Original subtitles

♪way back when in 1863...

♪ Now part of the American lore...

♪ A young family must leave their home...

♪ Because of the civil war...

♪ Living their life in a brand new town...

♪ Doing the best they can...

♪Four little women are on their own...

♪Looking to make their stand...

♪ Fortunes of war can change the way...

♪ We imagine their lives will be...

♪The march family are on their way...

♪Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy...

I'd been having a wonderful time on our

picnic, now as we hurried back to town, I was

quite frightened for father had discovered confederate

soldiers hiding in the woods.

Take the others back home.

Then we'll go to the telegraph office.

Right. Yeaw!

Rebel scouts were sighted three miles

northeast of Fairfield, Pennsylvania.

Mr. march, i just heard the news.

Are you certain they were rebels?

It doesn't seem possible.

They were confederate army regulars, sir.

There's no doubt about it.

Oh, but the war has been going for two years and the

rebels have never dared come this far north before.

Why are they here now do you suppose?

The south won a decisive victory at chancellorsville.

They're trying to advance as far as they can before our

army can regroup.

Be that as it may, they could march in a different

direction and now come here at all.

Our experts at headquarters think they'll

try to surround Baltimore.

That's only a few miles south of here, Mr. mayor.

But York is so small they probably won't even

stop here.

I hope you're right, Mr. mayor.

Excuse me, Mr. march.

There's a reply from headquarters coming in now.

Hi.

Did you get your message through to headquarters?

Uh-huh.

We'd better get home.

Your mother will be worried.

Did you receive any reply from them, father?

Yes, dear.

I'm afraid my leave has been canceled.

Oh, father!

Everyone in the family will be so disappointed.

No more than I am.

But I have simply no other choice.

I've taught you that you must always fight for what

you believe in as I must fight to abolish the evil

of slavery.

Promise me something.

Huh?

Don't die!

Jo...

I'm not certain i could bear it.

Jo, dear.

I know how worried you must be, but I'll be just as

worried about you here at home, believe me.

Then you really believe the rebels will come?

I think it's only a matter of time.

The town of York might very well become a battlefield.

Oh!

War?

I never thought... i never imagined it could

happen here.

I always thought of it as so far away, but now it seems

there might be fighting right here at home.

Father said that the union will have to fight

fiercely to stop the rebels from advancing

on Washington.

Oh no!

Father will be fighting in that battle, won't he, Jo?

We were just talking about father and had to get

him to stay a little longer.

Uh...

Well, go on.

He's planning on leaving today, but I'm sure

he could wait until tomorrow morning.

If we all ask him ever so nicely to stay for dinner

tonight, perhaps he won't leave until tomorrow morning.

Uh-huh.

He's barely gotten here, and now he has to leave again.

It hardly seems fair.

It's agreed then.

We'll ask him to stay.

Uh-huh.

That way father will have time to order new dresses

for me and Beth this afternoon, right, Beth?

Oh, um...

So that's what this is all about.

You don't get a figure about father's staying.

All you want is a new dress, right?

Of course not.

I want father to stay as long as he can.

That's all I care about.

I hope you mean that, Beth.

And what have you to stay for yourself?

I want him to stay as long as he can, too, and I

also want a new dress.

Is there anything wrong with that?

Yes! Your dress will have to wait.

He's leaving in an hour.

But it's so far away, dear.

Massachusetts is quite pretty, I suppose.

Very.

Is it really that important?

Uh-huh.

You'd all be in great danger if there's a battle anywhere

close to York.

What battle, darling?

All the fighting has been a long way from here.

So far.

But I'm convinced that the next major battle between

the union and the confederate forces will

occur in this area.

If not here in York, then somewhere close by.

I'm not certain, but i believe the main battle will

take place as gettysburg.

That's less than ten miles from here.

Perhaps now you understand why I've been so

adamant the past few months about you and the girls

moving to newcord as soon as possible.

No wonder you mentioned it so often.

You should have told me.

