| SCRIPTS |
| Early Script - Nelwyn Festival to Village Council Meeting |
| "WILLOW" * Story by George Lucas * Screenplay by Bob Dolman * First Draft Third Revision November 14, 1986 * (c) LFL 1986 Lucasfilm LTD. |
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EXT. NELWYN VILLAGE - DAY
The raucous BAND plays as NELWYNS dance and celebrate amid brochs and wheelhouses garlanded with flowers. A crowd cheers wildly as MINERS battle FARMERS in a tug-of-war, finally yanking the farmers face-first into a puddle of mud. On a stage a HARLEQUIN dances delightfully. While on a raised platform the five members of the VILLAGE COUNCIL sit and observe, mildly amused. The head councilman is Burglekutt. Then WE SEE Willow on another stage. He flourishes his colorful sticks and cloths. In the audience WE NOTICE his friend MEEGOSH, who wears a miner's apron, rooting Willow on. WILLOW: And now! For our final amazing bit of magic, I will make an entire pig completely disappear! Meegosh applauds as Mims and Ranon trot out lugging a tiny baby pig in a crate. As Willow takes the pig out it bites his hand and gets away. Willow tackles and squashes it. The crowd laughs and half of them leave, and Meegosh covers his face. Mims and Ranon rapidly wave a bright blanket. Willow cleverly whips the pig under his legs and behind his back and suddenly it's gone! Impressed, the crowd gasps. Then the pig squeals and dashes through Willow's legs and leaps off the stage. CROWD: Aaww! Booo! Sssss! Burglekutt and the Council shake their heads as Willow, embarassed, picks up his things. Meegosh trots up with the pig under his arm. WILLOW: Meegosh, I'm in trouble. MEEGOSH: Hey, it wasn't that bad. You need a better pig, that's all. But as they walk past the Village Council, and Burglekutt sneers down at Willow, Meegosh catches on. MEEGOSH: Now Burglekutt's got you in the squeeze. Soon you'll be down in the mines like me. WILLOW: Mining. I hate closed-in spaces. That's the last thing I'd ever do. (he shudders) I gotta get my crop planted. MEEGOSH: You know I'll help you as much as I can, Willow. The Village Council members stand up respectfully as the wise old HIGH ALDWIN hobbles through the adoring crowd. Mims and Ranon rush up to Willow with several other children who are eating candy. MIMS: Dada, can we get treacle candy? Can we, can we? Please? WILLOW: (preoccupied) Meegosh, can you watch the children? I gotta talk to the High Aldwin. MEEGOSH: (truly amazed) The High Aldwin?? Why? But Willow has already wandered into the crowd, leaving Meegosh with a dozen sugar-charged children and a pig. Willow desperately pushes past people and finally reaches the High Aldwin. WILLOW: Sir! I have to talk to you. HIGH ALDWIN: Not today, Willow. WILLOW: It's a matter of great importance to me! Burglekutt stares angrily from his platform. Slightly annoyed, the High Aldwin stops and places his hand on Willow's shoulder. HIGH ALDWIN: Intuition, Willow -- remember? I know you're eager to be my apprentice, Willow. But today is the spring festival. Suddenly a walking stick is pointed at Willow's nose. BURGLEKUTT: Apprentice? To the High Aldwin!! Willow Ufgood??? His belly shakes as he howls with laughter, encouraging his councilmen to join in. Willow shrinks away, embarassed. Then a terrified SHRIEK shatters the festivity. Music stops and people grab their children and run for their lives. A DEATH DOG rips a trail of destruction through the village. Meegosh holds onto Ranon and Mims. But when Mims sees Willow she runs right out into the open. Willow charges toward her, tackling her and rolling away from the beast's claws. DEATH DOG: Bordak! Bordak! A loud war cry distracts the dog. VOHNKAR, the toughest warrior in the village, leads a charging army of miners and farmers wielding shovels and picks. Willow and Meegosh grab sticks. The Nelwyns battle the Death Dog. At last, Vohnkar drives a spear through its chest and it dies hideously. MEEGOSH: What was it looking for? A VILLAGER: It said "bordak"! What does it mean? COUNCILMAN: (scholarly) Baby! It means baby! It was looking for somebody's baby! Mothers grab their children, people look around the wrecked village in terror. There's a haunting silence. MIMS: Mommy? Suddenly alarmed, Willow races toward his distant farm, his children hurrying behind. WILLOW: Kiaya! Kiaya! INT. UFGOOD HOUSE - DAY Willow bursts in and finds Kiaya calmly feeding the baby. Relieved, he throws his arms around her. WILLOW: We can't keep this baby, Kiaya. We must take her to the Council. The children run in and they all huddle together, cherishing their precious lives. INT. COUNCIL BUILDING - DAY Arguing villagers pack the church-shaped room to the open door at the back and into the balconies above. The councilmen sit on a platform at the front, with the High Aldwin seated in a special chair above them. Taking charge, Burglekutt stands and pounds the floor with his walking stick. BURGLEKUTT: An evil beast from the outer world has invaded our peaceful village, looking for a baby! This only adds to the frenzy. A VILLAGER: It's a sign! An omen! ANOTHER VILLAGER: Our crops will die! BURGLEKUTT: Silence! One beast we can kill. But there may be more! And they won't give up their search till they've found what they're looking for! MEEGOSH: Whose baby is it? OTHER VILLAGERS: Who's to blame for this! Amid the chaos the High Aldwin slowly stands up. As if he senses something, he looks over the crowd toward the back. At the back door, holding the baby, Willow tries to push his way through the jostling crowd. The High Aldwin raises his hand. It flashes magically. He points as he speaks: HIGH ALDWIN: Willow Ufgood! Come before me! The crowd stands apart as Willow walks the length of the room. Kiaya and the children follow part way and then stand aside next to Meegosh. Burglekutt simmers as Willow approaches the platform. HIGH ALDWIN: Earlier today you tried to tell me something, Willow. WILLOW: (bows his head) My family found this baby in the river, High Aldwin. The crowd stirs but the High Aldwin silences them with a simple gesture. He gazes down at the baby mysteriously. HIGH ALDWIN: A Daikini child... (his eyes close) ...of some importance, I feel... BURGLEKUTT: That's what the beasts want! Give it back! The crowd rumbles, many agree. WILLOW: They'll kill her! We can't let this baby die! BURGLEKUTT: What do we care! Burglekutt whips up the shouting crowd. The High Aldwin raises his hands, feeling the air above him. Almost in a trance: HIGH ALDWIN: ...importance...yes...this child is special... COUNCILMAN: What should we do? Instantly, the High Aldwin drops his arms and opens his eyes. HIGH ALDWIN: This child must be taken beyond the boundaries of our village. All the way to the Daikini crossroads. The room goes silent. A VILLAGER: Who will do that? SEVERAL VILLAGERS: Vohnkar! Vohnkar! Vohnkar the warrior elbows his way to the front and pounds his chest once with his fist. HIGH ALDWIN: The outer world is dangerous and corrupt, Vohnkar. And this baby is hunted by blood-hungry beasts. Are you willing to sacrifice your life? Brave Vohnkar swallows and shifts his weight doubtfully. VOHNKAR: If I go, who'll defend you if other beasts attack? The crowd rumbles and shouts, and Vohnkar mops his brow and scuttles away from the platform. BURGLEKUTT: He's right! It seems only fair that the man to take this baby to the crossroads... (walking stick up) ...be the very man who plucked it... (walking stick down) ...out of the river! All eyes turn to Willow. Kiaya gasps and Meegosh holds her back. WILLOW: I can't do it! I haven't put my crop in! A COUNCILMAN: You caused this trouble. You found the baby...you get rid of it! BURGLEKUTT: I nominate Willow Ufgood! The crowd cheers wildly. The High Aldwin steps forward to the edge of the platform. With a flourish he waves his arms. HIGH ALDWIN: I will consult the bones! Something rattles as he shakes his cupped hands. The crowd jumps away. The High Aldwin scatters small bones across the floor below him. He leans down and studies the bones. Willow looks at Kiaya, who is worried and afraid. The High Aldwin speaks softly to him: HIGH ALDWIN: The bones tell me nothing. (he eyes Willow) But I must make a decision. Is there love in your heart for this child? Willow hesitates. He looks at the baby. WILLOW: Yes. The High Aldwin bolts straight up, broadcasting: HIGH ALDWIN: The bones have spoken! Willow? The security of this village depends on you! The people shout and cheer and applaud and begin to leave. Kiaya and Meegosh and the children push their way toward Willow, who stands there staring at the baby. |