. . . . . DINOSAUR TV FILMED HISTORICAL SERIES Cashing in on the extraordinary success of Robin Hood, came a host of imitations. The format always seemed to be the same. For the Sheriff of Nottingham, substitute Gessler or The King of Spain. For Little John read Gurth or Gaff, and for Sherwood just make that Tintagel or the High Seas. Rewrite the plots and lo, surely you'll repeat the successful formula. None somehow got beyond a first season, although William Tell was perhaps the nearest to nearly doing so. My favourite 'Historical' series: it must be The Adventures of Robin Hood, for Richard Greene proved a fine hero, and Alan Wheatley a perfect counterpart as the scheming sheriff. Fine support cast too, including Alexander Gauge's memorable Friar Tuck, and Archie Duncan, playing his familiar bumbling character, here as Little John Best theme music: Sir Francis Drake's stirring music gets my vote; the composer- the underrated Ivor Slaney Worst of these series: for me, Sword of Freedom rarely comes alive. The Count of Monte Cristo is a disappointment too Picture Question: Identify the actor and the character he played in one of the series listed above. Here's the answer Main TV Menu

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THE ADVENTURES of ROBIN HOOD starring Richard Greene
On December 10th 1958 at the High Pine Club, Mr and Mrs Fisher of Sapphire Films and Richard Greene threw a farewell buffet plus an orchestra "for dancing." Among those attending were Sidney Cole, producer, his assistant producers Thelma Connell, Basil Appleby and Jud Kinberg; technicians Ken Hodges (lighting), Noel Rowlands (camera), Pip Pearson (sound); directors included Compton Bennett, Gordon Parry, Terry Bishop, Robert Day, Peter Seabourne and Anthony Squire, along with Frank Holland who was assistant director throughout. Lots of the actors attended including both Sheriffs, Alan Wheatley and John Arnatt, plus Marian, alias Patricia Driscoll with husband Duncan Lamont. Also there was Paul Eddington ("given a big chance in the last serial"), Alexander Gauge, Archie Duncan and stunt man Rupert Evans. The report adds it was "a happy occasion." The picture shows Archie Duncan chatting with Hannah Fisher.
The excellent supporting cast contributed to the series' success. Most memorably Alan Wheatley, who said he received hate mail on account of his on screen villainy. Archie Duncan was Little John- however he was replaced in thirteen early stories, because he broke a leg when mastering a bolting horse on location shooting. He received the Queen's Commendation for bravery, since some children had been in the direct path of this horse. Many of these outdoor scenes were filmed at Foxwarren in Surrey.
The series provided a rare phenomenon, success for a British TV series in America, the Eldorado of all British production companies. In early April 1957, the series came a respectable 17th in the US National TV Nielsen Ratings with a score of 34.9, indicating over 11 million homes watched the programme (by comparison Sir Lancelot came only 86th).
My favourite episode (of many): #140 The Reluctant Rebel.

Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Series 4

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Robin Hood Series 1

1 The Coming of Robin Hood 2 The Moneylender 3 Dead or Alive 4 Friar Tuck 5 Maid Marian 6 The Inquisitor 7 The Knight Who Came to Dinner 8 The Challenge 9 Queen Eleanor 10 Checkmate 11 A Guest for the Gallows 12 The Ordeal 13 A Husband for Marian

14 The Highlander 15 The Youngest Outlaw 16 The Betrothal 17 The Alchemist 18 The Jongleur 19 The Brothers 20 The Intruders 21 The Sheriff's Boots 22 Errand of Mercy 23 The Vandals 24 Richard the Lionheart 25 Ladies of Sherwood 26 Will Scarlet

27 The Deserted Castle 28 The Miser 29 Trial by Battle 30 Children of the Greenwood 31 The May Queen 32 The Wanderer 33 The Byzantine Treasure 34 Secret Mission 35 Tables Turned 36 The Traitor 37 The Thorkil Ghost 38 The Wager 39 The Prisoner

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Brief reviews
6 The Inquisitor - "The fat brown friar" is kept out of the way in the priory dungeon since the archbishop is coming to Nottingham. Tuck mustn't be allowed to tell of Robin, who however, rescues the Friar from torture by the Inquisitor. Robin poses as said torturer and takes Tuck into the presence of the archbishop to give his "confession"
27 The Deserted Castle - "This is serious, Robin"- is John planning an alliance twixt himself and France? The Queen Mother orders Robin to scupper it. French emissaries are rerouted to an empty castle where Robin poses as the sheriff, insulting his foreign guests who nevertheless agree to his outrageous terms. The real sheriff besieges the castle, but the queen saves the day
28 The Miser- a pleasant fairy tale of Sir William who, facing extra taxes from the Sherrif, demands his peasants pay up. The money is delivered to Nottingham- "I am not amused," declares the sheriff, when he finds only buttons. For Robin has intercepted the payment and redistributed it to the poor peasants. Sir William is persuaded that buttons can be magicked into silver and collects every button he can find in his castle, a nice ruse by Robin to relieve Sir William of his ill gotten fortune
31 The May Queen- With Sir Richard Donnington killed in the Crusades, his son Gilbert inherits his castle. It all looks rosy, for he is to marry Genevieve. However her ambitious father (John Longden) is eager for power and tries to break Walter with the aid of the Count de Clifford, and of course the Sheriff. On May Day, on the Field of Honour the Count's Champion will do battle with Walter, it will be a very one sided contest, but wait a minute...
35 Tables Turned - Suzette and Francois are captured in error by Derwent- they are only children, and they enjoy a whale of a time with the outlaws. When Robin returns them, it is he who is captured. Marian informs the outlaws who ride to the rescue, only to discover the children have already got him free
36 The Traitor- The ransom for imprisoned King Richard has been collected and of course stolen. Robin follows the thief who cunningly arrests Robin for stealing it, and Robin is sentenced to the gallows. Though it's a trick to get the outlaws to rescue him, and be captured themselves, a maid saves Robin who is able to take the treasure to its rightful place
38 The Wager - Robin bets Friar Tuck that he can get more gold by begging than the friar can by praying. After gambling his Sherwood Green for a beggar's clothing, Robin robs some dishonest beggars. Tuck bamboozles two rogue Norman monks at a shrine. Of course, Robin repays the beggars' loot to a poor widow and narrowly avoids capture. But Tuck is "not ashamed of his efforts"
39 The Prisoner- Prince John is to be crowned king on the morrow, so Robin and Marian gallop to London to rescue Blondel, King Richard's envoy whom John has imprisoned. He has the proof that Richard yet lives. Donald Pleasence steals the show with his portrayal of John, a demented fop
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The Coming of Robin Hood

From the Holy Wars, Robin of Locksley returns to his inheritance, via the back way. He greets Martha the cook, and Old Tom, who confirm the rumours Robin had heard, that a certain Sir Roger de Lisle (Leo McKern) has taken possession of his lands, "I stayed away too long."
"You are an imposter," is Sir Roger's retort, and after a fight, Robin has to run from his own home.
After a night in the open, Robin is awoken by a deer poacher (Alfie Bass), who has been caught and about to be cruelly punished- orders of Prince John. Having rescued him, this Edgar has no choice but to join kindred spirits, outlaws in Sherwood Forest.
But Robin appeals to the new sheriff, a Norman lord, who at first is more concerned about the incident of the deer, "a crude attempt" to justify the theft of Robin's property. However, on inspecting Robin's letter from King Richard himself, he agrees that "restitution" be offered to Robin. Sir Roger is privately told to arrange "an unfortunate fatal accident."
Thus when Robin enters his ancestral home, the trap is set. But our hero is alert, spotting the shadow of an archer, and it is Sir Roger who is felled by the arrow intended for Robin. "You'll hang for this," he is told, for the blame for Sir Roger's death is laid at Robin's door.
That night, in the open again, outlaws feebly try to attack Robin. Edgar however recognises him and Robin joins their band. A spirited opening story, darker than many, neatly introducing the legend that was Robin of the Hood. Perhaps what is slightly baffling and not explained, is why Robin does not return to the Holy Land to help King Richard

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The Moneylender
Robin is teaching the Outlaws fighting skills, when Will returns with a small fortune he has stolen. Robin isn't too pleased as the robbed man, Sir Philip, was a friend, "he treats his people well." That arouses Will's ire and the pair fight. Robin realises that he must earn his keep, so sets off with Edgar to rob a passer by.
First to come along is Herbert of Doncaster (Leo McKern), a moneylender, who charges exorbitant interest rates, in collusion with the sheriff- an ideal victim for Robin's "first" robbery. Robin pretends to befriend the man and learns that he hides most of his cash in his boot. Useful information when Edgar holds them up! "Run along," Robin chides him, "and give my compliments to the sheriff."
To prove his inherent goodness, Robin returns the excess interest to the poor swindled peasants, including Hawkins.
Herbert informs the sheriff, who still demands his cut. Lay a trap for Robin is the sheriff's cunning plan.
Old Tom is ferrying a shipment of wine that is held up by Will. Close by are the sheriff's men in ambush, and an arrow fight ensues, in which Will is wounded, "I'm done for."
Hawkins proves a valuable ally to the fleeing Outlaws, and he gives shelter to Robin and Edgar. But the evil sheriff forces Hawkins to burn his house down. Luckily the Outlaws were safe in a cellar- might have been quite hot down there.
As Will expires, he hands over the reins to Robin. Odd that Robin had a conscience about who he robs, but showed no compunction about killing the sheriff's men

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Dead or Alive

John is a seven foot giant who is a serf working for the Earl of Bedford. His Lordship shows his muscles off to a young lady, John obliges by lifting the earl high up onto a window ledge. "I'll have you flayed alive," snarls His Lordship.
But no guard can prevent the burly John running off, and he is now a wanted man. Avoiding the bloodhounds, he is found next day by a lake by a serving maid from The Blue Boar. She takes him there to give him food. But the sheriff's men happen to be dining there and spot the wanted man. Seeing his size, they offer him the chance of freedom if he will but bring them one of the Outlaws.
The giant encounters Robin Hood himself, and they have a fight with poles, all in good spirit, until Robin falls into the lake and is soaked. John askes Robin to direct him to The Blue Boar and Robin obliges by showing him the way. of course it's a trap, Robin is caught, a thousand guineas is the reward for his capture, and Little John is thanked by being trussed up himself. This is a definite error by the sheriff's men, and Little John, realising that The Outlaws are not the villains they are painted, having broken his ropes easily, saves Robin in a fight that makes a mess of the inn.
Thus John has to become one of Robin's men, though I didn't find the story utilised all the inherent possibilities

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Friar Tuck
This introduction to Tuck is done so much better than that of Little John: the script bristles with fun.
A message for Robin is passed to the Outlaws by Joan at the Blue Boar. The sender is Friar Tuck, apparently "a stalwart fellow with a sword," a talent rarely displayed outside this episode. Fearing a trap, Robin calls on the good Friar in disguise, and after some nice badinage, Tuck helps the stranger on his way, across a stream. He dips Robin in the water.
Identities established, Tuck explains why he wants Robin's aid. He is giving sanctuary to young Mildred, daughter of Brian, who desires to marry Harold. However wicked Lord Germain has another suitor in mind, Sir William (Leslie Phillips). Robin promises to help, in return the Friar will say mass for the Outlaws.
Sir Germain shows up with his protege. Mildred refuses to go away with them, so Sir Germnain decides to summon the sheriff ("we're doomed!"), leaving Sir William to make sure his intended doesn't run off. But Tuck and Robin invite him to dine with them, and explain that Mildred really does love another. After a comic swordfight, Sir William is persuaded. Very smartly, Friar Tuck performs the wedding ceremony and Harold and Mildred are declared man and wife.
The sheriff shows up, but what can he do? While, Sir Germain fumes, Robin creat`es a distraction, to draw the sheriff's attention away from Mildred. "After him you men!" cries the sheriff, but of course it's too late. Robin has gone, and so have the newly marrieds

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Maid Marian
Robin "meets his match" after the outlaws snatch jewels bound as tax payments to Prince John. But he recognises that this treasure belongs to Sir William Fitzwalter, "as good a man that lives." He resolves to return the loot.
Lady Marian Fitzwalter has complained to the sheriff about the robbery. She tells him she will catch Robin Hood herself. She dons brother Albert's outfit and heads for Sherwood, "Robin is going to rue this business."
In the woods, she fires an arrow at Robin. She tells him her name is Peter, he says he is called Will Meadows, Though they were childhood friends, apparently neither recognises the other.
She asks him if he knows Robin. "A pleasant fellow," is the response. She wants to meets him. So he takes Peter to the Outlaws, where he reveals his identity. She however remains as Peter. She asks to join the band, and beats Ned at archery, thus winning acceptance as one of them. She cooks them a meal, then does the washing up.
But when all are sleeping, she slips away. Come the morning, her absence is noticed, and Robin goes off in pursuit. It is not clear how he catches up with her so quickly. He should've suspected a trap.
"I returned your money to you yesterday," he informs her. That convinces her, and they are about to kiss when the trap she has pre-arranged kicks in. The sheriff's men surround them, and Robin is bundled away.
A public holiday is declared to mark the hanging of the notorious outlaw. The sheriff looks smug. He thanks Lady Marian for her assistance. But she has realised her error, and begs to question the prisoner about where her jewels have been hidden. Of course this is but a subterfuge to free the prisoner. "They'll never suspect me." She is right there, for Robin kisses her before tying her up and making his getaway

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The Inquisitor

William's baby has the plague and he hurriedly summons Friar Tuck, who however declares it to be only heat rash. But Tuck is seized by two soldiers, who escort him to the abbot. He wants Tuck to answer the charge of fraternising with outlaws, before the archbishop, who is to pay a visit. Tuck is held in the priory dungeon.
Little John picks an argument with the chef at the priory, and after good natured fisticuffs, a truce is declared, and the two feast together, the chef giving LJ some insights into the lazy monks. FT also enjoys a feast, thanks to LJ switching the prior's meal for Tuck's gruel. Tuck refuses to confess to any wrongdoing, but is threatened with the archbishop's inquisitor, unless he confess.
Robin arrives at the priory, to see the archbishop, request denied. Anyway, the sheriff has wormed his way in, getting in first with the archbishop. A barrel is delivered to the priory, hidden inside is Robin. The barrel makes its way to the dungeon- Tuck thinks he must be dreaming. Still in hiding, Robin watches as the prisoner is escorted away to the hooded Inquisitor. The rack is turned tighter. "I'll make a confession," groans Tuck. But before he does, Robin pounces.
Dressed as The Inquisitor, Robin announces to the archbishop and abbot that Tuck has confessed. He reads out Tuck's statement, about his rebellion against Prince John. "Silence," cries the abbot. Yet the archbishop listens sympathetically to Robin, "there was no other way for the truth to reach you."
The archbishop claims Tuck, and Robin, as prisoners of the crown, and has them removed from the priory. Of course he then releases them, and by "an act of God," they escape

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The Knight Who Came To Dinner

A paying guest is needed for dinner, and a ravenous Tuck and Little John round on Sir Richard of the Lea (Ian Hunter). Frankly however, he doesn't look that presentable, so he is smartened up to suitably impress Robin.
But Sir Richard really is all but broke, and cannot pay, thus Tuck and John are assigned to the stocks. Sir Richard explains to Robin that he had used to fortune to pay for his son's defence after he had been involved in an accident while jousting. Unless he repays the loan to the abbot who has loaned him extra funds, his lands will be forfeit.
Robin lends him the necessary money. Tuck poses as a squire accompanying him. He gives us a few laughs as he is still famished.
Then they meet up with the abbot who is in league with the sheriff. The debt is paid and the abbot left red faced, having excpected to take over the lands. Tuck tricks him further by getting Robin and Little John to rob the abbot, and thus the loan to Sir Richard is recovered

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The Challenge

Here is The Sheriff, "one of the most important men" to visit the castle of Sir Richard, whose estate Robin saved.
Giles Black is the finest archer in England, so says the sheriff, and he issues a challenge to the best man Sir Richard can put up. The sheriff even promises immunity to Sir Richard's champion. The wager is 50 crowns. of course it is all a trap to catch Robin.
"Who the blazes is he?" Robin asks, when told of Giles' reputation. He is persuaded, despite the obvious danger, to take up the challenge.
"I believe you've given your word before," Robin tells the wily sheriff. Nevertheless the contest begins, the sheriff watching hopefully on.
Giles scores three bullseyes, "nobody can beat shooting like that." Then it is Robin's turn. Naturally he matches Giles. Another round with a smaller target. Giles concedes, angering the sheriff. As Robin leaves, outside the castle the sheriff's men lie in waiting. But Robin is ready for it, "you blundering idiots," yells the sheriff, not for the last time. "You treacherous dog," Sir Richard admonishes the sheriff.
The sheriff lays siege to the castle, and Sir Richard finds his guests eating him out of house and home. Sir Richard has one trick up his sleeve to end the crisis.

Note- Ian Hunter enjoys this role, and his sarcastic wife provides excellent support

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Queen Eleanor

The Queen Mother (Jill Esmond) is staying at Fitzwalter Hall, collecting funds for the crusade. The sheriff knows, and plans to relieve her of her offerings.
Obsequiously, he approaches Queen Eleanor, bringing his token of loyalty, "in concrete terms" 500 marks. "My only concern is to get you there safely," he promises.
Friar Tuck brings Robin a message that Marian needs to see Robin "alone after dark." The Outlaws, jealous perhaps, give their leader an impromptu bath, then Robin dons the best clothing he can find, and sets off for his date with the fair Marian. His hopes may be slightly dashed when it becomes clear that he is needed to give the queen his best advice.
Robin suggests sending Sir Giles as a decoy on the Highgate Road, while the queen travels only with her trusted adviser Bruno through Sherwood, where Robin can guarantee safe passage.
However the sheriff gets wind of the plan through Bruno no less. Some of the sheriff's men dressed in Lincoln Green, lie in ambush for the queen. Thankfully Friar Tuck spots them and at Robin's prompting goes to the Blue Boar to report these outlaws to the foresters. Thus the ambushers are ambushed, leaving the way through the forest safe for the queen, after the evil traitor is exposed

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Checkmate
Soldiers of Count de Walden are oddly snatching any peasant they can lay hold of, including fourteen year old Henry. His distraught mum tells Lady Marian, who goes straight to the count to complain. He offers her a bargain- Henry's release in return for a dinner date. Marian asks Robin for help.
Robin discovers that the count has placed a large order for armour. Little John helps deliver same, but the cart is seized by The Outlaws, and they deliver the goods themselves. It seems that the count plans to make his new castle "the safest in England."
Under Friar Tuck's watchful eye, Lady Marian dines with the count. This is an ideal part for Leslie Phillips. Once the Friar takes his leave, the count makes his advances, but she turns it into a lesson on chess. While he teaches her, Robin's man overcome the count's men. "I heard a cry," queries the count. But he is distracted by Lady Marian.
Tuck has located the castle keys, and frees the prisoners in the dungeon. Meanwhile the count has found himself in checkmate- in the game of chess. He reveals to Lady Marian that his prisoners are to be used in a plot to appear to attack the garrison of King Richard. "I have three thousand suits of armour," he boasts to her.
But his dubious plan is cut short, and so are his designs on Lady Marian. Robin saves her from a kiss, or worse. He clashes swords with the count, an easy win, before escorting Marian home

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A Guest for the Gallows
The Sheriff is "a little tired" of the excuses offered to his tax collectors, and decides to make an example of one defaulter, Will Stutely. "He will hang!"
Little John is rightly angry, "I'll strangle every Norman," he declares. But Robin opts for a more subtle approach, purchasing a horse and cart from a bemused butcher (Denis Shaw) amid some jovial banter. Dressed as a butcher, Robin reaches Nottingham, as a fanfare declares Will's hanging will soon be taking place.
In the marketplace, Robin offers cut price beef, but the other traders object to his bargain prices, and Friar Tuck stirs them up into a riot. Robin is taken before the sheriff, who doesn't recognise him thankfully.
Robin admits he is no butcher, but tricks the greedy sheriff into a deal, Robin will 'sell' him a hundred head of catttle for a mere twenty pounds. He takes the sheriff to see these mythical animals. Their route lies through Sherwood.
Though the sheriff boasts he has the outlaws under control, after a one sided swordfight, he is taken prisoner. The penny drops, the sheriff realises too late who is his captor. Blindfold, the sheriff is led to the outlaws hq, and offered the bargain: a hanging for a hanging! Alternatively, freedom for both prisoners. An exchange is arranged, with the sheriff signing a document to effect Will's release: we see this, and it is nicely signed by "A Wheatley." Will's hanging is postposned at the very last minute.
The exchange takes place outside the city gates. Of course, the sheriff's men are made of treachery, "this is the way you keep your word," Robin berates the sheriff. A standoff is avoided by a funeral procession, headed by Friar Tuck

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A Husband for Marian
Passing traveller Sir Hubert is 'invited' to dinner by the outlaws. He confides to them that though he has no money, he soon will be rich, for he is to be married. The lucky bride: Marian!
"Impossible," says a worried Robin. Hubert admits he had fixed it all up with Marian's father, in the Holy Land. Hubert had saved his life, and this is his reward.
Marian has received her father's missive on the matter. Her uncle is to make all necessary arrangements. Ada, her lady in waiting, poses as Marian to meet this Hubert, while Marian swaps roles with Ada. Admittedly, Hubert finds the new lady in waiting more attractive than the new Marian. The latter charmingly purses her lips for a kiss, which is never to be.
Hubert informs Marian's uncle that he "loves her with all his heart." However he takes a more active interest in the lady in waiting. Even a kiss. Uncle is surprisingly broad minded when he sees him at it.
The truth about the swap comes out, but the dim uncle is still prepared to bless Hubert's marriage to Marian, the real one that is. So to the wedding. But who should turn up but a German baron who had vaguely offered to marry Marian four years ago. Of course this is Robin in disguise, mit einem German accent. The issue will be determined by combat, and what has been mild farce turns to mild drama.
"I yield," cries Hubert, who admits that it had been a charade, his saving Marian's dad's life. Yet there will be no wedding today. The outlaws turn up in disguise to arrest the baron.
Cries uncle, "we've already lost one bridegroom..."

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The Highlander
Duncan is a very canny Scot, overconfident. He carries a keg of wine for which Robin had laid ambush. In return for the cask, he asks for dinner.
The outlaws prepare a feast for him, and he is introduced to Lady Marian. She flirts with him, to Robin's irritation. A round of sports livens up their appetites, Robin and Duncan engage in a swordfight. With a spot of trickery, Duncan comes out on top.
After a very pleasant meal, Robin inquiries Duncan's business in England. Duncan is seeking supporters to help him in his political fight. Robin declines naturally.
Early next morn, Duncan rises to go boar hunting with Lady Marian. Robin discovers them enjoying a happy breakfast together. The playful Duncan laads Robin into a trap that he has prepared for him. While the outlaws rush to his rescue, Duncan helps himself from Robin's store of treasure. But Robin returns in time for another swordfight, a different victor emerging on this occasion.
Duncan has been caught thieving, and is sentenced to be hanged. His dying speech reveals the real reason for his visit. So all is forgiven apparently, and Robin sees him safe on the road north, parting the best of friends.
If you liked the character of Duncan, this is a fair enough story, but I found him irritating, and the storyline not up to the usual standard

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The Youngest Outlaw

Marian's dog is rescued from a bog by a young lad (Peter Asher). Then Robin does have to rescue them both. The lad says he wants to be an outlaw! He says he has run away from his cruel guardian.
He stays with the outlaws, Little John teaching him to chop wood. Arthur is also about to be given a much needed wash, until Little John learns who the lad is.
At the Blue Boar, Robin meets Lord Torrance, who claims that the boy is a political prisoner of Count de Walden. But he is actually Arthur, Duke of Brittany and heir apparent to the English throne.
Friar Tuck learns that his mother is Duchess Constance. Robin takes Arthur to the inn, to be taken away by Torrance, and safety abroad. A lady is with him and Robin is tricked into thinking this is the duchess.
Marian has found the real duchess, so Robin has to chase after the imposter, and he comes upon Arthur who is trying to elude Torrance's clutches. In a swordfight, Robin teaches Torrance a lesson, but then Torrance indulges in some trickery. It's a good job Arthur spots this, and he fires an arrow, using the skills he has learned as the youngest outlaw. "You saved my life"

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The Betrothal

This follows on from #7, reintroducing Sir Richard of the Lea, who has lost in another tourney, and owes 200 gold nobles. As he is broke, his solution is to quickly find a bride for his foppish son Claude. He persuades Robin and his merry men to dress as knights to impress Sir Hugh, father of the intended Gladys (Jennifer Jayne). Her dowry is likely to be extensive.
Robin cuts an impressive figure, though his attendants are somewhat clumsy. He manufactures a fight to show off Claude's fighting skills, to impress Sir Hugh, "you're too good for us, Sir Claude!" But even Sir Hugh can see the young man is no fighter, though Gladys is mightily taken by his musicianship.
This happy scene is interrupted by Sir Blaise and Sir Miles, Sir Richard's creditors, who require immediate payment. The story becomes very silly, as Sir Hugh decides Robin is a more suitable match, and offers him a small fortune to wed Gladys. Claude becomes very angry because Sir Miles has taken a shine to Gladys, and fights wildly. The skirmish is ended with victory to, of course, Robin. He demands 20,000 gold nobles to wed Gladys, but she point blank refuses to do so.
Perhaps the worst part of the story, but quite fun, is Jennifer Jayne singing, obviously dubbed

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The Alchemist
Hold up in the forest. A man runs off carrying a bag, and only eludes Rolf by dropping his bag. Rolf takes this to the outlaws, but he retains one gold plate, which he later gives to his poor dear mother Ethel.
She breaks the plate up and has it taken in stages to a goldsmith. But villagers wonder where this gold has come from. Is she a witch? It is reported to the sheriff, who sees in her a way to trap Robin Hood. Playing on the villagers' superstition, Ethel is arrested.
Friar Tuck attempts to calm the villagers, but it is too late. Ethel is on trial before The Earl and the sheriff. She is found guilty and sentenced. The sheriff waits for Robin to come to her rescue.
A nun calls on Ethel, obviously a suspicious person! However when the sheriff's men stop her, she proves to be merely The Earl's wife, desirous of learning the witch's secrets. Ethel is tied to the stake. A black cat starts Robin's scheme. A plague of toads scare off the guards, then the coup, some burning kites in the air complete the illusion of witchcraft. "Run for your life!"
Rolf rescues his mum. Robin explains to the villagers all the tricks he has employed. Ethel is no longer a women they fear

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The Brothers
Soldiers accuse Friar Tuck of hiding a serf named Guy. But actually Tuck has hidden him in Nottingham itself, for Guy is clever enough to work as a scholar, transcribing documents.
His brother David is the one hiding with Tuck. But the Sheriff gets wind of Guy's whereabouts, and Marian is only just in time to warn Guy. She offers a little help in enabling him to get away. Now he must become an outlaw. But Tuck has other plans, and introduced him to the Abbot of Whitby, who, when he perceives that Guy really is a scholar, and not merely a man on the run, welcomes him to the abbey, initiating him as Brother Alphaeus.
David is arrested by the sheriff. As the older brother, he is deemed to be responsible for his brother and will be punished. When Guy hears of this, he desires to rescue David, but is forbidden by the abbot. However he sneaks out at night and gets Tuck to help. The friar visits David in jail, accompanied by another monk, Guy, who swaps places with David. Thus David is freed.
It's a little confusing for the sheriff. He has David on trial, but Guy informs him he is not David. Oh well, decides the sheriff, for eluding justice, Guy is sentenced to death. But he pleads Benefit of Clergy.
The Abbot comes to claim Guy. "My authority is at stake," moans the poor sheriff, who has to have Guy released. But he sends his men after Guy and the abbot to kill them. En route to the abbey, the attack is made. But Robin is waiting.
Thus Guy takes up his holy calling, and his brother David joins him at the abbey

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The Intruders
The village of Steepleford have turned against Robin, and for why? Some locals have been robbed. Not by us, protests Robin. Yet these villains claimed to be Robin's men.
Robin and Little John come upon two pilgrims who have been robbed. By Robin Hood, so they say. Robin follows the tracks of these thieves to the abbey. Robin persuades the abbot (John Longden) to let him stay at the abbey as a "new probationer" so he can discover the identity of the robbers.
Lessons with the young novices are a blueprint on which Chislebury School might have been modelled. Godric is one cheeky rascal, Jules another. Robin joins the class, and outdoes them in his anti-social behaviour. The two lads are impressed and invite him to join them in their next escapade.
Robin however presuades them into committing a much bigger robbery. He is going to rob Lady Marian! Robin holds her at knife point after awakening her from sleep, so that she can tell him where her jewels are located. Once these are in his possession, he orders Jules to silence Marian, kill her even! But the two lads are sick of such brutality, even if it is actually feigned, and scurry away scared, followed by laughs from Robin and Marian.
After a half joking near bedroom scene, Robin returns to the abbey, and is told that the lads have learned their lesson attempts to calm the villagers, but it is too late. Ethel is on trial before The Earl and the sheriff. She is found guilty and sentenced. The sheriff waits for Robin to come to her rescue.
A nun calls on Ethel, obviously a suspicious person! However when the sheriff's men stop her, she proves to be merely The Earl's wife, desirous of learning the witch's secrets.
Ethel is tied to the stake. A black cat starts Robin's scheme. A plague of toads scare off the guards, then the coup, some burning kites in the air complete the illusion of witchcraft. "Run for your life!"
Rolf rescues his mum. Robin explains to the villagers all the tricks he has employed. Ethel is no longer a women they fear
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The Sheriff's Boots
On a wild boar hunt ("pigs chasing pigs") the Sheriff's horse goes lame and he attempts to borrow a horse in the village of Retford. Locals cannot help, and since the poor Sheriff is already irritable because his cobbler Master Higgs is unable to supply any comfortable boots, he will have to walk the ten miles to Nottingham.
However an eager local, Nell (Joan Sims), offers him a very comfortable pair of "clodhoppers." He is impressed with the quality of the leather and orders ten pairs. Later, he reprimands Master Higgs for his incompetence. Higgs tries to buy the leather from these villagers, who use a secret method of tanning. Actually their source is Robin Hood.
Higgs despatches his cronies to ransack Retford. Told of the outrage, Robin shows the villagers how to defend themselves against the "bullies." After painstaking instruction the men and women practce these new skills, Nell enjoying "a little fun" with Robin." Such meets Marian's disapproval. But Little John takes a shine to Nell, only to receive some ribbing from the other Outlaws.
Marian protests to the Sheriff about Higgs' high handed treatment of Retford. But Higgs has discovered the source of the leather, and when he tells the Sheriff, a plan is hatched to trap Robin when he travels to the village at a causeway. However Robin is one step ahead of them, thanks to Marian.
Higgs' henchmen get a shock when they turn up at Retford. They are repulsed by the ferocious villagers, plus Little John, who might have won his almighty tussle, except that Nell accidentally knocks out the wrong man

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Errand of Mercy

Apothecary Anselm is searching Sherwood for poisonous mushrooms, much needed to fight the epidemic St Anthony's Fire, which is sweeping the poor in Nottingham. The outlaws assist him in finding the plants, and as the carter who is to transport the stuff is taken ill, Robin and Little John have to transport the goods.
Unfortunately they are spotted, even though they are in disguise, "I think it's that Robin Hood," the Sheriff is informed. As Robin takes a moment to speak to Ethel, Derwent's wife, the Sheriff pounces. Four against two, easy odds, and Robin, though wounded, and Little John escape. They seek help from Dr Giles, who nervously agrees to help. Little John goes to Anselm for a powder. The sheriff typically refuses to pay for more information as to where Robin is hid, and thus a little belatedly tracks the outlaws down. By now, Anselm has revealed that Giles had prescribed a sleeping draught, and so treats Robin himself, as best he can. Then Robin and Little John are bundled in a Death Cart, and taken out of town. They are given refuge by grateful waggoners, who aid the escape. Too late the sheriff finds them, "don't try to make a fool of me."
"You're not as stupid as you look," Robin tells Little John, who has thoughtfully brought Dr Giles' moneybox with him

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Richard the Lion-heart
Lady Marian finds the outlaws are very fed up. They have nothing to do, order of Robin, who is spending too much time with a visitor from the Holy Land, Master Peregrinus.
Indignantly she tackles Robin as to why he is so beholden to this man. The penny drops, as she learns that this visitor is the king himself in disguise. He is needing help to quell the rebellion of Philip in France, but is worried also that in his absence, Prince John and his cronies will seize their chance in England. De Belvoir, Earl of Huntingdon is to lead this revolt, so Lady Marian is commissioned to go to him on behalf of John with a message to come to Nottingham. The plan is that Robin will capture him.
Marian makes the two day ride to the earl, and poses as Lady Charlotte. She delivers the message, and after a moment's hesistation, off he rides. The sheriff of Nottingham comes to de Belvoir's castle, thankfully just too late to meet him. But he spots that the message must be a hoax.
In Sherwood, de Belvoir cruelly kills an old man whose horse is blocking his way- that's to show how nasty he is. Robin and Little John arrest his progress, "you're under arrest for treason." Robin holds a trial, chief witness is Peregrinus, the evidence is overwhelming, and de Belvoir will face the king's wrath in mortal combat. The pair cross swords, and though the sheriff interrupts the duel momentarily, his feeble soldiers soon retreat, and the duel continues to the finish. Only one winner of course. To complete the triumph, Robin saves the king's life. To end the story, Robin pledges his allegiance to King Richard, who as he is incogniteo, is sadly unable to grant the outlaws a pardon

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Will Scarlet
The story introduces Will of Winchester (Ronald Howard) with some style, though he is never a swashbuckler in the Errol Flynn mould.
Robin and Little John call at The Blue Boar, where they find a superior gentleman chatting up Joan the serving wench. Robin jests with this Will over a swordfight. Their friendly duel is interrupted by the sheriff's soldiers seeking to arrest Robin, and Will chanegs sides to help Robin overcome the enemy. However he politely declines Robin's suggestion that he join the outlaws.
Instead he rides to Nottingham, where, as one of Robin's accomplices, he is nearly arrested, only just getting away with the aid of "primrose" Olivia (Jennifer Jayne). But she happens to be the sheriff's niece, and when he comes a-calling, Will has to hide under the bed. He is discovered, and fights off four or five of the sheriff's men before escaping, finding sanctuary in Tuck's church.
"I intend to see that he hangs," snarls the sheriff. But he cannot touch Will, who has agreed to don sackcloth and leave the country. Robin escorts him to the coast, where he is to join the ship of Captain Lash. The captain however has been paid by the sheriff to chuck WIll overboard. Robin gets wind of the evil scheme just in time, and forewarned, Will gives said captain a lesson. Now Will does agree to join Robin's merry men.
What shall he be called? Will Sackcloth, offers Little John. But it is Robin's suggestion that is adopted, Will Scarlet

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Trial By Battle
Friar Tuck is very upset because he has heard that Robin is planning to waylay the King's Commissioner. However Robin is not, another gang led by Sir Gyles (John Longden) is planning the job, and pinning the blame on Robin.
Thus Robin thwarts the attack and escorts the Commissioner away to safety, for a meal "for a price." However, the Commissioner is a simple soul, and does not care for Robin's rich fare, thus he partakes of no meal and cannot therefore be 'robbed.' He proceeds safely on his way.
At Nottingham Castle, Sir Gyles is trying to persuade the sheriff to help him rob the Commissioner. Marian is here for a reception, and finds an admirer in Sir Walter (Nicholas Parsons). She is here at Robin's behest,to try and make sure the Commissioner is not robbed. But the poor man is murdered, and Lady Marian's dagger is in his back. Despite the sheriff's doubts, she has to be arrested. He presides over her trial, but her defence sounds doubtful, so she challenges Sir Gyles to a duel, since she claims he is lying, which he is.
Friar Tuck is charged with finding a champion for her. The obvious choice is Robin, but he was hurt in fending off the commissioner's attackers. So Tuck approaches Sir Walter, but he has been injured in a robbery. In fact it is difficult to find anyone.
The sheriff intercedes, offering her marriage, but she is unimpressed, I don't blame her. In fact, she appears more feisty in this story than usual. Then her champion presents himself, "a humble yeoman," Hugh. That it is Robin in disguise is obvious to everyone except the sheriff.
Sir Gyles scoffs at his opponent. The battle "to death" commences. It is a long fight, but inevitably in the end, Sir Gyles is forced to yield. "Lady Marian, you are now free and innocent."
The final scene depicts a still slightly injured champion being administered medicine by Marian

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Children of the Greenwood
Father warns his two children, Oswald and Alice (Peter and Jane Asher), that he has to go away for a while. He runs away to Robin Hood, telling him that he is unjustly accused of murder by Sir Walter (John Longden).
Dick the blacksmith promises to keep an eye on the children, but too late! Sir Walter has kindly taken them to his castle, where he confiscates Oswald's dagger and makes the pair his serfs. Since Oswald is an independent young lad, he refuses to obey, and is locked in a cell, while Alice is sent to work in the kitchens.
She is allowed to take scraps to her brother, and returns his dagger, and aids his escape via a barrel of scraps. This is removed from the premises, and she follows in a second barrel. Thus they emerge from their barrels to freedom.
Reunited with dad who is still with the outlaws, Lady Marian offers to give them shelter: they are too young to remain with the grown ups. So they run off.
Oswald hides in a wolf trap. This is to trick Sir Walter who is searching for them. Alice begs him to rescue her brother, but pushes the nasty man into the trap. Not sure how Oswald gets out, but the plan is to ransom Sir Walter, thus proving they are worthy of living with the outlaws.
After a fight, it emerges that dad is entirely innocent, and is forgiven by bad Sir Walter, who isn't so bad after all. "We can go home," declares Alice, "and live happily ever after"

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The May Queen

The bells toll for the death of a knight from the holy land, Lord Donington. Young Walter inherits, but schemes are afoot. Lord Blackstone (John Longden) dreams of power and wants Walter to form an alliance with other barons, but Walter is dubious, since it might look like a plot against King Richard. So Blackstone plots with his neighbour Sir Clifford, the aim to form "the greatest power in the midlands." They fabricate a claim that Donington owed Clifford gambling debts, and place their case before the sheriff. Walter refuses to recognise the debt, "this is a false claim to steal our land."
The affair must be settled on the old field of honour. Both Walter's mother, and his beloved, Genevieve- daughter of Blackstone- warn Walter not to fight, since Sir Clifford is hiring a champion, who has never yet been defeated.
You can see where this is going. "Murder is a better word," Tuck tells Robin, and the die is cast.
The date is May 1st. Genevieve, the May Queen, opens the tourney. Seated aside her is the sheriff. Robin has knocked out Walter, and takes his place in the fight. You know the winner. Genevieve thanks Robin, and goes hand in hand with Walter to receive the pardon from the sheriff. Exit Clifford. The young couple are to be married on the morrow

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The Wanderer
An old traveller is invited to join Robin Hood for dinner, but he declines. On his cart are old books. He is Joseph of Cordoba (Karel Stepanek), and Robin speeds him on his way to Nottingham where he is to treat Sir Walter.
Other quacks dispute his proposed treatment, but Sir Walter favours Joseph's remedy. Two quacks complain to the sheriff, claiming that Joseph had treated outlaws.
The outlaws are singing more or less tunefully when Friar Tuck comes to break the news that Derwent's son has been injured. The quacks won't treat him since his dad is an outlaw. Robin promises Derwent that he will approach Joseph, so he sneaks into the city, only to be rumbled. Robin runs away to the house of the apothecary where Joseph is. He gets Joseph to go to the house of Derwent the Joiner to treat the young lad. It so happens that the sheriff's soldiers discover Joseph here, and he is taken away. Luckily the lad is left medicines to cure him.
The sheriff, who is most interested in cornering Robin, questions Joseph, but the healer won't betray the outlaw. Has the sheriff trapped Robin in the apothecary's house? Soldiers search, but it is the sheriff who comes face to face with Robin, "this time you've drawn the death card."
Luckily, no soldiers seem to be on hand as the two clash swords. Naturally Robin is victorious, "there he is!" Soldiers have spotted him. Over railings, Robin escapes, back to meet up with Joseph, As Joseph has been ordered out of town, his cart is a convenient hiding place for Robin to also exit Nottingham

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The Byzantine Treasure

"I'm an outlaw," Robin informs three men whom he waylays. A stationarius has a cart of books, but Friar Tuck spots that hidden inside the volumes are beautiful plates made of gold. Robin and his men gloat over their success.
But Marian brings bad news. Queen Eleanor's plates have been stolen by Prince John. "Do we have to return all that lovely loot?" moans Little John. Robin promises to give it into the safe keeping of Sir Richard of the Lee (Ian Hunter).
Now Sir Richard is a supporter of the king, but a little short of ready cash. So the gold that Robin places in his strongroom is a sore temptation. He sees the treasure as a way to "ease" himself out of his little difficulties- by taking advantage of the gold to impress his creditors. He invites them to dinner and shows off the gold plates.
One creditor is bad enough to later make copies of these plates with a view to exchanging the treasure for fakes. Since the sheriff is away, no doubt making some film or other, his lieutenant, "a Norman vulture," demands from Sir Richard that he hand over the gold. Fortunately Robin and Sir Richard's longsuffering wife thwart the scheme, Robin eluding one murderous attack, before hiding the plates.
Marian has fetched the Archbishop of York (John Longden) to collect the queen's property. The lieutenant is exposed by a neat switch and Sir Richard is relieved, albeit temporarily, of the pressing demands of his creditors

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Secret Mission

At The Ship, a pilgrim (Patrick Barr) asks the way to the castle of the Earl of Huntingdon. When he reaches here, he discovers that the way in is barred to all strangers. From a friar, he learns that some people have doubts about the earl's continued loyalty to King Richard. So the pilgrim decides to go on his way, to find one who is loyal to the throne.
Robin Hood! The pilgrim rests at the home of Wilfred (John Longden) and asks for a meeting to be fixed with the outlaws. Wilfred takes him as a spy of the sheriff. But Little John takes him to Robin.
Peregrinus introduces himself, and he spends a happy time with the outlaws, enjoying a spot of archery. In turn, Little John, Nedm and then Derwent- amid laughs- draw the great bow. Then Robin, and Peregrinus, both hit the bullseye.
Under flag of truce, the sheriff comes with a surprising offer of unconditional pardon from Prince John. There is a slight sting to this, they must join John's army. Robin's expected reply is met with rousing cheers from his fellow outlaws.
Approving their loyalty, Peregrinus suggests that they capture the list of recruits to John's army, which is even now being taken to the prince. On the Leicester road (nearly as bumpy as it be today) , Little John, Robin and Peregrinus interrupt the six men transporting this list, and despite the odds, the sheriff's soldiers feebly yield, "they scarcely fought us." Robin relieves them of the list, and hands it to his king, in his disguise as Pelgrinus. Little John kneels in bewilderment!

