Original subtitles

(adventurous music plays)

(adventurous music continues)

(adventurous music continues)

(solemn music plays)

- Poor old girl.

- Can we do anything for her father?

- I don't know much, I'm afraid Kevin.

She's just worn out, like the others.

- Did you say there was memorial horse?

He's coming up to grow.

- Yes, Yes. Later on today.

- There'd be lots of room

when we get the extra land

- But if we get it,

- Well it's all arranged, Amy.

It's a small farm

a slam, I am

Parsons Field as common grazing land.

Then they're going to let me use

part of it as a home of rest for horses.

(calm music plays)

(horse walking)

(birds chirping)

(horse neighing)

(suspenseful music)

(door squeaks)

(suspenseful music continues)

- What are you doing boy?

(horse walking)

Speak up young man.

Who are you?

I'm Albert Clifton.

I live with Dr. Gordon at the cottage

and his family.

- Doctor. Hey, well what are you doing in my barn?

- Just exploring.

They are saying a village.

It's haunted and it looks sort of well old and interesting.

- Old and interesting.

Oh well.

Well, yes.

Yes it is.

That it is.

But well, I'm sorry I startled you.

I thought you were one of those young vandals.

Now I see your true scholar.

- Well

- Witchery is the name Arthur P. Witchery.

Maybe you've read one of my books.

- Good day, Doctor.

- Hello Mr. Bridges.

- Oh, am I there first?

- There's the only one so far.

- Yeah.

Right now tell me where exactly is this land

to be auction this afternoon.

- It's between my paddock

and the trees and on over the hill.

You know it Parsons Field.

- Oh, your bridge pretty penny eh?

- Hey, it is.

That's why we're having this meeting

before the auction.

- Oh look, here's someone else.

- Ah, yes.

Looks like Mr. Hempel,

the lawyer from Five Oaks.

- Good day to have his windrow.

- Good day.

- Horses have started to arrive, I see.

- Yes.

Some of them are in a shocking state

and they all need food and medical attention.

- Well, the doctor's the right man to take care of that.

What's a good idea?

It is to use Parsons Field.

It's a sanctuary for them.

- How old is it?

- Well, it's difficult to say really.

I would say four or five centuries.

About 50 years before Columbus discovered America.

Now you looking,

now you see that mark,

that is a medieval carpenter's mark.

It's a sort of signature.

- A hand holding a spear.

What does it mean?

- Well.

It, it's a clue to his name holding a spear

or shaking a spear

and perhaps his name was Shakespeare.

He could have been an ancestor of the Williams.

- Shakespeare. (laughs)

- I want that field to link up my eastern west pastures.

And I mean to get it.

I take you intend a bit against me.

- No, it isn't that Mr. Armstrong.

- Then what is the purpose of this meeting?

Trick the bidding,

so that the land goes for less than it's worth.

- Well, that's a disgraceful thing to say.

We intend to pay a fair price for the land.

- I think we should listen to Dr. Gordon.

- Well I'm speaking for these gentlemen as well.

They local people with small holdings

and they need grazing land urgently

for those sheep and cattle.

- There's the common field.

- Oh, that's not nearly big enough.

- They've asked me to bid for them

as a group in order to preserve

the land for the village.

- I see.

So the reason I'm here is

to ask me not to bid at all.

If I'd known that I wouldn't have come.

(calm music)

- Now we've got all these old horses.

Can we ride them?

- No, but they're too old.

One of them can't even stand.

(horse running)

- What's wrong with Squire Armstrong?

- I don't know.

But I've seen it before.

When people talk about buying land,

they get all angry.

- There's not much to do here.

Let's go to the old barn.

- The barn?

- The old barn at Big Hill.

It was built by Christopher Columbus or Shakespeare.

Somebody.

- Alright Albert.

(playful music)

- Well that's it then.

- If Armstrong is determined to get it for himself, well.

- I think I may see a way out of your difficulty, gentlemen.

Armstrong would know better than to bid against me.

What if I were to acquire that land at a fair price?

Of course.

- Well, for what reason?

- I am a farmer.

I could charge each of you a small sum

for grazing rights.

- That's extremely generous of you Mr. Hempel.

- [Mr. Hempel] I'd like to help.

- There's no other motive.

- Only one Doctor.

There's old horses of yours.

I admire what you're trying to do.

I'd like to build a stable and shelter for them

and everyone in the county could bring their animals

to be looked after, free of charge.

- I dunno what to say.

- I only ask that none of you bids against me

at the auction.

- Now there's no fear of that.

I'll back you for one.

- [Albert] Don't be too long, Kevin.

Be back in time for tea.

Mr. Witchery?

- What do you want?

Oh, bless me if it isn't Albert. (laughs)

- I brought my friend Kevin to come

and see your collection.

I hope you don't mind.

- No, no.

Not at all.

- Where is he?

Oh, we just wind up on Beauty.

Up to see the old barn.

He shouldn't be very long.

- Welcome,

Go, go, go in, go in.

- Shakespeare.

(birds chirping)

(suspenseful music plays)

(suspenseful music continues)

- I told you we would get that land cheap.

Dr. Gordon won't bid for it.

- Now. But that only leaves Armstrong.

I can deal with him.

- Now. We can charge what we like

for grazing or selling to get it a profit.

- [Mr. Bridges] Hey,

what was all that nonsense about

home for agent horses?

- [Mr. Hempel] It's not nonsense at all.

It's a golden opportunity.

- How?

- [Mr. Hempel] But as a farmer,

you must know that surely.

All over the country,

people pay good money for old horses.

They sell them for their (indistinct)

And the burns of fertilizer.

We'll have an unlimited supply, free.

We can send off three or four

to the slaughter house every week with no one,

any other wiser.

- What's up? Who's that?

(suspenseful music plays)

- Who are you?

(indistinct)

(horse neighing)

(suspenseful music plays)

(both speak indistinctly)

(horse running)

- Dr. Gordon's son, isn't it?

- Yes, well I'll tell him what you are doing.

- You are not going to tell him, are you?

- He'd only a boy desire.

What you're gonna do to him.

Nothing.

Just gonna make quite sure,

he stays here for a while.

That's all.

But you, everything,

you're telling when he gets out

- Let him after the auction, he can say what he likes.

The land will be ours

and nobody can do a thing about it.

- What you're doing is wrong!

- It's just business.

- My father trusted you.

He worked for years to get a home for those horses.

- (speaks indistinctly) rubbish!

The horse is just a work animal.

Well it's best you get

what you can for a time of purchase.

- Right, Mr. Hempel.

- Hey, getting to the auction, Mr. Armstrong.

- I haven't decided whether to go or not.

- Not decided?

- That's fool of a doctor.

He's turned that piece of land into a local issue.

If I buy it, I'll have all the small farmers

and most of the county against me.

- Yes. It would create very bad feeling.

- Well, as a magistrate,

I don't want a reputation for bullying my neighbours.

I wish them joy a bit.

(suspenseful music plays)

(suspenseful music continues)

- Where did you get all these things from then?

- Oh, picked them up over the years.

There's a story behind each one of these.

Well, now tea is made.

I don't think we can wait any longer

for your young friend and you sit down.

We'll have ours, shall we?

- I wonder where he has got to.

He said he's only going out to the old barn.

He could come straight back here.

- Ah, well.

Don't, don't. Manners. Manners.

You can have a cake.

(horse neighing)

- Beauty.

Trust Kevin not be late for the tea.

- Kevin?

(horse neighing)

- Where's Kevin?

- What's happened?

- [Albert] Kevin must be in trouble.

I'm going to the old barn.

(horse running)

(suspenseful music)

(horse groaning)

(violin plays)

- Oh.

I can't get her to eat Doctor.

- Oh, she's too tired, Amy.

Just slowly giving up.

- Well, at least when Mr. Hempel builds a shelter,

they'll have somewhere to go.

- Yes. I'm very grateful to him.

(horse groaning)

- Kevin. Up, top here.

Kevin?

- [Kevin] In here, Albert.

- Kevin, what you doing in there?

- They locked me in.

- [Albert] Who?

- Mr. Bridges and Mr. Hempel, their crooks,

- [Albert] What?

- They're trying to cheat father

and all the others.

Get me out of here. Hurry.

