Original subtitles

England in 1190 was an unhappy land,

its people divided into two distinct classes,

the Saxons, a slave race,

and the Normans, the masters who ruled without justice.

More than a century before,

the Saxons had been a free and happy people,

but in 1066, they were defeated at Hastings

by Duke William of Normandy, William the Conqueror,

and to preserve their rule, the Normans built their castles

and introduced brutal repressive laws.

The harshest were the forest laws.

A man could be tortured and hanged

for hunting food to feed his starving family,

or made a wolfshead, an outlaw,

whose head was worth no more than a wolf's.

This is the story of one man, Robert of Locksley,

a Saxon farmer who was to become known as Robin Hood,

the outlaw, a wolfshead.

Help!

Please!

Help me!

Saxon mob! Spread out!

- Have you seen him? - Seen who?

A runaway serf. We followed him here.

No.

- Have you, Much? - No.

He came this way. A ringed slave.

- You must have seen it. - Don't waste time!

Search the hay!

Kill him!

Kill him!

You will hang for this!

I'm a free man and you're on my land.

And you attacked a knight and a royal game warden!

Only to protect myself.

That's the law.

You have no power here.

Take your men and get off my land.

What is your name?

Robert of Locksley.

Then look to yourself.

We'll meet again.

Hey, that was close.

How's your head?

Oh, it's still stinging, but on me shoulders.

Thank you, master.

Who are you?

Gyrth the Swineherd from Roger of Doncaster's land.

The Hangman?

Ah, Roger the Hangman.

That was his brother, Geoffrey. He's hunted me for three days.

Well, what have you done?

Only run from the whip master, like others.

Well, you're safe here.

And my men don't wear these.

I'll not start a feud.

After I've rested, we'll move on.

We?

My family.

I hid them here while I looked for food.

This is Tom and that's Abbie.

Oh, the poor things.

Look, Mother.

I'll get them washed.

We'll feed them first, Alice.

Put some food in their bellies.

Don't be afraid, Abbie.

What would you say to a nice piece of pie?

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

Come on.

Where's my brother?

It's a pigsty!

What do you breed in this hall?

Wine.

My lord.

So…

I thought we were gonna have some sport tonight,

but no, he was taken from you,

and by one man, they say.

A Saxon.

Hmm?

One man against my brother, the brave Geoffrey,

and the chief game warden.

What were your foresters doing?

Their leader's a Saxon himself, my lord. Stukely.

We were on free land. He knew the law.

Stukely. I've never trusted him.

- Have him watched. - My lord.

- Where was this? - Locksley?

Who was the man?

Robert the Yeoman.

Isn't he one who your Lady Marian fancies?

Get out.

Get out!

It was the same man?

Yes.

Then why didn't you kill him?

He took us by surprise.

- If I had some of my own men— - My men!

You have nothing…

that isn't mine.

They ought to be whipped raw themselves.

- I'm a serf. - Aye, so am I, boy,

but I'm not an animal.

Here, drink this.

Oh, this is good iron. I can use this.

So, you're bound for the forest?

What do you think you'd live on?

Roots, berries, hunt some more game.

And break the game laws?

The foresters would catch you inside a week.

Aye, then it's out with your eyes or an hanging if they take you.

And you're made a wolfshead if they don't.

Wolfshead?

Aye, an outlaw.

Your head worth no more than a wolf's, dead or alive.

You'd best stay with us till you're strong enough.

Would you like that, boy?

Stay here with us for a while?

Well, would you?

Tom can't speak, master.

Oh, he used to, but not since they took his mother to Geoffrey's hall.

Should have got rid of this Robert long ago.

Because of him, Marian puts me off.

Lord Fitzwalter would never let them marry.

No, but he's a fool.

She'd twist him round her finger.

We could hang this Locksley!

Oh, yes, and have the whole Saxon rabble at our throats.

No, whatever's done must be done inside the law.

What led you to him?

The serf.

He thought he'd given us the slip.

But he was hunting deer.

Hunting deer?

Was Locksley with him?

I don't know. Don't think so.

I wonder if the game warden might… remember.

Legros!

Are you going to the Fitzwalters'?

Yes.

Is it wise?

