marian lines robin hood

Lines for the role of Maid Marian in Greg Banks' Robin Hood

PRINCE JOHN: I need to get dressed.

/Marian was one of the maids that served in Prince John's court./

SHERIFF: Marian, we have some grave news regarding your father.

Is he in danger? Is he ill?

SHERIFF: No. No. Your father is in good health. At the moment. But, if you do not answer our questions... if you don't help us he may suddenly fall very, very ill indeed.

What do you mean?

SHERIFF: He might even die.

You wouldn't.

SHERIFF: There is a way in which you can save him, if you are prepared to help us with a certain matter.

I can't. I won't.

SHERIFF: It would be very sad if anything were to happen to Daddy... So you'll help us?

What choice do i have?

SHERIFF: Good. Take these pebbles.

/Early one morning, a few days later,/

SHERIFF: Move.

/Marian found herself travelling through Sherwood Forest./

SHERIFF: Hurry up.

/In a smart horse-drawn carriage.../

SHERIFF: Now!

Could we...

SHERIFF: Louder!

Could we rest for a moment?

SHERIFF: Keep going.

It's so hot in here.

SHERIFF: It's not safe. They say that Robin Hood lurks in these woods and preys on innocent maidens.

Surely not.

ROBIN: That's not fair. I have never, ever, hurt even a hair of a lady's head.

/At that very moment out of the bushes burst.../

SHERIFF: Where's Robin? Why isn't he here? Marian, shout now.

Help, help! We're being attacked!

SOLDIER: Ow.

By vicious, nasty—

SHERIFF: Keep going. Help!

Ugly—

SHERIFF: Help!

Dirty—

ROBIN: There is nothing to be afraid of. Your attackers have fled. You can go safely on your way now.

No, please don't leave me. I daren't go any further in this forest. My guard lies senseless. I feel so weak and frightened.

ROBIN: Will! Will Scarlett, one... of my merry men.

Gentle sir,

WILL: Who's this?

Will you allow me to rest in your dwelling, here in the forest for a short while?

WILL: Robin—

And then help me on my way.

ROBIN: This way, my lady.

How far do we have to go?

ROBIN: Not far. But the valley where my merry men and I live is well hidden.

Your merry men?

ROBIN: Yes.

So, who are you?

ROBIN: I'm Robin Hood. You may have heard of me.

No, I don't think I have. /All this time, Marian's heart was heavy. Never in her life had she met anyone so brave, so kind as this man./

ROBIN: /As they walked, Robin told her all about his life in the forest./

/Her heart was won by his gentle manners, but this was the man she was sent to betray./

ROBIN: They say I'm an outlaw. Prince John has offered a reward to anyone who captures me.

Is that true?

ROBIN: I'm afraid it is. It's the largest reward that has ever been offered.

That's awful.

ROBIN: Not really.

/But, everything she said to him, every gesture, every action, was part of the Sheriff's plot./

ROBIN: /All of this was hidden from Robin as he made his way down the winding track to the secret valley./

Where are we going?

ROBIN: /He only knew that the sun seemed brighter, the grass greener, the birdsong sweeter, because Maid Marian was beside him./ Here we are. Light a fire, men. Strike up a song. We have a guest.

/The fire leapt up. Soon, a grand feast was in full swing. With every moment, Marian felt that there had never been such a good life as this life in the forest. It was becoming more and more impossible to betray Robin and his merry band. She could keep quiet no longer./ Men of Sherwood, listen to me. Forgive me for the great wrong I was about to do you.

ROBIN: Great wrong? You were in great danger.

There was no danger to me, only to you. I was sent here to betray you. The ambush was false, the robbers hired men.

WILL: And these?

Dropped by me to leave a trail to your camp.

WILL (to ROBIN): I told you no strangers.

I'm not asking you to understand, only to forgive me. I did it to save myself and the life of my poor father. But since I have been with you in Sherwood, I have been filled with such love for you all and your leader that I can no longer find it in my heart to betray you. I'll go back to the Sheriff and tell him to find someone else to do his dirty work for him.

WILL: You'll have to be blindfolded again and returned to the castle. You just tell the sheriff the pebbles were discovered by one of the band.

I'll do it.

ROBIN: We must leave before it gets too dark. /They walked the twisting, turning paths until they appeared on the edge of the forest./

Have you truly forgiven me?

ROBIN: If I were not a penniless outlaw, I would ask you to share my life in the forest.

I can imagine nothing sweeter. I will make sure my father is safe and come back to Sherwood as soon as I can.

ROBIN: Take this horn. When you need me, blow on it three times. Now, I must leave you here. It's dangerous to go closer.

I'm not afraid. Not anymore.

ROBIN: Goodbye, my heart.

Until next time. ... Is it you, Sheriff?

SHERIFF: It is.

I have been so scared. Those outlaws treated me so roughly.

SHERIFF: You're safe now.

But it didn't work.

PRINCE JOHN: What didn't work?

The sheriff's plan.

PRINCE JOHN: Oh, you surprise me. Why didn't it work?

The roughest of the outlaws discovered the pebbles.

PRINCE JOHN: Pebbles?

And threw them into the woods.

SHERIFF: You stay here while I decide what to do with you,

Is my father safe? Can I see him?

