Original subtitles

What are you doing?

Kids are swinging on the gate again.

Soak the hinge.

Only time's left to tell them it's not a toy.

Whole house is a toy to them.

Whoa.

I, uh... I happened to see the judge today at the general store when I was in

town.

We spoke about you.

Nothing bad, I hope.

No, he, um... He wanted to know how you were getting along on your job.

Told him that you were doing very well and that you've been a big help to us.

Thank you.

He offered to reduce your sentence.

Really?

Felt it's a very serious charge, but because of good behavior, the judge

that you'll be free to leave as of Tuesday.

Tuesday? That's great.

Well, you've earned it.

Listen, I'll help you find a replacement.

I appreciate that.

But I've already posted a sign at the general store.

Thanks.

Well, I'd better get these groceries back to Asia. She's got a lot of cooking

do for Thanksgiving.

I'm on my way.

Hey, Dan, Mr. Lurie's here.

Hey, guys, Mr. Lurie's here.

Lauren.

How are you?

Amy.

Well, I didn't think you'd make it back in time for Thanksgiving.

We nearly didn't. The wind calmed the day after we set sail out of London.

We sat there bobbing like a cork in the channel for a week.

Good to have you back, Mr. Laurie.

It's good to be back, Dan.

Nat, you've grown another two inches, I'm sure.

Beth, sweetheart, how are you?

I'm fine, Aunt Jo.

Nan, come here.

I'd like you to meet my sister, Amy, and my brother -in -law, Teddy Lawrence.

Most people call me Lori.

This is Miss Anthea Harding.

Most people call me Nan.

Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Nan.

This is our daughter, Beth.

Nice to meet you, Beth.

Hello.

Nan is our newest student.

Student? You're accepting girls now?

How...

Progressive of you, Joe. It's a wonderful idea.

Do you like it here, Nan?

The boys aren't too rough on you, are they?

I think you've got that backwards, Laurie.

It's Nan who needs to be easier on the boys.

Yes, she fits in quite nicely with them.

She certainly has that Plumfield look.

Yes, she certainly does.

She's a welcome addition to our family.

My husband and I founded Plumfield as a school for children from all walks of

life. Its passing has left a void in our lives.

But in the children, I see the promise of a new day and find the strength to

keep our dream alive, no matter how hard the struggle.

Well, you didn't have to get me anything.

Nonsense. I couldn't very well return from Europe without bringing gifts for

family.

It's beautiful.

Austrian.

Yes.

There.

Always nice to have a touch of class, isn't it?

If you want, you can go play with them.

I'm sure the children would like that.

No, thank you. I haven't quite finished my tea.

Have you been holding up Joe?

I have my moments.

Everywhere I look, there are reminders of Fritz.

Your husband left quite a legacy.

Our lives are the better for knowing him.

We'll all miss him very much.

Well, the children keep me busy.

They keep me in the present. I don't have much time to dwell.

How have you been managing with school?

Well, we're still here.

But it has been difficult.

Several of the parents have already pulled their boys.

I can help sponsor some new students.

That means so much, Laurie.

But I couldn't ask you to do that. You already sponsored Dan and Nat. You

ask me to do anything.

I want to do it.

Anything to help keep the school running.

I wish everyone felt that way.

If it were up to Eli McBride, he'd turn this school into a guest house.

He won't stop badgering me about buying. What did he offer?

I told it that it wasn't for sale, Amy.

No, of course not.

This is a fine school, Joe.

Perhaps the best in all of Concord.

Any parent who wouldn't want to send their child here would be a fool.

Thank you.

She does love you, Joe, very much.

When word came of Fritz's death, she was inconsolable.

She just has difficulty expressing her true feelings.

You know that.

Well, the last she'll confide in are the ones she loves the most.

Oh, Nick.

You haven't met my brother -in -law, Laurie.

Hello. Pleasure to meet you.

Nick's been helping us out since Silas had to leave.

I'm going to ride into town and think some inquiries about ships leaving Bath.

Of course.

Nice to meet you.

He's leaving?

Well, he's only been here on a temporary basis.

