Robin Hood, Series 2 (2007)

[Robin has drawn a map of the barn with an arrow into the sand of the ground. He draws a line with the arrow as he talks]

Robin:
We stay tight until this point. [Marks it with the arrow] Everyone clear? Show me.

[Little John marks his spot with his staff]

Little John:
I go here.

Djaq:
Will and I... [She touches the spots where she and Will will be] here.

[Robin marks the sand with the arrow as he talks]

Robin:
And then you switch positions and cover from the back.

[Djaq nods and stands up and and walks away]

Much:
[Quietly] And after that?

Will:
[Quietly] Much, I don't think there's going to be an "after that".

Much:
[Quietly] Yeah.

Djaq:
[Looking to the window] First light. Nearly dawn

[Pause. Much looks up at Robin]

Much:
This is it. [He sighs] This is really it. [To Robin] Forget what I said. I don't want you to die remembering me that way.

Robin:
Hey... I'll remember you as my loyal friend.

[They look at each other, Much slightly nods. Robin sighs]

Robin:
We must get the weapons ready. When there's light enough to see by, we'll go.

[Robin walks over to the cart]

Little John:
No.

[Pause]

Little John:
No.

Robin:
John, we agreed this!

Little John:
[Softly] You have not spoken, Robin. It's your turn.

Robin:
We have a few moments left on this earth. Let me have my thoughts to myself. I'll share them with you in the next life,

Djaq:
Robin... if there is a heaven, yours is different from mine.

Much:
What if there isn't a heaven?

Robin:
It's almost light.

Little John:
Robin.

Robin:
You know my thoughts. They are for the poor. They are for you. [Pause] And they're for Marian. The woman I love. The woman who I recently gave a ring to.

Djaq:
You're engaged?

[Robin nods. Will looks at Much, and Much nods at Djaq]

Robin:
The woman who makes me believe that by a twist of fate, we might just be able to see this through.

[Pause]

Robin:
And Much, I have betrayed your friendships. But I think you know why.

[Much shakes his head]

Robin:
You see, I can't face the terrors we saw. I can't. [He shakes his head as he says "I can't"] Because I'm not as strong as you. [Pause] I have to put them out of my mind. Because if I don't... then I wouldn't be able to lead. I mean I wouldn't even be able to... [He laughs]

Much:
[Quietly] What?

Robin:
It doesn't matter.

Little John:
[At same time. Quietly] Wouldn't be able to shoot.

[Much looks at Little John]

Much:
[Quietly] Shoot? Course you can shoot.

[Robin shakes his head and exhales. Pause]

Robin:
No, John's right.

[Pause]

Robin:
In the Holy Land, the men we saw... in bits. [He shakes his head] [Pause] The screaming. Every time I raise my bow... I see them. I hear them. And I know now, whether it was right or wrong, what we did in the Holy Land, it makes no difference. So I have to try not to kill. I have to avoid killing. [Pause. Robin laughs] I mean, God gave me a gift with bow. I can kill with my eyes closed. I mean, I can kill a man from a thousand yards. And I have to try everything in my power not to.

[Pause. Robin shrugs]

Robin:
[To Much] And that's why I wasn't there for you... in your hour of need, my friend. [Tears well up in his eyes] Because I have to let those memories go. [Pause] I just have to be free.

[Long pause]

Much:
[Quietly] Why didn't you say?

Robin:
It doesn't matter now. In a few moments, we'll be free forever.

[Much walks over to Robin and hugs him. Robin cries. They hug for a long time]