Episode transcript: The Pupil
Monday, 13 November 1972 08:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arthur_of_the_britonsEpisode 1.7: The Pupil
Writer: Terence Feely
OPENING SCENE
Arthur is riding towards the village. A young man, Corin, rides out of the stockade, brandishing a sword, and sets about Arthur, with more enthusiasm than expertise. Arthur defends himself, at first bemused, and then somewhat irritated.
Kai and Llud rush out of the longhouse to see what going on. Their worry turns to amusement, as Arthur effortlessly parries every attack, then unseats his attacker, who tumbles from his horse. Corin runs and picks up his sword, apparently intending to continue the attack.
Arthur: Stay! [Arthur points his sword at Corin] Who are you?
Corin: Corin.
Arthur: [with barely suppressed anger] If you intend to go around attacking people like that, I suggest you take a few lessons.
Corin: Oh, from you? That’s why I’m here. I just wanted you to see how bad I am.
Arthur smiles.
[OPENING CREDITS]
PART 1
In Arthur’s hut. A meal is set out on a low table. Arthur and Corin sit on either side. Llud stands behind Arthur. Kai sits to his left, but higher up.
Corin: Everyone knows of your reputation as a warrior, Arthur. Thought I should learn from the best.
Arthur: Couldn’t your father teach you?
Corin: Father’s dead.
Llud: What about the other men in your village?
Corin: Huh. They’re all as good as I am. As you saw for yourself earlier on, I couldn’t hold my own against a new-born calf.
Kai: This village of yours … it’s way to the north.
Corin: Across the hills. Then six – seven days’ ride.
Llud: That’s almost to the land of the Picts.
Corin: It’s close. Too close. They’re always attacking and plundering the village. And every time, we must flee to the darkness of the forest, where we can only watch, as they slaughter our livestock and burn our houses. Teach me to fight!
Arthur: You cannot learn that by sundown, it takes time.
Corin: I’ll practise night and day.
Llud: Even the greatest warrior needs sleep.
Corin: Even the greatest warrior needs help against the Picts. Teach me to fight and I will return to my village and teach them what I have learnt. Then instead of being weak sisters, we will be a granite stone in the wall of your defences.
Arthur looks to Llud, who glances towards Kai. Arthur looks at Kai, who very slightly shrugs one shoulder. Arthur grabs his sword from behind his chair, and slams it down towards Corin’s head. Corin tips himself back off his stool onto the floor, to avoid the blow.
Arthur: You’re fast. Shouldn’t take long to make a warrior of you.
Arthur puts his sword away. Kai laughs.
Outside the stockade. Corin attacks Arthur’s shield with his sword; Arthur knocks the sword from Corin’s hand.
Arthur: Stop! Your wrist is too tight. Keep it loose ... [twirls his sword] … flexible. That’ll give you control – and direction. Come!
They continue practising.
Among some trees. Corin aims at warrior-shaped target, carved into a tree-trunk, hitting the juncture of neck and shoulder.
Arthur: Here. [He taps the tree with a wooden baton, about the length of a sword.] Just here, under the breastbone.
Corin prepares to strike.
Arthur: Don’t draw back! That tells your enemy your mind. Come straight into the lunge, straighten your arm. At me, come.
Corin draws back. Arthur stops him with the end of the baton.
Arthur: Again, come.
Again, Corin draws back, and again, Arthur stops him.
Arthur: Again!
Corin does a little better this time.
Arthur: Better.
Corin lunges.
Arthur: Again!
Corin lunges.
Arthur: Good.
Corin lunges.
Arthur: Again!
Near the river. Kai, his axe-blade wrapped in cloth, is giving Corin a lesson. He gets in a strike on Corin’s ribs.
Kai: No! The axe is different from the sword. It’s heavier. Its angles of attack are less varied. But when it strikes, its bite is usually more fatal. Again.
They go at it again. Kai hits Corin on the shoulder.
Kai: You just lost an arm. You must hold your shield-arm higher.
Kai re-positions Corin’s shield.
Kai: Your shield arm should be as deft and quick as the one that holds the sword.
Kai stands back to examine Corin’s position.
Kai: Good. But the axe-man is vulnerable. To strike a blow, he must draw back his arm. And that is when he’s open. Now!
Kai draws back his arm. Corin launches an attack. Kai parries, steps aside, and hits Corin on the behind with his axe.
Corin: Oh!
Kai: [chuckles] You see? If I’d been slow on my feet, you’d have killed me. Again!
Corin attacks again.
Outside the stockade. Llud is teaching Corin, using spears with the ends wrapped, to prevent serious injury. Corin throws a spear; Llud parries with his shield.
Llud: Not bad … mustn’t let the enemy read your mind. Now see. Watch my eyes. [Llud sways a bit.] Hearh!
He throws, and his spear hits Corin in the stomach.
