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 the way

♪ We imagine our lives will be

♪ The March Family all on their way

♪ Meet Jo, Beth, Meg, Amy

Alright, Laurie is the match winner.

Salute, make a short break and we'll begin the next battle.

Jo knew that Laurie was

at the Newcord Men's Club taking fencing lessons.

She wanted to learn the sport herself

and was dying to see a match.

It didn't seem to bother Jo that the club was for men only.

She stood in the lobby till the sound

of clashing foils led her to Laurie.

Parry four, counter parry.

Good execution.

Now disengage, cut over, double disengage.

Excellent, thrust, touche.

The bout is completed.

Nice work, you two, that'll be all for today.

Next two fencers assume en garde position.

Jo, I'm not hurt.

As Laurie and Jo left the men's club,

Jo was lost in thought thinking

about how exciting fencing is and how she'd like a match

of her own one day.

I bet I could beat anybody

with some practice in my fencing form.

Watch me, en garde, you blaggard.

Hey, not bad, very nice thrust.

Maybe I can throw 'em off guard with a lunge.

It appears to me you were the obvious winner.

Well, it was a pleasure to assist you mademoiselle.

Touche, monsieur.

I just got a fabulous idea.

I'll fence my way into the Newcord Times

and make them print my story.

Back, back.

Hey, you might hurt someone.

People will think you're crazy.

But I'll sure get their attention.

They'll be scared to death.

Well I believe I would be.

But Jo had second thoughts

about bursting into the Newcord Times

waving a saber over her head like a mad woman.

Laurie, it's beneath me and not my style

to use force to get them to publish my story.

You can take your story somewhere else

if they won't print it.

Why not make it into a play and stage it

where people would pay money to see it?

Oh boy.

I should have thought of that.

Perhaps I might.

I could help you get some actors.

I'm sure a couple of my fencing partners

might be interested.

Oh, don't bother, I really don't think I'll need them.

I'll do all the men's roles.

But that's crazy, your hair's much too long.

So, I prefer to play them.

Well no one will wanna see a play

where a man is played by a girl.

That is just ridiculous, sounds like a man's rule.

That reminds me, I forgot my fencing rule book, bye.

Hey, Laurie, should I wait?

Acting is an art.

All I must do is strike an arrogant poise and

= [Jo Voiceover] I could lose my voice doing that.

Hi.

I'll put it back in the corner pocket.

I need to talk to my cousin David.

David, you better take a break.

Someone wants to talk to you.

So, I'm busy.

Too busy to talk to a pretty girl?

Hi, David, it's important that I speak to you now.

Jo, Jo!

Oh there you are.

Laurie, catch your breath.

Just wait here a second.

I'm glad I found you.

Jo, how come you're still here?

I thought you were going to the newspaper.

I've been thinking about what I'd tell them.

You're taking your story back, aren't you?

Well maybe just for a little while.

Oh, take it back for good.

No, here's your hat.

That's crazy.

I am going to give a public reading of my story.

Where in the world did you get that idea?

Come on.

From me?

You were the one.

But that's not what I meant.

I proposed you write a play.

Seems like a simple case of misunderstanding.

Sorry, I meant to be helpful

and now I've forgotten why I came after you

in the first place.

Oh, I saw Meg in the club, that's what it was.

Are you sure it was her?

Uh-huh.

You are pulling my leg.

No I'm not, I'm sure it was Meg.

She seemed to be headed right for the billiard hall.

I'll go find her.

Jo, wait up, you can't just barge

into the men's club again.

They have rules barring women from the billiard room

where they gamble.

I'm going, they're not gonna keep me out.

I'm only trying to protect you

from the rogues who gamble there.

Oh yeah, well I can protect myself.

Why do you always have to be so hot tempered?

Hot tempered nothing.

My temper's fine.

Yeah, I guess I just thought

that you had a hot temper because I've seen you

blow up so many times but I must have been wrong

because if you say your temper's fine

who would know better than you.

You bet I do.

Right.

I'll give them a piece of my mind

if they think their silly rules

can keep me out of the club.

Where's Meg?

She went upstairs.

Where?

There, that's the billiard room.

You play billiards when you're not fencing?

No, I'm not very good at that game

but it must be a lot of fun once you perfect your technique.

I bet I could play.

