Arthur of the Britons (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
arthur_of_the_britons) wrote1972-12-04 08:00 am
arthur_of_the_britons) wrote1972-12-04 08:00 am
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Episode transcript: The Swordsman
Episode 2.01: The Swordsman
Writer: Terence Feely
OPENING SCENE
A wood. Sounds of weapons clashing. While his horse waits nervously nearby, Kai is defending himself with his axe, against two swordsmen. Kai manages to shove both of his attackers away.
Kai: You must know of me! I’m Kai, the Saxon who fights with Arthur.
They attack again. Kai fends them off.
Kai: A horse – have you ever seen a Saxon ride a horse?
First Swordsman: One thing we do know – the Saxon fights with the axe!
They attack Kai again. Kai kicks the First Swordsman away. While fighting the Second Swordsman, Kai slashes him across the belly, and he falls to the ground. Kai quickly knocks the First Swordsman’s sword out of his hand, but does not press his attack; the First Swordsman runs off. Kai looks down at the fallen Second Swordsman, and shakes his head regretfully.
A man on horseback, Morged, looks down on the scene through the trees, from a higher vantage point. As Kai leads his horse away, the First Swordsman approaches Morged.
First Swordsman: I’m sorry Morged – he’s too much for one of us.
Morged: You did well for me. Although he does not know it – so did he.
[OPENING CREDITS]
PART 1
In Arthur’s longhouse. Kai sits at the table, nervously turning an apple between his hands, and addressing Arthur, who is seated at the head of the table.
Kai: They surprised me just outside Morged’s camp. They took me for a Saxon – a true Saxon, one of Cerdig’s men. They would not see their error.
Llud comes to stand behind Arthur’s chair.
Llud: But Morged knew you were moving through his lands today. We were careful to send word. How could his men make a mistake like that?
Arthur: That is what concerns me. Morged was the last to accept my leadership of the alliance, and then with unshielded hate. This could be the start of his revenge.
In Morged’s village. Morged approaches the forge - where swordsman and armourer, Karn, is working on a sword - comes in, and starts working the bellows. Karn looks up.
Karn: My dues are paid for the year.
Morged: A king does not come grubbing for taxes, Karn.
Morged walks around to stand behind Karn.
Morged: I bring you a gift.
Karn: You have nothing I could want.
Karn inspects the sword he’s been working on.
Morged: Are you so sure?
Karn: I’ve already refused the highest … ‘honour’ you could offer me – to be your right arm. What more can you give?
Morged walks away.
Morged: You are a strange man, Karn. A warrior who put away his sword because there was no man left who could face him in single combat.
Karn: I take no joy in killing. To me, the contest is all.
Morged: There’s one who would give you more than a contest. The best swordsman in this land.
Karn looks up at Morged.
Karn: The second best. As I would prove, if he were not a leader of the Celts.
Karn resumes his work.
Morged: I can give him to you.
Karn looks up; Morged smiles wolfishly, and comes back to stand at Karn’s shoulder.
Morged: He is the ultimate contest, Karn. The one test you have too-long avoided.
Karn: You could arrange this?
Morged: Would you do it?
Karn: If the fight was fair, yes. But Arthur wouldn’t waste his time in a test of strength. [Pensively, he turns back to his work.] While I am free to do as I please, he is weighed down with the responsibility of leadership. He’d never agree.
Morged: [nodding] He’ll agree. The question is, can you beat him?
Karn plunges his sword into cold water, and pulls it out, sizzling.
Karn: I can beat him.
In Arthur’s longhouse. Arthur, Kai and Llud are sitting round a table laden with food. A woman, Esla, is serving them. The Trader enters.
Arthur: Not again, Trader – do you never give up?
The Trader approaches Arthur, and shows him a small knife.
Trader: I am doing you a great favour. Look! Aaah! Heh!
The Trader winks at Esla; she turns away, smiling.
Trader: For six measures of silver, this knife – mmmm! [He kisses the knife.] – is a gift from the gods.
Arthur: The gods would be insulted. [He takes the knife.] I wouldn’t give you six measures of horse-feed.
Llud chuckles. Arthur tosses the knife in the air, and catches it.
Arthur: Look at it! The metal is poor.
Trader: It’s the finest i-ron
Arthur: It has no cutting edge. The blade is round.
Arthur tosses the knife onto the table.
Trader: For strength. See … for easier concealment!
Kai picks up the knife.
Trader: A rounded blade can make it stronger.
Kai tests the strength of the blade. The Trader moves round the table towards Kai.
Trader: It was made by the finest knife-master in the Piraeus
Kai: Good to hunt the boar!
Trader: [hopefully] Ahaah!
Kai: Ahaah! You could tickle it to death.
Kai playfully pokes the Trader in the chest with the knife. The Trader looks disconcerted.
Trader: [to Arthur] You know what he’s called? The Scorpion’s Sting. [He clicks his tongue and fingers.] You can hide it in your boot. You can draw it, secretly.
Arthur: Trader. You haven’t been mooning around here for three weeks, just to sell me a knife. Have you?
Llud: I think our friend has … other interests.
Llud indicates Esla, who is behind him, preparing food, but listening in.
Arthur: Aaah! So that’s it!
Kai: He’s got an eye for Esla! Huh?
Esla turns round.
Trader: Oh please! [He chuckles, and flaps a hand.] It’s embarrassing for me.
Llud: Giving you trouble, is she?
Trader: If she was my wife, she would blossom like a flower! But she’s stubborn!
Esla looks indignant.
Trader: And like all you Celts, she cannot see what is best for her!
Esla: I know what’s best for me! And it does not include an ancient scavenger!
The Trader blows Esla a kiss. All laugh. The Sentry at the door interrupts their merriment.
