Merlin.

[Merlin fetches the bug box.]

GAIUS What are you doing?

MERLIN Uther's ill; the same thing Morgana had. Edwin said he used these to cure Morgana. Maybe we can too.

GAIUS Elanthia beetles.

MERLIN They're magical?

GAIUS Yes. They can be enchanted to enter the brain, feed on it until they devour the person's very soul. We must going to him.

==='''UTHER'S CHAMBERS '''===

[38:52]

MERLIN How do we get the beetle out before it kills him?

GAIUS It can only be magic.

MERLIN We can't use magic on Uther, he'd kill us.

GAIUS We don't have a choice.

MERLIN Gaius!

GAIUS There are times when it is necessary. It is your right.

MERLIN I don't know how.

GAIUS If you don't, he's going to die.

[Merlin sits on the bed and places his hands over Uther's ears.]

MERLIN Bebeode þe arisan ealdu. Áblinnen.

GAIUS What's happening?

[Merlin pulls his hands back, holding the still bug in his hand.]

GAIUS Has anyone ever told you, you're a genius?

MERLIN You certainly haven't.

UTHER'S CHAMBERS
[40:41] [Gaius prepares a potion for Uther the next morning.]

GAIUS Drink this. It'll help regain your strength.

UTHER There's nothing wrong with my strength. Do you remember them? His parents?

GAIUS I remember them all, Sire.

UTHER Gaius. Once again, you saved my life. You've always served me well. And I know there are things that I've asked you to do, which you found difficult.

GAIUS You've always done what you believe to be right.

UTHER I was not right to betray you. I'm sorry. From now on I will remember that, in the fight against magic, you are the one person I can trust.

==='''COUNCIL CHAMBER '''===

[41:45] [Gaius stands before the royal court.]

UTHER I, my family, and my kingdom are deeply indebted to you. And in honour of this, I not only reinstate you as court physician, but henceforth, you are a free man of Camelot.

[Uther hands Gaius a roll of parchment and the court applauds.]

LOWER TOWN
[42:18]

GAIUS Of course, it's all ridiculous. I didn't save Uther, you did.

MERLIN No, no. For once, I'm happy for someone else to take the credit. You were prepared to sacrifice your life to save me.

GAIUS Where do you get that from?

MERLIN I thought...

GAIUS No. I didn't do anything. You saved me and you saved Uther. Maybe you are a genius.

MERLIN You think so?

GAIUS Well, almost. One day...