Far from the Madding Crowd Page #6

Surrounded by books, papers, dusty boxes, BATHSHEBA and LIDDY

are sorting through Farmer Everdene’s old belongings.

LIDDY:

Listen to this. ‘The Rose is red,

The Violet blue, Carnations

sweet...’

BATHSHEBA:

What are you doing, Liddy?

LIDDY:

It’s a valentine. I was going to

send it to Joseph Poorgrass, just

to see the look of panic on his

face.

A gawdy, sentimental confection of paper and lace.

BATHSHEBA:

Poor boy. A little far-fetched,

isn’t it?

LIDDY:

Either him or Mr Oak -

BATHSHEBA:

(abruptly)

No. Certainly not Mr Oak.

LIDDY:

I know! Let’s send it to high and

mighty Mr Boldwood! Ignoring you

like that..

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28

BATHSHEBA:

Yes!

LIDDY:

Or perhaps not.

BATHSHEBA:

No, we must!

LIDDY:

We mustn’t!

BATHSHEBA:

Why not?

LIDDY:

Because he won’t see the humour

BATHSHEBA:

I’m sure he will. Or perhaps he

won’t, perhaps it is too much.

LIDDY:

Perhaps it is.

(But it’s too much fun to

miss)

Unless we toss for it.

From the debris, she finds a book.

BATHSHEBA:

Open Boldwood, closed

LIDDY:

Joseph Poorgrass.

BATHSHEBA:

Closed - Joseph, open - Boldwood.

LIDDY:

Are we ready?

BATHSHEBA:

Quickly, before I change my mind!

And she tosses the book high into the air. It lands. Open.

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29

50 INT. DINING ROOM, BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - DAY 50

THE VALENTINE. It lies in its envelope on the large dining

table in Boldwood’s large, comfortable house.

BOLDWOOD raises his tea to his lips, and glances casually at

the envelope. He turns it over.

Facing him is the wax seal. Imprinted in the red wax the

words -

‘Marry Me’

Carefully, he places the tea-cup down. He checks the address -

yes, no mistake there.

With forensic care, he takes a knife and carefully prises

open the envelope so as not to break the seal, then pulls out

the card; the gaudy confection of lace and cupids. An

entirely foreign object, he holds it with his finger tips.

He opens it, and a perfectly ordered world is knocked out of

shape.

51 INT. ALL SAINT’S CHURCH, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 51

A service is just ending and as the PARISHIONERS disperse,

TROY walks towards the PRIEST, splendid in full uniform,

nerves concealed behind his swagger.

TROY:

Sergeant Troy, for half-past

eleven.

PRIEST:

Yes, Sergeant Troy and -

TROY:

Miss Fanny Robbin. We’re getting

married.

52 INT. ALL SAINT’S CHURCH, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 52

Later. TROY, stands erect at the altar, impassive. The sound

of a door behind him. He doesn’t turn, but smiles in

anticipation of the sight of his bride...

But it’s only SERGEANT DOGGETT, his best man.

DOGGETT:

Sorry I’m late, old boy. Not long

now.

A few PARISHIONERS have remained to spectate.

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30

PARISHIONER ONE:

(whispers)

Where is she?

TROY doesn’t move.

53 EXT. STREET/CHURCH, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 53

And sure enough, here comes FANNY ROBBIN hurrying along. She

looks beautiful, a simple bunch of flowers grasped in her

hand.

54 INT. ALL SAINT’S CHURCH, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 54

The PRIEST has now taken a seat. TROY’s composure remains

intact.

55 EXT. STREET/CHURCH, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 55

ALL SOUL’s CHURCH is up ahead. FANNY pauses for a moment,

takes a deep breath, composes herself, suppresses her joy.

And enters.

A GROOM stands at the altar. A BRIDE too. Consternation as

the small CONGREGATION turn and see FANNY in her wedding

dress.

Confusion.

56 INT. ALL SAINT’S CHURCH, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 56

Meanwhile TROY still waits. Discomfort now. The OLD LADIES

whispering. There is some laughter, but TROY’s features

remain fixed.

The church bells start to chime. DOGGETT places his hand on

TROY’s shoulder.

DOGGETT:

Don’t think she’s coming, old boy.

A moment. Then with a snap of his heels TROY turns and

marches back down the aisle with as much dignity as he can

muster.

As he passes, the OLD LADIES smile sympathetically. ‘Poor

lamb!’ Enraging! Humiliating.

57 EXT. ALL SAINT’S CHURCH, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 57

FANNY hurtles across the square just in time to see a stern

TROY marching away from the church.

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FANNY:

Frank! Oh, Frank! Wait!

TROY doesn’t break stride as FANNY tries to make light of it.

FANNY (CONT’D)

There’s been a mistake! I thought

you told me All Soul’s not All

Saint’s! I went to the wrong

church! I thought you’d jilted me,

Frank!

(No smile)

I don’t blame you, but I’m sure you

did say...or perhaps it was my

mistake after all. Still, we’re

here now! Smile, Frank, please?

(He doesn’t speak.)

Tomorrow then! We’ll get married

tomorrow, just the same?

And TROY stops and turns on her. With barely concealed rage-

TROY:

Do you think I’ll be humiliated a

second time?

FANNY:

It was a mistake, Frank.

TROY:

(striding on)

It was.

FANNY:

You will marry me though, won’t

you, Frank? You promised, and you

know I love you. Don’t walk away. I

have nowhere else to go. Tell me, I

beg you, when? When?

People are watching now, she’s struggling to maintain her

pride despite growing panic. She takes TROY’s arm, he shakes

her off.

There’s a final look from TROY before he turns and walks

away, leaving FANNY, heartbroken, standing in the street in

her wedding dress.

58 INT. DINING ROOM, BOLDWOOD’S MANSION - DAY 58

‘Marry Me’. The words in red wax on the envelope, which now

sits on BOLDWOOD’s mantelpiece. BOLDWOOD takes his

breakfast, as before, but now his eye returns to the

envelope.

The BUTLER arrives, bearing the post. BOLDWOOD sorts through

it eagerly, stops -

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He crosses to the window. In the Everdene fields beyond,

GABRIEL.

59 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 59

GABRIEL is stacking logs with the help of little TEDDY

COGGAN. BOLDWOOD strides purposefully across fields towards

him.

BOLDWOOD:

Mr Oak!

A little LATER. BOLDWOOD now helping GABRIEL with his work.

BOLDWOOD (CONT’D)

A letter came to me by mistake.

‘The new shepherd, Weatherbury’ I

can only assume it’s for you.

GABRIEL opens the letter. The COIN, returned from Fanny as

promised. A simple note. ‘Thank You For Your Kindness’

BOLDWOOD, meanwhile, produces his pocket book, containing the

letter. With forced casualness -

BOLDWOOD (CONT’D)

On a separate matter, between

ourselves, I wonder, do you know

whose handwriting this is?

(He shows him the

envelope)

It’s just a foolish thing

GABRIEL:

There was no name?

BOLDWOOD:

No, I believe that is where the fun

lies. Do you recognise it?

He does. And with recognition, he understands BATHSHEBA’s

intentions too. Her perceived ambition. It all makes terrible

sense.

GABRIEL:

Miss Everdene’s.

60 INT. CORN EXCHANGE, CASTERBRIDGE - DAY 60

Deaf to the noise around him, BOLDWOOD watches BATHSHEBA.

For the first time he notices the curve of her neck, the

colour of her lips, the shape of her ear. To FARMER STONE;

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