Robin Hood, Series 2 (2007)

Robin:
This is an ambush!

Davina:
You don't say.

Much:
This is how it goes.

Will:
There's poor people going hungry.

Allan:
Tell us what you've got.

Djaq:
Be honest with us...

Much:
And we take a tenth...

Will:
So the poor can eat.

Little John:
Lie!

Much:
Or resist...

Robin:
And we take it all. So what's it gonna be?!

[One of Davina's men captures Djaq]

Man:
I've got the girl!

[Djaq hits him and gets free]

Djaq:
A woman, you'll find.

[The gang have just reappeared from their new secret camp]

Robin:
Good work, Will!

Will:
[looking at the camp] It's nothing.

Much:
Nothing? Genius! [puts his arms around Will and Robin] I love a camp!

[The gang cheer]

Sheriff:
Speaking of our lady-leper-friends, time to go and get the pretty one... and her daddy.

Gisborne:
Edward and Marian. If they resist, shall I use force?

Sheriff:
Get up to speed, Gisborne - use force anyway.

Marian:
I have a feeling we're not to welcome in the corridors of power at the moment.

Robin:
Good. Come and join my gang.

Marian:
In your dreams.

[Robin and Marian kiss]

Robin:
Listen.

Marian:
What?

Robin:
That kiss spoke volumes.

Marian:
What did it say?

Robin:
It said, "Marian wants to come and join your gang."

Marian:
Really? That's not what I heard. What I heard was a little voice saying, "Abandon your home, abandon your father, to take up arms with a man who thinks that resistance is about showing off with a bow."

Robin:
That's not fair!

Marian:
To do what? To wait for a king, who lets face it, may or may not make it home.

[Robin laughs]

Marian:
What?

Robin:
So you have been thinking about it then.

[Marian smiles]

Allan:
Well if you're gonna get funny about Marian, why'd you let Gisborne grab her in the first place?

[Robin laughs]

Robin:
Be careful.

Much:
Marian's in there.

Allan:
Yeah, and she's probably having cakes and ale with the Sheriff.

Much:
You just don't get it, do you?

Allan:
No, I don't get anything. That's what I'm saying! You know, we risk our lives to get money, then we give all of it away, what's that about?!

Much:
It...

Allan:
No, I'm not being funny, we should get something. If we don't get anything, we'll get weak, get demoralised. Then how are we gonna help the poor?

Much:
You are not weak!

Allan:
No, but I might get weak. Anyway it doesn`t matter to you.

Much:
Why?

Allan:
You've always been weak.

[Robin laughs]

Much:
Very funny. Funny. You know, why don't you just...just...!

Allan:
Why don't I just what?

Much:
Why don't you just jigger off!

Allan:
"Jigger off"? You what?! What does that mean? Jigger?

Much:
You know what it means!

Allan:
Right.

[Allan walks past Much and leaves]

Much:
Wha-? Where are you going?! Master!

Robin:
Just leave him. He needs to cool off.

Sheriff:
[as Marian and her father, Edward, enter] Ah, the sanctimonious old fart... and her father! [chuckles] I gather you've been careless with your wood fire.

Marian:
You know full well that is not the case.

Sheriff:
Tell me - whose side are you on? Mine or King Richard's? Hm? The real world... or the old world?

Edward:
Yours.

Sheriff:
No. Come along! We both know that's not true, don't we?

Edward:
I believe in justice. I believe in the rights of a free man.

Sheriff:
[sneering] Who cares... what you believe in? Hm? I have a plan, and I will not tolerate dissent. So, you are under house arrest, here in the castle, until I can find some use for you.

Marian:
My Lord Sheriff, I must protest.

Sheriff:
You must?!

Marian:
My father is unwell. He must be allowed to--

Sheriff:
One more word out of you, missy, and your father will never be unwell again!

Gisborne:
[to Marian] You think you can humiliate a man at the altar? A man like me and get away with it? You're wrong.

Sheriff:
Just before we say goodbye, my friend, Sir Guy has a question for you.

Gisborne:
Who is the Nightwatchman?

Robin:
I don't know, Gisborne! But I'll make sure to kiss him when I see him for stealing from you.

[Gisborne hits Robin with the latter's bow]

Davina:
That's your real problem isn't it Hood, you need people to love you.

Robin:
It's better than needing reptiles to love you.

Davina:
My brother loves me.

Robin:
Like I said.

Sheriff:
A double execution. Very good!

[As he sees the Nightwatchman return to the castle rather than take the exit]

Sheriff:
What's he doing? Why isn't he running away? [He realises. To Gisborne] He's creating a distraction!

Sheriff:
[to the Nightwatchman] You seem to misunderstand, my friend! Robin Hood is already dead!

[The Nightwatchman is visibly upset jumps down from the turret and runs away]

[Later, the Nightwatchman runs to Nottingham Town, takes a dress from the washing line, takes off her mask and Marian cries]

[Davina is dying and the Sheriff is holding her in his arms]

Sheriff:
There must be a cure, medicine, yes?

Davina:
No.

Robin:
Sheriff, [he points his bow and arrow at the Sheriff] give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you now.

Sheriff:
Shut up, Hood.

Robin:
Then you die with your sister.

Davina:
You haven't told him, have you?

[The Sheriff shakes his head]

Davina:
Prince John has made the Sheriff a deal. If my brother should die an unnatural death, the entire county of Nottingham shall be obliterated. Houses and villages burnt. Every man, every woman and every innocent little child hanged. Would you really want that on your conscience, pretty boy?

[Robin leaves]

Sheriff:
How long?

Davina:
Not long.

Sheriff:
Don't die. You're strong. You're my strong sister.

Davina:
I'm not strong. I was being you...so you'd notice me...so you'd love me.

Sheriff:
I love you. I've always loved you.

[Davina dies]

Sheriff:
Aahh!

[The Sheriff closes her eyes]

[Gisborne and guards enter]

Sheriff:
[softly] I want him dead, Gisborne. Whatever it takes, I want him dead.

He nestles his head on his sister's]

[Marian has been crying, thinking that Robin is dead and walks from the house where she changed from her Nightwatchman outfit. Robin appears from behind a washing line and Marian is overjoyed - smiles and hugs him]

Marin:
Robin!

[Robin smiles]

Robin:
Who died?

Marian:
You did. The Sheriff said you were dead.

[They walk]

Robin:
The Sheriff, the Sheriff is plotting to kill the King...with his friends the Black Knights. They're already dividing England between themselves. You can't go back to the castle.

Marian:
We must get word to the King. Nottingham is not safe.

Robin:
It's not just Nottingham. The Black Knights, the Black Nights, they're everywhere. They're taxing the poor of England to pay for an army of mercenaries.

Marian:
Well we must stop them. I must go back to the castle!

[Marian walks away but is pulled back by Robin]

Robin:
It's too dangerous!

Marian:
Robin! Having a spy on the inside when there is a coup being plotted is useful.

Robin:
No! For once, just listen to me!

Marian:
And my father is in there, Robin I have to go back!

Robin:
Marian, I can't protect you in the castle.

Marian:
Two minutes ago I thought you were dead and I would have given anything for another chance to be with you.

Robin:
Well then take that chance. Come with me.

Marian:
But listen.

Robin:
What?

[They kiss]

Marian:
A little voice saying "yes. When the King is home, safe."

[She leaves and Robin watches her, saddened]

Gisborne:
The Sheriff didn't want to say goodbye either. He just wants you dead now. See you on the dark side. Shoot him!

[The archers prepare to fire. But the gang arrive - Much charges with a warlike cry in front of the archers and the arrows fire into his shield. The rest of the gang fight]

Little John:
[knocking out an archer] So, it's goodnight from me...

Will:
[knocking out an archer. He hits the archer with an axe with the words "goodnight" and "him"] And goodnight from him!

[Will nods at Little John and Little John nods at Will]

Much:
Well, it's not the end of the world. I mean, Marian's basically alright and...we've got a camp.

Will:
Much, the Sheriff and the Black Knights are going to kill the King. Take over England.

Much:
True. It is the end of the world.

[Will nods with his drink]

Much:
Well, if we've learnt one thing from today, it's that you are never going to go to Nottingham on your own, again, ever. Because if you'd have died, especially now...

Robin:
If I had died, Much, or if I die tomorrow...you will carry on without me.

Much:
How? We are Robin Hood's men.

Robin:
No, you are Robin Hood.

Much:
What?

Robin:
You are Robin Hood. And [points to Djaq] you are, and [points to Little John] you are. [turns to Will] All of you! We are not just six outlaws in the forest. [Allan arrives outside the camp] We are the spirit of England and that lads, that is this country's only hope.

[Allan walks in]

Allan:
Ay up, lads.

Djaq:
What happened to you?

Allan:
Oh, tricked one punter too many.

Much:
I could have told you that. Here. [hands Allan a cup]

Little John:
We are Robin Hood.

Allan:
What?

Much:
Just say it.

Allan, Robin, Will, Much, Djaq, Little John:
 :[holding their cups up] We are Robin Hood!

[The gang smile and drink and as Allan takes his drink, the bag of money from Gisborne in exchange for Allan spying is seen hanging from his trousers. He quickly covers it up and drinks]

Much:
How'd you know there even is a strong room.

Robin:
A wild guess.

Allan:
What do you think? A little bird told him. A little Marian bird.

Much:
[looking at a trip wire] Will, what's this?

Will:
Much, don't touch that!

[Much pulls on the thread and dogs are heard]

Much:
Why do I do it?

Sheriff:
Am I to drown in everybody else's incompetence, whilst Robin Hood steals everything that is rightfully MINE?! A CLUE: NO!!! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, GISBORNE!!!

Guy of Gisborne:
Well, my lord, now we know the stronghold works. It stopped Hood dead in his tracks.

Sheriff:
NOT DEAD ENOUGH!!! Stealing money from me on the way here is one thing. Stealing it from under my very nose is another! The Black Knights are coming, expecting their share-out, Gisborne! AT THIS RATE, THERE'LL BE NOTHING LEFT TO SHARE!!! I want Hood caught, Gisborne! I want him DEAD!

Sheriff:
The Count Friedrich of Bavaria is one of the richest aristocrats in Europe, by all accounts. Stupid too, so you and he should get on. He also has a weakness for gambling.

Gisborne:
[realizing] Your alterations to the Great Hall.

Sheriff:
Yes. We will extend the Count every courtesy, Gisborne. I've taken my bath six months early for a reason! And then... [smiles evilly] we shall take the inbred booby for every penny that he's got.

Sheriff:
[in his new casino] This world is full of idiots, waiting to be parted from their money. But as you know... the house always wins!

Robin:
You don't have to do this.

Marian:
Yes I do. Without me, you wouldn't even know there was a strong room.

[Robin laughs]

Robin:
"England needs me".

Marian:
Yes, England needs me. England needs us.

Robin:
And I need you.

[They kiss]

[Stephen is touching Will's face]

Stephen:
Will. Still passionate, angry.

Will:
Lots to be angry about.

Stephen:
True. And your skills. You're using them, not wasting them. That's good.

Will:
I'm with Robin Hood.

Stephen:
That is good.

[After Stephen has explained the traps within the strong room]

Much:
Well all I'm hearing is arrows, lead and certain death. Encouraging.

[Stephen is feeling Robin's face]

Stephen:
There is a way, you know.

Robin:
A way for what?

Stephen:
A way to do what you need to do and still find love. You are a troubled soul. Be patient. You will prevail.

Robin:
And you can tell all that just from feeling my face?

Stephen:
No. Your friend Much was telling me earlier.

[They laugh]

Gisborne:
... The strongroom...!

Sheriff:
... GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARDS!!!!!!!!

[After Robin successfully robs the Sheriff's secret loot]

Sheriff:
My war chest, and the booby's money. [grabbing Gisborne] But they can't have done! No, no! [walks away from him, exasperated] No. [throwing a tantrum] NO!!! [kicks a guard in the knees] NO!!! [grabs him and throws him into another guard] NO!!! [punches another guard] NO!!! [holds his fist up to punch another and the guard looks down, ready to be punched, saddened] NNNNNNNNNNOOO!!! [slaps him lightly instead]

[After Much's suggestion of moving to Germany if "things don't work out here"]

Robin:
Much, Count of Shleswig Holstein!

[The gang laugh]

Much:
I could be Count of Shlessy or whatever.

Will:
It'd be pretty hard to be a Count of a place you can't pronounce.

[Allan puts his arm on Much's shoulders]

Allan:
Nah, Sovereign of Sherwood, that's you, mate.

Robin:
Sovereigns of Sherwood...that's us, lads.

Robin:
It's alright. Hang on, I know you. You were Marian's stable boy at Knighton Hall.

Daniel:
How do you know that?

Robin:
What happened? I know Gisborne's up to something cause I've been tracking him.

Daniel:
I don't trust you.

Robin:
Alright. Tell me your name.

Daniel:
Daniel.

Robin:
Daniel. Do you know who I am?

[Daniel shakes his head]

Daniel:
No.

Robin:
I'm Robin Hood.

[Later]

Daniel:
Gisborne's got my friends. He's got my friends!

Robin:
I can help you with your friends. But I need you to tell me what you saw.

Daniel:
A man. They shot him, but he didn't die. The arrows bounced off and then Sir Guy killed him with a knife...and now he's gonna kill my friends!

Robin:
Woah. Woah, woah, woah. The arrows bounced off what?

Daniel:
Armour. He was wearing armour. Funny armour.

Robin:
Let's see about your friends, shall we?

[Daniel nods]

Much:
Here. [hands little John and Allan a plate of food]

Little John:
I thought you said chicken?

Allan:
Yeah, this is a pretty small chicken, Much.

Will:
Yeah. Again.

Djaq:
And have you seen in the trees? No squirrels lately. [Looks at Will, smiling]

Much:
It's not squirrel!

Djaq:
All you ever eat is meat and bread. We are surrounded by edible berries and, and leaves! Where's the fruit, the salad?!

Will:
Salad?

Little John:
Men? Eating leaves?

Allan:
There is only one use for leaves around here and you wouldn't want to be eating them afterwards.

[the gang laugh]

[Robin arrives with Daniel]

Robin:
Up!

[Djaq and Will stand up]

Robin:
We need to go. This is Daniel. His friends are in danger and if I'm not much mistake, so are we.

Allan:
What's up?

Robin:
It's Gisborne. He's creating a new armour. We need to take his toys away, so...arm yourselves.

[The gang get ready]

Daniel:
Little John.

[Little John looks at him]

Daniel:
Will.

[Will looks at him]

Daniel:
Allan A Dale.

[Allan waves at him]

Daniel:
And you must be Djaq, [Djaq smiles at him] the Saracen. Wow!

[Daniel looks at Much]

Daniel:
Sorry, who are you?

Robin:
That, that's Much.

[Much walks forward, smiles and puts his hands on his hips]

Daniel:
Oh, yes! The servant.

[The gang laughs]

Much:
Funny.

[Daniel looks at Little John]

Little John:
What?

Daniel:
I just expected you to be taller.

Little John:
I'm quite tall.

Daniel:
Yeah, but, like a giant.

Djaq:
Men tend to lie about their size.

[Daniel has found Mark's tag]

Daniel:
That's Mark's. See, the "M".

Robin:
That's good.

Daniel:
We were playing outlaws. I'm Robin Hood.

Robin:
Well I hope you were better at playing Robin Hood than I am.

Daniel:
No. I let go of his hand. Gisborne's lot were coming and I just ran.

Robin:
Well then you did the right thing.

Daniel:
Really?

Robin:
If you hadn't run, you would have been caught too and what good is that? Listen, sometimes, in the heat of battle, there isn't time to watch your gang's back.

Much:
I don't like waiting. Especially behind a cow.

Daniel:
Much, shh!

[Allan and Djaq smile and look at each other]

Gisborne:
Hood!

[Daniel comes running and uses his slingshot to hit Gisborne, as he is about to throw a dagger at Robin. He runs to Robin]

Daniel:
In the heat of battle, there is time to watch your gang's back.

Robin:
Thanks, Dan. Go! Go!

Robin:
Right, we need to trade Daniel and the black diamonds in open space. And that's here. [he points on the map of the village that they've built on the table] So when the Sheriff has the diamonds, and we have Daniel back safely...then we can strike.

Allan:
You can't just nick 'em back though. Well he'll have the place surrounded, won't he? You might as well walk in with your hands in the air saying "Shoot me".

Little John:
We could destroy them.

Robin:
Well we'll have to.

Djaq:
We'll need something that burns quickly.

Mark:
Pitch.

Allan:
What about straw?

Djaq:
[shakes her head] Mmm.

Robin:
Straw's fast but it's not hot enough.

Mark:
Pitch.

Little John:
What about wood?

Robin:
Wood's hot but it's, it's not quick enough.

Mark:
Pitch. Fast burning and hot.

Robin:
[Smiling and pointing at Mark] Pitch! Good thinking, Mark!

[Little John smiles and ruffles Mark's hair]

Will:
I could make a new box, choose the right wood - something thin, could line it with pitch, carry the black diamonds in that to the Sheriff and well you could shoot it, Robin with a flaming arrow.

Djaq:
And the rocks will explode.

Robin:
Good idea, Will. We'll test it in the morning.

Mark:
Much?

Much:
Hmm?

Mark:
Is this rat?

[The gang and the boys laugh. Will walks over to Mark and ruffles his hair]

Much:
It's chicken.

Mark:
I can't see any feathers.

Will:
No, and we haven't seen any squirrels.

Much:
Look, I don't know if any of you have noticed, but I have to do everything you all do and keep the larder stocked! So, if any of you want to run ragged around the forest trying to catch this massive animal, then you can be the servant!

