Far from the Madding Crowd Page #12

INTERCUT. BATHSHEBA hears this.

TROY:

(to JAN)

Can you hear him? Mr Oak, please

learn to smile and answer when

you’re spoken to. I’ll be down in

the fields some time this week, but

until then we’re not to be

disturbed.

(meeting GABRIEL’s eye;)

Here, this -

(he tosses them coins)

-is to drink our health.

JAN stoops eagerly to pick up the coins, but GABRIEL doesn’t

move. A figure has appeared behind TROY. BATHSHEBA, wrapped

in the sheet of the marital bed, momentarily catches

GABRIEL’s eye. Nothing shameful in her decision, but still a

concern for GABRIEL.

TROY (CONT’D)

Who is this Mr Oak?

BATHSHEBA:

He’s my right hand.

TROY takes this in...

100 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 100

The harvest begins, the ricks piled high with the fruits of

the year. Back-breaking work, sweaty, the kind of occasion

BATHSHEBA would once have relished.

But not now.

From a carriage at the edge of the field the newly-married

couple watch the workers, sheltered from the heat and

humidity. TROY is now a Gentleman Farmer, ill-at-ease in new

civilian clothes. BATHSHEBA in her fashionable clothes is an

observer, no longer a participant.

GABRIEL glances over at her, then returns to work.

101 EXT. THE RICK YARD, EVERDENE FARM - DUSK 101

Dusty from the days labours, GABRIEL washes. Then notices - a

great fat toad lumbers across the ground.

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OAK kneels and watches its progress. The toad is looking for

shelter - a sure sign that a storm is coming.

He looks to the skies too. The evening is clear, but dark

clouds are already rolling in. Rooks caw, clouds of starlings

wheel confusedly around the sky. The night has a sinister

aspect. There’s a sense of foreboding.

The year’s harvest stands unprotected in the rick yard.

The sound of MUSIC comes from the barn

102 INT. BARN, EVERDENE FARM - DUSK 102

A band is playing and the barn is full of the WORKERS and

their FAMILIES. Foliage and old chandeliers have been hung

from the rafters, food and drink laid out

Clapping, cheering and stomping as TROY and BATHSHEBA dance,

wonderful together, eyes locked. The dance ends to much

applause, TROY and BATHSHEBA at its centre. TROY kisses her;

cheers, laughter.

TROY:

Gentlemen! Silence! Friends, it is

not only the Harvest Home that

we’re celebrating. This is also a

wedding feast. A short while ago I

had the happiness to lead to the

altar this beautiful lady, your

mistress, and only now have we been

able to celebrate our happy news.

So please, charge your glasses and

raise them to - my wonderful wife,

Mrs Bathsheba Troy!

GABRIEL watches the applause, then approaches BATHSHEBA.

GABRIEL:

(to BATHSHEBA)

I have to tell you

TROY:

To me, please, Mr Oak.

GABRIEL:

(to both of them)

There’s going to be a storm. We

need to protect the ricks or we’ll

lose the harvest.

TROY:

And how do you know there’s going

to be a storm?

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GABRIEL:

(hesitates, then -)

Certain signs. The animals.

TROY:

(laughing, teasing)

The animals told you?

GABRIEL:

I need five, six men for an hour,

no more.

BATHSHEBA:

Frank, perhaps we ought to-

TROY:

Nonsense! Tonight’s our

celebration. Oak, you have no

glass in your hand - here.

He pours a glass and offers it to GABRIEL.

GABRIEL:

With all due respect, we need able-

bodied working men, not drunks and

fools...

TROY:

It will not rain tonight. My wife

forbids it! Now, if you’ll excuse

me, Mr Oak. Gentlemen, one more

thing. Even though I’m no longer

Sergeant Troy! I remain a soldier

in this one respect -

(he beckons one of the MEN

forward. He carries -)

Bottles of the finest French

brandy! A triple-strength dose to

every man here!

(Disquiet from BATHSHEBA,

shouts and cheers from

the men)

And if any of you men show the

white feather, then you can look

elsewhere for a winter’s work!

And to cheers and applause, the bottles are passed round.

BATHSHEBA, meanwhile, looks to GABRIEL, wanting to follow.

TROY (CONT’D)

You wouldn’t leave our wedding

party. Would you?

He kisses her, and she does her best not to worry.

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103

EXT. RICK YARD, EVERDENE FARM - DUSK 103

But outside, dark clouds have indeed started to form in the

evening sky. A distant flash of lightning.

The harvest stands vulnerable and exposed. GABRIEL makes a

decision.

104

INT. BARN, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 104

TROY is in amongst his MEN, laughing, joking, passing out the

brandy, trying to recreate the camaraderie of the barracks.

The WOMEN have largely gone - only SOBERNESS and TEMPERANCE,

neither sober nor temperate, remain.

116

The band strike up again, and TROY leads the singing of a116

bawdy song. Excluded, BATHSHEBA and all but a few of the

WOMEN have no other choice but to turn and go.

105

EXT. RICK YARD, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 105

GABRIEL hauls the water-proofed tarpaulins into the yard.

Attaching a rope to one corner, he hurls the other end over

the stacks.

106

INT. BARN, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 106

Mad dancing from the MEN, TROY the life and soul. A drinking

song now - something like The Barley Mow -

107

EXT. RICK YARD, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 107

With great effort, GABRIEL hauls at the rope, dragging the

tarpaulin over the top of the third stack. But the wind

catches it, filling it like the sail of a ship.

The storm is overhead now. No rain yet, just startling blue

skeletons of crackling light. GABRIEL takes a long metal rod

with a chain attached - imagine a giant needle and thread -

and jams it into the highest point of the rick. This he hopes

will act as a lightning conductor.

But there’s still so much to do.

108

INT. BEDROOM, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 108

From her bedroom, BATHSHEBA looks out of the window towards

the rick yard. A flash of lightning. GABRIEL silhouetted

against the sky as he begins the work of roughly thatching

the remaining stacks.

She makes a decision. Hurriedly, excitedly, she removes her

jewellery, her party shoes. The old BATHSHEBA, back again.

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109 EXT. RICK YARD, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 109

GABRIEL works on. BATHSHEBA walks towards him, lamp in hand,

in working clothes now.

BATHSHEBA:

What can I do?

GABRIEL:

It’s too dangerous.

BATHSHEBA:

If it’s too dangerous for me, then

it’s too dangerous for you.

(GABRIEL hesitates)

Just tell me what to do.

A rumble of thunder; not much time.

110 INT. BARN, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 110

The MEN are visibly staggering now. JOSEPH POORGRASS, slight

and not used to drinking, is laughing hysterically. Young

CAINY BALL, too young to drink, can barely stand. Meanwhile

LABAN TALL has picked a fight with another man, and a messy

brawl is starting.

TROY, the Master of Revels, watches over them.

111 EXT. RICK YARD, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 111

Perched on ladders on top of the rick, BATHSHEBA and GABRIEL

work together, hammering sheaves in to place to shelter the

crop. Thunder rolls, lightning crackling but

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