(horse neighing)

(suspenseful music)

- It's no use, Beauty.

I have to find something to knock it down with.

(horse neighing)

- That's it Beauty.

Come on boy, back. Kick it.

(door knocking down)

- Well done boy.

- Come on.

- [Albert] The ladder.

It's gone.

They must have hidden in it.

[Kevin] Can't you get up somehow?

- It's too high.

- Hurry. It's nearly time for the auction.

- Beauty. You have to help me.

Come on.

(group speaks indistinctly)

- Thank you. I would indeed, yes.

- Hey Mr. Howard.

- Yeah.

- Well. The auctioneer is here.

No one see Mr. Armstrong (indistinct)

- Somehow I doubt if he will come.

(Mr. Bridges laughs)

- Just a little more Beauty.

Good boy.

- Bless my soul.

What's going on up there?

What are you doing?

- Back? Beauty back.

They locked Kevin in.

- [Mr. Witchery] Locked in.

What you talking about? Locked in.

Whom by?

- Mr. Bridges and Mr. Hempel. What time is it?

- Oh. Wait, wait, wait a minute, boy.

Wait a minute.

Just around four o'clock. Why?

- Near time for the auction?

Auction? Auction?

What are you talking about?

Auction. What auction.

- Go on Beauty.

- Now look here Young Albert

who don't leave this place

till I know what this is all about.

- [Mr. Witchery] Come here boy.

- Kevin, as fast as you can try up the auction.

- What land is being sold?

- Parsons Field beyond the Doctor's house.

- Parsons Field. Parsons Field.

Oh, that's very interesting Off you go boy.

(gavel banging)

- Ladies and gentlemen,

we are met to dispose of a valuable property

over 12 acres of excellent grazing land

known as Parsons Field.

Will somebody start the bidding at 50 guineas an acre?

- [Mr. Howard] Who come?

Gentlemen, we all know the true value.

Well, shall we say 45 guineas then.

(suspenseful music)

(adventurous music)

- Gentlemen, gentlemen, please,

will no one start the bidding.

Come, save.

30 guineas an acre

- Out of my way. Get push.

There we are. There we are.

Now you look through that lot my lad.

- Excuse me.

What am I supposed to be looking for?

- Oh, it's obvious.

Obvious.

What are you doing?

Take safely.

Oh, bless my soul.

You found it.

Brilliant.

I knew you were a true scholar.

- Scholar?

- 25 guineas an acre, but a real bargain there.

Mr. Hempel.

- Yes, I'm aware of that.

- Stop.

Stop him.

- Too late my young friend too late.

- Kevin, what are you doing?

- You don't understand.

- Behaviour son.

- He's swindling you.

He's not gonna to let anyone use that land.

He only wants the old horse so that he can sell them.

- I advise your son to take care of what he says, Doctor.

- Just a moment, Mr. Hempel.

- Is there any truth in this?

- You are going ahead with the home of rest.

- Unfortunately, the situation has changed.

It is not now possible.

(Mr. Bridges laughs)

- Mr. Hempel.

The old horses.

What am I gonna do with them?

- That's your appeal. It's no concern of mine.

- Stop the sale.

- It's too late.

- Mr. Bridges and I have bought the land

I might as well tell you now, but anyone who wishes to graze

on the Parsons Field will have to

pay one 10th of the value of his stock.

- And if you want to get together to buy it back.

It'll cost you double. (laughs)

- You can't do that.

- I know the law and it's on my side.

- You may know the law Sir,

but there is one thin you have overlooked.

- [Mr. Hempel] What?

- The parish rules of 1540,

when the land was first bought from the church.

- That's why it's called Parsons Field.

- What does it say?

- Briefly? That the field may not be sold again

during any buyer's lifetime

and that anyone in the parish may grace his animals

free of charge.

- Wow. Gentlemen, it looks as

you're going to be public benefactors

in spite of yourselves.

- You fool.

- [Doctor] We offer you some refreshment.

- Very kind of you, Doctor.

(group laughs)

(suspenseful music)

(group laughs)

(calm music)

(horse neighing)

- Amy.

- (horse neighing)

- (solemn music plays)

- (solemn music continues)

- (solemn music continues)

- (horse neighing)