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The Witcher – S02E08 – Family | Transcript

The Witcher - Season 2

Original release date: December 17, 2021

A possessed Ciri begins killing witchers in their sleep at Kaer Morhen. The remaining witchers, Yennefer, and Jaskier plan on expelling Voleth Meir from Ciri. Voleth Meir uses Ciri’s power to uncover a monolith hidden in the hall, then portals in monsters. Geralt and Vesemir attempt to contain Ciri while the rest of the witchers battle the monsters. Blaming the Northern Kingdoms for the loss of her newborn, Francesca kills human babies in Redania. Yennefer offers herself up as a host for Voleth Meir, freeing Ciri from its control. Ciri transports Geralt and Yennefer to an unknown world where Voleth Meir leaves Yennefer’s body. Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri glimpse the Wild Hunt, who plan to abduct Ciri. Back at Kaer Morhen, Yennefer finds that her powers have returned. Geralt realizes Ciri cannot stay at Kaer Morhen. Deducing that Vizimir is after Ciri, the Brotherhood and the remaining Northern monarchs put a bounty on Ciri and her protectors. Istredd tells Francesca of Ciri’s Elder blood; Francesca realizes she is the elves’ hope. Emhyr, revealed to be Duny, arrives at Cintra; he discloses that he had Francesca’s newborn killed, and orders Fringilla and Cahir arrested.

* * *

[murmur of conversation]

[trumpets playing fanfare]

[door opens]

[Mousesack] Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, do you think this a joke?

I said there’d be hell to pay…

Mousesack.

…If you weren’t ready by the sound of those trumpets.

Did you think I was joking?

If there are dirty knucklebones in your pockets, gods help you.

[lively music playing outside]

Is this a dream?

It’s gonna be a nightmare if you don’t rub that sleep from your eyes and get moving!

The knighting ceremony started 20 minutes ago, and your grandmother has your dance card full.

My grandmother?

Yes. Her jaw is doing that…

Twitchy thing, you know the one.

What the fuck’s going on?

Watch your mouth, Princess.

What are you doing?

[faint whispering]

It’s really you.

She’s gone mad.

Banquet in full swing, she’s gone mad. You know what?

This…

[cheering and applause outside]

…doesn’t matter.

Let’s go.

[rhythmic, courtly music]

[gasps]

[Yennefer] Geralt!

Geralt!

Geralt.

Listen to me.

[Geralt] You betrayed us.

Geralt, please. It’s not what you think! Let me explain.

Before Voleth Meir showed me her true self, she came to me as a girl.

Some fucked-up version of myself.

Yes, she feeds on pain!

But everyone on this Continent is in pain.

Voleth Meir is more personal than that. She’s more specific.

Explain.

She finds your weakness, the gaping wound in your heart, the thing that makes you feel hopeless, and she plunges her finger into it and makes it hurt so badly, you’d do anything.

Like sacrificing an innocent child.

Yes. Except I couldn’t do it!

Geralt,

I know this means nothing to you, but I understand now how special she is!

When Chaos left me, I never thought that I’d feel that spark, that… life again, but Ciri, she radiates it.

At Melitele’s, when I helped her control it, when she opened that portal under my direction, I felt like…

Like…

I know how it feels, Yennefer.

I don’t know what Voleth Meir wants from Ciri, but we have to protect her.

I have to protect her.

[wind whistling]

[courtly music]

[music becomes distorted]

[snoring]

[rumbling]

[gasping]

[blood flowing]

[sighs]

[choking]

Shhh.

Shhhh.

[squelch]

[gasps]

[choking]

[sighs]

[withdraws blade]

[inhaling deeply]

[Geralt] Vesemir.

Ciri. What’s going on?

Geralt?

There’s a woman out there.

An old woman. In a black robe.

It’s Voleth Meir.

[Vesemir] Here?

In Kaer Morhen?

Where is she now?

I saw her leaving Everard’s room. We have to do something.

She killed them.

Everard and Gwain.

How did you escape?

I screamed.

And that didn’t cause any damage?

I don’t know.

It didn’t wake Vesemir?

Geralt.

