Countryside Merlin and Arthur are galloping. They reach the top of a hill overlooking a small village.
Arthur: You know what you need after a hard day's hunt?
Merlin: Sleep?
Arthur: A nice cold tankard of mead.
Merlin: (muttering) Mead. They arrive in the village, dismount and tie their horses up.
Arthur: No better place to measure the mood of your people than the local tavern.
Merlin: This is one of those moments where I tell you that something isn't a good idea and you ignore me, isn't it?
Arthur: You're learning, Merlin. Slowly, but you're learning. Now remember, in here you're not my servant. I'm just a simple peasant as everyone else. They are walking in the direction of the tavern.
Merlin: The simple's part right.
Arthur: What?
Merlin: I said the sun is very bright.
Arthur: Yeah, yeah it is.
[SCENE_BREAK]
The tavern The place is packed and noisy. Arthur and Merlin sit at a table. The innkeeper, a plump woman, arrives to take the orders.
Innkeeper: Afternoon. What'll it be? Oh, you're a handsome fellow!
Arthur: (swelling with conceit) Well, you wouldn't be the first to say it
Innkeeper: Oh, no sorry, I was talking about your friend here.
Arthur: Him?
Merlin: Thank you.
Arthur: (looking pretty upset) Two tankards of meat, please.
Merlin: I was wrong. Coming here was a great idea. The door opens and a scary man comes in. Chatters stop. He walks through the tavern. Everybody is staring at him.
Dagr: Afternoon, Mary. Business looks good.
Mary: We have our better days.
Dagr: I don't suppose you'll begrudge me my share then. Mary throws a couple of coins on the bar. He counts the coins.
Dagr: And the rest?
Mary: That's all we've got. The bandit grabs Mary and threats her with a dagger.
Dagr: I'll not ask again.
Arthur: Take your hands off her. The bandit tries to hit Arthur who avoids him, and pushes him into a shelf. They stare at each other.
Dagr: I'm going to make you pay for that.
Merlin: (laughing) I'd like to see you try. The bandit whistles and a group of scary men come into the tavern.
Arthur: You had to open your big mouth, didn't you, Merlin? A young man stands up.
Young Man: You two have got yourselves in a bit of a pickle, haven't you?
Arthur: You should get out of here while you have the chance. The young man is drinking a tankard.
Young man: You're probably right. The young man holds the tankard to the bandit, smiles and punches him on the nose. It's the beginning of the brawl.
Merlin: ARTHUR!
Arthur: Merlin! Behind you! Merlin ducks to avoid a flying chair. Two big men are threatening Merlin.
Merlin casts a spell: Aetslide bencpe. A bench flies and knocks them out. Merlin goes behind the bar. Mary and Merlin are crushing jugs on bandits. Merlin uses magic to throw a stack of plates on a bandit. The young man is fighting close to the bar.
Young man: Pass the jug. He starts drinking. A bandit tries to hit him. He ducks and punches the bandit.
Young man: What do they call you then?
Merlin: Merlin. They shake hands.
Young man: Gwaine. Pleasure to meet you. He turns and breaks the jug on a bandit's head.
Gwaine: Such a waste. The brawl goes on. Arthur is fighting against the chief of the bandits. The man takes his dagger and is about to stab Arthur. Gwaine throw himself in front of the bandit, saving Arthur. The bandit is knocked out and Gwaine is stabbed in the leg. He tries to get up, but he falls and knocks himself on a bench. He lies on the ground unconscious. Merlin comes to examine him.
Arthur: How is he? Merlin starts bandages Gwaine's leg.
Merlin: Not good. He's losing a lot of blood...
[SCENE_BREAK]
Outside the tavern The bandit is at the stocks, people are throwing rotten vegetables to him. Gwaine, still unconscious, is lying on Arthur's horse.
Arthur: If this man ever troubles you again, word is to be sent to Camelot. Soldiers will be here within a day.
Mary: How can you make a promise like that?
Arthur: Because I'm the King's son. Prince Arthur.
Mary: Prince Arthur! Prince Arthur in my tavern! Arthur and Merlin are leaving the village.
Mary: Come on! The villagers throw more rotten vegetables at the bandit in stocks --- Opening Credits --- Merlin s chamber Arthur and Merlin are carrying Gwaine onto Merlin's bed. Gaius takes a look at the wound.
Gaius: Merlin, fetch me some fresh water, towels, needle and a silk thread.
Merlin: And honey?
Gaius: You're learning. It helps fight the infection.
Arthur: But he'll be all right?
Gaius: Providing he's strong.
Arthur: He's that, all right. The man saved my life, Gaius. He's to be given anything he needs. Arthur leaves the room.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Merlin's chamber, the next morning Gwaine is waking up. Merlin comes into the room, carrying a tray with food.
Gwaine: What am I doing in this bed?
Merlin: You were wounded. Arthur wanted to make sure that you were treated by his physician.
Gwaine: Arthur?
Merlin: Prince Arthur. You saved his life.
Gwaine: If I had known who he was... I probably wouldn't have. He's a noble.
Merlin: Yeah, but he's a good man.
Gwaine: (snorting) if you say so.
Merlin: Well, you're a hero. The King wants to thank you in person. Gwaine almost spits what he is drinking.
Gwaine: Please, no. I've met a few kings... Once you've met one, you've met them all.
Merlin: He'll probably give you an award.
Gwaine: I'm not interested. Besides, I've got everything I need right here.
Merlin: Why did you help us?
Gwaine: Your chances looked between slim and none. I guess I just kind of liked the look of those odds.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Arthur's chamber Merlin is opening the curtains.
Arthur: How's Gwaine?
Merlin: Recovering... Merlin looks out of the window. Knights are arriving in the courtyard.
Merlin: Who's that? Arthur goes to the window and has a look.
Arthur: Ah, Sir Derian! He's here for the melee.
Merlin: Oh, yeah the tournaments where the knights ride around hitting each other with blunt weapons for no good reason.
Arthur: A little more to it than that...
Merlin: Really? All I've ever seen is people getting the seven bells knocked out of them, so the last man standing can be called the winner.
Arthur: (patronizing) the melee is the ultimate test of strength and courage.
Merlin: Are you sure we are talking about the same thing?
Arthur: Well I wouldn't expect you to understand. You're not a knight.
Merlin: Well, if it means I don't get clobbered round the head, I'm glad of it.
Arthur: Well, I'm afraid it doesn't. Arthur throws a cup at the back of Merlin's head.
Merlin: Ouch!
Arthur: I need that lot cleaned by noon. Merlin rubs his neck and leaves the room.
[SCENE_BREAK]
A village, in the house of an old sorcerer, Cylferth
Cylferth: The Stulorne blades, just as you requested. The two bandits inspect the swords.
Ebor: They're blunt.
Dagr: That in only how they appear. Dagr cuts Ebor's shirt with the sword. They both laugh loudly.
Cylferth: Why should you want such a weapon?
Dagr: That's none of your business old man. You have the crystals?
Cylferth: Money first. Dagr gives the old man a purse. He comes back with a casket, containing crystals. Dagr wants to take them.
Cylferth: Not yet! He casts a spell on the crystals.
Cylferth: (chanting) Pecce treowan andwlitan heora fram gesihoe eallra. The crystals start shining. The old man gives Dagr the casket.
Cylferth: The wearer of these crystals will be able to take on the form of whoever's blood they touch.
Dagr: Thank you.
Cylferth: Thank you. He starts counting the coins from the purse when Chief stabs him in the back.
Ebor: Now what?
Dagr: Now, Ebor, we can take our revenge on Prince Arthur of Camelot. They both burst out laughing and they leave the house.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Merlin's room Gwaine is putting on his boots. Church bells chime. He goes to the window, opens it and looks down at Camelot.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Street of Camelot Gwaine is walking, he notices Gwen. He snatches a flower and catches Gwen to give her the flower.
Gwaine: I believe this belongs to you.
Gwen: I don't think so. It's not my colour.
Gwaine: Well, let us see. Gwaine puts the flower in Gwen's hair.
Gwen: I bet you've got a whole bunch of those to hand out.
Gwaine: Yours is the only one. Gwen smiles and tries to leave.
Gwaine: I'm Gwaine. Gwaine takes out his hand, they shake hands, but Gwaine does not let Gwen go.
Gwaine: You haven't told me your name. He keeps holding Gwen's hand.
Gwaine: You look like a princess to me. So it's probably something like Sophia or Esmeralda! That's it! Princess Esmeralda! Gwaine bows to Gwen.
Gwen: Stop it, people are staring.
Gwaine: Not until you tell me your name.
Gwen: It's Gwen.
Gwaine: There, that wasn't so hard, now was it? Gwen tries to move past him. He tries to take a basket.
Gwaine: A princess should not have to lump her washing around.
Gwen: Unfortunately, I'm not a princess.
Gwaine: Ah, but you see, you are to me. She giggles.
Gwaine: This is not working is it?
Gwen: No, not really. But I like that you tried and that you know when to give up. She takes the flower out of her hair.
Gwen: You'd better have this in case someone else takes your fancy.
Gwaine: I've eyes only for you.
Gwen: I'm sure. Gwen goes finally goes her way, Gwaine chuckles and goes his way.
[SCENE_BREAK]
In the woods Dagr and Ebor are spying on two knights who are camping.
Sir Ethan: How much further would you say it is from Camelot?
Sir Oswald: Half a day's ride. The journey is almost over.
Dagr: It is for you. Crackle of branches
Sir Ethan: Oswald! Dagr stabs Oswald. He starts fighting against Ethan. Ethan is stabbed in the back by Ebor. A servant runs out of one of the tents. Ebor sees him.
