| SCRIPTS |
| Late Script - Morning at the Crossroads to Meeting the Brownies |
| "WILLOW" * Story by George Lucas * Screenplay by Bob Dolman * Second Draft Second Revision April 1, 1987 * |
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EXT. CROSSROADS - MORNING
A MESSENGER gallops by and wakes Willow and Meegosh up. He disappears up the road. MEEGOSH: What was that? MADMARTIGAN: Morning, boys. Rough night, wasn't it? Did I introduce myself? Madmartigan. He extends his filthy hand. Meegosh goes to shake it. MEEGOSH: I'm Meegosh. WILLOW: Don't touch him, Meegosh. He's dangerous. Another MESSENGER gallops toward them with the same urgency. WILLOW: Stop! Wait! The messenger screams at Willow who jumps aside, and rides away. MEEGOSH: He was sure breathing fire. WILLOW: What's going on? MADMARTIGAN: Smells like a battle. WILLOW: I suppose you're a warrior. MADMARTIGAN: The greatest swordsman that ever lived. Madmartigan slices the air with an imaginary sword. The action is exotic and strange-looking, and not all that convincing. MADMARTIGAN: How about a drink? MEEGOSH: Gee, Willow, maybe he could help us.
WILLOW: Don't listen to him. Willow sets the baby in the porta-crib and drinks water from a cup. Madmartigan watches thirstily. MADMARTIGAN: (to Meegosh) These are bad times, my
friend. Good men locked in cages, criminals running free. It doesn't pay to be honest.
You a wood-cutter?
MEEGOSH: Miner. And my friend's a farmer.
MADMARTIGAN: I knew it! Miners, farmers: you're victims! Yep, you and me:
victims of a rotten, corrupt world. He starts to cry. Finally Willow goes over and starts to hand the cup to Madmartigan. MADMARTIGAN: Thank you, friend. Willow looks up the road and turns away with the cup. WILLOW: What's that? Madmartigan grabs for the cup. MADMARTIGAN: You hear trouble.
MEEGOSH: What is it? The horizon rumbles. Madmartigan continues to swipe at the cup. MADMARTIGAN: A hundred horses... five or six wagons... and about a thousand fools. Madmartigan finally grabs the cup and gulps water down. TWO CAVALRY OFFICERS gallop into view, raising a plume of dust. Then an enormous ARMY appears: cavalry, foot soldiers, wagons: shields, swords, spears, banners. The two officers shout orders over the thunderous clamor of hoofbeats, marching boots and clanking armor. Charging back and forth, they shepherd the army through the crossroads. Frightened, Meegosh stands back. Willow holds the baby. Fighting dust and noise he tries to get the officer's attention. WILLOW: Sir? Sir! OFFICER: Out of the way, peck! An officer's horse nearly kicks Willow, who scurries out of the way. Huddling with the baby, he notices AIRK THAUGHBAER, a large, muscular, bearded officer, clearly in charge. On horseback, Airk breaks file and rides up to the other officers. AIRK: We're close now. Attack at midday! Shouting orders, the officers split up, charging to the front and rear of the army. Airk watches the army pass. Willow scrambles up to him, amid the dust and confusion. Meegosh follows timidly. WILLOW: Sir! Sir! We found one of your babies in our village. Will you take her...? Huge Airk looks down from his huge horse. AIRK: We're going into battle, little one. Find a woman to take care of it. MADMARTIGAN: They thought you were a woman, Airk! Airk snaps his head around. AIRK: Well I'll be--Madmartigan. I knew you'd end up in a crow's cage. MADMARTIGAN: Least I'm not herding sheep. What are you doing this far north? Airk's horse prances menacingly around the cage. AIRK: The Nockmaar army destroyed Galladoorn. MADMARTIGAN: The castle? AIRK: It was a massacre. Bavmorda's on a rampage. Her troops are crushing everything in sight. We're going to try to stop them at the River Troon. MADMARTIGAN: Let me out of here, Airk. Give me a sword and I'll win this war for you. AIRK: After that stunt at Land's End you're lucky I
don't kill you.
Airk swings the cage and starts to ride away.
MADMARTIGAN: Airk! AIRK: Madmartigan, I still serve Galladoorn. You serve no one, remember? Stay in your coffin and rot! MADMARTIGAN: I'll be around long after you're dead! You slime! I'm gonna cut your head off and stick it on a pig-pole! WILLOW: Friend of yours?
Madmartigan snarls at Willow. He turns his angry fist into a cute wave and
smiles.
MADMARTIGAN: Hello, cutie... The army continues to march by. EXT. CROSSROADS - DAY - MUCH LATER A ghostly wind haunts the barren crossroads. WILLOW: I miss Kiaya and the bobbins. MEEGOSH: Willow, we're running out of food. I'm getting scared. MADMARTIGAN: Nobody's gonna look after your baby. Know why? Nobody cares... except me. You wanna go back to your families. I could take care of that baby. I'll look after her like she was my own. MEEGOSH: I believe he would, Willow. WILLOW: He doesn't know anything about babies. MADMARTIGAN: Ah, but I know a lot of women who do. Why, if I had somebody in my life, a little daughter, for instance, I'd have a reason to go on living. He swings his arm and whistles.
