Long Live Robin Hood (L'arciere di fuoco)

May God grant you success in your mission.

This is the first time I'ver ever see you smiling.

It's the first time you've seen me in my own country

Look up there

Nottingham castle

The last time I saw it I was only a 15 year old boy...

leaving for the crusades.

Around that bend is my old nurse's farm.

Wait until you taste the food!

Good morning.

Come on out of there.

Nobody's going to hurt you.

- Please do not take the goat, for he is all I have left now

my lord.

Don't worry my good man.

We wouldn't know what to do with her.

What caused this?

Who destroyed everything?

- The same man who has taken over everything

since the Count of Nottingham's death,

that cursed Norman, Sir Robert, on John's orders.

John without land?

- Yes, the king's brother, John Lackland.

He had himself elected regent after he killed off

the Saxons faithful to Richard.

- And the people who used to live here?

They've all been killed.

- My friend, I'm afraid your title as e-qui-lay

for King Richard is no longer a guarantee

to the success of our mission.

'Tis Sir Robert's soldiers.

You had better run.

Hurry my lords.

Who are you?

- Ambassadors from Henry The Sixth.

The Emperor of Germany, he has sent us to confer

with your Regent.

- If what you say is true you are fortunate.

His highness John is here now as a guest

at Nottingham Castle.

Follow me.

- Keep silent, you'll be able to pass as my aide.

Nobody will recognize you after so many years.

Give me the seal.

One more stitch and it is finished.

There...

It's quite extraordinary isn't it. I'm even better than a woman at this.

Yes, extraordinary, Prince John.

But when did you to do it?

As a child..

I'm afraid as children dear Richard always managed to beat me at sword play...

...and so with the advice and helping hand of my mother I became good at sewing...

and needlework.

A mother is a most superior teacher for her son, dear sir Robert.

I quite agree your highness.

It is always a surprise to me to find out how clever women are.

And of course Matilda was first hand experience, clever enough that you almost let her marry you.

I hope you've learned now, Sir Robert...

never fall in love with a woman.

Prince John, I didn't expect that from you. What a typically masculine concept.

It is not at all. 'tis one of the things mother taught me, Matilda.

Your Highness.

An Imperial Ambassador asks to confer with you.

Ambassadors... heh heh. Frustrated governors.

The most noble collection of pimps in the whole world. Come along Sir Robert.

- Baron Rudolph Von Battenberg,

Ambassador to his imperial highness, Henry the Sixth.

- An ambassador from the the Emperor

is always welcome on English soil.

My credentials.

- Such things bore me, Sir Robert.

Your mission, my lord.

- I have been bidden to tell you this happy news.

Your brother, King Richard, is alive, sir,

and in perfect health.

Here is his seal.

Thank God he's safe and well.

It was rumored here that my brother had been drowned

at sea returning to England.

Where is Richard?

- He is a guest at the the Emperor's court

where he's being given extra special treatment.

So he's a prisoner, then?

- The Emperor has suffered certain damage

at the hands of King Richard's soldiers.

A small purse's compensation would enable

the king to return.

What sum?

A million pieces of gold.

- Out of the question, my dear sir.

I could not raise that amount of money, my lord,

in a hundred years.

- Do not forget that we are speaking of

Richard the Lion Heart, King of England.

Otherwise?

- After the summer solstice the Emperor will no longer

answer for his fate.

- Tell the Emperor that we'll do our best

to find the money.

And tell the king that we'll be diverting

all of our brotherly love to resolving this matter.

Your highness.

- What, Sir Robert, are you thinking about?

Would it be you feel if they do not return to Germany

our problems might thus be solved, yes?

But naturally a man like you never has any trouble

in being practical, Sir Robert.

I trust your initiative in these things

and I am sure you will think of an answer.

Sir Guy.

Yes, my lord.

- John has no intention of paying that ransom.

With King Richard dead and out of the way

the kingdom is his.

- No crown attained in such a villainous way

will survive very long.

The people love Richard.

- Yes, but the people think he is already dead.

So the decision's been made.

It looks like we're to be killed.

Come friend, follow me, we must away.

What they couldn't possibly know is my knowledge

of this country.

As you see, I was hardly deceived by Prince John.

- This lessens the possibility of saving King Richard.

- Not if the people learn he's alive.

Must I still consider myself your prisoner?

- I think the Emperor would show preference

to a million pieces of gold over your company.

Thank you my friend.

This cave has two exits.

Follow that branch over there and you'll come to the river

where you can catch a boat.

And tell the Emperor that within the established time

he'll receive the ransom in full.

I trust you, my friend.

Good luck.

Good luck to you.

-Give him a double ration of oats and a good rub down. -Yes m'Lord.

Hey innkeeper.

At your service, sir.

- I want a room, without bed bugs if possible.

And a good hot bath.

Yes, right away sir.

Joan, show this gentleman our best room.

Just follow me.

Harder, don't be afraid.

Ah, there, that's better.

Hey, now you're exaggerating.

You don't want to take the skin off my back, do you?

Long live King Richard!

Ha!

Henry of Nottingham.

Allen Adale.

How long it's been my friend.

- Yes, but not quite long enough to keep us

from recognizing each other.

You don't easily forget the companions

of your early youth.

- But sirs, sirs, for your sake and mine,

I beg you to flee at once while there's still enough time.

The whole countryside is filled with Sir Robert's men.

Well there are at least a few less now.

He's right, we'd best disappear.

My father was killed by Sir Robert's men.

There's no escape for Saxon noblemen.

- Just give me time enough to get dressed.

Wait here for me.

Take advice, sir, and go.

Joan!

Joan. Give me a hand here.

For your trouble.

Thank you sir, thank you.

If we could have a fight like that every day

we'd soon be rich.

Allen.

Allen.

Your friend has already left, sir.

Where did he go?

I don't know, sir.

I'll give you five gold sovereigns if you tell me.

I must find him.

I swear it, sir, I don't know where he went.

10.

Well...

Tell me first.

All I know is he went towards the forest, sir.

Here.

Well done.

Yes, at least four.

A nice bunch of foxes to hunt down.

- Sorry little friend, but I got you.

And I got you.

- Long live King Richard.

Jesus Christ.

- Just trying to be helpful, father.

Your work is done, father.

Not quite, my son.

Now it is.

Hold it.