Under the Greenwood Tree Page #6

I cannot be your wife, sir.

Deep down I've always known it

and I should have told you so a long time ago.

Is it something I have said or done?

Because if it is...

You have been nothing

but kindness and patience, sir.

Then, why?

I know I am not the youngest man but...

I love another.

May I ask who this gentleman is?

This gentleman and I can never marry

for the differences in our positions

makes it impossible.

- Well, just...

- But I do believe I know what love is, Mr Shinar.

And what I feel for you is not it.

Forgive me.

- Not going already, Dick?

- I have an early start.

I've never known Dick Dewy

to be the first one to leave a dance.

People change.

I don't change, Dick.

I love you as I have ever loved you.

Don't say such things, Anne.

I'll be waiting for you when you get over her.

That will never be.

You will find someone who deserves you, Anne.

- I trust you're enjoying yourself, Miss Day?

- Very much, thank you.

I received a most exciting communication today.

Most exciting.

Can you keep a secret, Miss Day?

I have been asked

to become the parson

for the British Consul in Venice.

- In Venice?

- Can you believe it?

I had heard of the position and had asked

some friends to put my name forwards,

but never in my wildest dreams

did I imagine I would be chosen.

Congratulations, Mr Maybold.

Well, you will be much missed.

(CRASHING)

There it is.

Let's see how well it fares with a dollop

of Reuben's finest in its guts.

(THOMAS GIGGLING)

Shh.

(MAYBOLD SINGING IN ITALIAN)

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Mr Shinar.

You're a fool, Maybold.

I beg your pardon?

An even bigger fool than me,

if that can be imagined.

You're drunk, sir.

And you a churchwarden.

She loves you.

- Who loves me?

- Miss Fancy Day.

Miss Day?

She loves you

but believes you are above her station.

Treat her well, sir,

or you will have me to answer to.

(SHINAR BELCHING)

- Your father is recovering well, I hear.

- Yes, thank you.

We hope he will be back in his own house soon.

Doesn't bear thinking about what

would've happened if Dick hadn't come along.

Dick?

When your father was all gobbled up

by that mantrap.

No, it wasn't Dick.

I believe it was Mr Shinar who found my father.

Mr Shinar told them to put your father

in his house but Dick wrestled him out of the trap.

Dick never said anything to me about it.

Well...

He's a modest man, miss. It's not in his character.

But he must think I know and

I haven't acknowledged my gratitude to him.

I suppose he must.

It's just too bad of you, Dick Dewy.

Miss Day.

My shirt, please.

To let me go on thinking it was Mr Shinar who

saved my father when I now know that it was you.

- It's of no importance.

- It's of enormous importance.

And it could have had enormous repercussions.

My shirt, Miss Day.

Do you know what I said

to Mr Shinar's offer of marriage?

I may have heard something.

And what do you think about that, Mr Dewy?

I have no opinion of my betters, miss.

Are you going to give me my shirt, Miss Day?

I haven't decided yet.

(SCREECHES)

You ask me what I think? This is what I think.

Dick Dewy! Marry Dick Dewy?

The man who saved your life, yes.

Never! Never, never. It will never happen.

How could you let me go on not knowing

that it was Dick who pulled you from that trap?

Why do you think I lied to you?

So that I would marry Mr Shinar and you would

live in luxury for the rest of your days!

You think so little of me?

I did it because I love you, Fancy.

More than any father ever loved a daughter.

- Then why do you not let me be happy?

- Happy?

Married to Dick Dewy? Living in a damp house,

babies hanging from your breasts,

back broken with labour,

your husband out working from dawn till dusk

just to put a crust on your table?

- You exaggerate.

- Do I?

You have the opportunity to do great things.

I have declined Mr Shinar's offer.

There will be other offers.

So you will not give me permission

to marry Dick Dewy?

(CLEARS THROAT)

FANCY:
Who has travelled the furthest here?

Yes, Charley?

- I once went to the far side of Casterbridge, miss.

- Did you, Charley?

And anybody any further than that?

No? Well.

Miss?

My dad once went to Bristol.

Stand up, children, when I enter the room.

Now, off home with all of you.

I would like to speak with Miss Day.

Shoo! Off home with you all this instant.

And what could be so important, sir,

that it couldn't wait another hour?

My heart...

was overflowing, Miss Day.

My mind a chaos of imagery and excitement.

I simply had to talk to you.

Then talk, Mr Maybold.

I am a modern man, Miss Day.

I... believe in progress.

Even social progress, to an extent.

Lf...

a man loves a woman.

Do I make myself clear?

No.

You have enough in you for any society

after a few months' travel with me.

- Mr Maybold.

- We will marry within a month, Fancy.

Mere weeks after that

we shall be strolling through St Mark's Square

arm in arm as the sun dips down.

From Venice we will travel the world.

You are asking me to be your wife?

Well, of course. Didn't I say?

I thank you, sir, but...

l-l-I know what you are going to say

for I have heard it from another.

You love me, but you feel inadequate.

Well, no.

But you will be my wife, Fancy?

I'm sorry, sir, I cannot.

I offer you the world and your answer is no?

Good day to you, Miss Day.

[music]... tempestuous sea

[music] Guard us, guide us

[music] Keep us, feed us

[music] For we have no help but thee

[music] Yet possessing

[music] Every blessing

[music] If our God

[music] Our Father be

[music] Saviour breathe forgiveness o'er us

[music] All our weakness

[music] Thou dost know... [music]

(HARMONIUM PLAYING TUNELESSLY)

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

Fancy!

Are you hurt? Come on.

(FANCY SOBBING)

What are you looking at?

Steady, Fancy, nothing was meant by it.

It's a hateful, mean, gossipy little place

and I want no more of it.

Fancy!

Let her go. Let her go, boy.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Go away, Dick!

It's me. Parson Maybold.

I want to be alone, Mr Maybold.

Open the door, Fancy. Please.

I would simply like to apologise

on behalf of my congregation

for that shameful display, Miss Day.

You are the best thing to have happened

to this village for a generation

and this is how they treat you.

- You have nothing to reproach yourself for, sir.

- They are simple folk.

Like beasts of the field, they are fascinated

when a peacock lives amongst them.

Forgive them.

Miss Day.

Fancy.

It will ever be thus in this place.

You, a pearl before swine.

Let me take you away, my dear,

let me show you palaces and kings,

oceans and cathedrals.

Mr Maybold.

Even the most beautiful jewel

needs its rightful setting.

Yours is not Mellstock, Fancy, and never will be.

I shall not mention it again,

save to say that one word from you...

will have us married...

and away from here forever.

CHOIR:
[music] One night as I lay on my bed

[music] I dreamed about a pretty maid

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