Original subtitles

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(upbeat orchestral music)

(horse trotting)

- You can't do this to me.

You've been telling lies to the squire about me.

I'm a switcher to a good day's work as ever I want.

- Oh, come the old soldier with me.

Just get out.

(horse whinnying)

- It was casual gardening for the squire.

Long before you came here.

- For too long, Donovan.

You're getting old and lazy.

You're just not worth the money

the squires been paying you.

Here

Think yourself lucky, and

Get out.

- I not leave until I see the squire.

- We'll see about that.

Paxton.

(horse whinnying)

- Good boy, Beauty.

(horse whinnying)

- Get out.

Get back, get back, get away, get back.

(horse whinnying)

- Good boy, Beauty.

- You keep that animal away from us, Master Gordon,

or I'll get the squire to deal with you.

- Thank you, boy.

That's just what my own old horse, Hector, would've done.

- Squire never gave you orders

to push him about like that.

- Now, look here, you.

- All right, all right.

I'm going.

No need to get the lad into trouble.

(sad orchestral music)

(footsteps)

- [Master Gordon] Come along there, Beauty.

- Very clever, the way you got rid of that old fool,

Donovan.

- Yeah,

yes. Now I got him just where I want him.

- What's that?

- It's a button I pulled off his coat

in the struggle, just now.

(laughing)

-You're a card,

I'll ride it, no mistake.

(horse steps)

- Morning, Corporal Donovan.

- Ah.

Morning, doctor.

Hello, boy.

- Beauty seems to like you.

- You know it's uncanny, Doctor.

Besides, he's just like my old Hector.

Best horse I ever had.

Right down to that little flash on his forehead.

- What happened to him?

- Got under me in the charge, the light brigade.

- Kevin tells me you've lost your job

at Squire Armstrong's.

- 'Fraid so, Doctor.

You know, it's the injustice of it.

Or I just wanted that job

for that pal of his, Paxton.

Anyways, about time I was moving on.

- Well, while you're making up your mind,

there are a few odd jobs

around your cottage you could do, if you want.

- Well, thank you, Doctor.

I'd work for my rations.

I owe this fellow, here, a favour.

I'd like to see a bit more of him,

before I move headquarters.

Well,

here was the light brigade,

surrounded by the enemy.

Trouble was, the general misunderstood his orders

and instead of trying to recapture these guns, here,

we was ordered to attack the main force

at the end of the valley.

- I suppose you got a medal then.

- Medals aren't everything, lad.

- Why don't you shut up?

(upbeat orchestral music)

(yells)

- During that command campaign,

we were often short on fodder for the horses.

Some of them died of starvation,

enough to break a man's heart.

My old Hector used to look at me reproachful, like.

I think he understood somehow.

Sometimes wondered how he had the strength

to carry me through the charge

what he did, and finally too

until that

shell hit him.

- What happened then?

- Well, as Lance says, we were in the first line of attack.

So we took the full brunt of the Russian cannonade.

We were right on the guns.

When Hector fell

13th Dragoons were with us

I managed to mount a riderless horse belonging to one

of their chaps who had fallen

right through the artillery we went

and there in front of us

was the Cossack Cavalry

Keep together lads

shouted Captain Morris and we charged again.

What happened then was like a,

like a nightmare.

Smoke confusion,

dying, wounded, men everywhere.

- How did you get back to the British lines?

- He walked, I suppose

- That's exactly what I had to do sonny.

Right down that Valley of Death

One hundred

And forty

on the 17th

there were, when we attacked

only 35

returned

and three officers.

Not many horses.

Well, Beauty, my lad you were lucky not to be

in that campaign, weren't you?

- He certainly was.

Come on boys. Off you go, it's bedtime.

- Goodnight, Corporal.

- Goodnight Donovan

- Well Corporal.

You seem to have made some new friends at your cottage.

- I have Doctor this fellow here in particular.

So I have my doubts about that young Albert.

- Well, Albert was born septic.

Kevin has a great admiration for you though.

Look, there isn't a spare room in the house, but you are.

