Far from the Madding Crowd Page #15

He takes one last look at the farmhouse that has felt like a

prison, then closes the door.

Turning, GABRIEL is there. The men stand firm. An

acknowledgement of each other. No affection, but no hostility

either. If anything, there’s a sense of TROY handing

something back.

TROY:

Goodbye, Mr Oak.

A salute perhaps? GABRIEL nods.

126 EXT. OAK TREE, EVERDENE FARM - DAWN 126

Early morning, a light rain falling, the end of a long, dark

night of the soul.

Shivering, wet hair clinging to her face, BATHSHEBA sits

beneath an old oak, overlooking the farm that she inherited

with such hope and spirit just nine months ago. Now all she

feels is weariness, a great melancholy.

She sees a figure striding up the hill towards her, hopping

and sliding through the mud.

LIDDY:

There you are! Oh, Miss, whatever

are you thinking? You’ll catch your

death.

BATHSHEBA:

Is he at home?

LIDDY:

Gone, Miss, with Fanny. The money

too.

(LIDDY embrace BATHSHEBA)

I’ve come to take you home.

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BATHSHEBA:

Liddy, will you promise me

something?

LIDDY:

Go on.

BATHSHEBA:

Don’t ever marry.

LIDDY:

Not much chance of that, between

the ugly ones I won’t have and the

handsome ones who won’t have me.

BATHSHEBA:

Well if you do find someone, stand

firm. When trouble comes your way,

and it will, don’t run from it.

Stand your ground, even if you’re

cut to pieces. That’s what I intend

to do.

And they start to walk towards the farm.

127 EXT. CHURCHYARD, WEATHERBURY 127

A new slab of white marble. The new grave, with new headstone

now in place. A simple inscription;

Erected by Francis Troy. In loving memory of Fanny Robbin and

Child.

TROY takes all the money he has and pays the STONEMASON.

TROY:

There you are. That’s everything.

Alone now, he tends to the rough grave as best he can,

planting it with wild flowers, a little garden for her.

128 EXT. COUNTRY LANE, BUDMOUTH - DAY 128

The road to the coast. TROY walks with determination towards

a new, as yet unknown life.

It’s the last warm day of the year and hot and tired, he

stops. In the distance, the sea shimmers invitingly. TROY

thinks for a moment, then changes direction, and heads

towards the coast.

129 EXT. CARROW COVE - DAY 129

A deserted, sandy cove, concealed from view by a semi-circle

of high rocks.

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TROY’s possessions, folded and stacked with military

precision, lie on the beach. The sword glints in the sun.

TROY sits, naked, and contemplates the sea. Then he stands

and runs into the waves.

130 EXT. THE SEA - DAY 130

TROY pounding away from the shore, attempting to wash away

the past in the cold sea water.

Breathless, he stops and turns. The beach is somehow a little

further away than he thought. He must have been caught by the

tide. He starts to pound back towards the shore.

158

away.

158 But the shore is no nearer. If anything it’s suddenly further

131 EXT. CARROW COVE - DAY 131

TWO BOYS run on the beach. One of them comes across the

suitcase and uniform, the thrilling sword. Curious, they

stoop and examine it more closely.

132 EXT. THE SEA - DAY 132

TROY can see the tiny figures on the beach. Treading water,

he starts to shout and wave...

TROY:

Hello! Over here...

133 EXT. CARROW COVE - DAY 133

The scarlet jacket is held aloft, the sword is pulled from

its scabbard. It glints in the evening sun. The sight is

intoxicating for the BOYS.

As the sun sets, they play at soldiers at the water’s edge,

sword slicing through driftwood while out to sea, TROY’s

figure is lost in the waves, his voice unheard...

134 EXT. THE SEA - DAY 134

From far out to sea, TROY watches the boys playing at

soldiers.

There’s a strange calm in his eyes. And he starts to swim

again, this time away from the shore.

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135 EXT. CORN EXCHANGE, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 135

BATHSHEBA is at work again in the halls of the Corn Exchange.

But the CUSTOMERS who once flocked to her now pass her by.

She notes the disapproving looks, the gossip.

An abandoned wife, her husband the father of an illegitimate

child. There’s a cloud of scandal, disapproval, which she

accepts with as much dignity as she can.

And now TWO MEN are approaching her, a CONSTABLE and a

SOLICITOR. All eyes on her now

CONSTABLE:

Mrs Troy?

BATHSHEBA:

It’s about my husband, isn’t it?

Tell me.

SOLICITOR:

I’m afraid...I’m afraid your

husband has drowned.

BATHSHEBA staggers from the blow.

BATHSHEBA:

It’s not true. It can’t be.

And now BOLDWOOD is approaching, arriving just as she

collapses.

BOLDWOOD:

What did you say to her, man?

CONSTABLE:

Her husband is dead. Drowned at

sea.

No glee from BOLDWOOD, a man of action and decision now. He

scoops her up, carrying her through the crowd.

BOLDWOOD:

Some air! Gentlemen, some air

please. Make way!

(BATHSHEBA, recovering

now, stirs)

You’ve had the most terrible shock.

My carriage is outside, I’ll take

you home -

BATHSHEBA:

No, put me down please.

He does so immediately.

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BOLDWOOD:

You’re hardly in a condition to

drive yourself

BATHSHEBA:

Please, Mr Boldwood. I’d like to go

home alone.

And she gathers herself and walks, a little unsteadily,

towards the exit.

136 EXT. EVERDENE FARM - DAY 136

A sombre mood at the farm. A pale of black water. LIDDY holds

up BATHSHEBA’s scarlet dress.

LIDDY:

You’ll need something to wear, it’s

only proper. Miss?

BATHSHEBA:

No. It’s not necessary.

LIDDY:

Why not, ma’am?

BATHSHEBA:

Because he’s still alive.

LIDDY:

Oh, Miss...

BATHSHEBA:

Wouldn’t I know more, and wouldn’t

they have found him, and wouldn’t

death feel...different to this?

LIDDY:

It’s only natural to hope. But

still -

BATHSHEBA hesitates.

BATHSHEBA:

Very well.

The dress is immersed in the black water.

And now hangs up to dry, dripping black dye on the ground.

137 INT. BEDROOM, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 137

Brown-paper packages.

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82

BATHSHEBA, austerely beautiful and pale in the black of her

mourning dress, opens it; his jacket, his sword - all his

possessions, retrieved from the beach.

138 EXT. YARD, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 138

GABRIEL returns from a day in the fields to find MR BOLDWOOD

waiting near the entrance. Bright, cheerful -

BOLDWOOD:

Mr Oak, I wonder if I could have a

word.

139 EXT. YARD, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 139

GABRIEL:

It’s a great responsibility, sir.

BOLDWOOD:

Nonsense! No reason why a man of

your abilities should not be able

to superintend two farms. And why

shouldn’t there be stronger links

between our establishments? Think

of it; two thousand acres under

your sole charge, a share of my

profits...

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