Original subtitles

Dad says we come at once, Miss. It's important.

Our Goldie's in real trouble.

Who's Goldie? She's our best cow, Miss. Dad says the calf's around the wrong

way. And if we don't look out, we'll lose them both. What's your name?

Jed Hicks. Our farm's over there about ten miles away.

All right, Jed. We'll get you something to eat and drink and then we'll be on

our way. No, we've got to go now, Miss. Dad said.

It's Hicks' cow.

A breech birth.

If it's as bad as it sounds, I won't be back before morning.

Yes, very well, my dear.

Well, what a piece of luck.

Remember, Mrs. Critfield, tomorrow's the big day. Get there early to get a good

beat. And don't forget it's absolutely free.

Manfred.

Manfred, you haven't brought it with you.

No, Mrs. Burton is making one more piece for me. But with that, I can finish.

But you promised me it would be finished days ago.

I'm sorry.

Tomorrow morning. I promise.

That's not good enough. The demonstration's tomorrow afternoon. We

time to test it.

It will be all right.

You'll see.

It had better be.

I have important people coming.

People from the financial world.

I'm destined for far better things than running a settlement store.

Now, you haven't told anybody, have you?

No.

Not even the family.

Good. You can trust nobody with an idea as valuable as this.

The sad fact is, Manfred, people are greedy.

Well, I suppose so.

But, Mr. Barton, you did promise me that... On delivery, Manfred.

Business is business.

But that will be too late.

Well, in this case, perhaps I could make an exception.

Thank you.

Why on earth did Manfred write to the settlement on his bicycle when he could

have come with us?

It's something to do with this demonstration Mr. Burton's holding

know it is.

Well, what's he demonstrating?

I don't know. That's another secret.

I've been delivering leaflets, advertising it, but they don't tell

they're going to see.

Perhaps Mr Burton is cleverer than we think.

People will turn up just to find out what the secret is.

Well, I'm not in the slightest bit interested.

I've kept my part of the bargain. It's up to you to keep yours.

What bargain is this?

Is this what you want?

This is perfect.

I've made all these pieces, but wouldn't it be needed for seeing the whole plan?

Don't worry about that, my dear. Manfred's in a hurry. He has to go now.

I see. It's one of your get -rich -quick schemes, I suppose.

No, no, dear. There's no need for that.

And, Fred, what have you got there?

I'm sorry, Vicki, I can't tell you.

Oh, I see.

More secrets.

No, it's... It's just I promised.

They could be a bit awkward on your bicycle, Manfred. Wouldn't you rather I

them down the trap?

Well... Perhaps.

You needn't worry. I won't look.

Come on, Vicki!

Dr. Gordon. Vicky.

What can I do for you?

Has our mail order parcel arrived yet?

Oh, yes.

Came with the supplies this morning. Ah, here it is.

She'll love it. I know she will.

Was there any girl?

Oh.

Yes, please.

Doing some cooking, are we? I'm going to bake a cake.

Do you do a lot of baking, Vicky?

No, not really.

But I'm sure it'll turn out all right, because I've got a recipe.

It's a surprise.

What on earth is this demonstration about? We're all mad with curiosity.

Oh, that's a surprise too, I think.

I don't know what it is.

Samuel's playing his cards very close to the...

It's just a hunter.

I think something's wrong, Grandpa.

Well, we'd better have a look.

I'll go.

I'm going with you. Be careful.

This way.

What happened?

I was close up on a pig and I tripped and fell.

And I hit my head on that rock.

It hurts to breathe.

Do you think you can get up?

No.

Slowly.

Well, it will be some pain, Lewis.

There's no helping that with broken ribs.

Now you can bed down here for a while, sir.

Until you're fit enough to look after yourself.

Thanks, Doctor.

And thank you, Vicky, for coming along when you did. That's all right. I don't

suppose you saw the dog?

He disappeared into the bush.

If I know dogs, it'll find its way home, especially if it gets hungry.

You might as well show me.

I know what it is.

You do?

It's for Mr. Burton.

It's what he's going to demonstrate tomorrow, isn't it?

Vicky, no one must see it before tomorrow. He made me promise.

But you can show me.

I gave him my word. Have you ever heard of the Chinese water torture?

Tomorrow, Vicky, all will be revealed.

Are you sure you know what to do?

Yes.

It's all written here.

Tricky things, Cakes. From what I've heard.

My ham.

My beautiful ham.

What am I going to do now that it was Jenny's birthday present?

And Dad is tickled pink because it was a heifer. A real beauty.

Wasn't born until six in the morning. That's great, Jad. And Mum reckons Mrs.

Dennings should have a sleep or she'd fall off her horse.

She should be back around lunchtime.

Thanks for letting us know.

Bye. Bye.

You didn't come in for breakfast this morning.

I'm not hungry.

Today is Jenny's birthday and now I don't have a present to give her.

She'll understand, Manfred.

It's the thought that counts. The ham that the dog stole was... Was my

You see, Jenny loves ham and it's something we can seldom afford and...

was my pay for Mr. Barton.

You should be in bed. No, I'm a born martyr.

And I need the sympathy, thanks.

And about time, too.

That smells good.

It looks terrible.

What happened?

Well, it went up, but it went down again.

It's a bit flat, isn't it?

So it'll probably taste all right.

Feel it.

Ah, it's a bit hard, too.

ham gets stolen, now our cake goes flat.

We were going to have a special party tea.

