To my readers - I have not forgotten this, real life just got in the way for a bit! Thanks for sticking with me.
Summary: Rewrite of "Treasure of the Nation" - We left off with Marian and Allan giving out money to some of the people in Nottingham so that they can purchase food and take it to the Locksley villagers who have been displaced. All of the scenes with Robin, the Gang, Legrande, Queen Eleanor, and Vaizey are unchanged but have been summarized here.
(Original action and dialogue is in italics)
Back to Robin, Legrande, and the gang trapped in the underground cairn. Robin realizes that they read the map incorrectly and the abbey they need to get to is not Kirklees on the north side of the river, but another one on the south side. The rivalry between Little John and Legrande continues; resulting in Little John getting the stone door to rise with the encouragement of Robin and the Gang. However Legrande's strength is still needed to get Little John safely out of the door way.
Once outside they see Paxson's body and realize Vaizey has killed him. Little John realizes he has Legrande's staff and the two switch staves and call a manly truce. Robin tells everyone that if they hurry they can get to the correct abbey before Vaizey and his men. They will stick to the woods to avoid being seen.
Vaizey and company have made it to Kirklees and find no treasure. Vaizey realizes that they are at the wrong church and orders him men to find him another church.
We see the two groups running/riding through the woods on a race to the church on the south side of the river that contains the "Treasure of the Nation"
Gisbourne is on horseback, leaving Locksley and heading on the road towards Nottingham. As he rides he appears deep in thought. Then from Gisbourne's point of view we get a montage of images beginning with Marian in the food store from the back looking like the Nightwatchman. Next we see the Nightwatchman delivering food to the fired mine workers and "his" confrontation with Gisbourne and then Marian's bloody sleeve at the tournament (season 1, episode 5 – Turk Flu). Then the scene at Locksley manor when Gisbourne catches the Nightwatchman robbing him (season 1, episode 12 The Return of the King). The Nightwatchman's ruse to distract and lure away the guards from Robin hanging over the snake pit and "his" confrontations with Gisbourne (season 2, episode 1 Sisterhood). There is a particular focus on the Nightwatchman's blue eyes and general height and stature.
After dismounting his horse and while climbing the steps up to the castle, Gisbourne realizes that he has never seen both Marian and the Nightwatchman at the same time. He realizes that there was no way for the Nightwatchman to get into the castle when Robin was captured by Vaizey's sister.
Slowly and with great distress Gisbourne finally comes to the realization that Marian is the Nightwatchman and has been all along. Fueled with righteous anger Gisbourne storms through the castle to Marian's chamber.
Robin and company have made the "only church south of the river" and are questioning whether or not it is the right place. They see a candlelight chapel section through sheer curtains and the image of a cloaked and hooded person kneeling in front of the altar.
The figure rises and turns. Upon seeing the woman, Robin gasps in surprise, kneels and says, "Your Majesty" and bows his head. Much, being a little slower and more obvious says "I know you. Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine" as he also kneels, "The Queen Mother".
We learn of Prince John's plot in which he invited his mother for the holidays and locked her in the tower of Pontifret castle; he wanted to announce her "allegiance" and secure the army of Aquitaine to fight against King Richard.
Eleanor knows of Robin Hood's men and that he has been doing most of the work for King Richard. Introductions are made all around. Eleanor is intrigued with Djaq and quite taken with Little John.
Vaizey arrives amidst a volley of arrows. Eleanor reveals an escape hatch to tunnels leading to Barnsdale forest.
Vaizey learns that the treasure is Eleanor and that her allegiance is to Richard and not John.
Eleanor and party begin their exit through the trap door while Vaizey and his mercenaries are trapped on the other side of the door.
Marian is pacing in her chambers, clearly concerned and deep in thought. She turns as she hears the door slam open.
Gisbourne slams the door open without out knocking. He is holding the dagger that he stabbed the Nightwatchman with in his fist.
"You're in league with Robin Hood, an outlaw. I warned you. The sentence would be death."
Marian's heart leaps into her throat as she realizes that Gisbourne has put all the pieces together. Trying to bluff her way out of the situation, "Guy what are you talking about?"
"A year ago I put this dagger in the Nightwatchman's side. Show me."
Deciding that the better course is to not continue to play Gisbourne, Marian pulls the right edge of her corset and tunic up just enough to show the scar.
"I was the Nightwatchman years before Robin's return"
"Don't take me for a fool. It all fits: The way you behaved with me. Your little rides into the forest. You were trusted here at the castle by all of us."
"I know"
"Every moment that I thought you were a friend to me, you were betraying me."
"I wasn't"
"Every day that I grew more and more to love you, you were mocking me"
"It wasn't like that. I became the Nightwatchman, to help the people, long before Robin came back from the Holy Land. In order to do so I had to trick you, but it was never my intent to betray you. I only did what I had to do to protect the people from the Sherriff's actions."
"Shhh. You are a liar"
"Guy, how many times have I asked you to stop working for the Sherriff and try to get you to help me and the people? I didn't want to go against you, betray you. I stayed here when Prince John's men were threatening Nottingham. I could easily have left you."
Guys scoffs, "You're nothing to me"
"So you would rather I was put to death. Lose everything you've built here when Vaizey finds out that you've been protecting the Nightwatchman"
"I've lost far more than that already" In defeat and anger, Gisbourne strides out of Marian's chamber, closing and locking the door behind him.
