ROBIN HOOD
Series Two, Episode Twelve
A Good Day to Die
written by Dominic Minghella
directed by David Evans
This is not an ofcial copy. This was typed up by a
fan of the show strictly for personal enjoyment.
CAST
Robin Hood Jonas Armstrong
Marian Lucy Grifths
Guy of Gisborne Richard Armitage
Sheriff of Nottingham Keith Allen
Little John Gordon Kennedy
Much Sam Troughton
Allan A Dale Joe Armstrong
Will Scarlett Harry Lloyd
Djaq Anjali Jay
George Ágost Zord
Ellingham Paul Usher
Mercenary Messenger Gábor Nagypál
Innkeeper Béla Gados
A Good Day to Die 1
Scene One
Nettlestone. Morning.
MUCH
Oh, there’s gratitude for you.
Much opens the door wide and Robin runs inside.
Will and Little John watch George leave and realise there’s
trouble.
Much runs into the village, his cloak ying behind him, leading
Much walks over to Robin and slaps his shoulder playfully.
Robin, Little John, Djaq and Will to a large barn, all
with their weapons, but swords sheathed. A peasant
’Cause it’s a surprise! Turns around to face the others. And
woman leads a girl out of their way.
besides, this way, the people of Nettlestone can join
us... and... you know, say thank you. Sighs, looking
MUCH
around. Speaking of which, where is everyone. Turns
Quick! This way! The barn! Girl in distress!
to the young man at the spit. George?
ROBIN
GEORGE
What distress?
Nervously: They couldn’t make it. And neither can I. Steps
towards the door.
Much opens the door a bit and peeks inside. He motions to
Robin.
MUCH
What
do
you
mean
they
couldn’t
make it? This is Robin
MUCH
Hood’s
birthday.
Go!
Barn. Interior.
Where are they? George?
Much follows Robin inside. Robin slows and looks around.
Djaq runs in and stops short. Will lines up beside her, resting the haft of the broadaxe on the oor. Robin sees noth- Robin steps towards the door.
ing wrong, just a pig roasting and a nervous young man
GEORGE
turning the spit. Little John calmly stands behind Will.
At the door: Sorry. Closes the door behind him.
ROBIN
What is this?
MUCH
Sorry? What for?
MUCH
Proudly points to the pig with his sword. The girl is a pig, the
Eyes widen: Oh, Much.
pig is your present...
Robin smiles, realising the ruse.
... this is a party...
ROBIN
Through the cracks in the door, Robin can see mercenaries gathering in front of the barn and George running away.
Exterior.
Robin glances back at Djaq and shakes his head, surprised and
pleased.
Ellingham tosses a purse on the ground. George picks it up.
Happy birthday!
Thank you.
Little John, Will and Djaq cheer.
George glances back and runs as mercenary archers gather at
the fence in front of the barn. Ellingham turns to face the
doors.
DJAQ
Happy birthday.
GEORGE
Interior.
Little John hugs Robin.
Robin goes to the door to peer through the cracks.
ROBIN
But why here? Why not in the forest?
ELLINGHAM
Happy birthday, Robin Hood!
Djaq hugs him.
A Good Day to Die 2
MUCH
MUCH
to Robin: Do you have a plan?
ROBIN
ROBIN
Stands with his arms folded, facing the door. Quietly: No.
Who’s that?
That’s Ellingham.
ELLINGHAM
The Sheriff sends his best!
MUCH
Half a plan?
ROBIN
The leader of the Sheriff ’s mercenaries?
ROBIN
Exasperatedly: I don’t have half a plan!
ELLINGHAM
Not to mention, his best men. Holds out his arms.
Djaq climbs down.
How many, Djaq?
The mercenaries within earshot cheer.
ROBIN
Turns around and glares at Much. Much!
DJAQ
Holds out her hands. Thirty? Forty?
MUCH
MUCH
Holds his arms out. Indignantly: Sorry!
OPENING CREDITS
Robin stands, thinking, his arms folded and a thumb at his
mouth. The murmur of the mercenaries’ voices can be
heard in the background.
ROBIN
Will, Djaq, I need numbers.
MUCH
Pacing: Oh, I’m gonna die.
Will and Djaq climb up to the loft.
Forty? We’re dead!
In the loft, Will sees more coming.
WILL
Wait!
Will comes to the edge of the loft, puts his hands above on a
beam and leans over to look down at Robin.
More on that side. A hundred!
Robin lowers his eyes, thinking. A hunting horn sounds, men
shout orders, and a drum begins to beat slowly. Much and
Little John slowly turn their heads towards the door. Will
comes down the ladder. Little John sighs.
Not because of them but because of shame!
MUCH
Whispers: They’re coming!
ROBIN
Much, nobody’s gonna die!
The horn sounds again. Much draws his sword.
ROBIN
MUCH
Calmly:
Barricade
the
door.
Why didn’t I have it in the forest? In the forest, not in the
village where we can be [roars at the door:] betrayed!
Much, Little John and Will rush forward.
And surrounded.
Will and Djaq peer through the cracks in the rear wall of the
barn. Little John goes to and looks through the door.
DJAQ
No, wait! I’ve got this. Runs towards the pig.
Pointing at Robin: Nettlestone is getting nothing this
winter!
ELLINGHAM
Holding out his left hand: Stop!
LITTLE JOHN
Much! Shut up!
The mercenaries cheer, start to beat their shields with their
swords and chant repeatedly: “Hood!” Djaq puts the
A Good Day to Die 3
hogshead near Robin’s feet.
The mercenaries are still running away from the barn.
DJAQ
I’m sorry, Robin. This was meant for your birthday.
We’ve got enough black powder here to destroy a whole
army!
Djaq stuffs a small wrapped package with a string attached
into the hogshead. Outside, the mercenaries start to advance on the barn doors.
Exterior.
Much, Will, open the door.
ELLINGHAM
Pointing at the barn: You’re blufng!
Ellingham motions with his nger to his messenger behind
Djaq lights the fuse. Little John lifts the bar off the door. Djaq
him. The Messenger approaches.
picks up the hogshead and steps towards the door. Will and
Much open them and Djaq launches the hogshead out with Quietly: Get a message to the Sheriff.
a shriek. It lands in the dirt several yards from the barn.
The mercenaries stop and go quiet as they stare at the hogs- The Messenger nods and leaves. Ellingham tries to convince
head. Will and Much close the doors.
himself it’s only a bluff.
ELLINGHAM
What’s that? A pig?
Interior.
Robin breathes heavily at the door.
There is a moment of silence, then the head explodes with a treROBIN
mendous blast which shakes the ground. Little John, who
Well, that should buy us some time.
had put his back to the door, is jolted forward. The mercenaries all run back.
MUCH
MUCH
Peering through the door and laughing with relief. Ha! Ha!
ROBIN
Steps towards Djaq. Sternly: Black powder, Djaq?
Djaq nods happily.
I thought I told you I never wanted to see that again!
DJAQ
Shrugs. I disobeyed you.
ROBIN
Chuckles. Good.
Yeah. Sheathes his sword.
ROBIN
We need to think.
DJAQ
There are ve of us and a hundred of them.
ROBIN
Walking away from the door past Djaq: Once a few determined Spartans held a pass against a vast Persian
army.
WILL
Really?
ROBIN
Turns around and nods. Strategy.
Little John chuckles.
Have you got any more?
WILL
DJAQ
None.
Robin is a bit disappointed as that option is gone. He strides to
the door.
ROBIN
There’s more where that came from, Ellingham!
And they lived?
ROBIN
Turns his head briey. No... but... they did well.
WILL
Disheartened: Oh.
Much pats Will’s shoulder in passing.
A Good Day to Die 4
MUCH
I hate that story, too.
†††††††††††††††
Scene Two
Nottingham Castle. Marian’s chamber.
A knocks sounds on the door.
MARIAN
Come in.
Marian is stitching, sitting by the re. Gisborne enters and
smiles slightly at the sight of her. Marian smiles.
GISBORNE
Today is the fourteenth of October, Robin Hood’s birthday.
MARIAN
Absently: It is. Suddenly a bit panicked: It is?
