Original subtitles

You can't do this to me.

You've been telling lies to the squire about me.

I'm as fit to do a good day's work as ever I was.

Oh, come the old soldier with me. Just get out.

I was casual gardening for the squire.

Long before you came here.

For too long, Donovan.

You're getting old and lazy.

You're just not worth the money the squire's been paying you.

Here, think yourself lucky and get out.

I'll not leave until I see the squire.

We'll see about that, Paxton.

Good boy, Beauty.

Get out!

Goodbye, beauty.

You keep that animal away from us, Master Gordon, or I'll get the squire to

with you.

Thank you, boy.

That's just what my own old horse, Hector, would have done.

The squire never gave you orders to push him about like that. Now, look here,

you. All right, all right.

I'm going.

No need to get the lad into trouble.

Very clever the way you got rid of that old fool, Donovan.

Yeah.

Yes, now I got him just where I want him. What's that?

It's a button I pulled off his coat in the struggle just now.

You're a card, all right, and no mistake.

Morning, Corporal Donovan.

Morning, Doctor.

Hello, boy.

Beauty seems to like you.

You know, it's untanny, Doctor.

It's hard to use it just like my old Hector.

Best horse I ever had.

Right down to that little flash in the corner.

What happened to him?

They're under me in the charge.

The light brigade.

Kevin tells me you've lost your job at Squire Armstrong's.

Fred's old, Doctor.

You know, it's the injustice of it. Paul Rogers wanted that job for that pal of

his, Paxton.

Anyway, it's about time I was moving on.

Well, um, while you're making up your mind, there are a few odd jobs around

Cottage you could do, if you want.

Well, thank you, Doctor.

I'd work for my rations.

I owe this fellow here a favor.

I'd like to see a bit more of them before I move headquarters.

light brigade, surrounded by the enemy.

Trouble was, the general misunderstood his orders, and instead of trying to

recapture these guns here,

we was ordered to attack the main force at the end of the valley.

I suppose you got a medal then.

Medals aren't everything, lad.

Why don't you shut up?

During that Crimean campaign, we were often short of fodder for the horses.

Some of them died of starvation.

Enough to break a man's heart.

My old Hector used to look at me reproachful -like.

But I think he understood somehow.

Sometimes wondered how he had the strength to carry me through the charge.

he did, and finally, too, until that shell hit him.

What happened then?

Well, us Lancers were in the first line of attack, so we took the full brunt of

the Russian cannonade.

We were right on the guns when Hector fell.

Thirteenth Dragoons were with us.

I managed to mount a riderless horse belonging to one of their chaps who had

fallen.

Right through the artillery we went.

And there in front of us was the Cossack cavalry.

Keep together, lads. You ought to tap in Morris and be charged again.

What happened then was like a... like a nightmare.

Smoke, confusion, dying, wounded men everywhere.

How did he get back to the British lines?

He walked, I suppose.

That's exactly what I had to do, Sonny.

Right down that valley of death.

140 on the 17th there were when we attacked.

Only 35 returned and three officers.

Not many horses.

Well, Beauty, my lad, you were lucky not to be in that campaign, weren't you?

He certainly was.

Come on, boys, off you go. It's bedtime.

Good night, Corporal. Good night, Donovan.

Well, Corporal, you seem to have made some new friends at your cottage. I

Doctor. This fellow here in particular.

Though I have my doubts about that young Albert.

Well, Albert was born sceptic.

Kevin has a great admiration for you, though.

Look, there isn't a spare room in the house, but you're very welcome to bed

here, if you like.

Oh, thank you, Doctor, but I have my own place down by the lake.

And it's a fine night.

Well, I'll just do a bit of clearing up before I go.

As you wish.

Good night. Good night, Thompson.

Thank you.

What on earth has happened, sir?

Damn it, man, it's obvious, isn't it?

You'd better get somebody down to Five Oaks Police Station.

Yes, Squire, I'll get P .C. Dickens to come straight back with me.

That's odd, sir.

What is?

On your desk, that button.

It's a military button.

Morning, Mr. Dickens.

Morning, Master Gordon.

Can't stop for a chat, I'm afraid.

I'm off to make an arrest.

And for a Donovan.

Burgled the Squire's place last night, he did.

What? I don't believe it.

It's true.

Made off with a lot of valuables.

I'll miss me off.

Goodbye.

Come on, Beauty. We must warn Donovan.

Oh, young Kevin, what's up with you, lad?

I just met Mr. Dickens. He's coming to arrest you.

Arrest me?

What for?

There was a break -in at the hall last night.

The news is all over Five Oaks. The squire says you did it.

You see?

Did you do it, Corporal? Of course I didn't.

You must hurry. Mr. Dickens will be here in a minute.

Thank goodness he hasn't got a horse.

I could have done with a bit of breakfast.

Thank you, lad.

I'll keep in contact.

Get through the enemy's line somehow.

Good luck.

I don't know what disposed you to give the old rogue work here.

