| SCRIPTS |
| Transcript - Morning at the Crossroads to Meeting the Brownies |
| "WILLOW" * Story by George Lucas * Screenplay by Bob Dolman * Released May 1988 * © Lucasfilm Ltd.1988 * |
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A peaceful morning. The baby sleeps in the papoose basket, and Willow and Meegosh sleep
beside the road, wrapped in blankets. Suddenly a horseman thunders by, awakening everyone.
MEEGOSH: (gasps) What was that? Madmartigan sits in his cage, rubbing his teeth clean with a piece of cloth. The Nelwyns sit up. MADMARTIGAN: Morning, boys. Rough night last night, wasn't it? Meegosh nods in agreement. MADMARTIGAN: I don't think I introduced myself yesterday. My name is Madmartigan. And you are, uh.... Madmartigan sticks his hand through the bars, ready for a handshake. Smiling, Meegosh walks toward Madmartigan until Willow grabs him. WILLOW: No, Meegosh! Don't go near him, he's dangerous. MADMARTIGAN: I am not. They hear the whinny of another approaching horse. WILLOW: Good! He hurries into the road and waves his arms at the horseman galloping toward him. WILLOW: Stop! Wait! The horseman doesn't slow down in the least, and Willow dives out of the way to avoid being trampled. Madmartigan grins as Willow watches the horseman disappear into the distance. WILLOW: What's going on? MADMARTIGAN: Smells like a battle. Willow gets to his feet and looks at Madmartigan with angry contempt. WILLOW: I suppose you're a warrior. MADMARTIGAN: I am the greatest swordsman that ever lived. Disgusted, Willow turns his back on Madmartigan and goes to get a drink. MADMARTIGAN: Say, uh... could I have some of that water? Willow eyes him coldly and ostentatiously takes a drink. Madmartigan bursts into phony tears. MADMARTIGAN: (sobbing) I don't know why I try. Remorsefully, Willow starts walking toward him. MADMARTIGAN: I guess I am gonna die here. Who cares? WILLOW: (offering the water cup) Here. MADMARTIGAN: Thanks, friend. He grabs at the cup just as Willow, distracted by a rumbling sound on the road, walks out of reach. WILLOW: What's that? MADMARTIGAN: (straining to reach the cup) I'd say... two or three hundred horses... five or six wagons... and about a thousand fools. Willow gazes hopefully at the approaching army then hurries over to the baby, thrusting the cup at Madmartigan as he passes the cage. MADMARTIGAN: Thank you. WILLOW: Come on, Meegosh. Madmartigan drops the cup, spilling the water. He makes a faint exclamation of frustration and starts licking the droplets off his fingers. Willow takes the baby out of the papoose basket as the army draws nearer. WILLOW: It's gonna be all right, little bobbin. Everything's gonna be all right. The army reaches the crossroads. Willow addresses the horsemen as they pass by. WILLOW: Excuse me, sir? GALLADOORN SOLDIER: Out of the way, peck! WILLOW: (to another horseman) Uh, pardon me? Uhh... Willow trades uncertain glances with Meegosh as the soldiers ignore him. Airk, the leader of the army, rides up and stops beside Madmartigan's cage. WILLOW: (to Airk) Excuse me, sir. (Airk looks down at him) We found one of your babies in our village. Will you please take care of her? Airk removes his helmet. AIRK: We're going into battle, little ones. Find a woman to take care of her. MADMARTIGAN: They thought you were a woman, Airk! Airk notices the occupant of the cage for the first time. AIRK: Well... ha ha ha! Madmartigan! What'd you do this time? MADMARTIGAN: Nothing you wouldn't have done in my place. AIRK: I alway knew you'd end up in a crow's cage. MADMARTIGAN: Well, at least I'm not down there herding sheep. What are you doing this far north? AIRK: The Nockmaar army destroyed Galladoorn. MADMARTIGAN: (sobered) The castle? AIRK: Bavmorda's troops are crushing everything in sight. MADMARTIGAN: Come on, let me out of here, Airk. Give me a sword. I'll win this war for you. AIRK: Madmartigan. I still serve Galladoorn. You serve no one. Remember? Sit in your coffin and rot. He replaces his helmet, then spurs his horse and rides away, narrowly missing Willow. MADMARTIGAN: Wait, Airk! You need me! Airk keeps going. MADMARTIGAN: I'll be around long after you're dead! When I get out of here I'm gonna cut your head off and stick it on a pig pole! Madmartigan slumps down in his cage. All this time, Willow has worriedly watched the army pass by. He looks forlornly down the road at the dust cloud kicked up by the horses, then at Madmartigan, then at the baby. WILLOW: I miss Kiaya and the bobbins. MEEGOSH: We're running out of food. MADMARTIGAN: Nobody's gonna take care of that baby. You know why? Nobody cares. The Nelwyns are desperate enough to listen to him. MADMARTIGAN: Except me. You want to go back to your families. I want out of this cage. Let me 