[dramatic music]
[portentous music]
[swords clashing]
- Careful now, Sir Richard.
- And you, Sir Lancelot.
- Wouldn't do for the
bridegroom to go back
to his wedding all scratched up.
- Wouldn't do for the best
man to be scratched either.
- Sir Lancelot is to be
best man at your wedding,
eh, Sir Richard?
- Mind he doesn't steal the bride.
- Lady Margaret is more particular.
- Why, you young upstart.
- I warn you, I've
learned some new tricks.
- My older ones are good enough for me.
- Sir Richard, you've
not forgotten the skill
you learned at our Round Table.
- Ah.
[sword clanks]
- Well, well, he fights with both hands.
- When and how did you learn this?
- I've done it since I was a child.
- I wish you would teach
my knights this trick.
- It only requires practice.
I can write with my left hand as well.
- Write?
You can write?
- So you know how to write.
Good for you, my boy.
- Might we see an example of your hand?
- First, my name.
- Hmm, a good bold hand.
- "T" isn't crossed correctly.
You want to do it firmly, Richard.
- And now with my left.
- He is writing with his left hand.
- Excellent, Richard, if
it's spelled correctly.
- It is, and it means
mighty king of the warriors.
- It's the title of your own king.
You should know that.
- I'm proud of you, Richard,
and it was good to have you with us again.
- When you are going back, Richard?
[Richard laughs]
- I have a rendezvous for this evening
with my uncle, Sir John,
in the forest near Taunton.
- Your uncle?
- Yes.
When my father d*ed, Uncle
John gave up his estates
to help me rule mine.
His own son d*ed,
and well, since then he's
been as a father to me.
- Well, when's the wedding?
- With your king's permission,
be at Taunton within the week.
- I will.
- Farewell, sire.
- Remember, when your lands are joined
with those of Lady
Margaret's, you will have one
of the largest and most
powerful estates in Britain.
Rule it well.
[birds chirp]
- Oh, Sir John.
- Yes.
- I think you'd better
have a word with the boy.
Now the time has come,
he's losing his nerve.
- Rubbish.
- Well, sir, after 10
quiet years in the north,
this idea has come as a surprise.
- Nonsense.
I'll talk to him.
Well, you look nervous.
- I am.
- Don't be.
There's nothing to worry about.
The impersonation is perfect.
You and your cousin are identical.
- Yes, Father.
- Not Father, you hear?
Uncle.
Everybody thinks you d*ed years ago.
In future I am Uncle John,
and you are Sir Richard of Taunton.
In a few days you'll
marry the Lady Margaret.
Forget you were ever called Alfred.
Forget you were ever my son.
Do you understand?
- I understand, Uncle John.
- Good.
Now for the meeting place.
[serious music]
[suspenseful music]
- Look here!
[yells]
[serious music]
- We succeed.
- Then Richard is--
- You are Richard now.
[portentous music]
[soft music]
- Hello, Richard.
Welcome home.
- Thank you.
- The harvesting done?
- Aye, and it's the best ever.
- A good harvest is a good welcome.
Bring your fellow tenants tomorrow.
We'll reckon the accounts.
- Gladly, for our share
will be greater than it was.
- Doubtless.
My nephew has always matched your industry
with his generosity.
- Aye, that he has, and it's,
it's not all landlords who
treat their tenants so well.
- Welcome home to Taunton, Sir Richard.
- [Alfred] I'm glad to be among
my own people, Mr. Recorder.
- I've had your name and
that of the Lady Margaret
engrossed in the settlement register.
- Come and sup with us this evening.
- We thank God for your
safe return, Sir Richard.
- His aid and guidance
have brought us here.
- [Father] And how goes it
with the brave Sir Lancelot?
- Why do you ask of him?
- I remember the tale Sir Richard has told
of their great exploits
and close friendship.
- He's well and brave as ever.
- [Father] Can we look
forward to receiving him here?
- We know nothing of his coming.
- I had hoped he was to
witness Sir Richard's wedding.
- I'm afraid Sir Lancelot has
little time for diversion.
- My nephew is weary, Father.
It's been a trying journey,
and the Lady Margaret is waiting.
- Forgive me.
I understand your impatience.
[birds chirp]
- Well, Sir Richard, what
do you think of your castle?
- It looks sturdy and prosperous.
- There must be no blunder
in this impersonation.
- Yes, Father,.
- Uncle, you fool, not father.
- Yes, Uncle.
- It appears I'll have
to speak for both of us.
You try to keep your
mind on what's at stake.
- Is my hair in place?
- Yes, Margaret.
But you're trembling like a leaf.
- It's been two months, four days--
- And six hours, I know.
I know the reckoning as well as you do.
- I won't bore you with any more, Gloria.
Richard is back and my loneliness is over.
[knock on door]
Richard!
- Come, Richard, give her a welcome kiss.
The poor girl's been pining away.
- Please, Gloria.
- Or perhaps you and I, Sir
John, should leave them alone.
- No, no, stay.
- Yes, Sir John.
It would not be fair for me
to monopolize Richard's time.
The people are as anxious
as I am to see him.
- Well, send them away.
- Richard!
[object clanks lightly]
- Is there no ale?
- Perhaps you've acquired
new tastes in Camelot.
- What do you mean?
- Just that I've never
known you to drink ale.
- Oh, very well, I'll take mead.
[liquid pours]
- Lady Margaret.
There is something that
I had hoped to spare you,
but I see now that it is
better to speak of it.
- Speak of what, Sir John?
- Richard may not seem quite himself.
There's a reason.
On his way to meet me
after leaving Camelot,
he was att*cked by an army of mercenaries.
They robbed him of treasure
given to him by King Arthur.
- Was he hurt?
- With his customary bravery,
Richard overcame his assailants,
but he suffered several wounds
and has not yet completely
recovered his buoyant spirit.
- I'm so sorry, Richard.
I didn't know.
- Didn't know what?
- That you had been att*cked and robbed.
- Hm?
Uh, I'd rather not talk--
- He must rest for a few hours.
By this evening, he will be
the Richard we know and love.
Come, nephew.
- It must have been a frightening journey.
- It's the first I've heard
of Richard being frightened.
It's not like him.
- No.
It isn't like him.
[birds chirp]
[solemn music]
[serious music]
- Richard is still asleep.
- Perhaps we should leave, Sir John.
- But you haven't eaten.
- Another time.
- I've never known Richard to be ill.
- He's not ill.
He's weary.
It's been a difficult day.
- It must have been a
great shock to one who has
always been so kind to
be att*cked so violently.
- And without cause or reason.
- I dare say, that is the
cause of his depression.
And I'm certain that a few days
spent among people who love him,
and who he loves, will make him fit again.
- [Father] Wish him well, Sir
John, we'll return tomorrow.
- I brought the settlement
register for his signature.
I already have that of the Lady Margaret.
- Perhaps we'd better wait
until Richard has recovered.
- Not at all, not at all.
He talks of nothing but the happy day.
Couldn't we hasten the wedding?
That would restore him
quicker than rest or cures.
- Then we can be married
whenever he likes.
- Good.
Then we'll fix the date.
- How fortunate, Sir John,
that you're here with him.
Your devotion is more like
that of a father than an uncle.
- I've always considered Richard a son.
- Good night, Sir John.
- My dear, some rest
would refresh you too.
- Go and tell Sir Richard
you'll be married right away.
- No, no.
Let him sleep.
I'll tell him the wonderful
news when he wakes.
Good night.
[tense music]
- I'm famished!
I thought they'd never leave.
- Sh!
They think you're asleep.
- We may have ruined their appetites,
but you haven't ruined mine.
Well, have you found out
when I'm to be married?
- Yes.
I've hastened the day.
Very soon now.
- You expect me to wait
till then and be sick?
- I expect you to be sober.
- I'm sick of being sick!
And I'll do as I please, Father.
- Uncle, not father!
Listen to me.
I've spent 20 years
waiting for this moment.
I've sacrificed a nephew in
order to gain those lands,
and I'm prepared to
sacrifice a son if necessary.
Now, answer these questions
for the last time.
When and where were you att*cked?
- On my way home from Camelot.
- Were you robbed?
- Yes.
- Who am I?
- Uncle.
- Again.
- Uncle.
- Your name.
- Richard.
- Again.
- Richard.
- Again.
- Richard.
- Again!
[dramatic music]
These, then, are the new levies and taxes.
Listen well.
Eight cows, 10 sheep, six goats.
- [Person] Milord, these
levees are beyond us.
