Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

(lighthearted wistful music)

(melancholic wistful music)

(lighthearted music)

- Jenny!

I just dug up that plant bed,

and why can't you learn to go through the gate?

- [Jenny] It was a beautiful day.

Black Beauty was all saddled and ready for a ride.

(Black Beauty whinnies)

I had been away at school,

and had only just come to live with my father

in the country,

so there was a lot to learn.

Maybe I should've stayed with my brother Kevin,

but I just couldn't wait.

I wanted to go exploring.

(dramatic music)

- Where are you off to, Jenny?

- Taking Beauty for some exercise, Father.

- Give him a good run,

but stick to the bridle paths, remember?

- How can we have any fun if we do that?

- I just don't want you to get lost, that's all.

- I never get lost!

Black Beauty always knows the way home.

- Is that true?

(Black Beauty whinnies) Off you go.

But remember, stick to the bridle paths!

(lighthearted suspenseful music)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(men hollering)

- It's a fox hunt!

Come on, Beauty.

(men shouting) (dogs barking)

Now, come on, Beauty!

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(dogs barking)

(men shouting)

(horn blows)

(suspenseful music)

(man shouts)

(dogs barking)

Come on!

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(dogs barking)

(suspenseful music)

(men shouting)

(horn blows)

- Come on, Beauty. He'll make for the marshes.

We've got to help him.

Come on.

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(suspenseful music)

(dogs barking)

(dogs barking)

There he is, Beauty!

(Black Beauty whinnies)

Oh, he's exhausted.

Come on, let's spoil the scent.

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(calming music)

(whimsical music)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(dogs barking)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(dogs barking)

- Sorry, gentlemen.

Looks as if he was too clever for us.

- Squire, it was her!

- Hey, girl!

It was you, was it? You put us off the scent.

- We were only riding up and down.

- It was deliberate!

- What if it were?

Haven't any of you anything better to do

than chase after one little fox?

- That's no business of yours!

What are you doing here anyway?

- Well, I live just over there.

(Black Beauty whinnies)

- Dr. Gordon.

- [Dr. Gordon] Yes?

- My name's Armstrong.

I've just bought Eddington all in the estates.

- Ah, you're the new squire.

I intended to call on you,

I didn't realise you were here already.

- I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries, Doctor.

Your daughter has just ruined an entire morning's hunting.

- How did she do that, sir?

- [Armstrong] By spoiling the scent.

- We only rode across in front of them.

- And drove the fox into the marshes.

Well, you won't do it again.

From now on, you and your family stay off my land!

- Hey, just a minute, Mr. Armstrong.

I must tell you, there's a public right

to use the paths across your estate.

- I'll soon put a stop to that.

- No, you can't forbid anyone from using the gallops

and bridle paths on the way to the village.

Horn blows) (dogs barking)

- They found him again.

All right, Doctor, you've said your peace.

Just let me catch any of you off those paths.

(dogs barking)

- What a rude young man.

(dogs barking)

(men hollering)

- All those men hunting, chasing!

It's so cruel!

- But it's an old tradition in the country.

- I'm not completely against it, but I must admit,

I'm always glad when whatever they're hunting escapes

- But he hasn't, they're after him again.

- Well, you did your best, Jenny.

- And remember, we don't say,

"As cunning as a fox" for nothing.

(dogs barking) (whimsical music)

- Foxes don't climb trees, do they?

- They will if they're desperate enough.

- Oh, come on John. Let's get him down.

(dogs barking) (tense music)

(Ned yells)

(dogs barking)

- This is private land!

What are you doing here?

- Nothing! I wasn't doing nothing, Mister!

- You'll call me "sir".

Well, what have you got there?

- They're eggs.

I found them.

- [Armstrong] You mean you stole them.

- He's some kind of runaway.

No wonder the hounds were led here,

he stinks worse than a fox.

- You're a runaway, are you?

A runaway thief!

- No!

- Well, where do you live then?

- Uh...

York Cottage.

Here.

- What does it say?

- Find Miss Amy Winthrop,

care of Dr. Gordon, York Cottage, near Five Oaks Village.

- So that's where you live, eh?

- Yes, sir.

- Right! Come on.

(dramatic music)

Keep still, you little brat.

- I don't what you're talking about.

I've never seen him before.

- He told me he lived here.

- Here?

Amy.

- "Find Miss Amy Winthrop."

Who are you?

- Ned. Ned Lewis.

- Edward? My sister's son?

- He's your nephew?

- Miss Winthrop's sister died some months ago.

- In London.

Her husband was a sailor.

I did write and ask what happened to their only son,

but there was no reply.

- How did you get here?

- I walked.

- [Amy] All the way from London?

You poor boy.

- Well, naturally, we'll be responsible for him.

- Good.

Then you're responsible for a thief and a trespasser.

- Oh, come now, Mr. Armstrong.

He couldn't really have done any harm.

- Ruined my hunting,

and he was caught with those in his grubby hands.

- Let me see.

What do you make of these, Kevin?

- They're plover's eggs.

(Dr. Gordon chuckles) - I'm aware of that.

But they were stolen on my land.

- Stolen?

But these can be picked up anywhere.

- That's what I did.

I told him!

- Now, look here!

- No, you look here, Mr. Armstrong.

This is the second time today

you've burst in here threatening someone with the law.

Now I suggest you have stronger grounds

before you come here again.

- And that's the second time you've crossed me, Doctor.

You'll regret it.

(dramatic music)

- You showed him, didn't you, Mister?

- Doctor.

- I'm not so sure on that.

Hey, easy now. Easy.

- He's starving.

- Yes, that's why he shouldn't eat so fast.

He'll choke.

(Ned coughs) Well...

(Dr. Gordon chuckles)

- How long did it take you to walk here?

- Three weeks.

- Where did you sleep?

- In fields, sheds.

- Who told you to come here?

- When m% mom took ill, she gave me that piece of paper.

She said I was to find my Aunt Amy.

- Well, why didn't you come straight away?

How have you been living all this time?

- I've learned my way about.

- Well, finish that up and then Kevin can show you around.

- This is the garden.

- Not much of a place, is it?

- Did you have one in London?

- You can get all the flowers you need from a shop,

or you can climb over the wall into one of the big gardens,

take what you want.

- That's stealing, isn't it?

- Only if you get caught.

Anyway, they're public gardens.

- Come on.

And this is Black Beauty.

(Black Beauty whinnies) - I know.

He nearly ran over me.

- Well, it wasn't deliberate.

Beauty wouldn't run over anybody, would you?

Come and pat him, so you'll get to know him.

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(both laughing)

- Don't you know anything about horses?

- I know about real horses!

Ones that pull carts and hansom cabs.

- We're just going in the trap

to deliver some medicine for father.

Want to come?

(lighthearted music)

(mysterious music)

Won't be long.

(mysterious music)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

- Keep still!

(Black Beauty whinnies)

Keep still, you brute!

Stand still, brute, stop moving about!

- Well, if it isn't Eddy boy!

- Simey.

- You didn't tell me you was running off.

You didn't tell your old friend you was leaving.

Where did you get to?

- Away from you!

- Aye, come here!

(Black Beauty whinnies) Come!

(Simey yells)

- Beauty, what happened?

Where's Ned?

Where's he gone?

Oh. - Ah.

Who can say, Miss?

He's a great lad for running off.

We're old pals, you see.

But he didn't even tell me where he's living now.

- With his aunt, at York Cottage.

- Oh, is he?

Well, well.

Perhaps you'll tell him I'll look out for him.

Tell him "Simey never deserts his old friends."

(mysterious music)

- Ned?

Ned? Where are you?

(Black Beauty whinnies)

Oh, there you are.

