Original subtitles

Thank you.

Andrew. Welcome home.

Sorry I'm late.

That's all right. We just arrived.

Well, shall I take... No, no. I can manage.

How's your state, Jerry?

Just breaking even. But otherwise, it's doing fine.

And you?

Oh. I'm fine too.

John was a methodical man. He left all the paperwork in apple pie order. That

helps a lot.

Until I come across his signature on some document.

That doesn't help at all.

Yeah, fly!

Come here lad, come here!

We're making good time.

I'm not surprised. You're driving like a maniac.

You just can't wait to get there, can you?

The sooner the better.

Fancy stopping off at a B &B somewhere?

Or do you want to press on? No more bed and breakfast.

When she asks to see our marriage certificate.

Then press on it is.

I wasn't here to greet you.

Good to have you home, Andrew. Good to be home, Father.

When do you return to Germany?

With any luck, not at all. I've applied for a home posting.

Well, then we'll be seeing much more of you.

That's fair.

Do I protect the new adult?

For the luck of the Chinese cuddling up together, the international situation

will be promising.

The domestic situation doesn't look much better.

No.

Still, given the mood of the country, I suppose a Labour government was

inevitable. Like death and taxes.

Whiskey? Small.

I expect no tax places like this for the hilt. If we don't decide to nationalise

them first.

Not that they'll get much of their trouble.

It's lunch.

Flora appeared to think this paper's doing reasonably well. It's not losing

money. It just isn't making any.

How are all the tenants this filled?

Except for Dalcarbet and Corrie Begg.

Dalcarbet hardly counts. The setting's almost beyond repair.

And Corrie Begg?

Well, the house hasn't been lived in since Bill Robertson died. The land's in

fair condition.

Alistair Macrae took it over four years ago.

Might be worthwhile putting someone into it.

All right, I say.

I'd be mean to find a new tenant.

Well, now... I think I may have done that already.

We don't understand you correctly.

You have promised the leader of Corrie Begg to a complete stranger. He isn't a

stranger. Oh, sure he is to me.

Who is this man, Ritchie? One of my jocks.

He was my platoon sergeant during the war. The Western Desert, Thitherly,

Salerno. He's a first -rate chap.

I'm sure there were many first -rate chaps at your company, but that doesn't

oblige you to promise them tenancies on the Strathmere estate.

What on earth possessed you?

Well... A place called Corriano Bridge.

Where I got this.

Richie was wounded too.

A lot of men owe their lives to him.

But not you.

We ended up in the same hospital.

Well, we had a lot of time to talk. He talked about his life and I talked about

mine.

And we both talked about what we would do if we survived the war.

That's when I learned that his ambition was to run his own farm, be his own man.

What exactly did you say to him?

I promised to see what could be done.

It was a rash promise, but a promise just the same.

Why did he choose to remind you of it now?

Well, he's stayed in the army for another five years.

Now he's out and newly married.

You've placed me in a damned awkward position, Andrew.

If John McInnes had survived, he would never have counted as an incomer taking

over the tenancy.

As it is, God knows how Flora will react.

Not to mention old Alistair McRae.

I'm prepared to accept responsibility for Ritchie.

In fact, I've... Offered to guarantee his overdraft. What you do with your own

money is your own affair. What happens on this estate is mine.

How much farming experience does he have?

Well, none.

None?

None at all?

No, he's read books.

Books.

What exactly did he do before the war?

Well, actually, he worked in a Dundee jute mill.

I'm sorry, Andrew, it won't do.

You'd better get in touch with Ritchie and tell him so.

I'm afraid it's a bit too late for that.

Excuse me!

Can you direct me to Corrie Begg? I could.

But you'll not find anybody there.

You will tonight.

I'm the new tenant.

You're a damned fool, Andrew.

Old Alistair McRae's been working the Corrie Begg land now for the past four

years. He's just finished ploughing.

He'll get compensated.

You can't expect us to keep the sterling empty forever.

A lot of the riches are on their way here at this moment.

Why did you do it?

My own reasons. Can we leave it at that?

Of course.

I won't be here when they arrive. I have to report to Perth, so I'll be at the

Queen's barracks for a bit.