You remember Emil's uncle, Captain Hoffman?

Unfortunately, yes.

Well, he was abusing Emil and Nick stepped in.

Tried to stop him.

Sort of... Punched him.

He punched Captain Hoffman? Yes.

I'm liking this guy more and more.

Yes, well, he had Nick arrested for assault.

I spoke to the judge and arranged for him to serve out his sentence here at

Plumfield. That makes sense.

A man convicted of assault serving out his sentence at a school for children.

He's done a great job.

The boys are very fond of him.

Anyway, he ends his up on Tuesday, so he's leaving.

Well, I'm sure there are many other convicts you can pluck out of jail.

Very funny.

You told me, Jess.

Hey, Beth, Beth.

The boys are choosing teams to play ball.

Why don't you join us? I'm reading.

Well, you can read later. Come on. I'm wearing my new dress, Father.

That's all right.

No, it isn't. That's cashmere. I will not have it wallowing in the mud.

She doesn't want to play.

Hey,

Nick!

Sorry,

guys, I can't play.

I got too much to do before Tuesday.

What's Tuesday?

You didn't tell him?

I thought you were going to tell them.

Tell us what?

The judge says I'm free to leave as of Tuesday.

Just rode into town, found out a ship's leaving Boston Harbor Thursday.

A company I've worked for before.

Headed to the South Pacific, then on to India.

Why do you have to leave?

I was only here temporary, Nat. You know that.

Can't stay in one place too long.

Never could.

But Thursday's Thanksgiving.

I know, but if the ship's leaving, it's leaving.

Company don't give much thought to holidays.

Guys, come on.

I'm finally getting back to doing what I love. This is my home.

It's where I belong.

The walnut?

Amazing thing. Nan's out there cracking them on her forehead.

She's a child of many talents.

That she is.

Reminds me of a certain March girl I once knew.

Are you staying for dinner?

I'm afraid Amy and Bess are ready to go.

Bess is already in the carriage.

Oh, well, you will be here for Thanksgiving, though.

Of course.

What is it?

It's Bess.

It's just... I'm worried about her.

I feel like she's missing out on so much of life.

Missing out?

She's traveling the world. She's seeing things that most children only dream

about. Most of the time she just stays inside reading a book.

She has no friends, no ambition, no spirit.

Not like the kids here.

What are you saying?

That Beth should attend Plumfield?

It's crazy, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

It's also a great idea.

What is?

Um, well, the idea of sending Bess to Plumfield.

I see.

You don't have to make a decision right now. No, of course not.

She just started with a new tutor.

She hates that tutor, Amy.

Still, I think now's not the time to shake up her life.

Shake up her life?

We just got back from London and Paris before that.

Her life's been one shake -up after another.

Some feel it'll bring her some stability, make her feel like she has

We don't even know if the school will be around next month.

I can assure you this school will be around next month and the month after

Don't be so sensitive, Jo.

It's not that I doubt her abilities. No?

Then what is it?

Is it the children?

I don't want to fight with you. If you don't want to send your daughter to this

school, just say it.

Why wouldn't she want to send Beth here?

It's the best school in Concord.

Amy said so herself.

Any parent who wouldn't want to send their child here would be a fool.

If it means that much to you, Joe, then fine. This isn't about me.

I'm only thinking about Beth.

Of course you are.

Settled then.

We'll move her in tomorrow.

Remember what we said, Peter.

It's just a trial run.

You don't like it if you don't have to stay.

But you must give it a good try, Beth.

I'm sure once you get settled, you'll be having so much fun, you'll be begging

us to let you stay.

Who's that?

Guess what? You're going to stay in my room.

In your room?

Guess it's either called our room now, right?

What do you think?

I thought you were going to clean this room.

I did clean it this morning.

But then I wanted to show Beth my lucky rabbit.

Finally found it under my bed.

Want to touch it?

No, thank you.

I'll get the rest of the bags.

My mother gave me this music box before she died.

Still works, see?

I found this dead frog down by the river.

Did you know if you boil it, the skin comes right off?

Did you know that?

Hey, fellas.

Since when did you boys start wearing Sunday clothes to school?