- Sir Richard imposes
them with a heavy heart.
- But there's nothing left for us.
- Would you have me matted in rags,
or the Lady Margaret appear as a beggar?
- Sir, we had agreed among
ourselves to present you
with a token of our esteem.
But these demands--
- You should be grateful
that Sir Richard is alive.
- We are!
- Then why this haggling and bargaining?
If you don't like it, leave these lands.
Find a new landlord.
Come, Uncle, I'm too weary
to talk about these things.
- Go back to your fields
and collect the produce and cattle.
Our bailiffs will enforce these orders!
- Sir, I pray you to consider our plight.
- And I pray you consider
Sir Richard's plight.
- Sir Richard's plight.
- I didn't know whether you'd live or not.
Found you in the wood.
- How long have I been here?
- Eleven days.
Where's your village, lad?
- Taunton.
I'm Sir Richard.
- You're nobody, lad.
You're nobody.
And if you're anybody,
then you're a corpse.
- They must have thought I was dead.
Please, I tell you I'm Sir Richard--
- Now, now, sh!
You're a little sick in the head,
through lying out there.
- Please.
Go to Camelot.
I need help.
- Fancy me at Camelot.
Why, they'd clap me in
the dungeon, they would.
- I swear to you, they won't.
Have you something for me to write on?
- Write!
You want to write!
You're bewitched.
That's it.
I should have left you out there to die.
Please, please, sir.
I have a wife and four children.
Don't put a curse on me!
- It's too late now.
The curse is upon you.
- Oh, why didn't I leave you there to die?
- Listen, man, there's only one wizard
in all England who can
free you from the curse.
- Then what's his name?
I'll find him.
- It's Merlin.
He lives in Camelot.
Stop shaking, man, and get
me a piece of charcoal.
Now sit down.
Turn around.
Now hurry.
Hurry to Camelot and see Merlin!
He'll help you.
- Good day, Mr. Recorder.
- Good day to you, sir.
Where are you from and where bound?
- From Camelot.
A Knight of the Round Table,
bound for Taunton Castle.
- Well, if you've come for spoils,
there's nothing left to
plunder here, Sir Knight.
- You can keep your plunder, old man.
I'm going to the wedding
of my friend, Sir Richard.
- Then you might be Sir
Lancelot of the Lake.
- [Lancelot] Yes, I am.
- But Sir Richard said that you
couldn't attend the wedding.
- Richard's fond of making jokes.
- [Person] No joke to us, Sir Lancelot.
He seized our lands, our
cattle and our harvest.
- I can't believe that.
- And furthermore, he's selling them
to the merchants at Southampton.
- Is this true?
- Don't take our word for it.
Ask your friend, Sir Richard.
That is if Sir John and his mercenaries
will permit you to see him.
- He sees no one alone,
not even the Lady Margaret.
- He'll see me, I can promise you that.
- I'll go with you, sir.
I need Sir Richard's signature
for the settlement register.
- Good.
[fanfare]
- I'm a prisoner here!
I can't stand much more of it.
I'm afraid to speak to
anyone, afraid to leave.
- Stop this childish
whining, I'm sick of it,
and sick of you.
Pull yourself together and stay sober.
[goblet slams]
For at least another day.
- Yes, another day.
My wedding day.
And then what?
- I have arranged everything.
We leave your bride here,
and we pick up a cargo at South Hampton,
a cargo of gold in exchange for the land,
produce and cattle
belonging to Sir Richard
and Lady Margaret of Taunton.
- And then?
- Then, we sail for Normandy.
Have you been eavesdropping?
I thought I gave orders that
you were to stay in your room.
- I'm not accustomed to
being spoken to in this way.
I came here to see Richard.
If you've had a change
of heart, tell me so.
I'll release you from your vows.
- Oh, you speak like a child.
- I must talk to you alone.
- I have no secrets from my uncle.
- He has secrets from you.
- How dare you!
- Did you sanction those taxes?
Ride through the fields
of the village as I have.
The people turn away from me.
They curse your name.
- Those decrees were issued
with my sanction and for your protection.
- My dear lady, this is a man's affair.
- The first rule of a good
wife is loyalty to her husband.
- The first rule of a good
ruler is loyalty to his people.
- Well spoken, Lady Margaret.
- Sir Lancelot!