I'll go look for Meg, you wait for me here, Jo.

That a way, yeah, beautiful.

Don't bank the ball.

You're about to lose your rhythm

because a pretty girl has appeared again.

Go away.

Another cousin, David?

Well, my plucky cousin, what may I do for you?

Did Meg have some business here?

Yes, as a matter of fact, she did.

Did she mention the nature of her business by chance?

I'm not so sure I should be telling you that.

She might have been looking for me at this club.

No.

You sure?

Maybe it slipped your mind.

I have a brilliant mind when I care to use it.

Now might be the time.

Tell me why Meg came to the billiard room this afternoon.

Come on David.

Take a shot or forfeit the game.

I'll bet your dying to pay billiards.

You're so brilliant, figure it out.

Take a shot, David.

There's money riding on this game.

Six ball in the pocket.

Perfect bank shot, David.

Why I believe I've just decided to double my bet.

Try for the corner pocket.

So my cousin's a would-be billiard player.

Go home and do some knitting.

As she left the men's club,

Jo was feeling ever so gloomy.

David had made fun of her in front of his chums

and she never did find out what Meg was doing there.

Men don't take me seriously.

I believe in you, Jo, you can accomplish anything you want

with a proper attitude.

Oh my.

I might run for president of the country.

It seems to me I possess the ability

to be fair and precise.

Yes, my dear madam president.

I would like to accompany you

to the newspaper office if I may.

How very kind.

I'm extremely annoyed with your attitude,

Mr. Murdoch, as I've been very patient and fair.

Now I must be brusk.

You'd better print my story, the people insist

on being kept informed.

Jo you're so powerful and fierce you have me shaking.

Don't make fun of me, I'm serious.

Poor Laurie.

He thought Jo was play acting,

but she intended to turn her dreams into reality.

They'll print that story because it's wonderful.

It doesn't look like there's anybody around.

Hello, Mr. Murdoch, Anthony, anybody here?

Hello.

Oh, I guess I was mistaken.

Ms. Jo, what a surprise.

You sure look mighty fine.

I am fine, my writing's keeping me busy.

Well I am glad to hear that.

I certainly am pleased to be working here.

Everybody's been helpful and especially you, Ms. Jo.

I'm hoping you'll help me find out

what happened to my story.

I don't see it on the desk.

Well I don't know what could have become of it

'cause I've been here all morning long.

You'd best be asking Mr. Anthony about it.

Oh well.

I suppose Mr. Anthony threw my story in the garbage can.

He's a pompous man.

Uh-huh.

Jo, I don't believe I...

I'm sorry, I didn't introduce you to John.

John, this is my good friend Laurie.

I'm mighty pleased to meet you, Laurie,

and I might add it does brighten my day

to meet Ms. Jo's fine friend.

I'm pleased to meet you, John.

Laurie wanted to shake John's hand

but John was reluctant.

His hands were covered in ink from the printing press.

Laurie, sensing the reason for John's embarrassment,

grabbed his hand and the awkwardness

of the moment passed.

As the two of them chatted, Jo was trying

to figure out what article had been set up

on the ink blocks to be printed.

Anthony Boone, cub reporter for Newcord.

I imagine Mr. Murdoch approves Anthony's articles

before they're printed.

I believe Mr. Anthony is allowed to write what he pleases.

Well, he didn't leave much space

for anybody else's story, did he?

Well, you could take it up with him

but he's gone for the day.

Apparently, it's more important that he run about town

than read my story.

Hey Jo, don't you think we should be going now?

Why not?

You can come back tomorrow.

Mr. Anthony should be here.

My patience has been tried too much already.

I'm not putting any more effort

into tracking down Mr. Anthony Boone.

Mm-hmm.

Jo and Laurie had just left

the newspaper office when Anthony returned.

Anybody stop by, John?

Ms. Jo was here.

You missed her by a second.

Was she wondering why we hadn't printed her story yet?

Mm-hmm, yep, and I must say

she was pretty unhappy about it.

That's great, she'll be surprised.

Mm-hmm, I'm sure she'll be delighted

but how'll she find out about it?

I'm going to be the delivery boy.

I'll put the paper right in front of her door.

You best be watching your feet.

Ms. Jo may take a peek at you and slam the front door

before she reads the paper.