Sentry: A Messenger – from King Morged.
The Messenger comes in, and approaches the table.
Messenger: King Morged sends greetings to Arthur of the West, and bids me tell him that his follower, Kai, [He points at Kai.] murdered one of the King’s men, brutally, and without just cause.
Kai gets to his feet.
Messenger: And he demands that Arthur surrenders Kai to King Morged, for immediate execution.
Kai: ‘No just cause’? What more just cause, than defending my life against his assassins?
Arthur points a finger at Kai.
Arthur: Hold your temper, Kai. Morged knows you’re not at fault. As he knows I would never offer you as a sacrifice.
Kai relaxes.
Arthur: Oh, no, no. All this is just an overture to the sting in the tail of his message.
Messenger: King Morged bids me further to tell you, that if you refuse to surrender Kai to him, then he will march at once with all his army to avenge the death of his warrior.
Llud: [Angry] Outright war against us?
Arthur picks up the Trader’s knife, and holds it upright in front of him, gripping the blade. Llud sighs.
Llud: It’s clear he hates you as much as ever …
Kai resumes his seat beside Arthur.
Llud: And it’s no surprise he would break the alliance. But to risk wholesale massacre and bloodshed …
Arthur: [quietly] He risks nothing. He’s playing a game. He is deliberately involving me in a course of action from which I cannot escape. So we will play out the game. [to the Messenger] Tell your king … that I reject and scorn his charge against Kai. Tell him also that I have no intention of allowing war to break out in the Celtic alliance and I claim the right to settle this matter by single combat. [He gestures with the hilt of the knife.] He, and I.
In Karn’s forge. It is night. Twice, in quick succession, Karn tosses an apple into the air, and slashes with his sword. Both apples lie in the mud, cut in half. Karn looks satisfied.
The next morning, in Morged’s longhouse. Morged paces past Karn, comes to a halt, and addresses the Messenger.
Morged: Is that all?
Messenger: That was all Arthur said, Sire.
With a gesture, Morged dismisses the Messenger, who goes out. Morged grins.
Morged: Did I not say, I came to you bearing gifts?
Morged picks up a small pitcher and a beaker and pours himself a drink. Karn folds his arms.
Karn: Arthur challenged you, not me.
Morged: Just so. [He sets the pitcher down decisively, and walks forward, away from Karn.] He challenged me according to the law. He’s no fool. His life’s work is the alliance of the Celtic peoples, he must choose this way.
Morged walks round the table to the side near Karn, sits down, and takes a drink.
Karn: I should leave that if I were you. A man about to meet Arthur needs a clear head – and a stronger arm than yours has ever been.
Karn makes as if to leave.
Morged: A leader challenged to combat has the right to name a warrior to fight in his place.
Karn turns back.
Karn: A champion!
Morged nods.
Morged: [animated] You! I promised you a fair fight, to which Arthur would agree. A final test, Karn.
Karn approaches Morged.
Karn: If you have a right to name a champion, so has he.
Morged shakes his head.
Morged: Arthur is burdened with a sense of pride. Something which doesn’t bother me. [He gets up and approaches Karn.] He is the best swordsman he’s got - he must win this quarrel. It will be Arthur in the sword-ring.
Karn: Good!
Karn turns to leave.
Morged: He is no ordinary warrior.
Karn stops.
Morged: He was forged into manhood by Llud.
Karn turns back once more.
Karn: I know of Llud.
Morged: Then you must know, of Arthur’s strength, for Llud did not teach him merely to wield a sword, but he taught him why he must kill, or be killed. And he is afraid of no one.
Karn nods.
Karn: I know that, also.
In Arthur’s longhouse. As Esla prepares a meal, the Trader shows her some fine fabric, and follows her from the pot to the wicker basket of greens.
Trader: But if you married me, you would have to do none of these things. You could sit, like a queen, on a throne of gold, with hibiscus in your hair.
She gives him a slight shove.
Esla: Oh, get from under my feet!
He picks up a silver necklace, and shows it to her.
Trader: Here, look, look, look! A necklace of silver, from Rhodos. [cajoling] Let me put it on for you!
He tries to put the necklace round her neck. She pushes him away.
Esla: Listen! I’ve told you – I’ve no intention of marrying a man who spends half his life at sea.
She walks away, then turns back, hands on her hips.
Esla: And the other half selling bangles, at twice their worth!
She goes out. The Trader growls in frustration. He scrunches up the necklace, dumps it in her cooking pot, turns to walk away, then then thinks better of it, and pulls it out again.
In Arthur’s longhouse. The Messenger addresses Arthur, who sits, with studied nonchalance, at the head of the table. Kai and Llud stand behind his chair.
Messenger: King Morged bids me tell you this. Three days from now, he will come to your village. He will bring with him his champion, Karn, who is the maker of arms in his village. The fight will be to the death, according to the law.
As Kai replies, he walks forward, and Llud turns his back.
Kai: Then tell this Karn to spend his time profitably, practising against the weapon of the Saxons. For as it was an axe that began this trouble, so it will be an axe that ends it.
Arthur: Tell your king that I do not choose to name a champion. I will fight.
Llud quickly turns back. The Messenger bows, and departs.
Kai: This is my fight. I will go against his man.
Arthur: [vehement] No, Kai! Morged used you. But only as an excuse to involve me. It was all very carefully planned from the beginning. He’s chosen this man, Karn, to kill me.
While he speaks, Arthur gets to his feet. Now he draws his sword, and looks at the blade as he stalks forward.
Arthur: And I fear that I must disappoint him.
Llud: On the contrary. He will probably roast seven boars at a feast to celebrate your death.
