Transcript:The Poisoned Chalice



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.''

--

[0:12, NIMUEH'S CAVE]

NIMUEH [chants a spell]

''[Nimueh drops a flower petal into the water. She watches Merlin in the water. She pulls out the petal, now transparent, and puts it in a silver goblet]''

NIMUEH

Merlin.

OPENING CREDITS

--

[0:48, THRONE ROOM]

[Bayard and his men arrive in Camelot, they meet Uther and his men in the Throne Room]

UTHER

Camelot welcomes you, Lord Bayard of Mercia. The treaty we sign today marks an end to war and a beginning to a new friendship between our people.

''[Uther and Bayard grasp arms. Both parties applaud while Nimueh stares at Merlin]''

--

[2:10, UPPER CORRIDOR]

[Merlin passes Gaius in the Upper Corridor while carrying a heavy bag]

MERLIN

Why do I always get landed with the donkey work?

GAIUS

You're a servant, Merlin. It's what you do.

MERLIN

My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside.

GAIUS

It's character building. As the old proverb says, hard work breeds... a harder soul.

MERLIN [knowingly]

There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up.

GAIUS

No. I didn't.

[Nimueh fakes a fall right in front of Merlin]

NIMUEH

Sorry.

MERLIN

It's alright.

NIMUEH

Excuse me.

MERLIN

Let me give you a hand with that.

''[Merlin crouches down and catches Nimueh's eye. They stand up]''

MERLIN

Hi. I'm Merlin.

[He shakes her hand]

NIMUEH

Cara. You're Arthur's servant. That must be such an honour.

MERLIN

Oh, yeah. It is. Well, you know, someone's got to keep the place running.

NIMUEH

Thank you, Merlin.

MERLIN

Hmm?

[He looks down at the pillow he picked up for her]

MERLIN

Oh, right. Yeah. Er, no problem.

NIMUEH

It was nice meeting you.

[Merlin watches her leave]

GAIUS

Shouldn't you be busy running the place?

[Gaius laughs]

--

[3:08, BAYARD'S GUEST CHAMBERS​]

NIMUEH

Alysan duru ronne.

''[The door opens. Nimueh enters and opens a box with two silver goblets inside. She replaces one of them with an identical one that she enchanted at the beginning]''

--

[4:03, ARTHUR'S CHAMBERS] 

[Merlin sets down Arthur's clothes for the feast and reels backwards, covering his face]

MERLIN

When's the last time these were cleaned?

ARTHUR

Last year some time. Before the Feast of Beltane.

MERLIN

Did it end in a food fight?

ARTHUR

Don't all feasts?

MERLIN

I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me.

ARTHUR

Not after tonight they won't be.

MERLIN

I'm going to be at the banquet?

ARTHUR

Not quite. You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry. If I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches, I don't see why you should get out of it. Be sure to polish the buttons. Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?

MERLIN

Won't this do?

ARTHUR

No. Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot.

[Arthur holds them up for Merlin to see]

MERLIN

You can't be serious.

--

[5:12, HALL OF CEREMONIES]

'''

MORGANA

Okay. Let the bragging begin. How'd you manage it?

ARTHUR

I'm not sure. All I do know is I had help. Someone knew I was in trouble and sent a light to guide the way.

MORGANA

Who?

ARTHUR

I don't know. But whoever it was, I'm only here because of them.

MORGANA

I'm glad you're back.

[Morgana leaves]

UTHER

Arthur? The woman you met in the forest, what did she tell you?

ARTHUR

Not much. She was too busy trying to get me killed. It was strange, though.

UTHER

In what way?

ARTHUR

I was at her mercy. She could have finished me off, but she chose not to. She said it wasn't my destiny to die at her hand.

UTHER

You must've been scared.

ARTHUR

Had its moments.

UTHER

Those who practice magic know only evil. They despise and seek to destroy goodness wherever they find it. Which is why she wanted you dead. She is evil.

ARTHUR

Sounds as if you know her.

UTHER

I do. To know the heart of one sorcerer is to know them all. You did the right thing. Even though you were disobeying me. I'm proud of you, Arthur. Never forget that.

--

[41:50, PHYSICIAN'S CHAMBERS]

ARTHUR

Still alive, then?

MERLIN

Oh. Yeah, just about. I understand I have you to thank for that.

ARTHUR

Yeah, well, it was nothing. A half decent servant is hard to come by. I was only dropping by to make sure you're alright. I expect you to be back to work tomorrow.

MERLIN

Oh yeah, yeah of course, er, bright and early.

[Arthur turns to leave]

MERLIN

Arthur. Thank you.

ARTHUR

You too. Get some rest.

GAIUS

Arthur may give you a hard time, but at heart he's a man of honour. There aren't many who'd have risk what he did for a servant.

MERLIN

It all would've been for nothing if you didn't know how to make the antidote.

GAIUS

Eat your dinner.

MERLIN

I still don't understand why she went to all the trouble of framing Bayard. She could've just kept quiet and killed Arthur.

GAIUS

But destroying Arthur and Camelot wasn't all she was after. She knew you would be forced to drink that wine. It was you she wanted to kill. Seems someone else knows you're destined for great things, Merlin.

--

[43:18, NIMUEH'S CAVE]

[Nimueh watches Merlin in her stone basin, annoyed]