SHERIFF: Maybe. Maybe not.

Don't you dare harm him. I did what you asked.

SHERIFF: Don't cry. I hate the sound of snivelling.

I'm not crying.

SHERIFF: Well, you should be. You should be very, very sad.

My poor father. Thank goodness I didn't betray Robin.

SHERIFF: Betray Robin. She has betrayed me. That rough outlaw has won her heart. But I see a chance to get the better of him.

Robin.

SHERIFF: I'll marry her... that'll bring Mr. Hood running. And I'll be waiting for him.

Blow three times.

SHERIFF: You won't be needing that. Stay here.

/While Marian shivered in the cold comfort of the castle,/

SHERIFF: /The sheriff was still plotting to catch Robin./ Marian... Marian... Marian...

What do you want?

Sheriff: There's someone to see you.

Father.

DAD: Alive and well.

/She was so happy to see him./

DAD: Tell me it's not true. Tell me you are not in league with that outlaw Robin Hood. That slayer of the King's deer.

How... You're supposed to be on my side. You're my dad.

SHERIFF: A husband would be the best cure for her.

A husband?

SHERIFF: Definitely. That's settled then. We're getting married.

No!

SHERIFF/DAD: She does, she does.

No I don't. I will marry no man of your choosing, father. Unless he be my choice also.

SHERIFF(To FRIAR): You be quiet. Sit down.

And my choice is and always will be Robin Hood.

DAD: Where are you going?

Sherwood Forest. There's nothing to keep me here, Father.

DAD: Oh no, you're not.

Oh yes, I am.

SHERIFF: Yes, and I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Bye bye.

SHERIFF: I'll have my men pull up the drawbridge.

I'll swim the moat.

SHERIFF: Then I will lock the gates.

And I will leap from the battlements.

DAD: Then I will lock you at the top of the very top tower.

And I will rip up the sheets, make a rope, and let myself down.

SHERIFF/DAD(To FRIAR): Shut up!

Wherever they put me, I will find some way to escape. Robin waits for me. I love him, and if I go freely to the Forest, I shall return willingly. But if you lock me up, and I slip out, I shall not return at all. /As she left, she grabbed the Sheriff's bow./

SHERIFF: That's mine.

Not anymore.

SHERIFF: Marry me.

Never.

SHERIFF: /The sheriff raised the alarm./

/Marian raised the bow./

SHERIFF: /And pinned his hand to a door./ OW!

/And again./

DAD: Alright.

I think it's time to leave.

FRIAR: Alright. And if you should ever need my help again, you'll find me down by the river.

Long live King Richard! /With that, Marian disappeared into the forest./

SHERIFF: Come back. Please.

/Just in case the Sheriff and his men decided to follow her, Marian didn't go looking for Robin straight away, but hid herself deep in the forest./

ROBIN: /As Robin made his way through the forest excited at the prospect of winning the silver arrow, he met a young man./

/Dressed as a forester./

ROBIN: /Who held a bow in his hand,/

/And wore a stout sword at his side./

ROBIN: How now, good fellow? What news of Nottingham?

The Sheriff and Prince John are gathering soldiers to hunt down and catch a band of outlaws.

ROBIN: Oh, outlaws. About time too. And what do you do, my fine lad, with that long bow and stout sword?

I mind my own business, old man, and so should you.

ROBIN: My business is with you. Tell me your name or feel the edge of my sword.

Two can play at that game.

ROBIN: Hold your hand. Let's fight no more. You fight too well to be wasted like this. Come and throw in your lot with Robin Hood and be one of his merry men.

Robin?

ROBIN: That's me.

Don't you recognise me?

ROBIN: Marian. You wounded me.

I'm sorry about that. /He challenged me./

ROBIN: /I didn't know who she was./

/Marian told him the whole story,/

ROBIN: I knew you'd fought the sheriff's men, but what about your father?

He betrayed me.

ROBIN: Then, welcome to Sherwood, where you shall live and fight alongside me and my merry men.

I want nothing more. But first, there is a silver arrow to be won.

ROBIN: By me.

I think you'll find I am going to win it.

ROBIN: We'll just have to see, won't we?

We will. Won't we?

ROBIN: May the best man...

Woman...

ROBIN: Person win.

Agreed. You'd better keep your disguise. The sheriff will be there.

ROBIN: You too.

/The games were being held on a cold, bright day./

ROBIN: The contest is open to anyone. And I'm as good as anyone here.

Let the old man shoot. He won't get through the first round.

PRINCE JOHN: Another one of your fabulous plans. Let's get this over with. First one to hit the bullseye wins.

/Prince John went down to the target himself./

SHERIFF: Something familiar...

/Drew the bowstring back to her cheek.../

SHERIFF: Name! It's on the tip of my tongue.

/Held the tension.../

PRINCE JOHN: Wait!

SHERIFF: It's—

/And let fly./

SHERIFF: Yes... Look who it is.

/Robin stepped forward./

SHERIFF: No. It can't be.

/Set the arrow against the bow,/

PRINCE JOHN: Will you be quiet!

/Hung a moment on the aim,/

SHERIFF: And her.

/And loosed the arrow./

ROBIN: Long live King Richard!

MUCH: Everybody!

Long live King Richard!