01x09 - I Choose You

[bunniefuu]

VOICE:
Previously on "Robin Hood."

Release her from your service.
Tell me one thing,

- and that's you don't love me.
- The question is,

do I want to love you,
and the answer is no, I don't.

Deliver this to the Queen,
and you'll never see me again.

Stay close to the prince.

See what else he reveals.

- Seek the Pope's favor?
- I read it in his own hand.

- What are you doing?
- John wears many faces,

but few of them are true.

The mere whisper of rebellion
may put King Henry on a galley.

Your villages will burn,
your people will bleed.

Because of you,
good Saxons will hang.

Robin Hood, I presume.

[grunts, groans]

[grunting]

[battle-cries]

[both screaming]

The outlaw has freed them.
Every last one.

Good. I now have eyes and ears
in Robin Hood's camp.

[dramatic music]

ROBIN HOOD

[horse neighing]

Baron Warick.

We meet again.

- JOHN: Get down.
- WARICK: Aah!

I spared you once, Baron.

You should've left
things alone.

The King will hear
of what you've done.

And when he does,
he will come for you!

You Saxon!

I'm counting on it.

Bring him. The Sheriff's men
will come soon.

[Warick grunting]

Move.

Here, an enormous cave.

Two hundred Saxons have
made it their home.

And they welcomed you?

Yes, they see
a wronged farmer.

- And Locksley?
- Alive and well.

Cemented as their leader.

Make your way back to them.

k*ll him...

before I return from London...

and you spare me
much trouble.

That now,

twice that
if you succeed.

That coin-- weighs more
than gold, does it?

Marian?

Yes, Your Majesty?

You fumble at your work
because your mind is elsewhere.

On a coin.

This isn't just any coin.

It bears a seal...

Baron Warick's.

How did you get this coin?

Robert of Locksley.

Robin Hood.

And he gave it to you?

Here?

Yes, he wanted me
to give it to you.

Hm.

Clever boy.

And you didn't give it
to me straightaway?

I tried, but you'd left
for the country.

The coin is a message,
isn't it?

And what message
would that be?

Rumors of outlaws
in the Midlands

make their way here.

I know Rob leads them.

And now I wonder

if he does so
with your blessing,

Your Highness.

Always so bold, Marian.

Forever questioning a queen.

MARIAN: Only fulfilling
the task you gave me,

to see and report,

and what I see is
rebellion in Nottingham

may serve
more than one cause.

The coin is proof...

that he is doing
what he swore to me.

To attack the King's allies.

And he'll earn
his freedom then?

Yes, but that's not
what he was interested in.

He bargained
for your liberty,

and that was
the only price he named.

I don't even think
he's doing it for his people.

I'd wager
he's doing it for you.

[ominous music]

Rob.

Why did you bring
Warick here?

[ominous music continues]

Please... I can
pay you handsomely.

With what?
We have your gold.

I have more. Hidden.

Release me,
and I'll lead you to it.

And what will you promise next?
The crown jewels?

- You have nothing left.
- Don't be fools.

My death buys you nothing.

I'll pay you.

We seek payment
of a different kind.

Monk!
Mercy, I beg you, please.

Oh, mercy?

Did you show mercy

when you torched
Saxon fields

and left children to starve?

When you drive men and women
from their homes?

When you forced yourself
on their daughters?

No, you didn't.

See, men like you don't stop.

Not until the grave has you.

You asked for closure.

No, stop!
That's enough!

Rob, I have no love
for this man,

but he's unarmed.

So was my father.

Rob, this isn't right.

He's guilty.

So are we all.

Of something!

Rage... pride...

weakness, failure
in the eyes of God.

God will judge us
for what we do on this day.

This is not your business!

It is Saxons'.

And this is not
your place... monk.

You best be leaving.

Hand me that knife, Ralph.

Give it to me, child.

It's okay.

Give me the knife.

[tense music]

Aah!

[groaning]

What did you do?

DREW: He k*lled my brother.

[whispering]
I pray that God can...