If you could use your good offices with my father, try and talk him out.

Since I happen to agree with him, that's asking rather a lot.

I know.

Corrie Begg.

Well?

What do you think?

It looks nice.

Under the stone she said.

That's for you.

Something wrong, Jenny?

Of course there is.

It's our first home.

Haven't you forgotten something?

Jenny?

If you have insane thoughts, say so now.

Mission accomplished.

There's a wee burn just above the house.

I'll take a look from the header tank tomorrow.

Well done.

Well, as long as it doesn't blow up.

There was just enough paraffin in the bottom to get it going.

If only it had lost out to that kettle.

Did you have any luck with the electricity?

It's been cut off.

Never mind.

Candlelit suppers romance.

I see your hogs have wintered well.

So they should, at the price I paid.

I've never heard of you getting the worst of a bargain.

Oh, that is maybe.

I see the Major's back.

Oh, you don't miss much.

Germany, wasn't it?

It was.

Alistair, I came over to tell you.

You might be getting a new neighbour soon.

Say now.

That'll be Corrie Begg, I'm thinking.

Oh, I heard some folk were interested in the place.

Yourself included?

I've been well settled at Balbuy the 40 years, and I can't live in two houses at

the same time.

Who's got Corrie Begg done?

Oh, no one you know.

A man called Ritchie.

He's arriving with his wife today.

Strangers?

Well, Major Mingus knew him in the army.

You'll have some tea.

A quick cup would be very nice.

I'm surprised the laird has read it to an incomer.

He hasn't.

Not yet.

You see now.

So James wants to see what they're like first.

Mr. Ritchie?

Yes. When did you arrive?

Last night.

You weren't expected until today.

I'm Mrs. McInnes, the factor.

I manage the estate, Mr. James. I know what a factor is, Mrs. McInnes.

Pleased to meet you.

I've brought some things you might need. Some groceries and some paris into the

lab. Thanks.

I don't know where she is. She must have gone out.

A bit unusual, isn't it?

I mean, having a female doing your job.

Well, my husband was the factor.

I took over when he went into the army.

Didn't he want his job back?

He was killed at Anzio.

I remember Anzio.

When would it be convenient to see the Major?

I'd like to get things underway.

Well, you'll be in person the next few days.

You will, in any case, be dealing with Sir James.

Say... Next Thursday?

Eleven o 'clock?

By morning.

What?

What kind of arrangement?

Oh, the auctioneer makes a cash advance in return for an undertaking that he

sells your sheep and cattle at the market.

That sounds reasonable.

At last.

Mr Ritchie, I wouldn't take too much for granted just at this moment.

Too much? Eric!

You won't believe what I've been through.

This is Mrs McKinney, the estate manager.

My wife, Jennifer.

How did you do? You've been running, Mrs. Ritchie. I was attacked by a beast.

What happened?

Well, I decided to take a dip in the stream and then this thing showed up and

wouldn't let me out.

I'd still be there if it weren't for the dog.

What dog?

It was just a sheepdog.

He was with this tramp or something. He called her Fly.

Oh, Balbuie.

I'm sorry?

Old Alistair McRae, Wester Balbuie.

He's your nearest neighbour.

Then we should be seeing quite a lot of them.

You've seen quite a lot of me already.

They seem a decent enough couple.

Take more than just decency to run a hill farm.

What's Mrs.

Ritchie like?

She's all right.

From Russia.

Worked in a bank, he said.

Doesn't know a lot about the country. Well, not this country, anyway.

And Ritchie?

Different matter.

Tough, self -confident.

Andrew tells me he was in the Terriers when war broke out. He was one of the

first to go.

He was at Anvio.

I'd like you to be present at the interview, Flora.

Yes?

Frankly, the best outcome would be if they'd paint their own minds about

over the county.

I don't think that's likely.

I doubt if they fully appreciate what's involved in running a hill farm.

Who better than you?

Jenny, what's wrong? What's happened?

Everything.

Everything.

I can't do this, Alec.

Not what I thought it would be.

This place is falling to bits.

The house is damp.

The water doesn't work.

That chimney hasn't been swept in years.

I can't work that range.

Whatever it is.

This house hates me!

It hates me!

Jenny.

Jenny.

Once we've got things fixed up, just give me time.

all right?

I'm just thinking.

What are you thinking about?

The best way to tell Sir James we don't want Corrie Pegg.

When I was a boy, I used to spend my holidays on a farm at Lochte.

I remember it as a happy time.

Staying on a farm is not quite the same thing as being born to the land.

You have no family background in agriculture?

Sir James, I think I should tell you... Sorry, got held up.

You've met Mrs MacInnes, of course?

Yes.

I cannot help but feel embarrassed at having to say this, but my son had

absolutely no right to offer you the tenancy of Corrie Begg.

I see.

Oh, I quite understand that in the atmosphere of wartime comradeship

rash commitments might be made, but in the cold light of reality it might be

necessary to question the wisdom of making them.

Is that a long way of saying that promises don't have to be kept?

Jamie, no, Mrs Ritchie.

It is merely a way of saying that certain facts have got to be faced.

Corrie Begg is a working farm.

Your husband will be taking over a tenancy with about 500 ewes on the hill,

it has to pay its way in terms of the estate. And that does mean a lot of hard

work. Quite so, quite so.

It can be a very harsh life.

You will have help, of course, from your neighbours.

Oh, and plenty of advice.

Well, yes, of course.

In a community like this, one always helps one's neighbours.

Frankly, I don't know how they would feel about newcomers taking over the

tenancy. At first.

And there are other considerations.

From what you tell me, I have to say that I think you are somewhat

underfinanced.

Albeit, I understand that my son is prepared to guarantee you a small

Yes, he kindly offered to do that. I did explain to Mr Ritchie that it would be

possible to come to some arrangement with the auctioneers.

That was good of you, Mrs. McInnes.

And I don't think Mr. Richard's initial outlay on gear and equipment need be too

heavy. What he can't borrow, he can always hire from the home farm. Yes,

yes, yes, yes. This is all quite possible. But I come back to the one

point. You have no experience.

No qualifications.

Quite frankly, I don't think you could make a girl of it.

Well, Sir James.

If that's what you feel, then there isn't much more to be said.

Sorry I've taken up your time.

Jenny? We seem to have come a long way for nothing.

Nobody asked what his qualifications were for fighting Rommel.

That's hardly the same thing.

No. No, it isn't.

The war's over. Nothing that was said or done then matters now. Mrs Ritchie...

I'm sorry, Sir James, it's not fair.

If the Major hadn't misled my husband into thinking he'd get this place, he

wouldn't have wasted his time coming up here. And he wouldn't be leaving now

feeling that he'd failed.

What will you do now?

I'll try for some other place, sir.

You're a determined man, Ritchie.

Yes, I am.

Very well.

I've done my best to dissuade you.

But since you and your wife have obviously got your heart set on the

don't seem to have much choice.

I don't understand.

Mrs. Ritchie has dated the position most clearly.

Indeed, forcefully.

My son made a promise.

He shall keep that promise.

I propose the seven -year repairing lease to be reviewed after three.

If your husbandry is not up to the mark...

I shall have the legal right to terminate it.

But I want you to make me a promise in return.

Sir? If at the end of six months you have not, in my sole opinion, run Corrie

Begg in a satisfactory manner, I shall expect you to relinquish the lease.

Nothing in writing, nothing legal.

Just your word and your hand on it.

Now what?

Well, you've only got yourself to blame from now on.

I must be mad.

You were not at all helpful.

John would never have approved of this.

John didn't come back.

Alec Ritchie did.

You

never

did say what was blocking that tap.

You'd never drink from that tap again if I told you.

You haven't seen much of the neighbours, have we?

No.

They're sure to call me Mr.

Ritchie.

What do you expect?

I'll feel accepted when they call me Corrie Begg.

The official takeover day is May the 28th. Your first rent is due on November

the 28th. But you'll have the valuation before then.

What's involved in that?

Well, your tendency is what's called a commentary grazing.

The Corrie Begg sheep share the hill with the other flocks in the summer.

At the gathering, they're all brought down and separated.