Since Bess showed up.

My other clothes were dirty.

I never stopped you from wearing them before.

Guys.

We were thinking about what you said.

About why you're leaving.

And we just wanted you to know that we're happy for you.

We hope that wherever you go, you'll have lots of great adventures.

Yeah, we got something for you.

Something for you to remember, Spy.

Tommy, I found this up by the corral.

Jack paused it and... Oh, I could have it.

Thanks, Guy.

I'll keep it with me always.

And maybe when you talk to other people about us, we could be one of your

adventures.

You better get going.

Go on, get...

What

are

you doing?

Anne was going to clean this room.

Yes, well, we saw how well she did the last time she cleaned it.

Amy, cleaning up after her isn't going to teach her anything.

She needs to learn to do things for herself.

Is that part of the Plumfield philosophy?

Yes, it is. It's a very important part.

I want these children to be self -reliant, not to expect to have

handed to them.

I was wondering how long it would take for you to criticize the way I'm raising

Beth.

It wasn't a criticism of you. Of course it was.

It always is.

I see the way you watch her every time we come to visit.

That's only because I want her to play with the other children and have them

fun. Beth is... She's not like the other children.

No, she isn't.

Because she's been surrounded by adults her entire life.

Well, now she's surrounded by children.

We'll see how well she benefits from it.

Amy.

I believe in my heart that she'll grow to like it here.

And I'm grateful to you for giving her the chance.

It's a beautiful figurine.

It's Beth's favorite.

It's lovely.

Just keep that nan away from it.

I don't want it getting broken.

They won't.

Hey, Beth.

What are you doing, you painting?

Yeah.

I'm heading over to feed the pigs.

Want to come? It's a lot of fun.

No, thank you.

Hey, you know what it's missing?

Me!

It's a landscape.

It's a bunch of trees.

It needs people.

Can I try?

I don't have any more brushes.

Some in the schoolroom.

I don't have any more paint.

Oh.

Okay.

Because we'll see you later.

Ah, she can be a real pest sometimes.

Yeah, but she doesn't mean any harm.

So, um, I was wondering, you know, when you're done painting, if we could, you

know, perhaps engage in a friendly game of horseshoes.

No, thank you.

Oh.

Well, perhaps you'd like to take a walk, you know, down to the... No.

How many times do I have to tell you people?

I don't want to play horseshoes. I don't want to feed the pigs, and I do not

want to crack nuts on my head. I don't want to have to do anything with any of

you, so just leave me alone.

garden snake.

He wasn't like it was poisonous or anything.

How could you ever do such a thing?

She was being rude.

Ask Jack.

She had it coming.

That's no excuse.

We'll deal with your punishment tomorrow.

Off to bed with you.

Heard about the snake.

Yes, well, it's still slithering around in there somewhere.

I'm sure it'll turn up.

You can count on that.

The question is, where?

Let me guess.

They've pulled this kind of prank before.

We've seen snakes, spiders.

One time, Tommy brought home a bullfrog that he found by the river.

Of course, it gets loose in the house. We searched for hours.

Finally gave up and went to bed.

Fritz had just closed his eyes when from behind the pillow comes the frog landed

right on his head.

You should have seen his face.

I'll never forget it.

Joe? I was just on my way to see you.

About the snake.

I can assure you that this is what I was talking about.

Beth is not like those children.

They're undisciplined, unrefined.

Well, they're children.

Sometimes children play pranks. Demi and Daisy play pranks on one another all

the time. Prank?

This was a malicious assault.

Oh, it was a harmless garden.

Don't try to diminish that, Joe. Beth was terrified.

and unprovoked, and I will not have my daughter treat it in such a manner.

It was not unprovoked. No.

If Bess had been a little less rude to the children, this never would have

happened. Oh, I see.

It's Bess's fault. The children just wanted to be friends with her. Yes, by

shoving dead frogs in her face. Amy Jo, not so loud.

Well, at least that was trying.

There she goes again.

It's never your fault that these children lack discipline.

Amy, stop.

Anytime there's a problem, it's always someone else's fault.