Llud: [chuckles] Yeah. You must anticipate. [He picks up a spear.] You tried to watch the flight of the spear. You do that with a seasoned warrior, and you’re a dead man before it leaves his hand. Now. Hah!
Llud throws a spear, and Corin parries it successfully.
Llud: Good!
Among the trees.
Arthur: Aaaaarrrghhh!
Corin watches as Arthur swings a sword around his head, knocks the helmet off one dummy, and slices the other’s helmet in two. He hands Corin the sword, and points at one of the dummies. Corin grunts and attacks one of the dummies, but fails to split the helmet.
Arthur: You had the strength, but not the angle. Try again.
Corin tries again. He still doesn’t split the helmet, but Arthur nods.
Arthur: Good.
Scenes of Corin sparring with Llud, Kai and Arthur, using various weapons, including the quarterstaff.
Inside the longhouse. Arthur relaxes; Kai sits by the fire, removing his sword-belt, while Llud hangs his on a hook.
Arthur: An hour’s practice with that youngster … feels like fighting ten battles.
Kai: He’ll be good. When his strength matches his skill, he’ll be the one to bind his axe.
Llud: And that time won’t be far off. He grazed my arm with a spear this morning.
They laugh, then hear the clang of metal on metal, coming from outside. Kai and Arthur look at Llud.
Llud: That came from the forest. Gonna wear himself out.
Llud goes out. Arthur and Kai exchange glances.
Though it is dark outside, Llud finds Corin, practising. At first, he smiles, but as he watches Corin attacking first the target tree, and then the dummies, with terrible ferocity and grunts of rage, he begins to look concerned.
It is morning. Arthur and Kai come out of their hut, readying themselves for more practice.
Llud: I tell you, there’s something wrong with the boy.
Arthur: He’s keen. Enthusiastic. Dedicated. And you can’t fault him for that.
Llud: You didn’t see him last night. I did.
Arthur: He’s made more progress than anyone of his age I’ve ever known. That’s good enough for me.
Llud looks troubled.
Arthur joins Kai and Corin on the practice ground near the river.
Arthur: You must use the sword and the shield together. Watch!
Arthur and Kai exchange a few blows.
Arthur: The shield can be a weapon too. Watch!
As they continue sparring, Corin remembers a time when he saw his father, Mordor, fighting a hooded swordsman, whom he doesn’t yet realise was Arthur.
Mordor traps Arthur’s sword, forcing him to drop it, then Arthur uses a deft movement with his foot to retrieve it. He runs Mordor through, then departs. Corin runs to his father.
Corin: Father.
Mordor: Avenge me.
Corin: Who was he, Father? Who was the man?
Mordor tries to speak but can’t.
Corin: [urgently] I didn’t see his face.
Mordor: Avenge … me. Ah … [he dies]
The sound of Arthur’s voice brings Corin back on the practice ground.
Arthur: Corin. Now you try.
Kai hands Corin a sword.
Arthur: Now. Sword and the shield together. Try and get the rhythm.
They spar.
Arthur: Come.
They exchange a few more hits, Arthur backing off.
Arthur: Relax. Try and feel the sword, it’s part of your arm now. Come.
A few more blows. Arthur looks contemptuous.
Arthur: What are you? A nursemaid?
More blows. Arthur puts his sword to Corin’s chest.
Arthur: If you can’t do better than that, I’ll send you to play with the girls.
They fight again, Corin more ferociously. Corin knocks Arthur’s sword to the ground, and holds his arm aloft in triumph.
Corin: [shouts] Victory!
With the toe of his boot, Arthur flicks the sword back into his hand, and holds the point to Corin’s chest, looking smug.
Corin’s face falls. He now knows who killed his father.
[INTERVAL]
PART 2
The following morning. Arthur is waiting to resume Corin’s training.
Arthur: Come. What are you? A tortoise?
Corin approaches, carrying two long swords. He looks dour.
Arthur: What’s the matter? No sleep last night?
Corin: I was thinking.
Corin casually throws first one sword, then the other, to the ground.
Arthur: Thought’s good in a warrior. Not if it keeps him awake.
Arthur throws Corin a short sword.
Arthur: Ha!
Corin attacks fiercely, but Arthur wins the short bout, and holds Corin at sword-point.
Arthur: Good. You mean business today. Now remember. Change the attack. Vary the angle.
As they exchange many more blows, Llud comes out of the longhouse, and watches, looking worried. Kai joins him, looking equally concerned.
Arthur and Corin stand facing each other; each now hold a knife as well as a short sword.
Arthur: What must you remember?
Corin: Look to the knife. Thrust your enemy’s sword arm upwards. Get in close, and upwards with the knife.
Corin mimes the thrusting motion.
Arthur: What else?
Corin: Always try for surprise. Ha-ah!
Corin attacks fiercely. Arthur steps aside, and catches hold of him from behind.
Arthur: Woah! You’re too good to take liberties like that now.
Arthur shoves Corin away.
Arthur: A fighting man in practice has a duty to be careful.