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: Right, but I know a lot of women who do. If I had somebody in my life... a little daughter, perhaps... I might have a reason to go on living. You can't leave me in here to die. Not when all I want to do is protect her. These words don't sound entirely sincere, and Willow still has his doubts. But he can't remain at the crossroads much longer. Madmartigan shouts with surprise as Meegosh breaks the chain on the cage with a heavy stick. The bottom falls out of the cage, dumping Madmartigan on the ground. Madmartigan celebrates: laughing, jumping, whirling, lifting Meegosh into the air, whooping with joy. MADMARTIGAN: I... feel... BETTER! You've done the right thing! WOO! MEEGOSH: (struggling to escape) All right! Okay! All right! All right! All right! WILLOW: You've gotta promise to feed her! MADMARTIGAN: Come to Daddy, little darlin'! WILLOW: And keep her clean! MADMARTIGAN: Absolutely! He takes the baby from Willow and stands up. Willow looks shocked at the sheer size of this Daikini. Madmartigan whirls around with the baby. MADMARTIGAN: Wheee! The baby doesn't seem too happy with this. MADMARTIGAN: She likes me. WILLOW: Here are her changing rags and her milk bladder. MADMARTIGAN: Any milk in there? WILLOW: (indignant) It's for her! MADMARTIGAN: I wouldn't steal from a baby. Madmartigan kneels down next to Willow, and Meegosh hangs the papoose basket over the Daikini's shoulder. MADMARTIGAN: You worry too much, peck. MEEGOSH: It's Willow. MADMARTIGAN: I mean Willow. Now listen boys... Willow. You've done the right thing. Now I want you to get home, and bring your crop in. He claps Willow on the shoulder. Willow regretfully kisses the baby. WILLOW: Goodbye, little one. He gives Madmartigan a long look, then Madmartigan stands up and walks away with the baby. Willow watches them go. WILLOW: Please take good care of her! MADMARTIGAN: (turning around and waving) I give you my word of honor! The Nelwyns begin their journey home. As they travel through dense vegetation, Willow has trouble keeping up. WILLOW: Meegosh, slow down! MEEGOSH: Oh, come on! If we hurry we can be home by tomorrow morning. We'll be heroes! WILLOW: You really think so? MEEGOSH: Sure. (pretending to be a villager) Look! There's Willow and Meegosh! The heroes have come home! WILLOW: Welcome back, boys. You deserve medals! MEEGOSH: Yeah! WILLOW: Yeah! They laugh over this for a moment, then Willow turns serious. WILLOW: Meegosh... did we do the right thing? MEEGOSH: Absolutely. There's nothing to worry about. Willow looks unconvinced. Suddenly, the sound of a baby's cry snaps their attention upward. An eagle with a brownie on its back is flying toward them. Clutched in the eagle's talons is the papoose basket - with the baby in it! FRANJEAN: (to the bird) Heeyaah!! (to the world) Ha ha! I stole the baby! I stole the baby! Ha ha ha ha ha! Heeyaah!! WILLOW: (ducking to avoid the eagle) That's my baby! Stop! Wait! Come back! FRANJEAN: Flap, you stupid bird! Flap! Ha ha! Willow runs after them. He pauses next to a tree for a moment, and reacts with alarm when a tiny arrow lands in the trunk right next to his hand. The next arrow hits him in the arm. WILLOW: (pulling out the arrow) Oww! MEEGOSH: Brownies! Let's get outta here! The brownie archers continue to pepper the Nelwyns with arrows as they try to escape from this unexpected threat. WILLOW: Come on, Meegosh! MEEGOSH: Oww! They race recklessly through the forest. WILLOW: We'll outrun 'em! The Nelwyns shriek with fear as they fall into a pit. The brownies cackle with delight. Later, after nightfall, Willow is awakened by a splash of cold water on his face. ROOL: Hey, ugly! Wake up! After Willow gets over this surprise, he discovers that he and Meegosh are tied up and lying on the ground. And they're surrounded by brownies. The Nelwyns struggle uselessly against the ropes. ROOL: (to the other brownies) All right, all right, stand your ground. These are our prisoners! Good. Come on! WILLOW: Meegosh! Where's the baby? A strange, starlike light moves across the sky. CHERLINDREA: Bring the Nelwyns to me. FRANJEAN: (jumping on Willow's chest) All right! You heard her. WILLOW: What's going on? FRANJEAN: Shut up or I'll break your nose! You are mine to toy with. (to the other brownies) Forward! The brownies start dragging the struggling Nelwyns away. WILLOW: Where... where did you get that baby? FRANJEAN: I stole it from a stupid Daikini! Haa haa haa haa haa! CHERLINDREA: Franjean, release the Nelwyns. And stop pestering them! FRANJEAN: (almost inaudible) Uh-oh. Franjean leaps off Willow's chest as the brownies start cutting the ropes. Willow jumps to his feet, raises his arms and snarls. The brownies squeal in mock terror and run away. |