[The gang and the boys continue to laugh - Mark snorts]

[After Marian has presented the Sheriff with a letter, asking permission to leave the castle and to see Gisborne, though underneath is an order for Daniel to be taken to the castle]

Sheriff:
Let's see, then.

[He prepares the wax and puts it on the parchment]

Sheriff:
If it were me, I would slap your fickle face.

[He stamps the wax with his seal]

Sheriff:
Both of them.

Gisborne:
Say goodbye.

[Robin is about to fire a flaming arrow at Gisborne, whose armour is covered in pitch]

Sheriff:
Oh no.

Robin:
Oh yes!

[He fires the arrow]

[Marian is holding the blacksmith at knife point]

Marian:
Sheriff.

Sheriff:
Oh, not again.

Marian:
Let him live.

Sheriff:
Who?

Marian:
Guy.

[The Sheriff sees she is holding the blacksmith at knife point]

Sheriff:
Marian, what are you doing?

Marian:
I am asking you to reconsider.

Sheriff:
You are helping Hood?

Marian:
Quite the opposite. I am reminding you that Sir Guy is your most loyal servant.

[Robin pulls Gisborne from the water]

Gisborne:
Aahh! My Lord, please!

Sheriff:
Let him die!

[Robin submerges Gisborne again]

Marian:
He's a noble and a good man. He must be worth more to you than a sack of rocks!

[The Sheriff takes the sack of rocks from the blacksmith]

Sheriff:
I will have those sack of rocks!

Marian:
Then I will kill this man.

[Marian points the dagger against the blacksmith]

Marian:
Without him...[chuckles] are the rocks really any use?

Blacksmith:
Uh, no, no, they are not. I am the only man west of Jerusalem who can make them work their magic.

[Robin pulls Gisborne from the water]

Gisborne:
Aah! My Lord!

Sheriff:
SHUT UP!

[Robin submerges Gisborne]

Blacksmith:
My Lord, I will get you more rocks.

[He throws the rocks over and Robin pulls Gisborne from the water]

Sheriff:
[to Marian] You will be punished for this, Marian. Be in no doubt...you'll be punished.

Gisborne:
You saved my life. I'm grateful.

Marian:
I could not watch you die and do nothing.

Gisborne:
You saved Robin, too.

[Marian nods]

Marian:
That was incidental.

Gisborne:
Was it?

Much:
A toast.

[He hands Robin a cup]

Robin:
Just hang on. Djaq.

[She holds Robin's cup]

Robin:
Will.

[Will, smiling, throws Robin a small bag]

Robin:
[opening the bag and talking to the boys] Good work, lads.

[Robin holds out four tags]

[Daniel smiles. Robin laughs]

Robin:
You are now [he passes a tag to the boy sitting by Allan] honorary members of our gang.

[Mark smiles]

Robin:
[hands Daniel a tag] You are our eyes and ears in the villages. And any time you need us... [He hands Will two tags to give to a boy and Mark, who are standing behind him] you can call on us.

Daniel:
And any time you need us, call on us.

[Robin smiles and winks at Daniel. Will smiles.]

Robin:
That's a deal.

Little John, Will, Much, Robin, Allan, Djaq:
[holding their cups up] We are Robin Hood!

Mark, boy next to Mark, boy next to Allan, Daniel:
[holding their arms up] We are Robin Hood!

[The gang and the boys laugh and smile]

[After being captured by Robin Hood]

Robin:
Oi! The money you have could feed the poor of Nottingham!

Luke:
We are the poor!

Dan:
Just let them take what they need, Lukey.

[Will appears and recognises them]

Will:
Dad? Dad!

[He runs over to Dan and Luke and hugs them]

Dan:
Will!

Will:
It's me!

[They continue to hug. There is laughter and sobbing]

[Allan smiles, Much hugs Dan and Allan hugs Luke]

Djaq:
Will, you know these people?

Will:
[laughing] I'd like you to meet my father Dan Scarlett and my little brother Lukey.

Luke:
I'm not little!

[He playfully grabs Will and Will puts his head up against Luke's head]

Will:
My big little brother Lukey!

[Robin smiles]

Will:
Dad, I'm an outlaw! I stand up for what I believe in!

Dan:
What? And I don't?

Will:
[exhales] It doesn't matter.

Dan:
Yes it does. Tell me.

Will:
You let the Sheriff cut off your hand!

Luke:
That was to save me and you!

[Will puts his hand on Luke's shoulder]

Will:
I know. I didn't mean that.

Dan:
Yes you did.

[After dressing as the Nightwatchman and handing out poison pies in Pitt Street]

Joseph:
And that night, the Angel of the Lord went back and forth.

Robin:
Right, time to spread a bit of...

Much:
Happiness.

Robin:
Happiness. That's right. Time to spread a bit of happiness.

[After the Sheriff's declaration of quarantining Pitt Street due to the supposed pestilence]

Dan:
SHERIFF, THIS IS NOT RIGHT!

Robin:
Dan! Dan!

[He is pulled back by Much]

Sheriff:
What?

Dan:
I've just had a look at a young lass and it's not a pestilence.

Sheriff:
Get that man to shut up.

Dan:
I've seen a pestilence before in Scarborough. These people must have food and water...and medicine!

Sheriff:
I said SHUT UP!

Dan:
I've shut up for you once before, Sheriff. It lost me my wife, my hand and the respect of my son. So, I'm not shutting up anymore! Now, why are you saying this is the pestilence?

[A guard stabs Dan. Will is being held back by Little John]

Will:
DAD!

[Marian turns to see the commotion and sees Luke running over up to Much and Robin, intending to go to Dan but is held back by Much]

[Will is shocked as he watches his father fall to the ground and then looks in shock at the Sheriff]

Sheriff:
[to the guard] Well done! Hysteria! Panic! In times of crisis, not very helpful. IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!!

[Will, livid with rage tries to get to the Sheriff, but Little John still holds on to him. As Will tries to claw away, Robin runs over to Will]

Robin:
Will! Will! You can't go up there!

Will:
I'm gonna kill him now!

[Much arrives and grabs onto Will]

Gisborne:
You heard the Sheriff. Set up those barricades!

Much:
There's too many of them Will!

Robin:
It's suicide!

Much:
Will!

Will:
I DON'T CARE!

Djaq:
Will!

[Will looks at her and calms down. Djaq shakes her head. Luke, grief stricken watches his father being dragged away. Will sees Luke and races to him and hugs him]

Joseph:
What are you doing?

Robin:
I'm helping the sick.

Joseph:
Leave them alone!

[Robin looks confused]

Joseph:
I mean, um, you could die.

Robin:
Well that's a risk I take every day.

[Robin walks past Joseph]

Joseph:
No, you're right. [Robin turns around] Forgive me. Uh, look, let me help.

Robin:
What's your name?

Joseph:
Joseph. I'm here by mistake.

Robin:
Yeah, you're from Leicester, I heard.

Joseph:
Did you see the way those men treated me? Godless.

Robin:
Well, welcome to Nottingham.

Much:
This is a medicine chest!

[He holds it up]

[He opens it and holds it up in front of Djaq]

Much:
Every medicine known to man! And some unknown.

[Djaq laughs, puts her hands on his neck and kisses him on the cheek]

Much:
Oh, don't do that.

Djaq:
Why not?

Much:
I'm a man, you're a woman. I fall in love very easily.

Djaq:
Don't worry. I don't.

[Will and Luke are escaping Nottingham as Will wants to take Luke back to Scarborough, and Will hangs rope on a wooden stand via a metal hoop hanging from the stand on top of the outer wall of Nottingham Town. He flips his axe in his hand]

Will:
Let me go down first, make sure it's safe. I know what to look for better than you do.

Luke:
Why do you always treat me like I'm a baby?!

[Luke climbs down the rope]

Will:
[as Luke is climbing down the rope. Said quietly] I loved you, Luke.

[Luke lands at the bottom]

Luke:
See! [He gestures for Will to climb down] Your turn!

[Will pulls the rope back up the wall]

Luke:
[as Will is pulling the rope back] Will?

Will:
Run away, Luke! Run back to Scarborough! This place is about to turn into hell!

[He finishes pulling the rope past the metal hoop]

Luke:
Will! [He holds his hands up to his mouth in order to further his voice] WILL! WI- WILL!

[Will turns and flourishes his cloak and leaves]

[After a man has died, Robin arrives at a house where Joseph is writing about the different poisons. Upon seeing him, Joseph closes the ledger. Robin paces up and down]

Joseph:
A shame.

Robin:
"A shame"? [He picks up a pot and throws it at the wall] It's an outrage. That's another life wasted.

Joseph:
You suspect foul play?

Robin:
[laughs] Joseph. Joseph! This is Nottingham. There is no other kind of play!

Gisborne:
What have you got for me?

[Allan stays silent]

Gisborne:
What's the matter? A conscience.

Allan:
How much for this?

[Holds up Robin's letter]

Gisborne:
Depends what this is.

Allan:
This is a letter to King Richard from Robin, telling him all about you and the Sheriff and the Black Knights. Game would be up, ey, Gisborne.

Gisborne:
Give me that.

Allan:
I can't. I told Robin I'd give it to Roger of Stoke. He's coming to take it to the King.

Gisborne:
So what's your proposal?

Allan:
I'll give it to him, then I'm clean. You can arrest him after I've gone. Somewhere out of town. I don't know anything about it.

Gisborne:
Good. You're learning... [Hands him a bag of money] Allan.

Marian:
[whispering] Robin. Robin!

Robin:
Marian, what are you doing here?

Marian:
Someone's impersonating me.

Robin:
I know. I think they're giving out poisoned pies.

Marian:
What?! In my name?

Robin:
It's the Sheriff's doing, but, but why?

Marian:
I've no idea. Unless he wants to damage the Nightwatchman's reputation.

Robin:
But then he'd blame the Nightwatchman...and he hasn't.

[Marian passes her bag to Robin. She steps down and Robin picks her up and holds her]

Marian:
I need to go and see if Jess is alright.

[Robin puts Marian down and she walks away]

[Much walks in on Joseph cooking and who is about to add poison]

Much:
[smells the soup] Mmm, smells good. Are you a cook?

Joseph:
No, I'm a man of science.

Much:
Science? What, er, what sort of science?

Joseph:
The science of elimination.

Much:
What's that?

Joseph:
Finding ways to get rid of dirt. Have you noticed there's dirt everywhere? We have to get rid of it. And there are people who will make the necessary difficult decisions. Who don't need to be...popular.

Much:
I think you should talk to the Sheriff. He doesn't need to be popular.

Joseph:
With the right tool, we can clean this country. Create a new England.

[Pause]

Much:
I think you should definitely talk to the Sheriff. [chuckles]

[Joseph pats him]

Marian:
You organised this?

Robin:
We had hospitals in the Holy Land.

[Pause]

Robin:
I thought that would be the last time I'd see one.

Marian:
How did you know there wasn't some infectious disease.

Robin:
I didn't.

Marian:
That's brave.

Robin:
How did you know?

Marian:
I didn't.

[After Little John saves Jess by using Belladonna to fight the poison]

Much:
[joyfully] How did you know that?!

Little John:
I know some things.

[After the Sheriff has revealed he has used Joseph and will use his poison against the King's army]

Joseph:
But that's not what we agreed.

Sheriff:
Yes, I know. And life is usually so much fairer.

[Robin enters the Sheriff's quarters to find the Sheriff, poisoned, hunched over his table, holding a chalice, moaning in agony and Joseph also poisoned, huddled on the floor, writhing and moaning in agony]

Robin:
Will.

Sheriff:
Robin...help.... [moans in pain] Poison...

[Robin walks over to the Sheriff]

Robin:
Well...according to your friend here there is no cure. So...you're gonna die.

Sheriff:
No! No! I cannot die. No, I'm too young. I haven't finished yet! [falls off his chair]

Robin:
Dan Scarlett hadn't finished either, when you killed him this morning.

Sheriff:
Him? Dead dad? The father? I'M GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF A COMPLETE NON-ENTITY...?! [moans in agony]

Joseph:
And life is usually so much fairer.

Robin:
WILL!

[Will turns to them]

Robin:
I know what you've done.

Will:
I've done the right thing, that's what I've done.

[Holds up the poison]

Will:
Justice in a bottle.

Robin:
Djaq has the remedy.

Will:
Yeah, I know. She told me.

Much:
Where is she, Will? What have you done with her?

Will:
I've stood up to the Sheriff. It's what we all should have done a long time ago.

Robin:
Even if all of Nottingham dies?

Will:
That's not my fault.

[Robin pushes Will up against the wall, takes the poison and drinks it]

Much:
Woah, master, no!

Little John:
Robin!

Will:
Robin!

Little John:
Robin! Ro-!

Robin:
You want to watch people die? Then you can start with me.

Will:
Robin, I can't let the Sheriff live!

Robin:
YES YOU CAN!

Will:
[Emotionally] My dad...he did it for me. He stood up to the Sheriff to prove himself to me!

Robin:
Then prove yourself to him. Show that we are stronger men than the Sheriff.

[Robin moans in pain]

Will:
Robin.

[Much grabs Robin and helps him to to the floor]

Much:
Will! Will! Come on!

Will:
[Emotionally] Robin, why did you have to do this?!

Robin:
To prove my point. Will Scarlett still believes in the right thing.

Much:
Will, please.

Little John:
Will, do this.

Will:
I'll take you to her.

[Will races off]

Will:
[to Allan] Go!

[Much and Little John help Robin up]

Robin:
Go! Go! To the Sheriff's Quarters. Go! I'll see you there.

[Allan, Much and Little John run to the Sheriff's Quarters. Robin is bent over, breathing and then gets up and tidies his hood, picks up the poison and exhales]

[The gang burst into the Sheriff's Quarters]

Little John:
Robin!

Much:
Djaq, the remedy, quick!

[Djaq throws the remedy to Robin]

Robin:
Will...this is your call.

[Will walks over to Robin]

Robin:
Prove to me Will Scarlett still believes in doing the right thing.

Will:
You didn't drink the poison, did you?

Robin:
No. But I think my point still stands so... [He gestures to the Sheriff]

Will:
Yeah. Yeah, it does.

[He kneels next to the Sheriff and applies the remedy onto his lips]

Will:
This is to the memory of my good father... [quieter] Dan Scarlett, [normal, quiet voice] and the people of Nottingham.

[The Sheriff doesn't awaken. Robin looks at Little John, Will looks at Robin then at Much]

Much:
Well he can't be dead.

[Robin shakes the Sheriff]

Allan:
This is just getting weird now. I want him to live. I don't want him to live.

[Robin continues shaking the Sheriff]

Robin:
COME ON!

[The Sheriff awakens]

Sheriff:
Just joshing!

Robin:
Finish the speech!

Sheriff:
Oh, I don't think so, now I've had the remedy, hm?! GUARDS!!! GUAAAAAAARDS!!!

[Will is building a monument to remind him and Luke of Dan]

Robin:
It's good to have you back, Lukey!

Djaq:
Are you both ready for this?

Allan:
Look, what's he doing up there?

Much:
I thought you said Will was going to build something to remind you of your father.

Luke:
He is. Wait for the light.

Much:
Light? It is light.

[Will races over to Luke, as they look at the sunlight]

Luke:
Any second. [Pause. The gang except Will and Luke look at what Will has built] Now.

[The sunlight shafts through the holes that Will made in stone and gets projected onto the rock. The gang follow the light to the rock and see Dan's face projected onto the rock via sunlight and Will's monument. Robin smiles.]

Little John:
Dan?

Much:
[joyfully] That is...!

Djaq:
Beautiful.

[Will has his arms around Luke]

Robin:
He was a good man.

Will:
Yeah. Yeah he was.

[He nods]

Gisborne:
What have you got for me?

Allan:
Nothing. You killed Roger of Stoke.

Much:
What? You think he's getting information?! From one of us? No... Master surely it's a mistake! A traitor?! Who? That's why you sent us back to camp! Because you suspect... you suspect me?!

Robin:
Much, I have to suspect everybody!

Much:
That's me, you suspect me?!

Robin:
Much, go back to the camp!

Much:
What do I have to do to prove my loyalty to you? What? Tell me! What? I'll chop off my own arms! Well...one arm because once I chop that off then...I wouldn't be able to...chop off...the other.

Matilda:
[Kisses Robin on the forehead] Oh, Robin of Locksley. [as she rubs on Robin's beard] What's that beard? It's neither grown nor shaven, make up your mind!

Matilda:
A bee failed to kill him, and a quack failed to kill him! I'll be damned if a boy I delivered into this world sneaks in and finishes off one of my patients!

Robin:
Matilda, I can't let him live to speak his treason.

Matilda:
[Sighs] So it's not his life your afraid, then? It's his tongue.

Robin:
So...should we just cut out his tongue?

Matilda:
[Smacks Robin on the head.] Men! Always thinking in a straight line!

[Much comes back to camp, angry after Robin "suspects everyone"]

Allan:
What's your problem? Ey! D'you speak to Robin then or not?

Much:
Why do you wanna know?

Will:
Well we wanna know what's going on. What's the plan?

Djaq:
Did the messenger get through to the castle?

Will:
Yeah, is Robin gonna kill him?

Much:
Like to know his plans do you? What's the Sheriff and Gisborne's plan?

Will:
What?

Much:
I mean is :there even a Henry? Or is it a trap?!

Will:
What?

Djaq:
What's going on?

Much:
[to Will] How much do they pay you?

[Little John returns with firewood]

Little John:
Pay who?!

[Pause]

Much:
There's a spy. In the camp. One of you is a spy! [He points to Allan, Djaq and Will] And Robin knows! So...you're done for!