[clinking]

[eerie music]

[clinking]

[gasping]

[distant bell tolling]

[retching]

[dramatic music]

[doors opening]

Your Majesty,
the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Sheriff.

Your Majesty.

London shines brighter
with your daughter in it.

I hope you're not here
to abscond with her.

No, Your Majesty.

Celene.

[doors closing]

So, what brings you
all this way?

A promise made to you
in Nottingham,

now delivered.

I know
where Robin Hood hides.

And after his blatant attack
on Nottingham,

I'll make him pay.

A cave deep in the woods.

Its location is shielded

between the River Meden

and the Southern Ridge here.

This is their nest.

And you want soldiers.

Two hundred.

I will provide the rest.

It will be enough
to finish this.

Well, Sheriff, your persistence
has not gone unnoticed,

but I'm afraid your timing
leaves much to be desired.

The King has dispatched
Guy of Gisborne...

to restore order
in Nottingham.

By the time you've returned,
he'll be waiting there

with 350 men

and a mandate
signed by the Crown.

A hand well-played then.

- You have achieved your goal.
- [scoffs]

If only my aims were so tidy.

Gisborne is a cruel,
depraved man.

Like a swarm of locusts,

he leaves nothing
but destruction in his wake.

As such, his presence hampers me
as much as it threatens you.

Threatens me?

Nottingham has
no need for two masters.

If Gisborne succeeds,

your title will become
little more than...

embroidery.

Strangely enough,

our interests are
now aligned.

In what cause?

[soft chuckle]
You're no fool.

You know why I traveled
to Nottingham.

Yes, to force
the King's return to England.

Which you plainly
sought to stop.

Now, as it is,

your concerns are...

simpler.

Your title,
your position...

your neck.

You see a path
that serves us both?

As do you.

You must defend
what's yours.

Gisborne is no mere man.

He is a Knight of the Realm.

The King's favored w*r dog.

Yet even the fiercest dog
must be put down...

if it threatens
the wrong master.

You believe me capable
of such... casual treason?

I think
you're a clever man.

One who does
what needs to be done,

even when others won't.

I think you love Nottingham

and all
you've built it into.

Gisborne would burn it
to the ground.

Strange how fate
arranges its players.

You and me, side by side.

[sighing]
What a world to inhabit.

What surprises it keeps.

I haven't agreed
to your proposition.

But you will.

Fear not, Sheriff.

History has a softer word
for traitors who win.

Statesmen.

Hey, Tuck, wait.

What are you doing?

I can't be
part of this anymore.

Be part of what,
part of justice?

To corruption, Rob.

To watching you destroy yourself

and everyone
who follows you.

You've forgotten the man
you were supposed to be.

And what man is that?

A man who would lead the Saxons
to something greater.

I'm trying to lead them
to freedom, Tuck.

And if they gain it
but lose their souls,

it's just another prison,

and you'll be the one
who built it.

Listen to yourself.

You walk away
and you call it virtue,

but it's not.
You're a coward.

Nothing more.

You were made
for more than this.

More than
what you've become.

You're leaving?

I thought you would stay
to dine with Marshal and me.

When this is over.

For now, you will remain here,

until Nottingham
is safe again.

Safe?

Why did you come
to see the Queen?

Matters of state.

- Nothing more?
- [chuckling]

Is that not enough?

Father... what is happening?

Hood is hiding in a cave

between the Meden
and the Southern Ridge.

I came here to raise men,

but the King's already sent
Gisborne and his troops.

- I see.
- For now, you will remain here.

There's no need to worry.

I shall see it handled.

Hood's fate is sealed.

And Gisborne?

Priscilla...

there is no need to worry.

I love you, Father.

And I love you.

Stay here
until you hear from me.

- [horse neighing]
- [dramatic music]

Gisborne.

[chuckling]

Peace has softened you, I see.

And you still travel
with a giant.

But at least you've lost
your desire to make an entrance.

Hah, still sharp.

And still lording
over backwaters.

Well, not quite a Lord.

Only an Earl.

We'll see that corrected.

[grunting]

You're gonna wear
yourself out.

If something don't
break first.

We need wood.

The monk didn't belong here.