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The Thorkil Ghost
A darker tale than usual, with Barbara Mullen cast as the baddie. Surely not!

All Hallows Eve, and it's very cold. Robin and his merry men are hungry, on the look out for "a guest" to share food with them. However, they come across two young knights bullying a lad called Harold. Robin quickly chases them off with a tale of devils. Harold himself is superstitious, scared of "death by ghost!"
Over a feast (I thought the outlaws were short of food!), Harold relates the strange story of the ghost who killed his father, he is scared of returning home in case the same fate befall him. This Viking ghost is scaring off anyone searching for a hidden treasure in his castle.
The outlaws accompany Harold home, determined to prove that there is no ghost. They meet Lady Elspeth, and her henchman Edmund, and against her express wish, Harold gives Robin a tour of the castle. While they do so, a dagger flies through the air, narrowly missing her ladyship.
Bodo is deaf and dumb, a scary figure, illtreated by Edmund, abd he shows up on the steps to the tower room. At first Robin thinks it the ghost, "Satan himself," but although the ghost somehow vanishes, Odo turns up begging by sign that Robin save Harold. In return he shows Robin the hiding place of the treasure- simple really! But is it a trap? Inside the treasure room, the walls close in, Robin and his mates are trapped.
A scream! Harold is in the torture chamber, at the mercy of the ghost. Fortunately, Robin has somehow escaped and is in time to expose the ghost, who is no ghost at all, naughty old Edmund. By signs, Odo accuses Elspeth of killing Harold's father, in order to inherit the castle, all thoroughly unpleasant

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Series 2

40 A Village Wooing 41 The Scientist 42 Blackmail 43 A Year and a Day 44 The Goldmaker 45 The Imposters 46 Ransom 47 Isabella 48 The Hero 49 The Haunted Mill 50 Outlaw Money 51 The Black Patch 52 The Friar's Pilgrimage

53 The Trap 54 Hubert 55 The Dream 56 The Blackbird 57 The Shell Game 58 Ambush 59 The Bandit of Brittany 60 Flight from France 61 The Final Tax 62 The Secret Pool 63 The Goldmaker's Return 64 The Path of True Love 65 Fair Play

66 The Dowry 67 The York Treasure 68 The Borrowed Baby 69 The Black Five 70 Food for Thought 71 Too Many Earls 72 Highland Fling 73 The Mystery of Ireland's Eye 74 The Little People 75 The Infidel 76 The Frightened Tailor 77 The Road in the Air 78 Carlotta

Robin Hood menu 42 Blackmail- Robin intercepts wine bound for the sheriff, but a blackguard named Lucus discovers Lady Marian and Sir Richard are in league with Robin. The only way is to discredit Lucus, which Robin does so by posing as the sheriff and convincing Lucus that the sheriff is in league with Robin! 43 A Year and a Day - Barber Tom (Shaun O'Riordan) is operating on Little John. He tells Robin he could get his freedom from serfdom on the morrow, though the sheriff is trying to prevent this. Robin poses as Tom, comically leading the exhausted sheriff a merry dance. Since Tom is hidden in the sheriff's own chambers, it has to be a case of Let Justice Be Done 44 The Goldmaker - That "complete and hopeless idiot" Sir Richard is living vastly beyond his means, and all because he thinks this Lepidus (Alfie Bass) can turn pewter into gold. Of course this man's a charlatan, but the greedy sheriff is persuaded to have the secret, in exchange for outlaw Will 45 The Imposters- nicely barbed banter between Robin and Marian, who is a mite jealous of Lady Pomfret, who has employed a man to impersonate her husband in order to prevent her lands being seized. Robin offers to act as her temporary husband since the first imposter has run off scared. The sheriff goes to Pomfret Castle to expose the two imposters, but luckily the real Baron Pomfret has now returned from the Crusade 46 Ransom - 500 crowns demanded from starving vassals to pay for the return of his lordship's son who had kissed a girl betrothed to Sir Guy. When Guy comes to collect his money, a kiss for barmaid Joan enables Robin to demand 500 crowns from Sir Guy. When the sheriff muscles in, as Robin returns the money to the peasants in church, Friar Tuck foils the plot, "we had him at our mercy" 47 Isabella - Princess Avice (Helen Cherry). wife of Prince John, requests Robin come to the Tower of London. For John has "a special arrangement with heaven" to allow him to marry a French princess (Zena Walker). Robin is asked to warn off this "unsuspecting child," though what he actually finds is a "she-wolf" who brings John a fine wedding gift, Robin himself "to be burned at the stake." Avice gets him out of jail and the wedding is stopped single handedly by our hero 48 The Hero - A tax collector is so hated he is killed. Mark a peasant (Bill Owen) witnesses the fell deed and is accused of the crime. He flees to the Outlaws, but becomes so boastful of his deed and such a liability, even robbing Mother Agnes, that Robin has to expose his false heroism, as well as exposing the real murderer 50 Outlaw Money - Master Henry (Sid James) silversmith by royal warrant comes in useful when the outlaws capture a minter's anvil, and lo! Tuck is arrested for distributing such coins. However tables are turned on the outwitted sheriff 51 The Black Patch - this is Prince John's "playmate" whom Marian has to "entertain." She is "the soul of discretion" over all Sir Dunstan's gold, though soon learns that this is mere bait to capture no less than Robin Hood. Marian saves him at cost of suspicion falling on herself. So now "romantic fool" Robin has to rescue her by giving himself up. Marian plays her own trump- she appeals to no less than the Sheriff, whose pride demands that he is the one to capture the outlaw. Thus the Sheriff himself rescues Robin, who conveniently slips away 52 The Friar's Pilgrimage - Robin joins Tuck on his trip to Canterbury. In a Kentish village they witness Edward, consigned to a pillory by the Normans for being engaged to a witch called Alice. Robin saves them, at the cost of being locked up by nasty Count Duprez (Paul Eddington), who is out to discredit Lady Margaret (Greta Gynt), so he can inherit her lands. In turn, Alice rescues Robin, while Tuck offers himself for the pillory. But it is Robin who puts Duprez where he deserves- in the pillory 53 The Trap - "quite simple" is the sheriff's latest scheme to capture Robin Hood, all the idea of Simon (Alfred Burke) who joins The Outlaws and attempts to get Robin discredited. If The Outlaws hand him over, they'll win a free pardon, "I don't believe it!" Little John drags a bound Robin to the sheriff, and someone gets a lesson. To give the sheriff credit, he does generously admit he has some admiration for Robin 54 Hubert - Robin is Sir Hubert's "last hope," if he is to marry Lady Rowena, for her dim dad (William Mervyn) has promised her to de Vere. Robin rescues Hubert from de Vere's dungeon, as well as grabbing the dowry 55 The Dream - Marian's cousin Sir William Fitzwalter (Patrick Troughton) is to take Robin to Queen Eleanor, but Marian's nightmare warns of Robin dying of thirst, thanks to her cousin's treachery. It comes true, "it's London and the gallows" for Robin. But her dream causes Little John and the Outlaws to come to the rescue 56 The Blackbird - After an unlikely argument over a blackbird. Little John storms off, straight into the sheriff's clutches. But where's the hangman prepared to hang him? We can all guess who this masked man is, though neither the sheriff, nor Tuck or Marian can, until Little John steps onto the gallows, the sheriff beaming, though next moment he's snarling, "after them you cowards!" Robin Hood menu . . . . . The Scientist Miles Malleson plays Albertus, a scientist in trouble with Prince John, because he has invented some amazing weapon. Friar Tuck helps him avoid capture,through a window, via a ladder escaping the priory where has has been in hiding. Oddly Friar Tuck seems unable to find his way to Sherwood, but a compass helps guide the way. Robin is told that Prince John wants Albertus to construct this weapon that will destroy King Richard's ships. Albertus demonstrates on a small scale his invention, a glass that utilises the power of the sun. Roger of Danby can offer Albertus protection, and Robin agrees to take the scientist to him. It's a long tough walk- "they don't teach this sort of thing at Oxford!" His scientist safely delivered. Robin leaves, but is surprised to spot the sheriff lurking in Roger's castle. It's a trap. Albertus must reveal his plan for his invention, or face arrest. But of course Robin comes to his rescue. As Albertus is being taken off to Nottingham jail, the sheriff's men are accosted. "We've got them," cries the sheriff, for the hundredth time. But naturally his men are toppled one by one, and the sheriff is forced to retreat. But very sadly, Albertus has been wounded by an arrow. As he lies dying, he burns his plans Series 2 menu . . . . . . . . . . The Haunted Mill After a dull song, Hey Nonny, which Tuck incredibly describes as "cheerful," outlaw conversation turns to food, specifically wild strawberry cake. Friar Tuck finds this so mouthwatering he simply must taste same. So Robin and Tuck set off to see Tom the Miller, but as they approach his mill, they hear weird wailing noises. Poor Tom the miller (James Hayter) is scared out of his wits. His cats have been poisoned, "rats" are swarming his mill, it's The Little People. Sir William had told him this, and most kindly offered to buy his mill for twenty crowns, but now the river has dried up, the price is down to ten. Tuck inspects the bill of sale that Sir William has eagerly brought for Tom to sign, and neatly suggests to Sir William that it is he who is being swindled. Replies Sir William, "I want to be swindled!" "I won't be swindled," Tom moans, and Tuck and the Outlaws set the mill wheel a-turning again by hand. Tuck enjoys the lovely sight of the strawberry cake, but is unable to taste thereof, as he has to go and see the abbot about the diversion of the stream, and get it put back on its original course. Worse for Sir William, the diverted stream has flooded an angry neighbour's land. Here's a chance for the sheriff to seize them, "it'll be a pleasure." As it happens, it turns out more like ignominy. For the sheriff is ambushed as he surrounds the mill, and all ends happly, except that poor Tuck learns that Tom had used his strawberry cake to repel the sheriff. However good news, one is left... Series 2 menu . . . . . The Friar's Pilgrimage Friar Tuck is off to Thomas a Becket's tomb in Canterbury, talking only "a pittance of victuals," at least that's what he claims. Robin joins him, on an errand to learn how to keep bees and make honey. They reach Kent, where they find a young beekeeper in the pillory, and worse, his intended, Alice, being chucked in the pond as a witch by "wicked Norman bullies." Tuck gets her out while Robin metes out justice to at least four Normans. But after freeing the beekeeper Edward, he himself is taken prisoner and locked up in the manor of Count Duprez. Though in fact it is not his castle as yet, it belongs to widowed Lady Margaret (Greta Gynt), he is merely going to marry her, or take over her property anyway. Tuck has caught a cold, but Alice's brew cures him. She tricks the guard outside Robin's room and he is drugged, enabling Robin to escape. Tuck devises his own trickery, betting with the nasty Count that no villager will chuck anything at himself, if he is placed in the pillory. In return, the Count, certain he will win this bet, signs a document relinquishing any hold over Lady Margaret. Robin defeats three guards, before a final swordfight confrontation with Duprez. It is the count who is locked in the pillory, while Robin is given some honey and Tuck completes his pilgrimage Series 2 menu . . . . . Hubert Sir Hubert is waylaid by LJ and Derwent and taken to Robin, with a story that he is "losing" the fair Rowena, as her father wants to marry her off to de Vere. It so happens that Rowena and her father are on their way to Northwick Castle when they too are waylaid with an invitation to dinner with the outlaws. She informs Robin confidently that Hubert "can overcome anything." He can't, though he has left to storm Northwick. He clumsily falls into the moat, and his bedragg;ed form is brought before de Vere who challenges him to a swordfight. Hubert ends up in the dungeon, de Vere announcing that Hubert's life is forfeit unless Rowena marry himself. Rowena has to obey and the wedding is prepared, while Robin and LJ go to Hubert's rescue. Tuck replaces the celebrant and tries delaying tactics. Shouts of Fire fill the air, a distraction that enables Hubert to be freed. So eager is he to rescue his true love, that Robin has to gag him so they can interrupt the ceremony and escort away Rowena, along with her dowry. A fight with de Vere ends when Hubert accidentally falls on top of him Series 2 menu . . . . . The Shell Game The title refers only to the opening sccne when Pick (Sam Kydd) is playing the ancient game with three shells with the outlaws, "you can't win all the time." He proves of minor help when the outlaws rescue a traveller who is being attacked. The man brings an urgent message for Robin- Queen Eleanor's jewels are needed by the king. They are kept safely in Hastings House by Prince John. As Pick is the man to pick locks, he and Robin ride to London, despite Little John's misgivings about whether Pick might take the jewellery for himself. At The Grey Goose, Robin is introduced to Pick's friends, who will help by getting the key off the guards (so who needs Pick anyway?). Dolly (Irene Handl) obtains the key, and she and her friend April distract the guards, enabling Robin and Pick to enter Hastings House. They find the vault with the jewels, which Robin removes, while Pick helps himself to a few additional trinkets. As they make their escape, the alarm is sounded, and in the confusion, Pick disappears with the treasure. Sadly, Robin returns to tell Little John he has failed. But surprise, Pick shows up and hands over the jewels Series 2 menu . . . . . Ambush Young Prince Arthur, heir to the throne, is being closely guarded in The White Tower. It's "like a prison," not surprising as it's Prince John who is keeping him there. His mother joins him, bringing news that Londoners are protesting against this incarceration. But 'kind' John invites Arthur for "a holiday" in the country, and will not take no for an answer. Their destination is Fitzwalter Hall. Arthur annoys his uncle with a neat trick en route, before they reach Lady Marian's. At a banquet in their honour, John speaks out against those who proclaim his duplicity. The sheriff greets the young prince and then privately consults John. The two hatch a plot concerning "a regrettable accident" to the prince, Robin Hood will be blamed. The plan is to lure The Outlaws away on a false trail, robbing a taxman. But Robin knows a thing or two, and spots a spy of Prince John, and they have a fight to the death. Thus Robin is on the alert for an ambush on Arthur, who is being taken to Nottingham by Lady Marian and one of John's soldiers. They are surrounded by outlaws, posing as Robin's men. Murder is next on the menu, but Robin pounces, his merry men, being warned of the plot by Tuck, close behind. "Thank you Robin Hood." Back in Nottingham, the sheriff is toasting the new king, a little too soon perhaps. The two evil men soon learn what actually happened. Mummy arrives to collect Arthur and take him back to safety in Brittany, Robin to accompany them. Little John is left in charge of the outlaws. A story with a lot of padding, script of the back of an envelope type Series 2 menu . . . . . The Bandit of Brittany Following on from the story Ambush, Robin and Friar Tuck have now landed in France, with Prince Arthur and his mum under their protection. On their way to the chateau, Robin spots a military ambush ahead. A local peasant, Jacques, offers to show them a safe way. In fact he is an outlaw, "the Robin Hood of France." In fact he even toasts Robin, without realising it is he whom he has captured. Robin offers to help release Jacques' brother who is detained in prison by King Philip. But first, he must prove his identity, displaying his expertise with bow and arrow. Then it's off to Paris on a rescue mission, the prince and mum, safe in the outlaws' hands. Jacques meets Raoul, a recently released prisoner, who is able to reveal that Jacques' brother is kept in the Death Cell. Friar Tuck hatches a plan. They take Raoul to the prison. he has spots all over his face: The Black Death! Robin poses as a doctor with an elixir. Into the prison they go, and persuade the jailers that Jacques' brother is on his last leg, in fact "he's dead." So they remove the corpse, after a swordfight escaping via The Seine after their ruse is discovered. Thus Prince Arthur and his mother reach safety Series 2 menu . . . . . Flight from France Ne'er sight of Sherwood is seen in this odd story set in France, last of a brief group of such tales. Robin and Tuck are waiting at Le Lapin Noir to return home. But in a cellar, they learn from Michele, owner of the inn, that Sir Roderick is in the district. Now he is a supporter of Prince John, here to raise funds and fighting men in the cause. It is too good an opportunity for Robin not to delay his journey to England. Sir Roderick is trussed up at the inn, Robin takes his place, and calls on the Duke of Mirancy, there to be handed gold from the duke to take to Prince John. As for the soldiers, Robin blithely informs the duke that John has no need of them. However the duke is suspicious, especially so when Friar Tuck shows up. He has the pair watched, Robin forms a plan, in which Tuck denounces Robin before the duke. At inordinate length, he outlines his suggested punishment for Robin, the delay enabling Robin to snatch the gold and flee, Tuck follows in his wake. Robin leaves the gold with Michele, and receives a farewell kiss for his efforts Series 2 menu . . . . . Final Tax The Heriot tax is some obscure tax that is levied by the lord of the manor on dead persons. Thus Sir Charles is able to claim Tom's prize ox for himself. It starts when Simon, a spoiled brat, son of said Sir Charles, gets upset when dad frightens his cat. This runs up a tree. Tom is sent to rescue it, but falls off tree. Friar Tuck pronoucnes the last rites, as Tom, in a fever, protests that Sir Charles be not allowed to take his ox. In fact, Tom isn't quite dead, and he staggers off, so that he can die quietly. Derwent and Little John find him in the forest in a delirium, and the outlaws nurse him back to health. At Tom's hovel, Sir Charles is mighty angry to learn that his corpse has disappeared. He suspects dubious practice, and sets up a coroner's court to have Tom declared legally dead. Verdict is foregone: Tom is dead. Friar Tuck returns Tom home, in time for his own wake. Sir Charle's noble tribute to the dead man is interrupted, "i want my Heriot back." Tuck points out that since Tom is technically 'dead' he cannot pay tax, and Sir Charles signs a document to this effect. The documents are taken to Whitby Abbey for safe keeping. The scheme is that the villagers sell their possessions to trustworthy Tom, thus avoiding paying tax themselves. Sir Charles formulates his own scheme: kill Tom. Since he is already dead, it won't matter. But his ambush is thwarted by Long John and Derwent. Old Ned has died. Sir Charles goes to collect his tax. But he can't. Sir Charles has to give up all idea of the tax. A complex story, with Robin Hood strangely not present Series 2 menu . . . . . The Secret Pool George Benson plays Sir Cedric with his customary panache and humour. Robin and Marian are a-fishin' some of Sir Cedric's best fish. On the opposite side of the lake, they watch as Henry is caught poaching. Penalty will be the loss of his right hand. Marian attempts to persuade Sir Cedric to be merciful, but Henry has already been sent into the custody of The Sheriff. Robin kindly teaches failed angler Sir Cedric how to fish properly, thus he promptly catches "a big 'un." Robin promises to show him where the fattest carp can be caught, but as it's a secret location, he has to blindfold Sir Cedric to escort him there. A long trek leads him, if he did but know it, to another part of his own pool. Robin wants a tit for tat: Henry's pardon. The capture of a giant fish persuades Sir Cedric. He even pays for the privilege. He goes to The Sheriff saying he is not going to prosecute Henry. The Sheriff is suspicious, and though a surprised Henry is indeed granted his freedom, The Sheriff follows Sir Cedric, "I have an idea that he'll lead us to Robin Hood." He is correct. After Sir Cedric lands one whopper, Robin is alerted to his danger. He leads Sir Cedric away and it is poor Cedric who is pursued like an outlaw. Thus The Sheriff catches only Sir Cedric, "you old idiot" Series 2 menu . . . . . . . The Goldmaker's Return The sheriff is angry. Following on from story #44, Lepidus the alchemist is required to make gold for the sheriff. But Lepidus claims he has been too unwell, "I can't make gold with a cold!" He is given seven days to complete his task, otherwise he will be hanged. Since he can only make gold by aid of trickery, it's a big problem. As Robin is still away in France, Little John resolves to come to the aid of the alchemist. He sends Lady Marian to see Lepidus, who asks that she bring a small sample of gold and he will make lots more. He is held in a locked tower. The outlaws, no doubt having watched some war movie, dig a tunnel to rescue him. Other nobles, Peter and Paul, have got wind of Lepidus' skill and demand a share of the sheriff. Lepidus demonstrates his successful method, so the three baddies go off to fetch as much gold as they can muster, to make more gold "beyond your wildest dreams." As Lepidus begins his fake experiment, the tunnel is complete, and Little John surfaces, amazingly accurate digging. Little John passes the gold down the tunnel all the way along to Lady Marian waiting at the end. Then he and Lepidus exit the tower room. The sheriff and his cronies find the tower empty, their gold vanished. "Where's my gold?!" The answer is that the outlaws have possession of it. But not for long. Lepidus is despatched to take it away for King Richard. Alfie Bass enjoys lots of fun in his role as the alchemist, "weren't you overdoing it?" Series 2 menu . . . . . . . The Path of True Love Robin and Marion are having a heart to heart: if only he weren't an outlaw! They embrace. The future Lady of Locksley and Robin visit their future home and gaze at it from afar, it is now in the hands of Sir Charles (in the first story, Sir Roger had been in possession). They see old Martin being thrown out of his cottage. That angers Robin, who learns that the copyholders are being turfed out so Sir Charles can posssess their properties. Under the terms of Robin's father's will, they must perform certain cleaning duties, but Sir Charles had denied them the opportunity. At a court hearing, the sheriff sits in judgement, Sir Charles conducts his own defence, stating that the men had failed to perform their duties. Sir Charles' castle is a mess. As he tells Marion, "of course it's filthy, it's meant to be!" She distracts him, while Robin organises a thorough cleaning of the castle by the copyholders. A few soldiers do have to be silenced, but by morn, the whole place is clean, except for the hall where Marion has been entertaining Sir Charles all night. He discovers the duplicity a little too late. The copyholders have done their duties. Lionel Jeffries offers nice touches of humour in his portrait of the wicked Sir Charles. Robin and Marion ride off into the sunset, away from their home Series 2 menu . . . . . . . Fair Play On their way from Bavaria to Nottingham, The Flying Four pass through Sherwood Forest. Robin is in France, but while he's away, the Outlaws break with his orders, and resolve to go to Nottingham, partly to see their families, and partly to enjoy the old fun of the fair. The Flying Four teach them the rudiments of their art, acrobats, Tom (Paul Eddington) making an effort, but is hardly a master as yet. Dressed as acrobats, they enjoy the fair. Fortune teller Madame Zsa Zsa is told of the identity of these new acrobats, and sneaks to the Sheriff. Tom sees his son again, Harry gives Alison a lovely kiss, but happiness is short lived, when the Sheriff pounces, "guards, seize those men." Thus when Robin returns, he finds a depleted gang. His first task is to plan the rescue of the three imprisoned Outlaws and the leader of The Flying Four. He utilises the skills of the real acrobats to climb over the castle wall. He is soon in the dungeon, and very simply rescues his friends. They are spotted, resulting in a shower of arrows at the Sheriff's men, but escape is almost too easy. Before they depart, the acrobats entertain Robin's men with a final display Series 2 menu . . . . . The Dowry A fat moneybag and "a beautiful girl," Bess, with her father (William Mervyn) are passing through Sherwood. They are on the way to meet Sir Harold to bring him a handsome dowry... and Bess. But the Outlaws have other ideas and surround the group. Dad gallops off with the dowry, promising to get help, leaving behind his daughter who has sprained her ankle. "What are we going to do with her?" What she doesn't appreciate is that Sir Harold has already had two wives, and is only marrying her for her money. To teach her this, Robin demands a ransom for Bess. Robin and Little John smarten up Garth, who has been smitten himself by her. He serenades her, or rather mimes to her. Then he impresses her with his archery, though this time it is Robin's skills that he utilises. Sir Harold complains to the Sheriff, who devises a cunning plan. Payment of the ransom. Sir Harold shows up, minus any cash. He arranges to meet Robin that night to hand over the ransom. We all know this is a trick, and she soon perceives Harold's true character, "you gave your oath." Robin has walked into the trap, the Sheriff watches on in anticipation. The scheme is thwarted when the Outlaws show up. Bess decides to stay with Garth, and that dowry money comes in mighty useful Series 2 menu . . . . . The York Treasure Joseph and Esther are wandering the studio forest in search of "a friend," Robin that is. They need his assistance in transporting 1,000 crowns, which is payment for a shipment of Jewish refugees to come into the country. One snag is that bankrupt adventurer Malbete wants to appropriate this money, so Robin is wanted as a bodyguard on the journey to Grimsby. Malbete has enlisted the aid of the Sheriff's men, he sounds like an early edition of Nigel Farage, "England for the English," and is well played by Allan Cuthbertson at his bossy, superior best. The treasure is transported to Lincoln, where they pause, before proceeding on to Ye Raven, where they are given a message to make for St Catherine's Cove. Malbete is watching for the ship also, and on the beach there is a full scale swordfight before the refugees are welcomed into England Series 2 menu . . . . . . . . . The Borrowed Baby The Count of Severne is fed up with the Sheriff's feeble efforts to round up Robin Hood. You can hardly blame him. He even suggests that Lady Marian is in league with The Outlaws. "Ridiculous," scoffs the Sheriff. The Count proposes this scheme to leave a baby in Sherwood, he wagers 100 crowns with the Sheriff that eventually the child will end up in Marian's hands. Giles is the Sheriff's man at arms, and is required to lend his newly born daughter Molly in the cause. Despite protests from wife Kate, the baby is taken to Sherwood Forest. Little John is soon cuddling the boy, that's what the Outlaws think she is. They all take to him, feed him, bathe him, why Little John even constructs a cradle! However their regular tasks are rather neglected. After it is perceived that the child is a girl, Marian is called for. She takes the girl away. Now Friar Tuck happens to have heard of Kate's loss of her baby, and he warns Robin. Just in time they catch up with Lady Marian, who has been stopped by two of the Sheriff's cronies. She is arrested, since she refuses to show the contents of a basket she is carrying. They pause at the Blue Boar, giving Robin time to surreptitiously remove the baby, so that when Marian is ushered into the Sheriff's presence, there is no sign of a baby, only a kitten! "You stupid idiot!" Marian receives an apology, and the Sheriff wins his wager. An ecstatic Kate tells the Sheriff that her baby had simply "turned up" on her doorstep. Marian claims part of the Sheriff's winnings, and this she hands to Kate Series 2 menu . . . . . . . . . The Black Five A typically fine storyline featuring the evil Duke de Moreville (Patrick Cargill) "The Hangman of Leicester" who has designs on taking over Nottingham too. He has ensconced himself in Rookwood Castle and has sent a coded message to Prince John. Robin has intercepted this, and makes an exact copy of this missive and sends it to the Sheriff. The mysterious note refers to the Black Five, which the duke promises to give John in return for the Sheriff of Nottingham's job. "This is fantastic," cries the sheriff, and thus we reach the unlikely scene where he meets up with Robin himself. He tells Robin that the Five are "the greatest treasure in Christendom," Saladin's pearls. The two men agree to share the spoils. The Sheriff will guard the roads out of Nottingham, Robin the forest roads. Thus they will intercept the pearls which the duke is sending to John. Sheriff: "I can rely on you?" Robin: "As much as I can rely on you!" Robin gets wind of the duke's real scheme. Some pigeons from Prince John are to fly the pearls! Robin grabs these and substitutes some belonging to Lady Marian. Thus when the duke sends the pigeons off, Fitzwalter Hall is their destination. In they fly, carrying the five pearls. But the evil duke has seen that they flew in the wrong direction and arrives at Lady Marian's for a swordfight. The duke snatches back his pearls, and almost kills the sheriff to complete his scheme. But Robin finishes the duke off, and the unlikely fact is that Robin has saved the sheriff's life. Of course, Robin gets hold of the pearls, which he dutifully sends off to the coffers of King Richard Series 2 menu . . . . . Food For Thought Sam from Upper Minton comes with his friend Tom to tell Robin about wicked Count Oliver who has got his henchman Weylin to seize the villager's winter food suppy merely so he can host a lavish banquet. Robin's men intercept the wagon transporting these provisions. The loot is recovered and to prevent a repeat of Oliver's villainy, Robin suggests the food is stored in a cave. However Tom isn't happy. "I need that food for my banquet!" the count raves at Weylin. The food must be recaptured. But Weylin is unable to find it. Tom gets the jitters, worried that his food might go missing, so at dead of night sneaks out to collect his portion of the food. But Weylin is on the alert, following Tom to the cave, and though he allows Tom to keep his share, the rest he removes to the count's castle. Sam finds Tom with the food in his house. Robin is called in again, and he suggests Tom make amends by going to the castle, as he is required by Oliver, to prepare the meat, which is being cooked by French chef Master Maurice. This chef duly appears at the castle, Robin in disguise with his merry men. He prepares a feast "never to be forgotten." The script offers scope for comedy, with everyone speaking ze French, the new master chef is highly selective in his menu, preparing a meal of boar's snouts and lamb's tails. The large remaining portions of the animals must be discarded, removed of course to the villagers. "The masterpiece" is served with some pomp, but no appreciation from the count. He is not amused. Yet the villagers are Series 2 menu . . . . . . . Too Many Earls Wanted: "a fat purse," for the Outlaws are short of ready funds. Here's the solution: Marian is visiting her Uncle Reggie (Arthur Howard), who is in dispute with his neighbour Lord Northgate over a plot of land. Marian suggests they settle the argument at an archery contest, Marian volunteering Robin to shoot for her uncle. The prize is 100 gold crowns. Reggie is utterly against employing an outlaw, and refuses to make a request for the sheriff to grant safe conduct for Robin at the event. But Lawrence, one of the Outlaws (Nigel Davenport), poses as Reggie and obtains the permit from the sheriff by such trickery. The sheriff is keen to offer the permit when he is offered half the prize for the winner of the contest, 500 crowns. It's only a pity that Marian persuades the real Reggie to ask for a permit for Robin. "The fat's in the fire." At the contest, the final sees Nottingham Red, ie Robin Hood, against his opponent Giles Piper, champion for Northgate. Shooting at 125 paces, the result is a tie! So the pair have to shoot at a moving target, and you know who the winner is of course. Naturally the sheriff is standing by to seize Robin. Reggie however intervenes, producing the safe conduct grant. Thinking he'll be the richer by 500 crowns, the sheriff allows Robin to leave... Series 2 menu . . . . . Highland Fling Hugh McDermott makes the second of four appearances in the series, as the irritating Duncan. Paul Eddington is also back, this time as a Master Fletcher. His true arrows interest Little John. In fact, he proves to be a messenger from King Richard, who wants Robin to collect the debt owed by King William of Scotland and return it to Henry of France. Friar Tuck accompanies Robin. Inevitably en route they are attacked by outlaws, but Robin proves he is also an outlaw, by shooting a quince off a nervous Tuck's pate. The pair are taken to the outlaw leader, Duncan, who is inquisitive as to Robin's mission. He does discover it by searching Robin's possessions at night. Robin collects the money then starts for home. But King William aims to retrieve his payment and sends his cronies after Robin, who hides the money on Tuck's person. After a skirmish, Duncan's men- he has designs on the cash too- rescue Robin. Tuck feigns death and in a scene played for fun has to be buried. Duncan thinks the money is still in the box Robin is carrying, realising too late that Robin is tricking him. Robin then rejoins Tuck before his 'burial' and they leave in safety Series 2 start . . . . . The Mystery of Ireland's Eye Marian is worried that her uncle Edward de Courcey has disappeared. As he lives in Ireland, Robin, with Friar Tuck, heads quickly to Holyhead, thence towards the Emerald Isle. In thick fog they land on de Courcey's isle. Bad Rolf (Eddie Byrne) tries frightening them off by pushing a boulder over a cliff. The locals offer Robin, Tuck and Marian a far from hospitable welcome. Thus at the local inn they meet a stony silence. But they learn that there is supposed to be a curse on the place. When they ask about uncle, they are informed that "the high priest took him away." Enter Rolf, "beware of the wrath of the ancient gods," he warns darkly. Apparently, Edward had tried to defy Thor. Robin speaks out against the locals' ignorant superstition, and sets out to find the missing uncle. Rolf responds by attacking the inn and seizing Lady Marian. He plans to "dispose" of her and her uncle by sacrificing them to Thor. This is getting to be Hammer horror. At dawn, that's the time. Robin, however, is prepared. Rolf commences his prayer, "prepare to receive our sacrifice," when Tuck intervenes, and challenges Rolf to produce Thor. He cannot, but Tuck, with some hidden help from Robin, can offer a sign. "This is some sort of trick," complains Rolf. "You're a charlatan, Rolf," is the answer, as the islanders perceive that Rolf has deceived them. The prisoners are released, "I shall never be able to repay you." Not one of the more inventive stories Series 2 start . . . . . The Little People Following on from the previous story (#73), Robin, Tuck, and Marian are in Ireland, making for Cork. They seek shelter from the rain, but a farmhouse door is not opened to them. In a nearby barn the three find food, left for the leprechauns. In the night, they are awoken- the farmhouse is on fire. Patrick, the farmer blames English soldiers, and wants to hang Robin, who pretends to be friends with The Little People. "They don't exist," Patrick scoffs, though his wife is worried that such words will make the Little People angry. Robin promises to bring proof that they exist, and is allowed to do so, with Marian held as Patrick's hostage. Robin makes for caves where a group of children hide, their leader Brian clains descent from a king. He orders Robin and Tuck be held prisoners. Of course Robin frees himself and fetches Patrick and his wife. By an illusion, Marian is made to appear a princess, promising to help the children. Brian however remains immovable, until he learns that Patrick had been putting out provisions for The Little People. The famrer offers the youngsters a home, so they all live happily... Series 2 start . . . . . The Infidel A Saracen Dog" has been captured and brought before Baron Mark for judgement. He is to be used in an exchange of prisoners, Lord Rossmore has been captured in the Holy Land. But the lord's heir and nephew Sir James (Nigel Davenport) plans to kill the Saracen, called Ali, so that his own uncle will be killed. He escorts Ali to a waiting ship, but at Sherwood, he prepares to execute his plan. A slight failing is that Ali is wise to it, and escapes. He comes upon some peasants, who immediately start fighting him. Little John breaks it up, "since when do Englishmen fight three against one?" Robin Hood backs Ali up, befriending the fugitive, who tells them of Sir James' dastardly plot. So Robin, with Little John and Marian, offer to escort Ali to the ship. At the Blue Boar they happen on Baron Mark, who insists on escorting Ali himself. But Robin follows, expecting trouble. There is! An ambush. Sir James hands Ali over to a constable, "the Saracen murdered the Baron," is the lie Sir James offers. Then the villain stirs up villagers to string the infidel up. Robin interrupts the excitement and proposes a trial by fire, since Ali had told him he could walk on coals. However, what Robin doesn't know is that Ali requires an ointment to achieve the feat. Ali walks on the white hot coals and is exonerated. End of Sir James. Sympathetic treatment of a foreigner, in contrast to the conniving villainy of a British 'gent' Series 2 start . . . . . The Frightened Tailor Ned Carter is bringing to Robin, a secret list of all Saxons loyal to King Richard. The sheriff has sent his men in pursuit of Ned, who seeks refuge in the shop of master tailor Ezekiel (Hugh Burden). With soldiers hammering on his door, Ezekiel hides the document in the lining of a cape he is making. But the bad news is that the cloak is for the sheriff, who wants it immediately. The list must be retrieved, so Ezekiel seeks aid from Robin Hood, who poses as the tailor's apprentice and they call on the sheriff. That very night, Lady Marian is dining with the sheriff. Oh dear, she spills wine on the new cloak the sheriff is proudly wearing. Robin thankfully gets back the list. Then he goes with Ezekiel to the dungeon to rescue Ned, who the sheriff has clapped in irons. The tailor is of use, in that he ties together the bootlaces of Ned's two guards, thus Robin easily rescues Ned. Waldo, Ezekiel's good for nothing assistant, knows where the list is hidden, and goes to the sheriff, seeking a reward. The cape is searched and a list is discovered, but only the tailor's bill. Robin and Ned escape with "the blundering fools" of soldiers in pursuit. Via the battlements they exit, leaving Ezekiel behind to collect his payment Series 2 start . . . . . Carlotta Where's Little John? He's gone missing, at The Blue Boar serenading his true love Carlotta (Jennifer Jayne). Joan the serving wench is a past number- to her chagrin. She tells Robin that the girl is a gypsy dancer, a favourite of the sheriff. Robin's ear pricks up at that, he's waiting to grab the poll tax that has been collected before it gets as far as Prince John. Carlotta tells the gullible outlaw that she doesn't like the sheriff and promises to find out the route of the convoy with the tax. The sheriff is pleased with her dancing, "magnificent- like a breeze from the warm sun." Thus next day she is able to inform Little John of the route. "It smells like a trap," conclude Robin's men, so Robin sets a trap of his own, one that will also cure Little John of his "spring fever." A brief tender moment with Carlotta, before she returns to the sheriff, accompanied by a disguised Robin, who witnesses the two in collusion, the sheriff's plot to "exterminate rats in a trap." Thus it is that the sheriff's men, led by Carlotta reach the place planned for ambush. Little John perceives the truth, as the sheriff & co are hit by a hail of arrows from some fiendish machines. Little John is slightly depressed, but apologises to Joan Series 2 menu . . . . . . . . . Series 3

79 The Salt King 80 A Tuck in Time 81 Pepper 82 The Charter 83 A Change of Heart 84 Brother Battle 85 My Brother's Keeper 86 An Apple for the Archer 87 The Angry Village 88 The Mark 89 The Bride of Robin Hood 90 To Be a Student 91 The Christmas Goose