Never perfect Joe who has all the answers, who knows everything about

perfect children.

Well, at least I allow my children to be children and teach them how to think

instead of what to think. Don't flatter yourself, Joe.

You were never very good at tutoring me, remember?

Well, you can only teach those who want to learn.

See? Again, my fault, not hers.

Well, listen.

I'll spare you the shame of having my rude daughter foul up your perfect

I'll collect her first thing in the morning.

Whoa.

You're going to leave without saying goodbye.

I'm not real big on goodbyes.

Well, then, don't let me hold you up.

Thank you.

For everything.

Good luck.

You too.

What'll it be?

Beer and a room for the night.

Chippin' out tomorrow.

Well, well, look what drifted up with the sea wind.

Levi Cole?

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Nick Ryan.

Ha, ha, ha.

How are you? Good. How are you? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Beer, rum chaser all round.

You on the camry?

Oh, a temperamental old lady.

Oh, but she's as strong and sturdy a ship as I've ever sailed.

You two have sailed together before?

Many times.

I was aboard first time Nick ever sailed with the company.

Down Havana way, wasn't it?

Portugal, but close enough.

Worst voyage I ever sailed.

Howling wind for days and then weeks of dead calm. Halfway there, the meat goes

bad. So you know that you're in for two months of hard tack and warm beer.

Except for Nicky here.

Nicky says he wants to try the meat. He tastes it and he says ain't nothing

wrong with it. Tasted fine to me.

Oh, smell alone made your skin crawl. But Nick there chewed away.

Happy as a clam till the captain sends him up there into the crow's nest for a

lookout. Now, son, I don't know if you knows it, but when you're up in the

crow's nest, it sways ten times more than it does up on the deck.

But there's Nicky, and he's just a -swaying back and

forth and back and forth.

And then comes all that beer and meat, and we try to run for

cover, but it's no use, and we get drenched.

I think it was, what, two weeks before I came down from that crow's nest?

It was the most angry crew I ever saw.

But at voyage end, Nick here was part of the family, and it's been that

way ever since.

Your family and we

Are

you

coming no you made the decision on your own you can pick her up on your own

Fighting is chilling. We always do. We agreed to a one -week trial. One week

that didn't include snakes being placed in her bed.

Laurie, our daughter is frightened.

She doesn't want to be there. She doesn't belong there.

Okay.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry about the snake.

I don't know really why I did it.

Mrs.

Joe said you were coming. I was so sure we were going to be friends.

When you didn't want to be my friend, I guess I got kind of mad.

I'm really sorry.

If there's some way I can make it up to you, do tours for you, I don't know.

If you think of something, I'll be down by the river fishing with some of the

boys.

It in!

Look at the size of this one!

Hey, good job, Nat.

Do you hear? Do you want to try fishing?

No, that's okay.

Whoa! What?

I caught a nibble. A nibble? You mean like from a fish?

Gotcha! Oh, he's a big one. I can feel it. You mean there's a fish on the other

end of that?

Yep. He's a fighter, too.

Well, what are you waiting for? Reel him in.

It's not that easy, Beth.

If you pull too hard, you're going to snap the line.

You've got to play with him a little bit. You know, wear him out.

Here, try it.

I can't.

Sure you can.

I've never caught a fish before.

You're already doing it.

Hold the pole steady and reel him in. He's strong.

Hey, don't let him get away, Beth.

Keep the pressure on. You don't want him to throw the hook.

What do you mean, throw the hook?

Like that.

Go on.

May I try again?

You bet.

So I'm thinking, what am I going to do?

Don't want these fools shooting me.

But still, I got a full -blown measles epidemic inside. People are dying. I got

to get to town.

Before I can figure out what to do, there goes Nat, running through the

drawing the guards away.

Nat.

Nat!

The one with the violin.

One and the same.

So now, with the gate clear, I'm able to ride into town to get the medicine.

How did he know that they wouldn't shoot him? He didn't.

He just saw something that needed to be done, and he did it.

Oh, that's a brave lad.

Yeah, he is.

Why would Bess be at the river?

I don't know.

But the last time I saw her, she was headed this way.

