Far from the Madding Crowd Page #5

from good, right from wrong, then

leave. But to those who choose to

stay, I promise you this. I shall

be up before you are awake, I shall

be in the fields before you are up.

It is my intention to astonish you

all. Now - back to work, please.

She stands and leaves the room. The WORKERS look on, some

impressed, some sceptical, some duly astonished.

40 EXT. MELCHESTER MOOR - DUSK 40

As the evening falls, FANNY walks through the mud of a

riverside path in barely adequate shoes towards MELCHESTER

BARRACKS. She still carries her carpet-bag, still on the

move.

It’s a barren, bleak landscape, and some of the hope, some of

the certainty has gone from FANNY’s adventure.

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41 EXT. MELCHESTER BARRACKS - DUSK 41

A river. A wall, high and blank, with shuttered windows.

FANNY counts the windows -

FANNY:

One, two, three, four...

She picks up a handful of earth, throws it. The small window

opens, and TROY appears.

TROY:

Who’s there?

FANNY:

Is it Sergeant Frank Troy?

TROY:

Who is it?

FANNY:

Frank, don’t you know me? Fanny

Robbin!

TROY:

Fanny!

FANNY:

Yes!

TROY:

How did you get here?

FANNY:

You said I was to come.

TROY:

Well...I said that you might.

You’re too late!

FANNY:

You can’t come out and see me?

TROY:

No no, the barrack gates are closed

and I have no leave. I’ll find you

tomorrow.

FANNY:

Tomorrow! Oh, Frank. Then I won’t

see you till then?

TROY:

Do you have a place to stay?

FANNY:

Yes. No. I’ll find somewhere. When

will it be?

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TROY:

What?

FANNY:

What you promised...Don’t make me

say it. You say it first!

TROY:

You say it.

FANNY:

When will we get married?

TROY:

Soon

FANNY:

Have you asked permission?

TROY:

If I said I’ll marry you, I will.

FANNY:

Oh, I love you Francis Troy!

TROY:

Shhhh! Tomorrow.

He closes the window but FANNY lingers, full of hope.

42 EXT. CORN EXCHANGE, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 42

Market Day. The building is at the very heart of the town,

imposing, high-domed and noisy, a sort of stock-exchange for

grain.

Outside, BATHSHEBA and LIDDY hoist hefty bags of grain

samples from her carriage and heads towards the entrance.

43 INT. CORN EXCHANGE, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 43

Inside, it’s a temple of commerce, and a strictly male

preserve that echoes with bargaining, banter and deal-making

-until BATHSHEBA enters, LIDDY behind her.

BATHSHEBA:

(a whisper)

We have a perfect right to be here.

All heads turn. They could not be more surprised if a small

elephant had entered the hall. A silence. Then the murmur of

gossip, disapproval, some admiration.

Meanwhile, one WELL-DRESSED GENTLEMAN clears his throat.

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BOLDWOOD:

Gentlemen, shall we return to

business?

This man is BOLDWOOD, forties, self-contained, handsome in a

Roman way; dignified, the nearest Casterbridge has to

aristocracy, and clearly a step above the tradesmen around

him.

Needless to say, BATHSHEBA notices him

But indifferent, BOLDWOOD returns to business.

44 INT. CORN EXCHANGE, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 44

A little later. Still BATHSHEBA stands alone, looking for her

first customer as the MALE CROWD mills around her. LIDDY

returns;

LIDDY:

Perhaps we should go, Miss.

But a FARMER catches her eye. There’s nothing for it -

BATHSHEBA:

It’s Farmer Stone, isn’t it? I’m

Farmer Everdene’s niece. He talked

about you with such admiration.

A moment. And the FARMER approaches -

45 INT. CORN EXCHANGE, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 45

And now BATHSHEBA is surrounded by FARMERS. She is enjoying

herself now, as she pours the grain sample into FARMER

STONE’s hand.

FARMER STONE:

How much?

BATHSHEBA:

Five pounds a quarter.

FARMER STONE:

Three pounds ten shillings.

BATHSHEBA:

You paid my uncle five pounds. It’s

the same grain, Mr Stone.

FARMER STONE:

Three pounds ten.

And now BOLDWOOD has approached.

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BATHSHEBA:

How about you, sir? You’ll pay me

five pounds?

He tips his hat and walks away. BATHSHEBA watches him.

FARMER STONE:

Very well. Four pounds

BATHSHEBA:

-and ten shillings.

FARMER STONE:

Four pounds five.

BATHSHEBA:

Perhaps I should move on...

FARMER STONE:

Very well. Four and ten.

A handshake, the audience enjoying the show, almost as much

as BATHSHEBA is enjoying the success.

Her eyes seek out BOLDWOOD, but he is already on to more

important matters.

MUSIC UP:
The wheezing of a church organ, the sound of the

choir.

46 INT. CHURCH, WEATHERBURY - DAY 46

BATHSHEBA and LIDDY are in their Sunday best, taking their

seats in the congregation.

BATHSHEBA:

It was as bad as being married.

Eyes everywhere!

LIDDY:

Men! They do like to stare at us.

BATHSHEBA:

There was only one man who had the

good sense to pay no attention to

me -

47 INT. CHURCH, WEATHERBURY - DAY 47

A hymn. BOLDWOOD sings in a strong dignified baritone. But

despite BATHSHEBA’s glances, he remains maddeningly

indifferent.

Elsewhere, GABRIEL sits in the gallery with the MALE WORKERS,

attracting admiring glances from the WOMEN opposite. He

observes BATHSHEBA, observing BOLDWOOD.

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LIDDY:

Rich, handsome, it sends the local

girls mad. The Taylor sisters

worked at him for two years. Jane

Perkins spent twenty pounds in new

clothes and might as well have

thrown it out the window. It’s said

when he was young his sweetheart

jilted him...

BATHSHEBA:

People always say that. Women don’t

jilt men. Men jilt us.

LIDDY:

Did someone jilt you, miss?

And there’s GABRIEL, talking with the other MEN.

BATHSHEBA:

Me? Certainly not. A man did ask to

marry me once, some time ago.

LIDDY:

And you wouldn’t have him?

BATHSHEBA:

I thought he wasn’t good enough for

me.

LIDDY:

What a luxury, to have a choice.

‘Kiss my foot sir, my face is for

mouths of consequence’.

BATHSHEBA:

It wasn’t like that at all.

LIDDY:

Why? Did you love him?

BATHSHEBA doesn’t answer.

48 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 48

Early February morning, and BATHSHEBA is the first in the

fields as promised, a shotgun slung across her back, a pair

of pheasants hanging by her side.

BATHSHEBA watches and waits, and is about to fire when -

She hears a noise behind her, and turns. MR BOLDWOOD is there

on horseback. He rides on.

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Boldwood!

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BOLDWOOD:

Don’t shoot me, please.

BATHSHEBA:

I had no intention of shooting you.

(nothing)

It’s Miss Everdene! Your neighbour.

Farmer Everdene’s niece? I’m

managing the farm alone now,

perhaps you’d heard.

BOLDWOOD:

Yes, I’m sure you’ll do very well.

In the circumstances.

(BATHSHEBA bridles)

Well. As you say, we are

neighbours. Good hunting, Miss

Everdene.

And that’s it. BATHSHEBA watches him go.

49 INT. STUDY, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 49

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