Perhaps you've got a point.

It might be wise to give her mother the paper.

Then I'd be able to give her mother

the impression that I'm a big time newspaper hot shot.

Keep an eye on your feet.

I may be overly optimistic,

but I believe my work should at least be read.

It's frustrating when a story doesn't get read.

Why be a writer if nobody reads?

I'm pretty good.

Maybe Anthony prefers a classical style

but my stuff's good too.

I'm baffled.

Yes?

Hey, Meg, where have you been?

Laurie and I tried to find you at the men's club.

Oh for goodness sakes, how did you know

I was there, Jo?

Laurie saw you heading right for the billiard hall.

I planned to talk to David.

Well what happened?

Wasn't David there playing billiards with his friends?

Yes, he poked fun of me for coming to his club so I left.

You'd better start this story from the beginning.

Alright.

When I arrived at the King home,

instead of tutoring the children

Ms. King sent me out to find David.

Really?

First I went to Aunt March's but David wasn't there.

She thought I could probably find him

playing billiards at the men's club.

That explains it.

I believed you had come looking for me at the club.

You were there, I didn't see you?

I went there to see Laurie in a fencing match.

Oh Meg, I'm dying to learn the sport myself.

Jo, my dear, you're not a bit afraid of anything.

If I possessed your spunk, maybe David

would have talked to me about Ed.

What about Ed, is he in trouble?

Well I'm not exactly positive

but Ms. King seems to feel he's mixed up

with David in some gambling debts.

Mm-hmm.

Well anyway, Ed had a terrible fight with his father

then he disappeared.

That must have been about 11 o'clock yesterday morning

and now Ms. King is blaming herself for not stopping him.

Wow, unbelievable.

I know, but Ms. King fears Ed

is in so much trouble now

that he may never come back home again.

It seems to me that Aunt March

might be the best one to make David

tell what he knows about Ed.

I'm sure she can make him remember a lot.

As a matter of fact, she may remind David

that he's responsible for Ed taking up gambling.

I may be wrong about that but I doubt it.

I'll bet Ed piled up gambling debts

and decided to skip town with David's help.

Mercy me, what a mess.

I hope Aunt March can straighten it out.

I know a way, maybe she'll lend Ed some money.

I don't believe she'll part with her money.

She feels you must work to deserve it.

Aunt March, I have a very busy morning ahead of me

so I hope this won't take much time.

I'm well aware of your busy time table.

You need a full day for your billiard game.

What's wrong with that?

When you play, you gamble, that's what's wrong.

I play for the sport of it, not to win money.

Now stop that whining.

It upsets me to be treated this way.

You even give your dog more respect.

My dog behaves in a more civilized manner.

He deserves respect.

That's fine, so now you've even trained the poodle

to insult me.

I never expected to be abused like this

by my own family.

You might have considered being more polite to my nieces.

Harry feels the same way.

Normally I am.

Please, Aunt March, can't we make peace.

Yes, when you apologize.

Well, apologize to Jo for your boorish behavior

at the men's club.

You owe Meg an apology too.

When you leave my house today,

you'll find Meg working at the King's

and perhaps you can tell Ms. King

where she can find her son.

I apologize to you Jo.

And?

Let's see, I'm thinking.

That's refreshing, be sure not to overdo it though.

You might hurt yourself.

What the, Aunt March, I'm doing my very best

to be pleasant.

Tell me where Ed has gone.

I wonder if David

will tell Aunt March the truth.

Actually I'm not sure where Ed is.

He may be playing billiards down at the men's club.

What, we know Ed is missing.

Apparently you know more about Ed than I do

but then Ed might not always tell me everything.

He's a big boy and should be able

to make his own decisions about his life.

Heck, I have to.

He's barely a man.

A mere 18 and already piling up terrible gambling debts.

That boy needs discipline.

I believe he's about to get a massive amount

of discipline very soon.

You must mean he's joined the Union Army then.

That's right.

Why are you amazed that I was able

to figure that out, David?

I'm old but not dumb.

I never underestimate you.

I'm glad to hear it.

I might as well tell you the whole story,

Aunt March, it won't take long.

Ed believes that he'll be able

to break his gambling habit by joining up with the army.

It seems that young man has made a very wise decision

and I'm glad to hear it.

You could benefit from the military life yourself.

