Original subtitles

Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes!

Be it known to all true and loyal citizens of Nottingham

that the good squire John Fitzroy

has been fouled unto death

by the outlaws of Sherwood Forest,

wherefore His Grace, the Lord Sheriff of Nottingham,

has resolved to increase yet again the price put on the head

of their leader, the man known as Robin Hood.

The Lord Sheriff will pay

5,000 crowns to whomsoever

shall bring him that murderous thief alive or dead.

God save the King!

Surely someone will betray him for a fortune like that.

I doubt it, and so does the Sheriff, I fancy.

The common people have good reason to love Robin Hood,

but i'd give 10,000 crowns

for what poor Fitzroy was carrying.

The Saracen soldier?

They probably threw it away, a toy for a child.

Your pleasure, gentlemen?

An ale, Saltire?

A toy that, in the wrong hands, may cost the King his life.

My good Moraine, for 10,000 crowns you may have every man in the country

beating every foot of the forest.

Aye, and i'll have Prince John's party joining in the search.

- But do you think-- - It's bad enough they now know

Fitzroy was in England,

but if they've guessed what he was bringing me.

Saltire, do you know of any way that i can get in touch with Robin Hood?

The Sheriff of Nottingham hasn't found one in ten years.

No, and yet in his own way Robin Hood is loyal to the King.

I know that.

I'm sure if he knew what that little toy may mean to Richard...

If i could only talk to Robin Hood.

He must have a hundred hiding places in Barnsdale and Sherwood.

Aye, but he can only be in one of them at a time.

Drink up, Saltire, I have an idea.

You still fancy yourself, Tuck?

Aye, indeed, if gambling were not so much against my principles.

- Well? - I'd wager six to four i disarm you.

Six to four?

Isn't it lucky that you're not a gambling man?

Well, who's next?

Stukely, is your skill--

Three times.

Little John!

All is well, and he's brought us company for supper.

Let us hope it'll be some rich Abbot who carries plenty of gold.

And has no scruples against gambling.

Horses to the west!

Aye, clear this place.

- How much further to go? - A few yards, my Lord Abbot.

Is your leader really there?

Our leader's always there to welcome distinguished company

and to see they pay their trifling toll for using the forest.

Welcome, good sirs.

By your dress, you would appear to be churchmen.

Appearances can deceive, my friend.

I am the Count of Moraine.

This is Sir Nigel Saltire.

You, I presume, are Robin Hood.

I am, my lord.

I may add, in case you had it in mind to play some other trick,

that among these trees there are 20 arrows pointed at your heart.

Then i hope your bowmen have steady hands for i wish you no harm.

Then why this masquerade?

I could think of no other way to find you.

We have travelled this forest for two whole days

praying for an ambush.

And your men at arms within call, no doubt.

None nearer than my castle, and that's ten miles away.

Robin Hood, I want to talk to you on a matter

that touches the King's safety.

Alright, milords, proceed.

Is there somewhere that we can be rather more private?

My cave is at your disposal.

Oh, there's nothing to fear, nothing to fear whatever,

if you keep away from Friar Tuck

and his tricks of chance.

But again, I give you my word, my lord,

that Fitzroy was killed and robbed by no man of mine.

But the Sheriff's proclamations--

If a leaf falls in Sherwood Forest,

they blame it on Robin Hood, but i give you my word.

Then we're no nearer to finding the little Saracen.

I don't understand this little Saracen.

You say it's a toy, and yet it holds the King's life in its hands?

You can talk more freely here, sir, than you could at court itself.

And anything that serves the King and does not serve Prince John,

we're your men.

I trust them.

As you know, the King has been a prisoner in Germany.

I helped to raise some of his ransom...

...in my own way.

So i heard.

But what you don't know is that the King is no longer a prisoner,

no longer in Germany even.

- What? - He's on his way home.

He plans to return secretly and be back on the throne

before John has a chance to seize it for himself.

Do the Prince's party know this?

They may, we hope they don't, but they may.

What nobody knows, save the King himself,

is when and where he plans to land in England.

And that little Saracen figure can tell us.

It holds the details?

The toy is a puzzle with a secret to reveal.

If it fell into John's hands and he solved the trick of reading it...

It's long odds that Richard would never get a mile from the shore.

- How long would the odds be? - Silence, you fat miser.

You have some idea when the King may come?

Soon, but whether next month or next week or whereabouts on the coast...

That means come and get your supper, gentlemen.

Well, don't worry, we won't poison you.

We'll talk more of this later.

- You'll do it. - Do what?

Find the toy and save the King.

- I saw a look in your eyes just now. - That was hunger.

They say you're a man who loves danger.

I love food too, milord.

You jest when the King's life is--

You want me to find your Saracen when you and your--

Your band of men have their ears to the ground.

They learn things that no...

that no...

No honest man could learn?

Oh, I didn't mean to put it like that.

Perhaps you're right, my lord.

I'll try and find your toy.

I promise nothing, but i do want to serve my King.

I also want to eat.

- News? - Not of the toy itself,

but certainly of the two men who may know where it is.

I met Mary, the wench from The Boar's Head.

He talks as if this was something new.

Aah, when the heart is young.

- Do you wish to hear? - Continue.

She tells me these two men have been in every night

since Fitzroy was murdered.

Furthermore, they've been spending more money than ever before.

Moraine said the murdered man would have little money on him.

- Then someone must've paid them. - To hand over the toy.

Who are these men, John?

She calls them Dicken and Hobbes, vermin by trade and cut-throats by nature.

I should like to talk to Dicken and Hobbes.

Right, I'll take one or two of the lads and carry them off from the alehouse.

No, it must be done quietly.

If it were not against my principles to enter an alehouse--

Ah, but it is, so you shall stay here.

I could sink a principle for you and the King.

Neither the King nor i would wish such a thing.

No, I think i know how to get them here,

not a soul the wiser.

Tuck, you shall show me how to play your shell game.

- Oh, but, Rob-- - Your shell game, Tuck.

