Far from the Madding Crowd Page #17

GABRIEL:

Perhaps. For an hour or so.

BOLDWOOD:

Look - my hands are shaking I’m so

nervous. Gabriel, would you? As

well as you can, please.

(GABRIEL takes the tie.

Face to face -)

Is there a knot that’s particularly

in fashion?

GABRIEL:

You’re asking the wrong man.

BOLDWOOD:

What about women? Does a woman keep

her promise?

GABRIEL:

She has promised?

BOLDWOOD:

An implied promise.

GABRIEL:

Once again, I’m not the best person

to

BOLDWOOD:

But will she do what’s right?

GABRIEL:

If it’s not inconvenient to her.

BOLDWOOD:

Oak, you’ve become quite cynical

lately! She never promised me that

first time, therefore she has never

broken her promise.

GABRIEL:

She hasn’t promised this time

either.

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89

BOLDWOOD:

But she will tonight, I know she

will. And when she does

He produces a small box from his pocket. An engagement ring,

heavy with diamonds. GABRIEL can’t speak.

BOLDWOOD (CONT’D)

I wanted to tell you in advance,

Gabriel, because I believe I know

your secret.

(an awkward stab at

intimacy)

I’ve seen you together, the way you

speak to her and watch her and look

after her. And I know of her

profound...affection for you.

You’ve behaved like a man and as

the successful rival - successful

through your kindness - I wish you

to know that I am profoundly

grateful.

And BOLDWOOD beams tearfully in gratitude for the final

fulfilment of his dream. Then -

BUTLER:

The musicians are here, Sir.

The BUTLER departs. To GABRIEL;

BOLDWOOD:

Please - stay. Celebrate with us.

149 EXT. BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - NIGHT 149

Lit by torches, the exterior of the mansion looks

magnificent. MUSIC can be heard. The party has already

started, and BATHSHEBA, descending from the carriage,

beautiful in a black silk dress, looks up at the house with a

terrible sense of foreboding.

At some point this may well be her new home. It’s a fine

house, yet she can barely bring herself to step inside.

She takes LIDDY’s hand, squeezes it, and they head in.

150 INT. GREAT HALL, BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - NIGHT 150

The Party. There are a great many GUESTS here, largely local

GENTRY and FARMERS but, in the spirit of Christmas, some of

the WORKERS too, all of whom are making the most of the food

and the wine. JOSEPH, JACOB, JAN and BILLY, all in their

Sunday best, all in various stages of inebriation.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013 90

The band PLAYS. The dancing has just begin - rather formal

and reserved at present. BATHSHEBA’s arrival, though, is

enough to draw the other GUEST’s attention. The beautiful

widow, still a source of fascination.

From his vantage point on the great stairs, BOLDWOOD watches

BATHSHEBA arrives. She smiles back, a little awkwardly.

150A INT. BEDROOM, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 150A

A shadow in the hallway. TROY, alone, in his old home.

He looks through cupboards and drawers. On a shelf, a glimpse

of red. Through torn brown paper, his cavalry jacket, his

sword. All his possessions, retrieved from the beach.

151 INT. GREAT HALL, BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - NIGHT 151

The PARTY continues, the wine taking effect. Dancing has

started, and BOLDWOOD, still keeping his distance, is urging

people to join in the merriment.

BATHSHEBA, sitting apart, watches him. An effort of

imagination; her future husband, her future home.

GABRIEL, in turn, is the centre of attention. TWO FARMER’s

DAUGHTERS, working away at him. But his eyes are on

BATHSHEBA, and her sadness. She catches his eye, smiles.

GABRIEL:

Will you excuse me

-and he crosses to her, leaving his ADMIRERS sadly alone.

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Oak, you’ve broken their hearts

(the ADMIRERS)

Go back and talk to them, poor

things

GABRIEL:

I’ve come to say goodnight. I don’t

suit this kind of affair.

BATHSHEBA:

No, neither do I. I wish I could

leave too.

GABRIEL:

Stay a little longer. For his sake.

Both look to BOLDWOOD the buoyant host.

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91

BATHSHEBA:

I’ve been trying to imagine myself

living here. I can’t seem to manage

it.

GABRIEL:

You’d suit it very well.

BATHSHEBA:

Would I?

A sad smile, a moment between them, interrupted by BOLDWOOD.

GABRIEL:

I must go.

BOLDWOOD:

Not before you’ve danced, both of

you. I insist.

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Oak?

Hesitation, then GABRIEL offers his hand. They take to the

floor, and join the other DANCERS.

The dance is by no means intimate or improper. There’s a

distance between them at all times, and LIDDY, BOLDWOOD, the

GUESTS watch it with pleasure.

But for GABRIEL and BATHSHEBA it is a kind of agony.

BATHSHEBA (CONT’D)

Gabriel. Tell me - what am I going

to do?

GABRIEL thinks about this. He sees BOLDWOOD watching them,

the smile on his face, the ring in his pocket.

He can’t answer. BATHSHEBA looks to him

BATHSHEBA (CONT’D)

Gabriel?

GABRIEL:

Do what is right.

BATHSHEBA struggles to accept the truth of this, and to hide

her disappointment.

BATHSHEBA:

Yes. Yes, of course.

She nods tearfully, breaks away and heads for the door.

BOLDWOOD sees her and follows, GABRIEL watching them go.

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92

152 INT. STAIRWAY, BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - NIGHT 152

BOLDWOOD:

Mrs Troy, surely you’re not

leaving?

BATHSHEBA:

Yes, I should like to go now-

BOLDWOOD:

But your promise! You said by

Christmas

BATHSHEBA:

Yes I did.

BOLDWOOD:

My proposal, you accept it?

(she hesitates)

A business contract, between two

friends free of passion or

sentiment. I deserve it.

A deep breath.

BATHSHEBA:

I give my promise, yes. I give it

as the payment of a debt.

BOLDWOOD:

When enough time has passed, you’ll

marry me? Yes?

(She nods.)

Say the words.

BATHSHEBA:

I will marry you.

BOLDWOOD’s face lights up. Wild-eyed joy.

BOLDWOOD:

Thank you! Thank you, thank you,

thank you, God bless you, Bathsheba-

BATHSHEBA:

Now I must go-

BOLDWOOD:

One more thing-

BATHSHEBA:

Please, Mr Boldwood-

BOLDWOOD:

(the ring)

You’ll take this. As a token of my

love

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93

BATHSHEBA:

I cannot wear a ring, it is not

right, it is too soon -

BOLDWOOD:

Just for tonight. For me.

BATHSHEBA takes in the man, his look of total adoration. She

relents and holds out her hand.

To her discomfort, BOLDWOOD slides on the ring, then kisses

her hand.

BOLDWOOD (CONT’D)

Finally. I am happy now.

153 EXT. BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - NIGHT 153

BATHSHEBA hurries out into the night, desperate to get away.

She slows, and STOPS.

On the great lawn, lit by flaming torches, the STRANGEST

SIGHT.

A FIGURE stands in the moonlight, scarlet and silver, a sword

in his hand as he practices the sword drill. It might almost

be a ghost.

154 INT. GREAT HALL, BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - NIGHT 154

GABRIEL is pulling on his coat, leaving now. LIDDY rushes up

to him, drunk, flirtatious.

LIDDY:

Mr Oak, no more excuses, you’ll

dance with me now.

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