Far From the Madding Crowd

LIDDY Only a day. She’d been seamstering in Melchester they say, and only came this way on Sunday. She must have traipsed every step of the way.

BATHSHEBA From Melchester? Did she walk along our turnpike-road?

LIDDY I believe so, Ma’am.

BATHSHEBA When did she pass Weatherbury?

LIDDY Saturday night.

BATHSHEBA That’ll do. Go on.

LIDDY Ma’am.

BATHSHEBA Wait! What colour was her hair?

LIDDY Black as anything. She always packed away under her cap, but I saw her let it down once, and it was beautiful dark like the night sky.

BATHSHEBA And her young man. He was a soldier?

LIDDY Yes. In Mr. Troy’s regiment, they were good friends, I think.

BATHSHEBA Why do you think that?

LIDDY Once day I asked your husband if he knew Fanny’s young man, and he said, ‘Oh yes’, as well as he knew himself, and that there was no man in the regiment he liked better.

BATHSHEBA Did he indeed.

LIDDY And, to be sure, he would have been handsome, for when they’re in their scarlets –

BATHSHEBA Liddy, for Heaven’s sake! Cease your chatter. Now go on – out! Out!

13. The Drowning Of Sorrows

JOSEPH POORGRASS, MATTHEW, the OLD MAN and

JAN COGGAN are drunk and singing in the malthouse. GABRIEL arrives in a fury.

GABRIEL Joseph Poorgrass!

JAN Here we go.

GABRIEL Upon my soul, I’m ashamed of you.

JOSEPH D-don’t take on so, shepherd! No-one can hurt a d… d…

GABRIEL A what?

JAN A dead woman, shepherd. Come now, we told him to sit and take a dram, so frighted was he by his pale companion in the wagon.

GABRIEL You left her on the road like cargo on the back of your cart! To come and feed your thirst. God grant you grace.

MATTHEW Hey, no speed of his will bring her back. Drink and be friends, Gabe, for tomorrow we may all be like her. (About OLD MAN) He already is.

OLD MAN Eh? Why I remember her grandfather –

He pours GABRIEL a drink. He doesn’t take it.

GABRIEL You’re all so drunk as you can’t stand.

OLD MAN No. We just all caught the disease of ole two eyes – all of yous is double – at least!

JOSEPH ‘Ts like being aboard the ark!

GABRIEL And what of the coffin? You know the church won’t bury her now; it’s too dark. (To JOSEPH) You gonna take her home with you Joseph Poorgrass?

JAN ‘T’d be first time he’d taken a woman home as long as I’ve known him.

GABRIEL Shame on the lot of you. I’ll have to take her to the farm; you better just hope the Mistress don’t object.

GABRIEL leaves. A beat.

OLD MAN Gable Oak. Just like his father.

14. The Spectre Of The Past

GABRIEL oversees the coffin being brought into the house. Left alone with it, he sets flowers and a crucifix upon it. Then he notices there are two names chalked on it – ‘Fanny Robin and child’. He doesn’t know what to do. He pauses, torn, he walks away. Then he hears a noise – BATHSHEBA’s coming. He makes a decision and rubs out the other name, just in time.

BATHSHEBA Gabriel.

GABRIEL (Almost caught out) You sure this is all right, Ma’am?

BATHSHEBA We can hardly leave the poor soul in the coach house, can we. Whatever her situation, she’s still our sister.

GABRIEL Will you be all right here on your own; I can sit up and wait for the Master if you like?

BATHSHEBA You may be sitting up all night. No, I’ll bide here for another hour, but if he’s not returned by then I’ll give him up and go to bed. Thank you.

GABRIEL You take care.

GABRIEL exits. BATHSHEBA, now alone with the coffin, is at a loss. She decides to pray and kneels by the coffin. LIDDY enters behind her and puts her hand on her shoulder.

LIDDY Ma’am.

BATHSHEBA Arrrgh!! Oh Liddy! I thought you were – I won’t say what I thought you were. Why aren’t you in bed?

LIDDY I couldn’t sleep. I heard such a strange thing in the village – and try as I might I couldn’t put it out of my head.

BATHSHEBA What did you hear?

LIDDY About Fanny. Though it’s so wicked I can hardly say it.

BATHSHEBA Liddy.

LIDDY They said she was with child.

BATHSHEBA It’s not possible.

LIDDY But what if she was? If she and the soldier –.

BATHSHEBA Liddy! Who would do such a thing? I won’t believe it.

LIDDY It’d say. It’d say if it’s true. On the coffin.

Pause. BATHSHEBA approaches the coffin.

BATHSHEBA There – look, there’s only one name chalked on the lid.

LIDDY Thank the Lord. I couldn’t bear to think of a little one passing without being blessed.

BATHSHEBA Now back to bed with you. We shall have to work extra hard tomorrow if we’re to be ready for the funeral.

LIDDY Thank you, ma’am.

LIDDY leaves. BATHSHEBA stands, restless.

BATHSHEBA Oh would to God you would speak and tell me your secrets, Fanny!

Then she makes a decision. She takes a screwdriver and forces the lid open. She reels back, her worst thoughts confirmed.