GISBORNE
Stares at Marian, conscious of her reaction. Marian... Sits on
the bed. Apart from your escapades as the Nightwatchman, is there anything else that you’d like to
tell me?
MARIAN
Glances down at her stitching and shakes her head. No.
GISBORNE
Good. Stands. Right, well, I came to tell you that I’m going away.
MARIAN
Away? Where?
GISBORNE
I cannot say. But when I return, things will be different.
Better. For me. Better for us.
MARIAN
Stands. Guy, what’s going on?
GISBORNE
Marian, I will not be here to supervise you. I must have
your assurance that the Nightwatchman is nished.
MARIAN
Impatiently: Yes, yes, but where are you going?
GISBORNE
Marian... do I have your word?
MARIAN
Stares, sighs. You have my word.
Gisborne leaves.
†††††††††††††††
A Good Day to Die 5
Scene Three
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior.
Ellingham is leading a cheer for his men.
ELLINGHAM
Are we going to kill them?
MUCH
Thought so.
Exterior.
ELLINGHAM
Are we going to kill them?
MERCENARIES
Cheering: Yes!
MERCENARIES
Cheering: Yes!
Little John growls.
ELLINGHAM
Are we going to like it?
ELLINGHAM
Oh, we’re going to love it!
†††††††††††††††
Robin steps to the door and leans on its bar, peeking out.
MERCENARIES
Cheering: Yes!
Exterior.
ELLINGHAM
Are we going to kill them?
MERCENARIES
Cheering: Yes!
ELLINGHAM
Are we going to like it?
MERCENARIES
Cheering: Yes!
(This exchange continues.)
Interior.
Robin looks back at Little John and sighs.
MUCH
Horrible.
ROBIN
Don’t take any notice. All they’re trying to do is mess
with our heads. It shows they’re playing for time. In a
softer tone: See if there’s any water in those barrels. If
there is, ll those buckets. Turns to peer out again.
MUCH
Why?
ROBIN
In case they try to burn us out. Leans both arms on the bar.
A Good Day to Die 6
Scene Four
Nottingham Castle. Courtyard.
Allan, a knapsack slung over his shoulder, walks from the town
through the gate. Marian is at the top of the side steps,
watching what’s happening in the courtyard. Allan puts
the bag in the coach, which has iron sides, a wire mesh
roof, and is lined with furs. He notices Marian’s questioning face (“What’s going on?”) and sighs.
ALLAN
to a soldier: Keep an eye on that bag, yeah? Goes over to
Marian.
The Sheriff and Gisborne have watched Allan’s approach from
the cloister.
ALLAN
No.
MARIAN
The King. They must be expecting the King to land in
Portsmouth.
ALLAN
It could mean anything for all I know.
MARIAN
That’s not good enough, Allan! Now what if it is the
King?
Allan leans back.
SHERIFF
You know full well what they’ll do to him when he arrives.
GISBORNE
Looks like it.
ALLAN
Well, it’s not my call, is it? Look, I’m just the whipping
boy around here.
SHERIFF
He knows where we’re going?
Marian scoffs.
Your boy’s ready?
GISBORNE
I told him Portsmouth, that’s it.
SHERIFF
Good. Turns and walks towards the main doors.
The packing boy.
MARIAN
Look, if you go along with treason, then you are committing treason.
ALLAN
GISBORNE
Rubbish!
If
you
go
along
with farting, that doesn’t mean
My lord, the mercenaries, are you sure we shouldn’t bring
you
farted
yourself,
does
it?
them?
SHERIFF
Oh, with any luck, by now they’ll be celebrating Hood’s
birthday. Chuckles. No. We’ll do this alone... quietly.
Turns to go inside.
Gisborne glances at the coach and follows.
North exterior corridor, at the top of the side
steps.
MARIAN
Well, have they told you why?
ALLAN
We’re going to Portsmouth. That’s all I know, Marian, all
right? And you didn’t get that from me, either.
Marian frowns at his logic as Allan leaves down the corridor.
Marian turns around.
MARIAN
What’s happened to you?
ALLAN
Turns around to face her. I’ve learnt which side my bread’s
buttered on. Turns and leaves.
Marian shakes her head and sighs, then turns to go the other
way.
†††††††††††††††
MARIAN
You know what this means?
A Good Day to Die 7
Scene Five
Sherwood Forest.
Marian gallops on a horse towards the camp.
MARIAN
Robin!
Outlaws’ camp.
Marian runs down to the closed-up camp and pulls the lever to
open the large trap door with a smile of expectation.
MARIAN
Robin? Steps inside. Where are you?
She looks around, realises nobody’s there and that she’s on her
own.
Scene Six
Nottingham Castle. Courtyard.
The Sheriff follows a soldier carrying a chest to the coach.
SHERIFF
Come along, get a move on, you blithering oaf ! I haven’t
got all day! Gently!
The soldier puts the box in the coach.
Move!
The soldier leaves.
Tanning cream, bottles of. Ah!
I need to stop the Sheriff.
The Sheriff sees the mercenary Messenger on a horse enter
through the gate.
Marian runs out of the camp leaving the trap door open.
Ah. News from Nettlestone? Nice?
†††††††††††††††
The Messenger dismounts and walks towards the Sheriff.
Nasty? Both? Chuckles.
MESSENGER
Small problem.
†††††††††††††††
A Good Day to Die 8
Scene Seven
Nottingham Castle. War room.
The doors open and the Sheriff storms in.
SHERIFF
Exploding re? What do you mean, exploding re?
Gisborne and the Messenger follow him in.
GISBORNE
Black powder.
SHERIFF
Quietly: Yes, I know what it is.
MESSENGER
We want permission to burn down the barn.
Scene Eight
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior.
Much brings over a water bucket and places it next to another
near Robin, who is leaning on a post, thumb at this mouth
again, thinking. The drums are beating slowly and steadily outside. Little John takes some thin poles off a rack and
brings them over to Will. Robin turns, watching Little
John as he passes him, and leans on the post with his arms
folded. Djaq and Will are sitting side by side making arrows from the wood Little John has found. Djaq is wrapping twine around a feather at its tail; Will is sharpening
a tip with his hand axe and has two feathers clamped in
his teeth, sticking out of his mouth. Much watches them
work for a moment, then glances at the door. He takes a
deep breath, making a decision.
MUCH
Right. Takes off his coat. John, Will, Djaq, everyone.
The Sheriff quickly turns to the Messenger.
They all look up him, uninterested.
They’ll be toast.
Get ready to run.
SHERIFF
Are you deaf ? I told you, [advancing to the Messenger:] I
want Robin Hood’s pretty little face on his pretty
little head attached to his pretty little body on a
pretty big spike outside my [rising on tiptoes to be in
the Messenger’s face:] castle!
MESSENGER
Then what do we do? He’s got food in there for a week.
SHERIFF
I don’t care what you do! I don’t care how long it takes!
Bring me Hood’s body on a spike!
Will gradually stops sharpening the arrow. Much drops his
coat behind him and unbuckles his sword belt.
DJAQ
Much, what are you doing?
MUCH
I’m the one who got us into this situation. I’ll be the one
who’ll get us out of it. I’m gonna take a chance. I’ll go
out the front... points to the door with his sword still in
its sheath... I’ll pretend to negotiate.
Robin glances down, trying not to smile.
The Messenger nods and leaves.
†††††††††††††††
I’ll distract them. You make good your escape. Drops his
sword and reaches for his tag.
Little John looks up at Much.
If I die... pulls the tag off over his head and hands it to
Robin... remember me fondly.
ROBIN
Takes the tag. Quietly: Much...
LITTLE JOHN
Stop!
Much goes to the door and Little John runs after him.
ROBIN
... what are you doing?
A Good Day to Die 9
Much lifts the bar off the door .
MUCH
Tossing it to Little John: Hup!
Little John instinctively catches the bar. Much opens the door
and steps out, arms outstretched.
Scene Nine
Nottingham Castle. Courtyard.
Allan heads with his bag past the cloister to a stockpile of barrels and baskets under the north corridor. A tarpaulin has
been set up over it, between the cloister and the tree. Marian catches him up from the stables.
MARIAN
Exterior.