Arthur turns to look at him, somewhat startled. Kai also turns to look at him.
Llud: I know of Karn. I’ve seen his swordsmanship.
Llud draws his sword a short way from its sheath, then returns it.
Kai: [incredulous] He cannot defeat Arthur!
Arthur: [defiant] I’m better than I’ve ever been!
Llud: You are the deadliest swordsman in the land – except one. Karn.
We see Karn; he tosses an apple a short way into the air, and slices it in half with his sword before it hits the ground.
Llud: He can kill you.
Arthur looks thoughtful.
[INTERVAL]
PART 2
It is dusk. Karn is in his forge, working a bellows. Morged arrives.
Morged: Arthur has agreed!
Karn stops work.
Morged: He meets you in three days.
Karn: Where?
Morged: His village.
Karn: And the grounds?
Karn starts poking swords into his fire.
Morged: The ground?
Karn: Is it hard? Soft? Is the area sheltered by trees? If not, from which direction does the wind normally come?
Morged: [puzzled] Wind?
Karn: No matter.
Morged: I can discover this – if it will help you to kill him.
Karn: You want him dead very badly, don’t you?
Morged: There were some lands in dispute. They were mine, by right! By conquest. But he forced me to give them up. He made me out to be a fool, and coward, in front of a gathering of all the chieftains.
Karn: [dryly] Well … it’s true, isn’t it?
Morged looks indignant.
In Arthur’s longhouse. Llud walks forward to stand at Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur looks pensive. Kai listens anxiously.
Llud: Yes, you are fast. But Karn is like lightning. You are clever. He is more clever with the sword. Your mind is set on forging a Celtic alliance – he thinks only of the sword.
Llud offers Arthur a cup – Arthur shakes his head. Kai walks forward to stand at Arthur’s other shoulder.
Kai: I’ve told you, it’s my fight. What are you trying to prove? That you’re a man of stone, without fear?
Arthur shakes his head.
Arthur: I do not scorn fear. It makes men careful.
Arthur walks away from them, and starts putting on a cloak.
Arthur: Llud – I want the blacksmith to make me a sword. Tell him to work through the night if he must. The sword will be twice the weight of my own.
Kai: For the fight?
Arthur: No – practice. So when I draw my blade, two days from now, it’ll be as light as a feather.
It is night. Outside his forge, Karn sits, deep in thought. An Old Man approaches, and comes to stand before him.
Old Man: You sent for me.
Karn: The day after tomorrow, I fight Arthur.
Old Man: I’m a scholar. I know nothing of arms.
Karn: But you have spoken with Arthur.
Old Man: Oh … we have debated together the Four Last Questions. It’s a game he enjoys.
Karn: Tell me about him. I will know his mind.
The next morning. Arthur, Kai and Llud are on the practice ground, all armed with swords. Arthur is defending himself against Kai and Llud at the same time.
Arthur: Again – faster.
They continue fighting. Kai gets in a hit on Arthur’s right flank, and Arthur cries out.
Llud: Careful, Kai!
Kai briefly puts an arm around Arthur’s shoulders.
Arthur: Never careful. Karn will not hold back his blade. Come! Again!
Llud: Enough. Save your strength – you need it for tomorrow.
Arthur: What I need for tomorrow, is speed.
Llud throws an apple high in the air. Arthur slashes at it as it falls, cutting off about a quarter. Both he and Llud look worried.
Arthur: With this blade, it’s a miracle to even get a touch.
Llud looks unconvinced.
At Karn’s forge. While continuing his discussion with the Old Man, Karn is using a heavy sledge hammer, held in his right hand, to practice strength and control.
Karn: What happens to Arthur’s mind, when you press him hard?
Old Man: Becomes more dangerous.
Karn: Men with strong minds think clearly. They do not waver at the point of a sword. Is this Arthur?
Old Man: He wouldn’t waver at the point of many swords.
Karn: What happens if you make an argument he cannot answer, or does not understand?
Old Man: Confesses to it. That’s what makes him strong.
Karn thumps the sledgehammer down on the anvil.
In Arthur’s longhouse. Esla is sitting doing some needlework. The Trader peeks around a screen, raps on a trunk he is carrying, and comes in. Esla rolls her eyes.
Trader: Good morning, my little Celtic bluebird!
He sets the trunk down.
Esla: Oh, not now, have you no feeling?
Trader: Feeling …[puzzled] feeling – yes, but only for you, My Precious.
Esla: In one hour, Arthur will be at death-grips with the man he believes could kill him.
Trader: How do you know that?
Esla: Where have you been? Even the children of the village know it.
Trader: Yes, but how do you know that Arthur thinks he may not win this duel?
Esla: How do we know anything about those we love?
Trader: You may think me a rogue or a fool if you will. [He wags his finger at her, then points at his head.] But never think me a man with no mind! I have more faith in this Arthur of yours.
He picks up his trunk and leaves.
Elsewhere in Arthur’s longhouse. Arthur is readying himself for the fight. He walks forward, towards Llud. Kai also walks forward to join them. All look very serious.
Kai: Don’t forget the shoulder-swerve.
Arthur does not reply.
Kai: Arthur …
Llud gives a slight shake of his head. Arthur picks up his sword; Llud offers him sheath, and Arthur sheathes his weapon.
Morged and Karn are riding ahead of the Old Man and the Messenger, towards Arthur’s village. Morged turns to Karn.
Morged: After today, you’ll be the first man in my kingdom.
Karn continues staring straight ahead.
At the sword-ring, outside Arthur’s village. A sword stands upright in the centre. A crowd of villagers stands around the fence, waiting for the contest to begin. Arthur, Kai and Llud approach from one direction. Morged, Karn and the Messenger stand waiting on the opposite side of the ring. Arthur’s party arrives at one entrance to the ring, and comes to a halt. Arthur turns to Kai and they clasp each other’s right arm.