Here, now proceed, you villain.

Well...

take three shells.

Mary!

Thank you, my dear.

- Hail, wench. - Hail, sir.

What kind of game is this?

Oh, a game we used to play in my training days.

The object is to guess where the pea is hidden.

Now watch.

There.

Any fool can see it's hidden there.

- Oh, you mean you saw that? - Of course.

- And i, too. - A guess!

- You couldn't do it a second time. - Try us.

Oh, witchcraft.

Five crowns says you can't do it again.

Taken!

Aah, you're a fool, Dicken, it's there.

- Five crowns. - Five crowns.

Wench!

You must at least let me pay for your drinks, my friends.

- More ale for these good fellows! - Hey, don't put it away!

I want to play again.

- Five crowns? - Five crowns.

- Now, which one? - This one.

Mary, more ale for my friends!

Not another drop, I'm as full as a wine skin.

- And you? - No, no.

Then allow me to help you on your way.

Here we go.

Give him here, Mary.

Ooh, yes, easy does it.

I'll give you a count of 50, Dicken,

and if you still stay dumb, there's a hempen cure

-for that head of yours. - Twelve, thirteen, fourteen.

If we tell you, will you swear to let us free?

I swear to nothing, except if you don't tell me,

you'll hang for the murdering dogs you are.

- Thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty. - I'll tell you everything.

You fool, he'll hang us just the same.

That just may be, but for a full story,

- I might incline to mercy. - Forty-eight, forty-nine.

Give me a drink.

I'll tell you everything, I swear it.

First then, for whom did you work?

A knight, but we never knew his name nor saw his face.

- If you lie to me, Hobbes... - That's the truth.

I swear it, we only saw him twice, and each time,

-he wore his helmet. - Twice?

Yes, the first time when he told us what he wanted,

the second time when we handed it over.

- How much did he pay you? - You should know, you got most of it.

Ho-ho! So you wish to joke?

Two hundred crowns!

Where did you meet him the second time?

The crossroads by Brinley Falls.

There was a tune we whistled so that he knew it was us, and he rode up.

Whistle it.

And you never saw his face?

- He wore a helmet. - He wore no device on his shield?

Oh, yes, he did.

A white eagle on a black shield, I saw it clearly.

And to him you gave the little Saracen?

- Yes. - And that's all you wish to tell?

That's all there is, I swear it.

- Confine them close. - But you promised!

I promised nothing, I haven't made up my mind yet.

Tuck, Little John!

A white eagle on a black shield.

We'd know who this knight is if we only understood

this nonsense of Norman heraldry.

I understand enough to know that those are the arms

-of the Count of Moraine. - Moraine?

- The man who came...? - The same.

Only i'll wager a hundred crowns that it was not Moraine.

No takers.

Whoever hired those killers was taking care to hide his true identity.

Isn't it a very grave offence to wear another's coat of arms?

No true knight would do it,

nor would an honest armourer supply such a shield,

and that, my lads, means only one thing.

A dishonest armourer.

And who is the most dishonest armourer we know?

Hugo of Nottingham.

Who's there at this time of night?

Someone who can put you in the way of earning 5,000 crowns.

- How much? - 5,000 crowns.

Well, plague on it, man, if you don't want it,

I'll find somebody who does.

No, no, no, no, good sir.

One moment while i lift the bar.

Well met, Hugo.

- Robin Hood and Tuck. - Good evening, my son.

What a splendid place you have here.

You must be making quite a lot of money these days.

A mere pittance, a mere pittance, I assure you.

You must be mad coming into Nottingham with such a price on your head.

With such a price on my head, Hugo,

Nottingham is the last place the Sheriff is likely to look.

Of course, if you do want to make 5,000 crowns...

By betraying you? I would cut my throat first.

It would certainly be safer to do so.

I want some information from you, Hugo,

about a shield bearing a white eagle on a black background.

Argent, an eagle rampant sable? Why, that's the Count of Moraine.

I know it, on a shield made recently by you.

- I have never made a shield for Moraine. - I believe you.

I want to know for whom you did make it.

Any armourer who'd lend himself to a deception like that

would be unworthy of his calling.

Exactly, that's why we came to see you.

What do you want?

The name of the man for whom you made that shield,

or i'm liable to remember some things that happened the last time--

No, no, you forgave, you promised we're all good friends.

Yes, but if we were to remain friends, I want to know who ordered that shield.

On my most solemn oath, Robin, I have never made such a shield for anyone.

- Who's that? - I don't know.

Most of my customers use that knock. I like them to use it after dark.

Send them away.

No. No, they'll be suspicious.

Let them in. Up here, Tuck.

Get rid of them quickly.

- If you try to slip out-- - No, you can trust me, Robin.

I trust you as far as i can shoot an arrow,

which is exactly what i'll do for one false move.

Coming, sir, coming.

Alright, open it up, but one false move.

- Good evening, gentlemen. - This is milady.

- Pardon, milady. - Not many footpads

look twice at a soldier and a page.

That's why i wear this uniform.

- We brought back the shield. - The shield?

Yes, the jest is over and the wager has been won.

Your... Your ladyship needn't have troubled.

No trouble, good Hugo.

Having ridden all this way,

you must let me offer you such poor hospitality...

Thank you for your kindness, but we must be going. Walter.

But surely you're not travelling all that way home tonight?

Milady is lodging but a few yards from here

-with the Lord Sheriff. - Ah, the Sheriff.

And i think we shall reach his house in safety,

so if you'll tell me how much i owe you?

Surely a nominal sum, milady.

Shall we say 50 crowns?

I will write you a receipt, yes.

- A thousand thanks, milady. - Thank you, Hugo.

And should you ever require

any further assistance in the matter of jests or wagers...

I think it unlikely, but we'll remember you.

- Yes. - Walter.

Goodnight, milady.

- Goodnight, Walter. - Goodnight.

- Come, Walter. - Milady, he gave me a paper.

Well, you can't read it in darkness.

It can wait until we reach the Sheriff's house.

So, on your most solemn oath, you never made such a shield.

Who is she, Hugo, who sent her to you?

I don't know her name, I don't.

You're a liar, my friend, and i don't like liars.

- You called her milady. - Well, she was obviously

a person of quality, but i swear to you--

You do repeatedly and prove yourself always to be a liar.

- Now, who is she, Hugo? - I tell you, I don't know.

She came here a few days ago and said that she wanted

such a shield for a masquerade in the castle.

- What castle? - Well, I don't know the name. I...

Tuck.

- A rope? - Exactly.

- Thin but strong. - Excellent.

Here, truss him up like...

You mean, he was actually in the room while i was--

Audacious scoundrel. Well, this time, he's mine.

Roger, Catley, call out the guard!

May i join them, milady?

I'd give a night's sleep to see that outlaw brought to book.

- As you will, Walter. - Thank you, milady.

- How's this? - Fine.

And when they ask us what we're carrying, Hugo, we'll say nothing of value.

And we'll throw down the sack to convince them.

Open in the name of the King!

It's the Sheriff.

The loft!

- Where is he? - Up in the loft.

The loft? How do you get up there?

Search it!

How do you know he's in the loft?

- With that sack over your head... - I heard him say, sir, to Friar Tuck...

If he let you hear him say loft, he's probably in the cellar.

- Shouldn't we go in? - His orders were definite,

not unless he sounded the call.

- Yes, but-- - We might spoil everything.

- We don't know his plan. - Well, he didn't plan this.

No, but it's clear they haven't caught him yet.

We'll give it a little longer, anyway.

You couldn't hide a cat in that loft.

Unless they turned themselves into cobwebs,

-they're not down there. - Then they've got away.

With the place surrounded?

- Hugo, is this some stupid jest of yours? - Jest?

Do you think i tied myself up like this?

Hugo, you said that Robin Hood and Friar Tuck

were in this house, and they are not.

And as they cannot possibly have come...

...out of it.

By all the saints, they're out there!

A good shot, John, how's this?

After him, men!

And it's 10,000 crowns if you take him alive!

Well, if it isn't our old friend, Hugo.

Do you want to take him with us?

No need, we'll have the girl followed in the morning.

Good, I don't feel like carrying anything heavy tonight.

He says he's the Abbot of St. Jude's,

so we detained him and his party till your return, Robin.

You did rightly.

I've heard of this Abbot of St. Jude's, and little to his credit.

His baggage is full of gold

and jewels and fine clothes past his counting.

It will be a pleasure to count it for him.

Good morning, Lord Abbot.

I'm sorry i wasn't here to welcome you last night,

but i'm sure my men did all they could for your comfort.

If you're the leader of this scoundrelly band,

I warn you that unless we leave here unscathed and unrobbed,

you will hang on the highest gallows in Nottingham.

I know the Lord Sheriff well.

I spent part of last night with him.

You with the Sheriff?

- You lie. - Oh-ho, no!

He thinks most highly of me, higher than ever, in fact.

My price has now gone up to 10,000 crowns.

Well, you don't believe me, ask Friar Tuck.

Where is Tuck?

Tuck!

Surely the Holy Land must be a wonderful place to produce such beauty, milord.

Look at this, Robin, the signs of the zodiac

cunningly wrought in gold and precious gems.

I shall spend many happy hours with this thing.

That bowl is destined for the high table in the refectory of St. Jude,

and if you dare--

I've heard much of that same St. Jude's, master Abbot.

It's one of the richest monasteries in the north,

while it squeezes the last penny from the poor people

-who live in its land. - How dare you!

There are good churchmen in England, my friend,

but there are evil ones too,

and when the saints send such a one into our hands,

we deal with them faithfully.

Will Scarlet back from Nottingham.

Come with me, John.

Tuck?

I'll leave it to you to see that the Abbot pays fittingly

-for his breakfast and bed. - Delighted.

One half of all that he carries, I think.

- I shall halve it myself. - I warn you--

You do want to see St. Jude's again, don't you?

- News, Will? - Aye, Robin.

Good, we'll hear it inside.

I learned all we wanted to know from the Sheriff's cook.

The girl was Lady Alys Beausoir,

-the ward of Sir Guy Belton. - Sir Guy Belton?

I'd always thought he was one of the King's party.

- Do you know him, Robin? - No, not yet.

Did Lady Alys go back to the castle, Will?

- She left at dawn. - Oh, Belton Castle, hmm!

I want that air that false knight used.

That's right.

- What are your plans, Robin? - Oh, I'll tell you.

This evening, a wandering troubadour will crave lodging at Belton Castle,

a troubadour called, er...? What shall we call him?

Gilbert, Gilbert of Lancaster.

♪ I've roamed the world with my lute in hand ♪

♪ From the isle of the west to the Holy Land ♪

♪ And all i ask of the saints above ♪

♪ Is a voice that can sing and a heart that can love ♪

♪ And the smile of my dearest ♪

♪ My dearest lady ♪

Oh, excellent, master troubadour,

though i doubt what you say about not loving the sword.

You have the look of one who can wield it

as well as you do the lute.

The words were not of my own making, milady.

Then may we have some that are?

One moment, troubadour, where heard you that air?

I cannot at the moment remember, Sir Guy,

though it may come back to me.

Shall i sing the words i set to it?

It's the tale of a king who left his realm.

Another time, the hour grows late, and my ward is tired.

Not too tired to listen to another song, sir.

You have my permission to retire, Alys.

Tomorrow, you shall have a special performance.

Goodnight, master troubadour, till tomorrow.

Till tomorrow, my lady, will be a thousand years.

Minstrel, Sir Guy would have words with you.

- I'm at his service. - Follow me.

- Who are you? - I told you, sir,

Gilbert of Lancaster, a humble troubadour.

You know the coded tune, who sent you?

Waldemar Fitzurse.

Knowing that i am Prince John's man first and last,

-he thought i might help. - In what?

In the matter that is closest to all our hearts.

And what can you do that i cannot do myself?

Carry a message, perhaps.

Minstrels can pass anywhere unchallenged.

What message?

It wasn't my idea to come here.

I don't know what was in Fitzurse's mind. I merely obey his orders.

If you don't need me, I'll return and tell him so.

No, Gilbert, wait. If Fitzurse sent you, he had a reason,

and it's not for me to question it.

- He sent no other message? - Not by me.

Oh, well, perhaps an explanation will arrive tomorrow.

Till then, Garth!

Take my guest to a chamber of honour and see that he lacks nothing.

- Yes, Sir Guy. - Thank you.

- Goodnight, Sir Guy. - Goodnight, Gilbert.

Think he's genuine?

No, Hubert, I do not, but he could be, and if he's a friend of Fitzurse,

it would go ill with me if i offended him.

I'd do more than offend him if he proved to be a spy.

Gallows on the castle tide exist for spies.

Now, do nothing until i'm certain,

but if this troubadour is what i suspect,

he'll find it a great deal harder to get out of this castle

than he did to get in.

Thank you, my friend.

- And goodnight. - Goodnight, sir.

I'm beginning to wonder if this thing really holds a message for us at all.

Would Richard send one of his best couriers all the way from Germany

just to give someone a doll? Of course it has a message.

- But how? Where? What? - I do not know how, where or what,

but a message that surely is and the puzzle

-must be solved tonight. - Tonight?

If this minstrel is a spy, we must move fast.

Now, bring me word as soon as we've got it solved.

- Do you want something, sir? - Yes.

There seem to be people moving about in the woods.

Could that bode ill for the castle?

No one has any right to be out there at this hour.

Let me look. Where?

Oh, that hurt me much more than it did you, my friend.

With any luck, you shouldn't stir for an hour,

and a man can do much in an hour.

By the Rood, Hubert, this is sooner even than we thought.

How long to get the others here?

A messenger right away could bring them by nightfall tomorrow.

Nightfall? Yes, that should give us time. Go down and warn Arthur to be ready.

Arthur! Walter!

Wake up, there's work to be done!

Awake!

Awake!

What's amiss?

Arthur, let's get ready to ride! Vital despatch to the north.

Help him saddle.

- Awake! - Come on, good man. Harold!

Awake!

Oh, who hit me?

That did.

It fell on you when you were right underneath.

I thought it might've killed you.

Take more than that to kill me.

Hubert says i have the thickest skull in Bolton.

I fancy Hubert's right.

- What news, John? - It grows urgent.

The King lands shortly, but when Robin knows not.

We must get word to Count Moraine

and bring our band to within a mile of here.

- And then? - Nothing till further orders.

- Aye, John. - You are the fleetest of us.

Make all speed northwards to Castle Moraine.

- And there? - Tell Count Moraine

or his friend Saltire what you know

-and what i have told you. - I'm there already.

You, Miller, will gather the rest of the band.

Remember the clearing where we found the well?

- Aye. - Camp there.

Will Scarlet and i will wait for further word from Robin.

- God grant he lives to send it. - Amen.

Well, shortly, I fear i must be on my way.

Your hospitality, Sir Guy--

Nonsense, man, you're not leaving yet.

What are a few days here or there to a troubadour.

I add my voice to that, master Gilbert.

Last night, you promised me a special performance.

But i cannot trespass against your guardians.

You're not leaving, Gilbert, I won't permit it.

You're too kind,

but, really, I was never one to stay long

beneath a roof, any roof.

The open air, the leaves, the sky overhead.

He'll be here in a moment, Sir Guy.

He's washing off the stains of travel.

Good. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Gilbert,

we have distinguished company for breakfast,

a traveller like yourself new returned from the Holy Land.

The Abbot of St. Jude's.

The Abbot of St. Jude's, hm?

- A most learned clerk. - I'm sure of it.

The poor man was held up by that villain Robin Hood.

No doubt he'll tell us all about it.

No doubt whatever.

Lady Alys, if you really want me to sing for you...

Oh, but i must wait and meet the Abbot.

I so want to talk with one who has really met this Robin Hood.

I've heard so much about him,

and the other night, I nearly met him myself.

But this Abbot has actually spoken to him

-and knows what he looks like. - I wager he does.

His Grace, the Lord Abbot of St. Jude's.

Give you a good morning, my children.

What a delicious smell of pork,

a thing one misses in the Holy Land.

The infidel don't breed them, poor, ignorant wretches.

We claim to breed the best pigs in England.

- Will you test our claim, my lord? - Exhaustively.

When you have eaten, my lord, I for one hope that you will tell us tales

of the mysterious east.

My son, I will tell you tales such as you've never heard before.

Is it true, milord, that the Saracens can work witchcraft?

No, not real witchcraft.

No, not as we understand it.

A few simple conjuring tricks to deceive fools.

There was one i saw where a man planted a seed in the sand,

and within minutes, a palm tree had grown up 20 feet.

But what was that compared to the one i showed him in reply?

Nothing, I wager.

You are right, my son, nothing.

I threw a rope in the air.

It stayed there.

I sent a lad climbing up after it.

He disappeared.

Silly, I grant you, but as i say, it impresses fools.

Can you do that?

Given the right kind of rope, of course.

Unfortunately, these ropes are not made in this country,

and the two i brought back with me were stolen

by these outlaws of Sherwood Forest.

Tell us about that, milord, your meeting with Robin Hood.

Is he as handsome as they say?

Robin Hood, my child, is as handsome as the rear end of a horse.

He's a scurvy, black-of-eyes knave, with a cast in each eye,

few teeth, and all of those rotten, a slouching, skulky--

But that is not what i heard at all.

Then you've been listening to the wrong people.

Robin Hood is a subject i prefer not to discuss,

particularly in the present company.

Did you meet any of his band, my lord, that scoundrel hedge-priest, for instance?