- This is a welcome surprise.
- Surprise?
You don't think I'd miss the opportunity
of kissing the bride, do you?
- Welcome to Taunton, Sir Lancelot.
- Ah, Richard, I've been hearing
strange stories about you.
Your tenants look as if they were going
to a funeral rather than a wedding.
- Tenants always exaggerate their state.
- Do they?
Richard, I have something to show you.
En garde!
- You mean you want to fight?
- Just a few parries for
sport, the way we used to.
- But--
- The way you used to, Richard.
[tense music]
[swords clanging]
- Ah!
[sword clanks]
- Richard!
I'm sorry, I thought surely you'd parry.
- It's all right, it's nothing.
- But it's your very own trick, remember?
- Yes, yes, he remembers.
Now, enough of play.
There's business at hand.
- Well, I have come for your signature
on the settlement register, Sir Richard.
- Where do I make my mark?
- Mark?
Why don't you sign your name?
- Sir Richard's arm is
wounded by your swordplay.
- Yes, that's right.
I have very little
strength in my right hand.
- Well, use your left hand.
- Sir Lancelot, my
nephew has not been well
since he was att*cked by thieves
on his way home from Camelot.
His left side is still injured.
- I'm sorry, Richard.
I didn't mean to tax your strength.
Go on, Richard.
The bridegroom must never hesitate.
- Sir Lancelot, you must be
tired after your journey.
Lady Margaret, offer
our guest refreshment.
- [Lancelot] Richard and I have
a lot to say to each other.
- Come, boy, time enough
for that tomorrow.
Lady Margaret?
- Come, Sir Lancelot.
- Now what, brilliant uncle?
- Well, how was I to know
Lancelot was invited here?
- And how was I to know
that I could write and
fight with both hands?
Now what do you propose?
- Wait till the wedding,
and we'll deal with him,
as we dealt with Richard.
[suspenseful music]
- Brian?
- Sir Lancelot!
- What on earth are you doing here?
- I came to tell you about Sir Richard.
- Oh, what about him?
- Master Merlin and I found
him in a peasant's hut.
He was badly beaten.
- In a peasant's hut?
Are you sure it was Richard?
- Well, I think I know Sir
Richard when I see him.
- Yeas
Thought I did too.
Where is this hut, Brian?
- Here, drink this.
It's a magic potion.
- That's right.
The milk of a good Somerset cow.
- It becomes healing with my touch.
- Fetch me a brand.
Here.
Write your name.
Now with your other hand.
Richard!
I had to make sure.
- This peasant saved my life.
Soon I'll be as good as new.
- Well, I played no small
part in his recovery.
Some libations and a few
well chosen incantations.
- Are you strong enough to walk?
- No.
- [Person] We could carry him.
- Yes, do that.
I don't intend you to miss your wedding.
[suspenseful music]
- Why this delay?
- Well, we can't have a
wedding without the bride.
- Well, send another messenger.
Tell Lady Margaret to hurry.
- We've sent one, milord.
- If she doesn't arrive in a moment,
I'll fetch her myself.
[cow moos]
- Bless you, my lady.
- [Together] Bless you, my lady.
- [Together] Bless you, my lady.
- [Together] Bless you, my lady.
- I suggest, Sir John, that
you delay this wedding.
- We've delayed enough, Sir Lancelot.
- Do you have good reason for this?
- Yes.
We are awaiting the arrival of a guest.
He's traveled a great distance
to be at this wedding.
- Who is he and where does he come from?
- He is a good man and
he comes from the dead.
[dramatic music]
[Lady Margaret screams]
[swords clanging]
- Sir Lancelot, behind you!
[dramatic music]
- Take him away.
- My darling Richard!
- Margaret.
Give me your sword, my friend.
I wish to take an oath.
On this sword I pledge all
my strength to the defense
of justice for my people
and allegiance to my king.
- [Villagers] Hooray!
- Father, is there any rule of the Church
that would prevent you from
marrying them here and now?
- None.
- Then get on with it.
- Take her left hand in yours.
[Father speaks Latin]
[jaunty music]
♪ Now listen to my story ♪
♪ Yes, listen while I sing ♪
♪ Of days of old in England
when Arthur was the king ♪
♪ In days of old, when knights were bold ♪
♪ The story's told of Lancelot ♪