[drumroll] [opening theme music plays] [laughter] [Tom] The evenings are drawing in now.

I love this time of year, don't you, Sarah?

[Sarah laughs] What's it like then, London?

-Big, dirty, smelly.

-[laughter] -Did you see the King?

-No.

What's the point in going all the way to London if you don't see the King?

-Next time, eh?

-There won't be a next time, if I can help it.

London's not for the likes of us.

-No.

-Come here, John.

-[John] Ah!

-[Sarah] Mwah!

Didn't I tell you Judge Jeffreys was a great man?

Oh, he's too great for my taste, Uncle.

Too great for the Doones, too, I'll wager.

I've been thinking about it for a while now.

I'm going to give up the highway life.

From now on, I'm going to be a respectable yeoman farmer.

[traditional music plays] [John laughs] -You?

You'd die of boredom.

-Not at all.

I'm looking forward to a nice bit of peace and quiet.

[John clears his throat] It seems that neither of us have a partner, Miss Huckaback.

Please, call me Ruth.

Would you like to dance, Ruth?

I'm afraid I'm your last resort.

There's no one here I'd rather dance with.

-[woman chuckles] -[John speaking indistinctly] Annie?

You take your hands off her!

John!

Annie isn't one of your barmaids to be seduced and then abandoned the next day.

But, John, you don't understand.

Annie and I want to be married.

He's a thief.

He's a common highwayman.

Highwayman, maybe.

Common, no.

[Annie] Go on.

Go back to the farm.

I'll be there soon.

Go on.

You're mad.

You know what kind of man he is.

You can't stop me having who I want.

You know I like Tom.

But he's unsuitable.

More unsuitable than Lorna Doone?

I don't need lessons from you in who to love.

[dog barking] Gwenny.

John, you must come with me now.

-You must come with me.

-Well, what is it?

Sir Ensor Doone wants to see you.

[dramatic music plays] My granddaughter has told me of your nonsense.

You must forget it.

There can never be a match between you.

-We love each other.

-That is of no consequence.

Do you know how far this girl is above you?

I know she's of a noble family.

And what is your fine lineage?

-I'm descended from honorable working men.

-Farmers.

The Ridds have been honest for twice as long as the Doones have been rogues.

If it were not for my granddaughter's pleadings, you would be dead already.

Lorna Doone has a future before her you cannot even begin to understand.

A future I have planned for her since childhood.

Now, pledge to me that you will give her up.

As long as Lorna wants me...

I will not abandon her.

Do you know she's betrothed to another?

Against my will.

I will never accept Carver.

Grandfather, never.

-What is this man doing here?

-This does not concern you!

Everything that happens here now concerns me.

I am not dead yet.

Now, get out.

[door slams] Will you obey me or not?

I could force you to marry Carver, here and now.

For 30 years, I've had only one dream, to see my family great again.

And now, this girl takes it in her hand and crumbles it into dust in front of me.

You see how love makes a man weak?

In my eyes, you have never been stronger.

Oh, leave us now.

No harm will come to you.

Your blessing for our marriage would make Lorna's happiness complete.

My blessing means nothing anymore.

You've brought your fate on your own heads.

Fools, you are.

And fools you must stay.

[Lorna] I'm sorry.

She's safe until the old man dies.

Keep a watch on the dead tree by the Doone gate.

There are three old rooks' nests in the top branches.

When you see only two, come at once.

[dramatic music plays] It is a rude guest who leaves without introducing himself.

I am John Ridd.

Carver Doone.

I know who you are.

Sir Ensor has granted me safe passage.

Go on, then.

Ooh!

Be careful, John Ridd.

The path is treacherous.

If I see you here again, I'll blow your brains out.

[John grunts] [Sarah] I won't have it!

-You're a thief!

-A reformed thief.

Hey, hey!

what's going on?

Mother says Annie can't marry Tom.

A respectable girl marry a highwayman?

-He's good and kind.

-They'll hang him just the same.

[exhales] Tell her you forbid it, John.

John.

I can't.

I'm in no position to condemn Annie's choice.

Why not?

Because...

I'm betrothed to Lorna Doone.

Lorna Doone?

You want to marry a Doone?

Mother, I wanted to tell you before, but I...

I didn't know how.

I know it seems impossible.

But when you know her... when you know her, you'll love her as I do.

You presume a good deal.

And you!

I won't be happy with anyone but Tom.

And John must have Lorna.

We can't help who we love.

Well, you must both follow your own hearts.

I can't stop you.

How could you even think of marrying one of our father's murderers?

She isn't like them.

They're all the same.

[door slams] You don't know what you are.

I'm Lorna Doone, your granddaughter.