I suppose your right, but i didn't want to alarm you

and the girls by insisting that we leave our beloved

home until I could be certain that it was

absolutely necessary.

Oh, Frederick, this house, this town are the only home

our girls have known.

Must we leave it?

Yes, dear. I'm afraid we must.

And all our friends, our dear and wonderful friends,

I'll miss them so much.

I'll miss them too, dear.

I still can't see why we're in danger here.

We're harmless civilians.

Surely the rebels will know that.

If there's a battle and the rebels are forced to

retreat, they'll have to pass through this area to

get to Virginia.

Men who have just lost a battle are sullen and

scared and angry.

As far as they're concerned, this is enemy territory.

They might do anything or even set fire to the town.

All right, Frederick.

I'll discuss it with the girl sometime soon.

I'd like you to talk with them right away, dear, just

as soon as I leave.

I want you and the girls away from here before it's

too late.

In fact, I have already written to aunt march.

You wrote to aunt march?

Uh-huh.

She'll extend you every kindness, I'm certain.

My family went to visit her quite often when I

was a boy.

I was her favorite among the children, and she was always

very good to me.

Uh-huh.

You two must have had a wonderful time.

You've talked about her ever since I've known you.

I feel as if I've known her for years even though we've

never met.

Leaving home and moving to a new city won't be easy,

I know.

But you must nonetheless.

Oh, Frederick!

Father. Mother.

Yes, girls?

What is it?

There's something we'd all like very much.

Well, what is it?

Speak up, Meg.

Well, um...

We know you have to leave, but couldn't you stay

just a bit longer just one more night?

You've only been home for a day after being gone for a

whole year, so please father, don't leave yet.

I appreciate the invitation, Meg.

There's nothing I'd like better than that to extend

my visit here, believe me.

But like it or not, i must leave at once.

You see. I told you so!

Huh?

I told them you couldn't stay, but they wouldn't

believe it.

Hannah's planned a lovely dinner, father.

Can't you at least stay and eat with us?

No. I'm afraid not, dear.

The train leaves in less than an hour.

But father, you promised!

Don't you remember?

What?

What do you mean, dear?

You've forgotten, haven't you?

I wished you'd tell me what it is.

Amy's only thinking of herself as usual.

Really, Amy, how could you?

I don't care what you say, Jo.

Besides, you already have one!

So that's it.

I promised that you'd have a new dress, didn't I?

Uh-huh.

That's what you said, father.

Well then, mother shall bye you one.

Oh, thank you, father!

I shall get it in gettysburg.

The shops are ever so nice.

I can't wait to go!

We shan't be going to gettysburg, Amy.

Why not?

We'll have it made right here.

Mrs. Stinson will make you a fine dress, Amy.

And one more Beth.

Oh, but she won't be done with the dresses you've

ordered for Meg and Jo for a long time.

I can just imagine how long it will be before she's done

with mine.

Meg and Jo need new dresses more than you do.

You must learn Patience as your father must learn not

to spoil you so much.

Uh, well, I, um...

Huh?

Excuse me, Mr. march.

The bug is here to take to you the station.

All right, Hannah.

Thank you.

Well, then.

It seems so dreadfully unfair.

Father had been home for only one day after having

been gone for over a year, and now he was

leaving again.

Mary dear, talk it over with the girls as soon as

you can, all right?

I will.

Better be going, Mr. March, or you'll miss

your train.

Wait, father!

I... um...

Yes, dear?

Here.

My! What a wonderful going away present!

Well... mmm.

My precious Amy.

Farewell, my darling.

Safe journey.

Goodbye!

I felt as if my heart would burst into a

thousand pieces.

I don't suppose I'd ever realized until that moment

just how desperately I'd missed my father or how very

much I loved him.

We have a wonderful home here and I'd hate to leave it.

Uh-huh.

But I've never known your father to insist on anything

without good reason.

I don't know to go to a strange place where I have

no friends.

We'll be introduced to all sorts of folks, Meg.

And I'll certain you'll make lots of new friends

in no time.