Well, once we get there, I'm taking her back to Plumfield and packing up her

things.

Amy,

don't do this.

Please don't make it any harder than it is.

I don't want to quarrel with you, Joe.

I don't want to quarrel with you either.

Then just accept my decision.

Have you discussed this with Lori?

Lori wants our daughter to be happy, as I do.

And clearly, at Plumfield, she is not.

Gotcha!

He's a monster!

You're a bigger monster, so haul him in.

You're not getting away from me this time.

Reel him in!

Need any help?

Ann, would you like some tea to warm you up?

No, thanks.

What's wrong?

I shouldn't have asked her to go fishing.

She messed everything up.

No, you didn't.

You looked at me like she was having fun.

Yeah.

We're actually starting to get along.

Well, that's good.

We're like cats and dogs.

But that don't mean we can't be friends.

That's right, Ann.

Got some tea?

Thank you, Joe.

Amy, I'm so sorry. Not now, Joe.

Let's go upstairs and start collecting your things.

Amy, would you just wait a minute? Lori, please!

It's all right. Come on.

Bess!

Get the glue still wet.

Well, maybe if we tighten the string around it, it'll hold while it's dry.

Good idea.

I'll buy you a new figurine vest. That one's ruined.

Let's get your things packed. It's getting late.

I don't want to go, Mother.

Father said I should give it a good try, and I don't think I have.

You don't have to stay here.

I want to.

Please?

Almost there.

Whatever happened to her?

Who?

Allie.

You were gonna marry her, remember?

I was gonna marry a lot of ladies, Nick Riley.

That's a bad cough, Levi.

I'll be fine once I get to warmer waters.

Calm sea.

Following wind.

all I need nothing like

standing on the deck of a ship watching the stars

makes you feel like

I've been thinking about our dear sister Beth.

And wondering what she would have to say about all this if she were still with

us.

She always did have a way of bridging the gap between us, didn't she?

I know what she'd say.

She'd say, Amy, Joe, you two are as different as cats and dogs, but that

mean you can't be friends.

I think a lot about our childhood.

The four of us.

Growing up in that old house.

The time I fell through the ice. You gave me quite a scare.

But there you were to pull me out.

I was always looking to you for help.

I still am.

Try as I do.

I just can't seem to get things right.

That's not true, Amy.

You have a wonderful home and husband.

And you've raised a wonderful daughter who loves you more than anything in this

world.

You'll continue to be her mother.

She will always look to you for love and guidance.

No one will take that role from you, Amy.

Are you warming up?

Yeah.

You do realize that I'm going to have to come out here every day to check on

you. I want you to, Mother.

You come back here. I got him. I got him.

Come back here.

Hey.

Barbie. Delighted to be here, my dear.

Oh, my. That's the impact.

That's so nice of you.

Hey,

Bobby, Bobby, it goes up there.

Billy, what are you doing with that dish?

We didn't have anything to put the cranberries in. I told you.

It's Austrian crystal. It's not meant to be used.

Then what would we put the cranberries in? Anything but this.

There you are.

We've been looking for you.

Thought you had a boat to catch.

I'm making a rule to finish what I start.

Figure I'm not finished here yet.

Lots of things still need mending.

The barn door, paddock.

Chicken coop?

Exactly.

Well, with all that work to do, it looks like you may have to stay a while.

I suppose so.

Well, since you're here, would you like to come in for Thanksgiving dinner?

I insist.

All right.

Good.

He's back.

Marmy? Father?

I'd like you to meet Nick Riley, our new caretaker.

Delighted. Nice to meet you. Hey,

Nick. Come on, sit right here.

Hey,

guy.

Oh, look.

Oh, come on.

Oh, my.

Beautiful.

Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Shall we join hands?

Dear Lord, this has been a year of great change for us at Bunfield.

We've suffered the loss of loved ones.

But we've also seen new faces at our table.

And we welcome them.

And hope that they will be as happy here as we are to have them.

We've faced many challenges that have tempted both our strength and our

But through it all, we've had each other.

And that is something for which we are truly, truly thankful.

Amen.

Amen. Let's eat.