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 ♪

That's beautiful, Beth.

Uh-oh.

It's pretty bad, isn't it.

Beth, you can't mean that.

I believe it was just beautiful!

Well, a piano is meant to sound much more

melodious than this thing does.

Well now, this one is kind of old and beat up,

but honey when you sit down and commence to

playing, it sounds like heaven's own music.

Oh, you're just being kind.

Not so. You know i wouldn't lie.

That's very sweet, but i think we better stop now

and begin preparing dinner, don't you.

We got plenty of time, Beth.

Come on and play Hannah one more song, please.

What would you like to hear?

You know my most favorite, honey.

Well...

But this old piano sounds awful.

Come on now, Beth, play it please.

Well...

Okay?

Awe...

What?

Well, hello there.

I'll just bet you i can guess your name.

You must be little milky Ann, am I right?

And how would I happen to know your name?

Well I hear the young ladies calling

for you all the time.

Milky Ann, come here little milky Ann.

When I first heard them calling you,

I didn't have any idea who they meant,

but now that we've met,

I know it was you that they wanted.

The piano player is very good,

however the piano is awful.

Well, I think you'd better go home now, okay?

Gosh, I wonder if she's as beautiful as her music.

Grandfather! You quite startled me.

I didn't hear you come in.

Where have you been, young man?

The day was so pleasant i took a walk

along the river.

Hmmm, and then through a zoo I suppose.

Where are your manners, lad?

It was ungentlemanly of you to keep

Mr. brook waiting.

Grandfather, I know Mr. brook is a fine fellow

and I have the greatest respect for him,

but his tutoring is not doing any good, honest.

Then you know everything there is

to know, do you?

No, grandfather.

I didn't mean to suggest anything of the kind, sir.

Laurie, wake up.

You must be prepared for a proper education.

But that's just a life of boredom

and I want more.

Laurie, while I'm still alive and breathing,

there will be no more musicians in this family.

You're right, grandfather,

it's true that I do love the piano as much as my

mother did, but I won't make a career of it.

Well enough, but you must have some

idea of your future.

It's hard to concentrate on tutors

and education when all I hear about

these days is the war.

Young fellow, I'm just about at

the end of my Patience.

I guess I must be like my father.

In what way?

You called him arrogant and told him not to marry

mother, but he told you he would never give her up

because he loved her so.

And it's quite futile to talk about deeds that

are done, the deeds that can never be undone.

I know now that it was my own pompous pride

that caused my son to turn away from me,

but you have to believe this, boy,

I care deeply that you'll be happy

as well as successful.

Come Laurie, Mr. brook is still patiently waiting.

Let's see now, i think geometry today.

Shall we begin?

Gee, I wish she hadn't stopped playing.

She's really a magnificent musician, you know?

I think these equations will be a challenge

for you, Laurie.

I mostly enjoy listening to them in the

evening hours when the whole family is at home.

They're always laughing and they sound so happy.

Gosh, I wonder what it must be like to be that

happy all the time.

Huh...

You've only watched them occasionally from

outside of their home.

Laughter alone would hardly be sufficient

evidence to make one believe they're

truly happy, Laurie.

It's easy for you to say that because

you've never heard them, but I have.

Look, now admit it,

isn't that a warm friendly setting?

Well maybe so, but Laurie it's not exactly in

the best taste to sit there staring into their

home like a peeping tom.

Sir, I've been here for weeks now and so far

I've hardly met a soul.

I've done nothing but study everyday and I have

yet to find even one tiny reason to laugh

happily about anything.

Well, hmm...

I'm afraid I can't help you there, Laurie.

But perhaps you can direct some of that pent up anger

toward these equations.

Huh?

Hmmm...

Humph!

Hey! It's the youngest daughter.

She must be returning home from school.

I have tried very hard to be patient, Laurie.

But we won't accomplish anything with you standing

at that window snooping.

I'm genuinely sorry, Mr. brook.

I know I'm being rude, it's just that I would

so like to know them.

Yes, that's it.

During tomorrow's walk we'll watch for red birds.

Well, here we are.

Miss march, let's stay out a little while longer.

We can't today, Kathy.

I'd like to but it's gotten quite late,

and don't forget we've yet to do our lessons.

We could go to the sand box.

That's close by.

Absolutely not.

I'm still trying to get the sand out of

the clothes I wore the last time I took

you two to the park.

Oh, look!

A broach.

Oh!

Oh, my, it's so beautiful.

I want to have it!

Give it to me miss march!

I'm afraid this isn't just a play thing.

