Merlin (TV Series)

The Dragon's Call (2008)

Richard Wilson: Gaius

Quotes 

• 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.

• 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.

• Gaius : [spilling a bucket of water to test Merlin's powers]  How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind?

  Merlin : I don't know any spells.

  Gaius : So what did you do? There must be something.

  Merlin : It just happens.

  Gaius : Well, we'd better keep you out of trouble.

• 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.

• Merlin : You don't know why I was born like this, do you?

  Gaius : No.

  Merlin : I'm not a monster, am I?

  Gaius : Don't ever think that.

  Merlin : But then why am I like this? Please, I need to know why.

  Gaius : Maybe there's someone with more knowledge than me.

  Merlin : If you can't tell me, no one can.

• 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.

• 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.

• Gaius : This book was given to me when I was your age. But I have a feeling it will be of more use to you than it was for me.

  Merlin : [opening and flipping through it]  But this is a book of magic.

  Gaius : Which is why you must keep it hidden.

  Merlin : I will study every word.