Allan...
MUCH
Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! I’m unarmed! I’m here to surrender... and negotiate!
Allan turns around to face her.
Three arrows hit the door around his head. Much scrambles
and falls back inside as the mercenaries all laugh heartily.
ALLAN
I wouldn’t worry about it. This trip’s just me, Giz and the
Sheriff. Serious. No soldiers, no mercenaries. I don’t
think it’s the King, Marian.
Interior.
I can’t nd Robin.
Little John pulls the door closed and bars it. Robin, still leaning on the post and not looking at Much, calmly holds
Allan turns back to the barrels stored under the tarpaulin.
Much’s tag out in front of him. Much jumps to his feet and
Marian follows.
walks past Robin, nodding and grabbing the tag as he
passes without a glance.
MARIAN
Yes, well, I do. I’m going to stop it.
MUCH
Thank you.
ALLAN
How? Looking amongst the barrels.
Much continues past Djaq and Will, now standing. Will still
has the feathers comically poking out of his mouth.
MARIAN
I don’t know. I’ll kill the Sheriff if I have to.
Muttering: Horrible people. Revolting. Turns around and
adjusts his tag round his neck.
ALLAN
What? Looks to see if she was overhead, then steps to her.
Djaq and Will exchange glances. Much lets out his breath with
Hey... have you forgotten what happens if the Sheriff
a quick “whoo.” Little John sighs quickly. Robin looks
dies?
from Little John to Much. Djaq and Will sit down and
resume their work.
MARIAN
No. Prince John’s armies will raze Nottingham to the
†††††††††††††††
ground.
ALLAN
Yeah, so leave it! Turns and heads for the storeroom under the
north corridor.
MARIAN
Yes, but if the King is in the south, then that’s where
Prince John’s men will be. Follows Allan. Nottingham
will be safe.
ALLAN
Chuckles. That’s a lot of assumptions there. Stuffs a loaf of
bread into his bag, then looks for more.
MARIAN
And if I prevent the Sheriff from killing the King, then
A Good Day to Die 10
that’s the King back on the throne.
Allan stuffs another loaf into his bag.
That’s the end of Prince John, the end of the Black
Knights and the end of their threats.
SHERIFF
My lords! Wonderful news... My lords! Swings the pitcher
up and sets it on the map. Whispers: Glorious news!
Drains the goblet and sets it down, then goes over to the
replace and turns around. We... arms outstretched... the
Black Knights, stand on the verge of greatness.
Crosses his sts over his chest and chuckles.
ALLAN
Steps to Marian. So you want to save England singlehandedly?
The door opens a bit and Marian pokes her head through. The
Sheriff walks back to the map table.
MARIAN
Panicked, loudly: No, but I can’t nd Robin!
We did not wait... for Mohammed to come to the mountain, no.
Allan looks around for any soldiers.
Marian, hand on the hilt, enters behind the Sheriff and raises
the sword.
Look, Gisborne and the Sheriff are ready to leave now.
There’s no time for this! Would you please help me?!
ALLAN
Sorry, you’re out of your depth. Turns back into the storeroom.
MARIAN
No, I’m sorry.
Allan turns back around to face her and Marian punches his
jaw. Allan falls backward, dazed, then unconscious.
We took the mountain... to Mohammed! We did not
wait... for the King to land...
Marian raises the sword behind her to stab the Sheriff, but he
sees movement in the polished silver pitcher and the sword
coming at him and he ducks, turning around and grabbing
her arm. He deftly spins her around and pins her onto the
map table, holding the sword across her throat.
Mistake, missy. Big mistake.
Marian glares at him deantly even in her compromised state.
You underestimate me.
†††††††††††††††
Marian takes Allan’s sword belt, goes to the door and checks to
see if the way is clear.
†††††††††††††††
East exterior corridor.
Soldiers walk into the castle. Gisborne comes up the steps, looking for Allan.
GISBORNE
Looks down the corridor. Allan!
Gisborne walks briskly down the corridor past Marian, who is
pressed into a shadowy corner. Marian watches him go,
then draws the sword, heading for the main doors.
†††††††††††††††
War room.
The Sheriff has a silver goblet in his left hand and a polished
matching pitcher in his right. He is pacing by the round
map, practising a speech.
A Good Day to Die 11
Scene Ten
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior.
Robin cautiously peeks out between the doors.
Robin nods. Much steps past him, swinging his sword down.
Robin turns around, keeping an eye on him.
†††††††††††††††
Exterior.
Horses gallop by Ellingham as he takes a drink of water from
a ask. Another group talk amongst themselves. Ellingham
sees Robin peeking and hands his ask to another.
Interior.
Robin realises Ellingham has noticed him and chuckles slightly
in anticipation.
Exterior.
ELLINGHAM
Oh, we’ve got time, Hood! All the time in the world!
Interior.
ROBIN
Us too! Would you like some more roast hog while you’re
waiting?!
Exterior.
Ellingham turns his back.
Interior.
DJAQ
I don’t understand. What kind of soldiers are these?
They’re not doing anything!
Much crosses by Djaq, swinging his sword.
ROBIN
Taking a few steps forward: They’re mercenaries. They
ght for money. Spins the knife in his hand. Not passion. Replaces his knife.
LITTLE JOHN
That is why they do not want to ght and die.
WILL
So, what, you think they’re just gonna wait?
ROBIN
Yep! Looks up. Looks like it. Shakes his head, still looking up.
And we can’t escape from here. They’re just gonna
wait until we come out. Looks at the gang.
MUCH
Puts his sword behind his shoulder. And then kill us. Not
even a conversation.
A Good Day to Die 12
Scene Eleven
Nottingham Castle. War room.
Gisborne storms in and stops in surprise upon seeing Marian
sitting in a chair with her hands tied behind it. The Sheriff is sitting in a chair near the door, behind Gisborne.
SHERIFF
You missed all the fun, Gisborne.
Allan enters behind Gisborne and the sentries close the door.
Your leper friend tried to kill me.
Gisborne glares at Marian, who looks down, ashamed of betraying his trust.
GISBORNE
Points to Allan. Did you know about this?
ALLAN
I didn’t know anything.
SHERIFF
Stands. Why would he know anything about this?
GISBORNE
Looking at Marian: She knocked him out and took his
sword.
SHERIFF
In disbelief: What?
ALLAN
Well, I wasn’t expecting it, was I? Or it wouldn’t have
happened.
Marian looks up at him, eyes wide.
Yeah, she’s good, b’ I’m better, though.
Marian cringes. The Sheriff slowly turns his head to Allan,
then steps towards him. Allan knows now he misspoke. He
shifts his feet as the Sheriff circles to his side. Allan swallows hard.
SHERIFF
“She’s good but I’m better.” That means you knew... looks
at Marian... she was capable of this.
Marian looks fearfully at the Sheriff, who steps over to Gisborne, looking at his calm face.
GISBORNE
My lord, please, I can explain.
SHERIFF
Well, you better had explain. Because she [walks to the
replace] just made an attempt on my life!
GISBORNE
Faces the Sheriff, then looks down, shaking his head. I recently
discovered that Marian... was the Nightwatchman.
SHERIFF
Looks at Gisborne in utter and speechless disbelief. Quietly:
What?
Marian looks at Gisborne, then cringes again as the Sheriff
shouts.
And you didn’t tell me?!
GISBORNE
I believed Marian’s days as the Nightwatchman were
over! I believed I had dealt with it!
SHERIFF
Stepping to the table: By tricking me?! By faking her escape?! Turns to Gisborne. Who was it who ran away?
Gisborne turns away. The Sheriff looks at Allan.
ALLAN
Look, I was just following orders, all right?
GISBORNE
Yeah, I gave the order.
SHERIFF
Why? Goes behind Marian.
GISBORNE
Because I thought Marian’s charitable instincts were misguided! I did not think they merited hanging.
SHERIFF
Oh, how very noble of you, dear boy. Although I can’t
help thinking that maybe you wanted a little something in return. Huh? A display of gratitude?
Gisborne turns his head away in exasperation.
to Marian: Oh, the Nightwatchman. Solidly taps her shoulder repeatedly. I’m impressed.
