[After Allan returns from his failure to catch McClellan, with one of his two helpers dead with an arrow in his chest]
[sheepishly] Err... he's dead.
Well, we got part of it, yeah, but Robin turned up--
TURNED UP?! And got his message?!
I don't know. Look, he kind of took us by surprise! All we heard him say was "Lardner", that was it.
[grabs the arrow in the soldier's chest; simmering] "Lardner"? That's what he said?
[Long, tense silence, as the Sheriff pulls the arrow all the way out; suddenly, he explodes with rage and throws it at Gisborne]
I BLAME YOU FOR THIS!!! [throws food and utensils from the table at him and Allan] YOU HAD HIM ON YOUR DOORSTEP, AND YOU LET HIM ESCAPE!!! YOU AND YOUR IMBECILES!!! SIX... LEGS... AGAINST... ONE... AND THE ONE... GOT AWAY?!?!
Ah, Gisborne the Gullible! Got something to show you. [holds the Fool's lid over an apple on the platter, and puts it down repeatedly] First you see it... then you don't. There it is... and there it isn't.
[impatiently] Yeah, what's your point? [the Sheriff puts both hands on the handle and lifts up the lid; the apple is gone] How'd you do that?
You simply pull up on the handle here, the claw grabs hold of the bird. You lift up the lid, the bird's gone. The cooked bird has been hollowed out, you put a live dove inside it, and then la-di-da-di-da - plateful of bird's wings! Your fool, he's no "sorcerer"! He's no "soothsayer", and he cannot predict the future!
[Seeing Gisborne threaten to cut off a finger of a woman who can't get her ring off, as Gisborne, Allan and his men search for Lardner's ring] Stop!
[Gisborne turns and Will and Djaq are now standing up]
I know who Lardner is...and I know about his ring.
You're in Robin Hood's gang, aren't you?
[Gisborne raises the woman's hand and drops it]
Now tell me about Lardner.
You'll have to catch us first!
[Djaq runs off, Will smiles at Gisborne and runs. Djaq unties her horse, gets on and rides of. As guards chase after Will, he struggles to untie his horse]
[To himself, quietly] Come on!
[Guards arrive and Will kills one with his axe and knocks out another one with his elbow. He flips his axe in his hands and runs away, but is tackled by a guard]
Back home, my uncle had a friend - the Sultan's official pigeon handler.
It's a very important job, Much!
[Much looks down, Little John gives him a look]
The Sultan's best pigeon - the smallest and quickest - was a pigeon called La Denah.
[Scene transitions to the Fool also talking about Lardner to the Sheriff with Will, Allan and Gisborne present]
The Saracens use pigeons to carry messages. They place the message around a little ring connected to the bird's foot. They let it go and it flies off. And it doesn't matter how far away you release it, because it will [He emphasises the following words] always find it's way home.
[Scene transitions to Djaq and the gang]
But it's not home that their searching for...it's their mate. You split the two of them up and a pigeon would fly to the ends of the Earth faster and straighter than any man ever could...just to be with the one they love.
So, we could get a message to King Richard halfway around the world in no time at all.
My question is: Why is King Richard using the Sultan's best pigeon?
Well maybe they formed an alliance or something.
Or King Richard and his army have helped themselves. If they've got La Denah, they've got the Sultan. And if they've got the Sultan...they've got everyone.
[Whispering to Robin] We have to go back to the tree.
[The Fool takes the key off of Allan's belt and hugs his leg, so he won't notice]
Please! Have mercy! Don't let them do this to me!
[Allan moves the Fool off him]
[Allan looks down and notices that the Fool has taken they key and looks back at the Fool]
I don't do tragedy, I do comedy.
Well watching you swing'll be comedy.
[Allan slaps the Fool]
[The Sheriff and Gisborne leave and Allan follows]
[The Fool who has his eyes closed and head back after Allan has hit him, opens his hand to Will, showing the key. Will looks over to Allan and Allan looks back at Will then leaves]
If Robin gets the bird, it means the King knows our plans. And the last thing we need is the King and his army coming back to England before we're ready for them! So, we must catch the pigeon! Catch the pigeon now!
[Djaq, Little John and Much are thinking of what to write to King Richard, with Djaq writing]
Lardner's a pigeon not an eagle. More words, more weight.
It's one word! Same as now.
[Later]
Right. "Your Majesty, no reinforcements. Prince John plans to steal your throne."
Plots. Plots is a better word.
"Your Majesty, no reinforcements. Prince John plots to steal your throne. Come home...now." Short, sharp and to the point.
I'll add "Make peace" before "Come home". "Make peace immediately".
Ah...I do like immediately.
[The Fool appears]
[Much, Djaq and Little John raise their weapons towards The Fool]
And alliterate - alliteration makes it much more memorable.
I appear, I disappear, it's what I do.
[Will arrives in a guards' uniform and as he speaks, he removes the "mask"]
[They unsheathe their weapons]
I thought you were caught.
Madam, manacles are mere mist for me and my... [He looks at Will] my mate.
[Will looks back at him]
Have you heard about the pigeon?
Yeah. Robin and Marian have gone back to the tree to get it.
Yeah, well, so has the Sheriff and Gisborne. They've got them surrounded in that tree.
[After being shushed by Djaq, while looking for the tree] I won't be shushed, we're looking for a tree in a forest!
We need to make Robin and Marian disappear.
[As he is about to escape by zip lining down the rope via his bow] You'll have to put your arms around me.
Marian, we haven't got time for this!
Then go before they see the rope.
No. I can be of more use in the castle. And being apart will tear me apart, but I know I'm more good in the castle.
[Robin places the engagement ring on Marian's finger]
[Marian smiles]
This morning we had a plan.
Yes. Find Lardner, bring the king home, defeat the Sheriff and then get married. In that order, Robin. First things first. This isn't what I want to do, but it's what I have to do.
[They kiss and then Robin escapes]
What have I got to be cheery about?
Well we've got a visitor.
[Robin notices the Fool]
[Will unveils Lardner from is sleeve]
[Robin laughs]
[Will shakes his head and smiles]
When you want something to disappear, the trick is to divert the audience's attention.
I just happened to have a spare stuck up my sleeve.
[Will laughs]
Will, I want you to look after Marian.
Will, I need you to promise. She has to live...even if no-one else does.
[He gives Marian's engagement ring to Will]
Ah, I like this. The two of us on a mission. I mean, no offense to the others, but it's just like the old days, in the Holy Land.
[Pause]
Master, you know that ring, the one Marian gave you...is it some sort of code?
No. I gave it to her in the tree.
You giving jewelry! She must have been surprised. She must have thought you were going to propose!
[Much is shocked. Pause]
Well, this is the moment when you say "Congratu-"
[Much smiles and they hug]
[Pause]
Let's just hope we can live to enjoy it. Come on.
[He walks away and Much stands still looking sad before continuing to walk]
[Allan walks up to Will, who is by the gate of Nottingham, looking at the dust that the army is creating]
I don't think we're going to get out of this, Will.
[Allan is thinking]
But if we do...do you reckon I could come back?
[Will scoffs]
It's too late, Allan. Miles too late.
Alright, I made some mistakes.
"Mistakes"?! You deliberately betrayed us!
Yeah, strictly speaking. But it's not that simple, Will. I know how this place works now. It'll help Robin. What do you think - the old team back together?
You're with Gisborne now. There's no coming back from there.
[Will leaves]
[Will walks up to Marian]
Will! Any news from Robin?
[Will shakes his head]
Marian... you have to live.
I promised [He holds out her engagement ring] Robin you'd be safe.
[He gives Marian the ring and walks off]