I’m scared. Please.

Tell me what you want.

[intense rumbling]

[crashing]

[Lambert] I can’t believe Ciri did this.

She killed our brothers in our home.

That thing ain’t Ciri.

Get anyone who’s left.

Vortek.

Merek.

She got Merek too.

[sighs]

Grab all the elixir you can find.

We don’t know what she can do.

[Lambert] To the armory!

[Coen] Find Ciri!

[Geralt] Your fight’s not with Ciri.

[Lambert] Talbot! Let’s both find…

When you took Eskell down, it broke me.

But you were right. It had to be done.

Same as now.

Ciri has to be eliminated.

Daughter or demon, she has done too much damage.

Witchers don’t kill out of fear.

They kill to save lives.

I said that.

You did.

It feels like bullshit now.

Eskell, Remus, Gascaden, Sorel, Gwain.

There are too many medallions hanging on that tree.

But spilling Ciri’s blood won’t bring them back.

You thought she was strong enough to be the next witcher.

Just like I was.

She can survive this.

She needs you.

I need you.

[sighs]

Wolf…

I’ll convince Voleth Meir to leave Ciri’s body.

Once the demon’s out, once she’s back in her corporeal form, we’ll trap her.

[Vesemir] Will it work?

I don’t know.

But our best chance is together, Vesemir.

Huh.

Please trust me.

Jaskier!

Mm?

Jaskier. Jaskier, come on, wake up!

Too many squirrels.

Jaskier!

Aaah!

I need you.

It’s Ciri. She’s been possessed.

[Jaskier] Yep. The last time I woke up next to you, you grabbed me by the balls and then blew up the building, so…

Come on!

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

Wait. Did you say possessed?

[snorts]

[horses neighing]

[men shouting]

[Filavandrel] Are you sure?

He said he…

Dijkstra said he didn’t need me anymore.

He had other ways of getting what he wanted.

Cirilla of Cintra?

Yes.

Well, what does…

What did our daughter have to do with that?

Why would Redania target us?

Mm, because we’ve befriended Nilfgaard.

Because we’re elves.

They hate us.

They’ve always hated us.

They need no other reason than the shape of our ears.

I’m… I’m… I’m sorry.

I was in jail, and…

He told me his target was Nilfgaard and I…

I never realized.

I… I never would have thought…

You saved your own life.

This is not your doing.

I need you to gather some horses.

[Jaskier] Before you tell me what’s going on, please tell me you’re making a hangover cure.

Because my head feels like it’s lodged between the buttocks of a fat and sexually rageful goat.

What are we doing?

Voleth Meir is a parasite. We need to remove her without killing the host.

Oh, the Deathless Mother again. Please, do go on.

A spell from the extraction or separation family would do it.

Yes, it would. If you had your magic, which you don’t.

If I had my fucking magic.

Instead, I’ll have to make do with whatever I find in a witcher laboratory.

Like this.

Oh yay! A little stone. You’ve saved us all.

Active jasper.

Provider of warmth, energy, balance.

Golden oriole.

Golden what? Areola?

Pretty sure that’s got something to do with nipples.

Neutralizes effects of poisons in the blood.

But I’d make everything about nipples…

Possession’s like poison… Jaskier!

I pulled Ciri into this mess, and I’ll do everything I can to get her out of it.

Tell me what to do.

Find Geralt.

Give him the jasper.

What for?

It helps turn wrongs into rights. He’ll understand.

Wait, hang on. What are you gonna do?

What witches do best.

[sizzling]

Make a potion.

[tinkling]

[lively music]

[cheering and laughter]

[doors open]

[Mousesack] Come along, Ciri!

It’s even better than I remember.

Are you sure you’re feeling all right?

Better than ever.

[sighs]

[Mousesack] Your granddaughter.

[Calanthe] As a member of the royal family, is it too much to expect that you exercise…

A modicum of respect.

Oh.

Yes.

I’m sorry I’m late.

[Calanthe] Oh.

[sighs]

I know you think me too stern, child.

No.

No, I understand you want to protect me.

Of course.

Because I know it’s not the same here without you.

Ahem.

