Under the Greenwood Tree Page #4

You play beautifully, Miss Day.

I will have the harmonium moved

into the church within the fortnight.

Miss Day, you are distressed.

What has happened?

A man has asked me to marry him and...

and I'm confused, I don't know what to do.

I see.

Do you love this man?

Well, there are all sorts of love, are there not?

There's the passionate sort

that has no future and...

And then there's the sort that starts with liking

and gets deeper with time.

Perhaps.

You will do what is right.

Miss Day!

I'm sorry for coming unannounced,

but I had to see you.

Please, sit down. Can I...

I have considered your offer of marriage,

Mr Shinar...

and I'm afraid...

Please, say nothing more.

But I must. In all honesty, I should have been

more truthful from the start and not...

Let me say one thing, Fancy.

I'm a fool, I know,

and not versed in the ways of love.

- No, no, I...

- lf you thought my offer crude and material,

I would be mortified, for it is not what I feel.

No. No, not at all.

The truth is...

I started out wanting a pretty face

and a ready laugh to fill this echoing place,

I'll not deny it.

But the more I have got to know you, Fancy...

the more I feel an emotion...

I've never felt for a woman before.

There are no other words for it, Fancy.

It is love.

Oh, Mr Shinar.

I'll give you more time, Fancy.

- No, I...

- Let you put this declaration of my love

into the consideration.

That's all I ask.

- 'Tis come to this then, is it?

- Aye.

Miss Fancy Day and her fancy harmonium

will usurp us any day soon 'tis what I hear.

Through no fault of her own.

Nobody said it was, Dick.

I know it's not a Christian thing to say

but I cannot abide this parson and his new ways.

Maybe, but there it is. There's nothing to be done.

Maybe there is, maybe there isn't.

What mean you by that, Elias Spinks?

Maybe a small drop might help

the bad news slide down, Reuben?

'Tis Sunday morning, Robert.

I do see 'em.

I do see 'em.

- Who do you see, Leaf?

- Them.

Kissing and such in the woods.

Who did you see, Thomas?

Till she did run away from him,

eyes squirting tears like a fountain.

You keep it to yourself, Thomas,

'tis no one's business.

You know he can't abide a secret, Dick.

It'll tangle him up inside.

Out with it, Thomas.

I'm telling you, Thomas Leaf,

you keep it to yourself.

It was Dick! Kissing Fancy Day in Yalbury wood.

(ALL CLAMOURING)

- What is going on here?

- 'Tis a mere difference of opinion, my love.

Tap the cider, Mr Penny. Sabbath or no.

(CHURCH BELL TOLLING)

(FARTS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

But speak thou the things

which become sound doctrine.

That the aged men be sober, grave...

temperate...

sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

(LIGHT SNORING)

The aged women likewise.

That they be in behaviour as becometh holiness...

not false accusers...

not given to much wine...

teachers of good things...

that they may teach the young women to be sober,

to love their husbands...

(SNORING)

...to love their children...

(SINGING DRUNKENLY)

What are you doing? Stop!

Oi! No more, sonnies! Stop! Stop, my sonnies!

Stop, stop, stop, stop!

Sit down.

- You spoke well, Mr Maybold.

- Thank you.

How does the old saying go, my sonnies?

Something about valour and discretion,

I do believe.

Fancy.

I cannot tarry, I'm afraid.

I have school work to prepare.

There's something I must tell you.

- We were seen.

- Who was seen?

'Tis true then, is it, Dick Dewy?

You lead a girl on when all the time

you're making love to Miss fancy Fancy Day

in Yalbury wood.

You can have him. He's not worth it.

Fancy.

Have you any idea

what people are saying about you?

I don't care about idle gossip.

Then you should do!

Behaving like some milkmaid trollop!

Father!

You will get a reputation

and no respectable man will ever look at you.

- It was nothing.

- Nothing?

You kiss a man in public and say it was nothing?

It was a little flirting, that's all.

Maybe your reputation is not quite ruined.

But you must never see the boy again.

We live in the same village, Father.

I teach his brother and sister. I cannot...

You know what I mean, Fancy.

Drop him.

And do it quickly.

Before your life is undone.

- Yes, Father.

- Give me your word.

On your mother's grave.

Yes, Father.

Fancy, do we have to meet like this,

like we've done something wrong?

We have done something wrong.

Leastways, I have.

I shouldn't have done what I did.

What? Kissed me?

It gave you hope and that was wrong of me.

Look into my eyes, Fancy Day,

and tell me it was wrong.

I haven't come here to argue.

You'll find someone more attuned

to your way of life.

Attuned?

Some village girl, you mean?

I have a duty to my father, to my education.

There are things I want to do,

places I want to see.

Do them with me.

You know I cannot.

I have prospects.

- One day the business will be mine...

- Please don't make this harder than it is.

Some things are not meant to be

and we must accept that.

It's what has been dealt us.

Never.

I will never accept it.

(WINGS FLAPPING)

I wish you every happiness, Dick.

Please never speak to me on this subject again.

What did that tree ever do to you, Dick Dewy?

I've been thinking, Father, about the business.

How long have we been carriers in this village?

Well, there's me, of course.

And Father, God bless him.

And his father afore him.

Hundred years or more.

And the business is the same size as it was

when it was started.

Aye, 'tis a steady sort of work.

I don't want steady, I want more.

Maybe we could buy out another carrier or...

open another business

in Budmouth or Casterbridge.

- We know nothing of Casterbridge.

- We can learn.

- We could build a new house.

- We have a house.

A proper house

with gardens and stables and servants.

I was born in this house and I'll die in it, too.

I want no more than I've got.

That's where we're different, Father.

I want a lot more.

ALL:
Moth.

ALL:
Horse.

- Spider.

- ALL:
Spider.

Spider.

(CHILDREN GIGGLING)

Dragonfly.

(DOG BARKING)

(HORSE NEIGHING)

Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Stupid dog. You could have killed us both.

(DISTANT MOANING)

(MOANING IN PAIN)

- Dick!

- Mr Day!

- Your leg's caught. I'll get you out.

- Get it off me!

Hold still, Mr Day. Hold still.

(SCREAMING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

Mr Shinar!

Mr Shinar!

(GROANING IN PAIN)

What were you doing there in the first place?

Just a walk for old time's sake.

They've moved the mantraps.

The doctor says it is a nasty wound

but a clean one.

You're welcome to stay here

as long as you like, Geoffrey.

You know that goes without saying.

Thank you, Mr Shinar. You are most kind.

Just glad to be of help, Miss Day.

Come on, boy.

When you are well, you shall come and stay

with me where I can keep an eye on you.

- Isn't he a fine man?

- Yes.

Without his help

I'm not sure I'd be here talking to you now.

He saved you from the trap?

He's a modest man.

He'd be affronted if you mention it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes