- "Twelve years of war. Twelve years since Emperor Shaddam IV was defeated and Paul Muad'Dib's wild Fremen spread out across the universe. Extreminating all that remained of the old Imperial armies. Colonising the planets of the Known Universe one by one under his rule. Sweeping away anything and anyone who resisted. Millions have been defeated. Millions more have been slaughtered. There are no innocents anywhere and the name of Messiah is no longer a prayer. For many it is now a curse."
- ―Princess Irulan Corrino[src]
Messiah is the first episode of Frank Herbert's Children of Dune. It premiered on March 16, 2003 on the SciFi Channel. It was written by John Harrison and directed by Greg Yaitanes.
Premise[]
With the unforeseen birth of twins, Emperor Paul Atreides loses his supernatural vision and realizes the fate of the future rests with his children.
Synopsis[]
In the twelve years since Paul Atreides defeated the Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV and claimed the Golden Lion Throne, he has waged a brutal war across the Known Universe. His Fremen warriors have colonised many planets and destroyed any who opposed them, and for many the name "Muad'Dib is no longer a prayer, but a curse.
On Naraj, the Fedaykin Farok discovers that his son has been wounded in battle and blinded, causing him to curse the name of "Muad'Dib". In Arrakeen, Paul walks disguised among his subjects when a skull lands before him, but he cannot determine who threw it. At the palace, his sister Alia addresses a crowd, with Paul standing among them as she leads them in worship of him.
On his return to the palace, Paul is admonished by Stilgar for walking around accompanied without informing him. Paul replies that he finds truth in the streets and not in the palace filled with sycophants engaging in empty rituals. Korba tells him that rituals are used to enlighten and Paul accuses him of becoming a religious fanatic. Stilgar warns Paul that the streets are filled with agents of the Spacing Guild, the Bene Gesserit and House Corrino, who will assassinate him if given the opportunity.
Paul joins his concubine Chani Kynes in their bed. She is awake, despite doctors instructing her to rest. He tells her that he has heard the Fremen as he walks the streets accusing him of misusing water and resenting the wonders he has brought to their desert. He tells her that he wishes to separate himself from the myth he has created and she tells him that as the Emperor he can command, but he replies that even if he vanishes the next day the revolution would follow his ghost. She suggests that they return to the desert, as they were happy there once. As he sleeps, Paul has a dream in which a young man calls him "father" and tells him that to know the future is to be trapped by it, but knowing there is a trap is the first step in evading it and the first step along the Golden Path. Once he wakes, he sadly wonders if there is no other way.
On Salusa Secundus, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam meets with Princess Wensicia Corrino, who tells her that they cannot assassinate Paul, for even if they succeed he will become a martyr. She suggest that they find a subtle and unexpected way to exploit his weaknesses and Scytale, a Face Dancer of the Bene Tleilax, suggests that they use a ghost. He presents a ghola of Duncan Idaho. Mohiam asks if Paul will accept it and Wensicia states that she is leaving that to the Spacing Guild. Scytale states that he will spring the trap when the opportunity presents itself.
On Arrakis, Chani travels to Sietch Tabr and meets with a Fremen midwife. She tells her that the doctors have been unable to determine why she has been unable to conceive and that Paul fears for her if she has another child. The midwife warns that he may be right to fear and tells her that someone has been feeding her a subtle and untraceable poison to prevent her from conceiving. She tells her that an ancient Fremen diet may be able to overcome its effects, but it is dangerous, for she would be required to consume great quantities of Spice Melange and if she conceived it would accelerate the pregnancy. She asks Chani who could have been able to feed her the contraceptives for so long.
In the palace, Irulan meets with Paul, Stilgar, Alia and Korba, who discuss the demand by the Great Houses for a constitution to be on the agenda at the next convention of the Landsraad. Alia believes it to be a ruse contrived by enemies of House Atreides to conceal more sinister motives. Irulan suggests that they offer a ceremony to create the illusion of a constitution. Paul is distracted by continued visions of the young man from his dream, but forbids a constitution and dismisses the meeting. Stilgar warns him that the Naibs will not react well to the upcoming visit by a Spacing Guild embassy, but Paul insists that it is necessary.
As Irulan writes in her diary, Chani holds a Crysknife to her throat and tells her that she knows she was the one who poisoned her with contraceptives. Irulan does not deny this, declaring it her right the bear the royal heir, but Chani reminds her that her only duty is to play a role and that while she may bear his name, Chani is the one he calls his wife. Irulan asks Chani if she thinks she is the only woman who truly loves him. Chani replies that she does not, but that she is the only woman he loves. She releases Irulan and turns to leave. Irulan threatens to cuckold Paul, which Chani tells her to do if she wishes, but forbids her from ever bearing his child.
On Salusa Secundus, Wensicia watches her young son Farad'n being trained by Sardaukar and asks her Bashar, Tyekanik, is he has what it takes to lead them one day. He replies that being a warrior is only one way to lead an army and is not necessarily the best. He tells her that Paul's decision to welcome a Guild ambassador is causing unrest on Arrakis and she advises that once Scytale has insinuated himself in the palace, they shall light the fuse and the ghola will do its work. Farad'n comes to her in tears and tells her that he does not wish to be an Emperor, but she tells him to wipe his tears and return to his training.