[As he says that he points to Little John and Allan]

Allan:
What? How does he know?

Much:
It's obvious! I mean, Gisborne is always five or...six steps ahead of us.

Will:
Are you calling me a traitor?

Little John:
Traitor?! Trai- [He sighs]

[Will looks at Allan]

Allan:
What you looking at me for?

[Will scoffs]

Will:
Well you're the one who tried to persuade me to steal from Robin. Y'know, the time when we thought the King was coming.

Much:
That's right. Traitor!

Allan:
We thought about it, we decided against it, didn't we?

Will:
I said no!

[They begin to fight. Little John cuts between them]

Little John:
STOP IT...NOW!

Much:
Yes! If anyone's gonna kill the traitor, it's gonna be me!

Allan:
What makes you so high and mighty? He obviously doesn't trust you either, does he? Or why's he sent you back here?

[Much screams and lunges for Allan, trying to fight him]

[Little John stops them]

Little John:
Stop it the pair of you! [To Much] Off him!

[He pushes Much away from Allan]

Little John:
STOP IT!

Will:
We need to know who the traitor is.

[Robin looks at Much]

Much:
Sorry. It's not the sort of secret I can keep.

Robin:
Let's just deal with Rosa first.

Little John:
TELL US, ROBIN!

Will:
Robin, there'll be people like Rosa who need our help every day but if we're not a gang, if you... [He points his finger at Robin] suspect us...

Robin:
Alright. It's true. One of you is betraying us. You're meeting Gisborne and you're selling our secrets.

[Pause]

Much:
Not me.

Allan:
It's not me either.

Will:
Well, it's not me.

Little John:
Not me.

Djaq:
It's not me.

Robin:
Stop this now! If the guilty man or woman confesses right here, I'll listen. Tell me what Gisborne said. What he offered. Step forward now. You have one chance.

[Three second pause. Allan opens his mouth to speak but hesitates. Much quickly responds]

Much:
I will not be treated with equal suspicion!

[Much walks off. Robin shakes his head]

Robin:
Well, whoever you are. You've made your choice.

[He walks past the gang and looks at Little John]

Robin:
And I will find you out.

[Allan walks up to Djaq who is with Rosa, with a plate of food]

Allan:
Djaq.

[She looks over at Allan and the food, then turns to face Rosa]

Djaq:
Later.

[Pause]

Allan:
Are you alright?

[Djaq sighs]

Djaq:
There's a spy in the camp. How can anything be alright?

Allan:
He probably knows he's made a mistake now.

Djaq:
He had his chance to confess.

Allan:
Maybe he's stuck. people get stuck, y'know.

[Pause]

Djaq:
Your brother said he was stuck. He refused to change and he hanged for it.

Allan:
He was an idiot.

Djaq:
[Emotionally] No! He was a good man underneath it. And you saw that. I believe Robin would see it too. If the spy confessed...and begged for forgiveness. If he changed his ways.

[Pause]

[Djaq turns to face Allan]

Djaq:
I believe you're a good man, Allan A Dale.

[Allan walks off]

Matilda:
[to the Sheriff] YOU... WEASEL-FACED... WHORE'S SON!!!

Sheriff:
Sorry, who, Robin? No, Robin's not here! [laughs]

[As Rosa is giving birth]

[She shakes her head]

Djaq:
There's something.

[Little John puts his hand on her shoulder]

Rosa:
What's happening?

Little John:
It's fine. Your husband. Is he away?

Rosa:
The wars.

Little John:
He'll be so proud.

Rosa:
What's your wife's name?

Little John:
Alice.

Rosa:
So you've done this before? With Alice?

Little John:
No.

Rosa:
Why is it so hard?

Little John:
No. I was an outlaw...in the forest. Alice...was alone.

Djaq:
Push now!

[Alice screams and the scream echoes]

Matilda:
What's her name?

Rosa:
Alice. I'm going to call her Alice.

[She smiles at Little John]

Matilda:
Alice.

[Little John smiles and tears well up in his eyes]

Will:
What are you going to do with him?

Robin:
I'll banish him.

Will:
Should kill him. Traitor to the King. Doesn't deserve to live.

Allan:
Kill him?

Will:
Oi, Much! Look.

[Much sticks his dagger into the ground and stands up]

Matilda:
Much meet Alice.

[Henry of Lewes wakes up]

[Matilda holds Alice up. Robin looks and so does Much]

[Henry takes the dagger, Robin notices and points a bow and arrow at him, as Henry breaks his bonds and puts his arms around Much's neck and also points the dagger at him]

Robin:
PUT IT DOWN, HENRY!

[The gang, Rosa and Matilda turn around]

Henry:
They say you don't kill any more.

Robin:
For the King, I kill.

Henry:
The King's finished.

[Robin stretches the arrow]

Henry:
Prince John, the Sheriff, the Black Knights, they all win

Much:
[struggling for breath] Robin.

[Robin fires the arrow at Henry. Allan and Djaq look over to Robin. Djaq looks in shock]

[Henry is in pain and Much takes Henry's arms off his neck and Henry rolls down the mound]

Robin:
Not today they won't.

Much:
I knew it was him! I knew it was him!

[Robin holds up Will's tag]

Little John:
WILL?!

Allan:
No.

[Djaq arrives]

Much:
I knew it.

Allan:
Robin...

Robin:
Will's the spy. The subject's closed.

Little John:
WILL?! Robin, I do not believe.

Djaq:
I need to speak with you.

Robin:
Not now.

Djaq:
Believe me Robin, I...

Robin:
NO, YOU DON'T, Djaq! TRUST ME!

Allan:
[to the Serving Girl at the Trip to Jerusalem Inn] You are going to tell Gisborne to keep this money. I'm not doing this any more, right, I've changed.

Serving Girl:
It's a bit late for a conscience isn't it?

Allan:
[whispering] Yeah. [non whispering] Very late.

[Robin's arrow lands on the bag of money, making some coins tip out of the bag]

[Pause, as Allan looks at the arrow]

Allan:
[Quietly] Robin.

[Robin appears and walks up to Allan]

Allan:
 :[Quietly] You're early.

Robin:
[To the Serving Girl] Leave us.

Allan:
Stay there!

Robin:
GET OUT!

[The Serving Girl leaves]

Robin:
[to Allan] I need to talk...to my spy.

[Pause]

Allan:
What was that with Will? You banished Will.

Robin:
It was an act.

[He gestures to the door]

Robin:
Only she knew who was guilty. [Pause] And I knew the spy would want come here before me to cover his tracks. For all I knew, [He walks up to Allan] it could have been Will standing there. [Whispering] But it's not. [Louder] Is it? [He walks even closer to Allan - up to his face] [Whispering] It's you.

Allan:
Robin...it was over. Ask her. I made a decision.

Robin:
Then what was this?

Allan:
No, I was giving it back!

Robin:
So you betray me. You betray yourself. You betray your King! And for what? For a few silver coins? What have you told Gisborne, Allan?

[Allan shakes his head]

Robin:
Huh?

[Allan mumbles]

Allan:
Nothing, really.

Robin:
[Whispering] Does he know about the camp?

Allan:
[Whispering] No!

Robin:
No? Does he know about Marian?

Allan:
[Quietly] No!

[Robin raises his eyebrows]

Robin:
More lies?

Allan:
NO! This was the last time, I promise. And I was wrong. But he captured me, Robin. He tortured me. I had no choice.

Robin:
EVERYTHING IS A CHOICE! EVERYTHING WE DO!

[Robin walks away from Allan to the other side of the room]

[Pause]

Allan:
That's easy for you to say, though, isn't it?

[Robin walks closer to him]

Allan:
Eh? You get the glory. [He walks closer to Robin] You get the girl. Everyone loves you! [As he says this, he continues walking closer to Robin - right up to his face] Then when the King comes back, you'll have lands, property, a wife. Everything! What will I have?! [Pause. Robin turns his head away, then looks at Allan again. Allan paces] You are always in the sun, Robin... [Allan stops pacing and returns to standing close to Robin] and I'm always in the shade.

[Robin pushes Allan up against the beam]

Robin:
Is that meant to be an excuse? Huh?

[Pause]

Allan:
Give me another chance. Please. I wouldn't have let Gisborne hurt any of us. I never told him anything like that!

[Robin nods]

Robin:
Harmless lies, innocent betrayals, they DON'T EXIST, ALLAN!

Allan:
Robin, I've changed. How can I get you to believe that?

[Robin shakes his head]

Robin:
[Whispering] You can't.

[Allan looks sad]

Robin:
[Whispering] And the funny thing is...you might be telling the truth.

Allan:
I am!

Robin:
[Whispering] And how am I supposed to believe you any more?

Allan:
Robin...I swear to you on my life!

[Robin unsheathes his dagger and puts it up up to Allan's neck]

Allan:
Don't kill me. [Whispering] Please.

[Robin cuts of Allan's tag and waves the dagger above Allan's nose as he talks]

Robin:
[Whispering] You are lucky I've left you with a life to swear upon. Never, never let me set eyes on you again.

[Robin leaves]

Djaq:
I believe he could have changed.

Much:
You knew it was him?

Djaq:
I didn't know, I guessed.

Much:
I knew it was him. Knew it was Allan.

[Much sheathes his sword and walks up to the hill where Djaq and Little John are. Robin and Will walk together]

Robin:
Will. You forgive me?

[Will puts his hand on Robin's shoulder]

Will:
It worked.

[Robin nods and Will walks up to the rest of the gang]

Robin:
And the rest of you...

[Horses neigh in the distance]

Much:
Travellers on the North Road.

Robin:
Right. Are you with me?

[Much puts his arms up in a "do you even have to ask?" manner, Little John lets go of his staff then catches it again, Djaq smiles and Will gives a small nod]

Robin:
Yeah? Well then let's go.

[He races past the gang to lead them, as he does so, Will pats him on the back, Much unsheathes his sword and they all run to the North Road, following Robin]

[Robin starts walking to Nottingham]

Much:
Well you can't just decide to go and leave. Without planning. Without us.

Robin:
Yes I can.

Much:
It's the Black Knights!

[As the gang watch Robin walk off to Nottingham]

Much:
Why does he do this? Why does he always, always do this?

Allan:
[to Gisborne after Gisborne finds him standing up against a wall outside Locksley Manor, having knocked out the guards] Not being funny, your guards...useless!

[Robin notices Marian's hair pin and takes it from her hair]

Marian:
[Whispering] Robin! This is not the time!

[Robin smiles. He holds up the hair pin up against the lock and puts it in the lock of the door and starts to unlock the door with it]

Marian:
Will that work?

Robin:
Trust me. I've done this before.

[The lock clinks]

Marian:
With which girl's hair pin?

[Robin quietly laughs and Marian raises her eyebrows]

[Robin arrives at the camp as Will is working on a harp]

Robin:
Right lads! Work to do. We're going to the castle.

Will:
Why?

Robin:
Why? To save England...Marian and her father. The Sheriff is hosting a celebration for the King's birthday except...it's really a celebration for the Black Knights signing the pact. Will, you'll need to find us a way of getting into this party.

Will:
I've already done it.

Robin:
How?

[Will stands up]

Will:
The castle announced this party weeks ago, yeah. Put out a call for entertainers and players. Well, it gave me an idea and...I've been busy.

[Holds out the harp]

Will:
It's a harp.

[Robin nods and says "Mmm?"]

[Will hits the harp, it twangs and he holds up a recurve bow, which has been hidden as part of the harp]

Robin:
Ha ha ha ha! [Will gives him the bow] It's a recurve bow.

[Will holds out a flute and gives it to Djaq]

Will:
Djaq. It's a flute.

[Will pulls out the top of the flute and a dagger is hidden as part of the flute. Djaq chuckles]

[Much is holding a pipe]

Much:
What does this do?

Will:
Much, don't t-!

[Much blows into the pipe and a dart fires, Little John moves his head and the dart hits the beam just behind him. Much lowers the pipe in shock and Little John looks at him]

Much:
Sorry.

Will:
This is for you.

[He hands Much a guitar made with Much's shield and sword, hidden as part of the guitar]

[Will smiles and so does Much and Much also chuckles]

Robin:
Will, you're a genius! And a magician!

Djaq:
You're brilliant!

[Much unsheathes some of the sword up from the wooden scabbard of the guitar]

Much:
You crafty craftsman!

[Much chuckles and Djaq unsheathes some of the dagger from the flute]

Little John:
What about me?

Will:
Ah!

[He turns to the side and picks up bells and holds them up]

Will:
These are for you.

[He throws them to Little John]

Little John:
Bells? What do they do?

Will:
Oh...the...they're just bells.

[Pause]

Little John:
Thanks.

[The jailer opens the door to Edward's cell]

Winchester:
Edward.

Edward:
Harry!

[Edward stands up]

Edward:
My old friend!

[He hugs Winchester]

Winchester:
What has happened to you?

[The jailer locks the door]

Winchester:
Sit down.

[They sit]

Winchester:
I've uh, had a visit from a friend of yours.

Edward:
Robin. Excellent.

Winchester:
He advised me not to back the wrong horse.

[Edward nods and says "Mmhm". Winchester exhales]

Winchester:
But then I look where you've ended up...

Edward:
Harry?

Winchester:
I could back you Edward and end up stick in a cell with vermin! Or I could back the Sheriff and just get richer and more powerful. Rats or riches? [exhales] It's a tough choice.

Edward:
Harry...you cannot sign the pact.

Winchester:
Oh, I will sign the pact

Edward:
You are mad if you think you can trust the Sheriff.

Winchester:
Trust? Oh, no. I don't trust anyone. You taught me that when you stole the woman I loved.

[He stands up]

Winchester:
Jailer.

Edward:
Kate? She chose me Harold, I didn't steal her.

Winchester:
I was just thinking of her. I thought I saw her outside just now, a young woman, the very image of Kate.

[Pause. Edward looks up]

Winchester:
She's your daughter! Of course! She's her mother's double. Well done, Edward! We wouldn't want her inheriting your looks now, would we?

[He walks outside of the cell and the Jailer closes the door]

Winhester:
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

[As he says this, Edward stands up and moves to the door]

Winchester:
I've just had an idea. If I couldn't have the mother...hmm? What's her name? Your precious little pea?

Edward:
[Quietly] No!

Winchester:
No? Now that's not a name now, is it?

[Winchester starts to walk away as Edward talks to him]

Edward:
No! Harry, she's got nothing to do with this. Please!

Winchester:
[To the Jailer] I don't think he likes me any more.

[Winchester walks away]

Edward:
PLEASE!

Sheriff:
Harry. You wanted a word. [Pause] What was the word?

Winchester:
Sussex.

Sheriff:
Sussex?

Winchester:
Sussex.

Sheriff:
Sussex. Hmm...

Winchester:
I want it.

Sheriff:
Sussex?

Winchester:
I hold the key to the success of your plan. It has come to my attention that Buckingham and Spenser are nervous.

Sheriff:
They'll do as they're told.

Winchester:
Not if they see me falter. Not if they think you don't have access to the south coast, where King Richard is most likely to land. I have therefore decided my price for helping you is Sussex...oooh, and some of Surrey.

[Long Pause]

Sheriff:
Harry!

[The Sheriff and Winchester laugh and Gisborne smiles]

Sheriff:
Very good! Very good! Almost had me there.

Winchester:
No, I'm serious. If you want this pact signed today, it'll cost you Sussex and some of Surrey.

Sheriff:
[Quietly] Surrey.

Winchester:
And the girl.

Sheriff:
What girl?

Winchester:
Uh, Marian.

Gisborne:
No!

Sheriff:
Shut up.

Winchester:
By my calculations, you still gain Warwick, Lincoln and Cambridge and, uh, some of Surrey. And I have something to offer you, a little bonus, a little [as he raises his hand to his mouth, he kisses the tips of his fingers and exhales] sweetener. Still, if you're not playing...

[Long dramatic pause. Winchester walks to the other side of the map in the War Room]

[The Sheriff walks up to Winchester. As the Sheriff is right up to Winchester's face, he chuckles and then so does Winchester]

Sheriff:
You...get Sussex. [Pause] I keep Surrey.

Winhcester:
Oh, you drive a hard bargain. [Pause] It's a deal.

Gisborne:
Marian stays.

Winchester:
Non-negotiable, sorry. It's a personal thing, I won't bore you with the details.

Sheriff:
The girl and Sussex and then you sign.

[Winchester exhales]

Winchester:
Pleasure doing business with you.

Gisborne:
My Lord.

Sheriff:
Harry.

[Winchester who has started to walk away turns back]

Winchester:
Mmm?

Sheriff:
What was the sweetener?

Winchester:
Later. You'll like it.

[Winchester leaves]

Gisborne:
You cannot give him Marian!

Sheriff:
I HAVE LOST SUSSEX!!! SUSSEX!!! AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS BLEAT ABOUT A GIRL?!?! I want a HANGING!

Gisborne:
What?

Sheriff:
Find me somebody to hang! I want to see somebody TWITCH!

[Guards come in with Allan]

Guard:
My lord, this man said you were going to see him.

Gisborne:
Not now!

Sheriff:
[pointing at Allan] He'll do.

Allan:
What for?

Sheriff:
Hang him.

Allan:
What?!

Gisborne:
No, this man works for me.

Sheriff:
So?

Gisborne:
So, he was my spy in Hood's camp.

Sheriff:
"Was"?

Gisborne:
Hood found him out.

Sheriff:
Well, he's served his purpose then, hasn't he?!

Gisborne:
My lord, he might still prove useful--

Sheriff:
YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME, GISBORNE!!! Now you go and find that lady leper friend of yours, and you take her to see the nice Lord Winchester, then you bring him before me with a hood over his HEAD!!!