92 The Challenge of the Black Knight 93 The Rivals 94 The Profiteer 95 Knight Errant 96 The Healing Hand 97 One Man's Meat 98 Too Many Robins 99 The Crusaders 100 Castle in the Air 101 The Double 102 Roman Gold 103 The Ghost That Failed 104 At The Sign Of The Blue Boar

105 Quickness of the Hand 106 Elixir of Youth 107 The Genius 108 The Youthful Menace 109 The Minstrel 110 The Doctor 111 The Lottery 112 The Fire 113 Lincoln Green 114 Women's War 115 Little Mother 116 Marian's Prize 117 Farewell to Tuck

This series marked the replacement of Maid Marian by Patricia Driscoll. She isn't an improvement. Robin Hood menu . . . . . The Doctor Little John is attacked by two soldiers, and though he gets away from them, he slips down a hill. When he fails to return, the Outlaws search for him. They find Little John with a broken leg. He is carried back to camp. Sir George Woodley has an eminent surgeon staying with him, Benvolio, so Little John is taken to him. "Extremely serious," is the obvious diagnosis. But the doctor will save him. Howard informs the sheriff, and the doctor is arrested along with Little John. The doctor insists that he still be allowed to treat his patient, but the sheriff refuses. After branding the sheriff "a scoundrel," no wonder the doctor is thrown into jail. At the subsequent trial, Robin causes a diversion starting a fire, enabling Friar Tuck to spirit the doctor away. Robin gets away only after a swordfight with the sheriff, who is wounded. Little John still needs to be rescued. The sheriff needs medical attention himself, and a messenger brings his plea to Robin to send the doctor to him. Robin refuses, but the doctor is more honourable and reminds Robin of his noble duty. Thus the doctor goes to Nottingham, and tells the sheriff he will only treat him, if he is allowed to treat Little John first. That request meets with a refusal, so the doctor hardens his own heart. The sheriff is sweating, in a fever, and has to accede. Little John is treated and sent back to Sherwood, before the sheriff is saved. An obvious plot, but quite enjoyable Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . Pepper Marian is weaving a tapesrtry when she is interrupted by Robin. She tells Robin she is worried about an important visitor, coming in the name of King Richard. Byzantine Princess Irene (Monica Stevenson) and her escort will be protected by Robin himself, so no worries! He quickly thwarts one ambush, scaring off the attackers. Irene offers Robin 100 crowns, nay 200, if he will take her to Prince John. Her escort, the ambassador Androcles, confides in Robin that the foolish young girl "thinks she is in love with John." Of course, he has deceived her. Robin escorts them to Fitzwalter Hall, where Irene persuades her lady in waiting to indulge in a game of hide and seek. Irene uses the opportunity to escape on a horse. Robin goes in pursuit and after a long chase, catches up with her. They pause for a meal at The Blue Boar, what time Robin tries to make the infatuated girl see how evil Prince John is. She shows Robin a new spice, and chucks it in his face. The pepper causes Robin to sneeze violently, and off she goes again! Robin is too blinded to pursue immediately. In London, Prince John is being pampered in The Tower. Irene comes to him, he offers her a bauble as a present- not part of the crown jewels, as originally suggested by his attendant! Androcles comes to demand Irene's return, but she has signed a document stating that she desires to remain in England, despite her father's wishes. At the Ship Inn, Marian tells Robin that she will make Irene see reason. But Robin has a more practical suggestion. He poses as the new ambassador and arranges for Irene to overhear his conversation with John, whose true feelings are revealed. "John has insulted me!" But then she sees through Robin's disguise, and Robin has to fight to save his life. Thankfully, he uses some pepper to complete his victory. Final scene back in Sherwood, another dose of pepper- for the outlaws Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Charter Sir Bascom (Harry H Corbett) calls in the sheriff because his 85 year old uncle is dying. Somewhere in his possession is a charter. Bascom wants it for cash, the sheriff wants it because it would be bad news for Prince John, since this lost charter was signed by Henry I, to curb the powers of royalty. "We will share the reward." Hulm, faithful old retainer is entrusted by uncle with his secret, the charter is hidden under a candle, maybe not the safest place to store a document, "get it to the archbishop before my nephew finds it." Robin disguises himself and enters the castle, mainly to free poor Hulm who has been incarcerated for not revealing the secret. While a party rages at the castle, Robin succeeds in freeing Hulm, and fetches the charter from under the candle. But the sheriff and Bascom spot them, "guards!" A brief swordfight, sheriff v Robin, you know the winner. With search going on for him, Robin nicely hides himself and gets out the castle, "idiots," blusters the frustrated sheriff. Thus Robin is able to hand over the charter to the Archbishop of York Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . Change of Heart Into the outlaw camp sneaks Brack, throwing a spear at Robin. But only to awaken him, with a message from Friar Tuck, who is apparently now at Tintern Abbey. He asks for Robin, so the long journey is made, and Tuck, "in strict retreat," is met. He tells Robin about Brack's Celtic tribe who live in North Wood, on land belonging to Lord Humphrey (Eddie Byrne), who intends to evict the tribe. He has might and right on his side, but not the moral high ground, so Robin attempts "persuasion," reasoning with philosophical argument (allegedly), though Lord Humphrey is not moved by mere words, since Celts have "no rights." So a more practical plan is begun. Humphrey falls into a boar pit. Robin refuses to pull him out, but offers him drink. In fact, this is a potion made by Meg, Brack's wife, and it sends his lordship into a trance. He is persuaded that he is not Lord Humphrey at all, but a peasant. He cannot be Lord Humphrey, since lo, here is Lord Humphrey- Robin in disguise. The real Humphrey accompanies the evicted tribe, and is made to see his errors, in a life of dreadful hardship. His lordship's arguments against the Celts are nicely turned against him, as he agrees to restore the Brack fortunes. He signs a deed permitting the Bracks to live on his land. Another dose of Meg's potion, and his memory returns Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . My Brother's Keeper Argy bargy twixt Sir Abelard and his younger brother Sir Loren (Maurice Kaufman). So bad is it, that their father Lord Duquesne banishes the latter for his "jealous madness." But as the brothers part quietly later, Loren stabs his brother in the back. "Cold blooded murder" happens to be witnessed by Robin and Long John, who are on the lookout for a likely customer. The pair debate the ethics of running away, As Little John asks, Am I my brother's keeper? Or should they do the moral thing and return the corpse? But then it is likely they will be accused of the killing. Especially as Loren has got in first with his story, that Abelard was "set upon by Robin Hood!" 100 gold pieces for his capture, offers Lord Duquesne. It is Shrove Tuesday, and Friar Tuck is organising the annual play Adam and Eve at Duquesne Castle. When Robin seeks his advice, he offers a wise suggestion. But how to "confront" Loren with his crime? The story of Cain and Abel is added to the drama of Adam and Eve, with the Devil played by Paul Eddington. In the audience are the sheriff and Lady Marian. As the scene unfolds, Tuck "prods" Loren's conscience. Cain, in the form of Little John, shouts at his brother the "saintly" Abel. Loren stares as the story obviously reenacts the much more recent murder. "You're dead," Loren shouts out, and attacks his stage 'brother.' After a fight, he has to confess, while Robin and Little John scarper. "Justice has been done. Via Friar Tuck, they get a pecuniary reward also!" Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . An Apple for the Archer "All this nonsense," that's what Timothy (Kenneth Cope) thinks of archery. His time is spent tending his precious apples. But his intended, Mary, is also attracted to the rather foppish Piers (Paul Eddington), a Norman, and her father much prefers him, and he is a very good archer. A contest will decide who will win the fair Mary's hand. Obviously her father expects only one winner. Timothy tries to no avail to improve on his woeful ability with a bow and arrow. It is very fortunate that Robin happens to spot him vainly shooting with his bow. Robin explains that making a good bow and a reliable arrow is a matter of great skill, "each one has to be perfect." Timothy regarded bowmanship as an artless form. But a fortnight under the tuition of Ben the Bowman proves to him that it is a skill worth developing. Robin gives Timothy a test to see how his learning has developed. Then he gives Timothy some archery lessons, and two weeks of hard practice follow. "Robin, that was wonderful!" Piers is serenading Mary, scoffing the chances of his rival in the forthcoming tournament. To ensure Piers wins, Mary's father clumsily damages Timothy's arm to nobble him. but Robin patches him up, and the contest commences. Three arrows for Piers result in three bullseyes. Timothy's first lands just inside the bull. And the second. But the third arrow misses. Then two shots at a moving target. Piers hits it once. But Timothy scores two, thus overall scores are tied. Therefore it is a tie breaker: shooting at an apple thrown in the air. Who hits it? Why Tim of course! Piers concedes graciously. Mary looks pleased Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Angry Village Little John is upset that because of the drought, he is unable to water his plants. He and Robin go in search of food. They go a long distance before they spot a deer. It runs off. So they retire for refreshment to Ye Raven. Here villagers are angry. Their leader Jason (Harry H Corbett) had arranged for their supply of grain to be hidden in a cave, so that the wicked local lord did not confiscate it. But his lordship's captain (Paul Eddington) had somehow discovered the horde and removed it. The villagers believe someone had betrayed them. Thus when they see Robin and Little John, they take them for the traitors. The two are tied up, but manage to break loose and return to Sherwood, where Little John relates their exciting adventure. Now it happens that Jason comes to the outlaws, seeking their help. Robin agrees and accompanies Jason to the scene of the crime, the cave. Robin explores and spots, what villagers had failed to spot, that there is a secret passage in the Whispering Cave, direct to his lordship's property. While he is doing this, for some reason, villagers turn on poor Jason, believing that he must be the traitor, "get a rope!" Luckily, Robin prevents such nonsense, as, by a deft shot of his arrow, he frees Jason. Then he explains the secret of the cave. After a sermon, he leaves the villagers, still hungry apparently. Thought that he might have got their food back for them! Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Mark Norman Sir Blaise (Charles Gray) is surprisingly paying for a ruined church to be restored. Sir Walter a master mason is engaged, but then Sir Blaise reveals that he requires some "additions," in effect strengthening the property, turning it into a castle. Friar Tuck has come to see how work is progressing, but cannot find Walter. He is a prisoner of Sir Blaise, until he agree to those 'additions'- "you can stay here and rot." Robin is the man to sort this out, and under cover of darkness, amazingly climbs the steep wall of Sir Blaise's castle and passes the captive tools and a rope. Eventually Walter gets free and tells Robin and Friar Tuck what the wretched Norman is up to, "what a miserable soul that man must have!" The additions are Sir Blaise's way of seizing the property of his neighbour, Sir Roger. Robin persuades all the masons in the area not to undertake the commission, and though Sir Blaise searches for a new employee, he finds it very hard, until he is pointed in the direction of Sir Robert, in Lincoln, a long way away. Actually this is Robin in disguise, and the time wasted is enough for Walter to complete the renovation to the proper plans. Sir Blaise returns to the church to find it complete, "there's something peculair about this." It is being dedicated by a grateful bishop, who thanks Sir Blaise for his "wonderful generosity" Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Christmas Goose A twee start with Davey (Jon Whiteley) talking to his pet goose Matilda. Nasty Sir Leon (Jack Watling) is felled from his horse by the creature, when it sees him berating Davey. The goose is taken. Friar Tuck later consoles the lad, "no child should be miserable at Christmas time." At the goose's 'trial' Tuck defends her, for at least Sir Leon is utterly scrupulous and allows Davey to be a character witness for Matilda. "I appeal to you to give this boy a merry Christmas," concludes Tuck. But it is inevitable that "the vicious goose" is sentenced to be executed, just in time for Christmas dinner too. When Tuck tells Robin, a plan is formulated. Tuck explains to Sir Leon how a goose must be properly cooked, plenty of wine and so on, and Tuck is appointed to cook it. Sir Roger, alias Robin, advises Sir Leon to force the villagers to give him his rightful seasonal gifts, they are refusing to do so in protest over the condemned goose. Not in a jolly mood, they attend the Christmas meal generously provided by Sir Leon. Now Susan (Jane Asher) is Sir Leon's only daughter, the apple of his eye. She is upset to see the villagers so miserable on this festive day. But Sir Roger pretends to take a strong line, and promises to bring Davey to his senses by beating him. Pretend to scream he whispers to the boy. This makes Susan so upset, "I want a happy Christmas." Her wish is granted. As snow falls, Matilda is restored to Davey Robin Hood menu . . . . . . Too Many Robins At the Golden Hind, Alma (Susan Stephen) sings a song she's learned about her hero Robin Hood. "I could arrest you for that," a lieutenant warns her. But she dreams of marrying the outlaw, to the frustration of ordinary Tom the Thatcher, who is goaded into pretending to her that he is Robin himself. To prove it, he steals Lady Marian's locket. An indignant Marian informs Robin, who promises to "have a word" with young Tom. Dressed as a minstrel, Robin goes to the inn and notices Alma wearing the locket. He strikes a deal with Tom, to give Alma a taste of the outlaw life she believes she loves. "How wonderful," she romanticises at the idyllic existence in the open air. Tom, in his role as Robin, agrees to take her to Sherwood, where she sees the outlaws' conditions, made deliberately sparse. He first shock is meeting starving outlaws, Little John in particular overdoing his stomach pains. "These men are a bit rough!" She is asked to do their mending. Then the sound of the sheriff's men, "run for your lives," is the scared cry. Then the outlaws have an archery contest, Alma is made to believe that Derwent has accidentally been killed by one arrow. That night, she is restless, and determines to run back home. Soldiers find her, but so do Robin and Tom and a swordfight ends the jolly story. "What a fool I've been." Thus Alma Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Crusaders Little John and Derwent are waiting to capture a cargo of cheese, when they espy a knight, whom Robin recognises as Sir Alan Beaumont, a friend from the Crusades. He has returned to England, and is making for his castle. But he reminisces with Robin, about their brave exploits in the Holy Land, along with three other knights. They had planned a reunion, and this is due in a fortnight at Beaumont Castle. In Nottingham, the sheriff is ranting because his cheeses have been stolen. Enter Beaumont, with a complaint that his property has been annexed. By decree of King John, it has been sold, the sheriff coldly informs him. It could be bought back for a thousand gold crowns. That, Beaumont cannot pay, so instead he offers Robin Hood as the price. At the reunion of the knights, Robin is first to show up. Awaiting his arrival is the sheriff, "bind his arms." Hanging will be instantaneous. The other three knights ride up, and only just in time perceive Beaumont's treachery. Beaumont himself is felled with a sword, and Robin is rescued, swordfighting on horseback ends with the sheriff having to yield. He is tied up as Robin had been, a noose around his neck, "you have one minute for prayer." But after this, though still tied up, he is set free Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Profiteer A sad opening, with a starving village burying one little boy. It is due to Black Rot, and Martha is all for going to the castle and begging, but knowing that is pointless, Andrew (Gordon Jackson) suggests that he ride the 40 miles to approach Robin Hood. At the Blue Boar Inn, Hodges (John Longden) is showing off his wealth, his daughter Margaret takes a shine to Andrew who is introduced to Robin, who kindly hands him some cash. This is enough to buy Hodges' grain. Then Andrew explains to Margaret that he is not a freedman, so her father's notion of them marrying is impossible. 10 silver marks is a high price to buy his freedom, he simply has not enough money. Andrew returns to his village with the corn, but on the way a stranger offers him five marks for his cargo. Met with a refusal, the stranger offers more, and Andrew is tempted. Thus when Robin, Little John and Friar Tuck catch up with the cart, it is going "the wrong way." Andrew confesses selling the grain for 10 marks. Robin sends the buyer packing and Friar Tuck takes the wagon to the villagers, Andrew hanging his head in shame. In the best traditions of Westerns, the wheel bumps off the cart and soldiers attack it. A fight with arrows ensues, until Robin runs out of them, and Andrew redeems himself by bravely running to grab the arrows on a dead soldier. Thus the grain is safely delivered. "You're a good man, Andrew," smiles Margaret. Hodges has paid for his freedom. I'm not clear what happened to those ten marks that Andrew got paid Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . Knight Errant Marian interrupts the outlaws at archery practice, but they tend to ignore her worry over the arrival of Jack of Southwark (William Lucas), "a bit of a rascal." As Robin is busy with his bow, she adds, "and he's coming to marry me." News reaches the sheriff, "I don't want this knight to arrive in Nottingham." So the captain sets soldiers on to Jack, but with a little assistance from Robin they are repulsed, one soldier killed. Thus the sheriff resolves to arrest Jack, "he'd never have been the man for Lady Marian." Jack dines with the outlaws, his attitude highly patronising. He reveals he is planning to marry Marian- for her money. "She's secretly promised to another," a goaded Robin Hood warns him. "Romantic poppycock," retorts Jack. Jack is teaching Marian to dance, even trying to kiss her, when Robin interrupts. "I find Jack quite charming," Marian tells Robin. Jack is full of trickery, claiming Robin attacked him and slightly injured him. This of course to win her sympathy. But the sheriff comes to Marian to warn her that Jack is "a common murderer," and Marian finds herself asking Robin to protect Jack from danger. At the Blue Boar, Jack is swigging wine, only laughing at the threat from the sheriff. He starts fighting Robin, only to be stopped by Marian. With more aid from Robin, Jack escapes from the sheriff, and after proffering his thanks, rides away. Robin gives Marian a kiss Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . At The Sign of The Blue Boar The outlaws are making merry at the inn. Master Blount (Geoffrey Chater) is a tailor whose customers frequently fail to pay up. One such is the sheriff, and Blount persuades him to allow him to take over the inn, by the simple method of increasing the taxes on landlord Ulrich. In return Blount will help the sheriff catch the outlaws. "I had to sell," Ulrich admits to Robin. So disguised as Sir Guy, Robin puts up at the inn, where the new landlord is making improvements just as the outlaws are removing many of his goods. Here comes a customer, Little John in fact, demanding Sherwood ale. But all the barrels are empty. Little food either. The firewood is wet, so Blount catches a cold. Blount's servant Saunders brings in fresh supplies of ale, but never reaches the inn, he is robbed. The servant informs the sheriff, who rides to the inn, where fresh supplies of ale have arrived. "A fine bouquet," praises Sir Guy, but when Little John tastes it, spits it out, "this is vinegar." The sheriff interrupts the comedy, and in a fight, much of the inn is destroyed. Off ride the outlaws, and Ulrich is able to buy back the inn... with the money Robin has nicked from the sheriff Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Ghost That Failed Fishing, Friar Tuck is interrupted by three farmers, scared of a ghost. Dour Simon Dexter (Rupert Davies) has threatened them to keep off his land, or else! The men had been digging a ditch to prevent flooding, but moaning noises had stopped them in their tracks. Little John joins them and hears the screaming, but it is clearly being made by Simon. "Stop all this nonsense," warns Tuck, after Simon wounds Little John's "vanity," with an arrow in his backside. Robin proposes to haunt Simon, by pretending Little John has died as a result of his injury. Mistress Jenny breaks the sad news to Simon. Then, caked in flour, Little John materialises before Simon, "mercy!" Dig that ditch, orders the ghost However rain spoils the floury effect, Simon perceives the ruse, and boots Little John off his land. With floods now threatening, the ditch digging recommences, ghost or no ghost. As before, Simon refuses to allow it to be dug on his land. But Mistress Jenny remonstrates with the bully, and Little John challenges Simon to dig as much as he. Thus the ditch is completed, just in time to prevent floods. With a little persuasion, Simon might even be persauded to wed Jenny Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . Elixir of Youth Friar Tuck and Marian are visiting grumpy old Sir Boland (Patrick Troughton) whose niece Melissa wants to marry his squire Alwyn. But for financial reasons Sir Boland desires her to marry a man thirty years older than she, Sir Louis (Reginald Beckwith). 500 gold crowns wil be given by Sir Louis. Since Sir Boland is incalcitrant, Tuck and Marian turn to Robin. His plan is this: Tuck waylays Sir Louis at The Blue Boar, with a fantastic tale of eternal youth, a state Sir Louis would long to achieve. Little John claims that their leader Robin is over a hundred years old! If he could meet this Robin, and learn his secret, 500 crowns would Sir Louis pay. Robin has concocted a potion, and shows it to Sir Louis. It's amazing, but Robin actually knew Louis' father! Other outlaws recall the first crusade of 100 years back, and the 'oldest' outlaw can even recall the Battle of Hastings. "A blast of the elixir" is given, "when you wake up, you'll be a young man again!" A spot or two of trickery convinces Sir Louis that this elixir works. His hair is no longer grey, and he can allegedly lift a once heavy pillow, "you look about eighteen!" Robin convinces him that he no longer needs to pay 500 crowns to Sir Boland- anyway that money is now Robin's. A young looking Sir Louis approaches Sir Boland, "I am Sir Louis!" Retorts Sir Boland, "you've certainly drunk something." Tottering, Sir Louis demands a dowry if he marries Melissa. The two men almost come to blows. Robin hands those 500 crowns to Alwyn, who now receives permission to marry his love. As for Sir Louis, he's off to Arabia, in pursuit of "a genuine fountain of youth" Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Genius A nice little part for a young Harry H Corbett as "a distinguished scholar" Nicodemus, who is wanted by bad King John, who has dispatched the Count de Severne to kidnap him. From the quiet of his abbey, Friar Tuck whisks Nicodemus away to Sherwood Forest. Finding him gone, the count grabs another monk, Augustin, as a hostage, who is for "the torture chamber," unless Nicodemus be handed over. Little John has little success teaching Nicodemus how to use a bow or quarterstaff. Robin, however, is impressed by the monk's strategy for winning battles, and gets him to create, with the aid of the outlaws, the perfect huge catapult. Then its efficiency is proven by hitting a target 105 yards away. Now Augustin is being held in "one of the strongest fortresses in England." The catapult is assembled nearby, according to Nicodemus' instructions. The North Tower of the castle is first to be hit. That brings an angry count out to inspect the damage. "Your castle is doomed," pronounces Tuck. The South Turret is next to crumble. The count summons his soldiers to try and seize the machine, but next shot destroys the castle door. The count has to order Augustin's release, "it's all over." Robin persuades Nicodemus to take his catapult to King Richard in Chinon Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Youthful Menace A slightly pretentious tale that doesn't really convince. Sneaking through a window of Fitzwalter Hall is Robin. He finds Lady Marian playing quoits. She is expecting sixteen year old Edwin (Peter Kerr), whom she last met ten years back. His father's estates have been confiscated by Prince John. "You've grown," is her first remark on meeting him. He is an aloof lad, who despises Englishmen. He tails Marian when she visits Robin, and he is captured. However Robin believes the lad has good qualities, and resolves to prove to him that Prince John is no good. Edwin promises not to escape. Robin has a practice swordfight with Edwin, who is confident of victory. However he doesn't win, of course. So that night Edwin runs off, despite his word. He makes for the sheriff. But his absence is noted, and he is stopped before he reaches Nottingham. "Robin trusted you," sneers Little John. Robin's next move angers his friends. He says he will accompany Edwin to the sheriff. Edwin agrees, thinking he will be given back his father's estate as a thank you. He has a slight sense of "decency," for he promises Robin, "I won't tell about Marian, or the camp." On the way, they are attacked by the sheriff's men. With a little assistance from Little John and Derwent, who are follwing, the soldiers are beaten off. Edwin decides that he doesn't want to betray Robin Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Minstrel As in the early stories, we begin with a song, this sung by Master Roland (Francis Matthews). It's against Prince John and he adds verses about the sheriff which makes everyone laugh, "the greedy old sheriff of Nottingham." Roland is on his way to a wedding, but en route he is seized by the sheriff, his pretext is that all strangers have to be temporarily incarcerated while Prince John is in the vicinity. He is here to try and arrange an alliance with the ambassador from Aragon. Robin plans to scotch this. He persuades Friar Tuck to pay a visit to Roland in jail, in order to learn the words of his song. Having memorised the verses, Tuck teaches the locals the song. It's so catchy, that even the soldiers start singing it. "You clods!" cries the sheriff, issuing sentence of death to anyone heard singing it. Indeed, he forbids all singing. Friar Tuck drives a cart into Nottingham, it carries two barrels. Inside are hidden Robin and Little John. While the ambassador is greeted with manufactured cheers, Robin releases Roland from prison. Upstairs the sheriff entertains his guest, poo-pooing any ideas of local disloyalty to John, "we haven't seen Robin Hood for a long time." Despite the sheriff's protest, the ambassador insists on listening to Tuck's choir of children. The song is very patriotic and angers the ambassador. But he is somewhat placated when he hears that Roland has been arrested. The only problem is, that he isn't in jail any more. Singing outside. "Stop him you fools, it's Robin Hood." Departure of ambassador, no agreement reached Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Lottery Will Sharpe (Alfred Burke) is holding his lottery outside the Blue Boar. And the winner is... Frisby, who Tuck follows and watches as the accomplice hands over the prize to Will. In Nottingham, the same fiddle, Frisby takes token number XV, which had also won at the Blue Boar. However the Sheriff also is watching and he knows a swindle when he sees one! He arrests Will and forces Will to get a licence, "everyone will be forced to buy one token." The money raised will, so the sheriff says, "raise a new levy for Prince John." The winnings, he declares, "will be paid to me personally." Will however makes plans to siphon off some of the payments, even before the sheriff gets the cash. Friar Tuck notices another lottery is taking place, and rightly sees that "a bigger rogue" is making money on the scam. Robin produces his cunning plan: he exchanges the barrel with the tokens marked XV for a duplicate. Marian attends the draw, which the sheriff is planning will take place in private. What she witnesses, along with Tuck, is the announcement that the winner is... "a blank." A baffled sheriff is aghast. Friar Tuck insists that the lottery must be declared null and void. All money paid will be returned, the sheriff has to announce through gritted teeth Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . The Fire "Dry as a bone" is the forest in this drought, animals dying for lack of water. The sheriff sees it as an opportunity to maybe capture the outlaws when they emerge from the forest in search of drink. "I'm dissolving," declares Friar Tuck, a little strangely if he is a free man anyway. Soldiers notice Little John and Derwent on the search, but the pair manage to hide in a cave, temporarily eluding their pursuers. But they are trapped inside and when the sheriff's lieutenant (Paul Eddington) spots their hideout, he decides to smoke them out. Firewood is piled by the entrance, a flaming arrow lights the tinder. Little John and Derwent splutter as bushes around catch fire, "we'll have the whole forest on fire!" Reinforcements are summoned to fight it, but the smoke also comes to Robin's attention, and in a memorable moment, he and the Sheriff come face to face, united in defeating a common enemy. "I want him alive," gasps the sheriff. But Robin wisely advises that the fire can only be extinguished by a joint effort, and with the fire blowing in the direction of Nottingham, the sheriff has to concede the dreadful truth, and accept a temporary truce, "no treachery mind." The blaze is tackled, a daunting task. Robin gets them to burn an area of scrubland to prevent the fire from spreading. This succeeds but Robin is struck down by a burning falling tree and is trapped. Only the sheriff is on hand to save him. He has to do it. Finally the fire is held, "we've saved Nottingham, and the forest." Robin offers the sheriff a sermon before hastily retreating. With the sheriff screaming for Robin to be seized, the outlaws all safely retreat into their forest Robin Hood menu . . . . . . Lincoln Green Robin hovers over Marian as she repairs the outlaws' clothing. Tailor Simon Shanks turns up, not with his partner Master David, offering Lincoln Green clothing at half the usual price. It looks good quality when Little John tests it by clinging tightly to it, but some of it at the bottom of the pile is "not much good." Shanks, rejected by Robin Hood, as by Master David previously, seeks out the sheriff, offering to help him catch the outlaws. Master David's shop in Lincoln is where Robin, Little John and Marian proceed, to purchase new cloth. Shanks is lurking nearby and advises the sheriff where Robin can be found. Into the shop bursts the sheriff, but can he find any outlaws? No, they are disguised as weavers. However Robin and Little John attempt to creep out and are captured. "Take them to the tower."David's property is seized, and handed over to the triumphant Shanks. In the impregable tower, the sheriff gloats over his prizes, "this time you'll hang." There is no escape. Marian encourages Master David to throw a spindle up to the window in the tower. Attached is a rope, then some good quality cloth. Strong enough to hold the outlaws' weight, as they climb down. Back in the forest, a toast to David. No mention of any retribution for Shanks Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . Women's War Being chased on horseback is Anne de Brissac (Zena Walker). The sheriff's men in pursuit are sent packing by the outlaws. She is carrying gold for King Richard, but with the sheriff suspicious, she needs to hide it. Will Little John collect the gold as she is being watched? He goes off with Ned to fetch the gold. Lady Marian is fed up. She's had enough of kow-towing to the sheriff, and longs to do more to help Robin's cause. According to her, Anne's estate comes courtesy of Prince John, "she's up to something." It's a trap to catch Little John. Robin is hard to convince, but he ought to see Anne with the sheriff, scheming. Robin, Derwent and Michael go to Ye Raven where Anne waits, combing her pretty hair. Soldiers guard the inn, though Robin succeeds in getting through to her. She perceives that he has learned the truth, "two of your men sitting ducks for the sheriff... there's nothing you can do about it." Indeed, nothing a mere man can do, but Marian, dressed as a maid, can do it! Though Anne refuses to tell Robin where Little John and Ned are, "you'll talk to me," says Marian, "one woman against another." Her knife is quite persuasive. Thus when the sheriff shows up to catch Little John, all he finds is the chest of gold- and that is only full of pebbles. A hail of arrows causes him to beat a hasty retreat. To Marian, Robin admits that he has been " a dundle headed idiot," and they kiss Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . Little Mother Soldiers "ride down" an innocent woman (Renee Houston). Friar Tuck and Lady Marian come to her aid. Her 'crime' is sheltering her son who is a wanted man, "Little John." Yes, she is Little John's mother. The soldiers belong to the nasty Duke of Retford (Charles Houston) who years ago had been made to "look foolish" by Little John, when the latter had disobeyed orders. The Duke treats Tuck's plea for the injured woman very coldly, "let her die." But then he seems to change his mind suddenly. Obviously he has thought up some scheme to capture Little John. Marian has informed Little John about his mother. He is all for rushing to her rescue, caution to the wind. "I've come to help you," the Duke tells mother in a kindly voice, promising to forget the past. "if you sent for him, he will come." Little John rashly goes to his injured mother's cottage, and the pair are happily reunited. She tells him that the Duke has promised to pardon him, very hollow words when soldiers turn up to arrest the outlaw. It takes three men to hold him. The Duke makes one promise- to hang John, but Robin and his men have surrounded the small building. A stand-off is resolved when Little John, in the manner of Samson, pushes against the cottage timbers causing it to collapse. It's the chance for rescue. Little John pulls his mother from the rubble as the Duke's men retreat ignominiously. "Clumsy oaf," complains mother, surveying her wrecked home," you're always breaking something!" But Lady Marian promises to find her a new cottage Robin Hood menu . . . . . . . Marian's Prize It's a cold autumn night, prior to what will be the hungry outlaws' fourth winter in the greenwood. Next day Robin and Little John go for "a holiday," hunting actually, what time Lady Marian calls at the camp, and commences to tidy the place up. A new regime is instituted, like washing hands before preparing meals. Tuck joins them for a meal, offering good news, a fair is being held to help fund the outlaws (who apparently have no passers-by to rob). There is also an archery contest, Robin likely to be the obvious winner, but as he is absent, the outlaws compete to decide who is the best. Marian wins! Prince John, no less, is staying with Lord Northeave, and expects Robin to show up for this event. "Let the contest commence." Marian of course wins, but look, a bearded stranger challenges her to a rematch. It's Robin, who has just been informed of the competition. John is on the alert, to arrest the winner, whom he sagely expects to be Robin Hood himself. But he can't wait, "arrest that man!" Pursuit on horseback ends when Robin chases off his pursuers. Marian is able to celebrate her win Robin Hood menu . . . . . Farewell to Tuck Robin and Little John are being pursued on foot. The sheriff comes up against Friar Tuck who blusters about seeing them. "I have a shrewd suspicion you're in league with the outlaws." But the trail is lost, Robin and Little John are hiding in a hollow tree trunk, "that sheriff isn't a very trusting man." The sheriff has to entertain the archbishop, who is seeking for a good man to take over an important parish in Sussex. The sheriff sees his chance and suggests Tuck, "so well loved: our loss is another's gain!" Tuck however claims that he is not suitable, but his modesty makes the archbishop's choice even easier. "Of all the crafty...," moans Little John. Tuck bids a fond farewell to his flock, as well as the outlaws. Robin conceives a plan. He writes to the archbishop in the sheriff's name, inviting him to a farewell dinner for Tuck. The sheriff is of course angry that his name has been used, but has to agree to host the meal. It is to be held at the Blue Boar, soldiers at the ready in case Robin appear. He does, but with Little John and Derwent, the guards are overpowered. The meal includes talk of the "monstrous cutthroat" Robin Hood, who, says Tuck, has eluded the sheriff so many times. The archbishop raises his eyebrows. Then the maid bursts into tears. She is so sorrowful that Tuck has to leave. Then Jack interrupts, similarly distressed. Then a woman, and another man, so much love that the sheriff walks out in disgust. But he is prevented from leaving by Robin and his men. In mock brutality, Robin threatens the villagers but Tuck's strong words silence him, "you can't talk to me like that!" cries Robin, retreating ignominiously. This scene doesn't baffle the sheriff. "Robin Hood doesn't rob peasants," he admits. However the archbishop has seen what is behind this charade and recognises that Friar Tuck is much needed in Nottingham Robin Hood menu . . . . .

Series 4 For most of the stories the Sheriff has now (sadly) departed, but his 'worthy' successor is his deputy, played with understated nastiness by John Arnatt

118 Goodbye Little John 119 The Oath 120 A Race Against Time 121 The Edge and the Point 122 The Champion 123 The Debt 124 The Bagpiper 125 The Parting Guest 126 The Pharoah Stones 127 A Touch of Fever 128 Six Strings to his Bow 129 The Devil You Don't Know 130 The Lady-Killer

131 A Bushel of Apples 132 Tuck's Love Day 133 The Loaf 134 Sybella 135 The Flying Sorcerer 136 Bride for an Outlaw 137 Double Trouble 138 The Truce 139 The Charm Pedlar 140 The Reluctant Rebel 141 Hostage for a Hangman 142 Hue and Cry 143 Trapped