Corin nods.
Corin: I’m sorry.
Arthur: Now!
Corin attacks, with clear intent to wound. Arthur defends himself. Kai and Llud look on with grave concern. Eventually, Arthur trips Corin, who lands on his behind, with Arthur’s sword at his throat.
Arthur: You must expect … the unexpected. Enough for now.
Corin gets up, picks up his sword, and punches Arthur on the arm.
Corin: That trick you did yesterday, with the sword. I’d like you to show me how you do it.
Llud: Arthur …
Arthur: One moment, Llud. Well, when you’ve lost your sword, again, an unexpected move.
Arthur holds up his sword, then drops it. Corin raises his own sword high, but Arthur retrieves his weapon, and has it at Corin’s throat before Corin can bring his blade down on Arthur’s head.
Corin: Again.
Llud: [shouts] Enough!
Arthur: Enough for now. Go and practise the trick yourself. I’ll see if you’ve mastered it tomorrow.
Looking angry and flustered, Corin walks away.
Llud: I told you there was something wrong with that boy. You haven’t created a warrior to defend his people ... but a man with enough hate in his heart to kill you.
Arthur nods.
Arthur: He would have killed. But he made the same mistake … as his father.
Inside the longhouse. Arthur paces, while sharing his thoughts with Kai and Llud.
Arthur: I killed Mordor myself ... with that trick, with the sword. I remembered today, when I did that trick again. Corin came at me, with his father’s hatred and his father’s mistake. Corin’s Mordor’s son. And he knows I’m a man who killed his father.
Kai: But you slew him in battle.
Llud: That makes no difference to Corin. The young man seeks revenge. He waited till he was old enough. Then came to Arthur, to teach him to kill his father’s slayer. And then he discovered … his teacher, and the man he wanted to kill, were the same.
Kai: His father was a murderer. A butcher.
Arthur: Corin was only thirteen years old when Mordor was killed. In his eyes, his father’s a hero. And will be, whatever I say.
Llud: Then you must send him away.
Arthur: And make an enemy of him? For the rest of my life?
Kai: So what do you do? Go on training him to kill you?
Arthur nods.
Arthur: Until I can find a way to reach him ... yes.
It is evening. Arthur and Corin come into the stockade.
Arthur: Tonight we talk about the mind of the fighting man. It’s just as important as his sword-arm or his shield.
Corin sits on a bench, hands on his knees, looking as if he would prefer not to talk to Arthur at all. Arthur stands with one foot in the bench.
Arthur: Can you tell me why that is, Corin?
Corin: Because a warrior has to be cunning as well as strong.
Arthur: True. But not only that. Skill at arms brings a great responsibility with it – never to wield a sword slyly … or ignobly. Be clear in your heart [he sits beside Corin on the bench] that your cause is just. You understand that?
Corin: [unconvincingly] Yes.
Arthur: Hate and malice are bad counsellors for the fighting man. In the end, they will destroy him.
Corin: [even less convincingly] Yeah.
Arthur: If a man has a quarrel, he must state it openly ... and not strike like a snake. His enemy may have things to be said on his side, too.
Corin nods.
Corin. I see.
He gets up, picks up his sword and holds it, an end in each hand, at arm’s length.
Corin: Can we … um … practise the trick now?
Corin drops the sword.
Arthur: Very well. You’ve dropped your sword. Now pick it up.
Corin deftly retrieves his sword, and lunges at Arthur.
Corin: Aaargh!
Arthur tips himself back off the bench; Corin leaps over it, and attacks again, but trips and falls. Arthur pins him down.
In the longhouse. Llud is lying on a bed. Kai is sitting on another, doing some maintenance on his axe. Arthur paces between them.
Llud: It’s absurd. Twice today he nearly killed you. Tomorrow we’ll be digging a burial mound.
Arthur: I won’t be here tomorrow. [He pats Llud on the shoulder.] I’ve to go and see Hereward. I need you with me.
Llud: Hmm.
Arthur: Kai … you stay here. We’ll be back by nightfall.
Kai looks pensive.
Inside the longhouse. Corin is sitting by the fire. Kai enters.
Kai: We can’t have you idle, Corin. Since your normal tutor’s away, you’ve got a chance to catch up on your axe work.
Corin: Yeah.
Kai chooses an axe from a selection hanging beneath a shelf. Corin collects his shield and sword. They stand ready.
Kai: Right, now let’s see what you remember.
Kai lands two blows on Corin’s shield.
Kai: Good. Again!
They exchange a few blows, axe on shield, sword against axe.
Kai: Again!
More blows.
Kai: Again!
More blows, but with Corin retreating before Kai’s increasingly fierce onslaught.
Kai: Hah! Again! Again! Come on! Show me what you’re made of.
More blows.
Kai: Again.
More blows.
Kai: Don’t forget this move! And that one!
As he speaks, Kai knocks Corin over a table and onto the floor.
