Get Carter (Robin Hood)
Encyclopedia
"Get Carter" is the eighth episode of series two of the BBC's new Robin Hood series. It aired on 24 November 2007 on BBC One
at 07.15pm. Its title references that of the film Get Carter
.
, ever-scheming to rid himself of Robin Hood
. In addition, Carter is to retrieve the great pact of Nottingham. Carter sets out in pursuit of Robin and his men.
The Sheriff sends out several guards to ransack the nearby town of Clun, hoping to draw Hood to the scene, where Carter will be waiting.
Meanwhile, following the death of Lady Marian's
father, Marian has joined the outlaws. She brings a new exuberance and impatience to the group that both inspires them and catches them by surprise. Robin, however, is not pleased with her rash decisions that may put them all in danger.
While the gang watches the village of Clun being destroyed, Marian rushes in to fight. Robin, realising that she could very well be killed, goes in after her and ties her up to a shed while he pushes back the Sheriff's guards.
As they fight, Carter arrives and kills a number of the guards, saving Robin and the village. Oblivious that Carter has been hired by the Sheriff to kill him, Robin takes a "wounded" Carter back to the camp.
In Robin's absence, Carter takes all of Robin's gang hostage, one-by-one, and leaves them bound and gagged on a nearby hillside before Robin realises. He and Robin end up fighting, and Carter is defeated, and consequently taken to Clun, where Carter reveals that he has a personal vengeance towards Robin, holding him responsible for his brother's death in the Holy Land
. After being told the painful truth of the incident (that his brother was a glory-hungry fool who led a suicidal attack on a Saracen
camp, and that Robin risked his own life in a failed effort to save his brother), he offers to help Robin by using the reward money for his job and giving it to the village of Clun. Robin agrees, and the gang formulate a plan to return to the sheriff complete with pact and Robin.
Back at the castle, Guy has sent Allan to track run-away Marian down. Allan finds Marian alone back at the camp, and offers to help her avoid Guy. Allan tells Guy that Marian cannot return to the castle because she has become a nun
.
In the forest, Djaq uses a potion
to reduce Robin's breathing to a minimum, making him appear dead to onlookers. With Carter in the lead, Robin is wheeled through the streets of Nottingham, and proclaimed dead. The gang tag along, dressed as mourners.
At the castle gate, Guy comes out to see Robin's body. To make sure he is really dead, he draws his sword to slit Robin's neck. Just as the blow is about to be given, Marian bursts through the crowd, asking Guy for a private meeting with him immediately. He agrees.
As Robin is taken into the castle, Marian and Guy shut themselves into a room and talk. Marian tells Guy that she wants him to leave her alone, that she needs time to grieve her father's death. He doesn't believe her; as she pushes him back, he grabs Marian and close to tears, he asks her to grieve by "coming home".
Allan then bursts in to inform them that the Sheriff is preparing to put Robin's head on a spike. Rushing to the door, Marian spots Much and Will rushing down the hall, about to be sighted by Guy. She distracts him by pulling him into a passionate kiss.
As the sheriff is making plans for Robin's dead body, Carter administers the potion to bring him back to life. Robin and Carter take the reward money, deal with the Sheriff and run from the room.
Upon sighting Guy holding Marian in a room along the hall, Robin beckons her to come away. She leaves Guy, saying that she must return to the convent or risk being missed.
Back at camp, the gang sees Carter off. Robin and Marian agree a truce from their bickering, and they are shown clasping hands as Carter rides away into the distance, heading for the Holy Land to help King Richard, and warn him what is going on back in England.
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
at 07.15pm. Its title references that of the film Get Carter
Get Carter
Get Carter is a 1971 British crime film directed by Mike Hodges and starring Michael Caine as Jack Carter, a gangster who sets out to avenge the death of his brother in a series of unrelenting and brutal killings played out against the grim background of derelict urban housing in the city of...
.
Plot
Carter is an assassin hired by the Sheriff of NottinghamSheriff of Nottingham
The 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...
, ever-scheming to rid himself of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin 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....
. In addition, Carter is to retrieve the great pact of Nottingham. Carter sets out in pursuit of Robin and his men.
The Sheriff sends out several guards to ransack the nearby town of Clun, hoping to draw Hood to the scene, where Carter will be waiting.
Meanwhile, following the death of Lady Marian's
Maid Marian
Maid 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...
father, Marian has joined the outlaws. She brings a new exuberance and impatience to the group that both inspires them and catches them by surprise. Robin, however, is not pleased with her rash decisions that may put them all in danger.
While the gang watches the village of Clun being destroyed, Marian rushes in to fight. Robin, realising that she could very well be killed, goes in after her and ties her up to a shed while he pushes back the Sheriff's guards.
As they fight, Carter arrives and kills a number of the guards, saving Robin and the village. Oblivious that Carter has been hired by the Sheriff to kill him, Robin takes a "wounded" Carter back to the camp.
In Robin's absence, Carter takes all of Robin's gang hostage, one-by-one, and leaves them bound and gagged on a nearby hillside before Robin realises. He and Robin end up fighting, and Carter is defeated, and consequently taken to Clun, where Carter reveals that he has a personal vengeance towards Robin, holding him responsible for his brother's death in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
. After being told the painful truth of the incident (that his brother was a glory-hungry fool who led a suicidal attack on a Saracen
Saracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
camp, and that Robin risked his own life in a failed effort to save his brother), he offers to help Robin by using the reward money for his job and giving it to the village of Clun. Robin agrees, and the gang formulate a plan to return to the sheriff complete with pact and Robin.
Back at the castle, Guy has sent Allan to track run-away Marian down. Allan finds Marian alone back at the camp, and offers to help her avoid Guy. Allan tells Guy that Marian cannot return to the castle because she has become a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
.
In the forest, Djaq uses a potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
to reduce Robin's breathing to a minimum, making him appear dead to onlookers. With Carter in the lead, Robin is wheeled through the streets of Nottingham, and proclaimed dead. The gang tag along, dressed as mourners.
At the castle gate, Guy comes out to see Robin's body. To make sure he is really dead, he draws his sword to slit Robin's neck. Just as the blow is about to be given, Marian bursts through the crowd, asking Guy for a private meeting with him immediately. He agrees.
As Robin is taken into the castle, Marian and Guy shut themselves into a room and talk. Marian tells Guy that she wants him to leave her alone, that she needs time to grieve her father's death. He doesn't believe her; as she pushes him back, he grabs Marian and close to tears, he asks her to grieve by "coming home".
Allan then bursts in to inform them that the Sheriff is preparing to put Robin's head on a spike. Rushing to the door, Marian spots Much and Will rushing down the hall, about to be sighted by Guy. She distracts him by pulling him into a passionate kiss.
As the sheriff is making plans for Robin's dead body, Carter administers the potion to bring him back to life. Robin and Carter take the reward money, deal with the Sheriff and run from the room.
Upon sighting Guy holding Marian in a room along the hall, Robin beckons her to come away. She leaves Guy, saying that she must return to the convent or risk being missed.
Back at camp, the gang sees Carter off. Robin and Marian agree a truce from their bickering, and they are shown clasping hands as Carter rides away into the distance, heading for the Holy Land to help King Richard, and warn him what is going on back in England.
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:...
as 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.... - Keith Allen as 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...
as 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...
as Allan-a-Dale - Lucy Griffiths as 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...
- Joseph Kennedy (actor)Joseph Kennedy (actor)Joseph Kennedy, born 1981 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, is an English actor and singer.-Biography:He attended the Dragon School and Abingdon School and went on to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama....
as Carter