Far from the Madding Crowd Page #3

YOUNG GEORGE runs to his master, desperate for approval. But

GABRIEL is numb. With a terrible sense of foreboding, he

walks towards the gap in the hedge, knowing already what

he’ll find.

GABRIEL’s POV. A glimpse of white below.

22 EXT. BEACH, NORCOMBE HILL - DAY 22

At the bottom of the limestone cliff, the corpses of the

flock. Two hundred sheep, all dead.

The sun is up, the water lapping at the corpses. GABRIEL

stands exhausted, numb. All of his hopes, his ambitions, the

rewards of twenty years hard work, all dead. At his side,

YOUNG GEORGE licks his hand, awaiting his reward for a job

well done.

He kneels next to YOUNG GEORGE, places his forehead against

the dog’s and speaks to him quietly.

GABRIEL:

Least we didn’t marry, eh Georgie?

Then he quickly stands and, without malice but with an awful

resignation, he raises his gun.

A shot rings out.

23 INT. GABRIEL’S COTTAGE - DAY 23

Keys and cashbox handed to two GENTLEMAN FARMERS.

FIRST FARMER:

Good luck to you, Mr Oak.

SECOND FARMER:

And our sympathies.

FIRST FARMER:

Where are you heading?

(no reply)

We take no pleasure in this.

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GABRIEL ignores them and goes instead to OLD GEORGE.

GABRIEL:

Sorry, old boy.

24 EXT. EGDON HEATH - DAY 24

Another day. GABRIEL walks on, everything he owns now in the

pack on his back.

Now snow falls. The road across Egdon Heath has disappeared.

Desperate for shelter, he sees a barn.

25 INT. BARN - NIGHT 25

GABRIEL wraps himself in his blanket and tries to sleep, his

breath hanging in the frozen air.

There’s a hole in the roof. GABRIEL looks to the skies,

thinks of BATHSHEBA -

26 EXT. MRS HURST’S FARM - DAY 26

MRS HURST:

Bathsheba!

A shout. BATHSHEBA, working in the fields, stands. MRS HURST

runs towards her, waving something in her hand.

BATHSHEBA:

What is it?

A letter. She hands it to BATHSHEBA, breathless. Gasping for

air MRS

HURST:

Oh my love, it’s your poor Uncle’s

will.

BATHSHEBA:

What does it say? What’s happened?

Breathless, MRS HURST indicates.

MRS HURST:

Read it! Read!

BATHSHEBA does so -

BATHSHEBA puts her hand to her mouth. Then she embraces her

AUNT.

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27 EXT. MRS HURST’S COTTAGE - DAY 27

The cart is loaded with suitcases and furniture. In her city

dress once more, BATHSHEBA says farewell

-then clambers aboard, and finds a place amongst the

precarious load.

The cart trundles off, BATHSHEBA turning and waving goodbye.

Excitement, anticipation. On her lap, the lamb. GABRIEL’s

gift.

The blare of a trumpet and -

28 EXT. COUNTRY LANE - DAY 28

CLOSE on SERGEANT FRANCIS TROY of the 11th DRAGOON GUARDS.

Fine-boned, a neatly-trimmed moustache on a finely structured

face.

The DRAGOONS are a splendid sight, a blaze of brass and

scarlet on a January day.

They ride towards the market town of CASTERBRIDGE

29 EXT. TOWN SQUARE, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 29

The GUARDS are holding an opportunistic recruiting drive. As

TROY and the other troops stand at ease SERGEANT DOGGETT,

attempts to muster new recruits.

SERGEANT DOGGETT

So who’ll join us, lads? Which of

you fine boys’ll put on the scarlet

uniform and proudly serve his Queen

and Country?...

In amongst the crowd, a YOUNG WOMAN. She’s in her best dress,

but painfully under-dressed for the cold weather. She’s also

encumbered by a large, impractical carpet bag. Nevertheless,

there’s a kind of elation about her, as if she’s embarking on

some adventure. An escape. This is FANNY ROBBIN.

She pushes through the crowd towards the front, finding

herself next to GABRIEL OAK; gaunt now, exhausted.

FANNY ROBBIN:

Frank! Over here! Frank, it’s

Fanny!

TROY gives her a quick, fond glance, then fixes his eyes

forward again.

FANNY:

(to GABRIEL)

My sweetheart. Over there.

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SERGEANT DOGGETT

You, sir...

(he has spotted GABRIEL)

...next to the pretty lady!

(FANNY ROBBIN blushes)

There’s a good strong figure of a

man. Always room in the ranks for

gentlemen of your calibre. Come

join us, sir!

A moment of hesitation.

FANNY:

Go on. You’d make a fine soldier.

But GABRIEL shakes his head and shrinks back into the crowd,

walking away as DOGGETT continues.

SERGEANT DOGGETT

Or that gentleman there, you look

like a patriot. Come on lad, don’t

be shy, step forward...

GABRIEL takes one more look over his shoulder, then heads on

his way.

But FANNY has followed him -

FANNY:

You might try Weatherbury!

(GABRIEL turns)

If you’re looking for work, try

Weatherbury. There’s a farm there

needs all the help it can get.

GABRIEL:

Thank you. I’ll do that.

(a moment. He notices her

carpet-bag, her thin

clothes)

You should have a cloak, cold night

like this.

FANNY:

(with forced pride)

Oh, no, Francis’ll take care of me.

He’s a sergeant. We’re going to be

married soon you see.

GABRIEL:

But tonight, you have lodgings?

FANNY:

No. Not tonight. Not yet.

GABRIEL reaches into his pocket and offers her a coin.

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FANNY (CONT’D)

I am taken care of.

(Pride vs. Necessity.

GABRIEL persists.)

But if you’re sure can spare it...

(and she takes it)

I’ll repay you. I’ll send it to

Weatherbury. But please, don’t tell

anyone there you saw me. I’ve run

away you see. Let it be our secret.

GABRIEL nods assent and she hurries off, carrying all her

possessions.

30 EXT. CASTERBRIDGE LANE - DUSK 30

GABRIEL walks on towards Weatherbury now. Exhausted, it’s

time to rest.

31 EXT. WOODS - NIGHT 31

A feeble camp fire. Scooping leaves into a pile, GABRIEL

makes a mattress of sorts in the woods. Exhausted from the

day’s humiliations, he pulls his blanket up and tries to

sleep.

The NOISES of the wood at night. And then a new noise. SHOUTS

of alarm.

GABRIEL sits. Through the trees, a red glow like the end of a

cigar...

32 EXT. WOODS - NIGHT 32

Half a mile away a fire is clearly visible, blazing out of

control. Human shouts, the panic of cattle and horses.

From the edge of the woods, GABRIEL watches impassively. None

of his business. Nothing to do with him.

Then a decision. He heads off towards the flames.

33 EXT. RICK YARD, EVERDENE FARM - NIGHT 33

A hayrick in flames, burning with startling speed and

intensity.

The farmyard is in chaos; livestock crying in panic as men

run uselessly back and forth in the orange light. At present,

it’s the only one on fire, but a number of ricks stand close,

and burning straw tumbles through the air, across to the

great BARN that holds the crop.

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A rag-tag group of farmhands - JOSEPH, JACOB, BILLY, LABAN,

CAINY and JAN - all hurl water uselessly onto the flames.

GABRIEL arrives.

GABRIEL:

Who’s in charge here?

LABAN TALL:

Who are you?

GABRIEL:

Who’s in charge? Where’s your

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