Allan:
Hang on a minute, I'm on your team now! And I can help, honest! Guy?

Sheriff:
[to Gisborne] La... [to Allan] Di-da-di-da!

[The Sheriff leaves]

[Gisborne has burst into Marian's room]

Marian:
Guy! At least do me the courtesy of knocking.

Gisborne:
Get your possessions, you're leaving.

Marian:
What?

Gisborne:
Now!

Marian:
Why?

Gisborne:
Winchester's made a deal with the Sheriff, you've become part of a negotiation.

Marian:
[Quietly] Pardon?

[Gisborne walks up to the desk where Marian is sitting and slams his hand on the desk]

Gisborne:
Winchester wants you.

[Pause]

Marian:
Well tell him, he can't have me.

Gisborne:
The Sheriff has agreed, [he walks away from her, makes sure the door is closed] I cannot protect you. [He walks back to Marian] Marian, listen to me, you have to run now!

[Marian stands up]

Marian:
I can't, my father!

Gisborne:
[Softly] I will take care of your father.

Marian:
I cannot leave him!

Gisborne:
MARIAN, WHY DO YOU ALWAYS RESIST ME, I'M ATTEMPTING TO HELP YOU?!

Marian:
I know. I can see that and I'm grateful, but...

[Gisborne puts a bag on the desk]

Gisborne:
If the Sheriff knew I was doing this, my own life would be in danger!

Marian:
Why do you work for him?

[Pause]

Gisborne:
I have nobody.

Marian:
Wha- So you choose him?!

Gisborne:
I choose power! He is my route to position...standing!

Marian:
He is mad, you know that!

Gisborne:
No! He is single minded. He does not allow...distractions to pervert him from his course.

[Marian scoffs]

Marian:
Distractions?! Like a little humanity?!

Gisborne:
Humanity is weakness!

[She takes his arm]

Marian:
You don't believe that!

[Pause]

Gisborne:
You must leave this place. This money [He hands her a bag of money] will secure your passage, and I instructed a man on the West Gate to let you out.

[He puts his hand on her cheek]

Gisborne:
[Softly] Marian... [He kisses her on her other cheek] Good luck.

[He walks to the door]

Gisborne:
[Softly] Go! [He opens the door] Now!

[He closes the door and begins to walk away, but the Sheriff is standing by the door]

Sheriff:
Excellent!

[Marian is about to escape and has left her room. Gisborne comes up and holds her arm]

Marian:
Guy?

Gisborne:
[Quietly] Marian... [Long Pause] I'm sorry.

[He nods to guards and they walk towards Marian]

Gisborne:
The Sheriff's instructions.

[The guards grab Marian and Gisborne turns away]

Marian:
What? Get off me. Guy.

[The guards put shackles on her]

Marian:
Get off me! Get off me! Ugh, Guy!

[The "Guy!" echoes]

Winchester:
Oh gag her, for God's sake. She's pretty until she speaks.

[Robin and the gang burst into Marian's room]

Robin:
Marian?!

[Robin walks around the room and stops by the desk]

Robin:
She's not here.

Much:
What's the problem?

Robin:
I wanted to talk to her before...

[He sits down by the desk]

Much:
Before what? What did we have to warn her about?

[Robin opens a small box on the desk where there is spare parchment and he takes one]

Much:
Robin!

Djaq:
Much!

[Djaq shakes her head]

[Robin begins writing]

Robin:
[Voice over] My dearest Marian, I fear we may not meet again...in this life. For the things I did wrong, for the things I am about to do, but mostly for the life, for the love we could not have...I am truly sorry.

[Robin finishes writing, sniffles and closes the letter]

Robin:
[Sombrely] I want you to give note to Marian.

Much:
What for?

[Robin stands up]

Robin:
There's been a change of plan.

[He rests his arms on the chair]

Robin:
I want you to wait here for her.

Much:
Aren't we supposed to help you and Winchester escape?

[Robin exhales and nods. Will holds up his violin]

Will:
Yeah, after the show-down.

Robin:
I'll deal with Winchester. Use the distraction to go down to the dungeons to release Sir Edward. Then take him and Marian to the forest, I'll meet you there.

Djaq:
How are you and Winchester going to escape? If the castle guards find you...

Robin:
Just do as I say. Please. I want you to give me your word.

[Djaq nods. Robin looks over to the other outlaws and Much and Little John nod. Robin nods]

Robin:
Good.

[Robin walks to the door, sighs and turns to the gang]

Robin:
And thank you, my friends.

[He leaves]

Robin:
[To a Black Knight] I've a message for you. From King Richard.

[He punches him, knocking him out and drags him to a room to get changed into the Black Knight's clothes]

[Much is pacing]

Much:
I don't like this. I hate it. It doesn't make sense. If Marian's in danger we should be looking for her! Robin's up to something!

[He stares at the letter and picks it up]

Djaq:
No! You cannot open people's private letters!

[Much sighs and looks at Will who nods in a "she's got a point" way]

Will:
John?

[Pause]

Little John:
Read it.

[Much looks at Djaq and opens the letter and looks over it, then holds it out for Djaq to take]

Much:
Read it for me.

[Djaq takes the letter and reads it aloud]

Djaq:
"My dearest Marian, I fear we may not meet again in this life."

[The gang all look up to Djaq in shock]

Much:
What?

Djaq:
"We are both to be betrayed by Winchester".

[Scene transitions to Robin getting ready - wearing his Black Knights costume and sheathing throwing knives]

Robin:
[Voice over] "I cannot allow it. All the Black Knights will be gathered together: [As he says their names, he sheathes a throwing knife] Winchester, Durham, Rotherham and the rest of the Sheriff's traitorous gang."

[Robin sighs]

Robin:
[Voice over] "I may never have the chance again."

[Robin turns around and puts up his hood and cloak]

Robin:
[Voice over] "And I cannot let this opportunity pass."

[Robin walks away. Scene transitions to him walking down a corridor]

Robin:
[Voice over] "I must kill them."

[Robin walks through the door shows his ring with the Sheriff's insignia to Gisborne]

Robin:
[Voice over] "I only hope you remember me well and forgive the brutality of what I'm going to do."

[Robin walks over to his chair and looks at the Sheriff]

Robin:
[Voice over] If England is to live... [Winchester sits in his chair] they must die, and so I fear must I."

[Robin sits in his chair]

Robin:
[Voice over] "Go to the woods to fight again. Go with my lads. I will see you in heaven."

Sheriff:
Let the walls enclose us.

[The door slams shut]

Robin:
[Voice over] "Goodbye, my love."

Much:
[Out of breath, while him and the gang are running to Robin] If he dies, I die. If he dies, I die.

Sheriff:
Little Robin redbreast is about to become fried chicken!

[Allan and Robin are standing on a plan of wood above a large cauldron with burning oil, with clubs in their hands being forced to fight each other]

Robin:
[Quietly] You don't have to do this, Allan. Don't give them the satisfaction. Even if you do kill me, they won't let you go.

Sheriff:
Come on! Poke him!

Allan:
[Quietly] Y'know, if you'd have listened, you might have understood. You should have given me a second chance, Robin.

[A guard pokes him and he swings for Robin. They begin fighting]

Robin:
How did you get to be so low?

[Allan laughs]

Allan:
That's always been your problem. So high and mighty, eh? So much better than everyone else.

Robin:
No. Just better than you.

[Robin swings for him]

[Will hits the guard from earlier with his guitar, knocking him out]

Will:
See. Told you I was good with wood.

Allan:
John. Friends.

[Little John punches him]

Little John:
Traitor!

[After Winchester leaves with Marian]

Gisborne:
[to the Sheriff; angrily] I'm surprised you gave in to his demands!

Sheriff:
[through gritted teeth] I HAD TO GET HIS SIGNATURE!

[Gisborne glares at him, then miserably hangs his head]

Sheriff:
[quietly, grinning evilly] But now... I have his signature.

Gisborne:
[catching on] I'll send a squad of men.

Sheriff:
No. No, we'll do this one quietly. [indicates Allan] Bring your boy.

Sheriff:
Did you think I would just smile and let you have Sussex? [chuckles] A clue: NO.

[Gisborne, who has crept up behind Winchester, stabs him in the back]

[Much is angry and hits the soup bowl with a ladle]

Little John:
What?!

Much:
I'm trying to think of a good bit. Even on a bad day, there's always something good, as my mother used to say. There must be something!

Djaq:
Much! Shut up!

Much:
The Sheriff's got the pact, Allan is Gisborne's man, Marian's galloped off...! [Pause] I mean someone help me, because I'm struggling.

Will:
Shut up!

Much:
Robin's alive. That's a good thing, 'cause for a moment, that was looking...

Robin:
Much, shut up!

[Much sits down and takes a bowl of stew]

Much:
Well we can't just eat in silence!

Robin, Little John, Will, Djaq:
SHUT UP!

[They all throw bread at Much]

Much:
[About why the strongroom is empty] I don't know, but what I do know is it's a good job no-one's heard us. [Whispering] Last time there were dogs!

[Dogs are heard and then seen barking]

Much:
Run?

[Robin sighs]

Will:
So, we're taking money from the rich to give to the...

Little John:
Rich.

Will:
Right.

Much:
[regarding giving money to John of York, so he can pay the bond for Beatrice to Canon Birkley] Can't we just give them a toasting fork?

Marian:
[regarding John of York, who has appeared at the top of a turret, pointing a bow and arrow at the Sheriff] What's that man doing?

John of York:
I want my money!

Marian:
Is he mad?

Robin:
Yes. He's in love.

Robin:
[To Canon Birkley] And I promise you, if you don't tell my friend where the money is, God won't be your friend...he'll be your next door neighbour!

[John of York unsheathes his sword, ready to attack Canon Birkley]

Birkley:
At-at! You made a promise to God not to hurt me.

[John of York sheathes his sword. Robin nods]

Robin:
He did.

[He punches Birkley, who falls down the stairs]

Robin:
I didn't.

John of York:
Thank you.

John of York:
I am truly beholden to you all.

Robin:
It's what we do.

John of York:
No. You have no idea what she means to me.

Robin:
Let me guess, you can't sleep for thinking of her, you can't turn a corner without hoping she'll be there.

John of York:
You have these feelings?

[Robin turns, smiles and turns back]

Robin:
I'm just guessing.

[Marian is caught in Robin's trap]

Marian:
Robin!

[Robin and his men arrive]

Robin:
Yes, my love?

Marian:
Get me down!

Robin:
But you look so good up there!

Marian:
You will pay for this Robin of Locksley!

Robin:
Honestly! You look gorgeous from any angle!

[Marian gets out of the trap and punches Robin in the stomach. The other outlaws say "Ooh!"]

Marian:
How do I look from that angle?

Marian:
[Regarding why she can't live in the forest] Well, green doesn't suit me.

Robin:
It's your father, isn't it?

Marian:
I can't turn my back on him.

[Pause]

Robin:
What I said earlier...

Marian:
What?

Robin:
You know, up there. [he gestures to when she was caught in the trap] I said you were gorgeous.

[Marian smiles, then so does Robin]

Robin:
I meant it.

[They smile. Marian notices John of York arriving]

Marian:
And I meant what I said.

[She gets on her horse]

Marian:
One day, you will pay Robin of Locksley.

[She smiles at John of York, then at Robin and rides off. Robin and John watch her ride off]

John of York:
[to Robin] "Just guessing". Liar.

Allan:
Robin, please. I'm not Judas.

Robin:
And I'm no Jesus.

[Robin has Allan pinned to the floor and is holding a dagger up to his neck]

Allan:
Please. Don't kill me. I don't want to die.

[Marian rushes over]

Marian:
Robin, spare him!

Robin:
I can't.

[Marian kneels next to Robin]

Marian:
Please. Please. Do it for me.

Robin:
I'm doing this for you. To protect you.

[She puts her hand on his cheek]

Marian:
If you love me, you will let him go.

Robin:
I do love you. And that's why I can't let him live. Because one day, he'll do something to take you away from me!

Allan:
I wouldn't.

Marian:
Please. Don't let his blood taint us.

[Robin lets Allan go,Marian takes the knife and Allan crawls away. As he crawls up to a sack, Marian throws the dagger, which just misses Allan and hits the sack. Allan turns his head to her in shock]

Marian:
You owe me your life, don't you ever betray me!

[Allan shakes his head]

Allan:
I won't.

[Allan crawls away]

[Pause]

Marian:
It took you a long time to tell me that.

Robin:
Tell you what?

Marian:
You know...

[Robin laughs then so does Marian]

Robin:
I must have been half concussed.

Marian:
Well you'll be fully concussed if you don't watch out.

[Robin smiles]

[After Edward has saved Robin's life and has tussled with Birkley, who has a dagger after the latter was threatening Robin with a dagger, Robin is pointing his bow and arrow at Birkley]

Robin:
[Shouting] Leave it, Birkley! You are a man of the cloth, you cannot kill!

Birkley:
And you, Hood, are a man of war who cannot kill!

[Pause]

[Robin fires an arrow straight at Birkley's heart, killing him instantly. He falls to the ground. Will arrives and looks at Birkley, then Robin in shock. Djaq looks in shock at Robin and Much looks in shock at Birkley]

Robin:
Try me.

[Edward turns around and has the dagger in his chest]

Robin:
Edward!

Much:
No!

[Robin and Much rush over to Edward helping him to the ground and kneel next to him]

Robin:
Help him down! Djaq!

[Djaq kneels next to Edward]

Djaq:
Don't remove the knife. I'll prepare my instruments.

[Djaq runs off]

Robin:
John! Get John and Beatrice to safety. Now!

Little John:
[To John of York and Beatrice] Go! Now!

[He runs away with them]

Edward:
Leave me.

Robin:
I will not, sir!

Edward:
I will slow you down.

Robin:
[To Much. Softly] Go. Go.

Much:
Ok.

[Much leaves]

[Pause]

Edward:
You'll need this... [He reaches for the pact and hands it to Robin] [Quietly] pact.

Robin:
You will not give up your life for mine.

Edward:
For England!

[Pause]

Edward:
You know, I've never quite understood my daughter's feelings for you.

Robin:
Well, I probably don't deserve them.

Edward:
No, I think you do. Robin, listen. For Marian to lose us both would kill her.

Robin:
Edward. Edward, that is not going to happen!

Edward:
Give her a message.

[Robin nods]

Edward:
Tell...Tell her...It's good to dream.

[Robin nods]

Robin:
I will.

[Robin takes Edward's hand and Edward takes Robin's hand. Edward smiles and dies]

[Robin starts to cry, but on hearing Gisborne and guards, leaves]

Gisborne:
Who's there?

[Gisborne notices Birkley and then Edward and kneels next to Edward]

Gisborne:
[Softly] Edward. [Whispering] Marian.

Marian:
My father died thinking he had a wilful daughter.

Robin:
No! He gave me a message. "It's good to dream."

[Robin kisses her hand and hugs her]

[John of York and Beatrice are astride a white horse. Little John is waiting to pull the horse away]

[John of York shakes Robin's hand]

John of York:
Thank you.

[Robin and Marian step back and Much walks up to John of York and Beatrice holding a toasting fork. He hands it to John]

Much:
Toasting fork.

[John of York laughs and laughs while talking]

John of York:
Thank you.

[Little John leads on the horse then lets it go and steps to the side as John of York and Beatrice leave. Little John waves goodbye. As they leave, Djaq and Will who are holding bowls filled with flower petals, shower them in the petals as they go. Robin, Much and Marian clap as John and Beatrice leave]

Much:
Good luck!

[Pause]

Robin:
You did disarm the trap didn't you, Will?

[A thud is heard and then the ring from the gong]

[Pause]

[Will looks at Robin, then after a pause drops the bowl of flowers, quickly pats Robin and runs off to help John of York and Beatrice. Robin, Little John, Much, Marian and Djaq run after him]

Sheriff:
Stop whining, Gisborne. If I wanted a wife, I'd have found one with better legs!

Sheriff:
Do you know what you've got to do?

Carter:
Retrieve The Great Pact of Nottingham and kill Robin Hood. Believe me, my Lord, nothing would give me greater pleasure. Robin Hood is as good as dead.

[Carter arrives at the fight in Clun on horseback and throws a throwing knife at a guard. Much sees this]

Much:
Who is that?

[Robin fights]

Much:
Robin. Gallows!

[Robin races up near the gallows fighting guards. Carter throws another throwing knife at a guard. He watches Robin fight. Robin continues to fight and Carter runs up to him, noticing a guard about to attack]

Carter:
Friend, behind you!

[Robin fights the guard and Carter runs up to him. As Robin knocks out the guard, he notices Carter has picked up his bow and is aiming it at a noose. Long pause as Robin and Much watch Carter aiming. Carter fires the arrow which hits the noose, snapping it and freeing a villager]

[Much, Will and Djaq are now gathered behind Carter and Robin]

[Pause]

[Carter hands Robin his bow back]

Much:
[To Will] He's good.

Will:
He's very good.

[Carter nods to Robin and Robin laughs. Carter turns to Much, Will and Djaq and Will nods at him]

Marian:
Don't ever tie me up!

Robin:
Well, you didn't listen to your orders!

Marian:
People were dying!

Robin:
Marian, you can't be seen with us!

Marian:
Why not?! Robin, I am with you!

Robin:
'Cause if the Sheriff finds out or Gisborne then you can never go back to the castle.

Marian:
I don't want to go back.

Robin:
Well, I'm glad. But you're not ready to make that decision.

[Carter facing away, has cut his arm, allowing blood to drip down his hand. The gang arrive]

Robin:
Thank you, friend. I owe you my life.

