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 lives 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 their way ♪

♪we imagine their lives will be ♪

♪ the march family are on their way ♪

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy ♪

I'll never forget the morning when the wounded

confederate soldiers began marching into our midst.

Marmee said they had lost the battle at gettysburg and it

was only a matter of time before the union army caught

up with them again.

No, we didn't want to leave our little home, but everyone

in town had to find lodging elsewhere or face the

possibility of being caught in the middle of a

terrible battle.

If they come any closer, they'll be exploding

over the town!

Oh, look over there, marmee.

All those people are dreadfully close to the gunfire.

Mother, they could be killed.

I wish we could do something to help but all we

can do now is pray for their safety.

Come now, children. We have to hurry up.

Hannah is right children.

Quickly.

It was a dreadfully sad time.

Nearly everything we owned had to be left behind and we

didn't know how long it would be before we could return.

I ought not complain but we were mortally afraid,

even Jo.

Since our father left for war, she put on airs and acted like

she was the head of the family, but we knew she shared our fears.

Hey! Everyone, wait for me.

By nightfall, the six of us had met up with some of our friends

and made a camp about three miles from town.

Even though it was safe, we couldn't help but to wonder what was to become of us.

We could see our town in the distance and knew we couldn't

return until the rebwl solders had decided to move on.

It was lonely, and all we could do was wait together and watch.

Beth, you're cold, Arn't you?

But Beth, how can you be cold, it's so warm?

I don't quite know, oh-

Beth is just freightened and a little bit lonely

being so far from home and all her nice dolls

I bet you miss them-

they're all alone with no one to talk to.

Ahhha

do you think the confederate soldiers will harm our home?

Just you wait, everything will be alright.

Hope so.

With each day the union army has been closing in on the

confederate soldiers, I don't think they have alot of time.

The last few weeks must have taken their toll-

I'd imagine that they are terribly hungry and tired and need

a place to rest before they begin thier long trip home.

They'll be so thankful for a few hours of relaxation,

I figure there's a good chance they won't harm our house at all.

Wait a minute, Jo, isn't it possible that they might fortify

our town and use it to make a stand against the union army?

Goodness knows it that York doesn't have a gigantic castle wall around it like

the alamo to protect itself so then our union army can easily surround them.

Aha, but if they start fighting again, our whole town might get blown up.

That's true, if there's a battle in York, our house might be destroyed-

see, I knew I should'nt have left a my dolls at home.

Ooh, it won't be long before those rebels get pushed out.

Our town will just be fine again, you'll see.

Now look, all our chattering has awakened milky Ann.

Poor thing's been in that basket all day.

Oh dear, it's long past her dinner time and she wants to eat.

No kidding, that makes seven of us.

Hey, what's that?

More explosions, and they're not far from here either,

the union must be starting another attack

They're getting closer to us all the time do you think the

confederate soldiers might be coming up this hill soon?

Not much chance of that.

But how can we knowfor sure?

Simple strategy, retreating in this direction would be the long way home.

If they're on the run, they'd be more likely to head straight

south than go any further out of there way, we'll be safe here.

All right girls.

I've made a new friend, mr bugley, who has been generous enough to pitch us a tent.

So Amy and Beth, how would you two like to be roommates?

Well that would be ever so nice

ah hah

Arn't we lucky we don't have to sleep outdoors with all those creepy bugs

well, I think it will be a real pleasure to

sleep outside tonight, and it's so warm and beautiful.

Mother does that mean the rest of us are going to have to sleep outside?

We'll be fine Meg.

But it will be so damp and uncomfortable.

Meg, just hush up, this is fun.

And so it was decided that we'd just have to make the best of our situation-

and take some comfort in the fact that at least we weren't alone.

Ah aha

Oh hello Mrs. march, I'm right here.

Hello again, Mr. bugley.

These are two of my beautiful young daughters.

I hope we're not imposing.

Don't be ridiculous, Betty, look who's here.

Hiii! Come on in, daddy's told me all about you.

Can my kitty come in, she'll sleep in the basket like she does at home?

And she'll be very quiet.