Ebor: Dagr! Dagr throws a dagger to the servant and kills him. The two bandits giggle.
Dagr: The crystals. Ebor hands him the casket. Dagr takes one of the crystal necklaces and wipes the blood of his sword on it. The crystal shines. Then he put on the necklace. Oswald is still lying dead on the ground. Another Oswald is standing by him. He's touching his face.
Ebor: You look good, Dagr.
Dagr/Oswald: Sir Oswald! Ebor bows to him.
Ebor: Sorry, sir.
Dagr/Oswald: That's all right. Dagr takes the second necklace.
Dagr/Oswald: Your turn. Then we can take our rightful place in the melee. Dagr/Oswald and Ebor/Ethan are riding to Camelot.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Castle courtyard Arthur, followed by Merlin, walks down the steps to welcome the two knights.
Arthur: Sir Oswald! The knights dismount.
Arthur: I didn't think you'd be brave enough to show up.
Dagr/Oswald: And miss the chance of putting you on your backside? They hug.
Arthur: You've never managed it before.
Dagr/Oswald: That was then. This is now. Arthur punches him and turns to the other knight who introduces himself.
Ebor/Ethan: Sir Ethan
Arthur: This is my servant, Merlin. He loves hard work, so anything you need, just give him a call.
Dagr/Oswald: Believe me, I will.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Guests 'chamber
Dagr/Oswald: MERLIN! Merlin opens the door, carrying a huge trunk with difficulty.
Merlin: Here it is! D/O smirks.
Dagr/Oswald: What took you so long?
Merlin: It weighs a ton...Stairs... Seven flights...
Ebor/Ethan: That's very kind of you. Merlin is rubbing his arm and about to leave the room.
Dagr/Oswald: But you can't leave it there.
Merlin: I can't?
Dagr/Oswald: It's in the way.
Merlin: Ok. Where do you want it?
Ebor/Ethan: Over there, by the bed. Merlin takes the trunk and carries it by the bed.
Dagr/Oswald: Oh, no. The other side. Merlin drags the trunk on the other side of the bed.
Ebor/Ethan: It's going to get in my way there.
Merlin: Where do you want it?
Dagr/Oswald: On the top of the wardrobe.
Merlin: On the TOP?
Ebor/Ethan: You're absolutely right, Oswald. That's exactly where it should be. Merlin painfully puts the trunk on the top of the wardrobe, Dagr/Oswald opens the lock with his sword and everything falls out.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Gaius's chamber Merlin is slurping the soup almost without breathing.
Gaius: It's very hard to work out whether you're eating or inhaling that soup.
Merlin: I haven't had anything all day. Sir Oswald had me at his beck and call.
Gaius: How is he?
Merlin: Awful. He treats me like dirt.
Gaius: That doesn't sound like the young man I knew. He always struck me as a rather kind and thoughtful soul.
Merlin: Then he must've changed.
Gaius: You must remember that not all masters are good to theirs servants as Arthur. Merlin spits green soup he was eating at Gaius's face.
Gaius: Thank you, Merlin.
Merlin: Sorry. The door opens and Gwen peeks in.
Gwen: Merlin, I think you need to come with me.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Camelot tavern Gwen and Merlin are staring at a note. Close to them, the innkeeper looks rather cross.
Merlin: You drank all this?
Gwaine: With some help from my new friends.
People in the tavern cheer: Yeah!
Innkeeper: He says that he hasn't got any money... so it looks like you'll have to pay. The innkeeper grabs Merlin and lifts him from the floor.
Merlin: I can't afford this.
Innkeeper: Better find someone who can. Gwaine starts laughing and falls on the ground.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Merlin's chamber Merlin helps a staggering Gwaine into his room.
Gwaine: You're the best friend I've ever had.
Merlin: You seem to have quite a few. They both laugh.
Gwaine: I'd love to see Arthur's face when he gets that bill.
Merlin: Right. What is it with you and nobles?
Gwaine: Nothing. My father was a knight in Caerleon's army. He died in a battle, leaving my mother penniless. When she went to the king for help, he turned her away.
Merlin: You didn't know him?
Gwaine: Just some stories that I've been told.
Merlin: I know how that feels. I met my father just briefly before he died.
Gwaine: Why?
Merlin: He was banished.
Gwaine: What had he done?
Merlin: Nothing... He served the king.
Gwaine: But the king turned against him. That doesn't surprise me.
Merlin: Arthur's not like that.
Gwaine: Maybe, but none of them are worth dying for, huh! Gwaine laughs, hits his head on the wall and goes on laughing.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Arthur's chamber, the next morning Merlin enters carrying a tray with food.
Merlin: Sorry, I know I'm late.
Arthur: Not at all.
Merlin: Um, good...
Arthur: Are you sure you're all right? You're not sick? Unsteady, about to burst into a song.
Merlin: No. Why? Arthur takes a note and start reading.
Arthur: 14 quarts of mead, 3 flagons of wine, 5 quarts of cider.
Merlin: I can explain.
Arthur: 4 dozen pickled eggs!
Merlin: That was Gwaine. He went to the tavern and... he couldn't pay for it.
Arthur: So you said I would?
Merlin: Mmm, if I hadn't, that innkeeper he would have strung us both up.
Arthur: I fail to see the downside.
Merlin: You said he should be given anything he needs.
Arthur: FOUR DOZEN PICKLE DEGGS!
Merlin: I'm sorry. I'll pay for it.
Arthur: You most certainly will...
[SCENE_BREAK]
Throne hall
Gwaine: Arthur's a thoroughbred little braggart. Gwaine and Merlin are polishing boots.
Merlin: Why?
Gwaine: Making us to this.
Merlin: I think it's fair.
Gwaine: For the entire army! Gwaine points at dozen of boots waiting to be polished.
Merlin: If you admitted your father was a knight you wouldn't have to...
Gwaine: Maybe, but I'm not making the same mistakes he did. Anyway, my father always treated his servants well.
Merlin: You didn't know him!
Gwaine: Well, I like to think that he did. What about yours?
Merlin: No. He didn't have any servants. He didn't have anyone...
Gwaine: When did he die?
Merlin: About a year ago... I'd just wish I had the chance to know him better. There's so much he could've taught me.
Gwaine: But you did get to meet him.
Merlin: Yeah.
Gwaine: If there's one thing that I learnt from my father's life, it's that titles don't mean anything. It's what's inside that count. Gwaine slaps Merlin's knee with a brush.
Merlin: Ow!
[SCENE_BREAK]
Outside the castle Arthur is practicing; he is attacking a dummy dressed as a knight.
Dagr/Oswald: You look like you need a bit of practice.
Arthur: Ah? Do you think so?
Dagr/Oswald: I know so. Dagr/Oswald gestures to Merlin to get a sword. Arthur and D/O start fighting.
Arthur (bragging): You're rusty. You're not as quick as you used to be.
Dagr/Oswald: Still quick enough to hit you.
Arthur: I thought you were left-handed.
Dagr/Oswald: Yes I am. I... just wanted to give you a chance. Dagr/Oswald changes hand to hold his sword.
Dagr/Oswald: How about we make this more interesting? 50 gold coins first clean hit.
Arthur: Make it a hundred. Arthur manages to pin his arm, Dagr/Oswald cannot fight any more.
Arthur: You can keep your money. Arthur, satisfied, leaves the field.
Ebor/Ethan: Don't worry, in the melee there'll be two of us.
Dagr/Oswald: With the Stulorne blade, I'll fillet the little brat. Merlin seems to have overhead the conversation. Dagr/Oswald spits.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Guests 'chamber Merlin is bringing pieces of armour in the room. The he starts removing dirty plates from the table. He discovers 2 swords. He tries to examine the blades and he gets cut by one of them. Dagr/Oswald and Ebor/Ethan enters the room.
Dagr/Oswald: What're you doing with that, boy?
Merlin: I was just tidying...
Dagr/Oswald: Keep away from things that don't concern you. Merlin takes the dirty plates and leaves the room.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Gaius's chamber Gaius is bandaging Merlin's finger.
Merlin: To the eye the sword appeared blunt, but when I touched it...
Gwaine: You were lucky... I've seen those blades in action. They are forged using sorcery.
Gaius: But what would they want with such a blade?
Merlin: I think they mean to kill Arthur in the melee.
Gaius: But in front of all those people?
Gwaine: It's the perfect cover. If they succeed, nobody will suspect it was intentional.
Merlin: I need to warn Arthur.
Gaius: Merlin, Sir Oswald is a knight; he comes from a well-respected family. You can't accuse him without a proof.
Merlin: Then we need that blade...
Gwaine: I'll get it.
Merlin: What if they catch you? What reason would you have to be in Sir Oswald's chambers? No, it's safer if I do it.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Guests' chamber Oswald is asleep. Merlin sneaks into the room and opens a big trunk, where he finds the blade. Then he notices the crystal, shining on Dagr/Oswald's chest. He walks toward him and sees Dagr's face in the crystal. Dagr wakes up and grabs Merlin by the hand.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Gaius's chamber
Gwaine: Merlin should be back by now.
Gaius: I know.
Gwaine: I'm going to see what's going on. Gwaine leaves the room.
Gaius: Gwaine...
[SCENE_BREAK]
Guest's chamber Merlin is standing against the wall a dagger is thrown just above his head.
Merlin: I was just rearranging the bedclothes. That's all. Dagr/Oswald throws another dagger.
Dagr/Oswald: You hear that, Sir Ethan. He was just rearranging the bedclothes. Dagr/Oswald throws a third dagger.