Carter:
Yes, you do.

[He turns around to face Robin]

Carter:
But I won't take it yet. Carter.

[Robin walks up to him and shakes his hand]

Robin:
Robin Hood.

[Much walks to Carter and shakes his hand]

Much:
Much. Nice, er, [He mimics throwing a knife] move. Have we met?

Carter:
No, I...we've never met.

Much:
[To Djaq] I'm sure I know him.

Djaq:
[Whispering] Much, let it be!

Much:
I know that face.

Much:
You must be disappointed with er, the wound. Y'know, if you're planning on going back to the Holy Land and kill him.

Carter:
He's here.

Much:
In England!

[Pause]

Much:
It's not me, is it?

[Robin laughs, Carter smiles]

Sheriff:
By the way, Marian sends a message.

Guy of Gisborne:
What message?

Sheriff:
"I'm not coming back, get over it... and for God's sake, change your clothes once in a while."

[The Sheriff laughs]

Guy of Gisborne:
Very funny.

Sheriff:
She's not coming back, Guy. Move on.

Carter:
Tell me where you've hidden it

Robin:
I'll die first.

Carter:
No, your friends will die, [He glances at Much and Marian, who are tied up together.] one by one, til you tell me where it is.

[Robin glances back at Much and Marian]

Carter:
See? That little look back. It revealed your weakness. Never look back, my friend. Now I know I've won. So...who should we start with? Your little sidekick from the Holy Land...or do you have a soft spot for the girl?

[Robin aims his bow and arrow at Carter]

Carter:
I thought so.

Robin:
Just go and cook something.

Marian:
Why, because I'm a woman?

Robin:
No, because I'm hungry!

Marian:
Why would you help me?

Allan:
I'm not all bad!

Allan:
Write a note, just say that you want to be left alone - bit of praying, grieving or whatever.

Marian:
And all letters from the convent have to be sealed by the Mother Superior.

Allan:
I'll sort it.

Marian:
How?

Allan:
I'm good with nuns.

Robin:
I think there's a reason you never like looking back. Because you don't want to see what you've done. Because you don't like what you've done.

Robin:
Much was right, wasn't he? You did meet in the Holy Land.

Carter:
We didn't meet. He met my brother.

Robin:
What was his name?

Carter:
You don't remember? You should.

[They continue fighting and stop]

Carter:
Thomas.

Robin:
Thomas?

Carter:
You killed him. You ordered him into that village. [He picks up his sword] He called for help, but none came. You let him die.

Robin:
I remember him. He was a good fighter.

Carter:
He was a war hero.

Robin:
Yeah. But he stopped listening. Thought he was invincible. We said it was dangerous, he wouldn't listen. He led the charge into that village. We tried to save him. I tried.

[Carter is unwilling to believe the truth about his brother]

Carter:
No. I was there when they brought his body back. The stretch bearers told me everything.

Robin:
I told them to make up the story. So that his family would remember him as a war hero and not a fool who got himself killed.

Robin:
He cried when he died.

Carter:
No.

Robin:
He cried and he said "Tell my family I didn't cry. Tell them I was laughing on the wrong side of my face".

Carter:
That's what he used to say "laughing on the wrong side of his face". How did you know that?

Robin:
Because I held him in my arms as he died.

[Robin has permitted Carter to kill him, if it will help him. Carter is about to stab him]

Robin:
[Quietly] He was a hero. Just not on that day.

[Carter drops his sword and falls to the ground]

Carter:
What am I doing here? What have I done?

[Pause]

Carter:
Help me. My brother. I loved him so much.

[He begins to cry]

Robin:
[Softly] Hey. It's alright.

[He kneels next to Carter, ruffles his hair and hugs him]

Robin:
[Softly] It's alright. It's alright.

[Much and Djaq burst into the barn]

Much:
Are you alright?

[Robin nods]

Much:
Why is he crying?

Robin:
He's not crying. He's laughing on the wrong side of his face.

Gisborne:
Saddle my horse.

Allan:
Oh, I don't really do saddling.

Gisborne:
Do as you're told.

Allan:
Sure.

[Gisborne walks away]

Allan:
Where are we going?

Gisborne:
Ripley Convent.

Allan:
Yeah? Hang on doesn't she want to be on her own, grieving and that?

[Gisborne runs back to Allan and kicks him]

Gisborne:
GET MY HORSE!

Allan:
Alright. Alright.

Carter:
Thomas was my hero. Whatever he did, I had to do too. And when he joined the Knights Templar...I knew I had to follow. I had only just joined when...when he died.

Much:
Thomas. You look like him. That's why I recognised you.

Carter:
I was determined to carry on for him. To be as good as him. To get to the very top. I joined the King's private guard.

Much:
[To Robin] Like us.

[Robin winks then smiles at Much]

Much:
I can't believe we're trusting him. He tried to kill us.

Robin:
Of all of us, you and I know what war can do to a man.

Much:
I've been to war, but I didn't come back a mad killer.

Robin:
Well, the demons work in different ways, don't they?

[Much sighs]

Robin:
But they're still the same demons.

Much:
I've got demons. You've never held me like you held him.

Robin:
Much.

Much:
You haven't.

[Pause]

Much:
You never listen to my story.

Robin:
It's because I was there with you. It's my story too.

Much:
Yeah, I know. It's just we never talked about it. We never talk.

Robin:
Alright. Well let's talk.

Much:
No. Not if you're doing it to humour me. No.

Robin:
Oh, come on, Much!

Much:
Whatever I say you never listen to me anyway.

Robin:
You know that's not true.

[Much and then Robin stop walking]

[Much gestures to Carter with the hilt of his sword]

Much:
I told you I recognised Carter from the Crusades. You didn't believe me. You'd believe Marian. You spend time with her.

Robin:
Much.

[He glances over to the other outlaws and puts his arms on Much's shoulders and sighs]

Robin:
Old friend...you have a special place in my heart.

Much:
Do I?

Robin:
Well do I really need to say it?

Much:
No. Of course not.

[Robin shakes Much's hands in a brotherly fashion and walks off]

Much:
Just once in a while would be nice.

Sheriff:
We have...bad days. We have good days. And when we have Robin Hood laid out dead on our table, [Shouts at Robin Hood] WE HAVE THE BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES!!!!!

Guy:
Marian, do you really expect me to believe that you have given yourself to God?

Marian:
I assure you I haven't given myself to anybody -- yet.

Guy:
Good. Because until you do, I will always believe that there is a chance for you and me.

Marian:
I need to think.

Guy:
Stop thinking. Come home to me!

Marian:
You burned my home to the ground!

Guy:
If I could take that back -- if I could show you the side of me that wants to build a home, not burn it down...

Marian:
I've seen it!

Guy:
Then why do you reject it?! I thought I might never see you again.

Robin:
[Noticing Marian with Gisborne] [Whispering] What's she doing here?

Carter:
She saved your life.

Robin:
Don't kill anyone unless you have to.

Carter:
Spoilsport.

Robin:
[To Carter, regarding the amount of guards and Carter's statement that the guards will kill them] Aah! Come on, we're much to good for that!

Carter:
[after jumping off the turret walkway of the castle into a cart full of hay, after guards have chased them] Do you do this often?

Robin:
I seem to, yeah.

Carter:
Y'know, it really would be easier to kill them.

[Robin laughs]

Robin:
I know.

[They get up]

Robin:
But where would be the fun in that, eh?

Robin:
Well, you disobeyed me.

Marian:
I saved your life.

Robin:
You kissed Gisborne.

Marian:
And you tied me up.

Robin:
You could have got us all killed.

Marian:
I'm sorry. I'm not used to taking orders, but I can learn. I'd like to be a part of your gang.

Robin:
And I'm not used to having you in the forest but...I'll learn.

Marian:
Truce?

Robin:
Yeah, truce.

[They walk down to Carter who is astride a horse]

Robin:
Goodbye, my friend.

[Carter waves back at Robin and looks at Will who nods at him]

[Carter leaves]

[Robin has folded his arms and Marian tries to hold his hand. Robin notices this and releases his other hand and holds her hand]

[Robin laughs and Marian smiles]

[As Carter is about to turn a corner, he stops and waves goodbye to the gang. Will, Much, Djaq and Little John wave back and Robin and Marian smile]

Allan:
Give us the letter!

McClellan:
It's for Robin of Locksley and his eyes only!

Allan:
Just give it to us or we'll take it from you.

[Arrowshot is heard and an arrow comes through a guard's chest, he falls over revealing Robin standing behind him.]

Robin:
Don't you know it's rude to read other people's mail?

Marian:
Do you practice little speeches like that?

Robin:
Like what?

Marian:
"You'll be so full of arrows you'll look like hedgehogs?"

Robin:
No. It just came to mind.

Marian:
You practice don't you?

Robin:
No!

Marian:
Would you like to say a few words?

[Robin nods. Long pause]

Marian:
[Softly] Go on then.

Robin:
Will you marry me?

Marian:
[Softly] What?

[She smiles]

Robin:
When I first held my bow, I knew. It felt right. Like it had been made for me. And that's how I feel about you. I promised your father I would protect and look after you.

[Marian smiles and nods slightly]

Robin:
But it works both ways. I look after my bow because it protects and looks after me. Together we're stronger. So...

[He walks over to her and genuflects]

Robin:
Marian. [Whispering] Will you marry me?

[Marian exhales/laughs in shock]

Marian:
[Quietly] Robin, of every single man in the world....you are the only one...

Robin:
Well is that a yes?

Marian:
[Quietly] Will you let me finish?

[Robin exhales]

Robin:
I'm sorry.

Marian:
[Quietly] The only one who would... propose over a fresh grave...by comparing me to your weapon.

[As she says "weapon" she laughs]

Robin:
Well is that a no?

Marian:
[Softly] Who'll give me away?

Robin:
I can ask the King.

[Marian nods and then so does Robin]

[Marian exhales]

Marian:
[Softly] So we find Lardner and bring the King home. Defeat the Sheriff and then get married.

[She smiles as she says "then get married"]

[Robin smiles, looks away, smiling and lowers his head and nods]

Robin:
[As he's standing up] [Whispering] Well that sounds like a plan.

[Marian laughs and smiles and wraps her arms around Robin's neck and they kiss]

[The Fool is entertaining the Sheriff, Gisborne and others]

Fool:
"Richard the Lionheart", they call him! Now, going into battle in a foreign land, it's not the heart of a lion you want, is it? Since when did a heart hurt anybody?! Come on, then! Come on! I've got the heart of a lion! You can imagine the Saracens translating that, can't you? "He's got the what of a lion?!" The teeth? The jaws? The claws? Nooooo! The heart! Richard the Lionclaw, "Jerusalem's yours, come in, sit down, help yourself!" Lionheart?!

Sheriff:
[to Gisborne] He's good. Very good.

Fool:
Forget about it! It's no wonder it's taking so long over there, is it? [Laughter. The Sheriff laughs and Gisborne smiles] Mind you, mind you... It's better than his brother, isn't it? Prince John. [deadly silence] What's Prince John doing? Sitting at home? Heart of a dormouse?

[Two soldiers seize the Fool]

Sheriff:
[angrily] Prince John is a friend of mine.

Fool:
[freeing himself] It's a joke! It's what I do! I do other things. Let's try some soothsaying. [to a guard who has a hold of him] Sit down! [He makes the guard sit] Sit down! [The guard stands up again] I'll make some predictions, and then I'll make them come true. Someone in this room will bare their buttocks to the Sheriff tonight!

Sheriff:
TAKE THAT MAN TO THE DUNGEONS NOW!!!

Fool:
[As the soldiers seize him again and start dragging him away] Look, hang on! Prediction two: Sir Guy's joint will rise from the dead!

Gisborne:
What's that supposed to mean?

Fool:
Your woodcock, Sir Guy. I can bring it back to life.

Gisborne:
Get rid of him!

[The guards start dragging him away]

Fool:
You'll like my third prediction, it's about Prince John. One day, Prince John will be King of England!

Sheriff:
I know that already.

Fool:
But did you know that there's something in Nottingham that can stop him?

Sheriff:
Like what?

[The Fool puts his legs around the beam]

Fool:
Lardner's Ring.

Sheriff:
What is "Lardner's Ring"?

Fool:
Well, let me go and I'll tell you.

Sheriff:
[to the soldiers] Lock him in the cellar overnight. Flog him in the morning. And then he'll tell us! Now that really is funny!

[The Sheriff and others roar with laughter; Gisborne smiles]

Fool:
You should listen to me, I know what I'm talking about!

[As he is being dragged away, The Fool's legs are still wrapped around the beam, causing his trousers to fall down]

Fool:
Ah! The first prediction! I told you, and the others will follow. Beware the power of Lardner's Ring!

[The Fool smiles as he is dragged out of the room]

Robin:
Where's, er, where's Will and Djac?

Much:
They said they've gone to get some honey.

Little John:
They'll be back soon.

Much:
If that's all they've gone for. Well, why does it need two of them? Hmm? "Honey" is one of those things.

Robin:
What things?

Much:
What do you call it when you use a sweet, innocent word but what you really mean is something else?

Little John:
A lie.

Much:
No.

Marian:
A euphemism.

Much:
Euphemism. Exactly. Yes, there's a bit too much honey going on around here, if you ask me.

[Robin and Marian chuckle and smile ]

Much:
Will and Djac nipping off together. You two going on long walks in the forest.

Little John:
He's jealous.

[Robin smiles and raises his eyebrows]

Much:
What happened to fighting for justice and rebelling against the Sheriff?! We should be sticking together, instead we're splitting into couples. And to be perfectly honest, [he puts his arm around Little John] I don't fancy mine much.

[Marian chuckles]

Much:
Anyway, while you two have been off gallivanting...

Robin:
We haven't been gallivanting!

Much:
I know what you were doing

Marian:
We were burying a corpse in the forest.

Much:
[To Robin] Is that a euphemism?

[After Allan returns from his failure to catch McClellan, with one of his two helpers dead with an arrow in his chest]

Gisborne:
Where is he?

Allan:
[sheepishly] Err... he's dead.

Gisborne:
What about the message?

Allan:
Well, we got part of it, yeah, but Robin turned up--

Sheriff:
TURNED UP?! And got his message?!

Allan:
I don't know. Look, he kind of took us by surprise! All we heard him say was "Lardner", that was it.

Sheriff:
[grabs the arrow in the soldier's chest; simmering] "Lardner"? That's what he said?

[Long, tense silence, as the Sheriff pulls the arrow all the way out; suddenly, he explodes with rage and throws it at Gisborne]

Sheriff:
I BLAME YOU FOR THIS!!! [throws food and utensils from the table at him and Allan] YOU HAD HIM ON YOUR DOORSTEP, AND YOU LET HIM ESCAPE!!! YOU AND YOUR IMBECILES!!! SIX... LEGS... AGAINST... ONE... AND THE ONE... GOT AWAY?!?!

Sheriff:
Ah, Gisborne the Gullible! Got something to show you. [holds the Fool's lid over an apple on the platter, and puts it down repeatedly] First you see it... then you don't. There it is... and there it isn't.

Gisborne:
[impatiently] Yeah, what's your point? [the Sheriff puts both hands on the handle and lifts up the lid; the apple is gone] How'd you do that?

Sheriff:
You simply pull up on the handle here, the claw grabs hold of the bird. You lift up the lid, the bird's gone. The cooked bird has been hollowed out, you put a live dove inside it, and then la-di-da-di-da - plateful of bird's wings! Your fool, he's no "sorcerer"! He's no "soothsayer", and he cannot predict the future!

Djaq:
[Seeing Gisborne threaten to cut off a finger of a woman who can't get her ring off, as Gisborne, Allan and his men search for Lardner's ring] Stop!

[Gisborne turns and Will and Djaq are now standing up]

Djaq:
I know who Lardner is...and I know about his ring.

Will:
Let the woman go.

Gisborne:
You're in Robin Hood's gang, aren't you?

Will:
Let the woman go!

[Gisborne raises the woman's hand and drops it]

Gisborne:
Now tell me about Lardner.

Djaq:
You'll have to catch us first!

[Djaq runs off, Will smiles at Gisborne and runs. Djaq unties her horse, gets on and rides of. As guards chase after Will, he struggles to untie his horse]

Will:
[To himself, quietly] Come on!

[Guards arrive and Will kills one with his axe and knocks out another one with his elbow. He flips his axe in his hands and runs away, but is tackled by a guard]

Djaq:
Back home, my uncle had a friend - the Sultan's official pigeon handler.

Much:
He handles pigeons?

Djaq:
Yes. He handles pigeons.

Much:
Job, I suppose.

Djaq:
It's a very important job, Much!

[Much looks down, Little John gives him a look]

Djaq:
The Sultan's best pigeon - the smallest and quickest - was a pigeon called La Denah.

[Scene transitions to the Fool also talking about Lardner to the Sheriff with Will, Allan and Gisborne present]

Fool:
The Saracens use pigeons to carry messages. They place the message around a little ring connected to the bird's foot. They let it go and it flies off. And it doesn't matter how far away you release it, because it will [He emphasises the following words] always find it's way home.

[Scene transitions to Djaq and the gang]

Djaq:
But it's not home that their searching for...it's their mate. You split the two of them up and a pigeon would fly to the ends of the Earth faster and straighter than any man ever could...just to be with the one they love.

Robin:
So, we could get a message to King Richard halfway around the world in no time at all.

Djaq:
A matter of days.

Much:
Well that's incredible!

Djaq:
My question is: Why is King Richard using the Sultan's best pigeon?

Robin:
Well maybe they formed an alliance or something.