You're very welcome to bed down here if you like.

- Oh, thank you, doctor.

But I, I have my own place

down by the lake and it's a fine night.

Well, I'll just do a bit of clearing up before I go.

- As you wish.

Good night

- Night, doctor.

(tense music)

(items clanking)

(noisy rumblings)

(vase breaks)

(footsteps)

(music intensifies)

(door opens)

(lantern lands on table with a thumps)

- What on earth has happened, sir?

- Dammit man. It's obvious, isn't it?

You better get somebody

down the Five Oaks Police Station,

- Yes, Squire I'll get PC Dickins

to come straight back with me.

- That's odd sir.

- What is

- On your desk?

That button.

(suspenseful music)

- It's a military button

(music intensifies)

(soft music)

(horse gallops)

- Morning Mr. Dickins.

- Ah, morning, Master Gordon.

I can't stop for a chat. I'm afraid

I'm off to make an arrest.

That fella Donovan broke into the Squire's place last night.

He did.

- What?

I don't believe it.

- Well, it's true.

Made off with a lot of valuables.

I must be off.

- Bye.

Come on. Beauty.

We must warn Donovan,

(music)

(horse galloping)

(horse whinnying)

(music intensifies)

- It's all right Beauty. He didn't see us.

(horse galloping)

- Oh, young Kevin, what's up for you lad?

- I just met Mr. Dickins. He's coming to arrest you.

- Arrest me?

What for?

- There was a break in at the hall last night.

The news is all over Five Oaks

The Squire says you did it.

- See? - Did you do it Corporal?

- Of course I didn't.

- You must hurry. Mr. Dickins will be here in a minute.

- Thank goodness he hasn't got a horse.

(music)

I must say I could have done with a bit of breakfast.

Well, thank you lad. I'll keep in contact.

Get through the enemy's line somehow.

- Good luck.

(horse whinnying)

(bell ringing)

(intense music)

- I don't know what disposed you to give the old

rogue work here.

- I had no reason to suspect him of criminal intentions.

Mr. Armstrong.

Come on boys.

- I should have thought the fellow's appearance

was enough to damn him

- His appearance.

But you employed him as a gardener, didn't you?

His work was quite satisfactory, wasn't it?

- Yes. Well, I heard him escape on a horse

and it's my belief

that he came here to get friendly with that animal of yours

and took him out after you were all a bed to help him

in the burglary.

- Kevin, when you took Beauty out this morning,

did he look as if he had been ridden again last night?

- No. He was spotless.

- The fellow could have groomed him again

after bringing him back.

- It seems a bit tall to me. I'm convinced

- Squire.

- There's no point in your hanging around here, Dickins.

If you haven't picked up that rogue by this evening

you'll have some explaining to do.

- It quite right sir.

I I assure you, sir.

Everything in my power will be done.

No stone will be left unturned.

- Well get on with this.

I better get some of my own men looking for him too.

(horse galloping)

That fool on his bicycle isn't gonna get very far.

Come on.

- Do you think they're catching?

- I hope not.

(intense music)

- Blimey. Were you up there all the time?

- I was matey. Best place for me.

They wouldn't think of looking) for me here would they? Huh.

- I suppose not.

- An old trick.

Learned it in India during the mutiny.

(door closes)

Got separated from my patrol head out in one

of the enemy's own camps.

Til our chaps come by and captured it.

- Did you do the burglary, Donovan?

So Square Armstrong White, you did.

- No, young Albert.

I did

not.

- Well, somebody did on a horse

and they said it was you on Black Beauty

- Look sonny I haven't ridden a horse since I left the Army.

Not at all sure I could even get on one now.

- Wait a minute. When I came to warn you this morning.

- So that's where you went on Beauty.

I saw Roy coming outta Mark's wood.

I've never seen him riding out that early in the morning.

- Did he see you?

- No.

- What was he doing in Marks Wood I wonder, Huh?

- You think it was him Donovan?

- I wouldn't be surprised.

And when that slimy pal of his

- So that's why they're in the woods.

Him and Paxton were sharing out the loot.