Let him go.
Wall it off and move on.

- Well, what if he's right?
- About?

About Warick.

Warick was filth.

Our enemy,
and he chose that.

k*lled in a battle or a cave,
what's the difference?

Because of us,

Saxon families sleep safer.

How we fight them
doesn't matter?

You sound like a Norman.

Because you keep
listening to one.

Tuck doesn't fight.

He preaches.

So what good is he to us?

You know,
you talk as much.

It's just noise trying to pass
as certainty, John.

Here's what's for certain.

They picked the fight.

With you. With me.

They k*lled
our loved ones.

They took what they wanted
for a century,

and now we get
to fight back.

Dirty, clean,
it doesn't matter.

You think there's
a clean way out of this?

And there is not.

Unfortunately, English wine
leaves much to be desired.

Hm, perhaps you'd prefer
to savor your wine in Rome.

I've heard you'll be
traveling there soon.

These halls have ears,
do they?

Palace halls always echo,
John, loudly.

And what do these echoes say?

Enough to stir
a mother's concern.

"Concern."

Do you really grasp
what you're asking for?

The Pope's blessing
isn't given,

it's paid for in blood
and favors and time.

It took your father a year
to obtain his,

and only then did it happen
through means I arranged.

So now the throne was
your doing.

I didn't realize you fancied
yourself queen and court jester.

Your father didn't
seize his crown.

He received it from hands
more capable than his own.

I could offer you
the same help.

Oh, but you won't.

You will only stall,

distract,

set your traps,

plot behind closed doors
to keep me from the one thing

you'd hand your favored Richard
without question.

Besides...

you mistake a man in motion
for a man in need.

If you really believe

the Pope's blessing is
so powerful...

how much weight do you think
his disfavor carries?

You know,
Father was right about you.

You're more serpent
than wife or mother.

No wonder he kept you
a continent away.

[doors opening]

[doors closing]

Marian.

- I have news.
- What is it, My Lord?

I'm leaving London
sooner than expected.

Have you given
more thought to my offer

to visit the gardens
at Fontainebleau?

I have.

I'm afraid I cannot.

My duties constrain me.

I see.

Still...

I'd like you
to have something.

A gift.

A gift?

[soft chuckle]

[groaning, coughing]

You didn't think I'd notice that
my mother's favorite little mutt

was sniffing
through my affairs?

Fetching secrets
like scraps from the floor?

Sniff, sniff-- sniff!

[gasping]

When I am king,
I'll slit open your gut

and feed you to hogs,
but only after

I use you for my pleasure.

- [groaning]
- I promise it.

Do you understand?

- Do you understand me?!
- Yes!

Yes... what?

Yes, My Prince.

[wincing]

[door slams]

HUNTINGDON: ...surrounding
himself with minions, minions!

Behaving not like a sheriff,
like a king!

- A king of Nottingham!
- [laughing]

Never figured you for a man
who'd settle this far out.

Nottingham of all places.

Well, I didn't settle.

Got stuck, turns out
blood buys less than it used to.

And so...

an earl of a sh*thole.

Still outranks a b*stard
in borrowed armor.

Fair enough.

[laughing]

Henry says the Sheriff holds
this place in high regard.

What's he see that I don't?

Oh...

two days to the Wash,
two to York, Dover.

Not much further,
the perfect spot

to control trade, at least
that's how the Sheriff talks,

like he's building
the next London.

And yet he lets
an outlaw run wild through it.

Oh, he speaks of justice,

but he's lost the stomach
for what it demands.

Strange.

w*r hardens most men.

Not him, it seems.

If you ask me...

the only thing he brought back
from the Crusades are excuses.

The King doesn't disagree.

His patience is spent.

He wants this rebellion ended
before it spreads.

At what cost?

[chuckling]

No one remembers the cost,

only who wins.

[ominous music]

[flint snapping]

You're supposed to spark
the dry bits.

Not just bang 'em together
and hope for the best.

I know how to light a fire.

Do you now?

Well, look at that.

Lady Isabel.

Mistress of the Flames.

Where are you from, Spragart?

