Original subtitles

Can we do anything for her, Father?

No, not much, in fact, Kevin.

She's just worn out.

Like the others.

Did you say there were some more old horses coming, Dr. Gray?

Yes, yes, later on today.

There'll be lots of room when we get the extra land.

If we get it. Oh, it's all arranged, Amy.

It's the small farmers and I. I'm buying Parsons Field as common grazing land.

Then they're going to let me use part of it as a home of rest for horses.

Speak up, young man. Who are you?

I'm Albert Clifton. I live with Dr. Gorder at York Cottage and his family.

Abel, what are you doing in my barn? Just exploring.

They say in the village it's haunted. And it looks sort of, well, old and

interesting. Old and interesting. Oh, well, well, yes, yes, it is. That it is.

Well, I'm sorry I startled you. I thought you were one of those young

Now I see you're a true scholar.

Well...

Whittery is the name.

Arthur P.

Whittery.

Maybe you've read one of my books.

Good day, Doctor.

Hello, Mr. Bridges.

Well, am I the first here?

Yes, the only one so far.

Right, now tell me, where exactly is this land to be auctioned this

It's between my paddock and the trees and on over the hill.

You know, it passes pale.

Oh, aye, aye.

Should fetch a pretty penny, eh? Yes.

That's why we're having this meeting before the auction.

Oh, look. Here's someone else.

Ah, yes. Looks like Mr. Hempel, the lawyer from Five Oaks.

Good day to you, Miss Winthrop. Good day.

Well, the horses are starting to arrive, I think. Yes, and some of them are in a

shocking state, and they all need food and medical attention.

Well, the doctor's the right man to take care of that.

It's a good idea of his to use Parton Field as a sanctuary for them.

How old is it? Well, it's difficult to say, really. I would say four or five

centuries. About 50 years before Columbus discovered America.

Now, you look here.

Now, you see that mark?

Now, that is a medieval carpenter's mark. It's a sort of signature.

A hand holding a spear.

What does it mean?

Well, it's a clue to his name.

Holding a spear.

Or Shakespeare.

Perhaps his name was Shakespeare.

He could have been an ancestor of William's.

Shakespeare?

I want that field to link up my east and west pastures, and I mean to get it.

I take it you intend to bid against me?

No, it isn't that, Mr Armstrong. Then what is the purpose of this meeting?

To reap the bidding so that the land goes for less than its worth? Well,

a disgraceful thing to say.

We intend to pay a fair price for the land.

I think we should listen to Dr. Gordon.

Well, I'm speaking for these gentlemen as well.

They're local people with small holdings and they need grazing land urgently for

their sheep and cattle. There's the common field.

Oh, that's not nearly big enough.

They've asked me to bid for them as a group in order to preserve the land for

the village.

I see.

So the reason I'm here is to ask me not to bid at all.

If I'd known that, I wouldn't have come.

Now we've got all these old horses, can we ride them?

No, Albert, they're too old. One of them can't even stand.

What's wrong with Squire Armstrong?

I don't know, but I've seen it before.

When people talk about buying land, they get all angry.

There's not much to do here.

Let's go to the old barn.

The barn?

The old barn at Beacon Hill. It was built by Christopher Columbus.

Shakespeare or somebody.

All right, Albert.

If Armstrong is determined to get it for himself, well... I think

I may see a way out of your difficulty, gentlemen.

Armstrong would know better than to bid against me.

What if I were to acquire that land?

At a fair price, of course.

For what reason?

I'm no farmer.

I could charge each of you a small sum for grazing rights.

That's extremely generous of you, Mr. Hample.

I'd like to help.

There's no other motive?

Only one, Doctor.

Those old horses of yours.

I admire what you're trying to do.

I'd like to build a stable and shelter for them.

Then everyone in the county could bring their animals to be looked after, free

of charge.

I don't know what to say.

I only ask that none of you bids against me at the auction.

Oh, there's no fear of that. I'll back you for war.

Don't be long, Kevin. I'll be back in time for tea.

Mr. Widdery!

What do you want?

Oh, bless me if it isn't Albert.

I brought my friend Kevin to come and see your collection.

I hope you don't mind.

No, no, not at all. Come.

Oh, where is he? Oh, he just went off on beauty up to see the old barn. He

should be very long. Oh, well, come.

Come, come, come. Go on, boy.

Shakespeare.

I told you we would get that land cheap.

Dr. Gordon won't bid for it now.

But that only leaves Armstrong.

I can deal with him.

And we can charge what we like for grazing.

Or sell it again at a profit.

Hey, what was all that nonsense about home for aged horses?

It's not nonsense at all. It's a golden opportunity.

How? As a farmer, you must know that, surely.

All over the country, people pay good money for old horses.

They sell them for their hide and hooves and the bones for fertilizer.

We'll have an unlimited supply free.

We can send off three or four to the slaughterhouse every week with no one

the wiser.

What the hell, sir?

He's something, weren't he?

Help, Bitsy, help!

Who

was

it? Nothing to worry about.

It was only a horse.

Dr. Gordon, son, isn't it?

Yes, and when I tell him what you're doing... But you are not going to tell

are you?

He's only a boy, Desire. What are you going to do to him?

Nothing.

That's going to make quite sure he stays here for a while, that's all.

But you heard everything.

You'll tell the doctor when he gets out.

Let him.

After the auction, he can say what he likes.

The lamb will then be ours, and nobody can do a thing about it. What you're

doing is wrong.

It's just business.

My father trusted you.

He worked for years to get a home for those horses.

Sentimental rubbish.

The horse is just a work animal.

When it's past its best, you get what you can for it. Time out, Bridges. All

right, Mr. Hemple.

Hey, Hemple.

Going to the auction, Mr. Armstrong?

I haven't decided whether to go or not.

Not decided?

That fool of a doctor.

He's turned that piece of land into a local issue.

If I buy it, I'll have all the small farmers and most of the county against

Yes, it would create very bad feelings.

Well, as a magistrate, I don't want a reputation for bullying my neighbours.

I wish them joy of it.

Where did you get all these things from, then?

Oh, picked them up over the years.

There's a story behind each one of these.

Well, now, tea's made. I don't think we can wait any longer for your young

friend. Now, you sit down. We'll have ours, shall we?

I wonder where he's got to.

He says he's only going out to the old barn. Then he can come straight back

here. Ah, well.

Manners, manners.

Here you are now. Have a cake.

That's a good boy.

Beauty. Trust Kevin not to be late for his tea.

Kevin!

Where's Kevin?

What's happened?

Kevin must be in trouble.

I'm going to the old barn.

I can't get her to eat, Doctor.

Oh, she's too tired, Amy.

Just slowly giving up.

Well, at least when Mr. Hempel builds a shelter, they'll have somewhere to go.

Yes, I'm very grateful to him.

Hey! Albert, up here!

Get in!

In here, Albert.

Kevin, what are you doing in there?

They locked me in. Who?

Bridges and Mr. Hempel, they're crooks.

What? They're trying to cheat Father and all the others.

Get me out of here, hurry!

No use, Beauty.

I had to find something to knock it down with.

That's it, beauty.

Go on.

Come on, boy.

Back. Kick it.

Well done, boy.

Come on.

The ladder.

It's gone. They must have hidden it.

Can't you get up somehow?

It's too high.

Hurry, it's nearly time for the auction.

Beauty, you have to help me. Come on.

Good evening, madam.

Good evening, Mr. Howard. Mr. Howard, would you care to come inside? Oh, thank

you, I would indeed, yes.

Good evening, Mr. Howard.

the auctioneers here.

No sign of Squire Armstrong, I see.

Somehow I doubt if he will come.

Just a little more beauty.

Good boy.

Why, so what's going on up there? What are you doing?

Back, beauty, back.

They locked Kevin in.

Locked in? What are you talking about, locked in? Who by?

Mr. Bridges and Mr. Hample. What time is it? Oh, wait a minute, boy, wait a

minute.

Just on four o 'clock. Why?

It's time for the auction.

Auction? Auction? What are you talking about?

Auction? What auction? Go on, beauty.

Now, look here, young Albert. You don't leave this place till I know what this

is all about.

Come here, boy! Go on, Kevin, as fast as you can. Twice up the auction. What

land is being sold?

Parsonsfield, beyond the doctor's house.

Parsonsfield, Parsonsfield.

Oh, that's very interesting.

Off you go, boy.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are met to dispose of a valuable property, over

12 acres of excellent grazing land known as Parsonsfield.

Will somebody start the bidding at 50 guineas an acre?

Oh, come, gentlemen.

We all know the true value.

Well, shall we say 45 guineas, then?

Gentlemen, please.

Will no one start the bidding?

Come, say, 30 guineas an acre.

Now,

you look through that box, my lad.

Excuse me.

What am I supposed to be looking for?

Oh, it's obvious.

Obvious.

What are you doing?

Oh,

bless my soul, you found it.

Brilliant. I knew you were a true scholar.

Scholar?

25 guineas an acre.

You've got a real bargain there, Mr. Hemphill.

Yes, I'm aware of that.

Stop him.

Where have you been?

Too late, my young friend. Too late.

What are you doing? You don't understand.

He's swindling you. He's not going to let anyone use that land.

He only wants the old horses so that he can sell them.

I advise your son to take care of what he says, Doctor.

Just a moment, Mr. Hemple.

Is there any truth in this?

You are going ahead with the home arrest?

Unfortunately, the situation has changed.

It is not now possible.

Mr. Hemphill!

The old horses! What am I to do with them? That's your affair.

It's no concern of mine. Stop the sale!

It's too late!

Mr. Bridges and I have fought for that.

I must tell you now that anyone who wishes to graze on the parson's field...

will have to pay one -tenth of the value of his stock.

And if you want to get together to buy it back, it'll cost you double.

You can't do that. I know the law, and it's on my side.

You may know the law, sir, but there is one thing you have overlooked.

What's that?

The parish rules of 1540, when the land was first bought from the church. That's

why it's called Parsonsfield.

What does it say?

Briefly, that the field may not be sold again during any buyer's lifetime, and

that anyone in the parish may graze his animals free of charge.

Well, gentlemen, it looks as though you're going to be public benefactors in

spite of yourselves.

You fool!

Why, may we offer you some refreshment? It would be very kind of you, Doctor.

Alhamdulillah.