I don't want to leave unless we have to.

Newcord is a good deal larger than York,

isn't it, mother?

Yes. That's right, dear.

Your father tells me that it's also one of the oldest

cities in the country.

I know father is concerned for our safety and

that's why he wants us to leave.

I don't want him to have to worry, but I really don't

want to leave either.

If father's right, we'll be in danger here.

Father has enough to worry about without having

to worry about us, so i suppose we must move whether

we like it or not.

This wouldn't have happened if he hadn't seen

those soldiers in the woods.

Not at all, Meg.

He's been thinking of moving the family to newcord

for some time.

He'd already written to aunt march before he got here.

Uh-huh.

I can't wait!

I'll be they'll have wonderful dress shops

in newcord.

Amy march!

Huh?

We're talking about something serious right now.

And I'm serious about a new dress!

You're not serious about anything!

Just because you'd rather wear...

Bickering will only make things worse.

A week went by, and there had been no sign of

the rebel army, so we weren't quite so worried as

we were before.

While we waited foreword from aunt march, we helped

the ladies auxiliary prepare for the annual

charity bazaar.

Goodness!

My poor little Beth, you're soaking wet.

Let's dry you off.

It's raining so hard.

Cats and dogs.

But I managed to keep the cookies dry.

There now.

Thank you, mama.

I was soaking.

Good news, everyone.

Beth has brought us some lovely homemade cookies

fresh from the oven.

My sister Beth is the sweetest kindest person

I know and is always first to lend a helping hand to

those who are in trouble or in need.

So when she realized she wasn't the only one

suffering from the elements, it was only natural for her

to do whatever she could to help out.

Huh? Aww.

Watch out!

Oh.

Oh dear!

Poor little thing.

Aww.

Oh, the poor dear is frozen half to death.

Meanwhile I was trying to do a sketch of my

sister Jo.

I much prefer drawing animals and people rather

than bowls of fruit and such.

But a bowl of fruit stays perfectly still which makes

it much easier to draw than a fidgety flibberty gibbet

like Jo.

Done!

Keep reading, Jo.

Don't be silly.

I finished it.

You mustn't move until I'm done.

Well, draw these flowers instead.

They won't move at all.

I don't want to draw a plant.

They can't move and breathe like animals, too.

Hmph. You mean that I'm an animal?

Uh-huh. Something like that.

An animal am I?

Like a cat or a dog?

Hmph!

If we had a cat or a dog, i would never draw you at all.

On the way here, I... oh!

Watch out!

What's going on, Beth?

You're knocking things about as if you were Jo.

Hmph.

Look.

Oh.

What is it?

A kitten.

Is there a chance we can save it, Jo?

We can certainly try, Beth.

Amy, go get something to dry her off with.

Huh? Me? But...

Hold it for a minute, will you, Jo?

I'll get some towels.

Hey!

Oh. Oh my.

The poor little thing.

Oh, don't hold it so close, Jo.

It's so filthy and ugly.

How pretty do you think you'd be if you were covered

with mud?

I've got the towels.

It's awfully cute, poor little thing.

Oh, she's still shivering.

What now?

She's cold.

She needs to be warmed up.

Good idea.

We could build a fire in the fireplace.

What? In summertime?

But how else could i keep her warm, Jo?

If you hold her quite close for a time, the

temperature of your body ought to warm her

I should think.

Oh, Beth.

You couldn't possibly hold such a filthy

little creature!

Yes, Amy, I shall.

The poor thing is so weak I'm not sure you can save

her no matter what you do.

If she stops breathing while you're holding her,

think how horrible you'll feel.

Amy!

All I can do is keep her dry and warm.

I understand warm milk is very good for kittens.

She's quite hungry, no doubt of that.

And after she drinks it, it will help warm her up.

That's a splendid idea.

There we are, Amy.

Is that warm enough?

Uh-huh.

Here it is.

Did you get it the right temperature?

It's just right.

Warm, not hot, just like you said.

Ah. Come on.

Come on!

It didn't work.