I had no reason to suspect him of criminal intentions, Mr. Ansel.

Come on, boys.

I should have thought the fellow's appearance was enough to damn him. His

appearance? But you employed him as a gardener, didn't you?

His work was quite satisfactory, wasn't it?

Yes.

Well, I heard him escape on a horse.

And it's my belief that he came here to get friendly with that animal of yours.

And took him out after you were all abed to help him in the burglary.

Uh, Kevin.

When you took Beauty out this morning, did he look as though he'd been ridden

again last night?

No, he was spotless.

The fellow could have groomed him again after bringing him back.

He seems a bit tall to me.

I'm convinced... Ah, Squire.

There's no point in your hanging around here, Dickens.

If you haven't picked up that rogue by this evening, you'll have some

to do.

Yes, Squire, I'm strong, sir.

I assure you, sir, everything in my power will be done.

No soul will be left unturned. Well, get on with it.

I'd better get some of my own men out looking for him, too.

That fool on his bicycle isn't going to get very far.

Come on.

Do you think they'll catch him? I hope not.

Blimey. Were you up there all the time?

I was, matey.

Best place for me.

They wouldn't think of looking for me here, would they, huh?

I suppose not. An old trick.

Landed in India during the mutiny.

I'm separated from my patrol.

Head out in one of the enemy's own camps. The large chaps can buy and

it. Did you do the burglary, Donovan?

Serve Squire Armstrong right if you did.

No, young Albert.

I did not.

Well, somebody did. On a horse. And they said it was you on Black Beauty.

Look, Sonny, I haven't ridden a horse since I left the army.

Not at all sure I could even get on one now.

Wait a minute. When I came to warn you this morning... That's when you went on

Beauty. I saw her coming out of Mountswood.

I've never seen him riding out that early in the morning. Is he you?

No. What was he doing amongst wood, I wonder, huh?

You think it was him, Donovan? I shouldn't be surprised.

Him and that slimy pal of his.

So that's why they're in the woods. Him and Paxton were shearing out the loot.

They could have hidden it there, if it was them, that is. What about the old

prairie ruins?

It's a chance.

Look, Corporal, why don't we go and have a look around, just in case? Will you,

Raz?

Good.

Now, look, don't get in any trouble or danger. The doctor'd never forgive me.

Just have a quick look -see and then report back here to me at headquarters.

Shouldn't take you more than an hour.

No skirmish is mine. Just a reconnaissance, huh? Right, Coppola.

Found anything, Albert?

No, there's nothing around here.

The old hollow tree.

Nothing there but no shit. Wait a minute.

There was no old stone when we came bird nesting.

That's right.

Help me get it out.

Look, he's there.

Hey there, you two.

What do you think you're doing?

Nothing, mister.

You are getting... After them, Paxton.

They're going this way. Right, I'll head them off the other way.

Where are the little varmints? They're over here.

I got one.

Right,

this way. Come on.

Here they are.

Here they are.

Albert.

I don't know where they are, Doctor.

I haven't seen them for over an hour.

Some mischief, I suppose.

Never mind, I really came back for some medicines.

these young troopers yourself.

Go on back now, boy. Go on back. There's a good horse.

Go on back. The doctor'll be mad if you don't.

Look, I've got to find these two lads.

I haven't all day to stand here having polite conversation with you.

You mean you want to help me, huh?

It's a long time since I sat on a big, handsome fellow like you.

Looks like we lost them.

Must be around here somewhere.

Well, they can't be far.

Keep a sharp eye. I've packed them.

Ah, that. A little trick I learned in the Indian mutiny.

Excuse me.

What was that? It came from over here.

I heard something there.

It's a broken cover. We'll soon catch him now.

Donovan!

Donovan!

Come on.

Over here, lad.

Over here.

Get behind me, lad.

I'll deal with them.

Look at the old fool.

Look at him.

Still playing at soldiers, Donovan?

What are you going to do, Corporal?

Where's the rest of the Light Brigade, Donovan?

By the right.

Advance.

Go on, Corporal. Go and get them.

John!

I told you he was really there, Albert.

You know, even my old Hector would have been proud of that.

Let's have these leaving Cossacks rounded up.

Three kids for life again!

It's it! Hooray!

It's it! Hooray!

It's it!

Hooray!

It's my

beauty, my boy.

You know, lads, it was an honor to have ridden him.

We're proud you did, Corporal. And I'm grateful to you.

For rescuing the boys.

I'm sorry I didn't believe you, Corporal Donovan, about being in charge of the

Light Brigade and having won the medal and all.

Oh, yes.

That medal.

Well, I think that somebody here deserves a medal, don't you?

Here you are, boy.

For bravery and action.

Well, time I was going.

Will we see you again, Corporal?

Oh, you can bank on that. I'll be through here next spring.

Now, we want that to be a promise, don't we, Lance?

Of course it's a promise.

Got to see this fellow again, haven't I?

You

know

what this medal is, don't you?

What, Father?

It's the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery that there is.

Thank you.