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 ♪

Ah!

Jo, why don't you come to bed?

I'm not ready.

You have to get some rest.

All right, but I can't stop remembering that moron.

Grrrr!

Why don't you just forget it?

I don't want to forget.

It wasn't all that bad, was it?

Meg, that man humiliated and insulted me!

I'll never forget what he told me for the rest of my

life.

How old did you say you were?

I'm 15 years old.

I didn't think a 15 year old could write a novel.

Why not, may I ask?

Why, at 15, you've experienced so

little of life.

Yes, but I do have a little imagination.

But a writer needs more than imagination.

You have to experience some of the world to

write a novel.

Does that mean you won't even read my novel just

because of my age?

That's right, I can't imagine it's worth the time

it would take to read, not when the author is a 15 year

old girl like you.

And how might you describe my novel.

We professionals know about such things.

That pig, I hate him!

I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!

Arghhhhhh!

I didn't realize you'd had such a terrible experience.

Next time I see that man I'm just going to spit in his face!

Ah puuuuuah

ah, my you can't mean that!

I'll scratch his eyes out!

Ahhh!

You better get ahold of yourself, ah!

Ah haaa

I'm going to show him!

I'm going to write a wonderful novel that-

everybody will love, that will show him.

There, that's the spirit.

I'm going to be the best novelist in America!

Good for you, Jo.

I'm being very serious.

Jo, I believe you.

Now why don't we get some sleep?

Oh, Meg, I'm too upset to go to sleep yet.

Sleepy head?

Josephine?

Mmmm.

Meg, I slept so well.

That's quite obvious, young lady.

It's almost time for breakfast, so let's

get out of bed.

A soldier's aid society?

Yes, I have some free time, and I thought there

must be something I can do to help the war effort besides

sitting home and waiting.

It seems like a good idea.

My husband is having a very difficult time at the front.

I thought it was the least I could do to help.

I certainly wouldn't stop you, but since you asked, I

think it's foolishness and stupid.

I think otherwise.

It's because you need money, isn't it?

No, I'm doing it because i can help people who need the

assistance.

I still think it's a bunch of foolishness.

Humph.

Are you going to be attending all of their

meetings from now on, mother?

Yes, aunt march didn't really approve, but she

didn't exactly disapprove either.

Mother's unhappy unless she's helping other people

improve their lot in life.

That's just the way she is.

Hmmm, now charitable indeed.

You must admit that it's not a bad thing.

No, it isn't bad per se.

- Meg, dear? - Yes?

If anyone should come by from the real estate agency

regarding the house, let me know.

All right, I promise this I'll come and get you

if it's necessary.

They're getting along much better.

They're pals almost.

Yes, they certainly are acting much friendlier

to each other.

Bye, mother, see you soon.

Goodbye, girls.

Yes, come in.

Oh, Polly, do be quiet.

How are you today, Polly?

Hasn't it been quite sometime since this bird's learned

some new words, aunt march?

Yes, it has.

Why don't you teach her some new ones?

Are you serious?

Of course I am.

I assume since you enjoy writing so much, it would

follow that you're also a good reader.

I'd say that I'm pretty good at it.

Then would be a dear and volunteer to read books to me

a portion of every afternoon?

Yes, of course.

My eyesight has deteriorated so recently

that reading has become quite difficult for me.

What book would you like me to read from?

Over there, it's on the table.

The lectures of Benjamin bosch unabridged.

Do you like this book much?

I don't have to like a book in order to read it.

It's a good book, and i find it very helpful.

But how could you read a book that you don't like?

Because it gives me peace of mind.

Now please read me the third lecture from the book.

Here it is.

If you're ready now, I'll begin.

Yes, go ahead.

This is my third lecture.

As I begin, I trust that you will feel warmly touched by

what you are about to read.

However, there is a warning attendant with this

lecture, a caution.

You must not tell anyone the story you are about to hear

for it is intended solely for the readers of this book.

You may feel impressed and feel an irresistible need to

enlighten others, but whatever you do, don't.

Well, that's pretty good.

No, it's very good.

Ah!!!!

You scared me!

I'm terribly sorry to have startled you, miss.

I'm looking for a miss march.

I believe she lives here.

I'm miss march, as well.

Amy Curtis march.

I must be talking about one of your sisters.

I believe she said she was 15 years old.

Oh, that's Jo.

Well, might she be around?

I certainly would like to see her.

Uh-huh.

Then he replied abruptly, "originally the land belonged

to god, so giving it back to the church is quite simply

returning the land to its former owner."

I have to think about that one.

Oh, the lectures are so very informative.

Yes? Who is it?

Amy, shhh.

Huh?

Aunt march is asleep, so don't make a sound.

Asleep?

That's perfect because you have a gentleman caller.

Who?

Well?

No offense, but I think you should know when I

mentioned your name, she almost blew her top.

Oh, is that so?

Well, will she see me anyway?

Yes.

That's good news.

Thanks a lot.

Oh, I forgot.

Here's your picture, it's really quite good.