Djaq:
Or King Richard and his army have helped themselves. If they've got La Denah, they've got the Sultan. And if they've got the Sultan...they've got everyone.

Marian:
[Whispering to Robin] We have to go back to the tree.

[The Fool takes the key off of Allan's belt and hugs his leg, so he won't notice]

Fool:
Please! Have mercy! Don't let them do this to me!

[Allan moves the Fool off him]

Allan:
Hey...

[Allan looks down and notices that the Fool has taken they key and looks back at the Fool]

Fool:
I don't do tragedy, I do comedy.

Allan:
Well watching you swing'll be comedy.

[Allan slaps the Fool]

Sheriff:
[To Allan] Very good.

[The Sheriff and Gisborne leave and Allan follows]

[The Fool who has his eyes closed and head back after Allan has hit him, opens his hand to Will, showing the key. Will looks over to Allan and Allan looks back at Will then leaves]

Sheriff:
If Robin gets the bird, it means the King knows our plans. And the last thing we need is the King and his army coming back to England before we're ready for them! So, we must catch the pigeon! Catch the pigeon now!

[Djaq, Little John and Much are thinking of what to write to King Richard, with Djaq writing]

Little John:
Come home.

Much:
It needs more immediacy.

Little John:
Come home now.

Much:
Come home immediately.

Little John:
Too many words.

Much:
What?

Djaq:
Lardner's a pigeon not an eagle. More words, more weight.

Much:
It's one word! Same as now.

Little John:
So use now.

Djaq:
Too many cooks!

[Later]

Much:
Right. "Your Majesty, no reinforcements. Prince John plans to steal your throne."

Djaq:
Plots. Plots is a better word.

Little John:
Plots is better.

Much:
"Your Majesty, no reinforcements. Prince John plots to steal your throne. Come home...now." Short, sharp and to the point.

Djaq:
I'll add "Make peace" before "Come home". "Make peace immediately".

Much:
Ah...I do like immediately.

[The Fool appears]

Fool:
You need more emotion.

[Much, Djaq and Little John raise their weapons towards The Fool]

Much:
Who are you?

Fool:
And alliterate - alliteration makes it much more memorable.

Much:
How did you get here?

Fool:
I appear, I disappear, it's what I do.

[Will arrives in a guards' uniform and as he speaks, he removes the "mask"]

Will:
He's with me.

[They unsheathe their weapons]

Djaq:
I thought you were caught.

Fool:
Madam, manacles are mere mist for me and my... [He looks at Will] my mate.

[Will looks back at him]

Will:
Have you heard about the pigeon?

Much:
Yeah. Robin and Marian have gone back to the tree to get it.

Will:
Yeah, well, so has the Sheriff and Gisborne. They've got them surrounded in that tree.

Little John:
We have to go! Now!

Much:
Immediately!

Much:
[After being shushed by Djaq, while looking for the tree] I won't be shushed, we're looking for a tree in a forest!

Fool:
We need to make Robin and Marian disappear.

Much:
How do we do that?

Fool:
A puff of smoke.

Robin:
[As he is about to escape by zip lining down the rope via his bow] You'll have to put your arms around me.

Marian:
No. I'm not coming.

Robin:
Marian, we haven't got time for this!

Marian:
Then go before they see the rope.

Robin:
Is this about Gisborne?

Marian:
No. I can be of more use in the castle. And being apart will tear me apart, but I know I'm more good in the castle.

Robin:
Give me your hand.

Marian:
No.

Robin:
Just give me your hand.

Marian:
Is this a trap?

[Robin places the engagement ring on Marian's finger]

Robin:
It's an engagement ring.

[Marian smiles]

Robin:
This morning we had a plan.

Marian:
Yes. Find Lardner, bring the king home, defeat the Sheriff and then get married. In that order, Robin. First things first. This isn't what I want to do, but it's what I have to do.

Robin:
I love you.

Marian:
I love you too.

[They kiss and then Robin escapes]

Much:
Cheer up!

Robin:
What have I got to be cheery about?

Much:
Well we've got a visitor.

[Robin notices the Fool]

Robin:
Who are you?

Will:
No, not him.

[Will unveils Lardner from is sleeve]

Will:
It's Lardner. Say hello.

[Robin laughs]

Robin:
You're joking!

[Will shakes his head and smiles]

Fool:
When you want something to disappear, the trick is to divert the audience's attention.

Will:
We switched the birds.

Fool:
I just happened to have a spare stuck up my sleeve.

[Will laughs]

Woman in forest:
Who are you?

Sheriff:
I am the man with a plan.

Robin:
Will, I want you to look after Marian.

Will:
Yeah, sure.

Robin:
Will, I need you to promise. She has to live...even if no-one else does.

[He gives Will Marian's engagement ring]

Much:
Ah, I like this. The two of us on a mission. I mean, no offence to the others, but it's just like the old days, in the Holy Land.

[Pause]

Much:
Master, you know that ring, the one Marian gave you...is it some sort of code?

Robin:
No. I gave it to her in the tree.

Much:
You giving jewellery! She must have been surprised. She must have thought you were going to propose!

Robin:
I did. And she said yes.

[Much is shocked. Pause]

Robin:
Well, this is the moment when you say "Congratu-"

Much:
Congratulations.

[Much smiles and they hug]

Much:
She said yes?

Robin:
She did.

[Pause]

Robin:
Let's just hope we can live to enjoy it. Come on.

[He walks away and Much stands still looking sad before continuing to walk]

[Allan walks up to Will, who is by the gate of Nottingham, looking at the dust that the army is creating]

Allan:
I don't think we're going to get out of this, Will.

[Allan is thinking]

Allan:
But if we do...do you reckon I could come back?

[Will scoffs]

Will:
It's too late, Allan. Miles too late.

Allan:
Alright, I made some mistakes.

Will:
"Mistakes"?! You deliberately betrayed us!

Allan:
Yeah, strictly speaking. But it's not that simple, Will. I know how this place works now. It'll help Robin. What do you think - the old team back together?

Will:
You're with Gisborne now. There's no coming back from there.

[Will leaves]

[Will walks up to Marian]

Marian:
Will! Any news from Robin?

[Will shakes his head]

Will:
Marian... you have to live.

Marian:
There's no way out.

Will:
I promised [He holds out her engagement ring] Robin you'd be safe.

[He gives Marian the ring and walks off]

Djaq:
We have to find the Sheriff.

[He walks off]

Little John:
I don't care about the Sheriff.

Djaq:
Alright. Then you don't care about Nottingham.

Will:
You have to do it.

Marian:
There must be another way!

Will:
Marian, there is a ring of steel around Nottingham. Even if you got beyond the walls, you'd be cut down.

Marian:
Then we'll fight as best we can.

Will:
As much as I hate Gisborne...you have to marry him.

Marian:
No!

Will:
Wherever you are... Wherever you are, Robin will move heaven and Earth, he will find you.

[He emphasises the following words and gestures with his hands]

Will:
Just stay alive.

[Marian walks away]

[Gisborne races back to the castle]

Gisborne:
MARIAN!

Marian:
You came back!

Gisborne:
If I'm going to die, I'm going to die by your side.

Gisborne:
[To everyone] To arms!

[Robin and Much find the Sheriff in their camp. Much walks up to the Sheriff who is standing in the]

Much:
Out of my kitchen!

[After Nottingham is nearly burned for the Sheriff's disappearance]

Sheriff:
One day. I'm away for one day! And look at it! Huh?! LOOK AT IT!!!

Gisborne:
My lord, what happened? Where did you go?

Sheriff:
Just thought I'd see how you'd cope without me for a day.

Gisborne:
Hood found you.

Sheriff:
And?

Gisborne:
He could still be here. We could still get him.

Sheriff:
No, no! I don't need him any more! Single-handedly-- Eh? I, single-handedly, managed to infiltrate Hood's secret camp and retrieve the pact! [cackles dementedly] The pact! [pats his trousers, only to find it gone] The pact! The pact! No... [grabbing Gisborne's shoulders] THE PACT!!! THE PAAAAAAACT!!! GET HIM!!! GET AFTER HIM!!!

Robin:
And what are we looking for?

Legrand:
Thesaurus Patriae.

Djaq:
That's Latin for treasure of the nation.

Legrand:
She speaks Latin. What a woman!

[Djaq smiles]

[Robin places the King's first message over a candle and red stars are revealed encircling the King. He repeats the process with the second message and puts the second message over the first]

Robin:
See? Zaffre. It's an element used in alchemy. It only shows itself when applied to heat.

Paxton:
Very clever.

Legrand:
It may be clever, but it still doesn't look like anything,

[Everyone is looking at the two messages, with the second on top of the first]

Much:
No, no, no. Look, it's the night sky. Djaq? See - that's the moon, there's the night sky and there are the stars.

Djaq:
No, Much. They don't work that way.

Will:
And that's the sun, if anything.

Robin:
Yeah.

Paxton:
It could be a circle?

Robin:
What?

Paxton:
A circle.

Will:
[pointing at the message] Yeah, these could be stones, foundation stones of a building and the sword is pointing at the entrance.

[Whistling is heard]

[Legrand's men unsheathe their swords]

Robin:
Hold! Hold, hold.

[Whistling is heard again]

Much:
I think that might be for you.

Robin:
Yeah. Carry on working. I'll be back.

[Robin leaves]

Paxton:
[To Much] That signal... is that a member of the gang?

Much:
Something like that.

[Scene transition - Robin looks around for Marian, who is sitting on a high tree branch. Marian smiles and laughs as he looks around for her]

Marian:
I'm up here.

[Robin smiles goes over to her, and she moves down from the top branch of a tree to the bottom]

[They kiss twice]

Robin:
Ah, I've missed you.

[They kiss]

Marian:
I've missed you. Do you know what's happening in Locksley?

Robin:
What do you mean?

Marian:
Gisborne's turned out all the villagers. He's made it a garrison for his mercenaries.

Robin:
What about the people? Where are the villagers?

Marian:
In the forest...or with families from other villages.

Robin:
Right, well...we'll get food to them.

Marian:
We can't. Allan told Gisborne about the secret food store and he's taken everything.

Robin:
WHAT?!

Marian:
But if we move now, we could take the garrison by surprise.

Robin:
I know, but...we can't. Not just yet.

Marian:
Why not?

Robin:
We've had word from the King, Marian. Now, I promise I'll restore Locksley, but I can't until we complete this mission.

Marian:
And what are the villagers supposed to do in the mean time?

Robin:
You know I would go to them if I could. King Richard needs me now more than ever.

[Marian looks despondent]

Robin:
Hey...we'll be together soon. I promise.

[Marian nods and then so does Robin. They kiss and look at each other. Robin sighs and walks away]

Robin:
And Marian...

Marian:
Hmm?

Robin:
Promise me you won't do anything is Locksley alone.

[She rolls her eyes]

Robin:
Marian!

Marian:
I promise. I promise I won't do anything.

[Robin walks away]

Marian:
But the Nightwatchman might.

[Allan wakes up and notices the Nightwatchman in the barn trying to take back the food]

Allan:
Oh, not you again. What are you doing here?

[Marian doesn't answer]

Allan:
Look, if you leave now, no-one has to know you were here.

[Gisborne enters the barn]

Allan:
Guy! I've got the Nightwatchman!

Gisborne:
[To the Nightwatchman] Let's find out who you really are!

[He takes a hot poker from the coals]

[Allan grabs his hand holding the poker]

Allan:
Leave him! He's had enough, Guy!

[Gisborne takes off the mask to reveal Marian]

Gisborne:
[Quietly] No. Not you.

[He runs away]

Marian:
[Quietly] Help me.

Allan:
I can't.

Marian:
[Quietly] Please!

Allan:
I'm sorry, I can't. If I mess this with Gisborne, I'll have nothing left, Marian. I'm sorry.

Marian:
I can talk to Robin for you.

Allan:
You just don't get it, do you? Even if I wanted to go back, I couldn't. It's too late.

[Pause]

Allan:
Look, you know I've tried to help you where I can, but this...

[Gisborne arrives]

Marian:
Guy...

[Gisborne turns around and point at Marian]

Gisborne:
You... don't... speak to me!

[Robin and the gang walk up to a cloaked figure, and as they reach the doorway, the cloaked figure tuns around and reveals herself as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine]

Robin:
Your majesty.

[He bows down]

Much:
I know you! You're Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. The Queen Mother!

[Much, Will, Little John, Legrand and Legrand's men bow]

Robin:
Thesaurus Patriae. You're the treasure of the nation.

Much:
I'm Much, your majesty.

[He kisses her hand and holds it]

Eleanor:
Yes.

[Will, standing next to Much is smiling]

Much:
And this, uh, this is, er...

Will:
Will.

Much:
Will.

[Much lets go of her hand and Will kises it, but Eleanor is looking at Little John]

Eleanor:
Of course.

Sheriff:
That man is a sworn enemy of the state! And of your son, Prince John!

Eleanor:
Alas, one can choose one's friends but not one's family. You and John deserve each other.

Sheriff:
Then "alas", you shall never leave England alive.

Eleanor:
Are you always this odious or have you just practised for me?

Sheriff:
Oh, you haven't seen the half of it!

[Legrand closes the hatch in the door that the Sheriff was speaking through]

[The gang, Legrand and his men and Queen Eleanor are trapped underneath Barndale Church by the Sheriff - as him ad his men are outside the door]

Djaq:
Thats the only way out of here.

Much:
Oh, here we go again!

Little John:
[To Eleanor] GET DOWN AND STAY DOWN! Milady.

Much:
Well, come on, Big Bear!

[After Will, Djaq and Legrand's men arrive to help the gang fight the Sheriff and his men]

Sheriff:
Why is nothing ever SIMPLE?!

[Little John holds Legrand's hand as he lies dying]

Little John:
A stronger man... I never knew.

Legrand:
The Queen?

Eleanor:
Legrand.

[Legrand laughs heartily, gasps and dies]

Little John:
Him... I liked.

[After Gisborne and Allen faked the Nightwatchman's escape]

Sheriff:
Good news, Gisborne - only good news. Tell me you have caught him. Tell me you're ready to string him up. Tell me I can have my execution!

Gisborne:
He escaped. The Nightwatchman is gone.

Sheriff:
[furious] You have failed me again...! [smacks Gisborne, then holds a dagger to his neck] I WILL NOT TOLERATE INCOMPETENCE!!! There is too much at stake now! A KINGDOM!!! Last chance, Gisborne.

[The Sheriff storms off, while Gisborne returns to his duties; Marian watches, stunned]

Eleanor:
Poor Legrand.

Robin:
We'll see to it he gets a proper burial. Don't worry.

Eleanor:
He was a hero. As are you [She looks at Much, Will and Djaq] all. King Richard will know of your service and sacrifice in helping me.

[Eleanor throws a bag of money to Robin]

Eleanor:
My contribution.

Robin:
Your majesty, I can't take this.

Eleanor:
Why not? I am rich, the poor are poor. [She smiles] Isn't that where you come in?

[She leaves with Legrand's men, and as she does so, Robin, Much, Will and Little John bow]

[Gisborme and Allan visit Marian after they faked the Nightwatchman's escape. Marian smiles. Allan is holding the Nightwatchman's outfit]

Marian:
Guy.

[She smiles]

Gisborne:
You're safe

Marian:
[To Gisborne] You did this for me?

[She smiles]

Allan:
Er... [Allan points to himself]

Marian:
[Laughing] So, both of you.

[She smiles]

Allan:
Well, what's getting chased by angry soldiers between friends, eh?

[Marian laughs]

Gisborne:
[To Allan, regarding the Nightwatchman outfit] Burn that. [To Marian] The Nightwatchman is no more. You will not get another chance.

Allan:
I've heard that one before.

[Marian laughs]

Gisborne:
No-one asked for your opinion, you can go.

[Marian walks over to Allan and hugs him and he laughs]

Marian:
[Quietly] Thank you.

[They stop hugging. Allan is smiling]

Marian:
You saved my life.

[They smile at each other and Allan leaves]

[The gang are walking through a field]

Much:
There's something about Sherwood.

Will:
It's home.

Much:
Yeah.

[Much falls down]

Much:
Oh!

[The gang laugh]

Robin:
[To Much] Come on!

[Much stands up]

Robin:
I know a lot of people who would be very grateful of Queen Eleanor's money.

[He runs ahead]

[Djaq runs up to Little John]

Djaq:
So, John... do you think you'll be visiting Aquitaine any time soon?

Much:
The Queen Mother fancies you!

Much, Robin, Will, Djaq:
Big Bear!

[Little John triese to run away from the gang but they chase after him]

Little John:
You're jealous!

[Robin jumps and gives John a little kick]

[Robin and Much grab John]

Little John:
Get off!

[Robin, Much and Will push Little John to the ground. Djaq laughs and Will, Much and Robin stand up. Djaq continues to laugh]

[The gang led by Much are running to the barn in Nettlestone]

Much:
Come on! This way! Quick! Girl in distress!

Robin:
What distress?

[Much opens the barn door and gestures to Robin to enter the barn.

Much:
Go!

[Robin enters followed by the rest of the gang. Robin doesn't see a girl in distress]

Robin:
Where's the girl?

Much:
The girl is the pig! [He gestures to a pig roasting on a fire, with George cooking it], the pig is your present! This is a party! [Robin smiles] Happy Birthday!

Will:
Yeah!

Djaq:
Happy Birthday!

[Robin hugs Little John and Djaq]

Robin:
Well, why here? Why not have it in the forest?

Much:
There's gratitude for you. Because then it wouldn't be a surprise!

[He playfully punches Robin in the stomach]

Much:
And besides, the people of Nettlestone can join us and you know... say thank you. Speaking of which, where is everyone?

