Far From the Madding Crowd

MRS. TALL His lawful wife.

BATHSHEBA Well, Laban – you’ll stay on?

MRS. TALL He will stay.

BATHSHEBA Can’t he speak for himself?

MRS. TALL Oh no – he’s a simple tool, but he’ll work for you, I’ll see to it.

BATHSHEBA All right. Joseph Poorgrass. How much to you?

JOSEPH P-p-please ma’am, I-I-I –

MATTHEW He’s a stammerer, Ma’am. He can cuss as well as the rest of us but he can’t speak common speech to save his life – not in front of a lady anyways.

JOSEPH M-Matthew!

JAN Though he ploughs well and shoots the sparrows in the Spring. He’s a good worker, ma’am.

BATHSHEBA Very well – here you are (Handing JOSEPH some money).

JOSEPH Th-th-th.

BATHSHEBA You can finish thanking me in a day or two.

CAINY bursts in.

CAINY Ma’am!

BATHSHEBA Cainy.

CAINY Fanny Robin’s run away with the soldiers!

BATHSHEBA Surely not.

JAN A steady girl like her?

CAINY She had a young man in the eleventh dragoon – and now they be gone and she’s followed after. That is it in black and white.

BATHSHEBA And the soldier’s name?

CAINY Nobody knew it.

BATHSHEBA Gracious. Well you’d better run to Mr. Boldwood’s and give him the news.

CAINY But I just ran from Casterbridge – me legs are broke!

BATHSHEBA Maybe this will help to mend them.

She gives him a shilling. His legs seems to magically revive.

CAINY They’re better already.

BATHSHEBA Liddy, will you see that the rest of the wages are distributed.

LIDDY Yes, ma’am.

BATHSHEBA Now. You’ll have all heard that I have dismissed the bailiff for thieving. I’m sure you’re all eager to know who’ll replace him.

MATTHEW Who is it ma’am?

JOSEPH Jan C-Coggan to be sure.

JAN Or the shepherd.

BATHSHEBA I’ve thought long and hard – and there’s no two ways about it – I must choose someone I trust.

LABAN Go on, Ma’am. Who?

BATHSHEBA I will do it. I’ll manage the farm with my own head and hands. I don’t see why I shouldn’t. I am perfectly capable. So mind you all know you have a Mistress now, not a Master. I don’t yet know my talents at farming, but I’ll do my best, and if you serve me well, so shall I serve you. And don’t any of you assume that because I’m a woman I am not capable.

ALL No, ma’am.

LIDDY Well said!

BATHSHEBA No indeed. I’ll be up before you’re awake, afield before you are up and breakfasted before you are afield. In short, I shall astonish you all. Well? What are you waiting for? To work!

They begin to leave. She catches GABRIEL on his way out.

Shepherd Oak. You quite understand your duties?

GABRIEL is taken aback by the coolness of her manner.

GABRIEL Quite well, I thank you Miss Everdene. If I don’t, I’ll enquire.

9. At The Barracks

Nighttime. Snow. FANNY sneaks through the dark. She throws a snowball at a window, then climbs the wall. Sergeant TROY opens the window. FANNY is hanging on underneath it.

TROY Knock, knock, who’s there?

FANNY Frank?

TROY Yes. What girl are you?

FANNY You cannot have more than one!

TROY Fanny? How did you come here?

FANNY I walked – then I waded. I had to ask which was your window.

TROY You can’t go asking!

FANNY You said I was to come.

TROY I said you might.

FANNY You are glad to see me, aren’t you?

TROY Course I am.

FANNY When’ll you come to me?

TROY We’re as good as jailed in here.

FANNY Then I’ll wait til morning.

TROY I’ll be on duty. Fan, you can’t come climbing up walls to see me.

FANNY So when’s it to be?

TROY When’s what to be?

FANNY Don’t make me say it when it ought to be you! The wedding! You’ve said again and again… (she cries)

TROY Hey – what’s all this? Don’t weep, Fan, it’s foolish. Look, if I said I will then I will.

FANNY You’ve got permission?

TROY Not yet.

FANNY You promised you’d ask. Frank!

TROY Hey – do you trust me?

FANNY With all my heart. Just – say when, Frank, do. For me.

TROY (Pause) All right then. Saturday.

FANNY What?

TROY Marry me on Saturday.

FANNY Where?!

TROY At All Saints Church. Do you know it?

FANNY Of course. Really?!

TROY Really.

FANNY Will you ask the parson?

TROY Yes. Meet me there, at half past eleven. Don’t be late.

FANNY How will I sleep til then?!

They kiss.

TROY Now go-on, before you get frostbite.

FANNY Good night. I love you!

She drops away from the window.

10. The Corn Market

A bustling market hall. Men milling around. BATHSHEBA enters – all eyes are on her.

