Section 6: In the Woods and The Crossing

Scripted by Newell Fisher, with script assistance by John Ruths

This section covers from 14 minutes 10 to 18 minutes 30 and the equivalent Chapters from the book are Chapters 5. In the Woods, 7. The Lendri and the River and  8. The Crossing

The camera pans left past a sparse bush to reveal the recent escapees from Sandleford at the edge of a wood.

We see Hazel approach the edge of the wood and sniff the air. And now Bigwig steps up as advisor to say that they need to rest.

This gives Hazel another leadership moment, as he points out they will be completely clear of the Owsla once they are through the wood. They can rest then.

Bigwig looks up into the trees nervously, but follows Hazel and the rest follow him.

There is a full moon, which allows for backgrounds with high contrast between light and dark. Thorns and sharp edges are emphasised as the camera's panning matches the music to emphasise what an alien environment this is for rabbits.

We hear the screeching of an owl as we see Pipkin briefly halt out of breath more from fear than tiredness.

A foot step is heard in the undergrowth. A fern leaf moves as if disturbed by an animal. A pair of eyes opens in a dark hollow behind Fiver.

Seeing the eyes behind him, Fiver runs, joining the others under a bush.

In the book this would probably be the point at which they pause to listen to The Story of the Blessing of El-ahrairah to lift their spirits. But there is no chance of that happening here.

They look up to see an owl swooping overhead. A holly leaf falls.

Then, suddenly, as Bigwig looks around, the face of a badger emerges from undergrowth.

Bigwig exclaims "A Lendri! This way!" and they all follow him quickly away.

As they make their way down a gradual slope, Violet says it had just killed as there was blood on its lips.

The shot is held on this view of trees on a slope as the light, and tone of the music, become brighter and we hear the dawn chorus of birds.

The sun is coming up and they have made it through the woods. The entire sequence in the woods has lasted only about one and a half minutes.

And now the shot dissolves to a kingfisher on a branch, with the River Enborne behind it.

They are on a patch of gravel on the river's edge with a discarded bottle.

Fiver immediately says they must cross the river, earning him a rebuke from Bigwig, who wanders off to check their surroundings. Fiver addresses them all as he explains about needing to find a "high lonely place with dry soil".

We cut to Bigwig, a short distance away, who sees the dog.

He immediately warns the others by the river bank and says they all have to swim and those who can't will just have to "make out the best they can". There is more leadership from Hazel, who says that isn't good enough.

And now we see what Blackberry noticed. A flat piece of wood by the river bank.

In the book Fiver seems to understand the implications of the floating piece of wood, while Hazel remains clueless. But here it is Hazel who gets it straight away and tells Fiver to get on. Fiver immediately falls off and has to be comedically retrieved from under the water by Blackberry by his scruff.

We see the dog arrive, sniffing, by the river bank.

Hazel tells Bigwig and Silver to push the piece of wood out. With no more talking the whole group enter the river.

The piece of wood spins around due to the panicking Pipkin moving around on it. Bigwig, warns him to stay still, and with Silver, gives the wood one final push into the bullrushes on the opposite bank

Hazel praises Blackberry for finding the wood.

With no boastfulness Blackberry accepts it was a good idea and suggests they bear it in mind for the future.

And, as we build to the optimistic musical theme once again, they are off across country, without resting as they do in the book.