Barry Lyndon

BARRY LYNDON:

A:

Screenplay

by

Stanley Kubrick

Based on the novel by

William Makepeace Thackeray

February 18, 1973

FADE IN:

EXT. PARK - DAY

Brief shot of duel.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My father, who was well-known to the

best circles in this kingdom under

the name of roaring Harry James, was

killed in a duel, when I was fifteen

years old.

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Mrs. James, talking with a suitor; Roderick, at a

distance.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My mother, after her husband's

death, and her retirement, lived in

such a way as to defy slander. She

refused all offers of marriage,

declaring that she lived now for her

son only, and for the memory of her

departed saint.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Mother and son walking together.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My mother was the most beautiful

women of her day. But if she was

proud of her beauty, to do her

justice, she was still more proud of

her son, and has said a thousand

times to me that I was the

handsomest fellow in the world.

EXT. CHURCH - DAY

Mother and son entering church.

RODERICK (V.O.)

The good soul's pleasure was to

dress me; and on Sundays and

Holidays, I turned out in a velvet

coat with a silver-hilted sword by

my side, and a gold garter at my

knee as fine as any lord in the

land. As we walked to church on

Sundays, even the most envious souls

would allow that there was not a

prettier pair in the kingdom.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

A picnic. The Dugan family. Roderick.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My uncle's family consisted of ten

children, and one of them was the

cause of all my early troubles; this

was the belle of the family, my

cousin, Miss Dorothy Dugan, by name.

EXT. DUGAN MANOR HOUSE - DAY

A sprawling run-down Irish manor house with large garden,

stables, barn and farm.

Idealized images of Dorothy.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Ah! That first affair, how well one

remembers it! What a noble

discovery it is that the boy makes

when he finds himself actually and

truly in love with some one! A lady

who is skilled in dancing or singing

never can perfect herself without a

deal of study in private. So it is

with the dear creatures who are

skilled in coquetting. Dorothy, for

instance, was always practicing, and

she would take poor me to rehearse

her accomplishments upon...

Dorothy talking with the exciseman.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the exciseman, when he came

his rounds.

Dorothy talking to the steward.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the steward.

Dorothy sitting under a tree with the curate, reading a

book.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the poor curate.

Dorothy talking to the apothecary's lad.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the young apothecary's lad

from Dugan's Town whom I recollect

beating once for that very reason.

Roderick, fighting with apothecary's lad.

RODERICK (V.O.)

The torments of jealousy she made me

endure were horrible.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

Dorothy, like a greyhound released from days of

confinement, and given the freedom of the fields at last,

runs at top-speed, left and right, back and forth,

returning every moment to Roderick.

She runs and runs until she is out of breath, and then

laughs at the astonishment which keeps Roderick motionless

and staring at her.

After catching her breath, and wiping her forehead, she

challenges Roderick to a race.

RODERICK:

I accept, but I insist on a wager.

The loser must do whatever the

winner pleases.

DOROTHY:

Agreed.

RODERICK:

Do you see the gate at the end of

the field? The first to touch it

will be the winner.

They line up together and start on a count of three.

Dorothy uses all her strength, but Roderick holds back,

and Dorothy touches the gate five or six paces ahead of

him.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I was certain to win, but I meant to

lose to see what she would order me

to do.

Dorothy catches her breath, thinking of the penalty. Then

she goes behind the trees and, a few second later, comes

out and says:

DOROTHY:

Your penalty is to find a cherry-

colored ribbon which I have hidden

somewhere on my person. You are

free to look for it anywhere you

will, and I will think very little

of you if you do not find it.

They sit down on the grass. Roderick searches her

pockets, the fold of her short bodice and her skirt, then

her shoes; then he turns up her skirt, slowly and

circumspectly, as high as her garters, which she wears

upon the knee. He unfastens them and finds nothing; he

draws down her skirt and gropes under her armpits. The

tickling makes her laugh.

RODERICK:

I feel the ribbon.

DOROTHY:

Then you must get it.

Roderick has to unlace her bodice and touch her pretty

breasts, over which his hand must pass to reach it.

DOROTHY:

Why are you shaking?

RODERICK:

With pleasure at finding the ribbon.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

Military review. One hundred English troops, a few

mounted officers, a small military band, fifty local

people.

The Dugan family, Roderick and his mother, Captains Best

and Grogan.

Roderick admires the troops in their splendid uniforms.

RODERICK (V.O.)

About this time, the United Kingdom

was in a state of great excitement

from the threat generally credited

of a French invasion. The noblemen

and people of condition in that and

all other parts of the kingdom

showed their loyalty by raising

regiments of horse and foot to

resist the invaders. How I envied

them. The whole country was alive

with war's alarums; the three

kingdoms ringing with military

music, while poor I was obliged to

stay at home in my fustian jacket

and sigh for fame in secret.

INT. BALLROOM AT FENCIBLES - NIGHT

Dorothy and Roderick entering.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Once, the officers of the Kilwangen

regiment gave a grand ball to which

Dorothy persuaded my to take her.

Several cuts depicting the evening.

Dorothy ignores Roderick; dances, chats, laughs, drinks

punch, and finally, strolls outside with Captain Best.

Roderick makes a half-hearted try at dancing with Miss

Clancy.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I have endured torments in my life,

but none like that. Some of the

prettiest girls there offered to

console me, for I was the best

dancer in the room, but I was too

wretched, and so remained alone all

night in a state of agony. I did

not care for drink, or know the

dreadful comfort of it in those

days; but I thought of killing

myself and Dorothy, and most

certainly of making away with

Captain Best.

EXT. FENCIBLES BALLROOM - DAWN

The guests leaving and saying their goodbyes.

RODERICK (V.O.)

At last, and at morning, the ball

was over.

EXT. ROAD - DAWN

Dorothy and Roderick on horseback together.

DOROTHY:

Sure it's a bitter night, Roderick

dear, and you'll catch cold without

a handkerchief to your neck.

To this sympathetic remark, from the pillion, the saddle

made no reply.

DOROTHY:

Did you and Miss Clancy have a

pleasant evening, Roderick? You

were together, I saw, all night.

To this, the saddle only replies by grinding his teeth,

and giving a lash to Daisy.

DOROTHY:

Oh! Mercy, you make Daisy rear and

throw me, you careless creature,

you.

The pillion had by this got her arm around the saddle's

waist, and gave it the gentlest squeeze in the world.

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