TRADER 1 Who’s that then?

TRADER 2 Farmer Everdene’s niece – she’s took over the farm, turned away the baily and swears she’ll run it herself.

TRADER 1 What does a woman know of corn?

TRADER 2 Nowt, by the looks of her. She might pick it up.

TRADER 1 More likely she’ll be picked up herself – ooh.

He stops himself as BATHSHEBA is approaching.

BATHSHEBA How much is your corn, Sir?

TRADER 1 This? Oh this ain’t no good, it’s spoilt. This here be the corn you want. Best corn this side of Melchester.

BATHSHEBA Is it indeed. How much?

TRADER 1 For anyone else a shilling but I’ll give it ye for sixpence a pound.

BATHSHEBA Sixpence? Let me try it.

TRADER 1 Corn fit for Kings, ‘tis.

BATHSHEBA tastes a bit. She’s not impressed but won’t give it away.

BATHSHEBA What about the corn in that sack?

TRADER 1 That? That’s not for sale – tis old. And off. Hardly fit for pigs.

BATHSHEBA Then you won’t mind selling it to me cheap.

TRADER 1 Oh no – (Indicating the first bag) I tell you this is the corn you want.

BATHSHEBA No, this the corn I want.

TRADER 1 But ‘tis hardly fit as dust under your feet.

BATHSHEBA Is that so? Then you won’t mind my tipping it out –

She goes to pour it out.

TRADER 1 Stop! That’s my best corn!

BATHSHEBA I knew it! You think you can cheat me? Six month from now there’ll be one type of corn they’ll all be asking for and that’s Everdene corn. I’ll trade more in a month than you do in a year.

TRADER 1 I’d like to see you try.

BATHSHEBA Give me that bag. Sixpence, you say? I’ll get double. More!

She stops a passing man and speaks to him with flirtatious charm.

BATHSHEBA Sir.

GENT M’ lady.

BATHSHEBA Tell me, kindly, I have only one bag of corn left, the best in Wessex, and though I should love to keep it for myself, I rather thought I’d hold it back for someone special.

GENT Well…

BATHSHEBA Will you give me two shillings for it?

GENT Two shillings?! For corn!

BATHSHEBA Sir, this corn makes bread like man na from heaven. This corn will stay on your tongue and soothe you to sleep. This corn is a salve to your very soul. I picked it with my own fair hands.

GENT I say.

BATHSHEBA Come on, two shillings and six pence.

GENT And sixpence?!

BATHSHEBA For luck.

A pause. He looks at her. She gives him a saucy look.

GENT I don’t have a sixpence – only shillings.

BATHSHEBA Then give me three.

GENT You…

He looks at her. She smiles. He is smitten. He hands her the money.

Very well.

He goes with the corn. BATHSHEBA turns to the trader triumphantly.

TRADER 2 Well I never.

BATHSHEBA (Handing TRADER 1 a shilling) There you are then.

TRADER 1 What about the rest of it?

BATHSHEBA Now that’s how you make a profit.

She walks away triumphant. As she goes she sees BOLDWOOD across the room. LIDDY meets her.

BATHSHEBA There you are.

LIDDY Got what you wanted?

BATHSHEBA Yes I did. Who’s that man, Liddy?

LIDDY That’s Farmer Boldwood, proud as ever. I dare say he’s the only fellow in here who’s head you haven’t turned.

LIDDY heads out. BATHSHEBA watches BOLDWOOD, perplexed by his indifference.

Ma’am!

She follows LIDDY out. As she goes BOLDWOOD turns and watches her leave.

11. Valentines

LIDDY and MARY-ANN are dangling a key above the Bible and reciting names when BATHSHEBA comes in.

MARY-ANN Matthew Moon, Freddie Coggan, Limpy

Sackbutt –

LIDDY Limpy Sackbutt!

MARY-ANN Joseph Poorgrass.

BATHSHEBA What in heaven’s name are you doing?

LIDDY Finding a / husband.

MARY-ANN SAYING OUR PRAYERS!! Aren’t we Liddy.

BATHSHEBA Funny sort of prayers with Joseph Poorgrass ‘stead of Jesus. Well? What’s that behind you back?

MARY-ANN Liddy wants to know who she’s to marry.

LIDDY So do you, Mary-Ann!

BATHSHEBA With a bible and key?

LIDDY You never done it?

BATHSHEBA Don’t be ridiculous. (Pause) How do you play?

LIDDY You read the verse from Ruth – here – read it out.

BATHSHEBA I couldn’t possibly. ‘And Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God.’

MARY-ANN Now put the key in.

BATHSHEBA places the key in the page –

Then think of your sweetheart –

BATHSHEBA I don’t have a sweetheart.