Robin Hood (Storybook Classics - Robin Hood)

Come on you, scum.

We'll have you in the dungeons before dark.

If the rats are just to see what they're having for supper.

- Oh - What troubles you?

My lord, sheriff. Why must you treat these people so?

These people are treated as they deserve.

What have they done this time?

They were found with stolen money.

Surely these are not thieves.

Just hardworking farmers.

In league with the outlaws who robbed my tax collectors.

Then catch the outlaws. Punish them.

In time, all things must come to pass.

Including supper. Hilda, I trust the Lady

Marion will not keep us waiting again tonight.

Be so kind as to go to her chambers. Tell her I await her company.

I shall ask her to ready herself.

When Robin Hood hears of this, he'll be bound to try to rescue them.

And he will hear, just as he seems to hear of my every move.

My lord, try not to concern yourself about a spy.

If one is here, he'll not escape my eye for much longer.

That I hope, for should he take much longer, your eyes will surely fail of age.

Thank you, my lord. That supper was most excellent.

Marion, for six months now you've eaten excellent meals at my table.

Will you not reconsider my proposal of marriage?

I guarantee that you shall want for nothing for the rest of your life.

No, my lord, I cannot.

Perhaps when my father returns from the Holy Land we shall speak of it.

I would not wish you one moment of despair, beloved lady,

but you must understand there is no guarantee of his safety.

He will return. I'm sure of it.

And I will retire now, with your permission.

Oh, tarry just a few moments more.

Forgive me, my lord. I grow so weary.

Then I would not detain you.

If her father should ever return, I know he'll not agree to our marriage.

Rest easy, my lord. Remember I have said before the Earl

of Vaunt shall never again set foot on English soil.

It is indeed a comfort to me to know that I have such a trustworthy lieutenant.

Trust is a very strong word. I would never commit myself with such language.

Let us instead agree that without you I

could not be so sure to eat and live so well.

So I am to you no more than an employer.

And I to you am the means by which you retain this position.

Let neither of us overstep these boundaries.

Make haste. Help me with this cloak.

Marion, you must not go tonight. The lieutenant suspects every one of us.

Loosen this tie. The sooner I'm gone, the sooner I return.

I'm ready.

Where's the rope?

Help me with this... Make haste.

Seems all too quiet tonight.

Night watch! Night watch!

What is this? Why do you call out the watch?

I heard a horse galloping away from the castle.

This must be the traitor who carries messages to Robin Hood.

It could so. We'll organise a search of all the bedchambers.

If we find one empty, we know the identity of the spy.

And when he returns, the scaffold will be waiting for him.

Or perhaps her.

You know there are very few women pretty to my thinking.

Then it shouldn't take long to search the Lady Marion's chamber.

Don't be so foolish. Marion is no spy. I could trust her.

I've said before, you use that word too lightly.

Indeed you did. So now let's both go together to her room and prove you wrong.

Gentlemen, is something wrong?

The guard called out the night watch.

It appears there is an intruder in the castle, and I was concerned for you.

I thank you for thinking of me, but as you can see, he is not here.

Only myself and Hilda, who's asleep in the bedroom.

I'm much relieved to see you here... alone.

I wish you a good night.

We won't disturb you again. We've other rooms to search.

I hope you find your man.

Good night.

Robin, that dinner was delicious.

I'm sure King Richard himself would have been proud to serve such a fine roast.

I'm sure he would, considering it was one of his own deer.

He would never begrudge the odd haunch of venison to ones as loyal as we.

Of course not.

To good King Richard.

Someone's hurt.

Don't forget these. This could be another of my Lord Lieutenant's tricks.

Sorry.

Stay here, you two.

Ooh. Help.

Help!

Don't worry, me young lad.

I'll help thee.

You're so kind.

Now, thou'rt to stay put.

I do thank you, sir. My horse slipped in the mud.

That I can see. And now you're a wearin' most of it.

I've slapped you once before, Robin Hood, and I'll...

