The Adventures of Robin Hood Page #2

Be seated, gentlemen. No need

to stand on ceremony on my account.

So you think you're overtaxed, eh?

Overtaxed, overworked and paid off

with a knife, a club or a rope.

- Why, you speak treason.

- Fluently.

I advise you to curb

that wagging tongue of yours!

It's a habit I've never formed.

You know, we Saxons aren't gonna put

up with these oppressions much longer.

Oh, you're not?

Then listen to this:

As you may know, my brother

is a prisoner of Leopold of Austria.

And from Leopold, I have received a

ransom demand of 150,000 gold marks.

That means that you, my friends...

...must collect in taxes not 2 gold marks

in the pound, but 3!

And the money's to be

turned over to me.

Why to you, Your Highness?

King Richard

appointed Longchamps regent.

I've kicked Longchamps out.

From now on, I am regent of England.

Well, confound it,

what are you goggling at?

Is it so strange that I decide to rule

when my brother's a prisoner?

Who's to say I shouldn't?

- You, Sir Mortimer of Leeds?

- Not I, Your Highness.

- You, Sir Boron?

- Nor I, Your Highness.

- You, Sir Ralf of Durham?

- My sword is yours, Your Highness.

And what about our young

Saxon cockerel here?

What's the matter?

Have you no stomach for honest meat?

For honest meat, yes.

But I've no stomach for traitors.

- You call me traitor?

- You? Yes.

And every man here

who offers you allegiance.

Your Highness.

What do you call a man who takes

advantage of a king's misfortune...

...to seize his power?

And now, with the help

of this sweet band of cutthroats...

...you'll try to grind a ransom for him

out of every helpless Saxon.

A ransom that'll be used

not to release Richard...

...but to buy your way to the throne.

Let me ram those words down

his throat, Your Highness!

Oh, no. Later.

Let him spout for the moment.

And what do you propose to do?

I'll organize revolt.

Exact a death for a death.

And I'll never rest until every Saxon

in this shire can stand up, free men...

...and strike a blow

for Richard and England.

- Have you finished?

- I'm only just beginning.

From this night on, I use every means

in my power to fight you.

Dickon!

Such impudence, Your Highness.

If I could only reach him.

Stand back! Stand back!

Open the door!

Quick, guards, quick!

There's a traitor inside trying to escape!

- Shut the door!

- Traitor, sir?

You infernal idiot!

Which way did he go?

There, through the gate.

- After him!

- Guards! Horses!

Dickon, follow Mansfield!

To your troop!

Up you go, quick.

Find Crippen

the arrow-maker and his friends...

...to pass the word to every man

who's been beaten or tortured:

The Gallows Oaks

in Sherwood tomorrow.

- Yes, master.

- Off you go, and good luck.

Have it proclaimed in every village

that this Saxon Locksley's an outlaw.

Hang anybody

that gives him shelter or aid.

Yes, Your Highness.

His possessions are forfeit to the crown.

Seize his castle and his lands.

Everything he owns.

And just to let the people know

how the wind has changed...

...the sooner you begin collecting the...

- The ransom, Your Highness?

Yes, yes, of course.

The ransom.

There's a death sentence

for your Robin of Locksley!

I'll have him dangling in a week.

- I'm tired.

- What?

After a refreshing sleep

in the greenwood?

I've pulled seven acorns out of my ribs.

- Lovely fresh air.

- My teeth ache with chattering.

- Nightingales singing.

- An owl hooting in my ear all night.

Hooting?

He was singing you to sleep.

There's a lusty infant. He'd be

a good one to reason into joining us.

By the look of him, his

quarterstaff does his reasoning for him.

- Let's see what he's made of.

- It's your skull, not mine.

- Give way, little man.

- Only to a better man than myself.

He stands before you.

Let him pass, Robin. It's much too warm

to brawl with such a windbag.

When I've brushed this fly off,

I'll give you a dusting for good measure.

This fly has a mighty sting, friend.

I've only a staff and you threaten me

with a longbow and a goose shaft.

- Aren't you man enough...?

- Wait! I'll get myself a staff.

- Ready?

- Yes.

Pretty fellow, play a livelier tune that

I can make this puny rascal dance to.

You need a merrier tune?

Well, how's this?

Ha!

Ha!

If you want a lesson,

you came to the right man!

- Where is he?

- Who?

- This quarterstaff master.

- Here.

Give my compliments to him.

My friend, I should ask payment

for what I'm teaching you here today.

There's something on account.

There's your change.

My head hums like a swarm of bees.

What's your name, friend?

- John Little. What's yours?

- Robin.

- Not Robin of Locksley?

- Aye.

- Then I'm right glad I fell in with you.

- 'Twas he who did the falling in.

I wanted to see what you were made of.

And I did.

- I hope you'll not hold it against me.

- On the contrary.

- I love a man that can best me.

- I'd like to join your company.

You shall. If you can hold a breach

like you held that bridge...

...you're one of us. Welcome.

- This is Will of Gamwell.

- Yeah.

- He took care not to wet his feathers.

- Just brain over brawn, friend.

You heard Robin's orders.

Look nippy now and spread the word.

"By royal decree, Robin of Locksley...

...is declared an outlaw,

condemned to death".

Meet Robin in Sherwood

at Gallows Oaks.

"Any person aiding him will be hanged".

Meet Robin in Sherwood

at Gallows Oaks.

Robin in Sherwood.

At the Gallows Oak.

Robin in Sherwood.

Robin. Gallows Oak.

Gallows Oak.

I've called you here as freeborn

Englishmen, loyal to our king.

While he reigned over us

we lived in peace.

But since Prince John has seized

the regency...

...Guy of Gisbourne and his traitors

have murdered and pillaged.

You've all suffered from their cruelty.

The ear loppings, the beatings...

...the blindings with hot irons,

the burning of our homes...

...the mistreatment of our women.

It's time we put an end to this!

- Robin's right.

- Aye!

Now, this forest is wide.

It can shelter, clothe and feed

a band of good, determined men...

...good swordsmen, good archers,

good fighters!

Men, if you're willing to fight for our

people, I want you. Are you with me?

Aye! Aye!

Then kneel and swear this oath.

That you, the freemen of this forest,

swear to despoil the rich...

...only to give to the poor.

To shelter the old and helpless...

...to protect all women,

rich or poor, Norman or Saxon.

Swear to fight for a free England.

To protect her loyally until the return

of our king, Richard the Lion-Heart.

And swear to fight to the death

against our oppressors!

We do! We do solemnly swear!

String him up again!

- He'll die if we lash him again, my lord.

- Oh, he'll die, will he?

Another one of their Saxon impudences.

They'll do anything to trick us.

Continue!

- Mercy, good master! Have mercy!

- Start him dancing!

This will teach you to defy Prince John!

Father! Father!

Stop!

Five men dead. Murdered.

Sir Ivor, Nigel, Baldwin, Norbert.

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