What do they call him, Friar Tuck?

You wrong him, Sir Guy.

A man of quiet dignity and simple faith.

I was greatly impressed by Friar Tuck,

but as i say,

I much prefer to discuss the Saracens.

Did you know that they were exquisite craftsmen?

- Look at that. - Oh, but this is beautiful.

It's the signs of the zodiac, do you see, Lady Alys?

Taurus, Aries, Gemini, Libra.

- Oh, this is a work of art. - Oh, well may you say so.

Yet to what base uses they put it.

- What then do they use it for? - Gambling.

Somehow, milord, I guessed that might be the case.

But how do they gamble with that?

This orb represents the sun, which, as you know,

passes in turn through all the houses of the zodiac.

They wager on which house it will end up in.

Now, clear all that.

First, we need the golden cloth,

the golden cloth of zodiac,

with all the signs upon it.

Aquarius, my own birth sign.

Now, if i'd had a couple of crowns on that,

- I'd have made twenty. - Twenty, how's that?

The bank pays ten to one.

Ah, what a sad thing it is that men should stoop as low--

My star sign is Sagittarius.

- Finish the game, good Abbot. - Mine is Libra, the balance.

- Master troubadour? - Thank you, milord,

but gambling is much against my principles.

Leo!

So you both lose.

Oh, bad luck.

But surely, my lord, mother church frowns upon this thing.

Oh, she does indeed, Father, and rightly so,

for it is pernicious and beyond doubt an invention of the devil.

For instance, I recall one night in Cyprus

when Scorpio had a run of 17,

followed by ten of Capricorn.

You would've thought the thing bewitched.

- Scorpio. - And i'll take Capricorn.

Scorpio and Capricorn,

the wheel spins.

No more play now, the wheel spins.

Come along, little hope.

I wonder who's going to be lucky this time.

Now, this is Elvira, my attire woman.

Gilbert of Lancaster is going to sing for us, Elvira.

Is it your wish that i withdraw, milady?

- Of course not. - Oh, sorry, milady,

but i remember when young Brian of Eskdale was here...

Lady Alys is interested only in my singing, Elvira.

- I know not Brian of Eskdale. - He is my betrothed.

Oh, then i am guilty of the deadly sin of envy,

but as that is clearly the only sin that i shall be allowed to be guilty of,

Elvira may well stay.

You remind me of a minstrel i knew in my younger days.

He travelled the west country with a score

of scandalous tales running ahead of him

and five score husbands running behind.

Yes.

Know you any of the ballads of Robin Hood?

You seem most interested in that worthless outlaw, milady.

I don't think he is worthless.

Two years ago, when my kinswoman, Alys of Beau Forest,

was to wed an old man she loathed,

Robin and his men carried her off

and wed her to the man she loved.

- His name was Alan-a-Dale. - I heard that story.

Well, if he did that, he can't be worthless, can he?

I hope not, milady.

And as for that fat Abbot's description of him,

scurvy and black of eyes with a cast in each eye,

I just don't believe it.

Now, there i am with you.

I don't think i trust that Abbot.

How wise of you, milady.

If only your guardian was equally wise,

it would save him a lot of money.

Taurus wins, bad luck, Hubert.

You were on that last time, weren't you?

What you really want for this game, you know, is a plan.

Sir!

What do you want, fellow?

Your pardon, sir, but are you not the knight Saltire,

-friend of the Count Moraine? - I am.

And you, by your appearance, are one of the men of Sherwood.

Indeed, sir, and meeting you has saved me a long journey, I hope,

-for i am on my way to Castle Moraine. - With news?

A message from Robin Hood, sir.

He says the King lands shortly and the rebels know it.

How knows he this?

Doubtless, he learned it in Belton Castle.

Robin Hood in Belton?

He's been there these last 20 hours.

Has he, indeed?

You've done your task well, lad, I'll tell your master so.

You mean, I don't need to find the Count Moraine?

No need at all, lad, I'll take your message to him.

Thank you kindly.

- Good luck, sir. - Good luck.

Now, ride, you fools, to Belton.

Taurus, bad luck again, gentlemen, bad luck.

Nigel, you're early.

On the contrary, I think i'm late.

At least, Robin Hood and Friar Tuck are here before me.

- Robin Hood and Friar-- - Taking you for fools.

They're spying for the King.

Watch out!

Tuck!

Thank you, Sir Guy.

Aah!

Bowmen, knot your shots!

Two cloth yards each if you don't yield.

Stand back, you clumsy fools!

I've done that so often myself.

Alright.

Is there a password?

None mentioned in the message, no, but what's the need?

Met by his loyal subject, Sir Nigel Saltire.

- What escort shall i take? - The fewer the better.

I reckon four bowmen should be enough.

The whole thing is for secrecy,

- Richard will suspect nothing. - Then i'd better be going.

Time is getting short.

You could be there easily in a couple of hours.

Why wait about on a drafty--

I'd rather wait than lose Richard by not being there.

Anything may happen, he may land earlier.

We're playing for high stakes, Hubert.

God save Prince John.

God save King John.

- Father David. - Yes, my child?

Are you going to visit the outlaws before...

- Well, before... - I go there at this moment.

Then will you take this rasp to them?

My child, what are you asking me,

that i should help outlaws to escape?

Well, you heard what that false knight Saltire said.

They're spying for the King.

That means that this castle is for Prince John.

I take no part in politics, my child.

Well, then for the sake of common humanity.

I can't do it.

But you're the only person who can get past the jailers.

And therefore the very first person on whom Sir Guy

would turn should they escape.

- Oh, Father David. - No, I can have nothing to do with it.

Jailer!

Jailer, come to the door, you frightened weakling!

I curse on you, you noisy thief.

Has anyone ever escaped from here?

They have not, nor shall they.

Are you a betting man?

Now, if that's Father David, let him in,

but anyone else, call me.

Oh, Father David.

Oh, thank you, Father.

Tuck, let's not be gloomy on our last night.

