All language subtitles for Lark Rise to Candleford S02E04.DVD.HI.en.BBC

LAURA: It had taken many months

for Miss Ellison to secure

an invitation to the rectory

for a humble postman,

however devout.

Miss Margaret had been praying

that her father would make

Thomas Brown feel welcome.

But families have a habit of

never quite behaving as to plan.

- Are you ready?

- Yes. Yes.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

Father, Mr Brown is here.

He's a little hard of hearing.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

Father?

(SCREAMS)

(SOBS)

(CHILDREN LAUGH)

Lizzie, love, it's a funeral.

Shouldn't you walk with her, Thomas?

That would not be appropriate.

I'm not a relative.

No, but you're her...

LAURA: She just seems so alone.

Those who have faith

are never alone, Laura.

No. Of course not.

What's she going to do, Ma?

She's going to have to leave

the rectory.

EMMA: Well, she might stay on

as housekeeper

if the new vicar ain't married.

But he will be, surely.

I mean, most men are married.

Oh, careful, Thomas.

Thank you, ma'am. I just lost my...

(CHILD SCREAMS)

Disgraceful. The Turrills want to

take them Arless urchins in hand.

I don't know. That didn't sound

like larking around to me.

You go on.

- My arm!

- Sally.

Her arm's all funny.

(SALLY CRIES)

Can you feel your fingers?

Can you move your fingers?

Do you think it's broken?

MAN: It could be a dislocation.

Sally, isn't it?

(SALLY SOBS)

Do you mind if I have a look?

Ow!

- Uh, excuse me, sir.

- Yes, dislocated.

- Sir?

- Ow!

You'll be fine.

Keep your arm like that.

You'll need to put

something cold on it.

Say, love, I'm going to

carry you home, all right?

Lift you up...

I've got her. You go ahead.

Thank you, sir.

MARGARET: Will you be

coming back to the rectory?

EMMA: Back to the rectory?

I have laid on

a few light refreshments.

Emma, you have been

such a kind friend to me.

I hope you'll both come.

Thank you.

I take it Thomas Brown

will be there also.

Oh, yes.

Mr Brown has been

a tower of strength.

Miss Margaret?

Miss Margaret.

(MARGARET SOBS)

That was him, Ma.

The man on the road.

Master George.

It is most kind of you to make

room for me in your carriage, Councillor.

And since I am enjoying your comfort,

there is a council matter

I would like to raise.

Oh, dear.

Our last exchange on a council

matter left me rather out of pocket.

My only hope

is that Thomas Brown will have

a lavish enough wedding reception

that I can recoup a little of the loss.

Mr Dowland, I can't begin to tell

you how presumptuous that is.

As far as I'm aware,

there has been no proposal.

And anyway, who's to say

she would accept?

- Let alone that...

- Of course she will accept.

Really? Not every woman...

I simply meant

that Thomas is a good man

and they seem

exceptionally well suited.

That is true.

Thank you.

Actually, this is what I wanted

to talk to you about.

The road between Lark Rise

and Fordlow is in a terrible state.

Look what just happened

to Sally Arless.

It isn't council land.

The maintenance of the path

is a matter for the landlord.

But as the landlord is absentee...

Exactly. Our hands are tied.

Oh, for goodness sake!

I will bring the subject up

at the next meeting.

We can draft him a letter.

And how long will that take?

How many children could be hurt

between now and then?

- Could you stop here, please?

- Steady.

Whoa.

What are you doing?

I am going to Lark Rise

to visit Sally Arless.

I brought you some ginger cordial.

Thank you.

Are many people still here?

A few.

They're...all concerned for you.

If you're ready,

I could accompany you.

What can they think of me

after such an outburst?

They think, as I do,

that you have borne your loss

with great dignity and fortitude.

And no-one can be surprised that

there are moments when you're...overcome.

There is, of course,

a little curiosity in certain quarters

as to the identity of the gentleman.

I expect there is.

Been some talk, some speculation,

that he is your...

My brother.

As you may have gathered,

we are estranged.

Well...I'm sure you have

good reasons.

I am so afraid

you will think less of me.

I would never do that, Margaret.

Oh, Thomas, George Ellison

is a sinner and a reprobate

and he broke my father's heart.

He is a man who...

I can hardly even say it.

...a man who denies

the very existence of God.

Oh, my! I never met anyone

who don't believe in God before.

Not that I know of, anyhow.

God or no God, I'd shake his hand

for what he did for our Sally.

ROBERT: You're right there, Alfie.

We ought to do something

about that road.

A footpath or a walkway or something,

just to make it safe for the little 'uns.

And the old 'uns.

I don't much like walking

it myself.

What do you think, Twister?

I reckon I'll be next.

That old parson

was younger than I am.

(SCOFFS) Don't start that,

you old goat.

Parson didn't have Queenie's

fine mead to keep his strength up.

He didn't have to go out digging no

stones out of Old Monday's fields

in all weathers, neither.

With rheumatics.

Weren't much sign of rheumatics

when Old Monday was looking

for someone to dig a new lap trench.

I ain't never seen a man

move so fast...the other way.

What does he do with all them

stones you dig out of his field?

I reckon he goes out there

at night and puts them back.

There's one big bugger

I'm sure I've dug up ten times over.

Why do you want to know?

He's thinking, "Wouldn't they be

just the thing for the footpath?"

That's my Laura.

How the Reverend could ever cast aside

a child of his, I'll never know.

Reckon his Bible

must have had a page missing -

the one with the prodigal son.

Perhaps he turned over two at once.

Oh, Master Georgie...

Sorry to intrude.

Miss Lane told me

I might find young Sally here.

Yes, sir, and right as rain she is too,

after what you've done for her.

Robert Timmins. We meant

no disrespect for the dead, sir.

None of us did.

No, sir. Nor did I.

It's a fine piece

of Forest of Dean granite.

Your sister chose well.

Must be good to have

such skill in your hands.

There's quite a skill in yours,

the way you fixed up Sally.

Half-baked, Robert. Half-finished.

No real use to anyone.

Never really thought

it would come to this.

I mean, I always expected

I would see him again.

I had a few run-ins with your father

on matters of principle.

He was a formidable opponent.

He was a bully, Robert.

I know that.

And yet, he was still my...

I should be paying you for this work.

I have no money. I should, uh...

You owe me nothing.

I've been paid in full.

No, it should not only be

my sister who... Please.

Look, I have no money,

but I have a strong back

and I'm not afraid of work.

You need a path from here to Fordlow.

Let me lay it.

There is no need.

The men of Lark Rise can lay a path.

I need to do something.

Please.

He was my father, too.

No, Robert.

Emma, he has offered

to work on the road.

All he needs is space

for a few nights to lay his head.

We can do that.

No, we can't.

Master George...

You are a welcome visitor here

and your offer is most generous.

But I'm afraid we cannot

have you stay in this house.

For God's sake, Emma,

the man is grieving.

Miss Margaret is my friend.

And the way things are between you,

if she were to come tomorrow

and find you here

it would hurt her dreadfully.

And I cannot do that to her.

No, I wouldn't want you to.

ROBERT: The Arless cottage is empty.

And have Cabbage Patterson

cart him off for squatting?

Laura, are you ready to leave?

Yes, ma'am.

George, it's getting terribly late.

Do you have somewhere to stay?

Father,

what would you want me to do?

You've read Mr Darwin?

I have his letters on geology

in my bag.

I haven't read those.

He wrote them

to his great friend and mentor -

a theologian, believe it or not.

I do believe it.

I don't think his ideas have to be

incompatible with faith,

as I have tried to tell

my chief postman many times.

But I see you are also a student

of Herbert Spencer.

Psychology does intrigue me, yes.

With all of Candleford to study,

no doubt.

Not at all.

And I read a great many things.

Indeed.

There's a rather well-thumbed copy

of Don Juan here.

Bookmarked.

Laura. She thinks I don't know

that she reads it.

I've told her she's too young,

but I suspect the illicit nature of it

is part of the appeal.

It certainly was for me

when I was young.

And I'm sure my father was

just as aware as I am.

My father wouldn't have had such

a book within a mile of the rectory.

No, and possibly not much house room

for Mr Darwin, either.

The thing is, I don't think

it was the atheism

that angered my father so much.

He probably could have lived with

that if I'd kept quiet about it.

The refusal to go to church, though...

I suppose I humiliated him.

So he found it necessary

to do the same to me.

How?

I was more than halfway through

my medical degree, loving it.

But a university education costs money,

and my father did not consider

my behaviour

worthy of the considerable financial

sacrifice that he had to make.

He cut you off?

I think all he wanted

was my capitulation.

Had I come back suitably humble

and acquiescent...

But the day after

I received his letter,

I left Oxford.

Ten days after that,

I was on a ship to Malacca.

The one thing my father did bequeath me

was his stubborn nature.

And you never saw him again?

I read about his death in a newspaper

in the public library in Bristol.

Oh, George, I'm so sorry.

Minnie left the spare bedding outside

the men's dorm, Mr Ellison.

Thank you.

I'll try not to wake them up.

I'm off to bed myself, ma'am.

If I could just take

something to read?

Of course, Laura.

Night, ma'am.

Night!

Thank you for this, Dorcas.

I have the opportunity

to work my passage to Brazil,

try my luck there.

You can stay

as long as you like, George.

I'm glad you will have another chance

to make things right with your sister.

There's nothing in the world

that I would like more.

Good morning.

Miss Margaret! This is early for you.

Lots to do, Emma. Lots to do.

Robert, I passed your yard.

That piece of Forest of Dean.

Your father's.

I've begun work on it already.

Oh, thank you. Thank you! Now...

Miss Margaret, yesterday, Master...

I do not wish to talk

about yesterday, Emma.

This morning, I am looking

to the future.

Very soon, Fordlow church

will have a new vicar

- and I must prepare for his arrival.

- But...

To that end, I have begun

clearing out my father's things.

He had good-quality clothing

with many years' wear left in it.

Now, I am being scrupulously fair

in dividing it equally

among the men of the hamlet,

but, Robert, I wanted

to give you first choice.

I believe I'm a slightly larger build

than your late father.

Thank you, Miss Ellison.

Oh!

Oh, dear. What a shame.

Edmund!

Ah, George.

I don't think you two gentlemen

have been properly introduced.

I know who he is, Miss Lane,

and he's not someone I would dignify

with the word "gentleman".

Thomas!

A good Christian woman

has been brought low with grief,

plunged into the very depths of despair,

by the wicked nature of this man.

May I remind you, Thomas,

that George is also bereaved?

Bereaved?

This is a man who's made a mockery

of everything his father stood for.

This is a man who denies

the very existence of God!

(MINNIE CHUCKLES)

Tell me, have I been misled, sir?

No, sir.

You have not.

Then I would say, Thomas, that he is

even more deserving of our sympathy,

for he bears

the heavy burden of grief

without the comforting promise

of an afterlife.

I cannot break bread

with such a man, Miss Lane.

(DOORBELL TINKLES)

WOMAN: Good morning, Thomas.

(CHILDREN CHATTER)

And then I awake to find the godless

heathen's been given lodging

in my own dormitory.

Well!

A pious man like Thomas Brown

being made to lodge with a Catholic!

He isn't even a Catholic, Miss Ruby.

(RUBY MOUTHS)

No, Ruby, that is not what it means!

Is there any mail for me, Thomas? Ladies.

Yes, Mr Dowland, sir.

Mr JD, what is your opinion

of Miss Ellison's brother?

You must remember him from

Lark Rise.

The rector's son and myself

did not move in the same circles.

Mmm, no. No, of course not.

He's a little younger, too.

But considerably less refined.

He was dressed as a common labourer.

Miss Ellison MUST stand firm.

I am sure that the diocese will not want

a person of that persuasion

loitering round the rectory.

She has her own position to consider,

poor woman.

Her father gone,

a new vicar at Fordlow,

her future uncertain -

I don't know how she can bear it.

Certainly, if there was something

I could do to ameliorate the situation,

I would not hesitate.

Yes, Thomas Brown,

isn't it about time...?

Ruby, shh.

- You did say...

- Shh!

- What?

- It's nothing.

Oh, good Lord!

The Royal Mail must not be late.

Some water.

Thank you.

Remember that heron

you found as a boy,

how you fixed its wing,

fed it up again

till it was ready to fly?

Isn't that different, really, is it?

Still fixing things.

Fixing what I can.

What you ask is impossible,

Miss Lane.

My father is barely cold

in his grave!

But had your father lived, he might

have softened towards your brother.

Had George not broken his heart,

he might have lived longer.

He might not have been so...

Things might have been different.

Miss Ellison,

I too have suffered bereavement.

It is a lonely place.

When my own father died,

I would have given anything

to have a sibling at my side

to help me through.

A sibling is not always a comfort,

Miss Lane.

In a week, George sails for Brazil,

perhaps for good.

This opportunity may not come again.

You have both lost so much.

My brother had a choice

about what he lost, Miss Lane.

Did he really?

Miss Margaret,

surely one cannot believe to order,

any more than one can

force oneself to love.

I think Brazil is for the best.

Monkeys? That's a good 'un.

Mind you, I always thought

my grandpa had a look about him.

I think Mr Darwin means

a little further back than that, Minnie.

Miss Lane thinks

the same as Mr Ellison.

She swears by it.

It's one of her favourite books.

And have you seen Thomas Brown

picking his teeth?

(MINNIE AND LAURA LAUGH)

I think Miss Lane still believes,

as far as I know.

Well, I don't think

Miss Ellison's a monkey.

I think she's a silly goose

for carrying on so just about that.

If my sisters were to come back home,

I wouldn't care if they believed

in God or monkeys

or running around like savages.

I'd just hug them up to me

and never let them go.

Oh, Minnie!

And I don't think

Miss Lane's a monkey, neither.

She's more like a cat

with a saucer full of cream.

(LAUGHS) And Miss Pearl is a peacock.

And Mr JD?

Well, a golden lion, of course!

(LAUGHS)

Morning, ladies.

BOTH: Morning, Mr JD.

I hear you have a guest

at the post office.

Enjoying his company?

Oh, Miss Lane is.

They've both read so many books.

They leave me behind a little.

And they leave me so far back

it's yesterday!

Well, I shouldn't worry about that.

For all George Ellison's

great learning,

it hasn't brought him much

prosperity or peace of mind.

Mmm, perhaps not.

I was never one for books myself.

Personally, I prefer action.

You can tell Miss Lane

that I've spoken to the mayor

and he has agreed to write

to the estate manager

concerning the Lark Rise road.

Oh, I don't think

that'll be necessary, sir.

My pa and Mr Ellison have it in hand.

Is this correct, Thomas?

It seems a little more than usual.

That is the amount I intend to put by

for the foreseeable future, Miss Lane.

Oh!

Are you saving up

for something special?

A rainy day is all, ma'am.

Of course.

Thank you.

- Thomas?

- Miss Lane.

The rainy day might come sooner

if you were to actually...

I know there is some

sense of...expectation.

But if you are unsure in any way

about your feelings for Miss Ellison,

you should not let...

I am not unsure. My feelings

are not in doubt, Miss Lane.

I want... I will soon.

When you've saved a little more.

Yes.

- Thomas?

- Ma'am?

I do think you would make Miss Ellison

the most excellent husband.

I...I hope...

And I do hope the arrival

of Mr Ellison has not in any way...

What I mean is,

"I am not my brother's keeper."

Ah, Genesis 4:9.

Think you'll find

it's a question, ma'am -

"Am I my brother's keeper?"

(THOMAS SNIFFS)

- I ain't gonna wear them.

- You don't have to!

Well, can't you give them back, then?

No. It'd hurt her feelings.

Reckon that's it for tonight, boys.

Working day tomorrow, huh?

EMMA: Looks good.

That's a fine pair of long drawers

you got there, young boy chap.

Do you want them?

No, I don't wear them in the summer.

I just like to let the air,

you know...circumnavigate.

- (MEN LAUGH)

- Alf?

No, thank you.

There's a fella standing in the west field

might be glad of them, though.

The sight of those will keep

the crows off the peas for months.

In all the years

I have known your sister,

I have found her to be

the most reasonable,

generous-spirited woman.

To see her like this, refusing

even to consider to listen...

She must be in great torment.

Are you saying I shouldn't do this?

I shouldn't stay?

I don't know, George.

I am beginning to feel

this might not be the best time.

Perhaps a more gradual approach -

some letters.

Then you could return

another time and...

From Brazil?

Surely there could be an opportunity

for you nearer home.

Home.

There were so many memories

in Lark Rise today.

My father, Margaret.

She and I used to play cricket

in the wheat field.

Cricket! Miss Ellison?

My sister had an excellent bowling action,

I'll have you know.

It's strange to feel

part of a place, I suppose.

I hadn't felt like that in a long time.

I liked it.

I can understand that.

I don't mean to add to your burden,

but your sister has a future.

I wouldn't like to think her hopes,

Thomas's hopes,

hopes that have been nurtured

for some time now,

that they were jeopardised by...

I wouldn't want that, either.

But, Dorcas, what if I were

to leave it too long again?

Anyway, I have made an undertaking

about the road.

I know.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Is everything all right, Laura?

You didn't come in

for anything to read.

I'm fine, Miss Lane.

But you never go to bed

without a book.

Maybe I shouldn't read so much.

All these new ideas,

things changing all the time.

It's confusing.

Maybe it would be simpler not to think.

This used to be my room, you know?

Would you like to see my darning?

It's the whole thing, nearly!

(LAURA LAUGHS)

Your stitches are so tiny.

Miss Lane, this must have

taken you ages.

It took me a whole winter.

It's beautiful.

It's ridiculous.

I never wore it.

My mother turned it out

from somewhere

and gave it to me to darn

when the men were indoors.

It was not thought proper

to do ordinary sewing

in front of them in those days,

and one could not sit idle, hmm?

So she cut holes in a stocking

and I had to darn them up again.

And that was considered industrious.

(LAURA CHUCKLES)

Be glad things are changing, Laura.

Take hold of ideas.

You don't have to agree with them,

but never, ever shy away.

Be glad there are so many better uses

of a woman's time than this.

Night, Miss Lane.

Good night.

"Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name."

Beautiful words, them.

"Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done..."

Thomas...

"...on Earth as it is in Heaven..."

Thomas!

"Give us this day our daily bread..."

Thomas!

I grew up in a vicarage.

That isn't going to work.

Thomas, I have to ask -

my being here, might it deter you

in any way...

My sister.

I am bound by my faith

to be honest with you.

I have seen an unforgiving side

to your sister.

And a troubled family

is not a place of peace.

The truth of it is...

I...I don't know.

(CARRIAGE RATTLES OUTSIDE)

Morning.

I'm looking for Miss Lane.

She'll be down soon.

It's a bit early for Dorcas.

- George Ellison.

- James Dowland.

Ah! The Golden Lion.

I've heard much about you.

And I you.

I believe you are building a footpath

at Lark Rise.

Helping with it, yes.

Good heavens, Councillor.

This is an early call.

I'm riding to Banbury on business.

It might be wiser

to leave it to the landlord.

He could pay a gang of men

to complete the work quickly,

using modern methods,

proper materials,

not stones from the fields.

I see the whole town

is conspiring to have me gone.

The Councillor doesn't know

when these up-to-date methods and

materials might arrive, George, or if.

- We are writing.

- Well, in the meantime...

I have building projects of my own.

I know people.

I am meeting a supplier today

who, once we have the landlord's

agreement, would be eager...

Mr Dowland, I have spent my whole life

leaving work undone,

things unresolved.

Not this time.

This time I will see it through.

Why is he so involved in all of this?

He's a good man.

And I suppose I'm not?

I didn't say that, Mr Dowland.

Believe it or not,

I wasn't talking about you.

- But...

- But what?

Well, frankly, I find your attitude

to this rather puzzling.

Since your arrival in Candleford,

you have made much

of the benefits of improvement

and have been impatient

in your desire to bring it about.

Indeed. Often in the face of considerable

opposition from yourself.

Yet here we have genuine need

for improvement

as a matter of some urgency

and you are not only

dragging your own feet

but advising those addressing

the issue to do the same.

I am merely following the correct...

Which does lead me to wonder

whether your enthusiasm

for the benefits of improvement

only exists when there is also

a benefit for James Dowland.

(CLOCK TICKS FAINTLY)

It doesn't really matter what I do,

does it, Miss Lane?

In your eyes, my motivations

will never be anything other than base.

I had thought better of you than that.

(BIRDSONG)

Beautiful, isn't it?

Mr Ellison!

How funny.

I was just thinking about you.

Oh, dear.

Nothing bad.

Just...

Well...how...

How can I look at all this

and not believe in God?

Is that a very silly question?

Not at all.

It's one I sometimes ask myself.

So it must be extremely erudite.

Strange thing is, I remember standing

around here when I was...

well, probably about your age,

and suddenly knowing

that the thing I felt here in nature

was the thing I was supposed to feel

in church and didn't -

the thing my sister

clearly felt so keenly.

- That's when you stopped believing?

- Not exactly.

I stopped believing

when I was at university.

The study of medicine,

all that disease...

Where was God in this?

And then I realised - nowhere.

It seems so random because it is.

Isn't it frightening,

the idea that there is no plan,

no justice in the end?

I mean, do you know

down deep in your heart of hearts

that you ain't never

gonna see your pa again?

That's why it's so important

that I see my sister.

(MACHINERY CLATTERS)

LAURA: Miss Lane.

- Thomas...

- Yes, Miss Lane?

There is a telegram to go out,

for Miss Ellison.

It would appear that the new vicar

is a married man.

He has no need of a housekeeper.

She will have to find a position

in another parish.

No.

No, she cannot.

She...she must not.

I could not bear that, ma'am.

Then, Thomas, I think

the rainy day has dawned.

Yes.

And a man with responsibilities

could do with another shilling a week.

Thomas, are you taking...?

"Faint heart ne'er won fair maid."

(BIRDSONG)

Margaret?

(KNOCKS ON DOOR) Margaret?

(WHISPERS) This is silly, Miss Margaret.

Let me answer the door.

He'll go in a minute.

GEORGE: Please!

He ain't a bad man, Miss Margaret,

no matter what he believes.

Look what he's doing for Lark Rise.

I have spent my whole life

doing work for Lark Rise,

yet he wins everyone's heart

in two days.

Sorry. I know I sound petulant.

We all appreciate what you do.

Appreciate. Not like, not...

You're the only one who...

I know they laugh at me.

No. Not half as much as they laugh

at him and his monkeys.

(MARGARET LAUGHS)

But yes, they like him.

And they like you.

It don't have to be

one or the other, does it?

Miss Margaret,

you are as much a part of Lark Rise

as any of us.

Really?

Of course.

Emma...

...I think my father kept some sherry.

Have you ever tried it?

Miss Margaret! (GIGGLES)

Miss Margaret, what is it?

Oh...it's all right, Emma.

(MARGARET CLOSES DOOR)

I'd best get on, that's all.

This is yours.

I found it among his things.

My medical bag.

There are other things -

some books, certificates, letters.

Your property.

Why did he keep them?

Isn't it obvious, George?

He hoped you'd come back.

On his terms.

Were those terms so very bad?

Salvation.

Margaret, even you cannot believe

our father was in a position

to offer that.

(MARGARET LAUGHS)

It's very good to hear

that sound again.

You always could make me laugh.

There was little enough

of that when you went.

We can make up for it now.

No, George.

I want you to leave.

Why? My argument was never

with you.

I know your beliefs are dearly held.

Can't you see that mine are also?

You left me with him!

You knew what he was like

and you left me to cope with him alone.

In these 15 years,

did you ever once think

about what my life would be like?

And now he's gone

and you think you can

just walk back in

and we'll be Georgie and Margaret

playing cricket

in the wheat field again?

I did think of you.

I thought of you often.

I thought of him.

Go, George.

Please.

If that's what you want.

I thought you would marry.

I didn't know that you would...

I'm selling his books, his library.

I will give you the money,

but please just go.

You think I came here for money?

I am simply trying to do

the decent...the Christian thing.

You're behaving exactly like he did.

I didn't mean...

Do you know what, Margaret?

If you don't like me being here,

you go.

In case you hadn't noticed,

I'm building a road.

You look very smart, Thomas.

One day someone shall woo me

upon a bicycle.

All this fuss isn't making it

any easier, ladies.

Sorry.

Thomas, wait. (PANTS)

The gallant blade. (LAUGHS)

Make the ladies of Candleford proud.

Bye.

(WOMEN GASP)

(WOMEN LAUGH)

(THOMAS RINGS BICYCLE BELL)

MARGARET: Seems God's purpose

for me is elsewhere.

I hope not, Miss Margaret. I hope...

That will please my brother,

no doubt.

Miss Ellison, it would be...

I would be...

I have waited so long to show him

how it feels, Thomas,

to be rejected, abandoned.

So why don't I feel any better?

I...

Miss...

Oh, Thomas,

I spoke to him so cruelly.

I fear I am a very wicked person.

No, no, far from it.

You are the least wicked.

Miss Margaret, you are the person,

the lady that I...

The look on his face

when I told him to leave.

Miss Margaret...

The terrible thing is

I wanted him to feel like that.

Miss Margaret, could we perhaps

not talk about your brother

for just a few moments?

- Miss...

- I was just so angry. So jealous.

My father had kept no keepsakes

from my childhood.

He needed none. He had you here.

Oh, yes, he had me here,

stuck in an endless round of duty

and responsibility

while the opportunities that might have

been mine slipped by.

"Opportunities...slipped by."

How tragic.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

Opportunities, no doubt, which would

have thrown up more welcome suitors

than a humble postman.

Suitors?

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

Thomas?

(RAIN POURS)

Just a...just a postman. Yeah.

"Opportunities...slipped by."

I'm tragic.

Ow!

(RAIN POURS)

Thomas?

THOMAS: Ow! Ow!

(THUNDER CRASHES)

Oh, Lord!

Thomas, I don't understand!

(MARGARET WEEPS)

(CALLS) Mr Brown!

Thomas!

Please!

(THUNDER CRACKS)

(GLASS SMASHES)

(MARGARET GRUNTS)

(THUNDER CRACKS)

(MARGARET GRUNTS)

(MARGARET SOBS)

(KNOCKING)

(KNOCKING CONTINUES)

- Coming.

- They'll wake the children.

(LATCH CLICKS)

- James.

- It's Miss Ellison.

(EMMA GASPS)

I was riding across country

from Banbury.

I found her in the road.

She didn't want to go home.

She would only come here.

I think, Emma,

that I have lost it all.

My home.

My own baby brother.

(THUNDER RUMBLES OUTSIDE)

(WEEPS) I've lost him for ever

and it's my own stupid, jealous fault.

- I should go.

- Thank you, James.

Come on, Miss Margaret.

It'll be better in the mornin'.

(DOOR CLOSES)

But Emma, you don't know

what I've done.

(WEEPS)

Ma'am, Thomas's bed

ain't been slept in.

(ROOSTER CROWS)

What if the weather was bad?

Perhaps he had to stay in Fordlow.

Thomas Brown is never late

for the morning delivery.

(BIRDSONG)

Well, it ain't gonna be ready

before school starts now, is it?

I am so sorry.

I think the rain has done most of it.

I'll put it right.

Oh, be careful, Miss Margaret.

You ain't been too well this morning.

When does my brother get here?

To be honest, Miss Margaret,

he is usually here by now.

Ma! Pa!

What's happened here?

Oh, Miss Lane,

is my brother with you?

DORCAS: Your brother?

Miss Ellison, your brother has gone.

Brazil?

Um...Miss Ellison,

have you seen Thomas Brown?

- We have been to the rectory...

- No, not since last night.

Oh, dear. It is...all a little hazy,

but I fear I may have

unwittingly offended him.

Oh.

Oh, you didn't turn him down?

What?

Miss Ellison, Thomas Brown

came out here to propose.

And now, ma'am,

Thomas Brown is missing.

Run on up to the farm,

tell Old Monday the postman is missing

and see if he can send down

any more men.

(MAN SINGS IN THE DISTANCE)

(MAN CONTINUES SINGING)

#...In life, in death

# O Lord, abide with me. #

Oh, Lord, I beseech thee

for deliverance.

Thomas?

Oh, Lord, did it have to be him?

I can go if you like.

No! No! My back... I can't...

Oh!

Oh, Lord, the pain! My back.

I am bound by my faith

to thank you, sir.

(GROANS)

Remember that chap hanged himself

from the dead oak?

Weeks before they found him.

Plague of flies we had that summer.

- Shall we go?

- Oh...

A scarecrow's drawers

and a wheelbarrow!

And me a servant of Her Majesty.

Stop complaining.

No, children! Go away!

There's something living down there.

(GRUNTS)

Miss Ellison.

Oh...

Oh!

Of course.

MARGARET: Oh, my dear, dear boy.

I thought you'd gone forever.

How can you ever forgive me?

Margaret, I'm the one

who should be asking that.

Lord, save us.

It's like a miracle.

And you've brought me

my Thomas Brown,

the man I hope to marry.

What do you say, Mr Brown?

Miss Ellison...

...it would be an honour.

Oh!

- Easy... No... No, my back...

- What?

It's all right, Twister. We got him.

- Who?

- The postman, you old duffer.

Get back to work!

I am at work!

Been sent down to fix the road.

Old Monday's paying wages for this?

The stingy old bugger

ain't paying himself!

(HORSE HOOVES CLOP NEARBY)

Ain't it just wonderful, ma'am?

Yes, Laura. Yes, it is.

(BIRDSONG)

GEORGE: I hope there was a time

that he was happy.

MARGARET: I think he's happy now.

He's in a better place.

I'm too mature to rise to that.

You will feel very stupid

when I meet you there

and prove you wrong, George Ellison.

If I meet you there, Margaret,

it will be worth it.

Don't forget this. You'll need it.

I will.

And I'll pay you back, I promise.

Look what you've done for me

already...Doctor.

(BICYCLE BELL RINGS)

Still a little bit of discomfort...

LAURA: Thomas and Miss Ellison

did not rush into marriage.

(THOMAS TALKS INDISTINCTLY)

And Dr George Ellison

never did make it to Brazil.

For though our new vicar

did not want a housekeeper,

he was, it seemed,

sorely in need of a governess.

So George's letters flew once more

between Oxford and the rectory

and every so often

there would be another

that we didn't have to

take out on the round...

... for George had forged a friendship

that would last a lifetime.

And in those shifting, changing times

we lived through...

... we were going to need our friends.