I don't believe I know.

Don't know, really.

Don't much recall
that far back.

Except the first thing I stole.

Barley cake.

You're never serious, are you?

I'm being very serious.
I was hungry,

on my own,
and had to eat.

Where was your mother?
Your father?

My pa was never around.

My mother, she...
couldn't pay her tax.

Soldiers took her
while I watched.

She fought hard,
but didn't matter.

She only lasted
a month in jail.

Most folk die quick
in chains.

How old were you?

Five?

That's far too young
to be on your own.

I did all right.

[soft chuckle]

I'm gonna go and see
about some dinner.

You're not
just a thief... Spragart.

[scoffs] No?

You're a man trying
to take something back.

[gentle music]

[distant snorting]

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music continues]

[grunting]

[groaning]

Tuck!

[grunting, groaning]

No!

[both screaming]

[Tuck gasping]

[stifling sobs]

Tuck, how'd you get here?

I was walking the trail.
Like you.

[sob]

Where are you off to?

A ride.
To clear my head.

You're lying.

Since when does a lady
ready her own horse?

Your lip.

- What happened?
- Doesn't matter.

- I have to leave.
- Leave?

The Queen won't allow it.

- She won't know.
- I'll tell her.

No, you won't.

Not if you love me.

You sound mad.

Running from your duty
to the Queen.

Where would you even go?

To Sherwood,
to find Rob.

You are mad.

Leaving silk sheets
and silver goblets

to chase a criminal
through the mud.

He's more than that.

Indeed, he's a k*ller.

He almost k*lled me, Marian.

Why this now?

I look around,
and all I see are men who take.

Rob gives.

His word, his loyalty.

Doesn't matter.

It's over, Marian,
Rob's fate is sealed.

What do you mean?

The King has sent
hundreds of men

to k*ll Rob and his band.

- How do you know this?
- My father.

He met with Eleanor
only Tuesday.

They know where Rob hides.

Where?

I won't tell you.

Priscilla, I beg you.

- Rob is in grave danger.
- No.

- Rob is dead.
- Where is he?

If you go, you will die.

Priscilla...

Where? Please.

A cave, far up a stream,
hidden between

the Southern Ridge
and the River Meden.

Promise me...

you won't say a word
to anyone.

I love you.

And I you.

I will see you again.

[sighing]

You won't, sweet Marian.

I'm sorry.

Because of me,
you had to m*rder a man.

[chuckling]

I didn't m*rder.

I k*lled a man
who tried to k*ll me.

[grunting]

Hate versus preservation, Rob.

One you can answer for,
the other you cannot.

Well, why'd you choose
to save me?

I didn't.

God did.

Fine, monk,
why did God...

choose to save me?

I suppose
whatever he made you for

may still lie ahead.

You said I was corrupt.

You are, but that doesn't
have to be your end.

You still have a choice.

- You can change.
- Yeah, maybe.

Or maybe
we are just who we are.

No, that's a lie
the Devil tells us,

that who we are today
is who we'll ever be.

But God is calling you
for more.

More than vengeance,
more than blood.

You'll never defeat
the Normans

until you first defeat
the darkness inside.

You can't be ruled
by hate, Rob.

It eats us.

And then it owns us.

That is what I want you
to understand.

[dramatic music]

[horse nickering]

[horse neighing]

Gisborne is already here.

Go on.

- [laughing]
- ...choose anything.

Ahh, the Sheriff
of Nottingham returns.

May I present
Sir Guy of Gisborne?

Now, I suspect
you know the name.

Of course.

Sheriff.

I've heard much.

Huntingdon tells me
you led men at Ascalon.

The King leaned heavily
on his family in those days.

Still does.

I don't recall
seeing you there.

Not all of us had the luxury
of fighting from tower walls.

I was in the dirt,
with the dying.

Regardless...
you must've fought well

- to be given all of this.
- None of this is mine.

I govern
only in the King's name.

Yes, 'tis indeed a privilege
to wield power in Henry's stead.

Which is why I have come.

The King believes

Nottingham requires
firmer stewardship.

