INT. ARTHUR'S CHAMBERS, DAY
Merlin sits on the floor and polish the helmet. Arthur sits at the table, reads something, very concentrated. He holds his quill just above the parchment, as if he is about to write something, but still hesitates.
ARTUR
[Impatiently]
No... I really don't have anywhere to squeeze him.
MERLIN
Who?
ARTUR
Lord Redding. He's been asking for an audience for three months. I can't delay it any longer.
MERLIN
[stops polishing the helmet]
Oh, sir the excess of form over substance?
Arthur raises his eyebrows.
ARTUR
Do you know I could sentence you to a flogging for that?
MERLIN
[With an innocent face]
I'm only repeating your words, my lord. And as for the flogging... What about this procession of flagellants?
Arthur takes another parchment and runs his eyes over it.
ARTUR
They have been given permission. I see someone has signed them up for next Monday.
Merlin raises one eyebrow.
ARTUR
[With irritation]
What, I keep hearing from you, or from Guinevere, that everyone in this kingdom should have the right to express themselves, but when it comes down to it...
MERLIN]
I'm not saying anything.
ARTUR
I'm not an idiot. I understand what that face means.
MERLIN
What does the face mean?
ARTUR
That I'm an idiot.
MERLIN
[With a cheeky grin]
I'm afraid the message is a little more complex than that, but so be it.
ARTUR
For that, my message is very simple. Shut up and do what you have to do.
MERLIN
But at the next Monday...
ARTUR
I've said something. Not another word.
Merlin, with an offended face goes back to polishing the helmet. Arthur writes something, ponders a moment, crosses out.
ARTUR
[As if nothing ever happened]
They're starting to replace the cobblestones on the market on Tuesday, so I'll just have to squeeze him in somewhere on Monday, because if he rushes in there with all his retinue, he'll ruin everything and he'll even insult my people. Theoretically it could be this Monday, but then we have four executions I have to chair. But… maybe we can get the hangings done by midday. You could write Redding to come in the afternoon and, on the whole, even that would be very beneficial because, as I know him, he'll want to get back to his place for the evening, so he'll probably say what he has to say and go to hell. We won't even have to worry about dinner. What do you think?
Merlin pretends not to hear.
ARTUR
Merlin?
Merlin continues to ignore him.
ARTUR
Merlin, are you listening to me at all?
MERLIN
No. You told me to attend to my duties.
ARTUR
[With irritation]
Stop acting like a sulky girl, exert your little brain and help me.
Merlin sighs.
MERLIN
Right. At first, cross out those flagellants.
ARTUR
[angrily]
Get away from those flagellants at last!
MERLIN
[sarcastically]
Whatever you say, sire. But I'm afraid Queen Annis won't remember her visit to Camelot very well if she and her entourage get stuck in the traffic jam caused by the stone transport, Redding's retinue and the procession of flagellants.
Arthur's eyes get big with horror.
MERLIN
[gleefully]
Have you forgotten the visit of Queen Annis?
ARTUR
[Still horrified]
I've got the weeks mixed up. I don't know what kind of moron is writing everything out so obscurely. Scrawled... hieroglyphics of some kind, splashed with ink, and then you don't know who, what, when or with whom.
He looks accusingly at the parchments. Merlin smiles.
MERLIN
These are mostly your notes, my lord. And honestly, if you have similar chaos in your head, I really feel sorry for you.
ARTUR
[With frustration]
Shut up. I mean, no! No, tell me what to do now.
MERLIN
[Calmly]
Wait for developments. According to my calculations, we'll be facing another deadly threat by Monday at the latest, so this problem will go down the drain, or cease to exist at all.
Arthur has a horrified look on his face again.
MERLIN
I'm telling you, everything will be alright. Trust me.
