[bright magical music]
[trumpets blasting]
[upbeat trumpet music]
[hooves clacking]
[helmet clinking]
[shield banging]
[upbeat orchestra music]
- Give me a hand David,
to stack these cheeses in the caves.
[goats baaing]
[milk splashing]
[churner thudding]
[kiss smacking]
- Go on and play now.
You will be able to help me
with the cheeses when you're older.
- Come on.
- No, go away.
Go, go away.
- Look Father, look Mother.
- Very good Son.
- Richard you shouldn't be doing that.
You ought to be playing.
- Your mother is right.
There'll be time enough
for you to be working.
- You are too young for this labor.
Go out in the fields and
play with your wooden sword.
- I'm tired of playing
with my wooden sword.
I want to real one so I can go
and fight King Meliot.
- Richard you mustn't
say things like that.
- But I've had you and father
and grandfather say, "He's a cruel man."
- Guards,
[tense music]
those two take those.
Come on.
Move.
- Look.
- Mommy! Mommy!
- Him.
- Come.
- That one and that one.
- No, James.
- Ellen.
- By orders of King Meliot,
he commands your presence at the castle.
- But what does King Meliot want of us?
- He'll tell you at his pleasure.
March!
- Get!
- James!
[birds chirping]
- Look at them strong as oxen.
They're worth a good
price from you merchant.
- Mm. Not a bad lot king Meliot.
But these northern men
they do not last very long in our hot sun.
- Oh, come now.
They're the best men of my country.
But first, food and
drink and then business.
Take them.
- The king has ordered them
taken to the stockade.
That means they'll be sold as slaves.
Father, what should we do?
- We have no arms, no fighting men.
What can we do?
- They've taken the
young and left the old.
- But we must do something.
We must get help.
- But where?
- I don't know, but we'll find it.
We must.
If I could get help from
the good, king Arthur.
- King Arthur?
- But he is in Camelot.
- I'll go to Camelot.
[triumphant orchestra music]
- Yield or I'll cut you in two.
Surrender,
cheese.
[Brian and Lancelot laughing]
- Well done Lancelot.
Not all your opponents succumb
come as easily as this cheese.
[Lancelot grunting]
- Stubborn is cheddar cheese.
- Just like the men of Cheddar.
- This cheese would make
an excellent shield.
Here Merlin, you have the first slice.
- Cheese in the morning is golden
but cheese at night led.
[door knocking]
Come in.
- My Lord Sir Lancelot,
There's a woman here
who wishes to see you.
- Bring her in.
[footsteps tapping]
- May I offer you some of this cheese?
- Thank you my Lord.
I recognize the cheese.
We are both from Cheddar.
- Ah, then twice welcome.
The master wizard, Merlin, the magician.
- His name and fame are known to me.
- Indeed. They should be.
- My squire Brian.
- Ma lady.
- How can we help you?
- Sir Lancelot, the people of Cheddar
desperately need the help of this court.
- I'm afraid King Arthur is in the north.
I'm here alone with Master Merlin
and my squire Brian.
But if your cause is just,
we'll do our best to help you.
- Then I beg you to ride with me
at once to Cheddar.
- Unless King Meliot
has altered in his ways.
I don't think he would appreciate
a visit from Lancelot.
What new outrage has Meliot committed?
- He seized all our able-bodied men
and is selling them as
slaves to the saddisens.
- This is indeed an outrage.
No king has that right.
- What are your people doing about this?
- The only men we have
left are too old to fight.
Besides they've sticks and pitchforks.
No match for the king's armor.
- Yours is a just cause.
But there is only Lancelot and his choir.
What good would they be
against Meliot and his soldiers?
- If we had arms,
the old men and the women would fight.
Please, Sir Lancelot,
there's so little time.
Give us this chance.
- Brian, the armory first
and then to Cheddar.
- I wish you luck.
[footsteps shuffling]
[tense orchestra music]
[brush rustling]
- What do you think you are doing?
Get away from here or I'll have your hide.
[wood thudding]
[birds chirping]
Go on don't stand about.
What in thunder are you staring at?
- Is it true what they say?
- Is it true what who says?
- They say, "You can
cut a leaf with a whip?"
- They do eh? Well, you listen to me.
I can do things with this whip
you peasants have never even heard of.
- May I see?
- Watch those reeds.
[whip cracking]
Alright.
- Can you make it wind around that tree?
- Watch, close Sonny.
[whip cracking]
[wood thudding]
- Richard.
- Father.
[Kn*fe scraping]
[birds chirping]
- Hey, get out of here!
[tense trumpet music]
- If I catch you here again,
I'll show you what this
whip is really for.
Now, clear out.
[upbeat orchestra music]
[churner thudding]
- You are doing well lad.
Within a few years you'll be.
- I'll be what Grandfather?
- Old enough to leave Cheddar.
[milk splashing]
- Richard.