Oh no!

Did you have to use this one?

It's ruined!

This was my favorite towel, Jo.

Sorry, Amy.

Perhaps it can be cleaned.

But look at all that mud and cat hair, too!

It's ruined all right.

Oh well.

No need to fret, I suppose.

It was for a good cause.

I understand your husband is the one who spotted them,

Mrs. march.

Is it certain they were confederate soldiers?

Yes. Absolutely.

My husband got quite close to them so there would be no

chance of mistake.

I didn't believe the news at first.

They've never come to Pennsylvania before.

But when I found out the report had come from

Frederick march, I knew that it must be true.

That was last week.

Since then, no one has seen any sign of them.

If they had been headed in this direction, I should

think they would have gotten here by now.

Yes. I suppose you're right, at that.

Where are the other girls, Meg?

Amy and Jo will be coming down in just a minute, mother.

And what about Beth, dear?

Isn't she coming, too?

No, mother.

Not right now.

She'll be busy for quite a while.

Um, it's rather difficult to explain.

Marmee was just asking about Beth.

Beth found a sick kitten on the way home and is doing

her best to save it.

What? A kitten?

There, there.

Everything is going to be all right.

I promise.

Well, I admire Beth's fortitude.

But she must eat, so one of you will take her place

for a while.

You've always said you wanted a cat, Meg.

How about you?

Me? Um...

And you, Amy?

Huh?

Huh-uh.

Mother, I'm not up to it.

If it stopped breathing, I'd faint dead away for certain.

Of course you would.

Well, I suppose that leaves you, Jo.

I suppose it does, but I wanted to, anyway.

Beth?

Yes?

Well now, how's the patient?

She's much better, Jo.

Oh?

Take a look.

I think that we've saved her, Jo.

Uh-huh.

I agree.

So why don't you take a little break.

Huh-uh.

There's nothing to worry about.

I'll just take your place.

You would?

Yes.

Now go eat something before you starve to death.

You must be hungry.

I'm sorry I missed dinner, mother.

Oh, there's no need for you to apologize.

Then I did do the right thing, didn't I, mother?

Uh-huh.

And I'm proud of you.

Oh!

May I keep her then, mother?

Would that be all right?

Of course.

When do you think we'll move to newcord, marmee?

Oh, well, not for a time.

I'm so glad.

My kitten's to weak to survive such a long move

right now.

I'd better go and have some dinner.

Jo is up there waiting for me. Bye!

Huh?

Bless her.

Stop! Oh, please!

I just can't take anymore.

Thanks for taking my place, Jo.

She's gotten much stronger.

Jo, bring her out where we can see her.

Come on.

You see?

She's really quite lovely, isn't she?

Aww.

I think she must might take some milk now, Beth.

I'll be right back.

I've got it all ready.

Please can I hold her?

All right.

But you must be quite gentle with her.

She's still a bit weak you know, but she's still alive

thanks to Beth.

Uh-huh.

And now she'll get stronger every day.

Do you think she could sleep with me tonight?

She's Beth's kitten, Amy.

What is it?

I think she did something awful.

Aahhh!

Yuck!

She did it all over me!

Aahh!

We've got to train her soon.

Aww.

Milky Ann.

Thank goodness the rain has stopped.

I think it should clear up now.

The kitten seems much better now.

I've given her a name, mother.

She likes milk so much, I've named her milky Ann.

Milky Ann?

You like it?

I think it's a lovely name.

Oh, I'm so glad.

Listen, what's your opinion?

Do you think milky Ann is a good name for you?

Mmm. We're going to be such friends.

We were all grateful that it had stopped raining

for we hadn't had nice weather for quite a long time.

What none of us realized was the rain had been

responsible for slowing down the confederate soldiers.

And now that the skies had cleared, they were advancing

again and they were headed directly for our town.

In fact, that night they were only a mile away and

would be in the streets of York the very next day.

♪ Fortunes of war can change the way...

♪ We imagine their lives will be...

♪The march family are on their way...

♪Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy...