Original subtitles

Good morning, Mrs Clarke. Hello, Mary.

Mr Farnon.

Will you allow me to give you a lift?

- Oh, well, that's right kind of you. - All right.

Mary. I'll hold that. In you go.

- Mr Herriot! - (James) Are they here?

Aye. Mallock's just unloading 'em now.

Good. Everyone's been talking about it for months. High Top going into Friesians.

Aye, they like to mind other folks' business, don't they?

Ah, well, let 'em talk.

- Hello, Jeff. - Mr Herriot. Bert.

- You took your time, Mallock. - Well, I'm doing me best.

- Some folks are never satisfied. - Be careful with 'em.

Careful? I'm looking after them as if they were t' last beasts on earth, Bert.

Ah, so tha should do. Tha charges enough.

Whatever tha says, Bert. Whatever tha says.

Well, what's tha think, veterinary, to these fancy new cows of Bert's?

- Oh, they're grand beasts. - (Bert) You get what you pay for.

- Uh-huh. - Money can't buy breeding, Bert.

Best beasts are them as born here on t' farm.

- You're talking daft. - Give over. I know a thing or two about it.

So now tha knows it all, dost tha?

I'll get tha money for thee first.

All the same, that Bert Longshaw, you know.

- That stiff neck of his. - He's trying to improve his herd, that's all.

He's paying through t' nose. He's buying trouble.

Oh, come on. We can't teach him how to run his farm.

Anyway, I'm not sure I agree, brought-in stock causing problems.

Them as lives longest sees most, veterinary.

I'm not far wrong with this. I'll see you, lad.

Yes. Bye, Mr Mallock.

We're not gonna get much further through that little lot.

Well, I'm much obliged to you, Mr Farnon.

Give me that, love.

Would you like a cup of tea?

Well, I haven't really time for one now. I shall look forward to one on my next visit.

And I have a delicious memory of a certain raspberry sponge cake.

Right you are, then. Next time, raspberry sponge it is. (laughs)

Is he a neighbour of yours?

Well, he may live next door, Mr Farnon, but he's no neighbour of mine.

Come on, Mary.

Siegfried Farnon. How do you do?

- Pedretti, Franco. - Ah, yes. Lord Halton told me about you.

He also tells me of you, Mr Farnon.

He said that you're making a very fine job of his sheep.

- Thank you. - It's good to meet you.

Ah, now, um, andiamo, signorPedretti.

Allora, arrivederci.

Right.

(James) It's hard to imagine Grandma Clarke being hostile.

(Siegfried) Odd, certainly.

Especially when… What's his name? ..Pedretti was so anxious to be friendly.

- Mm. - Do you know anything about him?

Italian prisoner of war. When it was all over, he stayed.

He's worked in Yorkshire ever since.

When Halton's old shepherd died, he got the job.

Only been here a couple of months.

- That's it. - Very neat, James.

(trickling)

Oh, God almighty!

Oh, dear.

Oh, damn and blast! That's the third time in as many weeks.

A perfectly good pair of trousers been absolutely ruined. Look at my shoe!

(James) It happens, Siegfried.

- Bad luck, that's all. - Luck has got nothing to do with it!

Come on. Well, you certainly can't blame this poor dog. Come on.

But of course I don't blame him!

It's this infernal table of ours. I mean, just look at it!

- What's wrong with it? - Look at it!

It's fixed, immutable, it's utterly… it's too… it's too…

Every time an animal's bladder relaxes we're inundated with urine.

- This table is how it's always been. - Well, that's precisely our problem!

We make do with the damn thing just because that's how it's always been.

- (knock at door) - Come in!

Oh, I'm so glad you're here, Mr Herriot, and you too, Mr Farnon.

- Hello, Mrs Pumphrey. - Do come in.

And how is the excellent Tricki?

In need of some urgent advice, I'm afraid.

Oh, well, in that case I can't possibly do better than leave you in the expert hands

of my good friend and partner James.

Here. Thank you, James.

Hello, Tricki.

- Let's have a look at Tricki, shall we? - Oh, thank you so much.

- My bag. - That's my bag, actually, Siegfried.

Sorry, James.

- Goodbye. - (James) Bye.

Dear Mr Farnon. So dedicated.

Hm. So, what's the problem, Mrs Pumphrey?

He seems to have gone flop-bott again, poor darling.

Oh, dear. Right.

Come on, Tricki. There's a good boy.

Well, the anal glands don't seem to be impacted.

I don't think it is flop-bott. Any other symptoms?

- He appears to be straining. - What, when he…?

- Yes. - Yes.

Hodgekin complains he has to wait an age for him to finish his…

Yes, of course. Of course.

Well, I think I know what it might be,

but it means that I'll have to, um… Would you mind holding his head?

- Of course. - Thanks so much.

Right.

Hold tight, Tricki. There's a good dog. It's all right. It's all right.

Yes.

Confirmed.

It's his prostate.

Oh, dear.

Absolutely nothing to be alarmed about, Mrs Pumphrey.

It's perfectly normal in a dog of Tricki's age.

- There is something you can do to help? - Yes. Yes.

Um…

Might I suggest surgery?

Surgery?

Well, um, clear up the problem at source?

- I'm afraid I don't understand. - Castrate… Cut it…

Neuter, that's it. Neuter Tricki.

Render him betwixt and between?

Mrs Pumphrey, it is absolutely painless,

and it will clear up the problem once and for all.

You can't possibly be serious.

Un-man dear Tricki?

We have performed this operation on many dogs

who have all gone on to lead normal lives.

Tricki isn't an any dog. He's an only dog.

- What about his pride, his dignity? - It won't change him at all.

And it will make him feel a lot better.

Isn't there something else you can do to help him? A medicine, perhaps?

- Well, there is a drug, Stilboestrol, but… - You see, there is another way.

There's no guarantee it'll work and there are side effects.

Tricki and I have every confidence in you. The drug it is, then. Yes.

Right. I'll certainly try that. I ought to warn you…

Thank you. You hear that, Tricki?

Once again, Uncle Herriot has come to the rescue.

It could be my imagination. Some of those coats look duller than they did last time.

Aye.

Well, they're bound to lose condition at first.

Well, perhaps a change of pasture, eh?

- I don't see the need, Mr Herriot. - It might be advisable.

- All right. I do know me job, you know. - Yes, I know.

Look, I've just about had it up to here with free advice lately.

It seems folk have nowt better to do than to poke their noses into others' business.

Look, Mr Herriot. You come here today in order to examine my shorthorns.

Well, if you've done, I've got a farm to look after.

- (bleats) - All right.

All right, lovey.

- Here you are, Mr Farnon. - Oh, thank you, my dear.

You are a wonder. You manage to surprise me every time.

Thank you, Mary.

Well, there's nowt special about a drop of hot water, Mr Farnon.

Well, you know, quite a lot of your Dales neighbours might disagree.

What I'm usually given is a nasty old bucket of cold water

along with a piece of gritty soap,

and if I'm very fortunate,

a scrap of old sacking to dry my hands on.

This is… this is more like it.

Now, if you'll be kind and put some of this ointment on that sore teat twice a day,

she'll be milking comfortably again in no time.

Oh, thank you, Mr Farnon.

She's a grand old lass, is Ruth.

Always done us proud.

Do you know, I have a suspicion that that applies both ways.

If you've done, why don't you come up to t' house for a bite of tea?

I will. I will.

Thank you.

(Siegfried) Mm!

My dear Mrs Clarke, I thought you'd scaled the heights last time

but this is beyond words.

- It's a pleasure to see you shift it. - Well, a pleasure it is to shift it.

You know my weaknesses only too well.

Well, you need a change now and again from seeing to t' stock.

And I want you to have a little look at my tup before you go.

I certainly will.

Are you sending any more of your ewes over to Lord Halton's tup?

- He's agreed to take half a dozen. - Good.

Mind, the lambs I had by him were t' best in me flock. It's very good of His Lordship.

Well, I'm sure he's mightily impressed by all that you're doing here as his tenant.

The whole place is a credit to you. It can't be easy doing it alone.

Well, anything as is worth doing is never easy, Mr Farnon.

And I try to keep t' place as our Frank would have wanted.

Well, for young Mary's sake, when she comes of age.

Well, it's what Frank would have done if he'd been here.

But since he isn't, well, it's up to me.

He was a very fine young man, Mrs Clarke.

- He'd be so proud of all that you're doing. - Maybe.

He joined up after Dunkirk, you know.

He didn't have to go, being on t' land, like.

Yes, I know. There were many like him who volunteered when they didn't have to.

An honourable company, Mrs Clarke.

And many came home, too.

They gave him a medal and all.

Not much consolation in that for a young wife coming to term with her first child.

Truth is, t' shock killed her, Mr Farnon.

But they left summat behind, didn't they, Mary?

(James) Bert?

Just stay there, Alan.

Hello, Mr Herriot.

You were right.

I don't like the look of these.

- There's only four. - Aye.

T' other's still up in t' field where I found her this morning.

- You won't be able to do owt for her. - What?

Well, I'll have to see her. Let's hope I can save this one, eh?

Morning, Alan.

Thanks.

- Any scouring? - Nay, nowt like that.

- Anything else? - Ah, this were shivering

and staggering about a bit, like.

- What about the urine? - Aye, it were a bit reddish.

But I didn't take much notice of that.

Well, you often get that on calves, like. It usually clears itself up.

Well, it might clear itself up in your calves.

- But I'd say it killed your cow. - You what?

- They're nowt but ticks. - That's right.

You get them all t' time on beasts, especially at t' back end of summer.

- No harm in them. - These ones carry redwater fever.

Well, these looked a right picture when I bought 'em.

I shall claim for t' vendor through t' mart.

You'd be wasting your time. They were healthy when you bought them.

The infection isn't in the cows.

It's been here in your farm all the time.

What about me shorthorns?

Immune, probably since they were born.

So Mallock were right.

Aye.

I shall be a right laughing stock when this gets out.

- Thanks, Jeff. - Morning, veterinary. Bonny morning.

You don't waste much time. I didn't know Bert had called you out.

Oh, Mr… Mr Longshaw at High Top?

Oh. Oh, aye. Aye.

He's all yours, Jeff.

(Siegfried grunts) Two and a quarter…

- It's a special delivery, Siegfried. - Uh-huh.

(Helen) Stomach powders. We were running low. Remember?

- Yes, yes, yes, yes. - Er, yes. Siegfried, excuse me?

Oh, sorry. I beg your pardon, Helen. So sorry. Let me do it.

(mutters)

One, two, three and three quarters…

- Helen, let me do that. - Thank you.

Siegfried, what on earth are you doing?

I'm measuring, Helen. Calculating. Eliminating the impractical.

Clarifying the essential.

Oh, a new desk chair.

What?

Just one second, would you?

Er…

(mutters)

A momentary lapse of concentration, hours of work can be lost.

- A dentist's chair? - Yes. Wonderfully ingenious, aren't they?

"Wonderful" is hardly the word I'd use,

especially in connection with Mr Glover's.

The beauty of the construction.

(Helen) Hm.

(phone rings)

I'll get it.

32 and a half.

Darrowby 385.

(horn blares)

- I bet tha thought that were a good joke! - Sorry?

- Tried to make a right fool out of me. - Who, me?

- You've had me on a wild goose chase. - I don't know what you mean.

- With that Bert Longshaw. - Oh.

Aye, and being chucked off t' farm with a flea in me ear for me trouble.

He didn't call you? Which knacker is he using?

How can he use a knacker at all, veterinary?

There were no dead cow, was there?

- What the devil has he done with it? - No idea. What a morning.

Mallock thinks I've played a practical joke

and those cows are dying of something I could've prevented.

Your habit of blaming yourself for other people's misfortunes amounts to a vice.

I knew something was wrong. I didn't know what.

I should have warned him.

Our job is to help when asked, and when not, to shut up.

All the same, you ought to try and find out what happened to that infected carcass.

Yes.

(sighs)

Bert?

What the hell are you doing back here?

It's a good thing I'm here. What happened to that one I examined this morning?

Ah, died, Mr Herriot, not longer after you'd gone.

- Well, why didn't you call me? - Nay.

You'd done all you could. You know that.

Where's the carcass?

- What? - The dead cow. Where is she?

With respect, veterinary, I don't think that's owt to do with you.

I'm concerned about the one that died yesterday. You didn't let Mallock have it.

No. I'll not have that man on me land.

- I know what he says behind me back. - You've had two animals die.

There are regulations about the disposal of carcasses.

- You haven't answered my question. - Well, what do you think I did with 'em?

The right thing, I hope.

Come on, Mr Herriot.

I've got something to show you.

Well, there they are, Mr Herriot.

- I buried 'em. - You did what?

- I buried 'em, with a pick and a shovel. - How'd you get 'em up here?

I dragged 'em on me tractor.

I thought I'd seen everything.

Why, Bert?

- I think that's my business, Mr Herriot. - Because of what people might say?

I'm not having Jeff Mallock laughing at me all over t' Dales.

I know what you're thinking. Wondering when t' other three's gonna join 'em.

They won't end up here, not if I can help it.

Ah, you say that. It's nowt but a matter of time.

Listen. One, they're showing no symptoms,

which means that they are immune or they've escaped the infection.

- Yeah? - Two, I've inoculated them.

Three, I'm gonna check 'em every day to make sure they stay healthy.

I don't know, Mr Herriot. It's all them folks saying, "I told you so" that I can't stand.

There's no need to blame yourself. You've just been unlucky.

- I think I might cut me losses, though. - Sell 'em, you mean?

Aye.

You'll be turning misfortune into disaster.

Well, that's my decision, ain't it?

Yes.

(front door opens)

- Morning. - Hello, James.

- Siegfried? - Mm?

(laughing) Well…

How'd you do it?

All right, James, I'll tell you. I just drew a couple of designs, you see, and…

Uh-huh? What about this?

That comes by courtesy of our generous dentist Mr Glover.

- That's a brilliant idea. - You think so?

Yes, I do. All right, Siegfried.

- How does it work? - Well, I'll tell you.

Many advantages, James.

It is absolutely rock solid.

Large working surface. The retaining ropes are infinitely adjustable

to accommodate anything from a Yorkshire terrier to a Wensleydale tup.

Large, firm surface,

but easily detachable for cleaning…

and either side of which can be tilted

to impel the patient towards the centre and safety.

And down the centre runs what you might call the irrigation or drainage channel,

so that all excess fluids

run into this tray…

(chuckles)

..and then, James, through this little hole here,

into the neat receptacle at the end

instead of down our trouser legs.

- That is perfect craftsmanship, Siegfried. - Glad you think so, James.

- Tilt? - Hm?

No problem.

Perhaps the surface is too low for a long backbreaking operation?

Place your foot here and simply pump until the desired height is reached.

Or perhaps it's time to remove a large comatose creature from the work surface

to, say, its basket?

A man-killing task, James, reduced to a gentle heave-ho.

Although, as I say, it is absolutely as solid

as the Rock of Gibraltar,

gentle pressure on this lever at either end

and the whole contraption becomes as mobile as a dancing partner, James.

- Siegfried, you're a genius. - One tries to do one's best, James.

- (Mrs Pumphrey) Go away! Get away! - (dogs barking)

- No! - (doorbell)

(sobs) Oh, Mr Herriot, thank heavens. That beast…

(James) Out, you! Out! Out! Mrs Pumphrey, please, go through.

- Go on, off! Shoo! - (sobs)

- Siegfried. - Mrs Pumphrey.

- (sobbing) Oh, thank you. - Come and sit down.

- What's wrong, Mrs Pumphrey? - Dreadful. Quite dreadful.

- Let me relieve you of Tricki-Woo. - It's all right. It's Uncle Herriot.

- You'll be quite safe with him. - Come on, Tricki.

- What on earth has happened? - You heard those brutes outside.

- (Siegfried) Those dogs? - Those horrid brutes ganged up on Tricki.

- You mean they attacked him? - Yes, in the most indescribable away.

- Oh. - I'm not quite sure that I follow you.

Well, they… they tried to… I can't bear to think of it.

I thought Tricki was the least aggressive dog in the world.

- Well, actually… - It's not Tricki's fault.

The-the moment I let him out of the car they just converged on him, all trying to…

- Well, that's because… - No, James, hold hard for one moment.

- All tried to do what, Mrs Pumphrey? - Awful, awful things.

Treating Tricki as though… as though he were…

- (Siegfried) What? - ..female, Mr Farnon.

Do you mean they were trying to…?

Yes, and all at the same time. Had I not found refuge here,

Darrowby High Street would have become a canine bacchanal.

That's dreadful. Can you account for this?

Stilboestrol, Siegfried.

You mean that you discovered Tricki had an enlarged prostate?

And Mrs Pumphrey plumped for nonsurgical treatment.

- Yes. - I'm afraid I don't understand.

Well, you see, Mrs Pumphrey, this drug Stilboestrol is a female hormone

so male dogs would be bound to find Tricki interesting

until the side effects wore off.

Oh, dear. What have I done?

I'll examine him. We'll see whether we need to continue with the drug.

- Please, whatever you think best. - Right you are. I'll prepare the table.

(James) Thanks, Siegfried.

Oh. Oh.

Ah. Ah.

- Thank you. - Isn't that a new table?

Entirely new, Mrs Pumphrey.

I think that's fine, Siegfried.

Thanks. Come on, Tricki. Here we go.

This won't take a moment, Mrs Pumphrey. Oh, thanks.

Oh, I know. Tilt.

- (Mrs Pumphrey) Oh! - (Tricki barks)

There, there.

Thank you.

Tricki.

There we go. There's a good boy.

All right.

It's worked. It's considerably reduced.

Oh, that's marvellous.

And, er, his problem with other dogs?

Oh, it's just a temporary side effect. He'll be his own manly self in no time at all.

Oh, thank you, thank you.

You hear that, Tricki? Now, what do you say to dear Uncle Herriot and Mr Farnon?

Siegfried…

- (phone rings) - James?

Darrowby 385.

Oh, hello, Mrs Clarke.

Yeah. Yeah.

Yep.

Oh, Lord. Yeah.

Yes.

No, no, no, no. Don't do anything. Just stay with him.

I'm leaving absolutely now.

Right? Goodbye.

- That sounds bad. - Young Mary Clarke left the gate open.

Lord Halton's tup got in,

got mixed up with Grandma Clarke's tup.

- Oh, hell, not his prize tup? - Apparently, yes.

Grandma Clarke feels responsible, as she would, of course. It's right she should.

I honestly don't think there's going to be very much I can do, even if the best…

- (door closes) - What?

- (Siegfried) Did you see them fighting? - No. I found him like this,

but my old tup won't have another anywhere near.

- There are no bones broken. - Do you mean…?

- But as to the damage in the head… - Is it unconscious, like?

He's profoundly concussed.

Don't worry, Mary. I'll do everything I can to save him.

So would you please try and find Mr Pedretti?

No, Mr Farnon. No, I'm sorry.

That man is not welcome here.

- Why on earth not? - Why not?

You ask me why not, when it was one from his country as killed my son?

But, Mrs Clarke, that was the war. It's all over and done with.

But not forgotten, Mr Farnon. No, not forgotten by me, any road.

Not now, not ever.

Mrs Clarke, your responsibility lies for this animal.

- Aye, I know that, Mr Farnon. - And I need help.

Unless you feel up to helping me carry this 200lb ram into that barn of yours.

So please, let Mary go and find Mr Pedretti.

Well…

Go on.

Thank you.

Bert?

Over here, Mr Herriot.

- Why didn't you wait? - You just hang on a minute.

You're replacing them.

Aye.

There's such a thing as chucking good money after bad.

There's also such a thing as refusing to knuckle under.

Well, I don't know. I mean, all this coming and going…

That's enough of your gossip, Jeff Mallock. I'm not beat yet.

And you can tell your pals down t' Drovers I said that and all.

Well, we've got some work to do, Mr Herriot.

We have, Bert. Vaccination, for a start.

Yeah. What are we waiting for, then?

Oh, yes. Sorry.

- Mr Mallock. - Ta-ra, veterinary.

Oh, thank you. That's exactly what we need.

I'm glad to help.

Mrs Clarke, I'm so sorry for you.

Mary, she tell me what happened.

Settle him comfortably.

OK. All right. Yes.

Up we go. Good.

Come on. Come on. That's it.

There's about the place.

Watch it. Keep him on his brisket. Don't tuck him underneath.

That's it, so he can breathe. That's a good position. Good.

A couple of bales.

Ideal. Perfect.

Perfect.

There we are.

There's really not much more we can do for the moment.

I have a feeling we're keeping you from your work, so thank you very much.

We're very grateful.

Aye. Thank you.

Ah, it's no matter.

It's long work, I think.

You need me again, you call.

What did he mean, "Iong work", Mr Farnon?

Well, he meant there's really nothing to be done except wait and see.

What are his chances?

I have to know. I mean, apart from anything else I must tell his lordship.

He has a right to know.

Yes. Well, he may die in his sleep,

or he may wake up with irreversible brain damage.

- And that would mean…? - That we'd have to put him down.

(dog barks)

- (Franco) Scusi. - Ah, Pedretti.

- I don't disturb you? - No, no, no, of course not.

- He have strong sleep, Mr Farnon. - Indeed, he has.

I've a nasty suspicion it's a sleep he may never come out of.

But you give him drug?

There's really nothing I can give him.

It's not easy to find drug to help, Mr Farnon.

In my country, we make drugs ourselves.

Uh-huh?

It's mixed from the nature, Mr Farnon.

Yes, I fancy I recognise some of the ingredient herbs.

- How do you give it? - Nella bocca. Um…

Through the mouth, sir.

Ah.

There's nothing we can lose, so you might as well give it a try.

We'll just have to be very careful. He mustn't choke.

All right? Let's see.

All right? Hello, Mrs Clarke.

- Mr Pedretti very kindly looked in to help. - So I see.

In fact, it's one of his medicines that we're using on the tup.

Is that wise, Mr Farnon?

Well, I've nothing to offer.

Well, you must do what you think best.

Any road, there's a bite of food for you waiting in the kitchen.

That's kind of you.

I wonder if…?

I suppose you're welcome too, mister, if you feel like it.

How soon do you expect results?

- It's a long time. It's OK. - Well, we might as well go and eat, then.

There's an old saying in this country, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth."

(Siegfried) That was magnificent, Mrs Clarke.

It's little enough to do in return for all you do for me, Mr Farnon.

(mumbles)

You… you must have worked a long time with sheep, Mr Pedretti.

Yes.

First in ltalia,

then here when I am prisoner, and now.

So, you must find the Dales quite agreeable, do you?

Is good, yes.

And what part of ltaly do you come from?

- Campania, signor Farnon. - Oh, yes.

It's in the south of my country.

It's, I imagine, very different sort of country from here, isn't it?

Yes.

Very hard country.

But good.

Very good.

If it's so good, why don't you go there, Mr Pedretti?

Well, I mean, you belong there, don't you?

Once, yes.

But not any more.

You must have a home there, so why don't you go to it?

At least you have a choice in t' matter.

Not like some.

Mrs Clarke's son was killed in the war, you see, Mr Pedretti.

Yes. I know this.

- They say he is killed in ltalia. - Aye. Your country, Mr Pedretti.

I am sorry you have such a tragedy, Mrs Clarke.

Being sorry won't bring my Frank back.

(Franco) This is why you are angry.

You blame Franco Pedretti.

Yes, Mrs Clarke?

Maybe I do. And who wouldn't,

when you're here on his land

and he's lying dead in yours?

(sobs)

I'm sorry to speak so plain to a visitor in me own house,

but some things have to be said.

(Franco) Yes.

It's best to speak true.

You think I don't understand, Mrs Clarke?

I understand very well.

Understand? You?

Many people ask why Franco Pedretti stay here in your country,

but I don't say.

It's private for me.

Always I feel like this.

But now…

I tell you both a story.

A very ordinary story.

Nothing special.

In the war I am prisoner. Three years.

When the fighting is finished, all the soldiers want same thing -

to go home.

I also want same thing.

I tell you about my home, Mrs Clarke.

It's a village in the mountain.

Nobody ever hear of it. It's small.

Not important, but for me it's my home.

I have wife there.

A little child.

A girl. Same age Mary, Mrs Clarke.

30 people there, all of my family blood.

But I don't go there.

Why?

It's because one day,

a letter come for me in prison camp.

No more wife, it says.

No more little girl.

No more home,

no family, village,

nothing.

Only knocked-down stone.

No people.

No life.

Niente.

What on earth had happened?

It's war, Mr Farnon! Bombs! American, English, German bombs - who cares?

All bombs speak same language, il linguaggio di morte.

The language of death.

So I stay here.

Yes, this is good place.

Good people.

I can be shepherd again.

Here is no bad memory.

No past.

Only present, and with grace of God…

perhaps some future.

You understand, signor Farnon?

Indeed I do, Mr Pedretti.

You understand also, Mrs Clarke?

Mr Pedretti.

Good morning, Mrs Clarke.

Well, what are you doing here? You look as though you've been here all night.

- I have. - Well, there was no need,

because before he left, Mr Farnon said…

He said to stay if I wished.

And I did wish, Mrs Clarke.

And the tup…

Look.

- Good morning, Mrs Clarke. - Tup's on t' mend, Mr Farnon. Thank you.

- Mr Herriot. - Hello.

I'll see you in a minute or two.

(Franco) He's better.

Good Lord, Franco.

Well, that's wonderful.

Franco, this is my partner James Herriot. Signor Pedretti.

It's good to meet you at last.

- He's a brilliant man, Mr Herriot. - Oh, no.

I was only the nursemaid. The credit's due to Franco.

Your treatment was undoubtedly the turning point.

In such a sickness, it's hard to tell,

but in my country, there is sometimes other hand that help the shepherd.

I'd like to think so too, Franco.

I leave you now.

Mr Herriot.

There is much work.

Thank you for your invaluable help and your good company.

Me too, Mr Farnon. Ciao.

Ciao.

- Goodbye, Mr Herriot. - Goodbye.

A remarkable man, that, James.

Mr Pedretti!

Mrs Clarke.

I just wanted to say…

thank you, Mr Pedretti.

I am glad he is well again. Goodbye.

Just a minute, young man. Mary!

There's something young Mary wants to ask you.

You wanted to ask Mr Pedretti something.

- Your name? - Franco.

Is it t' same as Frank?

The same, Mary. Yes.

You've made her very happy.

And she's not the only one.

I also, Mrs Clarke.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Mary. - You will call by again?

- Soon? - I promise.

I'll look in again tomorrow, see how he's getting on.

It'll be summat to look forward to.

You know, Mr Farnon, we live and learn, and no mistake.

- You've got children, haven't you? - I have.

- And you, Mr Herriot? - Mm. Two.

It's t' best time when they're young and they're growing up round you.

Only some folks don't know that until it's too late.

But that's people.

Aye, and I include mysen.

They don't know what they've got even on their own doorstep.

(Mary) Mr Farnon?

Oh, Mary, thank you.

- Hello, Mary. - Hello.

- They look after you very well. - Oh, well, yes.

This happens every time. It's usually Mrs Clarke who does the honours.

- Did your grandmother ask you to? - I thought of it meself.

(Siegfried) Did you so?

So, are you telling me, Mary, that even when you're running this farm yourself

there'll still be a bucket of hot water, a fresh tablet of soap

and a snowy clean towel for this poor old vet every time he comes to visit you?

Aye, Mr Farnon. I promise.

(chuckles)

Well, I'd better get on feeding t' stock. And thank you, Mr Farnon.

- Bye-bye, Mr Herriot. - Bye, Mrs Clarke.

Come on, Mary, love.

Mrs Clarke?

Thank you.

Well, now, James, what do you say to stretching our legs a bit?

What?

There's plenty of time before surgery. It's a beautiful morning.

- You've been up half the night. - Don't worry about that, James.

We've got all the rest of our lives to sleep.

Come on, now. Step lively.

- She's right, you know, James. - Who?

(Siegfried) Old Grandma Clarke. Now is the best time. Always is.