A Challenge for Robin Hood

Well aimed, Sir Roger. A perfect shot, my Lord.

Boy, bring me my arrow.

Come on, you heard what my master said. The arrow.

Out of my way.

Murderer!

What did you say, boy?

You killed my father.

He was poaching deer. The penalty for that is death.

- We were hungry. - The deer is a protected animal, boy.

Are we not as good as animals, then?

Indeed.

And as the animals, you may feed as freely as you please. On grass.

Well said, Sir Roger.

Wallace, return the boy's arrow.

Not that way, fool!

Now, boy, let's have some sport.

Even I never shoot a sitting bird.

Run!

Run, boy! Run!

Wallace!

Wallace, in the devil's name! Is this a new sport, hunting children?

Sir...

His father was about to kill a royal beast. King Richard is the...

King Richard is on a crusade, as well you know.

That order came from the Sheriff of Nottingham. And so?

- So? - He killed my father.

- Is what the boy says true? - It was not I who killed him.

Oh, no. It was my good cousin, no doubt.

It is one less Saxon to thieve and trouble us.

And another left to grow and hate us more.

Oh, get out of my sight! Get back to him.

Will, see to it that he does. I don't trust him.

Show me where your father lies.

Where did you live, son?

In the charcoal burner's refuge, sir.

No, I mean before.

- Do you remember? - In a great mansion,

before the Normans came and burned it to the ground.

I'm a Norman, boy.

I don't care! They took away my sister Marian, now they've killed...

You have good reason to hate us.

Is your name Fitzwarren, son?

I see that it is.

I knew your father, in better days.

I'll make this right, I promise you.

I've had enough of Killing.

Norman pig!

- Stop! - He killed your father.

- No, it was another. - Another Norman?

- Yes, but... - Then it is an eye for an eye.

But he saved my life!

- Is this true? - It's true, I swear it.

What does it matter? He's a Norman.

It matters that we do not Kill for the sake of killing.

Well, what say you? Do we let him go?

Well, he saved the boy. We have the lad's word for that.

Wait!

De Courtenay. Aye, we've heard of you.

More likely of my cousin, Roger.

That's his name, the name of the other man.

And may I be permitted to enquire who you are?

Like Fitzwarren here, we were once men of property.

Until King Richard left for the Holy Land and Prince John took his place.

- I'm sorry. - Keep you sympathy,

as you keep everything else.

You go while you may.

I charge you, look after the boy.

A Norman shall die for this.

Aye, but let it be the right one.

You should have seen his face, Henry.

It would have made even you smile.

He had the beast right on the tip of his arrow

when I let fly with mine, straight between the shoulders.

And the boy?

I left Wallace to deal with the brat.

Shh, here's Father.

He can't last much longer.

- Getting impatient, Roger? - Aren't you?

I've no wish to see him go.

For one thing, I'm not sure where I'll stand with you when he's gone.

Steady, Friar, steady!

We're doing very well.

How about a little trot over to the table?

Or a canter, perhaps?

You'll be the death of me, Friar.

Not I, Sir John.

- Good evening, Father. - Father.

There you are, Roger. Good day in the field?

Oh, very poor, Father. I shot nothing.

Nothing, Roger?

Perhaps cousin Robin is referring to your two-legged quarry, Brother.

Be silent, fool!

What's this?

An accident, Father, while hunting.

Wallace, my man-at-arms, saw something move.

We thought it was a deer. Wallace used his bow.

It was a man.

- Terrible. - I agree, sir. But it was an accident.

And the dead man's son, the boy, was that an accident too?

The man was just a common thief, poaching royal deer.

- I saw him draw his bow. - Well, then, you lie!

In your teeth, you lie!

You said you thought it was a deer and now you say it was a man.

Are you accusing me, you ill-bred upstart, you?

The man you killed was not a common thief.

He was a Saxon noble

before your friend Nottingham destroyed his world.

Sir Brian Fitzwarren.

No...

In heaven, no!

Oh, yes. I fear it is so.

Fitzwarren? I knew him.

I had no idea.

- You really must be more careful, Roger. - Oh, hold your tongue!

Enough, enough!

- You say there was a boy? - Oh, yes.

His son.

- He's alive. - Thank God for that mercy.

- My Liege, by your leave. - Yes, steward?

The Lady Marian Fitzwarren, with her retinue,

seeks shelter for the night.

Why do you wait, man? Tell the kitchens to prepare for company.

My Liege.

Lady Marian.

Sir Brian's daughter.

She was taken by Nottingham.

It would seem that Nottingham was taken by her

if she now has a retinue.

Silence, Henry.

Robin, pray bid our guests welcome.

Lady Marian Fitzwarren, sir.

Robin of Courtenay. You're welcome.

We're most grateful. We are on our way to Nottingham.

We will only stay a short while.

You must wish to refresh yourself after your long journey.

It has been tiring.

My steward will show you to your chambers and your men will be well looked after.

- Come, Mary. - Welcome, Miss Mary.

No bother, she's just a maid-servant.

My Lady, welcome to Courtenay.

We thank you for your hospitality, Sir John.

Let's to table. You must be starving.

My son, Roger.

Henry.

And Robin you've already met.

And our good Friar.

What are you giving us?

Fresh trout, salmon, roast capon, whole roast pig...

Stop, stop! Pray continue with the recitation while you serve.

- What about Miss Mary? - Ooh, how remiss of us.

Friar, take her to the buttery. Charge them to see her well.

What... now, my Lord?

Of course. She must be hungry.

- Like all of us. - Hungry.

Yes, my Liege.

My Lady, it is... seldom

we have such pleasant company at Courtenay.

Now, before we eat...

...a toast.

King Richard.

King Richard.

Success to his crusade.

But surely you've heard Richard is taken prisoner.

In Germany. His ship foundered

and he was seized and taken prisoner there.

God in heaven...

Boy, the apothecary.

Quick!

Well?

At any moment. Within the hour at most.

Scribe... and my servants... the will.

He wants his servants to hear the will.

Scribe?

John of Courtenay, Knight, this is my intent

and will... bear witness.

To my good Friar Tuck, a hundred crown.

To Little John, Will Scarlet, and my other retainers,

a thousand more to be divided.

For the rest of my estate,

to Roger, Henry and Robin,

in equal parts,

I give my castle, curtilage, and purse.

God rest my soul, to this my seal.

I, John.

This is not right. Robin is no son of yours.

Your cousin has been better than a son to me.

He deserves his share.

Now, you've all heard my will.

- Give me that! - Sir Roger, I cannot. It's entrusted...

So much for that.

If we were not in this chamber...

I care not so much about the will,

but you have marred a good man's dying moments here.

And for nothing too.

All these here have heard the will as he intended they should.

Bad luck, dear Brother.

That we'll see.

Myself, I bear you no grudge.

Thank you, Henry.

We've never been friends nor have we been enemies, so...