EPISODE 31
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DINADAN :
Sorry about this, Mordred.
It's not the merriest place right now.
But Estrangore is pretty, isn’t it?
MORDRED :
Yes…
Even if I'd hate to impose…
DINADAN :
Don’t you worry, I’m glad to have you here. Your usual expression suits the mood better than mine.
MORDRED :
[ sighs]
DINADAN :
What, that’s it? A vaguely annoyed sigh?
Got something else on your mind?
MORDRED :
I’ve gone to see my father’s final resting place a few times in Lothian, so I’m wondering
what it feels like to visit a loved one's grave.
DINADAN :
I’m surprised you’d go to see the grave of someone you’ve never met.
MORDRED :
It’s a matter of respect.
DINADAN :
Not respect for the dearly departed, though, is it?
MORDRED :
…Maybe.
It must be different for you, though, since you knew your father.
DINADAN :
…
…Yeah.
…It’s complicated.
I don’t know whether it’s coming back here or seeing my brother in this state that did it, but
I mostly feel bad that I wasn’t here for him.
The last few days must’ve been really tough on him.
I can understand why he’d resent me.
BRUNOR :
If you’re done chatting, we’ve got an investigation to conduct.
Go saddle your mare.
DINADAN :
What, don’t you want to have a peaceful talk indoors with your evidence?
BRUNOR :
The sooner we get to the scene, the sooner you can get back to Arthur’s side.
Isn’t that what you want?
DINADAN :
Don’t get started…
[ brunor storms off in a huff ]
DINADAN :
I swear, he’s actually the sweetest.
[ mordred is concerned. ]
C’mon, it’ll be fine, you’ll see!
GALAHAD :
You look pleased, Percy!
PERCIVAL (radiant) :
Oh, yes! Feels like I haven’t left Camelot in forever.
Seeing the forest, the valleys again, without a big, noisy crowd around...
It's really peaceful!
GALAHAD :
That’s true, you are from the countryside!
Big crowds must be pretty uncommon there.
…Speaking of which,
what happened at the banquet⎯is that normal?
PERCIVAL :
…Yeah, I’ve always been like this.
It’s just been happening more often since I arrived in Camelot. When there’s too much noise at once, I don’t know what to focus on anymore, and I think…
…that my brain overheats?
GALAHAD :
Good thing Mordred was there, right?
He knew what to do right away.
PERCIVAL :
Yeah, he did.
I kind of ruined our reunion, too.
I was happy to see you,
and you looked so pretty in that dress.
GALAHAD :
Oh, you flatterer.
It was too big for me, Sir Bors gifted it to me at the last minute.
PERCIVAL :
By the way, I meant to ask you⎯
TRISTAN :
Finally!
This landscape, these granites…
Cornwall, here we come!
Just a few more hours and we’ll be in Tintagel and⎯
BORS :
Oh, but we should go to the lake first.
If the Lady of the Lake is there, she’ll give us a warm welcome.
TRISTAN :
…Yes, Bors…
That… would be…
great…
( Ugh. )
BORS :
Isn’t it more practical than going straight to Tintagel?
TRISTAN :
(morose)
… Yes…
PERCIVAL :
( It’s true that seeing Sir Tristan so enthusiastic makes me glad.
He’s so eager to see Iseult again, and praised her to high heavens the whole way here.
Being in Galahad’s company again was also really nice, since her good cheer’s contagious. )
GALAHAD :
We’ll be there soon, sir!
PERCIVAL :
( And…
Sir Bors.
I had a hard time figuring him out, at first. He gives the impression of someone cold, distant and melancholy.
But, the truth is…)
BORS :
Yes, Percival?
Would you perhaps like a scone?
PERCIVAL :
( He’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met. )
BORS [searching through his bags] :
Do you want one too, honey?
GALAHAD :
No thanks!
PERCIVAL :
( All of his interactions with Galahad are so full of care. )
BORS :
I have a hard time believing simple scones are your favorite pastries.
Good! I’ll tell Kay you enjoyed his baking.
[ percy joins tristan in being depressed ]
BORS :
Oh, uh…?
PERCIVAL :
( Sir Bors is cousin to Lancelot du Lac,
whose name comes from the Lady of the Lake.
He’s also got a connection to her, and thinks he knows where to find her.
One of these places is… )
BORS :
Here we are⎯Dozmary Pool.
TRISTAN :
I can’t see much of anything with this fog.
BORS :
Oh, I don’t need to be able to see to lead you from here on out.
TRISTAN :
So the Lady of the Lake lives here? Underwater?
BORS :
Oh, you don’t seem surprised.
PERCIVAL :
My mother told me about lake-dwelling fairies.
In Welsh, they’re called gwragedd annwn.
My mother said they look very much like human women,
and go after men to marry them and steal their children.
BORS :
I cannot speak for other lake-dwelling fairies,
but Viviane truly did save us by taking us in. She’s always been good and kind to us.
Let me call on her.
…
…Looks like she’s not here. She usually is at this time of the year, though…
PERCIVAL :
( The fog looks like it’s growing…thicker? )
TRISTAN :
I see something on the water. There, it's getting closer.
Looks like a horse…?
BORS :
Viviane has one.
Mother?
Is that you?
DINADAN :
Hey, Brunor.
Where are we going?
Fifi’s starting to get tired.
BRUNOR :
Where I found the body. There’ll probably be some clues to support my claim there.
DINADAN :
What happened, exactly? And why are you accusing Bors?
BRUNOR :
Dad left with a squire early in the morning to go hunting.
A few hours later, the squire returned in full gallop.
He was in shock, covered in blood.
He died in the arms of the stable boy.
I rushed out,
and found our father lying in a pool of his own blood,
agonizing.
He managed to tell me he’d been attacked by a child of Gaunes.
DINADAN :
Is that your evidence?
BRUNOR :
No.
I found this, stuck in the ground next to him.
There’s the crest of Benwick and Gaunes on the pommel.
Given the tensions between our father and all those French lords after he was knighted,
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they sent an assassin after him.
DINADAN :
Ban and Bors the Elder are dead, you know.
BRUNOR :
I know.
DINADAN :
So in their absence, you’re accusing Bors the Younger?
BRUNOR :
Exactly.
You should know all about generational grievances,
especially given the squire you’re dragging around.
No offense, kid.
But your family’s not the only one involved in stupid quarrels.
DINADAN :
You’re exaggerating, Brunor, we’re not really on bad terms.
Actually,
I know this dagger.
It belonged to Bors’ brother, Lionel.
Lionel was buried with all his weapons
here in Estrangore, close to Manchester.
Maybe we should go check that out instead.
BRUNOR :
Check what out?
You think someone robbed his grave to take his weapons?
What for, exactly?
DINADAN :
I have no idea, but it’s either that, or⎯
BRUNOR :
No.
DINADAN :
What?
BRUNOR :
Lionel didn’t come back to life.
DINADAN :
I didn’t say anything!
BRUNOR :
But you were thinking it.
DINADAN :
It’s just⎯I’ve seen some weird things recently.
And honestly, it’s not any dumber than accusing Bors.
BRUNOR :
How so?
DINADAN :
Because either Lionel came back from the dread…
or Dad, the Good Knight Without Fear, slayer of the warrior giant Nabon, et cetera…
…was killed by a knight who hasn’t held a sword in three years.
You see, Bors
hasn’t been able to pick up his sword
since the day he killed his brother Lionel.
ROUND TABLE TRIVIA
Britain’s fauna has a few oddities among its ranks : magical creatures.
They come from the Otherworld, are very rare, and often dangerous and/or man-eaters.
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