His Majesty has entrusted me

with his full
and complete authority

to restore order.

- 'Tis as you said.
- [scroll thuds]

A toast, then.

To law and order.

Such as it is.

To law and order.

Marshal.

A word.

Your Highness.

I have revealed to my son
what we know.

May I ask why?

Because I knew
he'd react and move,

unprepared and in haste.

A small advantage gained
at no cost,

and he has done just that.

John has departed for Rome.

Our agents there are aware.
They'll act in your interests.

Not with the precision
I require.

If John secures
papal support

and seizes the crown,

England will be lost,

a ruin draped in ermine.

I will not let
that future take root.

You will go to Rome,
and you will end

my son's ambitions there.

Go to Rome?
Is it really necessary?

You hesitate.

Does Priscilla have such sway
you forget your purpose?

No.

My fate is yours to command.

Then hear me well,
you will stop my son

from receiving
the Pope's blessing.

By what methods?

Whatever methods
the moment demands.

And, Marshal,

now is not the time
for your focus to be divided.

For you to be distracted.

The Sheriff's daughter...

you will not
take her to Rome.

It will draw
too many eyes.

[dramatic music]

[birds chirping]

- Stop!
- Halt!

[horse nickering]

I am Maid Marian,
of Locksley.

Take me to Robin Hood.

- [church bell tolling]
- [cattle bleating]

[soft chatter]

Every second
Gisborne and his men linger

is another step
toward erasing us.

Every debt owed,
every coin we counted on.

All of it in jeopardy.

I didn't build
my power on coin.

I built it on order.

And order...

no matter
my cousin's intention,

is what Gisborne will undermine.

Then why allow him
another step?

[soft chuckle]

The King's favorite knight
won't fall by force.

He'll fall
by his own weight,

his pride, his ambition,
his need to be seen.

You have a plan?

Of course.

But it can't unfold
in the daylight.

It needs to live
in smoke, and fire,

in the chaos of w*r,

where the blade
that cuts his throat

cannot be seen.

He'll bleed...

and no one will know
from where the dagger came.

Eat, you haven't eaten all day.

I wanted to k*ll him, Warick.

Something wouldn't let me.

It's called conscience, Ralph.

In that moment...

you and Tuck were
stronger than us all.

You're better than us.

[horn blaring]

ROB: Marian?

MARIAN: Rob.

ROB:
What are you doing here?

The Sheriff knows
where you are.

No Norman knows this place.

Then how did I find it?

The man who tried to k*ll you
must've been the Sheriff's man.

It's not only the Sheriff.

The King sent Guy of Gisborne
and hundreds of soldiers.

Well, let them come.
We're not running.

You don't understand.
Gisborne isn't here to fight.

He's here to slaughter.

His men aren't knights,
they're executioners.

Drew, saddle two horses.

You and I will ride
for Nottingham.

See the truth for ourselves.

Finding him won't be easy.

Hood moves like a shadow.

Every attack
from his band has come

from a different flank
of the forest.

He's impossible to pin down!

GUY: Why should we waste
our time trying to find him,

when we can simply
draw him to us?

- How, My Lord?
- In the Holy Land,

the Saracens often
refused open battle.

They would strike, and then
disappear into the hills.

But they had villages.

Families.

People and places
that mattered to them.

You are suggesting
we attack innocents.

I am suggesting
we k*ll our enemy.

It will cost us nothing,
it will cost him everything.

[dramatic music]

"The truth"?
You don't trust me?

You're Norman.
They don't trust you.

Don't ignore me,
we must talk.

Seems you said
all there was to say in London.

I see it now.
The Queen used you

as deftly as she used me,

but the truth still should've
been yours to give, not hers.

- You should've told me.
- I told you.

About your accord
with the Queen.

You never gave me the chance.

You lied to me,
I was angry.

- Not about my feelings.
- About Aronne, then.

I didn't know
what else to do.

- You could've trusted me.
- Is it really so simple?

Is it true?

What Eleanor said?

That you're doing this for me?

Why?

Because I knew...

that you'd never
leave with me

as long as you were bound
to the Queen.