Of course she can, i love kitties.

Oh yea Beth, there's pillows and things, just like we have at home.

You see, life is one long game when you're a youngster.

But game isn't always so much fun to play Mr. bugley,

for the rules often change

for instance, we shouldn't have had to leave our town,

perhaps if we'd just remained at home with our

door locked, the men would have passed us by.

And the girls wouldn't have had to endure this inconvenience

let me see, it's not easy to explain, me go through alot of changes during a war,

being away from home and loved ones for a long

streach of time, can be extremely unsettling.

Yes.

You just can't expect them to behave in a gentlemenly fashion

especially when they've been defeated by the enemy and they're retreating.

To be sure, these are most trying times for all of us Mrs. march

That loud crash, I'm sure it came from our town.

This is horrible, there's a fire!

Ohh!

It must be serious, even at this distance, it's so bright!

The fire may spread to our home!

Do you really think so?

Only one place is burning so far.

I pray that our home is spared

if they keep bombing the town, there'll be nothing left of it to burn.

They're turning our town into a battle ground

just think of all the damage let alone the lives that might be lost,

The fire is spreading

the whole town is going to go up.

Oh no, my new dress for the dance, I left it in my room!

I'm glad I rembered to bring the first draft of my novel.

Now what in the world are the two of you carrying on so about?

You act as if the fire has burned everything down

look! Another bomb!

What we had feared most when marme had routed

us up early that morning was actually happening,

this was not a dream

the war had come to our town and we wer helpless to stop it.

Stop them, stop them or there'll be noting left

this isn't fair!

I've lived my whole life in that town, what are we to do!

Girls are you alright?

Marmee, marmee. Oh, what if our house is gone?

Ohh

By now, everyone in our tiny camp knew that

the fire was spreading quickly from one building

to another, and each family could only pray

that their house might somehow be spared.

But as marmee, Meg, Hannah and Jo huddled together on that warms summers evening,

there seemed little doubt that by morning there

would be nothing left but ashes and rubble.

One by one, the families made ther way into town to inspect the

damage and salvage whatever possessions that had escaped the fire-

the union army had been successful last night,

but the rest of us who had made our home in this town,

were left to wonder if their victory had been worth the cost.

Hannah, we've lost everything.

Yes, ma'am

I can't believe we've lost all our furnature, and our cloths.

Meg, that means you lost your new dress you got for the dance!

Now everything is gone-

Where're we going to sleep tonight?

Young lady, you just hold on a minute, where do you think you're going?

Marmee, all of my dolls were left inside, ahhhhhah.

Please, just wait, yes, a few things might have

survived, but we don't know if it's safe to look.

My little friends might be suffering in there.

Mother, let me take her, i promise you I'll be careful,

please watch your step

thank you mother, we'll be alright, come on Beth, it's ok.

Let's see if we can find your friends,

now promise me you'll stay close and watch out for burning embers

this was the living room

terrible

when we were getting ready to leave yesterday,

I brought all of my dolls downstairs

but then marmee told me I should leave them all behind.

I remember putting them here on the sofa,

here, Beth, let me get that for you.

It burnt my hands!

Huh?

Oh Beth dear, I'm so sorry, I know how precious those dolls were to you.

You remember little Bobby, don't you Jo?

Marmee gave him to me for my seventh birthday-

what a good little doll he was-

Bobby always minded me and was ever so jolly, I'll miss him.

We'll get you another and he'll be even

Wait, I think I see something, yes, oh Jo look here.

He seems to be alright, goodness knows how he survived that dredful fire.

It appears-

yes, I can tell how happy he is that you found him.

His name's Pete.

Little Pete's very lucky.

Yes! Ah hum.

And he's quite brave too.

I'm so pleased he's alright, i love you little petey

Huh?

Marmee, father has come home.

Oooh!

Papa, papa papa.

Yeh, papa's come back!

Wohaa!

Papa, papa, I missed you so terribly, papa,

Yes, Amy it's been far too long.

Hello father,

Meg, dear, Mary darling.

Welcome home.

Little Beth and Josephine, Hannah! It's so good to see you again.

I'm relieved, you've all survived the battled.

Thank goodness.

Yes, that was a rather costly battle,

many lives were lost in addition to all the destruction.

Even our own home-

yes, dear, it's all gone.

Um, but at least we're all safe and the families is together once again.

Yes!

Mary, considering the circumstances, you

must take the girls to newcord, right away.

Of course, but we haven't received a reply from aunt march about our request yet

ummm, nothing much to worry about, the mails

just probably been held up by the war.

She'll still welcome my family.

If you're sure we won't be putting her out then we'll make plans accordingly.

Then that's settled, you'll stay with aunt march, but dear,

you should prepare to leave town today.

The confederates have tried to block the railroad

but so far things haven't gone their way.

But you best act quickly for that situation could change.

Father was needed on the front lines so he kissed us

goodby and said he would join the family in newcord, soon.

But before he left, he took a few moments to speak to marmee, alone.

Mary, was it something I said?

No, I was just remembering what happened at the last town meeting

everyone was concerned that the confederate

soldiers might harm this year's corn crop.

And there's hundreds of stalks standing then before they came.

Promise me fredrick, that when the wars over that we're going

to be able to build a brand new life together in newcord.

That would depend upon my finding a job.

Experienced as you are, they just might be

interested in hiring you at the lumber mill there.

That's possible, I just remembered, I have a few

friends working there that should be able to help me out.

Darling, I've already discussed the situation with the girls

and even though they're going to miss their friends, they realize

that starting over would be the best thing for all of us.

Well it does sound rather tempting.

Then you promise me we'll stay if you find a job?

Ah um, you have my word on it, but ahhh, there's something else though.

When the war first got underway, the confederate

soldiers robbed the Jamison shoe making factory.

Then they burned it down and Jamison almost died.

After forcing him to open the combination safe and

taking all the money, the intruders started a fire.

Jamison was very fortunate to escape with his life

and the money we had staked him is gone.

Nearly all of the family saving was invested in Jamison's business.

Yes, going into partnership with Jamison left us very little savings in the bank

and my salary from the war certainly isn't very much.

Well dear, we may not be rich,

but I know it will be enough to make the move to

newcord and begin thinking about pulling our lives back together.

You're right,

by the time this war's over and I'm able to come back home

for good, we'll have more than a head start, won't we?

I just wish that the war would be over soon.

I'm sorry

uhum, I'm dredfully proud of you and love you very much

What up sets me the most about thsi blasted civil war,

is that I must leave my dear loved ones back home

do take care of yourself, fredrick, I worry so.

Ah hum

now let's think about getting you to the railway station-

alright dear, the girls are already packing.

Mary, I'll try and keep in touch with you just as often as I can.

You know I wait for every letter and this war will never come between us, dear.

I'm going to miss you so-

It's that time

I know.

One more thing, tell my daughters that they are always in my heart.

I will my love.

Farewell

gitty up

ever so difficult for marmee to watch father ride back to his post

I dare say it was nearly as sad as when he was first called into service.

There time spent together had become most precious.

Tender moments to be cherished

bye.

The road ahead was an uncertain one,

even though father would always be with her in spirit marmee

truely wished that he could be their by her side to guide the way.

Soon on our way to newcord, we were wishing with all our

might that it would be the most grand city we'd ever seen-

at first the ride was exciting, but it didn't

take long for the novelty to wear rather thin,

most especially for Jo, who always gets fidgety when

she's forced to remain in one place for any time at all.

Where are you off to?

I'm simply standing up to streatch my legs, this train has become quite boring.

I'm bored too, but try to make the best of it, remember that Patience is a virtue.

Guess so-

now why don't we play a little I wonder game?

I wonder what different kind of people boarded this train today and are

traveling to Philadelphia, gee i wonder if there are any bank robbers?

Don't be absurd

just play pretend for a second, they boarded the train in gettysburg

and are going to try and rob us!

Hey little one, wouldn't you like to go

outside with me where it won't be so warm?

Mother wants me to sit still and behave myself.

Alright, but I'm tired os sitting in one spot.