A rousing stave, lad, come on!

♪ There was a gay forester lived in a wood ♪

♪ He never knew harm and he never knew good ♪

♪ He never knew sorrow and he never knew fear ♪

♪ And he spent all his days a-chasing the deer ♪

♪ With a folderol, folderol, folderol, folderol ♪

That's little encouragement for Father David.

They're gonna sing a different song in the morning.

Should these two prisoners escape,

- Sir Guy will probably hang me. - Fiddle-faddle.

Lady Alys would never let you take the blame,

even if she got whipped for it, as she will.

But Sir Guy may not have the patience to ask who's responsible.

Father, you're meeting trouble halfway.

Wait till they're free, and they're nothing like it yet.

- Now, keep your legs covered. - Oh.

♪ There was a gay friar who lived in a dell ♪

♪ He carolled all day for he lived very well ♪

♪ He had venison aplenty that came from the King ♪

♪ And he thought that his life was a wonderful thing ♪

♪ With a folderol, folderol, folderol, folderol ♪

♪ Folderol, folderol, folderol ♪

♪ And we sing, hey, for a forester's life ♪

♪ Oh, there was a gay minstrel who lived in a glade ♪

♪ And he won every heart with the songs that he made ♪

Well?

It worked, it worked, Elvira. They'll be free in a few minutes.

- Oh, oh my! - I mean free of their bonds.

How they'll get out of the cell, I don't know.

Oh, my grateful thanks for the loan of the clothes, Father.

Oh, my child, when Sir Guy hears of this...

Oh, you need have no fears.

The blame is all mine and i shall own it gladly,

and if you're worried about not having discharged your priestly office,

well, you can do it in the morning,

if Robin and Tuck are still here,

which God send they won't be.

May i leave now, milady?

Of course,

and if you'll take my advice, you'll go straight to bed

and think no more of Robin Hood until you have to.

- Oh, I'll try. - Goodnight, Father.

Goodnight, my daughters.

- Oh, Elvira! - Oh-ho!

I haven't had such an exciting night since--

Since young Brian of Eskdale went to France.

That's not what i was going to say at all.

Oh, but isn't it exciting, Elvira?

♪ There was a gay forester lived in a wood ♪

♪ He never did harm and he never did good ♪

I thought that was what you were humming,

but i couldn't believe my ears.

May i ask, milady, where you heard such a song as that?

Well, the outlaws sang it to drown the noise of the rasp.

What's wrong with it?

Did they sing the verse about the hermit?

Hermit? No, I don't think so.

Oh, then perhaps it is alright.

♪ There was a gay hermit, uh, forester lived in the wood ♪

♪ And we sing, hey, for a forester's life ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ There was a gay hermit who ate only grout ♪

Peace, Tuck, peace, I'm tired of this singing.

But i thought you wanted to be merry

this night before we die?

I've changed my mind, and i've changed my mind about dying, too.

Jailer!

Jailers!

What's amiss?

Have a mind to make your fortune, friend?

How might that be?

In roaming the forest for ten years, I've laid up quite a store of treasure.

Aye, that i warrant.

It's all yours if you'll let us escape from here.

Ho-ho-ho! And have Sir Guy flay the skin from my body?

Listen, my friend, we could be 30 miles from here

before Sir Guy missed us,

and once you had my treasure in your hands,

you could laugh at him and the whole chivalry of England.

It's a trick.

- Once free of this place-- - Of course it's a trick,

but he's not the only one who can play tricks.

What proof have i that your band will let me collect the treasure?

Because my band doesn't know where my private treasure is hid.

- I can tell you-- - Why, you trusty rat, you!

What, you tell these dogs what you refuse to tell your own comrades?

- You yellow-- - Hold your peace!

It's both our necks i'm buying. Well?

Will you tell me first where the treasure is hidden?

Aye, if you promise to let us go afterwards.

Of course, I will,

and Wamba here will bear me as witness.

Then come in and i'll tell you.

Why must i come in?

Would you rather i shout it so the Tuck here

can tell the rest of the band and have them stop you?

No, that sounds like sense.

Come here and let me whisper.

Look!

There are guards coming this way.

Can you squeeze through there?

Not if i starve for a month, but you could, quick.

No, we stand and fall together.

Robin, one man free is worth two in chains.

- Go on, hurry. - No, Tuck, but i can't.

You there, bring the key!

I'll have you out before dawn.

Try not to be late, will you?

A chilly evening, gentlemen. Freed, by the Rood!

- Where's Robin Hood? - Where are the jailers?

The jailers are where jailers ought to be, in jail.

I am afraid we mislaid the key,

but you could always break the door down.

Where is Robin Hood?

If you didn't meet him on the stairs, I can't think.

- Here's your answer, sir. - After him, all of you!

No, Walter, you i want.

The rest of you, take every man who's on our guard

and scour the fields and forests.

If that knave is still free by the dawn,

the friar shall have other company on the gallows.

Take him to the guardroom, Walter, and don't take your eyes off him

for the rest of the night!

Trust me, sir. Come on.

Tell me, Walter, are you a gambling man?

- Gambling? - Yes, come on.

I admire your spirit, for i am.

We of the guard will keep you company for the last few hours.

Well, lads, we have clerkly company tonight.

I bid you good evening, my sons.

And right brave company he is too, for all he's an outlaw.

What shall it be, Friar?

A merry catch that speeds you towards heaven?

Thank you, my son, but it is time that i compose my soul.

If i may sit apart a little?

Away from the door, you may do as you please.

Over there by the window will do.

Thank you.

Thank you, my sons.

Do you hear me, Tuck?

Do you remember the game you taught us in the Greenwood last year?

You must teach it to the guard,

then in an hour or so, I'll sound the alarm.

If you play as you did before,

I doubt they'll be in a state to answer it.

That's when you make your bid, understood?

The saints be with you, Tuck.

- What have you there, Friar? - What? These?

