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 ♪

Meg and Jo are at the gardener's house tonight

attending a wonderful dance party.

Meanwhile, Beth and I are secretly staying awake in

order to hear all about it as soon as they return.

Beth, marmee is coming.

Quick, turn it off, Amy.

She's almost here.

Shhh... make believe you're asleep.

That was close.

Yeah. She's gone now.

Should I put on the light?

I don't think she's coming back.

You'd better wait a little while longer.

But I'll fall asleep if the light isn't on.

Then go to sleep, Amy.

I'll tell you what happened in the morning.

You can forget that! I'm staying up.

I want to hear everything that happened as soon as

Meg and Jo return.

But it's getting late.

They probably won't be back for two hours.

That's all right with me.

Well, I'm starting to get so tired that I might

just fall asleep myself.

Not me. I want to hear what happened.

What fun!

Yes!

Oh!

You dance marvelously.

Mrs. gardener: How are you, Janet? Gregory?

Hello.

Hello Clarissa.

Sally, where are you?

Mother, I'm right over here.

What is it that you need?

Finally I found you.

Have you seen Mr. Laurence's grandson anywhere, Sally?

Oh, mother please.

There you are, Meg. I've been looking for you.

I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine.

Come on.

So where has Jo been hiding, Meg? Outside?

Oh, she's been concentrating on refreshments.

That's our Jo.

Laurie Laurence, what an odd name.

However did you get stuck with that one?

Well, my real name is Theodore actually.

Why do you call yourself Laurie?

Well, you see, when i was away at school,

all the boys started calling me dora,

and that's a name i absolutely hate.

So I had to beat a few of them up to

make them stop teasing me.

I finally got tired of all the fighting

and I decided to change my name to Laurie.

Lucky you. I wish i could be beat up anyone

who dared call me by the name Josephine.

Jo is much better, don't you think?

Yes, I like that name.

And I promise I'll never call you Josephine.

I sure wouldn't want you to beat me up.

I envy your family.

I spend a lot of time watching that warm,

loving home of yours.

You probably don't even realize how lucky you are.

I sure wish I had a close family life like you

and your sisters have.

- But you have so much. - Not really.

Grandfather may be wealthy but our home is cold and

lonely. I don't want you to get me wrong, Jo,

I love my grandfather dearly.

But when I look inside your house,

I see your happy family all sitting around the

roaring fire, and it feels like I'm looking

at a wonderful painting.

You four girls are always gathered about your mother

listening to every word she says.

I wish I could be there with you.

Your mother's face has such a soft, tender look.

I think it's the love of your mother that

makes me most envious of your family.

My mother passed away when i was a very young child.

Annie, this is my dear friend, Margaret march.

Margaret. How nice.

Sally here has told me all about your love of

opera and ballroom dancing.

Meg doesn't know what you're getting at Annie.

I do tend to overwhelm people

with my enthusiastic nature, don't I?

Sally, are you sure it's all right if I invite

Margaret to come to my house with you?

As I told you before dear,

I think that's an absolutely splendid idea.

Now why don't you go ahead and ask her

if she'd like to come.

All right. I was getting to that.

Meg dear, wouldn't you love to come to the

moffit's ball? We have it each summer.

It's really a splendid affair.

It really is a wonderful place to get

away and have a good time.

Won't you please come along with us this summer, Meg?

There's never a dull moment at Annie's house.

We moffit girls can't tolerate boredom.

We try to go to the opera twice a week

during the summer.

Opera twice a week?

But of course. Won't you come, Meg?

I'd love to. Providing my mother let's me

go to Portsmouth to visit you.

Wonderful!

Hello ladies. What are you doing over here?

Yes?

Isn't this a dance? Let's get up.

We'll waltz around all night and enjoy ourselves.

He's right. Enough of this resting.

Let's go have fun.

All right.

May I have the honor?

Uh-huh.

Shall we?

You are lovely.

Oh, thanks.

Your sister seems to be really enjoying

herself out there, Jo.

Uh-huh. She certainly does.

What in the world do you think she

sees in that man?

