Far from the Madding Crowd Page #19

BATHSHEBA:

Gabriel! Gabriel, wait!

(she dismounts,

breathless)

You’ll think I’m strange, but...I

thought..I wanted to know..

Gabriel, have I offended you?

GABRIEL:

No -

BATHSHEBA:

- or upset you in some way?

GABRIEL:

Not at all.

BATHSHEBA:

Is it money? I will pay you more,

Gabriel, whatever you want.

GABRIEL:

I don’t need money now.

BATHSHEBA:

A formal partnership then?

GABRIEL:

...nor a partnership. The farm

belongs to you alone. The finest

farm for miles around.

BATHSHEBA:

Then why are you going?

A moment.

GABRIEL:

I said I’d leave you one day.

BATHSHEBA:

I had hoped I could change your

mind.

GABRIEL:

Not this time.

BATHSHEBA:

Well you must not go!

GABRIEL:

You forbid me?

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

BATHSHEBA:

Yes, if you like! I forbid you!

GABRIEL:

(he smiles)

It’s time for you to fight your own

battles, and win them too. I

believe in you entirely. I don’t

believe there’s anything you can’t

do.

And that’s the end of the discussion.

BATHSHEBA:

So we should say goodbye then.

GABRIEL:

I suppose so.

BATHSHEBA:

Thank you, Gabriel. You’ve believed

in me and fought for me and stood

by my side when all the world was

against me, and we’ve been through

so much together - Wasn’t I your

first sweetheart? Weren’t you mine?

-and now to have to carry on

without you when I’ve loved you for

so long -

(and there it is)

I love you, Gabriel. There.

A moment -

GABRIEL:

If I knew

BATHSHEBA:

Go on.

GABRIEL:

If I knew that you would let me

love you and marry you -

BATHSHEBA:

-but you’ll never know.

GABRIEL:

Why not?

BATHSHEBA:

Because you never ask!

GABRIEL:

Would you say no again?

BATHSHEBA:

I don’t know. Probably.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

101

GABRIEL can’t help himself. He laughs, and she laughs too.

BATHSHEBA (CONT’D)

So why don’t you, Gabriel? Ask me

now. Ask me!

A moment and then he steps towards her, takes her in his arms

and kisses her. And then -

167A INT. CHURCH, WEATHERBURY - DAY 167A

We are in the church, GABRIEL and BATHSHEBA at the altar,

smart but not over-dressed, GABRIEL immensely proud.

GABRIEL:

I will.

The VICAR turns to BATHSHEBA

VICAR:

Wilt thou have this man to thy

wedded husband?

In the small but happy congregation, LIDDY, the MEN, MRS

HURST. But our attention is on BATHSHEBA, C.U., listening

intently.

VICAR (CONT’D)

Wilt thou obey him, and serve him,

love, honour and keep him in

sickness and in health?

This is not just a conventional form of words, but a solemn

vow and she weighs each part. Obey, serve, love, honour...

VICAR (CONT’D)

And forsaking all others, keep thee

only to him, so long as you both

shall live?

A suspended moment. A decision.

And then, finally, with joy and conviction, an affirmation

BATHSHEBA:

Yes. Yes, I will.

167B EXT. CHURCH, WEATHERBURY - DAY 167B

The doors of the church -

-burst open as the CONGREGATION spills out. All the workers

are there - LIDDY laughing and crying at the same time, MRS

HURST too. Not a grand marriage, but a joyous celebration

none the less. A ramshackle procession forms, heading down

the country lane.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

102

And at the rear walk the bride and groom.

BATHSHEBA takes GABRIEL’s arm, and rests her head on her

husband’s shoulder.

FADE OUT.

THE END:

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