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SCENE 5: SHERIFF’S OFFICE
SHERIFFGuy of Gisborne? Sit. Methinks there is that about thy face I’ve seen erewhile.
GISBORNEAye? … It may be so. I have never seen Your Lordship.
SHERIFFYour Worship. A brave blade thou art, so they tell me. And I hear thou hast well upheld the old fabled skill of Nottinghamshire.
GISBORNEI am an archer, aye.
SHERIFFWhat was he, that thou hast killed?
GISBORNEThe son of the King’s Forester... Your Worship.
SHERIFFA pity.
GISBORNEAye, I would he’d never said one word to me, or I’d never passed his way, or that my right hand had been struck off ere we met.
SHERIFFThen thou regretest thy crime.
GISBORNEAye. I never wish to slay a man again. I often think bitterly of the life I took. There is… there is, deep, damning guilt that lies like a load at my breast-making each breath I draw a crime. But I know what’s done is done; the cracked egg cannot be cured.
SHERIFFPerhaps it can. For what purpose dost thou think thou were brought to mine office today?
GISBORNEI know not, perhaps you hath business with me.
SHERIFFClever lad. Within my satchel here, I have a pardon, all fairly written out on parchment, with a great red seal, hm? To make it lawful. It speaks the absolution of all charges levied against a certain man, whose name I have but to specify.
GISBORNEWhat man is it intended for?
SHERIFFOne who will succeed in paying me a certain sort of ransom.
GISBORNEAnd what is that man’s assurance, that the pardon shall be his after the ransom is paid?
SHERIFFAssurance? His assurance is the word of the King’s deputy, thou pawn-broking vagabond.
GISBORNEI beg pardon, Your Worship, but why should I rely on the word of one who will trust nothing to mine?
SHERIFFBecause thou canst not help it, killer. Were we in thy keep, and I craving thy pardon, it would be thine to dictate the terms and assurances, but this is my keep, and I have thee at advantage.
GISBORNEAye.
SHERIFFI would make an honest man of thee. Take thee into my service. Thou wouldst be paid right well. Forty marks and three suits of clothes each year, and beside that, good food and fair lodging.
GISBORNEAnd what wouldst thou have me do for this?
SHERIFFSlay one more man, for me.
SCENE 6: OUTSIDE JAILHOUSE
(OUTSIDE: SCARLET listens with her ear to the wall. MARIAN approaches, interrupting her.)
MARIANScarlet! Where hast thou been?
SCARLET (recovering quickly)I? Seeking thee.
MARIANDidst not say thou would walk with me before shrift today?
SCARLETWalk? Aye, only your father gave me errands to run—
MARIANCome. Sorely do I crave thy counsel.
SCARLETNow?
MARIANAye, if thou hast naught better to do?
SCARLET (after a beat, sweetly)There be no better thing. I follow at thy pleasure, lead on.
(MARIAN joyously leads a regretful SCARLET off. After a moment, SHERIFF leads GISBORNE out into the light.)
SHERIFFWe are agreed then, and thou art sworn to remedy my troubles?
GISBORNEI shall earn thy pardon, Sir, else let me be clapped in jail for the rest of my days.
SHERIFFI knew a man of thy youth would see sense in such a bargain.
(Marian and Scarlet walk nearby as Sheriff & Guy speak.)
MARIANThinkest thou all killers be damned, Scarlet?
SCARLETHow now?
MARIANThe young man from Lancashire, sitting in father’s jail: I am told he is a killer. Only I never saw a killer with such a goodly face and manner about him.
SCARLETHark, the true purpose of your recent charity is revealed! And thou wouldst save and reform him, I suppose? Truly the selection of suitors in Nottingham must be more barren than I realized.
MARIANI am only asking about his soul, you need not be churlish. Heard you any whisperings about town?
SCARLETAye, verily enough: One man calleth him kind, another calleth him cruel; this one calleth him good honest fellow, and that one, vile killer. But Marian, methinks the world hath as many eyes to look on a man as there are spots on a toad; so, with what eyes thou regardest him lieth with thine own self.
MARIANAye, but how may I trust mine own regard, when I am taken with him thus dearly? Perchance my own eyes are wont to alter his purpose. How Scarlet, how can I know any of it to be true?
SCARLETThou canst not, but forsooth he must be a right handsome killer!
MARIAN (shushing her)Stars, there he be!
SCARLETWhere? With thy father?
(Sheriff notices them.)
SHERIFFGood morrow, girls.
MARIANAnd to you, father.
GISBORNEHow now, thy daughters?
SHERIFFMy only daughter Marian, and my goodly ward, Scarlet. Yet another good soul orphaned by this lawless country.
(Guy bows to them.)
MARIANYoung man, thy circumstance is much changed since I saw thee.
SHERIFFKnowst thou my Marian?
GISBORNEYea, somewhat. She hast sometime offered me kindness, even when I was most ill-deserved.
SHERIFFThen truly you may be an honest man yet, for she hath a keen eye for worthiness.
GISBORNEThere is my hand upon it. Call it the hand of a true Englishman.
SHERIFF (shakes his hand)And there is mine in return. Now go. My men shall outfit thee with ought thou may need, and may we meet again when all is done.
(Guy bows, and exits.)
MARIANFather, how cometh the young man to go hence freely?
SHERIFFHe hath been granted parole, to run an errand for me in far Lancashire, for he knoweth that country well. Pray he doth use his freedom wisely.
SCARLETSir, I beg leave to go to shrift this afternoon.
SHERIFFDidst thou not confess thyself on Sunday last?
SCARLETAye, but… about this time the deer will be coming to the woodside by the church. Mayhap I chance to catch a sight of the dainty brown darlings.
SHERIFFBless thy gentle heart. Aye, take thy leave.
(Scarlet curtsies obediently and exits. Marian looks after her suspiciously.)
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