You knew, too, didn’t you?
MARIAN
Get off me.
A Good Day to Die 13
SHERIFF
Guards!
The doors open and the sentries enter.
Pack a trunk for Lady Marian!
The guards nods and close the doors. Gisborne looks apprehensively at the Sheriff.
Scene Twelve
Nottingham Castle. Courtyard.
Two soldiers escort Marian by her arms to the coach. The
Sheriff follows, putting on his gloves. Allan stops Gisborne
at the top of the steps.
ALLAN
Listen, Guy, Guy.
Gisborne stops.
She’s coming with us.
GISBORNE
To the Holy Land?
The Holy Land? Is this what I think it is?
Gisborne says nothing, but stares at Allan as the doors close.
SHERIFF
Oh, yes.
Quietly: Are we killing the King?
Marian looks up at the ceiling, knowing her instincts were correct.
GISBORNE
Part of the inner sanctum now, Allan. You should be honoured.
Oh, oh, look. Look, the look. Hm? So eloquent. “Oh, Guy,
what’s going to happen?”
Gisborne goes down the steps. Allan follows.
Marian lowers her head and stares at the Sheriff.
ALLAN
No, no. I am. I am. It’s just... sighs... the Holy Land?
Well, we just don’t know, do we, missy?
†††††††††††††††
GISBORNE
This is the ultimate mission and carries with it the ultimate prize. Turns around, reaching the coach. Absolute
power.
ALLAN
Well, yeah, for you and the Sheriff.
GISBORNE
And you. Allan, your loyalty will be rewarded in land and
title, I’ll see to that.
ALLAN
Really?
GISBORNE
Really.
ALLAN
What, you mean... you mean like a lordship or something?
Gisborne raises his eyebrows and turns to the coach. Allan ponders the possibility. Gisborne nods his head towards the
coach. Allan gets in, then Gisborne. Soldiers close its iron
doors. The coach rattles through the gate. The portcullis is
lowered behind it and the sentries resume their post in
front with crossed halberds.
†††††††††††††††
A Good Day to Die 14
Scene Thirteen
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior.
You brought the Sheriff to our camp! You showed him
where we live! Glances at Robin.
Robin sits down where Will was sitting earlier working on arrows and puts his face in his hands. Djaq throws her head
back as the drums start again. Robin stands and goes to
the door.
LITTLE JOHN
I was trying to feed the poor! That’s what we used to do!
What’s this all about? Feeding your fat face!
MUCH
Now what? Leans on the ladder.
MUCH
Fat face? Look who’s talking!
Bagpipes begin to play.
ROBIN
Walking past them: Shut up! The pair of you!
Exterior.
Little John walks away.
A drummer and piper cross in front of Ellingham, who is
swishing his ngers back and forth to the rhythm. When he
This is exactly what they want us to do. Turns around.
thinks Robin is watching, he moves a nger to motion
Fighting amongst ourselves and save them the trouacross his throat.
ble. Don’t give them the satisfaction!
Interior.
Much is ashamed.
MUCH
Sighs. In fact... I think we need to relax.
This is driving me mad! Why don’t they just come in here
and kill us?
WILL
Relax?
ROBIN
’Cause there’s no incentive, Much. Turns around and walks
ROBIN
towards Much.
I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. It’s my
birthday. Let’s celebrate. Pats Much’s hands at his sides.
Little John is pacing.
Let’s eat.
Every hour that goes by we become more fearful... more
tired... more likely to take foolish action.
WILL
The foolish action was bringing us here in the rst place.
MUCH
I’ve said I’m sorry!
LITTLE JOHN
Well, that’s not good enough.
MUCH
Oh, you’ve never made a mistake. I’m not saying anything.
Little John follows Robin to the table.
MUCH
Whispers to Little John as he passes: I haven’t got a fat face.
LITTLE JOHN
Whispers: Fat face!
MUCH
Whispers: Badger beard!
†††††††††††††††
LITTLE JOHN
What?
MUCH
I’m not saying anything.
Little John walks over to Much and raises his eyebrows. Much
stands up, pointing at him.
A Good Day to Die 15
Scene Fourteen
The road to Portsmouth.
The coach travels down the road. Allan and Marian ride with
their backs to the front facing the Sheriff and Gisborne.
MARIAN
Are you seriously going to the Holy Land?
Scene Fifteen
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior. Late afternoon.
The gang sit quietly around the table, nibbling at the food. Only
Much seems to have an appetite. Drums are still beating in
the background, but the bagpipes are silent.
MUCH
Nods slightly, braving the silence. Quite good.
SHERIFF
Yes, yes. I’ve never been before, have you? They say the
Robin glances at Much, chewing.
weather’s wonderful. Looks out the window. Guy’s been
before.
ELLINGHAM
From outside: Are you listening, Robin Hood?
Marian looks sharply at Gisborne.
Little John slams his cup down. Robin turns his head. Much
Haven’t you, Gizzy?
stands. Will runs with his broadaxe towards the door.
Much draws and runs to the door. Djaq stands behind
MARIAN
Will with her sword. Little John faces the door, holding
You’ve been before?
his staff ready. Robin calmly walks to the door and puts
his hands on the bar.
Gisborne scowls at Marian.
MUCH
Scoffs. Then it’s true. You tried to kill the King. Stares at
Be careful. Chews the food still in his mouth.
Gisborne, mouth slightly open.
Robin glances at Much, pulls the bar off and hands it to him,
GISBORNE
then opens the door a crack.
Stares back a moment. What? Feel betrayed?
MARIAN
Are you going to try and kill the King again?
SHERIFF
Yeeeeees. Mm. And you could say that it’s Robin Hood’s
fault. You see, Robin did warn the King to be on his
guard when he lands. So, rst plan, mercenaries in
the port... scratches his neck... dead in the water. The
new plan, instead of waiting for him, we, er... we pay
him a little visit. Grins evilly.
MARIAN
Mohammed not coming to the mountain.
Exterior.
Robin peers out with a glaring face. An arrow hits the other
door next to him with an apple skewered on it. The mercenaries laugh as the archer lowers his bow.
ELLINGHAM
Thought you might like some apple with your pork!
Robin genuinely smiles while glancing aside, appreciating the
good joke.
Enjoy your meal! Oh, and just to let you know, we won’t
be troubling you tonight... or tomorrow. We’re gonna
starve you out of here.
SHERIFF
ROBIN
Mm, indeed. to Gisborne: Shall I use that? Elbows Gisborne. Well, you’d better come back next Tuesday, then! Glances
Hm?
back inside at the gang. We’ve got enough food and
water to last a week here!
Marian rolls her eyes.
ELLINGHAM
†††††††††††††††
A week? Is that all you can last? What a shame. Sheriff ’s
paying us by the day! The mercenaries laugh.
ROBIN
Quietly: Ah. Calling to Ellingham: You’re a funny man! Do
us a favour! Next time... looks at the apple... bring some
mustard as well, will you? Pulls the arrow inside and
A Good Day to Die 16
closes the door.
Robin nods slightly, looking at Much. Much sighs and crosses
in front of Little John.
MERCENARIES
Ooh!
LITTLE JOHN
A good day to die.
Interior.
Robin hands the arrow to Much and storms inside.
MUCH
Holding the arrow upright: We don’t have water for a week.
ROBIN
I know that. Stops and puts his hands on his hips.
Much and Will approach Robin.
MUCH
Well, what are we gonna do?
WILL
Do you think they’re blufng?
ROBIN
Turns to face the gang. It doesn’t matter. Either way, we’re
beaten.
Little John ominously sets the bar into place on the door.
Robin looks pointedly at Little John, then turns away as Much
protests.
MUCH
Will you just shut up? to Robin: Why does he always say
that? to Little John: Don’t even know what it means!
ROBIN
Facing Much, arms folded: We’ll almost certainly die.
Much looks at Robin in astonishment.
But at least we’ll die ghting.
WILL
Stands up. Yeah. I’m in.
DJAQ
Me too.
LITTLE JOHN
Yes.
MUCH
Well, one thing’s for certain. We can’t just sit here and eat They all look at Much.
pork.