Your Highness. Would you honor me with a dance?

[music stops]

[applause]

She would love…

I’d love to, Martin.

[excited chatter and laughter]

[applause continues]

[cheering]

[band plays slow, rhythmic tune]

[chuckles softly]

[music and laughter fade]

[mournful music]

[woman sobbing]

[doors close]

[Cahir] Check it again.

There can be no mistakes when Emperor Emhyr arrives.

What is it?

The elves.

Some of them have gone.

There are always defectors, Fringilla.

It’s to be expected.

Francesca and Filavandrel were amongst them.

Our scouts said they were riding north on stolen horses.

To hunt down the murderer of their child.

All fingers point to Redania.

If she had told me, I could have offered support.

Troops, access to our army.

Whatever she needed, as long…

As long as she came back?

Yes.

Why?

Why is she so important to you, Fringilla?

She’s my friend.

No.

No.

She is the key to your plan.

To showing Emhyr that you are a valuable leader.

Yes.

Yes, that too.

But she is gone.

According to your plan.

Think about it.

The baby gave them hope.

A reason to live rather than die fighting.

And it’s mysteriously murdered?

And now…

Now they’re off to raze the kingdoms of our enemies.

What… what are you saying?

I’m saying it worked.

Your plan.

But I would never do that.

Oh, I would never do that.

You said it yourself, Fringilla.

When Emhyr arrives, I need to rave.

So let me.

[thrilling, dramatic music]

[exhales]

[witchers shouting]

Where are you, Ciri?

Ciri?

Ciri!

Come along, girl!

What is this?

Ciri!

[sighs]

[Coen] Ciri!

[tinkling]

[creaking]

You don’t want to escape.

So many gone.

Devoured by this hellish Continent.

I want Ciri back.

Name your price.

[Lambert] She’s here!

I’ll cover the back.

It’s not a question of price.

It’s a matter of cost.

[Coen] Steady, boys.

[Ciri] Make your ask.

Release her, and you can have me.

[distorted laugh]

That is enticing.

What glorious pain we could create together.

It’s too late for that.

[Jaskier] Geralt!

Yennefer told me to…

Shhhhit.

You’re busy.

You’re busy.

Yeah.

[screams]

[intense rumbling]

[deep groaning]

[yells]

[scream fades]

[medallions clinking]

[scream grows louder]

[wind gusting]

What the fuck?

Ciri!

[screams]

[whimpers]

No.

[stops screaming]

[intense whooshing]

[snarling]

What the fuck kind of basilisks are those?

I’ll tell you after I kill ’em.

I won’t let her have you, Ciri.

[basilisks growling]

[roaring]

Fuck!

Yrden, now!

Wolf!

Vesemir, I can do this!

We have to contain her.

Tell me what you want with her.

Tell me what she is to you.

[Voleth Meir] She is the future.

And you’re in my way.

Ciri! I need you to hear me!

[growls]

You can fight this!

[Calanthe] I know it’s not the same here without you.

[groans]

Geralt!

Aah…

Right the wrongs?

Well, Yennefer, I don’t see how things could get any wronger!

[yelps]

Geralt!

[roaring]

[screams]

[crunch]

[Lambert] Little help here!

Help!

[gasps]

Vartok!

[grunts]

[yells]

[Vartok] Vesemir! Help us!

[Lambert] Vesemir!

[whooshing]

[yells]

[Lambert] Vartok, behind you!

[roaring]

[yells]

[groans]

[basilisk roars]

[grunts]

[Vesemir] Geralt!

Geralt! Yennefer told me to give you this!

It’s… it’s balance and heat and…

Oh, you can’t hear me.

Geralt!

No!

You’ll never get to me.

[voices overlapping] Do it. Show him you don’t need him any more.

[Vesemir roars]

Stay strong, Ciri.

[courtly music]

[music speeding up]

[music stops]

[laughter and cheering]

May I cut in?

You know, Princess, if you marry Martin Marbury, you’ll continue quite the exceptional bloodline.

Gross.

[laughs]

[applause and cheering]

[band plays slow, stately tune]

My bloodline, Mousesack.