Arthur turns to Llud, and gives him a questioning look. Llud looks grim. He offers Arthur the hilt of his sword, and his gloved, metal hand – to shake. Arthur puts his right hand over the top of the sword hilt, touching Llud’s real hand, and draws his sword. He walks out into the sword-ring, and Karn comes to meet him. Karn looks Arthur up and down, somewhat contemptuously. The Old Man, who is officiating, steps forward.
Old Man: You know the law. Each is entitled to a sword, and a knife. You fight to the death.
Karn: Why have you no knife?
Arthur: Does it concern you?
Karn: It can only concern you.
Old Man: Step back, one pace.
Arthur and Karn step back. When they are a sword-length apart, with their swords held horizontal, pointed at each other, the Old Man takes up the sword that was standing upright in the centre of the ring, and uses it to raise both of theirs, to about 45˚, then the fight begins.
Karn drives Arthur back towards where Kai and Llud stand, and wounds him on the left arm, drawing blood. The crowd gasps. Arthur and Karn fight on, more fiercely, almost evenly-matched, though Karn seems slightly to have the upper hand.
Kai: [to Llud] Work with the heavy sword makes the difference.
Llud: [to Kai] Does it make enough difference?
The fighting continues, and intensifies, then, for a short period, they take a breather, testing each other out more tentatively. Arthur then mounts a ferocious attack, and in leaping past him, wounds Karn on the left flank.
Karn: Aargh!
The crowd gasps again. Morged and the Messenger look concerned. Arthur watches as Karn puts a hand to his wound, and glances at it. Karn then gives a slight nod, and Arthur moves in again.
Karn blinks, and - suddenly looking a bit woozy - rests the point of his sword in the mud, then quickly flicks mud at Arthur’s face. Arthur covers his eyes, and as Karn attacks again, has to defend himself blind for a few seconds; when he regains his sight, Karn continues to drive him back, and presses him against the fence.
Karn: You do not have the quickness with the sword, Arthur.
Arthur: Your words betray your fear, Karn.
Arthur heaves off him, and as Karn falls backwards, he loses his grip on his sword, which lands in the mud behind him. As he lands in the ground, he quickly draws his knife with his right hand, gets to his feet, and - keeping Arthur at bay with the knife – backs up until he can retrieve the sword, then swaps both weapons back to the preferred hand. He takes the knife behind his back as if to sheath it, then attacks again, with knife and sword, once more driving Arthur back against the fence, but this time, with his sword pointed at Arthur’s chest, and his knife near Arthur’s throat. For a moment, no one moves.
Morged: [yells] Kill him!
Karn: I have no wish to kill you. The contest is over - the victor, decided.
Arthur: Decided? And neither have I any wish to kill you.
Arthur has the knife the Trader tried to sell him, pointed at Karn’s heart. Karn looks down and sees this.
Karn: [shocked] You said you had no knife.
Arthur: I did not. I asked you if it concerned you.
Disconcerted, Karn releases his hold on Arthur, and steps back.
Arthur: So you still do not know.
Karn: Between you and I, there will be another time.
He turns and walks away. In appreciation of the contest, the Old Man starts slapping his left arm with his right, then the onlookers begin slapping the fence with their hands. As Karn walks out of the sword-ring, he stops when he reaches Morged. Morged gives Karn a look of resentment. Karn walks past him.
Kai: [to Llud] I’m wondering whose neck I most want to wring like a chicken’s – Morged’s, for his deceit and cunning, or Arthur’s, for not telling us about that knife, and making us sweat out the last moments of the fight.
Llud: Would you have the outcome any different?
Llud smiles, and Kai laughs.
Karn walks towards his horse. Arthur watches him leave.
Kai puts a hand on Llud’s shoulder.
Kai: When I have your experience, Old Warrior, perhaps I’ll also have your tolerance and understanding. In the meantime, I could kill them both!
As Karn rides off, he raises a hand in salute, and Arthur responds in kind. Llud picks up Arthur’s sword, and sheathes it, while Arthur tosses the Trader’s knife into the air, and catches it. The villagers finally cease slapping the fence. Arthur walks over to Llud and Kai, and thumps Kai on the shoulder. Kai makes as if to thump Arthur hard on the back, then just lays a hand on the back of his neck; and Llud puts a hand on Arthur’s shoulder, and they walk away, followed by the villagers.
In Arthur’s longhouse. The Trader kisses Esla’s hands, pinches her cheeks, and kisses her on the head, all the while making appreciative noises. Elsa is holding a gold ribbon, as though they have just performed a hand-fasting ceremony. Arthur comes in.
Arthur: I’m very pleased for you.
Trader: Yeah …
Esla slips away from the Trader, turns and smiles at them both, then goes out. Arthur sits down in Esla’s place.
Arthur: But how in the name of the gods did you persuade a sensible woman like that to marry you?
Trader: I promised to retire from my many travels, and grow wine, and to be an attentive husband, and never leave her side.
Arthur: Yes.
Trader: Sometimes to win in this life –
The Trader slides the knife he lent him a little way out of Arthur’s boot.
Trader: – it’s necessary to be a little devious.
He slips the knife back into Arthur’s boot.
Trader: Hmmm?
Arthur playfully pinches the Trader’s cheek, then he gets up, and heads for the curtained doorway.
Trader: The knife! You owe me six measures -
Arthur re-appears from behind the curtain.
Arthur: What was that?
Trader: I said you owe me twelve measures of silver.
Arthur takes the knife from his boot, and tosses it back to the Trader.
Arthur: Sometimes in life you can be a little too devious.