Much walks to the table, picks up a piece of pork, tears off a bit
with his teeth and spits it out, throwing the other bit to the
oor. Little John walks in faces Robin. Will sits on the
ladder.
And me.
ROBIN
Sombrely: Lads... I’ve got a proposal. If they don’t come to
us, we go to them.
Everyone looks at Robin.
ROBIN
Good. Nods slightly. Good.
DJAQ
Brightly: Then tonight is a Kalila and Dimna night.
LITTLE JOHN
When?
WILL
What?
ROBIN
First light.
Little John frowns at Will.
WILL
DJAQ
Smiling slyly: You don’t have Kalila and Dimna?
DJAQ
MUCH
Unamused: Surprisingly not.
MUCH
DJAQ
Sits. A bit excitedly: Kalila and Dimna night you remember
There’s too many.
We’ll die.
It’s suicide!
MUCH
A Good Day to Die 17
for your whole life.
Robin eyes the others, looking for their reactions as Djaq explains.
Scene Sixteen
The Portsmouth Road Inn. Exterior. Near sunset.
The coach arrives at the inn. A servant rushes to open the coach
doors. The Sheriff gets out rst as the innkeeper steps out
You must speak only the truth. You must ask all your
to greet them.
questions, share all your dreams, confess all your secrets.
INNKEEPER
MUCH
How many beds are you after?
It’s just talking.
Gisborne gets out and Allan behind him.
DJAQ
Yes. But it’s real talking. And if you’re too boring, someone shouts “Kalila” and you lose your turn.
SHERIFF
Holds up three ngers. Three.
Robin turns his head, not looking very happy about this idea.
INNKEEPER
to Allan: And you? With the horses?
to Much: You start.
MUCH
Protesting: Oh, no!
DJAQ
You can just talk. You like talking.
MUCH
Well, I know I do, but... well, not like this.
DJAQ
Fine. Then I’ll start.
†††††††††††††††
SHERIFF
No-no-no. Pointing to Marian getting out: No. This one.
Chuckles.
The innkeeper is appalled at the idea.
†††††††††††††††
Inn’s barn. Interior.
Gisborne pulls a chain attached to a cuff on Marian’s wrist
through a ring on the wall, pulling her back. The Sheriff
stands in the doorway.
MARIAN
to the Sheriff: You’d better not sleep tonight.
The Sheriff looks up, unperturbed, as Gisborne fastens the
chain.
Robin Hood will nd out what you’re doing and he will
come and he will stop you.
SHERIFF
It’s, erm... it’s Robin Hood’s birthday today. Did you know
that? He’s having a party...
Marian makes a “so what?” face.
... in Nettlestone village. Chuckles.
Allan enters quietly behind the Sheriff, listening intently.
And somebody’s invited one hundred of my ercest mercenaries.
Gisborne smirks and leaves for the inn.
A Good Day to Die 18
And they’ve, erm...
Marian looks down, picturing Robin’s predicament.
... they’ve got him surrounded. So... so Robin Hood is no
more.
Marian looks at the Sheriff deantly.
Hm? Well, sleep tight. Oh, and don’t let the horseies
bite. Winks and leaves.
Allan looks at Marian before turning to follow.
MARIAN
Whispers: Allan! Allan!
Allan looks to see if the Sheriff heard, then turns and goes to
Marian.
You can’t go through with this.
ALLAN
I can. You heard him, Marian. Robin’s nished.
MARIAN
Not if we get away!
ALLAN
Shh.
MARIAN
We’ll go back to Nottingham. We have to help him.
GISBORNE
From the inn: Allan?!
ALLAN
Coming!
Allan gives Marian a helpless look and goes to the door, where
he glances back. Marian looks at him beseechingly. Allan
goes inside.
†††††††††††††††
Scene Seventeen
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior. Night.
The gang are sitting in a half-circle round a re on the barn
oor. Will and Robin are sitting on adjacent boxes on the
left. Little John and Much are sharing a large one between
Robin and Djaq. Djaq is sitting on a high stool. Behind
Little John and Much is a large loaded wagon, put there
to barricade the door for the night.
DJAQ
So I admire you. All of you. You are good men. Brave...
generous, kind, decent men. And I love you. All of
you. And I am proud to be amongst you—
MUCH
Interrupting: Is this what this is? Just everyone saying they
love each other?
DJAQ
Holds up her hand to him. Wait... and you’re lthy.
Little John looks up.
And you really stink and you have no souls.
Robin smiles. Will smiles and looks down.
LITTLE JOHN
We live in the forest.
DJAQ
I have to be honest!
Djaq pauses and looks at Will, who is fondly smiling at her, but
looks down as soon as he catches her gaze. She looks aside.
Taps her knees with her hands, thinking. I have to be honest.
Marshalling her thoughts and courage: And if I am being
honest... I have to say... that I... do not love all of you
in the same way.
MUCH
It’s me, isn’t it? You love everyone but you don’t love me.
Brilliant.
Little John sits up and sighs.
DJAQ
Looking past Will at the wall: There is one... I do love...
Will slowly looks up at Djaq, not daring to hope.
... more than the others. Staring off to the either side of Will:
The way a bird would... y two thousand miles
A Good Day to Die 19
Little John eyes widen, looking at Will. Much stares at Will,
too.
will always... always be a woman.
Much throws back his cloak and stands.
through storms... just to be with the one he loves.
That is the love I feel. Looks aside. And I am a fool,
MUCH
Kalimnah. Boring.
Will stares at Djaq.
DJAQ
because it is only now, when we are about to die...
Absently, staring into Will’s eyes: Kalila.
looks Will in the eyes... that I have the courage to admit
it... even to myself.
MUCH
Whatever.
Will is amazed.
Djaq chuckles slightly, she and Will paying little attention to
I’m sorry. I should have said earlier.
anybody else but themselves.
MUCH
Whispers to Little John: Will.
†††††††††††††††
Little John smiles at Much.
I knew it.
Robin, leaning back on the post with his arms folded, looks sideways at Will next to him.
DJAQ
You, Will Scarlett, are strong and true and you ght
Will smiles and glances down.
for what you believe in. And that’s why I love you.
WILL
And I love you.
Djaq gives a slight chuckle, happy to know he returns her love.
I love the way you say what you mean. I love your
silly voice.
DJAQ
Silly voice?
Will laughs.
That’s it. I take it back, all of it.
Robin silently chuckles.
I hate you.
WILL
And I love the way you ght [growling a bit:] like a man.
Ferocious. Shakes his head slightly. And the way you
A Good Day to Die 20
Scene Eighteen
The Portsmouth Road Inn. Barn. Interior.
Night.
ALLAN
Yeah.
Marian sits with her back to the wall. Gisborne opens the door Allan leaves.
and looks in to nd Marian ngering her manacles. He
†††††††††††††††
stares at her, wrestling with his thoughts. Allan opens the
inn’s door and sees Gisborne at the stable door. Allan raises
his eyebrows questioningly at Gisborne.
GISBORNE
Can I trust you?
ALLAN
Takes a step forward. Yeah, of course.
Marian is listening intently.
GISBORNE
Tell me...
ALLAN
Tell you what?
GISBORNE
Robin Hood and Marian.
ALLAN
Stares a moment, then shakes his head. What about them?
GISBORNE
Quietly: They’re still... aren’t they?
ALLAN
Look, even if they were, he’s nished now, all right?
GISBORNE
Voice breaking slightly: That’s not an answer, Allan! I need
to know.
The Sheriff opens the inn’s door.
SHERIFF
Humming the Westminster chimes: Dee dum doo day.
Allan looks at him. Gisborne turns his teary eyes into the stable.
What’s this? Kissing in the moonlight? Huh?
Allan chuckles quietly. Gisborne glares at the Sheriff, his mood
suddenly turned to indignation.
Shall I go out, come back in again? What do you think?
GISBORNE
to Allan: Go to bed.
A Good Day to Die 21
Scene Nineteen
Nettlestone. Barn. Exterior. Night.
Ellingham and his messenger are eating. Ellingham glances at
the barn.
Interior.
DJAQ
John?
Robin and Little John are sitting hunched over. Much is leaning back against the ladder with his arms folded. Little
John looks up, shakes his head and looks down again.