Whether it's wise or not, I haven't seen Marian for over a month.

Maybe that's for the best.

Mother.

You were friends as children,

but marriage between you is impossible.

She's a Norman.

This is King Richard's time, not the Conquest.

I don't hate Normans.

They'll never permit it.

I'll let her decide that.

Up there. There!

Look, Abbie.

- Where are you going? - Part of the way with you.

To the Friar's cell.

They say he takes more than a barrel in one swallow.

That's a wicked thing to say.

How long will you be gone?

It's not more than a day, and I won't be stopped on the way.

Robert, take care.

If her father and his friends ever found out,

you'd make terrible enemies.

I have no enemies.

Robert of Locksley? I know him.

His land's on the edge of Barnsdale Forest.

Between yours and the estate of Fitzwalter.

Yes.

When I marry the Lady Ma…

the Lady Marian.

According to my reports,

that happy day is still far off.

I have her father's p… promise.

My lord, Abbott.

I am your man.

When I have the estates of Fitzwalter,

together we shall hold all the power

between Doncaster and York.

Together?

I can go where you cannot.

Move where you cannot be seen to.

But I already have a steward.

I meant more than that!

And I'll not be spied on!

Then leave. This meeting is over.

Not until I have finished!

With King Richard away on his Crusade…

… and if he stays away much longer…

… then Prince John will need powerful friends in the North.

I may have underestimated you, Sir Roger.

The balance of power will indeed be delicate.

But these are dangerous matters.

What have they do to with Robert of Locksley?

With him out of the way, our lands will be joined.

You are a member of the King's Great Council.

I administer justice.

But if this Robert upholds the laws

and pays his taxes, we cannot touch him.

But if he had broken the laws,

more particularly, the forest laws?

Oh, that would be a very different matter.

I have a number of blank warrants signed by the regent Prince John

for just such an occasion.

Legros!

Legros!

My Lord Abbott, this is the chief game warden

of Barnsdale Forest.

Robert of Locksley.

Marian.

- Come on, Tom! - Don't go too far.

Take care. Bye.

Bye.

- Mama! - Alice!

It's been so long.

Every night I've said, "Let Robin come tomorrow."

Why do you smile?

Because you're the only one who still calls me Robin.

Not even your mother?

It's my father's name for me.

She hasn't used it since I was a child.

I thought I heard… Come on.

I suppose we have to go on meeting like this in hiding.

- Oh, perhaps not always. - Until the world changes.

Could you tell your father about us?

This is England. We were born here.

We're not Saxons or Normans, we're English.

Why can't we be together like free human beings?

You know why.

My father's not a cruel man.

He liked yours. They were friends.

And yet you have to marry a Norman?

Robin, I'm his only child.

You have to preserve his estates,

marry your own kind.

But suppose he orders you to.

He already has.

I'm to choose within a year.

Who?

I could never be happy with anyone but you.

What if he makes you?

I'd say no.

Then he'd send me away to a convent.

Or to France.

And either way, I'd lose you.

I must go now.

Next time, we'll have longer.

- Quickly, or my nurse will miss me! - Come with me.

One day, I promise.

I love you!

Nothing can change that.

Loose this string and you're a dead man.

You're not much of a hunter, boy.

Friar Tuck.

You can thank your mother you're still alive.

- I thought you were a wolf. - A what?

I thought you were a wolf.

Like all your sort, you'd have killed first

and then looked.

It's the way of the forest.

And the world.

And you wonder why I choose to live on my own.

Your pardon, Father.

You're not so often so far from your cave.

I was gathering herbs.

Medicine.

I'm sorry, Father. Good day.

Bid you good day.

You two shouldn't be out here alone.

It's almost suppertime.

What is it?

Gyrth.

Mother!

Mother.

Mother.

Alice?

Alice.

They've made me a wolfshead.

What?

My land's been taken by the Abbott of St. Mary's.

I've been outlawed for killing a stag.

Tom!

Tom.

Tom.

Did you see the man that killed your father?

Did you see their shields?

Show me.

Roger of Doncaster.

And his brother, Geoffrey.

I'll find them!

First there's work to do.

Into Thy hands, O Lord, we commend their spirits.