- Mother.
- Richard.
- Mother.
[kiss smacking]
I'm so glad to see you, mother.
- Father, I brought help.
Sir Lancelot of the round table
and his squire Brian.
- It is good of you to come Sir Lancelot.
- Your Daughter told
me about your trouble.
- It grows worse by the hour.
- Where are our men?
- Still herded like cattle in a pen.
- How much longer do we have?
- Well, the king and the Serisner
are still bargaining.
When they come to terms,
the men will be taken away.
- We do have a little time.
[ducks quacking]
- What good is time?
We have no weapons.
- He is right.
Sticks and pitchforks are
no match for metal and swords.
- You mustn't give up so easily.
- You are a brave knight.
Have you ever been flogged?
Take a good look.
Then go back to Camelot
with your knights and nobles.
I've had my fill of fighting.
- But we've brought weapons.
- Weapons?
- Let's show them Ellen.
[swords rustling]
[crowd chattering]
- Ah swords.
- King Meliot.
- Hey they're not for you.
- I want to fight.
I want to free my father.
- I think you better leave that to us.
You give me that sword now.
- We better hide these
until we decide what to do.
Come bring them to the cave.
[tense trumpet music]
[swords clinking]
Stay close, Sir Lancelot,
this cave is a maze.
Unless you know your way about
it is an easy matter to
become hopelessly lost.
- Yes, I can well imagine.
- Oh!
Oh!
- We teach our children from the time
they can walk just how to find their way.
Otherwise we might lose them all together.
- Well, how can you find
your way in the dark?
- Oh, we light a lot of torches
and the whole cave shines
like a mass of jewels.
- Sometimes it is so
bright you are blinded.
- Look how this shimmers.
- Was that dug out of the cave?
- Little Richard found it.
We think it might be a jewel.
The men searched everywhere for another
but there was just this one.
Someone might have lost it here years ago.
- Wise man say, "That many ages ago,
this was ocean.
The water fell away and left these caves."
- Now we age our cheeses here.
- The king's guards are on their way.
- Our century.
We're coming leave the weapons there.
- Don't you think they ought
to hide the weapons more carefully?
Supposing the guards see them?
- Oh, they never come here.
Only the people of
Cheddar know these caves.
- And what about king Meliot?
- Him? He's more afraid than any of them.
- Ah-huh.
So the king and his men are afraid
to come into the caves.
Ellen, if we could somehow
lure king Meliot and his
men inside the caves,
the villagers could trap them
and fight them here.
- Yes, we would have a chance then.
But the king would never come.
He's too afraid.
- There's one thing stronger than fear.
- What do you mean?
- Greed?
Listen, I've got an idea.
[birds chirping]
[branches rustling]
- Ellen, I don't like this idea.
It's too dangerous.
- We must try Father.
- But they'll never let you near James.
[birds chirping]
[footsteps shuffling]
Ellen, that's one of
the most brutal guards.
- I know.
- What shall you say?
- Simply that I've brought
food for my Husband.
- He'll never let you through.
- I'll give him some of the wine
that might soften him.
- I doubt it.
- Ellen, let's go back.
- I promised Sir Lancelot.
- He'll understand.
Come on.
- I'll take the food to my father.
- Richard!
[tense orchestra music]
[footsteps tapping]
- Hey Sonny.
Where do you think you are going?
Now go away and don't try that again.
- Richard, come back!
- And get your mother
help clear up that food.
- No!
- You nasty man!
You nasty man!
- Stop!
- I'll k*ll you!
- Leave my Son alone.
He's done no harm.
Leave him I say!
- Oh, so that's the way
you want things is it?
- Put me down!
No! No!
[tense orchestra music]
- What have they done to mother?
- Don't worry lad.
[chickens clucking]
- But it's all my fault.
- Don't be afraid Richard.
Your mother's a brave woman.
- But she dared to strike
one of the king's guards.
Do you know what Meliot does to women
who flaunt his court?
He has them b*rned at the stake.
[Richard crying]
- Come on Brian.
- But where to?
- We're gonna call on King Meliot.
[tense orchestra music]
[leaves rustling]
[upbeat curious music]
You wait here Brian.
- What if King Meliot should recognize you
and take your prisoner?
- He won't recognize me.
We've never met.
Don't you worry.
[hooves clacking]
[curious trumpet music]
- Well merchant, what do you want?
- I have important and secret business
with King Meliot.
- Follow me we'll see the captain.
This way.
- What is that?
[tense orchestra music]
You seem to have a lot of prisoners.
- Peasants from the village,
they're to be sold soon.
- I see.
[door knocking]
[plate clinking]
[footsteps shuffling]
- Emergent from Parlin to see you Sire.
- I'm busy.
- Well, he says it's important, sire.
- Very well.
[king Meliot coughing]
[door creaking]
- Be brief please.
I haven't all day.
- And nor I sire.
