Far From the Madding Crowd

9. Storm

Wind, rain, hell let loose. A figure moves through the storm, struggling against the wind. He stares in horror as a rick blows away.

GABRIEL By God.

He starts to climb a ladder. A figure approaches.

BATHSHEBA Who is there?

GABRIEL Gabriel.

BATHSHEBA Gabriel! It’s a disaster! Can we save any of it?

GABRIEL I am tying up the ricks but the wind is a devil – we need more men.

BATHSHEBA Where are they all?

GABRIEL Asleep in the barn, the whole lot of’em.

BATHSHEBA And my husband?

GABRIEL Passed out with the rest.

BATHSHEBA He promised the stacks would be seen to! Can I do something, anything?

GABRIEL You’re not afeared of a ladder in the dark?

BATHSHEBA We have to save the corn.

GABRIEL Then yes. You can help. Here.

They put up a second ladder together, hers next to his. They make their way up. The storm blasts them.

Hold onto me.

She slips and yelps. He helps her up.

You all right?

BATHSHEBA I can’t see a thing.

GABRIEL You’d better hope for lightning then. Here – we can do them together, one by one.

BATHSHEBA I’ll do whatever you tell me.

GABRIEL Hold on! You scared?

BATHSHEBA I trust you. Gabriel… thank you.

He looks at her – drenched, distressed and they begin to laugh. A burst of lightening. Thunder.

10. The Morning After

Night changes to morning, the storm passes. Workers stumble home, guiltily passing GABRIEL, who looks at them in disgust. BOLDWOOD passes.

BOLDWOOD Stormy night?

GABRIEL You could say. How are you, Sir?

BOLDWOOD Holding up. You look tired – and ill.

GABRIEL Thank you, Sir. I was up on the ricks all night, trying to save the corn. Yours are safe, I hope.

BOLDWOOD My what?

GABRIEL Your ricks – they were all covered?

BOLDWOOD Yes – uh, no.

GABRIEL No? The large ones on the staddles, at least?

BOLDWOOD I forgot to tell the thatcher.

GABRIEL And those up on the ridge? The stacks by the stile, you must have looked to them?

BOLDWOOD I fear I’ve overlooked them.

GABRIEL Then not a tenth of your corn will come to measure, Sir!

BOLDWOOD No, I don’t suppose it will.

GABRIEL Mr. Boldwood –

BOLDWOOD Things have rather gone wrong with me lately, Gabriel. I may as well own it. I thought for a time I should be settled in life – and happy – but somehow it’s all ended in nothing.

GABRIEL Sir –

BOLDWOOD I’m sure I’m a joke about the parish.

GABRIEL No-one judges you for feeling.

BOLDWOOD For goodness sake – I can’t seem to fend off my miserable grief! I had some belief in the mercy of God till I lost that woman. But he has smite me down.

GABRIEL Sir, you’ll always have my respect.

BOLDWOOD Thank you. Please – don’t mention this to anyone.

GABRIEL Of course not.

11. The Woman In The Road

TROY and BATHSHEBA are travelling along in a carriage.

BATHSHEBA Why do you scowl so?

TROY If it hadn’t been for that wretched rain I should’ve made two hundred as easy as looking.

BATHSHEBA But it’s the time of year for changeable forecasts.

TROY Well, everyone lost. The sky was black as my boots before the race even started, and when my runner dropped behind, I tell you I could hardly watch.

BATHSHEBA You didn’t lose it all?

TROY A hundred pounds.

BATHSHEBA Frank! That was my money. How will we keep the farm if you carry on.

TROY Tears again! Where’s all the pluck and sauciness you had when we met? If I’d known what a chickenheart you had, I should never have married you.

BATHSHEBA How can you speak / to me so?!

TROY Woah Poppet! (He’s seen a ragged woman by the side of the road)

FANNY Please, do you know what time Casterbridge Unionhouse closes?

TROY (Recognising her. Slowly) I wouldn’t know.

BATHSHEBA Oh, poor thing!

TROY (Getting out of the carriage) You go ahead, I’ll see to the woman.

BATHSHEBA Let me help!

TROY She is not for your eyes! She’s in a state. Bathsheba, stay there.

BATHSHEBA But Frank –

TROY Do you hear me? I said go home. Walk on!

TROY smacks the back of the cart and it moves off. TROY and FANNY face each other.

TROY It can’t be…

FANNY Frank?!

TROY How on earth did you come here? I thought you were miles away, or dead! Why didn’t you write to me?

FANNY I thought you wouldn’t want me.

TROY Oh Fan! (They embrace) Where have you-? Have you any money?

FANNY None.

TROY Damn, but I’ve hardly any to give you! Here’s – wretched – the merest trifle, but it’s every farthing I have. Take that for now. You’re staying at the Union?

FANNY I thought to go there.

TROY Not there, it’s wretched. Listen. Sleep there tonight and stay there tomorrow, then Monday morning, at ten exactly, I’ll meet you on Grey’s Bridge. You know it?

FANNY Yes.

TROY I’ll bring all the money I can muster. You shan’t want; I promise you. Then I’ll get you lodgings somewhere. Oh I am a brute. Until Monday.

FANNY Monday.

TROY (They kiss) You will be safe?

FANNY nods

TROY Oh Fan.

They embrace.

They part.

12. Suspicions

The next morning, BATHSHEBA is grating soap into a bucket in the kitchen. TROY is on his way out.

FRANK Could you let me have twenty pounds?

BATHSHEBA Whatever for?

FRANK Because I want it.

BATHSHEBA For the races.

TROY Suppose I want it for races.

BATHSHEBA Once you said I was sweeter than all your other pleasures, and that you’d give them all up for me, but now… won’t you let me please you? Stay here with me today, I’ll give you soft looks and –

TROY The money’s not for racing debts.

BATHSHEBA Then what’s it for?

TROY Why are you always suspicious?

BATHSHEBA I think I have the right to ask when I am paying.

TROY Don’t push me, or you might regret it.

BATHSHEBA I regret it already.

TROY Regret what, exactly?

BATHSHEBA That our romance is gone.

TROY All romances end at marriage.

BATHSHEBA Now you’re being smart at my expense!

TROY Well you are dull enough at mine. Come, let’s strike a balance – twenty pounds and we’ll be friends.

BATHSHEBA Take it.

He takes the money and puts it in his pouch. As he opens it, a lock of hair falls to the floor. He grabs it, but it is too late. She has seen it.

What’s that?

TROY Nothing.

BATHSHEBA A lock of hair! Whose is it?

TROY Yours of course.

BATHSHEBA It is black.

TROY Tisn’t.

BATHSHEBA Why do you insult me? Tell me whose it is.

TROY No.

BATHSHEBA Tell me!

TROY I won’t

BATHSHEBA Tell me, Frank!

TROY All right. If you insist. It belongs to one I was to marry before I met you.

BATHSHEBA Who? (Pause) Is she married now?

TROY No.

BATHSHEBA Is she pretty?

TROY Beautiful.

BATHSHEBA I cannot bear it! Do you love her more than me?

TROY Of course not.

BATHSHEBA Then burn the curl.

TROY I can’t.

BATHSHEBA Why not?

TROY Bathsheba! There are ties you know nothing of, people from my past, reparations I must make. But I swear to you, I’ve not looked on that curl for months.

BATHSHEBA What ties? (Pause) That woman on the path. It was her.

TROY Yes. There, now you’ve wormed it out of me, I hope you are content.

BATHSHEBA What ties?

TROY None that concern you.

BATHSHEBA Tell me, I insist!

TROY Bathsheba, don’t be so desperate!

He leaves. A doors slams. LIDDY comes in.

BATHSHEBA Liddy! What are you doing skulking about?

LIDDY I heard the door slam.

BATHSHEBA It was the wind. Lord, you’re white as bone. What is it?

LIDDY It’s Fanny Robin. She’s dead.

BATHSHEBA What? Where?

LIDDY In the Union at Casterbridge.

BATHSHEBA Whatever happened?

LIDDY I don’t know. They say she was in a terrible way and went out like a candle snuff. And now Mr. Boldwood’s to send a wagon to fetch her home and bury her.

BATHSHEBA No. Leave that to me. The Union? That’s the workhouse?

LIDDY Yes, ma’am.

BATHSHEBA How long had she been there?