Thanks, I really appreciate it when people say

they like my drawings.

Thanks again!

I guess we all like to be praised a little.

Jo, hi.

Hummph!

You're upset, aren't you? Can't say I blame you.

I know I was pretty rough on you yesterday.

It was unfair of me to dismiss your writing just

because you're young.

After you left, I read your work, and I want to tell

you what I think.

It's really quite good.

I mean it.

I'd like to give you a complete evaluation of the

manuscript if you don't mind.

No!

You bring a completely fresh viewpoint to

the subject matter.

Now, your family just moved here from near gettysburg?

Yes, that's true.

I wonder if I could get you to do an interview.

Our chief editor believes your personal viewpoint of

the battle of gettysburg would be quite interesting.

That's nice of him, but i didn't participate directly.

I didn't mean to suggest you had combat experience,

but your family was near there?

Yes, but we didn't see it firsthand.

Of course we heard the sounds of battle like the gunfire

and the canon blasts for three whole days and nights.

It was just horrible.

The confederates even set fire to our town.

Houses were burning everywhere, and our house was

among them burned by marauding rebels.

It still gives me nightmares, so you see, Mr. Boone,

I can't really help you.

Please, why don't you just call me Anthony?

The fact is I agree with our editor.

I think your story will sell a lot of papers.

I want as much information as possible.

You have to tell me all you know about the battle of

gettysburg.

Your family's experience will help our readers understand

what a terrible fight it was, a hundred thousand men

perished or were wounded.

What? You must be exaggerating the count.

There were at least that many casualties if you

count both sides.

There's never been anything like it.

It will be sometime before either army is

able to fight again.

My papa was in that battle.

I'm glad he survived.

Huh?

He's a soldier?

That means he could provide firsthand information.

Uh-huh.

I want you to tell me about the battle, tell me

everything you remember.

You promise you'll print my story?

Absolutely. Let's begin.

I'm going to take a few notes.

Well, everything started happening around

June the 15th.

Father had returned from the front lines just the

day before that.

We were so happy to see him home safe and sound.

But on our picnic that day, we ran into Johnny reb.

Gee, this is going to take sometime to tell.

Maybe we should both go inside?

Uh, sure.

Jo and Anthony were no longer having difficulty getting along

along with each other.

Can you write a story from that?

Let's see, I'm thinking maybe you might need

some more detail.

Occupation by rebel marauders, a run away black

man being hidden in the cellar.

This just couldn't be any better.

Guess so.

Oh, and the part about the house get being burned down,

and the black man Sam.

Not Sam, John is his name.

Of course.

Anthony, may i ask you a question?

Sure, ask away.

I was just wondering about your opinion.

I think we can print it as a two-part episode.

It has human interest and suspense.

It's brief and easy to grasp.

I think readers will love it.

I'm talking about my novel, not my

experience in gettysburg.

My work's never been read by anybody else.

You're the first person I've ever shown it to.

Anthony, I want your honest appraisal of my writing.

My opinion hasn't changed much.

I'm not saying that you don't have a talent for writing

because I do see potential.

I worked on it for a very long time.

That shows in the writing, but it's quite different from

what a novel should be in my opinion.

Today, you told me stories about many of your

personal experiences.

You described them quite brilliantly.

I think you should write your novel exactly the way you

speak.

Describing things simply and getting to the point as

quickly as possible will vastly improve your writing

and tell us about the things you know instead of

making so much up.

What you really mean is I'm a horrible writer, and my

story is terrible, is that it?

Well, the story is rather hard to believe.

Hard to believe?

Yes, afraid so. Think about it.

A Princess, a bad pirate, a secret love affair, and then

you had to throw in a duel.

And don't for get mother's untimely death.

Can't say I believed even one word.

It's supposed to be a fantasy adventure.

A novel can be interesting without resorting to an

unbelievable plot.

You've made your point!

My story, my plot, my characters, you didn't like

anything, did you?

No, I didn't. I'm sorry.

Very well, then.

Would you mind giving me back my manuscript please?

I'd be glad to, but my editor is reading it.

Oh, I nearly forgot.

He said he'd like to see you at your earliest convenience.

Huh? How could you almost forget about that?

It's about the ad you placed.

I think he's found a job for you, Jo.

That's very strange.

The advertisement hasn't appeared in the paper.

I may be mistaken, but I don't think so.

Well, he said he wanted to see you, that's all I know.

Tell him I'll be by to see him later.

Just one more thing before I go.

It's a little unsolicited advice about writing a novel.

Use personal experience about things you've heard, events

for which you have actual feelings.

That's the most realistic writing you can do.

But familiar is dull and boring, and I'm not sure

about that. No.

Jo, it's really good way for you to begin.

I recently finished reading a story written just that way.

Oh, and I suppose the story is simple?

It's all about a man and his prized frog.

He enters the frog in a jumping competition.

His goal was to make a lot of money from the wagers he

expects to win.

The frog lose the competition, and then this

fellow loses all of his money.

