Original subtitles

(upbeat music)

- Why you here?

- Mr. Sturge needs a full name

to advertise your tour.

- I'll give it some thought.

- Robert Gregs asked the Poor Law Commissioners

to send them workers from the south.

- They are not the enemy.

They are the victims of the Poor Law.

- Have you come to work at the Mill?

- We're shoemakers, madam.

My grandson, Will, feast your eyes

on a craftsman in action.

- Master William seen something in me he likes.

He want me to be the overseer.

After one week.

- We have to unite with them.

Not fight them.

(thumps) (glass breaking)

- Oh dear.

(church bells clang)

(coughs)

- You've done it again, you lanty little bitch.

- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

- You're two yards from the piss pot.

- Hey!

It's her just her way of keeping you warm

- She can't help it.

- If you didn't keep shouting at her.

- If you weren't such a cold hearted cow

she might not bother.

(dramatic music)

(girls chatter)

(gruel slops)

- Esther'll be gone soon, then things'll change.

(church bells clang)

(machines roar) (machines squeak)

- Some things you can't control.

The weather.

Potato blight.

Some things in the will of God

but how hard you work is up to you.

- We've lost old hands to the weaving shed

an experienced overseer to another mule room.

- Little Mary-Ann's sister was never replaced.

- A girl down and less experience,

that's all those figures prove.

- It don't matter to you.

Board and lodging free of charge.

Bed and watered no matter what.

But it matters to those of us who

feed our families from our own pocket.

- I finish my apprenticeship next week.

- You'll change your tune, then.

Once the shirt has dragged down your wages.

- We can only go as fast as the mules go, Mr Howlett.

- I expect no more from you than I expect from my own sons.

(machine scrapes)

(coal scrapes)

I'm not here to fight again.

- I lost my temper, I'm sorry.

- I need my mules to run quicker.

- It's not possible.

- I don't know engines, but I know horsepower

and that's nowhere near the maximum.

- This works the weaving sheds.

The mule room works off the water wheel.

- Can you give me more from that?

- That wouldn't be safe.

- I know what my hands can cope with.

- In a cow shed.

What I know is the machines in this Mill.

- You're not peace work, are ya?

Shirkers don't matter to you.

You're better paid than any of us.

- Why are you so desperate to make the Gregs even richer?

- The better they do, the better we all do.

This in't over.

- There's a cellar room vacant in the village.

Five old cottages.

- Do I have to wait till my birthday?

- That's when your indentures end.

- Right, thanks, Mr Windell.

Oh, we were just talking about you.

Despite what everyone says, we think you'll get

the hang of it (laughs).

- She needs taking down a peg or two.

(wood thumps)

- What can I do for you, Mr. Howlett?

- I just need some figures, if you would, please?

I'd like to know how much cotton

is spun each day in my room.

How much we spun when Boon was overseeing

and how my yield compares to the other mule rooms.

- You know the value of research.

- I just need to know my target.

(gravel crunches)

- Oh, we're just across from Sue, there.

- And underneath my handsome shoemaker.

- You'll have Howlett overlooking ya

even when you're not at work.

- Worth it, won't be long.

(door bangs)

Are you ready for me?

- Come in and try em on.

- You'll have to show me how.

- Just stick em on your trotters.

- Well do it for me, go on.

Oh, that's gorgeous.

- For God's sake, get the other one on her

and get her out of here.

- Eight shilling.

(door creaks)

- What's she doing here?

- Picking up her shoes.

- Ah, I can't actually pay you right now.

Not in cash anyway.

- [Howlett] Speak like that in my home.

- Like what?

- Get out!

- I'll be moving in downstairs soon.

I'll pay you then, Will. - Out!

(door clangs)

- Stay away from that hussie.

She's no good.

- And not the brightest neither,

if she needs help putting her shoes on.

- You can do a lot better than a mill girl.

Especially an apprentice.

They've had no family life to speak of.

So they make bad wives and worse mothers.

None of them have any moral standards.

- Oh, that's the dream isn't it?

You marry a skilled man like our Susie

you never have to work in the mill again.

- Esther's just happy she can stay.

- I'd swap places with her in a heartbeat

if I could.

- Well wouldn't we all.

No one'd work if they had the choice.

- Daniel might.

He loves his machines.

- No one balling at ya, days your own.

Sit down whenever you want.

Completely independent.

- She knows how lucky she is.

- Be great having you as a neighbor.

We can keep each other company at nights,

we'll have such a laugh.

- I can't wait, I'll have a place of me own,

bed all to meself, imagine it.

- We better get going.

Dan'll be in soon, wanting his tea.

- No, he's gone to Manchester again.

- Oh. - Well it's the vote

he wants and he's missing many a tea to get it.

Why don't you all stay for some?

- Wish I could, it smells lovely.

- Well there's plenty and it's ready now.

- We've got lessons tonight.

You know we can't miss curfew.

- I don't wanna get into any trouble

on me last week.

- See you soon.

Oh, love to Daniel.

- Bye. - Bye.

(baby cries) (somber music)

- I'll miss ya, you know.

- We'll still be working together.

- Won't be the same.

- The only difference'll be, I'll have money

at the end of the week.

- [Daniel] Sorry, did I wake ya?

- [Susie] Do you want something to eat?

- No, go back to bed.

- What's that?

- Six demands.

One man, one vote.

Annual Parliaments, no property qualifications.

- So you've had a good day?

- Apart from Howlett tryina speed his mules up.

The man's an imbecile.

- [Susie] You've been plotting how to win him the vote.

- Well rich imbeciles vote.

We'll get working class men in Westminster.

The whole system'll change.

Like going from water power to steam.

The journey to the mule, you can't stop progress.

- Well if you're so worried about John Howlett,

speak to William.

- There aren't any Union men in that room anymore.

Don't have authority.

- People look up to you.

Daniel, speak to him.

- I'm keeping my distance.

In case I smash his self-righteous face in.

- Don't do that.

Promise me you won't do that.

- The debate tonight was between

moral force and physical force.

Do we rely on the justice of our argument

to win the day or do we take physical action?

I'm a moral force man.

- With a temper.

Stay calm.

And rely on the justice of your cause.

(scoffs)

(men chatter) (door squeaks)

- Sorry to keep you waiting so long.

What can I do for you?

- It's about the overseer in Mule Room Three.

- Mr. Howlett.

- You've promoted him too quickly.

Hasn't he?

- Mr Greg knows what he's doing.

- Mr. Windell tells me Howlett has asked you

to speed up his mules.

- He's driving his hands too hard.

Howlett's meant to look after the machinery

as well as the hands.

He knows nothing about either.

- Fresh eye.

Keen and ambitious, can see improvements

his jaded predecessor has missed.

I think we should give him the extra power.

As an experiment.

If it doesn't work out, we can always

go back to how it was.

- Someone'll get hurt.

- And you'll be around to kiss them better.

Was there anything else?

- Is this wise, Master?

Increased speed means decreased quality.

There's an optimum ray after which

the two variables become inversely proportional.

- I know what I'm doing, Windell.

(somber music)

(coughs)

- For your savings.

Martha's bob a week.

- Thanks.

Hey. (laughs)

- Can I have your cot, Esther?

- It's not up to me.

- I only wet the bed so I could get out of here.

So they'd send me to the warehouse with Molly.

But when I seen it on Sunday,

she said I'm better off here.

- You were pissing on Patience on purpose?

(laughs)

(girls chatter)

- Oh at last.

Anyone would think you didn't wanna go.

- Anyone would think you were glad

to see the back of me.

(girls applaud)

- Happy birthday, Price.

To light your room and feed your belly.

- Thanks, Mr. Windell.

I'll see you at work, everyone.

(girls cheer) (girls applaud)

- [Girl] See you later!

(laughs)

(upbeat music)

(sobs) - It's all right.

(doors clang)

(bed squeaks)

(door knocks)

- Can you light me candle, please?

I can't come in, I'd love to.

Got lots to do tonight, but later in the week, maybe?

- I don't want you complaining about fatigue tomorrow.

Get some sleep.

- Well as long as you lot keep the noise down.

Don't be jabbering away all night telling jokes.

- Good night, Esther.

- It's Price from now, Mr. Howlett.

I'm all grown up.

Thanks.

- Oh, couldn't refuse her a light.

(door bangs)

- Esther!

Welcome to the village.

- Hey, will you come in.

All I've got is cake and a candle.

- I've got beer and a blanket.

- Let's have a party (laughs).

(dog barks)

- You'll need fuel, plates, pots and pans, cutlery.

Something for breakfast and tea.

That cake's not gonna last till pay day, is it?

- It won't last till morning.

- I'll get you some provisions tomorrow.

Shops are shut by the time you finish work.

- Ah, new home.

- New neighbors and old friends.

(cups clang) (laughs)

(baby babbles) (blocks clatter)

- Stop it.

- Why didn't you offer to cook her tea tomorrow?

- She wants her independence.

- If anyone can fend for herself, Esther can.

- True, but, I'd be glad to show her

how to cook if she wants me too.

After I've bought all the shopping

and fed you lot of course.

- What's Black Peter's last name?

- Why?

- I think I've sold the mystery of where he's gone.

(somber music) (fox yells)

(bed creaks)

(door creaks)

(girls chatter)

- How was your first night with piss the cot?

- Bed's bone dry.

Must have been you all along.

- Shame on you, Patience.

- Leave her alone from now on.

- Or what?

You gonna go running to Esther.

- I don't need Esther.

- Don't ya?

You sure about that.

- Should we tell Esther?

- We have to fight our own battles.

(water sloshes)

We need to get you dry.

- I fell in the water trough.

- Get in front of the fire, come on.

- We're gonna be late.

- You got five minutes yet.

Tell Howlett she's doing a job for me.

I'll send her up when she's finished.

- He won't like that.

- Good.

In fact, tell him I'll bring her up personally.

- Did you not sleep?

- Oh no, I got up, and went outside

to look at the stars. - Why?

- Cause I could.

- Weren't it cold and lonely?

- Oh no, that's Patience you're thinking of.

(laughs) How did you manage

without me? - What, without ya snoring?

Mary-Ann's quiet as a mouse.

She didn't wet the bed.

We made out it must have been Patience all along.

You should have seen her face. (laughs)

- Come on, you idle slug heads, work!

- Ay, these mule's running faster.

(upbeat music)

(children chatter)

- Right that's for Esther.

Can she have it on account?

- You know what our James is like.

He insists the book balance.

- The books'll balance at the end of the week

when she gets paid.

- My hands are tied, Mrs. Bates.

Rules is rules.

We're not meant to give truck to anyone

it's against the law and I've extended her

as much credit as I can.

I'm sorry.

That's five shillings, tuppence, ha'penny.

- Take out the toffees, I'll do without

my little treat this week.

- I'm sure if you ask Mr. Bates,

he'd make good the shortfall.

- I'm sure he would.

(machines rumble)

- Go and get washed.

- Where's she going now.

- To get washed.

Do you want coal dust on your bobbins?

- She's already late.

- More power means more maintenance.

Needed a child to reach into the grate

and clean out the clinker.

- You can't just take one of mine.

I need all my hands.

- I'm not surprised, the rate these are running at,

look at em, twice a piece and half the quality.

- They're coping, aren't you, Price?

- Only just!

- Wait till the end of the day when they're tired.

This room is not safe.

- Not safe for the lazy.

You'll be happy when you're picking up

extra wages, won't you?

- Esther, if it gets too much,

tell everyone to step away from the machines

and come and fetch me.

- It's me first day.

- Get off my floor and don't come back

unless I fetch ya.

- In a week or two, you'll start seeing

more snags holding em up in the weaving sheds

and they'll trace it back to this room

and you'll be gone.

I hope, by that time, all this broken thread

hasn't become broken bone.

(door slams)

(carriage squeaks) - Good evening.

- Where have you been?

- Birmingham and London.

Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester.

- I've only ever been to Wilmslow.

- Peter Gardner.

- Miriam Catterall.

- I'm very pleased to meet you, Miriam.

How do you do?

- It's not black inside.

- Touch it if you want.

Everywhere I go, English people are fascinated by my hands.

(laughs)

- So why did you go to all those places?

- Step in, I'll tell you.

- No I couldn't.

- Why not?

- I'm visiting my sister and then I have

to go back to the prentice house.

- Visit me instead.

I won't hurt you, I promise.

Just talk.

They think that's what I came here to do, so I do it.

Talk, talk, talk.

(laughs)

But now I am back with no one to talk to anymore.

Come in, please.

- You've been drinking.

- Maybe a little.

Let me pour you one.

It's very sad to drink alone, Miriam.

Please?

- Just one then.

(somber music)

(water sloshes)

- I look good, no?

- You do look dapper.

- Mrs. Greg wanted me to look like

a gentleman for Mr. Sturge.

- Who's he?

- Joseph Sturge?

You don't know him?

Famous Quaker man.

He organizes meetings.

I was his star speaker.

- What were you talking about?

- My life as an apprentice.

- If you're an apprentice, why aren't you

living with the rest of us?

- I was an apprentice back home.

(fire crackles)

- Why did you come here?

- To talk.

- Eh, you said that's why they think you came.

- Ah, I came to talk, to help end negro

apprenticeship in the colonies.

And to work in Mrs. Greg's garden.

- Well you won't get much work done tomorrow

if you've drunk all that.

- This was my grandpa's.

He could drink a bottle of rum.

Dance all night, cut more cane than

any man in the plantation.

And now it passes on to me.

I think I can prune plants and shovel

soft English soil after a little gin.

- Just talk you said.

You think you can just do what you want

because you're dressed like a Master,

because I won't have any man touch me like that.

Any, ever.

- I'm sorry, this isn't me, I forgot myself.

- It's not because of who you are

or where you come from, I just,

I won't have any man.

I won't, not until we're married anyway.

- We've only just met.

- I didn't mean that.

- It was a joke, I nearly made you cry,

I was trying to make you laugh.

- You're not half as good a talker

as you think you are. (door bangs)

(sighs) (somber music)

(door bangs) (gate creaks)

- Oh, morning Mr. Howlett.

(door bangs)

I'm done now, it's all yours.

Oh, if you're quick, the seat'll be warm.

No need to thank me.

Shall I wait for ya, and we'll walk to work together.

- No.

- Don't be late.

(machines rumble)

- Wonder if Miriam's having her dinner

in the garden. - Why?

- Not heard the rumors about her and Black Peter?

- Price!

(spindles whine)

(sigh) (machines whine)

(sighs)

(machines whir) (machines rumble)

- Out!

(machine bangs)

You could have been killed, son.

Your skull could have been like an apple

under a sledgehammer, and whose fault

would it have been?

- I'm sorry, Dad.

- Do you understand now why you have to concentrate?

Why you can't be careless for a second?

Don't tell your mother.

- The campaign goes to Parliament now.

We have to wait for them to vote.

- No more speaking tours.

- No.

I'll ask Mr. Windell to make arrangements

to send you home. - I'm not ready

to go home yet.

- You've done what you came to do.

- Can I stay, please.

Now that I've experienced your kindness

and tasted civilization, it's hard

for me to turn my back on it.

- I'll discuss it with my son.

(machines clack)

- He's learnt his lesson.

He'll concentrate in future, won't you, Jack?

- What.

- How long before you can get this machine running again?

- You think it was the boy's fault?

- How long?

(metal clangs) - At the old rate?

A couple of hours.

If you want it any faster, let's got to the office

and explain the Mr. Greg why he needs

a new chief engineer.

And why you're dripping blood on his floor.

(stone scrapes)

- Passage to Dominica 10 pounds in steerage.

Keep him, he contributes to the credit

rather than the debit column.

- Can we find him work in the Mill?

- Is that wise?

We're having enough trouble integrating the southerners.

- There's only one of him.

It would please my mother.

He's something of a pet project.

- Mr Howlett's experiment?

- Tried it, didn't work.

No harm done.

(machines rattle)

- You can do that, can't you?

- Shove that from there to there?

I'll try my best, sir.

- Right, Bates in charge.

He'll give you instructions.

- Daniel.

Daniel Bates.

- Peter.

Peter Gardner.

- I read about you in the newspaper.

That speaking talk.

I'd like to hear your story myself some time.

- I don't do de talking anymore.

- You don't seem too happy to be here.

- Oh I'm plenty happy.

- Happier than the man you replaced?

Not your fault, I know.

- I just do as I'm told, Master.

- I'm not your master.

- But you just gave me instructions.

- Seems like the Gregs think they owe ya something.

They owe all of us sometime.

- How many Gregs are there?

- Five sons, five daughters I think.

- What are the sons called?

- William, Robert, Thomas, Samuel Jr. And

- Vernon.

- John, John Greg.

- Vernon's Mrs Greg's nephew?

- Never heard of a Vernon Greg.

Why?

- No reason.

(dramatic music)

(fire crackles)

- [Howlett] More coal?

- Let's not waste it.

I'm off to bed soon.

Remember when we were first wed

and you could go to the common

and cut off all the turf you needed?

- Never went cold in those days.

- And you were free to grease a cow on it.

We had our own little plot of land.

Big enough to grow our veg, rear chickens.

Didn't matter what other people did or said.

We were independent.

- I miss those days too.

The country had fewer mouths to feed then.

It had to change.

We played our part in overpopulation, don't forget.

- Do you remember that stubborn young fool

took over old Davey Roniker's land?

- I remember.

- After three or four summers it was barren and dead

and there weren't a farmer in Bledlow surprised.

They all told him he was overworking it

but he wouldn't listen.

- Did the boys tell ya?

- She did, downstairs.

- I'm sorry.

I won't speed em up again.

You needn't worry.

- Ordinary men struggle to keep up with you, John.

Let alone children.

(money clinks)

- You never forget your first wage.

- Esther Price.

- Four days minus deductions for your rent,

your loan, outstanding fines, sick club.

Cake and two candles.

- Don't complain, could have been even less

if it weren't for me.

- Like yours coulda been less.

A boy's wage less.

- No complaints, Mr. Howlett.