You could always make another cake.

It's too late. She'll be coming home soon.

It was meant to be a surprise.

A surprise? Yes.

Oh, well.

Chooks will eat well tonight.

Now, get rid of that sacking.

This.

is much more appropriate.

You will learn, Manfred, that in business, presentation is all important.

She's here.

A beautiful heifer and a healthy mother.

Sorry I didn't come back straight away, but I was so tired.

She's forgotten.

I told you she would.

Forgotten what?

This is from Grandpa and me.

Well, you can open it.

I will if you give me a moment.

Vicky saved up from her mail run and we sent away to the city.

I hope you like it.

I'm sure I shall.

Oh.

You can put a photograph of Father in it.

Thank you.

Thank you both so much.

Allow me, my dear.

That's where the good news ends, I'm afraid.

Manfred got you a ham.

Ham?

Oh, how wonderful.

I haven't tasted ham since... since... I can't even remember when.

A dog ran off with it.

And I baked you a cake.

Oh, well, that certainly makes up for it. I always have a birthday cake, don't

I, Father? Yes, well, um... But it went flat.

I fed it to the chocks.

Well, I'm too old for a birthday tea anyway.

And it was lovely of you to think of it.

We really wanted to make it nice.

Just that it all went wrong.

Don't worry about it.

I love my locket.

And cake and ham would have just made me fat anyway.

Well, where's Manfred?

Oh, it's the day of the great demonstration.

Shall we go?

Of course.

Wild horses wouldn't stop me from finding out what the mystery is. I'll go

change.

Are you coming, Lewis?

No, no, I don't think so. Thanks all the same, Vicki, but I'll have a bit of

rest.

Yes, it's a good idea.

You'll heal faster and try and get some sleep.

All set, I hope, Manfred?

Well, um... The stove is no good. Either it gives off too much heat or too

little. A small problem, I'm sure you'll solve it. Let me see. Ah!

Held up!

Held up!

Ah!

Yes, it will do well enough.

It'll have to do. It's the only dress I have.

Everything ready, Manfred?

Um, yes, I think so.

Oh, Mr. Burton, when you're demonstrating, the lid has to screw down

because all the pressure of the steam... Yes, yes, yes, sir, you keep on saying.

Now, I want you to keep that undercover until the very last minute. I want you

to stay behind the table because it's important that my financial advisor sees

everything.

I think it would be best if I demonstrate.

The pressure on the cooker is... Manfred, this is my demonstration.

I financed it, so I will demonstrate it. You have to be a bit of a showman to

pull this sort of thing off.

Samuel. Samuel.

Oh, Mr.

Danvers, how kind of you to come. My pleasure, Burton.

You've met my wife, I believe. I have indeed.

Would you and your charming son care to join me in some afternoon tea?

Mansford, you might have worn your best clothes.

These are my best clothes.

Oh, I hope I've understood you, boy.

Because if you throw me now...

I know this is asking a lot, but...

Would

you mind?

You're an amazing horse, Beauty.

Can we take this very gently?

And not too slowly.

We're going to have a second culinary disaster on our hands.

The

whole

district appears to be here.

Well, Mr. Burton is offering free afternoon tea.

Bank does like to support innovative ideas, so long as they're soundly based.

Ah, policy of true vision, how very wise.

Who is this young man?

Oh, just my assistant.

Manfred Grunewald, sir.

I heard you say you support new ideas.

Well, I myself am working on new ways of using the power of the wind. Manfred,

please, not now. I'm about to make my opening speech.

Finally take your position.

Mr. and Mrs. Danvers, ladies and gentlemen.

Today, you're privileged to be present at the world's first demonstration of

Burton's Patent Steam Cooker.

Having observed the endless hours my own dear lady wife spends, albeit

willingly, on the preservation of Summer's bounty, I felt beholden to turn

mind to the creation of a device that would forever free her from this

chore. The result of my... endeavors I will now reveal to you.

Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I give you Burton's Patent Steam

Cooker.

Mentred.

Never again, ladies, will you slay for hours over your kitchen range.

Now, in less time than it takes to boil a pan of water, you can produce the most

succulent of jam and preserves.

For today's demonstration, I have chosen some locally grown ripe plums. However,

my invention will handle with equal felicity fruit and vegetables of all

And now... And now for the fruit.

We add a dash of water and sugar.

The container is now firmly affixed to the base in which a goodly quantity of

water is boiling.

The final act is to secure the lid with this special device which seals the

fruit into the container so that not one jot of God's goodness escapes into the

atmosphere.

And that, ladies...

is the sum total of the work involved.

You may now take your ease whilst Burton's patent steam cooker does the

you.

Oh, and by the by, to mark this auspicious occasion, at the end of this

demonstration, every lady will receive a free sample of the first batch of

preserves prepared by...

Burton's Patent Team Cooker. Burton Cooker.

I think it's gonna...

Happy birthday, Mrs. Denning.

This is wonderful.

Surely you never made this.

I cooked for a shearing gang down south for a while.

There's ham.

I always have a few from the pig hunting.

Dare I ask how you managed to bring it here?

Best not, Doctor. You wouldn't approve.

Beauty.

You must have been very persuasive.

Lewis, you saved the day. How did...

Oh, easy.

Don't tell Frank Coates.

If he finds I can cook and ride a horse, he'll have me back to work tomorrow.

Oh, this is the best birthday I've ever had.

Thank you.