Kai: [calm, almost cheerful] You thought you’d lost an arm there.
Corin gets to his feet, and bangs a fist on the table.
Corin: Kai! What is it?
Kai: It’s different today, isn’t it? It’s always different when you’re fighting for your life.
Corin: [shocked] My life? Why?
Kai: [threatening] I’ve just found out who you are. You’re the whelp with that butcher, Mordor.
Kai advances on Corin, axe raised. Corin picks up a stool to use as a shield.
Corin: Mordor was my father, yes, but he was no butcher.
Kai punctuates his next words with axe blows, which Corin deflects with the stool.
Kai: He terrorised the whole province for five years! Killing and burning! [The stool shatters.] My God!
Corin overturns a table that stands between them.
Corin: That’s not true!
Kai advances over the upturned table. Corin backs away.
Kai: I’ll have you know of your father and the villages where he left his mark. Nothing but pain and death. Women and children slaughtered.
Kai brings his axe down on a shelf under which Corin is now cowering.
Kai: Surrender and misery.
Kai keeps up the appearance of an attack, allowing Corin to evade him.
Kai: In one of our battles he killed a very dear friend of mine. A good man … companion in many campaigns. I swore I’d be avenged against Mordor’s kin if I ever found them. I never dreamed I’d be lucky enough to find his son.
Corin lunges desperately with his sword, and, with a twisting motion of his axe, Kai knocks it from his hand.
Kai: That’s a trick I didn’t teach you.
In trying to escape, Corin trips and falls. Kai stands over him, his axe raised.
Corin: No! Wait! You say my father killed your friend in battle.
Kai: He did.
Corin: Then it was a fair fight. Your friend must have been trying to kill my father. My father killed him in a fair fight.
Kai: That’s right Corin. Just so, did Arthur kill your father.
Corin rides into view, around the corner of the longhouse. Kai, Arthur, and Llud come out to see him off.
Corin: I’m a man. You could have talked to me like a man. Didn’t need play-acting.
Llud: Yes, you are a man, Corin. But if men always thought as men, it would mean that we were already in paradise.
Corin rides slowly towards the gap in the stockade, then looks back over his shoulder.
Corin: I know I was wrong. But ask yourselves a question. If one of you were slain … what would the others do?
Corin makes a clicking sound to his horse, then rides out past the sentries, and away.
Kai: Well?
Kai looks at Arthur.
Arthur: I don’t know. You?
Kai: I don’t know. Llud?
Both look at Llud.
Llud: Vengeance? You’ll never know until you lose someone very close to you. Someone you love. And then a terrible hate burns inside you. A hate that pushes out reason … consumes you … just hate … anguish.
Llud remembers the day he found his homestead in flames, with Celts and Saxons lying dead on the ground. He kneels beside one of the Celts – a child.
Llud: Son … my son.
His son is dead. He goes to a woman lying nearby.
Llud: Wife … Wife!
He cradles her head in his hands.
Llud’s wife: [feebly] Llud. Saxons. More came. Behind the village. Llud. Llu…
She dies.
Llud: [quietly] Wife … [anguished] Wife!
Llud turns and sees a Saxon boy – young Kai – standing nearby. He gets up and goes towards the boy, sword in hand.
Llud: Where’s your father, Saxon?
Young Kai says nothing.
Llud: [yells]Where?
Young Kai flinches, and points to one of the dead Saxons. Llud makes a sound of anguish and raises his sword as if to strike the boy down.
Llud: Get back to the animals you belong to! Get back to the she-wolf who mothered you!
Llud pushes past young Kai, and walks away. Young Kai follows him. Llud turns to look at him.
Llud: Go away. Go way from me!
He walks away again. Young Kai continues to follow him. Llud turns around, raises his sword with a grunt and tries once more to strike him down, but stays his hand. Young Kai gives a nervous smile.
Llud: Is your mother alive?
Young Kai shakes his head. Llud looks at the burning village, and then back at the boy. He lowers his sword, drops it and ruffles the boy’s hair. Young Kai smiles.
Back in the present: Kai is looking thoughtful, evidently remembering the same scene.
Llud: Would I kill for vengeance?
Llud smiles, goes to Kai, and puts a hand on his shoulder.
Llud: I answered that question a long time ago.
Llud and Kai put an arm around each other. Llud puts another arm over Arthur’s shoulder, and they all go inside.
Corin is riding home. He turns to see Arthur galloping after him, with his sword drawn. Corin draws his sword. Arthur rides past and attacks him. Corin defends himself successfully. Arthur sheathes his sword and approaches. Corin smiles, and sheathes his sword.
Arthur: I just wanted to make sure you’ve remembered everything I’d taught you.
Corin: Just as well I did. You didn’t ride all the way out here just to test me?
Arthur: No. I came to continue the lessons. I will ride with you as far as your village.
Corin: My lessons?
Arthur: You have learnt only the half of it. I taught you how to fight. Now you must learn when, and why. Then you’ll be a man.
They ride off together.
[ROLL THE CREDITS]
Writer: Terence Feely
OPENING SCENE
Arthur is riding towards the village. A young man, Corin, rides out of the stockade, brandishing a sword, and sets about Arthur, with more enthusiasm than expertise. Arthur defends himself, at first bemused, and then somewhat irritated.
Kai and Llud rush out of the longhouse to see what going on. Their worry turns to amusement, as Arthur effortlessly parries every attack, then unseats his attacker, who tumbles from his horse. Corin runs and picks up his sword, apparently intending to continue the attack.
Arthur: Stay! [Arthur points his sword at Corin] Who are you?
Corin: Corin.
Arthur: [with barely suppressed anger] If you intend to go around attacking people like that, I suggest you take a few lessons.
Corin: Oh, from you? That’s why I’m here. I just wanted you to see how bad I am.
Arthur smiles.
[OPENING CREDITS]
PART 1
In Arthur’s hut. A meal is set out on a low table. Arthur and Corin sit on either side. Llud stands behind Arthur. Kai sits to his left, but higher up.
Corin: Everyone knows of your reputation as a warrior, Arthur. Thought I should learn from the best.
Arthur: Couldn’t your father teach you?
Corin: Father’s dead.
Llud: What about the other men in your village?
Corin: Huh. They’re all as good as I am. As you saw for yourself earlier on, I couldn’t hold my own against a new-born calf.
Kai: This village of yours … it’s way to the north.
Corin: Across the hills. Then six – seven days’ ride.
Llud: That’s almost to the land of the Picts.
Corin: It’s close. Too close. They’re always attacking and plundering the village. And every time, we must flee to the darkness of the forest, where we can only watch, as they slaughter our livestock and burn our houses. Teach me to fight!
Arthur: You cannot learn that by sundown, it takes time.
Corin: I’ll practise night and day.
Llud: Even the greatest warrior needs sleep.
Corin: Even the greatest warrior needs help against the Picts. Teach me to fight and I will return to my village and teach them what I have learnt. Then instead of being weak sisters, we will be a granite stone in the wall of your defences.
Arthur looks to Llud, who glances towards Kai. Arthur looks at Kai, who very slightly shrugs one shoulder. Arthur grabs his sword from behind his chair, and slams it down towards Corin’s head. Corin tips himself back off his stool onto the floor, to avoid the blow.
Arthur: You’re fast. Shouldn’t take long to make a warrior of you.
Arthur puts his sword away. Kai laughs.
Outside the stockade. Corin attacks Arthur’s shield with his sword; Arthur knocks the sword from Corin’s hand.
Arthur: Stop! Your wrist is too tight. Keep it loose ... [twirls his sword] … flexible. That’ll give you control – and direction. Come!
They continue practising.
Among some trees. Corin aims at warrior-shaped target, carved into a tree-trunk, hitting the juncture of neck and shoulder.
Arthur: Here. [He taps the tree with a wooden baton, about the length of a sword.] Just here, under the breastbone.
Corin prepares to strike.
Arthur: Don’t draw back! That tells your enemy your mind. Come straight into the lunge, straighten your arm. At me, come.
Corin draws back. Arthur stops him with the end of the baton.
Arthur: Again, come.
Again, Corin draws back, and again, Arthur stops him.
Arthur: Again!
Corin does a little better this time.
Arthur: Better.
Corin lunges.
Arthur: Again!
Corin lunges.
Arthur: Good.
Corin lunges.
Arthur: Again!
Near the river. Kai, his axe-blade wrapped in cloth, is giving Corin a lesson. He gets in a strike on Corin’s ribs.
Kai: No! The axe is different from the sword. It’s heavier. Its angles of attack are less varied. But when it strikes, its bite is usually more fatal. Again.
They go at it again. Kai hits Corin on the shoulder.
Kai: You just lost an arm. You must hold your shield-arm higher.
Kai re-positions Corin’s shield.
Kai: Your shield arm should be as deft and quick as the one that holds the sword.
Kai stands back to examine Corin’s position.
Kai: Good. But the axe-man is vulnerable. To strike a blow, he must draw back his arm. And that is when he’s open. Now!
Kai draws back his arm. Corin launches an attack. Kai parries, steps aside, and hits Corin on the behind with his axe.
Corin: Oh!
Kai: [chuckles] You see? If I’d been slow on my feet, you’d have killed me. Again!
Corin attacks again.
Outside the stockade. Llud is teaching Corin, using spears with the ends wrapped, to prevent serious injury. Corin throws a spear; Llud parries with his shield.
Llud: Not bad … mustn’t let the enemy read your mind. Now see. Watch my eyes. [Llud sways a bit.] Hearh!
He throws, and his spear hits Corin in the stomach.
Llud: [chuckles] Yeah. You must anticipate. [He picks up a spear.] You tried to watch the flight of the spear. You do that with a seasoned warrior, and you’re a dead man before it leaves his hand. Now. Hah!
Llud throws a spear, and Corin parries it successfully.
Llud: Good!
Among the trees.
Arthur: Aaaaarrrghhh!
Corin watches as Arthur swings a sword around his head, knocks the helmet off one dummy, and slices the other’s helmet in two. He hands Corin the sword, and points at one of the dummies. Corin grunts and attacks one of the dummies, but fails to split the helmet.
Arthur: You had the strength, but not the angle. Try again.
Corin tries again. He still doesn’t split the helmet, but Arthur nods.
Arthur: Good.
Scenes of Corin sparring with Llud, Kai and Arthur, using various weapons, including the quarterstaff.
Inside the longhouse. Arthur relaxes; Kai sits by the fire, removing his sword-belt, while Llud hangs his on a hook.
Arthur: An hour’s practice with that youngster … feels like fighting ten battles.
Kai: He’ll be good. When his strength matches his skill, he’ll be the one to bind his axe.
Llud: And that time won’t be far off. He grazed my arm with a spear this morning.
They laugh, then hear the clang of metal on metal, coming from outside. Kai and Arthur look at Llud.
Llud: That came from the forest. Gonna wear himself out.
Llud goes out. Arthur and Kai exchange glances.
Though it is dark outside, Llud finds Corin, practising. At first, he smiles, but as he watches Corin attacking first the target tree, and then the dummies, with terrible ferocity and grunts of rage, he begins to look concerned.
It is morning. Arthur and Kai come out of their hut, readying themselves for more practice.
Llud: I tell you, there’s something wrong with the boy.
Arthur: He’s keen. Enthusiastic. Dedicated. And you can’t fault him for that.
Llud: You didn’t see him last night. I did.
Arthur: He’s made more progress than anyone of his age I’ve ever known. That’s good enough for me.
Llud looks troubled.
Arthur joins Kai and Corin on the practice ground near the river.
Arthur: You must use the sword and the shield together. Watch!
Arthur and Kai exchange a few blows.
Arthur: The shield can be a weapon too. Watch!
As they continue sparring, Corin remembers a time when he saw his father, Mordor, fighting a hooded swordsman, whom he doesn’t yet realise was Arthur.
Mordor traps Arthur’s sword, forcing him to drop it, then Arthur uses a deft movement with his foot to retrieve it. He runs Mordor through, then departs. Corin runs to his father.
Corin: Father.
Mordor: Avenge me.
Corin: Who was he, Father? Who was the man?
Mordor tries to speak but can’t.
Corin: [urgently] I didn’t see his face.
Mordor: Avenge … me. Ah … [he dies]
The sound of Arthur’s voice brings Corin back on the practice ground.
Arthur: Corin. Now you try.
Kai hands Corin a sword.
Arthur: Now. Sword and the shield together. Try and get the rhythm.
They spar.
Arthur: Come.
They exchange a few more hits, Arthur backing off.
Arthur: Relax. Try and feel the sword, it’s part of your arm now. Come.
A few more blows. Arthur looks contemptuous.
Arthur: What are you? A nursemaid?
More blows. Arthur puts his sword to Corin’s chest.
Arthur: If you can’t do better than that, I’ll send you to play with the girls.
They fight again, Corin more ferociously. Corin knocks Arthur’s sword to the ground, and holds his arm aloft in triumph.
Corin: [shouts] Victory!
With the toe of his boot, Arthur flicks the sword back into his hand, and holds the point to Corin’s chest, looking smug.
Corin’s face falls. He now knows who killed his father.
[INTERVAL]
PART 2
The following morning. Arthur is waiting to resume Corin’s training.
Arthur: Come. What are you? A tortoise?
Corin approaches, carrying two long swords. He looks dour.
Arthur: What’s the matter? No sleep last night?
Corin: I was thinking.
Corin casually throws first one sword, then the other, to the ground.
Arthur: Thought’s good in a warrior. Not if it keeps him awake.
Arthur throws Corin a short sword.
Arthur: Ha!
Corin attacks fiercely, but Arthur wins the short bout, and holds Corin at sword-point.
Arthur: Good. You mean business today. Now remember. Change the attack. Vary the angle.
As they exchange many more blows, Llud comes out of the longhouse, and watches, looking worried. Kai joins him, looking equally concerned.
Arthur and Corin stand facing each other; each now hold a knife as well as a short sword.
Arthur: What must you remember?
Corin: Look to the knife. Thrust your enemy’s sword arm upwards. Get in close, and upwards with the knife.
Corin mimes the thrusting motion.
Arthur: What else?
Corin: Always try for surprise. Ha-ah!
Corin attacks fiercely. Arthur steps aside, and catches hold of him from behind.
Arthur: Woah! You’re too good to take liberties like that now.
Arthur shoves Corin away.
Arthur: A fighting man in practice has a duty to be careful.
Corin nods.
Corin: I’m sorry.
Arthur: Now!