But in matters concerning business.
- Ah, business.
- They say, "There is a fortune
of treasure in the Cheddar caves."
- A fortune in cheese you mean.
- No sire.
Not only cheese, but precious stones.
- Precious stones?
- Emeralds, topaz.
The jewels are quite large,
but naturally crude.
- Jewels?
What proof of your this?
- One of your own peasants wears a topaz
from the caves around her neck.
- Who? Name her.
- Her name is Ellen.
Wife of James.
Daughter of John.
- Do you know this woman?
- Yes, my Lord.
Well she was the one who
att*cked me this morning.
- Bring her here at once.
[footsteps shuffling]
[door clicking]
Suppose what you say is true.
Why have you come here?
- I am willing to pay a price
for your permission to search
the caves for jewels.
- If there are truly jewels there
do you suppose I'd be foolish enough
to give them to someone else?
- Not give sire, but sell.
And there is the problem
of finding the jewels.
- Why a problem?
They're in the caves, are they not?
- Ah, yes.
But only a few men know
their way through the caves.
They say, "That only the people of Cheddar
can enter the caves and come out alive."
- Ridiculous.
- Have you ever been there sire?
- No, but.
- I would not like to
take the chance alone.
But with that woman, Ellen, to guide me.
- If she guides anyone, she guides me.
It is my land after all.
[door thudding]
- Here she is, sire.
[footsteps shuffling]
- Stop stumbling woman.
Where is this jewel you wear?
Take it from her.
- My son gave it to me. No!
- He found it in my cave, didn't he?
- Yes, but.
- Then it's mine.
It is truly a topaz, as you said.
- And apparently there are
thousands like it in the cave.
- Are there?
Would you like me to
spare your life woman?
Then you shall lead me through the caves
to these precious stones.
Summon the guards.
We go to the Cheddar caves.
[door thudding]
And for your information,
you'll be rewarded by being
the first to offer a price
for these precious stones.
[footsteps tapping]
[birds chirping]
- Sir Lance.
- Shh. It worked Brian.
The king's on his way to the cave
and Ellen is going to show him the way.
- But there's only a handful of old men
and women back there.
- As long as they can
keep them in the caves
we'll be all right.
I'm gonna get help.
Now hurry.
[tense orchestra music]
[footsteps shuffling]
[tense orchestra music]
[tense orchestra music]
[shuttering music]
[ground thudding]
[whip cracking]
[branches rustling]
[whip cracking]
[sword thudding]
[ground thudding]
- And who are you?
- No time for that now.
Come on.
[birds chirping]
[footsteps shuffling]
[hooves clacking]
- Quick the king's coming with
his guards to search the caves.
- Ellen, where is she?
- With King Meliot.
Sir Lancelot says, "To
lead them through the
caves and hold them
there until he arrives."
- We'll assure them.
Come on, we'll fire our torches.
The light will blind them.
[footsteps shuffling]
[birds chirping]
[footsteps tapping]
- Hurry, hurry!
[hooves clacking]
- The woman.
Where's the woman?
Looks dark in there.
Do we need torches?
- No, I don't think so.
- Go on. You lead the way.
[tense orchestra music]
[footsteps shuffling]
[tense orchestra music]
It's very dark.
Shut off the entrance, get some torches.
Woman, get a torch.
- Is Lancelot coming?
[curious music]
- I hope so.
How much longer can we
keep them trapped here?
- I don't know.
We'll do the best we can.
[John howling]
- What was that?
[tense orchestra music]
My men, the woman, where's the woman?
Woman, where are you?
- Here.
[guards gasping]
- Now the light blinds me. I can't see.
I can't see.
Get us out of here.
Which is the way out?
- Defend yourself Meliot!
[tense orchestra music]
[swords clinking]
- Come on men, let's hurry.
Come on!
[footsteps tapping]
You'll find the weapons behind the cheese.
Come on, hurry up.
[crowd chattering]
[swords clinking]
Meliot!
[tense orchestra music]
[swords clinking]
[tense orchestra music]
[swords clinking]
- Mercy!
Mercy!
- Order your men to lay down their arms.
- Lay down your arms.
[swords clinking]
Who are you?
Why do you att*ck me?
- I'm Sir Lancelot of the lake
from the court of King Arthur.
And you king Meliot are guilty
of attempted sl*very.
- We'll burn him! We'll burn him!
- No!
King Meliot is my prisoner.
He returns to Camelot with me
and King Arthur will decide his fate.
- Yes, that is just,
but first, a feast and a bonfire
in celebration of our victory.
[upbeat orchestra music]
- Goodbye, John.
- Thank king Arthur in our name
for all you've done for us.
- Farewell everyone!
- Farewell.
- Goodbye Sir Lancelot.
[victorious orchestra music]
[upbeat orchestra 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 stories told ♪
♪ Of Lancelot ♪
[bright magical music]