Original subtitles

King Henry VIII, 1509 to 1547.

King Edward VI, 1540.

Our journey's over.

Ezekiel, we must rest, or else the whole flock will die.

We're trespassing, Hannah.

Caleb, come along.

Please, Lord, give us a little more strength.

Who are they, beauty?

She's a pommie, you say? From the old country, yes, sir.

A pommie, a woman and a vet.

Like it's been made to order, Bernard. Yes, sir. Made to order.

For what?

Don't disappoint me, Bernie.

Oh, no, sir. The scheme.

I know. I do nothing. I say nothing.

I've got it. You leave everything to me.

Sure as apples, guv.

Why do I worry when you've found so confident?

Why would Mr.

Snape be going to see Jenny?

You'll be able to see the bull today, then, Mrs. Denny. This afternoon.

It's a pleasure doing business with you. And with you.

Do you know my place?

Yes, I've seen it a few times, Mr Snape.

It's quite impressive.

So is your reputation, Mrs Denning. I only hire the best.

Good day. Good day, Mr Snape.

You shook his hand.

I was being polite.

You don't like him.

Vicky, I'm going to inspect his new bull.

I'm not going to marry him.

I don't see why you're so happy about it.

He's one of the most important men in the district.

The fact that he's decided to use me means that I'm finally accepted by

everyone, including all the established landowners.

Very good indeed, my dear. Congratulations.

Why hasn't he used you before?

Well, he hasn't needed me before.

Apparently, the man who did all his veterinary work has just left him.

Why he wants us all inspected after he's bought it.

Yes.

I don't know.

Well, perhaps Mr. Snape isn't as intelligent as you, Vicki.

I'm sorry.

Thanks anyway.

Second lad I've had this week from Stoney Valley wanting work.

Poor Blythe, isn't he? Won't be the last.

I suppose most of the farmers will be selling up.

Is that because of the drought?

That and the bushfire. It's taken every last garrick of fodder.

It's never a good farming area. It's dry even in the best of seasons.

Hilda?

What's Mr Snape doing here?

Oh, he'll be getting Samuel into trouble, he will.

You don't like him?

Arthur Snape thinks he runs this place.

And the trouble is, he practically does.

Beyond the law, he is.

When he says jump, why, Samuel says, how high?

He's asked Jenny to inspect his new ball.

Has he?

Well, she'd better keep her wits about her.

But she will.

Only Samuel who never learns.

He's a perfect specimen, Mr. Fulter.

Mr. Snape will be real pleased to hear you say that.

Where's he from?

He's a local fella. That's it, boy.

He's in excellent condition. You've got nothing to worry about.

Good, that's good.

I didn't know anyone local was selling cattle. Local? No, no, he's from Stanley

Valley. But he said that... He's not the brightest out, Bernie.

Should get rid of him, but he'd be lost without me. You know the type.

Your loyalty is commendable, Mr Snape. Nothing, really.

Well, thank you for your trouble, Mrs Denham.

No trouble at all, Mr Snape.

Good day.

I told you to say it was from Stony Valley.

Haven't got a clue, have you?

Ah,

Mrs. Denning.

You saved me a trip.

Good morning, Mr. Snape.

Tell me, would you, where you got your training to be a vet?

In some village school in Derbyshire?

I beg your pardon?

My bull is dead.

Dead?

This pommy quack comes out to my place yesterday, called my new bull perfect,

and this morning the animal lies dead.

Black gut fever.

What? And she didn't even see it.

But that's disaster for the district.

Disaster! Black gut.

That's right, Mrs Burton.

Not seen in these parts since the early days.

But now it's back.

Up from Stoney Valley.

It thrives in poor conditions.

Stony Valley, that's the source of it.

I must see the carcass, Mr Snape.

You're joking, aren't you?

Black Gut kills everything on four legs.

It's a plague.

The beast's gone, Mrs Denning.

Destroyed. I've got my stock to protect.

Come quick, Gubs. Some kids outside selling sheep.

How old this lies?

Ten pence.

Two for ten pence. Look, Sonny, where are these sheep from?

We're up from Stony Valley, sir. Did you shift them by boat?

Over land, sir. That's why they're so thin. We move them very fast.

Oh, no, miss. That's not why they're thin.

These sheep are carrying black gut fever. They must be destroyed

No, they're quite healthy. Just thin.

They're not sick. You have our word. I've just watched my new bull brought up

from the valley.

before my very eyes.

Black gut is here.

Right here.

Look, sir. Is this sheep sick?

Is it, Mr. Snape?

I see an animal in poor condition.

You show me that it's carrying this black gut fever.

She couldn't even recognize it and she's the vet.

Precisely. So show me a symptom that's not explained by starvation and fatigue.

Are you calling me a liar?

I'm asking you to prove that I am.

Stop it, both of you. The only person we need to call is Constable Carmody. This

is a matter for the law.

You're

on

fiddle.

Right.

It seems, according to Mr. Snape, that black gut isn't evident until the final

stages.

And not to an untrained eye. And according to Mrs. Denning, the sheep are

poor condition, but they're not sick. What would she know?

Give the sheep a feed, and if one... What the devil are you playing at,

And if one dies overnight, then I'll have to take action.

Overnight? We can't wait that long. What if one of them escapes?

you could find them some fodder.

With pleasure.

It'll be all right.

The constable will keep his word. You will be able to sell your sheep.

Some of them are too weak now to even eat at all.

That gut fever.

What is it?

Well, there was something in the early days.

Stock died.

But then they'd spent months and months on board ship getting here.

And you can't necessarily tell me it was one disease that did it. But you're the

vet. I gained my degree and experience on the other side of the world, Hilda.

I can't know everything.

Well, you're busy doubting yourself.

Spare a bit of doubt for our Mr.

Snape. He's not that we trusted.

Is there such a thing as black gut fever?

I seriously doubt it.

Why would Mr. Snape want to invent it?

Simple economics.

If all the sheep from Stony Valley are sold up here, then the prices drop.

And Mr. Snape won't be able to make as much on his sheep as he wants.

But he will be able to sell them.

His sheep are so much better.

He's a greedy customer, Vicky.

He's not concerned with selling.

He's concerned with making more money.

Then he can buy more cattle.

Jenny!

That bull.

Could Mr Snape have killed it himself and just said it had a disease?

He could have.

That wouldn't make any sense.

It's a valuable animal.

Then if it's not dead, it must still be alive somewhere.

I think you could be right.

What are we standing here for? Let's go and find it.

Oh, Vicky, we can't leave the children without an ally.

There's too much hysteria about.

I wish I could be in two places at once.

Jenny, I can.

You take Beauty and I'll stay here. If anyone can find that bull quickly, dead

or alive, it's Beauty.

Thank you.

We've got some sheep to deal with.

Won't the constable know it's not Thumpit?

I've arranged for the constable to be called away.

Unavoidably detained, Bernard.

You're a genius, Mr. Snack.

Just looking after my interests.

And the district, of course.

What's this one called?

That's Mary.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary.

She's always wandering off on her own.

I believe she's got some colour in her cheek.

Are you two letting the sheep eat in peace?

Sorry.

Hold Smokey, Caleb.

Keep him close.

Please. I don't mean to alarm you.

I've just been called out, and I wanted to make sure you were all right before I

go. We're very grateful to you, sir.

For giving our sheep a chance.

It's the least I could do.

Are they all well after their feed?

Oh, yes, they're very happy.

Smokey's Caleb's favourite. They're inseparable sometimes.

Sir, if our flock is to die, then I should like to do it.

To kill them.

Oh, let's hope it won't come to that, eh?

I hope that little fella manages to digest his meal without too much

Thank you.

Good boy.

You don't need to stay with us if you have something else to do.

Only learn history.

I'd much rather stay here.

You know, if the worst happens, it's our own fault.

We drove them too hard.

I wanted to beat the other farmers who were coming up from the valley.

Sell their stock.

Now we're paying for our greed.

Were you so badly hit by the drought?

No.

It was the fire that finished us.

It took everything.

The house went up suddenly.

A lot of respect to Harry Mull.

But they didn't make it out again.

But it's all right.

They've gone to a better place.

Better than here.

Oh, cutie, it's just scrum.

Just a minute.

Tilda, Mr Snape's here.

And you'd better go and see what he's up to, Samuel. Or do you already know?

Oh.

Tilda, we've got to find Constable Carmody. Hold your horses, love.

We're going to have to have some big tactics of our own first. Now, when I

you the word, you go and call the men in. And they take the sheep and put them

into the yard.

That snake's bound to be up to no good. And I don't want him doing anything on

my property.

Meet again.

like the rest of them are about to. Come on, Bernard.

Um, don't you remember that we said we'd get the constable firm, babe?

Burton, keep your wife out of it.

Nobody tells me what to do. Then it's about time someone did.

Don't you dare threaten me, you great big...

How about you take the kids inside while we do the necessaries?

Before we do this, let us all pray.

Let us all what?

Forgotten how to.

As it comes to pass that our flock must be destroyed, we ask that these sheep be

spared any more suffering and that we might be forgiven. Hannah!

Your bull.

Black gut fever?

More like black heart fever, I think.

I found Mr. Snape's bull hidden in the bush.

Hidden, no doubt, by Mr. Snape himself.

Black gut fever is nothing more than a fabricated disease to ensure that Mr.

Snape can see off the competition and then get a higher price for his own

There's nothing wrong with your sheep.

All they need is a little kindness.

And a lot of food.

So Mr. Swain bought all of them?

Oh, for more than we'd hoped.

And he even said he'd give Zeke and me work if we wanted.

A good offer, do you think? I'm sure Caleb could stay with you both.

No.

Our home is the valley.

We must go back before we can decide what to do.

Ah, we're not staying.

Samuel, just wanted to leave you with a few words.

Aye, we... That is, Mr Snape and I are heartily glad our

suspicions have been groundless.

And we would just like you to accept this small token of our... Guilt.

County dog pet.

Couldn't have gone to a nicer family.

Arthur Snape hates to be exposed for the crook he is in public.

He'll buy his way out of everything. And so... people admire him for it.

Come and sit down.

Well, perhaps we will stay after all.

Look at me!

You've all been so good to us.

Yet to think when you first met I thought you were a heathen.

I didn't. I knew you were kind.

Brother.

I don't think having a brother or a sister No,

you have. You have us.

But you're leaving.

No, we're going home.

Now it's your turn to give it up.

Do you think you'll stay in Stoney Valley forever?

It's where our parents lie at rest.

And I think it'll take us a long time to say goodbye to them.

And besides, Valley is so beautiful.

Not gentle like here, but to us.

I'd love to come.

Good journey, Caleb.

When you come, will you be bringing Black Beauty?

Of course I will.

He's part of my family.

Thank you.