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Goodbye Little John This story belongs with the final group since the Deputy Sheriff is now in charge, if you see what I mean. Little John is "glum," as "they don't want me here any more." Will Scarlett, he feels, has usurped his rightful position. The pair scrap, and Little John stomps off in a huff. He picks on a stranger, who in turn, tells the Deputy all about Little John's spat. The deputy is pleased that the Outlaws have broken ranks. To the Blue Boar Inn, where Little John is "partial" to Joan, the Deputy sends a letter, which Friar Tuck reads out to Little John- it is a promise of his freedom. It must be a trap, insists Friar Tuck. Robin is told, and concurs. He keeps watch on the inn. To here, the deputy rides, alone as he has promised. He's a brilliantly devious character. Friar Tuck reads out the document proclaiming Little John's pardon- what's the catch? The deputy signs it, and Tuck witnesses same. Little John walks away a free man. But though thinking may not be his long suit, he reflects and walks back to the inn. "You want to break up Robin Hood's band!" He takes to the deputy with a pikestaff, "you'll hang for this Little John" Little John" series 4 menu . . . . . A Race Against Time Little John and Will spot the corpse of a lord, who has been killed by soldiers who have robbed him. They show their prize to their master, it's a letter in Latin from the Duchess Constance asking Robin Hood for help. At the Blue Boar, this lord is paying off Wilfred, who had led the dead man into the trap. Wilfred becomes the worse for drink, guilty at his betrayal of Sir Nedrick. Robin wants to know who had intercepted his letter, but the drunken man doesn't know. He was to meet him at The Cross Keys to get some more payment. Will and Robin go there, and the former spots the villainous Sir Hartley. Soon there is a full scale swordfight, Robin is very slightly injured. He returns to camp feigning a more serious wound, so that their prisoner Wilfred will believe him to be dying. Wilfred runs off and reports to Sir Hartley the news, that convinces him that his secret scheme is still unknown. It's not too convincing as a storyline. Robin meets the Countess at The Blue Boar, her letter had been a request to escort young Prince Arthur up to Northumberland. Sir Hartley, agent of Prince John, is planning to bump him off. Another full scale fight in which the inn is slightly wrecked. The winner of course is Robin, and the prince will now be safe series 4 menu . . . . . The Edge and The Point Robin meets his match! Will had accosted a stranger named Boland (Michael Gough), back from the Holy Land, but had been beaten in a swordfight. Boland demanded to know where to find "murderer and thief" Robin Hood. He's after a reward for capturing him. Robin is told of this dashing swordsman and wants to test his prowess against him. Little John has knowledge that the man is on his way to Nottingham. On the road, the two men confront each other, Marian watching hidden at a distance. When Boland is victorious, Marian intervenes, though the gallant Robin refuses her aid. Noblesse oblige and all that. Boland is all ready to take his prisoner to Nottingham, when two of the sheriff's men intervene and attack them. With a little help from Marian, Robin is freed, and he kisses her by way of thanks. Boland reaches the city and offers his services to the deputy sheriff, who is impressed and promises cash for the capture of Robin Hood, as long as he, the deputy, is credited with the triumph. Their scheme is for the expert swordsman Boland to teach the deputy his skills so that Robin can be beaten in a fair fight. If indeed anything is ever likely to be fair with the deputy! Once training has been completed, the challenge is issued. Perhaps the deputy isn't 100% certain of victory, for he advises Boland, "if I should trip, you shall have the pleasure of killing him yourself." Boland and Little John are the only witnesses at the duel. The fight commences. "Boland taught you well," Robin observes to the deputy. In the end however, as expected, the Deputy has to yield. Noblesse oblige, Boland refuses to follow instructions, and Robin is not struck down by him series 4 menu . . . . . The Champion The Deputy Sheriff's latest scheme is to announce to Lady Marian the sad news of her father's death, on the field of battle in the Holy Land. The law states that in the absence of a male heir, a new master of her lands and property must be appointed, his choice is Sir Guy (John Horsley). But as we hear, when the deputy later meets up with Sir Guy, it's all a fabrication about Marian's father's death. Blustering Uncle Percy is castigating two 'surveyors' he has found on their land, carrying out Sir Guy's instructions, so they claim. Marian informs Robin Hood, and Friar Tuck is able to inpart some much better news, he has met a friend recently returned from Crusade, who had met the so-called dead man well after the date, according to the deputy, of his death! They decide on using delaying tactics in law, to prevent the takeover, giving time for Marian's father to get back home. However they reckon without sixty year old Percy. He is obviating any case in law by challenging Sir Guy to a duel. Now Sir Guy is no fighting man, but at half Percy's age, he can surely not lose. Percy however is confident of victory, though when Marian hears of it, she is highly doubtful. Robin duels with Percy, to prove that the old boy is past the age of fighting. But Percy is adamant. He sees it as "cheating," were Robin to take his place. So Robin tries another trick. At the Green Dragon, Sir Guy is practising when Robin, Will and Little John show up, heavily bandaged. Sir Percy did it, they explain. "Impossible!" cries Sir Guy, but when he is shown Robin's prowess with a sword, a seed of doubt is sown. He gets the jitters. The contest commences, the deputy looks on confidently. It is Percy who is victorious! In a neat twist, we find that the cowardly Sir Guy had got Robin to be his champion. End of another of the deputy's schemes series 4 menu . . . . . The Debt As so often, Tuck is taking a short rest, in the forest, when he is robbed by a man claiming to be from Robin Hood. Naturally Robin wants to meet the man who steals alms for the poor. This man Martin is now robbing poor peasant John, but accidentally he shoots him with his arrow. He relieves Lady Marian of her brooch, and her horse. But Robin thankfully catches up with him. "I've come to join you," Martin tells Robin, and since he had saved Robin's life in the Holy Land, Robin has to agree even though Martin seems to have no scruples about robbing even poor people. Robin has to tread carefully, for Martin is aware Lady Marian is in with the outlaws. Robin invites Martin to join him on a raid, as a way of making sure he is discredited in the eyes of the sheriff. Very unwisely, Martin holds up the deputy Sheriff himself, and he falls into one of the sheriff's cunning traps. Now he is rescued by Robin so that his debt is paid. Robin and Martin fight over the stolen money. Some cheating by the incorrigible Martin sees Robin wounded in his arm, though Robin naturally has the final word. Since John has sadly died, the money is kindly donated to his daughter series 4 menu . . . . . The Bagpiper A mediocre story about a Scotsman that Little John and Will meet- with the usual jokes about kilts. He is Duncan (Hugh McDermott), an old friend of Robin's, who gets Marian to repair the bagpipes that the outlaws had shot at- in mistake for a deer. He takes a fancy to her. Next morn he reveals he's here in repsonse to a challenge from Tam The Piper. Robin is asked to accompany Duncan to the contest, and despite his protests, he has to wear a kilt. At the castle of Sir Fulke, they meet Tam. Robin dances while Duncan plays. Robin realises that Duncan is here for revenge on Tam. The pair have a skirmish with Duncan victorious, however Sir Fulke has seen through Robin's disguise and has them arrested by the sheriff's men. But with some assistance from Will and Little John, Robin escapes, Duncan being slightly wounded. Slight is the operative word. And the bad news is: Duncan is still in Sherwood for the next exciting story series 4 menu . . . . . The Parting Guest Following on from The Bagpiper, "the unbearable" Duncan of Stoneykirk in the last of four appearances, is still hanging about Sherwood. Playing his bagpipes early in the morn is no way to win the Outlaws' friendship, though his porridge is much appreciated by Marian. Jessie is his lassie, and she has travelled all the way from Scotland to seek him. He refuses to return north wi' her. Robin hatches a scheme to get Duncan to leave: he starts making eyes at Jessie himself, she sings in praise of Lincoln Green, Duncan confronts Robin and his "passionate persistence." "I hope you'll be very happy," he confides, since he himself is after Marian! "He's got Jessie, and I've got you," Duncan tells Marian, who is not amused. The two women resort to fighting, as it all becomes very cliched. Robin proposes an archery contest instead, but Marian is bound to win. He offers five gold crowns to the winner. Marian notices that Robin gives her a doctored arrow. She fires, but is very wide of the mark. Thus Jessie wins, and Duncan takes her, and her prize, away. Marian admits she threw it. "My ain true love," Robin laughs with her, in mock imitation of Duncan, who is thankfully never ever seen again series 4 menu . . . . . The Pharoah Stones Little John helps himself to a travelling bag belonging to a traveller with a strong West Contry accent. However the stranger is not the dullard he seems, for he persuades LJ to purchase three stones, "they foretell the future." Will is training Edgar, a new recruit, when they are attacked by soldiers. LJ, believing the stones have declared him invincible, comes to their rescue. Robin is seeing Marian home, when they part with a kiss. LJ, obseesed with his stones, is worried about their safety, having been warned by the stones. In fact a tree almost topples over Marian! LJ is now convinced his stones are a boon. The stones tell him not to attack the wicked tax collectors, and the other superstitious outlaws follow LJ's lead. Only Robin and Will are prepared to go on this mission, though Marian is also willing. They must, since the villagers will starve otherwise. Robin hatches a scheme to convince LJ to go against the stones. Will pretends Marian has been arrested, and despite what the stones warn, LJ is prepared to go to her rescue. The tax collectors are counting their cash in an old barn, LJ is caught by them and placed in irons. But the other outlaws come to his rescue and grab half the cash. LJ decides he's done with the stones so Robin chucks them away far into the forest To series 4 menu . . . . . A Touch of Fever Derwent leads an ambush on three travellers, who, after a fierce fight, tell Robin that they have returned from the Holy Land, with a "few trinkets." Their leader is Sir Nigel (John Carson) who is on his way to see his cousin, Lady Marian. "We can't very well rob a relative of yours," Robin tells her. Sir Nigel succeeds in getting away from the Outlaws, and pursues one of the robbers, as he believes, to Fitzwalter Hall, not realising Marian is the one he was chasing. He tells her he wants to settle down and why not marry her? Is it "a touch of fever?" Marian offers him no encouragement. She and he have a race on horseback, and having eluded him, she makes for her assignation with Robin. But Nigel has spotted them, and now, if she won't marry him, he threatens to tell about her meeting Robin... to the sheriff. She gives him short shrift. The two indulge in a spot of archery. She is clearly better. In anger Nigel informs the sheriff of what he knows, but the sheriff is blind to Marian, and Nigel angrily accuses him of being in league with her. He falls out with his men over the treasure they have brought from the crusade, and it ends up with the sheriff offering him the services of a good doctor. Somehow the story never quite finds the comedy to which it evidently aspires series 4 menu . . . . . Six Strings to His Bow Sir Alan A Dale sings with his harp, but who is firing an arrow at him? Is his singing that poor? Robin Hood, no less, offers him protection, but all the thanks Robin receives is getting knocked out. Actually Sir Alan is wanted, though he knows it not, for murder. Another shot at him, but this time it is Lady Marian who is wounded, though only a graze to her arm. Then Alan scraps with the Sheriff, both hurt. Marian persuades Robin that he help Alan. This is a muddle of a tale, as Lady Marian having helped Alan, is felled from her horse, scattering fragments of her cloak for any Sherlock Sheriff to find, just catch this woman the detective gasps, and Sir Alan's chivalry will make him give himself up. The Sheriff has almost tracked down Alan's female accomplice when Sir Alan chucks a harp at him. Anyway it was only Robin the sheriff had been chasing, in disguise. His head between his tails, the sheriff yields and Sir Alan joins Robin's band series 4 menu . . . . . The Devil You Don't Know A poignant moment as the Sheriff bows out, giving his new deputy Ralph a last lesson in how not to catch Robin Hood. Alan-a-Dale has been taken prisoner. The outlaws hold up four horsemen, escorting a prisoner. "Cut that man loose," orders Robin. The prisoner, Ralph, wildly kills one of his captors, who is allegedly a replacement for the currently useless Sheriff of Nottingham, who is leaving for London for three months (re-education, I would guess). The plan is that Ralph will pose as the replacement sheriff, and so Ralph fixes a time when he will be inside Nottingham Castle, and able to get Alan released. However this is all part of Ralph's cunning plan to trap Robin, since this Ralph is indeed the cunning new deputy Sheriff himself. The Deputy gets Alan to play on the harp, so as to lure Robin into the inner sanctum of the castle. The trap is set. The deputy is also convinced that Lady Marian is in league with Robin. That our dim old Sheriff cannot accept, "are you sure you're not being too clever?" For Ralph hopes to get Marian to betray her loyalties. The old sheriff watches on as Robin climbs the rope left by Ralph, into the room where Alan is playing. "You're trapped!" The deputy sinks so low as to put a sword close to Lady Marian's neck. Such unscrupulous behaviour brings out the gentleman in the retiring Sheriff, even at the cost of losing his prized outlaw. Lady Marian's honour is intact too. Thus Alan Wheatley bows out of the series with some dignity, "there he goes- the old fox" series 4 menu . . . . The Lady-Killer This story reintroduces Will Scarlett, first seen in series 1, but now played by Paul Eddington. After spotting some tasty venison, Robin is thwarted when a stranger shoots his quarry first. But the man is arrested for killing the king's deer. Robin and Derwent rescue him. He is Will of Winchester, who introduces Robin to Maud, with whose father Will is currently staying. But they have strayed far from home, "Will wanted to show me his crossbow." So they stay the night with the outlaws, and Will shows off his new type of crossbow, superior, he claims, to Robin's longbow. Of course Robin can't resist a challenge, and discovers the crossbow certainly is effective. Maud's dad has got the sheriff on the track of Will, who, while kissing Maud, is arrested. "You are to be hanged," the sheriff coldly informs him. Will attempts to bargain: he will supply crossbows like the one he boasts of. The sheriff sees a demonstration of the new crossbow. Marian warns Robin that the "popinjay" is in trouble and needs rescuing again. Will has proudly shown off the abilities of his new bow, but of course the sheriff has a trick up his sleeve. Will is to be the target of the crossbow. He makes a run for it. "Drop your sword," Robin, riding in, shouts to the sheriff. The latter is held prisoner while Robin bravely recovers the crossbow, and the sheriff becomes the new target for it. Of course when Robin fires, he misses on purpose. Will rides off in triumph with Robin To series 4 menu . . . . . A Bushel of Apples Soldiers are ransacking a serf's home, "he hasn't paid his dues." Friar Tuck - 'Father Dumpling'- protests as the man's home is set alight. Even the deputy sheriff believes baliff Sir Watkyn (Harry H Corbett) has been over zealous in collecting extra taxes on behalf of absent Lord Ambrose, away in the Holy Land. Tuck complains about the excessive taxation, allegedly demanded by "kind" Lord Ambrose. When Robin is informed, he poses as a monk, in Tuck's costume, and holds up Sir Watkyn on the way to the sheriff with his tax money. "I'm going to report this to the sheriff." Tuck has had to wear Lincoln Green, since his robe has been borrowed, and Sir Watkyn arrests him and drags him before the sheriff, who finds the whole thing rather funny. He is put on trial for being in league with the outlaws. Robin intercepts Father Ignatius who is transporting apples to the abbey. He persuades him that Sir Watkyn is not acting in Lord Ambrose's best interests, and in Sir Watkyn's room they find the evidence. Father Ignatius takes this proof to the deputy, thus conveniently interrupting Tuck's trial. The wicked Sir Watkyn is charged with tax evasion series 4 menu . . . . . Tuck's Love Day Sir Geoffrey Gilbert (Basil Dignam) has returned from the Crusades to discover that part of his land has been appropriated by the sheriff. A stream has been diverted reducing the size of Sir Geoffrey's estate considerably. Tuck is on the carpet before the abbot for not collecting alms. In order not to be posted elsewhere, Tuck promises to make a collection, and comes up with the idea of a Love Day, when he can sit in judgement on people's disputes. Sir Geoffrey is just the man he can help, for a consideration. Robin and Will have learned how the sheriff had altered the boundaries of the land, "it could ruin me." Thus the sheriff is summoned, though he is confident he will win. "My judgement will be a fair one," pronounces Tuck as he listens to their claims and examines their legal documents. Meanwhile Robin and his men have co-erced some soldiers to help divert the stream back to its original course. The stream is the boundary, that's the judge's eventual verdict, and since it suddenly returns to its former route, the sheriff is defeated once more, in fact he is nearly drowned! Tuck is able to donate 40 marks to the abbot, his post in Nottingham intact series 4 menu . . . . . The Loaf The Loaf Having stolen a large loaf, a young lad appeals to Friar Tuck for sanctuary. Angry soldiers pursuing warn "he will hang for it." But Tuck knows that many are starving because of the sheriff's onerous taxes. His sister throws mud at the nasty men. Inside his church, Tuck consoles the frightened boy. The sheriff turns up exchanging unpleasantries with Tuck and receiving abuse from the boy's mother. The sheriff makes the absurd proposal that the boy will be forgiven if a fine of 500 loaves is paid. He is confident that his demand will not be met by the morrow. For a start, he has all the flour- it is stored in The Old Granary, and just to make sure, he has the place surrounded by his guards, "try to keep awake for a change!" As Will remarks, "we couldn't raid it, could we?" He is dressed as a sheriff's soldier and given a forged letter to try and obtain the flour. But the guard refuses to accept what appears to be an order from the sheriff, because he doesn't recognise the bearer. Thus Will returns empty handed. Plan B. Will returns with the sheriff, or at least somebody who look a bit like him in the dark, actually Robin Hood in disguise. Robin's men make a pseudo attack on the granary and after a mock battle with the sheriff and his men, who coincidentally show up, they flee. In the half light this sheriff complains about the flour not being delivered to himself, "I've had enough of your stupidity." The flour is loaded on to Will's wagon. It is distributed and baking commences in earnest. Next day the astounded sheriff is presented with the loaves, carefully counted out by Tuck. "Let that boy go free," snarls the sheriff unwillingly. The bread is distributed to hungry townsfolk series 4 menu . . . . . Sybella Bound for the Holy Land, The Earl of Staines is attacked and killed by Lord Onslow, one of John's supporters. Onslow takes the Earl's place. Marian is attending the sheriff's ball, though very few guests are in evidence. They are entertained by a magician assisted by The Dancing Girl Who Never Forgets. This is Sybella, and she remembers the answer to any question the magician puts to her. The latter happens to overhear that Onslow has taken the Earl's place. Once spotted, he tries his vanishing trick but is shot dead. Sybella however escapes and is rescued by Robin Though frightened, she needs to pass on the news, but ironically is unable to do so. Marian rides to meet the Earl, finding him at the Falcon Inn. It is too late to warn her that Sybella has got out the news that the Earl is dead and that Baron Onslow is masquerading as the Earl. He intends to ride to the Holy Land to assassinate King Richard. Naturally, Robin rides to Marian's rescue, fighting a duel with Onslow, with a little assistance from Marian herself. The plot has been thwarted series 4 menu . . . . . The Flying Sorceror Lord Ellmer (Arthur Howard) is in the marketplace with a feather that flies. Gossip has it that the old eccentric is a witch. Lord Giles of Richmond is in town to collect John's taxes and is disgruntled by the sheriff's failure to produce his quota. He eyes Lord Ellmer's lands, and with the sheriff hatches a plot to dispose of Ellmer and grab his castle. The kindly old Ellmer enthusiastically explains his experiments on flying to Lady Marian, "if man ever does fly, it won't be on a broom!" He is captured by Giles' men and led into a trap. But Robin has got wind of the plan. Three men, pretending to be serfs intercept Ellmer and are allowed to push him over a nearby cliff. But Robin arrives in time to prevent the tragedy. The sheriff however is happy enough for, with Robin trapped on the cliff edge, he shouts out," you're surrounded." Ellmer's experiments come in handy, He uses his kite, to which is attached a rope, and it flies across the cliff, "it worked!" The rope, imbued with a life of its own, gives Robin the opportunity to escape, an unlikely scene in which Robin gives Ellmer a lift on his back as they scramble their way to safety. Too late the sheriff discovers that Robin has eluded him once more. After the escape, there's a brief shot of Ellmer collapsing after his ordeal. You'd have thought Robin might have been a bit tired too series 4 menu . . . . . Bride for an Outlaw Robin is with Will in Nottingham, pursued by the sheriff's soldiers. They split up, and Robin hides in a house, where a girl called Judith welcomes him. But her father thinks that Robin is the girl's lover Peter, "your romance is over!" Or else, Robin must marry her. A priest is called. The real Peter shows up, but when the sheriff's men spot him acting suspiciously, he is arrested. The priest turns out to be Tuck, who, realising the situation, performs the ceremony in Latin. The deputy Sheriff questions Peter and decides to hang him. But Robin, posing as Judith's father, rescues Peter, "the fellow is no robber," and the happy couple are united, Tuck on hand to marry them. Of course, the first ceremony was void, it was Robin acting as a proxy for Peter apparently series 4 menu . . . . . . . . . Double Trouble Friar Tuck is ordered to go to the Deputy Sheriff, "who has a surprise." This is Friar Alfred Tuck's brother Edgar, "a rogue." Alfred has to exchange clothes with him. The Deputy has a cumnning plan... Robin has been racing on horse with Marian, who takes a tumble. They send for Tuck who apparently knows how to set a bone. But Tuck- the new Tuck- is reluctant to go, for he has to prepare his St Cedric's Day sermon, which after the Deputy's doctoring, will include a confession that he has helped the outlaws. Will begs Tuck to come to Marian's aid, though in fact Robin has already treated her. Robin's suspicions are aroused when Tuck refuses to stay for a meal. He is persuaded, but is then unable to say grace properly! The bishop is being escorted by the Deputy to the shrine, when they are waylaid by the outlaws and taken to Robin's camp. Here the Deputy seizes his opportunity, and gets Tuck to confess before the bishop, "the days of Robin Hood's friends are numbered." However Robin is yet more convincing, pointing out flaws in Tuck's story, and proving it by getting Tucvk to say grace. He cannot. He admits he is Edgar, the twin brother. The Deputy is silenced. Edgar is sent ignominiously away and Tuck delivers his own sermon, which he had composed while in the deputy's dungeon series 4 menu . . . . . . . . . The Truce Robin and Little John hold up a stranger, who challenges Robin that he will beat him with a bow and arrow. Even though this Mark Crispin claims to be The Champion Bowman in England, of course Robin beats him. Crispin leaves them, and meets Lord Repton (Richard Caldicott), "I know a good archer when I see one." Repton has wagered 500 marks with the Deputy Sheriff that he can find an archer who can beat any that the Deputy can produce. The only candidate that the Deputy can think of, might be Robin himself. Thus the outlaw is offered a truce, "a delicate matter," though will the deputy honour it? "Enemies can be the best of friends." On the day of the contest, with both men confident, thpugh Tuck and Marian are against the whole thing, the wager is increased. Lord Repton becomes suspicious as to why the Deputy is quite so confident of winning. Once he has realised that his opponent is Robin, albeit in disguise, he tries to persuade the Deputy to throw the contest, on pain of being exposed as shielding an outlaw. "What is the penalty for being in league with an outlaw?" But Robin wins round 1. Round 2 the moving target, same victor. The Deputy claims the wager. Robin gets in first to accuse Crispin of being Robin Hood. That takes the wind out of opposition sails! It's a neat turn, in this generally feeble tale in which the Deputy seems extraordinarily upright, even with that magnificent purse of 1,200 marks series 4 menu . . . . . The Charm Pedlar Hugo (Victor Maddern) is selling his numerous questionable powders at a village fair. When Robin later holds him up, the fellow has no cash about his person, and even offers Robin an ancient fragment from Noah's Ark! But though Robin is unimpressed with this gentle "rogue," he lets him go. Marian however wants the deputy Sheriff to run Hugo out of town, for she has seen poor peasants being swindled. Friar Tuck wants Robin to do much the same, so Robin's scheme is to rival Hugo, selling his own charms, taking away Hugo's trade. First item he offers for sale is Caesar's skull, a shrunken relic, and a bargain at twopence. Enter the deputy, following Marian's request, to arrest Hugo, as well as, to the watching Tuck's dismay, the disguised Robin. They are thrown into a dungeon, where Hugo reveals his confidence that he will soon be released, for the deputy is given half his takings. But Hugo is in for a nasty shock, he and Robin are to be hanged. >br>Trading on the greed of the guards, Robin escapes, taking Hugo with him. Posing as members of their own excecution party, they exit the city via the main gate. Here The Outlaws are waiting, planning to spring them from prison, and seize the moment by attacking the group. They soon realise their error. "Stay away," is Robin's sage counsel to Hugo, and he departs, without any of his profits, "I've learned my lesson" series 4 menu . . . . The Reluctant Rebel Sir Geoffrey Claire (John Carson) surprisingly gets Herbert his servant (Leslie Phillips) to smear him with mud. Then he returns the favour, since they are to be dangerous outlaws, Tom of Tadworth and Jim Stark, all in the aid of research for a book Geoffrey is writing. Leslie Phillips puts plenty of fun into his role, indeed he persuades his master that pro tem the pair of them ought to pose as equals. The scene offers comedy touches to savour. As planned, they come on Robin Hood who sees through them immediately. He sets them to work in the 'kitchen,' then challenges them to a test in archery. By lucky chance 'Jim' scores a bullseye. Though 'Jim' is less adept at wrestling Little John, he is "game," so Robin gives him a tip, and to Little John's shock, he is felled by the newcomer. Robin decides to give them a chance in a raid to release a prisoner of the sheriff. 'Tom' wants to inform the sheriff of such lawlessness, but 'Jim' shows more scruples about betraying his new friends. The two of them clash swords, "my very deepest apologies," breathes Herbert. The winner takes his ex-master back to camp. The raid is successful and the notorious outlaw Jim Stark is freed, to come face to face with the fake Jim. Herbert talks himself and his master out of a hole very neatly. Robin reads part of Sir Geoffrey's manuscript. Little John is not amused by his being described as "an ill mannered oaf." However the document is thankfully amended series 4 menu . . . . . Hostage For A Hangman Will has persuaded Alan to serenade a fair lady for him. It all goes awry when two of the sheriff's men attack them, and Will is captured. Very surprisingly he is later allowed to go free, with a message from the Deputy Sheriff, to meet Robin under truce. The place to be fixed by Robin. The two meet. The subject is The Hanging of Robin. He must give himself up, otherwise two innocent men will be hanged every sundown, until Robin complies. Robin decides to capture two lords whom Marian is being required to entertain. They are lackeys of Prince John. The pair are tied up in the forest, though Robin promises to release them if they return to John and advise him of the evil act the deputy plans. They do not agree. Thus the two 'innocents' that are first to be captured are these two lords who have been dressed up as serfs in "filthy rags." Despite protesting their nobility, they are taken prisoners. The confident deputy meets up again with Robin. The latter explains that he has kidnapped the two lords, and will be forced to kill them. "You're worse than I am," expostulates the deputy. In a typically sly move, the deputy has brought forward the time of hanging to noon, so Robin has to dash to the rescue of the two lords, who prove suitably grateful, and reprimand the deputy, "Prince John shall hear of this" series 4 menu . . . . . Hue and Cry The deputy sheriff is out and about assessing peasants' taxes. He is attacked and robbed of his chain of office. In a dazed state he makes for the nearest village, where a peasant inadvertently reveals that villagers are awaiting the arrival of the Deputy, meantime they have hidden their cows! The law of Hue and Cry mean that the peasants must trace their one missing taxpayer, Dick, who is deemed to be the one who has robbed the deputy. Else they all will be punished for the crime. Dick has made for Lady Marian's, where he shows maid Jane the chain. It seems that he had only taken it, because she had dared him. "Suppose they catch you?" Jane informs Lady Marian, who in turn asks Robin to help. Will, meanwhile, has discovered Dick burying the chain and he too is taken to Robin. The villagers have all been locked up. They will be hanged unless Dick is caught. Robin's scheme starts with a meeting with the deputy, offering to return the chain. The next morning, at a piggery, the deputy arrives, allegedly alone, to collect said chain. A yokel, actually a disguised Robin, hands it over. Marian also brings Dick and Jane here, and Dick and Robin stage a mock swordfight to convince the deputy that Dick is attacking the robber of the chain. The deputy's reinforcements suddenly show up, and the poor deputy gets tipped into the pig swill. Time to cheer now! The deputy lets the villagers go free, believing Dick innocent, and for his trouble is robbed by the Outlaws series 4 menu . . . . . Trapped This last story has too many holes in the plot, though still enjoyable. Robin comes across a hurdle in a path through the forest. William accosts him and somehow knocks him out. Robin is dragged to a cell and informed he will be put on trial, and "found guilty of course." The outlaws are pondering where their leader had got to, "he should have returned." Marian dresses up as a maid, to inquire in pubs if anyone knows of Robin's whereabouts. She finds the same barrier in the path, and is also arrested. Robin is sent for 'trial.' The 'judge,' Sir Marmot (Laurence Hardy) pronounces sentence, Robin learns his crime is one of trespass. After a punch up, Robin victor of course, he has to yield, since he notices Marian is also prisoner here in Sir Marmot's castle. For his act, Robin is sentenced to death. Howeever Sir Marmot is persuaded that he can use Robin's strength, and he is appointed servant to help catch more trespassers, who are then used to work Sir Marmot's land. There are many such prisoners. William resumes his catching work with Robin, who frightens off another trespasser about to be captured, by firing an arrow at him. This escapee reports to the Deputy Sheriff, who immediately spots the arrow that had been fired as one of Robin's. So the sheriff calls on Sir Marmot, "this is most alarming." Robin reveals himself and exposes Sir Marmot's villainy: this crooked lord must be brought to trial and his prisoners released. This includes the girl scrubbing the floors, Marian. She gives Robin a kiss as they ride away into the distance series 4 menu . . To Historical . . . . . . . . . . THE BUCCANEERS starring Robert Shaw 1 Blackbeard 2 The Raider 3 Captain Dan Tempest 4 Dan Tempest's War with Spain 5 The Wasp 6 Whale Gold 7 The Slave Ship 8 Gunpowder Plot 9 The Ladies 10 The Surgeon Of Sangre Rojo 11 Before The Mast 12 Dan Tempest and the Amazons 13 Articles Of War 14 The Hand of the Hawk 15 Marooned 16 Gentleman Jack and the Lady 17 Mr Beamish And The Hangman's Noose 18 Dead Man's Rock 19 Blood Will Tell 20 Dangerous Cargo 21 The Return Of Calico Jack 22 Ghost Ship 23 Conquistador 24 Mother Doughty's Crew 25 Conquest Of New Providence 26 Hurricane 27 Cutlass Wedding 28 Aztec Treasure 29 Prize Of Andalusia 30 Dan Tempest Holds An Auction 31 The Spy Aboard 32 Flip And Jenny 33 Indian Fighters 34 Mistress Higgins' Treasure 35 To The Rescue 36 The Decoy 37 Instrument Of War 38 Pirate Honour 39 Printer's Devil A series of 39 stories made at Walton and Twickenham Studios cashing in on the success of the Robin Hood series. No one has adequately explained why Alec Clunes disappears after the first stories. Clunes certainly seems to have been the intended star, for prints exist of the opening titles which announce him as the star. Publicity in Spring 1956 stated he was the "main character," a reformed pirate now a governor, and that "every episode will show one more pirate being 'put down.'" But, having said that, it's fair to say Robert Shaw makes a fine swashbuckler, everyone's idea of a jolly pirate. For the outdoor scenes, directed by Robert Day, the ship from the film Moby Dick was used, moored at Falmouth, and several scenes were shot on the river there. But although the indoor sets were well constructed, they look terribly stagey, providing awkward transitions from the filmed material to 'live' shots, and somehow the wide open spaces are never quite conveyed in the claustrophobic studios. In fact Robert Shaw admitted, "I have never been outside the studio," as his double shot all the exterior scenes in Cornwall. He was paid £10,000 for the series, under a seven year contract, pay rising annually. Shaw explained, "I started on what is regarded as a comparatively low rate, because I was absolutely no-one." Historical Menu . . . . . IVANHOE (1957) 1 Freeing The Serfs 2 The Gentle Giant 3 Slave Traders 4 The German Knight 5 Rinaldo 6 The Whipping Boy 7 The Witness 9 Wedding Cake 10 Lyman The Pieman 11 Face To Face 12 Black Boar 13 Freelance 14 The Masked Bandits 15 The Weavers 16 The Masons 17 Arms And The Woman 18 The Circus 19 The Escape 20 Murder At The Inn 21 Prisoner in the Tower 22 The Cattle Killers 23 By Hook Or By Crook 24 Treasure From Cathay 25 Brothers In Arms 26 The Double-Edged Sword 27 The Kidnapping 28 Widow Of Woodcote 29 The Princess 30 The Gentle Jester 31 Counterfeit 32 Search For Gold 33 The Devil's Dungeon 34 Three Days to Worcester 35 The Night Raiders 36 The Raven 37 The Monk 38 The Swindler 39 The Fledgling You can see why Hollywood wanted Roger Moore. Spot embryonic elements of his most famous creation, The Saint, in Ivanhoe! "We've tried to make it authentic throughout," said Roger Moore in an interview. "Our master-at-arms and swordsman, Peter Diamond, has some 40-50 swords, 12 crossbows, and 50-60 lances. We have bought five horses and have had the use of 30 more." In one fight Moore was knocked unconscious with the head with a battleaxe, and at first his realistic acting was highly praised, until the truth dawned! "I wish he'd have a double for dangerous scenes," argued producer Bernard Coote, "but he refuses and does everything himself." The executive producer was Peter Rogers. The series made by Sydney Box Productions at Beaconsfield Studios and at AB Studios Elstree. Screen Gems announced in May 1957 that the series of 26 would be made in colour, and the pilot was indeed in colour, confirmed in Roger Moore's autobiography, but although the title sequences look as though they were once in colour, the main series finished in standard b/w. To Historical Menu . . . . . . . . . Freeing the Serfs ”Brave warrior” returning from Holy land ambushed by three soldiers of Sir Maurice (Anthony Dawson). They “invite” Sir Ivanhoe to meet Sir Maurice, who is one backing Prince John for the throne. Ivanhoe however is resolute in his support for King Richard: “he will return,” promises Ivanhoe. He departs on the worst of terms. For Ivanhoe takes exception to the treatment of one serf and his son, Gurth and Bart, and challenges Maurice to combat. Even though there’s dirty work from Maurice in nobbling Ivanhoe’s white steed, the victor is never in doubt. Ivanhoe rides off with the grateful pair, chased, just as in a Western movie, by the evil Sir Maurice’s men. But Ivanhoe and his new friends reach home, Rotherwood, safely. There’s disappointment, for Ivanhoe’s father Sir Cedric has just left, with the fair Rowena, to attend a meeting of nobles, assmebled to determine whether John should be proclaimed king. ”Many of us fear Richard may be lost for ever,” Prince John (Andrew Keir) is declaring. But Sir Cedric is expressing his faith that Richard will indeed return. To silence him, John plots with Sir Maurice to capture Cedric and Rowena, and hold them prisoner in his castle. Ivanhoe gets wind of their scheme and against the odds, but with superior strategy, intercepts Sir Maurice and his train. In the general melee, the climax is Ivanhoe’s swordfight with Maurice. The latter’s men are forced to flee, the laughing of Ivanhoe’s men ringing in their ears. At last Ivanhoe can receive a proper welcome home from the crusade by his father. But the noble Ivanhoe has realised that he cannot sit at home, as in solemn tones, he pledges himself to fight King Richard’s corner, until he return Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . The Gentle Giant (aka Ragan's Forge) "Finest blacksmith in the country," Ragan is thrilled to be engaged to Danella (Ann Sears), who has "spirit and looks." He's a contrast, "a great ox of a man," but they are in love. But there's a fly in the ointment, in the shape of Bruno, son of Sir William of Belford. He has eyes on Danella for himself. Sir William has ways of making Ragan see sense- first Athel, Danella's father is thrown into a dungeon, followed by a protesting Ragan: "The moment I am free I shall tear you into little bits!" Ivanhoe's rescue mission is slightly foiled when Bruno pentrates Ivanhoe's disguise as a minstrel, and "hopelessly outnumbered" Gurth and Bart are added to the contents of the dungeon. Ivanhoe is brought before Sir William but evades his captors and rescues all the prisoners. Friar Henry has arrived to perform the marriage ceremony for Danella and Bruno. But, at sword point, Ivanhoe forces the scurrilous William to bless the union of Ragan and Danella, and even throw in a manor house for them, which he'd purloined illegally. Ivanhoe kisses the bride amid jolly laughter Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . Slave Traders The drawbridge is lowered for Sir Ivanhoe of Rotherwood, who is flanked by Gurth and Bart. Sir Thomas (John Stuart) needs Ivanhoe's aid. For nine young men have disappeared recently, locals believe it's the work of witches. Kidnapped, suspects Ivanhoe. Bravely, Bart volunteers to act as a decoy. And that night, in the dark woods he is snatched. Ivanhoe and Gurth pounce, but too late, the lad has gone. But one thing is certain, the kidnappers are human, for part of a gauntlet is torn, and it comes from a sailor's uniform. The nearest sea is only three miles away at Port Tregall. There is a sailor, and he wears the crest of Sir William of Belford (Martin Wyldeck). Now he is no friend of Sir Thomas, who brands him a "brutal selfish" fellow. For he keeps his ward, Lady Agnes, as a prisoner. And Prince John is due to be entertained at his castle shortly. Ivanhoe borrows a lute in order to get into Belford. Gurth and Sir Thomas' men lie in waiting nearby. At the feast celebrating William's engagement to the relucatant Agnes, Ivanhoe sings (not Roger Moore himself) The Swine and the Sheep. William perceives it is sung against himself and orders the minstrel to the dungeon. But Agnes is inspired to come in secret and release him. She says William is only marrying her for her land and her money. Deep in the underground caverns, Ivanhoe searches for Bart. He finds him about to be sold with others to merchants who are to transport them to Cordoba, there to be sold as slaves. A swordfight puts the merchants to rout, the potential slaves chipping in as they are able. Now it's upstairs to Sir William, just as Prince John is arriving. Another single handed battle, Ivanhoe versus William plus his henchmen. The rotund William is no match and yields. Prince John is not amused. He promises that Sir William will be tried at Westminster for slave trading. Privately to William he shouts, "you bungling fool!" Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . The German Knight Christopher Lee is the imposing Otto of the Rhine, a champion knight, unbeaten, surely a match for Sir Ivanhoe? A serf called Ralph (Richard Martin) had escaped nearly a year ago from Sir Waldemar and had improved himself by being apprenticed to a London physician. However he has had to return home to tend his dying mother. Sir Waldemar's men try to recapture him but first Gurth and Barth delay them in their pursuit, then Ivanhoe swaps places with Ralph, embarrassing the soldiers when they finally catch up with him. Ivanhoe teaches them a history lesson: "this is still King Richard's realm." This arouses Waldemar's wrath. But Otto his guest is the ideal man to punish Ivanhoe, and force Ralph to return to serfdom. However a girl in Waldemar's castle (Jennifer Jayne) overhears the plot and runs to warn Ralph. On the way she is attacked by a boar, and Ralph has to put into practice his new found medical knowledge. She cannot be moved, leaving Ralph a sitting duck for Waldemar's retribution. Thus the scene is set. Otto challenges Sir Ivanhoe. On horseback they charge and charge again. As Waldemar watches in anticipation, and Gurth with a slight concern, down falls Otto off his steed. "I want no unfair advantage," says noble Ivanhoe, and the fight is now with swords. It looks all over when Ivanhoe's sword snaps, yet still the slogging match continues until it's Otto who has to yield. The noble Otto congratulates the victor. "I don't surrender," shouts the infuriated Waldemar, in the true style of the rotter. A year has now passed since Ralph's escape, and by law he is now a free man. So it's all good news. "Your freedom was hard won," Ivanhoe tells him, "use it well." Otto and Ivanhoe shake hands in farewell Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . Rinaldo Royal bailiff Dunstan is collecting taxes for Prince John with the help of Sir Alistair's cronies. Sir Alistair would like to get hold of his rival's lands, the lands belonging to Sir Robert of Thornton, and Alistair seizes his chance by putting a dagger into Dunstan's back, and then accusing his rival. Ivanhoe knows a stich-up when he sees it, and vows to prove Sir Robert's innocence. But with Prince John judging the case, it's a hard task. "Sir Robert is outlawed," declares the Prince, "it must have been Sir Robert," agrees the rascally Alistair. The trial is set for noon the next day. What evidence can be found to prove Sir Robert's innocence? Alistair and John are confident there is none. The murder weapon, however, is a clue for Ivanhoe, for it is uncommonly powerful, of a type manufactured by the Moors. The monogram R is the name of the smith, and Gurth is sent to track down this craftsman. But the wily John has a trick up his sleeve, for Alistair is going to prevent Ivanhoe from testifying at the trial. A group of soldiers pursue Ivanhoe, and after a chase he is chained in the dungeon. Luckily, Gurth has traced the smith, one Rinaldo, who actually works in Alisatir's castle. Gurth spies Ivanhoe being incarcerated, and is easily able to release him. The pair dash to the trial, taking their trump card Rinaldo. When Alistair sees Ivanhoe, rather against the spirit of the law courts, he starts a swordfight after Ivanhoe taunts him with the charge, "Murderer!" At swordpoint, Ivanhoe shows that Alistair's sword is the matching pair of the dagger that killed Dunstan. So what can Prince John do, but justice, for once? Sir Richard is a free man. Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . The Whipping Boy Is this the chance for Gurth's son Bart to prove himself to Sir Ivanhoe? A young lad is being pursued by the soldiers of Sir Waldemar (Terence Longdon). The poor boy is trapped afore Ivanhoe intervenes, and with Gurth's help the swordsmen are scattered, though it is Bart who rescues the lad by polevaulting on top of one of the nasties. Barbaric are the beatings this boy has suffered, as a 'whipping boy' at the hands of two young nobles, so Ivanhoe rides to Wecksford Castle to find out what is going on. Wecksford is home of Sir Baldwin, a loyal supporter of King Richard, and Ivanhoe is puzzled why he has allowed his grandson Philip to be placed in the custody of Waldemar, an ally of Prince John. It seems the aged and feeble Baldwin wants peace in our time, at almost any price. To stave off Waldemar grabbing his lands, Baldwin has agreed to allow Philip to be a companion to Waldemar's son Harold. Bart offers to replace the whipping boy at Waldemar's castle: "it is the only way," admits Ivanhoe. Thus Bart becomes the new "companion and playmate" for two boys older than himself, Harold and Philip. Harold is unpleasantly "mischievous," taking pleasure in misbehaving and then seeing his whipping boy take the punishment for him. "You're low and vile," Philip tells him- the pair clearly despise each other, and have a fight behind the bike sheds, sorry the smithy. Ivanhoe and Gurth enter the castle to rescue Philip, but are trapped inside when the drawbridge is raised. "Forward men, seize them!" By leaping from the battlements into the moat, the boys escape, whilst Ivanhoe and Gurth fend off their attackers. Rather soaked, they are all rescued by Sir Baldwin and his merry men, who have united to stand up from now on against the evil Waldemar. Ivanhoe gives him a stern lecture, as Philip is restored to his grandfather Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . The Witness Sir Rufus of Salisbury has returned from the Crusade with news that King Richard is alive, even though he is in enemy hands. That's a blow to Prince John, as his coronation is to be announced at a banquet in the home of Sir Gilbert (Patrick Holt). So Gilbert promises to silence Rufus, but the brave Rufus overcomes his attackers and exhausted, reaches his goal, Calderwood. However Ivanhoe is not at home, he has gone to Sir Gilbert's. There a sailor is telling his eyewitness account of Richard going to "a watery grave." A weary Rufus reaches the meeting and quietly tells Ivanhoe the truth, handing him a clasp belonging to their king. But he is too tired to talk to the meeting which is held over until the morrow. Sir Gilbert kindly offers a room. "I fear his bedchamber may turn out to be a dungeon," Ivanhoe tells Gurth, and of course he is spot on. There Gilbert prepares to torture him, but Ivanhoe and Gurth turn the tables, and dump Gilbert in the dungeon, and feigning drunkenness, escort Rufus from the castle. The guards notice "something funny going on," but they are not laughing when Gilbert is found gagged in the dungeon. "You blundering fools!" is the familiar line uttered by the prisoner. Sir Rufus is given sanctuary in a church, and according to law is permitted then to make directly for the nearest port, in this case Hull, still under the rules of sanctuary. As soon as he leaves the church, arrows fly at him, and it is left to Prior Fulmer to explain the rules to Gilbert's cronies. But they still ambush Rufus on his journey, and it is a good job Ivanhoe and Gurth were watching him just in case! They save Rufus. "Find Richard," is Ivanhoe's farewell to him, as Ivanhoe returns to tell the meeting at Gilbert's the good news that Richard is still living. "Weren't your plans to crown King John a little premature?" Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . Wedding Cake Bad Sir Waldemar has imprisoned Sir Patrick. His daughter Elaine's hand in marriage for the gluttonous Oliver, is the price of his release! Ivanhoe and Gurth see her being attacked by robbers, as she is riding to Waldemar's castle with Oliver (Peter Reynolds). Oliver hides as the thieves are driven off by Ivanhoe. "Oliver drove off the highwaymen," Elaine explains to Sir Waldemar. He shall be proclaimed a knight, announces Oliver's uncle. Ivanhoe hides in a gigantic wedding cake whch Gurth delivers to Waldemar's castle, thus easily bypassing the guards who have orders not to allow Ivanhoe in. "Delicious," pronounces Oliver, as he tastes this cake. But a more alert soldier spots the cake is hollow and Gurth is arrested. "Where's your master?" With the help of Wiggle Ears, the scullery boy, Ivanhoe has been given the castle layout, and is thus able to leap over a balcony into Lady's Elaine's quarters. She explains her predicament. The unworthy Oliver is being prepared in the chapel to take the vows of knighthood. His holy fast is broken as he betrays his gluttony, and Ivanhoe seizes him and takes the unworthy prospective knight's place. At the ceremony, the hooded Oliver alias Ivanhoe is ready to take his vows. Certainly in character, he leaves the chapel, making for the pantry, and a snack. "I'm surrounded by fools and idiots," cries the exasperated Waldemar. There in the kitchen, Oliver is being held at knifepoint by Ivanhoe. He confesses to his cowardice and Gurth and Sir Patrick have to be set free. "How can I ever thank you?" asks the latter. But Waldemar swears revenge Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . Lyman the Pieman Mathilda is the donkey which pulls the cart of Lyman, played by Michael Ripper who really hams it up. He's just off to a hanging, he happily tells Ivanhoe, at Belford Castle, where he hopes to flog off many of his pies. Robert (James Henney) is the one to be hanged because he stole Lyman's donkey and cart. Prince John's good friend Sir William is in charge. In tears, Robert's wife Enid (June Rodney) pleads for Ivanhoe to intervene. How could he refuse? She claims her husband had only rented the donkey and cart, and Lyman is lying when he stated it had been stolen. The hanging imminent, Ivanhoe snatches the prisoner and galops away. Reunited with Edith, he tells Ivanhoe why he is being framed- his land is rich in coal, which Sir WIlliam wants for himself. So whilst Robert hides in a mill, Gurth is sent to Prince John with a cunning plan telling him of William's designs on the mine. "Things must be done legally," declares the Prince, who straightway rides to Belford. Ivanhoe confronts Lyman. "I do talk too much," he honestly admits. "The truth is your shield," promises the "interfering meddling" Ivanhoe, at least that's how Sir William describes him. He is planning the trial with Prince John. An "accident" to Lyman will mean that his original testimony will have to stand. "There will be no further mistake," promises Sir William in one of the favourite lines in criminal history. Thus Lyman and his cart are taken away into hiding, though Lyman manages to leave a trail of his rather crusty pies, which Ivanhoe can follow. The trial is over. No Lyman or Ivanhoe. Prince John is ready to pronounce sentence- he finds Robert...... but just then, in dashes Ivanhoe with Lyman, and dashed is the bad Prince's plan to bag the mine. Later we meet the Pieman again, but he has changed his name to Holman Ye Coalman, and he's now employed by Robert and Enid Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . Face to Face A justified tax revolt against King John is being used by Sir Humphrey (Derek Aylward) to try and get Ivanhoe into hot water. His scheme is this: Trumper the minstrel, "impersonator extraordinary," is the split image of Ivanhoe, hardly surprising as he is played by Roger Moore, albeit with a Welsh accent. This Ivanhoe lookalike is going to be caught robbing a church. The plan works a treat, for villagers and their priest catch him red handed: "sacrilege." Luckily Gurth also happens to be on hand, and he denounces Trumper as an imposter. But with Trumper well briefed, Ivanhoe's guilt is established. Later Trumper wants his reward, but he finds Sir Humphrey is a double dealer for he has Trumper locked in a prison, guarded by Red Gordon (Danny Green). Now word gets around that he has escaped. 50 silver pieces, alive or dead, for Sir Ivanhoe! The peasants are eager to claim the reward. Fortunately, Trumper tricks Gordon, and by impersonating Sir Humphrey, escapes just in time. For Sir Humphrey has intercepted Ivanhoe, demanding he gives himself up. Of course this ends in a fight, Ivanhoe the victor. Trumper gallops up and admits to all and sundry his deception, thus clearing "the brave and merciful" Ivanhoe. Sir Humphrey is left with the unenvious choice of repealing these unjust taxes, or face a peasants' revolt Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . Black Boar "A prize fit for a king" is this wild boar, and Prince John's hounds give it chase. Ned the ploughman (Edwin Richfield) is nearly run over by it afore an arrow from Sir Ivanhoe kills the beast. "Sir William" will have your hide," Ned warns Ivanhoe, for the boar was his. Ivanhoe knows the law, and his action in protecting Ned was quite legal, and now they've clipped off the boar's ears, there's no sign that the brute ever belonged to William. There's a glorious feast at Ned's before Ivanhoe returns home to Calderwood. But two eyewitnesses report to Sir William that Ivanhoe is but "a common poacher." The story is conveniently emended to "Sir Ivanhoe killed my animal on my domain." So Ivanhoe is arrested on his journey home. But he breaks free, hiding up a tree. As compensation, William's soldiers grab Ned and his wife Martha with the remainder of the cooked boar. "Where are the boar's ears?" demands Sir William. He needs proof! They refuse to talk, but eventually Martha is made to go to summon Ivanhoe to "a dark spot in the forest" for reasons we can readily surmise. Martha has to obey, otherwise she knows her husband will be killed. The trap is set, but Ivanhoe is ready for it. Slowly he walks towards the ambush. But he has sent Gurth to create a diversion, and it's some diversion, for he is poking burning straw down the chimney of the hut where William and his men are hiding. The soldiers, suffocating, emerge in surrender. Sir William however at least has the guts to engage in a sword fight with Ivanhoe, but of course he's hardly a match for Ivanhoe. Thus slinks away Sir William a beaten man Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . Freelance Four soldiers of Sir Oliver attack a lone horseman, Simon, a veteran of the crusades. He refuses to fight them in combat and gallops away. They give chase. As so often, Ivanhoe and Gurth are in the vicinity when they help even up the odds. Sir Oliver's men are driven off, but Simon's arm is wounded. Whilst he is treated in a nearby glade, he tells how he had left Sir Oliver's service, sickened by the prevalent attitude there that war was mere sport. Sir Oliver's men are scouring the woods for SImon, so Ivanhoe volunteers to escort him to their destination, Sir Aubrey's castle. The only route to avoid Sir Oliver's land is over a lake, according to a poacher, so that's what Ivanhoe does. However the poacher is captured and forced to reveal the way Ivanhoe is travelling. In disguise, Gurth has gone on ahead, to fetch help from Sir Aubrey. Ivanhoe and Simon manage to swim across the lake, but there on the far side, is waiting the crippled Sir Oliver, with his bodyguard. Ivanhoe is outnumbered. Simon must be returned, demands Sir Oliver. A duel will decide the issue. Ivanhoe against Oliver's champion, Edgar. It's an easy victory for Ivanhoe, so Oliver attempts one last piece of treachery, an arrow in Ivanhoe's back. But even this is thwarted as Gurth returns with reinforcements lead by Sir Aubrey. To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . Masked Bandits Lady Jane (Susan Beaumont) is to marry Sir Roger of Wickenham (Derek Waring). Ivanhoe, accompanied by Gurth, is on his way to the wedding when he hears a cry for help. Three masked bandits are robbing a serf. They are chased off, but Ivanhoe notices a puzzling fact that one has written on his arm Death to Prince John. Tom Hedges is the poor man who was attacked, he'd been travelling to Sir Roger to buy his freedom. He's not the first serf who has been robbed in this manner. Ivanhoe suspects the bandit chief must be obtaining advance information about the serfs at Sir Roger's castle, and when he arrives there he keeps a close lookout. According to Lady Jane, everyone here is loyal to King Richard, but Ivanhoe sets his trap, announcing that Tom will be riding tonight with the gold to buy his freedom. But as the bandit isn't caught, Ivanhoe goes to the office of the Public Roll to obtain a copy of Sir Roger's signature. The signature on the wedding contract is not the same! He drags a serf, Jack Ludlow (John Schlesinger) to the ceremony and rather rudely interrupts the service. "In the name of King Richard, I demand a halt to this ceremony." He denounces Sir Roger as leader of the masked horsemen! Then, that this Sir Roger is an imposter. Ivanhoe proves that he's Sir Guy, who has usurped Sir Roger's place. In return, 'Roger' calls Ivanhoe a liar, so to decide the case, Oil and Fire, that ancient test is selected by Ivanhoe to prove the truth. The horrid liar is forced to yield. "Poor Lady Jane," sighs Gurth To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . The Weavers Ivanhoe and Gurth ride to the aid of the villagers of Quincey, who are being terrorised by brigands. One is captured, Maltravers, but before he can be questioned, one of his fellow robbers shoots him dead with an arrow. At the mercy of these "black brigands" are Will (Leslie Dwyer) and his family, and Abel (Reginald Beckwith), and Ivanhoe resolves to find out the identity of the leader of the thieves. The trail of the brigands' horses leads to Gilbert Castle, home of Sir William. Talking to this lord, it dawns on Ivanhoe that he really is behind the raids on Quincey. After a fierce swordfight, Ivanhoe is locked in the dungeon, prior to being hanged for the alleged murder of Maltravers. Sir William now offers the villagers of Quincey protection if they accept serfdom in his service. There seems little choice, and only Will refuses to "grovel." Gurth has 'borrowed' the cart of Hugo the woodcutter as a way of entering Gilbert Castle. "Where've you been?" quips Ivanhoe as Gurth overpowers a guard and releases him. But they are just too late to stop the ceremony where the villagers pledge themselves to Sir William, in return for his protection. Ivanhoe tells them that it's Sir William who is organising the brigands, and encourages them to revolt. Posing as Lord Quincey, leader of their rebellion is Ivanhoe. Sir William vows to teach them "a lesson they'll never forget," as he and his men don their brigand uniforms once again. But Ivanhoe and his men ambush Sir William's men and there's a fight, with Ivanhoe matched against William: "you have betrayed your knighthood." Sir William is beaten and forced to agree to leave the villagers in peace. A speech on freedom is delivered by our hero, and Will thanks Ivanhoe for all his help. Concludes Sir Ivanhoe importantly: "maybe one day such partnerships will build a nation." To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . The Masons William of Albion, master mason, sends for help urgently to Ivanhoe. Lord Blackheath is demanding William's presence in the name of the King, John that is. Such an order William is refusing to acknowledge. Just before William's home is torched, Ivanhoe rides up to intervene. William is required to build a castle on Eaglestone Cliffs, which will provide a veritable stronghold for Prince John in a key location. Ivanhoe counters the plan by proposing that the bishop builds an extension to his cathedral in the same place, a college and a library instead of Blackheath's fortification. Thus when the tyrannical Blackheath asks the other local masons to build the castle, they are all "too busy." This is "most remarkable," notes Blackheath. It's high time Ivanhoe informs the bishop of his plan! The trouble is, the church is broke (unusual for those days!) and Ivanhoe launches an appeal for gold and silver. One mason named Cronyn (Michael Ripper) sees he can make a fortune building the castle and so is employed by Blackheath as a spy. When the shipment of gold is brought into town, his men will hijack it. So confident of success is Blackheath, that he boasts he'll parade through the streets in a fool's cap, if the cash for the cathedral extension is actually raised. Ivanhoe is to hide the gold in a shipment of stone, but Cronyn reveals the plan to Blackheath, who now rather rashly discards his spy: "in chess as in war, it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice a pawn." But though this pawn is shot in the back by an arrow, it is still able to warn Ivanhoe of an ambush. So while Ivanhoe brings in the cart with stone, Gurth takes the gold in another cart. A triumphant Blackheath surrounds Ivanhoe, but his smile evaporates as the stone is smashed revealing nothing but a fool's cap. Frustrated he fights Ivanhoe who naturally wins, leaving the enjoyable spectacle of Blackheath having to don that cap To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . Arms and the Woman Sir Geoffrey of Bilton (Alex Scott) arrests Nigel of Rainham (Robert Raikes) for trying to murder Prince John. On the testimony of Hob (Hal Osmond), Nigel is taken away for trial. Nigel's father, Sir Robert of Rainham, is a staunch supporter of King Richard, and this move is part of a scheme to force Rainham to change allegiance. "Rainham Castle is the key to the North," and if Rainham changes sides, others will follow. At an important conference Ivanhoe is with Sir Robert to rally waverers to the King's cause. On hearing the bad news, Sir Robert has to gallop off to his son's aid, leaving Ivanhoe to argue for the king. It's a tough job with a traitor Sir Ranulf (John Gatrell) in their midst: "for the good of the realm," he argues, "it will shortly be delivered into my hands." It being Rainham Castle. The mood turns against Ivanhoe and he's forced to remain a "guest" of Ranulf in a dungeon. But one of the knights, Sir Jocelyn, sets Ivanhoe free and he rushes with Gurth to Rainham Castle, which Ranulf is about to attack. There are no soldiers left to guard the place, so Ivanhoe dresses up the kitchen staff in armour to defend the castle as best they can. "Your women make a brave show." Outside the castle, shouts Sir Ranulf, "yield Rainham to me." Lady Ursula, Sir Robert's wife, defies him, but when it is realised the defenders are only women, Ranulf's men have a good laugh. Lady Ursula agrees to "come to terms," and a meeting is held in the great hall. But by terms she means a duel! By the laws of chivalry, she's permitted to nominate a champion to fight Ranulf. "What shall we use?" jokes a grinning Ranulf, "cooking pots or needle and threads!" But his smile is less sure when Ivanhoe announces himself. He summons his men to attack whilst he fights Ivanhoe. Then Sir Robert returns in triumph having freed his son, and Ranulf is defeated. Rainham is secure for the King! To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . The Circus "Truth shall not be our slave, For Richard is our King," sings a minstrel at a market. Prince John's men are soon out to silence him! But Ivanhoe and Gurth rally to his defence and John's lackeys are soundly beaten, after some damage to the market stalls and their wares. Dick o' Devon (John Warner) and his donkey Princess, are the remnants of a circus, and Ivanhoe and Gurth promise to join Dick in a new crusade, that of singing against Prince John! Naturally the prince is rather displeased when Sir Mark of Roscommon (Robert Cawdron) reports of Ivanhoe's "meeting of devils." Orders Prince John "it must be stopped." For everyone is enjoying the entertainment, puppets parodying "Prince Fox". "Treason!" cry Sir Mark's men, rudely interrupting the show. There's a right punch-up, but weight of numbers cause Ivanhoe and Dick to yield. They are charged with high treason, and are to be tried by John himself, just before his imminent coronation. In front of this judge, Ivanhoe repeats the songs they have sung, and the issue develops as to whether King Richard is dead or not. To prove his cause, Ivanhoe challenges John to mortal combat. A date is set, a fortnight hence, but in The Black Hole, a dark and "cosy" cell, Ivanhoe is starved, and with little sleep, this is hardly the preparation for a deadly fight. "The truth shall prevail," declares Prince John as Ivanhoe totters into the arena, without even a breastplate. Sir Mark, representing the prince, strutting like Goliath, looks so confident, for Ivanhoe seems so weak. "If he dies," sighs Dick, "the truth dies with him." That can never be, and Dick's minstrelsy inspires the onlookers and the befeebled Ivanhoe. To cheers and rousing music, Ivanhoe is the victor. "Your life or the truth," cries Ivanhoe to the cowering Mark. King Richard lives, concedes Sir Mark. More cheers and singing to end an inspiring story To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . The Escape Sir Rufus of Salisbury has returned from the crusade with news of King Richard, that will foil Prince John's plot to accede the throne. So John orders Rufus to be found: "if you bring me news of this man's death, you may name your own reward." One ambush Rufus succeeds in overcoming, and he rushes to Ivanhoe's castle. But Ivanhoe is away at Sir Guilbert's banquet. "I dare not waste another moment," cries the exhausted Rufus, as he dashes off. Sir Guilbert is announcing King Richard's death, with a sailor as eyewitness to the fact that the king had been washed overboard in a storm. Then Rufus produces his counter claim, backed up by proof of Richard's talisman. The king is held prisoner, "somewhere in Europe." His message to all is: "I shall return." He's rambling, declares Sir Guilbert, for he's exhausted after his long journey. Kindly Guilbert puts him up for the night, though as Ivanhoe comments to Gurth: "I fear his bedchamber may turn out to be a dungeon." Of course his fears are well founded, for even now instruments of torture are being prepared, so it's Ivanhoe to the rescue! Cloaks are swapped, Sir Guilbert's for Rufus' as Ivanhoe and Gurth accompany the weary disguised Rufus away, pretending they are all drunk. "There's something funny going on." "You blundering fool," shouts Sir Guilbert when the guard is found locked in the dungeon. "Stop them." Rufus is taken to the sanctuary of a church where Prior Fulmer acts the Good Samaritan. Rufus is granted the sanctuary of the church if he travels direct to Hull and takes a boat overseas. Rather foolishly, he accepts a lift in a cart, which is part of Sir Guilbert's wily scheme to ambush him. Yet Ivanhoe and Gurth are wisely tailing Rufus and foil the plan. Sir Guilbert, at knifepoint, is forced to admit the King Lives. Rufus will go to find him Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . Murder at the Inn Young Edmund of Torrbridge (Maurice Kaufmann) is a bit of a hot head, and when King John's Commissioner of Taxes, Lord Jermaine, arrives at the local hostelry, he hasn't even time to give his girl Bess a kiss. He's so eager to chant this ditty at this unwelcome visitor: "Shall I tell you the shame of Lord Judas Jermaine? Who betrayed the King for the sake of gain." You really can't blame Jermaine for being angry, and the pair fight, Jermaine getting killed. Quick thinking Ivanhoe ties the body to his horse and shoos it off, but when King John learns of the deed, he sends evil Lord Blackheath (Ivan Craig) to organise an inquest. His verdict: "In the name of our sovereign... I ordain the people of Torrbridge will pay a fine of 100 bars of gold." This impossible demand forces Edmund to confess and he is sentenced to death. But on the way to the Tower of London, Ivanhoe ambushes Blackheath's men, and Edmund is on the run. King John is even more furious, and Blackheath is pretty desperate, because John has threatened to hang him if he doesn't recapture his late prisoner. Freeman are coerced into joining the extensive hunt for the wanted man. In a rather confusing story, mainly because this action is all confined to the studio, Ivanhoe and Gurth organise their own posse, to search for Edmund in hiding. Blackheath's soldiers are surrounded and picked off one by one before the final punch up. Ivahoe fights with Edmund, technically so he can 'arrest' him and escort him quite legally out of the country. A sort of illegal legal immigration in reverse. But Edmund has just time to, at last, give a farewell kiss to Beth Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . 21 Prisoner in the Tower "Turn back, you're not welcome," shouts Edmund (Maurice Kaufmann) at Ivanhoe, taking him for a robber. He's a very jaundiced young man, having returned from the crusades to find his home has been destroyed, and his father Sir Gerald Thane of Torrbridge being kept a prisoner by Sir Guilbert. So worked up is Edmund, that "he's as good as dead," for he's going to rescue his father (Colin Tapley) from the clutches of this Sir Guilbert (Patrick Holt), who is an utter rotter, taunting Gerald because he bravely refuses to swear allegiance to Prince John. Innocent Edmund offers Guilbert 20 oz of gold as a ransom. Guilbert pockets it, and refuses to release Gerald! Next Guilbert's men trick Edmund into shooting a hare, which brings about his arrest for poaching. However Ivanhoe rides up and gets Edmund free. But Sir Guilbert has read the script, for he tells Sir Gerald: "I know Ivanhoe, he won't rest until he's rescued you too!" And sure enough Ivanhoe is dreaming up a scheme for rescue, though Edmund is very sceptical about Ivanhoe's ability to help. The scheme is this: Ivanhoe dresses up as Sir Guilbert's own rotund helper, Walter and brings in Gurth and 'Ivanhoe' whom he has captured. However the prisoner called Ivanhoe is really Walter, vizors down helping to protect recognition. This gets Ivanhoe into the castle and there's a fierce fight when Sir Guilbert realises the ruse. Ivanhoe is all but killed, but in the end it's Sir Guilbert who is forced at knife point to return the ransom and release Sir Gerald - hurrah! Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . Cattle Killers Is it grass fever that is affecting cattle? Or an excuse for the beasts of Sir Erwyn (Andrew Faulds) to be stolen by men sent by Sir Rafe (Alex Scott), who has recently inherited Bartwield Castle? When Ivanhoe hears of the thefts he offers to help and accompanies Rafe's Wife Lady Violette (Marla Landi) and her father Marthon to make peace with Erwyn. Lady Violette claims her husband can justify his actions, but Sir Erwyn refuses to listen, and having called his foes 'nincompoops,' an inevitable fight ensues. Result- Ivanhoe and Gurth are outnumbered, but an angry Ivanhoe is still defiant: "I've known hogs with better manners!" Camped outside Sir Rafe's castle, ready to attack next morning, Marthon explains that Rafe is an expert in cattle, breeding only the finest beasts. Any animals that have the plague must be slaughtered. Ivanhoe escapes his captors and makes his may to Bartwield. Sir Erwyn advances with Lady Violette and her father as hostages on Rafe who shows them a calf with sores on its mouth and hooves. His eloquence, and Ivanhoe's, should bring reconciliation, but Sir Erwyn is too impatient and there's another fight. This time it is Erwyn who has to yield. An unusually angry Ivanhoe berates Erwyn's stupidity and vanity Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . By Hook or By Crook Bad Baron Courcey is enforcing the local 'crook' laws- no one is allowed to step off the road on to His Land, even to gather firewood- the rotter! He's going one step worse as well, for he's clearing the peasants out of the local village of Maydale to "make way for his Chase." "They can't do that," protests Gurth for the village had been granted a royal charter, but the late Will the Miller had hidden it before he died, and noone can find it. But it would prove Courcey's actions are illegal. Whilst Ivanhoe rests at that same old inn Ye Candlewyke, Gurth and a peasant are attacked by Courcey's men. However the tables are turned when Ivanhoe intervenes, and the soldiers run off: "Courcey'll kill you for this!" But Ivanhoe is more concerned about finding the missing charter. It's not at the monastery though the dying Will had managed to mutter cryptically that he'd "entrusted the charter to another shepherd, the most wise shepherd of them all." It seems Ivanhoe isn't that religious or he might have guessed! Instead, he and Gurth inquire of all the shepherds they can find, but Gurth is captured and thrown in Courcey's dungeon, "waiting for the hide to be taken off him." This brings Ivanhoe to Courcey's castle and he issues a challenge. "I make my own rules," boasts the wicked Courcey, as they engage in a swordfight, the villain becoming ever more frenzied. But at least he's no coward, as he admits defeat: "I ask no mercy," he tells Ivanhoe. Squire Gurth must be released. "I shall find your charter," Ivanhoe promises the peasants, and suddenly spots a statue of The Good Shepherd. But it's just off the road, on Courcey's land. In a tense ending, he leans over Courcey's territory to grab the shepherd's crook, wherein is hidden the lost charter Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . 24 Treasure from Cathay All the dwellings around Wentworth Castle are empty. Cedric the Simple (Bill Shine) tells Ivanhoe about a star in the sky that had terrified the villagers, causing them to flee, for fear of "the end of the world." Ivanhoe promises to get to the bottom of this! The castle he finds near deserted, only her ladyship Lady Maude (Naomi Chance) left, who repeats the sorry tale. All her serfs have fled, noone is left to take care of her lands. The only people left in her castle are some oriental entertainers, whose leader The Great Castro has also disappeared, together with his box of secret tricks. Nearby, Baron Treville is admiring the chest of Castro's tricks. He attempts to torture Castro to learn the secret of these fireworks, which he plans to use to bring down Richard's kingdom. And for his own benefit, he will soon be in possession of Wentworth Castle and all its lands. The rest of Castro's troupe, plus Ivanhoe as the Great Hassan dance and perform magic in front of the baron, whilst Gurth tries to release Castro. The Great Hassan, alias Ivanhoe, promises the Baron "a great surprise," but the Baron provides a bigger one by imprisoning Ivanhoe and Gurth, where they are locked up along with Castro. Yet Castro's magic powder is powerful enough to blow off the prison door. "Man the guards at the gate... to arms!" shouts Baron Treville. There's a swordfight and after Ivanhoe and his men rout the Baron's soldiers, Treville is forced to admit his trickery in trying to get hold of all the local land: "I swear I will return the lands." There's a final display of the last of Castro's gunpowder Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . Brothers in Arms On the way to a monastery, Ivanhoe Gurth and Bart are held up by "robber, cattle thief, rebel and poet" Llewellyn, but as he "attacks only tyranny and injustice," Ivanhoe is allowed to pass in peace. The monastery is the one where Ivanhoe learnt to read and write, and he's come to give old friend the abbot (Oliver Johnston) help. Though the monks are prospering there's a snag. "The Lord giveth, but the rule of Prince John taketh away." It's that age old problem of taxes, which the monks pay monthly to John's agent Sir Rupert, nicknamed Rupert the Ragged, on account of his miserliness. Some months, the payment the monks have been taking to him has not been received, and the monks have never returned. 'Tis a task for Sir Ivanhoe indeed! He enlists the help of Brother Gareth (Rupert Davies), who was once a fine swordsman, and some monks are trained to wield a sword in self defence. Now they are drilled, Ivanhoe sets off in monk's disguise, accompanied by Gurth, with the next payment of taxes. The monks follow at a distance, with Barth a go-between, keeping in touch with the two groups. At Ye Cromerfield Arms, Ivanhoe takes supper and the kindly landlord insists they have a free bed for the night. Of course it's a trap. The roof of the bed descends like some medieval torture to crush Ivanhoe, but thankfully Bart has come to warn of the approach of Sir Rupert's men, and all is well. Well, apart from a fierce swordfight, monks to the rescue. But as they are only trained to defend, it looks as though things will go badly for Ivanhoe's men until Llewellyn tilts the odds. There's jubilation at the monastery when Sir Rupert agrees to waive those lost tax payments. But this is the last story to include Bart, for he remains at the abbey so he can be taught to read. Probably this story should actually be earlier up in the running order of stories. Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . The Double Edged Sword An unconvincing trumpeter fanfares Excalibur, Arthur's legendary sword into the court of Lord Mauray (Peter Dyneley). The Abbot of Ashford testifies that this relic, discovered floating on a lake is the 500 year old sword of the great king. Sir Morten (John Carson) challenges the claim, but when his sword is split in two by Excalibur the genuineness seems proved. Mauray plans to donate Excalibur to Prince John when he visits on All Saints Day. "The magic sword is nonsense," states Ivanhoe, but unless the people can be disabused, John's claim to the throne is going to be strengthened by the aura of Excalibur. Bertram of Leeds is a maker of the finest swords- has he crafted this counterfeit? Ivanhoe will never know, as he has been poisoned! Herbert the Goldsmith has an arrow in his back, so the two who could prove Mauray's swindle have been eliminated. At Mauray's games tournament, a champion Greek wrestler is announced. Ivanhoe is taunted into taking him on, Mauray's plan to finish Ivanhoe off being transparent. But after the usual grunts and groans seen on any Saturday afternoon Wrestling programme, the champion remains undefeated no longer. But having yielded, the coward attacks the victorious Ivanhoe, breaking his arm. Loud booing. Now Ivanhoe is unable to wield a sword and the scheme to disprove Excalibur's power is in tatters. Ever resourceful, Ivanhoe trains to fight left handed, Gurth and Bertram's son fashioning him a sword light enough to fight with. Another doubtful fanfare proclaims the arrival of Prince John. Ivanhoe v Mauray, a swordfight in traditional Errol Flynn style, with, naturally, good triumphant. "The real Excalibur has no magic," pronounces the victor solemnly, "only a wise king." Thus Prince John's claims to the throne are silenced and the evil prince is forced to back down over his iniquitous taxation plans. if only modern day Chancellors of the Exchequer could be made to do the same! Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . The Kidnapping Ivanhoe puts the whole rationale of the series succinctly: Prince Arthur: "I don't understand why Uncle John is surrounded by so many guards." Ivanhoe: "Your Uncle Richard was protected by the love of the people. John must guard against their hate." Right under Prince John's nose, Ivanhoe gains surreptitious entry into Sir Henry's castle, partly thanks to the Queen Mother who is staying there. Ivanhoe's mission: to escort Prince Arthur, heir apparent, to safety. This is an easy job, but there is a hitch when John's men spot Gurth waiting at a nearby hut with Arthur's mother, Princess Constance. But back at the castle, Prince John is fuming, especially when his mother reveals she was behind the escape. Indeed she gives her wayward son a right royal ticking off. At the hut, Ivanhoe approaches cautiously. He overpowers Sir Henry's soldiers but while he is rescuing Gurth, Arthur is taken away.Luckily Arthur's captor is gullible, and asks the lad to demonstrate his sling. Arthur is happy to oblige, seizing his chance to grab a horse and gallop off to his destination alone, a ship anchored at Dover. It's only a pity that Cpt Weed's ship has been taken over by the scarfaced Vignole (Patrick Troughton). But this bold pirate is about to meet "a swordsman who will slit you into tuppenny portions," yes Ivanhoe. Calling Vignole "ugly face," is enough to raise his wrath and he engages Ivanhoe in a swordfight while Arthur with his sling rescues Captain Weed and his crew. "Isn't he marvellous?" The frenetic Vignole is beaten when the Queen Mother arrives, to order him to be placed under arrest, and declare Sir Henry stripped of his honours. Note- portraying Prince Arthur is Michael Anderson, an uncommonly good actor for his age. He made many subsequent tv appearances. Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . The Widow of Woodcote In Cornwall, Ivanhoe is feeling faint after a gruelling tournament, too unwell to resist five thieves with masks which makes them look like magpies. Despite Gurth’s resistance, they “inherit” Ivanhoe’s hard-won trophies. ”We’ll catch up with them,” promises Ivanhoe, “when I’ve shaken off this fever.” They seek refuge in a small cottage of a reluctant widow (Peggy Marshall), who doesn’t welcome them at all. Gurth, however, helps her with some odd jobs, and this helpseke a shine to him. But what is the secret of her “fine” possessions, which seem to belie her outward poverty? With Ivanhoe recovered, the search for the Magpies begins at the local inn. In cockney accent, Ivanhoe inquires “we’re looking for friends of ours.” When the villagers learn where he and Gurth have been staying, they denounce the widow as “a vile old witch,” and worse, remarks to which Gurth takes exception. A fight, but they are no wiser about the identity of the Magpies, so they return to the so-called widow, even though locals claim it’s her husband who has left her. “My lord, I think I must take Master Gurth from you,” she informs Ivanhoe. He naturally isn’t too pleased. “I take what I want,” she snarls, and for sure, Gurth looks pleased to have her. But though rather besotted, Ivanhoe persuades him to follow the widow as she pays a visit on her sons who live by an old tin mine. Gurth soon understands what a narrow escape he has had. For there in the mine are Ivanhoe’s trophies, as well as much other stolen loot: “a goodly profit in this sort of tin.” Lead by Ivanhoe, the villagers raid this “nest,” and the Magpies are routed, Gurth even spanking one of the widow’s “babies,” to her great disapproval. “You great oaf,” she shouts at Gurth, as she’s carried off in a cart to the gaol Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Princess Here's a plot that could have been cribbed later for a Saint episode! A messenger from King Roderick of Connaught asks Ivanhoe to accompany the king's daughter Deirdre (Delphi Lawrence) back to him in Ireland. For the past five years she has been held as an unwilling guest at the home of Lord Blackheath (Ivan Craig), an ally of Prince John. This has been enough to persuade Roderick to tentatively change allegiance from King Richard to John. Now, Princess Deidre has been rescued from Blackwater's castle, but proves to be a headstrong young lady, insisting her full wardrobe is taken along with her, back to her homeland. No such niceties will Ivanoe permit, in his best Roger Moore-style. Indeed he demands she dons a peasant's garb to deceive Blackheath's pursuing band. "I'd sooner go back to Blackheath," she complains, prompting Ivanhoe to gently bind her up. She doesn't take to peasant food either. Bread and cheese she turns her nose up at. The hounds of Blackheath are on the trail of Ivanhoe Deirdre and Gurth. They are now on foot, having attempted to lose their pursuers, so Ivanhoe makes for the nearest inn to borrow some more horses, whilst Gurth guards the princess. It's a hard task for this mere man; will he prove susceptible to her feminine charms? That rope that binds her is soon loosed, and with it, she ties him up! She seeks a comfy bed for the night at Ye Candlewyke, the very tavern where Blackheath is putting up. So she is soon on her way back to Blackheath Hall. Ivanhoe tries reasoning with Lord Blackheath, who is "quite touched" by the vain appeal to bring him back into King Richard's fold. But he is less pleased when Ivanhoe and Gurth lock him in his own dungeon and make off with Princess Deirdre. Later, at The Albatross, they have a good laugh over their "fair frolic" Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . The Gentle Jester A fine little romantic adventure written by Larry Forrester. Tomso the great jester is dead. Ivanhoe consoles Sir Maverick, one of King Richard's most loyal supporters, on his sad loss. At a feast in the late jester's honour, Ivanhoe intercepts an arrow aimed at Sir Maverick (Paul Whitsun-Jones). A note is attached, a warning from Sir Morris not to meddle. Now this Sir Morris is attempting, with the aid of spurious legal documents, to persuade the locals that they do not own the land they thought was theirs. His are fake documents, but peasants who cannot read or write cannot discern this. In fact Brother Aubrey has documents proving the title of these lands, and this evidence he is ready to place before the justices in Leicester. There is evidently a traitor in Sir Maverick's castle, as despite Ivanhoe keeping guard outside his bedroom door, a secret passage enables another note to be delivered, this one with the warning "the blade that shot this robe could as easily have slit your throat." The demand is made to destroy Aubrey's documents. There's another murderous attack next morning with the final warning "no more chances." Now Sir Maverick is holding auditions for his new jester. Timso (Patricia Bredin), real name Judith, daughter of the legendary Tomso, wins Maverick over. Maybe she is the first ever female jester. But the final applicant, Liveo (Sam Kydd), comes strongly recommended by Maverick's steward Gresham. But Timso knows he's a fraud. His magic disappearing box entertains Sir Maverick who volunteers for this "novel experience." He disappears in this scheme for "the magic box becomes Sir Maverick's coffin." Ivanhoe puts an end to this nonsense and there follows the usual swordfight, the traitor exposed, and Timso rescuing Maverick. Sir Ivanhoe is handed the legal papers and escorts his prisoners to the court in Leicester. Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . Counterfeit Ivanhoe and Gurth are enjoying a pheasant at an inn when they hear sounds of fighting. To the rescue! A grateful Earl of Ashington (Bruce Seton) is rescued, along with his gold that he is taking to London to aid King Richard's cause. Over the meal he tells Ivanhoe that he is staying tonight with Sir Wendell, but as Ivanhoe has heard rumours of Wendell's defection to John's side, he offers to accompany the earl. Back at his castle, Sir Wendell of Melchester is in a rage over the aborted attack. The devious Timon (Nigel Green) comforts him with his scheme to steal the gold while Ashington rests at the castle. The clever part of his plan is to introduce Wendell to a one armed man who is skilled in manufacturing counterfeit coins. That night, while the earl and Ivanhoe have been drugged, the gold is swapped for the counterfeit. But luckily the earl's giant dog Juno has not eaten the drugged meat and has awakened Ivanhoe. This gold, "why is it so bright?" Juno follows the scent to the room where the minter has been hard at work. But then guards seize Ivanhoe and throw him and Juno into a dungeon. Sir Wendell descends, offering Ivanhoe his freedom for his silence. He's an optimistic man! Gurth is guided by Juno's barking and overcomes the guard to release his master. Gurth goes off to find a cart, as Ivanhoe scours the castle for the real gold. Sir Wendell and Timon are about to count it when Ivanhoe and Juno strike. Ivanhoe crosses swords with Timon, while Juno grips Wendell's arm as he writhes on the ground. Then the gold is unceremoniously chucked into the cart Gurth has brought, and after more skirmishes, off they go with the gold. "Stop them!" shrieks Sir Wendell, in vain Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . Search for Gold A sailor tries to save an attacked fellow sailor's life and is rewarded with a treasure map. But "is any man a friend, when there is gold to be shared?" This becomes the theme of the story as Ivanhoe and Gurth, with the mysterious Bodo, find this sailor who is himself now at death's door. They take him to his home, where his wife, Mistress Fowler, tells them about the map. She gives Ivanhoe a copy, which does have a few details omitted. Another copy, again with key information missing, is in the possession of Prince John. Sir Arnold (Derrick de Marney) is given the task of locating the gold. The hunt is on. Ivanhoe is first to the cave where the gold is hidden. Or is he? Sir Arnold's men ambush him and after a struggle, Ivanhoe as well as Gurth and Bodo are tied up. Now they can resume their search for the gold. But Ivanhoe knows "lust for gold divides men," and plays Arnold's men off against each other. Though Arnold quashes their rebellion, he has less men now, and still has not got the gold. Finally a group of his men find the chest. There is mutual distrust as it is opened. But it's empty. Where is it?" cries the frustrated Arnold. But Ivanhoe has guessed to location. Wriggling free, Ivanhoe fights with Arnold who has had to kill his last surviving soldier. Now it's Ivanhoe who can unearth the gold, but Bodo becomes greedy for the riches, and in their struggle there's a rock fall and the gold is buried for ever. Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . The Devil's Dungeon In a wood, a consignment of gold, bound for King Richard's ransom, is ambushed. The attackers are men of Baron Courcy (John Bailey), and after a fierce struggle, they carry away the loot to Alstyne Castle in the midlands. Ivanhoe is puzzled when he is told the bad news, for Alstyne is held by a supporter of the King. But the mystery is solved when Ivanhoe meets an exhausted Sir Richard of Alstyne (John Carson), who explains he had been thrown out of his home. Once he has regained his strength, he vows to return with Ivanhoe to recapture the gold, which he's sure must be hidden in the deep vault under the hall, known as The Devil's Dungeon. Disguised as pilgrims, they walk to the castle, on the way Robert relating the legend of the dungeon. "I smell trouble," notes Gurth as they enter the castle. He's right! Baron Courcy greets Robert, who says "I have paid the price you set on my life and have herded the cattle to the slaughter." There's a prolonged fight before Ivanhoe and Gurth are thrown into the dungeon- "die bravely, Sir Ivanhoe." The gold is indeed stored there, but obviously the prisoners can't get it out. But as they mull over the legend of the dungeon, they become convinced there must be "another way out." A moving stone is located at last. By a long tunnel they leave for freedom outside the castle wall. Then with the aid of friend Will, all the gold is removed. Sir Robert's conscience has got the better of him, and he's chucked into the vault too. When he exits via the tunnel Ivanhoe challenges him to a "duel to the death." At one point, Richard could win but he refuses to strike the killer blow. And thus he is pardoned Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . Three Days to Worcester The female of the species proves especially treacherous to Ivanhoe in this story, featuring the "beautiful" Edith (Adrienne Corri). Ivanhoe finds her hiding in an inn, fearing for her life. Enemies of King Richard are after her, she claims, and after King Richard's jewels that she is taking to him personally, so he can ransom some of his captured soldiers. Soldiers of Sir Maurice have been trying to steal the jewels. For such a cause, such a woman, Ivanhoe would dare volunteer to be her fine escort, yet he has a pressing engagement of his own, for he must ride urgently to Worcester to save Sir Roland from the gallows. Ivanhoe carries a pardon from the archbishop himself. So a compromise, Ivanhoe will ride part of the way with Edith, to give her protection until they can find a suitable escort in the nearest town. One murderous attack is thwarted, now there's another, and it appears that Edith was expecting a trap and her task is merely to delay Ivanhoe on his urgent mission to Worcester. However, maybe because Ivanhoe and Gurth are getting the upper hand she has second thoughts of such treachery and assists Gurth, enabling our heroes to be victorious in the skirmish. But as she binds Ivanhoe's slight wound, her treachery appears to run deeper. Where lie her loyalties? "You keep changing," notes the observant Ivanhoe. Here come the latest wave of attackers! Gurth delays four horsemen as Ivanhoe rides with Edith on to Worcester. There Sir Maurice is announcing the forfeiture by Sir Roland of his lands, as well as his execution. As the noose closes on his neck, Ivanhoe produces the pardon. It seems Mistress Edith really has changed sides and is for King Richard at last. "I beg your pardon," smiles Gurth at her. Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . Night Raiders The three Black Riders have an antipathy for anything made of straw, for they set fire to roofs and hayricks, terrorising locals. "A little bird tells us they're riding this way," warn two louts who offer protection to an old Kentish man and his daughter. Marcia (Joan Rice) appeals in vain to Sir Edwin (Anthony Bate), the local squire, but he is powerless to intervene, as he now has little power since rival Sir Robert (Raymond Young) "wrenched" his lands from him. You are less than half a man, she retorts to the befeebled Edwin. So the hapless pair are helpless when the Black Riders strike. Grandad is struck down, Marcia carried off. Her screams are heard by Ivanhoe and Gurth, who just happen to be riding that way. Ivanhoe gallantly carries her to his horse and Gurth retrieves a horseshoe that has come off one of the raiders' horses. They take their clue to the blacksmith who recognises it as one he shoed on a horse of Sir Robert. "Get out of my house," shrieks that nobleman, when Ivanhoe faces him with these facts. The two blackmailers return to Marcia's dwelling with another request for money for protection. But Ivanhoe and Gurth are filling this role, so Ivanhoe tells them "I don't think we could afford that." That night The Riders strike. But a bear pit has been prepared for them, and one falls in, and on to his own sword. Another is felled but Ivanhoe is hurt by a flying sword from the leader of the gang. Yet he's well enough to summon a meeting of smallholders to organise a posse to follow the remaining Black Rider. He's caught. It's Sir Robert, no prizes for guessing that! But despite all the evidence, he's not the Black Rider, for there is the villain, riding off with Marcia. More screams from her, and the crowd pursue. Luckily she is a good screamer, and Ivanhoe catches and fights with the Black Rider. 'Tis Sir Edwin. End of Edwin. Enter Sir Robert, not the baddie after all. With his dying words, Edwin apologises for trying to blacken his name. Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . The Raven Ivanhoe and Gurth are dining at the Tynford Tavern when a raven lands on their table and nicks Ivanhoe's gold coin. The bird disappears, though a hand mysteriously returns the coin. The landlord tells them the bird is an omen. The Tynford Raven had disappeared when Sir Murdoch had claimed Tynford Castle, dispossessing the twin sons of the late owner. The elder son was killed, the younger, a weakling named Gerald had fled for his life. The raven's return signifies Sir Murdoch's days are numbered. A simpleton (Michael Bates) has run away from Murdoch's castle, but is recaptured at the inn. But Ivanhoe can't stand idly by, and resists Murdoch's men, though for once "the meddling strangers" get second best. They are taken to Murdoch and placed in a guest room in the castle- "the dungeons must be full." Murdoch worries over the return of this raven for somebody is out to frighten him. It will be at midnight, he is warned. A human dressed as a giant raven warns both Ivanhoe and Gurth to beware. The masked figure releases the prisoners having scared off Murdoch's men-at-arms. "Me and the raven are friends," Simple Will tells Ivanhoe, in case you hadn't worked out the plot as yet. Midnight nears, Murdoch increasingly nervy. Surely Ivanhoe isn't going to protect him? "They'll never get me," shivers Murdoch. He climbs the gallery as midnight strikes. Candles are extinguished. The raven flies at Murdoch, who topples to his death. The human raven attacks "Sir Busybody" Ivanhoe, and after a rather unnecessary but fun Errol Flynn-style swordfight, the weakling Will is beaten, though of course ends up friends with Ivanhoe- "Tynford is my home again, the tyrant is gone, the raven sleeps no more." Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . The Monk Obnoxious soldiers of Sir Roger (Leonard Sachs) are refusing to pay a landlord for their drinks. The ensuing brawl is interrupted by Ivanhoe and Gurth, and also ended by them. Sir Roger had taken over the local lands, once owned by Sir Anthony, who mysteriously disappeared after returning from the Holy Land. Gurth takes over the running of the inn, while Ivanhoe arranges for the landlord and his wife to hide in the nearby monastery run by Brother Benedict. Here he meets scholar Roderick (John Carson) enamoured of the Lady Winfreda, daughter of Sir Roger, whose men attempt to stop them running away, but are again thwarted by Ivanhoe, with assistance from Roderick. But "the young fool" runs off to demand of Sir Roger that he be allowed to marry Winfreda. "I'm going to hang you," promises nasty Sir Roger. But he offers his daughter a concession, if Winfreda agrees to marry his choice of suitor, he will spare Roderick. She agrees, but of course Sir Roger breaks his promise and locks Roderick in a dungeon. Father Benedict finally admits to Ivanhoe that he was once Sir Anthony, but he had tired of bloodshed and retired to the monastery to bring up his son Roderick as " a man of peace." But Ivanhoe opens Benedict's eyes as to how much his former peasants are suffering under evil Sir Roger. While Gurth and Winfreda rescue Roderick, Benedict picks up his sword and deals with Sir Roger. The usurper is sent packing, amid cheers. Roderick becomes the new lord of the lands Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . . . The Swindler Into Ye Candelwyke Inn Gurth rides in rich garb. It seems he has come into money, and he buys everyone a drink to celebrate. Peter the Pedlar (Jon Pertwee) and his servant Eric join him in a toast to freedom. But the drink is expensive, because Prince John has been debasing the value of coins by having so many made. Peter shows the gold he has bought to Gurth. It seems a more secure way of keeping his riches than mere coins, for "it never loses value." Gurth buys a bar but in a fight with local soldiers Peter disappears. When Ivanhoe sees Gurth's gold he proves that it is only lead covered with gold leaf. "I've been robbed!" For Gurth has fallen for Peter's "bait for boobies." A goldsmith (Ballard Berkeley) confirms the worst, "shouldn't have fooled a baby." Though it seems Peter has done him too! Peter is now at the Starbridge Tavern, convincing a local that he can turn copper into gold. Local squire Sir Humphrey catches him there. It seems he has been the victim of some Sunken Treasure tale. Peter wriggles free but his servant Eric is caught. However he returns in the guise of Count Giogio to buy this servant, paying with a valuable ring. But wait, it is only glass, and the 'Count' is captured also. But Ivanhoe and Gurth, looking for the return of Gurth's inheritance, rescue Peter and Eric, driving off Sir Humphrey and his men. Safely away, Gurth gives Peter back his bar of gold leaf, demanding the return of his money. But Peter has other men in hiding. They call him their King, King of the Serfs. For Peter isn't as bad as he has seemed, for all the money he takes has been used to buy the freedom for serfs. "Would ye begrudge freedom to others?" concludes Peter rather philosophically, though he does give Gurth "a little refund" To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . The Fledgling Ivanhoe and Gurth spot a man on horseback in heavy armour, practising his skills with a spear. Ivanhoe offers himself as a "live" opponent, in a friendly swordfight. Naturally there is only one winner and nineteen year old Roland yields. But Ivanhoe is impressed by his potential, as is his grandfather who has been training him. Over a meal, Ivanhoe learns that Roland's widowed mother Hilda is less keen on this belligerence, "he never will be a knight, he's a farm boy." In fact she really needs him to help run their farm. Ivanhoe is in the area for a tournament. The Ox is the local champion, "a huge mountain of a man," though on closer inspection, I think they could have found a beefier actor. He is sponsored by the Baron (John Bailey), "Ivanhoe's skull will be crushed." So to the tournament, prize 1,000 gold marks courtesy of Prince John, certainly anticipating The Ox to be victorious. To prevent her son seeing Ivanhoe win, Hilda, with the Baron's connivance, treats Ivanhoe's helmet with "a foul liquid." Thus as the joust commences, Ivanhoe starts to sway on his horse. He's off! Hilda then notices Ivanhoe watching- and learns that after all the training, it is her son Roland who is fighting the invincible Ox. "Take your helmet off!" the order is shouted. A stunned Roland is readied for the next skirmish and topples The Ox from his steed. The pair cross swords. "The farmyard knight" makes The Ox look "like a buffoon." The Baron wants the fight terminated, but Ivanhoe and Gurth stop any funny business, and finally The Ox has to yield. Roland is the victor. He receives his accolade, and his prize, enough to help run his farm with success To Ivanhoe Menu . . . . . . . . . WILLIAM TELL 1 THE EMPEROR'S HAT 2 THE ASSASSINS 3 THE HOSTAGES 4 LANDSLIDE 5 THE BOY SLAVES 6 THE BARONESS 7 THE SECRET DEATH 8 VOICE IN THE NIGHT 9 THE GAUNTLET OF ST. GERHARDT 10 THE CUCKOO 11 THE ELIXIR 12 THE MAGIC POWDER 13 THE PRISONER 14 THE RAID 15 THE LOST LETTER 16 GESSLER'S DAUGHTER 17 MANHUNT 18 THE BANDIT 19 UNDERCOVER 20 THE BEAR 21 THE SUSPECT 22 THE GOLDEN WHEEL 23 THE BRIDE 24 THE AVENGER 25 THE YOUNG WIDOW 26 THE SHREW 27 THE TRAP 28 THE KILLER 29 THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE 30 THE SURGEON 31 THE ENSIGN 32 THE UNWELCOME STRANGER 33 THE BLACK BROTHERS 34 THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER 35 SECRET WEAPON 36 THE TRAITOR 37 CASTLE OF FEAR 38 THE SPIDER 39 THE MASTER SPY The series started on British tv around August 1958 though production of the stories only finally finished in late January 1959, the final episode made being The Master Spy. The mountain scenes were filmed in Snowdonia. The programme did exceptionally well in America and after three weeks in New York was top of the children's tv ratings, so naturally a second series was planned though sadly it was never made. Wrote Margaret Cowan in March 1959- "it will be a safe bet to say that they will now do a second series." In fact, all that happened was the props got used in a feature length film. Sir Robert Fraser, ITA Chairman, sent the executive producer Ralph Smart a "congratulatory letter." Pity the Americans didn't do likewise. Smart stated in a Jan 1959 interview: "when we used to offer parts to the bigger names, we always got refusals. Now that they see the successes of these scripts, and if the parts are good, they accept." In an early episode Conrad Phillips crocked his leg on location. Another accident occured when his right shoulder was injured in a swordfight. And in one scene "he almost got hanged" and received a "slight scar" round his neck to prove it. All genuine, as he had medical certificates to prove. Jennifer Jayne described her role as William Tell's wife as "the most action packed of her career." More worryingly, Ralph Smart told TV Times (17 Aug 58 edition) that she had nearly broken her neck "a few times." Apparently in the first few episodes she wore a long peasant costume which caused her to trip up. The problem was solved when she was given "more boyish costumes." For a while (see photo) in autumn 1958 she wore a blonde wig, apparently she was suing a hairdresser who had tinted her hair badly! Walter Tell faded as the series progressed: he is only in eleven stories, the last being The Raid. Hedda is in half the stories, while Gessler bursts into all but nine! To Historical Menu . . . . . . . . THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO starring George Dolenz These first in the series were all made in HOLLYWOOD: 1 THE THREE NAPOLEONS 2 THE PEN AND THE SWORD 3 THE DE BERRY AFFAIR 4 THE SARDINIA AFFAIR 5 THE BLACK DEATH 6 FIRST TRAIN TO PARIS 7 VICTOR HUGO 8 RETURN TO CHATEAU D'IF 9 HE GOLDEN BLADE 10 THE DUEL 11 ANDORRA 12 AFFAIR OF HONOR . . BRITISH MADE: 13 THE MAZZINI AFFAIR 14 A TOY FOR THE INFANTA 15 MARSEILLES 16 THE LUXEMBOURG AFFAIR 17 THE TEXAS AFFAIR 18 THE CARBONARI 19 THE DEVIL'S EMISSARY 20 BORDEAUX 21 FLIGHT TO CALAIS 22 NAPLES 23 ALBANIA 24 ACT OF TERROR 25 THE EXPERIMENT 26 MECKLENBURG 27 THE PORTUGUESE AFFAIR 28 LICHTENBURG 29 BURGUNDY 30 MAJORCA 31 SICILY 32 A MATTER OF JUSTICE 33 POINT COUNTER POINT 34 THE TALLEYRAND AFFAIR 35 THE ISLAND 36 ATHENS 37 THE BAREFOOT EMPRESS 38 MONACO 39 THE GRECIAN GIFT This was the first of several series to have episodes made in both America and England. Nick Cravat played the mute Jacopo. Other semi-regulars included Henry Cordon as Carlo (US stories 4, 6 to 12) and Robert Cawdron as Rico (UK stories). I have placed the American made stories in the most likely sequence. No.1 was a pilot, this and stories 2 and 3 included the Count's servant Mario who disappears after this. Stories 4 and 6 to 12 all have Carlo, who is introduced in the first of these, and is clearly shown to leave the series in story 12. To Historical Menu . . . . . . . LONG JOHN SILVER This 1955 Australian made series, in colour, gave Robert Newton the opportunity to continue his celebrated role as RL Stevenson's hero. Though many of the stories are predictably mundane, a few have genuine quality. I specially like #3 The Orphan's Christmas which is a good old fashioned seasonal tale. #4 Execution Dock is a semi-masterpiece all on its own. #7 The Tale of a Tooth has Newton at his comic best suffering toothache. Some of the series was shown at the start of this century numerous times on the satellite channel 'Life'. 1 The Necklace 2 Pieces Of Eight 3 The Orphans' Christmas 4 Execution Dock 5 The Eviction 6 The Pink Pearl 7 The Tale of a Tooth 8 Ship O’ The Dead 9 Sword of Vengeance 10 Turnabout 11 Miss Purity's Birthday 12 Dead Reckoning 13 Devil's Stew 19 Dragon Slayer 20 Temple of Evil Historical Menu . . . . . . . . The Necklace Script: Martin Rackin. The Wainwright jewels are the target of thieves. As all the servants are away on holiday, this is an easy job. But Dorothy Wainwright is murdered, her husband Joseph badly injured. Sir Henry Strong, the Governor, questions him, his dying words are, "he was a - man - with- only - one- l-l-l..." So why is LJ at Michael O'Shea's shop? He's a buyer of jewellery. "How did you come by them?" Miss Purity asks LJ suspiciously. Of course LJ is soon hauled before the Governor. His explanation is that he had been given the jewels in lieu of a debt owed by a man called Slygo. But the jewels come from the Wainwright collection, and LJ is locked up, "I'll soon be mountin' the steps to the gibbet." In her inn, Miss Purity chats up the man known as Slygo. With Jim's assistance, Slygo is tied up. Then she calls on the imprisoned LJ, "we ain't been enough," she informs him- unless he names the day, she won't produce Slygo. But LJ's crew have been busy also, knocking out the guards at the jail, and releasing their boss, "you took your time comin'- you're savin' me from a fate worse than death." Slygo is handed over to Sir Henry, "John Silver, I owe you an apology." But, once again, Miss Purity is disappointed To the Long John Menu . . . . . . . 2 Pieces of Eight Script: Martin Rackin. Director: Lee Sholem. Government taxes are levied on every ship in harbour, but how can Long John pay? His only resource, Purity, turns him down, unless that is, he consents to marriage. No, he cries. A solution comes with Salamander the Greek, a slimy traitor in league with the Spaniards. He has been captured by LJ's men, and in return for his life, offers to take LJ to where the Spanish fleet is lying, off the east coast of Panama. They are loading their ships with gold. His plan appeals to the greedy side of LJ, though some think it's a trap. So with Jim and his crew, LJ hides their longboat for a quick getaway, "we'll need all our strength to strike." "But it seems "a sight too easy" to relieve the train bearing the gold down to the Spanish ships. "Keep your eyes peeled," warns wily old LJ. His men carry the stolen gold back to the longboat but find it has been vandalised. How to get back now to their ship? There is only one way, a long trek across land under the burning sun. However Salamander claims to know a short cut. The arduous trip soon proves dispiriting, one man is bitten by a snake, "he's dead." Thirst threatens, "but not that water," warns LJ, "he be drinkin' his own death, lad." Hunger too afflicts those remaining, though LJ believes "they've blubber enough from years of soft livin." Another crew member dies. Dinner that night be leather, chewy if nothing else. Apparently there is no natural food growing in the area. As they all sleep a weary sleep that night, Salamander sneaks away to mark the route they are taking. But LJ has rumbled him. Now poor Jim has a fever and can barely drag one foot forward. "I'm afeared he be finished," LJ is told, but some jibes from the old pirate restore Jim to his tottering feet. They all fall into the trap prepared by Salamander, but cunning old LJ disguises the villain as himself, complete with one leg and forces him into the trap first. That be the end of Salamander. "Back the other way," is the cry now. They are free for the moment, though Jim really does need to be carried. The wearied crew stagger on under blazing sun, but finally reach their ship, thankfully bound for Portobello. On board, Jim is nursed back to health, "he'll be shipshape Long John." To the Long John Menu . . . . . . . 3 The Orphans' Christmas Script: Martin Rackin and Kay Keavney. A parade of orphans through the street, "there will be no talking," orders stern Miss Willoughby (Neva Carr-Glynn), but they do greet Jim Hawkins, who feels sorry for them. "Christmas be for the little children!" cries Miss Purity, and when Jim recounts to her and LJ the tale of those wretched orphans, they are appalled, for "the old bag" Willoughby doesn't even permit her wards to celebrate the season. But in the spirit of the season, Miss Purity and the reverend take presents to Miss Willoughby for the orphans, but to their chagrin, she turns them away. With a barbed retort, Miss Purity shakes the dust off her feet at the hard woman. However LJ and Jim be a-watchin at her window and see another side to her, as she opens a box of mementoes. The children are not asleep that Christmas Eve, when Jim peers in their window, inviting them to a party that "they'll remember as long as they live." When Miss Willoughby spots her children are not in bed, Father Christmas, aka LJ, interrupts her further proceedings, "you an me be in for a long wait." "It's like fairyland," at Miss Purity's party, and soon the nervous orphans are all smiles. Not so their guardian, she is actually in tears. LJ asks her "why do e 'ate Christmas so?" He hears how years ago at this time of the year, she had been jilted by a sailor. They were to elope at Christmas time. Why LJ knows the man, Richard Carstairs. Or knew him, rather, he loved you LJ tells her for the dying words on his lips had whispered Honoria Willoughby. 'Tis a grand story. Sure, as the orphans gather round the Christmas tree and Miss Purity welcomes Father Christmas with "toys for all," Miss Willoughby promises to be kind from now onwards. "So romantic," sighs Miss Purity, though LJ enlightens her to the more down to earth truth. A heart warming seasonal story Long John Silver Menu . . . . . . . Execution Dock Script: Martin Rackin and Kay Keavney. Surreal, hardly children's fare, but curiously abstract. Were the writers under the influence of Samuel Beckett? Or anyway, under the influence.... At the Cask and Anchor, something's wrong, for LJ is paying "cash on the nail" for food yet not eatin' and buyin drink and not swiggin it down. "He must be sick," declares Miss Purity, it's "landbound fever" according to LJ himself and it must be serious if he ain't drinkin his grog. His crew kindly help him upstairs to bed where the doc (Alex Archdale) diagnoses he "might drop dead". Bad news, the patient must have peace and quiet, and worse, no grog. "They might as well show me to the sharks," the despairing LJ confides in Jim. He composes his will, ship to Patch, gold sovs to Miss Purity and to Jim, "who's been like a son to me," an equal share in his crew's future booty. In his fever, he sees soldiers enter his bedroom and arrest him for privacy. Through an echoing bare place, he is locked in a stone cell, where Captain Flint ("but you be dead") greets LJ warning he will have to account for his evil ways. The worst follows as he is taken from here to the court presided over by Sir Henry, surely good news for LJ "what saved your daughter Elizabeth's life." But worse still, his crew are siding against him. Patch is the Prosecutor, "but you and me were together." Even worse, he's found guilty, so LJ makes a passionate plea for clemency, calling his first character witness Miss Purity. But, dressed in black, she speaks not up for "the good man," rather brands him a liar, "he's wasted the best years of my life." So to Jim lad, who declares LJ must be "the worst pirate." The sentence be inevitable, LJ must be hanged by the neck. Poor LJ is taken away for execution, the echoing sounds of his footsteps mingling with the clanging bells of doom. The executioner, 'tis Eric, "I left you my pistols and my sea chest." As the chopper falls, he cries in sorrow, "they've all turned agin me," and the worst rub of all, "and Little Jimmy, he ain't even cryin." Tumbling out of bed, he awakes. His former friends gather round the sickbed and the doctor examines him, pronouncing a 100% improvement. Smiles all round, except LJ who has for the nonce to drink milk. Arrh Jim lad, off to the Long John Silver Menu . . . . . . . The Eviction Portobello be "not a good place to bring up a lad," but Jim lad disagrees with this common opinion. At the tobacconist's, a rude fop, Lord Ellington, complains when Jim sits on his lordship's horse. Later at the Cask and Anchor, as Long John helps Jim with his spelling ("exsellent"), the fop bursts in trying to seize the crew member who had earlier defended Jim. Miss Purity kicks him out. So Ellington complains to the governor about a brutal assault. As a result Miss Purity's inn is closed down (not pure enough!). Amid her protests, the place is boarded up, and even LJ cannot persuade the governor to "listen to reason." Poor Miss Purity is in tears, until LJ rashly opens his big mouth and invites her aboard The Faithful, "only temporary like." To the ship she adds her "touch of home", and soon, LJ believes, she'll have the crew knitting doileys. They are all getting desperate. LJ redeems the situation by exposing a Spanish plot led by the foppish Lord, who is actually a Spanish agent who has kidnapped the real lord. He had been planning a coup. The gov offers LJ a reward. Money? "There be more important things to a man," replies LJ, "than the jingle of gold." All ends happily for him, as the tavern is reopened. It's not recorded if Miss P is quite so pleased, though everyone enjoys a drink "on the house" Long John Menu . . . . . . . The Pink Pearl Script: Martin Rackin At the Cask and Anchor, LJ is guzzling as Jim reads Shakespeare, "the finest writer of them all." Rather jealous, LJ suggests "'e be a poor man to keep a log." Enter a rich gent, Richard Thorpe by name (John Bonney), searching for his long lost brother, Geoffrey, a poet who had left London for an island paradise in the Caribbean and here he had found that there's a fortune to be made in pearls, "pink as a maiden's cheek." Romantic minded Miss Purity stumps up the cash for LJ to transport Thorpe there, Jim is allowed to sail along as Richard offers to tutor him. They reach the isle but no white man lives there, at least according to the natives. "Something rotten here," mutters LJ. Taker me to your chief, he orders. But the chief states "no white man ever here," adding they have no pearls, "we poor." Yet the chief's daughter Pelu (Jeannette Craig) seems to fix her eyes of Richard. Secretly she approaches Jim. "Me friend," she offers, handing the lad a ring. When Jim shows it, Richard recognises it as his brother's. Pelu comes to LJ on the Faithful and tells them how Geoffrey had died, Spaniards rule the roost on the island, forcing the natives to dive for pearls. LJ resorts to subterfuge, sailing away from the isle. Immediately the Spaniards emerge from hiding to continue their harvesting of the pearls. But while they gloat over their prize of pearls, "the English pigs" blow up the Spanish galleon and sharks finish off the job. "Amen." LJ claims the island for Britain, three cheers, and Richard finds his happiness with Pelu. LJ returns to Portobello with pearls as a reward, he returns one to Miss Purity for financing the voyage but ever kind she is satisfied with LJ's "pearls of wisdom" Menu . . . . . . . The Tale of a Tooth Script: Martin Rackin and Kay Keavney. Old Angus MacAllister (Lou Vernon) is a miserly dentist, to whom LJ brings Jim lad who is "in sore pain." However Angus is bound hame for Scotland and Jim runs off scared. "I'm not a coward," he insists, and to prove it, following the dentist's advice, Jim allows LJ to attach string to a door which he slams shut, thus removing the offending tooth. As a reward, Jim be allowed to sail with Long John and far out to sea the inevitable happens as LJ starts a groanin' and with his temper deteriorating shouts at his crew, it's the toothache. A diversion is a shipwrecked sailor, from off the Bonnie Mary, which had been sunk by Spaniards. Angus the dentist and one Mr Ross had been taken prisoner by the Spanish. That night LJ just cannot sleep and Jim lad kindly asks what is wrong. "The hammerin's beatin' so hard," cries LJ, "I can feel the pain in the toes in the leg I ain't got!" "That's all that's wrong with you?" says Jim, "it's just a toothache." Clearly LJ is more of a coward than Jim! There's but one thing to do, and the crew do it, issue an ultimatum. "We be goin' to draw that tooth." That gives LJ a bright idea. He'll rescue Angus. So that dark night LJ and his men creep up to the Spanish fort, overcome the guards and force their way into Angus' cell. The old man's rather stubborn, at first refusing to be rescued by such a villain, but Ross persuades him and the escape is on. Now for Angus to give his reward. But it's a matter of professional pride. "Ma fee is half a crown." As LJ refuses to stump up, Angus paints LJ a nasty picture of what will happen as "rot sets in." Angus is to walk the plank for his refusal, but Jim convinces LJ to relent and, for half a crown, bravely LJ's tooth is extracted. Two miles from shore, LJ threatens to tip Angus off his ship. He demands half a crown to dissuade him. Honours are even. A nice piece of fun To the Long John Silver Menu . . . . . . . Ship O' The Dead Script: Martin Rackin and Kay Keavney. Director: Lee Scholem. "Like a dream come true," Jim has now been given his first boat. However Miss Purity has quite another type of dream, marriage. "I think I'd better be gone," mutters LJ hastily. Jim is sailing on the open sea when he espies a drifting vessel. It is eerily silent. When he peers closer, he sees all the sailors are dead. The ship is The Rachel from Liverpool, bound for Portobello. But the harbourmaster refuses to give credence to Jim's tale, though LJ sails to the spot where Jim had seen The Rachel. Not there. LJ still believes Jim's story, just, but the governor has no such doubts, "either the boy has outclassed you in the gentle art of lying or your tales of adventure have turned his brain." The mystery deepens when the ship does dock in Portobello where it picks up a cargo of bullion. Though LJ and Jim watch proceedings, nothing suspicious, and LJ is forced to concede Jim be only making up a yarn. Yet Jim ponders what he had seen. How could dead men be alive? At night, alone, he pretends he's the cabin boy and snoops round the ship. But he is spotted, and brought before the captain (Kenneth J Warren, here as Ken Warren). Now a prisoner, Jim is to be dumped into the open sea. His danger is now evident to those back on dry land. A survivor of the massacre on board The Rachel has related the sorry story, and Jim is suddenly believed, a little too late to help. Nonetheless, LJ gathers a crew to chase after these pirates. But with the aid of his pocket knife, Jim has escaped his cabin and with the crew all drunk in celebration, Jim, with the aid of a pirate's gun, forces the helmsman to steer back to port. The governor thanks Jim and Miss Purity is overjoyed to see Jim lad back home a hero. LJ is not too unhappy either, for he had helped himself to a little of the gold! To the Long John Silver Menu . . . . . . . To Long John Menu . . . . . . . Sword of Vengeance Script: Martin Rackin- rather more narration than usual or necessary in this story, and no sign of Jim or Miss Purity. The Faithful has set sail for Portobello but "the holds be empty." Then hope rises as a Spanish ship hoves into sight. "Prime for battle," orders LJ. But when they board, they find no Spanish, the ship is sinking, and down below English prisoners are lying dead, murdered. All except one, barely breathing, but "like a brother," the sick man is taken to The Faithful and nursed back to health. Still delirious, he mutters the dread name Fernando de Vegas, deadly Spanish swordsman. Later the man reveals his name is Shaun and that the Spaniards had tortured and killed his father vainly trying to discover the hiding place of the family gold. At that special word, LJ's ears prick up. Once fully recovered, Shaun vows to avenge his family by killing de Vegas who has taken over his family island home, and, worse, Shaun's betrothed, Abbie, is being forced to marry de Vegas. She is preparing to poison herself, rather than face such a fate. Besides she has been told Shaun is no more. About to take her first sip, fortune smiles as Shaun appeareth at her window. He gives her the nice line, "I'd have come back from the grave to you," he also kisses her. Some unusually romantic music for this series, before Shaun takes his sword, and admits LJ and his men, who trick de Vegas' men into getting locked out of the castle. Shaun takes on de Vegas in a lengthy and ferocious duel in the traditional manner up and down a fairly grand staircase. Though wounded, finally Shaun strikes the fatal blow, "my father has been avenged." Thus Shaun is happily reunited with his true love, though all LJ wants to know is, where's the gold? Yes, perhaps the script writer had been watching too many Errol Flynn movies Long John Menu . . . . . . . 10 Turnabout Script: Martin Rackin. Director: Lee Scholem. Jim lad be a-writin' the ship's log, as dictated by LJ. They're near the end of a successful and "honest" voyage when a French ship The Richelieu runs them down and "One big pain in ze neck" Captain Francois de Villion takes over The Faithful. He's not in the best of tempers since he slips on a banana skin on boarding LJ's vessel. But LJ seems to take it all remarkably philosophically, "c'est la guerre." Lt Leon (David Nettheim) is appointed new captain, LJ reduced to cook with Jim lad as galley boy. The rest of LJ's crew are in irons. Leon is something of a gourmet and appreciates the fare LJ serves him, "you indeed are a master chef." So pleased is he, that he even invites LJ to dine alongside him. Of course it's the lull before the storm. Indeed a storm is brewin' as LJ takes a knife to Leon's throat. Jim lad ties him up to the mast, a large helping of plum duff in his face to keep him quiet. Then Jim frees the crew who in turn surprise their French counterparts. Roles reversed, the French are clapped in irons. Now it is LJ dining on Leon's French cuisine, crepe suzette etc etc, Leon's culinary expertise so exceptional he is honoured with an invitation to dine with LJ. They have reached port and governor Sir Henry Strong sentences the enemy to be hanged. But LJ cannot see this happen and he offers to take Leon on The Faithful to safe haven in Martinique. The surprised Frenchman naturally agrees and at The Cask and Anchor he dons the disguise of a maid. Governor Strong is not amused to find his prisoner has escaped. He searches LJ's inn, only finding a certain Miss Leone, allegedly LJ's niece. One soldier even offers to date her, so attractive does she seem. So all is well, and the two cooks prepare a slap up meal, there is however a certain lack of trust twixt the pair of them. LJ is cooked a flambe which mysteriously explodes. However he isn't that bothered, for he had doctored Leon's plum duff Long John Menu . . . . . . . Miss Purity's Birthday Script: Martin Rackin and Kay Keavney. Director: Lee Scholem. This starts with the standard introduction, Jim relating how Governor Strong in Portobello had placed him in the care of "good" pirate LJ, though, he informs us, Miss Purity Pinker of the Cask and Anchor is his real guardian. However she is not a society lady, and at the governor's residence celebrating the birthday of Miss Elizabeth (Jeanne Whittey), the gossip is about Jim's unfortunate background. Miss Purity is distinctly out of place. "Wasn't it a lovely party?" sighs Jim after. But sad Miss Purity is reminiscing of her old lost youth, "as the years roll on." She does confide to the busy reverend that tomorrow, March 16th, is her own birthday, but LJ "is no good for birthdays," for he is too busy preparing to set sail on the Faithful. "Go and don't come back," cries Miss Purity bitterly, as she sees that her special day has been forgotten. She comforts herself with her childhood doll, and wallows in nostalgic memories. Next day, she's the only one to wish herself a Happy Birthday, LJ has already set sail. "I be finished with Long John for ever." Everyone gets the sharp edge of her tongue, Jim not comprehending why she is so worked up. But at least she gets one present from his reverence, a bunch of red roses. He persuades her to join him in his "service for others" as he visits the sick and needy. While Jim attends a boating party organised by Governor Strong, she finds satisfaction in nursing Widow Flynn, bathing a young child and even delivering a baby for Mrs Watt. "You've been like an angel from heaven," the mother thanks her. Returning to the tavern, awaiting is a lovely birthday surprise, LJ has returned with a giant cake and Miss Purity relapses in tears. "You darlin' man, I never doubted!" A "beautiful" new hat is her present as endeth this rather wistful story, with LJ taking a back seat Long John Menu . . . . . . . Dead Reckoning Jim has allegedly been a naughty boy, in some previously unknown episode. The governor deals with the demand he be sent back to England for a proper upbringing. Long John has his own plan, "'e be like a son to me," he sighs. He is distressed, but that is as nothing to Miss Purity, who blames LJ for instilling his "evil ways" into Jim lad. "This be no place for him." He is sent to a school in Bermuda, "that's so far away." When the news is broken to Jim, he is heartbroken, believing LJ and Miss Purity don't care for him. On board the ship, farewells are made. Also going to this school is "little gentleman" Algy Howard, who is nothing of the sort. It would appear that he is the one who got Jim into trouble in the first place. He is amazed Jim would want to leave the "famous pirate." At school a forlorn Jim accepts the blame for Algy's misdemeanor, penalty 25 whacks. Though this happens again and again, Jim refuses to snitch on the young squirt. Algy's next scheme is to burn down the school, but this time he is caught in the act and caned severely. He decides to run away, persuading Jim to join him. He reveals why Long Johh had sent Jim away. That cheers Jim, and with his skill, they navigate their small craft all the way back to Portobello. LJ and Miss Purity are in despair, fearing the lads have drowned at sea. But they show up, and Algy confesses it was all his fault. Cheers all round Long John Silver Menu . . . . . . . Devil's Stew Midnight at the Cask and Anchor, LJ is gambling away his ship, but "the dice be loaded." Miss Purity soothes his throbbin' head, and yet he has signed away his ship, unless he pays the two hundred sovereigns owed. How can he raise this "paltry" sum? Well, Miss Purity might be persuaded to help- however strings are attached, he must marry her! Bartholomew 'Devil' Dixon is a reformed pirate, and he has the cash to prove it. He tells LJ he has made his fortune transporting animals, and he kindly offers LJ a share in the business. It seems the only way for LJ to raise the wind- unless he plunges into marriage. But LJ cannot contemplate making his vessel "a floating barnyard," so he goes "in all humbleness" to beg the money from Miss Purity. He says he will mend his ways and marry her. However he does go in with Dixon for the "honest enterprise," though is Dixon planning some doublecross? The animals are delivered and LJ's three crew are paid for the animals, but the Spanish Captain Mendoza then informs them that tax is due on the deal. A punch up ensues, though finally LJ gets his money. But Mendoza's soldiers board his ship, along with Dixon, to demand the exorbitant customs duty owed. While they search the ship, LJ nonchalantly eats his stew, even sharing it with Mendoza, who is surprised to find sovereigns in it! Bribery wins the Spaniard round. Though Dixon tears the ship apart, no sign of the money. Thus LJ and his crew happily leave, bound for Miss Purity. LJ informs her that he is "wored out," with all this honesty, and returns the two hundred sovereigns she has lent Long John Silver Menu . . . . . . . 19 Dragon Slayer Script: Martin Rackin and Kay Keavney. "Miss Purity salts the food with her tears," at least according to Ironhand she does, now that LJ has departed after a quarrel. "The loud mouthed ruffian" has got to apologise, but will he? The Bull and Blunderbuss is doing well out of it all, for LJ and his crew are now frequenting that tavern, though in no happy frame of mind, while at The Cask and Anchor Miss Purity is building up a more respectable clientele, even though, let's be honest, it's "uncommonly empty." Welcome is Captain Redbeard, especially as he flatters "the sweet woman." 'Tis enough to make LJ jealous, his old enemy carryin' on like this, and LJ returns to The Cask and Anchor for a bit of a fracas, "fight you swab." With some of the enemy still breathin' LJ unwisely takes Redbeard's advice and retreats, following Redbeard's advice to be "masterful" with Miss Purity. Anything to win her back. "If he really loved me, we'd have been wed long ago," sighs Miss Purity, who's also being strung along by Redbeard. The mischievous pirate suggests to LJ that he can win her back by staging a fake rescue, after Redbeard has abducted her. The rendezvous is Dead Man's Bay, but wily Redbeard has carried off Miss Purity, and her jewels, and gone in the opposite direction to Broken Finger Point. Jim has followed Redbeard as he goes to LJ's ship and removed his strong box containing gold, and he wises LJ, who like a Knight in Shinin' Armour rescues Miss Purity, as well as his gold box. Thus the "old dragon slayer" be forgiven Long John Menu . . . . . . . Temple of Evil On 16mm film. Script: Martin Rackin. Director: Lee Sholem. Surely LJ isn't broody, thinking of settling down? Miss Purity is almost convinced. "How much for the Cask and Anchor?" queries LJ. He's going to turn his back on the sea. Marriage, sighs Miss Purity. But not yet. LJ shows her a first token of a treasure located on an island. He's met this Roger Constable who can show him where it is, and all Roger wants is to be taken there so he can be reunited for ever with his beloved. "It reeks of treachery," comments Miss Purity wisely. There is supposed to be only one difficulty, the natives have sworn to capture on sight any white man setting foot on their isle. They roast captives on a spit! Native drums beat too incessantly as LJ lands on Amoyan and the crew enter the temple that contains the gold. It's a surrealistic set, impressive, littered with the skeletons of those who had come, and failed, to carry off the fortune. But LJ isn't afraid, not until the opening closes tight, "'tis the hand of death." Smoke commences a-pourin' into the temple, the ground shakes, statues topple. Somehow Roger's beloved has time to relate the legend of the temple. The only good news be, there be a secret passage out. But where? Fear drives poor Patch potty, and he wrestles with a giant statue, that movement causes a wall to collapse and LJ and his men are shown their way to freedom. The treasure be left ahind, but LJ is able to tell Miss Purity later that he married Roger and his beloved in his capacity as ship's captain. But oh dear, no wedding for Miss Purity, since LJ never brought back that fortune Long John Silver Menu Historical Menu . . . . . . . . . . . SIR LANCELOT with William Russell as Sir Lancelot 1 KNIGHT WITH THE RED PLUME 2 THE FEROCIOUS FATHERS 3 THE QUEEN'S KNIGHT 4 THE OUTCAST 5 WINGED VICTORY 6 SIR BLIANT 7 THE MAGIC SWORD 8 THE ROMAN WALL 9 SIR LANCELOT'S BANISHMENT 10 CALEDON 11 THE SHEPHERD’S WAR 12 THE PIRATES 13 THE BLACK CASTLE 14 THEFT OF EXCALIBUR 15 THE MAGIC BOOK 16 KNIGHT ERRANT Stories in colour: 17 THE LESSER BREED 18 THE RUBY OF RADNOR 19 SIR CRUSTABREAD 20 WITCHES BREW 21 MAID OF SOMERSET 22 DOUBLE IDENTITY 23 THE BRIDGE 24 LADY LILITH 25 THE UGLY DUCKLING (only survives in b/w) 26 KNIGHT'S CHOICE 27 MORTAISE FAIR 28 THE PRINCE OF LIMERICK 29 THE MISSING PRINCESS (only b/w) 30 THE THIEVES The production company Sapphire stated at the start of 1957 that although the cost was a third more, the series was now being filmed in colour. The reasoning was- "the product will not be outmoded when colour TV finally gets here." Most of these coloured films have been preserved on the Network dvd, making this series almost unique amongst 1950's British television. A problem during the filming of the series was King Arthur's Round Table. Art director Peter Proud had to design a special one made of Swedish wood. It was 14ft in diameter and had seven removable 'slices' each weighing 56lb, so cameras could move in for close ups. Edmund Hockridge made a test recording of the theme song, but the producers were never able to repeat the success of the Robin Hood theme. My favourite episode: 4 The Outcast. With McGoohan prowling round, dare I suggest any other? Best moment: In 19 Sir Crustabread, Virginia Vernon treats it all with the dignity it deserves Dud episode: 24 Lady Lilith, though this story at least tries hard. To Historical Menu . . . . . . SIR FRANCIS DRAKE 26 stories were made 1 The Garrison 2 The Prisoner 3 Mary Queen of Scots 4 Governor's Revenge 5 The Lost Colony of Virginia 6 English Dragon 7 Bold Enterprise 8 Doctor Dee 9 Escape 10 Boy Jack 11 The Flame Thrower 12 King of America 13 The Irish Pirate 14 Drake on Trial 15 Beggars of the Sea 16 The Bridge 17 Johnnie Factotum 18 Mission to Paris 19 Gentleman of Spain 20 The Reluctant Duchess 21 The Gypsies 22 The Doughty Plot 23 Fountain of Youth 24 Court Intrigue 25 Visit to Spain 26 Slaves of Spain with Terence Morgan in the title role, and Jean Kent as Queen Elizabeth. Originally the title was to have been King Of The Seas. ATV being short of studio space, this series was made at AB Elstree Studios. An attempt to make a series "as well as, if not better" than the money-spinning Robin Hood. "No effort will be spared," declared an ATV spokesman, "to make this a first class series, with top production values. We think it will be better than Robin Hood." A bold promise, that really fell flat because finding a star proved a difficult task. Ten names were considered, then three were tested on tape on July 28th 1960. By the end of 1960 it was reported that "the right actor to fill the role has been searched for assiduously, and many tests have been taken. So far the most successful has been Terence Morgan," but, it was added interestingly, "all the tests are not yet completed." As it transpired, Terence Morgan was solidly reliable, but hardly in the charismatic Richard Greene mould. Having said that, a few of the stories do rise above the usual rather mundane children's swashbuckling adventures, some for example, #3, #5, and #12 are firmly rooted in history, while others are nicely entertaining, like #11, and the final few stories seem mostly concerned to introduce a young female attraction, like #23 and #26. I do like the stirring theme music by the underrated Ivor Slaney- perhaps if it had had a vocal, it would have been a hit. The series began shooting on March 6th 1961, and previewed in September 1961 in the cinema at the Devonport naval barracks. It was attended by the stars and producer Anthony Bushell. Apparently it went down none too well with many derisive sailors who were watching, "I have seen worse audiences," commented Terence Morgan. To Historical Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1955) Only 18 stories were made. 1 The Hostage 2 Sir Percy's Wager 3 The Lady in Distress 4 The Elusive Chauvelin 5 Something Remembered 6 The Sword of Justice 7 Thanksgiving Day 8 Sir Andrew's Fate 9 The Ambassador's Lady 10 The Christmas Present 11 The Flower Woman 12 The Imaginary Invalids 13 The Princess 14 Antoine and Antoinette 15 The Winged Madonna 16 Gentlemen of the Road 17 The Farmer's Boy 18 A Tale of Two Pigtails "They Seek Him Here, They Seek Him There, Those Frenchmen Seek Him Everywhere. Is He In Heaven, Is He in Hell, That Cursed Elusive Pimpernel?" Marius Goring starred as Sir Percy "in flowed satin," but secretly the famous Scarlet Pimpernel, the curse of France and especially Citizen Chauvelin. "I enjoyed playing the Pimpernel," Goring stated in an interview, "he embodies everyone's ideal of a hero; a man who, for no personal gain, risked his life for the innocent. It's a strange thought that his antagonists were the people who shouted Liberte Egalite Fraternite!" This was the first British television attempt at the filmed historical series genre, and Goring comes over as just a bit too clever. He's not really that likeable, not dashing like Robin Hood or Dan Tempest. Despite all his fun in disguise, he's lacking the lightness of touch of the true tv hero. More adept at creating the right atmosphere of tongue in cheek fun is Alexander Gauge, as the foppish Prince of Wales, perhaps here can be seen also his embryonic Friar Tuck. Historical Menu . . . . . . . Sword of Freedom (1957) 1 FRANCESCA 2 THE SICILIAN 3 CHOICE OF WEAPONS 4 CATERINA 5 THE HERO 6 PORTRAIT IN EMERALD GREEN 7 THE DUKE 8 THE EYE OF THE ARTIST 9 THE TOWER 10 ALESSANDRO 11 THE SHIP 12 THE BRACELET 13 THE SLAVE 14 THE BELL 15 THE SUSPECTS 16 SERENADE IN RED 17 MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE 18 THE VALUE OF PAPER 19 THE PAGAN VENUS 20 FORGERY IN RED CHALK 21 VESPUCCI 22 THE SCHOOL 23 CHART OF GOLD 24 THE AMBASSADOR 25 THE LION AND THE MOUSE 26 ANGELICA'S PAST 27 THE BESIEGED DUCHESS 28 CRISTINA 29 THE STRANGE INTRUDER 30 THE PRIMAVERA 31 A GAME OF CHANCE 32 THE MARIONETTES 33 THE RELUCTANT DUKE 34 VENDETTA 35 WHO IS FELICIA? 