Arthur disappears behind the curtain. The Trader looks sheepish.
[ROLL THE CREDITS]
Writer: Terence Feely
OPENING SCENE
A wood. Sounds of weapons clashing. While his horse waits nervously nearby, Kai is defending himself with his axe, against two swordsmen. Kai manages to shove both of his attackers away.
Kai: You must know of me! I’m Kai, the Saxon who fights with Arthur.
They attack again. Kai fends them off.
Kai: A horse – have you ever seen a Saxon ride a horse?
First Swordsman: One thing we do know – the Saxon fights with the axe!
They attack Kai again. Kai kicks the First Swordsman away. While fighting the Second Swordsman, Kai slashes him across the belly, and he falls to the ground. Kai quickly knocks the First Swordsman’s sword out of his hand, but does not press his attack; the First Swordsman runs off. Kai looks down at the fallen Second Swordsman, and shakes his head regretfully.
A man on horseback, Morged, looks down on the scene through the trees, from a higher vantage point. As Kai leads his horse away, the First Swordsman approaches Morged.
First Swordsman: I’m sorry Morged – he’s too much for one of us.
Morged: You did well for me. Although he does not know it – so did he.
[OPENING CREDITS]
PART 1
In Arthur’s longhouse. Kai sits at the table, nervously turning an apple between his hands, and addressing Arthur, who is seated at the head of the table.
Kai: They surprised me just outside Morged’s camp. They took me for a Saxon – a true Saxon, one of Cerdig’s men. They would not see their error.
Llud comes to stand behind Arthur’s chair.
Llud: But Morged knew you were moving through his lands today. We were careful to send word. How could his men make a mistake like that?
Arthur: That is what concerns me. Morged was the last to accept my leadership of the alliance, and then with unshielded hate. This could be the start of his revenge.
In Morged’s village. Morged approaches the forge - where swordsman and armourer, Karn, is working on a sword - comes in, and starts working the bellows. Karn looks up.
Karn: My dues are paid for the year.
Morged: A king does not come grubbing for taxes, Karn.
Morged walks around to stand behind Karn.
Morged: I bring you a gift.
Karn: You have nothing I could want.
Karn inspects the sword he’s been working on.
Morged: Are you so sure?
Karn: I’ve already refused the highest … ‘honour’ you could offer me – to be your right arm. What more can you give?
Morged walks away.
Morged: You are a strange man, Karn. A warrior who put away his sword because there was no man left who could face him in single combat.
Karn: I take no joy in killing. To me, the contest is all.
Morged: There’s one who would give you more than a contest. The best swordsman in this land.
Karn looks up at Morged.
Karn: The second best. As I would prove, if he were not a leader of the Celts.
Karn resumes his work.
Morged: I can give him to you.
Karn looks up; Morged smiles wolfishly, and comes back to stand at Karn’s shoulder.
Morged: He is the ultimate contest, Karn. The one test you have too-long avoided.
Karn: You could arrange this?
Morged: Would you do it?
Karn: If the fight was fair, yes. But Arthur wouldn’t waste his time in a test of strength. [Pensively, he turns back to his work.] While I am free to do as I please, he is weighed down with the responsibility of leadership. He’d never agree.
Morged: [nodding] He’ll agree. The question is, can you beat him?
Karn plunges his sword into cold water, and pulls it out, sizzling.
Karn: I can beat him.
In Arthur’s longhouse. Arthur, Kai and Llud are sitting round a table laden with food. A woman, Esla, is serving them. The Trader enters.
Arthur: Not again, Trader – do you never give up?
The Trader approaches Arthur, and shows him a small knife.
Trader: I am doing you a great favour. Look! Aaah! Heh!
The Trader winks at Esla; she turns away, smiling.
Trader: For six measures of silver, this knife – mmmm! [He kisses the knife.] – is a gift from the gods.
Arthur: The gods would be insulted. [He takes the knife.] I wouldn’t give you six measures of horse-feed.
Llud chuckles. Arthur tosses the knife in the air, and catches it.
Arthur: Look at it! The metal is poor.
Trader: It’s the finest i-ron
Arthur: It has no cutting edge. The blade is round.
Arthur tosses the knife onto the table.
Trader: For strength. See … for easier concealment!
Kai picks up the knife.
Trader: A rounded blade can make it stronger.
Kai tests the strength of the blade. The Trader moves round the table towards Kai.
Trader: It was made by the finest knife-master in the Piraeus
Kai: Good to hunt the boar!
Trader: [hopefully] Ahaah!
Kai: Ahaah! You could tickle it to death.
Kai playfully pokes the Trader in the chest with the knife. The Trader looks disconcerted.
Trader: [to Arthur] You know what he’s called? The Scorpion’s Sting. [He clicks his tongue and fingers.] You can hide it in your boot. You can draw it, secretly.
Arthur: Trader. You haven’t been mooning around here for three weeks, just to sell me a knife. Have you?
Llud: I think our friend has … other interests.
Llud indicates Esla, who is behind him, preparing food, but listening in.
Arthur: Aaah! So that’s it!
Kai: He’s got an eye for Esla! Huh?
Esla turns round.
Trader: Oh please! [He chuckles, and flaps a hand.] It’s embarrassing for me.
Llud: Giving you trouble, is she?
Trader: If she was my wife, she would blossom like a flower! But she’s stubborn!
Esla looks indignant.
Trader: And like all you Celts, she cannot see what is best for her!
Esla: I know what’s best for me! And it does not include an ancient scavenger!
The Trader blows Esla a kiss. All laugh. The Sentry at the door interrupts their merriment.
Sentry: A Messenger – from King Morged.
The Messenger comes in, and approaches the table.