You'll do nothing, young sprig. Unless you want to be a man before your time.

Stop talking like that, you great oaf. Use your eyes.

Forgive me, your ladyship. I didn't know.

Who is this? I'll tell you as we walk back to the camp.

Who is that giant? The newest of the merry men.

I met him this afternoon down at the ford. You know how narrow it is.

I wanted to cross, and so did he.

One of us will have to stand back.

Then it'll be thee.

I think not. Make way for your better.

I've not yet been bettered.

Well then, prepare for this.

He picked me up with one hand and threw me back onto the bank.

And you landed on your pride.

Well, yes. But when the rest of the merry men appeared,

he seemed to realize who I was and pleaded

with me to forgive him and to let him join us.

What is his name?

Well, his real name is John Little.

But with a body like that, I've retitled him Little John.

I think he'll be a huge asset.

Marion, you know how much it pleases me to see you.

But isn't it getting a little too risky?

The sheriff and that lieutenant are not complete fools, you know.

Are they not?

You don't know their latest scheme.

But you're going to tell me.

I'm going to tell you of the scheme and then what to do about it.

Thank you.

They've arrested six men from Melcaster.

For what?

For taking the money you gave them.

But it was theirs in the first place.

By the time you stole it, it had become the Sheriff's.

But those people were starving in order to pay that much in taxes.

He knows only that as long as they don't

starve quite to death, they'll keep working.

And while they live, they'll pay his taxes.

Not while I can do something about it.

And that's the other thing I've come to tell you.

You are to do nothing to help those six prisoners.

- But, Marion... - Listen. The sheriff won't harm six good taxpayers, but

he's quite ready to use them as a bait to catch you.

Yes, I see that.

He'll soon get tired of waiting for you to appear, and then he'll release them.

You're very wise, my sweet Marion.

But not wise in affairs of the heart, I fear.

Oh. Marion.

Please, no more. I could tell you nothing. I don't know.

Leave him. Tie the next.

My lord, you're not torturing these men.

Torture is a strong word, my dear.

No, no, the lieutenant simply wants a little information.

I'm sorry if it distresses you, but one of these peasants

must know who is passing information to Robin Hood.

You can't be sure of that.

My dear Marion, can you explain how, every time my

tax gatherers are carrying money in Sherwood Forest,

That outlaw knows of it in time to waylay them?

He never attacks when they're empty-handed.

It could be that someone in the castle is carrying messages.

We shall find out soon enough.

This afternoon, the lieutenant will lead his men to Melcaster Village,

where he will collect again all the taxis Robin Hood has stolen.

Should he run into any trouble with outlaws,

we shall know there is an informer among us.

But you still won't know who it is.

The lieutenant has eyes through every window.

No one can move six inches without he knows of it.

Well, Hilda, there are no windows down here...

and the atmosphere makes me feel quite ill.

Let us go for some air.

Good morning, ladies.

Good morning, my lord.

Good morning.

Continue.

Marion, you couldn't be so foolish. He means what he says.

The lieutenant trusts no one.

And how can I let Robin know about them reimposing those taxes.

You cannot.

Robin will have to deal with this without your help.

Cut me down.

Get me out of this.

Oh, dear me. And I thought I had caught my dinner.

Do I look like a deer?

Cut me down, you bloated toad.

Is that the way you'd address a man of the cloth, sir?

A man of the cloth turned poacher? Yes.

How much is it worth to me to release you?

Enough to guarantee your safe passage through the Greenwood.

You may have heard of me. I'm Robin Hood.

The very man I came to see.

Please, allow me.

You've twisted my ankle.

Take my arm. And I'll help you across the stream.

You'll have to do better than that.

You'll have to carry me across.

I fear you're mistaken, good sir.

The only fear you need mention is that I should

pierce the blubber you encase yourself with.

Walk!

Sir, I know not how deep might be the water.

You can stop when it reaches my chin.

Don't worry about the cold. Your padding won't let you freeze.

Don't stop now. You've done a grand job.

And here's one better.