Ebor/Ethan: My mistake he's not the snivelling thief I thought he was. Dagr/Oswald tries to attack Merlin with a sword. Merlin ducks.
Merlin: I thought you might be cold.
Dagr/Oswald: Of course you did. Merlin ducks again as Dagr/Oswald is trying to hit him again with his sword.
Gwaine: Is there a problem here?
Dagr/Oswald: No. Now leave.
Gwaine: You all right, Merlin?
Merlin nods and mouths: No.
Dagr/Oswald: I thought I told you to leave.
Gwaine: I wasn't talking to you.
Ebor/Ethan: How dare you speak to a knight like that? Ebor/Ethan attacks Gwaine. Gwaine disarms him and catches his sword. Dagr/Oswald attacks Gwaine.
Merlin: Careful!
Gwaine: Don't worry I can handle this thug. They start fighting. Ebor/Ethan attacks Gwaine from behind, hits Ebor/Ethan in the face and knocks him down. Dagr/Oswald attacks Gwaine again.
Merlin: Watch out! Gwaine disarms Dagr/Oswald. Sir Leon comes into the room.
Sir Leon: What's going on? Gwaine looks at Sir Leon and Dagr/Oswald knocks him down.
Dagr/Oswald: This man attacked me. I demand an audience with the King.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Merlin and Gaius are walking in a corridor.
Merlin: It's not Sir Oswald, it's the thug from the tavern, Dagr...He's using a magical crystal to change his appearance...
[SCENE_BREAK]
Throne Hall Two guards are dragging Gwaine into the hall. His hands are chained.
Dagr/Oswald: Sire, this man attacked me with a sword. He tried to kill me. Gwaine is kneeling on the floor.
Uther: Is this true?
Gwaine: I stepped in to protect Merlin.
Dagr/Oswald: I tried to talk to him. He was like a man possessed. I'm sure that Sir Ethan will back me up.
Ebor/Ethan: Indeed. I can vouch for his every word.
Gwaine: He's a liar!
Uther: I will have your tongue; how dare you speak to a knight in that way!
Gwaine: Nobility is defined by what you do, not by who you are. These men are anything but. They are arrogant thugs!
Arthur: Gwaine!
Dagr/Oswald: You see, Sire, how he behaves.
Uther: I have heard enough! For a commoner to attack a nobleman is in violation of the knight's code.
Dagr/Oswald: I couldn't agree with you more, Sire. He must be an example of.
Arthur: Sir Oswald, please...
Dagr/Oswald: Nothing less than his execution will give me satisfaction.
Arthur: Father, I understand how this must look. It's an embarrassing situation. Sir Oswald is a dear friend and our guest here in Camelot. But Gwaine is my guest here too. He may not be of noble birth, but I can vouch that he has a noble heart.
Uther: How can you say that when you see the way he behaves?
Arthur: Gwaine risked his life to save mine. I beg you, please. If a knight's word is his bond, then I give you may word. Gwaine is a good man, he deserves clemency.
Uther: You are banished from Camelot. If you ever return, you will pay for it with your life. You have until dawn to leave the city.
[SCENE_BREAK]
In a corridor
Ebor/Ethan: That servant boy, he's on us.
Dagr/Oswald: What's he going to do? We are knights, remember... You've seen what happened when a commoner accuses à knight.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Gaius's chamber Gwaine is packing.
Merlin: I'm sorry.
Gwaine: Don't be. I never stay in one place very long. People get sick of me too quickly.
Merlin: I didn't...
Gwaine: After the trouble I caused?
Merlin: You livened this place up.
Gwaine: Make sure you look after Arthur. He's in danger.
Merlin: I thought you hated nobles?
Gwaine: Yeah, well, maybe that one's worth dying for, eh? Gwaine leaves the room.
[SCENE_BREAK]
In the corridor
Gwen: I heard what happened.
Gwaine: Yeah... well there you go.
Gwen: You did a brave thing.
Gwaine: Hell of a lot of good that did me.
Gwen: I know Arthur. He is not like Uther. You saved his life. I'm sure one day he'll repay you...
Gwaine: He tried to speak up for me.
Gwen: Arthur's fair. He's loyal. He will be a great king. I know he will.
Gwaine: Clearly... If he makes everyone feeling the way you do. At least now I know why you turned me down.
Gwen: It's not just me that says that.
Gwaine: No, I'm sure it isn't. Let's hope he lives that long.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Gaius's chamber
Merlin: I don't know what we do.
Gaius: I could try to persuade Arthur to withdraw from the contest...
Merlin: He won't, I know Arthur. I'll have to somehow... use my powers to defend him.
Gaius: With the King and half of Camelot watching?
Merlin: I don't have a choice.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Arthur's chamber Merlin is preparing Arthur's coat of mail. Uther comes in.
Uther: Ah. I trust you're ready for the challenge.
Arthur: Yes Father.
Uther: I came to bring you this. I won my first melee with this blade. The edge has been dulled, it's perfectly safe. All of Camelot is eager for a victory today, Arthur. And I know you won't let me down. Uther leaves the room, Arthur is examining the blade.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Gwen looks worriedly out of the window at the people walking to the tournament grounds. People are gathering on the tournament ground, trumpets are playing.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Tournament tent
Ebor/Ethan: Prince Arthur isn't going to know what's hit him.
Dagr/Oswald: Oh, I hope he does. If it's over too quickly, that'll be no fun at all.
Dagr/ Oswald: Ready?
Ebor/Ethan: Absolutely.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Arthur's chamber
Merlin: You know those moments when I tell you that something isn't a good idea...
Arthur: Yeah. And then I ignore you.
Merlin: And then I'm proved right.
Arthur: Merlin your concern for my wellbeing is touching.
Merlin: I'm serious, I think you should withdraw.
Arthur: Look, I know you think the melee is some kind of stupid game. But it's more than that. It's about proving to the people that I'm fit to lead them.
Merlin: I know. Just be careful.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Tournament field The crowd is cheering; Uther arrives, ready to watch the tournament. Everybody sit. Merlin and Gaius are in crowd, they look deeply concerned. The knights on their horses are ready. Uther gives the signal and the melee starts. The fight is violent, there are less and less knights remaining on the field. Merlin notices that a knight is heading toward Arthur, waving his sword.
Merlin: He's heading straight for Arthur. Arthur ducks and the knight is thrown. The fight goes on.
Merlin: Arthur's in trouble. Arthur is grabbed by a knight and thrown on the ground. He is about to get stabbed. He avoids the sword and starts fighting with this man. Another knight, still riding his horse, is about to attack Arthur.
Gaius: You have to do something otherwise, Arthur will die! Merlin casts a spell and the girth of the saddle breaks. The knight is thrown. But he gets up and joins the fight.
Merlin: It's two against one. A knight who was lying on the ground gets up and joins the melee, fighting back to back with Arthur.
Merlin: Who's that helping Arthur.
Gaius: I don't know, but I think we should be thankful he is. The new knight manages to disarm his adversary and catches his sword, a Stalorne blade.
Merlin: There is only one person I know who can do that... The knight stabs his adversary with the Stalorne blade. The crowd gasps. The other knight knocks Arthur down and his about to kill him. Arthur's ally comes to rescue and stabs him, using the magical sword again. The crowd gasps, Uther and Morgana look shaken. Arthur and his mysterious ally are exhausted, out of breath.
Arthur: You know they expect us to fight to the end now? Arthur removes his helmet.
Arthur: You fought bravely, the field is yours. The knight sticks his sword in the ground and lifts his helmet, it's Gwaine. Arthur smiles.
Arthur: I should have known. Nobody fights like you do. Uther looks furious.
Uther: Guards! Seize him!
[SCENE_BREAK]
In a tournament tent Gaius is examining the bodies of the two deceased knights. Uther comes in.
Uther: Is there nothing you can do for them?
Gaius: I'm sorry it's too late for that. Arthur comes in, his arm is bleeding.
Uther: The prisoner is responsible for their deaths. I want him executed immediately.
Gaius: You might want to wait before you pass judgment... I fear that Sir Ethan and Sir Oswald are not all what they seem. Gaius tears the necklaces off the bodies. He then takes the helmets off to reveal the faces of Dagr and Ebor.
Uther: Sorcery!
Arthur: Then, once again, I owe Gwaine my life. Uther looks pretty upset.
[SCENE_BREAK]
In a corridor Gwaine is pacing up and down while Merlin is standing against the wall.
Arthur: The king is prepared to overlook the fact that you fought in the melee.
Merlin: That's fantastic!
Gwaine: Thank you Arthur...
Arthur: But... he's a stubborn man. He will not rescind his judgment. You must leave Camelot.
Merlin: You've got to speak to him, Arthur. Make him change his mind.
Gwaine: Merlin.
Arthur: I'm sorry Gwaine. My father's wrong. If it were up to me...
Gwaine: I know... you don't need to explain yourself.
Arthur: You have until sunset.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Gaius's chamber
Merlin: Where will you go?
Gwaine: I was thinking Mercia.
Merlin: It's dangerous.
Gwaine: Yeah, and you get a lot of more ale for your money. I'm joking.
Merlin: Why don't you tell the King who you really are? He'd grant you a pardon. You could stay in Camelot...
Gwaine: I could never serve under a man like Uther.
Merlin: And yet you helped Arthur.
Gwaine: He stood up for me.
Merlin: I knew he would.
Gwaine: That showed he is indeed a noble man.
Merlin: Then why don't you stay? You could be a knight like your father. You and Arthur, you fought well together.
Gwaine: And maybe one day we will again. Gwaine leaves the room.