Messenger: King Morged sends greetings to Arthur of the West, and bids me tell him that his follower, Kai, [He points at Kai.] murdered one of the King’s men, brutally, and without just cause.
Kai gets to his feet.
Messenger: And he demands that Arthur surrenders Kai to King Morged, for immediate execution.
Kai: ‘No just cause’? What more just cause, than defending my life against his assassins?
Arthur points a finger at Kai.
Arthur: Hold your temper, Kai. Morged knows you’re not at fault. As he knows I would never offer you as a sacrifice.
Kai relaxes.
Arthur: Oh, no, no. All this is just an overture to the sting in the tail of his message.
Messenger: King Morged bids me further to tell you, that if you refuse to surrender Kai to him, then he will march at once with all his army to avenge the death of his warrior.
Llud: [Angry] Outright war against us?
Arthur picks up the Trader’s knife, and holds it upright in front of him, gripping the blade. Llud sighs.
Llud: It’s clear he hates you as much as ever …
Kai resumes his seat beside Arthur.
Llud: And it’s no surprise he would break the alliance. But to risk wholesale massacre and bloodshed …
Arthur: [quietly] He risks nothing. He’s playing a game. He is deliberately involving me in a course of action from which I cannot escape. So we will play out the game. [to the Messenger] Tell your king … that I reject and scorn his charge against Kai. Tell him also that I have no intention of allowing war to break out in the Celtic alliance and I claim the right to settle this matter by single combat. [He gestures with the hilt of the knife.] He, and I.
In Karn’s forge. It is night. Twice, in quick succession, Karn tosses an apple into the air, and slashes with his sword. Both apples lie in the mud, cut in half. Karn looks satisfied.
The next morning, in Morged’s longhouse. Morged paces past Karn, comes to a halt, and addresses the Messenger.
Morged: Is that all?
Messenger: That was all Arthur said, Sire.
With a gesture, Morged dismisses the Messenger, who goes out. Morged grins.
Morged: Did I not say, I came to you bearing gifts?
Morged picks up a small pitcher and a beaker and pours himself a drink. Karn folds his arms.
Karn: Arthur challenged you, not me.
Morged: Just so. [He sets the pitcher down decisively, and walks forward, away from Karn.] He challenged me according to the law. He’s no fool. His life’s work is the alliance of the Celtic peoples, he must choose this way.
Morged walks round the table to the side near Karn, sits down, and takes a drink.
Karn: I should leave that if I were you. A man about to meet Arthur needs a clear head – and a stronger arm than yours has ever been.
Karn makes as if to leave.
Morged: A leader challenged to combat has the right to name a warrior to fight in his place.
Karn turns back.
Karn: A champion!
Morged nods.
Morged: [animated] You! I promised you a fair fight, to which Arthur would agree. A final test, Karn.
Karn approaches Morged.
Karn: If you have a right to name a champion, so has he.
Morged shakes his head.
Morged: Arthur is burdened with a sense of pride. Something which doesn’t bother me. [He gets up and approaches Karn.] He is the best swordsman he’s got - he must win this quarrel. It will be Arthur in the sword-ring.
Karn: Good!
Karn turns to leave.
Morged: He is no ordinary warrior.
Karn stops.
Morged: He was forged into manhood by Llud.
Karn turns back once more.
Karn: I know of Llud.
Morged: Then you must know, of Arthur’s strength, for Llud did not teach him merely to wield a sword, but he taught him why he must kill, or be killed. And he is afraid of no one.
Karn nods.
Karn: I know that, also.
In Arthur’s longhouse. As Esla prepares a meal, the Trader shows her some fine fabric, and follows her from the pot to the wicker basket of greens.
Trader: But if you married me, you would have to do none of these things. You could sit, like a queen, on a throne of gold, with hibiscus in your hair.
She gives him a slight shove.
Esla: Oh, get from under my feet!
He picks up a silver necklace, and shows it to her.
Trader: Here, look, look, look! A necklace of silver, from Rhodos. [cajoling] Let me put it on for you!
He tries to put the necklace round her neck. She pushes him away.
Esla: Listen! I’ve told you – I’ve no intention of marrying a man who spends half his life at sea.
She walks away, then turns back, hands on her hips.
Esla: And the other half selling bangles, at twice their worth!
She goes out. The Trader growls in frustration. He scrunches up the necklace, dumps it in her cooking pot, turns to walk away, then then thinks better of it, and pulls it out again.
In Arthur’s longhouse. The Messenger addresses Arthur, who sits, with studied nonchalance, at the head of the table. Kai and Llud stand behind his chair.
Messenger: King Morged bids me tell you this. Three days from now, he will come to your village. He will bring with him his champion, Karn, who is the maker of arms in his village. The fight will be to the death, according to the law.
As Kai replies, he walks forward, and Llud turns his back.
Kai: Then tell this Karn to spend his time profitably, practising against the weapon of the Saxons. For as it was an axe that began this trouble, so it will be an axe that ends it.
Arthur: Tell your king that I do not choose to name a champion. I will fight.
Llud quickly turns back. The Messenger bows, and departs.
Kai: This is my fight. I will go against his man.
Arthur: [vehement] No, Kai! Morged used you. But only as an excuse to involve me. It was all very carefully planned from the beginning. He’s chosen this man, Karn, to kill me.
While he speaks, Arthur gets to his feet. Now he draws his sword, and looks at the blade as he stalks forward.
Arthur: And I fear that I must disappoint him.
Llud: On the contrary. He will probably roast seven boars at a feast to celebrate your death.
Arthur turns to look at him, somewhat startled. Kai also turns to look at him.
Llud: I know of Karn. I’ve seen his swordsmanship.
