Willow

 

 

Screenplay by       Bob Dolman

 

Produced by       Nigel Wooll

 

Directed by       Ron Howard

 

 

 

Cast List:

 

Val Kilmer     Madmartigan

Joanne Whalley-Kilmer   Sorsha

Warwick Davis      Willow

Jean Marsh      Queen Bavmorda

Patricia Hayes     Fin Raziel

Billy Barty      High Aldwin

Pat Roach      General Kael

Gavan O'Herlihy    Airk Thaughbaer

 

 

 

FADE IN:

 

 

EXT. NOCKMAAR CASTLE – DAY

 

Under gloomy sky a huge fortress looms on a volcanic mountainside. From within WE HEAR the agonizing scream of a woman giving birth.

 

 

INT. NOCKMAAR CASTLE – DAY

 

The scream continues as WE MOVE THROUGH the grim corridors of the castle TOWARD stairs leading down to a dungeon.

 

 

INT. DUNGEON – DAY

 

Silhouetted in sadows, three Nockmaar MINIONS stand guard. In a jail cell, sex fully pregnant WOMEN watch from behind iron bars. The screaming stops. There's a moment of silence. As WE MOVE INTO another jail cell WE HEAR a slap and the first cry of a newborn BABY.

 

In the cell a black-robed DRUID watches intensely as ETHNA, a midwife, leans over the MOTHER and wraps the baby in swaddling.

 

DRUID

Is it a girl?

 

ETHNA

It is a girl.

 

DRUID

Show me its arm.

 

Ethna peels back the swaddling. On the baby's arm is a small marking.

 

DRUID

It's true then. I must tell Queen Bavmorda.

 

With great urgency the druid hurries up the dungeon stairs. Ethna gently places the baby on the mother's breast. The mother comforst the baby lovingly until it stops crying. Then she reaches out and clasps the midwife's wrist.

 

MOTHER

Ethna, please. Help me. They're going to kill my baby.

 

Ethna nervously looks out at the guards, then shakes her head at the mother.

 

ETHNA

They'll kill you.

 

MOTHER

Please save my baby.

 

Ethna hesitates. Then decides. She quickly wraps together some rags and gives them to the mother.

 

ETHNA

Pretend this is the child.

 

 MOTHER

Thank you, Ethna. Thank you.

 

The mother kisses her baby and hands it to Ethna, who hides the baby inside the basket of rags. Ethna carries the basket past the guards and up the stairs.

 

The mother lies back and sighs with relief. Then she hears clinking bootsteps and her eyes widen with fear.

 

QUEEN BAVMORDA sweeps down the dungeon stairs, her black robes flowing behind her. The druid hurries alongside.

 

BAVMORDA

We will start the ritual at dusk. You're certain this is the one?

 

DRUID

It bears the markings.

 

BAVMORDA

I must see for myself! Just as the omen foretold!

 

The guards fearfully move aside as Bavmorda enters the cell.

 

BAVMORDA

So. You were the one.

 

 MOTHER

Yes. But nothing you can do will stop the prophecy.

 

 BAVMORDA

This child will have no power over me... .

 

Bavmorda grabs the rags away from the mother and anxiously tears them apart.

 

BAVMORDA

(furiously)

Where's the baby!

 

One of the guards looks up the stairs.

 

GUARD

The midwife!

 

Bavmorda flies into a rage.

 

BAVMORDA

Find that baby! Use the dogs! Sorsha!

 

Two guards draw swords and charge upstairs. Bavmorda grabs the third guard and nods toward the mother.

 

BAVMORDA

Kill her.

 

Bavmorda storms away with the druid. WE SEE the shadow of the guard move over the terrified mother. War drums begin to beat out an alarm.

 

 

EXT. SNOWY MOUNTAINSIDE – DAY

 

TITLES BEGIN. The midwife hurries through swirling show, clutching the baby.

 

 

EXT. VILLAGE – DAY

 

Nockmaar troops on horseback charge into a desolate village, driving ferocious DEATH DOGS into huts, violently searching for the baby. The oppressed, poor VILLAGERS are yanked into the street. Some of them are beaten. One is killed.

 

The midwife hides behind a hut, still holding the baby, then runs away from the village.

 

 

EXT. GRASSLAND – DAY

 

Ethna treks across an open grass field.

 

 

EXT. WOODS – NIGHT

 

She huddles by a fire, exhausted and hungry, her clothes filthy and torn, and she rocks the crying baby. She hears dogs howling in the distance. She clutches the baby, kicks out the fire, and runs.

 

 

EXT. OCEAN CLIFFSIDE – DAY

 

She scrambles over rocks on a windswept coastline.

 

 

EXT. FOREST – DAWN

 

Ethna runs desperately for her life. Chasing her are two vicious DEATH DOGS. She scrambles across a shallow river. She claws at rock and tears away sticks and driftwood matted together with weeds. Into this she places the baby and sets it afloat downstream.

 

DEATH DOG

Bordak!

 

The dogs lunge from the woods and splash across the river. The midwife claws her way up a steep bank, luring the dogs. As they attack her:

 

MIDWIFE

I don't have her! No! No!

 

She grabs a stick and tries to defend herself, thrashing at the snarling dogs.

 

From the baby's view, as it floats down the river, WE SEE the dogs kill the midwife beyond the distant trees.

 

 

EXT. DOWNRIVER – DAY – MONTAGE

 

The little raft of sticks swirls precariously in the current. It glances off jutting rocks, tumbles over rapids, and scrapes under overhanging trees.