Oh, it's just a gift i had from a dear friend

the night before he was hanged, a series of pictures

showing the whole of chivalry and heraldry. See?

Argent, a lozenge gules. Ermine.

Here is a knight, and here the queen of beauty.

By the Rood, these are wondrous clear.

Look, argent three leaf sable,

the arms of my former master, Count Beauvoir.

There's a king in all his panoply.

Tell me, Friar, what use are these things for?

Well, as a matter fact,

quite an amusing little game can be played,

and if any of you bold lads would care for a little flutter.

Since when have our soldiers had the means for that?

Oh, you don't need money, I've none myself.

No, in the Greenwood, we play for garments.

- Garments? - Yes, garments.

It's child's play to understand.

There are but nine hands to memorise.

One pair, two pairs, three of a kind...

Oh, but i think you'll learn as we go along.

It's long past your hour of bedtime, milady.

How can i think of bed when there's so much stirring?

You saw the soldiers spreading out towards the woods.

They must have escaped.

Oh, I wish i dared go down and find out.

Yes, but soon Sir Guy will start wondering how they escaped.

Let us sit down while we can still do so in comfort.

I pray they've reached the safety of the woods.

A summons to judgement, I fear.

Mind if i come in?

- Robin! - None other.

I came to express my thanks to the debt we owe you.

- Please, the window. - Why are you still here?

Tuck is still a prisoner,

and i have much to do in the matter of serving my King.

- And there i hope you can help me. - I'm most willing.

Is there a man in this castle that you can trust,

a man that could take a message to my lads in the forest?

And i don't want a fool, there can be no mistakes in this matter.

I'll find someone. What is your message?

As yet i'm not quite sure.

I want a few more details first, from Hubert, for choice.

Where does he sleep?

- The room at the end of the west passage. - Good.

You're going there now, is it safe?

Nothing is safe, milady, with the King's life at stake.

The west passage?

When you come back, I'll have your messenger waiting.

Brian of Eskdale.

No, I cannot believe it was Father David, and yet he was their only visitor.

- Hubert! - Oh! Yeah. Oh, sorry.

Aye, if you're to be of any use to me tomorrow,

you'd better go to your room and sleep this off.

To your room, man. Garth!

- Sir? - Wake Father David and fetch him here.

Yes, sir.

You cry and you'll finish it in heaven.

All i want is some information, Hubert. What's happening to the King?

- What's happening to the King? - Saltire is meeting him.

Where and when?

- At noon at Hull Beach. - And then?

They plan to resist his landing.

I see, shoot him down like a dog

while he's clamouring ashore. By the Rood, Hubert!

It was not my plan.

- How many men has Saltire with him? - Forty.

If i thought you were lying to me...

I'm not, Robin, it's true. I swear it by my hopes of heaven.

A slender enough thing for you to swear by.

Alright, turn around. Turn around!

I'll see what you hold.

Four knights, Friar, thy robe.

Four aces, Walter, thy britches.

Your messenger, Sir.

Lady Alys, this is not a woman's work. Is there no man--

None that i trust as i trust myself, so write your message.

- But i can't allow you-- - The message, Robin!

Oh.

So, you let two women make you a prisoner.

I'm but a little man, Sir Guy,

and that great Amazon has the strength of ten!

- Alright, you can go. - Thank you, my son.

Garth!

Aye, sir.

Fetch me the Lady Alys and her attire woman,

and this time you need not be gentle or give them time to dress.

- Bring them as they are. - At once, sir.

You sure you can get out of the castle alright?

There's a south door by the side of the moat.

Good.

But just in case, there's a small clearing

due west of here, but a few paces into the wood.

Go there and call for Little John.

Little John?

A summons from Sir Guy.

Get up and wake your mistress, wench!

My mistress is on her way to the forest, friend.

Fine, now sweep him up.

He claims to have the thickest skull in the castle,

so hit him again every count of 50 just for luck,

and don't worry about Sir Guy.

He'll have other things to think about in a moment.

- You ready, my lady? - Ready.

Robin, if i do this successfully for you,

will you do something for me?

Anything, my lady, name it.

Teach me the verse about the hermit.

That would come much better from Brian of Eskdale.

Godspeed.

If Robin Hood's within a mile of here, I'm King of Scotland.

He's halfway to Sherwood by now.

I would be if i were he.

The Friar will hang, but that's his lot.

For myself, I am going back to report the failure.

I am with you, poking around these woods

as if outlaws grew on trees, come on.

Come here, stripling, come here.

- Why, it's Lady Alys. - Indeed it is.

And i'll ask you to unhand me or Sir Guy shall hear.

It's of my mind, milady, Sir Guy will be most surprised to hear of it.

I'll warrant you're here on no business of his in these clothes.

Think you, Peter, she might be trysting with Robin Hood himself?

From what i know of noble ladies, nothing would surprise me less.

Come, mistress, with us and Sir Guy shall judge between us.

- And if we're at fault, we'll pay for it. - Well, leave me!

Leave me alone!

Little John!

- Little John! - You want me?

Are you Little John?

Aye, milady, a name they gave me in jest methinks.

I think so, too.

A message from Robin Hood.

Where is Hull Beach, milady?

Hull Beach is on the Wash,

half a day's ride from here, north-westerly.

Then we've no time to lose,

for Robin says we must be there before the King lands at noon.

He says he and Tuck will catch us up on the way.

Does that mean Tuck has escaped?

No, but Robin has a plan to free him.

Thank you, milady, you've done a fine night's work for us.

I hope so.

Hubert!

Hubert, where the devil are you, man?

Hubert, Hubert!

What? By the Rood!

The alarm, by all the saints!

Give me my britches.

Rouse yourself, man, can't you hear the alarm?

The castle is in danger and you slumber like an ox.

Ah!

Walter! What is this madness?

- And where's the friar? - The friar?

He was here a moment ago, sir.

Aye, and so was Robin Hood too, I'll warrant, but they're not here now.

By the Rood, there shall be a reckoning for this,

-but first, we must retake these outlaws. - No need.