Thanks, Mr. Windell.

- This is for you, my Union penny.

- Money's wasted on some folk.

- The Union's men only.

- (laughs) I was only tryina annoy him.

(laughs)

Tuppence a week.

- [Will] Shilling.

- Tanner then.

- Shilling.

My uncle and cousins are earning.

I got other customers, I'm not that desperate.

- A shilling this week, and a tanner after

but I take them now.

- But you pet em on yourself.

- I'll put em on, you buy the beer in the Horseshoe.

- Your first wage, you should buy.

- But you'll come?

- I have a sweetheart back home.

Emily.

I can't walk out with you.

- Even in these, come on.

- I'm promised to another.

- I need to test them, turn round and bend over.

- I'm sorry.

- Change your mind, you'll know where I'll be.

I'll be dancing.

- Dancing in the fires of hell is where she'll be.

You're not warming to her, are ya?

- No.

- [Esther] What do you think?

- Yes, they're very smart.

- Yeah I know.

Eh what, I'm paying off, not showing off.

How much do I owe?

- Two and threepence ha'penny.

- You don't mind taking money from a woman, do ya?

He didn't want me Union penny.

- From a man's point of view,

women work as undercut wages, you see.

- Ah well, there's more of us than you in that mill.

You should get em organized, Esther.

- That's a good idea.

You'd be a natural leader, Esther.

- Yeah, I should be leaving ya to your tea.

- Oh wait.

Read this and think about it.

The thing is, together, in combination,

we're stronger than we are as individuals.

- The Rights of Women eh, thanks.

(door clangs)

(somber music)

- [Windell] Someone must have left it for ya

while I was at the shop.

(sobs)

- Me sister's alive, that girl they found

in the field, it wasn't Catherine.

She's written to me, she's coming to visit.

(laughs)

- Oh god, now I'm pissing meself.

What?

You don't think it was written by a ghost, do ya?

Or someone pretending to be your sister?

(laughs)

- That is the nastiest, dirtiest thing

anyone has ever done.

- Says Black Peter's strumpet.

What you crying for?

Piss the cot's like a sister to ya now.

(screams)

Do you really wanna see your dead sister?

Try that again and I'll kill ya.

As a favor.

- Get off her!

Get off.

- Everything all right up there?

- Yes, Mr. Windell.

Just waiting for you to come say

the prayer and lock us in.

(sobs)

(upbeat violin music)

(music drowns out singing)

♪ One day all the farmer's here ♪

♪ Let's go get down and day ♪

(music drowns out singing)

♪ Sermon you can preach ♪

- If you're saving yourself for Miriam

then you're wasting your time.

♪ A lad and man were handsome ♪

♪ Such as me ♪

♪ Breaking up with wife you see ♪

♪ Save a little for me ♪

♪ A green a thing, a green I think I'm green ♪

♪ From hunger gone and bar is he ♪

♪ Let's hunger for the day ♪

(women urges)

- It's her downstairs.

Drunk as David's Sam.

Cacking through her teeth.

At our front door.

- John. - She'd make a nun curse,

that one. (Esther urges)

Oh lie still.

(Esther urges)

- What's all the noise?

(dog barks) (Esther urges)

(church bells ring)

- Mr. Windell, can I knock up Esther?

- Quickly.

(door knocks) - Esther?

(door knocks) You coming to church?

- Oh, God.

Oh, God.

- You said you'd come with us.

- Oh god, I can't.

- Those your shoes?

- Just leave me alone.

(grunts)

(coughs)

(people chatter)

- What's this about Black Peter?

- I only talked to him.

Aren't I allowed to talk to him?

- Not without getting yourself talked about.

And not alone alone in his room.

If he's bothering ya, I can tell Daniel

to have a word.

- He's not bothering me, everybody else is.

(people chatter)

- I'm forgiven?

- It's church, those are the rules.

Says so in the Lord's prayer.

- Come here. - I can see everything.

- Hey, where's Esther.

- Speaking to God from bed.

(church organ plays)

♪ Blest be the dear uniting love ♪

♪ That will not let us part ♪

♪ Our bodies may far off remove ♪

♪ We still are one in heart ♪

♪ Joined in one spirit to our Head ♪

♪ Where he appoints we go ♪

♪ And still in Jesus' footsteps tread ♪

♪ And do his work below ♪

(somber music)

(wood scrapes)

(brush scrapes)

(doors creak)

- Sign the petition!

Add your name to the demand for democracy and justice!

- What next, women?

(door clangs) - [Grandpa] You her first?

Well aren't we a lad?

- [All] We are many, they are few.

We are many, they are few.

("The Mill Theme")