That won't be easy.

They all look the same to me.

Well, they are marked.

Corrie Begley is marked CB on the horn.

Balbuie is marked WB.

They'll be coming down next week.

I'll help, of course.

That would be neighbourly.

How are you settling in?

All right.

We'll feel more like home when the furniture gets here.

Coming up by rail. See you tomorrow.

Any chance of borrowing a tractor and trailer?

Of course.

Well... Good luck, Mr. Ritchie.

Cody Begg?

Good luck, Cody Begg.

I'll have a pint while I'm waiting. No, you won't.

That'll be 12 Instructions Haven, Mrs Ritchie.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I don't seem to have enough with me.

That's all right.

I'll get it when they come up by Corrie Begg on my round.

You deliver to the farms?

Mondays and Thursdays.

Have I picked any eggs you've got?

Eggs? Aye, eggs.

You'll be keeping hens, won't you?

This'll be your furniture, then?

Yes. Start going back in the road.

My place is Carnban, two miles back the way.

Did we not meet? That's right. Fee me, Robertson.

Right.

Aye.

My cousin Archie had this place.

Well, he wasn't really my cousin, but it must have been some kind of kin.

A lot of Robertsons hereabouts.

Aye.

Well, that's the lot.

And only one casualty.

Here, I'm sorry about that.

It just slipped through my fingers.

I'm sad.

It was a wedding present.

He hated it.

Have you got any stock yet? Not yet.

We'll be getting a penny.

On loan from the factor.

Oh, and you have a garden this year.

That Florida McKinnis is nice enough.

A bit hoity -toity with being at university, but nice enough.

Sad about her man being killed.

Now, he was nice.

Mrs Robert... Miss, call me Femi.

Femi.

The grocer in Strathclyde. That twister.

He'd himself a fortune profiteering during the war.

Everything under the counter.

He said that if I got some hens, he'd buy the eggs.

Aye, likely he would. I'd cheat you while he was doing it.

Where do I get hens?

I'll show you hens.

I've got six more than I need. Three shall end each and they're yours.

Good layers, are they?

Five are.

You can wring the other one's neck when you get fed up with it.

And just you mind, the egg money's hard.

The wife I keeps the egg money.

You wouldn't have a dog for sale?

A sheep dog? No, I've only got two and I'm keeping them.

I'll have to get one before the gathering.

You could try Balbuie.

You'll have met Alistair Macrae.

Jenny met him briefly.

I'll no be pleased that you'd take him this place.

Came to think of it as his own.

Likes to act as a wee bit saft in the heed.

But he's all there when it comes to money.

Still, you could try him for a dog.

Aye, a dog, Mr Ritchie.

Aye, a dog.

Well, do you?

Oh, I dare say.

That'll do.

Come away to me, Tom.

Come back. Come back.

I'm told the gathering's soon, Mr. McCrae.

Aye, 21st.

I'll be there, of course.

Fine, fine.

Come back, Tom.

Think you'll be my dog by then?

More likely the other way around.

I will come to your whistles by then.

Here, Tom.

Dog -eye goes to the one that feeds him, so make sure that's you and not the

wife.

Set. So, you think Tam's the one I should have?

Oh, he's a good dog.

You won't go far wrong with him.

What about this one, Mr. McRae?

Well, fly.

Oh, no, you don't want fly.

Tam's the best you're after.

He's well -trained and biddable. He looks just fine.

Why don't we want fly?

Is there something wrong with her?

No, no, not a thing, Mrs. Ritchie.

How much would you be asking?

Oh, I'm thinking 15 pounds at least.

And how much did I fly?

17 pounds.

You're an intelligent dog, that one.

And being a bitch, of course, there's the breathing from her. She's lovely.

She's the one.

17 pounds.

I don't know.

Go on, Alec. What do you think, Mr. McCrae?

That's up to yourself, Mr. Ritchie.

I'd advise Tam myself.

But Fly is trained to the hill, even if she is a wee thing less biddable.

What do you mean?

No offence, Mrs Ritchie, but she's a female, and like most women, she takes

notions into her head at times.

Well, maybe time would be best.