I can't imagine picking up a gun

and fighting in the war, not me, auntie.

Why not make something of your life?

Gambling has no merit.

No, I don't wish to be killed by some confederate.

There's not much merit in becoming a dead enlisted man

because nobody can make it back alive from this battle.

They'll all be killed, both north and south, everyone.

Stop it now, David.

You're upsetting my niece.

Her father's in the middle of the battle right now.

Oh my, what have I done?

Jo, dear, David didn't mean to hurt you.

Pay him no mind.

I hope your father makes it home from the war.

Well, maybe he will come home.

Jo.

Please leave my house before you cause any more damage.

Perhaps you can see Meg and clear that up

and maybe you'll be able to open your big mouth

without putting your foot in it.

Look, someone's coming.

That's David, Ed's friend.

David, what are you doing here?

I'm here to apologize for my behavior, Meg.

I'm surprised.

I'm usually a proper gentleman

but I was rude to you which I now regret.

Now will you tell me where to find Ed?

Ed's left town to join the army

because he thinks it will change his life.

I personally believe military life

won't change Ed one little bit.

In fact, Meg, I'm willing to bet on it.

David continued on his way to the billiard hall

leaving a stunned Meg to break the news

about Ed to Ms. King.

Meanwhile, Jo had composed herself and returned home.

Don't be surprised if Jo runs

for president of the country, Ms. March.

She thinks she'd be a good one.

I believe she would be good.

Maybe, but I don't think a woman

could ever be elected a president.

Don't be so sure of that.

Gotcha.

Hey, you took my rook.

I'm aware of that.

Beth, any pointers for Laurie?

I'd be sure to keep my eye

on the white queen's bishop if I were playing the game.

Thanks Beth.

But right now, you'd better worry

about a double attack by Jo's white rook.

Really Beth?

Maybe.

Ah yes, my rook can be protected by my king

but maybe my rook can imprison the black king

by moving horizontally.

You know Beth, I'm beginning to plot my strategy move

just like a professional chess player.

Why, I'll be able to challenge Mr. Lawrence at any time.

I imagine he'll be very pleased

to learn that you've been able

to pick up the game so quickly.

I'm about to skunk you.

Well it sure looks to me like I've got your king in check

and in fact, it appears that there's no way out

so I'll just have to say checkmate.

I refuse to believe it.

You had to have cheated to beat me.

I'm sorry.

Maybe we can play another game

and you can beat me this time.

Course, madam presidents always win

Jo, you're absolutely infuriating.

I personally think we women are capable

of making wise presidential decisions.

I'd permit pickled limes to be in every single schoolroom.

That's crazy!

That's a typical man for you.

You don't think we're capable.

I doubt very much if you could do any better

than we can.

Oh yeah, says who?

I'm willing to bet on it.

What about me, aren't I capable?

Oh, I believe the presidential buggy has arrived.

Hi ma'am.

Oh my, I beg your pardon.

Is there something I can do for you, sir?

Is Jo's mother here?

Yes, but she's busy, maybe I could help you.

Sounds like a pretty lively party's going on in there.

Oh, you know the March's.

Why are you giving me this newspaper?

There's something to see on page nine

and I suggest that Ms. Josephine March

will be very excited by that particular page I hope.

Wouldn't you like to give this

to her yourself?

No, I'd better be going.

Give her my best and be sure to watch for a reaction.

I wonder what he meant by that.

Hey Jo.

Yes, what's that in your hand?

It's today's newspaper, Anthony dropped it off.

He came here?

Yes, that was him at the door just now.

I guess you better take a look at this.

He spoke about you looking at something on page nine.

Wait, your story.

This page?

There, The Couple with Angel Wings

by Josephine March.

Ah, my first story in print.

They even put a scroll around the title

and your name, that's impressive, very classy.

Let me see.

Jo, I'm just so very happy for you.

Jo, you've become famous.

Yay, yay, yay!

Look mother!

I'm so proud of you, dear.

I'd better try to catch up with Anthony

and thank him.

You'd better hurry, Jo.

Congratulation.

The ending's quite mushy.

Well that's not so terrible.

It's about an angel couple.

Anthony!

♪ Fortunes of war can change the way

♪ We imagine our lives will be

♪ The March Family all on their way

♪ Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy