- Merlin: I've never had a friend who could be such an ass.
- Arthur Pendragon: Nor I one who could be so stupid.
- Merlin: There must be another Arthur, because this one's an idiot.
- The Dragon: Perhaps it's your destiny to change that.
- Arthur Pendragon: I could take you apart with one blow.
- Merlin: I could take you apart with less than that.
- The Dragon: No young man, no matter how great, can know his destiny. He cannot glimpse his part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone, he must live and learn. And so it shall be for the young warlock arriving at the gates of Camelot. A boy that will in time father a legend. His name... Merlin.
- Morgana: That poor mother.
- Uther Pendragon: It was simple justice for what he'd done.
- Morgana: To whom? He practiced some magic. He didn't hurt anyone.
- Uther Pendragon: You were not around 20 years ago. You have no idea what it was like.
- Morgana: How long are you going to keep punishing people for what happened then?
- Uther Pendragon: Until they realize there is no room for magic in my kingdom. You will be with me when I greet Lady Helen.
- Morgana: I told you I want no part of these celebrations...
- Uther Pendragon: I am your guardian! I expect you to do as I ask. If you show me no respect, at least respect our finest singer.
- Morgana: You know, the more brutal you are, the more enemies you'll create.
- Morgana: [unaware Merlin has entered her chambers] You know, I've been thinking about Arthur. I wouldn't touch him with a lance pole.
- [undressing behind a room divider]
- Morgana: Pass me that dress, will you, Gwen?
- [not sure what to do, he follows her instructions]
- Morgana: I mean, the man's a total jester. Just because I'm the king's ward, that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it?
- [getting no response]
- Morgana: Well, does it?
- Merlin: [high-pitched voice] Mm-mm.
- Morgana: If he wants me to go, then he should invite me. And he hasn't. So do you know what that means?
- Merlin: Mm-mm.
- Morgana: Where are you?
- Merlin: [hiding his face] Here.
- Morgana: It means I'm going by myself.
- [he turns to leave]
- Morgana: I need some help with this fastening. Gwen?
- Gwen: [entering] I'm here.
- [relieved to see her, Merlin leaves]
- Morgana: So, it's whether I wear this little tease... or give them a night they'll really remember.
- Arthur Pendragon: [to the guards who've taken hold of Merlin] Wait. Let him go. He may be an idiot but he's a brave one.
- [to Merlin]
- Arthur Pendragon: There's something about you, Merlin. Can't quite put my finger on it.
- Uther Pendragon: You shall be awarded a position in the Royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's man servant.
- Uther Pendragon: Let this serve as a lesson to all: this man, Thomas James Collins, is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass.
- [at his command, Collins is beheaded]
- Uther Pendragon: When I came to this land, this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help, magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate 20 years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin.
- Mary Collins: [moaning loudly] There is only one evil in this land and it is not magic! It is you. With your hatred and your ignorance... you took my son. And I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth; a son for a son!
- Gwen: I'm Gwenhwyfer, but most people call me Gwen. I'm the Lady Morgana's maid.
- Merlin: Right. Well, I'm Merlin.
- [locked in a stock, he awkwardly shakes hands]
- Merlin: Although most people just call me "idiot".
- Gwen: [having witnessed his first encounter with Arthur] No, no, no, I saw what you did. You're so brave.
- Merlin: It was stupid.
- Gwen: Well, I'm glad you walked away. You weren't gonna beat him.
- Merlin: Oh, I... I could beat him.
- Gwen: You think? Because you don't look like one of these big muscly kind of fellows.
- Merlin: [a little insulted] Thanks.
- Gwen: No! No. I'm sure you're stronger than you look.
- Merlin: You've had your fun, my friend.
- Arthur Pendragon: Do I know you?
- Merlin: [offering a handshake] Uh, I'm Merlin.
- Arthur Pendragon: So I don't know you.
- Merlin: No.
- Arthur Pendragon: Yet you called me "friend."
- Merlin: That was my mistake.
- Arthur Pendragon: Yes, I think so.
- Gaius: So, how is it you know magic?
- Merlin: I don't!
- Gaius: Where did you study? Answer me!
- Merlin: I-I've never studied magic or-or been taught.
- Gaius: Are you lying to me, boy?
- Merlin: What do you want me to say?
- Gaius: The truth.
- Merlin: I was born like this.
- Gaius: That's impossible. Who are you?
- Merlin: [taking off his knapsack] Oh, um... I have this letter. There.
- Gaius: I... I don't have my glasses.
- Merlin: I'm Merlin.
- Gaius: [recognizing his name] Hunith's son.
- Merlin: Yes.
- Gaius: But you're not meant to be here 'til Wednesday.
- Merlin: It is Wednesday.
- Arthur Pendragon: Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?
- Merlin: No.
- Arthur Pendragon: Would you like me to help you?
- Merlin: I wouldn't if I were you.
- Arthur Pendragon: Why? What are you gonna do to me?
- Merlin: You have no idea.
- Arthur Pendragon: Be my guest. Come on.
- [offering himself as a target]
- Arthur Pendragon: Come on! Come on. Come on.
- [grabbing Merlin's arm as he throws a punch and twisting it up behind his back]
- Arthur Pendragon: I'll have you thrown in jail for that.
- Merlin: Who do you think you are, the king?
- Arthur Pendragon: No, I'm his son, Arthur.
- Gaius: [after Merlin uses magic to break his fall] What did you just do?
- Merlin: Um...
- Gaius: Tell me.
- Merlin: Well, I... I have no idea what happened.
- Gaius: If anyone had seen that...
- Merlin: Oh, no, that... that was... that was nothing to do with me. That-that...
- Gaius: I know what it was. I just want to know where you learned how to do it.
- Merlin: Did you ever study magic?
- Gaius: Uther banned all such work 20 years ago.
- Merlin: Why?
- Gaius: People used magic for the wrong end at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons.
- Merlin: What, all of them?
- Gaius: There was one dragon he chose not to kill; he kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no one can free it.
- Gaius: You never cease to amaze me. The one thing that someone like you should do is keep your head down, and what do you do? You behave like an idiot.
- Merlin: I'm sorry.
- Gaius: You're lucky. I managed to pull a few strings to get you released.
- Merlin: Oh, thank you! Thank you!
- [seeing his look]
- Merlin: I won't forget this.
- Gaius: Well, there is a small price to pay.
- Merlin: [outside, he's locked in a stock and children throw rotting fruit at him] Oh, God.
- Gaius: How could you be so foolish?
- Merlin: He needed to be taught a lesson.
- Gaius: Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good, not for idiotic pranks.
- Merlin: What is there to master? I could move objects like that before I could talk.
- Gaius: Then by now, you should know how to control yourself.
- Merlin: I know you're still angry with me.
- Gaius: Your mother asked me to look after you.
- Merlin: Yes.
- Gaius: What did your mother say to you about your gifts?
- Merlin: Well, that I was special.
- Gaius: You are special, the likes of which I've never seen before.
- Merlin: What do you mean?
- Gaius: Well, magic requires incantations, spells; it takes years to study. What I saw you do was... elemental, instinctive.
- Merlin: What's the point if it can't be used?
- Gaius: That, I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before, Merlin.
- Uther Pendragon: Will you sing for me tonight?
- Lady Helen: You will have to wait, sire.
- Uther Pendragon: You will not deny me?
- Lady Helen: I'm saving myself for my performance tomorrow. Will everyone be there?
- Uther Pendragon: Who would dare to miss it?
- Lady Helen: How about your son?
- Uther Pendragon: Well...
- Lady Helen: It seems a shame not to have met him.
- Uther Pendragon: That's Arthur.
- Lady Helen: Poor child.
- Uther Pendragon: Hmm?
- Lady Helen: Poor child; it can't have been easy to... to grow up without a mother.
- Uther Pendragon: No.
- Lady Helen: Hmm. That bond between mother and son; it's so hard to replace.
- Uther Pendragon: Hasn't been easy.
- Lady Helen: I'm sure. Perhaps if you found someone; if you remarried. I'm sure you would have the pick of any lady in the kingdom.
- Uther Pendragon: Well, perhaps I'll find love again. But I'm afraid it's too late to replace Arthur's mother.
- Lady Helen: Yes. It's certainly too late for Arthur.
- The Dragon: Your gift, Merlin, was given to you for a reason.
- Merlin: So there is a reason?
- The Dragon: Arthur is the once and future king who will unite the land of Albion.
- Merlin: Right.
- The Dragon: But he faces many threats from friend and foe alike.
- Merlin: I don't see what this has to do with me.
- The Dragon: Everything. Without you, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no Albion.
- Uther Pendragon: You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid.
- Merlin: Oh, well...
- Uther Pendragon: Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded.
- Merlin: No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness.
- Uther Pendragon: No, absolutely. This merits something quite special.
- Arthur Pendragon: [Morgana enters a party in a stunning outfit] God have mercy.
- Gaius: [seeing Merlin staring, too] Merlin! Remember, you're here to work.
- Gaius: Have you seen the state of this room?
- Merlin: It just happens.
- Gaius: By magic?
- Merlin: Yeah.
- Gaius: Yes. Well, you can clear it up without magic. Then I want you to get some herbs; henbane, wormwood, and sorrel. And deliver this to Morgana.
- [giving him a vial of potion]
- Gaius: Poor girl's suffering from nightmares.
- Merlin: [an article of clothing is thrown at him] I know the feeling.
- Gaius: Seems you're a hero.
- Merlin: Hard to believe, isn't it?
- Gaius: No. I knew it from the moment I met you. Well, you saved my life, remember?
- Merlin: But that was magic.
- Gaius: And now it seems we've finally found a use for it.
- Merlin: What do you mean?
- Gaius: I saw how you saved Arthur's life.
- Merlin: Ah, no.
- Gaius: Perhaps that's its purpose.
- Merlin: My destiny.
- Uther Pendragon: We have enjoyed 20 years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures. But few can compare with the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora.
- Hunith: [in a handwritten letter] My dear Gaius, I turn to you for I feel lost and alone, and don't know who to trust. It is every mother's fate to think her child is special, and yet I would give my life that Merlin were not so. Ours is a small village and he is so clearly at odds with people here that if he were to remain, I fear what would become of him. He needs a hand to hold; a voice to guide; someone that might help him find a purpose for his gifts. I beg you, if you understand a mother's love for her son, keep him safe. And may God save you both.
- Gwen: [Merlin stares at Morgana] She looks great, doesn't she?
- Merlin: Yeah.
- Gwen: Some people are just born to be Queen.
- Merlin: No.
- Gwen: I hope so. One day. Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur?
- Merlin: Oh, come on, Gwen. I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save-the-world kind of men.
- Gwen: No, I like much more ordinary men like you.
- Merlin: Gwen, believe me, I'm not ordinary.
- Gwen: No, I didn't mean you. Obviously. Not you. But just, you know, I like much more ordinary men... *like* you.