The
Robin Hood Musical
Scene
Cast
Sir
Richard at the Lee, Sir Richard's daughter, Marian
The
Abbot, Prior and Sheriff of
Abbot:
Its exactly 12 months since Sir Richard at the Lee borrowed £400 from us.
Unless he comes this day he shall forfeit all his lands – it will be our
bonus.
Prior:
It’s early yet, the day
is not far gone. I would rather lend him another £400 and have done. The knight
may be far beyond the sea when to be in
Abbot:
By God, prior, you are
always in my beard.
In
comes the fat-headed High Cellarer
High
Cellarer: For certain he
is either dead or hanged I swear, and we shall have £400 to spend in this place
each year.
Abbot
looks knowingly to the Sheriff: We
are all going to profit, aren't we? One man's misfortune is another man's boon.
Unless he comes this day, disinherited he will be.
Sheriff:
It’s afternoon, he won't come now.
Sir
Richard and his daughter Marian, disguised as his squire, enter the hall,
dressed in their poorest clothes and both kneel in front of the company.
Sir
Richard: Greetings sir
abbot, I've come to hold my day.
Abbot:
Have you brought my pay?
Sir
Richard: Not a single
penny as you can see.
Abbot:
Thou art a cursed debtor
- Sheriff, drink to me. But what are you doing here if you have not brought my
pay?
Sir
Richard: To beg that I
may pay on another day.
Abbot:
Your time has gone. Of
your lands – you now have none.
Sir
Richard appeals to the Sheriff: Good
sir Sheriff, surely you will help defend me against my enemies.
Sheriff:
I'm beholden to the Abbot
in both cloth and fee.
Marian:
Good sir Sheriff, I
thought you were our friend.
Sheriff:
You can expect no help
from me.
Sir
Richard: Now good sir
abbot, be my friend. Give me the courtesy of holding my lands till I can give
satisfaction. On it you can depend. I will be your true servant and truly serve
thee till I have repaid the £400 good and free.
Abbot:
By God, get land where
you may for you'll get none from me.
Sir
Richard: Unless my lands
are returned to me, dearly they shall be bought, I promise to thee. When risking
life and limb, it is better to test a friend before you have need of him.
Abbot:
Out of my hall, false knight! Go speedily with your squire out of my sight!
Sir
Richard: Sir Abbot, you
are a liar in your own hall. False knight I never was, by God that made us all.
Sir
Richard stands up, followed by his daughter Marian.
Sir
Richard: To leave a
knight and squire kneeling so long shows a lack of courtesy. In jousts and
tournaments I have proved my bravery and have put myself in as much danger as
any man I ever did see.
Sheriff
to the Abbot: What would
you pay the knight for him to release his claim on his lands? Otherwise you may
never hold the lands in peace.
Abbot:
£100.
Sheriff:
Give him £200!
Sir
Richard: No by God! You
will not get my lands so cheaply. If you were to offer a £1000 more you would
be nowhere near. No Abbot or Sheriff will be my heir.
Sir
Richard takes the bag that is hidden in Marian's clothing and shakes out £400
on to the table in front of the Abbot.
Sir
Richard: Have this gold,
sir Abbot, exactly £400 which you lent to me. If you had shown any courtesy at
my coming, more generous I would be.
The
Abbot is still, his head sunk into his shoulders and his eyes fixed.
Abbot:
Sir Sheriff, give me back my fee.
Sheriff:
Not a penny shall I give
to thee.
Sir
Richard: Sir Abbot and
you men of the law. Now I've had my day and I shall have my lands again and
there's nought you can say.
Sir Richard and Marian exit singing Rolling Along
Scene
Closes