Treasure of the Nation
Encyclopedia
Treasure of the Nation is the eleventh episode of series two of the BBC's new Robin Hood series. It aired on 15 December 2007.
In Locksley, Gisbourne and Allan are ready for trouble, and Marian finds herself cornered, and then finally unmasked by Gisbourne. Her secret is out, and Gisbourne swears to her she will die as punishment for her treachery, before walking out and leaving Marian alone with Allan. Marian begs Allan for his help, but he refuses to help her, saying that he has already risked enough for her. Marian is then taken back to the castle to await execution. Gisbourne tells her how she hurt him, and how she deserved what was coming to her.
Meanwhile, Robin and the gang follow the clues to a cave in the forest where they find yet another map. On first glance Robin thinks it shows Kirklees Abbey and he says it out loud, when the Sheriff interrupts. He 'thanks' the gang for letting him know where the treasure is, then drops the heavy stone slab over the entrance, trapping the outlaws inside.Back outside the Sheriff kills the source of all his information - Paxton, the King's contact. Fortunately, with the help of Little John the gang all escape safely. They make their way to the location of the treasure, which turns out to be the king's mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Just as they are introducing themselves to Her Royal Highness, the Sheriff and the army of mercenaries arrive, surrounding them. Luckily, there is an escape route - a trapdoor. The gang and Queen Eleanor escape through the trapdoor and find themselves in the forest only to be surrounded once again by the Sheriff and the army of mercenaries. Everyone escapes unscathed apart from Legrand, who is fatally stabbed by the Sheriff whilst trying to defend the Queen.
Back at the castle, Marian attempts to escape her cell by starting a fire to distract Gisborne so she can escape. The plot fails and Marian realises that she will not escape. She resigns herself to her fate and calmly sits to await it.
The Sheriff receives news that the Nightwatchman has been caught and returns to the castle in high spirits to witness the execution, unaware of the Nightwatchman's real identity. As Marian enters the courtyard, calmly prepared to die, somebody appears on the battlements dressed as the Nightwatchman. The imposter Nightwatchman flees the castle pursued by guards who fail to catch him, as he has hidden in a well. The figure reappears and takes off his mask - it was in fact Allan. In a moment of fury, the Sheriff turns on Gisborne and physically threatens him as Marian guiltily watches. The furious Sheriff warns Gisborne that if he makes another incompetent mistake it will be his last, and storms off, glowering at him and Marian.
Back in the forest the gang send Queen Eleanor on her way with the remaining members of the King's guard. Before leaving she gives the gang a bag of gold to help the poor. They thank her, and send her on her way.
Meanwhile, in Nottingham Castle, Guy and Allan go to find Marian in her room. Guy tells her that she was the only thing that made life in the castle bearable, and that he planned to burn the Nightwatchman costume to get rid of the Nightwatchman once and for all. Marian thanks them and hugs them both. To return the favour, Guy asks Marian to stay in the castle. She accepts, and all is well.
-The Queen's multiple references to Little John as "Big Bear" may be a reference to the 1973 animated Disney film Robin Hood, wherein the character of Little John was portrayed as a large, anthropomorphic bear.
Plot
The Sheriff has turned Locksley into a garrison town, throwing its people out to make room for an army of vicious mercenaries. Robin and the outlaws witness the arrival of the army and steal their food wagon. While they are stashing it in their store, they are intercepted by three burly King's Guards, led by the fearsome Legrand who brings a vital message from King Richard. It turns out to be not a message, but a picture - a clue leading to the "thesaurus patriae" (treasure of the nation). The clue baffles the gang, and while they are trying to figure it out Marian arrives to talk to Robin. She informs him that Allan told Gisborne where to find the stolen food. She asks him to help the people of Locksley and steal the food back, but Robin refuses to, knowing that his mission from the King is more important and must be completed first. At his request, Marian promises Robin that she won't help the people of Locksley on her own as it would be too dangerous, but she still plans to anyway as the Nightwatchman.In Locksley, Gisbourne and Allan are ready for trouble, and Marian finds herself cornered, and then finally unmasked by Gisbourne. Her secret is out, and Gisbourne swears to her she will die as punishment for her treachery, before walking out and leaving Marian alone with Allan. Marian begs Allan for his help, but he refuses to help her, saying that he has already risked enough for her. Marian is then taken back to the castle to await execution. Gisbourne tells her how she hurt him, and how she deserved what was coming to her.
Meanwhile, Robin and the gang follow the clues to a cave in the forest where they find yet another map. On first glance Robin thinks it shows Kirklees Abbey and he says it out loud, when the Sheriff interrupts. He 'thanks' the gang for letting him know where the treasure is, then drops the heavy stone slab over the entrance, trapping the outlaws inside.Back outside the Sheriff kills the source of all his information - Paxton, the King's contact. Fortunately, with the help of Little John the gang all escape safely. They make their way to the location of the treasure, which turns out to be the king's mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Just as they are introducing themselves to Her Royal Highness, the Sheriff and the army of mercenaries arrive, surrounding them. Luckily, there is an escape route - a trapdoor. The gang and Queen Eleanor escape through the trapdoor and find themselves in the forest only to be surrounded once again by the Sheriff and the army of mercenaries. Everyone escapes unscathed apart from Legrand, who is fatally stabbed by the Sheriff whilst trying to defend the Queen.
