Far from the Madding Crowd Page #8

A beat.

BATHSHEBA:

Well, what is your opinion?

GABRIEL:

That you are greatly to blame for

playing pranks on a man like Mr

Boldwood. Your actions were

unworthy of you.

BATHSHEBA:

Unworthy! May I ask where my

unworthiness lies? In rejecting you

perhaps?

GABRIEL:

I’ve long given up thinking of

that.

BATHSHEBA:

Or wishing it?

GABRIEL:

Or wishing it either.

(Does he mean it? Has he

moved on? This blow hits

too. With great dignity)

But I will say this;

(MORE)

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

39

GABRIEL (CONT'D)

Leading on a man you don’t care for

is beneath you.

And with this parting shot he turns and walks away.

BATHSHEBA:

I cannot allow an employee to

criticise my private conduct. You

will please leave the farm at the

end of the week!

GABRIEL:

(calmly)

I’d prefer to go at once.

BATHSHEBA:

Then go! I never want to see your

face again!

A long moment.

GABRIEL:

Very well ‘Miss Everdene’. I’ll go

first thing tomorrow.

He walks away with great dignity, and BATHSHEBA can only

watch him go.

65 EXT. GABRIEL’S COTTAGE - DAY 65

His possessions on his back, GABRIEL closes the door of his

small, comfortable cottage, and sets off once again.

66 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 66

Bathsheba gallops up, Jan and Joseph running alongside.

Scattered across the field the sheep lie on their side, their

stomachs swollen, Jacob and Billy examining them.

BATHSHEBA:

What is wrong with them?

JOSEPH POORGRASS

They broke fence and got into a

field of young clover. Makes their

stomachs swell. Come see.

They approach one particular sheep, breathing fast, foam at

its mouth.

BATHSHEBA:

How did this happen? Who let them

break fence?

(the men look at the

ground)

(MORE)

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

BATHSHEBA (CONT'D)

And why didn’t you tell me sooner?

(BATHSHEBA kneels.)

Poor thing. What do we do now?

JOSEPH POORGRASS

Nothing. The whole flock is

blasted.

BATHSHEBA:

Blasted? You mean they’re all going

to die?

BILLY SMALLBURY:

Most probably.

JAN COGGAN:

(with a sheep)

Another one gone here.

BATHSHEBA:

But there must be something we can

do!

JACOB SMALLBURY:

(the elder, sagely)

Only one way of saving them.

BATHSHEBA:

What is it? Tell me, quickly!

JACOB SMALLBURY:

They must be pierced in their side

with a tool made on purpose. A

hollow pipe, with a pricker inside.

BATHSHEBA:

Well can you do it?

Eventually -

JACOB SMALLBURY:

No.

BATHSHEBA:

Can I?

JACOB SMALLBURY:

Good lord, no. One inch to the

right or left and you kill the ewe

for sure. Not even a shepherd can

do it as a rule.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

41

BATHSHEBA:

Then who? Tell me!

(They look at the floor-)

No. Oh no.

67 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY 67

GABRIEL is well on his way to Casterbridge with hispossessions on his back. Healthier than when we first sawhim, but on the road again.

A shout comes across the fields.

JOSEPH POORGRASS

Gabriel! Gabriel Oak! Wait!

He turns, curious.

68 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 68

BATHSHEBA stooped over another dying sheep. Elsewhere -

JAN COGGAN:

Lost another one, ma’am

Breathless, JOSEPH POORGRASS rides up.

BATHSHEBA:

Why are you alone? Did you findhim?

JOSEPH POORGRASS

Yes miss...

BATHSHEBA:

So what did he say?

JOSEPH POORGRASS

(embarrassed)

He said...

BATHSHEBA:

Joseph, please...

All are listening.

JOSEPH POORGRASS

He said you’re to come in personand request him civilly in a proper

manner.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

42

BATHSHEBA:

Where does he get his airs! I’ll do

no such thing!

JOSEPH POORGRASS

He said you’d say that. He said to

reply that ‘Beggars can’t be

choosers’.

69 EXT. COUNTRY LANE - DAY 69

GABRIEL waits patiently, a picture of nonchalance as a figure

on horseback appears. BATHSHEBA.

If he’s enjoying this, he tries not to let it show. The mere

ghost of a smile as he stands.

BATHSHEBA dismounts. With some effort, she re-arranges her

face, from vexed pride to forced humility.

BATHSHEBA:

Mr Oak. Gabriel?

(a deep breath)

Please don’t desert me, Gabriel. I

need your help.

A moment. Then he walks abruptly towards BATHSHEBA...

...and past her, taking the reins of the horse, mounting it.

He’s about to ride off.

BATHSHEBA (CONT’D)

Make room for me.

GABRIEL smiles and holds out his hand to her -

GABRIEL:

Hold on.

He urges the horse into a gallop, BATHSHEBA holding on tight

around his waist.

70 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 70

- then across the fields. LIDDY, JAN COGGAN and the others

see them approach. JAN smiles.

JAN COGGAN:

You sly old dog...

71 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 71

GABRIEL kneels over a bloated sheep, reaches into his pocket

and produces a strange instrument.

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

43

A brass rod, with a needle concealed inside, a kind of basic

syringe. Like a surgeon, he passes his hand over the sheep’s

flank.

GABRIEL:

Find the spot...just here, between

the ribs...

And with a sudden, skilled motion, he stabs the sheep.

BATHSHEBA and the others recoil.

LIDDY:

Oh Lord!

GABRIEL:

Looks worse than it is. Now-

The lance pierces the skin, and when the needle is removed

the air rushes audibly through the tube. Slowly the sheep

visibly deflates, a living balloon. BATHSHEBA can’t help but

laugh. GABRIEL smiles and sets to work on his next patient.

72 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DAY 72

BATHSHEBA has the syringe now, and leans poised over a

bloated sheep. The other WORKERS look on -

BATHSHEBA:

Here?

GABRIEL:

Fast and strong and she won’t feel

it.

He takes her fingers, places them on a spot over the sheep’s

ribs. BATHSHEBA summons up her courage, raises the syringe

like a dagger -

LIDDY:

I CAN’T LOOK!

BATHSHEBA:

Liddy!

(she raises it again)

Perhaps you should do it.

GABRIEL:

And when I’m not here?

BATHSHEBA stabs the sheep. The needle is removed, the sheep

deflates. The crowd sighs in relief. BATHSHEBA laughs...

FFMC Shooting Script Sept 2013

44

73 EXT. FIELDS, EVERDENE FARM - DUSK 73

And now the sun is setting, and BATHSHEBA watches, admiring

his skill and dedication as GABRIEL, lit by lamps, moves

expertly from one sheep to the next.

BATHSHEBA:

Ridiculous animals. Always getting

into trouble.

And if GABRIEL remains his own misfortune, he doesn’t say

anything.

The last of the sheep is on its feet again. He crosses to

BATHSHEBA, and they survey the scene.

BATHSHEBA (CONT’D)

Gabriel. Stay on with me?

He smiles. And nothing more needs to be said.

74 EXT. EVERDENE GARDEN - NIGHT 74

A celebratory meal. BATHSHEBA’s piano has been moved out into

the yard and decorated with flowers, and JAN COGGAN plays and

sings a tune.

GABRIEL is dressed smartly, a man on the move at one end of

the table, BATHSHEBA at the other.

As twilight falls and the music plays, BATHSHEBA surveys the

bucolic scene and allows herself a smile for her

achievements. Her eyes meet GABRIEL’s in gratitude.

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