36 VIOLETTA 37 ADRIANA 38 THE ASSASSIN 39 THE WOMAN IN THE PICTURE Starring Edmund Purdom as Marco del Monte, "one of the most famous and talented artists in Florence." Marco has two allies in his model Angelica (Adrienne Corri) and, in the pilots, the burly Sandro (Reginald Beckwith). Sadly he was replaced for the main series. Pitting his wits against him is de Medici, the Gonfalonier of Florence (Martin Benson), who had perhaps the best part as the splendidly unpleasant rich banker, who acts as in the worst traditions of banking today. Thus the scene is set for the struggle of the people of Florence for liberty against this despotic ruler. This was no masterpiece of a series, perhaps the worst of those from the Hannah Weinstein stable. Edmund Purdom is no Richard Greene, and I find the scripts lack the freshness of the Robin Hood ones- everything and almost everyone are too plodding and ordinary, so that one couldn't really care less whether de Medici gets away with his bullying or whether Marco thwarts him yet again Best story: undoubtedly #27 with Martita Hunt. #36 is enjoyable too. Worst story: out of several, I nominate #37. Historical Menu . . . . . . . . . . . RICHARD THE LIONHEART (1961) My reviews of the series 1 Long Live the King 2 The Lion and the Eagle 3 The Robbers of Ashdown Forest 4 The Wolf of Banbury 5 School for a King 6 Crown in Danger 7 The Pirate King 8 The Alchemist of Rouen 9 The King's Champion 10 King Arthur's Sword 11 The Challenge 12 The Bride 13 The Great Enterprise 14 The Norman King 15 The Strange Monks of Latroun 16 When Champions Meet 17 The Warrior from Scotland 18 The Conjuror 19 The Lord of Kerak 20 Queen in Danger 21 The Saracen Physician 22 A Marriage of Convenience 23 Prince Otto 24 The Vision Fades 25 The Fugitive 26 Knight Errant at Large 27 Guardian of the Temple 28 Capture 29 A King's Ransom 30 The Devil Is Unloosed 31 The Little People of Lyntor 32 The Raiders 33 An Eye for an Eye 34 The Caveman 35 A Year and a Day 36 The Crown Jewels 37 The Man Who Sold Pardons 38 The Heir of England 39 The People's King With scripts by the accomplished Paul Tabori and Stanley Miller, this was an ambitious last TV series by the Danziger Brothers. Dermot Walsh starred as Richard The Lionheart with support in many episodes from Robin Hunter as Sir Gilbert ('Lord of the Stomach'), Iain Gregory as Blondel, and Alan Haywood as Sir Geoffrey. Trader Faulkner appears in numerous stories as Prince John, but also as everyone from an apocethary to a priest to a tailor, usually bad. Shooting began in May 1961, the second story to be filmed was #10, completed in mid May that year. Publicity for Richard the Lionheart from Associated Rediffusion, who purchased the series: The factual accuracy of this 1961 series was vouched for by three historians, "one being a master at a famous public school." A castle with moat and drawbridge was built in Hertfordshire, designed like a real 12th century castle by Art Director Roy Stannard, who also designed portions of an Austrian castle, parts of contemporary London and Richard's desert camp. Over 3,000 costumes were made. Fights were staged by Paddy Ryan, using Olympic swordsmen in many jousts. "Fights were so realistic that weapons were broken daily." 100+ horses were employed, other animals included camels, goats, a puma, a tiger, and a lion which a Danziger dvd later admitted was pretty docile. The 39 stories covered the events leading up to Richard's coronation in 1189 (#1-9). "A later story tells of his betrothal and marriage to Princess Berengaria in 1190 (#12). This marriage caused a long and bitter feud between Richard and King Philip of France... The first Crusade in 1191 occupies a number of episodes (#12-24) which cover the capture of Acre (#16), the arrival at the walls of Jerusalem (#24) and the King's capture by the Duke of Austria (#28). Of course Richard's ransom (#29) and return to England is included and introduces his great ally Robin Hood (#30)." To Main Historical Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Long Live the King An impressive opening story, that introduces the recurring motif of Bad Prince John, and his hate relationship with his brother Richard, who proves a gentler older wiser head. You can't blame some knights for proposing John be proclaimed King when Richard fails to show up at his own father's deathbed. But what kept him? Bad Sir Philip (Peter Reynolds) has sent him on a false errand to sign a peace treaty with Catherine, a seductive French princess (Lisa Daniely). When King Henry expires, Prince John attempts to get elder son Richard disowned, "I think I would be more worthy of the crown." He even dares to declare that the dying king had indeed declared John his successor. Fortunately Richard eludes a murderous attack by the treacherous Philip, thanks to his supporters rescuing him, he and brings Catherine to substantiate the reason for his delay. Unfortunately she is in with John, so there's only one way for Richard to prove his honour- go to the Field of Combat with Sir Philip. The winner is crowned king, Richard naturally. Uncredited speaking extras: 1 The priest. 2 King Henry. 3 A knight. 4 A soldier of the princess. 5 A friar Lionheart Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Lion and the Eagle As new King Richard rides into London, it's "like the plague," everyone appears scared of him, and the reason Richard soon discovers- Bad Prince John has been spreading vile rumours about tax increases. The 'Eagle' is the nickname of a rather feebly acted Queen Eleanor. But Prince John makes up for her deficiencies in the acting stakes, and in nastiness, as he shrewdly guesses Richard won't want to be crowned while his kidnapped mum is missing, held captive at Woodstock. "You will never spread your wings and fly away from me," he poetically warns her. But he also tells her that she is not a prisoner! Richard follows her expensive trail of scattered trinkets and poses as a pedlar, getting Blondel to take his goods into the castle. Eleanor realises the ruse, and John decides to remove his mother to 'safety' in an isolated ruined castle. But Richard follows the trail, and, scaling the ramparts, rescues his mum, confronting his errant brother. A Thousands marks to the man who kills Richard, screams John, but it is no contest and John is ordered to get out of England. As noone accompanies him, there's a fat chance of that happening! Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Woman in street. 2 Scared man. 3 Prince John's cook. 4 and 5 A peasant and his wife. 6 and 7 John's soldier and his sergeant. 8 A swordsman To Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . . 3 The Robbers of Ashdown Forest All is jolly at the feast celebrating Richard's 1189 coronation in Westminster Hall, medieval jugglers entertaining while the jolly talk is of peace. The spell is broken when Sir Geoffrey brings news of an uprising in the north, behind it of course is Prince John. At Stoke Castle he is already preparing for his coronation in London, surrounded by de Glenville (John Gabriel) and de Bohun (Raymond Rollett) who, like all good baddies, seem to be planning their own treachery. En route to quell the rebellion, in Ashdown Forest, allegedly 50 miles south of York, Richard and his entourage get somehow lost and stumble on an entertaining imitation of Robin Hood, a bandit leader in the forest, Edmund the Saxon (a chirpy Glyn Owen) who cares "nothing for any king." He opens the king's eyes to the greed of the tax collectors. As a Saxon, he supports neither John nor Richard, though he believes it high time the feud twixt Norman and Saxon is ended. Quarterstaffs- that's the weapon Richard chooses "to fight for breakfast" with Edmund, all good natured, with Richard victorious naturally, and crowned new King of the Forest. Edmund recognises he is also King of England, and together they settle down to a feast fit for a king. Edmund and Richard disguise themselves as pedlars to try to learn when John is to march on London. The rustic yokels scale the castle wall and spot dozens of jars full of oil. Having broken the flimsy jars, they fetch some more urgently, learning they are needed for the morrow's march south. An ambush is set up in the forest, "may God defend the right." A full scale sword fight between the paltry armies, plenty of rolling in the mud before John's minuscule retinue is put to the sword. John however, rather predictably, has already galloped off. Thus Edmund and all his followers are given the king's pardon, Edmund kneels, "rise Sir Edmund of the Forest." I liked this part of Glyn Owen's, he could have been used to good effect in this series. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 The Bishop. 2 Knight. 3 and 4 Two soldiers To the Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . 4 The Wolf of Banbury Rich Lady Rosalie, engaged to Sir Geoffrey de Lacey, is kidnapped by "renegade murderer" 'The Wolf' (Francis de Wolff!) aka Sir Giles. Aided by his henchman (John Bennett) who does a passable imitation of a dieting Charles Laughton in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the nasty Wolf sends via a poor nun, his ransom demand. But he also plans to marry the fair maiden. King Richard, posing as outlaw Sir Hugh, joins the Wolf's band, and has to prove his worth by kidnapping the poor Bishop of Oxford. He is to perform the marriage ceremony, "it will be interesting to tame you when we are married," Wolf snaps at poor Rosalie. "I would rather die," she cries. That marraige of course can never be, so, on the battlements, the Lion fights The Wolf, with the expected outcome- one giant splash. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 A prisoner. 2 A baker. 3 A woman prisoner. 4 Lord Chancellor (Ian Fleming). 5 A herald. 6 Soldier on horseback. 7 Bishop of Oxford. 8 Giles' guard Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . . School for a King At Chinon Abbey in France, Richard is handed a document written by his father King Henry, full of royal wisdom that will enable him to become a good king. Summary: power corrupts, courage and justice are a king's attributes. "I promise I will do my best," says Richard. With this vision before him, Richard dons servant's clothes and rides to Falaise, getting his friends to treat him as a serf. While they are in camp, there's the sound of dogs barking, "the quarry is human." Pierre and his wife Margot are the pursued. They tell of their poverty, they are unable to pay the new tax levied to pay for Richard's coronation. Who has demanded such a tax? The Constable of Falaise, installed by King Henry himself, Stephen of Tours (Peter Illing). It seems that though he had once been loyal to the crown, power and money have made him greedy. The pursuers are deflected in their hunt for their quarry and the disguised Richard rides to Falaise, where Sir Gilbert is refused an audience with Stephen. From the townsfolk Richard learns a few home truths. Lady Blanche (Dawn Beret), Stephen's daughter, is going to be married to the new king- that's Stephen's plan and he soon gets his opportunity. Pierre and Margot are taken prisoner and summarily sentenced to death, along with Blondel who had helped them. But Richard intervenes to good effect, breaking his cover. Pierre and Margot are forgiven and Stephen forced to apologise. All local taxes are hereby remitted. To show his penitence, Stephen entertains Richard who isn't fooled and demands an account of his stewardship. Stephen's response is to lock Richard in a cage, but locals supported by Sir Gilbert and Sir Geoffrey stage a revolt resulting in a gigantic fight. In his fortress Stephen attempts to force Richard into marriage. "Too much power" has indeed corrupted Stephen who demands to be made regent of France. Instead the once powerful leader has to flee and in a nice twist this fugitive from justice, desperate for food, stumbles on Pierre and Margot and has to beg them for sustenance. He is taken to into the presence of Richard who is now being acclaimed by his loyal subjects. If anyone will speak up for Stephen, then Richard will show mercy on him. Silence. Then Margot puts in a pitying word.The king shows clemency. A well rounded story with a clear moral lesson. Uncredited speaking part: Soldier chasing Pierre To the Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . Crown in Danger Sir Philip (Peter Reynolds) - see story #1- held prisoner in Rouen Castle, tricks Sir Gilbert and takes him hostage at knifepoint, thus making good his escape with his mates. King Richard gives chase but Sir Philip makes for the castle of his cousin Bertrand, "that madman" who keeps lions inside his castle. To them Bertrand throws any unwanted prisoners, earning him the nickname Lord of the Beasts. The king is delayed by a pointless fight with one Sir Percy who asks for royal assistance as his fiancee Katherine has been snatched from him by Sir Bertrand. But the king says he is too busy trying to rescue Sir Gilbert, not realising he too is a prisoner of Bertrand. Percy challenges his king to a duel. No prizes for guessing the winner. Cousin Bertrand (Kevin Brennan) has a sort of James Robertson Justice voice and swagger. He is indeed ferocious with fierce beasts to boot. He devises a plan with Sir Philip. This is to allow Gilbert to escape, which he does, with the aim of luring the king inside the castle. This works as Richard braves the lion- well, he is called Lionhearted- which is surprisingly docile, like a doped lion. In fact Bertram is happy to betray his cousin in return for being created local ruler and being giving royal approval for his marriage to Katherine. Philip gets wind of this treachery and plans some of his own, releasing a slightly fierce lion. Thus Richard has a fight, for a change it's with the lion. We never see king and lion in the same shot, except briefly when a stuffed lion's head menaces the king. The baddies are all taken prisoner, even Sir Philip is not too badly injured to escape his trial. The Lord of the Beasts' lands are by royal decree given to Sir Percy who also is given his fiancee's hand in marriage and so nearly everyone is happy, except Sir Percy and the unfierce Bertrand. Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Lord Chancellor (Ian Fleming). 2 prison warder (Andreas Malandrinos) Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Pirate King In Honfleur, Richard is waiting impatiently for his galley to take him back to England. He is informed that pirates terrorise ships in the vicinity. In fact they have attacked Sir Geoffrey who is sitting happily on the beach in the arms of Rosalie his intended. A pirate forces Sir Geoffrey to take him to the king, with a message from the Pirate King, Giles I also known as Forkbeard (Martin Benson). Sir Thomas (John Longden) reads out his message to Richard, a proposal of a treaty as though the two are on equal footing. That Richard cannot accept and sends the envoy packing. Forkbeard's response is to attack the king's galley, on which sails Sir Gilbert, who totters in rags into the king's presence. Richard poses as a peasant at an inn where Forkbeard often recruits men. He gets his chance to sign on, with a motley gang, and is ushered into King Giles' presence. "Nobody fools me." King Richard is recognised. No treaty he repeats. However as Forkbeard is a brilliant chess player, Richard offers an odd gamble. If Richard loses, he'll sign the treaty. If he wins, Forkbeard is his prisoner. "I've never been beaten yet," boasts Forkbeard, and while the battle rages on the board, Richard and Forkbeard's men are manouevring outside the pirate ship. Sir Geoffrey lead's the king's men, aided by Sir Thomas- the aged John Longden, or his double, is unusually active! After the skirmish, Richard's men dress as pirates and board Forkbeard's ship. The chess match is at a critical stage, Forkbeard announcing checkmate. But King Richard disputes it, he's playing to English rules while the pirate is using French rules, whatever that means. So according to Richard, he wins! But in real life, it is Richard who is taken prisoner by the pirates, but not for very long since Sir Thomas & co leap to the rescue. Now it's hand to hand fighting, Richard v Forkbeard. Poor Sir Thomas looks knackered. Victory supplies Richard with a suitable vessel in which to make his journey to England. But before he departs, he presides over Forkbeard's trial. Sir Gilbert is granted his vengeance, in retaliation for the attack on the royal galley, and shaves off just half of the pirate's beard. That's sufficient punishment, and magnanimously, Richard entrusts to Forkbeard the command of the ship that is to carry him to England. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Messenger at inn. 2 Landlord. 3 A Pirate. 4 Captain's second in command. 5 Second pirate. 6 Swimmer Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Alchemist of Rouen Something of the influence of Hammer Horrors can be seen in this story, with Trader Faulkner trading in his role of King John for Villanus, aptly named alchemist. Sir Gilbert is promised a barony, but only when he brings the king a lock of the devil's hair. Spoken in jest, the story shows how Sir Gilbert achieved his aim. Lady Rosalie, daughter of Sir Thomas, is engaged to Sir Geoffrey de Lacey, but the worried girl tells the king how he seems to have become bewitched, walking round in a kind of strange stupor. King Richard comes upon Sir Geoffrey, who seems to be sleepwalking. In a trance he wanders the streets of Rouen, making for the premises of an alchemist. "I don't believe in hocus pocus and superstition," the plain speaking king tells his friends. The king finds Sir Geoffrey in this house surrounded by lots of bubbling potions, presided over by Master Villanus. Geoffrey himself, apparently hypnotised, is in the arms of the beautiful Villa, Villanus' sister. Richard demands Geoffrey be freed, but the alchemist weaves some spell and vanishes by magic. The king and Blondel are trapped in a net. Villanus offers an "unholy bargain," in return for their release he demands to be given control of the Duchy of Aquitaine, as well as permission from the king for Villa to marry Sir Geoffrey, she's besotted with him. Richard must refuse, so it's a case of the old torture, the walls closing slowly until they grind you to a pulp. That will take less than one hour, unless Richard recants. It's Sir Gilbert who prevents this nasty fate. In a swordfight he overcomes Villanus, but then succumbs to his magic wiles. However with no potion administered to him, Sir Geoffrey has come out of his trance to release the prisoners. Villa, angry she has lost her man, stabs her own brother, and a series of explosions end the drama. Later, a bruised Sir Gilbert is rewarded for his bravery. When he hands a lock of Villanus' hair to the king, he is appointed a baron. And a happy Rosalie and Geoffrey are reunited Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Man pleading at Richard's court. 2 Archbishop Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The King's Champion At last, Richard is crowned King! At the coronation feast there are some vacant seats since Prince John has persuaded King William of Scotland that Richard's elder brother Prince Henry is still alive! Many are wavering and even those at Richard's court are half convinced, Sir Gilbert has seen 'Henry', or his ghost, "it might be the old king himself." Richard's right to be king is challenged by a messenger from Henry, the Black Knight. Aged Sir Thomas (John Longden) as the King's Champion is the one who is to represent him. It's such an uneven contest that Richard himself, against tradition, challenges the Pretender to fight for The Crown of England. He rides to Huntingdon, there to engage in combat. Only 'Henry' has persuaded the Black Knight to take his part. The fight commences on horseback, then on foot. "Richard's beaten!" declares the Pretender, but he's wrong there. In fact this 'Henry' is forced to confess that he was only a worker in Henry's kitchen. We all know who put him up to it. At another banquet, Richard and King William toast a peace. Uncredited speaking parts: 1st messenger. 2nd messenger To Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . . . . . . King Arthur's Sword Persuasion from his mother, forces King Richard to yield to his better judgement and permit bad Prince John to return from exile. In fact John has already come to London and swears loyalty to the king, vainly asking for a province which he can rule. John admits he had returned from exile a while back and had been in hiding at Glastonbury, where he had learned the legend of King Arthur's sword Excalibur. The popular legend is that he who wields this sword will become King of England. An old monk Merlin (Ferdy Mayne), a descendant of Arthur's Merlin, had revealed to John this sword has been discovered. Richard rides to Glastonbury to be told by Merlin that it was his father King Henry who had instigated the search for Excalibur. The rumour is that someone named Sir Percival now has the sword and is stirring a popular uprising. As the king gazes on King Arthur's tomb, an emissary from Sir Percival delivers a challenge- mortal combat. Come to Camelot to meet him. Though he knows it is a trap, Richard needs to meet the rebel and somehow finds his way to the mythical castle, having a fight en route for good measure. "The fairest of women" Lady Guinevere (Daphne Anderson) in her enchanted castle greets Richard and offers him food and wine. Surely that drink is drugged, so the wise king offers Guinevere his, while sipping hers. Then he offers a yawn, feigning sleep, his men following his cue. "They will never leave," breathes Guinevere, as she fetches Merlin and Sir Percival, alias Prince John, who laughs at the way his romantic story has fooled his brother. Guinevere will be made his new queen, Merlin to be Archbishop of Canterbury, once he has killed off Richard. Yet instead of the corpse, John faces a swordfight but his ace is that he holds Excalibur. Alas for him, it is far too heavy, and Richard gallantly hands John a less unwieldy implement while he takes possession of Excalibur. And wins. John flees. So Richard's mother admits she had been in error, "John must stay in exile," Amen. Uncredited speaking part: Messenger from King Percival To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Challenge A tale of deception enlivened by Zena Marshall as the "beauteous" Princess Zara. In Oxford, the Master Chancellor is entertaining the king when Princess Zara and her brother Ubaldo (Trader Faulkner) appeal to him to help rid their country of the invading Saracens. Ubaldo challenges any knight to defeat him in combat. If Ubaldo is victorious, the loser must join the army to fight the Saracens. Any knight who wins, will win the hand of Zara. Lots are taken, Sir Roland is the first name to be drawn. But Sir Michael suspects Zara of trickery, but rather than tell his king, he privately draws a knife on Zara, but is overpowered and taken to a ruined monastery and tied up. Sir Roland loses his joust. Zara takes a shine to him and claims him for her own. However as Ubaldo loses the second joust against Sir Ferris, there's a bit of confusion, since Zara must be given to him. She offers the winner a drink of sherbert, obviously it is drugged. Thus he fails to turn up at his own wedding, the devious Zara claiming he has gone mad. Further jousts see King Richard's other knights somehow spirited away, magic seems in the air. Richard himself takes on Ubaldo, and loses all too easily, and apparently unconscious, is carried away to the ruined monastery, there to join his knights, who are all bound in chains. They are to be transported to the galleys to work as slaves. But their chains are not as secure as all that and rebellion begins. Zara's romance with the drugged Roland is rudely interrupted by a swordfight in which Ubaldo is captured. End of the romance? Not quite, for Roland himself requests that Richard allow him to marry Zara! Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Bride A neat story, heralding the commencement of the semi-serial of King Richard's crusade to the Holy Land. In 1190 London, King Richard is informed by his Chancellor and Sir Thomas that Prince John is seeking a bride. The king is quietly urged to get married himself in order to forestall the day when John might inherit the throne. "England needs a queen," but Richard has rather individual ideas on the matter, rejecting several suggested liaisons, declaring nobly that he must marry for love. Antoine (John Serret), ambassador to King Philip of France, stirs this pot. The two kings are to start soon on a crusade, but there is one possible hindrance to this new alliance, at least according to Antoine. For Henry, Richard's father, had agreed that Geoffrey, Richard's late elder brother, would marry Philip's sister Alice (Susan Shaw) as part of that alliance. With Geoffrey dead, Richard is called to honour is father's pledge. Yet Richard has already made his position plain, refusing to countenance any marriage "for reasons of state." That's even though this Alice is allegedly "as lovely as an angel." Anotoine can only hope, "when your majesty sees her, you will love her." Even Richard's retinue want this marriage to go ahead, lest the crusade fails before it ever begins. At least look at Alice, that's the compromise agreed. A disguised Sir Gilbert in the role of Earl of Lincoln, takes his troubadour, Richard incognito, to the French court. Here Alice is flanked by two fawning admirers, a very giggly young lady, certainly self-important, confidently anticipating her new role as Queen of England, without for the nonce acting the part. From Alice's cousin Berengaria, daughter of the impoverished King of Navarre, Richard learns about his intended's low life, and he is not at all impressed. But Berengaria (Sheila Whittingham) he takes to very much, in fact he falls for her and bets her a kiss that King Richard will not marry Alice. They kiss anyway. Caught in the act, the order is for Richard to be whipped. Instead there's some swordplay, Richard of course the victor. To Alice, Sir Gilbert reveals his true identity, announcing the king will not marry her. Fro some unexplaiend reason, she believes Gilbert is king. Marseilles is where the crusade is to be launched. English and French knights gather, Richard now as himself. The two kings meet, Philip joyous his cousin will be married to Richard. However Richard announces that it is Berengaria he will marry. Philip is not amused, nor Alice. But the pledge was to marry the heir of England, and to that Richard is happy to agree, for John is that heir. Unfortunately, the story doesn't show Alice's angry reaction to the possibility of marrying John, who is played by Trader Faulkner, perhaps she knew Trader was also playing her cousin King Philip! Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Chancellor (Ian Fleming). 2 Sir Thomas (John Longden). 3 Second Courtier To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Great Enterprise Perhaps an ironic title, to mark the start of the crusade, but an apt one. This follows on from the previous story in which King Philip of France plotted to get his sister Alice married to King Richard of England, who instead had fallen for her cousin Berengaria. Back from his honeymoon is Richard, "marriage is a wonderful state." But in his absence, morale has been teetering, especially since Philip and Alice are "sulking in his tent," actually a grand castle. Richard suspects they might be plotting to seize his French territories. Alice however turns up full of apparent contrition, but is it a ruse? Captain Abbas has been commissioned by Saladin to blockade Marseilles to prevent the crusade ever getting under way. But Philip has kidnapped him and devised a trick to discredit Richard's new bride. Alice has planted a document to this end in Berengaria's chambers, which is discovered by Richard's loyal Chamberlain, "I can't believe it." Nor can Richard swallow this "infamous" letter and when Berengaria denies all knowledge of it, he is convinced of her innocence," oh my darling forgive me." Alice is under suspicion, though of course "Philip is behind it." The Admiral of the Saracen fleet, Sheik Mahmoud, captures Sir Gilbert and Sir Geoffrey, who had been spying for their king. After a somewhat earnest discussion about the code of chivalry, Sir Geoffrey is released on promise of his obtaining the release of Cpt Abbas, who is being tortured to persuade him to confess Berengaria's complicity. Blondel is sent to Philip's palace. Outside he sings a Saracen song that spurs the prisoner inside into a frenzy of singing. That confirms Abbas is held there so King Richard proposes a swap of prisoners, Abbas for Sir Gilbert. Faced with the evidence of Alice's abortive plot, Philip has to agree. A complex story, and slightly improbable that King Richard would now continue his alliance with such a duplicitious partner as King Philip. Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Messenger. 2 The gaoler. 3 Captain Abbas. 4 Maid. 5 Saracen servant. 6 Knight with Alice Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Norman King The eve of the year 1191 sees King Richard with Queen Berengaria wintering in Sicily, guests of King Tancred (Elwyn Brook-Jones). Though they are attending a New Year's Ball, Richard is impatient to set sail for Jerusalem. His cousin King Philip continues his evil scheming. For the masked ball, he dresses of all things as a Saracen. It's part of an elaborate plot hatched by Tancred to enable him to keep the crown he has seized by assisting the Saracen fleet lead by Sheik Mahmoud. Mahmoud's son Laki (Roger Delgado) wears identical dress as Philip. Dancing at the ball, King Richard is told that Philip wants urgent private talks in the West Wing, but it is Laki who awaits him there and Richard is taken prisoner. But not killed, as is Tancred's plan, Laki is a man of honour, and hides Richard in a secret passage, hoping to persuade him to call off the crusade, thus his life will be spared. King Richard is dead, Tancred informs his widow, coupling the bad news with a repulsive offer of marriage. Naturally she declines. It is fortunate that Sir Gilbert stumbles across the secret passage and releases his king. In time, Richard saves his wife from the evil king's clutches, Laki even providing some help. Richard has a duel with Tancred, who, despite his trickery, is well beaten. Richard thanks Laki for his assistance, and the two men part on the best of terms, but ready to meet on opposite sides in the Holy Land. Not in in this story: Sir Geoffrey or Blondel Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Strange Monks of Latroun King Richard is now in the Holy Land, this is but a slight adventure as he stumbles across a dying boy who has been shot by an arrow, he gasps out one last breath, the single word Latroun. This is a Palestine monastry, famed for its hospitality. The local word is that these monks have become "uncouth," they fight rather than pray and Richard resolves to find out about them. Posing as the notorious Odo of Lenz, he first encounters 'Red' Hugh, whom earlier we had seen shoot the lad because he was attempting to leave the monastery. Likewise the dubious monk Hugh bars entry in to the stranger, some story about the plague. After a fight, the victorious Richard is welcomed, the abbot clearly impressed with him, indeed offering him the job of disciplining his army of "louts." There's a distinguished visitor to this unsavoury religious house. The Archbishop of Tyre with the news that the King of England is on his way and wants to stay at Latroun to see the relics of St George, held here. Here's the chance the abbot is waiting for, capture King Richard and hold him to ransom! But it is the abbot who gets the surprise. When the king, actually Sir Gilbert in disguise, is announced at Latroun, there is a swordfight, Richard v Hugh, Gilbert v the abbot. Both enemies are adminstered royal justice, the false monks put under lock and key. The real monks are found locked in the dungeon, and released. No Blondel or Sir Geoffrey in this story. Uncredited speaking role: the Archbishop To the Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . When Champions Meet Richard has conquered Acre in Palestine, but all is not well. In the marketplace, there's a fight, but not between Christian and Saracen, but between English and French soldiers. The same squabbling is happening between their leaders. While Richard is in chapel praying for the success of the crusade, King Philip of France is consorting with Leopold, Duke of Austria, with the aim of halting Richard's "triumphal progress." Behind them is Prince John's expressed wish for his brother to get killed and thus give him the English crown. Philip will then be able to reclaim his French territory, currently lost to England. A council of the Christian leaders fails to come to any agreement. Richard is all for pressing on to the holy city, but the others are divided as to what should be done and who should be crowned king there. Not surprisingly, Richard's staunchest ally is Guy de Lusignan (Conrad Philips), the recently deposed Christian king of Jerusalem. But Philip stirs it up deliberately with the same old story of his jilted sister Alice. It's what he has planned, and the goaded Richard challenges Philip to a duel. Now each much nominate a Champion, so it will be Guy v Philip's choice, which is the burly Conrad. But Philip schemes to get Saladin to disguise himself as Conrad and kill his opponent, which he surely anticipates will be Richard. So actually it will be Richard v Saladin, the chance for the Saracen leader to kill his enemy nobly in fair combat. Ignatius, Richard's chaplain has been beaten up by a French soldier, and is nursed back to health by a doctor, who happens to be Saladin himself, in disguise. Richard offers his friendship to this kind doctor and they share a meal together. However Queen Berengaria has discerned that this doctor is more than that, and Saladin readily admits his true identity to King Richard. The two part on the best of terms. Saladin informs a disappoited Philip that he can no longer fight the duel against "the only one I respect." So the duel sees the original participants Guy v Conrad, the former of course triumphs and Philip performs a climb down. In fact he and Leopold desert, Richard must attempt to recapture Jerusalem without them. No Sir Gilbert or Sir Geoffrey in this Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Warrior from Scotland 1191. A council of war, presided over by King Richard. The more laid back King Philip of France opposes Richard's desire to march immediately on Jerusalem. (This scene seems to be set before the final scene in the last story.) Conrad Count of Montserrat proposes an alternative, that Richard's forces create a diversion in Jaffa, while he and Leopold march on the Holy City. Conrad will be declared the king there. Even more cheekily, Conrad suggests that Richard's cousin, Queen Berengaria's companion, Edith, become his queen. That makes Richard furious, so alone he prepares his own army. Enter one Kenneth Stuart (Anton Rodgers) who is soon riling "the scum of Europe," the troops of Conrad and his ally Leopold of Austria. Kenneth skirmishes with one surly soldier named Caspar (Peter Vaughan). He then rescues the helpless Edith who has fallen, literally, into Conrad's clutches. But the English soldiers are equally quarrelsome, and take exception to Kenneth who isn't even a knight. Maybe they are secretly jealous of him. Conrad's next move is to lower the English standard, raising the Austrian flag in its place. His soldiers are on the point of taking King Richard when Kenneth saves him, and, impressed by his bravery, Richard gets Kenneth to guard the English flag. He does so, until Lady Edith, who has fallen for him, at Berengaria's suggestion, tests whether he loves her by sending him a message saying she is in deep distress. Torn between his duty, and his need to save Edith, Kenneth decides to leave a servant (Roy Kinnear) in charge of the flag. Edith admits she is in no danger, but the flag has been, for when Kenneth returns to the flagpole, it has gone, "I am betrayed." He is charged with treason and pronounced guilty. But King Richard shows clemency and wisdom when his wife confesses to her part in the deception, and the Scot is given until sunset to retrieve the flag, or else be executed. Philip is behind it all, and Caspar is now entrusted with a parchment to deliver to Saladin, a scheme to ditch King Richard. Caspar takes the English flag too, but is intercepted, thus Kenneth is able to return the flag to his king, as well as the treacherous document. Richard demands a personal combat with Conrad, Kenneth will act as his champion. Very soon the feeble Conrad is crying for mercy. Thus the Scottish warrior is made a knight, "arise Sir Kenneth Stuart." Aye. No Blondel in this one To the Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Conjuror With de Fleury, Richard is doing some quiet thinking in a desert place, when Saracens attack them. But the enemy are defeated, they are a splinter group of Arabs lead by Nur, seeking glory by killing the English king. Their next attempt involves a simple conjuror, Ali Ben Abdullah (Riggs O'Hara), who had run away fromn the previous assassination attempt. By holding this magician's father and fiancee Lilah as hostages, they force Ali to find a way into Richard's hq in Acre, even though Ali is opposed to killing anyone. This he does by performing tricks in Acre market where Richard espies him performing a trick with gold coins, "he is wonderful." Ali is invited to perform his magic at the banquet that evening. "Wonderful," repeats the queen, who thoroughly approves of Ali, though de Fleury is suspicious of the Arab. But he has won the king's approval and Richard's compassion prompts Ali to explain to him his true mission. Richard promises to try and get Ali's father and Lilah free. It goes very well, until Nur gets wind of the attempt, and there's a fierce swordfight in which Ali even has to kill in order to ensure his father and fiancee can escape. But Nur captures Richard, and he faces certain death. Somehow the king convinces the Arab renegades that if they kill him they will incur the fury of Saladin himself. So it all ends peaceably. No Sir Gilbert, Sir Geoffrey or Blondel in this To the Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Lord of Kerak Lord Arnold (Willoughby Goddard) holds the impregnable fortess of Kerak, the main obstacle in Richard's route to Jerusalem. Arnold had inherited the castle from his late brother, known as The Scourge of the Desert, killed by Saladin, an ignoble knight who besmirches the Christian cause. This new lord of Kerak strikes up a bargain with Conrad, for when Richard comes to the castle they plan this Nine Days Wonder will be bumped off, enabling Conrad to declare himself King in Jerusalem and Arnold to continue in peace his pillaging of the area. But King Richard despises such unworthy knights, the story suggesting it is such as these who are the root cause of enmity twixt Christian and Saracen. And in the fortress of Kerak there is another prime example, Sir Humphrey (Francis Matthews) who is eager to have his way with an Arab prisoner, daughter of Saladin, Shirin (Nadja Regin). He offers marriage even though she's aware he already has a wife. His solution, become a Moslem, but she despises him as a hypocrite. However she might be persuaded to marry him if Sir Humphrey can give her King Richard. Arnold and Conrad have already drugged their guest, the king. Humphrey hands his prisoner to Shirin, who however proves more noble than they and releases the king, who makes the promise to rase to the ground the evil fortress. Thus the story terminates abruptly, no swordfights, too many words. A fine theme, but sadly wasted is Willoughby Goddard, reprising his character from William Tell, a missed opportunity Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . Queen in Danger 1191, the queen is ordered by her husband to return to England, while Richard prepares his final push to Jerusalem. Reluctantly she does agree, but asks to pray for his success first, at the Sepulchre of Our Lord. But in reality she is riding to persuade Saladin to make the temporary truce a permanent one. However the evil Conrad has learned of this secret mission, and gets Sheik Abdul to kidnap her, and both the queen and her lady in waiting, Lady Stephanie (Sylvia Francis) are put into Abdul's harem. Thereby Conrad hopes to persuade Richard to proclaim him king in Jerusalem. Saladin and Richard do hold a meeting to discuss their truce, long words like Historical Evolution, but prospects of peace are diminished when Conrad interrupts accusing Saladin of kidnapping the queen. But despite Conrad spitting on the Saracen, and taunting him, Richard insists Saladin be protected under the laws of truce, though he cannot be certain whether Saladin be guilty of this foul deed or not. But Abdul's plot is exposed and Richard profusely apologises to the Saracen, and the pair ride together to Abdul's tents in the desert, there to convince Abdul of his folly, that Cornad has double crossed him and his prisoner is not the queen that he believes. Berengaria thanks Saladin for coming to her rescue and both leaders are deeply apologetic about the behaviour of their base followers. After Saladin takes Queen Berengaria to the sepulchre, he returns her to Richard. She attempts a last peace initiative. But to no avail. The two leaders do share a laugh, but the next stop will be battle To the Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Saracen Physician It's now 1192, and we encounter for a second time the Scottish knight Sir Kenneth. To get him out the way as he's so loyal to King Richard, Conrad has given him an impossible task, finding the mad hermit Theodore. He's reputed to be a good healer, and Richard is in dire need of medical help, sick with a high fever. Needless to say, Conrad, King Philip and the other rogue Christian leaders are keenly anticipating Richard's demise, so they can shake the dust off the wretched Crusade. Meanwhile, they have arranged for their own physician to attend the ailing king, Simeon, whose potion looks rather doubtful. Sir Kenneth's quest brings him into combat with an Arab, in the desert by the edge of a cliff. The two are well matched, and agree a truce, the Saracen happy to take Kenneth to Theodore. But the mad Arab's anger is aroused by the infidel Kenneth's friendship with one of his own, and he refuses to help. Much to Conrad's surprise, Kenneth returns safely to report his news, and to be rewarded by being placed him under arrest. However he is helped by a friar, Sir Geoffrey in disguise, who smuggles a dagger into Kenneth's hands. Sir Geoffrey also appeals to Saladin himself, and he supplies drugs to knock out Kenneth's guards. Thus Sir Kenneth escapes. El Hakim is a Saracen doctor sent by Saladin to treat King Richard. He proves his bona fides by curing Sir Gilbert of his gout. But the sick king is cautious, and the herbs he is given have to be tried first by the doctor himself. No ill effects, which is more than can be said for Simeon, who is also asked to swallow the potion he is to give the king. He dies immediately he imbibes it. King Richard is soon restored to health and thanks El Hakim, alias Saladin To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . A Marriage of Convenience 1191- Count Guy kills a messenger wearing the colours of Conrad de Montserrat, who is carrying a letter to Saladin. After his illness, Richard is planning to resume the crusade, but has to put plans on hold when he hears of this letter: the scheme is to marry Lady Edith off to Saladin. Richard decides he will allow such a scheme, and commissions Sir Kenneth to deliver the message. Now Kenneth is in love with Lady Edith. Entering into Saladin's presence, the letter is delivered. Blondel, who has followed close on Kenneth's heels, delivers a second note from King Richard, "I am in agreement," Saladin replies. At the council, there is disagreement about the progress of the crusade. Richard then announces his alliance with Saladin, exposing Conrad's treacherous plan, "Saladin will become a Christian." But Conrad is told how Kenneth had impersonated his messenger, and warns the young knight of Richard's plan. Kenneth's response is to elope with Edith, and they are married. To Richard's discomfort, Conrad reveals that Edith is already married. The news does not please Saladin either. However it transpires that Kenneth is actually Prince David of Scotland, while war with Saladin is now unavoidable To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . Prince Otto Prince Otto Montserrat (Walter Gotell) owns thirty miles of land in the environs of Jerusalem. He is refusing to permit either Christian or Saracen to cross his territory and he runs a small army to reinforce his stance. His cousin Conrad is in league with him. King Richard has been given but one month by his allies to capture the Holy City. The wily Conrad offers to persuade Otto to allow Richard's army safe passage through Otto's territory, as long as Conrad is proclaimed King in Jerusalem. That disputed point cannot be conceded. Sir Kenneth Stuart is a bearded knight, looking remarkably like King Richard in disguise, who, along with Gaston, Geoffrey and Sir Miles are declared to be outlaws. Can these four take Prince Otto's castle? Bedraggled they turn up, offering to join Otto's forces, and Otto is sufficiently impressed with Sir Kenneth's duelling skills to take the quartet on. Richard is impressed in his turn by the sixteen foot thick castle walls, "the strongest castle in all Palestine," while Gaston de Fleury is smitten with the perfect beauty of Otto's daughter Marianne (Jill Ireland), though her father refuses to countenance her marriage to a self confessed outlaw. By night Gaston elopes with Marianne, while Richard and Co dispose of Otto's trained men one by one, with a final skirmish in which Otto is taken prisoner. Otto has to apologise to King Richard-"I've been a very foolish lad(!)"