Back at the castle, Marian attempts to escape her cell by starting a fire to distract Gisborne so she can escape. The plot fails and Marian realises that she will not escape. She resigns herself to her fate and calmly sits to await it.
The Sheriff receives news that the Nightwatchman has been caught and returns to the castle in high spirits to witness the execution, unaware of the Nightwatchman's real identity. As Marian enters the courtyard, calmly prepared to die, somebody appears on the battlements dressed as the Nightwatchman. The imposter Nightwatchman flees the castle pursued by guards who fail to catch him, as he has hidden in a well. The figure reappears and takes off his mask - it was in fact Allan. In a moment of fury, the Sheriff turns on Gisborne and physically threatens him as Marian guiltily watches. The furious Sheriff warns Gisborne that if he makes another incompetent mistake it will be his last, and storms off, glowering at him and Marian.
Back in the forest the gang send Queen Eleanor on her way with the remaining members of the King's guard. Before leaving she gives the gang a bag of gold to help the poor. They thank her, and send her on her way.
Meanwhile, in Nottingham Castle, Guy and Allan go to find Marian in her room. Guy tells her that she was the only thing that made life in the castle bearable, and that he planned to burn the Nightwatchman costume to get rid of the Nightwatchman once and for all. Marian thanks them and hugs them both. To return the favour, Guy asks Marian to stay in the castle. She accepts, and all is well.
Cast
- Jonas ArmstrongJonas ArmstrongJonas Armstrong is an Irish-actor, raised in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, best known for his appearances on television in the United Kingdom, where he played the title role in the BBC One drama series Robin Hood.-Career:...
... Robin HoodRobin HoodRobin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes.... - Lucy Griffiths ... Lady MarianMaid MarianMaid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
- Keith Allen ... the Sheriff of NottinghamSheriff of NottinghamThe Sheriff of Nottingham was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Nottingham and bringing criminals to justice. For years the post has been directly appointed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and in modern times, with the existence of the police force, the position is...
- Richard ArmitageRichard Armitage (actor)Richard Crispin Armitage is an English actor famous for his roles as John Thornton in North and South, Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood, and Lucas North in Spooks...
... Sir Guy of GisbourneGuy of GisbourneSir Guy of Gisbourne is a character from the Robin Hood legends of English folklore. In The Ballad of Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne , he hunts Robin for the Sheriff of Nottingham, but Robin kills him and cuts off his head... - Joe ArmstrongJoe Armstrong (actor)Joe Armstrong is an English actor. He played Allan A Dale in the BBC series Robin Hood. He plays Hotspur in the forthcoming BBC production of Henry IV, Part 1 and he will appear in the film Closer to the Moon by Nae Caranfil...
... Alan-a-DaleAlan-a-DaleAlan-a-Dale is a figure in the Robin Hood legend... - Harry LloydHarry LloydHarry Lloyd is an English actor. He played Will Scarlet in the first two seasons of the BBC drama Robin Hood which began in 2006...
... Will ScarletWill ScarletWill Scarlet was a prominent member of Robin Hood's Merry Men. He was present in the earliest ballads along with Little John and Much the Miller's Son.... - Anjali JayAnjali JayAnjali Jay is a British-Indian actress. She is best known for her role in the 2006 film Blind Dating and as Djaq on the first two seasons of the 2006 television series Robin Hood.-Biography:...
... Djaq - Sam TroughtonSam TroughtonSam Troughton is a British actor. He is the son of David Troughton and the grandson of Doctor Who actor Patrick Troughton. His younger brother is Warwickshire cricketer Jim Troughton...
... MuchMuch the Miller's SonMuch the Miller's Son was, in the tales of Robin Hood, one of his Merry Men. He appears in some of the oldest ballads, A Gest of Robyn Hode and Robin Hood and the Monk, as one of the company.Generally he becomes an outlaw when he is caught poaching... - Gordon KennedyGordon Kennedy (actor)Gordon Kennedy is a Scottish actor. Kennedy grew up in Tranent, East Lothian, and attended George Watson's College in Edinburgh...
... Little JohnLittle JohnLittle John was a legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood, and was said to be Robin's chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men.-Folklore:He appears in the earliest recorded Robin Hood ballads and stories... - Lynda BellinghamLynda BellinghamLynda Bellingham is a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author, who is known for her distinctive husky voice.-Early life:...
...Eleanor of AquitaineEleanor of AquitaineEleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England... - Stephen BeckettStephen BeckettStephen Beckett is an English actor, known for portraying Dr Matt Ramsden in Coronation Street and Mike Jarvis in The Bill.-Background:...
... Legrand - Andy Hefler... Paxton
Popular culture references
-This episode's title, as well as the line uttered by the Sheriff "Oh, oh what a national treasure it is!" may be references to the treasure-hunting-oriented film franchise National Treasure.-The Queen's multiple references to Little John as "Big Bear" may be a reference to the 1973 animated Disney film Robin Hood, wherein the character of Little John was portrayed as a large, anthropomorphic bear.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/robinhood/episodes/series2_episode7.shtml