You don't know.

Take it.

It belonged to your mother.

Forgive me.

Please.

[sniffles] -Grandfather-- -Say... it.

I forgive you.

[sighs] [groans softly] It's Captain Stickles.

Come on.

With the militia.

-What militia?

-This is it.

The authorities in Devon say the Doone Valley is nothing to do with them because it's in Somerset.

And those in Somerset say they won't come because they swear it's in Devon.

At this rate, it's going to take me a month to raise 100 men.

Am I too late for breakfast?

How are you, John?

Of course not.

It's on the stove.

Good.

[poignant music plays] Sir Ensor Doone is dead.

Does anyone challenge Carver Doone's right to be our lord?

[dramatic music plays] -My lord.

-My lord.

We will give Sir Ensor the funeral a great warrior deserves.

[cows mooing] [tense music plays] Good evening, my lady.

[chuckles] You should be happy.

It's your wedding day tomorrow.

[man] I wouldn't mind being in Carver's shoes.

Still, perhaps he'll be willing to share you a little, when he grows tired of you.

You disgust me!

[man chuckles] [poignant music plays] Aargh!

John!

You, sit there!

No!

-Get up.

-[Lorna] John!

Aargh!

[dramatic music plays] Oh, John!

[John] Lorna!

Come on.

Carver!

Carver!

All you had to do was keep her locked up for one night!

We were surprised.

There were half a dozen of them.

How many?!

One.

The farmer, John Ridd.

[splutters] Whoa, steady now.

This is Lorna Doone.

You're so young.

You are welcome in my house, Lorna.

They'll know she's gone by now.

We don't have much time.

Thank God Stickles is here.

If you weren't the Baron's son, you wouldn't be getting a second chance.

What are you planning to do?

Take back what belongs to me.

What would Father think of you putting our lives at risk to save one of his murderers?

She had nothing to do with that.

She's a Doone.

They're all the same.

-She's not like them!

-Think about it.

She had no way out of marrying a man she hated until you came along.

Annie told me everything.

John Ridd, the gullible farmer's boy.

Once you've served your purpose, she'll drop you and move on without a backward glance.

Oh, she's a Doone, all right.

This'll blow someone to kingdom come.

-Probably you.

-[Stickles] Take to that window.

Show me how to use this, Sergeant Bloxham.

Um, perhaps you should try this one.

First, hold the stock tightly into your shoulder, then pull the trigger very gently.

If anything happens to anyone, it will be my fault.

I should never have come here.

This is where you belong.

It has to be faced, sooner or later.

It's the only way you'll ever be free.

[flintlock hammer clicks] [gentle music plays] [dramatic music plays] [John] There's Carver.

-[whispers] Let's get him!

-Wait.

Wait for it.

Kill every man and child, and burn the damn place to the ground.

Go on, do it!

[men shouting] -[John] Come on, Stickles!

-Wait for it.

Fire!

-[gunfire] -[horses whinny] Not bad for a woman.

Better than most men, in fact.

[shouting] Aargh!

John Ridd!

Show yourself, you coward!

Ready, John?

[men groaning] One, two, three!

[shouting] [John] Carver!

Uhh!

Aargh!

[man screams] [gunfire] -[screaming] -[woman] No!

[Bloxham] Lizzie, move!

Get out of the way!

[Annie] Get off him!

No!

-Get off!

-[Lizzie] Annie.

-[Annie] Get out!

-[Lizzie] Sergeant Bloxham!

[Annie screaming] Get off him!

-[Marwood] Come.

-No, Lizzie, don't.

I said, come here!

-Get off her, Marwood.

-[screaming] [groaning] Marwood!

Marwood.

Come on, let's get out of here!

[Sarah screams] Marwood!

Tom!

Leave him.

Let him go.

-[Lizzie] Give me that gun!

-No, mistress!

[Lorna] Stop!

Please, no!

-[John] Carver!

-[Carver] Where is she, Ridd?

[Carver grunts] [Lorna] John, no!

No, John.

Stop!

Leave him.

-No!

-Get off.

Get off me!

[Lorna sobs] -Am I going to die?

-Not yet.

You have Miss Huckaback to thank for that.

It was a clean wound, Captain Stickles.

There's no infection.

It hurts like hell.

But thank you.

Now, drink this.

It will help you sleep.

John, John, here you go.

I'm sorry, John.

It was only a barn.

We can build it again.

You should have let me kill him.

If I had, you'd be no better than him.

A cold-blooded murderer.

You're sure that's the only reason?

What do you mean?

You tell me that all you want is to be free of him.

When a chance comes, you stop me.

Now, I have to ask myself, why?

