Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner), an English nobleman, joins King Richard the Lionheart and other Christians in the Third Crusade. During the crusade, Robin is captured and jailed in a dungeon in Jerusalem. With his execution inevitable, Robin engineers an escape and saves the life of a Moor, Azeem (Morgan Freeman). Robin makes the long journey back to England with Azeem, who claims he must accompany Robin until the debt of saving his life is repaid.