A Man for All Seasons Page #33

- as it were rebels in moderation. The which deceit the King can brook no longer: And we, his loyal huntsmen must now drive these subtle foxes from their cover ... 84 EXT. TOWPATH NEAR MORE’S HOUSE NIGHT

The rain has stopped. MORE steps doggedly along the towpath, country now, wet trees glistening about him, the banks grassy. MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT. Where the footpath runs at the river’s brink, the water swollen with rain, tide and current together, wrenches at the roots of the hazels, mines the soft clay banks. MORE plods on.

85 EXT. GARDEN GATE MORE’S HOUSE NIGHT

CLOSE TRACKING SHOT MARGARET leaves a garden gate set in a high wall, a hood over her head, emerging onto the same path. She looks along it. Her POV the footpath, empty.

She sets off, moving opposite on screen to MORE’s progression, 91

86 EXT. TOWPATH NEAR MORE’S HOUSE NIGHT

CLOSE TRACKING SHOT’, MORE He stops and listens. Looks:

His POV the path bends sharply a few feet in front of him. MAGARET comes round the bend. MORE

Margaret:
ä I couldn’t get a boat.

(frowns at her agitation)

What is it, Meg?

With which,’ he takes her arm and they walk on in tracking shot, the river running by their feet, its busy gurgle running under their talk. MARGARET

There’s a new Act going through Parliament. Giles Cooper’s ridden out to tell us. MORE Oh?

He is more interested than alarmed, puzzled by her pent-up concern. She nods. MARGARET

Father, by this Act they’re going to administer an oath; about the Marriage, MORE stops.

MORE:

(steadily)

On what compulsion is the oath?

MARGARET High Treason.

A heavy slice of clay bank falls with soft finality into the incessantly working river. MORE What’s the wording?

MARGARET:

Do the words master? We know what it will mean.

92

MORE:

It will mean what the words say, Meg. An oath is made of words, It may be possible to take it

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