What hold does he have over you?

What is it you're accusing me of?

There's something you're not telling me.

-I've told you everything.

-Have you?

So why does Carver care so much for a woman who hates him?

There was a time when I thought I could love him.

He imagines I still have feelings for him.

And do you?

How dare you stand there and ask me that!

-Do you love him?

-If you don't know the answer to that by now, then nothing I say will make any difference.

[Lorna sobbing] Come with me.

If I can't have you, then no one else will.

No, please.

No.

I will never ever give you up.

[John] Lorna!

Was it him?

Shh, it's all right.

[man gasps] [groaning] Ensor would be ashamed of you.

You made a mistake.

-You underestimated them.

-It won't happen again.

-What will you do now?

-Take 20 men.

-Finish the job properly.

-Then you've learned nothing.

What do you suggest?

Wait.

If we lose Lorna, we lose everything.

We haven't lost her yet.

[man groaning in pain] You saved my life.

-I suppose I should thank you.

-There's no need.

If you weren't a Doone, I could almost like you.

[tranquil music plays] -Is that all right?

-I'll take it.

-It's only rabbit.

-You're so fussy, Lizzie.

Well, that's beautiful.

I've never seen you wearing it before.

It was my mother's.

Have you any idea what it's worth?

Tom!

In the world's terms, very little, I think.

May I?

-Lock the door, someone.

-[Annie] Quiet, Lizzie.

The setting is magnificent.

I'd love to know where this came from.

I told you, it was my mother's.

These are the finest gems I've ever seen.

If you sold this for £1,000 it would be too little.

If I took this to London, I could discover its history for certain.

-[she laughs] -What?

Don't you trust me?

The most notorious highwayman in the West Country?

-Of course we do.

-Reformed highwayman, Sarah.

[chuckling] -Draw Tom a picture, Lizzie.

-All right.

You can take that to London.

If I had known about this attack, I would've stopped it.

It was hasty and ill-advised... and I'm sorry for it.

There should be no more bad blood between our families.

It's time we brought this quarrel to an end.

The quarrel was not of our making.

Perhaps not.

But we must think of the future now.

Won't you kiss your uncle, Lorna?

I hope you will at least agree I have some say in her future.

I am her guardian, after all.

Guardian?

As the oldest surviving son of Sir Ensor Doone, who else should fill the role, but me?

I stand in place of your father, Lorna, and as such I'm here to give my full consent to your marriage with John Ridd.

Oh, John.

All I ask for in return is that you shall make your future home in the Doone Valley... where Lorna rightfully belongs.

My son has been brought up an honest man.

Not the best preparation for life among the Doones, I grant you.

I'd rather die than join your gang of murderers.

And you?

-What do you say?

-I'll never come back.

I had hoped for some small gesture of thanks in return for my blessing.

I might be grateful, if I didn't know you better.

Now you insult me.

Well, I do not hold it against you.

You are young and impulsive.

Like my son, Carver.

There is one more thing you should know.

It pains me to be the bearer of this news.

There is a secret that binds the two of you together more closely than you think.

-Go on, Counsellor.

-It is simply this.

Your fathers killed each other at Porlock.

He's lying.

Of course, there is no reason why you should let this come between you.

I do not presume to ask your forgiveness for the past, mistress, but I may at least hope for a better future between us.

I'm sure my family shares that hope.

It is late to begin my journey.

In the spirit of our new understanding, would it be too much to ask for a bed for the night?

Follow me, sir.

[door closing] I can still see it as though it was yesterday.

They surrounded him... and then there was a shot, I don't know who from.

I held him in my arms as he died.

[sighs] -He could be telling the truth.

-But he isn't.

The truth means nothing to him.

You don't know Counselor's lies and scheming like I do.

[sheep bleating] I hardly slept a wink last night knowing that man was in the house.

-When did he go?

-Oh, first light, thank God.

Good riddance.

Whatever happened in the past is done with now.

It's gone.

My necklace.

I left it on the table by my bed last night.

Counselor.

Counselor.

We need to talk about your attack on the Ridd farm.

Why?

With respect, sir, it was disastrous.

I mean, unfortunate, of course.

But my contacts at court warned me the consequences could be severe.

Why would the government care about our business with that farmer?

You shot Judge Jeffreys' man.

We had no idea he was there.

Perhaps not, but Jeffreys doesn't know that.

The Doones have no quarrel with the King.

You have it, whether you want it or not.

Jeffreys already had his suspicions.

After this, he'll be certain you are rebels.

Your only hope now is the Duke of Monmouth.

[Marwood] The moment Charles dies, Monmouth will land and declare himself the rightful King of England.