[SCENE_BREAK]
From the ramparts Gwaine walks down the street, he turns back and salutes Arthur and Merlin who are watching him.
Arthur: It's a shame. He would have been a great knight.
Merlin: Maybe one day he still will.
Arthur: Rules won't allow it. Knights are noblemen, always have been, always will be. It's a tradition... Arthur notices Gwaine and Gwen laughing and chatting in the street.
Arthur: They seem very friendly.
Merlin: Why should you care?
Arthur: I don't. She can do better than that.
Merlin: She should be setting her sights higher? Oh! But I forget! She can't. A girl of Gwen's standing could never consort with a nobleman. That's the rules...
Arthur: Merlin...
Merlin: SHUT UP?
Arthur: You guessed it. Gwen kisses Gwaine on the cheek, and they go on their separate ways. Arthur grabs Merlin by the shoulder and they go back to the castle, shoving each other.


Roof Thunder is rumbling. Merle is on the roof hallucinating.
Merle: That's right. You heard me, bitch. You got a problem? Bring it on if you're man enough, Or take it up the chain if you're a pussy. You heard me, you pussy-ass noncom bitch. You ain't deaf. Take it up the damn chain of command or you can kiss my lily-white ass. That's right. That's what I said. You heard me. And then this idiot, he takes a swing, You know, and well... He laughs hysterically.
Merle: Oh, you should've seen the look on his face when I punched out his front teeth. Yeah, five of 'em. Pow! Pow! Just like that. Huh. Oh my god. 16 months in the stockade... Oh, that's what them teeth cost me. That was... That was hard time, but by god, it was worth every minute of it Just to see that prick spit his teeth out on the ground. Yes sir, worth every minute. Merle continues to try and pull himself off of the pipe, but he is unable to get loose.
Merle: Oh no. No no! No no! No no! God! God! No no! God! Jesus! No no, merciful Christ! No no. No no. God, help me! God! God! Jesus, please! Jesus, please. Help me! Come on now! Merle sees Walkers trying to get through the door. They are unable to break it because of the chain that T-Dog put on it.
Merle: Help me. No no. Oh, no no. Oh my god. Shh shh shh shh shh. Merle starts crying.
Merle: No, Jesus. Jesus. No no no no no no. Please. I didn't behave, I know. I know I'm being punished. I know. I... Oh, I deserve it. I deserve it. I've been bad. Help me now. Show me the way. Go on, tell me what to do. Tell me. Tell me. God! Merle rolls under the pipe and uses his belt to try. He gets the saw that is lying close to him.
Merle: That's okay. Never you mind, silly Christ boy. I ain't begged you before. I ain't gonna start begging now. I ain't gonna beg you now! Don't you worry about me! Begging you ever! I'll never beg you! I ain't gonna beg you! I never begged you before. Oh sh1t. No! He continues to try and get the saw while the Walkers try to break through the door.
OPENING CREDITS
Truck
Morales: Best not to dwell on it. Merle got left behind. Nobody's gonna be sad he didn't come back... Except maybe Daryl.
Rick: Daryl?
Morales: His brother. Behind them, the group hears Glenn in his car.
Glenn: Whoo-hoo! Glenn speeds past them and continues to holler about how much fun he's having.
Morales: At least somebody's having a good day. Camp Jim hangs some cans around the perimeter so they can hear Walkers.
Girl: Give it back.
Boy: Stop it.
Girl: No!
Boy: I found it.
Girl: No!
Boy: Give it.
Woman: Mijo, leave your sister alone.
Boy: Why?
Woman: Come on. Lori is giving Carl a haircut.
Lori: Baby, the more you fidget, the longer it takes. So don't, okay?
Carl: I'm trying.
Lori: Well, try harder.
Shane: If you think this is bad, wait till you start shaving. That stings. That day comes, you'll be wishing for one of your mama's haircuts.
Carl: I'll believe that when I see it. Shane chuckles.
Shane: I'll tell you what... you just get through this with some manly dignity and tomorrow I'll teach you something special. I will teach you to catch frogs.
Carl: I've caught a frog before.
Shane: I said frogs... plural. And it is an art, my friend. It is not to be taken lightly. There are ways and means. Few people know about it. I'm willing to share my secrets. Carl looks at Lori unsure of what to say.
Lori: Oh, I'm a girl. You talk to him.
Shane: it's a one-time offer, bud... not to be repeated.
Carl: Why do we need frogs, plural?
Shane: You ever eat frog legs?
Carl: Eww!
Shane: No, yum!
Lori: No, he's right. Eww.
Shane: When you get down to that last can of beans, you're gonna be loving those frog legs, lady. I can see it now... "Shane, do you think I could have a second helping, please? Please? Just one?"
Lori: yeah, I doubt that. Shane chuckles.
Shane: Don't listen to her, man. You and me, we'll be heroes. We'll feed these folks cajun-style Kermit legs.
Lori: I would rather eat miss piggy. Yes, that came out wrong. Shane laughs.
Shane: Heroes, son, spoken of in song and legend. You and me, Shane and Carl. Carl and Shane laugh. The conversation is interrupted with the beeping of Glenn's car alarm.
Man: Hey, Dale, can you see what that is?
Shane: Talk to me, Dale!
Dale: I can't tell yet.
Amy: Is it them? Are they back?
Dale: I'll be damned.
Amy: What is it?
Dale: A stolen car is my guess. Glenn pulls in and says hello.
Dale: Holy crap. Turn that damn thing off!
Glenn: I don't know how!
Shane: Pop the hood, please. Pop the damn hood, please.
Amy: My sister Andrea...
Shane: Pop the damn hood!
Glenn: What? Okay okay. Yeah yeah yeah. Yeah yeah!
Amy: Is she okay? Is she all right? He pops the hood so Shane can disconnect the battery to turn the alarm off.
Glenn: She's okay! She's okay!
Amy: Is she coming back?
Glenn: Yes!
Amy: Why isn't she with you? Where is she? She's okay?
Glenn: Yes! Yeah, fine. Everybody is. Well, Merle not so much.
Shane: Are you crazy, driving this wailing b*st*rd up here? Are you trying to draw every Walker for miles?
Dale: I think we're okay.
Shane: You call being stupid okay?
Dale: Well, the alarm was echoing all over these hills. Hard to pinpoint the source. I'm not arguing. I'm just saying. It wouldn't hurt youto think things through a little more carefully next time, would it?
Glenn: Sorry. Got a cool car. The group sees the truck arrive. Truck
Morales: Come meet everybody. Survival Camp Andrea gets out of the truck.
Andrea: Amy.
Amy: Andrea! Andrea runs up to Amy and the two sisters hug.
Andrea: Oh!
Amy: Oh my god! You scared the sh1t out of me. Morales gets out of the truck and his wife and children runs up to him.
Boy: Papi! Daddy!
Morales: Hey. Come here, sweetie. Hey. I told you I'd be back, didn't I? Carl is still sad and we can see that he wishes that Rick would come back when the groups return. Shane looks at them.
Dale: You are a welcome sight. Dale and Morales hug. Both laugh.
Dale: I thought we had lost you folks for sure.
Shane: How'd y'all get out of there anyway?
Glenn: New guy... he got us out.
Shane: New guy?
Morales: Yeah, crazy Vato just got into town. Hey, helicopter boy! Come say hello. Rick gets out of the truck.
Morales: The guy's a cop like you. Rick walks up and Shane is the first to see him. Carl and Lori then turn over and he sees Rick. Rick also sees Carl and Lori.
Rick: oh my god. Carl and Lori run up to Rick.
Carl: Dad! Dad! Rick takes Carl in his arms, crying.
Rick: Carl. Oh! He kisses Carl on the cheek and approaches Lori. He hugs them both. Shane is surprised to see Rick, but isn't as happy as he should be. He feigns a smile as Lori looks at him. Rick smiles at him and Shane smiles back. Survival Camp Later that night, Rick is sitting down with the group around a fire camp.
Rick: Disoriented. I guess that comes closest. Disoriented. Fear, confusion... all those things but... Disoriented comes closest.
Dale: Words can be meager things. Sometimes they fall short.
Rick: I felt like I'd been ripped out of my life and put somewhere else. For a while I thought I was trapped in some coma dream, something I might not wake up from ever.
Carl: Mom said you died.
Rick: She had every reason to believe that. Don't you ever doubt it.
Lori: When things started to get really bad, they told me at the hospital that they were gonna medevac you and the other patients to Atlanta, and it never happened.
Rick: Well, I'm not surprised after Atlanta fell.
Lori: Yeah.
Rick: And from the look of that hospital, it got overrun.
Shane: Yeah, looks don't deceive. I barely got them out, you know?
Rick: I can't tell you how grateful I am to you, Shane. I can't begin to express it.
Dale: There go those words falling short again. Paltry things. Nearby, Ed puts another log on his fire.
Shane: Hey, Ed, you want to rethink that log?
Ed: It's cold, man.
Shane: The cold don't change the rules, does it? Keep our fires low, just embers so we can't be seen from a distance, right?
Ed: I said it's cold. You should mind your own business for once. Shane gets up and walks over to Ed's fire.
Shane: Hey, Ed... Are you sure you want to have this conversation, man?
Ed: Go on. Pull the damn thing out. Go on! Carol, his wife, pulls the log out of the fire. Their daughter, Sophia, watches as Carol pulls the log out.
Shane: Christ. Shane stomps the flames out.
Shane: Hey, Carol, Sophia, how are y'all this evening?
Carol: Fine. We're just fine.
Shane: Okay.