George:
They couldn't make it. And neither can I.

Much:
What do you mean they couldn't make it?! It's Robin Hood's birthday!

George:
Sorry.

Much:
Sorry for what?

[George quickly opens the barn door, closes it and runs]

Much:
George?!

[Robin walks over to the closed barn door]

Robin:
Oh, Much.

Much:
What?

[Robin looks through the gaps in the barn door and sees mercenaries arriving]

[George runs over to the mercenaries and Ellingham throws him a bag of money]

George:
Thank you!

[George runs away]

Ellingham:
[Shouting] Happy Birthday, Robin Hood!

Much:
Who's that?

Robin:
That's Ellingham.

Ellingham:
[Shouting] The Sheriff sends his best!

Robin:
The leader of the Sheriff's mercenaries.

Ellinghan:
Not to mention...his best men!

[The mercenaries cheer]

Robin:
Much!

[Robin turns to look at Much]

Much:
[Holding his arms out. Shouting] Sorry!

Robin:
That bought us some time. We need to think.

Djaq:
There are five of us. And a hundred of them!

Robin:
Once a few determined Spartans held a pass against a vast Persian army.

Will:
Really?

[Robin slightly nods]

Robin:
Strategy.

Will:
And they lived?

Robin:
No, but... they did well.

Will:
Oh.

Much:
I hate that story too.

Marian:
If you go along with treason, you're committing treason.

Allan:
Rubbish! If you go along with farting, doesn't mean you farted yourself, does it?

[Marian looks puzzled. Allan walks away. Marian turns to Allan]

Marian:
What's happened to you?

[Allan turns around]

Allan:
I've learnt which side my bread's buttered on.

[After scaring the Sheriff's mercenaries with a hogshead full of black powder]

Much:
Ha! Ha!

Robin:
Black powder, Djaq? [Djaq nods] I thought I told you I never wanted to see that again!

Djaq:
[shrugging] I disobeyed you.

[Robin smiles]

Robin:
Good! Do you have any more?

Djaq:
None.

Sheriff:
Ah, news from Nettlestone! Nice? Nasty? Both? [chuckles]

Messenger:
Small problem...

[Cut to the War room; the Sheriff bursts in angrily, followed by Gisborne and the Messenger]

Sheriff:
"EXPLODING FIRE"?! WHADDAYA MEAN, "EXPLODING FIRE"?!

Gisborne:
Black powder.

Sheriff:
Yes, I know what it is.

Messenger:
We want permission to burn down the barn. They'll be toast.

Sheriff:
[irritated] Are you deaf? I told you: I want Hood's pretty little face, on his pretty little head, attached to his pretty little body, ON A PRETTY BIG SPIKE OUTSIDE MY CASTLE!!!

Messenger:
Then what do we do? He's got food in there for a week.

Sheriff:
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO, I DON'T CARE HOW LONG IT TAKES!!! BRING ME HOOD'S BODY ON A SPIKE!!!

Allan:
So, you want to save England single-handedly?

Marian:
No! But I can't find Robin!

Allan:
Sorry, you're out of your depth.

Marian:
No, I'm sorry.

[She punches Allan, knocking him out]

Marian:
You underestimate me.

[She takes Allan's sword]

Sheriff:
[To Marian after catching her trying to kill him, he ducks and pins her against the War Room map, with Allan's sword] Mistake, missy. Big mistake.

Sheriff:
You missed all the fun, Gisborne. [indicating Marian] Your leper friend tried to kill me.

Gisborne:
[to Allan] Did you know about this?

Allan:
I didn't know anything.

Sheriff:
Why would he know anything about this?

Gisborne:
She knocked him out and took his sword.

Sheriff:
What?

Allan:
Well, I wasn't expecting it, was I? Or it wouldn't have happened. Yeah, she's good. But I'm better, though.

[Marian winces, knowing Allan has made a mistake. The Sheriff approaches Allan, who realises his mistake]

Sheriff:
"She's good, but I'm better." That means you knew she was capable of this. [to Gisborne] You knew, too, didn't you?

Gisborne:
My lord, please, I can explain.

Sheriff:
[angrily] Well, you better had explain! Because she just made an attempt on my life!

Gisborne:
[hesitantly] I recently discovered that Marian... was the Nightwatchman.

[Deadly silence]

Sheriff:
... What?! ... AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?!?!

Gisborne:
I believed Marian's days as the Nightwatchman were over! I believed I had dealt with it--

Sheriff:
BY TRICKING ME?!?! BY FAKING HER ESCAPE?!?! Who was it who ran away?

[Gisborne turns away; the Sheriff looks at Allan]

Allan:
Look, I was just following orders, all right?

Gisborne:
Yeah, I gave the orders.

Sheriff:
WHY?!?!

Gisborne:
Because I thought Marian's charitable instincts were misguided. I did not think they merited hanging!

Sheriff:
[sarcastic] Oh, how very noble of you, dear boy! Although I can't help thinking that maybe you wanted a little something in return! Huh? A display of gratitude? [pats Marian on the shoulder] The Nightwatchman! I'm impressed!

Marian:
Get off me.

Sheriff:
GUARDS!!! [guards enter] PACK A TRUNK FOR LADY MARIAN!!! [the Guards leave] She's coming with us!

Gisborne:
To the Holy Land?

Sheriff:
Oh yes.

[Marian looks up]

Sheriff:
[Whispering] Oh. Oh, look. The look. Hmm? So eloquent. [imitating Marian] "Oh, Guy! What's going to happen?" Well we just don't know, do we, missy?

Will:
So they're just going to wait?

Robin:
Until we come out.

Much:
And then kill us. Not even a conversation.

Robin:
I have a proposal. If they won't come to us, we'll go to them.

Little John:
When?

Robin:
First light.

Will:
There's too many of them.

Djaq:
We'll die.

Much:
It's suicide.

[Robin nods. Much sighs and paces]

Little John:
It's a good day to die!

Much:
Will you shut up! Why does he always say that?! I don't even know what it means!

Robin:
We'll almost certainly die. But at least we'll die fighting.

Will:
Yeah, I'm in.

[Djaq who was looking at Will, looks at Robin]

Djaq:
Me too.

Little John:
Yes.

[Robin looks at Much]

[Pause]

Much:
And me.

[Robin slighty nods]

Robin:
Good. Good.

Djaq:
So this is a Kalila and Dimna night.

Will:
What?

Djaq:
You don't have Kalila and Dimna night?

Much:
Surprisingly not.

Djaq:
A Kalila and Dimna night you remember for your whole life. You must only speak the truth. You must ask all your questions, share all your dreams.

Much:
So it's just talking?

Djaq:
Yes. But it's real talking. And if you're too boring, someone shouts Kalila and you lose your turn. You start.

Much:
Oh, no.

Djaq:
Just talk. You like talking.

Much:
I know I do...but, well, not like this.

Djaq:
Fine. I'll start.

Gisborne:
Robin Hood and Marian. [Pause] They're still... aren't they?

Allan:
Look, even if they were, he's dead now.

Gisborne:
That's not an answer.

Djaq:
So I admire you. All of you. You are good men. Brave... generous... kind... decent men. And I love you. All of you. And I am proud to be amongst you.

Much:
Is this what this is, just everyone saying that they love each other?

Djaq:
[Holding her hand up. Laughing] Wait. And you're filthy, and you really stink. [Everyone laughs] and you have no souls!

John:
We live in the forest.

Djaq:
I have to be honest!

[Will smiles and looks down]

[Pause]

Djaq:
I have to be honest. And if I am being honest I have to say that... I do not love all of you in the same way.

Much:
It's me, isn't? You love everyone else but you don't love me. Brilliant.

[Djaq looks at Will as she talks]

Djaq:
There is one I do love more than the others, [Will looks up at her] The way a bird would fly... two thousand miles through storms [Little John and Much look over to Will] just to be with the one he loves. That is the love I feel. And I am a [Emotionally] fool becuase it is only now when we're about to die [looks up at Will] that I have the courage to admit it, even to myself. I'm sorry. I should have said earlier.

Much:
[Whispering to Little John] Will! I knew it!

[Robin looks at Will then at Djaq]

Djaq:
You, Will Scarlett are strong and true, and you fight for what you believe in [Will smiles and looks down, tears in his eyes] and that's why I love you.

Will:
[looking up at her again] And I love you!

[Djaq laughs]

Will:
I love the way you say what you mean. I love your silly voice.

Djaq:
Silly voice!?

[Will laughs]

Djaq:
That's it, I take it back, all of it. [Robin smiles] I hate you.

Will:
And I love the way you fight. Like a man. Ferocious. And the way you'll always, always be a woman.

Much:
Ka-lim-na. Boring.

Djaq:
[Staring in disbelief at Will] Kalila.

Much:
Whatever.

Much:
[To Djaq] Look, I'm not doing this.

Djaq:
Fine.

Much:
Good. Because I don't hate myself and I'm not in love with anyone else. So...

Djaq:
Fine.

Much:
Fine. Well there's nothing to say, then.

[Much paces. He notices Robin smiling]

Much:
What?

Robin:
What?

Much:
You were smiling.

Robin:
I was smiling because usually it's a struggle to shut you up.

[Much paces]

Much:
You think I talk to much. Well, I know that's what you think. Much talks too much. And eats too much. Worries too much. Well, it's easy for you to say, because if I don't do it, who will? It's alright for you, because you can just breeze through life and be everyone's hero, and not have to worry about the simple things like the fire or the food or the hole in your cape or your [He puts his arms out] birthday! 'Cause good old... dependable, old Much, he'll take care of that. And I tell you something. You take me for granted.

[Robin sn*ggers]

Much:
And you're sn*ggering at me, now.

Robin:
Much, I was just...

Much:
[Shouting] You shouldn't!

[He walks away from Robin]

Much:
And I'm angry!

[Djaq looks at Much, saddened. Will looks at Much, saddened]

[Much turns around]

Much:
And just because I love you doesn't mean I can't hate you too. And I hate you. Because in the Holy Land, [He emphasises the following words] there was two of us, and we were a [Shouting] team! And the things we went through and the horrors we saw... Went through them together! And when we came home, we were like brothers. Brothers in arms. And where's that now? Hey?! It's gone! That's where! [Emotionally] You never talk! You just don't. And you made me a free man, and we're meant to be equals. [Much shakes his head] We're not equals. The only thing that's changed is that you still treat me like a servant and you don't treat me like your friend.

Robin:
[Quietly] That's not true.

[Little John looks at Robin]

Robin:
[Quietly. To Little John] Is it true?

[Little John looks at Robin]

[Much, Djaq and Will look at Robin]

[Much nods and Robin sighs]

Much:
Oh, Kalila.

[Allan opens the stable door]

Marian:
[Whispering] Allan.

[Allan walks over to her to try and free her]

Marian:
[Whispering] Thank you.

Allan:
[Whispering] I can't kill the King.

Marian:
[Whispering] Go. Quickly.

Allan:
[Whispering] What about you, though? You've crossed the Sheriff now.

Marian:
[Whispering] Look, I'll be fine. Go! Save Robin.

[Footsteps and clattering is heard. Allan stands up and unsheathes his sword]

Marian:
[Whispering] Go.

[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]

[Much and Robin push the cart past the barn door, to the corner and Little John removes the beam from between the barn door handles]

Will:
What do you think, John? A good day?

Little John:
Oh, yes. A good day.

Allan:
Morning. Allan A Dale. Gisborne's man. I'm looking for Ellingham.

Ellingham:
That's me.

[Allan smiles]

Allan:
The Sheriff sent me down on an errand. He wants me to take the outlaws back to the castle. Alright?

Ellingham:
Oh, no. The Sheriff says they're to stay in there til they rot, or til they come out to be shot.

Allan:
Yeah? Well he's changed his mind.

Ellingham:
Why?

Allan:
Turns out they might have some information he needs.

[He looks over to the barn]

Allan:
I think it's probably... you know, Black Knights stuff.

[Pause]

Allan:
You'll be paid in full, obviously.

[Pause]

Ellingham:
Aye.

[He gestures with his head for Allan to go to the barn.

[Cut to inside the barn. The gang are gathered near the door. Robin looks at Much and Little John, then Much again. Djaq unsheathes her sword and looks at Will]

Much:
Godspeed til we meet again.

Robin:
See you in heaven, my friends.

[Djaq nods and then looks at Will]

Robin:
Are you ready?

[Little John and Much nod]

Robin:
One... two...

Djaq:
Allan.

Will:
What?

Djaq:
Allan A Dale.

[Will and Djaq look through the gaps in the barn and see Allan walking up to the barn]

[Allan knocks on the door]

Allan:
Open up! I'm here on behalf of the Sheriff!

Robin:
[Gestures to let Allan in] Let him in.

Little John:
Kill him.

Robin:
[Quietly] John, calm down.

[Djaq opens the door]

Allan:
Oh, thank God.

[Much pulls him in and keeps a hold of him]

Much:
[Shouting] What do you want?! What do you want?!

Allan:
[Shouting] Listen! We haven't got time to talk now, alright. I've spun 'em a yarn, but we've got to get out of here before they're onto...

Much:
We? [Shouting] We?!

Allan:
I'm with you. Trust me.

[He turns and looks at Robin. Robin looks at Allan, then look at Much and blinks in an agreeing fashion. Much lets Allan go]

Allan:
I've been an idiot. I'm sorry. But right now, we've got work to do. The Sheriff and Gisborne are going to the Holy Land.

Much:
The Holy Land?

Allan:
They're on a boat from Portsmouth... They're going to kill the King.

[Robin winces. Djaq and Will look at him in shock and then so do Much and Little John]

Robin:
Right. We need to get out of here. Now.

[The gang are tied up, with Allan leading them out of the barn. He opens the door. Ellingham is talking to the messenger]

Allan:
[He puts his hand up] It's alright. It's alright. They're coming quietly. [He puts his hand up] Show's over.

[He leads them out]

[Ellingham walks up to Allan]

Allan:
Er, one thing actually. I've got to get this rabble back to the castle, somehow.

Ellingham:
Sure. The Sheriff wants to talk to them back at the castle.

Allan:
Yeah.

Ellingham:
Well that's strange that. 'Cause [He gestures to the messenger] a little birdie told me that the Sheriff left the castle yesterday.

Allan:
You're joking. Did he?

Ellingham:
Nice try. Get them!

[The gang fight with the mercenaries]

[After the fight]

Much:
Good to have you back!

Allan:
Good to be back.

[Will looks at Allan]

[On horseback, the gang have ridden to the forest and have stopped]

Much:
To the camp?

Allan:
There's no time. Look, there's something I haven't told you.

Robin:
What?

Allan:
The Sheriff and Gisborne have got Marian.

Robin:
WHAT?!

Allan:
She wanted to save the King. She couldn't find you, so she tried to kill the Sheriff and got caught.

[Robin turns away. Much quickly looks at Allan. Djaq looks worriedly at Robin]

Robin:
Allan's right. We haven't got time. We're going to the coast. Now!

[Allan clicks his tongue for the horse to move and he gallops off followed by Much and the rest of the gang. Robin stays where he is]

Robin:
I'm coming, my love. I'm coming.

[He gallops off]

Sheriff:
You... are going to visit King Richard.

[The Sheriff hands Nasir an item wrapped in cloth]

Sheriff:
You are Saladin's new messenger.

[Nasir opens the cloth and the item is Saladin's royal seal]

Nasir:
This is Salah ad-Din's royal seal. Where did you get it?

Sheriff:
Salah ad-Din's old messenger.

Nasir:
But there is also a password.

Sheriff:
Yes, that was difficult to get. It was like pulling teeth. [To Karim] It was pulling teeth.

Karim:
And when we get there... I kill him?

Sheriff:
No, no, no. You will not get to within a thousand yards of the King's tent. You will lure him out.

Nasir:
How?

Sheriff:
By telling him what he wants to hear. Peace.

[Nasir smiles]

Sheriff:
Nothing can stop us now.

[Cut to the coastline of Acre - the gang are there]

Robin:
Right lads... work to do. Save Marian. Save the King... Save England.

[Gisborne is walking back from Marian's "cell"]

Sheriff:
[Whispering to Nasir] He is a Black Knight. I would trust him with my life. Ah, here he comes.

[Gisborne enters the room]

Sheriff:
Well.... How is our leper friend?

Gisborne:
Whingeing, as usual.

Much:
What if the King's moved on? What if he isn't in Acre?

Robin:
Well, then we go to Djaq's uncle's friend.

Will:
Bassam.

Djaq:
I'm going to go and check, okay?

Robin:
Alright.

[Djaq leaves]

[Much sits down and takes off his shoe]

Allan:
What does Bassam do, then?

[Much tips his shoe over, getting sand out]

Much:
The pigeon handler. Remember Lardner?

Allan:
Oh, the pigeon that the Sheriff killed with his buzzard.

Much:
Ah, that's what you think.

Little John:
We switched the birds.

[Little John laughs]

[Allan smiles]

Allan:
Oh, ho, ho. You're joking. Nice one. So you got a message to the King in the end, yeah?

Much:
Yeah. Well, no thanks to you.

Allan:
Look, I've told you a thousand times, I'm sorry, boys, alright? I'm back now, I'm one of the lads, let's just...

Much:
Now, hands up, who hasn't betrayed the group?

[Much raises his hand, then Will then Little John]

Allan:
Oh. This one again. How clever.

Robin:
Just leave it, Much, eh?

Much:
Sorry.

Robin:
We're here to find the King.

[Djaq returns]

Djaq:
And Marian.

Robin:
And Marian.