Who was he?

- Just a man I met on the road.

We travelled together for a while, that's all.

(lighthearted music)

- Fine? -Yes.

- Oh. Thank you, Kevin.

- A bath?

- [Amy] Yes.

- What for?

- Well, you obviously haven't had one for weeks.

- You can't get into one of Dr. Gordon's beds like that.

- Nobody's making me take no bath!

- All right, you two.

Off to bed.

- But Father-

- Ah, Jenny.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- Now then young man, if you're going to stay here,

there are one or two things that we must agree on.

And number one is that you've got to be clean!

- I'm not taking no bath.

- Well then you can't sleep in this house!

- I'm not staying here anyway.

- For better or for worse, you're now in my care.

Now I'm happy to accept you,

but you must behave like one of the family.

- And if you're not prepared to do so,

you can sleep in the stable.

(dramatic music) - Sleep in here?

What? With that animal?

- He's better behaved than you are.

(Black Beauty grunts)

I don't know what's got into you.

I'm sure your mother didn't bring you up like that.

Oh, you'll be warm enough anyway.

And please try and remember

that we all want to help you.

- Like sending me out here?

- It's for your own good.

And you needn't blame anyone but yourself.

- I don't blame you, Aunt Amy.

After all, you're only a servant.

- A servant indeed!

Oh...

I'll leave that there for you,

and please be very careful to put it out.

It's all straw in here.

Good night.

Good night, Beauty.

(Black Beauty grunts)

(Amy blows)

(tense music)

- I'm not staying here!

Wasting me time.

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(tense music)

Don't even treat you like you're human.

Mr. Doctor, sir.

And his stupid kids!

Might as well have stayed with Simey.

Order you about!

"Don't eat so fast, take a bath!"

They're all crazy!

Talking to horses.

(Black Beauty whinnies)

Ah, shut up!

(Black Beauty grunts)

- I don't like him sleeping out there,

but perhaps he'll teach him a lesson.

- He's obviously not happy.

Why did he come here if he's not prepared

to give it a chance?

- Well, I don't know what's the matter,

and where has he been all these months?

And where did he learn to behave so badly?

- Well, well...

Perhaps we'll find out in time,

we'll just have to be patient.

- Yes.

- Perhaps it'll be alright in the morning.

Goodnight, Amy.

- Oh, good night.

(calming music)

(tense music)

(Black Beauty grunts)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(Ned grunts)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(Ned coughs)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

(door thuds)

(mysterious music)

(Black Beauty whinnies) (door thuds)

- Help!

Help!

Help!

Help!

(dramatic music) (Black Beauty whinnies)

(door thuds) (Black Beauty whinnies)

(dramatic music) (fire crackles)

(Black Beauty whinnies)

- Ted!

Ted!

(Dr. Gordon coughs)

(Dr. Gordon yells)

Ted!

(dramatic music) (fire crackles)

(Ted coughs)

- Doctor!

Oh!

(Amy coughs)

(dramatic music)

Kevin, get the bucket, hurry up!

(fire crackles) (dramatic music)

- Here! Keep him lying down!

(dramatic music)

Fill that, Kevin!

As quickly as you can!

- Ned!

Ned!

- Aunt Amy!

(dramatic music)

- How did it start?

- We'll leave the questions until morning.

- Why, if Black Beauty hadn't warned us,

they'd of been trapped!

(loud knocking)

- What an earth is that?

- I'll see, Doctor.

- Pass the cushion, Jenny.

Now sit up and tr' to breathe normally, m?

(loud knocking)

- Where's that boy?

I came by to see Dr. Gordon.

- Yes, will you come this way please, sir.

- Well, Dr. Gordon, I knew I'd be back.

Has that boy been here all evening?

- No, he's been in the stable.

- Just as I thought!

My house has been broken into,

and that's who's responsible!

(dramatic music)

(lighthearted wistful music)

(Black Beauty whinnies)