It cannot be. It cannot be!

She sinks down in tears. TROY enters the room unseen.

TROY What is this?

BATHSHEBA Frank…

TROY Who is dead?

BATHSHEBA Frank – don’t –

TROY Who is it?

BATHSHEBA Let me out, I want air.

TROY No! Stay.

He approaches the coffin and looks inside it. A light inside him goes out.

No. No. Oh Fan!

TROY pulls FANNY up out of the coffin. He kisses FANNY. BATHSHEBA flings herself at him.

BATHSHEBA Don’t – don’t kiss them! I can’t bear it, you’re my husband! Kiss me, Frank! Kiss me!

TROY She is more to me dead, than ever you were, or are, or could be. If Satan had not tempted me with that cursed face of yours, I should have married her. Would to God that I had; but it is too late!

BATHSHEBA howls and runs out.

TROY picks up the dead baby and weeps. Time passes. BATHSHEBA wanders through the night – crying, then finds a place to sleep by a marsh.

15. Marsh

LIDDY and MARY-ANN come across BATHSHEBA lying in the grass.

LIDDY Mary-Ann! She’s here.

MARY-ANN Madam. Are we glad to have found you. You’ve been out here all night?

BATHSHEBA Is it only one night? Ugh. (Feeling her sore throat)

MARY-ANN The damp from the hollow has taken your voice.

LIDDY You’ve made yourself ill. Let’s get you home.

BATHSHEBA I can’t go back. Not yet. Maybe I’ll never go back.

LIDDY Madam!

BATHSHEBA Has Fanny gone?

MARY-ANN They’re on their way to fetch her.

BATHSHEBA Then let’s wait.

LIDDY But you’re cold as the pond. (Passing her shawl) Take this.

MARY-ANN We can’t have you dying of a chill on our watch, the church is busy enough today without another funeral.

LIDDY Mary-Ann!

MARY-ANN Just saying. No matter how fine she is, there’s no breeding or beauty’s a match for the winter wind.

BATHSHEBA There’s no beauty left in this face. And if there was a trace, I’m sure I washed it away overnight.

LIDDY But you don’t mean it – about not coming home?

BATHSHEBA No. I thought about it, but only women without pride run from their husbands. I’ve chosen my course. I will face him – but not yet. Not until Fanny’s gone and my spirits have returned. Til then, I’ll stay here. And you two with me.

MARY-ANN In this cold? (Pause) Course we will.

LIDDY We’ll bring a hot broth.

BATHSHEBA Will you fetch me some books.

MARY-ANN Some of your old ones?

BATHSHEBA Yes, I haven’t the heart for anything new. Bring me The Maid’s Tragedy – ooh, and the Mourning Bride.

LIDDY What about that one where the Moor murders his wife? That is as sad and sombre as they come, how would that suit?

BATHSHEBA That sounds perfect.

16. At Church/ On The Coast

Two simultaneous scenes. In church, the congregation sing a rousing hymn. Meanwhile on the coast the sea roars, the waves crash. TROY makes his way to the shore. He takes off his jacket and trouser and walks out into the sea. The scene transforms to outside the churchyard.

BATHSHEBA You sang well, Gabriel.

GABRIEL I do enjoy it. Clears the lungs. How are you, Ma’am?

BATHSHEBA A little tired. I must admit, I’m hardly sleeping.

GABRIEL Then don’t go up to the yard today, I’ll do your part.

BATHSHEBA You cannot keep taking the workload for me. It’s hardly fair. Gabriel, would you be baily for me?

GABRIEL Ma’am?

BATHSHEBA You almost do the job already, you may as well be properly rewarded for it and I simply haven’t the strength at the moment.

GABRIEL If that is what you want.

BATHSHEBA It is, absolutely.

GABRIEL Then I accept, with pleasure.

LIDDY While we’re here, do you want to see where they put Fanny?

GABRIEL I don’t think that’s a good idea.

BATHSHEBA I’d like to see it.

GABRIEL I really think it’s better she doesn’t.

BATHSHEBA Gabriel – my husband has been missing for a week. What can hurt me more? Show me, Liddy.

LIDDY It’s over here.

BATHSHEBA walks towards it.

GABRIEL Bathsheba – don’t –

Too late. She’s read it. She catches her breath.

BATHSHEBA Oh. Oh.

GABRIEL Liddy – when will you learn to read.

BATHSHEBA walks off.

LIDDY What?

JAN In Beloved Memory of Fanny Robin, erected by Francis Troy.

LIDDY Oh no.

MARY-ANN You are a fool, Liddy Smallbury.

LIDDY You couldn’t read it!

MARY-ANN I could have guessed it.

LIDDY (Running after BATHSHEBA) Ma’am, I’m sorry!

A stranger arrives in the church yard.

MAN I am looking for Mrs. Troy.

GABRIEL That’s her over there. You’re unsettled, Sir?

MAN I have some awkward news to break to her. Her husband is drowned.

BATHSHEBA, approaching, overhears.

BATHSHEBA Drowned?! It cannot be!

BATHSHEBA faints. She is caught by JAN and LIDDY.

JAN What happened?

GABRIEL Troy is dead.