They're only dancing, Laurie.

Ah... but she is a very beautiful young lady,

and he's attracted to her.

You're imagining things.

Meg reminds me a lot of the European girls I used

to know. She looks so fresh and innocent,

but she's really quite mature.

She would be flattered to hear how

complimentary you are.

But what do you know about European girls, Laurie?

I've been there.

Oh, you must tell me all about it.

Grandfather sent me to Switzerland to study.

It was wonderful except i wished I had been

old enough to stay here and enlist.

It's my greatest ambition to join the army.

The slaves must be freed.

I agree. It's shameful.

How old are you?

Sixteen.

Or rather I'll be sixteen on my birthday next month.

Oh. And you've been to Europe already?

Yes.

I just love to polka, don't you?

Everyone out there is having so much fun,

it makes me feel like dancing too.

Jo, I'd be honored if you'd dance with me.

Oh, I'm afraid I can't.

But that's no reason for you not to go Laurie.

Oh, come on now.

I'm sure you're a wonderful dancer.

I'm doing it as a favor to Meg because she asked

me not to dance tonight.

Are you kidding?

Why would she do a thing like that?

Well, there's a very good reason for it, actually.

Well? Let me hear it.

Promise you won't tell anyone?

Of course, Jo.

Well...

Huh?

What is that?

It's a patch. Isn't it terrible?

It's a brand new dress, and there's a hole

about this big in it.

Our maid tried to patch it up.

I have a habit of standing in front of fireplaces.

As you can see, I stood too close to the fire

and burned a hole in my pretty new gown.

You must think I'm a complete scatter brain.

Why would I think that?

For all I know it could be very fashionable for a

woman to wear patches.

Men may think so but women never do.

Meg told me to stay here so no one would see it.

She feels we march girls have to maintain a certain

image that no one must know we are poor.

That's the reason.

No dancing for me I guess.

It's pretty ridiculous, isn't it?

Jo, never mind about that, okay?

You're sweet, Laurie.

Jo, I'll tell you how we can manage.

There's a long hall out there.

We can dance grandly and no one will notice us.

What do you think?

It's perfect!

Come on, let's go dancing.

Oh! Meg would kill me.

Ouch!

Excuse me... huh? Oh.

And what are you looking at Margaret?

Oh, nothing at all.

See? The room is all ours, Jo.

May I have the pleasure, ma'am?

I learned this in Germany.

You're doing wonderfully!

Thank you.

Now the right hand.

Followed by the left.

And both together. That's right.

You're a wonderful dancer!

I'm only as good as my partner.

You're making me look much better

than I really am.

I don't believe I've ever enjoyed a dance quite as

much as this one, Laurie.

Usually I'm stepping on people's feet and making

an absolute goose out of myself.

That was wonderful. Thank you.

So would you like me to bring you a nice

cold glass of punch?

I can come along with you, Laurie.

No, you'd better stay here and wait for me.

Otherwise Meg might see you out there

and become upset.

Maybe you're right.

Mr. Laurence, have you been hiding in here all

this time? We've been looking all over for you.

Well...

Allow me to introduce myself.

I'm Mrs. gardener, a long time acquaintance

of your grandfather.

Oh.

And I'm delighted to introduce you to my

eldest daughter, Sally.

How do you do?

It's a great pleasure to meet the two of you.

Likewise Mr. Laurence.

All the guests seem to be having a wonderful

time. What about you Mr. Laurence?

Why don't you take my Sally out on the floor.

I understand you're a wonderful dancer.

Sally here could use some lessons.

Oh, would you like to dance?

I'd love to.

We'll see you two love birds later.

Those two make such a lovely couple.

Don't you agree?

Huh?

Sure! If she was younger.

I see.

And who on earth might you be, my dear?

I'm Margaret's sister Josephine, Mrs. gardener.

Oh, yes. One of the march girls.

Why don't you go in and dance a little.

But I... I don't really feel well at the moment.

Oh, you poor little thing.

Would you like me to bring you a doctor, my dear?

Oh, that's all right Mrs. gardener.

I'll be fine if i just sit here.

Oh, oh, look Sally and Mr. Laurence seem to be

having a wonderful time together.

Ouch.

Are you all right, Meg?

I'm fine. I just slipped a little.

So much for being able to stay awake all night.

Ha, ha, ha! I'm still awake.

That clothes pen is absurd.

One day my nose will be perfectly shaped

and then you'll be envious.

I highly doubt it.

Why don't you cut out this ridiculous notion of

staying awake and let yourself go to sleep, Amy.

What about you, Beth?

You're doing the same exact thing.

Maybe... that's because i really can't fall asleep.

Oh, yeah? Well, I don't believe that, Beth.

You're not fooling me.

You want to hear the news before me.

Am I right or not?

Don't ever become a detective.

It's just that you're tired Amy and I'm not.

I knew I was right all along.

Shh!

Sorry. I hope i wasn't too loud.

Jo! Jo!

Meg. Is something wrong?

What is it? Let me help you.

Thanks Jo. It really hurts.

What happened?

My stupid high heel twisted and gave me

a terrible wrench.

While you were dancing?

Yes and my ankle is aching

so I can hardly stand up.

Those shoes you're wearing are so tight.

I knew it.

I knew something like this was going to happen as

soon as you started to move around.

Well, I wish you'd warned me about it

before we came.

If I did, you wouldn't have listened to me.

But forget about that for now.

You and I have to figure out how we're

going to get home.

I should never have worn these stupid shoes.

My ankle hurts so much i can barely walk.

We have two choices, Meg.

Either we get a carriage or you spend the night here.

Would Sally let you stay here tonight?

I don't know.

I have to sit down, Jo.

I can't stay here tonight.

The house is already filled with Sally's

friends who are staying over.

Then there's no choice.

We have to take a carriage, Meg.

Of all the unlucky times for this to happen.

We can't take a carriage. It will cost too much.

It's the only way, Meg.

We can't possibly walk home.

Your ankle is already beginning to swell.

Do you realize how far away the carriage stable

is from here, Jo? Who is gonna

good over there and notify them for us?

Don't worry Meg, I'll go.

Are you kidding?

It's after ten o'clock and it's pitch dark outside.

Do you have a better idea?

Hannah is going to meet us here in an hour.

Maybe she can think of something.

Anyway, maybe by then the swelling will go down,

and I'll be able to walk again.

I wouldn't hold my breath, Meg.

I'm afraid these things usually take a little

longer than that.

Is this making it feel any better, Meg.

A little bit.

Thanks.

Hey, I've got it!

Laurie. I'll ask him to help us out.

Don't you dare!

I'd be terribly embarrassed if anybody knew.

Who is this person Laurie anyway?

He's our neighbor.

Old Mr. Laurence's grandson.

Oh, my word.

You mean the boy who's always watching us?

Is that who you're talking about.

Uh-huh. Yes. That's the one. He's really nice.

Is that so?

He's my age and he's already been to Europe.

Oh, I'd like to meet him one day.

Jo, do you suppose you could introduce me to him?

I could just stay here on the couch.

I wouldn't have to get up.

Hand me my shoe. I'll hide it behind me.

Here you are, Meg.

I'll go to the front entrance now and wait

for Hannah to arrive.

Why don't you relax a bit and have supper first.

I can't because of my dress.

They'd all see it.

Don't worry. You can hide it.

Besides, I'd love a cup of coffee.

Of course.

Oops. Excuse me.

Awe! Oh, no! Oh.

This isn't really happening.

I'm having a nightmare, that's all.

What have you done to yourself, Jo?

I was trying to bring coffee to Meg,

and I tripped on my hem. What a mess.

I'm sorry, Jo.

If you'd like, you could feel free to take

one of these to Meg.

Oh.

I realize it won't help your dress any,

but at least you won't have to go back for a refill.

How sweet. That's very kind of you.

Here you are, Jo.

You'd better carry those yourself.

Knowing me, I'd drop them again.

- Meg? - What?

This is Laurie.

I'm pleased to meet you.

