TEXT: "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." Forest Merlin picks mushrooms in the woods. He hears screeching and gets chased by a griffin. Merlin falls and waits for a deadly blow. Lancelot yells and attacks the griffin with a sword. The sword breaks. Lancelot: Run! Run! Lancelot grabs Merlin and they run and hide behind a fallen tree. Lancelot holds his wounded side. Merlin: It's gone. You saved my life. I'm Merlin. Lancelot: Lancelot. They shake hands. Lancelot passes out. Gaius's chambers Gaius: The wound itself is superficial. The fever will pass. He should be fine in the morning. Uther and Arthur survey a burning village. Uther: What creature could've done this? Arthur: We found no tracks in or out. What the villagers say must be true: it has wings and... Uther: What? Arthur: And it took no livestock, only people. Whatever it is, it has a taste for human flesh. Uther: Post centuries in all the outlying villages. Put the lookouts on full alert. If this thing should make for Camelot, we must be ready. Merlin's chamber Lancelot: Ever since I was a child I've dreamed of coming here. It's my life's ambition to join the knights of Camelot. I know what you're thinking, I...I expect too much. After all, who am I? They have their pick of the best and bravest in the land. Merlin: Lancelot. Lancelot: Yes? Merlin: They are going to love you. Lancelot: They are? Merlin: I've seen you in action. You could shame the great Arthur himself. Lancelot: I hardly think so. Merlin: In fact, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to talk to him right now. Lancelot: You know Arthur? Merlin: Oh yes. Training grounds A nobleman swings a couple of swords around. Arthur: Right, you jumped up dung beet
SUMMARY:
Merlin would have been killed by a griffin (half eagle, half lion) if it hadn't been for Lancelot, who attacks it and gets them away safely. Learning Lancelot's dream is to become a knight, Merlin brings him to court and magically forges proof of nobility so that he can apply. Lancelot passes hazing and close combat tests against Arthur, but is found out as commoner and jailed. When the griffin attacks Camelot, and also the royal castle, the knights' arms prove unable to harm the monster. Arthur frees Lancelot, who confronts the griffin. Merlin uses magic to help Lancelot triumph where all the other knights had failed. Uther and Arthur disagree over whether Lancelot can serve as a knight, and Lancelot leaves Camelot.