The Crossroads (A Willow Webpage)

CUT SCENES

Meegosh is Injured

This is really a script change rather than a cut scene, but it's a curious one. Originally, Meegosh injures his arm when he falls into the brownie pit, forcing him to head for home. As a little bonus, in some sources this plot twist leads to a recurrence of the anti-Burglekutt rhyme that was cut from the Nelwyn festival scene.
In all versions of the story, Franjean declares that he is king of the world, a line that does not appear in the movie.
It seems odd that this change was made. The injury provides a compelling reason for Meegosh to drop out of the quest; without this, it's not clear why he suddenly quits and goes home after being doggedly faithful up to this point. In the novelization Cherlindrea orders him to go home (in addition to the injury), but this is probably the invention of the author.
This plot element has two components: the initial occurrence of the injury, and Meegosh's exit as a result. The documentation for both events is provided below, separated by asterisks.

Late Script Excerpt

Willow wakes up as a miniature pail of water hits him in the face. His wrists and feet are being bound. Several little BROWNIES are gawking and laughing at him. They wear aboriginal outfits, painted faces, and angry little haircuts. Tiny bonfires are burning all around. Meegosh, who is also tied, lies nearby, moaning in pain.
WILLOW: Where am I? Meegosh, are you all right?
MEEGOSH: I think my arm's broken.
Franjean, who rode the eagle, struts forward haughtily.
FRANJEAN: I am Franjean, King of the World!
The other brownies giggle, undermining Franjean's authority. A few tiny FAIRIES, like fireflies, zip around his face and irritate him.
WILLOW: Where's that baby! She's my responsibility!
[Franjean continues taunting Willow until Cherlindrea orders his release. You can read the full passage in the Scripts section.]

* * * * *

MEEGOSH: Home?
He jumps to his feet, eager to go.
WILLOW: How's your arm? Think you'll be able to make it?
MEEGOSH: Oh yeah, it's fine! Perfect! They put something on it.
But he massages his arm, still in pain.
WILLOW: Listen... I want you to tell Kiaya I love her and I think about her every day....
MEEGOSH: Willow...
WILLOW: ...and tell her I'm not going to let anything happen to the baby.
MEEGOSH: You've made up your mind? (Willow nods) It's gonna be dangerous, Willow -- maybe I should go with you.
WILLOW: Not with that arm, Meegosh. Give Mims and Ranon a hug for me. And don't let Kiaya worry.
MEEGOSH: You sure you know what you're doing?
WILLOW: I hope so.
MEEGOSH: Be careful. Daikinis say one thing and mean another.
The two friends embrace. Willow starts to leave.
MEEGOSH: Hey! Round the bend...
Willow stops and turns around.
WILLOW: Fat rear end.
MEEGOSH: He's a donkey.
WILLOW: I'm your friend, Meegosh.
They smile the old boyhood smile, as Willow heads off.

Graphic Novel Illustrations

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Click on images to enlarge

Novelization Excerpt

Cheering and chattering, the swarm of brownies no more than nine inches tall appeared out of nowhere and jabbed him in the toes and fingers. Criss-crossing ropes bound Willow securely to the ground, and he could turn his head only enough to see Meegosh lying beside him, moaning that his arm was broken.
[Several paragraphs describe the brownies taunting Willow (including Franjean's delusions of grandeur) until Cherlindrea orders the release of the Nelwyns.]
Willow sat up. He stood.
Meegosh rose too, more slowly.
"You all right"?
Meegosh nodded, frowning at his arm, which had been miraculously trussed up in splints and a sling.
[Cherlindrea appears and begins to tell Willow about his mission. The following conversation takes place immediately after she shows Willow her wand; Meegosh does not leave the following morning as he does in all other versions.]
"Now, Meegosh," Cherlindrea said, "the time has come for you to part from your friend and begin the journey home. I must give Willow his instructions and tell secrets that are for him alone. You are a good friend, Meegosh. You have served loyally, and you shall be rewarded."
"Must I go?"
"Yes, you must."
"But will it...be dangerous for Willow?"
"Very dangerous."
"Then why..."
The radiance throbbed. Meegosh covered his eyes. "All right. I'm sorry."
Willow took his friend's hand. "Good-bye, Meegosh. Thank you."
[Willow and Meegosh converse about Willow's family for a few paragraphs.]
"Look after them, Meegosh."
"I will."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Round the bend!"
"Round the bend." [This is probably a misprint; most likely it was supposed to say "Fat rear end."]
"He's a donkey..."
"I'm your friend."

Junior Novelization Excerpt

[A long paragraph describes Willow awakening as a prisoner of the brownies]
He looked around in the light of a dozen tiny bonfires. Meegosh moaned in pain somewhere near him. "Where am I?" Willow mumbled, blinking again. "Meegosh, are you all right?"
I think my arm's broken." Meegosh groaned.
The brownie who had ridden the eagle strode forward to stand by Willow's face. "I am Franjean, king of the world!" he announced. The other brownies snickered, spoiling the effect.
* * * * *
"Wake up, Meegosh. It's time to go home."
"Home?" Meegosh mumbled. He scrambled up with a sudden smile.
"How's your arm?" Willow asked. "Think you'll be able to make it?"
"Oh yeah, it's fine!" Meegosh exclaimed. "Perfect! They put something on it." But he couldn't help rubbing it just the same, and Willow knew that he wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Listen," Willow said slowly. "I want you to tell Kiaya I love her and I think about her every day..."
"Willow--" Meegosh's smile faded.
"...and tell her I'm not going to let anything happen to the baby."
"You've made up your mind?" Meegosh asked, staring at his friend. Willow nodded. "It's gonna be dangerous, Willow - maybe I should go with you."
Willow shook his head. "Not with that arm, Meegosh. Give Mims and Ranon a hug for me. And don't let Kiaya worry."
"You're sure you know what you're doing?" Meegosh said, frowning with concern.
Willow shrugged. "I hope so."
"Be careful." Meegosh put a hand on his friend's arm. "Daikinis say one thing and mean another." The two Nelwyns hugged each other in farewell, and Willow went on his way.