Uh, hello.

Oh, please don't get up.

That's very kind of you as I'm

feeling rather tired.

I'll go look for a small table to

put the food on, Jo.

Would you mind holding this for a moment?

Meg.

Thank you, Laurie.

He's so kind. Does he know about my leg?

I didn't tell him.

Here we are.

Thank you very much.

My pleasure. Don't mention it.

Ah... good.

Excuse me, would you like some coffee as well, Jo?

Sure.

Please allow me to get it for you.

I'll be right back.

Oh, no. Don't bother. I can get it.

No, I wouldn't think of it.

I won't be a moment.

What a gentleman!

It seems like you've gotten to know each other.

We have.

We've been talking most of the night,

and I feel like I've known him all of my life.

Did you find out why he's constantly

looking at our house?

Uh-huh. He wishes he had a family just like ours.

And that's why he watches us.

Oh.

If he knew Amy, i think he would

change his mind fast.

Stop, Jo.

Amy means no harm and I'm certain if Laurie ever got

to know her that he would like her very much.

Oh, Meg, please.

I was just kidding about Amy,

but you have to admit she can drive you crazy.

What's wrong with Laurie's family?

Well, for one thing, he told me he no longer has

his mother, and he misses her terribly.

My heart breaks for him just thinking about it.

I have a feeling he's very lonely much of the time.

You would think a charming fellow like that

would have a girlfriend.

I dare say he thinks you're the cat's meow.

He even told me as much earlier this evening.

Oh, Hannah. I'm so glad you finally arrived.

Meg and I are in a terrible fix.

Her ankle is very badly sprained. Look.

Wouldn't you just know it.

Something's always got to happen to the march girls.

Be gentle, Hannah.

Well Meg, what did i tell you about

those silly shoes?

Try and walk a bit.

I wish I had listened to you.

I wouldn't be in this horrendous position

if I had.

Hey, stop laughing at me. This really hurts.

That's it, honey.

Oh, Meg you poor thing.

This is terrible!

It's worse than I thought.

It will get better soon, Meg. I promise.

Forget about walking.

We're gonna have to figure out a safe way

to get you home.

What about it Jo? You got any ideas?

Actually, I think I do.

Hannah, if you'll help Meg prepare to leave,

I'll go and work out a way for the three of us

to get home.

Yes, all right.

Did you hear that Meg?

Let's go get us your overcoat.

Uh-huh.

We'll take it real slow.

Just lean all your weight on me.

You'll be home in no time, Meg.

That's it, honey. Don't let go.

Hmmm.

Here's your coffee.

Laurie!

I apologize for taking so long.

That's all right.

I had forgotten about it anyway. Thanks.

Mrs. gardener cornered me,

and I couldn't get away from her.

I just overheard what happened to Meg.

Oh, yes. Isn't it awful?

I'm sorry.

My grandfather sent his coach here for me.

Do you think it would be all right if I escorted

the three of you home?

What a stroke of luck!

Of course it would be all right,

but it's still early.

Are you sure you're ready to leave?

Oh, yes. Quite sure.

I can't tell you how happy I am that I got to

meet you tonight, Laurie.

Well, I feel exactly the same way about

meeting you and Meg.

Oh, I must go tell Meg and Hannah.

They'll be so excited when they hear that

we've got a ride.

Jo!

Are you all right?

Oh, yes thank you.

Huh.

Do you think you could slow it down

just a little bit?

Sure.

Look. It's starting to snow.

You better close your jacket.

Thanks, Jo.

Don't slip, girls.

I can't even begin to thank you enough

Mr. Laurence. You saved the day.

Call me Laurie from now on, please.

Thank you again, Laurie.

It was all my pleasure. Really.

Good night, Laurie.

Good night, ladies.

Hush now, girls. Easy.

Look, the light is still on in

Beth and Amy's room.

Wouldn't you know it, neither Beth nor myself

could stay awake until Jo and Meg had returned.

It was probably for the best though.

The next day it took almost two hours for us

to hear everything that had happened at the

gardener's eventful dance.

♪ 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.