Carol: I'm sorry about the fire.
Shane: No no no. No apology needed. Y'all have a good night, okay?
Carol: Thank you.
Shane: I appreciate the cooperation. Shane rejoins the other group.
Dale: Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon? He won't be happy to hear his brother was left behind.
T-Dog: I'll tell him. I dropped the key. It's on me.
Rick: I cuffed him. That makes it mine.
Glenn: Guys, it's not a competition. I don't mean to bring race into this, but it might sound better coming from a white guy.
T-Dog: I did what I did. Hell if I'm gonna hide from him.
Amy: We could lie.
Andrea: Or tell the truth. Merle was out of control. Something had to be done or he'd have gotten us killed. Your husband did what was necessary. And if Merle got left behind, it is nobody's fault but Merle's.
Dale: And that's what we tell Daryl? I don't see a rational discussion to be had from that, do you? Word to the wise... We're gonna have our hands full when he gets back from his hunt.
T-Dog: I was scared and I ran. I'm not ashamed of it.
Andrea: We were all scared. We all ran. What's your point?
T-Dog: I stopped long enough to chain that door. Staircase is narrow. Maybe half a dozen geeks can squeeze against it at any one time. It's not enough to break through that... Not that chain, not that padlock. My point... Dixon's alive and he's still up there, handcuffed on that roof. That's on us. Tent
Rick: I found you, didn't I?
Carl: I love you, dad.
Rick: I love you, Carl. Rick kisses Carl goodnight and then joins Lori on the other side of the tent. Rick kneels down and passionately kisses Lori. Rick then lies next to Lori.
Rick: I found you both.
Lori: Yeah.
Rick: I knew I would.
Lori: You're getting cocky now, a little bit.
Rick: No. No, I knew. Walking into our home, finding an empty house, both of you gone.
Lori: I'm so sorry.
Rick: I knew you were alive.
Lori: How?
Rick: The photos were gone, all our family albums. Lori chuckles and grabs one of them.
Rick: I told you so.
Lori: Now you're getting cocky, huh? A lot. They look at some photos from Carl's last birthday. Rick hands her the photo from his squad car.
Rick: It belongs in here.
Lori: Baby, I really thought I would never see you again. I'm so sorry... For everything. I feel like... When you were in the hospital, I just... I wanted to take it all back... The anger and the bad times. But the mistakes... Rick kisses her.
Rick: Maybe we got a second chance. Not many people get that. Rick and Lori continue to kiss. Rick notices his wedding ring on Lori's necklace
Rick: I wondered where that went.
Lori: Do you want it back?
Rick: Of course. Lori takes it off and puts it back on Rick's ring finger. Rick and Lori start to get passionate and Lori turns out the lantern. Rick looks over at Carl sleeping.
Lori: He won't wake up. The two proceed to make love. Outside Up on the RV, Shane is sitting alone and watches the Grimes' tent. He puts his hat on and seems very upset. Thunder is still rumbling. Tent The next morning, Rick wakes up and sees that Lori and Carl are not in the tent. Outside He walks out and sees that everything is fine.
Rick: Morning.
Man: Morning.
Rick: Hey.
Woman: Hi.
Carol: Morning.
Rick: Morning.
Carol: They're still a little damp. The sun'll have 'em dry in no time.
Rick: You washed my clothes?
Carol: Well, best we could. Scrubbing on a washboard ain't half as good as my old maytag back home.
Rick: That's very kind. Thank you. Rick approaches Glenn who is visibly upset that Dale has torn apart some of the spare parts on the car that he brought in.
Glenn: Look at 'em. Vultures. Yeah, go on, strip it clean.
Dale: Generators need every drop of fuel they can get. Got no power without it. Sorry, Glenn.
Glenn: Thought I'd get to drive it at least a few more days.
Rick: Maybe we'll get to steal another one someday. Rick finally finds Lori.
Lori: Morning, officer.
Rick: Hey.
Lori: You sleep okay?
Rick: Better than in a long time.
Lori: Well, I didn't want to wake you. I figured you could use it. God. What?
Rick: I've been thinking about the man we left behind.
Lori: You're not serious. Shane drives back to the camp with water.
Shane: Water's here, y'all. Just a reminder to boil before use.
Lori: Are you asking me or telling me?
Rick: Asking.
Lori: Well, I think it's crazy. I think it is just the stupidest way to break your son... Suddenly, the group hears screaming.
Carl: Mom!
Lori: Carl? Everyone starts to race down to the screaming.
Man: It's over there!
Carl: Dad!
Lori: Baby!
Girl: Mama! Mommy!
Glenn: Rick!
Lori: Carl! Rick grabs a pole and runs down to the site.
Man: Over here, boy! Come on, come on!
Lori: Carl! Baby!
Carl: Mom!
Rick: You're okay?
Lori: I've got him. I've got him.
Lori: Nothing bit you? Nothing scratched you?
Carl: No, I'm okay. The group comes upon a Walker that is busy eating the carcass of a deer. Andrea and Amy come up and notice how disgusting it is. When the Walker sees them, it starts to turn on them. Rick, Shane, Glenn, Jim, and Morales start to beat on it with their objects. Dale finishes it off by chopping its head off with an axe. Dale is shocked.
Dale: It's the first one we've had up here. They never come this far up the mountain.
Jim: Well, they're running out of food in the city, that's what. They hear branch snapping and footsteps. Daryl Dixon comes out of the forest and seems very upset that the Walker.
Dale: Oh, Jesus.
Daryl: Son of a bitch. That's my deer! Look at it. All gnawed on by this... filthy, disease-bearing, motherless poxy b*st*rd! He kicks the carcass of the Walker
Dale: Calm down, son. That's not helping.
Daryl: What do you know about it, old man? Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to "on golden pond"? I've been tracking this deer for miles. Gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison. What do you think? Do you think we can cut around this chewed up part right here?
Shane: I would not risk that. Daryl sighs.
Daryl: That's a damn shame. I got some squirrel... about a dozen or so. That'll have to do. Suddenly, the head of the Walker starts to move its teeth.
Amy: Oh god.
Daryl: Come on, people. What the hell? Daryl shoots it with one of his arrows.
Daryl: It's gotta be the brain. Don't y'all know nothing?
[SCENE_BREAK]
Survival Camp The group comes back at camp.
Daryl: Merle! Merle! Get your ugly ass out here! I got us some squirrel! Let's stew 'em up.
Shane: Daryl, just slow up a bit. I need to talk to you.
Daryl: About what?
Shane: About Merle. There was a... There was a problem in Atlanta.
Daryl: He dead?
Shane: We're not sure.
Daryl: He either is or he ain't!
Rick: No easy way to say this, so I'll just say it.
Daryl: Who are you?
Rick: Rick grimes.
Daryl: Rick grimes, you got something you want to tell me?
Rick: Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there.
Daryl: Hold on. Let me process this. You're saying you handcuffed my brother to a roof and you left him there?!
Rick: Yeah. Daryl goes to attack him, but Rick shoves him off.
T-Dog: Hey! Watch the knife! Daryl pulls his knife out, but Shane is able to come up behind him and put him in a chokehold.
Shane: Okay. Okay.
Daryl: You'd best let me go!
Shane: Nah, I think it's better if I don't.
Daryl: Choke hold's illegal.
Shane: You can file a complaint. Come on, man. We'll keep this up all day.
Rick: I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic. Do you think we can manage that? Do you think we can manage that?
Shane: Hmm?
Daryl: Mmm. Yeah. Shane lets him go.
Rick: What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others.
T-Dog: It's not Rick's fault. I had the key. I dropped it.
Daryl: You couldn't pick it up?
T-Dog: Well, I dropped it in a drain.
Daryl: If it's supposed to make me feel better, it don't.
T-Dog: Well, maybe this will. Look, I chained the door to the roof... So the geeks couldn't get at him... With a padlock. It's gotta count for something.
Daryl: Hell with all y'all! Just tell me where he is so that I can go get him.
Lori: He'll show you. Isn't that right?
Rick: I'm going back. Lori walks into the RV. Survival Camp Later, Rick gets his police uniform on. He walks past Shane.
Shane: So that's it, huh? You're just gonna walk off? Just to hell with everybody else?
Rick: I'm not saying to hell with anybody... Not yo Shane...
Shane: Lori least of all. Tell her that.
Rick: She knows.
Shane: Well, look, I... I don't, okay, Rick? So could you just... Could you throw me a bone here, man? Could you just tell me why? Why would you risk your life for a douche bag like Merle Dixon?
Daryl: Hey, choose your words more carefully.
Shane: No, I did. Douche bag's what I meant. Merle Dixon...The guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst.
Rick: What he would or wouldn't do doesn't interest me. I can't let a man die of thirst... me. Thirst and exposure. We left him like an animal caught in a trap. That's no way for anything to die, let alone a human being.
Lori: So you and Daryl, that's your big plan?
Glenn: Oh, come on. Rick turns to Glenn and Glenn is upset.
Rick: You know the way. You've been there before... In and out, no problem. You said so yourself. It's not fair of me to ask... I know that, but I'd feel a lot better with you along. I know she would too.
Shane: That's just great. Now you're gonna risk three men, huh?
T-Dog: Four. Daryl huffs.
Daryl: My day just gets better and better, don't it?
T-Dog: You see anybody else here stepping up to save your brother's cracker ass?
Daryl: Why you?
T-Dog: You wouldn't even begin to understand. You don't speak my language.
Dale: That's four.
Shane: It's not just four. You're putting every single one of us at risk. Just know that, Rick. Come on, you saw that Walker. It was here. It was in camp. They're moving out of the cities. They come back, we need every able body we've got. We need 'em here. We need 'em to protect camp.