Will you tell me more about it?

Right now?

I fear there is not a long enough song in existence.

Then someday soon?

I promise.

Your family, Princess, the women who came before you, they’re quite extraordinary.

[Geralt, echoing] Ciri!

[rumbling]

You can fight this!

Stay strong, Ciri.

[deep rumbling]

[gasps]

Geralt!

Do not give in.

[roars]

[Geralt] You know who you really are.

Princess, are you all right?

My grandmother.

Why did she never tell me the truth?

About who I am?

My dear, you must be tired already.

Your father will be so disappointed he doesn’t get a dance.

What?

[music fades]

[gasps]

[witchers yelling]

[Vesemir] Attack!

Stay strong, Ciri.

Is he still fussing?

[baby crying]

I don’t know what could be wrong with him.

King Vizimir himself can probably hear these cries.

Give him to me.

Come. Come.

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

That’s it. That’s it.

[crying]

Sh, sh, sh, sh.

[squelching]

[hissing]

[several babies crying]

We warned all of our people we could find. There aren’t many elves left in Redania.

Are you sure about this?

There’ll be no moving forward without retribution.

Sister, there are other ways.

[babies screaming]

I know what you’ve been through, but this…

No. You don’t.

[babies wailing]

What has been need not always be.

[whoosh]

[silence]

[woman screams] My baby!

[many women screaming]

My baby!

My baby!

No!

[screams echoing]

[speaking in Elder]

[Voleth Meir’s voice overlapping]

[rumbling]

[thudding]

Oh, seriously?

Oh shit!

[deep growling]

[hissing[

[yelling]

[cries out]

[growls]

[gasps]

[screeching]

[groans[

[sizzling]

[yells]

[roaring]

[howling]

[grunts]

Geralt. I made a potion to extract Voleth!

[speaking in Elder]

[basilisk roaring]

[Ciri speaking in Elder]

[continues reciting]

[squelch]

[grunting] Vesemir!

You kill her, you kill Ciri!

[wind whistling]

[sighing]

[basilisk shrieking]

[witchers yelling]

[Voleth Meir’s voice overlapping] Poor, poor witchers.

You feel everything, don’t you?

[Lambert] Move!

[Jaskier yelps]

Especially hatred.

[screeches]

[yells]

[Coen] Let’s finish this, Geralt!

[grunts]

[panting]

Jasper gives the courage to rectify wrongs.

Hate.

Aah!

Our hate

is the pain she needs to grow stronger.

Let’s not give her what she wants.

Ciri.

If you can hear me, if you can hear us, come home.

I’ve missed you so much.

[sighs]

[sighs]

We’ve been right here the whole time.

Always loving you.

Our special girl.

[Geralt, echoing] If you can hear me…

Geralt?

…If you can hear us…

Come home.

[rumbling]

[rumbling fades]

[Voleth Meir, echoing] She doesn’t want to be here.

She isn’t yours.

It’s not working, Wolf.

Come back to us, Ciri. Can you hear us, girl?

[Pavetta] Ciri?

Make it stop.

I’m not doing anything.

[Vesemir] I believe in you.

Vesemir?

I’m sorry for what I did.

Be with us.

[rumbling]

You belong here.

Stay.

Stay.

[echoing] Stay with us.

Stay with us… stay…

I’m not going anywhere.

All right? I’m staying right here.

Just, please, don’t leave me.

[Voleth Meir] I’m not going anywhere.

I’m staying right here.

Living in her.

Forever.

Her hut burned.

She needs a vessel to exist within this sphere.

Ciri can’t escape.

Unless…

[glass smashes]

[Yennefer] Unless I right this wrong.

My wounds wouldn’t heal…

Yen.

…because magic wasn’t what I was missing.

I can be the vessel.

No.

For her.

[Geralt] Yen!

[Yennefer gasps]

[speaking in Elder]

[wind gusting]

No!

[Yennefer speaking in Elder]

[repeating spell]

[repeating spell]

Don’t let us die again.

[wind whistling]

[sighs]

We’re your family.

We’re your everything.

[Yennefer] You deserve everything, Ciri.