 

 

EXT. RIVERBANK – DAY

 

At last the raft catches in some weeks, almost dumping the baby.

 

TITLE SEQUENCE ENDS

 

Suddenly WE HEAR rustling leaves, possibly another Death Dog. Then WE HEAR giggling. Two children, RANON and MIMS, watch in amazement from the riverbank.

 

 

EXT. UFGOOD FARM – DAY

 

Holding onto a plow, WILLOW UFGOOD struggles behind a huge hog. From a heavy sack slung over his shoulder he tosses seeds.

 

RANON

Dada! We found something in the river!

 

Willow beams with joy as his son and daughter race toward him. They grab his sleeves and tug him away from his plow.

 

WILLOW

I can't run off and play with you now. I've got work to do.

 

RANON/MIMS

But Dada, you gotta see it! Hurry!

 

Willow drops his sack of seeds. The ugly hog glares at him like a guilty conscience. The children squeal with excitement as their father runs toward the river with them.

 

 

EXT. RIVERBANK – DAY

 

WE SEE Willow from the baby's view. His eyes pop open. He quickly backs his children away.

 

WILLOW

Back! Don't go near it. We don't know where it's been. It could be diseased.

 

MIMS

It's a baby!

 

RANON

It's not a Nelwyn baby.

 

WILLOW

No, it's too big to be a Nelwyn baby. It looks like a daikini...

 

MIMS

Ooh, it's so cute...

 

WILLOW

Mims! Get back here! It might bite you.

 

Willow drags Mims away. Then the baby starts crying.

 

RANON

Can't we keep it, Dada?

 

WILLOW

Absolutely not.

 

BURGLEKUTT

Ufgood! Willow Ufgood!

 

Willow, in a sudden panic, sees BURGLEKUTT in the distance. He splashes into the river, grabs the raft, plunks it on the bank and tries to hush the crying baby.

 

WILLOW

Shhh, shhh! It's the Prefect – that's all I need. Mims, Ranon, keep this thing hidden...

 

 

EXT. UFGOOD FARM – DAY

 

Burglekutt's beady eyes spot Willow making a mad dash for his plow. Swinging his fat stomach, he angrily points his walking stick and goes after him.

 

KIAYA

Mr. Burglekutt! He hasn't done anything wrong!

 

Willow's wife KIAYA chases Burglekutt across the field, her beautiful long hair flowing behind her. Willow quickly gets behind his plow like he's been there all day.

 

BURGLEKUTT

Ufgood! What do you think you're doing! I tell the planting seeds in this village.

 

KIAYA

I told him we didn't steal it, Willow.

 

Burglekutt furiously scoops a handful of seeds out of Willow's sack and shakes them under Willow's nose.

 

BURGLEKUTT

You haven't paid your debts. Where did you get these seeds?

 

With pride, Willow puts his arm around his wife.

 

WILLOW

In the forest. My family's been gathering them since last fall. There's no law against that, Burglekutt.

 

Suddenly the children laugh in the distance.

 

KIAYA

Willow! You left the children alone by the river??

 

In alarm she runs off before Willow can stop her. Burglekutt sweeps the horizon with his walking stick.

 

BURGLEKUTT

Too late, Ufgood. You'll never get your planting done before the rains start. You're gonna lose this land.

 

He raises the seeds high above his head, then smashes them down at Willow's boots. He waddles away toward two of his MEN who wait by the road. Then: Kiaya SHRIEKS from the river. Burglekutt stops in his tracks and shakes his head as if to say "the whole family's crazy." Off he trudges. Willow watches and waits. Then runs as fast as he can to the river.

 

 

EXT. RIVER – DAY

 

Kiaya cradles the baby in her arms. Willow runs up, and with patriarchal authority, puts his fists on his hips.

 

WILLOW

Absolutely, under no condition, is anyone in this family going to fall in love with that baby.

 

They all fall in love as he speaks. The children follow Kiaya up on the bank, walking right past Willow.

 

WILLOW

Kiaya! We can't keep that baby. Mims, Ranon. Hey! I will not be ignored!

 

Ignored, Willow huffs after them across his unplowed field.

 

 

INT. UFGOOD HOUSE – DAY

 

Willow nervously paces as Kiaya pours water in a wood tub and the children entertain the naked baby with sticks and brightly colored cloths, apparatus for a magic trick.

 

WILLOW

This is bad. If we're caught with that little daikini it'll be the end of us. Careful, Ranon, I need that for the festival.

 (indicates magic cloth)

Kiaya, what are we going to do?

 

KIAYA

We're gonna give this baby a bath.

 

The baby squeals with joy as Kiaya lifts her into the bath.

 

WILLOW

Burglekutt's right. There's not enough time to finish plowing. We'll lose everything and I'll end up working in the mines.

 

He shudders at the thought.

 

KIAYA

Willow, do you think we should take her to the Village Council?

 

WILLOW

No, no! They'll think it's a bad omen. There'll be a flood or a drought or a plague and everybody'll blame me for it!

 

RANON

Look. What's that?

 

Willow leans forward. On the baby's shoulder is a small branded scar in a circular design. It only adds to Willow's fears.

 

WILLOW

I don't know. This is trouble. I'll talk to the High Aldwin about it tomorrow at the Festival.

 

The baby kicks and splashes and giggles in the bath.

 

 

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 tugof-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.

 

The 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! Impresse, 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, embarrassed.

 

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 twoard 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