Llud draws his sword a short way from its sheath, then returns it.
Kai: [incredulous] He cannot defeat Arthur!
Arthur: [defiant] I’m better than I’ve ever been!
Llud: You are the deadliest swordsman in the land – except one. Karn.
We see Karn; he tosses an apple a short way into the air, and slices it in half with his sword before it hits the ground.
Llud: He can kill you.
Arthur looks thoughtful.
[INTERVAL]
PART 2
It is dusk. Karn is in his forge, working a bellows. Morged arrives.
Morged: Arthur has agreed!
Karn stops work.
Morged: He meets you in three days.
Karn: Where?
Morged: His village.
Karn: And the grounds?
Karn starts poking swords into his fire.
Morged: The ground?
Karn: Is it hard? Soft? Is the area sheltered by trees? If not, from which direction does the wind normally come?
Morged: [puzzled] Wind?
Karn: No matter.
Morged: I can discover this – if it will help you to kill him.
Karn: You want him dead very badly, don’t you?
Morged: There were some lands in dispute. They were mine, by right! By conquest. But he forced me to give them up. He made me out to be a fool, and coward, in front of a gathering of all the chieftains.
Karn: [dryly] Well … it’s true, isn’t it?
Morged looks indignant.
In Arthur’s longhouse. Llud walks forward to stand at Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur looks pensive. Kai listens anxiously.
Llud: Yes, you are fast. But Karn is like lightning. You are clever. He is more clever with the sword. Your mind is set on forging a Celtic alliance – he thinks only of the sword.
Llud offers Arthur a cup – Arthur shakes his head. Kai walks forward to stand at Arthur’s other shoulder.
Kai: I’ve told you, it’s my fight. What are you trying to prove? That you’re a man of stone, without fear?
Arthur shakes his head.
Arthur: I do not scorn fear. It makes men careful.
Arthur walks away from them, and starts putting on a cloak.
Arthur: Llud – I want the blacksmith to make me a sword. Tell him to work through the night if he must. The sword will be twice the weight of my own.
Kai: For the fight?
Arthur: No – practice. So when I draw my blade, two days from now, it’ll be as light as a feather.
It is night. Outside his forge, Karn sits, deep in thought. An Old Man approaches, and comes to stand before him.
Old Man: You sent for me.
Karn: The day after tomorrow, I fight Arthur.
Old Man: I’m a scholar. I know nothing of arms.
Karn: But you have spoken with Arthur.
Old Man: Oh … we have debated together the Four Last Questions. It’s a game he enjoys.
Karn: Tell me about him. I will know his mind.
The next morning. Arthur, Kai and Llud are on the practice ground, all armed with swords. Arthur is defending himself against Kai and Llud at the same time.
Arthur: Again – faster.
They continue fighting. Kai gets in a hit on Arthur’s right flank, and Arthur cries out.
Llud: Careful, Kai!
Kai briefly puts an arm around Arthur’s shoulders.
Arthur: Never careful. Karn will not hold back his blade. Come! Again!
Llud: Enough. Save your strength – you need it for tomorrow.
Arthur: What I need for tomorrow, is speed.
Llud throws an apple high in the air. Arthur slashes at it as it falls, cutting off about a quarter. Both he and Llud look worried.
Arthur: With this blade, it’s a miracle to even get a touch.
Llud looks unconvinced.
At Karn’s forge. While continuing his discussion with the Old Man, Karn is using a heavy sledge hammer, held in his right hand, to practice strength and control.
Karn: What happens to Arthur’s mind, when you press him hard?
Old Man: Becomes more dangerous.
Karn: Men with strong minds think clearly. They do not waver at the point of a sword. Is this Arthur?
Old Man: He wouldn’t waver at the point of many swords.
Karn: What happens if you make an argument he cannot answer, or does not understand?
Old Man: Confesses to it. That’s what makes him strong.
Karn thumps the sledgehammer down on the anvil.
In Arthur’s longhouse. Esla is sitting doing some needlework. The Trader peeks around a screen, raps on a trunk he is carrying, and comes in. Esla rolls her eyes.
Trader: Good morning, my little Celtic bluebird!
He sets the trunk down.
Esla: Oh, not now, have you no feeling?
Trader: Feeling …[puzzled] feeling – yes, but only for you, My Precious.
Esla: In one hour, Arthur will be at death-grips with the man he believes could kill him.
Trader: How do you know that?
Esla: Where have you been? Even the children of the village know it.
Trader: Yes, but how do you know that Arthur thinks he may not win this duel?
Esla: How do we know anything about those we love?
Trader: You may think me a rogue or a fool if you will. [He wags his finger at her, then points at his head.] But never think me a man with no mind! I have more faith in this Arthur of yours.
He picks up his trunk and leaves.
Elsewhere in Arthur’s longhouse. Arthur is readying himself for the fight. He walks forward, towards Llud. Kai also walks forward to join them. All look very serious.
Kai: Don’t forget the shoulder-swerve.
Arthur does not reply.
Kai: Arthur …
Llud gives a slight shake of his head. Arthur picks up his sword; Llud offers him sheath, and Arthur sheathes his weapon.
Morged and Karn are riding ahead of the Old Man and the Messenger, towards Arthur’s village. Morged turns to Karn.
Morged: After today, you’ll be the first man in my kingdom.
Karn continues staring straight ahead.
At the sword-ring, outside Arthur’s village. A sword stands upright in the centre. A crowd of villagers stands around the fence, waiting for the contest to begin. Arthur, Kai and Llud approach from one direction. Morged, Karn and the Messenger stand waiting on the opposite side of the ring. Arthur’s party arrives at one entrance to the ring, and comes to a halt. Arthur turns to Kai and they clasp each other’s right arm.
Arthur turns to Llud, and gives him a questioning look. Llud looks grim. He offers Arthur the hilt of his sword, and his gloved, metal hand – to shake. Arthur puts his right hand over the top of the sword hilt, touching Llud’s real hand, and draws his sword. He walks out into the sword-ring, and Karn comes to meet him. Karn looks Arthur up and down, somewhat contemptuously. The Old Man, who is officiating, steps forward.
Old Man: You know the law. Each is entitled to a sword, and a knife. You fight to the death.
Karn: Why have you no knife?
Arthur: Does it concern you?
Karn: It can only concern you.
Old Man: Step back, one pace.
Arthur and Karn step back. When they are a sword-length apart, with their swords held horizontal, pointed at each other, the Old Man takes up the sword that was standing upright in the centre of the ring, and uses it to raise both of theirs, to about 45˚, then the fight begins.
Karn drives Arthur back towards where Kai and Llud stand, and wounds him on the left arm, drawing blood. The crowd gasps. Arthur and Karn fight on, more fiercely, almost evenly-matched, though Karn seems slightly to have the upper hand.
Kai: [to Llud] Work with the heavy sword makes the difference.
Llud: [to Kai] Does it make enough difference?
The fighting continues, and intensifies, then, for a short period, they take a breather, testing each other out more tentatively. Arthur then mounts a ferocious attack, and in leaping past him, wounds Karn on the left flank.
Karn: Aargh!
The crowd gasps again. Morged and the Messenger look concerned. Arthur watches as Karn puts a hand to his wound, and glances at it. Karn then gives a slight nod, and Arthur moves in again.
Karn blinks, and - suddenly looking a bit woozy - rests the point of his sword in the mud, then quickly flicks mud at Arthur’s face. Arthur covers his eyes, and as Karn attacks again, has to defend himself blind for a few seconds; when he regains his sight, Karn continues to drive him back, and presses him against the fence.
Karn: You do not have the quickness with the sword, Arthur.
Arthur: Your words betray your fear, Karn.
Arthur heaves off him, and as Karn falls backwards, he loses his grip on his sword, which lands in the mud behind him. As he lands in the ground, he quickly draws his knife with his right hand, gets to his feet, and - keeping Arthur at bay with the knife – backs up until he can retrieve the sword, then swaps both weapons back to the preferred hand. He takes the knife behind his back as if to sheath it, then attacks again, with knife and sword, once more driving Arthur back against the fence, but this time, with his sword pointed at Arthur’s chest, and his knife near Arthur’s throat. For a moment, no one moves.
Morged: [yells] Kill him!
Karn: I have no wish to kill you. The contest is over - the victor, decided.
Arthur: Decided? And neither have I any wish to kill you.
Arthur has the knife the Trader tried to sell him, pointed at Karn’s heart. Karn looks down and sees this.
Karn: [shocked] You said you had no knife.
Arthur: I did not. I asked you if it concerned you.
Disconcerted, Karn releases his hold on Arthur, and steps back.
Arthur: So you still do not know.
Karn: Between you and I, there will be another time.
He turns and walks away. In appreciation of the contest, the Old Man starts slapping his left arm with his right, then the onlookers begin slapping the fence with their hands. As Karn walks out of the sword-ring, he stops when he reaches Morged. Morged gives Karn a look of resentment. Karn walks past him.
Kai: [to Llud] I’m wondering whose neck I most want to wring like a chicken’s – Morged’s, for his deceit and cunning, or Arthur’s, for not telling us about that knife, and making us sweat out the last moments of the fight.
Llud: Would you have the outcome any different?
Llud smiles, and Kai laughs.
Karn walks towards his horse. Arthur watches him leave.
Kai puts a hand on Llud’s shoulder.
Kai: When I have your experience, Old Warrior, perhaps I’ll also have your tolerance and understanding. In the meantime, I could kill them both!
As Karn rides off, he raises a hand in salute, and Arthur responds in kind. Llud picks up Arthur’s sword, and sheathes it, while Arthur tosses the Trader’s knife into the air, and catches it. The villagers finally cease slapping the fence. Arthur walks over to Llud and Kai, and thumps Kai on the shoulder. Kai makes as if to thump Arthur hard on the back, then just lays a hand on the back of his neck; and Llud puts a hand on Arthur’s shoulder, and they walk away, followed by the villagers.
In Arthur’s longhouse. The Trader kisses Esla’s hands, pinches her cheeks, and kisses her on the head, all the while making appreciative noises. Elsa is holding a gold ribbon, as though they have just performed a hand-fasting ceremony. Arthur comes in.
Arthur: I’m very pleased for you.
Trader: Yeah …
Esla slips away from the Trader, turns and smiles at them both, then goes out. Arthur sits down in Esla’s place.
Arthur: But how in the name of the gods did you persuade a sensible woman like that to marry you?
Trader: I promised to retire from my many travels, and grow wine, and to be an attentive husband, and never leave her side.
Arthur: Yes.
Trader: Sometimes to win in this life –
The Trader slides the knife he lent him a little way out of Arthur’s boot.
Trader: – it’s necessary to be a little devious.
He slips the knife back into Arthur’s boot.
Trader: Hmmm?
Arthur playfully pinches the Trader’s cheek, then he gets up, and heads for the curtained doorway.
Trader: The knife! You owe me six measures -
Arthur re-appears from behind the curtain.
Arthur: What was that?
Trader: I said you owe me twelve measures of silver.
Arthur takes the knife from his boot, and tosses it back to the Trader.
Arthur: Sometimes in life you can be a little too devious.
Arthur disappears behind the curtain. The Trader looks sheepish.
[ROLL THE CREDITS]