Merlin Season 3 Episode 1

Gaius: Sire, how many more men are you going to lose in this quest?
Uther: As many as it takes.
Gaius: I need to speak to you as a friend.
Uther: I have no time for friends.
Gaius: Then I'll speak to you as your physician. This is madness. She has been missing for more than a year now. When are you going to stop?
Uther: When Morgana is found.

Merlin: Ouch.
Arthur: Is there something wrong with you?
Merlin: Yeah, I've been on a horse all day.
Arthur: Is your little bottom sore?
Merlin: Yes. It's not as fat as yours.
Arthur: (Laughs) You know, you've got a lot of nerve... for a wimp.
Merlin: I may be a wimp, but at least I'm not a dollop-head.
Arthur: There's no such word.
Merlin: It's idiomatic.
Arthur: It's what?
Merlin: You need to be more in touch with the people.
Arthur: Describe dollop-head.
Merlin: In two words?
Arthur: Yeah.
Merlin: Erm... Prince Arthur.

Merlin: She knows I tried to poison her. She knows that.
Gaius: You had no choice. Camelot was dying. Morgana was the source of the enchantment. Either you poisoned her or the kingdom fell.
Merlin: Uther won't know that. All she'll say is I tried to kill her.
Gaius: We can't be sure, Merlin.
Merlin: What do you think Uther will do to me?
Gaius: Let's just wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Morgana: I was kept in a cell for almost a year. I thought I'd go mad.
Arthur: How did you escape?
Morgana: They moved me about a week ago. I don't know why. It may have been the patrol from Camelot.
Arthur: The patrol found you?
Morgana: (Nods) I thought I was going to be free. But then I saw them killed. Every one of them cut down. But that night the bandits were distracted by their spoils. I took my chance. When I saw you, I couldn't believe it.

Morgana: I know what you did. You tried to poison me.
Merlin: I... I didn't want to.
Morgana: It's all right, Merlin. I understand. You were just trying to protect your friends. I would've done the same.
Merlin: Really?
Morgana: I was so naive, Merlin. I don't think I really understood what I was doing. But, believe me, I have seen the evils in this world. I have seen first-hand what it is that Uther fights against. You don't know how much I regret everything that I've done. I just... hope that you can forgive me.
Merlin: I am so sorry for everything you've been through. It's good to have you back.

Merlin: Do you have to go in there right now?
Arthur: Why?
Merlin: I just washed the floor.
Arthur: Don't worry. I won't slip over.
Merlin: You really have no idea, do you?
Arthur: All you have to do is wipe it.
Merlin: How would you know?
Arthur: I beg your pardon, Merlin.
Merlin: It's just you've never had to do it.
Arthur: Oh, I know how to use a cloth and bucket.
Merlin: (Chuckles) Oh, yeah.
Arthur: It's easy. Here. Let me show you. Hmm? (Dips the cloth in water and wipes Merlin's face with it as he hums to himself) Would you like me to show you
how to use the bucket?
Merlin: No.
(Arthur empties the bucket on Merlin's head)

Uther: You should sit.
Morgana: No, no. That's all I've done for the past year, sit... and pray that you hadn't given up on me.
Uther: Oh, never.
Morgana: I don't know why. I wouldn't blame you. You've done more for me than any guardian. You've always cared for me, loved me like I was your own daughter. And yet I've insulted you, defied you, hurt you. I don't know why you put up with me. (Uther laughs and caresses her cheek) And I promise that in the future I will show you the love and respect that you deserve.

Morgause: My sister. How have you fared?
Morgana: Camelot has welcomed back its daughter with open arms.
Morgause: Uther does not suspect?
Morgana: He laps up my lies like the snivelling dog he is.
Morgause: And the boy?
Morgana: Merlin. He believes I've changed. And he's right. Soon he will see exactly how much (She gives Morgause the handkerchief impregnated with Uther's tears)
Morgause: You've done well. The tears of Uther Pendragon have only begun to fall (She dromps the handkerchief into a cauldron)

Morgause: The mandrake root is very special. Only those with magic can hear its cries. But for those without magic, the mandrake pierces the very recesses of the soul, twisting the unconscious into the very image of fear and dread. Uther Pendragon will find that his great kingdom counts for nothing when he has lost his mind.

(Arthur fights his men blindfolded)
Arthur: What do you think?
Merlin: I've seen better.
Arthur: Of course. Well, you are the expert at fighting with your eyes closed.
Merlin: You didn't see what I did when we rescued Morgana.
Arthur: Because you were hiding behind a tree.
Merlin: No, I was not.

Uther: Standing here, seeing so many happy faces, it seems almost like a dream. I can tell you I have not felt like this in a long time.
Arthur: What, drunk?
(Crowd laughs)
Uther: Drunk with happiness (He hits Arthur playfully). I would've searched the entire world: the seas, the skies, the stars... for that smile (Morgana smiles) To have it stolen from me was like a blade to my heart. Morgana, there are no words. You mean more to me than you will ever know. To the Lady Morgana!
(They hug, Morgana showing disgust)

Arthur: What could've made him like this?
Gaius: I've no idea.
Arthur: Gaius, he was lying on the ground crying.
Gaius: Exhaustion.
Arthur: Gaius. What aren't you telling me? What's wrong with him? Tell me.
Gaius: When I found him, he was mumbling. Most of it was incoherent but...
Arthur: What?
Gaius: He kept mentioning your mother's name.
Arthur: He never talks about her.
Gaius: He claimed that he saw her. In the well.