Corin attacks, with clear intent to wound. Arthur defends himself. Kai and Llud look on with grave concern. Eventually, Arthur trips Corin, who lands on his behind, with Arthur’s sword at his throat.
Arthur: You must expect … the unexpected. Enough for now.
Corin gets up, picks up his sword, and punches Arthur on the arm.
Corin: That trick you did yesterday, with the sword. I’d like you to show me how you do it.
Llud: Arthur …
Arthur: One moment, Llud. Well, when you’ve lost your sword, again, an unexpected move.
Arthur holds up his sword, then drops it. Corin raises his own sword high, but Arthur retrieves his weapon, and has it at Corin’s throat before Corin can bring his blade down on Arthur’s head.
Corin: Again.
Llud: [shouts] Enough!
Arthur: Enough for now. Go and practise the trick yourself. I’ll see if you’ve mastered it tomorrow.
Looking angry and flustered, Corin walks away.
Llud: I told you there was something wrong with that boy. You haven’t created a warrior to defend his people ... but a man with enough hate in his heart to kill you.
Arthur nods.
Arthur: He would have killed. But he made the same mistake … as his father.
Inside the longhouse. Arthur paces, while sharing his thoughts with Kai and Llud.
Arthur: I killed Mordor myself ... with that trick, with the sword. I remembered today, when I did that trick again. Corin came at me, with his father’s hatred and his father’s mistake. Corin’s Mordor’s son. And he knows I’m a man who killed his father.
Kai: But you slew him in battle.
Llud: That makes no difference to Corin. The young man seeks revenge. He waited till he was old enough. Then came to Arthur, to teach him to kill his father’s slayer. And then he discovered … his teacher, and the man he wanted to kill, were the same.
Kai: His father was a murderer. A butcher.
Arthur: Corin was only thirteen years old when Mordor was killed. In his eyes, his father’s a hero. And will be, whatever I say.
Llud: Then you must send him away.
Arthur: And make an enemy of him? For the rest of my life?
Kai: So what do you do? Go on training him to kill you?
Arthur nods.
Arthur: Until I can find a way to reach him ... yes.
It is evening. Arthur and Corin come into the stockade.
Arthur: Tonight we talk about the mind of the fighting man. It’s just as important as his sword-arm or his shield.
Corin sits on a bench, hands on his knees, looking as if he would prefer not to talk to Arthur at all. Arthur stands with one foot in the bench.
Arthur: Can you tell me why that is, Corin?
Corin: Because a warrior has to be cunning as well as strong.
Arthur: True. But not only that. Skill at arms brings a great responsibility with it – never to wield a sword slyly … or ignobly. Be clear in your heart [he sits beside Corin on the bench] that your cause is just. You understand that?
Corin: [unconvincingly] Yes.
Arthur: Hate and malice are bad counsellors for the fighting man. In the end, they will destroy him.
Corin: [even less convincingly] Yeah.
Arthur: If a man has a quarrel, he must state it openly ... and not strike like a snake. His enemy may have things to be said on his side, too.
Corin nods.
Corin. I see.
He gets up, picks up his sword and holds it, an end in each hand, at arm’s length.
Corin: Can we … um … practise the trick now?
Corin drops the sword.
Arthur: Very well. You’ve dropped your sword. Now pick it up.
Corin deftly retrieves his sword, and lunges at Arthur.
Corin: Aaargh!
Arthur tips himself back off the bench; Corin leaps over it, and attacks again, but trips and falls. Arthur pins him down.
In the longhouse. Llud is lying on a bed. Kai is sitting on another, doing some maintenance on his axe. Arthur paces between them.
Llud: It’s absurd. Twice today he nearly killed you. Tomorrow we’ll be digging a burial mound.
Arthur: I won’t be here tomorrow. [He pats Llud on the shoulder.] I’ve to go and see Hereward. I need you with me.
Llud: Hmm.
Arthur: Kai … you stay here. We’ll be back by nightfall.
Kai looks pensive.
Inside the longhouse. Corin is sitting by the fire. Kai enters.
Kai: We can’t have you idle, Corin. Since your normal tutor’s away, you’ve got a chance to catch up on your axe work.
Corin: Yeah.
Kai chooses an axe from a selection hanging beneath a shelf. Corin collects his shield and sword. They stand ready.
Kai: Right, now let’s see what you remember.
Kai lands two blows on Corin’s shield.
Kai: Good. Again!
They exchange a few blows, axe on shield, sword against axe.
Kai: Again!
More blows.
Kai: Again!
More blows, but with Corin retreating before Kai’s increasingly fierce onslaught.
Kai: Hah! Again! Again! Come on! Show me what you’re made of.
More blows.
Kai: Again.
More blows.
Kai: Don’t forget this move! And that one!
As he speaks, Kai knocks Corin over a table and onto the floor.
Kai: [calm, almost cheerful] You thought you’d lost an arm there.
