Far From the Madding Crowd

GABRIEL You’re asking me?

BOLDWOOD She’s promised me an answer tonight.

GABRIEL Still, six years is a long time –

BOLDWOOD Five years, nine months, and a few days.

GABRIEL Sir. Be cautious, you have once been deceived –

BOLDWOOD Deceived? No. She never promised then, so she never broke her word.

GABRIEL She did, she did break her word!

BOLDWOOD She said, with all conviction –

GABRIEL Why do you insist on pursuing a lie!

BOLDWOOD Gabriel! She swore to me, she’d make me her promise today.

GABRIEL I cannot stand by and watch this. Excuse me.

GABRIEL goes. BOLDWOOD takes out a ring box out and looks at the jewel. Then the revels break into full swing. BOLDWOOD is looking for BATHSHEBA.

MARY-ANN Let us have a carol. How I love to sing.

JAN If only we loved to hear you.

JOSEPH I l-love to hear her.

CAINY I can play you a tune on the bugle.

Where’d you get a bugle from? Did you pinch

CAINY No.

JOSEPH L-l-let me see it.

BOLDWOOD Has your mistress come with you?

LIDDY Not yet – she wanted a moment to herself.

BOLDWOOD I hope to God she comes or my misery will be eternal!

LIDDY Oh dear. Mince pie, Sir?

He gives her a look. She eats the mince pie. BATHSHEBA arrives – she is radiant.

BOLDWOOD Mrs. Troy! You have come.

BATHSHEBA Of course.

BOLDWOOD I have been aching to see you.

BATHSHEBA Sir, I’ve only just arrived!

BOLDWOOD I am longing to ask.

BATHSHEBA We’re in company.

BOLDWOOD Do not keep me in suspense!

He pulls her to one side whilst the others gather to sing. The music starts. He seizes the opportunity.

You promised me an answer.

BATHSHEBA But I – Mr Boldwood!

BOLDWOOD Please! Please!

BATHSHEBA I need more time.

BOLDWOOD You promised me! You swore you would promise by Christmas. I cannot endure it!

BATHSHEBA Then I give my promise, if I must.

BOLDWOOD You do?

BATHSHEBA Though it is as the rendering of a debt. And conditional on my being a widow.

BOLDWOOD You’ll marry me between five and six years hence?

BATHSHEBA I’ll marry nobody else.

BOLDWOOD You must name the time or the promise is empty.

BATHSHEBA How can I when there’s doubt of his death.

BOLDWOOD What doubt?! Just say the words – say them! Promise me, for I deserve it. I have loved you more than anyone in the world!

BATHSHEBA Very well. I’ll marry you in six years from today, if we both live – and if my Troy is dead.

He pulls her out of sight round a corner.

Sir!

BOLDWOOD Oh Bathsheba! My heart is singing. Take this as a token.

BATHSHEBA I can’t wear a ring!

BOLDWOOD (Trying to force it on her) Come, now!

BATHSHEBA Stop! You’re frightening me. Let me go.

BOLDWOOD Just tonight, wear it for me, please.

She puts it on reluctantly.

God bless you! I have never been as happy in my life.

They re-emerge and sing, BOLDWOOD full of joy, BATHSHEBA almost broken. As the merriments continue, the door opens, and a figure enters, his clothes disguising him. BOLDWOOD sees him.

Another guest! Come in and drain a Christmas cup with us, stranger!

TROY walks into the room – takes off his cap – a shudder of recognition rolls round the room.

BATHSHEBA Frank!

TROY (To BATHSHEBA) I come here for you. (Pause) Come home with me. (Pause) Did you hear what I said? Come with me.

She doesn’t move. TROY approaches her.

Bathsheba.

BOLDWOOD Bathsheba, go with your husband.

She looks at BOLDWOOD, then back at TROY.

TROY I will not ask again.

TROY grabs her – and yanks her arm. She screams. A shot. TROY falls. They all look to BOLDWOOD, who holds a gun. He turns the gun on himself. GABRIEL, who just entered, knocks him to the floor to stop him.

BOLDWOOD It makes no difference! I am dead anyway.

He crosses the room and leaves. Silence. BATHSHEBA cries over TROY’s body.

19. Confession

BOLDWOOD walks through the dark night, to the prison. A porter’s window opens.

PORTER Sir? Tis no visitors now.

BOLDWOOD I am not here to visit. I have killed a man. I deliver myself up.

20. Madness In The Spring

Three months pass. Light changes from the cold crispness of January to the warmth of springtime. MARY-ANN is airing sheets, when LIDDY arrives in a fluster.

LIDDY Mary-Ann, Mary-Ann!

MARY-ANN And where have you been?