Rick: It seems to me what you really need most here are more guns.
Glenn: Right, the guns.
Shane: Wait. What guns?
Rick: Six shotguns, two high-powered rifles, over a dozen handguns. I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left. I dropped the bag in Atlanta when I got swarmed. It's just sitting there on the street, waiting to be picked up.
Shane: Ammo?
Rick: 700 rounds, assorted.
Lori: You went through hell to find us. You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?
Carl: Dad, I don't want you to go.
Lori: To hell with the guns. Shane is right. Merle Dixon? He's not worth one of your lives, even with guns thrown in. Tell me. Make me understand.
Rick: I owe a debt to a man I met and his little boy. Lori, if they hadn't taken me in, I'd have died. It's because of them that I made it back to you at all. They said they'd follow me to Atlanta. They'll walk into the same trap I did if I don't warn him.
Lori: What's stopping you?
Rick: The walkie-talkie, the one in the bag I dropped. He's got the other one. Our plan was to connect when they got closer.
Shane: These are our walkies?
Rick: Yeah.
Andrea: So use the CB. What's wrong with that?
Shane: The CB's fine. It's the walkies that suck to crap... Date back to the '70s, don't match any other bandwidth... Not even the scanners in our cars.
Rick: I need that bag. Okay?
Lori: All right. Rick approaches Carl.
Rick: Okay? Carl nods yes. Survival Camp Later, Rick and T-Dog approach Dale and Jim.
Rick: Rumor is you have bolt cutters.
Dale: Maybe.
T-Dog: Yeah, we get to that roof, though, we'll need to cut that chain and the handcuffs.
Dale: I never like lending tools. The last time I did... And yes, I am talking about you... Let's just say your bag of guns wasn't the only bag that was dropped. My tools got left behind with Merle.
Rick: We'll bring your tools back too. Think of the bolt cutters as an investment.
Dale: Sounds like more of a gamble. Dale gives it to him.
Dale: What do I get in return?
Rick: What do you want?
Dale: How about one of those guns you bring back? My pick.
Rick: Done.
Jim: Dale, let's... Sweeten the deal a bit. Now that cube van of yours...
Rick: What about it?
Jim: The RV's radiator hose is shot. That's a problem if we need to get somewhere and wanna get very far. And the hose on that van is just about a perfect match... Well, enough that I can make it fit.
Rick: I'll tell you what... we get back, you can strip that van down to the bare metal. Daryl beeps on the horn.
Daryl: Come on, let's go!
Rick: Thank you. Shane stops Rick.
Shane: Hey, Rick, got any rounds in the python?
Rick: No.
Shane: Last time we were on the gun range, I'm sure I wound up with a few loose rounds of yours.
Rick: You and that bag... like the bottom of an old lady's purse.
Shane: I hate that you're doing this, man. I think that it's foolish and reckless. But if you're gonna go, you're taking bullets.
Rick: I'm not sure I'd want to fire a shot in the city, not after what happened last time.
Shane: That's up to you. Well... Four men, four rounds. What are the odds, huh? Well, let's just hope that... Let's just hope four is your lucky number, okay?
Rick: Thank you.
Shane: All right. Rick gets in the truck and they take off. Tent Carl is lying down in the tent after Rick leaves. Lori comes to see him
Lori: Hey. You know, I bet they'll be just fine.
Carl: I'm not worried. Are you?
Lori: Yeah, a little.
Carl: Don't be.
Lori: Why?
Carl: Think about it, mom. Everything that's happened to him so far... Nothing's killed him yet. Lori chuckles and notes that Carl is right. Atlanta The truck arrives outside the city limits.
Daryl: He'd better be okay.
T-Dog: It's my only word on the matter. I told you the geeks can't get at him. The only thing that's gonna get through that door is us. Glenn stops the truck.
Glenn: We walk from here. They get out and start walking along the railroad tracks. Survival Camp
Lori: Dale. Have you seen Carl?
Dale: Shane took him down to the quarry. There was some mighty bold talk about catching frogs. Quarry
Carl: I'm not getting anything.
Shane: Yeah. Being all wily, staying submerged. Little suckers, they know something's up. That's what's going on. Just going to have to do this the old-fashioned way. All right, little man, look. You are the... you are the key in all this, okay? All I'm gonna do is I'm gonna go after one of them, all right, scare the rest of them off. They're all gonna scatter. I'm gonna drive 'em your way, okay?
Carl: All right.
Shane: What you need to do is you need to round up every bad boy you see, all right? Are you with me?
Carl: Yeah. Yeah.
Shane: Hells yeah. Give me your mean face. Yes sir. Are you ready?
Carl: Yeah!
Shane: Are you ready? Here we go, boy. Here we go. Carl laughs as Shane splashes around in the water.
Shane: All right, they're coming your way. They're coming your way. Go on, get 'em, get 'em. They're coming your way, come on. Catch them frogs. Catch them frogs. They're coming, little man! Get 'em! Get that net in there and get 'em! Nearby, Carol, Jacqui, Andrea, and Amy are doing the laundry.
Jacqui: I'm beginning to question the division of labor here. Andrea agrees.
Shane: They're coming, little man! Get 'em! Get that net in there and get 'em! What have you got, bad boy? What do you got? What do you got?
Carl: Dirt.
Shane: Oh boy. All right, we've got to start over. Come on, let's find this bucket.
Jacqui: Can someone explain to me how the women wound up doing all the Hattie McDaniel work?
Amy: The world ended. Didn't you get the memo? Ed watches the women washing the laundry from his vehicle.
Carol: It's just the way it is. Atlanta The men cut through a fence.
Rick: Merle first or guns?
Daryl: Merle! We ain't even having this conversation.
Rick: We are. You know the geography. It's your call.
Glenn: Merle's closest. The guns would mean doubling back. Merle first. Quarry
Carol: I do miss my Maytag.
Andrea: I miss my Benz, my sat nav.
Jacqui: I miss my coffeemaker with that dual-drip filter and built-in grinder, honey.
Amy: My computer... And texting.
Andrea: I miss my vibrator. The women start to laugh.
Jacqui: Oh!
Amy: Oh my God!
Carol: Me too. The girls continue to laugh. Ed notices them.
Ed: What's so funny?
Andrea: Just swapping war stories, Ed.
Amy: Yeah. Ed comes up to them.
Andrea: Problem, Ed?
Ed: Nothin' that concerns you. And you ought to focus on your work. This ain't no comedy club. Quarry Lori comes down to the quarry.
Lori: Hey, Carl, what did I tell you about not leaving Dale's sight?
Carl: But Shane said we could catch frogs, remember?
Lori: It doesn't matter what Shane says. It matters what I say. Go on back to camp. I'll be right behind you. Carl heads back up to the RV.
Shane: I've got to tell you, I do not think you should be taking this out on him.
Lori: You don't tell me what to do. You lost that privilege.
Shane: Lori, could you just wait up a sec? I think we should talk. We haven't had a chance...
Lori: No. No no. That's over too. You can tell that to the frogs.
Shane: Damn it, Lori. Look, I don't know how it appears to you or what you think...
Lori: How it appears to me? I'm sorry. Is there a gray area here? Let me dispel it. You stay away from me. You stay away from my son. You don't look at him. You don't talk to him. From now on, my family is off-limits to you.
Shane: Lori, I don't think that's fair.
Lori: Shane, shut up. Don't!
Shane: I don't think that...
Lori: My husband is back. He is alive.
Shane: He's my best friend. Do you think I'm not happy about that?
Lori: How dare you? Why would you be? You are the one that told me that he died. You son of a bitch. She storms away in anger. Shane is very upset. Atlanta In the building, the group finds a Walker in the department store.
Daryl: Damn. You are one ugly skank. Daryl takes his crossbow and shoots it through the head. He pulls the arrow out. Quarry Shane watches as Lori and Carl leave. The woman are still doing the laundry as Ed watches them.
Andrea: Ed, tell you what... you don't like how your laundry is done, you are welcome to pitch in and do it yourself. Here. She tosses a shirt at him and Ed throws it right back.
Andrea: Oh!
Ed: Ain't my job, missy.
Carol: Andrea, don't.
Andrea: What is your job, Ed? Sitting on your ass smoking cigarettes?
Ed: Well, it sure as hell ain't listening to some uppity smart-mouthed bitch. Tell you what... come on. Let's go.
Andrea: I don't think she needs to go anywhere with you, Ed.
Ed: And I say it's none of your business. Come on now. You heard me.
Andrea: Carol.
Carol: Andrea, please. It doesn't matter.
Ed: Hey, don't think I won't knock you on your ass just 'cause you're some college-educated cooze, All right? Now you come on now or you gonna regret it later.
Jacqui: So she can show up with fresh bruises later, Ed? Yeah, we've seen them. Ed laughs and Shane notices all of this.
Ed: Stay out of this. Now come on! You know what? This ain't none of y'all's business. You don't want to keep prodding the bull here, okay? Now I am done talking. Come on.
Andrea: No no.
Amy: Carol, you don't...
Andrea: Carol, you don't have...
Ed: You don't tell me what! I tell you what! Ed slaps Carol.
Ed: You think you can... The girls start to protect Carol and they grab onto Ed. Ed is too big and none of them can prevent Ed from continuing to grab at Carol.
Women: Get off her!
Ed: Come here! Come here!
Women: Get off her! Get off her! Get off her! Shane walks in and grabs Ed.
Ed: Get off me! Ed demands that Shane get off of him.
Carol: Ed? Shane throws Ed to the ground
Amy: It's okay. It's okay.
Ed: No!
Andrea: It's okay.
Ed: No! Shane pummels his face multiple times. Ed's face gets bloody as Shane continues to punch him. The girls watch in horror as Shane mutilates Ed's face.
Andrea: Shane, stop! Just stop!
Women: Stop it! Stop! Shane grabs Ed.
Shane: You put your hands on your wife, your little girl or anybody else in this camp one more time, I will not stop next time. Do you hear me? Do you hear me?!
Ed: Yes.
Shane: I'll beat you to death, Ed.
Carol: Ed!
Shane: I'll beat you to death. Shane hits him one more time and then kicks him in the stomach.
Carol: Oh God! No. God! Carol bursts out in tears and kneels over him.
Carol: Ed, I'm sorry. Oh my God. Ed, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Ed. Ed, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Ed. The other girls don't know how to react as Shane makes his way back to camp. Atlanta The boys reach the roof. They cut through the padlock and enter the roof.
Daryl: Merle! Merle! Daryl sees something and starts to sob.
Daryl: No! No! They stay there silent watching a saw on the ground.
Daryl: No! The handcuff is empty and there's Merle's hand lying on the ground.
Daryl: No! No!


Ted from 2030: Kids, in my early days of being a professor, I had one simple goal: give a lecture that changes someone's life. Then one afternoon in 2010, I achieved that goal.
Ted's class
Ted: Unfinished. Of all the words you could use to describe La Sagrada Familia... Brown, pointy, weird... The one that really seems to stick is "unfinished." Why? Because on June 7, 1926, the architect Antoni Gaudi... Whose beard was also brown, pointy, weird and unfinished......was run over by a bus. And so, his greatest masterpiece would remain forever...
Ted from 2030: But first, let's back up a few days.
A few days earlier - The Bar
Barney: Ted, look across the bar. Three chicks: one hot, one kind of hot and one who I'm assuming is really funny. We ride! What's wrong?
Ted: I don't know. Got a burger coming.
Marshall: Bro, I told you, if you ever need a wingman, I'm your guy.
Barney: Yeah, I'm not going to go through that again.
[FLAHBACK]
Barney: Hi. Barney Stinson.
Marshall: And I'm Marshall, Barney's wingman.
Barney: Thank you for your time.
[END OF FLAHBACK]
Barney: Fine. I'll have a three-way with hot and kind of hot while Giggles works the camera. I ride!
Robin: So, get this: Last night, I was watching TV, and it turns out, some random satellite channel picks up a certain local Chicago newscast.
[FLASHBACK]
(Robin is watching TV in her appartment)
TV Speaker: And now, the 11:00 News with Don Frank.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Ted: Oh, man, it's bad enough to have to go through a horrible breakup, but then have that person pop up on your TV? Are you okay?
Robin: Well, I'll admit, at first, I felt a little weird. But after the initial shock, I realized something: I've moved on. Finished with that. It was a peaceful moment of closure.
Ted: That's great. Good for you.
Robin: Yeah, thank you.
Lily: Where's the poop, Robin?
Robin: Excuse me?
Lily: When I was a kid, I had a dog named Bean. Whenever he made the face that you're making right now, you just knew he pooped somewhere in the house. Where's the poop, Robin?
Robin:I don't know what you're talking about.
Lily: Where's the poop, Robin? Robin:There's no poop.
Lily: Where's the poop? Robin:Okay. So it wasn't entirely a peaceful moment of closure.
[FLASHBACK]
(Robin is watching TV, drinking a beer)
Robin: Hey, Don, here's some breaking news: there's a zit breaking ou on your forehead. Finished with that.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Robin: Look, I'm not proud, but Don left so quickly that I never got the chance to have that final showdown. So yelling at him, even on TV, felt kind of good. And you know what? Now I truly am over him.
Ted: That's great.
Robin: Thank you.
Lily: Good for you. Where's the poop, Robin?
Robin: Damn it! Okay, in the process of truly getting over him, I may have called him and left an... indelicate voice mail.
[FLASHBACK]
(Robin is on the phone with Don's vocal)
Robin: I am gonna kill you. I'm gonna fly to Chicago, kill you, put your stupid face on a deep dish pizza and eat it. And then maybe catch a Bears game. But mostly the killing and eating your face thing.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Lily: Give me your phone. We're deleting Don's number.
Robin: Don't worry. I am never doing that again. It was a one-time thing.
Lily: Prove it. Delete contact.
Robin: There. Deleted.
(Barney comes back)
Marshall: Back already. How was flying solo? And by "solo," I mean so low that you got shot down.
Barney: Look, I didn't get shot down. Trust me, I'll get the yes. Barney Stinson always gets the yes. This is all part of the plan. After initial contact, I'm now in the ignoring phase.
Lily: Barney, why can't you just take a girl out to dinner like a normal person?
Barney: Golden rule: I do not buy dinner to get the yes. Dinner's a very intimate activity. It requires a level of connection and eye contact that s*x just doesn't. Call me old-fashioned, but I need to have s*x with a girl at least three times before I'll even consider having dinner with her.
Ted from 2030: The next day, at the university, I had a surprise visitor.
At the university
Ted: What are you doing here? Oh, God! You're dating one of my students. It's Rachel, isn't it? Barney, I know she wears provocative sweaters, but she's 19! Now I'm gonna have to hear all about it, right? Go on, tell me every detail.
Barney: No, you pent-up old perv. I brought you a present. Recognize this?
Ted: It's my building.
Ted from 2030: Kids, you may remember that, a few years earlier, I was chosen to design the new Manhattan headquarters for Goliath National Bank. It was the opportunity every architect dreams about. And when the project was ultimately scrapped... it broke my heart.
Barney: Do you remember how awesome it was to be co-workers... Nay, bro-workers?
Ted: Wait a minute. Y-You don't mean...
Barney: Ted Mosby, it's back on. We're gonna build your building.
[CREDITS OPENING]
The bar
Marshall: This is awesome... You're designing our new headquarters. Now, there will be voices that tell you a hockey rink on the roof is unfeasible. You've got to shut those voices out.
Ted: Actually, I think I'm gonna say no.
Robin: No? Are you kidding me?
Lily: But designing a building in New York City is your lifelong dream.
Ted: I do not want to work for GNB again. Those guys are evil. No offense, Marshall.
Marshall: Dude, none taken. Yes, GNB is, the Empire from Star Wars. But the Death Star's gonna get built either way. And don't you think the architect of the Death Star is pretty psyched to have that thing on his space resume? I mean, yes, his design was flawed in the sense that a single bullet fired into a particular vent would explode the whole thing.
Ted: For all we know, that was the contractor's fault.
Marshall: But that won't happen on your watch... you know why? Because you're Ted Mosby! And you are gonna design the most beautiful, ventless, Rebel-proof building in Manhattan, with clearly marked emergency stops for every trash compactor on the detention level.
Ted: Look, I know this is hard to understand, but right now, I have a quiet, simple, happy little life. And I like it that way. I know what my answer has to be.
Barney's office
Ted: I can't take the job, Barney. I'm done with that life. No hard feelings?
Barney: Of course not.
Ted: All right.
Ted from 2030: And I thought that was the end of the story. But then that night...
The Bar
Ted: I'm telling you, no architect would ever design a giant exposed vent right over a Death Star's core reactor. That's Space Architecture 101. It had to be the contractor. Barney, back me up. Barney. Dude, this is important.
Barney: I need another drink.
Ted: Marshall, you want anything?
Marshall: No, I'm fine.
Ted: Okay, I get that he's mad at me for turning down the job, but acting like I'm not even here?
Marshall: Wait, you turned down the job? When?
Ted: This morning.
Marshall: That's so weird. Just, like, an hour ago, when we were leaving work...
[FLASHBACK]
(Barney's office)
Marshall: So, you still think Ted's gonna take the job?
Barney: Please. I'll get the yes. Barney Stinson always gets the yes.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Ted: Am I wrong or is that exactly what Barney says when he's putting the moves on a girl?
Marshall: Exactly. I mean, it's almost like he's putting the moves on you.
Ted: Yeah, more like the opposite. He's been ignoring me all night. Barney wants me to take the job so bad he's putting the moves on me?
Marshall: I hope that's his end game. Actually, I don't. I like you two together.
Ted: I don't buy it. That's crazy, even for Barney.
Marshall: Okay, well, think about it. We've seen his moves countless times. What does he do after he's done ignoring a girl?
[FLASHBACK]
Barney: Chrissy, I love your glasses.
Chrissy: Really?
Barney: They totally pull focus up from that whole chin situation you got going on. To Chrissy.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Marshall: The backhanded compliment to lower her self-esteem... a proven winner.
Ted: But Barney hasn't done...
Barney: Ted, I admire your loyalty. You've had that hairstyle forever. You don't care that it's out of fashion or that it's been co-opted by the lesbian community. You stick with it. To Ted.
Robin's appartment - Lily comes in
Robin: Hey, Lily!
Lily: Don't "Hey, Lily" me. I smelled poop all the way from the hallway.
Robin: Oh, no, not this again.
Lily: Where's the poop, Robin?
Robin: Okay, I left Don another message.
[FLASHBACK]
Robin: "This just in" is what I'm gonna say when I'm stabbing you.
(END OF FLASHBACK]
Lily: But that's impossible. You deleted his number.
Robin: I tried to. But then this thing popped up on my phone that said, "Are you sure?" And I wasn't sure. I can't lie to my phone.
Lily:Oh, sweetie, I totally understand. Delete it!