With a shuddering breath Marian sinks down onto the end of the bed, head bowed.
Robin, Eleanor and company have escaped into the forest and are running; Vaizey's and his men hot on their trail. At Eleanor's "request" they stop for a moment to rest.
Marian attempts escape by setting a fire in her room. Allan is guarding her door but has his back turned to the door, but Gisbourne, coming to see her again sees the smoke. "Get the door open". Once inside he sees a rope made of sheets leading out the window. "She's escaped." Calling out the window, "Guards, stop her. Marian!" Marian rushes out her hiding place on the other side of the fire place. Hearing the noise, Gisbourne turns and sees Marian. "Allan stop her!"
She tries to push past Allan, "Get out of my way!"
Allan hesitates, not wanting to keep Marian from her escape, but Gisbourne is watching too closely and he can't figure out how Marian would be able to make it out of the castle even if she does get out of her chamber. Reluctantly, he bends down and throws Marian over his shoulder, fireman carry style.
Gisbourne grabs her from Allan and throws her across the room, "You little fool!" - Marian slides to a stop in front of the fireplace.
"Did you expect me to sit here and wait to be executed?"
"No. I expect you to know when you are beaten" – to Allan "Get out. Get out!"
Allan leaves reluctantly with an apologetic shrug to Marian.
"This isn't a game Marian. When the Sherriff returns, you are going to die."
"Don't you have the courage to finish this yourself? After all my so-called betrayals. You should be glad to do it."
"This is not my decision"
"Then perhaps it should be. After all you were the one who professed to love me."
"Well I thought that I knew you."
"But this is me. This is who I am, the Nightwatchman, everything. You say you love me and you don't know me."
"I defended you against the Sherriff countless times. More than you know.
"And I deceived the Sherriff to help people and in so doing I had to deceive you and I'm sorry for that. But is it such a crime to follow my heart and want to protect the people from Vaizey's cruelty?"
"Oh, the way that I followed mine? And always to your door. Marian… (Leaning over her, threateningly) why did you have to put me in this position? Did you, even once, understand what I was feeling or thinking?"
"Guy, I have always tried to be clear that there could never be anything between us. You black-mailed me into an engagement, lied about the return of the King and being able to protect my father. And then when I found out, you blamed me for the situation you found yourself in. You burned down my home and put me and my father under house arrest. You allowed Winchester to take me for his prize. Yes, you rescued me from him and helped care for my father once he was put in the dungeon and I am grateful to you for that, but that's all I've ever felt and I have never pretended otherwise."
Standing, "When you left, I thought that I'd lost you for good. I see now that I never had you…"
Defeated, he turns and leaves Marian's chamber.
Robin, Eleanor, and company resume their flight east, as Vaizey is closing in. They head down into a small gorge. Robin hears something and stops them. They have entered a trap. Vaizey shows up and announces that it is an ambush. Robin and company fight their way out but in the process Legrande is killed by Vaizey. Vaizey is knocked unconscious and Robin, Queen Eleanor and the Gang escape.
Gisbourne meets Vaizey in the courtyard of the castle, "The treasure prove elusive?"
"Don't be smug, Gisbourne. Please tell me that all went according to plan in Locksley with the mercenaries?"
"Yes my lord. They are all settled and the food provisions are all stocked."
"Did the Peasants' Advocate give you any trouble?"
The use of the nickname "Peasants' Advocate bolsters Marian's argument that she has been fighting against the Sherriff and to protect the people. This decides it for Gisbourne, he is not going to tell Vaizey that Marian is the Nightwatchman. "Marian? …She protested the displacement of the villagers but I had Allan bring her back to the castle to keep her out of the way."
"Well it looks like you finally did something right, Gisbourne."
The two head into the castle.
Eleanor is seated on a horse. Robin instructs her to follow the road to the headlands where a boat will be waiting for her. Legrande's men will sail her to Ireland and then back home to France.
Eleanor states that Robin and his gang are all heroes and the King Richard will know of their bravery and sacrifice in helping her. She throws Robin a large bag filled with coin. He protests but she replies, "I am rich. The poor are poor, isn't that where you come in?" And she rides away. Robin and company head back to Sherwood.
Marian's chamber – knocking at the door "Come in"
Guy enters, much calmer then before and looks as though a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
"Guy"
"You're safe. I am not going to tell the Sherriff."
"You did this for me?"
"The Nightwatchman is no more. You will not get another chance. Burn your Nightwatchman garb."
"After everything you said?" Marian goes to her storage cupboard, roots around behind her regular clothing and pulls out her Nightwatchman mask and hooded cape. Going over to the fire place, she feeds them into the flames.
"You don't know me as well as you think. Will you do something for me now?"
"If I can?..."
"Stay and make this place bearable"
"Guy…I don't think that would be wise…I don't want to put you in a bad position with the Sherriff…I think it best if I return to Kirklees soon."
"No, I guess that was too much to ask…" turning, Gisbourne leaves but there is no sound of the door being locked behind him.
Marian sighs in both disbelief and relief and sinks down onto her chair and watches the last remnants of her cloak go up in flames.
Back with Robin in and gang for the tag scene – Sherwood, it's home. Robin, "It's nearly sunset and I know plenty of people who would be very grateful of Queen Eleanor's money!"