If you really want them, we can retake them at our leisure

and with the whole band thrown in.

- Are you mad, where? - At Hull Beach.

He's gone there to prevent Saltire from assassinating the King

when he tries to land.

Hull Beach, but the King lands on the flood tide at Fosdyke.

You mean, you told him Hull Beach and he believed you?

I've long had a talent for lying most convincingly.

So, there's no need to scatter the men all round the countryside.

You are right.

- Hal! House Torman! - Your will, sir?

- Give the men their woodland garb. - Aye, sir.

- All ready, Walter? - In a few moments, sir.

Hal, give out the masks!

- Milady! - All is well,

What's happening in the courtyard?

Your pardon, but is my sword here?

Aye, but for what mischief are you dressed like that?

Do you think i make a handsome forester?

Come and get your sword, Garth.

Thank you, milady.

But why the Greenwood cloak?

So that when we Kill the King,

everyone will think it was done by Robin Hood's outlaws.

One of the King's companions will be allowed to escape--

But the King lands at Hull Beach.

That's but a tale that Hubert told.

No, the King lands on the flood tide at Fosdyke.

Garth!

- Coming, sire! Coming! - Hurry, man!

Your servant, my lady.

As soon as they've gone, go down and saddle my horse.

Robin must be warned, quick!

Will we be in good time, Robin?

We should be, a half day's ride,

an hour on our way already.

I'd give a gold piece to see Sir Guy's face

when he found the guards with not a stitch upon 'em.

- Everything ready, sir. - Then forward to Marley Wood.

Forward, men!

How shall we know the ship, sir?

By the pennants on her masthead, the three lions of England.

According to the sun, it should be soon.

Our sovereign lord back in the bosom of his loyal subjects.

Here, Guy?

Yes, there's good cover.

- Walter! - Sir?

Dispose of your men to the best advantage and tell them all to put their masks up.

And make sure they've got their orders clear.

At least one of the King's companions is to be allowed to escape

to tell who was responsible for Richard's death.

Yes, sir, but suppose none of the King's companions tries to escape?

Then one of them must be left gravely wounded,

and i myself will find him in time to hear his story,

but whatever else happens, Richard must die.

Yes, sir.

Nigel!

Your Majesty's most devoted subject.

Rise up, man.

It's good to see a friendly face again.

You know Sir Henry and young Brian of Eskdale.

Where's Moraine?

He craves your pardon for his absence, sire,

but an inflammation of the leg keeps him to his room.

He waits to welcome you to his castle.

And i am all eagerness to get there.

- You have horses, I see. - At Your Majesty's pleasure.

Then to horse, and let me look once again upon my beloved England.

Robin, a horse!

All right, lads, clear!

Lady Alys.

Oh, Robin, thank heaven i found you.

- Something terribly important. - What do you mean?

Hubert tricked you, the King lands at Fosdyke.

He may be there by this time.

Sir Guy's men are to ambush him in Marley Woods.

Marley Woods?

We shall never get there in time.

It's but an hour's march from Fosdyke,

but from here it's three times that.

- We six might do it. - That's impossible.

- Sir Guy has 20 men with him. - Nevertheless, we must try.

You heard how we've been tricked, lads. To Marley Woods with you!

Lady Alys, you stay here

and rest your horse and come back at leisure.

We'll go on ahead, and God save the King!

Surely this is not our best route to Castle Moraine, is it, Nigel?

Not our shortest, sire, but certainly our safest.

While you've been abroad, the outlaws in your realm have multiplied,

and one particular band, led by a scoundrel called Robin Hood,

have made Sherwood and Barnsdale a death trap for honest travellers.

- Say you so? - Yes, sire.

I thought it best to make a day tour to avoid them

until we have sufficient force to deal with them as they deserve.

Yes, yes, you were probably wise.

Which way then are we taking?

Through yonder, sire. They call it Marley Woods.

Alright, the rest of you over there.

Alright?

Alright.

More under cover.

All ready, sir.

We should not have very much longer to wait.

- See if Harold has any news for us. - Yes, sir.

- Any sign of them, Harold? - Not yet, Captain.

Well, keep your eye skinned, I'll wait.

Walter, horsemen, two knights in the lead.

I'm almost certain, I can see their devices in the sun.

It's Saltire and the King.

Good man.

I'm alright, back to the trees.

Charge!

Quick! Charge, Robin!

Come on, hey, hey!

Sir Guy is down, boys, the battle's lost.

It's every man for himself.

Who are these stout fellows, Brian?

I'm afraid, sire, that they are the very outlaws

against whom we were warned.

I've seen Robin Hood before at Alan-a-Dale's wedding,

and from the look of them, the two behind him

must be Friar Tuck and Little John.

With a score of such fellows behind me,

I'd have escaped from Germany years ago.

I look forward to making their better acquaintance.

And that, sire, is the whole story,

and for our many crimes against your laws, we crave your pardon.

From all accounts, you have much need to,

and i have much need to thank you

for the trifling gift of my life.

Rise up, man, your crimes are forgiven you.

For your share in the matter, Lady Alys,

you have our warmest gratitude now and always.

- Brian. - Sire?

Belton Castle is forfeit, of course.

I need a man to hold it for me.

I had thought that you might be that man,

but as you seem to have found something better to hold...

- We are betrothed, sire. - Oh?

Well, in that case,

we'll speed the bands and you can hold both.

- Robin! - Sire?

The one part of your story

I don't follow is how a solitary friar, unarmed,

could put 12 men out of action and give them the slip

in a lighted guardroom.

I shall be delighted to demonstrate to Your Majesty and, indeed,

to any other gentlemen who fancies a sporting investment...

They tell me, Moraine, that in spite of all the game laws,

there are still sturdy rogues who risk their necks

by killing our royal deer in the royal forest.

I fear that is true, sire.

In that case, Robin, I feel sure you can give us all a right royal supper.

Sire!

Away you go, men!