"Lines of power" in J. Boorman's Excalibur

[Ian Pegler]

Fans of John Boorman's film "Excalibur" might be interested to know that an early draft of the script contained references to "lines of power" in the scene set at Stonehenge towards the end of the film. I've reproduced it below. You can find the script at several locations on the web. I found it at this link.

EXT. STONEHENGE - NIGHT

Arthur is still on his knees, and he sits back, looking up. But the
atmosphere is different, within a dream, and the stones of the henge loom
larger over him now.

ARTHUR
What is this place? It is rumored Merlin,
that you drew your power from these
circles...

A hand ruffles the King's hair. He turns, and is face to face with Merlin,
standing over him. Arthur looks at him without surprise, as though the
intervening years never were. Merlin begins to laugh his hideous giggle.
Arthur rises.

ARTHUR
Quiet. You'll wake the men, and they must
fight tomorrow for their very lives.

MERLIN
I know. I have heard noises and echoes
through the stones...

ARTHUR
What is this place, Merlin?

MERLIN
It is like a tree. The roots of the stones
spread out across the land and they draw on
the thoughts and actions of men. Like sap
those human matters course through the stones
feeding the stars that are the leaves of the
tree. And the stars whisper back to men the
future course of events.

(becoming passionate)

But the earth is being torn apart, its metals
stolen, and the balance is broken and the
lines of power no longer converge. In fact, I
nearly didn't make it in one piece.

He limps affectedly and stretches with exaggerated pain.

MERLIN
But, I'm here.

ARTHUR
Where have you been these many years? Is it
true that Morgana ---

MERLIN
---Stories...You brought me back. Your love
brought me back. Back to where you are now,
in the land of dreams...

ARTHUR
Is this a dream? Tell me, Merlin!

Merlin smiles, turns and leaves, heading for Arthur's camp, giggling.
Arthur starts off after him and awakens from the dream when he walks into one of the stones. It takes him a moment to realize that Merlin has
vanished.

ARTHUR
Merlin?!

He hurries away toward the camp.

[Grahame]

"Anal nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do che'l de'nmha"

[mike]

But the earth is being torn apart, its metals
stolen, and the balance is broken and the
lines of power no longer converge. In fact, I
nearly didn't make it in one piece.

Could have seen the plight of Silbury Hill, and perhaps Stonehenge if the road is allowed to pass here.

[Grahame]

There's an excellent thread on Twitter about the making of Excalibur:

https://twitter.com/PulpLibrarian/statu ... 8336956420