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 ♪

Now that we had moved into our new house,

life was beginning to settle down.

Meg was hired as a tutor, and Jo was still companion

to aunt march.

Beth was simply too shy to go to school,

so mother said there was no need to worry and she

could look after the house for a while.

I had started public school,

and even though I liked it, my teacher, Mr. Davis,

was as nervous as a witch.

Therefore, tardiness was not something he

looked upon lightly.

So I knew I would have to answer to him that morning,

and I was prepared for the worst.

You appear to be late, missy.

It only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel.

Until this moment, we had a perfect

attendance record.

Now that's been spoiled.

I want perfection, and perfection I'll get.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot.

Someone brought gum drops to class.

I won't have it.

You're all perfectly familiar with the

rules, I assume.

Believe me, I will publicly punish the

culprit who broke the law.

Old Davis is a bear.

I want the law breaker's name.

Which one of you wants to admit it to me?

I want complete and absolute obedience

in my classroom.

Oh!

Someone in this class must have done it.

I'm quickly losing my Patience, ladies.

Miss march, are you awake?

I am.

That's encouraging.

Since you're quite new to our school,

perhaps you're not aware of our rules

yet, young lady.

Tell me, did you bring the candy, my dear?

No I didn't, Mr. Davis.

I'm new, sir, but I'm trying to be obedient and

follow the rules as best I can.

Well, I'm most happy to hear about that,

but still you were almost late for my class.

And it had better not happen again, miss tardy.

It won't, sir.

Now, then, anymore disobedient behavior,

and someone's going to feel the weight of my switch.

Therefore, may I remind you there will be no

chewing gum, nut meats, novels, newspapers,

or nicknames.

I assume that's understood.

I am not in the habit of breaking my promises ever,

and neither is this little fellow.

Mock me, and you're going to pay the price for it.

You can bank on it, ladies, see!

See you later, Jo.

It sounds like you're coming down with a

cold, Beth, are you?

No, I'll be fine, don't fret.

Well, you know how fragile you are.

Beth, I think you should stay in bed for the rest

of the day and let Hannah finish the chores for you.

Hmmm, well, I'm not sick enough for that.

Well, don't overdo it, you hear?

Are you ready, Meg? Let's go.

Coming.

Then it's settled, tomorrow afternoon at 3.

I'll be sure to tell Mrs. king about it, mother.

Thanks, Meg.

What were you and mother talking about?

Oh, nothing much.

Mrs. king told me that she wanted to make a donation

to the soldier's home.

And since marmee is in charge,

she wanted to go over and get it as soon as possible.

Well, if it were up to me,

I'd suggest that she donate some good manners

to those children of hers.

Now that I'm their tutor,

maybe they'll behave a little better.

Bye, milky Ann, you be good.

Forget something?

Huh huh.

You know, Jo, i was just thinking.

Even though we've only been in new court two

months, I feel quite happy here.

If only father were home with us,

everything would be perfect.

Hmmm.

You girls stop dawdling now,

or you'll both be late.

Oh, my gosh, come on!

- Good bye, mother. - Bye, we'll see you later!

Golly, that's a beautiful carriage.

My, they sure are in a hurry.

Heavens, that's Mr. Lawrence our neighbor.

I wonder where he's off to so early.

He's not too pleasant.

Why does he always look so grumpy?

I just think he must be very lonely.

It must be terrible not to have anybody.

We're so fortunate.

I'm sorry for him.

We must do our very best to become

friends with him.

Four girls and a cat should make him smile.

You're looking mighty pale.

You ought to go upstairs and rest, child.

There's too much to do, Hannah.

- Beth? - Yes?

It's late, I'll be back home at lunch time.

All right, mother.

My goodness, dear, is it possible you have a bit

of a cold coming on?

That sure is right.

I've been telling her she ought to go upstairs and

stay in her room.

But I'm not quite finished with

my chores yet.

Let me worry about the finishing.

That's right, Beth, listen to Hannah now.

I want to see you upstairs tucked into bed

when I get home.

And I promise I won't be gone for long.

But I really do feel fine, marmee, I mean it.

Is that so?