LITTLE JOHN
No.
LITTLE JOHN
That’s why I’m always saying it, Much. “Today is a good
day to die?” Because for me, it is!
Much can’t look at Little John.
I deserve to die. I left the people that loved me, the two
people that should have depended on me. My own
child! Wh— shakes his head... Oh, God! What was I
thinking?!
ROBIN
John...
Little John takes off his coat.
... I’ll not let you talk like this.
WILL
John, come on.
LITTLE JOHN
I’m going now.
DJAQ
Who do you love?
Robin puts his hands over his face.
Little John glances up quickly and quietly at Djaq, then sighs.
He shakes his head, not knowing what to say.
I won’t wait till tomorrow.
Little John goes to the cart blocking the door.
LITTLE JOHN
You. All of you. Pointing with his thumb at Much behind
him: Even him. Irritably: I love you all, all right?
John.
Little John stands and walks near Much. He stops a long moment, sighs and turns around to face the re.
Let’s move this cart.
And Alice.
Robin and Will stand up. Little John puts his back to the cart
and tries to push it as Will goes over to him.
Robin shifts in his seat, feeling for Little John.
I shouldn’t have let her go. And my boy... Little Little
John. Shakes his head. I should have... made them stay.
ROBIN
John, you didn’t have a choice.
ROBIN
LITTLE JOHN
Mutters: Move this thing! Louder: I need to die! I want to
die!
Will pulls Little John’s head to him. Djaq looks aside in anguish for him.
Let me die! Let me die!
LITTLE JOHN
Let me speak.
WILL
John!
Robin turns to the re.
LITTLE JOHN
Leaving Alice... running to the forest... shakes his head... It
was wrong. Wrong! Walking past Much: That’s why
I’m a... huge, ugly, stupid, useless coward!
WILL
John!
Let me die!
Will tries to hold on to Little John. He looks back at Robin,
who is watching, leaning on the post with one hand on his
hip.
I want to die now!
A Good Day to Die 22
MUCH
to Djaq: Is this normal? This Kalimnah thing?
Djaq looks at Much sadly.
’Cause it’s weird!
Little John’s emotions take over and he sinks to sitting on the
oor and crying.
†††††††††††††††
Scene Twenty
Portsmouth Inn. Bedchamber. Night.
The Sheriff, Gisborne and Allan have beds in a row. The Sheriff is asleep in the rst bed with Marian’s keys in his grip.
Gisborne, in the second, is asleep on his back with an arm
over his eyes. Last is Allan, sitting up, awake, unhappily
pondering his dilemma, his past choices, his future path.
He glances at the Sheriff.
†††††††††††††††
A Good Day to Die 23
Scene Twenty-One
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior. Night.
It’s all right for you because you can just breeze through
life and be everyone’s hero and not have to worry
about the simple things
LITTLE JOHN
Robin, sorry about that.
Robin’s eyes look at Much.
Little John, recovered, has resumed his place by the re.
Robin says nothing, but nods slightly. Much paces behind him,
and walks briskly to Djaq.
MUCH
Look, I’m not doing this.
like the re or the food or the hole in your cape or
your birthday! ’Cause good old... swings his arm... dependable old Much will take care of that. Nods, walking to stand next to Robin: Well, I tell you something.
Points at Robin. You take me for granted.
Robin scoffs and shakes his head.
DJAQ
Fine.
You’re sniggering at me now.
MUCH
Good. Looking at the others: Because I don’t hate myself
and I’m not in love with anyone else, so...
Much, I’m just saying—
DJAQ
Fine.
ROBIN
MUCH
Interrupting: You shouldn’t!
Robin falls silent and presses his lips together.
MUCH
Fine. Well, there’s nothing to say then. Turns and walks
past Robin.
Robin sniggers quietly, looking at the oor. Much stops and
looks at him.
What?
ROBIN
Looks up at Much. What?
MUCH
You’re smiling.
Turns, walking away: And I’m angry!
Djaq watches Much sympathetically. Will feels for Much, too.
Much puts his hand to his forehead. Robin looks at Much
and Little John turns his head to look at Much, too.
And just because I love you doesn’t mean I can’t hate you,
too. And I hate you. Because in the Holy Land there
was two of us and we were a team and the things we
went through and the horrors we saw... Went
through them together! And when we came home we
were like brothers. Brothers-in-arms. And where is
that now, eh?
ROBIN
Chuckles and looks away. I’m smiling because usually it’s a
struggle to shut you up.
Robin lowers his eyes, unable to look at Much any longer.
MUCH
Nods. You think I talk too much.
Robin sadly stares out at nothing.
Robin stares incredulously at Much as he walks away.
Pacing: Well, I know that’s what you think. Much talks
too much. And eats too much. Worries too much. It’s
easy for you to say because if I don’t do it, then who
does?
Robin rolls his head, ustered, but says nothing, leans back on
the post and listens to Much, who is nally letting out his
feelings.
It’s gone. That’s where! You never talk. You just don’t.
Sighs. And you made me a freeman and we’re meant to be
equals. Shakes his head. We’re not equals. The only
thing that’s changed round here is you still treat me
like a servant, you don’t treat me like your friend.
ROBIN
Quietly: That’s not true.
Little John sits up. Robin glances at Djaq, then Little John
with his eyes. Little John glares at Robin.
A Good Day to Die 24
Scene Twenty-Two
Portsmouth Inn. Barn. Interior. Night.
Is it true?
Little John’s expression doesn’t change. Much looks at Djaq
Marian is asleep in the hay, leaning on a blanket-covered sadand Will, sees their silent faces staring at Robin, and nods,
dle. The door opens and she is startled awake. Allan comes
his point made, but not entirely happy with his success.
in, holding his sword belt. The Sheriff ’s keys jingle in his
Robin closes his eyes and hangs his head with a sigh.
other hand.
MUCH
MARIAN
Oh, Kalillah. Walks away.
Whispers: Allan.
Robin sits still a moment, head down, then looks up.
Allan goes over to her and unlocks her chains.
ROBIN
Thank you.
Well, they’re not coming tonight, that’s for sure. Raises
his head and thinks, his eyes glancing round. We’ll make a
plan for the morning. Stands and walks away.
I can’t kill the King.
Little John sits, hand to mouth, thinking.
†††††††††††††††
ALLAN
MARIAN
Go. Go quickly.
ALLAN
What about you, though? You’ve crossed the Sheriff now.
MARIAN
Look, I’ll be ne. Go. Save Robin.
They hear the door to the inn close.
Go.
Allan stands, draws his sword and hides behind the door.
INNKEEPER
From outside: Who’s there? Opens the door. I heard voices.
Marian frowns, and shakes her head as if she’s heard nothing.
The innkeeper looks around then backs out the door.
†††††††††††††††
Outside the inn, Allan leads a horse away. Once on the road, he
urges the horse to gallop through the dark, ducking under a
overhanging branch.
†††††††††††††††
A Good Day to Die 25
Scene Twenty-Three
Nettlestone. Barn. Interior. Night.
Robin is sitting on a box in front of the wagon with Djaq
kneeling at his right. Will is sitting on a box on Robin’s
other side. Much is sitting next to Will on the oor. Little
John is standing opposite Robin with his staff. On the dirt
oor, thin sticks have been arranged like the walls and
doors of the barn and the fences outside.
to Robin: Forget what I said. I don’t want you to die remembering me that way.
Will slowly glances back at Djaq behind him.
ROBIN
Earnestly: Hey. I’ll remember you as my loyal friend.
Much stares a moment, then looks down, biting back a tear.
ROBIN
Sighs. Right. Let’s get the weapons ready. Looks at Little
Drawing a line in the dirt with the tip of an arrow from the
John. As soon as there’s light to see by, we go.
barn doors out to the where the fences narrow the path: We
stay tight up until this point. Taps the dirt in front of
the narrow spot. And then we divide. Pulls back his ar- Robin picks up his bow from the oor next to him and he and
Will stand up.
row. Is everybody clear? Nobody answers. Show me.
LITTLE JOHN
LITTLE JOHN
Taking a step forward: I go here. Taps a spot with the end of
his staff.