The story is simple, very well written, and good. Bye.

Who's the author?

Aren't you going to tell me the author's name?

Well, I'd never even heard of him before reading

this short story.

He has a funny sounding name that's easy to recall.

Name's mark twain.

That's sure a funny sounding name, isn't it?

Mark twain, I'll read him.

It's a funny story, it will make you laugh.

Humph!

Uuuuma

Goodbye, Amy, see you later. Thanks!

Bye, nice meeting you.

Uh-huh.

Jo, who was that?

He's the reporter at the newcord times.

What, the book critic?

The same.

Oh, really?

Well, so did you hit him?

Huh-huh.

And you're not going to tell me you spit on him?

You're right.

Why not?

You were ever so angry with him.

He took the time to give my novel a careful reading,

and he gave me a critique.

You mean he liked the book?

Not at all.

He said it was a terrible book.

How very unfair of him.

Yes, I am angry, but I can forgive him.

Frankly, I don't think he knows too much about

literature from the things that he said.

Tell me, how can you be so sure?

I'm not, but he did tell me the name of my rival.

You have a rival?

He said the writer's name is mark twain.

Mark twain is a man's name.

Uh-huh, according to him, I'm the worst writer in the

world and this mark twain is the great story teller

since paper was invented.

What?

I'm sure you're a much better writer than mark

what's his name.

Uh-huh, I can write as well as any man.

That's the spirit.

Show some spunk.

Uh-huh.

Where are you going, Jo?

To the newspaper office.

We'll be right back.

Jo, the man who was here today said that he liked my

drawing.

He knows very little about literature, and I imagine he

knows even less about art.

So I would take everything he says with a grain of salt.

Oh, what a shame.

I can't believe him if he doesn't know

anything about art.

Well, if you have no objection, I'd like to keep

your manuscript.

I've only read half of it, and I need a few more days to

get through it.

Please, sir, take all the time that you need to finish

it.

Thank you, thank you so much.

I'm finding it quite fascinating.

You really mean that?

Yes.

I don't think Anthony agrees.

Whatever he said is just Anthony's point of view.

Huh!

Every reader is entitled to their own opinion.

I think one thing, he thinks another.

Oh, you don't know how happy that makes me feel.

Uh-huh.

Say, I'd be glad to drop it off when I'm

finished with it.

I can't wait to hear your comments.

But the reason we came by was to ask you to run the

advertisement for what? Three days?

That's fine.

Hold on, you don't have to do that.

In fact, that's why I asked you to come by and see me.

Right after you came in yesterday, someone came by

and placed an ad for a nursery governess, and I

thought your sister might be the right person for the job.

Oh! Meg, this is wonderful!

Yes.

The people placing the ad are lucky.

I believe you can be a big help to them,

no doubt about it.

You mean we don't have to pay for the advertisement

that we placed with you yesterday?

Forget about it.

It's free, I'm putting it on the house.

Anyway, didn't Anthony interview you about your

experiences near gettysburg.

I talked hours.

He said it was a good story.

My way of saying thanks.

Now, here's the address of the king family.

I want you to go and see them.

It's beautiful.

Just what one would expect from the richest

banker in newcord.

I can handle it from here.

Thanks a lot for coming with me.

What? I'm going in there with you.

Jo, would you hire a governess who brought her

baby sister along?

It would be pretty unprofessional.

I guess you're right.

Jo?

Yes, Meg.

Do you think I'm doing the right thing?

You don't think being a governess to someone is

undignified do you?

I mean, it's honest work, and we need the money.

Silly, don't worry about it.

You're doing the right thing.

Well, wish me luck, will you?

Good luck, Meg.

Oh, I am so nervous.

I hope this dress is presentable.

Well, ready or not, here I go.

Oh, hello, Meg.

Well, fancy meeting you here.

And what brings you to the king home?

I come here quite often being a very close friend of

Mr. king's son, you know.

I didn't know that you were acquainted with them.

May I help you, madam?

Yes, thank you.

My name is miss march, I'm here to see Mrs. king about

the governess position.

I'll tell her you're here.

Please do come in.

I'm sure she'll see you directly.

Thank you.

Hmmm, well, what do you know?

She's applying for a job.

So Meg's going to be a governess, huh?

I'm going to get a job, too, mother.

I really do appreciate you both.

I had hoped to be able to earn money writing stories,

but that seems to be impossible to me right now.

Nothing's impossible.

Oh.

Hmmm. Ya there!

Hello, ladies, can I give you a ride someplace?

Not on your life.

We'll walk, thank you very much.

Isn't that right, mother?

Uh-ah ha.

I see. Well, have a good morning, then.

Ya!

Oh, by the way.

I just left Meg at the king home.

It appears she was applying for a job.

I had no idea you were so hard up!

Tata, ladies.

Well, well, well.

I hate that man!

David spoke the truth.

Meg got the job as the king family governess, and when I

offered to look for a job, too, marmee said I should

study hard instead.

So that's what I'm going to do from now on.

♪ 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...