Guy of Gisborne is out in Locksley demanding money with menace and a harder line than ever before. Guy discovers Luke the Cooper is supplying weapons for Robin Hood. Luke is taken prisoner, as is Little John's son (also named John) who tries to protect him. Robin and Little John witness this.
In dismay that his son has been arrested, John strikes out on his own to rescue the pair, only to be captured and taken to the dungeons himself. During the fight, he loses his two tags which identify him as one of Robin Hood's men. Robin and Alan-a-Dale disguise themselves as castle guards and take Will as a pretend prisoner to gain access to the dungeons and Little John.
However, their plan is thwarted when they discover the dungeons are full and Will has to be left outside. Little John, however, has met and befriended Luke and John. Alice, his wife, is later thrown into the dungeons too and Little John reveals he is the father of John. Marian tells Robin that the tax money is leaving for London, with Guy of Gisborne guarding it. Robin plans to exchange the money for sacks of grain. Gisborne leaves with the cart, only to discover the switch soon after leaving the castle gates.
Meanwhile the Sheriff has plans for all the prisoners who have not paid their taxes - they are to be a deterrent to other non-payers in his 'Festival of Pain'. He plans to torture the prisoners in front of important local nobles, but Robin comes in just as he is about to begin. They escape, leaving the Sheriff upside-down in one of his torture machines.
Tropes
- Actually Pretty Funny: When Alice challenges John not to kill the Sheriff because he said he wasn't a murderer, John responds: "not of men... this is the devil!" The Sheriff notes: "Good answer!"
- Bittersweet Ending: John successfully rescues his wife and son from the Sheriff's torture, but because of their association with him, they now have to leave Locksley for good. Not only that, but it seems clear that Alice is going to marry Luke and start a new family with him.
- Breaking the Bonds: See those stocks Little John is wearing in the page image? You know it's just a matter of time before he uses his Super-Strength to bust out of them.
- Dressing as the Enemy: Robin and Allan take out two guards and then infiltrate the castle disguised as them.
- If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him!: The reason Alice stops Little John from killing the Sheriff.
- Nice Guy: Luke the cooper has been supplying Robin with weapons, wants to marry Alice so he can look after both her and her son, and doesn't partake in any dick-measuring when Little John appears on the scene.
- Sword over Head: John assumes this position when he prepares to kill Vaizey, only for Alice to stop him.
- Trojan Prisoner: Having stolen guard uniforms, Robin and Allan get into the castle by pretending they've just arrested Will.