No.
DJAQ
Will and I... here. Taps with her ngers.
No!
ROBIN
Mm-hm. Motioning a circle over the drawing: And then you
switch positions and you cover from the back.
ROBIN
Slams his bow on top of the wagonload. Stepping towards the
gang: John, we agreed this! Puts his hands on his hips.
Djaq stands up and goes to the back of the wagon.
LITTLE JOHN
You have not spoken, Robin. It’s your turn.
MUCH
Staring sombrely out: And after that?
Robin looks up.
WILL
Quietly, looking at the ground: Much, I don’t think there’s
going to be an after that.
MUCH
Yeah, I know.
Djaq lightly claps her hands, then goes to stand behind Will.
Everyone else is gravely silent. Much stares at Robin.
MUCH
Will sighs.
This is really it.
Robin stares out at nothing.
ROBIN
Sighs, pauses. We have a few moments left on this earth.
Let me have my thoughts to myself. I’ll share them
with you in the next life. Turns away.
DJAQ
Robin, if there is a heaven,
Much looks up with an awful thought.
yours is different from mine.
DJAQ
Looking east over the wagon: First light. Nearly dawn.
This is it.
Robin’s shoulders fall.
MUCH
What if there isn’t a heaven?
ROBIN
It’s almost light.
LITTLE JOHN
Admonishingly: Robin.
Robin looks back at the gang.
ROBIN
You know my thoughts. They are for the poor. They are
A Good Day to Die 26
for you. And they’re for Marian. The woman I love.
pictures the battles in his mind, tears welling up in his eyes.
Tears show in his eyes. The woman who recently I gave
a ring to.
In the Holy Land, the men we saw... in bits... and screaming... pauses, sighs. Every time I raise my bow, I see
DJAQ
them. I hear them. And I know now, whether it was
You’re engaged?
right or [shifts his feet] wrong... what we did in the
Holy Land, it makes no difference. So I have to try...
Robin blinks back the tears and nods. Will looks at Much now
not to kill. I have to avoid killing. Sighs, then chuckles
standing beside him to see if he knows. Much nods afrslightly once. I mean, God gave me a gift with bow. I
mation back at him.
can kill with my eyes closed. I mean, I can kill a man
from a thousand yards. And I have to try everything
ROBIN
in my power not to. Glances at Much, shrugs, then looks
Takes a few steps towards them. The woman who makes me
at him. And that’s why I wasn’t there for you... in your
believe that by a twist of fate we might just be able to
hour of need, my friend. Because I have to let those
see this through.
memories go. Bites his trembling lip. I just have to be
free.
Much sighs and looks down.
MUCH
And Much, I have betrayed your friendship.
Swallows, staring. Quietly: Why didn’t you say?
Much slowly looks up at Robin.
But I think you know why.
Little John looks at Much. Much shakes his head slightly.
Glances at the sun. You see, I can’t face the terrors we saw.
Shaking his head: I can’t. Because I’m not as strong as
you.
ROBIN
Shrugs, shaking his head. It doesn’t matter now. In a few
moments, we’ll be free for ever.
Much goes to Robin and gives him a long hug. Robin tries not
to cry. Little John stares at Robin with new-found respect
and tries not to cry himself. Much releases Robin, who
chokes back a sob.
MUCH
Well... turns to the gang behind him. Here’s to freedom.
Much scoffs.
I have to put them out of my mind, because if I don’t...
then I wouldn’t be able to lead. I mean, I wouldn’t
even be able to... Chuckles because he can’t nish.
Little John nods solemnly.
WILL
Here’s to the poor.
MUCH
What?
Djaq looks at him.
Little John starts his line in the middle of Robin’s.
Looks at Little John. Here’s to the good people we leave
behind.
ROBIN
Looks at Much. It doesn’t matter. Looks towards the dawn.
LITTLE JOHN
Realising: Be able to shoot.
LITTLE JOHN
We... are Robin Hood.
ROBIN/MUCH/WILL/DJAQ
Solemnly, quietly, not in synchronisation: We are Robin Hood.
MUCH
Frowns at Little John. Shoot? Looks at Robin. Of course he
can shoot!
Robin glances at Much, tears still in his eyes, then looks at
Little John.
ROBIN
No. Scoffs, shakes his head. No. John’s right.
Thank you, my friends.
ROBIN
Robin’s face turns to a mixture of fear, sadness and horror as he Robin looks at Will and Djaq in turn, then turns around and
A Good Day to Die 27
picks up his bow from the cart as Djaq and Little John go
to get their weapons.
†††††††††††††††
Scene Twenty-Four
Portsmouth Inn. Bedchamber.
Gisborne is asleep on his stomach, twitching as he dreams.
Marian sits beside him on the bed and rubs his shoulders.
MARIAN
I should have let you look after me, Guy. I should have let
you. With Allan’s voice: I’m your boy. I’m nothing
without you.
Allan replaces Marian, rubbing his shoulders.
ALLAN
Right from the very beginning, [Allan’s voice fading and
the Sheriff ’s amplifying:] I should have let you look
after me. With the Sheriff ’s voice: Shh.
The Sheriff rubs Gisborne’s shoulders. Gisborne wakes up with
a jerk, startling the Sheriff, and looks back at him.
SHERIFF
Shh.
The Sheriff puts his face in Gisborne’s.
Guy, don’t be too disappointed.
GISBORNE
What?
SHERIFF
Your boy, Allan. He doesn’t love you any more. He’s run
away. He’s lost his nerve.
GISBORNE
Sighs and turns his head back down. I’ll nd him.
Gisborne starts to get up, but the Sheriff pulls back on his
shoulder.
SHERIFF
No. No, no. Let him go. We don’t need him, hm? It’s better this way. Just us.
Gisborne looks aside.
†††††††††††††††
A Good Day to Die 28
Scene Twenty-Five
Nettlestone. Dawn.
Allan gallops his horse into Nettlestone.
needs. Glances at the barn, then leans in to Ellingham.
Quietly: I think it’s probably... you know. Black Knight
stuff. You’d be paid in full, obviously.
Ellingham thinks a moment
Barn. Interior.
Robin and Much push the wagon out of the way, then Robin
grabs his bow from the top. Little John unbars the door.
Djaq and Will stand to either of side it.
ELLINGHAM
Quietly: Aye. Jerks his head at the barn.
WILL
What do you think, John? A good day?
Allan walks towards the barn.
LITTLE JOHN
Oh, yes. Fiercely, walking away from the door with the bar: A
good day.
The gang are ready to charge. Djaq draws her sword and looks
at Will, who is still a bit bewildered from his kiss.
Interior.
MUCH
Godspeed till we meet again.
Much draws his sword and has his shield ready. Robin looks at
Little John, who turns to the door with his staff raised,
ROBIN
then grunts intensely but softly. Robin looks at Djaq. Djaq
See
you
in
heaven,
my
friends.
looks at Will. He looks back at her. She steps forward and
kisses him, stunning him with the sensation of his rst kiss.
She steps back, but he still has his eyes closed, savouring the Djaq nods at Robin, then looks at Will, who turns his gaze
away from her to look out the crack at the mercenaries.
moment. Djaq tries not to cry as Will slowly opens his eyes
and stares at her, realising what they will never have toExterior.
gether.
Allan walks towards the barn but his way is blocked by a group
of mercenaries standing in the narrow place between the
Exterior.
fences.
Allan rubs his hands together in the crisp autumn air of the
morning, walking through the mercenaries to Ellingham.
ALLAN
Smiling,
politely:
Excuse
me,
gents. Coming through.
ALLAN
Morning. Allan A Dale, Gisborne’s man. Er... I’m looking
The mercenaries part to let him pass.
for Ellingham?
ELLINGHAM
That’s me.
Nods. Thank you.
Allan walks between the fences.
Allan smiles briey.
ELLINGHAM
ALLAN
Sheriff sent me down here on an errand. Wants me to
take the outlaws back to him at the castle. All right?
ELLINGHAM
Oh, no. Sheriff says they’re to stay in there till they rot or
till they come out to be shot.
ALLAN
Yeah? He’s changed his mind.
