by Lee Robertson copyright 2014<\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n
1. INT TWICKENHAM RUGBY STADIUM DAY<\/span><\/p>\nThe present day. The county finals. Cornwall versus Gloucester.<\/span><\/p>\nA 15 year old boy (HAWKER) is watching the game with a school friend (THOMAS), the Cornish crowd of thousands is in full song:<\/span><\/p>\nSOUNDTRACK<\/span><\/p>\nA good sword and a trusty hand!<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nA merry heart and true!<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nKing James\u2019s men shall understand<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nWhat Cornishmen can do.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nAnd have they fixed the where and when?<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nAnd shall Trelawney die?<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nHere\u2019s twenty thousand Cornish men<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nWill know the reason why!<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nThe boy is shouting into his friend’s ear through the singing.<\/span><\/p>\nBOY\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThis song was written by a relative of mine.<\/span><\/p>\n FRIEND (Shouting)<\/span><\/p>\nWhat?<\/span><\/p>\n BOY (Shouting) <\/span><\/p>\nI am related to the poet who wrote the words.<\/span><\/p>\n FRIEND<\/span><\/p>\nWhat was his name?<\/span><\/p>\n BOY<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER.<\/span><\/p>\n FRIEND<\/span><\/p>\nNever heard of him.<\/span><\/p>\n2. INT- TWICKENHAM RAILWAY STATION- DAY<\/span><\/p>\nThe two boys are walking through the crowds smiling AND OCCASIONALLY SINGING, Cornwall has won the finals. They are heading toward a busy train. The Song of the Western Men, <\/i>is echoing around the train station.<\/span><\/p>\nAnd when we come to London Wall<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nA pleasant sight to view,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nCome forth! come forth ye cowards all,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nHere\u2019s men as good as you!<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nTrelawny he\u2019s in keep and hold,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nTrelawny he may die;<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nBut heres twenty thousand Cornish bold,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nWill know the reason why!<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nFriend:\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy mad?<\/span><\/p>\nBoy:\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nBecause he was, you know, the usual- dressed weird, saw crazy things, he was a poet and a mystic, lived nearly all his life as a vicar in some godforsaken village at the end of Cornwall, mad as a hatter.<\/span><\/p>\n3. EXT- COUNTRY TRACK NR MORWENSTOW- DAY<\/span><\/p>\nTITLE: EASTER 1817<\/span><\/p>\nTHE BOY (HAWKER)is now dressed in period clothes of the early 1800\u2019s He is sat between two older ladies, (AUNT ELIZABETH, AUNT MARY), dressed in black in a carriage bouncing through the countryside of North Cornwall.<\/span><\/p>\nAUNT ELIZABETH <\/span><\/p>\nRobert, I will say this once only, and I expect it to be remembered. You are the son of a man of the cloth. In many peoples eyes a Gentleman, without much capital, but still, a man to be respected. Your incessant wayward behaviour will cause him pain if these stories reach from here to his vicarage. Please Robert, no more of these shenanigans. We are resting in Morwenstow this Easter week, respect that we should show the poor of this parish the correct christian attitude. <\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER<\/span><\/p>\nOf course ma\u2019am.<\/span><\/p>\nAUNT MARY<\/span><\/p>\nAnd please Robert, no more mixing with the poor it would be too painful.<\/span><\/p>\nThe carriage slows and draws to a halt. (EXT MORWENSTOW HOLIDAY HOME) A ruddy faced (FARMER CORNISH) opens the door.<\/span><\/p>\nFARMER CORNISH <\/span><\/p>\nWelcome ladies, and the young HAWKER too, How we have all looked forward to your visit. We\u2019ll have no tying up of the village here my boy. I hear you used up all of Stratton town\u2019s string, and no lane was un-trapped. You had people passing along and pitched on their noses without \u2018zackly knowing why. <\/span><\/p>\nAUNT ELIZABETH<\/span><\/p>\nPlease do not worry too much Farmer Cornish, We have spoken to the lad. He assures us his practical jokes are a thing of the past, not so Robert?.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER <\/span><\/p>\nYes sir, have no fear. If it pleases my Aunts, I would be most happy to escape to the woods and cliffs before supper.<\/span><\/p>\nAUNT ELIZABETH<\/span><\/p>\nGo then boy, and be back before the sunset.<\/span><\/p>\n4. EXT- SMALL HOUSE MORWENSTOW- DAWN<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER is creeping through the farm of the local doctor, with his friend from Stratton, THOMAS ACLAND. (The same boy in the opening sequence).They can hear SNORES through the upper windows. HAWKER creeps into A STABLE and up to a white horse. He cuts the mane and tail short. Then taking a paint brush and pot from his RUCK-SACK he paints black zebra stripes up and down the horse. He takes some rags and swaddles his head with them. he creeps under the UPPER window, THOMAS hammers on the door with his fist.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER<\/span><\/p>\nDr Jones! Dr Jones! Come quick sir, tiz The Lady Acland, \u2018er baby sir, she is \u2018avin it too early. Quick sir, you is needed right away sir.<\/span><\/p>\nDR JONES sticks his head through the window. He is a young gentleman doctor<\/span><\/p>\nDR JONES\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRight away Boy, hurry back to the House and inform his Lordship I\u2019ll be there directly.<\/span><\/p>\nThey silently cross the road to the woodland and wait.<\/span><\/p>\nDR JONES comes rushing down the stairs, and out of the door. He races to the stable.<\/span><\/p>\nPOV OUTSIDE STABLE<\/span><\/p>\nDR JONES (bellowing VO)<\/span><\/p>\nWhat in damnation has happened here? If this is some kind of jest I will seek ye out!<\/span><\/p>\nHe eventually comes out of the stable with the painted horse saddled, he mounts and rushes off down the lane, and across the fields. <\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER & THOMAS are in the bushes laughing.<\/span><\/p>\nThe fields are busy with many villagers at the first cut of hay.<\/span><\/p>\nThe villagers stop their work as the strange sight canters pass, and then laughter erupts among the workers.<\/span><\/p>\n5. EXT- COOMBE VALLEY WOODLAND TO OPEN FIELDS AND CLIFFS TO STANBURY MOUTH<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER is wandering through Coombe Valley, with a book of poetry in his hands. He walks over the cliffs occasionally stopping to read a passage. As he begins a climb down to the small strand of Stanbury Mouth he sees a poor man between the boulders, He could be collecting shellfish. HAWKER is silent on his approach, occasionally hiding between rocks and gorse.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen he is inches away he calls loudly.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMorning there Sir!<\/span><\/p>\nThe MAN jumps up from his work with a wild look. He is stripping a corpse of valuables, he has the body at his feet, in terrible condition, with much of the clothing stripped off and the limbs scraped and bloody, one arm missing.<\/span><\/p>\nMAN\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOh tis thee, young HAWKER the Divil, would the gentilman be out looking for fruit o\u2019 the sea?<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER looks on aghast. He cannot speak. He has the feeling that someone else is with them, and he starts at a vision of the sailors ghost watching over the mans shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the correct action here, on finding a corpse? <\/span><\/p>\nMAN\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy we search \u2018is pockets…<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER <\/span><\/p>\nSurely we must get them to the Church?<\/span><\/p>\nMAN <\/span><\/p>\nThe Curate tells us he\u2019ll have no pagan on sacred land. It\u2019ll be garn on the next tide,dont ye fret.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER <\/span><\/p>\nWe cannot leave him, we must do something for this hideous mess.<\/span><\/p>\nMAN <\/span><\/p>\nAnd have him fall apart on us before the top of the cliff?<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER turns and runs gagging, climbing the steep grassy slopes in a hurry, dropping his book to flutter in the wind and light rain. He runs to escape the horrors, and on passing through a steep wooded Coombe, a strong wind and hail follow him. He sees it as Demons following him through the trees.<\/span><\/p>\n HAWKER (under his breath as he runs)<\/span><\/p>\nLord God, I entreat you, save me from the demon, it will be the end of my tricks…. This once Lord, please rescue me, I implore you.<\/span><\/p>\n6. INT- MORWENSTOW HOLIDAY HOME- DAY<\/span><\/p>\nHe returns to his holiday cottage with his Aunts. They are sewing. He arrives at the door sweating and white.<\/span><\/p>\nFirst Aunt: Robert, what ever is the matter? <\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER says nothing. The two women look at each other.
\n<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER<\/span><\/p>\nThere was a body washed up at Stanbury Mouth.<\/span><\/p>\nAUNT ELIZABETH<\/span><\/p>\nAnd that is why the sea-shore is no place for young Gentlemen. We prefer to stay in our own company, the gardens here are delightful.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER<\/span><\/p>\nYes, they are, excuse me…
\n<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER is still in shock, and he turns to leave the room.<\/span><\/p>\nAUNT ELIZABETH <\/span><\/p>\nAnd Robert, we have heard strange news from Kilkhampton that young Doctor Jones has ridden a Zebra on a fools errand to the Acland Estate.<\/span><\/p>\nThe ladies giggle. HAWKER is stopped in his tracks. <\/span><\/p>\nAUNT MARY<\/span><\/p>\nOf course the Doctor very nearly had a fit. Some of the local men have mentioned your name Robert. We are sure it is idle prattle, but perhaps you should stop such insolence before you are unjustly blamed. Evidently Doctor Jones is threatening violent repercussions on the unfortunate fool who caused him such embarassment.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER<\/span><\/p>\nYes, yes of course, I think I will go and read. I do feel for the Doctor, Perhaps I will see him after the Service Tomorrow.<\/span><\/p>\nHAWKER returns to his room, and stares out of the window at the rain and wind. He kneels by the fireplace with his Bible.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are tears on his cheeks.<\/span><\/p>\n7. INT- MORWENSTOW CHURCH- DAY<\/span><\/p>\nThe Easter service. <\/span><\/p>\n