Under the Greenwood Tree Page #3

'tis of no consequence to me.

Father's right, Mr Shinar, you're very kind.

Nonsense.

Give the boy some wine, Fancy.

'Tis from France.

Care of Mr Shinar.

A rather fetching drop of Bordeaux,

though I say so myself.

Best stick with your father's cider, eh, Dick?

FANCY:
You must forgive him

if my father is a little

overenthusiastic about Mr Shinar.

DICK:
It's his own house. He can like who he likes.

My father used to be a gamekeeper

on the Duke of Yalbury's estate.

He fell in love with the niece

of his employer and he married her.

DICK:
Whoa! Whoa, whoa! Smart.

Your mother?

She was cut off without a penny or a kind word.

She died two years later.

My father always blamed himself

for dragging her down.

He's made it his life's work

to see me married well.

What are your thoughts on Mr Shinar?

They're private, is what they are.

Get on.

All done, Miss Day.

I suppose you should call me Fancy now

as we're friends.

If that's what we are.

Wash your hands, Dick.

You first... Fancy.

- You're dirtier than me.

- But you're a lady.

Now the hot water's used up.

Cold will do.

If you don't object,

you could use the same water as me.

Not at all.

And to save time, I won't wait till you have done...

if you have no objections.

I don't know which are my own hands

and which are yours.

Towel.

Whoever thinks of a towel

until their hands are all wet?

Nobody.

Nobody. Where is that towel?

Wait, Fancy.

I believe you have a smut of dust

on your forehead.

- I do?

- Let me, 'tis soon done.

Hold still.

Dick Dewy!

- Is there anything further I can do for you?

- Certainly not!

I shall see you very soon, Miss Fancy Day.

FANCY:
They say that Venice

is the most beautiful city

in the whole world.

- Wondrous paintings and squares and churches...

- No.

Shh!

Tintoretto, Piazza San Marco, the Rialto.

And there's not a cart or a street

anywhere to be seen.

And who can tell me why?

- ALL:
Miss, miss.

- Bessy.

Oh, I'm a stupid old fool, Tristian.

Shaking like a leaf at my age.

Still, the prize is great.

Sir.

Right. How do I look?

I'm not a man for giving advice but if I was,

I'd advise you to forget Miss Fancy Day

and get on with your life.

Why would I forget the woman I love?

Love? You barely know her.

Is there an understanding between you?

Not yet, but there will be.

She's destined for greater things

than you, my son.

Anyway, she'll be married to Shinar

before the summer's out.

Who told you that?

Shinar's got his hat set on having her

and what Mr Shinar wants...

Mr Shinar gets.

SHINAR:
So, anything you want, it shall be yours.

MAN:
Mr Shinar.

Anything you want, it shall be your...

REUBEN:
Don't be a child, son. Miss Day will do

what she has to do. 'Tis the way of the world.

- You don't know her.

- What would you have?

An educated woman like that

living as a carrier's wife in our crowded cottage,

with kids and dogs running about her legs?

'Tis not thinkable, Dick.

Now there's the woman for you, Dick Dewy.

And I hope you have the sense to see it

afore she finds another.

You and your father will never need...

You and your father...

You and your father will never want...

Beautiful.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Mr Shinar.

Go on.

Miss Day.

Lovely morning, is it not?

It is. It is indeed very lovely.

Oh!

Are you going for a walk?

I don't believe in aimless walking.

Don't see the point in it.

Not that I'd stop you, for I wouldn't.

You'll come and go as you please.

You'll not find me a harsh man in that respect.

I'm not sure I understand you, sir.

I've come here to ask for your hand

in marriage, Miss Day.

Marriage?

I know I'm maybe not the catch

you dreamed of in your girlish days,

but I will be a devoted and loving husband

and I will share everything I have with you.

You and your father will never want

for anything again.

You'll be the most important woman in the area.

- What say you, Fancy?

- I'm very flattered, Mr Shinar.

I see that my overture is a shock to you, Miss Day,

and I'll not force you for an answer straightaway.

Just give me your word

you'll think my offer over and I'll be gone.

I give you my word.

I'll make you happier

than a woman has ever been.

Just give me the chance.

Good day, Miss Day.

Good day, Mr Shinar.

Miss Day?

Just imagine. You, the mistress of Mellstock.

I haven't said yes yet,

only that I'll consider his proposal.

He will shower you with riches.

Silk dresses from London. Perfumes from Paris.

Diamonds and emeralds and rubies

by the cartload.

Stop it.

Is he a good man?

I believe he is, yes.

Hard when he wants to be, for sure,

but you don't get to do

what he's done without breaking a few eggs.

But they say he is kind beneath the gruffness.

How's Dick? I haven't seen him in an age.

That's because you avoid him, miss.

I think he may have exaggerated

my affection for him.

He's a little lovelorn, I'd say,

since he heard about Mr Shinar.

Still, Father hopes he and Anne Roebuck

will be married before the year's out.

Really?

(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)

(CHOIR SINGING)

- You're avoiding me, Fancy.

- Hardly, Mr Dewy.

Back to Mr Dewy.

If you have something to say to me,

I'd rather you said it to my face.

I have nothing to say to you, Mr Dewy.

Fancy, I've missed you.

Please don't talk to me in such a way.

If I gave you hope, then I apologise.

I want no apology for a kiss.

I want your honesty...

- Miss Day.

- Mr Shinar.

Mr Dewy, would you mind leaving

Mr Shinar and I alone for a moment?

Not at all, Miss Day.

I... Oh.

I was wondering if you'd had time

to think about my offer.

- I've thought about it, of course.

- No hurry, lass. None at all.

I don't want you doing anything against your

will, but I never was very good at waiting.

You're very kind.

I have such a picture of the two of us in my house.

Laughter, music and, maybe, if God smiles on us,

the pitter-patter of little Shinars.

Reuben.

I hear Mr Shinar has proposed, then.

He has.

Just waiting on the girl to say yes.

And she will say yes, do you think?

She's like her mother. She needs to squeeze

the last bit of drama out of the thing.

But those church bells will be ringing out

come harvest time, you mark my words.

I'm very glad to hear that, Geoffrey.

Reuben.

So...

you're to marry Farmer Shinar?

I fear you may have misconstrued

an innocent friendship, Mr Dewy.

I've not read the books you have read

but I know it was more than a friendship.

And so do you.

I hear you yourself will be married

before the year is out.

You get over a broken heart very quickly,

Mr Dewy, if that's indeed what it was.

It's not true, Miss Day. It is broken

and will remain so until the day you fix it.

You'll be waiting till you turn to stone, then.

(WHISPERING) I knew you felt the same, Fancy.

I knew it.

I tasted it on your lips the first time I kissed you.

Take me home, please.

Say you'll be mine, Fancy.

You know I cannot.

(PLAYING SOLEMN HYMN)

Mr Maybold. The door was open, I...

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