LIDDY You haven’t heard?

MARY-ANN Heard what?

LIDDY Oh, I’d have thought everyone had heard.

MARY-ANN What?

LIDDY Well that is a surprise – I thought all ears had had it by now.

MARY-ANN Lydia Smallbury – hold the end of this sheet and tell me what! Have they named his sentence?

LIDDY Not yet. It’s what they found at Boldwood’s that’s the news.

MARY-ANN Well go on!

LIDDY They were turning out all his things, then low and behold, in a closet, what seemed it was locked, only it wasn’t, just the key wasn’t in it, so they had to find the key –

MARY-ANN Liddy!

LIDDY Well! When they opened it, you’d never believe it – piles and piles of ladies’ dresses, silks and satins, poplins and velvets, all in her colours, and cases of jewellery, lockets and rings, all in secret, and all wrapped and labelled ‘For Bathsheba Boldwood’ and dated six years hence.

MARY-ANN Lord above.

LIDDY He was mad in love with her.

MARY-ANN Mad as a bedlam boy.

LIDDY That’s exactly what Gabriel said, his face all lit up and saying it was the best thing could possibly happen

MARY-ANN How so? Has he caught the madness and all?

LIDDY Not a bit. But Gabe said if Boldwood is mad then his life could be spare. See, if they prove he acted outside hisself, not knowing his own mind, then they won’t hang him.

MARY-ANN Jesus Mary, that shepherd is a clever one. Where is Gabe to now?

LIDDY Gone to Casterbridge to put forward the evidence. He says, if they accept it, it’ll have to go to London, to the home secretary. And we’ll have to gather ourselves and sign a petition, saying we seed Mr Boldwood as mad as a spring foal.

MARY-ANN Well then – put the sheet down and get your hat – we are going to Casterbridge!

21. Verdict

A fortnight later. Music. A crowd gathers. BATHSHEBA arrives.

BATHSHEBA Is there any news?

JAN He’ll be strung up at eight, I’m sure of it.

BATHSHEBA Don’t speak like that.

MATTHEW Tis out of our hands, Miss. If there was good news, I’m sure Gabe’d have brought it by now.

BATHSHEBA Oh this is madness.

MARY-ANN They cannot take another life. She’d go out of her mind.

JOSEPH I hope you are right. Y-y-you often are.

MARY-ANN Am I indeed? What are you fishing for, Joseph Poorgrass?

JOSEPH N-n-nothing.

MATTHEW elbows JOSEPH in the ribs as if to say ‘Go on!’. GABRIEL appears.

BATHSHEBA Gabriel. What news?

GABRIEL takes his hat off.

GABRIEL Yes, ‘tis come. Your testaments were listened to. He is not to hang. ‘Tis confinement by Her Majesty’s pleasure.

Much rejoicing and relief.

BATHSHEBA Well, there is some good news at last! Joseph, will you fetch a barrel from the barn. And Liddy, see what treats you can find in the larder. You must all come inside and toast your hard work.

JAN Inside the house, ma’am?

BATHSHEBA Why not? It’s not often we’re such cause to celebrate. Go ahead. (They begin to go in)

CAINY What treats, ma’am?

BATHSHEBA What would you say to some lardy cake?

CAINY It’s my favourite.

CAINY darts inside. Only GABRIEL is left in the yard.

GABRIEL No ma’am, I don’t think so.

BATHSHEBA Whyever not? Gabriel, this is your doing. (She looks at him) Is something troubling you?

GABRIEL No, I merely – I need to speak to you on a matter of business.

BATHSHEBA Go on.

GABRIEL The fact is, I must leave the farm. I resign my post.

BATHSHEBA Give up the farm? Whatever do you mean?

GABRIEL I mean that I must go. I will see the year out, I won’t leave you lame, but come Spring – I will be gone.

BATHSHEBA Spring? So soon? Where’ll you go?

GABRIEL To California.

BATHSHEBA America? What on earth would possess you to go there?

GABRIEL They are in need of shepherd s and cattle men.

BATHSHEBA But you can’t leave. I need you!

GABRIEL I can leave and I must. I have my reasons – please don’t push me for them –

BATHSHEBA But I cannot manage without you.

GABRIEL And that is untenable. You cannot rely on me. I am your baily, that is all.

BATHSHEBA Gabriel – you’ve been with me so long. Don’t leave me. Not now. I cannot lose you again.

GABRIEL Lose me? You ordered me to go.

BATHSHEBA And now I order you to stay! I am helpless without you!

GABRIEL (Suddenly emotional) And that is why I cannot stay – it is not right, I am not your…! Why can’t you see! (He goes)

BATHSHEBA Gabriel! Gabriel!