On Arrakis, Scytale meets with Farok in his home. Scytale sees Farok's blind son, for whom a Otheym's daughter Lichna is playing music. They lament that the laws of men have been replace by the laws of a god. Due to this, the mutilation of his son and the failure to fulfil the promise of Liet-Kynes, he is now prepared to rid the universe of Muad'Dib. Scytale then kills the Fremen, stating that he will enjoy being called Lichna.
In the space surrounding Arrakis, Mohiam is arrested for violating Paul's order never to set foot on the planet again. She replies that she is not on Arrakis, but in the free space around it, only to be told that there is no such thing as free space where Muad'Dib rules. In the palace, Paul sits on the throne with Irulan and Alia on either side of him when the Guild embassy arrives with the Guild Navigator Edric. Edric presents the ghola of Duncan Idaho to Paul as a gift. Stilgar declares the ghola to be a horror and demands he be sent away. Paul asks Duncan how his name makes him feel and he replies that he has no memory of his past. Edric informs Paul that Duncan has been trained as a Mentat and Stilgar suggests that they kill the ghola, but Paul accepts him in the spirit in which he was given. Edric attempts to bargain for Mohiam's freedom, but Alia warns him that as a neutral party he must be indifferent.
Irulan meets with Mohiam in her cell, where the communicate in sign language to avoid being overheard by the guards. Irulan warns Mohiam that Paul has spies everywhere and that Chani has learned of the contraceptive. Mohiam advises her that if Chani conceived, she must introduce an abortifact. Irulan is reluctant, but Mohiam insists that one of Fremen blood must never sit on the throne.
Alia trains in combat alone and undresses once she finishes. She is joined by Paul, Stilgar and Duncan, with Paul chastising her for practicing such dangerous training methods. They inform her that the mutilated body of a young Fremen woman was found in the desert. Paul tasks her with examining the scene the way their mother taught them and orders her to take Duncan with her. Once they arrive, they inspect the sorpse and deduce that she was poisoned by a Face Dancer and Otheym suggests that her identity may have been stolen.
Stilgar presents Scytale, who is disguised as Lichna, to Paul. Scytale tells Paul that he must visit Otheym as soon as possible, for there is a Fremen plot against him and Otheym has information for him, but is sick. Paul asks why she cannot give him that information and Scytale replies that Otheym feared she would be captured before she could. Paul agrees to meet with Otheym that night. Paul reveals to Stilgar that he knows it to be a Face Dancer and Stilgar offers to kill Scytale, but Paul forbids it, declaring that it must play out the way he has seen it.
Later that night, Paul travels to Otheym's home. Korba observes him from the shadows and a young boy tells him that a stone burner is set and ready. He tells that boy to alert the others that Muad'Dib is in the streets. Paul is greeted by Bijaz and finds Otheym bedridden. Otheym tells him that he caught a spitting disease in Tarahell and that he will soon die. Paul offers to summon his doctors, but Scytale (still disguised as Lichna) replies that they have seen doctors as good as any he could provide. Otheym tells Paul that the Fremen plot against him and wish things to go back to the way they used to be. He tells Paul to take Bijaz with him and once they leave they fins the street empty.
The stone burner is detonated and though they survive the attack, Paul is blinded. Stilgar is horrified, but Paul states that while they have blinded his body, they have not blinded his vision. He order the Fedaykin to hold the locals affected by the eyes and fit them with Tleilaxu eyes if they wish, fodbidding them to be fed to the worms. At the palace, he is visited by Chani, who deduces that he knew it would happen and asks him why it had to be, to which he replies that it is for their son. She asks him how long he has known and he replies that he has always known. He begs her forgiveness, stating that there was no way he could spare them. He promises her that they will return to the desert where their son will be born. She tells him that she is afraid, felling like they have so little time and he tells her that they have eternity. She tells him that he has eternity, but she has only now.
Alia meets with Bijaz, who confuses her by speaking in riddles. He tells her that Duncan has the information she seeks and Alia grows impatient, stating that Paul has told her that Bijaz knows the names of the traitors. He tells her of the Qizarate priests and afterwords she tells Duncan that she senses Bijaz is hiding another agenda. He warns her that senses can be fooled and she replies that only machines function without senses, asking if he is one. He replies that as a Mentat, he onlly logic and statistics, to which she declares that he does not trust mysticism and prophecy. Hearing this reminds him of Thufir Hawat, which he states to be a feeling rather than a memory. Alia tells him that he is afraid of remembering who he is and he warns her that no ghola has ever been restored to his former being. She tells him of her genetic memory and asks him if he would be able to handle such a thing.