Morgana: Soon all of Camelot will believe that their king is going mad.
Morgause: And a kingdom without a king is ripe for the picking.

Morgana: When do you go to Cenred?
Morgause: Tomorrow.
Morgana: And he will do as we wish?
Morgause: Cenred wishes only to please me.
Morgana: Then your time with him has been well spent.

Gwen: I saw the light. I wanted to make sure you were all right.
Morgana: I'm fine.
Gwen: You're still dressed.
Morgana: I'll prepare myself for bed.
Gwen: Are you sure?
Morgana: That will be all, Gwen.

Morgause: If you will not leave your castle then I must come to you.
Cenred: I see that you've lost none of your audacity.
Morgause: I wish I could say the same. But I find the great King Cenred cowering in his chambers when he should have met me at the border. Perhaps he has lost his nerve. Perhaps he is a coward.
(One of Cenred's men attemps to attack Morgause but she throws him up in the air using magic. Cenred orders his men to stop)
Cenred: You are very beautiful when you're angry.
Morgause: Is that why you continue to defy me?
Cenred: You wouldn't like it if I made it easy for you.
(Both laugh)

Morgause: You know me well.
Cenred: Extremely well. And yet somehow we're still close.
Morgause: I've come to talk to you about our old friend. Uther Pendragon.
Cenred: Yes, I've heard the sad news. He's finally lost his mind.
Morgause: Camelot is weak, weaker than it's been for years. The kingdom is vulnerable, just as I promised.
Cenred: Yet it doesn't change the fact that the citadel is still impregnable.
Morgause: So, even without his wits, Uther is too strong for you.
Cenred: You're a woman of great courage, Morgause, but I don't think with my sword. An assault on Camelot cannot be undertaken lightly.
Morgause: You forget, we have an ally in the court.

(After Uther has the vision of the sodden boy)
Gaius: During the Great Purge, Uther drowned many he suspected of sorcery. And some, God help them, were children killed for the magic they were born with. Maybe his conscience is playing tricks with him. Whatever it is, we can no longer hide this. A king's hold on his people's a very fragile thing, Merlin. If they start to lose faith in him, I fear for Camelot.

(After Arthur is informed about the attack on a Camelot guard)
Arthur: Who could've done this?
Gaius: (Showing him a dagger) That is the sigil of the Bloodguard.
Arthur: The Bloodguard?
Gaius: Warrior Priests sworn to protect the High Priestesses of the Old Religion.
Arthur: Surely they were wiped out during the Great Purge?
Gaius: Not all of them.
Arthur: So, you believe there's a traitor in Camelot?
Gaius: It is possible, Sire.

(Merlin notices the guard that Morgana has poisoned is dead)
Merlin: You said he was recovering.
Gaius: I thought he was.
Merlin: Then what happened? You don't think it's strange?
Gaius: Very.

Morgause: Cenred's army ride for Camelot on my command.
Morgana: There is nothing you cannot do.
Morgause: It is you that gives me strength, sister. How goes the battle for Uther's mind?
Morgana: When Cenred marches on Camelot, he will find a kingdom without a leader.

Morgana: Merlin suspects me.
Morgause: Has he told Arthur?
Morgana: Not yet, but he will.
Morgause: Then we must stop him.
Morgana: That will not be difficult.
Morgause: Why?
Morgana: Because he's already here! (Merlin shows himself) Did you really I was that stupid, Merlin? (Merlin runs for his life)

Gaius: It can't be easy to see your father this way.
Arthur: No. He's always been so strong. He lifted this kingdom from its knees, Gaius. To see him now...
Gaius: I'm sure that, over time, he will recover. But until then, we have to make plans, Arthur. We need you to assume control.
Arthur: That's ridiculous.
Gaius: Camelot needs a leader. It falls to you. You must fulfil your role as Regent. This is not just me talking. Members of the court have spoken.
Arthur: So now you've taken to whispering behind my back? What kind of treason is this?
Gaius: It is for the good of the kingdom.
Arthur: I'm not going to usurp my father.
Gaius: The palace is awash with rumours. The people are restless.
Arthur: I swore allegiance to my king, and as long as there is breath in his body it is my duty to uphold that.
Gaius: Arthur, please...
Arhtur: You are giving up on my father. That is something I will never do.

Morgause: You intrigue me, Merlin. Why does a lowly servant continue to risk everything for Arthur and for Camelot? You know the answer, but you're not telling me. Why? Come on, time and again you put your life on the line. There must be a reason.
Merlin: I believe in a fair and just land.
Morgause: And you think Arthur will give you that?
Merlin: I know it.
Morgause: And then what? You think you'll be recognised, Merlin? Is that it? All this so one day you can be a serving boy to the king. No, there's something more. Something you're not telling me, isn't there?
Merlin: I've told you.
Morgause: Well, you can take your secret to your grave (Casts a spells to turn the chains that kept Merlin prisoner magical) You chose to poison one of my own. You may regret that.

Gaius: Have you seen Merlin?
Gwen: Not since yesterday.
Morgana: Is there a problem?
Gaius: I'm not sure.
Morgana: What is it?
Gaius: Merlin didn't come home last night.
Morgana: That's not like him.
Gaius: No.
(She smirks after Gaius leaves and she is not seen).