Let me give you everything I have.

[Ciri] I don’t know what to do.

[gasps]

Please, don’t go.

Don’t go, please.

[Geralt] I know you’re afraid, Ciri, but what you see in there…

[sighs]

…it isn’t real.

[breathing shakily]

Don’t do this.

Ciri.

Ciri…

Be with us.

You belong with us.

[Geralt] We belong together.

You, us, it’s not perfect, but it is real.

It’s yours.

We are your family…

And we need you.

I have to go home.

[Ciri sighs]

[gasps]

[embers hissing]

[Geralt] We don’t have much time.

We need to trap Voleth Meir once and for all.

[flames hissing]

If you can pull monsters through the monolith, you can send one back again.

What?

You can do this.

Yennefer’s lessons.

But I don’t know if I can…

I believe in you.

All right.

See the outcome.

[rumbling]

Make it happen.

[wind gusting]

[gasping]

Oh, not again.

[shouts in Elder]

[deep, intense rumbling]

[voices whispering]

[crashing]

[wind rushing]

[Ciri yells]

[power blasts]

[Geralt yelps]

[Ciri gasps]

[Ciri cries out]

[Geralt grunts]

[gasping]

[wind sighing]

[wind gusting]

[echoing cry]

She’s leaving.

[rumbling]

[cackling]

[screeching laughter]

[neighing]

[echoing laughter]

Child of the Elder Blood, starry-eyed Daughter of Chaos, join our Hunt.

Your place is among us.

[hissing]

[echoing] You are ours.

Ciri!

[intense whooshing]

[whispering voice] Ciri…

[gasping]

[sighs]

[Jaskier] You’re back. Are you all right?

[gasps] Wh…

Were those the Wraiths of Mörhogg?

The Wild Hunt, yes.

We’re safe now, thanks to you.

That’s all that matters.

The witchers need you.

[grunts]

[speaking in Elder]

[Coen sighs]

[gasps]

You’re panting like a dying mammoth.

[both chuckle]

[Jaskier] Look at us.

Just one big happy family, eh?

No.

Right. Yeah.

[sighs]

Where did you go?

I’m still trying to work that out.

I saw the Wild Hunt.

Hmm.

We need to gather more supplies.

Start to rebuild again.

Ciri and I can’t stay.

We need to keep moving.

Sorry, Wolf. I should have trusted you!

Vesemir, it’s not that.

The demon. The Wild Hunt.

She’s marked for something, and it doesn’t end there.

If mages and royals find out she’s still alive, and what she’s capable of…

They won’t stop coming for her.

[Tissaia] She had green eyes!

[thunder rumbling]

And ashen hair.

It was her.

[heavy rainfall]

The Lion Cub of Cintra, alive and at Sodden with a witcher.

Why are we only hearing about this now?

Sigismund Dijkstra came to Aretuza, sniffing for something.

You think he was prodding to see if the Brotherhood knew Cirilla was alive?

[thunder rumbling]

I do, Meve.

[Foltest] He finds Cirilla and marries her off to his king.

Giving him the only rightful claim to Cintra.

Redania’s wealthy enough.

They add Cintra to their realm, we’ll all be taking orders from fucking Vizimir.

Dijkstra no doubt already has his spies looking high and low for her.

I’m just going to say it.

Princess Cirilla created far less trouble for us when she was dead.

We’ll put a bounty on the girl.

And anyone who protects her.

That’s quite barbarous. Even for me.

Welcome to the Brotherhood.

[Foltesr and Heltest] Aye!

[Rience] While the path hasn’t been the straight line we hoped for, we are nonetheless in an auspicious place.

The elves are up in arms over the death of their baby.

Nilfgaard is stoking their anger to foster another war.

And the North will, no doubt, take the bait.

And as chaos descends upon the Continent, we will be focused on getting the girl.

[Lydia, echoing] I won’t let you down again, my lord… my lord… my lord…

[Gage] We should return to Xin’trea before they come for us.

[owl hooting]

Let them come.

We got our revenge.

Let it end there.

[Francesca] Revenge?