- Marianne promising to oversee his reform. Gaston kindly promises to vouch for Otto also, so they all live happily... Uncredited speaking part: Soldier To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . 24 The Vision Fades 1192, a tense scene outside Bethlehem. This is a bitter sweet account of how, at the very gates of the holy city, King Richard finds his dream of entering Jerusalem evaporating. For why? His doubtful allies are riven with jealousy, Leopold of Austria insisting that his country and France be the ones credited with the glory of entering Jerusalem. Magnanimously, Richard concedes. However the French army under the weak Philip has defected and returned home, leaving a much depleted force to attack the Holy City. Yet Saladin is also in disarray, and there is, in modern parlance, a small window of opportunity. Delay, and Saladin's forces will be able to regroup. De Fleury and Sir Geoffrey are sent by Richard to spy out the land. What they discover is panic, the locals fleeing in expectation of occupation by Richard's forces. They report the good news to Richard who moves to the Mount of Olives to gaze on the object of his crusade, "the victory is now in our very grasp." A stratagem attempts to convince the enemy that the French have not deserted and that this army is strong enough to conquer Jerusalem. The reality is that Richard's forces are now made up of cooks, grooms, anyone who can swell the numbers. Surely in his heart Richard has forebodings, "I may look on those towers, but I do not think Jerusalem will ever be mine." Not that he is afraid of a last battle, but Richard knows "in my heart... I fear we do not deserve it." In that city, the spies are now captured by Farah (Anna Gerber), though she later helps them escape. By now, Saladin has regrouped, and mustered a powerful army, which marches on the city. From the Mount of Olives, Richard perceives that his crusade must end in disappointment. A fine sorrowful soliloquy to conclude this group of stories, "perhaps I have been judged unworthy" No Blondel. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 French herald. 2 Saracen To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Fugitive It's 1193, the Crusade over, King Richard is being hunted by his former ally Emperor Leopold of Austria. This ruler is threatening to confiscate the lands of Count Rolf (Elwyn Brook-Jones, previously King Tancred in The Norman King!) as he had not participated in the crusade. However a pardon is offered if he will bring King Richard's head to the emperor. After a shipwreck, Richard has been nursed back to health by the kindly Hugo (Glyn Owen, previously Edmund in The Robbers of Ashdown Forest) and his wife Marta (Anne Lawson). Rolf's soldiers discover Richard's famous sword hidden in a thicket. Hugo had placed it there for safe keeping but when Marta bravely goes to retrieve it, Rolf's men pounce and take her to their master. Their well-worn line is, "we have ways of making people talk." A worried Hugo and Richard sneak into Rolf's castle, where Richard gives himself up in exchange for Marta. In his turn Hugo asks for a small reward, to watch the English king's execution. Just as the executioner is about to cause his axe to descend, Richard is rescued. Rolf is forced to help them flee on his best horses. Richard, Hugo and Marta flee the country together. Rolf is left to entertainingly be torn off a strip by the emperor, "you couldn't inspire loyalty in a worm." Uncredited speaking role: the executioner To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . Knight Errant at Large A continuation of King Richard's escapades in Austria in 1193. Now it's Lord Rudolf, cousin of Rolf in the last story, who is gloating, because he has had word of the Lionheart's whereabouts. Richard, Hugo and Marta are resting at an inn, where Boris the innkeeper spins them a yarn about his sister Stephanie who has been abducted by Lord Rudolf. This is merely a trick to lure the English king to Rudolf's castle, though Stephanie herself (April Olrich enjoys a fine seductive role) is looking forward with relish at being rescued by such a celebrated knight. As Richard and Hugo ride to her rescue, Marta remains at the inn, and chats with Boris who idly lets slip a few secrets, so she hastens to warn the king, though too late. For Richard is already performing his heroic deed, though Stephanie exhibits a fine degree of petulance afore Richard is caught. 'Wicked Lord Rudolpf' steps in to capture 'Richard the Fool.' In his cell, the flirtatious Stephanie visits him, proposing her own brand of treachery. But to no avail, for Richard is rescued anyway, by two Austrian crusaders, admirers of Richard's chivalry. Thus Richard departs, carrying, literally in his arms, Stephanie, protesting. Hugo's rescue attempt is really not necessary, though its effect is to incarcerate Rudolf in his own dungeon! Later, Stephanie is discovered bound and gagged at the stables of the inn. Uncredited speaking extras: two crusaders To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . Guardians of the Temple The third story of King Richard's adventures in Austria in 1193. Now the most valiant nobleman in Austria, Knight Templar Sir Frederick (Ernest Clark) is out to trap the Lionheart. Richard adopts an old trick, disguising himself as the squire to his friends Hugo and Marta, who reluctantly revel in their roles as Sir Hugo of Brunswick and Lady Marta. Baron Frederick's steward Manfred (Richard Shaw) is selling fine Arab horses from Palestine, hoping to lure Richard into purchasing them. He does indeed consider buying, but then declares they are not Arabs at all. Indeed they are not, since Manfred has, rather crudely, covered ordinary horses with black and he is arrested by Sir Frederick who promises to donate three horses to Sir Hugo by way of apology. Only condition is that Richard must watch Manfred's ordeal on the morrow, which is unusually to be by lion, mascot of the Knight Templars. Manfred is raging in a dungeon, a priest (Trader Faulkner) listening patiently to his accusation that Sir Frederick put him up to it. A second priest enters the cell also, clearly Richard in disguise, who hands Manfred a special oil that will repel the lion. The ordeal. Manfred is thrust into the lion's cage. The creature is very docile. Thus the very relieved Manfred is declared innocent. That means Sir Frederick must be guilty! He has now worked out Hugo and Marta are no nobles and guessed the identity of their squire. Dramatically he accuses this squire of being the Lionheart. Lionheart should face ordeal by lion. Richard counter challenges with the proposal that they both go into the lion's den. Scared, Frederick backs down promptly, and Richard, Hugo and Marta are able to depart in peace. The priest bids Richard safe journey, ironic really since Trader Faulkner had earlier played the part of bad Prince John! Uncredited speaking roles: 1. Cart driver. 2 Yokel. 3 Bidder at auction. 4 Peasant woman Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . Capture Richard is still pottering through Austria, with Hugo and an exhausted Marta. There are only a few miles to the safety of the border, but so tired is she, that the trio take shelter and rest at an inn. It is full of soldiers. One, Sgt Michael (Peter Reynolds), enters Marta's room, and one short conversation tells him all he needs to know. Michael reports back to his master Count Rolf (previously in the story The Fugitive), "it is the Lionheart my lord, I know it." Marta is feeling much better now, but not for long, for "vile beast" Sgt Michael carries her off, even the Lionheart, in disguise as servant Dicken, cannot prevent the kidnap. The king follows her to Rolf's castle as dark shadows cast across the screen as Richard is captured, lured into Rolf's trap. With seven soldiers on to him, even the Lionheart cannot avoid capture. Count Rolf happily informs Duke Leopold, who orders Richard's immediate and secret execution. It happens that Blondel is roving the country in search of Richard, singing Greensleeves in the hope of being within earshot of the king. At the inn, Hugo informs Blondel of Richard's disappearance. Sgt Michael is there too, spending his reward for capturing Richard, but it is such a pittance that he becomes disgusted with such a small reward and drunkenly informs Blondel where Richard is held, and for a large sum directs Blondel to Rolf's castle. Singing Greensleeves, Blondel catches the ear of the prisoner, which stirs him and cheers him immensely. Having learned that Richard is indeed held here, he dashes off to inform the world, knowing that now the Austrians dare not kill Richard, on pain of war. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Soldier with Michael. 2 Servant boy at inn. 3, 4 and 5 Villagers. 6 Rolf's soldier Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . King's Ransom Following on from the story Capture, this tells of loyal Englishmen rallying round to pay the 150,000 marks demanded by Leopold of Austria for the ransom of their king. Despite Prince John's protests, the king's mother Queen Eleanor (Joan Haythorne) vows to raise the vast sum, and her loyal subjects agree, though quite whether this is a tax or what is not explained. Over in Austria, King Richard is being held prisoner in Count Rolf's castle. When Lepold informs Richard that England are paying the ransom, the king offers his own life instead. This of course is refused. Prince John is still pushing his own claims of being king, he begrudges paying such a huge ransom, allegedly fearful of the economic crisis that might ensue. But he changes colours and offers to help with the collection, naturally planning his own treacherous scheme. Sir Geoffrey and Sir Richard rove the country and collect 90,000 marks. We are informed that Queen Berengaria in France contributes a small sum, while the Lord Chancellor organises London's contribution. The Nottingham area is where John holds sway, and he collects more than sufficient to meet the ransom demand, though he confides to the Sheriff of Nottingham that he intends to keep it all for himself! The evil pair even hatch a scheme to get Richard killed off, asking Blondel to do the foul deed. Blondel devises a counter scheme, offering to declare himself a fraud and that the king, he never even saw in Austria at all. John agrees to this. That old foe of the Nottingham Sheriff, Robin Hood, unseen, kidnaps the willing Blondel. His ransom is sought, 80,000 marks, strangely enough the total amount gathered in by John's cronies. John has to agree, for reasons I'm not clear about, and to John's further anger, the money ends up in Queen Eleanor's hands, "how very wonderful." In a good twist, we learn that Robin Hood never kidnapped Blondel, 'twere only Geoffrey and Gilbert in disguise Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Rolf's messenger. 2 and 3 Soldiers of Rolf. 4 Rolf's captain. 5 Herald. 6 Peasant man. 7 Peasant woman. 8 Messenger (Colin Tapley) To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Devil is Unloosed 'Tis now 1194, and in Nottingham's Sherwood Forest an informer is about to betray Robin Hood to the Sheriff of Nottingham (Ralph Michael) and Prince John. But that's only the story put out by John, to conceal the fact that he is holding a secret meeting between a messenger from himself, correction from King Philip of France. The Devil is Unloosed is the communication, code for Richard the Lionheart is on his way back to England from Austria. The Frenchman is promptly silenced by the evil John, who has it put about that the outlaws committed this crime, in order to discredit Robin Hood. In Poitou, Queen Berengaria is being guarded by Richard's loyal friends. When Prince John greets her, she confides her fears that the queen mother, Eleanor, must be going mad, for so worried is she over Richard's safety, that she's consorted to consulting a gypsy soothsayer, Count Laslo. !I've never heard such rubbish, "declares John. The gypsy reads cards and pronounces, "something has happened to Richard," maybe he is dead. This scene is an elaborate charade to flush out John, the gypsy none other than King Richard in disguise. The Earl of Huntingdon, Robin Hood himself (Ronald Howard), escorts the king back to England via the River Trent (the geography is confusing). Two wrongs must be righted, first Robin Hood being an outlaw, second Prince John's planned coronation. After a gaffe by Little John, all the outlaws pledge themselves to King Richard. Count Laslo makes a return appearance, in the castle at Nottingham. The Sheriff is at first entertained by his fortune telling. A fox is one card that is turned up, that's King Philip, he will declare war, and the reason? The death of his messenger. The Sheriff rightly protests his innocence, but John, falling into the trap, orders The Sheriff's arrest. The Sheriff counters with his own accusation that John was the killer. King Richard reveals himself in the confusion and through a certain handkerchief the treacherous John is indeed exposed. The happy conclusion shows Robin Hood pardoned and his confiscated lands restored. Perhaps the producers were trying to cover what the long running tv series never got round to showing. Uncredited speaking parts: Queen Eleanor. Soldier To the Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . . The Little People of Lyntor It's 1194, this is the first of the final group of completely self contained tales. Farmer Jasper from Cornwall and his daughter Helen barge into the king's serene presence, understandably irate that Jasper has received a fourth tax demand this year. Richard says he should only have received one and makes inquiries of Baron Fitzjames, his local lord, who had appointed Michael Henry (Roy Kinnear) as his tax agent. Examining the tax demands, King Richard is easily able to prove three, though issued in his name, are forgeries. But Michael's books look in perfect order, so they advise Jasper to pay up. Richard follows the man who collects the payment, he hides the bag of money in a hollow tree trunk. This is promptly collected by Jasper's handyman, which is a little odd, as Richard had seen him in the Baron's dungeon, arrested after having allegedly assaulted Michael Henry. Richard returns to the dungeon, and there's the handyman! Michael's son Tom (Jack Smethurst) confides in Sir Gilbert that he's in love with Helen, yet he will not be able to marry her since her father is feuding with his father. He relates the background to the breakdown in their previously happy friendship, the baron had bought up Michael's farm and has ever since been putting pressure on Jasper to sell up too. Behind the Baron's greed is none other than Prince John, and their scheme uncovered, Richard lectures his wicked brother before, as so often, not punishing him. "I promise you will never catch me again." Jasper's 'tax' payments are refunded to him and as for Tom and Helen, why they are betrothed Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Guard. 2 Lord Chancellor (Ian Fleming) To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Raiders England 1194. Out hunting, Sir Gilbert shoots a deer, but stumbles on a corpse. It's that of one of The Raiders, a notorious gang who have stolen several shipments of gold. Sir Brian, in charge of the local army, has failed to catch them, though he does suspect that the local monastery of all places, might be the centre of their activity. Gilbert and a disguised Richard set out to see if he's right. Father Benedict is in charge, he looks above reproach. As rough Irish sailors, the pair are welcomed, as all visitors are, and are given a cell each in the Annexe, which Brother Lemuel (Neil Hallett) runs. The place is "built for the comfort of the soul," so poor Gilbert is none too happy with the amount of food a monk has to live on, and, feeling peckish during the night, he steals down to the kitchens. Instead of the accustomed peace, he discovers a riotous crowd of drunks. For his disobedience of the rules he has to do penance, solitary confinement for a month. Richard finds that funny, though he himself doesn't perform any of the monk's tasks either, he lets it be known he is a fugitive from the law. After a fortnight, he is invited by Lemuel to join the gang. Richard discovers that Nora, the delivery girl to Sir Brian's soldiers, is passing on details of the gold shipments to Lemuel. Richard plays along, and joins the raid. Before this, he releases Gilbert secretly, and charges him with informing Sir Brian. When Nora spots King Richard, The Raiders attack him. In time, Sir Brian's men save the king and the gang surrender after a swordfight. Uncredited speaking part: jailer To Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . . An Eye for an Eye King Richard, Sir Gilbert and Sir Geoffrey, in playful mood, split up in a race on horseback, but the fun turns to near tragedy when the king is shot as a tresspasser. The marksman is a bitter old man (David Davies) whose mute granddaughter Mary (Jennifer Jayne) nurses Richard's bleeding shoulder. The tortured old man tells the stranger why he is so scarred, he blames King Henry for his son's death, killed by drunken soldiers who also so terrified Mary that she lost the power of speech. His only comforts are, that he will one day discover his son's hoard of gold buried on their land, and this he will use to gain his revenge on the current king. Fortunate that he doesn't know who his prisoner is! Of course Richard's two friends are looking for him and inquire at the old man's cottage. They are turned away but find Richard's horse in the vicinity. Mary's efforts to help Richard get away fail, so she promises to fetch help herself. From her young man James she learns who the prisoner is, so fearful lest her grandfather find out and kill the king, she returns to try to free Richard from the chains which now hold him. With the buried treasure now fortuitously discovered, you might have expected the old man to be more peaceable, but no, hearing the news about the missing monarch, it's time to wreak his revenge. The horror of the scene causes Mary's speech to return, her scream stills the old man and brings Sir Gilbert and Sir Geoffrey to the rescue. So there's a happy ending, the story providing an interesting role for Jennifer Jayne To Richard the Lionheart menu . . . . . . . The Caveman The king and queen are taking a quiet holiday at the castle of Baron Brentlock, whose daughter Lady Diane (June Thorburn) is engaged to Alan. The village wells have very suddenly run dry. Folks put it down to the hermit (Nigel Green) who lives in a cave. He recently met Diane and took an immediate shine to her ladyship. Villagers depute Elias (Trader Faulkner) to approach the caveman. They have been paying him to keep the well full of water, for it seems that as if by magic, he has in his power the ability to close the wells. But now the hermit wants more than cash, voices have told him he must take a wife, and that means Diane. She however would never countenance marrying that "horrible hermit," nor is the baron that keen. King Richard is curious to meet this hermit and after quieting a latent local uprising, he calls at the cave. Richard demands the caveman explain his alleged powers. Richard is certainly sceptical, specially after he learns Lord Charlesworth's neighbouring valley is flooding. With Alan, he searches the cave, ere long to reveal its secret, a passage that leads to running water underground. However the hermit has found out they know and seals up the entrance to the passage, trapping the king and Alan. By walking further along, Richard finds a second exit in the village well. In the marketplace, the hermit is predicting the king's demise. He persuades them to storm the castle and bring Diane to him. However the baron's soldiers repel the attackers. Diane however accedes to this forced marriage as inevitable. The wedding is hastily organised and proceeds. However the king rolls up at the key moment, the moment when objections can be raised. He objects. His appearance taunts the hermit, particularly when, as if by magic, Richard mumbling words of mumbo jumbo,makes the well fill with water. Of course really it is the work of Alan opening a sluice. The discomfited caveman is beaten, his marriage is off. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Farmer 2 Second Farmer 3 Peasant woman 4 Baron's soldier Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . A Year and a Day A peasant attacks Blondel and then holds his companion, the king no less, at knifepoint. He wants a horse, and so makes his escape on King Richard's steed. He's a serf who is apparently escaping justice. Captain Martin, in the service of Baron Fitzgeorge is after him. However Blondel is surprised for he had recognised the runaway as none other than Sir Thomas Fitzgeorge, the baron's son and heir! Richard and Blondel make for the baron's castle where they are to be guests of Fitzgeorge and his wife Lady Melinda. They promise the serf will be caught and punished, though Rose, a housemaid (Eira Heath), pleads for the serf who is called Alan. According to her, Alan had been forced to impersonate Sir Thomas at the Crusade, which is where Blondel had seen him. Sir Thomas himself is a cowardly good for nothing. Alan had been promised his freedom, but Thomas had reneged on the deal which is why Alan had run away. Captain Martin has rounded Alan up and taken him to Thomas, who determines to silence him for ever. As Rose is in on the secret she is taken prisoner also. Richard challenges the old baron to trial by combat, when he trumps up a story about a diamond from his crown being stolen. But as the baron is so old, Thomas must fight on his behalf. The real Thomas cannot bear to do that but forces Alan to take his place once more. It's a good and fair combat. Blondel uses it as an opportunity to free Rose. Alan is acclaimed with glory after the equal fight, "cowardly" Thomas is disowned by the baron who knew nothing of the deception. But there's good news, for Alan and Rose are to be wed Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . The Crown Jewels Miguel, the queen's cousin (Maurice Kaufman) is learning how to be a knight. He is from Navarre. Berengaria his cousin the queen is concerned for him with very good reason, for unbeknown to her, he is spending all his gold gambling at The Sailors Anchor. Martha (Lisa Daniely) who works at this inn seems concerned for him too, for he now owes money to Demere (Sean Lynch) and his cronies. Unless the debt be paid, Demere threatens to inform the king, otherwise "a small favour," rather a large one in truth, steal the Crown Jewels. Though he refuses, the love of Martha wins him round to the idea. Miguel's training to become a knight means he has to take his turn at the castle where are kept the valuable jewels, "we have every confidence in you!" He allows Demere's gang to slip in, and the remaining guards on duty outside the jewel room are overpowered, and the treasures all stolen. The Gates of London are immediately closed, so the gang cannot escape. Unwisely, Richard orders Miguel to haunt the taverns to pick up any gossip about the robbery. Miguel is made to provide false information about the gang attempting to flee northwards, Richard sending guards in that direction, while the gang escape southwards to France. But Miguel's conscience gets the better of him, just as well, for Richard has suspected a trap, caught up with the gang and recaptured the Crown Jewels. Miguel must be punished, by being sent to France of all places, but he is offered the promise of restoration in the future. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Guard at The Tower. 2 Sir Frederick Richard the Lionheart start . . . . . . . 37 The Man Who Sold Pardons A muddled story, a mere potboiler. Nigel Green gives an enthusiastic performance as that traditional medieval swindler, selling his pardons to gullible villagers. But King Richard is on his track, certain that the money raised is going to help an unworthy cause... Brother Nicholas is offering locals forgiveness from the pope himself, in the form of a scroll pronouncing absolution from your sins. Or if you're too poor, you can buy a mere bishop's pardon. Richard wants to nail down this hoaxer, so he is in the area posing as Sir Philip, accompanied by Sir Gilbert. It's the latter who finds Brother Nicholas selling holy socks in the village square. However before Gilbert can do anything, in rides local squire Sir Roland de Vere to arrest Brother Nicholas, "put him in the stocks." Nicholas does not bat an eyelid, and produces a scroll signed by King Richard himself, allegedly, authorising him to sell these pardons. Sir Roland hurriedly retracts his action, and takes him back to his home to wine and dine this important monk. This is all part of a blackmail scheme aimed at extorting money from all those who had supported Prince John. Sir Roland attempts to silence the pardoner, but it is his own monk Friar James who is killed. It turns out that the villain receiving all this cash via Brother Nicholas is... John himself! Richard trails Nicholas as he reports back to his superior, "the greatest traitor of them all." To the Bloody Butcher inn, the king follows, then to a cave and a fight with Prince John. The King triumphs as usual, and that money is promised for the good of the people. As for John, he is yet again banished from the land. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Peasant. 2 Female peasant. 3 Master Farmer. 4 Man in crowd. 5 Soldier. 6 Second soldier To Richard the Lionheart . . . . . . . The Heir of England Prince Arthur (Christopher Witty) lives in Brittany, loved by his mother (Margaretta Scott) and tutored by Father Gerard. As the potential future King of England, if King Richard die without issue, he is invited to the king's second coronation (this to be the subject of the final episode). Sir Gilbert is despatched to escort the child to London, but is knocked out on the way to France, and a villain posing as Sir Gilbert carries off the child, to be held for ransom. Bravely the lad defies his captors. Too late the Duchess, Arthur's mother, sees she has been duped, "we must pray." Her prayers are answered, for King Richard and the recovered Sir Gilbert, incognito as so often, are on the trail of the kidnappers. In St Malo, a ship's captain (Patrick McAlliney) points them in the direction of Pierre and Marcel, good French names all. In their cave, the crooks are rounded up, but not for long. The captain is their leader and has trailed Richard and Gilbert, who are tied up. Now the plan is to sell the prisoners to the highest bidder, Prince John or possibly Philip of France. (No matter Trader Faulkner plays both of 'em!) A spot of humour is supplied by William Fox as Father Gerard, who bravely offers to the Duchess to rescue the Prince. "What can you do alone?" is all the Duchess can ask. Fortunately, Arthur has wriggled out of his bonds and finds Father Gerard, dressed in armour, and with his noble aid, Richard and Gilbert are rescued. Well sort, of, since they had got free anyway. But Prince Arthur is lost in admiration for his brave tutor, "Father Gerard did it. He's terribly good with the sword." Uncredited speaking part: Landlord Richard the Lionheart Menu . . . . . . . The People's King Trader Faulkner's final role is as Jacques, a fastidious French tailor, who is making costumes for King Richard's second coronation. The drama centres on the mysterious disappearance of Sir Gilbert's robe, suspect is Tom the Trimmer. Tom had indeed stolen it, taking it to the disaffected Lord Roger (Anthony Jacobs) of Lancaster Castle. With his wife Megan (Jane Hylton), he had supported the abortive cause of exiled Prince John, now he seeks a way of killing the king. With unusual subtlety, Sir Gilbert has been on the trail of his missing costume, and he pretends to be a supporter of the Prince and after a brawl at the Lancaster Arms is brought before Lord Roger. Sir Gilbert, under an alias of course, is commissioned to kill the Lionheart, using the stolen costume to gain entrance to the coronation banquet. The plan only fails when Tom recognises who Gilbert really is, though somehow Gilbert convinces Lord Roger that he really is against the king, and again somehow, convinces Roger to do the actual murder. The coronation rehearsal sees Roger in London. In all their finery Blondel, Sir Geoffrey and the King rehearse the ceremony. Lord Roger is there too in the costume that was Gilbert's, but now altered to Gilbert's instructions, for Jacques has left plenty of needles in it! Poor Roger at the rehearsal is in great discomfort as potential tragedy moves to rather feeble comedy. Unmasked, Roger is banished and the Queen in her own finery joins King Richard for his coronation. The bells ring out as the king is crowned. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Jacques' apprentice. 2 Customer in inn, 3 Jailer Richard the Lionheart Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe A 1964 French series, dubbed and first shown on BBC in 1965. Starring Robert Hoffmann. English Narrator: Lee Payant. Story 1. September 1697. A mix of model and a studio ship, a shipwreck in a fierce storm at night, all crew surprisingly calm and silent. Despite the buckets of water being sloshed in their faces, the action is quite impressive visually, in primitive tv terms. This lasts five minutes before the ship has to be abandoned. Crusoe swims and floats on to a wide deserted beach. Exhausted, he clings his fingers into the sandy shore. Having taken in his surroundings, he calls out to his fellow sailors. Alas, he receives no replies, the dreary background music accentuating his isolation. He is so hungry he even eats grasshopper. Then, better, a papaya, and after a search finds lovely fresh running water. Then it's sleep, up a baobab tree. In a flashback, he reflects on how he got here. Stumbling upon smugglers, he had once been arrested as one. But his wealthy father had seen him right, and despite his wishes, started him on a career as a lawyer, articled to JB Wooseley, "sollicitor"(!). This retrospect slows the action, and never gets as far as explaining why Crusoe is where he is. This episode ends with his awakening, wondering where on earth he is. On the wasteland of a beach, he again calls out to his late friends 2 "Am I the sole survivor?" Perhaps not, for he finds a footprint deep in the sand. But his joy is shortlived, "I've found the tracks of my own footprints." What a twit. "This solitude is maddening," Unsurprisingly, he is depressed on the lonely isle. Can he signal any passing ship with a smoke signal? He attempts to light a fire by friction, but the theory is good, though not his performance. For food, he covets the seagulls' eggs atop the cliff. He makes the perilous climb up the dangerous cliffs, rather him than me. Not sure how he gets down. He reminisces on his boring training as a lawyer, it's a very dull interlude, long too. To the present, and the philosophic reflection, "I know nothing." He isn't even able to mend his broken penknife. But this instrument cheers him, for he can make a spark with it! Now he will enjoy his birds' eggs cooked. Even more ambitious, he kills a goat to have a meal of meat, and kindly rears the orphaned little goat. Then he dreams. He recalls that fateful day he boarded the ship 3 "Anguish" in isolation. The small kid is a slight compensation. He catches a female goat for it to suckle. Next job: house building. Then sleep and dreams of happier times, he loved fencing, but a minor injury made him stop his law studies, and he resolved never to resume, but go to sea and make his fortune. Farewell to Dick his dog, "en route for adventure and glory." Sadly he has to sell his faithful horse, "but the love of adventure was stronger." At the port of a very empty Hull, he seeks a ship, without success. To reality. Next day a hat floats in on the tide. He calls out in vain. The wrecked ship will soon sink and he checks it for any life. A dog barks, and is later rescued, to be christened Dick. On board are tools and food, plus a bible, "my companion for life." He constructs a raft to bear away every useful article, "sailing majestically on my own vessel" 4 Day Four. With Dick, Crusoe continues unloading the ship, The Esmeralda. Then it sinks for ever. He constructs "a good bed," and from the salvage selects a gun. It works. One dead bird. A fire started with gunpowder, then the bird is cooked. In case it is poisonous, he takes an antidote, brandy. He sleeps and remembers his first voyage. He had met his friend Willy in Hull. He was sailing on his uncle's steamer to London. On this journey, Crusoe had discovered the terrible truth that he was prone to seasickness, "go home to your mother." In a London tavern had had met Ann a serving maid and Captain Darrick. He offers to pay passage on the captain's ship, but flashing his money about results in his being attacked when he leaves. Thanks to the captain he is saved from robbery. So Crusoe joins him on his voyage to the Ivory Coast. Back on the island. On the morrow, Dick sniffs out a cave, inside is a goat. Here is a perfect shelter with the added attraction of a superb view. With explosive he blows open a large opening for his cave. He also makes a new friend- a parrot 5 More than a month on the island! The cave entrance has been barricaded as a precaution. Robinson Crusoe has built a terrace so he can sit in splendour as king of his isle. He has made furniture, with some difficulty. He can even laugh when his attempts at constructing a chair end in collapse. Flashback- on board Captain Darrick's vessel, Robinson makes an enemy of second mate Bush. He learns the skills of sailing, and how to trade with natives. But on a lonely beach he is attacked and robbed. He is taken prisoner. Darrick, believing Robinson to be dead, sets sail without him. "A wretched slave tied to a camel" Robinson now is, his fate hangs in the balance, on the whim of the Emir. Back on his desert island, Robinson attempts to get his parrot to speak, "poor poor Robinson." But the parrot is mostly uncooperative. Robinson plans to capture a herd of goats, to provide him with milk, so he digs traps. He uses a net to catch fish in the sea, to replenish his larder, but the fish prove too cunning for him 6 Four weeks a prisoner! "A sail on the horizon"- but 'tis only a mirage. Robinson constructs a post to use as a calendar, starting 16th September 1697. Making a shirt proves a more difficult task, but he must be "decently dressed." Then diasaster. His fire gets out of control, furniture destroyed, at least his companions aren't hurt. Long flashback. How he almost escaped slavery by the aid of a camel. One camel is his price- the Emir sells him. But he's sold on at increasingly deflated proces, finally to Kazir a fishmonger whose son young Ali teaches Robinson the business, the first friendly face long awhile. The pair become friends and Ali helps Robinson formulate an escape plan, which would have succeeded except it seems Kazir cannot swim, and Robinson has to rescue him from drowning. However when Robinson perceives Kazir had been weighed down by his fortune in gold, Robinson ditches his master and escapes in a boat to the open sea. He does, er, take Kazir's gold. His meagre supplies run out and he's adrift at sea, soon unconscious. A miracle. A Portuguese vessel rescues him. Of course his gold is stolen, but the kind captain punishes the wicked thief and returns the fortune to Robinson. They land in Brazil. He buys land to grow crops. He trades and becomes prosperous. He debates the morality of slavery. Back on his isle, Robinson constructs a canoe 7 "Solitude grows from day to day." Crusoe is resolved to make for the nearest land. Before he departs, he recalls the good times on his island. Now his canoe is completed, he takes his leave. But his craft is too heavy to drag to the water's edge. He sinks in despair. He remembers those prosperous times in Brazil. Three gentlemen had approached him to lead a voyage to buy more slaves, "it's our sacred duty to help those poor creatures." Destination Guinea. Crusoe is surprisingly swayed by their specious argument, lured by the thrill of a new adventure. His ship, The Esmeralda, has a crew of fourteen. A model of their ship is enveloped with splashing. Here's a useful opportunity to shows bits of part one again! But though this may be a money saver, it is too protracted to be worth more than a cursory look. On his lonely isle, Crusoe writes down his memoirs, for it's the rainy season. He uses his spare time to enlarge his cave, knocking rocks away, a little too enthusiastically, for part of the roof caves in 8 "Months on the island" The dust settles after the rock fall. Dick the dog scrapes. A hand emerges from the rubble, then zombie-like, a head. Robinson is OK. He sets to work. He makes a parasol. Then he is a potter of sorts. He's also a basket weaver. From goat's milk, he produces cheese, though even Dick doesn't like the taste of this. Even those corn seeds he had planted have sprouted, so soon he can make bread, "looks good, smells wonderful." After practice, his nets catch some fish, which he cleans and salts, a skill he had learned when a slave. All this mostly reprises earlier episodes. We also hear the parrot has got as far as "Poor poor Robin...." Robinson draws on the walls. He observes the Day of the Lord, quietly smoking his pipe. A ship off the island! Light the fire! "I've been waiting for this moment for a year and a half." He hears a cannon, and a bell ringing. Isn't that the sign of plague? It's a risk Robinson is prepared to take, so he packs his belongings and makes for the ship which has gone to ground. The crew are pirates, but all are dead. Robinson finds their giant treasure chest, crammed with booty. However this ship is far too large for him to sail single handed 9 "More than a year" Dick is rescued from quicksand. We move on. Three years Robinson has been king of his island, he is surrounded by all the booty from the pirate ship. He celebrates his anniversary with presents for his friends, a bone, seeds and bananas, while he relaxes enjoying feasting his eyes on his diamonds- it's touchingly done, "and for me, a pipe." He tells hinself he is sober. He climbs on board the stranded ship in case a cask of rum has been overlooked. Found some! Next morn he awakes, the ship in motion. His island no longer is in sight. Adrift, with not even a drop of water. Then the ship grounds. He swims to the nearby land, "my whole adventure is starting again." Not quite. For the first thing he sees is... Dick. "It's my island." But what are those alien footprints in the sand? Robinson fortifies his home and awaits a sighting of the intruder. No sign. He succumbs to a fever. No medicine. He manufactures an inhalation of tobacco. Success. But recovered, he stumbles on a skull, are there cannibals on his island? 10 "Years now" "Mysterious visitors," and they are cannibals! Robinson plans to frighten them away with gunpowder when they make their next visit. Weeks later, they return, in cover Robinson watches. The cannibals bring two prisoners, one escapes, and two savages pursue him while the others prepare their victim for the cooking pot. Robinson saves the fleeing man, killing the two pursuers. though he himself might have been killed had not the fleeing man intervened. Then, the fire being lit, an explosion, the gunpowder works its magic. In their terror the cannibals flee. By the aid of sign language, Robinson makes it clear that he is the white master, though it's not put like that, and he orders the two savages to be properly buried. As this is Friday, Robinson names the man, "you Friday." Less pc, "me master." They share food. In wonderment, Friday explores the cave, meeting Dick and the parrot. The mirror is a marvel. However "his manners are revolting," his eating habits that is. Robinson begins to educate the benighted man, a long task. As he's a cannibal, he has to be tied up at night, for Robinson's own safety 11 "My solitude has just ended" "I was wrong to be distrustful," Robinson admits, for Friday brings him breakfast in bed. However Robinson has to demonstrate his "superiority," by his mastery of the rifle. Then Friday proves his own superiority in other ways, by performing a task Robinson found so difficult, for he easily lights the fire. Friday learns to speak, English naturally. "Civilisation begins with trousers." Friday is also taught to shoot with the rifle that primitively worships. They enjoy a good laugh, "me civilised." They can converse now. Friday says he will go with Robinson one day to Engand. "My country has never suffered defeat," Robinson informs Friday. "You never fight us," retorts Friday. Their discussion turns to the wrongs of cannibalism, then to religion, "who made you?" Explains Robinson, "one God for all men, we are all brothers." Friday learns all these lessons, and having learned them, takes to loafing about like his master! So the pair fall out, and Friday runs away 12 "Five years" Robinson is alone again as Friday has gone into hiding on the island. Robinson searches in vain for him. Dick the poor dog is ailing, and with no possible cure, we have a very sad scene. In the midst of Robinson's sorrow, Friday returns. Dick is buried, then at last the two men commune, "me understand." Robinson has come to appreciate that Friday is not his slave. They begin anew, Friday is better at building goat traps, Robinson teaches Friday about the value of gold. None too well sinces Friday plants it, "me very stupid." But he can appreciate it is valuable, though not on this island. Years on, Robinson is content, sporting a beard, "we have enough to eat for years." The pair only work to keep themselves occupied. Then a British ship is seen on the ocean. "It looks like a mutiny." Men land on the island, two are killed. Three others scour the island and hear the parrot talking. "Who taught him how to speak?" Robinson is seen, and chased. Though Robinson finds a refuge, it will surely be a farewell to his paradise when another boat lands on the shore 13 "Our solitude has drawn to an end" After six years, the island is overrun with pirates who knock Robinson unconscious and take him captive. Worse, they find his treasure cave, but lured by Robinson's promise that there's even more gold, they are taken on a roundabout tour of the isle. Friday picks off the enemy of ten one by one, and soon only half are left. Into a swamp is pushed one, another has a knife in his back. The others flee with the treasure chest, but Friday sinks their dinghy. The kidnapped captain of the vessel commandeered by the pirates is rescued. To his thanks, the ship is retaken, all enemy dispelled. The captain is introduced to Friday and the parrot. "My prayers have been answered." Robinson takes his leave of his island, perceiving it has changed him for the better. The last scene is back in Robinson's father's house, now his, shared with Friday. The surroundings are pleasant but one day, he promises, he will return to the island To Historical Menu . . . . . . . John Arnatt played the Deputy Sheriff in later Robin Hood stories To Historical Menu