Wait for me Jo, I've changed my mind, with you let's be careful.

Now milky Ann you simple going to have to hush up, the

conductor might find out you don't have a ticket.

I told you it would be nice and cool outside,

I'm scared, Jo, Arn't you?

We'll be fine as long as we hold on tight

just promise you won't leave me out here alone

look Amy, you can see the tracks from here,

Why did I ever let you talk me into coming outside?

You are such a silly goose,

I've got it, I think I'll climb right there up on the roof.

Miss Jo, that's not safe for the sakes of you,

Who's that!

Someone called out my name!

That's right I heard him!

You shouldn't be afraid of me!

Look! It's our friend John.

He's our friend?

Yep, that's right, when i was running away from the

confederates, your family was kind enough to hide me.

Why are you up there, are you still hiding?

Well you might say that, I'm hiding out from the conductor.

It's not very comfortable, but i get a good look at the scenary.

And it's free.

Only way for me to ride was to climb on top.

But isn't that wrong?

Sure, but I don't have a penny to my name.

Why is that

I haven't been able to find a job and I've barely been able to eat.

But now I think I can find something in Boston.

Boston! Our whole family is moving to newcord which is just outside of Boston.

Well, I know newcord, ah hum it's on the way to Canada

my friends told me about it

long before the civil war all the run away slaves were

tired of being told what to do would stop in newcord.

That town treated 'em mighty fine, believe me.

After that my friends always called newcord the gateway to freedom.

Maybe after you find a job and make yourself a new home,

you can come up north and pay us a visit.

Thank you miss. Jo, you sure got yourself a deal.

Only good times ahead for all of us

Unless you mind, I'll have my mother buy you a ticket.

That way you'll be able to come inside with us and say hello to everyone.

No mam, that'd be dangerous, thanks anyway.

Your family's done too much already.

Besides I'm fine up here, I like nothing better than breating fresh air.

We were glad to get back out into the open countryside

because all of that smoke was making our heads go topsy turvy.

Oh dear, John are you gonna be all right?

Yes, I'll be ok in a minute, all that smoke was getting to me.

I guess that's what i get for riding up here.

O, I'm scared.

Ahh, there there, I'm right here

hey, maybe you should go inside for a little while.

Ok.

Oh Amy, please don't tell anyone about meeting John out here.

Ok, I won't.

Good girl.

Miss. Jo, it'd probably be a good idea if you joined her,

we might going through another tunnel.

But before you go back inside, that face of yours needs cleaning.

Awh oh

you're covered with soot!

Is John still on the roof?

Chatterbox!

I am not

I forced her to tell me everything, Jo.

Is he going to stay up on the roof for the entire trip?

Meg, he's too afraid to come down because he thinks he might

get caught, so when the trains is about to arrive in Boston, I'll go and tell him.

And then what?

Not so loud, as the train slows down, he'll jump off.

He might be hurt.

John thinks it's much more dangerous to be caught inside by the conductor

without a ticket, I've got a real good feeling that he'll be ok

it was exciting knowing that John was riding with us,

and we felt that we were a set of rascals for keeping it a secret for the whole trip,

yes, the hours had passed with the miles and we were finally approaching the city.

Nobody's watching, this is the perfect time.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate your kindness.

Good luck, John.

See ya in newcord.

Ooh!

Ahhh, uufa

horray, he did it!

What's going on girls?

Oh just playing a game.

Oh marmee, it's an ever so secret game.

John had taken quite a, but was none the worse for wear.

After watching us disappear down the tracks

he began his walk into Boston, hoping to arrive before the sun went down.

Meanwhile on board the train, Jo was in a thoughtful and sentimental mood.

He's a good man, I hope we find good friends in newcord.

Starting with our early morning flight from home,

seeing pa back and then being reunited with our friend John,

during an exciting train ride, well the march family had

experienced a couple of hectic but most enlightening days-

We had been reminded that the civil was was affecting many people's lives,

and each day was a new beginning.

♪ 'Fortunes of war can change their way ♪

♪we imagine their lives will be ♪

♪ the march family are on their way ♪

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy ♪