Amen.

Is that all?

There's no time for anymore.

We have children and wounded. You must find somewhere safe.

Where?

There's a path over the mountains.

I know the track.

- Are you strong enough? - Aye.

I'll bring you some food in the morning.

If it was the Hangman, he'll be back before dark,

with more men.

You'll take my mother and the children to the nunnery?

Yes.

Even though the Abbott will know that you've helped us?

Let him come and tell me he's displeased.

There it is again.

Tom!

Tom.

He always said he lived too long.

I brought what I could.

There's guards in the village.

- And the Hangman? - No.

But his brother's been.

He's made one of his own men bailiff.

What do we do now?

Learn how to live in the forest.

How to stay alive.

What about him?

They're looking for him.

He can stay with us, until we find him somewhere safer.

I brought this.

What is it?

It's my father's. It's a Welsh bow.

He said there's a law against carrying them.

He always kept it hid.

He said it would stop a bear.

But I could never string it, let alone draw it.

No wonder there's a law!

It'd pierce plate iron!

They think they're safe in their castles and armour.

Since they have made me a wolfshead, I shall be one.

None of them, Normans, priests,

even their servants, shall use the forest roads

without fearing us.

Wat.

You'll be our eyes and ears.

Tell Lady Marian that I'm safe,

and if she has a message for me to leave it with Friar Tuck.

Oh, and, Wat.

To be safer, she's to say the message is for Robin.

Robin?

Robin?

You'd better get back before you're missed.

No.

I'd stay with you, if you'd let me.

It could be forever.

They'll hunt us down like wild beasts.

And we'll live in the sun till we're caged.

We better get our things together.

If you followed us here, others can.

I must get deeper into the forest.

My lord, a messenger from Sir Roger.

Yes?

The matter he spoke of is concluded.

Does that mean the land is ours?

Yes, my lord.

Then why didn't you say so?

Without too much unpleasantness, I hope?

It would appear not.

The people are quiet.

Sir Roger has appointed a bailiff in your name.

Good. Good.

I had always heard that the Doncasters were simple bullies.

They may turn out to be quite useful after all.

What of the outlaw Robert?

- Was he taken? - No, my lord.

We may presume he's dead.

May we?

All these people need is a leader.

If he's not dead, he could be dangerous.

We must know for sure.

Go to Locksley and see the priest.

And send for Sir Roger.

Tell him I don't want reports from messengers,

but from him, in person.

Did you find him?

We found where he'd been, and then we lost him!

You lost him?

Your men are supposed to be the best hunters in England.

How could they possibly lose him?

He's learning to cover his tracks. He's made for the deep woods.

Then get after him!

I don't want you back here without his hide.

My lord!

And you, my dear brother, can go with him.

What?

I want you there when they flush him out.

We need his head for the Abbott.

The fat fool has the land already! That's all he wants!

The fat fool could squash us like flies!

We promised him Locksley,

and unless we keep the bargain,

he has the land and we have nothing.

We don't need his favour!

Oh, but we do.

To get the favour of Prince John.

After that, things may be different.

Take all the men you can,

cover the crossroads and every way out of the forest.

You think he might come back to the village?

He might.

But wherever he is, he can't be far. The boy will hold him up.

Robin. Ah…

There it is.

Whelon's Ditch.

There's caves and shelter on the other side.

Yeah, but…

everyone knows there's strange things on the other side.

Even the foresters don't go there.

That's why we will.

You two stay here.

I'll go and find somewhere where we can cross.

You don't cross here!

I cross where I choose.

It is my land.

Nobody crosses without my lead.

- What makes it yours? - This.

Here.

That was good!

That was good!

You're… You're the first man to hit me.

You're the first fellow that's beaten me.

What do they call you?

John Little of Cumberland.

And why do you live here?

Oh, well, they tried to put me in the stocks,

so I broke them over the bailiff's head.

That's why I took to the healthy, open air life.

One foot ahead of the sheriff's men.

The forest can be a dangerous place without a friend behind your back.

- That's true. - Robin!

Robin!

This fellow knocked me into the water.

Oh, fighting cocks, eh?

Much.

Tom.

John Little.

Much and Little.

I think he might join us.

Well, you're game enough, why not?

John Little?

Hey, he's so tiny, we should call him Little John.

The priest at Locksley tells me there are two graves,

and neither of them for this wolfshead.

Is he dead?

Well, is he?

It's only a matter of time, my lord.

It was to be done at once, quickly and quietly.

You have his land!

A few acres and a burnt-out farm.

Not worth the risk of a local rising.

These people are cattle, my lord!

They know their masters.

Let us hope so, Sir Roger.

And what of this other business?

Your marriage to the Lady Marian.

She'll not refuse, my lord.

When she knows he's dead.

They call you the Hangman, don't they?

First you must catch your man before you hang him.

He's one man!

Without friends, without weapons.

The foresters will track him down.

Well, you better send for more men

in case he escapes again.

He'll not escape, my lord.

No?

For your sake, Sir Roger,

make sure he doesn't.

Robin! Robin!

There's a squire and two riders!

An escort for a lady!

A lady?

This one's mine.

Out of my way.

Just a word, master.

John!

Be thankful I didn't break your neck.

No.

Ride on.

Wench. Who was she?

I don't know. But she had some spirit.

The devil and women.

Give either a little courtesy and they'll get a crack on the head.

What have we got?

- A letter. - Let's see.

A ring and some money.

That was the Hangman's squire.

- And then? - They would have killed me.

Oh?

You were to protect my sister.

You didn't think that worth risking your life?

Well, I tried!

There were about a dozen of them.

Be exact. Three.

Three men and a boy.

A boy?

What were they like?

One was nothing.

The other who beat that lily was bearded.

Huge, like an ox.

And the third?

Hmm.

He was interesting.

Strong, too.

And handsome, for a country fellow.

Locksley!

The man you're hunting?

If it was, my dear Adele,

be sure he won't live to insult you again.

Pity.

When you catch him, let me have him first.

Get the names of every man and woman

who might know where he's hiding.

We can begin with the Saxon forester, Stukely.

It's true.

They have all the evidence they need. The chief game warden swears to it.

For stealing a deer?

You know the forest laws, my lady.

Where is he?

Hiding, in the forest.

Well, then he's safe. They'll never find him there.

He's a farmer, my lady.

I covered his tracks as much as I could,

but sooner or later, they're bound to catch him.

They must leave while they can.

Why are you telling me all this?

Can you get a message to him?

Yes, I think so.

Tell him he has no chance if he stays near the village.

They're sending to Selby and York for more men.

Why?

For some reason, it's not enough he's been outlawed. They must have him dead.

Who?

I must go, my lady. It's more than my life to be found here.

Send him word.

But who wants him dead?

For that, you must ask Roger of Doncaster.

Move. Come on, move.

Move, come on.

What did you say?

You could make any of these people talk?

They're not people. They're animals.

I can't help thinking that if this Robert

can command such loyalty without asking for it,

how many will follow him when he does?

Robin!

They've captured Wat!

They've taken him to the whipping post!

Robert of Locksley, where is he?

You're his man, where is he?

You'll tell us before we're done.

Where is he?

Legros!

I was on my way back to you.

The Friar had a message from Lady Marian.

Will Stukely came to see her.

- What, the forester? - Yes.

He told her to warn you the Abbott's men are combing in the forest,

but Stukely was spied on and caught.

What have they done with him?

He's to be made an example.

Geoffrey, the Hangman's brother, is to take him to Doncaster for execution.

- Where is he now? - At the Hangman's castle.

You two go back and get the forester's hoods.

There'll be about 20 of them and only four of us.

Our one chance at surprise.

Can we wear these hoods?

Yes. I learned it from the foresters.

They'll help to conceal us.

Get up after them!

Get back, you scum!

Get back!

Robin?

Robin!

The dagger.

I'm Will Stukely.

I know.

You saved my life.

You saved mine, twice.

Why?

I was born a serf, and your father made me a free man.

I became a soldier and then a forester.

And now a wolfshead, like you.

You mean to stay an outlaw?

A free man.

And fight the Norman.

As long as he fights me.

Then I am your man,

and I take you for my captain.

And me.

And me!

And me.

Robin.

Robin Hood.