The Last Defender of Camelot (The Twilight Zone)

"The Last Defender of Camelot"
The Twilight Zone episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 24b
Directed by	Jeannot Szwarc
Written by	George R. R. Martin Roger Zelazny
Original air date	April 11, 1986
Guest appearance(s)
Richard Kiley: Lancelot Jenny Agutter: Morgan le Fay John Cameron Mitchell: Tom Norman Lloyd: Merlin
Episode chronology

"The Last Defender of Camelot" is the second segment of the twenty-fourth episode of the first season (1985–86) of the American television series The Twilight Zone. It was based on the short story of the same name written by Roger Zelazny, and was adapted by George R. R. Martin.

Plot

In London, 1986, an elderly gentleman packs his car to go on a trip. He is accosted by three young thugs. He turns the tables on them, and forces one to reveal that a woman paid them to do it. The elderly man forces the thug, whose name is Tom, to take him to the woman. They enter a fortune teller's shop, where a woman is sitting in the dark. She reveals that she is Morgan le Fay of legend, and that she knows the elderly man is Lancelot. She knows that Merlin is hiding in a cave in Cornwall, and that Lancelot is planning to meet with him. She warns that Merlin is dangerous and not to be trusted. She casts a spell that sends Lancelot and Tom to the cave entrance. Lancelot enters alone.

Merlin questions Lancelot about the state of the world, and then insists that they work together to make Merlin king. Lancelot explains that the world has changed, that kings are mere figureheads and the people elect their own leaders. He also tries to explain about the modern dangers of war. Merlin is not convinced. Merlin demonstrates his power by animating an empty suit of armor to make a champion, the "hollow knight". They depart to join Tom outside. Lancelot finds they are now at the True Stonehenge. Merlin insists upon sacrificing Tom to completely restore his magic, but Lancelot intercedes. Morgan le Fay arrives.

Magically summoning his armor, Lancelot attacks the hollow knight. Morgan le Fay stops Merlin from interfering with the duel, but she is mortally wounded. Lancelot prevails against the hollow knight, and it vanishes. Merlin points his staff at Lancelot and attempts a magical attack, but Lancelot's shield protects him and he destroys Merlin's staff. Merlin requests Lancelot kill him, but Lancelot refuses. Merlin ages rapidly and vanishes.

As she dies in Lancelot's arms, Morgan le Fay tells him how to return to London via a magic portal. As he and Tom approach the portal, Lancelot sees a beautiful castle in the distance. Lancelot turns from the portal and follows the road to the castle instead, and Tom follows him.

Closing narration

“

Once upon a time, there was a realm of myth and magic—a high, bright dream that shimmered briefly and then was gone, leaving only memories and one ageless, weary, slightly tarnished hero who proved at last that wisdom and valor go hand in hand, on Earth, in Camelot, and...in the Twilight Zone.

”

External links

The Twilight Zone (1985) episodes

Season 1	"Shatterday" "A Little Peace and Quiet" "Wordplay" "Dreams for Sale" "Chameleon" "Healer" "Children's Zoo" "Kentucky Rye" "Little Boy Lost" "Wish Bank" "Nightcrawlers" "If She Dies" "Ye Gods" "Examination Day" "A Message from Charity" "Teacher's Aide" "Paladin of the Lost Hour" "Act Break" "The Burning Man" "Dealer's Choice" "Dead Woman's Shoes" "Wong's Lost and Found Emporium" "The Shadow Man" "The Uncle Devil Show" "Opening Day" "The Beacon" "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty" "Her Pilgrim Soul" "I of Newton" "Night of the Meek" "But Can She Type?" "The Star" "Still Life" "The Little People of Killany Woods" "The Misfortune Cookie" "Monsters!" "A Small Talent for War" "A Matter of Minutes" "The Elevator" "To See the Invisible Man" "Tooth and Consequences" "Welcome to Winfield" "Quarantine" "Gramma" "Personal Demons" "Cold Reading" "The Leprechaun-Artist" "Dead Run" "Profile in Silver" "Button, Button" "Need to Know" "Red Snow" "Take My Life...Please!" "Devil's Alphabet" "The Library" "Shadow Play" "Grace Note" "A Day in Beaumont" "The Last Defender of Camelot"

Season 2	"The Once and Future King" "A Saucer of Loneliness" "What Are Friends For?" "Aqua Vita" "The Storyteller" "Nightsong" "The After Hours" "Lost and Found" "The World Next Door" "The Toys of Caliban" "The Convict's Piano" "The Road Less Traveled" "The Card" "The Junction" "Joy Ride" "Shelter Skelter" "Private Channel" "Time and Teresa Golowitz" "Voices in the Earth" "Song of the Younger World" "The Girl I Married"

Season 3	"The Curious Case of Edgar Witherspoon" "Extra Innings" "The Crossing" "The Hunters" "Dream Me a Life" "Memories" "The Hellgramite Method" "Our Selena Is Dying" "The Call" "The Trance" "Acts of Terror" "20/20 Vision" "There Was an Old Woman" "The Trunk" "Appointment on Route 17" "The Cold Equations" "Stranger in Possum Meadows" "Street of Shadows" "Something in the Walls" "A Game of Pool" "Room 2426" "The Mind of Simon Foster" "The Wall" "Cat and Mouse" "Rendezvous in a Dark Place" "Many, Many Monkeys" "Love is Blind" "Crazy as a Soup Sandwich" "Special Service" "Father and Son Game"

Works by George R. R. Martin

Novels

A Song of Ice and Fire	A Game of Thrones A Clash of Kings A Storm of Swords A Feast for Crows A Dance with Dragons The Winds of Winter

Dying of the Light Windhaven The Ice Dragon Fevre Dream The Armageddon Rag Hunter's Run

Novellas

With Morning Comes Mistfall Night of the Vampyres The Way of Cross and Dragon Sandkings The Skin Trade

Westeros	The Hedge Knight The Sworn Sword The Mystery Knight The Princess and the Queen The Rogue Prince

Collections

Television

The Twilight Zone	"The Once and Future King" "Lost and Found" "The Toys of Caliban" "The Road Less Traveled" "The Last Defender of Camelot"

Game of Thrones	"The Pointy End" "Blackwater" "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" "The Lion and the Rose"

Beauty and the Beast Doorways

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