He will sweep the Catholic traitor James from the throne.

Suppose Monmouth's rebellion fails?

It won't.

He is already strong and with your support, he will be stronger.

And when he's King, you can be sure he will be generous to his allies.

I can guarantee nothing, of course.

But I'm sure that Monmouth will look kindly on the return of your... ancient Scottish lands.

With Monmouth King, we need no longer depend on Lorna for our future.

Lorna belongs to me and I will have her.

[laughs] I think the poor boy's in love.

[gasps and groans] Mock me at your peril, old man.

I could snap you like a twig.

[spluttering] Put him down.

My son has listened to your advice and he will give his answer in good time.

You finished yet?

Cabbage for us and a couple of worms for Captain Stickles.

-Um, nice.

-If he ever wakes up, that is.

[chuckles] If I didn't know better, I might think you had ideas about my sister, Sergeant.

No.

Let me just say, she's a lovely girl and...

Sorry.

Don't worry, you can have her.

I'll even throw in a cow, if you like.

[horse whinnies] -Tom!

-Whoa, Winnie, whoa.

-I love you.

-Tom, it's been so long.

John, I need to speak to you alone.

In the barn, now.

I showed this to an old friend of mine.

-What, some villain or other?

-A villain, perhaps, but he knows the history of every important jewel in England.

He recognized it instantly.

The necklace is even more valuable than I thought.

It belonged to the last Countess of Dugal.

-Dugal?

-Yeah.

So it never rightfully belonged to the Doones?

I wish it was that simple.

The Countess was heir to Lord Lorne.

She married and had two children, a boy and a girl, but her husband died of a fever on the continent.

She made her way home with the rest of her family.

From Plymouth, she set out for the family estate in Scotland.

But she never arrived.

Whoa!

Whoa!

-Aargh!

-Uhh!

-Get out!

Come on!

-Mother!

Mother!

[girl screams] Mother!

[girl] Help!

The boy was murdered.

The Countess was found alive, but died of her wounds a few days later.

Though not before her terrible story of slaughter and kidnap had become notorious.

[John] And the little girl?

[Tom] She was never seen again.

[John] Lorna.

[Tom] Lorna Doone is no Doone at all.

She's the rightful heiress to one of the largest fortunes in the land.

There was nothing coincidental about the ambush.

Ensor was a cousin of Lord Lorne.

There was a dispute between them over a bequest of land, so he brought his family to Exmoor and plotted his revenge.

Ensor knew that if one of his family would have married the only living descendant of Lord Lorne... You mean Lorna.

...he would regain the land that once belonged to him.

So what do we do now?

-Well, we tell her, of course.

-well, tell her what?

Tell her what?

That the man that she loved as her grandfather murdered her mother and her brother?

And if she really is this grand lady... she'll have to go away, won't she?

She's happy here with us.

Why disturb everything again now?

She has the right to know who she is.

[John] And Ensor Doone, who Lorna had always thought of as her grandfather, had, in fact, kidnapped her.

So that's how it is, Lorna.

Ensor stole you from your rightful place.

There was never a word of truth in anything the Doones said.

I told you Counselor was lying about our fathers.

-Aren't you glad?

-Of course.

But what about your inheritance?

That means nothing to me.

Perhaps you don't understand, Lorna.

-I mean, my lady.

-D on't call me that.

I'm Lorna, just as I was a minute ago.

In London, you would keep company with Kings and Queens.

-Think of that, miss.

-Then I won't go to London.

Aren't you happy, Lizzie?

You can love me as a sister now, can't you?

Tell them how ridiculous they're being.

You don't understand, Lorna.

The Ridds are ordinary people, farmers.

And we can't just pretend this never happened.

That's exactly what we'll do.

For the first time in my life, I am truly happy.

I am loved for who I am, and not for any selfish reason.

I have the right to live my life in any way I want.

It's my decision.

[Stickles] No, it isn't.

You don't know how famous you are.

The lost daughter of the Countess of Dugal was made a ward of the Chancery court.

The King himself is your legal guardian.

And till you come into your inheritance, your future is not yours to decide.

-It can't be true.

-I'm sorry, my lady, but I've no option but to take you back with me.

Um... You know I'm not much good with words.

But I... You love me, and you think we ought to get married when you get your commission.

-Well... -I agree.

You can kiss me, if you like.

-Will you write to me?

-Every day.

I promise I'll come back as soon as I can.

You say that now.

You're far above me in the world.

I love you.

Wherever I go, whatever happens to me... that will never change.

As long as you still want me, I will be yours.

[Stickles clears throat] [poignant music plays] [Fry] Up you go, missus.

[closing theme music plays]