As you say, Mr Macrae.

They take notions into their heads at times.

How did that sound?

It's getting better every time.

Look.

I think we've got a real bargain with Fly.

17 quid.

Can do without bargains like that.

Well, I know it was a bit more than you intended.

But he didn't want to get rid of her.

That's why he tried to fob us off with the other one.

I think we got a really good dog.

Jenny, she isn't a pet.

I know that. Good.

And as soon as the outhouse is fixed up, that's where she sleeps.

As soon as it's fixed up.

Wait to me, Fleiss.

Wait to me.

Come by, fly.

Come by.

Hi, Jennifer.

Just stopped by to see how they were doing.

Oh, they're great.

They're all laying eggs, except for the one.

That's the one for the pot.

What's your man doing with fly?

We bought her from Mr. McCrae.

He sold you fly.

Try it.

You'll boil every creeper we get.

Well, I've got one left to boil now.

Thanks to Femi Robertson.

Why? What was Femi saying?

Nothing much.

Well, we've an early start and a long day tomorrow.

My first gathering.

Great, get on.

Morning,

Mr. McCree.

What's the drill?

You can help over on the left flank.

Right.

Fly. You're last.

You finished already?

Finished? I didn't even get started.

Fly disappeared.

She didn't come back here, did she?

No. Well, I don't think so. I was upstairs.

Well, if she isn't here, where the hell is she?

She'll come back, Alec.

She always does.

That's a big help.

What do you mean, she always does?

Never did think much of you, but I never believed you'd do a thing like that.

What are you havering about, Premier Robertson?

Ken, fine.

I'm talking about Fly.

See she's been up to her usual tricks again.

Well, it's only a wee thing difficult when it comes to a gathering.

Difficult? She's only to get a whiff of dip and she's away like the clappers. I

tried to get Richard to take time instead.

And he might have done.

If it hadn't been for that wife of his, nothing would do but that she had to

have fly.

Well, I told her it would happen.

It seems she's kept it to herself.

What are you going to do about it?

Me?

Why should I do anything?

When Corrie Begg gets too much for them and they decide they'd be better off in

a town, at least they'll have a house pet.

Fly by name and fly by nature.

Aye, and the man who told it to me is no much better.

You might have told me what Femi said.

I thought she might be different with you. I've never felt such an idiot.

In front of all the others.

God, they must have been laughing their heads off.

Maybe she'll learn.

She'll learn?

She ain't supposed to know.

I'm the one that's here to learn.

If word gets back to Sir James about this...

Would it be convenient to have

a word? Oh, I'd like to have quite a pew. Come in.

Ah, I see you've got her back. She was at Dilscraydon.

She goes there sometimes.

Or any other farm within a five -mile radius.

I could know I've been round the wall.

Mr. McCree, I think you should have warned me about her vanishing act every

there was a gathering. I did try to suggest that Tam might be the better for

you.

Aye, you did.

But fair's fair.

I'll take her back and you can have one of the others.

Thought we might take a trip through to Perth next week.

That'd be nice.

Maybe go to the pictures?

Maybe something to look forward to.

Jenny, Fly had to go.

I know.

A farm needs a working dog.

I agree, she was a nice animal.

I became quite fond of her myself.

But that's not the point.

No.

She was unreliable.

Well, if she scoops off any time there's any real work to be done.

I'm glad you understand the position.

I do.

I do.

Well, Mr. Ritchie, have you made up your mind which dog you want? I think I'll

settle for Tarp.

Right. I think you are as soon as the gathering's over.

You were asking 15 pounds for him.

Was I?

Can I just mine?

Why cost 17?

You see now.

Well, we'll have to talk about that.

There's an ill -natured heap of mutton if ever there was one. Aye, there's

either the one.

Get away, outfly!

Get away, outfly!

Aye, you did none so badly, Corrie Begg.

Aye.

And I'll sleep sound the night.

Well... Yes, Tam.

And, er, that's two pounds, are you?

I don't think I could let her go for that, Balbuie.

Fly, what are you doing here? You'll get us both hung.

From now on, she sleeps in the outhouse.

Just as soon as I've got it fixed up.