Well, if you want to keep me from worrying,

you'll go up to bed and stay there until

you feel better.

I don't want this developing into something

more serious, dear.

That's right, little lady, there you go.

I'll be up to see you in a little while.

- Must I? - Uh-huh.

I'll try to be back a little early, Hannah.

Don't you worry about a thing, ma'am.

Bye.

Oh...

We mustn't worry marmee when she has so many

things to think about, right, milky Ann?

Aunt march...

Well, let's see...

How about sharing that with me?

I said, how about sharing that with me?

I'm sorry, would you like some tea?

It's hardly time for that.

Your mind is certainly distracted by

those books, isn't it?

Oh, well, your father also had a passion for them.

I hope he comes back soon.

It's not the same without him.

Yes, I suppose not.

Tell me, now, has there been word from him?

No.

Has he been told the family left Pennsylvania

for a new home?

Yes, ma'am, we sent word to his commander

because we don't know where he is.

His unit's always moving, but we hope he's been told.

It's important that he knows what's happening.

Once I dreamt that he went back to Pennsylvania,

and there was no one there to greet him.

It would be a blessing if he didn't have to worry

about what was going on at home,

and I shall give the department of the army a

piece of my mind.

Doing a fine job here, corporal.

Thank you, sir, we're just about on schedule.

We should be across by tomorrow.

It may not be soon enough.

The word is the 8th Tennessee regulars are

planning an attack in this sector.

You men up on the bridge,

get out of way now!

Get off of that bridge immediately!

Take cover!

Whoa! Captain march?

Over here, behind the wagon!

Captain march?

Glad I found you, sir.

Dispatch from colonel Templeton, private?

No, sir, it's from the department of the army,

and it says here that it's private and confidential.

Oh.

Not bad news, is it, sir?

No, the department is informing me that my wife

and daughters have finally been moved to a

place where they'll be safe.

Good.

Hit the ground, private!

This way.

Here.

Come on!

It's up ahead.

Well, this is it.

This is where we meet,

and we've decided to make you a member of our

special club, but you must promise never to tell.

What kind of club is it?

Well, it's a secret candy club that meets

every recess.

If old Davis found out, he'd most likely raise the

roof and then some.

We draw straws, and the one who gets the longest

one brings the candy, right Katie?

That's right.

That's asking for trouble, isn't it?

Maybe, but it's sure worth a chance.

Go on, Amy, don't worry.

Come on and pick one.

If you get caught, all you do is swallow it.

The red ones are my favorite.

Nothing terrible is going to happen, Amy, really,

try it.

Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm.

Well, all right.

Now, Amy, are you going to promise not to tell

anyone about our club?

Uh-huh.

You didn't take part in it, did you?

Yes, I did.

With a teacher as strict as Mr. Davis,

it's hard not to break the rules once in a while.

That's a poor reason.

Can't you try a little harder?

Uh-huh, but I don't know if I can do

it for long.

Why, Amy, next i suppose you'll tell me you

ate gum drops in the classroom.

Not quite, and it wasn't a gum drop.

Besides, we wouldn't be silly enough to eat them

where we could get caught.

Amy, you know sweets aren't allowed in school.

You're going to get in trouble with your teacher.

But he has so many rules,

it's difficult to obey them.

Really it's impossible.

If we break just one, he disciplines everyone so

severely that we can barely stand it.

And not only that, he carries a big

whip in his hands.

That is a bit harsh.

So now you see why i disobey, don't you agree?

Absolutely not.

It isn't proper to use disobedience to

solve your problems.

Oh, I suppose you're right, Beth.

For mother's sake, please try to do better.

All right, I will.

From now on I'm going to be the best pupil

in newcord.

Why do we have to go in now, miss march?

Can't we stay out and play?

I'm sorry, Cathy, but it's time for your

arithmetic lesson.

Let's go in.

But we don't want to learn that stuff.

We want to go to the harbor.

I want to see the trains!

Tom, Cathy, you children behave! Huh?

That's Mr. Lawrence again.

Do you know that man, miss march?

Why, yes.

He's the gentleman who lives right

next door to us.