On Salusa Secundus, Tyekanik informs Wensicia that Fedyakin patrols on Arrakis have increased following the stone burner attack. He states that they do not know who was responsible and gives her updates on Scytale and Bijaz, to which she replies that their plan is still in place. On Caladan, Reverend Mother Jessica is informed by Gurney Halleck of the stone burner attack. He tells her that Paul is alive, but blind. She orders him to make arrangements to travel to Arrakis, but he warns her against it, as Paul's enemies would only be more provoked by the arrival of his mother and that if he needed her he would send for her.
On Arrakis, Paul has another vision of his future son. He is visited by Duncan and deduces that the Tleilaxu have conditioned him to kill him. Stilgar arrives and informs Paul that Shaddam is dead. On Salusa Secundus, Wensicia and Irulan attend his funeral. Afterwards, Wensicia is disgusted that there were no attendants from any of the Great Houses, which Edric informs her was forbidden by Paul. She accuses the Spacing Guild and the Bene Gesserit of betraying her father for Spice and he replies that they cannot guide ships without it. She then reveals that she plans to kidnap a Sandworm and bring it to Salusa Secundus. Edric is sceptical, but Wensicia tells him that if the plan succeeds, a new Spice cycle could begin and break the Atreides monopoly. On Arrakis, Corrino agents draw out a Sandworm using a thumper and trap it by spreading water around it be blowing up atomics on a nearby cliff. Flying a ship overhead, they attack large hooks to the worm and lift it to be tajen back to Salusa Secundus.
On Arrakis, Stilgar informs Paul that the doctors have discovered that Chani's metabolism has increased and her pregnancy is proceeding faster than normal, hence the birth will be dangerous. He tells Stilgar to make arrangements for them to travel to the sietch for the birth and instructs Duncan to inform Alia. Duncan gies to Alia's quarters and finds her screaming. He discovers that she has consumed an excessive amount of Spice to enhance her prescience. Once she passes out, Duncan hears Bijaz singing and discovers that he cannot move. Bijaz reveals that he is a Tleilaxu born in the same tank as Duncan and that Duncan has been conditioned to kill Paul, which he will do when Paul utters the words "she's gone". He and Scytale wipe Duncan's memory of their encounter before leaving. Alia wakes and kisses Duncan.
The next morning, Paul meets with Irulan and tells her that she will be left behind while they travel to the sietch. She tells him that she never meant to hurt him or Chani. He tells her that he has given orders that she not be harmed and admits that he has been cruel to her. She tells him that she does not want his pity and he replies that he offers none, for she was only fulfilling the role assigned to her by her father, the Bene Gesserit and the Spacing Guild to protect them from him. He tells them they will go their wish, but not as they would like it Irulan does not understand and Paul tells her that the time of plots and revenge is coming to an end and he will give her a chance to find peace. He reveals that her selfish and clumsy attempts to mother an Atreides heir actually prolonged Chani's life and he is forever grateful to her for it. He kisses her and departs, leaving her in tears.
Paul and Chani leave for the sietch and Stilgar questions the choice to bring Scytale and Bijaz with them, but Paul insists that they have their parts to play. Before leaving, Paul tells Alia that it is time to settle accounts. She travels to the home of Korba, where he is having sex with a woman (an accomplice of Alia) and has him arrested for treason. He demands to be judged by Fremen law and she assures him that he will be. At the sietch, Chani observes a scorpion and recalls to Duncan how she played with such creatures when she was a child. She comments that the end of the desert has taken such simple pelasures with it and wonders if her father would approve of the future he inspired. Duncan warns him of the oncoming storm and tells her that Paul will join her once the Naib council is concluded. She notes that he called him "Paul", which he attributes to an intruding memory, which he questions if they are real or the inventions of the Tleilaxu. She tells him that when the moment comes to decide, he will know. She then goes into labor and he carrier her inside.
As Chani gives birth, Alia's agents kill Edric by smashing his tank, Mohiam is executed by Stilgar and Korba is buried alive. Chani gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl, but is near death. Paul is surprised, having only seen a son in his visions. Paul begs Chani's forgiveness, tearfully telling her that there some things in the universe that cannot be fixed. She tells him that nothing in the universe is as great as her love for him and dies. Devastated, Paul declares that Chani is gone and this triggers Duncan's Tleilaxu conditioning.
Scytale and Bijaz watch as Duncan draws his blade, but instead of stabbing Paul, she throws it at Bijaz, killing him. Paul tells Duncan that he saw that as the moment he would come back to him. Scytale takes the blade and threatens the children. He removes his disguise and asks Duncan what he remembers, to which Duncan replies that he rememers his entire life and his death. Scytale is amazed and tells Paul that it means he can have Chani back, offering an alliance between him and the Tleilaxu. Duncan tells Paul not to listen to Scytale's blasphemy. In Paul's vision, his son tells him that he and his sister are pre-born and allows him to see through his eyes. Using this, Paul overpowers Scytale and kills him with Duncan's blade.
Paul laments that he meddled in all possible futures trying to create them, but instead they created him and he became trapped by it. His son assures him in a vision and Paul declares that he is finally free. He walks into the desert, leaving Alia to rule as regent in his absense. She asks Duncan to stay with her, as she needs him now more than ever, to which he agrees. As Paul travels deeper into the desert, a Sandworm rises up to greet him.