Robin Hood

Ah! The Great Pact of Nottingham.

All drawn up and ready for signature?

Safe in your quarters?

Good, good.

And you've told nobody about your work?

The scribe is mute, my Lord.

Mute? Are we sure?

Oh, look! Look!

The Black Knights. On their way to the castle to sign the pact!

Now we're sure.

Is this what you're looking for?

Your blood money. Betray your friends for a few measly pennies.

Traitor! Look, I'm sorry, all right?

I'm really sorry...

Really... I never wanted...

HORSES APPROACH

Is that who I think it was?

The Black Knights, heading for Nottingham. What are they up to?

I'm going in.

What about Allan? Forget him.

He's dead to us.

Meet back at the camp in one hour.

Well, you can't just decide to go like this and go!

Without planning... without us!

Yes, I can! It's the Black Knights!

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

What are these in aid of, Sir Guy?

A bit of colour for you.

I was wondering if you would accompany me to the celebrations today.

What are we celebrating? The King's birthday.

What are we really celebrating?

Does it matter?

It's the signing of an important document.

Something tells me it is a document which I won't approve of.

Well, Marian, you should approve, because this document brings me closer to real power.

And that, in turn, benefits you.

COULD benefit you...

in time.

Meanwhile, there's a pretty dress in it for you.

Am I so easily won?

You must be the least easily won woman in England.

Well, if that's my reputation, then perhaps nobody will mind if I do not attend...

Choose a dress. Guy...

What are you doing here?

Just dropping in on you.

So, the Black Knights are assembling.

Did you hear Gisborne? They're signing an important document.

Who died? The Sheriff's scribe.

Fell from the battlements.

Outlived his usefulness. What?

Dead scribes, Black Knights...

Something tells me we have to find this document.

Not being funny... your guards. Useless!

You need smarter people on your team.

And that's you, is it?

Well...

Hood found you out?

Maybe.

Don't insult me.

All right. I need your help.

I've lost everything cos I helped you, so you owe me.

I owe you nothing.

I paid you.

Take me on, Guy, come on.

You won't regret it.

Go and get one of my servants to give you some food.

Ah, nice. Where you off to, then?

Get yourself cleaned up. Come and find me at the castle.

This is it. The scribe's room.

...Better get a move on. Down at the front gate again on guard...

Robin. This isn't the time...

Will that work?

Trust me, I've done this before. With which girl's hairpin?

LOCK CLICKS

"The Great Pact of Nottingham.

"We, the undersigned, by the affixing of our seals of office and nobility,

"hereby undertake to remove King Richard from the throne.

"By his lasting absence, he demonstrates his scant regard for the welfare of his subjects."

This is outrageous!

"We further undertake to replace the said Richard with his brother, John, Prince of the realm."

The Sheriff is making the Black Knights sign their allegiance.

This is a traitors' charter.

Looks like the Sheriff has made some new friends.

Buckingham, Spencer...

Winchester?

Surely not. He's an old friend of my father.

DOOR SLAMS

When the Pact is signed, there can be no going back for our friends.

And enjoy this party.

Nobody here.

Look at this.

The colour, the detail, the tone texture.

This man was a true artist.

I'm sorry I killed him, though.

A clue...

No.

Door.

Go, go...

I cannot believe Winchester would willingly be involved in this revolt.

Winchester controls the south coast.

The Sheriff wants to intercept the King's landing. But Winchester?!

I've known him since we were boys. The Sheriff must have got to him.

Good. Good? If the Sheriff can get to him, then so can I.

Edward, I'll be back.

And when I get back, I will get you out of this place.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

What should I do? Be meek and obedient, my child.

Until I know more.

Jailer, confession's over.

Why have we stopped?

Oh. Move it!

My Lord Winchester, I'm a friend. I know you are coming to Nottingham

to sign the Sheriff's pact. I don't know what you're talking about.

My name is Robin Hood.

We haven't got time for games.

Robin! Forgive me, I... have to be careful.

We have a mutual friend.

Sir Edward, the former Sheriff of Nottingham. Edward, how is he? In the Sheriff's dungeons.

Good God. What can we do? First, we need to kill this pact.

Spencer and Buckingham are signing under duress, too.

Lf, at the moment of signing, you were to refuse,

the Black Knights would lose faith and the Sheriff's pact would be history.

That's dangerous. The Sheriff would turn his men on me. That's where I come in, you need support.

Forgive me. I am a peace-loving man.

I want only stability and the Sheriff is offering me that...

What they don't know...

is that I've already sent a messenger to the King.

Roger of Stoke. By now, the King will already know about this plot.

When he returns to England, the first thing he will do is crush the Black Knights.

If you love peace, do anything, but do not sign the Sheriff's pact.

Ahhh... Count me in.

Right, lads, work to do.

We're going to the castle. Why?

Why? To save England, Marian and her father.

They're hosting a celebration for the King's birthday. Except it's really a celebration

for the Black Knights signing the pact.

Will, you need to find us a way of getting into this party.

I've already done it. How?

The castle announced this party weeks ago.

Put out a call for entertainers and players.

And it gave me an idea.

It's a recurve bow!

Djaq? It's a flute.

What does this do? Much, don't!

Sorry!

This is for you.

Will, you're a genius!

And a magician. That's brilliant.

You crafty craftsman!

What about me? Ah.

These are for you.

Bells? What do they do?

Oh, they're just bells.

Thanks.

FANFARE PLAYS

Delighted...

to welcome Harold of Winchester...

to join our celebrations for the King's birthday.

Thank you, Marian.

We sign in one hour. Marvellous.

I was ungrateful earlier.

I'm sorry. I was over-bearing.

Can I have word in private with you first?

I'd like to talk to your predecessor, if I may.

Yes, well, Sir Edward is, how shall I put it, indisposed.

In what way? He's in the dungeons.

No, really? He's loyal to the King.

And also, a right royal pain in the derriere.

I'd still like to talk to him, if you have no objections. Yes, well, it can be arranged.

Gisborne will show you to your quarters.

Keep an eye on him.

This way, my Lord.

My Lord?

This way. Ah... yes.

Reason for visit?

Security check.

No knives, no weapons in the castle.

We're the band, the minstrels.

Will. Allan! Much.

I'm Sir Guy's man. Can you let me pass? In you go.

What's he doing here?

He's being "Sir Guy's Man".

Unbelievable.

Did you see what he was wearing?! Unbelievable.

Whose is this?

I said, whose is this?

It's mine.

A bit's come off, sorry...

That's all right. I'm good with wood.

Er, bells, mate.

You know what to do. I'm off to see Winchester. Wait here.

Oh! Cake.

What?

Had to put something on, didn't I?

I suppose you want me to introduce you to the Sheriff now, do you?

Yeah. Wait through there.

Go in there and get yourselves ready.

Er... Of course, we'll go in there and... tune up.

We can't possibly go in there. Allan. Why not?

We, er, never share dressing rooms.