Far from the Madding Crowd Page #2

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Oak! Mr Oak, wake up! Gabriel

Oak!

Nothing. Now she tries to haul him to her feet. But he falls,

a dead-weight, across her lap. This is all new to BATHSHEBA.

A man in her lap. She takes it in. To her side, a jug of

milk. She takes it, throws it into his face.

Gasping, dazed and confused he comes round. Looks up, sees

her face. She laughs with relief. GABRIEL is confused,

breathless.

GABRIEL:

What’s the matter? What is it?

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BATHSHEBA:

Nothing, since you’re not dead. I

was heading home when I heard the

dogs barking.

(she busies herself,

ventilating the hut)

It’s very foolish of you, Farmer.

Oak. My uncle had a hut just like

this, I used to play in it as a

little girl and he told me, always,

always keep a window open or you’ll

suffocate.

( - the wetness - )

I’m sorry about the milk. At least

it was warm.

(he attempts to stand,

stumbles. Takes her HAND)

Rest a moment. You know, Farmer

Oak, I think I may have saved your

life.

Her hand in his, as GABRIEL steadies himself.

GABRIEL:

Tell me your name. I still don’t

know your name.

BATHSHEBA:

Then find it out. My hand, Mr Oak?

Somewhat reluctantly, he lets go of her hand. She walks out

into the night.

GABRIEL sits on the steps and watches her go.

11 EXT. GABRIEL’S CARAVAN, NORCOMBE HILL - DAY 11

Next morning. GABRIEL is working his sheep, but his mind is

elsewhere. He stops working, his mind wandering.

12 INT. GABRIEL’S CARAVAN, NORCOMBE HILL - DAY 12

GABRIEL polishes his boots, puts away his working clothes. A

decision has been made.

13 EXT. GABRIEL’S CARAVAN, NORCOMBE HILL - DAY 13

GABRIEL walks through his flock and finds a lamb. It has come

weeks early, and is the only one. He scoops the tiny thing

up.

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14 EXT. MRS HURST’S COTTAGE - DAY 14

Accompanied by OLD GEORGE, carrying the lamb, GABRIEL marches

towards MRS HURST’s, a man with a mission.

Middle-aged, wry and weather-worn, MRS HURST joins her niece

in clearing brambles from the cottage garden. Tough work,

BATHSHEBA scratched and muddy.

MRS HURST stretches out her back and notices GABRIEL

approaching.

MRS HURST:

Goodness. Mr Oak.

BATHSHEBA:

What does he want?

15 INT. KITCHEN, MRS HURST’S COTTAGE - DAY 15

BATHSHEBA washes the mud from her hands, wipes it from her

face, checks her reflection in the small mirror. It will have

to do.

16 INT. PARLOUR, MRS HURST’S COTTAGE - CONTINUOUS 16

GABRIEL and MRS HURST sit in the parlour, a little awkward.

BATHSHEBA enters, and he stands abruptly.

GABRIEL:

Miss Everdene. Bathsheba. I’ve

brought you a lamb.

BATHSHEBA:

(delighted)

Thank you, Farmer Oak! Such a dear

thing, that’s very sweet of you.

GABRIEL:

He’s come too soon and won’t last

the winter. I thought you’d like to

rear it instead.

BATHSHEBA:

Thank you. That’s very kind.

MRS HURST takes the lamb out with her.

MRS HURST:

I’ll make some tea.

And she makes her exit. Silence.

GABRIEL:

The lamb is not why I came.

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BATHSHEBA:

Go on.

GABRIEL:

Well...I wanted to ask, Miss

Everdene, if you’d marry me.

A long moment.

BATHSHEBA:

Oh -

This is not the response he wanted

GABRIEL:

I’ve never asked anyone before.

BATHSHEBA:

No, I -

And impulsively he stands.

GABRIEL:

Well. I’ll leave you now.

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Oak (

he turns, waits)

There are things to consider.

GABRIEL:

Someone waiting for you?

BATHSHEBA:

No, there’s no-one else but that

doesn’t mean I’ll marry you.

GABRIEL:

Good day to you then.

17 EXT. MRS HURST’S COTTAGE - CONTINUOUS 17

BATHSHEBA follows him out.

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Oak, stop! I didn’t say I

wouldn’t marry you either!

(he doesn’t understand -

which is it?)

I really haven’t ever thought about

it. I need time to consider.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

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GABRIEL:

But I know I can make you happy.

(she’s thrown by this)

I have one hundred acres, two

hundred sheep, When I pay off the

money, the farm is ours. You could

have a piano in a year or two.

Flowers and birds. A frame for

cucumbers. A baby perhaps, or two

BATHSHEBA:

Please, Mr Oak, that’s too much

GABRIEL:

- or more. And whenever you look up

I’ll be there, and whenever I look

up there’ll be you.

BATHSHEBA takes this in, imagines it, and makes her decision.

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Oak, I do not want a husband.

I’d hate to be some man’s property.

I shouldn’t mind being a bride at a

wedding, if I could be one without

getting a husband, but -

GABRIEL:

That’s just stupid talk.

With as much calmness and compassion as she can muster;

BATHSHEBA:

You are better off than I, Mr Oak.

I have an education and this dress

and nothing more. You can do much,

much better than me...

GABRIEL:

Maybe that’s true. But you know

that’s not the reason.

BATHSHEBA:

I’m too independent for you.

(this sounds more

plausible)

If I ever were to marry, I’d need

somebody to tame me, and you’d

never be able to do it. You’d grow

to despise me.

GABRIEL:

(with quiet simplicity)

I would not.

(she takes this in.

A moment, then -)

Goodbye, Miss Everdene.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

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And with that he turns and goes.

For a moment she follows him, just a step or two. Then she

walks back to the cottage. One last look.

GABRIEL walks away, no turning back.

18

EXT. GABRIEL’S CARAVAN, NORCOMBE HILL - DAY 18

WINTER. Time passing.

GABRIEL is herding sheep as light snow falls. Hard, physical

work.

As night comes on, he rests on the steps of the Shepherd’s

Hut, the site of BATHSHEBA’s rescue.

19

INT. GABRIEL’S CARAVAN, NORCOMBE HILL - DAWN 19

Another day. In his caravan, OLD GEORGE by his side, GABRIEL

sleeps on.

The barking of YOUNG GEORGE wakes them both. Something is up.

He sits, listens.

The sound of sheep bells now. He is on his feet. To OLD

GEORGE -

GABRIEL:

Stay here, old boy.

20

EXT. GABRIEL’S CARAVAN, NORCOMBE HILL - DAWN 20

GABRIEL steps out of the caravan, pulling on his clothes. He

listens to the distant barking to find the direction, then

runs off.

A broken fence nearby

20A

EXT. GABRIEL’S CARAVAN, NORCOMBE HILL - DAWN 20A

He walks through trees, losing track of the barking for a

moment. Coming out of the trees and forest, he crests the

hill in search of the flock.

But they have gone. Disappeared. Silence.

Then barking, the sound of the bells, further off this time.

He runs -

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

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21 EXT. CLIFFS, NORCOMBE HILL - DAWN 21

A natural basin leads up to cliffs and, beyond that, the sea.

The precipice is fenced off, but it is towards this cliff

edge that the flock have been harried by YOUNG GEORGE.

GABRIEL stumbles across the darkened hillside after them.

...but it’s too late. The young, impetuous dog is barking and

snapping at a single remaining sheep, forcing it through a

gap in the broken fence and into the darkness beyond. The

sheep has gone.

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