Robin: It's not that easy, okay? You're not just deleting a number, you're deleting a part of your life. You know, all those memories, all those experiences. It's like you're admitting they're gone forever.
Lily: I know, sweetie. I know. Delete it!
Robin: Okay, if it's that easy, I'm gonna delete one of your numbers from your phone, see how you like it.
Lily: My "plezh." If you can find a number in there that I don't call regularly, I'll gladly delete it.
Robin: Super Kicks Karate.
Lily: No, not that one. That's my dojo.
Robin: You have a dojo?
Lily: I took an introductory karate class.
[FLASHBACK]
Lily: Ops, wrong room. Where do the grown-ups go for the real karate class?
Boy: What's the matter, lady? You scared?
Lily: Of you? Please. I'm a kindergarten teacher.
Boy: I hated kindergarten. All three times.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Lily: But I'm totally gonna sign up for more lessons.
Robin: How long ago did you take that class?
Lily: I don't know. It was around the time when everyone was going, "Wassuuuuuuup!"
Robin: How do you even remember that? Lily, this is a number that you will never dial again.
Lily: I might.
Robin: No, no. But you keep it in your phone because it reminds you of a version of yourself that you could be, even if it's a version of yourself that you'll never become. And that's okay.
Lily: No, it's not. Okay, you know what? There, gone. Your move, Scherbatsky.
[SCENE_BREAK]
(Ted and Marshall enters the appartment)
Ted: I finally know what your kind goes through. I get it now.
Robin: For the last time, I don't care how big it was, it is not the same as giving birth.
Marshall: No! Barney's been "putting the moves" on Ted.
Lily: Oh, that sucks. Although I like you two together.
Marshall: No, he's been doing it to try to get Ted to design the new GNB Tower.
Robin: Which moves are we talking about? Did he do the thing where he brags on himself in the form of a complaint?
[FLASHBACKS]
Barney: Man, every time I take out my business card and women see the GNB logo, they throw themselves at me. I miss the chase. It sucks! (...) Man, the courtside Knicks seats that are available to all upper level GNB employees are too close to the action. I keep getting sweat on my suit. It sucks! (...) Man, GNB's benefits package is so comprehensive it gives me the freedom to see any doctor I want. It sucks!
[END OF FLASHBACKS]
Ted: He did.
Robin: And the intense eye contact thing?
[FLASHBACK]
Barney: So, Ted, would you like to split some jalapeno poppers?
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Ted: Okay. Yep.
Robin: And the thing where he establishs intimacy through physical contact?
[FLASHBACK]
Ted: You know why jalapeno poppers are so good? It's the cream cheese.
Barney: That is so true.
Ted: Yeah... Cream cheese has a mild flav-flavor so it... it balances out the spiciness of the jal... the spiciness of the... Dude!
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Robin: So at any point in this did you say, "Barney, I know what you're doing, and it's not going to work. I am not taking that job"?
Ted: Well, I mean, not exactly in those...
Lily: You're loving this.
Ted: No.
Lily: You are. You're loving the attention.
Ted: It's nice to be wanted, okay? And, yes, this is a new vest. Thank you all for noticing. Oh, that's right, you didn't. Barney did!
Robin: Oh, Teddy, you are so going to spread your legs and design that building.
Ted: I am not that kind of architect. So get this...
(Ted goes into his room)
Lily: Robin never deleted Don's number.
Robin: Oh, everyone thinks it's so easy. Give me your phone. Let's delete one of yours.
Marshall: Okay. No problem. If you can find a number that I don't need or shouldn't have in here, be my guest, but good luck. I keep my phone tight.
Robin: Edwin.
Marshall: Oh, no, not that one. That's the booker for the club that my band plays at. You know, my all-lawyer funk band... you remember... The Funk, the Whole Funk and Nothing but the Funk.
[FLASHBACK]
(Ted, Lily and Robin are listening to Marshall's band playing)
*Your witness lied so your case is sunk, hah! I sentence you to a life of funk Counselors, how do you plead? Funky. *
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Robin: You guys played one gig four years ago. I'm deleting it.
Marshall: No, no, we're gonna... we're gonna play another gig again. Probably really soon. It's just we all got super busy, and... We're not going to play another gig again, are we?
Lily: Probably not, baby.
Robin: See, it's hard to hit that delete button, isn't it?
Marshall: Well, it's just that without that number in my phone, I'm just a corporate lawyer working 60 very un-funky hours a week.
Robin: Sorry, Marshall. But if I have to, you have to.
Lily: Okay. Your turn.
Barney's office - Ted comes in
Ted: Barney, I gotta tell you something.
Barney: Oh, that reminds me. I got you a little airplane. It represents the spirit of adventure. Do you like it, Ted? Do you?
Ted: Stop it. Stop looking at me like I'm the only person in the world who matters. I'm not designing the GNB Tower.
Barney: Yeah, I know. You turned it down. We hired someone else.
The bar
Ted: Can you believe it? He's resorting to the oldest move in the book. The classic, "pretend to take the offer off the table so I'll want it more." It's so obvious, right? As if that's going to make me be like, "Oh, God, I never should have said no."
Marshall: It's not a move, dude. I executed the paperwork for the new architect this morning. Barney wasn't lying.
Ted: Oh, God, I never should have said no! Come on, GNB didn't really hire a new architect. This is just one of Barney's moves.
Marshall: It's not a move, dude. The senior partners were getting impatient. I thought you didn't even want the job.
Ted: I didn't! I don't! I don't. I don't!
Barney's office - Ted comes in
Ted: Okay, I'll do it!
Barney: What? Ted, it's too late.
Ted: I'll design it for half of what you're paying the other architect. And you know I will do stuff they would never do. Lobby stuff.
Barney: Wow, half? Ted, on behalf of Goliath National Bank...
Marshall: Okay, it's a move.
Ted: What?
Barney: Dude!
Marshall: There is no other architect. I'm sorry, I'm sorry I lied. I was being Barney's wingman, and I never get to be the wingman.
Ted: You guys lied to me?
Barney: You're the world's worst wingman. You know what? I'm out of here.
Marshall: I can do better. Take me back. You son of a bitch!
Ted: Look, I can't do business with people who lie to me.
Barney: We only lied to you to make you realize that you want this job.
Ted: No, I don't. I mean, I know I said I did, but that's only because I fell for the same creepy, pickup artist voodoo of yours that countless women...
Barney: 236.
Ted:...before me fell for. Wow, respect.
Marshall: No... Ted... you want to do this, okay? You're just scared of getting hurt again. But you can't let fear steal your funk. That is good. There is a song in there. Excuse me.
Barney: Come on, Ted! This is your dream.
Ted: No, it's not. Not anymore. And you know what? Letting go of that dream was the best decision I ever made. You guys actually think I have some lingering itch to be an architect? Work 20 hours a day and weekends? To get ulcers and pull my hair out and worry and doubt myself and then at the end of it all, have the rug pulled out from under me? I love being a professor, okay? All that stupid crap they tell you about how fulfilling teaching is? It's all true. I'm happy, and I'm not letting go of that. My answer's no.
The bar - Robin comes in
Robin: Hey, guys.
Lily: Where's the poop, Robin?
Robin: How do you do that? You are like a bomb-sniffing dog, except with poop. You are a poop-sniffing dog.
Marshall: I think that's just called a dog.
Lily: Where's the poop, Robin?
Robin: Fine. I called Don again.
[FLASHBACK]
Robin: Hey, Don! It's Robin again. Look, I am sorry for all the calls. It's just, I saw you on the news, and it made me a little crazy for a minute. I guess I wasn't as over our breakup as I thought. But I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, I am going to kill you. No... No, I'm not. I am happy for you. And that Asian slut on your Facebook page. She's dead, too.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Lily: I thought you deleted his number.
Robin: I did, but it turns out, I memorized it. You can't delete contacts from your brain, Lily.
Lily: Well, you have to try. If you ever want to have closure...
Robin: I am never going to have closure. Okay? Closure doesn't exist. Okay, one day, Don and I are moving in together, and the next thing I know, he's on a plane to Chicago. It just... ended. And no matter how much I try to forget that it happened, it will have never not happened. Don and I will always be a loose end. We'll always be...
Ted's class
Ted: Unfinished. Gaudi, to his credit, never gave up on his dream, but that's not usually how it goes. I mean, usually, it isn't a speeding bus that keeps the brown, pointy, weird church from getting built. Most of the time, it's just too difficult or too expensive, or too scary. It's only once you've stopped that you realize how hard it is to start again. So you force yourself not to want it. But it's always there. And until you finish it, it will always be...
Barney's office
Ted: Hey, Barney. Hey, Rachel. Rachel, why aren't you in class?
Rachel: Why aren't you in class?
Barney: Yeah, Ted. Why aren't you in class? You son of a bitch. I'll call Marshall. We'll draw up the contract.
Ted: Not so fast. I'm not that easy.
Ted from 2030: And so I made Barney break his golden rule. I made him take me out to dinner before I finally gave him the thing he always got. Yes. And even though it didn't happen right away...
Robin's appartment
TV Speaker: And now, the 11:00 News with Don Frank.
(Robin makes a phone call)
Voice: Bueno?
Robin: Who is this?
Voice: No hablo ingles. Quien es?
Robin: I'm sorry. Is this 917-456... I'm sorry, 465... No, wait.
Ted from 2030: Robin finally got some closure, too.
Robin: Sorry. Wrong number. Finished with that.
Lily arrives at the dojo
Lily: Hey, punk! Bit of advice. Next time you step on a kindergarten teacher's neck, you better finish the job.
Man: I knew this day would come.