I think the person who lost this is surely

missing it right now.

I know I certainly would.

Come along, children. You must go in now.

I'll be first in.

Come here.

Come.

Huh?

Me?

Uh-huh.

Huh.

Miss march?

We were just wondering.

Huh?

Come on, ask her.

We're both awfully bored with studying.

Ask her.

Well?

Would you read to us a little?

Please?

Pardon?

Please ma'am?

Very well then.

Why don't you two go and pick one out.

Thank you!

Yeah!

Oh, come in.

I do hope I'm not intruding.

Miss march.

Yes, I am. Have we met?

My name is Sally gardener.

It was my broach you found.

I can't tell you how appreciative I am.

Oh, the pleasure's all mine.

And please won't you just call me Meg.

This was given to me by my grandmother,

and it was one of my most prized possessions.

Yes, I knew it.

From the very first moment i saw it laying there

on the ground outside the gate,

I guessed someone had lost a valuable treasure.

I didn't fasten the clasp properly but now

that you've given me a second chance,

I'll have to try to be more careful.

Are you a friend of Patty's too?

Yes, I am.

And I'd like to be your friend if I may.

- I'd like that! - That's great!

Miss march! Here it is.

Well, well, the Princess and the pea.

Yes, I should have guessed.

And Thomas, how about you?

Oh, yes, the Princess is my favorite too.

I appreciate your visit,

but won't all of your friends miss you?

I doubt it.

I left them gossiping away.

Then why don't you stay and miss march

can read to all of us!

Uh-huh?

I can't, but maybe you can invite me

another day, Kathy.

By the way, Meg, you're very honest so I would

value your advice.

I'd like to find work but my parents disapprove.

I'm sure they love you and want to protect you

because my folks felt the same way about me.

But here you are, so obviously they've come

around. I would imagine that makes you

feel quite independent.

Well I feel useful, at least.

And these little ones make my work easy.

Miss march, please!

- All right. - Well, I'd better go.

Good day, young ones.

Good day to you.

Come again.

I will, thanks.

Huh?

Let's get the chairs!

Oh, Meg, I'm looking forward to us getting

together again very soon.

So am I.

I lost my broach and I found a friend.

Here's the throne.

My!

There.

Come on and sit down.

Please.

Okay?

Now then, once in a land far away,

there lived a handsome prince whose father,

the king, thought it was time for his son

to find a Princess.

Mind you, not just any Princess would do,

for the prince was very refined and accomplished.

Uh-oh.

Careful!

Evening is my favorite time of day.

That's when my sisters are busy doing quiet things.

Jo gets the important chores and sometimes

I wish I were as grown up as she.

Oh, marmee, make her stop staring at me.

Amy, if I happen to be mining coal,

you'd probably want to do that too.

I'm all set.

Hurry up now.

We've time, dear.

Smooth and steady. That's the way.

That girl's lucky, don't you think?

Who?

The young lady whose jewelry you've returned.

Sally is her name.

Yes, she told me that her grandmother had given it

to her and she would have sorely missed it.

She's ever so nice, marmee,

and she wants us to be friends.

Huh.

What's the matter with the friends you've already

got right here in the house, Meg?

It's not really the same.

Anyway, isn't Anthony your friend Jo?

Do you mean that reporter?

Yes.

He's not a friend.

He's just an acquaintance.

Do you mean a "quaintance"

can't be a friend too?

Oh, perhaps it might be Amy if you were to

pronounce it properly.

Anyway, he's over 20.

That's far too old to be much of an a "quaintant."

Please don't mock your sister, Jo.

After we've been here awhile,

I know you will each have made friends by the score.

I've already made a lot of them.

Bernice, Emma, Margaret.

Good.

How I wish that were true of our sweet lovely Beth

who won't dare to venture out of the house.

I'm happy. I have my piano,

and Hannah's such good company.

I don't really need any other friends.

You forgot to mention milky Ann, Beth.

I think you've offended her.

Oh, did I offend my little milky Ann?

Milky Ann forgives you, Beth.

Hello, Jo!

Wait up a minute.

Huh?

And a good morning to you, ma'am.

Hello, Anthony.

So how are you?

Have you all settled down in your new home yet?

Yes, Anthony.

And the family can't find the words to thank you

enough for all the trouble you took

helping us to find it.

No, no, need to thank me.

I was glad i could help you.

See ya!

I'm sorry, am I keeping you from something?

I'm meeting someone at the newspaper office

and I'm almost late.

A pleasure seeing you.

If it's all right, I'd like to come to your

house to visit you on Sunday afternoon.

Maybe we'd have time to chat.

What do you say?

Okay!

Okay, I'll see you then. Goodbye!

Paper!

I've got a package for you, ma'am.

Thank you very much.

This is Irish lace.

My last one.

Yes, that's the one.

I've never tried this fragrance before, Meg.

See how you like it.

Well, I'm not a perfume expert, but that's nice.

Fine. That settles it then. I'll take it.

I usually have an awful time deciding but you've

made it easy for me.

I trust your taste implicitly.

Please wrap it.

I certainly will, miss.

Well. Fancy finding you here.

Huh?

Meg! You've come at the perfect time.

Why? Is there something i can help you with Jo.

I can only afford one of these and

I can't decide which one.

Let's see, Charles dickens great expectations

and the count of monte cristo

by Alexandre dumas.

Yes, I see what you mean.

Make up my mind for me, Meg. Please.

It's a difficult choice.

Let's see, i have a thought.

Just shut your eyes while I shuffle them.

Meg? Oh.

Now. Pick above or below.

Below.

The count of monte cristo by Alexander dumas.

Yes, that's the one I'd have chosen.

Excuse me, Meg.

Sally, please allow me to introduce Josephine

march, my sister and soon to be famous novelist.

All my friends call me Jo.

I'm very honored.

I hope I'm not interrupting.

My sister had to make a major literary decision

and I was just being helpful.

Well.

Meg, in just a few weeks we shall be having a

lovely party at our home. I'd like to invite you.

I do hope you'll be able to come.

Party?

That would be wonderful but it sounds so terribly

formal to me, Sally.

Well, it may not be a grand ball such as the

king family gives, but i do promise you that it

will be great fun.

It will be mostly young people.

If I might be so bold, would it be possible for

you to invite my sister?

Indeed.

We'd be delighted to invite Josephine.

Although it strikes me that her interests are of

a rather different kind.

Hmmm.

Woe!

Whew!

Chapter 3.

Well Jo, I've got it planned down to the last

detail, the very first thing I'll do when I get

to Washington is go straight to the white

house to interview president Lincoln

and some cabinet members.

Then I head south to the battlefields where I can

talk to the fighting men, our real men, gallant men,

bravely fighting in the front lines and laying

down their lives for their country.

Aren't you afraid?

To a news man, fear is merely one of the

hurdles you have to leap.

Imagine all those brave men facing Cannon fire and

rifles, even bayonets.

A reporter musn't be afraid.

That's the spirit!

But it's rather difficult to believe that.

Why Jo, how could you ever believe I would

even think of stretching the truth.

You may not be lying, but I think your story's

getting puffed up.

What's the grandest news story that you've ever

covered, a little cat caught in a poplar?

Someone's soggy rain flooded basement?

Maybe a stable on fire?

Woe, hold on now.

And perhaps you take pleasure in writing nasty

things about the work of other writers.

Probably out of fear that it might be better

than your own work.

Do I deserve all of that abuse?

I did say your work showed a lot of promise

for a new writer, Jo.

Though it may have been a little awkward

and self conscious and

somewhat pretentious and well, to tell you...

That's what I mean, nasty! You're brutal.

You should think twice before making

such rash assessments.

I doubt that I'll ever write another word.

You'd give up on yourself after only one effort?

I don't believe it.

From you I'd expect much more gumption.

Here's an oriental proverb.

Even a poor shot hits the mark if he tries often.

That sound familiar?

It doesn't, I'm afraid.

Anthony, are you making a joke at my expense?

Ha-ha.

Hey, wait a minute!

Easy Jo.

You!

Uh-oh.

Now what I meant to say was... hey Jo.

I don't care what you meant!

Come back here and fight!

Anthony! You little coward!

Come back here!

Easy there, Jo.

Come on, Jo.

Don't you have any sense of humor?

I'll show you my sense of humor, you show up!

Gosh Jo, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, now stop it!

Come on, let go!

Jo!

My, you two sure play rough.

- Huh? - Huh?

Well, do you think you can stop that and come

have some melon?

Hello, Amy.

Anthony and I were just having a little discussion.

Melon you say?

That would be nice.

Thank you, Amy.

I hope you'll keep up your writing, Jo.

You're actually good you know,

and bound to get better.

Just keep trying.

I have that feeling again that someone is

watching from old Mr. Lawrence's house next door.

I wonder if it's that boy, his grandson.

Oh, well, I hope the melon is nice and ripe.

♪ '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 ♪