Well, he has a mean, bad face,

and I'm ascared of him.

Cathy, it's dreadfully impolite to judge a person

by the way they might appear.

And now it is up to your room.

Let's play!

No, we're going in now!

Don't wanna, let's go now!

Come on, I want some gum drops!

Children!

As far as we could tell,

Mr. Lawrence was a man who rarely ventured out.

But that day, Meg saw him twice.

It appeared that he had something most

important to do.

Well, it won't be long now.

Two years is a long time.

I wonder if he missed me as much as I

have missed him.

- Grandfather! - Laurie.

I'm happy to be back, grandpa, I really am.

Huh? Well, nice to have you back home, Theodore.

Thank you.

Is that valise all the luggage you have with you?

Yes, the rest of my belongings should be

arriving from Paris on the next train.

Fine, I'll send the coach man for them.

Theodore, I sent you to Europe to study because I

believe that without broad knowledge and education,

you wouldn't be able to take over the

responsibilities that will one day be yours.

I know, sir.

Have you decided which university to go to?

Huh?

I expect you to continue your education.

Why must I?

You're my only living heir, Ted.

You must be prepared to take my place and fulfill

your duties.

Grandpa, I had hoped i would be able to make

up my own mind.

The matter has already been settled.

I have engaged an able tutor for you.

You will be expected to take

your studies seriously.

My boy, it is my fondest wish that you carry

on the Lawrence name.

Since this country was founded,

the lawrences have supplied the great ships

that bring teas, silks and spices from

across the ocean.

It is my hope that you will carry on that tradition.

Do you understand?

- Yes, sir. - Good, I knew you would.

It's just as beautiful as I remembered.

I think I'm going to like living in newcord again.

Grandfather? - Yes?

I was just wondering.

The people who lived next door before I left,

they were very nice to me, sir.

Have they moved away from here?

Yes.

That's too bad.

They behaved very kindly towards me when

I was younger.

Is somebody else living there now?

They just moved in.

Family of females, i knew their grandfather.

Just girls?

Father's gone right now.

What happened to him?

Nothing, he's a union army officer now.

Welcome back to newcord, Mr. Laurie.

We've missed you.

Thank you, I'm glad to be back.

I wonder who that handsome

looking gentleman is.

Oh.

Nice to see you, sir,

welcome home.

Thank you, good to be home.

And as you can see, not many changes have taken

place, and your room is just as it was

when you left it.

And that will be all, please return to your duties.

Thank you.

Theodore, if you're feeling somewhat tired,

why don't you go up and rest before we have lunch?

Really, sir, I'll not a bit tired.

Well, I am.

Oh, it's good to have you home.

Thank you.

Indeed, sir.

The old gentleman has missed you most of all.

I missed him.

He arrived in Mr. Lawrence's carriage,

and he's so handsome.

That's his grandson, I believe.

Did you catch his name, Amy?

Well, I think they call him, ahhh...

Gee, I don't know what they called him.

Oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway.

It's no concern of mine.

I'm glad he's back.

I think that's all the family he has.

I'm home, marmee. Oh, what's wrong?

Has anything happened?

No, Meg, nothing important,

except that Mr. Lawrence has a handsome grandson

who's just come back home.

Meg, it's so bright and clear today.

I've just got to show you the beautiful view

from my room.

Hurry up, Meg, you're really going to love it.

Know what?

I think it's nicer from your room.

Jo, dear, what is?

The view.

Oh, yes. Look.

Oh, I don't know when I've seen such a beautiful day.

The air is so clear and fine.

We certainly never had a few like there

in Pennsylvania. Isn't it lovely?

Oh, Jo, how you do go on.

It's inspirational i tell you.

It makes me want to sit down and write a story.

Oh!

Oh!

What is it?

I think it's him, he saw me.

Who saw you?

Mr. Lawrence's grandson.

I don't know what you're talking about.

There isn't anyone out there at all.

Your imagination's playing tricks on you.

Come see for yourself, see?

Jo tried awfully hard to seem unruffled by the

sudden appearance of our new neighbor,

but Meg wasn't the least bit convinced

by her performance.

♪ 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 ♪