Original subtitles

Whoa, whoa, Buffy.

That bellboy on you, go!

Pull! Pull!

Pull, boy, pull!

Give them a rest for pity's sake. Put the brake on.

Well done.

Thanks,

Doctor. I'll instruct them until tomorrow.

The old one's finished.

Come on.

How is he?

He's worn out.

The cart has worked him too hard.

Yes, perhaps, but it isn't his fault, Vicki.

His horses really have to earn their keep.

Come on, boy.

Get up.

I'll help you.

Come on.

Come on.

You certainly got away with horses, miss.

Still, he's a bad bargain.

Well, where did you get him?

At the sale of old cavalry horses.

I thought he'd have lasted longer.

What'll you do with him?

I'll have to sell him for his hide and his hooves. Whatever I can get.

You can't.

Vicky.

But you can't just get rid of him.

You could make him well, couldn't you, Daddy?

Like you did Beauty.

I'm not so sure.

If you want him, he's yours, Doctor.

Two pounds.

He's like an old soldier.

We should look after him.

No, it's out of the question, Vicki. So don't try and talk me

into it.

Hello, Father.

What's that?

Our new horse.

You fix up a stall for him. I'll come in and see him later.

He doesn't look up too much.

He used to be a cavalry horse.

Why don't we let him out into the paddock?

We may have something infectious.

We have to keep him away from Beauty till we find out.

What's he called?

I don't know.

What about Poe, then?

Dr. Gordon, is there something wrong with that grey horse?

Yes, yes, there is, Amy. He's exhausted and partly lame. He's got cracked heels

and thrush and probably a touch of fever.

And somebody's asked you to look after him?

No, not exactly.

I've bought him.

This is private property.

Grange House.

I thought the house was empty.

So you just climbed in, eh?

What is it, McNish?

A trespasser, Master Robbie. She came over the wall.

I only came to get this back.

That's all right, McNish.

Your grandmother took this place so you wouldn't be disturbed.

We can't have people wandering in whenever they like.

I wasn't doing any harm.

Of course not.

Very good, Master Robbie.

I'm Robert Jameson.

Vicki Gordon. How do you do?

How do you do?

And that's my brother, Kevin.

How do you do, Kevin?

Hello.

I was ill for a while last year. That's why we came here.

I'm surprised we haven't seen you before.

I haven't seen anybody since we moved in.

Would you like to come to our house?

And see, Black Beauty, that's our horse.

I'd like to, very much.

But I'd have to ask my grandmother's permission first.

That's it.

That's it, soldier.

Not very nice, was it?

Dr.

Gordon, I'm going to have to speak my mind.

Well, I've never known you when you didn't. Well, somebody has to.

I mean, have you thought how much it would cost to feed another animal? Not

mention medicines and special dressings.

It's a suffering creature, Amy. We must do what we can.

I'm as sorry for it as anyone, but I've got a budget for all of us.

Oh, I don't intend to keep him. Oh, no, no, no. Just try to get him well again

and then find a good home for him where he won't have to work too hard.

What if you can't cure him and the children get too fond of him to let him

sold?

It's kind of you to ask, Miss Gordon, but I'm afraid I cannot permit Robbie to

go. Oh, please, Grandmother. I have said you're not to leave these grounds.

Please, Mrs. Jameson.

We'd be very careful.

You will allow me to decide what's best for my grandson.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Jameson.

I don't understand.

Robbie has been extremely ill.

He was living in Africa with his parents, and they all contracted severe

malaria.

His mother...

Did not recover.

I still don't know how you talked me into this, miss. But we'd better be

back, or we'll be in trouble.

Just a little longer.

Five minutes, then, and no more.

Who is McNeish?

He was our handyman in Scotland.

Grandmother brought him down here to look after me.

He's really quite nice.

Well done, soldier.

Here.

I think we'll give you a bit of sunshine.

Come on.

Do you want to ride him?

I've never been on one.

Would you like to try?

Could I?

Try what?

See what it's like to ride a horse.

Certainly not.

What are you trying to do?

Let Robbie enjoy himself for once.

Black Beauty's very gentle.

