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Clip description
Cumbria, 1348. It’s night, during a full moon. The boy Griffin (Hamish McFarlane) collapses onto the snow and experiences one of his visions. His brother Connor (Bruce Lyons) sees this as a sign they must embark on a quest to save the village from the plague.
Curator’s notes
This is part of what screenwriters often call the 'inciting incident’ or ‘first act turning point’ – the crucial moment when the narrative enters a new phase. This scene follows the classic set-up for an adventure story, where the protagonists react to jeopardy by setting out on a quest aimed at quelling the danger.
Griffin’s vision is deliberately disorienting. The imagery flashing through his mind amounts to a prophecy whose meaning will only come into focus later.
The scene is filmed in monochrome – black-and-white, though with brief flashes of ochre and blue tints during the vision. All the 14th century English episodes are filmed in monochrome, while the modern-day antipodean scenes are shot in colour.
