Far from the Madding Crowd Page #3

And then I realized.

But it's all right, isn't it, Frank?

I mean, it can always be tomorrow,

can't it?

You fool, for so fooling me.

Oh, Frank, I am sorry.

- But it can be tomorrow, can't it?

- Can it?

You made a fool out of me.

- Well, when will it be, Frank?

- I don't know. I don't know.

I said I was sorry!

Why, I wouldn't give you

45 shillings a quart for it.

- Forty-five shillings a quart?

- No, not 45 shillings.

Good morning, miss.

Good morning.

I wonder if you could help me.

Where would I get the best corn seed?

You've come to the right place.

That's old Everdene's niece.

- Who?

- Old Everdene's niece.

Sam here has the finest in the county.

Trouble is, it's gone the moment

he sets his foot in the exchange.

'Tis true. 'Tis true.

I haven't got a sack left.

Still, I dare say,

you could thresh an extra sack or two?

Well, I dare say, I might, possibly.

But, mark you, 60 shillings a sack

is what I've been offered.

Sixty shillings?

You'll not find better than that, miss,

wherever you go.

Here, have a look on it.

There's no nose to it.

You won't find better grain than that

in the market.

Well, now, I know nothing

about these matters, it's obvious.

Oh, you can trust Sam, miss.

Or I'd say that this was...

...a fusty, pinched,

no-good parcel of pig fodder.

Stay.

Hurry. Come on. Get them up there, now.

Gabriel. Good morning.

Well, miss?

- I've been checking the records.

We've never had so many lambs come

to maturity as this year. Not ever.

Well, we've been lucky, miss.

I've been lucky.

Morning.

Morning, Mr. Boldwood.

- Good morning, Miss Everdene.

- Mr. Boldwood. Good morning.

I have come,

hoping that I might speak to you.

Yes.

Yes, of course.

L... I feel almost too much to think.

But I've come to talk to you

without preface.

My life has not been my own

since I've beheld you clearly.

Miss Everdene, I've come to make you

my offer of marriage.

Beyond everything,

everything I ever believed...

...I want you as my wife.

It will be a good thing

to put the whole valley under one master.

What's her got to get married for?

Her's strong enough to fight her battles.

Well, he's a fine man.

She'd be lucky to have him.

Shouldn't I like to kiss her.

Oh. Smack her on her cherry-red lips.

I should say so. Ha, ha.

That ought to cool you off.

That's enough of that smack-and-coddle

style of yours, Mark Clark.

Do you understand?

I would never have spoken out...

...had I not been led to hope.

Oh, that foolish valentine.

Foolish?

That foolish, wanton valentine.

If you can only forgive me

for my thoughtlessness.

No, don't say thoughtlessness.

Make me believe it was something more,

a sort of prophetic instinct.

The beginning of a feeling

that you would like me.

You shall have everything you want.

No worries. No household cares.

No thought of weather in the harvest.

I wish I could put my feelings

into more graceful shape.

Miss Everdene, if you could...

I do not love you, Mr. Boldwood.

Certainly, I must say that.

Say, at least,

that you do not refuse me absolutely.

God only knows

how much you mean to me.

I don't know what to say.

- Then say nothing...

- I must say...

...and let me speak to you again

upon the matter.

I'm afraid they will notice us.

- May I call on you tomorrow?

- Oh, no, please.

No, please.

You must give me time.

Any time.

I'm happier now.

Oh, no. I beg you, really,

you mustn't think...

No, no, no. I must think.

Yes.

And I will wait.

Gabriel.

Are you there?

Gabriel.

Is that you?

Yes, miss.

Did you not hear me calling?

No, miss.

I wondered whether everything

was ready for the shearing.

Oh, yes, indeed, miss.

You needn't worry on that score.

Tell me, Gabriel,

did the men make any observation...

...on my going off with Mr. Boldwood?

Yes, they did.

Did they think it odd?

No, miss, not odd.

Well, what did they say?

That Boldwood's name and your own...

...were likely to be flung

over pulpit together.

Oh, that's absolute nonsense.

There's not a word of truth in it.

And I want you to tell them so, Gabriel.

Well, now, Bathsheba...

Miss Everdene, you mean.

I mean this, Miss Everdene, I mean this.

If Mr. Boldwood really spoke to you

of marriage...

...I am not gonna put it about

that he didn't just to please you.

I already tried to please you too much

for my own good.

I only want you to tell them

that I'm not going to marry him.

Not that there'd be any shame in it

if I were.

However, I'm not,

and I'd be glad if you told them so.

I can say that to them, if you wish,

Miss Everdene.

Likewise, I could give an opinion

to you on what you've done.

I dare say you can.

But I don't want your opinion.

Well, what is your opinion?

That it's unworthy.

I'm sorry if that sounds like a reprimand.

Oh, no, not at all.

As far as I'm concerned,

a reprimand from you...

...is the same as a compliment

from anyone of real judgment.

And where in particular

lies my unworthiness?

In not marrying you, perhaps?

I long ceased thinking about that.

Or wishing it, I suppose?

Or wishing it, either.

My opinion is...

...that you are blame for playing pranks

on a man like Mr. Boldwood.

Leading a man on you don't care for,

for the fun of it.

Just to satisfy your own vanity.

How dare you criticize

my personal conduct.

- You invited it.

- I will not allow any man to criticize me.

I won't have you a moment longer.

Very well.

In that case, I shall be glad to go.

Go then, in heaven's name.

Very good, Miss Everdene.

Can't you do anything?

There's only one man

in the county that knows the trick.

Well, get him.

Go on, hurry.

Shepherd Oak, missus.

I won't have him on this farm.

How about Farmer Boldwood?

He'll know.

He haven't got the touch,

saving your presence, not with animals.

They'll all be as dead as nits

if they bain't be gut out and cured.

I won't have him on this farm.

I won't.

I won't, I won't, I won't.

She says you must come at once,

Gabriel.

Must?

You go tell your mistress for me

that beggars can't be...

"...choosers," he says.

And you must ask him civil.

As becomes any human being...

...begging a favor from another.

I won't.

Go. Yip. Yip.

Go.

- Hey.

- Hey, hey.

Get on. Get up.

Get up. Get on.

Hey. Ho, ho.

Hey.

- Hey, get on.

- Get on.

- Get up.

Here.

Here we go.

Get on now.

Hey. Here. Get on.

- Gabriel?

- Get on.

Get on. Ho.

Gabriel?

Would you stay on with us, please?

I will.

Now, Master Poorgrass,

what about your song?

- Mine, ma'am?

- Yes.

I be all but in liquor

and the gift is wanting in me.

Don't be ungrateful, Joseph.

Mistress is looking hard at you.

- Come on. Come on, now.

Come on.

Yeah, come on. "Seeds of Love."

- "Seeds of Love."

- "Seeds of Love."

Hush-a-bye. Hush-a-bye.

Good evening, sir.

Mr. Boldwood, how nice to see you.

Good evening, Miss Everdene.

Evening, sir.

Evening, Mr. Boldwood.

Evening.

Gabriel, would you...?

Will you sit down, Mr. Boldwood?

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