When the humans arrived, we welcomed them as peers, instead of seeing what they really were.

And it led to a mass grave we dug ourselves.

I don’t want revenge. I want justice.

[guard] Out the way!

[grunting]

Come on.

Out the way.

I caught him watching by the riverbank. Says he’s from Xin’trea.

My name is Istredd. I’m a mage.

You’re a human.

I have information I think could help you.

There is a girl, Princess Cirilla of Cintra.

She is why Nilfgaard attacked Sodden.

[Filavandrel] We know that.

Why they wanted to train you for attacks! To flush her out.

Get rid of him.

[Istredd] No!

[gasps] She’s Hen Ikeir!

She’s Hen Ikeir!

Stop!

Bring him back.

What did you say?

She’s Hen Ikeir.

She’s… she’s Elder Blood?

She’s all of you.

But different.

I’ve never seen anything like her power.

[owl hooting]

What are you saying?

The one Ithlinne prophesied.

He’s saying she could save us.

[coos]

What are you saying?

[wings flapping]

I’m saying word is out about the girl.

[scoffs]

Well, I daresay things just got more fun, Philippa.

Bring me the bard.

It’s about time he paid back his benefactor.

You’re whole again.

I felt it come back when I… I…

When you sacrificed yourself for Ciri.

A sacrifice I’d make again.

In a heartbeat.

I don’t forgive you, Yennefer.

I know I’ve hurt you.

Yet I can’t help but wish it could begin again.

Use your knowledge of magic to train the girl.

You’re the only person who’s helped her control her powers.

As if I’d trust anyone else with her.

Villentretenmerth told us we were made for each other.

Destined for each other.

And that nothing would come of it because destiny alone isn’t sufficient.

Something more is needed.

She is something more.

[Ciri] Every time I think I can move forward, there’s this force bringing me back into darkness.

I’m just tired, Geralt.

[Geralt] I’m tired too, Ciri.

But what of it?

Life goes on.

Us three, we’ll help each other.

What is destined cannot be avoided.

And it shouldn’t be.

I believe I know what Voleth Meir wanted from you.

What?

She’s been here since the Conjunction.

We knew that.

We’ve always assumed she was from another sphere.

Is that where I portalled us?

Another sphere?

Those monoliths that you shatter, the ones that pull new species of monster through every time you scream, those could be gateways to other spheres.

My scream woke Voleth Meir.

That’s why she wanted me.

She wanted to go home.

You were the key to her future.

What I can’t figure out, though, is when did Nilfgaard realize that you were the key to theirs?

They knew before anyone else.

How do they know the truth about you, Ciri?

[doors open]

[page] Attention! His Highness Emperor Emhyr var Emreis, the White Flame.

[Fringilla] The elves are already fighting in the North.

They may not wear our colors, but they are doing our bidding.

And…

They are pursuing the girl, of course.

[Emhyr] In my experience, elves only care about elves.

How did you convince them to fight?

By killing their hope.

[Emhyr] Hm.

We lay the blame on Redania.

But it was us who killed the elven baby.

We would do anything for the White Flame.

[Emhyr] Losing a child is…

Brutal, but you are right.

It can move mountains.

Desperate times.

Desperate measures.

Desperate indeed.

I would know.

Sir?

That’s how I felt when I realized I could no longer count on you to fulfill my mission.

I’m the one who ordered the death of that elven baby.

I had to.

It was the best path to helping me find my daughter.

[Cahir gasps]

Take them away.

♪ We We don’t have to worry ’bout nothin’ ♪

♪ ‘Cause we got the fire ♪

♪ And we’re burnin’ One hell of a somethin’ ♪

♪ And we gonna let it Burn, burn, burn, burn ♪

♪ We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn ♪

♪ Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn ♪

♪ Gonna let it burn… ♪

[panting]

[gasping]

[men yelling]

♪ And we gonna let it Burn, burn, burn, burn ♪

♪ And we gonna Let it burn, burn, burn, burn ♪

♪ We gonna let it Burn, burn, burn, burn ♪

♪ And we gonna let it burn ♪

♪ Burn, burn ♪

♪ And we gonna let it burn ♪

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