Original subtitles

Isn't he beautiful?

He certainly is.

That tinker over there seems to think so, too.

I've got

to

have him. I must have him. But they won't sell him, miss. Not without a lot

persuasion. They've got to sell.

I'd give anything.

Anything.

I'll do my best, Susie.

Drive on, Pop.

I'll give you a hundred pounds for that horse of yours.

I don't understand.

You mean Black Beauty?

My daughter's got her heart set on him.

Oh, dear.

I'm sorry about that.

I'll make it a hundred and fifty pounds.

Black Beauty's one of the family. He isn't for sale.

Nonsense.

Everything's for sale.

Name your price. I've plenty of cash.

Hello, Susie.

Come to visit us?

We've come to buy the horse.

What horse?

Black Beauty, of course.

You're joking.

You'll find it no joke.

Father's inside buying him now.

You're not selling Beauty. You can't.

Well, no, of course we're not.

Don't worry, Vicky. Black Beauty is still yours.

But Susie told me that... Susie is going to be disappointed.

But she's going to make my life miserable from now on.

Not too miserable, surely.

Not with all that cash.

There's someone in a stable.

Ricky?

There was someone here.

Well, he's not here now.

Could it be McPhee?

McPhee? No, I doubt it.

Well, maybe he wanted some food for his horse.

Oh, I don't think so.

He's a decent sort of fellow.

And he knows I'm doing all I can for his little boy.

The villagers seem to think all tinkers are thieves.

Now, tinkers are just like anybody else. Some are good, some are bad.

Well, we could ask him.

All right.

I've got to visit my young patient anyway.

Come on, Beauty.

Time for lunch.

Come on, boy.

What is it, Beauty?

What's the matter?

Come on.

Oh, well, I expect you're right.

It's too nice a day to go inside, isn't it?

You can go straight out the glass.

Billy Bond.

How's the patient today, McPhee? Oh, he seems a little better, Doctor. I think

you've put him on the right road.

I'll just have a look at him.

Oh, by the way, you weren't up at the stable this morning, were you?

Me, sir?

No, I was never near it.

No. I didn't think it was you.

Somebody was.

Somebody you didn't want us to see him.

Not me, Miss.

Not after the Doctor's been so good to my little boy.

Other people are interested in your horse, miss.

Susie and her father.

I know all about that.

Easy, easy, beauty.

It's all right. It's only a gate.

Hundreds of times.

What's the matter, Beauty?

This isn't like you at all.

Look, it's quite easy.

Look.

Come on,

Beauty.

What's gone wrong?

I just don't seem to be able to handle him anymore.

Is it my fault?

Is it something I'm doing?

No, I don't think so. I think it's something more than that.

What are we going to do?

Well, you can get Willie Davidson to re -nail his shoe. For one thing, it's

loose. Yes, I know.

I was going to do that this afternoon.

While you're about it, you can ask his advice.

He knows more about horses than any man I've ever met.

Every now and again, he just goes strange.

And I can't do anything with him.

You've no enemies, I suppose.

Me? Well, you are Dr. James.

Well, I'm sure Father hasn't.

I don't think I have.

Well, I don't see why you should, Miss Vicki, but... I think perhaps you

have.

And someone who knows about horses.

The sacred things.

Perhaps I might have a look at that stable of yours. I might be able to

Oh, beauty, what's the matter with you? Why are you being so silly?

Oh, he's not being silly, Miss McGee.

Oh, I think he is.

Maybe that's what someone wants you to believe.

But he's just got a better nose than we have, ain't you, boy?

What's his nose got to do with it?

Now you try him again.

In you go, beauty.

In you go.

How did you do it?

I can tell you nothing.

Why not?

Well, let's just say I took an oath once.

To keep certain secrets.

Well, anyhow, it doesn't matter now, does it?

Everything's all right, beauty.

We'll have no more trouble now.

Will you be so sure?

Someone's been playing a foolish trick on you.

It may not be so easy to stop him.

Can I do with you again?

Oh, morning, ma 'am.

Is the doctor in?

You don't look like a patient.

Oh, no, it's a private matter. It's a letter from Mr. Oldfield.

Invitation to dinner, I think. Well, I'll see he gets it.

All right, thank you very much, ma 'am.

Well, I must say, it's a very nice place you've got here.

Was there anything else?

Oh, yes, there is just one thing, ma 'am. It's a warm day. My horse could do

with a drink.

I'm in the stable yard. Help yourself.

Stable yard?

That way.

Thank you very much, ma 'am.

Hello. Morning, Miss.