Corin gets to his feet, and bangs a fist on the table.
Corin: Kai! What is it?
Kai: It’s different today, isn’t it? It’s always different when you’re fighting for your life.
Corin: [shocked] My life? Why?
Kai: [threatening] I’ve just found out who you are. You’re the whelp with that butcher, Mordor.
Kai advances on Corin, axe raised. Corin picks up a stool to use as a shield.
Corin: Mordor was my father, yes, but he was no butcher.
Kai punctuates his next words with axe blows, which Corin deflects with the stool.
Kai: He terrorised the whole province for five years! Killing and burning! [The stool shatters.] My God!
Corin overturns a table that stands between them.
Corin: That’s not true!
Kai advances over the upturned table. Corin backs away.
Kai: I’ll have you know of your father and the villages where he left his mark. Nothing but pain and death. Women and children slaughtered.
Kai brings his axe down on a shelf under which Corin is now cowering.
Kai: Surrender and misery.
Kai keeps up the appearance of an attack, allowing Corin to evade him.
Kai: In one of our battles he killed a very dear friend of mine. A good man … companion in many campaigns. I swore I’d be avenged against Mordor’s kin if I ever found them. I never dreamed I’d be lucky enough to find his son.
Corin lunges desperately with his sword, and, with a twisting motion of his axe, Kai knocks it from his hand.
Kai: That’s a trick I didn’t teach you.
In trying to escape, Corin trips and falls. Kai stands over him, his axe raised.
Corin: No! Wait! You say my father killed your friend in battle.
Kai: He did.
Corin: Then it was a fair fight. Your friend must have been trying to kill my father. My father killed him in a fair fight.
Kai: That’s right Corin. Just so, did Arthur kill your father.
Corin rides into view, around the corner of the longhouse. Kai, Arthur, and Llud come out to see him off.
Corin: I’m a man. You could have talked to me like a man. Didn’t need play-acting.
Llud: Yes, you are a man, Corin. But if men always thought as men, it would mean that we were already in paradise.
Corin rides slowly towards the gap in the stockade, then looks back over his shoulder.
Corin: I know I was wrong. But ask yourselves a question. If one of you were slain … what would the others do?
Corin makes a clicking sound to his horse, then rides out past the sentries, and away.
Kai: Well?
Kai looks at Arthur.
Arthur: I don’t know. You?
Kai: I don’t know. Llud?
Both look at Llud.
Llud: Vengeance? You’ll never know until you lose someone very close to you. Someone you love. And then a terrible hate burns inside you. A hate that pushes out reason … consumes you … just hate … anguish.
Llud remembers the day he found his homestead in flames, with Celts and Saxons lying dead on the ground. He kneels beside one of the Celts – a child.
Llud: Son … my son.
His son is dead. He goes to a woman lying nearby.
Llud: Wife … Wife!
He cradles her head in his hands.
Llud’s wife: [feebly] Llud. Saxons. More came. Behind the village. Llud. Llu…
She dies.
Llud: [quietly] Wife … [anguished] Wife!
Llud turns and sees a Saxon boy – young Kai – standing nearby. He gets up and goes towards the boy, sword in hand.
Llud: Where’s your father, Saxon?
Young Kai says nothing.
Llud: [yells]Where?
Young Kai flinches, and points to one of the dead Saxons. Llud makes a sound of anguish and raises his sword as if to strike the boy down.
Llud: Get back to the animals you belong to! Get back to the she-wolf who mothered you!
Llud pushes past young Kai, and walks away. Young Kai follows him. Llud turns to look at him.
Llud: Go away. Go way from me!
He walks away again. Young Kai continues to follow him. Llud turns around, raises his sword with a grunt and tries once more to strike him down, but stays his hand. Young Kai gives a nervous smile.
Llud: Is your mother alive?
Young Kai shakes his head. Llud looks at the burning village, and then back at the boy. He lowers his sword, drops it and ruffles the boy’s hair. Young Kai smiles.
Back in the present: Kai is looking thoughtful, evidently remembering the same scene.
Llud: Would I kill for vengeance?
Llud smiles, goes to Kai, and puts a hand on his shoulder.
Llud: I answered that question a long time ago.
Llud and Kai put an arm around each other. Llud puts another arm over Arthur’s shoulder, and they all go inside.
Corin is riding home. He turns to see Arthur galloping after him, with his sword drawn. Corin draws his sword. Arthur rides past and attacks him. Corin defends himself successfully. Arthur sheathes his sword and approaches. Corin smiles, and sheathes his sword.
Arthur: I just wanted to make sure you’ve remembered everything I’d taught you.
Corin: Just as well I did. You didn’t ride all the way out here just to test me?
Arthur: No. I came to continue the lessons. I will ride with you as far as your village.
Corin: My lessons?
Arthur: You have learnt only the half of it. I taught you how to fight. Now you must learn when, and why. Then you’ll be a man.
They ride off together.
[ROLL THE CREDITS]