He could just sit on him, just to see what it's like. Then we'll go home.

Just sit on him, eh?

Why not?

Don't be scared.

There you are.

The syrups are too long.

I'll have to adjust them.

Robbie!

Robbie!

Can

you

not keep that animal under control?

As for you, McNeish, how dare you?

What were you thinking of?

He's not to blame.

Yes, I know it's you who's behind this.

No thanks to them.

You're blaming everyone else, but it was your fault.

Don't be impertinent.

Black Beauty didn't throw him. It was you who startled him.

Shouting like that. That's no excuse for you to encourage him to defy me.

I want you to promise never to ride that horse again.

I promise.

Have a go, soldier.

Well, what do you think, Amy?

Well, I must admit, Doctor, he looks like a new horse.

Dress, good feeding, bit of affection.

That's what it is, mainly.

Oh, you've done a wonderful job.

But it's going to make it all the harder to part with him.

Take it easy at first.

Don't tire him.

Come on, sweetie.

Come on.

Don't worry, beauty.

Your turn next.

We didn't expect to see you.

I've been trying to get away for days, but McNeish keeps watching me.

You mean they don't know you're here? I climbed over the wall.

Where's McNeish?

He thinks I'm in the summer house. Good for you.

We've been looking after our patient.

He's almost as good as Black Beauty now.

Come on.

Aren't you hot with that jacket on? A bit. Well, take it off.

We're just exercising the horses.

It's a pity you can't ride.

Would you like to, Robbie? I promised.

Ah.

You promised not to ride Black Beauty.

No one said anything about Soldier.

Hmm?

Don't dig your toes into him.

Right.

Now sit up straight and grip with your knees.

Yes.

Loosen your rein, Robbie.

Don't try and hold on with it.

Just relax.

about soldier he was in the cavalry he'll do anything you tell him to watch

soldier halt

Is Robbie with you, McNish?

No, ma 'am.

Then where is he?

I'm not quite sure, ma 'am.

Where do you think he is?

At Dr.

Gordon's, ma 'am. On his own?

He'll be with the doctor's children, ma 'am.

You knew about this and you didn't stop him.

Oh, there's no real harm in it, ma 'am. He seems all the better for it. I gave

you my instructions. How could you let him?

Well, ma 'am, I'd just like to see the lad looking happy for once.

He was wasting away.

You know what they said.

Any upset, any exertion could start the fever again.

You know what I'd like to do, Kevin?

What? Row out to your camp.

You mean it? Mm -hmm. Come on, then.

Well, yes, he's been here almost every day.

So you've encouraged him to defy me. I didn't know it was without your

permission.

Your family knew.

They also knew that he had severe malaria last year.

I've been doing everything to prevent another attack.

You know what it could mean.

It could kill him.

Vicky, do you know where Robbie is?

Yes.

I think he rode down to the lake with Kevin.

Rode there?

On soldier.

An old horse.

He won't come to any harm.

If he does, I'll never forgive you.

Sit down, Robbie.

I want to try it the other way round.

Yes, yes.

It was all my fault. I capsized the boat. But Black Beauty and Soldier, they

saved us. Did you see them? We did.

Well, your clothes ought to be dry by now.

Off you go and find Amy.

Go on, off you go.

I can't understand it.

How could the fever have gone so soon?

Because it wasn't fever at all.

My teeth would be chattering if I'd spent 20 minutes up to my neck in cold

water.

There's nothing wrong with him.

That's not possible.

I can assure you that whatever he had in Africa, it was not malaria.

Possibly some other type of fever, but there's no trace of it now.

But he was so pale, so weak.

Because you kept him confined to the house.

Unfortunately, the fresh air and exercise he's been getting here seem to

completely cured him.

He's a normal, healthy boy.

And the only way he'll become an invalid is if you make him one.

I know I've no right to expect it, but there are two favours I want to ask you.

Yes?

First, that you'll let me buy that old horse that helped to save Robbie.

I'd like it for him. I promise he'll look after it well.

I'm sure he will. And the second?

In spite of the things I've said, that you'll let them both continue their

friendship with your family.

Mrs. Jameson, I don't think we could stop them.

Al Fatiha.