| SCRIPTS |
| Late Script - Nelwyn Festival to Village Council Meeting |
| "WILLOW" * Story by George Lucas * Screenplay by Bob Dolman * Second Draft Second Revision April 1, 1987 * |
|
EXT. NELWYN VILLAGE - DAY
A 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 mud. While on a raised platform, Burglekutt and the five members of the VILLAGE COUNCIL sit and observe, mildly amused. Then on another stage Willow completes a magic trick, making feathers appear out of nowhere. Among them Willow's friend MEEGOSH, wearing a miner's apron, roots Willow on. WILLOW: And now! For my final amazing feat, I will make an entire pig disappear! Meegosh applauds as Mims and Ranon trot out lugging a baby pig. Willow takes the pig and it bites his hand. The crowd laughs as half of them leave. Meegosh covers his face. WILLOW: [ ] Whuppity bairn, deru, deru! The pig is suddenly gone! Impressed, the crowd gasps. Then the pig squeals and dashes out of a hidden pocket in the cloak, 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.
MEEGOSH: Round the bend!
WILLOW: Not now, Meegosh. We're too old for this.
MEEGOSH: Come on... round the bend.
WILLOW: Alright... Fat rear end...
MEEGOSH: He's a donkey!
WILLOW: I'm your friend... and I'm in trouble.
MEEGOSH: That was excellent, Willow! A lot better than last year. 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: Don't worry about Burglekutt. Once you're the High Alwin's apprentice,
Burglekutt will grovel at your feet.
Meegosh puts his arm around Willow. The two friends wander off into the crowd. EXT. NELWYN VILLAGE - DAY - LATER There's a flourish of horns and drums. The wise old HIGH ALDWIN is placed on a platform. COUNCILMAN: Attention! The High Aldwin will now make his choice for his new apprentice! Bring forth the hopefuls! An excited rumble goes through the crowd. Willow approaches the High Aldwin, along with two other CANDIDATES. BURGLEKUTT: Willow Ufgood? A hopeful? How'd he get picked? Is this a joke? Burglekutt howls with laughter, encouraging his councilmen to join in. The High Aldwin silences them with a look, then addresses the three hopefuls. HIGH ALDWIN: Magic is the bloodstream of the universe. Forget all you know, or think you know. All that you require is your intuition. (he holds up his hand with fingers outstretched) The power to control the world is in which finger? The High Aldwin holds out four fingers. The first two candidates each pick a finger, and the High Aldwin shakes his head. Willow hesitates. The High Aldwin encourages him with his eyes. Willow picks one of the two remaining fingers. Disappointed, the High Aldwin stands up straight and pounds his staff. HIGH ALDWIN: No apprentice this year! Burglekutt laughs and the crowd breaks into chaos. Dejected,
Willow approaches the High Aldwin.
WILLOW: Sir! I have to talk to you! It's a matter of great importance.
BURGLEKUTT: You had your chance, Ufgood. Now back away! I have a meeting... 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, ransacking huts, dragging out cribs and cradles. It knocks over a garland-covered structure and destroys it. WILLOW: Mims! Mims! Willow and Ranon look everywhere for Mims. Then Willow sees her near the Death Dog. In a panic he charges toward her and grabs her. Then 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 and two of his best men drive spears through its chest and it dies hideously. A VILLAGER picks up a broken crib. VILLAGER: It was looking for somebody's baby! People look around their wrecked village in terror. The garland structure, which is a symbol of their way of life, lies shattered. There's a haunting silence. MIMS: Mommy? Suddenly alarmed, Willow races toward his distant farm, his children hurrying behind. 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 her, Kiaya. We have to take her to the Council. Willow gently and lovingly touches the baby's nose, and she smiles at him. Mims and Ranon run in and they all huddle together, cherishing their precious lives. INT. COUNCIL BUILDING - DAY Arguing villagers pack the 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. Burglekutt pounds the floor with his stick. BURGLEKUTT: Silence! One beast we can kill. But there may be more. And they won't give up till they've found what they're looking for! At the back door, holding the baby, Willow tries to push his way through the jostling crowd. VILLAGER: It's a sign! ANOTHER VILLAGER: There'll be a drought! Or a plague! Our village will be destroyed! OTHERS: Who's to blame for this? Let's find the culprit and throw him in the pit! [ ] Hearing this, Willow turns around and starts to leave. The High Aldwin looks out over the crowd as if he senses something. He raises his hand and points. HIGH ALDWIN: Willow Ufgood! (Willow freezes) Come forward... The crowd stands apart. Willow turns and walks the length of
the room. Kiaya and the children follow part way and stand next to Meegosh.
HIGH ALDWIN: Earlier today you tried to tell me
something, Willow. WILLOW: (bows his head) My children found this baby in the river, High Aldwin. The crowd stirs but the High Aldwin silences them with a simple gesture. He places his hand on the baby. HIGH ALDWIN: A Daikini child... (his eyes close) ...of some strange... I feel... BURGLEKUTT: That's what the beasts want! Let's give it back to them! The crowd rumbles, many agree. WILLOW: But they'll kill her! You can't! BURGLEKUTT: It isn't one of us! Burglekutt whips up the shouting crowd. The High Aldwin gropes, almost in a trance. HIGH ALDWIN: ...yes...this child is special... Instantly he opens his eyes. The room goes silent. HIGH ALDWIN: This child must be taken beyond the boundaries of our village. All the way across the great river to the Daikini crossroads. A chill goes through the crowd. They panic. VILLAGER: Who will do that? BURGLEKUTT: It seems only fair that the man to take this baby to the crossroads be the very man who plucked it out of the river. I nominate Willow Ufgood! He points at Willow. The crowd shouts wildly. WILLOW: No, wait, I can't go! I haven't put my crop in yet! The High Aldwin reads the excited crowd. He steps forward and rattles something in his cupped hands. HIGH ALDWIN: I will consult the bones! The High Aldwin scatters small bones across the floor. He studies them then speaks softly to Willow. HIGH ALDWIN: The bones tell me nothing. (he eyes Willow) But I must make a decision. Do you have any love for this child? Willow hesitates. He looks at the baby, who stares sweetly up into his eyes. WILLOW: Yes...yes I do. The High Aldwin bolts straight up, broadcasting: HIGH ALDWIN: The bones have spoken! Willow? The security of this village depends on you! BURGLEKUTT: Praise the bones! The crowd cheers, encouraged by Burglekutt. HIGH ALDWIN: But you will need help. The outside world is a dangerous and corrupt place, and this baby is hunted by bloodthirsty beasts. Who has the courage to protect our brave fellow on his journey? [Note different volunteer sequence] Vohnkar elbows his way up with two strong WARRIORS. VOHNKAR: I'll go! THE CROWD: Vohnkar! Vohnkar! BURGLEKUTT: No! Not Vohnkar! He's the best warrior in the village! What if the beasts return? We need him here. THE CROWD: (agreeing) He must stay! Vohnkar must stay! BURGLEKUTT: Vohnkar, step back! Vohnkar and his men step back among the crowd. KIAYA: What are you thinking of? He can't go alone! Everybody looks at each other but nobody volunteers. Finally Meegosh steps forward. MEEGOSH: I'll go with him. BURGLEKUTT: Good! Excellent choice! Praise the bones! The High Aldwin gives Burglekutt an irritated look. HIGH ALDWIN: Now all this expedition needs is a leader, and according to the bones that leader is....you, Burglekutt! The grin on Burglekutt's face instantly vanishes. He bends down and looks at the bones. He looks at the High Aldwin, who solemnly nods. Then Burglekutt shouts. BURGLEKUTT: Vohnkar! |