Ask me now.

To go with you.

- I can't leave now.
- Why?

Because things have changed.

Marian, everything's changed.

You have a future
in Westminster.

Go back there, Marian, this--
this isn't your world.

My world is you.

You don't belong here.

I belong with you.
I love you.

I've always loved you.

You said
love wasn't enough.

And I was wrong.

It always has been enough.

It always will be enough.

We must go now.
I can't leave my people.

[soft music]

[horse neighing]

[dramatic music]

[horse neighing]

- [horses neighing]
- [overlapping shouting]

Leave none alive!

[overlapping screaming]

[overlapping screams]

Please-- we don't know
where Robin Hood is.

I swear it.

[groaning]

k*ll them all!

[overlapping screams]

[screams continue]

[dramatic music
overtaking screams]

[dramatic music continues]

The Queen
is sending you to Rome.

I don't understand.
Why must I stay behind?

What aren't you telling me?

Our time together...

what we were mattered to me,
you matter.

I serve a greater purpose,
and I made that vow

long before I met you.

You're leaving me.

I have no choice.

You vanish into duty,
and I am...

- but an afterthought.
- That's not true.

Then what is?
Say what this is.

- Say what I am to you.
- You are

the only woman who ever
made me forget what I am...

and what I am sworn to.

But the Queen reminded me,

and now I must go.

You said you loved me.

I do love you.

- Then stay.
- I can't.

I don't know
if I'll even come back,

and I don't know that I'd leave
if I had you to come back to.

[soft music]

You'll try
to get him to leave.

I understand why.

Because if he doesn't go,
he'll likely die in these woods.

But Rob won't go.

Whatever else he is...

he's Saxon.

In the end,
the one thing

a Saxon man will
never leave...

is his blood.

- [distant horses neighing]
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[distant horses neighing]

[suspenseful crescendo]

Drew.

DREW:
That's not an army.

It's a city.

Rob.

Can we really survive that?

[horse neighing]

We didn't come this far to run.

You're not a man
prone to silence.

So say what you came to say.

I was wrong about you.

It's not that I dislike you.

It's just
you're a Christian

and a Norman.

It's a lot.

But you saved Rob.

And that's a sign from Godda
as plain as I've ever seen.

A sign of what?

That your place is here.

With us.

Godda isn't real,
you know that, right?

Keep it up,
and I will bury you.

With your Bible.

[soft chuckling]

[bird chirping]

[approaching footsteps]

What is it?

It's Gisborne...

and Huntingdon.

Yes?

The Forester's village.

Everyone.
The women, children.

They k*lled them all.

Rob.

You can't stay here.

You were right, Gisborne's army,
there's too many.

So you must leave.

- Not without you.
- I can't leave.

Not after seeing that.
I can't abandon...

I can't abandon my people.

Rob...

don't you understand?

If you stay, they'll stay.

And if they stay...

they'll die.

You're not abandoning them.

You're saving them.

[soft music]

All right.
We'll leave together.

I believe you fail
to understand the Saxon mind.

What you did today

will only rally
more troops to Hood.

Good, then we'll have
weeded out the insubordinate,

and they'll die with him.

Sheriff,
did you come to scold me,

or is there
something you need?

I know where Hood is,

and his strength, 200 men.

And every hour now
buys him more.

Well, even so,
he has no chance.

More Saxons means
more Normans die.

The King won't forgive losses
due to hesitation.

So we move... together.

Together?

A shared enemy...

demands a shared hand.

And what do you gain
from this alliance?

The same as you.

An end...

to this cursed rebellion,
a return to order.

Order, yes,

but make no mistake,
Sheriff...

when this ends...

so does your authority.

My only concern is
the future of Nottingham.

Then we plan
our as*ault tomorrow.

As long as Saxons bleed,

I'll stand beside any man.

Finally...

an authority
who knows how to win a w*r.

At the expense of all else.

[gentle music]

[horse neighing]

[gentle music continues]

Marian...

that's my home.

[mournful music]

[mournful music continues]

Whatever you choose...

I choose you.

[ominous music]

[dramatic music]