- They could have hidden it there. If it was then that is.

- What about the old prairie rulings?

- It's a chance.

Look, Corporal

why don't we go and have a look around just in case.

- With your eyes go on

Now, look, don't get in any trouble or danger.

The doctor will never forgive me.

Just have a quick look see

and then report back here to me at headquarters.

Couldn't take you more than a an hour.

No. Skirmish is mine.

Just for reconnaissance

huh?

- Right Corporal.

(door closed)

(grass thrashing)

- Found anything Albert?

- No. There's nothing around here.

- The old hollow tree.

- Nothing there but an old stone.

- Wait a minute.

- There was no old stone when we came bird nesting.

- That's right.

Help me get out.

Look, it's there.

- Hey there, You two.

What do you think you are doing?

- Nothing, Mr.

Come on Kevin.

- After them Paxton.

- They're going this way, right?

I'll head him off the other way.

- Where are the little varmints.

They're over here.

- I got one

- He's going in that thicket patch,

go around to head him off - Right, this way. Come on

- Here they are

(intense music)

Kevin,

Albert

- I didn't know where they are, Doctor.

I haven't seen them for over an hour.

- Up to some mischief, I suppose.

Nevermind.

- I really came back to some medicines.

Well Corporal

There's - Only one thing for it.

And have to find these young troopers yourself.

(door creaks)

(horse whinnying)

(horse steps)

(music)

(horse whinnying)

(horse galloping)

- Go on back now.

Boy, go on back.

There's a good horse.

Go on back.

The doctor be mad if you don't.

(horse whinnying)

Look, I've gotta find these two lads.

I haven't all day to stand here having polite

conversation with you.

(horse whinnying)

You mean you want to help me?

Huh?

(horse whinnying)

It's a long time since I sat on a big handsome

fella like you.

Still

(sad music)

(horse galloping)

(music intensifies)

- Looks like we lost him.

- Must the somewhere.

- Well they can't be far.

- Keep a sharp eye Paxton.

Hi there, A little trick I learned. during the mutiny.

Excuse me.

(footsteps)

(branch thrown)

- What was that? - It came from over here.

- I heard something there.

There they are. Look, the Marvins have broken cover.

We will soon catch 'em now.

- Donovan

(grunts)

- Donovan

- Come on

- Over here lads.

Over here.

Get behind me lads.

I'll deal with them.

- Look at the old fool.

Look at him.

- Still playing at Soldiers, Donovan?

- Haha

- What you gonna do, Corporal?

- Where's the rest of the light brigade, Donovan?

Haha

- By the right.

Advance.

- Go on, Corporal.

Go get him.

(music)

(laughs)

Charge!

- Charge!

Go on Corporal

Knock him off the horse.

(intense music)

(horse galloping)

(grunt)

(horse whinnying)

- Reinforcement on the way Corporal.

(horse galloping)

(grunts)

- I thought he was really there Albert

- You know, Even my old Hector would've been proud of that.

(horse whinnying)

(bell ringing)

Well, let's have these thieving Cossacks rounded up

- Three cheers for the light brigade.

Hip hip hooray

Hip hip hooray

Hip hip hooray

(music climaxes)

Goodbye. Beauty my boy.

You know lads, it was an honour to have ridden him.

- We're proud you did corporal

- And I'm grateful to you for rescuing the boys.

- I'm sorry I didn't believe you Corporal Donovan

about being in the charge

of the light brigade having won in the medal and all.

- Oh yes,

that medal.

Well, I think that somebody here deserves a medal,

don't you?

(horse whinnying)

Here your boy

bravery and action.

You take good care of it.

(horse whinnying)

About time I was going,

- Will we see you again Corporal?

- Oh, you can bank on that.

I'll be through here next spring.

- Now we want that to be a promise, don't we lads?

- Of course. It's a promise.

(horse whinnying)

Gotta see this fellow again, haven't I?

(somber music)

- You know what this medal is, don't you?

- What father?

- It's a Victoria Cross.

The highest award for braver that there is.

(music)

(horse whinnying)

(theme music)