ELLINGHAM
Right, let’s move out!
Allan keeps walking and closes his eyes, grateful his ruse is
working, but dreading the moment yet to come: facing
Robin.
MERCENARIES
Move it out! Come on! Move out!
The mercenaries le out.
Interior.
Why?
ALLAN
Well, it turns out they might have some information he
ROBIN
Are we ready?
A Good Day to Die 29
MUCH
Quietly: Yes. Raises his shield.
ROBIN
ALLAN
Listen! Grabs Much’s arm. We haven’t got time to talk now,
all right? I’ve spun ’em a yarn. We’ve got to get out
of here before they’re on to me—
One... Two...
MUCH
DJAQ
Looking out through cracks in the door: Allan!
WILL
Interrupting: We? We?!
ALLAN
Earnestly: I’m with you. Trust me.
What?
Allan looks beseechingly at Robin. Robin nods slightly.
DJAQ
Looks at Will. Allan A Dale.
They both look through the cracks and see Allan approaching
the barn and glancing behind him at the departing mercenaries.
I’ve been an idiot. I’m sorry. But right now we’ve got
work to do. The Sheriff and Gisborne are going to
the Holy Land.
MUCH
The Holy Land?
Exterior.
Allan bangs a st on the door.
ALLAN
Open up!
ALLAN
They’re on a boat from Portsmouth. They’re going to kill
the King.
Interior.
Djaq looks at Robin.
Robin grimaces and hangs his head at the news. The others exchange incredulous glances. Little John looks outside. A
horse whinnies.
ALLAN
(I’m here on behalf of the Sheriff !)
ROBIN
Right. We need to get out of here. Now.
ROBIN
Motions with his hand. Let him in.
†††††††††††††††
LITTLE JOHN
Kill him!
ROBIN
Stepping over and putting his hand on his shoulder: John, calm
down.
Much dashes behind Djaq, who opens the door.
Exterior.
The door opens.
ALLAN
Oh, thank God. Steps inside.
Interior.
Djaq closes the door as Much grabs Allan by the coat.
MUCH
What do you want? What do you want?
A Good Day to Die 30
Scene Twenty-Six
Portsmouth. At the coast.
The coach has stopped by the coast. The Sheriff is standing by
the edge of the bluff and breathes in deeply, then walks
back to the coach. Inside, Marian and Gisborne are sitting
side by side. The Sheriff steps in and turns to look out
again.
SHERIFF
Sea air, Gisborne. Breathes in. Sea air. Closes the door and
sits opposite Gisborne and Marian. Oh. Takes off his
gloves. to Marian: Oh, well, come along. Give Gizzy a
little kiss. Chuckles. No? Tuts. Oh.
Gisborne scowls at him. Marian looks at Gisborne.
Onward, driver! Let’s go and kill a king, shall we?
The coach starts.
Scene Twenty-Seven
Nettlestone. The barn. Exterior.
A group of mercenaries are milling behind Ellingham talking
with the Messenger, who points at Allan opening the barn
doors. Allan holds up his hand.
ALLAN
It’s all right! It’s all right! They’re coming quietly.
Allan holds up his other hand holding a rope to which the gang
are supposedly tied and steps out.
Show’s over!
Allan pulls on the rope. Much steps out rst, his cloak wrapped
round him. Djaq is next, then Will in his cloak, Robin and
Little John.
Er... one thing actually. I’ve got to get his rabble back to
the castle somehow, so...
†††††††††††††††
ELLINGHAM
Sarcastically, stepping slowly forward: Sure.
Allan stops.
The Sheriff wants to talk to the outlaws in the castle.
ALLAN
Yeah.
ELLINGHAM
Well, that’s strange, that.
The Messenger steps up next to Ellingham.
Points to the Messenger: Because a little birdie told me that
the [points at Allan] Sheriff left the castle yesterday.
ALLAN
Feigning innocence: You’re joking? Did he?
ELLINGHAM
Nice try. Get them!
The gang drop the rope and step aside. Will and Much throw
back their cloaks and the gang draw out their hidden
weapons: Much and Djaq their swords, Will his broadaxe,
Robin his knife. They separate and Little John runs to the
front, staff ready, as the mercenaries charge through the
narrow fence.
Leading the charge: You got no chance! You’re gonna die!
Little John hits a mercenary with his staff, then kicks him
A Good Day to Die 31
aside. Robin ducks Ellingham’s sword, then Little John
hits Ellingham in the back. Much parries with his sword,
then dances round, ghting. Allan swings down on a mercenary’s axe. Robin charges Ellingham with his knife.
Ellingham steps back and Robin passes him. Both turn
around and Robin stabs at Ellingham again, but Ellingham blocks Robin’s arm with his left and starts to punch
him with the right, but Robin blocks it, then twists Ellingham’s left arm behind his back, forcing him to double over.
Robin holds him and Little John spins and kicks Ellingham in the face. Robin lets go as Ellingham sails backwards. Little John stands over him.
LITTLE JOHN
We are gonna to die, but not today!
Much parries a blow. Allan blocks and shoves his opponent’s
blade aside. Much parries again as Djaq, ghting beside
him, knocks away the Messenger’s sword. Behind them
Will has just incapacitated a man with his broadaxe and
sent him sailing into the barn wall. He pulls his axe back
in front of him to get ready to defend himself as another
mercenary attacks him. He catches the man’s sword with
his axe as Djaq swings backhanded across the Messenger’s
throat with a cry. The others defend themselves against the
onslaught as Robin makes a run for some horses tethered
under a shelter beyond the barn. Ellingham crawls to his
sword on the ground and gets a grip on the hilt. Much
swings and is blocked, then kicks his foe in the groin. Allan
rushes forward and swings his sword at the man’s back.
Much swings backhanded and slices the man’s throat.
Ellingham gets to his feet.
follows his gaze and turns around to see more mercenaries
standing beyond the fence, ready to charge behind Ellingham. Allan’s eyes widen as he sees more men coming up
over the ridge.
ELLINGHAM
Pointing at the gang: I told you you were going to die!
The gang watch in horror, and then Robin rides around the
corner with ve horses in tow.
ROBIN
Like we said... stops his horse and looks at Ellingham... not
today! to the gang: Come on, then!
ELLINGHAM
Motioning to his men: Get them! Get them!
Djaq sheathes her sword. The gang dash for the horses and
mount them. Robin leads the charge through the narrow
fences, and the mercenaries ignore Ellingham’s orders,
having no intention of being trampled.
Come on! What are you waiting for?! They’re getting
away!
The gang ride through the mercenaries and out of the village.
Robin laughs maniacally as they escape into the forest. Ellingham glowers after them.
†††††††††††††††
ELLINGHAM
Fall back! Come on! Runs back between the fences.
Djaq ducks an overhand blow and comes back with a backhand,
but her foe defends himself with his shield. Will, having
sent his wounded opponent crashing to his knees, turns to
help her, swinging his axe into the mercenary’s back.
WILL
She’s with me.
Djaq slices the man’s neck with a shriek, then looks up at Will.
Much nods his thanks to Allan.
MUCH
Good to have you back.
ALLAN
Good to be back.
Will gasps, noticing movement in front of him. Behind Allan,
Little John stabs a downed mercenary with his staff. Djaq
A Good Day to Die 32
Scene Twenty-Eight
Sherwood Forest. A few minutes’ ride outside
Nettlestone.
Robin stops his horse and the gang gather together.
MUCH
To the camp?
ALLAN
There’s no time. Listen, there’s something I haven’t told
you.
ROBIN
What?
ALLAN
The Sheriff and Gisborne have got Marian.
ROBIN
What?!
ALLAN
She wanted to save the King, she couldn’t nd you and so
she tried to kill the Sheriff and got caught.
Robin turns his head away in exasperation. The gang all look
to Robin.
ROBIN
Allan’s right. We haven’t got time. We go to the coast.
Now!
Allan clicks to his horse and the gang ride off. Robin waits to
go last.
I’m coming, my love. I’m coming.
Robin gallops after the gang.
†††††††††††††††
TO BE CONTINUED...
.END OF EPISODE TWELVE.
A Good Day to Die 33