Miss Winthrop said I could get some water, give my horse a drink.

Of course.

There's a bucket in the stable, and the pump's over there.

Ah.

You're Mr. O 'Field's groom, aren't you?

Yes, that's right, Miss.

He looks a treat, doesn't he?

You've everything there you could want in a horse.

No wonder Mr. O 'Field wanted to buy him, but I told him you won't get him, I

said, not without a lot of persuasion. I mean, money doesn't buy everything, you

know, Miss.

I expect it's very nice to have all the same.

Yes.

I expect so.

Take his head, Miss Vicki, huh?

I thought so.

What is it?

Well, this gas is no good to anybody.

I shall have to destroy this.

See?

It's been soaked with something that burns or irritates.

Beauty wouldn't feel it if he got warmed up.

But he would have done him mad in time.

Who would do a thing like that?

Well, whoever it was. He knows those secrets I was telling you about.

Well, what are they?

Well, the secrets of members of the Horseman Society swear never to tell

I've never heard of it.

Oh, you wouldn't. But it's very old. Hundreds of years, maybe.

Only men who work with horses can join. And they... They have ways of

controlling horses with herbs and other things.

But they... They swear only to use them for the good of horses, not like theirs.

Could McPhee be a member?

Well, if he was ever a ploughman or a waggoner at any time, yes.

Well, you walk Beauty home now, Miss Vicky, very quietly, and I'll give some

thought as to how we can patch this fellow out.

All right.

Thank you, Willie.

Come on, boy.

I really can't see why McPhee should play a trick like this.

Perhaps he might be hoping we'd get tired of beauty or something.

So that he could buy him cheap.

But he's got a perfectly good cup of his own.

He could sell him again easily enough.

Has anybody else been near the stable recently?

Only Mr. O 'Field's groom.

When?

This morning.

Were you with him the whole time?

Yes. He only went into the stable to get a bucket.

Yes, could be that Mr Oldfield takes after his daughter.

They both like to get their own way.

Doctor? Miss Rofield, you were very anxious to buy Black Beauty.

Changed your mind, have you? No, not in the least. But I wonder just how far

you'd go to persuade me to do so.

Well, if you're thinking of another 50 pounds, well, I'd be quite agreeable.

We've had a lot of trouble with Black Beauty since then, my daughter and I.

been almost unmanageable. And today, if help hadn't come just in time, my

daughter might have been killed.

Why, you astonish me.

Do I?

Are you suggesting I tried to get to your horse? Well, somebody did.

I don't do business that way.

If I can't buy a thing honestly, I do without it.

I'd like to believe you. I find it difficult.

Look, the people of this county haven't been very kind to my daughter. And she's

convinced that if she had black beauty, things would be a whole lot better.

But I'm an honest man, Doctor.

And I believe my daughter is honest.

Shall we leave it at that?

Very well.

Perhaps I was a little hasty.

I apologize.

Not another word.

In your place, I might well have thought the same thing.

Hmm.

I know a way of testing to see whether it's him or not.

What is it?

You'll see, I hope.

About this time of day, I think I know where he can be found.

Come along and watch your hands.

Morning, Mr. Fox.

Morning, Mr. Davidson.

Morning, Miss Susie. Morning, Willie.

I thought I heard a loose shoe as you drove in.

Excuse me.

Come up.

Come up.

Victor needs re -nailing. Perhaps Mr. Fox will bring him along.

I'll see that he does.

Very nice.

You did that?

You don't need doorposts, Miss Vicky.

You can put it on four legs as well.

Willie, put what on?

It's a secret potion with a smell that frightens horses.

When the smell comes from in front of him, he won't go forward.

Watch now.

What's the matter with him, Fox?

I don't know, Miss.

But I'll soon find out.

I see you know the secrets of the horseman, Mr. Fox.

Hello, Susie.

Uh, having trouble with your horse?

Fox, you idiot!

You've been tricked!

Yes, Vicky told me.

Fox.

Yes, I'm dismissing him from my service.

Oh, is that quite fair?

I mean, he would hardly have thought of it on his own, would he?

You're quite right.

I'll give him a second chance.

But Susie will have to be punished.

I know, Father.

I have an apology to make, too.

Came to say I'm sorry for thinking you might have hurt Black Beauty.

So you found out who it really was that was playing tricks with him?

Yes.

I was wondering, though.

Are you a member of the Horseman Society?

Yes, I am.

Always remember this.

The Horseman Society is for the good of horses.

And the people that work with them.

Not for making trouble.

I will.

Goodbye, Mr. McPhee.

Don't move.