Original subtitles

When handsome Robin offered his heart and hand to Lavinia, elder daughter and

heiress of old Sir Hector Groves, it was, from his point of view,

a marriage of convenience.

Her dowry included some of the best hunting country in the district, and

since her old father quickly succumbed to the demon drink and the screws, the

inheritance soon became Robin's to enjoy.

Hunting, of one sort or another, is the mainspring of Robin's existence, and he

doesn't see why marriage should make any difference to his headlong pursuit of

deer, boar, fox, otter, rabbit, and other women.

John,

when do you expect the rest?

His wife Lavinia is rarely, if ever, his quarry, and she's never invited to join

him in the hunt.

She'd give years of her life and all her old age just to be included.

She longs to race after him, but the lady of the manor does not behave like

that.

Her house is always full of his friends.

He likes it that way.

Now, she wouldn't mind. There is no comfort in their presence.

They stay apart.

She knows they make fun of her.

They make little attempt to hide it.

The women guests

gather in secluded parts of the garden and share whispered secrets.

But never with her.

Why does the wronged wife always feel at a loss, as if his reputation was her

fault?

Poor Lavinia's loneliness is quite complete.

social life. He loves parties with his friends.

Lavinia tries hard to join in.

But sooner or later, her husband's borediness reaches a point where she

cannot ignore it.

He wouldn't hurt her feelings for the world.

But some women... are as jealous as cats.

He prefers the easygoing sort.

There's a lock on her door to keep out drunken husbands.

She never needs it.

At last, his room is quiet.

Perhaps, if she is gentle, tempting.

Oh, the shame, it's too much. Her husband behaving like an animal.

wouldn't be so bad if she had her share.

A mild rage stirs her and she determines it is time to act.

She will consult the only person she can trust.

Her maid.

Now she resorts to the book of cures.

article of my husband's clothing.

According to her maid, it's infallible.

She'll try it.

She's desperate.

Meanwhile, her husband plays on.

For the courting time, for old time's sake.

Coriander, to inflame him with love.

Cleavers, so that they should cleave to each other.

And a red rose, for passion.

I couldn't stay, Mum.

I think it's all right.

It hurts.

I think more hurts. Yes, yes, ma'am. More herbs.

I think... Put it all in.

Why not?

There'll be a strong brew.

The rose, please.

Rose. Do you remember, ma'am, what the rose is for?

One

more

thing, I think, Jo.

Yes, ma'am?

Did you manage to get my husband's...

intimate apparel? I do, ma'am.

He's best.

Yes, of course, ma'am.

Stay well, ma'am.

Lovely, ma'am.

The mystic brew is brewed.

To love.

But it turns out that the posset has unhappy side effects.

There, there, Mum.

Don't take on so.

You'll spoil your pretty face.

There, Mum.

How do you feel now?

Sick.

Oh, look, go and get my husband. See if this has worked.

The maid has done her best.

She's arranged her mistress in a French nightgown that will open at the twitch

of a string to reveal all.

Eventually, the reluctant Robin feels obliged to visit his ailing wife.

Morning,

Robin. Morning.

Feeling better?

Yes. Good.

Good.

He's done.

his duty.

Well, must go.

Pressing business.

Besides, Lavinia may be infectious.

And you, it's your fault. Out.

So much for possets.

Moments later, she hears voices.

He

might

at least keep out of earshot. The Beast.

It's the last straw.

Next day, Lavinia paces the grounds, desperately trying to think of a way to

tempt her husband.

Oh, there you are, Mom. I thought you might like a drink.

Hours of meditation have not provided one single good idea.

But all is not lost.

The maid has another plan up her sleeve.

Or at least, she had.

The witch's house. Joan, what's this?

Yes, madam. Well, the posset didn't... The way through the woods, the

withy woods, to the den where the witch lives.

That

night,

they set off together.

the two women through the darkness.

It's a long way and rough going, but Robin will be worth it.

When they reach the deeper woods, The maid's courage fails her.

Mum, I do not like it. I am taken with a

strange fearfulness.

Oh, Joan.

I beg your pardon.

All right, fine. I must go home. I beg your pardon, ma'am.

You go back. You go back.

Mum?

Take care, ma'am. Yes.

Lavinia goes on alone into the forest.

She need not have worried about finding the cottage.

It was bathed in eerie light.

A strange tinkling sound steals through the night, guiding Lavinia to her

destination.