Much:
Can I ask you something? Being back here... in the Holy Land... do you feel funny? 'Cause I feel funny. We're the enemy again.

[The camera tracks down to a barred window]

Much:
I mean, if they knew we were English...

[Cut to inside the room - Marian is sitting on the bed]

[Much and Robin's voices echo]

Much:
[Echoing] If we don't find Marian... [Marian rolls her eyes] Marian. Marian. Marian. Marian.

[Cut to Much and Robin]

Much:
If we don't find Marian...

Robin:
We will find Marian.

Djaq:
[Whispering] Robin!

[On hearing his name, Marian quickly runs over to the barred window - but her shackles pull her back. As she turns to try to get it off, Robin and Much run over to Djaq. Marian stands on a barrel and looks out the window. She sighs and gets off the barrel]

Marian:
Get a grip, Marian. Robin's dead.

[Will has helped cage a pigeon at Bassam's house and smiles at Djaq. He then walks with her. Bassam is watching them]

Djaq:
When I was a little girl, I loved these birds. And I thought that when I grew up, I would live here and train them. The closest I'd ever get to flight. Do you understand?

Will:
Yeah. I do, actually.

[On the Crusaders' Frontier, Nasir and King Richard and his envoy are riding to meet]

[A man rides up to Nasir]

Nasir:
I am the royal envoy for Prince Salah Ad-Din. [The man takes off his helmet and hood - it's Carter] Rightful ruler of these lands and Master of the Ayuubid Dynasty.

Carter:
Yeah? And I'm the King of England.

[The Crusaders laugh]

[Nasir shows Carter Salah Ad-Din's royal seal, and Carter rides back to the rest of the envoy and shows the seal to King Richard]

Richard:
Thank you, Carter.

[King Richard has led Nasir to the King's tent and he walks across the room and takes off his helmet and hood]

Nasir:
Where is your king?

Richard:
I rule from the front lines.

[He turns to Nasir]

Richard:
That's why your prince will never defeat me.

[Richard walks over to a basin and washes his face]

Richard:
I admire... Aristotle.

Nasir:
I prefer Plato.

[Richard looks up at Nasir. Carter enters]

Richard:
You have the password. [Richard puts on his crown] Speak.

Nasir:
My prince has considered your calls for peace.

Richard:
Oh?

Nasir:
He promises nothing. But he is prepared to talk. He would like to meet, alone in the desert. Man to man.

Richard:
Where?

Nasir:
Outside Imuiz. The town ruined by your crusaders.

Carter:
Your majesty... is this wise?

[Richard turns away]

Nasir:
My prince knew you didn't want peace.

[Nasir turns away, and starts to walk away]

Richard:
Wait.

[Richard turns back as does Nasir]

Richard:
I'll be there.

[Carter looks down, disappointed]

Nasir:
My prince would like to give you a gift... as a sign of his goodwill.

Richard:
What gift?

Nasir:
The gift of life.

[Nasir looks at Carter]

Richard:
[To Carter] Leave us.

[Carter leaves]

Nasir:
There are... men... in your country that would want to kill you.

Richard:
Tell him thank you but I already know about the Black Knights.

Nasir:
They know you know.

Richard:
And I will deal with them when I return.

Nasir:
Which is why they have recruited your most loyal servant.

Richard:
Who?

Nasir:
He is a man who you would trust... with your life. And he travels with a Saracen woman. He will offer to protect you. And then... when your guard is down... he will slit your throat.

[Pause. Nasir walks backwards, still looking at King Richard and then leaves the tent. Carter returns]

Carter:
This meeting... I'll come with you.

Richard:
No.

Carter:
Your majesty, to meet Saladin... alone, unprotected.

Richard:
Sometimes peace requires more bravery than war.

Gisborne:
My Lord, I have demonstrated my loyalty. Now I would like your blessing.

Sheriff:
For what?

Gisborne:
I will still have Marian. When we return to England, I will take her by force.

Sheriff:
Dear boy... I'll sing at your wedding.

[The gang have arrived at the King's camp]

Robin:
[To a guard] I'm Robin of Locksley and these are my friends. The King's loyal subjects.

Much:
More than that. My master and I served in his private guard.

Robin:
We have urgent business with the King.

[The guard walks away]

Much:
Saving his life, actually.

[The gang walk through the camp, making their way to the King's tent]

Much:
John, look. [He points to the King's tent] [Shouting] The King's tent! Ut Prosim! Our motto. Latin.

Little John:
What does it mean?

[Much shakes his head. Robin picks up his pace and walks next to Much]

Much:
That was us.

[Robin nods]

Much:
Good days. Well, not good.[Robin smiles] Death, destruction, all that, y'know. But... Ut Prosim, lads.

[Carter runs down the hill]

Carter:
Robin!

Robin:
Carter!

[Robin runs over to Carter, he laughs and they hug]

Robin:
I thought you'd given up fighting.

[Carter walks over to Much]

Carter:
I'm still fighting. But for peace.

[Carter shakes Much's hands and nods at him]

[King Richard has decided to have the gang executed]

Much:
Mercy, your majesty! Ut Prosim!

Robin:
Your majesty, these people are innocent. If you must take a life, take mine. Spare them.

Richard:
At last. That's the Robin I remember - considering others.

Djaq:
He is still the Robin you remember.

Much:
He saved your life! Don't you remember that?!

[Pause. Richard walks up to Robin]

Robin:
I cannot grant your wish. You must all be punished. But you once saved my life and no I have not forgotten that. So I'll not take yours. [Loudly, to everyone] I'll let the desert decide!

[Richard walks away]

Much:
[To Robin] The desert? What does that mean? [To Richard, loudly] Decide what?!

[Cut to next scene - the gang are tied by ropes to wooden stands in the middle of the desert]

Sheriff:
I owe you a debt of gratitude, young lady. Thanks to you, I know that Guy is loyal, because if you can't turn him with your pretty little head, then nobody can.

Marian:
Your heart... must be the coldest place on Earth.

Sheriff:
Are you a little disappointed that he told me about your offer? I'm surprised it took you so long, to be quite honest with you. I mean, I was really getting rather bored.

Marian:
And now I've served my purpose--

Sheriff:
YOU TRIED TO KILL ME!!! DO YOU THINK I'M GONNA LET THAT PASS?!?! Robin Hood did not die in Nottingham. [Marian looks puzzled] Did you know this? Huh? [Faintly] Well then... [Quietly] Just as a treat... you can die together. [Chuckles] This is good. [He leaves]

[The gang are tied by ropes to wooden stands in the middle of the desert]

Much:
You know I love you all. John, Djaq, Will. Even you, Allan. Robin.

[Much's voice echoes as Robin looks at the horizon]

Much:
[Echoing, quiet] Master. [Pause] When I was serving the King, I was serving you.

[Robin sees Marian appear on the horizon]

Much:
[Echoing, quiet] When I think of England, I think of you.

Robin:
[Faintly] Marian? Marian.

Much:
I can see something. I can really see something. Coming.

[Djaq and Will look up at the horizon in shock]

Allan:
He's right.

Djaq:
Over here!

Will:
H-Help!

Much:
Help! Help!

Little John:
Here!

Allan:
Oi!

Much:
Help!

[Much laughs]

Much:
She's seen us!

[Djaq laughs]

Djaq:
God is smiling on us!

[Will turns his face to Djaq]

Will:
Or Allah!

Much:
Whichever God it is, I love him.

[Djaq laughs]

[Pause. Allan looks sombre]

Allan:
It's the Sheriff.

[The Sheriff, Marian and James are now seen]

Much:
There is no God.

[The Sheriff, Marian and James arrive at the stands. The Sheriff gets off his horse]

Sheriff:
See, that's the, err, that's the trouble with foreign travel. [James gets off his horse and shakes the rope that Marian is tied to. The Sheriff walks over to Robin] You run into all the same people you see at home! [chuckles] Your leper friend.

[Marian gets off the horse, James grabs her]

Sheriff:
I understand you've met my colleague, James.

[James puts his hand up]

James:
We meet again.

[He laughs and turns his hand to show the ring of the Sheriff's insignia]

Much:
You let the Black Knights buy you?

Sheriff:
Pennies for the poor put to good use. [Quietly] James.

[James moves Marian to Robin's stand, starting to tie her up]

Much:
You're revolting!

Marian:
Get off me!

Sheriff:
Ah! A revolt is when the people rise up against their leader. Now I'm not revolting, I am coup-ing! [chuckles] Plotting a sudden and decisive change of leader!

Robin:
What about murder?

[The Sheriff walks to Allan]

Sheriff:
Ah, you see, if the King will wander out into the desert - alone, unarmed, ready to meet his enemy, then...

Much:
[disgusted] The King wants peace. You're killing a man who's trying to make peace!

Sheriff:
[grinning] Yes, and life is usually so much fairer.

Robin:
Just let Marian go, she's got nothing to do with this.

[The Sheriff stands next to Allan]

Sheriff:
[Shouting] SHE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THIS! Hmm?! [looks at Allan] All along... we thought we had a spy... IN YOUR CAMP! [As he says "IN YOUR CAMP!" he hits Allan with his glove; walks over to Robin] But you had one in ours.

Robin:
[Whispering] You see, there will always be people working for me. Because I fight for justice.

Sheriff:
Blahdy-blahdy-blah. But this... [As he says "this" he grabs Marian's neck, holding her against Robin's back] This one is a special one. Hmmm? Huh? [Quietly] You were still hoping, weren't you, eh? Hmm? That after all this, you'd end up as man and wife back home in sunny Sherwood. Awwhh! So... now you have your bride.

[He lets Marian go and walks away. He chuckles]

Sheriff:
I'd love to stay! [He gestures to the sun] But I don't tan well. Do excuse us. We have a King to kill. Come on, James!

[They ride off]

Robin:
Hey, John! You're dying for England. Even if you're not there.

Allan:
[Quietly] I'm not being funny...it's the King of England who put us here in the first place!

Robin:
The Sheriff spun him a story! The moment we came here, we were marked men. [Emotionally] It's not the King's fault!

[Pause]

Marian:
Well, say the words then, handsome.

Robin:
What words?

Marian:
"I, Robin, take you, Marian..."

Robin:
Now?

Marian:
Now is a good time, I think. We are in the company of the best witnesses England has to offer.

[Much nods, Marian looks at him and smiles]

Robin:
I, Robin, take you, Marian, to be my lawful wedded wife. [Marian smiles] To have and to hold. For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer...

[Pause]

[Much starts sobbing]

Marian:
"In sickness..."

Robin:
In sickness or in health. [Pause. Robin sighs] To love and to cherish. [Pause] Til death do us part.

Marian:
I, Marian take you, Robin of Locksley, master of the bow, champion of the poor, and Lord of my heart, to be my lawful wedded husband. I promise to love and to cherish you, for better or for worse from this day forward as long as we both shall live.

[Marian looks at Much and laughs]

Marian:
Much... don't cry.

[Much shakes his head and whimpers]

Carter:
He's not crying. He's laughing on the wrong side of his face.

Robin:
Carter!

Much:
Carter!

[Everyone then shouts "Carter!" and laughs]

Robin:
I thought we lost you.

Carter:
Sorry. [He walks over to Little John and cuts him free from the rope] Out here you can lose your head.

[Carter gives Little John the knife and Little John walks over to Much and starts to cut the ropes. Carter walks over to Robin]

Much:
Ho! I thought I didn't like you!

Carter:
I know.

Much:
Well, I do now!

[Little John unties him and Much falls down]

Much:
Ah!

[Carter cuts Robin free]

Much:
[To Carter] Come on. We are Robin Hood.

Carter:
What?

[Everyone gathers in a circle, with Little John in the middle. Much and Marian drink water]

Robin:
We'll explain later.

Little John:
No. Everybody say it. [Emphasising the syllables with his hand to Carter] We... are Robin Hood. SAY IT!

Little John, Much, Allan, Will, Djaq, Robin:
We are Robin Hood!

Much:
[To King Richard after being freed from the desert "execution"] The desert decided!

Much:
[Watching Robin and Karim fight] Now do you believe us?!

Richard:
I have betrayed your trust. I'm sorry. How can I repay you?

[Pause]

Much:
Well... there is this place in Nottingham - Bonchurch... which I've had my eye on...

Little John:
Much!

Much:
Right. Sorry. Forget it.

Sheriff:
[After killing Carter] Bye bye, blondie.

[The Sheriff is behind King Richard, aiming his bow and arrow at the King]

Sheriff:
Long live the King! [Quietly] No.

[He fires the arrow, hitting the King's shoulder. King Richard screams in pain. The scream is a reverberating echo. Gisborne and Marian turn to the direction of the scream]

[Gisborne with sword unsheathed advances on the wounded King. Marian appears and sees this]

Marian:
Guy!

[Marian runs over to Gisborne, the King sees her]

Marian:
Stop! It's over, Guy.

[Gisborne keeps walking forward and Marian walks back]

Gisborne:
Get out of the way.

Marian:
All this time I've been fighting for England. Do you think I'm going to let you kill England?!

Gisborne:
Marian, GET OUT OF THE WAY! [As he says "GET OUT THE WAY" he swings his sword]

Marian:
You'll have to kill me first.

Gisborne:
No. We're going to get out of this. I'll do this thing. Then I will have power beyond belief. And we will be together.

[Marian laughs]

Marian:
I would rather die, than be with you, Guy of Gisborne.

Gisborne:
[Shocked, whispering] No.

[Pause]

Marian:
I'm going to marry Robin Hood.

[Pause]

Marian:
I love Robin Hood.

[She looks down and smiles]

[Pause]

Marian:
I love Robin Hood.

[Pause]

[Gisborne runs her through with his sword. She groans in pain. Gisborne pulls himself towards her and her head bends back as she groans in pain. She looks up at Gisborne and he looks at her and she falls to the ground. Robin arrives and sees her]

Robin:
[Echoing] MARIAN!

[Robin runs over to her and kneels next to her. Gisborne looks as if he's going to cry and groans in sorrow. Much, Little John, Djaq and Will run over]

Much:
[Echoing] No!

[Djaq runs over to the King. The Sheriff arrives, stunned by this turn of events. Gisborne looks shocked, looks at Marian groans again sorrow, as if he's going to cry]

Sheriff:
[Echoing] GISBORNE!!!

Djaq takes the arrow out of the King's shoulder. Will runs over to the King]

[Gisborne gets on the Sheriff's horse]

Sheriff:
[Echoing] IT'S NOT OVER, HOOD!!! I WILL HAVE... ENGLAND!!!

[The Sheriff and Gisborne ride away]

[Allan arrives]

Marian:
The King! Where's the King?

Robin:
It's alright. Marian! Marian! He's alright. You saved him.

Marian:
How's it looking down there? Am I beyond even Djaq's amazing talents?

Robin:
It's alright. We'll think of something.

Marian:
Well can we please get this out of me it hurts.

[Robin looks at Djaq. Djaq looks at him and shakes her head. Robin looks down and looks as if he's going to cry]

Robin:
Marian... we can't take it out just yet.

[Marian sheds a tear]

Marian:
Why?

[She lifts her head and looks at Djaq]

Marian:
Why?

[Djaq is silent]

Marian:
Will I die when it comes out?

[Djaq sheds a tear]

[Marian sheds another tear and rests her head]

[Marian exhales twice]

Marian:
Well, then, we haven't got much time, my darling.

Robin:
We have forever, my love.

Marian:
I hope we have forever in heaven, because we didn't have enough time on Earth. Not nearly enough time.

Robin:
We were busy.

Marian:
We were fighters and I'm proud. Robin, you keep fighting for me.

Robin:
I... I can't fight without you.

Marian:
[Laughs] I'd love to argue with you but we haven't got the time. You promise me, you keep fighting for me.

[Robin nods]

[Marian has tears in her eyes. She smiles and nods]

[Pause. Marian exhales]

Marian:
Where were we?

Robin:
What?

Marian:
Last time we were dying... we were getting married. Can we carry on, please?

[Robin laughs]

Robin:
I don't remember.

[Marian laughs]

Marian:
Well that's the last time I marry you if you can't even remember.

Richard:
Robin.

[Richard gives Robin a ruby ring]

Robin:
[Quietly] Here.

[Pause]

Robin:
I, Robin, take you, Marian, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold. For better or for worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health, till death do us part.

Marian:
I, Marian, take you, Robin, beautiful, beautiful Lord of Locksley, to be my wedded husband. I promise to love and cherish you... on earth, and especially in heaven. [She smiles as she says "especially in heaven"]

[Pause]

Marian:
[Quietly] Kiss me.

[Robin goes in to kiss her]

Marian:
No. Give me the ring first. [She laughs as she speaks] Make an honest woman of me, Robin.

[Robin takes the ring and puts it on her finger. He kisses the ring]

Marian:
[Quietly] You may kiss the bride.

[Robin kisses her]

Marian:
I love you... [Robin nods] my husband.

Robin:
I love you, my wife.

[Robin smiles and then Marian smiles. She moves her hand down to the sword and exhales. She grips the sword and pulls itout, screaming and groaning in pain. Robin shushes her]

[Marian exhales and smiles]

Marian:
[Quietly] That's better.

[She smiles and closes her eyes. Marian exhales two short breaths then a long exhalation and dies]

[Robin gasps]

Robin:
[Whispering] Marian?

[He starts to cry and sniffles]

Robin:
[Whispering] Marian?

[He starts to cry and slowly moves his head towards her and kisses her. King Richard, Much, Will and Djaq are seen. Will looks at Djaq. Much and King Richard morosely look at Marian and Robin. Little John morosely turns and slowly walks away]

Gisborne:
...The strongroom...!

Sheriff:
...GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARDS!!!!!!!!