MEEGOSH: He's a warrior, Willow. MADMARTIGAN: You can't let me die here, when all I want to do is protect her. Madmartigan smiles pleadingly. Willow touches Kiaya's braid and tries to decide. EXT. CROSSROADS - DAY - LATER Meegosh hacks the chain open and Madmartigan dumps onto the ground. Willow steps forward with the baby. WILLOW: You gotta promise to feed her. MADMARTIGAN: Come to Daddy, little darlin'... WILLOW: And keep her clean. MADMARTIGAN: Absolutely! (takes baby) You like Madmartigan, don't you? Kneeling on the ground, he plays with the baby. Meegosh hitches the papoose on his back. Willow is still worried. WILLOW: Here are her rags. Here's her milk bladder. MADMARTIGAN: Any milk in there? WILLOW: It's for her. MADMARTIGAN: I wouldn't steal milk from a baby. You worry too much, peck. MEEGOSH: Willow. MADMARTIGAN: I mean Willow. You've done the right thing. Willow takes the baby and kisses her. WILLOW: Bye. He puts her in the papoose. MADMARTIGAN: Goodbye, boys! He marches off down the road. WILLOW: (shouts) Please take good care of her! MADMARTIGAN: (shouts back) I give you my word of honor! Meegosh sighs with relief. But Willow still has his doubts. EXT. ROAD - DAY Meegosh hurries so fast that Willow can barely keep up. WILLOW: Meegosh! Slow down! MEEGOSH: Oh, come on! If we hurry we'll be home by tomorrow morning. I can't wait to see the expression on everybody's faces. We'll be heroes! WILLOW: You really think so? MEEGOSH: Sure. "Look, it's Willow and Meegosh!" "The heroes have come home!" WILLOW: "Welcome back, boys!" "You deserve medals!" MEEGOSH: "Let's make Willow Apprentice Aldwin!" WILLOW: "Or better still, High Aldwin!" Willow laughs. Then, feeling a tug of conscience: WILLOW: Did we do the right thing, Meegosh? MEEGOSH: Absolutely! There's nothing to worry about. They hear a distant cry. They spin around. Flying toward them is a large EAGLE. In its claws it carries the baby, papoose and all. It swoops at Willow and Meegosh, buzzing them, and they hit the dirt. Riding the eagle is FRANJEAN, a nine-inch high brownie. Willow scrambles to his feet as the eagle zooms off into the tall majestic trees of the forest. Shouting and waving madly, Willow gallops after it. WILLOW: Hey! Stop! Wait! Bring her back! Meegosh runs after him. MEEGOSH: Willow! EXT. THROUGH THE FOREST - DAY Willow tears after the eagle which vanishes in the towering trees. As the path narrows, something whistles past his ear. Tiny arrows rain down on him from every direction. He plucks them out as he races along, coming to a fork in the path. Decision! He starts down one way, but sees ropes and nets. He hurries back to the fork and meets Meegosh. WILLOW: That way's a trap!
They take the safer route--
He hurries back to the fork and takes the safer route--
WILLOW/MEEGOSH: Oh noooooo!! --and get swallowed by a deadly pit. EXT. FOREST - NIGHT 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 smacks Willow's nose with the back of his hand.
FRANJEAN: Keep quiet, you fool.
WILLOW: Do that again and I'm gonna kill you, you little...
FRANJEAN: I'm not afraid of you Nelwyns. You think you are so big.
Bop! He smacks him again. CHERLINDREA: (O.S.) Franjean, bring the Nelwyn to me. The voice of CHERLINDREA, the fairy queen, suddenly echoes above them. A good-natured simpleton of a brownie named ROOL shuffles up to Willow's face. ROOL: Oh-oh. Cherlindrea! The brownies pick up ropes to haul Willow away. ROOL: (to Willow) You're in trouble now.
FRANJEAN: No talking to the prisoner!
ROOL: Well you did.
FRANJEAN: That's different. I'm in charge. Willow thrashes angrily. Franjean springs up onto his chest holding a tiny staff. WILLOW: Hey, what's going on? FRANJEAN: Shut up or I'll break your nose. You're mine to toy with. Forward! WILLOW: Ouch! Get off me...! The brownies start to tow Willow and Meegosh. EXT. FAIRY WOODS - NIGHT The night air thickens with a luminous milky way
of dancing flying FAIRIES. As the brownies drag them to the Fairy Woods, Franjean
pokes Willow with his staff.
WILLOW: When I get loose I'm gonna mash you...!
FRANJEAN: (demented laugh) Ahhhhhh hhhhhh! Hnhhhhhhh! You'll never break
these bonds, loppy-ears. CHERLINDREA: (O.S.) Release the Nelwyn. Willow's eyes gleam as a look of terror comes over
Franjean's face.
FRANJEAN: Uh-oh. The brownies cut the ropes. Willow jumps to his feet, like King Kong, and scares Franjean and all the brownies away. A strange light begins to throb behind the trees. |