The witch is a surprising person.

Lavinia was expecting a different sort of woman.

Are you the witch of Withy Wood?

So they tell me.

Then it's you I came to see.

She is soon at ease in discussing her problems.

The witch is remarkably understanding.

Can you help me?

How looks your husband?

Oh, he is fair of face.

He has laughing eyes, brown hair, a mustache, a little beard.

He's handsome.

You must trick him into coming here. To me.

When?

Tomorrow.

By day.

Yes.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

The night passes, and it is almost dawn when Lavinia departs, full of hope.

She hurries back to the manor to fall exhausted into bed.

Next morning, she follows Robin, doesn't let him out of her sight, waits her

moment, and then, taking courage, puts forward her proposition.

Robin?

May I ask an errand with you?

You know that I have been ill.

Well, I would like, please, some medicine.

And I believe if you follow this map, you can get some from the witch in

Whitty's Wood.

The witch.

We need the map.

Despite his disbelief in the power of witchcraft, he sets off on his errand.

It's a spooky place.

He can't understand why he's never come across it before, never seen it when out

hunting.

Lavinia can't tell the others when he's gone.

Can't tell them he's with the Witch of Withy Wood.

But as the hours pass and Robin doesn't return, she begins to worry.

Poor Lavinia waits and bitterly regrets her folly and wickedness

in consorting with witches.

Come.

Stay.

What is this?

Where is her husband?

He tormented you? Now make him suffer.

What?

That's your Robin.

It's an owl.

That is your husband.

That's Robin.

You can change him back anytime you like.

Once Robin has been taught how to behave, the witch will restore.

his human shape.

She suddenly takes a fancy to taunt her Robin.

Wear the new nightgown. This is newly made Robin.

Especially for you.

Do you like it?

No.

I see.

Then do you like this, Robin?

Her owl is all stem.

She wants to tantalize her owl husband.

But the situation mustn't get out of hand.

or too young to be real ones.

It would be heartbreaking if she were to reverse the spell and find they weren't

on speaking terms.

Love is too old.

Love is too young.

Love is not at all.

On the night of her first lover's visit, Robin is restless.

Enter.

Good evening, my lady.

Hide it here as how you want to have a word with I.

Does she have to be quite as old as this?

What is the woman thinking of?

Trust her to bungle her instructions.

Are you the gardener? Oh, yes, my lady, I be the gardener.

Is the garden pretty?

Oh, tis lovely, my lady, if I may say so. Good.

As lovely as you.

Yes.

Um, sit on the bed.

Oh, yes, my lady.

Yes.

Um, just there. Yes, my lady.

Tell me more of the garden. Oh, the garden's lovely, my lady.

Yes. Oh, yes, it take me lovely, my lady.

Coming on well.

Oh, it's coming on up perfect, my lady.

Fine.

Did you leave it for so long?

Oh, tis all right without old Fred, my lady.

Is it? Oh, ha.

Good.

You're sure?

Oh, I be sure, my lady.

Fine.

Joan?

Joan?

Oh, don't you worry, my lady.

No, I... Oh, no, don't you worry, my lady. Joan?

Joan?

Robin could only stand and stare.

The

maid

fares no better with her next brainwave, a mere youth from the kitchens, who

shows more interest in the owl than he does in Lavinia.

Robin suffers the petting as long as he can and then decides flight is better

than fancy.

just thought it was my turn you don't like it i only did

it because i loved you tired tired of the game

i'm tired of this game too come then come she fancies

he doesn't like her out of his sight maybe it's wishful thinking but he does

seem to be taking more notice of her than he did

It's time to change.

Lavinia wants her husband back.

Perhaps he will have learned his lesson. Perhaps now he will have the wit to woo

her.

Robin can't wait.

He's eager for change.

The magic is powerful.

Within seconds of the owl flying into the cottage, her robin, reinstated,

appears.

He is tired and nervous and obviously can't wait to be away from his place.

Oh, God.

Come on, let's go.

This looks like a happy ending for Lavinia and her Robin.

But sadly, it isn't.

Robin is drawn again to the witch's cottage.

She has cast a spell all right, but not the magic Lavinia thinks it to be.

Robin cannot stay away from the woods.

And as the months pass, Lavinia is presented in turn with a polecat, a fox,

a badger, even a toad.

She believes each to be her husband.

But truly, her beloved Robin is with his beloved witch.