In the Holy Land, the Sheriff and Gisborne meet up with their Saracen allies, Karim and Nasir. Their plot is for Nasir to pose as Saladin's messenger and convince Richard to meet with Saladin - who will really be Karim - for peace talks, whereupon he will be murdered. Marian, still their prisoner, attempts to convince Gisborne to kill the Sheriff and so save the King's life; if he does so, she will willingly give herself to him and speak in his favour. Meanwhile, the outlaws arrive in the Holy Land.